Consumer Electronics Daily News

Garmin, TomTom Reportedly Looking to Add Mobile TV to Nav Devices

With the growth of the mobile market spurring new competition to bring broadcast, cable and satellite TV to an automobile near you, the industry's largest navigation device makers are reportedly getting ready to throw their collective hats into the ring.

A new report from DigiTimes contends that leading GPS device makers such as Garmin International and TomTom International, are independently working on bringing mobile TV to next-generation portable navigation devices.

According to the report, a key motivator for the incorporation of mobile TV into PNDs is the fact that few PNDs are utilized as extensively as conventional mobile television platforms such as cell phones or iPods. Because time spent using PNDs for navigation purposes is relatively limited, their idle status in a vehicle, combined commonly with a larger TFT color screen, make them ideal for expanded functionality such as mobile TV reception, audio or other media playback.

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Microsoft Extends XP Sales by Five Months

Microsoft plans to continue selling copies of the Windows XP operating system through June 2008, a five month extension over its previously announced plan, a move that comes in the wake of feedback from PC makers who say demand continues to be strong for the aging OS.

At the launch of Windows Vista, the software giant had said that XP sales would continue only through January 2008, but customers, specifically those who use Windows in business environments, have not flocked to Vista as quickly as the company had initially hoped. The world's largest PC makers have continued to offer XP as the default OS on new computers for many buyers and continued problems with compatibility of existing software and peripherals has led many consumers to delay their transition from XP to Vista.

While analysts are calling the continued success for XP a sign that Microsoft has disappointed many with Vista, company representatives say it's simply not true -- from January to June 2007, Microsoft sold more than 60 million Windows Vista licenses, it's fast-selling OS ever.

"We were a little ambitious to think that we would need to make Windows XP available for only a year after the release of Windows Vista," Mike Nash, a Microsoft Corporate Vice President, told Reuters.

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Slingbox Drops to Under $200

Less than one week after announcing their $380 million acquisition by EchoStar Communications, Sling Media's got a new HD-ready content streaming device -- the Slingbox Solo -- ready for retail. Starting at $179.99, the Slingbox Solo is $100 less than the previous Slingbox model, and offers users time/place shifting access to both standard and high-definition television content.

Unlike the pricier Slingbox Pro, the new Solo offers access to only a single source connection, whereas the Pro offers access to one HD and up to three SD sources at the same time.

According to Sling Media, the new device will be available at a variety of brick-and-mortar and online retailers, as we as through the company's website, www.slingmedia.com.

Also new from the newly purchased company is an updated version of SlingPlayer Mobile, a software companion to the Slingbox that makes it possible for users of smartphones on the Symbian OS to receive their TV content on the phone anywhere cell reception or Wi-Fi is available.

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Best Buy Intranet Site Gets Disclaimer After Consumers Cry Foul

Four months after Best Buy was sued by Connecticut state officials for allegedly misleading consumers about online prices with an in-store kiosk mirroring their Web site, Best Buy has announced plans to add a disclaimer to the intranet site in an effort to limit consumer confusion.

The suit arose from a complaint by several Connecticut shoppers who revealed that the nation's largest retailer utilized an intranet site at store kiosks that looks nearly identical to the company's consumer Web site, www.bestbuy.com. However, the in-store intranet site did not post the same sales as the online site, and the Connecticut attorney general alleged that Best Buy systematically used the in-store site as a way get consumers who sought a price match in store for online deals from receiving the lower prices.

The disclaimer reportedly notifies shoppers that the intranet site's prices, "may differ from national internet prices," but Best Buy has not yet announced whether stores will now match their own online prices for consumers in store.

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HomePlug, Panasonic Submit Merged IEEE P1901 Proposal for BPL

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance and Panasonic have merged their technical submissions to the IEEE P1901 Work Group for Broadband over Powerline (BPL) and submitted a joint proposal. The merged submission offers the efficiency of a single MAC and the flexibility to support both the HD-PLC and HomePlug AV PHYs.

According to a joint release,  the result is future products based on the merged P1901 proposal can be fully interoperable with existing HomePlug AV and Panasonic HD-PLC products. The IEEE P1901 Work Group is defining an industry-wide powerline technology standard resulting from collaboration between these two powerline industry leaders. This now paves the way for the unification and rapid growth of the powerline communications industry.

"As the leader in powerline communications, the HomePlug Alliance fully supports the IEEE's efforts toward a consolidated marketplace for the benefit of manufacturers and ultimately the consumers," says Matthew Theall from Intel Corporation, who serves as the President of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. "Working with a consumer electronics leader such as Panasonic is a natural choice for the Alliance. As a team we're looking forward to bringing an industry standard to powerline communications that continues to advance this powerful technology into the mainstream marketplace."

For more information on the IEEE P1901 standard,  visit http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1901/.

CEA: Positive Trends Continue for Home Buyer CE Purchases

Home builders can take advantage of increasing consumer demand for integration of consumer electronics products into new houses, according to a study released today from the Consumer Electronics Association. While new housing starts are expected to decline by 21 percent in 2007, the consumer electronics industry should see an eight percent increase in revenue, according to CEA’s Second Annual New Home Buyers and Technology Purchases study released today.

“The increasing importance of consumer electronics upgrades shows a positive trend in the future for home technology purchases,” says Tim Herbert, CEA Senior Director of Market Research. “Interestingly, new home buyers who did not purchase and install new technologies at the time they bought a house regret their decisions. Home builders have a unique opportunity to create new revenue streams by satisfying consumer demand for home electronics,” said Herbert.

The study also found that more than four out of five buyers of home technology are satisfied with the installation services they received. Consumer satisfaction with installation of consumer electronics products increased across the board over 2006. For example, 82 percent of consumers reported satisfaction in 2007, compared with 73 percent in 2006.

The complete study is available free to CEA member companies. Non-members may purchase the study for $599 at www.ebrain.org/crs/crs_all.asp.

JVC Readies Plug-and-Play HD Radio Receiver

JVC Mobile Entertainment is now offering the industry’s first plug-and-play HD Radio receiver. The new transportable for car and home, KT-HDP1, is currently shipping to Best Buy stores across the country. 

“It is with great enthusiasm that we launch this new HD Radio product that is both low priced and easy for consumers to install in their cars and at home,” says JVC Mobile Entertainment, Chad Vogelsong, General Manager, Marketing. “Following the overwhelming sales of our HD Radio head unit, the KD-HDR1, this transportable is the first of several new JVC HD Radio products that will be coming to market over the next 18 months.”   

An AM/FM/HD Radio multicast tuner, the KT-HDP1 adapts to most vehicles and has three installation options: a do-it-yourself car install kit that does not require removing the radio; a simple home kit; and, a professional car kit that does require removing existing radios. HD Radio data is show cased on a full dot matrix LCD display. Other features include white back light and blue key illumination, five-way navigation keys, 18 FM and six AM preset channels HD Radio station scan and seek and 3.5 mini plug audio out. Suggested retail price is $129 for the tuner itself plus $49 for the home and do-it-yourself car kits or $39 for the professional car installation kit.

For more information, visit www.mobile.jvc.com.

Kodak Offers Retailers Easy Entry Into Photo Printing Kiosk Market

Eastman Kodak Company is offering retailers a the new KODAK Picture Kiosk GS Compact -- an entry-level, self-service digital picture printing solution designed to open up new photo printing sales to retailers in smaller and non-traditional environments.

According to Kodak, the new kiosk is well-suited for locations with print demand of 30 to 50 prints a day, and is a smaller counter-top unit that combines flexible placement with fast and simple installation. Almost immediately, retailers can begin offering 4x6, 5x7 and 6x8-inch print sizes, creating an instant revenue stream.

"Many retailers worldwide want to offer their consumers self-service digital picture printing but struggle to find a solution that meets multiple business needs," says Nicki Zongrone, General Manager of Retail System Solutions, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. "The new GS Compact is small enough to fit within their retail footprint at a price point that enables them to almost immediately drive revenue and profits from consumer demand for digital prints. We even include the Point of Sale materials with each unit - it's an instant printing station in a box because a retailer can be up and running in only minutes."

For more information, visit www.kodak.com.

Chief's Power Conditioner Protects Flat Panel Displays

Chief Manufacturing is now offering installers a power conditioner designed to integrate with a Chief mount, protecting flat panel displays from spikes in electrical current. The PACPC1 Power Conditioner is designed to easily fit with Chief's flat panel wall mounts, extension columns and in-wall accessories to ensure a fast installation.

The PACPC1 provides surge protection up to 1890 joules, overvoltage protection shutoff and noise filtering. The accessory includes two outlets and a two-foot power cord. With the PACPC1 you get a 350K Lifetime equipment protection warranty, plus a faster, more reliable network operations and a better quality cable feed.

For more information on the new power conditioner, visit www.chiefmfg.com.

JVC Cuts 1150 Jobs

JVC has announced plans to slash 1,150 jobs -- nearly one-fifth of its workforce -- in early retirements in an effort to boost its lagging business, AFP reports.

As a part of the effort, JVC is offering workers with more than 10 years' service an early retirement option.

The move will reportedly cost the consumer electronics maker a one-off $96 million charge, but ultimately save money in the years ahead.

The drastic reduction is critical, "to return to the black in 2007, to strengthen management base in 2008, and achieve a long-term growth strategy by 2009," the company said in a statement today.

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