TWICE back issues from August 2004:
Broadband MSN TV device on the way.(TWICE News)(multiple subscriber number)
Aug 09, 2004; ... MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. -- Microsoft and Thomson have reached an agreement to develop a broadband and home network-enabled version of the MSN TV Internet receiver, the companies announced. The new MSN TV terminal, said to be "a complete over haul of the existing [dial-up] device ...
Cool sales season for room air: prices plunge as inventory piles up.(Major Appliances)
Aug 09, 2004; ... NEW YORK -- Retailers and vendors are facing another tough season for room air conditioning, thanks to unusually cool weather across most of the country. Although the summer is halfway over and the prime room air selling period has passed, dealers and their suppliers are still holding out ...
Sony unveils HD PVRs, more HDTVs.(TWICE News)(hard-drive )(personal video recorder)
Aug 09, 2004; ... RANCHO BERNARDO, CALIF. -- Sony will introduce this fall the first CableCARD-enabled HDTV cable decoder boxes with built-in hard-drive recorders, and ATSC tuning. The set-top boxes, which Sony showed to select members of the press visiting its new sales and marketing ...
Digital camera vendors tackle growth.(Digital Imaging)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... NEW YORK -- While a rising tide may lift all boats, buoyancy brings its own set of challenges. That is what digital camera vendors, flush with the success of a rapidly expanding marketplace, are presently tackling. Leading digital camera manufacturers, assembled for TWICE's ...
Tweeter's Q3 sales lower, loss widens.(TWICE News)
Aug 09, 2004; ... CANTON, MASS. -- Specialty retailer Tweeter Home Entertainment Group recorded lower revenue, comparable store sales and a widening loss in its fiscal third quarter. Tweeter sales for the three months, ended June 30, slipped 1 percent to $168.6 million from $170.4 million in the ...
Gateway will refocus energy on PC business.(TWICE News)(personal computer)
Aug 09, 2004; ... POWAY, CALIF. -- While Gateway vociferously announced the expansion of its computer retail presence last month with the addition of Best Buy; the company quietly said it will gut its nascent CE business in the coming months. A Gateway spokesperson said the company is in the ...
Rio planning Janus support, new channels.(TWICE News)
Aug 09, 2004; ... SANTA CLARA, CALIF. -- The road to Rio's future includes large general-merchandise chains for select products and new music portables that can be upgraded to use Microsoft's planned Janus DRM technology Also to gain share, the company is upgrading its selection to boost battery ...
Arras to head TCL-Thomson joint venture.(TWICE News)(Al Arras)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... INDIANAPOLIS -- Less than a week after its creation, the TCL-Thomson Electronics (TTE) joint-venture television company has replaced its president. Long-time Thomson executive Al Arras has been named president of TCL-Thomson Electronics Thorns (TTE), replacing Eric Meurice. ...
Fujifilm expands DigiCam lineup.(TWICE News)
Aug 09, 2004; ... VALHALLA, N.Y. -- Fujifilm introduced five new digital cameras last week, including a new product series aimed at the swelling ranks of repeat buyers looking to upgrade their older cameras. The new E-series models will fit between the company's entry-level A-series models and ...
Sixth Ave. to open eighth location.(TWICE News)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- New York metro area A/V specialty chain Sixth Avenue Electronics will open a new flagship store in Paramus, N.J., this October. The 25,000-foot superstore, the company's eighth, will be located in a former Kids "R" Us store on Route 17, one of the nation's ...
DirecTV offers more HD games on Sunday ticket.(TWICE News)(High density)
Aug 09, 2004; ... EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. -- DirecTV officially announced plans to expand its HDTV programming lineup this summer, including the addition of NBC HD Olympic coverage, NBC HD programming from East and West Coast markets for qualified subscribers, the Bravo HD+ and a five-fold expansion of HD NFL ...
XM sees growth in subs, sales as loss widens.(TWICE News)
Aug 09, 2004; ... WASHINGTON -- Citing better than expected subscriber growth, XM Satellite Radio upgraded year'end subscriber projections to 3.1 million, up from 2.8 million. Burgeoning retail and new car market sales allowed satellite radio service provider XM to more than double net subscriber ...
Motorola expands MP3 portable line.(TWICE News)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... NEW YORK -- Motorola will expand its presence in the portable MP3 player business later this year with the introduction of three models, including one hard-drive-based unit that the company hopes can challenge Apple's iPod. The models, which were co-developed with MP3 player ...
Retailers report modest July sales gains.(TWICE News)
Aug 09, 2004; ... NEW YORK -- Retail sales were up moderately in July, tempered by good weather, higher energy prices, fewer discounts and increased travel, merchants and analysts said. Ultimate Electronics, the sole CE specialist reporting, said total sales for its second fiscal quarter ended ...
Matsushita reports CE sales rise 9% in quarter.(TWICE News)
Aug 09, 2004; ... OSAKA, JAPAN -- Strong sales of-new Viera flat-panel televisions, along with brisk business in DVD recorders and other digital A/V equipment, which off-set lower sales of audio products, were reasons for a 9 percent fiscal first-quarter increase in video and audio equipment sales at ...
Sony reports flat CE sales, lower 1st qtr. income.(TWICE News)(consumer electronics )
Aug 09, 2004; ... TOKYO -- Even with increased sales of flat-panel and LCD rear-projection televisions and digital cameras, sales in Sony's consumer electronics segment remained basically flat in the company's fiscal first quarter, coming in at $10.2 billion. Operating income in Sony's ...
Audiovox to ship XM Radio in Oct.(TWICE News)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... WASHINGTON -- XM Satellite Radio announced that Audiovox will ship an XM plug-and-play radio, making Audiovox the second autosound company to offer both Sirius and XM satellite radio equipment. The XR9 plug-and-play system--Audiovox's smallest unit to date--will ship in October ...
Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, and Craig Barrett, CEO of Intel, will be keynote speakers at the 2005 International CES, to be held Jan. 6 to 9 in Las Vegas.(TWICE People)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, and Craig Barrett, CEO of Intel, will be keynote speakers at the 2005 International CES, to be held Jan. 6 to 9 in Las Vegas. Gates will give his traditional ...
Fay Wood.(TWICE People)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... Fay Wood, chief development officer of Warranty Corporation of America and chairperson of ...
CompUSA.(TWICE People)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... Phil Jacobs, ex-Publicis ad exec, joins ...
Whirlpool.(TWICE People)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... Whirlpool CFO R. Stephen Barrett, Jr. will resign Sept ....
Sonance.(TWICE People)(Parker, Kim-Anthony)(Tony Trimble)(Mark Ohlwiler)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... At Sonance, Scott Sylvester promoted to product strategy director. Ken Manson promoted to product education manager. Kim-Anthony Parker, ex-NetStreams, named technical services manager. Nathan Lepchitz, ex-owner of Audio ...
The customizing of retail.(Viewpoint)
Aug 09, 2004; ... It may be the beginning of August, but it certainly isn't usually a quiet time for electronics/appliance retailers and the industries they serve. During these hot, muggy days (and don't air conditioner vendors and dealers wish they had more hot days earlier in the season?), ...
Industry calendar.(TWICE News)(Calendar)
Aug 09, 2004 ... Nationwide Prime Time Aug. 8-11 Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas (800)777-8741 MARTA 2004 Show & Conference Aug. 17-20 Scottsdale Princess Resort Scottsdale, Ariz. (480)443-0211 Brand ...
Video industry sales scorecard.(By The Numbers)(Illustration)
Aug 09, 2004 ... <Pre> Video Industry Sales Scorecard Factory and distributor sales to dealer, as reported by the Consumer Electronic Association WEEK TO 2003 % PRODUCT JULY 16 WEEK CHG. Total Color ...
TWICE names six 'Retailers to Watch'.(Retailing)
Aug 09, 2004; ... NEW YORK -- With the goal of sharing best practices, and to salute dealers who have created a successful niche within an increasingly competitive marketplace, TWICE presents its second annual Retailers To Watch list. Like last year's inaugural honor roll, this sophomore ...
Attendance grows at D&H convergence show.(Retailing)
Aug 09, 2004; ... CAMP HILL, PA. -- More than 800 CE dealers, IT resellers, custom installers and vendors of every stripe converged on this central Pennsylvania town last month, site of D&H Distributing's third annual Digital Convergence Expo. The turnout, which has tripled since the show's ...
7-Eleven selling prepaid music downloads.(Retailing Briefs)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... DALLAS -- Convenience store chain 7Eleven is selling prepaid music down load cards from Musicmatch. The cards retail for $9,90, and can be redeemed for 10 tunes that can be downloaded from Musicmatch's online music store, which offers over 550,000 ...
Alice Cooper stars in new Staples spot.(Retailing Briefs)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... FRAMINGHAM, MASS. -- Seventies rocker Alice Cooper is starring in a new back-to-school commercial for Staples that incorporates his 1972 hit "School's Out." The 30-second spot features Cooper in full stage ...
Third Sears 'Grand' store opens in Las Vegas.(Retailing Briefs)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... LAS VEGAS -- Sears has opened its third Sears Grand store, this one in Las Vegas. The prototype format, which features traffic-driving, quick-turn items like CDs, DVDs, books, magazines and pantry goods in addition to the company's core majaps, CE, lawn and garden, tools, hardware, ...
Partsearch Technologies partners with Amazon.(Retailing Briefs)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... NEWYORK -- Partsearch Technologies, a replacement parts and accessories service, has added Amazon.com to a growing client list of CE dealers that includes Best Buy, Tweeter Home Entertainment, Ultimate Electronics, CompUSA, Good Guys, H.H. Gregg and Conn's ....
AVAD LLC expands in Texas, Indiana.(Retailing Briefs)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- AVAD LLC, a leading distributor of custom home systems and technology, has opened a second showroom and distribution center in Texas and expanded an existing one in Indiana. The former is a 26,000 square-foot facility in Houston that also ...
Glasgow envisions bolder Sony to come.(Video)(Stan Glasgow president of Sony forecast's)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... RANCHO BERNARDO, CALIF. -- Armed with a newly realigned and centralized sales and marketing team, and a world-class brand image, consumer electronics retailers can look for Sony to be more "boldly aggressive" and faster to react to market demands than in the past. That was the ...
Best Buy adds Westinghouse LCD TV.(Video)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIF. -- Westinghouse Digital continued to advance its distribution in the U.S. market by announcing consumer electronics retail giant Best Buy is now selling its line of 27-inch and 30-inch LCD TVs. According to a press statement announcing the move, ...
Sharp ships 'DCR' LCD TV sets.(Video)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... MAHWAH, N.J. -- Sharp said it is now shipping six fully integrated, digital-cable-ready (DCR) widescreen LCD TV models in its AQUOS GD4U and GD6U lines. The LCD TVs feature high-definition-capable 1366-pixel by 768-pixel resolution, built-in CableCARD slots for the latest ...
DirectTV signs CompUSA.(Video)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... EL SEGUNDO, CA, -- DirecTV said it has signed national computer/electronics chain CompUSA to sell DirecTV System equipment and services as its exclusive satellite television offering. CompUSA, which operates 228 stores in 90 major metropolitan markets, win begin selling DirecTV ...
Sonos plans wireless multizone audio.(Home Audio)
Aug 09, 2004; ... SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -- Startup Sonos has developed a wireless multizone audio system that uses a wireless handheld controller to distribute music from a PC's music library to up to 32 zones in a house. The system also streams Internet radio stations directly from a home's ...
Rave on track for return to MP3 market.(Home Audio)
Aug 09, 2004; ... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- The Rave-MP brand of MP3 portables will re-enter the U.S. market in late August after an absence of about four years. The brand, marketed by GoVideo, was among the first suppliers of MP3-type portables when it launched its first models in 1999, but Rave-MP ...
Motorola increases its step-up selection.(Communications)
Aug 09, 2004; ... ROSEMONT, ILL. -- Motorola expanded its selection of megapixel camera phones, EDGE-equipped phones and WCDMA phones in a product introduction that includes a .05-inch-thick phone and a new smartphone based on the Windows Mobile OS. The company also unveiled its first ...
AT&T excludes indirect channel from W-CDMA service launch.(Communications)
Aug 09, 2004; ... REDMOND, WASH. -- AT&T Wireless launched commercial third-generation (3G) W-CDMA service in four markets in the 1.9MHz band and began selling a pair of hybrid W-CDMA/GSM phones from Motorola and Nokia at $299 each and a $149 Lucent/Novatel PC Card through its direct distribution channels, ...
HP unveils 1st PDA-phone with Wi-Fi.(Communications)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... PALO ALTO -- T-Mobile entered into an exclusive deal with Hewlett-Packard to offer the industry's first PDA phones equipped with embedded 802.11b Wi-Fi to deliver faster-than-3G data rates when used in public hot spots or in wireless networks in the home or enterprise. The ...
Savvier 2nd-timers driving digital growth.(Digital Imaging)(Panel Discussion)
Aug 09, 2004 ... TWICE: What did we learn from 2003? NPD and various analysts said that digital camera penetration hit 30 percent. What are the implications of that? What is the outlook for the rest of this year, including into Christmas, and what is going to be hot? Greg Young, Sony: Actually ...
Mass, photo specialty rise to challenge CE.(Digital Imaging)(Panel Discussion)
Aug 09, 2004 ... TWICE: How would you characterize the retail landscape. Has it shifted from selling specs? Should it? Young: We are introducing a marketing concept that we call worry-free digital photography. The concept is to take the worry out of making the transition from film or from a ...
The impact of the digital SLR.(Digital Imaging)(Panel Discussion)
Aug 09, 2004 ... TWICE: What is your impression of the digital SLR? What impact will it have on the market, particularly high-end, fixed lens models? Peck: When the Digital Rebel was introduced, it touched off a firestorm of activity between retailers and consumers. I have to relate that back to ...
Megapixel war rages on.(Digital Imaging)(Panel Discussion)
Aug 09, 2004 ... TWICE: Are megapixels as relevant as they used to be for a first-time buyer? Can we expect continued improvements over 8-megapixels? Sienkiewicz: Megapixels don't matter as long as it has results. If you hit the threshold where you are getting results that are adequate, you're ...
SLR spurs point-and-shoot improvement.(Digital Imaging)(Single lens reflex cameras)(Panel Discussion)
Aug 09, 2004 ... TWICE: How have digital SLRs spurred improvements in point-and-shoot digital cameras? Nelkin: What we found was that most people were disappointed with their old digital cameras. It wasn't the amount of resolution. It was the amount of motion and blur because the lens was so ...
Camera phones loom but impact uncertain.(Digital Imaging)(Panel Discussion)
Aug 09, 2004 ... TWICE: Has the camera phone made any impact yet? Will it have any significant impact? Nelkin: We see the camera phone bringing more awareness to digital imagery. Someone who is going to use a camera phone is not going to want a print. The motivation behind using the camera phone ...
Digital cameras in the networked age.(Digital Imaging)(Panel Discussion)
Aug 09, 2004 ... TWICE: How far have we come in moving digital imaging out of the camera, out of the computer room and into more comfortable settings. Young: Almost all of our bigger TVs have flash slots because consumers like to take that card right out of the camera, pop it into their TV when ...
The lost generation.(Digital Imaging)(Panel Discussion)
Aug 09, 2004 ... TWICE: There is a strong undercurrent of concern in the industry that the massive volume of digital images being taken are being stored haphazardly on computers, disks and Web servers, ultimately resutling in a "lost generation" of photos that are devoured by hard disk crashes and the ...
Sport compact accessories shifting down.(Mobile Electronics)
Aug 09, 2004; ... Approximately two years since automotive accessories became so popular that MERA, The Mobile Enhancement Retailers Association, began encouraging its members to embrace the segment and changed its name to accommodate it, sales of sport compact accessories are nor performing as many had ...
1,000 stations to offer HD radio.(Mobile Electronics)(high density)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... SAN ANTONIO -- Clear Channel Communications announced it will roll out HD Radio through 1,000 of its radio stations as part of an overall effort to upgrade technology throughout the radio stations. Clear Channel said it will "immediately begin an aggressive rollout of digital ...
Two show new removable in-car navigation.(Mobile Electronics)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... NEW YORK -- Two new in-car navigation systems in the popular transportable and portable segments are debuting from Garmin and Navman. Garmin will ship a new combination in-car/ portable navigation system called the Quest, which offers a new form factor and a new low price of ...
Digital cables are now the profit connection.(Accessories)
Aug 09, 2004; ... In this dawn of the age of consumer electronics convergence and home theater, the relatively low-profile cable is playing a major role, both in enhancing the quality level of television viewing and listening, and swelling the pocketbooks of retailers looking to increase slimming hardware ...
For HDMI cable, the future is here.(Accessories)(High definition multimedia interface)
Aug 09, 2004; ... High definition multimedia interface, or HDMI--the latest, and potentially digital video s best-selling cable type down the road--is the connectivity standard making fast headway among digitalTVs, set-top boxes, DVD players and A/V receivers. This specification--called the cable ...
Rayovac launches holiday promotion.(Accessories)(Alliances and partnerships)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... MADISON, WIS. -- Rayovac is partnering with personalized music software and service-company Musicmatch, to offer a holiday 2004 promotion designed to increase battery sales. Consumers will be eligible for free digital music downloads with the purchase of Rayovac battery packs. ...
Targus DVD case for in-car viewing.(Accessories)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004 ... ANAHEIM CALIF. -- In time for summer or fall travel, the Universal DVD In-Car Viewing Case from Targus functions as a removable mobile entertainment center in any vehicle. The case eliminates the need to install an expensive and fixed in-car DVD player. The new portable DVD ...
Averatec angling for CE role, intros notebook/DVD player.(Computer Technology)
Aug 09, 2004; ... NEW YORK -- After spending the past two years creating a niche for itself in notebook computers, Averatec is embarking on a program to add CE maker to its resume. The company will use its new 6200 Series note book for its initial foray into this area. The 6200 is a full-fledged ...
HP to ship dual-format, layer DVD burner.(Computer Technology)(Hewlett-Packard )(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... NEW YORK -- Hewlett-Packard reported that it has solved the backward-compatibility issues with its first dual-format/dual-layer DVD burner and will start shipping units by late July with a $99 suggested retail price. The HP DVD Writer dvd530i was originally slated to ship in ...
Gateway debuts back-to-school product lineup.(Computer Technology)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... LA JOLLA, CALIF. -- In preparation for the back to school selling season, Gateway has made available the M320 and M520 series of notebook computers, with a starting price of $699 after rebates, through its direct sales arm, and the 4520GZ 4525GZ through its just-announced deal with Best ...
June majap shipments edge up 2.2%.(Major Appliances)
Aug 09, 2004; ... WASHINGTON -- Room air's woes were a drag on unit factory shipments of major appliances in June, whose total 2.2 percent gain year-over-year belied renewed strength in the core dishwasher and laundry sectors. According to the latest sales data from the Association of Home ...
Sharp CE segment sales increase by 13.9%.(Business News)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... OSAKA, JAPAN -- Sharp's fiscal first-quarter sales in its audio-visual communications segment rose 13.9 percent to $1.9 billion, up from $1.7 billion last year, due to sales increases in large-size, widescreen LCD televisions and camera-equipped mobile phones. Operating income ...
JVC CE sales edge down 2% in Q1.(Business News)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... YOKOHAMA, JAPAN -- Victor Company of Japan said weak sales of digital video cameras in the Americas, despite a solid business for car electronics, helped push overall consumer electronics sales down 2 percent in the company's fiscal first quarter. Sales dipped from $1.30 billion ...
Mitsubishi CE sales grow 6%.(Business News)(Consumer electronics)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... TOKYO -- The release of a new DVD recorder, tempered by lower sales of CRT color televisions, played a part in a 6 percent sales increase for the home appliance business at Mitsubishi Electric in the company's fiscal first quarter. Mitsubishi's home appliances segment, which ...
Hitachi CE segment sales jump 13%.(Business News)(Consumer electronics)(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... TOKYO -- Growth in sales of plasma televisions and optical disk drives drove up sales in the digital media and consumer products segment at Hitachi by 13 percent in the company's fiscal first quarter. The segment, which primarily includes consumer electronics and home ...
Pioneer overseas CE sates rise 8.2%.(Business News)(Consumer electronics )(Brief Article)
Aug 09, 2004; ... TOKYO -- Pioneer's overseas CE revenue increased by8.2 percent during its first fiscal quarter, hitting $352.9 million, up from $317.5 million, helped by rising sales of plasma displays and DVD recorders, which offset falling sales of DVD players, audio products and cable set-top boxes. ...