Shinji Ikeda

The service manual says switch off the device, then hold the back button for 1.5 or more until it returns to the home menu.

Which series? The NWZ-A810 or NW-A800 series.

I do not know if anyone has taken apart the models or have been able to obtain the service models. I with you on this. I assume that there is no different between the two models (NW-A800 and NWZ-A810) other than the design of some software components.

Mmmm .... Why don't you take a look see. http://www.recyou.jp/

My advice is if you are going to Japan or just planning to, is to wait. It will be to your advantage. In other words wait until it has been decided when you will be going to Japan. This you can save more money.

Sony seems to have moved away from SonicStage in markets outside of Japan. Sony still supports SonicStage and has released models identical in appearance with the NWZ-S610 and NWZ-S710 in Japan that requires SonicStage. MiniDisc is still sold in Japan, with new models (not frequently) being released. I think they stop supporting Beta only two years ago. My advice is if you are using SonicStage 4.2 or above, to start importing your music is as MP3 or another format that is not ATRAC. Even though it would be slower, you can transcode to ATRAC later. SonicStage will be available for some time into the future. Those outside of Japan seem to over state the death of SonicStage. If Sony replaces SonicStage with something, you will hear about in being released in Japan first.

I am willing to be a 'guinea pig'

I do not know, but could it because both the rating system and the Editor's choice are subjective.

I can never figure anything about CNET.

I usually take what Greenpeace claims with hesitation. Their various silliness has made me lose their support. I would rather read this information from an independent scientist or organization than this fringe organization. This article does not give me enough information to make an educated decision. However, I do not see myself buying the iPhone.

Wow. Losing SonicStage seems to have improve the popularity of the NWZ-A810 series. However, I do not see Sony doing away with SonicStage in Japan any time soon. Now, other maybe can appreacitate why many of use have being buying Network Walkmans. However, I will have to agree with Rens on this one.

But, the Zune has not been released in Japan. I do not know about Canada, but the Zune seems to be released to limited markets.

Welcome to ATRACLife. Sony will not release this information. Companies do not release trade secrets about file structures, etc., unless it is required by the end user. Usually, it is up to ingenious users to determine how to access and manipulate the software on the device to allow the access to the files. Some users on this board have used Grab Your Music (GYM), ML_SONY or VoidMP3FM to get alternative access to their ATRAC audio life. From the average user it may appear that a Firmware update many be simple. However, reading the experience that some owners of the NWZ series are having a different experience than the NW series. One issue is whether Sony wants to spend their resources on writing a firmware update. There are two beliefs. One that Sony should and will release a firmware upgrade. The other is that Sony has no intension of writing a firmware upgrade, other than those that deal with functionality of the ATRAC player. Sony has surprised us with the NWZ series, so ...

With Sony dropping PS2 backward compatibility on the PS3 is disappointing. However, never owning a PS2 I am indifferent about that. As with you I wish Sony kept their promise about making the PS2 games compatible with the PS3. I think Sony did not act their best interest to promise backward compatibility when, it can be suspected that, backward compatibility would be a monumental task. My two cents, Sony will continue to support PS2 cames with the PS3, however only certain (more expensive) models will have the feature.

No major difference was noticed. The file was converted to ATRAC when sent to the player. That is a standard practice of mine. In both files, the instrumentals had the same difference on both channels. Upon closer inspection the vocals were slightly loader and clear on the right channel. I performed your test, and a visual test. Hopefully, Stuge will be able to notice what I am missing.

Using firmware 1.03 on a NW-A808 the song that was provided two distinct channels are present. The vocals are present in both channels, however the instrumentals are different in both channels. I do not know how to load images, however looking at the audio signatures of both the left and right channel are noticeably different. I might be wrong, or not understanding correctly.

I am kind of glad it seem to have worked out. It was me that believed it was phishing, partly because of information that it requested in the copy of the email sent.

Juli, It smells like phishing . If you can find out about Connect/Sony Europe has a privacy officers, so you can forward the email you received to them. This smells If you wish to update your profile including any personal information, address and payment details, newsletter and privacy settings, please log in to your account by using your CONNECT username below and password (or mySonyID and password if you have one).

If you have the time and patience you need it change you the configuration to Japanese on your computer not English or any other Language version. This mean formatting your harddrive and reinstalling Windows as Japanese. When I refer to configuration I am speaking of Windows not SonicStage. There is a work around call AppLocal that you can use.

Thanks for your reply on iPod EQ. When the "X sucks, Y rules" mentality start to go overboard then yes it gets annoying. However, hearing from all users experience with a specific technology is good, as long as it is not too biased. I will leave it at that, and thank you for your clarification.

That is kind of good news. So your player still works, but is not recognized by Windows. Have you tried turning off/on your computer.

Sorry, To many responses. Thanks for the replies. Juli, I just want to hear your opinion. I do not think SQ of the iPod is bad, is that want Apple sells is the integration of hardware and software. Ceres, this is not about Mossberg other than the original poster thought he had a crazy review of the iPod or some other Apple product. Is have the best integration of hardware and software the best? Great quote. However, being able to hear the full range of sounds reproduction is important to the most demanding audiophiles. Compressing audio files removes some audio frequencies and sounds, which damage sound quality. That is what I believed ATRAC was invented for by removing sounds that could not be heard by the human ears. pata2001, gapless playback is a great technological advancement. For me it is not the most important feature. I think everyone wants to experience the music as best as they can.

I would have to agree with both you. However, I would use the word silly not stupid. At a resolution of 4:3 the 2" is fine. However , for 16:9 you can find yourself squinting to watch a movie. At 2" you find that you miss a lot of detail. I honest prefer large screens, but for the size the the NW-A800 series for commuting. Thanks for the advice.

What do you mean everything is fine.

iPod bashing? My question was about the features that are include with the iPod. Specifically sound quality. I wanted to get a better idea of why the iPod is so popular. Unfortunately, I do not buy the great experience nonsense. We use our audio players to listen to music. Not to sit in awe and comment on how wonderful the interface is. Nor, how great the software tool to manage our music and other audio files. Many of you have comment on what is important to you with your audio/media player. I have started to notice that we are currently living in the iHype. Media players are compared to the iPod. Also, cell phones are now being compared to the iPhone; as if cell phone companies have been waiting for Apple to save the cellphone industry. The market for the Apple's media players are immensely large, case in point Walter S. Mossberg. My cell phone can do many of the things that iPhone can do and more. However, it does not have a touch interface. The services that I can use it with is provide by service provider and is provided by other service providers. Most phones here include many of these features, which include the ability to watch 1Seg television. If there are negative comments about the iPod or iPhone on this site, then so be it. There are many sites devoted to every thing Apple, and other have a positive bias toward everything iPod/iPhone. It is hard not to find iPod in a news article. With some over stating the importance of the iPod to technological advancements, while ignoring the real influence. This site is devote to the discussion about Sony products and ATRAC devices (include PSP/PS3).