Christmas Rolly rocks to holiday favorites

Most Americans have yet to get a taste of Sony's Rolly speakerbot, and while we may finally see the little critter, um, roll our way sometime next year according to company prez Stan Glasgow, Japan is already getting its first special edition of the lively MP3 player. Christmas Rolly -- on sale immediately for ¥41,800 ($380) and shipping December 19th -- comes preloaded with Japanese takes on traditional holiday favorites such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town and White Christmas, along with the accompanying pre-programmed "dance moves" -- though frankly we're at a loss as to how a two-wheeled robot gets down to Silent Night. Those folks on a budget who can't live without the special six-pack of tunes will also be able to find them on Sony's Christmas edition of the NW-E013 DAP, on sale next month for only ¥10,980 ($99).

[Via Impress]

[AlexP @ Nov 26th 2007 9:34AM]

Pricing sounds adequate.

[aboriginal @ Nov 26th 2007 9:43AM]

Most inventive suppository I've seen yet, and it must do one hell of a job on a colon.

[rob @ Nov 26th 2007 10:11AM]

I still don't get this concept. Is it something uniquely Japanese?

[Justin @ Nov 26th 2007 10:35AM]

I'd have to assume so.

[Rainier @ Nov 26th 2007 10:48AM]

I can't seem to get it past me, but the color scheme is so Wii.

[CraigJ @ Nov 26th 2007 10:53AM]

My dog might like it...

[kristofer brozio @ Nov 26th 2007 10:54AM]

I don't get it... It's ugly and being that funky shape doesn't make it very portable... "Is that a rolly in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

[luzzio @ Nov 26th 2007 11:26AM]

funnily enough, only recently (like less than 24 hours ago) did dannychoo.com wrote about meeting the creator of this toy at a blog meet.

[Bloobie @ Nov 26th 2007 11:26AM]

Wow. Sony still hasn't figured out how to make a portable media player for the 21st century. Long live the Walkman. :)

[snitch @ Nov 26th 2007 11:49AM]

Dude $380 for that freaking thing that does nothing? What is Sony smoking really , I personally won't pay 1 mexican food stamp for it, its like the other thing the Aibo or whatever they called it, which cost 10x more than the real thing, who buys these things really? Heck I can even get a real dog for free if I go to my local dog pound, or maybe they don't have that in japan

[louise irwin @ Nov 26th 2007 7:32PM]

The Aibo did have its own followers, It may be gone now but there are some who were disappointed. It may be possible to get a dog from a dog pound for nothing anywhere else in the world, but in Japan buying a pet means robbing a bank!
The rolly is not for everyone, How could it be? its opening up a whole new genre of music listening. As for its development, im personally glad we have something other than a new Walkman/Net Juke to read about.
Sony are taking personal audio and portable audio and combining the two. Of course the rolly will not be as light as a conventional Mp3 player, but you can still enjoy music on it with other people like you would a regular stereo system.
Everyone knows how anti-social music listening has become, some people, myself included cannot leave the house without their tunes.
All Sony are possibly trying to do is create the atmosphere that was lost when everyone got a personal MP3 player.

[Jason Collin @ Nov 26th 2007 11:51AM]

I got some hands on time with a Rolly at the Engadget reader meetup here in Tokyo, and I can't fathom anyone dropping ¥40,000 on it. If it were maybe ¥4,000 then ok. It's really heavy too, so tossing it in your bag and carrying it around would add what felt like 1 pound to your load. Sound quality seemed ok, but hard to tell in the noisy room. It just seemed like a total gimmick and a total waste of R&D money to me. Though if someone gave me one I wouldn't throw it away.

[NineT9 @ Nov 26th 2007 11:59AM]

ha, this thing looks awesome! I'd buy this so I can see it dance on the table, what a fun lil jukebox thing :P

for the negative posters, obviously this isn't for everyone, and obviously its not quiet your typical 'portable mp3 player', more like a portable jukebox... anyway, theres always someone to say all the negative things about every product, blah blah blah

[MosquitoControl @ Nov 26th 2007 12:04PM]

The negativity comes not because this isn't for everyone, but because this isn't for anyone.


There is absolutely no demand and no interest for this product in the western world. No need. It serves no purpose.
Maybe I'll make cod oil flavored chewing gum. No purpose. No audience. Then, when people mock it, I'll be like you and call them all negative.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 26th 2007 12:15PM]

I love how you say it's not for anyone... then you state: "There is absolutely no demand and no interest for this product in the western world." exclusing a large chunk of the world.

Awesome spin!

[NineT9 @ Nov 27th 2007 4:31AM]

isnt' for anyone? heh... do u really think sony would invest millions into a product that not 1 person will like? jeez, dont know why i replied to u, typical negative about everything user... obviously im 1 person that does like something like this, so obviously there is a market for it, and in japan, im sure these things will sell like crazy..

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Nov 26th 2007 1:06PM]

Engadget, I think you have the wrong model number, something tells me NW-E013 is not for the Rolly.

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,39029994,49290638,00.htm
http://www.mobilewhack.com/sony-nw-e013-nw-e015-nw-e016-e-series-walkman/

Cheers,
I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY

[Erik @ Nov 26th 2007 1:34PM]

I was just wondering: If I put this on my desk and it roles off and falls a couple of feet, will it live to sing another day?

[Adam Bergstein @ Nov 26th 2007 2:56PM]

This looks like such a neat gift for any tech-phile! I want one!

[Alimo @ Nov 26th 2007 3:07PM]

Specs:

1GB internal flash-memory.
Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity for receiving and streaming music
Editable “dance moves” + software for controll
Battery specifications: 3.7V 1560 mAh rechargeable battery
Battery life: 5h for music playback, 4,5h for streaming music over Bluetooth connection, 4h of music and motion combined, and finally 3,5h for streaming music over Bluetooth with motion
USB 2.0 conection for transferring music and charging the batteryge
Supported audio formats: MP3, ATRAC, AAC up to 300+ kbps
Dimensions and weight: 104×65×65mm, 300grams
Price: $360,-
…and finally some use instructions for how to controll your Rolly:

Move wheel forward: Skip to next nong
Move wheel Backwards: Skip to previous song
Turn player right on the table: turns the volume up. turning left turns the volume down
Turning the upper wheel selects songs
Turning the lower Wheel changes volume
Pressing the PLAY button twice and shaking player turns shuffle mode on
As it comes obvious, the Rolly wheels play a crucial part in controlling Rolly player.

Comes with this bag: http://www.rolly.tv/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/sony_rolly_carrying_bag.jpg

[Pretol @ Nov 26th 2007 4:49PM]

I won't be first I won't be last.
Pardon the negativity.

But this thing is just plain DUMB!!! I saw videos of it, I saw pictures, I read the description. It looks like a toy for toddlers & dogs. WTF!!! seriously WTF!! This shouldn't be in the tech-news. And 380 bucks is about 350 bucks too much for a toddler toy.

I just don't get it.

[MARSHAK @ Nov 26th 2007 10:56PM]

i dont pay $30 for toddler toys. they get wrapping paper and boxes and markers.

[Ryan P @ Nov 26th 2007 5:14PM]

This looks like the thing you make with the legos that are left over in the box after you make what you really want.

[Hotwings @ Nov 26th 2007 6:36PM]

Dear Mosquito Control:

You happen to sound like a complete ass. Who do you think you are to say that it isn't for anyone and there is no demand for it whatsoever in the western world?! Don't tell us what to like and what not to like. You probably haven't even seen the specs yet.

[Joost @ Nov 26th 2007 8:06PM]

Somebody I know already has this for more than a month. I was surprised because I never heard about the thing. No idea where he ordered it. I even made a video of it.

[eddie_nutritious @ Nov 27th 2007 6:17PM]

I think a lot of people are missing the point of Rolly. Is it meant to take on the iPod and sell millions of units? Nope. Is it meant to sell in any sort of mass quantity at all? Probably not.

I've seen it in action, and even though I'd probably never buy one for $400, I, and everyone else who saw the little dance demo walked away with a smile talking about how uniquely entertaining it was. Ultimately useless, but memorable because of it.

It's like a slick concept car that helps build the brand image of the manufacturer in the public's mind. Rolly shows that Sony can still innovate and come up with fresh ideas and take risks, even if they're a little quirky or hard to identify with. It's not meant to be the next iPod.