Competition is hotting up for the iPod genre: SanDisk is trotting out the new Sansa View 16GB video and MP3 player.

It's a great follow-up product on the Sansa E260 which we reviewed not too long ago. 

This beauty will be available in Australia in November.

The Sansa View retails at AU$379 for a 16GB flash-based player and $299 for the 8GB.

We'll probably get the chance to review one then.

More details below.

PRESS RELEASE

SANDISK ANNOUNCES THE NEW SANSA VIEW: A SLEEK VIDEO MP3 PLAYER WITH REMARKABLE FEATURES AND CAPACITY AT AN UNBEATABLE PRICE

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, October 9, 2007–SanDisk® Corporation  (NASDAQ:SNDK), has announced the new Sansa® View – a video MP3 player with a vast array of features and generous capacity, at an unbeatable price.  The sleek-looking Sansa View marries the finest MP3 player attributes with full-motion video support (typically found in larger portable media players (PMPs)), a large screen, long battery life and generous capacity—all in a thin, easy-to-carry package.   Available in Australia this November, the Sansa View retails at $379 for a 16GB* flash-based player and $299 for the 8GB, far surpassing the competition with respect to value and price. 

A significant step-up from the company’s award-winning Sansa e200 music player series, the slim Sansa View features music, photos, FM radio and audio books, plus easy video transferring capabilities and hefty memory capabilities of up to 24GB (by using an optional 8GB microSD/microSDHC card).**

“The Sansa View is a new video MP3 player that combines all of the great characteristics of an MP3 player with the video capabilities of a PMP, and packs it into a pocketable device,” said Eric Bone, Vice President of Marketing for SanDisk’s Sansa audio/video product line. “What’s more, we’re once again showing that category-leading technology can still be very affordable.”

SanDisk’s Sansa View video player innovates beyond the typical video loading procedure, making it easy for consumers to transfer videos natively using widely available software. Most popular formats are supported via embedded player functionality (H.264, WMV and MPEG4), or via a one-time software download of the Sansa Media Converter which quickly transcodes numerous video files, including DivX.


Consumers can purchase and insert one of SanDisk’s microSD/microSDHC cards to play up to 24GB of music, video and photos on their Sansa View. (Today, SanDisk microSD/microSDHC cards come with capacities of up to 8GB.) In addition, the microSD card allows users to easily move their content to a mobile phone or other mobile device.

An MP3 player at its core, the Sansa View device comes equipped with all the features typically found in the Sansa audio line. The smooth, backlit scroll wheel and vibrant 2.4” widescreen display make it easy to navigate to: a music library; video collection; digital photos; digital FM radio with 20 pre-sets; an integrated microphone and voice recording, and audible audiobooks.

The device supports many music download and subscription services, including Rhapsody To Go®, Napster, eMusic and others.


Model    Recommended Retail Price    # of songs1 (MP3)    Hours of Video Playback2    # of JPEG photos3

Sansa View (8GB)               $299             2,000                       12 two-hour movies                            4000
Sansa View (16GB)             $379            4,000                        24 two-hour movies                            8000

The Sansa View was first announced last January at CES. In June, SanDisk decided to re-scope the product to develop a player with new features and functionality that best suits current consumer interests.

SanDisk is the original inventor of flash storage cards and is the world’s largest supplier of flash data storage card products, using its patented, high-density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is headquartered in Milpitas, CA and has operations worldwide, with more than half its sales outside the U.S.



SANSA VIEW: SUMMARY OF FEATURES

In addition to holding thousands of songs, the Sansa View includes a plethora of features to enhance the listening and viewing experience.

MUSIC
•    Supports most audio formats, including MP3, protected and unprotected WMA, WAV, DRM-free MP3 downloads
o    Gapless playback for smoother music transition
•    Digital FM radio with 20 pre-sets
•    Audible audiobook support 

VIDEO
•    Video compatibility with MPEG4, WMV, H.264
o    Additionally, the Sansa Media Converter supports a large number of  other video formats, including DivX
•    Smooth video playback at 30 frames per second (fps)

PHOTOS
•    Photo JPEG viewing capabilities - up to 16 megapixel

OTHER UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES
•    Slim, thin and lightweight design for easy portability - 8.8mm at the slimmest part
•    Vibrant, 2.4” TFT color screen with 320x240 resolution
•    Rechargeable, long-lasting lithium polymer battery for 35 hours of audio4  and seven video5
•    Voice recorder with built-in microphone
•    MicroSD/SDHC™ expansion slot for additional memory capacity and content portability