Consumer Electronics Daily News

NAND Flash Market Faces Historic Downturn in 2008, 2009

Once one of the fastest-growing segments of the global semiconductor industry, the NAND-type flash memory market has been stricken by weakening consumer spending, causing revenue to decline in both 2008 and 2009, according to iSuppli Corp. iSuppli's revised forecast predicts that worldwide NAND flash memory revenue will fall by 14 percent to the $12 billion level in 2008, down from $13.9 billion in 2007. In 2009, global NAND flash memory revenue will decline by another 15 percent. iSuppli's previous forecast, issued in the third quarter, called for a 3 percent decline in 2008 and 12 percent growth in 2009.
The year 2008 will mark the first time that worldwide NAND flash revenue has declined on an annual basis.

This represents a major reversal of fortune for a product whose revenue routinely expanded by triple-digit percentages in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and that as recently as 2005 generated 62.2 percent annual growth. The biggest challenge is the nature of the applications that drive sales of NAND flash memory. Applications including Personal Media Players (PMPs), flash memory storage cards and USB flash drives account for almost 80 percent of total NAND chip demand.

"Unlike other memories, which depend more on non-consumer/non-retail products, NAND flash is bearing the brunt of the challenging retail conditions," said Nam Hyung Kim, Chief Analyst at iSuppli. "Combined with uncertain global economic conditions and a lack of killer applications, the NAND flash memory business is facing a triple whammy.

Decreasing unit growth in the NAND flash market potentially will impact the semiconductor capital equipment industry. The NAND flash suppliers have been increasing their capital spending to increase their capacities. However, industry spending will be reduced significantly by 38 percent in 2009.  
All in all, the only winners in this market are and will be consumers who have access to fire-sale prices for these flash storage devices due to those issues. 

For more information, visit www.isuppli.com.

Age is Primary Factor in How Americans Consume Video Entertainment

By Tara Neal

When it comes to viewing TV and video, growth in consumer markets is more limited by consumers’ ability to absorb new usage models and new applications than by limitations of technology, according to a new US consumer survey from ABI Research.

“The willingness to adopt new forms of entertainment delivery is in many cases determined by the age of the consumer,” says ABI Research Principal Analyst Steve Wilson. “That means that market growth is simply a matter of time.”

The online survey, which examined avenues of video delivery and consumption, found age influencing several patterns of consumption.

• Game consoles: penetration in the 18-25 year old segment showed no gain over last year, whereas penetration in the 65+ segment grew more than 200 percent.
• DVR ownership: is up uniformly across all age groups. The technology has been available for some time and has permeated the mass market.
• Video on Demand: 65 percent of the respondents over 65 have never used VOD, while only 30 percent of those in the 25-29 age range haven’t. However, 40-50 percent of those who have tried it continue use it at least once a month regardless of age.
• Internet downloads: downloading is only really popular with consumers under 30. Wilson: “The lack of wide video download popularity in all but the youngest group can very likely be attributed to inconsistencies in the process, a result of the industry’s immaturity.”
• Video cell phone usage: consumers in their 30s are four times more likely to have watched video on their handset than those in their 50s. The wealthy, willing to pay the extra costs, are much more likely to watch video on their handsets than the less affluent.
  Consumer Video Preferences and Profiles.

For more information from the report, click here.

Dell Updates Battery Replacement Program

Dell is updating its battery-replacement program based on additional information the company has received from lithium-ion battery supplier Sony.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that certain notebook batteries manufactured by Sony have been recalled and Dell is listed among other system manufacturers in that announcement because it received some affected units – fewer than 300 worldwide. According to Sony, the 300 batteries may present a fire and burn hazard. The battery packs were manufactured by Sony on Nov. 9, 2004 and April 11, 2005 and were shipped shortly thereafter with Latitude and Inspiron laptop systems or as service replacements.

Sony has provided additional information to Dell relating to the company’s 2006 recall of Sony lithium-ion batteries, expanding the number of potentially affected units by approximately 15,000. Dell has revised its existing recall Web site www.dellbatteryprogram.com to address both issues. Dell asks customers with affected models to check the site, even if they previously checked their battery as part of the original recall. Dell will voluntarily replace affected batteries at no charge.

CEA Praises New ENERGY STAR TV Spec

The Consumer Electronics Association has expressed support for the new ENERGY STAR® specification for televisions, which takes effect November 1. The new specification is a significant milestone in television energy efficiency and for the first time accounts for both active and standby power consumption across all types of televisions.

“The consumer electronics industry supports voluntary, market-oriented programs such as ENERGY STAR that drive energy efficiency without harming innovation or impeding product convergence,” says Doug Johnson, CEA’s Senior Director of Technology Policy. “With the new ENERGY STAR TV specification now in effect, consumers focused on reducing energy use and their carbon footprint can choose from the latest ENERGY STAR-compliant TV models during the holiday shopping season.”

According to the U.S. EPA, if all televisions purchased by consumers in 2009 met the new ENERGY STAR standards, the savings in greenhouse gas emissions would be equal to removing one million cars from the road. Also according to EPA, TVs that earn the ENERGY STAR label under the new requirements will be up to 30 percent more efficient than non-qualified models, making it easier for consumers to select an efficient model based upon the government-backed criteria. EPA projects that approximately one quarter of the televisions currently entering the market will meet the stricter specification for efficiency. A list of models qualified under the new ENERGY STAR TV specification can be found online at www.energystar.gov.

For more information on the consumer electronics industry’s efforts to reduce energy consumption and promote environmental sustainability, please read the Environmental Sustainability and Innovation in the Consumer Electronics Industry report, or visit www.mygreenelectronics.org.

Chief Launches a Flat Panel Wall Mount Module for MOUNTBUILDER

Chief Manufacturing has launched the next phase of MOUNTBUILDER. In addition to building configurations for projector and flat panel ceiling mounted applications, users can now build configurations for flat panel wall applications. Several enhancements to MOUNTBUILDER's user interface are also included with the launch.

MOUNTBUILDER is an online tool that revolutionizes the way mounts are selected and specified. The tool simplifies the building and specifying process by walking the user through a logical sequence of steps for building a mount configuration. As the user makes selections from a menu of Chief products and accessories, the configuration visually appears before them on screen. The application also builds a parts list that can be saved for proposals or future jobs; and auto-calculates weight capacities, drop distances, and distance from the wall.

With this latest launch, MOUNTBUILDER visually configures flat panel TV wall mounts and accessories with many improvements to the module that focus on speed and usability. With the new additions, users can:

• Zoom in and out of the configuration to get a closer look at the specific parts
• Edit parts lists at any time
• Highlight individual parts by rolling over the interactive parts list
• Turn on or off a generic display image that provides an example of how the mount configuration will look with a TV or projector attached
• Switch from ceiling to wall configuration modules with a single click

MOUNTBUILDER currently offers two modules, one for projector and flat panel TV ceiling mounted applications, and the new module for flat panel wall applications. Future phases of MOUNTBUILDER are planned throughout 2009. Visit www.chiefmfg.com or www.mountbuilder.com for more information.

THIEL Unveils Signature Edition CS2.4SE Loudspeaker

U.S. loudspeaker company THIEL Audio introduces the CS2.4SE loudspeaker, a limited production version of THIEL’s popular CS2.4 floor-standing speaker. The THIEL CS2.4 has been the loudspeaker of choice for thousands of audiophiles worldwide and has received much praise by both audio critics and enthusiasts since its unveiling over five years ago. The CS2.4SE (Signature Edition) raises this already beloved loudspeaker to an absolute apex of both visual beauty and sonic performance. 

The standard CS2.4 crossover network employs a carefully chosen complement of very high quality polypropylene and custom-made polystyrene capacitors. For the Signature Edition, THIEL has painstakingly selected ultra-fine grade boutique capacitors, a cost-no-object approach to crossover design with magnificent results; The THIEL CS2.4SE reproduces the musical spectrum with stratospheric precision, balance, and detail that can only be summarized as an exquisite degree of refinement.  

Not satisfied to ennoble the CS2.4SE on musical merits alone, THIEL's master craftsmen have massaged the finest hand-selected Birdseye Maple using a deep red stain formulated specifically for the CS2.4SE. THIEL calls this captivating finish Vermilion Maple, a rich and luminous finish boasting deep, dimensional grain with an elegant hue top to bottom. A beveled groove between the sleekly sculpted satin black baffle and the cabinet walls further denote the Signature Edition, accentuating the singular beauty of the CS2.4SE. Other adornments include stainless steel hardware securing the drivers to the baffle, as well as a high contrast THIEL logo in bright chrome relief at the base of each enclosure. For maximum stability, burly milled aluminum Outriggers and highly polished stabilizer spikes are included with each pair of CS2.4SE’s.

The THIEL CS2.4SE is available now with an MSRP of $8000 per pair. 

WD Speeds Up My Passport Studio Drive With FireWire 800

WD today added a high-speed FireWire 800 interface to its My Passport Studio portable drive to give Mac computer users and creative professionals the fast performance they need. The new interface also makes this drive a perfect storage companion for the newly introduced Apple MacBook Pro computer. With FireWire 800/400 and USB interfaces, the new My Passport Studio portable drives offer up to 500 GB of storage capacity, are formatted for Mac computers and weigh less than 7 ounces.

"Photographers and videographers, be they creative pros or Mac computer enthusiasts, have a genuine need for large amounts of fast, portable storage for their high-definition files," says Jim Welsh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of WD's Branded Products and Consumer Electronics Groups. "With a new FireWire 800 interface, My Passport Studio speeds up editing and transferring of big media files making it perfect for performance-minded Mac computer users on the go."

A built-in, illuminated capacity gauge tells users how much space is available in the drive and because it is powered by the FireWire or USB connection, it is truly portable.  In addition, My Passport Studio can be used to backup Mac laptops using Apple's Time Machine application.

For more information, visit www.shopwd.com.

CEA Announces 2009 Board of Industry Leaders

Leaders from across the diverse segments of the consumer electronics industry, including the first-ever Retailer Chairman, will serve on the Board for the Consumer Electronics Association. CEA announced its Executive Board will be chaired by Gary Yacoubian, President and COO, MyerEmco Audio Video and Henry Chiarelli, President of DBL Distributing, LLC, will serve as Vice Chairman.

“The 2009 Board of Industry Leaders serves as the conduit of our 2,200 member companies,” says Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of CEA. “Their volunteer leadership helps protect our industry’s interests through one resounding voice. With a retailer and a distributor taking leadership roles on our Executive Board alongside our manufacturer members, CEA truly represents our entire industry.”

Members of the Board of Industry Leaders are elected by CEA members. The Executive Board, which is elected by the Board of Industry Leaders, determines CEA policies, manages the association’s affairs and defines qualifications for membership.

Pat Lavelle, President and CEO, Audiovox Corp., will remain on the Executive Board as the Immediate Past Chairman. New Executive Board members include Jim Bazet, President and CEO, Cobra Electronics; Randy Fry, President, Fry’s Electronics; Paul Sabbah, President, Stamford International; John Godfrey, Vice President, government and public affairs, Samsung. Returning Executive Board members include Michael Mohr, President, Celluphone Inc.; Steve Caldero, Senior Vice President and COO, Ken Crane’s Home Entertainment; Loyd Ivey, Chairman and CEO, Mitek Corp; Jay McLellan, President and CEO, Home Automation Inc. and Grant Russell, President, Kleen Concepts. Peter Lesser, president and CEO, X-10 USA Inc., remains CEA’s Industry Executive Advisor. Shapiro will serve on the Executive Board along with Glenda MacMullin, CEA, as Treasurer and Karen Chupka, CEA, as Secretary.

For more information, visit www.ce.org.

ERI Receives 3rd Consecutive WRAP Award

Electronic Recyclers, Inc. (ERI), California’s leading recycler of electronic waste, announced today that it has for the third consecutive year been named an honoree of the state’s prestigious Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP).

The WRAP Awards are an annual program established in 1993 by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) to recognize California businesses that have made outstanding efforts to reduce waste and send less garbage to state landfills.

“It is an honor and a privilege to once again be recognized by the State of California for our waste reduction efforts,” says John S. Shegerian, ERI’s Chairman and CEO. “Properly disposing of electronic waste and the hazards it presents to our environment is our day-to-day business – and we are passionate about doing everything we can outside of our business description to be a green organization as well. The reason we have once again received the WRAP award is because we are environmentally responsible in every aspect of our operations. From the electric forklifts in our facility to the energy efficient lighting to recycled office furniture to the fleet of hybrid cars our sales team drives, being green is something we instill among all our employees. We will exhibit our third consecutive WRAP Award with great pride.”

According to the CIWMB, the WRAP awards are given to businesses that develop progressive and creative programs that reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. To show the State's appreciation of their efforts, ERI will receive an official WRAP award certificate and will become authorized to use the WRAP logo in advertising and promotion throughout 2009.

For more information, visit www.electronicrecyclers.com.

Belkin Adding Intellon ICs to 3-Port Power Line Adapters

Intellon Corporation, a provider of HomePlug®-compatible integrated circuits for home networking, networked entertainment, Ethernet-over-Coax (EoC) and smart grid applications, announced that Belkin International, Inc. has selected Intellon’s HomePlug AV ICs for use in its new Powerline AV+ Starter Kit that includes two adapters (a three-port hub and one-port adapter) that make setting up a high-speed network for Over-the-Top (OTT) video, online gaming and other applications requiring multiple connected consumer electronics devices fast and easy.

Belkin’s Powerline AV+ hub has three Ethernet ports that allow users to reliably transmit content from the Internet directly to multiple computers and other network devices through the existing electrical wires in the home. For areas in a home that are hard to reach via wireless connections, HomePlug powerline networking is the most reliable solution for providing secure Internet connectivity to these remote areas.

The new Belkin adapters meet the requirements for many homes where high-speed connectivity is needed for an increasing number of electronics devices. Because the Powerline AV+ acts as a hub for up to three networked products, users can stream and download media content directly to multiple gaming consoles, set-top boxes and computers without the latency and dropped connections sometimes experienced with wireless.

“Increasingly, powerline technology is proving itself as the solution of choice for the well-connected home,” saysy Rick Furtney, President and COO of Intellon Corporation. “HomePlug AV-based products have the bandwidth to support high-speed internet access, standard and high definition video transport, online gaming, whole house audio and other entertainment applications throughout the home.”

For more information, visit www.belkin.com.