Two big, related announcements are coming out tomorrow - MobileCrunch has the scoop. Sony announced its new mylo (”my life online”) personal communicator, a wifi device that works in any 802.11b wireless network. It allows instant messaging, internet browsing and emailing, as well as listening to music (MP3, ATRAC or WMA) and viewing photos and MPEG-4 videos. This thing is Skype enabled, and Skype is making a separate release on that functionality.
mylo has a 2.4 inch LCD screen (measured diagonally), 1 GB of flash memory and a slide out qwerty keyboard. You can have it in any color you want, as long as it’s black or white. Sony claims the battery will allow up to 45 hours of music playback or seven hours of chatting and web surfing.
It also comes pre-packaged with Skype, Google Talk and Yahoo Messenger and includes JiWire’s hotspot directory which lists 20,000 or so wifi networks in the U.S.
Look for it in September, cost will be $350.
This could be the wifi device for Skype that we’ve all been waiting for. I’m going to get one of these things as soon as it’s released, a black one, and I suspect I’ll use it constantly.
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Yes, finally a phone worth upgrading to. I’ll definitely be getting one of these guys.
It’s very pretty, but it’d be better if it could connect to cell phone networks in addition to wifi. I realize that part of the goodness is not having to pay to talk, but practically speaking most (legal) access points will make you pay anyway, and the value for incoming calls is negligable. Unless I’m in my house. Where I already have a computer with Skype.
Sounds pretty nifty, but as Mike said, it would be even more killer if I could use it to replace my normal Verizon cell phone (assuming it is easy to talk on that hulk). Emailing, IMing and web browsing from a pocket sized device with a full keyboard and color screen is pretty tempting though, especially with Wifi connectivity so you aren’t tied down to any proprietary networks. I may need to get one of these.
Does it have sidetalking?
This is a really cool device, something I’ll be buying when it comes out in September. Connectivity to mobile networks would be cool, but i’ll let my cell phone take care of that. With the netgear skype phone delayed for eternity, this is now taking its place. Anyone declaring this an iPod killer yet, just curious (not proclaiming it myself).
-Jason L. Baptiste
i like the way of your expressing your idea . and that was a good comment good …
This will definately be on my new toy list.
What does this device do that most, say, windows mobile or many other cell phone devices can’t? Seems a bit too big a device for IM.
So seems like this can be summarized as $350 for a portable Skype device as that seems to be it’s only distinguising factor. Brilliant!!!
Why not just shove a keyboard behind the PSP and be done with it?
7 hours of net surfing? That’s clearly better than the 2h of my HP iPaq…
This device looks a lot like the PDA-phones made by HTC (High Tech Computers - a company located in Taiwan).
They sell them under different brands, such as XDA, Qtek, O2, etc.
By looking at it, my guess is that this is made by HTC, too.
I have a XDA Executive (also known as Qtek 9000) and I’m very happy with it. It’s a fantastic PDA-phone, way more powerful than any “smartphone” such as the Nokias.
And yes, it supports 3G for high speed communications and you can install SkyPE, and it works well.
I’m surprised how few people know about these PDA-phones.
have they given battery life specs on cotinuous wifi usage? that’s the key issue with such devices. I have a cingular 8125 which is all of the above plus a GSM cell phone, but the problem is I need to keep the wifi off all the time, because continuous surfing with wifi drains it in less than 1.5 hours. without wifi, I can gladly use it throughout the day
Is this Zony’s Sune ?
Saw the HTC comment above but to add to that the new HTC Hermes is the device of choice if you can stomach MS as you also get 3G connectivity with a decent processor (the QTek 9000 never worked for 3G Skype voice due to the slow processor). Nice job with TechCrunch BTW - I always enjoy reading from London.
Sony is on a roll these days…
I am awaiting the release of GPS - C1, their GPS location tracker tool that enables one to map the pictures with location and plot them on the world map (like Google map etc..)!
More here..
gizmodo broke the news last night - they even have a video
http://www.slashgear.com/sony-.....-07837.php
gizmodo broke the news last night - they even have a video
http://www.slashgear.com/sony-.....-07837.php
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets.....192676.php
Worst website introduction of a new product. Horrible.
“What’s Up? No. Not with you.”
Well…then.
Looks sweet (and this is coming from a mac fanatic) but without the cell phone capabilities what’s the point. Most wi-fi hotspots make you pay anyways. I’d rather have an all in one.
802.11b network? Why not A, G, and Pre-N? Seems silly that Sony just made a B.
I’m puzzled why Sony is still trying to make us buy Memory Stick Duo. It’s just crazy. Also I am wondering why 802.11b at this point?
No camera for taking pics and no way to upload them? Too bad. That’s a real flaw for the MySpace crowd that I see who would otherwise snap this gadget up.
I’m interested to know whether it’ll support games, too. Meebo will give it rough access to AIM and MSN as well as the built-in Yahoo, if there’s some virtual keyboard functionality.
HTC? I’ve seen their handhelds. Sony kept it Sony. If you look at it, the device resembles their popular PSP gaming handheld with a slide out keyboard.
802.11b is a good call. Lowers the cost of the device, power consumption, and really who needs anything faster than 11mbp/s for data transfers on a handheld?
This thing is going to be a hit in every city that implements free city wide wi-fi. I’m lucky to be a San Franciscan.
That’s too bad that it comes with the fairly useless gTalk (and yahoo) pre-installed. I hope there is a way to uninstall those and install something a bit more useful such as AIM and MSN (for me at least). This looks like an interesting (albeit slightly ugly) idea, though I agree it should have had a camera and ability to connect to a cell phone provider as well.
I blogged about this at http://www.tommandel.com/blog.
I’m not as impressed with this device. To be successful, it’ll have to be bought by a very young demographic, but it’s too expensive for them, and it isn’t going to be discounted via the cell phone network/service providers. That makes it a hard buy to justify. It would be more appealing if a) it connected via ev do as well as wifi b) it had a practical amount of storage and c) it functioned as a mobile front end for my flickr/photobucket account and for youtube.
Look for the Mylo to be a failure in the market.
Pritty sweet. Only problem for me, no AIM. All my friends use AIM, not yahoo. Well we shall see
On any Windows Mobile device you can install Agile Messenger, which supports many different IM protocols including AIM.
Also, SkyPE works on the Qtek 9000 (also known as HTC Universal, XDA Executive). It has a 580 MHz processor (Intel Bulverde). I use SkyPE on it all the time.
Very expensive. You can get a PSP for almost $150 less and get almost more functionality. Sure you don’t get skype but it can’t be that difficult to put it on there.
Sony is an ubiquitous company trying to position itself as an exclusive company. Which sucks for them. Sucks for us even more when gadgets like this come out at super high prices.
Isn’t this exactly the same concept as Nokia’s 770 Internet Tablet? The price is the same, as well, I think..?
Except of course that this Mylo runs some Sony proprietary system, with no available 3rd party apps, and uses their Memory Sticks, vs. Nokia’s Linux-based OS with a bunch of user-developed apps already, and anyone’s MMCs….
Nope! Mylo runs on Linux! (Trolltech’s Qtopia platform to be exact).
Prices are, indeed, very close: 770: $360, mylo: $350…
Check http://www.mylo-info.com for more specs.
I have a question. What is the memory stick duo? Is that a specific memory stick or can you use any kind? I’m confused. I have a 1GB sandisk memory card for my PSP, can I use the same thing with Mylo?
Hi audra,
a memory stick duo is smaller than a standard memory stick (but the smallest is the Memory Stick Micro).
By attaching an adaptor MS duo can also be used in products compatible with standard-size Memory Stick media.
You’ll be able to use your Sandisk card with your mylo because PSP uses only Memory Stick Duo media and so do the mylo.
You can pre-order mylo on http://www.mylo-info.com
What each sight that I have read about Mylo on seems to be missing is that in another market segment this device seems to have a convergence of two great features. There are four different Skype wifi phones about to hit the market, (the SMC is already out in asia) and none of them can access a web-based secure wifi login like at starbucks or an airport. The only wifi phone that can, the lynksys wip330, is nearly the same price as this and can not use skype because skype is not SIP protocol. And Skype zones is a myth for handhelds because its Boingo logon software can not be loaded on a non-pc. All of the bloggers on those sights post, why not get a Pocket PC and run skype mobile? Because every hands on review of skype mobile from real reviewers is abismal, rating it un-usable for calls. The software is just not the same as PC skype. The SMC skype phone is okay but not great. The Lynksys wip330 is great for voice calls and has a full web browser specifically to make it usable to log onto web authenticated public wifi hotspots, but no skype. I read a hands on use review of Mylo this mourning and now I can’t find the page, but the reviewer actually used the mylo to place skype calls and was suprised at how good the call quality was. With a processor that can decode MPEG4 video and 1GB of onboard memory I can see why this device might have more muscle to do a better job than some $200 skype only wifi device. However, no hands on reviewer has specifically stated that they used or could not use or failed in an attempt to try to log onto a public wifi hotspot through Mylo’s browser to get access. I am one of the few odd people who actually has a non frivolous reason to want this new skype wifi junk. I am an international business traveler who deals almost solely with american companies while rarely ever entering the states. Yes, I am american, I work in the shipping industry, as in aboard ships. The companies I deal with are long on cash but short on tech savvy, and I have to have a US based number for them to call me on. However, in my situation I can not even get my cell phone to work when I need it most, which is while traveling through overseas airports. I can roam with my GSM at high rates in singapore or thailand, but korea is all cdma and so are several others. I already use a quad band mobile since all of europe and asia is using old 900mhz GSM and most GSM towers in the states are old 850mhz equipment. If my companies could call me on my skype number while I am laid over in korea to change my follow-on flight arrangements within the states it would be great for me. In fact, that is what I already do, I sit in the Hong Kong airport during a 5 hour layover, with my laptop on next to me and skype running waiting for an incoming call while my battery runs down. I have actually recieved flight changes this way. That is when I need a handheld skype device that will just sit and wait for a call on a wifi network. Business life sucks sometimes, but for better or worse, Skype and wifi work in every airport in the world and my number never changes. I keep my skype number forwarded to my cell phone, so if I have a roaming cell signal but the laptop is off it still ring me, which is the most important thing, no matter what it costs. Someone will say why not a Broadvoice wifi phone based on a US voip account. I am not married to the idea of skype, but the broadvoice phones can’t web authenticate either. Skype has alot of functionally working for it as a network, even if it is proprietary and the hardware basically sucks. So if this Mylo will provide a flexible link to that wifi network, it is worth the price. Lack of bluetooth aside, if I can browse onto a airport website in korea and call my office in singapore all from a device small enough to hold up to my ear like a real phone, I will be satisfied.
To Trevor: why not get yourself latest ASUS handheld (a630 do not remember exact model name) with wifi bluetooth and you got it. A device that holds onto wifi network and works fine with your earpiece..
Also there is both GSM & CDMA device on the market do not remember the name, but China Unicom has it. And as long as you have Skypeout & skype in. Just get yourself local sim cards for the places you go and do not forget to change skypeoput settings before you go there. And that’s simple.
That is not a phone!
this is still a great device i know this is the latest posting and since the mylo has been out for like 4 months now people know more about it yes its not a phone and no you cant play games on it who needs gaming on it i think as a society we are too fixated with video games and playing everywhere we go im more of a internet freak so id love to pass my time by browsing the net or emailing and the best part of owning a sony mylo is that you do not need to buy a subscribtion so no matter where you go if you can pick up a good signal you can use the device for free without the hassle of any monthly payments how many other people that own pda’s can say that??? people complain that the mylo is not a phone but if it were dont you think that there would be a service fee??? please add any comments to my posting if you wish, i always like to hear what other people have to say =) makes the world go round……
good idea
Wow, Mylo is on top of Nokia 770 for sure!
Wonder how 2 get 1 here in Jakarta, Indonesia?
How bout Hongkong or Spore?
Prices?
I cant wait 2 replace my stupid, super hang, troublemaker N73!
Its not at all good, if U r a power-user!
Any1 know bout PSP3 that can do similar 2 Mylo?
How bout Anycall, Pantech, LG, etc?
Any powerful gadgets?
Pls advise me?
StarPrince69@Gmail.com
Dave Bernard
Where can i get one in the middle east ..
plz reply
p.w.i.n.c.e.s.s@hotmail.com
thanx
thes are realy cool!but i cant find them around surry or vancouver
Guys I wantED this but once i found out that it had NO AIM(AOL Instant MEssaging) and it had skype i didnt want it any more b\c it shouldnt5 have yahho and google because like no one has a google account….AIM is the most used anyway…and skype just sucks it has really bad connection…so yea go and waste ur money if u want…and speaking of money it is wayyyyyy too over priced @ 350$ not worth it….but idc its ur money
Forgot in my comment above…its alright in my case its not all that it has fast web browsing and a music, video and picture playback but i wouldnt buy it…ANY! NO IF IT HAS REGULAR TEXTING?
i really liked it i want to use it as my phone