TWICE News

• Software Sales Slip In 2006
  
  By Doug Olenick, February 28, 2007
  Port Washington, N.Y. — Non-gaming software sales in the United States declined 2 percent to $2.9 billion, according to The NPD Group.
  
• Magnolia Exits Car A/V
  
  By Amy Gilroy, February 28, 2007
  Kent, Wash. — Magnolia Hi-Fi will exit the car stereo business, effective Feb. 27, with inventory expected to be liquidated by the end of May.
  
• Sony Unveils 2nd Blu-ray Disc Player
  
  By Greg Tarr, February 28, 2007
  Updated! Las Vegas — Sony unveiled for dealers here a dedicated Blu-ray Disc (BD) player, priced to sell for around $600 at its annual line show.
  
• CompUSA To Close 126 Stores
  
  by Alan Wolf, February 28, 2007
  Dallas — CompUSA will shutter 126 locations over the next two to three months, representing more than half of the retailer’s 229-store base.
  
• Costco Caps CE Returns At 90 Days
  
  by Alan Wolf, February 27, 2007
  Issaquah,Wash.— Succumbing to profit pressure from its open-ended return policy on consumer electronics, Costco has capped the time limit on CE refunds to 90 days.
  
• Magellan Intros PND With Voice Control
  
  By Amy Gilroy, February 27, 2007
  New York — Magellan introduced the first new personal navigation devices (PNDs) designed under its new management team.
  
• MP3 Player Sales Push Record‘06 Audio Sales
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, February 27, 2007
  Arlington, Va. — Factory-level sales of home, portable and after-market car audio rose a combined 7 percent in 2006 to a record $10.8 billion, thanks almost exclusively to a 32 percent gain in headphone MP3-player sales to $5.56 billion, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) statistics show.
  
• R'Shack Q4 Earnings Up 65%
  
  by Alan Wolf, February 27, 2007
  Fort Worth,Texas— RadioShack posted a 65 percent increase in net income for the fourth quarter, to $84.5 million, as stringent cost controls and a recent corporate restructuring gained traction at the struggling CE chain.
  
• Sirius Posts Record Year
  
  By Amy Gilroy, February 27, 2007
  New York — Sirius Satellite Radio announced a record year and fourth quarter, with narrower losses as the company continues to lead in satellite radio retail sales.
  
• Fujifilm Intros New Frontier Minilab
  
  By Greg Scoblete, February 27, 2007
  Valhalla, N.Y. — Fujifilm will offer a new Frontier digital minilab for in-store printing applications, the company said today.
  
• Final DTV Phase-In Starts Thurs.
  
  By Colleen Bohen, February 27, 2007
  Arlington,Va. — Starting March 1, all products shipped with analog television tuners will also include a DTV tuner.
  
• New Sony Printers Due Next Month
  
  By Greg Scoblete, February 27, 2007
  San Diego — In addition to a line of new cameras, Sony added a pair of dye-sublimation home photo printers to its imaging lineup today.
  
• Fujifilm Intros New Frontier Minilab
  
  By Greg Scoblete, February 27, 2007
  Valhalla, N.Y. — Fujifilm will offer a new Frontier digital minilab for in-store printing applications, the company said today.
  
• Sony Unveils 2007 Cyber-shot Line
  
  By Greg Scoblete, February 27, 2007
  San Diego — Sony rolled out its PMA slate a few days early, announcing several new Cyber-shots set to ship in April and May.
  
• Sony Unveils 2nd Blu-ray Disc Player
  
  By Greg Tarr, February 27, 2007
  Las Vegas — Sony unveiled for dealers here a new dedicated Blu-ray Disc player, priced to sell for around $600.
  
• Sony Adds HTiB Models
  
  By Greg Tarr, February 27, 2007
  Las Vegas — In addition to unveiling three BRAVIA home theater in a box (HTiB) systems Sony unveiled four additional models, including three that are component based and one that is integrated into a TV stand.
  
• Sony Expands Use Of BRAVIA Badge
  
  By Greg Tarr, February 27, 2007
  Las Vegas — Sony told dealers at its annual line show here Tuesday that it is expanding its BRAVIA sub-brand beyond large-screen LCD TVs to include a range of “high-performance” products from microdisplay rear-projection sets to front projectors and home theater in box (HTiB) systems.
  
• Sony Stresses Market Gains, Strategies At NYC Briefing
  
  By Steve Smith, February 26, 2007
  New York — Sony Electronics accentuated the positive, emphasizing market share gains across the board and in HDTV in particular, and revealing plans to broaden use of the BRAVIA brand name in the line, during its Executive Media Roundtable at the Sony Building, here, this morning.
  
• Gateway Names New Board Member
  
  By TWICE Staff, February 26, 2007
  Irvine, Calif. — Gateway today appointed Dave Russell to the company’s board of directors.
  
• Kenwood Appoints Lehmann To Board
  
  By Amy Gilroy, February 26, 2007
  Long Beach, Calif. — Kenwood USA appointed Keith Lehmann, senior VP for the consumer electronics division, to serve as a member of its board of directors.