Sony launches iPod killer in Japan

Sony are all set to go head-to-head with Apple as it unveils its first branded digital music player which will go on sale in Japan in July. The VAIO Pocket is almost the same size as the iPod the top range iPod has a 40 GB memory and sells for around £399, the VAIO Pocket will hold 20 GB of music and will sell for approx £265. As yet, there are no plans to launch the product outside of Japan.

The VAIO Pocket will only hold the Sony's bespoke ATRAC3 and ATRAC3+ files. Owners will be given Sony-designed Sonic Stage and Music Move software and will allow users to convert MP3 files into the Sony format. In its favour, the VAIO will have a battery that lasts up to 20 hours of music. The new player will also carries a 2.2 inch colour LCD display that will show album information and artwork.

Pic: http://www.inthemix.com.au/images/news/lead/15385.jpg



REAL bad move I reckon

hahaha, what a bunch of knob-ends. Sony never learn, why do they keep trying to be unique and different? They screwed up by only allowing their own over-priced memory sticks to be used in their cameras rather than typical compact flash cards, and now they're doing the same with their mp3 player before it's even released to the market.

_b

i like that new one, cant remember who makes it but its same size as an ipod and plays video as well as mp3/wma. comes with mpeg 4 codec and has built in 20gb of space looks pretty cool

So which of these so-called iPod Killers™ are actually going to kill the iPod?

It doesnt look as cool as an ipod. Price point is pretty naff. Try again sony.

Yeah, as heresy says, the whole proprietary format things is dumb.

Wow! This is exciting, good to see Sony finally moving towards competing with the portable audio market

One thing though, have to convert the ATARC files into MP3, if it's not too time consuming then that might not be so much of a hassle

I'm still getting an iPod in about a month's time!

A proprietary format can work if it provides new features. Ie loseless encoding and a working drm model aka AAC. The gaystation got a footing by being first onto the market with new features, I dont see a tiny screen as being innovative, especially with the psp portable on the horizon.

Other companies copying apple. now thats a change

I think the playstation captured a different market from the hardened gamers though. And over time the product has been marketed as part of a home entertainment system, to sit originally with your tv, stereo, vcr etc.

But why would people want to jump onto some new format now when we already have established formats (AAC included)? It doesn't even have a decent name ATRAC3, what the hell stupid name is that?

ATRAC sounds like shit.

Good luck Sony! Why opt for B-grade????????