Sony joins the bandwagon, declares death to annoying clamshell packaging
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 19th 2008 3:26AM
posted Dec 19th 2008 3:26AM
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
that's great gadgets information. I really suggested about it
Whu? You suggested about it?
Now if we could only ditch those damn security stickers on DVD, BluRay, and CD cases...
The stickers I don't mind. I do mind the fact that I can't get any sound from my Bluray when playing it on my computer with the OS of my choice!
@Ryback:
Let me guess... linux?
Anyways, I agree. DRM is a pain.
Other things we need to get rid of:
- Labels that don't peel off properly
- 'Chromed' plastics
- Telephone cables that tangle
- Sony MemoryStick
- Water saving toilets with tiny splash pools (common in Europe)
I wholeheartedly agree. I'm sick of having Blu-ray or game packages that have had their plastic warped by pulling of the security stickers.
Anyone else notice the negative spin on otherwise good news?
No.
The only thing I could imagine being "negative" is the statement that Sony doesn't have to develop anything new.
No matter what the subject is, if Sony is mentioned majority of the people here will put it down. This thread is a great example and all it is talking about is changing it's packaging.
Somehow.... I don't understand how, but the guy above (Ryback) related it to how BluRay does not have sound on his OS. I mean, how did you even come up with that. Seriously?!??! Sony+change packaging = BluRay no sound ???? WOW
But anyways this is great news!! It really bothered me when I buy something from Bestbuy and run back to the car giggling with Joy to find out that I can't even open it. Or when I buy those darn Wii points card and from all the time I've spent my life on earth, I cannot seem to find anything sharp enough to open that package. And ALL I NEED is to scratch that thing in the back.
it cant come soon enough
God, I hate that kind of packaging. This is great news.
Tin snips are the only safe and easy way to cut through that packaging... works like a charm.
So are they going the way of amazon, selling things in an OEM style ?
Or are they going to come up with a better easy to open clam shell package, which also has been done:
http://www.melodiesinmarketing.com/2007/04/03/nice-package/
I actually got a couple things that had this type of thing. I was halfway through the normal knife and scissor routine before i figured that i just had to bend the plastic at certain points and it just broke open. Nice and easy
One less evil in this world. Whoever invented this should be shot.
Whatever they come up with.... it better not make it easy for people to swap in a used item and sell it as new.
Yeah, then we might have to go back to dealing with trustworthy people, as opposed to whoever posts the lowest price.
A simple "void if removed" sticker should do the trick.
the only good thing i have to say about that video is that they mercifully didnt make it any longer. That was just ugly all around.
Technically too. It's too bad nobody has announced death to squished aspect ratios ;)
Not sure what took Sony so long. Here in Japan everything is easy to open, maybe because not as many people steal though...
Yeah...their liberal usage of the death penalty has little to do with that, right?
The truth is that Sony along w/ many other companies created these packaging techniques in the 1st place. To now basically say "we are fixing a problem we made" is somewhat suspect.
As for fewer thefts in Japan- that's probably the case. Why steal things when you can buy used women's underwear in a vending machine? They have their own problems.
Pretty sure they don't execute people in Japan for stealing items from clamshells...well, unless I suppose you were stealing thousands of pounds of cocaine that had been sealed in clamshells or something.
my fingers and teeth will be pleased
I liked the video.
Am I alone?
I think so
bloody clamshell packaging
literally and figuratively, you can slit your wrists on these things >.>
Usually I'm the one that ends up bloody...
Death to those hard-to-impossible packaging! Let's save our fingers! Go Amazon Go! Go Sony Go!
people just need to take a page out of Apple's book,
but simple stuff in a decent plastic bag, semi-fancy stuff in nice plastic hardshell casing, and really fancy stuff in the packaging of all packaging.
... Make the packaging as small as possible, charge twice as much.
Oh, and only include half of what's needed to keep the packaging as pocketable as possible.
Several years ago I purchased a Sony Fm radio in blister packaging. The back of the package was perforated, so the radio was easy to remove. That was rather odd.
That video was worse than corny, it was just plain lame!
Not a Oscar material but just fine for this case.
I swear one of these days I'm gonna end up with stitches.
weAREengadget
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Nk8CH5UVc
You know...people talk about this like it's a new concept, but lots of retailers have been doing it for quite some time. RadioShack, for example, uses clamshell packaging that you can open and reuse without having to cut it or your fingers. It just pops open.
yeah, that saves cost, you can try stuff directly before buying, instead of bringing it home, find it doesnt work and bring it back to store.
why it's so hard to peel off the plastic wrapping on CD/DVD/Blu-ray/Games from retail stores?
is it just me?
I just want to say, that had it not been for clamshell packaging, and other security oriented packaging, I would have never seen electronics sold here in the ghetto. So I want to thank my fellow industrial packaging homies for helping out a brutha'.
What amazes me is that lawsuits have not killed this kind of packaging already. If people can't drink coffee without giving themselves third degree burns how is it we have not heard a million stories about how some one has stabbed their leg/arm/hand and are suing for 100 million?
Knowing Sony they'll just change their packaging to require you to buy a proprietary SonyCut package opener.
Mike, You're just one of those Aholes that hates Sony so shut up and go buy your Vizio and Samsung product.
Sony does not need people like you as their buyers.
@Seth:
While I don't agree with him on his comment (needless Sony bashing), I'm pretty sure Sony needs every customer they can get. They've underperformed so many years in a row now, it's really not funny.
What does packaging have to do with gadgets?
protection?
Packaging, maybe?
This is awesome!!!!
I'm no enviromental nut, and I actually believe that we will eventually see a new heaven and a new earth that will fix all of the crap we are doing (Revelation 21:1). However, that time is yet unkown and could be tens or hundreds of generations away. Forgive the tangent.
Anyway, I've recently become VERY recycling and reduced waste conscious. Therefore, I'm very happy to see an effort to cut down on packaging. It's be great if they could use biodegradable packaging. The more the better!
What am I going to do with all my clamshell-packaging knives now??
Don't worry as long as people walk out of stores with product in pocket we will have difficult to open packaging.
When theft rates are as high as 20% on items with easy to open packaging the clamshell will stay.
What we need to do is institute hefty punishment for shoplifting. If you are caught a security guard named bubba will take you in the back of the store for one of two things.
I RLY hate the stupid packaging, especially when the scissors are packed like that.
Why would I buy a scissor in the first place???????????? To cut open one of those stupid package!!
I'll look forward to a better designed packaging.
i don't think Apple are as holier than thou as they make out to be.
OK, their own products are quite considerately packaged, but if you look at all the third party junk and crap that they license...headphones, adapters, cases, holders, puches, ipod dongles...they vast majority of them are clamshell, or at least incredibly inconsiderately packaged.
So Apple need to get off their high-horse and say to the companies that they license to make accessories "meet our strict packaging criteria, or you don't get to trade your wares in one of our vile stores"
But then Apple are always after the gimmick and profit, not the true benefit for humanity. Propaganda.
Somehow I knew that I'd be seeing spurting blood when I played the vid. ^_^