Live in U.S., How to Work Sony NW-A3000?

[AMBckb]

A friend who lives in Japan, sent me a Sony NW-A3000 Walkman, as I broke the U.S. version one I owned-- NW-A1200. I live in Chicago, IL.

I had SonicStage on my computer (Windows XP) to use with my U.S. version Walkman. I tried using it with the NW-A3000, but I keep getting a message on the computer:

***************

Non-U.S. Access

It appears that your computer is currently accessing Connect from outside the United States. Due to licensing restrictions, music on Connect is not available for download from outside the United States.

***************

I do not want to use the "Connect" disk that came with the Japanese NW-A3000, as I have read the horror stories... I want to keep SoundStage.

Is there anyway I can use the Japanese Version here in the States? How do I go about it? Thanks!

Edited November 19, 2006 by AMBckb

[aznbro85]

Hey AMBckb,

Welcome to ATRACLife Colloquium.. i hope you enjoy your stay here.

Did your friend send you a used NW-A3000, or did they send you one that was new in box? Have you also tried to initialize the player? (Settings => Initialize Disk)

I too live in the US, and I have two NW-A3000s, one of which was from Japan, and one of which was from Hong Kong, and I had no problem authorizing both devices and putting them on my connect account.

But yeah, try to initialize the player and when you plug it in after you open up Sonicstage, it should ask you to authorize your player onto the connect service

[MDX-400]

I thought the connect website detects your country via your IP information though... It shouldn't have anything to do with what version your SS is from, right? Well you can't use Connect with SS, without the US version of SS with the Connect Store stuff installed. However just accessing the website I think it takes your IP information and determines where you live via that.

Could be their IP lookup isn't working right or that your internet service provider is somehow going through another country (Canada maybe?) somewhere along the way? Unlikely, but just a guess.

First ensure you have the US SS with Connect Store installed and try again. If you get the same message contact Connect tech support and tell them you're in the US but you still get that message, see if they can fix it or give you a workaround.

[AMBckb]

Hey AMBckb,

Welcome to ATRACLife Colloquium.. i hope you enjoy your stay here.

Did your friend send you a used NW-A3000, or did they send you one that was new in box? Have you also tried to initialize the player? (Settings => Initialize Disk)

I too live in the US, and I have two NW-A3000s, one of which was from Japan, and one of which was from Hong Kong, and I had no problem authorizing both devices and putting them on my connect account.

But yeah, try to initialize the player and when you plug it in after you open up Sonicstage, it should ask you to authorize your player onto the connect service

They sent me a new one in the box, never used. I will try to initialize the player, but when it asks me to authorize my player onto the Connect service-- what do I tell it then?

[MDX-400]

but when it asks me to authorize my player onto the Connect service-- what do I tell it then?

Tell it yes, authorise!

[AMBckb]

Tell it yes, authorise!

I'll keep both of you updated on the progress. I truly appreciate your time and help with this! Thank you!

[aznbro85]

They sent me a new one in the box, never used. I will try to initialize the player, but when it asks me to authorize my player onto the Connect service-- what do I tell it then?

Hey AMBckb,

When it tells you to authorize, like MDX-400 said, authorize it! It'll open up the "Connect" website within SonicStage, where you create an account (all is needed is a valid e-mail address and a password), and then once the computer and NW-A3000 is authorized, you can use it on up to 5 computers, and purchase music off of the Connect Website if you ever choose to.. lol

When you had your NW-A1200, you never authorized it?

And on a semi-off topic, how'd you break your NW-A1200?

[AMBckb]

Hey AMBckb,

When it tells you to authorize, like MDX-400 said, authorize it! It'll open up the "Connect" website within SonicStage, where you create an account (all is needed is a valid e-mail address and a password), and then once the computer and NW-A3000 is authorized, you can use it on up to 5 computers, and purchase music off of the Connect Website if you ever choose to.. lol

When you had your NW-A1200, you never authorized it?

And on a semi-off topic, how'd you break your NW-A1200?

My boyfriend, who also has an NW-A1200, tried to hook it up for me via the computer. He forgot to authorize it.....

I broke my NW-A1200 by simply dropping it when I got out of my car. It comes on, but I can't get past the "Every moment has its music" screen and it stays stuck on that, and won't turn off. I have to do a "reset" to turn it off.

I haven't had a spare minute to try what you guys said-- as soon as I do, I will notify. I truly appreciate your helping me! I would hate to have to sell this on eBay.....

Oh, I forgot to ask... What if I don't want to use CONNECT and stick with SoundStage? Or are they now one and the same?

Edited November 21, 2006 by AMBckb

[aznbro85]

My boyfriend, who also has an NW-A1200, tried to hook it up for me via the computer. He forgot to authorize it.....

I broke my NW-A1200 by simply dropping it when I got out of my car. It comes on, but I can't get past the "Every moment has its music" screen and it stays stuck on that, and won't turn off. I have to do a "reset" to turn it off.

I haven't had a spare minute to try what you guys said-- as soon as I do, I will notify. I truly appreciate your helping me! I would hate to have to sell this on eBay.....

Oh, I forgot to ask... What if I don't want to use CONNECT and stick with SoundStage? Or are they now one and the same?

Hey AMBckb,

sorry to hear about the end to your NW-A1200.. May it rest in piece...

It's not soundstage, it's Sonicstage

And it's perfectly fine to stick with SonicStage. I'd recommend upgrading it to the newest version, version 4.2 though.

And your confusion is very understandable...

SonicStage CP => Jukebox/ Music transfer service to all past & present Network Walkmans

Connect Player (CP) => new Jukebox/Music transfer service that was released with the A-Series walkman, not compatible with any of the older network walkmans (no support for Net/Hi-NetMD, Memory Stick Walkmans, E-Series, S-Series, etc)

Connect Music Service => [http://www.connect.com] The website for USA in which you authorize your music player, as well as purchase digital tracks that are in ATRAC Format that are compatible with your Network Walkmans

hope that clarified things slightly for you. But yeah, you do NOT need to use Connect Player in order to use your new NW-A3000. SonicStage WILL WORK with it!