New Tests: Cowon S9, Samsung Q2 and a fresh look at the iPod Touch

We first tested the iPod Touch 2G last year and gave it five stars.  Nine months later, all of Apple's leading competitors have released new models, launching their own mini portable multimedia players.  Is it still the best of the bunch then?

Both the Sony NWZ-X1050 and the Samsung P3 that we tested last week only scored 4 stars.  Will the second generation iPod Touch 32 GB still be able to beat that with its new firmware? 

Or perhaps it will be the Cowon S9 8 GB and its impressive audio effects that will win the day?

Finally, there's an outsider, the Samsung Q2 8 GB, which has replaced--in under six months--its predecessor, the Q1.

> Product Survey: Portable Audio and Video Players

Note: the Apple iPod Touch 2G is also available in 8 GB and 16 GB versions, the Cowon S9 in 16 GB and 32 GB versions and the Samsung Q2 in 4 GB and 16 GB versions.

> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products