Inside Scoop: Sony debuts new Walkman models, but is anyone listening?

Hi everyone I'm Kara tsuboi cnet.com and I'm joined by senior editor Donald bell also cnet.com. And we are talking -- about the Sony Walkman on today's inside -- There it well there he. This is -- relic of the Sony Walkman it -- this is that -- walkman and its prime. That's a -- -- and the we'll get to that but let's first talk about that the current news that Sony is debuting its latest line of the Waldman chaired the F series right well. As a whole bunch of them that that that top tiers -- running Android four point now. -- going to be about 260. Some odd dollars for that the base price -- -- sixteen gigs and it's really it's only trying to -- keep that walkman line relevant. For people I think they're they're really targeting those audio files that the people who really about games and sound quality -- the portable devices. It's it's the market that -- don't think a lot of other manufactures have targeted. People want better audio quality -- the iPod or that I. I -- this is a market from Sony that a lot of people didn't know still existed. Small then. Can you -- -- and you certainly do think about the cassette walkman share. Album ever gonna shake and the goodness of Sony's at least they had a you know that people still can think of the walkman brand and immediately comes to. -- -- that these and make the kinds of MP3 players were talking now so this is like that. These kind of more compact. As the walkman branded and defeat there. They were they were really one of the biggest biggest competitors to iPod and iPods -- But -- always kind of bogged down by price and file compatibility. And some cancers software -- on computers to get. Music onto the Andes and PP players as they never quite -- the -- Absolutely and and you if this is going to be digital portable device -- carry with an all time cost and easy. -- and the funny thing is is that the digital portable device and the case with an out -- -- -- right Smartphone which has all these capabilities built in any. So that's that's the funny part is why Sony still throwing so much money developing this. Product line when it's shrinking category. Across the board for all -- and people still wonders sometimes why Apple film -- money to their iPods that's still the number one. -- by a long shot the number one PC category. The second place right now it's actually made by Dan SanDisk -- -- with ultra affordable. As cheap as like forty dollars and you can -- that you must abide to the -- indicated. But this market where you're you're spending you know close to. 252 and sixty dollars and something just because the sound quality. Is not a lot of people in that market but at least. There's something to it so why does Sony do it I mean most people think of Sony -- think of televisions -- they think of you know other higher end products. Why -- -- all those R&D and all this money working on something. With such a niche on the hand I think. Part of it's probably just the momentum of having done this year after year refreshing -- walkman -- keeping that brand relevant again I'm and also -- they're a global company that is. -- in Japan -- the walkman brand still very relevant very significant. And he's still distribute these to Europe where the iPod does it hasn't. Like really grip the the culture the same it has here in the states so this other places where they'll sell it. Me -- -- -- whole lot that I think it still keeps that brand out there and keeps showing people that Sony is doing something. Carries the torch yes and I do like that they maintain the original logo right on to the law. And I think that's awesome but I'm mind and -- this is always going to be the standard pair of the Sony -- canceled when -- -- -- Donald bell -- state. Thank you so much senior editor Donald bell and cars -- boys cnet.com thanks for watching yeah.