New Sony NW-HD3 Network Walkman supports MP3
posted November 30th 2004 8:14AM
You know how sometimes you bitch and bitch about how somebody should do something about but they never do? Well for
once Sony is actually doing what everyone has been telling them to do for months and is adding native support for MP3
playback to the NW-HD3, the new version of their 20GB Network Walkman (they're also adding four new colors: silver,
black, blue, and red). They'd been making some noise about doing this for a few months, and they wised up and realized
that if they actually wanted to sell any of these before Christmas they were going to have to join the rest of the
world and support MP3 on their digital audio players. We'd mumble something about supporting Ogg Vorbis next, but we
won't push our luck. One step at a time.
[Via I4U]
While this does look good, I am curious about two things: Can I easily upload and download songs to / from the player?
And, how about recording possibility? With all those growing podcasters out there, a sony would suit perfectly.
I was nearly buying a md sony (for radio broadcast recording for example) until realizing that you cannot easily upload it through usb to your pc (at least that was what it said everywhere).
So easy up-/download as I like and not restricted (=crippled) usages as they like it is a key reason to shop or not to shop.
Please provide more testing on that. :o)
Nicole
It looks as though this will require device drivers and custom management software. It won't be a simple USB Mass Storage device where you can just drag and drop files in either direction.
And the same goes for the iPod, the high end Creative players and probably every other player that supports WM10 and 'Plays for Sure' (groan).
So if you want something to bitch and bitch about, there it is. Get Bitchin'...
What's Ogg Vorbis? Why is it better than MP3?
wow. this is a loooong time coming. and i was about to buy an ipod. though i am still scarred by my experience with sony's first generation network memory stick walkman (NW-MS1). sony's history with good accompanying software (more important than you think) is quite spotty. their history with support for their devices is even spottier.
The player will ship with the latest SonicStage software (version 2.3). This allows easy management of MP3 and Sony's own ATRAC3plus format files to and from the NW-HD3.
SonicStage also integrates with Sony's Connect online music store.
In the time it took to type
"What's Ogg Vorbis? Why is it better than MP3?"
you could have typed
"define:ogg vorbis"
in Google and got this:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q=define%3Aogg+vorbis
We are on the Internet folks, use it! :)
Great news! Sony's player design, battery life and build quality are probably better than anyone elses. Pricing?
looks like the design of the screen and controls force you to use two hands on the player - bad industrial design - one handed controls is a must.
"It looks as though this will require device drivers and custom management software. It won't be a simple USB Mass Storage device where you can just drag and drop files in either direction.
And the same goes for the iPod, the high end Creative players and probably every other player that supports WM10 and 'Plays for Sure' (groan)."
Well, the thing is, iTunes actually works really well and people like it. I really think this is what Sony's continuing to overlook (as is Microsoft and anyone else trying to compete with Apple). I mean there are a lot of players out there now with interfaces on the hardware that are reasonably close to the iPod's, that cost less, get better battery life and support more formats than the iPod does. So why the heck does the iPod still have 92% market share? It's not all just name recognition - it's iTunes.
I'm about as up on current consumer technology as anybody - I don't just buy stuff based on the name, or because all my friends have the same thing, or whatever. But I'd still probably never consider any player besides the iPod. Why? Because I use iTunes, I like using iTunes, I have all sorts of custom playlists and whatnot set up, I have all four of my PC's networking off one iTunes server, I like the interface (the way it looks, how easy it is to use, the features it has), I like that it'll rip CD's to all my favorite formats (including FLAC), I mean I have no need nor do I have any desire to switch to something else. I've used WMP, I've used Real, I've tried all these other crappy programs that other companies use to sync. They're worthless compared to iTunes.
I would even rather use iTunes than drag and drop, because iTunes keeps things organized. When you've got 17GB worth of mp3's, just dumping them all on a hard drive does not make for an efficient playback experience. Large collections of music files really demand some sort of playlist-supporting syncing software, and iTunes is by far the best of any of them currently being supported by any of these players. One of these companies may wise up at some point and try to compete with Apple on the software side, but for now nobody's really close. There's hardware out there now that competes well with the iPod, but the hardware is only half of the iPod experience.
aha..ipod is dead! well, only if the sony goes a little cheaper now
damn why did i buy that 4th gen ipod just months agao?
so they finnaly support mp3 but now they have lost their whole holds 13000 songs and it is more expensive than an ipod, enjoy the extra eight hours of music and crappy interface
Wow...
mp3 is soooooo two years ago. How about at least WMA and / or Ogg Vorbis? Come on, Sony. You can do better than that
Very badass. I personally think sony's looks kill. I think a black Nw-hd3 looks way better than a glossy white ipod. Mp3 is all i wanted and i think i might finally get it if it comes to the states. 30 hr battery is incredible. I could care less about itunes, im gonna import my music and im done. its not like i will be using management software all day. and i use winamp to listen and create playlists, winamp is THE BEST. i didnt like havinig to scroll thru all my music in itunes, i prefer windows folder format, its superior if u have gigs and gigs of music and they are organized in folders.
Any word on if this will have mac support?
I was thinking of getting the hd3 but like you say the lack of plug and play and the copyright system has put me off. Anyone know how far the copyright will go? On windows media you cant play files off otehr people computers - will the sony software have a similar feature? i can live with not being able to upload but will i be able to play my music off p2p software and from my freinds? help!
When will it come out in stores?
Price?
I have just realised that Windows Media Player 10 will sync with my NW-MS9 - the really small network walkman out a few years ago - which just plays atrac. It will transfer MP3 to it but converts into WMA and obviously cannot convert to Atrac..
My question is whether the HD3 will be able to sync with Windows Media Player 10 because it doesnt need conversion to Atrac, and you can set the sync settings to just copy to device without converting to WMA..
also.. there were some questions concerning whether the HD3 will be plug and play. Yes it definitely will with XP - it will install in a minute and XP will smash open its little what do i do now window so you can open up folder view and look around the HD.. im sure of this, my memory stick 64mb NW-MS9 does it and that;s ancient and before Sony wised up to the present and stopped being so snooty and private about what file type your music is!!
You should all buy one! Smash that stupid white shit, it runs out of battery capability in a few weeks - seriously all my friends have them: more importantly you cant get a plane to Australia and listen to music all the way with an Ipod.
Regards
I've had the NW-HD3 for a few days now. It's tiny & cute, battery is great, but initially the SonicStage s/ware was *very* frustrating. It was crashing or hanging for no visible reason, but it looks like this was because the Sony was insufficiently charged. Now transferring is no problem. Still a bit slow though - I did have an iRiver H320 and that was at least twice as fast, and was drag'n'drop too, which the Sony isn't (for music - you can drag data but mp3 / atrac must go via SonicStage).
Also I now get 'can't find rights info' or somesuch every now & then, which was never an issue with the H320.
For some reason the internal EQ is restricted to bass / treble adjustment with mp3 - but with atrac you get five-band adjustment plus access to their surround dsp gizmo. Probably jive, but unjustifiably proprietry and obtuse.
The max volume is lacking too - on the H320 you can really party but the Sony remains polite, which isn't enough on a train, or a busy street.
However, the sony is *soo* tiny & sexy.
So there you have it - almost everything sucks on the HD3, but it's redeeming quality is actually very redeeming. Sound quality is very good too. If you just want music, don't need the drag'n'drop flexibility, and aren't as deaf as I am, the Sony's great. I may keep mine yet.
I've just bought the HD3 for looks & battery life but cannot transfer music from my PC w.media 10. Have synced the files but that's all. Am I being thick here??
Think the new sony is much better than the ipod especially in looks and battery life only thing it could be a bit cheaper and has anyone managed to get it to sync with wmp10 or managed to transfer files without using the sony software
I think that Ogg Vorbis might be available on the next sony 20 gig player, because their mini dv walkmans support a 12 bit audio format (i dont know if its ogg vorbis or some other shit they made up, but its suppose to be cd quality)
The nw-hd3 looks better than the ipod to me, its smaller, longer battery life, in atrac it can hold more music that the 40 gig ipod in. Everyones talking shit about atrac but its not that bad, sure sonic stage is annoying as hell but you can deal with it, i do with my hi-md. just import all your files to sonic stage and convert them over night. You'll probably struggle but you'll figure it out. I just wish that you could use windows media player to convert to atrac and transfer to player. I want one.
Someone said something about you need to use two hands to use it. I dont think so since its the size of deck of cards.
Even though i deal with sonic stage I REALLY REALLY WANT THEM TO MAKE BETTER SOFTWARE Sony please stop being retarted by making great hardware with terrible software
They should also allow you to make shortcuts to songs so that you dont have to put a song on there twice to put it in two different playlist, i dont know if you can do that on the nw-hd3 or not but you cant with the hi-md
I decided to get a sony, instead of an ipod, because everyone and their grandmother has one, plus everyone said the battery life was poor, and with using it constantly the battery will last less and less.
I did have a sony mini disc before and was loved it.
Someone said you need two hands to control it, you don't you only need one, because all of the buttons are all together.
I've had an silver HD-NW3 for 1 month now and wish i'd bought a black one, but i'm satisfied with it, only wish the software was better, but you get used to it.
To sound is great, as is with all Sonys, you can reduce the bit rate to about 64, in mp3 format, its still good.
I got myy daughters ipods for christmas and subsequently loaded all their music on to my laptop using iTunes. Then I decided I wanted one so I loaded all my music in the same library (took ages). Just before I bought the iPod for myself, I saw the new Sony and decided to go for that instead.
My question to all you clever people is, How can I get all the music from the iTunes folder in to my Sony. I assume with the iPod being in AAC format, I will have to re-load all my music but I don't really want to. Any ideas greatly appreciated.
I'm interested in buying the Sony NW-HD3, but there's a few bits of vital review info I can't seem to find anywhere. Music organisation is very important to me (having as many files as I do), and I read somewhere that the files in the NW-HD3 arn't actually organised in any way but the order in which you have transferred them (not alphabetical, in music genre etc.), which I think would cause many customers nightmares in terms of locating tracks, and is a major plus-side to the iPod. Also, is the famous "Shuffle" option available on the Sony, or do you have to select each song when the previous ends, or does it play them in the order they are organised in? Is the rocker wheel a pain-in-the-nether regions to use when scrolling through all files, in comparison to the easy-scroll iPod wheel? Verdicts anyone?
i brought the NW-HD3 in January, ten days later is stopped working, thinking this may have been an issue with that one device i exchanged it for another and have used it regularly for a few weeks now - but today this one has also stopped working. Just tries to boot up and then stops at the walkman logo - another trip back to the shop after work today - not impressed and will hopefully change it for another make / model - has anyone else had this issue.
I've had the same problem with the NW-HD3. I've had mine about 3 weeks and used it daily. Overall it was excellent, but when I came to switch on the player yesterday it wouldn't work.. for no apparent reason. There's power to the device since the walkman logo appears and the hold sign flashes. The menus however never appear and the device also no longer connects to the PC. It looks as though the hard drive has failed. I'm getting it replaced, but not impressed. Could this be a common problem?
After looking over the market for a good while I finally decided to purchase the sony HD3 for numerous reasons.
1. Battery Life- With a 30h batery life (replaceable battery also) as opposed to the 12h ipod the sony stands 6h clear of its nearest rival.
2. Sonic stage 2.3
Although I never though id say this, Im actually quite impressed with this software, its relativly quick, and takes up little system resources. (Major improvement on SS1.7)
3. Style? IMO the ipod now looks dated, and the incoming ipod photo is little more than a overpriced joke, designed to target the uninformed consumer. In contrast to this the sony represents one of the smallest players of its size on the market, and is really only rivaled by the (much smaller) Rio Carbon for style.
There are however certain con's
1.LACK OF JOG DIAL SUPPLIED
I do not understand this, does anyone know where I can source one from?
2.Atrac3...meeeh
In conclusion I think this is a very, very solid player and a worthy investment over the now dying market phenomen that is the ipod.
re: Lack of jog dial
people are saying that the Sony RM-MC40ELK remote control works perfectly well, and i've even seen it on sights saying it is compatible.
Not quite a jog dial but perhaps close enough for you.
I have a similar problem - I got my NW HD3 for christmas and its been working fine since, then I tried to turn it on and the normal logo came up, then it just froze and turned off again! No menu screen, won't connect to computer. How irritating! I think this requires an angry trip back to the shop for a replacement
I've had the nw-hd1 for around 6 months.Great player!! no problems to date.I bought the mc40elk remote off ebay for around 50.Also (as with most Sony stuff) top quality.I can get along with sonic stage and do not have the need for mp3 as atrac is good and a lot smaller in size.If you take a little time then the effort is well worth while .So far have 43 albums and around 300 singles on my player and loads of HD space left.You can also take of the sound cap by pressing a few buttons,this gains around 20% on the sound volume,just search on yahoo for EC sound cap code(for your nw)
All in all an I pod beater!!
i am surrounded by the NW-HD3's at work as i have the joy of fixing them
there are some major technical problems with them and one of the things being that if you it freezes on startup this is because the HDD cable has come loose or wasnt even attached in the first place
personally after seeing so many i wouldnt buy one
Atrac3Plus at 64kbps beats MP3 at 128 kbps! The proof is in a blind test! Imagine, you can store your files at at an Atrack3Plus 64kbps and get the quality of a MP3 128kbps size file... even slightly better!
http://www.sony.net/Products/ATRAC3/tech/lab/TESTfactory_Listening_test.pdf
http://www.minidisc.org/keep/TESTfactory_Listening_test.pdf
SONY Quality - NW-HD3 Made in Japan! Not Commie slave & child labor camp China like some others that we all know of!
ok, whose had it since it came out and havent had problems with it?
im thinking of getting one but im gonna have to have more detailed info.
whats with this not being able to play some stuff cos of some copyright thing, does this mean you have to buy every song?
Since its a long time someone posted has some of the cons been fixed?
In response to donkononji.
No problems so far. I have no troubles playing anything on this player and have no trouble with the software either. However any music you do buy will have DRM on it which will block you from using the music on any player other than the one that site is selling. iPod-iTunes, Connect-Sony, Napster- Plays for sure etc. etc. Any music you have copied off the net in mp3 format will transfer, also anything off cd. The way around the DRM on music sites is to make a copy of your music in .wav format, on cd for example then copy it back into Sonicstage, and it will transfer no problem.
You can ONLY use SonicStage to transfer music to the player. This is not a problem if all you want to do is listen to your music on your player. This is an excellent player with a simple interface, excellent sound, and great build quality. What else do you need?
ROTFL... another proprietary crap player with lots of artificially created hype... are you people all morons or what?
Why would you buy any device (this crap, ipod, or any other 'digital rights management' protected crap device)? Buy something that can be used for simple dragging and dropping music files in your choice of format - be it mp3, ogg, wav or whatever. Don't buy devices that will limit you to only the formats the corporation is promoting (Sony - ATRAC, Microsoft = Windows Media, etc etc...), and first of all - don't buy any so-called 'right management' devices! The DRM (digital rights management) is not here to help you with anything, it is to LIMIT you from copying your music from one device to another!
Geez, get brains somewhere instead of player, by buying such DRM-protected crappy players yoy are contributing to limiting your own freedom, dont you get it?
The SonicStage software is sooooooooooooooooooo slow. Takes ages to respond and even longer to transfer tracks.
The unit's random play is not quite what one expects. Yes it's random but with no regard for what it has already played so you'll find it playing the same track 2 or 3 times even though there's another 300 it hasn't played yet.
Whilst the hardware is good, the software on both the unit and SonicStage is nothing better than poor.
I bought the nw hd3 a couple of months ago and the battery lasts only about 4 hours (at the most) what the hell is up with that?