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Sony's new flash Walkman

Sony's new flash-based Walkman can store 256MB, 512MB or 1GB of data. The music players will be a bit pricier than some competing flash players, but the company says the new features and designs will make them worth it. The devices start at $90 for the 256MB player and run up to about $200.

Credit: Sony

37 comments

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Nice looking...
This is certainly a nice addition to the market. I own a shuffle
and really enjoy it. It is hard to tell from the picture how intuitive
the controls are. The ability to control the shuffle without
looking at, even through the fabric of a shirt while it is hanging
around your neck (my favorite) is priceless. I know the Sony has
a slick display, but I don't miss one in the shuffle. Lastly, if you
like the integration that iTunes and the iTunes Music Store offer,
along with the Autofill feature in iTunes, the shuffle still looks
like a better "package".
Posted by Greg Sparkman (82 comments )
Reply Link Flag
1 gig for 320?????
you can get a 20 gig ipod for the same price as a 1 gig walkman? they can't be serious, well we shouldn't forget that this is the same company that sued itself over mp3's
Posted by Don Key (187 comments )
Reply Link Flag
No NW-E507 will be just $200
I don't know why they say $317.89 in this article because the top flash based model NW-E507 (1GB+FM tuner) will be available for $200. Check the following link for Sony press release:
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://news.sel.sony.com/pressrelease/5685" target="_newWindow">http://news.sel.sony.com/pressrelease/5685</a>
Posted by atici (63 comments )
Link Flag
Too Little, Too Late, Too Expensive
Leave it Sony to show up a year late for the party with a half bottle of flat, cheap wine. Dumb is the word that comes to mind. This late in the game Sony should have barged in with more memory, better pricing and free music. Never thought I'd live to see the day when Apple Computer offered more and better features at a LOWER price.
-DB, Ohio, USA
Posted by (71 comments )
Reply Link Flag
You are right
You are right for the most part. The new flash-based players are really not too expensive, esp. since Sony's are always discounted on the street (e.g., buy.com and amazon.com) (except the real hot ones like that z505 laptop).
Posted by (9 comments )
Link Flag
Apple has always offered the best
Wake up, Apple has always had the best, and at a very good
price compared to the trash they compete with, i.e. the no-brain
competitiors who rip them off whenever possible, and never add
any great new ideas or real improvements. Apple is an
innovator and everyone is constantly saying they are 'as good as
macintosh' 'as good as iPod' etc... when it's never been true (and
it still isn't with Windows XP or any media player.)
Posted by Byronic (95 comments )
Link Flag
more features...
...compared to the sony players if that's what you meant. However other players have a lot more features than the apple players such as builtin fm radio, more supported formats, and removeable battery. Players such as the zen micros and the iaudios is ahead of the game the way I look at it. At least give sony credit for design.
Posted by mysticalpha (3 comments )
Link Flag
They maybe late...
Like they were late in entering the console market...
Posted by stevejobless (42 comments )
Link Flag
Say it ain't so Tokyo
What a sad commentary. Sony must be asleep at the wheel. Let's look at the math: my Palm has 512mb via an SD card ($99 Zire31 + $30 SD card) = all my contact, notes, newsclips, photos, games, e-mail, e-books, AND enough music to last all day for $129.

Money is abundant, but common sense obviously is in short supply at Sony. Oh, would someone please provide a link to the story about Sony suing itself over mp3s?
Posted by Warldawc (7 comments )
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Hmm--only 2 years after Muvo
Creative has had this for years before Apple and Sony. I think theirs even has a screen (I know who needs that)
Posted by AndrewJmm (1 comment )
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creative's 90-day warranty rules
Creative? you gotta be kidding. The comapny that makes those UGLY players that come with a 90day (or is it 30-day?) warranty? You gotta be kidding us.
Posted by (9 comments )
Link Flag
Sony in a sad state
The new flash-based player looks good and i'm getting one. But it's sad that Sony can do nothing these days but play catchup in almost every field it used to dominate. I don't have an MBA but even I know that Sony should have announced these before the evil Apple; instead they waited to see what the evil Apple did and then made their announcement. What a stupid bunch of idiots. This also proves that when it coems to marketing, the **** are no match for the Americans.
Posted by (9 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Why do you say Apple is evil?
Makes it hard to assume you're being objective in anything else
you say here.
Posted by Dharma_Dog (9 comments )
Link Flag
perhaps...
well...its about time sony releases a flash player without restricting it to their ATRAC format...i remember many years ago sony had a line of MS walkman's and Network Walkman's (before ipod i beleive) but the problem is that sony always tries to push their own proprietary format into their own products until no one wants to buy it...but Sony can afford to do this...if their proprietary format becomes a success (like memory stick) then they will make a premium ...so i think sony is the evil one here... and sometimes sony need to realize what works in japan doesnt work in north america...we have a more stubborn market...
Posted by (1 comment )
Link Flag
I bought 5 iPods, This is an interesting addition
I have purchased three iPod minis, an iPod photo and an iPod
shuffle. The shufffle, i haven't had a chance to play with yet
because i am punishing myself. I really do like the slick design
and appearance of the Sony product.

However,I will probably never purchase the sony, but I do like
their design. Unfortunately, there are so many factors that
affect my choice.

1. Ergonmically, the iPod remains untouched. This can easily be
said just by seeing the design on the Sony, but I hold true
judgement until i get my hands on one at a store.

2. The love affair (yep, i said it) I have with the iPod has nothing
to do with being a Mac-head. The software integration, sturdy
design, ergonomic and intuitive interfaces blend together in
arguably one of best designs of form and function this century.
You can rail against it, poo-poo ... but that simple fact will
remain the same 100 years from now. Don't miss out on that
simple point. (The iPod Mini)

3. The reason I got an iPod was because I am so sick and tired of
the constantly repeated, crap and commercials being spewed
from radio these days. It was a means of musical freedom, and
to carry enough music that I might not hear the same thing for a
week. And in some cases hear the same thing over and over.
So WHAT IS THE FUSS ABOUT FM ON YOUR PLAYERS?!

4. The reason I added an iPod shuffle to my collection (three of
the five iPods have been gifts), is i wanted an iPod with non-
moving parts, that I could walk around with for a short, or long
time (as long as my body can hold out). The flash-based shuffle
was perfect. I could always have a set of playlists ready for it
based upon the activity i might be doing. Therefore, what do i
need a screen for? Really!?

5. Ummm, this isn't really a point, but I don't think I would have
had this experience with the other iPods. It was the iPod mini
that we perfect. Whether it was an accident or not, it happend.
The other iPods, though identitcal in UI, something was
different. The annodized aluminum? The non-chrome
backside? The weight? The perfect fit in you hand? I don't
know. But if you have only played with other iPods and not the
Mini, then you might not understand what I meant about its
design. But it, more than any other product, on this planet, has
affected people, from all countries and walks of life. It's not a
fad, its simply a commercial engineering marvel.

Damn, think i went on too long. ... Sorry. :-) I like the Sony
Posted by Thomas, David (1945 comments )
Reply Link Flag
So you can walk around?
Saying that you can't walking around with the iPod or the Mini?
Why do you think they provide an arm band for the mini? I don't
know anyone who has an problems what so ever walking around
with an iPod.
Posted by NoExit (1 comment )
Link Flag
Cool looking
I like that natural display, it makes it look like its part of the unit in a way that screen usually isnt, like ink moving.
Posted by wazzledoozle (288 comments )
Reply Link Flag
it's a great pleasure
You guys rock...
Continue doing GOOD...
Posted by (1 comment )
Reply Link Flag
What's in a name?
Sony may be pretty good at designing things, but they sure aren't good at naming them. Don't they remember that maybe one of the reasons the "Walkman" was popular was because it was a "Walkman" and not a "NW-E507"? While the name "iPod" or "Shuffle" isn't the only reason for Apple's popularity, it sure doesn't hurt to have a catchy name for a product.
Posted by Norseman (945 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Sony being bought by..?
Samsung or Microsoft? I've read from UK Financial Times analyzing the deep troubles of Sony. First company that was suggested to buy Sony was Samsung. It's a distant possibility even if Samsung's pocket now maybe deeper than Sony they have so many business that overlap each others. But, it was very interesting and in a way shocking turn of history for Samsung, who about ten years ago was an eternal underdog selling cheap products, somehow managed to be global industry leader mentioned to take over the king of all electronics companies.

Now looking at this mediocre product with a price of arrogance, and a design of tepedity at best, I don't know which one is funnier, comedy show or business history.
Posted by sunnymix (25 comments )
Reply Link Flag
not worth it yet...
What is Sony doing, the problem is not the product itself, it is Sony's reluctance to support more music formats such as protected WMA's. If Sony is willing to join the numerous mp3 players that support protected WMA's it just may have a shot at the mp3 player market. Wake up Sony, no one is using Sony Connect to get their mp3s!
Posted by (1 comment )
Reply Link Flag
Interface looks too small.
If the Sony is about the size of a USB stick, as it looks, controlling it is gonna be fun. Those buttons on the side look like the size of pinheads, and pretty close together. I haven't used the iPod, but it's gotta be easier to control than that.
That's the biggest problem with most digital players: Interface sucks. I went back to an older RCA Lyra, because the newer Lyra had a pathetic interface (I can control my old one blindfolded). When do these things get a voice IO control interface? THAT'S the way to do it.
Posted by Steve Jordan (126 comments )
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