You may remember reports of Sony's flashy Aino phone earlier this year which can, among other things, connect to PS3 via Remote Play giving you full access to your XMB through its tiny screen.
Well Sony's revealed that the Aino is now just weeks away from release over here in October and spewed all the details prospective buyers need to know about the smart-looking device.
Here's an official Q&A, and some lovely photos of it:
What are you offering PlayStation3 users in your upcoming range of phones?
Aino is one of the first handsets in Sony Ericsson's new Communications Entertainment proposition. It offers a unique multimedia experience for all PlayStation3 fans as they can seamlessly access and control their PS3 media content anywhere, anytime using Remote Play.
Remote Play with Aino lets you turn your PS3 on and off, browse and control the XMB and access the internet browser from anywhere in the world. Remote Play also lets you control and access the HD Drive's media content on PS3 using the built-in WiFi or 3G connections via Aino.
You can also access PlayStation Store via Remote Play or chat with friends via PlayStation Network. It is also possible to buy and download a new game from the Store via Aino so it is ready and waiting for you when you get home.
How exactly do users access Remote Play?
Users simply start Remote Play by selecting the Remote Play icon in the entertainment menu of their Aino.
The set up is easy and only necessary once - the PS3 generates the registration code to be entered into Aino.
You navigate the XMB with the Aino keypad.
What other features does Aino offer?
Aino also has the following features:
Watch the latest videos, podcasts, music, Facebook and YouTube on the 3 inch touch screen with 30 frames per second high quality playback, 16.7 million colours and video recording in VGA 25 frames per second
Enjoy music with great sound with the Clear audio experience Bluetooth headset, 3.5mm jack, easy-to-use music controls and FM radio
Personalise Aino with music, movies and games from the PlayNow arena, which offers a full range of mobile entertainment. It also features new, specially developed ringtones, music tones and DRM-free music tracks
Aino combines a traditional keypad with an intuitive touch user interface when in media mode. The intuitive 3D scrolling media browser gives users a clear overview and one touch direct access to their content
Play and organise content with Media Go, which automatically formats all content on a computer to be compatible with Aino
Insert Aino into its charging stand and Media Home automatically pulls new content from Media Go on a PC via Wi-Fi
Access the PlayTV service to watch, pause and record live TV from a huge range of free to air channels
Aino features an 8.1 megapixel camera, featuring face detection, Geo tagging, Photo flash and auto focus
A huge 8GB SD memory card to store downloadable content
When will Aino be released?
This is dependent on local market timings. The first Aino will be released early October in the UK, with the rest of Europe to follow.
It's a damn nice phone, but I bet it's also damned expensive. I would predict that it would cost about the same as the iPhone.
I hate this obsession with touchscreens as well, I hate trying to watch a video and having my fingerprints covering the screen, likewise I get paranoid about it getting scratched or damaged. It's good to see that Sony have finally included a proper headphone jack as well, rather than proprietary thing they use on every other phone.
My walkman phones been a bloody nightmare from the day i got it. If they can't manage to integrate basic music playing into a phone without it crashing every five minutes i doubt they'll be any more joy intergating remote play for the PS3.
Thinking of picking up a PSP 2000 when the go comes out. My mates got FF VIII running on his which is pretty damn epic.
I never use Remote Play on my PSP, so I'm not bothered with a phone that can do it. Being able to start the day's PSN content downloading from work could be useful, but if I was that pushed about it I'd already be bringing my PSP in on Thursdays.
Will PS3 owners be that obsessed with their console they need to own all this stuff? Really? (remembers who he's speaking/typing to)Guess it's just me then... I personally find it a little... sad.
Still- been debating getting that PS3 slim- I can get a hold of one for £225! I must dwell on this further!
My walkman phones been a bloody nightmare from the day i got it. If they can't manage to integrate basic music playing into a phone without it crashing every five minutes i doubt they'll be any more joy intergating remote play for the PS3.
Thinking of picking up a PSP 2000 when the go comes out. My mates got FF VIII running on his which is pretty damn epic.
Try updating that firmware/software solved most of the problems on my K850i, including the Micro SDHC incompatability issue...Funnily enough I updated it 2 weeks before I got my new phone...
As for the this new model, they should have made it so it could be used as a Bluray remote, that would have been REALLY useful!
Sorry Sony, but that's just ridiculous & sort of makes a mockery of your "energy saving" slim design, don't you think? Rolling Eyes
You sir are ridiculous, asking a question then providing commentry without the answer based on what you assume the answer to be. Why even ask the question?
The remote play has the ability to turn on and off the PS3, as written in the article you may not have read. If you can turn it on, it means it was off to begin with.
Obviously this is in power saving / standby mode, which is not uncommon for probably all your electronic devices.
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