TWICE News

• Costco Q4 Profits Up 11%
  
  By Alan Wolf, October 5, 2011
  Issaquah, Wash. - Costco reported a 10.6 percent increase in net earnings, to $478 million, for its fiscal fourth quarter, ended Aug. 28.
  
• Clayton Explains His Decision To Join Dish
  
  By Steve Smith, October 5, 2011
    Lake Maggiore, Italy - Joe Clayton, president/CEO of Dish Network, outlined plans for his company during a one-on-one interview with Gary Shapiro, president/CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), at the organization's 15th annual CEO Summit, here.
  
• RadioShack Re-Ups With Assurant
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 5, 2011
  Fort Worth, Texas - RadioShack has extended its exclusive relationship with Assurant Solutions, which has provided product protection and repair service plans to the CE chain since 1994.
  
• SED Launches Lehrhoff Division
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 5, 2011
  Lawrenceville, Ga. - SED International Holdings has formally launched SED Lehrhoff, the IT/CE distributor's new small appliance unit.
  
• CEA Summit Draws Top CEOs To Italy
  
  By Steve Smith, October 5, 2011
    Lake Maggiore, Italy - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) held its 15th annual CEO Summit, for the first time in Europe with 180 executives in attendance - 43 of them first-timers - Oct. 1-3.
  
• Analysts: Apple Will Increase Smartphone Share
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 4, 2011
  New York - Many bloggers might have been disappointed that the new iPhone 4S doesn't include 4G wireless data or a display larger than 3.5 inches, but multiple analysts believe Apple will increase its U.S. smartphone share with its recent iPhone introductions.
  
• No 4G For Apple iPhone 4S
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 4, 2011
    Cupertino, Calif. - Consumers and retailers will have to wait for a 4G-equipped iPhone 5.
  
• Hammacher Intros Audio Streaming Device For Car
  
  TWICE Staff, October 4, 2011
  New York - Hammacher Schlemmer introduced the 45,000 Station Car Radio, a device designed to play live streams from local or global AM, FM and Internet-only radio stations.
  
• Apple Refreshes iPod Lineup
  
  Joseph Palenchar, October 4, 2011
  Cupertino, Calif. - Apple refreshed its iPod line with slight upgrades and price changes on the iPod Touch and Nano.
  
• Polk Plans Personal-Audio Expansion
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 4, 2011
  Baltimore - Polk Audio plans to add to its personal audio collection with a series of products that will include desktop audio devices.
  
• CasaTunes Upgrades Music-Server Capabilities
  
  By Joseph Palencha, October 4, 2011
  Fort Collins, Colo. - CasaTunes has upgraded its music-server-based multiroom-audio system, making it possible to more easily integrate A/V receivers and third-party music sources such a satellite-TV receivers.
  
• Systemax Names Sprosty As Fiorentino's Successor
  
  By Alan Wolf, October 4, 2011
  Port Washington, N.Y. - Systemax has named former Best Buy executive David Sprosty as chief executive of its North American Technology Products Group, effective immediately.
  
• Iogear Adds To GearPower Charging Line
  
  By John Laposky, October 4, 2011
    Foothill Ranch, Calif. - Iogear has rolled out two new lightweight portable charging solutions for handheld devices.
  
• Ohm Takes Reins Of Walmart CE
  
  By Alan Wolf, October 4, 2011
  Bentonville, Ark. - Seong Ohm is wasting little time as Walmart's new CE merchandising chief.
  
• Silicon Image Releases Advanced HDMI Processors
  
  By Greg Tarr, October 4, 2011
  Sunnyvale, Calif. - Silicon Image unveiled Monday two new port processors -- the SiI9573 and SiI9575 -- offering fully integrated HDMI solutions for audio/video receiver (AVR) and DTV applications.
  
• Subaru Expands Satellite-Radio Availability
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 4, 2011
  New York - Subaru is expanding satellite-radio availability to all of its 2012 models.
  
• Microsoft Turns Off Zune
  
  TWICE Staff, October 4, 2011
  Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft officially pulled the plug on its Zune MP3 player today.
  
• Adobe Releases Flash Player 11, AIR 3
  
  By Greg Tarr, October 4, 2011
  Los Angeles - Adobe Systems revealed at its MAX 2011 technology conference, here, Monday that LG and TiVo will add Flash-based applications via Adobe AIR to connected TVs and digital home devices.
  
• hhgregg Revamps Website
  
  TWICE Staff, October 3, 2011
  Indianapolis - hhgregg has re-launched its e-commerce site with enhanced functionality to help bring the retailer's in-store experience online.
  
• Monie Returns To President Post At Ingram Micro
  
  TWICE Staff, October 3, 2011
  Santa Ana, Calif. - Former Ingram Micro president and COO Alain Monie will return to that post, effective Nov. 1.