Sony Ericsson wasnamed a Windows Phone 7 partnera year ago, but --like another we could name-- seeminglyscrapped plansto produce a device andchose another OSinstead. Or did it? Pictures of what looks to be a Sony Ericsson prototype running Windows Phone 7 recently surfaced atLizhecomb, and it could be that SE's looking to try again... but probably not. You see, rumor had it that Sony Ericsson did produce a prototype sliding WP7 handset -- theJulie-- much like the one above, and this one certainly looks a little prototypical compared to contemporary designs. What it may add up to is Sony Ericsson andASUSin the same boat -- two WP7 launch partners that failed to launch, but each with hardware to show for it.
Though we played with ASUS' Android-poweredEee Pad MeMOback at CES, the company spilled a couple new secrets here at CeBIT today: first, it'll be runningHoneycombby the time it launches in June -- current prototypes are runningGingerbread-- and second, certain MeMO bundles will include the MeMic, a separate Bluetooth handset that lets you take calls without holding a giant tablet to your face (it's pronounced "me-mike," by the way). Interestingly, the MeMic features a translucent LCD that we're told will make it to the production units; unfortunately, the units on display were running very early alpha software that had "given out" by the time we arrived at the booth, so we couldn't get a sense of viewability. In addition to making calls, the MeMic will let you stream music, control media, and perform a few other basic tasks that make sense for a tablet remote. On the Honeycomb side, ASUS tells us the delay is simple -- as it stands, a commercial-grade Honeycomb port doesn't exist for Qualcomm hardware, which is what the Eee Pad MeMO is running (the Xoom-- the only released Honeycomb tablet so far -- is runningTegra 2). The company's confident that it'll be ready by the time the MeMO's slated for release in June, however. Follow the break for video!
