NOVEMBER 7, 2006
Technology
By Ian Sager
Sony's Mylo: Mighty Weak
It lacks reliable WiFi connectivity and picture or video taking. For the price, this multifunctional mobile phone should offer more than great media playback
On any given day I carry around a cell phone, wallet, iPod, and keys. With only so much pant-pocket room, I'm pretty choosy about anything I'll lug around in addition to these essentials. I am considering adding a device that will help me stay connected with friends and the Internet, so I tested Sony's (SNE) Mylo. My short take on the device is that, sadly, it doesn't make the cut.
The Mylo is part of a new breed of portable devices that combine several existing features—from video to calling to messaging—into a package that will appeal to teenagers and young adults. Mylo stands for "my life online," and it is marketed as a device for those who love to stay in touch with friends via the Internet. Before I share my gripes, let me tell you what Sony gets right.
First, there's the size. A lot of devices, including T-Mobile's Sidekick 3, tend to be a bit big (see BusinessWeek.com, 10/16/06, "T-Mobile Sidekick 3: No BlackBerry"). But the Mylo, at 4.8 by 0.9 by 2.5 in. and 5.3 oz., doesn't add much bulk to crowded pockets. Score one for the Mylo.
Excellent at Audiovisuals Once I had the device up and running, I was again pleasantly surprised. The Mylo felt good in my hands, which wasn't the case with the Sidekick 3. The Mylo is designed to be held as though you're playing a video game, one hand on the left and the other on the right. Holding the device in this way gives the user the easiest access to the main controls.
Part of the appeal of devices like the Mylo and Sidekick is how they handle video and audio. With the Mylo, I was drawn in by the bright, crisp playback quality. Video quality is as good as that of Sony's PlayStation Portable. I transferred a few videos from my computer onto the Mylo and had nothing but success. U2 never looked so good, so small. As for audio, while the speakers weren't all that impressive, my listening experience improved markedly via headphones.
Moving between applications wasn't hard either. Overall, I was impressed by the operating system. It was clean and simple, yet pleasing to the eyes.
That's where my praise for the Mylo ends. The device comes with a QWERTY keyboard that, while visually pleasing, was extremely difficult to use. The keys were not raised and separated enough to strike the keys cleanly. I tried composing a reminder to take out the garbage. Needless to say, it was a reminder that went unheeded—and not because I was feeling lazy.
Not So Much for a Not-So-Low $345 Still, I wasn't ready to write off the Mylo, and I was eager to test its ability to connect to the Internet using wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi, technology. I found that I had to stay very close—within a few feet—of my router to pick up a signal, making it difficult if not impossible to use half of the applications if I strayed too far (even my kitchen was a dead zone). Sure I could compose notes and enjoy stored video and audio, but Web surfing and instant messaging were out. So much for organizing my life online.
I also encountered problems with some of the Mylo's other applications. The Mylo is marketed as a hip device that lets teens and young adults stay in touch with friends and organize busy social lives. If this were the case, then why are there so few applications that young adults would really get excited about? Yes, there is a photo and video viewer, but why is there no function that allows you to take photos or videos? And coming from someone who spends hours chatting online, the way to go for instant messaging is AOL's (TWX) AIM—which is lacking on the Mylo. Skype (EBAY), Google Talk (GOOG), and Yahoo! Messenger (YHOO) are fun, and many people use them, but AIM is the gold standard when it comes to instant messaging clients.
So there I was, stranded in my kitchen without a wireless signal, holding onto a $345 MP3 and video player, wondering what to do next. Not only does the Sidekick make up for its bulky size by letting me leave my cell phone at home, but the chance to pick up Internet and e-mail nearly everywhere I go is incredibly appealing. Although the Mylo does have its good qualities, I'd rather not feel tethered to a Wi-Fi connection. I decided that the Mylo would not make the cut in the competition for my pocket space.
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