Sony Announces the Clie PEG-NZ90 with 2 MP Camera
CES 2003: From the floor at CES in Las Vegas Sony has announced the new, top of the line CLIE PEG-NZ90 running Palm OS 5. Its features a two-megapixel digital camera with built-in flash and auto-focus capabilities, Bluetooth, WiFi Slot, and a removable battery. It will be available in April from SonyStyle for $800 USD. Read more for exclusize pictures from CES.
UPDATE: PIC has now published a review of the NZ90.
PIC was onhand at CES for the announcement and spent some time with the new handheld. It is noticeably thicker that the NX series and features a nice black casing with a revised, more square-like thumboard. A first for a Palm OS handheld, it has a removable InfoLithuim battery. It has the same processor and Ram as the NX series. The cradle has ports for AV out ( to display the screen on a TV) and a USB port to connect to a compatible printers, enabling one to print directly from the handheld. Both AV and USB cables are included with the device.
"Rivaling the gadgetry found in modern day spy movies, the CLIÉ NZ90 handheld integrates a feature uncommon in the handheld market these days: excitement," said Russell Paik, Sony Electronics' vice president for handheld marketing. "It's a turning point in the way handheld devices are defined."
The new handheld features a host of Sony's signature technologies and designs, including the high resolution color LCD screen (320 x 480 pixels), the popular flip-and-twist LCD screen design, an integrated MP3 player, a built-in AV remote controller application, and voice recording capabilities.
For the first time on any CLIÉ handheld, the CLIÉ NZ90 model features a removable Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery pack. Each PEGA-BP500 SmartLITHIUM? battery can operate the CLIÉ NZ90 model for approximately 10 days depending on conditions, based on average use (30 minutes per day with backlight off). The battery also indicates remaining battery life in minutes.
Functions such as manual exposure adjustment, digital zoom (2X), red-eye reduction and a self-timer functions were previously most often associated with dedicated digital cameras. In addition to these, the CLIÉ NZ90 handheld features:
Megapixel Resolution - The camera is capable of capturing a photo with a maximum recorded image size of 1600 x 1200 pixels.
Lens and Flash - The lens has a focus range of 0.1 meter to infinity and is protected by a lens cover. The flash features three modes (Auto, Forced Off and Forced On) for varying lighting conditions.
LCD -- Photographers can easily review and edit their shots (with the included CLIÉ Photo Editor application) on the color LCD screen, which is easy to view even in bright sunlight.
Movie Recording - The camera's digital still capabilities are complemented by a video recording feature that allows users to record memories on a Memory Stick® media, which can be played back on the device.
Special Scene Modes -To optimize white balance in a variety of shooting situations, users can choose from a number of scene modes: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent and Custom. Users can also manually adjust color and exposure settings.
Sony has integrated Bluetooth connectivity on on the NZ90, allowing users to wirelessly connect to and share the features of similarly enabled bluetooth devices. Users can wirelessly access the Internet and e-mail via their compatible Bluetooth-enabled cell phones that are set up with corresponding ISP services.
The CLIÉ NZ90 handheld device also features an integrated communications slot that accommodates an optional PEGA-WL100 Wi-Fi (802.11b) modem card, capable of receiving information at wireless broadband speeds (maximum of 11 megabits per second). With a Wif-Fi access point and corresponding ISP, users can browse the Internet, send and receive e-mail (POP3 and SMTP), and perform HotSync® operations wirelessly with a Wi-Fi enabled PC.
"In developing the wireless components of the new CLIÉ handheld, we focused on what users can do with this technology," Paik said. "Wirelessly communicating with a cell phone and having it act as a wireless modem is an example of how to get more out of the devices you carry."
More than a collection of hardware features, the CLIÉ NZ90 handheld comes bundled with an array of applications designed for fun and productivity. Sony developed key applications such as the CLIE Viewer, CLIE Album, Movie Player and PhotoStand programs to work in concert with each other so that users can easily go from one application to another.
In addition to these, the CLIÉ NZ90 model is the first device to feature Picsel Technology's viewer application, which allows user to view a wide variety of documents including Microsoft® Word, Excel, PowerPoint®, PDF and image files in their native format without conversion on the PC.
Pricing and Availability
The new CLIÉ PEG-NZ90 device will be available at retailers nationwide at the end of next month for about $800. At the same time, additional PEGA-UC90 cradles and PEGA-BP500 battery packs will be available for about $80 each. Pre-orders may be placed beginning today sonystyle.com
Exclusive PIC Pictures:
Permalink
PrintArticle Comments
(101 comments)
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.
Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.
Check out the Hi-res pic...better stylus?!?!
Hooray!
I love my NR70V...but I HATE the stylus.
One last little point...I don't like the IR port on the side...just seems un-natural.
RE: WHOA!!!
You forgot to mention that this device turns into a SUV when closed!!!!
Sony PDA with WiFi and Bluetooth
More and more interesting Bluetooth Products become available.....
Sony PDA with WiFi and Bluetooth
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=PALM&read=48171
HP/Compaq PPC 5450 with WiFi and Bluetooth
http://vnunet.com/Products/Hardware/1136825
Intermec 700 Color Windows Powered Pocket PC 2002 with WiFi and BlueTooth technologies (and WAN) http://www.pocketpccity.com/articles/2002/5/2002-5-20-Intermec-Introduces-Rugged.html
DELL Handheld with integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (COMING):
"In fall 2003, Dell will offer a model with integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with a hardware-software switch between the two, said Macon" (Dell).
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106644,00.asp
New Apple Notebooks with built-in Bluetooth and 802.11g: Bluetooth lets you take advantage of GPRS connectivity to check your email from anywhere — a benefit that comes in handy on those occasions when a 802.11 wireless hotspot isn’t available.
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=PALM&read=48011
Bluetooth and (not Versus) Wi-Fi (802.11)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=BTOOTH&read=489
BLUETOOTH OR WIFI? HOW ABOUT BOTH
http://hoovnews.hoovers.com/fp.asp?layout=printnews&doc_id=NR200210301180.3_76b200168d909d0a
802.11/WiFi is great for NETWORKING. But people also think 802.11/WiFi is the one-size-fits-all wireless technology. IT ISN'T......some thoughts:
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=BTOOTH&read=529
Sound ID Introduces the First Bluetooth Wireless Hands-Free Mobile Phone Earpiece with Personalized Digital Sound
http://www.brighthand.com/article/Sound_ID
"There are 2 kind of people my friend....those with wires and those without"
RE: WHOA!!!
RE: WHOA!!!
Sony using Palm Bluetooth Software
Mobile computers
Bluetooth identifier : B00904
Created Date : 2003-01-10
Spec version : 1.1
PRD version : 1.0
Product ID : HCCBTH1
Software Version : V1.0.0
Hardware Version : V1.0.0
Qualified Product Notice : 12600568-QPN-rev_0.0.pdf
Compliant Portion : 12600568-CPD-rev_0.0.pdf
Qualified profile :
- OPP-Server
- LAN-DT
- Serial-DevA
- OBEX
- BIP-RemCam
- OPP-Client
- DUN-DT
- GAP
- Serial-DevB
- BIP-ImagePush
Interop Devices : - -
Product Type : PROD
List Date : 2003-01-10
Product Contact Person : Takayuki Misawa
Email : misawa@hcc.sony.co.jp
Phone : +81-3-6409-3613
Company URL : http://
BQB : Meiranke , Ralf
Integrated Pre-tested Components
-B00497 Infostick (Sony Corporation)
-B00352 Bluetooth Stack (*Palm, Inc)
-B00586 BlueModule type5 (Murata Manufacturing Ltd)
*The Palm Bluetooth Stack is based on XTNDAccess Blue SDK of Extended Systems. Palm has tested there Bluetooth Software (*2 releases; see link below) very extensive before integrating it into there devices imho. I was hoping that Palm would add all (or most of ) the new Bluetooth Profiles (see http://www.bluetooth.org) that have been add to the Bluetooth Standard. But Palm hasn't used all the new profiles Extended Systems Inc. is offering in there updated Bluetooth Embedded Software stack (Bluetooth Qualification can take some time). There XTNDAccess Blue SDK features the most complete support for user profiles in the industry including Personal Area Networking (PAN), Hands-Free, and Hardcopy Cable Replacement.
There first Qualified Palm Bluetooth Stack Release tells us "This software is itself based upon the qualified ?XTNDAccess Blue SDK? from Extended Systems."
*http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=PALM&read=40868
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=4175
Sony Bluetooth Qualified Products
"There are 2 kind of people my friend....those with wires and those without"
High Res Pic.
click on the thumbnail to get a 3.2 meg high resolution picture of it.
nXt's Clie Club
Place To Be For Sony Clie Discussion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nxtclieclub
RE: High Res Pic.
--Devan-- | Email me: UZI4U182@suscom.net
Webmaster of www.devanstavern.tk
Palm OS apps, news, reviews and such
Current PDA: Sony CLIÉ PEG-SJ30
Check out my new forum: www.tavernforum.2ya.com
RE: High Res Pic.
-Bosco
Proud Member of the Top Non-Mods
Members: abosco and ImpReza M3
RE: High Res Pic.
-aardvarko
webmaster at aardvarko dot com
http://aardvarko.com
Price?
Yowza.
This is no longer a PDA. Sony is definitely heading into the All-in-one device market.
No way anyone can whine about how Palm devices should just be for fast and easy PIM retrieval.
Each Sony device is getting further away from that!
not that i mind. I'm all aout having a mini laptop in my pocket. Gimme instant bootup like our PDAs are now, but give me complete power!
Now if only Sony would make a landscape pda with twist screen for portrait mode a la Zaurus C700, i'd be extremely happy.
Oh, and make the CF slot normal for christ sake. I payed $100+ for my Symbol CF wifi card. I'm not gonna buy Sony's just to work on one pda.
RE: Price?
It's $800, well above and beyond average Joe's wallet, yet the price is justified when compared to the NX70v. 2 MP camera, Bluetooth, flash, and a slew of other features like native desktop files make this thing still get you good bang or your buck, still taking into consideration just how much that "buck" really is.
-Bosco
Proud Member of the Top Non-Mods
Members: abosco and ImpReza M3
RE: Price?
Three things terrify me about this unit:
1. The price
2. Non-standard CF slot
3. Same meager amount of ram as the every other Palm device, OS 5 and earlier
Since the details aren't finalized yet, I can also theorize that the maximum MemStick capacity of 128 mb will really start to become a burden with all of those 1600*1200 images sharing vieing for room with the applications also on the MS.
With all of those caveats out of the way, it looks to be a knockout all-in-one type device. You can toss it into a bag with a travel charger and a few MSticks and really be totally set to do anything on a trip. For some reason, the tv-out on the cradle really seems intriguing to me. But that *price*! Any PDA is gonna be a hard sell to me when I can have a laptop that I can kick back and watch dvds on and burn CDs with for the same money...
RE: Price?
RE: Price?
I agree with the above limitations of this device, but this thing is still a gem of a device!! If sony opens up that CF slot and starts introducing MSpro, Then I'll shut up for good... at least for a while...
The 2003 National Championship WAS ROBBED!!! Terry Porter, you suck you freakin REF! OSU STOLE the Chanpionship, period!!
Memory Stick Pro
This link shows that the Memory Stick Pro is inevitable!
RE: Price?
I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation. We're in space.
RE: Price?
>a knockout all-in-one type device. You can toss it into
>a bag with a travel charger and a few MSticks and really
>be totally set to do anything on a trip.
No way I'm just gonna casually throw something this expensive and nice into a bag :D
RE: Price?
>device, OS 5 and earlier
Actually, I believe the new Garmin PDA/GPS has
32MB RAM. It also has the first non-Sony
implementation of Hi-Res+.
--
BigSlick
Clie T615C / Palm OS 4.1
Austin, TX
U.S.A.
Handspring should be envious
My family recently purchased a 1.6ghz HP Laptop from Best Buy with a 20gb hard drive, 14.1 inch screen, 64mb video card, etc. for $749...
Of course, this is only the first Sony release in the year. God help us to see what the next 10 Sony releases will be over the next year...
______________________________________
Kappa Sigma Fraternity - Founded 1400 A.D.
The Star and Crescent shall not be worn by every man, but only by him who is worthy to wear it...
RE: Handspring should be envious
-alex
----------------------------
Walk around with a smile on your face. It makes people wonder what you did last night.
www.ajramos.tk
RE: Handspring should be envious
The thickness of the device?
How the device makes you confused on what it actually is...is it a Palm device? No, it's a camera. Wait, no, it's an internet device. WHAT IS IT!?
______________________________________
Kappa Sigma Fraternity - Founded 1400 A.D.
The Star and Crescent shall not be worn by every man, but only by him who is worthy to wear it...
Cost with accessories.
The PR says $80 for a spare battery pack.
One thing I'm wondering is how expensive the larger capacity Memory Sticks will be. (Hopefully in line with other removable memory.) With that quality of camera image, most owners are going to want to budget for that :)
Add the WiFi card and the total cost is really getting up there...
For those that can afford it, it's a hell of an impressive device!
RE: Handspring should be envious
This runs PalmOS 5.0 which means it is not a DragonBall processor @ 33mhz. It runs an ARM processor above 100 megahertz. Palm Tungsten is 150mhz. Different core, Different OS, new camera .. how can you POSSIBLY compare the two? I guess a Ford F150 is just like a Ford Taurus with a different back huh?
RE: Handspring should be envious
I think you misinrtepreted NX as NR.
Alan
----
Read your manuals before you ask!!
RE: Handspring should be envious
release?
when is is man!!!(think ren and stimpy)
-alex
----------------------------
Walk around with a smile on your face. It makes people wonder what you did last night.
www.ajramos.tk
RE: release?
- Dan
Form apparently doesn't follow function at Sony HQ
Sony, REDUCE THE SIZE, unless you're trying to be some sort of tiny sized tablet pc.
RE: Form apparently doesn't follow function at Sony HQ
I don't need an all-in-one monster, I need a PDA with good features, form, and battery life. The T615c is great in this respect.
______________________________________
Kappa Sigma Fraternity - Founded 1400 A.D.
The Star and Crescent shall not be worn by every man, but only by him who is worthy to wear it...
RE: Form apparently doesn't follow function at Sony HQ
RE: Form apparently doesn't follow function at Sony HQ
RE: Form apparently doesn't follow function at Sony HQ
The 2003 National Championship WAS ROBBED!!! Terry Porter, you suck you freakin REF! OSU STOLE the Chanpionship, period!!
RE: Form apparently doesn't follow function at Sony HQ
Smaller Size T please
SONY, cool but don't forget the larger market
Of course, you're right. Methinks SONY is just showing off their top of the line first. This is not what most people want in a PDA.
1. Great battery life or, if that's not possible in a T-series, something like this removable battery would be acceptable.
2. An XT keyboard peripheral would be nice.
3. True landscape format should be done (like Handera)
4. Easy Wireless and POTS connectivity peripheral options (for US where bluetooth is still in early stages)
5. Cameras, MP3 players, TV and FM tuners, etc, can be added as peripherals but let's have a top of the line device in a small form factor.
Thanks, Robrecht
Only the first 50 comments are displayed within the article.Click here for the full story discussion page...
Latest Comments
- I got one -Tuckermaclain
- RE: Don't we have this already? -Tuckermaclain
- RE: Palm brand will return in 2018, with devices built by TCL -richf
- RE: Palm brand will return in 2018, with devices built by TCL -dmitrygr
- Palm phone on HDblog -palmato
- Palm PVG100 -hgoldner
- RE: Like Deja Vu -PacManFoo
- Like Deja Vu -T_W
WHOA!!!
Now where was that NX70v receipt and BB warranty information? (J/K) ;)
Great job!
-Bosco
Proud Member of the Top Non-Mods
Members: abosco and ImpReza M3