> How many companies out there are widely successful?
Obviously most companies mix successes and failures, but in recent years Sony has been pushing out an unreasonable number of failures with no successes to show for it.
I don't see any innovations coming out of Sony. I don't see them leading the way in any particular sector when it comes to consumer electronics. In audio products they're nobodies, in computing they make so-so non-descript equipment, in photography they've lost almost all the ground they once had to Canon and Nikon, in video they are being trounced by the likes of Samsung, LG, and Panasonic, and in cell phones they've just about been wiped off the face of the planet by Apple and Android handset manufacturers.
About the only sector they seem to be doing okay in is consoles, which from what I understand are not massively profitable, and are on the way out.
I live in Japan and Sony has a showroom in Tokyo where they showcase all their products in a single building. There is always some products I have never seen when I go there. Not sure I can call them innovative, though... a few years ago they had this egg-like music player that rolled on itself when playing music. Utterly useless and I have no idea how this kind of thing even made it to market. I am guessing there is some truth when this article mentions the power of engineers when I see such things come to life.
But let's not forget that Sony's marketing is equally terrible. Even when they have OK products they have no clear idea on how to sell them and how to differentiate versus competition. In Japan they still benefit from the complete absence of korean competitors (LG and Samsung are nowhere to be seen and that's hardly free market at work here) so I guess they can keep selling their overpriced TVs and Vaios for a while, but they are certainly taking a beating in other markets.
Yeah, I have not seen anything fantastic from Sony for a very, very long time. Net: we do not need Sony anymore. And if the information about the PS4 flowing around is correct. their next console will be as powerful as middle-range PC when it comes out in 2013(probably). Nothing to show off.
I am not exactly sure what is the exact reason, but I can guess the following:
- High tariff imposed on electronics from non-japanese companies (protectionism)
- Distributor <-> Maker mutual relationship to exclude cheaper alternative in order to maximize their profits and screw consumers
I highly doubt there would be some cultural bias - Japanese have no problem to work with Chinese when it is in their interest. I think they are probably very sensitive about letting Koreans take a bit on the Japanese market because they would wipe all the Japanese brands in no time if they did, at least for all TV and player systems.
Nikon and Ricoh/Pentax use Sony sensors for their cameras. Sony makes more money when you buy their Alpha A99 camera body, but they still make a bunch of money when you buy a Nikon D600. When business is booming for Nikon, business is booming for Sony.
It seems to me that what was lost in this article is that Sony makes a great deal of its money outside of consumer channels. They also lose a great deal of money there and in their crazy financial/insurance schemes (which were mentioned briefly). I am not really knowledgeable enough to comment further there, but then again it doesn't seem like this author was knowledgeable enough to write the article they were attempting to write.
Even on the DSLR front they're innovating quite a bit with their semi-translucent mirror technology. Sure the jury is still out on whether it's a good idea or not, but no one can accuse them of not trying new things.
Obviously most companies mix successes and failures, but in recent years Sony has been pushing out an unreasonable number of failures with no successes to show for it.
I don't see any innovations coming out of Sony. I don't see them leading the way in any particular sector when it comes to consumer electronics. In audio products they're nobodies, in computing they make so-so non-descript equipment, in photography they've lost almost all the ground they once had to Canon and Nikon, in video they are being trounced by the likes of Samsung, LG, and Panasonic, and in cell phones they've just about been wiped off the face of the planet by Apple and Android handset manufacturers.
About the only sector they seem to be doing okay in is consoles, which from what I understand are not massively profitable, and are on the way out.