Specfically with the Sansa Connect, you have built-in Wi-fi which enables you to download new songs through Yahoo! music without having to connect the player to a PC.  That is one of the most compelling features of that product.  You can download AND listen to music at the same time, so your music experience isn't interrupted.  Sure, you need a Wi-Fi hotspot to be able to use that feature, but that is pretty problematic these days.

Matt Whitlock said:The newer iPods aren't much different in functionality from the ones that were released years ago. 

This is an interesting dilemma for me.  I'll admit it, I like Apple's products, and am an iPod owner myself.  I previously owned a Rio Karma 20 GB (sadly discontinued.)  Let me say first, here's what I DON'T like about the iPod:

-  no support for OGG (no surprise here, but IMO, it sounds better)

-  ITMS DRM lockdown... hate it

-  Can't copy back from iPod to computer without workarounds... lame

-  If you turn on manual syncing, and want to go back to standard syncing... you have to wipe your Pod  (at least as far as I know)

-  access on the device is somewhat slow, switching songs, etc

-  EQ settings are not fully adjustable... i.e., no parametric EQ 

-  simply doesn't sound as good through my car speakers as my Rio did

-  it does take a long time to sync, I agree with this 

OK, so that being said, I keep my iPod because I love the integration with my Mac.  It just works really well.  I do like the clear, bright screen of the iPod, podcast support is great too.  But, should you switch from the iPod to the Sansa?

Here's the question: What do you want out of your iPod that you don't already get, that would make it worth getting something new?  The Sansa products are great, and the Connect may offer you features your current iPod does not.

And I would check out Amazon as a solution for music downloads.  Nothing like being free of DRM.  Even Apple themselves don't like using DRM and would offer music free of it, if the music industry would let them. 

Peter Redmer
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follow-up from previous post:

OKeedokee - forget about that Y-Cable I mentioned. I have no idea why that cable has both UBS and phono-plug. Anyone know? (Am curious.)

So - I decided to just take my SANSA USB cable and go direct from Sansa thru sansa-supplied usb cable into the USB port in the car. Well - it IS better, but not 100% solution....

It seems none of the songs I've personally downloaded into the player get transmitted out to the car's controller. BUT - songs I DID NOT explicitly download ARE showing up on the Nav screen (and are playable thru the car system). I don't know where I got these songs -- definitely got sucked in thru Rhapsody without my asking for them.

I'm thinking MY downloads are written to a different file directory on the sansa machine, and whatever this directory IS, it cannot be "seen" by the car's reading unit. Or perhaps Sansa itself doesn't want my downloaded songs exiting the digital port ($$ issues perhaps?). JEEZ why is this so complicated? I mean I've paid for most of the songs, am a continuing Rhapsody member; why would sansa then restrict which files/directories can be transmitted OUT of the Sansa unit?

If anyone knows what's happening here, I'd be most happy to hear about it.

thanks

tommy

Howdy Brandon... thanks for the response!

OK if I simply plug Sansa into PC (win XP), this is what Windows can "SEE"

4 folders and two files:
"Photos" folder: lots of bitmap images that came with the sansa
"Record" folder: two subfolders FM and Voice. Voice folder has one WAV file.
"tmp" folder: looks empty to windows
"Videos" folder: sansa demo video (Quicktime)
And there's a version file and a version.sdk file.

So windows itself can't see much. The car could "see" much more -- certain songs in the SANSA were displayed on the Nav, AND would be playable. Interesting thing about these songs -- I don't see them in any of the playlists when I bring up Rhapsody...Hmm perhaps these particular songs are of a different format (and maybe came with the sansa originally?)

I'm concluding this really is not gonna work in the BMW. The file formats really are unrecognizable because there's just no standardizaiton in this dang MP3 player world....

So I have an option in my car that will be unusable unless I switch to frickin ipod. I think I'll just burn some CDs instead.

thanks!

Tom

You may have to force MTP mode before plugging in. Do a search here for MTP on how to do it.
I don't own an Ipod but there must be a way to copy all your MP# files to your computer and then import them into iTunes.

Tired of waiting for your device to do what you need it to?