Product Description
Slim and stylish, the NWZ-S616FBLK Walkman(R) Video MP3 player combines a powerful digital music player with a 1.8" QVGA LCD screen for hours of multimedia entertainment. Listen to your favorite songs, view videos and photographs or listen to your favorite radio stations with the built-in FM tuner. It supports playback of MP3 and WMA DRM and non-DRM audio files downloaded from multiple sources, as well as AAC non-DRM content, so that you can enjoy your music no matter the format or download source. Weighing less than 2 ounces but with the capacity to store up to 2,300 songs, 15 hours of video or hundreds of photographs, the 4GB NWZ-S616FBLK Walkman(R) Video MP3 player delivers everything you need to take your favorite entertainment with you. Compatible with Secure Windows Media Audio MP3/WMA/AAC Audio Codec Support Utilizes 3 Clear Audio technologies to reproduce crystal clear, CD-quality audio. FM Tuner with 30 Station Presets Shuffle play among songs from a randomly selected year. Bi-directional screen display
Amazon.com Product Description
Slim and stylish, the NWZ-S616FBLK Walkman Video MP3 player combines a powerful digital music player with a 1.8" QVGA LCD screen for hours of multimedia entertainment. Listen to your favorite songs, view videos and photographs or listen to your favorite radio stations. Weighing less than 2 ounces but with the capacity to store up to 2,300 songs, hours of video or hundreds of photographs, the 4GB NWZ-S616FBLK Walkman Video MP3 player delivers everything you need to take your favorite entertainment with you. Also available in pink, red and silver.
4GB Built-in Memory
Store up to 2,450 songs or up to 15H of video on your Walkman Video MP3 player and never be without your entertainment again.
High Quality Video Playback
Playback your favorite videos right on the player using MPEG 4 or M4V profile at 30 frames per second.
Battery Life
With up to 33 hours of audio playback and up to 8 hours of video playback you don't have to worry about charging your player.
1.8" QVGA LCD Screen
Easily view your movies, photos and music information on the high quality, 320x240 display.
Compatible with Secure Windows Media Audio
Giving you more options than ever for downloading and listening to music.
MP3/WMA/AAC Audio Codec Support
Supports playback of MP3 and WMA DRM and non-DRM audio files downloaded from multiple sources. Will also support AAC non-DRM content, giving you multiple options for downloading music the way you want.
3 Clear Audio Technologies
Utilizes 3 Clear Audio Technologies to reproduce crystal clear, CD-quality audio.
- Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) restores the higher sound frequency lost when creating compressed music files.
- Clear Bass enhances the bass sound while minimizing distortion.
- Clear Stereo reduces signal leakage from one channel to another.
FM Tuner with 30 Station Presets
Allows you to preset and listen to your favorite radio stations while on the go.
Time Machine Shuffle
Shuffle play among songs from a randomly selected year. (Information will come from CD information that is downloaded from the Gracenote CDDB)
Initial Search
Use the first letter of the song, album or artist to easily find the music you are looking for.
Bi-Directional LCD Display
Watch your videos and view your photographs either vertically or horizontally by adjusting the screen to the orientation you prefer.
What's in the Box
NWZ-S616FBLK Walkman Video MP3 player, USB Cable (22 pin to USB), MDR-E804LP Headphones and extension cord, CD-ROM with Windows Media Player 11 and MP3 Conversion Tools, Quick Start Guide.
Customer Reviews:
THIS SOUNDS AWESOME!!!!.......2007-10-24
ok let me start off by saying i have bought i believe every mp3 player out there to try and i have had a 30gb ipod video for about 6 months now and have never been satisfied with the sound of any mp3 player ive tried they all sounded tunnelly not stereo enough missing something. so i figured "oh thats just how mp3s sound" I WAS WRONG! well i am 35 years old and have been listing and buying cds since i was 15 or so. and when i started listening to mp3 players i felt something was missing the punch to alot of songs i grew up with and loved was not there anymore the warmth was gone, the sound was weak and did not sound as good as cds on a cd player. so anyways for 6 months now i have been exclusively listening to an ipod at work and in the car (this thing sounds incredible in the car to) for 6 hours a night and ripped many different ways 192,256 and then i tried lossless to see what people are saying about that, and lossless even sounded like crap on my ipod.for you ipod owners the convience is awesome the portability is great but if you really want to hear how great a cd or a song should sound do yourself a favor go to a circuit city,target,or walmart and pick up this new sony mp3 player and listen to the sound, this thing is AMAZING! it has so many different sound enhancing features it is a little longer then a zippo, skinnier, and less thick then 1 to weighs about as much as a feather (lol) seriously though its lite, and the headphones that come with it are not to bad either for earbuds but i use the radio shack koss titanium pro 75 they are incredible headphones. the only problem i have with this and where the ipod rules right now is space but please SONY put out these new NWZ models in a 100+ gig and i'll buy another in a heartbeat. the video looks great on this although small but i compared the ipod with this and although smaller the video on this is more deatiled crisper and the blacks are deeper. also when you look up an album it has a little pic of all the albums where you can just go to that specific one click it and all the songs are there. i know i wrote alot but again this thing sounds better then any other mp3 player out there so if you can do without games and want to hear incredible sounding music (just not alot of music on your player that doesn't sound incredible)then by all means pick up the this new SONY mp3 player you have to HEAR IT TO BELIEVE IT!
Good Sony MP3 Player.......2007-09-25
I just got this player. I like it very much so far. It is small and fits perfectly in my hand and I love the red metallic look. It is easy to drop and drag in files into folders. It is also easy to navigate and the buttons are easy to use. However, the video capabilities of the player are limited because the screen is so small and it only plays MP4 and M4V files. I have not been able to find a converter that would allow me to convert my mpeg-2 files into MP4 files that the player recognizes so that is annoying. Sony should have provided a free converter with the MP3 player instead of charging $20.00. Overall, I would recommend this MP3 Player because it is fun and easy to use.
Update:
After hours of searching the Internet I found a free program (3GP Converter) to convert mpegs to MP4s that can be read by this Sony MP3 player and Sony PSP. For instructions on converting files go here: http://www.engadget.com/2004/12/21/how-to-get-videos-and-dvds-onto-your-sony-playstation-portable/) Really, it should not be this difficult. It also doesn't help that Sony is charging $28.00 for a silicon case (no clip) and a hard clear case that are not even yet available. What are they thinking? Sony is simply frustrating its customers who can easily abandon them for the more established IPod or Creative Zen. I used a custom skin to protect the Sony MP3 player from bestskinsever.com and will sew up an inexpensive case. I plan to use the pennies that I save to buy a decent pair of earphones.
Finally a superb Sony Player.......2007-09-21
Ok, I usually wait to test the product for a few weeks before posting a review, but this time I can't wait that long. It's been a while since I first started to look decent mp3 player that was easy to use, looked nice and was able to manage several file formats. Every player I tried was a bigger disappointment. I'll try to relate my story and see if this helps you out deciding on a product.
First of all let me say that I'm not a big fan of the iPod. By this I'm not implying that is a bad product, in fact, I love the design. The problem relies in iTunes. The inability to transfer songs you purchases to different players or burn CDs (because your CD drive was not supported) drove me insane. There is no drag-and-drop capabilities, so you must manage your music using their software. If you imported your CD collection to iTunes or if you bought all the songs form their website, this is not a problem, but in my case, my music is completely organized on my PC, so I simply refused to use any bundled software from Apple (or any other provider for that matter). I also tried Creative's Zen, and even though it was packed with features and had a fairly easy software to manage music, it was poorly designed and looked very cheap. Plus, let me stress that I really needed a drag-and-drop player. By far the only one that met this criteria was the iRiver, which was good, but the inability to create playlists made it virtually impossible to find your music (assuming that you have several hundreds). Afterwards I tried mp3's from Sony, Philips, Samsung and other brands that I can't even recall. Every one had its own music manager, but Sony had the most annoying software of them all (SonicStage).
A couple a days ago I stopped by a SonyStyle shop and checked out the new arrivals. Not only did the looks of this player grabbed my attention, but the ability to transfer files directly. This sounded like a bizarre move from Sony, but still, I decided to give it a try. I got the Black 4GB.
After plugging the player to my computer via the USB cable, Win XP recognized the Walkman displaying it as an icon in the Windows Explorer (note that you need Windows media player V11 installed, regardless of whether or not you intend to use it. No biggie.) and I started dropping files and folders. Afterwards I created and edited the playlists all from my PC. File transfer was really fast. Video transfer is also very cool, although the only format supported is .mp4. There is a nice converter out there for free for those of you who would like to use it. Within the player, you can navigate easily sorting music by artist, song, year or even by your created folders. Note that you can still use WMP to transfer your files if you still wish to.
As far as performance, its lightweight, has a 1.8' screen size which is more than enough for me. Battery so far has lasted 17+ hours and still working. FM Radio is a nice feature but it lacks a voice recorder. Picture display is decent, and that's all you get. As opposed to the iPod or the Zen, there are no contacts or calendar options. But seriously, do you ever need that?
I think Sony made a great move by getting rid of SonicStage, I finally feel I've found the player I've always wanted. Bottom line, if this is your first mp3 player or you are just sick of mediocre software for music transfers, look no further, this is the one you need.
PROS
- Drag-and-drop, no software needed!
- Ability to create/edit folders, playlists from the Windows explorer
- Design
- Crisp Screen
- Lightweight
CONS
- Limiter amount of video formats, only .mp4 supported
- No Voice recorder
- No accessories in the market yet.
Sony's first iPod killer.......2007-09-03
I'm not the first to say that Sony has not had a good track record with their "Network Walkman" series of MP3 players. With their restrictive ATRAC formats, horrible SonicStage software, and just the whole year-behind feel to their products, Sony MP3 players have never caught on, which is a shame considering they were at the forefront of the portable cassette and CD generation. Well, the wait is now over, and I've gotta say, Apple should be worried.
The 4GB S616 is priced $40 below its current 2nd gen Apple counterpart, but has a lot more to offer and is super sexy. Now, I'm a self-professed Apple fanboy, but this has got a lot to love, too. For starters, it can play video--and if you have 320x240 MP4s converted for an iPod, the videos will work perfectly.
And then, the screen--it is BEAUTIFUL. Not as bright as a nano, but it is bigger than the nano's and the colors are rich and vibrant. With a 320x240 resolution squeezed into a 1.8" screen, the screen is amazing. It is small for extended sessions (don't watch "Lawrence of Arabia"), but perfect for a few music videos or an episode of Scooby-Doo. Honestly, the screen is so nice, when I have a still photo on, it almost looks like one of those fake, store-demo models.
Next, formats. It can play MP3, WMA, PCM, and the ever-important AAC audio formats, MP4 video, and JPG photos. And yes, you can listen to music while viewing your photos. Also, it has a built-in FM radio for when you're looking for something new. Personally, I'm just glad they nixed ATRAC.
Then, there's battery life. At 33 hours for audio, it bests the nano by 9 hours, and has a whopping 9 hours video viewing, the S616 has got to have one of the longest battery life spans out there for a player this size with these features.
And the always important audio quality. This thing sounds great. With Sony's 3 clear audio technologies, this thing sounds better than my nano. Really. I'm no audiophile, but the difference is noticeable.
Finally, size. This thing is SMALL. It's 1.5x thicker than a nano, but almost an inch shorter and about the same width. Amazing, especially considering the size of the screen and the fact that it plays videos.
I know, lots of love. But there are negatives. One, it's not fully Mac-compatible. Yeah, Sony says it won't work, but because it's plug-and-play, it will mount on any Mac OS X computer--I'm using it on my Macbook. The only problem is, you can't unmount it (it'll just keep reappearing), so you'll have to log out, then put your Mac to sleep twice to get it out. A hassle, but only if you're syncing stuff daily. Also, because it relies on WMP11 on PCs, you can't create playlists for it on a Mac.
Also, if you're used to the iPod interface, searching for stuff can be a pain. Don't get me wrong, it's a clean, usable interface, but Apple's got the iPod made for speed and convenience--every thing you need is right on the iPod's clickwheel. On the S616, the volume buttons are on the side, there's the five-way control, plus a back and an option button. Button overkill for a person coming from only using iPods.
I was going to give the S616 five stars. I wanted to give it five stars. But the lack of Mac support kills it for me. Yes, it works on a Mac, but not perfectly, and for that, I have to take away a star. But if you're looking for an inexpensive, feature-packed alternative to the ubiquitous iPod, look no further. The Walkman has finally arrived.
Product Description
For the most part, you'll be operating this radio using batteries or optional AC adapter. Let's say, however, you're out camping or find yourself in some other desperate situation where power is unavailable. Well, this radio will work! You can crank it to operate and, while cranking, you can charge its internal batteries - but it can also work without batteries. Survival aside, you've got AM/FM and 7 Shortwave radio bands so you can listen to most of the world. There is also a built-in triple white LED light source that is surprisingly bright to shed light after the sun sets. Listen from the built-in speaker or with an earphone from the built-in miniplug. Overall, The Eton FR250 is a radio everyone should have for both everyday use and for emergencies. In a sense, this is a radio for all seasons and all times. In an emergency, this may be the most valuable thing to have. We suggest getting this today. Built-in whiteLED light source. Built-in 2.5 Inch Speaker delivers outstanding sound All antennas built-in - telescopic antenna for FM and SW; internal ferrite bar antenna for AM Unit Dimensions - 6.7W x 6-1/4H x 2-1/2D, inches / Weight - 1.3lbs
Amazon.com Product Description
With a dependable hand-crank power generator that powers the unit's AM/FM/Shortwave radio, built-in LED flashlight, cell phone charger and emergency siren, the lightweight and portable Etón FR250 is an excellent and economical choice for anyone in the market for a radio that can be relied on in emergencies or in environments where there are limited power sources.
Emergency lighting, cell phone power, and radio tuning all in one compact package. View larger. |
A clear, easy-to-read radio dial. View larger. |
The hand crank recharges the integrated rechargeable battery. |
Power When You Need It
At the heart of all of Etón's emergency radios, including the FR250, is an internal generator that recharges the internal Ni-MH battery pack and powers the radio, siren, and light. Also, by plugging your cell phone into the jack on the back of the radio (the FR250 comes with several cell phone adapters), you can use the crank to power your phone. In our test, after draining our cell phone of power, we recharged it using the FR250 enough to make a few calls. The rate of cell phone recharging will vary greatly depending on the cell phone and the state of its battery, but the FR250 can provide your compatible phone with power in a pinch.
According to the product manual, to achieve 40 to 60 minutes of uninterrupted power to the radio, you must turn the crank at a rate of two revolutions per second for 90 seconds. In our test, after our initial 90 seconds of rigorous cranking, the FR250 powered right up and was still going strong with radio reception after an hour. At the hour mark, we briefly turned the flashlight on, and that too was at full force, with no perceivable drain on radio reception. In fact, the FR250 was still going strong 75 minutes after we recharged the battery pack. The FR250 can also be powered via an AC adapter which, to our dismay, is not included, or from three AA batteries, also not included. The dynamo crank tucks itself nicely into the side of the radio and offers little resistance as you turn the handle. (Don't let the cranking requirements frighten you! While it's true that a full 90 seconds of turning the crank can be tiring and may not be for everyone, we were able to recharge the radio with less than a minute of cranking and achieved over 40 minutes of continuous power.)
Design and Controls
At slightly more than a pound in weight, and with dimensions of 6.5 x 6.00 x 2.5 inches (WxHxD), the FR250 is designed to be tucked neatly into its handy nylon carrying case and stored in an emergency box, or packed neatly for a camping trip. A white LED light is set on the front of the radio, just to the side of the analog tuner. The light is designed to help you down an unlit stairwell or enclosed hallway in a pinch, but it is not directed or strong enough to help you much in a pitch-black forest or other open area. The FR250 also includes a red flashing LED light that can be used as a distress signal. The radio and light can be operated simultaneously, though of course at the expense of power.
The FR250 includes a handy strap on the top of the radio for easy carrying, and the tuning and volume knobs are set to the side. The mechanical controls are extremely visible and easy to use. The volume control is a bit difficult to finesse, while the tuning knob, which features a smaller concentric fine-tuning control knob, is much easier. An earphone jack is set into the back, and the telescoping antenna tucks neatly behind the handle strap. The radio's 2.5-inch speaker is set directly in front and offers reasonable audio quality and excellent volume for the radio's purpose. The tuner itself is self-illuminated, though in a darkened environment it is still difficult to pick out the bands.
Tuning and Bands
The FR250 offers nine-band tuning -- AM, FM and 7 shortwave bands. As was the case with all of the Etón emergency radios we tested, our AM reception was outstanding; we were quickly able to tune into every station we searched for. Reception for FM was also very good, though there was some extra fine-tuning on some of the stations. Our shortwave reception, however, was a mixed bag. We tested in the early and late evening, searching for signals in the more heavily populated SW3 and SW4. While we found several signals during our test, honing in on them took a bit of finesse with the fine-tuning knob. And when we did find them, there was static and background noise with most of the signals.
It became clear during our testing that the FR250 is an emergency radio, with several outstanding and potentially life-saving features, including shortwave reception. Its shortwave functionality, however, is not its primary selling point. However, its emergency siren and lighting, and particularly its self charging functionality, are. So if you're in the market for an economical emergency radio, the Etón FR250 more than fits the bill.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight; ideal for emergencies or travel
- Clearly laid out functions and controls
- Excellent internal power generator; handy cell-phone charger
Cons
- Tuning dial could be better illuminated for darkened environments
- Shortwave reception inconsistent
- Should include an AC adapter
What's in the Box
FR250 radio, cell phone charging adapters, and nylon carrying case.
Customer Reviews:
Terrific Radio!.......2007-12-20
The Eton FR250 is my favorite of their emergency crank radios. The sound quality is actually better than the pricier FR3xx radios and it has coarse- and fine- tuning knobs for the radio which help tremendously! Cranking your own power is a great idea...save our environment, and your wallet (utility bills and batteries). The radio pulls in difficult stations and this has become the radio of choice for my wife and myself. It's a convenient size to take around the house and really cranking it is kinda fun! This would be a smart tool to keep in the car, too. The LED light is very bright and the red blinking LED could be useful if you got stranded!
Excellent emergency radio.......2007-12-18
We've had our radio for several years. The 3 AA batteries last about a month, being in use about 2-3 hours per day. I bought this one for my sister in Tulsa, OK, during the great ice storm that left her without power and no way to keep abreast of the news and weather. This is something every household should have, because even if you don't have power to charge it, it will still be able to work with the dynamo (hand crank) charge.
Handy Little Radio.......2007-03-13
I spent a lot of time reading reviews of radios with AM capabilities and I am pleased with my choice. This little one is light, works well and has a lot of extra features which could prove to be helpful if we get any more storms here like we had recently.(Flooding and power blackouts caused a lot of inconvenience.) Reception is good and sound quality is excellent for such a small radio. Because I have a substantial hearing loss I especially appreciate that. So far I haven't had to use the cell phone charger, the flashlight , short-wave reception or the siren(!) but it's nice to know they are there, if needed.On top of all that good stuff...the price was right!
A Must for Disaster Kits, Emergencies or Camping.......2007-02-21
Living in central California, the most probable emergencies we face in OUR AREA are earthquakes and power outages. The Eton FR250 should suit our needs best - as long as radio & cell phone towers are still standing! The FR250 has 7 shortwave bands that might provide information from outside our area if local communications are lost. I let the built-in rechargeable battery (a replaceable 3.6 volt portable telephone battery) completely discharge and then cranked the dynamo the recommended 2 turns per second for 2 minutes (with a short break in between). It provided enough power for the radio to play at a moderate volume for 95 minutes - RATHER IMPRESSIVE and the 2 1/2 inch speaker provides very clear and pleasant audio. Another nice feature is the fine tuning knob.
With the built-in battery charged or with the 3 AA batteries, the flashlight will light in very dark conditions (tho not brightly), a path approximately 50 feet.
This little radio packs plenty of features at a reasonable price. A must for disaster kits, emergencies, camping or even giving as a gift.
Always Be Prepared.......2007-01-09
We bought everyone in the family one of these for Christmas. Wind it up and power away. The cell phone charger converters that come with it do fit most of the cell phones in the family, but it did not fit a Fire Fly or a newer Nokia (the model with the FM radio capacity). But it fits other Nokias and a Sony Ericson. We've lost power here in St. Louis twice in 2006 for DAYS. We had no radio, no tv, no bateries, nada. Now, we are prepared. It does pick up tv somewhat, but this is not what we got it for. If there is a HUGE national crisis I doubt the tv towers, stations, and power outages will support any tv or radio. But we will have light. The flashlight is not the brightest, but it's sufficient. When the power goes out and the sund goes down, it's DARK. We feel better knowing we won't have to rely on candles and batteries. We bought orange and white ones. They are plasticy and i wonder how long the windy thing will last, but with careful use this radio will certainly come in handy until Ameren UE tunes the lights on.
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