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Sony UX handheld gets outfitted with makeshift gamepad
We've seen gamepads hacked for use with handhelds before, but they haven't always exactly been the most elegant solutions. That's happily not the case with this latest mod by Micro PC Talk forum member Dan Middle, however, who outfitted his Sony VAIO UX handheld with a discreet but usable gamepad attachment. The "hack" was made slightly easier by the use of a Genius USB mini gamepad, which was foldable to begin with, although Dan apparently did still have to hack it up a bit and attach it to a dummy CompactFlash card, which conveniently slots in right next to the USB port. As you can see in the video after the break, the setup appears to work quite well and, best of all, doesn't require any modifications to the pricey UX itself.[Via Slash Gear]
Sony's VAIO UX490N now on sale: yours for $2500
Merely weeks after Sony let slip a user's manual for its UX490N handheld, the unit is now (apparently) official. Granted, it's not like the specs are a surprise at this point, but the UMPC will indeed pack a 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Solo U2200 ULV processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a pair of integrated cameras (0.3-megapixels in the front, 1.3-megapixels in the rear), a fingerprint scanner, 48GB SSD, 4.5-inch 1,024 x 600 resolution touchscreen and a GMA 950 graphics set to boot. Furthermore, you'll also find built-in Bluetooth / WiFi, an Ethernet port, audio in / out jacks, an MS Duo expansion slot, WWAN support (AT&T), Vista Business and a Li-ion good for 1.5 to 3.5-hours. Enticed? Claim yours now for $2,499.99.[Via MicroPCTalk]
Details for UX490N handheld show up on Sony's site
While Sony's apparently yet to get official with it, the company has let slip a user guide and marketing materials for its hereto unheard of UX490N handheld, which thankfully provide plenty of details on the device. Like the most recent model introduced in Japan, this one packs a 1.2GHz Core 2 Solo U2200 processor, although it drops the SSD storage down to 48GB from 64GB. Otherwise, you can expect the usual 4.5-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, along with 1GB of RAM, Intel GMA 950 graphics, and built-in support for AT&T's EDGE network, among other densely-packed features. What's more, it seems that Sony will also be offering the handheld in a VGN-UX490N/C model, which throws in a Bluetooth GPS receiver and an extended battery. No word on a price or release date just yet, but we're guessing those details should be coming before too long.[Thanks, benz145]
Medion working on MD RIM 1000 UMPC with slide-out keyboard?
All we've got to go on here is a grainy scan from some Medion press materials being handed out at IFA, but if this new MD RIM 1000 UMPC proves to be for reals we'll have another welcome contestant in the slide-out keyboard space -- which is where we've been at all along when it comes to UMPCs. The specs aren't bad neither, with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, onboard GPS, DVB-T tuner and webcam. In fact, if this thing manages to weigh less than thirty pounds and cost less than twenty grand we're pretty sure Medion has got themselves a winner -- or should at least be able to give Sony's UX and Averatec's forthcoming AHI a bit of competition.
Sony drops the UX280P, with twice the RAM and HDD
After mysteriously pulling all mentions of the UX180P from their online store a week or so ago -- they claimed they were merely out of stock -- Sony is back with the UX280P, which doubles both the RAM and the HDD size from that of the UX180P. Along with the new 40GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM, we hope they found some time to refresh that debilitating software we encountered in our hands-on preview of the 180. The processor remains the same ol' Core Solo U1200, and there's still EDGE, WiFi and Bluetooth radios. Unfortunately, the price has now reached the $2000 mark, so you best have cash to burn or a real good excuse for some UMPC+QWERTY action, or you're just going to look silly.[Via jkOnTheRun]
Hands on with Sony's would-be UMPC killer, the UX180P
Sony is never a company to back down from raising a few eyebrows or ruffling a few feathers in the standards game, and so shall it be with the not-quite-UMPC UX180P. There's little question that the UX whips up on the current crop of UMPCs in the marketplace, sporting a more powerful processor, higher-res screen, integrated keyboard and EDGE -- but at $1800, it needs to. And right there lies the million-dollar question: at almost double the cost of a UMPC, does the UX serve its function? And what exactly is its function, for that matter? Read on for our take on the answers, along with some in-depth imagery.
Sony's Vaio UX90 gets 16GB flash drive and mobile TV
So you thought Sony's VAIO U with Core Solo was pretty hot, right, but that hefty chub and feedback-free keyboard were keeping you on the fence? We understand. Well, how would you feel if Sony aced the hard disk in favor of a silent running 16GB solid-state flash drive which bumps battery life by 13%, drops the weight by 29g to 492g, massively accelerates app launches, and should cut XP's resume and boot times by half? No, not doing it for ya? Then how about some hot OneSeg mobile digital television squeezed in for some on-the-go entertainment? Well Sony did just that today with the introduction of their Vaio UX90. Still, you'll have to be ready to pop for the ¥209,800 (about $1,800) when these drop July 3rd in Japan. But if you lived in Nippon, you might just bite, eh? Thought so.[Via Impress]
Vaio UX reviewed
Even though Sony prematurely created -- then killed -- the UMPC market a couple years back with their U-series ultramobiles. Many seemed stoked to learn that they're back at their old tricks with their Vaio UX "Micro PC," and none too soon with competition from Samsung, TabletKiosk, and Asus. DWT got their hands on a UX and gave it a thorough once-over; seems like they were quite enamored by the 4.5-inch 1024 x 600 display (that sometimes requires use of zoom keys to actually read that tiny, tiny text), and the Japanese version's IC-card reader for SuiCa. Unfortunately the keyboard is supposedly quite terrible, with "almost no tactile feedback from key presses and typing is a real chore," and the battery life wasn't doing much more than 2 hours, dropping out at 1.5 hours under relatively heavy use. Basically it doesn't sound like they're recommending the UX all that much, but as with any Micro / ultramobile PC, if you really want to pony up the couple of grand to get one you've probably got a very decent reason why.
Engadget Podcast 081 - 05.23.06
What a week for product launches! Seems like out of the gate past E3 everybody wanted to get theirs out the door: Apple loosed the MacBook, Motorola and Verizon launched the Q, Sprint and Verizon launched the Palm Treo 700p, and Sony launched their UX Micro PC. But it wasn't all rosy new toys for everyone to play with, Creative and Apple are heading to court to go toe to toe over some patents, as apparently is XM and Pioneer over the RIAA-contestable recording capabilities of the Inno. Tune in to find out how it all unfurls on this week's Engadget Podcast! Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [RSS] Add the Engadget Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically (MP3). [MP3] Download the show (MP3). [AAC] Download the enhanced show (AAC). [OGG] Download the show (OGG). [Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley! Host Peter Rojas and Ryan Block Producer Randall Bennett Music J J J - 'Suits' in Japan Format 1:00:46, 27.8 MB, MP3 Program 01:00 - Motorola and Verizon announce Q: $199 04:44 - Treo 700p announced 08:48 - Apple's MacBook: 13-in, Core Duo, black and white 17:26 - Creative sues Apple, then Apple sues Creative 21:34 - Record labels sue XM over Inno recording 30:00 - Sony gets official on new Vaio UX Micro PC 36:28 - Xbox 360 hacks: Playing backup games, and backing up games 40:01 - Listener voicemail and email 59:00 - Engadget reader meetup in Merced LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dawt com
Sony's UX latest to get naked
You must know by now how much we adore gore n' guts of new toys -- especially those particularly small, compact devices that boggle the mind as to how they fit all that junk inside. One thing we didn't realize about Sony's UX UMPC Micro PC was that it was so freaking thick, but that said, it's still something of a little marvel of engineering that they got all that gear into a package as small as the UX appears to be. So sate yourself and look into the delicate, fragile inner workings of a device we're sure could not possibly be properly reassembled after being torn down.[Thanks, Jan]
Sony Vaio UX previewed
Digital World Tokyo got an early hands-on look at the Sony Vaio UX50 micro PC when launched in Tokyo earlier this week. The obvious difference between this and those much maligned first gen UMPCs is the sliding keyboard. However, it's not exactly a tactile wonder as DWT reports. The reviewer found the keyboard "difficult to use" as the keys are almost flush with the case and don't move much when pressed. Still, he managed to enter text without any misspellings. The 4.5-inch screen was "sharp and bright" and its 1,024 x 600 resolution (UMPCs go 800 x 480 on a 7-inch display) made full screen web browsing possible if you don't mind uh, "squinting" a bit with those "handy" buttons along the right-side of the case giving a quick zoom when necessary. Although the reviewer notably only had a few minutes with the device, it's certainly a promising start for this micro device with massive features mirrored in its expected $1800 price tag. We'll reserve judgment, however until some proper full-reviews hit the sheets or we nab a UX for ouselves when they drop Stateside in July.
Sony gets official on new Vaio UX Micro PC
Just don't call it a UMPC. Like the "we don't need no stinkin' WMCE" days of yore, Sony is launching into a new market segment with little regard for the generally accepted Microsoft or Intel standards. They have just announced their new Vaio UX Micro PC, which seems more akin to an OQO device than a UMPC. For starters, this unit obviously has a hardware keyboard, which doesn't seem that bad of decision given the difficulty of using current-gen UMPC keyboards. The UX is also powered by a full on Core Solo processor (don't ask us how they got it in there), and runs Windows XP Professional. As rumored, the device also includes Bluetooth, WiFi, WWAN (EDGE connectivity) and a fingerprint reader. Along with the front camera for video conferencing, there is a camera in the rear for snapping pics, and the UX also can plug into a VGA adapter for powering an external monitor. The 4.5-inch screen is capable of a 800 x 600 resolution and accepts stylus input. We're not sure if the UX has another pointer device, but the unit can be docked to allow for desktop use, including VGA, Ethernet, IEEE-1394, three USB 2.0 ports and AV out, so you can use a regular mouse in those situations. We wish Sony would mention their battery life predictions for this mini beast, but they did let us know that the UX will be out in July for around $1800.[Thanks, Stan]
