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Sony Walkman NWZA-828 8GB Video
See it at Amazon.co.uk for £65.00Average Customer Rating
(4.5 out of 5)
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The Bluetooth option
(5 out of 5) by The usual suspect on Dec 7, 2008I've been thinking about buying the 829 for quite some time but I kept telling myself that my 818 was perfectly fine. Typically, I went into a Sony center (sorry Amazon, I'm out of town) and couldn't help myself - I have the 'see-buy' disease.
I have the bluetooth headphone option and wouldn't say they are perfect but they are really good. In the gym, they are amazingly handy - no more cable getting in the way and no need to wear the Walkman either. I found it a weird sensation when I first used them. Look, no wires! The on ear control is a little flawed. It's a spring return slider for the shuttle control and the pause/play function is the same slider as a push in. I keep finding myself shuttling whilst trying to pause it. A seperate button is required. Connection/disconnect is simple - there's a small button on the side. Not sure if this is correct or not but the volume control is disabled when the headphones are connected. It would be better to allow control using both. I've seen no option in the settings.
I'm hopeful the bluetooth will work happily with my PS3 when I get home, that'll be cool.
For those that haven't used a Walkman since the iPod revolution, it's a very simple MP3 player. No fancy gimmicks (apart from the custom Sony only connector), no DRM, just plug it into a USB port of a Windows OS and off you go. Drag and drop, use the supplied Sony software or use Media Player.
Battery life, as it was on my 818, is amazing - even with the bluetooth on. By default, the screensaver is on which it is better to turn off to extend the battery even more. If you use the Walkman heavily, you may even have to charge it once or twice a week!
Video playback is on par with my N95. I don't use the Sony software so I don't know if that configures the video size for you or not. If not, a piece of third-party will probably be required. There's plenty out there.
The corded headphones are great and fit ears very well, I've warn them for some prolonged periods and not haven't suffered any pain. I'm going to be trying out some upgraded versions soon - including the EX.
All-in-all, if you're hunting for a simple, big capacity ipod alternative, this is probably it.
I have the bluetooth headphone option and wouldn't say they are perfect but they are really good. In the gym, they are amazingly handy - no more cable getting in the way and no need to wear the Walkman either. I found it a weird sensation when I first used them. Look, no wires! The on ear control is a little flawed. It's a spring return slider for the shuttle control and the pause/play function is the same slider as a push in. I keep finding myself shuttling whilst trying to pause it. A seperate button is required. Connection/disconnect is simple - there's a small button on the side. Not sure if this is correct or not but the volume control is disabled when the headphones are connected. It would be better to allow control using both. I've seen no option in the settings.
I'm hopeful the bluetooth will work happily with my PS3 when I get home, that'll be cool.
For those that haven't used a Walkman since the iPod revolution, it's a very simple MP3 player. No fancy gimmicks (apart from the custom Sony only connector), no DRM, just plug it into a USB port of a Windows OS and off you go. Drag and drop, use the supplied Sony software or use Media Player.
Battery life, as it was on my 818, is amazing - even with the bluetooth on. By default, the screensaver is on which it is better to turn off to extend the battery even more. If you use the Walkman heavily, you may even have to charge it once or twice a week!
Video playback is on par with my N95. I don't use the Sony software so I don't know if that configures the video size for you or not. If not, a piece of third-party will probably be required. There's plenty out there.
The corded headphones are great and fit ears very well, I've warn them for some prolonged periods and not haven't suffered any pain. I'm going to be trying out some upgraded versions soon - including the EX.
All-in-all, if you're hunting for a simple, big capacity ipod alternative, this is probably it.
7 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
Sony Walkman NWZ - A829
(3 out of 5) by Mr. M. Russell -. Thomas on Aug 8, 2008 (South East England)This A Good MP3/4 Player But You Can't Use It To Share Music With Your Mobile Phone With Its Bluetooth Which Is A Big Downside.
The Only Other Thing Is Its Hidden Charges. I Paid About £6 More Then It Said, Amazon Is Not Clear When It Comes To The Crunch Of Paying The Money.
One Shop Is Selling This Type Of Sony 16GB MP3 Player For Under £140. I Rushed Into Getting It. Just Do More Research Before Buying An Item!
But At This Time I Will Make The Most Out Of The Grate Sounding Walkman.
The Only Other Thing Is Its Hidden Charges. I Paid About £6 More Then It Said, Amazon Is Not Clear When It Comes To The Crunch Of Paying The Money.
One Shop Is Selling This Type Of Sony 16GB MP3 Player For Under £140. I Rushed Into Getting It. Just Do More Research Before Buying An Item!
But At This Time I Will Make The Most Out Of The Grate Sounding Walkman.
12 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
what a nightmare! -- think twice if you already own a Sony player...
(2 out of 5) by davidatreides on May 9, 2008I got one of these just the other day. I'm a long standing 'fan' of Sony players - far superior sound quality over 'iPods'.
I've had to learn to live with Sony's SonicStage desktop software - which is the most pittiful offering imaginable - so much so Sony gave up on it - no longer upgrade or support it and indeed, these new Walkmans aren't even compatible with it - at least not unless you're in Japan. Why? Who knows - don't bother asking Sony!
And here's the rub; because Sony have dumped SonicStage anyone who's upgrading from some other Sony player - as I am - is basically told by Sony, too bad, don't care that you've choosen our products in the past, just start all over again. Got playlists all set up? Too bad - set 'em up again. Want high quality file transfer? Too bad - make do with MP3 or AAC.
Anyway, what should have been a straight forward proposition of loading all my playlists on to my new player, is proving to be some knew level of pain in the neck! (and that's putting it very politely!!)
I will not soon forgive Sony for this one!!!
I've had to learn to live with Sony's SonicStage desktop software - which is the most pittiful offering imaginable - so much so Sony gave up on it - no longer upgrade or support it and indeed, these new Walkmans aren't even compatible with it - at least not unless you're in Japan. Why? Who knows - don't bother asking Sony!
And here's the rub; because Sony have dumped SonicStage anyone who's upgrading from some other Sony player - as I am - is basically told by Sony, too bad, don't care that you've choosen our products in the past, just start all over again. Got playlists all set up? Too bad - set 'em up again. Want high quality file transfer? Too bad - make do with MP3 or AAC.
Anyway, what should have been a straight forward proposition of loading all my playlists on to my new player, is proving to be some knew level of pain in the neck! (and that's putting it very politely!!)
I will not soon forgive Sony for this one!!!
2 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
No AC Adaptor
(2 out of 5) by 4john on Oct 14, 2008Under Product Description, Box Contents, it says it comes with an AC Power adaptor. It doesn't. All it comes with is a USB lead to charge it from a computer.
Stunning sound and
(5 out of 5) by Ivan Zlatev on Jun 30, 2009* Superb sound and earphones.
* Great battery life even when playing videos.
* Plug and Play - can just drag and drop files directly. No need for 3rd party software.
* Can not only browse the media library by Artist/Genre etc, but also by Folder which is great for someone like me who has lots of techno/trance/DnB sets/mixes. The iPod can't do that.
Don't forget to tweak the Equalizer for extra Bass. ;)
I will never ever buy a non-Sony portable music device.
* Great battery life even when playing videos.
* Plug and Play - can just drag and drop files directly. No need for 3rd party software.
* Can not only browse the media library by Artist/Genre etc, but also by Folder which is great for someone like me who has lots of techno/trance/DnB sets/mixes. The iPod can't do that.
Don't forget to tweak the Equalizer for extra Bass. ;)
I will never ever buy a non-Sony portable music device.