Crave

Sony had a major success with the launch of the S-Series Walkman in the fall of 2008. The company stepped up with a sleek and compact device that offered a bounty of useful features along with stellar sound quality and a fantastic battery life. As might be expected, when it came time for a second-gen model, we waited with bated breath, expecting something equally impressive or perhaps even somewhat improved.

Unfortunately, the exhalation of said breath has emerged as a disappointed sigh. Although the second-generation S-Series Walkman still offers top-notch audio and excellent rated battery life, Sony has hobbled the player by crippling its feature set. The upshot is that this was done in the name of rock-bottom pricing, which makes the S-Series one of the cheapest flash players on the market: you can pick up an 8GB model for $110 and a 16GB for just $130. This--combined with its stellar performance--is the player's saving grace.

Read the full review of the S-Series Walkman.

Sony S-Series Walkman--photos

Apparently, Disney does not have a problem with this.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)

Yes, it's true: I've managed to get my grubby little mitts on Sony's new E- and S-Series Walkman MP3 players. How, you ask? I will never share my secrets...NEVER! OK, dramatics aside, it has been an exciting end of the week here at CNET, and one of many reasons for that will become apparent to you next week, so make sure you keep an eye on MP3 Insider.

In the meantime, I have a little something to titillate you: hands-on photos of the new Walkmans (Walkmen?). Also, a bit of information for you. You've probably already heard that the E- and S-Series are dramatically cheaper than Sony's previous models--with the E-Series coming in at $80 for 8GB and $100 for 16GB, and the S-Series offering an 8GB model for $110 and a 16GB for $130--but you may not know where exactly the company cut corners. Well, I'm truly sorry to say that you won't find integrated noise-canceling capability, upgraded headphones, SensMe Channels, or Rhapsody DNA in either of these players. (And--yes--this lazy Walkman convert is extremely letdown by those last two.)

But, hey, these devices offer rock-bottom pricing for plenty of other features, so one mustn't be too strict. I do look forward to putting them through their paces and see how the sound quality and battery life have fared in the face of the price cut. Until then, ogle away.

Sony E- and S-Series Walkman photos

(Credit: Sony)

The new 8GB Sony NWZ-S544 and 16GB Sony NWZ-S545 we saw earlier are now official. Sony's first speaker-endowed MP3 Walkmans feature 2.4-inch 320x240-pixel (QVGA) LCD screens capable of 262k colors. The latest S-Series Walkman also boasts Sony's Clear Stereo and Clear Bass audio enhancement technologies, along with a dynamic normalizer and five-band equalizer.

Battery life is listed at 42 hours for audio playback and 6.5 hours with video on headphones, 17 hours for audio, and 5 hours with video while listening via the speakers.

Both players claim drag-and-drop file transfer, which is nothing new, and also offer compatibility with iTunes 8.1 and Windows Media Player. Apart from MP3, WMA, and AAC support, FM reception (with 30 presets) is included.

The S-Series Walkmans are capable of 30fps playback with the usual video formats like H264/AVC, MP4 and WMV. Measuring in at about 1.9 inches by 3.9 inches by just less than half an inch and weighing almost 2.5 ounces, this series comes in a choice of colors: black, red, violet, and pink. The new S-Series Walkmans will go on sale September 1; click here for the official specifications.

(Source: Crave Asia)

Editor's note: Though not mentioned in the original article, the big news here is the pricing for the new S-Series Walkman. The 8GB will sell for $110, while the 16GB will come with a suggested retail price of just $130--quite a steal for an MP3 player that's sure to offer impressive audio quality and battery life. Sounds like someone is trying to make up for the X-Series' exorbitant price tag.

(Credit: Materiel.net)

It's official: the new S-Series Walkman will indeed invoke Mickey Mouse in its control pad. Two weeks ago, we reported on a SonyInsider story that claimed to have images of the upcoming S-Series refresh, and it turns out that it was right on the money. The new device has been spotted on a French Web site with specs and pricing.

My French is a little rusty these days, so it's a good thing Google has a built-in translator. The new S-Series (NWZ-S545) is a 16GB player selling for 149 Euros, which means it will likely go for around $150 here in the states. (The site also has an 8GB version, but no hint of a 32GB option, which is a bit of a disappointment.) The player offers built-in stereo speakers and "a great autonomy: up to 42 hours of music." It also has a QVGA screen, an FM tuner, and drag-and-drop transfer capability. In other words, the new S-Series is exactly like the old except for the refreshed design and external speakers--which isn't a bad thing, really, when you consider the many virtues of the current generation.

Of course, all of this should be taken with a grain of salt. Devices--MP3 players, in particular--have a tendency to change in minute-yet-significant ways when they creep into the States. Don't be surprised if some sweet, content-related feature pops up on the new S-Series for the U.S. release.

Thanks, Glenn!

(Credit: SonyInsider)

OK, maybe I'm being too harsh on what appears to be the next-generation S-Series Walkman, but come on! Could Sony possibly evoke Mickey Mouse any more? Admittedly, the current S-Series has a special place in my heart, and I've been eagerly awaiting a follow-up to the line, which I had on good authority would be in my hands by this fall. As such, I don't doubt SonyInsider's breaking story has at least a hint of accuracy.

But I have to say I'm none-too-taken with the Disney-esque design of the purported player, though maybe it's the bright purples and pinks that are throwing me off--no doubt the black version looks much more subtle.

But let's take a moment to focus on the positive, shall we? First of all, look at that glorious screen! It looks massive--at least for a device as small and slender as this Walkman appears to be. Also, check out the integrated speakers on that puppy; looks like an indicator that we might be getting stereo sound out of two speakers (flanking the top and bottom of the display).

And I have no doubt the S-Series will continue to pack in all the great features we've become used to: noise-canceling capability, quality earphones, iTunes podcast support, subscription music playback, an FM tuner, and SensMe Channels smart playlists. Not to mention prevalent album art and--dare I speak of it? Integrated Slacker support, perhaps? True, that looks like a metal chassis, meaning Wi-Fi is unlikely, but a girl can dream. While I'm at it, give me 16GB and 32GB versions, please. Thanks in advance, Sony.

Click for more pics.

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

Sony has come a long way since the release of the NW-MS11 Network Walkman. One of the company's first flash-based MP3 players, the NW-MS11 didn't even play MP3s and was crippled by copy-protection woes and painfully slow transcoding, but even back then, Walkmans were a model of sleek design and excellent sound quality. The S-Series Walkman is a prime example of the reason Sony was the original king of portable music devices. The flash player, which comes in 4GB ($149.99) and 8GB ($179.99) models, is sleek, compact, easy to use, and packed with features. Plus, it sounds great and has an impressive battery life--we just wish we could get more than the 8GB of memory. Read the full S-Series Walkman review.

Sony S-Series Walkman

(Credit: Sony)

The first sign of fall in CNET's San Francisco office isn't the turning of leaves--it's the ever-increasing waves of new product announcements. MP3 players in particular start cropping up in late summer, perhaps in an attempt to get a jump on Apple's typical September iPod announcement.

Creative got an early start with its new Zen players a couple of weeks ago, and now Sony is joining the fray. Today, the company announced a rev to its Walkman line of MP3 players in the form of the B-Series, E-Series, and S-Series.

The S-Series represents the top of the line and is arguably the most exciting of the bunch. This new Walkman, which is available in a gunmetal black finish, comes with the integrated noise-canceling capability found on the Sony NWZ-S710.

A pair of complementing, high-end earphones are included in the package, along with an accessory cable that allows the player to be used as a standalone noise-canceling module for use with other audio devices--a unique feature that's ideal for use with in-flight entertainment systems.

Sony has also added support for WMV video (including DRM files from the likes of Amazon Unbox), an FM tuner, and a separate podcast menu item for easier management of the content. In addition, the S Series is the first Walkman to feature a customizable interface that includes a variety of themes and the ability to set personal photos as wallpaper.

Sony E-Series Walkman in red.

(Credit: Sony)

Perhaps the coolest feature, however, is the SensMe Channels function, which is a "smart" DJ that uses an algorithm to analyze songs in order to create custom playlists (up to 11) based on each track's speed, mood, and rhythm. Other features include a 2-inch color screen and a rated battery life of 40 hours for audio. The S Series, which is available in 4GB and 8GB capacities for $149.95 and $179.95 (respectively), is expected to hit online shelves in the next three to four weeks.

Fuji's new 11MP S100FS sports a 14.3X optical zoom lens and film simulation modes.

(Credit: Fujifilm)

Catering to people who want SLR-style bodies and a wide range of features, but don't want to deal with interchangeable lenses, Fujifilm has announced three new superzoom models in its S-series line of cameras. The flagship is the 11-megapixel FinePix S100FS, which sports a 14.3x optical, 28-400mm f/2.8-5.3 Fujinon zoom lens, sensitivity up to ISO 3,200 at full resolution (or ISO 6,400 at 6MP, or ISO 10,000 at 3MP), and a tilting 2.5-inch 230,000-dot LCD screen.

As you'd expect in a camera of this level, the S100FS includes a full set of manual exposure controls, RAW image recording, and a wide range of available shutter speeds-- ranging from 30 seconds to 1/4000 second. Borrowing from the company's S5pro SLR, the S100FS includes Film Simulation (hence the FS in the model name) modes and extended dynamic range modes. The Film Simulation modes try to mimic the qualities of Fuji's vibrant Velvia film, general use Provia, or low-contrast films. The extended dynamic range mode makes use of the camera's Super CCD sensor to offer a wider dynamic range than a normal sensor would. The S100FS also includes Fuji's Face Detection 2.0, which can find faces even if they are in profile and powers the camera's automatic red eye removal system. The camera also has a variety of bracketing modes, including dynamic range and film simulation bracketing, and can capture video clips in VGA pixel-resolution at 30 frames per second. Fuji expects the FinePix S100FS to be available in February for about $800.

Replacing the S8000fd is the 10-megapixel FinePix S8100fd. Aside from the increase from 8 to 10 megapixels, there aren't many differences. Like its predecessor the S8100fd includes an 18X optical, 27-486mm f/2.8-4.5 Fujinon zoom lens, 2.5-inch 230,000- dot LCD screen, and sensitivity up to ISO 1,600 at full resolution. If you don't mind lowering resolution to 5MP, you can extend that up to ISO 6,400. Dual Image Stabilization, a combination of sensor-shift and ISO-boosting Picture Stabilization, helps combat blurry images due to camera shake or subject movement. The S8100fd includes Fuji's original Face Detection with automatic red eye removal, full manual exposure controls, 13 preset scene modes, and can record video at up to VGA pixel-resolution and 30fps. Fuji plans to ship the S8100fd this March for about $400.

Following in the footsteps of the FinePix S700 comes the FinePix S1000fd. This new model ups the pixel count from 7Mp to 10MP and extends the zoom to a 12X optical, 33-396mm f/2.8-5.0 Fujinon zoom lens. Given that long zoom lens, it seems a shame that Fuji only offers ISO boosting Picture Stabilization instead of the sensor-shift or optical image stabilization. The S1000fd also includes a 2.7-inch 230,000-dot LCD, sensitivity up to ISO 1,600 at full resolution or ISO 3,200 at a reduced resolution of 5MP. Control freaks will appreciate the full set of manual exposure controls, while 14 preset scene modes let the camera take over if you don't want to make the decisions yourself. Fuji expects the S1000fd to be available this April for about $250.

Denon SR-302 networked home theater system

(Credit: Denon)

Despite the steep price tag, we liked the Denon S-301 when it came out a couple of years ago, citing its iPod-friendliness and good sound. The company is now following up with a few more high-end home theaters in boxes (HTiBs), so we'll take you through the entire "S series" from the bottom up. For details on the tabletop radios, models S-32 and S-52, click here; the other three will be available in September 2007.

Models (MSRP)

• Denon S-32 ($499)
• Denon S-52 ($699)
• Denon S-81 ($599)
• Denon S-102($999)
• Denon S-302 ($1,699)

... Read more