The Sony CLIÉ is a line of personal digital assistants running the Palm OS that are distinguished from other PDAs by such features (not all available on all models) as a jog-wheel interface, Memory Stick slot, MP3 playback, and high-resolution displays.

The CLIÉ range is distinguished from other Palm OS models by its emphasis on multimedia capabilities, including video. Later models have been credited with spurring competition in the previously stagnant Palm market, closing many of the gaps that existed between Palms and PDAs powered by Microsoft's Windows Mobile Pocket PC operating system.

In the summer of 2004, Sony announced that it would stop producing Clies for any other country than Japan, and in the spring of 2005, Sony announced the termination of it's Clie line of products. the last models to be released to the world were the TJ-27, TJ-37, and TH-55. The last model released on Japan was the VZ-90.

Sony had long been the source of innovaion in the Palm OS marketplace, and with this source gone, it is possible that we will see a stagnation of innovation from Pa1mone in the future.

• S series (2000-2002)
• T series (2001- )
• N series (2001-2002)
• NR series (2002)
• SL/SJ series (2002- )
• NX series (2002- )
• NZ series (2003- )
• TG series (2003- )
• UX series (2003- )
• TJ series (2003- )
• TH series (2004- )

An acronym for "communication, link, information and entertainment", the name is apparently an attempt at a new coinage, though it means a tool in a French dialect.

External link

• http://www.sony.com/clie

Update: Jun 2, 2004

Sony just announced that they will pause introducing new CLIÉ models in the US & European market in the 2nd half of 2004. More details can be viewed from the following linked documents

http://news.com.com/Sony+to+exit+key+handheld+arenas/2100-1040_3-5223580.html?tag=nefd.lede

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/01/sony_exits_pda_biz/