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Discuss your thoughts on the newly announced SoundsGOOD audioplayer.

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<B>Marcus Adolfsson</B>
Editor

This is yet another reason why I believe the Visor is a poor value in terms of functional expandability. Springboard modules are turning out to be far too expensive, even costing more than the Visor itself. If you buy a Visor Deluxe for $250 and add a $270 MP3 module, you may as well just buy a Pocket PC. In fact, your actually paying more than you would for an iPAQ. Where is the value here? The Visor has been a market success, but if this trend in high priced Modules continue, Springboard will die off, leaving the Visor as nothing more than an inexpensive Palm derivative. I like Handspring but they need to play a more pro-active role in setting cost and deployment guidelines with their Springboard OEMs.

I hope I'm not the only one in seeing this.

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My blog: Pocketfactory

This is good news

Wow. Good's website has even less information on it (none) than it had a week ago. I didn't think it was possible.

It's nice to see that it can be used outside of the Visor with an external battery pack, but based on the little information available, it seems like the MiniJam is a better deal since the latter can be used to store any type of Palm/Visor files. It'll be interesting to see a picture of the product to compare form factors and screen interfaces.

I'd still prefer a standalone MP3 player to either of these, but it's nice that there's a growing range of options out there.

Foo:

You posted while I was composing. And here I was thinking I was going to get the first word in.

To answer your question, the value of the Visor is allowing features to be options rather than bundled expenses. Most people won't be getting either MP3 player (yeah I know, thousands will, but I mean on a percentage basis, maybe one third will get one). I won't be getting one, for instance.

Another value of the Visor is that it runs the Palm OS, which is the most efficient handheld OS out there, with the greatest number of third-party software titles to date.

Bob Fullerton of Innogear has said several times, regardless of how reluctant we are to believe him, that the prices are high because of the low supply/high demand for Flash memory. The only difference between a Springboard MP3 player and a standalone is the LCD screen or lack of it. Otherwise, there's no reason for the prices between the two types to be significantly different.

A lot of people seem to be under the impression that Springboard MP3 players should be a lot cheaper than a standalone, but Flash memory continues to be the biggest cost factor. Handspring can't mandate the prices, since they're set by mostly overseas companies who have no competitors with a better supply. So we essentially have the electronic equivalent of OPEC right now.

I don't get it -- what role does the Visor play in the functionality of the SoundsGood player? Is the Visor merely a screen for the SoundsGood? That's one expensive screen! Is it an interface, allowing you to use the Visor to select tracks to play, etc? If so, in what way is the SoundsGood a standalone device?

From the press release, this just sounds like a totally separate piece of electronics that has little or nothing to do with the Visor. And it's way too expensive -- the same way that *all* MP3 players are way too expensive, of course, but still...

--bertbert

BertBert, I think that the Visor acts as the battery for the MP3 player. Nothing else.
BEN

But even that's not really the case, since evidently you will be able to purchase an external battery pack for the thing. Sheesh!

I have visions of putting a little plug that runs from my vacuum cleaner and plugs into the Springboard slot, and does absolutely nothing except maybe put a little picture of a vacuum cleaner on the Visor screen. Then I can call it a Vacuum Cleaner springboard and talk about how unique it is because you can use the vacuum cleaner *without* the Visor. Maybe it'll sell.. and hey maybe I can create a web site with zero content to advertise it!

Sorry to rip so much on this product, but it does seem fairly silly.

-bertbert

I'm not too sure..

This comapany's worked hard (I think ) to create this, and it sounds ok. I like how it sounds that it will be flush with the visor, small, out of the way. It is way too expensive. If I had to pay that much i would get a CD burner (which I already have) and take my napster songs and burn them as uncmpressed *.wavs. Something needs to be done abotu this flash memory thing.


One other thing. In the press release it sounds like they say they invented the springboard? Anyone can clear this up?

-miradu2000

An education of an 8th grader is GOOD when you are 13 years old.

SoundsGood sounds pretty good

Well I for one am pretty excited. This is why I bought my visor. If it's as small as they say it is and I can play all my MP3s on it, I'm all over it.

-MelMac

P.S. Miradu2000, in the press release it looks like they're quoting someone from Handspring about inventing the Springboard.

Brilliant product. I love the fact that I can slip the MP3 player into my visor. Nothing to attach on the outside. (BIG plus.) One smooth package! Like butta...

MiniJam a bargan!

Well now I feel glad that I placed my pre-order for the MiniJam.... The MiniJam not only cost less, it has allows users to upgrade memory.. this goodsound leaves you stuck with only 64mg forever. Not to mention the MiniJam has Album ToGo and Peanut reader..

more pix of SoundsGood module...

James, when you do your review, could you show a close-up
of the controls on the SoundsGood module? also, some ideas
on how well this fits into various cases (I have Handspring
bi-fold wallet), and how that affects usability.

Of course, if you could do a comparison w/ the MiniJam,
that'd be awesome, too!

thanks!

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--= gho =--

Comparison

Once I finish the SoundsGood review, I'll work on a comparison article between the two.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

Why not get a $40 CD player and a $150 CD-R drive and make your own CDs??! Seems like much more flexibility, less cost, more compatibility (pop the cd into your car system, home stereo system, computer, etc..etc..) and more expanbility (your not stuck with just 1 hour worth of music.. You can take as many cds with you as you want!)

just my 2 cents..

joe

I agree Cerulean (joe). I really don't understand what the thrill of having your PDA play MP3's is all about. Sure the thought of having to carry one device is neat but it just feels like it's being forced (with both the 2 recently released(?) modules AND the PocketPC). I think we still have a ways to go before handhelds can accomodate features like this in a package that is affordable, capable (processor power), AND practical (battery requirements).

Until then, my PDA is a PIM with AvantGo!

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Ever feel like the train left while you were busy reading the paper?

Stealth-Mod.

I'm with Hoser and Cerulean here. It just my opinion but I think it's pointless to have an MP3 player module when there are much cheaper and more useable/practial solutions with the 'old fashioned' CD players etc.

I kinda wish Innogear would put more development resources into a useful module like the SixPack. When is this little baby gonna ship!? I bought my VDx to replace my cruddy ThinkPad whenever possible and the SixPack (along with a decent word processor of course) would make my laptop obselete.

On the other hand it's nice to see the PDA world reaching out to more people than just the ones strictly hung up on productivity and that silly datebook and todo list thing.

These modules look great for those who are into playing MP3s on their little friends though. Enjoy them!

Ark.

I duno why everyone is bashing good. there product is the same as the minijam as the minijam can operate outside the visor with a battery clip too(woops mayby there is a shortage of clibs for the batter so we will have to wait and pay an outragus amount for those too)

besides these companies don't have to buy huge amounts for flash memory. or memory in general. nor are there any shortages. they are only in the business of being out of memory. same with opec.

but this is besides the point. right now MP3's are the hottest thing since sliced bread. everyone and there brother wants it. it's a fad and once we get some companies that have the right sence and start to sell consumers mp3 solid state devices for $25 with 128 megs then you will see all these over priced devices disapear. only to be replaced with cheeper ones.

humm maybe not $25 but at a much reduced price.
$300, $250, $200, $150 is just too much. $100 fine thats alot already for something that is REALY simple to build now.

Wow, there seems to be some bad blood here against Good Tech. I've only had a chance to briefly play with it, but it sounds great and can be carried in my Vaja (as it is right now). Try fitting a CD in your Visor's case!

Yes a CD+RW + CD player will get you more music, but that's one more thing to carry around. The cost is high for the SoundsGood, but it also is very small. And did you see Good's website with pictures of its clip and the cassette adapter? Now you can have CD quality music (without skipping) in your car.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

I can see the benefit of carrying some (~1 hour) music in the same (Good) or slightly larger (MiniJam) Visor footprint. Still, both are very expensive.

The fact that Good fit it into a standard springboard package is cool, but I don't know if it's worth sacrificing memory expansion.

Any idea when MiniJam will support using extra memory for Visor files? I got the impression that feature is still in the works.

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Jeff

FINALLY...

Finally a good MP3 player for my Visor!!!!! I've been waiting for something like this. An MP3 player is the obvious add-on for the Springboard. I can't wait to get my hands on the SoundsGood player. Look on Good.com -- they even offer a battery pack that let's the player work on it's own. When can i get this?