We got a chance to peek Sony's succulent OLED Walkman way back at CES, but we've waited for what seems like forever to hold one in our supple paws without a booth attendant breathing down our neck. The model that arrived today on our doorstep is the 16GB NW-X1050 (or NWZ-X1050), which just launched in Japan last week. There's still no telling when this beauty will hit the US, but we can already guess that it'll cause some serious buzz when it does. We'll just come right out and say it: this is the best looking display on any PMP that we've ever seen. If you'll recall, Cowon's S9 also shipped with an OLED panel, but we've got to give the edge to Sony here. Also of note, we were never fans of the dark granite border in the press shots, but it's downright stunning in person. We're going to be hosting up a video walkthrough of the menus and such just as soon as it uploads (sigh) as well as some more thorough impressions in the coming days. For now, however, feel free to peruse the gallery below.
I managed to play with this at the various electronic stores when I was in Japan in April.
The Sony store guy let me try it with a bunch of different headphones, but the stock headphones are very high quality. They are basically the NC22 headphones without the noise cancelling piece as it's built in to the player.
Otherwise, the screen, navigation and everything else was absolutely smooth and perfect. This is the first touchscreen that feels Apple-like in it's navigation (I've used the P2 and some others). Even though I could not read any of the menus as they were all in Japanese, I had no issues trying out the video, web browser, tv tuner (JP only) and navigating around.
Build quality is fantastic, and it looks good (there is also a red version you can buy). I would have bought it right there, but there were no options for English so I had to wait.
Just because Amazon has middling reviews doesn't mean they're awful. Head-fi and other forums regard them as pretty decent (and one of the better noise cancelling phones), and they are at least a notch above the earbuds included with ipods for sure.
Yeah...how the hell is this $20 cheaper than the 32GB Cowon S9 on the amazon.uk site if this Sony is supposed to be even more expensive cuz it ships with premium headphones and Digital Noise Cancellation and Wi-Fi? I though it was supposed to be crazy expensive cuz of these feature? Anyways, till a company mashes the features and designs of both these bad-boys into one device...I might just stick with my cheap Sansa Fuze. When the HELL is the Zune HD comin out with that AMOLED Capacitive multi-touch and Wifi goodness? September? I don't think I can wait that long. Can they bump up the supported resolution for the OLED screen in future updates cuz this resolution is even smaller than the S9 and it also has a smaller screen size.Get back @ me
It does look like another PMP ..... All of the other Sony Walkman PMPs made in the past 2 or more years. Seriously, please take 1 minute to think before posting a comment.
@JohnWesleyHarding hate to have to agree with the iSheep, but the coverflow ripoff is indeed a ripoff of coverflow, and nothing even remotely similar has been on previous walkman ui's.
how much you want to be that simple usb cable(with special connector! is gonna be like 30+dollars. Im not getting trapped in sony' proprietary cabling shenanigans ever again. you are going to need one for office/travel...sigh
Yeah cuz that connection on the bottom of every ipod isn't a proprietary connection port... take off your blinders son.
The only reason why all PMPs don't use that fancy schmany ipod connection standard? because Apple won't let anyone else use it... they are fine with licensing the male connector ala docks etc, but just try to get a license to utilize the female connection that you find as the main port on all standard ipods.
At least the headphones with the Sony aren't proprietary... but then again, who the hell buys a shuffle anyway? so.... moot point...
how much you want to be that simple usb cable(with special connector! is gonna be like 30+dollars. Im not getting trapped in sony' proprietary cabling shenanigans ever again. you are going to need one for office/travel...sigh
I was wondering if it is a proprietary connector, it looks similar to the connectors on the ipods and given that Sony makes some ipod connected devices surely they wouldn't be as stupid to introduce a new one. I have a Sony NW-HD5 (last of their HDD players) it conveniently came with only a mini usb connector. It's good as it's easy to hook up to the computer and I can plug it easily into my PS3.
This thing can't touch the iPod Touch, Sony doesn't have an app store and OSX is more responsive. I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't sell well, because the market has determined that iPods are the best MP3 player in the market today.
You've got it wrong. "Market determined" 20 years ago that the best portable music playr in the market was Sony Walkman :-) Besides, some people just need a PMP, not an app store or a castrated OSX.
Noise cancellation in the unit is nice, but a little odd. If the microphone on the device, and the device is in your pocket, it won't be able to cancel noise as well. On the other hand, combined with noise canceling headphones, this thing should just kick the crap out of environmental noise.
Sony noise-cancelling Walkmans have microphones on the earbuds. The noise-cancelling circuits are in the Walkman though, so you don't have the big block hanging off the earbud cord. The button on the side of the unit is probably to turn the noise-cancellation function on and off.
I used to have a noise-cancelling Walkman and it was amazing, but the function really sucks the battery, cutting the battery life almost in half. Plus, you couldn't hear cars coming so it was dangerous to leave on all the time. The one I had required you to go through the menu to shut off the noise-cancellation, and I always wished it had a button on the outside to turn it on and off. It's nice they included it on this unit.
This unit looks cool, but the menu is basically the same as current Walkmans but tweaked slightly for the touchscreen. That isn't a bad thing, but I don't know if it's worth the money to get this just for the fancy touchscreen... Im very curious to see more of it though.
This looks very interesting. Looks classy and combines the functionality of touch screen with the practicality of proper buttons. I hope the full review doesn't dwell on video, web browser and other gimmicky features, as all I'm after is a high end mp3 player that does music well and every thing else is secondary. The thing I'm worried about is how durable this will be, especially that screen. I would make sure I don't put it in the same pocket as coins and keys, but wont be carrying around it in a silly case, The ipods I have had handle wear pretty well, Even though they get scratched it happens evenly so doesn't look bad to me.
Is it me or when the reviewer turned the unit horizontal to show us what happens to the coverflow, it didn't even react? Looked like it was the same thing turned 90 degrees to me...?
@Darren Murph at 2:28 in the vid you hit the noise cancellation icon and an error message comes up. 10 seconds later you do the same thing again, are you a goldfish?
Also language barrier or not, one would assume you need the earphones plugged in, in order to access the noise cancellation menu?
@inside_machiine lol, you seem to have missed the point.
I've had the pleasure of owning several sony products through the years- and they ALL had propriety connectors(save for the headphones).
• sony handycam- propriety ac adaptor- no one else makes it, except shady companies. may damage product, cant know. sweet. i still cant charge the thing without buying a $90 charger, or $80 for just the ac adaptor cable. sweet x2
• p200 digital camera- propriety usb connector. of course i can just get a card reader. oh wait i HAD to get a card reader since the cable didnt follow me everywhere i went. awesome.
• clie ux40- lol, propriety everything. this one was more understandable due to the design, but the result was the same. ever seen the price of accessories when it was out? yikes.
So the difference is that only sony makes those propriety cables, unlike the ipod. add that to sony's knack for overcharging...get it now? If anything happens to the cables, pow, right in the pockets, with no other options.
thats just a situation i will not allow myself to get into again.
entiendo?
@andrewC
Sony does what it likes. Don't be suprised, sony intros new connectors all the time
Proprietary AC adaptors or chargers aren't really that unusual. I've got a Canon digital camera and it has a proprietary battery and charger. In laws have a Canon camcorder with a proprietary AC adaptor. My sister has a Panasonic camcorder and I'm pretty sure the AC adaptor is proprietary as well. You can't really single out Sony on the adaptor/battery area. I had a Sony camera as well, but it had a regular mini-USB connector. My Sony camcorder has a mini-USB connector, as well as a bunch of other standardized connectors (mini-HDMI and mini-component). So they're not quite as intent on using proprietary connectors as you're saying,
Yes, it'd be great if they used a regular mini/micro-USB connector, but face it, they know that whoever is willing to shell out cash for this OLED unit won't mind an extra bit of cash for a replacement connector.
WTH, am I the only one getting excited about the web browser feature ? they didn't even bother to talk about it in the video, simply briefly mention a youtube option of some sort !
I can't wait to see how the web browser and wifi capability goes... I think it will be the deciding factor for me
Seriously, are there any other DAP out there that feature a web browsing capability ? (excluding the apple ones)
Well guys, over here on Bestbuy.com, it's showing that the 16gb will be $299 and for the 32gb it will be $399. It is only pre-order right now, but I checked on the estimated arrival date through standard shipping, and it says 6/15-6/20/2009. My guess is that it will hit stores really soon, maybe even in this Sunday's Best buy Ad. Hopefully it does.
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posted May 4th 2009 4:35PM
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Thanks for show it with your flippers. I almost puked seeing it up close with the wore spot and smells disgusting.
I managed to play with this at the various electronic stores when I was in Japan in April.
The Sony store guy let me try it with a bunch of different headphones, but the stock headphones are very high quality. They are basically the NC22 headphones without the noise cancelling piece as it's built in to the player.
Otherwise, the screen, navigation and everything else was absolutely smooth and perfect. This is the first touchscreen that feels Apple-like in it's navigation (I've used the P2 and some others). Even though I could not read any of the menus as they were all in Japanese, I had no issues trying out the video, web browser, tv tuner (JP only) and navigating around.
Build quality is fantastic, and it looks good (there is also a red version you can buy). I would have bought it right there, but there were no options for English so I had to wait.
NC22 are awful earphones, perhaps you have them confused with something of a higher calibre.
Just because Amazon has middling reviews doesn't mean they're awful. Head-fi and other forums regard them as pretty decent (and one of the better noise cancelling phones), and they are at least a notch above the earbuds included with ipods for sure.
I *bought* the NC22. Instantly disappointing. Have you listened to any recent EX buds? Even the lowest-end sound better than NC22. Regards, tekdroid.
Yeah...how the hell is this $20 cheaper than the 32GB Cowon S9 on the amazon.uk site if this Sony is supposed to be even more expensive cuz it ships with premium headphones and Digital Noise Cancellation and Wi-Fi? I though it was supposed to be crazy expensive cuz of these feature? Anyways, till a company mashes the features and designs of both these bad-boys into one device...I might just stick with my cheap Sansa Fuze. When the HELL is the Zune HD comin out with that AMOLED Capacitive multi-touch and Wifi goodness? September? I don't think I can wait that long. Can they bump up the supported resolution for the OLED screen in future updates cuz this resolution is even smaller than the S9 and it also has a smaller screen size.Get back @ me
LAKERS in '09
It's cheaper because it only has 16 GB.
The S9 has much better format support... I guess that's worth a bit ;) At least to me..
Interface looks similar to another pmp...
ipod touch by any chance
It does look like another PMP ..... All of the other Sony Walkman PMPs made in the past 2 or more years. Seriously, please take 1 minute to think before posting a comment.
@JohnWesleyHarding
hate to have to agree with the iSheep, but the coverflow ripoff is indeed a ripoff of coverflow, and nothing even remotely similar has been on previous walkman ui's.
what is that i see, a proprietary connector?
Sale/Killed
how much you want to be that simple usb cable(with special connector! is gonna be like 30+dollars. Im not getting trapped in sony' proprietary cabling shenanigans ever again. you are going to need one for office/travel...sigh
boomsilent @ May 4th 2009 5:04PM
what is that i see, a proprietary connector?
Sale/Killed
....
Yeah cuz that connection on the bottom of every ipod isn't a proprietary connection port... take off your blinders son.
The only reason why all PMPs don't use that fancy schmany ipod connection standard? because Apple won't let anyone else use it... they are fine with licensing the male connector ala docks etc, but just try to get a license to utilize the female connection that you find as the main port on all standard ipods.
At least the headphones with the Sony aren't proprietary... but then again, who the hell buys a shuffle anyway? so.... moot point...
how much you want to be that simple usb cable(with special connector! is gonna be like 30+dollars. Im not getting trapped in sony' proprietary cabling shenanigans ever again. you are going to need one for office/travel...sigh
I was wondering if it is a proprietary connector, it looks similar to the connectors on the ipods and given that Sony makes some ipod connected devices surely they wouldn't be as stupid to introduce a new one. I have a Sony NW-HD5 (last of their HDD players) it conveniently came with only a mini usb connector. It's good as it's easy to hook up to the computer and I can plug it easily into my PS3.
This thing can't touch the iPod Touch, Sony doesn't have an app store and OSX is more responsive. I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't sell well, because the market has determined that iPods are the best MP3 player in the market today.
Hondas are also better than BMWs you know, cause the market says so.
You've got it wrong. "Market determined" 20 years ago that the best portable music playr in the market was Sony Walkman :-) Besides, some people just need a PMP, not an app store or a castrated OSX.
Noise cancellation in the unit is nice, but a little odd. If the microphone on the device, and the device is in your pocket, it won't be able to cancel noise as well. On the other hand, combined with noise canceling headphones, this thing should just kick the crap out of environmental noise.
Sony noise-cancelling Walkmans have microphones on the earbuds. The noise-cancelling circuits are in the Walkman though, so you don't have the big block hanging off the earbud cord. The button on the side of the unit is probably to turn the noise-cancellation function on and off.
I used to have a noise-cancelling Walkman and it was amazing, but the function really sucks the battery, cutting the battery life almost in half. Plus, you couldn't hear cars coming so it was dangerous to leave on all the time. The one I had required you to go through the menu to shut off the noise-cancellation, and I always wished it had a button on the outside to turn it on and off. It's nice they included it on this unit.
This unit looks cool, but the menu is basically the same as current Walkmans but tweaked slightly for the touchscreen. That isn't a bad thing, but I don't know if it's worth the money to get this just for the fancy touchscreen... Im very curious to see more of it though.
the microphones are on the earphones. :\
What the hell... didn't even bother to try the web browser? Seriously fail.
This looks very interesting. Looks classy and combines the functionality of touch screen with the practicality of proper buttons. I hope the full review doesn't dwell on video, web browser and other gimmicky features, as all I'm after is a high end mp3 player that does music well and every thing else is secondary.
The thing I'm worried about is how durable this will be, especially that screen. I would make sure I don't put it in the same pocket as coins and keys, but wont be carrying around it in a silly case, The ipods I have had handle wear pretty well, Even though they get scratched it happens evenly so doesn't look bad to me.
don't know about scratch resistance but oled screens have the copacity to flex so that shuoldn't be a problem
Is it me or when the reviewer turned the unit horizontal to show us what happens to the coverflow, it didn't even react? Looked like it was the same thing turned 90 degrees to me...?
Yea, the coverflow didn't reorient themselves when he flipped it horizontally nor did the video when he flipped it vertically. WTH?
@Darren Murph
at 2:28 in the vid you hit the noise cancellation icon and an error message comes up. 10 seconds later you do the same thing again, are you a goldfish?
Also language barrier or not, one would assume you need the earphones plugged in, in order to access the noise cancellation menu?
@inside_machiine
lol, you seem to have missed the point.
I've had the pleasure of owning several sony products through the years- and they ALL had propriety connectors(save for the headphones).
• sony handycam- propriety ac adaptor- no one else makes it, except shady companies. may damage product, cant know. sweet. i still cant charge the thing without buying a $90 charger, or $80 for just the ac adaptor cable. sweet x2
• p200 digital camera- propriety usb connector. of course i can just get a card reader. oh wait i HAD to get a card reader since the cable didnt follow me everywhere i went. awesome.
• clie ux40- lol, propriety everything. this one was more understandable due to the design, but the result was the same. ever seen the price of accessories when it was out? yikes.
So the difference is that only sony makes those propriety cables, unlike the ipod. add that to sony's knack for overcharging...get it now? If anything happens to the cables, pow, right in the pockets, with no other options.
thats just a situation i will not allow myself to get into again.
entiendo?
@andrewC
Sony does what it likes. Don't be suprised, sony intros new connectors all the time
Proprietary AC adaptors or chargers aren't really that unusual. I've got a Canon digital camera and it has a proprietary battery and charger. In laws have a Canon camcorder with a proprietary AC adaptor. My sister has a Panasonic camcorder and I'm pretty sure the AC adaptor is proprietary as well. You can't really single out Sony on the adaptor/battery area. I had a Sony camera as well, but it had a regular mini-USB connector. My Sony camcorder has a mini-USB connector, as well as a bunch of other standardized connectors (mini-HDMI and mini-component). So they're not quite as intent on using proprietary connectors as you're saying,
Yes, it'd be great if they used a regular mini/micro-USB connector, but face it, they know that whoever is willing to shell out cash for this OLED unit won't mind an extra bit of cash for a replacement connector.
Please. if you say that the screen is better than the S9 (I have the 16Gig) at least put some images that make them justice.
For what I see it just appears as a cheapo LCD not a gorgeus OLED.
Cowon S9 3.3" 480x272 , accept 704x400 xvid files (I haven't tried anything higher so I don't know the actual limit)
APE, Flac files (lossless audio) at any insane preset you want.
Sony OLED Walkman = Fail
iTouch? What's that? a PMP wannabe toy for wannabe audiophiles?
hahahahahha...
You are gonna figure out the quality of the screen by looking at its pictures on your computer screen !!!
ROFL !!!!!!!!!
Forgot:
I'm drooling for the next S9 successor...
4.3" 800x480? Would be sweet
h264/mkv with ass subtitles support? Major pownage or a heart attack for me.
WTH, am I the only one getting excited about the web browser feature ?
they didn't even bother to talk about it in the video, simply briefly mention a youtube option of some sort !
I can't wait to see how the web browser and wifi capability goes... I think it will be the deciding factor for me
Seriously, are there any other DAP out there that feature a web browsing capability ? (excluding the apple ones)
And this can't be made into a phone...why?
Would be a sexy alternative to the iPhone.
Yeah, why can't this be a phone. It would put iphone to shame.
nice video. i would have liked to see the browser demo. there is a browser with a wifi connexion in there, right ?
Well guys, over here on Bestbuy.com, it's showing that the 16gb will be $299 and for the 32gb it will be $399. It is only pre-order right now, but I checked on the estimated arrival date through standard shipping, and it says 6/15-6/20/2009. My guess is that it will hit stores really soon, maybe even in this Sunday's Best buy Ad. Hopefully it does.