“Japan’s Matsushita [Panasonic brand] has introduced an iTunes-compatible digital music player with an expandable storage capacity provided by SD cards to its D-Snap line of devices,” Tony Smith reports for The Register. “We say ‘iTunes-compatible’ but don’t assume Apple has licensed the FairPlay DRM technology it uses to protect iTunes Music Store songs from duplication. Matsushita’s SV-SD100V (right, top) and SV-SD90 both support AAC, the iTunes jukebox software’s preferred format, so the players will be of interest to folk who’ve ripped CDs to AAC using iTunes but are seeking an alternative player to Apple’s iPod. The players also support MP3 and DRM-less Windows Media files.”
“What capacity each player has is up to the buyer. Neither ships with an SD card, apparently,” Smith reports. “The SV100V is expected to retail for around ¥18,00 ($173/£90), the SV90 for ¥14,000 ($134/£70), but don’t forget the SD card will cost you extra… there’s no word yet on US and European availability.”
Full article with images here.
That’s actually a pretty attractive device. Simple, anyway. The SD cards are cheap these days, and the removable media should let you swap “playlists” pretty quickly & easily.
Price doesn’t compete with the shuffle, though.
THis and the recent Sony both have OLED/LEP displays. The look really nice. Nicer than the display on a mini. Maybe not so good for the bigger iPod though as they’re surely going to be all colour soon.
nice design. good work Panasonic.
Again, what kind of range for the FM radio? Is there even an antenna on/in it? The FM reception on my wife’s walkman is very picky and weak. How good would these be?
I find that ‘all-in-one’ players have many compromises. While some players have FM tuners, how good are they? Unless you are near the transmission source, I have found many small FM tuners lacking.
I wonder how many partially informed people will buy one of these thinking it will work with iTunes Music Store. I like their idea as well, but I can’t help but think that they are going to bank just a bit on the ignorance of their buyers.
Matsushita’s support for AAC is a good sign. If Apple decides to extend FairPlay to others, they would be a good choice.
Just a nitpick…but shouldnt that price read ¥18,000. ¥18,00 could be misread as ¥18 which would be…well….obscenely cheap.
Anyone who hopes to take over Apple’s significant lead in the Music arena is going to have to go through Apple users, and this is one way to do it. Though it doesn’t support Music Store music, it WILL support self built libraries and should also sync well with iTunes.
I think this because in Apple users, you have Computer people that don’t like to use computers
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> In other words, they’re technically minded but like their solutions to be more person based than computer based. They want the power of computers with the ease and simplicity of their non-technical life. There’s a vast market out there to be tapped and the smart companies will try it in baby steps by first marketing to Mac/iTunes users.
Look at it like this, if a company can get a Mac user to set aside (or add to) their iPod, then you KNOW you can sell to Windows users.
Will they sell it in the US? I would think that after the shipping cost/import duty, it’d wind up costing more than a comparable iPod. Just my opinion…
They’re interesting alternatives, especially the one with built-in voice recording. Being compatible with industry standards (mp3 & AAC/mp4) will make them more attractive than those which only play WMA or (god forbid) ATRAC instead of AAC. Too bad they won’t work directly with songs bought from the iTMS; players like this are compelling arguments for Apple to consider licensing FairPlay…
I’d say players like this are a compelling reason continue to buy on CD instead of from iTMS !
http://panasonic.jp/d-audio/sd/index.html
It is tiny
I believe when the dust clears…the public will have
plenty of options to choose from. Apple has built an
effective and proven system with iPods and iTunes. Just
remember this…the electronics industry is vast and
although, this may be a bow to Apple…it’s also a
solid play for Panasonic to take care of thier
customers.
Roll over Beethoven
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CT
Wicked small!!!
With such a small form factor…they can be kept
safe and sound just about anywhere!
Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better…in this
situation.
I mean…if X marks the spot, where do you dig?
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” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Removable Secure Digital flash based memory???
(next to the iPod shuffles and the chewing gum at
7-11)
CT
Joining the AAC family is the only way other brands can compete with Apple. For those of us living outside the Axis of iTunes Music Store these players are a good alternative to Apple’s iPods.
When Apple dropped the Newton…was it just an
apple seed?
If Apple keeps iTunes and finds partners such as
Panasonic to help carry the player load…I see no
headaches. I don’t see the iPod going the way of
the Newton, I’m sure.
Code is one thing, format is another.
GOLD is everywhere!
CY
You gotta taste the rainbow…at least once!
CT
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(A.K.A. CY)
I’m SO getting one in April! Who cares about no iTmS. Anyone stupid enough to buy iTMS Tunes without de-DRMing them… Since Files on the iPod are unencrypted anyway, this should no problem with DRM files, if iTUnes could recognize it as an iTunes-compatible device.