Oh gawd, Dell releasing Zing-based DJ Ditty in September?

Ready for the DJ Ditty 2? You'd better be because the Wall Street Journal says that "several Dell officials" have confirmed in-house testing of a new sub-$100 digital music player that could go on sale as early as September. Dell also plans to launch a download service and software to "organize music and movies from various online sources" in order to properly seed the product ecosystem. The new player features a small navigation screen and basic button controls and will connect to online music services over WiFi. Unfortunately, there's no mention of DRM, only that downloaded music can be shared with PCs and cellphones. So... if you're wondering how Dell's acquisition of Zing might play into this then go get yourself a cookie, Dell's device is based on Zing's software (that's a pre-Dell era Zing prototype pictured). In fact, Zing will come pre-installed on a series of Dell laptops and "other devices" (like a Dell smartphone, maybe?) and will likely connect to "Zingspot" if Dell puts its trademark to use.

Funny, this all sounds very 2006 to us as we struggle to see how Dell's player / service will compete in a market already shaking itself out -- right Sony, Yahoo, and Microsoft? In fact, the whole WSJ piece seems like an attempt for Dell to gauge public reaction without suffering the indignity of a failed product announcement. Michael Tatelman, Dell's VP of Consumer Sales, says he'll decide "in a few weeks" how to proceed with the player and may decide not to sell it at all. So go ahead folks, now's your chance to tell Dell how you feel with all the anonymous key slapping you can muster in the comments.

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[MastrCake @ Jul 30th 2008 2:05AM]

My cousin and I each had a DJ Ditty. They both died within 2 months of purchasing them. What a shame... I liked that thing a lot. It was very compact and had good sound quality.

Please Dell, if you come out with a new Ditty, make it more reliable.

[FotoGenetix @ Jul 30th 2008 2:06AM]

umm isnt that the Sansa Connect?

[lu1de @ Jul 30th 2008 2:21AM]

yeah, I think so too..

[The Joker @ Jul 30th 2008 10:17AM]

"that's a pre-Dell era Zing prototype pictured" although it bears a striking resemblance to a Sansa Connect.

The Sansa Connect's claim-to-fame was it's WiFi which could be used for Internet radio. Unfortunately, Sansa made some sort of deal which required you to use Yahoo as the portal. Dumb. Hopefully Dell will be smarter.

[ishism @ Jul 30th 2008 2:11PM]

No, that's my PSP battery with an LCD and scroll wheel added to it.

[Andre @ Jul 30th 2008 2:11AM]

Axe.

[Jubei @ Jul 30th 2008 2:17AM]

Ahahahaha.... I really hope its called the Zing. Now we have the Zune and Zing to choose from. Joyous celebration all around for this latest innovative move from DELL.

[Decoy @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:29PM]

Don't forget the Zen.

Oh what kind of world is this? Zune, Zing, Zen, Twitter, Tweet, Bebo, THESE ARN'T REAL WORDS.

[Casey @ Aug 16th 2008 1:30AM]

Unless you count zing, which I think is used fairly often.

[aptmunich @ Jul 30th 2008 2:22AM]

After the fiasko of their first attempt, I really don't see the point. Besides - in 2 years cellphones will own the music player market.

[Hellios @ Jul 30th 2008 6:51AM]

I sure love my 80gb cellphone. But my friends 160gb one is even better.

[chickenator @ Jul 30th 2008 2:25AM]

yes, finally!

[Mike Morris @ Jul 30th 2008 2:33AM]

agree to all of the above.. but seriously Dell.. don't..

kthxbai

[Mike Morris @ Jul 30th 2008 2:34AM]

oh, and I _need Tacos, otherwise I might s'plode.. Taco player anyone?

[El Taco @ Jul 30th 2008 1:11PM]

Here I am, but make it quick

[ishism @ Jul 30th 2008 2:19PM]

You say taco player. NGAGE comes to mind....weird.

[Mikey C @ Jul 30th 2008 2:43AM]

Its the failed Sansa Connect rebadge. lol

[ishism @ Jul 30th 2008 2:15PM]

hahaha, true

[Darren @ Jul 30th 2008 3:07AM]

Fail. Dell can't write software.

[boze @ Jul 30th 2008 3:15AM]

..hmmmm.

[mj @ Jul 30th 2008 3:16AM]

for a fun double-take, go to
http://www.sandisk.com/products/catalog(1249)-sandisk_sansa_connect_mp3_player.aspx

[bradwjensen @ Jul 30th 2008 3:32AM]

I hope they don't lock it in to their own software, like Apple does with all of their media players.. That would mean the player should working out of the box with Banshee, Rhythmbox, and other media players. It would also be a great advantage for Dell to let it play widely used open formats, like FLAC & OGG Vorbis..

[Tonicboy @ Jul 30th 2008 7:30AM]

iPods are locked to Apple software? That's funny, because I've been using Songbird to manage my iPod. My unit must be defective...

[bradwjensen @ Jul 30th 2008 7:43AM]

You have got to be joking.. We all know iPods have been HACKED to allow other software to connect with it for storing or deleting songs. The men who work on Banshee talk about this hack work on iPods all the time, they say it's a pain in the A.

The fact is, out of the box the iPod is intentionally "locked" to only Apples software. My point still stands, and that is because it's a fact.

[chefgon_ign @ Jul 30th 2008 9:00AM]

To be fair, you don't have to "hack" the iPod. It's just that the third party software has to be reverse engineered from iTunes. Once that compatible software is written, any iPod user can easily use it without doing anything special to their iPod.

Also, calling FLAC and OGG "widely used" is a bit of a stretch. I seriously doubt that any of the audiophile nerds supporting those formats would be interested in a $99 Dell branded player in the first place.

[Matt @ Jul 30th 2008 9:11AM]

They already had a line of MP3 players, and they weren't locked to a specific software solution.

I had the 5 gig Pocket DJ or whatever, and it was a pretty nice DAP. Not as pretty as an iPod, but it was smaller than the Mini and had an extra gig of HDD space.

[Russ @ Jul 30th 2008 5:41AM]

is there currently a player that can download podcasts over wifi? i.e. just connect to my router and do it - not via some crappy software on my PC.

[Matthew @ Jul 30th 2008 7:39AM]

Yup, it's called the iPod :) My iPod touch does just that.

[CurtisH @ Jul 30th 2008 9:12AM]

Cue the crickets. Fail!

[Josh @ Jul 30th 2008 9:46AM]

I think Dell should go full steam ahead with this wonderful project. Why shouldn't they? Isn't Sandisk, Creative, and Microsoft making money hand over fist with their music players and services? Dell invested so much into their PDAs so successfully, doesn't every American own one? Televisions they made are in every home aren't they? (I hope you know I'm being sarcastic). It seems Dell is late to the game in so many areas these days. They're really struggling.

[Bob The Mexican @ Jul 30th 2008 9:57AM]

Will there be a "Zing Guy" with silly Zing tattoos?

[dramamoose @ Jul 31st 2008 4:12PM]

Man, you could even get a zing tattoo that didn't look half bad.

[blade417 @ Jul 30th 2008 10:09AM]

kinda looks like a psp battery with a screen.

[ishism @ Jul 30th 2008 2:15PM]

Ah man, that's I said. LOL

[Skeezle @ Jul 30th 2008 10:21AM]

Wow, the iPod will be in serious trouble now! If I were Steve Jobs, I would just sell the company & give the money back to the shareholders.

[Joe H @ Jul 30th 2008 11:22AM]

I hate him, but isn't "DJ Ditty" part of a Dane Cook joke about one-night stands?

[XenoX101 @ Jul 30th 2008 11:54AM]

Ahh! It's hideous! Put it away! Put it away!

Honestly this thing looks terrible, sorry Dell.

[Joshua.JWilliams @ Jul 30th 2008 12:10PM]

Ah ... the memories this story brings back. My very first full fledged MP3 player was a 15GB Dell Digital Jukebox (DJ) --- ahh..... it was a pretty good device ... except there were a few times that it would freeze up and generally just drive me nuts. I think that was back in '03 or so.

Please Dell, stick to your computers, you're doing a much better job with those components than any sort of a musical device.

If Microsoft can't break into the market with the new Zunes, it's going to be very difficult to make it against Apple. Too bad MS would actually have a chance with their dang software was better.....

[Roger @ Jul 30th 2008 1:23PM]

Dell should team up with the Amazon MP3 store. Forget doing their own music supermarket.

[chris nolte @ Jul 30th 2008 1:56PM]

DJ Ditty? More like the DJ shitty.

[ishism @ Jul 30th 2008 2:16PM]

I like that.LOL

[friaf @ Jul 30th 2008 2:06PM]

I just wish they would support their older DJs on Vista by supplying drivers. Seems like Dell gets in and out of things too quick, so I would shy away from their stuff.

[ishism @ Jul 30th 2008 2:17PM]

I like that..too

[Shadyman @ Jul 31st 2008 1:12AM]

I bet that's what SHE said.

[Robert Pedersen @ Jul 30th 2008 2:27PM]

People seem to forget that Sandisk has 11% of the market, is doing well with its Clip, but is unlikely to see any further growth at least in the US. This is because most mp3 buyers (around 70%) are kids who have the money to waste. They are not making a technology purchase but a fashion statement, and Apple understands that. If Dell wants to get into this business they can only hope to get a share of the non-fashion statement buys, just 30% of units sold, They will hurt Sandisk and themselves. Instead, given Sandisk's low stock price, Dell should just buy it and at least start with 11% of the market and use its hardware to create something like Apple's linking of its players and hardware. .

[KEROLiUKAS @ Jul 30th 2008 3:16PM]

Wow, way to copy Sansa Connect, you tards...

[carhughes @ Jul 30th 2008 3:18PM]

Take 2 with Dell trying to take on Apple with a new music device? I really wish that the big vendors would just focus on what they are supposed to do well like build really good computers that are reliable. I will add my two cents here and just say, "dream on."

[cowabungaCarl @ Jul 30th 2008 7:25PM]

unless they make it look incredibly sexy, and come at a great price point....dont even bother. I dont think dell can penetrate in the alread crowded mp3 player market.

MAYBE, if they throw in a free Zing was all PC purchases,..maybe.

[Jake @ Jul 30th 2008 11:26PM]

Ick

[CadeRageous @ Jul 31st 2008 12:12AM]

Wow.... this looks like an unsophisticated and ancient GPS device. Wtf is Dell trying to pull? I used to live in Austin, and Dell has been a joke there for half of the last decade. The half decade before that, they made Austin proud. Then again, that was when their computers were rock solid. Now they're as soft as a cheap sea sponge.

Repeat: WTF Dell.....wtf?

This thing better be priced below 25 bucks to have any chance in hell of success. BUH-BYE...

And I'd like to mention that a lot of the kids who have lots of money to throw around--that's not entirely true. My half bro who is about 14 now has gone through 2-3 cheap MP3 players, all non-iPods, but he got them because of their cheap pricepoint. However, he got what he paid for--they've all broken down in less than 6 months each. Maybe Dell can make a cheap device that won't crap out quite so soon... doubt it based on the semi-recent hardware record.