TWICE News

• Vizit Frame Adds AT&T Cell Connection
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 5, 2009
  San Francisco, CA - Isabella Products said Thursday that AT&T will supply wireless network service for Isabella's Vizit two-way interactive digital photo frame.
  
• DirecTV Posts Revenue, Profit Gains For Q3
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 5, 2009
  El Segundo, Calif. - DirecTV reported a double-digit gain in revenues and a net income gain for the third quarter, ended Sept. 30.
  
• Canon Offers Instant-Rebate Programs
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 5, 2009
  Lake Success, N.Y. - Canon USA is now offering a pair of instant-rebate promotions, including one running through Nov. 21 on select digital-SLR cameras and lenses and a second running through Jan. 16, 2010, on select Canon lenses and accessories.
  
• Conn's Q3 Sales Fall, Chains' Oct. Sales Rise
  
  By Alan Wolf, November 5, 2009
  Beaumont, Texas - Conn's said a weak local economy hurt sales during its fiscal third quarter, while national discount chains posted modest improvements in October.
  
• CEA Names 2010 Executive Board
  
  By Steve Smith, November 5, 2009
  Arlington, Va. - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced the election by its members of its 2010 executive board and board of industry leaders
  
• Calif. TV Regulation Vote Delayed
  
  By Steve Smith, November 5, 2009
  Sacramento, Calif. - The California Energy Commission (CEC) Wednesday voted to delay a vote on proposed energy-efficiency standards for televisions after receiving a 91-page protest from the Consumer Electronics Association.
  
• hhgregg Q2 Profits Up 46%
  
  Alan Wolf, November 5, 2009
  Indianapolis - hhgregg said it grew its second-quarter profits 46 percent by increasing sales, lowering costs and maintaining gross margins.
  
• Pioneer Posts Lower Sales, Net Loss
  
  TWICE Staff, November 5, 2009
  Tokyo - Pioneer reported a double-digit drop in net sales and a net loss of $408.4 million in its fiscal second quarter, which ended Sept. 30.
  
• Sirius Kicks Off Most Aggressive Ad Campaign
  
  By Amy Gilroy, November 5, 2009
    New York - Sirius XM said it will launch its most aggressive advertising campaign to date on Nov. 15 to promote the brand during the fourth quarter.
  
• Sears Takes Jenn-Air From Lowe's, Home Depot
  
  By Alan Wolf, November 5, 2009
  Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears will become the sole national retailer of Jenn-Air appliances after the new year, supplanting existing distribution deals between the super-premium Whirlpool brand and Lowe's and The Home Depot.
  
• States Challenge CEA's NYC Electronics `Take-Back' Lawsuit
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 5, 2009
  NEW YORK - State and local government officials from 18 states are calling on the CEA and Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) today to withdraw a lawsuit against a New York City e-waste recycling law that makes producers responsible for taking back waste products for recycling.
  
• Olympus E-P2 Adds EVF, Art Filters
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 5, 2009
    New York - Listening to suggestions of photographers and Micro Four Thirds camera enthusiasts, Olympus released Thursday the E-P2 PEN-style camera, which offers a handful of more professional level extras to the compact E-P1 introduced five months earlier.
  
• Alarms, Etc. Starts TV Ad Campaign
  
  By TWICE Staff, November 4, 2009
  Lakeland, Fla. - Three-store retailer Alarms, Etc. is launching its first holiday TV ad campaign, despite "the great recession."
  
• RVU Alliance Adds 7 Members
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 4, 2009
  Beaverton, Ore. - Motorola, Humax, Thomson, Pace, Entropic Communications, NXP Semiconductors and JetHead Development have joined the RVU-Alliance as the organization's first promoter members, the group said Wednesday.
  
• CES: Sustainable Planet Exhibit Bigger In '10
  
  TWICE Staff, November 4, 2009
  Arlington, Va. - The Sustainable Planet CE Spotlight, an exhibit area set for the 2010 International CES, will increase by more than 40 percent vs. the 2009 show.
  
• B&N Sued Over Nook e-Reader
  
  By Amy Gilroy, November 4, 2009
    Fremont, Calif. - Barnes & Noble's much lauded e-reader, the Nook, is not yet available, but it is already the subject of a lawsuit, filed Nov. 2 by Spring Design.
  
• Garmin Targets $99-$119 PNDs For Black Friday
  
  By Amy Gilroy, November 4, 2009
  Cayman Islands - In an unexpectedly strong third quarter, Garmin reported a higher net income, and said its selling prices for portable navigation device (PND) increased.
  
• 4G Car Prototype Displayed
  
  Amy Gilroy, November 4, 2009
  New York - Toyota and a group of technology companies have developed a prototype of the first 4G-connected car electronics system.
  
• Maingear Shifts Into A New Gear
  
  By Doug Olenick, November 4, 2009
    Union, N.J. - Maingear this week introduced the Shift, a high-performance PC that the company is calling the everyday supercomputer.
  
• HTC Cellphone Embeds Wi-Fi Router
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, November 4, 2009
    Taoyuan, Taiwan - An HTC-made 3G smartphone due in the U.S. early next year will incorporate an embedded Wi-Fi router, enabling multiple laptop users to share a cellular-data connection to the Internet when they're on the go.