digital music/video
06/01/2006, 11:15pm, EDT
Thursday, June 1st
"How Sony failed to Connect, again"
Sony's Connect music service, which the company hoped would unseat Apple's iTunes dominance, suffered from a number of setbacks and was ultimately unsuccessful, as the company discontinued development of its software earlier this year. CNET News.com has an insider's look the software development project, which was headed by former Apple employee and QuickTime guru Peter Hoddie at the third-party Kinoma startup. Hoddie reportedly was able to convince Sony executives to turn to the startup because of "Apple's meteoric rise in music has left top Sony executives with both respect and envy for Apple's products, even while they resist becoming dependent on Microsoft's digital music technology. Kinoma and Hoddie appealed to their envy of Apple and their aversion to Microsoft." Released only in Japan and Europe, the Connect software was ultimately discontinued this past April due to continued problems; however, Kinoma is still working on Sony's new, high-profile eBook Reader, according to the report.
Filed under: industry
Other story tags: digital music/video
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I also think that (and this is a just a pipe dream) Sony and Apple should work together on the PS3. Imagine if Apple designed the UI for the PS3 and included iTunes support and Front Row.
In fact, I think this needs to happen as MS is using the XBox 360 as essentially a trojan horse to get their technology into every household. You want to use the coolest features of the Xbox 360, you need to have a PC.
Even though the PS3 has is expected to sell very well, the Xbox 360 has a year head start. Would love to see Apple's technology in the PS3 and in every family room.
It would also be a successful choice, which makes even less likely.
Glad to see that Steve's not the only one with a reality distortion field. Kudos to Kinoma.