TWICE News

• Harvey's 8-K Filing Details Costs Of MyerEmco Deal
  
  By TWICE Staff, August 16, 2007
  Lyndhurst, N.J. – Harvey Electronics made an 8-K filing with the SEC detailing the termination agreement and outlining the costs of its attempted purchase of the Washington, D.C.-based MyerEmco Audio Video chain.
  
• Sprint Nextel Sets WiMAX Soft Launch
  
  By Amy Gilroy, August 16, 2007
  Reston, Va. — Sprint Nextel today became the first major carrier to announce a soft launch of mobile WiMAX service.
  
• Corsair Intros Secure Flash Drives
  
  By TWICE Staff, August 16, 2007
  Fremont, Calif. — Flash-memory marketer Corsair announced a pair of security-minded USB flash drives today.
  
• Thomson Reveals New Video Decoder Chip
  
  By Greg Tarr, August 16, 2007
  Burbank, Calif. — Thomson will introduce a high-end video decoder chip at the upcoming IBC 2007 show for the content creation industry.
  
• 4 CE Companies Oppose DTV Spectrum Use
  
  By Greg Tarr, August 16, 2007
  Washington — The Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV) has enlisted testimony from four consumer electronics manufacturers to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), challenging a proposal to allow certain unlicensed wireless devices to operate in the so-called “white spaces” of the digital television spectrum band.
  
• Kane Forms HD Education Joint Venture
  
  By Greg Tarr, August 16, 2007
  Fairfield, N.J. – Joe Kane Productions and The DVD Acquisition and Development Group said they have entered into a strategic joint venture to create home theater calibration programming and education for consumers and industry professionals.
  
• Gateway Enters Chinese PC Market
  
  By TWICE Staff, August 16, 2007
  Beijing, China — Gateway today entered the Chinese retail market with a line of desktops, laptops and displays.
  
• Sirius Debuts Fall Line
  
  By Amy Gilroy and Joseph Palenchar, August 15, 2007
    New York — Sirius introduced new fall products including its long awaited Sirius Backseat TV for the car and a new version of the "wearable" portable Stiletto (left).
  
• IBM To Handle DTV Coupons
  
  By Greg Tarr, August 15, 2007
  Washington D.C. — The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on Wednesday said it has awarded IBM a contract to provide services for the implementation and administration of the nation’s digital-to-analog converter box coupon program.
  
• DirecTV To Add BPL Service
  
  By Greg Tarr, August 15, 2007
  El Segundo, Calif. — DirecTV has reached a wholesale distribution agreement with broadband over powerline (BPL) provider Current Group, the satellite TV provider said Wednesday.
  
• Harman Posts Higher Q4, Year-End Sales, Earnings
  
  By TWICE Staff, August 15, 2007
  Washington — Harman International Industries reported higher sales and earnings for the fiscal year and quarter, ended June 30.
  
• Best Buy Vet To Head Polaroid
  
  By TWICE Staff, August 15, 2007
  Minneapolis — Former Best Buy merchandizing VP Michael London has been named CEO of Polaroid.
  
• Epson Boosts Speed of Entry-Level Inkjets
  
  By Greg Scoblete, August 15, 2007
  Long Beach, Calif. — Epson is shipping four new C-series inkjet printers and all-in-ones to dealers this month, offering quicker print speeds.
  
• InFocus Adds Mobile PJ
  
  By Greg Tarr, August 15, 2007
  Wilsonville, Ore. — InFocus unveiled a new “ultra-mobile” DLP video projector, called the Work Big IN12, that uses a compact optics system.
  
• Best Buy To Sell Liz Claiborne CE Accessories
  
  By Lisa Johnston, August 15, 2007
  New York — Liz Claiborne Accessories and Best Buy announced a new line of consumer electronic accessories will become available in October.
  
• Best Buy For Business Partners With Independent Solution Providers
  
  By Colleen Bohen, August 15, 2007
  Minneapolis — Best Buy’s Best Buy for Business division is finishing up a trial next week of a program that Chris Mauzy, director of business for Best Buy for Business, said is being designed to build a “collaborative selling environment” between Best Buy and local independent A/V and IT solution providers nationwide.
  
• Sharp Unveils Thin-Bezel Aquos TV Line
  
  By Greg Tarr, August 15, 2007
  New York — Sharp used a press event here Tuesday to take the wraps off its new entry 1080p LCD TV line, featuring slim-depth and -width bezels and a reduced footprint to fit into more cabinet spaces.
  
• Harvey, MyerEmco Merger Off
  
  By Alan Wolf, August 15, 2007
  Gaithersburg, Md. — The proposed acquisition of MyerEmco by Harvey Electronics has been scuttled.
  
• Sonos Adds Broadband Access To Sirius Internet Radio Service
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, August 15, 2007
  Santa Barbara, Calif. — Sonos added broadband access of the 80-channel Sirius Internet Radio service to its wireless multiroom audio system as part of an effort to drive more Internet-based music content to consumers without forcing them to boot up a PC.
  
• CE/Majap Retail Sales Up 2.8% In July
  
  By Alan Wolf, August 15, 2007
  Washington — July sales at the nation’s CE and majap specialty dealers rose 2.8 percent year-over-year to $9.3 billion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department’s latest monthly retail sales report.