EL SEGUNDO, USA: Expanding its industry-leading analysis of the electronics value chain into the fast-growing media market, iSuppli Corp. has entered into an agreement in principle that is expected to lead to the acquisition of Screen Digest, the world’s preeminent provider of market research covering film, television, broadband media, mobile media, cinema, home entertainment, TV technology and video games.
While the financial terms of the acquisition are not public, Screen Digest and its wholly owned subsidiary Adams Media Research (AMR) would become part of iSuppli; the acquisition is expected to be completed before the end of 2010.
“The addition of Screen Digest’s vast range of Intelligence services would enable iSuppli to offer its clients the most complete understanding of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) value chain in the market research business today,” said Derek Lidow, president and CEO of iSuppli.
“From raw materials, to electronic component and pricing, to end-markets trends and demand, iSuppli covers the entire electronics value chain. With this acquisition, iSuppli plans to marry its in-depth technology research to Screen Digest’s detailed analysis of media content, distribution and enabling platform trends for traditional and new media. Screen Digest’s strong London base would enhance the iSuppli analyst and sales presence in Europe and serve as a launching pad for the combined companies’ services.
“The highly-developed iSuppli sales and marketing organization on other parts of the globe, particularly in North America and in Asia, will be exercised to support the acquisition. Due to the exceptionally good fit between the two firms, no redundancies are expected on either side as a result of the acquisition which we believe will greatly enhance career opportunities for all involved.”
Screen Digest has been tracking global media markets for almost 40 years. Headquartered in London, the company employs a team of over 45 expert analysts, led by Ben Keen, chief analyst and executive director. The value of the Screen Digest corporate brand is widely recognized globally by major media concerns and as such will remain in place for the foreseeable future as will all current Screen Digest business practices.
The planned acquisition would include AMR, which is the US media industry's key source of market data and financial analysis on the film, television, video game and digital media markets. Founded by industry-renowned analyst Tom Adams in 1993, AMR was acquired by Screen Digest in 2007.
“We at Screen Digest are looking forward to the prospect of joining the iSuppli team by combining our decades of media research with their extensive and detailed electronic value chain expertise,” said Allan Hardy, MD of Screen Digest.
“With developments in the media industry increasingly tied to the proliferation of new technology platforms and services, iSuppli and Screen Digest will be uniquely positioned to help clients throughout the TMT supply chain understand and capitalize on the forces reshaping the global entertainment and electronics businesses.”
Together, iSuppli and Screen Digest can serve the needs of a wide variety of clients.
“iSuppli’s global client base consists of the world’s leading technology suppliers, spanning the entire electronics supply chain, from electronic component manufacturers, to hardware OEMs, to cable and wireless operators, to automotive infotainment providers,” said Lloyd Kaplan, COO at iSuppli.
“The clients of Screen Digest represent the key players in the global media industry, including Hollywood studios, broadcasters, telecommunications operators, leading game publishers and Fortune 500 entertainment companies. Together, iSuppli and Screen Digest can serve the needs of all the key players influencing the global technology and media businesses.”
The extensive experience and professionalism of Screen Digest’s analysts also will complement iSuppli’s staff of world-renowned experts.
“Screen Digest analysts together have more than 300 years of experience in tracking and forecasting media markets,” said Ben Keen. “We are excited to leverage our talented team to jointly develop services with iSuppli that will yield new in-depth insights into TMT trends. Together, Screen Digest and iSuppli will provide an unmatched foundation of data and research that will enable us to spot key trends and critical inflection points for our clients.”
Friday, June 11, 2010
Apple/Google battle moves to display front
EL SEGUNDO, USA: The technology battle between Apple Inc. and Google Inc. has expanded to the cell phone display market, with the iPhone 4’s new retina display taking on the Active-Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) screen used in the Google Nexus One, according to iSuppli Corp.
LCD technology currently dominates the market for displays used in mobile handsets, with worldwide shipments amounting to 1.6 billion units in 2009. In comparison, shipments of mobile handset AM-OLEDs are tiny in comparison, at 20.5 million units in 2009.
However with the adoption of AM-OLED technology in new smart phone models, the technology is set to undergo industry-leading growth, with shipments rising by a factor of nine from 2009 to 2014, compared to just a 26.6 percent increase for LCDs.
The attached figure presents iSuppli’s forecast of LED and OLED displays for use in mobile handsets.
“Apple is really setting itself apart from the Google Android phones with the use of the 3.5-inch retina display in the iPhone 4,” said Vinita Jakhanwal, principal analyst, small and medium displays, for iSuppli. “The Nexus One smart phone, introduced in January, upped the ante in handset displays with its 3.7-inch AM-OLED to deliver stunning images. However, Apple raised the bar even further by offering an LCD display with advanced In-Plane Switch (IPS) technology.”
IPS supports a wider viewing angle and better picture quality in terms of presentation of color than a conventional LCD. In the case of Apple’s retina display, the resolution of the image is enhanced by the use of smaller-than-normal pixels. This increases the number of pixels on the screen to 326 Pixels Per Inch (PPI), compared to 160 PPI for the 3.5 half VGA resolution display in the iPhone 3G S.
Because of this, the pixels on the retina display are so small that the human eye cannot distinguish between them.
Small pixels enable crisper and finer edges on the displayed content, especially text. Higher resolutions enabled by smaller pixels also help allow the display of a lot more content in the same size display.
Apple made its first use of IPS technology for the LCD display on the iPad.
In contrast, the high resolution on AM-OLEDs is currently achieved using sub-pixel rendering, which accentuates the edges on text at high resolutions.
OLEDs hold several advantages over LCDs, including a larger color gamut, faster response time, a thinner form factor and no requirement for backlighting, which reduces power consumption and extends battery life. On the other hand, the iPhone’s retina display must make use of LED backlights to illuminate the display.
iSuppli believes the Nexus One serves as a technology showcase, blazing a trail for other smart phones using the Android operating system. Because of this, iSuppli expects to see the adoption of AM-OLED displays in Android smart phones by a number of brands in the future.
At the introduction of the iPhone 4 on Monday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that retina display would set the standard for displays in the next several years.
Recent demonstrations of small displays have delivered PPI of only 310, putting Apple in the lead—at least for now.
LCD technology currently dominates the market for displays used in mobile handsets, with worldwide shipments amounting to 1.6 billion units in 2009. In comparison, shipments of mobile handset AM-OLEDs are tiny in comparison, at 20.5 million units in 2009.
However with the adoption of AM-OLED technology in new smart phone models, the technology is set to undergo industry-leading growth, with shipments rising by a factor of nine from 2009 to 2014, compared to just a 26.6 percent increase for LCDs.
The attached figure presents iSuppli’s forecast of LED and OLED displays for use in mobile handsets.
“Apple is really setting itself apart from the Google Android phones with the use of the 3.5-inch retina display in the iPhone 4,” said Vinita Jakhanwal, principal analyst, small and medium displays, for iSuppli. “The Nexus One smart phone, introduced in January, upped the ante in handset displays with its 3.7-inch AM-OLED to deliver stunning images. However, Apple raised the bar even further by offering an LCD display with advanced In-Plane Switch (IPS) technology.”
IPS supports a wider viewing angle and better picture quality in terms of presentation of color than a conventional LCD. In the case of Apple’s retina display, the resolution of the image is enhanced by the use of smaller-than-normal pixels. This increases the number of pixels on the screen to 326 Pixels Per Inch (PPI), compared to 160 PPI for the 3.5 half VGA resolution display in the iPhone 3G S.
Because of this, the pixels on the retina display are so small that the human eye cannot distinguish between them.
Small pixels enable crisper and finer edges on the displayed content, especially text. Higher resolutions enabled by smaller pixels also help allow the display of a lot more content in the same size display.
Apple made its first use of IPS technology for the LCD display on the iPad.
In contrast, the high resolution on AM-OLEDs is currently achieved using sub-pixel rendering, which accentuates the edges on text at high resolutions.
OLEDs hold several advantages over LCDs, including a larger color gamut, faster response time, a thinner form factor and no requirement for backlighting, which reduces power consumption and extends battery life. On the other hand, the iPhone’s retina display must make use of LED backlights to illuminate the display.
iSuppli believes the Nexus One serves as a technology showcase, blazing a trail for other smart phones using the Android operating system. Because of this, iSuppli expects to see the adoption of AM-OLED displays in Android smart phones by a number of brands in the future.
At the introduction of the iPhone 4 on Monday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that retina display would set the standard for displays in the next several years.
Recent demonstrations of small displays have delivered PPI of only 310, putting Apple in the lead—at least for now.
Online video platform industry soars past $200 million
BOSTON, USA: The global online video platform (OVP) industry—the logistics providers for online video sites—has grown into a substantial business sector in a short time and already generates hundreds of millions of dollars a year, according to the new Strategy Analytics report, “Online Video Platforms: Battling for Supremacy in a Fiercely Competitive Market.”
This report provides comprehensive assessment and analysis of the rapidly growing OVP industry and its position in the digital media delivery value chain. Strategy Analytics predicts that this sector will generate more than $1 billion in five years.
“The online video platform industry is benefiting from the explosive growth in online video users,” said Jia Wu, Analyst at Strategy Analytics Digital Consumer Practice and author of the report. “More than half of the US population already watches online video on a regular basis. This industry is set for continued rapid growth in the coming years”.
“As tech giants such as Cisco, Microsoft and others increase their efforts in the fast growing OVP market, incumbent market leaders, such as Brightcove and thePlatform, will come under considerable pressure,” added Martin Olausson, Director of Digital Media Research at Strategy Analytics. “The key to long-term prosperity for OVPs will be the ability to offer flexible and increasingly sophisticated solutions to a progressively divergent set of customer needs.”
This report provides comprehensive assessment and analysis of the rapidly growing OVP industry and its position in the digital media delivery value chain. Strategy Analytics predicts that this sector will generate more than $1 billion in five years.
“The online video platform industry is benefiting from the explosive growth in online video users,” said Jia Wu, Analyst at Strategy Analytics Digital Consumer Practice and author of the report. “More than half of the US population already watches online video on a regular basis. This industry is set for continued rapid growth in the coming years”.
“As tech giants such as Cisco, Microsoft and others increase their efforts in the fast growing OVP market, incumbent market leaders, such as Brightcove and thePlatform, will come under considerable pressure,” added Martin Olausson, Director of Digital Media Research at Strategy Analytics. “The key to long-term prosperity for OVPs will be the ability to offer flexible and increasingly sophisticated solutions to a progressively divergent set of customer needs.”
Thursday, June 10, 2010
LG Electronics intros SignNET, a complete turnkey digital signage solution
InfoComm 2010, LAS VEGAS, USA: Making it simple to incorporate full digital signage solutions in commercial environments, LG Electronics has announced SignNET, a truly turnkey digital signage solution at InfoComm 2010.
Making it simpler to buy, sell and use digital signage, LG SignNET includes hardware, software and starter templates – as well as news feeds from CNN – all available at an affordable monthly cost. Right out of the box, digital signage content can be created simply using almost a dozen starter templates that are customized for numerous vertical markets.
In an extension of LG's long-standing alliance with CNN, SignNET will work with the world's news leader to display the latest news and information as designated by the user. This alliance with a major news service ensures that end users aren't stuck with static content, but rather can bring in fresh promotional and syndicated content to their commercial environments.
Bundled into more than a dozen different categories, such as latest news, business, entertainment, politics, and technology, the end user can select which category will be displayed without paying an additional cost.
"Making digital signage simple but exceedingly effective is what SignNET is all about," said Jeff Dowell, Vice President, Digital Signage, LG Electronics USA Business Solutions. "Our relationship with CNN extends the capabilities of SignNET to provide even more engaging content with customizable digital signage options."
Making it simpler to buy, sell and use digital signage, LG SignNET includes hardware, software and starter templates – as well as news feeds from CNN – all available at an affordable monthly cost. Right out of the box, digital signage content can be created simply using almost a dozen starter templates that are customized for numerous vertical markets.
In an extension of LG's long-standing alliance with CNN, SignNET will work with the world's news leader to display the latest news and information as designated by the user. This alliance with a major news service ensures that end users aren't stuck with static content, but rather can bring in fresh promotional and syndicated content to their commercial environments.
Bundled into more than a dozen different categories, such as latest news, business, entertainment, politics, and technology, the end user can select which category will be displayed without paying an additional cost.
"Making digital signage simple but exceedingly effective is what SignNET is all about," said Jeff Dowell, Vice President, Digital Signage, LG Electronics USA Business Solutions. "Our relationship with CNN extends the capabilities of SignNET to provide even more engaging content with customizable digital signage options."
SGI releases new generation of storage platforms COPAN 400
Storage Decisions Conference, FREMONT & CHICAGO, USA: SGI, a global leader in high performance computing (HPC) and data centers, has released the SGI platform COPAN 400, the new generation of COPAN range of solutions for storing persistent data with low energy consumption.
First major update made to the COPAN platform since SGI has acquired COPAN Systems, Inc.. Last February, COPAN 400 marks a significant improvement in performance, density and ability to handle very large volumes of persistent data and save significantly on power consumption compared to conventional disk systems.
"The COPAN four hundred storage platform is a step forward in size in the development of energy-saving solutions for the creation of active archive and economic safe," said Rick Chapek, senior vice president of hardware engineering at SGI. "This is an important milestone and reflects the commitment of IMS to continue to focus on developing storage solutions for market leaders in the management of persistent data."
COPAN 400 provides twice the product density COPAN older generation, with a capacity of nearly 1.8 petabyte in a single bay. In addition, COPAN 400 allows for more than four times the performance of its predecessor, with speeds up to 23To hour in full bandwidth, while providing strict control over the budgets of energy system .
COPAN 400 achieves significant space savings and power consumption compared to other offers for archiving, which translates directly into reduced operating costs in the datacenter. The density of the platform COPAN 400 is three times that of competing solutions, including EMC Centera, IBM Information Archive or Dell PowerVault DL2100, which costs three and a half to seven times more expensive.
By increasing the density and reducing power consumption dramatically, COPAN 400 provides unmatched flexibility in the management of active records. Moreover, by quadrupling the throughput, the platform offers distinct advantages over solutions like tape because it allows backups and restores very fast.
The storage platform uses COPAN MAID technology (Massive Array Of Idle Disks) with advanced functions such as Power Managed software RAID. Thus, COPAN 400 can minimize power consumption and allocation by limiting the number of active disks to strict thresholds up to 25% of active disks at once.
The CIOs have the opportunity to increase this number to 50% to adjust the system so that it accurately provides the optimal balance between performance and energy efficiency best meet the needs of specific environments.
Tailor-made system for long-term storage of very large volumes of persistent data, COPAN platform is equipped with features such as Disk Aerobics, which proactively monitors the integrity of data and health records. With predictive maintenance records, the system avoids the lengthy reconstructions RAID moving data securely to other discs before an error can occur.
First major update made to the COPAN platform since SGI has acquired COPAN Systems, Inc.. Last February, COPAN 400 marks a significant improvement in performance, density and ability to handle very large volumes of persistent data and save significantly on power consumption compared to conventional disk systems.
"The COPAN four hundred storage platform is a step forward in size in the development of energy-saving solutions for the creation of active archive and economic safe," said Rick Chapek, senior vice president of hardware engineering at SGI. "This is an important milestone and reflects the commitment of IMS to continue to focus on developing storage solutions for market leaders in the management of persistent data."
COPAN 400 provides twice the product density COPAN older generation, with a capacity of nearly 1.8 petabyte in a single bay. In addition, COPAN 400 allows for more than four times the performance of its predecessor, with speeds up to 23To hour in full bandwidth, while providing strict control over the budgets of energy system .
COPAN 400 achieves significant space savings and power consumption compared to other offers for archiving, which translates directly into reduced operating costs in the datacenter. The density of the platform COPAN 400 is three times that of competing solutions, including EMC Centera, IBM Information Archive or Dell PowerVault DL2100, which costs three and a half to seven times more expensive.
By increasing the density and reducing power consumption dramatically, COPAN 400 provides unmatched flexibility in the management of active records. Moreover, by quadrupling the throughput, the platform offers distinct advantages over solutions like tape because it allows backups and restores very fast.
The storage platform uses COPAN MAID technology (Massive Array Of Idle Disks) with advanced functions such as Power Managed software RAID. Thus, COPAN 400 can minimize power consumption and allocation by limiting the number of active disks to strict thresholds up to 25% of active disks at once.
The CIOs have the opportunity to increase this number to 50% to adjust the system so that it accurately provides the optimal balance between performance and energy efficiency best meet the needs of specific environments.
Tailor-made system for long-term storage of very large volumes of persistent data, COPAN platform is equipped with features such as Disk Aerobics, which proactively monitors the integrity of data and health records. With predictive maintenance records, the system avoids the lengthy reconstructions RAID moving data securely to other discs before an error can occur.
Coulomb achieves UL listing for ChargePoint networked charging stations for electric vehicles
CAMPBELL, USA: Coulomb Technologies announced that its ChargePoint CT2100 charging station has been certified to Underwriters Laboratories’ new requirements UL Subject 2594.
UL Subject 2594 is the safety requirement covering Electric Vehicle (EV) supply equipment, and Coulomb’s ChargePoint CT2100 product family is one of the first charging stations to be evaluated to this standard. In addition, the CT2100 is certified to UL 1998, UL 991, UL 2231-1 and UL 2231-2 standards.
The CT2100 family of charging stations supports both Level II 208/240V, 30A charging (via the SAE J1772 connector) and Level I 120V, 16A charging via a standard NEMA 5-20 outlet thereby offering the ability to charge almost any EV. UL evaluates representative products, components, materials and systems for compliance to specific requirements, and authorizes manufacturers of compliant products to display the UL Mark on those products.
“In 2009 UL led the development of a new set of safety requirements in anticipation of a growing market for electric vehicles, infrastructure and accompanying products”
“Being able to display the UL Mark on our product is significant for many reasons,” said Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb.
“UL is a world leader in product safety testing and certification and adherence to their safety standards is required by many municipalities, utilities and businesses. Coulomb’s ChargePoint CT2100 is in high demand in part because it is the only charging station that has a Level I/II UL Listing that is shipping today. This technology is proven, certified and available.”
The CT2100 product family and all ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations are network-enabled, capable of reporting energy usage and communicating over the network with Software Application Services and Network Support Services to activate capabilities such as:
* Providing open access for all drivers using any standards-based RFID card.
* Generating revenue for station owners to offset electricity and maintenance costs.
* Sending SMS or email notifications to drivers for charging complete or interruptions in charging.
* Controlling access to eliminate energy theft and to enhance safety.
* Integrating with the utility Smart Grid for demand side management and preferred pricing.
“In 2009 UL led the development of a new set of safety requirements in anticipation of a growing market for electric vehicles, infrastructure and accompanying products,” said Gary Savin, UL’s Vice President and General Manager for Global Power and Controls business. “Coulomb is one of the early pioneers in having their product listed to UL Subject 2594. This is a significant milestone for UL, Coulomb and the industry as a whole as it paves the way for new EV infrastructure in the United States.”
UL Subject 2594 is the safety requirement covering Electric Vehicle (EV) supply equipment, and Coulomb’s ChargePoint CT2100 product family is one of the first charging stations to be evaluated to this standard. In addition, the CT2100 is certified to UL 1998, UL 991, UL 2231-1 and UL 2231-2 standards.
The CT2100 family of charging stations supports both Level II 208/240V, 30A charging (via the SAE J1772 connector) and Level I 120V, 16A charging via a standard NEMA 5-20 outlet thereby offering the ability to charge almost any EV. UL evaluates representative products, components, materials and systems for compliance to specific requirements, and authorizes manufacturers of compliant products to display the UL Mark on those products.
“In 2009 UL led the development of a new set of safety requirements in anticipation of a growing market for electric vehicles, infrastructure and accompanying products”
“Being able to display the UL Mark on our product is significant for many reasons,” said Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb.
“UL is a world leader in product safety testing and certification and adherence to their safety standards is required by many municipalities, utilities and businesses. Coulomb’s ChargePoint CT2100 is in high demand in part because it is the only charging station that has a Level I/II UL Listing that is shipping today. This technology is proven, certified and available.”
The CT2100 product family and all ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations are network-enabled, capable of reporting energy usage and communicating over the network with Software Application Services and Network Support Services to activate capabilities such as:
* Providing open access for all drivers using any standards-based RFID card.
* Generating revenue for station owners to offset electricity and maintenance costs.
* Sending SMS or email notifications to drivers for charging complete or interruptions in charging.
* Controlling access to eliminate energy theft and to enhance safety.
* Integrating with the utility Smart Grid for demand side management and preferred pricing.
“In 2009 UL led the development of a new set of safety requirements in anticipation of a growing market for electric vehicles, infrastructure and accompanying products,” said Gary Savin, UL’s Vice President and General Manager for Global Power and Controls business. “Coulomb is one of the early pioneers in having their product listed to UL Subject 2594. This is a significant milestone for UL, Coulomb and the industry as a whole as it paves the way for new EV infrastructure in the United States.”
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