SanDisk introduced USBTV, a new, industry-wide initiative that is expected to enable consumers to easily move digital content from their PCs to their televisions for viewing in full, big-screen comfort. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where the platform technology was demonstrated and several industry leaders announced their support for USBTV. USBTV is a powerful and innovative new platform that will enable consumers to transport downloaded digital content from a personal computer, by using a small flash memory-enabled media player, and plug-and-play it directly on virtually any TV. More information about the USBTV Forum and USBTV is available USBTV.org.

SanDisk introduced its first widescreen portable media player dubbed the Sansa View. The flash-based SanDisk Sansa View is a sleek, yet simple video player that supports a wide array of content formats and comes equipped with a flash memory expansion slot. The announcement was made at CES, where SanDisk is exhibiting in the Las Vegas Convention Center. While the Sansa View is a pocket-able player, one of the slimmest on the market today, it features a large 4-inch widescreen display for optimal viewing. In addition to a DVD-like quality video experience, the Sansa View can display photos (up to 16 Megapixels), play music, or even combine the two in a slideshow format.

SanDisk unveiled an affordable, cable-less, flash-based MP3 player: the 1GB SanDisk Sansa Express. Designed for the value-conscious consumer, the compact Sansa Express stands out amongst the competition as an affordably priced device with many high-end features, including a microSD expansion slot, FM tuner, recording capabilities, data storage and a direct connection to a consumer’s computer, no USB cable required. The Sansa Express and other new SanDisk products are being demonstrated at the CES 2007. “With the Sansa Express, SanDisk is continuing its strategy of bringing new MP3 players to market for the budget conscious consumer,” said Keith Washo, SanDisk retail product marketing manager.

SanDisk, the 2nd largest seller of MP3 players in the US, announced the Sansa Connect, a Wi-Fi enabled MP3 player that lets consumers enjoy and recommend music from almost anywhere. The SanDisk Sansa Connect un-tethers consumers from their PCs allowing them to connect to music and online photos through any open wireless “hot spot” Internet connection. The announcement was made at CES, where SanDisk is exhibiting in the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Sansa Connect provides superior sound playback (equiv. to SanDisk’s award-winning Sansa e200 line) and will come equipped with a microSD card slot. The expansion slot adds additional storage capacity as well as portability of music to other devices.

SanDisk introduced the Memory Stick Micro (M2) product line, an ultra-thin, removable storage card for use with Sony Ericsson’s latest generation of slim line, multimedia mobile phones like the Cyber-shot and the Walkman series phones. The SanDisk M2 cards are available in 2GB, the market’s highest capacity Memory Stick Micro, followed by the 1GB and 512MB. The announcement was made today at the Consumer Electronics Show, where SanDisk is demonstrating products at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The SanDisk M2 mobile cards are shipping in January to retailers worldwide, with the release in Japan scheduled later in the quarter. Suggested US retail pricing is 2GB: $119.99, 1GB: $54.99, 512MB: $44.99.

SanDisk introduced Cruzer Contour, a USB flash drive with the elegant look and feel of a fine fountain pen or wristwatch. The elegance extends inside Cruzer Contour, with state-of-the-art engineering, support for Windows ReadyBoost, and, a generous gallery of pre-installed U3 software applications. Cruzer Contour was unveiled during the CES 2007 show, where SanDisk is demonstrating products in the Las Vegas Convention Center. What especially sets apart Cruzer Contour, with its glossy black top and silver metallic body, is the drive’s unique sliding USB connector. Using your thumb to slide the top of Cruzer Contour back and forth brings out or hides the connector, there’s no visible switch, and no cap to lose.