Sony's Hits and Misses Through the Years
Sony's 3D television and other businesses were big-risk investments.
May 14, 2014 — -- intro: "All the best stuff is made in Japan."
That was Marty McFly in "Back to the Future, Part III" in 1990, when Sony was introducing popular personal audio equipment. The Japanese-based company is still introducing some popular geek-worthy gadgets, but many of their products have not caught on as profitable products.
Sony announced today a net loss of 128.4 billion yen, or about $1.26 billion, for its 2014 fiscal year. The company said it predicted a net loss of about $489 million for the year ending March 2010, much less than the loss reported today, "but far from the profit analysts had expected," the Wall Street Journal reported.
A large chunk of the most recent loss was due to the company's exit from the PC business and other charges, according to its earnings report. But has Sony lost all of its '90s glitz?
Rakuten Securities senior market analyst Masayuki Doshida told Reuters the markets were taking a “positive view” of Sony’s restructuring.
A Sony spokesman could not be reached for comment today.
Here's a look at some of Sony's hits and misses:
quicklist:title: PlayStationmedia: 20868725category: Hit text: A Sony's gaming console PlayStation 4 (PS4) is seen displayed during a press conference in Hong Kong in this Nov. 7, 2013 file photo.
Sony has been winning the console battle against Microsoft's Xbox as of late. Since the promotion to president and CEO of Kazuo Hirai in April 2012, Sony "has been knocking balls out of the park, to appropriate a metaphor from another form of gaming, with its living room console offering," Forbes writes.
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quicklist:title: The Sony Store media: 23718497category: Misstext: The "one-stop shop for everything Sony" as the company calls it never quite gained the traction of Apple stores. In February, the company announced it was closing 20 stores in the country with about a dozen remaining in the U.S. today.
quicklist:title: PlayStation Portablemedia: 23718171category: Hit text: Hanging onto the coattails of its living room console set, PlayStation Portable 3000 has also remained a hit with many gaming fans at about $150 a pop. On Amazon.com, 825 reviewers give it an average of 4.4 out of five stars.
Sales in Sony's "Game" division increased 38.5 percent year-over-year to $9.5 billion, the company reported today. Sony attributed the increase to the launch of PS4. PlayStation 3 hardware unit sales decreased, while PS3 software sales increased, the company said.
quicklist:title: Phonesmedia: 23718070category: Misstext: Yes, Sony makes phones. Though they may not be as prevalent as Apple's iPhone or Samsung's devices, which can boast of NBA star LeBron James as spokesman.
Don't count Sony out yet. The new Sony Xperia Z2 received a positive review by Engadget a few weeks ago. The tech site called the large Android device "an easy phone to recommend," though it's not available in the U.S. yet.
quicklist:title: 3D TVs and computersmedia: 23718225category: Misstext: Whether it's the higher price tag or industry-wide marketing issues, 3D televisions haven't quite become the must-have high ticket item manufacturers had hoped. But they're not obsolete yet either. The company is spinning off its television group into a wholly-owned subsidiary.
In February, the company announced it was exiting the personal computer business and selling its Vaio PCs.
quicklist:title: Cameras media: 23718329category: Hittext: Sony is steadily introducing or improving its cameras, including the Sony Alpha series. Endgadget calls the mirror-less Sony Alpha 6000 "worth every penny," even at $800.
quicklist:title: Tabletsmedia: 23718414category: Misstext: The Sony Xperia Z2 10.1 inch-tablet has received mildly positive reviews, but the company can't be counted out just yet. Tech site ZDNet gives the nod of approval for the light, thin model that is waterproof, a competitive advantage over other devices.