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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: consumer electronics

consumer electronics stories: 81 news summaries

21 - 40 of 81 Stories | << Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next >>

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Manufacturers Drop Plasma TVs as LCD Takes Over

Pioneer, Vizio axe plasma production lines; retailers slash prices

Jul 2, 09 2:47 PM CDT
(Newser) - TV buyers are increasingly choosing liquid-crystal-display over plasma as LCD manufacturers beef up the technological capabilities of their sets, the Wall Street Journal reports. With 30 million LCDs sold in North America in 2008, compared with 4 million plasmas, Pioneer and Vizio are discontinuing their plasma lines. The shift means... More »

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entertainment • television • retail • Samsung • flat screen TVs • LCD • consumer electronics • LCD TV • Plasma TV • Vizio • Pioneer • Jay-ZTV

 As Netbooks Fade, 
 Successors Await 

Sales slowdown hides fact that low-cost laptops are taking over

Jun 17, 09 8:11 AM CDT
(Newser) - You may not be able to buy a "netbook" in the not-too-distant future, but a new generation of low-power, low-priced laptops descended from the netbook are poised to conquer much of the PC market, experts tell Wired. Sales of the netbook—one of last year's hottest gadgets—haven't met... More »

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laptop • consumer electronics • computer • personal computers • Netbooks • computer hardware • notebooks

(Newser) - Millions of Americans, particularly in urban and rural areas, will see their televisions go black when broadcasters switch to digital transmission next week, the New York Times reports. A Nielsen survey indicates that more than 10% of the 114 million homes with sets are partially or completely unprepared for... More »

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television • HDTV • broadcasting • digital television • consumer electronics • digital converter box • digital transition

TECH REVIEW

 Palm Pre 
 (Mostly) 
 Lives Up 
 to Hype 

Smartphone's superior software make it a heavyweight iPhone rival

Jun 4, 09 3:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - Palm's new Pre smartphone isn't without its flaws, reviewers say, but its first-rate software and design mean it could be the iPhone's strongest rival yet.
  • Bonnie Cha, CNET: "The hardware could be better," but "Palm has developed a solid OS that not only rivals the
... More »

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iPhone • smartphones • consumer electronics • Palm Pre

 Zune HD Hits
Stores This Fall 

Microsoft confirms upcoming iPod Touch rival

May 27, 09 3:22 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Zune HD will be out this fall, Microsoft has announced, ending months of speculation. The next-generation media player, designed as a direct rival to the iPod Touch, will feature an organic light-emitting diode touchscreen, an HD radio tuner, and a browser with a customized version of Internet Explorer, reports... More »

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Microsoft • Zune • iPod Touch • consumer electronics • Jay-ZTV • Zune HD

(Newser) - Apple CEO Steve Jobs won’t deliver the keynote speech at an event many thought would mark his return from a health-related leave of absence, the Telegraph reports. An Apple VP will speak in Jobs’ usual spot at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8. Jobs, on medical leave, could... More »

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Steve Jobs • iPhone • Apple • hormones • consumer electronics • Phil Schiller • Jay-ZTV • health problem • Worldwide Developers Conference

(Newser) - The Kindle DX offers crisper resolution than its smaller cousin, but it’s still not big enough to display a full newspaper page, and the price may hold some buyers back, Damon Darlin writes in the New York Times. “You never see the big picture—a full page—... More »

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entertainment • consumer electronics • Kindle • Amazon • newspaper industry • e-readers • textbook • Kindle DX

(Newser) - General Electric has announced a new DVD-sized disc that holds 500 gigabytes of data—the equivalent of 20 Blu-Ray discs or 100 DVDs. Aimed at archivists but likely headed for the consumer market, the micro-holographic disc saves more data by storing it in three dimensions rather than on the disc's... More »

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compact discs • General Electric • DVD • data storage • consumer electronics • Blu-Ray • holograph

(Newser) - The first netbook running the Google-backed Android mobile operating system could be available within 3 months for $250, ComputerWorld reports. The petite, no-frills Alpha 680 with a 7-inch wide screen will be the smallest netbook yet, weighing a dainty 1.5 pounds and meansuring 8.5 by 6 inches. It's... More »

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Android • consumer electronics • Google Android • Netbooks • mobile devices

OPINION

 Why Game Boy, 
 at 20, Still Rules 


Apr 21, 09 3:51 PM CDT
(Newser) - Nintendo's Game Boy portable gaming system has been around for 20 years today, and even has a spiritual successor in the DS. Benj Edwards takes a look at why the franchise is a lasting one on Ars Technica.
  • Tetris: "Every new hardware platform needs a 'killer app,
... More »

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Nintendo • video game console • gaming • Atari • consumer electronics • gadget • NEC Corporation • Sega • Game Boy

PRODUCT REVIEW

 Stands That Keep Your 
 Lap—and Laptop—Cool 


Apr 1, 09 10:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - Laptops may be convenient, but the heat they produce often makes them uncomfortable to use where their name suggests you should. Enter the cooling tray, which usually comes equipped with a USB-powered fan to keep your legs from getting scorched. Katherine Boehret runs down a few choices in the More »

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Microsoft • laptop • consumer electronics • tech review • Logitech • Belkin • Kensington

(Newser) - Scientists have developed electricity-generating fibers that can be embedded in clothing and other materials and draw power from the smallest of movements, LiveScience reports. The zinc oxide nanowires are as small as 1/5,000th the width of a human hair and produce energy when they vibrate, even from blood flowing... More »

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technology • electricity • nanotechnology • DARPA • consumer electronics • scientific research • zinc oxide • military applications

(Newser) - Blockbuster kicked off its latest reinvention effort today, announcing a new plan to beam on-demand movies through TiVo DVRs. One senior VP called the deal “step one in getting to the places that consumers care about.” Blockbuster will also sell TiVo DVRs in its stores, as part of... More »

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movie on demand • Blockbuster • DVR • TiVo • consumer electronics • movies

(Newser) - Apple today unveiled the newest iteration of its iPod Shuffle, which is just 1.8 inches by 0.3 inches, can speak titles in 14 languages, and holds 1000 songs, Macworld reports. Smaller than a AA battery, it’s half the size of the last version, but more functional. The... More »

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iTunes • Apple • mp3 • digital music • consumer electronics • media player • iPod shuffle

 Melinda Keen on iPhone; 
 Bill Says No 

Apple's wares illegal in Gates household

Mar 3, 09 2:07 PM CST
(Newser) - Apple products are banned in the Gates home, the New York Post reports—but Melinda “wouldn’t mind” picking up an iPhone, she told Vogue. There isn’t much “on the banned list in our household. But iPods and iPhones are two things we don't get for our... More »

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Microsoft • Bill Gates • iPhone • Apple • iPod • consumer electronics • gadget • Melinda Gates

Hearst to Roll Out E-Reader for Newspapers, Magazines

Publishing giant aims to save periodicals with new device

Feb 27, 09 6:06 PM CST
(Newser) - Hearst Corporation aims to do for periodicals what the Kindle's doing for books with a new electronic reader, CNN reports. The company—which publishes an array of magazines and newspapers, including Cosmopolitan, Esquire and the San Francisco Chronicle—hopes the device will help cushion revenues in light of sinking ad... More »

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newspaper • magazine • publishing • consumer electronics • Kindle • magazine publishing • Hearst • e-readers

PRODUCT REVIEW

 Kindle 2 Is a Whole New Book 


Feb 9, 09 4:28 PM CST
(Newser) - The Kindle 2 e-reader unveiled by Amazon today is great if you love computers, Tom Leonard writes in the Telegraph. "Wafer-thin," it's more "fragile bird" than book and boasts a tiny keyboard perfect for the i-Pod/Blackberry crowd. But the clear, no-glare screen and grayscale display... More »

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consumer electronics • Kindle • Amazon • ebooks • e-readers • electronic ink

Sony's Profit
Off 95% in Q4

Company blames slow economy, strong yen for 25% sales slump across the board

Jan 29, 09 6:46 AM CST
(Newser) - Slumping demand, a strong yen, and increased competition knocked Sony’s third-quarter profits off 95% from a year ago, reports CNN. Sony reported profits of $110 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, down from $2.2 billion a year ago. Sony’s gaming segment was hit especially hard, with... More »

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earnings reports • Sony • corporate earnings • yen • consumer electronics • Sony Playstation • financial crisis

Sony Swings to First
Annual Loss in 14 Years

Global downturn, strong yen reverse earlier expectations

Jan 22, 09 6:25 AM CST
(Newser) - Sony announced today that it would go down to its first annual loss in 14 years, after having forecast just months ago that it would turn a profit. The Japanese electronics giant said it expected to lose $1.7 billion, the result of declining demand from the global recession. The... More »

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Japan • profits • Sony • exports • yen • consumer electronics • Sony Electronics • recession depression

Circuit City Liquidation Sales Will Begin Tomorrow

Consumer-electronics chain has $1.3B in inventory to get rid of

Jan 16, 09 4:35 PM CST
(Newser) - Circuit City will begin the liquidation of $1.3 billion in inventory across 567 stores in special sales tomorrow, Reuters reports. The company hasn’t said anything specific on the discounts it might offer, but markdowns are likely to be deep. Gift cards from the chain will be redeemable at... More »

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retail • bankruptcy • credit crisis • consumer electronics • Best Buy • Circuit City • financial crisis

21 - 40 of 81 Stories | << Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next >>


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