Is it the end of the road for Insignia DAPs?

[Jackboot]

I believe it has been about a year since Best Buy released the Insignia Pilot. This makes me think...is it time for a new release? Or, is the lack of firmware updates an indication that Insignia has called it quits with their line of DAPs?

If in fact Insignia DAPs are dead it would really be too bad. I just got my pilot and it is a GREAT player (and recorder!). There are some serious annoyances however, but since it is so close to perfect, it makes me pine for a new and improved DAP from Insignia for a killer price.

So, dead or alive. What are your thoughts?

[CrowdAds]

[rgvmp3]

I'm still wondering why they discontinued the 8GB. Why didn't they just drop the 4GB and reduce the price on the 8GB? I thought at first, maybe, due to the sale, they managed to get rid of their stock of 8GB and are just waiting for the 4GB to sell out, but if that was the case why would they keep it at $119? Doesn't make sense to me so who knows what they are up to.

[vferrari]

Makes me wonder if there was a design problem with the 8GB flash or other components used vs. 4GB that has manifested itself in some of the bugs people are seeing with corrupted memory and such (most people who post here have the 8GB model, I think). So Insignia decided to stop making it to preclude losses from returns and warranty repairs. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense to attempt to steer customers to the smaller flash.

[jamccart]

I don't think it's something with the 8gb vs. 4gb -- at my local BBY, they have the 4gb on clearance sale now. I'm thinking the 8gb just sold out quicker.

The only question, I believe, is whether this is the end for the Insignia line or if there are new models coming out. We should know within a month (my guess only).

[Jackboot]

What is the clearance price of the 4GB model at your BB?

If the 4GB is being clearanced as well, I agree with jamccart. Either they are being cleared out to end the Insignia line of DAPs, or to introduce a new one.

[covertrussian]

At least one patch would be nice before it dies out

[jamccart]

The 4gb is on clearance for $111. The 8gb is also on clearance for $129.

[Jackboot]

Good news?

The 4GB is now sold out online with "limited availability" in store. Sounds like this is the end of the Pilot! The question is: what's next, if anything?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1183767792576

[JK98]

Perhaps Best Buy might be realizing that its Insignia brand is causing them to price the Fuze and the Clip higher than Walmart. So whatever they might make on sales of Insignia players, they might be losing much more on missed Fuze and Clip sales. Just my opinion. Also the mp3 player market is not easy now with flash memory prices dropping so quickly. If there was enough lag time between buying components and selling the players, they may have been stuck with many players with costly flash
memory in them.

[rgvmp3]

Well I guess we can say goodbye to any firmware updates then. I can't see them investing effort in something they are no longer making money on.

[TheBard]

It seems like almost a century ago -- my favorite player was the Rio Carbon. The Rio folks eventually abandoned the player, but a great group of users put together a final firmware version that was better than the original. Similarly, today, the Rockbox members improve firmware for other MP3 players with specific chipsets.

Hopefully there are some good hackers that might carry on the tradition for the Pilot ... but I am somewhat pessimistic.

[Jackboot]

My email from Insignia asking about an update to their line of DAPs:

Thanks for reaching Insignia.

As you have explained in your E-mail, you wanted to know if we were planning
to release a new player to replace the Pilot.

First of all, let me apologize for the time that it took me
to provide you with a response. At this moment we are experiencing a higher
than normal quantity of E-mails. I understand that this is no excuse, however
I hope that you don't take this delay as a lack of consideration towards our
customers. We care about our customers and we are constantly working to
improve our products performance and our customer care.

As an answer to your question, we are not planning to release new models at
the moment. As soon as new models are released, they are sent to our exclusive
retailer, Best Buy, so I recommend you to check our website from time to time
or go to your nearest Best Buy store to find them.

[covertrussian]

Originally Posted by Jackboot

My email from Insignia asking about an update to their line of DAPs:

You should have asked them about firmware

[Jackboot]

Originally Posted by covertrussian

You should have asked them about firmware

Haha...I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be the first to ask!

I am not surprised that they basically said "when/if the new DAP is released, it will be found in the store". I was expecting them to be vague since they probably don't know.

[covertrussian]

Haha good point hehe.

[rgvmp3]

A typical nonanswer really, which was to be expected.

[SaruNinja]

The Kix and the Pilot are the only Insignia DAPs that aren't in Insignia's "Discontinued Models" category on their website. And considering how the Kix doesn't seem to sell, and with the Pilot's not selling much anymore either....i'm guessing Insignia will stop making Portable Audio players.
They rarely update their website too...:/

[jamccart]

I agree this may be the end of the line. It's eerily similar to the end of the vpr Matrix computer line (later renamed Insignia).

BTW - clearance sale price on the 4gb is now 104 and the 8gb is $129. They'll have to come down more with the new ipods and zunes at $149.

[Conchchowder]

Originally Posted by jamccart

I agree this may be the end of the line. It's eerily similar to the end of the vpr Matrix computer line (later renamed Insignia).

BTW - clearance sale price on the 4gb is now 104 and the 8gb is $129. They'll have to come down more with the new ipods and zunes at $149.

I'm still feeling good that I got my 8 gig Pilot for $99 on sale in-store plus extended warranty.