iyareu

Thanks for that. Can you tell me how to get a txt file of the contents of my VP? Is it possible to get fro your application? Iyare

This software is GREAT. It allows me to see the contents of my VP in alphabetical order order and I can search by Genre or Artist of Track or Album so it is fantastic. 2. Questions : 1. I might sound a bit dull here but when it asks on installation for the mp3 file manager - what does it mean? I have installed the mp3 addition to SS but this does not seem to make a difference. 2: When I try to play a track I get an unhandled exception - are these two things related ? Great work on the app - look forward to hearing your thoughts on the probs. Thanks.

Thank You!! Interesting is the right word. I have been using 64k for a while now. I started out using 48 and but moved to 64 when I couldn't hear the music almost at all for some tracks - both the low and top end lost everything. I have used my VP at conferences and many party type occasions where people there want to dance or just listen to lound music. I also use it in my work which requires that I play music to people and they always comment on the music content (+ve mostly but there are some who are just not feeling the disco and funky house vibe?!?!?) but I never get any comments about the lack of quality in the music. I think for the audiophile with a music system which requires that they hear what more than 90% of the people out there do without - the upper bit rates are really useful - also for recording they are great but for listening on the street where there will be some interference regardless of the headphones you wear - then I think the lower bit rates make sense - also they save you a heck of a lot of space you the machine itself. Don;t get my wrong I am all for better quality - I just think for ME it would be silly to try and get the quality I would expect in a quiet room at about about 1am - on the street in the daytime or on a train and the combination or 64k and high quality, comfortable headphones really works for me. There must be more people out there who use 64K - if so - lets hear you then - don't let it just seem like I'm the only one who lives down there in the lower registers!!

This software is GREAT. It allows me to see the contents of my VP in alphabetical order order and I can search by Genre or Artist of Track or Album so it is fantastic. 2. Questions : 1. I might sound a bit dull here but when it asks on installation for the mp3 file manager - what does it mean? I have installed the mp3 addition to SS but this does not seem to make a difference. 2: When I try to play a track I get an unhandled exception - are these two things related ? Great work on the app - look forward to hearing your thoughts on the probs. Thanks.

Wicked. Excellent piece of software. Still get errors when I try to play the files but to get an orderable list of items on my VP is amazing. Really useful. How can we export a txt file of the contents of the music player? Thanks fo ryour efforts. This software is excellent so far!! Thanks again. Iyare.

I agree with the last email. You can't expect to get earth shattering quality of you have compressed the music to smithereens - BUT mild some compression can be a good thing and the right phones make the world of difference. I use & Atrac3+ 64KBps compression and I use Sennheiser HD-270 Monitor headphones. They are closed and GREAT for listening on the street or train. They cancel out most of the ambient noise but let you hear the truck before it runs you over. Also allows you to be aware when someone calls you because you have dropped something on the road. It shields you however so that people can have conversations right next to you on a busy and very noisy train and you can still listen to the 3rd row violin in your classical music or the subdued high hat in the house track. The base is REAL rather than imagined and you can FEEL it. In short - They put you in the room. You are either in the club/studio or concert hall - Wherever you are. In addition you don't have to have them on the highest volume as you are cancelling out other noises so don't need to have your music shout over everything else to get to your brain. A subtle volume helps you appreciate the mood of the music. Chill out music is really impacting - you can hear all the instruments and the smooth ambiances - the feel of the sound. These headphones are not everyone's favourite and they are not the best that money can buy. They are however the best that £90 can buy if you want closed headphones to use when listening on trains, planes or automobiles(so long as you are not driving) The clincher for these is comfort. Most closed headphones form a vice round our head. Most large headphones generally seem to have been designed to see how much discomfort you can take. The Sennheiser HD-270 Monitor are different. As you wear them they get more and more comfortable. They are so comfortable that I have on more than on occasion of wearing them for more that 3 hours straight FORGOTTEN that they were there. PRIMARILY I can feel is the music - SECONDARILY I can feel the headphones on my head. They are just brilliant. The Amazon reviews are here and make good reading: Amazon.com page for Sennheiser HD270 MONITOR Have a read and see what you think.

True. I've never 'bought' any tracks from connect or itunes myself BUT I have received quite a few vouchers from Sony and downloaded the tracks from connect. Ordinarily I just get mp3's and import them. In fact I am still a CD buyer - I like to know that if my HDD went down I would have an original I could refer back to. (however I very rarely listen to music on CD nowadays - very rarely indeed). The exclusivity thing is mega. I travel on the train between cities a lot and have the VP on the table next to my laptop and people just don't know what to make of it - when they ask and are shown they like it a lot - another reason for my vexation at Sony calling a halt on VP production and not replacing it with something with similar features. !!! It seems I am not the only one with a VP which almost full who is not sure where to go from here. The technology out there is not promising. If only the PSP had a 40GB HDD in it - That would make some sense but it would be a little too big. I just want a walkman that has at least 40 GB can play atrac3+ AND MP3 (And possibly WMA) AND can do video (or pics at least as the VP can - but with some more control on how the pics are browsed and has video out) In addition I would like software that works and integrates seamlessly into my digital life. (A-la WMP-10) (Most -not all- of these things are currently achieved by other manufacturers) Is this so much to ask from the people who invented the walkman (the very concept of personal music play). I don't think so but they obviously do!!

Thank God your pocket is working again!! I agree as mentioned before about the lack of nspiration in the DAP market - I had a play with the video ipod recently and whilst I loved the features, I am still under whelmed by he package. I'll stick to the pocket for now. What you said about what apple have built is exactly on the money to my mind. And it is this that makes the so challenging to deal with. Sony is in the best position to do it but has to have the will and self awareness - we shall see. U R right - people don't know about alternatives. I use my player for work - I am a trainer ad when I play music from it through speakers - people ask - "So is that an Ipod then?" and I say "No - it is a Sony player". Then they invariably say - "A Sony ipod? Looks nicer than the usual ones doesn't it?" GRRRRRRRRR!! We shall see how Sony respond - I just hope they don;t ditch us and the MD community with the new Connect Player. I just had both iTunes and Sony Connect Store up on my PC to compare layout - O my gosh. When compared Sony have so much work to do. Their site is seriously lack in appeal. Remember iTunes and Sony connect have the same issue - captive audiences. People who buy their kit HAVE to use their shop to buy tunes. The user experience is so different for each. It boggles the mind!!

Very Cool!!

I agree completly about the better technology thing. Every time otehrs have overtaken them Sony have come back with better technology but the problem with that is that people don't buy great technology unless it is made to look incredibly simple and fits into their lives at the time of buying. e.g. Take the original Walkman (tape). It was not revolutionary in technology but what was revolutionary was what was done with the technology to make it simple and it then fit into people's lives by allowing them to listen to music on the go in a really simple way. 'Put the tape in, press play and keep on walkin'. The ipod changed the way people lived because they were already used to the 'walkman thing' - now they could put in their CD collection and with literally the touch of NO buttons (put a CD in and it is ripped automatically and connect the ipod and it is updated immediately) they could have their whole CD collection with them in a SIMPLE to use SMALL gizmo. Add to this that it comes from an Aspirational company known for ease of use and the popularity of ipod over DAP's with better technology is clear. Apple have made iPod simple and make it FIT into people's lives. Take synchronisation for example - All the companies could have implemented this but Apple's implementation is by far the simplest I have seen. If Sony made their 'better technology' simple and placed it in the lives of consumers (this would entail listening to those consumers) they would easily be on to a winner. If Sony don't make things simpler and listen to customers then I can't see them overtaking Apple in this arena - even in the future. Like all things - I could be wrong but I can't currently see the counter argument. And that is from someone who's technology is all sony - TV, DAP, Home Cinema MD etc. Bit of a lengthy one sorry about that.

Nice selection - Where do you get your mixes? Which comps?

1. If She Only Knew (Original Mix)-Kevin Yost 2. Sense Of Danger (Original Presence Mix)-Presence 3. To Be In Love (Original MAW Mix)-Masters At Work 4. Saturday (Mousse T's House Mix)-Cunnie Williams 5. Nights Over Egypt (Masters At Work Main Mix)-Incognito 6. Sangue De Beirona (Francois K Mix)-Cesaria Evora 7. Sing It Back (BMR Clubcut Mix)-Moloko 8. Dancing With You (HOG Club Mix)-Bini & Martini 9. Race Of Survival (Rokstone Diva Club Mix)-Sonz Of Soul 10. Star Chasers (Masters At Work Main Mix Commercial Mix)-4Hero 11. City Sushi Man (New 98 Mix By Ashley Beedle)-Airto 12. The Reason (Original Album Version)-Sylk 130 13. All I Ask (Original Album Version)-Rae & Christian 14. All Night Love (Original Album Version)-Desert Eagle Discs 15. U Make Me So Hot (Original Album Version)-The Sunburst Band 16. Love Music (Original Album Version)-East West Connection 17. Helping Hand (Incisive Remix)-Arthur Miles 18. Funky Sensation (MAW Mix)-Gwen McCrae 19. Respect (One Rascal Mix)-Aretha Franklin 20. Ooh La La (Original Album Version)-The Wiseguys Listening to To Be in Love - MAW This is an old Hed Kandi compilation - I thoroughly reccomend it. In fact the whole Hed Kandi Range is MEGA and you will find lots to fit any mood. The Nu Cool comps cover many genres from soul to house to funk and a sprinkling of Nu-Disco!! Come On!!

HooRayy!! someone with the same dilemma as me. Sorry to hear about the demise of your Vaio Pocket. Truth be told - that is not even funny!! I have had several bits of Sony kit and have found that the build quality has been fine on all but one piece (MH-G750 Minidisc with radio) and this was a design fault. So I can't say I have experience of questionable build quality really. I had the SonyD-NE115 (RED) which was excellent - dropped it many times and it worked fine again and again!! Then the D-NE 900 which is a thing of beauty and built like a very light BRICK. Also I have the MZ-NH900 which is robust (too much plastic though) but has taken a knock or two and still looks and works fine. (touch wood) I now have the Vaio pocket and in terms of design it is streets ahead of anything I have seen on the market. The problem I have is that Sony don't seem to believe in their own products. re: features we don't need: I can remember when I thought I would never need more than 5 CD's with me on any given day. Then I got a minidisc player and a world of digital recording opened up for me. I had about one CD's worth at a time and didn't complain much. Then MDLP came and I could, have 4 CD's per disc which I thought was ample. Chuck a few discs in the bag and you are away!! Then I got the ATRAC CD player and thought I would never need more that 5 cd's of 22 albums each on any given day. I now have he Vaio pocket with over 10400 tracks on it still have space for 1000 more at least. I am however in a dilemma because I know I will soon need more space. Who is to say that I will not feel that video is something essential in a year's time. When people ask me what they should buy when it comes to technology I always say that they should get the best their money can get right now and they will get to use the features and come to love and rely on them. I cannot imagine not having my whole music collection with me all the time. The other day I was forced to carry just the minidisc player with me with a disc of about 25 albums on it (Hi MD 1GB disc). I was walking round feeling restricted - enjoying the music playing but knowing that there was so much music I simply didn't have access to - I was shocked at myself - (talk about GREEDY and CHOICE OBSESSED!!) So when Sony simply don't innovate and make the most of their technological edge I am amazed and perplexed.

I must admit - Sound quality is important to me too. The only issue I have is that for the most part I will be listening to the player whilst out on the road or in environments that would impede me getting the most out of great sound quality. hence the HD-270 headphones. Closed back and monitor standard so that I get to hear all the music as best I can. I must admit 1am listening is wonderful on the Sony and I am not convinced about the base on the iPod . This would only be a real issue if I listened to it through my stereo a lot which is not the case. I am however thinking of getting some high quality speakers to dedicate to my portable player as it has all my music on it. Currently when I need to I push it through my DAV S-master which is not too bad. CES say the HD5 has the best sound of al the HDD DAPs http://www.cnet.com.au/mp3players/harddisk...40055443,00.htm So reason I would feel bad leaving Sony - the sound quality/price ratio is better than most.

Thanks for the replies so far: Gapless - Sony is the only one to really implement this. I listen to a lot of mix compilations and without it my enjoyment is really impacted. Design and Hardware: Sony have great designers. The Vaio pocket knocks socks of anything out there trying to do a similar thing. (iPod included!!) Have a look at this pic : This I think could have been a mock up - What's wrong with making it REAL. It is of a VIDEO Vaio Pocket. It would have kicked BUTT and I for one would have purchased it!! There is no doubt that technically Sony kick but but in terms of giving people what they WANT they lag behind. What do I want : 1. A product that has some longevity - or even if upgraded has some consistency. i.e. not to have to move because they discontinue my product and don;t provide a replacement!! 2. Accessories so that it can FIT INTO my life - I don;t want to have to fit around it. 3. Use of excellent technology - which in ATRAC3+ I have - it is GREAT compression and great for space saving. Knocks MP3 out of the water. Ditching DRM on it just makes it really portable which is what I want!! 4. hey other thing I want is for SONY to do these things. They have the know-how and I think the savvy to do it. I am just under the impression that they are ready to ditch quite passionate customers and I can't find a business reason for that. Whenever Apple have released a new product it has been to enhance their market share or to replace something they were taking off the market. i.e. - Shuffle came in so they have something in that lower end of the market. Minimum functionality but excellent ease of use. Mini to Nano - they added colour screen to what was a great size already. Remember when they replaced it the Mini was the best selling MP3 player in the WORLD. In the first 15 days they sold 2million Nano's (if Steve Jobs is to be believed and we forget the problem with the screens breaking). Now they release the new iPod - it takes the capacity of entry level iPods UP to 30GB and adds functionality. Sony have released in the last 20 months or so: HiMD - ATRAC3+ only Hi-MD2 - ATRAC3+ + MP3 (plus photos) Stick shaped network walkman (ATRAC3+, MP3 + radio) Round shaped network walkman (ATRAC3+, MP3 + radio) Bean shaped network walkman(ATRAC3+, MP3 + radio) NW-HD1 - ATRAC3+ only 20GB NW-HD3 - ATRAC3+ and MP3 - 20GB NW-HD5 - ATRAC3+ and MP3 AND up to 30gb NWA series walkman 6 and 20GB Plus the Vaio Pocket - 20 and 40GB I don't see the progression. I don;t see the development. I see engineer led releases not market or customer need led releases. Each product is technically WONDERFUL - I love the idea of the bean players - I would love to buy one as a gift for someone (if I didn't have to shackle them to SonicStage). I would just like to feel like continuing to buy Sony is actually better for me not just some misplaced loyalty in a company which doesn't want my custom. I just filled out a survey Sony are doing on SonicStage - at no time did they ask what I thought of the interface - the questions focused on whether i used it more that itunes or an equivalent. I HAVE A SONY DAP - WHY WOULD I BE USING ITUNES. I HAVE NO CHOICE, I HAVE TO USED SONICSTAGE!!!. I just hope that there are some Sony bods reading these threads - maybe they can salvage something - otherwise the DAP using public will simply vote with their feet and wallets. I am still undecided - Is Walkman or iPod in my future???

Hi All, I have been a loyal customer of Sony's for many many years (as many of you have). I have had the ATRAC Cd player, Many Minidisc players and as at today I have a MZ-NH900 and a VAIO Pocket (40GB) & I love them both. Thinking about the future though I am torn because Apple have just released the new IPOD - the one that does video. It has a 20 hr battery life (same as Vaio Pocket) and sound quality that will stand up for me as I use my Vaio pocket mainy outside (with sennheiser HD270 headphones). I used to be confident I had the best technology but now for simply practical reasons I feel I am being forced to jump ship and I don't like it. I have over 11000 tracks on my player and many CD's still to download onto it so will eventually need some expansion. I cannot however see a Sony solution. Also the ipod has so many accessories but the Vaio pocket is discontinued and there is no comparable replacement. Please please help me with some reasons to stay (or not) I have always favoured Sony but it seems Sony doesn't want to keep customers like me. What are your thoughts?

[AWESOME!!

The press release : http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/20...050E/index.html As with most documents like these, they speak at such a high level it is hard to get any idea of detail. Some of the things that I thought were pertinent. (Remember these are my views - not necessarily what Sony meant) 1. As a key part of this initiative, we are significantly reorganizing our electronics group to place centralized decision-making authority over key areas under the Electronics CEO. This substantial change abolishes the company system and assures coordination and focus across newly defined business groups. Rigorous horizontal coordination in key areas-product planning, technology, procurement, manufacturing, and sales & marketing-will allow rapid and streamlined decision making across product lines. This will also permit uniform software development that will assure seamless interoperability between our products, eliminate design and product redundancies, and assure decisive and rational R&D planning and spending. Restructuring to reduce duplication and increase interoperability. This s a good thing. Why do we have a VAIO pocket when there is a perfectly good walkman brand. There is no point. It should have been the WALKMAN Pocket rather than the VAIO. If they had had more joined up thinking it would have been so and then could have been updated INSIDE the walkman brand but instead it is discontinued. 2. In electronics, televisions, digital imaging, DVD recorders and portable audio will be our focus areas, and we will work to establish leading positions in each market. This will be in tandem with our efforts to strengthen semiconductor and key component device businesses as an engine of differentiation. A commitment that they want to take a lead in the portable audio sector. This is a real commitment to dealing with ipod and responding to CUSTOMERS. I am pleased they have said they want to do this but I really want to see some action. Releasing the A series of HDD players does not seem to be congruent with the comments made as they have no chance of improving Sony's place in the HDD MP3 market. The rest is interesting but these were the stand outs for me after a first reading.

Strangely enough on reading your email I have to agree with most the points. ATRAC is much better than AAC and the whole 'developed for windows' thing makes using it much easier. BUT In SS you have to use alternate screens to see tracks and albums which is not a real problem except if you have many tracks it is deathly slow to go between views. Whenever I edit multiple tracks - I have to set it going and come back after a cuppa. When I import mp3's - if it is a compilation - I get 1 album for each track and have to edit the tracks to make it 1 album in SS. The CD cover art doesn't come in automatically. I cannot do podcasts or synchronise my HDD player. I have to know if I have copied an album or track onto the HDD player. In addition - the search facilities on each screen differ which is confusing and inconvenient. I do like - and probably take for granted - that there is the basic Windows XP setup e.g. the F2 etc. but the inconsistencies annoy me. In addition it is such a DARK & BLAND colour scheme and I can't change that. For me the best jukebox is WMP 10. It does everything I want in a way that makes sense. If Sony can get ATRAC files read with WMP 10 and get it to see the HDD layer - I will be living in music heaven!!

I am taken aback and surprised. I have not heard anyone say that before. Whilst, as I said, iTunes is flawed in many ways I still cannot imagine what it feels like to find SS more intuitive than iTunes. Please explain what you mean. I'm not asking you to justify as you obviously don't need me to tell you that you are entitled to your opinion. Additionally, Sony seem to have had their finger on the pulse of what people want for some years (I too cannot fault all the great MD players when it comes to construction - except the 1st and 2nd gen HiMD players - too much plastic). As with many companies who do that consistently, they begin to believe they only direct the market and will never need to respond to it (hence the lack of market research). Then all goes haywire when the market moves and they are not ready for it. e.g. Apple releases iPod and changes the way we listen to music. Someone else said they playing catch-up. They were right and it is sad to watch. Why-oh-why discontinue the excellent vaio pocket - why not release a newer better one and call it 'walkman' - why not keep the great features instead of going backwards. Just think about it - no current Sony HDD player has photo capabilities and the ONE machine that did - is discontinued. Meanwhile almost every other manufacturer is releasing machines with photo capabilities (Toshiba, iRiver, Samsung, Creative etc) which have a smaller footprint and volume than the last players they released. Sony's latest offering has text on an OLED (well whoop-dee-doo!!) and from what I can tell is bigger than the previous most recent Sony HDD player (the HD5) - WOW!! Can someone tell me in what way the new players are better than the the HD5? I love how they look - but it is NOT an improvement in functionallity! (The new Connect Player better be worth it!!) Having an intelligent hard drive is great but unless you are not looking at protecting your £200 investment anyway, it is not as attractive as 1. ease of use, or 2. easy integration into your current lifestyle, or 3. other features you will be conscious of using e.g. photo/slideshow/video viewing Sony's arrogance is what is hurting them now. They need to go back to the drawing board and develop something that has what people want - not something which makes engineers at SONY feel god about themselves. They must understand that the two things are no longer necessarily linked. I WANT to buy Sony - but if something happened to my Vaio Pocket today - I would be forced to change player as it is discontinued. Also I would have to go the functionality route and I can't see a Sony solution that makes the grade.

Whilst I love the new design of the machines I am a bit miffed that they couldn't come up with something that 1. is smaller. 2. has a colour display 3. is real competition for the ipod. Some may say we should stop talking about the ipod but this is a market and we cannot ignore that apple have something like 80% market share in a business they have been in for only 5 years. Especially when Sony almost invented the market in the first place. There are lessons to be learned. The ipod mini is so popular it makes us all sick but Sony produce nothing that will upset that. The same month that Sony release the new machines - apple produces the ipod nano which is 1. smaller than the mini by 50% 2. Has a colour screen 3. can share ipod accessories (except remote controls as it doesn't have the same interface for remotes). 4. Can store & display pictures. 5. Has great software support in iTunes. 6. and like the press release says is 'impossibly small' and still has 4GB. I am looking forward to the new connect player - I hope that the changes are not just superficial (although superficial would be good too) but that they affect things like 1. speed 2. clumsiness 3. resources used 4. how many times it causes PC's to hang or freeze 5. Actual intelligent synchronisation - not just copying. 5. general ease of use. iTunes is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and has many limitations but is hands down better that Sonicstage. More than that - when apple have made changes to it - they have been better and more practical than the changes made to Sonicstage. iTunes is very appealing as it has many of the things you look for in a music player. As I have said many times before, Sony have it sown up when it comes to the actual hardware - there is nothing as good as the HD5 out there in terms of just playing music and the sound quality of that music (so say CET) BUT these devices do not live in bubbles. They have to integrate into our lives rather than our lives having to change around them. I remember when the walkman first came out - what a bombshell. I remember when minidisc came on the scene - incredible - recording in digital quality and so small!! Creative came out with an mp3 player way before the ipod. How come the creative player didn't rock the world? The ipod changed things and changed the way people thought about their music, their music collections and how they listened to their music. Now the walkman brand (which I thing is much more memorable and 'fit for purpose' than 'ipod') is lending itself to phones which is great and has caused much excitement. I hope that the next incarnation of walkman (what a brand!!!) is something I can be genuinely proud of, knowing Sony have pushed the boat out - not just nudged it a little.

Hi, Thanks. I tried it but it did not see my Vaio Pocket - not sure why. Any thoughts?

I LOVE my VAIO Pocket. I just love it. I also love atrac3+. Initially I was very excited to have mp3 playback but the files are quite large. I have started reimporting the tracks I put on as mp3 initially as atrac3+ (64kbps) now. This means that just changing the mixture a little - I have 10200 tracks on it and about 500Mb of pictures and still have 7Gb left to play with. This means I could get 15000 or so on the player at 64 which for my purposes sounds fine. What a machine - great to have all (or mostly all) of my music with me at all times in such a stylish package. People stop, stare and sometimes ask - "what is that and where did you get it?" When they are told it was under £200 and is a 40Gb player with a colour screen which displays album art and personal pictures as well as sounding wonderful, they are just blown away. As well they should be. It is just a shame that they are discontinued.

Thanks for the quick response. If you say you can't find a limiter - I probably couldn't find it either so I'll take your word for it. It doesn't play too quiet any way but I could always do with an extra bit of oomph. I wear ambient noise cancelling headphones which help(an protect I am told). Thanks again for the info!!

Hi, Does anyone know if there is a volume increase for the Vaio Pocket also?