Sony Intros Multimedia Handheld Device
June 18, 2003
San Diego, CA - Sony has announced new CLIE-NX multimedia handheld devices, with an on-board digital camera and MPEG-4 recording capabilities featured.
The digital camera, a 1.3 megapixel unit, rotates 300-degrees for capturing images up to 1280 x 960 pixel resolutions and recording MPEG4 video clips up to 60-minute intervals of continuous video (160 x 112 pixels) using an optional one GB Memory Stick PRO media.
Sony expanded the capabilities of the product to support select CF type II memory cards for the storage and access of supported applications and data files -- allowing the device to now accept both the Memory Stick and CF memory format cards. Users can transfer files of all types from one card to another without having to rely on a PC, the manufacturer reports.
In addition to memory, the communications slot enables users to wirelessly browse the Internet and check their e-mail on a Wi-Fi (802.11b) network when used with an optional Sony PEGA-WL100 or WL110 wireless LAN cards. Sony has included with the device a 30-day free trial version of Visto Corporation's MessageXpress email service, which allows users access to Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes corporate e-mail within a public Wi-Fi hot spot or private local area network (LAN) environment.
Sony has pre-installed most of the Sony-developed applications into the ROM memory (increased to 32MB). This minimizes the set-up time associated with other standard devices based on Palm OS software, eliminates the need to reinstall the applications in the event that battery life should be completely depleted, and makes more RAM space available for storage on the CLIE NX80V model (16MB usable). Sony has also added Decuma handwriting recognition software option to the new model, which recognizes the full 26-character Roman alphabet when written in printed letters. Users can select either this or the Graffiti 2 software for character entry. A third input option includes a QWERTY keyboard that is backlit for operation in dimly-lit environments.
Also announced was the CLIE PEG-NX73V, which retains the features found in the CLIE NX80V model, and adds: 310K pixel resolution camera without capture light and neutral density filter features; on board memory size: 32MB ROM, 16MB RAM (11MB usable).
The new CLIE PEG-NX80V and PEG-NX73V handheld models will be available at retailers nationwide in early July for about $600 and $500, respectively. Pre-orders are being taken now at www.sonystyle.com/clie . The PEGA-WL110 Wi-Fi modem cards are currently available for about $150.
For more information, visit
www.sony.com
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