Sony Already Lost Media War to Apple? 325
Declan McCullagh writes "Sony's Walkman was the king of media players. Now Apple's iPod is, and Sony Connect was a flop. But Sony's problems may soon be even bigger: the company is having a remarkably difficult time coordinating software development across different divisions and continents, and some managers are worried that things may be getting worse. Will Apple's recent forays into the living room create even more of a problem for Sony?"
And on the MMORPG Front... (Score:3, Interesting)
Sony's experienced here (Score:3, Interesting)
But what exactly is Apple going to do?
What would they do for stereo equipment? iPod docks? It's been done.
Apple won't challenge Sony in at least one AV area (Score:2, Interesting)
For me to consider putting Apple into my AV cabinet they need equipment that fits the form factor that both industry and I have chosen. I can put a cheap PC into a rack mount server chassis and use that for music and video playback a lot less expensively than even the iPod solutions cost.
Re:I dunno... (Score:3, Interesting)
If they get their company to work together better, they become the 800-pound gorilla that they are naturally set up to be.
Um...no... (Score:4, Interesting)
Apple didn't succeed because new social practices become possible. This is obvious - mp3 players were available before the iPod came along. (And anyway, half the social practices associated with iPods are mythical - like random strangers jacking into each other's iPods.)
When are people going to stop making up ever more fanciful notions about why the iPod is so popular and just look at the device and software itself? Unless you're a geek who likes to waste their day messing about with clunky hard to use software and devices it's pretty obvious why the iPod is a superior product to its competition.
Apple is becoming too much like Sony (Score:3, Interesting)
Why? because it will hurt their iTunes video download business? Sound like any major conglomerate you know?
I believe Apple will overcome this by developing a better movie/video, distribution/download, system/service. The service will hopefully be good enough to silence most of it's critics.
Apple would need to convince us that subscribing to their service is a better value proposition than doing all the "heavy lifting" of recording our own content.
As Apple continues to grow and venture into new territories there will be more "conflicts of interest" in the future.
What Sony should have done. (Score:4, Interesting)
Five years ago, Sony's music labels should have started releasing all albums as mp3 on Memory Sticks. They should have released a Walkman with a Memory Stick Slot. Sony would have owned the music hardware scene, and limited-edition Memory Sticks with unique content would have established the Memory stick as the standard flash format.
But now Sony's hardware is languishing, and their Sony label artists are all sporting iPods. As the only label/hardware manufacturer, they had an undeniable advantage, and they blew it. Oh well.Have you compared Market Cap? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:You have got to be kidding me. (Score:3, Interesting)
True, but Sony music and Sony movies are not physical devices sitting in your living room, which is what the original article describes. Sony's still going to make money from their studios, but in affect, they've been booted out of the living room.
The exception to what you describe is the receiver, but that could be just a matter of time...
Not sure about that... Samsung? (Score:4, Interesting)
Honestly I am not sure your statement is as true at a general level for Sony any longer as it is for Samsung in the minds of most consumers, and I have heard less technically ept people express the same sentiments.
When I am not sure about a purchase today and have no time to look up product details, I am a heck of a lot more likely to go with Samsung because I can be sure of a general level of quality. I would say I have had some Sony duds over the last few years and do not consider the brand quite as reliable as you note.
Sure my 20 year old Sony CD player is great and still works. But I would not be likley to buy a CD player from them today.
Go into a Best Buy and look to see which electronics have the least number of boxes left on the lower shelf. Very illuminating...
sony sold out (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Um...no... (Score:5, Interesting)
Carrying all your music with you; a soundtrack to your life.
Prior to the iPod you had three choices:
1) Unit based players, like a CD player or a tape cassette with limited music selection
2) Network based players, like a AM/FM radio with limited music selection
3) MP3 players, like the Nomad or Rio with crude design and usability
The iPod, in one package, provide three things the other three existing devices did not have:
1) Wide music selection (your entire music collection)
2) Easy music selection (not only your entire collection, but being to easily browse through it)
3) Portable music selection (smaller than everything out there with a comparable storage density; the Rio was smaller, but only could store 128mb!)
Re:I hope not... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:What are you talking about? (Score:2, Interesting)
But then again, thats just my personal preference...
Re:Um...no... (Score:2, Interesting)
I know of an instance where that idea was taken quite literally. A rather popular professor at the university I attend recently passed away. His kids chose music for the memorial service based on the most-played songs list on his iPod.
I'm guessing that's one Apple didn't think of when they included that feature.
Re:Why (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:It's not the stereo, it's the Mini and ITMS (Score:3, Interesting)
Apple can start out not worrying about Sony content, because they have an inside track to Disney content, which includes:
I think if Apple decides to start with just Disney content and is successful, other studios will jump on board. Look at Mark Cuban and his theaters/Production Company/HD Net? He would probably be one of the first to jump on board.
Sony's Problems are legion (Score:2, Interesting)
* DRM - Sony products seem to have more restrictive and annoying DRM than any other, and they seem to push it harder and more arrogantly. Cases in point - the Minidisc (bleech) software, and the fact thay every practically DVD player EXECPT Sony is region free.
* Lack of price competitiveness - bad news Sony, simply sticking a Sony badge on 3rd party products does not get you a 20-30% price premium.
* Utter contempt for ethics and customers - 1,2,3...say it in unison "Rootkit"
Far from being a premium label, it is rapidly becoming one to avoid. If you look at its behaviour, and that of the consortia it belongs to, there is probably no company in the world doing more to deprive consumers of their rights.