TWICE News

• New Bluetooth Kits Debut With Speech Capability
  
  By Amy Gilroy, December 1, 2008
  New York — High-tech speech recognition, expected to become a hot feature in mobile electronics, is now offered on Bluetooth kits from Parrot and Funkwerk Americas.
  
• Survey: Internet Radio Listenership Gaining
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, December 1, 2008
  Somerville, N.J. — Internet radio listening is gaining in popularity, increasing the market potential for home audio products incorporating Internet radio streaming, an Edison Media Research study implies.
  
• Step-Up Phones Hit The Market
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, December 1, 2008
  New York — Wireless carriers and handset vendors are testing consumers’ appetite for step-up products during the current economic slowdown with the launch of multiple new smartphones, touchscreen phones and TV phones.
  
• Eclipse Intros All-Digital Car Video
  
  By Amy Gilroy, December 1, 2008
  Eclipse will introduce at International CES a new top-of-the-line A/V-navigation unit with a digital screen that can process the signal for digital media without analog circuitry for a clearer picture. The AVN726E, however, does not offer HDTV reception. The unit is also one of the first car radios to offer iTunes tagging on HD Radio (joining models from Dual and Alpi...
  
• Storms Sink Conn's Q3 Profits
  
  By Alan Wolf, November 26, 2008
  Beaumont, Texas — Conn's said sales and earnings were socked by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike during the retailer's fiscal third quarter.
  
• Samsung Blu-ray Players To Get Netflix HD Next Week
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 26, 2008
  Ridgefield Park, N.J. – Samsung said Wednesday that it has added access to the Netflix streaming HD movie service to a pair of its Blu-ray Disc players – models BD-P2500 and BD-P2550.
  
• GiiNii Readies Wedge Photo Frame
  
  By TWICE Staff, November 26, 2008
  San Ramon, Calif. — Digital frame marketer GiiNii said its new Wedge digital photo frame is shipping this month.
  
• Toshiba Adds High-Capacity Memory Cards
  
  By TWICE Staff, November 26, 2008
  Irvine, Calif. — Toshiba said it would add a 16GB MicroSDHC card alongside a pair of high-speed SDHC cards to its line in the next two months.
  
• Super Talent, Kingston Add USB Drives
  
  By TWICE Staff, November 26, 2008
  New York — Kingston Technology will ship its highest-capacity USB flash drive to date, while Super Talent announced an expansion of its diminutive Pico line.
  
• Office Depot Adds PC Security
  
  By Colleen Bohen, November 26, 2008
  Santa Clara, Calif. — Office Depot and McAfee have teamed to provide McAfee Internet security solutions to customers through the retailer’s Tech Depot Services program.
  
• Panasonic Opens Concierge Service To TV Shoppers
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 25, 2008
  Secaucus, N.J. — Panasonic said Tuesday it is once again opening its Panasonic Viera Concierge toll-free information service to TV shoppers prior to the “Black Friday” holiday shopping season.
  
• Clarity Announces Hearing-Aid Handset
  
  By TWICE Staff, November 25, 2008
  Chattanooga, Tenn. — Clarity, manufacturer of phones for the hearing impaired, will ship a new headset this month geared toward consumers with hearing aids.
  
• Lenovo Ups Laptop Security
  
  By TWICE Staff, November 25, 2008
  Research Triangle Park, N.C. — Lenovo is offering a new remote security feature for ThinkPad notebook users.
  
• Blockbuster Unveils ‘OnDemand’ TV Service
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 25, 2008
  Dallas — Blockbuster confirmed Tuesday the long speculation that it would jump into the online video space with a retail set-top product, similar to that offered by rival Netflix.
  
• Sirius XM Launches Black Friday Promo, Outlines Plans
  
  By Amy Gilroy, November 25, 2008
  New York — On Black Friday, Sirius XM will launch a trial, free “Best of Both” promotion and its first holiday advertising under a single Sirius XM banner.
  
• PC Gamers Get Virus Antidote
  
  By TWICE Staff, November 25, 2008
  New York — The growing influence the gaming community holds in the PC category can be seen today with the roll out of a version of Symantec’s Norton anti-virus software optimized for gamers.
  
• Hitachi Unveils Network 3LCD Projector
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 25, 2008
  Chula Vista, Calif. — Hitachi’s home electronics business group introduced Monday a compact 4.1-pound 3LCD video projector with 2,000 ANSI lumens of brightness.
  
• Sharp Expands Aquos Service Program
  
  By Greg Tarr, November 25, 2008
  Mahwah, N.J. — Sharp has expanded its Aquos AdvantageSM white-glove service and support program to purchasers of 37-inch and 32-inch Aquos LCD TVs.
  
• Samsung Stepping Up With Omnia Touch Phone
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, November 25, 2008
  New York — Samsung launched its latest smartphone, the high-end Omnia, through Verizon Wireless, which priced it at $249 after a mail-in rebate and with a two-year contract.
  
• HP Reports Double-Digit Revenue Gain In Fiscal Q4
  
  By Steve Smith, November 25, 2008
  Palo Alto, Calif. — Hewlett-Packard reported double-digit gains in net revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter, ended Oct. 31, of $33.6 billion, up 19 percent from the prior year.