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Sony scoop: NW-S706 with 4 GB of flash
comment: 31 | Saturday, September 30 (2006) 07:16PM | Posted by Lone
Last week we reported on rumors of a new Sony flash player, one which was to feature the NW-E series design and the NW-S series navigation, 2 GB of capacity, and Bluetooth capabilites. Found on the Play.com webshop by one of our members, the NW-S706 may well be said rumoured player.



Yup, sure looks like an NW-E/S hybrid to me. Here are the listed specs:

  • 4GB Memory
  • Noise cancelling technology (high value EX headphones)
  • Channel separation
  • Quick charge function
  • 50 Hours battery life
  • Line - in recording
  • FM Tuner
  • 3 colors: Black, Pink, and Purple

It looks like Sony is finally hopping into the high-capacity flash pool, though the tiny color-screen leaves something to be desired. We may see an additional model with Bluetooth as an option. As always, we'll let you know once we find out more.

Play.com (Thanks, brez)
Comments

pecker

Comments: 501
 		Sep 30 (2006) 07:47PM  

Nice little player by Sony, But for a guess these will cost the same as a 8gb nano



Design Fabulous

Comments: 1038
 		Sep 30 (2006) 08:14PM  

The point of such a tiny color screen is???

Looks kind of cool but I don't see much purpose in a player like this.



dap_pad

Comments: 519
 		Sep 30 (2006) 08:34PM  

The picture looks a bit too artificial, but cool nonetheless. Hopefully Sony will have learnt their lesson and make these UMS.



Michael
Location: New York City
Comments: 2786
 		Sep 30 (2006) 08:42PM  

I was going to post this later tonight, thanks for posting it now Brandon (had to do some shopping). That has to be the smallest album art I've seen on a player.



Anthony7

Comments: 98
 		Sep 30 (2006) 09:04PM  

That has to be the smallest album art I've seen on a player.

I agree, I like album art, but with that small a size, what's the point.



Lone

Comments: 973
 		Sep 30 (2006) 09:23PM  

No prob Michael.


And yeah, that album art is tiny. It looks even tinier than album art on my Insignia Amigo, which looks pretty bad as it is.


jbhitter24

Comments: 351
 		Sep 30 (2006) 10:28PM  

i thought the album art on the nano was small, this is redonkulous!

and 50hrs is pretty darn decent.



painkiller

Comments: 109
 		Sep 30 (2006) 10:35PM  

Yeah Sony players always seem to get ridiculous battery life hours.



dap_pad

Comments: 519
 		Sep 30 (2006) 10:48PM  

Well not with their stick and "tampon" ones LOL those only got about 28, it's others were crazy though at 50 hours... it's amazing... LOL but i agree, album art that small is kinda useless, it just looks like a bunch of dots LOL



dave95

Comments: 122
 		Sep 30 (2006) 11:02PM  

If I had a choice, I would rather have the album art than not. It would help visually to faster identify a song.

I am always temted to get a sony. 50 hours with their quick charge is so much more tempting. Software the only thing keeping me away.



dap_pad

Comments: 519
 		Sep 30 (2006) 11:38PM  

Exactly, Sonic Stage really should just burn... LOL I still don't know why companies just don't stick to UMS... it's the best method. It makes i have a larger consumer market as well as it supports more OS and makes it easier for the customer...

Sony's design and battery life just keep on temping me though... i was going to get a E507 when i came out... luckly my parents didn't let me and i got my A2 about 5 months after LOL

I don't think album art that size will help much in identifing a song, but it just might be a personal thing. I still like the E500/E400 design's better.

It still looks like a fake to me, the picture looks too fake...



Design Fabulous

Comments: 1038
 		Oct 01 (2006) 01:01AM  

^ UMS is just the best. I'd like id3 tagging support with the A2 though. That would be heaven...



dap_pad

Comments: 519
 		Oct 01 (2006) 01:55AM  

... it's not that common that UMS includes iD3... which isn't that great... cause i like Id3 tags too... and we should really stay on topic, design LOL

Is it just me or does the picture look fake...



Utew
Location: Oregon USA
Comments: 351
 		Oct 01 (2006) 02:27AM  

I'm curious as to just how many shapes Sony can come up with... cylinder, bean shaped, bar of soap..

Let's see.. no one has attempted a thumbtack shaped player.. and there's a whole cornucopia of fruit shapes left... personally, I'm waiting for them to design a pineapple shaped player... Mmmmmm.. pineapple...



timmins

Comments: 270
 		Oct 01 (2006) 03:47AM  

archos is UMS and they used to have a program that would optionally sort your files into and ID3 database. There were problems with it though, It was too damn good, and it eliminated the need for MSs MTP protocol.



undesign

Comments: 786
 		Oct 01 (2006) 05:56AM  

looks like the player is going to have a fully rotating jog WHEEL, not lever!



pdream

Comments: 65
 		Oct 01 (2006) 07:26AM  

Archos devices have ID3 with UMS, they use ARCLibrary. It takes about two seconds to update at 2000 songs, and allows you to browse by Artist, Album, Track, Genre, Year, and playlist.

It, however, doesn't seem to sort on track number, afaik.



Steve

Comments: 1197
 		Oct 01 (2006) 07:30AM  

Does it get 50 hours because the volume level is anemic? Plus i'll never buy a Sony because of the crap they pulled with their CD's.



Dinko

Comments: 23
 		Oct 01 (2006) 01:51PM  

How much volume do you actually need?
I suppose high volume would be good with giant headphones, but with in-ears, Sony players have enough power to do permanent hearing damage rather quickly.

It probably has 50hrs if you use ATRAC.

Oh yeah, and it comes with something else: the Sony sound: best sound quality among portable daps. I'm continually amazed at how fantastic Sony players sound compared to Samsungs, iPods, Toshibas, RCAs or others. I haven't tried Creative, but so far Sony players have the deepest & warmest, three dimensional sound on daps. None of the thinny mid-range stuck iPod nonsense, or the digitalitis-suffering Samsungs, or the flat and boring RCAs and Toshibas.



Breakdown

Comments: 228
 		Oct 01 (2006) 03:25PM  

LOL that picture sony has is so fake



dap_pad

Comments: 519
 		Oct 01 (2006) 03:36PM  

Exactly, what i've been saying LOL I think Sony sound is okay but Cowon is still better, but all this personal preference so ya.

I believe 50 hours is Atrac too, it probably around 40 for mp3s which is pretty good.



epithetless
Location: Boston, Mass
Comments: 149
 		Oct 01 (2006) 06:41PM  

Guys, what promotional picture isn't "fake"? Companies Photoshop the hell out of these things; it's the order of the day.

EDIT: Case in point.
[ edited Oct 01 (2006) 06:45PM ]



Breakdown

Comments: 228
 		Oct 01 (2006) 07:09PM  

^I know but a company like sony has got to be able to afford better graphics artists so mock-ups don't look unpleasant and pix-elated. And Apple's people use Illustrator.
[ edited Oct 01 (2006) 07:11PM ]



Design Fabulous

Comments: 1038
 		Oct 01 (2006) 09:39PM  

Exactly. But Sony is not in the best condition these days. They probabily got too lazy to hire someone good.
[ edited Oct 01 (2006) 09:39PM ]



dap_pad

Comments: 519
 		Oct 01 (2006) 10:28PM  

Ya, it's DAP market share isn't great especially with it's software hindering it's progress... It has great designs and capabilities but they ruin it with it's software.



epithetless
Location: Boston, Mass
Comments: 149
 		Oct 02 (2006) 12:27AM  

^I know but a company like sony has got to be able to afford better graphics artists so mock-ups don't look unpleasant and pix-elated. And Apple's people use Illustrator.

Illustrator! Duh! I couldn't remember its name when the damn icon is staring me right in the face. :p

IMO, that Sony pic looks marred more by poor compression than bad rendering, but I suppose the results are the same...
[ edited Oct 02 (2006) 12:29AM ]



brez

Comments: 7
 		Oct 02 (2006) 04:58AM  

Its changed from "availability: Due for release on 09/10/2006" (which is 9th October for the confused Americans) and now says "availability:Unavailable"

And the link (which searches play.com for "Sony NWS706" doesn't work, but the direct link does [Linky]



biozet

Comments: 1
 		Oct 02 (2006) 05:00AM  

there are much higher quality pics around.I have already had a hands on with this product.Its announced on or around Oct 12.It rocks(litrally-as the wheeel rocks and does not totally spin,Undesign..)The res.of the album art is actually pretty good..you guys should hold off in bagging this really cool player(recorder..)..until you see it.



sdsdv10

Comments: 243
 		Oct 02 (2006) 08:23AM  

It, however, doesn't seem to sort on track number, afaik.


My Archos Pocketdish 402e sorts on track number (using embedded ARCLibrary) just fine. I prefer ID3 tags, but it's really great to have a browse folder feature for the wifes non-English based stuff.

Not sure why other companies like Sony don't incorporate this feature more often. I wonder what Sony's share of the DAP market is in the US. From what read here on DAPReview, it doesn't seem to be much above ~1% or so. They just seem to be able to capture the consumers attention, and this unit won't do it either. They should really drop the requirement for Sonic Stage. Leave it an option, but don't make it manditory.



tflinty

Comments: 34
 		Oct 02 (2006) 12:24PM  

Looks to be a November launch then...



Michael
Location: New York City
Comments: 2786
 		Oct 02 (2006) 07:48PM  

^lol, tflinty I'm still waiting for those Sony players that are going to make these statements of your valid:

'Walkman' hasnt had its day, its only just beginning to evolve into the product of the future. You might just be pleasantly suprised by october of the power of the walkman"

"Just wait and they will deliver.... "

"I cannot reveal anymore details except that what I have been saying is reflecting something big... "

"I really wouldn't worry about Sony, they have plently of tricks up there sleeve for 2H06 which could just wipe Ipod to the ground. Have faith in Sony, after all if anyone can crack the Ipod, its them. "

[ edited Oct 02 (2006) 07:49PM ]



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Personally, I didn't buy any of those clips, great deal nonetheless - enjoy!!!!

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TDS...

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Yea! It's here Android 2.1 for the DROID

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Sandisk Sansa Clip 8GB MP3 Player for $32.99 on woot: [Linky]

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[Linky]

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Forgot the link: [Linky]

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OMG!!!! I can't post the meaning of my name, but #2 & #3 is actually me. But, I did get a decent amount of action cause I'm great @#1,............

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That's great...my skills are average at best

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