12
Jul
2006
Engadget: See the latest “PureMalt” speaker line-up from Pioneer made from the 100 year old oak used to barrel-age whiskey (or is that whisky?) before retiring in your bookshelf HiFi.
As to the specs, they include Pioneer’s Technical Audio Devices (TAD) technology usually found in their professional speakers.
The S-A4SPT-VP goes on sale in August for ¥48,000 or about a $421 equiv for the pair.
12
Jul
2006
AV Zombie: Panasonic has won six awards in the 2006 Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEAs), dominating the event. However they didn’t win anything for their plasma or CE products.
Instead the prizes came from work on an emergency flashlight, high-tech washer-dryer, pro-HD camcorder, security camera, fridge and home-power fuel cell.
The result is a big payback for the brand, which has devoted a huge resource to design. With around 300 designers on its payroll, the company typically runs 3,500 design projects a year.
Internal design competitions are run to inspire creative thought and generate new ideas. The best ideas earn the winners prizes, one such being a holidays for two in Hawaii. Design accolades, which are decided by members of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), also went to Samsung, Eastman Kodak and Philips.
11
Jul
2006
Matsushita said on Monday it hoped to start selling the world’s largest plasma television by early next year.
Measuring 2.4 metres by 1.4 meters and weighing 215 kg, the 103-inch panel is bigger than a double-sized mattress and almost as heavy as an upright piano.
They are yet to set the price, but their current 65-inch plasma TVs, their largest available now, sell for about $7,500 in Japan.
The plasma panel used in the Matsushita TV will be just one-inch larger measured diagonally than a 102-inch model developed by Samsung, who have not yet launched the model commercially.
Source: Reuters
11
Jul
2006
The new president of Matsushita Electric Industrial, 60-year old Fumio Ohtsubo, said in his inauguration speech in Japanthat he hopes to boost the annual sales of Panasonic’s plasma screens by a massive 70 percent, to one trillion yen; as well as increase revenue from semiconductor chips to 650 billion yen a year; boost revenue from its car electronics division to one trillion yen (from 690 billion in the last fiscal year) and home appliances to 3 trillion yen (from 2.5 trillion yen).
Ohtsubo replaces Kunio Nakamura, now chairman of the board, who won kudos for the way he has reversed the company’s perilous finances, from a record loss of nearly 200 billion yen in 2002 to a 400 billion yen profit in 2005.
It’s all part of a change of focus away from restructuring. “My mission as president,” he says, “is to make a phase change toward growth. Unless we achieve higher levels of success in flat TVs, car electronics, home appliance and semiconductor businesses where our strength already lies, we can not evolve into a globally excellent company.” A business plan and timetable to achieve this growth will be presented in January 2008.
Ohtsubo also said he’s aiming for a 5 per cent operating profit margin in the financial year ending March 2007, doubling to 10 percent by 2010. “If we can meet this operating margin target, we can be seen as a globally excellent company,” he proclaimed.
Source: AV zombie
11
Jul
2006
Gearjunkies reports Stanton is introducing the C.314: “a tabletop CD player designed for MP3 DJs who want the ability to scratch CDs like vinyl. The C.314 is an innovation that is loaded with advanced features and functionality, yet is extremely user-friendly and affordable.”
For European distributors, see Stanton Magnetics.
10
Jul
2006
Yes, they’re doing it: Microsoft is launching the ultimate iPod killer! And it has Wi-Fi too! Ooh… no… just wait a minute… they’re denying everything.
The gossip factory is doing overtime, these days. And just in case this rumour is drying up, we still have the Apple iPhone to chew on.
09
Jul
2006
Dutch foundation ‘Natuur en Milieu‘ made an unusual review of television sets recently. Image quality, looks, speakers, number of slots, price, nifty features… all of the usual criteria were put aside. The only question that mattered was: ‘how much electricity does the TV use?’
First in the +30″ category, was Sony’s KLVS32A10 (151 kWh a year).
Overall winner was the Samsung LW20M21, a set consuming merely 67 kWh a year.
Rankings change constantly. But one thing’s for sure, taking into consideration your energy bill when buying a new television appears to be a smart move.
For more details about low-energy devices, see Euro-Topten, an initiative supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe program (IEE).
08
Jul
2006
This fall, Philips is to introduce a range of portable navigation devices. Three devices will compete with those of Dutch TomTom.
According to Philips, the PNS series – Personal Navigation System – will offer the safest and most practical GPS solution inside and outside the car. The devices are likely to appeal to first-time buyers, since user-friendliness (‘Sense and Simplicity’ being the brand’s tagline) was one of the main concerns during pre-production.
All 3 models (PNS 100, PNS 200, PNS 150) are supplied with special cradles with built-in amplifier and speaker with few control buttons. They all have small dimensions: 10 cm long and less than 2 cm thick, weighing only 160 grams.
Philips’ navigation devices will be priced at 399 euro to 599 euro.
07
Jul
2006
So far, Sony’s PlayStation 2 was the undisputed market leader in the video game console business. Microsofts Xbox and the GameCube by Nintendo didn’t come even close.
According to a report by DFC Intelligence however, it’s red alert for Sony and its upcoming console. The PlayStation 3 promises to be rather costly for young gamers. The PS3 would sell at 499 euro, whereas the Xbox 360 for instance already sells at 299 euro.
Sony on the other hand claims the price tage is justified, since the PS3 is equipped with a Blu-ray drive. In November 2006 we’ll know who’s right…
06
Jul
2006
HD DVD players are almost oldskool by now. That’s why Toshiba takes it one step further. According to creative.mac the Japanese company will launch the world’s first high-definition DVD recorder in July in Japan.
The new RD-A1 can record and store up to 130 hours of HD broadcasts (…) and record up to 230 minutes of HD content to a single HD DVD disc, Toshiba claims in a statement. Toshiba hasn’t decided yet when it will launch the RD-A1 overseas.
Seems like Blu-ray has far from won the battle against HD DVD…
05
Jul
2006
04
Jul
2006
eBay as a catchall for your rubbish? Consider those times gone. LG set up an auction for a limited edition of the Fusic, their “new sleek, trendsetting mobile device.”
Phone meets music player. Sounds a bit like the Nokia N91. Although the latter device wasn’t pimped by Jermaine Dupri, the famous producer. This particular Fusic sports all the bling bling one might expect from a rapper. Important to know: the entire proceeds go to charity. Going once… going twice…
(source: LG Electronics)