Sony

I just listened to a MP3 recording of Howard Stringer’s keynote speech for CEATEC.

Although he has a horrible Japanese pronouciation (thank god the speech is in English), I must say that I like Sony’s new CEO.
Thanks to him:

Sony network walkmans now have real MP3 support (instead of the horror that is ATRAC3).

Sony devices are starting to support SD cards.

MDs are being phased out. Better late than never.

SonicStage is going to be replaced.

Sony slashed their global workforce by 10,000.

And slashed their catalogue so as to concentrate on the brand-driving products such as PSP.

Anyway, on to the speech itself… I’m not so certain about his claim that PSP is the “most successful portable gaming device”, and is it just me or is his “owners of the current PSP” a hint that there will be a PSP2? Of course, he also did not fail to mention that Paramount Pictures recently annouced their support for the Blu-ray format due in a large part to the PS3. But he did fail to mention that Paramount is also continuing their support for HD-DVD… Not to mention the “All by one Hollywood studio are releasing UMDs”. Jeez, how many Hollywood studios are there anyway? Not to mention Sony owns MGM. Oh well, usual corporate talk I guess. Still, I like his plans for Sony.

All large Japanese conglomerates should have foreigners as their CEO.