Consumer Electronics Daily News

DTVtransition.org Looks to Simplify Switch from Analog

We're less than 12 hours away from hopping over the last major hurdle towards digital television transition, as the federal requirement that all products shipped with analog television tuners also include a DTV tuner starts tomorrow.

In an effort to spotlight the move from analog to digital television signals, a diverse coalition including representatives from private industry, trade associations, civil rights organizations and community groups plus the National Telecommunications and Information Administration today announced that they will work together on a comprehensive consumer education campaign to increase awareness of the nation's transition from analog to digital television, which will be completed on February 17, 2009.

In a recent survey of over-the-air viewers conducted by the National Association of Broadcasters, 56 percent reported that they have seen, read or heard nothing about the transition to digital television, and only 10 percent were able to guess that the transition would occur in 2009.

One of the first components of the DTV Transition campaign is the launch www.DTVtransition.org to help consumers learn about options they have to navigate the transition to digital television. The site provides basic information about the transition and offers links to a wide variety of additional industry resources to help answer basic questions.

STMicroelectronics Announces DVB-S2 Chip

STMicroelectronics unveiled a dual DVB-S2 satellite TV demodulator chip today, intended for STBs that offer the viewer the ability to watch one standard or high-definition TV channel while recording another.

According to STMicroelectronics,the new multi-standard STV0900 provides in a single package the functionality of two of ST’s established STB0899 demodulators, significantly reducing STB complexity and manufacturing cost.

Like the STB0899 demodulator, the STV0900 supports both the latest DVB-S2 specification and the original DVB-S standard. The result is the capability to use the STB0899 and the STV0900 in DVB-S2-ready set-top boxes to provide a seamless upgrade path for viewers as more services become available. Both products support normal QPSK (quadrature-phase-shift-keying) and 8PSK modulation, as well as the DVB-S2 pilot processing that enables more robust reception.

For more information, click here.

MERA KnowledgeFest Lights Up Knoxville

The Mobile Enhancement Retailers Association annual convention, MERA KnowledgeFest 2007, is right just around the corner, and the association is eagerly wooing retailers, installers and other industry professionals for event, which takes place Mar. 17-20 in Knoxville, Tenn.

MERA is making a special offer this year to those who attend any of the Installation Technician workshops. Each attendee in the specified workshops will automatically be eligible to receive a free Mobile Electronics Certified Professional (MECP) Program exam voucher and study guide.

Additional workshops -- including 29 new ones -- target owners, managers, sales staff, installers, manufacturers representatives and others who are on the front lines dealing with the most critical issues facing today’s mobile enhancement professionals.

For a full list of workshops, featured speakers and other convention information, visit www.merausa.org.  

Costco Revises CE Return Policy

Costco Wholesale Corp., is brought its liberal consumer electronics return policy, which gave no time limit on returns of any size, to an end. Customers will now have 90 days to return CE products such as computers, PCs, iPods and other gadgets.

Starting tomorrow, the Seattle-based company will halt the program that CFO Richard Galanti says costs the company literally tens of millions of dollars each year.

The move comes as many customers were reportedly abusing the policy by holding onto electronics for more than a year before returning them to the store to upgrade to a newer model, or simply returning the items for newer ones (often at a lower price).

In addition to halting the unlimited time frame for returns, the company is also reducing manufacturer warranties from two years to one on items such as computers and televisions.

For more information, click here.

CompUSA Closing 126 Stores

CompUSA is giving more details on its planned restructuring effort, including an announcement that it will close more than half of its 229 retail stores.

Over the next two to three months, the company plans to shutter 126 stores in the United States to focus on initiatives that enhance its top performing stores, CEO Roman Ross said in a statement.

"Based on changing conditions in the consumer retail electronics market, the company identified the need to close and sell stores with low performance or non-strategic, old store layouts and locations faced with market saturation," Ross said.

The move comes less than a week after the company announced the closure of four stores in California, Illinois and Texas, and outlined several executive changes. The moves are part of an overall realignment strategy that the company says will improve efficiency, reduce costs and help it better adapt to changing market conditions.

The realignment includes a $440 million capital cash infusion, major expense reductions, layoffs, store closures and corporate restructuring. but does not affect the products and services available through 1-800-CompUSA, CompUSA.com or CompUSA TechPro.

After the closures, the electronics retailer will have 103 stores in 39 states and Puerto Rico. For more information, click here.

Sununu, Lofgren Named Digital Patriots

The Consumer Electronics Association has added two congressional members to their list of 2007 Digital Patriots honorees. Senator John Sununu (R-NH) and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) will be recognized during the Third Annual Digital Patriots Dinner on March 27, along with Dell founder, Chairman and CEO Michael Dell.

“The Digital Patriots Awards celebrate advances in consumer technology and honor the industry and policy leaders who allow innovation to flourish,” CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro says. “The members of Congress who will be honored this year have pushed the envelope of innovation and have refused to settle for the status quo. Each of the 2007 Digital Patriots have shown they have a vision for the future and are willing to strive towards it."

The Digital Patriots Dinner will be held during CEA’s 2007 Washington Forum, March 26-27 at the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington. The two-day event focuses on key issues affecting the consumer electronics industry including public policy challenges and consumer related issues.  The Forum will include conference sessions and panel discussions as well as CEA membership division meetings and networking opportunities.

For more information, visit www.ce.org/events.

Wolverine Ships Ultra High Capacity PMP

Wolverine Data Inc., is now shipping the Wolverine ESP portable multimedia player with a storage capacity of 160GB -- the largest storage available on a PMP on the market with the lowest cost per gigabyte -- for an estimated street price under $600.00.

The Wolverine ESP Model 5160 features a 3.6-inch TFT LCD display and the ability to store and view 80,000 digital photos, play 320 hours of video or 50,000 songs, plus the capability to record television programs and FM radio. The 10.2-ounce player has a 5.3x2.8x0.9-inch footprint, making it ideal for professional and serious amateur photographers as well as for consumers who want the most extensive array of multimedia/multifunction capabilities in the palm of their hand.

For photographers, the player can view, zoom, rotate and evaluate the EXIF and histogram information from an uploaded JPEG, bitmap, tiff, text or RAW images, and print directly to supported printers. The built-in 7-in-1 card reader accepts all popular memory cards including Compact Flash, MicroDrive, Secure Digital, MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro and XD card. An optional adapter accepts MS-Duo, MS Pro-Duo, Mini-SD and RS-MMC.

For audio and video, the 5160 supports input from any video source for recording, and view MPEG-1, MPEG-4, WMV9 and Xvid codecs, as well as MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC (MP4 audio) and CDA. As a bonus, they can also record off the ESP’s built-in FM radio.

For more information, click here.

NARDA Taps USA For Service Arm

The United Servicers Association (USA) has announced plans to merge with the North American Retail Dealers Association (NARDA), in a move that will make USA the Service Division of NARDA.

"The partnership between NARDA and USA created through The Service & Retail Convention and numerous other areas of common interest laid the foundation for one cohesive association that can bring greater value to our members and better address challenges and opportunities," says Paul MacDonald, USA’s Board President. "Industry consolidation is here to stay. We are not only better off as one organization, we are excited about the many potential opportunities ahead."

According to NARDA Chairman Leon Barbachano, under the plan USA assumes one of seven board seats on NARDA’s newly reorganized board. "USA members will bring NARDA additional expertise in the service arena. USA members are well known for being among the best of the best servicers. The merger further demonstrates NARDA’s commitment to the Service segment of the business".

The combined association will be headquartered in Glenview, Ill., and officers and directors of the newly combined organization are expected to be announced in the coming weeks after approval by the general memberships and completion of the merger agreement. Combined, the two associations have more than $11 billion in annual sales.

For more information, visit www.narda.com.

DirecTV, EchoStar Settle Keyword Fight

EchoStar Satellite LLC, and DirecTV jointly announced a settlement today of several pending legal battles between the two regarding Internet searches and sponsored links on search engines through services such as Google Adwords.

The cases, filed in federal district courts in California and New York, deal with each company's trademarks that when used as keywords in a search engine would trigger sponsored links from the competitor.

Both EchoStar and DirecTV have agreed that neither of them will use the trademarks of the other as keywords, "unless and until the United States Supreme Court or the United States Congress establish that this practice is not a violation of the law," the statement says.

Neither company is offering any further comment on the litigation, nor the details of the settlement.

For more information, click here.

Major DTV Hurdle Coming This Week

March 1 is rapidly approaching, and with it one of the last major hurdles for  the digital television transition. After Wednesday, all products shipped with analog television tuners will be required to include a DTV tuner.

The milestone marks the final phase-in of DTV tuners and comes as DTV industries and consumers prepare for all-digital broadcasting in 2009.

"The finish line for the transition to digital broadcasting is less than two years away," says Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro, "and the consumer electronics industry has reason to celebrate this latest milestone on the pathway to a successful transition"

The influx of digital tuners gives consumers an alternative to purchasing a new TV in order to continue receiving programming after the Feb. 17, 2009 federally-mandated switch from analog to digital over-the-air programming.

As part of CEA's ongoing effort to help consumers understand the transition from analog to digital television, CEA's Video Division Board adopted language last year for manufacturers and retailers to alert consumers purchasing an analog-only set that a digital converter box will soon be required for over-the-air reception. Shapiro encourages retailers to include the analog labeling language in product displays as an additional measure to ensure consumers are informed about how analog sets will receive over-the-air broadcasts after the transition.

This voluntary labeling initiative is part of an industry-wide educational effort that supports a successful digital television transition.

For more information, visit www.myceknowhow.com.