-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Readme SonicStage Version 4.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------This file describes the latest information for SonicStage.

Please read this before using SonicStage. This Readme is divided into the following sections: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1) Before Using SonicStage - Minimum System Requirements - Notes regarding Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista 2) Important Notes - Software Installation/Uninstallation 3) Legal Notice -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1) Before Using SonicStage Minimum System Requirements - Computer: IBM PC/AT or compatible computer preinstalled with Windows. SonicStage is compatible with the following Windows operating systems: - Windows 2000 Professional (Service Pack 4 or later), - Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2 or later), - Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 2 or later), - Windows XP Media Center Edition (Service Pack 2 or later), - Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 (Service Pack 2 or later), - Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Service Pack 2 or later), - Windows Vista Home Basic, - Windows Vista Home Premium, - Windows Vista Business, - Windows Vista Ultimate SonicStage is not compatible with the following Windows operating systems: - Windows 95, - Windows 98 Gold Edition, - Windows 98 Second Edition, - Windows Millennium Edition, - Windows NT - Any version of Windows 2000 other than Windows 2000 Professional (such as Windows 2000 Server) - Browser: Microsoft(R) Internet Explorer 5.5 or later For systems that do not have Microsoft(R) Internet Explorer 5.5 or la ter with 128-bit cipher strength installed, functions related to Music se rvice sites and display of cover art and lyrics will not work properly. In addition, JavaScript and cookies must be enabled in Internet Explo rer

for Music service site functions to work. - CPU: Pentium III 450 MHz or higher (When using Windows Vista: Pentium III 800 MHz or higher) - RAM: 128 MB or greater (When using Windows Vista: 512 MB or greater) - Hard Disk: 200 MB or greater of available space More space may be required depending on the version of the operating system. Additional space is required for storing music data. - Display: - Screen Resolution - Colors : 800 x 600 pixels (or higher) (1024 x 768 is recommended) : Medium (16 bit) (or higher) (SonicStage may not operate properly at color settings at or below 256 colors.)

- CD-ROM drive (supporting Digital Music CD playback capabilities using WDM) To create an audio CD, ATRAC CD or MP3 CD, a CD-R/RW drive is required. Writing to DVD media in the Create an MP3 CD screen is not guaranteed. - Sound card Sound cards compatible with any of the following operating systems: - Windows 2000 Professional - Windows XP Home Edition - Windows XP Professional - Windows XP Media Center Edition - Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 - Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 - Windows Vista Home Basic - Windows Vista Home Premium - Windows Vista Business - Windows Vista Ultimate - USB port A USB port is required for connecting to external devices/media. When connecting devices/media to the computer via a USB hub, only devices/medi a whose operation through a hub has been confirmed will work with SonicStage. Notes Regarding Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista - Do not use SonicStage while logged on to a domain user account under Windows 2 000 Professional, Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition. - SonicStage should be installed while logged on to an account with administrato r privileges. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------2) Important Notes Software Installation/Uninstallation

- The following modules are installed as required when SonicStage is installed. However, if SonicStage is preinstalled, the modules may not be installed. Microsoft(R) Data Access Components 2.5 (c)1981-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft(R) DirectX(R) Runtime 9.0c (c)2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Portions utilize Microsoft Windows Media Technologies. Copyright (c) 1999-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved - Device drivers for portable devices are installed, if required. - When SonicStage is uninstalled, the above modules are not removed. The OpenMG music database created by SonicStage is also not deleted, and can be found in the folder specified in the program's options settings. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------3) Legal Notice Copyright 2001-2007 Sony Corporation (c)2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Music recognition technology and related data are provided by Gracenote(r). Gracenote is the industry standard in music recognition technology and related content delivery. For more information visit www.gracenote.com. CD and music-related data from Gracenote, Inc., copyright (c) 2000-2007 Gracenote. Gracenote CDDB(r) Client Software, copyright 2000-2007 Gracenote. This product and service may practice one or more of the following U.S. Patents: #5,987,525; #6,061,680; #6,154,773, #6,161,132, #6,230,192, #6,230,207, #6,240,459, #6,330,593, and other patents issued or pending. Services supplied and/or device manufactured under license for following Open Globe, Inc. United States Patent 6,304,523. Gracenote is a registered trademark of Gracenote. The Gracenote logo and logotype, and the "Powered by Gracenote" logo are trademarks of Gracenote. Sonic, Sonic Solutions and Powered by Sonic Solutions are trademarks of Sonic Solutions. libpng version 1.2.15 Copyright (c) 1998-2007 Copyright (c) 1996-1997 Copyright (c) 1995-1996 January 5, 2007 Glenn Randers-Pehrson Andreas Dilger Guy Eric Schalnat, Group 42, Inc.

zlib Copyright (C) 1995-2004 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler

SonicStage, OpenMG and , MagicGate, MagicGate Memory Stick, Memory Stick, Hi-M D, Net MD, ATRAC, ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus, ATRAC Advanced Lossless and their logos are trademarks of Sony Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology and patents licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson. Other system names and product names appearing herein are generally trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective makers. These trademarks are not denoted in this document by means of the (TM) or (R) symbols. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------Readme.txt / Copyright 2007 Sony Corporation English Version