More on Sony's NW-HD5 Network Walkman

Still no official announcement from Sony, but a few more details have turned up about Sony's new 20GB NW-HD5 Network Walkman courtesy of TeddyTheBear (hey, that's what the site's called, ok?). This is unconfirmed, but supposedly it's going to be both smaller and lighter than the 20GB iPod (55.9 x 89.3 x 14.4mm and 126 grams vs. 104 x 61 x 14mm and 158 grams), and is also said to have a battery life of 40 hours (running on low bitrate ATRAC3 files, no doubt), special G-sensor technology to help prevent damage to the hard drive should you drop the player, support for playback of ATRAC3, MP3, WMA, and WAV files, a 1.5-inch LCD screen that can switch orientation, and a replaceable battery.

[jeremy barr @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Ok great it runs WMA, but sony have said that in the past, but secretly meaning Sonic Stage supports WMA to then convert it to Atrac3 shit.

Does it nativly play WMA?

[Yosh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Dammit. I just bought the HD3 in January.
How much do 4 month old HD3's go for on eBay?
Excellent condition A++++++

lol.. seriously. Anyone know?

I cant resist Sony's HD5

[Totalfixation @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

this does seem to sound good, but again with my other comment before about this, i just dont think its capable of taking apple shares. apple has already had the head start, and it has alot of third party products available. Im only guessing now the only way to win this is to have more features then playing music. FM radio, movie player, bluetooth? its has to offer more in order to get more(market share).

[Awesom-o @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

It's kind of ugly... Though it's features sound decent. And yes, I know it's not all about fasion or whatever. I was just saying. Their first one looks a lot better.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I dunno.... what really distinguishs this from a dozen anonymous hd players (besides the size)? Don't get me wrong, I like Sony stuff, and I'm waiting for them to bring out a really decent player.
But this almost looks to me like they've just rebadged something made by some other OEM.. not neccessarily bad, but not the amazing thing I'm expecting from Sony...

[Haydur @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

It looks more "functional" than the iPod and I like the orientation changeability feature.

But you forgot one feature... it can download songs from the iTMS via SharpMusique.

[Shmee150 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I sold my HD3 on eBay this evening ;) Perfect timing, and I got �200 for it. NOt bad when they standard are �230 new in the shops. This was one from UK release day back in early December.

If Sony made an MP3 player that was compatible with Windows Media Player, nothing would stand in their way... ever...

ShMeE

[Tomas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

We need official specs.. comon SONY!

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Am I the only person who often operates my music player while not looking at it, sometimes through a jacket or pants pocket?

How come Apple's is the only interface that works really well for this?

[Dralt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

That looks really good. I prefer it to the iPod.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

What, have you tried it with every player, Paul? I find my iRiver H120 easier for in-pocket playing than the iPod...

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Ok, Sony's basically on the right track with some of these specs. Replaceable battery, 40 hour battery life, smaller and lighter than the iPod, hard drive protection, all great. These are significant features that improve upon the iPod. (Sorry, FM radio, ogg support, and half the other things I see people asking for around here are not significant - these things listed here, though, are things even *iPod* users have been asking for.)

Sony's halfway there. Now if they could just figure out both a hardware and a software interface that works, they'd really have something - how are you supposed to navigate this thing with *buttons*?? And I've already complained as much as I need to about SonicStage - I don't think I need to say more.

Sony's getting closer, though. It seems like they know what they need to do. But they're still a generation or two away from really getting the whole experience right.

[Dralt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Jeff,

"buttons" have been used for years with great success in all kind of devices, some of which you still use today.

Besides, if they were to use anything that looks like a wheel, Apple's lawyers would sue them and Apple's zealots would call it a rip-off.

[Dan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

The orientation toggle seems like a really stupid feature. It's something only a guy in Sony's marketing department would care about. I highly doubt any iPod owner has ever said "man, it would be killer if I could turn this thing horizontally and use it."

Sony, please concentrate on features people obviously care about. Form factor, price, capacity, etc.

[semi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

i suspect apple will be the first in mp3 market to release a touchscreen ipod,

then if anyone makes a touchscreen mp3 player all the apple fans will say its "ipodish"

will it ever END?!?!?!?!!??!!??!

[Kevin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I have to admit that the red one is very cool-looking.

[BenWang @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I really would like to know if this thing has a cradle.

[bazald @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

#12, Dralt - Instead, Apple zealot insult it for *not* using something that looks like a wheel. Go fig...

[Jim McLoad @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I'm sorry - But that has to be the ugliest player I have ever seen! The HD1 and HD3 look much better, as do all Sony's MD players. The buttons are just ugly. What was wrong with the disk shaped controller on previous models? It's just not up to Sony standards, in my opinion. But at least it's not white!!!

The specs look good. 40 hrs battery (removable), G sensor, size and weight.But how is the sound quality?? Lets hope they haven't comprimised sound quality for battery life.

The screen looks fine to me. I don't need a colour touch screen on a music player!! I would like a 40GB HDD and to be able to transfer and store (not view) photos directly from my pict bridge Digital Camera.

Better luck next time Sony. Maybe the HD7 will give me a reason to upgrage from my Gen 1 Creative Zen.

[Celebrity Poker @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I think AAC playback will be one of the features that will help propel another player into a top spot. I realize they can't do m4p but a lot of people have m4a files thanks to iTunes (like me) and can't switch over to something pretty intersting like this thing. Most geeks already have ipods and the batteries are starting to go, if you want to steal their market share put out something they can use with their old files.

[hoss @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Sick. Since my 3G Pod's battery is obviously already sucking and the hold button which I use tremendously (since the cheap remote broke LONG ago) is beginning to break, this could be my next HD player. Small and gimicky screen orientation is fine, but more importantly, 40hrs and removable battery. Blazaaah!

[Peter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Damn that thing is sexy. Features are right on too.

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

40hrs and removable battery is nice. iAudio M5L has 35hr battery but not removeable. However, this thing is FUGLY! And the sideways thing is only good if you can flip it for right/left hand users in horizontal mode. Oh btw to that guy who talked about touch screens, well Olympus already has everyone beat with the mRobe500.

[psdiao @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Have any of you tried the new SonicStage(version3.0), it's alot faster in loading, animation(can be turned off), and encoding, they've also altered the interfaces slightly and enhanced support for ID3 tags.

[jem @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

yo honestly its kicking, and it looks like it can hold its own, have u seen the flash based players from sony now? one looks like a squashed cherry and the other is goergous! i think its the e300 its the one that has 3 led lines in the player...sorta looks like a tampon but what a tampon! and Awesom-o and his buddies that think this is ugly? im guessing youre no brad pitt either, it will grow on u

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

SONY's new tampon shaped flash players are HIDEOUS!!! Cheap quality too.

[andy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

why do these things never come with a remote - i can see it has a port for one on sonys website - nice 3d display.
if they ship it with a remote a cradle and fontopia headphones then i might get one.
my netmd came with the cradle and remote and cost 90 quid - I need these accessories to make me upgrade ffs!

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Yet another perfectly nice portable that I might have considered buying, but which I have to instantly dismiss due to it's pathetic list of supported formats. Someone needs to tell the major manufacturers that there are actually newer, better formats than MP3 these days (I'm thinking of Ogg and AAC/M4A, though there are plenty of others).

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Yet another perfectly nice portable that I might have considered buying, but which I have to instantly dismiss due to it's pathetic list of supported formats. Someone needs to tell the major manufacturers that there are actually newer, better formats than MP3 these days (I'm thinking of Ogg and AAC/M4A, though there are plenty of others).

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

26. Posted Apr 7, 2005, 4:39 AM ET by Joe
SONY's new tampon shaped flash players are HIDEOUS!!! Cheap quality too.

your a complete idiot. my girlfriends tampoons look nothing like that picture. you might need to get an eye check or something. anyways, i like the features on it. much better then the original. sony always seems to suprise me with new things.

[Tampoon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

http://www.dapreview.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=137

Pictures of SONY's hideous and cheap quality flash players.

[Phil K @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I was initially going to get the iAudio MeL as it does ogg flac and everything that Sony refuses to do, also it doesnt restrict you as any Sony product does with the ridiculous over the top anti-copying stuff that Sony are obsessed with. However, I like this, and Cowon seem to be "doing a Sony" and over-pricing the M5L to a ridiculous extent and also not including stuff like the cradle and remote that were standard with the M3 predessessor.So I may well go for this - I dont care what the iPodders writing here think - this is a beaut. Ugly ? Not to people who open their eyes its not.....

[Phil K @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I wonder if the remote that was used for the nw-hd 1 and 3 would work on this ? I wonder if this does the kind of bookmarks for use with audiobooks ? (ie NOT just at the beginning of the track) does it come with a cradle ?

[Greg Martin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

With reference to the touch screen iPod, can I suggest it should be called the iProd?

Also, Sony would benefit from cool names instead of numbers and letters. How about instead of HD5, something like, "Sony sonyK" (pronounced sonic).

[snj-uk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I dont know about a cradle but the ports for the USB and charger are on the player itself. They are hidden with little tabs ala Mini Disc player style.

These things are really growing on me so ill be getting one as soon as they are out.

[snj-uk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

This is what I meant by the ports being on the player itself.

http://i6.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f1/34/9e_1_b.JPG

According to Sony Style UK these will ship "the middle of may"

[thearbiter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

if it retails for over $350 i hope it includes fm tuning, voice recorder, cheap remote (i heard hi-md remotes work perfectly with sony hdd players).

love the g-protection on the hd1 and the sound quality, battery life, love atrac3 but hate connect.com so i just buy real cd's from yourmusic.com for $5.99ea and transfer them with sonicstage, good looks, size. the hd1 is better than ipod. atrac3 @64kbps is better than mp3 @128kbps so i can twice as many songs on the same size hard drive w/o sacrificing quality.

the ipod's battery is 12hr (atrocious today). the hd5's battery is 40hrs (replacable!!!), rotating display, g-protection.

ipod is okay but it doesn't deserve all of the hype it gets.

[thearbiter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

if it retails for over $350 i hope it includes fm tuning, voice recorder, cheap remote (i heard hi-md remotes work perfectly with sony hdd players).

love the g-protection on the hd1 and the sound quality, battery life, love atrac3 but hate connect.com so i just buy real cd's from yourmusic.com for $5.99ea and transfer them with sonicstage, good looks, size. the hd1 is better than ipod. atrac3 @64kbps is better than mp3 @128kbps so i can twice as many songs on the same size hard drive w/o sacrificing quality.

the ipod's battery is 12hr (atrocious today). the hd5's battery is 40hrs (replacable!!!), rotating display, g-protection.

ipod is okay but it doesn't deserve all of the hype it gets.

[Jurgen Peper @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I would like to know whether the NW-HD5 has got a line-out jack besides the headphones jack. Thanks for answering. Jurgen Peper

[jonno @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

what remotes are available for the hd5?

[yfronts @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

The hd5 has one mini jack output but can be switched from headphones to line out in the menu

[yfronts @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

The hd5 has one mini jack output but can be switched from headphones to line out in the menu

[yfronts @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

The hd5 has one mini jack output but can be switched from headphones to line out in the menu