Mobile Technology

Sony announces first Android-based Walkman

Sony announces first Android-based Walkman
Running Android 2.3, the new Walkman comes with 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) touchscreen and powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core CPU platform
Running Android 2.3, the new Walkman comes with 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) touchscreen and powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core CPU platform
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Sony has taken the wraps off its first Android-based Walkman media player, the Z-series
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Sony has taken the wraps off its first Android-based Walkman media player, the Z-series
Sony Walkman NW-Z1000
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Sony Walkman NW-Z1000
Sony Walkman NW-Z1000
3/5
Sony Walkman NW-Z1000
Running Android 2.3, the new Walkman comes with 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) touchscreen and powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core CPU platform
4/5
Running Android 2.3, the new Walkman comes with 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) touchscreen and powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core CPU platform
Sony has taken the wraps off its first Android-based Walkman media player, the Z-series
5/5
Sony has taken the wraps off its first Android-based Walkman media player, the Z-series
View gallery - 5 images

Sony has taken the wraps off its first Android-based Walkman media player - the Z-1000. Running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Sony's would-be iPod touch rival comes well spec'd with its 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) touchscreen, NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core CPU platform and 512MB of RAM.

The NW-Z1000 is equipped with "S-Master MX" sound processing, digital noise-cancellation and a dedicated "W" button for the music player app. Installing additional apps via Android Market is also possible.

File support includes MPEG-4, AVC, WMV (Full HD 1080p video playback at 30fps available), as well as MP3, ATRAC, ATRAC Advanced lossless, AAC, HE-AAC and WMA music files formats.

Connectivity comes courtesy of WiFi 802.11b/g/n, GPS, DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1 (with EDR, AVRCP, A2DP, OPP profiles supported) and HDMI output. The unit also features digital compass, G-sensor, built-in mono speaker, FM radio and its lithium ion battery promises up to 20 hours of music and 5 hours of video playback.

The NW-Z1000's dimensions are 134.4 × 70.9 × 11.1mm (5.29 x 2.79 x 0.4in) and it weighs 156 g (5.5 oz).

Sony has taken the wraps off its first Android-based Walkman media player, the Z-series
Sony has taken the wraps off its first Android-based Walkman media player, the Z-series

Sony Walkman NW-Z1000 will be offered in three versions - 16, 32 and 64GB - priced at JPY28,000 (US$365), JPY33,000 (US$430) and JPY43,000 (US$561) respectively. It's set to be released on December 10 in Japan but availability in other countries hasn't been confirmed at this point.

Source: Electronista

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8 comments
8 comments
Joseph Shimandle
Screen should be same resolution, or better, than i-Pad Touch. I still like to see a user replaceable battery and a micro-sdhc or sdxhc card.
Rasmus Abrahamsson
I would love one of those, but it's a high price for a mp4-player! You could like, get an htc wildfire s for just a bit more! So, to expensive for me!
Racqia Dvorak
Way overpriced.
Josh Robertson
WRONG!! This ain\'t the first Android MP4 player - Archos has already been doing Android based MP4 players way before Sony. They were much cheaper too!
Bryan Paschke
hmph...they forgot the camera(s) and tilt/orientation sensors.
Charles Bosse
Bryan: The tilt and orientation sensors are the digital compass and \"G-sensor\" (accelerometor), which this has. For the price, though, I agree - this should have a camera and WiFi and be about $200 less expensive, or have something really cool like HiFi stereo speakers, or an amazing (say, ahem, a SuperAMOLED or glasses free 3D) screen.
Facebook User
No FLAC support on an open source based media player? FOR SHAME!
Anna Hendricks
Not really competition for ipod until it\'s comparable price. I paid around 230 for my 64GB (I think...all I know is it\'s the highest GB they offer) it wasn\'t the touch, but I would not pay and extra 130 just for touch. Maybe they could come out with a cheaper non touch version?