Product History & Evolution - Sony introduced the first Walkman cassette player (TPSL2) on July 1st, 1979 in Japan, priced at approximately 33,000 yen, equivalent to $150, or about $700 adjusted for inflation [1] - The Walkman, initially branded as the Soundabout in the US, was unique for allowing users to listen to their own music on the go, unlike transistor radios [2] - The Walkman weighed 14 ounces and required two AA batteries, contrasting with boom boxes that could weigh over 20 lbs and needed a dozen D batteries [3] - The Walkman led to a boom in cassette sales, surpassing vinyl in the 1980s [3] - Sony halted production of the cassette tape Walkman by 2010 after selling over 200 million units, due to the rise of MP3 players [4] Cultural Impact & Legacy - The Walkman ushered in a new category of personal devices, influencing the development of laptop computers, PDAs, and smartphones [3] - The Walkman brand still exists as a digital media player and has experienced a renaissance, being featured in TV shows and movies [4]

Core Viewpoint - Sony is positioning its upcoming flagship smartphone, Xperia 1 Ⅶ, by emphasizing its integration with other Sony product lines, which raises both excitement and concern among long-time fans [1][3][19] Group 1: Product Features and Marketing - Xperia 1 Ⅶ's promotional content highlights its audio experience derived from Walkman, imaging technology from Alpha cameras, and calibration related to BRAVIA TVs [3][7] - Unlike previous marketing strategies, Sony explicitly names the technology references in the promotional materials, showcasing detailed features of the referenced devices [7][9] - There is skepticism regarding whether the Xperia 1 Ⅶ will genuinely incorporate the advanced technologies from other Sony products, as past experiences have shown a lack of true integration [9][19] Group 2: Historical Context and Consumer Expectations - Sony has a history of promoting cross-departmental technology integration, as seen with the Xperia Tablet S, which featured the S-Master audio chip but did not carry over to subsequent Xperia smartphones [9][11] - Despite the introduction of the S-Master MX chip aimed at mobile devices, Xperia smartphones have not utilized proprietary audio technology, leading to disappointment among consumers [13][15] - The expectation remains that future Xperia models should incorporate genuine Sony technologies, such as the S-Master HX amplifier and BIONZ-X image processor, rather than merely branding them [19]