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Digital Digest: SanDisk, iPod, Samsung and MusicNet, Sprint
World's No. 2 MP3 player maker unveils sub-$100 devices; Chinese iPod supplier reportedly told to unionize; Samsung to launch MusicNet-powered download store; Sprint launches radio service.
SanDisk rolls out $80 and $100 MP3 players
SanDisk c200
Looking to take the iPod on in a price war, SanDisk unveiled two flash-based MP3 players for under $100 today. The Sansa c200 series comes in 1GB and 2GB storage capacities and cost $79.99 and $99.99, respectively, hoping to lure potential iPod Nano buyers who are looking to save some cash. By comparison, the 1GB Nano costs $149, while the 2GB version costs $199. "We believe that the c200, with its great price point, will give consumers an attractive set of features normally found in players costing much more," SanDisk's Keith Washo said in a statement. The c200s each have a 1.4-inch color LCD screen and support WMA, MP3, and Microsoft's protected PlaysForSure digital rights management technology, which makes music downloaded from iTunes unplayable on the SanDisk devices. And in a leg up on the Nano, the c200 players offer a built-in FM tuner and recorder with presets for 20 channels. The memory for each model can be expanded with the addition of an optional SanDisk microSD card, which is currently available in capacities of 256MB to 2GB. Last month, SanDisk rolled out an 8GB flash player.
Unions target iPod factory in China
Apple said it found violations but no abuse.
Although Apple issued a lengthy report on the conditions at a Chinese iPod factory, the controversy surrounding the plant's treatment of its workers continues. Apple concluded its audit of the facility last month, finding that although there were some violations of its policies, there was no worker abuse there. The factory operator, Foxconn, subsequently filed a lawsuit against two Chinese journalists, freezing their assets and accusing the pair of damaging its reputation. And now comes word that the plant may be ordered to allow its more than 200,000 workers to set up a trade union, according to the country's official Xinhua News Agency. The factory owner is on a list of companies in the southern city of Shenzhen that have been ordered to set up such a union, which would be affiliated with the government's All-China Federation of Trade Unions. Although China prohibits workers from unionizing independently, it does encourage foreign-owned firms to allow the state-sanctioned labor groups.
Samsung, MusicNet team for European music store
MusicNet will power the Samsung store.
In a week that has already seen National Public Radio and Sony Ericsson announce plans to open their own music stores, MP3 player maker Samsung said today it plans to do the same. The company is teaming with MusicNet to launch a new online music store in Europe as a companion to its forthcoming lineup of portable media players. MusicNet will power a Samsung-branded subscription service and download store. The service will be available exclusively to Samsung device owners in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. In a move that mirrors the integrated iPod-iTunes system, Samsung is looking to pair the new store with its upcoming line of K5 portable media players. "Our partnership with MusicNet completes our product package," Samsung's Seungsoo Park said in a statement. "Our customers will be excited to have the coolest Samsung MP3 player combined with unlimited access to over two million tracks in the easiest possible way." Samsung said it will launch the store by the end of this year.
Sprint Music Store adds streaming radio
Sprint now offers 50 radio channels.
In its search for an edge in its battle with Verizon's V Cast music service, wireless giant Sprint said today that it is adding a streaming radio service to its offering. Dubbed Sprint Radio, the service will offer 50 different audio and video channels across various music genres, including news, weather, sports, business, and entertainment. The service will cost $5.95 per month and will be powered by mobile entertainment content provider mSpot. Sprint also said today it is running a promotion until November 15 that gives customers one free song download for every two songs they purchase.
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