Ishiyoshi

iPod is well-known in Japan; and is considered as HDD player in this study.

If I remember it correctly, only in Japanese.

@ Chris and Andi: I got them from a local RadioShack store.

You can employ any regional version of the VAIO Pocket firmware - it's interchangeable so to speak. If you employ the Japanese firmware, naturally all its UI will be in Japanese; and yes, you can pair your VAIO Pocket - flashed with Japanese firmware - with SonicStage English version.

This new Sony 1GB HiMD disc needs no introduction. Enjoy the pictures

Japanese online retailers stocks the azure blue NW-E507 from as low as 22,000 to 23,800 yen.

MD Simple Burner is an exclusive MD utility. You can't utilize it for flash/HDD based device.

You are most welcome. That's a fair conjecture. Just last week, Avex of Japan becomes the first major domestic record company to provide songs for Apple's iTunes Music Store.

C-NEWS's Statistical Survey on the Demographics of Portable Audio Player in Japan. On July 5th, 2005, "C-NEWS" an internet based research institute conducted a statistical survey to determine the current demographics of portable audio players in Japan. The target group consists of a sample size of 300 people in which there are 150 women and 150 men equally. The sample size is a group of participants that enjoy music on a daily basis, regardless of variety. The following data are results from C-NEWS's statistical survey: Question: What type of portable audio player do you own? Results: MD player: 65.7%, CD player: 52.7%, Audio Cassette player: 31.3%, HDD player: 13.9%, and USB based player: 12.9% Question: Assuming you will purchase a new portable audio player, which type will you choose? Results: HDD player: 42.3%, USB player: 17.7%, Flash based player: 13.7%, MD, CD and Audio Cassette player together amount to about 1 tenth. C-NEWS's statistical survey also reveals that price, design and size of the device played a significant role in the users' purchasing decision. Accordingly, the statistical survey reveals that 80% of the participants consider price as being a critical variable follow by brand: Sony: 70%, Panasonic: 40% and Apple: 30%. Translated for your reading pleasure. Discuss accordingly.

On July 12, 2005 Yano Economic Research Institute Ltd. announced the result of its statistical analysis concerning the current principal means for music playback. The statistical survey was conducted from March 12-16, 2005 and its data sample comprised of 1,076 people from the age group of people in their teens to 50 years. To ensure accuracy of the statistical analysis, data are collected daily and are from users who actively listen to music on a daily basis. Source: Yano Economic Research Institute Ltd.'s Press Release Notable mention of Yano’s statistical results is summarized below: Most favored music playback medium --> PC being the most popular with young people. Results: Radio, tape recorder: 63.8%, Car Audio: 44.7%, Personal Computer: 42.8%, Portable MD: 22.9%, Portable CD: 18.0%, Flash-based player: 6.1%, Cassette player: 6.0%, HDD-based player: 5.8% and Cellular phone with Mp3 playback: 4.1%. Note: new digital audio players – flash and HDD based – amount to 11.9%. Consumer Experience with Online Music Distribution Stores According to Yano Economic Research Institute Ltd., consumers from the sample group in general visit online music distribution stores not to purchase music but to browse instead. Actual online music transaction amount to only 15.8% whereas 61.0% just visit with no intention to purchase digital music. In addition, the remainder 23.2% neither visit online music distribution stores nor purchase digital music from these stores. As shown in the chart below, bitmusic and KDDI leads the pack with 24.1% each with Yahoo Music in third place: 18.2%; follow closely by Mora: 15.9%, @music(avex): 13.5%, music.co.jp: 7.7%, MSNMusic: 5.9% and iTunes Music Store: 5.9%. Translated for your reading pleasure. Discuss accordingly.

C-NEWS’s Statistical Survey on the Demographics of Portable Audio Player in Japan. On July 5th, 2005, “C-NEWS” an internet based research institute conducted a statistical survey to determine the current demographics of portable audio players in Japan. The target group consists of a sample size of 300 people in which there are 150 women and 150 men equally. The sample size is a group of participants that enjoy music on a daily basis, regardless of variety. The following data are results from C-NEWS’s statistical survey: Question: What type of portable audio player do you own? Results: MD player: 65.7%, CD player: 52.7%, Audio Cassette player: 31.3%, HDD player: 13.9%, and USB based player: 12.9% Question: Assuming you will purchase a new portable audio player, which type will you choose? Results: HDD player: 42.3%, USB player: 17.7%, Flash based player: 13.7%, MD, CD and Audio Cassette player together amount to about 1 tenth. C-NEWS’s statistical survey also reveals that price, design and size of the device played a significant role in the users’ purchasing decision. Accordingly, the statistical survey reveals that 80% of the participants consider price as being a critical variable follow by brand: Sony – 70%, Panasonic – 40% and Apple – 30%. Translated for your reading pleasure. Discuss accordingly.

On July 12, 2005 Yano Economic Research Institute Ltd. announced the result of its statistical analysis concerning the current principal means for music playback. The statistical survey was conducted from March 12-16, 2005 and its data sample comprised of 1,076 people from the age group of people in their teens to 50 years. To ensure accuracy of the statistical analysis, data are collected daily and are from users who actively listen to music on a daily basis. Source: Yano Economic Research Institute Ltd.'s Press Release Notable mention of Yano’s statistical results is summarized below: Most favored music playback medium --> PC being the most popular with young people. Results: Radio, tape recorder: 63.8%, Car Audio: 44.7%, Personal Computer: 42.8%, Portable MD: 22.9%, Portable CD: 18.0%, Flash-based player: 6.1%, Cassette player: 6.0%, HDD-based player: 5.8% and Cellular phone with Mp3 playback: 4.1%. Note: new digital audio players – flash and HDD based – amount to 11.9%. Consumer Experience with Online Music Distribution Stores According to Yano Economic Research Institute Ltd., consumers from the sample group in general visit online music distribution stores not to purchase music but to browse instead. Actual online music transaction amount to only 15.8% whereas 61.0% just visit with no intention to purchase digital music. In addition, the remainder 23.2% neither visit online music distribution stores nor purchase digital music from these stores. As shown in the chart below, bitmusic and KDDI leads the pack with 24.1% each with Yahoo Music in third place: 18.2%; follow closely by Mora: 15.9%, @music(avex): 13.5%, music.co.jp: 7.7%, MSNMusic: 5.9% and iTunes Music Store: 5.9%. Translated for your reading pleasure. Discuss accordingly.

It should with no problem.

The part number for the VAIO Pocket, VGF-AP1L (40G) version cradle: A-1088-556-A (AP1L) CRADLE ASSY (40G) (S) Price: $76.15 Note: VGF-AP1 (20G version) cradle: A-1070-172-A.

Heh.... I'd noticed that price tag as well. Well, you should be happy to know that when I acquired the VAIO Pocket last Christmas, I paid approximately $300 for it. Anyhow, do you need the part numbers for the cradle?

Please note that SonicStage 3.1 supports Chinese language text only as far as its kanji library permits. Therefore, some Chinese language text will be displayed as "???."

Welcome to MDCF! Nice first post and thanks for sharing the pictures. I'm glad that these clear blue 1GB disc are finally trickling into the states.

I think it would be awesome. Nonetheless, looking forward to try SonicStage 3.2.

Unfortunately, detailed schematics throughout the service manual are limited to the main unit. There's not much information on the cradle other than location of screws, foot pads and its respective part numbers. However, the service manual does have a diagram illustrating the connector being part of some circuit board. Perhaps, there's a separate service manual for the cradle - I will check with Sony. Regardless, do keep us informed of your endeavors. The Powerche-V1 is sleek indeed. I am thinking of pairing it with my PSP; and of course will try it with the VAIO Pocket. Semsons' Pocket Power Bank looks very handy as well. Let us know if it works with the VAIO Pocket.

Oricon Ltd. is indeed a media, communications service and music database related company and it's listed in the Osaka Securities Exchange. As for ORICON STYLE, I doubt it will expand its music distribution service outward; but I don't think that will restrict online music purchase from outside Japan. As for Mora Japan, I suspect a valid credit card would be sufficient (I don't think there's IP restrictions) to facilitate a transaction from North America. Nevertheless, I will need to try it to be sure.

I don't think we will ever see a 3rd party Sync/Charger cable for the VAIO Pocket. The main unit's cradle socket is truly of a proprietary design. But this does not imply we can't design a connector. As for “hacking” the cradle for such a task, you will obviously need to disassemble the cradle and review how the connector is linked to the AC Adaptor output. According to the VAIO Pocket’s service manual, there are only 6 screws to fully disassemble the cradle. So, you may want to give it a go and report back? Check this Powerche-V1 battery pack! I think it will at least work with the VAIO Pocket and its cradle; and would prove to be useful companion for the VAIO Pocket while on the road.

Just a heads up for those looking for an alternative online music service to Sony’s Connect (US and Europe) and Mora Japan; Oricon Ltd. of Japan has announced on May 26, 2005 that they will offer ATRAC3plus music files via its online music distribution service known as ORICON STYLE sometime in September, 2005. Currently, ORICON STYLE offers only WMA format and at its press release, there’s no mention of what bit rates will be offered. We know that Sony Connect and Mora only offer ATRAC3 132kbps. Hopefully, ORICON STYLE will recognize that there's demand for ATRAC3+ 256kbps. Nonetheless, this is a good sign as an alternate online music distribution service sees potential growth in the ATRAC format. --> click here for ORICON STYLE

Yes, the RM-VSC2 is the one and only 100% fully compatible remote for the VAIO Pocket. Notice its special pin configuration; unlike MD remote's 4 pins. *Please note: some MD remotes can be paired with the VAIO Pocket, however, it's limited to only a few functions - not enough to deem compatible with the VAIO Pocket.

Introduction: What is OLED? How does it work? OLED technology was invented and patented by Eastman Kodak/Sanyo in the early 1980s. In short, OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode – a display device that sandwiches carbon-based films between two charged electrodes, one a metallic cathode and one a transparent anode, usually being glass. The organic films consist of a hole-injection layer, a hole-transport layer, an emissive layer and an electron-transport layer. When voltage is applied to the OLED cell, the injected positive and negative charges recombine in the emissive layer and create electro luminescent light. Unlike LCDs, which require backlighting, OLED displays are emissive devices - they emit light rather than modulate transmitted or reflected light. Types of OLED There are two forms of OLED displays: Passive-matrix and Active-matrix. Passive-matrix The passive-matrix OLED display has a simple structure and is well suited for low-cost and low-information content applications such as alphanumeric displays. It is formed by providing an array of OLED pixels connected by intersecting anode and cathode conductors. Organic materials and cathode metal are deposited into a “rib” structure (base and pillar), in which the rib structure automatically produces an OLED display panel with the desired electrical isolation for the cathode lines. A major advantage of this method is that all patterning steps are conventional, so the entire panel fabrication process can easily be adapted to large-area, high-throughput manufacturing. To get a passive-matrix OLED to work, electrical current is passed through selected pixels by applying a voltage to the corresponding rows and columns from drivers attached to each row and column. An external controller circuit provides the necessary input power, video data signal and multiplex switches. Data signal is generally supplied to the column lines and synchronized to the scanning of the row lines. When a particular row is selected, the column and row data lines determine which pixels are lit. A video output is thus displayed on the panel by scanning through all the rows successively in a frame time, which is typically 1/60 of a second. Active-matrix In contrast to the passive-matrix OLED display, active-matrix OLED has an integrated electronic back plane as its substrate and lends itself to high-resolution, high-information content applications including videos and graphics. This form of display is made possible by the development of polysilicon technology, which, because of its high carrier mobility, provides thin-film-transistors (TFT) with high current carrying capability and high switching speed. In an active-matrix OLED display, each individual pixel can be addressed independently via the associated TFT’s and capacitors in the electronic back plane. That is, each pixel element can be selected to stay “on” during the entire frame time, or duration of the video. Since OLED is an emissive device, the display aperture factor is not critical, unlike LCD displays where light must pass through aperture. Therefore, there are no intrinsic limitations to the pixel count, resolution, or size of an active-matrix OLED display, leaving the possibilities for commercial use open to our imaginations. Also, because of the TFT’s in the active-matrix design, a defective pixel produces only a dark effect, which is considered to be much less objectionable than a bright point defect, like found in LCD’s. Advantages of OLED --> Robust Design – OLED are sturdy enough to be employ in portable devices such as cellular phones, digital video cameras, digital audio devices, DVD players, car audio equipment and PDAs. --> Viewing Angles – OLED can be viewed up to 160 degrees with screens that can provide a clear and distinct image, even in bright light. --> High Resolution – High information applications including videos and graphics, active-matrix OLED provides the solution. Each pixel can be turned on or off independently to create multiple colors in a fluid and smooth edged display. --> “Electronic Paper” – OLED are paper-thin because of the exclusion of certain hardware components, which a normal LCD would employ. --> Production Advantages – Up to 20% to 50% cheaper than LCD processes. Plastics will make the OLED tougher and more rugged. The future quite possibly could consist of these OLED’s being produced like newspapers, rather than computer “chips”. --> Video Capabilities – They hold the ability to handle streamlined video, which could revolutionize the PDA and cellular phone market. --> Hardware Content – Lighter and faster than LCD. Can be produced out of plastic and is bendable. Also, OLED do not need lamps, polarizer or diffusers. --> Power Usage – Takes less power to run (2 to 10 volts). Disadvantages of OLED --> Engineering Hurdles – OLED’s are still in the development phases of production. Although they have been introduced commercially for alphanumeric devices like cellular phones and car audio equipment, production still faces many obstacles before production. --> Color – The reliability of the OLED is still not up to par. It has been reported that the screen may become non-uniform after a month of use. Generally, if the component itself is faulty, reds and blues die first, leaving a very green display – 100,000 hours for red, 30,000 for green and 1,000 for blue. Accordingly, OLED is sufficient for cellular phone but inadequate for laptop or desktop display incorporation due to the stated issue. --> Overcoming LCDs – LCDs have predominately been the preferred form of display for the last few decades. Tapping into the multi-billion dollar industry will require a great product and continually innovative research and development. Furthermore, LCD manufacturers will not likely fold up and roll over to LCDs. They will also continue to improve displays and search for new ways to reduce production costs. *information from the preceding sections are taken from ELECTRONIC PAPER: Organic Light Emitting Diodes Sony's OLED display *Press release file

Usually, from estores such as AudioCubes and MiniDisco. However, they do not have the CMT-AH10 in stock. So, you may want to try a reputable Japanese-based eBay seller that most of MDCF's member had frequent: buyfromjapan (formerly known as sunnylife_jp). Send them a request and let them know you really want to acquire the CMT-AH10; hopefully, they will accomodate your request.