The SanDisk Sansa Connect aims to both connect users and rid them of the need to hook up their player to a PC.

The 4GB Sansa Connect offers a WiFi connection, so you can connect to subscription services and purchase music, as well as stream Internet radio stations without connecting to a PC. While connected wirelessly, users will be able to recommend music and photos (the device doesn't play video) to others.

The player has a microSD slot for expanding its memory, and has an internal speaker for listening without headphones. It has a 2.2-inch TFT color screen, supports Microsoft PlaysForSure subscription services, and will support Vista. The player will cost US$250 and should hit retail stores in late March.

For those looking for a basic, inexpensive device, the company announced the US$60 Sansa Express, a 1GB player that requires no USB cable (imagine a USB thumbdrive with a 1.1-inch OLED screen that's an audio player).

The tiny device has an FM tuner and can record from the radio, and has a built-in microphone for making voice recordings. It also has a microSD card slot, which could expand its memory to 3GB. The Sansa Express will be available in March.

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