Rumor: Sony MP3 Audio Adapter Coming Soon?

Posted By: Ed Tuesday, September 4, 2001 5:01:16 PM

Sony PEGA-SA500 Clié MP3 Audio Adapter Way back when the Sony N610C and S320 were announced, we also learned that the company would be making an adapter that would allow them to play MP3 audio files. While this adapter hasn't yet been officially announced by Sony, it has shown up on several online stores.

J & R Computer World has a listing for a Sony PEGA-SA500 Clié MP3 Audio Adapter, which it says allows the user to play music files from the Memory Stick. It works with both the N series and the S series. It is listed at $130 but is backordered. No picture is available.

CDW also has a listing for the PEGA-SA500 MP3 Audio Player but they don't give any details other than they will be charging $116 and that it won't be shipping for over two weeks.

Update: State Street Direct also has a listing for this adapter and it includes a picture (see above). They also say it should be available around September 30. Their price is $120.

If real, this device would allow all current Sony handhelds to play MP3 files. The N710C and just announced N770C already have this ability built in.

Related Information:

PIC: Sony PEG-N610C and PEG-S320 Revealed
PIC: Sony Forum

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smart

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/4/2001 5:49:42 PM #

I hope it looks cool :) I want to get a 710 but the OS 4 update is taking forever

annoying...

choong @ 9/4/2001 6:51:43 PM #

this is just plain irritating.

i got the 710c because of the MP3 despite OS 3.5.2 and hoped the upgrade would be out soon.

BUT IT HAS NOT COME OUT!!!

and now all the other models WILL be able to play MP3's... i feel so cheated. Sony, where is the upgrade???

RE: smart

Davy @ 9/4/2001 6:51:49 PM #

The OS update is coming soon, in the form of the 770C. My bet is Sony will leave the early-adopting Clie 710 owners out in the cold. You can't exactly return it now.

Customer-"I can't put the latest operating system on my handheld"
Clueless Sales Clerk: "Could I intrest you in a Clie 770?"

RE: smart

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/4/2001 7:36:11 PM #

acctually the upgrade will be the 760c. i work for circuit city and we get a brochure that states the new model with os4.1 installed. if you think im lying, try to special order the 710c at circuit city... its been discontinued...

RE: smart

rldunn @ 9/4/2001 9:54:34 PM #

I've said this before, but it warrants repeating. No one, Sony or otherwise, has released an OS 4.0 upgrade, so until someone else does, cut them some slack. Anyone buying a 710 knew what they were buying when they got it, so you should have either been patient enough to wait for a sure thing in the beginning or happy with your purchase and the knowledge that an upgrade is most likely forthcoming.

And Davy, you're an M505 owner, so quit fanning the Sony flames; it serves no purpose since you have nothing to back up your comments.

RE: smart

sub_tex @ 9/4/2001 10:03:26 PM #

I still don't think that having a clie with an expansion on it to play mp3's in in any way comparable to a clie with mp3 built into it. This all goes into the whole "Visors are bulky with those attachments" complaint.

Sure, the 610 will play mp3's, but it's gonna have a device attached to it which will make it larger, etc.

I don't see how a 710 owner could feel screwed over. (OS updates for the 710 would be great, but sony doesn't really have to deliver on that. It wasn't them who boasted the fact that the clie710c could display 16bit color. It was marketed as a 256 color handheld. which it is.)

that aside...they would get some big brownie points from their users if they did release a patch for it.

Uhh... yeah.

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/4/2001 10:40:26 PM #

Gee, paying $30 bucks more than the 710c to have the exact same functionality without the neat packaging sounds like a GREAT deal....yeah, sure.

A question:

Why the hell is everybody so lathered up about OS 4.0? If you want access to apps which reside on the mem stick, go get powerrun and quit sweating it. OS 4.0 doesn't address database access anyway... you'll still need MSMount, kids! In terms of color, there really aren't any palm apps that take advantage of 16 bit color anyway besides the photo display apps. And anybody obsessive enough to be putting an entire photo album on a handheld should be able to figure out the easy steps required to reduce a 16 bit color image to 8 bit for optimum display on the clie's screen.

RE: Uhh... yeah.

digichimp @ 9/5/2001 1:36:08 AM #

Security.
4.0 has better security.
Plus the number 4 sounds nicer than 3.5.2
:)
You're right though with all these extensions and enhancements to the OS who needs 4 when 5 should be right around Q3 2002. yeah right.

RE: Uhh... yeah.

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/5/2001 5:39:17 AM #

Can't sync to XP without OS 4, also it's a lot faster

RE: Uhh... yeah.

NVS @ 9/5/2001 9:43:12 AM #

XP is probably sony's biggest reason to release an os upgrade. How much longer till xp is offically released?

RE: Uhh... yeah.

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/5/2001 11:55:44 AM #

OS4 = 65,536 colors

RE: Uhh... yeah.

EGarrido @ 9/5/2001 4:07:57 PM #

XP consumer release date is October 25, but it will be showing up on new computers before then.

I just bought a Dell Inspiron 2100 and I can't wait for the XP upgrade.

Eric Garrido

Here's what she looks like...

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/5/2001 9:19:15 AM #

Release date is the end of this month.

http://www.ssdonline.com/detail_page.cfm?productid=PEGA%2dSA500

Whatever you think about the Clie line Sony is doing a great job of providing full functionality at every price level, whether you want all the features out of the box or if you want to add on later.

No, I don't work for Sony.

RE: Here's what she looks like...

NVS @ 9/5/2001 9:38:03 AM #

That look soo sweet. It looks like it could be a stand alone player too. But Sony's not that generous or smart.

RE: Here's what she looks like...

Ed @ 9/5/2001 10:01:10 AM #

Thanks! I've added this info to the article.

---
News Editor

RE: Here's what she looks like...

rldunn @ 9/5/2001 5:03:12 PM #

They removed the picture and link from the web site now, though I can verify that it was there earlier.

S300 support

EDisk1353 @ 9/5/2001 11:16:49 AM #

Will it work with the PEG-S300? Also, how does one go about sticking the MP3 files onto the Clie?

RE: S300 support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/5/2001 11:57:51 AM #

From the picture, you stick your mp3 into your memory stick, stick it into the clie, then plug the mp3 adapter to the bottom of the clie, run the program and start playing.

How to put mp3 into memory stick if you own s300/s320? I have to guess you have to buy a memory stick reader/writer. $50 more.

RE: S300 support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/5/2001 12:52:47 PM #

You don't need another reader/writer.

If the S320 is properly connected to your PC using the hotsync cable, running the MsImport app will create an additional drive on your PC which provides direct access to your memory stick. You can just copy MP3 files directly from your PC to the Memory stick from Explorer.

RE: S300 support

rldunn @ 9/5/2001 1:14:13 PM #

MSImport doesn't currently work with the S320.

RE: S300 support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/5/2001 1:35:44 PM #

rldunn is right, the s300/s320 does not come with msimport, and does not work with it. only the 610/710 can use msimport or the audioplayer transfer function.
-nXt

It's a Sony

mikecane @ 9/5/2001 1:40:24 PM #

Geez, Sony is letting no stone go unturned in trying to dominate the PalmOS market. Nice work!

RE: It's a Sony

Davy @ 9/5/2001 8:36:42 PM #

What? They're just taking one stone and breaking it into smaller pieces! Sure, the wirelss modem is a nice step (but is only available for S320), but really, an mp3 attachment for the 610? Why not get a 710 then, and avoid the extra bulkiness and cost? It can do 16-bit color, unless Sony never releases the patch......

RE: It's a Sony

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/6/2001 12:10:52 AM #

Well, who said it is _only_ for the 610c? If I get the S320 and this clip-on MP3 player, won't I be saving more than US$100 as compared to a 710c?

Some people don't want high resolution screens with 65K color just to listen to music.

Anyway, it is all about choice.

Audio Adapter and the S320

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/1/2002 2:50:19 PM #

Does anyone have an idea as to how well the audio adapter plays back mp3s and whether or not the connection on the bottom is secure enough to withstand some use?