Sony to Announce New Handheld at CeBIT (Updated)

At a pre-CeBIT press conference earlier this week, Sony said it was going to unveil a new handheld, the T770, according to ZDnet Germany. Almost no details were given, other than it would have the enhanced infrared port that's on the rest of the T series. It also said it would be announcing 256 MB Memory Sticks.

Some educated guesses can be made just from the name of the new handheld. Obviously, this will be part of the T series. Almost all of the handhelds Sony has introduced lately have had 16 MB of RAM.

CeBIT is held in Germany, so Sony should be showing off the European version. The high-end Clié with MP3 playback that is currently on sale in Europe is the N770C. Just judging from that, it is entirely possible that the T770 will also have MP3 playback. In the U.S. this model should be called the T760.

Of course, it's a bit odd that the name of the handheld isn't the T770C, as Sony always includes the "C" to denote that the handheld has a color screen. It's very unlikely, though possible, that this will be a monochrome model.

Update: It's possible that ZDnet Germany's report is mistaken. Other reports on Sony's offerings at CeBIT only mention the T625, the European version of the T615C.

Speculation that Sony will be releasing a replacement for the N760C has been in high gear since it lowered its price earlier this week. The N760C is essentially a N710C with an updated version of the Palm OS and the N710C was announced last May, so this handheld is about 10 months old. That makes it the oldest model in Sony's handheld line. Also, the N760C's 8 MB of RAM is starting to look cramped, considering that all of Sony's other models, even the $200 S360, have 16 MB.

CeBit is the world's largest tradeshow and a popular place for companies to introduce new handhelds. It will be March 13 through the 20.

Thanks to Tom for the tip. -Ed

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Slim Factor + MP3 Player

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:11:54 AM #
This makes so much sense if they are gonna release a T series based factor with mp3 player built in. that's why they've dropped tne price of N760c

Hopefully it would be more interesting thatn that, but then again...

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:16:08 AM #
I hope its a high resolution screen, with color, and hopefully, these sources are wrong.

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:18:55 AM #
Personally, I prefer the prototype that SONY showed in PalmSource 2002. The foldable/Rotatable LCD is just nice.

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:23:39 AM #
hmmm, if that is the case, I'll dump my N760C. I like the T-series form factor, but love the built-in MP3 (use it a lot), it has replaced my MD player.

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:25:09 AM #
sweet!

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:38:58 AM #
"...it has replaced my MD player."

I too have a Sony MD Player and wondering how the battery life on the 760 is when playing music, PIM stuff, etc. This release could be a killer release.

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 12:47:45 PM #
Actually, I got a Sony MD player BECAUSE the battery life on the 760 wasn't enough for music AND PIM stuff.

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 2:17:21 PM #
I agree. A friend of mine has the 760 and said the battery life for the audio player was not too great. I opted instead for the N610C and still use my trusty MD player for digital audio.

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 2:39:12 PM #
Off-Topic: Talking about Sony products, have anyone of your heard / seen the Sony Ericsson Palm-like cell phone coming out Q3 2002? I heard it is running Symbol's OS with pretty much similiar to the size the Nokia's one. I'm waiting for that...

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 2:53:25 PM #
You mean Symbian right? Symbian 7.0 isn't
really supported much by other developers.
I don't understand why Sony/Ericcsson doesn't
just make a Clie-GSM phone.

Now THAT I'd buy in an instant.


RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
james_sorenson @ 3/6/2002 3:00:44 PM #
A Clie cell-phone?
The communication of the Handspring Treo mixed with the high-resolution screen, MP3-player, and memory-expansion of the Clie series?

Good Lord, I hope someone from Sony sees that post. I'd pay a great deal for something that incredible! I'm sick of feeling like Batman with all these devices on my belt.

Oh, and I know that the Visor Prism with the VisorPhone is close, but I don't like that you have to pull the Visor out of the case, remove the cell-phone module, and plug in the memory module to access documents. I should be able to plug in a memory card and forget about it.

-------
James Sorenson

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 5:23:03 PM #
Well, I heard that N760 can play mp3 for about 10 hours when the screen is off. Isn't it good enough for everyday use?

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 5:27:18 PM #
Today on Pdabuzz.com there was an article about the Sony Ericson PDA/Phone/Camera announced to run Symbion 7 by Q3 2002. As a former Psion 3a user, the OS looks really cool and I like the device consolidation, but the mockup phone shown is made of a bunch of colored plastic like a bondi blue iMac. Not my taste, but I guess Apple sold a load of them.

RE: Slim Factor + MP3 Player
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 5:47:37 PM #
Need to see the thing in real action b4 making decisions, Overall I am glad that finally Symbian/PSION is making a comeback. It would be great to see how things goes.

IT'S NOT NEW PALMS, IT'S NEW PHONES!!!!!!!
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/8/2002 1:30:57 PM #
IT'S NOT NEW PALMS, IT'S NEW PHONES!!!!!!!
Posted by: I.M. Anonymous @ 3/8/2002 1:07:35 PM

PLEASE LOOK AT THIS WESITE
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cebit/

Sorry folkes,
(Wah Wah)

These are the only new ones they are offering!

What more could you want?

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:17:40 AM #
So, what could reasonably be expected to be added to a T615C besides MP3 to make it more compelling?

RE: What more could you want?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:20:42 AM #
good question

RE: What more could you want?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:22:47 AM #
Built in Bluetooth ... ;-)

RE: What more could you want?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:23:43 AM #
RE: What more could you want?
Ed @ 3/6/2002 11:26:49 AM #
When I talked to the Sony people right after that folding handheld with the built-in keyboard had been shown off at PalmSource, they flat out said that was a non-working mock-up that might never see the light of day. I hope it does but I don't expect to see it before fall. Still, we can dream.

---
News Editor
RE: What more could you want?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:50:52 AM #
The Dragonball VZ Super 66Mhz and a virtual graffiti area (320x480 pixels!!!). Get rid of those nasty app and scroller buttons. Please!!!

RE: What more could you want?
mtg101 @ 3/6/2002 12:07:27 PM #
I can only assume that the T770 will be a derivitive of the T-series - so there won't be too much new. But then again... you never know with Sony.

Virtual Grafitti? I doubt it. It would be odd to do that in the middle of a series of handhelds.

Better buttons? I doubt it - I assume it'll have the same form factor as the rest of the T-series.

MP3 - given the naming similarity - this seems probable.

Bluetooth - could be - many other EU Sony products have builtin bluetooth.

66Mhz chip - well - the N7X0 series has always been the bigest best Clie - so I guess this is a maybe...

The form-factor previewed at PalmSource? (the long screen / flip top). Well - it would kick ass. It would probably also have virtual graffiti given the longer screen.

Personally I hope it's not too good - I can't aford to upgrade just yet! :-S

Cheers
Russell


---
russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk

RE: What more could you want?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 5:07:15 PM #
What more? Simply an M515 with sound (+headphones jack), hires, virtual graffiti and 66Mhz. That is my dream PalmOS 4 machine. I like sony's features but I definitely dislike the look.

RE: What more could you want?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 5:19:34 PM #
Yeah and the next one is an IPAQ 3870 hardware running PalmOS 5.

MS

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:24:15 AM #
256mb Memory stick is great - but where is the BT Infostick?

When the Ericsson BT phone is in my hands - will sony be ready with the Infostick??

RE: MS
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:39:58 AM #
Yeah, whatever happened to the MS Infostick?!?!?!?! It was supposed to be released a long time ago. It never even appeared in Japan, did it? I'm starting to wonder if it will EVER be available. >=(

BT spec
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 12:13:31 PM #
Perhaps they were waiting for the latest spec or they don't like this one and will release on 1.2 Bluetooth spec. Either way, they had a MS BT back at CES two years ago. The release of this MS would really help them into the World market as handhelds are talking to cell phones without wires... except Sony.

RE: MS
mtg101 @ 3/6/2002 12:16:05 PM #
Yes - where is the InfoStick?????????????

Over here in the EU there are loads of phones with BT in them (Nokia 6310, /// R520m, T39, T68), and most of them can be got for under 100 euros on a contract.

Also Sony has got BT into many other EU products - laptops and cameras... it's about time it came to the Clie!

The InfoStick hasn't appeared in Japan - but there a clip-on device for one of the Clie series to add BT functionality.


Cheers
Russell

---
russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk

RE: MS
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 1:49:14 PM #
Funny thing that.

I'm on my second bluetooth phone (first T39, now T68) and am already planning to replace it with another SonyEricsson bluetooth phone. Yet, still no Palm os pda with integrated bluetooth.

RE: MS
Xian @ 3/6/2002 2:17:43 PM #
Not integrated, no. But you can buy the BT SDIO card for the newer Palms.

RE: MS
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 6:48:56 PM #
Yup, the BT SDIO card rocks! I got mine this week here in Australia and have been using it with my T39 and the Seiko Thumbboard to use ICQ and AIM on m515, along with emails and SMS! I'm one happy camper now! Oh yeah, I'm doing all that over GPRS which is not a fast as the telco's would have you believe but is faster and more convenient that GSM CSD!

Sony Bluetooth Infostick receives BT Qualification/Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/7/2002 3:30:23 AM #
Palm product manager David Christopher said the company decided not to build the Bluetooth radios into the devices in order to keep down the costs of the products.

But he also said: "2002 is going to be the year for Bluetooth," Christopher said.

Palm Bluetooth (SD) card cuts wires
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t294-s2104780,00.html

Sony Bluetooth stick soon here?
By: Jørgen Sundgot, 05.02.02 11:00

Sony has just recently gained qualification from the Bluetooth SIG for a product referred to as the "Infostick", which is a name that was mentioned back when Sony started promising a Bluetooth Memory Stick expansion module back in late 2001. However, the Infostick is listed under the product category Comp-HW-Integrated, which could indicate that the module is also targeted to be an integral part of new products from Sony - which again could indicate handhelds in the CLIE series showing up with integrated Bluetooth, particuarly with Sony's current pace of churning out new models.
http://www.infosync.no/news/newsbits/show.php?id=1404

Bluetooth Qualified Product: Infostick Infostick Sony Corporation Components Comp-HW-Integrated 2002-01-30
http://qualweb.opengroup.org/Template.cfm?LinkQualified=QualifiedProducts&Details=Yes&ProductID=603

3 Sony Bluetooth Products have been Qualified recently:
-Modem Adaptor with Bluetooth Function BTA-NWP Sony Corporation Computer accessory PROD 2002-03-04
-Chatpen CHA-30 KRY 10 50 15 Sony Ericsson Handheld devices PROD 2002-03-01
-PEGA-MSB1 HCCBTHA11 Sony Corporation Accessory PROD 2002-02-28
http://qualweb.opengroup.org/Template2.cfm?LinkQualified=QualifiedProducts

Memory Stick gets SanDisk boost
http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=570

Bluetooth for the CLIEs
http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=447


The Memory Stick and Secure Digital cards are quite important for two key reasons. The most obvious is its small size. This allows vendors who use it to create devices that can be smaller.

But another key reason is that with large industry backing, which includes the inclusion of a Memory Card or SD card reader in everything from laptops to VCRs, DVDs, TVs, MP3 players and even next generation integrated home entertainment consoles, these cards can be used to transfer data among these mostly incompatible devices and in a way serves as a data transfer common denominator.
http://www.anywhereyougo.com/bluetooth/Article.po?id=2307977



ZDNet probably made a mistake

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:23:56 AM #
I guess ZDNet got it wrong. The Articel tells no details besides the remote thing. The FinancialTimes Germany http://www.ftd.de/sp/hi/1014398836005.html?nv=5wn and other Newspapers also mention a new Sony Handheld - but they all refer to the T625C which has been in the shops for just a couple of days.

Phil
Oldenburg, Germany

RE: ZDNet probably made a mistake
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:27:39 AM #
True: Also the german www.sony.de website only presents the T-425 and the T-625 as Cebit 2002 highlights !!

RE: ZDNet probably made a mistake
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:35:11 AM #
How the heck can someone say "T615C" and the ZDnet reporter hear "T770"? Do those two sound a lot closer in German than they do in English?

RE: ZDNet probably made a mistake
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:38:53 AM #
Nope, they don´t sound alike. They probably just mixed it up. As I said before the ZDnet article does´t mention anything else but the enhanced remote controll and no one else has this news about a T770. I´m still only guessing but this seems to be a mistake.

RE: ZDNet probably made a mistake
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 11:42:48 AM #
ZDnet writes:

Als weitere Highlights der Messe preist Sony Memory Sticks mit 256 MByte Kapazität an sowie den Clie T 770 als einzigen PDA, dessen Infrarot-Schnittstelle zur Steuerung von Fernseher, Hifi-Anlage oder Garagentor geeignet ist.

My translation (just a try):

As other highlights of the fare (CEBIT) Sony praises a Sony Memory Stick with 256 MByte capazity and the Clie T 770 as the ONLY PDA thats infrared port allows you to controll a tv-set, a sound system and a garage door.

The fact that they write "the only PDA with an enhanced infrared..." shows at least that they never heard of the T625C.


Phil

RE: ZDNet probably made a mistake
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 12:20:53 PM #
I agree - a definate mistake.

Probably happened like this:

"following on from the color N770 - sony will be showing a nother color hi res model the T625"

The guy who wrote the report got mixed up and remembered the letter T and the number 770.

Trust me SONY.DE are always well behind the times... I live in Germany and we the T625 only just made it into the shops this week.
They have NO NEW CLIES to premiere at Cebit, I am sure of that.

RE: ZDNet probably made a mistake
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/6/2002 12:20:56 PM #
I'm not suggesting this is not possible, but this goes against the prior pattern for Sony.

Sony usually release the domestic model (Japanese) first before it release the model for anything else. That has been true for N series as well as T series.

Perhpas more likely labels would be T755 for Japan, T765 for US and T775 for Europe?

RE: ZDNet probably made a mistake
mtg101 @ 3/6/2002 12:26:13 PM #
How about... the T770 is the only PDA that can:

1 - control a TV - Infrared
2 - IS a music system
3 - control garage doors - Bluetooth?

hehe... wishful thinking maybe...

---
russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk

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