TWICE News

• SnapAV Offers Free Bid-Proposal SW Trial
  
  By TWICE Staff, July 28, 2009
  Charlotte, N.C. - SnapAV, a manufacturer of A/V products and accessories for the custom-installation channel, is offering a free six-month trial of bid-proposal software.
  
• Onkyo Ships Blu-ray Player, A/V Systems
  
  By Greg Tarr, July 28, 2009
  Upper Saddle River, N.J. - Onkyo said Tuesday it is now shipping its latest "high-performance" BD-Live-enabled Blu-ray Disc player, and a pair of Blu-ray-ready home-theater systems to support it.
  
• Samsung Study: Group Gifting Popular Option
  
  By Greg Tarr, July 28, 2009
  Ridgefield Park, N.J. - Nearly eight in 10 people have group gifted in the past, and approximately half of those have group gifted more than once and expect to do so during the holiday season later this year, according to Samsung.
  
• Alpine Ships Wireless Marine Remote
  
  By Amy Gilroy, July 28, 2009
    Torrance, Calif. - Alpine is now shipping one of the industry's first wireless remote controls for marine audio, allowing boaters on the deck to control a stereo in the cabin without running wires through the boat.
  
• Pioneer Adds Netbook DVD/CD Burner
  
  By Greg Tarr, July 28, 2009
  Long Beach, Calif. - Pioneer Electronics has introduced a slim portable DVD/CD writer that targets the growing netbook market.
  
• Harman Consumer Preparing Major Marketing Efforts
  
  Joseph Palenchar, July 28, 2009
  Stamford, Conn. - The Harman Kardon, Infinity and JBL audio brands in the coming months will begin to rebuild distribution, launch new products and marketing programs, and differentiate themselves.
  
• Hitachi Posts Lower CE Sales, 28% Loss
  
  By Steve Smith, July 28, 2009
  Tokyo - Hitachi Ltd. reported that its digital media and consumer products business posted a loss and had a 28 percent sales drop compared with the fiscal first quarter of last year.
  
• Best Buy Europe Names CEO
  
  By Alan Wolf, July 28, 2009
  London - Best Buy Europe has appointed Scott Wheway CEO as the company prepares to open the first Best Buy stores on the continent.
  
• Office Depot's Q2 Sales, Profits Sink
  
  By Alan Wolf, July 28, 2009
  Boca Raton, Fla. - Office Depot reported an $82 million loss and a 22 percent decline in sales to $2.8 billion for its second quarter, ended June 27.
  
• Almo's Accessories Line Gets Expanded
  
  By TWICE Staff, July 28, 2009
  Philadelphia - Almo, the CE and major appliance distributor, has expanded its accessories lineup with six more brands.
  
• BNS System Melds Paper Catalogs With Broadband IPTV Tech
  
  By Greg Tarr, July 28, 2009
  Hong Kong - Broadband Network Systems (BNS), based here, has developed an IPTV system that melds conventional paper catalog ordering with a digital IPTV platform.
  
• VTech Debuts Cell/Landline DECT Phone System
  
  By John Laposky, July 28, 2009
    Beaverton, Ore. - VTech Communications has introduced a cellular/landline-bridging DECT 6.0 home phone system that can be paired with up to eight Bluetooth-enabled devices.
  
• Sprint To Expand Its Prepaid Business With Planned Virgin Mobile Purchase
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 28, 2009
  Overland Park, Kan. - Sprint Nextel will buy prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Virgin Mobile USA to complement its existing Boost Mobile prepaid division under a definitive purchase agreement approved by the Sprint and Virgin Mobile boards.
  
• VuNow Adds CinemaNow Content
  
  By Greg Tarr, July 28, 2009
  Mountain View, Calif. - Verismo Networks said Tuesday it has added Sonic Solutions' Roxio CinemaNow content to the VuNow Internet TV platform.
  
• Siemens Gigaset Enters U.S. DECT Phone Market
  
  By John Laposky, July 28, 2009
  Dallas - Gigaset Communications entered the U.S. telephony market this morning with a portfolio of DECT 6.0 phone products.
  
• Toshiba Enters Desktop HDD Market
  
  Doug Olenick, July 28, 2009
  Irvine, Calif. - Toshiba America today launched its first external hard drives for the dekstop market.
  
• Sonos Multi-Room Music System Gets Handheld Touchscreen
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 27, 2009
    Santa Barbara, Calif. - Sonos upgraded its wireless multi-room-audio system with a new wireless handheld controller that replaces its predecessor's scroll wheel with touchscreen and virtual QWERTY keyboard.
  
• Broker Tied To False Harman Report Found Dead
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 27, 2009
  Al-Rawdha, Kuwait - A Kuwaiti investment broker sued by the SEC for spreading false takeover reports to bid up companies' stock prices, including the price of Harman International stock, was found dead in his home here.
  
• Samsung Offers e-Reader
  
  By Amy Gilroy, July 27, 2009
  Seoul, South Korea - Samsung Electronics announced its first e-reader for the South Korean market, while the Wall Street Journal said the company may offer similar devices in other countries.
  
• Sears Launching ‘Blue Electronics Crew' Effort
  
  By Alan Wolf, July 27, 2009
    Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears is creating an electronics department equivalent of its Blue Appliance Crew concept, and has enlisted NFL star Brett Favre to help promote it.