Sony Announces the TG50 and SJ22

Posted By: Ryan Monday, March 10, 2003 12:12:19 AM

Sony has officially introduced the CLIÉ TG50 and SJ22 handhelds for the US. The TG50 runs Palm OS 5 and includes an integrated, backlit thumb keyboard and Bluetooth, while the SJ22 is a low cost, $200 model with a high res color screen. Additionally, Sony has announced limited edition color SJ33's.

PEG-TG50
The PEG-TG50 runs Palm OS 5.0. It is powered by the 200mhz Intel PXA250 XScale CPU and has 16MB of RAM. It has a 16 bit, 320x320 pixel display. It also has an integrated Bluetooth, an enhanced IR port, voice recorder, memory stick expansion and mp3 audio. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery

Its dimensions are 2.8" x 4.96"x .64" inches (71.6 x 126 x 16.2mm) and weights 6.4 ounces (184g). It has a built in flip cover and the casing is made of aluminum.

Sony Clie TG50 Sony Clie TG50

It has the standard QWERTY key layout and makes typing in low- or no-light conditions possible with an integrated backlight. The device can also be upgraded via software download (details available soon) to access the new Memory Stick PRO format cards that will be available later this month in capacities up to 1GB.

The device comes with Sony's suite of Palm OS 5 software including the Clie Launcher, Audio Player, Clie Viewer, Clie Mail, an mpeg movie player, Clie Files and more. There is also a number of bundled third party software including the Macromedia Flash player, Picsel viewer and the NetFront web browser.

The PEG-TG50 retails for $399 USD and will be available later this month. It can be pre-ordered now from SonyStyle.com.

Sony Clie SJ22PEG SJ22
The PEG-SJ22 has a 320x320, 65k color screen, 16MB of RAM and a Lithium-ion battery. it runs Palm OS version 4.1 and uses a 33mhz dragonball VZ. It also has a memory stick expansion slot, jog dial and back button and a standard IrDA port.

It's dimensions are 2.8" x 4.1" x .66" inches (71.8 (W) x 104.0 (H) x 16.8 (D) mm) and weighs 4.9 ounces (138g). The casing and dimensions and wieght are practically identical to the model it is expected to replace, the SJ20.

The unit comes with the standard set of Sony Palm OS 4 applications and also includes Kinoma v1.1 for movie playback. The unit does not have built in mp3 capabilities, but can use a separate audio adapter. Sony rates the battery life at 12 days, based on 30 minutes of use per day with the backlight off.

The PEG-SJ22 retails for $199 USD and will be available later this month.

Blue SJ33SJ33 Limited Edition models
Sony has also announced two limited edition color SJ33's. The limited edition models will come in iridescent orange or blue cases exclussively from SonyStyle.com for $299.

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First comment !!!!...- unlike palm - I am first this time -

navomaal @ 3/10/2003 1:11:44 AM #
and I am not following anyone elses lead....


I wonder why the sony tg50 is for 399 vs. Tungsten was introduced at 499....could this be the proof of the differences between palm and sony's marketing stratagies ?


RE: First comment !!!!...- unlike palm - I am first this tim
asiayeah @ 3/10/2003 5:42:03 AM #
Well, but a Tungsten T is now $399 with many give-aways, such as an SD camera.

Tony

--
With great power comes great responsiblity.

BT Cool
sandbuck @ 3/10/2003 10:43:18 AM #
I wish my TT has a cool Bluetooth light.. otherwise I don't think we're missing too much.

OS 5 & 16Mb

The Phantom @ 3/10/2003 5:53:20 AM #
Still not an OS 5 device that breaks the 16Mb barrier.

I wonder how long?



_________________________
The Phantom Strikes again

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
Fammy @ 3/10/2003 9:15:19 AM #
Garmin. Soon.

_____
Fammy
RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
mashoutposse @ 3/10/2003 10:20:23 AM #
The Garmin is still two to three months away.

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
Catchem @ 3/10/2003 11:48:09 AM #
2 to 3 months? Where are you getting that information from? I am curious because the Garmin website only says "Second Quarter 2003" and you sound like you have more specific information.

Thanks!

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
killah fury @ 3/10/2003 1:10:41 PM #
I'm not sure if having more than 16mb is necessary really at this stage. I've got a T665C at the moment (may buy a TG-50 in Japan next month though) and consider myself a "power user". I have 16 channels or so on AvantGo, Vindigo (London) with all options+extras, quite a few games and loads of other apps + ebooks etc and I still have 2mb free. I've never really wanted more memory (especially as AudioPlayer only plays music from Memory Stick).

I remember wanting more memory on my Palm III (2mb), and more when I had a IIIx, and more when I had a Vx (8mb) - but I've always been content with 16mb.

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
elo @ 3/10/2003 1:33:48 PM #
Uh, Killah Fury, you do realize that your T-665 is not an OS 5 device, don't you?

elo

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
tthiel @ 3/10/2003 1:38:19 PM #
uh, killah, why do you think because 16mb is sufficent for you then it must be suficient for everyone else?

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
bigfoot @ 3/10/2003 5:19:43 PM #
this reminds me of the time when M$ programmers decided no one would need more than 640K of RAM. We paid for that decision for years.

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
hotpaw4 @ 3/10/2003 8:08:31 PM #
> no one would need more than 640K of RAM

For PC's DRAM seems to get cheaper per bit on average every year, even if you include the electricity bill to power the RAM. More memory at a lower cost is a "no-brainer". For handhelds, DRAM does not get cheaper as fast if you include the price of a higher power density battery which the extra DRAM requires. Using SRAM without battery powered refresh is possible; but SRAM is a lot more expensive.

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
guitarchick @ 3/10/2003 10:03:58 PM #
I would be thrilled if the TG50 actually had 16MB. I read on the brighthand review that 5MB are unavailable. This means that this unit is really only 11MB (pitiful!).
THAT is a little cramped IMHO.

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
kidA @ 3/11/2003 2:55:31 AM #
yeah, guitarchick, all the new sony OS 5 devices are advertised as 16 MB but all have more along the lines of 11 available to the user. the other 5 is reserved for the OS to execute and some other things. it's necessary to have execution space, but the tungsten still has 14 MB available. 11 MB is not much more than the 8 MB we used to feel so limited by on old OS 3 and 4 machines!

RE: Garmin
mikemusick @ 3/11/2003 11:23:05 AM #
>2 to 3 months? Where are you getting that information from?

Garmin. Asked directly, they're quoting early June. Give 'em a call if you doubt that - 1-800-800-1020.

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
Catchem @ 3/11/2003 12:04:29 PM #
Don't doubt it, just never heard it before. Thanks for the info. I will have to wait until then to get one then.

Thanks for the info!

RE: OS 5 & 16Mb
useybird @ 3/11/2003 2:38:45 PM #
The way the Palm OS works is with XIP (Execute in place) in its file system. Palms don't need extra space for running programs, it uses the space it takes up for running it. This is why a PPC take up to 24MB to run a program because PPC's use other parts of memory to run it. Sony is just ripping people off. If they say 4MB is for programs and OS, why don't they keep it in ROM so they won't lose the OS when the battery dies?

-------------------------------
Microsoft is the root of all evil.
Right, Bill?

PRICE

sd180 @ 3/10/2003 10:12:49 AM #
MAN... forget the price marking for the TG50 and TT... LOOK at the price for the SJ22!!! I bought my first Visor for something around this price.... Currently, the Treo 90 compared to an upgrade to the SJ-30 for the same price?! WOW. THE m515 IS 100 DOLLARS MORE! Granted you can find both of the above mentioned less for elsewhere... you'll probably be able to get the SJ-22 for less too... so non of that, i found it on ebay for 30 cents... keep in mind most people STILL just want an average PDA that keeps their Addresses and datebook info.... maybe a few pictures and maybe avant go... Granted thats non of us... but anyways... SJ-22 GREAT HANDHELD for the price....

SD

RE: PRICE
Tungsten @ 3/10/2003 12:16:53 PM #
I couldn't agree more. People forget that a low MSRP is the moving force in the market. If you got your T|T for $280 on half.com - good for you. The money you saved is spent on time and shipping fees. But there's still a certain convenience about brick & mortar retail stores which can't be beat. From now on, the SJ22 is the entry-level PDA I'd recommend to everyone. Good job, Sony!

RE: PRICE
JKE @ 3/10/2003 12:37:38 PM #
Why not wait a week and buy a sj30 because it and the sj22 are the same unit and there will a huge drop in the sj30 price on ebay as people scramble to sell

RE: PRICE
nyates @ 3/10/2003 12:47:06 PM #
If they are the same then why wait for the price of a used SJ30 to drop. Just buy the new SJ22



RE: PRICE
Lo_Pro @ 3/10/2003 12:56:18 PM #
Becuase of Remote Control

RE: PRICE
Lo_Pro @ 3/10/2003 12:57:38 PM #
And Docs To Go (If I remember correctly)

RE: PRICE
orol @ 3/10/2003 2:57:40 PM #
afaif sj-33 doesn't come with the enhanced IR and thus remote control feature ..
docs2go is another thing ..
however, since there is quickoffice premier out that is at least good reader of native ms-office docs, it's imho better to buy a sj22 for 199bucks and then spent 60 more on QO premier ... and you still save 40 bucks and have kinda better office suite for palm os ..

orol

RE: PRICE
Lo_Pro @ 3/10/2003 3:37:52 PM #
>>>afaif sj-33 doesn't come with the enhanced IR and thus remote control feature ..

I looked it up and your right friend. Thanks for the clarification :-)

As far as the Quick Office solution, (I don't want to stray ro far from the topic) Let's just say, I hope Wordsmith comes out with the native MS Word viewing (and hopefully, even editing) feature :-)

Lo_Pro

Picsel Viewer

carioca76 @ 3/10/2003 11:21:37 AM #
what happened to dataviz?
Anybody know anything about this software? I tried to research it & am unsure as to if it is view only or if I can view, modify, & sync back my modifications to my desktop pc.
This is what I love about dataviz. I can view an excel spreadsheet or word doc, make changes on my pda, sync, & the changes I made are on my desktop pc & my pda now.
dataviz used to be view only ... I'd hate to go backwards now ...
RE: Picsel Viewer
Admin @ 3/10/2003 12:06:31 PM #
Picsel viewer is a read only viewer. More info can be found at www.picsel.com
RE: Picsel Viewer
carioca76 @ 3/10/2003 12:16:59 PM #
I read their site a little ... what is the advantage of this over dataviz?

RE: Picsel Viewer
kidA @ 3/10/2003 12:48:05 PM #
um, probably that it's cheaper for sony to include, eh? then they sell the device for the same price as they would even with DtG leading to larger margins!

RE: Picsel Viewer
Agonistes @ 3/10/2003 12:49:19 PM #
Native viewing of office documents. While I'm not a huge fan of Picsel, it does offer the convenience of not having to synch with my PC.
RE: Picsel Viewer
BlueAnon @ 3/10/2003 2:20:45 PM #
1.8 MB of space is needed.
RE: Picsel Viewer
Altema @ 3/10/2003 3:00:13 PM #
"1.8 MB of space is needed."

That's better than the 5+ megs required by TextMaker for PPC, but then at least then you can create and edit.

RE: Picsel Viewer
BlueAnon @ 3/10/2003 3:21:39 PM #
how much space is left after Picsel is installed? Can it be installed in MS?

PS. Textmaker is not a viewer. It would be 15+ MB if there is ever a textmaker for Palm. :-) Clearvue is a viewer however and it's half the size of picsel: http://www.westtek.com/clearvue.htm. And they both can be installed in external storage.

RE: Picsel Viewer
baccarat @ 4/14/2003 5:47:08 PM #
Has anyone had a problem installing this software. I have tried several times and It does not work, the items are listed but the application is labeled picsel viewer core and its only 178k. I even cleared up 6MB of memory in my Clie and nothing happens, as I was having a similar problem installing Netfront and clearing the RAM fixed it. I appreciate your help.

Should I Buy the TG-50 in Japan ?

killah fury @ 3/10/2003 12:50:07 PM #
Hey guys,

I'm UK based and am travelling to Japan next month and am toying with the idea of buying the TG-50 (I can save loads of money this way)... It looks like a mighty fine machine (thogh I, like many others would still prefer a virtual graffiti machine as opposed to the thumb keyboard)

I've got the new Sony DSC-FX77 bluetooth digital still camera - i'd love to get these two working together! ;-)

But language wise, will I be able to use the Japanese version of the TG-50 okay do you think? will i be able to use AvantGo and all my existing software fine on it?


RE: Should I Buy the TG-50 in Japan ?
RhinoSteve @ 3/10/2003 7:58:25 PM #
You will see Japanese all over the hardware and in the Palm OS. They keyboard will be in English with the options of the unit.

However these are the setbacks:
* Some Palm third party apps have fat resources so when the app starts, it will recognized the version of OS it is on and then use those resources. You may not be able to force the app to switch to English running a Japanese OS device.
* The available memory will be smaller. The Japeanse Palm OS release is more due to Japanese language support.
* Your charging cradle will be for a Japanease 110V wall interface instead of the big-ass 220V power outlets you see all over the UK. Thus you will also need a power adapter ro recharge.

If you want to put up with that since it is cheaper, that is the trade off.

Why not FITALY?

elo @ 3/10/2003 1:36:01 PM #
I have always wondered why devices like this use a QWERTY keyboard arrangement, which was designed expressly for ten finger use, instead of an arrangement such as the FITALY. Sony would have to license FITALY, of course, but it would certainly not be tremendously expensive to do and would offer us a *much* more logical arrangement of keys.

If this device had a FITALY keyboard, I'd buy it.

elo

RE: Why not FITALY?
rsc1000 @ 3/10/2003 2:37:42 PM #
They all use querty for one reason - everybody and their dog knows the layout, thus - they can find the key they are looking for without learning a new layout.

RE: Why not FITALY?
alanh @ 3/10/2003 2:54:47 PM #
Fitaly is designed for one finger typing. These thumbboards are two finger typing. What I wonder is why hasn't anyone come up with a keyboard optimized for two thumbs....

RE: Why not FITALY?
EdH @ 3/10/2003 4:43:16 PM #
Wouldn't matter. No one would use it. There is a keyboard optimized for 10keys and no one uses it either. The currenet QWERTY was arranged to slow people down in the early 1900s. They were getting too fast on the original keyboards and the mechanical gears and levers were jamming. Not an issue with newer mechanical typewriters like the IBM seletrix and PC keyboards, yet QWERTY still rules. As much as I like FITALY, you make that *THE* input option on a device, especially a physical keyboard, and the device won't sell at all.

BTW, someone did a FITALY test with two styluses and was faster than with one. So it is optimized for single stylus input but dual appears to be even faster.

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