bogon07

I used to find Gracenote a bit problematic until I started making sure that my internet was up and running correctly before openning up SonicStage or ConnectPlayer and inserting a CD. Also it didn't seem to like trying to find CD info if the CD was playing. My observations, sorry that doesn't really answer your questions.

mgillespie, 8,000 is a lot of tracks but you would expect the database to be able to cope with those sort of numbers for 6 or 20GB music players particularly with your machine specs. My P4(3.2GHz 512MB Ram & 60GB HDD) takes about 40seconds to load ConnectPlayer which has 900 songs in its library. The A1000L then takes 2mins30seconds to load up its 1050 songs. But I prefer to use Sonic Stage 3.2 or 3.3 to rip and load music into the A1000 as it is much faster then occasionally open ConnectPlayer to let it do all its statistical up dates.

from Macdaily news 17Jan2006 http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/8236/ "Apple has quietly added Sony BMG content for sale via the Australian iTunes Music Store. Sony BMG artists such as Kate DeAraugo, Kelly Clarkson, and Rogue Traders, to name a few, now have albums and songs available for sale on Apple's iTunes Music Store. Songs and albums are selling for the usual AUS$1.69 and $16.99. Sony BMG music videos cost $3.39." This ties in with the previous "Sony BMG's boycott of Apple's iTunes Music Store Australia won't last long" 24Oct2005 Does this mean a lesser chance of improvements to ConnectPlayer functionality in the Australian region ? Looks like my A1000 will continue to be feed with transfers from CDs.

Does it really take 8mins to start up Connect on your XP machine ? Do you have a lot of songs in your library ?

Yes, in India, UK & Australia as a regular purchase. I haven't looked at Sony China (as the site is really slow) but I think that gold would be a popular colour there if they have E507s. I haven't see the bundle pack here in Australia but can vaguely remember seeing it mentioned just before Christmas in either the UK or US. Probably in some sort of SonyStyle limited offer. The retractable USB cable sounds like a good idea along with the neckstring/lanyard.

Has anyone found a way to make it play one album after another for the same artist without resorting to playlists or having to manually select the next album?

The Connect software CD should have installed a driver for your A608 but perhaps the process was interupted. So just try re-installing it again. You could also try SonicStage 3.2 or 3.3. Note that you cannot run/have open either ConnectPlayer or SonicStage at the same time. Finally there is a Sony Network Walkman Driver: MP3_PA_Driver.exe (1.68MB) for the NWE400/500 series. The file can be found with the "MP3 File Manager Version 2.0 for Network Walkman" on the Sony AP support site. http://www.css.ap.sony.com This isn't supposed to be need if SonicStage was installed from a bundled CD.

If you are really interested in checking out the A1000 have a look at the Operating Manual at Sony UK http://www.sonydigital-link.com/manuals/ma...elName=NW-A1000 The English version is about 2.39MB. As Ascariss says opinions and experiences of ConnectPlayer vary. I find it is a little slower now that I've 3GB of music on the A1000; just be patient while it updates all the songs & playing stats. SonicStage3.3/3.2 is faster at loading up but with slightly less functionality in regard to some A1000/A3000. If you don't need to some of the many statistics based shuffle functions you probably wouldn't really require to use ConnectPlayer.

Stuge, Sony has released the E507 in different colours for different regions. In Australia we have it in Silver and Gold. (The real unit looks better than its photo) And like you no A600s yet or if ever. Canada and US seem to be Silver only UK has a variety of colours. Audio Cubes in Blue, Pink and Grey(Silver) Japan Tourist models Silver & Blue.

Yes, My first choice was to have all the controls up near the top of the player near the volume control. How come the USB connector at the bottom doesn't have a little plastic cover like the E400/500 or Minidiscs. It is bigger so more junk could easily get in it. Also the same for the remote socket as it is rather exposed, it is not a real problem to me as I use an MC35-ELK most of the time.

Shift the buttons from the bottom to the top of the player (or put the volume control down near the buttons) so everything is in the same part of the player.

The unpleasant side of Sony's regionalisation of products strikes again. This allows Sony to off-load old players into regions where the releases of newer models lag behind their so called major markets. Looks like India is only getting the Gold one too.

Unfortunately the A1000/3000 is not as readily available online as the E400/500 series in Australia. Could be something to do with Sony Australia's delivery problems. None are on the ever reliable Minidisc Australia site yet only the ol' NW-HD5. http://www.techbuy.com.au/product.asp?at=51&prodid=55538 A3000 Silver or Violet Techbuy $440.20AUD - not much of a discount on the rrp $449 and on back order ! http://www.homezonedigital.com.au/Content_...15-2a96abbf0c0a HomeZone (Retravision) has the A1000 for $349AUD but not the A3000

If only Sony had been concerned enough to include the cradle/dock with the player. Have Sony sold many of these docks ? I'd prefer they used their regular type of USB connection and a lineout socket on the player (there didn't seem to being any problem with Minidisc players until quite recently).

Strangely enough that aspect came to mind too. I also wonder how long it will take before those little prongs on the cable malfunction in some way. They just seem to be there to secure the connection. I've never previously had problems with the regular Sony USB cable coming out of a unit.

Anybody have any idea why they decided to use this sort of USB connector for the A1000/A3000 rather than the regular one that comes with the E400/E500 and most Minidisc units ? Luckily the recharger has standard USB connection which allows you to plug in the other units and charge them too using the regular Sony USB cable.

The NWA1000 was available in Australia mid December 2005 and the NWA3000 popped up early January2006. The A1000 has rrp $379 but you can find it in stores such as Retravision, JB-Hi, Sydney Sound centre @ $349. Some online stores are quoting $368 + delivery. I've see the A3000 $449 rrp advertised @ $399. The A1000 is interesting and stylish although a bit slow and the minimum HDD size should have been 10GB. But I think the E400/500 & A600s have a better functional design and any of these with 4-6GB capacity would make A1000 obsolete. "Here is an interesting quote http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Entertainment...3/News/E9P4V6W3 Meanwhile, the Sony NWA3000 is a 20GB player version of the A1000, is already available overseas. Sony spokesperson Lesley White said larger capacities may be announced soon: "There's a lot of space for a higher capacity player but we wanted to get the A series out before Christmas."

I hope it will be more successful than their micro Cruzer companion mp3 player

I have to agree with you on that especially as the engraving shown in your original post advertising A608SI was a different style and size to the existing text stamped on the back of the player. The snap-on case really seems a useful accessory, hope it gains a wider distribution.

"Computer memory company Sandisk on Thursday introduced a collection of tiny digital music players and said it plans to challenge Apple Computer for dominance in the "flash" memory player market. " http://news.com.com/SanDisk+out+with+tiny+...674.html?tag=nl "At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sandisk introduced a 6GB player made with flash memory--chips that are smaller and lighter than hard disk drive technology memory and also have no moving parts. The Sansa e270 player is expected to cost about $300US." It will be interesting to see what sort of music transfer system they use. This could force Sony to bring out a larger capacity A600 series player (hopefully) but could lead to the end of the NWA1000 (sob) too.

The crystal snow display screen looks beautiful. Ishiyoshi, you seem to have passed up on the engraving option ? How does the Exclusive Protective Crystal Case attach to the A608 ? Is it held in place by friction ?

The Sonystyle exclusive optional accessory case appears to have loops or straps over the volume control switches. I don't suppose that would be too much of a problem though as you normal just set the volume and level it at that level. Atleast the player looks a little more secure in that compared to the holster style case.

Kungfool, The A608SI looks great, like a blob of mercury. Thanks for sharing pictures of them. Hope you are both enjoying them. If only they were available in other countries. The form and function of the E400/500s & A600s is fantastic Ishiyoshi's original post mentioned special carrying cases for both units; are they soft or hard plastic ?

matt_com911, The link to the firmware update is pinned (2nd from top) of the Harddrive forum. Make sure you read the instructions there too and also in the manual . I think I used the european version for the NWA1000 which installed smoothly. The A-PAC site has this strange reference to the NWA1000: "Where to obtain the information of the latest firmware? Applicable Models NW-A1000, NW-A3000 Article ID: 47524 (modified: 12/12/2005 7:50:00 PM) Problem/Question: Obtaining the information of the latest firmware. Solution/Answer: Users are notified on information about the latest firmware by connecting the Network Walkman to the computer." Perhaps this feature will be implemented in a future update for ConnectPlayer !

Music CDs that hide programs on your hard-drive. Now stealth advertising. I have no problem with Sony advertising products but this seems slightly dishonest or atleast misleading. What next "virtual product placement" http://news.com.com/Advertisings+twilight+..._3-6015863.html Sony's movie division could use this subliminal advertising technigue for Sony products on its DVD releases. Have SonicStage and ConnectPlayer planted anything else into your harddrive ? Did Sony not release the 2ndGen Hi-MD in Australia to make it easier to dump existing stocks of 1st Gen Hi-MD. (yes I'm still pissed off at that strategy) It is getting to the stage where you will have to treat anything to do with Sony with some suspicion. I like the equipment they produce but the company itself less so.