Sony

[Sid]

What's up with Sony (not Sony Ericsson) lately? They seem to have taken the back seat when it comes to consumer electronics with rivals such as Panasonic, Apple, Creative, and a bunch of smaller companies beating them to making the coolest gadgets. I remember when Sony's walkmans were unbeatable, and was a big fan of MD, even though it never properly took off. Recently they launched their Viao Pocket "mp3" player. It's been rumored (http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/sony-vaio-pocket-interface-movie-and-atrac-weirdness-016088.php) that the Viao Pocket converts MP3 to ATRAC before it's used on the player. Frankly, this wouldn't surprise me at all. It seems that Sony can't figure out whether it's an electronics company, or a media company. It could make a lot off MP3 technology by selling portable players designed to play it, as well as other capable devices, but is unable to do so because its media arm would have a fit. This is hobbling their growth and innovation, and they are no longer the company that makes the coolest gadgets any more.

I think they're trying to bite off more than they can chew and eventually it will all come falling down. What other explanation is
there for their poor stock price, and flat/declining profits?
Your thoughts?

note- this new Viao Pocket is just one example. I could give many where Sony has missed the boat for cool gadgets.

[dee]

Originally posted by Sid
Recently they launched their Viao Pocket "mp3" player. It's been rumored that the Viao Pocket converts MP3 to ATRAC before it's used on the player




Yeah I am 99% sure it does this. Their one discman does do that.

As for other products.. They have sorta missed the boat, eg in Flat panel displays i.e. LCD TFT's, for PC's and TV. BenQ and Samsung have snatched that bit of the market up , BenQ more on the PC side and Samsung on the TV side. I feel that these are a huge emerging market, as they were previously VERY expensive but now have become cheaper and better. Also just one example.

dee

[TheZodiac]

Seems they are eating themselves alive - memory stick is abot the stupidest thing they could have done. Some of their products that use them arent interchangeable either with the pro, duo from duo and that other ridiculas select crap. Hopefully some of their other products will go the route of the F828 and offer other options. The only thing they have at this point that *was cool is the UX50 for palm products, the F828 for cameras... the slims comeing to the US on the laptop market. One device in each MM category is sad. Im to upset to think and Im eating a hamburger - so... more later :)

[gangstar]

Yeah, Sony make all the really cool products, their CD players always look the best, they always were ahead of everyone in the MD department, buts Sid's right where are all of Sony's cool Mp3 & Atrac players?