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SanDisk prepping a 32GB Sansa View?
The Sansa View might have just hit, but it looks like SanDisk's already looking ahead -- the specs link on the View page lists 8, 16, and 32GB capacities with a top-end price of $330. Of course, there's no indication when this bad boy might come out, but those of you who had just gotten comfortable waiting for the right View probably don't mind waiting a little longer.[Via DAPreview, thanks Vizion]Update: Looks like it could be false alarm. Pretty much every player on SanDisk's site is showing sizes up to 32GB, even the device we know damn well don't havethat much storage, like the mysterious new 8, 16, and 32GB TakeTV, e200 series, etc. Thanks, Clay!
SanDisk's Sansa View gets unboxed
Barely a month after getting reintroduced, the 16GB SanDisk Sansa View has been acquired, unboxed and lovingly photographed for your viewing pleasure. No real surprises here (well, aside from the Best Buy logos scattered about), but inside you'll apparently find a stash of paperwork, the player itself, a USB cable, earbuds and an Installation CD. For a closer look at what's waiting within, be sure and hit the read link.[Thanks, Randall B.]
SanDisk Sansa TakeTV (and Fanfare) hands-on: TakeTWO
Ok, our new TakeTV arrived, and this time it works perfectly. (The first one we got was a pre-production unit with a bum remote.) Here are a few more things we noticed about the TakeTV and its accompanying Fanfare video download service: The TakeTV interface still has a very unpolished, raw look and feel to it. It's also just the bare essentials, with only a few options for video settings (just aspect ratio, NTSC / PAL, and which video type you prefer: letterbox, pan and scan, fill, etc.). On the upshot, being flash-based and light weight, the system boots near instantly and videos take just a couple of seconds to load. It properly recognized our XviD and DivX files, but didn't like AVC1 encoded movies, and surprisingly enough, didn't like our standard encoded MPEG-4 Handbrake-ripped DVD. (It's supposed to play back MPEG-4 files, maybe we did something funny, who knows.) On the other hand Fanfare looks very slick, but the interface -- done in Flash -- is way too busy, making it sometimes difficult to tell what's going on. It's definitely in need of some simplification and polish. Downloaded DRMed videos are, surprisingly enough, in XviD. But they're wrapped SanDisk's proprietary TrustedFlash rights protection. Files are .smbt. Downloaded videos are about 350MB per 30 minutes. That's 1.6Mbps (200KBps); given that high a bitrate you'd think these videos would look friggin' great, but the sad fact is they look more like 600-800Kbps, tops, so don't be too disappointed when your Fanfare downloads don't look all that amazing. So our day one thoughts on TakeTV + Fanfare? Well, $99 or $150 for a device that plays all our favorite video formats is kind of a no brainer, especially considering the cost of entry for a lot of other devices in the same category is significantly higher (the $300 / $400 Apple TV comes to mind). We're not sure this whole system is ready for prime time just yet -- but neither is SanDisk, which is why Fanfare is launching in "beta". Maybe with the right hardware and software tweaks this could be a very compelling cheap-or-free download service paired with a very easy to use hardware solution, but for right now we think there are quite a few kinks to iron out.%Gallery-8959%
SanDisk Sansa TakeTV hands-on
Well, after about a day and a half of anticipation, we've got a TakeTV of our own to fool around with. First thing that struck us: this ain't your mom's USB flash drive -- unless your mom carries around a Zachmorrisphone, because the TakeTV is big. (But it's not really intended for taking out of the house and using on the daily, so it's not like that's really any big deal.) The remote is thin and blister-buttoned (meh) but the play button is unusually, satisfyingly large. The video dock the TakeTV plugs into doesn't have any rubber grips though, so the thick cable is liable to push it around (or over). Other than that, we haven't much else to say since our unit (which was possibly pre-release hardware) is having some trouble getting up and running. Check back soon, we'll let you know how Fanfare and the rest works out.%Gallery-8940%
SanDisk announces Sansa TakeTV, Fanfare video download service
That SanDisk Sansa TakeTV we saw over the weekend? Well, it's officially announced: the USBTV is now the TakeTV, and will take advantage of a new video platform called Fanfare. The details:Sansa TakeTV 4GB and 8GB sizes, $100 and $150 respectively Supports DivX (including Home Theater profile), XVID, and MPEG-4 Up to 720 x 576 resolution On sale immediately Intended for use in downloading shows from one's computer to the TakeTV (which is then physically moved to the TV) Fanfare online video service Launching with content from CBS, Jaman, Showtime, Smithsonian Networks, The Weather Channel and TV Guide Broadband, including shows such as CSI, Survivor China, Dexter, and Sleeper Cell Video downloads will be both ad-supported (free) and paid (not sure how much yet), depending on the wishes of the content creators Fanfare video will also be playable on Sansa portable media devices Yes, it's DRMed, and yes, it's proprietary: TrustedFlash, developed by SanDisk Launching in beta today, officially launching in 2008 %Gallery-8924%
SanDisk Sansa TakeTV 8GB video player leaked
Vanilla USB flash drives are so passé, so for those who want a little more flavor more from their generic sticks of memory, might we point you to the SanDisk Sansa TakeTV, apparently freshly leaked by way of buy.com? (It also briefly appeared on PC Mag's site and SanDisk's forums among other sites.) Sure, the TakeTV an 8GB flash drive, but it's also intended to plug into a USB dock with TV outs (and remote), which is capable of reading and decoding the DivX, XviD, and MPEG-4 video files up to 720 x 576 and 7Mbps for playback on your TV. All the old school simplicity of home sneakernet combined with the one-stop-shop convenience of a USB flash drive. Unfortunately buy.com won't tell us when it's out or how much it'll cost, so no one gets to take home TakeTV just yet.Update: This whole thing sound familiar? It might, SanDisk announced its USBTV initiative at CES this year, so it looks like this is the first resulting product. Thanks to everyone who pointed this out.[Thanks, Matt]
Pride, hair on the line for 2007 Zune holiday sales
Not that covering this industry is ever exactly boring, but when key players like SanDisk spokesperson Carm Lyman offer to put something valuable on the line -- in this case, her flowing locks -- in preparation for the holiday sales figures, well, we can't help but get drawn in. The last time we saw two high profile figures engaged in an entertaining wager Microsoft's J Alllard had to sport N'Gai Croal-esque dreadlocks, and now Lyman is matching ZDnet columnist David Berlind's pledge to go bald if Zune is able to overtake Sansa in domestic sales. Berlind originally made the proposal in response to a Robbie Bach claim that Microsoft would snatch the coveted number two position from SanDisk after the upcoming holiday season, which would require a daunting 7% improvement in market share and leapfrogging over Creative. So far Bach hasn't responded to the challenge -- he has until October 31st -- which makes us think that he isn't really all that confident in his assertion, or perhaps just preoccupied with more, um, important matters.
Altec Lansing intros inMotion iM414 Zune speaker system
Altec Lansing was among the first to offer a speaker dock for the original Zune, and it now looks set to accommodate the latest batch as well, with the company apparently nearly a release for its "Designed for Zune" inMotion iM414 speaker system. While we're a bit skeptical of Altec Lansing's claims of "immersive, crystal-clear sound," the system does look to be fairly decent as far as these things go, with it boasting some 3.2-watt speakers with 2-inch neodymium drivers, a built-in FM radio, a remote, and a spare input jack for your other audio gear. It'll also, of course, charge your Zune while it plays, and it'll even hold some batteries if you want to tote it along with you. As they've shown in the past, Altec Lansing hasn't forgotten about SanDisk users either, with the nearly identical inMotion iM413 model for Sansa players also said to be "coming soon," for the same $100 price as the Zune version.[Via Crave]
Hands-on with the super-tiny Sansa Clip
Are you interested in a really, really small DAP? As in: so small you will most definitely lose it some place, like, say... between your car seat cushions, or in a pile smooth skipping stones? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might want to look into Sansa's Clip -- just about the teeny-tiniest media player we've ever had the pleasure of handling. Actually, the thing feels pretty good when you get your mitts on it, sort of like a shrunken iPod, with a really nice, clear OLED display. At the low prices they're asking for these ($40 for the 1GB, $60 for the 2GB), you can probably afford to lose a few. Check the gallery -- we promise you won't have to squint... much.%Gallery-6677%
SanDisk's Sansa Clip
SanDisk decided to bring another screen to the clip-on party with its new Sansa Clip. Apple's Shuffle and Creative's Zen Stone have been rocking the form factor for a while now, but only the Zen Stone Plus is much use for browsing through your music collection. The Sansa Clip player sports the same OLED screen that can be found on the Sansa Express, but comes in both 1GB and 2GB flavors, for the lovable price points of $40 and $60, respectively. SanDisk even found room for FM and voice recorders, and the usual MP3 and subscription-friendly WMA support. The Sansa Clip promises 15 hours of battery life, and should be out in September in your choice of black, red, pink and blue.[Via Audio Junkies]
SanDisk shakes up Sansa line for the back to school celebration
It looks like SanDisk has decided that a few of its Sansa media players were due for a refresh, and it's now rolled out some changes in hopes of attracting the Back to School masses. Perhaps the biggest change comes to the company's WiFi-equipped Sansa Connect, which retains all the same specs but gets a full hundred dollars knocked off its price tag, with it now coming in at just $150. The other refresh comes to the company's Sansa Shaker line, which gets a new 1GB model that'll retail for $50 -- the existing 512MB can also now be had for a mere $35. Of course, while SanDisk is pitching this as a Back to School promotion, there's nothing to stop anyone from taking advantage of it for themselves.
SanDisk inks licensing agreement to support DivX
Good news for all you video-playing SanDisk owners out there, as the creator of your PMP just inked a licensing agreement to support DivX in the very near future. As a part of the deal, future SanDisk video products will include interoperability with the DivX Stage6 video website, and while it wasn't directly stated that firmware would be pushed out to upgrade existing units, we've got our collective fingers crossed. Unfortunately, SanDisk apparently isn't quite ready to divulge exactly what products (if not all of the video-playing varieties) will indeed be stickered with a DivX-certified logo, but it did say that it would relieve that tension and let us all know "later this year."[Via TGDaily]
SanDisk pulls a 180, applauds Amazon's DRM-free music store
We've seen companies hop the fence on occasion before, but SanDisk is making absolutely sure that we all know that it's seriously changing its tune (ahem) on this one. In a bizarre statement that proudly "applauds Amazon and EMI on the launch of its newfangled unprotected music store," the company goes out of its way to proclaim its "excitement for Amazon's DRM-free music download portal," and moreover, cranks up the contradiction further by stating that the firm is a "consistent advocate of consumer choice that believes this launch is an important step forward." While we try not to read too much into that, there's a pretty stark difference between these adoring comments and the ones just months ago that aimed to "protect content creators and the long-term health of the industry" by utilizing DRM on digital downloads. Regardless, it has become fairly clear that SanDisk probably just goes with the flow and hopes to put blinders on everyone else rather than actually saying what it means, but as of this moment, we're felicitous that SanDisk is seeing the light.[Via Electronista]
SanDisk Sansa Connect gets dissected
While most of the Sansa Connect coverage has treated the little fellow fairly well up until this point, we knew it was only a matter of time before someone got their hands dirty and cracked it open. Sure enough, the unashamed folks at AnythingButiPod had no qualms peeling back the plastic and taking a look inside, as SanDisk's portable WiFi audio player was carefully returned to a state it once found itself in on the manufacturing line. So for those of you whose eyes light up at the mere sight of PCB, click on through for a few more snaps, and then hit the read link when you're ready for more.
SanDisk's Sansa C250 goes red and pink
Calm down fellas, you haven't let Valentine's Day slip up on you or anything, but SanDisk is looking out for those who like to look way ahead, or for those with in-the-know mums who need a new pocket-sized DAP for Mum's Day. The Sansa C250 digital audio player falls into the bargain-priced C200 series, and while a black iteration has been available for some time now, those who haven't caved and snapped up the highly-regarded Sansa Express can grab a pink or red C250 in 1GB or 2GB flavors. They also sport 1.4-inch color displays for showing album art and JPEG thumbnails, an FM tuner, radio recording abilities, a voice recorder, USB 2.0, a microSD expansion slot, and a removable, rechargeable Li-ion cell that purportedly offers up 15 hours of battery life on a full charge. The 10.4-ounce music machine is currently on sale for a penny under $80 at the store you love to hate, while the less spectacular black version will save you $20.
SanDisk's Sansa Express takes its turn, gets reviewed
It's no secret that the Sansa lineup of music players have fared pretty well in crunch time, and according to a glowing PCMag writeup, the diminutive (and simply titled) 1GB Express is no different. While it's difficult not to draw obvious connections between this pack 'o gum sized DAP and Apple's first-generation Shuffle, the built-in OLED alone gives it a serious edge. Additionally, reviewers raved over the included niceties (you know, the FM tuner, voice recorder, and microSD expansion slot) that aren't usually found on bottom-end players. Both the clean menu navigation and pocket-friendly size were also commended, and while the "crappy earbuds," unsurprising lack of an AC adapter, and "a modest 14 hours of battery life" were looked down upon, that still wasn't enough to stop the crew from handing out a 4.5 out of 5 rating.[Via ChipChick]
Sansa Shaker: mystery solved
Just in case the semi-mysterious specifications and launch deets we had last week for SanDisk's Sansa Shaker have been keeping you up nights, here's the skinny. The Shaker, which just went "official," includes the dual headphone jacks, built-in speaker, 512MB of memory and SD card slot we told you about. What we weren't clear about is the "interactive Shake feature," but it turns out it merely skips to the next track, and there's nothing stopping your child from controlling playback with the control band at the bottom of the device -- no need for physical exertion when a twist will do, right? SanDisk plans to launch this puppy in the US for $40 by late April, with the rest of the world to follow later this year.
The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Gadget of the Year
This is it, the moment you've been waiting for. After all these long months you can finally cast your ballot for the 2006 Gadget of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Wednesday, April 18th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best gadget in all of 2006 win! The nominees: Apple MacBook Pro, Dell 3007WFP-HC, HTC Hermes / 8525, Nintendo Wii, SanDisk Sansa E280R, Slingbox PRO, and Sony PlayStation 3. %Poll-368%
SanDisk Sansa Shaker does MP3s for the kids
We've seen plenty of times where good toys go bad, but SanDisk's latest Sansa music player looks like a pretty solid bet. The forthcoming Sansa Shaker features a tubular design with blue and pink color schemes to appeal to the younger set, and aside from sporting 512MB of internal capacity, dual headphone outputs for BFF listening, an SD flash card slot for loading up additional tracks, an integrated speaker in case you've lent out your earbuds, and unique "band" playback controls on the top and bottom of the tube. Interestingly, the Amazon product page refers to a mysterious "interactive Shake feature" to be included as well, and while no hard release date nor price is currently listed, we imagine SanDisk will try to keep this one in the $50 range and get it here sometime before summer.[Via AnythingButiPod]
Engadget Podcast 106 - 04.13.2007
Finally, some answers! Yes, Sony is killing the 20GB PS3. Yes, Xbox 360 will get a QWERTY keyboard device. Yes, Leopard is actually delayed. Yes, Palm is developing its own mobile Linux OS. And yes, we're definitely still holding the 2006 Engadget Awards. All this and more on Engadget Podcast 106, enjoy! Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [RSS OGG] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in OGG) to your RSS aggregator. Hosts: Peter Rojas and Ryan Block Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Solvent - Instructograph (Ghostly International) Program: 01:26 - 20GB PlayStation 3, RIP: 2006 - 2007 06:28 - Xbox 360 Spring 2007 Dashboard update 13:07 - How-To: play DivX and Xvid on your Apple TV 17:14 - Apple's Leopard delayed to October, iPhone blamed 24:16 - Apple sells 100 millionth iPod, deems experiment a success 27:45 - Palm prepping its own Linux-based OS 35:46 - Dell Axim, RIP: 2002 - 2007 40:12 - Hands-on with the SanDisk Sansa Connect 46:33 - The Engadget Mobile Interview: Sky Dayton, CEO of Helio 47:55 - The 2006 Engadget Awards - vote! LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dawt com
