Aug 27

Sony getting out of PC optical drive business due to ‘fierce competition’

Posted in: Today's Chili

Sony getting out of PC optical drive business thanks to 'fierce competition'

It’s being reported that Sony is closing Optiarc Inc., its company subsidiary that manufactures optical disc drives for PCs. Officials are quoted as saying that “fierce competition” forced prices down, causing the business to operate at a loss despite controlling roughly 15 percent of the market. Operations will be wound up by March of next year, with around 400 employees being offered early retirement and others being moved to other parts of the business. Don’t worry about the future of your Blu-Ray and DVD player just yet though — the company will continue to manufacture both as part of its Device Solutions Division.

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Sony getting out of PC optical drive business due to ‘fierce competition’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 05:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink AV Watch (Translated)  |  sourceJapan Times, Asahi Shimbun  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 23

Sony axing Liverpool game studio, ends Psygnosis’ 28-year history

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Sony axing Liverpool game studio, ends Psygnosis 28year history

Sony has confirmed that it’s shuttering Studio Liverpool, more famously known as Psygnosis. The publisher was founded in 1984 and is responsible for a legion of best-selling titles including Lemmings, Colony Wars, Destruction Derby, Wipeout and the Formula One games. In a statement, the company said that after a review of its “commercially viable” projects, it’s focusing on projects in other parts of the business — after slashing the studio’s remit in a cost-cutting exercise in 2010. The facility is also the location of the company’s European Quality Assurance team, which will reportedly remain in operation.

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Sony axing Liverpool game studio, ends Psygnosis’ 28-year history originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Edge Online, CVG, Joystiq  |  sourceGRrcade, Eurogamer  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 23

Sony Mobile moving HQ to Tokyo, cutting 1,000 jobs in Sweden

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Sony Mobile moving HQ to Tokyo, cutting 1,000 jobs in Sweden

Sony’s slow and painful transformation continues with a restructuring of its newly-minted mobile division. In October, it’s moving its headquarters from Lund, Sweden (presumably a holdover from its Ericsson days) to Tokyo — for deeper integration — and repurposing the duties of its facilities in Tokyo, Lund and Beijing. As part of the changes, Sony Mobile will slash 15 percent of its workforce, with 1,000 employees being let go by the end of March 2014, in a trend we’ve seen across the industry. Most of those affected are in Sweden, with 650 on-site staffers and up to 450 consultants being shown the door.

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Sony Mobile moving HQ to Tokyo, cutting 1,000 jobs in Sweden originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 03:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 30

HTC shuts Seoul office, leaves Korea to the Koreans

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HTC shuts Seoul office, leaves Korea to the Koreans

Having already pulled out of Brazil and shut down a research building in North Carolina, HTC has now closed its office in the South Korean capital of Seoul. The move is part of the Taiwanese manufacturer’s efforts to “streamline operations” and focus on selling One-branded handsets in markets where it stands a better chance of success — rather like Nokia’s geographic retreat following its commitment to Windows Phone, but here on a much smaller scale. It’s not yet clear how many jobs will be lost, but HTC says it regrets the “direct impact on people who have contributed to the growth HTC has experienced in the past several years.” As it stands, analysts reckon that Korean manufacturers like Samsung, LG and Pantech rule a 90 percent share of their home market, leaving HTC with just one or two points that evidently weren’t worth clinging onto.

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HTC shuts Seoul office, leaves Korea to the Koreans originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceZDNet  | Email this | Comments

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