Consumer Electronics Daily News

DIRECTV Rolls Out Coast-to-Coast On-Demand Services

DIRECTV, Inc. has completed its DIRECTV on Demand service rollout to customers across the country. The platform is available at no additional charge to customers with a DIRECTV Plus HD DVR or R22 DVR receiver, and offers more than 4,000 standard-definition and HD titles, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

The service allows customers to download the programming of their choice from the DIRECTV on Demand library to their DVRs to enjoy whenever they want.

“We couldn’t be happier with the DIRECTV on Demand service. The folks here have actually made the on demand experience fun and enjoyable,” says Eric Shanks, Executive Vice President, DIRECTV Entertainment. “We are continuing to not only level, but elevate the playing field among pay TV providers with a dynamic on demand service that truly answers the needs of our customers and provides them with a robust lineup of on demand programming.”

The DIRECTV on Demand service offers content downloaded via a broadband connection, while other content, primarily blockbuster movies, is pushed to the customer’s DVR via satellite. Much of the content, depending on the speed of the customer’s broadband connection and type of content, can be viewed in real time as it is being downloaded.

For more information, visit www.directv.com/ondemand.

Dash Adds Industry's First Wireless Software Update System

Dash Navigation, Inc., the first Internet-connected automotive GPS device, today became the first GPS provider to wirelessly update customers' device software over-the-air without requiring them to separately purchase and install upgrades via a PC or DVD download. Later today, Dash drivers will automatically receive the software update over Wi-Fi by simply turning on their Dash Express.

The update adds several new features designed to answer customers' everyday commuting questions such as "Is my route the best option today?" or "Where is the closest coffee shop along my route?" The MyRoute and Search Along Route product enhancements make the Dash Express even more relevant for everyday commuting.

Subscribers of the Dash service receive ongoing software updates throughout the year including historical traffic information from the Dash Driver Network, new features, software improvements and updated maps. 

Also new to the Dash system is a program through the company's newest partner, EveryBlock, which collects and publishes neighborhood and block-level news in cities including Chicago, New York and San Francisco. With the EveryBlock DashApp, drivers in those cities can access a "neighborhood feed," including public records (e.g., crimes, restaurant inspections, building permits) and user-contributed knowledge (e.g., local photos posted to Flickr) -- all filtered geographically according to the vehicle's current location.

For more information, visit www.dash.net.

Panasonic Wins Top Awards For Projectors at InfoComm

Panasonic Projector Systems Company's PT-DZ12000U, a three-chip DLP WUXGA (1920x1200) projector was honored by Rental & Staging Systems and Systems Contractor News as the "Best HD Projection Product" and "Most Innovative Install Grade Video Projector."

The awards recognize and reward excellence in the integration of audio, video, control and networking products in the installation market and best new products for the rental and staging market introduced in 2008.

"We're honored to receive these prestigious industry awards that recognize innovation in product design and value to the installation market," says Thomas Zitelli, President of Panasonic Projector Systems Company. "The PT-DZ12000U projector is our new standard-setting, large venue projector solution that was specifically designed with input from our customers. It creates new application opportunities for our partners and end users, and delivers the high level of quality and reliability they expect from Panasonic."

The PT-DZ12000U includes new, built-in edge blending and a geometric adjustment feature that enables dynamic warping capability. Edge blending, used primarily for the rental and staging market, makes it possible to overlap multiple images to create a single larger image, thus enabling users to project images on oversized screens for large audiences. Panasonic Projectors' easy to operate geometric adjustment feature makes warping images to be projected on curved surfaces possible, making these new projectors ideal solutions for museums with amphitheaters and other similar-type settings.

For more information, visit www.panasonic.com/projectors.

NPD: Sony Moves Ahead of Microsoft With PS3 Sales Surge

The resurgence of the PlayStation 3 reached an important milestone over the weekend, The NPD Group reports, with Sony's flagship gaming console overtaking rival Microsoft XBox 360 console sales by its largest single-month sales gap since its debut.

Analysts at NPD say that more than 12 million PS3s have been sold worldwide, with more than 209,000 units sold this May in the United States alone. Xbox 360 sales for that month were only 187,000, though the company maintains its No.2 position worldwide behind the rival Nintendo Wii with more than 20 million units sold.

For more information and detailed sales figures for each console, click here.

ICE, RetroSound Announce New Partnership

In Car Experts Inc. has created a Strategic Marketing Alliance with Retro Manufacturing Inc., makers of RetroSound products. Continuing its goal of providing valuable retailer services and products, ICE has partnered with Retrosound to offer its members innovative products and information from a world leading classic car accessory supplier, the association said in a statement today.

RetroSound products are designed specifically for classic cars that posses an installation challenge.

"ICE Retailers are sought out by consumers because they deliver excellent specialty retailing experiences and superior installation skills," says  ICE Director of Vendor Relations, David Schwartz. "By engaging with Retrosound, ICE Members are now the only stop for the owners of vehicles that began the american driving experience. Additionally, classic car owners require perfection in the installation of the product. Retrosound certainly saw the perfection that ICE members deliver in the install bays to consumers."

Located in Chino, Calif., Retro's employees have many decades of combined experience in the 12 volt and consumer products industry. Retro is always working on making products better and providing superior value and quality, the company says.

For more information, visit www.incarexperts.com.

Registration Now Open for MERA-CEA Regional Workshops

The Mobile Enhancement Retailers Association has opened registration for the fall MERA-CEA Regional Workshops featuring MECP. The workshops will be held in Albany, N.Y., Portland, Ore., Overland Park, Kan., and Birmingham, Ala.   

All four events will include the following workshops, Giving Your Installations the Professional Edge, with Bryan Schmitt, Mobile Solutions; Staffing Your Store, led by MERA’s President Barry Vogel of The Ultimate Edge in Oswego, N.Y. and Selling You, presented by MiTek Corporation.

“This year's regional events will build upon MERA's nationally recognized education program by adding unique opportunities for the retailers who attend. The timing of the events and the addition of the Buying Expo makes these events the perfect primer for the coming holiday season. Truly a "can't miss" opportunity,” said Barry Vogel, president of MERA.

Leading manufacturers will offer product training and updates during the 2008 MERA-CEA Regional Workshops featuring MECP. Also new to the schedule is the Buying Expo. Leading suppliers will be on hand with special promotions and products that will be in demand for the coming holiday season. Participating manufacturers and suppliers will vary by locations.

For more information, visit www.merausa.org.

Best Buy, Carphone Warehouse Venture Complete

The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC and Best Buy Co., Inc. today announced the closing of their transaction to create a new venture aimed at addressing the evolving consumer electronics needs of European consumers, following the passing of resolutions relating to the transaction this morning.

All conditions relating to the completion of the transaction have now been satisfied or waived, and the transaction is therefore now complete in all respects, the two companies said in a joint statement.

The closing of the transaction marks the formation of a new company comprised of The Carphone Warehouse's existing retail and mobile service businesses. These businesses consist of more than 2,400 stores in nine European countries under the Carphone Warehouse and Phone House brands and The Carphone Warehouse's share of its existing relationships with Best Buy. Both The Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy each now own 50 percent of the new company. The Carphone Warehouse continues to own 100 percent of its fixed line telecoms business in the U.K., comprising TalkTalk, AOL Broadband and Opal; and its share of the Virgin Mobile France joint venture.

For more information, click here.

JVC, Kenwood Shareholders Approve Merger

Victor Co. of Japan (JVC) and Kenwood Corp. shareholders have formally approved a plan to bring the two companies together under a holding company, according to a joint statement released today.

The move comes more than a year after a partnership between the struggling electronics manufacturers first lead to speculation of a more formal merger, and later a finalization of the agreement back in May 2008.

According to the statement, the two companies will finalize their merger on or about October 1, pending regulatory approvals, under a new entity know as JVC Kenwood Holdings. Current JVC President Kunihiko Sato is set to become President of the new holding company, Reuters reports.

For more information, click here.

3K Readies Windows CE-Based Netbook

3K Computers, LLC announces the second generation of its top-selling RazorBook 400 mini-notebook computer -- the Windows CE powered 3K RazorBook 400 Mini Notebook Ultra Mobile PC. The unique device is just under 2 lbs and includes a 7-inch LCD TFT Display and a full-size keyboard for the same MSRP as the original, $299.

“This is very exciting news for us since we are bringing a mini-notebook to market for the price of $299 that can support Remote Desktop functionality and comes equipped with Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. Microsoft Windows CE also boasts the familiar Windows interface that U.S. based end users have been requesting daily through our support forum,” says Dan Jacobs, CEO, 3K Computers.

The RazorBook 400 is perfect as a low-cost portable Internet appliance for mobile professionals, students, Internet browsing on the go, playing Flash games, secure online shopping, instant messaging, and playing music and movies while on the road.

With a boot-up time of less than eight seconds, the RazorBook 400 was designed to be turned on and off instantly just like any other appliance in your home. The energy-saving RISC architecture processor is fan-less and offers completely quiet computing with very low energy consumption. Without a spinning hard disk drive, the RazorBook 400 is shock-resistant and touts 4GB of solid-state storage.

The new RazorBook 400s is scheduled for release in late July/early August, positioning itself as a major draw for back-to-school shoppers seeking an inexpensive alternative to a bulky notebook PC.

For more information, visit www.3kcomputers.com.

Say Hello to Panasonic, Goodbye to Matsushita

What started as an attempt to consolidate brand names under the more popularly recognized Panasonic name has turned into a full-blown renaming strategy for Matsushita Electric Industrial Corp. -- which after Oct. 1 will formally be known only as Panasonic Corp.

Panasonic executives made the announcement this morning following official approval from the consumer electronics maker's shareholders. The name change will also affect companies owned by Panasonic currently operating under variations of the Matsushita and National brands.

The company says that it expects transition costs and processes to be finalized within fiscal year 2010. For more information, click here.