Petter156 Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Expect higher quality products from Sony. This is a quite possible solution, especially after recent complaints on various quality issues with Sony models. A slimmer product-line with more expensive models. MD might actually become a very novelty standard. This would of course once and for all remove minidisc as a format used by 'regular people', kids that just want their music on the go. Some think that the mainstream battle is already lost.I also agree with one user here about being tied to a PC. I love the fact that I can listen to music thorugh my computer while browsing the web or working (and I would be even happier if I could listen to minidiscs conveniently at the computer), but I don´t want to be forced to handle everything through my PC. If minidisc does become an expensive novelty format I´ll have to re-evaluate my sitaution. I do love the idea of being an MD user even after this, but the next few years are going to be financially exhaustive - buying new discs all the time is already pretty expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted September 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 The official announcement will come between 2:00 - 3:30 EST today; keep an eye on MDCF for the latest news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breepee2 Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 The official announcement will come between 2:00 - 3:30 EST today; keep an eye on MDCF for the latest news.Hmm, what's that in CET? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Hmm, what's that in CET? 20:00 - 21:30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petter156 Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Well, guess I´ll know tomorrow...Hope it´s at least not terrible news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breepee2 Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 These could be MD's final hours, let's all put on our MD's and hope for the best... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted September 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Want to watch it go down? Register and watch here, in Internet Explorer, without pop-ups blocked:http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site....item_id=1132175 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamewing Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 (edited) 15 Products dropped? I wonder....TV parts from China? Hmmmm....And the Sony Strategy is.....baited breath.....I don't see HiMD...And the Hammer Drops....PS3 in the Spring of 2006 - OH DEAR GODS, my internet went down for a couple of mins!!!Connect doesn't show any HiMD units on the slideThey aren't going to tell us which products are dropped. Give me a break!!!Also, they are falling for the fire people saves money mentality. Bad Sony. Edited September 30, 2005 by lamewing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 (edited) Product line re-focus No of models reduced by 20% vs 2005 Restructuring of 15 "unprofitable"" product categories (haven't said what these are yet...)Quote: "We have identified 15 business categories for which we are implementing plans including downsizing, alliances and disposals" (source: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200509/05-050E/ ) Edited September 30, 2005 by richyhu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamgood Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 (edited) doesn't seem that there was any news on the minidisc scene Edited September 30, 2005 by teamgood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 here comes the breakdown by divisions....we should find out the fate of minidisc very soon. If you download the .pdf of the presentation slides there is still no mention of MD even in the slides they haven't got to yet. Not sure if that is good or bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sant430_ Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Is it me or did they not say anything about md?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted September 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 If you download the .pdf of the presentation slides there is still no mention of MD even in the slides they haven't got to yet. Not sure if that is good or bad Those were slides from the 22nd, not today. Is it me or did they not say anything about md?? It's not over yet. Keep watching, I promise you details will come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 (edited) Is it me or did they not say anything about md?? No . Unless someone asks the question in the Q&A. MD is probably in the 15 categories scheduled for restructuring - although who knows what degree of "restructuring" it faces. Probably as some of us said already, a reduction in models. Edited September 30, 2005 by richyhu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamewing Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 (edited) No . Unless someone asks the question in the Q&A. MD is probably in the 15 categories scheduled for restructuring - although who knows what degree of "restructuring" it faces. Probably as some of us said already, a reduction in models.It seems you are right. Unless someone asks the question...when will we know.?It doesn't look like we will find out today.A nice waste of all our afternoons. Edited September 30, 2005 by lamewing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sant430_ Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 I didn't hear anything directly about MD/Hi-MD. Did anyone else?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strap Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Right before they started talking about the whole "sharing the excitement" thing, did he say that they were going to concentrate on HD? Or did I hear that wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamewing Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 I didn't hear anything directly about MD/Hi-MD. Did anyone else??HD this, Blu-ray that.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Right before they started talking about the whole "sharing the excitement" thing, did he say that they were going to concentrate on HD? Or did I hear that wrong? HD as in High-Def video etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundalike Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 42 users watching - Does this mean we'll get to find the meaning of life? (or death!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamgood Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 well, this was much ado about nothing...no news at all really. just "bla, bla, bla...." just make us some newer, better, less expensive hi-md portables and car decks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weaves Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 (edited) Hey All,I couldn't listen. Is this where minidisc is heading? :http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/20...930E/index.htmlOr is it going away? ThanksWeaves Edited September 30, 2005 by Weaves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamgood Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 i read an article that said Sony was planning on revealing their new product lines by the end of next year, but i assume someone knows what product lines those'll be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sant430_ Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Is there any way you can offer some insight Kurisu?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted September 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Obviously, the announcement did NOT come within this webcast. All I can say is that things will be announced very soon. Judging by the focus of the webcast, it should've been very clear as to what Sony's immediate future will be, and I can honestly say I do not see MD in the equation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raintheory Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 42 users watching - Does this mean we'll get to find the meaning of life? (or death!)Meaning of Life = 42.. How many years did it take "deep thought" to get that? Wasn't it like 7 million or something?Just so you know, you didn't go over everyones head here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sant430_ Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Obviously, the announcement did NOT come within this webcast. All I can say is that things will be announced very soon. Judging by the focus of the webcast, it should've been very clear as to what Sony's immediate future will be, and I can honestly say I do not see MD in the equation.So Sony's heavy into HD, phones, ps3, and the psp....and md's looking bleak.....*sigh* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 The webcast was a bit vague. They talked about technologies, and of course MD wasn't mentioned, so I too would guess the future's bleak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamewing Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 (edited) Obviously, the announcement did NOT come within this webcast. All I can say is that things will be announced very soon. Judging by the focus of the webcast, it should've been very clear as to what Sony's immediate future will be, and I can honestly say I do not see MD in the equation.Kurisu, Not to be rude, but what are you basing your statements on? If you know something specific why won't you just provide us with the information?So is Sony dropping all but cell phones, TVs (many parts from China now), video games, HD based DAPs, cameras? Was home audo components included? I hope Sony doesn't fumble again with Blue-ray when Microsoft and Intel (plus others) are supporting HD-DVD. Edited September 30, 2005 by lamewing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted September 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 My statements are based on: Reliable sources within Sony that have given me consistant and 100% accurate information in the past; recent documents that have been passed along my way; the blantant obviousness of Sony's direction from not only this presentation, but their Annual Report for 2005 and other various public presentations.Why can't I say something specific? Because what I know is more than I've ever known before and it would be in complete violation of not only my source's trust, but my own personal honor. Things will be much clearer in due time, and as the world changes to accomidate it, so will minidisc.org and its forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamewing Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 (edited) My statements are based on: Reliable sources within Sony that have given me consistant and 100% accurate information in the past; recent documents that have been passed along my way; the blantant obviousness of Sony's direction from not only this presentation, but their Annual Report for 2005 and other various public presentations.Why can't I say something specific? Because what I know is more than I've ever known before and it would be in complete violation of not only my source's trust, but my own personal honor. Things will be much clearer in due time, and as the world changes to accomidate it, so will minidisc.org and its forums.If you have insider info which you say you cannot break confidences over, why even mention it to us in the first place? What I mean is why get everybody so concerned about it until something is announced? It is pretty obvious that Sony is abandoning the technology. My question is this, why the heck didn't they just lisence the format early on and allow it to grow when HiMD first came out. Keeping the format to themselves seems to be one of the reasons that HiMD has failed to catch on. Or, did Sharp, Kenwood, etc just not want to deal with HiMD? Any ideas? Edited September 30, 2005 by lamewing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlie7 Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Obviously, the announcement did NOT come within this webcast. All I can say is that things will be announced very soon. Judging by the focus of the webcast, it should've been very clear as to what Sony's immediate future will be, and I can honestly say I do not see MD in the equation.It is quite clear to me in this statement and a complete and thorough admission regarding the future of MD... HI-MD or otherwise..."I can honestly say I do not see MD in the equation."MD is NOT a part of the future equation. How else is one to interpret this? There is no other way. MD in all it's forms is past tense.A moment of silence please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 The 2005 Annual report says: "worldwide shipments of MD format devices decreased by 1.44 million units to 1.92 million units" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamewing Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 If only Sony would have sold this a premier recording device instead of a cheap, plasticy (many models) ipod competitor saddled with DRM.So, does anyone know why the late HiMD was never liscenced to others...no interest or just plain GREED? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strap Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Thank you Kurisu, for the heads up. Let us know what you can, when you can.This is all very frustrating, but that feeling isn't new to any of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breepee2 Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 No definitive announcements. Why aren't they more concrete in such matters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skradgee Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 The 'bad news' would have much more of an impact on the company if they came right out and said it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted September 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 One of my favorites from the 2005 Annual Report;In the portable audio market, trends and ways of enjoying music are changing rapidly as consumer preferences shift from CD-based and MD-based products to those with flash memory and HDDs. In spring 2005, we released our latest Network Walkman, reinforcing our lineup of Walkman portable audio products in the Japanese market, which until then comprised the CD Walkman and the MD Walkman. The Network Walkman, available in both flash memory and hard disk models, enjoyed strong sales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 as they aren't selling any (Hi)MD's , there should be no concerned (Hi)MD-customers and no (stock-market) problems when they announce they demise of the format... so Sony: just bite the bullet and let us know whether we can expect HiMD to stay as a (semi)pro-recording tool or if there are 'other technology based alternatives' planned... because, as should be clear by now, even without harassing kurisu for more precise answers (give the guy a break, he's kept us up to date as much as he could without ruining his relations), (Hi)MD as a standard consumer product is no longer *sigh* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breepee2 Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 (give the guy a break, he's kept us up to date as much as he could without ruining his relations)Looks like that doesn't matter any longer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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