TWICE back issues from January 2008:
CE Retailers Report Slower Holiday Sales.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf Industry fared better than most categories, but economic woes took a toll NEW YORK - Consumer electronics dealers may have fared better than most merchants during holiday 2007, but all of retail felt the pinch of a stingier Santa this Christmas. ...
HD Radio Makes Gains In Home, Car.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Amy Gilroy and Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - HD Radio is making further inroads into the mainstream here at International CES, where prices on car HD-Radio products are dropping dramatically and the selection of tabletop HD Radios, including the first iPod-docking models, is ...
Hitachi Bows Ultra Thin Plasma TVs, LCDs.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Tarr LAS VEGAS - Hitachi will use International CES to unveil what it is calling some of the world's thinnest plasma displays, in addition to its recently announced Ultra Thin 1.5-inch thick LCD TV line. The Ultra Thin plasma panels, which will see their world ...
Pioneer's Kuro Get Super Thin, 'Absolute' Black.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Tarr LAS VEGAS - Looking to apply the "thin-is-in" trend to its Project Kuro plasma TV behemoths, Pioneer is unveiling at International CES a 50-inch super-thin (9mm) plasma panel. Billed as "an advanced design concept," the thin-screen plasma TV prototype ...
Sony Debuts 14 LCD TVs, Its 1st OLED.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Tarr LAS VEGAS - Following its decision to exit the rear-projection TV category, Sony travels to International CES with an arsenal of new LCD TVs and the company's first OLED TV for the U.S. market. Sony is launching here 14 Bravia LCD models, including ...
Web Extras Coming To Blu-ray.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Tarr LAS VEGAS - HD DVD won't be the only high-definition video disc format with Web-enabled interactivity much longer. San Francisco-based software developer Related Content Database is announcing at International CES two new Blu-ray feature platforms - BD ...
Philips Narrows Focus To LCD TV In '08.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Tarr LAS VEGAS - Philips has narrowed its North American TV focus this year, after dropping plasma, CRT and rear-projection categories to concentrate exclusively on LCD TVs. "We are an LCD company," stated Stewart Muller, Philips Consumer Electronics North ...
PNDs Get Computer, Cellular Upgrades.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Amy Gilroy LAS VEGAS - Portable GPS, one of the fastest growing markets in consumer electronics, is entering the wireless age at International CES with new products that use WiMAX, 3G cellular, or Wi-Fi to turn personal navigation devices (PNDs) into Internet or traffic ...
Sharp Bows 4 Aquos Lines, Second Blu-ray Player.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Tarr LAS VEGAS - Sharp is using International CES to unveil four Aquos LCD TV model series, highlighted by a "special edition" featuring the company's best picture quality to date and built-in Internet access. Also slated are a pair of new DLP projectors and ...
New Sony Mylo Bolsters Wi-FiCommunications.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - Sony redesigned its Wi-Fi-equipped Mylo personal communicator and bolstered its feature set to accelerate sales and expand its targeted age group, product manager Phil Boyle announced. The second-generation model, due this month, adds ...
Audio Makers Getting Creative With New Features.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - The long-term systematic decline in home-audio system sales is forcing suppliers to get creative to spur repeat sales and tap new consumer segments. New compact stereo shelf systems and home theater in a box (HTiB) systems here at ...
Gateway Bringing FX To Notebooks, Expands PC Line.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Doug Olenick LAS VEGAS - Gateway has extended its FX desktop brand to its notebook line with the introduction of the three-SKU P-Series. The company also added two FX desktop models. Like the FX desktops, the notebook models are aimed at power users and gamers ...
iRiver Flows Into New Product Categories.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - iRiver, long known for its portable audio devices, is expanding its selection of MP3 players and portable media players (PMPs) while broadening its portfolio to include its first two personal navigation devices (PNDs), its first handheld computer ...
Panasonic Expands 1080p Plasma Line.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Tarr LAS VEGAS - Panasonic is introducing at International CES its 2008 line of Viera plasma Full HD 1080p televisions, with a new cosmetic look and the addition of the company's first 46-inch screen size. The 2008 1080p line, which will ship this spring at ...
VoIP Continues Growth Curve Despite Hurdles.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Scoblete LAS VEGAS - VoIP continues to grow even though for many providers 2007 was easily considered "the worst of times." The leading pure-play provider Vonage was raked over the legal coals, finally submitting to three costly patent settlements. Skype ...
Amazon's Ryder: Riding Herd Over New Technologies Online And Off.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf SEATTLE - It's been over a year since Paul Ryder joined Amazon.com from GE Appliances as consumer electronics and wireless VP, but given the breakneck pace at the world's largest online-only store, he's had little time to look back. "Amazon.com operates ...
E-tailers Deliver Improved Holiday Shopping.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf ANN ARBOR, MICH. - Holiday shoppers reported higher satisfaction with the Web shopping experience compared to last year, according to a report by market research firm ForeSee Results. The group's Holiday Retail Benchmark study showed that online shopper ...
MIT Retail Study: Sell The Savings.(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008; ... By Alan Wolf CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -With retailers trying to lure customers by deeper discounts than competitors, Shane Frederick at the MIT Sloan School of Management suggests a better approach: give customers specific examples of what they could actually do with the savings. ...
DisplaySearch Offers Preview Of 2008 TV, DVD Landscape.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf AUSTIN, TEXAS - Market research firm DisplaySearch, along with analysts from sister company Current Analysis West and corporate parent The NPD Group, provided marketplace projections on TVs, next-generation DVD formats and how retailers will sell them during a 2008 ...
Distributor Briefs.(R.J. Thockmorton moves its location)(D and H Distributing Co. and Aton in distribution deal)(David Distributors and The Advantage Group in contract)
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Staff Edge Member Moves Staff Eureka, Mo. - R.J. Thockmorton, a charter member of The Edge Distributors Group, has moved from its Wildwood, Mo. location to a new 17,000-square-foot facility here. D&H Adds Aton Staff ...
Ingram Micro Brings House Brand To CES.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Colleen Bohen SANTA ANA, CALIF. - Ingram Micro is taking its V7 house brand global following 10 years of brand growth in Europe. The strategy, according to a company spokesperson, "is to leverage Ingram's relationships with state-of-the-art production facilities, as well as ...
Geek Squad Posts Web Video Tutorials.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Colleen Bohen MINNEAPOLIS - Best Buy's Geek Squad IT support service is now offering free downloadable "Two-Minute Miracle" video tutorials on topics like photo sharing, securing a wireless network, setting up flat-panel TVs and other topics online at ...
TUVRheinland Provides Product Safety Service.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf NEWTOWN, CONN. - With the advent of global sourcing, CE vendors and retailers face increased product safety and reliability concerns as well as multiple compliance requirements. TUVRheinland, a provider of comprehensive product testing and assessment services based ...
Gift Card Redemptions Extend Holiday Selling Season Into Jan.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf NEW YORK - Traditionally, the holiday selling season covered the two months of November and December, ending with a final flurry of week-after-Christmas sales and returns. But the growing popularity of gift cards - which now account for 10 percent to 15 ...
Home Depot Still Selling CE, Just Not In Stores.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf ATLANTA - It's been a year since The Home Depot brought consumer electronics into its brick-and-mortar stores with a limited-time, seven-SKU assortment of A/V products. This holiday season, the home-improvement chain chose to keep its CE selection out of ...
Online Holiday Spending Up 20% To $30B.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf RESTON, VA. - Holiday e-commerce spending likely reached a record $29.5 billion last year, representing a 20 percent increase over 2006 levels according to projections by market research firm ComScore. The company, which tracks the online transaction ...
Integrators: The New Independent Specialist.(Ron Stone board member at Volutone speaks for the growth and technology of the company)
Jan 07, 2008; ... By William Matthies Today we have audio, video and home theater, often with links to computers facilitating all sorts of things. This offers both great sales potential and an impediment to sales. Not only must we sell product now, but of greater importance we must install and ...
Sony Style Encouraging Recycling With $100 Trade-Up Offer.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf SAN DIEGO - In an effort to encourage consumers to recycle their old TVs, Sony Electronics is offering shoppers $100 toward the purchase of a new BRAVIA HDTV for every old set recycled through the company's Take Back recycling program, which kicked off last ...
Circuit's 'City' May Be Go-Forward Format For Chain.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf NEW YORK - Circuit City has seen the future of CE retailing, and it may very well be found in its new store format, The City. The concept stores embody "a portfolio of ideas" culled from two years' worth of "innovation work" in the company's Boston and ...
No Exit Plan Seen In HD Disc Format War.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Tarr LAS VEGAS - Now with hardware manufacturers cutting prices and Web-enabled extra content either available or soon on the way for both formats, the feuding HD disc camps will prepare to take their war to the next level at International CES. The base ...
DTV Transition Shifts Into High Gear.(LG Electronics Inc.)(Matsushita Electric Corporation of America)(Sony Corp.)
Jan 07, 2008; ... By David Elrich LAS VEGAS - Analog broadcasting officially ends Feb. 17, 2009 - and preventing a massive wail from outraged and befuddled consumers will be priority No. 1 for key trade groups, CE manufacturers and retailers on the front lines of this unprecedented transition. ...
Digital Gadgets Bows Sylvania Branded Line.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Lisa Johnston NEW YORK - Digital Gadgets, a manufacturer of CE products and accessories, announced that it will be introducing a line of Sylvania-branded products. Digital Gadgets is a licensee for the Sylvania brand. The lineup will include a variety ...
CEA Sees iPod Systems Outselling HTiBs, Compacts.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - Sales of iPod-docking speaker systems and clock radios will outsell combined sales of traditional compact shelf systems and home theater in a box (HTiB) systems for the first time in 2008, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) forecasts show. ...
Lenovo Goes Full Tilt Into Consumer PCs.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Doug Olenick LAS VEGAS - Lenovo has revealed its first venture into the consumer market with the introduction of the IdeaPad laptop line. Lenovo, which made the announcement Jan. 3 and will be at International CES in N216 at the North Hall, has been a player in the ...
Thomson Bows New Tech For Home Phones.
Jan 07, 2008; ... By Greg Scoblete LAS VEGAS - Bucking the trend of a more technologically conservative approach to cordless telephony, Thomson will introduce a number of GE-branded phones at International CES with novel features. Among Thomson's introductions is a combination phone ...
HD, Flash Memory Dominate Camcorder Introductions.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Scoblete LAS VEGAS - Camcorder makers are focusing on high definition and solid state recording, particularly to flash memory, at International CES. Though DVD camcorders have reached near unit sales parity with miniDV (which has dropped market share ...
Broadcasters Prepare For DTV Transition.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By David K. Rehr The transition from analog to digital television (DTV) represents the most significant advancement of television technology since color TV was introduced. But many Americans remain completely unaware of the federally-mandated DTV transition, which ...
Retailers Need To Prepare For Analog Shutoff.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Anita L. Wallgren By Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power television stations will shut down their analog transmitters and become 100 percent digital, and the millions of American households with at least one analog TV that is not connected to a pay-TV service will see those sets go ...
OCAP Is Ready For The Next Phase.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By So Vang Over the past five years - since CableLabs began contributing this column to TWICE Magazine's annual CES edition - the major planks of the cable industry's OpenCable initiative centered on platform development in and of itself, and, more recently, launches within ...
Components Offer Some Audio Action.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - Dealers looking for some audio-component action will find new speakers and electronics from the following companies: Atlantic Technology : The IWCB-727 closed-box in-wall speaker is the first speaker of any type to get THX Select2 ...
Audio Components Get Connected.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - Things got a little soft in the component home audio business last year, but hard-driving suppliers won't ease up on introducing new products to perk up their market shares. After a 7 percent gain in factory-level sales in 2006 to $1.09 ...
Pioneer Floats Mainstream AVRs.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - Pioneer's quartet of new mainstream-series A/V receivers (AVR) is singing at International CES. They include the first mainstream-series AVR, the $599-suggested VSX-1018AH, with embedded decoding of all mandatory and optional surround ...
Definitive Displays Speakers For New Flat-Panel Displays.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - Definitive Technology is among the speaker companies adjusting to the age of the flat-panel TV here at International CES, where it is launching its first two passive five-channel surround bars to complement two existing three-channel surround ...
Satellite Radio: What's New At Home.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - New satellite radio products for car, home, and portable use will include high-end satellite-ready A/V receivers all the way down to satellite-ready table radios and satellite-tuner speaker docs. Here's what dealers will find: ...
Boston Acoustics Expands Radio Selection.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - Boston Acoustics is reentering the multimedia-speaker market and expanding its table-radio selection here at International CES. The four-SKU Horizon series of table radios is due in March with molded-cabinet chassis and interchangeable ...
Manufacturers Cast Audio Net During CES.(Logitech Inc.)(Philips AG)(Russound)
Jan 07, 2008; ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - More wired and wireless audio-network devices turning up here at International CES let music follow consumers as they roam around the house. Many of the systems take shape as adapters to connect to existing sound systems, but suppliers ...
Custom Install Market Faces Slower Growth.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar NEW YORK - Installers can't deny it any longer; installer-level custom install revenues aren't growing as rapidly these days, thanks to two consecutive years of the sharpest declines in new housing starts. And installers will have to slug it ...
Market Outlook.(Industry overview)
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Staff TWICE: With single-family housing starts dropping at double-digit rates in 2006 and 2007, how did the custom market fare in 2007? And what is the 2008 custom-market outlook? Mike Hench, The Edge Group : As you might expect, dealers focusing on entry-level ...
Strategy Changes.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Staff TWICE: How are installers responding to the market's challenges? Mike Hench, The Edge Group : Some dealers are joining forces, and some are more aggressively promoting to solicit new business. Dealers are also looking at ways to maximizing profits and ...
Best Buy Fiscal Q3 Earnings Increased 79%.(Best Buy Company Inc.)
Jan 07, 2008; ... By Alan Wolf MINNEAPOLIS - Strong sales, a more rational promotional environment and labor productivity gains helped Best Buy boost its operating income 79 percent to $351 million for its fiscal third quarter, ended Dec. 1. Net revenue rose almost 15 percent. Within ...
Circuit City: Restructuring Disrupted Its Q3.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Alan Wolf RICHMOND, VA. - Circuit City said its steep third-quarter loss was largely related to sales disruptions stemming from this year's wholesale corporate restructuring. Losses mounted more than tenfold $208 million for the three months, ended Nov. 30, while ...
Toshiba Expands Regza Line For First Half.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Greg Tarr LAS VEGAS - When it comes to new television introductions, Toshiba is joining a growing list of manufacturers who will deliver products in two annual cycles, and International CES will be its showcase for its first-half offerings. Scott Ramirez, Toshiba ...
Hot Product Segments.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Staff TWICE: How much of an impact are some new technologies having on the custom market, and what will be their future impact? Mike Hench, The Edge Group : Media Center PCs are creating awareness of what can be done and opportunities for our dealers to make ...
Philips In Rhapsody Music Tie, Adds Protected-WMV Playback.
Jan 07, 2008; ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - Philips plans to launch 30 new portable-AV SKUs split equally between music-only MP3 players and MP3/video players. The selection includes Philips's first four SKUs with the ability to play protected video files downloaded from ...
Portable Audio Suppliers Take Aim At Apple, Mature Market.
Jan 07, 2008; ... By Joseph Palenchar LAS VEGAS - Portable-audio suppliers are turning to WiFi, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, built-in TV timeshifting, high-speed digital transfers from a DVR, and tight integration with select authorized-download sites to compete against Apple, deal with rise of ...
Roadmap To PND Introductions.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Amy Gilroy LAS VEGAS - Here's a guide to what select personal navigation device (PND) makers are showing at International CES: Amcor : The 4890, at an estimated $279, features 3-D graphics for buildings, landmarks and topography. It has a 4.8-inch screen, preloaded ...
More Features Seen For MP3 Players, PMPs In 2008.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Joseph Palenchar NEW YORK - The MP3 player market is maturing and facing competition from MP3-equipped cellphones. Although retail-level unit sales of MP3 players and sibling portable media players (PMPs) grew 14.9 percent for the 10-month period ending October ...
2007-2008 Sales.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Staff TWICE: How much did the market for MP3 players, video-capable MP3 players, and portable media players (PMPs) grow in 2007, and what is the outlook for 2008? Andy Mintz, Philips : Philips sees the MP3 market as one that will continue to grow. There is growth ...
MP3, PMP Usage.(Discussion)
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Staff TWICE: What will drive demand for, or use of, video playback on MP3 players and PMPs? Andy Mintz, Philips : We anticipate that video players will continue to be embraced for years to come. Accessibility to content continues to drive demand for many products, ...
Wireless Future.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Staff TWICE: What future demand do you see for MP3 players and PMPs that use Wi-Fi to download music and video, on a subscription or purchase basis, directly from authorized web sites? Andy Mintz, Philips : We anticipate an increasing demand for products that ...
Device Features.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Staff TWICE: How did the unit/dollar mix of flash-memory devices vs. HDD MP3 change at retail in 2007, and what are the prospects for 2008? Andy Mintz, Philips : Because the cost of players with bigger screens and more flash memory have come to a more affordable ...
Internet Radio/Video Enters Autos.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Amy Gilroy LAS VEGAS - Suppliers are looking at new ways to pipe the Internet into the automobile to deliver audio, video, email and more. Internet radio, Internet video and live mobile TV without a bulky antenna are on display here at International CES from ...
More Mechless Heads Debut.(Blaupunkt-Werke GmbH)(Clarion Corp.)(Parrot)
Jan 07, 2008; ... By Amy Gilroy LAS VEGAS - CD players may one day go the way of the tape deck as new "mechless" head units (without a CD mechanism) begin to sweep through supplier lines. Whereas only two brands, Alpine and Clarion, showed mechless models at International CES last ...
Prices Fall On In-Dash A/V.
Jan 07, 2008 ... By Amy Gilroy LAS VEGAS - Prices are tumbling on car video in-dash DVD/monitors, with the most dramatic declines seen at the high end. Japanese suppliers, who previously offered models at $700 to $1,000, are now starting their DVD/monitor lines at $500. At ...
First All-In-One AVN From Dual, Jensen.
Jan 07, 2008; ... By Amy Gilroy LAS VEGAS - Two suppliers of lower-end car stereo, Dual and Jensen, are offering their first all-in-one A/V navigation (AVN) models, as prices on the segment continue to fall. In addition, Valor is offering one of the lowest-priced models to date at ...