The only "Philips" you'll see at CES 2009 will be at the Funai booth.
(Credit: CNET)Philips will not be exhibiting at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show. The Philips brand, however, will still be on display at the Las Vegas Convention Center, thanks to the expanded presence of Funai--the Japanese company that will be producing TVs sold in North America under the Philips name starting later this year.
A Philips representative confirmed to CNET that the Dutch electronics giant will not have a presence on the show floor at the mammoth Las Vegas trade show, verifying rumors that had surfaced earlier this year.
Traditionally, the Consumer Electronics Association's massive January event is used by industry stalwarts to highlight emerging trends and key products that will be introduced over the course of the subsequent year and beyond. Philips' exit from that high-profile showcase comes in the wake of its recent announcement that it's outsourcing TV production to Funai for Philips- and Magnavox-branded sets sold in the North American market.
Indeed, Funai is doing its part to fill the void left by Philips' exit from the show. A spokesman for the Consumer Electronics Association, the industry group that runs CES, had this to say:
Philips has been a pioneer in the consumer technology industry, and a well-known brand for consumers in the U.S. and around the world. The recent license agreement between Philips and Funai was a strategic business decision between two consumer technology companies. CEA respects the strategic decisions that all of our 2,700 exhibitors make regarding their business model and the International CES. We look forward to welcoming the Philips brand back to the 2009 CES in a new way, through its partnership with Funai, which has significantly increased exhibit space for the 2009 show to approximately 10,000 net square feet.
Keep in mind that 10,000 square feet may sound like a lot, but it's small potatoes compared with the megabooths that house major manufacturers like Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, and--up through last year--Philips.
While not having to pay for all that space on the show floor will undoubtedly save Philips considerable expense, it will also mean forfeiting the publicity and intangible buzz that comes from being at the center of the industry's biggest annual event. Just last year, for instance, the company snagged the Best of CES award for its energy-efficient Eco TV (though its admittedly impressive low power consumption couldn't overshadow the middling picture quality evident when we reviewed the final product).
The company could still use the show as a springboard for new product announcements, however: it's all but certain Philips will still have some personnel on hand at CES for meetings with journalists, analysts, retailers, and other industry insiders. And plenty of CES no-shows still crank out the press releases during that week--with the seemingly endless list of gadget blogs and tech sites covering the show, all a company really needs is a product photo and a descriptive blurb to get some virtual ink.
To be sure, skipping CES doesn't necessarily confine a company to also-ran status. Nintendo and Apple, two of the hottest names in the industry, have long since spurned the Vegas show. Likewise, Onkyo and Yamaha have opted out in recent years. Furthermore, Philips is quick to point out that the company is still producing, selling, and marketing all of its own non-TV products for North America. And it will continue to produce TVs for other global territories--most notably Europe--where its brand remains stronger.
Still, when one considers that Funai already produces electronics that are sold under the labels Sylvania and Emerson, you have to wonder: is Philips on the road to joining those once hoary companies as a ghost brand--a holding company that just licenses its Western name to give better brand cachet on store shelves to an anonymous Asian manufacturer? Maybe, maybe not. But skipping the world's biggest consumer electronics show doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
What do you think: Is the Philips brand in decline? Does Philips' no-show mean CES is losing some of its luster as the consumer electronics industry's ultimate sneak preview? Or is this just more "inside baseball" industry gossip that will have little impact on the future of consumer electronics? Share your thoughts below.
Belkin FlyWire: A wireless HDMI product that's due later in 2008.
(Credit: Belkin)HDMI has certainly had its growing pains, but the connection is finally beginning to deliver on its original promise: a single-cable solution for delivering high-bandwidth, all-digital HD video and multichannel audio. HDMI is nearly universal in the home video market, present on all current HDTVs and Blu-ray players, as well as nearly all HD-capable cable and satellite set-top boxes; DVRs; game consoles; AV receivers; upscaling DVD players and recorders; and network video streamers such as the Apple TV. In fact, you realize just how convenient HDMI is when you come across a product without it--I'm looking at you, Nintendo Wii--and then have five cables (three component video wires plus two-channel stereo) instead of one crowding the back of your home entertainment system.
But one aspect of the HDMI promise remains unfulfilled: wireless HDMI. It's an attractive idea, especially for anybody with a wall-mounted flat-panel TV or a ceiling-mounted projector: have all of your HDMI-capable gear running into an AV receiver or HDMI switcher with a wireless HDMI transmitter, and have the TV equipped with a matching receiver--thus allowing you to have all your AV sources across the room from the actual display. We've been hearing about it for years, but to date, there are few--if any--products that you can actually buy. Here's a quick update on the wireless HDMI products we've heard about to date--including when (or whether) we can expect to see them:
... Read moreAs of September, Philips will no longer make televisions for the U.S. and Canada.
Instead, it is transferring that job to Japanese electronics maker Funai. The two companies agreed to a brand-licensing agreement in which Funai will source, distribute, market and sell all consumer TVs under the Philips and Magnavox brand names in the U.S. and Canada.
The deal begins September 1 and is good for five years. Funai will pay a royalty to Philips.
Beginning in September, Funai will distribute all Philips TV in the U.S. and Canada.
(Credit: Philips)"This agreement secures continued presence of Philips and Magnavox branded TVs in North America in a model that safeguards Philips profitability in this highly competitive market," Philips said in a statement Tuesday.
And so begins the thinning of the herd. The television market is becoming an especially tough business, as prices continue to fall and more inexpensive brands like Vizio and Olevia attempt to edge out the traditional market leaders. Pioneer, a leader in plasma TV tech, also recently announced it would sell TVs but no longer make its own plasma panels.
This means that though the Philips brand name will live on in the U.S., the materials inside those televisions aren't necessarily the same. But the biggest blow is to brand perception.
Philips is a top-tier television maker--it won the Best of CES 2008 Best in Show Award from my CNET Reviews colleague David Katzmaier for its Eco TV--and Funai is, well, not as a highly regarded. This is a boon to Funai, and Chief Executive Tetsuro Funai's comment is pretty much the understatement of the year: "As a premium brand, Philips will add lustre to our existing portfolio."
To be fair, Philips has definitely struggled to compete in the flat-panel TV market. Though the company has attempted to differentiate its brand with Ambilight technology aimed at home theater enthusiasts, it still trailed the big guys, like Sony, Panasonic, and Sharp, in both production and panache.
SAN DIEGO--Steve Jobs said people "don't read anymore."
Karl McGoldrick hopes the visionary Apple CEO is actually wrong for once.
That's because McGoldrick is the CEO of Netherlands-based Polymer Vision, the only company that right now is working on making e-books in a form that's actually close to traditional books--ones that are mobile, bendable, and, above all, readable.
But the device, called Readius, is not just an e-book reader--it receives e-mail, text messages, and RSS feeds, makes phone calls, and keeps calendar and contact information--in addition to downloading books and newspapers wirelessly.
Readius uses e-ink to display text on its 5-inch foldout screen.
(Credit: Erica Ogg/CNET News.com)It caused quite the stir at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year, when gadget blogs aplenty (including CNET) were able to get their hands on the prototype for the first time. But McGoldrick wants to move beyond gadget lovers and early adopters and make his company's vision work for mainstream buyers everywhere.
The problem that every mobile device maker runs into is essentially this: How can you balance the size of the screen so it's big enough to read and reasonably watch videos, while keeping the device dainty enough to fit in a pocket?
Although the entire industry has been on the hunt for the ultimate tiny all-in-one mobile device, that has yet to happen. The key, McGoldrick said, is not in the extra features a particular phone may boast, but the screen. In trying to combine consumer uses like watching videos, reading e-mail and books, and using productivity applications for the office, "that's where the display becomes deciding factor," he said.
"The mobile industry is evolutionary. (Manufacturers) keep adding bits and pieces to make the Swiss Army knife of mobile phones. They compete over the number of megapixels of the camera, and (amount of) memory. But in reality, the form factor was stuck," McGoldrick said in an interview here Tuesday at this week's U.S. Flat Panel Display Conference.
Outside of candybar, slider, and clamshell style phones, the "display was limited. So Apple took away the keyboard everyone was used to." But even with the iPhone's industry-leading 3.5-inch display, "that extended the industry to the absolute limit," McGoldrick said. Any bigger than that, and you're not toting around a sleek smartphone anymore; you're somewhere in the murky no-man's land of the ultramobile PC.
Polymer Vision's vision, which it came up with three years ago (as a business spun out from Philips Research), is finally coming to fruition. The Readius is the size of most small mobile phones, but has a 5-inch screen that folds up to close.
It uses E-ink, the same technology used in the Sony Reader and Amazon.com's Kindle, but Polymer Vision worked with E-Ink to come up with a thinner version of the technology so it would roll better. In addition, the Readius uses organic semiconductors in the layer underneath the E-ink that process transistors at very low temperatures so there's no need for glass backing to keep the heat away, like an LCD panel. Also, the organic semiconductor layer is malleable, which allows it to bend when folded, and not break.
Right now, the device is on track for release sometime this summer, though no price has been determined yet. Polymer Vision is still negotiating with mobile carriers and retailers that will sell the Readius to consumers in Europe, North America, and some markets in Asia.
But lest you agree with Jobs that e-books aren't anticipating what customers actually want to do with mobile devices, Polymer Vision has grander plans than just books for its technology. Internally, the company calls it the "dream machine"--a device that folds like an actual book and reveals an 8-inch color screen that automatically gets all the mobile content you want wirelessly.
"In four to five years, you can do video on a mobile roll-able device," McGoldrick said. There are mobile devices on the market right now that allow for watching video, and in some countries, broadcast television. "But the reality is, who wants to watch TV on that small display?" he asked. McGoldrick said that it's not pricing, or network quality, that's keeping portable video displays down--it's the size of the screen.
"It's like trying to push an elephant through a keyhole. If the keyhole gets bigger, the elephant gets through," he said.
LAS VEGAS--Although men crave electronics, women actually make the buying decisions, according to Philips.
Thus, the Dutch electronics maker is launching on a campaign to appeal more to women by making their electronics more fashion forward and elegant, said Andrea Ragnetti, the new CEO of Philips Electronics at a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (The old CEO, Rudy Provoost, has been shifted over to Philips lighting.)
she's entranced with the Ultimate TV
(Credit: michael kanellos)To that end, it unveiled its Design Collection, a series of TVs, home audio systems, and other equipment with what Philips says will make a statement about personal style.
Some of the products are actually quite cool. Check out the Ultimate Dream TV pictured here: white bezel with a translucent frame. The company also showed off the sleek (i.e. few buttons) Streamium home audio products. (I don't recall Streamium in the Periodic Table of the Elements, but Philips assures me it's near Stronium.)
But take a look at the second picture. It's a large crystal pendant designed by Swarovski that holds a USB drive. The Active Crystal USB drives are shaped like a lock, or a heart. "The Active Crystal range combines high fashion design with the best in technology, creating a fusion of fashion and function," Philips said in a statement.
A heart shaped world, and USB drive
(Credit: Michael Kanellos )I asked my wife if she wanted one for Valentine's Day.
"I'll stab you," she said.
There's a fusion of fashion and function for you. Philips also has a set of crystal ear buds.
The Philips AJL308 has quietly slipped onto the market.
(Credit: Amazon)Around this time each year I start trolling the Web, looking for potentially interesting products that we should review for the holiday buying season. So, there I was, scanning Amazon for new Philips digital photo frames, and lo and behold I came across this $130 Philips AJL308 7-Inch Digital Picture Frame, Alarm Clock, Radio and MP3 player. For some reason, I hadn't seen it before.
The Amazon product description reads as follows:
"This is the perfect item for your bedside, as it functions as a clock radio, alarm clock, and digital picture frame. This beautifully styled dual alarm clock radio will wake you with your favorite FM radio station or your personalized MP3 music. Comes preloaded with music or easily download your favorite music with USB connection from your PC or memory stick. Also has SD/MMC slot, so it's easy to upload picture files and enjoy your favorite photos while listening to the music of your choice. You can even upload video clips from the USB or SD card slot. The built-in FM radio has 20 presets and a dual-alarm function with gentle wake mode, which gradually increases the music volume. The 7-inch display screen can also display a large time readout and calendar functions. All of this makes the AJL308 multifunction frame the perfect item for your bedside table."
The Philips PR rep (from the company's outside agency) I spoke with to request a review sample seemed kind of surprised the product was available, even though Amazon's site says it's been selling the AJL308 for a few months. "That's not supposed to be out yet," he said.
Anybody intrigued? Would you consider buying one for yourself or doling one out as a gift?
On Sale Now: $75.00
View the latest prices for Philips AJL308 Digital Clock and Photo Frame (7 inch)
(Credit:
Philips)
For those who are iPhoneless, for moral or fiscal reasons, wouldn't it be cool to use the same headset for talking on the phone and listening to music? And what if it muted the music for the duration of the call? You wouldn't have to switch devices when you're walking along engrossed in the Brandenburg Concerti and your broker calls to say sell, sell, sell! You won't have to undo one set of headphones and reload a second pair just because your mamita calls you in the midst of Fat Joe's 1993 classic, "Shorty's Gotta Fat A**."
This, my friends, is technology at its most socially important.
Today Woot is offering this modern marvel at an 80 percent discount. See below for details.
What: Philips Bluetooth MP3/Cell Phone Headset VOX340/17
How much: $12.99
Shipping: $5
Where: Woot
When: One day only
Click here for CNET.com's product overview of the Philips VOX340.
Philips is selling refurbished 50-inch plasmas at its outlet store.
(Credit: Philips)Budget brands like Vizio are serving up 50-inch plasmas for around $1,500. But lo and behold, Philips has a deal running at its outlet store on a few 50-inchers, the lowest priced at $949.99 when you apply the $150 instant rebate coupon code. Impressively, shipping is only $29.99.
But there's a catch (isn't there always a catch on great deal?). The plasma models Philips is selling are refurbished units. Also--and not surprisingly--they're last year's models. Philips lists the eligible models as:
- 50PF9631D/37B
- 50PF9431D/37B
- 50PF7321D/37B
Amazon is selling a new 50PF7321D/37B for $350 more. The question is, would you take a chance on a refurb unit--or is a semi-used TV just a bad idea? Thoughts?
P.S. While we didn't review any of these models, we did review the 42-inch version in the 9431D line. It did OK.
As I sat here today, trying to decide what the topic should be for this week's Future Implications piece, I thought of the ever-popular topics of computing, smart phones and even HDTVs. But alas, I came across this list from Ethisphere that lists the World's Most Ethical Companies for 2007.
Upon opening the link and examining the list, I was aghast at what I found: most major tech companies were nowhere to be found. Is this an endemic issue in the technology business? And more importantly, what can be done to fix it?
... Read moreDon Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
Griefing, like this prankster's 'Super Mario' barrage, is one of the reasons behind 'Second Life's' more-than-occasional server problems. To be fair, this Mario army did not crash the virtual world.
(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET News.com)Virtual world Second Life, the centerpiece of this weekend's Second Life Community Convention in Chicago, has occasionally come under fire for its outages. Scheduled downtime, unpredicted outages, server crashes due to onslaughts of thousands of Super Mario graphics flooding the tubes (those are from griefers, natch)--it's a headache for newbies and avid residents alike.
But in his keynote at the convention on Saturday morning, Philip Rosedale, the founder and CEO of Second Life parent company Linden Lab, suggested that we all look on the bright side. The virtual world is active about 90 percent of the time, he said.
"If you look at our overall service performance lately, we're sort of somewhere above 90 percent availability once you include the planned downtimes for updates and you include the unplanned stuff that we seem to be doing to ourselves," he said self-deprecatingly. Then he added, "That's one nine, and it's better to have one nine than not any nines at all."
