I fully expect all the Mac lovers and Sony haters to attack this, it's what you do, but I'm really excited about this thing!!!!







After speculation induced by ATRACLife with our stunning initial spy pictures and specifications, Sony has announced the NW-A800 series on March 1st, 2007 or what will forever be known as V-Day. Three models will be available: NW-A805 (2gb), NW-A806 (4gb), and NW-808 (8gb) in black, white, pink and violet. Drag and drop video and picture functionality will be present, however audio transfers will still require the assistance of Sonicstage. The product will ship with Sonicstage 4.3, Image Converter 3, and a new Walkman portal-esque program dubbed Walkman Launcher to ensure true ease of use for newcomers and seasoned veterans of the Sony personal entertainment experience.

How is the screen? QVGA (240×320) and 30fps, which is about twice the size of the Nano display. For a 2 inch screen, that is stunning. Brightness is somewhere between the iPod Nano and iPod Video, and color reproduction and contrast is higher than the aforementioned competition. Videos and pictures can be played vertically, or horizontally (both ways, left and right). Don’t want the annoying 16:9 bars with status information at the bottom? No problem, take it full screen and enjoy the content. Watch a photo slideshow whilst listening to music. Video playback will ooze a sense that this is a high-quality premium device.

The user interface is akin to the NW-A3000/A1000’s 3×3 interface, but has been revamped and features a more attractive flow. Icons glow, menu transitions are steadfast and there are a sea of options to ensure that the experience is right for everyone. There are three methods of search: Artist, Album and Song. Searching for music is easier now as the letters can be side-scrolled alphabetically at the top to get to your favorite artist quickly. Albums can be searched via title, title and cover art, or cover art only. This is only the tip of the iceberg; there is much, much more.

Audio offerings are good; Linear PCM is not supported, but ATRAC Advanced Lossless is. MP3, WMA, AAC and ATRAC are all supported up to 320kbps (ATRAC3plus to 352kbps). Three sound technologies are also included: DSEE, Clear Bass, and Clear Stereo. MDR-EX082 13.5mm headphones are included with the package to ensure a relatively decent stock listening experience.

The NW-A800 series will debut worldwide in April.

how much? i'd be happy if they offered a non-video but higher GB model. i wanna finally replace my zen nomad this year, but i really would prefer not to go the iPod route. i'll have to follow this!

Anx said:

The Sony walkman (non-video) mp3 players come in all sizes up to 40GB. Is that big enough ?

Anx said:

This is the only high capacity player they have right now, it is 30 GB but it is ugly as hell.

AsylumUtopia said:

eh. it'll do. that's what i have now w/ my zen. i'm eyeing 60GB+...i'm kind of a size queen about how much of my music collection gets on my mp3 player.

jerseykrs said:

30gb ain't great...and that thing is fugtrocious.

Anx said:

there have been rumors that they are working on a nano sized hard drive based player with a capacity of about 20 GB, but also having a memory stick port, which are available up to 8GB right now, but the cool thing about the memory stick technology is Sony has stated they will be able to offer them in 32GB when all is said and done.

jerseykrs said:

That is one ugly hand/wrist/arm.

JustErin said:

I thought the same thing!!! You would think they could have secured a better hand model, right?

Here she is again!

my sister just got a zune. it looks cool, and i like that it has radio function built in, but i still LOVE my ipod.

jerseykrs said:

her hand reminds me of Bjorks 'All Is Full Of Love' video

as for the gadget, eh.

fantasyislander said:

zunes have some kinds of messed-up limitation to what you can store or transfer or something like that, right? they're worse than iPods in terms of how little you can do with files...that's what i've been hearing, anyway.

they're pretty, though.

Anx said:

actually, i don't think it "looks" cool, but it seems to have some interesting functions. i saw it only briefly this morning. i like the widescreen, and like i said, the radio. but honestly i wasn't that impressed. maybe i'm just used to my ipod, but it "felt" cheap to me.

if only it was 40GB and didn't need Sonicstage.

Sony are getting there though - I had their NW-HD3 and it was fucking tops until the iPod Video came out. Beats the Pod hands-down for sound quality, durability and bat. life.

but please get rid of sonicstage!

Spookymuffin said:

I kind of agree, but believe it or not, the current version of SonicStage isn't nearly as annoying as previous versions.

If Sony had released this BEFORE or AROUND the time of the Video iPod, it woulda had a chance, but as it is, I think it's too little too late. Apple has a lock on that market, and no one seems to be able to come up with anything as good in terms of user friendliness, looks, and functionality.

Wide screen! AWESOME!!!!!

What? No phone?


M

jerseykrs said:

It looks like a Game Boy that got depressed and fat.

FunkMistress said:

too much binary paxil I guess.

oh

Again, Sony gets it wrong wrong wrong on design with these things.
How can the company that gave us the walkman keep having these misteps?

It's only moderately better looking than the Zune. The problem is who would want to move off of their iTunes collection onto Sony's platform.

And at 400 bucks for the 8 gig?
Only Sony fans are going to want this thing.


I'm not saying it isn't going to be a great gadget--It *IS* a Sony afterall. But for the Price, what will they be offering that Creative Zen, iRiver, and Ipod don't already? Uping the screen resolution on something that isn't a primary reason for owning them (YET) won't do it.


Also, it won't cuase iPod users to want to swap, and Sony is going to need to nab that portion of the market. The next generation iPod will be a mutli-touch iPod much like the iPhone with a full touch screen (much like the iPhone), and if Apple goes Flash with their products, longer battery life.

I'm not in any way saying that Sony's product isn't great--it probably is great. But if your'e going to compete with the iPod, you want to take into consideration design, fetures, AND price.




and Sonicstage? Do they want a still born product?

jerseykrs said:

Paxil does make you fat.

yeah, it is expensive, a bane of all Sony products. Personally, I think at this point, it's better to not try and sway ipodders, just find their part of the market. No, this isn't a killer, but it is a better direction. Sony has put MAJOR money into their music R and D team, this is just the first step. I'm excited to see what they have out in around five years.

Imago said:

I love sonicstage

jerseykrs said:

What they should have done (my honest opinion) is offer a way for it to interface with the Playstation 3. Like, I don't know, maybe have the capacity to play music through the playstation 3, or store game data that can be moved from PS3 to PS3, or hell--even store some games on it. I don't know

Just something different.


Sony doesn't need a nitch product--they need a true competitor. Else they'll end up having to spin off that portion of the business. I just really think they need a new revolution in portable music. They were the ones who started this--they should be key players in the future.

I certainly would like to see this product or the Creative Zen line be competitors with the iPod, but I think Zune might grab some of that limelight.

Imago said:

they have major plans to incorporate the PSP with the 3.