How would you change SanDisk's Sansa Fuze?

Just like that obscure Burt Bacharach album, some DAPs just need a little time to grow on you. Now that SanDisk's comparatively inexpensive Sansa Fuze has been out and about for a couple of months, we're imploring you dear readers to cast out your opinions on the minuscule device. Are you satisfied with the interface? Have you been disappointed by the sound quality? Was this thing just one feature away from being perfect? 'Tis a shame SanDisk didn't phone you up before mashing the green button and sending these on their way, but here's your shot to tell all who will listen what could be done better in revision two.

[Colin Potter @ May 16th 2008 6:33PM]

add a clickwheel, touchscreen, proprietary iTunes codec playback, and call it the iFuze

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 6:35PM]

Shut up.

[Colin Potter @ May 16th 2008 6:43PM]

its called a joke, get a sense of humor douche

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 6:49PM]

It's called shutting up, get a sense of decency, toilet.

[The Return of Moorio @ May 16th 2008 6:49PM]

Jokes are suppose to be funny.

[Deed @ May 16th 2008 6:50PM]

It's called being assertive of a crappy joke. Get a sense of standards, narcissist.

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 6:55PM]

Behold, the low ranking.

[Pochi @ May 16th 2008 7:21PM]

Where the fuck is "lowest?" ENGADGET WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE "EST" RANKINGS?!

[finnith @ May 16th 2008 8:30PM]

If you click on the comments' timestamps you can see the true post ratings.

[Darren @ May 16th 2008 10:03PM]

1. iTunes doesn't use proprietary codecs. AAC is part of the MPEG-4 standard and is supported by a number of different MP3 players.

2. If the SanDisk players sync'd with iTunes I could at least consider buying one. But as it stands, SanDisk players are completely out of the question for me.

(No one expects SanDisk to sync protected-AAC content. That isn't the issue that prevents me from considering SanDisk)

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 17th 2008 12:48AM]

You should have said something really funny, like, add the color brown and call it an Sansa iTurd. Or let's light that Fuze and blow it to smithereens. Or if it gets to looking any closer to an iPod, let's call it the:
Sansa iSueYouForBlatantCopyingOfTheAppleiPod

Sansa really could have used a more practical shape for the case that didn't look like an iPod. How a about a triangle. I don't think Apple has used that shape yet.

You're right. These people here don't have any sense of humor.

[Sly @ May 16th 2008 6:38PM]

just change that fugly blue interface to something nicer looking and it would be awesome.

[peshue @ May 16th 2008 8:24PM]

yeah, that gui has overstayed it's welcome.

[JohnTitor @ May 16th 2008 9:02PM]

I don't get it, why don't people flame the iPod GUI, hasn't it been there awhile? And the blue is changeable >_>

anyway I would add a QVGA display and add some real Xvid playback, nothing to unreasonable to ask for

[Blaine Oliver @ May 17th 2008 3:17AM]

I wouldnt mind if for once they brought these things to the UK, ive been hassling Sandisk for ages to bring it over.

[pbase @ May 16th 2008 6:41PM]

I'd explain to their design department that originality really isn't that difficult.

And it has the added benefit of keeping the ilawyers at bay.

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 6:48PM]

What exactly is it that you think this looks so much like? Look at an iPod Nano, then look at this. I'd say it's sufficiently different looking. I'm tired of this attitude that it's up to everyone else to make sure they make their devices look completely different than the iPod. Especially since there's also the attitude that anything that doesn't look enough like an iPod is somehow ugly.

[Waveblade @ May 16th 2008 6:49PM]

Originality? I mean we only have so many shapes. :D

[Deed @ May 17th 2008 8:01AM]

What we need is motion and twist-sensing dodecahedron device with the ability to fuse with the user for maximum portability.

Out-there shapes are the future. :3

[pbase @ May 16th 2008 7:00PM]

Well, maybe you're right, gad get. I was willing to compare this and the nano, and opened a photo of both on my monitor.

But I looked away to answer a phone call, and when I looked back I forgot which was which.

When I sort this out, I'll get back to ya.

[bondsbw @ May 16th 2008 7:10PM]

Ok, sure, they look different upclose. Different enough to know that it's not an iPod from 10 feet away? No...

The reason copycats are bad is because the Fuze could suck and bring down the name of the iPod. I'm not saying it does suck... just that it could... I just want to make it clear that this isn't a pro-Apple or anti-SanDisk post.

So, say I'm walking around with a Fuze. A friend says, "Oh, you got an iPod?" And I say, "Yeah, it sucks... it doesn't have enough battery life... yada yada yada..." (Again, hypothetical!) So that friend now thinks that iPods suck (which they might... I've never owned one...). See why this is bad, and why Apple could bring them to court over this?

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 7:14PM]

@bondsbw

That happens because people who don't know any better refer to all mp3 players as "iPod." That's what happens when you dominate a market the way Apple does.

[pbase @ May 16th 2008 7:20PM]

You speak as if there's something wrong with dominating a market. That's what most businesses wish they could do.

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 7:23PM]

I wasn't taking a dig at Apple, I was just saying that's the nature of it.

[sk @ May 17th 2008 9:06AM]

I mean, come on guys, ok if I worked for the design department at Sansa and dished out a bean shaped or some whacko kinda looking player would you buy it ? Personally no one would design one like that. Not even the people that complain. Its quite good value for money. Maybe codec support for Xvid as earlier mentioned. And for a change better bundled headphones ?

[Captain McBad @ May 16th 2008 6:55PM]

I think the primary problem with SanDisk's lineup is the UI. It's not very easy to use, and it's not very visually appealing. When I see it's color scheme, Microsoft Office 2008 comes to mind. Ick.

[haX0r @ May 16th 2008 6:57PM]

...just without the "Blue page of death".

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 6:59PM]

Well, I agree with your remark about its appearance. It's very bland. However, I find the UI easy enough to navigate. Apple could probably learn a thing or two from it, in fact. Though overall, I do prefer the iPod interface. Slightly.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ May 16th 2008 7:40PM]

o you mean the blue background of death thats on it now.

[timothy @ May 17th 2008 5:01PM]

The UI is great, actually. Very quick to navigate, and on par with the iPod's, if not better.

[kale @ May 17th 2008 1:03AM]

Yeah, appearance isn't that good, but I like it better than the iPod. And I am a pretty staunch Mac fan. But I own a Sansa. FM Radio, better battery, SD expansion, voice recorder. I was sold at the expansion card. Is the interface difficult? A little bit, yeah. But I'd rather have all the other features. Listen, if you want bland, check out the interface of the iPod. Pretty darn bland, if you ask me.

[Vinay @ May 16th 2008 6:56PM]

A good, efficient WiFi radio, with the capability to play streaming internet audio... the likes of ShoutCast, LaunchCast, etc including the RealMedia streams of BBC and others.

[rTwelve @ May 16th 2008 7:10PM]

How many MP3 players on the market actually do that though? I know the Connect did it, I believe, but it doesn't seem like there's much incentive to include it.

[Terc @ May 16th 2008 7:00PM]

http://www.geardiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/ipod-classic-2.jpg
http://www.digitaltechnews.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/11/sansa_fuze_player_2.jpg

These two look very similar... Even marketing has decided to clone Apple's photography.

Don't start with the (you can only make an mp3 player in so many shapes" crap The proportions are nearly identical.

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 7:02PM]

Wow, you're right; they look like twins! (sarcasm)

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 7:05PM]

And the photography... a straight on view of the front, showing the different available colors by putting them together in one photo. Unbelievable! Apple should take them to court!

Did I mention there are only so many shapes you can use? Comfortable shapes, that is.

[Brady @ May 16th 2008 7:15PM]

wow you've got a chip on your shoulder for some reason

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 7:19PM]

A computer chip.

[fashionista @ May 16th 2008 7:38PM]

You need to get laid, Terc.

[vdogg89 @ May 16th 2008 8:08PM]

lol

[Davey @ May 16th 2008 8:31PM]

Why is copying Apple a bad thing?

[CraigJ @ May 17th 2008 12:32AM]

Well, I won't comment of who may have or have not copied who, but Apple has a design patent, and a trademark on the iPod design.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/12/apple-trademarks-ipods-design-applies-for-iphone-design-mark/

You can decide for yourself if you think SanDisk may or may not have a problem, but since Apple clearly has prior art and they have been granted this trademark, I think a some companies might, including SanDisk, have a problem. Note that Microsoft changed the circle on the Zune to a squircle. Perhaps why knew this trademark was coming?

[Brett Nieland @ May 18th 2008 10:20PM]

Well, if you put two pictures of wallets side by side...

[rTwelve @ May 16th 2008 7:05PM]

Play when charging from AC power. None of this "connected" BS because it thinks it's syncing with a PC.

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 7:07PM]

The e280 plays while charging, why doesn't this?

[rTwelve @ May 16th 2008 7:12PM]

I guess yours must have different firmware... I've dealt with several e200s, the View, and the Fuze and the View was the only one that would play while charging. [shrug] Maybe I'mdoinitwrong

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 7:16PM]

Did the e200 you used have the latest firmware?

[rTwelve @ May 16th 2008 7:19PM]

Probably not, it was a store display.

[gad get @ May 16th 2008 7:19PM]

Ah.

[rTwelve @ May 16th 2008 7:20PM]

not sure where the rest of that went, but to clarify: I sell MP3 players, but also set up the displays and maintain their functionality. I have experience with Sansas, iPods, Zunes, Samsung... etc.