Sony Rolly: slowed down and blowed up

Ok inspectors Engadget, here's Sony's Rolly back for an encore. We went frame-by-frame through our higher quality copy of the video to try and understand our little friend just a wee bit better. From what we can tell, this thing really moves. At first we thought maybe, just maybe we were looking at some slick animation of a static device. Not anymore, those two protruding rings provide the locomotion while each end of the egg spins freely of both the rings and that Sony branded trunk. They've also stuffed a pair of speakers into each end and covered them by those independently juddering end-caps. The device itself is very clean. A Sony logo is printed front-center; a Rolly logo 180-degrees opposite next to a small, possibly 3-button control panel; a (sometimes) illuminated blue ellipse bottom-center, and some unidentified jacks (or just a lanyard anchor, perhaps) up top. There's no display anywhere to be found. Take a look at the gallery and let us know what you think: Bluetooth speaker-bot, full blown DAP, a Sony / ZMP hookup, or something else entirely more menacing than even ATRAC?

Gallery: Sony Rolly: slowed down and blowed up

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[Dave @ Aug 31st 2007 4:44PM]

I'd *STILL* rather have an AIBO.

[Jeremy @ Aug 31st 2007 4:53PM]

Sony's starting to phase out ATRAC. I got an email from them a couple of days ago.

"...we will be phasing out the CONNECT™ Music Service based on Sony's ATRAC audio format in North America and Europe. Specific timing will vary by region depending on market demand, but will not be before March 2008. "

[Andir3.0 @ Aug 31st 2007 5:45PM]

Uh, yeah.. look down about 15-25 posts...

[mcirca @ Aug 31st 2007 4:59PM]

Dear Sony,

What is this crazy contraption that you tease us with?

Sincerely,
I want one badly

:o)

[Brent @ Aug 31st 2007 5:00PM]

I dunno what it is, but if you decide to travel with it, expect to get your bags searched by airport security.

[Javi0084 @ Aug 31st 2007 5:54PM]

Just don't land in Boston...

[Ty Dibble @ Aug 31st 2007 5:07PM]

If you look at the end where the guy is asleep and the Rolly comes over and wakes him up, you will see what appears to be a lighted panel in the center at some points. Guessing that it sometimes rolls it over to be seen. It also shows in the stills. The lighted rings appear to show green/teal/blue/purple and variations. I'm thinking this is a kind of audio light machine which has been adapted with some AI and integrated wheels and speaker caps to be a audio light motion machine which also can change the audio by pointing it in different directions and modify it by changing the speaker flaps. Novelty gimmick bluetooth speaker in my opinion. Cool, but probably not long lasting. But, if they sell enough quick, it won't matter!

[Brent @ Aug 31st 2007 5:11PM]

I just had an idea...it's an alarm clock that can wake you with music, and it runs away from you so you have to get up to turn it off. Genius.

[bjrcboy @ Aug 31st 2007 8:34PM]

Sorry to burst your bubble, there are several that already exist. Hell theres even one that "flys" away. Yes its actually a little electronic helicopter.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/26/buzzing-copter-inspired-blowfly-alarm-clock-goes-on-sale/

Hell those wouldnt do anything for me though, I always seem to wake up right before my alarm. Then I shut it off and fall back asleep. WOO

[Jarune @ Aug 31st 2007 5:12PM]

i think it's just a MP3 player with some cool functions :

-can dance or disco to the beat of the song
-probaly has bluetooth to stream songs from you Sony Ericsson walkman phone
-4 speakers for a simulated surround sound
-Maybe some learning capacity for "dance" moves

Hope sony surprises us with some other cool functions :)

[Andir3.0 @ Aug 31st 2007 5:49PM]

Just two speakers from what I can tell. The flaps cover them up when they are up. Not sure why though unless it's supposed to add something to the music.

[humpty @ Aug 31st 2007 5:13PM]

butt hole plug mp3 player?

[Anthony @ Aug 31st 2007 5:14PM]

So Sony's now created a cute robot to force us to use their formats. Anyone caught resisting will be gently tapped by the robot over and over again, just like Chinese water torture techniques of old.

[Andir3.0 @ Aug 31st 2007 5:47PM]

Perhaps you missed it too. Sony is phasing out ATRAC and moving to more of an overall open standard. Thanks for being a die hard hater. Without you the world would be a better place.

[Anthony @ Aug 31st 2007 6:39PM]

You took me seriously? Was it that hard to tell it was a tongue-in-cheek comment?

Die hard hater? I guess thats why I own a lot of Sony products. CURSE YOU SONY!!!

The part of wishing me dead was also really cute, just like the oppressive robots by Sony.

[Andir3.0 @ Aug 31st 2007 7:35PM]

"Was it that hard to tell it was a tongue-in-cheek comment?"

Yes, text does not transfer sarcasm.

[r21 @ Aug 31st 2007 5:33PM]

oh give it up with the 'sony forcing us to use their formats'. ok so they invented some more. every company that pushes technology does so by introducing and pushing new technologies, their own where possible! Its not like ATRAC wasn;'t even good or anything! And they still supported mp3!

[McGinley @ Aug 31st 2007 5:38PM]

I think its the first iteration of a half-life 2 style roller mine... now where did I leave my crowbar?

[jim d @ Aug 31st 2007 5:57PM]

It looks like one of the ends might contain a lens. Miniature wall projector? Perhaps it does have a "display" after all.

[hoohoo @ Aug 31st 2007 6:04PM]

dont see any camera on those shots like what was speculated in the other thread. would be nice to be able to control it from a psp.

[screed @ Aug 31st 2007 6:07PM]

Hey guys,look at this and be amazed ;)
-----> http://www.rolly-show.com/index2.html
greetz screed

[eh @ Aug 31st 2007 9:58PM]

if that counter is correct, it will finish in 33 YEARS! and the movies make no sense what so ever... i'm kinda expecting this to fall flat on sony's face.

[Linkdead @ Aug 31st 2007 6:12PM]

Maby it IS the new sony format! The ultimate in DRM, when you try to play your music this device runs away!

[John Doe @ Aug 31st 2007 6:13PM]

Obviously a next generation flux capacitor.

[kago @ Aug 31st 2007 6:57PM]

Have a look at this guys!!!! This so called 'Miuro' music robot looks very similar to the Sony's Rolly!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFxpuUMil5U&mode=related&search=

[uclatommy @ Aug 31st 2007 7:38PM]

You're all wrong. This device gives your varia suit an extra energy block.

[xtraloof @ Aug 31st 2007 7:58PM]

will it blend?

sorry.

[bakachin @ Aug 31st 2007 8:30PM]

SONY = EPIC FAIL

[Jay @ Aug 31st 2007 9:04PM]

Yes, so you keep saying on every Sony post.

How about you actually try to justify your dumb postings? Fail how?

What a moron. Go out and play with your kiddie friends and leave the internet to grown ups with more than one brain cell.

[bakachin @ Aug 31st 2007 9:16PM]

LOL WOW. Jay, do you seriously want me to explain why a buttplug shaped robot that spins around and flashes lights = MASSIVE PHAIL? Nevermind.. I just realised these products are probably targeted towards sony fanboiz like you. Let me guess, you were first in line to get a (F)AI(L)BO..

[Cody S. @ Sep 1st 2007 1:29AM]

I do enjoy how you failed to answer Jay's question legitimately. What you did there at the end with aibo was absolutely brilliant as well.
So please, enlighten us to why this sucks so much.

[bakachin @ Sep 1st 2007 11:56AM]

ok let me spell it out for the slow folks.. SONY SUCKS BALLS!!! c'mon they invade your PC with their spyware.. they put out "fashionable" products to attract the clueless masses.. they shove proprietary hardware down our throats.. do I need to go on? OK I WILL!! Minidisc FAILED.. AIBO.. WAS A BIG DONKEY CRAP.. the QUEERO robot?? IT GOT CURBSTOMPED BY HONDA.. you want MORE??? OK!!! EVERY PIECE OF HARDWARE THEY PUT OUT REQUIRES THEIR SHITTY BLOATED SOFTWARE.. UMD's? FAILED... BLURAY??? 90% sure in 3 years it'll only be a distant memory.. PS3?? cell processor was hype.. 360 prevails..

NOW WHAT THE HELL IS THIS GOOFY ROLLY THINGAMABOB???

APPARENTLY IT DANCES... sure it's cool on a heavily edited music video.. but when it's spinning around on your living room floor.. it'll get tired REALLY F'n FAST!!!

[bjrcboy @ Aug 31st 2007 8:38PM]

I for one welcome our dancing, flashing, music playing roller over loads. I really hope they play doom!

[paccoast2010 @ Sep 1st 2007 5:54AM]

Maybe it's a Tamagotchi-like pet that moves around, only you'll have to catch the thing first before you can play or attend to it. If it needs a daily walk on a leash though, I'm not buying it.