Review by Inja Kristi J. Fajatin
As the war for the most promising MP3 players continue to escalate, Sony takes up the challenge by introducing a new addition to the NW-E300 series, the P9,999 Network Walkman NW-E305.
With its hip and innovative design, the small bean-shaped player is quite appealing to the younger market. Coined from its unique form, the Walkman Bean is packed with a built-in retractable USB connector, single-line monochrome OLED display, FM tuner, and lithium-ion rechargeable battery capable of up to 50 hours of playback. The player supports MP3, WAV, WMA, and ATRAC3 audio format and can store up to 345 tracks. The 512MB variety is available in two cool colors, Coconut White and Tropical Ice Blue, while the 1GB NW-E307 comes in Black Licorice and Cotton Candy Pink.
The Walkman Bean ships music files using the SonicStage version 3.2 file management software.
Aside from managing your music library, the software grants you access to the Sony Connect catalog containing around 70,000 tracks ready for download.
As much as I adore the Bean's stylish and ergonomic form, it takes an effort to learn how the one-liner menu system works. The USB sliding cover also appears to be a bit of a liability. If you close the lid all the way, the player automatically goes on Hold mode. However, if you move it just a notch down, instead of pausing in player mode, the cover loosely slides all the way, exposing the USB port entirely.
Having said that, I still believe that Sony's flash-based audio player deserves a thumbs-up for its creative design concept and its impressive battery life. Its quick-charging feature allows you to listen to three hours of uninterrupted music even after only three minutes of charging. So even if you're in a hurry, your music can still keep you company for much of the day.
GRINS
? hip and innovative design
? amazing battery life
? retractable USB connector
GRIMACES
? inscrutable USB cover
? complicated menu system
THE LOWDOWN
A form-before-function music player with a killer battery life.
