Consumer Electronics Daily News

Alienware Seeks Authorized Resellers for New Media Server

Alienware is how shipping the High Definition Media Server, bringing customers one step closer to a fully integrated, digital home. System integrators, distributors and home builders can now join the Alienware Digital Home Channel Program to become an authorized reseller of the media server.

According to Alienware, the High Definition Media Server integrates seamlessly into a home entertainment system, creating a centralized source for storage, retrieval and distribution of digital content. The device has a 4TB capacity for hundreds of thousands of digital movies, music, photos and more, all of which can then be sent to multiple points throughout a house. Users can stream files wirelessly or via a home network to any computer in the house while an array of audio and video outputs deliver limitless possibilities.

"Alienware is a leader in digital entertainment --as evidenced by our high-performance multimedia and gaming platforms," says Marc Diana, Product Marketing Manager for Alienware. "The Alienware High Definition Media Server fulfills a distinct and growing need both of distributors and installers looking for a better digital media solution and of consumers venturing into an era of digital integration."

For more information about Alienware's Digital Home Channel Program, visit www.alienware.com/channelprogram.

GE Cameras Now Available at Walgreens

General Imaging, the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE digital cameras, has added Walgreens stores to the list of retailers carrying its products. Walgreens has been selling the entire lineup of GE digital cameras through its Web site, and the relationship is now expanding to put GE cameras in all of the pharmacy giant's brick-and-mortar stores.

"Walgreens is a vibrant American institution with high visibility," says Hiroshi "Hugh" Komiya, Chairman and CEO of General Imaging. "It is great to be able to add such an important retailer to our team."

Walgreens stores will stock the A735 and the E850, both in black, beginning April 15, 2008. The GE A735, a seven mexapixel shooter, is one of the first cameras on the market to include blink detection and smile detection, ensuring that the user captures just the right moment when taking shots of people. The E850 has been one of GE's most popular cameras, in part because it boasts a 28mm-equivalent wide-angle lens. The E850 features eight megapixels, 5X zoom, a three-inch LCD, and a 28mm-equivalent wide-angle lens.

For more information, visit www.ge.com/digitalcameras.

Sanus Now Shipping Side Speaker Mounts

Sanus Systems has added speak mounting systems to it's complete line of flat panel TV mounts with the VisionMount™ side speaker mounts for flat-panel speakers. The LAS1A for large and the XAS1A for extra-large flat-panel TV mounts attach directly to Sanus VisionMount full-motion wall and ceiling mounts.

According to Sanus, the LAS1A and XAS1A extend up to one foot horizontally from the TV mount, and a universal mounting bracket makes them compatible with a wide variety of flat-panel speakers. The mounts can support speakers up to 20 lbs., and have wire concealing panels to complete a clean look after install.

The LAS1A and XAS1A support speakers are available in black or silver finishes. Both products list for $109.99 per pair. For more information, visit www.sanus.com.

Amazon Buys Audible.com For $300 Million

Amazon.com, Inc. is diving deeper into the digital content delivery business with word today that the online retailer is purchasing Audible.com for about $300 million. Audible.com is one of the Web's largest sellers of audiobooks, newspapers and magazines, as well as other spoken word content like radio shows and original programming.

According to a statement announcing the deal, more than 80,000 programs, including audiobooks from well-known authors such as Stephen King, Thomas Friedman and Jane Austen, and spoken word audio content from sources including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Fresh Air and Charlie Rose, will now be available from Amazon.com.

"Audible.com offers the best customer experience, the widest content selection and the broadest device compatibility in the industry," says Steve Kessel, Amazon.com's Senior Vice President for Worldwide Digital Media. "Working together, we can introduce more innovations and bring this format to an even wider audience."

The move solidifies Amazon's position as the largest and most diverse book dealer on the Internet, offering enormous selections in both e-Reader (through it's new Kindle reader) and now audiobook format.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the second quarter of 2008.

For more information, visit www.amazon.com.

Dude, You're Not Getting a New Dell From a Mall Kiosk

Slow Sales Lead PC Giant to Shutter Mall Kiosks in the U.S.

Dell is closing up shop at its more than 140 mall kiosks around the country, citing slow sales and a desire to move more aggressively into the bringing the PC into retail locations as it has done throughout 2007 with Wal-Mart and Best-Buy. An undisclosed number of kiosks outside the United States will remain open, and the company still sells all of its desktop and notebook lines direct-to-consumers online.

The mall kiosk program officially began in 2002 with a very small number of locations where shoppers could essentially access the Dell.com Web site and customize a new PC for shipment to their door.

“Moving into retail is a prime example of Dell listening to its customers,” said Tony Weiss, Vice President of Dell's Global Consumer Business, in a statement announcing the decision. “Ever since we began our journey into retail, we wanted to give customers the opportunity to call, click or visit Dell and have access to our award-winning products. This move fits in with how our broad global retail strategy is evolving.”

Dell says that more than 10,000 stores worldwide offer consumers access to Dell computers, including high profile retail partnerships with Best Buy and Wal-Mart, as well as major retailers in China, Japan and in Europe.

For more information, click here.

iC Updates Mounts, Packaging and Product Support for Dealers, Consumers

iC, by Chief, has enhanced its line of flat panel and projector mounting solutions. Retailers and consumers will benefit from a new versatile titanium color for all mounts, a new package design, two new mount accessories and added sales support.

iC will offer all mounts in one convenient color, titanium, to coordinate with black or silver TVs! Reducing the number of needed SKUs for retailers, the new titanium mounts have a high quality, premium finish. Updated packaging highlights key selling features, package contents and required tools for installation. The new graphic-intensive packaging includes real-world application photos and is multilingual. Two iC package designs serve retailers worldwide (one three-language box including English, French and Spanish and a second 15-language package).

The new mounts will begin shipping in March. For more information, visit www.icmounts.com. 

JVC Rolls Out New Camcorders for PMA

The new line of JVC Everio Hard Disk Camcorders feature a super-slim design that makes them the world’s smallest hard drive camcorders on the market.

For 2008, there will be Everio camcorders available in sapphire blue, ruby red, diamond silver and onyx black, allowing consumers to choose a model based on features, budget and style. Also new is Laser Touch, a touch-sensitive scroll bar that simplifies operation, both 30GB and 60GB models, and a new design that’s some 20 percent smaller than last year’s entry-level model. In addition, a higher-end model offers higher-resolution digital stills by virtue of a seven megapixel CCD, making it unnecessary for people to carry both a camcorder and a digital still camera. This model is the first in the world to have an embedded 1.3” hard disk drive (30GB), which allowed JVC to integrate a large 1/2.5” CCD and its accompanying large optical lens section, without getting bulky — thereby providing the quality benefits of a large lens while maintaining a small body and offering large capacity.

For more information, visit www.jvc.com.

CEA Reveals PARA Conference Details

The Consumer Electronics Association has unveiled the complete schedule for the 2008 PARA Conference scheduled for March 12-14 at The Peabody Orlando in Florida.

“Whether retail, hybrid or custom, if you aspire to grow your business the 2008 PARA Conference is a must-attend event for you,” says PARA Executive Director Kerry Moyer. “Focusing on education and information sharing, this year’s high-value conference program, co-located with the Electronic House Expo Spring [EHX], provides concrete revenue-generating information you can immediately put into action.”

The conference will open with EthnoMetrics and your Showroom with Martin Smith, President of Ethnometrics, discussing results and recommendations from a case study of the customer purchase experience at a PARA dealer. The ethnoMetrics analysis focuses on how to display, price and sell the maximum amount of product at the highest margin possible and optimize spending dollars and maximize ROI while creating an enticing purchase experience that results in increased sales and customer loyalty.The conference is designed for both PARA members and non-member dealers and installers, though registration is limited. Other sessions include Evaluating the Customer Experience, The Coaching Instinct: Transferring Talent to High Performance, and The Art of Demonstration.

For more information on the 2008 PARA Conference, including schedule information and online registration, visit www.ce.org/events.

Former Activision VP Joins Play N Trade

Former Activision VP Tom McMahon has joined the Play N Trade franchise as Chief Operating Officer. One of the fast growing franchises in the country, Play N Trade has quickly grown into a major video game hardware and software seller and reseller.

McMahon's experience includes serving as Vice President of Retail Sales for Activision, where he led the successful launch of Tony Hawk Pro Skater, the company's first million-unit title. He has also held senior executive management positions with Fortune 500 companies Starbucks Coffee and the Frito-Lay division of PepsiCo. As COO for Play N Trade, McMahon will report to CEO Roger Lloyd, and will be responsible for managing all phases of the company's operations, including franchisee support, training, real estate, customer service, franchise development, brand strategy, operations and IT, marketing, and public relations.

"My focus is on improving operational efficiency and effectiveness in order to strengthen our franchisees' ability to provide exceptional customer service," McMahon said in a statement. "Play N Trade has achieved phenomenal growth over the past year and as we go forward, we will expand and enhance franchisee support, and position the company to continue its rapid growth rate."

For more information, visit www.playntrade.com.

High Growth Reported for the Small- to Mid-Sized LCD Industry

A new analysis from Reportlinker.com details the market potential for 10-inch and smaller LCD panel makers, projecting the market will recede slightly from 2007 sales of $18.8 billion as the panel prices continue to decline and competition from OLED manufacturers attract new market segments.

Output value of medium- and small-sized panels, stimulated by a big jump in shipment of handsets and the prevalence of color display screens, hit US$18.3 billion in 2005. The prosperity resulted in the sharp rise in output capacity in 2005, leading directly to a fall in the average selling price of medium- and small-sized panels the following year.

In 2008, the average prices of TFT-LCD will decline, since numerous TFT-LCD production lines of manufacturers will be put into operation. Among the numerous TFT-LCD production lines, Wintek owns two 3G TFT-LCD production lines; Truly Semiconductor has one 2G production line; Tianma Microelectronics has one 4.5G production line; PVI has one 2.5G, one 3G and one 3.5G production line respectively, which were all acquired from BOE-HYDIS and Giantplus Technology owns a 3G production line.

According to Reportlinker, the growth rate of the key products, including mobile phone, digital camera, auto navigation and MP3, is expected to rise 10 percent year on year, lower than 20 percent growth in output capacity. So, it is natural that the average prices will drop in 2008. It is forecasted that AM OLED will be put on the market massively in 2009, which will raise the demand of medium- and small-size panels, counteracting partial drops in prices.

For more from the Reportlinker report, click here.