The blokes at Sydney Morning Herald got hold of a NW-S705 and gave it 4 out of 5; not entirely sure what scale 1-5 could represent, whether it be stars or perhaps the number of times Sonicstage crashed on them, but hey, whose counting anyways? It’s a short review, but sums up the experience moderately well.

According to the recent Q3 Fiscal Year 2006 investor reports (link), Sony has sold 5.5 million Walkman devices up to October 2006. In Fiscal Year 2005, they only sold 4.5 million, marking a significant pattern of growth. The final numbers for FY06 won’t be published till March or so of this year, but at this rate it is fair to say that the company will probably sell another couple million in this timespan. Perhaps Sony has found a comfortable niche by mass producing flash units with various functionality instead of delving in the high-capacity arena. Congrats to the Connect and Personal Audio teams for this progress.

In a recent conversation with our friend Damage we were discussing Sony devices and so forth as usual. After some fickle bickering and revelations, he mentioned that Sonicstage could really use better podcast integration. The statement was simple, yet profound. Why is Sonicstage limited with the creation of podcasts? Sonicstage is a nexus for all Sony audio devices; Hi-MD users could have access to some sort of Sony managed youtube-esque environment that is accessible via Sonicstage and deliver a rich feed of user-submitted live recorded content, including podcasts or independent music. Featured users could also have a presence on the Connect music store where they could sell their content accordingly and flash/hard drive audio player users could download that content to their devices.

There could be an option that keeps your Walkman updated with the top 5 or 10 clips automatically each time your sync’d to Sonicstage and a broadband internet connection is enabled.

One of Sony’s biggest fallacies is that they are not seizing the opportunity to promote a sense of community. The company does interact with most media-outlets about their endeavors but they really need to focus on releasing the communist grip and letting their users demonstrate their creativity and ideals. User-driven content is running some of the most popular websites in the world these days. There needs to be a better bridge between user and manufacturer and Sony should be much more vocal about it. If you have noticed, Apple started really listening to the customer during the evolution of the iPod and that is why it is now a gapless audio playing behemoth. However, we here at ATRACLife see alot of the same recommendations over and over again that make sense but aren’t implemented.

The much anticipated PSP demo, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is now available from the current PSP February 2007 Content Pack. For your convenience, the new demo also can be acquired separately within our download section of the forum. Note: A simple free forum registration is required to download the file - Register for free to participate in the #1 discussion board for ATRAC based device.

Instructions: Create a new folder - [UCUS98641] - within PSP>GAME and copy the Syphon Filter Demo file (EBOOT.PBP and DM_DEMO.DRM: 23,715 KB) into the newly created folder accordingly. Note: The official demo will require the latest PSP firmware.

Enjoy!

The PSP™ Content Pack for the month of February is now available for download at SCEA. (click here) The pack includes:

PSP® Content
★ Killzone™: Liberation Playable Demo (ESRB: T)
★ Syphon Filter®: Dark Mirror Playable Demo (ESRB: T)
★ After Burner Black - Screenshots (ESRB: T)
★ Arthur and the Invisibles - Screenshots (ESRB: E+10)
★ Chili Con Carnage™ - Wallpapers (ESRB: M)
★ Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai - Another Road - Wallpapers (ESRB: T)
★ Driver 76 - Screenshots (ESRB: RP)
★ PlayStation® February Wallpapers

PlayStation®2 Content
★ God of War® 2 - Official Trailer (ESRB: M)
★ God of War® 2 - Screenshots (ESRB: M)
★ Rogue Galaxy™ - Behind the Scenes Videos Part 1 & 2 (ESRB: T)
★ Rogue Galaxy™ - Story Trailer (ESRB: T)

PLAYSTAION®3 Content
★ PLAYSTATION®3 Wallpaper Bundle 1 for PSP® System
★ PLAYSTATION®3 Wallpaper Bundle 2 for PSP® System

The PSP™ Content Pack is a free download that features preselected content, optimized for your PSP system. We will provide the Content for you each month. All you need to do is connect your PSP to your PC, download the pack, then just sit back and relax while everything is transferred to your PSP system. Once the process is complete, your PSP system will be stocked full of the latest in PSP system optimized video clips and trailers, wallpapers, screenshots, audio clips, and game content, all for your viewing pleasure. Check back here each month for the newest edition of the PSP™ Content Pack.

To confirm the above spy pictures we are releasing to the world, sony.de (screenshot) has revealed the shape of the upcoming Nano-sized video Walkman we exclusively announced last week and alongside it is a timer counting down to March 1st (which is the supposed announcement date of the NW-A800 series). Four colors will be introduced: violet, black, blue, pink. Keep an eye on ATRACLife as we will continue to reveal more specifications and pictures of this amazing device up until announcement day. Picture of the backside after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

As promised, Sony has released a new version of SonicStage with full Microsoft Windows Vista compatibility. The new update naturally is significant for those with plans to upgrade or already have upgraded their system with Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows Vista (Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate).

In addition, a Windows Vista Compatible Driver for NetMD and Hi-MD (*64 bit version is not supported) has been made available and it can be acquired from our download section of the forum or officially from Sony. Applicable models include: MZ-NH1, MZ-NH3, MZ-NH600, MZ-NH600D, MZ-NH700, MZ-NH900, MZ-NHF800, MZ-RH1, MZ-RH10, MZ-RH710, MZ-RH910, MZ-N1, MZ-N10, MZ-N505, MZ-N510, MZ-N707, MZ-N710, MZ-N920, MZ-N910, MZ-NF610 and MZ-S1.

It is also important to note that MD Simple Burner along with CONNECT Player, WAV Conversion Tool and MP3 File Manager will not be supported under Windows Vista. Accordingly, there will be no further updates for the aforementioned software. Henceforward, Sony’s music management software for its Walkman devices will be just SonicStage 4.3 under Vista environment.

And now, without further ado, ATRACLife presents SonicStage 4.3:

DOWNLOAD LINKS: Sony Japan | Sony Europe | Sony USA | Sony Asia-Pacific | JEB

New feature:
★ Microsoft Windows Vista compatibility.

Accordingly, SonicStage CP 4.3 now supports the following WALKMAN devices:

★ Hi-MD Walkman
★ Net MD Walkman
★ NW-E series
★ NW-A series
★ NW-S Series
★ NW-HD series
★ NW-MS Series
★ ATRAC CD Walkman
★ Micro System
★ All other products compatible with older SonicStage, CONNECT Player or SonicStage CP versions.

MODULE VERSION

SonicStage : 4.3.01.14050
SonicStage Add-on for Personal Audio Download : 4.3.01.14050
OpenMG Secure Module : 4.7.00.12140
MagicGate Memory Stick Device : 4.7.00.12140
NW-E2, NW-E3, NW-E5 and NW-E8P : 4.7.00.12140
OpenMG CD : 4.7.00.12140
M.S. PRO : 4.7.00.12140
CD Walkman : 4.7.00.12140
ATRAC Audio Device with Intelligent function : 4.7.00.12140
Hi-MD : 4.7.00.12140
Music Clip, NW-S4, NW-E7 and NW-E10 : 4.7.00.12140
ATRAC Audio Device : 4.7.00.12140
Net MD : 4.7.00.12140
CD-R 書き込みモジュール (Audio CD/ATRAC CD/MP3 CD) : 4.3.01.14050
Px Engine: 3.4.36.500