From cNET:

Scores of companies are betting there’s gold in helping go-go commuters and road warriors catch the latest episodes of 24 and Grey’s Antatomy. Apple downloads movies to iPods. Cell phone carriers stream TV shows to handsets. Sling Media’s Slingbox connects users to their home TVs from any Web-enabled handheld.

But a company uniquely positioned just a few years ago to be among the front-runners in the nascent mobile-video category is conspicuously missing, said James McQuivey, a Forrester Research analyst. Sounding a little like Marlon Brando, McQuivey argues that Sony, with the PlayStation Portable (PSP), should have been a contender. He notes that Apple’s iTunes has sold 50 million TV shows, seized a huge market lead and proven people will watch video on small screens.

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Sony’s latest Image Converter 3 has landed! As we have reported previously, Image Converter 3 will ship with the new NW-A800 series and it will serve as the Walkman’s principal video management utility – converting AVC Baseline, AVC Main Profile, AVI, MPEG1/2/4, QuickTime format and WMV to AVC Baseline and MPEG-4. In addition to converting videos, Image Converter 3 also converts BMP, JPEG, GIF, PGP (Picture Gear file format), PNG and TIFF format to JPEG format (to transfer the file to Walkman) as well as facilitating transfer off RSS video to the Walkman.

For owners of Image Converter 2 and Image Converter 2 Plus, Sony has made available an Image Converter 3 update program for your convenience. NOTE: This update cannot be installed to update from Image Converter 1.5. This update can only be installed to update from the CD-ROM version Image Converter 2 or Image Converter 2 plus.

DOWNLOAD LINKS: NORTH AMERICA | EUROPE | ASIA-PACIFIC

This update provides the following enhancements:
★ Automatic conversion of recorded TV programs. This feature is only available with VAIO computers with Giga Pocket or VAIO zone software. This feature is not available for Windows XP Media Center Edition/ Windows Vista Media Center computers.
★ Support for video RSS channels (podcasting). (*screenshot shown below)
★ Automatic transfer of videos to a Memory Stick. TV programs and RSS videos recorded on a computer can be automatically transferred to a Memory Stick inserted in your computer (directly or via adapter) or in your portable Playstation (PSP).
★ Conversion to MPEG-4, MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile, MPEG-4 AVC Baseline profile (depending on the device used).
★ Windows Vista Support.

COMPATIBLE FORMATS:
VIDEO FILES
Input:
★ avi (non Windows supported files may not be converted).
★ MPEG-1.
★ MPEG-2 (DVD cannot be converted).
★ MPEG-4 (only files recorded in Memory Stick video format are guaranteed to be compatible).
★ QuickTime format/ M4V files (latest version of QuickTime Player must be installed on your computer).
★ WMV.
★ DVR-MS (with Windows XP Media Center Edition or Vista).
★ TV programs recorded with Giga Pocket 5.0 or later or VAIO Zone (only available on some VAIO computers).
Note: copyright protected formats cannot be converted. All avi videos are not guaranteed to be compatible.
Output:
★ Memory Stick Video Format
★ MPEG-4 simple profile
★ H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC baseline profile
★ H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC main profile

STILL IMAGES (*screenshot shown below)
★ Input: BMP, JPEG, GIF, PGP, PNG, TIFF
★ Output: JPEG

Compatible Operating Systems
★ Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Sp4 or later
★ Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition/Professional SP1/SP2
★ Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (2004/2005)
★ Microsoft Vista Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Ultimate
Note: Windows Vista 64bit version is not supported.

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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.

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

Microsoft recently released its new line of operating systems dubbed Windows Vista, and unfortunately it appears that the current version of SonicStage (4.2) has difficulty operating normally within this environment and often experiences erratic behavior. Fortunately, both Sony Japan and Sony Europe has acknowledged this issue and is determined to issue updates to alleviate the problem. The update should arrive in a few weeks, if not sooner.

With SonicStage 4.3, most Walkman devices released in the last half decade or so shall now be compatible with Windows Vista.

One cannot help but observe on this site that Sony notes in the official notice, “CONNECT Player software (delivered with the NW-A608, NW-A1000, and NW-A3000) is not compatible with Windows Vista.” Perhaps Sony found a cool way to finally terminate this horrid excuse for a music management program, after all. Whilst Connect Player showed alot of promise, we are glad here at ATRACLife to see that it will not be supported any further.

We are not aware of any other changes to the SonicStage program that will come with this new release, but stay tuned to ATRACLife for the latest details regarding this update.

(Hi-MD with BeatJam 2007 LE)

We thought our readers would like to know that Just System Ltd has just updated its music management software, BeatJam 2007 LE (in Japanese only). The newly updated BeatJam 2007 LE has all the usual music management features including a graphic EQ (a feature we hope SonicStage CP would implement). However, the BeatJam 2007 LE does not have a CD ripping function (this function is available in the SE version of BeatJam) but it can certainly transfer music to supported digital audio players (yes, including Hi-MD, Network Walkman and the PSP).

It is obvious from the various screenshots we’re presenting here that the interface is tighter in appearance and is most likely more intuitive than SonicStage CP itself. Whilst SonicStage CP really is a decent experience for music management, it really is no secret that Japan gets the upper hand with the Sony experience. And Sony is entitled to do that given the unique circumstances that surround its community, but what about the rest of us? Why can’t the designers of both systems collaborate on a truly unified GUI and experience? It is disappointing that this program will not be readily available for other parts of the world.

Supported music format comprise of ATRAC3/ATRAC3plus/MP3/WMA/WAV. BeatJam 2007 LE also includes “HMV DIGITAL” and “Mora” online music store module. For those curious about HMV DIGITAL, it offers music downloads in both WMA and ATRAC3 format and the music store can be viewed in English language. As for Mora, it’s the Japanese equivalent to US and Europe’s Connect Music Store.

BeatJam 2007 LE can be acquired from Just System Ltd’s Music@Life site or click here.

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An update to the PS3™ system software was released on November 28, 2006. If you update your PS3™ system, the system software will be version 1.11. Two particular items of interest were included much to the delight of the staff. It looks like the PS3 has become the new high-fidelity ATRAC player of choice..anyone know if all subcodecs within the codec work?

Settings

Enable ATRAC

[Enable ATRAC] has been added as a feature under (Music Settings).

This setting allows use of ATRAC format music files under (Music). To activate the setting, you must have Internet access. If the message “This has already been enabled” is displayed, you do not need to adjust this setting.

Audio CD Output Frequency

[Audio CD Output Frequency] has been added as a feature under (Music Settings).

Set the output frequency for audio CDs. Adjust the setting to match the audio device in use.