According to previously credible sources, Sony is readying a 2, 4, and 8gb video Walkman which is smaller than the Apple iPod Nano. It will have the appearance of the NW-A3000/1000 units of old but in a more flat and rectangular form like its Apple counterpart. The big ticket with this device is that it will feature supposedly 8 to 10 hours of video playback, although we all know that those figures can be manipulated by low brightness, low volume, video/audio codec quality, etc. However, we must admit that Sony has been able to pull impressive battery life figures in the past with a variety of interesting technologies. The hardware interface should feature similar buttons to the A3000 series, but don’t expect to see an Artist Link button. A superslim profile ( 6.5mm thick ) and a gorgeous screen of a larger size than the Nano for optimal rotated viewing is expected.
The GUI is still the 3×3 menu layout similiar to the A3000, but with updated icons and better overall menu functionality. Four colors will be introduced: violet, black, blue, pink (various regions may only get certain colors). Pricing should be equivalent or slightly higher than the Nano. An early March announcement is expected.
This could be a huge release for Sony, or possibly just a shadow in the upcoming presence of the next generation iPod.