Sony NW-HD3 Network WALKMAN plays MP3 & ATRAC3plus music
New NW-HD5 Network WALKMAN announced
Nov 30, 2004 - Sony today announces the launch of the Sony NW-HD3 (NWHD3), a new addition to its Network WALKMAN range. As well as playing music in Sony's ATRAC3plus format, the Sony NW-HD3 is also an MP3 player. The Sony NW-DH3 has a 30 hour battery life and is available in four colour variations. The Sony NW-HD3 hits the shelves in the UK on December 20th 2004.
The Sony NW-HD3 comes with a range of features designed to deliver quality, choice and convenience for every fan of portable music.
The built-in 20 GB hard disc can hold the equivalent of 13,000 tracks or 900 CDs worth of music when using high quality ATRAC3plus audio compression technology. It offers 30 hours of uninterrupted playtime from a single battery charge and withstands almost all kinds of movement to deliver a skip-free performance.
Specially developed G-Sensor technology enables the hard disc to resist impact to protect your valuable music or other data. Its aluminium body makes it light to carry, and the four colour variations of silver, black, pink, and red have been selected to provide a myriad of refreshing options.
Dave Andrews, Product Manager for WALKMAN at Sony said:
"With the NW-HD3, Sony again demonstrates its commitment to combining style with technological excellence to make this new Network Walkman a must-have for the most discerning and fashion-conscious of music lovers. High performance features, ATRAC3plus and MP3 playback, contemporary design and competitive price make the Sony NW-HD3 the ideal digital music player in today's emerging world of PC and online music."
The Sony NW-HD3 is the latest addition to Sony? Network WALKMAN family. Other models in the range include the recently launched NW-E95 and NW-E99, which also playback ATRAC3plus and MP3, and the NW-E55 and NW-E75, which now support both formats, with a free software download from the Internet (www.sonydigital-link.com/DNA/NWW/nww.asp).
All Network WALKMAN, Net MD WALKMAN, Hi-MD WALKMAN, ATRAC CD WALKMAN owners can log onto Sony? digital music site 'CONNECT', which provides over 500,000 downloadable tracks from both major and independent labels. The NW-HD3 is also shipped with the latest version of Sony? SonicStage software (SonicStage 2.3), which allows users to manage and transfer ATRAC3plus and MP3 files.
NOTES
Please find below further details about products and services mentioned in this story.
SonicStage Software
SonicStage Software is Sony? music management programme, which allows you to catalogue your music, buy your music directly on the CONNECT service, and transfer files to your Network WALKMAN.
ATRAC3plus
ATRAC3plus is Sony? audio compression technology. You can choose different levels of compression when you record music from CDs onto your PC using SonicStage software. ATRAC3plus has been developed to offer the best sound quality.
G-Sensor
G-Sensor technology monitors and calculates the gravitational velocity of NW-HD3 in its three dimensions (height, width and depth); the sensor device clears the recording head away from the hard disc when the unit receives physical impact during operation. As a result, recorded content is protected by preventing the recording head from potentially scratching the hard disc surface.*1
CONNECT
Sony Europe launched its European online music download service in July, starting in the UK, France and Germany. CONNECT offers more than 500,000 songs including albums and singles from both major and independent record labels. Tracks are available in the ATRAC3 format at prices starting from 79p in the UK. Visit CONNECT to download music at www.connect-europe.com
Key Features of the NW-HD3:
ATRAC3plus and MP3 playback compatible
Over 30 hours of playback time*2
G-Sensor
20GB HDD = 13,000 tracks*3(900CDs)
4 colour variations (Silver/ Black/ Pink / Red)
Aluminium body
Headphones and AC adaptor supplied
USB cable supplied
USB adaptor supplied
*1 G-Sensor does not guarantee protection for the player from all types of impact.
*2 In ATRAC3plus 48kbps mode.
*3 Calculated on the basis of 4 minutes per song and using ATRAC3plus 48kbps
Creative Announces Two Major Breakthroughs In Audio Technology - Xtreme Fidelity and the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio Processor
24 Times More Powerful than its Predecessor, the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio Processor Provides the Extreme Power to Run New Applications that Enhance MP3s to Sound Even Better than they do on their Original CD, and Accelerate PC Game Play
SINGAPORE - May 13, 2005 - Creative Technology Ltd. (NASDAQ: CREAF), a worldwide leader in digital entertainment solutions for PC users and the creator of Sound Blaster®, today announced two major breakthroughs in audio technology: Xtreme Fidelity, the new standard in audio, and the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor. The combination of Xtreme Fidelity and the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor provides dramatic improvements to the recording and playback of MP3 music, accelerates and improves PC game play, enhances listening experiences for movies, and improves the capabilities, performance and quality of audio creation.
Xtreme Fidelity
Xtreme Fidelity sets a new standard for audio by supporting a combination of 24-bit quality, stunning audio clarity with a minimum of 110db SNR and the new CMSS® (Creative Multi Speaker Surround) 3D headphone and surround speaker technology. Consumers will be able to upgrade their existing CD and MP3 music to the Xtreme Fidelity standard, using applications that can run on the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor. Being able to upgrade an existing library of music to Xtreme Fidelity differentiates it from other high-end music standards such as DVD-A and SACD, which offer limited selection and require consumers to repurchase their music in that specific format. When consumers upgrade their CD or MP3 music to the new Xtreme Fidelity standard, they will be able to experience playback that sounds better than its original CD recording.
"Xtreme Fidelity is the result of our vision of a new audio standard which would provide a dramatic improvement in MP3 music, PC game play and digital movies, thereby setting the stage for a whole new platform for digital entertainment in the home," said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative. "To deliver on the vision of Xtreme Fidelity we created the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor, which makes a quantum leap in quality, power and performance that cuts across the entire audio space. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor is truly awesome, and the experience of Xtreme Fidelity will astound people."
The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio Processor
The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor has more than 51 million transistors, and is capable of 10,000+ MIPS. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor is 24 times more powerful than its predecessor, and is designed with multiple engines, so it can dynamically direct resources through a modular architecture to completely change the way audio is managed for any application. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor provides key modes that are optimized for experiences with MP3 music, gaming, movies and audio creation. Each mode is configured to dynamically dedicate the processor's power to deliver only the features, quality and capabilities that the user requires.
CD and MP3 Music
All CD music is in 16-bit resolution, which is typically compressed from an original 24-bit studio recording. When converting CD music to MP3 format, the music is compressed yet again. These types of compression result in a compromise of audio quality and clarity. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor drives new applications that can enhance MP3s by bringing them back to 24-bit quality, and allows the user to upgrade the music to multi-channel surround sound. This enhancement enables virtually all MP3 music to sound even better than it did on the original CDs.
PC Gaming
Game developers and PC gamers want their games to run at the fastest frame rate. This has at times caused them to compromise audio quality and realism by reducing the number of simultaneous effects or turning off audio altogether, because the audio requires so much processing power that it slows the frame rate. This significantly reduces the quality of the gaming experience and can put gamers at a competitive disadvantage. With the power and performance of the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor, gamers will actually be able to experience accelerated frame rates during game play with all the effects turned on. In addition, game developers will now be able to make their audio environments in games even more realistic as they can build to the powerful new platform of Xtreme Fidelity.
The Xtreme Fidelity standard provides a new extension of the EAX® Environmental Audio standard that was invented by Creative and is found in virtually all top PC game titles used today. With the new Xtreme Fidelity platform, Creative will deliver the fifth generation of EAX, which will immediately support hundreds of top games that are already available.
DVD and Downloaded Movies
Many people who watch DVDs or downloaded movies on their PCs want to use headphones so they can listen at whatever volume they want without bothering others. Although this keeps the volume from disturbing others, the headphones do not deliver the compelling surround sound experience available with a multi-channel speaker system. With the processing power and performance of the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor, listeners will be able to enjoy the Creative Multi Speaker Surround 3D headphone technology, which provides the experience of a multi-channel speaker system through virtually any headphones.
Enhanced Audio Creation
The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor is designed to deliver pristine audio recording quality, with advanced features and effects for music and audio creation. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor features an SRC engine that is so precise that any audio resolution is converted to any other resolution at near transparency with 136db THD+N and digital-matched recordings in resolutions from 44.1kHz to 96kHz. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor also supports ASIO recording with latency as low as one millisecond with zero CPU load. The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor delivers so much power, performance, quality and capability that it will be also used by E-MU Systems, the Creative Professional audio business, for future desktop authoring solutions designed for professional musicians.
Experience Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio Processor Applications at e3
Creative will be providing a sneak preview of the new applications made possible by the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor at e3 2005 in Los Angeles, from May 18-20. To view the demonstrations, or to get more information about the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor and Xtreme Fidelity, visit booth 2228 in the West Hall during show hours.
For more information about the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor and Xtreme Fidelity, visit www.soundblaster.com.
About Creative
Creative (NASDAQ: CREAF) is a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products for PC users. Famous for its Sound Blaster® sound cards and for launching the multimedia revolution, Creative is now driving digital entertainment on the PC platform with products like its highly acclaimed Zen™ and MuVo® MP3 players. Creative's innovative hardware, proprietary technology, applications and services leverage the Internet, enabling consumers to experience high-quality digital entertainment -- anytime, anywhere.