Will we see another version of Sonicstage?

[navsimpson]

So, even diehard Sony geeks like ourselves all generally agree - Sonicstage could be a heck of a lot better. Even though versions 4.2/4.3 saw a lot of improvements, particularly in the performance department, SS is lacklustre as an everyday jukebox player. One wonders if anyone at Sony has ever used iTunes or Windows Media Player 11.

So, the big question is - will Sony release another version of Sonicstage? Will it drop it entirely? Or will it replace it with something entirely new?

-Nav

[Zizone_]

I don't think it's should be drag-drop OR some software. But it should be, drag-drop AND some software; considering there are users who prefer drag-drop and those who prefer software.

I believe SonicStage will be replaced with the new software, because of general publics' views, whether they are biased or not.

Edited June 10, 2007 by Zizone

[Old skool D]

I don't think that Sony will replace SS, because they would have done so already, as I'm sure that they are aware of the negative perception of their software. I see improvements on the way.

[ceres]

I reckon we will see a unified software environment for walkman, psp and p3 and community services. Of course this takes some time but ultimately it´s the way to go.

Until this job is finished SS will see some improvements. I am sure of that. I listen to portable music 2-3 hrs per day and spend about 20 mins with music software. That kind of puts things into perspective.

While I really think that SS isn´t a good piece of software my usage pattern puts it into perspective.

[Guest Stuge]

Yes,I'm sure that we will see another version of SonicStage .As it is quite unstable in Vista .

[dutchtrance]

i hope we see another version, but please for the love f god, FIX THE MP4 TAGS!!!!

sony have to support industry standard m4a container format WITH apple tagging support that is written back to the file.

since sony do not support album import via folders (files in one folder are put together in the software) and use tagging, its vitally important that they do this.

the new sonic stage revision (because it is still buggy in vista) will support video for the video walkmans i think.

Edited June 10, 2007 by dutchtrance

[rocklegend_]

I pray to God we don´t see another version of Chronicstage.As much as SS 4.3 has improved it´s interface is awful and it just ain´t user friendly unlike WMP11 or iTunes which is my favorite of all the JukeBoxes and I don´t have an i(follow ever1 else)Pod.

I think Sony with their players will be drag and Drop compatible and those that wanna use Chronicstage will be able to do so if they chose.Also Sony gave us Image Converter in order to put Video on the new Walkman....they didn´t even try to make Chronicstage Video compatible.

Sonicstage is slow and clumbersome and I hate it....Sony should get the guys who originally created WinAmp to create a new Jukebox as they have nothing more to do with Winamp.

As long as Chronicstage is supplied with their walkman´s they just won´t sell but the one thing we know about Sony is that they are stubborn.

[bangraman]

In everything software-related that Sony has done to date, they've indicated an almost complete lack of 'joined-up-thinking' that even other non-Apple companies have started to pick up.

Quite apart from the fact that Sony have never been software masters, this problem also stems from an institutional thing within Sony. Departments frequently work against one another, not with. The right hand doesn't always talk ot the left, even in very high-profile projects. Despite the recent restructuring this hasn't changed much.

Product managers who are key in generating enthusiasm and feedback in product development often come across as mere workers, not people who believe in what they do with almost evangelical zeal as at Apple. Product managers are often the people who'll point out or think of something crucial that takes a product just that bit further into a real killer. It wasn't always like this, but the managers who built Sony in the 90's won't understand the current climate either. That's part of the reason for Walkman's stumble in the '00's - they had a mix of old-timers whose opinions were no longer relevant, and new people who comprehend the situation a little better but treat the whole thing as just a job. As for who they listen to, they have some excellent advisers and for marketing feedback.... Sony has quite the retinue. It's just that, well, how can I put it, it all gets lost in translation, and I'm not talking about the English-Japanese divide.

They still have some of the best engineers in the business and that's the only reason why Sony is still visible in the market but they're working with one hand tied behind their back, and I doubt that'll change anytime soon. And I doubt Chronicstage will suddenly morph either. Remember Connect? Eh? If it does, well colour me astonished and call me Betty. Sony, still, are the only ones *at the moment* capable of exceeding Apple's output by a comfortable margin if only they joined up their thinking on all fronts. Couple more years without severe change though and I'm fairly certain Samsung / iRiver will have overtaken Sony in every way - style, quality, and definitely platform usability.

[pata2001]

Well, I don't think SS will be updated anytime soon. Sony seems comfortable in just releasing 4.3 for Vista compatibility. Sony usually only release new version of SS if they release new devices. If Sony cannot make a decent software, then I hope the least they could do is to look at SE phones and PSP, where drag-n-drop works just fine. Or an easier route, bow to Steve Jobs and get iTunes to work with Sony DAPs.

[navsimpson]

Bangraman, I think that some sort of unification of the Playstation Network and Connect - even if that means a complete overhaul of Connect - is the way to go. 'Course, that doesn't mean anything, even if it makes sense - this is Sony after all.

I do wonder what will happen now that we know for certain that a PSP store is coming (Dave Karraker has said so explicitly now). It seems pretty unlikely that ATRAC will be used; but it also seems likely that DRM will still play a major role. So I think that a new Sony AAC-based DRM system is on the way. It seems like that could happen in the Walkman segment as well, but that could potentially make every model they've made up until now incompatible, unless they were willing to suck up the cost of a large firmware upgrade program for the NW-A800 and its contemporaries.

Personally, I think we might see one more stability upgrade for Sonicstage. After that though, if they've got any sense, it'll be done.

-Nav

[bangraman]

As I alluded to in a roundabout way, the way to go which appears logical to everyone else who actually uses their wares and the way that Sony goes is not always the same direction. We can but hope otherwise.

Chronicstage is not a bad tool for absolute beginners as I've said before, but the vast majority of people outgrow it's hand-holding, which is in reality only a mask for it's slowness and inefficiency, very quickly. It's not actually impossible to salvage it and to at least put it on a par with other library managers in terms of everyday usage, but it needs someone with a clear vision to lead the project... someone they don't seem to have at this time.