Sony’s First Touchscreen Walkman Revealed

Posted by Christopher MacManus on December 12th, 2008 Comments Printer-Friendly

Sony is set to debut a new 16 and 32GB drag and drop Walkman during CES 2009, according to trusted inside sources. This will be the most advanced music, video and photo Walkman music player ever released by Sony to date. While it was revealed before to Wired that Sony’s new Walkman would have Wi-Fi capabilities, we have now learned that Sony’s new Walkman will also be touchscreen and WQVGA. The touchscreen will not be the usual LCD, but a brilliant three inch OLED with a contrast ratio around 10k. OLED display capabilities in terms of color reproduction are far beyond the average LCD, which means 100% color reproduction across a wider viewing angle.

While most of the usual menu structure of the current Walkman series will be retained in this new model, there are several new exciting features included. For example, upon listening to an artist, you may click on the artist name and watch music videos of the artist on YouTube through Wi-Fi (WPA and WEP support included). Additionally, there will be a Youtube icon on the main screen that will allow full access to the website – search, pause, FF/RW included very similar to Youtube access on the iPhone/iTouch. Additionally, this new Walkman will be able to subscribe to audio podcast and Crackle video feeds; this means automatic download of new updates, the ability to delete old feed content, all over Wi-Fi. Audio codec support includes MP3, WMA, AAC, PCM, while video codec support is AVC (h.264), MPEG-4 and WMV.

There will be built-in search capabilities that can be used to learn more about your favorite artist, and users will be able to purchase full CD’s of their favorite artists through the Walkman at Amazon. A powerful S-Master digital amplifier is built into this device as well as digital noise canceling to ensure optimal sound. On top of all of these impressive features, Sony has also included a FM radio to truly differentiate this product amongst the competition. Also, while the product shots above do not show hardware buttons for music control (previous track, play/pause, next track and volume), we believe this device will have dedicated hardware buttons for this functionality.

..and yes, it comes with a fully functional web browser, but we cannot confirm or deny flash support.

This information is a Sony Insider exclusive, brought to you here first.

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  • This is awesome news - I have been a loyal fan of the walkman every since my first analog one in 1982.

    Cant wait to get this one.
  • TheFaze
    WOW!! As a proud owner of the A818 walkman, I'm glad I waited for this iteration to upgrade. Can't wait for that 32GB walkman to drop! It's MINE!! :-D
  • korbé
    Not OGG Vorbis and FLAC support?

    :(
  • ascariss
    time to start saving up for the player. oled and flash, 2 perfect combinations.
  • T.W.G
    I STRONGLY hope that Sony is intelligent enough to integrate PHYSICAL controls for track and volume, too!

    Apple made that mistake with their first iPod touch but on the second generation iPod touch Apple integrated physical buttons, too!

    Hopefully Sony does it, too!

    Anyway: 32GB from Sony: MINE!

    Actualy I have a lovely vaio pocket and that new Sony can be worth the upgrade :-))))
  • Christian
    OLED instead of LCD? BRILLIANT! (figuratively and literally). I might just hold of buying a Zune and wait for this bad boy.
  • Yeah Time to save few bucks to get this :)
  • Zizone
    Does it have built-in BT? If not I guess, I can use my WLA-NWB1. But it will be nice if it is built-in.
  • noname
    Wow this is amazing!!! I have to get it :D
  • jake thomas
    I'm really excited, too bad it's about 2 years too late.
    Sony patented multi-touch that trumped Apple's I wonder if this will be using it.
    Additionally, why no direct link to the PlayStation Video Store?
  • zidan
    it's merely concept pic
  • Tony
    I would definitely buy this if there was FLAC support...
  • Oh great, Sony runs after Apple again. Have they ever considered the impracticality of touch screens vs buttons?

    The main reason I ditched my iPod for a Network Walkman was because the Walkman design had separate, fully functioning BUTTONS. Feeling around in your pocket for the Volume up button was much more quick and convenient than figuring out the hand movements necessary to do the same with a touch device.

    So I have to pull a touch screen device out of my pocket, look at the screen to make sure it's in the right mode, and then begin giving it commands. Sorry, but this is form over function and a usability step backwards. Don't stop making players with buttons on them: they just work.
  • AA
    Australia and most of Europe (apart from the uk) don't have the Amazon store-will that feature be replaced by another srvice in those markets?
  • AA
    Will it be MTP drag and drop only?
  • Peebles
    Oooh, can't wait! Another piece of Sony junk with all proprietary connections, plugs,interfaces and memory and probably DRM'd up the wazoo to boot.
  • Awesome, especially the old. It looks to be pretty thin because of it. This could become a replacement of my current S739F!
  • I meant OLED, not old... :)
  • Everyone is crying for physical controls
  • Justin Bean
    Wow, now THAT is some pretty cool stuff!

    jess
    http://www.anonymity.pro.tc
  • kafkef
    David Mackenzie, while I absolutely agree with you about buttons vs touchscreens I think you should read the whole article before you comment.

    "Also, while the product shots above do not show hardware buttons for music control (previous track, play/pause, next track and volume), we believe this device will have dedicated hardware buttons for this functionality."
  • Anthony O'Brien
    Hmmmmm! 32GB yes.....as for touchscreen, what's the point?

    I know I'm in the minority here but touchscreen is cute yet completely useless.

    Wifi........gimmick.

    More capacity, more codec support, keep working on battery life and of course maintain HQ sound. It's a Walkman for cripes sake, not an Apple ipod!!!!!!!!!
  • Andrew
    ...why isn't this an Android phone? The MP3 device market will be dead in a year or two. When will sony realize that software is the product.
  • Daniel
    It's probably a shitty capacitive touchscreen, because that's all the Asian market ever makes. Blagh
  • buchs
    cool ++ perfect sony this walkman is the mp3player of the year 2009 + DESIGN
  • w00ty
    it highly amuses me to see people overeact to this lame 2d render.

    touchscreen PMP's are way overrated, sony was right in sticking to tactile controls, but if this is what they are planning, then clearly they fail.
  • This device will be killer if it will stream movies from the PS3 and include stereo bluetooth. Then it will be the mother of all iPod killers!
  • Any real photos out there yet? The design sounds very promising as Sony's contender in the mobile device race, but like Zidan already said, "these are merley concpet pics"
  • Yaroukh
    I wonder what does the "fully functional broweser" mean.
  • kafkef: Thanks for the correction, hopefully it does include buttons. But it's the move towards touch screens (for no apparent reason) that scares me.
  • kafkef
    David Mackenzie: Yeah, me too.. hopefully it'll be just a fad.
  • Anthony O'Brien
    Can I please point out my true opinion on the Walkman.

    1/ Sony offer the best sound quality available.Therefore the Walkman is more likely to be purchased by audiophiles. Why, therefore does SONY not support the audiophiles' codecs of choice such as Ogg Vorbis etc.

    2/ Gimmicks are just that,Gimmicks.
    Senseme ( I've tried it) is pointless waste of interface.
    Touchscreen is an extension of gimmickry, so is WiFi.

    3/ I thought Walkman was designed for listening to music while on the move, not for for seeking out hotspots and fiddling with a touchscreen for internet access..Besides, modern mobile phones do all that, afterall mobile phones ARE communication devices.

    4/ I firmly believe that more codec support, THE highest capacity, THE best sound quality and best battery life will ensure Walkman success. Blurring the lines as SONY appear to be doing will not promote the Walkman brand going forward.
  • ascariss
    btw has anyone tried looking for this device on the FCC?
  • Matt
    " Oooh, can’t wait! Another piece of Sony junk with all proprietary connections, plugs,interfaces and memory and probably DRM’d up the wazoo to boot."

    Wow. Clearly you haven't used a Sony DAP recently. Maybe you should know what you're talking about before you post on a Sony blog.
  • I hope you're right. Sony used to own the personal media player market, and they'll need a top-end touchscreen to get there again. I didn't see Bluetooth mentioned, and that's a mistake IMO. FM is a given. They'll need a source for apps, so expect a FLASH player on it. The iriver SPINN, Cowon S9, and Samsung P3 all have FLASH players on board meaning any games written for one will play on all of them. If Sony uses a 480x272 screen, the same would be true of their player assuming it had a FLASH player. Using an AMOLED screen will help battery life, so I'd expect it.

    4D
  • bloodpool
    they should just go ahead and announce the PSP 2, i love walkmans though they have always had the best audio quality out there, and i want the ipodtouch but i cant stand the sound of the thing im waiting for something that has amazing sound and this will most likely be it, the psp has great sound but its just too bulky to carry around in pocket as an mp3 besides it has no harddrive or flash. COME ON SONY!!! I STILL BELIEVE IN YOU!!
  • hongman
    I agree that buttons are a must for one handed intuitive use by feel for the major controls, and a touch screen while looking cool and impressing your i-pod loving friends and family, has too many drawbacks to be very practical in real world use.

    However, I luuuuv the large screen size for viewing pix and video..!!

    i would also vote for more codec support for various file types, especially great sounding music formats like FLAC, ORB, Vorbis, etc. as well as support for more image software, podcasts, etc.

    I biggest wish is for Sony to provide memory card slots to allow user capacity upgrades like Sansa does Yes a Memory Card Slot that will seamlessy utilize common SD Memory cards as well as Sony's overpriced memory sticks. This feature alone will kick ass on the product front, and do some serious damage to both I-pod, Zunes and the lower end competitors, whose main selling point to newbies at Best Buy is their large by comparisojn or easily upgradeable memory capability. C'mon Sony, users need to be able to carry and use more music and other files with them than can be stored on a measly 16 or 32 gig's!! Plus it makes sharing musice between friends a little easier while sipping latte's at yer favorite coffee house.

    My next big wish is for Sony to ditch the proprietary connector cum USB cable for a universal mini to USB 2.0 like provided with my cell phone, so I don't have to carry and keep track of another cable when traveling, and making replacement much easier and economical. Also a standard recharging mini usb port that will accept my phone's wall wart charger, so I don't have to fire up the old laptop in the hotel just to charge my walkman. Heck. sometimes I leave my laptop at home, and have no convenient method of recharging my walkman on the road.
  • tomy_zepp
    "Andrew said:

    …why isn’t this an Android phone? The MP3 device market will be dead in a year or two. When will sony realize that software is the product."


    And how are people going to carry around their music? On their intangible software? Software is nothing without the hardware. Software being the product is old news. People buy music in software format, how do you expect them to listen to it?
  • maya
    cant wait for sony laptop touch screen+mine=p!!!=@
  • lalo
    this just looks so cool - what date will it be released and at what price?
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