Mylo ships with Freescale SoC
Nov 16, 2006 — by LinuxDevices Staff — from the LinuxDevices Archive — 10 views[Updated Dec. 15] — 
Sony's Linux-based, WiFi-equipped Mylo (“my life online”) multifunction handheld, now shipping, is based on an ARM9-based i.MX21 SoC (system-on-chip), confirms Freescale. The Mylo is shipping now, direct from SonyStyle for $350, and from big-box retailers such as Best Buy.
Physically, the Mylo resembles Sony's popular Playstation Portable (PSP). However, its Linux- and Qtopia-based software environment is mainly aimed at connected applications, such as messaging, VoIP, and web-browsing. It comes with an Opera web browser, Skype client VoIP software, and GoogleTalk and Yahoo! instant messaging software. The device measures 1 x 4.8 by 2.5 inches, and sports a 2.4-inch QBVGA (320 x 240) LCD screen.
Freescale calls its i.MX21 (MX is for “multimedia extensions”) applications processor “ideal” for emerging Internet-based multimedia devices, such as VoIP communicators and wireless IP phones. Along with an ARM926EJ-S core, the processor integrates MPEG-4 hardware encoding and decoding, along with power management features and a host on on-chip peripheral interfaces.
Block Diagram of i.MX21 processor
(click image for larger view)
Interestingly, the Mylo's hardware specifications seem to match those of Freescale's “Jazz” reference design, except that the Mylo lacks a hard drive. The Jazz board was originally marketed for Windows CE applications.
Commenting on Sony's use of the i.MX21 processor, Berardino Baratta, GM of multimedia applications at Freescale, stated, “By leveraging the i.MX processor feature set, manufacturers are able to further expand and differentiate the functionality and performance of their mobile devices.”
Availability
The Sony Mylo is available now, from Sony's online store, priced at $350, in black or white. The product is also reportedly available at big-box retailers such as BestBuy.
Updated Dec. 15 to correct typo in lead paragraph, which said “i.mx31” instead of “i.mx21.”
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