iPod killer version #289: the Sony Walkman X

A lot of folks say the Palm Pre is going to be an iPhone killer. I am not sure about that, but it’ll be a competitor and may sway some votes. What I do know is that when it comes to portable media, Apple is still tops there. For reasons why, check out the new Walkman X.

I take a lot of cheap shots at Sony for still holding onto the Walkman brand here in the States so I figured I should give Sony its due where it is deserved. It looks like the new Walkman X, due here in the US has been priced with projected availability and it looks hot. The 16GB version will sell for $299 and the 32GB version at $399; both are coming mid-June. So what sets this player apart?

First is the OLED screen. The screen is brilliant and is an exciting glimpse into what will come to many devices. It is a 3-inch display, at a resolution of 480×272. Engadget had this to say about it: “The first time we spotted the home screen, we couldn’t help but be taken aback — colors were dramatic, crisp and downright lovely”

The device itself features a touchscreen for navigation complete with audio controls at the top, nice touch. The UI looks simple and easy to navigate.

The biggest problem this devices faces is this: Apple’s split users into “music-only” and “music-and-hey-what’s-that” camps. The Walkman X looks to be a great PMP with an truly innovative display and decent software. They even have apps for YouTube and Slacker and a web browser. Hot right?

Almost. The lure of the iPod touch (which just so happens to be identically priced) isn’t just a music player. It is all the fun games Apple advertises down our throats and that makes a compelling case for consumers to think about what they’d be missing with a product that can’t access the 35,000+ apps in the App Store.

Surely Sony doesn’t want to follow Apple too far and cannibalize their game-dedicated players, a problem Apple doesn’t have. Games are a big part of my touch use and not something I’d trade away for a pretty screen.

So how to do you beat the iPod? Build a player that is open so those that know (or care) about lossless files can do as they wish? Is it building a player that integrates with any music store, video store? What about games? Is web access enough? What if Sony built in a 3G chip so you had internet everywhere, not just under Wi-Fi umbrellas?

I am not sure the answer but am pretty sure Sony hasn’t found it either with its pretty Walkman X series.

Check out the video and Japanese model walk through here: [Engadget]