NW-E013

The NW-E013 headed the eighth-generation E Series Network Walkman family. These players refined the stick-style design with an LCD upgrade and the addition of CD jacket artwork display. It comes with 1 GB of flash storage and supports MP3, ATRAC, ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus, WMA, and AAC files. The LCD showed track details and album art, while Clear Audio Technology, direct USB connection, and a 30-hour lithium-ion battery completed the set.

The eighth generation introduced the first 4 GB model in the E line while keeping the focus on versatile codec support and simplicity. It is the beginning of a later, more polished stick-style E generation. The body is still compact and direct, but this time the line felt a little less raw and gadget-like, with a stronger emphasis on presentation and browsing polish. The E Series by then was no longer searching for its purpose. The job now was to make it cleaner, more pleasant, and more complete in compact ways that improved daily use instead of changing the category.