Holy hot damn, we got us a
Mylo up in this piece. Yes, unfortunately it's only a late prototype (we haven't actually heard of anyone getting a final production unit yet) but here she is, Sony's ever-hopeful ace in the hole to get a foothold in the pockets of disenfranchised Sidekick 'tweens everywhere (and maybe even some 770 user throwbacks as well). Click on for the full report.
They had to get 'er out the door fast, we were calling by the hour.
The box matches the orange-and-white color scheme nicely. Touring around it, we can see some pictorial feature highlights, support for Google Talk, Yahoo IM, and Skype (with voice, of course), and some of the media formats supported, including WMA and -- whew -- ATRAC! That was a close one.
Note the "No 911" service warning. Darn, and we were hoping to give up our cell phones for Mylo.
aThe top part of the box has the Mylo's tag line, "My life online," that is, as long as you live your life within range of a Wi-Fi access point.
Digging deeper, we have the "important information" pamphlet and the PC software.
USB cable, AC adapter, slip case, battery and earbuds. The Mylo can also charge via USB and enter mass storage mode There's also a microphone for help get your Skype on. The Mylo can also be used as a Skype WiFi handset, just hold it up to your right ear and the built-in micophone and speaker do their thing.
Here's a closeup of the slide-up keyboard. The oblong keys take a little getting used to. They're raised ever so slightly above the surface and are unfortunately not backlit. Darker orange on orange doesn't make for great contrast, either. We wish Sony had done all the keys in white like the Symbol key. This also may be a good reason to go for the black unit instead of the Sony's "S2" aesthetics in this scheme. However, backlighting would solve all these problems.
Here's a tour of the back, which feels platicky unlike the gloss smooth top exterior. On the top left is the Memory Stick Duo slot and the bottom right has dedicated volume buttons and the hold switch. While the main speaker is easy to spot, power and WiFi slider switches (think PSP) are on the side of the Mylo. The control in the center on the bottom is for pausing skipping and replying. Flicking it instead of holding it down will skip ahead or back in a song or video. You can also use it to show a video in slow-mo.
Mylo poses next to the PSP, which really doesn't look as much of an inspiration for its design after all when next to it, and the Nokia 770, which shares some of its features and lacks a physical keyboard but has a much larger screen.
Mylo's not a traditional cellphone, but it's smaller than some smart phones and is closest in volume to a T-Mobile MDA.
Mylo's keyboard feels like it has less key travel than phones with slide-out (or flip-out) keyboards.
Mylo's on-screen interface is a departure from the XMB cross-media bar that Sony has looked to as an interface standard. However, it's very simple to navigate.
Here's a shot of the music-playing screen and a photo being displayed. The Option button brings up menu items. The Mylo's screen is nice and bright.
The file manager is pretty basic. On the other hand, Skype is on the menu. Mylo can do some limited multitasking. The "Info" button lets you see what's going on in an application without leaving the one you're in, a bit like widgets
You can switch between one-column view and full-page view where you'll do a lot of horizontal scrolling.
In a shot with it top slid up, we can see that the Mylo supports WPA and Web proxies. The keyboard slides up and down with a smooth satisfying thunk.
An included hot spot finder is a nice extra for finding out where the Mylo can go online, but alas Bluetooth has been passed over.
Kirk to Enterprise, I've lost my rave light. Can you please beam down a Mylo? The purple-blue Wi-Fi light pulses when you're connected to a hotspot.
posted September 1st 2006 2:21PM
hmmm thats actually pretty hot.
Sweet, but what is it? Is it a phone?
i want one!!! not for $350 usd tho
whats video like?
thank god. it looks better than prototype shots. i believe they made it a bit less like 2 circles and a small rectangle, and make it more oblong in shape. before it looked like a hover pad.
The Mylo keyboard is one up on the nokia 770. but the screen seems to small.
I really like the look of the unit...well apart from the orange keyboard. What I want to know is how is the instant messengers and Skype?
I think Sony is pricing this thing to fail, it really shouldnt be more than $250. If it had a bigger screen, say like the one on the PSP then I would be happy to pay the $350....still when u think of what it can do the price doesnt seem too bad.
Seriously this should've been the PSP instead.
Eh, the screen is smaller than my 6700... what do i need from this?
-Taylor
Yummy! Very nice, this should be a hit. They should include led backlit keys for night time typing. I can see myself having trouble trying to send a message outside at 10pm with the keys in their odd location / format. This has potential to be quite the "pocket" entertainment/communicator for the person "on the go".
Throw in cell phone capabilities and you have it all in your palm. I wonder, will this be able to download trailers or music via wi-fi?
Hmm, flashy... but my Sidekick 3 isn't going anywhere.
This is another one of those weird in-between devices, that I can't figure out where to put in the lineup. I don't see much functional advantage over my SK3. I don't really want to try to watch "Lost" on a 2.4" screen. I will however be very interested to see what happens on the homebrew front.
$350 dollars, that is quite much for the device. if priced at $200-$250 dollars may not be bad. it greatest rival ll be the Nokia 770 with it gorgeous screen and a a big headstart, though no skype for the nokia device.
Does anyone else think this will fail with no AIM support i want one but with no aim and no text messaging its way over priced
Hey Ryan,
Would a pretty please and some loot for S&H be enough to give that thing a test drive? :-)
-robert
is it a phone?, if it is why doesnt it have any numbers on the keypad?, but if it is a phone, any idea what service it would have?
$350?
Are you nuts?
I'd give you $149. That's it though. I can get a used Palm with wifi for less than this thing. Shoot, I could get a Pocket PC sans cellular for less than this thing.
This thing doesn't make sense. And if I can't slap any apps on it, forget it. That's the deal killer.
Ix-nay, the Ony-say. No Ylo-may.
why is the software a CD-R? that looks homemade?
Looks like they took the Zodiac form factor.
Hmmm.... Not convinced...
For that sort of cash, I'd at least expect some sort of camera on it too... Am I really asking too much!?
I mean, you can pick up a 400MHz PocketPC with a built-in camera and install Skype on it for less than the cost of the Mylo and quite possibly with a bigger screen too... And you'll have change left for a thumb-board too!
It will have WiFi, Bluetooth and it will do tons more straight out of the box.
I'd buy it if it cost $200. Anything else makes it an expensive toy...
I always find it quite odd (and a little sad, actually) when gadget sites have a "first glimpse" post in which they find it necessary to use photos of the mailing package, and then a photo of the same package with the top flaps open to reveal..... packing material--wooo hooo! Then a photo of a hand holding the gadget's package, and then a close-up of the box, then....... the other side of the box--wow!
It's nerd porn; enter gadget, covering herself... she slowly reveals her sleek body...... she does a slow spin, showing her sexy, taut clothing........ camera pans down, then back up...... Gadget removes her top--no wait, it's a tease, as she slides it back up.... Then, ever so slowly, gadget shows you what you've been waiting for... Oh, that body! Look at those parts! Wow, she can fit that in there?! Holy shit, check out that input... Daaaaaaaaamn, gadget got back! What?! Oh no she di'n't - gadget just opened up WIDE. Gadget is all turned on now! Oh man, push those buttons--make her move! Here comes the money shot! Ooooooooh yeeeeeaaaaahhhh.... Gadget, having given her all, falls limp, exposing a soft glow in the dimmed house lights.
I want one! ...but like everyone else, I'll wait for a major price drop to sub-$250.
Give that badass a 3G network option (no need for GSM) ;) And SKYPE/GOOGLETALK will be more useful than ever.
In fact, VOIP for all the IM clients built in or as an option would definately give cellphones a run. Anonymous, too.
I want one. I.want.1.
Give it BT, too.
*sigh*, if only it had MSN messenger (or is it windows live messenger?)
ooh oooh ooooh... and UMA!
And aa camera! OOOOOOOOH and VIDEO options. Yeah yeah.. mmhmm..
Time Out Chicago likes it... http://www.timeout.com/chicago/Details.do?page=1&xyurl=xyl://TOCWebArticles1/79/check_out/critics_pick.xml
WHAT. No AIM support?!?!
I'm interested in seeing how the screen moves back to reveal the keyboard. Someone at engadget want to make a video?
The wifi lights on the side are pretty cool. I might get one if it ends up being cheaper with some aim support. Hopefully sony will open it up for homebrew, but maybe that's a little too much to ask.
You are complain no aim but it has a web browser you can just go to a aim web portal to use aim.
The sony mylo also has firmware (like the psp) so who knows this thing could get some nice updates like maby aim.
I had one of these and i plan on getting another one very soon.For those who say it should be $100 are out of your minds.This is a great sytem sure it could be a bit better but its well worth the cash.
@Alain
you can chat with msn messenger through yahoo messenger now.
Looks compact, which is important for a portable the Nokia 770 & PSP are way too big to take around in your pocket.
Skype IP phone should also be great. Especially to avoid using my limited daytime minutes on my cell phone when I'm at work or at the office (which have WiFi).
The Noika 770 failed in the market because it was way to large and funtionality-wise a pockePC would be much more usable with more software. The mylo works due to its size and its Skype phone, having it able to fit in your pocket is incredibly important for a portable.
OK got the device, now where is my city-wide wifi
Temple:
The 770 does fit in your pocket - it just has to be a pocket bigger than jeans pocket (think cargo pants). The 770 is about 100 xs more flexible. It's just not for the faint of heart.
this is crap, just buy an MDA, and you can choose whether or not to use a cell plan with it
I have been dreaming of something like the mylo and now its here.
I can't wait to get mine. I will get a black one. People that think $350usd is too much for the mylo need to quit there job at McDonalds.
@josh
A PSP fits in pocket of cargo pants as well, but not cofortably, and certainly not in jeans or dress pants.
Also, 770 & Mylo are not a replacement for a cellphone, the assumption is that the 770/mylo will have to be portable enought to be carried along with your keys and your cell. Smaller is better.
The problem with the 770 is that a PockePC could do much more for the form factor with much more software. Also lacks a keyboard, its very hard to chat using a stylus.
yeah pretty much if you didnt notice, it was put in the box upside down.
do they just like getting things mixed up like that or what?
Wow that reall kicks the SIDEKICK III of the curb. I like it. But I dont carry heavy devices
The orange keyboard scheme melts my retinas. Does it hurt anyone else's eyes to look at it? Seriously, neon orange? That's akin to staring at the sun. I smell lawsuit for the first gadget to blind the masses. Ha.
michael, it is not a phone nor a camera. and that is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too expensive not to have those things. its nice and everything but its expensive.
it should be at least $200-$250
cause put it as this way, the PSP costs $250 and it doesnt do CERTAIN things the mylo does (unless you update it)
i would perfer the T-mobile Sidekick 3 before i think aobut getting me the sony mylo.
its VERY nice lookin but its not about that, its about what it does, like text messaging and things like that
i just want the perfect mix of this and my psp, that got stole yuou bastr, but hey think psp v2...
but i guess we'll have to think, and wait long.
Good indie pop music selection there Ryan...
lets see,
its wifi only, no cellphone, it does nothing that a cheaper priced pda cant do, there are allready wifi ready symbian and WM2005 cellphones in the same pricerage that do all that and they might be cheaper becuase your carrier subsidies them, and they keep on insisting on their Memory stick format which is between 2-3 times more expencive then SD cards, and would be dead if it wasnt for the psp and the people stupid enough to buy sony digital camaras,
can you add aplications to this? or is it a wait and see if sony adds it like the PSP ?
sony is trying to reinvent the wheel by painting it with "cool teen colors",
this should cost 150-200, or subsidise it by bundling it with service packages from MSN, Skype, Yahoo, if they sell it straight up at this price, expect them to sell 2-3 to some rich kids, becuase the rest allready have a hard time convincing their parents that a brick cellphone from the 90´s isnt good enough too keep in touch,
Get me a wifi device like this that has AIM, and I am there.
if this thing was a phone, i would get it immediatly... too bad it's just wifi and skype enabled.
:[
another bullshit product from a company fighting to make some money.
Bulls****it expensive and useless.
uber kewl.. but too expensive.. i'd rather get a PSP and hack it and get skype on it or somethi'. BUT if it's like 250 i'd buy 4 sure!!!
Looks nice but far too bulky for me. I've just bought a new i-Mate K-JAM (http://www.newmediamedicine.com/blog/2006/09/01/new-pda-i-mate-k-jam/) and it has everything you need in terms of web browsing, wifi, plus it's small enough to use as a normal phone. I think I'll be keeping my K-JAM for the time being.
Chris
Without being too dramatic: Is this a desperate cry for help from Sony? Have they completely lost touch with the needs of consumers? This, as with many Sony ventures in the last 10 years, seems to echo a common theme of "hey it has our name on it, people will buy it" with no further thought given to it.
For a little under 2x the cost you can get an XV6700 with EVDO, BlueTooth, WiFi... oh yea and it is a CDMA Phone. The screen is larger, the keyboard is backlit and the processor is so fast I can emulate GBA games on it! Not to mention the 1.3MP camera/video or the fact that it runs Windows Mobile 5; which, for my money, is the nicest PDA OS I've encountered and I've been around since Newton.