| December 4, 2008 | News covering the consumer electronics industry |
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 | Winning on Service in an Uncertain Economy
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Companies who are building customer loyalty through exceptional service are finding themselves insulated against this economy. They know you can't afford to lose customers since they cost considerably more to replace than to retain. Download this white paper to learn more. |
| CE in the Home |  |  |
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- Denon hits the market with versatile Blu-ray player
Denon Electronics has debuted a new Blu-ray player that Jeff Talmadge, the company's director of product development and systems integration, is touting as the "the world's first fully-balanced, two-channel transmission for analog signals." The DVD-A1UCDI plays Blu-ray discs in 1080p resolution as well as music from CDs, DVD-Audio and SACD discs. SmartHouse (Australia)
(12/4)      
- Study: Global LCD shipments flat in third quarter
Worldwide shipments of liquid-crystal-display TV sets were essentially flat at 42.8 million units in the third quarter of this year when compared with the prior quarter, according to DisplaySearch, a research firm. Typically, manufacturers ramp up production and distribution during the third quarter to prepare for the holiday shopping season, said Chris Connery, the firm's vice president of PC and Large Format Commercial Displays. Dealerscope
(12/4)
| From Blue Chips to Startups | | |
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- Is iTunes getting too big for its britches?
 Apple, and its iTunes store, offers such a popular method for buying online music that the company has stifled any competition from would-be rivals, according to Rob Lord, chief executive officer of Songbird, a company that operates a small Web-based music store. "Users should have the choice of the iTunes store or somebody else's store," he said. Reuters
(12/3)
- Sony's Black Friday sales said to exceed expectations
When it comes to Black Friday sales, Sony apparently does not want to be lumped in with other manufacturers, many of whom saw only tepid success on the day after Thanksgiving. "Black Friday sales exceeded our expectations at nearly every retail location and online as well," said Chris Fawcett, vice president of marketing for home audio and video products at Sony, which reported strong sales of its Bravia LCD TVs and Blu-ray players. TWICE
(12/3)
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- Online trade-in services for CE wares put to the test
Web sites that offer to recycle old consumer-electronics products as a way of reducing landfill waste sound nice and green. But are they truly worth the effort? In this article, several of these trade-in services were put to the test. CNET
(12/3)
- Tech sector optimistic about new administration
Insiders in the high-tech industries say they believe President-elect Barack Obama's interest in new technology will put more money into initiatives that will benefit their businesses. Areas that could benefit from Obama's assistance might include e-government, health IT, education and telecommunications efforts. National Journal
(12/2)
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- Some stores still in dark on mobile bar-code scans
The increasingly routine use of mobile applications in such mundane activities as grocery shopping is presenting challenges to store owners, according to this columnist, who notes some outlets remain ignorant of a popular application that lets shoppers compare prices by using their cell phones to scan products' bar codes. Retailers must not only keep up with the constant flow of new technology, but they also must decide whether it is prudent to give shoppers an opportunity to find cheaper prices at their competitors' stores. NYTimes.com/ReadWriteWeb
(12/3)
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Vote now for your favorite DTV-conversion video
Five semifinalists have been chosen in CEA's Digital TV: Convert Now! contest on YouTube. Now it is time for your input. Review the videos and let us know which one you think best educates consumers about the impending transition to digital TV. The fan favorite will win a home-entertainment center, including a flat-screen, high-definition TV; an HD Blu-ray disc player; and a surround-sound audio system. The winning entry will be announced Wednesday.
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Buyers call CES a must-attend event
Buyers, prepare to meet face to face with key vendors and decision makers to see new technologies that drive the CE industry. The International CES is the place to take in all the products, services and technologies that drive your business, no matter if your consumer base is in-home or in-vehicle, residential or commercial. If you attend one trade show all year, CES has to be at the top of your list.
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Microsoft research director joins Tech & Emerging Countries panel
Kentaro Toyama, the assistant managing director for Microsoft Research India, is the most recent expert to join the Technology and Emerging Countries Program at the 2009 International CES. Toyama played an instrumental role in establishing the Microsoft Research Lab in Bangalore, which opened in 2005. Besides helping guide its direction and growth, Toyama leads the Technology for Emerging Markets research group as a principal researcher, and he is a co-founder of the IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD).
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