[HoodedSoldier]

http://www.sony-europe.com/PageView....sReleaseDetail

there ya go

 

[insomniac]

Hey, that looks quite intriguing!

 

[utdeep]

1. can i see the display in the day?
2. does it use sonicstage?
3. is it usb 1.1 again?
4. it doesn't look that great.
5. sony doesn't make enough accessories for their players, and no one else will.

I'm saving my sony fund for the ps3.

 

[TenaciousO]

My goodness that is ugly. People always complain that the ipod looks like a bar of soap, but I think the new walkman has the ipod beat in that regard by a mile.

 

[myself, aka me]

I like it better than the iPod nano. Certainly different. Looks like a Rio Carbon.

to quote the press release:
“CONNECT Player” incorporates a new and improved user interface that features a simple ‘drag and drop’ function for easy transfer from library to player. “CONNECT Player” supports the new functions within Sony WALKMAN as well as providing automatic software updates and increased Codec support.

Sounds like it'll support the 320kbps atrac, 256kbps etc... Drag and drop sounds fun too. I guess it'll DRM wrap the mp3s though. Although they have made copy protection for ATRAC a setting for when you rip your CDs to the computer.

I wonder if connect player will be as big as the new itunes. 33MB on a dialup. Pfft, damn you, broadband unavailability!

Hey, it also has "Initial search". More fun than scrolling through 200 artists.

 

[blessingx]

I don't think I'd have OPTION and BACK that large, but otherwise I think it looks great.

'Time Machine Shuffle' (if tagged properly) and 'records three years of playback history' are interesting advances.

 

[kin0kin]

now just when i thought the nano is ugly, this is worse. wth is this?

blue color rio carbon with misplaced buttons.

 

[carsncars]

How nice... two new DAP's from two of my favourite companies in one day!

This is Sony's HD5 successor-- the A3000 and A1000. The A3000 is their 20Gb player, the A1000 is their 6Gb MicroDrive player (seems a bit outdated.. eh?). Looks like it has taken styling cues off the E500, which, by the way, is now offered as the E600 as well now in 2Gb variants. About the same size as the HD5, but kind of rounded off-- Rio Carbon-esque. Very nice, IMO. And-- get this-- it has 50 hour battery life! No longer user-replaceable, if I read correct though. My Japanese isn't great. =__='' The 6Gb has a 1.5" screen versus the 20Gb's 2.0" screen. Correct me if I'm wrong!

Oh-- it has an FM Tuner as well. Is Sony finally seeing the light? =D

Read for yourselves:
http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Walkman/...neup#nw-a3000b

Now I'm gonna have a harder time selling my HD5...

The E500 seems to have gotten a minor update as well-- Sony's added the E600 to their line-up. One new colour (and the other colours look a bit more vivid), some of the buttons have been relabled (see 'Group'>'Album', 'FM'>'Func') and now has a 2Gb version available as well.

The biggest difference is that these new players feature the same intelligent shuffle features of the A3000/1000 players, and are supposed to be able to play back WMA. Since Sony seems to be selling the E600 alongside the E500/400, I don't think these features will be implemented in a firmware upgrade. Shame... I miss the iPod's shuffle. My own pet peeve with my HD5 and E507 is that you can't go back a track in shuffle mode.. wonder if they've changed that as well.

In addition.. Sony is selling a sort of iridescent 'Emerald Blue' limited edition 2Gb as well as that champagne gold prototype we saw earlier as a limited edition.

Wouldn't mind either, myself... Anyone wanna buy a new-condition HD5 or E505?

 

[carsncars]

Ah-- some wallpapers. First one shows size comparison between the A3000/A1000/E600. Damn! I want the whole set...

Y'know, my wallet would be much fatter if I hadn't discovered this site.

Oh, and that picture of the A3000s... reminds me of fish.

Size Comparison: http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Walkman/..._1280_1024.jpg

A3000: http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Walkman/..._1280_1024.jpg

A1000: http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Walkman/..._1280_1024.jpg

Dock: http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Walkman/..._1280_1024.jpg

Design Shot: http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Walkman/..._1280_1024.jpg

E600: http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Walkman/..._1280_1024.jpg

 

[RickG]

NOTE:

The two threads regarding Sony's new players have been combined.

 

[bangraman]

50 hour battery life = Sony for 25 hour battery life. Good though.

 

[Taphil]

Hmmm, it looks like Sony is following Creative's lead - consistently shooting in the dark and hoping for something that people might buy. In other words, too many products that don't look compelling.

 

[Spex]

Sony UK Product News website has information about the new HD WALKMAN players.

I got my hands on a pre-production model yesterday and it looks fab. I've got a load of photos of the 20Gb unit. I've attached one to this message.

 

[guvnor]

I think the A1000 and A3000 are ugly...and you probably wont be able to see the display in daylight either.

 

[Electric_Mofo]

I think it looks incredible