Incorrect keyboard/ATRAC problem?

[rmoss]

I just read a notice on the Clie NZ support page that some early production units shipped with an incorrect keyboard. It has a Japanese character instead of a '\' . I have also discovered that I am the proud owner of an early production unit.

What I am wondering is if these units are also the same units that can't read Artist/Album/Track information on the ATRAC files since I am also experiencing that particular woe.

Would anyone who has the ATRAC problem but not the keyboard problem speak up?

[jettie1767]

Look at the sony support page. There is a patch for the atrac issue with magic gate sticks.

[mkpc]

The patch on the Sony support site does not solve the problem with the music player not recognizing the artist name/song title on ATRAC3's. It deals specifically with error messages when trying to check songs in or out in Sonic Stage.

 

[n2ifp]

It is an acknowledged problem by Sony.

[rmoss]

If it is an acknowledged problem, why did the Sony support tech I talked to last night tell me that the issue was being escalated and that I could expect Sony to be contacting me by phone to research it further?

[Clie-mama]

I also have the early model NZ with the Japanese symbol and my model number is "PEG-NZ90/U." Could it be that this whole "U" batch has some bigger problems since I was never able to download music to a regular MS stick even after installing the patch, (only the Magic Gate one works,) and I also cannot get the artist information on the Audio Player?? I am planning on calling Sony Support later this morning about it.

[rmoss]

You are not supposed to be able to load ATRAC music onto a blue memory stick, only the white MagicGate ones. This is by intent since the MagicGate sticks support the security associated with copyright protection. You should be able to copy and use MP3 files with the blue stick.

[Clie-mama]

I could not even load MP3's onto the blue MS sticks with my NZ for some reason. I tried everything and called Sony tech support several times about it. Files would be copied in the MP3 format and displayed in the Audio folder of the MS stick, but the Audio Player would not play them. I eventually gave up and bought the Magic Gate MS so that I could use the Audio Player.

[the_iceman]

Clie-Mama,

I had/have the same problem. The audio player... seems a little.. hrmmmmmmmmmmmmm how do I say it... 'flakey'?

Some MP3s play just fine... others won't play at all. I don't know if it has to do with a bad MP3 tag... VBR Recording.... type of RIP done... or what. But I do have some which don't play at all. I've seen a few postings about MP3s with VBR which have problems with the audio player. I'd keep testing it out..... see what seems to work for you.. and not work for you.

I haven't dug too deep into it yet. I just wack the song which doesn't play... and keep goin... One of these days I'll figure out what is going on :)

[rmoss]

What compression were you using? I understand that there are issues with compression rates below 96, a problem I had even on the white stick. All my MP3's were created at 64, and had to be re-created. I also noticed that I couldn't place MP3's on the stick with SonicStage, I had to copy the music to the stick directly and place it in the correct folder on the stick.

[the_iceman]

I don't have any MP3s under 128. Most MP3s I rep, now a days, I do at 196. I did have some books-on-tape MP3s I downloaded for free from a website a few years back.. which were much lower in the Kbps area.. but I removed them long ago.

I know there are some MP3s ... which just don't seem to wanna play on the Clie's regular MS. why... I have no clue.. but I keep finding 'em here and there. I almost wonder.. if it is a bad ID3 tag.. or something.. that the MP3 player thinks it really 'needs' in order to play...... Unknown at the present time.

I'll have to take a MP3 which doesn't play on my Clie... and play it on winamp on the PC ... see if it doesn't see the ID3 or whatnot. Might even de-compress the MP3 back to WAV.. and see about re-creatin the MP3 .... who knows..

[eric2002]

hmmm, i have the one of the "U" batch of NZ's also w/ the Japanese character on the keyboard... however my MP3 player seems to be working fine. I've imported many MP3's all with no problems. I haven't converted any to ATRAC and tried importing to the NZ... I figure what's the point? MP3 is a more universal format for me, i can listen in this format on both my computers at home or work, on my NZ, or burn a disk and listen in the car. anyway-

[rmoss]

I received a call from Sony support and was told that the ATRAC problem had been verified and there will be a patch posted on the NZ90 support site some time next week.