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    Sony Cuts UX Prices, UX80 RumorPosted By: Ryan on Monday, November 03, 2003 12:20:33 PM
Sony has reduced the price of their high end, UX50 and UX40 handhelds. The cut comes amid rumors of an updated replacement model currently circulating the internet.
UX50 and UX40
UX80 Rumors The above referenced picture of the rumored UX80 is likely a fake or user mockup. PIC can not confirm the validity or accuracy of the rumor, so please take it in stride.
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 Keep 'em comming!Sholey @ 11/3/2003 1:09:27 PM #
I don't know how they do it. They must come out with a new unit every month! The new specs sound sweet!  RE: Keep 'em comming!RhinoSteve @ 11/3/2003 1:17:17 PM #
They are following their standard marketing and product cycle that they have done for the Sony Walkman for years. You make a few mechanical tweaks, throw it out there, see what the feedback is, improve the design according to the feedback, throw it out again and so on. If you think it is quick here in the States, take a flight to Akiabara in Tokyo or hang around the intersection of Ginza and Sony Street. There are some Soney product models that never make it out of Japan with some very pecular features. RE: Keep 'em comming!
Unless Sony updates the screen size, I won't be buying one. I tried the UX50 for 5 days and could not handle the small screen size (as big as a business card). Also if you saw the review on the Gadgeteer, a regular portrait screen like the new HP actually shows MORE screen real estate on web pages than the UX50. RE: Keep 'em comming!
First point: UX80's rumored specs sound pretty nice. Just today I saw a UX40 at Costco at a decently discounted price, so I'm assuming that model is already discontinued. There was also a NX70V next to it... Second point: Kudos to Sony for sticking to their wild release cycle, even if they do encounter some bumps in the road along the way. And to Palm, I say....bring on a refreshed T|T3 with all of the bugs squashed! To heck with Palm's traditional April and October product intros! Or at least, have the "new" units come out at the traditional times and then have one mid-period in January and July (like they did with the T|T2 this past summer). A fixed T3 in January would be a nice follow-up to the (presumably) almost-finished patch that should come out in the next few weeks. RE: Keep 'em comming!
The UX50 is very popular around the office here. Folks love the keyboard and the wireless. I was really holding out for a NX70 upgrade (yea, I know there is the 80). To have the screen size of the NX, but with the better 1.3 camera, wireless and more built in memory. Basically, if the UX80 (?) had a bigger screen it would be it. :-) Still hoping. I wonder how Sony decides which model to really rock on. They never bumped the TG50 and there was a lot of folks that loved that. Do they see the UX50 as what the TG50 user was actually asking for? Rumors have it that the NZ90 upgrade will be the same spec but smaller (technology rolls on) and OS6 - due out mid/late next year. ----------------- My wife has to sell a lot of candles (www.ccandles.com) to buy her new Palm. RE: Keep 'em comming!Foo Fighter @ 11/3/2003 4:25:41 PM #
This is like playing The Price is Right. $550...no, wait! $450. Oh...$399. Winner! ------------------------------- My blog: www.pocketfactory.com RE: Keep 'em cumming!The Ugly Truth @ 11/3/2003 4:42:01 PM #
Looks like the past three years of Sony's beta testing - I mean consumer sales - will finally start paying off with some killer hardware in the next few months. Now they need to do something about the "optimistic" pricing and also get cracking on that PalmOS Sony Ericsson lineup. PalmOS + Sony Ericsson P900 x 70% = Dead Nokia. Sometimes the truth just isn't pretty™ RE: Keep 'em comming!
Sony is officially denying the existance of the "UX80" and all of the pictures posted at ClieSource (and other spots) have been debunked. The UX80 is a non-existant phantasm of the minds of disappointed UX50 owners. I believe PDA24-7's news though. It sounds plausible (and very Sony) to have at least the specs for another UX-style PDA with more RAM and a better camera. What makes the story particularly plausible is that PDA24-7 reported that the source said the screen would be the same size. Don't expect it until after x-mas though. RE: Keep 'em comming!
>>>Sony is officially denying the existance of the "UX80" Sony also denied that *any* changes would occur with Memory Stick. The original CNet article was *100% correct*, despite Sony's assertions that it wasn't. Repeat blindly after Sony: "We trust Sony. Sony is trustworthy. Sony always tells us the truth." RE: Keep 'em comming!
-Sony of course will rather lies than say, their UX50/40 are already needing an upgrade, hereby destroying the current model. (not that there is anybody buying this thing saves a few suckers) -Sony invests big money on 'Handheld Engine', I doubt they will abandon this chip only after single model. Tho' IMO HE is a total loser. It'll be so primitive compared to upcoming intel's Bulverde, it's not even funny. RE: Keep 'em comming!Hippocrates @ 11/4/2003 11:02:02 PM #
-Sony of course will rather lies than say, their UX50/40 are already needing an upgrade, hereby destroying the current model.
RE: Keep 'em comming!
I never said that I believed Sony, I just said they were denying. Sony is CERTAINLY working on a replacement. These rumors and pics are just not it. And no, it's not coming out next month. RE: Keep 'em comming!
....jeez Mike. I know you're a pundit and all, but with your new found fame don't you think you should save your barbs for those who actually are in error? I've always liked your comments MC, but lighten up a bit. Unless you are actually predicting that Sony is coming out with something called the UX80, and that it will look like those photoshopped pics from ClieSource... RE: Keep 'em comming!Hippocrates @ 11/4/2003 11:30:43 PM #
And no, it's not coming out next month. I hear it's less than a month away. (So you may be right for the wrong reason.) RE: Keep 'em comming!
More fools than I can shake a stick at, 'round here. If something comes out next month I'll eat my UX50. :) PS don't confuse my impertinent tone for actual hostility. I'm just engaging in some friendly debate. PPS if something like the UX80 DOESN'T come out in the next month, who's going to eat what? Hippocrates? Memory Stick Pie? RE: Keep 'em comming!Hippocrates @ 11/5/2003 12:23:54 AM #
If something comes out next month I'll eat my UX50. :) Somehow, I think it will easily fit in your mouth. Sideways. Don't make me send the Chupacabra to your house... RE: Keep 'em comming!
>>>If something comes out next month I'll eat my UX50.
Please let me feed it to you! 
List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
The UX50 was a good idea, but it was poorly implemented with too many tradeoffs in memory fragmentation, expansion, screen orientation, and cost. 1.3 MP in their $600 model and .3 MP in their $700 model didn't look right, either. It was just taking up space and making it more expensive. So here's my moderate list of things Sony should add in the UX80 to make it not so half-baked and overpriced... -400 MHz and 128 MB with over 100 MB usable RAM for storing PRC's and PDB's with the rest reserved for heap space. I'm competent enough to backup my own PDA, thanks. Let me use that space. If Sony prices the UX80 with these adjustments at $600, they'll have a smash hit in the high-end. RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
The WiFi on the UX50 already has a sniffer. From what Sony was saying, the sniffer is as much a limitation of the OS, as their own laziness. RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
Yes, I know it has a sniffer, but I'm sure there are other features I want out of a standard wireless API. After all, why not? As for it being a limitation of the OS, it was a limitation back before OS 5.2 when these standards were set. There is now a standard sound, screen, and wireless API. Sony used a version of OS 5.0 in the NX80v when 5.2 was perfectly normal. That's Sony's own fault. RE: List of ... -- The LOOPHOLE is from charms.RhinoSteve @ 11/3/2003 5:55:15 PM #
Actually the loophole you see on the UX50 is in fact for personalized charms just like little charms connected to a charm bracelet. While it may seem stupid to western PDA power users, putting charms on consumer electronic items are very popular in Asia. This is specifically true with cell phones and other Japanese only PDAs and electronic organizers. Also, for some reason here in the Bay Area, I have seen a lot of UX50s in the WiFi hotspots in the area more than other PDAs. Several have even had charms on them. One actually had a rabbits foot attached to their UX50. Now that is making it personal! RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
Perhaps the idea is to rub the rabbit's foot enough so that hotspots will pop up around the country to make WiFi worthwhile:) RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
I bet you've never used a UX50. The features you listed were great, but some will definitely increase the form factor. Don't you know one of the major reasons of the high price tag os UX50 is its very small form factor? Where can you find such a small device with so many features cramped in? Also keep in mind that Sony is a Japanese company, they're selling their products worldwide, but the main R&D is still in Japan, and this is not a US-only product. I like most of the features you listed, but don't make the device bigger... RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
Exactly. You bring up a great point that tells the entire story. Sony creates these devices for the Japanese market, not the US market. Otherwise we would've had a TG50 with virtual graffiti a year ago. But nevermind how much money Sony could've made, and what kind of name and product they could have established in a market that is supposedly slowing down, even though no other industry grows as much as this 'slow' PDA economy. No, they've got Japanese techies with Hello Kitty shirts to cheer up. Great job, Sony. Your ignorance and neglect of the US market is killing your marketshare. Brilliant. The Clie is actually profitable. Sony's Clie division was in the black for quite a while. And I totally agree that adding these features are sure to make the UX a little bigger. But I'm willing to make a tradeoff. I think if anything, it can be a little wider, so that when it's in your pocket, it's like an extended TT3. Imagine all these features with really good battery life. Wow. But I'm sure we'll just get a watered down Zaurus C760 as the next UX. Man I hate Sony. RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80Tuckermaclain @ 11/4/2003 1:09:06 PM #
I dunno about those charm things. I see alot more of the short straps on palms and cell phones when I'm riding the Chuo Rapid to Akihabara. Cool electronics district but prohibitively expensive--especially if you want an international version. Everybody seems to just stare at their cell phones/palms and play games with them when on the train anyway. Don't need 128MB for that. The UX doesn't seem to be a big seller here anyway, judging from what I see people use in Shinjuku, Roppongi, etc. I'm really surprised that Sony hasn't yet included GPS as it is very popular on cars here. Just my $0.02 RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
>>>Everything you've ever wanted to know about Palm OS web browsers. Riiight. Then why isn't this listed? http://www.freewarepalm.com/internetpqa/efinder.shtml I just love bashing widdle kiddies... RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
Don't make me start trashing your predictions for '03. Sony drops Memory Stick? Good one. -Bosco PalmSource SC http://www.palmsource.com/interests/browsers Everything you've ever wanted to know about Palm OS web browsers. NX80v + Wifi + BT + T616 RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
Hey, pal, PalmSource Itself is touting *you* as an expert, not me. Kids these days never get the job done right... why in my day, we had to use typewriters! And yet we could compile a *complete* list of available web browsers for it! RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
Hey, pal, PIC itself is touting *you* as an editorialist, not me. No, us lesser people are reserved for putting our garbage ideas in the comments section, while you get the comfy cushion of a frontpage. No matter where it's posted, though, it's still wrong. I won't soon forget your prediction of Sony dropping Memory Stick. God, it's like The Godfather all over again. "I'm Mike Cane, damn it! I made my bones when you were still dating high school cheerleaders!" And then I come in and shoot you in the eye. Man I rule. RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
The squalid dreams of ignorant youth as they get overpaid at minimum wage. Hey, alec, next time put my newspaper on the *porch*. And in the afternoon, remember, I don't want fries with that! Alec was still watching Power Rangers when I first wrote for PIC. (Oooh, alec, that's called *history*. See, the world existed *before* you became dimly aware of it!) Wish he was still watching Power Rangers these days... RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
Listen, *pal*, I've been working my ass off at three different jobs. That guide is free volunteer work, which you attacked me and I jokingly responded. If you trash my work, you better fully expect to receive the same. I don't need to be insulted by some prick who can't see a quarter of his predictions become reality when he is actually a professional writer. I don't think you should be touting the fact that I was still in gradeschool when you started making predictions, as you don't seem to be very good at them. I guarantee you my forecast will be *TWICE* as right as yours for 2004. I'm willing to take you up on that bet. Pal. You know, I've supported some of your predictions, helped with your incessant bitching about ska, even defended a thing or two (without any debt of gratitude), and yet you still turn your back when an age figure is wielded. You take a lot of **** from people, and it looks like you'll be taking it from one more. An apology would be accepted, but is not expected. After all, you are MikeCane(c). Now where the hell did I put my pacifier.. RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80Hippocrates @ 11/6/2003 8:54:16 PM #
I don't need to be insulted by some prick... No, you need to be ****ed by some prick instead. Hard.(I *ed out the words myself since you've shown elsewhere that you're too dull to figure it out.) Too bad you can't tell the difference between tongue in cheek humor and a real insult. You seem to become very defensive whenever anyone points out the fact that you're just a child. If you were over 13 years old, you probably wouldn't be as insecure as you are. Baby Bosco: you need to grow up. Literally.
PalmSource SC RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
>>If you were over 13 years old, you probably wouldn't be as insecure as you are. Oh damn, I'm sorry, I thought I was 16. My fault. I get defensive about my age because I *was* treated like everybody else until my age was brought up in conversation. Now my points are moot, despite whatever true validity they have. Sorry, but your insults just didn't touch base with me. Probably would have fired up someone else, but I'm a little different. I found your post funnier than mikecane's, but that's because his seemed laced with truth. Anyway, I think I'm done here. The UX80 hasn't even been brought up in the last five posts. RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80Hippocrates @ 11/6/2003 9:45:10 PM #
>>If you were over 13 years old, you probably wouldn't be as insecure as you are. Oh damn, I'm sorry, I thought I was 16. My fault. I'm referring to your mental age. I get defensive about my age because I *was* treated like everybody else until my age was brought up in conversation. Now my points are moot, despite whatever true validity they have. Your points were always moot. It's just that no one had the heart to tell you. Sorry, but your insults just didn't touch base with me. Probably would have fired up someone else, but I'm a little different. I found your post funnier than mikecane's, but that's because his seemed laced with truth. Anyway, I think I'm done here. The UX80 hasn't even been brought up in the last five posts. -Bosco Nice to see you've suddenly developed thick skin, Baby Bosco. But I just don't believe it, kid. By the way, what happened to your "hey look at my PalmSource article, doesn't it validate me and give me credibility" signature? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
PalmSource SC RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
The signature had only been up for a short amount of time to get some traffic to the site. Anything more would be spamming, so I've let it go. It had nothing to do some patronizing moron on a message board. -Bosco NX80v + Wifi + BT + T616 RE: List of ... -- How to handle Winers like this.RhinoSteve @ 11/7/2003 7:13:07 PM #
Bosco, I'm with you here. Any tech business you have a handfull of "I want every feature and pay nothing for it." mentality. It has been my experience to handle these types in one of the following ways: * Throw the problem back at them and ask them how it should be solved. Many times, that will occupy them and let them review how reasonable or not their suggestions are for implementation. * Give them a hard dollar figure of what it is going to cost them to have this done. Either ask for a big NRA in the tens of thousands of dollars or ask for a hundred unit commitment (thousand unit commitment if it consumer products.) * Ask them how many people they have been in contact with that also want similar features. If they come out as a minority or unique request, tell them they need to implement it themselves or refer them to someone that does custom work. And to top it off, you just need to please enough people to make a profit and survive. It is great if you can do that with majority market shared but that is not always the rule. There are people out there that will complain no matter how wonderful your work is case a) they are scared of your talent, b) they are hiding something in their professional live and attention is drawn to you instead of the or c) they are have someone around them that they should be dishing this out to instead of you but have no courage. If you think it is bad here, go to a MacWorld convention. These PDA guys are amature compaired to Mac snobs! RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80
bosco knows when I'm pulling his chain. Hippo...etc is ska trying to imitate me. He is not cruel enough and not stylish enough. RE: List of Things that SHOULD be in the UX80Hippocrates @ 11/8/2003 1:30:54 PM #
bosco knows when I'm pulling his chain. Hippo...etc is ska trying to imitate me. He is not cruel enough and not stylish enough.
PalmSource SC
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