Sony's OLED Walkman priced in the US... sort of

We wouldn't carve this in stone quite yet, but we'd say that points-to-dollars conversion from Sony's official 'Rewards' site is pretty legitimate. The outfit's highly anticipated OLED Walkman, which we had the pleasure of toying with earlier this week, is now listed in 16GB and 32GB forms at SonyRewards. While no ship date is given, we are told that the smaller of the two will run members 29,995 points, while the larger one demands an extra 10,000. For those who only speak real currency (you know, like Schrute Bucks), that translates to $299.95 and $399.95, respectively. Furthermore, the first official OLED Walkman accessories have popped up, proving that a leather case / kickstand, clear screen protector and a hard plastic shell will be made available. Oh, and Sony -- any moment now would be great for a confirmation.

[Via SonyInsider]

Read - 16GB OLED Walkman
Read - 32GB OLED Walkman

[Amrosorma @ May 7th 2009 2:05PM]

This the first OLED MP3 player I'd be interested in getting. But ouch...that price.

[CleverEndeavor @ May 7th 2009 2:10PM]

yeah, its too high, a zune, then?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ May 7th 2009 2:47PM]

Yeah, now that Sony will finally sell a DAP that supports the oh-so-high-tech oh-so-modern mp3 format.

[splx @ May 7th 2009 3:06PM]

Cowon S9 is also OLED and it's already in the market.

[tobz1000 @ May 7th 2009 3:08PM]

UnixSystemsEngineer: I hope that was an informed mocking.

[John Doe @ May 7th 2009 4:20PM]

I bought a 4gb iriver clix2 with AMOLED display 2 years back for $200, so spending $300 for a device much more advanced than clix2 won't hurt.

[Karn Eggie @ May 7th 2009 2:07PM]

oops about 100$ off as usual. but if they fixed the play back resolution it would be a pretty great deal.

i like competition, brings out the best!

MORE OLED!♠

[Karn Eggie @ May 7th 2009 2:09PM]

edit: video playback resolution

and add support for popular lossless.

easy firmware update, could even do it before it ships out here.

[Quantumphysics @ May 7th 2009 2:12PM]

I feel so bad for these companies making DAP's nowadays who have to compete with iPod.

iPod has web access, skype, youtube, simple to download games, simple to update games, AOL IM, Facebook, Myspace, google maps, stocks, clocks, alarms, and a bunch of other stuff for alot less than this by comparison.

Apple OWNS the DAP market.

[Jorvay @ May 7th 2009 2:21PM]

Maybe so, but there will always be a good-sized niche that is more interested in sound and video quality than in features. For those people, this thing delivers big time.

[bandigolo @ May 7th 2009 2:27PM]

iTunes fucking blows

[CleverEndeavor @ May 7th 2009 2:35PM]

@ original poster,

The Zune is better.
you get more bang for your buck (Zune 120 vs ipod Clasic). And the (rumored) Zune HD should be coming soon, which will have all of those features that you listed.

[thisisit @ May 7th 2009 2:44PM]

ZUNESOFTWARERULEZZ!!!

[iamnotafish @ May 7th 2009 3:09PM]

Is there a way to get the Zune to work through iTunes? For no other reason than my stuff is all set up with iTunes and I don't want to have to migrate to a new set up.

[chefgon_ign @ May 7th 2009 5:45PM]

And the amusing thing is, absolutely none of the things you listed aid in the playing of digital audio. Do you even know what DAP stands for?

[Quikboy @ May 7th 2009 6:51PM]

My computer can do all that for me. I think a lot of people are content with just playing media on their DAP.

I don't even use some of that crap you mentioned.

[utahnkid @ May 7th 2009 7:07PM]

CleverEndeavor - Now remind us all why you're mentioning the iPod classic in this thread?? The product in question obviously competes with the Touch, and while I personally think the iPod Classic is in every way superior to any Zune, I'll admit that's simply my opinion and at least open for debate. The iPod Touch's superiority on the other hand, is unquestionable. NO (current) Zune even comes close to the usability and functionality the Touch offers in ANY category. Period. The only chance this Sony Walkman had was coming in at a significantly lower price point and competing on affordability. Pricing it this high basically guarantees it's failure before it ever had a chance.

I know it's the "cool" thing to shit on anything Apple at Engadget but come on, you're just as delusional as a rabid Apple fanboy who thinks they never make a mistake if you can't ever admit their successes. I guess it's natural human instinct to "take sides" like we're following our favorite sports teams but that kind of thinking doesn't really mesh well with electronics. Every one of these companies are out to make the most amount of money possible and they ALL have their hits and misses. All I can say is that if any of you are sticking with, or away from, any particular product just because it comes from a certain brand, you're really missing out on some great stuff and using some pretty horrible products.

[hd72 @ May 7th 2009 9:10PM]

The Walkman will NOT be competing with the current iPod Touch and iPhone, it will be competing with the next models released this summer -- and only Apple knows what those new features will be... I like the sound of "iPhone HD" ;)

[CleverEndeavor @ May 7th 2009 9:11PM]

@ utahnkid:
Cnet.com is one of apple's most staunch supporters.
they demonstratr steve jobs as god, but, theres an prizefight on cnet that says the zune is better than ipod classic.
care to tell me how that happened?

here it is.
http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6490_7-706-101.html?tag=mncol;txt

[CleverEndeavor @ May 7th 2009 9:12PM]

(also, sorry for the typo, danged comment system.)

[utahnkid @ May 8th 2009 1:04AM]

So what part of:

"...I personally think the iPod Classic is in every way superior to any Zune, I'll admit that's simply my opinion and at least open for debate."

didn't you understand?

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ May 8th 2009 2:12AM]

@ CleverEndeavor,

1) Cnet has had their face planted up MS' ass for years. They are so far from being objective about anything MS related it's sad.

2) The Zune isn't a bad device since the v2.0 of the firmware, I'd take it over most non-iPod PMPs, but it pales in comparison to the ecosystem Apple smartly created.

3) Don't bring in other devices pointless just to prove your argument. (but if you must, try to have a solid argument first)

4) Don't make statements about the Zune HD being this and that when there is no evidence that it even exists out of the vapornet.

5) Making a statement like "Zune is better" is an opinion from a limited PoV. There are valid reasons why different PMPs are better than others, there is no absolute winner in every category that fits every person's needs.

[sweet greggo @ May 7th 2009 2:14PM]

Too much.

[Shelby @ May 7th 2009 2:16PM]

What's the conversion of reward points to Schrute Bucks?

[Ravi @ May 7th 2009 4:10PM]

Half the price I paid for in Stanley Nickels !!

[HAZE @ May 7th 2009 2:17PM]

WANT!

Recession Antidote?

PLEEZ!

[Dr. Spaceman @ May 7th 2009 2:18PM]

Fucking thing SUCKS.

[Brian @ May 7th 2009 3:21PM]

let's let sting play us out.

[Moo @ May 7th 2009 2:18PM]

I don't think other companies understand what the word competition means. I'm not an Apple fanboy, but why bother making this? The Touch is probably a million times better.

[Waveblade @ May 7th 2009 2:20PM]

Competition? Perhaps you can argue that the price point is bad, I agree. But not to even make it? That's silly

[jesse @ May 7th 2009 2:21PM]

I agree with you, why would the normal consumer purchase one of these over a touch or even an ipod? No one will pay that price. There might be some people who just hate apple but the average consumer loves the apple mp3 players.

[Waveblade @ May 7th 2009 2:27PM]

But this doesn't appear to be a bad player, the iPod touch took 2 to get it right, it's playing a game of catch up

[bjsguess @ May 7th 2009 2:30PM]

Agreed. Don't have a Touch and never want a Touch. However, if you are coming in at the Touch's price point then you better be able to compete. Having a better screen and better audio quality won't be enough. This is easily $100 more than it should be in order to be competitive.

[Xentro @ May 7th 2009 3:43PM]

Why would they prefer a apple over a walkman, if you are looking spec wise not brand wise ...

and why do you all say it's expensive it cost the same as the ipod touch ?

and for the same price you get a oled screen ...

[John Doe @ May 7th 2009 4:24PM]

And...don't forget that you gotta pay for those frickin apps (which make sense). So, when comparing the price of the two, include the price for 'sense-making' apps too.

[pika2000 @ May 7th 2009 5:00PM]

@John Doe: Pay for apps? I can get twitter client and Skype for the Touch for free, in additino to the mail client, maps, Safari, etc. Add to that a ton more social networking apps, games, references, ebooks, etc. Oh, I can also use the Touch as a remote for Boxee, for free. My point is the Touch/iPhone is a platform. For Sony to sell a standalone device without any hint of expandability outside the preloaded firmware at the same price is plain silly.

Also, with 3.0 firmware, the 2G Touch's bluetooth will be unlocked, allowing stereo bluetooth, something that Sony should have done on their flagship series considering Sony was the one that pushing bluetooth.

[chefgon_ign @ May 7th 2009 5:55PM]

If you just want to get a player that plays music, this is a solid alternative. It even has a web browser, so that nails about 90% of the iPod Touch's appeal right there. It doesn't need a billion apps to be a solid competitor, because that's total overkill for a device that's primarily used to play music anyway.

[chefgon_ign @ May 7th 2009 5:59PM]

Just to clarify, I think a touchscreen is total overkill for a music player, too. I would never pay for this device, but I don't want an iPod touch either. I have a 16gb Zune that gets the job done just fine. Play, pause, next track.. that's pretty much all that's required for a good music player.

[pika2000 @ May 7th 2009 6:59PM]

@chefgon_ign: For a device that is supposed to be a stellar music player, I expect proper playback of music like gapless playback, and/or support for lossless codecs (for the NWZ models). This is 2009 after all. OLED and touch screen are not needed if you only want a music device, yet those 2 features are the ones that people are bragging about.

[synn @ May 7th 2009 11:16PM]

I dunno man, I'd consider having noise cancellation and top quality headphones as part of the original equipment worth a premium (Not to mention the OLED screen). Some of us actually listen to music instead of tweeting (Why the fuck is this even a word?) and all that BS. Oh, and before someone brings up OGG/ FLAC support, just how many online music stores provide songs in this format? Unless you rip from your own CDs or pirate stuff, you're not gonna come across music in these formats. 320 kbps MP3 is quite alright with me and Sony Walkmans play them better than anything else out there.

[poke @ May 8th 2009 4:21AM]

God knows how many times Pika has moaned about gapless playback - Jeez.

DAPs will more and more become niche products as smartphones get better, take a look at PMPs. ipod touch needs to focus on sound quality rather than being a stripped down version of the iphone.

I am happy with my ipod nano. Im not an audiophile but im guessing the sony sounds better than an ipod but i'd rather spend my money on a new smartphone.

ipod nano for music and for everything else my winmo phone.

[JeffDM @ May 8th 2009 7:02AM]

John Doe, nobody has to buy apps. But if an app is useful to you, there is an option to buy, and the apps for the Touch are inexpensively priced or very often free, For example, Bejewelled is something like $10-$20 on computers and other phones, it's $2.99 for Touch. Maybe you're arguing about buying apps for features that should already be there, but stuff like games, you can't expect the first party to supply all the good games for free.

This Sony thing? So far, there aren't any indications that there will be the option to buy apps, it's just a fixed device until it's been announced otherwise. Sony makes nifty stuff, but I'm not convinced that they have the traction to convince enough devs to make apps.

[bandigolo @ May 7th 2009 2:28PM]

God damn this thing is pricey. I would never spend so much money on something so easy to lose/break/get stolen and that has such limited application.

[JohnnyRico @ May 7th 2009 2:31PM]

Wow, 16gb $90 premium over the Cowon S9 with wifi, and a lessor res screen? I know Sony likes to overcharge for stuff, but comon.

[pika2000 @ May 7th 2009 2:34PM]

Typical Sony. Not only they are out of touch with their pricing, we don't even know when this is coming out. Are they waiting for the competitors to release their products first so nobody will care for the Walkman? Ironically, Sony fanboys are already pre-ordering this and/or ordering the more expensive Japanese version.

[The Avatar @ May 7th 2009 2:45PM]

Indeed, soon to be followed by the Metal Gear Solid Snake version with "real" metal particles and the ever so popular Hello Kitty unit.

[htowngator @ May 7th 2009 2:38PM]

Price point sucks of course

had it been $100 less on each then you'd have a real winner

[Erix @ May 7th 2009 2:53PM]

$100 less in 3 month... hopefully....

[Shinigami @ May 12th 2009 11:26AM]

I've been waiting for the price of Sony S639F to fall for half a year now but it was all in vain. Its a Sony.
PS: I still can't buy it in my country, only possible to import from EU O.o

[Brian @ May 7th 2009 3:22PM]

I'm hoping they marked it up $100, or else they'll have two products that are failing.