Viewpoint
TWICE Editor-in-Chief Steve Smith discusses the latest headlines that ae affecting the consumer electronics industry.
CEA Podcast: The Future Of Retail
At last month’s CEA Fall Forum in Phoenix, yours truly had the pleasure of moderating a panel called “The Future of Retail,” which discussed current retail conditions and the challenges and opportunities CE retailers of all sizes face next year and in upcoming years. Joining me were three well-known executives: Jeannette Howe, executive director, Specialty Electronics Nationwi ...... Read More
Comments (0)CES Rite Of November Is Welcome
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) held its rite of November on Tuesday, its annual New York Press Preview and CES Unveiled event at the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18TH Street. To this reporter, and probably a few other attendees, it was a welcome bit of normality after dealing with this economically troubled year. The event traditionally kicks off two months worth of promotional acti ...... Read More
Comments (0)CE Disrupts Another Biz Again - Baseball
Chalk up another industry that is being disrupted by consumer electronics: Major League Baseball. It’s been about a week since the 2009 World Series ended here in New York with Yankee fans euphoric, Philadelphia Phillie fans disappointed and Met fans … trying to ignore the spectacle. Full disclosure here: I am a Yankee fan, less fervent perhaps than years ago, but happy with results ...... Read More
Comments (2)Calif. Should Not Set Nat’l CE Energy Policy
As you probably have heard, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is about to decide to accept proposed restrictions on power use by TVs sold in that state. Tuesday the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) submitted final comments to the CEC regarding the restrictions. Some non-Californians may say, “Who cares?” Anyone in the other 49 states should, because you don’t have a ...... Read More
Comments (4)Riding The Media Bus With Panasonic’s Perry
When you go to CEATEC or travel with one manufacturer or another during a trip to Japan you rarely have one of the top U.S. executives to ride along on the media bus and take part of the tour. But, that’s what happened a couple of weeks ago when Bob Perry, executive VP of Panasonic Consumer Electronics North America, traveled with the U.S. media members the company invited to Japan. In the ...... Read More
Comments (0)TWICE Presents Its Excellence In Retailing Awards
In a year where plenty of retailers have told TWICE, “Flat sales are the new growth curve” - or words to that effect - more times than anyone would care to hear, you’d think that it would be tough to find retailers of any stripe, especially CE retailers, to honor. The CE industry didn’t go on vacation this year just because the worst recession since the Great Depression ...... Read More
Comments (0)CEATEC ’09 May Illustrate An Industry In Transition
SOMEWHERE ABOVE THE PACIFIC - I’m returning to New York from an eventful week in Japan. In covering this business over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to go to cover CEATEC, held just outside of Tokyo, more than a half-dozen times. I was invited by Panasonic to attend this year, mainly to see its 3D HD introduction at CEATEC. If you’ve been visiting twice.com, receiving o ...... Read More
Comments (1)CEATEC Also Showcases Unique, Odd Displays
A cellphone with a wooden casing. Robots that move based on the movements of schools of fish. Battery-powered cars highlighted by consumer electronics manufacturers. And a singing robot that looks like a young girl. So this year’s CEATEC show, being held here at the Makuhari Messe convention center, a town just outside of Tokyo, isn’t just about 3-D HDTV. The unique, curious and ...... Read More
Comments (0)Best Buy’s Dunn: HDTV In Its Early Stages
All the talk at the Best Buy Holiday Media Day was about its fourth-quarter plans and projections. But since we had the opportunity to talk with the chain’s CEO Brian Dunn this past Wednesday in New York, I asked him what product opportunities the industry may provide down the road, such as in 2010 and 2011. Specifically, I asked if he thought CE product introductions in the near future m ...... Read More
Comments (1)Industry Signposts
Maybe it is lingering effect of being in a recession for too long, or the pressures of preparing for the fourth quarter, but here for your consideration are a few items that illustrate the mood and trends flowing through the industry now. Crystal Ball Cloudy On CE’s Q4 Surveys that were released last week provided a foggy picture on holiday sales. A CEA-CNET poll said “consumer confi ...... Read More
Comments (0)Phones (?) At CEDIA Expo
In preparation for any major show in CE that highlights new products, members of our editorial staff will usually pop in my office when there is surprise introduction news by a supplier.In this case it was executive editor and our resident video expert Greg Tarr in early August in preparation for our coverage of CEDIA Expo. He came in and said, “Guess what Panasonic’s big introductio ...... Read More
Comments (0)CE Pricing: An Open Letter To The Industry
The last thing this industry needs is a “price war” right about now. But that’s what may be happening if you believe all the industry chatter in recent weeks.Accusations from both suppliers and retailers that predatory pricing may be the rule in flat-panel TVs and other key categories this holiday season are the talk of the industry. The culprits in this battle are, allegedly, ...... Read More
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