First generation Mylo brought a lot of bang for the buck, but despite that still left a lot to be desired. Sony has learned from its mistakes and the second generation Mylo improves a lot on the original product.
DESIGN:
The design is a great improvement above the first generation Mylo. While the first generation looked like a cheap plastic toy the latest generation has done away with most the plastic parts that gave the first generation of the device such a cheap feel. But that has come with a sacrifice to weight (the new device weighs 6.8 ounces). Fortunately Sony has included a soft carrying case so it can easily be slipped into a handbag or backpack without getting scratched. In terms of size the device is 5.2 inches in width, 2.6 inches tall and 0.8 inch thick. Not exactly a cell phone competitor but then again Sony is not marketing this as an alternative to a cell phone which is a wise move since the device does not support any type of cellular technology. The device carries an impressive 3.5 inch diagonal touch screen WVGA display.
Navigating the device can be done via the slide out full QWERTY keyboard, touch sensitive controls that line the screen or the joystick that is located on the left side of the device. The placement is a little awkward since most users are used to operating a joystick with the right instead of the left hand.
The slide out QWERTY keyboard is an improvement over the last one. While the keys are a bit small, the spacing helps to fix that. The only major problem with the keyboard is the number keys are not highlighted so it takes a little getting used to before typing out numerals on the system without a hitch.
For those familiar with the Sony PSP you will find that the design of the Mylo 2 is pretty reminiscent of it especially with the location off on off switch, and Memory Stick Due expansion slot (which accepts up to 8GB cards).
SOFTWARE
The software is quite easy to use and the menus are self explanatory so navigating the device is not a hassle. The device now supports widgets which makes it easier to access the devices features. The device is essentially a messaging system and comes with dedicated support for Google Talk, AIM and Yahoo. It’s kind of sad that the system does not carry dedicated support for the biggest IM service which happens to be MSN. Which means anyone who is interested in using the Mylo w and mostly uses MSN Live Messenger will have to import their MSN contacts to Yahoo before being able to.
The system also supports such things as music playback (including WMA protected/unprotected) and to top it off YouTube.
PERFORMANCE:
Performance leaves much to be desired. While music playback is good it might not be on par with MP3 devices. The system does support features such as album art and the ability to make playlists quickly. Unfortunately video performance is not so great with the device only supporting MPEG-4 at the moment. On the other hand the 1.3 megapixel camera is quite good and is worthy upgrade to the original device.
CONCLUSION:
The Mylo2 is a hard sell because with a price tag of $299 it puts it in the range of most high end cell phones (including the new 3G iPhone). With lack of support for any other type of connection other than Wi-Fi (WPA and WPA2) it’s not practical if you are interested in using your device on the road. While it does support unlimited subscription to (available at 9,000 McDonald’s, 70 IHOP restaurants, and 600 hotels) it doesn’t compensate for its lack of cellular service (even Bluetooth would have been good).
So unless you are only interested in a messenger for HotSpot access the Mylo might not be your cup of tea at the moment.
