Sony unveils humanoid robot

The newest Sony Corp. family member has a photographic memory, an extensive vocabulary and a jukebox-like knowledge of music.

The SDR-4X humanoid robot was unveiled Tuesday and will go on sale later this year. Sony Corp. would not say much more about its plans for the 23-inch tall robot.

“This robot was designed to live with people in homes,” said Toshitada Doi, Sony executive vice president. “This robot will be cost as much as one car, a luxury car.”

For that money, the SDR-4X can carry on simple conversations with its 60,000-word vocabulary, recognize color, dodge obstacles in its path and even sing once programmed with music and lyrics.

In a demonstration Tuesday, the robots sang in harmony, shaking their hips and waving their arms in tempo.

Technology: Handspring, Sprint Corp. announce joint project

Handspring Inc. and Sprint Corp. said Tuesday they have agreed to work together on a version of Handspring’s new Treo communicator, designed to operate on a new U.S. wireless network that Sprint plans to launch by mid-2002.

The Treo, introduced this year, is a hand-held device that combines a phone and wireless applications such as Internet browsing and e-mail. So far, its use has been limited to cellular networks that use a technology called GSM, for global system for mobile communications.

Handspring hopes to expand its audience by adding support for a rival wireless technology pioneered by Qualcomm Inc. called CDMA, for code-division multiple access, and the so-called third-generation network that Sprint is setting up.

Westwood-based Sprint had revenue of $16.92 billion last year. Handspring, Mountain View, Calif., had revenue last year of $371 million.

Aviation: Boeing lands Kenya deal

Kenya Airways has ordered three extended-range Boeing 777-200 jetliners, Boeing Co. confirmed Tuesday.

The value of the order was not released, but Boeing’s list price for the widebody jetliner is $160.5 million to $182 million, depending upon configuration. However, airlines often negotiate substantial discounts. Deliveries of its new planes are to start in 2004.

Property: Malan Realty board recommends liquidation

Real estate investment trust Malan Realty Investors Inc. said Tuesday its board voted to recommend that shareholders liquidate the company, the latest sign of the effect of the bankruptcy of discount giant Kmart.

Under the liquidation plan, subject to shareholder approval at the annual meeting, Malan would sell all its properties and other assets. Last week, Malan said four properties in its portfolio are on the list of stores to be closed by Kmart Corp.

Michigan-based Malan owns Pine Ridge Plaza at 31st and Iowa streets in Lawrence.

Economy: U.S. trade deficit widens

America’s trade deficit surged to $28.5 billion in January as the nation’s foreign oil bill increased and U.S. exports fell to the lowest level in more than three years.

The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that the deficit in January was 15.4 percent higher than December’s imbalance of $24.7 billion as the country started the new year with the same old trade problems.