Product Description

Sony Vaio Pocket Digital Music Player VGF-AP1L - In the summer of 2004, Sony introduced this amazing MP3 player and multimedia storage device. The VAIO(R) Pocket has an array of advanced features for computer and digital content fans. Its 40GB hard drive stores up to 26,000 songs. With its QVGA color LCD you can choreograph a music-enhanced slideshow of personal photos. Plus, transferring music and pictures to VAIO(R) Pocket is quick and easy via a USB 2.0 port. A major advantage is up to 20 hours of play per fully charged battery - about 33% longer than its competitor. Easily gripped and operated with one hand, the VAIO(R) Pocket player also sports a unique user interface dubbed Grid Sense. The Grid Sense touchpad is a grid of raised dots which work together like a PC touchpad. It allows for smooth and precise song selection and navigation. You can also use the included three-line backlit LCD remote control to select songs when the player is on a belt loop or in a bag. USB streaming makes offloading photos from a Sony Cyber-shot(R) (or other) digital still camera to the player a breeze. The VAIO(R) Pocket serves double-duty as a storage device so you can take more pictures even when you're far from your PC. A USB 2.0 cradle is also supplied for easy PC connection, high speed transfer of files and convenient and rapid charging. In fashionable black, the VAIO(R) Pocket is for you. Unit Size - 4 3/ 4 x 2 1/ 2 x 1 1/ 4 / About 7 ounces Color - BLACK

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43018 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: VGF-AP1L
• Dimensions: 1.00" h x 2.00" w x 4.00" l, 3.00 pounds

Features

• Play music, view photos and store data files.
• Grid Sense touch pad, wired remote control and color LCD provide intuitive navagation and easy operation
• Eye candy for the road with coloe LCD that floods your senses in crisp color. Navigate songs, watch photo slide shows, display album jackets and song data. Dreary monochrome browsing is a thing of the past
• SoLong-Built in lithium ion batter lets you groove to music for up to 20 hours of continuous ATRAC3 playback on a single chatge.

From the Manufacturer
Get a colorful new window on your favorite tunes with Sony's VAIO Pocket digital music player. A 2.2" color LCD lets you enjoy digital photos while listening to your favorite playlists. Built-in battery provides up to 20 hours1 of continuous ATRAC3 playback on a single charge. It's music for your senses.

• 40 GB Hard Drive Digital Music Player offers plenty of storage for music, pictures and data back-up.

• Store up to 26,000 Tracks at 48 kbps when using Sony's ATRAC3plus audio format.

• 2.2" QVGA+ Color LCD Display can be used to see album jacket, music data and personal pictures to add rich, visual enhancement. Enjoy slide shows while listening to your favorite music, or turn your pictures into album arts.

• Sony's Connect Online Music Store offers one of the most extensive music libraries online -- a better selection than any other legal download service. Access more than 750,000 songs, including independent and foreign artists as well as featured artists and celebrity mixes, providing an easy method for downloading music legally.

• Internal Rechargeable Battery Provides Up to 20 Hours4 Continuous Playback (ATRAC3 Audio Playback) and can be charged using supplied charging cradle.

• Grid Sense Touchpad User Interface for easy and precise navigation.

• Supplied In-Line Remote Control with 3-Line Backlit LCD shows artist and song title.

• Intuitive Music Search and Play List Creation -- VAIO Pocket player sorts music not only by genre, artists and album names but also the date you listened and your preference.

• USB 2.05 PC Connection Cradle for High Speed Transfer and Charging Connect directly to your PC and recharge the internal battery by simply placing the VAIO Pocket digital music player in the USB 2.04 cradle, when cradle is powered by supplied AC adaptor. Transfer music mixes created on your PC at high speed to the player.

• Transfer Pictures Directly from Compatible Digital Cameras via USB Cable Simple, automatic process for efficient portability.

• Plays Back in ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus Audio Format,Supports Multiple Internet Audio Formats (MP36, WMA6, WAV6) The VAIO Pocket digital music player plays back ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus files and supports the most popular Internet Audio formats by transcoding to ATRAC3 format.

• Music Management Software Supplied Import, manage and easily transfer your digital music collections with the supplied music management software.

Customer Reviews

wonderful unit that has exceeded my hopes
After having this unit for about 3 months, I am still in love with it. Like many consumers, I researched several MP3 players and found the Vaio to be a very good choice for the price. Although the unit is slightly larger than ipods, its design makes you forget about it. I have never had a problem throwing it in a pocket. By utilizing the remote, there is no need to ever dig through your pocket.

Pros:
1. generic things like the color screen, large capacity, great asthetics, ect...
2. the remote is a godsend. it allows me to scroll without digging through my pocket. it is a one handed operation.
3. The user interface allows for many more navigation options. Although it takes some getting used to, the touch grid is a nice feature. All the common extras that you need can be accessed while on the now playing screen. No more scrolling through menus to turn on shuffle of EQ's (ipod).
4. Sound quality was the main reason for me buying this unit. I have always been skeptical about MP3 due to its audio compression. However, the Vaio excells in reproducing MP3s more like a wav quality. I have directly compared the vaio to the ipod and it makes me wonder how people can listen to the ipod. The vaio extends further into the lower frequincies, while also reducing audible distortion. If you are looking for sound quality, this is your unit.
5. Battery life is amazing. Although they claim 20 hours, its hard to really see that happening. Last week I used the vaio at full volume, with full EQ on, and shuffling through all the songs. The unit played for over 14 hours with occasional specific song selections. After 9 hours I was thinking that it was going to die, but it kept going.

Cons:
1. headphones are a stupid length. The ont sound too bad though. However, mine have already malfunctioned, causing the right one to go in and out. good news if new headphones are cheap.
2. software has some issues. I havent been really annoyed with it yet, but there are some glitches.
3. I wish the scrolling device went faster. I have a lot of artists on mine, so to get to the end it takes a while. This is the only thing that the ipod has on the vaio. Apple's scroll speed is something that could be useful. Again, I haven't been fully annoyed with it though, I am just nitpicking.
4. When I have the unit in my pocket and i am really walking fast, I have noticed that it can skip. Just slowing down for a second usually brings it back to normal though.

Awesome awesome awesome
After months of research on ipod alternatives, I purchased an Vaio Pocket (sale, $239) and was very impressed. I take it everywhere with me, very unfortunate the product had such a short shelf-life; I also bought (and returned) the newer Sony 20GB mp3 walkman, but decided I wanted graphics. I can support the reports of the reviewers about the graphics quality, it's really sweet. If you can't find a case, PDAir's site is selling VERY functional ones, as Sony's are a bit difficult to track down these days.

As for the discouraging remarks about the included headphones, I have to say that it would be the same with any other player, from any other brand. Definitely not unique to Sony. Affordable ear buds with a longer cord are available just about every wear. The cool thing about the Vaio Pocket is that you don't even have to use the screen to navigate through your album (there's an included cord menu navigation thingy that you hook up to the earbuds).

All I wish for is a travel charger or battery extender...

Vaio Pocket - Amazing & Stylish
I bought this after much searching - in fact I bought an ipod mini for my wife so I have some experience of both brands.
For those who love their music quality and want some style this machine is a great choice.

1. It is a 40GB player and cost £199 when I bought it - you will struggle to get a different 40GB player for £199 anywhere (even if it is being discontinued)

2. The screen is ace and displays almost all the information you could ever want to see of any track.
The track title
The Album cover
The Artist
The sequence number of the track (1 of 11 of an album or 211 of 9500 if you are just playing randomly from tracks on the machine.
The elapsed time AND the track length AND a graphics of how far along in the track you are.
The current time.
The battery life
That is a lot of information to put on one screen.

3. Browsing your music is made easy. The album display shows both album name and artist name as you search through.
When searching by track - it displays artist as well.

4. The sound quality is excellent and there is EQ management.

5. Cradle is a boon. Keeps machine protected and sturdy and provides drop in and out when when connected to either PC or stereo equipment. Also it is a great place to leave the machine when not using it meaning it will always be charged when you want to use it.

6. Navigation is simple once learned - same with ipod - you have to learn it first.

7. Robust build quality.

8. Battery life is excellent - I get at least 20 hours. (That is with a mix of Atrac3+ (64kbps)and mp3(192kbps) files. Every review I have seen quotes 20 as the minimum.

9. The searching mechanism (with the firmware upgrade) means I can search through 9600 tracks in a bout a minute just by keeping my finger on a button. This is impressive.

10. You can transfer pictures to it from teh camera.
This is not limited ot sony cameras - I have an olf Fuji F601 Zoom and to connect it to a XP PC you need to download the drivers. I was able to connect it to the AP1 and download the pics directly - AMAZING!!

I have had to reset it twice(or thrice) I think but on the whole it is an absolutley excellent machine and well worth the money.

It is let down by the software - Sonicstage - which must be used to manage the music on the player.
Sonicstage is not terrible in it's functionality but in it's operation(although there are some real holes e.g. not being able to create playlists on the PC and transfer them to the player without retransferring the tracks).
It holds up the PC it works on and is generally slow.
Once the music is on the player however - you are free and can enjoy it.
With the firmware upgrade you no longer need to convert mp3 files to Atrac - they just copy directly onto the player. Also instead of using Sonicstage 2.3, 3.2 has just been released which is a big improvement.
It uses USB2.03 so is very fast.
I love it - I have 9882 tracks on mine (there is nothing like having all your music with you) and have nearly 5 GB left. This is in addition to hundreds of pictures.

I thoroughly recommend this wonderful piece of Kit.