Rumor: Sony Clie TG50, T Series Replacement?

Rumor: Sony Clie PEG TG50Information about a possible Sony Clie t665 replacement was leaked to the web today in a FCC filling according to this PCWorld article. The Sony Clie PEG-TG50 features an integrated keyboard, bluetooth and a flip cover.

Previous rumors claimed the T665 will be replaced by a new model by end February. The T665 price was just dropped $50, bringing it down to $299 from SonyStyle.

Rumor: Sony Clie PEG TG50Very few details are known about the rumored PEG-TG50, other than what we can gather from the picture. The TG50 received approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday. Because the device has a Bluetooth radio, Sony is required to obtain FCC approval before it can put the product on sale in the U.S. It is unknown what OS version and RAM/Processor the device uses.

It looks like the handheld has the typical high-res 320x320 screen. There is a row of application buttons below the screen and a thumb-sized keyboard, similar to the keyboards found on the NR, NZ and NX clies. Like the SJ33 that was just announced in Asia, the TG50 has an integrated flip lid.

Products approved by the FCC are typically months or even weeks away from public release. Previously the FCC leaked pictures and details on the Palm i705, Kyocera 7135 and other handhelds months before their official announcement.

Thanks to Stephen MAK and Foo Fighter for the tips!

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Why buy a Clie???

awdr @ 1/30/2003 6:28:26 PM #
proprietery standards= Memory Stick, WLAN card

no OS-updates

bad battery life

models change so fast that they canīt support older ones,accessory plugs donīt fit

the time you get an accessory(if you ever get one), your model is ancient

bad service


RE: Why buy a Clie???
Gekko @ 1/30/2003 6:46:48 PM #
Clies are a great value and provide a big bang for the buck relative to overpriced Palm and Handspring offerings. Case in point: $499 for a TT.

RE: Why buy a Clie???
strannik @ 1/30/2003 6:54:28 PM #
yeah, but the max size of memory sticks is laughable

RE: Why buy a Clie???
gfunkmagic @ 1/30/2003 7:57:45 PM #
quote:

"yeah, but the max size of memory sticks is laughable"

Well that argument may be mute if the TG50 supports MSPro. MSPro cards will come in 256MB, 512MB and 1GB capacities.

RE: Why buy a Clie???
rsc1000 @ 1/30/2003 8:17:34 PM #
>>models change so fast that they canīt support older ones,accessory plugs donīt fit

>>the time you get an accessory(if you ever get one), your model is ancient

i don't get this - do mean the disapointment factor from not having the latest Sony? They've been using the same connector for quite awhile now (for nr,nx,nz, t and sj series)- so what are you talking about?

RE: Why buy a Clie???
awdr @ 1/31/2003 6:30:04 AM #
Have you ever tried to get an accessory for a Sony Clie. I am quite shure that ths is no problem if you live in Japan or even the US.

In Europe its nearly impossible. They still sell the NR 70 for 570 Euros and claim its brand new!!

Thats a rather dissatisfactory situation!!


in case of palm handhelds its no problem, you get nearly everything, but still, the price is much higher compared to the countries mentioned above!

RE: Why buy a Clie???
a3 @ 1/31/2003 8:40:02 AM #
well, at least you can buy a Clie in Europe! In Latin America Sony doesn't sell that type of products. We have to go to the US to buy one and to tell you the truth it is worth doing so! (or it will be worth until somebody else comes up with a T615/665 form factor with virtual graffiti...
I mean why use that stupid thumbboard?????? it looks like a Blackberry...

_______________________________________
Nothing: the worst you can do.
RE: Why buy a Clie???
Rolando @ 1/31/2003 9:28:15 AM #
This is funny. People in America complain because Sony comes out with too many models, too fast. People in Europe are complaining that the models don't come out (to them) fast enough.

RE: Why buy a Clie???
sremick @ 1/31/2003 2:18:40 PM #
Gekko,

$499 for a Tungsten T? That's the retail price. No one pays retail. All the following have it under $350:

http://www.buydig.com/shop.php?prod_id=3COMTUNGSTENT
http://www.mpsuperstore.com/computer/indexMy.htm?discr24234.htm
http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?&id=1000531

RE: Why buy a Clie???
TvM @ 1/31/2003 3:09:02 PM #
" Well that argument may be mute if the TG50 supports MSPro. MSPro cards will come in 256MB, 512MB and 1GB capacities."

I do think the TG50 supports MSPro. But knowing Sony's development speed when it comes to memory, that's going to be years from now. And by that time your pda is already loads of generations behind. I wouldn't bother paying attention to MSPro now, unless you're interested in 16 to 64 mb cards, because they will probably be available before this TG50 goes obsolete.


RE: Why buy a Clie???
JonathanChoo @ 1/31/2003 5:17:17 PM #
I got a Tungsten T for Ģ280, and today I saw a NR70 for Ģ400 and a NX70 for Ģ550.
RE: Why buy a Clie???
Wollombi @ 2/3/2003 12:31:42 AM #
>"Well that argument may be mute if the TG50 supports MSPro. MSPro cards will come in 256MB, 512MB and 1GB capacities."<

Yeah, uh huh. Don't know about you, but I don't make my predictions, or buying decisions, based on things that are still vaporware.

_________________
Sean

It is not very comfortable to have the gift of being amused at one's own absurdity.
-Somerset Maugham-

RE: Why buy a Clie???
ig88b @ 2/3/2003 3:13:01 AM #
>>Yeah, uh huh. Don't know about you, but I don't make my predictions, or buying decisions, based on things that are still vaporware.

MS pro is not vaporware. Sony announced them formally at CES and IIRC had samples. The sonystyle website lists availibility as march.

Where is the virtual grafitti?

s360 @ 1/30/2003 6:38:04 PM #
It seems sony is not following what the consumer needs. From the pics, it must me 320 x 320 screen. So no virtual grafitti for this model.

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
strannik @ 1/30/2003 6:51:31 PM #
um?
how does one relate to the other?

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
gfunkmagic @ 1/30/2003 7:53:43 PM #
Not true! If its G2, then it could still be VG! G2 will include support for a new unified "virtual Graffiti" API that will allow licensees to replace the traditional silk-screened writing area with a software-collapsible.

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
rsc1000 @ 1/30/2003 8:36:08 PM #
>>how does one relate to the other?

Look - sony does 320x320 w/out virtual grafitti and 320x480 with VG. This has a square screen - so no VG. The reason that they would not do 320 x 320 with VG is because ALL of sonys model are a multiple of 160x160 - standard apps are going to take the full 320 x 320 leaving no space for the VG. This is freakin obvious. Yes THEY COULD pull a handera and use some weird resolution here. They could pixel double on the horizontal but leave the vertical 1.5 times (for backward compatibility w/ 160x160). thats possible - but damn messy.
They already have a system and they'll stick to it. I'd bet my life on it. Besides - do you think they would - after 2 years w/ 320x320 hires for the 'main' area of the screen, suddenly lower the res for this(320 - 80 pixels VG = 240)? Nah - not a chance.

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
zipwire @ 1/30/2003 9:06:32 PM #
With Graffitti 2 your ENTIRE screen is VG. No need for special VG screen estate. An integrated keyboard with Graffitti 2 - now, that's a good thing!

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
zipwire @ 1/30/2003 9:24:09 PM #
And... Sony just announced in Asia definitively they will include USB On-The-Go for their "future Clie handhelds". Wonder if this means the TG50 too...

SonyEricsson P800
RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
hotpaw4 @ 1/30/2003 9:58:55 PM #
Most consumers need better battery life. Virtual Graffiti plus the bigger backlight uses 50% more power than a square display, and thus requires a chunkier battery (the NZ and the iQue are bricks compared to an m550). What the market needs is more differentiation, not more of the same. I happen to like Graffiti classic, but...

This unit could be a win if it's thin, and OS 5.

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
swatts3413 @ 1/31/2003 12:05:18 AM #
Viritual graffiti is all about screen real estate people. I want a bigger screen. I don't care if you can write anywhere on the screen with graffiti 2. I want a 320x480 slim, light handheld. I want to see more information at once, like my entire week's schedule (ala datebk5))

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
cmoney @ 1/31/2003 1:55:00 AM #
You're confusing two things: Hi-res+ and Virtual Grafitti. Hi-Res+ is all about screen real estate.

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
cbulock @ 1/31/2003 2:10:01 AM #
"With Graffitti 2 your ENTIRE screen is VG. No need for special VG screen estate. An integrated keyboard with Graffitti 2 - now, that's a good thing!"

How do you figure that Graffiti 2 supports writing anywhere on the screen? Because it's based on Jot? The Palm website says that a Graffiti area will still be required with Graffiti 2. And there will still be a more featured version of Jot that you can purchase that will amoung other things allow you to write anywhere on the screen. I believe this is the same way they do it for PPC too.

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
Rolando @ 1/31/2003 9:32:23 AM #
Virtual Grafitti isn't writing anywhere on the screen. Virtual Grafitti means Virtual Grafitti Area. The Grafitti area can appear and disappear, based on the application and/or user's wishes.

This doesn't have Virtual Grafitti or Hi-Res Plus, since the screen is square, not rectangular.

Rolando

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
robrecht @ 1/31/2003 9:46:55 PM #
Maybe there's two models, one with a thumboard and the other with VG! Maybe the VG model is solar powered so battery life will not be an issue! Maybe Captain Kirk didn't really die! It's possible! Mr. Spock came back, didn't he?

Thanks, Robrecht
RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
abhinay @ 2/2/2003 5:21:28 AM #
lol! where did kirk and spock come from? anyway, its highly unlikely sony's making two models. they hardly do?

RE: Where is the virtual grafitti?
swinginjonny @ 2/4/2003 11:42:09 AM #
It's funny, people.
Humor.
SJ33
epall @ 2/14/2003 12:54:08 PM #
I agree that a HiRes+, slim, t665c form-factor CLIE would be nice but maybe Sony doesn't think there is a market for it. As for the Graffiti area, maybe the SJ33 is the answer there. Also, maybe Sony is just releasing the TG50 and SJ33 now but in a couple of months, considering their development cycle, they will release the T-Series of our dreams.

NOOOO!!!

jho4thclie @ 1/30/2003 6:38:56 PM #
;-) I wanted my virtual graffiti No-Flip PDA. :-(

Guess I'll have to get that INCREDIBLY cool (albeit bluetooth-less) Garmin. gotta like the GPS/VG/32MB

-JWH

RE: NOOOO!!!
sonicxracer @ 1/30/2003 6:47:38 PM #
I agree. What the hell is Sony doing??? This is a huge dissapointment to me...

RE: NOOOO!!!
carioca76 @ 1/30/2003 6:49:05 PM #
my t615 is the best pda I've ever had but if this is where sony wants to go (no virtual grafitti, no 480 screen) then hello garmin!

RE: NOOOO!!!
mashoutposse @ 1/30/2003 7:03:56 PM #
The Garmin may not have a clamshell design, but it is nearly as big as an NX. I don't see the benefit of ditching the clamsheel if it isn't gonna make the device any smaller.

RE: NOOOO!!!
doctor__no @ 1/30/2003 7:11:15 PM #
I personally don't see what the problem is with the flip-top, it looks like you could just flip it around. Doesn't seem obtrusive.

Personally, I'd rather have a flip-top just so I don't scratch the screen when its in my pocket. It'll save me money from not having to buy a leather case for my PDAs.

But I do wish it came with virtual Graffiti though, but then again I don't want to end up paying $500.

RE: NOOOO!!!
ganoe @ 1/31/2003 10:49:51 AM #
> I personally don't see what the problem is with the flip-top

Because it isn't just a flip-top, it's a flip-twist-fold top.


RE: NOOOO!!!
doctor__no @ 1/31/2003 11:39:16 AM #
>>Because it isn't just a flip-top, it's a flip-twist-fold top.

Actually no it isn't. If you look at the picture there is hinge on the very top, no twist. It's a flip-top COVER, not a clamshell design like N?-series that Sony releases. So it's just flip-and-fold.

If you need more convincing, even this article states "The TG50 comes with an integrated flip cover, like the recently announced SJ33." If you look at the cover for the SJ33 you'll see it's just a piece of plastic to cover the screen.

honestly, is it that difficult to flip open a cover when you take you PDA out? Most people with PDAs even buy their own cases to protect their investment, and when you put a third-party case on it tends to become thicker and heavier.

RE: NOOOO!!!
ganoe @ 1/31/2003 1:27:40 PM #
> Actually no it isn't.

You're missing the point. The original poster wanted a virtual graffiti PDA without the NR/NX design. When the poster said they wanted vg "no-flip", they meant they did not want the NR/NX design. Of course the TG50 has a flip-cover.

RE: NOOOO!!!
jcmorganstein @ 1/31/2003 1:36:17 PM #
mashoutposse,

The stats on the Garmin device state that it's nearly an inch shorter than the NX. That sounds considerable to me. This makes it about as tall as the T615 and only a bit thicker at the top. To integrate GPS, VG, hires+, 32MB, vibrating battery, and OS5... it's seems a pretty small trade-off for such a minimal size increase.

The problem with hires+/VG AND small form factor is that there's nowhere to put buttons if the thing is too small. I have a TT right now because size matters. But, the Garmin device seems only a bit bigger with so many advantages. I might take the plunge once I actually see it up close...

-jcm

RE: NOOOO!!!
jcmorganstein @ 1/31/2003 1:36:17 PM #
mashoutposse,

The stats on the Garmin device state that it's nearly an inch shorter than the NX. That sounds considerable to me. This makes it about as tall as the T615 and only a bit thicker at the top. To integrate GPS, VG, hires+, 32MB, vibrating battery, and OS5... it's seems a pretty small trade-off for such a minimal size increase.

The problem with hires+/VG AND small form factor is that there's nowhere to put buttons if the thing is too small. I have a TT right now because size matters. But, the Garmin device seems only a bit bigger with so many advantages. I might take the plunge once I actually see it up close...

-jcm

RE: NOOOO!!!
doctor__no @ 1/31/2003 1:42:07 PM #
>You're missing the point. The original poster wanted a virtual graffiti PDA without the NR/NX design. When the poster said they wanted vg "no-flip", they meant they did not want the NR/NX design.

Right, and like I said before this new PDA is NOT in the NR/NX design. It's just a plastic cover that you flip over, the NR/NX design had the LCD screen built into the cover, and the mechanics in the other, so you had to "flip-twist-fold", like you said before. This a plastic cover like the SJ-33 or the Treo, where you just flip it open, no twisting. You could probably just break off the plastic cover without any problems other than an unattractive PDA.

RE: NOOOO!!!
inalaop @ 1/31/2003 7:11:02 PM #
I bought one of the first TRGpro's when they first hit the market a few years ago, and have been waiting to upgrade badly. I was going to get the Sony T665 but didn't up/down button design or that fact that it didn't have virtual graffiti. Recently, my TRGpro broke and I have to upgrade; I got a Tungsten. Now that I've seen the possible replacement for the T665, I glad I got the Tungsten. Sony was hot for a while, but now they are really dropping the ball with their new handhelds. Don't they hear everyone screaming for virtual graffiti in a T series. I won't mention the virtual graffiti on their NX monstosity, which comes close to defeating the whole purpose of a 'handheld' computer. The Tungsten is not perfect, but it sure comes close. With ClickStart and GraffitiAnywhere I almost never have to open the Tungsten's slider. Now that I've loaded it up with programs and just got my flip case from EBcases I very happy. True, Palm did make a big mistake by not including an MP3 player, but overall they are heading in the right direction and know what users want. If Palm ever came out a Tungsten-like handheld with virtual graffiti, 32MB ram, and a decent MP3 player, they might finally hush all the criticism people sling at them.

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