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Im planning on getting a Z series walkman, probably a z1070 or z1060. Here's a question that I couldnt figure out: What is the difference between the Japan unit an non-Japan unit?
I was browsing through the pages and noticed that OK-Guy bought different types of them, Maybe you can share what the differences are
An important difference between the Z1070 & z1060 is the file formats that each supports as a stock unit.
The Japanese version (Z1070) supports 7 music formats: MP3, WMA, Linear PCM (WAV), AAC, HE-AAC, ATRAC, & ATRAC Lossless
The Z1060 supports 5 music formats: MP3, WMA, Linear PCM (WAV), AAC, & HE-AAC
So the Z1060 supports the same formats, but has no ATRAC.
The software bundled with the Z1070 can only be loaded on Japanese Windows. If you have Japanese language on your PC you may be able to download the Walkman Guide from the Z1070 written entirely in Japanese. The other bundled software is Japanese X-App, the successor to SonicStage, but only in Japanese.
This software is for your PC for loading/using content on your PC and moving it to the WM. The WM runs on its own software already loaded in it (plus any app you add).
If you have English Windows, you can move content to the Z1070 using:
1. drag&drop,
2. SonicStage (a version that your PC accepts, 4.3 probably),
3. X-App modified to run in English Windows (but in Japanese-see post 1292, page 87 here or see the Help-for-dummies thread mentioned in OK-Guy's post above) or
4. some other software (perhaps an Android app).
The Z1060 bundled software is English MediaGo and WM guide.
There seems to be misunderstandings about Media Go. It can be downloaded for free from mediago.sony.com. According to that site, Media Go supports the 7 formats listed for the Z1070, EXCEPT it includes FLAC and drops HE-AAC (I don't know all the ins & outs of the formats-there may be overlap that I don't understand).
I have both Media Go and modified X-App installed on my PC and I can use either to load my Z1070 with music WITH album art. You do have to have internet search enabled in the settings of your app for automatic album art tagging in your music files. I have had no problems with MediaGo on Z1070 and Sony claims compatibility with the Z1000 series. I think there is a misunderstanding of the file system seen in the Z1070 that leads others to claim incompatibility with Z1070.
The Media Go I have installed only seems to import from CD in MP3, FLAC, or AAC. I would expect it to still handle other formats if placed in its library, but I haven't tried yet.
I've never used SonicStage so I can't comment on that.
The above opinions are based on a few weeks of experience with MediaGo, X-App, & Z1070. I reserve the right to change them.
I hope that gives you a clear idea of what to expect on the software side of the choice.