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LG's roll-up keyboard is cute, but predictably uncomfortable
Getting anyone at all interested in a new portable Bluetooth keyboard is quite the feat, but LG has just about managed it with its new, quirky roll-up peripheral. The Rolly, as it's inventively named, is intended for those who want to be a bit more productive with their tablet time, and I've had a brief tinker with it here at IFA. The benefit of having a keyboard that rolls up around its battery, of course, is that it takes up the least amount of space in your backpack. And neat, the Rolly certainly is. The magnets that run down either side of the key grid are no weaklings, keeping the thing tightly wound and generating a satisfying snap as you roll it up.
KDDI Polaris Robot concept -- it's like Rolly, but with a purpose (video)
Being a Japanese carrier and all, it's no shock to see KDDI with a large presence at CEATEC. What was surprising, however, was the cute little device you see pictured above. Showcased in an "early prototype" form, the recently introduced Polaris Robot looks eerily similar to Sony's befuddling Rolly. Thankfully for KDDI (and all of humanity, really), this creature actually has a purpose. Packed with speakers, an array of wireless sensors and the ability to send video signals to your TV sans cables, the concept docking station is meant to stylishly hold your KDDI handset (lots of 'em will be compatible in due time) and beam a blown-up version of your phone's UI onto your television or LCD monitor. The good news here is that the system actually displays a far more intuitive menu layout on the screen than what's available on your dumbphone, enabling users to flip through schedules, photos, videos and playlists with ease. Technological details -- as well as information surrounding price and release -- were scant, but you can whet your appetite by peeking the video just past the break. %Gallery-74740%
Video: KDDI Polaris Robot concept -- it's like Rolly, but with a purpose
Being a Japanese carrier and all, it's no shock to see KDDI with a large presence at CEATEC. What was surprising, however, was the cute little device you see pictured above. Showcased in an "early prototype" form, the recently introduced Polaris Robot looks eerily similar to Sony's befuddling Rolly. Thankfully for KDDI (and all of humanity, really), this creature actually has a purpose. Packed with speakers, an array of wireless sensors and the ability to send video signals to your TV sans cables, the concept docking station is meant to stylishly hold your KDDI handset (lots of 'em will be compatible in due time) and beam a blown-up version of your phone's UI onto your television or LCD monitor. The good news here is that the system actually displays a far more intuitive menu layout on the screen than what's available on your dumbphone, enabling users to flip through schedules, photos, videos and playlists with ease. Technological details -- as well as information surrounding price and release -- were scant, but you can whet your appetite by peeking the video just past the break. %Gallery-74740%
iida Polaris: Phone meets robot, robot meets Japan (video!)
While Sony's Rolly is about as useful as, well, a tiny dancing robot, at least iida's Polaris concept doubles as a cellphone plus dock. Beneath the enormity of the flowery product page rests little in the way of specs -- it is just a concept after all, developed in partnership with Flower Robotics. The robot features "learning functions" to monitor your physical condition and suggest recipes and exercise. Failing that, it can also suggest possible medical intervention. The longer he's with you the more attune he is to your well-being. Perfect -- when we're old and infirmed at the end of days, our personal Polaris can represent us at the government mandated death panel. Take a peak at your doomsayer in the videos after the break.[Via Akihabara News]
Video: Sony Rolly vs Nao in epic robot dance off
While Sony's $400 Rolly never made much sense as a roll-about musical robot, at least Aldebaran Robotics' Nao could walk upright and play a little football. Now the two have come together to battle on the dance floor. The 91 second video posted after the break is about 70 seconds too long, but consider this your moment of Zen for the day. Bonus points for any readers who re-enact this for Halloween.
Debunk: Sony has not discontinued Rolly in America
Two years in, we still can't say with any level of definitiveness or authority what exactly Sony's Rolly is, but here's what we can say: it's still hanging around. After catching wind of a somewhat innocent Sony Insider report (which was seemingly misunderstood / misreported elsewhere) that the curious music maker was being canned in the US, we contacted Sony directly to sort things out. From Sony to you: "There is no truth to these reports at this time." 'Nuff said, yeah?
Remote control your rolly with Rolly Remote, now in the US
Japanese owners of Sony's little rolling music... thing have been able to remote control their Rollys via Bluetooth since late last year, and now folks elsewhere in the world are getting a shot with the release of Rolly Remote for US owners. The software and firmware update let you connect to Rolly wirelessly from a PC (it doesn't look like we get mobile phone connectivity yet), enabling control over the thing's playlist and movements. You can jack into seven of the little wheelie monsters at a time, meaning all you would-be choreographers out there finally have a way to express those emotions welling up inside without having to hire a bunch of dancers. (Vivaldi's Greatest Hits collection not included.)[Via Sony Insider]
Video: Rolly conducts choir of AIBOs, crowd goes wild
Here at Engadget HQ, we're having a heated debate on which aspect of this finding is more fascinating. The fact that a Rolly can conduct an entire choir of musical AIBOs, or the fact that we finally understand the purpose of Sony's questionably useful jellybean. Have a look at the video above and toss your vote in below.[Via MAKE]
Sony's Rolly learns the Bluetooth trick
Oh Rolly... we know you're an overpriced, 2GB dancing robot with convoluted controls and questionable sound quality. But dammit, your impractical, big-corporate ways have gnawed a soft-spot deep into the noxious cesspool we call a heart. Now this: Rolly model SEP-50BT with Bluetooth control from your cellphone or laptop. Shipping in Japan on November 21st for an expected ¥40,000 or about $427. Sold. Watch it all unfold in the video after the break.[Via Impress]
Video: Sony's new Vaio Type C brings a little Rolly to your lap
We're fans of Sony's little Rolly -- despite its general uselessness and non-impulse-buy $400 price tag. It exists as more of a corporate statement than a real piece of useful consumer electronics, one that Sony is ready to exploit by applying its internals to something rather more tedious: yet another Vaio laptop. The 14.1-inch VGN-CS60B offers a multi-colored light bar on the front that uses the Rolly's trademarked "12 Tone Analysis" to turn your dorm room into a (dimly lit) discotheque, and a series of blinking LEDs above the keyboard that makes adjusting the volume level a little more interesting. The Type C includes a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, 802.11n WiFi and a FeliCa port, all served up by Windows Vista Home Premium. Despite its ho-hum specs It should be enough to make Japanese schoolgirls giddy when it releases in Japan later this week for about $1,400. Video of said light show after the break.
The AP no likey the Sony Rolly
We've always been skeptical of Rolly's purpose, but Associated Press business writer Rachel Metz isn't pulling any punches when it comes to reviewing Sony's MP3-playing dance-bot. She calls it a mere conversation-starter "if your dancing hamster has run off", notes that the $400 toy lacks a headphone jack, and scoffs at the 2GB of storage. She also offers that while she gets the notion of the Rolly as a programmable bot with its "Rolly Choreography" software, she had a hard time justifying the time it took to just get through one song (30 minutes of tweaking for 20 seconds of bot action). We're not about to defend the Rolly's place in life, but let's be fair: Rolly isn't meant to solve problems: it's meant to confuse AP writers, scare cats, and get hacked to all oblivion.[Via BoingBoing]
Sony Rolly finally brings the party Stateside
Everybody's favorite dancing robot of questionable utility from Sony is finally making its way across that big wet thing that divides the fair lands of Japan and USA. The Rolly, in case you missed it, is tiny little wheeled bot that can blast some tunes out of its built-in speakers, move its cute little appendages to the music and spin around for that full-on dancing robot experience. The bot comes with pre-choreographed songs ("Also Sprach Zarathustra," Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" and Earth Wind and Fire's "Boogie Wonderland" -- all particular favorites of the Engadget staff), or you can use the choreography software to generate a dance for own tunes, or even program the dance yourself. The 2GB bot comes in black or white, and is available now online or in Sony Style stores for $400.
Sony Rolly busts a color move
Sony just turned out the Rolly music player in black. A surprise blown by the FCC just last week. At least we can wonder at the colorful end-caps at a cost of ¥1,500 (about $15) per. Of course, if you scoffed at the original Rolly, then the April 19th, Japanese release of the new ¥40,000 (about $400) dancing-speaker bot won't likely tug at your pawnshopped heartstrings either.[Via Impress]
Sony's Rolly tumbles into FCC, stumps them too
Okay, so after watching this thing bust a move on video, we actually aren't as perplexed by it as we once were, but there's no denying that Sony's Rolly is quite the curious character. Nevertheless, the SEP-30BT (opposed to Japan's SEP-10BT) has hurtled itself into the open arms of the FCC, assuring Americans that the time has almost come. There's nothing too shocking within the 70 (!) page manual, but if you just can't wait for this critter to land at your doorstep, tap the read link below and eat your heart out.
Sony's Rolly music player / robot coming to the US this spring
Everyone's favorite, lovable, and totally confusing music player / dancing speaker is coming to the States this spring. As we've extensively detailed, the odd little oval is packed with all kinds of zany abilities, not the least of which is playing MP3 or AAC files via Bluetooth with A2DP off of its 2GB (which is an improvement on the Japanese version's 1GB) of flash memory. No word on price right now, but you won't care once you see how darn cute the little guy is.
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]
The Murider dancing media robot: so apropos
Check your servos Rolly and Miuro, there's a new media playing robot in town by the foreboding name of "Murider." The new bot from Woori features a 4.3-inch display for watching DMB mobile television and support for audio playback when sourced from USB-connected devices or SD cards. Details are scant but it's said to stand (not roll) and a bust out a little dance with appropriately timed flashing lights. Oh, and it'll do so for a fraction of the price of its peers. Just don't be surprised to find little rolly muttering "Redirum, redirum" in response to this budget repetition of past events.
Sony's Rolly speakerbot on video
If you don't get nauseated by watching things spin round and round, over and over, you might wanna check out Akihabara News' HD video of Sony's upcoming Rolly speakerbot performing its limited suite of dance moves (embedded after the break), which should give you a good sense of whether or not you'll want to save up a little more money and go with Miuro the robotic iPod dock instead.
Sony's Rolly gets official, yet we still don't really get it
The Sony Rolly SEP-10BT "Sound Entertainment Player" is here, people, and yet we're still just as unclear as ever as to exactly what it's utility is. Not quite a domestic robot, not quite a portable audio player, not quite a boombox, the Rolly flutters about, dancing and playing MP3, ATRAC, or AAC tunes via either Bluetooth with A2DP / AVRCP or its 1GB of internal memory. In fact, not only does Rolly dance to your music, apparently you can also choreograph it and share your Rolly moves with pals over the internet. A full charge gets you five hours straight music, four hours of dance and music, or three and a half hours dancing, music, and Bluetooth use together -- fantastic news for people with a clean desk and tons of time to kill. It'll run you about ¥40,000 (about $350 US) when it lands in Japan September 29th. Video after the break.%Gallery-7181%[Via Engadget Japanese]
Sony: Rolly is an audio player (and more)
Sony's official Rolly blog has confirmed what we already thought: Rolly is in fact a digital audio player without a display. They also claim that it has only one button which controls the "play / stop" of audio and is "basically the only button you use." Although this picture shows what appears to be a cluster of three in addition to a glowing blue, elliptical button. Of course, as we've seen in the Walkman W910 phone, Sony offers other ways to control music without buttons. Namely, an accelerometer coupled with Sony's new Shake control software would allow you to flick the Rolly right or left to advance or jump-back tracks; shake it to shuffle-up the music. That would be particularly useful in Bluetooth-shy Japan where Rolly is being heavily marketed. Whatever the case, Rolly is surely more than just a DAP as we've seen in the video, but that's as much as Sony will own-up to for the time being.Update: Well what do you know, digital lifestyles spoke to some "senior" Sony sources who consider Rolly a "music-focused Wii on wheels." Seems like an integrated accelerometer with Shake control might be in the cards, indeed.
