TWICE News

• Dash Begins Preorders For First 2-way PND
  
  By Amy Gilroy, December 17, 2007
  Sunnyvale, Calif. — Dash Navigation announced today it is taking preorders on its first-of-a-kind “always on,” two-way personal navigation device (PND).
  
• Samsung Bows Wi-Fi Frame
  
  By TWICE Staff, December 17, 2007
  Irvine, Calif. — Samsung threw its hat into the wireless digital frame ring last week with the introduction of an 8-inch model based on Microsoft technology.
  
• CompUSA Closeout Marks End Of An Era
  
  by Alan Wolf, December 17, 2007
  DALLAS — CompUSA’s liquidation by Gordon Brothers, which acquired it in a fire sale by parent Grupo Carso SA, marks an ignoble end to a retailer that helped make computers commonplace in society.
  
• Tweeter's E-Commerce Store Remains Closed For Holidays
  
  by Alan Wolf, December 14, 2007
  Canton, Mass. – Tweeter Newco’s e-commerce operations will remain closed for the holidays.
  
• Coleman Leaves Gateway
  
  By Doug Olenick, December 14, 2007
    Irvine, Calif. — Gateway CEO Ed Coleman announced today that he would step down from his position, effective Jan. 31.
  
• DirecTV Acquires ReplayTV Assets
  
  by Greg Tarr, December 13, 2007
  Tokyo – D&M Holdings has sold most of the assets of its DVR company and brand – ReplayTV – to U.S. direct-to-home satellite TV provider DirecTV Group.
  
• Costco Posts Double-Digit Fiscal Q1 Gains
  
  By TWICE Staff, December 13, 2007
    Issaquah, Wash. — Costco reported double-digit gains in net sales and net income for its fiscal first quarter that ended Nov. 25.
  
• Sirius/XM Merger Concern on Capital Hill
  
  By Amy Gilroy, December 13, 2007
  Washington — Two congressmen expressed concern that the U.S. Justice Department may seek to rush through approval of the Sirius/XM merger, according to Reuters.
  
• Cobra Exits PND Mass Market
  
  By Amy Gilroy, December 13, 2007
    Chicago — Due to rapid changes in the navigation market, Cobra Electronics said it will exit the mass-market sector of personal navigation devices (PNDs) and focus on niche PND products with specialized distribution.
  
• Warner Names Digital Dist. Pres
  
  by Greg Tarr, December 12, 2007
  Burbank, Calif. — Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group named Thomas Gewecke president of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, to help pilot the company’s expanding digital strategy.
  
• Navteq Approves Nokia Merger
  
  By Amy Gilroy, December 12, 2007
  Chicago — GPS map provider Navteq announced its stock holders approved the previously announced purchase of the company for $8 billion by Nokia.
  
• CERC Applauds NTIA’s Retailer Certifications
  
  by Alan Wolf, December 12, 2007
  Washington— CERC lauded yesterday’s certification of over 100 retailers by the NTIA to participate in its digital TV converter box coupon program.
  
• DJM Selling CompUSA Leases
  
  by Alan Wolf, December 12, 2007
  Melville, N.Y. — DJM Realty will exclusively manage the national disposition of all remaining CompUSA real estate.
  
• XM Offers Podcasts On iTunes
  
  By Amy Gilroy, December 11, 2007
  Washington — XM Satellite Radio is placing some of its programming on iTunes and www.xmradio.com as podcasts that may be downloaded at no charge.
  
• Dell Enters Tablet PC Market
  
  By TWICE Staff, December 11, 2007
  Round Rock, Texas — Dell today introduced a new line of convertible notebooks under the Latitude XT brand.
  
• NTIA To Mail Coupons Feb. 17
  
  by Greg Tarr, December 11, 2007
  Washington – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will begin mailing out digital TV converter box coupons to consumers on Feb. 17, 2008.
  
• CTAM Finds DTV Awareness Lacking
  
  by Greg Tarr, December 11, 2007
  Alexandria, Va. — Americans receiving TV exclusively over the air are still the least aware of the upcoming analog shutoff deadline, a CTAM study found.
  
• Sony to hit 5% profit margin
  
  By Mark Shilling, Special from Variety, December 11, 2007
    Tokyo — Sony is on target to make its 5% profit margin goal by the end of fiscal 2007, Sony CEO and chairman Howard Stringer told reporters on Tuesday in Tokyo.
  
• LG Ships 2nd-Gen. Super Blu Player
  
  by Greg Tarr, December 10, 2007
  Englewood Cliffs, N.J. — LG Electronics is now shipping its second-generation “Super Blu” combination HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc player.
  
• Panasonic Opens Up Concierge Line
  
  by Greg Tarr, December 10, 2007
  Secaucus, N.J. – Panasonic has again opened up its Plasma Concierge support-line service for consumers looking to make a flat-panel TV purchase for the holidays.