SanDisk debuts 6GB Nano-like player

SanDisk today a new iPod nano-like MP3 player. The top-of-the-line SanDisk Sansa e200 MP3 player features a large 1.8-inch color screen and 6GB of storage, and up to 256 hours of music playback. The device also allows users to view photos and personal videos. The company also introduced the Sansa c100, a value-conscious MP3 player with a color screen and compact size. Featuring a remarkable resemblance to the Nano, the company touts its industrial design and sports a click-wheel like interface as well as features a new "universal accessory connector" to help promote the proliferation of an accessory market. As with many clones, the player offers several features not available on the iPod, including a user-replaceable battery, an FM tuner with on-the-fly recording, an icon-based menu for navigation, and a microSD expansion slot for additional capacity and support for content cards that can be exchanged with mobile phones. The Nano-like player will be available in March in capacities of 2GB ($200), 4GB ($250), and 6G ($300).

“Music is an incredibly important part of the digital lifestyle, where the emphasis is on accessibility of music, styling and ruggedness on the go,” said Eric Bone, director of audio/video product marketing at SanDisk. “These new players have a rich set of features, a high-strength industrial design and a friendly price tag that we believe will appeal to anyone who appreciates music on the go.”

The Sansa e200 series features a slim new design and a 1.8-inch TFT color screen (QCIF+) along with high-quality audio, photo viewing and video playback capabilities. It offers an industry-leading 6GB capacity that holds more than 1,400 MP3 songs.

The company also claims to have create a scratch-resistant finish, touting a "distinctive, high-strength and lightweight back cover" that is made with an advanced Titanium alloy from Liquidmetal Technologies that is stronger than steel and highly resistant to scratches and wear.

The Sansa e200 is 1.7-inch wide, 3.5-inch long, and 0.5-inch high, which is much thicker than the 0.27-inch Nano. SanDisk claims an amazing 256 hours of WMA-enabled music playback on the 6GB model, 128 hours on the 4GB model, and 64 hours on the 2GB model.

The Sansa e200 series players will support Microsoft PlaysForSure so consumers can download and pay for songs individually or download an unlimited amount of music for a flat monthly subscription fee from music stores such as Rhapsody To Go and others.

Sansa c100—Feature Rich, Value Priced

SanDisk also debuted the Sansa c100 series for value-conscious consumers who desire flash-based music player with a color screen. Available in 1GB and 2GB capacities, the device features a 1.21-inch color screen can be used to view thumbnail-size digital images. Much like the e200 series, the Sansa c100 line will support Microsoft PlaysForSure subscription and downloads compliance for easy accessibility to a wide range of music and music stores. It also includes an FM digital tuner with 20-channel presets, FM on-the-fly recording and voice-recording capabilities with its built-in microphone. The new player uses a single AAA battery to power the unit and features the same universal accessory connector for the easy addition of future accessories.

Filed under: iPod