Consumer Electronics Daily News

ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre Receives BD-Live 2.0 Certification

ArcSoft, Inc.'s TotalMedia Theatre received BD-Live (Profile 2.0) Certification from the Blu-ray Disc Association last week, the first certification of any PC desktop software from any developer in the world.

"The new Blu-ray Disc movies with BD-Live present users with unique features of the next generation video players -- online interactive capability -- offering the ultimate entertainment experience beyond high definition," says George Tang, ArcSoft's Vice President and General Manager of Video and Home Entertainment Group. "BD Profile 2.0 certification guarantees compatibility with BD-Live specifications to ensure that users get the true BD-Live experience. Since ArcSoft is committed to providing the highest quality products, this certification is a further step in that direction."

BD-Live enables Blu-ray Disc makers to incorporate additional interactive features including downloadable video content, ringtones, games and more. The internet connectivity of BD-Live offers a rich and interactive user experience when watching Blu-ray movies. Content providers may now offer more video trailers on the fly, BD-Live games such as Fox's upcoming title Alien vs. Predator, updated actor's biographies, additional commentaries and language tracks.

For more information, visit http://www.arcsoft.com/products/totalmediatheatre/.

Sony, Samsung Partner For S-LCD

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Sony Corporation today announced that they have signed a contract to establish an additional 8th generation amorphous TFT-LCD manufacturing line through their joint venture, S-LCD Corporation.

S-LCD, established in April 2004, started operating its 7th generation line in April 2005 and its first 8th generation line in August 2007 to manufacture and supply TFT-LCD panels for Samsung and Sony. To meet the increase in world demand for LCD televisions, Samsung and Sony had agreed to expand the capacity of the 8th generation line. Total investment for the 8-2 line will be approximately 1.8 trillion KRW (approximately $1.9 billion or 200 billion JPY), to be invested by S-LCD.

The 8-2 line is to be built in the Tangjeong Complex, and production is targeted to start in the second quarter of 2009. Production capacity for the new line is expected to be 60,000 sheets per month initially (substrate glass input basis). The size of substrate glass from this line will be 2,200 x 2,500mm.

By adding the output of the 8-2 line to that of the current 8th and 7th generation lines in Tangjeong, S-LCD is expected to be a more stable and efficient supplier of large screen LCD panels to Samsung and Sony.

For more information, visit www.samsung.com.

CompUSA Re-Opening Stores

Systemax Inc., the Ohio-based owner of TigerDirect.com and CompUSA has reopened more than a dozen of the retailer's Florida based stores, as well as several CompUSA stores in Texas and Puerto Rico.

Systemax acquired the CompUSA name and other assets in mid-January, and has promised to refocus the struggling retailer with a smaller brick-and-mortar footprint, as well as expanded direct-sales online and expanded product line.

The CompUSA re-openings are being trumpeted with a four-week "Grand Re-Opening" celebration at many of the stores, as well as giveaways and contents in Florida in a back-to-school partnership with Lenovo.

For more information, click here.

Apple, Motorola & Sony Lose Global Handset Marketshare

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global mobile handset shipments grew a healthy 14 percent year-over-year, to reach 282 million units in Q1 2008. However, major manufacturers did not all share in the growth as Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Apple all lost marketshare.

"Global handset shipments rose 14 percent annually, to 282 million units during Q1 2008," says Bonny Joy, Analyst at Strategy Analytics. "Emerging markets in Asia and Africa continue to surge and they are compensating for the sluggish demand in developed regions of North America and Western Europe."

"Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Apple suffered downturns," adds Neil Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics. "Motorola and Sony Ericsson lost marketshare to rivals with stronger handset portfolios, such as LG and Samsung, while Apple has been hit by stock-outs in North America and lackluster demand for its overpriced iPhone in Western Europe."

According to Strategy Analytics' Q1 2008 Global Handset Market Share Update, Apple's global handset shipments fell sharply, from 2.3 million units in Q4 2007 to 1.7 million in Q1 2008. Apple's global marketshare declined for the first time, from 0.7 percentin Q4 2007 to 0.6 percent in Q1 2008.

At the same time, improved handset portfolios enabled LG to grow at almost four times the annual industry average, while Samsung is growing over two times faster.

For more information from the report, visit www.strategyanalytics.com.

Windows XP Status Remains in Flux Despite Ballmer's Comments

Microsoft CEO Says Aging Operating System Could Stick Around Past Cut-Off Date if Consumer Demand Warrants, Company Quickly Clarifies No Plans Have Changed

For months, Microsoft has been warning new and existing customers and OEMs that the cut-off for availability of Windows XP is June 30. Despite a limited online push for the OS to continue to be sold, as well as a glimmer of hope from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, the company reaffirmed that date this morning.

At a press conference earlier this week, Ballmer told reporters "[i]f customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter, but right now, we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments."

On-lookers jumped on the comments as a stay of execution for XP, and Dell announced plans to continue to sell XP on many PCs as an official "downgrade" option past the June 30 cut-off. The XP licensing option, which Dell will reportedly offer through 2010, is technically sold under a Vista license, and includes a DVD with Vista so a user can upgrade at any time.

Windows XP will also continue to be sold in "ultralow-cost PCs," Ballmer said. The rapidly growing category of notebooks and other portables covers devices with slower processors and lower available resources than needed to effectively run Windows Vista.

For more information, click here.

Panasonic Reportedly Entering OLED Production

Hot on the heels of its formal PDP partnership with Pioneer, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic) is reportedly moving into the OLED TV business as well.

According to a report in Digitimes, Matsushita's Panasonic Plasma Display Shanghai Director/President Osakabe Akihiko announced the company's stake in IPS Alpha Technology has grown to more than 50 percent after Panasonic invested in a new TFT LCD plant. The goal, Digitimes reports, is a 15 percent share of the global glat panel market this year, as well as, "to begin producing organic electroluminescent (OEL) models in the future."

Panasonic has not yet formally announced any move into the OLED/OEL market at this time, and the company did not comment further on their OLED plans.

For more information, click here.

Pioneer, Panasonic Reach PDP Deal

Pioneer Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., best known for its Panasonic products, today reached a basic agreement on a comprehensive PDP business alliance to further progress and reinforce the PDP businesses, the companies said in a joint statement.

The agreement mainly covers R&D as well as strategic production and supply of PDP and modules. The two companies will discuss further detail and conclude a formal agreement on the PDP business alliance around May 2008.

According to Pioneer, "the comprehensive alliance will bring about significant synergy effects by the integration of the [company's] KURO technologies, renowned for high luminance efficiency, high contrast and super-slim design, with NeoPDP, Matsushita's own technologies for high efficiency that has been developed as evolutionary technologies of the next-generation VIERA plasma displays."

In collaboration with Pioneer, Matsushita will develop and manufacture PDPs and modules on which their technological strengths are concentrated. Matsushita plans to start supplying these newly-developed PDPs and modules in time for Pioneer's release of new PDP products which will be available in the autumn of 2009. By promoting the integration of their PDP technologies and sharing the same PDP, Pioneer and Matsushita intend to increase efficiency in panel development and production and boost their cost competitiveness in the flat-panel TV market.

For more information, visit at http://pioneer.jp

Sharper Image For Sale

Sharper Image Corp. officially put itself up for sale yesterday, less than three months after filing for bankruptcy protection.

According to Reuters, the company is looking to complete the sale before June 1, and is prepping an auction for the business in the coming weeks.

While the company has been mum on prospective buyers, former Sharper Image Chairman Jerry Levin, who resigned in early April, said he was seeking out other interested investors or partners to purchase a portion or all of the struggling electronics retailer.

For more information, click here.

Gefen Extends HDTV Over CAT-5

Connectivity solutions provider Gefen today announced the arrival of two new distribution solutions for digital high definition sources and displays using the HDMI format. Available in distributions to four and eight displays, both rack mountable units also enable the extension of HDMI audio and video beyond its specified limits over industry-standard CAT-5 cable.

The 1:4 and 1:8 HDMI CAT-5 Distribution Amplifiers include a sender unit that performs a seamless split of one HDMI input with delivery to multiple displays. Users have the option of ordering small, individual receivers for remote displays that must be placed a distance from the source.

Signals can travel up to 300 feet (100m) at resolutions to 1080i, and up to 150 feet (50m) at resolutions to 1080p. Multi-channel audio is delivered alongside the video using two CAT-5 cables that connect the HDMI source (sender) to the display (receiver). Both sender and receiver units are powered to ensure a high quality HDTV signal complete with HDCP compliance at both short and long range distances. If users opt to connect their HDMI displays directly to the sender, no additional power is needed.

Gefen's 1:4 (MSRP $1999) and 1:8 (MSRP $2999) HDMI CAT-5 Distribution Amplifiers are available for pre-order at www.gefen.com.

Convert HDMI to Component Video with TVOne-task

TVOne-task’s newest format converter, the 1T-FC-326, allows the user to take either of two HDMI inputs and convert it to component video. Very wide video bandwidth insures that the analog output is capable of showing the fine detail present in most HDMI signals. The audio output includes Coaxial Digital and Analog Stereo (R/L) that is de-embedded from the HDMI digital signal stream.

The 1T-FC-326 is compliant with HDMI 1.2a, HDCP 1.1 and DI 1.0. It supports all HDTV and SDTV resolutions. The unit may be operated from the front panel buttons or the IR Remote Control. LEDs on the front panel indicate which of the two inputs is selected and if HDCP (Content Protection) is present. It accommodates cables with either standard or locking type connectors. Provisions are made for securing locking type HDMI connectors to the case.

The unit requires external 5VDC and an AC Adapter is provided. It has a locking DC connector for added security. The unit has a suggested retail price of $289 and is shipping. For more information, visit www.tvone.com.