MP3 players: SonicStage Dead! Now What for those of us with players?
SonicStage Dead! Now What for those of us with players?
by romanom - 8/30/07 7:49 AMWith Sony getting rid of SonicStage that leaves me with a big question.
What do I do with my player? Since I can only use Atrac or DRM-free music on the thing? Atrac is gone and despite all the news I don't see a large selection of DRM-free music yet.
Is there any way to change the firmware on the player, NW-S203F?
From the press release, I get the impression that no firmware change is coming.
Posted: 08/30/2007
When is the store closing?
Specific timing will vary by region depending on market demand, but it will not be before March 2008. Connect customers will be informed of relevant details in advance.
Why is the store closing?
We are moving to the open Windows Media® platform in North America. In line with that, Sony will phase out the CONNECT™ Music Service in the U.S. and Canada. Specific timing will depend on market demand, but will not be before March 2008. To be clear, the CONNECT eBook service for the Sony Reader will not be affected.
What will happen to my music library (content I own)?
Customers’ existing SonicStage® music libraries are not at risk, but we recommend that customers archive their music libraries to audio CDs.
What about all the music I ripped from my CD collection?
Even after the store closes you will continue to be able to play, manage, and transfer the music in your SonicStage library and on your existing ATRAC devices. We will also provide a tool to allow you to convert any non-DRM music you imported (ripped) into SonicStage into MP3 format. This tool will be available soon via CONNECT Support. The MP3 Conversion Tool is available now for download from http://www.sony.com/walkmansupport.
What can I do with ATRAC content that has DRM (Digital Rights Management)?
For your purchased music from CONNECT, you can burn it to audio CD and re-rip it into MP3 format to continue enjoying it for personal use.
What if I have problems after the store closes?
You will be able to download the latest version of SonicStage software and have contact with CONNECT Support through at least March 2008. CONNECT customers will be informed of relevant details, including future support options. Go to http://www.sony.com/connectsupport and click "Email Customer Support".
What will happen to any devices (music players) I currently own?
Even after the store closes you will continue to be able to play, manage, and transfer the music in your SonicStage library and on your existing ATRAC® devices. Customers’ existing music libraries are not at risk, but we recommend that customers archive their music libraries to audio CDs.
[huh? What about getting new music?]
What about any promotional credits I currently have?
We recommend that you redeem any unused codes before March 2008 so they do not go to waste. Promotional codes have no monetary value as per our Terms and Conditions. Click here to find out how to check and see if you have any credits in your account.
Will I be able to download music I paid for if I get a new computer?
You will be able to download any music you purchased from CONNECT via your Account section until at least March 2008. We recommend that customers archive their music libraries to audio CDs.
Will I still be able to transfer content to my device(s)?
Even after the store closes you will continue to be able to play, manage, and transfer the music in your SonicStage library and on your existing ATRAC devices. You may also transfer new music you may have bought online from an increasing number of DRM-free music retailers offering compatible formats, such as MP3.
Will CONNECT continue to add new songs to the store?
At some point we will stop adding new music to the store, but the timing is still to be determined.
How will customers be informed of relevant details regarding the status of the music store?
Registered users will receive the information via the email address they have provided. Information will also be posted on the CONNECT music store and on the Sony Electronics Customer Support site.
Thanks Sony!
still usable
by yosoydorko - 9/2/07 6:55 PM In reply to: SonicStage Dead! Now What for those of us with players? by romanomYour player will still continue to function after they shut down the Connect Music Service, no? You just wont be able to purchase any more music off from there. You are still able to rip CDs and use non-protected wma, non-protected aacs and mp3 on your NW-S205F. And, the music that you currently have on your computer will still be playable. But to protect your investment in all the tracks you've purchased from connect, you should burn audio cds as backups so you can rerip them into any format you want to in the future.
I own about 10 network walkmans and 3 NetMDs, so I can sympathize with your sentiments. I personally didn't have much problem with sonicstage myself, i ripped all my cds into atrac, so i guess my library was less problematic as other people's.
The newest sonicstage (4.3) is Vista compatible, so you should have a few more years before worrying about whether or not it will be supported in the new version of windows.
But for now, your 'old' player is FAAARRRR from useless
I went out and purchased a NWZ-A818 in black the other day, and i must say, it's a real nice player. Killing off sonicstage and connect was needed in order to gain more marketshare. I don't think it was possible for them to utilize both OpenMG and PlayForSure DRM technologies onto one player, so they had to pick and choose. Must have been hard for Sony too, wasting a lot of money and countless hours on the ATRAC format...
And even though the new players explicitly say they're for Windows, you can drag and drop files into it using the Windows browser, so in theory it should work with all operating systems. I'll stick with WMP11 though to get all my album art and stuff :P
No it's useless
by romanom - 9/11/07 2:38 AM In reply to: still usable by yosoydorkoYeah thanks, I got all that from the Sony FAQ...
Since it's still great would like to buy it from me, $50!
It's useless...it's like a V8 car with 4 cylinders down...it may run, but it's still broken and therefore useless.
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