Sony DAPs Missing from Retail Stores

[mmp64]

Just did some quick Christmas shopping at the local Mall & Circuit City here in lovely Pittsburgh, PA USA - and I think I saw a grand total of 1 NW-HD5, a couple of "Circ" flash players and a couple of the NW-E407 ("Tube") flash players. Oh, and one $200 MZ-NH600D at Sears. The Sony stuff was buried behind a bunch of Sandisk and Creative units. iPods have their own aisle, of course.

Sony - what are you doing?

[leonyuhanov]

Iether slowly withering away, or planning for an uber asualt in the coming months.

Iether way its fun to watch.

leon

[Ascariss]

Indeed, should be interesting to see what moves Sony US takes. I'm still betting the announcement will comes at CES 2006 next january for launch in the US. People have received Xmas catalogs from best buy and no info on the players there.

The meetings for sony store reps was in august of this year in vegas and the players were there for sure and they could try them out and were briefed on them. Now I am not sure if US dealers were there, since the rep I spoke to was from canada, but I would assume they would be as well. Oddly enough, once I go pickup my A3000, or perhaps might stop off on monday at the local store, and ask the guy if there was any news for intro into the US.

[Guest Stuge]

Its very strange that they haven`t started any marketing in US till now .....

But i think as soon as they will sort out bugs in connect (as thet don`t want the US people to be harassed like the U.K one).Then they will do marketing of new "A-series" in US....So don`t worry USA u will get the connect player fully working

[EZero]

I don't see why Sony should bother to market the Aura in North America. You aren't going to touch Apple in sales, rather, you will be easily whipped once again. Sony completely has to start from ground up in order to catch Apple, but to be honest, I don't think they will. Had Apple not released the 5G, I would have bought the Aura, but in the time it takes Sony to launch its new lines, Apple has released to new additions to their iPod line, both of which are revolutionary. While Sony is stuck looking archaic compared to the iPod. It's so sad seeing Sony become what their competitors were back in the Walkman days. Always a step behind.

[Ascariss]

They are on sale in Canada, last time I checked Canada was part of north america.

I got one ad from sonystyle, yesterday for the player and now the A3000 purple version is back in stock at sony after being sold out. When I bought my A1000 at best buy, the rep told me they received roughly 22 or so units of the 6 gig on the the 17th and 18th, and there are 3 left now. this is only one store.

I've yet to see any ads in the flyers, but perhaps this week. I don't think sony will advertise like the apple does, it isn't really in their nature for NA. I rarely see any commercials for sony products on tv, except perhaps laptops, tvs and pcs, other than that most of the other electronics aren't marketed much. I do think it has to do with the name, most people connect sony with quality and latest tech.

I disagree with you on the step behind, sony took a different approach to the walkman. I am sure they did market studies for it, ie mostly in europe, and asia where my guess is the bulk of the sales will be. If sony doesn't launch the product in the US, I couldn't care less. Sure the ipods are superior in one function over another, they do lag behind in others. No specifics, since everyone has a different take on the what is better in what.

[EZero]

I disagree with you on the step behind, sony took a different approach to the walkman. I am sure they did market studies for it, ie mostly in europe, and asia where my guess is the bulk of the sales will be. If sony doesn't launch the product in the US, I couldn't care less. Sure the ipods are superior in one function over another, they do lag behind in others. No specifics, since everyone has a different take on the what is better in what.

←

Compared to the 4G, I'd say you were right. Compared to the 5G, it is so far behind, there is no way you can rationalize that Apple completely leaped over Sony. I hate the iPod, iTunes, Apple, and the rest, I even swore I'd never get an iPod. I've waited patiently, hoping Sony will get their products together, but it just hasn't happened yet. With the 5G, I'm getting so much more funcionality, it's not funny. Don't tell me it's not a step behind, the iPod has video playback, it has a color screen, it has picture functionality, all of which the A3000 does not. Rather than promote this product Sony should have either further worked on the Vaio Pocket and release a new version of it, or at least repromote it, seeing as it's the closest to an iPod rival they seem capable of creating.

[Richard_p]

Apple has released to new additions to their iPod line, both of which are revolutionary. While Sony is stuck looking archaic compared to the iPod. It's so sad seeing Sony become what their competitors were back in the Walkman days. Always a step behind.

←

In what way do you consider the iPod's to be revolutionary, they're not the first to offer video playback, or pictures

I think what we're seing from sony is just a different approach, if they wanted to put video playback on their DAPs then i'm sure they would have done. Instead sony are remembering that the main purpose of people buying a DAP is for the music and not including pictures or video as gimmicky extra, at the expense of battery life, Just a radically designed music player.

Of course it remains to be seen whether this was trhe right strategy to take, especially since sony's 'back to basics' music player in 20gb form is still priced vewry close to the 30gb video pod.

It is also worth remembering that Sony heave the interests of the PSP to look after too, as this will playback video and pictures, only difference being the fact that it is on a large enough screen to make it worthwile, unlike IMO the 'hybrid' DAP/PMP's on the market such as Ipod, Iaudio X5 and Iriver h3xx (begining to see a trend there, lol) which have quite samll screens, as they are small units.

Admittedly however the PSP is very restricted by it's expensive Memory stick duo's and that only 32mb is included (being primarily a games console)

I can live without video playback on my walkman (moreso since i have a PSP) but as mentioned above i don't think that screen are large enough on hybrid players, if video was something i really deemed neccessary i would set my sights on a full blown PMP such as an archos AV700 or Iaudio A2.

As i said before sony are going for a grass roots approach with their network walkman range keeping long battery life and good sound quality as priorities, all that is really needed on a digital AUDIO player afterall. However i admit they do face a tough battle.

[MDX-400]

They are on sale in Canada, last time I checked Canada was part of north america.

If sony doesn't launch the product in the US, I couldn't care less. Sure the ipods are superior in one function over another, they do lag behind in others. No specifics, since everyone has a different take on the what is better in what.

←

I found this very strange myself. It's one of the few things we in Canada have gotten earlier than the US release; and, at that it doesn't look like it is going to be available in the US at all, for sure!

I mean in Canada we really didn't get the HD3 or HD5 (like you could find them I'm sure but big stores Best Lie/Futile Shop et al did not have them). In fact you can still find clearance HD1s at those stores today, but the HD3 and HD5 are nowhere to be seen.

[Ascariss]

The HD1 was offered in the main stores and I think even at sony stores as well.

Not sure why Canada didn't receive the HD3 and HD5 units, kind of puzzling indeed. Oddly enough I bought my A1000 at best buy since I like their return policy and I hate dealing with futureshop people.

[MDX-400]

The HD1 was offered in the main stores and I think even at sony stores as well.

Not sure why Canada didn't receive the HD3 and HD5 units, kind of puzzling indeed. Oddly enough I bought my A1000 at best buy since I like their return policy and I hate dealing with futureshop people.

You do know, though, that Best Lie and Futile Shop are the same company right? I think everyone knows that by now though... Their returns policies are also the same, from what I know.

But yeah the FS ppl are based on commission where as the Best Lie ppl aren't. Then again you can walk into the latter and you pretty much have to put your TV on a cart yourself and wheel it to the checkout, whereas at FS someone will usually help you, lol. My experience has been both extremes--at FS ppl help you out and try to get sales and sell you extended warranty etc.; Best Lie, ppl don't help you at all!

[EZero]

In what way do you consider the iPod's to be revolutionary, they're not the first to offer video playback, or pictures

Name the first 30GB player, offering all of the features the 5G iPod has, as well as the options iTunes has, at the size and price of the 5G.

Have fun trying to do that.

I think what we're seing from sony is just a different approach, if they wanted to put video playback on their DAPs then i'm sure they would have done. Instead sony are remembering that the main purpose of people buying a DAP is for the music and not including pictures or video as gimmicky extra, at the expense of battery life, Just a radically designed music player.

A 60GB 5G iPod, with 10x the space, color screen, photo and video functionality, and the great iTunes software, has the same amount of battery life as the A1000.

Of course it remains to be seen whether this was trhe right strategy to take, especially since sony's 'back to basics' music player in 20gb form is still priced vewry close to the 30gb video pod.

Which is why consumers won't even give it a second wink. Creative has managed to come up with a product that trumps the iPod, why can't Sony?

It is also worth remembering that Sony heave the interests of the PSP to look after too, as this will playback video and pictures, only difference being the fact that it is  on a large enough screen to make it worthwile, unlike IMO the 'hybrid' DAP/PMP's on the market such as Ipod, Iaudio X5 and Iriver h3xx (begining to see a trend there, lol) which have quite samll screens, as they are small units.

Admittedly however the PSP is very restricted by it's expensive Memory stick duo's and that only 32mb is included (being primarily a games console)

The PSP is great, but it's not an MP3 Player.

I can live without video playback on my walkman  (moreso since i have a PSP) but as mentioned above i don't think that screen are large enough on hybrid players, if video was something i really deemed neccessary i would set my sights on a full blown PMP such as an archos AV700 or Iaudio A2.

As i said before sony are going for a grass roots approach with their network walkman range keeping long battery life and good sound quality as priorities, all that is really needed on a digital AUDIO player afterall. However i admit they do face a tough battle.

←

What troubles me is that Sony's computer division managed to create a product, that if released now, I would have said Sony could challenge the 5G iPod, that being the Vaio Pocket. It's beautiful, color screen, 20GB/40GB, and really a marvelous product. The A3000 would have been perfect last year, because then it trumped the 4G iPod. Now, it's archaic compared to those on the market.

[Ascariss]

You do know, though, that Best Lie and Futile Shop are the same company right?  I think everyone knows that by now though...  Their returns policies are also the same, from what I know.

But yeah the FS ppl are based on commission where as the Best Lie ppl aren't.  Then again you can walk into the latter and you pretty much have to put your TV on a cart yourself and wheel it to the checkout, whereas at FS someone will usually help you, lol.  My experience has been both extremes--at FS ppl help you out and try to get sales and sell you extended warranty etc.; Best Lie, ppl don't help you at all!

←

Yes, Best buy bought futureshop sadly, pity too, since this leaves a and b sound as the only large canadian independent electronics store, unless you count london drugs. Although I think an american firm did buy out A&B sound or I may be mistaken.

Oddly enough the FS near my house isn't that busy usually, so that is one reason why people there are eager to help, although not as much as the BB here. Doesn't matter, same snake body with 2 different heads.

[Richard_p]

Name the first 30GB player, offering all of the features the 5G iPod has, as well as the options iTunes has, at the size and price of the 5G.

Have fun trying to do that.

Yes the Ipod does have alot in it's favour i admit, but making existing tchnology smaller is not what i'd call a revolution, just a convenience enhancement (unless it ofcourse realises a whole new concept)

A 60GB 5G iPod, with 10x the space, color screen, photo and video functionality, and the great iTunes software, has the same amount of battery life as the A1000.

The A-1000 is not made to compete with the 60 GB Ipod, the £140 price gap shoul illustrate that nicely. The A-1000 is closer to ipod nano, at £20 less for 2gb more storage. Obvipously arguments can be made for both players less Flash Vs more HDD, Colour Vs Monochrome, A1000's better battery etc.

Which is why consumers won't even give it a second wink. Creative has managed to come up with a product that trumps the iPod, why can't Sony?

This i think tried to explain in my previous post of what i think sony are aiming for with thier current range. I'm not here to defend Sony, (believe it or not). just trying to logically account for their actions.

The PSP is great, but it's not an MP3 Player.

yes but the PSP does overlap markets, sony may have been catious and refrained from releasing an 'ultra DAP' with video playback hi res screen and decent battery life (no matter what it is being used for), for fear of damaging PSP sales, although clearly if this is the case then they have likely shot themselves in the foot by releasing a lacklustre line up of HDD Walkman, in relation to their competitors.

What troubles me is that Sony's computer division managed to create a product, that if released now, I would have said Sony could challenge the 5G iPod, that being the Vaio Pocket. It's beautiful, color screen, 20GB/40GB, and really a marvelous product. The A3000 would have been perfect last year, because then it trumped the 4G iPod. Now, it's archaic compared to those on the market.

Pure confusion, i love my VP (had it not fell of a desk ) and wish sony had developed it further rather than wiping it out.

However i do not think it could ever be a true Ipod competitor, yes it is an amzing item but i can't imagine it with the mainstream Ipod crowd, too bulky and looks which not everyone can aprreciate. Also i saw a 20gb one in a sonycentre two weeks ago with a price tag of £300!!, yes they are available for much less (my 40gb was £185) but if that was the price sony intended it's not difficult to see why it did not catch on, it is also worth noting that the VP is not MP3 cmpatible right out of the box. I think the vaio was aimed at the more mature market whilst ipod is clearly for the younger generation, (although i'm just 17 and would take a VP anyday over ipod).