Sony to shoot the puppy and queer robots

[Taro Toporific]

Struggling Sony announcing turnaround strategy under new management
MSN-Mainichi Daily News: Sept 21
Electronics was once Sony's mainstay. Now it's a huge money-loser. Sony has fallen miserably behind....
....Sony is considering discontinuing its esoteric and extremely expensive Qualia brand products. It also said Sony may shrink its Aibo and Qrio robot operations, which may be eye-catching but don't bring much profits. ...more...

[Taro Toporific]

Sony jumps back into robotics after 12-year hiatus
Company reassembling former Aibo team to focus initial efforts on home-use device
nikkei.com | October 8, 2017
...will be a robotic pet, frolicking like a real dog while controlling home appliances at voice commands. It will be similar to smart speakers equipped with AI and internet connectivity, such as those offered by Amazon.com and Google, except that it will look and, to some extent, act like a dog.
More...

dims.jpg

[Grumpy Gramps]

'OK, Aibo, go bite the NHK man!'

[Russell]

There is no dog like a real dog...

[Coligny]

There is no dog like a real dog...

Seks tape of my parents honeymoon I guess...

[Taro Toporific]

There is no dog like a real dog...

Meet Sony's new $2,000 aibo. Now it can pee.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-01...

neo-aibo.jpg

[Grumpy Gramps]

Wow, looks like a true money pit:

The new Aibo will come in January in limited quantities only in Japan on the market and cost 198,000 yen - the equivalent of 1500 euros. A subscription service is required for him to learn. For this, once again, the equivalent of 2980 yen (22 euros) per month or 90,000 yen (680 euros) for three years. For 20,000 yen per year (about 150 euros) you also get a 50 percent discount on repairs and inspections.

The "aibo Store" in the "My aibo" app allows owners to buy additional "tricks" for their robot dog

Source in German.

[matsuki]

Japan is the fax machine of useful robotics....