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Is this holiday shopping season going to be status quo for you, or do you plan to cut back because of the economic downturn? Market research firm ABI Research surveyed 1,600 households and found that 40 percent will be treating this season no differently than others, as they indicated they will spend about the same as usual. And 13 percent say they’ll spend more than usual. That’s the good news for retailers. The bad news is that 47 percent said they do in fact plan… View this story
Industry • Manufacturers • Retailers • Enhancements • Product News

If you thought the retail sales which surfaced around Halloween were impressive, then the real Black Friday should turn out to be one early Christmas and Hanukkah present. Shoppers will find $500 - $700 price cuts on new HDTV models and $300 - $400 off home theater components. You should also expect some surprise sales on the Wii, Playstation and Xbox in stores and on-line. Here’s some insight into the discounts being tossed around by retailers and manufacturers. The Players & Game Plans Fueled by… View this story
Manufacturers • Retailers • Deals • Home Theater • Info and Answers

Despite the economy, movie stars still take home a nice paycheck. However, for once it seems that consumer spending is finally hitting Hollywood in the pocketbook. Don’t worry; Brad, Angelina and the brood certainly won’t starve. However, a report in The New York Times says that DVD sales are down, and even if the studios won’t admit it, Hollywood is starting to feel the financial crunch. Warner Bros. says that DVD sales are down about 4 percent this year. However, Nielsen says its more like… View this story
Blu-ray • Movies and Music • Manufacturers • Retailers • Home Theater • Product News

Who’s winning the battle of the digital home? That was the question panelists from Macrovision, Comcast Cable, EchoStar and Verizon grappled with at the Future of Television conference held in New York this week. The battle seems to be far from over, but consumers are weighing in with their requests and service providers are listening. According to Kurt Scherf, VP and research analyst for Parks Associates, “Consumers are starting to say, ‘I really do want my content on my terms,’” notes Scherf. “It’s not so… View this story
Displays • Networking and Communication • Set Top Boxes • Manufacturers • Info and Answers

Deflation may be punishing the economy overall, but it promises terrific bargains for consumers planning a TV buy for the Super Bowl. This week, Vizio took the wraps off a 55-inch LCD TV that will carry a suggested retail price of $1,999 when it ships to dealers in January. But expect the street price to drop below that before the Super Bowl kickoff, according to Ken Lowe, co-founder and vp of business development for Vizio. Despite the economy-friendly price, Vizio hasn’t skimped on features. Try… View this story
Displays • LCD • Speakers • Soundbars • Manufacturers • Home Theater • Product News

It might not be the best time for consumer electronics retailers these days, but on the manufacturer side, at least one new store is opening in time for the holidays. Pioneer Electronics has opened its second U.S. storefront, in the CityCenter of CityNorth in Phoenix. Like the initial store Pioneer opened two years ago in Orange County, CA, the Phoenix location is part of an upscale shopping center where those Kuro Elites should fit in just fine. The newly opened CityCenter will even be adding… View this story
Industry • Manufacturers • Home Theater • Enhancements • Product News

The USO is known for its shows, but this one has a geeky headliner—via Crestron. The high-end manufacturer recently donated some of its goods to create a high-tech home away from home for thousands at the Liberty USO Visitors Center at the Philadelphia International Airport. While waiting for connecting flights home, servicemen and women are treated to the comforts of home, which includes beds, showers and web access—as well as the DVD player, stereo receiver, television projector and satellite receiver of a 20-seat theater. All… View this story
Home Control Systems • Touchpanels and Keypads • Manufacturers • Home Theater • Product News

Even my wife knows to watch the bedroom TV if I’ve got a big game to watch on our plasma (or occasionally I’ll oblige and let her keep watching HGTV or something while I view the umpteenth Red Sox game in the middle of the season on a secondary TV). But Texas Instruments wants us to have our cake and eat it together. The DLP chip maker showed off its early development stage that would let two viewers watch two different programs on the same… View this story
Displays • Industry • Manufacturers • Enhancements • Product News

Is the consumer electronics industry really getting green? The Consumer Electronics Association says so in its new report, Environmental Sustainability and Innovation in the Consumer Electronics Industry, which takes some favorable (read: green) snapshots of some of the top consumer electronics manufacturers. The report, written by TFI Environment, looks at progress being made in eco-design, energy efficiency, green facilities and manufacturing, clean delivery processes, and giving back. “In examining environmental data from 20 of the largest consumer electronics companies by market share, we found that… View this story
Green Technology • Manufacturers • Info and Answers

On the morning of October 1st, only a few days after $1.2 trillion in market value was gone as the Dow Jones average dropped a record 778 points, a new Best Buy in toney Avon, Connecticut and middle class West Los Angeles were both crowded with customers. Two weeks later after the Dow rose a record 934 points, these two retail stores and similar online retailers like Amazon.com and J&R’s reportedly had the usual daily sales and consumer traffic. None of the aforementioned retail locations… View this story
Industry • Manufacturers • Retailers • Info and Answers

Being green is not just about building more sustainable and efficient products. A big part of it is about getting all those LCD screens and computers to us by using less fossil fuel. That represents a big part of a company’s carbon footprint. Two electronics companies, Sharp and HP, are touting their smaller carbon feet. The companies were among 27 that received SmartWay Excellence Awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for “conserving energy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions from their surface transportation supply… View this story
Green Technology • Manufacturers • Info and Answers

Secaucus, New Jersey…Fresh on the heels of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. announcing that it has become Panasonic Corporation and its stock symbol on the New York Stock Exchange changed to PC from MC , the world’s largest consumer electronics company demonstrated the world’s largest Plasma TV sized at 150 inches. The giant 150-inch plasma screen was displayed outside of the New York stock exchange, where the company reportedly was already taking orders for the unit from sports bars, hedge fund owners and golden parachuted… View this story
Displays • Manufacturers • Home Theater • Info and Answers