We'll admit it, we expected to be knee-deep in Android gear by now. However, it seems like the consumer electronics industry wanted to build more mature products around versions 1.5 and 2.0 of Google's open source OS instead. Regardless, we're in the thick of it now having just witnessed a deluge of
Android-based smartbooks / netbooks (expected
before October) at Computex and Google's own announcement that at least
18 new Android handsets will launch this year. Building upon Sony Ericsson's plan to launch its first handset
based on Android 2.0, we're now hearing that Android will play a prominent role across Sony's portable devices starting with an Android-based Walkman and personal navigation device (PND) launching sometime in 2010.
Engadget Japanese says that Sony's affection for Android is an "open secret" in Japan. In fact, an analyst speaking to Japan's
Nikkan simply states the development of an Android Walkman and PND as fact. Not that we're too surprised by this; as demonstrated by its
XMB interface now extended to a variety of devices other than the PS3, Sony is clearly trying to unify the user experience across its consumer electronics portfolio. And opting for open-source software across the board should keep costs low while increasing speed to market. Oh Android, is there anything you can't do...in Google fanboy theory?
Read -- Android Walkman (Nikkan)
Read -- Android Walkman (Impress)
posted Jun 8th 2009 3:57AM
That'd be interesting. I'd like to see android on the PSP or something similar, though..
I've been asking for this since Android was announced. I think Sony needs to side with Android so that they dont have to update the OS in competition with MS since they just cant keep up. Then you look at a company who runs circles around MS and puts out their OS for free, it's a no brainer.
I really hope this is a clue that my wish finally comes true. I'm hoping the PSP2 is announced with Android.
PWND
That's cool
That suggests that Sony may be developing a touchscreen walkman that can run apps. Basically taking care of the chief criticism the X-1000 warrants vis-a-vis its main competitor, the iPod touch.
I'm personally happy with the X-1000 the way it is, but if this attracts more customers to the Sony camp, more power to them.
Sony + Google. I actually was unaware of the relationship before I read this article. Sounds like a good pair to me!
An Android PMP with a robust music app would be amazing, to say the least. It would bring some competition to the ipod touch and its app running abilities.
I'd love to see what Sony can do with android, especially if they have some connectivity with the PS3 and such.
good job, sony.
Android based Walkman? Should we say, finally? This rings similarly with the rumors of Android based SE phone. This Walkman might be simply that phone without the phone.
On the other hand, this is Sony. Sony's track record of screwing things up is pretty hefty. Their usual first step of screwing their product lineup is by making them Japan only.
hope it comes with Wifi and HSDPA lest it would be wasting away android..
I don't get the Android hype.. Why is it put on every device now? Couldn't you do the same with WinMo? Or is it all Google lobbying?
We have more than enough WinMo devices. As more devices get android, more developers will flock to it, and unlock more of it's potential.
There are LOTS of reasons for vendors to use Android:
- Android is open source. Vendors are free to modify it. Vendors benefit from community development.
- Android is built on the Linux kernel which is fast, stable & scalable (from toasters to supercomputers).
- Android is free. This is VERY important for low cost, mass market devices.
- Android runs on several CPU architectures (x86, ARM, MIPS).
- Android implements a stable & secure VM to run apps (Dalvik).
- Android is inherently net-connected, which is the direction virtually all devices are moving.
- Android apps are likely to run on other Linux distributions (Moblin, Ubuntu, ...).
- Android supports key HTML5 functionality, which is essential for next gen web apps.
- Android's app store is unrestricted, allowing virtually any/all creative & competitive apps.
- ...
Windows Mobile never really made a big dent in the portable media player market. Even the high-end players, like those from Archos, were running some custom version of Linux.
Maybe it wasn't consumer friendly enough, or the licensing costs for the software was too high for relatively cheap gadgets like portable media players.
you could try. but then, have you ever tried having fun while using winmo? its difficult i'm telling you.
Android 1.0 was somehow of a "proof of concept".... Cupcake is only what 1.0 should have been.
Donut (2.0) will be a more comprehensive bundle, and Eclair (2.5) -true to its name, will be the "beautiful" Android with OpenGL ES 2.0, video as textures, and a brand new 3D interface as they said in the Google I/O this year.
So I'll be waiting for Eclair this Christmas.... I'm *that* patient. Even if WM7 leaks are all over the place, I am settling for the open sourced Eclair...
Honestly, I'm very happy with my G1, and am glad to be a part of the 1st step in Androids future. Watching evolve from 1.0 has been fun for me, and I too cannot wait for future versions to flash to my G1(if it can handle eclaire..) 1.0 wasn't bad at all, 1.5 has been absolute smartphone bliss, here's hoping that I'm wowed by the new baked good as they come.
wait, donuts are fried....
Well yes the G1 was a great start....
I don't think it will handle Eclair, though. Android 2.5 (Eclair) seems to be the first one that needs to be powered by new hardware, a 2nd generation of Android phones. My guess is Tegra and Snapdragon-like chips...
Patience very rarely pays in terms of IT..
Seriously this comes from a guy who bough a 80486dx like 15 days before the Pentium 1 was available.
Right from the start I had it wrong with timing.
Well guess what? the 486 did the perfect job.
I bough the bold because I was tired of waiting for the G1 to come to France, and it did came 2 months later, and eventually I'm VERY happy with my bold, for different reasons, and I'm not even sure I would have preferred the G1..
If you wait for "eclair", by the time it is actually released, there will be some announcement about android 3.0 and you'll have a boner and start waiting again..
i think android is not competitor to iphone os, it's gonna kill stupid symbian.. if sony goes to android side with all productions, android gonna be powered...
I kinda agree that currently no mobile os beats iphone's, (coming from a person that uses MS and never liked Apple), and that Android will kill Symbian most definitely. However, the Symbian Foundation is prepping their open source and will be available pretty soon, but, then again we have to wait until symbian^3 + to see some pretty good UI, and hardware wise as well. The only thing that I may disagree with you is if Sony goes to the android side android will be powered. Remember that Android still doesn't make a great impact on developers across the mobile os market, imo. I see Android as Nokia's Maemo, the only difference is the GUI that simplifies the user's life. It'll take some years for developers to cross to line over to Android.
With all due respect sir, you are a blind moron.
Symbian as it exists is gonna disappear anyway in case you didn't know...
Gonna turn into a fully Opensource, free of charge new OS.
As android it is supported by a foundation, founded by Nokia and joined by people like Samsung, Sony, ARM, AT&T, O2, Orange, Vodafone etc...
First show off in 2nd half of 2009 with the Idou !
@Félix
You're the moron who thinks Symbian is going to take the smartphone world by storm, especially a SE phone with a stupid name. Even if it is free, it is still freakin' so last century compares to Apple or Android, just look at the ExpressMusic 5800
Can we have more WWDC articles please??
Also, can you please take down that Palm pre review banner for the top of the site? The last thing I want to see when checking up on tech news is that over-hyped piece of crap!!
Steve jobs is the god of our modern era.
iphone > (insert any mobile device here)
iphone > (insert any mobile device here)
Your mom?
@ synn
how about your dad?
oh wait a minute, it wouldn't be very 'mobile' then would it?
I suggest that you stick with your 2 shitty sony ericsson phones.
Your not half cool enough to own any apple products anyway.
So my dad isn't very mobile, so he's > iPhone? Didn't think that one through before you posted, didja, troll?
Thanks for proving that terms like iTard and iDiot exist for a reason.
"I suggest that you stick with your 2 shitty sony ericsson phones.
Your not half cool enough to own any apple products anyway."
Lol I saw what you did there..
Don't feed the troll.ever.
hahaha. Synn you just got owned dude!
so it's a sony/android "zune" or "ipod" then?
i don't really see the point. if you want a music player then you don't need video touchscreen whatever
if you want a media player then it's got to be bigger than a usb stick so it might as well be a phone
if you want a gaming handheld, a dedicated gaming device is needed for performance
any time i see an ipod touch i'm like... wtf? why the heck would you buy that
Well if you want to compete with a iTouch you might need to do a little bit of everything.. (only PLEASE DO IT BETTER THAN THE iTouch)
That's what people want apparently so I think there decision makes alot of sense.
This is such a great combination. It would be nice to use android with a Sony-designed media player app.
It would also be interesting to see if they can use XMB in android too.
This reminds me of the days when Sony used to make their Clie line of Palm-compatible devices.
Sony hardware plus non-Sony software might be a big win. OTOH, I'll probably already have a GiiNii Movit Mini by then.
Sony + Android is a match made in consumer heaven. Sony makes good looking hardware, good looking UIs, but their underlying software has always been a bit shite. XMB running on Android lets them excell at what they're good at, while getting developer support out of the box.
If anyone can make phones as nice looking as the iPhone it's Sony, and with this OS they can actually get the whole package.
So it'll be ipod touch of the android camp?
Wow, thats pretty cool. Sony has always been on top of their game!
RT
www.online-privacy.vze.com
Sony probably should just give up... haha
http://www.iphonenewsstand.com