ermination to assert its way on the world. The players themselves also support the more generic MP3, AAC and WMA formats, making it accessible to more users. Although the audio transfers are done with Sony’s own software, video transfers are made with a simple drag and drop, and the players support MPEG4 and AVC video formats. Another subtle difference exists between Apple stole a march on Sony in the portable music market when the iPod appeared as the hottest MP3 player available. With consumers now demanding more mobile entertainment, video music players could spell the end for MP3 players – and Sony looks like it means business with the launch of its new Walkman.

During the era when portable music came in a much more tangible form of cassettes and CDs, Sony practically carried the market with its Walkman concept. However, since the dawn of the iPod, Sony has since found itself no longer the leader of the portable audio player market. The latest offerings from Sony look as though they might be able to force iPod to wobble a little a bit on their perch as they seek to take back what had for so long been theirs – domination of the portable music market.

The NW-A 800 range extends the portable music player line up that Sony currently has. The design is still recognisable from the previous NW-A 1000 range, but it is now a lot slimmer, measuring only 1cm thick. Where its predecessor failed with Sony’s Connect Player music management software, the NW-A 800 models are supplied with SonicStage in the bid to rival Apple’s iTunes. By killing off Connect Player and resurrecting SonicStage – originally designed to be used with the ill fated NetMD players – Sony is effectively demonstrating how it intends to learn from its mistakes. The organisation is still persevering with the ATRAC audio format, maintaining Sony’s determination to assert its way on the world. The players themselves also support the more generic MP3, AAC and WMA formats, making it accessible to more users. Although the audio transfers are done with Sony’s own software, video transfers are made with a simple drag and drop, and the players support MPEG4 and AVC video formats. Another subtle difference exists between t

ible form of cassettes and CDs, Sony practically carried the market with its Walkman concept. However, since the dawn of the iPod, Sony has since found itself no longer the leader of the portable audio player market. The latest offerings from Sony look as though they might be able to force iPod to wobble a little a bit on their perch as they seek to take back what had for so long been theirs – domination of the portable music market.

The NW-A 800 range extends the portable music player line up that Sony currently has. The design is still recognisable from the previous NW-A 1000 range, but it is now a lot slimmer, measuring only 1cm thick. Where its predecessor failed with Sony’s Connect Player music management software, the NW-A 800 models are supplied with SonicStage in the bid to rival Apple’s iTunes. By killing off Connect Player and resurrecting SonicStage – originally designed to be used with the ill fated NetMD players – Sony is effectively demonstrating how it intends to learn from its mistakes. The organisation is still persevering with the ATRAC audio format, maintaining Sony’s determination to assert its way on the world. The players themselves also support the more generic MP3, AAC and WMA formats, making it accessible to more users. Although the audio transfers are done with Sony’s own software, video transfers are made with a simple drag and drop, and the players support MPEG4 and AVC video formats. Another subtle difference exists between

for so long been theirs – domination of the portable music market.

The NW-A 800 range extends the portable music player line up that Sony currently has. The design is still recognisable from the previous NW-A 1000 range, but it is now a lot slimmer, measuring only 1cm thick. Where its predecessor failed with Sony’s Connect Player music management software, the NW-A 800 models are supplied with SonicStage in the bid to rival Apple’s iTunes. By killing off Connect Player and resurrecting SonicStage – originally designed to be used with the ill fated NetMD players – Sony is effectively demonstrating how it intends to learn from its mistakes. The organisation is still persevering with the ATRAC audio format, maintaining Sony’s determination to assert its way on the world. The players themselves also support the more generic MP3, AAC and WMA formats, making it accessible to more users. Although the audio transfers are done with Sony’s own software, video transfers are made with a simple drag and drop, and the players support MPEG4 and AVC video formats. Another subtle difference exists between

-A 800 models are supplied with SonicStage in the bid to rival Apple’s iTunes. By killing off Connect Player and resurrecting SonicStage – originally designed to be used with the ill fated NetMD players – Sony is effectively demonstrating how it intends to learn from its mistakes. The organisation is still persevering with the ATRAC audio format, maintaining Sony’s determination to assert its way on the world. The players themselves also support the more generic MP3, AAC and WMA formats, making it accessible to more users. Although the audio transfers are done with Sony’s own software, video transfers are made with a simple drag and drop, and the players support MPEG4 and AVC video formats. Another subtle difference exists between ermination to assert its way on the world. The players themselves also support the more generic MP3, AAC and WMA formats, making it accessible to more users. Although the audio transfers are done with Sony’s own software, video transfers are made with a simple drag and drop, and the players support MPEG4 and AVC video formats. Another subtle difference exists between the old and new Walkman MP3 players, as the NW-A 800 comes with flash memory instead of a hard disk. As is the standard with portable video players, it will be possible to upload JPEG images to view too.

On paper, the Sony Walkman MP3 player appears to be able to compete with the Apple iPod; it looks good, it can play continuously for 30 hours (8 hours for video), it uses software that works as well as conventional methods and it is compatible with plenty of other popular file formats. Unfortunately, Sony may discover that this Walkman might not be able to compete with the iPod Video on price. Apple’s 30GB iPod Video can be found on the Internet at prices as low as ?150, where as the NW-A808 8GB Walkman retails at best at ?179.99. Although people with smaller music collections may well have more money spare, the compactness and guaranteed uninterrupted playback of the Walkman cannot possibly win over such a large saving per GB. The iPod’s inferior battery life may also play into the hands of Sony, as well as the extra file format compatibilities, but it is hard to imagine that there will be many people who are willing to pay over the odds for portable MP4 video players at this early stage of the market lifecycle. Clearly, Sony is betting a lot on the early adopters.

In terms of accessories, Apple has captured the imaginations of many other manufacturers, and there exist plenty of add-ons and spin-offs to keep the savviest happy. These range from po