Alas, poor Sony. Will it ever rediscover the secret to making hit products like the Walkman and the PlayStation? The electronics giant's latest "communication and entertainment device," the Sony Mylo, was supposed to ride the Skype hype by including the popular VOIP service as well as instant messaging software from Google, all on a Linux software base. But instead, the Mylo's getting roundly bashed all over the Web.

The complaints start with the price tag -- $350 -- and just escalate from there. For all that money, critics point out, you don't even get a cell phone or a built-in camera. And since the Mylo uses Wi-Fi, not a cellular connection, if you're not near an open hotspot, you're out of luck. There aren't any games available for it -- not even the most basic ones you'd find included on a cheap cell phone. And the built-in IM software doesn't include AIM or MSN Messenger, two of the most popular services.

But the biggest problem is the device's lack of a compelling purpose. The Walkman put audiocassettes in an incredibly compact package; the PlayStation let you play compelling videogames. What, exactly, is the Mylo -- a really expensive communication device that doesn't let you make cell-phone calls?

If this is what Sony CEO Howard Stringer meant by "champion products," then Sony needs even more help than we thought.

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