Sony support for SonicStage

[hikaritenchi]

So I searched a little, and probably not as much as I should have, but what I want to know is this:

Since Sony is stopping the CONNECT Music Store in the US and Canada, what will happen to the SonicStage software? Will I still have to use SS to get MP3's from my computer onto my NW-A3000? Or can I just use the 3rd party programs to transfer MP3 files?

I have a huge collection, and I was wondering if I should start importing my music library into SS or WMP, as Sony is moving towards some kind of Windows Media platform. Does that mean that eventually I can move MP3's directly from WMP to my NW-A3000? Unless there's a plugin or something I missed, I just tried synching some MP3's with WMP11 and it didn't work.

I guess the above boils down to these points:

1. Sony is stopping support for SS and ATRAC and moving towards MP3/Windows Media platform

2. How can I transfer music from my computer to my NW-A3000? (SWE, dMC, GYM)

3. Will WMP be able to transfer music to my player in the future? (probably, but only Sony can decide that)

Are my assumptions correct? What do you guys do with your music, now that SS is being dropped by the wayside? How do you guys deal with these issues? Again, sorry for not searching more extensively, but it's not in a sticky (as far as I can tell) and the only posts I've seen are the ones that simply confirm that ATRAC and SS are being abandoned.

If I ever go to Japan, I'd have to get Japanese Windows and use mora.jp, which uses SS, etc...(headache) lol... I guess I'll deal with that if/when I go there.

[juli_]

Sorry I can't help you with all your questions, but I do know that SonicStage will continue to be supported and updated for all ATRAC devices. I was concerned about this aspect myself - but there's no need to be as Sony have confirmed SS will continue.

The Connect store is closing but SS will still be there for all of us who need to use it with our devices.

And I'm sure your other questions will soon be answered by some of the more knowledgeable members

Edited October 17, 2007 by juli

[aob9]

By the time Sony drops SS entirely it will be time to invest in newer technology anyhow. They will support it for a while yet considering it is still available in Japan on newer models.

Your device will never be made compatible with WMP or any 'Drag and Drop' technology so I would concentrate on the 'If it isn't broke, don't fix it' ethos until you're otherwise forced to ( or decide to) re-invest.

I still use my NW-MS7 ( purchased in 2001). It only supports ATRAC3 and my MP3 files have to be converted in order to play them....an absolute dinosaur in modern terms, but it still works.

[Shinji Ikeda]

Sony seems to have moved away from SonicStage in markets outside of Japan. Sony still supports SonicStage and has released models identical in appearance with the NWZ-S610 and NWZ-S710 in Japan that requires SonicStage. MiniDisc is still sold in Japan, with new models (not frequently) being released. I think they stop supporting Beta only two years ago.

My advice is if you are using SonicStage 4.2 or above, to start importing your music is as MP3 or another format that is not ATRAC. Even though it would be slower, you can transcode to ATRAC later.

SonicStage will be available for some time into the future. Those outside of Japan seem to over state the death of SonicStage. If Sony replaces SonicStage with something, you will hear about in being released in Japan first.

[hikaritenchi]

Thanks everyone for your input. It's too bad to hear that. I love my NW-A3000 if for nothing else than the obscene battery life that it has.

I won't buy another Sony DAP product until they start coming out with bigger offerings, 20GB as a minimum. Before that happens, I'll continue to use my NW-A3000 until it dies. So just as a confirmation, I'm better off using SS with the player I have now. When I get another Sony DAP, whether in Japan or here, then I'll deal with it then.

The reason I ask about Japan is because I'm probably going there for a study abroad program next year, and would like to use mora.jp and the Japanese SS, which requires Japanese Windows.

I guess it's just a waiting game until March 2008 or whenever Sony stops CONNECT in NA.

[Shinji Ikeda]

My advice is if you are going to Japan or just planning to, is to wait. It will be to your advantage.

In other words wait until it has been decided when you will be going to Japan. This you can save more money.

[Avrin]

The most important thing is that SONY continues to keep the SonicStage authorization server running. Otherwise, even if we have complete installation files, we won't be able to use the program after reinstallation.