TWICE News

• Alpine Launches AVN With Updatable Drive
  
  By Amy Gilroy, October 31, 2008
  Torrance, Calif. — Alpine Electronics announced a new all-in-one audio/video and navigation in-dash unit with a removable navigation cartridge.
  
• AOL Shutters Pictures Web Service
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 31, 2008
  Dulles, Va. — AOL is bowing out of the online photo services market.
  
• Another Laptop Battery Recall For Sony
  
  By John Laposky, October 31, 2008
  Tokyo — Sony Corp. released a statement today supporting the voluntary recall of about 100,000 notebook computer batteries due to reports of overheating and fire incidents.
  
• Dell Bows 24-Inch XPS One
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 30, 2008
  Round Rock, Texas — Dell expanded its XPS One lineup with the launch of the XPS One 24 and the XPS One 24 Product (Red).
  
• Circuit City Reports Non-Compliance With NYSE Listing Standard
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 30, 2008
  Richmond, Va. — Circuit City reported that it was notified by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that it did not satisfy standards for continued listing of the company's common stock.
  
• CEA: New Energy Star Spec Takes Effect Nov. 1
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 30, 2008
  Arlington, Va. — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) reminds that the new Energy Star specification for televisions takes effect Nov. 1.
  
• Kodak Posts Profit, Warns Of Job Cuts
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 30, 2008
  Rochester, N.Y. — Kodak enjoyed third-quarter earnings of $101 million, up from of $32 million in the year-ago quarter, the company said today.
  
• Pinnacle Upgrades Studio, Adds Theme Pack
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 30, 2008
  Mountain View, Calif. — Pinnacle Systems will release a new version of its Studio video-editing software and a new package of winter-themed templates this month.
  
• Pioneer Wins Plasma Patent Suit Vs.Samsung
  
  By Greg Tarr, October 30, 2008
  Long Beach, Calif. – Pioneer said Thursday that a jury in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas voted in favor of its patent infringement suit against Samsung SDI and two affiliated companies on certain plasma display technologies.
  
• Netflix Added To Select TiVo Models
  
  By Greg Tarr, October 30, 2008
  Los Gatos, Calif. — Netflix said Thursday that TiVo has agreed to add the Netflix Web streaming service to broadband-connected TiVo DVR products including the TiVo Series 3, TiVo HD and HD XL models.
  
• Sharp, Panasonic, Toshiba Step Up CE Recycling
  
  By Greg Tarr, October 30, 2008
  Mahwah, N.J. — Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba said Thursday they will join a nationwide recycling initiative designed to give purchasers of each companies’ products the ability to have those items recycled at a growing list of collection centers around the county.
  
• Nextar Steps Up PND Lineup
  
  By Amy Gilroy, October 30, 2008
  La Verne, Calif. — Many second- and third-tier suppliers of personal navigation devices (PNDs) are exiting the market, but Nextar is dramatically expanding its lineup.
  
• Motorola Losses Mount; Handset Spinoff Delayed
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 30, 2008
  Schaumburg, Ill. -- Motorola announced additional cutbacks in its cellular handset division and an indefinite postponement of plans to spin off the division.
  
• Western Digital Adds FireWire 800 To My Passport Studio Drives
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 30, 2008
  Lake Forest, Calif. — Western Digital has enhanced its My Passport Studio portable drives for Mac users with the addition of the FireWire 800 interface.
  
• Amazon Launches Car Electronics Store
  
  By Amy Gilroy, October 30, 2008
  Seattle — Amazon.com formally launched a new mobile electronics section for car audio, video and navigation on its Web site today.
  
• Plasma Panel Shipments See Q3 Growth
  
  By Greg Tarr, October 30, 2008
  Austin, Texas — Plasma panel makers continue to report strong growth with third-quarter 2008 plasma panel shipments rising 18 percent quarter to quarter.
  
• Wattles' Firm Issues Layoff Of 45 Workers
  
  By Steve Smith, October 30, 2008
  Thornton, Colo. — Wattles Capital Management (WCM), whose chairman/CEO is Mark Wattles, owner of Ultimate Electronics and an activist investor in Circuit City, laid off 45 employees, here.
  
• Pioneer, Hitachi Post Losses; Sharp Lower Net
  
  By Steve Smith, October 30, 2008
  Tokyo — Hitachi, Pioneer and Sharp all reported their fiscal second-quarter results today, with the first two Japanese manufacturers reporting lower sales and a net losses.
  
• Best Buy Bows Black Friday VIP Contest
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 30, 2008
  Minneapolis — Best Buy will give star treatment to 25 Black Friday shoppers through its Black Friday VIP contest, which launched yesterday.
  
• Optoma Ships Short-Throw Projector
  
  By Greg Tarr, October 30, 2008
  Milpitas, Calif. — Optoma introduced this week a short-throw DLP multimedia projector designed for institutional, government and business applications, where space is at a premium.