Sony Global – Q3 FY2005 Sony Group Earnings Announcement

This news release reveals the discontinuation of the Aibo robot puppy and the Qrio small humanoid robot. Meanwhile, Sony’s product website still says that the Qrio “embodies Sony’s dreams…” Also I have read recently that a psychological study showed that people are less depressed when they interact with either a real pet or even with a robotic one.

Still Sony is loosing market share and this announcement includes information on layoffs for some 10,000 workers. Funny it doesn’t mention the failure of the Sony policies of proprietary formats such as the memory stick and DRM mis-steps including its infamous “root-kit”.

There is now a vacuum in entertainment robots… who will step up?