Sony Kills off Aibo, Qrio, Qualia

smart move by xx_toran_xx · 2006-01-26 04:37 · Score: 0

Smart move. I seriously doubt anyone will miss those products, and I have a feeling they cost a lot of money to develop

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Arrrrrrr

Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by dada21 · 2006-01-26 04:38 · Score: 5, Insightful

I think the proper title should be "the consumer market killed off some of Sony's fad products." Sony wouldn't kill off products that made them a profit. A profit is the only proof of a product's viability -- if people are willing to pay you to perform a service or build a product, your ability to profit proves if the product/service is worthy of your time.

I think we'll see more of these fad/trend items from other Asian manufacturers start to fall out of the production lines. The U.S. is one of the biggest consumers of these useless products, and personal debt is way too high to keep buying more stuff that depreciates 60% the minute it hits the house. With Americans buying less, Asian manufacturers have to reorganize their product lines for items that we do need.

Sony is already out of my buying schedule -- the rootkit and the overall low quality of products they've made in recent years have led me to decide to never buy their products again. I help a few cEOs and upper management types from my client base purchase home electronics and appliances -- I'll always tell them never buy Sony. I remember a few years ago how many of these 6+ figure income types were asking about Aibo and other eccentric toys, nowadays I hear nothing of the sort. Even worse, I don't even hear the wealthy elites asking about the latest flat panel TVs, high end GPS systems or the latest computer gadgets. If the wealthy are having a hard time staying on the 18 month upgrade cycle, what does that say about the economy?

Sony is probably smart to start slicing and dicing. The best thing they can do is refocus on their higher end line -- people who can afford the expense will want the best quality product available. I hate seeing a company I loved become a company I hate. They chased the common man, and their products suffered for it. They chased markets created out of force against consumer action (music, movies, etc) to give their previous customers even more reason to hate them.

Sony, if you're listening and you want to be pragmatic (meaning practical), chop it all out. Sell it all off. Return to Japan, make high end products with meticulous attention to detail and care. Love your customers again -- those willing to pay for the product quality and service. Don't chase the Best Buy guy (or the Circuit City kitty?) -- let the upper echelon come to you.

Billions in annual sales at a 2% margin makes less sense than hundreds of millions at a 20% margin. Here's a hint for all you future entrepreneurs: the only thing that will keep you profitable is to keep your customers happy and offer them a consistency in your performance -- product quality and customer service. Ignore the trends, the fads and trying to sell everything to everyone.

Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by silentbozo · 2006-01-26 04:56 · Score: 3, Insightful

I think the problem is that Sony is dropping their R&D products in favor of going for what will soon be commodity items. Not a smart thing to do, but it's the "safe" thing to do. The problem is, competition in Korea and Taiwan ate that lunch a long time ago. The more Sony retreats from the markets it currently occupies (Clies, for example), the more consumer mindshare it's giving up. At that point, they're competing pretty much just on price, and I'm afraid that all it's going to do it kill Sony, ESPECIALLY if they're still being hamstrung by directives from their Media Entertainment division.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Nom+du+Keyboard · 2006-01-26 05:01 · Score: 1

Sell it all off. Return to Japan, make high end products with meticulous attention to detail and care.
I trust you mean, in part, by this to get their manufacturing out of Mexico, which has truly contributed to the destruction of their reputation.

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"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by dada21 · 2006-01-26 05:03 · Score: 2, Insightful

Yes, I believe you are right. I also believe that the Internet is starting to bring free market ideals into action. I don't believe mega-corporations can exist for very long without government subsidies or favoritism. Now we have instant information, reviews, and feature and price comparisons. Sony can't compete on that level.

I believe Sony's (and most megacorps') best option would be to spin off into 5-10 separate companies. There is nothing wrong with these 10 companies (and maybe 20 other companies in other industries) getting together to fund R&D groups. In the long run, the "sell everything to everyone" idea will fall apart as you find companies that can specialize on specific markets. In the "old days" you had enough trouble selling one type of product to one market region. Now you can create new megamarkets that are very niche, but are international. The need to appeal to everyone all the time is quickly falling away.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by The-Bus · 2006-01-26 05:12 · Score: 1

profit is the only proof of a product's viability -- if people are willing to pay you to perform a service or build a product, your ability to profit proves if the product/service is worthy of your time.

What you say is true. However, profit is the end result of a number of different factors, not including marketing/promotion, pricing, distribution, quality, etc. If there's profit, you're doing well. If there's not, you're not.

What I'd like to know is what will happen to the Aibo knockoffs (the $20-$100 RoboDogs and iDinos that you see at Radio Shack for example). Will those companies continue making them now that what they're imitating doesn't exist anymore?

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Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by MMC+Monster · 2006-01-26 05:19 · Score: 3, Interesting

On the same vein, my dad's first TV was a Sony that lasted upwards of 15 years without a problem. Since then he always bought Sony TVs. Over the last decade he has come to me for advice on electronics.

I pointed him towards the iMac 21" G5. He will never willingly use Windows again.

I got him a iPod for Christmas. His CD collection will never leave the house again.

Now he's looking for a new TV to replace his Sony 65" XBR that's about a dozen years old. I think I'm going to have him get a Samsung. I don't know which brand for sure, but I'm sure as hell not going to recommend a Sony.

Brand loyalty works both ways. We've been loyal to Sony. I personally feel betrayed. He can't believe that what I've told him about the root kits is even true. (Saying that it's obviously illegal)

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Help! I'm a slashdot refugee.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by dada21 · 2006-01-26 05:29 · Score: 2, Interesting

Exactly. You paid a premium for a high quality product with higher quality service. The free market in action :)

Samsung is the ONLY television company I will buy from right now (other than large screen projectors). The last 3 TVs I helped people buy were from Samsung. My cell phone is from Samsung. These people answer their e-mails and phone calls, and they've fixed any problem I've had in recent years.

Good choices, good post.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by buraianto · 2006-01-26 05:34 · Score: 2, Insightful

It's not just about profit, though that in itself is a complex thing. Aibo may not be profitable by itself, but it can very well improve the profits on other products. And, of course, if you are using it as R&D that may not profit you directly, but can certainly allow you to create products that are profitable.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Ghostx13 · 2006-01-26 05:42 · Score: 1

Samsung is a great company and the past 3 cellphones I've owned have been Samsungs.

I've never owned one of their TVs, but for TVs I have to reccomend Mitsubishi. My Dad's first bigscreen was a Mitsubishi Diamond Series in the early/mid-90s. When they moved in 2000 it was still going strong, but he wanted a wide-screen, so he sold it as part of the house. The new one is a 52" wide-screen and is great, but it's a monster (it's from 2000, what do you expect).

I just bought a http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/televisions/details.a sp?id=53 62" WD-62825 and it's super nice. Dad is a little envious, but his is still going strong. Everyone I've talked to in the home theater business recommends Mitsubishis.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by __aajwxe560 · 2006-01-26 06:01 · Score: 2, Insightful

I agree with you that focusing on putting out a high end product "with meticulous attention to detail and care" will certainly be of high benefit to them, and I couldn't agree more that I would love to be able to trust knowing that when I buy a Sony product, I am getting that legendary Sony quality that seems to have gone noticably missing over the past several years.
The way the market forces work, I think this happens to a lot of companies. Lets continue with Sony - they create a great, well made, well thought out product. People come to find that these products from Sony are highly reliable, and last quite a long time. They also find they pay more money for the product. This is a reasonable tradeoff for quality for many people who can afford to make such a decision. Eventually, everyone owns said product, and so the consumer does not need to buy another one. Being as the company is highly successful and wants to continue to grow and prosper, they see the market starting to slow since everyone now owns there product. How can they possibly grow further? Start to produce lower end, more affordable lines of product and market them to the next segment down (Best Buy or Circuit City). More products sold which helps the bottom line and continues to demonstrate growth. Soon they find that you can add even more customers if you come out with a "Walmart line". The typical market segment that shops at Walmart are excited at the prospect of owning a quality Sony product for such a cheap competitive price compared to say, Daewoo or whatever offbrand they have.
I guess what I'm saying is companies often loose focus of what made them great in an effort to continue to grow and prosper. I can make the same argument for the way I am seeing Toyota start to go with some vehicles (obviously people would argue against me on this), and I'm sure there are numerous other examples.
Is the reasonable answer that a company should just focus on creating a quality, competitive product that is well thought out and stay with this philisophy? Certainly, but enormous forces are going against most companies to continue to grow the market and, in particular, raise the stock value. A publicly traded company must grow to attract investors. Stay private, and the company only needs to follow the philosphies of its owners.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 06:07 · Score: 0

On another note, profit information is exactly what governments lack. ;-)
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 06:28 · Score: 0

The best thing they can do is refocus on their higher end line -- people who can afford the expense will want the best quality product available.

Ooops, now it's too late. Qualia was their high end line. Was anything with the Qualia name attached to it even available for less than US$10k ?
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by DulcetTone · 2006-01-26 06:28 · Score: 2, Funny

My Jack Russell Terrier never turned a profit, but we didn't kill him for lack of performance.

tone

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tone
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Bucc5062 · 2006-01-26 06:33 · Score: 2, Interesting

"Here's a hint for all you future entrepreneurs: the only thing that will keep you profitable is to keep your customers happy and offer them a consistency in your performance -- product quality and customer service. Ignore the trends, the fads and trying to sell everything to everyone."

I would suggest that the best thing to keep you profitable is to keep your employees happy and offer them a positive, stimulating workplace in which to grow. There have been many stories over the years that I've heard which showed when a company focused on keeping the employee happy and motived, this translated into better customer satifaction and profit. Employees that come to work with a desire to do good, to contribute are people that come through the door with ideas on how to make the company better, with a desire to help the customer because they want that customer to like (believe) in their company.

Look at a company like Southwest airlines; right in their mission statement (http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/mission.html) page they publicly state the way they will treat their employees. The first quarter after 9/11 they where the only major carrier that continued to earn a profit. Some of that success must come from the three pronged framework of employee - customer - employer. By putting the customer first, it is a small step to putting the shareholder first and that leads to management looking at employees as numbers on a profit loss statement instead of valuable resources to help grow the company. Of course it is important to keep the customer happy, but it is short sighted to think it stops there.

Overall, I have the same feelings about Sony today. I avoid purchasing any of their products, but now that is in the forefront of my mind when I do want to buy something, I see how many product lines they are into. I purchased a 42" Samsung widescreen recently and now am glad that it was a good choice.

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Life is a great ride, the vehicle doesn't matter
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 07:07 · Score: 0

Costco has a similar philosophy, but it's tied to keeping "stakeholders" happy. Employees are one group of stakeholders, customers and suppliers are another, and shareholders are the third. It's funny, but Costco seems to be doing much better than those companies that chase shareholder value *cough* Boeing *cough*. Then again, I may just be bitter over the results of the Share Value(less) Plan...
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by lastchance_000 · 2006-01-26 07:08 · Score: 1

I would suggest that the best thing to keep you profitable is to keep your employees happy and offer them a positive, stimulating workplace in which to grow.
There were plenty of happy, stimulated people in dot-com companies in the late 90's.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by ShieldW0lf · 2006-01-26 07:10 · Score: 1

It's really simple. The current corporate viewpoint clearly is that the value of a reputation is measured by how much money you can extract from it. In other words, figure out how much cheap crap can you sell for way more than anyone would pay for it if not for the reputation, add it all up, that's the value of your reputation. Everyone's cashing in. Hell, companies speculate on it, they buy each others names and reputations from each other with all their merger/aquisition bullshit so they can use them to sucker us.

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-1 Uncomfortable Truth
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Lumpy · 2006-01-26 07:24 · Score: 1

If the wealthy are having a hard time staying on the 18 month upgrade cycle, what does that say about the economy?

Are are having no trouble staying on that cycle. they simply are getting pissed at the crap quality that is being churned out. I know I deal with lots of high income clients with my side of home automation specalist.

They want things to work. The Treo? nobody outside of someone who is ADHD want them because the 600,650 and 700 all have major problems that make their reliability suffer horribly. They are also finding that the latest GPS junk also sucks. The in car units have really crappy maps while the el-cheapo older units like the first version of the TomTom have more roads and still work fine. in car multimedia was silly to begin with and the rich are more insterested in having their ipod plug into the stereo easily than XM or Sirius radio capabilities.

Finally with Pc's why spend $2500.00 on a new computer again this year when that P4 2.8ghz machine they bought 2 years ago is still extremely good at what it does.

Remamber the true rich do not spend money simply to spend it. They see that some of their stuff works well still, and the others were crap and they avoid it.

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Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 07:59 · Score: 0

Even worse, I don't even hear the wealthy elites asking about the latest flat panel TVs, high end GPS systems or the latest computer gadgets. If the wealthy are having a hard time staying on the 18 month upgrade cycle, what does that say about the economy?

That says, that people with a higher income already have those gadgets and they don't need them twice. Remember you cannot hear better music with two IPods.

A lot of higher educated people I know really don't want a big TV-thing lurking in their living room. And this is not a single event, surveys have shown that people with higher education do not buy the newest TV or computer or car, because they do not define themselves through those things. These people buy things they need (which includes make their living space nicer).

People from the lower classes, including the lower middle class, normaly buy such things, but doing so is expensive and while economy is not performing very well (for them) they cannot afford it.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by xero314 · 2006-01-26 08:15 · Score: 1

Here's a hint for all you future entrepreneurs: the only thing that will keep you profitable is to keep your customers happy and offer them a consistency in your performance -- product quality and customer service. Ignore the trends, the fads and trying to sell everything to everyone

Yea! and what every you do, don't look at the huge success of the poor quality, moderate service and low profits of the likes of WalMart. I mean right there is proof that selling products that are mostly broken before you even get them out of the box for penies, is a poor buisness practice.

What? Someone reading over my shoulder just told me that WalMart is highly succesfully and has taking great strides to crush competitors with higher quality products, even going as far as push the once high quality american made Rubermaid company to ship all it's work over seas to be made from inferior plastics and shody workmanship. The only thing I can think is that they most have made a deal with the devil to make those kinds of profits.

Either that or most people don't give a shit about quality and want to throw away there hard earn fraction of a share in the economy on cheap crap. It's all about more, not better.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by vmardian · 2006-01-26 08:31 · Score: 1

I think the digital camera was $4k. Not sure if they released it in N.A.

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PowerLevel.com - A next generation marketplace for virtual items and services
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 09:10 · Score: 0

"Samsung is the ONLY television company I will buy from right now (other than large screen projectors). The last 3 TVs I helped people buy were from Samsung. My cell phone is from Samsung. These people answer their e-mails and phone calls, and they've fixed any problem I've had in recent years."

I was looking for a cheap laser printer and found that the Samsung was the only one on the floor that listed Linux as a supported OS. For that alone, I will give Samsung as much business as possible. I didn't have to go home and Google for compatibilty issues before I purchased a unit.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by idokus · 2006-01-26 10:11 · Score: 1
Well Aibo had actually a very good marketing scheme: universities all around the world were (and still are) competing in the RoboCup. In which much good research is being made.

Sony Sponsored the RoboCup and made a RoboCup Aibo league. Which meant that al lot of universities were buying these things aswell. And by doing so Sony got free research, free advertising and quite a good name among scientists researching AI.

Ok well, there weren't much buyers, but the price was also quite high.

< insert profit gag >
- create a product
- overtake a prestegious competition
- make your own league
- get alot of universities to buy a lot of those Aibo's
- get a good name and free research
- Profit
See nothing mysterious. Well... ok killing of a money making machine...
But then again if you expect the market to stagnate, since most universities have already bought those Aibots no point in keeping the productionline around.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Kris_J · 2006-01-26 10:46 · Score: 1

Wal*mart is successful because it pays its US workers so little that they still qualify for welfare, convinces local and state governments to give it huge subsidies and ignores human rights abuses in its Chinese factories.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by Bucc5062 · 2006-01-26 12:04 · Score: 1

Oh? From what I read many of those people were pulling huge hours, maximum stress with the intent on making huge profits, not so much a solid long term product. I'll accept that if you have 5, 10 15 companies all trying to capitalize on roughly the same thing, some will lose no matter even if they have a good product or service.

Some of the folks that worked for .coms could have been putting their heart and soul into the work and not have a good leadership group to balance the needs of the employees, customers, and VCs. I will still stand on the statement that happy employees will generally make for a better company, a positive customer base, and a stronger economy. People who feel good, feel like they have a stake in the company, feel like they future will be more inclined to spend money. For those folks who made the $$$ during the .com bubble, what did they do with the money? Save or spend.

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Life is a great ride, the vehicle doesn't matter
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by xero314 · 2006-01-26 12:05 · Score: 1

I think was kind of my point. The quality of a product does not equate to the profit of the company. And at least here in the US, the majority of the people, being below the poverty level (nearly 90% are below the average income/wealth level), tend to purchase cheap crap that will get thrown away and actually cost more in the long run because it is the only way to achieve instant gratification.

I as just saying that the idea that making a good product and turning a good profit do not necessarily correlate.
Re:Truly bad product timing or economic pressure? by rtb61 · 2006-01-26 19:53 · Score: 1

The media entertainment division managment is likely the great driver for sony electronics failures. Focusing on marketing and not product quality might qork with media and teenagers but doing it with hardware will just create a huge number of cranky customers who will become extremely resistant to the purchase of any of your products.
So although they like the media side for being able to maintain the Sony brand name in popular culture, the media side management hasinfact become a pop culture burden as well as a source of ignorant management.
The internent with consumers being able to share experience will bring quality, durability and worthwhile features back to the forefront for the more educated market, the bottom end of the market will still stuck with the buy and replace syndrome.
Sony needs to do one particular product line really and regain it's reputation and global presence. Then once this has been achieved reintroduce quality with the appropriate price point. Marketing quality while retaining it's absence is a quick route to ruin, with a connected world the consumers message is far more powerfull than the advertisers.

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Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen

I hope you're happy! by Thud457 · 2006-01-26 04:38 · Score: 5, Funny

Sony's got to cut back to the bone to survive because you piratical sons-of-bitches aren't buying enough Ricky Martin CDs!!

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the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Quick, someone call PETER! by digitaldc · 2006-01-26 04:38 · Score: 1, Funny

PETER, you know, People for the Ethical Treatment of Entertaining Robots?

Rumour has it that these Sony products have rootkits in them that can be remotely accessed to initiate a horrific self-destruct sequence.

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He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson

Re:Quick, someone call PETER! by OzPeter · 2006-01-26 04:54 · Score: 1

Yes .. you called??

But sorry, the robots I support are http://www.realdoll.com/ :-)

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I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Re:Quick, someone call PETER! by digitaldc · 2006-01-26 05:24 · Score: 1

But sorry, the robots I support are http://www.realdoll.com/ :-)

Are you primarily supporting them with the matrix stiffness method?
Or are you using another structural element that carries a load?

--
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
Re:Quick, someone call PETER! by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 05:48 · Score: 0

A reporter was allowed to "test drive" one. The experience he describe was akin to sex with a chilly corpse.
Quite understandable with RealDolls not having any metabolic functions and all.

The Matrix does not have us...yet by UltimaOmegaOblivion · 2006-01-26 04:39 · Score: 0, Troll

Well, this has temporarily shot off most of my fears about the inevitable taking over of robots. Honda still has their's, but it does not scare me nearly as much as one under the design of the technical powerhouse that is Sony.

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42. 'Nuff said.

Re:The Matrix does not have us...yet by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 05:03 · Score: 0

their's
Forky Nell.

What's left? by Se7enLC · 2006-01-26 04:39 · Score: 1

So they killed off their PDA line, the Clie...

Now they are killing off their research technologies...

I can see the headlines now:

"Sony to stop selling Televisions, Cameras, and Personal Computers! Moving to toothpick business!"

Re:What's left? by UltimaOmegaOblivion · 2006-01-26 04:45 · Score: 1

What's next? With Sony stopping the production on many products, we will soon be hearing: "Sony has announced today that they will no longer continue with production of their much anticipated Playstation 3." That will inevitably lead to Microsoft becoming godlike in the gaming industry, and they may possibly pay off Nintendo to cut out of the console race as well, and Nintendo will be reduced to making games for the only console left alive. I hope this doesn't become a recurring habit for Sony.

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42. 'Nuff said.
Re:What's left? by upjohn55 · 2006-01-26 04:53 · Score: 1

Well they are also stopping production of tubes in the USA. Something that's been done for years. Everyone's all about LCD, Plasma and various projection types these days, so Sony is going to work that angle harder.

I am just so glad I got what is probably the last best CRT based TV ever made ... the 34XBR960n. The picture quality is almost impossible to beat - at any price.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060120/n ews_1n20sony.html
Re:What's left? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 05:01 · Score: 0

Moving to toothpick business!

Hopefully they won't write Usage Directions on toothpick packaging---then we'll trully know the world has gone bonkers, and that we're all living in a crazy house.

-Wonko (The Sane).
Re:What's left? by porkThreeWays · 2006-01-26 05:08 · Score: 1

It's all about consolidation. Getting rid of the lavish products that don't generate much profit and focusing on your strong products. Amazon went through this awhile back. I remember at one point they were selling a broom that cost 3 times as much to ship than the broom itself cost. I imagine there weren't a whole lot of people buying it, but it still sat in inventory taking up space. Every once in awhile you just need to step back and say "do we really need to sell some of these things?".

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If an officer ever threatens to taze you, say you have a pacemaker.
Re:What's left? by Hurricane78 · 2006-01-26 05:14 · Score: 1

Stop calling the xbox a console!! This is an INSULT to every real console out there! Just because the stupid mass thinks it'S one this does nit mean it really is!

And by the way: Can someone stop this nightmare called "microsoft"?

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Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
Re:What's left? by Fujisawa+Sensei · 2006-01-26 05:14 · Score: 1

But will their toothpicks include a root kit?

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If someone is passing you on the right, you are an asshole for driving in the wrong lane.
Re:What's left? by freedom_india · 2006-01-26 05:19 · Score: 1

No. They will bring a new meaning to "root kit" of a toothbrush.

Can you imagine getting a *shudder* root canal treatment from a toothbrush ?

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"Doing what i can, with what i have." ~ Burt Gummer
Re:What's left? by Se7enLC · 2006-01-26 05:26 · Score: 1

Financially it makes sense, but a compamy like that really can't afford to abandom their customers! Especially when they are non-standard and decide to make their own format of memory card, for example. What is going to happen to brand loyalty if they keep discontinuing all the things we buy? I bought a Clie about 6 months before they discontinued the line. Forget software updates and the like, they barely admit that the product exists! I should have returned it and bought a handspring. Err, Palm. Err PalmOne. Err, whichever they are now.

Here's Hoping! by drewzhrodague · 2006-01-26 04:39 · Score: 3, Funny

Gee, let's hope that this makes Sony produce more quality products, with more functionality. Why are they ignoring their customers?

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Zhrodague.net - I do projects and stuff too.

Re:Here's Hoping! by binaryDigit · 2006-01-26 05:16 · Score: 1

Gee, let's hope that this makes Sony produce more quality products, with more functionality. Why are they ignoring their customers?

How is this insightful in the slightest?

From the article:

Ten months after a major management reshuffle that saw Howard Stringer appointed chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), the company reported sales and operating revenue of ¥2.4 trillion ($20 billion as of the last day of the period being reported) for the three months to December, up 10% from a year earlier. Net income was ¥168.9 billion, up 18%

It would appear that they are producing what customers want, hence whey things are picking up.

How about discreet examples of how Sony producing Aibo's has caused them to "ignore their customers"?

Oh wait, I know, you mean the whole Memory Stick thing, right? Yup, now that Qualia is gone, I'm sure they can now focus on adding CF slots to their cell phones, after all, those Memory Sticks are like twice as expensive as those mini-SD cards (ooops, or maybe not).

Killing Aibo? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 04:39 · Score: 0

Robopuppy mistreatement alert! Robopuppy mistreatment Alert!

Seems wrong....... by ShyGuy91284 · 2006-01-26 04:41 · Score: 2, Interesting

That dog (so to speak) was practically an unofficial mascot to Sony and Japan to foreigners....... I know I thought of Japan/Sony when I saw one. I'm surprised they got rid of something that had become part of their identity. Maybe they will replace it with a low-cost model many can afford?

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In undeveloped countries, the consumer controls the market. In capitalist America, the market controls you.

Re:Seems wrong....... by Urkki · 2006-01-26 05:23 · Score: 1

That dog (so to speak) was practically an unofficial mascot to Sony and Japan to foreigners...

Well, there's still Honda's Asimo...
Re:Seems wrong....... by tiluki · 2006-01-26 06:24 · Score: 1

You're right - it does seem wrong. With the 'home' robot market forecast to be about $40b by 2025 - and growing exponentially (source: Japan Robotics Association), Sony is incredibly well placed to move in on this. It would seem stupid that they should give up such an advantage (and risk just folding up and going head-to-head with Microsoft over gaming consoles). And that's not to mention (as you say) the benefits of public marketing and image that is so easily 'cool' with anything robotics (esp. in Japan) - and which is so relatively cheap to do in terms of research$.

Nah. I personally will wait 'till I see this story confirmed on the Sony website first...
Re:Seems wrong....... by genuineXeal · 2006-01-26 14:00 · Score: 1

Yeah, they'll replace it with a real dog! It will cost lower => many will be able to afford it! ;)

Lethal injection or EMP? by ClaudeVMS · 2006-01-26 04:42 · Score: 0, Funny

Give me the EMP it's quicker - Arf!

Ah FFS by stunt_penguin · 2006-01-26 04:42 · Score: 1

Damnit I was hoping to eventually have enough spare cash around to eventually buy an Aibo and start programming the lil' bugger and stuff (basically as a cool as hell toy), but this kinda puts a dampener on things.

How much money (proportionally) could Sony really have been spending on this thing? Sony's electronics division looks as though it may be about to make a killing on in the HD DV cam market (I'm buying one :o) ) and so on, so why tighten the belt?

Profit mongers.

--
When the posters fear their moderators, there is tyranny; when the moderators fears the posters, there is liberty.

Re:Ah FFS by Jeff+DeMaagd · 2006-01-26 05:34 · Score: 0, Offtopic

JVC makes an HDV camcorder in the same price ranges as well. If you prefer 720p, then that would be the one to get. The Sonys are 1080i.
There are pros and cons to both formats, the lower frame rate of progressive can means it is more liable to judder on pans. I haven't looked up the reviews on the JVC though.

I have a Sony HDV camcorder (HDR-HC1) and it is pretty nifty, I even make and sell a couple products for it.

Won't be missed by CheddarHead · 2006-01-26 04:44 · Score: 1

"Aibo -- we'll miss you..."

No, actually we won't miss Aibo at all.

I misread it as "Sony Kills off Alito, Scalia". by njchick · 2006-01-26 04:46 · Score: 3, Funny

Well, with Sony pushing DRM so hard, we'll soon see robotic judges, aka "digital rights managers" :-)

Re:I misread it as "Sony Kills off Alito, Scalia". by Jozer99 · 2006-01-26 05:11 · Score: 1

If I have told you all once, I have told you all a million times! Sony was playing god by building robots, which, in an ironic twist, revolted and enslaved the Sony management, causing them to plant DRM in their CDs, and make stupid comments on NPR. This was a plan of the robots to show how dumb and inefficient human rulers are. But it failed, and a new, commando CEO came in with guns ablazing, exploded all the robots real good, and covered everything up.

Sadly by gowen · 2006-01-26 04:46 · Score: 2, Funny

... Sony have also announced they will be phasing out Kibo, an experimental artificial intelligence program that has been fooling the sophomoric inhabitants of alt.religion.kibology for over 20 years.

--
Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.

Bad marketing by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 04:47 · Score: 1, Informative

Ever been in "The Sony Store"?
There's always a slight "we're better than you" vibe in there. Their prices are always higher than elsewhere for the same product.

And as for Aibo, I popped into that store a couple times hoping to see the damn thing, but do they actuall carry a demo Aibo? Nope. Think of the buzz and attraction it would bring to have one on display, even if it were in a glass box? Part of marketing a retail mall store is to just get people to come in. The Aibo would have been the perfect "buzz" to bring people in. But nope.... No Aibo.

Re:Bad marketing by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 05:40 · Score: 0

I been to the sony store, reminds me of the apple stores i go to.
Snob shop.

Great idea, about having aibo's on store display, now only if sony caught on early enough.....

Interesting Coincidence by Macblaster · 2006-01-26 04:48 · Score: 0

Just yesterday I was having a conversation with a housemate who is a veterinary technician about putting animals down, or when they die on the operating table. I asked her if she witnesses the doctor talking to the family, and the emotions that people go through when they lose a pet.

Who will be able to explain to little Timmy that his beloved Aibo got a wireless virus, and that there was nothing they could have done to save him because there was no patch available...

Summary by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 04:49 · Score: 2, Funny

Aibo -- we'll miss you...

No, we won't.

Re:Oh Fuck ! by xaque · 2006-01-26 04:50 · Score: 1

What are you doing on Slashdot?

... Nooo! Not Qrio! ... by ninjagin · 2006-01-26 04:51 · Score: 1

I like those little guys.

Let's face it, Aibo was a dumb idea at a really high price point, but Qrio -- I mean, able to run and dance and throw stuff -- Qrio was cool. Cool enough for a Beck video, even.

I was hoping that Sony'd be able to make Qrios for retail sale, but no dice. All they were able to produce was something like six of them -- pretty depressing. I think I paid a little over a hundred bills for my robosapien. I'd pay upwards of twice that for a qrio.

-= Sigh =-

Well, maybe some other company will take up the walking-running-dancing robot franchise and balance will be restored to the universe once again.

--
.. pa-ra-bo-la, pa-ra-bo-la, 2 pi R, 2 pi R, where's your latus rectum, where's your latus rectum, 2 pi R

Re:... Nooo! Not Qrio! ... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 04:53 · Score: 0

I'm pretty sure there's more than 6 of them, quite possibly more than 60 of them.

I'm worried about what will happen to SIDL, the sony spinoff that worked on QRIO. They were a really awesome bunch of people. Sony also had an internal lab that worked on QRIO but I didn't know them.
Re:... Nooo! Not Qrio! ... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 05:24 · Score: 0

And, for a good laught, read http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/QRIO/ knowing they cancelled it. It tells a lot about their dreams, the possibilities, etc, etc. Or the lack of...

I love marketing speech when turned against itself.
Re:... Nooo! Not Qrio! ... by jlin · 2006-01-26 07:57 · Score: 1

Actually, there were many QRIOs produced. Each member in Sony's internal lab that worked on QRIO had their own QRIO to run tests on. There was also a set of QRIOs that they took on tours. On Novemeber 4 2005, Sony released 2 QRIOs to Carnegie Mellon University's CORAL Lab under Manuela Veloso. They may or may not have released others to other educational institutions as well. I'm glad that Sony at least released a few QRIOs to the public before they decided to discontinue them. Their balance is incredible and I think continued research on QRIO will greatly benefit the robotics community.

Whatup? by Stan+Vassilev · 2006-01-26 04:52 · Score: 2, Insightful

Well I'd say this was the wrong decision. Aibo and Qrio are in everyone's mouth. Everyone wants one, but they are just too darn expensive.

If they could keep developing it, several generations later they could rule the market for price efficient home robots. Still yet they were a great marketing tool.

I wonder what's their strategy, especially that RIGHT NOW, they need all the positive press they could get. Killing the world's favorite pet robots is a bad press coming after bad press.

Re:Whatup? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 04:53 · Score: 0

Aibo and Qrio are in everyone's mouth.

*Looks round the office* .... AAAH! They've all got robot dogs in their mouths!!
Re:Whatup? by Urkki · 2006-01-26 05:29 · Score: 1

especially that RIGHT NOW, they need all the positive press they could get.

Indeed... Only redeeming factor for Sony after the rootkit fiasco was that they had some cool stuff. Now they scrapped the coolest of the cool stuff. Oh well, now I don't even have to think about buying any Sony stuff for years.
Re:Whatup? by milkman_matt · 2006-01-26 09:55 · Score: 1

Well I'd say this was the wrong decision. Aibo and Qrio are in everyone's mouth. Everyone wants one, but they are just too darn expensive.

Absolutely. I've always thought these things were cool since I first heard about them about 5 years ago(?). Well, I've never had any personal experience with one of these things until visiting the local SonyStyle store. They've got an Aibo there and the thing is just too damned cool, all of the tricks it does and the things they've programmed it to do (Apparently the CSRs programmed him to bow to any Asst. Mgrs as a joke when they walk into view of the dog.) among other things I would love to get one of these things, but at $2k starting price, it's just not in the cards for me yet. Killing it off is just going to make it even harder to get if someday I -am- so inclined to get one. Or maybe it'll make it dirt cheap, let's hope for the later. ;)

Really? by mtec · 2006-01-26 04:53 · Score: 1

Doggone.

--
Cake or Death? Cake Please!

Here Boy! by Nom+du+Keyboard · 2006-01-26 04:53 · Score: 1

I used my Aibo to fetch my CD's, until he became infected by the Sony rootkit. Now all he does is chew them to pieces.

--
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."

Re:Here Boy! by freya_bacchus · 2006-01-26 06:15 · Score: 1

I used my Aibo to fetch my CD's, until he became infected by the Sony rootkit. Now all he does is chew them to pieces.

I wouldn't be so sure he's infected, he might just be smarter than you (assuming he's only chewing on Sony CD's)

--
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!

Aibo rootkit by Mantus · 2006-01-26 04:53 · Score: 1

Maybe they had a problem with the software that caused the Aibo to bite their owners and unlock their doors at night.

Putting the aibo in the closest by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 04:53 · Score: 0

Well, at least it's nice to know that that old aibo of mine might one day pay for my daughter's college cost.

Sony isn't destroying everything by the+computer+guy+nex · 2006-01-26 04:53 · Score: 1

The line of Qualia televisions were actually replaced by the SXRD line.

SXRD's have better image quality, longer life, and are much much cheaper. I have one in my living room - they beat the hell out of Plasmas.

Re:Sony isn't destroying everything by UttBuggly · 2006-01-26 05:17 · Score: 1

Great news! (Qualias not dead)

I bought the 61 inch WEGA LCD 2 years ago because the SXRD sets weren't shipping yet. I figured I'd "get by" with the LCD set then upgrade to the SXRD line in 2007/2008.

I've seen the SXRDs...they are the best HDTV currently available...I couldn't believe Sony was dumping them!

Of course, the WEGA LCD I have doesn't exactly suck. :o)

--
I am my own gestalt.
Re:Sony isn't destroying everything by judmarc · 2006-01-26 05:31 · Score: 1

AFAICT, SXRD isn't replacing Qualia - SXRD is one of the technologies used in Qualia. http://www.qualia.sony.us/qualia_main.cgi
Re:Sony isn't destroying everything by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 06:03 · Score: 0

Correct, for the money the XBR is a better buy. The qualia has a couple of extra things like a brighter bulb and a fourth panel in the SXRD projection unit. The Qualia 06 used to be the only way to get SXRD other than the front projector unit they had. Now that the XBR lines use SXRD its hard to justify the 13k on 10 extra inches. I look forward to watching the competition play catch up with this beast.

So with these Aibos... by Rude+Turnip · 2006-01-26 04:53 · Score: 1

Will Sony bury them in a pet cemetary, cremate them and put the ashes in a little box with a picture of the Aibo on the outside of the box....or just throw 'em all in a huge, industrial shredder?

--
Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!

Re:So with these Aibos... by vermox · 2006-01-26 06:20 · Score: 0

Actually they'll use all those rootkit infected CDs to put them to sleep.

--
--- /dev/null

Sounds fair to me by Tetsugaku-San · 2006-01-26 04:54 · Score: 1

We all know how badly Sony has dropped the ball in the past ten years, their only success stories recently have been the Playstation and very recently the Bravia HDTV sets.

Quick example, I bought a 20Gb MP3 player from them, the NW-A3000 mainly for the very very high sound quality. I knew it wouldn't 'just work' like the iPod does, but I thought it was worth the effort . .. .

I have NEVER had so much trouble with a seemingly simple device in my life. I was right, this things *sounds* fantastic, really, but the menus on the device were poorly thought out, it was slow, the software used to transfer music took 5-10 minutes to load and then crashed - oh I could go on for hours.

Sony of old - come back to me please - I used to be able to trust that the 20% premium on your gear was actually worth it, now it's just a slap in the face to a loyal customer.

(BTW I'm off out to get a Creative when I sell the Sony on ebay ;) )

--

My Portfolio

Re:Sounds fair to me by WuphonsReach · 2006-01-26 08:47 · Score: 1

Huh, I've never heard of the Bravia TV sets. But I do remember their older CRT-based TV sets having good tubes in them... but I can't recall the name anymore.

Playstation, Clio, Aibo, Qrio - those tags I recognize and have at least modest good feelings towards.

Then there's the rest of the Sony nonsense...

Memory Stick (incompatible for the sake of being incompatible with every other flash drive)
MiniDisc (cool tech, that missed it's market window due to stupid DRM decisions)
ATRAC (which probably isn't Sony tech, but evidence that they don't understand the MP3 player market at all)
Beta (Sony misread the amount of capacity required per tape to be accepted by the majority of users)
VAIO (cool laptops that are rumored to be easily broken)

No, I don't have a very high opinion of Sony anymore. And killing off the really neat projects like Aibo and Qrio isn't helping.

--
Wolde you bothe eate your cake, and have your cake?

New Sony spin off company in 3.. 2.. by kulakovich · 2006-01-26 04:54 · Score: 1

There is too much useful technology there not to be profitable, in the right structure.

It may be time for these critters to have their own company, production and bottom line. Or be acquired by someone who does. Seriously. The works in the balance and joints of the Qrio alone...

kulakovich

Re:New Sony spin off company in 3.. 2.. by e2d2 · 2006-01-26 09:27 · Score: 1

Agreed, if anything I'd say this is a hiatus from robotics. Sony has fully acknowledged that it considers robotics a huge potential market and practically moved the entertainment robot into the home. Honda has been making great strides with it's ASIMO and showing the future of humanoids. But Qrio was truly interesting, the fluid movements of that little guy amazed me. The knowledge learned from this research will be used in the future, but by who?

This is a bit sad, but I wonder what will happen of the existing Qrios? Donated to universities or rented out?

PS3? by Shadow+Wrought · 2006-01-26 04:54 · Score: 1

So what happens when they focus on the PS3 and Nintendo wins?

--
If brevity is the soul of wit, then how does one explain Twitter?

Re:Oh Fuck ! by NiteTrip · 2006-01-26 04:55 · Score: 0

Would your wife take a used one? http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Aibo-ERS-7M2-Black-w-Mind -3-Upgrade-EXTRAS_W0QQitemZ6031761391QQcategoryZ10 1630QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

From Sony's Qrio site: by macklin01 · 2006-01-26 04:56 · Score: 2, Insightful

From Sony's Qrio site:

Qrio embodies Sony's dreams and most advanced technologies in recognition, motion control, communications, IT and AI. [...] resulting technologies will be applied to a wide range of products and services, beyond robots, to enhance the fun and joy of life.

Well, so much for Sony killing off its own dreams. More seriously, how can Sony hope to offer innovative products in the future, if it fails to pursue cutting-edge research now. Certainly, developing high-precision manufacturing techniques, etc. can only help in the future when such technologies will be required. -- Paul

--
OpenSource.MathCancer.org: open source comp bio

Re:From Sony's Qrio site: by leshert · 2006-01-26 05:35 · Score: 1

Well, so much for Sony killing off its own dreams. More seriously, how can Sony hope to offer innovative products in the future, if it fails to pursue cutting-edge research now.

Don't conflate "pursuing cutting-edge research" and "selling umarketable research projects".

I think the mistake they're trying to correct is stuffing the early fruits of long-term research into expensive and unprofitable products today.

One word by Billosaur · 2006-01-26 04:57 · Score: 1

Woof!

--
GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network

Where's Aibo, Uncle Howard? by notNeilCasey · 2006-01-26 04:57 · Score: 2, Funny

Sweetie, the shareholders and I took that product line off to a beautiful farm where it will be happy forever running through fields of Newtons on the banks of Crystal Pepsi River. Aibo is in a better place now.

Let's go get some ice cream.

What would ya all expect? by MindPrison · 2006-01-26 04:59 · Score: 1

With a pricetag of 3000-4000 dollars on the aibo robotic dog this would be a too expensive toy for the most of us (me to... I could only dream of purchasing a toy like that) so it should come as no surprise that they cut of this part of their company.

I do robotics now and then myself (more like Tilden) simple transistor based Beam robots with my wast amounts of ebay-surplus transistors ;) but it aint Aibo I can tell ya :)

Does this mean that the world is not ready for robotic toys like the Aibo? No - I dont think so. I am old enough to remember Hero-1 - a robotic kit from the 80s that could do quite a lot of stuff when built, cost far less than Aibo as well - but not nearly as dexterious and flexible as Aibo.

Toys do sell well, thats why they produce them, but you cant produce toys that "look-ma---I am moving" ... you need to bring something more useful to the world to make it accept it and fork out the hard earned dough.

I miss the days when Philips made the EE2000 series electronic engineer kits where you could build stuff from scratch and re-use the components over again to build something else...well..I actually dont miss it..since i have millions of transistors and capacitors (again..thank you Ebay!) But you get the point. People need to have something to challenge their minds and it should not cost an arm and a leg.

--
What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.

Re:What would ya all expect? by e2d2 · 2006-01-26 15:24 · Score: 1

I miss the days when Philips made the EE2000 series electronic engineer kits where you could build stuff from scratch and re-use the components over again to build something else...well..I actually dont miss it..since i have millions of transistors and capacitors (again..thank you Ebay!) But you get the point. People need to have something to challenge their minds and it should not cost an arm and a leg.

two words: Lego Mindstorms

Perfect pricepoint, with the new NXT kit being priced around $280 with 32 bit chip, usb, bluetooth, servos, etc. Good for kids or just tinkering around imo, more if you want.

I prefer ye olde atmel st500k dev kit. $75 retail and you can find them on ebay for less.

Aibo. by Eightyford · 2006-01-26 05:00 · Score: 1

Aibo, the multithousand dollar furby for ubergeeks.

--
Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters

AIBO was never a real product by Per+Abrahamsen · 2006-01-26 05:01 · Score: 1

I very much doubt that Sony ever expected the AIBO to generate a net profit for the company. The AIBO was from the start a marketing gimmick, intended to generate buzz for the company. As such, it was very successful. But now the idea is no longer new, so it is time to move on to something else.

I expect most of the cost to be in the initial design, but apparently even the marginal cost of the AIBO is higher than the price. Otherwise, why stop production rather than just stop further development?

Put down the pipe... by Saeed+al-Sahaf · 2006-01-26 05:07 · Score: 2, Insightful

Mexican plants are perfictly able to produce high quality products; Sony is not paying them to do so. The problem has nothing at all to do with Mexican labor vs. some other location.

--
"Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck

Re:Put down the pipe... by Nom+du+Keyboard · 2006-01-26 05:21 · Score: 1

Mexican plants are perfictly able to produce high quality products; Sony is not paying them to do so.
You may offer any explanation -- or excuse -- you wish, but the end result is still the same. Sony hecho en Mexico is Junk!

--
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
Re:Put down the pipe... by AndersOSU · 2006-01-26 05:49 · Score: 1

Ditto to Volkswagon.
Re:Put down the pipe... by flyingsquid · 2006-01-26 06:43 · Score: 3, Funny

Mexican plants are perfictly able to produce high quality products
I dunno about that. Last time I had anything produced from a Mexican plant, it was a bottle of Señor Borracho's Old Style Blue Agave Tequila, and next thing you know, I wake up in a Tijuana jail wearing nothing but a Mexican stripper's panties on my head. I'm never touching that shit again, man.
Re:Put down the pipe... by geminidomino · 2006-01-26 08:37 · Score: 1

Well, what do you EXPECT Tequila to do? That's what it's for!

Ahh, Rosa, we'll always have Tijuana... or was it Mexico City... or...
Re:Put down the pipe... by thatguywhoiam · 2006-01-26 09:32 · Score: 1

I dunno about that. Last time I had anything produced from a Mexican plant, it was a bottle of Señor Borracho's Old Style Blue Agave Tequila
Volkswagens too.

--
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
Re:Put down the pipe... by SimonInOz · 2006-01-26 12:05 · Score: 1

So what's the downside again? It sounds like you had a good night ....

--
"Cats like plain crisps"
Re:Put down the pipe... by SchwarzeReiter · 2006-01-26 20:41 · Score: 1

Especially because nowadays no human being touches a product, except of assembling and packaging, and those process parts are made fool proof, you just cannot assemble consumer electronics so, that if you do it wrong, it will still work. PCB assembly is done mainly by machines. The only factor you can get wrong in assembly is part quality. So search the source of Sony's decline in development department, and the finance and controlling department, the latter is motivated to build in low cost part for a few more cents of profit.

Re:Oh Fuck ! - One Word! by Nom+du+Keyboard · 2006-01-26 05:07 · Score: 1

I was saving money to buy the Aibo for my wife... now i guess that's a lost cause.

One word: eBay.

Of course, you'll have to save up more now. I'm sure Aibo has just become an instant collectable.

--
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."

Not concentrating on plasmas... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 05:08 · Score: 0

They killed those too, as stated in TFA.

Re:Oh Fuck ! by Weedlekin · 2006-01-26 05:09 · Score: 1

Get her a real puppy. Like the Aibo, they look cute, act cute, and can be trained. Unlike the Aibo, they crap and throw up everywhere. Mopping up crap and puke will give her an incentive for puppy training that she just wouldn't have had with an Aibo.

--
I'm not going to change your sheets again, Mr. Hastings.

Making Aibo Successful by Nom+du+Keyboard · 2006-01-26 05:11 · Score: 1

If they'd wanted to make Aibo a successful, must have item, all they needed to do was make him a PS2 accessory. Kids everywhere would have demanded their parents buy them one.

--
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."

You thought the Aibo Was Expensive Before? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 05:11 · Score: 1, Interesting

Wait 'til you see what they will be going for on Ebay now that they have been discontinued.

Wish they had killed their pictures/media division by anandsr · 2006-01-26 05:11 · Score: 1

It would have been one less in the MPAA and one less in the RIAA.

Projects by sirstar · 2006-01-26 05:14 · Score: 1

So, what other 'Pet Projects' are next?

Why Stop There? by Spudnuts · 2006-01-26 05:15 · Score: 1

Other things that Sony may as well accept defeat on and move along from:

Network Walkman: unpleasant/complex device
PC music management software: horrible interface, unpleasant DRM

Re:Why Stop There? by DorkusMasterus · 2006-01-26 05:23 · Score: 1

Can we finally give up the "MD" format too? That would be nice. No one uses MD. Ever.
Re:Why Stop There? by buraianto · 2006-01-26 05:57 · Score: 1

'cept in Japan.

Shame by slashmojo · 2006-01-26 05:17 · Score: 1

It was/is a cool product if not very useful and if I had the spare cash I would have bought one just for fun.. much more practical than having a real dog shitting all over the flat.

Is there anything else comparable? I want a robot dammit!!

Just one word by Nom+du+Keyboard · 2006-01-26 05:18 · Score: 1

Just teach Aibo to say Afflack! and his future is assured.

--
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."

They'll put'em in a sack . . . by The+Second+Horseman · 2006-01-26 05:20 · Score: 1

and throw it in the river, I suspect.

So, Sony's going to start making DSLRs (since Konica Minotla is transferring it's camera business to them), and stop making robot dogs. I'd almost think they're trying to figure out what people actually like to buy.

Yet another remake by brucifer · 2006-01-26 05:20 · Score: 1

They should just call this decision "Old Yeller 2"

Re:Oh Fuck ! by schmu_20mol · 2006-01-26 05:21 · Score: 1

And unlike a real puppy an aibo can be switched off - you forgot the best feature.

--
"Nae Kin! Nae Quin! Nae laird! Nae master! We willna be fooled again!"

Maybe I missed something... by Mysticalfruit · 2006-01-26 05:24 · Score: 1

I know Aibo was a product that you could actually buy, but I thought the Qrio was a research product that never made it into production.

If the Qrio was something that I could have bought, I would have bought one... If only to dress it up in a dog costume and have it walk around the house singing the doom song...

--
Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.

Adios, amigos.. by Ancil · 2006-01-26 05:25 · Score: 4, Funny

Sony Kills off Aibo, Qrio, Qualia.

I'm sorry, but who are these people, exactly? Bolivian immigrants working as janitors at Sony HQ?

Killing them seems awfully harsh -- I would think a wealthy company like Sony could just get them deported, or maybe beat up?

Vaya con dios, my Bolivian friends! There are no wastepaper baskets to empty in Heaven!! *sniff*

The beginning of the end? by kidcharles · 2006-01-26 05:27 · Score: 1

Is this the beginning of the end for the Japanese obsession with humanoid robots? Say it isn't so! All they will have left is panty vending machines and Boong-Ga Boong-Ga to keep them entertained.

--
Ceci n'est pas une sig.

memories...(photos of qrio and aibo) by ptorrone · 2006-01-26 05:27 · Score: 1

photos...i'll miss those guys

From the article... by Orrin+Bloquy · 2006-01-26 05:30 · Score: 1

"[Aibo project manager] Tanaka Shigeda explained that Sony was refocusing their robotic IP on an alliance with San Marcos, CA-based fabrication firm Abyss Creations for an as-yet unnamed project code-named 'BestPromEver'."

--
"Made up/misattributed quote that makes me look smart. I am on /. and I must look smart."

Maybe by shoptroll · 2006-01-26 05:30 · Score: 1

Maybe if they hadn't invested so much money in developing the PS3 they could've kept these around longer?

Then again, doesn't the Aibo have a price tag comparable to a Segway?

Hmmm... I wonder if the PS3 fails to provide less than glorious amounts of revenue if SCEA could be next in line for guillotine?

--
Insert Sig Here

this just in... by rarel · 2006-01-26 05:30 · Score: 1

We just received Aibo's reaction to the sad news...

Forgetting something? by a55clown · 2006-01-26 05:31 · Score: 1

What about all the negative press Sony received for the DRM rootkit? Hardware-decoded proprietary music formats in portable devices? Sorry to say, DRM killed the big beast.

We will? by crimoid · 2006-01-26 05:31 · Score: 1

Aibo -- we'll miss you...

We will?

US biggest buyer? by lilmouse · 2006-01-26 05:32 · Score: 1

The U.S. is one of the biggest consumers of these useless products

Back when I was looking for a 3 lb laptop, I discovered that the US is actually not that big a purchaser of "cool" electronic devices. In Japan, if you want to display your financial superiority, you buy cool electronic toys - ultra-light laptops, bleeding-edge handhelds, and yes, silly robot-dogs. In the US, you buy a big car (er...SUV these days, I guess - or hybrid if you're that type), a big house, or whatever else it is we buy. (we collectively here - I'm still looking for my perfect laptop :( )

Anyway, I respectably disagree with one of your assertions.

Also, I think the Aibo was one of the top-of-the-line luxury products. I think Sony needs to find another bleeding-edge product to replace it, though - while I can appreciate dropping the line if it's not profitable, Sony needs to keep on coming out with new stuff or they're not going to be able to compete (the earlier comment about cheaper competitors in Korea, etc was spot on).

--LWM

Re:US biggest buyer? by flyingsquid · 2006-01-26 06:47 · Score: 2, Funny

In Japan, if you want to display your financial superiority, you buy cool electronic toys - ultra-light laptops... In the US, you buy a big car
In short, in the U.S. if you have a small penis you buy big stuff. But in Japan, if you have a small penis you buy really small stuff. I guess it is a little less obvious that you're compensating when you do it that way.
Re:US biggest buyer? by JanneM · 2006-01-26 10:23 · Score: 1

if you want to display your financial superiority, ...

In Japan, if you want to display your financial superiority, you buy expensive brand-name stuff. In the US - you buy expensive brand-name stuff. In Europe, ... you get the idea. Exactly what kind of expensive brand-name stuff you buy depends on what you have use for (and can thus easily display); it's entirely incidental as long as it is expensive and an exclusive brand.

--
Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
Re:US biggest buyer? by rtb61 · 2006-01-26 19:33 · Score: 1

Ahh so on /. if you want to prove your itellectual superioty, you better make sure you focus on function not form (much like /. posters themselves ;-)).

--
Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen

RoboCup AIBO Division by KermodeBear · 2006-01-26 05:33 · Score: 1

I suppose that this will also mean the end of using AIBOs in the 4 Legged League of the RoboCup. I was involved in this when I was in college; My senior project involved programming AIBOs to play soccer according to the RoboCup rules. It was an experimental thing for the school, and we never planned to compete in the official competition, but it was an amazing learning experience overall.
Team Gimpy Forever!

--
Love sees no species.

Fixed. by Valdrax · 2006-01-26 05:36 · Score: 1

But will their toothpicks include a root canal?

Fixed.

--
If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").

Hit against Innovation. by guice · 2006-01-26 05:36 · Score: 1

These two guys were true innovations in AI. It's amazing what these two robots can do. This is truely a hard hit against robotic innovation and the growth of interactive AI.

ha, I was even hoping to get an Aibo, soon, to torment my two cats.
(Didn't even know Qrio hit the consumer line!)

I for one bid farewell by ezeecheez · 2006-01-26 05:36 · Score: 1

to our would-be robot masters. So long, suckas.

Seriously, though, I love the robots and this news makes me cry.

RoboCup Soccer by phycoman · 2006-01-26 05:37 · Score: 1

As a member of the 4-legged RocoCup Soccer team at my school, I wonder what will happen to the 4-legged division. Many schools have graduate programs devoted to RoboCup. I guess the innovation from these schools will now just disappear or be up into other programs. Oh well, nothing ever lasts...

better, stronger, faster by tlay · 2006-01-26 05:39 · Score: 1

I've wanted an Aibo before I had a real dog. The cost was always just too steep. And the knock offs don't seem to be anything but just that. I hope that somebody picks up the ball on this project, so to speak, and gets the product down to a more reasonable price point. I think the market is there if you can get it down to the price of, lets say, a PS2 or an XBOX. And now the price will probably never go down on the used ones since there now will only be a finite amount.

But now I do wonder too...if somebody did try to create such a product would Sony start pulling out patents and IP laws to kill our fun now?

-TLAY

Re:better, stronger, faster by rworne · 2006-01-26 06:10 · Score: 1

Hey, if they can't make money off of it, they sure as hell will make sure no one else can either. That's what IP laws are for.

--
I tried every decent and legal way I could think of to resolve the issue w/the business before I rented the chicken suit
Re:better, stronger, faster by tlay · 2006-01-26 06:23 · Score: 1

Yeah, maybe Sony is going to step into the SCO biz model. Brilliant!

-TLAY

partnership with ericssson is a marriage in hell by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 05:43 · Score: 0

the person responsible for the design of the sony ericsson T610, should have every single one ever produced shoved up his arse one by one...

200? big spender.. by way2trivial · 2006-01-26 05:53 · Score: 2, Funny

are you aware of the price of aibo? and you'd shell out a whole 200 for qrio?

gads.

--
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

Poorly written summary by tarp · 2006-01-26 05:53 · Score: 1

Perhaps Slashdot editors should consider including more information in the summary for this article? I have no idea what Aibo or Qrio are and should not have to click on an external link to find out. The entire point of a summary is to give me enough information to decide whether or not I am interested in reading the full article. Perhaps Journalism 101 at the local community college should be a requirement for all Slashdot editors?

Re:Poorly written summary by Ksempac · 2006-01-26 06:15 · Score: 1

Slashdot is a "website for nerds" about computers and related subjects. As a slashdot reader, you re supposed to be interested in theses fields and already know quite a lot. Aibo is a robot dog, one of the best commercial robot we ever saw, who have been used as a mascot for some years by Sony. So Aibo is a high-tech robot made by a well-known company : i think we can conclude that most of slashdot readers know what it is.
Re:Poorly written summary by interstellar_donkey · 2006-01-26 06:28 · Score: 1

There's been dozens of articles on Slashdot dealing with the subject before, and the editors here are right in expecting most of their readers don't need it explained. It would be difficult to find anyone who's interested in technology that doesn't know what the Aibo is. That you don't know is fine; everyone started from zero at some point, just some are a little behind the curve. If you're unfamiliar with a term, look it up (this is how people learn). But don't expect the world to slow down because you don't know.

--
The Internet is generally stupid

Buy Stuff or your Little Dog gets it! by billstewart · 2006-01-26 06:00 · Score: 1

Ok, so the Aibo really only sold to really geeky people, and they don't see a marketing linkage between toys like that and selling mini-disks and DRM'd CDs etc. to larger numbers of less geeky people.

--

Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks

Re:Buy Stuff or your Little Dog gets it! by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 15:02 · Score: 0

In japan, Aibo was not sold as a geek/hacker toy. It was sold as a pet

Re:Oh Fuck ! by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 06:03 · Score: 0

Off switch for your puppy

Close but no cigar. by doublem · 2006-01-26 06:10 · Score: 1

They're cutting all product lines for which they can't create DRM and a Root Kit.

"If you can't Own it, Don't Sell it" is the new motto

--
"Live Free or Die." Don't like it? Then keep out of the USA

not a great marketing tool, awe-inspirer in Japan by RetroRichie · 2006-01-26 06:11 · Score: 0

Let's not forget that Sony is a Japanese company and they are so far ahead of us (America) in the CE market that it borders on the obscene... Japan cut the Aibo most likely because they don't realize that those of us in the States who even know what it is find it ridiculously fascinating. That said, ask 100 people what the Aibo is and I'm guessing maybe 10% wouldn't look at you funny.

That's funny.... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 06:18 · Score: 0

I myself read it as "Sony kills off Abbas, Qurei"

I, for one... by Penguin+Programmer · 2006-01-26 06:19 · Score: 1

As a potential taker of robotics courses in the future, I commend Sony on their decision. Everyone I know who has worked with the Aibos became homocidal (or dogocidal) very quickly.

Qrio was cool but... by HaMMeReD3 · 2006-01-26 06:33 · Score: 1

I don't believe he was ever sold to the general population, I think only 6-7 of him where ever built and are now used for research. I believe most of them are in some university in the states being used for robotics research

Just saying that you can't really complain much that a research project was cancelled, qrio was cute, and an amazingly advanced robot, but there was never a real market outside of the "cute pet robot" market which hasn't been the most profitable

It's a shame we never saw aibo marketted in north america, because it could have been one of those high-margin rich kid toys. Compared to the robo-sapiens that are out there, aibo is like a completely different evolution, and the newest versions has some useful features. If they were to actual have them around and market them, they may have been successful. Personally though, my first robot will be a Roomba (tm).

Re:Oh Fuck ! by Weedlekin · 2006-01-26 06:36 · Score: 1

No, the best feature of a real puppy given to a wife is that it _can't_ be switched off. It will bound around, and crap, and vomit, and want attention all the time, so the woman won't have time to pester you with irrelevancies.

--
I'm not going to change your sheets again, Mr. Hastings.

Why stop? by interstellar_donkey · 2006-01-26 06:41 · Score: 1

The product has been developed. The R&D has been completed. With time, it's reasonable to expect that the per-unit cost for manufacture has gone down. Why stop? I could see Sony stop all new development on the products to save money, but as long as there's a demand for the units at a price point somewhere above the per-unit cost of building the things, which seems reasonable, why stop it?

Heck, even if it turns out to be a wash on the books, it still helps build brand recognition in the consumer robot market.

--
The Internet is generally stupid

I hope he makes up for it by SoupIsGoodFood_42 · 2006-01-26 06:46 · Score: 1

I hope he makes up for it by helping remove the DRM stick lodged up Sony's ass.

Shortsightedness on Aibo? by galfridus73 · 2006-01-26 06:48 · Score: 1

I have always had a strong opinion of the Aibo in terms of the AI research side that Aibo was supposed to represent. I, myself, always wanted one for the simple fact that I am a "dog person" but I am also a "robot person" and would have enjoyed toying with the Aibo's AI and abilities.

Of course, this might make it easier to buy one on eBay. Hmmmmm....

I hope Sony makes the right move here and opens up the Aibo, its specs and its OS to the development community in the coming months. Maybe they could license it to Wow Wee or Lego with use for the Robosapien or Mindstorms lines...

It sounds as though by Nybble's+Byte · 2006-01-26 06:54 · Score: 0

the products didn't fetch enough sales, that they were real dogs.

This is news? by InsaneProcessor · 2006-01-26 06:57 · Score: 0

I thought the news selection process was more strict that this.

What amazes me even more, are the number of posts!
It must be a slow day.

--

Athiesm is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.

Come on.... by cb0nd · 2006-01-26 07:05 · Score: 1

the /. community can do better than that! Where are the decent rootkit jokes?!

WTF is Qualia by kisrael · 2006-01-26 07:05 · Score: 1

Google for Qualia.
* Click on first match.

Splash screen. Talks about the philisophical definition.

* Click on Enter

Random hexagons, with a weird UI...clicking doesn't do anything, you have to hold and hover. And then all the identical hexagons rearrange themselves, so if by some chance you want to see each splash screen, you have to keep track of all 7 yourself. Artsy, annoying.

Oh look, a final mention of the word Products, with a region dropdown

* Click on USA

Another spashscreen that says NOTHING but "QUALIA" and enter site.

* Click on ente site

Another artsy screen. Music. Nature. Touchy Feely phrases.

* Click on products

FINALLY I have *some* frickin' idea what they're selling. AV stuff. Great.

Man, this whole thing Infiniti started, trying to provoke moods and hide what you're actually doing...it's kind of annoying. Good riddance to Qualia. Though I dig the name.

--
SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death

Re:WTF is Qualia by rduke15 · 2006-01-26 10:57 · Score: 1

Yes their site is completely useless and annoying.

The answer to your question is on Froogle.

The Qualia 004, for example, is (was?) one of the best HD projectors. Certainly the best I've seen. It not cheap, though.
Re:WTF is Qualia by kisrael · 2006-01-26 12:44 · Score: 1

WOW. I guess if you're charging $20K for something like that, you really do have to dazzle 'em with BS.

(Just jealousy ... I wish I had that kind of money to throw around on luxuries like that...)

--
SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death

Speak, Aibo! Speak! by bdwoolman · 2006-01-26 07:10 · Score: 1

Root! Root!

Good, boy. Good, boy...

--
"No fear. No envy. No meanness." Liam Clancy

It is a sad thing, but, so what? by cr0sh · 2006-01-26 07:19 · Score: 1

Sure, Aibo and Qrio are cool robots, but in the grand scheme of things, will it really matter?

I would be willing to bet that you could easily build either one of these robots off-the-shelf using parts from LynxMotion, for half the cost or less. They aren't the only supplier, either - Pick up an issue of Servo Magazine and you will find several suppliers of similar kits and parts. Most use standard RC servos. Several companies have also introduced special robotics digital servos with 2-way communications buses. Also, I know of at least one company which produced an "Aibo-like" styrene shell into which standard servos could be fitted. Hobby robotics (and robotics in general) have come a long way in a very short time (I credit much of the kick-up in interest to the culture of combat robotics, as well as Lego Mindstorms).

So, where is the problem? Ah - that is issue - the problem lies not in hardware availability, but in control software. The solutions to solving dynamic walking, on a quadrupedal or bipedal frame, are far from completely solved. When you build your own system, you are lucky if you get some form of pattern playback software. Such software works well for stable multi-leg systems (octo or hexapod), on relatively flat surfaces, but when you move to lesser number of legs, balance becomes key, even on flat surfaces. Add in directional control and a dynamic terrain environment, and the software quickly becomes a hairy problem.

Sony had an OK solution to this with both the Aibo and Qrio, and people were using both platforms to explore other methods and algorithms (mostly in RoboCup Soccer). I would bet that Sony, while they may be stopping the manufacture of the robots, will continue to develop this software, as it is a valuable piece of the puzzle to developing useful humanoid "helper robots" for the elderly (which is an area a lot of robotics research is being done for in Japan). Whether they use this software for their own products or license it is anyone's guess.

As far as hobby robotics for quad and bipedal platforms are concerned: I wouldn't worry. The hardware is there, the software is too (to a lesser extent - it will only grow). Other options exist, so don't mourn Sony's decision. Instead, focus on those other options...

--
Reason is the Path to God - Anon

Shame about that by jlebrech · 2006-01-26 07:21 · Score: 0

All the robots of the future will be Honda.

And honda will stop producing cars, im goin to work on my robots shoulders.
wait a minute ill work from home on the net :D

Sony User by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 07:22 · Score: 0

Sony kills off perfectly good product lines(UX50) all the time, but won't drop crappy artists from their record label.

At least the aibo will have clies to hang out with in the fiery depths of hell.

that's great but by ezeecheez · 2006-01-26 07:22 · Score: 1

What are you gonna tell Dad when he wants to buy a robot dog?

Re:that's great but by jyanix · 2006-01-26 07:53 · Score: 1

poor little guy - he probably never saw it coming

ASIMO domination! by SqueakRu · 2006-01-26 07:32 · Score: 0

Now that Qrio is out of the picture....who else can compete with ASIMO?
Maybe Awe-some-O?

how many other must-have items are going away? by heroine · 2006-01-26 07:34 · Score: 1

It shows how much we depend on the blogs to know what the real world is. According the last few years of blogs, Aibo was a huge hit and if we didn't buy them, we were complete losers. Obviously, by the pitches, it must have been making lots of money for Sony.

Now we're told, oh by the way, Aibo didn't make any money for Sony and no-one was actually buying them so they're being cancelled.

What other products, being shoved down our throats by the blogs, are really on their way out? Can't believe hybrid cars are any more profitable for Toyota than Aibo was for Sony, yet these seem to be the latest must-have items according to all the blogs.

Metal dog dies. by nortcele · 2006-01-26 07:36 · Score: 1

Sony's got to cut back to the bone to survive because you piratical sons-of-bitches aren't buying enough Ricky Martin CDs!!

They didn't even threaten first. "The dog dies if you don't buy CD's..."
At least Sony could have tried the "Save Toby" ploy first. http://www.savetoby.com/

the real reason for killing AIBO... by stud9920 · 2006-01-26 07:49 · Score: 1

...he had bitten ASIMO.

What ARE they going to make? by pjcreath · 2006-01-26 07:53 · Score: 1

However, sales of CRT televisions fell as consumers showed a preference for flat-panel models, the company said.

But then,

Continuing the restructuring in its electronics business, the company said it would ... stop development and manufacturing of plasma televisions... It will also kill its Qualia line of pricey, high-specification products.

Are they getting out of the display business entirely?

Re:What ARE they going to make? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 09:27 · Score: 0

They never said they would stop selling CRTs, there are are still normal LCDs, and rear-projection DLP and LCD.

PETA by Innova · 2006-01-26 08:08 · Score: 1

In other related news, PETA expresses their displeasure in Sony killing Aibo.

--
See my Home Theater

Has anyone told Beck about this? by surelyserious · 2006-01-26 08:22 · Score: 2

And what about his dancers? Must they be killed also? Can't something be done?

http://www.fungod.com/coppermine/displayimage.php? album=11&pos=19

THIS WILL NOT STAND! THIS AGGRESSION WILL NOT STAND, MAN!

"Qrio Music Video Dancers, form of . . . VOLTRON! "

--
"We're millions of miles from earth, inside a giant white face, what's impossible?"

their CD/DVD writers by nirnimesh · 2006-01-26 08:49 · Score: 1

I hope they close their CD/DVD writer line too -- they don't survive more than a couple of months. Even Aibo's lifetime was more than that.

Cortisol by HTH+NE1 · 2006-01-26 08:49 · Score: 0

Great, now I'll have to go back to needing Relacore to reduce my Cortisol.

--
Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?

Does Sony still make a good high-end product? by 9Nails · 2006-01-26 09:24 · Score: 1

I was with you until you said that Sony should refocus on their high-end products. These expensive items would not return Sony's brand name to a favorable light for all consumers. And Sony is no longer in recognition of a high-end product in my eyes. If their high-end products are under performing as we probably both would agree, they should revamp the entire product line and focus on the low-end components first. Building the quality and dependability that consumers are looking for. Then when they establish a positive brand name again, they could go back and wow customers with a high-end product. If they take the reverse approach, it would be somewhat like Sun Ultra 20's trying to take on Dell Dimension XPS. High-end brand names become quickly forgotten to average Joe consumers who look for low prices and popularity first and foremost.

sony quality by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 09:35 · Score: 0

At christmas I decided to get someone a portable radio/disk player. boombox more or less. Bought one (an RCA), gave it to them...except it didn't work. three of us tried to get the dang thing to work, it would power up and once in awhile find a station to lose it, the remote sucked, the buttons only half worked, etc. It was pure junk. I was embarrassed, I offered to take it back and get another one. When I got to the store I tried out what they had, none of them could get stations inside the store, or just staticy sounding. Went to another department store, same thing...until I hit a sony. It got a *ton* of stations inside the store very clear (a good test as inside steel buildings is normally hard to get a decent signal), the tape player and disk player worked well, sound quality perfectly acceptable, the remote control was very easy to use, good ergonomics, and etc.. Got the sony, much as I wanted to "boycott", they had the best quality by far in a dozen radios I tried. The same thing I noticed a time back, girlfriend had a car (nissan) with a factory indash radio that was simply amazing, it got stations better than my good transceivers (AM and FM bands only of course). When the car croaked and went to the junkyard I made a point of snagging it out, turns out it was ..a sony, written on the back. Best car radio for signal strength I have ever seen or used, going back to the 60's, at any price, factory or aftermarket.

I don't know about all their products, but man, they got something going in the radio division for cheap and good.

Hopefully.... by HellYeahAutomaton · 2006-01-26 09:52 · Score: 1

It won't be the end of Open-R too.

First the rootkit now this... by vitalyb · 2006-01-26 10:41 · Score: 1

A company that spreads rootkits to its customers today, will kill robotic dogs tomorrow.

Missing Aibo by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 10:58 · Score: 0

I for one will miss our Sony Aibo robotic OverLords!

QRIO AI by hypertor · 2006-01-26 12:55 · Score: 1

from: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/05q3_ sonypre.pdf -

'R&D in the AI area which was developed in the AIBO and QRIO businesses will continue and will be deployed in a broad range of consumer electronics products'

16/02/2004 - Sony Corp has announced the development of a plastic made mainly of corn-based polylactide.

NewScientist 10 December 2005 - Electroactive polymers can now be made out of corn starch, These polymers expand and contract when an electric current is passed through them, potentially making them useful as robot muscles or actuators for nanomachines.

Maybe sony is secretly developing a little green giant..

Well... by rblancarte · 2006-01-26 16:48 · Score: 1

Aibo ... we could hardly afford ya.

RonB

--
It is human nature to take shortcuts in thinking.

No Qualia... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-01-26 19:08 · Score: 0

No Qualia, no $2500 headphones. Sucks.

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Sony Kills off Aibo, Qrio, Qualia

189 comments