Sony Facts

In 1998, Sony sold 400,000 camcorders with 'NightShot' infrared technology that could see through some clothing in daylight. After a Japanese magazine exposed this unintended capability, Sony halted shipments and modified future units to prevent the feature from working in bright light.

Sony's first product attempt was an electric rice cooker that failed spectacularly - it either burned or undercooked the rice. The prototype never sold a single unit.

Sony was originally called 'Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo' (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation), often abbreviated as 'Totsuko' in Japanese, before rebranding to Sony in 1958.

Sony researchers have developed a refrigerator that only opens when you smile.

In 1991, Sony and Nintendo were building a console together. Then Nintendo secretly cut a deal with Philips and announced it the morning after Sony revealed their partnership at CES. Sony engineer Ken Kutaragi pushed to build a console anyway. Sony's president backed him. Nintendo tried to humiliate Sony. Sony answered with PlayStation.