SanDisk Sansa Connect sneaks into availability

You know, a portable WiFi audio player, complete with internet radio streaming and subscription service compatibility, is nothing to be ashamed of, but for some reason SanDisk isn't quite ready to trumpet its Sansa Connect player's availability, even though a few of 'em have already made it onto Circuit City shelves and that retailer's online store. SanDisk also lists the player on its own online store, but has a bogus description for it, along with a "Sold Out" sticker that seems to imply that either SanDisk hasn't stocked the players yet, or it did and we missed it -- we're guessing the former. We've still got a few unanswered questions about this player, but if SanDisk doesn't fess up before too long, we'll have one in hand to give you the skinny either way.

Read - Sansa Connect at Circuit City's store
Read - Sansa Connect at SanDisk's store

[Ian Jardine @ Apr 5th 2007 3:24PM]

Now if it could run Skype that would turn everything upside down;)

[Whatsizface @ Apr 5th 2007 5:00PM]

Well, sideways at least.

[tiuk @ Apr 5th 2007 3:29PM]

Sounds neat. Any word on pricing?

[Brian @ Apr 5th 2007 3:38PM]

$249.99

[ScOObyDoo @ Apr 5th 2007 3:37PM]

Did you click either of the 2 links in the post? $249 is the price.

[tiuk @ Apr 6th 2007 10:27PM]

Yeah, I'll admit that clicking the "store" link probably would have been a good idea. Thanks for telling me the price anyway though.

[McGinley @ Apr 5th 2007 3:33PM]

But it doesn't come in watermelon red?

[Mark gardner @ Apr 5th 2007 3:44PM]

The link to the Sandisk site is for the SanDisk Connect XD Card, not the Sandisk Sansa Connect MP3 Player, even though it shows the player!!!

http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Catalog(1230)-SanDisk_Sansa_Connect_MP3_Player_Avail_052007.aspx

[Apreche @ Apr 5th 2007 3:55PM]

Can it subscribe to podcasts? So far the only portable media player I've seen that can subscribe to podcasts without depending on a PC is the PSP. If this thing can do it, I'll trade my nano for one right now.

[MaxP @ Apr 5th 2007 4:37PM]

fm streaming? is that right? Count me in!

[Watter @ Apr 5th 2007 8:05PM]

Well, I just picked one of these up at Circuit City. Here's a tip. If you aren't a Yahoo! Music user then you might not want to bother. Admittedly, I've only been playing with it for about 10 minutes now, but other than Internet radio from Yahoo! Music, the Wifi on this device is seems even more limited than that on the Zune. What a disappointment. Maybe after some more fiddling I'll discover otherwise.

[Chris Leckness @ Apr 5th 2007 9:13PM]

I have also rushed out to get one. I have been wanting this since CES 2007! I shot an unboxing video: http://www.mobilitysite.com/2007/04/sandisk_sansa_connect_video_1st_look.php

[Reginald @ Apr 6th 2007 2:58AM]

On the box it says

"Connect to any open WiFi network"

Does this imply that it cannot connect to WEP/WPA secure networks? If so, it doesn't seem very compatible (even the DS uses WEP).

Are there any special configurations needed on your WiFi router?

Thanks.

[Chris Leckness @ Apr 6th 2007 3:02AM]

No configuration needed in my case, my network is wide open. That said, I can't say if it will connect to a wep enabled router. I will check tommorow.

[Chris Leckness @ Apr 5th 2007 9:23PM]

Just some initial impressions. I used Yahoo Music as my main service since it started up but recently left for the Zune Scene. I use Flickr too. Since I have and like these services, this device is killer for me.

A couple points...
1. To stream from Yahoo's Radio, you DO NOT have to be a paid subscriber. I was able to stream fine and my Unlimited account expired a few months back.
2. Flickr works great for showing off your own photos.
3. At this time, I am only seeing the Yahoo Music Jukebox being the only way to sync your non-drm music. I am try to load up a 1gb micro sd card right now.

I'll be doing a demo video soon.

[Mickey Jones @ Apr 5th 2007 9:58PM]

I was excited about the WiFi Internet radio function until I learned that you have to go through Yahoo. I have some software on my Dell Axim that allows play from any URL. This allows me to pick the stations instead of Yahoo.

[PenaltyKillah @ Apr 6th 2007 12:10AM]

Now if SanDisk really believes that this player is going to trump the iPod (both kinds) and make moderate-sized, small-memory players a mainstream, then shouldn't they hold a big keynote conference and introduce it like it will change the world? Like those fellows at Apple? By the way, since there are 0.85" HDDs invented already, why not make players with the 2-2.5" screen and such, but with a 20GB+ memory to compete with the iPods and Zunes and the Zens and the Gigabeats?

Oh yes, I don't know why everyone's falling for cellphones with 1" screens and "Oh, you can watch movies from it! And 1GB memory for music!" You can barely fit one, or two movies in a measly 1 gig. Shouldn't there be a, at least, 10GB cell?

[pickelz @ Apr 6th 2007 12:18AM]

Chris, you can also sync music by drag-and-drop to the Music folder over USB.

[spice3d @ Apr 6th 2007 7:12PM]

it has been reported that it supports WEP, but I'm wondering about WPA. WEP is nearly "open" in my mind.

[Chris Leckness @ Apr 6th 2007 3:05AM]

Mickey Jones - I agree, for some this will suck, for me... I love Yahoo Music. I learned of so many great bands from listening to their stations.

pickelz - I haven't connected it to a pc yet. Will do that tommorow.

[spice3d @ Apr 6th 2007 7:20PM]

From the Crutchfield website: "PlaysForSure™ compatibility — plays downloaded music and video files from compatible sources and subscription services, like Napster, Yahoo! Music, and URGE", so not just Yahoo.

[PocketSynch @ Apr 10th 2007 8:52AM]

The big thing for me is that you don't need a PC. If you hear a track you love you can download it straight away. We all know that if this was an Apple innovation, they'd sell by the bucketload.

[John Pounders @ Apr 25th 2007 7:59PM]

I bought one yesterday on whim and love it.