Firmware update for NW Exxx models?

[wichi]

Does anyone know if and when there'll be a new firmware update for the NW Exxx? Version 2.00 is already on the player.

I had the A-1000 for a while and I think that the intelligent shuffle (star rating) or top 100 songs played are a really good idea, which I'd very much appreciate on the flash walkman, plus other little gadgets that firmware update sometimes give us!!

[imagine_]

I would definitely like to see this as well for the first gen NW-E4/5x... Nobody confirmed whether it was a chip limitation or not. Could someone from sony confirm this? It would be great to have at least some of the intelligent features (e.g. star rating system) on the older models if they really can't get the artist link on there.

If they could, that would be great, because it would let the older customers be happy with their product so they will buy sony again in the future! (It won't really limit the sale of the newer models, because only intelligent shuffle is not the main selling point anymore).

[Ascariss]

It might be a chip limitation but I am not sure but it might have to do with the fact that new units have been released to replace the E series, well the 400 and 500 ones at least, and 600 actually. best thing to do is find out what chipset the units have and see what they are capable of.

[cauldron]

Isn't this more about what Sony is willing to offer to earlier customers, and not what the chipset is capable of?

I recall reading somewhere that the VME chip is identical from the MS70D through to the E4/500, engineers just loaded different software onto it for different model.

The E00x effectively replaces the E10x and E30x as the lower-end Walkman, that's probably why it doesn't have those intelligent features. The A60x replaced the E50x (i.e. E50x was discontinued when A60x launched), and the S70x concept-wise can be seen as an A60x replacement.

[Ascariss]

Isn't this more about what Sony is willing to offer to earlier customers, and not what the chipset is capable of?

I recall reading somewhere that the VME chip is identical from the MS70D through to the E4/500, engineers just loaded different software onto it for different model.

The E00x effectively replaces the E10x and E30x as the lower-end Walkman, that's probably why it doesn't have those intelligent features. The A60x replaced the E50x (i.e. E50x was discontinued when A60x launched), and the S70x concept-wise can be seen as an A60x replacement.

I am sure that is what sony wanted, but once the E00's came in 512, 1, and 2 gig formats, all others were gone from the sony canada site.

[cauldron]

Doesn't that have more to do with Sony's inability/reluctance to properly market MP3 players in North America? It's like they think even if they win this battle, they're losing the war on a whole anyway. They probably think they don't have the right products for a Bravia-esque "product blitz".