Posted by Scott on 08/27/05 12:49

Hi,

I have many problems with the SonicStage software from Sony that comes
with the NW-HD1 walkman. I upgraded to version 3.x (I can not see the
exact version now because SonicStage won't startup anymore). I am using
Windows 2000 with all latest fixes.

Problem 1: SonicStage uses 100% processor time, all the time.

Problem 2: I can only use SonicStage once per fresh PC reboot. Closing
the application is not possible. It visually disappears but the
omgjbox.exe process keeps running at 99%. When I kill that process I
can restart SonicStage but it will not recognise my connected NW-HD1
player. It keeps this way until I completely reboot my PC.

Problem 3: As a sound quality test, I uploaded my MP3 files to the
device and they got converted to 130kbps OMA files. But now I want to
do the final upload of that same playlist at ATRAC plus 256kbps. That's
not possible in SonicStage because all conversions are cached (in one
big folder) and deleting them does not have the effect that SonicStage
will re-convert to the newer bitrate. It simply copies the old
converted file to the device, and if the cached file does not exists
SonicStage will display a "file not found" error.

Problem 4: Most of the time when I close SonicStage (and kill the
omgjbox.exe process) the System (!) process keeps eating processor
cycles at 99%, slowing my PC down for ever, until I reboot... well,
rebooting does not always work in this case, I have to disconnect the
power from my PC.

Being a computer user (and programmer) for more than 20 years, I never
ever seen such a bad software product as SonicStage. I am used to keep
my computer on for months, but now I have to crash my PC every time I
use SonicStage.

Is there a good alternative product for this "software"? I would like
to update my player on a regular basis, not once per year!

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