It's official: Sony f'ed up

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Does that mean Sony now has no gaijin on its board?

[Doctor Stop]

And maybe no gaijin buying their products?

[matsuki]

And maybe no gaijin buying their products?

What do you mean "maybe?"

[Taro Toporific]

BREAKING:

American Investor Targets Sony for a Breakup
WANTS TO SPIN OFF PART OF ITS ENTERTAINMENT ARM.
MAY 14, 2013
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/ ... a-breakup/

[gaijinpunch]

And maybe no gaijin buying their products?

What do you mean "maybe?"

Their cameras are actually doing okay. I hate Sony as a cumpany, but they are doing more exciting things in the camera world than either Nikon or Canon. I'm mainly a Canon guy, but I bought the RX1. Every now and again they do something awesome. It's not perfect, but it is definitely a first of it's kind.

[Yokohammer]

I'm mainly a Canon guy, but I bought the RX1.

The RX1 is such an enigma. Absolutely gorgeous IQ from a full-size sensor, but you're stuck with the one lens, which is really only an issue because the thing is so expensive. But yeah, Sony is pretty much leading camera innovation at the moment. Interesting stuff. Post some RX1 pics if you get a chance! Or do you have a photo stream somewhere that's viewable? (With the understanding that the full quality isn't going to come through on the web, of course).

[matsuki]

Agreed...I have one of their recent alpha series SLR's and I have no complaints. But other than that, I avoid everything else Sony.

[Russell]

Yep, the Sony sensors are stellar.

There is a reason why they are used by Nikon, and (more recently) by Olympus.

[FG Lurker]

I bought an A65 recently, and a 35/1.8 lens to go along with it. Very cool camera. The EVF is very good for an EVF but I would still much sooner have an optical viewfinder and I don't think that will change. The only time an EVF has any advantage over an OVF in my opinion is in very low light situations. Otherwise no thanks.

Nikon gets Sony to make many of their sensors but is also doing some in house fab work now too. Sony is definitely doing some very cool stuff in the camera world.

The RX1 is a very cool camera but personally I am more interested in the Fujifilm X-Pro1... If I end up getting a compact digital at some point that's the number one in my book.

[GomiGirl]

Just the messenger as I am clueless about anything Sony. Just thought I would post here for comments.

Sony gets act together, announces good stuff
John Davidson

ff0681d8-cdb6-11e2-83e6-978806d6e738_Sony_Duo_13--646x363.jpg

Is it too soon to declare that Sony has officially gotten its ship* together? First the Xperia Z, then last week there was the 4K TV, and now this: what looks to be some Ultrabooks to die for.

Though, if I had my druthers, I’d rather kill for them. No gadget is worth dying for, but a select few might be worth a bit of a gaol term. more....

[BigInJapan]

Just the messenger as I am clueless about anything Sony. Just thought I would post here for comments.
Sony gets act together, announces good stuff
John Davidson
Is it too soon to declare that Sony has officially gotten its ship* together? First the Xperia Z...

As my old Motorola clunker is on its last legs, I happened to check out KDDI's interpretation of the Xperia Z today in my local AU shop.
As of today on kakaku.com, the Docomo Xperia Z is #1, and the AU version is #3. It seems the iPhone has been kicked out of the top spot, having dropped down to #9.
I was actually fairly impressed with the Xperia UL, from just a few minutes of messing around in the store (I like the dedicated shutter button, and instant-on shooting feature, even when in standby). Hard to believe it's been almost 17 years since the last Sony camera I owned...

220px-Sony_Cyber-shot_DSC-F1_CP%2B_2011[1].jpg

[sublight]

Agreed...I have one of their recent alpha series SLR's and I have no complaints. But other than that, I avoid everything else Sony.

Yep, DSLR's are about the only product I can think of where I'd actually seek out Sony. I had a chance to play around with one of the early-model alphas for a couple of months and it was great.

[American Oyaji]

Sony's upcoming PS4 might get a leg up from Microsoft if MS makes it mandatory to pay a fee to play a used game for it's next console.
Also ALWAYS on internet requirement is causing a LOT of users to balk.

[gaijinpunch]

Sony's upcoming PS4 might get a leg up from Microsoft if MS makes it mandatory to pay a fee to play a used game for it's next console.
Also ALWAYS on internet requirement is causing a LOT of users to balk.

This one is pretty unprecedented. Basically Sony came out of E3 looking like God, and MS came out looking like the Devil's turd.

[Coligny]

They might just all be throwing shit against the wall to see up until which level they can get away with...

[Russell]

Sony harness lets you mount camera on dog



Sony has announced a harness which allows dog owners to mount a camera on their pet and record the world from the canine point-of-view.

The dog harness (AKA-DM1) is part of a range of accessories for Sony's HDR-AS15 Action Cam and will be released in Japan on 26 April with a recommended retail price of 5,250 yen (around £35). The camera itself is billed as waterproof and shockproof presumably meaning it will be able to withstand an active outing.

It uses a lightweight plastic harness to attach the camera to the dog's back and is suitable for medium-sized dogs which means those with a 50-80cm body girth. So far the accessory has only been announced for Japan so UK dog owners who want to know what their pets are up to may like to investigate shipping costs.

The concept is not a million miles away from the cameras you can attach to pet collars to record their comings and goings, although presumably there is now the risk of recording a great number of other dogs' butts in stunning high definition.

[Coligny]

So now, Sony users can try do do what gopro people have been doing for years... But with a bulkyer heavier cam that certainly only use Sony exclusive memory card made out of unobtainium.

YAY...

[matsuki]

So now, Sony users can try do do what gopro people have been doing for years... But with a bulkyer heavier cam that certainly only use Sony exclusive memory card made out of unobtainium.

YAY...

THIS

We Japanese breakthrough!

[Russell]

So now, Sony users can try do do what gopro people have been doing for years... But with a bulkyer heavier cam that certainly only use Sony exclusive memory card made out of unobtainium.

YAY...

How could they foresee that you would want to put cameras on all of your pet cockroaches?

[Coligny]

So now, Sony users can try do do what gopro people have been doing for years... But with a bulkyer heavier cam that certainly only use Sony exclusive memory card made out of unobtainium.

YAY...

How could they foresee that you would want to put cameras on all of your pet cockroaches?

It's a cockroach ARMY FFS...

[Russell]

But with a bulkyer heavier cam that certainly only use Sony exclusive memory card made out of unobtainium.

Yeah, but this camera is especially made to watch dog butts. It's all in its name: SONY HDR-AS15.

And if you cannot live with that, there is also a smaller system for cats. Actually, the one for the cat is much more interesting, because it allows you to snoop on unsuspecting women in the neighborhood:

“The main reason [people buy Pawtrax] is many owners have a cat that disappear for a long time and they want to know where it’s been,” says Pawtrax owner Peter Callaway. “There was one cat that kept coming back smelling of ladies’ perfume and they used our device to track it down to a neighbour’s house.”

[matsuki]

It was only a few days ago that Sony's PlayStation 4 seemed poised to be the system to emerge victorious in the next-gen console battle, but Microsoft's change of heart towards their policies for selling used games and constant online connection have sent pre-orders for the Xbox One skyrocketing.
The console has actually managed to over take the PlayStation 4 over at Amazon. The Xbox One now holds the top spot in the Best Selling video games category, sending the PlayStation 4 to the third spot. Similarly, the Xbox One has overtaked Sony's console at Amazon UK as well, where it stands as the second best seller, and the PlayStation 4 again in third.

http://www.gamenguide.com/articles/7365 ... -heart.htm

[Coligny]

Remember when you were choosing game system according to which one was the best for your style of game...

Instead of trying to find the one that sucked the less while still having the game you want to play...

[matsuki]

I have a Wii U.....having not owned anything since the Sega Gensis/Sega CD/32X days, I don't feel like I missed out on much.

[yanpa]

I have a PS3... it came with the wife... and one 2007-era game (which is centred around shooting Germans, I am sure Coligny would be delighted to know), which still blows my mind because last time I played computer games they came on cassette tapes...

[Taro Toporific]

fucked-sony-patent.jpg

Image: US Patent and Trade Office

io9.com: 9 Creepy Patents
...
...9) The Controller is You
This laughter sensing tech was patented by Sony in 2011 for either use in its Playstation or to layer into a remote control. Not only does it know when you're laughing, but it also holds on to the data, to get a fuller picture of just where you fit in with your demographic counterparts...
More...

[Taro Toporific]

Believe whatever you want....

Sony Forecasts $1.1 Billion Loss as Hirai’s Revival Falters
Bloomberg.com |Feb 6, 2014 3:50 PM GMT+0900
Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai, president and chief executive officer of Sony Corp., listens during... Read More
Sony Corp. (6758) unexpectedly forecast a $1.1 billion loss for the year and will cut 5,000 more jobs as Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai widens his restructuring plan in the face of shrinking demand for TVs and computers.
The net loss will probably total 110 billion yen in the year ending March 31, the Tokyo-based company said in a statement today, scrapping its revised October projection of a 30 billion-yen profit. Sony will split the TV business into a separate, wholly owned unit after saying it will post a 10th straight annual loss. It’s also selling the PC business to a Japanese buyout firm.
More...

Sony returns to profit, trying to sell Vaio
AP News | February 6, 2014 1:32 AM ET
TOKYO - Sony is bouncing back from losses, posting a 27 billion yen ($266 million) profit for the fiscal third quarter, helped by a weak yen and better sales. Sony also announced it's trying to sell its troubled personal computer business.
The Japanese electronics maker said Thursday the latest results were helped by a favorable exchange rate, improved sales, especially of its smartphones, and the launch of the PlayStation 4 video-game console.
More...

[matsuki]

Their smartphones are surprisingly good after sooo much crap they previously produced....and now they're selling a ton of their Bravia 4K TV's in the US....at least that's some progress.

[Taro Toporific]

Will Sony’s amputation plans staunch the bleeding?
CNBC.com | Thursday, 6 Feb 2014
Sony is hacking off its long-ailing computer and television businesses, stepping up its restructuring efforts, but it isn't clear whether that will be enough to restore the health of the one-time consumer electronics kingpin...
<big snip>
...In its quarterly earnings announcement, Sony said it plans to sell its struggling PC unit to Japan Industrial Partners, a Japanese fund that buys up restructuring businesses. It also plans to spin off its TV manufacturing business, responsible for $7.5 billion in losses over the last 10 years, by July.
The company also plans to cut around 5,000 jobs in its TV, computer, marketing and other departments. Sony expects the major restructuring measures will push the company to a 110 billion yen ($1.08 billion) loss for this fiscal year, with additional restructuring costs of around 70 billion yen to kick in next fiscal year.

[Coligny]

Sony expects the major restructuring measures will push the company to a 110 billion yen ($1.08 billion) loss for this fiscal year, with additional restructuring costs of around 70 billion yen to kick in next fiscal year.

Maybe it's time to give up...