TWICE News

• HP Brings Minis To Market
  
  By Colleen Bohen, October 29, 2008
  Palo Alto, Calif. — Hewlett-Packard is bringing to market its first consumer-targeted mini PC, the HP Mini 1000.
  
• Wal-Mart Adding G1 Android Phone
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 28, 2008
  Bentonville, Ark. — Wal-Mart will begin offering T-Mobile’s G1 cellphone on Wednesday, Oct. 29, in about 550 stores in more than 25 markets.
  
• PMA: Print Growth Slows
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 28, 2008
  Jackson, Mich. — Weakening camera sales and a sagging economy have combined to depress digital print volumes, according to PMA.
  
• TomTom Reports Lower Profits
  
  By Amy Gilroy, October 28, 2008
  Amsterdam, The Netherlands — TomTom's ts third-quarter profit fell 41 percent over the prior year and the company cut its portable GPS forecast.
  
• Electrolux’s Q3 Profits Up 12%
  
  By Alan Wolf, October 28, 2008
  Stockholm, Sweden — A combination of price hikes and cost reductions helped Electrolux increase operating income 11.6 percent to $189.4 million during its third quarter.
  
• Onkyo Ships Next-Gen THX HTiB
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 28, 2008
  Upper Saddle River, N.J. — Onkyo began shipping a second-generation THX-certified home theater in a box (HTiB) system that adds multiple new features and technologies compared to its predecessor.
  
• Whirlpool Q3 Profits Fall 7%
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 28, 2008
  Benton Harbor, Mich. — Whirlpool will cut an additional 3,000 jobs over the next year as it reins back production amid steep declines in worldwide majap demand.
  
• OfficeMax Updates Wide-Format Printers
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 28, 2008
  Chicago — OfficeMax said today that it would deploy Canon’s newest 24-inch and 36-inch inkjet printers in its ImPress printing and document service locations.
  
• Vonage Secures VoIP Patent
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 28, 2008
  Holmdel, N.J. — Vonage said last week that it had secured another VoIP patent.
  
• Panasonic Posts Lower Sales, Profits
  
  By Steve Smith, October 28, 2008
  Osaka, Japan — Panasonic reported lower sales and 16 percent decrease in net profit in its fiscal second quarter.
  
• Toys 'R' Us Expands CE Assortment
  
  By Alan Wolf, October 28, 2008
  Toys “R” Us will begin carrying Apple iPods and Asus ultraportable notebook PCs this month in a major expansion of its CE assortment.
  
• Sonos Upgrades Internet Radio Capabilities
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 28, 2008
  Santa Barbara, Calif. — Sonos upgraded the Internet radio capabilities of its wireless multi-room-audio system by expanding the number of free Internet radio stations it receives to more than 15,000..
  
• All Eyes Are On Circuit City, Tweeter
  
  By Alan Wolf & Steve Smith, October 28, 2008
  While the CE industry is already holding its collective breath over the coming holiday season, the wild cards that are Circuit City and Tweeter are adding to the anxiety.
  
• SlotMusic Format Debuts At $14.99
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 28, 2008
  The world's four largest music companies will begin this week to ship almost 40 music albums in the new SlotMusic format.
  
• Panasonic Posts Lower Sales, Profits
  
  By Steve Smith, October 27, 2008
  Osaka, Japan — Panasonic reported lower sales and 16 percent decrease in net profit in its fiscal second quarter, due to exchange rates and a sagging world economy among the factors.
  
• Boston Acoustics Steps Up Custom-Install Support
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 27, 2008
  Peabody, Mass. — Boston Acoustics announced new support programs to ensure that custom installers get the products they need in time to meet construction and installation deadlines.
  
• LG Wins Final Round In Whirlpool Patent Case
  
  By Alan Wolf, October 27, 2008
  Benton Harbor, Mich. — A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of LG Electronics in a longstanding patent dispute with Whirlpool over certain washing machine technology.
  
• Canon, Epson Go Wide With New Printer SKUs
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 27, 2008
  New York — Canon and Epson introduced new wide-format photo printers geared for pro photographers and retailers to offer poster-sized presentations and photos.
  
• Tele Atlas Releases First Map with User Changes
  
  By Amy Gilroy, October 27, 2008
  ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands — Tele Atlas released the first version of its maps to incorporate changes made by user feedback, and hopes to expand the use of community feedback in future map products.
  
• Cable Operator Cox To Compete In Cellular
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 27, 2008
  Updated! Atlanta — Cellular retailers will have a new competitor in next year when cable operator Cox Communications launches its own brand of cellular service.