PIONEER VR-545 (PHILIPS) YEAR 1991.

Pioneer Corporation (Paionia Kabushiki-kaisha) (TYO: 6773) is a multinational corporation that specializes in digital entertainment products, based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. The company was founded in 1938 in Tokyo as a radio and speaker repair shop. Today, Pioneer is well-known for technology advancements in the consumer electronics industry.
Pioneer played a role in the development of interactive cable TV, the Laser Disc player, the first automotive Compact Disc player, the first detachable face car stereo, Supertuner technology, DVD and DVD recording, plasma display, and Organic LED display (OLED). The company works with optical disc and display technology and software products and is also a manufacturer. Sharp Corporation took a 14% stake in Pioneer in 2007.^[2]
On February 12, 2009, Pioneer announced it plans to cease manufacture of television sets by March 2010.^[3] On June 25, 2009, Sharp Corporation agreed to form a joint venture on their optical business to be called "Pioneer Digital Design and Manufacturing Corporation".

History

• 1937: Pioneer’s founder, Nozomu Matsumoto develops the A-8 dynamic speaker.
• January 1938: Fukuin Shokai Denki Seisakusho (precursor of Pioneer) is founded in Tokyo.
• May 1947: Fukuin Denki is incorporated.
• December 1953: Hi-Fi Speaker PE-8 introduced.
• June 1961: Company name changed to Pioneer Electronic Corporation (now Pioneer Corporation).
• October 1961: Shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section.
• June 1962: Introduces the world’s first separate stereo system.
• March 1966: Establishes sales companies in Europe and the U.S.
• February 1968: Shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section.
• April 1968: Shares are listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange.
• February 1969: Shares are listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (now Euronext Amsterdam). U.S. GAAP consolidated financial reporting starts
• November 1975: Introduces the world’s first component car stereo.
• 1976: Hi-Fi Speaker HPM-100 introduced.
• December 1976: Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
• December 1977: Introduces the world’s first two-way addressable CATV system in the U.S. (with Warner Cable).
• 1978: Introduces SX-1980 receiver, Pioneer's most powerful receiver manufactured to date.
• February 1979: Introduces the industry-use Laserdisc player.
• June 1980: Introduces VP-1000 LD player for home use in the U.S.
• October 1981: Introduces LD player for home use and 70 LD software titles in Japan.
• October 1982: Introduces the LD Karaoke system for business use.
• November 1982: Introduces CD player.
• September 1984: Introduces the world’s first LD combination player compatible with CDs and LDs.
• October 1984: Releases the world’s first car CD player.
• December 1985: Introduces the 40-inch projection monitor.^[5]
• June 1990: Introduces the world’s first CD-based GPS automotive navigation system.
• October 1992: Introduces the world’s first 4x CD-ROM changer.
• June 1996: Tokorozawa Plant earns ISO 14001 certification.
• December 1996: Introduces DVD/CD player and the world’s first DVD/LD/CD compatible player for home use.
• May 1997: Starts supplying digital satellite broadcast set-top boxes in Europe.
• June 1997: Introduces the world’s first DVD-based GPS automotive navigation system.
• October 1997: Introduces the world’s first DVD-R drive.
• November 1997: Introduces the world’s first OEL-equipped car audio product.
• December 1997: Introduces the world’s first high definition 50-inch plasma display for consumer use.
• June 1998: Introduces the world’s first DVD-based GPS automotive navigation system featuring 8.5GB dual-layered DVD.
• 1 October 1998: Introduces new corporate logo.
• April 1999: Starts supplying digital CATV set-top boxes in the U.S.
• December 1999: Introduces the world’s first DVD recorder compatible with the DVD-RW format.
• March 2000: Shares of Tohoku Pioneer are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section.
• June 2001: Introduces hard disk-based GPS automotive navigation system.
• July 2001: Introduces the global brand slogan “sound.vision.soul”.
• November 2002: Introduces GPS automotive navigation system with a wireless communication module.
• November 2002: Introduces a DVD recorder with hard disk.
• March 2003: Introduces in the U.S. digital CATV settop boxes with high definition TV signal reception capability.
• September 2003: Total shipment worldwide of PC-use recordable DVD drives surpasses 5 million units.
• July 2004: Introduces the world's first DVD player for professional DJs and VJs.
• September 2004: Transfer of NEC’s plasma display business is completed. Pioneer Plasma Display Corporation (previously NEC Plasma Display Corporation) starts operation on October 1, 2004.
• January 2006: President Kaneo Ito and Chairman Kanya Matsumoto, son of the company's founder, leave their posts to take responsibility for the recent poor performance of the maker of DVD recorders and plasma TVs. Vice President Tamihiko Sudo is appointed the new president, effective from January 1 by the board of directors.
• December 2006: Pioneer closes its car audio division in Singapore.
• January 2007: Pioneer displays their 9mm thick concept plasma [3], as well as their "extreme contrast" concept plasma [4].
• July 2008: Pioneer develops 16 layer Blu-ray Disc capable of storing 400 GB.[5]
• November 2009: Pioneer moves its head office from Tokyo to Kawasaki.^[6]
• September 2009: Pioneer announce two new players to their DJ equipment portfolio, the CDJ-900^[7] and CDJ-2000.^[8]
• March 2010: Pioneer stops producing TVs.
• May 2010: Pioneer releases two new DJ software controllers, the DDJ-S1, and the DDJ-T1.
• May 2011: Pioneer announces the release of the Smart Concept Car with a full DJ setup.

Brands and devices

• Pioneer — home and car electronics
• Pioneer Elite produces premium electronics that are usually higher in quality and price. Most Pioneer Elite branded electronics have the gloss black "Urushi" finish.

Pioneer Elite products include AVRs, Laserdisc players, CD players, DVD players, plasma computer monitors and televisions [Now discontinued], and rear-projection televisions. Pioneer Elite debuted their first Blu-ray Disc player, the BDP-HD1, in January of 2007.^[9] Pioneer released the first 1080p plasma display, the PRO-FHD1.

In Summer of 2007, Pioneer released the Kuro line of plasma displays, that the company claims has the best black levels of any flat panel display which leads to greater contrast, and more realistic images.^[10] Kuro means black in Japanese.

• Carrozzeria (Japan only) — car electronics
• Pioneer Premier (North America only) — high-end car electronics
• TAD — high-end speakers
• Pioneer PRO DJ — DJ equipment

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Royal Philips Electronics Inc.), most commonly known as Philips, (Euronext: PHIA, NYSE: PHG) is a multinational Dutch electronics corporation.

Philips is one of the largest electronics companies in the world. In 2009, its sales were €23.18 billion. The company employs 115,924 people in more than 60 countries.[1]

Philips is organized in a number of sectors: Philips Consumer Lifestyles (formerly Philips Consumer Electronics and Philips Domestic Appliances and Personal Care), Philips Lighting and Philips Healthcare (formerly Philips Medical Systems).
he company was founded in 1891 by Gerard Philips, a maternal cousin of Karl Marx, in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Its first products were light bulbs and other electro-technical equipment. Its first factory survives as a museum devoted to light sculpture.[2] In the 1920s, the company started to manufacture other products, such as vacuum tubes (also known worldwide as 'valves'), In 1927 they acquired the British electronic valve manufacturers Mullard and in 1932 the German tube manufacturer Valvo, both of which became subsidiaries. In 1939 they introduced their electric razor, the Philishave (marketed in the USA using the Norelco brand name).

Philips was also instrumental in the revival of the Stirling engine.

As a chip maker, Philips Semiconductors was among the Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders.

In December 2005 Philips announced its intention to make the Semiconductor Division into a separate legal entity. This process of "disentanglement" was completed on 1 October 2006.

On 2 August 2006, Philips completed an agreement to sell a controlling 80.1% stake in Philips Semiconductors to a consortium of private equity investors consisting of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), Silver Lake Partners and AlpInvest Partners. The sale completed a process, which began December 2005, with its decision to create a separate legal entity for Semiconductors and to pursue all strategic options. Six weeks before, ahead of its online dialogue, through a letter to 8,000 of Philips managers, it was announced that they were speeding up the transformation of Semiconductors into a stand-alone entity with majority ownership by a third party. It was stated then that "this is much more than just a transaction: it is probably the most significant milestone on a long journey of change for Philips and the beginning of a new chapter for everyone – especially those involved with Semiconductors".

In its more than 115 year history, this counts as a big step that is definitely changing the profile of the company. Philips was one of few companies that successfully made the transition from the electrical world of the 19th century into the electronic age, starting its semiconductor activity in 1953 and building it into a global top 10 player in its industry. As such, Semiconductors was at the heart of many innovations in Philips over the past 50 years.

Agreeing to start a process that would ultimately lead to the decision to sell the Semiconductor Division therefore was one of the toughest decisions that the Board of Management ever had to make.

On 21 August 2006, Bain Capital and Apax Partners announced that they had signed definitive commitments to join the expanded consortium headed by KKR that is to acquire the controlling stake in the Semiconductors Division.

On 1 September 2006, it was announced in Berlin that the name of the new semiconductor company founded by Philips is NXP Semiconductors.

Coinciding with the sale of the Semiconductor Division, Philips also announced that they would drop the word 'Electronics' from the company name, thus becoming simply Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Royal Philips N.V.).

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