Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Apple, New York, New York City, Plastic Logic, Ron Johnson, SanDisk, TiVo, UltraVision
In early 2010, Plastic Logic is hoping to introduce a new e-reader that will challenge the dominance of Amazon’s Kindle. Plastic Logic’s entry into the field would be marketed to business professionals and feature an E Ink reading screen with touch capabilities, a very thin body and Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. The New York Times/Bits blog (5/27)
Despite the economic conditions, Apple is setting out on an aggressive strategy to remodel 100 of its existing stores this year and open new ones in New York City, Paris, Italy and Germany, according to Ron Johnson, senior vice president of retail for the company. “We know that a lot of people are cutting back, but we’re doing the opposite,” he said. “We’re investing in the downturn.” USA TODAY (5/27)
Comcast will tap TiVo as the primary DVR option for subscribers in a yet-to-be-announced tru2way market in the near future, according to Tom Rogers, president and chief executive officer of TiVo. Comcast this summer also is expected to allow TiVo users in its New England service area to record programs from any Internet connection. Multichannel News (5/27)
Hitachi Home Electronics rolled out new LCD HDTV models in its UltraVision and Alpha series. The features-heavy UltraVision tops out with a 55-inch model that retails at a suggested price of $1,800, while the value-priced Alpha line has a 32-inch version for $500. TWICE (5/27)
Samsung and SanDisk have agreed to a patent licensing deal in an effort to avoid litigation and forge a new partnership in the crowded memory chip market. Although financial details of the agreement were not revealed, the pact is expected to keep the two companies out of the courtroom. 
ClipSyndicate/Bloomberg (5/27) , The Wall Street Journal (5/28)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Apple, Hardware, iPod, LG Electronics, Microsoft, Portable media player, Television, Zune
Microsoft this fall will debut a new version of its Zune portable media player, the software giant’s competitive answer to Apple’s iPod. The new Zune will feature HD video, Wi-Fi and touch-screen technology. Reuters (5/26) , Digital Trends (5/27)
About a half hour ago, Amazon opened up a new feature on the Kindle: the ability to read your notes and highlights on the Web. Readers have always been able to make notes and highlight text on the Kindle itself. Now those annotations appear on your account at http://kindle.amazon.com <!–
class=”snap_preview_icon”> . Once you sign in, you can see all your notes. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/26/kindle-notes-and-highlights-now-accessible-on-the-web 5/26)
Disney’s ESPN and Walt Disney World resort are building a new research facility at the Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Fla. Dubbed the “ESPN Innovation Lab,” the operation will allow the cable-sports network to test new applications, such as virtual graphics. (Iwantmedia 5/27, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-disney-espn-sports-052609,0,5846696.story 5/26)
LG Electronics has started shipping its new LH55 LCD TV line, which was first introduced at the International CES. The line — which comes in 37-, 42-, 47- and 55-inch varieties — features the company’s TruMotion backlight technology, which is designed to improve picture response time and reduce blurring. TWICE (5/26)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY
Bill Gates told a crowd at Microsoft’s CEO Summit last week that he believes that new developments in technology could help turn around the U.S. economy as companies look to ramp up production to meet growing demand. "The opportunities for innovation are stronger today than ever," Gates said, citing needs in health care, education and other fields that new tech could help address. Reuters (5/22) , CNET (5/22)
Now that plasma and LCD technologies are well-entrenched in the marketplace, TV makers are looking to light-emitting diodes to drive the next stage of growth in flat-panel televisions. Although TVs based on the technology still command a steep premium when compared with more traditional sets, industry watchers expect slim, low-power LED models to take over the market in the next four to five years. Reuters (5/22)
Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Australia, Blu-ray Disc, Edward Jones, Hewlett-Packard, Optical disc, Swinburne University of Technology, Wall Street, Wall Street Journal
(Below) But what if people no longer want to use optical drives?
Researchers at the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia report that they have developed optical-disc technology that will allow for the storage of 1.6TB of content, about 32 times what a 50GB Blu-ray disc can hold. And the researchers apparently have struck a deal with consumer-electronics powerhouse Samsung to use the technology once it is perfected. Electronista (5/20)
After reporting a 3.2% revenue drop in its second fiscal quarter, Hewlett-Packard this week announced plans to cut 2% of its work force, accounting for about 6,000 jobs, over the next year. Overall, however, the results were in line with Wall Street expectations. “We’re pretty pleased with the results,” said Bill Kreher, an Edward Jones analyst, though he added that “we’re not seeing clear signs of a pickup” in the tech market. The Wall Street Journal (5/20)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Dell, Education, Intel Atom, Laptops, Latitude 2100, Linux, Netbook, Operating system
Dell has introduced the Latitude 2100, its first netbook computer designed for students from kindergarten to grade eight. The computer, which starts out at $369, features a 10-inch screen, a sturdy rubberized shell and an anti-microbial keyboard. The Wall Street Journal/The Associated Press (5/19)
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Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Dell, Harry Potter, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Nintendo, Video game, Wall Street Journal, Wii
Microsoft has filed a patent application for a hand-held device that will allow users to interact with a range of electronics through simple gestures. Microsoft refers to the device as a “Magic Wand” in the patent filing, noting that the Harry Potter novels have helped popularize the notion of interacting with one’s environment with a flick of the wrist. While devices like Nintendo’s Wii console use a similar technology, Microsoft says its wand will be used to control a much wider range of products, not just video games. InternetNews.com (5/19)
Despite the fact that PC shipments overall dropped 7% in the first quarter of 2009, Hewlett-Packard is expected to report a 3% increase in sales, while Dell is on track to fall about 16%. The difference, according to IDC, is due to the fact that HP sells about half its systems directly to consumers, while some 80% of Dell’s sales are to corporate buyers who have been harder hit by cuts in IT spending. The Wall Street Journal (5/19)
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