14 DAY TRIAL // Although Sony's Dash isn't exactly the hottest product in the company's lineup, it seems that the level of demand is strong enough for the Chumby-based solution to stick around in 2011 as well, the Japanese outfit revealing at CES 2011 two brand-new, updated versions of their first-ever Internet navigator. Each of Sony’s new Dash devices is built on the chumby industries platform, being able to grant access to over 1,000 free apps, including Facebook, news, sports, webcams and more.
Plus, using the Dash devices is quite an intuitive experience, according to Sony, the whole setup process taking only a very small amount of time.
Additionally, both new models will be able to display up-to-date weather forecasts from AccuWeather and include the SHOUTcast Radio Directory, which features over 40,000 radio stations from around the world.
Plus, the new Dash units also features a USB port for simple connection to external electronic devices or storage media, as well as a built-in speaker, the main difference between the two units being the battery (rechargeable battery in one case, no battery, just AC power, in the other).
“Transportability was the next logical step in the evolution of our Sony Dash product line,” said Brennan Mullin, senior vice president of Sony’s personal imaging and audio business.
“With a battery, consumers have the freedom to bring Dash from room to room in their home, experiencing the benefits of glanceable, real-time tidbits of information in new and exciting ways,” the company's rep added.
According to Sony, the current-generation Dash will stick around, selling for around 149 US dollars, while the next-gen models will hit the shelves this summer (no pricing and/or exact availability details have been provided just yet, sorry) in brown, slate blue and orange (the portable model) and plain black (the model without a built-in battery).