Sony’s mylo Combines IM, Music, and Wi-Fi

By Geoff Duncan Published August 8, 2006

Sony Today Sony drew a bead on the portion of the youth market which is hopelessly addicted to instance messaging by announcing the mylo personal communicator, a new handheld device which combines Wi-Fi capabilities with QWERTY-enabled instant messaging, VoIP capabilities, Web browsing, photo andvideo display, and (of course) a music player. The mylo—which stands for My Life Online—wants to be the new “must-have” device, unseating the famously-trendy Sidekick.

As a device, the mylo sports a 2.4-inch 320 by 240 LCD display, 1 GB of flash memory (supposedly upgradable to 4 GB), mini-USB connectivity, a Memory Stick Duo slot (after all, this is a Sony product!), integrated 802.11b wireless networking (supporting WEP and WPA-PSK) security), and a lithium-ion battery offering up to 45 hours of music playback, 8 hour of video time, and up to 3.5 hour sof VoIP talk time. Add to that a DC input for charging or running “wired” with the AC adapter, a 10-pin headphone/microphone interface (an adapter is included), a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for composing your messages lickety-split, and a total weight of aout 5.3 ounces, including battery.

Recommended Videos

The mylo’s capabilities come from the bundled applications, and the trumpeted functionality all surrounds instant messaging and VoIP. On the IM front, the mylo handles Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, and Skype messaging—sorry, no AIM or MSN, but it’s possible the new détente between Redmond and Yahoo might let Yahoo Messenger talk to MSN buddies. For VoIP, the mylo is a full-fledged Skype handset, supporting Skype In, Skype Out, and Skype-To-Skype VoIP calling.

For email, the mylo supports Yahoo Mail and Google’s Gmail, and surf’s the Web with the Opera Web browser. Also on board: a music player (MP3, WMA, and Sony’a ATRAC format), a video player (MPEG-4), a photo viewer, and a text editor.

If the name “My Life Online” sounds familiar, you may not be in Sony’s young target demographic: Sony launched a series of My Life Online devices back in 2001 which withered in the marketplace, in part because the products’ planned introduction date in the U.S. was (you guessed it) September 11, 2001. Of portions of the mylo look familiar, you might remember Sony’s Clie PDA devices, which tried to take on Palm and Blackberry PDAs.

The mylo is designed to take advantage of free Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity to provide Internet-based messaging and calling (JiWire’s hotspot directory is built in); as such, there are no monthly fees for carrying around a mylo, although (of course) users may have to pay for Wi-Fi access, Skype services. The mylo manages up to nine online identities per person, enabling used to quickly select preferred communication methods with specific buddies.

The mylo personal communicator will be available in black and white cases, and is due to ship in September for $350.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Computing

Wi-Fi not working? How to fix the most common problems

the fbi wants you to reboot your router insecure getty

Wi-Fi problems can strike anyone at any time, no matter how much networking experience you may have. But if you've not come across a particular Wi-Fi issue before, there's no need to worry if you don't know how to fix it. All you need are the right tools and a few tips, and you'll be able to solve your Wi-Fi problem in no time.

Whether you're experiencing problems with slow internet, Wi-Fi signal dropping, or you just can't connect to Wi-Fi at all, here are some of the quickest and easiest fixes you can try. We'll also cover some advanced advice on more troubling issues that would definitely result in your Wi-Fi not working at all, or at slower speeds.
Basic Wi-Fi troubleshooting checklist
If you have a non-specific problem with your Wi-Fi or don't consider the problem serious enough to investigate more in-depth problems, consider the items on this list as a great way to start fixing your problem.

Mobile

What is Wi-Fi calling, and how does it work?

Wi-Fi Calling

Network coverage has been steadily improving, but there are still many people around the world who can’t get a decent phone signal in their homes. There are gaps in many networks, particularly in rural areas, as a quick glance at Open Signal’s coverage maps reveals. Wi-Fi calling could be the answer.
What is Wi-Fi calling?
Wi-Fi calling allows you to seamlessly use any Wi-Fi connection to make or receive calls when your network signal is weak. If you’re at home and there’s a dead spot in the back bedroom, or the bars on your smartphone drop down to one when you go into the bathroom, then your phone can automatically switch to your home Wi-Fi network and use that to make and receive calls.

The beauty of Wi-Fi calling is that it should work seamlessly. Assuming your carrier supports it, you’ve activated the appropriate setting on your phone, and you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network, then it should kick in automatically whenever you need it. All the calls you make and messages you send through Wi-Fi calling appear as normal in your usual messages app and call logs.

Mobile

Apple Music just got a cool feature you won’t find on Spotify

Apple Music Replay screenshots via Apple.

The Apple Music Replay feature gives you a rundown of which songs and albums you've listened to on the service every year. But now, it's getting a makeover that will make it more handy. Rundowns are being offered every month, allowing you to see your favorite tunes during the past 30-plus days — as well as how often you've listened to those titles.

The new monthly Apple Music Replay feature is only available through the web on the Apple Music Replay website, which is unfortunate, but unsurprising. The annual Apple Music Replay launches every December and is also a web-only feature.