DailyTech - Whoa?! Sony Knows Kung Fu ... Again

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Blog: Gadgets Whoa?! Sony Knows Kung Fu ... Again
Kristopher Kubicki (Blog) - January 8, 2008 4:34 AM

32 comment(s) - last by BansheeX.. on Jan 11 at 1:23 PM

Sony's days of selling you a proprietary DRM-encrusted rootkit and then detonating it may be all in the past

In our first year of operation, many slammed DailyTech for "overtly negative Sony bias."

This was pure folly, of course, as 2006 was the advent of Sony's perfect storm. Oops, did I wordsmith a cliche? Perhaps so, according to some public relations department at a university better known for its hockey players than English professors. But let's not let some Reuters hack ruin the fun.

Post-2007 Sony is the new pre-2006 Sony. It's only been seven days into the month, and already things are looking way up for the company.

The HD DVD / Blu-ray debate is not a done deal, but with Warner already siding with Blu-ray, what else is there to say? Forbes, known better for its predictions that don't come true than ones that do, says Paramount is next. Who cares anyway? The media already crowned Blu-ray the winner.

And who could forget the 2006 DRM-rootkit debacle the decimated Sony's public relations. The company was quick to throw its developer under the bus -- a sweet cash settlement and typical B2B litigation followed.

In one brilliant stroke, Sony amended all wrongdoings by dropping DRM.

And to make things even sweeter, the company is pretty far ahead in OLED research and vows to make the PS3 profitable this year.

Maybe this is Sony's year to give back its 2006 losses. OK, so there's still the exploding battery debacle. But now at least Sony has something to do with the next 359 days of the year.

Yes, it's a leap year if you were playing at home.

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Well...

By sxr7171 on 1/8/2008 7:41:58 AM , Rating: 5

Pre-2006 Sony was really nothing to write home about either.

RE: Well...

By Moishe on 1/8/2008 8:54:01 AM , Rating: 1

You're right. Sony was pretty amazing for a long time. But somewhere in the late 90's...? they just became ordinary and average.

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RE: Well...

By mmntech on 1/8/2008 9:13:25 AM , Rating: 2

As with all organizations, it depends on who's managing it at the time. 2007 saw a lot of house cleaning.

I'm really excited about the news from CES that Sony is going to allow PS3 owners to legally rip BD movies to low def copies for playback from a PSP or memory stick. This is a big step forward IMO, as long as they do it right and without crippling DRM. I think the giants are starting to realize how poor a business model and marketing tool DRM was, since it didn't increase digital download sales as was intended.

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RE: Well...

By Sulphademus on 1/8/2008 10:47:30 AM , Rating: 5

quote:
I think the giants are starting to realize how poor a business model and marketing tool DRM was, since it didn't increase digital download sales as was intended.

DRM was never about benefitting the end user. Maybe Sony's stake in the RIAA will get the memo?

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RE: Well...

By Spyvie on 1/8/08, Rating: 0

RE: Well...

By MrPickins on 1/8/2008 12:02:10 PM , Rating: 4

Unless they held you down, took money out of your wallet and threw Memory Sticks at you, then Sony didn't force the market to do anything.

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RE: Well...

By Spyvie on 1/8/08, Rating: -1

RE: Well...

By Mitch101 on 1/8/2008 4:58:47 PM , Rating: 3

Anyone remember IBM's Micro Channel?

I wish more companies could agree on standards especially power cords and USB connectors.

Every other item in my home must have a different way to make a 2 prong power cable. Lets throw in USB how many different connections can they come up with?

The only error I see with Sony Memory stick is the premium price they tried keeping for the longest time. Since I own many SD memory cards for MP3 players, portable USB drives, and digital cameras I will continue to buy camera's that support SD memory. I have a feeling those who have Sony Memory Sticks will do the same. To each their own however Sony should take note this means I am more interested in Kodak digital cameras every time I upgrade and not Sony because of this.

Kudos goes to a company like Nintendo who decided to use a standard memory card for saved games instead of forcing everyone to purchase proprietary memory cards that never go down in price.

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RE: Well...

By Mach Omega on 1/8/2008 5:37:38 PM , Rating: 2

How is Windows Media Anything any different? MP3 and a variety of digital movie formats already had the digital audio and video areas sewn up.

Proprietary formats suck but its no reason to hate a company. The fact that they are all huge, soulless entities is reason enough, haha.

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RE: Well...

By Blight AC on 1/8/2008 12:57:30 PM , Rating: 4

The original Playstation for Sony was a great success for them. From having no Console systems, to the #1 console on their first try is pretty amazing, not even Microsoft could pull that off with it's massive advertising budget.

That's something to write home about.

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RE: Well...

By BrownJohn on 1/8/2008 2:42:39 PM , Rating: 2

yes, and they only continued that success with the PS2. Considering how well the PS2 did, and how much revenue it generated at its peak, i'd say pre-2006 Sony was pretty impressive

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RE: Well...

By BansheeX on 1/11/2008 1:23:12 PM , Rating: 2

And prior the PlayStation, they created and sold the SPC700 synth chip to Nintendo for the SNES (a technological marvel for its day and a key feature over the Genesis). Sony is also responsible for 3.5" floppy and CD-ROM. Of course, I grew up and used these formats in this time period, so I am more appreciative of it than 14 year old 360 fans who come on DailyTech with these preposterous ideas about Memory Sticks subverting the marketplace and RootKit being more than just an idiotic mistake relevant to more than itself. It's true, they're not the source of every industry innovation. Far from it. But they're one of the better companies overall to have around. Instead of pissing all over the PS3, people should look at what companies like NEC and Philips brought out for consoles. Even if the evil argument worked, I'm not taking benevolent lameness over the PlayStation.

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Sony is not SonyBMG

By Carl B on 1/8/2008 4:29:03 PM , Rating: 2

What makes me crazy about this whole rootkit thing, is that Sony != SonyBMG, yet here is another article where there is no differentiation made at all. The irony is that if the rootkit thing is being used as the justification for Sony hating by DailyTech, that just says it all... and of course it's par for the course that the corporate distinction not be mentioned (or even known?)

SonyBMG is a joint-venture just as Sony-Ericsson is; financially its results are added to Sony's own as a special item, and Howard Stringer is not directly in control of Sony BMG or its actions. Why don't we just write BMG instead of Sony when it comes to truncating the name and hating? Ah yes, because then it's not nearly as much fun for the anti-Sony crowd...

RE: Sony is not SonyBMG

By Mach Omega on 1/8/08, Rating: 0

RE: Sony is not SonyBMG

By Mach Omega on 1/8/2008 5:50:53 PM , Rating: 1

I meant "write."

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RE: Sony is not SonyBMG

By Vinnybcfc on 1/8/2008 6:22:49 PM , Rating: 2

Missed the articles about the RRoDs? Nevermind, been busy on the PS3?

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RE: Sony is not SonyBMG

By Mach Omega on 1/8/2008 11:22:03 PM , Rating: 2

I really didn't feel the need to defend the PS3 until I realized that even legitimate compliments of the system or legitimate complaints re: the XBox360 were ruthlessly downrated. Same with Apple.

Mindlessly downrating legitimate points of view harms the integrity of sites that are supposedly neutral in reporting the news. If this site had the title "DailyTech presented by Microsoft," then I could understand the bias. Even if DailyTech does not actively participate in bias, allowing its forums to be manipulated by shills severely threatens the site's credibility.

In the spirit of peace, I'll write something positive about an MS product... the new Zunes are really nice. If MS keeps making products like that, it may reverse its image as a soulless corporate goliath.

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RE: Sony is not SonyBMG

By DEVGRU on 1/10/08, Rating: 0

By DEVGRU on 1/10/2008 11:43:04 AM , Rating: 0

'Percieved' act of arrogance? Please.

I used to love Sony. My last home theater was all Sony. Sony TV, Sony reciever, Sony 5-disc DVD player, Sony VCR. I have a Sony digital camera I love as well.

I could care less about consoles as I'm a PC guy (even though I own both a Xbox and a 360 I hardly ever touch them, they were given to me).

Being a Japanese company, they're supposed to be anal about perfection and quality control, just like the Japanese auto industry, etc.

Then the millions of batteries started to be recalled. Sony would issue a statement down-playing the issue and a resolution. Then it seemed every week for the next month or two another company that used Sony batteries would release an announcement of the millions of Sony batteries THEY had to recall.

Then you had the whole Sony DRM rootkit fiasco, compromising thousands of computers - and in response to public outcry Sony offered a lame and wholly un-proportional apology and 'reimbursement' after the class-action lawsuit.

Then you had all the Sony BS hype leading up to the PS3's release. Priceless comments from Ken K. about how the masses shouldn't mind spending 2-3x more than any other console to date because it was a Sony product. The comments about the Sixaxis controller not needing (or wanting) rumble becuase it was so 'last gen' when anyone with a clue knew it was soley due to the fact Sony couldn't license the tech because of another lawsuit.

Then the PS3 was released, and we got to hear about shortages of PS3's, all the fallout of morons waiting in line to get one. The charges of Sony's hype machine working overtime for a product you couldnt buy just after release, the stories of people getting shot, mugged, etc. etc. Jack Trenton's comments about "I'll give you X amount for any PS3 you can find on a shelf" (granted people with a clue knew about time-shift between when the comment was made vs. when the comment was released to the public). The absolute ABYSMAL 'selection' of titles available to the PS3 even months after launch. Sony kept dropping the ball, again, and again, and again. All the time making asinine, outrageous, and flat-out untruthful comments we tech-savvy readers saw right though.

If you want to cry "Sony hate!" then you either don't or can't admit Sony is 99% responsible for that perception to itself.

That being said, I'm no MS fan either. Vista is a stinking pile on SO many levels. The 360 RROD was a fiasco, but after MS saw the issues weren't due to mis-handling or abuse, they stepped up to the plate (granted, taking their sweet time) with the extended warranty, etc. Again, I don't play consoles, so I could really care less who comes out on top of the console market. But from my outside-looking-in perspective; the PS3 can't touch the 360 as it stands. It simply doesnt have the titles or the refinement the 360 has. Can that change in the future? Absolutley. As others have mentioned, Sony seems to be releasing regular firmware updates, a positive sign. But again, Sony is shooting itself in the foot still. They're charging insane amounts of money for a PS3 SDK for a console that is already a bitch to program for. MS? They're practically giving their SDK away, trying to entince new talent.

[Note that up to this point, I've purposely not mentioned HD vs Bluray, or the cost differences between consoles. Those are things that only an individual consumer can judge if those features are worth it or not to them.]

In summary, I used to love Sony, but watching them stumble and making mistake after mistake and then spinning (read: lying) issues to people about things has made me lose all respect for them as a company.

My new HD home theater setup now contains a Samsung plasma, OPPO DVD player, and Onkyo reciever. I'm not going to invest in one of the HD disc formats until there's a clear winner. But rest assured, even if Bluray does win out in the end, it won't be a Sony BR player I buy. Just like I won't be buying Vista.

FIN.

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RE: Sony is not SonyBMG

By Mach Omega on 1/10/2008 9:49:07 PM , Rating: 2

I'm glad your response was downrated because the simple fact is that Sony has been no different than other companies in its business practices. I don't look to corporate entities for moral guidance and firmly believe in "caveat emptor." It sucks but as long as governments give businesses free passes to screw consumers, I don't pick sides when it comes to the ethics of companies. I don't like MS strictly because, even employing some of the best minds in the industry, its products are mediocre at best.

As for the 360 outclassing the PS3, that's just false. The PS3 is better designed and quieter than the 360 and has media features that are superior. But getting into a pissing contest about it wouldn't serve anything.

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fact

By andrewrocks on 1/8/08, Rating: 0

RE: fact

By Bioniccrackmonk on 1/8/2008 9:20:17 AM , Rating: 2

If Sony sucks so bad, why don't you go startup your own multi-billion international corporation and put Sony out of business then. You fault sony for doing what every company does best, watch their bottom lines.

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RE: fact

By zombiexl on 1/8/2008 12:48:14 PM , Rating: 2

You really got all that from his comment?

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RE: fact

By roadrun777 on 1/8/2008 7:35:12 PM , Rating: 1

There must be some psychic connection going on.

A lot of girls I know suck, but that is a whole other topic.

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RE: fact

By Serafina on 1/8/08, Rating: -1

RE: fact

By roadrun777 on 1/8/2008 7:51:08 PM , Rating: 2

are you saying Andrew has been anally raped by a Sony executive?

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RE: fact

By Mach Omega on 1/8/2008 11:26:15 PM , Rating: 2

LOL. Low but funny.

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Maybe you guys were wrong?

By reader1 on 1/8/08, Rating: 0

RE: Maybe you guys were wrong?

By Vinnybcfc on 1/8/2008 6:32:31 PM , Rating: 2

Great, maybe lets not inform the public that the next CD they may buy will contain nasty spyware.

Or that they may possibly have a faulty battery.

Facts were reported, deal with it.

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Yes Sony Won!

By Serafina on 1/8/08, Rating: -1

RE: Yes Sony Won!

By Vinnybcfc on 1/8/2008 6:29:50 PM , Rating: 2

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter

Heres one of your earlier posts:

quote:
Microsoft should just abandon Vista and build a new OS or imrove on XP, because if they stay with Vista any longer,they will go out of business and have a bad name.

What went through your head when you wrote this, it isnt very clever.

Could you explain how Vista will bankrupt Microsoft, considering it has sold millions of copies.

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RE: Yes Sony Won!

By neilrieck on 1/9/2008 6:18:05 AM , Rating: 2

Sony has a habit of bringing out new PlayStation platforms rendering previous models obsolete. (PS1 != PS2 != PS3) so let's hope they don't do the same with standalone Blu-ray players.

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RE: Yes Sony Won!

By joemoedee on 1/9/2008 6:48:48 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Sony has a habit of bringing out new PlayStation platforms rendering previous models obsolete. (PS1 != PS2 != PS3) so let's hope they don't do the same with standalone Blu-ray players.

Blu-ray != a video gaming system.

You're dealing with an optical disk format versus a gaming platform, two entirely different things.

Until a new Blu-ray or related disk format standard supported by Sony comes out, I highly doubt that their 2009 model won't be able to play Blu-ray disks from 2007. And even then I'd think some compatibility would be built in, a la its Blu Ray players currently playing DVDs.

Additionally, Sony has traditionally attempted to work backwards compatibility into their gaming systems, thus really not leaving games released for their prior systems obsolete.

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"It seems as though my state-funded math degree has failed me. Let the lashings commence." -- DailyTech Editor-in-Chief Kristopher Kubicki