The Sony NW-S205F S2 Sports Walkman is like having a personal trainer built into your MP3 player. This sharply styled unit is designed for active use, and it includes a host of features to enhance your workouts.

The unique black cylinder of the NW-S205F holds 2GB of Flash memory, so you don't have to worry about skips during playback. The body is water-resistant, protecting it from perspiration, and the player comes with an easy-to-use armband. The bright organic electroluminescence (OEL) display only shows one line of information, but it is easy to read in just about any light conditions. You can flip the display to make it readable no matter where you have the NW-S205F strapped or stowed.

One of the neatest features of the NW-S205F is its internal motion sensor. Enter your weight into the player, and the motion sensor determines you calorie-burning rate based on your movement and the length of the workout. The sensor also acts as a pedometer. You can even set targets for calories burned or distance traveled, and the NW-S205F shuts off after a target is reached. There is a stopwatch, and by shutting off the music after a certain amount of time has elapsed, the NW-S205F can time your workouts for you.

The NW-S205F has a great feature called Shuffle Shake. To turn on the player's shuffle mode, simply shake it three times; shake it three more times to turn it off. The Music Pacer mode lets you program two playlists, called "running" and "walking." With the help of the motion sensor, the NW-S205F plays the running list when you are in high motion, and it switches to the walking list during cool-down periods.

The NW-S205F is compatible with MP3, ATRAC3plus (Sony proprietary format), WMA and AAC, but not any DRM-protected formats. There is also a digital FM tuner with station presets. Sony includes SonicStage software, but this program won't win any awards for ease of use, and it only runs on Windows PCs. The internal rechargeable battery lasts for up to 18 hours, and it has a fast-charging feature that gives it 3 hours of life after only 3 minutes of recharging.

With its motion sensor, timer and innovative playback features, the Sony NW-S205F makes your music an integral component of your workout.


Pros:  Motion sensor and timer, clever playback features like Shuffle Shake, good file compatibility, quick-charge battery
Cons:  Not compatible with DRM-protected audio files, small display, included software is disappointing

Warranty
90 days labor, 1 year parts