Consumer Electronics Daily News

LaserShield Debuts Sparrow at CES 08

LaserShield Systems, Inc., a leading provider of instant home security systems, will introduce Sparrow, the first "Plug & Go" wireless instant home security system for the Internet, at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Sparrow is a high-speed Internet adapter that works with the LaserShield affordable instant home security system and digital phones to protect homes 24/7. Sparrow transmits security breach and home break-in information over the Internet from LaserShield's master 105-decibel alarm unit to the professional 24/7 monitoring service. The monitoring service sends a signal continuously at regular intervals throughout the day to Sparrow to make sure it's always operational. If Sparrow does not respond back due to loss of power or Internet connection, the monitoring service immediately notifies the owner. With traditional home security systems, if a consumer's phone lines were cut by a burglar or went down, the user would never know.

The LaserShield system with Sparrow high speed Internet adapter provides proven, affordable and accessible protection against home invasion, burglary and kidnapping for all types of people. Ideal for homes, apartments, dorms, storage facilities and offices, Sparrow is made especially for consumers with digital phones; renters that can't get alarms installed because of lease restrictions; first-time home owners; student dorms with no security and lots of devices to protect; and renters or home-owners with low-credit scores that can't get approved for home monitoring.

For more information, visit www.lasershield.net.

Sharp, Toshiba Form LCD Alliance

Sharp Corporation and Toshiba Corporation announced today that the two companies have agreed to collaborate closely in LCDs, a move that is expected to enhance the companies' corporate value, profitability and global competitiveness. The alliance will allow each company to make full and effective use of its respective strengths and resources, particularly Sharp's capabilities in LCDs and Toshiba's expertise in advanced semiconductors.

Sharp and Toshiba will initiate the collaborative partnership in fiscal year 2008, starting with an expansion of reciprocal procurement -- Sharp's procurement of system LSIs for LCDs from Toshiba, and Toshiba's procurement of Sharp's LCD modules for TVs of 32 inches and larger. Through the program, Sharp aims to satisfy about 50 percent of its total demand for system LSIs for TVs in fiscal year 2010, while Toshiba targets meeting 40 percent of its demand for LCD modules in the same year.

System LSIs for TVs are increasingly required to support advanced functions and higher levels of performance alongside their core role of image processing. As TVs shift to higher levels of resolution, Toshiba's system LSIs for TVs deliver the company's advanced expertise and achievements in image processing in products that meet the most exacting requirements of major TV set manufacturers.

By bringing together their key, world class technologies, Sharp and Toshiba will promote business advances through development of differentiated products. Each company aims to secure a leading position in the LCD TV market, and to reinforce its capabilities in LCDs and semiconductors, by overcoming increasingly intense global competition.

For more information, click here.

ELAN® Home Systems VIA!7 Now Shipping

ELAN® Home Systems' newest additions to its VIA!® Touch Panel family, VIA!7.0-EM and VIA! 10.0-EM, are now shipping to dealers. The announcement was made by Bob Farinelli, ELAN’s President and Chief Technical Officer.

ELAN’s VIA! Touch Panels have been the value leaders in their class since their initial roll-out in 2000. The award-winning, first standalone touch panel to deliver live video monitoring capabilities, VIA! set, and continues to set, new bench-marks for affordable, full-featured, whole-house control of entertainment, lighting, security and more.

The newest VIA! product offerings include two models featuring 7” and 10” displays with widescreen landscape formats that combine elegance with the traditional VIA! strengths of ultra-fast response, reliable execution, awesome live video and ease of programming. The VIA!10.0-EM’s large, wide-screen viewing area also makes it an ideal in-wall monitor that suits locations where clients desire control married with a TV. Shipping right on the heels of ELAN’s VIA!4.0-EM controller, both new panels offer the same low profiles and décor-matching frame options in more expansive displays.

To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

Logitech to Transition Digital Writing Business to Destiny

Logitech today announced plans to transition its digital writing business to Destiny Wireless plc, a U.K.-based leader in the delivery of digital pen and paper technology to the business market, and a leading reseller of the Logitech io2 Digital Writing System.

Destiny has purchased Logitech's digital-writing technology assets for an undisclosed amount. Logitech will manufacture the digital pen for Destiny until the company transitions to its own manufacturing. Destiny plans to make the digital-writing pens and supplies available to existing Logitech solution providers and individual customers through resellers and its own Web site.

During the transition, Logitech will continue to sell its io2 Digital Writing System, as well as paper and ink refills, as long as supplies last. Logitech will provide support to its digital writing customers while their products are under warranty. The io2 Digital Writing System is based on technology developed by the Swedish-based Anoto Group, with whom Destiny has licensing and distribution agreements. A range of companies have created custom solutions for the pen to address industry-specific and vertical applications.

For more information, visit www.logitech.com.

CES 2008 To Focus On International Trade

The 2008 International CES will for the first focus on an important and often overlooked component of the success of the CE industry –- international free trade, CEA said today. A distinguished series of speakers and panels, as well as other activities, will highlight the importance and need for free trade policies that will expand economies and create new American jobs.

“The technology industry is a shining star in many world economies, including the U.S., and that simply would not be the case without international trade,” says Gary Shapiro, CEA President and CEO, producer of the International CES. Now, more than ever, the industry must demonstrate to U.S. policymakers that free and open trade –- not self-defeating protectionism -– are the keys to innovation and world economic progress.” 

Among the trade-related programming highlights for the 2008 International CES:

• Ambassador Susan Schwab, United States Trade Representative, will discuss the state of trade in today’s global economy, and the ramifications on the CE industry on Tuesday, January 8 from 3-4 p.m. at the LVCC, North Hall, N260.
• A new CES Industry Insider Series program, “Technology and Emerging Countries: Advancing Development Through Technology Investments,” from 9-1:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 9 at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater, will delve into the role consumer technology plays in long-term development of emerging economies. This inaugural program, consisting of keynote addresses, panel sessions and demonstrations of technologies, will feature top technologists and government officials, including His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.
• Top government officials and business leaders from around the world will participate in the Technology and Emerging Countries Program and other trade events throughout the International CES. Countries represented include Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, China and the United Arab Emirates.

Attendees should also look for “Support Free Trade” kiosks on the exhibit floor where letters can be sent to Congressional representatives asking them to support free trade. Additionally, the Experience CEA booth in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center will offer more information for attendees to learn more about how free trade benefits our industry and American workers.

For more information, visit www.cesweb.org.

Chief Launches New Power Filter Kit to Protect Flat Panel TVs

Chief Manufacturing, the industry leader in flat panel TV and projector mounts, now offers a power filter designed to integrate with a Chief mount, protecting flat panel displays from spikes in electrical current.

Chief's new PACPC1 Power Filter Kit is designed to easily integrate with Chief's flat panel wall mounts, extension columns and in-wall accessories to ensure a fast installation. The PACPC1 provides surge protection up to 1890 joules, overvoltage protection shutoff and noise filtering. The accessory includes two outlets and a 2' (61 cm) power cord. With the PACPC1 you get a $350,000 lifetime equipment protection warranty, plus a faster, more reliable network connection and a high quality cable feed.

For more information, visit www.chiefmfg.com.

DisplayLink, Alereon Announce Wireless USB Graphics Adapter

DisplayLink and Alereon today jointly announced the availability of a reference design for a Wireless USB display adapter that allows PCs to connect to nearby standard displays without wires while delivering beautiful image quality and instantaneously interactive performance.

The reference design enables PC accessory OEMs to easily develop wireless display connectivity adapters and similar products. It will be demonstrated publicly by Alereon at the CES 2008 in the WiMedia Pavilion and in the Wireless USB Pavilion.

The reference design pairs Alereon's Worldwide WiMedia Alliance-certified AL5000 chipset with DisplayLink's network display technology to provide a solution that achieves the high image quality and the performance of wired displays without the wires. In addition, this is the only adapter design available that allows manufacturers to produce a Wireless USB adapter that meets all regulatory requirements across the globe.

"A display connected using this wireless reference design feels and looks to a user exactly like a wired display," says Hamid Farzaneh, DisplayLink President and CEO. "As evidenced by the proliferation of wireless mice and keyboards, the availability of the technology to bring the same freedom to monitors is just what OEMs need to spur explosive growth in this market."

For more information, visit www.displaylink.com or www.alereon.com.

Rumor: Industry Heavyweights Mulling Multi Billion-Dollar Flat Panel Deal

A variety of news outlets are adding fuel to the speculation that Matsushita Electric Industrial and Hitachi are working towards a multi billion-dollar flat panel deal that would reshape the plasma and LCD HDTV market very quickly.

While specifics are few and far between, CNet.com, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets are reporting that the two manufacturers, with some reports including representatives from Canon in the discussions, are discussing flat panel deals that would effectively transition Matsushita from a major plasma maker to LCD production. The Panasonic maker is reportedly seeking to take control of an LCD venture with Hitachi and Toshiba, as well as invest about $2.7 billion in a new LCD factory as part of the deal, Nikkei reports.

Neither Hitachi nor Matsushita would comment on the reports, nor would the latter comment on another report from Nikkei that a separate deal with Canon was in the works to bring OLED displays and other technologies to market. Canon has also remained tight-lipped on the plans.

For more information, click here.

ELAN's Handheld Wireless Touch Controller Now Shipping

ELAN® Home Systems, a leading manufacturer of award-winning multi-room audio/video and home control systems, announced today early shipping of its powerful new 4” handheld Touch Controller, N800, to Dealers. Originally scheduled to ship in Q1 2008, the N800 is shipping in time for the holidays.

Offering wireless Internet access and complete remote control of ELAN and third-party supported manufacturer’s systems with user-friendly ease, the release of this ultra-slim, portable, handheld touch screen controller is in keeping with ELAN’s mission to develop and bring to market feature-rich new product platforms. The announcement was made by Bob Farinelli, ELAN’s President and Chief Technical Officer.

The pocket-sized controller is compatible with all current ELAN Multi-Room Controllers and provides simplified control of electronic systems, including music, movies, lighting, temperature and security, in all system zones throughout the home. The N800 also features real-time status display for lighting, temperature and security systems as well as instant ‘Now Playing’ information from music sources, zoom, full-screen and panning functions, a full-screen finger keyboard, built-in stereo speakers and more.

For more information, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

Specialty Dealer Days at CES

The 2008 International CES has just announced plans for a conference and certification program specifically for the more than 14,000 specialty retailers, professional installers and integrators at the show -- the Specialty Dealer Days Program.

The Specialty Dealer Days program, presented by Electronic House, runs January 7 and 8, the first two days of the show, and prominently features the latest advancements in small retail, installation and integration. This first-of-its-kind program will cover the aspects of specialty retail, including cable, DSL, fiber and WiMax modems, hubs, routers and switches, media extenders and receivers, sales, installation, repair and monitoring, structured wired cables, wall plates and boxes, plus VOIP hardware and software.

"Attendees at the 2008 International CES will be the first to experience the latest products and trends changing the shape of the retail, installation and integration market," says Karen Chupka, Senior Vice President, Events and Conferences, CEA. "The CES Specialty Dealer Days program is devoted to helping specialty retailers, professional installers and integrators make 2008 their most profitable year through conference sessions, panel discussions, networking events and more."

For more information, visit www.cesweb.org.