Sony shaky as Walkman turns 30

July 01, 2009 Today, Sony is struggling to reinvent itself and win back its reputation as a pioneer of razzle-dazzle gadgetry once exemplified in the Walkman, which Wednesday had its 30th anniversary marked with a special display at Sony's corporate archives. The Japanese electronics and entertainment company lost 98.9 billion yen ($1.02 billion) in the fiscal year ended March -- its first annual loss in 14 years -- and is expecting more red ink this year. The manufacturer, which also makes Vaio personal computers and Cyber-shot cameras, hasn't had a decisive hit like the Walkman for years, and has taken a battering in the portable music player market to Apple Inc.'s iPod.

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