And also notice there's a Les Paul directly below, right at center stage...

2:43AM
Extra Extra! Read all about it! "Gibson Brands Announces Intention to Acquire Cakewalk Inc."
 
"Well, we didn't fix any of the problems that have rolled in over the last year because we lost all the paperwork in the acquisition.  So instead we're loading Sonar X3 with tons of amp and phoney-sounding guitar sims."

Good one!

We will now be switching to the update model adopted by Sony Creative Software when they acquired Sonic Foundry. That is some stand alone software will remain unchanged. New releases will have a new splash screen and some of the previous bugs fixed and more created in an attempt to support new sony technology.

x2b = x3 paid update to fix bugs/or possibly add more useless effects, but don't worry, next year they will drop Gibson and switch to Fender for x4, so we have to dig in our pockets yet again to get those bug fixes and gapless engine that people have been wanting for years lol.

I've been using X2a heavily for the last three months and I have to say I'm really dig'n it and I wouldn't want to see SONAR fall by the way side.  I'm excited that the cone of silence has been lifted and that a new version is on the way.  I was starting to worry that SONAR was going to be abandoned.
 
As for Roland, I've had good and bad experience with them.  The Roland VS2480 was a cool recorder but when Roland decided to drop it from their product line a similiar cone of silence was imposed and then the VS2480 was suddenly...gone.  I was starting to worry that SONAR was going to be abandoned likewise.
 
So, Gibson taking over...GOOD NEWS!

scook
Also notice it does not say X2b

X2b was not to be.....

That has been pretty clear for some time

Before it was stolen I loved my Roland VS2480. On the other hand that was when I finally bit the bullet and started going ITB. At the time I had Sonar 7, upgraded to 8.5.3, then X1 and now X2. I have to admit that ITB based recording is something of dream come true..
 
But this waiting for X3 is becoming a nightmare. Waiting waiting waiting...
 
Regards,

Maybe it won't be X anything? Maybe it will be Tascam Studio or something?

thebiglongy
x2b = x3 paid update to fix bugs/or possibly add more useless effects, but don't worry, next year they will drop Gibson and switch to Fender for x4, so we have to dig in our pockets yet again to get those bug fixes and gapless engine that people have been wanting for years lol.

If you keep your eye on the forum you'll see that there are a couple things which are far beyond a point release in X3.