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SanDisk unveils docking station, "made for Sansa" license program
comment: 32 | Monday, September 04 (2006) 08:02AM | Posted by Lone
In an effort to improve upon their 2nd place position in the DAP market, SanDisk sat down with a group of companies best known for making iPod accesssories. The result: the new "made for Sansa" licensing program. Much like Apple's equivalent "made for iPod" program, manufacturers can design accessories officially licensed by SanDisk. Said manufacturers have already gotten busy, with roughly 40 products available by Q4 2006.

Companies represented in this initial group of accessory manufacturers are Altec Lansing, DLO (Digital Lifestyle Outfitters), Griffin Technology, HandStands, Macally Peripherals, Maximo Products and Speck Products. Many items will be available in the fourth quarter of this year, in time for the holiday shopping season.

Accessories offered under the “Made for Sansa” license program include:

• Portable stereo speakers from Altec Lansing and Macally Peripherals.
• Travel cases and armband holders from DLO, Griffin Technology, HandStands and Speck Products.
• Wireless headphones from Macally Peripherals and wired earphones from Maximo Products.
• FM transmitters for playback through automobile sound systems from DLO, Griffin Technology and Maximo Products.
• USB cables, chargers, adapters and other peripherals from Griffin Technology, Macally Peripherals and Maximo Products.


This seems to be the first serious effort at wooing 3rd party accessory makers from Apple (though we expect the Microsoft Zune to go after that market as well), and there are a few impressive accessories in the first bunch. If many of these items can get placement next to their iPod equivalents in brick-and-mortar stores like Best Buy, it could go a long way toward getting the 'Sansa' name in more people's minds.

Accessory List | Press Release via AnythingButiPod

Thanks, perfectionist_etc

And this was just 3rd party stuff. SanDisk also went ahead and fashioned a nifty dock themselves, calling it the "Base Station."


The Base Station works with the c200 and e200 series of players, providing line output, easy USB connectivity with a PC, and a bundled IR remote supporting basic playback functions (play/pause, next/prev, volume control). It should be available in October at $ 70 MSRP.

Product Page | Live Pics (Trusted Reviews)

Thanks, Lacene


Update: we have lots of "live pictures" ourselves as well . Click the link below for those thingies.

[ Read the rest ... ]
Comments

Anthony7

Comments: 98
Sep 04 (2006) 08:53AM  

I had said in an earlier post when the 8Gb Sansa was announced, that this is a company I will keep my eye on.
I am currently not in the market for a DAP (who am I kidding, I'm always in the market for a DAP )
I will keep SanDisk in mind as a primary choice. Also, at least SanDisk is trying to place their names out front and trying, at least, to put the Sansa name out there so people will recognize them.
This was the mistake of other DAP manufactures, not getting their name out there for one reason or another.
I hope they come out with a seperate AC adapter, I heard Griffin Technologies has one out that's pretty much universal, if SanDisk doesn't come out with one, and down the road I end up getting a Sansa e200 series, I'll see if the Griffin is compatable.


Edited because I jumped the gun.
Griffin is making one for the Sansa series itself.
[Linky]

[ edited Sep 04 (2006) 09:00AM ]



Cleric

Comments: 14
Sep 04 (2006) 09:13AM  

awesome can't wait to snag some of these accesssories.



Steve

Comments: 1197
Sep 04 (2006) 09:16AM  

Yea good move. IR remote dock is cool.



608zz
Location: DC metro area.
Comments: 270
Sep 04 (2006) 09:24AM  

Oops, they did it again!

How many of us want devices that follow the ipod?

None for me, thanks.



Steve

Comments: 1197
Sep 04 (2006) 09:26AM  

Oh c'mon, now any player that has accessories is an ipod imitator too? You're giving it too much credit. It's a good way to get brand recognition and a healthy accessory catalog will increase sales.
[ edited Sep 04 (2006) 09:28AM ]



Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 841
Sep 04 (2006) 09:27AM  

The Sandisk docking station does not have a video-out port like many other docks for video-capable DAP's, but considering what the quality would be on a TV, it's probably a good thing....

Griffin will also be providing a dock for the Sansa, but it won't have a remote, as far as I can tell....

Gomadic was already providing a line of accessories such as charging cables and adapters, but I guess they weren't approved by Sandisk....



dave95

Comments: 122
Sep 04 (2006) 09:27AM  

SanDisk unlike others are very aggressive in price (Flash), getting product placements in stores like BestBuy, teaming up with Accessory makers.....no wonder they're #2 (even thouh it's a distance #2)

My small gripe: For a company that started the whole iDont campaign, telling us not to follow the flocks like sheep’s, why must their made for logo looks just like the made for iPod logo, hehehe?




Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 841
Sep 04 (2006) 09:31AM  

608zz wrote ...

Oops, they did it again!

How many of us want devices that follow the ipod?

None for me, thanks.


are you talking about the "Made For Sansa" logo?? While I agree that it could've been worded different, you certainly can't help but give props to Sandisk for this move to provide third party accessories.......that, and an aggressive marketing campaign (which it looks like Sandisk is prepared to wage) are the only things that they need to seriously compete with Apple's iPod......



Steve

Comments: 1197
Sep 04 (2006) 09:31AM  

why must their made for logo looks just like the made for iPod logo, hehehe?


When you live in a world of brainwashed masses you have to make some concessions.



dave95

Comments: 122
Sep 04 (2006) 09:41AM  

I think I have to be truly brainwash to buy a product from a company that calls me an iSheep, and then goes on to copy the heard master logo themselves. Baaaah Baaaaah



Steve

Comments: 1197
Sep 04 (2006) 09:49AM  

If they called a certain segment of the population iSheeps and you put yourself in that category they must have been right.



608zz
Location: DC metro area.
Comments: 270
Sep 04 (2006) 10:07AM  

No, I'm not referring to any logo or catchphrase. Those do not affect how the device can be used. "Made for Sansa" and "Made for ipod" amount to the same thing, which is the concept of making personal audio devices that use proprietary everything. It's great for the company, sure, but why should we the consumers be happy about it? Some people may want a special dock for their pocket-size audio device, but I think a lot more people don't and would much rather be able to make transfers with a standard USB connector.

"Made for Sansa" followed "Made for iPod", right? What do you suppose will follow "AnythingButiPod"? Remember, I'm talking about the concept itself, not the catchphrase.

It all seems "Deja vu, all over again!", to me.



dave95

Comments: 122
Sep 04 (2006) 10:21AM  

I put myself in that category to make a point: Why would the so called "iSheeps" buy from a company that called them iSheeps and yet does not seem to really differentiate itself from the iHeard master in which the whole campaign was based. At least make the logo Black, you know like the Black sheep in the heard. It would go better with their campaign of not following the heard, ya know!



Steve

Comments: 1197
Sep 04 (2006) 10:30AM  

No, I'm not referring to any logo or catchphrase. Those do not affect how the device can be used. "Made for Sansa" and "Made for ipod" amount to the same thing, which is the concept of making personal audio devices that use proprietary everything. It's great for the company, sure, but why should we the consumers be happy about it? Some people may want a special dock for their pocket-size audio device, but I think a lot more people don't and would much rather be able to make transfers with a standard USB connector.



So you have more of a problem with the proprietary connectors than with the concept of 'made for' accessories? I agree they're related, in this case, but they don't have to be in every case.

The proprietary connector is a thing in itself, and I agree it's a negative feature from the consumers point of view, and probably planned to allow for exclusive accessories, but the fact that accessories are now available doesn't make it any more negative than it was before. Availability of accessories is itself a positive thing for consumers, particularly with several vendors as it may lead to price competition (depending on if Sandisk set pricing terms in their contracts).

Now at least people might be able to buy the connector from several sources at reduced prices, and there will be some who would like an Ir dock or other stuff, if they don't want it, they won't buy it.



Steve

Comments: 1197
Sep 04 (2006) 10:49AM  


I put myself in that category to make a point: Why would the so called "iSheeps" buy from a company that called them iSheeps and yet does not seem to really differentiate itself from the iHeard master in which the whole campaign was based. At least make the logo Black, you know like the Black sheep in the heard. It would go better with their campaign of not following the heard, ya know!


You're implying that the iSheep campaign was seeking to turn the public away from any and all qualities, features and aspects of the ipod. In fact just the opposite is true. It was seeking to educate the public that there are viable alternatives, similar but possibly superior to their particular needs. It therefore makes sense to offer a similar, alternative accessory program, and to emphasize that fact with a similar looking logo.



Allen
Location: Dub Vee Ooo
Comments: 1511
Sep 04 (2006) 10:49AM  

I tend to overlook the hypocrisy of the top ipod competitor... just make a frikkin dent.. thats all I want



ild2

Comments: 54
Sep 04 (2006) 11:26AM  

they even follow apple in the pricing. 70$ for a quite simple dock is way too much imho.



Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 841
Sep 04 (2006) 11:43AM  

in regards to the $70 for the docking station: a member over at epizenter made this observation:

say you had the ZVM. The docking station for the ZVM costs $40.00. The AC wall charger that comes bundled with the Sansa dock costs $40.00 from Creative. The wired remote for the ZVM costs $20.00.

So you could pay $100 to get the same functionality for your ZVM that this docking station gives for your Sansa, and STILL be wired into it! The only thing is, there's no video-out for the Sansa dock, but who would want to watch the MOV videos that are on your Sansa ont oa TV, anyways.....


Still, it is quite expensive, IMO. And one could say that Sandisk will lower the prices of it's accessories like it has the Sansa's, but I somehow doubt it. Griffin is set to offer a dock for the Sansa that will be similar to the dock they make for the iPod, and it will sync/charge also. Hopefully, it will be cheaper......



dave95

Comments: 122
Sep 04 (2006) 11:54AM  

Their whole campaign for the iDont site and Sansa was going against the grain, a quote from their site "...renegades behind the new Sansa player, from SanDisk".

True renegades don't follow suit, and definitely won't copy the look of the "Made for iPod Logo".

[Linky]




Lone

Comments: 973
Sep 04 (2006) 11:54AM  

It's uber-expensive as it is (the MSRP) but if it's like SanDisk's actual players the price will drop like a rock once it's actually sold in webshops, BB, etc.



Utew
Location: Oregon USA
Comments: 351
Sep 04 (2006) 12:03PM  

Remote control dock stations should be available for more players. A standardized dock connector makes this a bit easier.

Sansa gets praise from me, for what is a very nice dock station.

I don't see the price as an impediment to sales, when there are $100 leather cases on the market. However video-out on these docks (for those players capable) is a must.



Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 841
Sep 04 (2006) 12:05PM  

dave95, Sandisk are renegades, if for no other reason, for the fact that they are attempting to play the game on Apple's level: in regards to marketing and accessories. In this respect, they are renegades compared to other iPod competitors, who for some reason choose not to do this, and then wonder why they don't garner a larger share of the market....

But Sandisk also differentiate themselves from Apple, as well, by putting out better quality players with more features and capacity, and at a lower price, than the iPod Nano. They had some issues with the firmware in the past, because they obviously rushed their product to the market, but now the Sansa is no more buggy than any other DAP that's out right now, IMO...

This was something I was hoping some DAP maker would attempt, to give Apple a realistic competition. If it turns out to be Sandisk that does it, more power to them.



Michael
Location: New York City
Comments: 2802
Sep 04 (2006) 02:38PM  

Sandisk was apparently forced to remove their players from being displayed at the IFA, check it out: [Linky]
[ edited Sep 04 (2006) 02:40PM ]



zip22

Comments: 1818
Sep 04 (2006) 02:41PM  

just saw that. is that not worthy of its own news post?

Lacene wrote ...
In this respect, they are renegades compared to other iPod competitors,

thats not what their marketing was, but i see what you're saying.
[ edited Sep 04 (2006) 02:42PM ]



Michael
Location: New York City
Comments: 2802
Sep 04 (2006) 02:53PM  

I don't consider that specific incident to be newsworthy enough, but perhaps we'll have a nice little legal battle news mashup and include some of Meizu's issues with Sisvel too when they develop a bit more.
[ edited Sep 04 (2006) 02:53PM ]



Lacene
Location: Standing Here, Confused By Your
Comments: 841
Sep 04 (2006) 02:58PM  

I thought the name Sisvel sounded familiar......



Steve

Comments: 1197
Sep 04 (2006) 03:06PM  

Their whole campaign for the iDont site and Sansa was going against the grain, a quote from their site "...renegades behind the new Sansa player, from SanDisk".

True renegades don't follow suit, and definitely won't copy the look of the "Made for iPod Logo".


Now how would a self-described iSheep know that?? ok ok low blow - sorry, I couldn't resist, but I find it a little hard to believe that you're actually taking the whole iDon't/iSheep thing to heart at such a deep moral level. It's an advertising campaign; No less than Apples it's not designed to present unadulterated truth for it's own sake. It's designed to present an appealing fantasy, a suggestion of success, an identity the ego can be proud of, and to collect the currency of the realm: attention.





dave95

Comments: 122
Sep 04 (2006) 03:50PM  

Nah not taking it to heart, I jdo find it quite funny though!



Steve

Comments: 1197
Sep 04 (2006) 04:41PM  

Ok, i'll admit there's a bit of irony there, short of funny imo, but it's subjective.



4vo

Comments: 160
Sep 04 (2006) 04:52PM  

SanDisk actually has vision, and I seriously commend them for that. It takes courage to churn up look-alikes and uninspired (or rather, Pod-inspired?) against the big fruit, but it's seriously something to bring accessories into the equation and make it clear you're competing with them. With a little bit of tweaking and a few generations of experience (to perfectly refine a unique style and clean, uncolored output), the market could be a bit more varied (not to mention how Microsoft throws itself into the fray).



aniym

Comments: 65
Sep 04 (2006) 09:50PM  

Um, the Sandisk patent issue has hit BBC News as well (it shows up on my Firefox 'Latest Headlines' dropdown.

[Linky]

Doesn't look like this will affect Sandisk's US operations, though.



timmins

Comments: 270
Sep 04 (2006) 10:07PM  

@Steve. first post, thank you.

Making the logo similar is not "folllowing", it is simply feeding of the popularity of the ipod, and that dominance (at least to the extent that it is) is a result of ignorant consumers.

look up the meaning of ignorant before you paint me bias.



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Lacene
The ZVM is pretty much the most "high-end" DAP I ever got....I got started on DAPs by getting a Dell Pocket DJ, lol. It was a re-branded Creative DAP. All others I got are Sandisk DAPs....

Saijin_Naib
Yeah, I used to remember when I was jealous of Creative DAPs. I couldn't afford to have the "top of the line" DAPs back then, and messed with no-name Chinese OEMs.

These days, you're almost better off taking that route.

Cowon still seems to put out quality. Samsung just makes Android players, same for Archos.

MPIO (my favorite) has become defunct.

These are dark times for DAPs

Lacene
I still have my ZVM that I got when they first came out....it still works and looks like new...I never abused it and put one of those clear protective shields on it and got a silicon case for it.

A shame that Creative put it out - their most highly-regarded DAP ever - and then seemed to go downhill immediately afterwards...

Saijin_Naib
Yeah, I played with one. Pretty slick, great interface. So great in fact, that Apple largely knocked it off and sued Creative to keep the rights. Bastards.

I have a Creative Zen Vision Micro 6gb I need to repair/swap drive out of.

LiQuiD_FuSioN
Anyone have experience with the Creative ZEN Vision:M? Now that was a cool looking player too, never got to try one out though.

Saijin_Naib
Yeah, my friend had the S9 and he really loved it, especially the custom GUIs people would cook up.

I noticed that Cowon recently released a D20 and an X9. They both look rather tempting. Availability looks spotty at the moment though :L

My favorite DAP probably would have been the Zune30, if it was slightly more customizable. The RIO players had great auto-playlisting & searching support.

Similarly, the Haier Ibiza (despite its other shortcomings) has a brilliant filter feature and related features during playback.

It, however, can't make a shuffle list to save its digital life so it gets on my nerves using it as my car player.

Yeah, people still seem to love convergence devices. I'm still of the mind that I'd rather have devices that are designed for a specific task, and execute that task properly. The biggest pet peeve I have is crappy tools, and convergence devices by definition, are crappy tools. By attempting to do everything, they do no single task well.

SarahV
@Saijin: The J3 is one of the best DAPs I've had. The GUI is way better than the S9. The hardware is pretty similar. I still have a special place in my heart for the iRiver Clix, though. Loved the interface on that so much...

The problem we have today is that hardly anyone actually uses a DAP and they don't want to carry more than one device. I probably carry my mp3 player more than my phone, but I realize most people are not like me

Saijin_Naib
This community was tops. I still think we could be.

LiQuiD_FuSioN
Good ol' DAP Review! I still remember when Engadget would rip your stories off.

Saijin_Naib
That sounds like a decent size for a music library. How are you finding the Cowon? They seem to be one of the few manufactures left that makes anything halfway decent. I'm not interested in Yet Another Android Slate (YAAS) like the Archos line have devolved into.

But Sarah, the iProducts are the bestest things ever! Their batteries last like, totally way longer than like, other players do!


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