TTL - The Tech Link Blog

Sansa slotMusic Player

Sandisk announced today the release of the first slotMusic player: the Sansa slotMusic Player.

The device will accept pre-loaded slotMusic albums on microSD cards as well as user-filled microSD cards up to 16GB (DRM-free mp3 or WMA). Consumers will have a choice of Sansa-branded or artist-branded players (ABBA, Robin Thicke, etc.)

The Sansa slotMusic Player will be available today at Wal-Mart and BestBuy (and others) at $19.99 for the Sansa-branded player and $34.99 for the artist-branded player which includes the specific artist’s album on a microSD card.

It weights in at 1.7 oz and measures 2.84″ x 1.45″ x 0.60″ and will come packaged with earphones (earbuds) and battery. One standard AAA battery should last for as long as 15hrs of playback.

Sandisk Press Release
Sansa

slotMusic

Everyone knows that music CD sales are dropping year after year because of the new digital formats available (and piracy). In fact, CD sales dropped 19% last year and digital download are becoming more and more popular.

Starting just in time for Christmas, you will be able to buy your DRM-free music on a microSD card. This card will be packaged with a USB dongle that allows the music to be read in hardware that support microSD (cell phones and multimedia players like some of the Creative ones) as well as other devices that support USB only (computers, laptops, USB-equiped HiFi systems, etc.)

From TG Daily: A new format introduced by EMI, Sony BMG, Universal and Warner Bros called slotMusic might be the solution to the increasingly slower CD sales market and will be available initially through a range U.S. retailers such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Sandisk is developing the hardware and software technology, which is based on the microSD format.

TG Daily
slotMusic

Creative Zen X-Fi

Creative are now shipping the new Zen X-Fi player.

Many people are saying that they are just not in the mp3 player market anymore and I would agree but for the really picky users that are looking for the best sound quality, this player might just be it.

Creative are really focusing on the audio quality with this product. The X-Fi audio processor in this player is designed to ”reconstruct” the lossy mp3 file format so that your music sounds closer to the original piece before it was ripped.

The player also comes with high-end earbuds.

Creative