The Memory Stick Walkman consists of the player, companion software, USB cable and AC adaptor, and other accessories such as headphones and a neck strap. Slightly larger than a pack of gum (9.6 by 3.5 by 2.03 cms HWD) and just 68 grams, the Memory Stick Walkman fits comfortably in your hand or a pocket. It has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a slot at the bottom for holding the included 64MB MagicGate Memory Stick media card.
The Memory Stick Walkman works only with the included OpenMG Jukebox, which connects to the Internet to download music saved in an encrypted format, records music from audio CDs (encoded at 132 Kbps, 105 Kbps, or 66 Kbps), and imports existing audio files. OpenMG Jukebox supports MP3 and Windows Media files, but its native format is ATRAC3. OpenMG Jukebox also gathers title and track info from CDDB's online database for display on the unit's tiny backlit LCD panel, manages files in playlists you create, and transfers files between your PC and portable players.
OpenMG is Sony's term for the SDMI-compliant copyright protection technology it developed for electronic music distribution. Unfortunately, the add-on modules you need to download to be able to purchase music online were not available at the time of our testing.
The Memory Stick Walkman has some drawbacks. The included headphones have a cord that is too short, and its asymmetrical design (the left ear bud has a shorter cord than the right one, presumably because it is designed to slip into the left shirt or jacket pocket) makes it even more awkward to use. The unit works only with Microsoft Windows 98. And by computer industry standards, it is somewhat of a closed system. Despite these limitations, the Sony Memory Stick Walkman is an innovative product that gives us a glimpse of the future of music.
Sony Memory Stick Walkman
Company: Sony
Ph: 02 9878 9712; Fax: 02 9888 6264
Price: AU$799.
Rating: 4 Star
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