Sep. 28--Tuesday's announcement of T-Mobile's Google Android-powered phone tossed another do-it-all device into already competitive waters.

Spurred by the rampant success of Apple's iPhone, Google began widescale development of the Android mobile phone platform last November and will launch it exclusively on T-Mobile in October.

The first phone to be sold with Android will be the HTC G1, which will retail for $179 -- $20 less than the cheapest iPhone.

Android and iPhone are similar in more than just price. Both feature touchscreen interfaces, and both have access to robust online music stores.

The G1 also has a slide-out keyboard.

The iPhone is obviously tethered to the iTunes Store, which is the world's leading music retailer, online or otherwise.

Android will have access to the Amazon.com MP3 Store. Though its catalog is smaller, the Amazon service has digital rights management-free downloads, meaning they aren't copy-protected or restricted in use. Most songs on iTunes feature DRM.

But the Android/G1 pairing is lacking in two key areas. There's no headphone jack on the G1, which means listening to music requires an adapter between headphones and the phone.

Also, the G1 uses MicroSD flash memory cards, which currently max out at 8 gigabytes. The unit ships with only 1GB of storage, while the iPhone comes in 8GB and 16GB versions.

Vaio notebooks go high-def

Sony announced a new Vaio notebook computer last week, and it could pack a mean punch. The Vaio TT series is Sony's latest entry into the compact -- or netbook -- computer market.

Such computers are light, feature smaller screens and work best when not in a multitasking application.

Each of the four TT models also will feature Blu-ray disc playback and HDMI output, making high-definition playback and exporting possible.

The high-end model, which features a carbon-fiber case and a price tag well over $4,000, features a Blu-ray burner and a 256GB solid-state drive.

All four models, which start at $2,094.99, go on sale Oct. 15.

Panasonic to sell battery in U.S.

Ready for record-setting power in alkaline battery form? Panasonic is bringing its Evolta battery to the United States after entering the Guinness World Records for its performance in Japan, where it was launched in April.

According to Panasonic tests, the new battery lasted 30 percent longer than standard alkaline batteries in digital cameras.

The Evolta batteries will be available in AA and AAA form, and cost $4.99 for a four-pack and $8.99 for an eight-pack. By comparison, a four-pack of rechargeable AA batteries costs around $6.

Sony rolls back PlayStation 3 price

If you can find one, now might be a good time to snag the 40 gigabyte version of Sony's PlayStation 3. Though that particular model was scrapped about a month ago, some are still on store shelves.

Because of that, Sony dropped the price -- effective today -- from $399 to $359. The system features a built-in Blu-ray disc player, as well as wireless networking capabilities. It won't, however, play PlayStation 2 games.

The 80GB version will remain at $399, while the 160GB model will be $499 when it hits stores in November.

--Contact the writer: 444-1387, bryan.redemske@owh.com

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