Palm MiniDisc player from Sony?

Smaller.com tipped me off to pictures and specs of a Palm OS device with an integrated minidisc player from Sony. I'm not sure if this is an April fools prank or not, but the device looks stunning. There is a color and black and white model that feature a rechargeable battery, USB docking, data storage and mp3 playback from minidiscs and the ability to have a MiniDisc playing while running palm applications. This almost sounds to good to be true. Update: This MiniDisc player on Sony's site looks to be the source of the Photo's and the MSRP of that model is $399, I doubt they would add the Palm OS for only $50. This had to be one of the best Palm April fools jokes!

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ha ha

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/3/2000 1:50:31 AM #
Thats a pretty good mock up, almost believed it until i read the specs.

Palm-Minidisc

Martian @ 4/3/2000 7:54:55 AM #
It must be an april fool. See the specs of the recording and
playback time. Most recorders provide an average recording time of
5-6 hours and 11-12 hours playback. Has Sony suddenly invented a high-power
lion cell? Copying mp3 files onto the pc an back without qualityloss - a kick
in the ass of any record label (Sony?). Using the device as minidisc data
storage - data md's and music md's are incompatible!!
RE: Palm-Minidisc
Caleb @ 4/3/2000 11:20:42 AM #
What do we know for certain?
A) Sony has licensed the PalmOS
B) Sony states 22hr playback, 12hr record. The MD Recorder I currently possess (Kenwood DMC-G7R) accomplishes this with a Li-Ion battery and it is two years old. So this is believable.
C) Data and Music MDs are not that different, and Sony already has a Data recorder/player & music player available via their Japanese web site.
I wonder whether Sony will require the use of DataMDs only on the device? Notice the article does not state.
D) As to Sony the Publisher complaining about something Sony the Hardware manufacturer is doing, this isn't exactly news. Sony was ready to release recordable MDs without the "digital copy protection (1,1)" scheme. The RIAA was the one making all the noise there. Sony has sold a MD audio recorder/player aimed at the computer market for several years (http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-6V1dfSER3it/ProdView.asp?bid=22680&store=0&sid=S-6V1dfSER3it" CLASS=NEWS TARGET=_NEW>http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-6V1dfSER3it/ProdView.asp?bid=22680&store=0&sid=S-6V1dfSER3it) which includes jukebox MP3 software.

So, to total it out, I would say this is not that unlikely. Only problem I see is the pricing. Those numbers look a little too close to actual Palm prices.

Palm-Minidisc

Caleb @ 4/3/2000 11:19:30 AM #
What do we know for certain?
A) Sony has licensed the PalmOS
B) Sony states 22hr playback, 12hr record. The MD Recorder I currently possess (Kenwood DMC-G7R) accomplishes this with a Li-Ion battery and it is two years old. So this is believable.
C) Data and Music MDs are not that different, and Sony already has a Data recorder/player & music player available via their Japanese web site.
I wonder whether Sony will require the use of DataMDs only on the device? Notice the article does not state.
D) As to Sony the Publisher complaining about something Sony the Hardware manufacturer is doing, this isn't exactly news. Sony was ready to release recordable MDs without the "digital copy protection (1,1)" scheme. The RIAA was the one making all the noise there. Sony has sold a MD audio recorder/player aimed at the computer market for several years (http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-6V1dfSER3it/ProdView.asp?bid=22680&store=0&sid=S-6V1dfSER3it" CLASS=NEWS>http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-6V1dfSER3it/ProdView.asp?bid=22680&store=0&sid=S-6V1dfSER3it) which includes jukebox MP3 software.

So, to total it out, I would say this is not that unlikely. Only problem I see is the pricing. Those numbers look a little too close to actual Palm prices.

It's a fool...

MPKirby @ 4/3/2000 2:34:56 PM #
The remote control is the giveaway. It's the old style remote, not the same as the remotes they're packaging with all currently shipping MD units. It's highly unlikely that they'd retool their assembly line to bring back an old style model.

This might win the award for most believable April Fool item, though. Well, maybe a tie with the ApachePDA server... I spent more than a couple minutes trying to put my finger on why an http daemon would be a must-have app for my palm.

-kirby

RE: It's a fool...
wrodriguez @ 4/3/2000 2:42:05 PM #
Just look at the image of the minidisk recorder on the sony site and you will see where the original came from. It's a really good mockup, but unfortunately not real. These items were posted by minidisc.org along with others on 4/1/2000.

Good job though...

Palm MiniDisc PDA

Jeff @ 4/3/2000 3:51:12 PM #
I just got off with Sony about the MiniDisc PDA and although they cannot confirm the product's existence, the rep I spoke with showed it to his Mktg Mgr and they believe it may be the real deal. Sony has been working on it since the agreement was reached with Palm and he said there was some "rumors" about it at last years computer show in Vegas(his words). The Sony rep was really into it and he said he will e-mail me if he hears anything. I'll keep you posted...
RE: Palm MiniDisc PDA
Paul @ 4/4/2000 6:51:03 AM #
The thing that gives this away as a fake to me, is that the aspect ratio (height to width) of the screen is wrong. It's too wide for the height for any known Palm screen.
Any thoughts?

true...

The Viper @ 4/4/2000 8:37:30 AM #
If the Minidisc/Palm is a real product It might be Sony that have made the pictures to show what it maight look like. Besides we all whant to see this product in real life don't we... Lets hope it for real. I am going to talk to my Sony contact and see if he can dig up anything on this thing.

hahahahahaha

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/4/2000 9:24:48 AM #
I trade Minidiscs electronics and blanks for a living. The MZ-R55 is already since 18 month or so on the market. Good joke.

On the serious side, there are some techniques which allow to do the titeling with an IR Palm. But I have not tried it since it works only on home units, and not on portables (they hove no IR port).

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