Dec 31 - Americans Will Use Technology to Help Fulfill
Their New Year's Resolutions. According to a national online study
commissioned by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), 35 percent
of Americans will make New Year's resolutions for 2004. While Americans
start the New Year aiming to achieve personal resolutions and goals,
many fail to reach them, which is why they will use technology to
help.
"Each New Year, millions of Americans pledge to
improve themselves and communicate better with family and friends.
But soon, year-after-year, those good intentions fade. Consumer electronics
can help consumers break the cycle and keep their resolutions,"
said Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association.
"Consumer electronics empower consumers, helping
them improve productivity, organize and communicate better, and enhance
their lifestyles. To make consumers more aware of these benefits,
CEA is launching a new section of our website, www.CE.org, that directs
consumers to technologies that will help them keep their New Year's
resolutions."
Americans set challenging goals for themselves. According to the
national online study conducted by eBrain, the market research division
of the CEA, the top New Year's Resolutions for 2004 are:
Lose weight 21%
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Exercise more 13%
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Stop a bad habit 10%
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Get out of debt 8%
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Make more money 5%
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The survey found that nearly three quarters of the population (74
percent) have made New Year's resolutions at some time in their life,
but more than half (59 percent) said they were very difficult or difficult
to achieve. For 2003, 37 percent of Americans said they made a New
Year's resolution, but only 46 percent of those who made resolutions
actually fulfilled them.
Given the recent advances in consumer electronics, including Internet,
broadband, digital imaging, wireless communications and affordability,
the study indicates that Americans will be employing personal technology
in 2004 to make their resolutions a reality. When asked which technologies
would help them fulfill their 2004 resolutions, Americans' top responses
were:
Computers 22%
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Cell phones 11%
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High-speed Internet connection 11%
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Financial planning software 11%
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Personal digital assistant (PDA) 8%
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Digital camera 7%
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Study respondents said technology would help them achieve their
2004 New Year's resolutions by:
Getting better organized 44%
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Using my time more wisely 42%
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Being more productive 41%
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Communicating more with family and friends 36%
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Learning new things/new hobbies/interests 35%
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Being on time for appointments or meetings 16%
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The majority (69%) of people said that consumer electronics "will
be important to their lifestyle in 2004," and 58 percent "believe
that these technologies will allow them to do their jobs better in
2004." When asked which consumer electronics will have the most
impact on their lives in 2004, Americans' top choices were:
Computer 54%
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Cell phone 36%
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High-speed Internet connection 33%
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Digital camera 22%
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TV 21%
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DVD player 18%
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"We expect to see more Americans realize their resolutions in
2004 because of the usage of consumer electronics, especially as consumers
get their hands on the latest innovations that will be announced in
early January at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show
(CES) in Las Vegas," added Shapiro.
CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org,
the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics
industry.
Dec 31 - Internet Not Just
For Computers Anymore. The Internet in all its various incarnations
will soon become as ubiquitous in our modern, everyday life as, say,
electric power, running water or written words. The Internet is fast
becoming part of every tool and toy we use, to the point that eventually,
we won't think about it. Simply put, the Internet is not just about
"computers" any more.
Ubiquity - "n. the state of being, or seeming to be, everywhere
at the same time" - as relates to Internet-connected services
and devices, is at the heart of many of the changes that the staff
of Oakland Web developer e-agency has predicted for the coming year.
What's new and important, or will be by the end of the year, in e-agency's
world of increasingly integrated and interactive business communications?
Their predictions: The big impacts in 2004 will come from five big
ideas.
1) Everything wireless - from phones to laptops, cameras to coffee
shops - will be major agents in the inevitable march of ubiquity.
2) The Presidential election campaigns will make this the year that
politics on the Web goes mainstream, becoming part of the way political
campaigns function, and the way we vote.
3) Search-related Web marketing was hot last year, because it was
a bargain for advertisers. Now, as it becomes less of a novelty, search-related
advertising will become a tool that consumers will be glad to use,
right through the point that we forget to notice it anymore. (And
although the prices are now relatively higher, it's still a bargain.)
4) Spam probably won't die this year, but it won't be because too
few weapons of mass destruction are thrown at it. The State of California
led the way with a new anti-spam law last fall, the U.S. Congress
recently followed, and everyone from Microsoft to AOL (to e-agency!)
is looking for ways to rid our inboxes of a torrent of offensive,
unwanted and even fraudulent e-mail. There will be some limited successes.
But spam control may open the door to government attempts to regulate
Internet operations in other areas.
5) It's the economy ... ! Cash is beginning to flow again, and more
than ever before will flow through the Web. Smart companies will invest
early in upgrading their Web presence - both their public sites and
their operations-oriented intranets and extranets. The smart ones
will also elevate Web spending to a regular and accountable spot in
their annual budgets and demand realistic predictable returns on and
careful management of their investments.
You can read e-agency's 2004 predictions at www.e-agency.com.
Dec 31 - Lenmar Announces New Battery
Packs for Mobile Devices. Lenmar Enterprises, Inc., a leading
manufacturer of rechargeable batteries, battery chargers and accessories
for consumer electronics, today announced a unique new battery product.
The new Freedom Pak Kits offer 2-hour and 4-hour capacities, and deliver
full portable power for laptops, digital cameras and portable DVD
players. This translates up to 1,500 additional photos for digital
camera users - all while charging the internal battery.
The Freedom Pak Kits are modular, Lithium-Ion battery packs that
plug directly into laptops, DVD players or digital cameras. In addition,
they can be stacked to provide up to 12 hours of continuous operation.
More convenient than plate-type batteries, Freedom Paks are lightweight
and easily fit in a jacket pocket or briefcase. Each Freedom Pak Kit
also includes Lenmar's award-winning Mach 1 SpeedCharger, the world's
fastest battery recharger. The Mach 1 will recharge 80% of the Freedom
Pak's capacity in less than one hour and provide a full charge in
under two hours- less than half the time of conventional chargers.
"This innovative new battery product gives users the extra power
they need to make portable computing more practical, DVD viewing more
enjoyable and let digital camera photographers shoot for days without
AC recharging," stated Marty Goldberg, Lenmar CEO.
The Freedom Pak works by applying voltage to charging the device's
internal battery while supplying the necessary energy to operate the
laptop with full screen brightness, the DVD player for uninterrupted
movies, or the digital camera for continuous photo taking. Depending
on the model, after two or four hours of operation with the Freedom
Pak, the device's internal battery is charged and ready to continue
powering the laptop, DVD player or camera.
When used connected to an AC outlet in the office or at home it provides
a combination uninterruptible power system (UPS) and extended power
backup system for a laptop.
The Freedom Paks employ Lithium-Ion cells with Lenmar's trademarked
NoMEM technology. Two models are currently available in the series,
the Freedom Pak FP2200/FP2200S 2-hour pak and the Freedom Pak FP 4400/4400S
4-hour pak. The Freedom Paks for laptops are compatible with IBM,
Compaq, Toshiba, Sony Vaio and other laptop models using a "standard"
AC plug. Supported DVD players include Panasonic, …….. Compatible
digital camera models include Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, Canon ……………
The Freedom Pak Kits for laptops and DVD players are the Model FP2200,
priced at $139.99 MSRP, and the Model FP4400 at $199.99. The Freedom
Pak Kits for digital cameras are the Model FP202, priced at $139.99
MSRP, and the Model FP205 at $199.99.
For more information about Lenmar, please visit their web site at
www.lenmar.com.
Dec 31 - Anticipation Builds for Macworld
Conference & Expo. IDG World Expo, the leading producer of
world-class tradeshows, conferences and events for technology markets
around the globe, today provided a preview of the 20th Macworld Conference
& Expo(R) in San Francisco, to be held next week at the Moscone
Center.
Hundreds of new products are expected to debut at next week's event,
which will feature an exhibit floor filled with the most innovative
companies serving the Mac community. Macworld will also include five
packed days of educational content, with conference sessions appropriate
for Mac users of all levels and backgrounds.
The Macworld conference program runs Monday through Friday, January
5-9, 2004 at San Francisco's Moscone Center. The Macworld exhibit
floor opens on Tuesday, January 6.
The Macworld exhibit floor will feature the newest products and applications
for the Mac platform from companies such as Apple, Adobe, Aspyr, Avid,
Canon, EPSON, FileMaker, Harman Multimedia, HP, Intuit, Macromedia,
Microsoft, MYOB, Roxio, Xerox and many others.
Presented by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, the opening keynote will take
place on Tuesday, January 6 at 9 a.m. For more information or to register
for the event, please visit www.macworldexpo.com.
Dec 30 - Toshiba Exhibits
Its Best in Mobile Computing at 2004 CES. Toshiba will showcase
their latest offerings in mobile computing technology. The booth will
feature a gaming atmosphere with the latest and greatest in technology
to enjoy today's games to the fullest. Visit the "Gaming Extravaganza"
to experience all that Toshiba has to offer. Not only for the gamer,
these products can greatly enhance home and workplace computing. Mobile
computing solutions will include:
Consumer/Multi-Media Notebooks:
-- Toshiba Satellite(R) M35 -- Best-suited for use
in the office and at home, this lightweight
notebook PC includes a 15.4-inch wide-screen
diagonal display that's great for reviewing
reports and watching movies.
-- Toshiba Satellite P25 -- Featuring a 17.0-inch
diagonal wide-screen XGA display, this Media
Center Edition 2004-based notebook is the ideal
mobile entertainment station for
space-constrained environments, combining a CD,
DVD and television recording/playback into one
device.
-- Toshiba Satellite P15 -- Outfitted with a
15.4-inch diagonal wide-screen XGA display, this
Media Center Edition 2004-based notebook is
designed for consumers who desire increased
portability and want the ability to access their
files while on a trip, around the campus or in
the home.
Professional Productivity Tools:
-- Toshiba Portege(R) M205 -- Toshiba's next
generation tablet PC offers users the portability
of a notebook computer and the flexibility of a
pad of paper. Compute traditionally with this
convertible form factor or write directly on the
screen for easy note taking in meetings.
-- Toshiba Portege R100 -- The thinnest and lightest
notebook offered by Toshiba, the 2.4 pound
Portege R100 is perfect for the mobile executive.
-- Toshiba Pocket PC e405 -- One of the thinnest
PDAs on the market, the Pocket PC e405 includes
convenient text-to-speech and voice command
applications to easily organize and access
appointments, contacts, and files.
-- Toshiba Pocket PC e805 -- Integrated Wi-Fi(R)
(802.11b) connectivity, VoIP capabilities and a
bright 4.0-inch color display makes this PDA the
ideal productivity tool for the office
environment.
-- Toshiba TLP-S10U Projector -- At only $999 and
4.7 pounds, this projector is perfect for the
road warrior on a tight budget.
For more information, visit www.toshiba.com.
Dec 30 - Fujitsu Debuts Multimedia
Notebook Heavyweight. Fujitsu Computer Systems today unveiled
a powerful addition to its LifeBook(R) product line -- the LifeBook
N5000 notebook. Stacked with a speedy desktop-class processor, ample
system memory and a powerful graphics solution, the new notebook offers
unprecedented performance in a portable package.
"Desktop replacement notebooks are becoming increasingly
popular among students, multimedia enthusiasts and home users,"
said Paul Moore, director of product marketing for Fujitsu Computer
Systems. "With the LifeBook N5000 notebook, users can have a
high performance system that's portable enough to take to study group
or tuck away when guests arrive."
The LifeBook N5000 incorporates an Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 Processor
operating at 3.0 GHz or 2.8 GHz and is one of the first notebooks
to utilize Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology. HT Technology enables
the processor to execute two threads (parts of a software program)
in parallel, boosting performance and letting users multitask more
effectively. The processor also features an advanced 800 MHz system
bus, the fastest bus speed available on a notebook today.
For crisp visual effects, the notebook uses an ATI MOBILITY(TM) RADEON(TM)
9600 graphics chip with 64 MB of dedicated video memory and a high-resolution
16-inch SXGA+ Crystal View display. Exclusively offered on the Fujitsu
LifeBook N5000 notebook, Crystal View brings CRT-like qualities to
LCD screens. Its combination of high contrast ratio (600:1) and superior
brightness (350 nits) makes images even sharper and colors more vivid.
Users can equip their LifeBook N5000 notebook with a DVD-RW drive,
a massive 80 GB ATA 100 hard drive, up to 2 GB of DDR 333 system memory
and dual-band wireless LAN (802.11a+b/g). Multiple ports and a Memory
Stick/Secure Digital media card slot add to the notebook's versatility,
allowing users to transfer music, pictures, video and data quickly
and easily.
"The LifeBook N5000 notebook employs some of the most sophisticated
technology in a PC today," said Moore. "We wanted to introduce
a system that offers great performance and functionality, and have
it come in at an attractive price point. The LifeBook N5000 notebook
certainly delivers on all accounts." Pricing for a recommended
configuration with a DVD-RW drive starts at $2,049.
For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.
Dec 30 - Belkin Offers Bluetooth GPS Receiver
for Laptops and Handhelds. Travelers in unfamiliar areas can now
find their way easily with the Bluetooth GPS Receiver from Belkin.
Designed to connect quickly to your PDA or laptop, the Belkin Receiver
displays your position in real time. It shows your progress as you
travel, illustrating your current location in relation to your destination.
The Receiver will begin shipping in North America on January 15, 2004.
The Bluetooth GPS Receiver from Belkin offers advanced features,
unique among competing GPS receivers-at the more affordable price
of $299.99. Belkin includes navigation software for which other GPS
device manufacturers require a separate purchase.
Designed to indicate your speed, direction of travel, elevation, latitude,
and longitude within 10 meters, the Belkin Receiver software covers
any city in the US and Canada. It quickly identifies your current
position as well as a destination or point of interest. Routes can
be calculated and viewed immediately, and automated voice prompts
instruct when and where to turn.
The Receiver also features a high-sensitivity mode, which allows
it to function in previously inaccessible environments, such as severe
urban canyons, parking garages, through dense foliage, multilevel
freeways and, in many cases, indoors.
Another differing benefit of the Belkin Receiver is its support of
both Pocket PC and Windows® devices.
Special Features of the Belkin Software
Lets you choose destinations by address, intersection, point of interest,
or contacts
Offers dynamic reroute and detour options
Provides 4 types of map views
Alerts user to speed level
Records your trip for future playback
Benefits
Includes a CLA charger (that is compatible with Dell® Axim™
and Compaq® iPAQ™ PDAs), USB charger, and DC charger
Uses removable, rechargeable lithium-polymer battery to provide up
to 10 hours of continuous operation
Tracks position using data from 12 satellites, with an accuracy of
up to 10m
Belkin products are available through www.belkin.com
as well as through a network of major distributors, resellers, and
superstores.
Dec 30 - Belkin Announces Hi-Speed USB
2.0 Thumb Hub for Notebooks. Anybody who travels with his or her
laptop and multiple peripherals will need a compact USB 2.0 hub that
will not take up much room. The travel-friendly Belkin Hi-Speed USB
2.0 Thumb Hub fits the bill perfectly. The size of a pager, it features
four ports and conveniently slips into the pocket of your notebook
bag without using up precious space. The Thumb Hub is currently shipping
in North America.
The Belkin Thumb Hub provides the convenience of being able to connect
up to four high-speed devices without the need for a power supply.
If additional power is required, the Hub includes a universal switching
power supply, which is ideal for worldwide travel. With the versatility
for you to connect up to four high- or low-speed devices, you can
use your existing low- and full-speed devices in addition to your
new high-speed devices.
Benefits
Connects up to 4 USB devices without a power supply
Includes global-use power supply and USB extension cable
Transfers speeds up to 480Mbps
Operates with Plug-and-Play ease
Belkin products are available through www.belkin.com
as well as through a network of major distributors, resellers, and
superstores.
Dec 30 - Consumers Look to PC Companies
for Home Networking Needs. The popularity of home networking is
on the rise and PC companies such as Dell and HP are establishing
themselves as the choice supplier for home networking consumers, according
to a survey conducted by The NPD Group.
Overall, Dell was identified as the clear choice among potential
suppliers for those planning to install a home network. Dell was cited
as a leader in developing home networking products by close to half
(49 percent) of those who have a home network and more than half (57
percent) of those who don't yet have one. HP came in just a few percentage
points under Dell among those who currently have a home network (44
percent) and 40 percent of those who are planning to install one.
Over 50 percent of respondents cited Dell as a product leader, support
leader and value leader for home networking products.
"Given that most of what consumers do with home networks today
are PC centric tasks, it is not surprising that most consumers said
they would turn to PC companies to supply their networking gear,"
said Stephen Baker, The NPD Group's director of industry analysis.
"The question for the future is how consumers will view these
providers when the uses begin to involve more extensive inclusion
of home entertainment gear."
Regarding functionality, the home networking survey found that consumers
planning a home network are expecting significantly more functionality
than is currently available. Planners anticipate being able to easily
add devices to their network and to use the devices to do tasks such
as media file sharing and streaming among the devices, tasks that
are not simply accomplished given most of what is readily available.
Those with home networks are much more realistic about the capabilities
of the technology and are satisfied with their ability to perform
the expected tasks while realistic about the challenges facing them
should they attempt to incorporate more tasks and devices into the
network.
"Today, digital photo and video sharing represent the most popular
media-related task accomplished on the PC. In order to capitalize
on the consumers' interest in home networking, manufacturers must
develop and support improved media-sharing products," Baker added.
"If suppliers are not able to provide the next wave of buyers
with devices and infrastructure that meet these expectations there
is potential for disappointment and unhappiness among these network
planners."
The survey also reveals the type of home networks being installed.
When looking at current home network owners, over half reported having
an Ethernet network and 22 percent reported having a Wi-Fi network.
When examining respondents who have more than two computers at home,
two-thirds of such respondents reporting the use of Ethernet but Wi-Fi
is becoming more popular especially among notebook owners. Consumer's
desire for mobility and the natural combination of no wires networking
and notebook computers have propelled sales of both categories in
2003.
Sales data collected through NPD's point of sale panel shows consumers
increasing choice of wireless networks as their preferred installation.
Through the first 10 months of 2003 sales of wireless networking hardware
exceeded $500 million in US retail sales, reflecting revenue growth
of almost 120 percent. Wireless networking products account for 56
percent of all revenue generated for consumer networking devices,
attesting to the powerful draw Wi-Fi networks exert over the buying
public.
"As consumers begin to embrace the technological changes by
the current wave of digital convergence, home networking will be one
of the first technologies to which consumers will be exposed,"
said Baker. "The reality of today's home networking falls far
short of what the networked home of the future will look like. Today's
network owners recognize that while would like to do more their home
networks, the current technology has limits."
NPD is located on the Web at www.npd.com.
Dec 29 - Amazon.com Wraps
Up Its Ninth Holiday With Busiest Season Ever. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN)
today announced it has finished its busiest holiday season ever during
which time it set a single-day record with more than 2.1 million units
ordered, or 24 items per second, worldwide.
"Offering more selection than ever and low prices
helped our customers find exactly what they were looking for at Amazon.com
this holiday season," said Jeff Wilke, Amazon.com senior vice
president of worldwide operations and customer service. "We're
thankful to the millions of customers worldwide who trusted us with
their holiday shopping this year."
Worldwide 2003 Holiday Facts
(includes www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.fr,
www.amazon.co.jp and www.amazon.ca)
-- On the peak day this season, Amazon's worldwide fulfillment network
shipped over one million packages.
-- More than 70,000 gift certificates were ordered worldwide on December
24, 2003, for delivery via email in time for Christmas.
-- Amazon.com shipped more than 99 percent of orders in time to meet
holiday deadlines worldwide.
Amazon.com 2003 Holiday Facts (www.amazon.com
only)
-- Compared to 2002, later free shipping deadlines gave customers
four additional days of Free Super Saver Shipping this holiday season.
Deadlines were also extended for Holiday Guaranteed Shipping, Two-Day
Shipping and One-Day Shipping by one extra day (compared to 2002).
-- The last order placed in time for Christmas delivery occurred
at 11:32 a.m. PST on Tuesday, December 23, 2003. The order contained
the perennial Christmas favorite Forensic Pathology, Second Edition.
The order was delivered to Vail, Colorado on December 24.
-- The "Holiday Shoppers" feature, which tracked the estimated
number of visitors at Amazon.com during the prior 60 minutes, topped
630,000 on Monday, Dec. 15.
Amazon.com's hot holiday sellers since November 28, 2003 (based on
units ordered):
-- In Sporting Goods, pedometers were a popular gift item this year,
with the Sportline 360 Fitness Pedometer taking the top spot. Scooters,
personalized golf balls and snow boards were also very popular. The
Photon Golf Digital Scorecard and the Pro Performance Sports Hit-A-Way
Baseball Trainer were two of the more interesting best-selling items
in the store.
-- In Gourmet Food, Harry & David's Tower of Treats, Ghirardelli
chocolates, Omaha Steaks' Top Sirloin, and a veritable cornucopia
of gift baskets were some of the most popular items ordered for the
holidays. An interesting top-seller in this category was the Fireworks
Popcorn Bowl Gift Set sold by Wisconsinmade (an 11" wood bowl
with four varieties of popcorn, seasonings and two "popcorn forks").
-- In Electronics & Office, digital cameras are again the most
popular items driven by higher resolution and better lenses available
for even lower prices than last year; the top-seller was the Canon
Powershot S230. Wireless equipment is also very popular with both
wireless routers and wireless cell phone headsets among the top-selling
items. Netgear's MR814 802.11b Wireless 4-port cable/DSL router, the
Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router and Jabra's FreeSpeak Bluetooth Headset
took top honors.
-- In Home & Garden, the ever-popular shaver gift goes upscale
this year (Norelco's 8894XL Spectra -- James Bond's Shaver of Choice
-- with Polymer Display). The iRobot Roomba robotic vacuum was also
a top-seller. Calphalon Commercial cookware, the venerable Kitchenaid
Classic Stand Mixer, and the Casa Moda "S'mores" Maker all
made the list. The tool to have this year was the Strait-Line 64001
Laser Level.
-- The musical gamut of top-sellers ran from Sarah McLachlan's Afterglow,
to The Beatles' Let it Be...Naked, and Josh Groban's Closer.
-- Video/DVD sales were dominated by the big-name movie series (new
and old). Two Lord of the Rings -- The Two Towers gift sets, The Matrix
Reloaded, Terminator 3, and The Adventures of Indiana Jones set were
all in the top 10.
-- The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown), South Beach Diet (Dr. Arthur Agatston),
and The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom) were the top-selling
books this holiday season.
Dec 29 - Akumen Debuts FireWire 800/1394b
USB 2.0 Combo PCI Card. Akumen Online Inc. announces a combination
FireWire 800/1394b and USB 2.0 PCI Host Adapter Card for Windows and
Macintosh. With the hardware and peripheral industry on the verge
of an explosion of new products using the two technologies, this card
is the first to combine both higher speed standards in a single product.
FireWire 800, or 1394b, is the newest FireWire implementation, raising
the top speed to 800Mbps. Widely used in storage and high speed peripherals,
and performing a vital role in digital audio and video, FireWire has
exploded into widespread use. The new, faster FireWire 800 is transforming
computer storage even now, and the coming months will see a wide array
of powerful new 800Mbps product introductions. The Akumen card has
two external FireWire 800 ports and one shared internal connector.
USB is a standard bus technology on virtually every personal computer
made. The new USB 2 standard profoundly multiplies the available speed,
making USB 2.0 a viable option now for a new class of higher speed
products. The Akumen card has 3 external USB 2.0 ports and one shared
internal connector.
Both technologies are backwards compatible, meaning they will still
support legacy products. But a wide variety of new products using
the new technologies are being announced now. Many are already sold
by Akumen.
The new card, and all Akumen's FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 products,
can be seen now at www.akumen.com.
Dec 29 - EA Plans Harry Potter and the
Prisoner of Azkaban Videogame. Next Installment in Successful
Franchise Allows Gamers to Play as Harry, Ron, or Hermione as They
Face Harry's Most Terrifying Opponents yet: the Escaped Convict Sirius
Black and the Dreaded Dementors of Azkaban
Harry Potter(TM) fans will experience the magic and peril of Harry's
third year at Hogwarts(TM) in the highly anticipated Harry Potter
and the Prisoner of Azkaban(TM) videogame shipping in spring 2004,
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today.
For the first time gamers will play as friends Ron Weasley(TM) and
Hermione Granger(TM) as well as Harry Potter, switching between characters
and utilizing their key attributes and skills to resolve challenges
and overcome enemies. The three friends will need to combine their
strengths and master a variety of new spells as they face Harry's
most terrifying opponents yet: the escaped convict Sirius Black(TM)
and the Dementors(TM), the sinister guards of Azkaban prison.
From the opening scene on the Hogwarts Express(TM) to the climatic
finale on the shore of the great lake at Hogwarts, the Harry Potter
and the Prisoner of Azkaban videogame will immerse players in the
magical world of Harry Potter. Players will unravel the mystery surrounding
Sirius Black and his escape from the infamous wizard prison Azkaban,
as they take part in the most exciting and challenging Harry Potter
videogame adventure yet. Gamers will encounter a host of new characters
and creatures, engage in a variety of sub-quests, fly on a Hippogriff,
reveal the secrets of the Marauder's Map, and take on their friends
in multiple two-player challenges.
Under development by EA's UK Studio, the team behind the worldwide
success of the Harry Potter library of games that have sold more than
20 million copies worldwide, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
is scheduled for release for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment
system, the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube(TM),
Game Boy(R) Advance, and PC CD-ROM.
EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com.
Dec 28 - Sunday Shopping
Watch.
Best Sunday Deals - See our Best Sunday
Ad Deals Table below for specific system prices.
Weekly Comparison. Grab your Christmas gift money
and take advantage of some really good deals this weekend.
This Sunday's Special Discounts and Financing.
In addition to sales on specific items, the following store-wide sales
are advertised this week. (Note that these
ads are for the Dayton, Ohio area. Prices or offerings may be different
where you live.)
Best Buy is offering 12 month no-interest financing on all desktop
and laptop purchases, and $150 mail-in rebates on advertised laptops
and up to $200 mail-in rebates on advertised desktop packages.
Circuit City is offering
12 months no interest financing on advertised desktop packages and
notebooks, and up to $150 mail-in rebates on advertised laptops and
desktop packages.
Office
Depot
has no store-wide promotions this Sunday.
CompUSA is offering 12 months
no payment, no interest, financing on any laptop purchase of $799
and higher and they are also offering $150 off advertised laptops.
Staples has no store-wide promotions
this Sunday.
Compare
to Online Prices - Compare the Sunday ad prices to
those being offered at DealTime, it searches over 160 online computer
stores.
InfoHQ Related Shopping Pages
Shopping Alerts
- Our latest shopping advisories on buying digital cameras and camcorders,
desktop computers, laptops, and other computer items.
Windows XP
Upgrade Guide - All about upgrading to Windows XP.
What You Need to Know
About Dial-up Internet Service Rebates - The pros and cons of
'free' Internet service deals. Also see our latest InfoHQ Tech Watch
Newsletter; Free
PC and Free Internet Deals.
Definitions. A complete desktop system/package/complete
package is defined as a computer with monitor and printer
or scanner.
A build-to-order system is customized at the retailer
and then ordered from a computer manufacturer. In addition to the
computer's stated price, you still pay sales tax and shipping charges
(if you order direct from the vendor without going through the chain
store, you may not have to pay sales tax and you could get a better
warranty).
Caution about advertised prices.
When reading advertisements, read the fine print of the ad to make
sure you know what is being advertised and what it cost. For example,
many advertisers will show a complete system with computer, monitor,
and printer but advertise a price for the computer only.
* Prices discussed in this article. We report
prices after rebates and discounts are subtracted.
Items highlighted in Black are good deals.
Items highlighted in Red means prices have
gone up and the system is not a good buy this week.
Items in normal text means prices are about the same as the previous
weeks.
|
Best Sunday Ad Deals
|
|
Category
|
Product Description
|
Price* (see above)
|
Prices up or Down this Week
|
Store
|
|
1. Best Celeron Deal
|
Compaq 2.5 GHz complete system with 17"
monitor
|
$349
|
-$50
|
Circuit City
|
|
2. Best Celeron Deal
|
eMachines 2.6 GHz complete system with
17" monitor
|
$419
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 2.6 GHz Pentium 4 complete system
with 15" flat panel, and DVD-RW
|
$999
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
2. Best Pentium 4 System
|
HP 2.6 GHz Pentium 4 Windows Media Center
complete system with 15" flat panel, and DVD/CD-RW
|
$1299
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
3. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 complete system
with 15" flat panel, HT Technology, DVD-RW, and all-in-one
printer
|
$1199
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best AMD Athlon XP System
|
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ complete system with
17 inch monitor (build-to-order)
|
$1249
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
HP 2.4 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$699
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
2. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Toshiba 2.4 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$749
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
3. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Toshiba 2.8 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$849
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
4. Best High-end Notebook
|
HP Pentium 4 2.3 GHz with DVD-RW
|
$1199
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
1. Best High-end Notebook
|
Sony Pentium 4 2.8 GHz with DVD-RW
|
$1349
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
2. Best High-end Notebook
|
Toshiba Pentium 4 2.8 GHz widescreen
with DVD-RW
|
$1749
|
-
|
Circuit City, Best Buy ($1799)
|
|
3. Best High-end Notebook
|
Toshiba Centrino widescreen 1.4 GHz
with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1349
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
4. Best High-end Notebook
|
Compaq Centrino widescreen 1.4 GHz with
DVD/CD-RW
|
$1449
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
|
|
Peripherals and Software
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Maxtor 40 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive with
2 MB buffer
|
$39
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Maxtor 160 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive with
8 MB buffer
|
$89
(after rebates)
|
-$10
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Maxtor 250 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive with
8 MB buffer
|
$149
(after rebates)
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
eVGA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra 128 MB
|
$189
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
PNY GeForce FX 5200 128 MB
|
$69
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
TDK 4X DVD-RW
|
$119
(after rebates)
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
|
Additional Information. For additional technical
information, advice on how to buy a laptop or desktop, and vendor
and manufacturer links, please see our Computer
Buying Advice page.
About Sunday Shopping Watch. Sunday Shopping
Watch appears every Sunday (except some holidays like Easter and Christmas)
in our News and Rumors column. It is a review of local (Dayton, Ohio)
computer chain store advertisements. While we can not guarantee your
local chain store has the same items, this article can help you make
informed buying decisions.
Dec 24 - Reports of Email
Fraud and Phishing Attacks Jump Over 400% During the Holidays.
Analysis of Unique Phishing Attacks Submitted to Anti-Phishing.org
for the November and December 2003 Shows Dramatic Growth in Email
Spoofing and Fraud Activity Highlights:
-- More than 60 unique new phishing email fraud attacks have been
launched against consumers in the last 2 weeks
-- Over 60 million email fraud attacks are estimated to have been
sent out - timed for the peak of the holiday season
-- eBay customers were the most highly targeted by scammers, with
24 unique email fraud attacks over the past 60 days
-- Online financial institutions, including banks, Visa and PayPal,
represented the largest target group with 35 unique email fraud attacks
reported over the past 60 days
Tumbleweed(R) Communications Corp. (Nasdaq:TMWD) and the Anti-Phishing
Working Group today released the results of analysis of phishing scam
attacks submitted to www.anti-phishing.org, the Internet's most comprehensive
archive of email fraud and phishing attacks. This analysis identifies
over 90 unique email fraud and phishing attacks sent out to millions
of consumers over the past 60 days, with a dramatic increase in the
number of attacks over the past two weeks in particular.
Phishing attacks involve the mass distribution of "spoofed"
e-mail messages with return addresses, links, and branding which appear
to come from banks, insurance agencies, retailers or credit card companies.
These fraudulent messages are designed to fool the recipients into
divulging personal data such as credit card numbers, bank account
numbers and passwords, social security numbers, etc. Because these
emails look "official," an average of 5% of recipients respond
to them, resulting in financial losses, identity theft, and other
fraudulent activity. In addition to the direct cost of fraud and the
lingering effects of identity theft for consumers, this growing application
of criminal spam threatens the integrity of companies that do business
online.
The Anti-Phishing Working Group estimates that more than 60 million
email fraud and phishing attacks have been sent out over the past
two weeks, driven by scammers' desires to take advantage of the confusion
of the holidays and the increased online transactions that take place
during the gift giving season. There are a number of ingenious scams
that play on the holiday theme.
One example is a fake online Christmas card, designed to compromise
AOL accounts. In this scam, the recipient receives a spoofed email
from the "AOL Hallmark" team, and is asked to visit a website
to pick up his/her card. In order to access the site (which is run
by the scammer), the user is asked to log in to his or her AOL account,
thereby divulging the account name and password. The compromised account
can then be used to launch further phishing attacks, virus attacks,
spam, or other nefarious activity.
In the last week, phishing attacks against the customers of major
Internet Service Providers have been exploiting a recently unearthed
vulnerability in the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser. This
vulnerability allows criminals to disguise a fraudulent Web address,
making it appear exactly as if it were a legitimate Web site for a
known brand that they trust. Phishers can now spoof the email address,
Web site graphics, Web site address, and even the SSL-lock icon in
the Web browser.
"Consumer phishing attacks are dangerous, and are quickly increasing
both in number and in sophistication. To most Internet users, the
emails and Web sites are indistinguishable from legitimate business
communications. The spam epidemic has rapidly evolved from a nuisance
to a real security threat with the shift from dubious advertising
to financial crime and identity theft," said Dave Jevans, Chairman
of the Anti-Phishing Working Group and a Senior Vice President at
Tumbleweed Communications.
"The Anti-Phishing Working Group was founded as an industry resource
to address this critical challenge to individuals and companies on
the Internet. At stake is our very trust that the Internet can be
relied upon for safe and secure commerce and communications."
About the Anti-Phishing Working Group
The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) is focused on eliminating
the problem of phishing and email spoofing attacks, by developing
and sharing information about the problem, and promoting the visibility
and adoption of industry solutions. Membership in the group is open
to qualified financial institutions, corporations, law enforcement
agencies, public policy groups and solution vendors.
The Web site of the Anti-Phishing Working Group is www.anti-phishing.org.
It serves as a public and industry resource for information about
the problem of phishing and email fraud, including identification
and promotion of pragmatic technical solutions that can provide immediate
protection and benefits against phishing attacks. The analysis, forensics,
and archival of phishing attacks to the Web site are currently powered
by Tumbleweed Communications' Message Protection Lab.
Dec 24 - ATI Reports Record Revenues in
the First Quarter. ATI Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ATYT)(TSX:ATY),
today announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal
2004, ending November 30, 2003. ATI reported record revenues of U.S.
$469.7 million, a 40% increase relative to the first quarter of fiscal
2003. Gross margin showed continued strength at 35.9%. Net income
per share for the quarter was $0.19 compared to $0.03 for the same
period last year. Adjusted net income per share for the quarter was
$0.19.
Strong performance in desktop discrete products, based on increasing
penetration of the add-in-board and system integrator (SI) channel
led the revenue growth. Gross margin percentage showed continued strength
throughout the quarter based on ATI's competitive product line-up.
Other highlights included: initiating volume shipments of desktop
integrated graphics processors; sampling the world's first PCI Express
video processor in anticipation of the PC market transition in 2004;
and continuing volume shipments of the IMAGEON multimedia coprocessor.
"Product leadership is enabling ATI to win new customers and
penetrate new markets today," said KY Ho, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of ATI. "Our focused execution on delivering
our product roadmap is attracting new channel partners and establishing
broader distribution for the future."
Outlook
Based on the strength of the Company's product line, increased SI
channel penetration, and an improving PC market, the Company anticipates
that its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2004 will be stronger
than typical seasonality.
For more information, visit www.ati.com.
Dec 24 - eMachines Introduces 64-Bit PC
for Gaming and Other Multimedia Applications. eMachines, Inc.,
the third-largest provider of desktop PCs in the United States according
to IDC, today introduced its T6000 PC, the first in a series of new
64-bit PCs from the company incorporating the AMD Athlon 64 processor.
Enhancing the performance of 32-bit applications for gaming, digital
photography and other multimedia applications, the T6000 provides
a ready platform for the coming era of 64-bit computing for consumers.
The product features an AMD Athlon 64 processor 3200+ with HyperTransport™
technology, increasing bandwidth and reducing bottlenecks for increased
processing speed and seamless multi-tasking on multiple applications.
"The T6000 is designed to offer cinematic gaming experiences
and accelerate digital photography applications such as Photoshop,"
said Ed Fisher, senior vice president, global sales operations for
eMachines, based in Irvine, Calif. "It also provides a platform
for cutting-edge 64-bit applications promising new computing experiences
that are planned for release as early as the first quarter of 2004."
"The eMachines T6000 series of 64-bit PCs demonstrates our continuing
commitment to providing consumers high-quality products with the latest
technology at the right price," Fisher said.
"eMachines' customers can immediately reap the benefits of the
AMD Athlon 64 processor's extraordinary application performance while
also gaining a foothold into the next wave of personal computing,"
said Marty Seyer, general manager of AMD's Microprocessor Business
Unit. "AMD has taken the leadership role in bringing 64-bit computing
to the desktop. With the evolutionary AMD64 technology, customers
get leading-edge performance today coupled with the ability to take
advantage of 64-bit computing when they want to."
The T6000 also includes an ATI RADEON™ 9600 video card with
128MB/128-bit dual channel memory support for "cinematic"
visual quality for games and other graphics-intensive applications.
Other features include a front-panel '8-in-1 Media Reader' for downloading
digital audio and video from a wide range of new media devices, 512
MB PC3200 DDR memory, WD Caviar® SE 160 GB hard drive with 7,200
RPM and 8 MB cache, and CD-RW and DVD drives.
"The T6000 is perfect for gaming enthusiasts and demanding PC
users," said Rick Bergman, senior vice-president, marketing and
general manager, Desktop Business Unit, ATI Technologies. "ATI's
RADEON 9600 graphics gives users a distinct advantage with its speed,
precision and superior performance."
The eMachines T6000 series of 64-bit PCs will be offered at various
price points up to $1299 and will be available from authorized eMachines
retailers next year.
Featuring an elegant chassis design with six-channel audio and premium
keyboard with "shortcuts" to key features, the eMachines
T6000 includes seven USB 2.0 ports, two 1394 IEEE ports, one serial
port and one parallel port as well as 10/100 Mbps built-in Ethernet,
VIA KT800 chipset, floppy disk drive and V.92 modem.
The 8-in-1 media reader on the front panel offers compatibility with
all major digital storage technology, including Secure Digital, Smart
Media, Compact Flash, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Micro Drive,
Multimedia Card media, and USB 2.0 mini-flash drives. The T6000 features
the Microsoft Windows® XP Home Edition operating system, Microsoft
Works 7.0, Microsoft Money 2004, Encarta Online, Adobe® Acrobat®
Reader™, Power DVD, Microsoft Media Player, Real Player, Internet
Explorer, Netscape Navigator, CompuServe, MSN, and three-month AOL
membership.
"With its new T6000, eMachines is satisfying the needs of the
PC enthusiast and gamer market segments in which Western Digital's
award-winning and innovative Special Edition series has been tremendously
popular for years," Richard E. Rutledge, vice president of marketing
for Western Digital Corp.
eMachines supports all of its PCs and monitors through a comprehensive
Customer Care program comprised of one-year free parts, labor and
technical support with several service options, including an End-User
Replaceable Parts Program, five-day depot repair, and nationwide authorized
service centers.
For more information, consumers can visit www.emachines.com.
Dec 24 - CPUBuilders Offers 1.6 GHz
Linux PC For Less Than $300. CPUBuilders by Stratitec (www.cpubuilders.com)
today announced the first 1.6 GHz PC powered by the award-winning
CPUBuilders Linux for Everyone (TM) OS for less than $300. This new
system, Model # CBS124LF, uses the high performance 1.6GHz AMD Duron
CPU and is now available online at www.samsclub.com for $299, and
at www.datatekusa.com.
Each system is pre-installed with the enhanced, award-winning CPUBuilders
Linux for Everyone OS V3.0 -- designed to make the Windows-to-Linux
migration easier -- and bundled with a complete suite of programs
including applications to browse the Internet, send and receive email,
type and print letters, create and deliver presentations, work on
spreadsheets, edit and print digital photos, manage personal calendar
and address book.
In addition to the enhanced operating system, this and all other
CPUBuilders Linux systems are also shipping with the CPUBuilders Cognitio
control panel, which facilitates adding new hardware, including plug-and-play
devices, CD writers, hard drives, scanners and USB storage. Cognitio
also includes an extremely easy-to-use OS and application software
update system.
With the easier to use, windows-like graphics interface, Linux is
now growing in popularity in personal computers due to its higher
reliability and growing reputation as a cost-effective and easy-to-use
alternative to Microsoft Windows.
Robert Barger, President of Stratitec Inc., the developer of CPUBuilders
products said, "With the popularity of Linux growing rapidly,
we believe the award-winning combination of the strong price/performance
of our systems bundled with our Linux For Everyone OS, provides the
best value in the market for businesses and individuals looking to
add additional PCs or workstations at a lower cost."
CPUBuilders makes it possible for more small to mid-sized businesses,
start-ups, families and individuals to easily afford a reliable, fully
functional PC, backed by a full year of support after purchase. CPUBuilders
currently develops and markets seven different systems ranging in
price points from $250 to $450.
The CPUBuilders Linux Computer Starter System, Model #CBS124LF has
a 1.6 GHz AMD Duron processor, 256 MB DDR RAM, 40 GB hard drive, CD
ROM, and a full complement of bundled software all for less than an
entry level price of $300. CPUBuilders sees this system as an ideal
option for small businesses and households seeking multiple PC systems,
consumers with limited budgets, or businesses looking to add low-cost,
highly functional servers and workstations.
CPUBuilders systems provide high quality integrated video and allow
customers the freedom to add a monitor of their choice from a wide
variety of sources, starting at under $100 for a 17-inch monitor,
when ordering from SAMS CLUB online www.samsclub.com.
Dec 23 - HD Radio Receivers to Debut at
2004 International CES. It has been called "stunning",
"revolutionary" and an "inevitability", and it
is now a reality with iBiquity Digital and major industry partners,
including Texas Instruments, Phillips, Kenwood, JVC and Panasonic
leading the consumer introduction of HD Radio technology during the
2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2004).
HD Radio AM and FM broadcast technology represents
the industry's biggest leap forward since the introduction of FM more
than fifty years ago and will usher in radio's digital era with unsurpassed
sound quality - FM delivering CD-level performance and AM matching
today's FM stereo - plus new features, such as integrated wireless
data that displays information as text or rich media directly on the
faceplate of the radio.
HD Radio's digital technology also paves the way for the introduction
of a number of new services designed to transform the radio broadcasting
industry for the digital era. These services include interactive features
supporting the on-demand delivery of audio and data programming at
the press of a button, automated store-and-recall capabilities that
bring television's PVR-based functionality to radio, and NPR's Tomorrow
Radio project, a Supplemental Audio Programming (SAP) service that
will allow network affiliates to simultaneously broadcast two separate
programs on the same channel.
Unlike HDTV, which requires that broadcasters move to new spectrum
space, the FCC-approved HD Radio technology is designed to seamlessly
integrate with the existing broadcasting spectrum and infrastructure.
Broadcasters simply add new digital transmission equipment, while
consumers transition to digital through the use of newly-introduced
HD Radio receivers - similar to the way that black-and-white television
gave way to living color.
During CES 2004, leading CE and OEM manufacturers, including Alpine,
Delphi, Fujitsu/Eclipse, harman kardon, JVC, Kenwood, Onkyo, Panasonic,
Sanyo and Visteon, will be showcasing a variety of HD Radio receivers
some of which will be commercially available in 2004. Simultaneously,
the very first HD Radio tuner - a Kenwood KTC-HR100 - will hit store
shelves with stations in 100+ markets covering nearly two-thirds of
the U.S. population having already licensed the technology in anticipation
of its consumer launch.
For more information please visit: www.ibiquity.com.
Dec 23 - PCI Express to be Rapidly Adopted.
Offering significant changes over PCI, PCI Express should be universally
adopted among notebook and desktop PCs as well as workstations and
servers, reports In-Stat/MDR (http://ww.instat.com).
The high-tech market research firm expects that the increased performance,
improved latency, and Quality-of-Service guarantees for data delivery
in real time presented by the new architecture should lead to rapid
adoption, with the first PCI Express chipsets hitting the market in
volume in Quarter 2 2004.
PCI Express represents a second attempt to establish a universal
Input/Output (I/O) architecture for PCs, servers, and workstations.
The first attempt, PCI, is still the primary architecture for the
vast majority of machines on the market. However, the need for increased
speed in servers, as well as for graphics in higher-end machines,
led to PCI offshoots, PCI-X and Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) respectively,
which fragmented the PCI market. "Leading PC vendors all have
PCI Express on their roadmaps, and its adoption in new PCs beginning
in 2004 is certain," said Brian O'Rourke, a senior analyst with
In-Stat/MDR.
In-Stat/MDR has also found that:
-- For similar PC types, consumer segments will adopt PCI Express
before corporate segments because of the lack of requirements for
stable platforms, consistent configurations, or Information Technology
(IT) qualification in the consumer segment
-- Desktop PCs will adopt PCI Express before notebooks due to shorter
design cycles.
-- Intel is expected to be among the first to market with their PCI
Express chipsets in the second and third quarters of 2004. NVIDIA,
VIA and SiS are expected to release chipsets within one quarter of
Intel's release date.
Dec 23 - Interactive Games on Cell Phones
to Be Available in the U.S. SmartVideo Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:
SMVD.OB) today announced it has signed an agreement with ZIO Interactive
U.S.A., Inc. to provide, for the first time ever in the United States,
fully interactive wireless gaming for mobile phone carriers and subscribers.
In September of this year The Research Room, a Sidney, Australia-based
research company, announced in its Wireless Gaming: Strategy for Profit
report, that they expect the global market for wireless gaming services
to grow from $561 million in 2002 to $41.3 billion in 2007. The majority
of this revenue is expected to be driven form downloadable games and
the additional traffic that the networked and multiplayer games generate
on the mobile data networks.
The report also indicates that wireless gaming will do more than
just move gaming into the wireless world - it will create whole new
markets for cross-platform, online multiplayer and networked games
along with a potential ongoing revenue stream from sales beyond the
initial purchase of the game.
Also, according to iGillottResearch in its November 2003 report Wireless
Gaming in the U.S. by Charul Vyas, it is estimated that in 2003 mobile
gaming industry revenues will exceed $83 million, up from $34 million
in 2002. In addition, the report predicts that over the next few years
the market will grow at an annual compounded growth rate of more than
90 percent.
Commenting on this announcement Hongsuk Lee, president and CEO of
ZIO Interactive U.S.A. said, "This agreement with SmartVideo
represents the first ever totally interactive mobile gaming capability
in the U.S. Carriers will now be able to offer their subscribers the
ability to use their cell phones to play standalone games or participate
in multiple user games from anywhere in the world. Never before have
mobile phone users been able to play interactive games with other
mobile phone users or between a mobile phone and desktop computer."
"Working with ZIO Interactive U.S.A. to develop interactive
games that are accessible from cell phones demonstrates our ongoing
commitment to bring high value, interactive content to the mobile
market place while generating new revenue streams," said Richard
E. Bennett, president and CEO of SmartVideo. "We are aligned
with the trend of the consumers desire for personalized entertainment
on their mobile devices. Therefore, as a content provisioner for the
mobile industry, we are steadfast in our goal to bring all forms of
interactive, leading edge content to the mobile market such as entertainment,
information in data and video formats."
Additional information on SmartVideo including sample demos can be
found on the Company's Web site at www.smartvideo.com
or www.smartvideo.ca.
Dec 23 - Good Guys and CompUSA
Announce Close of Merger Transaction. Good Guys, Inc. and CompUSA
today announced the consummation of their merger. As a result of the
merger, Good Guys will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompUSA
and will continue to operate under the Good Guys name. Also as a result
of the merger, each outstanding share of Good Guys stock has been
converted into the right to receive $2.05 in cash.
"We feel the merger with Good Guys fits well with
our respective long-term strategies," said Larry Mondry, CEO,
CompUSA. "Good Guys' ability to provide tech-savvy, early-adopters
with the latest in consumer electronics adds an important brand to
our portfolio."
CompUSA is one of the nation's leading retailers and resellers of
technology products and services. CompUSA currently operates 226 CompUSA
Superstores in 90 major metropolitan markets across the United States
and Puerto Rico that serve retail, small-to-medium businesses, corporate,
government and education customers and includes technical service
departments. Most of the stores include classroom-training facilities.
CompUSA also operates a web site that offers an assortment of over
80,000 items at www.compusa.com.
With fiscal 2003 sales of $750 million, Good Guys is one of the largest
specialty retailers of higher-end entertainment electronics in the
nation. With its differentiated product selection and knowledgeable
team of product specialists, Good Guys is dedicated to providing entertainment
solutions to the West Coast's early adopters and tech-savvy consumers.
Founded in 1973, Good Guys operates 71 stores in California, Nevada,
Washington and Oregon. For more information, visit www.goodguys.com.
Dec 23 - NVidia Releases
Holiday Gift Guide. For the gamer, the family, the road warrior,
or the videophile: NVIDIA-based products deliver great performance,
cinematic quality graphics, and a multitude of multimedia features.
Check out their gift ideas for friends and family in the NVIDIA
2003 Holiday Gift Guide.
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