Not quite an iPad and not quite an alarm clock, the Sony Dash is showing up at the top of many Father’s Day gift lists. The Sony Dash could be one of the most interactive, yet expensive, alarm clock you’ll purchase. The Sony Dash can run apps and connect you to the web – but are all the features worth the price.
The features of Sony Dash
The tech specs of the Sony Dash first of all. The device is plug-in only (though Sony says a battery version is coming). There is a seven-inch touch screen, with power and “snooze” buttons along the top. 800 x 480 pixels are within the display. The processor has 500 MHz and has 256 MB of RAM. There are built in stereo speakers and there is also a WiFi connection. The operating system is Linux and has a Chumby-based interface.
What the Sony Dash will do
At first glance, the Sony Dash is basically designed as an alarm clock media center. Youtube, Pandora, Netflix and other media applications will play on the Sony Dash.Based on some of the other developed applications you download, you may be able access Facebook and Twitter as well.In order to use the applications, you’ve to have wireless internet as part of your house. Without any kind of wireless internet, the Sony Dash is really just an costly alarm.
The Sony Dash and what it doesn’t do
The Sony Dash, like all good things, has limitations. It doesn’t have a battery meaning it has to stay next to a power outlet. Second, there is no programming solution for streaming or downloading your own content; you are able to only stream things off the internet. The Sony Dash also does not necessarily log you into all your favorite applications; you may have to go to your Sony Dash account on a computer to do so.
Getting the Sony Dash for someone
For a hardcore computer user, the Sony Dash would likely be little a lot more than an costly toy. For others that only use computers every so often to check out pictures and watch a TV show, though, the Sony Dash may be a great option. The only major limitation is that without a pre-existing wireless internet connection, the Sony Dash is quite much useless.
Unless you are able to find a neighbor that is willing to share wifi with you, the device will set you back about $ 250 with connections.
