TWICE News

• Sears, Kmart Comps Down 4% May-June
  
  By Alan Wolf, July 10, 2007
  Hoffman Estates, Ill. — Sears Holdings reported a 4 percent decline in comp-store sales at both its Sears and Kmart chains for the nine-week period, ended July 7.
  
• Suppliers: iPod Speaker Systems "Partially Compatible" With iPhone
  
  By Amy Gilroy, July 9, 2007
  New York — The 6 million iPod speaker systems sold in the United States since 2004 will be partially compatible with the new iPhone, suppliers told TWICE.
  
• New XM CommanderMT Has Mini-Tuner
  
  By Amy Gilroy, July 9, 2007
  Washington — XM Satellite Radio introduced the CommanderMT, XM’s first in-car product to use the new XM Mini-Tuner, a new postage stamp-sized cartridge that acts a portable XM subscription.
  
• Chocolate Phone Lightens Up
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 9, 2007
  San Diego — A second-generation Chocolate music phone from LG is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor and is available in two new colors, Black Cherry and Blue Mint.
  
• Twenty20 Sets Sites on CE With Wearable Camcorder
  
  By Greg Scoblete, July 9, 2007
  Seattle — Helmet camera maker Twenty20 has seen its models travel through mountains, rivers and racetracks and soon, the firm hopes, CE store shelves.
  
• Sony Drops PS3 Price By $100
  
  By TWICE Staff, July 9, 2007
  New York – Sony today hacked $100 off the price of its PlayStation 3 and introduced a new higher capacity model.
  
• Photochannel Acquires Pixology
  
  By Amy Gilroy, July 9, 2007
  Vancouver — Online digital imaging service provider PhotoChannel Networks has acquired British-based Pixology, the companies said this week.
  
• First Traffic On HD Radio Launches From Clear Channel
  
  By Amy Gilroy, July 9, 2007
  San Antonio,Texas— Clear Channel Radio announced it is now broadcasting real-time traffic over HD Radio in 48 of the largestU.S.markets, becoming the first commercial data service to offer traffic on HD Radio.
  
• D&H Goes International
  
  By Colleen Bohen, July 9, 2007
  Mississauga, Ontario — D&H Distributing is opening a 38,000 square foot warehouse here today; the company’s first outside of the United States. This new location is the company’s sixth in North America.
  
• Photochannel Acquires Pixology
  
  By Greg Scoblete, July 6, 2007
  Vancouver - Online digital imaging service provider PhotoChannel Networks has acquired British-based Pixology, the companies said this week.
  
• Microsoft Expands Xbox 360 Warranty
  
  By Colleen Bohen, July 6, 2007
  Redmond, Wash. — Microsoft is expanding its global Xbox 360 warranty coverage. 
  
  
• Verbatim Acquires SmartDisk
  
  By John Laposky, July 6, 2007
  Tokyo — Verbatim and its parent company, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM), announced the purchase of SmartDisk’s external hard drive and digital imaging business for an undisclosed price.
  
• CEDIA Planning Spring Show Targeted To Custom Installers
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 5, 2007
  Indianapolis — CEDIA (the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association) plans to operate two trade shows per year starting in 2008, when the association’s first spring show for electronics systems contractors (ESCs) will be held in Las Vegas from April 8-11.
  
• Movie Gallery In Default; Mulling Sale
  
  By Alan Wolf, July 5, 2007
  Dothan, Ala. – Movie Gallery, the nation’s No. 2 video rental chain, has defaulted on its senior credit facility, citing second quarter results that were “significantly softer than expected.”
  
• Casio Changes Corporate Name
  
  By Greg Scoblete, July 5, 2007
  Dover, N.J. — Casio said today that its U.S. subsidiary would change its name from Casio, Inc. to Casio America, Inc.
  
• HTSA Adds 60th Member
  
  By Colleen Bohen, July 5, 2007
  Chester Springs, Pa. — The Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA) buying group has added Synergy Audio Video of Orange, Calif. as its 60th member.
  
• Mustek Bows 10-inch Digital Frame
  
  By TWICE Staff, July 5, 2007
  Irvine, Calif. — Mustek will add a  10.2-inch digital frame to its lineup this summer, the company said. The PF-A1020BC features a 720 by 480 resolution screen, memory card slots and a USB port. 
  
• Samsonite Acquired In $1.7B Deal
  
  By John Laposky, July 5, 2007
  Mansfield, Mass. — Samsonite has been purchased by CVC Capital Partners, a leading global private equity firm.
  
• Analyst: Most iPhone Buyers Stepping Up To $599 Model
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, July 3, 2007
  New York — iPhone buyers overwhelmingly chose the higher-priced $599 8GB version of the iPhone instead of the $499 4GB version and bought scads of accessories in the days following the iPhone launch, Goldman Sachs analysts reported.
  
• hhgregg IPO Imminent; Chain Envisions 400 Stores
  
  By Alan Wolf, July 3, 2007
  Indianapolis — hhgregg is about to offer 9.4 million shares in an initial public offering valued at $150 million.