SanDisk out with tiny digital music players

Company says it plans to challenge Apple for dominance in the "flash" memory player market.

The story "SanDisk out with tiny digital music players" published January 5, 2006 at 6:06 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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Not possible It does let me chuckle though

The only reason apple iPods are hot sellers is because of the itunes
music store and not to mention even a 3 year old can sync a ipod
with itunes. and tes i have seen one do it before too!

[mwa423]

You don't give samsung enough credit

It's absolutly childish and immature to presume that there is never any possible improvement over a particular product. If the ipod was the greatest thing ever when it came out, then why has apple made at least 5 new versions of it? Because there is always room for improvement. If Samsung can make a quality mp3 player that has a great user interface, then it's possible to beat the ipod.

Ideas that would make me buy this samsung mp3 player over an ipod nano (which is what it is competing against):

A: Compatibility with subscription music services.
While I hate the idea that I would be using microsoft drm, I would use yahoo music if I had a compatable player (I own an ipod)

B: Great user interface.
From what I've seen, thus far apple is the champ of user interfaces on mp3 players, but there could be something better, nothing I can think up, but who says Samsung can't? Nothing's impossible.

C: Price
If samsung's 6 gb model was basically as good as the nano for the same price (they would have to drop their price $50, but I think it would serve them well) then I would probably take the extra 2 gb.

[phreekk]

Apple spends millions for only 49%

"Sandisk has about 29 percent of the flash category market, while Apple has about 49 percent"

Sandisk doesn't advertise on TV or anywhere that I've seen, not to say they don't but I've certainly been unaware as opposed to the massive campaigns that Apple puts out. And Sandisk has 29% compared to Apple's 49, so to say their goals of 35-40 make you laugh, means that you are a very ignorant person. All they need to do is spend 1/10th of what Apple spends and they will get that market share. They didn't say they wanted to overtake Apple. Plus, people buy devices like the Sansa because they are cheaper per MB, or having longer battery life or better features. A real gadget enthusist will research the players or turn to cnet for advice rather than being a sheeple and just buying a lame ipod cause it has itunes. After you've spent hundreds of dollars on itunes music and mp3s are no longer the best format in 10 years what will you do? iTunes might bring in people that can't use a VCR but based on having 29% already I'd say that Sandisk does a good job of appealing to people that aren't sheeple and they will get their 35-40% goal. So go laugh, you're only showing your ignorance.