The Mylo is an “internet communication device,” which means it’s a tiny laptop. The prime feature is you can use it like a phone with Skype because it has built-in wireless internet (there is a microphone and ear speaker), making it a gadget of interest for travelers. Mostly you’ll be using it to surf the internet but add a Sony memory stick (no SD cards unfortunately) and you can use it to open files and listen to MP3’s.
I’m going to rate it on two dimensions: looks and personality.
It gets a 7 out of 10 on looks. It’s lightweight and pleasing on the eye and has neon-looking lights at the ends. You won’t be embarrassed with it in your hand. The screen is bright and clear and the keyword is easy to use. The stylus at the end of the wrist strap is discreet. But it’s not hot enough that you’ll make someone else feel insecure about their electronic device. iPhone people will look at it and act all smug-like, going off about the superiority of their phone in a passive aggressive mumble.
The personality could use an upgrade. When it’s dark you can’t see the navigation buttons and sometimes the unit doesn’t perform as designed. For example, the zoom button on the browser doesn’t always work and it gets schizophrenic with the wireless network. But when you’re connected you can run AIM, YM, and Google Talk in addition to Skype, and also subscribe to RSS feeds. It takes pictures with the 1.3 megapixel camera, you can install flash games, and for offline use there is a text editor to take notes.
Since the Mylo will not replace your phone, the best use I can think of it is for travel if you don’t own a laptop. Many hostels offer wireless internet now and you can log on to check your email and then make phone calls back home. But you’ll have to pay for this privilege: Amazon is selling a new Mylo for $285. It’s too expensive for a budget traveler.
I think it’s a nice gadget, but with a cell phone and laptop I haven’t found a regular use for it. I’m re-gifting it to my 12-year-old brother.
This review was originally published at Roosh V.
I’ve been an inveterate Blackberry World Edition user, who’s gotten fed up with the device’s infernal trackball, which gets clogged with dust and continuously needs to be cleaned, else it just quits working. The Blackberry trackball is just bad design, and has been superseded by the touch-screen. I will very soon ditch my Blackberry for either an iPhone or the new Samsung Instinct phone, which also has a touch screen and is a pretty slick looking phone. I may actually keep the Blackberry just as a back up, because of the great Verizon Wireless global service — gets you phone service in every imaginable country, which the other phones might not do so easily. But I’m still tired of the incessant trackball problems… it is so prone to temporary breakdown it actually causes nightmares!