Logitech Admits Mistake in Google TV Platform Launch – Logitech’s chairman told analysts that the company made a big mistake in how it introduced the then $300 Google TV set-top box named Revue, and wouldn’t be making a second generation model. Logitech has slashed its pricing to a current $99. But he did not rule out the possibility of introducing another connected TV product in the future. Sony, who launched an integrated Google TV-powered TV line at the same time as Logitech, says it is now planning a different kind of TV to rival anything Apple might be planning in the year ahead. LG may be prepping a Google TV-based HDTV to launch at the 2012 CES.
EMI Recorded Music Unit To Be Sold to Universal Music – Citigroup seized ownership of EMI, one of the music industry majors, in February and will now sell its recorded music to Universal Music. EMI’s label include Blue Note, Capitol, Virgin and Parlophone and other labels under their umbrella are Motown, Decca, Island, Interscope and Polydor. There are reports that the other half of EMI—the lucrative music publishing unit—will go to a Sony-led consortium.
Sony May Sell Their TV Business – Sony is looking to discontinue their joint venture manufacturing relationship with Samsung. They own about half of a South Korean firm which manufactures LCD TV displays. Sony’s Bravia TV division has had eight straight years of losses, and some analysts say they may sell their TV business the same way IBM sold their PC business. Sony has one new product which is a first: expensive binoculars able to record full HD video and stereo sound. They can also record 3D video footage for playback on 3D Bravia TVs. Their SRP is $1999.
Panasonic has Biggest Loss in a Decade – Panasonic has reported a potential $5.4 billion dollar loss. A year ago the Japese company acquired Sanyo and recently announced a major restructuring of its TV and chip operations. Although Japan’s biggest maker of appliances, Panasonic has much competition from Samsung and LG. The company has suspended two Japanese plants making TV displays and scrapped plans to relocate panel facilities to China. It will reduce its production capacity for plasma TV panels by 48%.
Nuforce Shows Dia DAC – California manufacturer NuForce has introduced a combination digital audio converter (DAC) and amplifier to use with AV and streaming devices. Users connect their CE device via an optical or coax digital cable. Dia improves the audio of the device since it bypasses the internal two-channel D-to-A converters found in most AV equipment and performs that function separately. It can be used with TVs, satellite receivers, and Blu-ray players, and has a maximum 192K/24-bit sampling rate and IR remote. SRP is $299.
Wayne Shorter – In Memoriam
Rememberance of the artist
