Tales Of Blue Laser... And Other New Colors

A New Look For TWICE

As you take a look at this issue of TWICE you can see that we look a little different. We hope the changes will make the paper easier to read and look more dynamic. To fully explain the reasons why we changed our look, a little history lesson is in order.

The publishing business has changed dramatically in the past decade or so. Between the advances in desktop publishing, digital photography and the Internet, pictures and graphics from across the globe and across the street are now instantly available.

Years ago successful consumer newspapers and magazines hardly ever changed their look or style. Yet if you compare issues of The New York Times, The Washington Post or The Wall Street Journal from 15 years ago to today's editions, there are ever-so-slight changes.

Most importantly, readers like yourself have less time to read all the information that crosses your desk. The challenge of all publications, TWICE included, is to make our newspapers and magazines graphically appealing and easier to read to attract your attention. And we have to do this without changing our commitment to providing TWICE's readers with the most accurate, up-to-the-minute news covering the industry.

Our thanks go to Irasema Rivera, a freelance designer who has worked with several Cahners' publications in recent years, for developing our new design. Credit should also go to our publisher Marcia Grand and managing editor John Laposky, who along with yours truly, made up the advisory team that developed the new look. We hope you enjoy it.

Is This The Dawning Of The Age Of Blue Laser?

As always the CEATEC in Chiba, Japan, which is just outside of Tokyo, is good for one or two surprises that will reverberate as we prepare for International CES in Las Vegas. This month's show was no exception. Panasonic displayed working samples of a production-ready blue-laser device that's ready for use in high-definition optical recording systems. If you missed the story in our last issue (TWICE, Oct. 8, p. 1), Panasonic said it will be able to ship production quantities of the device to other suppliers in the spring, and it would also make Panasonic-branded blue-laser recorders available at that time. Will professional or consumer models come first? When will they ship? What will the price be?

This is great news and a welcome distraction from the tragic events of recent weeks. Many have waited for the introduction of blue laser for years. Still, I wouldn't get too excited. While I believe in the CE industry theory, "If you build it, they will come," the industry still has to deal with Hollywood. As usual, count on the studios to gum up the works as soon as they hear about these developments.

Let's hope that all sides can sit down and come up with some agreements so we can see consumer decks using blue laser technology on retail shelves within two years or less.

Add To Your Calendar The ADL Dinner On Nov. 10

Traditionally we don't use this column to promote any specific company or particular industry event, but this is a very special case. The Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) National Electronics, Home Office & Appliance Industries is holding its annual awards dinner at the New York Marriott Marquis hotel, Broadway and 45th Street, on Saturday, Nov. 10. The honorees include executive VP of Sanyo Fisher Paul D'arcy; Pro Group executive director and chief operating officer Roger Heuberger; and Whirlpool North American Region executive VP Michael Todman.

The dinner was originally to be held at last year's site, the New York Marriott World Trade Center, which was destroyed on Sept. 11. Thinking about last year's event it seemed unfathomable to me, as it seems to many around the country and world, that the Twin Towers, the hotel and other buildings in the area are gone. But they are, and while time marches on we will never forget.

We applaud the efforts of the ADL to reschedule the event, which will not only recognize the honorees but pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks. We hope that many industry executives from the New York metropolitan area and industry members nationwide who normally pass on such events come to New York that weekend to attend the dinner. (Hey, not only is the ADL a great cause, but New York City needs your tourist dollars and we have to show terrorists that they cannot change our way of life.) For more on the ADL dinner, contact corporate development director Judith E. Goldsmith at 212-885-7857.