San Antonio — The Progressive Retailers Organization was at the Westin La Cantera Hill Coun
El Segundo, Calif. — Few CE products have experienced the dramatic rise and equally impressive fall as the netbook.
IHS iSuppli is forecasting that only 3.9 million units will ship this year, down from 14.1 million in 2012 and 32.1 million during the height of their popularity in 2010.
Only 264,000 netbooks will ship next year, and the category is expected to disappear entirely by 2015.
Once again the category-killer tablet is taking the blame. IHS noted that netbook shipments began declining after 2010, when the iPad was first introduced.
Basking Ridge, N.J. — Verizon Wireless will join U.S. Cellular on March 7 in offering an LTE-equipped version of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet, which comes with the S Pen stylus.
The stylus lets users annotate pictures and files with handwritten messages, draw pictures on screen, and preview a file or email message without opening it when the S Pen hovers over the file or message. Apps optimized for the S Pen are also available.
The Wi-Fi-only version of the Note 10.1 became available last year.
Panasonic has released a promotional video to illustrate some the potential of its “4K Tablet” that was introduced for the first time at CES2013.
It’s a 20-inch Windows-based tablet with 4K resolution ISP-alpha screen and attached digital pen.
Framingham, Mass. – When it comes to shipping smart connected devices, Samsung is now the worldwide champ, according to IDC.
Samsung took over the top spot from Apple by shipping 250 million such devices, defined by IDC as desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones, in 2012. Apple was not far behind, pumping out 218.7 million such products during the same period.
For the entire year, 1.2 billion smart connected devices were shipped worldwide, a 29.1 percent increase over 2011.
Redmond, Wash. – Microsoft’s launch last week of the Surface Pro tablet is receiving mixed reviews from analysts.
Views on the introduction run the gamut from calling it normal to a failure and to too early to call.
The one fact everyone agreed upon is that the Surface Pro quickly sold out.
Redmond, Wash. — Microsoft plans Feb. 9 availability of its Surface Windows 8 Pro in the U.S. and Canada at an estimated street price of $899 for the 64GB version with bundled Type Cover.
Pricing on the 128GB version with Type Cover wasn’t disclosed.
LAS VEGAS – Vizio will roll out its spring computer line this week adding a new thin and light laptop and a large-screen Windows 8 tablet.
The new products are the Vizio 14-inch Thin + Light Touch laptop and the Vizio 11.6-inch Windows 8 tablet. These introductions mark the company’s first refresh of its computer line since it entered the PC space in June 2012.
Las Vegas — Coby will debut its latest tablet, the MID7065, during International CES, here, next week.
The company’s newest tablet features a 7-inch display and gives users access to Google Play and Google Mobile services.
The MID7065 runs on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The device can connect to the web via Wi-Fi and it has Bluetooth 2.1 and a front-facing 0.3-megapixel camera, Coby said.
Shipping is slated for the first quarter with a $149 suggested retail.
Edison, N.J. -- Sakar International will go to International CES with children’s tablets bearing the Barbie, Hello Kitty and Monster High brands.
The Android tablets are designed for gaming, photos and social networking, the company said.
Sakar, which markets consumer electronics and accessories under multiple licensed brands, will also introduce products from their other licensed lines, including NERF, Ninja Turtles, Targus, Nickelodeon and Disney. Products will include earbuds, text messengers, cameras and karaoke machines.
Anaheim, Calif. — Targus today announced the availability of its iNotebook for the iPad and iPad Mini, a portfolio case with a sensor and an accompanying free app that allows users to wirelessly transfer what they write on paper directly to their iPad.