kaledi

I've updated to SS4.2 and played back several albums today and they are not playing back gapless. I encode my music as WAV files and these albums certainly played gapless in previous versions. Anyone any ideas or noticed the same thing?

I don't have a NWA series walkman, but I'm pretty sure that I have seen in the transfer settings the option to turn artist link off - i.e. that info won't transfer to the device. I could be wrong and I'm at work at the moment and therefore can't check myself. However, go to transfer settings for your device and the advanced button. The slow battery drain is surely a reflection of the immense battery life these machines posses! The battery in the NWA3000 is a Li-ion, so surely it doesn't need a periodical drain?

no option for fast encoding. The speed increase I have noticed is when you convert a WAV file to ATRAC3 132kps within My Library (not during CD ripping). I was transcoding a number of albums (originally ripped as WAVs) last night some at 132kps (A3) and others at 192kps (A3+) and the 132kps conversion is much faster than conversion to 192kps and much faster than I remember in previous SS versions. I can't comment when you convert from other formats e.g. MP3/AAC

Anyone notice that converting between formats seems that have got a lot fater with SS4.0? Either that or my CPU has got quicker!! Anyhow, all my music is ripped as WAVs and then I convert for transfer to HiMD and HDD players. Atrac3 132 KPS is blisteringly quick with the new version and 192Kps is def faster than before. It could mean of course that there is new algorithm particularly for the older ATRAC, which has prioritised speed v quality? Any comments anyone?

I wonder if you can find some way to make HiMD players and indeed pre 1000/3000 HDD players accept bit rates they cannot currently accept? Some reckon that a firmware update would be needed, but I reckon that the decoding chip would have no problem (this would of course explain why 352 and 192KPS suddenly became available)

When I first installed SSCP 4.0 I let the software do its thing with artist link - checking for release dates etc - and it took quite a long time. I guess what I'm saying is that you could leave it alone for several hours and see if it completes its task. After you have done it once it will only come with that message if you import new tracks into the library.

Well done. I'd been trying to track the file down and tried various possible variations on the other links. Just installed successfully and now artist link is doing its thing over the internet I notice that apple Lossless is not supported, which is a shame

I'd be surprised if the A1200 didn't make to all the usual outlets in the UK (some colours at least) since the A1000 doesn't look like it will be available for too much longer.

ugh not if you are selling it the at the same price as the previous model it isn't pointless. So 8 GB for the price of 6 GB!

It seems that the 8GB NWA1200 is coming to Europe, with a press release confirmation released today. This is interesting because it seems to me - in the UK at least - that the 1000 and 3000 are being sold off. Most internet sites have the 3000 at bargain prices and Sony store does not have any stock of either model - this was after they themselves were selling them at very good prices. Could the 1200 be a 1000 replacement at the same price? EDIT - SonyStyle have the 1200 up on their website for pre-order at the same (or virtually same) price as the 1000 at release! And are we about to see a brand new model to replace the 3000? More of the New Sony WALKMAN® Also announced today is the launch of the latest addition to the popular WALKMAN® family, the Sony A1200. This 8GB model builds on the success of its predecessors by offering music-lovers even more capacity to store their favourite tracks without compromising on battery life. As with all of Sony’s WALKMAN® players, the A1200 offers superior playback time of 20 hours. The WALKMAN® is compatible with most commonly used digital music formats including MP3, ATRAC WMA files and now AAC files, thanks to the built-in SonicStage CP software. As the first model to launch with the SonicStage CP software, this is Sony’s most technically-advanced digital music player. Offering the new SonicStage CP artist link, initial search and intelligent shuffle functions, as well as the time and calendar feature, the advanced functionality is predicted to make the A1200 one of the most popular high end players currently on the market. The Sony A1200 WALKMAN® will be available by mid June 2006 across Europe.

The latest update of Connect Player allows ripping at 352kps

I have this Connects2 adaptor and have used it for almost a year with a HiMD unit and recently with a HD5. I think it is great and although limited in terms of scrolling through albums, it does do what it says it can do. Regardless of the limitations, being able to view track information, and skip tracks is great. I would also point out that Sony UK did (or intended) market this device under their own brand name, while being manufactured by Connects2. I am not sure whether they eventually got it to market via Sony stores because I have not seen it advertised. I have a suspision that they didn't ultimately market it because the NWA series came out, which is not compatible with the Connects2 unit - they (Connects2) are in the process of developing one for this series of players.

I have a HD5, my mate has a A3000 and my bros an A1000. The A3000 is a bigger, but nowhere near as much as the dimensions and weight suggest. In a practical sense, the A3000 does not feel bigger than a HD5 - all those curves distort the proportions!

I think this is the Connect2 unit, which is also marketed by Sony in the UK - you can get more info at www.connects2.com I have the unit connected to a Sony head unit and use a HiMD player and tried a NW-HD3; both work flawlessly with the head unit showing text info and a like. I have also tried a NW-A1000 and unfortunately the remote protocol is slightly different to previous generations of Walkman and therefore it does not work properly. From what I remember you can skip tracks, but not groups and the text information is either not there or inconsistent. I was rather dissapointed and annoyed since I'm thinking of getting a NW-A3000 and the thought of having to shell out another £60 to make it work properly is a farce. This is particularly so given that Sony have used a common Remote interface for years and though there has always been subtle differences in the way different models behave with respective remotes, the basic functions have always worked. Having said that, of course this is not a Sony unit and therefore it is Connects2 that have implemeted the unit and protocol it uses. Apparently, Connects2 are in the process of developing a unit for the NWA3000 at which point I may ebay my current unit and get the new one. This incompatibility might also explain why Sony have gone quiet on the promotion of the (repackaged) interface since the NWA series was released - just prior they were promoting it through several channels.

The cradle and speaker unit do not come with a data transfer cable. They come with a cable to connect to the power supply to allow charging and there is a seperate port to plug the data cable in. In this instance I expect part of the reason why Sony don't just use a USB cable (a la HD5) is because there are docking stations available, which require audio output (and possibly other features?) from the unit itself - iPods are no different! I spoke to a friend who also has the A3000 and thought he had lost his cable and went to the local Sony store and got quoted £25, therefore I will have to go and check again. However, the original shop I approaches was adamant it was £65 as they had just sold one! MALFM, I used to think the UK was very expensive compared against the rest of the world - and it was, and we all felt very agrieved about it too. But in recent years, I actually think that buying electronic goods is cheaper here in the UK than the rest of Europe and North America, but probably not compared to Asia. I go to the States from time to time, and don't even bother looking at buying gadgets over there anymore as I used to. I am however going to look when I'm in Bangkok next month - best places to go anyone? Sorry I'm digressing.

Try £65 or $100 from a local UK Sony store!!

freebird, Have you tried importing any of your other MP3s into SS3.4. You said that you had done the same test as with SS3.1 i.e. one track? It sounds like a very peculiar problem you have. If you have tried this, then you could try converting some of you files to a high bit rate WMA file - you will keep the tags and SS can import them? My experience of music downloaded from Connect is the following - make sure your computer is registered to the user name that you downloaded your music from. Somehow, I have managed to set 2 accounts up in the past and some of my music was downloaded with one account and the rest on another. The consequence of this is that when you re-install SS and reinstate a backup, only music associated with the registered account will work. Otherwise, it has not mattered to me where I have downloaded SS from, whether it be an Asian, US or UK site; I have had to change the registry to direct to the correct Connect store (e.g. Us download and I am in the UK), but otherwise no problems with licence management.

Just seen this at a UK site that often has product code names for products up on their website before official announcement. Anyhow, of interest is this wireless device and high end docking/speaker system that is on the way in a few months. Also it mentions an NW-A3200 series walkman? I assume it will be a bigger drive version that 20GB, but anyone else seen anything? The fact that Sony are not releasing the products for several months yet would also suggest that they don't plan on replacing the current NWA series for some time yet? http://www.cheapelectricals.co.uk/acatalog...xz_ixz_ixz.html

Hi all, I have the chance of buying an A3000 but it does not come with a USB cable! Can anyone tell me if it uses the same connection as the MZNH1 HiMD player? They look similar, but of course that doesn't mean anything! Thanks

As you suggested, burn the album to a CD - it will even write CDtext information to the CD (just make sure that you go into the Disc properties to set the album title and artist name) and then imoport your new CD into SS on the computer registered to your Walkman. Even if you don't have the CDtext information importing the CD will allow you to access the CDDB database and obtain the album information from the internet. The reason you cannot just copy the ATRAC files onto your other computer is to do with DRM (which all legitimate download services use), which of course prevents wide spread distribution. Creating a CD also means you have a non-DRM back up of your purchased tracks - reason enough for me to create one!

I read somewhere that Sony electronics did not bother to go to CeBit this year? I was expecting that Sony might come out with an announcement for a new HDD player during CeBit (clearly not if they weren't there). Anyhow, I'm toying with the idea of getting an A3000, but not if there is a new device on the horizon, so has anyone heard anything about a replacement for the A3000 or an enhanced model to sit alongside the current range?

Sony seem to have added a couple of interesting features for Hi-MD users in the form of 192kps support. No additional functionality for the A series though SonicStage Version 3.4 Download Program. File Information SonicStageInstaller.exe ( 788 KB ) SonicStage Version 3.4 is available for the following Sony products: Hi-MD WALKMAN Net MD WALKMAN Network WALKMAN ATRAC CD WALKMAN ATRAC CD Personal Audio System Micro System Features: Supported formats when ripping an Audio CD: ATRAC format (ATRAC3plus/ATRAC3): 352kbps/ 320kbps/ 256kbps/ 192kbps/ 160kbps/ 132kbps (ATRAC3)/ 128kbps/ 96kbps/ 64kbps/ 48kbps. ATRAC Advanced Lossless format. WMA format MP3 format A copyright protection can be added to ripped tracks. Dynamic Playlist: Select by artist or genre. Create playlist by date imported, rating, playback count, number of transfers, track number, playback time, file size. ATRAC Audio device can be synchronized with My Library playlist. Memory Stick PRO and Memory Stick PRO Duo (only with Memory Stick PRO and Memory Stick PRO Duo compatible ATRAC Audio device) are supported. There is no limit to the number of times tracks without any DRM (Digital Rights Management) content can be transferred. There is no limit to the number of times tracks recorded on an Hi-MD and Network WALKMAN product can be transferred. Tracks can be converted at a specific bitrate and then be transferred to the ATRAC Audio device. ATRAC CD’s, Audio CD’s, and MP3 CD’s (with MP3 tracks from My Library only) can be created. CDDB (Gracenote) is supported. CD cover of an Audio CD can be displayed. SonicStage 3.4 new features: Tracks can be transferred in ATRAC 192kbps to a Hi-MD device. Tracks recorded with a Hi-MD device with the digital/analogue inputs or microphone input can be uploaded to SonicStage and saved in WAV (PCM) format. Audio CD’s can be ripped in ATRAC 352kbps. CD information can be displayed from the tracks in My Library. WAV files can be converted into ATRAC Advanced Lossless format. ATRAC format files (including ATRAC Advanced Lossless) can be converted into WAV format. Song lyrics can be displayed when clicking the “Lyrics” button (only if the lyrics are encoded with the track). Notes An MP3 CD can only be created from MP3 files in My Library. SonicStage cannot convert OpenMG Audio files (e.g ATRAC3) to MP3 files and then create an MP3 CD. SonicStage will be displayed in the same language as the operating system on your computer. Languages supported are: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Music imported from the CONNECT music store includes DRM content transfer is controlled by the distributor. Track information such as music title, artist name, genre, album title on copy protected discs released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment cannot be edited. System requirements: Compatible operating systems (factory preinstalled only): Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004. Windows XP Media Center Edition. Windows XP Professional. Windows XP Home Edition. Windows 2000 Professional (Service Pack 3 or later). Windows Millennium Edition. Windows 98 Second Edition. Hardware environment: Computer: IBM PC/AT or compatible. CPU: Pentium lll 450MHz or higher. Hard disk drive space: 400MB or more. RAM: 128MB or more. Others: CD drive (capable of digital playback by WDM). When creating an Audio CD or ATRAC CD or MP3 CD, a CD-R/RW drive is needed. s Sound card. USB port. Display: High Color (16bit) or higher, 800 x 600 resolution (1024 x 768 or more is recommended). Others: Internet access for web registration, and CDDB. Internet access and Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 5.5 or higher) installed for Web registration and EMD services. Windows Media Player (version 7.0 or higher) installed for playing WMA files. The following systems are not supported. OS other than the ones indicated above. Personally constructed PCs or operating systems. Upgraded OS. Multi-boot environment. Multi-monitor environment. Macintosh computers.

Well I'll eat my words; that is a good price and it will be interesting to see if other retailers follow Amazon's lead. I have to say I was baseing my price predictions by extrapolating price drops for previous HDD units and minidisc units over the last 5 years, which in todays market is probably irrelevant! May be Sony's (new) strategy is to sell as many units as possible in the short term to win new buyers at the expense of profit? This is not something they have really done in the past? Could we also be looking at a colour screen varient in the new year for £200?

What appears to be the latest version of CP is now up on the Sony support site http://www.sonydigital-link.com/DNA/WM/NWH...l=en&m=NW-A3000 Installed without any problem, it seems a little more stable, but no obvious additional features. There is also an update fotr the auto update software; however, I cannot install this as I didn't install the original CP from the CD. The programe would explain why autoupdate doesn't work for those who installed CP manually.

Price drop? You can already get it for £175 and indeed there is 1 shop in Birmingham doing for £135! How much lower do you expect to see these things go? The HD5, which is now discontinued can be had for about £160 so I don't expect to see the A3000 to drop lower than than that even after it has been discontinued. I also read that Sony are now charging 10-15% more for their products to online retailers so that the independant shops can compete better, so I suspect that the online stores are only making a couple of quid on each unit they sell. It would also explain how the B'ham shop can offer such a low price - you have to collect, they do not do mailorder on Sony products anymore. Marantz did something similar, worse infact, a couple of years ago - they don't even sell to online retailers anymore! When you consider that only a couple of years ago a top of the line minidisc player or indeed conventional iPod cost £250 to £300 (before discount online), then these prices for the A3000 are great value. Just my opinion of course.