Didn't Like UMD? Don't Worry, Sony's Got Another Locked Down Format For You
from the sisyphean dept
After failing to convince consumers to accept yet another closed, proprietary format in which to buy media, Sony appears to be trying an end run by pushing movies on its Memory Stick cards instead. Of course, in inimitable Sony fashion, they're locking things down so much that they're essentially useless. Users who buy a special Memory Stick package also get a DVD for their PC, which contains four Sony movies formatted for the PSP, and users can then "unlock" and transfer just a single one of them to the memory card. The idea seems to be to turn people on to the idea that they can use their PSPs for more than just games, and that it's a portable media player as well. So giving people that buy an overpriced memory card their choice of one of four crappy old movies is an ideal way to do that, right? If Sony really wanted to encourage people to use their PSPs to watch movies, why not just give them software to transfer their own DVDs to the devices? Of course, that wouldn't be very Sony, would it? Despite the company's history being littered with the failures of locked-down formats, and a supposed realization that its relentless insistence of keeping a tight-fisted grip on exactly what consumers would be allowed to do with its products was holding up innovation, Sony's reliance on restrictions persists.
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Sony is lost
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Feh!
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Re: Sony is lost
I think it is very likely that Nintendo sells the most of their new systems.
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The problem
Too often Sony cripples their own innovation because they need to ensure any new media format or electronics component can't be use to copy their movie, music, or game division content allowing for rampant piracy.
When you look at it, there is no other company out their that has their fingers both in the content players and the content makers. Why is Apple so successful? Because while they may have some DRM in iTunes and iPod, they do not limit the iPod to only run DRM files. Microsoft might make games, but games are not Microsoft's bread and butter, so content protection isn't a top priority. Sony keeps insisting on crippling new products in order to protect their media property.
Sony should spin off their stake in movies and music and video games so that they don't have to continue this schizophrenic existence. Without having to impose DRM in every digital device they make, perhaps they could make an iPod, gameboy, DVD or Xbox killer.
For now, every time Sony fails in a hardware venture, they just make another Spiderman sequal to pay the bills.
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Re: The problem
The content industry is in fact pennies compared to the consumer electronics industry. What amazes me is that Sony is letting itself be directed by the delirious ideas of its smallest division. You're right, they should spin off Sony Pictures and Sony Music and then try to regain their lost brand image as a consumer electronics company.
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The first thing I did was go spend over $100 on things for it including the 1gb memory card...
I love it for gaming and music, but I soon discovered what a pain it can be for movies..on a flight from Seattle to Orlando, I wanted to watch my own movies on UMD...too bad the battery (which I hadn't upgraded yet) wouldn't last long enough to keep me occupied the whole flight!
The technology is great...but Sony has made this thing so User unfriendly..sometimes I want to just throw it on EBAY, where all good useless electronic fads end up.
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The problem
It may be possible for Sony to have both the players and the content but internally they need to separate and create distinct entities. Currently, each is inhibiting the other and both are helping themselves go nowhere.
Sony must divide then conquer. Not conquer then divide.
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lol......they do more than make electronics?
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WoW!
My biggest complaint with Sony, especially after the disastrous rootkit fiasco it that they refuse to acknowledge or even listen to the consumers who buy their multitude of products. You would think by now there would be some sort of Damage Control in motion within Sony corporate to at least hear what the needs of the people are, opposed to plowing ahead with this notion that digital content can somehow be put back into the box.
The level of hostility and denial exibited but Sony BMG and the RIAA towards file sharing and the horrible scare tactics they are employing in suing large tracts of the customer base in breathtaking. A more misguided marketing campaign has never to date been devised.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the the core of the problem lies in the creation of bad content and old business models. At its own peril Sony continues to risk it's future on this type of psycho fascist groupthink.
I for one have stopped buying Sony products and actively encourage other early tech adopters that I call my friends to blacklist Sony from the list of acceptable companies to buy from. In the last 12 months the Sony DRM rootkit fiasco has caused Sony to loose thousands of dollars in sales through the purchases by me and my homies cause none of us has bought a single Sony product. We are talking at least 5 laptops,4 desktop machines, 3 computer screens 7 digital cameras and countless Cd's and movies.
I suggest you all do the same. Hit 'em where it hurts, their lousy corporate fascist wallets !
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why not since Beta?
Ask Apple how much of the market share can it get with a closed Mac system?
History shows that any closed system is a path to failure.
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Maybe... Just maybe...
The company that can successfully create that standard that is comfortable to the consumer and the developers stands to make a stupid amount of money. So therefore; some of these companies will continue to keep poking away at it. We are talking about big business here. They dont willy nilly nothing and only risk this kind of money when something huge is at stake.
Just a thought and I may be wrong.
Sam
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"Sony - Designed by Committee..."
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PSP
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Current day, I have a home built PC, a Canon digital camera, a Creative mp3 player, and an Aptek video camera. They all cost a fraction of the Sony versions, are more powerful and flexible, and interoperabiility is a non-issue.
Sony went brain dead years ago, the body just hasn't figured it out yet, so it keeps marching.
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Re: lol......they do more than make electronics?
But there is this incredibly stupid law in the United States that make a company more responsible towards its shareholders than its consumers. That's why corporations are more and more aiming for the short-term bottom line than for good consumer relations.
The result ? Crappy products, arrogance, *AA sueing its clients, unbelievably poor consumer support, and so on...
This stupid law created by stupid fascist corporatist lawyers will ultimately be their doom.
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Re:
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Old news...
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Not quite...
I do not own any Sony products.
Good night and thank you.
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Re:
Woohoo!
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