Cowon iAudio E2--photos

Is the iPod Shuffle just a little too boring for you? If you like your MP3 players small, cheap, and stylish, but prefer actual buttons to Apple's odd headphone-clicker voice navigation, the iAudio E2 from Cowon ($64.99) may be just the thing.

The enigmatic circles and square arithmetic on the bottom of the E2 makes no more sense in person than it does in photos.

Compared to the rounded Apple iPod Nano, the E2's squared-off design is a night-and-day difference in aesthetics.

The E2 comes in a cute little wedge box.

The bottom of the E2 includes a headphone jack that doubles as a USB connector (cable adapter included).

Here we see the buttons on the left edge of the E2. The rocker controls volume and the small button toggles the shuffle mode with a long press and flips through JetEffect EQ presets with short presses.

Graphics on the E2's box try to make sense of the whole circle + square design motif. I still don't get it.

The back of the E2 includes a reset hole, along with visible mounting screws for the solid metal ring.

The right edge of the E2 offers a small square power button along with a rocker switch for track skip control.

Here's the E2 still in its original packaging.

A pair of earbuds, instructions, and a USB cable are included with the E2.

A side shot of the Cowon E2 in its unique wedge-shaped packaging.

The solid metal ring built into the top of the E2 can be attached to a key ring or necklace.

The Cowon iAudio E2 next to the third-generation Apple iPod Shuffle.