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Print 17 comment(s) - last by MobileZone.. on Aug 9 at 9:32 AM

Available in two colors
And it's called the "Mylo"

This week Sony announced a new device called the Mylo, which is a handheld communications and media device roughly the same size as Sony's PSP. Despite the similarities in size, the Mylo screen actually slides up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard where users can use to type up instant messages, browse the web and type up emails.

The Mylo comes equipped with GoogleTalk as well as Yahoo! Messenger. Incidentally, Yahoo! Messenger is now compatible with Microsoft's Live Messenger -- users who were wondering whether or not they would be able to talk to Microsoft Messenger users need not worry. This is likely the reason why Microsoft's Messenger was omitted from the software package. AOL Instant Messenger is not supported.

According to Sony's press release "The mylo personal communicator boots up in seconds and can scan for available wireless networks right away. The 'What’s Up' screen serves as the hub, storing up to 90 of your friends’ avatars so you can quickly see who’s online.  You can store up to nine online identities per person which allows you to first choose who you want to chat with then easily initiate conversations using your preferred application."

The biggest feature of the Mylo is its Skype integration. Users can use Mylo's built in Wi-Fi capabilities to link up to an Internet connection and make calls through their Skype user account. Unfortunately, the Mylo is not a mobile phone and therefore does not have mobile connectivity features such as GSM.

In terms of multimedia features, the Mylo supports MPEG4 video playback and MP3, ATRAC and WMA support for audio. JPG image playback is supported. The unit has a 320x240 screen, which is not in the same aspect ratio as widescreen movies (16:9). Battery life is strong for audio, lasting roughly 45 hours. For more productive uses, the unit lasts up to 7 hours and just 3 hours for continuous talking through Skype. The Mylo also comes with a Memory Stick Duo expansion slot but comes integrated with 1GB of memory. Sony says that the Mylo will be available come September for $350.

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too big in size, too short in features
By giribi on 8/8/2006 6:11:38 AM , Rating: 2
Some nce features, but they're not really there yet.
It lacks GSM coverage to be a super cell phone, and in other hand it lacks internal storage to be a super PVR like the Archos AV models.
To big for a MP3 Player only




By Hypernova on 8/8/2006 6:17:24 AM , Rating: 2
well for GSM if you're in a WiFi'ed city then with skype out it would be pritty close to a phone.


RE: too big in size, too short in features
By ChugokuOtaku on 8/8/2006 10:00:46 AM , Rating: 2
yeah... plus they decided they're gonna limit expansion to their proprietary memory sticks again...


By rrsurfer1 on 8/8/2006 10:05:31 AM , Rating: 1
Sony == Proprietarily screw the customer


Pointless
By psychobriggsy on 8/8/2006 12:45:43 PM , Rating: 2
Why didn't Sony take the PSP, with its nice large screen and decent hardware, and modify it for this use?

DIfferent casing.
Remove UMD drive, add slot for optional internal 1.8" hard drive.
Add pop out keyboard.

PSP already has an OS, browser software and so on. This device doesn't look like it is using Windows Mobile or PalmOS or Symbian, so it's custom presumably. What a waste of resources.




RE: Pointless
By cbonn1 on 8/8/2006 5:02:20 PM , Rating: 2
COST perhaps???? I have to believe this is shot #1 to add voice communication capability to the PSP. I don't think this device is going to meet any of the needs of all of us out here that were clambering for PSP + voice/cellular. It has to be cost. All components are getting cheaper... Sony wake up... add GSM, original PSP screen and a decent sized HD, and watch them sell out in mass.


RE: Pointless
By MobileZone on 8/9/2006 9:32:44 AM , Rating: 2
Totally agree. I can't understand why Sony just didn't add GSM, hard disk and keyboard to PSP. I don't see anyone buying something like this just to use IM. At least, with mobile connectivity and a decent screen, it would worth the cost.

A $200 Pocket PC does everything Mylo does and MUCH more. Ok, it won't be this cool looking..


Nice
By Hypernova on 8/8/2006 5:59:28 AM , Rating: 2
Sounds like a pritty killer package.




RE: Nice
By tuteja1986 on 8/8/2006 7:36:56 AM , Rating: 2
My $300 pocket pc can do this and much much more :(


Low screen resolution
By PrinceGaz on 8/8/2006 7:00:42 AM , Rating: 2
I think they've made a big mistake in dropping the screen-resolution from the PSPs 480x272 down to 320x240, if they expect people to surf the web with it. You really need a lot higher resolution than that (or some intuitive way to make up for it like in the upcoming DS browser) to do any serious surfing.




RE: Low screen resolution
By cbonn1 on 8/8/2006 4:50:13 PM , Rating: 2
I have to completely agree with the screen size issue. When you drop it down to this size, what separates this from many of the cellphones with QWERTY, in terms of data browsing and text entry??? This was not smart! If one commits to a device this big (as compared to a RAZR lets say) to gain its benefits, then why not leave the larger screen size in there? That's what we'd want, the ability to actually view content at a decent size. Every survey on why mobile users don't like mobile internet viewing can be traced back to poor display size. I got a LG CU320 right when it came out and watched a lot of cingular video. I have my laptop monitor at 1920 x 1200, and thus can see very small text. Even to me, the cingular video on cell was just too small and not clear enough. I would have had huge expectations for this device, and may still, but the screen size is a big issue here. Bad Sony!


By sintaxera on 8/8/2006 9:53:43 AM , Rating: 2
Why make this when what everyone really wants is a nice add-on (sliding?) keyboard for the PSP, and maybe release some kind of crippled but easy to work with homebrew kit for it too. Then they might be on to something.




1gig memory??
By othercents on 8/8/2006 10:48:25 AM , Rating: 2
What the hell is sony thinking. 1 GIG of memory sucks. This would be a cool unit it if had 20gb, 30gb or maybe even 60gb, but 1gb?? I want to be able to save my movies to it and watch them. Then I will also have the other "extra" stuff like chat programs, but this unit is way to overpriced for the features they are presenting especially since there isn't enough space to save movies to it. I would rather get a ipod video than this crap.

Other




Gimmick
By Soviet Robot on 8/8/2006 11:45:54 AM , Rating: 2
Wow, that's a gimmick. Sony should stop making such useless crap and work on a phone/keyboard addon for the PSP.
Why would anyone pay $350 for this?
You can get a PSP with a 4GB ms for less, and it can do much more(w/o chat, but that's what phones are for).




$350 and no AIM?
By Araxen on 8/8/2006 1:30:49 PM , Rating: 2
It's a pretty nifty device especially for the IM addicts but no AIM? That's a pretty big IM network to leave out.




*sigh*
By Enoch2001 on 8/8/2006 5:02:22 PM , Rating: 2
People stop whining about why they didn't just modify the PSP - the Mylo is meant to compete with Nokia's 770 - an portable handheld Internet tablet that does some multimedia. The drawback is that Nokia's 770 has an awesome touchscreen which the Mylo lacks. But then again, the Mylo has an actual QWERTY keyboard, something the 770 needs.

This is for those who want to do some quick web surfing but don't want to be bothered with a huge laptop or dekstop. Leave it sitting on the back of your toilet for those long thought sessions; that's what this is for.

The PSP is due for a refresh; perhaps it will merge with the Mylo in some way but I think that's unlikely.




YouTube Link of Mylo
By mpower on 8/8/2006 11:43:48 PM , Rating: 2
The handheld device actually looks a bit smaller then the PSP....screen looks pretty sharp too, check out the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koQFjKwVFB0




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