TWICE News

• Panasonic Execs Bullish On Blu-ray
  
  by Steve Smith, October 3, 2007
    Chiba, Japan — Top executives of Matsushita Electric Industrial, marketers of the Panasonic brand worldwide, made pointed comments about the Blu-ray/HD DVD format war and current CE conditions to the press at the CEATEC Japan 2007 show on Tuesday.
  
• JVC Demos 180Hz LCD Technology
  
  by Greg Tarr, October 3, 2007
  Tokyo — Victor Company of Japan (JVC) unveiled at CEATEC its new LCD TV technology that offers a 180Hz “panel operation frequency” rate,  improving upon current 120Hz models.
  
• Panasonic Debuts Blu-ray Recorders For Japan Market
  
  by Steve Smith, October 3, 2007
  Chiba, Japan — Panasonic introduced three Blu-ray recorders featuring a new-generation UniPhier system LSI based on 45-nm process technology that offers more storage than prior models.
  
• Microsoft Intros Flash Zunes
  
  By Amy Gilroy, October 3, 2007
    Seattle — Microsoft introduced last night two slimmed-down Zune portable media players and a new social networking beta site called Zune Social.
  
• PNDs Debut From Cobra, Lowrance
  
  By Amy Gilroy, October 2, 2007
  Chicago — Two new navigation devices debuted recently from Cobra and Lowrance, including one of the first personal navigation devices (PND) with a 5-inch screen, the largest on the market.
  
• Panasonic Starts Family Ad Effort
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 2, 2007
  Secaucus, N.J. — Panasonic has launched a new advertising campaign — called Bring Back Family Time — that offers a comedic look at family life, as an element of its integrated Living In High Definition program.
  
• Bose Adds HDMI, Hideaway Design
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 2, 2007
  Framingham, Mass. – Two new Lifestyle home theater systems are Bose’s first with HDMI connections, built-in video transcoding and upscaling, and a hideaway media console, which connects with other-brand source components.
  
• CPS Intros Cellboost Additions
  
  by Lisa Johnston, October 2, 2007
  Woodland Hills, Calif. — Compact Power Systems has two additions to its Cellboost product line: the eMUSB1 and the eRUSB1.
  
• Radio Groups To Play iTunes Tag
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 2, 2007
  Columbia, Md. — Six major radio station groups are installing iTunes Tagging technology, which is designed to make it easier for consumers to buy songs heard on an HD Radio from Apple’s iTunes download store.
  
• Pentax Launches New Optios, d-SLR Lens
  
  By Greg Scoblete, October 2, 2007
  Golden, Colo. — Pentax will ship a pair of new point-and-shoot digital cameras and a new SLR lens to dealers in the next two months.
  
• Sony Bows 2nd-Gen. Reader
  
  by Greg Tarr, October 2, 2007
  San Diego — Sony introduced the second generation of its Sony Reader, model PRS-505, which features a smaller body size, choice of two color options and re-styled controls that more closely resemble the act of turning a paper page.
  
• Sharp Demos Super-Thin LCD
  
  by Greg Tarr, October 2, 2007
  Tokyo — As Sony launches onto the Japanese consumer market an 11-inch OLED TV measuring just 0.11 inches thick, Sharp is demonstrating at CEATEC a 12.1-inch LCD panel with just about the same thickness.
  
• Circuit City Expands Battery Recycling Commitment
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 2, 2007
  Atlanta — Circuit City and the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) announced Call2RecycleT — a consumer initiative designed to increase Circuit City’s participation in RBRC's recycling program.
  
• Skype CEO Steps Down
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 2, 2007
    San Jose, Calif. — Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom will step down as company CEO.
  
• Palm Reports Net Loss
  
  By Amy Gilroy, October 2, 2007
  Sunnyvale, Calif. — Palm reported revenue of $360.8 million and a net loss of $8 million for its first quarter, ended Aug. 31.
  
• Audiovox Buys Incaar
  
  By TWICE Staff, October 1, 2007
  Hauppauge, N.Y. — Audiovox said it acquired Incaar, a high-end U.K. car stereo/video supplier to European car makers, for approximately $402,000 in addition to a maximum contingent earn out payment of $400,000 if earnings targets are met.
  
• hhgregg Identifies First Florida Locations
  
  By Alan Wolf, October 1, 2007
  Indianapolis — Retailer hhgregg will open its first Florida stores in Jacksonville and Orlando, and is also considering sites in Tampa and Tallahassee, according to a report in today’s Orlando Sentinel.
  
• Hitachi Shows Hybrid LCD Panel/Projector Technology
  
  by Greg Tarr, October 1, 2007
  Tokyo — Hitachi is demonstrating at the CEATEC show here a 47-inch hybrid LCD panel/LCD projector display that can produce a dark room contrast ratio of 8,000,000:1.
  
• Sony To Sell OLED TVs In Japan Dec. 1
  
  by Greg Tarr, October 1, 2007
  Tokyo — Sony revealed that it will begin selling an 11-inch thin-screen OLED TV, in the Japanese market, beginning Dec. 1.
  
• Toshiba Adds 4GB MP3/Video Player
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, October 1, 2007
  Irvine, Calif. — Toshiba America Information Systems (TAIS) shipped its $119-suggested T400 MP3/video player with 4GB of embedded memory and 2.4-inch QVGA screen.