Hey SanDisk...STOP SPAMMING EVERYBODY!

[Drive-In-Freak]

The latest version of Sansa Updater runs a commercial for Slot Radio every time it's opened.
I guess it wasn't enough for them for you to purchase on of their products..oh no...now they are putting adware in your computer.

SHAME ON YOU SANDISK! That is no way to keep your loyal customers.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by Drive-In-Freak

The latest version of Sansa Updater runs a commercial for Slot Radio every time it's opened.
I guess it wasn't enough for them for you to purchase on of their products..oh no...now they are putting adware in your computer.

SHAME ON YOU SANDISK! That is no way to keep your loyal customers.

One more reason to not use the Sansa Updater.

[m3gaman]

if i wanted to listen to the "radio" i would fire up pandora

[saratoga]

Don't use sansa updater.

[Drive-In-Freak]

I understand. Yes...don't use the updater.

I just have an issue with a program containing adware that is supposed to be used with products that I have paid hard earned money for.

IMHO such a thing is malicious and inexcusable.

[WalkGood]

It was loathsome, intolerable and unbearable to being with so most of us stopped using it long ago and didn’t even know there were ads on it. Another fine reason not to use it

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by Drive-In-Freak

I understand. Yes...don't use the updater.

I just have an issue with a program containing adware that is supposed to be used with products that I have paid hard earned money for.

IMHO such a thing is malicious and inexcusable.

You must love the SlotRadio icon on the Fuze menu that comes along with the .28 firmware then.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

You must love the SlotRadio icon on the Fuze menu that comes along with the .28 firmware then.

Another great reason to do manual updates, you can always downgrade the fw

[JK98]

They make a product that is intentionally crippled, then they expect many people to buy it? If they want many people to buy Slotradio cards, they need to allow people to make their own playlists from the songs on the card, or at least to be able to rate the songs so that only desired songs on the card will play. If they do that, then I might buy some Slotradio cards. The way it is now, I have no interest in them. If I want to have no control over which songs play, then I will listen to FM radio which is free.

[medion]

I understand that no one likes it, but part of the reason for adware is that it subsizes the cost of the hardware. I'll give you an example.

My wife and I both wanted to buy a laptop recently. I wanted a cheaper Windows-based laptop because I only planned to use it while deployed for a year. She wanted a Macbook for her needs. Even with school and military discounts, her Macbook came to $1080 out of pocket, while my laptop was $670. Spec wise, they were very similar, with mine having a MUCH better video card, and more hardware features.

And while many people accuse Apple of overcharging, their hardware is better built in this case. Also, my Acer came loaded with bloatware, which helps subsidize the cost. Improve the build quality of my Acer, and get rid of the subsidies, and the cost of the two would have been much closer.

And yes, I wiped the Acer clean. I hate bloatware.

[FreeZ5]

Originally Posted by JK98

They make a product that is intentionally crippled, then they expect many people to buy it? If they want many people to buy Slotradio cards, they need to allow people to make their own playlists from the songs on the card, or at least to be able to rate the songs so that only desired songs on the card will play. If they do that, then I might buy some Slotradio cards. The way it is now, I have no interest in them. If I want to have no control over which songs play, then I will listen to FM radio which is free.

Again:

Sandisk is making a range of products to suit various markets. I know several people who are definitely challenged by mp3s. SlotRadio and slotMusic are an attempt to tap that market.

One family member is good technically with most things computer etc, but has no interest in learning about mp3 software (ripping, etc). He bought an iPod, because it is "easy".

Steve

[Pauliwog]

Why pick on Sansa? Everyone's doing it these days. It seems that no matter what video editing software I buy for any price, as soon as a new version or feature is available for purchase, I get a pop-up ad giving me a "Special offer" when starting the program. Apple's Quicktime is always trying to shove iTunes down my throat every time it upgrades. Every videogame I buy is asking me to buy more videogames.

As for SlotRadio, it's not for everyone. It appears as though they're attempting to create a new market in the world of MP3 players, going after the people who are still using audio cassettes because they find even an iPod too complicated. When you consider the intended device for these people (the SlotRadio player), it really is a viable product for this market. It's an easy one for us to overlook, but audio tapes and players are still selling remarkably well around the world. If Sansa can secure that market, they're going to be in a position to give Apple a serious run for their money. We may not like SlotRadio, but when all these former audio cassette listeners are ready to move up from their SlotRadio players, the bigger and better Sansa products will still play their cards. All around a good move on Sansa's part; I hope it pans out for them.

[JK98]

I am not faulting the Slotradio concept, I just want the ability to choose which songs won't play. The reason why I rarely listen to FM radio is that I don't want to have to listen to songs I dislike. I especially won't pay to do this. While the Clip+ or Fuze with a Slotradio card will allow you to skip to the next song, I don't want to have to press the button each time for every song I dislike.

[Drive-In-Freak]

I think what is happening is that Sansa is seeing less of their product move than they had anticipated, and are blaming it on lack of marketing. They are trying to bring life to something that I am willing to bet is close to dead in the water.

They have been trying to sell the equivalent of a modern K-tel 8-track to a very limed niche market. Technically inclined people more than likely see it as a step backwards, and non-tech people have no clue what it is, or that such a thing even exists.

[dfkt]

I think you're spot-on, Drive-In-Freak. That aggressive marketing (which only reaches people that already bought some of their products anyways), be it the Updater app or the menu of the Clip+, seems like a pathetic last attempt to revive that stinker of a product that SlotRadio/Music is.

They need Bose-style advertising in glossy magazines targeted at the 50+ demographic to move some of that stuff - but annoying people with useless menu points in their players and popups on their computers sure isn't the way to go...

[FreeZ5]

Well their slotRadio sales may go up a tiny bit...slotRadio has finally made it to Canada - saw them at Future Shop's onlline store.

Steve

[Pauliwog]

What they really need to do is figure out how to target the people who would really benefit and enjoy a product like this. The only way to reach these people is with low-tech forms of advertising, such as newspapers and radio ads. Television ads, while expensive, can make the biggest impact for this sort of thing. Advertising to existing customers is pointless, because this is clearly an entry-level device. Anyone who has bought a Sansa DAP already is unlikely to buy into SlotRadio unless it already represents a healthy section of the market.

I think the SlotRadio could compete favourably against XM Satellite radio to people who want the sound quality without the monthly commitment. There is potential for a music subscription service.

[Dreamnine]

I think SlotRadio is dead in the water.

[JK98]

"It appears as though they're attempting to create a new market in the world of MP3 players, going after the people who are still using audio cassettes because they find even an iPod too complicated."

A portable CD player is quite easy to use though. Imo the goal should be to make
a portable mp3 player as easy to use as a portable CD player. The main fault of a portable CD player is the size. Most people want a player that fits in a typical shirt pocket. The shirt pocket criteria was an important one when the first portable transistor radios came out, and it is imo still a good measure of comfortable portability.

Imo having an mp3 player that is as easy to use as a portable CD player means having media that is inserted into the player(the Slotmusic concept satisfies this), but also using easily swappable batteries(than can be charged outside the player or perhaps also allow the use of a disposable battery, and having a display on the player. Imo it also means having reasonable battery life(at least 24 hours). So far no flash memory based mp3 player seems to satisy this. Having the option of getting an mp3 player with both AM and FM radio would be nice(especially if the radio is HD).

[JK98]

Imo the two main problems with Slotradio are the price and the inability to select which songs won't play. If they come out with 400 or 500 song cards for under $20, then imo there would be much greater demand for these than 1000 song cards for $50. For most consumers, an impulse buy is under $20. Most consumers also won't consider buying a music CD or DVD movie if it is over $20.

Allowing one to select which songs won't play is also imo an important factor.