LuLu

I agree. I didn't like the shape or the colours. Who wants their Walkman named after a food product? At least they gave it a name though instead of referring to it by those annoying number letter systems that are hard to remember. Everyone knows what you mean when you call it the bean! LOG

Here's the instructions: The text reads: How to attach the clear case Put the Walkman into the clear case (See Fig A.)Slip the Walkman into the clear case docking both VOL buttons. Attach the front cover down until it clicks. (See Fig B.)Tip The strap can still be attached with the Walkman in the clear case. Note A charging cradle, etc. cannot be used with the clear case at the same time. Use them after removing the Walkman from the clear case. How to remove the clear case Hold the clear case and insert a finger in the WM-PORT gap, and then remove the front cover. (See fig. C). Notes When removing, makes ure the Walkman does not pop out of the clear case.If the rubber buttons of the clear case come off, reattach them oriented to the same way as the Walkman buttons. LOG

I have this case and have not had any problems whatsoever. Have you tried to look at the inside of the case where it touches the volume slider on the player? LOG

Yes, I've thought that too. In fact I have the player on a chair while charging it for the photographs I posted at the beginning of this thread because that was the only way I could get it near enough to an available wall socket. I can't really think of any other socket in my place that I can both plug it in and be able to have the player sit in a safe place. It hardly makes it useful as an adapter (doesn't matter for charging). The only way to really use it as an adapter is with an extension cord. I guess the lack of connecting wire is so that it fits in the case and remains portable. LOG

Speaking of which can anyone recommend a good MP3 tag editor (preferrably freeware)? I tried to search this board for previous posts on this topic but got an error message that my search term (MP3) was too short! LOG

I have never heard of any karaoke feature in SS and I've been using it since version 1.0 with my MZ-N1 minidisc. This link - a Google cache of the minidisc.org forum - shows a review of SS version 3.4 in which reference is made to the feature: "Song lyrics can be displayed when clicking the "Lyrics" button (only if the lyrics are encoded with the track)". I'd say that is the limit of its functionality. LOG

Button functions are locked down during the charge/connection using USB. However, the player is fully functional when charging using the adapter. Good catch! I now see that the charger (also correctly referred to as an adapter) can also be used as a source of power. Now how much use is it to be draining the player (by using it) while charging it? Does it charge faster than it drains or would you always be keeping it at an "even keel"? LOG

I noticed some differences when charging my A-806. When charging through USB the player has three different modes. The initial mode when you first connect it: While it is charging the battery indicator rolls through the one quarter/half/three quarter/four bar symbols (one quarter seen here): And finally when it is full it looks like this: However, when using the ACNWUM50 charger there is are different displays. When you first plug it in it looks like this: After a few seconds it changes to this display: When full it looks like this: Any ideas why? LOG

I tried to copy files to the video directory. They would appear in the menu on the unit but would not play. I don't know if this has anything to do with conversion (e.g. I copied a file that needed to be transferred/converted using Image Converter). I did this within the first week of having my player and don't recall the video format. I also allowed an automatic transfer using the PSP setting in my AVS video converter software assuming it would be configured to put it in the right directory. No go. It just placed it at the top, not even in a directory. I could not find it listed in my videos on the player. I currently have about 16 videos on my A806. Four are in the mproot/100anv01 directory. All of these are .mp4. The others (a combination of .mp4 and .m4v) are in the video directory. Go figure! Now thems fighting words! I have a first generation (NW-407), second generation (NW-E005) and my current NW-806. I think the NW-407 was a great design (partially because of the way it handled playlists or groups but I now think this was controlled by SS). I liked the three line display and had fun adding the display screens. But it was heavy and was not easy to protect. Sony eventually released a lanyard (through a special purchase deal) but there was only ever one case made for it. The NW-E005 was a nice balance of function and form. A good work horse all around. However, I don't like that you have to re-set it from the default "all songs" to the "playlist" mode after you charge or upload new files. I also missed some of the features in the NW-407. I found the three line display useful, especially the running time of the .mp3. This is especially important if you listen to podcasts and are trying to figure out how much content is left! BTW, I wish Sony would offer a "remaining time" option as this is of more use to me. I also miss the count of how many files are in that playlist. There was also more support for the NW-E00x series with the various cases, lanyards, and external charger. This (IMHO) improves the functionality of the player. I do like that the A806 "remembers" where you were after charging/uploading new files. Maybe this is a function of SS. However, I find it heavy for a portable device (admittedly I'm using a lanyard, have it hanging around my neck and have it in the plastic hard case). I'm also concerned about smashing it or otherwise destroying the screen (which probably provides a better picture than my TV!). I find it "delicate". Perhaps this perception will wear off in time. I also appreciate the various add-ons, cases and the like for the A80X line. To me this gives the impression that Sony supports the product. LOG

Good! I was going to suggest you try another format, preferably MP4 (and one that I had already downloaded and got to work on my A806). BTW, I found a site with some videos: http://www.dailypspmovie.com/ LOG

It is the case by Sony. I haven't seen any third party products here in Canada yet. It retails for $34.99 CAD. LOG

Correct! I'm currently playing an assortment of songs by The Rolling Stones as well as this new band called Bittersweet. Their genre is "trip hop" and is rather interesting music. You can sample some of their stuff here. LOG

Can you provide more details about what films (format, size, aspect ratio) you are installing? LOG

There's also a link to download a utility to export playlists: From the same link: "Please click here to download the tool to export playlists in Connect Player to SonicStage CP." LOG

Find below some pics of the Carrying Case Clip (CLPNWA800) and Silicone Cases (CKMNWA800) Carrying Case Clip Front Carrying Case Clip Back Carrying Case Clip Side Carrying Case Clip Front (with A806) Carrying Case Clip Back (with A806) The fit on this is very tight. It is not likely that a player would come loose. The spring on the clip is also tight. Silicone Black Front Silicone Black Back Silicone White Front Plastic Cover for screen Silicone Black Front (with A806) It was easy to get the unit into the silicone case. All buttons are accessible, including the hold and volume. There is an opening on the side to attach the strap. Both the clear and black silicone cases come in the same package with one protective screen. I'm sure you could make more using the same type of covering used for cameras, etc. As you can see the screen is not well protected using either of these cases. LOG p.s. can anyone guess what song is playing on my A806?

What I meant was they should make their components compatible with each other without you having to pay extra money for adapters. If they say a product has Bluetooth capabilities it should work (both transmitting and receiving)! When the bookshelf unit I bought was first released the $100 CAD adapter was free - for those who bought it in Europe. Glasgow is the Sony Electronics US President. I'm in Canada. LOG

Hi everyone, A big problem with SS is the lack of user testing, IMHO. I don't think they ever watched anyone using it. It seems to have been designed and tested for individual tasks and not work flow. For example, you import songs when you are in "All tracks" mode and add them to the playlist (a logical next step) but you have to switch to "Playlist" mode before transferring. This would seem reasonable if you don't add all your new tracks to a playlist for transfer but its not the way I use the software. I import new tracks, associate them with a playlist then transfer them. I don't how much time I've spent switching btwn modes. If you think SS is bad wait until you see Image Converter. Hard to believe it is at version 3.0. The interface looks like the code was written "the night before it was due". Here's just a few gems... There is no way to delete highlighted videos off the flash player using the delete key - you must click on the delete button. But you can use the delete key to remove videos listed under items in the RSS manager. This is very counterintuitive. You can't change the order of how the videos appear on your flash player - it is always alphabetical. The RSS manager component does not keep track of the titles you have seen but not added to the transfer list for download. It does provide information on which ones you have already downloaded, which isn't of much use since you've presumably already seen them.One good thing is that eventually you get used to these "nuances". LOG

Sony is offering a lot of products with Bluetooth, including the adapter for the S700 and A800 series which allows you to use their Bluetooth compatible earphones or headphones. However, they have still bungled up the Bluetooth on the new bookshelf unit. Last year I bought the CMT-U1BT bookshelf system that came with Bluetooth capability. What I and the sales guy who sold it to me didn't understand is that you can only send (not receive) audio to this device. So this meant I could play my Bluetooth capable Sony device (e.g. flash player or cell phone) through the speakers on the bookself unit. But in order for me to listen to anything on this device with my Bluetooth headphones I had to buy an adapter, the HWSBTA2W Bluetooth® Transmitter/Receiver, for $100 CAD. Ok so fine they didn't have it together for their first generation Bluetooth capable bookshelf. Then they released the CMTDH5BT Bluetooth® Hi-Fi Micro System and same problem! At least now they explain this is the specs. I don't think this is really supportive of Bluetooth when you have to pay extra to use it on your system. LOG

I use iTunes and searched for video podcasts. You can also convert your own material. See my review post where I discuss how I've been using the video with my A806. LOG

Here a site I found recently...Sony's Walkman museum! Although my first "walkman" was actually the KT-AS1 w/ RP-AF2 AM/FM tuner pack by Toshiba (pictured here) I also have owned a few Sony cassette Walkman's in my day including the WM-F20, a yellow water resistant model and a few others not pictured. Some of these are real clunkers. I don't know how anyone went jogging with this! I shudder at the sound "quality" on those earphones! LOG

Look at the top right hand corner (see pic below) in SS where you can read how much is currently available on your unit. LOG

Yes, groups, that was it! I see the value of playlists and the ability to have a song installed once (say in a top level directory such as artist or album) and using different playlists to "point" to its location. I guess it is all in how you use the device. I mostly listen to a group of songs for a period of time then move on to another set. I keep a back catalogue on my player to listen to if I get bored of the current playlist. Rarely do these overlap so I don't really make use of the playlist concept as such. I just have to remember to list the songs/podcasts in the order I want to listen to them in the playlist before transferring. At least you are allowed to move the playlist order once transferred. LOG

I've realized something else. If you are using an 80X to watch videos the Bluetooth is not as useful. You need to have the unit close to you to view the screen anyway so its not going to matter that much if you use wired 'phones. I have watched videos and streamed the audio to my bookshelf unit while at home. While on the subway I've watched videos using wired 'phones. On the rare occasion I've used it for music (I'm still using my E-005 for that) I've used the Bluetooth earphones. This is useful if you need to put the Walkman in your bag/pocket (yes, it still streams the audio) to protect it (if you are running) and won't need to adjust the volume, change playlists etc. LOG

I'm not sure why Sony releases in Canada before the US - unless they are using us as some kind of market research experiment! I recall a sales person at Bay Bloor Radio (a high end audio/video store in Toronto, Canada) telling me that MD equipment from Sony was often sent to them first as they generated such great sales for the product. Now they only carry iPod! LOG

I just ranted about SS and playlists in another post. Previous versions of SS allowed you to delete songs using "playlists" (it was called something different - folders? directories? something like that). When features are changed in an application it can be difficult for previous users to adjust. When these changes are counter-intuitive it can be problematic for new users. The fact that an analogy had to be posted by Zizone just shows you that this concept is not readily understood. I believe the change occurred with version 3.4 and the release of the E-00X series. LOG