juli_

That's it. That's what I was worried about, not about them taking SS away, but about being unable to use it if there were problems with compatibility as you say

I don't mind bearing with Atrac, I would rather do that than re-rip everything and be forever stuck in 'Groundhog Day'. I wasn't sure if SS would still operate if Atrac support was gone, that's why I was worried. I had images of opening SS and being greeted with: "This page has moved. . . " Well, so long as I can continue to use my now technologically decrepit museum-piece of an 808 I'll be just fine, so long as they don't take SS away and I can keep using it. Thanks

All I want to know is this. Supposing none of us existing 808 users get a firmware upgrade, and then SonicStage is no longer supported, will we still be able to use Sonicstage anyway??? And if we do get the firmware upgrade (in our dreams) - would we be able to run SS alongside WMP? I wouldn't want to convert my ATRAC files to another format because of the loss in sound quality, so I would want to keep my existing ATRAC files and then use WMP for future uploads. Does anyone know if this would even be possible?

I'm pretty sure there was a thread about this just recently - either that or it's deja vu I'm also sure that someone came up with a suggestion but I can't remember what it was!! If you do an intensive search, it should come up. On a more sober note, you said: My current partner uses an iPod (bless him!!) What?! And you're still together? How? I can barely bring myself to look at my partners Creative Zen Touch without wanting to pull his ears and smack him. . . is this normal?

OK, I did not like reading this It makes perfect sense of course, that's why I did not like reading it. I am going to rewind myself back to 5 minutes ago and pretend I didn't see this

It's almost worth buying just to re-sell it on eBay! I already have it so can't make use of the offer, but remember when there were a million pink S706's going cheap on eBay after Woot sold tons of them really really cheap? People snapped them up just to sell them

Satellite navigation for the car to stop me getting lost all the time! Re: firmware upgrade for the 706, I've never seen one, only for the 808. Look here for any information relating to the 706, downloads etc. http://support.sony-europe.com/DNA/WM/NWF/...n&m=NW-S70X

I know, it's completely stupid. I have the same thing on my sat nav for the sound. There's a big X over the volume symbol, which indicates it's off. But in fact it means it's on - and the cross means that if you press the button, then it will be off. How confusing is that? It was confusing just to write it When I read reviews on Amazon about the 706, someone mentioned exactly the same thing about the n/c. He had no idea it was off as it said: "Noise canceling > ON". I wonder how many other people are thinking the same thing! Anyway, let us know if it works and remember to fiddle about with it on the train.

I also thought it was on when it was off for the first few months!! It's not very clear is it? It's only on when you can actually see it on the play menu. I used it on the underground and once I'd figured out why it didn't block out any noise whatsoever (because it was off!!!) - I then turned it on and it really made a huge difference. It obviously doesn't block it all out - but the deep rumbling of the train that transmits through the headphones is greatly reduced You'll hardly notice it in the house. When you're on the train, just play around with the sensitivity slider until you're happy with it. Mine was always set to half way which was fine, as I wanted to hear any announcements coming through, but you may want to block more noise. I always kept noise cancelling off unless I was on the train, because it wasn't necessary and it saved on battery life (not that the 706 really needed extra battery life!)

That's a really good message, I hope they take note of it. I would feel exceedingly teed off if someone flaunted a new 'improved' 808 in front of me after investing the full price of £200 for the 808 (I couldn't wait for the price to come down, naturally!) and £100 for the speaker cradle. Now my player is defunct and belongs in a museum after a few months?? Also, I think Sony will alienate a lot of existing customers if they don't provide a firmware upgrade. I don't even mind paying for an upgrade (within reason) if that's what concerns them, but I would at least like the option.

Yes yes yes yes Yes yes yes yes

Please will you report back if you get a response? I won't get rid of my 808 anyway, but I'd like to know about a possible firmware upgrade. Thanks

I guess they will say something like :lol: :lol: :lol:

It puzzles me too. If a firmware upgrade allowed us to use drag and drop on our 808s, that would be great for new tracks as there's no way I want to convert existing ATRAC tracks to other formats because I don't want to degrade the sound quality going from lossy to lossy. I wonder if SS could run alongside the drag and drop, that way I could transfer back and forth from SS when I wanted, while using drag and drop for any future loading. Mind you, I don't know why I'm even concerned about it, I'm sure Sony would have mentioned a firmware upgrade for existing users if there was going to be one, and they haven't.

I'm sure you haven't hurt it at all, it sounds like you did exactly the right thing to restore your missing tracks. It's unbelievable that I didn't think to back up the folders right at the start. . . hope there was nothing crucial was on there Anyway, I think your 808 has found a good home with a nice responsible owner

I also deleted the demo tracks and was not as wise as you, I didn't even think to make a backup of all the folders, so good thinking! I imagine if you're having no problems with it, it's probably fine. I think you'd have had problems immediately otherwise. I'm sure someone else will confirm this for you either way

If all existing ATRAC files had to be converted to a different format (having already been converted to ATRAC in the first place) - wouldn't the audio quality be degraded in the process? I've never had to convert twice, so I don't know how much sound quality is lost, but I've always read that converting from a conversion always results in poorer quality. If it was a very noticeable drop, you'd then be stuck with the lesser quality files unless you re-ripped everything all over again, it would just be like 'Groundhog Day'

Of course not - in order for it to be a 'genuine' Sony - the name must be awkward to say, hard to remember, and not related to what it actually is

??? Did you sort it out then?

So you can transfer them - but not listen to them? That's kind of a relief as I thought there was some secret method of transferring! David - you can actually 'see' the songs on your player?

Huh? You can drag and drop via wmp11's sync facility? How? I can see the option to sync when it's plugged in, but the option to 'view' or 'play' tracks after the sync is not available. Have you got some kind of superior 808 to me??

.Didn't the NW-HD5 get a CNET award? Or was that in a parallel universe? I never know what to make of some of CNET's reviews. I think one of their top choices within the last year was the Zen Vision:M, and I'm pretty sure CNET had access to the A808 and/or the 706 around the same time. Well, I heard the Zen, and while it sounded quite nice and inoffensive, it was absolutely nowhere in the same league for SQ as the 808 or the 706. I think CNET stated they thought the ZEN offered one of the best sounds they'd ever heard from a player. The Zen had maybe half the soundstage of the 808, the power seemed to be lacking as I had to have it set to around 80% volume to get the same volume as 60% on the 808. And the quality of the sound was really not on a par with the Sony, so I couldn't understand why CNET voted it above the Sony. The difference in SQ, soundstage and loudness was extremely noticeable, if CNET couldn't hear the difference between them, what does that say?

Oh hahahahahahaha, I was going to write earlier that I bet you wouldn't be able to resist it. Anyway, you'll be glad you didn't wait, the 808 is sheer brilliance

That's desperation for you I'm sure someone will have some suggestions

You have 2 threads about this now. I just posted a response in your other one