The new A-series OLED PMP from Sony is their thinnest ever Walkman. The NW-A840 is only 7.2mm, so thin in fact that there’s little choice not to make this an OLED player. The screen is 2.8 inches, which means you will need the video out option to fully enjoy the 720 x 480 videos this player can store. Like the iPod Touch, the A840 is available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB priced at about $263, $329, $439.

Video after the break.

[via engadget]

This QWERTY-equipped touchscreen device sports almost similar specs to the N97, but runs on the new Maemo 5 platform, features a better 3.5-inch 800×480 display, dual-LED flash, and a more sophisticated and plush look. It also features an ARM cortex A8 600MHz processor, similar to the iPhone 3G S and Palm Pre, so this phone definitely has what it takes to compete in the market as far as hardware specs are concerned.

[bgr via cellphones etc]
More details and pictures after the break.

As most Nokia Nxxx devices are internet tablets only, we were a bit skeptical at first if this is indeed a phone, but upon seeing that it supports quad-band GSM/EDGE, WCDMA 900/1700/2100MHz networks and comes with SIM card slot, we don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t be able to make calls on this device (unless, of course, it doesn’t come with a mic).

It’s already FCC approved and looks to be headed for a T-Mobile debut in the US. Its price, however, is still yet to be known, but our guess is that it will be somewhere in the $800 region. So, what do you guys think of this new touchscreen QWERTY offering from Nokia?

Two versions are available: an 8GB (NWZ-S544) model and a 16GB (NWZ-S6545) variant. Apart from the obvious built-in stereo speakers, this new S-series Walkman features a 2.4-inch QVGA widescreen display, FM tuner, codec support for MP3, non-DRM AAC, WMA, H.254, MPEG4, WMV files, microphone, and a Li-ion battery that can supposedly provide up to 42 hours of audio or 6.5 hours of video. We’re not sure if it will be released in other colored iterations, but black is the only one currently available. The 8GB version is retailing for 129€ ($182) while the 16GB model is selling for 149€ ($211).

So, is this good enough for you or were you expecting something more from Sony?

[8gb nwz-s544, 16gb nwz-s6545; sony insider via engadget]

We choose to believe this supposed leakage of a new Sony Walkman that will follow the E440 for one reason: it’s too boring to be a fake. The unnamed Walkman has built-in speakers top and bottom of the screen. The design is similar to the E440 except for the speakers, which should make this PMP a little longer. The Mickey Mouse controls have been kept, and, apparently, some very bold colors utilized. A very loud portable player that should cause no small amount of trouble to the public.

[via dapreview]

We wish the Sony Walkman E-series would offer better capacity, as it is, the non-touchscreen Walkman will come in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB. It has a 2.0-inch screen, an FM tuner and recorder. They don’t have an official price for it yet, though release date seems to be in a matter of weeks.

We like to think the Sony name will be enough to sell the E440. Otherwise, there’s really nothing intriguing on this PMP.

[via dapreview, engadget]

Sony hasn’t taken open technology very seriously in the past. Its CONNECT music download service was a failure. It was based on OpenMG, a proprietary digital rights management (DRM) technology. At the time, we thought we would make more money that way than with open technology, because we could manage the customers and their downloads.

This approach, however, created a problem: customers couldn’t download music from any Websites except those that contracted with Sony. If we had gone with open technology from the start, I think we probably would have beaten Apple Inc of the US.

Android will definitely be a welcome change for Sony, who’s already proven its genius in hardware throughout the decades.

[via cnet]

• 3-inch touchscreen OLED
• WiFi
• WMV, MPEG-4, AVC and MP3, WMA, AAC playback
• Digital S-Master digital amplifier
• 13.5 mm Noise Canceling EX Headphones included MDR-NC020
• 9 hours of video and 33 hours of music
• 32GB for $399

I think one of the best PMPs currently available and reasonably priced for the features. It’s not available immediately but you can pre-order.

[amazon via dapreview]

The PSPhone could still be made, says Hideki Komiyama, president of Sony Ericsson, during an interview with the Financial Times. It may not have escaped Komiyama that Sony Ericsson’s market share is in trouble and a gaming phone line to add to its Cyber-Shot and Walkman Phone lines can only help. Can SE actually make such a phone? Short answer is, yes, a PlayStation Phone can actually be done. Sony will have to reconsider, if, as rumored, they’ve already said no to such a device.

[source via theregister]