Sony's Rolly, revealed
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Aug 31st 2007 8:30AM
posted Aug 31st 2007 8:30AM
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
Thanks for telling us what it was.
Wait, you didn't.
I've seen it, and this is what I think it is. Pretty sure by the way.
It's a new kind of home-pet for people. And a pretty cheap one too. The 2 gadgets on the side are camera's. These are the eyes for the pet.
If you freeze the frames on the quicktime video, when you can look inside the latches. You even see mirrors inside those latches. These are used so that the camera look in the air on any angle.
It will host WIFI internet connection, a small intelligent OS, and it will role around your appartment or house. I even expect some kind of E-mail notification and other cool trinclets.
Ok, I'm realy sure now. Those mirrors exist on both sides of the "eyes". So no speaker.
This is no competition for a new Music device. It really is a "home pet". And I really like it :D
That's ok. We were told about what it was almost a month ago. ;)
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2007/08/sony_rolly_walkman_in_the_works.html
You'll laugh! You'll cry! You'll kiss XXX dollars goodbye! Guaranteed to provide MINUTES of enjoyment! Coming soon to a store near you. Get in line now.
Small thermonuclear device.
-The Mighty Jabba asks why he must pay 50,000.
-Because I'm holding a Rolly Walkman!
Wow, after reading Engadget for years, this is the most random and obscure post I've ever seen.
Be patient, details are coming. Breaking stuff.
Thomas
"It's just before Midnight" (heard at the end of the latest video) Midnight in which timezone?
OMG, I found the commercial!
http://www.partizan.com/partizan/v.php/rozan_and_schmeltz_surface_2_air_sony_rolly
Thomas - why post about it if there are no details whatsoever? I mean, Jesus Christ, we don't even know what it is (it could be a computer, or a robot for all I know, but it's so obscure that you shouldn't even bother).
I'm pretty sure Jesus Christ does know what it is. I am also pretty sure He has little to do with this thread.
My, did I get assraped thar.
you obviously haven't gone through the Hello Kitty posts.
"Hey look, Johnny 5 took a sh*t."
Fuck Sony.
LOL.
Shock / horror - I bet it's an ipod dock.
Dock on the other side of the unit, speakers either side.
Finally Sony makes something i really need.
sorry if you dont have a completely black room with a mirrored floor and zooming eyeballs...this will be totally lame
'we likely... a lot'
It certainly shows how fast you wanted to put up this 'breaking news' item - is this Engadget's equivalent to 'FIRST!'?
Egg shaped Walkman/MP3 player
It sorta looks like Weebo, that flying robot thingy from the movie Flubber...
Did I just hear somebody say, "weaboo?" Because I'm pretty sure I just heard somebody say "weaboo."
WE-A-BOO WE-A-BOO!
WEE-A-BOO, WEE-A-BOO!!
It's a MP3 player... meh.
You likely what a lot? Ooo... Mad Libs time!
It's weird and it's hot and we likely [adjective] [noun] a lot.
he said "LIKEY," not "likely," you smug bastard.
It does now. It said "likely" before then. I'm quite aware of how close the two are and made doubly sure before I posted. Besides, I made my post in good humor, you humorless bastard. :P
And... what is it?
It's another walkman..paying attention and reading the last couple of post about Sony little Walkman announcements helps you know what it is...
http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/20/sony-launches-rolly-teaser-campaign-makes-girls-chicken-dance/
Wouldn't it be more of a Rollman?
The "hands" coming out that the foront look like they may carry or enclose speakers.
Ots some osrt of audio device - though hard to tell the size just yet.
I don't know what it is, but I feel compelled to get one.
i think its the next gen aibo. might be a biped robot or something.. or a roomba competitor.
It's a little robot on rollers that will follow you around streaming your music to it's speakers....guessing
Whatever it is, it'll require memory sticks to boot up, it'll only read mini discs, encode only in ATRAC, and only be compatible with Blu Ray Discs...
Ensuring that it'll never have market share because of proprietary media.
ATRAC is dead
wtf.... seriously.... that video.... omg.... strange lmfao
what the hell is it?! it plays music n moves about like a drunk monkey!?
a dancing egg? WTF
It's a dancing, egg-shaped mp3 player with intergrated speakers.
Big success or colossal failure - at least it sounds more interesting than an ever-smaller Walkman.
Wait....WTF?
wow! this would be cool if a) it's cheap, b) it's sturdy enough to have roam around at house parties, and c) it reacts to music (or even better, streams music by Bluetooth or WiFi)
Maybe at a party where no one's drinking...
Couple o' shots of Jager and this puppy's headed for the recycling bin.
What's that song?
I don't know, but I hope I never hear it again.
The song is Skitzo Disco (Justice remix) by Scenario Rock
I actually thought the song was decent.
Actually, I think it's called Skitzo Dancer, not Skitzo Disco (but it is by Scenario Rock and it is the Justice Remix)
But will it put a root kit on my computer?
Its a robot? Its a toy? Why its a SONY !
PS: looks like that thing is on a "digital high"
light.... and alot of motor movment must b crap for battery life...
And then when you sleep, it robs all yer money!
Zzzz... looks like another robotic failure just like the AiBo(ring)
full ad :
http://www.partizan.com/partizan/v.php/rozan_and_schmeltz_surface_2_air_sony_rolly
one thing for sure, they didn't copy from Appple on this one.
looks nothing like the iPod.
Huh?
Even if it is a "pet", what makes Sony think that people want a rolling, clapping cylinder as a pet?
I can not imagine ANY use for that thing. Then again, I´m not a robot-developing mad scientist.
Looks cool but completely useless lol . A lot smaller than I thought as well after seeing the end of that video.
Yeah, but can it play doom?
It can enact doom, so be carefull what you ask for!
Honestly, when I first saw the picture leading this post, I thought for a second Sony had just made some uber-tricked-out toaster.
With LED toast darkness indicators and everything.
I was thinking it was a Roomba competitor.
WTF? I want one.
So from what I gather it's a music player that rolls around? So I guess carrying this around in your pocket or belt loop is out of the question? or does it follow you? it looks too big and awkward. Call me crazy but I like my media players small and easy to carry around(if that's what this freakin thing is)
Double-U Tee Eff...?!
My wife says it is an alarm clock. Wait until the end... he is dreaming all the dancing part and the actual device is quite small. There was a similar idea for an alarm clock on a TV show called The Next Big Thing. When the alarm goes off it rolls around forcing you to get out of bed to turn it off.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/20/devious-clocky-hits-the-market-ready-to-roll/
Although I'm intrigued by what it is, I'll probably never buy it - but I did enjoy that video - maybe it will eventually make it on one of those TV commercial shows.
Yeah well I saw the video (no sound though) and I don't get it. A small robot that "dances"...whats so great about that? Seriously why should I spend x amount of my money on that? Will it get me women? will it be a woman for me? will it make me rich or entertain me.? whats the deal here.
its the new edition of SonicStage - if it detects you playing non-DRMed music it follows you around the house telling you to buy the song. sony's convinced consumers are going to love it.
Is there something subliminal in the video?! I have no idea what it is, and the ad on the whole was pretty dire, but for some reason i want to buy one.
Wow, lots of posts already! I agree with those of you that say.... wtf was that and why do i suddenly feel like my bank account is shrinking by the second?
I want one, i have no idea what it is, but i want one. Mission accomplished Sony, more useless crap that YOU JUST HAVE TO BUY!
Ya know...it'll go perfectly with my irobots to terrorize the cat, and trip my family members.
I will have to have one.
I'm with the previous poster though. Go back to developing AIBO.
I guess it was worth abandoning the development of the Aibo line for this... crap. Right.
I don't understand.
i want one......pls
After seeing the full video post regarding the Rolly. It seems the people are all dressed up as the Rolly, trying to do the "Rolly". I wonder if they were suggesting that the Rolly will come in multiple colors other than grey.
sure
The U.S. will get the gray one.
japan will get awesome colors!
europe will wait an extra year
Did anyone else just get a Fifth Element vibe? A GPS trackable Disco Terrorist Bomb?
As far as dancing robots go, I'd rather have the little yellow marshmallow one from a bit back.
Honestly, it seems pretty useless. I WANT ONE! :-D
Yeah, I see myself spending for too much for the 5 minutes of fun this thing will provide.
If those are speakers on the sides, won't it sound terrible as it spins and the sound moves from being direct to reflected? Unless maybe if it's mono I suppose, and no one would buy this thing for the audio quality anyway.
A dancing rugby ball...and just in time for the Rugby World Cup. Is Sony a sponsor, by any chance?
(Apologies to Yanks, who won't have a clue what I'm talking about)
Product seems to be an answer to a question no one has asked.
http://www.rolly-show.com/index2.html
For more info!
"More" info? I didn't see any...
For the last time Sony, build stuff that customers want at a price we can afford.
Stop building stupid crap!!!!
fuck sony! JOIN THE BOYCOTT!!
I think Sony's R&D has been watching Batteries Not Included too much.
http://www.rolly-show.com
great site sony... pffft
It was a lot smaller than I expected it to be when you see it next to the guy at the end of the video. I guess that's a good thing though since small robots can recharge quicker etc etc...
If I get one though, I want it to be very durable. As someone else mentioned, this thing should be able to hold its own at a party with people walking around. I would also like to know how it holds up if it rolls down stairs, or if it's outside as opposed to indoors. I guess we just have to wait and see...
I've got to buy it! I've got to buy it! Chinpokomon! Gotta buy 'em all!
could just be a badass nezbaztaq(sp?) thing
O ROLLY?
I wish I had enough disposable income to spend on things like this. I don't think I would buy it, but it would be nice to have that kind of money.
Now if it could fly ...
Isn't that just cute as bug's ears?
Whoa, that looks like Lieutenant Malcom Reed from Star Trek Enterprise.
and DAMN that thing is actually quite small.
This thing looks like it's about 5 inches long and will be incapable of negotiating carpets. I guarantee it will get stepped on and tripped over within a day of being put down. Lawsuit city, baby!
Leave it to Sony to intensely study what the market demands, carefully design something that meets those needs, and then market something that is the exact opposite.
I wonder if the robot will roll up to your PC and plug into a USB port to install a rootkit. 'Cuz that would rock.