Showing posts with label CEA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CEA. Show all posts

Thursday, September 10, 2009

WirelessHD Consortium experiences significant growth

CEDIA EXPO 2009, SUNNYVALE & ATLANTA, USA: The WirelessHD Consortium, currently comprised of leaders in the consumer electronics and personal computing industries, today announced that several WirelessHD consumer products have successfully passed the rigorous compliance tests and are now available in Asia, North America and Europe.

Adding to this momentum, Philips, Best Buy and others have also joined the Consortium bringing membership to over 40 companies. These key achievements highlight the rapid growth in membership and products, application development and interest in the Consortium.

Products from Panasonic, LG Electronics, Gefen and Monster Cable Products, Inc. with WirelessHD technology will be showcased at CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, Georgia through September 13, 2009.

WirelessHD Certified and Compliant Products Available Worldwide
Compliance Certification Services (CCS), the first WirelessHD Authorized Test Center (ATC), recently conducted the first of many product tests under the WirelessHD Compliance Test Program using Agilent’s WirelessHD electronics measurement and test equipment.

The following companies, many of whom had previously considered other technologies, have rallied around WirelessHD and are showcasing their products at this year’s CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, Georgia

Panasonic: Panasonic’s Z1 plasma TV series with WirelessHD technology is available now for sale in North America, Asia and Europe (Booth #2836).
LG Electronics: LG Electronics’ LH85 and LHX LCD TVs are also available in North America and Asia (Booth #2623).
Gefen: GefenTV Wireless for HDMI 60GHz Extender can be seen in their booth (Booth #1219).
Monster Cable Products Inc.: Monster is demonstrating their WirelessHD transmitter/receiver adapter pair (Booth #609).

Additional products from several manufacturers are expected to roll out later this year, including a WirelessHD Adapter set from Rocketfish, a Best Buy private label brand.

“The availability of the WirelessHD compliance test and test equipment is a key enabler in accelerating the availability and adoption of WirelessHD technology,” said John Marshall, President and Chairman of WirelessHD, LLC.

“Adopters can easily take advantage of leading-edge testing tools from Agilent and CCS, the world’s first WirelessHD 60GHz test center, to verify compliance of their designs to the WirelessHD specification. This is essential in bringing to life the promise of interoperable WirelessHD technology as the best wireless home entertainment experience.”

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Consumer confidence falls in July to lowest level this year

ARLINGTON, USA: Consumer confidence in the overall economy dropped in July to its lowest level this year, according to the latest data from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET.

The CEA-CNET Indexes also showed that consumers’ confidence in technology and consumer electronics (CE) declined this month.

The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) slumped to 165.9 ending two consecutive months of positive gain. The ICE, which measures consumers’ confidence in the overall economy, is down nearly nine points from June and is at its lowest level since October 2008.

“Consumers faced a setback this month with the latest economy news,” said Anne Claudio, vice president of Research at CBS Interactive. “Recent unemployment figures hitting their highest level in 26 years, the rising cost of gasoline prices and declines in household net worth due to the housing market are causing consumers to feel hesitant about an economic recovery in the near term.”

Consumer confidence in CE and technology also fell to its lowest level in over a year. The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) dropped to 76.6, a decrease of nearly eight points from last month. The ICTE, which measures consumer confidence in technology and consumer electronics, is down four points from this time last year.

“Consumer expectations around tech spending mirrored the decline in consumers’ confidence in the economy,” said Claudio. “With job employment concerns top of mind for many consumers, people are being cautious with their spending and could be saving for the back-to-school and holiday seasons.”

Consumer confidence falls in July to lowest level this year

ARLINGTON, USA: Consumer confidence in the overall economy dropped in July to its lowest level this year, according to the latest data from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET.

The CEA-CNET Indexes also showed that consumers’ confidence in technology and consumer electronics (CE) declined this month.

The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) slumped to 165.9 ending two consecutive months of positive gain. The ICE, which measures consumers’ confidence in the overall economy, is down nearly nine points from June and is at its lowest level since October 2008.

“Consumers faced a setback this month with the latest economy news,” said Anne Claudio, vice president of Research at CBS Interactive. “Recent unemployment figures hitting their highest level in 26 years, the rising cost of gasoline prices and declines in household net worth due to the housing market are causing consumers to feel hesitant about an economic recovery in the near term.”

Consumer confidence in CE and technology also fell to its lowest level in over a year. The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) dropped to 76.6, a decrease of nearly eight points from last month. The ICTE, which measures consumer confidence in technology and consumer electronics, is down four points from this time last year.

“Consumer expectations around tech spending mirrored the decline in consumers’ confidence in the economy,” said Claudio. “With job employment concerns top of mind for many consumers, people are being cautious with their spending and could be saving for the back-to-school and holiday seasons.”

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Consumer confidence jumps in May: CEA-CNET Indexes

ARLINGTON, USA: Consumer confidence in the overall economy moved up sharply in May, according to figures released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The CEA-CNET Indexes also show that consumers continue to feel more confident about future spending on technology and consumer electronics (CE).

The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) climbed in May, reaching 174.6, up nearly six points from last month. The ICE, which measures consumers’ confidence in the overall economy, is at its highest level since February 2008 and up over eleven points year-over-year.

“We see significant indications that consumers believe an economic recovery is underway,” said Shawn DuBravac, CEA’s director of research and economist. “Consumers are showing increasing signs of optimism as both their outlook for the economy and their personal financial health improve.”

Confidence in technology and consumer electronics also reached its highest level of the year. The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) climbed to 81.1, an increase of nearly four points from last month. The ICTE, which measures consumer confidence in technology and consumer electronics, is nearly eight percent higher than the same period last year.

“Consumer spending on technology appears to have bottomed,” said DuBravac. “While the economy continues to deteriorate, albeit at a slower rate, consumer spending generally and specifically consumer spending on technology are likely beginning to rebound, which is inline with the timing of consumer spending in past recessions.”

The CEA-CNET Indexes are comprised of the ICE and the ICTE, both of which are updated on a monthly basis through consumer surveys. New data is released on the fourth Tuesday of each month. CEA and CNET have been tracking index data since January 2007.

Source: CEA, USA

Saturday, May 23, 2009

US households spend over $1,200 annually on CE

USA: The average US household spent $1,229 on consumer electronics (CE) products in the past 12 months, $176 less than in the prior year, according to a new study released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

According to the 11th Annual Household CE Ownership and Market Potential Study, video products are expanding already high levels of ownership.

On an average, men continue to spend more on consumer electronics than women, spending $902 annually compared to women, who spent $558. Young adults spent more than any other age group.

Consumers ages 18-24 spent $1,056 last year on CE devices, an increase of nearly $100 from the prior year. The average household reports owning 23 CE products, down from 24 products last year. However, the number of discrete (separate) CE products per household increased from 13 to 15.

"As products such as smartphones and GPS units incorporate a greater number of features and consumers replace older CE devices with newer ones, it’s not surprising to see the average number of products owned fluctuate," said Ben Arnold, CEA’s senior research analyst. "While consumers report spending less on CE, ownership of nearly all products measured in this study are higher compared to last year showing that consumers continue to buy CE products but are purchasing them at lower price points."

The study also shows an increase in video product ownership. Televisions are the most owned CE device in the US, with 99 percent of households owning a TV. Fifty-two percent of households own at least one HDTV, an increase of 11 percent from last year and double the penetration rate from 2007.

Ownership of plasma and LCD screens as well as sets over 40-inches are also on the rise. DVD players (93 percent penetration rate) and cell phones (90 percent penetration rate) are the next most commonly owned CE devices.

"As the June 12 digital television transition date nears, the average price for HDTVs continues to fall and HDTV programming increases, consumers are buying their first, second or third high-definition televisions," said Arnold. "With fewer Americans traveling and going out for entertainment, they are, in turn, choosing to stay home, save money and watch high-definition content in the comfort of their own living room."

The 11th Annual Household CE Ownership and Market Potential Study (May 2009) was conducted between January 29 and February 2, 2009. It was designed and formulated by CEA Market Research, the most comprehensive source of sales data, forecasts, consumer research and historical trends for the consumer electronics industry.

The complete study is available free to CEA member companies. Non-members may purchase the study for $999 at myCEA.CE.org.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Consumer confidence falls in April: CEA-CNET Indexes

ARLINGTON, USA: Consumer confidence in the overall economy decreased in April, according to figures released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET.

Although there was a slight decrease in consumer expectations about the future, the CEA-CNET Indexes painted a different picture for technology spending expectations, which reached their highest level this year.

The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE), which measures consumers’ confidence in the overall economy, dipped to 168.5 in April, but was up nearly three points over April 2008. The number is down four points from last month and moderates the upward trend persistent since February.

“Consumers continue to worry about economic uncertainty,” said Anne Claudio, Vice President of Research at CBS Interactive. “While we’re seeing indications of overall consumer confidence stabilizing, this month’s decline is still well above the all-time low seen last summer. Consumers continue to be cautious and reactive.”

While overall consumer confidence dipped in April, confidence in technology and consumer electronics (CE) climbed significantly. The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) rose to 77.4, an increase of more than 10 points from last month and its highest level since December of 2008. The ICTE is up on a year-over-year basis for the first time since last September.

“While tax season may have caused some consumers to be more careful with their personal finances, they are still looking to spend disposable income on technology and CE,” said Claudio. “The ICTE showed that consumers are more likely this month to buy consumer electronics and spend more on those products than last month. We are hoping the increase in the CE confidence index will result in positive returns for manufacturers.”

The CEA-CNET Indexes are comprised of the ICE and the ICTE, both of which are updated on a monthly basis through consumer surveys. New data is released on the fourth Tuesday of each month. CEA and CNET have been tracking index data since January 2007.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Technology policy, free trade and DTV transition Focus of 2009 CEA Washington Forum

ARLINGTON, USA: Technology policy in the new Administration, free trade and the final countdown to the digital television (DTV) transition were the major themes at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® Washington Forum, which concluded recently in Washington, DC.

CEA’s Washington Forum, which focused on critical issues facing the technology industry, featured the fifth annual Digital Patriots Awards Dinner, which recognized Representative Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY), for their support in advancing technology innovation.

Representative Roy Blunt and Representative Gregory Meeks were honored at the Digital Patriots Dinner on Wednesday evening, for their support of pro-innovation policies as well as their participation in CEA's "America Wins with Trade" grassroots tour. Rep. Blunt has served in Congress since 1997 and has been a strong advocate for both free trade and digital television. CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro said, "We honor Rep. Blunt for reaching across the aisle to build bi-partisan support for the Columbia Free Trade Agreement and for his leadership on DTV."

While accepting his award Rep. Blunt recognized his colleague, Rep. Meeks for his tireless fight for free trade. Acknowledging the importance of a strong competitive marketplace, Rep. Blunt remarked, “America is the most competitive market in the world. American businesses focus on results, government focuses on spending priorities. The government should take a lesson from businesses in this regard."

Representative Gregory Meeks delivered a passionate acceptance speech that addressed the importance of consumer technology in improving people’s lives, and stressed the need for passage of pending free trade agreements with Panama and Columbia. Meeks stated, “The CE industry is leading the U.S. in competitiveness. No matter where you come from, whether you are rich or poor, CE levels the playing field for all people. Your innovation makes the world a better place.”

Meeks then expounded on the importance of free trade. “You understand that trade is integrally tied to our national interest and the opportunity to create a better life for our children,” he said. “There are two major relationships between countries: trade and war. You have to make a choice. I like trade better, that is my choice.”

Other events at the CEA Washington Forum included a luncheon keynote address on Wednesday afternoon from David Plouffe, campaign manager, Obama for America. Plouffe discussed the vital role technology played in Barack Obama’s grassroots presidential campaign and will continue to play in his presidency. Plouffe credited a state-of-the art Internet presence, in part, to the success of Obama’s campaign. “Our campaign was organized on-line, where we tried to create a home,” said Plouffe. “We could not win without the historical productivity of the people; we built a web presence that became a tool for the people.” Plouffe went into great detail on the role technology played in allowing Obama’s campaign to be “real-time” with supporters and enabled the campaign to be vibrant.

Thursday morning’s session, “The DTV Transition - The Final Countdown (And This Time We Mean It),” highlighted the opportunities and challenges of the upcoming June 12 DTV transition. The session was moderated by Rob Pegoraro of The Washington Post and included panelists Mary Lou Kenny, NTIA; Bill Lake, FCC and Jason Oxman, CEA. The panelists stressed that their organizations are focused on educating those Americans who still utilize over-the-air broadcast, to ensure all consumers receive the necessary information for a successful transition. Consumer awareness of the DTV transition has reached 97 percent of US households. CEA’s Oxman pointed to the success of the DTV Transition Coalition’s comprehensive public awareness campaign, which has lead to wide consumer awareness of the transition date, and noted the necessary steps that lay ahead to ensure all are prepared after the transition.

The final event at the CEA Washington Forum featured a luncheon keynote by political pundits Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala. Carlson, an MSNBC senior political correspondent, started things off with his view of President Obama, praising him for some of his political appointments as smart decision making. Begala, a CNN political analyst, talked about the hope President Obama has inspired in Americans, as the number of people who believe our country is moving in the right direction has dramatically increased since his election. “For all of Obama’s gifts though, it is us and our system that put him there and that should make us feel good about our country and its prospects,” Begala said. Both praised the technology industry for making products that benefit our lives and our economy.