SanDisk partnering with Real on Sansa Rhapsody line

Apple has certainly struck gold with its finely tuned iPod+iTunes system, and Microsoft is seemingly ditching that whole PlaysForSure effort in exchange for the upcoming Zune Marketplace, so RealNetworks has joined the bandwagon by narrowing its focus (and hopefully the scope of incompatibility issues) by teaming with SanDisk to produce the Sansa Rhapsody. While the company already nailed down a partnership with Slim Devices, it's now venturing into the saturated DAP market by co-engineering an e200 with specialized Rhapsody software -- dubbed Rhapsody DNA -- to ensure the device consistently plays nice with Real's services. SanDisk is looking to release 2, 4, and 6GB editions of the Rhapsody-friendly Sansas, as well as offering its expandable 8GB e280 model for those toting the heftiest of subscription playlists. Aside from the (supposedly) guaranteed compatibility, these special units will apparently come stocked with 32 hours of tunes from a plethora of record labels that goes MIA if not synced with a Rhapsody account within 30 days. While there's no hard deets on pricing nor availability, we don't envision SanDisk charging anything extra just for keeping it Real.

[Via GigaOM]

[Jon @ Sep 18th 2006 10:36AM]

Microsoft is hardly "ditching the whole Plays for Sure effort". While the Zune will not be Plays for Sure...Napster, URGE, Rhapsody, Wal-Mart Music, BuyMusic.com, Yahoo Music and other stores will still use Plays For Sure WMA along with hundreds of Music Players.

Plays for Sure is far from being ditched.

[Jake @ Sep 18th 2006 11:19AM]

You know, I support SanDisk's efforts and all...but I'm not sure they could have picked a worse partner. Maybe AOL. But Real's software is pretty well-known as complete ad-infested crap.

[Jordan @ Sep 18th 2006 12:40PM]

Odd.

I've never seen an advertisement for something other than Real products in Rhapsody. I hate advertisements, so I would have noticed.

There are ads in the web-based player for Mac users, if that's what you mean.

[Carlo @ Sep 18th 2006 12:55PM]

Why can't everyone just do their own thing. The modern days are so complicating.

[Goodman @ Sep 18th 2006 2:43PM]

I like that the player is still compatible with other music services.

I think the Sansa e200s are great players, and Rhapsody had pretty much my favorite software of the various music services, but I couldn't get it to work reliably with my Dell DJ, so I had to give it up. Sounds like it might be worth giving another try.

[Jake @ Sep 18th 2006 3:26PM]

First, the site upgrade looks nice, Engadget. Nice job.

I'm all for this. Rhapsody is a great service and the Sansa is supposed to be a good player. I just wish they would add Audible format compatibility to Sansa. For me, the lack of audible format support is a deal killer.

This seems like a direct response to Microsoft deciding to go into competition (via Zune) with its PlaysForSure "partners"

"This is kind of a way for both Rhapsody and SanDisk to say, 'Well, if you're gong to compete with (us), guess what, we're gong to compete with you,'" said analyst Phil Leigh with Inside Digital Media." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060918/ap_on_hi_te/realnetworks_music_player

I really think the subscription model is the best way to keep your options open with all of these various hardware providers. You pay your $15/month and get as much music as you want. If you decide you like someone else's service/device later on, you can always switch and start paying someone else your $15/month to get the same music.

On the other hand, if you "buy" music from iTunes or Zune Market or whatever, you're always running the risk that if you want to switch devices down the road all the music you "bought" is not going to be compatible. Some people seem to be ok with the idea of deciding right now that they will simply buy Apple iPods for the rest of their lives so that they can continue to play their iTunes "purchased" music. I think that's kind of crazy.

[Mike @ Sep 18th 2006 3:47PM]

The current Sansa players support Audible formats, so I don't see how it'd be so hard to make that happen. I use a Sansa with Rhapsody and Audible both, and have far fewer problems than with my Creative player.

[Patrick @ Aug 21st 2007 5:24PM]

I agree that Sansa should make the e250-280 series compatible with Audible. I'd like to have one player that will hold lots of Rhapsody to Go tunes as well as Audible books.

[eminem213486 @ Sep 18th 2006 4:35PM]

bring it sansa.

microsoft ditched the playsforsure for zune. once zune becomes as mainstream as microsoft wants it to be the playsforsure can kiss its ass.

whats to say about microsoft with the name PLAYSFORSURE but it wont playforsure on its own ZUNE device?

[Jake @ Sep 18th 2006 4:50PM]

I think the lack of support for PlaysForSure on Zune is absolutely idiotic. But who knows, maybe it will pay off for Microsoft in the long run. Not good from a consumer standpoint, though.

The really crazy thing (which I read somewhere but haven't seen confirmed anywhere else)is that Zune won't support DVR-MS format video. That's the format you get if you record TV on a Microsoft Media Center PC. If it's really true that Zune won't support that, then I really don't have a clue what Microsoft is thinking.

[FGT @ Sep 18th 2006 8:44PM]

I agree. Real? Why Real? 80% of the computer-using world cringes at just hearing the name Real. That damn annoying Real player, ad's, and the crashes from using the stupid thing.

[Galley @ Sep 18th 2006 9:38PM]

As I understand it, Rhapsody will soon be using the same 192Kbps AAC files that are available in the RealPlayer Music Store. These tracks are transferable to iPods without any loss of quality, so perhaps someday Rhapsody 4.0 (which is in closed beta right now) will be iPod-compatible.

[Andrew Lazetera @ Sep 18th 2006 10:18PM]

Well, I have hated real to begin with. I own an Sandisk Sansa e260 (4GB) and I used Rhapsody (still do) and I didnt know it was real. It works great, there is NO adware or spyware, NO advertisements, etc. Rhapsody is actually very nice. then again I signed up for the $15 a month from the get-go because my Sansa came with a free 30 day trial. Works good and its $.89 a song (to download to mp3 player). Really, I know Real Player sucked (sucks) but Rhapsody is actually quite nice.

[Naman @ Sep 19th 2006 2:21PM]

Why don't you subscribe to Rhapsody To Go? Wouldn't that be better than paying for each song you download?

[millerama @ Sep 19th 2006 6:05PM]

Seriously Andrew,

If you are paying for Rhapsody to Go, you don't need to pay to transfer any songs to your MP3 player. That's the best thing about Rhapsody.

[Khalidur @ Sep 19th 2006 4:34PM]

dont mind me testing the comments

[Khalidur @ Sep 19th 2006 4:34PM]

making sure the passwrod works

[K. Hafer @ Oct 6th 2006 6:53PM]

I've been using my e260 for 3 weeks now and love it -- EXCEPT for its lack of Audible support. I'm sure they have some reason, but I know tons of people who have bought a nano simply for this reason.

[Tranquila @ Oct 7th 2006 2:54AM]

I use Rhapsody and love it. The fee is less than buying all the CDs I'd have to get to listen to everything I've tried on Rhapsody. Plus I'm not locked into a single device as I would be with iTunes or the upcoming Zune.

As to others posting about ads, I've seen no third-party ads in Rhapsody.

[j @ Dec 18th 2006 2:32PM]

I bought a Sansa e260 (4gb) for my son for Xmas that is not Rhapsody. Can he somehow use Rhapsody or do you have to have a Sansa model that says Rhapsody??

[j @ Dec 21st 2006 2:03PM]

I bought an e260 (4 gb) sansa for my son for xmas & am wondering if I should have gotten the Rhapsody version? Guess the regular one can't use Rhapsody? Is this one so much better, because it is more expensive for the same size?

[Jonathan @ Jan 29th 2007 5:53PM]

The Sansa Rhapsody is a piece of junk. I purchased a e280R 8.0 gb for my daughter, the screen failed after only 3 weeks. I had also purchased a two-year warranty from Best Buy, who refused to warranty the player. I then called Sansa Technical Support, who also refused to warranty the player and refused to perform any repairs. This was $300 down the toilet in less then three weeks.

Do not buy anything from Sansa. They're producting low-quality, non-repairable consumer junk and you will regret it like I did.

[dgjr @ Mar 16th 2007 5:43PM]

it's great buy it.far better than nano.

[Jonathan @ Mar 19th 2007 10:59PM]

My daughter sent a complaint letter to Sansa - and they responded! Apparently, letter writing worked better then the in-store visit to Best Buy. Best Buy responded to the letter they received, but it was inadequate. All they offered was a refund on the warranty. Close, but not good enough.

However, after receiving the complain letter, Sansa agreed to replace the player, which is exactly what they did, after we sent it in for a product return. My daughter has her "new" player, in hand now.

So Sansa - thank you for dealing with the problem.

[tyler @ Aug 2nd 2007 9:59PM]

ok, i just got my sansa thing and i dont know how to put music on it. all ic an do is listen to the radio and i want to put all my cds on there because i have like 20 of them. and iw ant to put the music from the cd t the sansa player and i really would appreciate it if someone would e-mail me and tell me how to do this.