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Fuzzy Logic SanDisk wants microSD cards to displace CDs, launches “Shuffle-like” player
Fuzzy Logic SanDisk wants microSD cards to displace CDs, launches “Shuffle-like” player | SanDisk wants microSD cards to displace CDs, launches “Shuffle-like” player |
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| by Alex Zaharov-Reutt | |
| Thursday, 16 October 2008 | |
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That said, almost every phone on the market now supports microSD cards, as do many of the world’s mp3 players, thus making the microSD format a viable one for music distribution if only music labels would sell cards pre-loaded with albums. Well, it happened last month, with major Flash memory manufacturer SanDisk leading the push to make buying such pre-loaded memory cards at retail a reality – at least, in the US, before the rest of the world gets them sometime in 2009. On sale in CD sized cases, the package includes a microSD card, a USB reader, and in packages with a SanDisk Sansa slotMusic Player included, the player is branded with the images and or branding of the artist in question. You can visit the slotMusic website here where you can see that Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI are all on board, suggesting that virtually all the big hits will possibly make it onto slotMusic cards, if this initial test proves successful. What’s new is the slotMusic player itself, on sale without any artist branding (i.e. SanDisk only branding) for US $20, or with artist branding pre-packaged with a $14.95 card for a total of US $34.95, although street prices for the cards and players will likely be cheaper, with BestBuy and Walmart the initial outlets for both. The player itself has no screen, just buttons to play and stop, fast forward and rewind, and volume controls. There’s no USB connector either – just pop in a slotMusic card, press play, and it starts playing. Although the slotMusic player comes with standard headphones and a 3.5mm headphone socket, you can naturally use whatever headphones you want. The unit is powered by a AAA battery, which is supposed to give 15 hours of playback time. But don’t think you need to buy one of these players if your mp3 player already has a microSD slot, or you have one on your phone – you can use these cards there too, or presumably, copy them off the card onto other cards you already own, like the one that’s already in your phone. Daniel Schreiber, senior vice president and general manager for SanDisk said: “With no need for computers or cords, the Sansa slotMusic Player gives consumers more time to play, and less time to worry about managing or downloading their music. “SanDisk is all about building products that are easy for consumers to enjoy. Just insert your favorite artist’s slotMusic card into the Sansa slotMusic player and press play.” So, what are the technical details of this otherwise very basic player and which artists are now available to purchase in this diminutive format? Also... is it a good idea - or the start of musicSlot cards getting lost under the couch cushions, lost under car seats or hurtling down the aisle of a bus or plane? Please read on to page 2. |
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