Ascariss

Ok, although your idea is a pretty good one and it would make sense for Sony to follow that route, they won't. First off, the new NW-A1000 was supposed to compete against the Ipod mini, with 4 and 6 gig sizes. But as we know apple killed the mini and added the nano. btw mini cost from 249.99 to 299.99 CAN. The NW-A1000 was supposed to have many advantages over the mini, battery life and memory size (depending on model), buut now it has both against the nano. The 2gig NW-A608 goes directly after the ipod mini 2 gig model which funny enough is the same price, 249.99 CAN. If a 4 gig NW-A609 arrived it would either eat into A1000 sales or not sell well at all. Last but not least, assuming Sony gets its flash memory from the same suppliers as all the other companies, 4 gig flash memory availability now is limited to 2 companies, sandisk and apple. Appled "whored" up as much as 4gig flash as they could for their nano (from samsung) and sandisk being a producer of flash memory most likely allocated some for itself. Enter the SanDisk Sansa m200. We'll see what happens this Xmas season with sales. Perhaps sony canada will intro the A1200.

The connect 2 players come with the units just like in the UK, the updates will be released once the units go on sale. It would be pointless to have an update on the site with no products on the shelves.

Interesting enough, I just went to check out the sony.ca support site, and be hold: Digital Music Players -Connect 2 Player software download for NW-A3000 For more information on the Connect 2 player, please visit http://esupport.sony.com/EN/C2CA Connect 2 Player software download for NW-A1000 -For more information on the Connect 2 player, please visit http://esupport.sony.com/EN/C2CA Firmware Upgrade for NW-A608 -Firmware Upgrade resolves and modifies issues relating to operating system and Connect 2 Player. So hopefully this week.

use sonicstage 3.3, but some options on the nw-a3000 will not work then, but you should be able to transfer the files over with no problems. I had the same issue with the update, but the program does get updated to the new version, go into help and choose about, it will have the updated version there for sure.

Aren't both the blue and golf units supposed to be available at the end of the month?

Odd when i did the install, I don't recall installing the ConfigSet.exe, I first clicked the CONNECT Player Language Pack.msi and then CONNECT Player.msi, and it installed fine, added the update and it's all good.

Troves? lol Indeed, the UK seems to be doing the beta testing, I personally haven't heard any info about people from other EU countries with the player, notably france, germany, sweden, ireland and etc. I mean, it is save to assume people from those countries have bought the player as well and are experiencing the same problems? If the players do arrive this week (nov 14-16th) in canada, it appears we will be the second beta testers, since japan starts shipping on the 19th. Call me crazy, but would Sony USA be so bold to as delay the players in the US market until Connect player (CP) is stable and relatively bug free?

Interesting, a program like this surely will help the sony croud. Awesome work xispe. One small question, it can be used to transfer onto the player and back off? next, any chance you will be buying a new HDD player from sony? and perhaps making a program for that? unless this will work with the new players....

Welcome to the forum, indeed some people are having identical problems. First off, did you install the update for the Connect player? If not grab it here: http://www.atraclife.com/index.php?showtopic=411 If you have, then there is a possibility you have found more bugs, or it is just that the Connect player isn't like SS. I would recommend first closing the program fully and waiting a minute or 2 before unplugging the player from the PC. If I am understanding correctly, are you unplugging the USB cord from teh unit or the PC itself? I usually leave my usb for my MD plugged in 24/7, much easier that way. If you don't want to use the connect player, I advise swtiching to SS3.3 or 3.2 until sony can work out more bugs. Unless you are brave enough to send sony an email and hope for a reply, that is your other option. If you do plan on sending an email, I would strongly recommend being as detailed in your descriptions of problems since otherwise they can't do jack if you just tell them what you wrote here. This is why people sometimes don't hear back from companies nor are their complaints/problems ever looked into since their email descriptions are too broad and not really getting to the points sony needs.

thanks, if you need hosting for the pics, contact me via pm.

Interesting problem, how long are you waiting for it to launch? I have the same problem, but once I wait, it eventually opens up, it might have something to do with my slow PC though. Again this is what happens to me, perhaps you have the same problems. I would recommend installing the update if you haven't.

USB input is at the bottom.

Well school in my case is 3rd year university and I also have exams, finals start 2nd week of december.

Although possible, SimonGrafftey has already tried hooking up his Connect player up to his HD5 and his connect player came with his NW-A3000 I don't think the upgrade would allow older devices to connect, so my guess is that the next version of connect player might. as for the registry idea, always plausible, but then i think the compatibility needs to be built directly into the program programming.

I listen on average up to 4-6 hours with my minidisc daily, 3 hours for commute, and up to 2-3 in between classes and sometimes even during class. My hearing is fine. I only blast a few songs up from time to time if I feel like it, but normally the volume isn't loud, it is average. I am at school everyday, with the same commute time everyday, and somedays either shorter listening at school or even longer, every alternating friday and thursday, I average between 4-5 hours of listening at school. So it is possible to get up to 8 hours daily no problem. There is a decibal level when hearing loss begins and I am sure if you listened to a music player at a high level for 3-4 hours, you coud do serious damage, but I on average hear more people's music around me when on the bus since they have their volume set to quite a loud setting.

No other players except the new units will work with connect player. that is basically why sony released SS3.3, a stopgap until sony can make all other older units function with the connect player.

At 8760hours, and even listening to the player 8 hours a day, you can easily get easily 3 years out of the player, assuming the battery last and no other parts bust. Even so, getting 2.5 years out of the player shouldn't be a bad deal. I don't think I will change my NW-A3000 when I get it anytime soon. Sure once sony releases something better and I need more room, then ya, perhaps I will get one, but until then, 20 gigs is enough for me. blastocyst, I tend to agree with your points. Battery life is what is important in DAPs, and even though it would be cool to look at the photos of the covers, at 2"x2" size, it is useless. The reason the ipods have hacks is their popularity, if the new HDD players pick up and sell well, there is a chance more people will play with software for them. There are some hacks for minidisc units, to unlock some features, not sure how good they are, would need to check out the sister site, minidisc.org. Jadeclaw the one review of the A1000 on amazon.co.uk states the player has rather amazing sound quality, and I wouldn't doubt that since it is Sony we are talking about here. I should have mine this week, so I will post my comments as well regarding sound quality and etc.

Hmm this is a regular CD with normal tracks? I just ripped a CD that came with a magazine, and it was fine, 192kb and it didn't take long either. this is an interesting dilemma indeed. can you select only the songs and just rip those instead of ripping the entire cd? Also if possible could you post your opinions on the NW-A3000 in the Equipment Reviews + Pictorials area? Pictures would be a bonus.

Return them if they bust is the key point in the last sentence, not return them because I didn't like them, I have already used my friends before so I wanted to buy them regardless. If one of the earpieces stop working or something, I can just get them exchanged at the sony store in person, and not have to send them back. Unlike in the UK, prices here in stores vs online are usually the same, since the market for electronics in canada is not as large say compared to the US or in the UK.

I don't like shopping online since I want the ability to return things to a physical locaiton nor at A&B sound (all my shopping experiences there were negative all the time), and I don't like the design of the EX81's. the 71s is what i wanted. Futureshop didn't have them either, since I was at 3 locations. And at best buy the only ones I saw were Sony ex81s which were white, and I didn't want white, plus they were 89 bucks with no taxes, or 102 with tax. I paid 90 with taxes for mine. The source by CC (radioshack blows for electronics) and london drugs didn't have them either. Minidisc canada have the, but it's 10 bucks less, add tax and shipping and it would come out almost the same, but I would have to wait for them to get here, and if I wanted to return them, I would have to send them back, if mine bust, all I do is go to the sony store, no ifs or buts.

No, I don't have the cash for more expensive headphones than the EX71s. The ex71s do a nice chop of cancelling out noise when I am on the bus and skytrain here in vancouver, I rarely hear any noise from the outside unless it is really loud.

It has been always colour possible, Sony was even planning on releasing laptops wtih colour OLEDs, but put back the idea for one year or so until they can develop the tech more. I do agree colour would be a perk with the new walkmans, but in some of the pictures the one same colour OLED which looks seamless with the body is a nice touch.

Looking at the manual of the A3000 posted, it seems the internal battery is along the lines as what I have in my MZ-N10, interesting indeed.

Nice, excellent. There is a reason this is one of the best forums for info, if not the best. thanks for the upload.

Sweat fancy moses, Yes! Finally after being told they would come, a press release. I have been waiting for this release for 3 weeks almost. You just made my day. Looks like I will be picking up the silver A3000, was hoping for a black one though. Anyways, you rock dude. Thanks. Comparing the price to other units on the market here, it is more expensive than an ipod classic and around the same price for a 30gig ipod video. Comparing to other non apple products: Creative Zen Touch 20GB MP3 Player - $329.99 iRiver 20GB MP3 Player (H10) - Red - $379.99 Olympus M:Robe 20GB Hard Drive MP3 Player - $398.99 Samsung 20GB MP3 Player (YH-925) - $299.99 on sale from $379.99 Camnex 20GB MP3 & Video Player (CH600) - $349.99 (not sure what this really is, must be some one off for futureshop maybe) -all prices are in canadian. It's more or less priced the same with the non ipod competition.