The History of Sony
This Japanese giant is a diverse manufacturer, with operations in gaming, financial services, entertainment and electronic components and hardware. Sony Corporation is the parent company and there are four operating subsidiaries which include:
- Electronics
- Motion Pictures
- Music
- Financial Service
Sony Computers
Sony entered the computer market back in the 1980s with its NEWS workstations and MSX home computers, but at this time, their machines were only for sale in Japan. Having enjoyed limited success during this period, Sony decided to withdraw from the production of computers in 1990, but this was by no means the end for its computer production.
Sony Vaio
Sony entered the global computer market in 1996 with their proprietary VAIO brand, which stands for ‘Video Audio Integrated Operation’. This new line of computers was the first to focus on the visual and audio output aspect.
Controversy
There were troubled times ahead in 2006, as the company experienced what was then the largest computer industry recall in history due to malfunctioning batteries on some of its laptops. Poor sales and an increasingly crowded marketplace led to Sony selling its VAIO PC arm to Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) in 2014, but it still retained a minority state in this new and independent enterprise. Amidst this era of big change, Sony entered the world of tablets, marketing the palm held devices under the Xperia brand it uses for its range of smartphones.
Modern Day Sony
Diversification has been the watchword for Sony over the last decade. It has made great strides in the UHD TV market with its BRAVIA range and has its name behind many films and albums, as well as photography and medical equipment. The company is also a large producer of components and semiconductors which include a wide array of devices that include OLED display panels, laser diodes, image processors and CMOS image sensors that are used in many tablets, cameras, and smartphones.
Sony will likely be with us in another 30 years, as it is a serial innovator. Devices like the Sony Walkman and the Playstation are just a couple of examples of how this amazing company has helped change the way we live our lives forever.