Joy of joys: Sony's TransferJet to be squarely pitted against industry standards of W-USB, Bluetooth 3.0?
By Paul Miller 
posted Jan 14th 2008 9:22AM
posted Jan 14th 2008 9:22AM
It doesn't take a whole lot of empirical observation to figure out that Sony just loves to go proprietary, even in the face of wide industry acceptance of an alternative standard. While the company has recently flexed on things like audio codecs, other stalwarts include Sony's Memory Stick, and naturally Blu-ray isn't going anywhere. This time Sony is charging after W-USB and Bluetooth 3.0 with its recently-announced TransferJet technology. There are certainly some differences between the technologies, and advantages on both sides. W-USB and Bluetooth 3.0 are based on WiMedia wireless tech, and have theoretical speeds of 480Mbps, with a range of about three meters. Compare that to TransferJet, which has a range of three centimeters, but a theoretical max 560Mbps. The reason behind the close proximity is the induction field coupler tech used -- which may or may not mean Sony's tech can charge the device as well -- but Sony's also playing it as a usability thing: unless devices are specifically registered and told not to, they'll automatically swap files when placed next to each other, requiring no further user complications. We're going to need more info out of Sony and other manufacturers to see how exactly this new tech will play out in the industry at large, but at the moment it looks like another proprietary standard that'll confuse consumers and segment the market -- let's hope Sony proves us wrong.[Via Slashdot]
Read - Ars Technica
Read - Sony PR
... so let me get this straight...
I get a Theoretical 70mb/s gain, but i can only be 1/100th of the distance...
yeah, totally, i want that... really
-_-
W-USB has the upper hand. Neither of the two will hit theoretical max, and i'm sure sony will have the edge in speed. But how does this help me, lets say, plug my camera in wirelessly? Now my Camera needs to be on ON my computer... really now, come on...
i guess i'll have to wait and see...
. . .the Sony Transferjet isn't a competitor to W-USB or BT 3.0.
Transfer jet is for transferring data with physically interacting devices, and not meant for devices that wirelessly broadcasting data. For instance, you would be able to transfer your videos from your camcorder to your PC merely by setting the camera down on the induction surface on your PC (also charging the device as well). Or transfer data and camera-phone pictures between your cellphone and digital camera by touching the two devices together.
Are you serious? Whenever I connect my camera, PSP, phone, etc. to my computer, I plug them in and SET THEM DOWN. NEVER do I wish, gee, I wish I could stand a couple feet away and hold my device while transferring files.
Speed > Distance any day, you tool!
because plugging in a usb cable is so difficult...
yawn!
Are you tired? Take a nap then and leave the comments to people having something to add.
i agree. this is pretty boring. Sony's track record with media formats is not all that promising. BetaMax, UMD, Memory Stick all suck nuts. Blu-ray is the only one you could consider a success. and why do we need an alternative to USB?
Kojo87, you can't be more wrong. The 3.5" floppy and CDs. Check those out on wiki - Sony played a huge part in those. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony
"they'll automatically swap files when placed next to each other, requiring no further user complications"
Anyone else see this as a major security problem?
My hacked device pulls down all your sync files and overwrites them with viruses... not too far fetched, granted the 3cm is an issue but it wouldn't be that hard and if people can make bluetooth range over a mile I don't see how people can't boost the range on this too.
Security problem? Well, yeah, considering this was a big selling point for Bluetooth years ago (pushing vCards and the like, along with a worm for Symbian OS, right?) and later corrected with partnering and OBEX encryption. So, I would guess there is still some sort of partnering and pre-shared key involved.
My only issue is if it's perceived as a competitor, then we will have another stupid standards war and both sides lose, at least for a while. I would go to BT 3.0 anyway, but would hate to lose out on stuff because companies partnered with Sony.
Company specific proprietary formats are for geezers and suckers.
No, TransferJet is NOT a wireless USB or Bluetooth competitor. The range is only 3cm. Its really a complement rather then a rival. The Slashdot and Arstechnica article are merely trying to be sensationalist.
Its basically a method to transfer data between two-devices that are almost physically touching. The example that Sony uses is that you would be able to touch your digital camera to your TV (that both have transferjet), and the pictures stored on your camera would instantaneously be viewable.
The induction system also opens possibilities of actually charging the nearby device.
The 3cm short-range would mean that its secure, it can't be broadcast to anyone else (you would know if there is another device 3cm from yours), and it should easily be hassle-free for joe-six pack. Wireless USB and BT 3.0 are meant for devices like wireless printers and headset, Transferjet clearly wasn't designed that way.
Exactly. Thank you for putting to words exactly how I felt about this very poorly worded "let's stir up the Sony-hatred pot" article.
WUSB and Bluetooth 3.0 are both proprietary also.
I think we all need to look up that word so we know what it means. The opposite of proprietary in this context is open-source. Neither WUSB nor Bluetooth are that.
Most "standards" are proprietary. The fact that they are standards doesn't change that.
Wow, the common sense responses keep coming. Thank you for pointing out this OTHER flaw in their article.
This is why Blu Ray has to die. Sony needs to learn to stop creating the Memory Sticks, SACDs and MiniDiscs of the world just to buck de facto standards and collect additional licensing revenue.
That's one of the more ignorant comments I've read on this topic. Blu-Ray might have been developed by Sony, but it has wide industry backing, and is controlled by the Blu-Ray Disc Association. You don't approve or deny standards based on your like or dislike of the creators of the technology.
Besides, what makes you think someone _isn't_ profiting from HD-DVD?
Going further on the other comment in this thread - HD-DVD was developed by Toshiba, and only has a veneer of 'wider acceptance' because it was ratified by the DVD forum, not necessarily because it is a better format or otherwise has wider support.
since when has blu-ray been proprietary? im pretty sure its a format that several companies use and support. someone could argue that sony "makes" you use blu-ray discs with the PS3, but still, its not like the memory stick where it only works with sony products.
I'm well aware of who is a member of what consortium. I also aware of steady decline in the quality of Sony's products, their unethical business practices, their litany of failed attempts to stop MP3s from becoming prevalent and their never-ending stream of proprietary standards.
I'm not suggesting the BluRay is their own standard, I'm just hoping that another loss in the format war will help stem the tide of useless electronics based on proprietary standards. The waters are muddied enough without Sony trying to stir things up with yet another "standard".
Sorry, but for the aforementioned reasons and after having a string of failed, low-grade Sony products over the last 2+ decades, I have become virulently and unapologetically anti-Sony.
yeah! how dare Sony think that they should try to advance the state of the art! Jackasses.
FOR THE LAST TIME, Blogsmith blogs, Blu-ray isn't proprietary. It's not a Sony-owned format. It's created through a consortium, Sony just initially started the project. It's been HOW long since Blu-ray was announced and even launched, and you guys still can't get it through your thick skulls? Get over it. HD-DVD is losing, quit trying to sustain the anti-bd hype by continuing to call it proprietary.
TransferJet? Sure. QuickTime? Yes. WindowsMedia? Pretty much. BD? No.
"and naturally Blu-ray isn't going anywhere."
isn't it? i thought blu-ray was outselling hd-dvd, and many other companies manufacture blu-ray players - not just sony...
aren't there already quite a few retailers who are no longer stocking hd-dvd? (blockbusters for example...)
"not going anywhere", a common phrase used to connote that a product is not going to be taken off the market in the forseeable future.
ah... yes...
*ahem*
i suppose it could be read that way as well...
off topic, but nice icon you have there Shapey, I'm wearing a screaming hand t-shirt as I type this!
It appears to be more of a replacement for old shortlength Infrared transfer drvices then anything to compete with WirelessUSB or Bluetooth.
The idea is to never to have to worry about having to pair a device or any other settings. Just put the two items side by side or ontop of a TransferJet pad and they will be able to operate together.
WIRED wINS THIS ROUND!!!!!
Why do I smell anti-Sony fanboyism here? :)
Ah yes, describing Blu Ray as a "Proprietary Format".
You guys do know that Blu Ray is supported by the equivalent of the DVD forum, in the form of the BDA right? That's dozen of CE makers among other companies, and a ton of them have patents in that technology (Matsushita being #1 by far).
How's that proprietary again?
Lolz, hurry we must defend Sony from the mighty Engadget!
And you know that everyone in the Blu-ray forum approved of and accepted the HD-DVD standard because they are all members of the DVD forum, right? You also know that Sony, a Media company first and a technology company second, convinced all the other media companies that two layers of DRM are better than one right?
Just wait till the studio's start using their blu-ray created ability to limit the playing of the disc's in hi-def to displays that have HDCP enabled in 2009. Not only that but when profile 2.0 comes out and makes all the currently available players obsolete and unable to play new movies.
It's unfortunate that so many people back blu-ray and it's media company enabled abilities of content providers to control how and possibly even when you can watch items you purchased and a complete inability to backup your discs as allowed by law. Especially when HD-DVD was a finished standard, with none of the abilities for the media companies to inhibit how you use the movie and the disc's could be backed up. It's funny that they convinced you and many others that the little extra GB of data space was worth selling your soul to the media companies. Blu-ray is about 75% of what Divx was supposed to be and will likely be 1before it's over, smart people realize that.
And you know that everyone in the Blu-ray forum approved of and accepted the HD-DVD standard because they are all members of the DVD forum, right? You also know that Sony, a Media company first and a technology company second, convinced all the other media companies that two layers of DRM are better than one right?
Just wait till the studio's start using their blu-ray created ability to limit the playing of the disc's in hi-def to displays that have HDCP enabled in 2009. Not only that but when profile 2.0 comes out and makes all the currently available players obsolete and unable to play new movies.
It's unfortunate that so many people back blu-ray and it's media company enabled abilities of content providers to control how and possibly even when you can watch items you purchased and a complete inability to backup your discs as allowed by law. Especially when HD-DVD was a finished standard, with none of the abilities for the media companies to inhibit how you use the movie and the disc's could be backed up. It's funny that they convinced you and many others that the little extra GB of data space was worth selling your soul to the media companies. Blu-ray is about 75% of what Divx was supposed to be and will likely be 100% before it's over, smart people realize that.
Sony, Sony, Sony, just as we thought you were learning...
Although... I can see the point. Sync without cables, with the possibility of charging, does sound like it would rock, as it means I wouldn't have to lug around any cables when on the road. It may already be there for phones through bluetooth, but cameras for example are a potential area for 'TransferJet' to rock in. Or, say, putting your PSP-3000 on top of your PS3-v3...
"and naturally Blu-ray isn't going anywhere"
oh come on, just a week after blu-ray is gaining momentum you say this, how accurate is this? does making a mockery of sony come before being accurate?
you guys are pwned by time warner, and they've decided to go blu-ray, so give blu-ray some credit...
Check the post by John a few columns up. ;)
it just sounds so bad when in the same sentance as memory stick, atrac... ;-)
Here we go again. Ok Blu-Ray kids, you've already forced one thing on me, lets try to resist the urge to blindly support Sony again, mmm k?
Sounds like an intriguing concept. If Sony can manage to get past their inherent difficultie sin licensing proprietary tech to third party developers. I have no problem with Sony's attempts at redefining so-called "standards" since that's pretty much the name of the tech game. The problem lies in the fact that Sony typically does not play well with others. They want to create the Sony format, sell you the Sony format and eliminate the non-Sony format. Lately, that trend seems to have waned, but unless they show greater promise of third-party distribution and inclusion with tech like this, it will be a go-nowhere novelty that will only be marginally useful for people who own Sony Handycams, Sony Cybershots, Sony Vaios and Sony Playstations.
On the other hand, tech like this, if widely adopted with reasonable and properly leveraged licensing, could make for safer implementation of public/retail file transfer, electronic micropayments, charging stations, etc. Also potentially nice for airplane usage... seatback TransferJet would obviate, or at least lessen, the need for strict FCC regulation. You could charge and download to your device while in the air. Obviously security would need to be implemented and tested, but the immediate physical range, coupled with a form of encryption would make for less wi-fi noise, interception and range/obstruction difficulties for certain tasks where immediacy, privacy and ease-of-use is necessary for a wide range of devices.
Play nice Sony, and the world will probably love your innovations. You have great ideas; don't be selfish, ok?
Well stated post. You're basically 100% right. I will point out that the current state of BD shows that Sony isn't quite as "keys to the kingdom" regarding the technology they develop as they used to be. The BDA is a pretty inclusive group. Here's hoping. This tech does seem very intriguing and I would love to see it go somewhere, because it seems to be more useful than W-USB or BT3.0 for how I would like wireless devices to work. Sit it down and boom, it connects and charges and transfers information. No hassle.
PS: I smell a collaboration with MS and its Surface tech.
Microsoft and Apple are the ones I worry about when it comes to proprietary things. And Mercedes! And BMW! Those will end up costing me and you money. Not too worried about freakin' movies or by what medium I'm going to transfer a picture to my TV in a few years. Where does one find the need to latch onto a choice based on tiny differences between one thing or the other, and then have arguments about it with people who could have just as easily made the same decision - and that neither have any control over? blahhhhh I'm just happy to hear the ideas, and know that we are progressing. In this case, I believe that Sony has a big sweaty pair of brass balls; minidiscs, and whatever dozen else formats they've come out with seemingly to spit in the face of their competitors, don't seem content to meld into the background with everyone else.. ever. Sometimes it's a bad thing, sometimes not. But you've got to hand it to them.
"Sony just loves to go proprietary"
as does Apple, Nintendo, Microsoft, and every other dog forsaken company
A range of 3 centimeteres? Why not just plug it in? Seriously, make something similar to the mag-safe power cord on Macs and don't waste the energy.
One reason might be that you dont have the cables with you. Say you want to share photos with a friend, with two enabled cameras you can transfer the photos via contact.
Induction huh? No further user action needed? this is great... We ride the subway next to each other and BOOM. You have my entire address book in your PDA.
3cm range? Induction platform? First, you are not going to be carrying the induction platform with you on the train. Second, you are not going to be 3cm from me. If you are then you are sitting in my lap and I hope us trading contacts would be ok by that point in our relationship.
Jimmy give yourself credit.
You have a 4 centimeter range.
hooray for memory stick!
losers.
Oh my fucking god not again - Sony why won't you just GO TO HELL!
If they made a better product then ok BUT I bet you that the 560 Mbps is under ideal conditions - meaning, like how an 802.11g notebook will only transfer at like 1 Mbps at 160 feet from the router. This is going to be slower than WUSB or Bluetooth unless its like TOUCHING the damn port in which case you might as well just buy a wired version! I mean seriously! But, you know, people are going to see 560 and are going to go "wow, Sony has done it again"...
Howard Stringer is the devil. Seriously.
When is Sony going to learn that we don't want their proprietary storage / compression technology / transfer technology?
If they sold the best products in the industry, we'd bite, but that's no longer the case. Sony may make some of the best television, for the price, but in the fields of photo cameras, video cameras, and mp3 players, they just aren't the best choice. Why would we buy into this?
It's not a competitor for W-USB, that's for sure. I don't understand the media's sensationalism for SONY VS EVERY1!!!!
Pretty soon Sony Ericsson phones and other gizmos from Sony will require a dedicated PC (humbly called Sony-PC or VAIO :-) to connect as they will not work with anything else on the market. Sony should just become a total outsider and strip VAIOs of USB ports and use TransferJet to connect to their devices, and memory stick pros, duos, minis, micros, macros, with blue rays, off-standard screen resolutions, and use Beta tapes for data back up and MiniDisc instead od Hard drives. I'm sure they will sweep the worldwide market. Way to go Sony.