Sony's Walkman A810 series now loose in the US

Hey, didn't we just see this little guy yesterday all blurry and rumory like? Sure enough, the new Walkman A810 series was just loosed in the US and doing pretty much everything the NW-A800 was doing for Europe and beyond. It's available in white, pink, or silver getups while maxing out storage with a black-only 8GB model (NWZ-A818BLK) just like we heard. 8GB will cost you a full $230 while the 2GB and 4GB models drop off to $140 and $180, respectively. That NWZ-S615F (with FM tuner) remains aloof but we're bound to hear something shortly.

[disciple83 @ Aug 29th 2007 9:57AM]

"8GB will cost you a full $230 while the 4GB and 2GB models drop off to $140 and $180, respectively."

the 2GB model is more expensive than the 4GB?

[Brent @ Aug 29th 2007 10:05AM]

Strange pricing scheme, I agree.

[mikey @ Aug 29th 2007 10:46AM]

Tony Bennett?! Who listens to Tony Bennett!?

[Xavier Gill @ Aug 29th 2007 11:35AM]

The elderly listen to Tony Bennett. That the prime market for mp3 players...isn't it?

[Rob @ Aug 29th 2007 10:20AM]

This is not half as bad looking.
Now, my only question is this: why put a wheel when it won't work as a wheel. Same thing happens with the Zune. Yes, I'd make the iPod comparison because it has a wheel. Although it doesn't turn as a wheel, it does perform as such by dragging a finger in a circular motion.

To all PMP creators out there, stop copying the iPod and come up with your own original designs. As much as I enjoy the iPod for its features, it still one fugly looking thing.

I'm ready for the low ranking.

[Jon @ Aug 29th 2007 10:34AM]

It's not a wheel. It is a 5 way navigation pad, a variation based on the d-pad. Existed in various form for a very long time before the Ipod even came out.

[alex @ Aug 29th 2007 10:35AM]

Sony Ericsson has used a similar wheel and center button design on their phones for years.

[Maff @ Aug 29th 2007 11:50AM]

i don't think the ipod sold 100 million if it was ugly, understated elegance and ease of functionality is the order of the day

[scrawledinwax @ Aug 29th 2007 10:36AM]

Sony's PR is awful. Both Gizmodo and Engadget have totally missed the fact that this is the first decent Sony player that not only supports Windows Media Player 11 instead of Sonicstage, it also supports DRM'ed WMA. No, that isn't really reason to celebrate, but as it supports MP3 and AAC, it's not like there's anything stopping one from buying music however you choose.

The big handicap for Sony was always their software. Having tested out one of these players, I can say that this is a legitimate competitor to the Nano - or will be for the next week anyway, until Apple release their 16GB widescreen ones... ;) Still, it's likely the Sony will have better sound quality and battery life.

[Cpt.Scarecrow @ Aug 29th 2007 11:23AM]

Are you kidding me? I just bought the 805 one week ago. If I'd knew then that the sonicstage was such a pain in the [censored] and there was a new version coming out soon which supports WMP 11 I would have definately waited.

But besides the crappy (which is an understatement) software the 805 is an absolute diamond.

[Navstar @ Aug 29th 2007 11:06AM]

I like the coloring and form factor. But until companies stop using 4-way joypads, the iPod will continue to rule. Honestly, click click click click click click cliking your way though 1000 songs is not my idea of a smooth interface.

[scrawledinwax @ Aug 29th 2007 11:31AM]

It has a pretty nifty 'initial search', so you can jump to songs quite quickly regardless of where they are. It's not a click-wheel, but it's not bad.

[Mark @ Aug 29th 2007 7:57PM]

Have you heard of folders? I rarely need to scroll more than a few pages because all my songs are organized by Album and Artist with id3 tags.

[Panathas17 @ Aug 29th 2007 11:08AM]

Now "THE ULTIMATE QUESTION", mac-compatible?

[elmimmo @ Aug 29th 2007 8:23PM]

It was not Mac compatible in Japan.

However slick and nice the hardware is, it depends on Sony's crappy Sony Stage, for Windows only (no drag&drop to Mass Storage Device supported).

So no OS X for you (which is an incredibly stupidity if you ask me, considering how sales target aside they are quite clrealy opinion leaders).

[Panathas17 @ Aug 30th 2007 8:45AM]

Maybe the new NWZ series?

[Lokizilla @ Aug 30th 2007 9:47PM]

Not any more.

Windows Media Player 11 on the disc! They're all PlaysForSure, drag-and-drop now.

[boolean22 @ Aug 29th 2007 11:24AM]

Can't believe that we in Argentina got these sweeties 2 weeks earlier than the States!
Hyperinflate!

PS.: The one I tested had great performance and responsiveness. Kudos for including a Sony-Ericcson'esque menu! Proven platform, excellent results.

[boolean22 @ Aug 29th 2007 11:26AM]

tho they should be the European stuff, 'cause they already have FM tuners.

[Blake @ Aug 29th 2007 11:52AM]

Looks pretty dumb :\ Don't they get it.. sexiness sells MP3 players..

[Kevin Mogee @ Aug 29th 2007 12:32PM]

If you go to the website, there is a picture of the A810 with a trailer for Resident Evil.

For once in their entire existence, Sony should do a complete marketing reversal, and do something that might actually INCREASE sales; they should bundle the players with the yet to be released movie. Not having ever seen any of the previous versions, I can't say if the film is any good, but I'm sure they have their fans. If someone was able to buy an advanced copy of the movie (legitimately) before it's in theaters, they might just be willing to buy the player that it comes on.

They could even sell two versions, one with and one without the movie.

Just a thought.

[eddy_88_nite @ Aug 29th 2007 4:39PM]

ya i never knew the U.S actually got something after canada did...This thing has been out for a month now.

[D @ Aug 29th 2007 4:44PM]

Maybe it's me but I can't find this in the Sony Style shop.

[Roberto @ Aug 29th 2007 6:33PM]

GIVE UP, ALREADY, SONY. Seriously, ever since minidisc and the first few mp3 players requiring atrac, I will never consider purchasing a Sony media player. And $230 for 8 gigs? Are you crazy?

[uy @ Aug 29th 2007 9:02PM]

And how much costs the 8gb iPod nano???
ipod 8GB no video --> $250
sony 8GB with video --> $230 ohhh SONY IS SOOO EXPENSIVE !!!!

[Komekomeking @ Aug 29th 2007 11:12PM]

Is it just me or is that Sony just took the info off their U.S. website?

[He'liosa @ Sep 14th 2007 3:16AM]

My question is if Sony has put spyware on the disks that comes with the mp3 player. Also, does the format conversion program that comes with the A810 convert *.avi and *.mpeg to *.mp4?