Sony X Series Walkman to Hit UK This Spring
Sony’s Walkman line of portable media players got a drastic new look at CES this year with the announcement of a touch-screen, Internet-ready portable media player.
The X series Walkman was said to feature a 3-inch, 16:9 touch display-a clear nod to the popularity of Apple’s iPod touch (and iPhone). Much like its direct competitor, the iPod Touch, it comes in 16GB and 32GB flavors and can be used to surf the web. The screen’s half an inch smaller, but it’s also OLED (rather than the Touch’s LED) so you can expect brighter colors and better contrast.
The player also includes digital noise cancellation, which seems to work more efficiently and accurately than the analog noise cancellation featured in previous Sony Walkman devices. The feature, allows any accompanying 13.5mm EX headphone to block out ambient noise.
However, the most drastic addition to the line is the inclusion of wireless Internet functions. According to Sony reps, the X Series has direct access (via icons on a menu) to YouTube. There will also be an automatic podcast-download feature and an as-yet-unnamed built-in Web browser. Functionality, in terms of Web-browsing, should be “similar” to the iPod touch experience—meaning, no flash sites will load, but most others will. This is the first Walkman with Internet capabilities.
Moreover, the X Series comes in 16 and 32GB capacities (no prices are available yet) and will offer standard audio file support: MP3, WMA, AAC, as well as WMV, MPEG-4, and AVC for video.
Besides, if the idea of a Sony media player with an OLED screen wasn’t tantalizing enough, it seems that Sony’s X Series Walkman device will be out in the UK sooner than expected. At CES, the manufacturers said the walkman would be on sale this summer but now, both Play.com and Amazon have announced the date of the Sony X Series Walkman and although the online retailers offer up different dates, both are touting the player to be out before the end of spring this year.
Should we believe it? Isn’t this an April fool? Let’s not forget Amazon’s previous misfire. However, Amazon has taken the most conservative approach by announcing the player’s release date as 10 May. Play.com is sticking its neck out and has just updated the launch date for the Sony X Series Walkman in the UK - you’ll be able to poke the Sony X Series Walkman to your heart’s content from April 30.
The 3-inch AMOLED touchsceen and digital noise cancellation put the ‘personal’ touch into the PMP, which will cost £250 for the 32GB version, significantly cheaper than we first thought.
Source: mirror.co.uk; pcmag.com.