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SanDisk has upgraded its popular Sansa Clip MP3 player to make it ready to roll with Windows 7 when Microsoft introduces its new operating system in October.

Like its predecessor, the Sansa Clip+ sports a one-inch OLED screen that displays a simple user interface for choosing playlists or songs sorted by title, artist, album and genre. The new device also features an equalizer mode for fine-tuning the listening experience, a built-in microphone for recording audio notes, and an FM tuner with 40 radio station presets.

"We made a great product -- the Sansa Clip -- even better," said SanDisk Vice President Eric Bone. "It's the perfect player for travelers, busy moms, fitness buffs, or anyone looking to enjoy music without the hassle of loading songs from their computer or updating playlists."

Limitless Opportunities

With the Sansa Clip+, users will be able to play microSD cards loaded with their favorite music tracks, with up to 4,000 songs fitting on a single 16GB card. However, SanDisk also is targeting music fans with preprogrammed slotRadio and slotMusic cards that will offer users plug-and-play compilations of Billboard hits as well as music albums released in the microSD format.

With preloaded cards, there's no password to remember or need to wait for music to download, SanDisk said. Even better, an entire music album comfortably fits on a 1GB slotMusic card, with plenty of room left to spare.

"Our latest music survey shows that 30 percent of online adults regularly use an MP3 player, yet only 23 percent say they maintain a digital music collection on their PC," noted Forrester Research analyst David Card.

On the other hand, slotRadio and slotMusic cards also can be used in PCs, mobile phones and car stereos featuring built-in microSD card readers. "SanDisk thinks slotMusic will play with tech-averse grownups while appealing to...

Even as rumors spread about the iPhone coming to new carriers next year, Rockstar Games has announced plans to bring its blockbuster franchise to Apple's iPhone this fall. But will App Store reviewers approve the violent game?

Rockstar Games, the publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, said it's bringing Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars to the iPhone and iPod touch. Rockstar also announced its Beaterator is coming to the Apple devices.

"Chinatown Wars is a perfect match for the iPhone and iPod touch," said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games. "We are very excited to bring this incredibly ambitious version of Liberty City, with this level of detail and immersive game play, on Apple's new gaming platforms."

Grand Violence

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars follows the story of Huang Lee, a young Triad who travels to Liberty City after the mysterious death of his father. Players navigate their way through the streets as they uncover the truth behind an epic tale of crime and corruption within the Triad crime syndicate, delivering the unprecedented amount of depth that has become a trademark of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

Already available for the Nintendo DS, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is also coming this fall for Sony's PlayStation Portable. But Nintendo and Sony will have to compete with Apple for gamers who want the franchise on a portable device -- if the device makes it onto the handset.

According to Mike Disabato, a senior analyst at the Burton Group, Rockstar can develop and submit Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, but Apple can still ban the game from its platform. If Apple doesn't like the way Rockstar has implemented it, he said, Apple may not approve the app.

In Human Hands

"If the Grand Theft Auto developers have an interface that's bad or if they try to slip a...

Samsung Electronics is joining the smartphone app-store party. The Seoul, Korea-based company will open its Samsung Application Store in Italy, the United Kingdom, and France on Sept. 14.

Since February, the company has been testing a beta version of the online store in Britain. Now Samsung's app store will be extended to more than 30 countries, including Spain and Germany, Reuters reported on Monday. Samsung plans to open the store with 300 apps, with more than 2,000 by the end of the year.

The store will be interconnected with Samsung's developer site, Samsung Mobile Innovator, and its marketing site, Samsung Application Store Seller Site, to form an ecosystem.

"The challenge is to find business models that benefit consumers, the handset maker, and content developers at the same time," Lee Ho-soo, a Samsung executive vice president, told the Korean Times.

Late To the Party

The launch of Samsung's mobile app store in Europe brings more utility to its devices, which is what consumers want, according to IDC analyst Ramon Llamas, but there are still unanswered questions.

"Since everyone is getting onto the mobile-application bandwagon one way or another, Samsung is attempting to brand its own experience to drive customer loyalty," he said. "What remains to be seen are the kind, breadth and depth of its mobile applications. (Will it be) sports, news, information, or commerce? Those (questions) need to be answered."

The mobile-phone company's competitors are already ahead with their own application storefronts. Number-three handset maker LG opened its Application Store in July with 1,400 applications, including 100 free programs in 15 different languages in Asia-Pacific nations, including Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. And like Samsung, LG said it will have 2,000 apps available by year's end.

But LG and Samsung are late to the mobile-app-store party. Apple celebrated the one-year anniversary of its App Store in...