SONY'S AIBO ENTERTAINMENT
ROBOT CELEBRATES SECOND ANNIVERSARY WITH THREE NEW SOFTWARE TITLES
AND COMMEMORATIVE ANNIVERSARY COLORS
Special AIBO Second Anniversary Colors Available for Limited Time
Only
LOS ANGELES, May 8, 2001 -Entertainment Robot America (ERA), a division
of Sony Electronics Inc. (SEL), today announced that it plans to celebrate
the second anniversary of AIBO the Entertainment Robot, originally
launched ([ERS-110]) on May 11, 1999, by introducing three new software
applications, AIBO Messenger and AIBO Navigator· for the [ERS-210]
models and Party Mascot for [ERS-110/111] model and three new anniversary
colors- Everest White, Sapphire Violet, Mazeran Green to commemorate
the event.
AIBO Messenger AIBO-ware [ERS-210]
With AIBO Messenger AIBO can inform owners, via a wireless local area
network (LAN) card connected to your PC, that e-mail has arrived as
well as read the contents of an e-mail. Simply ask AIBO through voice
commands or by depressing its touch sensors and AIBO will let you
know when you have received email and will read the message out loud
while
-more-
making gestures with body language and actions. For example, AIBO
will raise its paw when it reads to the word hello or flash his green
light emitting diode's (LEDs) when the word good is mentioned.
AIBO Messenger also allows AIBO to fetch and read text-based information
to its owner. Just register your favorite Web site (accepts up to
five Web sites) and AIBO will access the information (e.g. news, weather
data or stock quotes) from the Web site's homepage when prompted by
a special keyword or by initiating its touch sensor.
In addition, to keeping owners updated with news from their favorite
Web site AIBO Messenger can also remind users of appointments or special
anniversaries alerting them at the appropriate time or date.
AIBO Navigator AIBO-ware for the [ERS-210]
With AIBO Navigator software, owners will be able to manipulate AIBO
to perform an assortment of behaviors from a remote location via their
PC. AIBO Navigator allows owners to manipulate such AIBO behaviors
as walking patterns and head angles. Owners can also manipulate AIBO
to dance, kick a ball and send voice data as well as take a still
digital photograph through the picture capture function- all while
AIBO's complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera sends
pictures back to the operator's computer screen.
Through the Navigator graphic user interface display, users will also
have the ability to see what AIBO sees through its camera located
at the end of its nose. Additionally, using the AIBO Navigator's sound
transmission features AIBO can transmit speech, by sending wave files
wirelessly, allowing AIBO to speak.
The AIBO Navigator also, allows owners to view objects, such as family
or friends from up to 100 meters away from your PC. Additionally,
if you have the ability to remotely log onto your personal network,
you can use the AIBO Navigator to check on your home or office via
your AIBO using this new software application from any location.
Party Mascot (ERA-102M) AIBO-ware for the [ERS-110/111]
Keeping in the AIBO second anniversary celebratory spirit, ERA is
also proud to announce Party Mascot AIBO-ware for AIBO [ERS-110/111]
(previously only available for the AIBO [ERS-210]). With Party Mascot
AIBO-ware consumers can initiate 11 different games and performances
such as Rock, Paper, Scissors and Song and Dance and simply by pressing
a button on AIBO's sound controller or the pad sensor on the left
hind-leg.
Three New Anniversary Colors
Beginning in early June and lasting until the end of July, three new
special anniversary edition colors will be available (while supplies
last). The new anniversary color offerings -Everest White (glossy),
Sapphire-Violet (metallic), Mazeran Green (metallic)- will come complete
with custom painted finishes and a new iridescent colored visor. This
anniversary edition AIBO model carries a suggested retail price of
$1,650 and includes the AIBO Carrying Bag and Hello AIBO software
free of charge (AIBO Carrying Bag carries a suggested retail price
of $150; Hello AIBO software carries a suggested retail rice of $80).
In addition, the gold, silver and black AIBO [ERS-210] will continue
to be available, through the current sales channels, without any limitation
on the order period or number of units manufactured (special edition
pricing or package not available with these models).
How to Purchase
Pick up your copy of AIBO Messenger ([ERS-210]), AIBO Navigator ([ERS-210]),
AIBO Party Mascot ([ERS-110/111]) and choose from any one of the new
AIBO second anniversary colors (Everest- White, Sapphire-Violet, Mazeran-Green)
at the following locations:
§ Retail Outlets: Sony Style in New York and San Francisco and
Sony Gallery in Chicago.
§ Tele-commerce: Starting in early June, Telephone orders will
be accepted at 1-888-917-7669 (toll-free) Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM -
11:00 PM, and Saturday - Sunday, 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM CST.
§ Internet: For more info on AIBO's anniversary and/or to place
a reservation for your special edition AIBO models log onto www.us.aibo.com
§ Availability:
§ Anniversary AIBO [ERS-210] in Everest- White, Sapphire-Violet,
Mazeran-Green- early June until the end of July or while supplies
last.
§ AIBO Party Mascot for the [ERS-110/111]- (suggested retail
price $90)- early June
§ AIBO Navigator for the [ERS-210]- (suggested retail price $150)-
late June
§ AIBO Messenger for the [ERS-210]- (suggested retail price $150)-
late July
We're Having A Party!
We're having a party and you're invited! Come celebrate AIBO's anniversary
with us on Saturday, June 16 between 2:00- 4:00 p.m. at the Metreon
in San Francisco and at the Sony Style store located at 550 Madison
Avenue, Sony Building in New York on Saturday, June 30 as AIBO unveils
the new anniversary colors.
Join the fun as AIBO 2nd Generation MC's Best In Show, a talent competition,
allowing AIBO owners to show off new behaviors they have created with
their AIBO Master Studio software and perform AIBO related tricks.
Other planned activities include presenting our Entertainment Robot
of honor with a cake in its likeness, photo opportunities, prizes
and
giveaways. AIBO Owners can learn more about the contest at AIBO's
2ndAnniversary homepage: http://www.us.aibo.com/anniversary (live
May 11, 2001).
###
About Entertainment
Robot America (ERA), Sony Electronics Inc.Established in January 1999,
Entertainment Robot America is a divisional company of Sony Electronic
Inc. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ERA maintains sales, marketing
and engineering operations in the U.S. Currently, Sony is marketing
entertainment robots in the U.S., Asia and Europe. The ERA product
line now includes the AIBO Entertainment Robot [ERS-210] available
in three colors: gold, silver and black; AIBO Life (ERF-210AW01)-
software that allows you to raise AIBO from infancy to adulthood;
Hello AIBO (ERF-210AW02) software that changes an AIBO [ERS-210] into
a fully mature AIBO; AIBO Master Studio (ERF-PC02)- personality enhancement,
software that allows you to edit and create original movements for
AIBO on a PC; AIBO Fun Pack (ERF-PC01) software that allows you to
take a peek at the photographic journal AIBO keeps as a diary; a lithium
ion battery pack (ERA-201B1); and an AIBO Carrying Bag (ERA-210C1)
to conveniently transport the robot.
Editor's Note: For information regarding the nearest Sony authorized
dealer of service location, your readers can call 1-800-222-SONY.
On the internet you'll find Sony at http://www.sony.com.
