Sony Walkman B100 Series Snubs ATRAC
Pigs are flying, the moon is blue, and hell has frozen over.
Don't ask us how or why, but Sony is apparently set to add a new series to its Walkman line of low-capacity flash players that 1) doesn't require the use of SonicStage and 2) doesn't support ATRAC. We'll give you a second to process all of that.
Done?
Okay. Dubbed the B100 series, the 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB players will all have voice-recording functions and play nice with DRM-free MP3 and WMA files that are dragged and dropped from a PC. Some will also be equipped with an FM tuner and recorder. Expected in May for an unknown (though presumably low) price, the B100 series should be available in at least three colors. Amazing advances in the DAP world, eh?
Comments
Utew on April 26, 2007 1:09 AM
I just fell out of my chair........
dfkt on April 26, 2007 8:13 AM
O_o ZOMGLOLBBQ!!!!
(I'll believe it when I hold it in my own hands.)
-PL-mike on April 26, 2007 1:15 PM
OMG! I have always loved the design and look of Sony's MP3 players....but I never bought them because of Sonic Stage! Thats amazing news! I may look into picking one of these up when available. That is good news! Hope its true.
MT on April 26, 2007 5:31 PM
Wish we could do that to the rest of their Walkman MP3's. SS is junk, finally.
Dave on April 27, 2007 8:09 PM
One snail step at a time, that's Sony.
Love their design but I have no pitty for their current position
Bruce on April 28, 2007 5:22 PM
Now that Sony is doing what China, Korea, Taiwan have been doing for years, perhaps we can expect FLAC and Ogg Vorbis support sometime in 2020.
Mark on April 29, 2007 1:18 AM
Seems to follow what Samsung and iRiver have been doing for ages and ages ago.
Come on Sony! Try to have some competition!
Reo on April 29, 2007 1:53 PM
Well, Sony has been supporting other formats like MP3, AAC, and WAV for years now (plays natively without conversion or transcoding)
Also, they provide headphones that are over $50 values, which no other companies do.
I think Sony has best values and sound qualities; the reasons why I switched to Sony lately.
Bruce on April 29, 2007 7:34 PM
Reo, plays natively without conversion or transcoding means nothing. Everyone on earth does that, and did it without SonicStage encrypting the files on the device. Drag n drop without proprietary software has been available for ages.
The good headphones were just for the new model, right? The rest have been cheap stock headphones, from what I understand. And Sony still don't do FLAC or Ogg Vorbis. Many can do WAV, but WAV is way too big and has no advanced tag support like FLAC. Cowon is doing FLAC, Ogg Vorbis and so much more, *and* has v.good sound *and* high-powered output for decent volumes on even high-impedance phones.
Why should I choose Sony again?
Erhardt on May 2, 2007 2:01 PM
You wouldn't, of course.
I mean, much as I welcome that Sony finally steps into the '90s, this is 2007.
Reo on May 3, 2007 7:44 PM
Well, once you are used to bad sound quality DAPs... or lost concept of sound qualities... what can I say? So far Sony and Creatives deliver best sound qualities. Sound itself is enough reasons for many people. Maybe not you.
Bruce on May 5, 2007 9:50 PM
Reo, have you given any Cowon devices a listen?
e260 on May 7, 2007 1:51 AM
Ya as far as I know Cowon is the leader for Sound Quality
MOHAMMAD ALI on July 19, 2007 10:16 AM
THATS THE WAY TO DO "DRAG N DROP"I HOPE ITS TRUE COZ SONIC STAGE IS USELESS, TIME CONSUMING AND BORING AND STUPID I DONT UNDERSTAND THIS SOFTWARE..HOPE TO SEE THIS PRODUCT OUT..........