Wifi mp3 player doubles as web radio

Flash memory specialist Sandisk launched three products at CES aimed at breaking into the burgeoning convergence market.

They included a 4GB £128 Wifi-enabled mp3 player, called the Sansa Connect, which will download tracks directly from the web and doubles as an internet radio.

The Sansa Connect will come with a microSD card slot, an embedded speaker, and 2.2in screen. No prices or availability dates were given but Sandisk said the device will work with multiple download sites.

The company also showed an 8GB portable media player called the Sansa View, which will ship in March for £154 and is just 1.7cm thick. It has with a 4in widescreen display and an SD slot for up 8GB more storage.

Sandisk introduced a new class of device called a USBTV design to transfer video from a PC to TV without using a network. Once loaded with video, you plug the device into a docking station that connects to the standard audio-visual ports of the TV. It incorporates digital rights management and decoders for major video formats. Prices were not announced.