We've got another one, folks: Sony's doing a tablet. The Dash Internet Viewer is a touchscreen WiFi device which can be propped up like a digital photo frame or
toted around the home like... a tablet. Still, a
Chumby comparison might be more appropriate: the 7-inch device can run Chumby apps (there are over 1,000 free ones out there already), to which Sony will be adding its own Sony Music and Sony Pictures properties for movie trailers, music videos and so forth. The $199 unit can be stood on end or tilted quasi-flat for a variety of hands-free viewing angles, and works as an alarm clock, waking users up to the sweet sounds and visuals of internet videos. The Dash ships in April.
Update: We just confirmed that this device runs Chumby OS and is
not portable (as in, there's no built-in battery). Rest assured, this is no slate / tablet rival -- in fact, it's more like a sophisticated alarm clock.
posted January 6th 2010 7:49PM
I don't expect it to be cheap...
@ColorblindMonk
PR says about $200
@yulebellow Surely you either missed a zero at the end or a one at the start?! Or its gonna have some serious flaws.
@d0mth0ma5 So... the flaws are?
@d0mth0ma5 with this many smart photo frames (pardon me tablets) out - if the price is more than $200, it may not get much sale attention but for that price I agree not much can be delivered at Sony quality...
@d0mth0ma5 The fairly chunky bezel for one, 7" screen on a 9(?)" device.
@d0mth0ma5 bezel is Sony's value differentiation :)
@mehmet This price has thrown the cat amongst my mental pigeons, although I still want to see what Ballmer and Jobs are going to say on the tablet/slate issue, I am NOT going to pay for a data contract, thats what my iPhone is for, I have WIFI everywhere I need to do serious browsing.
@d0mth0ma5 I agree - also I am not sure how easy to surf with such large devices, comfortable holding and typing is still an issue, carrying, well if you carry this than you can carry a ultra ligh notebook as well which comes with wifi and gsm connectivity - currently I am looking at popping out tablet concepts as the 'attack of the fridge displays' episode 2 :)
lame hunk of junk.
That picture makes it look like it has A LOT of bezel.
But it'll be okay. It's Sony, so it's a premium bezel.
@derX
You forgot the premium alarmclock feature which didn't sell alarmclocks before. Seriously, thats another Sony product that rings my inner WTF nerd siren.
The onion had it best.
32gb built in and a sd card slot on this please!!
So which one will be pricier, this one or Apple's?
@d0mth0ma5
PRICE WARS!: Battle to the top
@d0mth0ma5 It will retail for $200, so Apple's.
@MunkeeMann Ah yes, they've added the price to the article, so yeah beyond any shadow of a doubt.
So everyone's making them... but they still don't know what they're for... and I still have no desire to by them... whaaaa??? Someone please figure this one out for me.
I like Apple, but you can't use them as an excuse for these bad business decisions.
@Floppy I agree...it seems to be a lil too much follow-the-leader going on here. Why jump in the game if there's no true purpose to your entry? I'll wait it out and see what Sony says, but for all I know next we'll hear how Walmart is making their own tablet...
I can't believe Sony made their own Chumby. Wow.
@Nerdtalker
"make.believe"
@Nerdtalker you're right it is a Sonby, are all these companies really make these products or just making sure they have some concept lined up if Apple makes it avail and makes it work so they don't look they are behind.... :)
@Nerdtalker I LOVE my new Chumby One... I cant believe Sony of all people are making a Chumby product. I expected to see Chumby Networks show-up first in digital photoframes and such, but WOW.. just... WOW>...
It seems like every company( Sony & Lenovo) is designing an Apple tablet mockup based on the the iPhone/iPod Touch design. What gives?
@Xega,
Well if Apple get away with copying other products why should others be criticised for it?
@DelSource
What i'm saying is that Apple hasn't released anything but these companies seem to be chasing an Apple Tablet design concept base on the iPhone design- even though Apple hasn't released a thing at all. They should innovate instead of attempting to beat Apple's rumored tablet design concept
huh.. why dont people instead spend that 200 bucks on a used netbook which allows you to run a million more different apps on it
This will be GREAT for browsing the web from the toilet.
@Prostate of Grace
That's what my iphone's for :)
@oproski But there's no porn on the iPhone!
Wait... unless you're one of those creeps that uses the toilet for crapping and pissing... ewww.
@Prostate of Grace
No porn? You sir have a lot to learn about the iphone...
@Prostate of Grace No browser, sadly :( Just chumby apps
@Prostate of Grace Also, you need to have a power-socket in your bathroom, or an extension-cable
@Floppy, i think your right, this are products that feel like they are out just to compete with the apple tablet rumor. That being said, if sony can pull this off, maybe throw in a GOOD browser, avoid resistive touchscreens, and more importantly create a great app platform with an sdk that come out sooner or at least with the product for ANY developer they got a shot at making this a must have gadget. Track-record though makes me pessimistic. Also, anyone else think this looks like a big 1st gen ipod touch?
Needs 8001 more apps.
Weird, I figured Sony would go for a higher end piece of equipment. $200 is one of the cheapest I have heard.
if this is $200 I will buy 2 of them today but don't we all know the Sony always over prices there junk and 10 rich people will buy them to show off
@jeffkrop I hope you stopped that pre-order
And so begins the January onslaught of tablets..
Can't have a tablet without an ecosystem. Kindle has Amazon ebooks. Apple's tablet will have iTunes. What ecosystem will Sony plug this into? The same one as the MiniDisc's? (i.e. none)
I'll wait for the reviews, but this could be a nice addition to my home automation setup.
wow just saw the latest update, what a fup, absolutely useless...
Huh? But Apple hasn't invented the tablet yet! Isn't the world's first ever tablet due later in the month?
@DelSource No, that's a slate...
Is this really a tablet? it looks like it has a fat back on it, not too ideal to use in ones hands.
@npa189 It appears to be thicker towards the bottom, at least an inch thick from the pictures on the sony image gallery.
[Pre-emptive "that's what she said"]
@npa189 @d0mth0ma5 I guess that's what "quasi-flat" means.
more tablets eh.. really? what pantload of nonsense is this?
@HighestRanked You're a pantload of nonsense.
@HighestRanked I like you. I share your cynicism for all this heap of crap.