IFA 2011: Sony Brings Out Android-Based Walkman Prototype
![IFA 2011: Sony Brings Out Android-Based Walkman Prototype [Sony's Walkman Mobile Entertainment Player Becomes The Android iPod With A New Upgrade]](http://nexus404.com/Blog/thumbnailimages/alt/android-walkmanTFTSThumb220153.jpg)
The portable music stakes just got a little less Apple as the Sony Walkman, a brand that’s been popular for somewhere around three decades now, got a serious upgrade in the form of Android functionality. But what else is contained in this impressive little package? More than you might think.
The Sony Walkman, currently dubbed the Walkman Mobile Entertainment Player, doesn’t just handle music. Much like the iPod Touch has for some time now, it’s set to not only handle music but also video as well as access to Android Market, giving it a wide variety of apps to use (though not near as many as the iPod Touch can tackle, or at least, not yet). It will also work with Music Unlimited, a cloud-based music service that offers two levels of subscription, either the $4 per month basic package or the $10 per month premium package, as well as including S-Master MX technology for improved sound quality and, in what is reportedly a first for the Walkman lineup, graphic visualizations that accompany the music. It’s also got a 4.3 inch LCD display showing at 800 x 640 resolution and can both play games and surf the web, ostensibly through a wi-fi connection as a 3G connection wasn’t mentioned.
You’ve already heard about the Sony Ericsson Live With Music phone from our own Robert Nelson just a few days ago, so you’re already quite aware that there have been some attempts at Walkman branding with phones before. This, however, is significantly different in that it doesn’t seem to be a phone, rather, just a PMP like the iPod Touch. As for a release date or pricing, neither was mentioned at the time, though no doubt many hope it will hit in time for Christmas shopping.
I’m actually pretty impressed by this, myself, and it’s good to see someone get into those stakes. While I’m pleased with my old iPod Touch, it would be nice to have an Android equivalent to see what they’ve got going on on things like the Android Market.
But what do you think about this? Would you want a Walkman Mobile Entertainment Player? Or is this iPod Touch competitor way too late to the party? Either way, the comments section awaits below, so head on down and tell us what you think!
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Good! I’m glad to see more competition.
I like what I see and hear about this new Android Walkman so far. Music isn’t a strong point for Ipod so that’s a check mark for Sony. I really like the 4.3-inch screen. Makes it so much easier to see and watch things so another check mark for Sony and if it can play a wide variety of videos along with just drag and drop, then it’ll blow away the Ipod’s 3.5-inch screen.
If Apple doesn’t get on the ball and update that new Ipod with at least a 4-inch screen, which is literally the industry standard now, then they are making the case to go buy somebody else’s product.
Like Sony’s.
I just bought an IPod Nano, I am not thrilled with the sound quality. I am happy to see Walkman compete, especially if the sound quality is their usual. I hope you can download audio books on it also and listen to broadcast radio (not the streaming or the podcast). It would really be nice if AM radio was included, I listen to games when traveling.
I haven’t heard anything about regular radio bands but my previous Sony Walkman, an NWZ-S545, offers FM. I think you’re going to be hard pressed to find AM radio on an MP3 player.
R–remember that Apple also offers the iPhone and iPad, both of which will do pretty much everything the iPod already does. They may not be making the case for someone else’s product so much as they are the case for their other products.
Steve,
Iphone is ruled out because I’m not looking for a phone or contract (or the currently smaller storage capacity). Ipad is ruled out because it cannot be pocketed in my jeans, shirt or jacket thus not as easily transportable. Not saying it isn’t easy to take around, but I don’t want to carry it around in my hands like I’m holding a book or in a backpack (if I’m even carring one). Being pocketable where I can take it out of my pocket and do what I want without straining my eyes to see something on a 3.5-inch screen when everybody else has or is planning to have at least a 4-inch screen is a must.
I do agree that Apple apparently making the case for people to look at their other products instead of the Ipod is too bad. Not everybody is looking for their phone or the Ipad. I am one of those people who don’t own an Ipod (or any Apple product) yet am waiting to see what the Iphone 5 will look like as it will be an indication what the next Ipod will be like. Since we all haven’t seen it yet, any disappointment with the same screen size (at least for me), then I have held out too long and will have to look at Sony, Samsung, etc new PMPs.
Oh, you don’t need a contract to have an iPhone. You just can’t make calls with it without one. Though in your case you clearly just want an MP3 player. The thrust of the concept, though, is that Apple may be looking to shut down the iPod concept in favor of the others. After all, an iPhone is really just an iPod with phone and camera.
Yeah, better MP3 music capability (Sony is known to be better at that with their Walkmans which I have the NWZ-A728). Better everything actually. I’ve played around with my co-worker’s Ipod Touch enough to know I like watching movies/videos and playing games too. But again, the screen size becomes a big issue. The 3.5-inch screen isn’t optimal.
Some might say “.5-inches won’t make that much of a difference.” I totally disagree. I’ve seen enough 4+ inch smartphones screens that I’ve kept saying to myself “Man, if that screen size was on a Ipod, I would be an Apple customer already.”
Well, here’s hoping that we’ll all see what the new Iphone (and hopefully new Ipod Touch) will look like soon. Hopefully it won’t be disappointing (to me) otherwise I STILL won’t be an Apple customer (fed up waiting and waiting) and instead will be waiting for the Sony or Samsung PMPs to become available.