The Sony Mylo Review
This post was published 3 years 1 month 9 days ago and its content may not be valid anymore.
UNEASYsilence is proud to welcome guest reviewer, David Woodral, who burned the midnight oil to write this very comprehensive review. Thanks David!
I have had my new Mylo in black and gray for a couple of days now. Overall, I am pleased.
It is hard to tell from pictures (especially marketing photos) how large or small a device will feel in the hand. When the Mylo arrived my first thought was that they have the size about right. I don’t know that you would want to carry it in your pocket, but in a briefcase or backpack you would hardly know you were carrying it. If it were any smaller it probably wouldn’t be comfortable to use. The Mylo is a handsome looking device out of the box.
The screen is bright and viewable in most lighting conditions and from most angles (two people can watch videos or view photos without bumping heads). The black version is very glossy in appearance and shows fingerprints right away. However, the screen is bright enough that this is not a usability problem. The screen slides open easily to reveal the qwerty keyboard. When open, the joint between keyboard and screen has a slight amount of play in it. It’s not like the thing wobbles around uncontrollably but it would be more reassuring if it were completely taught. The keyboard struck me as being on the small side the first day I had the Mylo, but by the second day I had adjusted easily. The buttons are the appropriate size given the overall size of the keyboard. They respond positively when pressed and I have had very few incorrect presses. I have what are probably average-sized hands for a guy and I haven’t had any problem with the top or bottom row of keys as I have read in other reviews.
The applications provided all seem to work well. The web browser does a decent job of handling sites that are otherwise formatted for very large screens. You can pan around in full size view or the Opera browser will try to scale the page down for you. This works better on some pages than with others. I have heard some conflicting reports on this but the browser will definitely handle _java script and https (I was even able to log into some commercial banking sites). Java and Flash are not supported.
Yahoo mail and Gmail are browser-based through dedicated bookmarks. Both of these work as advertised. However, I was not able to view embedded images in either program. I could view jpeg attachments in Gmail but not in Yahoo mail.
Google talk and Yahoo messenger are both also great. No AIM or MSN but I understand these can be accessed through third party websites that the Mylo can handle.
Skype is incredible on this thing. Whether you are using the Mylo to make calls, or receiving a call from a Mylo (I had my wife call me with it) the sound is great. You can either use the included headphones and microphone, or hold the device like a phone using its built in speaker and mic. Either way it’s great.
The MP3 player seems average. I have to admit in this regard though that I am an iPod devotee. This is no iPod but you can certainly carry some tunes to listen to on the thing and they will sound good. You can play music while you operate most other applications. This slows down the second operation but that is to be expected. No skipping or problems with the music while doing other things though. There is a combination button/slider for controlling the music without going through the menus. Dedicated volume keys are also provided. You can listen to music on the external speaker but this sounds less than impressive. You can also use your own headphones with the Mylo but only using the included microphone that acts as an adapter.
Videos play well but I was not able to encode anything that would play on the Mylo with any of the free programs out there for PSP. Sony’s image converter program (around $20) did the trick though.
Since I don’t know anyone close by with another Mylo, I can’t really say anything about the ad hoc mode. You are supposed to be able to set a profile that other Mylos can see and to stream music to one another. It also looks as if you might be able to share photos but I don’t know that for sure.
Battery life seems good – it will probably get close to its published rating.
The WiFi is 802.11b. I have used the Mylo on three networks running the gamut from totally locked down to open for all. No problems here. With the settings correct, I have connected on the first try each time so far. A cool pulsating blue light let’s you know you are connected.
For me, this device is not a laptop replacement. I bought it primarily for traveling when I need to check email or IM but don’t plan to be preparing presentations or writing any lengthy documents (note that Writely is not currently compatible with Opera, and therefore not compatible with the Mylo either). I could use my cell phone to check email or IM in a pinch but the high data costs and limited interface have always kept me away from that. Since I can’t imagine paring my music collection down from several gigs to a few gigs to fit on memory sticks, I will probably continue to travel with a cell phone, an iPod, and either a laptop or Mylo depending on my needs for the trip. Something to consider is that Skypeout will usually be cheaper than international cell phone calls and as easy as the Mylo makes Skype, I could definitely see myself Skyping instead.
I have to admit that I think the price is high. I have been waiting for just such a device as the Mylo for years though so I had to bite the bullet. I know the Nokia 770 is comparable but it’s bigger, heavier, and doesn’t have the built-in keyboard. I would really like to see some additional applications for the Mylo. The device is upgradeable so there is always a chance that this will happen. I think Sony will have a real winner here if they can get the price down another hundred bucks or so.I have had my new Mylo in black and gray for a couple of days now. Overall, I am pleased.
Quite possibly the most helpful review I’ve ever read and I’m not just saying that just because the reviewer is my husband. The Sony Mylo is a convenient little gadget!
looks pretty hawt. Might have to get one, if i had the cash :(
Totally disagree
I really wanted this device to work for me – it has my killer app – Skype. If fails horribly.
1) Connectivety – Only works on the older b wireless standard. Yet when it scans for networks it will pick up all the g signals. Buried in the arcane user manual on page 90 it confirms this. OK but it is stated on the box that it only works on the b standard. Fair enough but why show me for example 10 networks which I have to test individually since the device cannot distinguish the difference. BTW most networks are g.
Video – Want to import a non-mpeg 4 video – the Mylo software is grey here. Why because you have to buy their addon software for $20 should you want to convert through Mylo. Oh, don’t have a dualcore machine as that software says results are unpredictable. I haven’t tried to drop an MPEG-4 video into the device through windows yet.
Audio – welcome back to that crappy SonicStage. Awkward interface that refused to import from MyMusic folder insisting on scanning my entire machine despite pointing it to that folder. I really dont need to see MS system sounds in my music list. Unless you decide to use their music store or Atrac format files – why bother – I have my ipod
Things I have done with my Mylo – imported a background picture and connected 1 time in NYC. I have failed to connect about 10 times (not finding networks despite being in high signal area – err midtown NYC). Made 1 Skype call after 30 minutes of trying to find a signal
Software is clunky.
I decided to take a chance on this and become an early adapter. The burn still has me on fire. Sony use to be an innovative company with great products. That changed several years ago. This product just illustrates how far off the mark they still are in every imaginable way.
The great shame here – is what this device could have been.
Really save your money – this funcionality will be duplicated by another manufacturer that hopefully ‘gets it’
Great review I\’m glad to see more information from the user\’s standpoint appearing on the net. A lot of the reviews I\’ve read online have been mostly repeating the specifications and nothing more.
I recently picked up my Mylo about 2 weeks ago and I have to agree with your assessment of the Mylo, I\’ve had a wonderful experience with the device thus far. I spent somet time writing up a full review on the Sony Mylo filled with pictures, videos and diagrams to help people understand the Sony Mylo better. I hope you guys enjoy it.
no msn instant messeger is a big turn off. i’ll stick with my psp
im gonna get a white mylo, fingerprints dont show and it looks more fly!
yea true it dont have msn but it can be easly acxed threw the web browser… its wat i would call mobile msn
Why would you want MSN? It has google talk, and Skype. Unless all your friends are some kind of microsoft lackies… What’s more, google talk means it also can access any and all other Jabber IM systems. Given how AIM is still so popular, I can see people bitching about that, but really, open standard vs. closed standard. Given how MS has actively prevented people from accessing MSN in the past…
As for the sonic stage, yes it sucks, don’t use it. I would be more worried about: Why does PSP support AAC, but Mylo doesn’t?
The most confusing comment here is about the Wifi. “Most Networks are G” seems a bit … statistically lacking. Most _home_ network maybe are G now, but a lot of larger scale networks (colleges, etc.) are made up of B nodes that aren’t going to be changed any time soon. Most of the G Access Points also support B, so I don’t see what the problem is? (For example, my apple airport supports both G and B). What’s more, B is more than fast enough for Skype, which is probably the most bandwidth intensive aspect of the Mylo, so why would they support G and raise the price further?
At any rate, someone who posted was right in saying it is half-assed in some respects. If I buy it, it will to be a skype phone, because it looks like it would be better at that than the other skype phones. I don’t care much about the web browsers, etc.
This little gadget is pretty awesome accept the fact that it doesnt include AIM or MSN.
What about security with this thing? If you read gmail can people intercept? Is there anything else to worry about?
Also, does anyone else in NYork have a differing account of the WiFi reception?
I’m going to chime in with my personal review of the unit (albeit short and swift).
In short, the Mylo is realistically useless. Seattle is nearly blanketed in Wifi throughout the downtown area, yet 75% of the time, the Mylo was unable to acquire a signal for any of the open hotspots provided by the transit lines, non-profit groups, office networks, or even Starbucks hotspots. I acknowledge the fact that device performance varies from scenario to scenario but what I experienced was completely despicable.
The unit as a handy messaging device? Blech. I’m sorry, but why did Sony ensure that users are aware the device is connected with a pulsing blue light without making sure to offer a back-lit keyboard? Forget using this thing in the dark. Think you’re a touch-typist pro? You’ll slam this device into the wall. Just look at how the device looks with the lights off – http://flickr.com/photos/0401/280458209/
I’ll give Sony credit for creating a decent Skype handset though. Forget using the hands-free kit while moving though. The mic is extremely sensitive meaning that if the wire – not the mic itself – is rubbing against your clothes, both yourself and the caller will hear it. My personal opinion? A $400 Skype handset is not worth it. Not to mention plug-in play is non-existent when I had the device on OS X.
if people we wondering the mylo doesnt have and AIM broswer or app built in. and you can get aol mail from their website. but i foundthe solution. go to aim.mylo.im i think or something like that but you keep your contacts and your SN so its all good in the mylo hood. laters hope i helped a few!
if u guys want to use aim go to aimonpsp.com
even though its for psp it works fine
well i got mine new in box from circuit city 1/2008 with a kinda fake price match second best was 130 mine was 100$
for 100 this thing kicks iphones asss!! all over the place
does internet music, psp video will convert for free really tricky though
skype is awsome practically free, 3 dollars a month unlimited everything, no im not kidding check it out for real
catch= sony’s bane, memory sticks
only works where theres b wifi, g and n wont work although most routers do all three or two
So can the mylo accept phone calls? like if someone on a payphone were to call the mylo, they can’t right? because the mylo doesn’t have a number. so you can send out calls, but can’t recieve them?
argh…..if it can recieve calls, then it would be agreat product. i’m really contemplating whether i should buy this or not. like, can it go to any site? or should i save my money for a laptop? because a laptop can do all of this, but it’s just smaller. gahhh…but i really want just because it lookes really cool..
maybe i should just buy a phone that can do all of thsi, but hte damn phones don’t even have wi-fi. but the mylo sounds so cool!!!!!
wat should i do?