Consumer Electronics Daily News

Dolby Volume to Debut on New Toshiba HDTVs

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. and Toshiba are partnering to bring Dolby Volume audio-processing technology on Toshiba's new REGZA ZH500 and ZV500 series LCD HDTVs launching in Japan next month.

Dolby Volume allows consumer electronics products to deliver consistent volume levels from various audio sources, and is part of a comprehensive Dolby solution that addresses loudness issues. This includes professional technologies that aid in setting correct audio levels prior to broadcast and device-level implementations that aid in controlling volume inconsistencies at playback.

"When we first demonstrated Dolby Volume, we immediately knew that consumers would be drawn to its elegant approach to mitigating loudness variations," says Page Haun, Director of Product Management, Broadcast Segment, Dolby Laboratories. "We're very excited to have worked closely with Toshiba in providing this technology to consumers."

For more information, visit www.dolby.com.

Microsoft Testing 'Senior PC' in UK Market

Microsoft UK is reportedly developing an easy-to-use personal computer for seniors as part of a larger campaign supported by the British government, and charitable organizations like Age Concern and Help the Aged, to end digital exclusion among its elderly population.

The computer will reportedly have a simple, less intimidating interface designed to be navigated easily by older PC users. According to BBC News, the PC will include software for prescription medication management, simplified tools for everyday computing such as Web navigation, email and more.

While the company has not announced any plans to bring the "senior PC" stateside, the PC project appears to be similar to several digital literacy programs already in the works in the U.S. Microsoft offers a variety of Windows configurations preloaded on HP computers that are designed to target senior populations through larger on-screen fonts and images, simpler navigation layouts and targeted, pre-loaded software.

For more information, click here.

Sony Readies New Bravia Home Theater System With HDMI

The new 2.1-channel BRAVIA DAV-F200 home theater system from Sony features HDMI, USB and 1080p upscaling, all in a sleek form factor designed to match the CE maker's BRAVIA line of HDTVs.

The DAV-F200 BRAVIA system has a control center that can stand on a desk or shelf, or be mounted on the wall, and this -– along with compact speakers and a hideaway subwoofer -– enables the DAV-F200 to deliver a powerful exciting, immersive home cinema experience without the clutter of conventional set-ups.

What’s more, the system is the result tuning by the same team responsible for Sony’s high-end A/V receivers, with components such as the speaker driver units and amplification being selected after extensive listening tests to achieve the highest possible quality from a system of this kind.

Moreover, the picture quality is every bit as remarkable as the sound. Using its HDMI output to connect to a BRAVIA TV, the system can upscale standard DVDs to 1080p resolution, giving them superb colour, sharpness and visual impact even on the largest of screens.

The BRAVIA DAV-F200 will be available in June from Sony Centre stores, and retailers across Europe. The company has not yet released details on the system's U.S. debut. For more information, visit www.sonystyle-europe.com.

Sam's Club Offers Electronics Recycling Program

Sam's Club is the latest in a growing number of brick-and-mortar CE retailers to offer electronics recycling services both aging PCs, gaming systems and other electronic devices.

Working with N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc., Sam's Club has launched ecoNEW, its new online electronics recycling service that helps members nationwide get rid of their older, unwanted, small to medium size electronics through a free, easy-to-use, environmental solution for e-waste recycling.

Sam's Club members may trade in their older electronics for a gift card which is determined by a recycle trade-in value generated through the website. Sam's Club's ecoNEW program accepts LCD monitors, digital cameras, PC desktops and laptops, gaming systems, MP3 players, camcorders, and printers. Even if the product does not qualify for a trade-in value, the program still accepts the product for recycling and provides a pre-paid shipping label.

The ecoNEW program operated by NEW has a "no export and no landfill" guarantee. Electronic equipment received will either be reconditioned or recycled.

For more information, visit www.econewonline.com/samsclub.

Verbatim Adds 500GB 2.5" HDD Line

Verbatim Americas is now offering the world's first half-Terabyte 2.5" portable HDD featuring an industry standard 9.5mm Z-height drive. The PDA-sized drive joins Verbatim's highly rated SmartDisk line of portable HDDs, which currently offer capacities ranging from 120GB to 320GB.

Scheduled to begin shipping in Q2 2008, the sleek new HDD will enable Windows and Mac users to add up to 500GB of removable capacity to their laptop or desktop systems for less than $300.

"Being able to add half a Terabyte of storage to a PC or Mac with such a small, easy to carry device is a new milestone in the portable storage industry," says Charles Klinker, Verbatim Director of Marketing for SmartDisk products. "Imagine the convenience of being able to store, transport and backup all of your digital content without having to span disks or carry multiple storage solutions."

Like Verbatim's complete family of 2.5" SmartDisk HDDs, the 500GB drive will be available with a choice of a USB interface or a Combo FireWire(R)/USB interface. The bus-powered drives deliver transfer speeds of up to 480MB per second (MB/sec.) when connected with USB 2.0 and up to 400MB/sec. for FireWire connections without requiring an AC power adapter.

For more information, visit www.verbatim.com.

HD Installers Named 'Installation Company of the Year'

CertifiedHDTVInstallers.com has doled out it's annual Certified HDTV Installation Company of the Year honors to HD Installers, the online nationwide network of professional A/V installers.

"HD Installers exemplifies what every installation company should aspire to be; a company that strives for the perfect installation every time," says CMO of CertifiedHDTVInstallers.com Marv Anthony. "They provide nationwide service and certify all the installers that work directly for them. They complete this at extraordinary cost and time of their installers out of the field. We've received several thousand compliments from HD Installers customers, they even post installation customer reviews on the web site. HD Installers does more than just install plasma and LCD televisions; they do everything they can do to make sure you always get the perfect TV installation or Home Theater Installation experience."

Open since 1992, HD Installers is a leading provider of residential home theater installation, LCD TV installation and plasma TV installation. They are also the leading provider of commercial audio and video installation services.

"HD Installers is proud to add to our long list of awards," says Holly Turner, Director of Operations. "HD Installers continues to strive for 100 percent customer satisfaction by providing top of the line certified HDTV installation services. HD Installers was also the recent winner of the 2007 Home Theater Installation Company winning the award three years in a row from Planet Installation."

For more information, visit www.hdinstallers.com.

Blockbuster To Sell Video Games, Hardware and Accessories

Will Also Carry More Rental Game Platforms, Titles and Copies

Blockbuster Inc. is shifting it's brick-and-mortar sales strategies towards video game sales with word this morning that it has rolled out retail video games and game hardware to all U.S. corporate-owned BLOCKBUSTER stores as part of a broader plan to significantly expand its game business.

Now customers can go into any U.S. corporate-owned BLOCKBUSTER store and purchase video game titles, hardware and accessories for the Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS game systems. In addition to expanding its retail games offering, Blockbuster is adding more game titles for rental with more copies than before across all platforms.

"We're committed to offering a full assortment of everything gamers want in our stores -- hardware, accessories and retail and rental games across all platforms -- including Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS," says Rod Murray, Vice President, Games Merchandising, Blockbuster Inc.

To herald the move, Blockbuster will also be implementing a variety of special consumer game offers, such as an exclusive Sony PS3 movie and game bundle. The bundle, available at corporate-owned stores while supplies last for $499.99, excluding tax, includes: a 40GB Sony PS3 game console that also plays Blu-ray DVDs, PS3/Blu-ray DVD remote, HDMI cable, "Spiderman 3" Blu-ray disc, "Transformers" PS3 game and a BLOCKBUSTER 12-week PS3/Blu-ray rental card that entitles users to one free PS3 or Blu-ray rental per week for 12 consecutive weeks.

For more information, visit www.blockbuster.com.

DXG Brings HD Camcorder to Radio Shack

DXG USA has taken the wraps off a new, low-priced DXG-569V HD High-Definition camcorder. With a vertical design for an ultra-slim form factor, the new camcorder is available immediately at Radio Shack and other stores for $169 in glossy black and silver.

The DXG-569V HD camcorder records real HD video up to 1280x720 at 30 fps for videos that are crystal-clear, crisp and colorful. Sporting a five megapixel CMOS sensor for still images, a light-weight slim design, large rotational 3” TFT screen and other advanced camera features, the DXG-569V is the perfect size to bring everywhere to capture real life -- from birthdays to baseball games, school performances, vacations and picnics.

In addition, the DXG-569V HD also features a digital voice recorder, so you can record and make notes anywhere you go. And the camcorder also can be used as a mass storage device by connecting it to a PC to easily copy and back-up documents, music files, pictures, and videos from a computer to the camcorder’s SD card. 

For more information, visit www.dxgusa.com.

CEA Joins Electronics Associations Meeting

Leaders from the Consumer Electronics Association joined several partner associations last week in Kyoto, Japan, at the Fourth Annual Japan/US/EU Trilateral IT-Electronics Associations Meeting to address key issues affecting the global consumer technology industry.

The meetings included representatives from CEA, the Information and Technology Industry Council (ITIC), the European Information and Communications Technology Industry Association (EICTA) and the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) to advance global CE industry issues. 

“The annual trilateral meeting with our international counterparts is critical to reaching a global consensus regarding policy issues that impact the growth of our industry,” says Elizabeth Hyman, Vice President, international, CEA. “CEA’s members look to our association to expand the international scope of our industry. The trilateral meeting enables us to continue an open dialogue with our European and Japanese colleagues, and allows CEA to address key issues, including environmental and trade policy, that affect our industry on a global level.”

The trade associations discussed policy challenges including environmentally sustainable practices, end-of-life management for electronics products and international trade. Following the meeting, a joint statement was drafted addressing energy efficiency, materials regulations, green procurement and global trade. The formal joint statement issued by CEA, ITIC, EICTA and JEITA is available online at www.ce.org. In 2009, CEA and ITIC will host the Fifth Annual Trilateral IT-Electronics Associations Meeting in Washington, DC.

ABI: GPS Market Set to Balloon to $240 Billion

The market for GPS satellite technology embedded in mobile consumer devices for navigation and location-based services is set to grow to more than $240 billion in five years, according to a new report from ABI Research. While GPS handsets and in-vehicle navigation systems will remain the most lucrative markets, industrial applications such as network timing, land surveying and machine control are quickly gaining momentum.

"The implementation of GPS technology in mobile consumer devices such as handsets and digital cameras, and its indoor use, pose some important challenges," says ABI Research Principal Analyst Dominique Bonte. "GPS technology was designed for outdoor use and specific military applications, and its weak signals and long fix times are not well-suited to indoor environments and mobile devices such as digital cameras with their low power consumption and always-on requirements."

Innovative workaround solutions based on the post-processing of the GPS signal are being developed, as is the use of assisted-GPS technology to provide location and satellite data to connected devices for faster fixes and better coverage. For deep indoor environments, GPS will have to be complemented with alternative positioning technologies such as Wi-Fi, motion sensors or even TV broadcast signals.

Global Navigation Satellite Positioning Solutions, a recent study from ABI Research, examines the applications and market segments of GPS technology, describing products, market players, trends, drivers and barriers. For more information, click here.