Sony has dropped the iconic Walkman name for the music apps on its Xperia smartphone and tablet launches at MWC 2015.
The Japanese company has so far announced the Xperia Z4 Tablet and the mid-range Xperia M4 Aqua smartphone during the Barcelona event.
The devices running the Android 5.0 Lollipop software now feature a ‘Music’ app instead of the Walkman branding that appeared on previous generation handsets and tablets.
According to Android Central, speaking to Sony reps at the show, the trend will continue for all of Sony’s new Xperia devices.
The move comes after the company launched a brand new, highly expensive Walkman designed to play-back hi-res audio files at CES in January.
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It doesn’t appear as if the Walkman name is going away completely, but to seems Sony isn’t convinced it has power to ensnare smartphone and tablet shoppers anymore.
The brand has spanned over 35 years, since the iconic cassette players first arrived on the scene in 1979.
It has been a constant for Sony as personal music technology has evolved. It has spanned cassettes, CDs (branded as the Discman), the ill-fated mini-disc format, dedicated MP3 players and branded Walkman smartphones.
The decision mirrors Apple’s to replace its iPod app with an all-encompassing Music app a few years ago. Are you sad to see Walkman go? Does the brand still have name value? Let us know your thoughts below?
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
