My issues with SanDisk Clip Sport firmware

I know that it doesn’t make things better in the end, but I don’t think that the extent of the limitations was fully understood initially.

So what you are basically saying is that SanDisk created a device of which it didn’t know the limitations until it was released. Honestly, I don’t know if this softens the pain or makes it even worse. Anyway, what SanDisk needs to do to regain the trust by its users is to clearly profile its product range, and give information information and information. Take a look at how Apple does it:

http://www.apple.com/ipod/compare-ipod-models/

No surprises there! Since ipods have not been a priority for Apple for a while (big mistake if you ask me), SanDisk could well be taking over a significant marked share, but then they have to improve their game, or it will never happen.

Cheers,

Joeri

1 Like

From your mouth to Heaven’s ears . . . .

We earnestly look forward to your reply, SanDisk. 

Many technological devices produced today are actually capable of many more features, faster speeds, and more capacity than they have when they are sold. This is due to limitations and restrictions that are implemented by what the software or firmware will allow. Companies do this intentionally so that they can either offer “upgraded” devices in the near future (using the same hardware platform), get a device to market early and fix the bugs in later versions of software, or actually offer upgraded software at a cost to open up all of the “hidden” features that were built into the device originally. It’s all about profits and not about customer service! It obviously seems to work well with Apple, as they have created a giant culture that has been “trained” to purchase a new IPhone everytime they enhance or create a single feature and produce yet another version of the device.

Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the situation with the Sport . . . .    :frowning:

The issues with the Sport are a FIRMWARE only problem. The chipset used for the device has NOTHING to do with the limitations hated by users. Anyone making this claim knows ZERO about firmware and embedded systems and has likely never worked with an IC in their life. That especially means certain people here who love to put on a cape and tights and pretend to be Superman of the SanDisk universe. ALL the limitations are artificial creations of SanDisk Engineering product design. The firmware was was stripped to give the unit longer battery life.

Actually, that’s not what SanDisk itself and others with engineering background have reported.  Regardless, the limitations exist (even under your latest explanation–I guess you must have inside information) and are not simply “for the heck of it.”

The answer is simple–if one doesn’t like the Sport’s unfortunate limitations, simply return it and purchase a still-available Clip+ or Zip. Whoosh . . . (that’s the sound of the cape in the wind).   :wink:

Actually, that’s not what SanDisk itself and others with engineering background have reported.  Regardless, the limitations exist (even under your latest explanation–I guess you must have inside information) and are not simply “for the heck of it.”

The answer is simple–if one doesn’t like the Sport’s unfortunate limitations, simply return it and purchase a still-available Clip+ or Zip.  From everything I’ve heard, the limitations, as a general matter, ain’t going to change (SanDisk alteady having done what it felt it could, in an earlier firmware revision, and being well aware of the issues and consumer reaction).  Although, a pleasant surprise would be exactly that.

Whoosh . . . (that’s the sound of the cape in the wind).  

Actually, that’s not what SanDisk itself and others with engineering background have reported.  Regardless, the limitations exist (even under your latest explanation–I guess you must have inside information) and are not simply “for the heck of it.”

The answer is simple–if one doesn’t like the Sport’s unfortunate limitations, simply return it and purchase a still-available Clip+ or Zip.  From everything I’ve heard, the limitations, as a general matter, ain’t going to change (SanDisk alteady having done what it felt it could, in an earlier firmware revision, and being well aware of the issues and consumer reaction).  Although, a pleasant surprise would be exactly that.

Whoosh . . . (that’s the sound of the cape in the wind).  

Actually, that’s not what SanDisk itself and others with engineering background have reported.  Regardless, the limitations exist (even under your latest explanation–I guess you must have inside information) and are not simply “for the heck of it.”

The answer is simple–if one doesn’t like the Sport’s unfortunate limitations, simply return it and purchase a still-available Clip+ or Zip, and get back to enjoying the music.  From everything I’ve heard, the limitations, as a general matter, ain’t going to change (SanDisk alteady having done what it felt it could, in an earlier firmware revision, and being well aware of the issues and consumer reaction).  Although, a pleasant surprise would be exactly that.

Whoosh . . . (that’s the sound of the cape in the wind).  

Actually, that’s not what SanDisk itself and others with engineering background have reported.  Regardless, the limitations exist (even under your explanation–I guess you must have inside information) and are not simply “for the heck of it.”

The answer is simple–if one doesn’t like the Sport’s unfortunate limitations, simply return it and purchase a still-available Clip+ or Zip, and get back to enjoying the music.  From everything I’ve heard, the limitations, as a general matter, ain’t going to change (SanDisk alteady having done what it felt it could, in an earlier firmware revision, and being well aware of the issues and consumer reaction).  Although, a pleasant surprise would be exactly that.

Whoosh . . . (that’s the sound of the cape in the wind).  

:stuck_out_tongue:

@chibbs wrote:
The issues with the Sport are a FIRMWARE only problem. Thechipset used for the device has NOTHING to do with the limitations hated by users. Anyone making this claim knows ZERO about firmware and embedded systems and has likely never worked with anIC in their life. That especially means certain people here who love to put on a cape and tights and pretend to be Superman of theSanDisk universe. ALL the limitations are artificial creations ofSanDisk Engineering product design. The firmware was was stripped to give the unit longer battery life.

The limitations seen in the Clip Sport product line are hardware related The simple fact is that the controller used in the Clip Sport is not capable of having the same feature set that was available in past Sansa Clip products. 

Please take some time to read our forums rules and guidelines. This will serve as your one and only warning. Personal attacks and this hateful attitude to other forum members will not be tolerated. If you continue to berate other forum members you will be banned from posting on this forum. 

Forum Admin

slotmonsta

I hope Sandisk makes a version of the Clip Zip the size of the Clip Sport and with the display the Clip Sport has. I hope it has the same circuitry as the Clip Zip except for the display, and has a battery with at least 70% more capacity than the Clip Zip’s, so that we can have all the functionality of the Clip Zip, and at least 25 hours of battery life. It would be okay if this player is priced somewhat higher than the Clip Sport, although I hope an 8GB one wouldn’t be over $80.

I enjoy using the Rockboxed Clip Zip. My main complaint about it is that the battery life isn’t enough. I was hoping the Clip Sport would be a Clip Zip but with a larger screen and larger capacity battery. I guess Sandisk was focusing on competing against the ipod Shuffle, and therefore felt a need to keep the price of the 8GB version under $50. Many of us would never buy a Shuffle though, and are comparing the Clip Zip and Clip Sport to other players that are $80 or more. Having a larger capacity battery probably wouldn’t add that much to the cost, although due to the extra weight, a stronger clip might also be needed.

I think it’s time for a refresh and for an UberClip to emerge . . . .

@miikerman wrote:

I think it’s time for a refresh and for an UberClip to emerge . . . .

I’ll second that. If it wasn’t for want of the Sport’s increased battery I’d have stuck with the Clip + . Pretty please Sandisk, give us a Clip+/Zip with a bigger battery:smiley:

It’s amazing how much I learn about SanDisk’s MP3 player’s product range - and its differences - just by reading the replies on this thread. I’m not fond of some of the entries here, but at least they are informative. And that brings me to my original complaint, namely that SanDisk does not explicitely advertise the limitations of the SanDisk Clip Sport. I just payed a visit to the SanDisk website and I still cannot find any information about the player’s limited capabilites, e.g the maximum of 4000 songs (with the added memory card). Here’s one sentence from the advertisement that I still find very misleading:

“The SanDisk Clip Sport MP3 Player is available in a wide range of bright colors with file storage capacities of 4GB and 8GB**, and it also contains a memory card slot for additional storage**.”

Mind the double asterisks. I was hoping the first pair would warn me about the limitation of 2000 songs on the player itself, and the second pair would do the same for the extended memory card. Unfortunately, that is still not the case. The first pair gives me information on how much a gigabyte really is (as if no one knows that already), and the second one says that the card is sold separately. And that, in my opinion, is the real reason for the existence of this low spec’d MP3 player. SanDisk produces memory devices in the first place. But a memory device by itself is worthless, unless you can put it in a computer, or any other device, like an MP3 player. By producing these devices, SanDisk really is creating a market for itself to sell more microSDHC memory cards. The MP3 player, and its capabilities, are subordinate. From a sales point perspective, SanDisk couldn’t care less about how this MP3 player is perceived by its consumers. And Apple does or at least did the same, where the cheaper ipods really are meant to trick consumers into using itunes (and spend real bucks there).

Anyway, I could go on and on about how I feel cheated having bought this MP3 player, but I guess it won’t make any difference. My only hope is that people considering to buy this MP3 player will pay a visit to the SanDisk fora first, before making their decision. At least, SanDisk is keeping these threads with complaining consumers alive. I guess that’s a start…

Product pages only contain marketing info. They will never say what a device can’t do, marketing is putting the products best foot forward so to speak. There are literately millions of things this device can’t do for example, it won’t make you breakfast, should they put that on the page as well? I am being a bit facetious there but you can probably get what I am saying. The database limitation are listed in the sandisk knowledgebase. I went to their knowledgebase page and search for “number of songs” and this article was the first hit. it has the limitation for the database listed. see link below. 

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/74/ 

I agree that it is not put right in your face but this is typically how marketing is done. When I research a product I am thinking of buying I always check the manufacturer knowledgebase and reviews before purchasing. I always got more info there than in marketing product descriptions.

I’m glad you call your example facetious yourself, so I don’t have to.

I usually do my research before buying any product. In case of the SanDisk Clip Sport, I went from the “marketing” pages on their website, immediately to the player’s User Manual, easily found on-line. At the end of chapter 7, I found what I was looking for:

“The SanDisk Clip Sport MP3 player is capable of working with microSDHC cards up to 32GB. The player can store up to 40GB* of total device content including internal memory (e.g., 8GB player with a 32GB card).”

Then, I turned to my other knowledge base, called “common sense”, being: more memory = more music. I usually do not look for information that makes no sense, like number of songs limitations due to a firmware hack by SanDisk, to fix whatever needed to be fixed with this device that the engineers had overlooked in the design fase.

I hope you get my point. But since you are so familiar with this SanDisk Knowledge Base, could you perhapse tell me what was changed on August 11 2014? Please don’t tell me they’ve added the “Sansa Database Limitation” part.

Also, do you agree that - next to the knowledge base - the user manual (I’m talking about the PDF with 39 pages, not some sort of quick start guide) would be a good place to include such limitations as well? I challenge you to find even the number “2000” mentioned in there.

Cheers.