Mystery Sony "Home Information Device" unveiled by FCC, purpose kept secret

Wondering what Sony has in store for the summer of 2010? We can't tell you, but we can give you a few clues. A device called the HID-C10 "Home Information Device" has been given the full FCC once-over and, while confidentiality clauses keep the juicy bits secret, we do know that it somehow connects to a TV and that it possesses 802.11b/g wireless. Our first guess is that this is a simple WiFi adapter for Sony's internet-streaming televisions, but with a name like "Home Information Device" it could be something a bit more, possibly letting you do a little home automation on your HDTV between Modern Warfare 2 matches. It's anybody's guess, but we're inclined to believe that fiddling with thermostat settings in your home would be more exciting than hanging out at Home.

[miquonranger03 Posted Dec 16th 2009 8:05AM]

The Onion already announced this.
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/sony_releases_new_stupid_piece_of

[joelaf Posted Dec 16th 2009 8:57AM]

@(Unverified)

Thanks for that link. I loved it.

[eugeneaction Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:56PM]

@(Unverified) new and improved a@@ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt6L4Wj9ceE

[Reality Check Posted Dec 16th 2009 8:48AM]

Sony is already as good as dead. Between Apple, Google, and Nintendo they don't stand a chance.

iPod Touch and iPhone >> PHP
iPod >> Walkman
Nintendo DS and Wii >> PSP and PS3

[Hashmere Posted Dec 16th 2009 9:37AM]

@(Unverified)
Wii > PS3? Yea.... If your 10 years old maybe

And if people were not so blinded with apple fanboyism they would realize that when it comes to music quality, the x series of walkman is vastly superior to the ipod. Just sayin'

[THJ Posted Dec 16th 2009 1:42PM]

@(Unverified) the genpop does not care about music quality, if they did, then 128k mp3 files would never have taken off. They just want 'good enough' music, and they don't want to jump through hoops to get it.

Until Sony can define a consistent UX that bridges the retailers, the desktop, and the pocket, they will constantly be playing catch-up (gonna get flamed, but look at apple - if it were not for the iTMS and effortless store->itunes->ipod syncing, then they'd be an also-ran like Creative).

Hate to admit it, since I've spent more $$ on Sony cameras, HT equip, and portables than from any other CE company, but live and learn.

[Streetfights Posted Dec 16th 2009 2:24PM]

@(Unverified)

Wii > PS3 for the following reasons:

Homebrew is very easy to install, meaning I have:
1. NES, Genesis, SNES, N64, and Gameboy emulators running right now with every game ever made.
2. Can load (legally obtained) Gamecube backups from DVDs

3. Can load (legally obtained) Wii backups from a usb hard drive, and the software automatically downloads the box art and lets you scroll through them via a 3D GUI All this, and I can play them all online for free!!!

4. MPlayer CE, which can grab ANY media file off USB or SMB and play it (unlike the gay ps3 that doesn't play either AVI nor MKV unless you go through another server)

[500vdc Posted Dec 16th 2009 9:01AM]

Home automation on your TV....hmmm. I've used one of these for over 10 years! http://www.csi3.com/homevis2.htm

Matt

Had one of these in the 80's! http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ele/1507459468.html
http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue70/59-2.jpg

[ascenvia Posted Dec 16th 2009 9:23AM]

Whatever it is, *IS* ugly!

[JPB Posted Dec 16th 2009 9:26AM]

Look at the flat top and connect the dots -- I'd bet money that this is going to be a TransferJet device.

[KVirtanen Posted Dec 16th 2009 10:28AM]

It's an iPod dock for sure.

[SOOPERGOOMAN Posted Dec 16th 2009 10:39AM]

Playstation Homeis alopt better than the last report you guys gave it. I'd much rather waste my time there than doing what you guys love to do and Thats play with the thermostat. Jump in today, there's all kinds of free stuff and mini quests to do across all regions. Home is what you make it. If you are bored in there then you're more than likely a boring person in real life as well. Last night a bunch of us in the uk home decided to dress up like Snake eyes and his Twin from GI Joe and stood guard on Santa's village. We all took pics which I'm going to stitch together as a giant panoramic....Sounds fun to me. Much better than that little avi that xbox has( an I own a 360 as well), Ten times better than the wii.

[Leicaman Posted Dec 16th 2009 11:02AM]

Not 802.11n? Is Sony out of their mindes?

Oh yeah, never mind.

[EatingPie Posted Dec 16th 2009 2:36PM]

Well, we can rule out one feature.

Lack of 802.11n means no streaming HD content to the TV.

It's too bad they didn't remedy this on the PS3 Slim. I have to use ethernet for streaming.

-Pie

[PeterFnet Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:30PM]

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