Comments on: Sony Clie PEG-UX50 and UX40 Announced

Sony has officially announced two new handhelds. The PEG-UX50 and UX40. The models have a mini laptop like design with a large swivel screen, digital camera and built in keyboard. The PEG-UX50 has both integrated in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless, while the UX40 only includes Bluetooth. Sony is billing the new device as a "personal entertainment communicator."
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SEPTEMBER!!

hoodoo @ 7/18/2003 1:16:40 PM #
Me first. :)

That seems like a long wait. I want the T3!

Hello Mike Cane, the T3 has portrait and landscape!

RE: SEPTEMBER!!
robrecht @ 7/18/2003 1:24:52 PM #
I'd rather have the T3 too because of the XT keyboard is better for my needs than a built in thumbored, but many, many, many, many people will want in a built in thumboard. I'm a little worried about battery life on the rumored T3, but Palm does have a Power to Go sled.

Thanks, robrecht
RE: SEPTEMBER!!
TTrules @ 7/18/2003 3:52:43 PM #
I don't get why the ux60 has SO much memory but such a small amount is available to the user. They should waist less, and have more available. I have a TT, and it has 16 megabytes with only two that aren't available. Why does Sony waist so much?

RE: SEPTEMBER!!
73939133 @ 7/18/2003 10:21:18 PM #
I don't get why the ux60 has SO much memory but such a small amount is available to the user. They should waist less, and have more available.

Given Palm OS's "architecture", trying to take full advantage of lots of memory is hard. Sony evidently didn't feel it was worth the considerable development effort to get PalmOS to do better.

Let's hope PalmOS 6 will finally address this issue.

RE: SEPTEMBER!!
TTrules @ 7/19/2003 5:15:45 PM #
But still, the Tungsten C and ux50 both run os 5.2 and the TC, only 64 mb and has 51 mb available whereas the ux50 has 104 mb, but only has 16 available. I would buy a high-end Sony if they would just add a little bit more memory.

RE: SEPTEMBER!!
JKingGrim @ 7/20/2003 9:37:39 AM #
But still, the Tungsten C and ux50 both run os 5.2 and the TC, only 64 mb and has 51 mb available whereas the ux50 has 104 mb, but only has 16 available. I would buy a high-end Sony if they would just add a little bit more memory.

Well, these devices do have 29mb extra storage area, but I believe that with OS6, the T|c's and the (hopefully) T|t3's 51mb will be made just as useful.

RE: SEPTEMBER!!
splat @ 7/21/2003 10:22:59 AM #
But still, the Tungsten C and ux50 both run os 5.2 and the TC, only 64 mb and has 51 mb available whereas the ux50 has 104 mb, but only has 16 available. I would buy a high-end Sony if they would just add a little bit more memory.

The UX series has 16MB available for built-in applications and 29MB for media storage (JPGs, MPEGs, etc), which is 45MB. I'm guessing there's some ROM that can be opened up in the future for more room as well.

-----------
splat
splat@altavista.net

More overpriced gadgets from Sony

Foo Fighter @ 7/18/2003 1:24:17 PM #
Well that tears it for me. Just as I expected, Sony priced these units in the upper stratoshpere. I'll take the TT2...or rumored TT3 (if it's real), thank you very much. Goodbye Sony.

-------------------------------
My blog: www.pocketfactory.com
RE: More overpriced gadgets from Sony
hoodoo @ 7/18/2003 1:34:46 PM #
Ha! Why don't you come up to Toronto and buy an NZ90 for $1,300 CAD (USD 930) + 15% tax = $1,495 or a TG50 for $570 (USD 410). Sony is still pricing their products as if the Canadian dollar is 60c US, not 70c.

RE: More overpriced gadgets from Sony
Foo Fighter @ 7/18/2003 1:49:25 PM #
Oh nice! You have my sympathies. ;-)

-------------------------------
My blog: www.pocketfactory.com
RE: More overpriced gadgets from Sony
KRamsauer @ 7/18/2003 1:54:01 PM #
CAD/USD is not the relevant comparison. Japanese Yen to the Canadian dollar is what you should be looking at.

RE: More overpriced gadgets from Sony
hoodoo @ 7/18/2003 2:18:01 PM #
Maybe the currency comparison wasn't the right way to describe it. Sony USA has dropped their prices, and Sony Canada has NOT, leaving the wide pricing disparity. Palm priced their new products correctly, including price drops later.

Besides, most Canadians' price references will be to the US $, not Yen.

RE: More overpriced gadgets from Sony
Lucky Bob @ 7/18/2003 4:15:08 PM #
Ed over at Brighthand posted this:

"Someone asked about the high prices at today's press conference. Basically, this person pointed out most handhelds are going for about $300, so how can Sony justify $700? A spokesperson answered that Sony had seen good sales of its previous high-end Clies and expected the same for the UX models."

Nice, huh?

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

RE: More overpriced gadgets from Sony
Konstantin @ 7/18/2003 6:18:09 PM #
I live in Mexico and PDA's in here are more overpriced that in Canada. I got my Zire71 in SamsClub at $370US aprox, and in OfficeDepot it sells for a $430US bucs.
Sony models are up the roof.

I cant belive they never (read NEVER) lowered the prices of m505 and m515. As m515 was introduced at $400US the m505 stayed at $450US, can you belive this shee it? And those prices are still on today.

The prices in Europe are similar to those you have in Canada.

RE: More overpriced gadgets from Sony
maddie @ 7/18/2003 7:52:07 PM #
Well, it is... Good-by Sony. Hello Tunsten T3 or whatever.

Ridiculous. Besides Palm gives better support to its customers, than sony. I guess I have to re-buy all those accessories I sold from my m505!! OH well....

RE: More overpriced gadgets from Sony
Yellowjeans @ 7/21/2003 4:47:23 AM #
I agree that Sony products are usually overpriced, but I'd still buy them for their innovative and attractive design. When you place a Palm PDA together with Sony Clie, it reassures me that my decision to buy the Clie is correct!

RE: More overpriced gadgets from Sony
AustPlam-wannabe @ 7/30/2003 9:11:40 AM #
Well, spare a thought for those who are in Australia also. You can get a T2 from the States for US$399 and the best price I can find ordering from the States was US$349. Which is $530 - $607. Here in Australia, they are selling it for between $699 to $799 !! I ain't even going to compare the pricing of the CLIE.
Seriously, why is it that the MORE advance 'automated assembling factories' get, which equate to less labour payment and all, the MORE expensive goods and services get ? -- if you talk about researching and development, Hmm.. right, add in extra 16K RAM, fix up a faulty button that got past quality testing and call that research ? *grin*
Ooo yeah, a Palm T tessentials kits that sells for US$29 (AUS$44) is selling for $99.

RAM

Fammy @ 7/18/2003 1:40:27 PM #
Did I miss something? This will have 104MB RAM?
16+16+16+29 = 77MB

And why seperate media storage and file/program storage? Just lump it all togther.

"The models have a total of 104 MB or RAM. Of that 16 MB is available for traditional storage of files and programs, another 16MB is used for the dynamic heap. Another 16 MB or non-volatile memory is dedicated for system back up to save the contents of RAM when the battery is low. Finally there is an additional 29 MB available for media storage, that acts as a traditional memory stick."

-- Fammy

RE: RAM
jho4thclie @ 7/18/2003 1:54:06 PM #
Yah... with that much non-user-accessible RAM, it's almost as if they're STORING the OS in RAM. lol

Maybe... why else would they need 16MB of non-volatile memory, but only for "Backup" in case of low battery?!?!



-JWH

RE: RAM
jho4thclie @ 7/18/2003 1:55:59 PM #
Or... they aren't using a version of PalmOS that supports HUGE ram amounts. hence the 16mb user accessible. and hence the reason they have to spoof a 29mb memory stick... (which is pretty funny, IMO).

perhaps this can be fixed with an OS update?

-JWH

RE: RAM
Admin @ 7/18/2003 2:31:34 PM #
that unaccounted for extra memory is most likely reserved for the ROM which holds the OS and the other bundled apps
RE: RAM
HandyMan @ 7/18/2003 2:35:50 PM #
Call it Sony-Math.

We know the "Handheld Engine" has 64Mbit of built-in RAM... which is 8MB. Let's assume that's part of the 104MB.

So 104 - 8 = 96
96 = 32MB DRAM + 64MB non-volatile
32MB DRAM = 16MB heap + 16MB user space
64MB non-volitile = 22MB media/storage + 16MB backup + 26MB X

What is X? Is that ROM software?

RE: RAM
abosco @ 7/18/2003 3:26:28 PM #
"that unaccounted for extra memory is most likely reserved for the ROM which holds the OS and the other bundled apps"

Then Sony is falsely advertising. 16 MB non-volatile RAM? Is there such a thing? I think that's most likely Flash storage space, not RAM. The multimedia files for 29 MB, okay, and the dynamic heap taking up 16 MB, alright. But then ROM occupies the other 30-some MB? Well call me crazy, but then they should advertise the NX series as having 64 MB RAM. 16 usable, 16 heap, and 32 ROM.

-Bosco

RE: RAM
HandyMan @ 7/18/2003 3:41:57 PM #
Are you asking if there's suhc a thing as non-volatile RAM? They been using that for years in modem etc... to keep the settinsg when you power off the device. Nothing new here.

RE: RAM
PalmDoc @ 7/18/2003 4:40:16 PM #
The unaccounted for RAM is probably similar to that which is used in the NX models, for system heap.

My new NX80 has 32MB RAM, 16 for the user/program storage, 16 for system overhead/heap. All of the Sony apps are in ROM, but the protected RAM helps some of them (Netfront browser is one example) run more efficiently, without having to fight for volatile memory with the apps stored in RAM.

RE: RAM
PalmDoc @ 7/18/2003 4:43:57 PM #
OK...I am a moron. Just re-read the posts, heap was already counted...so I give up...where's the missing RAM?

RE: RAM
jho4thclie @ 7/18/2003 5:26:21 PM #
OK... figured it out. Sony NEVER explicitly said 104MB of RAM. They said 104MB of *MEMORY*.

Thus,

16MB User-accessible RAM
16MB Heap RAM
+29MB As a fake-o memory stick
=64MB Ram, minus some formatting overhead.

16MB FlashROM for system backup
26MB FlashROM for PalmOS/bundled programs
=40MB FlashROM

40MB+64MB = 104MB. Now it makes sense.


-JWH

RE: RAM
ray00pal @ 7/18/2003 6:36:31 PM #
It is clear to me that since SONY sucks in the Mhz war, they pull out this stupid marketting thing about having 104MB of memory.

You can not count the SRAM in the processor, that is stupid. Because you can not store independent data inside such memory for as long as an user wanted.

A PDA should only be rated by the size of usable RAM, which is 16MB. That's it!

RE: RAM
M1 @ 7/18/2003 6:52:26 PM #
Could the 29MB "media" memory have some sort of digital rights management bollox applied?

Otherwise why not store other files & run progs from it?

RE: RAM
jho4thclie @ 7/18/2003 7:39:27 PM #
Because the UX-50 is on PalmOS 5.0 (See Sony's site... I think PIC is wrong about 5.1). 5.0 can only give you 16MB of "regular" RAM.

-JWH
RE: RAM
maddie @ 7/18/2003 8:05:00 PM #
"A PDA should only be rated by the size of usable RAM, which is 16MB. That's it!"


That is exactly my point. Its all a marketting pitch for the really challenged.


RE: RAM
robrecht @ 7/19/2003 7:13:02 AM #
Fake-o Memeory Stick. That's a good one. Wonder if it's a Fake-o Memory Stick PRO or a Fake-o Memory Stick Select or a Fake-o Memory Stick Duo? Are Fake-o Memory Sticks compatible with my Vaio and Cybershot?

Thanks, robrecht
RE: RAM
abhinay @ 7/21/2003 9:17:43 AM #
Actually, I think that the actual memory accessible to the user is 16+29 = 45MB. the 29 is essentially RAM which is non-Palm like RAM where you can store only PRC and PDB files. Essentially, its like having an Extra Mem Storage of 29MB permanently plugged in. It is actually RAM, but the OS is fooled into thinking that it is external memory, hance allowing you to store multimedia files as well as normal Palm files. Sony figured that people wont use more than 16MB of Programs. WHat they'd want is space for their Video CLips and pics wtc... which is why they gave that 29 MB of "FREE Usable" space.... which is RAM, but more usable than standard PalmOS RAM.

Clie w/o camera

wwelsh39 @ 7/18/2003 2:09:43 PM #
I'd like to see a Clie like this w/o the toy camera for about $350-$400. If I want to take a picture I'll use a camera with more than .3 megapixels.
RE: Clie w/o camera
pk-joe @ 7/18/2003 2:27:55 PM #
The 300k camera is good for taking pictures of dry eraser boards during meetings. I would not be carrying a separate camera to attend meetings. It's a nice feature to have.
RE: Clie w/o camera
wwelsh39 @ 7/18/2003 2:54:30 PM #
Good point! Just a feature I don't need.
RE: Clie w/o camera
Konstantin @ 7/18/2003 6:26:26 PM #
I have a Zire71 with a lowres cam. Why didnt they included the 1Mp camera on this one?

RE: Clie w/o camera
Stockholm not Oslo @ 7/18/2003 10:32:40 PM #
With Wifi+BT+Cam= $700
BT+CAM= $600

my ideas
BT= $500
Nothing Special= $400

i myself would buy the nothing special model

Play MP3's from a bluetooth or wifi attached drive?

smack! @ 7/18/2003 2:26:21 PM #
Hi there,

This question isn't directed at the UX50, but Palm devices with WiFi built in in general(I think). So anyways, could I use this thing to play MP3's from a shared drive on a WiFi network? Or what about a MP3 stream from a BT or WiFi equipped laptop?

Since I carry a PCG-U3 notebook in my bag, which is too cumbersome for me to use as an MP3 player; this would solve my insatiability for virtually unlimited storage of MP3's, videos, etc.; yet is still a really small package that can stand alone without the connection to the notebook.

I stopped using my Palm i705 months ago and haven't been keeping up with the latest wireless technologies and their implementations in palm devices...

Thanks in advance,

Scott

RE: Play MP3's from a bluetooth or wifi attached drive?
jamesgood72 @ 7/18/2003 3:21:58 PM #
In theory I think this would be possible, if someone were to write the software/drivers for each side (the PDA and the desktop).

Not sure on the throughput possible on these PDA 802.11 implementations though. I thought the T/C was quite a lot slower than the 11Mbps attainable on a desktop or laptop. Maybe it wouldn't be fast enough for streaming 128Kbps MP3's... It'd really suck your batteries dry too, WiFi and MP3 decoding constantly.

-James.

RE: Play MP3's from a bluetooth or wifi attached drive?
jamesgood72 @ 7/18/2003 3:26:11 PM #
Not exactly what you asked for, but somewhat related : check out the Linksys WMA11B Wireless-B Media Adapter. It's pretty neat.

-James.

RE: Play MP3's from a bluetooth or wifi attached drive?
smack! @ 7/18/2003 4:01:10 PM #
I remember reading about the Toshiba Bluetooth HopBit drive some time ago -- I think it's discontinued but I'm not sure why.

It's advertisements and stories all mentioned using it as a data storage device for PDA access, noting that Bluetooth had just enough bandwidth to stream an MP3 from it.

Did this ever work, or is that why it's discontinued? Or is it? :-)

- Scott

RE: Play MP3's from a bluetooth or wifi attached drive?
73939133 @ 7/18/2003 10:25:58 PM #
Palms are great as PDAs, but they are not so great for those kinds of applications--it's just too much hassle to program that sort of thing.

For those kinds of applications, the Sharp Zaurus really shines: it is trivial to turn it into a wireless MP3 player given all the networking, scripting, and web tools it comes with.

Gotta love the diversity

treo007 @ 7/18/2003 2:56:30 PM #
Regardless of all the bitching going on about this product or T3 (it seems you can't please anyone these days), you've gotta love the diversity of the Palm OS line right now. When you throw the Garmin product into the mix (let's hope Tapwave shows up as well), along with everything Sony, Palm, and Handspring have done lately, it makes PPC look down right boring.

RE: Gotta love the diversity
Gurn @ 7/18/2003 3:24:02 PM #
I agree. They (Sony, Palm, Handspring) keep throwing newer, faster, smaller, cooler devices at us, but everyone just whines. "No VG. I hate thumboards. Clamshells are bogus. I want 802.11 a/b/g. It's too expensive(well, this I agree with). Where's the CF slot?" I still carry around a Palm IIIe that works fine, and most people think is pretty cool ("Ooh, is that a Palm Pilot? Does it play Bejeweled?"). OK, the masses aren't as obsessed with handhelds as PIC readers, we're kind of a sick bunch. But the masses will buy the occasional handheld, and they won't care about CF slots, VG, and Wifi.

RE: Gotta love the diversity
helf @ 7/18/2003 3:26:36 PM #
So true :)

RE: Gotta love the diversity
LiveFaith @ 7/18/2003 5:26:32 PM #
Yep, looks like Palm OS has more interesting options than ever. Maybe POS can stay afloat ... if not we'll be stuck with bloat. :-)

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Gotta love the diversity
merf71 @ 7/18/2003 7:07:08 PM #
I agree. I too have quietly complained that none of the newer models have quite the feature set I want or that those that come close cost far to much for me to justify. But, you can't argue the fact that the new features and designs that the Palm OS licensees keep coming up with continue to push the envelope. Until someone sells the next "perfect Palm" I'll have to stick with my trusty Vx.
RE: Gotta love the diversity
73939133 @ 7/18/2003 10:28:55 PM #
you've gotta love the diversity of the Palm OS line right now

PPC lacks that diversity by design: Microsoft specifies tightly what the hardware should look like. That has a lot of advantages.

The problem with the diversity of PalmOS is that lots of things just don't work properly across models. For example, Palm audio players work on none of the PalmOS 5 Sony machines because Sony uses a different API. And applications on Palm have lots of trouble dealing with different screen resolutions and sizes. These new Sonys are going to add yet more proprietary APIs, just like Tapwave does for gaming.

However, there is a great diversity of devices running Windows CE, as well as Linux and Symbian (have a look at http://www.dynamism.com/">the Nexio S160 and Sharp SL-C760. Those devices show that you can have diverse hardware and still do a lot better than PalmOS at supporting them with a single OS.

The real reason why you see a lot of Palm devices is because Palm has a lot of market share, not because the OS is particularly well suited to it.

RE: Gotta love the diversity
jamesgood72 @ 7/19/2003 10:57:12 AM #
Have to disagree with you there, 73939133.

>PPC lacks that diversity by design: Microsoft
>specifies tightly what the hardware should look like.
>That has a lot of advantages.

>The problem with the diversity of PalmOS is that lots
>of things just don't work properly across models. For
>example, Palm audio players work on none of the PalmOS
>5 Sony machines because Sony uses a different API. And

That's nothing to do with Palm; If Sony had done the right thing and implemented the Palm sound API (once Palm had released it; I believe Sony did their hardware first), it doesn't matter what hardware lies underneath. PalmOS software should work on all units that run PalmOS.

>applications on Palm have lots of trouble dealing with
>different screen resolutions and sizes. These new
>Sonys are going to add yet more proprietary APIs, just
>like Tapwave does for gaming.

Agreed maybe Palm should have done better resolution independant support for display hardware. However, at least we have choice in the Palm field; PPC is at one resolution, I think. Choice is good, so is progress and Palm hardware has certainly done that.

-James.

RE: Gotta love the diversity
treo007 @ 7/19/2003 7:43:25 PM #
>>"The real reason why you see a lot of Palm devices is because Palm has a lot of market share, not because the OS is particularly well suited to it."

And why is this? PPC has been around long enough at this point (and have a wide enough variety of hardware partners) to overtake Palm (haven't PPC geeks been predicting this for years?). It just hasn't happened. Sounds like the market has spoken.

As big as they are, Microsoft doesn't always win. If anything I think it has to do with the fact that, of all the technological products in the world, PDAs/cell phones are not particularly well suited to bloatware.

USB?

AmrMan0628 @ 7/18/2003 6:42:07 PM #
I haven't been following this new clie lately and I haven't posted in a while... but I come across this and I think I see a USB port on the side. What peripherals will this support? Printer probably but anything else? Thanks
RE: USB?
merf71 @ 7/18/2003 7:01:34 PM #
I don't think it supports anything beyond HotSync. Sony's website lists "USB (for HotSyncŪ operation)" as one of the Interface options. Also, the package contents contain a "USB HotSync Cable" and a "Charger Cradle." Maybe this means it doesn't sync in the cradle and you have to hook up the separate USB cable to do so.
RE: USB?
Selbstlade @ 7/18/2003 9:58:35 PM #
"Maybe this means it doesn't sync in the cradle and you have to hook up the separate USB cable to do so."

Thats correct. The cradle (also sold separately on Sonystyle) does not plug into a USB port, nor does it have enough contacts. Most likely the rationale here is that the device would be used on wifi-heavy campuses where network sync would be available. Barring that, theres still the bluetooth path.

As for supporting USB peripherals, that seems unlikely, as was the case with previous Sony Clies with a USB port. If I recall correctly this is due to the fact that the USB controllers onboard cannot act as a USB master.

Selbstlade

-----

Palm Professional, Palm IIIx, Cassiopeia E-105, Sony Clie SJ-10, Palm Zire 71.

RE: USB?
73939133 @ 7/18/2003 10:36:21 PM #
If I recall correctly this is due to the fact that the USB controllers onboard cannot act as a USB master.

Well, then for probably less than a dollar, they could add a USB master port. Some other PDAs have USB master ports built in (the Yopy, for example), and most PPC and Linux-based PDAs can accept a USB controller as a CF card.

RE: USB?
Selbstlade @ 7/18/2003 11:31:09 PM #
"Well, then for probably less than a dollar, they could add a USB master port."

It's probably a bit more complicated than that. The physical plug is completely the same, but the USB controlling logic (which is inside the CPU) has to be made to master the bus. Changing CPU designs after manufacture has begun is no small feat, even if its a small change.

Furthermore, you neglect to consider that USB was wildly successful in the desktop environment for two things: it presented an easy to use plug-n-play interface for new peripherals, and it also received broad backing in terms of driver support in USB compatible OSes.

Palm devices on the other hand were not meant to have other devices connected by wires to them for regular usage, as that would hinder the whole point of portability (could you imagine carrying around a Palm with USB attached keyboard, phone, printer, mouse, etc?). That is why we have the docking cradle connector; any accessories designed to operate with the Palm could attach directly to the Palm and avoid adding extra bulk. My only gripe in this respect is that Palm (now Palmsource) did not standardize the Palm Universal Connector as well. Sony Clies would be a lot more accessible if they used the PUC.

Many people believe that if a product has a USB port, it can magically connect to any other device that has a USB port; not so. In fact, this is one of the same problems Bluetooth is experiencing.

Back on topic, I think the UX40/50's charging cradle looks pretty nice. It seems like Sony designed it with the intent of making the UX holdable while it's plugged into the wall (versus holding a Palm or Clie in its cradle). So at the expense of synchronisation, the standard charger now also doubles as a travel charger and a run-on-AC adapter.

Selbstlade

-----

Palm Professional, Palm IIIx, Cassiopeia E-105, Sony Clie SJ-10, Palm Zire 71.

RE: USB?
bcombee @ 7/19/2003 2:58:13 AM #
The AlphaSmart Dana has a USB host connector, as well as a USB peripheral connector. It can drive USB printers off the device, and AlphaSmart is releasing drivers to allow USB modems to work as well. It can be done, it just takes extra hardware.

Sony already did something like this. The cradle for the NZ90 has a USB host connector, letting you print pictures directly from the device.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com

RE: USB?
Selbstlade @ 7/19/2003 4:31:43 AM #
"The AlphaSmart Dana has a USB host connector, as well as a USB peripheral connector. It can drive USB printers off the device, and AlphaSmart is releasing drivers to allow USB modems to work as well. It can be done, it just takes extra hardware."

That is correct. This is an excellent example of the diversity of Palm. Sony would never go after the educational market Alphasmart is trying to tap. The concept of a low-cost laptop replacement that can also tap the immense Palm software library is pretty ingenious. The USB host controller is an appropriate addition here to effect the feeling of replacing a computer (rather than just being a handheld), and there is ample room for full sized USB plugs. We'll just have to see about the drivers though.

Sony likes its devices small, expensive, with lots of wow factor. If they continue to use the Handheld Engine in the future, then it's likely Clies will never be able to host, since the USB controller is integrated into the HE cpu (check the block diagram floating around).

That doesn't prevent keyboards from working via the serial port, or printing over IR/Bluetooth.

Selb

-----

Palm Professional, Palm IIIx, Cassiopeia E-105, Sony Clie SJ-10, Palm Zire 71.

RE: USB?
orb2069 @ 7/20/2003 10:16:37 AM #
If they continue to use the Handheld Engine in the future, then it's likely Clies will never be able to host, since the USB controller is integrated into the HE cpu (check the block diagram floating around).

I guess then the question becomes 'Why didn't Sony actually put something like USB-on-the-go ( A form of USB 2.0 that allows one device to assume both 'master' and 'slave' roles on the bus - See
http://www.everythingusb.com/usbonthego/ ) into the Handheld Engine?'

It's kind of hard to blame this oversight on the chip manuf. when that's ALSO Sony.

Videoconferencing?

DJAN @ 7/19/2003 12:46:25 AM #
With 802.11b, dsp, and a builtin camera, why not?

OK, the quality wouldn't be that great. But it should be possible to get far better quality than videophones you can get that use phone lines.

http://www.vialta.com/ ($500 for a pair)
http://www.innomedia.com/videophone/videophone.htm



Genius is one percent inspiration, and ninety-nine percent perspiration. -- Thomas Alva Edison

RE: Videoconferencing?
Selbstlade @ 7/19/2003 2:29:21 AM #
That's actually a pretty interesting idea. Don't forget that the UX series also has an internal microphone and headphone jack. Actually streaming media (whether its streaming mp3s in or videoconferencing out) is one of the potential "killer apps" for Palms with wifi. AFAIK, no developers are working on it though. Perhaps this is because of hardware limitations?

Selbstlade

-----

Palm Professional, Palm IIIx, Cassiopeia E-105, Sony Clie SJ-10, Palm Zire 71.

Hmmmm

JKingGrim @ 7/20/2003 10:35:27 AM #
VG screen, keyboard, Memstick, flip 'n twist screen, camera. Do these specs sound familiar? SONY is loosing its edge.

RE: Hmmmm
Haber @ 7/21/2003 5:43:38 AM #
These are standard, normal features. It's like complaining that a Palm has wireless, a screen, ARM chip, etc. What new features would you desire, in any case?

RE: Hmmmm
splat @ 7/21/2003 11:07:39 AM #
VG screen, keyboard, Memstick, flip 'n twist screen, camera. Do these specs sound familiar? SONY is loosing its edge.

Of course Sony is "loosing" its edge. I mean, we've already seen a horizontal layout PDA with landscape screen and a larger thumb board for easier typing. And it's not like we haven't seen a PDA with wireless internet and Bluetooth built in. I mean, c'mon Sony, be a LITTLE innovative here. Right?

*** END SARCASM ***

-----------
splat
splat@altavista.net

RE: Edge
hotpaw4 @ 7/21/2003 5:52:52 PM #
someone wrote:
> SONY is loosing its edge.

No, the Edge was a Handspring product. And it didn't sell as well as many Sony models, in spite of its thin design.

Wi-Fi

painted_dog @ 7/21/2003 12:52:01 PM #
a question to all more knowing than i...

The new Sony is excellent [although the price is extrememly steep] but, I'm questioning why in such a feature rich device they didn't offer both 802.11b & g, especially for $100 difference. What are the hardware differences in b & g? To my understanding, they both operate @ 2.4Ghz. & now that the g standard is finalized, why not make it both? I know most corporations & other places have primarily b, but up & coming home users are taking adavantage of g.

i'm interested to know what everyone's take on this is.

thanks,

-painted dog

RE: Wi-Fi
Selbstlade @ 7/22/2003 1:43:10 AM #
A few possible reasons could be 1) cheapness of 802.11b controllers 2) lower power draw (802.11g antennae still seem pretty large) 3) UX50 designed when 802.11g was still draft

802.11b should be more than enough for any applications that the Handheld Engine can handle, so it doesn't seem like 802.11g is necessary at this point. In fact, most likely the reason 802.11b was included in the first place was because it is the most prevalent wireless networking standard. (Remember that people were getting along just fine using CDPD modems and GPRS for email and internet).

Selbstlade

-----

Palm Professional, Palm IIIx, Cassiopeia E-105, Sony Clie SJ-10, Palm Zire 71.

I think Sony's overdoing it a little here....

vesther @ 7/21/2003 11:01:43 PM #
$700 USD on a Palm-Powered Handheld?!

With a Digital Camera, MP3 Player included with this baby, I think Sony's overdoing it a little bit here. Possibly a Camcorder on this handheld as well.

Also, even though there could be 104MB Memory on this handheld, I could only use up to 16MB of Memory on this one, so I will need at least 64MB useable if Sony wants me to buy one of their handhelds.

I'd rather buy something much tamer for a Palm-Powered Handheld IMO.

Established Consumer Palm Handheld Possessor since 2002

Handheld Engine pics & info

mikecane @ 7/22/2003 5:06:59 PM #
Japanese.

http://www.zdnet.co.jp/news/0307/18/nj00_hdeg.html

it is innovative

arielb @ 7/23/2003 12:25:38 AM #
I really like how the UI looks. I'd also like to see OpenGL on a pda-I think that would be a first

Review for the UX50

Bakedon21 @ 7/25/2003 9:51:53 PM #
Dont know what language:

http://palmoslove.com/work/feature/news20030717.html

Maybe we could get a translation? Apologies if this has been posted before.

Wi-Fi on the Sony Clie PEG-UX40

bobby_digital @ 12/24/2004 4:39:09 PM #
I was reading on another forum that their is some type of adapter that you can buy so that you can use your PEG-UX40 with Wi-Fi instead of having to use it with bluetooh. just wanted to see if their was any reality to that. I dont like using bluetooth, its way too slow.

Thanks

RE: Wi-Fi on the Sony Clie PEG-UX40
tfftruoa @ 12/24/2004 8:42:40 PM #
There is a wifi memory stick available for OS 5 clies. Brighthand had some thing on it a while back. It's around the same price as the PalmOne wifi card. http://www.brighthand.com/article/Wi-Fi_Memory_Stick_Released_in_Japan?site=

Sharp Wizard-->Handspring Visor "Deluxe"-->Sony Clie SJ30-->Palm Tungsten T3 w/ SE T68i
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