New Sony music player lacks features

For years, Sony Corporation has been scrambling to regain its position at the leading edge of music players.

Now, that scrambling has produced an egg – a $399 (Dh1,465) dancing egg that flashes, rolls and flaps its plastic flippers to the beat.

Before you think the Walkman pioneer has finally cracked, it's worth noting that the Rolly is an amusing and somewhat educational robot whose moves can be programmed using a PC.

However, its controls are just too frustrating, its memory too limited and playback options too restrictive to justify the price.

Rolly is slightly larger than a goose egg and wrapped by two large rubber tracks. The ends of the device turn easily, and caps on either end swing open to reveal two speakers. It can receive music wirelessly from a Bluetooth-enabled gadget. Songs also can be loaded from a PC.

It was entertaining for a while, playing music with its little lights flashing and changing colors. However, the lack of traditional controls can make it difficult to use as a music player. Personality is Rolly's strongest suit.

With the dancing, blinking lights, tones heralding the start of a new track and the occasional stray movement, I took to thinking of Rolly as a not-so-smart version of R2-D2. But it can be made smarter, with some effort.