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Back to the Future – Sony and Apple Announce the WalkPod!

February 8th, 2007 by ben

Sony has conceded defeat in the gadget wars, so to recoup some of their recent losses they have teamed up with Apple to create the amazing WalkPod:

Sony Apple Walkpod Off

One Sony USA Executive couldn’t contain himself when I asked him to share his perspective on the new cross-functional music platform:

We realize that the chic retro trend is here to stay, so what could be more appropriate than mixing a classic Sony Walkman with an Apple iPod? Now I can listen to my Belinda Carlisle tapes using the same gadget that my grandson bops to K-Fed. That’s totally wicked.

We also added this super neat read-ahead feature that allows listeners to save tapes to memory. This means that I can switch tapes without stopping the music! I realize this device will likely kill off our strong traditional Walkman sales, but sacrificing the division (and the intern who leads it) for front page press in prestigious newspapers and blogs seems worth the loss.

I was skeptical until he provided this picture of the Walkpod’s read-ahead feature in action:

Sony Apple Walkpod On

Sony expects to sell “hundreds” of these devices within the first year, effectively doubling their music player sales. Sony is also planning other retro devices, such as the UHF tvPod (with a traditional black and white picture), and the Newton Betamax player.

Special thanks to Neil Wilkinson for these pictures. Since he doesn’t have a blog, Neil wanted me to give a nod to his brother’s band, Semion [MySpace].

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Posted in Funny tech, Not News, Original, Pictures | 28 Comments »

28 Responses to “Back to the Future – Sony and Apple Announce the WalkPod!”

on 08 Feb 2007 at 7:46 pm PETE

You mean I can listen to cassettes again??

Oh, Happy Day!
on 09 Feb 2007 at 1:36 am Jess

If Sony’s PS3 is any indication, can we expect the Walkpod to retail for $899.99?
on 09 Feb 2007 at 3:07 am Tisha

with tape kewl, ya know how long it took me to find a tape player darn it!
on 09 Feb 2007 at 6:34 am Linda

Lolzz!! That seems to be a great idea!!
on 09 Feb 2007 at 7:04 am The Uber-Review

Walkman + iPod = Walkpod…

Take one Sony Walkman and integrate the Apple iPod face and you have yourself the WalkPod. No further details are available but the write up is very entertaining and a good laugh at Sony’s expense.
Sony expects to sell “hundreds” of these de…
on 09 Feb 2007 at 10:45 am Robin

I don’t know the last time I saw a cassette…
on 09 Feb 2007 at 12:03 pm Traj

All I can say is “Wow and flutter!”.
on 09 Feb 2007 at 2:13 pm spike7

these guys just crack open a ipod up and stuff a used cassette in there. lol next time use a new Sony cassette tape
on 09 Feb 2007 at 3:59 pm Dawn (webmiztris)

omg, I thought this was a joke until I got 1/2 way through this! that is so funny!
on 09 Feb 2007 at 5:13 pm Natron

Great I can finally listen to “Summer Jams 1991″ again.
on 09 Feb 2007 at 5:13 pm Antilos

LOL, I don’t misunderestimate cassete tape recorder, but it left in the past, I reckon it will be smth. muddled ….cassete iPod? )
on 09 Feb 2007 at 5:57 pm Roxanne

Now I can finally listen to my NKOTB tapes again while doing aerobics barefoot with leg warmers and a leotard!
on 09 Feb 2007 at 6:08 pm the ichabod

That’s not a WalkPod! It’s an iWalk. Perfect for warm fuzzy creatures stuck in retro scifi.
on 09 Feb 2007 at 8:51 pm Felix Peng

Haha
on 09 Feb 2007 at 11:47 pm Joel van der Veen

Unless it can also transfer my play-lists to cassette, I’m not going to bite.
on 10 Feb 2007 at 12:09 am Dan

Oh my goodness! What a brilliant idea. I’m going to try to get a patent on handheld 8-track tape players. Don’t you dare, anyone in here, try to beat me to the market with that one. I warn you.
on 10 Feb 2007 at 2:13 pm Saint Andrés

I want a WalkPod Nano
on 10 Feb 2007 at 7:48 pm neil101

See the original images at my flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilw/383238407/
on 12 Feb 2007 at 10:54 am Benedict

I love to get this When is it going to be released? What about plans for iWalky Phones?
on 14 Feb 2007 at 3:50 pm yuE

this sure is one major joke…lol

we’re going back to techno cave age!
on 15 Feb 2007 at 2:00 am Dino

There sure are a lot of gullible people out there. It’s a spoof you morons!
on 15 Feb 2007 at 5:57 pm Goliano

You’re too late, Dan.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hamidk/YELLOW1.jpg
on 06 Mar 2007 at 6:39 pm danny

what do people see as the new medium for music?

is there an argument for a digital music format you can see, feel touch and personalise like the tape?

discuss:
on 13 Mar 2007 at 6:11 pm Nick

Can I get a shuffle?

I just can’t wait ’till they come out with something like this for my vinyls…
on 20 Mar 2007 at 7:40 am Tony the liberian

This just crack me up!
on 29 Apr 2007 at 12:51 am Back to the Future - Sony and Apple Announce the WalkPod! « MERCENARIO

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on 18 Jul 2007 at 12:15 am TecnoCHICA

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on 01 May 2008 at 6:36 am haha

Haha, this is a fake product.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilw/383238405/in/photostream/
But the photographer is good though…