iPod touch: and so, where's the microSD slot?!?

@miikerman wrote:

Actually, I’m very happy with the gift/player, and look forward to using it for the apps side and having music on it.  But it was interesting to me that I kept on thinking when I got it, but where’s the slot?  An easy way to expand the memory by a tidy 16GB at limited expense ($20-$25 or less, at this point)–an extra 16GB always is nice to have.   :wink:

 

And yep, part of the marketing strategy by Apple, I believe–why allow users to buy their own memory and expand their players when you can get them to buy a new player instead?  Part of the Apple strategy of a new player a year (as Steve stated publicly, once–consumerism run rampant)–I remember reading years ago of features that the company already had developed but only wanted to trickle on out, to spur periodic upgrading by comsumers.

 

A perfect opening for SanDisk, and making me more thankful for the Sansa slot!   :slight_smile:


Congrats on getting an ipod touch.  It’s certainly loaded with features and I agree that having a micro card slot could only improve it even more.  

IMO, in addition to what you mentioned in your post, Apple wouldn’t add in a card slot because they want more consumers to pay for the larger capacity models.   If I were looking to purchase an ipod touch, and it had a micro card slot, I would only buy the 8 gb model since I have a 32gb card, instead of going for the 32gb or even the 64gb one, which would result in a loss of profit for Apple.

mags1230 wrote:


Miikerman wrote:

Actually, I’m very happy with the gift/player, and look forward to using it for the apps side and having music on it.  But it was interesting to me that I kept on thinking when I got it, but where’s the slot?  An easy way to expand the memory by a tidy 16GB at limited expense ($20-$25 or less, at this point)–an extra 16GB always is nice to have.   :wink:

 

And yep, part of the marketing strategy by Apple, I believe–why allow users to buy their own memory and expand their players when you can get them to buy a new player instead?  Part of the Apple strategy of a new player a year (as Steve stated publicly, once–consumerism run rampant)–I remember reading years ago of features that the company already had developed but only wanted to trickle on out, to spur periodic upgrading by comsumers.

 

A perfect opening for SanDisk, and making me more thankful for the Sansa slot!   :slight_smile:



Congrats on getting an ipod touch.  It’s certainly loaded with features and I agree that having a micro card slot could only improve it even more.  

 

IMO, in addition to what you mentioned in your post, Apple wouldn’t add in a card slot because they want more consumers to pay for the larger capacity models.   If I were looking to purchase an ipod touch, and it had a micro card slot, I would only buy the 8 gb model since I have a 32gb card, instead of going for the 32gb or even the 64gb one, which would result in a loss of profit for Apple.

Well, we should give them credit for being clever businessmen/women, rather than bash them…they still manage to sell more expensive players than Sansa, at a far greater rate, even in the failing economy that we’ve had.


 I personally think it would be foolish to buy the 8GB, rather than spend a little more for the 32GB model. Now I know the cynics out there are going to chime in with, “that’s because Apple wants you to buy a more expensive player”, but I’d be willing to bet the 8GB model is their biggest seller, regardless. The great unwashed masses out there aren’t concerned with carrying around their entire library of music, like many of us are…but they like cool toys. And even the 8GB Touch could still hold quite a few songs in 128kbps m4a format (which actually sounds surprisingly good for the size). :dizzy_face:


Which Touch will I end up with, the 32GB or the 64GB? I don’t know…depends on how my personal economy goes over the next couple months, and how patient I am. But I will be buying one.:stuck_out_tongue:

I’m pretty active on the ilounge forums and the talk is that the 8GB Touch(for most users) is not too popular simply because of it’s lack of storage.  By the time you get your favorite apps loaded, there really isn’t much room for much else.  For people not in the know, or are gift giving, the 8GB probably sells reasonably well…For more savvy or former iPod users, the larger capacity models are preferred.

Well, if the 8GB touch is selling well, it’s likely the cost of the more capacious–these things are not inexpensive.

And really, comparing the $45 Clip (8GB) to the $200 touch?  Isn’t that like comparing a VW Beetle to a decked-out Jaguar?  And even then, the touch can’t compare to the small handiness of the Clip (and the sound?).  They’re simply different beasts entirely.

@miikerman wrote:

Well, if the 8GB touch is selling well, it’s likely the cost of the more capacious–these things are not inexpensive.

 

And really, comparing the $45 Clip (8GB) to the $200 touch?  Isn’t that like comparing a VW Beetle to a decked-out Jaguar?  And even then, the touch can’t compare to the small handiness of the Clip (and the sound?).  They’re simply different beasts entirely.

If comparing the Clip+ to a Touch is an unfair comparison, the only one to blame for starting said comparison is you! :stuck_out_tongue: You started the thread, here in the Clip/Clip+ board, rather than say, the Anything Goes board, which would seem more appropriate.


There are people out there who think the Touch sounds better than the Clip+. I haven’t had the chance to compare them fairly…the one time I got to play with a Touch for a few minutes, I found out it was loaded with lossy –>lossy transcodes, from 160 down to 128, so as to be able to fit more songs. So even though I had some of the same songs on my Clip+, my files were not downsized. I do, however, look forward to the chance to compare in the future.

@miikerman wrote:

Well, if the 8GB touch is selling well, it’s likely the cost of the more capacious–these things are not inexpensive.

 

And really, comparing the $45 Clip (8GB) to the $200 touch?  Isn’t that like comparing a VW Beetle to a decked-out Jaguar?  And even then, the touch can’t compare to the small handiness of the Clip (and the sound?).  They’re simply different beasts entirely.

Your opinions, and very biased ones at that…:smileyvery-happy:


For me, the clip or clip+ is practically useless because it’s too small to be operated in an effecient manner with my large hands.  I’ve got players from all the major makers and the Touch sounds every bit as good as any of them, including Sansa products.


But you are right, there is no one perfect player for everyone.  If someone were to give me a Clip series player, I would either have to find it a good home or try to exchange it for a player that I would actually use.

PS. For my uses, I think my comparison of a Clip+ to a Touch is more accurate (from an earlier post in this thread)…

Go ahead and be
thankful for your almighty slot…For me, it makes nary a difference. 
Sure, a slot in a Touch would benefit some; but even without a slot,
comparing a Clip+ to a Touch is like comparing a bicycle to a Cadillac. 


Actually, my opinions aren’t biased at all, apart from appreciating well thought out technology–I have and use a variety of DAPs. 

And I wasn’t comparing players originally, just noting how marvelous, in my opinion, it is to have the microSD slot in the Clip+, and how it really should be implemented more universally.

You folks need to lighten up some for the New Year–have a good one!   :slight_smile:

Actually, my opinions aren’t biased at all, apart from appreciating well thought out technology–I have and use a variety of DAPs. 

And MM, I wasn’t comparing players originally, just noting how marvelous, in my opinion, it is to have the microSD slot in the Clip+, and how it really should be implemented more universally.

Have a good New Year, folks; out.  

@miikerman wrote:

Actually, my opinions aren’t biased at all , apart from appreciating well thought out technology–I have and use a variety of DAPs. 

 

And MM, I wasn’t comparing players originally, just noting how marvelous, in my opinion, it is to have the microSD slot in the Clip+, and how it really should be implemented more universally.

 

Have a good New Year, folks; out.  

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha…Now theres a good laugh for today.  Just admit it…you are a Clip fan boi…Even if the plus didn’t have a card slot, you would make up some excuse to make appologies in Sandisk’s behalf why it really isn’t needed for a player of that size.


It’s fine that you have opinions, but other people have them too.  Just because you think that a card slot is such a wonderful thing, doesn’t mandate that I should think the same way.

Thanks for your continued opinions.  Not a “fan boi” here, apart from appreciating good technology and implementation, whatever the source, as I said before.  (You don’t seem to follow that; and I’m not asking you to accept my opinions.)  In fact, I now even own an Apple iPod touch …

And for what the Clip originally was, I actually don’t think it needs a microSD slot (and I still use my original, slot-less Clip).  Although I’m glad it does, resulting in a handy, good-sounding, cute and small 24GB (with swappable memory) player/FM radio/recorder for under $75, that I tend to reach for over my other players.  And for what the Clip has become, I think the slot is super.

(On a side note:  I always find it intriguing when someone who doesn’t like a product avidly posts at a forum dedicated to the product–I’ve never understood that.  Ah, well–I’m outta here.)

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha…


I love messing with you because you never can leave a thread alone…How many times are you going to be outta here?

Just to open up some imaginations about card slot usage … 

Besides serving as adjunct music storage, here are my other actual uses:

  1. audio on a card taken directly from a radio recorder (Pogo Radio YourWay LX or CC Witness).
  2. video on a card taken directly from a Sandisk V-mate video recorder.
  3. public library audiobooks’ external storage (they don’t expire, so why not get them while they’re available and put them on cheap removable storage rather than fill up valuable internal storage?)

I do all three of the above on my Sansa Connect.  The Fuze doesn’t do #1 well (it doesn’t resume files untagged Podcast/Audiobook or unstored in Podcasts/Audiobooks), and doesn’t do #2 (I haven’t yet found a V-mate video format that the Fuze supports). 

I also run an internet radio recording app, Radiotracker 6, for about three hours at a time to collect music of a particular genre.  I prefer to segregate that music onto a card, to easily locate a recording session/genre (for easy deletion of songs I don’t like.

I do these things on the Fuze, Connect, and other MP3 players with slots, and a PDA, and a PSP Go.  With a slotless Touch, it’s no longer “pop in a card and go,” but rather going through the intermediaries of a PC and iTunes (including waiting for format conversion).

Ah, let’s stir this pot a wee bit.

I had a thought after reading “comparing a bicycle to a Cadillac”.

Okay then, read this page about expensive bicycles.  Granted, there may be some really nice Cadillacs out there (I will completely forego that rebadged GMC truck called the “Escalade” from my list, what a horrible tank!), but it boils down to personal preferences, I think.

Each player has its strong attributes, and its weaknesses.  Regarding the Touch, it’s an interesting beast, to say the least.  The big display, a nice expanse of real glass, is nice to work with.  But let’s look at the whole machine, shall we?  It’s an _ iPhone with a whole collection of bits and pieces (the phone section) robbed from the device. _ Hardly an innovation, just a different set of components.

My hat’s off to Apple, who have convinced folks it’s handy to place a huge device against the side of one’s head, making it fashionable to have a device reminiscent of this thing (hey, I had one back in the day too!):

Hey, while I’m in rant mode, I have two friends with broken face glass panels, on the new iPhone 4- is this going to be common?  It’s just under $200 to fix this, holey moley!

I actually do like the overall design of the new Apples, but have strong reservation with the “device for the masses” marketing hoopla that follows all things Apple.  Sorry, I cannot be yet one more of the lemmings running for that cliff, or giving an impromptu interview with the local news, explaining why I was camped out all night at the Apple store.  You can’t sling “fan boi” out there when these guys exist, now that’s dedication, I guess.  It’s something pretty hard to quantify, to say the least.

If the Touch is your cup-o-tea, I can’t fault your choice, it’s a nice machine.  I prefer coffee, incidentally.  And a smaller device.  Then again, what do I know?  I also prefer a basic Nokia with two simple red and green call and end buttons.  If it’s going to be a phone, especially a radiotelephone, sound quality and RF performance are my criteria. 

I think I’m more turned off by Steve Jobs’ performance than Apple’s devices.  Talk about eccentric.  The iPhone demo where he got a little hissy over having a clean WiFi connection was a case in point, now that was good stuff.  Later, the embroglio over the “lost” prototype that wandered over to Gizmodo was, well…

Bob  :stuck_out_tongue:

My main point isn’t that the Clip+ is a terrible machine.  It does everything it is supposed to do; and with rockbox it would serve my needs quite well, if it weren’t so darn tiny.  In a pinch, I’ll use mine, if I want to struggle using it’s small controls; but with it’s short battery life and small design, it will never be my favored player.


I’ve had my Touch for a month or so now, and haven’t discovered any weaknessness for the way I use a player.  It’s size is about perfect, the controls work flawslessly, it sounds great and the 40+ hr. battery life is just what I want in a unit.  I don’t use the telephone, so I have no use for that feature in a unit.  So, for me, I believe I’ve found my ideal player (for me).


It’s great that people like the Clip series of players; but for some, like myself, smaller is not better.


And frankly, I really can’t offer any sympathy to anyone dumb enough (or careless) to break the front panel glass in their unit.  Maybe I treat my players with a bit more respect than the average user.  I dunno.  In all the years I’ve had handheld or portable devices, I’ve never had a single breakage.


I just know this…I really think that Sandisk is on the right path with the current Fuze+.  If the Clip+'s successor is of similar design and size factor of the current model, I will gladly pass on the opportunity to own one.

@fuze_owner_gb wrote:


It’s great that people like the Clip series of players; but for some, like myself, smaller is not better.

Yep, you’ve said that many time here.  I’m not sure why someone goes to a manufacturer’s forum to state (repeatedly) that he doesn’t like the manufacturer’s product, but I guess it’s a hobby.   ;)   

 

For some of us (I guess we don’t have large fingers), the size is just great for many uses (exercising, around water in a waterproof pouch, not having to worry about where to store the player, easy transfer of files via a microSD card and without the need for a computer (as stated above), etc.), without fear of damaging a larger player (like a touch).

@miikerman wrote:


@fuze_owner_gb wrote:


It’s great that people like the Clip series of players; but for some, like myself, smaller is not better.

 


 

Yep, you’ve said that many time here.  I’m not sure why someone goes to a manufacturer’s forum to state (repeatedly) that he doesn’t like the manufacturer’s product, but I guess it’s a hobby.   ;)   

 

For some of us (I guess we don’t have large fingers), the size is just great for many uses (exercising, around water in a waterproof pouch, not having to worry about where to store the player, easy transfer of files via a microSD card and without the need for a computer (as stated above), etc.), without fear of damaging a larger player (like a touch).

Oh, mr. outta here is back…  No surprise.


The only way manufacturer’s are going to change their products, is by actually listening to customer complaints.  If they don’t, it’s their loss, not mine.


Not that I need your approval, but since I own a Clip+, I have every right to post as many times as I see fit, until the major design flaw of the clip+ is corrected.  Oh, and if I ruffle your feathers along the way, all the better…:smileyvery-happy:

 

PS.  I guess you were too busy listening to yourself talk to notice that I really, really like the Fuze+.  Best Sansa product I’ve ever owned…

I must agree with you, GB, they’re on the right track with the Fuze+ in terms of overall size and function.  The AMS device platform has a major edge with handling the music database, currently.  Solving that, and making the new machine boot as rapidly as the Clip+ does, would be wonderful.

I’ll more than gladly sacrifice a few MB of memory to that end.

As we’re mentioning “touch” in this thread, getting the touchpad refined on the Fuze+ will be a huge stride in the right direction, as the machine has great potential.

Bob  :stuck_out_tongue:

Cycling the last few days, I’ve been listening to a few backlogged BBC NewsPod episodes.  On the go, you really can’t beat the little Clip+.  I like to run the headset cable down my jacket sleeve, with the device on my wrist like a watch.

When the rain picks up, I simply move it to the jersey sleeve, with the Clip protected under the rain jacket.  It’s the one time when I run with the bud in my right ear only.

The controls are wonderful for this application, a limitation of the Fuze+, as the bigger machine is cumbersome on the fly.

I had forgotten how the Clip+ functions with the podcast “paused”, if the forward button is held, the device zooms through the episodes rapidly, and when returning to your 'cast, it starts at the saved point immediately.  Quite handy.

Every time I boot the wee Clip+, I can’t help but compare the response against the Fuze+.  This little thing is refreshingly fast.

Bob  :stuck_out_tongue:

@neutron_bob wrote:

I must agree with you, GB, they’re on the right track with the Fuze+ in terms of overall size and function.

Except audiobooks, right?  I don’t own the Fuze+, as the posts in that forum seemed to indicate it’s a step backwards from the more dedicated OverDrive audiobooks support of the Fuze/Clip+/Clip.  Yes, there are workarounds, but not as nice as the Fuze’s more direct support.  Is that correct?  Or should I reconsider the Fuze+ for spoken word?  I had read somewhere that the Fuze+'s firmware was based on the Sansa View’s.

[Apologies if this question is too OT.]

@fuze_owner_gb wrote:

 


I have every right to post as many times as I see fit, until the major design flaw of the clip+ is corrected. 


 

I reread this thread to find out what you think is the major design flaw you want corrected.  It seems it’s the small size, which doesn’t work for you.

But why would you want that “corrected?”

  1. Fuze.  That’s functionally a big Clip+.   Problem solved, no?

  2. Let’s say you don’t like the Fuze as a Clip+ “correction.”  You just want a bigger Clip+.  So despite others loving the Clip+ exactly for its small size, you want us to have no such choice, and that market to be crushed? 

Really, if you bought the Clip+ sight unseen, it was probably for a better internet price–you takes your chances.  It’s time to sell on eBay.