In the review on this site of the imminent new Sony MP3 players, it mentions that they will use brand new Connect software instead of the abysmal Sonic Stage.

I have the NW-HD5 (released Summer 2005). Does anyone know if the Connect software will be compatible with the current generation of players as well as the new ones?

Thanks!


http://www.avreview.co.uk/news/article/mps/UAN/405/v/4/sp/332111698270332152656

Cheers Jim
The word from Sony is that you will NOT be able to use CONNECT Player with your NW-HD5. It will only work with the New Walkman and future MP3 products from Sony. They've assured me that you will be able to convert any existing files from SonicStage to CONNECT Player if you decide to get one of the new products, but I guess that's not much use to yourself and others who've just bought a nice shiny new NW-HD5...

Thanks for the info Dave. That's very bad news! If that's the case I just hope they release an upgrade of Sonic Stage but I'm not holding out much hope.

I mailed Sony last week and they said they had no confirmation on it.
I've had a 30GB HD5 for a couple of months and was planning on getting the other half one of the newer models with the Connect software. My plan was to both use Connect and keep my huge library for both of us. NOT HAPPY AT ALL if Connect will not work with my HD5. I may have to jump ship.

R

Not a move that's likely to make Sony popular with existing SonicStage fans (and there are a few). At least when Apple adds features to iTunes, it doesn't alienate its existing users. I guess you could probably duplicate your tracks, then your other half can convert one set to CONNECT Player, but it's a bit of a palaver, and it sounds like you'd be eating up a lot of memory.

Hmm, to me the announcement of these new players is a little odd. Just as its NW-HD series was gaining a bit of steam (with some really good reviews for the HD5 especially) it goes and changes tack.

Same can be said for the software. Although SonicStage was no iTunes, it was showing signs of real improvement. I haven't tried CONNECT yet, but it better be pretty spectacular for it to be worth alienating existing SonicStage users!

I'm glad they're doing this. They had to do something with Sonic Stage it was just so awful.

Did anyone here download version 3.0 of Sonicstage? Maybe it's just me but I thought it was pretty good...

Anyone found a review of these new players? I'm quite surprised that they don't have colour screens (which seems to be the norm these days) but there you go... at least the battery life is good I s'pose.

Sonicstage 3.2 was okay, not as bad as people make out, I've upgraded to 3.3 now and am having trouble transferring large quantities to my HD5. Hopefully just teething trouble's.
Maybe the new players should have colour screens, but I think Sony is 'chasing' the pack rather than 'leading' at the moment.
But then again I don't need an MP3 player to show photo's!
I may buy one of the new players for the g/f but am wavering due the the new Connect compatability fiasco. The Bean is good though, works on SS.

Hi Robert, do you know where I can download Sonicstage 3.3? Is it on the Sony website? Not interested in Connect as I'm still using an HD3.

hi, I think I got my version from here. It's a handy website about all things Sony/Atrac.

R

http://www.atraclife.com/index.php?showtopic=365

Cheers Robert. I'll give that a go.

On a side issue, is it just me or do these new players look a bit ugly compared to the HD3/HD5? Not digging that purple look. Maybe it looks better in silver I guess...

They are a bit bigger I'll give you that, but I wouldn't call them ugly....i'm pondering getting the g/f a purple one for xmas.

R

I quite 'em - kind of quirky looking, but that's cool I suppose. At least it's not white like every other damn MP3 player these days. BTW I went into a Sony store the other day and couldn't see them on the shelves. Have they actually been released yet?

Yeah they are out, saw a purple 6gb in Comet today. very nice in the flesh, looked smalled than my HD5.

Anybody seen the silver version in the flesh? I'm after an iPod replacement and I'm pretty tempted but the purple version looks a little bit like smurf turd so I'm unsure

My girlfriends 20gb smurfturd is in the post!

Funnily enough since my post yesterday I've actually seen the 20gb silver version in the flesh. It looks nice although the claims that the screen is 'invisible' is just untrue, it's also a bit bigger than I expected, especially given the size of previous sony players...

ha, received a 4gb Nano in the post today by mistake, I thought the packaging looked too small for the 20gb Sony!