Sony mylo Review
Since its release last month, the Sony mylo personal communicator has often been compared to the T-Mobile Sidekick 3. Even though the mylo isn’t a cell phone, the match-up is understandable: both units target the same demographic (18-22 year olds), flaunt instant messaging and connecting with friends as their main attractions, have built-in QWERTY keyboards, and are packed with extras like MP3 playback, web browser, and photo viewer. But although it shares many common features with the Sidekick 3 (and looks a bit like a PSP for kids), the mylo is really in a class of its own.
The name stands for “my life online,” a throwback to the MYLO (all caps) wireless service designed and launched in 2001 for the now extinct line of Clie PDAs. Long before the mylo hit stores, Sony was marketing the device as being all about “fun, convenience, and near-instant gratification wherever there’s Wi-Fi access.” Today, after a month’s worth of daily use, I’ll take a look at the personal communicator and put the company’s claim to the test.
This is a very special review being that it is Jenn Lee’s first review for ABi. If you haven’t noticed Jenn has been contributing to the site for the last few months and has been doing a great job filling us in on the latest MP3 player news. Jenn also has her own blog on consumer gadgets at www.pocketables.net. Check out her full bio here.
Accessories
Sony has a come a long way from those pathetic afterthought accessory bundles it used to include with the Network Walkman players from the early 2000s. The mylo box contains a USB 2.0 cable, AC adapter, li-ion battery, earphones, one-touch answer remote controller (required for use with earphones), and software CD. Also included is a black neoprene slide-in pouch that is identical to the case included in the PSP Value Pack except with white trim, Velcro closure, and other minor accents. I’m glad that such a nice set of accessories is included with the mylo because given its rather icy reception by the masses, I don’t foresee Sony or any third parties stepping in to create more.
Design
Sony is synonymous with a lot of things. Overpriced and proprietary immediately come to mind, sure, but more than that, Sony is known for quality. The mylo is no exception. Measuring 4.8” x 2.5” x 0.9” and weighing 5.3 ounces, the device is sturdy, comfortable to hold, and well built. Despite its largely plastic body, nothing on the unit feels cheap or gives the impression that it can’t withstand heavy use. For example, the buttons don’t wobble, the controls aren’t loose, and the jog lever doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall off.
In short, the mylo has what most of us have come to expect from Sony, including an innovative design. PSP comparisons aside, the mylo possesses a kind of futuristic, hovercraft quality with its glossy finish, sleek look, and glowing lights pulsing within its rounded base. (Then again, it also looks a bit like a peanut.)
Screen
The mylo features a 2.4-inch, 320 x 240 (QVGA) TFT LCD screen that makes reading text, viewing photos/album art, web browsing, and even watching full-length movies enjoyable and easy on the eyes. Everything is crisp, clear, and bright. And although the LCD shows only 65K colors, images do not appear washed out or dull.
Keyboard
Given that one of the mylo’s primary features is instant messaging, the inclusion of an integrated keyboard is nothing short of an obvious necessity. The front panel of the device is set on a smooth sliding mechanism that, when pushed up gently, reveals a full QWERTY membrane keyboard. The keys give a fair amount of tactile feedback but are only very slightly raised, making touch-typing difficult. Intensifying the issue are the facts that the keyboard is not backlit and the “shift” key is only on the right side (maybe it’s just me, but on a standard keyboard I only use the one on the left).
Usability and comfort depends on the size of your hands and fingers, of course, but in general the mylo keyboard is pretty good (with typing on a Treo being good and typing on a Sidekick being great). The keys could stand to be a bit bigger, but they’re more than adequate for punching out short notes, grocery lists, and IMs, which are already so full of abbreviations and acronyms that any typos caused by the size of the mylo keys would go unnoticed anyway.
User Interface
Navigation Controls
Even though the mylo sports a relatively simple and uncluttered design, it’s really decked out with a variety of buttons, control pads, switches, and keys. Just like on the PSP, Sony ditched the standard power button and replaced it with a spring-loaded sliding switch. Holding the switch until the indicator lights up turns the unit on (the same is true for the wireless LAN switch at the top of the mylo). From here, the device can be operated using the arrow keys, “enter” key, and various shortcut combinations on the keyboard; the 4-way controller and center, home, back, option, and info buttons surrounding the LCD; and/or the jog lever (for multimedia usage), dedicated volume buttons, and hold switch at the bottom of the mylo.
Graphical User Interface
The mylo runs on an embedded version of Linux (most likely from Wind River) with Trolltech’s Qtopia Platform providing the graphics and application framework. The GUI, then, is straightforward and easy to navigate. It lags a bit when working with large files, but for the most part it’s very responsive. The main menu, which can be accessed from anywhere in the system with a quick push on the home button, lists what you’d expect on a device like this: Communication, Web, Music, Photo, Video, Text, and Tools. Within various parts of the system, the option button brings up a context menu that lists . . . well . . . options. For example, if you press the button while viewing a photo, you can set the view mode (default or full screen), turn the status bar on/off, set the image as wallpaper, add it to your profile, delete it, or check file properties.
The most unique menu item, and one that confirms the mylo’s target audience, is (embarrassingly) titled What’s Up. The What’s Up screen pulls together all of your IM buddies and other contacts, whether they’re using Skype, Gtalk, or Yahoo Messenger, and provides an overview of who’s online and available to chat.
Transferring Media
Hallelujah! The mylo is an MSC (more commonly known as UMS) device. This means that loading content onto the player is full of software-free drag-and-drop simplicity for both Windows and Mac users. The mylo is also a Windows-XP-loving MTP device, which provides seamless integration with Windows Media Player. Switching between MSC and MTP is simple (Home > Tools > Settings > General Settings > USB mode), and the change is applied immediately without having to reboot.
If dragging and dropping sounds too labor intensive, the mylo does ship with software. The included CD-ROM contains SonicStage (surprise!) and a new program called mylo Utility, which includes the appropriately named mylo Launcher to launch mylo-related apps, mylo Image Transfer to transfer photos, and mylo Tools to update firmware, back up data, and manage other information.
Another way to get content is by convincing all of your friends and family members to sign up with Skype, a VoIP application that allows users to send and receive tracks, photos, and other files to each other (received files are stored in the unit’s “Drop Box”). And while you’re honing those persuasion skills, ask your pals to pick up a mylo so you can stream audio files to them with its ad hoc application.
Battery
One of the mylo’s best components is its lithium-ion battery (3.7V 1200mAh). Not only is it removable and therefore user-replaceable, but compared to typical and even really good gadget batteries, it lasts just a few days short of forever. Sony rates the li-ion at 3.5 hours for VoIP, 7 hours for Wi-Fi web browsing, 8 hours for watching videos, and an astonishing 45 hours for listening to music. Over the past month of using the mylo daily and running some drain tests, I’ve found these numbers to be pretty accurate. Even with screen brightness set at its highest level, I got 6 hours of video and 45.5 hours of music. Screen brightness doesn’t impact audio playback time when the “Auto Backlight Off” setting is enabled; the setting will dim the screen after 2 minutes of inactivity and turn it off completely after 4 minutes.
Connectivity
At its core, the mylo is all about wireless (802.11b, WEP/WPA) communication. To make connecting with friends really easy, Sony has equipped the device with JiWire’s hotspot directory, which contains over 20,000 public Wi-Fi listings throughout the country. In addition, T-Mobile will soon be providing mylo users with a full year of free access to its HotSpot network. Normally priced at $360/year, this is an amazing deal that technically makes the $350 mylo free!
The mylo itself can also search for and display wireless networks within range, even when it can’t actually connect to them. Even though Sony has unfortunately opted to forego support for 802.11x connections, it displays these networks without distinguishing them from their b counterparts. This translates to a lot of wasted time spent testing connections individually: very annoying when the mylo picks up 10 or 15 signals, which is not uncommon in areas with exceptional coverage.
Exclusive support for 802.11b may not seem like much of a problem now, but what happens when more public hotspots and households upgrade to 802.11x? In fact, my own home network is 802.11g, or “completely useless” as my mylo likes to call it. (UPDATE: The mylo can in fact connect to mixed mode b/g wireless networks. My settings were incorrect when I wrote this review.) A simple workaround to Sony’s foolishness would’ve been the addition of integrated Bluetooth, allowing 802.11x folks to at least get online with their cell phones.
In any case, a light housed inside the mylo’s right side will glow blue when you’ve successfully made your way online. And here’s what you can do once you’re there.
Instant Messaging
Built into the mylo are two instant messaging clients: Google Talk (Gtalk) and Yahoo Messenger. MSN Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger, which is actually the most popular IM service in the country, are both curiously absent from and therefore not natively supported by the device. The mylo doesn’t suffer too much from the omissions, though, as Gtalk and Yahoo have simple interfaces that lend themselves to no-frills chatting and are responsive and straightforward. Yahoo’s emoticons, stealth/ignore settings, and message archive provide a richer IM experience than Gtalk, which offers nothing more than on/off choices to boring features like “show time stamp,” but both work well and are nicely integrated with the mylo.
My earlier gripe about the lack of keyboard backlighting is worth repeating here because except in broad daylight, instant messaging on the mylo often involves more squinting and turning on lamps than chatting.
VoIP
When your thumbs are tired from typing, you can log on to Skype and make free Internet calls to fellow Skypers across the country and around the world. Skype has its shortcomings (no emergency dialing or call waiting) and it may never phase out cell phones, but it’s a great alternative in areas with excellent Wi-Fi coverage. And for the rest of the year, SkypeOut calls to landlines and cell phones within the U.S. and Canada are free of charge.
The supplied headset features an integrated microphone and is required when making calls. I don’t know why, but the mylo’s integrated speaker can’t be used as a speakerphone. If you can overlook this nonsense, the Skype experience on the device is outstanding: loud and clear voices, no lag or echo, and did I mention free?
Web Browsing
The mylo is equipped with the very popular and much-lauded Opera browser, which is arguably the best mobile browser around. Surfing the net is simple, with basic operations such as bookmarking, opening a new window/tab, scrolling, and zooming performed on the keyboard and through the context menus. Pages load relatively quickly, depending on the size and number of images on the site. The “normal” viewing mode displays pages at their original resolutions and therefore involves a lot of horizontal scrolling, while the “fit to screen” mode reformats/resizes pages for optimal viewing on the mylo, which really only works well for sites with few columns and vertical menu systems. Places like forums and MySpace are rendered nearly indecipherable in “fit to screen” mode, with images and text transformed into an overlapping, jumbled mess. News sites, on the other hand, as well as search engine results and text-centric blogs look great.
Emailing is possible only through webmail (Gmail and Yahoo Mail). The omission of an email client, considered a deal-killer to some reviewers, simply reinforces the fact that the mylo is aimed at IM-ing college students, not Outlook-ing business professionals.
Audio
The mylo stays true to its Sony roots with its support of MP3, ATRAC, WMA, and WMA-DRM. The music application lets you create on-the-go playlists, features various play modes, and displays album art and other basic track information while playing tunes. It can also run in the background so you don’t have to browse the web, view photos, or IM in silence.
Playback can be controlled using the jog lever or 4-way controller and enjoyed through the built-in speaker or standard earphones connected to the proprietary headset. Both methods produce great sound: crisp, loud, and clear. I’ve owned several Sony Network Walkmans and MiniDisc players in the past, and sound quality on the mylo is on par with all of them.
Photo
The LCD is great for viewing JPG, PNG, and BMP photos loaded onto the mylo through simple drag-and-drop (loose or in folders) or using the included mylo Image Transfer application. Photos are automatically rescaled—but not resized—for the 320 x 240 screen, with load time varying according to file size. Once transferred to the internal memory or MS Duo card, photos can be played back in a slideshow (with or without music), set as wallpaper, and/or deleted from the device without a computer.
Video
Since the mylo has only 1GB of built-in flash memory, it’s not exactly intended to replace or even compete with PMPs. Additional storage capacity is technically unlimited via the MS Duo expansion slot, but the cost of such cards doesn’t make the investment worthwhile (e.g., for the price of about three 4GB MS Duo cards, you can get yourself an 80GB Archos 504). Regardless, the mylo can play MPEG-4 videos, and only MPEG-4 videos, from a card or the internal memory.
According to the product manual, Sony’s Image Converter 2 software can convert video files to a mylo-friendly format (MPEG-4/AAC up to 30 fps) and transfer them to the player. However, the program is not included and only available online for $20. This is really lame. There are alternate routes, of course (I use PSP Video 9, which is freeware), and as long as you create a “100MNV01” subfolder within an “MP_ROOT” folder on the internal drive and/or MS Duo, videos can be transferred through simple drag and drop. Why Sony doesn’t just tell you this (rather than plug software it doesn’t include or offer any incentive in purchasing) is beyond me.
With all that said, playback quality of fullscreen videos (no support for widescreen) is quite impressive: smooth, colorful, clear, etc. Even fast-moving scenes look great. Fast-forward and rewind commands are available in three speeds and can be accessed with the jog lever or 4-way controller. Other options such as skip advance and jump back can be performed through keyboard shortcuts or the context menu.
One of the things I really like about watching videos on the mylo are the play modes. In Mode A, playback pauses at the end of the video, which is perfect when watching a single movie, TV show, or just something lengthy enough where you wouldn’t feel like watching something else after it’s done. In Mode B, on the other hand, playback automatically continues to the next video on the system or memory card. This mode eliminates returning to the video list and manually selecting which file to watch next, so it’s ideal for people with large collections of viral videos.
Extras
The mylo is packed with an impressive assortment of settings (general, network, web, music, photo, video, and text) and noteworthy extras such as a text application and file manager. For a device designed specifically for college students, however, I consider the lack of any sort of PIM application to be a major oversight. A calendar would be particularly useful for students to keep track of assignments and tests, social events, and so on. Even though Sony doesn’t tout productivity as the mylo’s main selling point, I’d like to see a better balance between style/entertainment and substance/functionality.
Text
The text application is great for jotting down lists, taking notes, and writing short memos in TXT format. Documents can be created, edited (complete with cut, copy, and paste functions), deleted, and of course just read on the system. Text size is adjustable and makes typing/reading easy on the eyes.
File Manager
This is the mylo’s version of Windows Explorer, where you can delete and copy/move files and folders within and between the internal memory and an MS Duo card. Transfer times are slow (it took 6 minutes to copy 80MB from a memory stick to the system), but it’s useful for swapping photos or songs with friends when a computer isn’t nearby. Files and folders can be managed separately or in groups, which is a nice touch.
Conclusion
The Sony mylo personal communicator is innovative, easy to use, and rich with features that live up to the device’s “all about fun” mantra. The system boots up quickly—delivering its promised “near-instant” access to the web, instant messaging, Skype, music, and videos—and is compact and light enough to slip into any pocket or purse. In areas blanketed with open 802.11b networks, such as college campuses, the mylo could easily replace most students’ cell phones (and monthly plans) and IM devices, not to mention their lower-end MP3 players and PMPs.
Students on campuses that rely on authenticated 802.11x connections, on the other hand, will be hard-pressed to justify shelling out $350 for what boils down to a 1GB portable media player. In other words, without Wi-Fi access, the mylo just isn’t worth it.
Pros
- Extraordinary battery life
- Beautiful screen
- Usable keyboard
- Drag and drop (UMS/MSC)
- Linux OS
- Wi-Fi, Skype, IM
- Various navigational control options (unit can be used with or without keyboard exposed)
Cons
- Keyboard is not backlit
- No support for 802.11x or WPA2
- Proprietary headphone jack
- Video conversion program not included
- Built-in speaker cannot be used for VoIP
- No PIM applications
- Only 1GB internal memory
Purchase
The mylo is priced around $300 and can be purchased from Amazon
Comments
the_th1n_man on October 26, 2006 11:40 PM
I just want to say that all of your reviews are excellent, well written and cover the devices VERY well. The video reviews make it feel as if I am right there using the device. The mylo does sound like a useful tool on a college campus but the 802.11b, which is already old, might be a large stumbling block along with it not having a calendar (which one would expect would be a common sense to put on it if this is geared more for students). O well I guess firmware updates could add a few need options. After hearing about it and now finally seeing it i am fairly impressed with the mylo. Keep up the good work!
Bruce on October 27, 2006 4:51 AM
no FLAC or Ogg Vorbis support? Hello Sony, 1999 called and they want their crappy codecs back.
Utew on October 27, 2006 8:37 AM
Nice review Jenn and Enzo.. well I had hoped for more out of this hybrid and I suppose my expectations for browsing the web on such a small screen were unrealistic. Not too functional in that dept. it seems.
Not enough memory for a media player and 802.11b just doesn't cut it these days. Though I was excited when this was first announced, it seems it's more of an expensive, limited toy than anything really useful... ah well....
Stephen G on October 27, 2006 1:33 PM
I bought the mylo because of the Skype capability (thinking I could reduce the large number of minutes currently spent using my mobile) but since it doesn't work well without the plug-in microphone and earpiece speakers, I don't find myself using Skype on the mylo much at all.
But the reason I am keeping it is because I do like having a device in my pocket that allows me to access my e-mail and browse the web. Contrarary to other opinions listed above, I think the opera mini browser is superb and I have no problem viewing most sites. I don't use "fit-to-screen", but instead I change the zoom to 80% and text size to small - you'll be suprised at how usable it really is! Accessing Yahoo! mail from the Messenger IM launches the wap mail reader, which is quite decent. Same goes for accessing gMail via WAP from the Google Talk IM. For me, it boils down to this -- the online experience with a mylo is exponentially greater than that you would get on a Treo or most other mobile device.
> Sony’s Image Converter 2 software.
> However, the program is not included and only available online for $20.
That software is not even available from Sony. I called the mylo customer service and was told I would be put on the list to be notified when more information about the app was available.
> The LCD is great for viewing JPG, PNG, and BMP photos
I've had mixed results with what images the mylo can display. mylo will show an error opening certain .jpgs of mine, even ones I've edited/saved using GIMP. I can transfer them using the mylo Image Transfer and they will then view just fine, but that transfer program alters the image (compresses and resizes) so if that was an image I wanted to share or transfer again, using mylo Image Transfer isn't ideal. Would be nice if the photo viewer had zoom capability too.
The biggest drawback so far is the Wi-Fi only connectivity. I was hoping to use my mylo at places I visit such as restaurants but only one establishment that I've visited since owning my mylo has had Wi-Fi and it was a commercial ($$) Wayport network. Another time I was at a retail computer store and wanted to do some comparison shopping on the web -- but of course, no (open) Wi-Fi. Then many times during my commute on the train and as a passenger in the car I would have liked to have used my mylo to go online and again the problem -- no Wi-Fi there either. Your suggestion to add Bluetooth so that the mylo could share a mobile phone's Internet access would really make the mylo much more usable.
Stephen G on October 27, 2006 1:42 PM
A friend criticised my mylo by calling it "a poor man's UMPC". I took it as a compliment -- the mylo is my stylish, well built, really low-end UMPC.
If they got this close with the mylo, I look forward to seeing what they can do to make a mylo2.
MStar on October 28, 2006 2:56 PM
can you put AIM on the mylo?
Jenn on October 28, 2006 6:58 PM
Technically, you can but it still doesn't work well. Some people have gone through Gtalk to cross-talk with AIM people, but I don't think anyone has been particularly pleased with the results. There's another method out there, too, but it requires you to constantly manually refresh to check if you have any new messages.
Sony has received a lot of complaints about the lack of AIM and is supposedly considering adding it via a firmware upgrade. I'm not sure what the hold up is, as Sony and AOL are partners and a Gtalk-AIM project of some kind was announced in December 2005.
willie on October 29, 2006 2:01 PM
- excuse me, but any 802.11b device should connect easily to any 802.11x network... (see the RFC)...
- in this regard, your statement:
"Exclusive support for 802.11b may not seem like much of a problem now, but what happens when more public hotspots and households upgrade to 802.11x? In fact, my own home network is 802.11g, or “completely useless” as my mylo likes to call it."
- doesn't seem to make sense? (i routinely use old 802.11b devices on my 'g' LAN w/no problem - perhaps your wireless router is not configured to accept the connections?)
Jenn on October 29, 2006 7:39 PM
I agree that 802.11b devices SHOULD connect to 802.11x; however, the mylo does not. Here's what Sony itself says in the mylo user's guide (pp. 28 and 195):
"The unit is compatible only with the IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN standard. Both of the IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g wireless networks may be displayed, but the unit can connect only to networks capable of and configured for the 802.11b."
My router is set to mixed mode (b/g) and has never had any issue with other 802.11b devices, so I don't think the problem is with the configuration.
UPDATE: It turns out that the problem was with my mylo settings, not the network. I had left the "Display Name" field in the Connection Manager blank, thinking that the SSID was sufficient. When I duplicated the SSID in the field, the mylo connected to the Internet almost instantly.
john on November 7, 2006 9:19 AM
Try going on aimonpsp.com on the mylo to see if aim works there.
daveslave on November 7, 2006 5:13 PM
can u put aim on the MYLO??
Quinn on November 11, 2006 1:19 PM
I am Wondering if you can put Aim on the mylo... Because I want to know before I buy it.
And does skype call other phones.. or just Skype users?
charlie on November 13, 2006 12:51 PM
Compared to the Nokia 770 i find it hard to believe anyone would take the mylo seriously at all, its seriously underpowered and overpriced, the only factor is the apple 'its cooler looking' factor.
JR have the 770 for $359
Its got all the things the above (and nearly all) reviews complain about the mylo not having. 802.11g, bluetooth, a much nicer screen, plus a lot more features.
The only real negatives in comparison
Doesn't include a physical keyboard, as its a touch screen, but it does support external keyboards, and there are lots of mini BT keyboards.
Its a little bigger than the mylo too.
Base memory is smaller.
The 770 is pretty much completely open for you to add any software that has or is able to be ported, it has a free SDK available, debian based kernel.
They even show developers how to port gaim over as an example.
"Includes Nokia 770 Internet Tablet; 2 stylus pens; Pouch; Battery (BP-5L) - Standard Li-ion Battery 1500 mAh delivers Browse Time up to 3 hours and standby Time up to 7 days; Travel Charger (AC-4); Headset (HS-61); 64 MB RS-MMC Memory card; USB Connectivity cable; Desk stand; User guide; Quick start guide
Features: Audio/Video player; Image viewer; PDF viewer; Application manager; File Manager; Clock; Calculator; Notes and Sketch; Games (Chess, Mahjong, Marbles); Web Browser (Opera 8) with Flash player; Internet calling; Instant Messaging; Email Client; Internet Radio; RSS Feed Reader
Memory: Flash 128MB / Memory card: 64MB RS-MMC (Reduced Size - MultiMediaCard); Option for extended virtual memory (RS-MMC up to 1 GB)
High-resolution (800x480) touch screen with up to 65,536 colors
Supported File Formats - Audio: AAC, AMR, MP2, MP3, RA (Real Audio), WAV, WMA / Image: BMP, GIF, ICO, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, SVG-tiny; Video: 3GP, AVI, H.263, MPEG-1, MPEG-4, RV (Real Video); Internet radio playlists; M3U, PLS
WLAN: 802.11b/g
Bluetooth specification: 1.2
USB 2.0 device mode for PC connectivity
User Interface: British English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, American English, Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French, Latin American Spanish
Unit Dimensions: 5.5 inches x 3.1 inches x 0.70 inch / Weighs 8.1 oz
OS: Internet Tablet OS 2006 edition "
cooolo on November 14, 2006 7:07 PM
wat does it cost used?
Shauna on November 15, 2006 5:23 PM
I saw the Mylo on amazon, saw it was made by Sony, and thought "This is it, this is the device I've been waiting for!" Even after reading your review I like it. It is a shame that it isn't bluetooth capable. I have a pair of wireless headphones which are great but it can only be used with certain devices. It annoys me that companies want to create a device that will compete against the iPod which is so versatile, but they fail to include so many features like A2DP adaptability, which iPod only has as an attachment and not built in (as far as I know), but it's still there! I'm probably one of very few people who can't see past my fancy and beloved wireless headphones but I love them! No wires, wireless, Hello?!?! Anyways, the point of this rant is to ask anyone; since this is by sony and some what like the PSP, would it be easy to create or find software to be downloaded and used on the Mylo (like on the PSP) that would include things like a calendar or even A2DP adaptability? Or am I speaking too soon?
gen on November 19, 2006 4:42 PM
i think its cool
Big Dawg on November 21, 2006 5:44 AM
WOW lots of you do not seem to get this device. It is not a cell phone nor should it be.. It is designed for those that dont want to incur the cell phone charges etc. And yes you can make regular phone calls you just need to be in a hotspot and setup your skype account for skype out and if you want ot receive calls as a phone noumber skype in as well.
There is no need for the added bandwidth 802.11g would offer and all 802.11x networks are backwards compatible to B with the exception of 802.11a
It isnt a UMPC. It doesnt run windows XP. check out their VGN-UX280P if you are looking for a UMPC. That thing is sick. I havnt seen a competitor for it yet. The Samsung orgami is crap and pocket pc mobile doesnt cut it.
gauge on November 22, 2006 10:00 AM
Twistys Presents: Gauge
Morgan on December 2, 2006 6:44 AM
hmmmm. so the only colors it has are white and orange, and then a black one? i like those colors, but they should have made other color combinations like black and green. i think ill get a mylo soon. =)
jay on December 3, 2006 7:34 AM
i think i will get a black one soon as my christmas present from my parents.and it is very cool to own a sony mylo.although it does'nt include msn messenger but i can go to the web n download one
adam on December 4, 2006 9:19 PM
So if I have a Wireless G network there is no way I can access it? (It is a link sys wrt54g) Is there any way some sort of add on can be bought to allow it to work? (Like some sort of 802.11b add on or something.)
"Wireless-G is the upcoming 54Mbps wireless networking standard that's almost five times as fast as the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the country — but since they share the same 2.4GHz radio band, Wireless-G devices can also interoperate with existing 11Mbps Wireless-B equipment." - From Linksys website
ChrisD on December 7, 2006 11:24 AM
Can I use Aim on the mylo? I know that this question has been asked several times before but I still have not been able to find a definite answer. Is it possible to download aim on the mylo or use aim express?
Jenn on December 9, 2006 4:45 AM
@ adam: Your 802.11g network should work just fine. I just had my settings wrong the first time around. I updated the review (as well as one of my comments above) with the info.
shay on December 9, 2006 1:42 PM
The way I look at it, this thing is cool. BigDawg is right, look at this device for what it is. It is around the same price as a modern GSM camera phone. Unlike most camera phones however it does music, movies, wireless chatting, skype (which is about to take off). To boot, many cities are adding free wireless usually within a certain radius of the downtown / urban areas. Sure it doesn't have wireless G which is still one of my biggest gripes, but think about it, on a 2.5" screen do you really need to zip around on the web anyways? Besides, I hear sony is one of the best at firmware updates and keeping customers happy. I would think we can expect possibly wireless-G and AIM before the end of 2006.
ben on December 10, 2006 4:27 PM
is adding wireless g just a matter of a firmware update, or does that mean new hardware is needed?
Ash on December 15, 2006 5:09 PM
Can the mylo access a wifi connection that has a MAC address filter? I am really interested in this as I am going to college next year, but my first choice has a login to use the internet, as well as having to register the computer. Thanks.
Allen Mad on December 21, 2006 1:03 PM
yes the mylo is worth the money if you are looking for a skype wi fi phone. and the year of free starbucks web surfing is way cool. I love the phone. worth the 350 dollar price tag. the keyboard is hard to see at night. but thats why they made touch typing. anyways if you are thinking of buying a wifi phone for home witch cost at lease 200.00 bucks. Buy the mylo. wireless networking should stay where it is. upgrades suck. unless you include all formatts of the wireless protocol.
Ashley M. on December 21, 2006 5:13 PM
Eventhough it doesn't support msn messenger, can you still get msn on the mylo if you go to http://webmessenger.msn.com/ ? I mean it's supposed to work like any other chat room on the web, so will it work? I can't try it since I don't own the mylo, but I'd like to know since I am considering buying it. Please answer back if you do try it. Thanx.
Cody on December 25, 2006 8:26 AM
hey you guys the link given below DOES work....
on your mylo go to the link
www.aimonpsp.com
log in or the lower left side of the page and you can sign on that way it works.....if you got any other tips please share them!
rob on January 9, 2007 3:25 AM
can any one explain more in detail on how to downlaod videos on to the mylo using psp video 9 program? please
tod on January 23, 2007 12:41 PM
Please guys someone explain how we can transfer videos to mylo with psp video 9? i cant really find how..
ellison on January 29, 2007 11:28 PM
junk！！！
72uger on February 2, 2007 6:46 PM
PSP OWNS ALL!!!
Butt Face Billy on February 3, 2007 6:30 PM
funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnny! Nice stupid invention! Had to return
because keypad fell off! Rip of artist!
kasaga on February 8, 2007 11:57 AM
i think that its nice and it shud be gevin its props you gus dident make it so shut the fuck up
Jeff on February 14, 2007 4:07 PM
@Tod: I found a guide on how to transfer videos to the mylo using PSP video 9, I don't know what I'd do without this guide.
http://spicygadget.com/blog/2006/11/20/guide-encoding-sony-mylo-videos
Sam on February 24, 2007 10:02 AM
i used clone DVD mobile, it was great but only has 21 day trial
Josh on March 14, 2007 4:06 PM
How did you copy with DVD mobile??
steph on March 18, 2007 4:03 PM
can u play online games with chat and everythin on the mylo??
ryan on March 20, 2007 1:16 AM
if i could get aim on it i would be sold for it but i dont think you can so i probably wont get it..,
JPQsat on April 3, 2007 2:37 AM
I'm a man of few word, and typing this on my mylo is a pain in the ###.... Let's just say that mylo suck, and it took me 12 minute to type it.
warren G on April 22, 2007 12:26 AM
aimonpsp.com
Leon S on April 25, 2007 1:04 PM
Can you connect the mylo in a car like ipods to play your files.
XRumer on April 30, 2007 12:59 AM
The change of our climate is, is not natural
nick on April 30, 2007 11:54 PM
is there a way to put AIM onto the mylo?or go to aim.com and use aim express?
Henry on May 12, 2007 2:58 PM
Does maps.google.com work on the mylo?
momio on May 18, 2007 8:25 AM
can you listen to music on the web like www.urbanvideoz.com or www.danceage.com
thanke you
p.s.
is wifi 802.11b a software and upgrade it to 802.11g
Kikiral on June 2, 2007 8:27 PM
Can the mylo use a 802.11g modem or dose it need a 802.11b, if so im lost.
scott on June 16, 2007 10:00 PM
can someone call me using there cell phone to me mylo???
scott on June 16, 2007 10:01 PM
can someone call me using there cell phone to me mylo???
kentho on June 20, 2007 1:17 AM
ok so i orderd a mylo and i havent gotten it yet but i was wondering if i can use my g router on it at all since theres new updates out there
Don on July 1, 2007 3:14 PM
The MYLO will not access GMail at all or let you send email from Yahoo Mail. The only email that works is to receive your email on Yahoo. No sites that require sign in will work.No ebay, no hotmail.I have upgrade version 1.3 software. Anyone have the same problem?
Don on July 3, 2007 10:12 AM
After 6 phone calls to Sony, I finally have the answer. You must set the time and date in the MYLO using a "24 hour clock". Then everything works fine
cc on July 7, 2007 1:25 AM
AirAim.com ???? AIM Express ??? AimonPSP.com ???? someone tell me if any of these work then im def buying this little gadget
siddhi on July 14, 2007 12:03 PM
hey i just cant wait till its avlbl in india......i want it d day its launchd here..
kev on August 15, 2007 9:06 AM
My PSP still seems to be better. It looks cool but do you really need it if you already have a PSP? The MYLO looks a little TOO chunky for me. I think i'll just stick to my PSP.
Stacey on August 17, 2007 11:06 AM
I am thinking about getting this MYLO for my nephew who loves instant
messaging, however he's a huge Myspace freak and I was wondering can you access it completely on the MYLO or no? Can anyone help?
Thank you!
Stace
Selvin C. on September 18, 2007 9:54 AM
The only thing that really aggravates me about the MYLO is that the keyboard isn't backlit. Hope that Sony comes out with one that has it. Its not very good for multitasking neither. I cant listen to music, signed on to Yahoo IM, adn surf the web at the same time. And one missing component is AIM. should've had AIM.
BK on September 18, 2007 3:57 PM
@Stacey
Seeing as the mylo uses the opera web browser, i don't see accessing myspace or facebook or whatever online social utility to be much of a problem. the browser supports the fun yet essential tools (i.e. java), so myspace should be within the limits of the mylo. Sides, if the PSP could do it i'm sure the MYLO could.
-BK
wiikiss.com on October 21, 2007 8:01 AM
Do you know how to read chinese?
Web, option,text encoding
Jelo on October 29, 2007 5:51 PM
For the price and the features I would go for the Sidekick 3, ID or LX. I like the idea of free Skype calls but are there really enough hotspots around to make it worth it? Until my city gets citywide wifi I'm not sure. Also no backlight? No MSN or AIM? Need a headphone/mic to use phone? I really want to love this device but it falls just a little short. Hopefully the next generation, if there is one, will remedy some of these issues. A device that can switch between free wifi to what standard mobile phones use would be nice.
Mylo user on December 15, 2007 2:28 PM
www.imo.im works fine for aim and it supports other networks and fits the screen well
Jess on December 18, 2007 10:15 AM
i dont have wi-fi but i i have internet is there a jax to plug it in? and is it even worth the money i need it to talk to friends online and myspace.
ali on April 14, 2008 8:50 PM
can someone help me i've lost my mylo softwear and i don't have a back copyed to my desktop please people out there help me.