TWICE News

• IRes Tech Launches Wearable uCorder Lineup
  
  By Greg Tarr, March 17, 2010
    Toronto - IRes Technology has launched a pair of 3.5-inch "wearable" standard-definition mini Digital Video (DV) camcorders that can be configured to record up to seven hours of video and audio at a time.
  
• MERA Schedules KnowledgeFest 2010 Trade Show
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, March 17, 2010
  North Andover, Mass. - The Mobile Electronics Retailers Association (MERA) scheduled its KnowledgeFest 2010 trade show for Oct. 10 -12 in Dallas at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center.
  
• NPD: Q4 Smartphone Dollar Volume Up, Growth Rate Slows
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, March 17, 2010
  Port Washington, N.Y. - Consumer spending on smartphones grew year over year in the fourth quarter, but because of a proliferation of lower-priced models, smartphone dollar volume didn't grow as rapidly as it did during the year-ago period, said NPD.
  
• 2010 Hard And Optical-Drive Sales Up
  
  By Doug Olenick, March 17, 2010
  El Segundo, Calif. - The increased production of PCs is leading to stronger demand for hard disk and optical drives in 2010, according to iSuppli.
  
• Study: Energy Star Brand Gains Awareness As ‘Functional' Tool
  
  By Greg Tarr, March 17, 2010
  Washington - A recent national survey measuring the brand strength of the government's Energy Star program has found high levels of brand awareness and challenges ahead in selling environmental issues to American consumers.
  
• Conn's Gets Breathing Room On Loans
  
  By Alan Wolf, March 17, 2010
  Beaumont, Texas - Credit modifications approved this month by Conn's lenders have spared the 76-store appliance, electronics and furniture chain from potentially defaulting on its loans.
  
• T-Mobile Prices Its Latest 2 Smartphones
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, March 17, 2010
    Bellevue, Wash. - T-Mobile priced its latest two smartphones, the Android-based Motorola Cliq and HTC's Windows Mobile 6.5 HD2, at $129 and $199, respectively, with two-year voice/data plan.
  
• Google's Nexus One Smartphone Spreading To More Networks
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, March 17, 2010
  Mountain View, Calif. - Google launched a version of its Nexus One smartphone for use on AT&T's 3G network, and a Sprint-network version is on the way.
  
• Canon Expands LCD Projector Line
  
  By Greg Tarr, March 17, 2010
  Lake Success, N.Y. - Canon USA said Wednesday it has expanded its LCD multimedia projector line with two new WXGA resolution (1,280 by 800) widescreen and four new XGA resolution (1,024 by 768) models.
  
• CEDIA Launches Inventory Exchange Program
  
  By Greg Tarr, March 17, 2010
  Indianapolis - The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has unveiled a new members benefit program that will help dealers better manage their inventory.
  
• Navigon Brings iPhone Nav App Pricing Down
  
  Joseph Palenchar, March 16, 2010
  Chicago - Navigon introduced a lower-priced navigation app for the iPhone with the launch of Navigon MyRegion, which at an introductory price of $24.99 accesses maps for a single region of the U.S. Consumers purchase access to additional maps from the iPhone for an introductory $12.99.
  
• S1, Autonomic Launch Music Server With Remote Access
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, March 16, 2010
  New York - S1 Digital and Autonomic Controls have teamed up to offer what the companies call a first-of-its-kind music server whose music is backed up "in the clouds" for remote access from smartphones, PCs and game consoles.
  
• GE Announces ‘Create' Camera Giveaway
  
  By Greg Tarr, March 16, 2010
  Torrance, Calif. - General Imaging revealed Tuesday a contest that will give away one of only four exclusive autographed Create by Jason Wu digital cameras styled by the renowned fashion designer.
  
• DivX Plus Set As Free Download
  
  By Greg Tarr, March 16, 2010
  San Diego - DivX said Tuesday that it is now making the latest version of its flagship video software package, DivX Plus, available as a free download for Windows 7, Vista and XP on the company's Web site.
  
• MvixUSA Offers 1-to-4 HDMI 1.3b Splitter
  
  By Greg Tarr, March 16, 2010
  Chantilly, Va. - MvixUSA introduced Tuesday a stand-alone HDMI video-distribution system for splitting the high-definition video signal.
  
• CEA Backs FCC Broadband Plan
  
  By TWICE Staff, March 16, 2010
  Arlington, Va. - The CEA said it backs the FCC on its work to address the spectrum crisis, competition in the marketplace for video devices, and accessibility issues as part of the National Broadband Plan released today.
  
• Razer Adds Lefty DeathAdder Gaming Mouse
  
  By TWICE Staff, March 16, 2010
    Carlsbad, Calif. - Razer introduced a version of its DeathAdder gaming mouse designed specifically for left-handed users.
  
• Digital Living Network Alliance Adds Promoter Members
  
  By TWICE Staff, March 16, 2010
  Tokyo - The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) has added five Promoter Members: AT&T, Dolby Laboratories, Qualcomm, Technicolor and Verizon.
  
• FCC Broadband Plan: Cable Industry Asked to Adopt Gateway Device to Replace Set-Tops
  
  By John Eggerton, March 16, 2010
  The FCC wants the cable industry to adopt an open-standard, "gateway" device to replace current set-tops by the end of 2012, and in the meantime make a bunch of fixes to its CableCARD regime by next fall, according to a copy of the FCC's National Broadband Plan, to be officially unveiled Tuesday (March 16). The cable industry has warned against a one-size-fits-all approach to set tops.
  
• ‘Avatar' Makes Blu-ray, DVD Debut On Apr. 22, But Only In 2D
  
  By Greg Tarr, March 16, 2010
  Los Angeles - Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment officially announced Tuesday that it will launch director James Cameron's box office record-setting sci-fi feature "Avatar" in a Blu-ray Disc plus DVD combo pack on April 22.