Sony unveils Android-based Walkman prototype

After seeing its "traditional" Walkman media player fall to Apple's iPod, Sony has introduced a prototype of its new Walkman, this time powered by Google's Android OS. Tech site CNET said the Android-powered Walkman brings many music-specific features, including a W.Music app and support for gestures. It quoted engineer Shinichiro Torii as saying the Walkman prototype is designed "for music lovers by music lovers." But what sets it apart from other Walkman products is that it can run thousands of Android applications available today. "This is our first try to make convergence between Android products and our own technology," said Toshimichi Nagashima, general manager of digital music player product planning. Nagashima said they they will decide how to expand this kind of product once they had reviewed customers' acceptance. The Walkman became an icon of portable music in 1979, but fell to Apple's iPod when MP3 files replaced cassettes and CDs. Among the new Walkman's music-specific features are:

• A dedicated W.Button on the side that gives access to music controls, even if the phone is locked.
• A W.Music app to manage music on the device, allowing users to tap on album-cover icons, or pick a mood such as energetic, emotional, dance, relaxed, or extreme.
• An app that can show lyrics if people upload text files. Tapping on the lyrics will skip to that section of a song.

CNET said the device also has the S-Master MX suite of technology for improving audio quality, and can reduce noise, clarify bass and stereo, restore high-frequency sound that was lost during compression, and improve audio quality when using the device's external speakers. It can tap into Music Unlimited, Sony's cloud-based music service that has more than 10 million tracks. Also, it can show graphical visualizations that accompany the music. Like the iPod Touch, the new Walkman can also play games and surf the Web, although it does not have a camera. Initial specs The CNET report said Sony did not give details on the processor or battery life, but noted prototype has a large 4.3-inch screen with a resolution of 800x640 pixels and non-reflective LCD technology that improves image quality by removing the air gap between the LCD and the outer screen. It also said the device will connect to other devices, including Bluetooth headphones and TVs equipped with DLNA wireless network technology or an HDMI port. Videos can be "thrown" onto DLNA devices by pointing the Walkman at it then flicking the video's icon toward the TV. "A brief hands-on with the prototype showed its screen to be responsive and endowed with pleasantly rich blacks. The W.Music app was fluid to use. It would be foolish to pass judgment on the sound quality with only a short time listening to a hand-picked song even for a product not designed for audiophiles--but during that time the music did indeed sound clear and deep," CNET said. — TJD, GMA News