There are interesting relationships brewing between Sony and Apple. That much is certain as evidenced by Sony's CEO making an appearance at Steve Jobs' MWSF keynote.
We could easily dismiss the whole affair as being related to HD video, but would HD video cameras bring Sony's CEO to the stage in SF? I don't think anyone believes that.
Sony does have a mighty presence in movie distribution. So we could speculate that the relationship to digitally distribute movie content has something to do with it. But again, would that be enough to excite Mr. Ando into showing up and waving his arms so much?
There is the issue of the CELL processor that Sony and IBM just introduced. This is interesting, because it is a POWER derivitive and compatible with the G5. OS X could presumably run unmodified on it, but could easily be modified to leverage the new SPUs found on that chip (Core Graphics, for example could use the SPUs).
There was even talk at the keynote of collaborating on computers? See a writeup here:
Apple and CELL?
Sony would probably benefit greatly from switching from an Intel computer strategy to one that allowed it to sell it's own processors, but they would need an Operating System. The PS3 itself might even be in need of an advanced operating system to make use of the new hardware.
And of course there is the issue of Apple dominating the online music distribution business and MP3 players. This is something of a conundrum for Sony who has traditionally dominated in both media and media players for music.
In the Apple vs Microsoft wars, it is clear that Apple wants to make inroads into Windows marketshare, but they have one really big obstacle: People buy PCs to run Windows GAMES. Apple needs a way to beef up it's entertainment offerings for OS X. Please note that Apple is attending this year's E3 convention (the video gaming convention). If the PS3 ran some variety of OS X, would it make some sense that those PSx games might find their way onto the shelves for Apple computers?
So we are left with a situation where each company probably lusts after what the other could give them. Let's summarize:
What does Sony want:
An operating system for their CELL chips (for PS3 and laptops/desktops)
To be able to compete with iPod
To be able to compete or be compatible with iTMS
To be able to distribute their movies online?
What does Apple want:
The CELL chip (some say 10-50x faster than current G5s)
The right to distribute movies and music owned by Sony
Support for Sony products for Apple computers (Camcorders, etc..)
Compatibility with PS3 games?
What could make all of this happen?
* Cross-licensing:
* Sony licenses OS X and FairPlay from Apple. PS3 is built on OS X and Sony can sell Mac compatible laptops and desktops as well as iTMS compatible MP3 players.
* Apple licenses some libraries to allow OS X to play PS3 games. Apple can produce consoles and/or other hardware that is PS3 compatible.
* Sony licenses movie content to Apple. iTMS becomes iMS (Media Store) and begins distributing H.234 HD video content as well as music. Both Apple and Sony can sell consoles that make use of this content to play HD in Home Media setups. Sony can embed these functions into TVs and Projectors as well.
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Benefits:
* Sony changes to a competitor to Microsoft/Intel and a partner to Apple/IBM. Sony has long despised it's dependence on Microsoft and Intel and their profit margins would increase by using their own hardware. Software licensing would simply switch from Microsoft to Apple and wouldn't be affected to much, except insofar as Sony would be able to wound it's primary competitor (which they would love to do).
* With the use of the CELL chip, Mac would be untouchable. Nothing like it exists in the PC world at all. The SPUs found on the CELL chip are like something out of science fiction. It will take the WinTel world years to catch up.
* Apple gains enormous marketshare. Sony branded Macs, HP branded iPods, etc.. Apple makes it's move to become more of a software company. It will always have loyal customers of it's hardware, but the software business is pure profit - it's margins would skyrocket, it's market-share would take a giant leap forward and it's stock would shoot straight up.
* Sony and Apple gain movie media distribution in a manner both can live with
* Sony and Apple claim a co-monopoly on HD movie distribution. Although ultimately, Apple would probably come out better from the deal (in distribution) as it signs with the other movie distributors. Sony would have a clear lead in consumer devices that leverage the system.
* The PS3 gets a powerful operating system to sit on
* Apple gets a huge library of video games
* the list goes on and on...
Comments?