Sony’s new ‘Mylo’ now available – but not in Canada
Sony demonstrated the features of its second-generation Mylo (”My Life Online”) Personal Communicator at the company’s annual Open House dealer show this week in Las Vegas. Too bad it’s not going to be sold in Canada, Sony says, as it’s one super cool tech toy.
Sony demonstrated the features of its second-generation Mylo ("My Life Online") Personal Communicator at the company’s annual Open House dealer show this week in Las Vegas. Too bad it’s not going to be sold in Canada, Sony says, as it’s one super cool tech toy.
Similar to its predecessor, the new-and-improved Mylo (US $300) is a pocket-sized gadget that, while resembling a smartphone, is instead a Wi-Fi-enabled (802.11b/g) device that can be used to make free Skype-to-Skype calls to anyone in the world. It also supports text chatting via AIM, Google Talk and Yahoo Messenger, so you can log into existing accounts to access buddy lists.
Sony has partnered with select Wayport hotspot locations in the U.S. — including more than 9,000 McDonald’s locations — to provide free wireless broadband access until Dec. 31, 2010.
Available in black or white, with a back-lit slide-out QWERTY keyboard and 3.5-inch display, the new Mylo also features: a built-in 1.3-megapixel digital camera (with integrated photo editing software); digital music (MP3, AAC, ATRAC or WMA) and video file playback (MPEG-4) stored on its 1GB of built-in memory or up to 8GB for removable Memory Stick Duo cards; a web browser with support for Adobe Flash-based websites (and downloadable Flash games, including Sudoku and Solitaire, provided for free by Sony); and dedicated one-click widgets for YouTube, Facebook, Google Search, and more.
Filed Under: Handhelds
Not in Canada, eh? Pity. But we're used to this kind of thing in Canada by now. I think we all grew up looking forlornly toward the border, sadly hoping that the latest and greatest gadgets would eventually make their way north.
Given that this is a basic WiFi device, I don't see any reason why intrepid Canadians couldn't pick one up on a cross-border trip and start using it at home. It simply doesn't have the same cell network/SIM card/carrier limitations that a U.S.-purchased mobile (or, dare I say it, iPhone) would have.
I suspect the showstopper for Sony is the Wayport Wireless deal. Here in Canada, their penetration centres mostly around hotels – hardly the demographic that Sony's seeking for this device.
I'd give my eye teeth for a WiFi-enabled multitasking messenger machine (which is essentially what this is) that would extend the home office/wireless cloud worker's productivity. Sony's on to something here, if only it chooses to look beyond the teen demographic.
Just thinkin'…
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Does this one have a SIM card slot on it??? I remember the original having one??
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Nope, no SIM card. It looks like a smartphone but it's Wi-Fi and not cellular.
Marc
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$300 seems a little pricy for me expecially when you consider that you can get certain smartphones that have WiFi capacity and the capability to make phone calls and connect to the net through superfast telecom networks (e.g. 3G) when no WiFi networks are present. I think Nokia came up with a WiFi communicator as well, I just don't remember the name or model but I think it belonged to the N series minus phone capabilities.
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if i bought a mylo from ebay and brought it to canada would it still work in my house?
please reply quicly im desperate
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Yes, you only need Wi-Fi, so have it first join your wireless network by typing in your security code (only need to do this once) and then have fun…
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