– Sony has announced two new hard drive-based digital music players that appear to be the closest thing to a threat that Apple’s iPod has encountered. Sony’s NW-HD1 Network Walkman weighs less than 4 ounces, making it the world’s smallest portable audio device built with a 1.8-inch, 20GB hard drive, according to the company. (The iPod weighs in at 5.6 ounces.) Sony claims the device’s internal rechargeable battery provides up to 30 hours of continuous playback, while the iPod offers up to eight.