News Sony details new handheld, iPod rival

From CNet:

Sony on Tuesday detailed plans for a much-anticipated, all-in-one handheld gaming device that includes a digital music and video player and could even act as mobile telephone.

Officials of the world's largest consumer electronics maker also said Sony would launch a rival to Apple Computer's iPod digital music player next year for as little as $60.

Sony described a prototype for its PSP gaming device--due out before the end of 2004--during a presentation to U.S. investors that reiterated plans to restore profitability at the company.

"PSP will be the Walkman of the future," Ken Kutaragi, Sony's executive deputy president and head of its gaming business, said in comparing a PSP prototype to Sony's highly successful earlier generation of music players.

Full story here. There's more commentry here, along with a piccy of the proposed device.

 

A better pic, and a further report can be found at the Register

 

ipod rival? that makes the ipod look like a tape player.

 

Nice... I like the built-in 802.11b capability a lot...

Wonder what the cost will be - I didn't see any hints.

EDIT::
Yea, I'm a moron. It's only in the 1st paragraph "as low as $60"

 

I very much doubt that the device in the pictures will cost $60. Or even look like that when it finally comes to market, as concepts are always more 'extreme' than the finshed product.

 

*drool*

GIMME!

 

True, but it's nice to see that at least at this point they seem to believe the price tag will be <$100

 

There is no mention of it using high capacity storage that i can see. I would much rather have a massive portable music library then a glorified gameboy.