Top five articles for the week beginning June 29
Sony preparing to unleash enhanced PlayStation Network
Not only is Sony Computer Entertainment supposedly always on the cusp of announcing sweeping price cuts to its PlayStation 3, or teetering on the verge of unveiling a new PlayStation 3 Slim, but now it’s also planning a massively expanded version of the PlayStation Network.
LG Elec aims to sell up to 5 million LED TVs in 2010
LG Electronics Inc on Thursday launched liquid crystal display televisions that use light-emitting diodes as a light source, and said it was aiming to sell as many as 5 million units in 2010.
Home Networking: PCs vs. Set-Top Boxes
The other night I watched Corpse Bride.
Organic light-emitting diode screens ready to go mainstream
It's not yet lights-out for LCD and plasma, but OLED displays are finally ready to begin pushing those technologies out of the limelight.
Consumers still not sold on Blu-ray
The results of a new survey by Harris Interactive show that despite winning the hi-def format war Blu-ray isn't showing any real signs it will become a mainstream success.
Top five articles for the week beginning June 22
Survey shows fear that U.S. is losing innovation edge
Eight in 10 Americans say the United States will lose its innovation advantage in the global economy over the next decade, and 45 percent believe Japan or China has already surpassed the U.S. economy in fostering innovation, according to a Zogby poll released today.
Apple’s laptop price cuts help consumers, could expand market share
The weak economy is forcing even Apple to have a Blue Light Special.
New iPhone launches amid smartphone blitz
Forget fun and sun.
Windows 7 rumored for October release
Rumors are buzzing about Microsoft's plans to roll out Windows 7 on Oct. 22, which is on time and ahead of the critical holiday buying season.
Disney unveils kids' laptops amid shopper thrift
Walt Disney Co is introducing $350 netbooks for children ahead of the holidays, even as other toy companies shy away from expensive items to appease recession-hit shoppers.
Top five articles for the week beginning June 15
Digital Picture Frames The Next Big Devices?
Consumer electronics come and go, and while many follow a similar product life cycle, the ultimate long-term success of a product category is impossible to predict.
Faster SD Cards Could Reach Devices Next Year
Memory cards based on a new specification will boost storage of consumer electronics to as much as 2TB, the SD Association said Thursday.
Consumer Electronics Sales May Not Be as Bad as Data Suggest
The release of the US Advanced Monthly Sales Report once again showed worsening trends for Electronics and Appliance Stores.
Netbook Interest is Here to Stay, Manufacturers Say
Leading netbook manufacturers and suppliers on Wednesday dismissed the idea that interest in the small-form PCs will dissipate as the economy improves, suggesting instead that consumers will embrace them as complimentary devices.
Samsung TVs go upscale in a downturn
If you are a consumer electronics maker looking for profit in a time when would-be customers are counting their pennies, what do you do?
Top five articles for the week beginning June 8
Intel Agrees to Acquire Wind River for $884 Million
Intel Corp., the world’s largest maker of semiconductors, agreed to buy software company Wind River Systems Inc. for about $884 million, a bid to get its chips into more consumer electronics and wireless devices.
Cellphone industry looking to go greener
Cellphone maker Sony Ericsson unveiled on Thursday two handset models it said are more eco-friendly, and said it expects the new Naite model to be one of its key volume drivers in coming quarters.
Sony Hopes To Revitalize Lagging Sales With PSP Go
Sony's plan to launch this fall the next version of its PlayStation Portable marks the consumer electronics maker's latest attempt to gain market share against leader Nintendo.
CEA Updates Standards For Public Alert Radios
The Consumer Electronics Association plans to update the minimum feature and performance criteria that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio receivers must meet to carry CEA’s “Public Alert” logo.
Prices for Premium- and Value-Brand LCD-TVs Converge
The price differential between Liquid Crystal Display-Televisions sold by premium brands and value brands is narrowing as marquee nameplates vie to capture a wider consumer base by offering less expensive models, according to iSuppli Corp.
Top five articles for the week beginning June 1
Consumer confidence in electronics spending up
Consumer confidence in the overall economy spiked in May, the Consumer Electronics Association said, and buyers continue to feel more confident about future spending on technology and consumer electronics.
South Florida Business Journal
CES Drew 113,000 Professionals, Audit Says
The 2009 International CES in January drew 113,085 industry professionals to Las Vegas, the Consumer Electronics Association said Thursday, basing the numbers on an external audit VERIS Consulting LLC.
New version of HDMI cables brings Internet into consumer electronics
An industry alliance is announcing today a new version of the popular HDMI cables that connect high-definition video appliances to TVs and other appliances.
SanDisk, Samsung renew flash memory pacts
In the midst of a tight market for flash memory, SanDisk and Samsung Electronics have renewed two key agreements that both companies expect will strengthen their positions.
Low Power Laptops Go All Day and Tread Lightly
The Intel Atom processor used in small Netbook mobile computers has become popular for people looking to stay connected, but the arrival of larger laptops with ultra-low voltage chips may steal some of its mobile thunder.
Top five articles for the week beginning May 25
Systemax relaunches CircuitCity.com
Online retailer Systemax Inc. said Friday it has completed the acquisition of Circuit City's online business and relaunched CircuitCity.com.
Spending on consumer electronics falls
Overall U.S. household spending on consumer electronics has declined in the past 12 months, but demand has not, indicating electronics continue to get cheaper.
South Florida Business Journal
Sony says to halve number of its suppliers
Sony Corp said on Thursday it plans to halve the number of its parts and materials suppliers in the next two years, aiming to slash procurement costs by 20 percent this financial year as it seeks return to profit.
Acer takes on HP in home servers
Acer plans to unveil its first home server for the U.S. market on Thursday, called the Acer Aspire easyStore Home Server.
Walmart steps up consumer electronics push
With Circuit City out of the picture, Best Buy is widely assumed to be the beneficiary of most of its market share and thus several billion dollars in electronics sales per year.
Top five articles for the week beginning May 18
GPS navigation units more popular as prices fall
Summer travelers might be sticking closer to home, but many are finding room in their bags — and their budgets — for a GPS navigation unit.
Systemax wins Circuit City e-commerce business
Consumer electronics seller Systemax Inc has won a bankruptcy auction for the e-commerce business and intellectual property of Circuit City Stores Inc, according to an adviser on the deal.
Panasonic Sees More Red Ink in Year Ahead
Panasonic Corp. reported a deep annual loss and warned it will spend the current year in the red as well, making it the latest Japanese electronics company to acknowledge there will be no quick recovery for an industry weighed down by relentless price cuts on televisions and other gadgets.
Sony aims to sell 15 million LCD TVs in 2009/10
Sony Corp said on Thursday it aims to sell 15 million LCD TVs in the year to March 2010, down slightly from 15.2 million last business year.
Wal-Mart Steps Up Its Game in Electronics Aisle
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is revamping the electronics departments in its more than 3,500 U.S. stores this week, ramping up an aggressive battle with Best Buy Co. and Amazon.com to seize customers up for grabs due to the demise of Circuit City Stores Inc.
Top five articles for the week beginning May 11
Best Buy not winning Circuit City television customers?
A reminder this morning that the closing of Circuit City doesn't mean Best Buy is without competition.
Vizio Takes No. 1 Spot In North American LCD-TV Market
Vizio, an aggressive marketer of lower-cost HDTV sets, had the best-selling products in the flat-panel LCD-TV category for the first quarter, according to research firm iSuppli.
Nvidia swings to Q1 loss
Graphics chip maker Nvidia Corp. said Thursday after the markets closed that it swung to a first quarter loss, hurt by lower sales and a hefty non-recurring charge related to its cash tender offer to buy employee stock options.
Apple MacBooks, Windows PCs Worlds Apart On Quality, Price
The historic Mac vs. PC debate has new fodder for each company's marketing campaign.
Netbook sales will soar to 22 million in 2009 – IDC
Pressure is mounting on Apple to do something about the netbook problem.
Top five articles for the week beginning May 4
Semiconductor sales up in March, but down for the quarter
Sales of semiconductors were up slightly in March from February’s numbers, but the first quarter remained dismal for the industry with a 29 percent drop in sales, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Sharp aims to sell 10 million LCD TVs in 2009/10
Sharp Corp said on Monday it aimed to sell 10 million LCD TVs this financial year, almost unchanged from the previous year.
Sharp posts $1.3 bln loss as TV, gadget sales dive
Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. suffered an annual net loss of 125.8 billion yen ($1.3 billion), its first yearly red ink in nearly six decades, due to declining demand and increasing competition amid a global economic slump.
Corning lays foundation for innovative, independent future
Corning Incorporated’s chairman and chief executive officer Wendell P. Weeks acknowledged the continued impact of the global recession on the company’s businesses, but told shareholders, “we are encouraged by the fact that we were profitable for the first quarter and our Display Technologies business performed better than expected,” at the company’s annual meeting on April 30.
2009 Home Electronics Outlook: Homeowners Investing in Upgrades
Despite the economic crisis and record lows in the housing market, experts predict home improvement and upgrades in home electronics to continue in 2009.
Top five articles for the week beginning April 27
RadioShack 1Q profit climbs as sales increase
Consumer electronics chain RadioShack Corp. said Thursday that customers buying converter boxes to prepare for the switch to all-digital television signals boosted its first-quarter sales and profit.
Green IT, Electronics Purchases Increase in 2008
Federal government agencies and consumers are both increasing their purchases of “green” electronics.
LG Electronics posts second straight quarterly loss
LG Electronics reported its second quarterly loss in a row Tuesday as operating profit for the South Korean company dropped nearly 25% from a year ago.
Dishwashers, Dryers and Other ‘Old Tech’ Become Less Necessary
A smaller percentage of Americans see their TV sets, dishwashers, clothes dryers and other “old” household technology as necessities, while a growing number describe broadband and iPods that way, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.
Putting our arms around the future of touch
The success of Nintendo's Wii and Apple's iPod have shown the consumer appeal of devices that respond to human touch and movement, but a quick glance around the San Jose, California Hilton showed just how young the industry is.