CEA

One pair of 3D glasses to rule them all

The good news about the 3D TVs coming out this spring and summer is that they'll come packed with two pairs of 3D lenses. The bad news? Those plastic glasses work only with the brand of TV with which they're shipped.

That means that if you buy a Panasonic 3D TV, you can't use the accompanying lenses with your neighbor's Sony 3D TV, should you want to get together to watch the World Cup in 3D this summer. That's because each TV brand has a sensor that picks up a signal from the corresponding brand of glasses.

If that seems backwards, it's because it is. But it's also the sign of a new technology that hasn't yet worked out all of its kinks. Thankfully, the burgeoning 3D industry knows that this is a shortcoming and is concocting a fix.

One company that makes 3D eyewear, XpanD, has staked its claim to be the vendor of choice for brand-agnostic 3D glasses. The company has been manufacturing 3D glasses for movie theaters in Europe and Asia for years, and it is now moving to make the glasses work for people's homes as well.

XpanD has been contracted to produce the lenses that will ship with Panasonic and Vizio's 3D sets, but the company is also aiming more broadly: to be the provider of one pair of glasses that people buy once and use everywhere. XpanD's glasses will be available for between $125 and $150, starting June 1 at retailers such as Best Buy and Sears.

"The goal of the glasses is to work with every (size of) 3D display, from laptops to cinema," said Ami Dror, XpanD's chief strategy officer.… Read more

BOL 1079: Bing's still pooping his diapers

There's a little panic over the fact that Bing's market share dropped last month, but you have to remember, folks, Bing is young. Rafe puts it in perspective for us. Also, Kindle gets a price cut and goes worldwide, yo. That's big. What is also big is the keylogger network that's hijacking everyone's Web mail accounts. We can help you out with that, a bit.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 1079

Another Kindle price cut…and it goes wireless internationally http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/10/06/financial/f210208D88.DTL&tsp=1 … Read more

Reflecting on the DTV transition

In the aftermath of the U.S. switchover to a new digital television standard, which became official on June 12, the man who saw it through a 25-year transition, Consumer Electronics Association President Gary Shapiro, likened the effort recently to "putting a man on the moon."

Speaking with CNET News by telephone from his Washington, D.C. office this week, Shapiro reflected on the cooperative effort undertaken by consumer electronics companies worldwide, the U.S. government, and broadcast, cable, and satellite providers. He says the transition was completely smooth but reflects on the bumpy road behind the scenes … Read more

CEA Line Show 2009: Doughnuts, anyone?

The Consumer Electronics Association held its annual summer CEA Line Shows this week in midtown Manhattan, and we stopped by for a quick look around. This is a pale, pale shadow next to CES, but at least a few big manufacturers were there to show their wares. Check out the gallery to see what a mid-afternoon June wander through a quiet bunch of tech booths feels like. We came, we saw, we took a few photos, and we went home.

Buzz Out Loud 890: Mad Molly Mondays

Yahoo's got a new chief, AT&T is spamming Idol fans and non-Idol fans alike, and the Storm Worm has been cracked. That's all big news, but the biggest news comes from me at the end of the show. Be sure to listen all the way through. Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 890

Yahoo names new chief executive http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7827518.stm http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10142085-92.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10142275-93.html http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-yahoo-react-bartzs-selection-considered-safe-uninspiring/

AT&T spams 75 million users with ‘Idol’ … Read more

CEA confirms Apple-related exhibits at CES 2010

The Consumer Electronics Association has confirmed plans to host a Mac-centric area at CES 2010, but Apple has still not commented on whether it plans to participate.

Jason Oxman of the CEA confirmed Saturday that the group "dedicated a special area at the 2010 CES to Apple-related CE manufacturers." That immediately sets up an alternative for companies thinking about exhibiting at Macworld 2010, which will not have Apple present for the first time in 12 years.

"We decided to create this special area based on discussions we've had with companies regarding 2010 show participation. We are … Read more

Podcast: Conversation with CEA President Gary Shapiro

On the eve the Consumer Electronics Show, Larry Magid, CNET editor at large, sat down with Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President Gary Shapiro. CEA is the sponsor of CES. The economy, said Shapiro, could actually be good for the consumer electronics industry, because it might cause people to "cocoon." Listen now: Download today's podcast

Times are tough, but tech companies don't need to suffer

Back when I was a public company auditor (yes, you read that correctly), I quickly realized after discussing business with top-level executives that few were prepared to meet the challenges that (at that time) seemed unlikely to affect us again. They believed that the economy would continue its rapid expansion, consumer spending would rise by staggering amounts each year, and we would all profit greatly.

But over the past few months, the walls have started closing in and we find ourselves in a recession. Notice I didn't say "historic recession" or "calamitous recession", but simply, "recession"? It's because a recession, by its very nature, is open to interpretation. There is absolutely no proof to show that this recession will be as bad as the Great Depression even though some news stories like to throw that in. Even though times are tough and uncertainty in the market is rampant, companies need to remember that a recession is only as bad as they make it out to be.

The Consumer Electronics Association announced Thursday that it has revised electronics revenue forecasts down for next year after witnessing sales that were on par with last year. Growth is expected to be 0.1 percent--3.6 percentage points lower than it originally forecast.

I'm sure that figure spreads fear through the industry and companies will look at an expected drop in sales as an event that could destroy the market. But instead of fearing what may come, companies should capitalize on this time and allow others to fear for the worst, while they use that as an opportunity.… Read more

CEA lowers expectations for electronics revenue

The Consumer Electronics Association says the money made from electronics shipments in the fourth quarter of this year will be basically on par as the same quarter a year ago.

That's not good news for gadget makers. For the fourth quarter of this year, the revenue from products shipped will increase by a negligible 0.1 percent over the same quarter in 2007, according to the CEA's revised forecast. The industry group had previously predicted electronics shipment revenue would grow 3.7 percent for the quarter.

Unsurprisingly, the economy is being blamed for the stagnating growth.

"Although … Read more