Kaz Hirai Becomes Sony CEO, Asks "Holy Sh*t, Now What?"

[Elvis Starburst]

Howard Stringer has been the CEO since 2005, and he never bothered to learn the language the core of the corporation operates under?
Japanese isn't even that hard.

Well, if English is your first language, it can very well be difficult. The English language is a complete shit mess of contradictions with its wording, rules, and the like. Japanese is far more structured, and actually makes a lot more sense in the long run once you get the hang of it. Getting someone who has used English all his life, then trying to learn Japanese... can be very troubling indeed XD

 

[Denamic]

Howard Stringer has been the CEO since 2005, and he never bothered to learn the language the core of the corporation operates under?
Japanese isn't even that hard.

Well, if English is your first language, it can very well be difficult. The English language is a complete shit mess of contradictions with its wording, rules, and the like. Japanese is far more structured, and actually makes a lot more sense in the long run once you get the hang of it. Getting someone who has used English all his life, then trying to learn Japanese... can be very troubling indeed XD

Thing is, I'm Swedish, and Swedish is even worse with its contradictions and special rules.
That's exactly why I find Japanese so easy, because it's so much more straightforward.
Then again, there's kanji.

 

[Elvis Starburst]

Howard Stringer has been the CEO since 2005, and he never bothered to learn the language the core of the corporation operates under?
Japanese isn't even that hard.

Well, if English is your first language, it can very well be difficult. The English language is a complete shit mess of contradictions with its wording, rules, and the like. Japanese is far more structured, and actually makes a lot more sense in the long run once you get the hang of it. Getting someone who has used English all his life, then trying to learn Japanese... can be very troubling indeed XD

Thing is, I'm Swedish, and Swedish is even worse with its contradictions and special rules.
That's exactly why I find Japanese so easy, because it's so much more straightforward.
Then again, there's kanji.

Ah, I see. But even though Japanese is much more straightforward, the average English speaker might get confused due to all of the special rules he/she is so used to following. It may very well turn into a constant "What, this doesn't apply here? " type of thing, ya know?

 

[Denamic]

Ah, I see. But even though Japanese is much more straightforward, the average English speaker might get confused due to all of the special rules he/she is so used to following. It may very well turn into a constant "What, this doesn't apply here? " type of thing, ya know?

Probably a mindset thing.
I've always had a knack for languages, so maybe it's just me.

 

[HydraMoon]

I disagree. Mostly because you do not have to worry about a constant stream of cheaters, pirates, and black hats trying to crack some poor bedridden dude's dialysis machine. Not only that, but medical devices are designed to be used and maintained by professionals, instead of twats who call people "******" like there's a cash prize for being a homophobic douchebag.

In that sense, if you can make it in the console world, medical should be a cake walk.

I don't think it's possible to agree with you more. Well said.

I'm surprised Sony hasn't gone further into medical before now. Their price point has always been higher and many private practices will pay good money to have a flashy name on their equipment. Couple that with people who are more familiar with Sony from the VCR days- and that type of 'good' company image- I think they have a good shot at medical.

 

[mionic]

There is something about how the date of him taking over isn't delivered until last, in a way that makes it stand out.
And then we have the date itself, April first.

 

[Siege_TF]

Sony must focus on providing a great "user experience" rather than just manufacturing great hardware.

[green]>Implying the Vita is great.[/green]

Hey, if you want to make a great 'user esperience' how about not ignoring consumers when they voice their collective outrage both on the internet, and in the actual stores?

 

[FalloutJack]

Hirai takes over as President and CEO of Sony Corporation on April 1.

There's a joke in here somewhere, but I'm not sure what it is.

 

[Harbinger_]

I'm not surprised by this at all to be honest. I think it was only a matter of time before Mr. Hirai became the new CEO, he's been doing alot for Sony all these years both behind the scenes and in front of the curtain.

 

[Caligulove]

The world has changed, Hirai said, and Sony must focus on providing a great "user experience" rather than just manufacturing great hardware.

"...Sony has changed.

It's not about hardware, PS3s or PSPs
It's not even about exclusives, software or region

It's an endless series of attempts to improve user experience
fought by new management and executives.

Sony, and its vast consumption of money
has become a rational, well-oiled PR machine

Sony has changed.

Bilingual executives manage bilingual employees
communicate fluently without fear of being ignored

Cell processors inside their bodies
enhance and regulate their actions

PR control.. User Experience control..
Marketing control.. Industry control..

Everything is monitored, kept in line
To prevent embarrassing the company.

..Sony has changed."

 

[remnant_phoenix]

If he's truly committed to providing a better user experience, maybe he should start with axing proprietary memory formats. Why were PS2 memory cards as expensive as they were despite their small memory size? Why wasn't the PSP designed to use SD Cards? Why, after introducing a perfectly viable SD alternative with the SONY Memory Stick (that the PSP and Sony computers are compatible with), would they introduce a NEW AND EXPENSIVE memory format for the PS Vita?

The only reason is to shamelessly gouge customers' wallets. Yes, businesses exist to make money, but consider the following:

-You don't see cell phone and PDA companies arbitrarily creating memory formats, you see them using SD and MicroSD.
-Nintendo used an SD slot for the DSi, and the 3DS has an SD slot, includes a 2 GB SD in the package, ON TOP OF the 1.5 GB of internal memory.

What I'm trying to say is that there is a line between "shrewd business sense" and "shameless exploiting your customers" and SONY's methods of designing memory formats for their Playstation hardware crosses it.

Here's hoping the new guy does something about this.

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

Japanese isn't even that hard.
.

It's not easy either for people who speak English 100% their entire lives. alot of words have different pronunciations in sentences etc etc etc. I wont go into detail but its not easy, it is rewarding though.

OT: Interesting...

...Still waiting for my PS3 to be backwards compatible with my PS2 games however...

 

[MorphingDragon]

"Sony needs to find new business areas, such as medical. We also need to select and narrow our business portfolio."

So he said those two sentences right after one another... what?

Remember guys, he may be learning English, but he's still a Japanese guy. Probably still learning his way around English.

Most Americans and Subjects of the queen are still getting their way around English. Its not possible to master the language.

Japanese isn't even that hard.
.

It's not easy either for people who speak English 100% their entire lives. alot of words have different pronunciations in sentences etc etc etc. I wont go into detail but its not easy, it is rewarding though.

OT: Interesting...

...Still waiting for my PS3 to be backwards compatible with my PS2 games however...

The hardest part of the Japanese language is learning all the Kanji. But you can blame the Chinese for that.

 

[excessum ado]

"Sony cannot continue walking on the same path," he at a meeting of investors in Tokyo. "Sony needs to find new business areas, such as medical. We also need to select and narrow our business portfolio."
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"Sony needs to find new business areas, such as medical.
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...such as medical.
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Sony Medical

Permalink

Dear god can you imagine those jokers in charge of peoples health?

They can hardly handle a video games division.

I'll take a large portion of NOPE please doc.

Id rather the makers of the Playstation 3 looking after my health than the makers of the Wii.

 

[Griffolion]

He needs to find new business areas and narrow their business portfolio?

There's a few companies doing that these days, Google being one of them. Putting more wood behind less arrows makes sure what products they do put out are up to scratch.

 

[deadish]

"RIDGE RACERRRR!!!!" or not, the guy appears to have a reasonably good head on his shoulders.

I don't blame him for his "Holy Shit, Now What?!" comment. The road ahead for Sony isn't entirely clear, he is going to have to play it by ear and try to wing it for sometime to come.