Sony Spotlights Entertainment With Two CLIE Handheld Models; Bright, Color Screen and Increased Memory Put Entertainment Center Stage

Business Wire, Jan 15, 2002

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2002

With a new color model featuring an ultra-slim design and double the internal memory of previous entertainment organizers, Sony Electronics today added more prestige to its standout handheld line with the CLIE(TM) PEG-T615C and PEG-S360 handhelds.

Measuring a mere half-inch thin, the CLIE PEG-T615C handheld is now ranked as the world's thinnest color Palm-Powered(TM) device. It features a high-resolution (320 x 320 pixels) TFT color display (with backlights), making digital images and fonts displayed on supporting applications appear with eye-popping clarity, indoors and out.

Both the CLIE PEG-T615C and the monochrome CLIE PEG-S360 models help consumers save space for more games and images with 16MB of internal memory and a dedicated Memory Stick(R) media slot. For users looking to view and edit Microsoft Word(R) and Excel(R) application documents directly on the handheld, both come bundled with Documents To Go(R) 4.0 Standard Edition by DataViz, Inc. All Sony's handheld models feature the popular Jog Dial(TM) navigator to enable single-handed operation through menus and applications.

The new color CLIE PEG-T615C handheld, available in royal blue or brushed silver, will be available at retailers nationwide later this month for about $400. Available at retailers nationwide in February, the monochrome CLIE PEG-S360 handheld will sell for about $200. Both can be pre-ordered beginning today at www.sonystyle.com.

CLIE PEG-T615C Handheld: Small in Size, Big Features

Framed by an elegantly thin, yet sturdy aluminum case, the CLIE PEG-T615C handheld features a crisp, color screen that displays four times the resolution of standard Palm OS(R)-based devices -- all of which translates into a handheld to behold.

Through the aid of an enhanced built-in infrared (IR) port and CLIE(TM) Remote Commander software, users can transform the CLIE PEG-T615C model into a universal remote controller to control home entertainment components from up to 15 feet away.

"No one thought that you could put a color screen into a form factor this thin without compromising on battery life or brightness," said Russell Paik, Sony Electronics' vice president for handheld marketing at its Information Technology Products Division. "Sony is stretching expectation for handhelds with design expertise and innovation."

In addition to 16-bit color (supporting more than 65,000 colors) for intense definition, the latest CLIE handheld incorporates an embedded speaker and Sound Generator feature. Users can select from preset sounds or convert MIDI and WAV files on a PC with the bundled Sound Converter application. Customized sounds work with the supplied World Alarm Clock software to prevent rude awakenings, while enhanced sound enriches the gaming experience with more engaging sound effects on supported applications.

CLIE PEG-T615C Handheld: Software For Home Entertainment

Users can turn stylus strokes into brush strokes or jot personalized notes with the supplied CLIE(TM) Paint application. Artwork can be saved in JPEG format to make creative memos when users edit and manipulate digital still images using a combination of digital stamps, such as musical note, hearts and dialogue bubbles -- adding new life to the user's library of digital still photography.

CLIE PEG-S360 Handheld: Entry-Level to Entertainment

Built for more than personal information management, the monochrome CLIE PEG-S360 handheld comes bundled with PictureGear(TM) Pocket software for digital image viewing. This entry-level CLIE model has features users expect only from more expensive models, such as a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a host of entertainment applications.

"This model is for the person with high productivity demands, who also wants the cache of the CLIE handheld industrial design and strong entertainment functions," said J. Gerry Purdy, Ph.D, President & CEO of Mobile Insights based in Mountainview, CA. "This is all at a reasonable, entry-level price. Sony is doing a good job at rounding out their product line. It's no wonder that the CLIE handheld has already had so much success in the handheld market."

                          Key Specifications

             PEG-T615C                     PEG-S360
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Operating    Palm OS(R) version 4.1        Palm OS(R) version 4.0
System
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Memory       16MB (15MB available)         16MB (15MB available)
              (DRAM)                        (DRAM)
             4MB (Flash)                   4MB (Flash)
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Interface    USB (HotSync(R) Cradle)/      USB (HotSync(R) Cradle)/
             Infrared Port/                Infrared Port/
             Memory Stick(R)               Memory Stick(R)
              expansion slot                expansion slot
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------

Display      TFT color LCD display with    Backlit monochrome LCD
              backlights 320 x 320          160 x 160 pixels
              pixels, 16-bit color(1)
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Dimensions   4.65(L) x 2.83(W) x 0.50(H)   4.63(L) x 2.88(W) x 0.59(D)
              inches                        inches
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Features     Jog Dial(TM) navigator        Jog Dial(TM) navigator
              with Back Button(2)
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Battery      Lithium-ion polymer           Lithium-ion rechargeable
              rechargeable (Internal)       (Internal)
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Weight       4.9 oz. (including stylus)    4.27 oz. (including stylus)
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Supplied     USB HotSync Cradle            USB HotSync Cable
Accessories  AC adapter                    AC adapter
             Protective Cover              Protective Cover
             Stylus                        Stylus
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Sony         PicturerGear(TM) Pocket       PicturerGear(TM) Pocket
Original      image viewer                  image viewer
Software     CLIE(TM) Paint                Memory Stick(R) Autorun
             Memory Stick(R) Autorun       Memory Stick(R) Gate
             Memory Stick(R) Gate
             Memory Stick(R) Import
             Memory Stick(R) Back up
             World Alarm Clock
             CLIE Remote Commander(3)
             Sound Utility
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
PC           PictureGear(TM) 4.4 Lite      PictureGear(TM) 4.3 Lite
Desktop      Palm(TM) Desktop v.4.0.1      Palm(TM) Desktop v.4.0.1
Software     Acrobat Reader(R) 5.0         Acrobat Reader(R) 5.0
              (Adobe Systems, Inc.)         (Adobe Systems, Inc.)
             IntelliSync(TM) Lite v.4.0    IntelliSync(TM) Lite v.4.0
              (Pumatech, Inc.)              (Pumatech, Inc.)
             QuickTime(TM) 5.0.2           QuickTime(TM) 5.0.2
              (Apple Computer)              (Apple Computer)
             Memory Export(R) v.1.1
             Sound Converter v.1.0
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Additional   Documents To Go(R)            Documents To Go(R)
Bundled       Standard Edition (DataViz)    Standard Edition (DataViz)
Software     Presenter-to-Go(TM)           Acid Solitaire(TM)
              (Margi)                       (Red Mercury)(a)
             Acid Solitaire(TM)            Amy Reiley's Pocket
              (Red Mercury)(a)              Vinyard(TM) (neohand)(a)
             Amy Reiley's Pocket           Amy Reiley's Pocket
              Vinyard(TM) (neohand)(a)      Gourmet(TM) (neohand)(a)
             Amy Reiley's Pocket           AvantGo(TM) (AvantGo)
              Gourmet(TM) (neohand)(a)     Bejeweled(TM)
             AvantGo(TM) (AvantGo)          (Astraware)(a)
             Bejeweled(TM)                 gMovie(TM) (Generic Media)
              (Astraware)(a)               powerOne(TM) Personal
             gMovie(TM) (Generic Media)     (Infinity Softworks)
             powerOne(TM) Personal         Race Fever(TM)
              (Infinity Softworks)          (Digital Fiction)(a)
             Race Fever(TM)                StreetFinder(R) Express
              (Digital Fiction)(a)          (Rand McNally)
             StreetFinder(R) Express       Vindigo(TM) (Vindigo)
              (Rand McNally)
             Vindigo(TM) (Vindigo)
             Zap2016! (Astraware)(a)
             PhoneMate (MobiMate)(a)
             WorldMate (MobiMate)(a)
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Warranty     1 year (upon registration)    1 year (upon registration)
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------
Estimated    $400                          $200
Selling
Price
-----------  --------------------------    ---------------------------