Consumer Electronics Daily News

VESA Releases DisplayPort Interoperability Guidelines

Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has released its DisplayPort Interoperability Guideline, which sets protocols for enabling interoperability between DisplayPort devices and DVI 1.0/HDMI devices through the use of cable adapters.

“VESA developed the guidelines in response to the industry interest in establishing a means for achieving interoperability between DisplayPort 1.1 devices and DVI 1.0 or HDMI compatible devices,” says Bill Lempesis, VESA Executive Director. “Manufacturers can now provide their customers with the ability to connect a cable between a DisplayPort Source Device and a DVI 1.0/HDMI Sink Device [or vice versa] eliminating the need to purchase new equipment.”

A Dual-mode Device Indication icon was designed to be used with the DisplayPort icon to indicate that a device also supports DVI 1.0 or HDMI in addition to DisplayPort. The DisplayPort Interoperability Guidelines can be downloaded at www.vesa.org.

Circuit City Expands e-Commerce Capabilities to Bolster Turnaround Plan

Circuit City Stores Inc., is planning some significant upgrades to its online marketing and e-commerce strategies, which CEO Philip J. Schoonover says are key to boosting sales and improving the company's struggling position in the market.

In a recent earnings call to analysts, Schoonover said the retailer, which ranks No. 17 in the Top 500 Guide of e-retailers according Internet Retailer, is planning to add a plethora of services to its CircuitCity.com and Firedog.com (the company's installation and services arm), as a way to improve customer relations and boost sales.

The sites will soon allow customers to move beyond simple product sales into a more complete experience, Schoonover said, by allowing customers to schedule installation services, troubleshoot and remedy PC problems and generally obtain greater access to the company's extensive product and service offering.

In addition to revamping the Web sites, Circuit City will also reportedly consolidate two current distribution centers into a single location to streamline the delivery of online order. Circuit City reportedly generated $1 billion in Web sales in 2007, an increase over the previous year, despite sluggish sales at brick-and-mortar stores nationwide.

For more information, click here.

SoundGate Gives Aftermarket Access to Seamless Integration in Toyota, Scion

SoundGate’s newest auxiliary input interface for Toyota and Scion vehicles allow portable audio sources to work seamlessly alongside factory-installed options.

The AUXTOY1V3 interface allows the connection of any audio source into the factory radio of 1998 and newer Toyota and Scion vehicles. Its plug-and-play integration into the back of the factory radio provides a quick, worry-free project for mobile installation professionals. Factory options for Toyota and Scion include XM Satellite Radio and rear-seat DVD players, among others.

It features factory-match connectors, advanced software design to match the Toyota’s factory operating system, and reliable surface-mount construction. This exclusive updated version of a previous SoundGate interface will be available next month.

For more information, visit www.soundgate.com.

CES 2008 Looking to Draw More Digital Imaging Professionals

The Consumer Electronics Association is making a big push for digital photography professionals at next year's International CES with word this week that the nation's largest trade show will feature a new, highly-visible, dedicated section for digital imaging technology manufacturers.

At International CES 2008 (Jan. 7 to 10, 2008), an 8,000-square-foot space has been reserved at the front of the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center specifically for exhibitors in the digital photography and accessories market. The reserved space, which CES officials say will include a host of first-time CES exhibitors,will be adjacent to larger booths from heavyweight digital camera and accessories makers such as Kodak, Tiffen, Lexar, HP and others.

"We truly believe that this will be a terrific opportunity for the DI industry," Ryan Strowger, Senior Manager at Business Development at International CES, said in a letter to current CES exhibitors that are involved in the digital imaging market.

CEA and International CES have been aggressively working to expand the digital photography presence at the show, which next year wraps up just three weeks before PMA 2008, the photography industry's largest trade show (also taking place in Las Vegas at the LVCC).

"We have been told anecdotally by many of our manufacturers that their retailers do not plan to visit Vegas a second time within three weeks," Strowger said.

This year's CES reportedly drew more than 13,000 attendees interested in digital imaging, with more than 14,500 whose interest includes video. PMA 2007 had an audited registration total of 20,922. The Photo Marketing Association International, organizers of the PMA International Convention and Trade Show, announced today that the MemoryTrends Conference & Expo (MTCE), a leading scrapbooking and papercraft event, will co-locate with PMA 2008, Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 2008.

MicroDisplay Exits Projection TV Business

Manufacturer Will Shutter Business by Mid-July, No Official Word on Previously Announced Plans to Provide Branded Sets to Memorex, Akai

MicroDisplay Corporation has confirmed its plans to exit the projection TV business by mid-July, a surprising move that the small manufacturer is blaming on slow sales in May and, "recent uncertainty in the TV industry."

MicroDisplay Vice President of Marketing Marty Zanfino said in a statement, "We knew that we were entering a mature, competitive market and that we had a narrow window in which to succeed. We developed a TV with a unique display technology, excellent picture quality and a low cost, and we saw an opportunity. Unfortunately, the recent uncertainty in the TV industry, highlighted by particularly slow sales in May, made it virtually impossible to introduce a new type of projection TV at this time." 

The company will close its Fremont, Calif.-based offices in mid July.

"Like the employees of the company, we were taken by surprise by this announcement and unfortunately have no further details on what this means to the Memorex news announced at CES this year," said Shannon McPhee of Bender/Helper Impact, a PR firm that represents MicroDisplay and released the company's closure statement.

The company had announced a deal to provide 52 to 62-inch LCoS HDTVs to Memorex and Akai at International CES in January. Both companies said at the time they'd begin shipping the MicroDisplay-made sets to retailers in the summer.

Panamax Expands MAX In-Wall Series

Panamax Inc., a leading provider of AC power management solutions for customer home theater and audio installations, today announced the release of three new products in its award-winning MAX In-Wall™ series. Optimized for remotely located display devices, the In-Wall Powerkit-Pro, Power-Pro and Dual Signal Bay offer aesthetically pleasing solutions for noise filtration, protection and connecting signal lines.

The new MAX In-Wall Powerkit-Pro provides a noise-free, code-compliant extension of Panamax filtration and protection to remotely located devices, such as plasma displays, LCDs and projectors. A safer and more attractive alternative to running an extension cord from the component rack to the video output, the Powerkit-Pro accommodates optional signal line modules for a professional finish with additional EMI/RFI noise filtration built into the outlet receptacles.

The Powerkit-Pro will be available at an SRP of $299.95, the Power-Pro at an SRP of $99.95 and the Dual Signal Bay at an SRP of $29.95.

For more information, visit www.furmansound.com or www.panamax.com.

Western Digital Nabs Supplier Komag in $1 Billion Deal

Western Digital Corporation, maker of internal and external hard drives and other digital storage solutions, has announced plans to acquire media manufacturer Komag, Incorporated in a $1 billion deal that strengthens the company's position as a leading hard drive maker.

Komag is a leading supplier of thin-film disks, a critical component for high-density hard drives. Western Digital says the move bolsters their research and development strategy for the creation of new, larger capacity drives, and will help the company create more efficient storage technologies.

"This acquisition is a significant step in the evolution and differentiation of WD as a leader in the worldwide hard drive industry," WD President and Chief Executive Officer John Coyne said in a statement announcing the deal. "Following the successful integration of the Read-Rite head assets since 2003, we are very excited by the opportunity to drive incremental profitability and efficiencies in the WD business model through the full integration of Komag's media operation."

The transaction will be structured as a cash tender offer for all the outstanding shares of Komag common stock, followed by a merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of WD into Komag in which the remaining shareholders of Komag will receive $32.25 in cash. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007.

For more information, click here.

SIRIUS, XM Merger Gets Boost From NAACP

SIRIUS Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio are trumpeting a significant new endorsement given this week for their proposed merger from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

More than 400,000 members strong, he nation's largest and most widely-recognized grassroots civil rights organization calls the merger, "a positive development for African-American consumers," and sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week arguing that the merger would open up new opportunities for discussions of social, political and economic issues to reach listeners across the country.

"We are convinced that the pending Sirius-XM merger will be a positive development for consumers," NAACP Director Hilary Shelton wrote in the letter. "More diverse, accessible and appealing options at lower prices in satellite radio will help further expand the reach of this medium."

"We are extremely pleased to enjoy the support of such a well-respected and influential organization in the African-American community," said Gary Parsons, Chairman of XM Satellite Radio and Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS Satellite Radio, in a joint statement.

For more information, click here.

PENTAX Refreshes K100D DSLR

The PENTAX K100D entry-level DSLR from PENTAX Imaging Company is getting super-sized. The K100D Super, a refreshed version of the popular camera available now, includes more advanced features, a revamped dust removal system and upgraded compatibility with the better grade PENTAX SDM lenses.

The original K100D first shipped in July 2006. Like its predecessor, the Super version has a 6.1 megapixel APS-C CCD, 11-point autofocus mechanism, 16 segment multi-pattern metering, a 2.5-inch LCD monitor with 210,000 pixel resolution and a friendly Mode Dial featuring Auto Picture and Picture modes. The lens upgrade for the K100D Super makes it compatible with any PENTAX SLR lens ever produced (though an adapter is needed for thread-mounted lenses), expanding the functionality for novice DSLR users and professionals alike.

Priced at US $599.95, the PENTAX K100D Super with 18-55mm lens will ship in August. (Body alone is $519.95.) The AF200FG Auto Flash unit will ship in at the same time for $149.95. For more information, click here.

Hitachi Readies 10 HDTVs for Fall Launch

Hitachi has taken the wraps off its new line of high-end HDTVs -- a top to bottom refresh that includes all 1080, all flat panel, all large-screen (42 to 60") HDTVs with patented, innovative features.

Ten new HDTVs were announced this week, upping the number of Hitachi flat panel displays to 14, including:

• A 60-inch plasma display from the Director's Series.
• Two 55-inch plasma displays -- H-Series and T-Series -- offering 1280x1080 resolution that renders sharper detail than conventional plasma displays, Hitachi contends.
• Three 50-inch plasma displays -- S-Series, V-Series and Director's Series model -- offering consumers a range of features and options to satisfy their feature requirements and price-points.
• Four flat panel LCD displays -- 47-inch and 42-inch S-Series and 47-inch and 42-inch V-Series models.

The 60-inch Director's Series plasma (model P60X901) and 50-inch Director's Series plasma (model P50X901) will be available in August for a Manufacturers Advertised Price of $7,999.95 and $4,299.95, respectively. The 55-inch H-Series (model P55H401) has an MAP of $2,999.95 and the 55-inch T-Series (model P55T501) has a MAP of $3,299.95; both of these new plasma displays are available in September. The 50" S-Series (model P50S601) will be available in July for an MAP of $3,499.95. The 50-inch V-Series (model P50V701) will be available in August for an MAP of $3,999.95.

For more information, visit www.hitachi.us/tv.