Sony Discontinues Aibo

[Aeolius]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/BUSINESS/01/26/sony.reut/index.html

"Among the measures, Sony said it has already stopped the development and production of plasma TVs, would stop making and selling car electronics in Japan, and planned to cease production of its "AIBO" robot dog by the end of the business year in March."

A perfect match for Apple. Coming to the next MacWorld... the iChihuahua!

 

[Blue Velvet]

Oh no!

Was hoping one day to get one... existing models will be collector's items, for sure.

 

[clayj]

Well, foo.

Mine's 5 years old... sadly, he's got a neck malfunction of some sort and any time he aims his head downward, he can't lift it back up again, he gets "pissed off", and he shuts himself down. Very expensive to fix, I think, so I've left him turned off since I discovered the problem.

The plasma TV thing (Sony leaving that market) really surprises me, though.

 

[Aeolius]

The plasma TV thing (Sony leaving that market) really surprises me, though.

Something to do with all those OLED orders, perhaps?

 

[Studawg7]

that sucks! i always wanted the aibo too. However, I would really love to see them bring out QRIO. i would easily drop some cash for one.

edit/ just saw the post on engadget, looks like they are getting rid of the aibo and qrio and dispersing the teams throughout their electronics areas

 

[Thomas Veil]

Coming to the next MacWorld... the iChihuahua!

That may be his "breed", but his actual name will be iCaramba.

 

[e²Studios]

I have a 2nd generation Aibo, ERS-210 i believe is the mdoel number. With all the memory stick programs i could buy too

I wonder if these will go up or down in value now...

Ed

 

[zelmo]

Crap. I'm bummed about the QRIO and the AIBO. I guess I'm stuck with the iCybie I got for Christmas, which isn't nearly in the same league (but still amusing).

 

[vniow]

That sucks, especially after this news about them. I suppose they were just too expensive to make but not enough demand to offset the cost.

 

[combatcolin]

Very surprised to see them dumping Plasma...

 

[mkrishnan]

Awww, I always kind of wanted an AIBO...

 

[Abstract]

I'm already quite impressed with that Tigger toy that can do a backflip. I'm sure an AIBO was even cooler.

 

[HiRez]

Very surprised to see them dumping Plasma...

I think that's a sign that plasma's days are numbered. It clearly points to Sony having found a better technology, as Aeolius points out, perhaps OLED or DLP or something else. No way Sony drops plasma tech for any other reason, televisions are their bread and butter. They will certainly continue to lead in this segment somehow. Something needs to happen soon, both plasma and LED have their problems, there's is a vacuum waiting to be filled there.

 

[0098386]

We all knew fighting in the handheld market was going to cost Sony but that's ridiculous!

nah seriously, I've never liked those dogs. all robo-pets really. I just don't see the point. how much of a melon would you look walking one of those? thats the best part of owning a dog for me; the walking! keeps you fit and that.