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Original name of the Sony Walkman (infosec.pub)

submitted 1 day ago by lime@feddit.nu to c/map_enthusiasts@sopuli.xyz

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Growing up, portable cassette players were always called "freestyles" here. I never knew it was a marketing thing, or that some other countries also objected to the naming.

this is "original research", which means i dicked around on the internet archive for half an hour. it may be wrong.

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[–] huppakee@feddit.nl 3 points 1 day ago (10 children)

I wonder why they decided that Sweden should get a name different than the other European. Maybe IKEA had already copyrighted Wålkmån?

[–] lime@feddit.nu 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (5 children)

that i can actually answer! there was an entire movement/subculture thing anchored to the word "freestyle" in the late 70's-early 80's. think rollerblading, skateboarding, downhill skiing, extreme sport stuff, and pastel overalls, headbands and sunglasses:

there was even a band named freestyle. my mum was really into them as a teen.

also, sony sweden insisted. they were adamant that "people wouldn't get it" if the thing was called a walkman. and they were right; the word freestyle is still in common use, while "walkman" never really took off.

[–] retrolasered@feddit.uk 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Swedes love freestyle skateboarding. 2 in particular might be responsible for the sport still existing in Europe at all, Stefan Akesson and Denis Sopovic.

[–] lime@feddit.nu 3 points 21 hours ago

oh wow, stefanie is even from the same area as me and i had no idea

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