End of an era: last VCR rolling off production line in Japan
video·@zebbra2014·
0.000 HBDEnd of an era: last VCR rolling off production line in Japan
<html> <p>#video #electronics #movie #film #japan</p> <p>http://i.imgur.com/ahHO6EQ.jpg</p> <p> <strong>The clunky machines achieved mainstream popularity in the 1970s and 1980s but have long been eclipsed by other more advanced technologies</strong> </p> <p> The world’s last videocassette recorder is set to roll off the factory line as a Japanese manufacturer ends production of the once booming home theatre technology.</p> <p> Funai Electric, which says it is the world’s last VCR manufacturer, pointed to a sharp decline in demand and trouble sourcing parts for its decision to stop production at a plant in China by the end of this month. </p> <p> In recent years, most of the consumer electronics firm’s VCRs were sold in North America, including under the Sanyo brand. </p> <p> The clunky machines entered into mainstream popularity in the 1970s and 1980s but have long been eclipsed by DVDs and other more advanced technologies.</p> <p> Panasonic withdrew from the business several years ago, making Funai the last VCR maker standing, a company spokesman said.</p> <p> Funai once had annual global sales of about 15 million VCRs, a number that shrunk to 750,000 globally last year, he added. </p> <p> “A company that was making parts for us said it was too tough to keep making them with sales at this level so they stopped which led to our decision – we can’t make them without that part,” the spokesman said on Friday.</p> <p> Funai has been overwhelmed with calls from desperate VCR tape owners who had not copied weddings and other special occasions on to digital discs, he added.</p> <p> Last year, Sony announced it would stop selling Betamax video tapes, ending the storied history of a product that had been ousted years earlier by the more popular VHS tape format.</p> <p> VHS later gave way to digital formats, such as DVDs, that have largely been replaced by online streaming technology.</p> <p> Sony stopped making Betamax recorders in 2002, but it kept making tapes for diehard fans. </p> <p>Source: <a href="http://www.scmp.com">Scmp</a></p> </html>