Christopher

Out of all the consumer electronics products available today, the TV is probably the only one that has pleased people by getting larger. Going back 40 years, we find that Sony had already announced a big-screen TV that anticipated those of today. It was in 1968 when Sony revealed to the world the first Trinitron Color TV, a product which would inevitably become a major contributor to a shining future for the company. Last year, in fact, marks the 40th anniversary since its initial launch. Yet despite the fact it was such a busy time, the insatiable appetite of Sony engineers for challenge led them to come up with one idea after another, including a big-screen TV that caused a sensation when it was first announced. The new TV was not only an astounding 100 inches, but it boasted a flat screen. It was called the Sony Color Video Panel. Today, numerous manufacturers have announced TVs with screens that exceed 100 inches, but this was no less than 40 years ago. According to the announcement, “At 1.5 meters high, 2 meters wide, 25 centimeters deep and with a 100-inch screen, this is the world’s largest television receiver. This flat-screen color TV uses a new method unlike anything the world has ever seen. The screen comprises 78,000 color light elements in 260 vertical columns and 300 horizontal lines. An ‘electronic brain’ manipulates the broadcast signal received by the antenna, switching the screen’s individual color light elements on and off to realize color broadcast.” In other words, it was a light emitting display that realized video images using something similar to 78,000 miniature light bulbs. Today it’s easy to laugh at the fact that it used the equivalent of miniature bulbs, but this was in the heyday of the cathode ray tube (CRT), and Sony was poised to launch the Trinitron. Yet in spite of this, Sony took what had to be a very bold step in launching a TV that did not use CRTs. In fact, it used 700 integrated circuits and cost

Sony plans to sever ties with more than half of its parts and materials suppliers by the end of 2010, to save at least 500 billion yen ($5.27 billion) in procurement costs in the current fiscal year, the Nikkei business daily reported without citing any sources. The Japanese company’s procurement, which had previously been handled separately by its various divisions and subsidiaries, will be unified under a new department created last month, the paper said. Sony’s list of suppliers will shrink to about 1,200 from about 2,500, while the volume of parts and materials purchased from each company will increase, driving down unit prices, Nikkei said. According to the story, the consolidation will include video game subsidiary Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, which had enjoyed considerable freedom in purchasing supplies. Story and picture courtesy of Reuters. View the full article

When the Walkman X-Series (NW-X1050, NW-X1060) debuted on the FCC on Feburary 5th, Sony filed a short term confidentiality letter to block the public from seeing the internal photos for a month and a half. I went back and looked at the PDF and the pictures are now available. I wasn’t able to find much information on the components, except the 250mhz ARM processor that is the brains of the music player, which is a far cry from the 533mhz processor in the iPod Touch. It’s called the MP201, made by NEC and debuted back in July 2006 - and probably has some tweaks for this generation especially since there is an OLED screen involved. It’s not immediately clear how much memory is in the device, as it can vary from 64 - 512mb but we could imagine that with all the functions within it is most certainly 256mb or more. Here’s a general block diagram of the processor: The MP201 chip represented a significant advance for digital audio players, video recorder/players, and other portable devices that enables consumers to download the latest audio content or receive mobile terrestrial digital broadcasts. Here are some of the specs: CPU: ARM926EJ-STM (MAX. 250MHz, I-cache: 16KB, D-cache: 16KB) DSP: SPXK611 (250MHz MAX., I-cache: 32KB, D-cache: 32KB) H.264 decoder: QVGA 30fps MPEG4 encoder/decoder: QVGA 30fps Internal RAM: 256KB SRAM SDRAM interface: SDR-SDRAM (125MHz MAX., 64Mb to 512Mb

The copper brown version of the A330 has a metallic dark copper shade on the top, brown shaded plastic on the textured front, and a black back. Its grip surfaces are brown, and the metallic surfaces — including those of the kit lens body — are a copper/brown color. According to Imaging Resource (in their brilliant hands-on A330 review), “Sony spoke with many focus groups, and this color combination was chosen overwhelmingly among the colors offered. One of the reasons given was that black lenses looked pretty good with the copper brown body, so people were most pleased with the color.” The copper brown version, model number DSLR-A330L/T, carries the same $849 price tag, is sold in the one-lens kit only, and will be available in Fall 2009. These pictures are the highest resolution available (click for larger version) from Sony Japan, while the real life shots were cherrypicked from Sony Fan. We think Sony has made a very smart decision with the release of a brown DSLR. Far too often, it seems that DSLR’s are black - consumers obviously want something different. Most of the comments towards the copper brown A330 have been very positive. If the reception continues to be warm, perhaps multi-colored DSLR’s are the future. View the full article

Well, whatever the reason may be, one fact remains above and beyond all: the X-Series Walkman simply costs more to own in Australia than most markets. According to several Australian websites, it appears that Sony is suggesting “the recommended retail price of the new NWZ-X1060F (32GB) Walkman is $799AU. The equivalent US model is currently on sale at Sony’s official online store for US$399. Based on current exchange rates, the American SonyStyle price equals AU$515.” This is a considerable upcharge for reasons that Sony Insider thinks is downright insulting to the Australian consumer. How can the touchscreen Walkman gain traction in the land down under with such pricing? However, this seems to be nothing new - historically, electronics have been more expensive in Australia compared to just about every other country in the world. It’s truly pathetic. Sony Australia’s official response: There are various factors that impact on the ultimate recommended retail price of Sony products sold in Australia. These include, but are not limited to: The Australian versions of products need to be adapted to comply with Australian standards and local regulations Other countries, including the US, do not include government taxes in their recommended retail prices. Australian marketing expenditure is amortised across a smaller number of products Sony does not produce and freight the same product to all markets Retail environments differ from country to country Exchange rate considerations Information courtesy of current.com.au and Smarthouse. View the full article

I cleaned up the last few replies here because its not really on topic. If you have qualms with one another, please take it to private messages. I would really like to see sfbp and Guitarfxr find peace, though. Please. Keep the discussion private. If it continues to escalate we can discuss it together. This is a thread about what you've just bought.

Regal and Sony Electronics announced an agreement for the installation of Sony 4K digital projection systems across its entire circuit over the next 3 to 5 years, which will create the most extensive 4K deployment to date. Approximately 1,500 of the Regal screens will also be outfitted for 3D digital projection, using Sony’s newly introduced dual-lens adapter technology. This is nice because I usually prefer going to a Regal movie theater in the metro Atlanta area instead of AMC. The experience just feels better for some reason, most likely due to the more comfortable seats and bigger blockbuster movies. “The rollout of these Sony 4K systems gives Regal the opportunity to utilize the latest technology to provide our patrons the best available presentation,” said Amy Miles, Regal Entertainment Group’s incoming chief executive officer. “Sony’s state-of-the-art 4K systems produce the highest levels of resolution, contrast and overall image quality.” Sony 4K projectors offer the highest image resolution of all projection technologies, producing 8.8 million pixels. 4K technology provides image resolution four times greater than 2K projection systems and slightly more than four times greater than high-definition. “Regal has always been at the forefront of merging technology with entertainment to create a dynamic movie-going experience,” said Gary Johns, vice president and head of of Sony Electronics’ digital cinema business. “The innovative design and capabilities of the 4K projectors’ are a perfect fit for supporting their commitment to deliver not only the highest-quality 2D and 3D digital projection, but also alternative content, live theatrical events and more.” View the full article

Sony Corp. reported its first annual net loss in 14 years and forecast a bigger loss this year, saying the pressure from sliding sales, competition in gadget prices and a strong yen was expected to continue. The Japanese electronics and entertainment company said Thursday it lost $1.72 billion in the January-March quarter, compared with a year-ago profit of $302 million. That brought its full fiscal year loss to $1 billion. Sony said no quick recovery was in sight, projecting a $1.2 billion loss for the fiscal year through March 2010. Like other Japanese exporters, Sony is reeling from a decline in sales overseas as well as in Japan, which is mired in its worst recession in decades. A stronger yen, which erodes overseas revenue and inflates production costs at home, has also weighed heavily on its bottom line. Sales for the 2009 financial year fell 12.9 percent from a year earlier, to 7.73 trillion yen ($80.5 billion). The slump deepened in the most recent quarter, falling 22 percent, to 1.52 trillion yen ($15.9 billion). But those factors mask more fundamental problems at the manufacturer. Once an electronics powerhouse and stylish innovator, Sony’s dominance has been usurped in almost everything it makes by rivals with sharper marketing and less expensive products that are easier to use. Meanwhile, Sony has lost money for five straight years in televisions, trailing Samsung Electronics of South Korea, which dominates major markets with a lean production and aggressive pricing. And now Vizio is number #1 in North America this quarter for LCD TV’s. The New York Times says a problem plaguing Sony is that it has focused on Japanese consumers willing to pay high prices for cutting-edge technology. Sony also makes many of its products in Japan, where production costs are high and vulnerable to currency swings. Sony’s chief executive, Howard Stringer, has tried to shift emphasis away from hardware to networked products and services, but change has been slow. In an effort to speed up the process, Mr. Stringer announced a management reshuffling in March that replaced older executives with younger ones. He also redrew Sony’s corporate structure to encourage engineers from all projects to work together. At the same time, Mr. Stringer has pushed ahead with aggressive cost-cutting, eliminating 16,000 jobs and reducing its network of 57 factories. View the full article

The new flagship WALKMAN is finally here. Portable media players are all about listening, watching, and the supporting controls—essential elements that the X series designers approached with great care. Discerning WALKMAN fans will find this gem worth the wait. However, Sony Insider questions if the device in the long term will be a winner. The public has been spoiled by an App Store, constant firmware updates, and other software features that keep people coming back for more. While this is solely a music player, a $299 - $399 investment needs to be nurtured or people will get upset. Nonetheless, enjoy this interview with the designers of the

Attention all you Blu-ray disc horders! I know you are running out of space and have been begging Sony to bring a new BD

After intense speculation, Sony is catering to budget-minded and first time digital SLR buyers with the introduction of three new easy-to-use α (alpha) cameras (models DSLR-A380, DSLR-A330 and DSLR-A230). Sony has also announced four new lenses, a flash and accessories. The new cameras are designed to overcome challenges faced by many customers taking their first steps in DSLR photography. The α230L will go for about $550 at launch, while the α330L and α380L will fill a solid niche at the $650 and $850 price ranges, respectively. The L series one-lens kit comes with the SAL-1855 standard zoom lens. Sony is also going to offer a Y series variant (α380Y, α330Y and α230Y) for each model for an extra $200 that includes two-lens kit of the SAL-1855 standard zoom and SAL-55200 telephoto zoom lenses. Pre-orders will begin today at Sony Style and at selected retailers nationwide. The cameras and a range of accessories will be available in July at Sony Style, at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide. The 10.2 megapixel α230 (above) camera is the lightest, most compact alpha DSLR camera body ever at 15.9 ounces. The 10.2 megapixel α330 and the 14.2 megapixel α380 cameras are also smaller and lighter than their predecessor models (the DSLR-A300 and DSLR-A350, respectively). An HDMI terminal gives you the option of connecting your camera to a compatible HDTV and playing back your images in high definition quality (HDMI cable required, sold separately); Bravia-Sync is also supported. The α380, α330 and α230 models are Sony’s first DSLR cameras to feature a graphical user interface (GUI) with built-in on-screen Help Guide. The Help Guide offers clear, concise explanations of various modes and settings, while the Graphic Display helps you understand the relationship between aperture and shutter speed, as well as the effect each has on photographic results. Both the α380 (below) and α330 (above) cameras offer Sony’s Quick Autofocus (AF) Live View technology, so you can frame photos on the camera’s LCD screen as well as in the optical viewfinder. Through the use of a dedicated image sensor, Quick AF Live View maintains the rapid response of a DSLR, while avoiding the focus delay common to other live view systems. The new cameras feature a 2.7-inch LCD screen that is easy to view even in bright sunlight. Additionally, the LCD on the α380 and α330 models can be tilted up or down, making it easy to frame your subject from high or low positions, otherwise difficult to see using an eye-level viewfinder. The range of adjustment has been increased from their predecessors, making it even easier to get shots from difficult angles. As for the accessories we mentioned earlier, here is some information and pictures of the new lenses: The DT 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens (model SAL-1855 - $200) incorporates aspherical and Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements to provide an all purpose lens with outstanding image quality. The DT 55-200mm F/4-5.6 telephoto zoom lens (model SAL-55200/2 - $230) features an ED glass element and helps bring distant subjects closer, ideal for capturing sports. Both the SAL-1855 and SAL-55200 lenses are available separately, or packaged as kits with the new cameras. To make the benefits of portrait and macro photography easier and more accessible, Sony is introducing a DT 50mm F/1.8 portrait lens (model SAL-50F18 - $150).. ..and DT 30mm F/2.8 (model SAL-30M28) macro lens. The wide aperture SAL-50F18 lens helps users capture beautiful portraits with gently defocused backgrounds while the SAL-30M28 macro lens captures intricate close-ups. Both techniques are difficult to achieve with standard lenses. To help users take better shots with flash, Sony offers an affordable, compact external flash unit (model HVL-F20AM - $130) that is simple to operate. Unlike a camera’s built-in flash, this external flash provides higher output (Guide Number 20), and enables users to bounce light off the ceiling to eliminate harsh shadows and achieve more even illumination when shooting indoors. View the full article

Here is the full user manual and overall operation guide for the new NWZ-X1050/NWZ-X1051 and NWZ-X1060/NWZ-X1061. We’ve gone ahead and lifted some interesting items in the manual that I don’t recall seeing anywhere else, but then again there are dozens of reviews out there now for the touchscreen Walkman. Supported codec specifics: Noise cancelling battery life figures, with some actually useful examples: Capacity (User available capacity)*1 NWZ-X1050: 16 GB (Approx. 14.6 GB = 15,775,629,312 bytes) NWZ-X1051: 16 GB (Approx. 14.2 GB = 15,254,618,112 bytes) NWZ-X1060: 32 GB (Approx. 29.6 GB = 31,871,533,056 bytes) NWZ-X1061: 32 GB (Approx. 29.1 GB = 31,350,390,784 bytes) The touch panel of the player does not work properly when operated with: A gloved finger. Two or more fingers. (aka no multi-touch) A finger nail. A wet finger. A pen, ballpoint pen, pencil, stylus, etc. Touching with other objects in addition to a finger. You can register podcasts to the player by using iTunes

Model Danielle Bux helped launch the new Sony X Series Walkman media player in a London Underground tube carraige, which was been transformed into a 1940’s cinema at Charing Cross Station yesterday in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) Charing Cross railway station is a central London railway terminus. It is unusual among London’s railway termini in that its services connect it to two of the others, Waterloo (via Waterloo East) and London Bridge. It is one of 17 stations managed by Network Rail, and trains serving it are operated by Southeastern and Southern. It is the fifth busiest rail terminal in London. The station takes its name from its location next to the central London road junction of Charing Cross. The front of the station faces The Strand, while at the other end is the northern end of Hungerford Bridge, which is crossed by all trains serving the station. If I was there and she was standing in front of me, I’m not too sure I’d be staring at the Walkman the entire time! View the full article

Sony will tap capital markets to raise more than $1 billion in fresh funds for investment and bond redemption next month as the struggling electronics maker grapples with a slide in global consumer spending that’s pushing it to its first net loss in 14 years. Sony plans to offer Y100 billion of corporate bonds via three-, five- and 10-year tranches in early June, a person close to the deal said Tuesday according to WSJ. Nomura Securities, Nikko Citigroup, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities and Mizuho Securities will jointly lead manage the deal, the person said. A Sony spokesman said the company has decided to issue corporate bonds to raise funds for investment and to repay part of an existing bond issue that’s set to mature in March 2010. He declined to provide further details. Sony is expected report it swung deep into a net loss for its fiscal year ended March when its releases results Thursday. It has already announced plans to cut as many as 16,000 jobs from its global work force in an effort to trim billions of dollars from its cost base. The company has forecast a net loss of Y150 billion for the 12 months ended March. While Sony Tuesday declined to comment on where it might invest some of the money it raises, analysts say it’s likely that the unprofitable Sony Ericsson mobile phone business may need fresh capital before long as it tries to target new customers in markets like the U.S., China and India. Like much of Japan’s export-dependent technology industry, Sony has seen the value of its exports undercut by the recent strength of the yen versus currencies like the dollar and the euro. It’s also been hit by recession in major markets for its TVs, digital cameras and mobile phones as increasingly budget-conscious shoppers curtail spending plans. In an effort to speed up attempts to revive the company’s fortunes, Chief Executive Howard Stringer is taking fuller control of the company, adding the title of president and appointing younger executives to key management positions. Information courtesy Wall Street Journal. View the full article

Well Sony and to be more exact their selling arm - Sonystyle waited for the magic date and posted the Pre-Order site for well discussed and anticipated OLED Walkman. All of you who are so eagerly awaiting its release within the US can hit the Sonystyle.com now and get your plastic to be abused with two choices of Walkman. Sony promises to ship “the precious” on or about June 20th. As it is being released Stateside you will see tons of reviews pouring in, so stay tuned! Check out the official press release if you wish… So will you be ordering this beauty? Leave your comments! View the full article

photoclubalpha spotted new Sony Alpha DSLR’s on the Sony Russia site recently, which seemingly cater to the notion of an ideal entry-level DSLR camera at an attractive price point. Sony may very well succeed with these upcoming α230, α330, and α380 DSLR models. The A230 is a lightweight, entry-level model with numerous features to assist the newcomer, such as an on-screen handbook that describes each feature while choosing options. The top-end A380 and middle child A330 boast flip-out screens. All three boast HDMI output to TVs, but do not appear to shoot video of any definition. Features shown include a new user interface, showing aperture and shutter speed on a sliding scale. The leaked pages mention APS-C format sensors, presumably for all three cameras. It also appears that most of these new models will support dual flash support for MemoryStick Pro and CompactFlash. The 380 will apparently have 14.2 megapixels, so we can only assume that the 230 and 330 will have 10.2 megapixels like last year’s models. Here’s the full chart: Thanks, CNET. View the full article

Sony has released a new super small 8.3-megapixel camera module measuring at 9.5 x 7.1mm. According to Pocket-lint, “the “MCB1172″ from Sony Europe’s Image Sensing Solutions Division is capable of delivering 720p, 30fps video (with slow-mo up to 120fps), 16x zoom, and includes movie stabilization, face detection, auto focus and motion auto focus. Sony is quoted as saying this is the “world’s smallest” HD camera module. The MCB1172 is now hitting mass production, which means products with the module in will likely hit the security and industry markets later this year. There is obviously unlimited potential with this product in the consumer world as well, for cell phones, mini-camcorders, and so forth. I wish they would just make a necklace that could record your whole day. Then you could upload it to some stylish website that breaks up that day into chapters, has face recognition built into the video to tag friends, and search based on location, etc. Oh well, maybe one day. Via Engadget. View the full article

With the American economy still up and down, it is a tough atmosphere for a premium brand in consumer electronics. However, people in North America are buying more LCD TV’s - Q1’09 LCD TV shipments surged 23% Y/Y to 7.2M units according to preliminary results. Additionally, NPD Group DisplaySearch has obtained some surprising new numbers that point to some extraordinary growth for Vizio in Q1 FY09 that could indicate problems for Sony and Samsung. Vizio returned to the #1 ranking in LCD TVs for the first time since Q2’07, overtaking Samsung and Sony in the process and improving their unit share from 13% to 19%. “Vizio is a relatively young TV brand in the US marketplace, but their strong alignment with mass merchant and warehouse club retailers seemed to put them in the right place at the right time with growing channels,” said Paul Gagnon, DisplaySearch Director of North America TV Research. “As LCD TV panel makers quickly return to nearly full capacity and simultaneously push panel price increases, the industry will have to carefully monitor the impact that slower retail price declines may have on consumer demand during the second half of the year to avoid a potential repeat oversupply situation.” Premium brands like Samsung and Sony lost share as consumers became more price sensitive, looking both for better value and smaller screen sizes than last quarter. This tells me that Sony needs to release a nice $350 - $400 32″ 1080p with two HDMI ports and blow away consumers. Nonetheless, Sony and Samsung continue to be stronger in the 40” and larger screen sizes, as well as offering advanced features such as 1080p resolution, 120 Hz or higher frame rates, and higher-quality image processing. Unfortunately, as some of this advanced tech is still not mainstream, its exclusivity all of which adds to the retail price and turns away consumers. Sony was the #3 LCD TV brand in North America with 36% Y/Y shipment growth and was ranked #3 in overall flat panel share. Here are some charts courtesy of DisplaySearch of the Q1’09 results: What recommendations do you have for Sony to regain the top spot? View the full article

I've chosen some new moderators, and once they fully accept I will formally announce them. Thank you for your recommendations.

We actually have the system in place - this was something I wanted to do years ago. However, this is an enormous task. We would need quite a few people to contribute. I couldn't just let anyone edit it..we'd have to have a trusted group of editors.

We’ve talked about the new Touchscreen Walkman so much that I know some of you are craving it immensely, as we feed you more and more links to information about it. I feel like the actual experience may be overwhelming for me because I already know everything about it. However, you may know before I do if you enter Stuff.tv’s new contest. I wish I was in London right now! How cool would it be to check out this little impromptu marketing event? If anyone gets pictures please send them to us via Contact. “We’re giving you the chance to see it first-hand before anyone else at an exclusive showing on Wednesday 13 May at a secret central London location. What’s more, we’ve got three X Series to give away to you lucky people. For your chance to go to the exclusive showing of the X Series, all you have to do is to email xseries@borkowski.co.uk quoting the code STUFFX13. There are only 20 places, and it’s first come, first served so get cracking! The winners will receive an email reply disclosing the location. On top of that, every entry will be added into a prize draw to win one of three X Series Walkmans.” * - Picture from daylife; Models show Sony Corp.’s new Walkman X series music players during a news conference at Sony Building showroom in Tokyo Tuesday, April 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kassahara) View the full article

Whatever Works is an upcoming 2009 comedy film written and directed by the prolific film maker Woody Allen. This film stars Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, Kristen Johnston, Larry David, Ed Begley, Jr., Michael McKean, and Henry Cavill. Wood plays the na

Sony Electronics is helping Miami customers gear up for their summer vacations with the opening of a new Sony Style store located in the Aventura Mall in the Miami area. Sony Style stores, designed for a customer seeking the best in service, quality and innovation, offers a breath of Sony electronics, music, movies and games in a ‘home’ environment. Like every SonyStyle store, shoppers are encouraged to test-drive products and experience our high definition televisions and home audio products in living room environments comparable to their own. Getting your purchase home is a snap with the option of personal in-home delivery services and custom installation support. Sony Style even offers free pick-up and recycling of your old television when you purchase and have a 37” or larger TV delivered. And during the month of May Sony Style is offering special promotions on all digital imaging devices including Cyber-shot cameras and Handycam camcorders to help consumers capture those special moments affordably. Additionally, Backstage Premium Technical PC Services are available in-store, and are provided by Sony Certified Technicians. Services include new VAIO PC Set-up, software installations, memory upgrades, post-sales PC service and repair facilitation for VAIO PCs. Backstage service enriches VAIO PC ownership throughout the life of a VAIO PC offering value and peace of mind. Regardless of where the product was purchased, personalized care is provided at each of our Sony Style stores by dedicated and certified Sony technicians. Our technicians are experts in all things Sony VAIO and are trusted and convenient resources for everyone from the tech savvy to PC novices. Sony Style at the Aventura Mall is the 45th Sony Style store in the United States. Additional information about Sony Style stores can be found at www.sonystyle.com/retail. View the full article

According to PC World, Sony Ericsson will reduce its workforce by about 400 people in Lund, Sweden, cutting 160 employees and 250 consultants, the company announced on Friday. The site in Lund had a workforce of about 4,000, including 1,000 consultants, before the cuts, according to a spokesman. One hundred consultants were already shown the door in April, a statement said. The cutbacks are part of a plan to lower its global workforce by approximately 2,000 people — out of a total 10,000 — by the middle of next year. We have a Swedish newspaper source called evertiq.com that is saying 430, so its somewhere between 410-430 people, I suppose. View the full article

Sony Hawaii was established in 1968 by then Sony Corporation president Akio Morita, who sent Kenji Tamiya to become Sony Hawaii’s first president. Today, Sony Hawaii is led by its eighth president, Naobumi “Ned” Nomura. It handles sales for Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, Palau and other selected Pacific regions as well as global U.S. military sales. Sony currently employs 73 people in Hawaii, but that number is to drop by more than half as they trimming staff from its Honolulu offices in Mapunapuna, with more to come in the next few months as part of an overall corporate restructuring effort. Seventeen employees took voluntary early retirement deals, effective in June, according to John Dolak, spokesman for Sony. Fourteen more positions will be cut between June 5 and July 1, for a total of 31. When Sony first came to town in 1968, Hawaii was a different place. Color television was still a relatively new medium. Baseball was America’s #1 sport, and you could watch the Hawaii Islanders play in the old Honolulu Stadium on Isenberg Street. It cost 20 cents to catch a bus ride on the Honolulu Rapid Transit. A pound of freshly cooked char siu pork set you back 50 cents in Chinatown, and you ate guilt-free because cholesterol was a relatively unknown medical term. At the time, Sony’s business in Hawaii was being conducted through a dealership, which in turn was handled by SONAM’s office in Los Angeles. In May 1968, Tamiya landed alone at Honolulu Airport with $50,000 in operation funds - a large responsibility considering Mr. Kenji Tamiya had been with Sony for about one year. Sent from Tokyo headquarters by President Akio Morita, he set up shop together with a few employees on the third floor of City Bank in downtown Honolulu. The $50,000 was spent quickly, and Tamiya began to use his salary to pay utility bills and employees’ salaries for the first two or three months. The products had not yet arrived, so money was spent while none was coming in. Products finally arrived in August. Sony Hawaii had already established agreements with a number of dealers, and once the products were distributed, revenues began to come in. At the time, products meant only transistor radios. Sony Hawaii could not sell tape recorders due to an exclusive dealership agreement Sony had with Super Scope, which covered the U.S. mainland and Hawaii, and color television sets were not yet available. The first order Sony Hawaii received was for two radios and two stereos. Thanks, Star Bulletin. View the full article