Photos and specs of the new Sony Ericsson W880i, formerly known under the code name "Ai", have surfaced online.

Sony Ericsson will be going up against Motorola's highly popular RAZR phone with its own ultra-slim walkman mobile in early 2007.

According to a Reuters report the mobile phone giant says it has dubbed this new phone the "Ai" (after Japanese Tennis player Ai Sugiyama) and that it will unveil the new product in March next year. It will come thinner than the RAZR at 9.4mm (vs. 14mm) but will still manage a built-in camera among its other features.

No other details have been released yet except that it will come in black and silver. There has been no official announcement on the phone's existence but rumors have already been circulating around the net.

Mobilewhack will keep an eye out for more details and will let you know as soon as we bump into something.

Via MobileMag

Bravia comes to the cell phone now. DoCoMo unveiled a new Sony phone with some extremely drool-worthy features (and before you read further, may we remind you to sit away from your keyboard?).

First things first. It's a 3G FOMA phone. Aren't they always, anyway? But the new phone features a QVGA display equipped with Reality MAX technology - the same technology found in high-end Bravia HD TVs. There is also an MP3 player and 1GB memory on-board, with a special Virtual Mobile Engine thrown in.

The Stamina mode on the cell phone gives you a staggering 45 hours battery life in Walkman mode. Other goodies include a 3.2 megapixel camera with image stabilizer - fast becoming a standard now.

Weighing in at 125 grams, the Bravia phone measures 50mm x 20mm x 106mm. No word on pricing yet.

Sony and T-mobile plan to give their users up to 12 months of complimentary T-mobile HotSpot service for all mylo personal communicator devices. Actually, it’s from whenever a new mylo user first connects to the T-mobile HotSpot Service or December 31, 2007, whatever comes first.

So mylo communication devices will get free online access to the 7,000 T-Mobile Hotspot locations found in major stores all across the United States. Current mylo communicator users can download from the site here, and it will allow them to log onto a T-mobile Hotspot at no charge during Sony’s promotion.

When you’re connected to a T-mobile hotspot, you should be able to use e-mail and internet. You can also use Google Talk or Yahoo Instant Messenger for quick text messaging. Since the mylo is pre-loaded with Skype technology, you can use mylo to make Internet calls.

The Sony Mylo Personal Communicator is available at Sony Style for about $349.95.

Sony Ericsson K800 and K790 Cyber-shot in Limited Edition James Bond Silver

What male has wanted to be James Bond? I mean, the guy’s life is full of action, women, and lots of cool gadgets. Even though you may never get all that, Sony Ericsson is now pleased to offer you a cool gadget. Sony Ericsson plans to launch a limited edition of their newest cell phones/cameras, the K800 and K790, in a special “James Bond” silver edition.

The phones are planned to coincide with the newest James Bond film, Casino Royale, which is slated to be released into theaters in November. Casino Royale is the twenty-first film in the biggest movie franchise ever, and will be released by Sony, as well as MGM. This film is the first to feature actor Daniel Craig as the famed 007, will at least reveal the making of the world’s greatest secret agent.

Amazon.com is taking pre-orders for the Sony COM-1 Mylo Personal Communicator. Amazon isn’t certain why it is called Mylo, but it estimates that it stand for My Life Online.

That certainly what it delivers. The Mylo comes with a 2.4 inch color screen (with 320 x 240 resolution) and slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The features are numerous, starting with 1GB flash memory. You can freely surf the net with 802.11b Wi-fi, HTML Browser, and even VOIP talk with the Skype phone. You can also connect to other nearby Mylo devices using a device-to-device ad hoc network, and so you can share music and transfer data files with ease.

It also is helpful for chatting, which is booming amongst teenage smartphone users these days. The Mylo has IM and a 90 contacts buddylist. Apparently, you can manage 9 online identities, so please use that power for good.

The Mylo is also a video and audio player. It supports MP3, ATRAC, and WMA and has a built in speaker so you can play your music out loud. It also supports MPEG-4 video, but you probably won’t be able to store much of it on 1GB of flash drive space. However, you can download it from the included memory stick and USB slots. You can also use the Mylo to view your favorite still photos and share them with your friends.

The Mylo is powered by a lithium ion rechargeable battery that provides up to 3.5 hours worth of Internet calling talk-time, 7 hours of web browsing, and 45 hours of music playback.

The Mylo Personal Communicator COM-1 comes with stereo headphones, an external microphone, carrying case, and USB 2.0 cable. This sleek piece of electronics, available in black or white, sells for about 349.99. Most of the services can be obtained by users for free, but some will require a definite service provider.

Who knows? The Mylo could be the next Myspace.

A recent announcement by Sony Electronics and National Instruments introduced the Sony XCI-SX1 Smart Camera, functioning under the Microsoft® Windows XP operating system, and approved compatible with National Instruments NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (AI) software.

This compatibility means complete configuration of machine vision applications, for engineers, without extensive programming but with optimal results.

Ken LaMarca, general manager for visual imaging products at Sony Electronics, noted that “using a combination of tools from Sony and National Instruments gives engineers a better solution for identifying objects, inspecting packaging and verifying assembly,”
as well as” provid[ing] the industry with a robust, cost-effective machine vision solution that is highly customizable without the effort and expense of custom coding.”

Documents available at the FCC show a recently approved Sony Ericsson M608c, a UIQ3 based all-in-one phone. The Sony M608c comes with a USB data cable and supports Memory Stick Micro (M2) for expanding memory. It features the familiar Jog Dial to scroll lists, doubling up as volume control when using it as an audio player.

A dual function keyboard is present on the phone, making it easier to enter text thanks to the QWERTY layout. A stylus takes care of recognizing your handwriting. The full-fledged web browser on the phone allows you to subscribe to RSS feeds as well.

The Sony M608c includes an advanced media player that handles playback of both audio and video files, and the phone is compatible with PlayNow service. In addition, both QuickOffice and PDF+ are pre-installed.

For now, the phone is set for the Chinese market - but it could hit other countries soon.

Get this Phone Now for the Best Price on the Internet!

Remember the Sony Ericsson W300i Cell Phone that was introduced at this year's PMA? Well, we are pleased to announce that the W300i has just gained FCC approval, paving its entry into the market.

Sony Ericsson claims a 30-hour music playback on the device, capable of handling both MP3 and AAC formats. The built-in FM tuner is a well thought-out addition. While the VGA camera is a bit disappointing, keep in mind that this is a Walkman phone.

More details on the Sony Ericsson W300i is available from Sony Ericsson's W300i product page. No word on the pricing yet.

Get this Phone Now for the Best Price on the Internet!

The Sony Ericsson W810i is now available in fusion white with grey accents and gives consumers more options that didn’t dig the black color. The new addition to the trend-setting Walkman line reaffirms Sony’s commitment in providing users entertainment and mobile functionality. The Sony W810i like all the Walkman phones have a dedicated MP3 Player menu and supports audio formats like MP3s and AAC. It includes buttons for Play/Pause/Stop/Skip Track/Volume for easy navigation and has the Mega Bass option too which further enhances the listening experience. Users can groove to their favorite music via the eternal speaker or the provided headphones.

The phone has an onboard memory of 22mb and the package also includes a 512MB memory stick. However those craving more storage space need not worry as the phone memory can be expanded till 2GB.The W810i apart from its impressive audio capabilities also sports a 2MP camera with auto-focus and flash. This Quad-band handset also has connectivity options like Bluetooth, Infra-red and EDGE. The USB interface makes transfers between the PC and the phone a breeze. Surfing the net is fun thanks to EDGE Class 10 technology and one can also hook it up to Bluetooth-enabled devices. The white edition would start shipping around Q3 2006.

Via Gizmodo

The Sony Ericsson K610im is the first Sony Ericsson i-mode phone. For the uninitiated the i-mode operator service provides an enhanced experience when it comes to multimedia tasks like browsing the Internet and viewing multimedia content. Users will also like the thin candybar design and the chic black housing.

The Sony Ericsson K610im thanks to the i-mode capabilities not only lets one access applications like Mail, Web browsing and iMMS, it also lets one view websites especially formulated for i-mode which deliver faster download speeds. One can also send images captured by the onboard 2MP camera via the i-mode by attaching it into emails and iMMS messages. The K610im is a dual mode UMTS (2100MHz) - GPRS 900/1800/1900 handset and sports a 1.9” QCIF+ (176x220) TFT 260k.

The 2 MP camera also has a VGA Video call function and a 2.5 x digital zoom. The Sony K610im according to Sony is there most ‘versatile phone till date’. The handset also moonlights as a music player and can also download songs over the air. It is able to play audio formats like MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+ and also supports Support MFi & Mobile MP4. Music lovers will also dig features like Music DJ™, PhotoDJ™, VideoDJ™ and the onboard Polyphonic 72 voices. Some other features found on the phone include, Bluetooth™ technology, Memory card slot, USB 2.0 Mass storage, Flight mode and a supplied 64MB Memory Stick which can be expanded to 1GB.

The Sony Ericsson K610im would start shipping in Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East around Q3. No word on pricing but for more info check out the Sony page.

Look what we found lurking in the depths of the FCC: the Sony Ericsson K510 cell phone. This GSM 850/1800/1900MHz tri-band phone is all set to meet its target release of Q2 2006, and comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom.

While the phone offers MP3/AAC playback, memory is the biggest constraint at 28MB. Bluetooth is available, which is good. It is also compatible with GPRS, so you can access the net on your handset. Other goodies include VideoDJ, PhotoDJ, MusicDJ and a remote control as well.

We previously covered the Sony Ericsson K510 cell phone a while back on The Whack.

Source: FCC

Sony Ericsson's upcoming walkman phone, the Sony W700, has formally been granted approval for sale in the USA by the FCC. This GSM 900/1800/1900 tri-band cell phone features Bluetooth support and memory expansion in the form of Sony's MemoryStick PRO Duo card.

The Sony W700 comes with a standard flight mode option, allowing you to use the phone solely as a music player, with the transmitter turned off. A USB interface is provided to transfer songs from PC to phone and vice versa. The phone also comes with a 2 megapixel camera.

We covered the Sony Ericsson W700 Cell phone in detail, check it out.

(Update May 19 2006) - This phone has just be announced see our Sony W850 Cell Phoneentry for detail information about it.

Here's a new phone, a rather mysterious Sony W850 handset apparently popped up on the Norwegian Sony Ericsson site. The website features a modified K800 phone in white which would also have full music capabilities. While industry experts are insistent that this model is a fake, one has to remember that a Walkman branded model based on the Sony K790 has been in the pipeline for quite some time. Also the fact that it has appeared on a Sony website further adds credibility. Anyway here is a pic.

Via ClubSonyEricsson

The W810 comes with a host of goodies, including Bluetooth, Sony-quality audio playback, a 2-megapixel camera, and even support for PNG, WBMP and SVG-Tiny formats. Of course, being a music phone, Sony-Ericsson also gives you USB connectivity to transfer music.

Storage is on a Memory Stick PRO Duo card. Audio/video formats like MP3, MP4, 3GP, AAC, AMR, MIDI and WAV are supported. Handsfree Bluetooth profile ensures you drive safe when using a compatible headset. Oh, and it's got Infrared as well, just for kicks.

For details on pricing and availability, access Sony-Ericsson's website. Expect the phone in the USA soon!

Looking for the right audio head units for your car. Look no further cause it is just in front of you. We are talking about the Sony car audio head unit which has just been announced by Sony, it is called the Sony MEX-BT5000 and features Bluetooth® wireless technology. Designed specifically for the mobile lifestyle, the MEX-BT5000 automatically links to any Bluetooth mobile phone and provides handsfree calls with crystal clear sound.

What’s more, with a high visibility screen you can make and receive calls during a journey without even bothering to take your mobile out from your pocket. In addition, it also allows the much-needed wireless transfer of up to fifty phone book contacts to the head unit itself, this is the specialty of the Sony MEX-BT5000, which you will not find in most of the other car audio head units. Apart from his stylishly minimal design and a full motion fluorescent display, installation of BT5000 is very simple, which was not the case with previous Sony head units.

Ideally, your head unit would be used to provide a signal to your amplifiers that is line level and you would not have to use its internal amplifiers, they usually do not have the power and strength to drive speakers both loudly and cleanly. No head unit typically has more than about 60watts of total output power because more would require a real DC-DC power supply (which does not fit in a head unit easily). Using the head unit power can be a temporary solution until a separate amplifier can be purchased, just make sure you do not try to power any subwoofers or insensitive component sets with the head unit's built in power. Also it is not just a handsfree, show it a mobilephone or music player that supports Bluetooth® audio streaming and it will retrieve and play music too. No word on pricing and availibility.

Check out this neat little piece of software from Tea Vui Huang's Aibo Memories, it is a 3D Playable (virtual) Sony Aibo game for Mobile Phones. The
direction stick on the mobile phone can be used to make Aibo stand,
sit, lie down and jump up. 3D animation of the 7 Series ERS-7M3/W
Pearl White Aibo was designed on the Sony AIBO Motion Editor. Aibo
Memories was created in memory of the Sony Aibo (1999-2006). H is a bit like thoughs Neo-Pets.

The Memory Stick Micro aka M2 will come in three sizes 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB. It's designed to meet the growing storage needs of highly compact, multifunctional mobile phones. The M2 is approximately one-quarter the volume of the Memory Stick PRO Duo, yet only about 1.2mm thick. The M2 supports the new 1.8V standard that has been adopted by newer mobile handsets. In addition, it also supports 3.3V operation. The M2 will work with a wide range of products. It also comes bundled with an adaptor (the size of a standard Memory Stick) which will allow users to exchange data to Memory Stick PRO compatible products.

Sony plans to ship the 256MB and 512MB versions of the M2 media from March 2006, and the 1GB model from May 2006. The estimated end user price of the M2 media will be similar to the price of the current Memory Stick PRO Duo media. Availability and prices will vary from country to country. Stay tuned...

Manufacturer Website: Sony