Serious Questions

[Osiris Thunder]

Fist off I have the NZ and I love it. Brickers stay home..

1. Is there a better Audio Player for the NZ? I would hate to think that with a 200Mhz processor the best I can get is a 96Kbps MP3 file.

2. Is there any real reason to use the ATRAC3 file format? As far as I can tell there is not, but I am willing to listen to arguments for and against it.

3. Does the NZ already support Memory Stick Pro? Or is this another case of one department not knowing what another is working on?

4. Battery Life? I am doing a second full drain and charge on my battery to hopefully improve the battery life. Hope this really helps. Seems I could drain the battery after only a few candid shots.

[Jallez]

"the best I can get is a 96Kbps MP3 file"

Why can't you make better MP3 (128kbps or even more if you wish)?

[Osiris Thunder]

I guess what I meant to say was the max MP3 file that the Sony Audio Player app on the Clie will play is 96Kbps.

[markga]

Mine plays mp3's of 300+kps, depends on the way they were first ripped (recorded), I'm totally impressed with the sound quality

[ehartung]

96 kbp is the MINIMUM !!!!hehe

I'm dead serious.

Not the maximum.. so it's TOTALLY HIGH QUALITY

[mkpc]

I use the ATRAC3 format only because the file size is so much smaller than the MP3, and so I can fit more on the MS. But as a previous thread indicated, I'm having problems with the 90 being able to read the artist's name and song title when I transfer atracs. (Didn't have this problem with the NX60). I've been using MP3's with the 90 only because it will recognize the artist's name and song title.

I think you have to obtain a patch from Sony (not available yet, from what I understand - anyone can correct me if I'm wrong) for the 90 to work with the MS Pro.

I, too, am still having problems with the battery, even though I did one drain and let it charge for 18 hours. After that charge, I did a hotsync and installed a flash program using MS Import, and the battery went down to 85%! As soon as I turned on the camery, it fell to 78%, without even taking a picture.

[mkpc]

Forgot to add - I don't notice any huge difference in sound quality (which, overall, I think is exceptional) between the ATRAC and the MP3 - so the file size is what makes the difference to me.

[mkpc]

You know, I just checked the size of my ATRAC files against the same songs in MP3 format, and there isn't THAT much difference - the only difference is because I chose to convert the atrac's at a lower kbps. Thanks for bringing up this question, because now I don't think there IS an advantage to using ATRACs- anyone else have any reasons why it might be better?

[mkpc]

You know, I just checked the size of my ATRAC files against the same songs in MP3 format, and there isn't THAT much difference - the only difference is because I chose to convert the atrac's at a lower kbps. Thanks for bringing up this question, because now I don't think there IS an advantage to using ATRACs- anyone else have any reasons why it might be better?

[Osiris Thunder]

Wow, I feel like such a fool. My housemate who has an NX70 could only get 96Kbps mp3 files to work.. Now I am REALLY impressed with this device. Sound qaulity is so much better at 256Kbps then at 96Kbps......

Thanks for the pointers everyone. This has to be the best user group for a PDA platform out there.

Must still be remembering the days of Audio Player v2.0 on the N710C.

[cbulock]

Originally posted by mkpc
You know, I just checked the size of my ATRAC files against the same songs in MP3 format, and there isn't THAT much difference - the only difference is because I chose to convert the atrac's at a lower kbps. Thanks for bringing up this question, because now I don't think there IS an advantage to using ATRACs- anyone else have any reasons why it might be better?

The thing with ATRAC is that to save space you can record at a lower bitrate, and the lower bitrate of an ATRAC is supposed to sound as good as a higher bitrate MP3. Or so they say.

[Osiris Thunder]

Thanks again to everyone for their hints and tips. I am now enjoying my NZ to it's fullest. Let me say that a 256Kbps MP3 is MUCH better then a 96Kbps MP3..

[cjones]

You all might not want to forget that the new MS Pro's that are coming out in April (I think that's what was said at the consumer electronics show in Jan.) are *MAGIC GATE* only.

I though that meant that you couldn't put mp3's on them to play... only atrac's.

If I'm wrong then I'm sorry.

-chris

[Osiris Thunder]

If that is the case then I imagine most will not purchase them and stick to the standard Memory Stick format. I for one may not purchase the new format because I do not want to give up yet more app space for an update driver. Sony needs to learn how to release these updates as ROM updates.

[EdFrmBrighthand]

There will be a patch out for the NX series and the NZ90 that will allow it to use Memory Stick PRO cards. This isn't available yet but neither are the cards. I was told this by the head of PR for Sony in the U.S. so it isn't a rumor.

That you can't put MP3s on MagicGate Memory Sticks is probably the most widly held mistaken belief in the whole Clie realm. Yes, you definitely can put MP3s on MagicGate Memory Sticks. However, you can't put ATRAC3s on regular (purple) Memory Sticks.

p.s. cjones, I'm not yelling at you or anything. Like I said, lots and lots of people think this, too. I'm just trying to be sure that everyone who reads this thread won't continue to be wrong about this.

[alildevil]

read this,
Memory Stick Pro Compatibility with Current and Future Devices
While many new Memory St ick PRO media-enabled devices are expected to ship in spring 2003, certain devices currently in the market are able to accept the new format cards either natively or through a downloadable software patch. Only Sony?s Palm OS 5 handhelds including the NX and NZ series are compatible with Memory Stick Pro. More info can be found at www.memorystick.com

[denette]

good thread... I'ma newbie and i can't get the songs recorded on my Vaio with Total Recorder 3.4 to play on my 90. The song shows up but it says Song is unavailable MS write protect, doesn't support copyright or trasck corrupted. What do I need to do to the MP3s I create. Thanx in advance.

[reggae]

the nx plays mp3's at any bitrate also... i think the two of you in your household may want to both read your respective manuals over again.