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Sony had a surprise up its sleeve on the IFA tech-fest in Berlin, showing off a brand new device in its music-pumping Walkman line. But this noisy little monster is different to Walkman kit that has gone before — it runs Android, that is Google’s app-filled mobile operating system.It’s currently within the prototype stage apparently, so there is no final name. On the time of writing Sony is looking it the Walkman Mobile Entertainment Player, though we’d bet our bottom dollar that it’s going to be dubbed something fancy just like the ‘Spruce’ or ‘Lifesonic’ for when it actually goes on sale. Choked with apps and with an important touchscreen up front, this device will compete with Apple’s iPod touch.We’ve toyed with the Android Walkman, and both the hardware and software seem complete to us, so we wouldn’t be in any respect surprised to peer this hitting the shelves within the following few months, in time for Christmas. Read on for our first impressions, and what you’ll expect from a Walkman that runs Android.
Design and feel
This new Walkman looks somewhat like a Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc on steroids. It has got the similar curving edge along the highest and bottom, and when you turn it sideways you’ll discover there is a shallow dent within the back, giving the device an arched appearance.Along the back there’s the splodgy Walkman logo against a deep blue background, and down the suitable of the player there is a dedicated Walkman button, for speedy access to music.We’d love to see a couple of playback controls at the device itself — something that bugs us about using an iPhone or iPod touch to hear music while at the move is that we have to actually pull the item out of our pockets to modify track, making us 100 per cent more muggable.That’s something Sony could stick in this player to provide it an edge — perhaps that dedicated Walkman button could play/pause the music with one press, skip forward with another and skip back with a triple-tap, just like the in-line remote controls you locate on headphones built for the iPod.This Walkman has a completely massive touchscreen plastered over front. It is a 4.3-inch display, that’s the similar size because the panels on enormous smart phones corresponding to the HTC Desire HD.
The familiar Android grid — you are able to download bazillions of apps from the Android Market.We ponder whether the screen could be too big — for years we have seen MP3 players shrink right down to be as tiny as possible, so a return to the pocket-filling devices of yesteryear could appear just a little strange. There is not any phone functionality in this Android Walkman, so you’ll still need to carry a phone around with you. There is no camera on it either, so if you are keen on taking a couple of snaps while at the move, this may not fill that gap.That massive screen does mean that the player’s usefulness extends far beyond taking note of music, though. Videos and films will look great rendered in massive-o-vision, as will games you download from the Android app store.Sony already has a tonne of slim, pocketable Walkman MP3 players, so we’re perfectly happy to peer this 4.3-inch monster join the roster on the top end of the scale, catering to anyone who fancies something greater than just music from their device. The one risk is that the massive display could sap battery life.
Android
When we heard that Sony was making an Android-powered Walkman, we rolled our eyes so hard they nearly flew out of our sockets. All too often lately, manufacturers seem content to throw Google’s mobile operating system at their products, expecting it to resolve all their problems simply by being there.Once we’d had a go along with the Android Walkman though, we were feeling a lot more positive, because Sony appears to have made some effort to tinker with the default Android look, making the player seem like it was made for music and video, and never for making phone calls.Along the ground of the house screen there are big, glowing blue buttons that — once tapped — will call up either the video player, music player or photo viewer. The music app gets pride of place within the centre, and we noticed a music player widget too, so that you can skip track or pause playback from the homescreen, with no need to open the app itself.
Sony’s custom-built music player software is more attractive than the default Android version, and has some cool streaming features.The music app itself is asking good (though we’re wondering what is going to fill among the screen in case your music doesn’t include cover art), and Sony was making much of the facility to stream, or ‘throw’ your music to a Sony Bravia TV wirelessly via a DLNA connection. If you’ve already got a Sony TV, which may be useful — while you come back on your house, just fire the tunes over on your telly for big-speakered fun.The neatest thing about Android though is access to the Android Market, where you’ll be able to sift through thousands of apps to download, making your player potentially much more than simply an MP3 player. Alternatively Sony has its own cloud-based music service called Music Unlimited, that contains over 10 million tracks.
Audiophile gear
Traditonally Walkman devices offers better sound quality than their Apple rivals, so anyone who’s particularly fussy about audio quality should control this player, as we suspect it’s going to pump out extremely sweet noises.
Outlook
We’re undecided what number of people wouldn’t be at an advantage buying a sensible phone, but when Sony could make this Android Walkman cheap enough, it would make an ideal all-round device for strolling around town with, and a tempting alternative to Apple’s iPod touch. Stay tuned for more news because it unfolds.Edited by Nick Hide
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