At the same time Sony has pushed yet another proprietary format, they have crippled the very product that could make it a success. No, I'm not speaking of the soon to be DVD format wars, I'm talking about UMDs. Sony's incredible media format for the ever popular Play Station Portble (PSP) currently resides on the video library shelf right next to a DVD equivalent movie. But, instead of Sony using their location free player to stream UMDs to a TV, they instead chose to stream DVDs to a PSP. Technical reasoning related to resolution mismatches etc. aside, I find this to be 180 degrees the opposite of the true potential that the location free player could have realized.
Further, Sony spent so much time and effort inserting limitations in the location free player, that it took 3 employees at a Sony Style store 20 minutes just to get the device to work as Sony intended. As Apple has shown time and time again, when it comes to electronics it's not just the styling that wins, but the usability as well.
So, Sony has once again positioned itself to discredit the technical elite who seek out revolutionary new ways to use Sony products, as well as the non-techies who just want the electronics to work without having to call the "Geek Squad" in to set it all up. Why would anyone go to the effort to purchase the location free player to stream DVDs to their PSP, when they can just as easily rip the DVD to a Memory stick and play it wherever they wish?
The PSP, the location free player, the HD car stereo unit, are just a few examples of Sony's inability to capitalize on their technical enginuity for the very fear of how consumers will use the products in ways that will negatively impact their BMG investment. My recommendation to Sony is this: Cut the music losses now, and avoid becomming a commodity player to other hot companies like HTC, Apple, Motorola, and LG that are bringing to consumers exactly what it is that they want and are willing to pay for.
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