New Portable HDD Players From Sony Widen the Family of Devices Compatible With Connect Online Music Store
BERLIN, Germany, July 1 (ots/PRNewswire)
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- For the Love of Music Sony delivers the most comprehensive product range for enjoying PC and Internet music with the new Network WALKMAN with HDD and VAIO Pocket Music Player
As of the summer of 2004, Sony will offer a complete range of portable digital audio devices that covers every segment of the personal network audio market. New products from the WALKMAN and VAIO families that closely follow the launch of Sony Connect service offer consumers everything they need for enjoying music in the broadband era.
Chris Deering, CEO of Sony Europe, comments: "Sony has built upon its vast experience with portable audio, IT and music distribution to provide Europe with the first online music service to be seamlessly integrated with a complete range of portable music devices. With its unique line-up of products, Sony offers solutions to a multitude of consumer needs in the broadband age. "
"We already have sold over two million portable audio players in Europe alone, all of them compatible with our new online music store in Germany, UK and France. In August this year, Sony will complement its existing product line-up (new Hi-MD WALKMAN, ATRAC CD WALKMAN and Network WALKMAN with flash memory) with two new compact, hard disk based, personal audio products. Both of these distinctive products will appeal to those who demand stylish and state-of-the-art high-capacity networked solutions, while targeting two different consumer groups using our VAIO and WALKMAN brands"
Connect to your music
The new portable HDD products demonstrate Sony's commitment to provide a responsible, sustainable model for the use of Internet distributed music. The strategy is based around the integration of a range of products and technologies that are suitable for different applications or tastes, and are centred on the new online music distribution system, CONNECT. The seamless integration of these latest VAIO and WALKMAN portable devices with the easy-to-use SonicStage music management software and the high quality Connect music store gives the consumer a one-stop musical experience.
While supporting existing major audio compression formats, Sony has renewed its commitment to sound quality with support across the range for ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus, high performance compression schemes based on sophisticated psychoacoustic principles and the basis of proven MiniDisc technology. Consumers can now choose from a variety of products (new Hi-MD WALKMAN, ATRAC CD WALKMAN, Network WALKMAN with flash memory and now hard disk based products) based on their technical enthusiasm, need for removable media, their taste in design, listening environment and so on ... but whatever their choice they can be confident that their Sony solution will connect effectively.
Credit card sized Network WALKMAN with HDD holds 900 CDs and provides 30 hours of continuous playback
"With the launch of the world's smallest, lightest and thinnest(1) 1.8 inch HDD audio player, Sony augments its WALKMAN line up to offer a full range of portable audio products that all work seamlessly with the Connect music download service. 25 years of Walkman heritage have gone into making all these products the best that money can buy," says Sony Europe CEO Chris Deering.
The NW-HD1, measuring just 89mm x 62.1mm x 13.8mm(2), features a 1.8 inch HDD with 20GB capacity and can store up to 900 CDs, which is the equivalent of 13,000 songs(3). Specially developed low power consumption circuitry means that the unit can provide a marathon 30 hours(4) of continuous playback with just one battery charge. And because Sony understands that like with any other portable audio device the NW-HD1 will get its fair share of bumps and knocks, this Network WALKMAN features G-Sensor(5) to protect your music on the hard drive - if it is dropped a velocity sensor temporarily removes the head from the disk. Furthermore, 25 minutes of on-board memory ensures skip-free playback even in demanding situations.
The NW-HD1 is supplied with a cradle charger that provides Hi-speed USB connection (USB 2.0) to a PC and can charge the unit to 80% within one hour(6). For easy access to the vast amount of music you can store on the device, it features a horizontally positioned large 7-line display with jog lever. With unique style this Network WALKMAN is set to become one of the most sought after items of 2004.
References:
1. As a 1.8 inch HDD audio player.
2. Excluding projecting parts
3. Using ATRAC3plus 48Kbps mode at 60 minutes per CD and 1 song representing 4 minutes
4. In ATRAC3plus 48Kbps mode. 27 hours playback with ATRAC3plus 64Kbps
5. G-Sensor does not guarantee protection for the player from all types of impact
6. Full charge in 3 hours.
VAIO Pocket Music Player to view your music and more ...
The VAIO Pocket Music Player, VGF-AP1, marks a key point in the evolution of the VAIO concept and is aimed squarely at the discerning, techno-savvy consumer. Designed to provide storage for up to 900 CD's (with the 20GB version(+)) or up to 1,800 CD's (with the 40GB version*) and over 20 hours of non-stop playback, the VAIO Pocket can also act as a digital photo album or as an external hard disk drive. It can communicate with PC's and link with digital cameras, making it easy to build up huge collections of sounds and pictures.
(+) using ATRAC3plus 48Kbps mode at 60 minutes per CD
The VAIO Pocket has a hybrid technology 2.2 inch full colour display designed to be viewed in daylight without difficulty. In general use the screen displays the intuitive Grid sense interface making the VAIO Pocket very simple to operate. Touching the bump-textured area beside the screen selects and activates the on-screen buttons directly, and in a way that instantly feels natural.
A cradle charger provides connections for a PC (via USB 2.0), digital camera (via mini-USB 1.1) and an audio output for loudspeakers. The unit has a sophisticated remote control that makes track selection simple thanks to a highly readable three-line backlit display ideal for browsing song titles.
The HDD Network WALKMAN will be available in selected European countries during August 2004 and the first VAIO Pocket Music Player will be available during October 2004.
NW-E55 and NW-E75(++) Network WALKMAN Digital Music Player around the neck
Measuring a little more than an inch and weighing about 40 grams, the sassy models are small enough to fit on a key chain, yet is home up to 256 MB of built-in memory that stores up to 170 four-minute songs at 48 kbps. This tiny, tune-token is also huge on battery life, achieving up to 70 hours of continuous playback on one AAA battery. And since there are no moving parts, users can enjoy uninterrupted playback even during serious activity.
The distinctive acrylic finish, in silver for the NW-E75 and blue, red or pearl for the NW-E55, makes them too good looking to hide away on a belt or in a pocket, and who would want to, because at 40 grams they are light enough to be worn around the neck. Sony has supplied a convenient neck strap specifically for this purpose.
It has a backlit LCD display with four modes to show track numbers, play modes, artist names, song titles and more. The group/folder function allows for easy navigation between multiple folders transferred from playlists.
Both the NW-E55 and NW-E75 Network WALKMAN models will be available across Europe in early July.
(++) Previously announced at CeBIT 2004.
About Hi-MD WALKMAN
The latest devices offer the ultimate in storage capacity, sound quality, transfer speed and portability due to the small size, shock resistance and long battery life. The Hi-MD WALKMAN can record up to 45 albums onto a single, new generation 1GB Hi-MD disc and supports the storage of uncompressed CD audio, ATRAC compressed audio, image data and PC files with up to 100x real time transfer speed - all on a convenient removable disc. The Hi-MD WALKMAN comes in 5 different models each offering different benefits in terms of size, sound modes and accessories.
About ATRAC CD Walkman
The latest ATRAC CD WALKMAN models combine all the benefits of a Sony CD WALKMAN with playback of ATRAC and MP3 compressed music. The SonicStage jukebox software allows users to easily rip their CD's, buy and download music from online services such as Connect, create their own playlists and burn up to 30CDs worth of music onto just 1 CD-R. There are no less than 9 models in the new range each offering its own solution to different lifestyles and requirements. All have long battery life, feature the superior G-PROTECTION continuous jog-proof technology, and come with the easy-to-use SonicStage 2.0 software.
About Connect
Sony Europe launched its European electronic music download service in June, starting in the UK, France and Germany. Connect offers more than 300,000 songs, including albums and singles from both major and independent record labels and focuses on creating locally adapted services. Tracks are available in the ATRAC3 format at a price starting at EUR0.99 per track, or GBP0.79 in the UK. Through Connect, consumers will be able to purchase music online in an easy-to-use, integrated and secure way downloading it to a wide range of Sony portable devices, such as Network WALKMAN, Hi-MD WALKMAN, Net MD WALKMAN and ATRAC CD WALKMAN. At the time of Connect's launch there were more than 2 million compatible portable Sony devices in Europe.
Visit www.connect-europe.com.
www.sony-europe.com/presscenter
In addition, for any queries about Sony in your respective country, please contact your local Sony PR office.
You make it a Sony
Sony products bring digital technology to life, offering a world of applications in entertainment and networking whether you are a novice or an enthusiast. You can shoot your own movies on DVD, edit them with a VAIO and share them with friends and family with a DVD player/recorder. You can take perfect still shots every time with easy to use digital cameras such as Cyber-shot, then make quality prints, enjoy them cable free on your WEGA television or simply store your albums on your VAIO. With a Sony network audio device, you can create your own Internet-sourced music compilations and enjoy them at great quality at home or on the move. These are just some of the ways in which Sony gives you complete control over your digital environment, enabling you to enjoy whatever you want, wherever and whenever.
About Sony:
Sony manufactures audio, video, communications and information technology products for the global consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to become a leading personal broadband entertainment company in the 21st century. In Europe, Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 13.88 billion (yen 1,666 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, based on an average market exchange rate for the same period of yen 120 to the EUR. Sony Europe, with its corporate headquarters at the Sony Center am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, is responsible for the company's European electronics business and registered consolidated sales of EUR 8.62 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003.
For more information on Sony Europe, please visit http://www.sony-europe.com
Contact:
For more information, please contact: Jean-Baptiste Duprieu /
Corporate Communications Europe, Sony Europe GmbH, tel:
+49-30-2575-5169 / fax: +49-30-2575-5174, email:
jean-baptiste.duprieu@eu.sony.com