TWICE News

• Pegasus Demos Wireless HD Streaming
  
  By Doug Olenick, July 19, 2006
  New York — Pegasus Wireless today revealed a new Wi-Fi-based technology that can stream HD audio and video from a computer to a television through a Wi-Fi network.
  
• Planar Returns To CE Display Biz
  
  By Greg Tarr, July 19, 2006
  Beaverton, Ore. — Commercial video display supplier Planar Systems today revealed a comprehensive corporate strategy to focus on best-in-class display solutions for vertical markets, including a re-entry into the specialty home theater market.
  
• Back-To-School CE Sales Expected To Soar
  
  By Alan Wolf, July 19, 2006
  Washington — Back-to-school sales of consumer electronics and computer-related products are expected to soar 85 percent year-over-year to $3.8 billion, according to a new survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF).
  
• Altec Expanding iPod Docking-Station Line
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 19, 2006
  Milford, Pa. — Altec Lansing is expanding its selection of iPod-docking hi-fi stations with three new models, including its first intended strictly for use in the home as a substitute for a traditional compact stereo system.
  
• Sony Unveils New HD Camcorders
  
  By Greg Scoblete, July 19, 2006
  New York — Sony announced two new 1,080i high-definition Handycam camcorders at its line show, held here on Tuesday.
  
• Panasonic Unveils 1st Lumix 10-Megapixel Digicam
  
  By Greg Scoblete, July 19, 2006
  Secaucus, N.J. — Panasonic unveiled five new Lumix digital cameras today, including its first 10-megapixel models and a new technology for combating image blur.
  
• Sony Expands HDD Camcorder Commitment
  
  By Greg Scoblete, July 19, 2006
  New York — Though hard disk drives represent a small niche in the variegated landscape of camcorder formats, Sony threw its weight behind the new format with the launch of three new HDD models, including the industry’s first 60GB camcorder, at its summer line show, held here on Tuesday.
  
• Cingular Launches 1st HSDPA Phone
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 18, 2006
  Atlanta — Cingular launched its first 3G W-CDMA phone to incorporate high-speed HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) wireless data, driving up download speeds to an average 400-700Kbps with bursts to more than 1MB.
  
• Cellphones: Thanks For The Memory
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 18, 2006
  Port Washington, N.Y. — Retail-level sales of cellular handsets with removable memory are surging, but still represent a small share of overall handset sales, The NPD Group found in a survey of cellular purchasers.
  
• Electrolux N.A. Majaps Sales, Net Grow
  
  By Steve Smith, July 18, 2006
  Stockholm,Sweden— Electrolux reported a 10 percent sales gain during the second quarter and stronger operating income for major appliances inNorth America.
  
• Flash To Make Inroads Into Mobile Storage Market
  
  By Doug Olenick, July 18, 2006
  Scottsdale, Ariz. — Flash-memory-based solid-state drives could displace traditional hard drives in the notebook computer market within 10 years, according to a study from In-Stat.
  
• Iomega Broadens REV Line
  
  By Doug Olenick, July 18, 2006
  San Diego — Iomega expanded its REV removable hard-drive line today with the introduction of the REV 70GB backup drive.
  
• Koss Reports Good Fiscal Year, But Lower Q4
  
  By TWICE Staff, July 18, 2006
  Milwaukee — Koss reported slightly lower sales and net earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter, but higher marks in both areas for its fiscal year, ended June 30.
  
• Circuit Adds Mitsubishi 1,080p TVs
  
  By Greg Tarr, July 18, 2006
  Irvine,Calif.— Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America announced today that it has reconnected withCircuitCity, and will begin selling select 1,080p microdisplay rear-projection and LCD TVs through the retailer starting in early August.
  
• RadioShack’s CFO Resigns
  
  By Alan Wolf, July 18, 2006
  Fort Worth, Texas — David Barnes has stepped down as RadioShack’s executive VP and chief financial officer.
  
• Wherify To Launch Kids Locator Service
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 17, 2006
  Redwood Shores, Calif. — Wherify Wireless plans a September launch of the nation’s first kid-tracking GPS phone that can be tracked by any cellular phone operating on any carrier’s network. It will also be the first child-locator phone to operate on GSM networks in the United States.
  
• First Disney Blu-ray Titles To Ship
  
  By Greg Tarr, July 17, 2006
  Los Angeles — Disney’s home video distribution company Buena Vista Home Entertainment announced its first nine Blu-ray Disc titles, and said it would enhance select releases with specially produced high-definition shorts.
  
• Philips’ Q2 CE Sales Up, Profits Down
  
  By Steve Smith, July 17, 2006
  Amsterdam, The Netherlands — Driven by growth in connected displays and the transition fromCRTto flat-screen TV, and strong peripheral and accessories sales, Philips Electronics reported consumer electronics sales up 17 percent during its second quarter, ended June 30.
  
• SanDisk Ships High-Capacity SD Card
  
  By TWICE Staff, July 17, 2006
  Milpitas, Calif. — SanDisk announced it will ship a 4GB SD High-Capacity card (SDHC) to dealers this month.
  
• CEA Sets Car Speaker Standard
  
  By TWICE Staff, July 17, 2006
  Arlington, Va. — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has published a new standard for testing car stereo loudspeakers. Called CEA-2031, it defines test procedures for rating the performance and size of car stereo speakers and lists requirements for reporting the performance.