At the end of my CES 2008 reflections article, I confessed that my favorite device of the show was the Sony mylo 2 (COM-2). Even in the midst of all the Intel MIDs, I was still most captivated by the new Linux-based handheld.
Part of my fascination came from the fact that I had been waiting for its debut since June 2007, while the rest can be chalked up to the mylo being the only new gadget unveiled on the floor that had a firm price and release date. Everything else I was interested in, as stated in my CES wrap-up, was either a concept or preview of what would be available sometime in the future.
And as I’ve said countless times before, I’m all about instant gratification.
Packaging
Sony stuck with the color scheme of the original mylo‘s packaging for the COM-2, so the orange and gray combination was instantly familiar to me.
Contents
Though Sony doesn’t score too many points for presentation, it often sets the bar for a device’s included accessory bundle.
Inside the box are a CD-ROM containing the user’s guide and various preinstalled content (sample media, mylo widgets, etc.), Quick Start Guide and other printed materials, a neoprene carrying pouch, USB cable, headphones, stylus and strap, one-touch answer remote controller with microphone, AC adapter, 3.7V li-ion battery (1200mAh), and the mylo itself.
Most of the accessories are pretty standard fare, but a few deserve some extra attention.
Stylus & Strap
The surfboard-shaped stylus measures 2.25 inches long and is designed to be attached to the wrist strap. The strap hole is located on the left side of the mylo, making the stylus a bit awkward to use for right-handed people.
A telescoping stylus that could be stored in a dedicated slot on the device would’ve been much better. Fortunately, a stylus is not required to use the mylo; the user interface is decently optimized for finger use and the unit itself has a nice selection of hardware controls.
One-Touch Answer Remote Controller
Like the COM-1, the COM-2 is not equipped with a standard headphone jack.
Instead, headphones must be connected to what Sony calls the "one-touch answer remote controller with microphone," which in turn connects to the mylo through a proprietary connection. The contraption is meant to facilitate internet calls via Skype, but it’s annoying to have to carry an extra connector when all you want to do is listen to music or watch a movie.
Carrying Pouch
It’s clear from my accessory reviews that I absolutely adore cases, so I’m always overjoyed when a really nice one is included with a device.
The mylo 2’s neoprene case is nearly identical to the one bundled with the original mylo.
The main differences are that the COM-2’s case has a mesh pocket on the back and doesn’t have any kind of closure (the other case was kept closed with a piece of Velcro).
The entire case is soft and incredibly padded. For added protection, a piece of thick cardboard (or something else that’s flat and hard) has been sewn into the front of the case to act as a screenguard.
Here’s the COM-1 and COM-2 below their respective cases:
Quick Look
I’ve got a few mylo 2 posts planned for the next week or so (the actual review won’t be ready for a while), so all I can offer right now is a round of fresh-from-the-box pictures.
A small selection of official accessories is already available for the mylo 2, including face plates and a screen protector, but I haven’t seen any third-party support yet.
The only accessory that interested me was the mylo charging cradle (above). You’ll probably see a review of the cradle long before the actual mylo gets the full treatment, so I wo n’t go into details here.
Stay tuned for more on the Sony mylo 2 (COM-2) at Pocketables, including a quick comparison with the Nokia N810 and maybe a dedicated review of the web browsing experience.
