Spawned from the Sony portable audio technology and artificial intelligence, this palm-sized, egg-shaped device provides a combination of music, motion and fun. With 180-degree horizontal opposed stereo speakers, listeners can hear sound from nearly anywhere. Also, the speakers have a neodymium magnet for better audio performance. Sound reverberates from the surface the device is placed on, be it a desk or the floor. A digital amp for better sound quality is another technology that has been added to the device.
With built-in robotics technologies, the device is designed to move its small arms, shoulders and wheels--six moving parts--to the beat of the music. With about 700 colors including pink, blue, white and orange, lighting is supposed to add to the impact. The Rolly can move freely on a smooth surface, and songs and volume are controlled by turning the wheels while the unit is on a surface or holding it in ones hand. Shaking the device switches to shuffle mode.
With 2GB flash memory, the player can store up to 500 songs, and the battery life allows up to five hours of music playback and up to four hours of music and motion together. The player supports non-secure AAC and MP3.
The Sony Rolly will be available later this spring.
Philip Berne, Matthew Ruiz, Edward Distel and Sindre Lia contribute to the CES 2008 coverage.
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