The "Walkman" brand name, originally created by Sony over 30 years ago, lives on in Sony Ericsson's newest Android device, the "Live with Walkman". This diminutive smartphone, announced in a press release earlier today, will be a music playing device first and foremost with a dedicated music discovery button and "deep Facebook integration," which means it will most likely carry something similar to (or exactly like) Sony's "Facebook inside Xperia" interface.

The device will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and will have the following mediocre specifications:

  • 3.2-inch capacitive touch-screen display (480 x 320 pixels)
  • 1Ghz processor
  • 5MP rear camera with 8x digital zoom, auto focus, and LED flash
  • Front facing VGA camera
  • 720p video recording
  • 320MB internal storage (Editor's Note: Yes, we think this is as absurd as you do. 320MB of storage on a device designed for music? Way to go, Sony.)
  • Up to 32GB microSD support
  • 3.5mm audio jack
  • USB support
  • Wi-Fi and Hotspot functionality
  • Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
  • FM radio with RDS

Additionally, since the primary purpose of this device is to play music there are a number of unique software and hardware features, including:

  • Stereo speakers (which I assume will be quite good since this device is primarily for audio playback)
  • xLOUD audio technology which enhances the audio output of the inbuilt speakers at higher levels.
  • TrackID music recognition service (similar to Shazam)
  • An Infinite button which enables users to have instant access to new content about their favourite artist
  • Qriocity music and video content services giving users access to millions of songs and thousands of movies

There is no word yet on price, but the device should be available in selected markets from Q4 2011.

Check out Sony Ericsson's press release for further details:

Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ delivers unique social music experience for smartphones

22 August 2011, London, UK – Sony Ericsson today announced Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™, an Android smartphone that delivers a unique social music experience. A dedicated Walkman™ hardware button provides instant access to the music player and consumers can also like, share and discover content through a deep Facebook™ integration. The infinite button lets the consumer explore even more and the *Qriocity service from Sony provides music and video content for the consumer to enjoy.

With attractive curved design, a glossy finish and a mineral glass display, the phone has a 3.2” screen and a powerful 1Ghz processor. A front facing camera is enabled for Skype video calling, while a 5MP AF camera can capture 720p HD video recording. *Sony’s xLOUD™ enhances audio  output, while the latest Android platform for smartphones (Gingerbread 2.3) provides access to over 250,000 applications on the Android Market™.

Nikolaus Scheurer, Head of Product Marketing, Sony Ericsson said: “Consumers want smartphones to deliver a rich and social entertainment experience. Rather than a one dimensional music experience, they want instant and seamless access to new content, combined with the ability to share and connect with their friends. The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ provides exactly this, in a powerful package with great style.”

A perfect combination of social networking and music entertainment:

  • Deep Facebook integration: Allows users to instantly access Facebook through the most used areas of the phone such as the picture gallery, music player, phonebook and calendar.
  • Media Discovery Application: A dynamic application placing the world of music and videos at consumer’s fingertips including Facebook™ recommendations from their friends.
  • Infinite button: Tapping it within the media player enables consumers to have instant access to new content about their favourite artist, such as music videos, artist information and lyrics search.
  • Qriocity music and video content services from Sony: Consumers can access millions of songs from all major labels and watch thousands of movies from all major studios. Only Sony Ericsson Android smartphones provide consumers with unique access to the  entertainment services from *Sony.
  • *Sony’s xLOUD™ technology: Enhances audio output of the inbuilt speakers at high levels.
  • TrackID: Identifies the music track you are listening to within the FM radio and music player. The track can then instantly be shared or downloaded.

Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ will be available globally in selected markets from Q4 2011.
For full details all products news, please visit the press room and the product blog:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/corporate/press/pressreleases/latestnews
http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/

Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ at a glance.
*Please note that all services mentioned may not be available in every market.

Colours

  • Black and White

Facts

  • Size: 56.5 x 106 x 14.2 mm
  • Weight: 115 g

Camera

  • 5 megapixel camera
  • 8x digital zoom
  • Auto focus
  • Face detection
  • Flash/Photo light
  • Flash/Photo flash
  • Flash/LED
  • Front-facing camera (VGA)
  • Geo tagging
  • HD video recording (720p)
  • Image stabiliser
  • Red-eye reduction
  • Scene detection
  • Self-timer
  • Send to web
  • Smile detection
  • Touch capture
  • Touch focus
  • Video light
  • Video recording

Music

  • Album art
  • Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
  • Music tones (MP3/AAC)
  • PlayNow™ service
  • Stereo speakers
  • TrackID™ music recognition
  • Walkman™ player
  • xLOUD™

Internet

  • Android Market™
  • Bookmarks
  • Google™ search
  • Google Voice™ Search
  • NeoReader™ barcode scanner
  • Pan & zoom
  • Web browser (WebKit)

Communication

  • Call list
  • Conference calls
  • Facebook™ application
  • Google Talk™
  • Polyphonic ringtones
  • Skype
  • Sony Ericsson Timescape™
  • Speakerphone
  • Twitter™ (Timescape™ integration)
  • Vibrating alert
  • Video chat ready

Messaging

  • Conversations
  • Email
  • Google Mail™
  • Handwriting recognition
  • Instant messaging
  • Multimedia messaging (MMS)
  • Predictive text input
  • Sound recorder
  • Text messaging (SMS)
  • Type & Send widget

Design

  • Auto rotation
  • Four-corner Home screen
  • Keyboard (on-screen, 12-key)
  • Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
  • Live wallpaper
  • Picture wallpaper
  • Touch screen

Entertainment

  • 3D games
  • Media browser
  • Radio (FM radio with RDS)
  • Video streaming
  • Video viewing
  • YouTube™

Organiser

  • Alarm clock
  • Calculator
  • Calendar
  • Document readers
  • Emanual
  • Flight mode
  • Google Calendar™
  • Google Gallery 3D™
  • Infinite button
  • Phonebook
  • Setup guide
  • Event
  • Timer
  • Widget manager

Connectivity

  • 3.5 mm audio jack
  • aGPS
  • Bluetooth™ technology
  • DLNA Certified™
  • Google Latitude™
  • Google Maps™ for Mobile
  • Google Maps™ with Street View
  • Media Transfer Protocol support
  • Micro USB support
  • Modem
  • Native USB tethering
  • Synchronisation via Facebook™
  • Synchronisation via Google™ Sync
  • Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync
  • Synchronisation with computer
  • Synchronisation via Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync®
  • Synchronisation: Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® via Moxier client
  • USB mass storage
  • USB High speed 2.0 support
  • USB support
  • Wi-Fi™
  • Wi-Fi™ Hotspot functionality
  • Wisepilot™ turn-by-turn navigation

Display

  • 3.2 inches
  • 16,777,216 colour TFT
  • 480 x 320 pixels
  • Capacitive touchscreen (multi-touch)
  • Scratch-resistant

Memory

  • Phone memory (user-free): Up to 320MB
  • Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32GB

Battery life

  • Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 14 hrs 15 min*
  • Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 600 hrs*
  • Talk time UMTS: Up to 6 hrs 42 min*
  • Standby time UMTS: Up to 850 hrs*
  • Music listening time: Up to 17 hrs 30 min
  • Video listening time: Up to 6 hrs 30 min
  • *According to GSM Association Battery Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configurations, and phone usage.

Networks

  • UMTS HSPA 850 (Band V), 1900 (Band II), 2100 (Band I)
  • GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
  • UMTS HSPA 900 (Band VIII), 2100 (Band I)
  • GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900

In the kit

  • Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™
  • 1200 mAh battery
  • stereo headset
  • 2GB microSD™ memory card
  • Charger
  • micro USB cable for charging
  • synchronisation and file transfer
  • user documentation

Source: Press Release