Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1066 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: NWZA818B.CE7
• Released on: 2007-09-14
• Dimensions: .39" h x .39" w x .39" l, .12 pounds

Features

• SONY MP3 PLAYER
• 8GB MP3 PLAYER
• VIDEO AND PHOTO
• UPTO 2.4" LCD SCREEN
• IN BLACK

Manufacturer's Description

The Sony Video WALKMAN NWZA Series

Easy Operation Crystal clear display coupled with a simple user interface means that you can find your music, video and photos quickly and easily. Intuitively designed, the WALKMAN video offers enhanced searching (and cover art display) meaning you can conveniently access every classification (artist/album/genre etc) from the Now Playing page.

Video Playback Video playback lets you play video 'podcasts', downloaded content from other internet sites, TV content recorded directly to your PC, and even movies you shot on your camcorder. It's versatile and easy to use. You can change screen format from vertical (portrait) to horizontal widescreen (landscape) and you can zoom in during playback. Stores up to 1000 video files. High speed playback, up to 30 frames per second for smooth viewing. With the 8GB version, you can store as much as 32 hours of video (at 384kbs).

Photo Playback Your mobile picture library. Play your photos individually or use the slideshow setting. Plus you can even enhance the experience by adding a soundtrack. Easy to use, you can display your photos in portrait or landscape. The display format of the photo list can also be changed to your preference: ‘Title Only’, ‘Title With Thumbnail’ or ’Thumbnail Only’.

Your Music Downloads Your WALKMAN NWZA is WMT compatible, so you can purchase and download music from most online music providers – look for the ‘Plays for sure’ logo.

Easy Music Transfer Transferring music to your WALKMAN couldn’t be easier – simply select, drag and drop compatible files using ‘My Computer’ and you are ready to go!

Multi Format Music Playback The WALKMAN NWZA series plays a variety of file types including WMA / MP3 / AAC / Linear –PCM Intuitively designed, the WALKMAN video offers enhanced searching (and cover art display) meaning you can conveniently access every classification (artist/album/genre etc) from the Now Playing page.

4 Clear Audio Technologies WALKMAN has always stood for the highest quality portable audio. The WALKMAN video NWZA has four ‘Clear Audio’ technologies: Clear Stereo: Technology keeping the two signals clearly separate. So what you should be hearing in your left ear will never ‘leak’ into the right ear. Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE): This unique feature improves compressed audio quality restoring high frequency signals to poor recording. Clear Bass: Gives clear, rich bass without distortion. EX-Headphone: The unique shape of the earphones allows the biggest possible sound unit (13.5mm) whilst maintaining the most comfortable in-ear fit.

Display 2" QVGA colour LCD, high resolution (320 x 240), high brightness, high contrast and superior colour reproduction display your videos at their best. To avoid the problem sometimes experienced when viewing small screens, Sony has used its TV expertise to create a great picture. For example, using a low temperature poly-silicon TFT panel with LED backlight to reproduce 262,144 individual colours so mobile viewing does not mean compromising on quality.

Battery Life Prolong your entertainment with the WALKMAN video. Fully charged you can access thirty hours worth of music playback or eight hours of video. To fully charge the battery takes only three hours. *Music: ATRAC 132 kbps **Video MPEG-4 384kbps

Dimensions Big sound and big screen performance doesn't need to weigh you down. When you're on the move with a WALKMAN video, size is everything. Length: 88mm Width: 43.8mm Depth: 9.1mm Thinnest part of WALKMAN: 8.3mm Weight: 53g

Colour And Memory Options 8GB - Pink / Black / White - up to 5500 tracks or 32 hours of videofiles 4GB - Pink / Black / White - up to 2700 tracks or 15 hours of videofiles 2GB - Black / White - up to 1300 tracks or 7 hours of videofiles

Box Contents

• Main unit
• USB cable(Wmport to USB A Trype)
• Headphones (MDREX082)
• CD-ROM

Customer Reviews

818 .v. NANO
After using my iPOD shuffle for a while I realised I wanted to carry more music and choose what I wanted to listen to. The obvious choice was a Nano. I tried a mates for a bit. Good sound quality and I liked the menu system. However, at £130 I felt it is a bit pricey for casual use so I had a look at alternatives.

I came across the Sony 818 in a sale for £70. I checked out the magazine and on-line reviews and whilst the Nano recieved positive reviews, some had issues with the sound quality and the headphones come in for some stick. The Sony reviews seemed more favourable including the headphones and with a £60 saving against the iPOD I took the plunge.

Charging up first time took about 4 hours. Connected to Windows Media Player, it loaded a driver and away we go. You can auto sync and transfer all your music or drag and drop. Transfer is very quick. You have to use WMP 11 but a copy comes with the 818 if you don't have it. You also get an e-manual [you only get a quickstart guide in the box] plus a programme to convert ATRAC files as they are not compatible with this player. You can also download the Digital Media Manager which is a bit like iTunes and use that to handle the data. I use WMP and it sync's my music and photo's but not video?

The menu system is easy to use and very intuitive. As easy as the Apple. Sound quality is excellent. It is richer and warmer than the crisp, clear sound from the Apple. It sounds more Hi Fi'ish. Turning on the various enhancements does improve the sound further. I usually play with the volume on 15 [half] and this is loud enough. The buttons are equally easy to use and i've never needed to use the hold button on the back.

The device starts instantly and I particularly like the auto standby option which switches off the device [adjustable] when play stops. It saves you from leaving it on accidentaly and running down the battery. However, i'm not convinced that the battery will last 30 hours but i've never tested it as I charge it weekly. The device switches off completely after 24hrs of inactivity.

I tried it through my Hi Fi USB and the sound is superb. It charges too. It also charges via the PS3 and you can copy from the console onto the device and vice versa.

The headphones are an odd design but insert easily and the rubber gromit moulds to the ear canal. The quality is excellent. I find I never need to adjust them, something I had to do regularly with the Apple ones and they block out background noise much better. They don't eliminate it but it is muffled. I find that passing traffic drowns out the iPOD ones. The cord is short with an extension. Apparently the short length is for those who carry the device in a breast pocket. No excess cord flapping around but there is not a lot of play. You can add the extension which is more generous. The right earpiece is much longer than the left. I find it makes handling the earphones a bit of a fiddle but at least you can identify which is left and right.

Photos are easy to view and you can do a slide show. Better in landscape mode though and the Spiderman demo illustrates how good video can be if you can get the files onto it that is!

Criticisms? There is no remaining time on the track playing and you cannot tell how much memory is left on the device. You need to connect to WMP. You can't delete on the device either. Also, a mini USB would give more flexibility to recharge as you have to use the cable supplied. Minor issues I think.

Overall, this is an excellent music player and I think I got value for money. I commend this to you if you are not one of iPOD fraternity.

Enjoy.

Excellent product
This is a really nice player - sound quality is excellent and battery lasts a long time (though I don't get the claimed 33 hours). I've had this player for 6 months and am very happy with it. Previously I didn't like Sony players after I bought one without realising it was tied to Sony's truly awful SonicStage media manager software - thankfully, this now works with WMP11 and Windows Explorer and works with it very well.

Pros: sound quality is excellent; simple to use; nice display

Niggles: cannot create playlists on the player itself (they have to be synced from WMP); getting video on to the player is too difficult; it doesn't use a standard USB sync/charge cable (though to be fair, most MP3 players, incl iPods, don't either).

Superb !
Superb quality product. Had almost two weeks now, as unfortunately had to return Creative Zen because it 'froze' twice, within a few days of ownership. Found Sony ear phones with player too tinny, unless I play around with equalizer settings to increase bass. They are very clear though. So have just purchased some very good & portable sennheiser PX200 headphones. Must say cheaper option delivery service from Amazon on both products very quick ! Very easy to 'Drag & drop' music through Windows Exporer. Same with Photos. Had problem with videos. Could not get video clips/films onto player. However, for others struggling suggest searching Google for "DVD Catalyst 3". It is fantastic & so easy to use. Any negatives: Screen a bit small. Would not want to view films, just clips. Ok for photos. Cannot delete music direct on player. Have to delete it through Windows Explorer with Mp3 connected. No Mains adapter. Otherwise a Great player. Ideal size & very easy menu to follow. Buy it !