CES 2008

(Credit: SanDisk)

What's this? A 4GB MP3 player for just $79? Nope, I'm not playing a cruel joke on you. SanDisk has just added the new capacity to its rather fabulous Sansa Clip line. The new version comes in a universally appealing brushed silver body with a mirrored face, and it offers all the features of its brethren, which is to say quite a few. Of course, you get the built-in removable belt clip, the super compact form factor, and the support for WMA subscription services and Audible tracks. There's also an FM tuner with an autoscan function and up to 40 preset slots, as well as a built-in mic for making voice recordings. I also expect the same impressive audio quality from the 4GB Clip, as only the memory--not the audio chip--is different.

Ooo...shiny!

(Credit: CNET Networks/Donald Bell)

What you won't find here is a color screen or any of the amenities that are inherent to such a feature. That means no photo or video viewing, or album art support. Considering the price point, this is entirely understandable. It's also why the Clip makes an excellent choice as a secondary MP3 player (such as for use at the gym) or for first-time MP3 player owners who want something easy to use without making a big investment.

(Credit: SanDisk)

It's official: Flash MP3 players are taking over. SanDisk has just announced a new version of the Sansa View...one with 32GB of built-in flash memory. Ah, it makes me nostalgic--remember the days of 30GB hard-drive MP3 players? Oh, right, those still exist. The player isn't far off, either: the expected launch date is in February of this year. SanDisk will also be releasing a 12GB microSD card later in 2008, meaning you could end up with a whopping 44GB capacity all told. In true SanDisk style, the new View is priced to sell at $349. It's still not as good of a value on a dollar per gigabyte basis compared to hard drive memory, but at least it's getting closer. Here's a refresher on the player's specs:

• 2.4-inch color LCD with landscape mode
• Photo and video support
• MicroSD slot capable of accepting SDHC cards
• FM radio and voice recorder
• Separate podcast sorting
• Supports AAC, Audible and WMA subscriptions
• Windows and Mac compatibility
• Tested battery life of 32.3 hours