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Paper Dolls Making Has Never Been This Fun

Sven Rafferty — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:15:47 +0000

Girls love dressing up dolls. Paper dolls can be just as fun as any doll where as the options seem more unlimited when using paper. Think for a moment, what if you didn’t have to mess with cardboard, tab bending, and cut-outs everywhere, and the expense associated with the dolls, wouldn’t you be interested in looking into this? What if it was free? Well, think no more and take a look at SK Planet’s new offering, Play-Doll for Kids, available on the iOS or Android device.

Kids will not only be able to dress up their dolls but once done, they now can make a full out story with the dolls. Better yet, the stories can be shared to family, such as grandparents who love anything from their grandchildren, through Play-Doll’s Share Board. This board, like the app, is free!

So parents, get your paper doll making happening today…paper free!

View Press Release »

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – January 18, 2012 – SK Planet, a wholly owned subsidiary of Korea-based SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM, KSE: 017670), today announced Play-Doll For Kids, a family-friendly app that enables children to pick and create characters that can be shared with family and friends through Facebook, Twitter and e-mail. The app, which is available for Android and iOS, has more than 50 dolls, including a princess, a dinosaur and a vampire that users can personalize to create an adventure like no other.

Play-Doll is designed to enable children to use their imagination to create their perfect story. To start, users can scroll through the variety of characters they may want in their story. Story creators can do complete costume changes with the characters, including clothing, hairstyles and accessories such as shoes and bags.

In a sea of thousands of apps, Play-Doll has educational value as it exposes children to characters of all cultures, shapes and sizes. A recent Nielsen survey shows that the iPad is the most desired product during the holiday season, with smartphones and the iPod Touch not far behind, among children ages six to 12. Play-Doll encourages children to think outside of the box, interact and create a story they are proud to share with their loved ones.

Once characters are selected and customized, users then pick the setting of their story, such as a party or in the jungle. Children are able to make their stories come to life by recording and applying their voices to the characters and by moving characters on the Play-Doll set. Play-Doll also enables users to record their story to share with family and friends through Play-Doll’s Share Board.

Pricing and Availability
Play-Doll is a free Android and iOS app available immediately at the Apple App Store and the Android Market.

About SK Planet
SK Planet, a wholly owned subsidiary of SK Telecom, was established in October 1, 2011 with an aspiration to become a global platform innovator. As the lynchpin of SK Telecom’s future growth, the company was spun off with the industry-leading platform businesses including T-Store, T-map, MelOn, Cyworld and hoppin, Korea’s biggest mobile app store, mobile navigation, online music service, SNS and multi-screen premium video service. SK Planet is committed to building global platform business in Asia and other strategic markets. For more information, please visit www.skplanet.co.kr.

About SK Telecom
SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM, KSE: 017670) is Korea’s leading telecommunications provider with more than 26 million subscribers, which accounts for more than 50% of the total market. The company, established in 1984, reached KRW 12.46 trillion in revenue in 2010. SK Telecom was the first to launch and commercialize CDMA, CDMA 2000 1x, CDMA EV-DO and HSDPA networks, and it currently provides cellular, wireless internet, mobile media, global roaming service and more. For more information, please visit www.sktelecom.com.

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Alpine Brings More Pandora Goodness and Smartphone Senrgy to Your Chariot

Sven Rafferty — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:04:22 +0000

Alpine is bringing it on with a slew of new head units for your vehicle. From the Double-DIN Audio/Video/Navigation (AVN) INE-Z928HD that features built-in Bluetooth, GPS, HD Radio, and full Pandora control connected to your iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry to the premium CD CDE-HD138BT receiver that allows ease of system building with its 4 Volt pre-amp outputs, to the advanced Bluetooth CD receiver CDE-W235BT that will add some pazazz to your OEM stereo yet look at home in your 2-DIN chassis, you already have some great choices before you. The slew of Spring scheduled audio marvels will appear between February (ya, I know, not really spring) to June. Alpine will also be showcasing its Perfect FIT Kits helping you slide your INE-Z928HD into your car without cutting up your fingers and making you wish you hadn’t taken on the job of installation yourself.

It’s great to see Alpine finally give you the Bluetooth instead of requiring an additional purchase and its inclusion of such technologies as Pandora shows that Alpine is getting the next-generation of music. Thumbs up to that, boys!

Full read and deets in the press release below.

View Press Release »

INE-Z928HD 8-inch AVN DVD Receiver and Perfect FIT Installation Kits

The INE-Z928HD AVN (Audio/Video/Navigation) DVD receiver is a landmark product for the 12-volt aftermarket. It is the first AVN system with a full 8-inch WVGA screen, yet its chassis fits into a standard 2-DIN opening. The INE-Z928HD won a 2012 CES Innovations Award in the In-Vehicle Audio/Video category.

The INE-Z928HD is feature-packed. Audio features include Pandora® Internet Radio control and station creation from iPhone®, Android™, and BlackBerry® smartphones; built-in HD Radio™ receiver; compatibility with SiriusXM (separate tuner and subscription required), and iPod® music playback from an iPod® or iPhone®. The INE-Z928HD makes every source sound better with its 4-volt preamp outputs and easy car-specific sound setup.

Additional technology features include:
• Built-in Bluetooth® wireless technology, with audio streaming, call waiting and fast phone book search
• Completely new 3D WVGA navigation platform, with over 6 million Points of Interest (POI) and free lifetime TMC traffic monitoring

To accommodate the 8-inch screen into vehicles, Alpine will offer multiple Perfect FIT (Factory Integration Technology) installation kits for the INE-Z928HD. Installation kits for ten vehicle platforms, representing popular models accounting for over 2 million annual U.S. vehicle sales, will be available (each kit sold separately). Besides being cosmetically matched for each vehicle platform, the kits also come with vehicle-specific wiring harnesses and installation accessories for direct plug-and-play connection to the INE-Z928HD.

Availability for INE-Z928HD and Perfect FIT Kits: June

CDE-HD138BTAdvanced Bluetooth® CD/HD Radio Receiver

The CDE-HD138BT is a premium CD receiver engineered to enhance the sound of multiple audio sources. Designed for compatibility with Android™ and BlackBerry® smartphones, users get wireless Pandora® Internet Radio control with station creation and thumbs up/down ratings. Other audio sources include a built-in HD Radio™ receiver and compatibility with SiriusXM programming (separate tuner and subscription required), both capable of iTunes® Tagging. Music playback from an iPod® or iPhone® is also available. The built-in Bluetooth® wireless technology provides audio streaming, simple phone pairing, and call waiting, plus Alpine’s exclusive DSP-tuned audio both for improved sound quality of streaming audio and hands-free phone calls. System building is easy with the CDE-HD138BT’s 4Volt pre-amp outputs and advanced sound tuning features.

Availability for CDE-HD138BT: March

VPX-B104R VPASS (Visual Parking Assist Sensor System)
& HCE-C104 Universal Rear Camera

Further expanding Alpine’s Drive Assist category are two new products, a parking sensor and universal rear camera. The VPX-B104R VPASS (Visual Parking Assist Sensor System) consists of a black box brain and four sensors that mount on the rear bumper, and it works with Alpine rear camera systems such as the HCE-C104 Universal Rear Camera. The VPASS system is designed specifically to help when backing into parking spots, by providing audible and visual warnings of objects behind and next to the vehicle. When the rear view image is projected onto an in-dash screen (sold separately), visual warnings are displayed as a three-color grid (green/yellow/red) overlaid onto the parking space lines to indicate the distance between the moving vehicle and its surrounding objects. When used with the HCE-C104, the VPASS system automatically switches the camera from normal to ground view when within one foot of an object behind the vehicle.

Availability for VPX-B104R: March
Availability for HCE-C104: February

CDE-W235BT
2-DIN Advanced Bluetooth® CD Receiver

The CDE-W235BT is a great choice to upgrade an outdated or technologically-challenged OEM radio. The CDE-W235BT’s 2-DIN chassis is an easy fit for most vehicles, and the large faceplate means larger controls along with a two-line, 14-character display that shows the audio source and song metadata (provided the metadata is available from the source). The built-in Bluetooth® wireless technology provides audio streaming, simple phone pairing, and call waiting, plus Alpine’s exclusive DSP-tuned audio both for improved sound quality of streaming audio and hands-free phone calls. It’s a CD receiver that meets the specifications for “Made for iPod® and iPhone®” compatibility, providing access and control of music libraries on these devices via its front USB input, and other media devices can be played via the 3.5 mm front panel jack.

Availability for CDE-W235BT: April

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Verizon Wireless Will Not Institute Single Payment Fee

Sven Rafferty — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:54:52 +0000

Verizon Wireless has decided it will not institute the fee for online or telephone single payments that was announced earlier this week.

The company made the decision in response to customer feedback about the plan, which was designed to improve the efficiency of those transactions. The company continues to encourage customers to take advantage of the numerous simple and convenient payment methods it provides.

“At Verizon, we take great care to listen to our customers. Based on their input, we believe the best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient options, eliminating the need to institute the fee at this time,” said Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless.

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Get $50 iTunes Gift Certificate for $40 Delivered via Email

Sven Rafferty — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:25:12 +0000

I’m sure you’ve seen the iTunes gift cards at Costco or Sam’s Club for a few dollars off. Sam’s has them for $10 off if you purchase $100 of a four pack of $25. That’s a pretty good deal on any Apple product as the Designed in Cupertino company rarely discounts anything in its catalog. But Sam’s Club parent, Wal-mart, has just gone one better and for half the initial cost, you will get double the percentage off. For $40 you can nab yourself $50 in an email delivered iTunes gift certificate. That’s a 20% discount which I have yet to see anywhere else and it’s an instant purchase!

If you want to treat yourself or you’ve forgotten a present or just need a bonus gift, this Wal-mart $50 iTunes gift certificate for $40 with instant delivery is your ticket to a Merry Christmas!

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Pivotshare: The Indie Netflix is Here and You Can Become Famous!

Sven Rafferty — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:33:56 +0000

YouTube has done a couple things for the Internet. It has shown us pretty much anything can find its way on to the Internet if a video camera is available. From cats playing pianos to dogs pulling elder men pants down, trash finds a way to be viewed. It has also highlighted some incredibly brilliant people with talent. Unfortunately, those are buried under the mass of junk found in YouTube.

The thinking, for the most part, is for quality films, one goes to Netflix for the streaming action. What if that guy with that awesome movie done on YouTube with an alien invasion in South America could turn his five minute feature into a full-fledged movie? And make money on it? And get collaboration? What if is called Pivotshare.

Think of Pivotshare as an Indie Netflix. Independents, anyone like you or me, starts a channel and allows other to join it. Together, everyone collaborates and makes magic. Every time that magic is viewed – and paid for – the community shares in the revenue. Like YouTube, there is no start-up costs or monthly fees and content creators earn funding either through subscriptions or pay-per-view. In short, you can make money for creativity and leverage social media such as Twitter to drive sales.

Take a look at the press release for more details and sign-up today and make some cash tomorrow.

View Press Release »

IRVINE, Calif. – December 13, 2011 – Pivotshare (www.pivotshare.com) today unveiled their new online content platform that gives publishers the power to distribute and monetize their digital media. The system was designed for valuable content that may not generate enough views to earn a sufficient income from advertising. The new start up provides an easy and powerful end-to-end solution that lets publishers offer monthly subscriptions or pay-per-view access to their audio and video content.

Pivotshare differentiates itself from other platforms by empowering publishers to distribute and sell access to their content without any monthly fees or startup costs. The company engages in a revenue sharing agreement with its publishers and provides them with all of the tools that they need to manage their channel. Pivotshare currently offers a web-based application and will be releasing apps for iOS, Android and smart TV platforms in the first half of next year. The company announced that they will be accepting applications for the service immediately at www.pivotshare.com.

Pivotshare’s publishing model is inherently social and allows independent content creators to band together to create a larger and more dynamic online presence. The founding publisher is the editor of the community and can invite new contributors. Also, interested parties can apply to contribute if the channel has been enabled to accept applications. The company uses their PlayGrade algorithm to determine the viewership and revenue of each contributor, and then pays out their respective earnings at the end of the month.

“We are very excited to offer publishers a new way to make money with online media”, said Adam Mosam, Founder of Pivotshare. “Organizations and publishers with media libraries can monetize their existing assets while independent content creators now have access to professional distribution without any upfront investment”.

With Pivotshare, publishers can:

- Quickly and easily create their own branded channel using Pivotshare’s turn-key solution

- Make money selling access to their audio and video content using subscriptions or pay-per-view

- Take advantage of world-class infrastructure to reach their audience around the world

- Leverage Twitter and Facebook integration to expand their audience

- Turn their content into a searchable reference library using media search marker capabilities

- Use the latest adaptive streaming technologies to improve quality of service and content security

- Administer their channel, manage their content and view detailed analytics with Pivotshare’s publisher console

Publishers and content creators are encouraged to apply now for access to the service at www.pivotshare.com.

About Pivotshare

Pivotshare aims to be the best way to make money from your digital media online. With a cutting-edge platform and innovative services, Pivotshare revolutionizes the way publishers sell access to their content.

Publishers are faced with rapid advances in digital media and an expanding device portfolio in which to push their content. Pivotshare will harness these new technologies, stay ahead of the curve and let the publishers worry about their core business, the content itself. The adoption of the Pivotshare platform will empower a new wave of content creators and help them capture the next generation of digital consumers.

For more information and to sign up, please visit http://www.pivotshare.com.

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Monthly Production of LCD TVs Rises to Record High, but Mobile PCs Falling

Sven Rafferty — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:56:38 +0000

SANTA CLARA, Calif., December 14, 2011— As global LCD TV brands ramp up production for the Q4’11 holiday period, LCD TV production is nearing a record high. Of the TV brands surveyed by NPD DisplaySearch for its MarketWise – LCD Industry Dynamics report, production reached a record high of 19.8 million units in October, and is expected to maintain that level in November.

Even though production for most global TV brands typically slows down in November, LCD TV production is expected to be sustained as Chinese TV brands, aiming for monthly shipment growth in November and December, prepare for the Chinese New Year holiday. November is estimated to be the highest record with 19.9M units built by the surveyed brands globally. “In addition to supply chain pull-in for upcoming holidays, we expect Chinese TV brands to fight for market share to make up for shipment targets missed in the beginning of the year,” said Deborah Yang, Research Director for NPD DisplaySearch.

TV demand outlook is turning positive for unit volume in the near term, but the focus is on inexpensive and simple-feature sets. TV brands, including leading global vendors, are planning to carry new TV sizes and low-specification LCD TVs to create business opportunities and drive traffic in 2012. Yang added, “Prices for Black Friday may not influence the market very much, but the price points of new emerging sizes together with simple-feature TV sets cannot be overlooked. These are likely to lead to confusion in the product and value proposition.”

Despite strong sell-through results in North America and China, LCD TV brands are cautiously controlling their inventories. For December through February, LCD TV brands are planning to reduce production to prevent overstocking for the slow season in Q1’12. Global LCD TV production plans of surveyed LCD TV brands will fall to 13.4M in January. LCD TV panel suppliers will need to continuously control their capacity utilization in the coming months, even as panel prices stabilize.

Shortages of hard disk drives (HDDs) caused by the flooding in Thailand are expected to last until Q1’12, impacting production of notebook PCs and LCD monitors. In particular, NPD DisplaySearch foresees mobile PC brands cutting low-margin mobile PC production (netbook PCs or 15.6” mainstream models). “From the beginning of Q2’12, there is a possibility that mobile PC production volumes could increase significantly as a result of channel refilling and new 2012 model launches,” added Yang.

Monitor brands that have high attach rates to desktop PCs or have higher presence in the China market are being impacted strongly by the HDD shortage and the slowing demand outlook, while stand-alone monitor brands are less affected. However, in the China DIY (PCs built by consumers) market, demand is weakening due to increases in HDD prices.

In addition to LCD TVs, the NPD DisplaySearch MarketWise – LCD Industry Dynamics report tracks mobile PC and desktop monitor applications for large-area TFT LCD panels. The report delivers concise, relevant information for decision-makers who need to quickly understand the entire large-area TFT LCD supply chain. Presented in a dashboard format, the report highlights the status of every aspect of the supply chain, from components to the end-market, covering the ever-changing dynamics of panels, brands, capacity, production, prices and more.

For more information about the report, please contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452 or e-mail contact@displaysearch.com or contact your regional NPD DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan or more information.

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T-Mobile Brings Nokia Lumia 710 to the U.S.

Sven Rafferty — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:45:44 +0000

Looking for a Windows 7 phone? Wanna have Nokia for the hardware? Well, this January 11th you can have both! T-Mobile will be bringing to our grand shores of the US of A the Lumia 710. Available in either white or black, the Lumia 710 will run on T-Mobile’s “4G” network (we really need to agree on what 4G is folks,) which will allow you to take advantage of the one-click apps such as Netflix, T-Mobile TV, Bing Search with voice activation, ESPN, and Nokia Drive, the GPS offering from Nokia. Read the release below for more deets.

View Press Release »

BELLEVUE, Wash., and SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Dec. 14, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Nokia today announced the upcoming availability of the Nokia Lumia 710, the first Windows Phone from Nokia in the United States. Targeted at the nearly 150 million Americans who haven’t purchased their first smartphones, the Nokia Lumia 710, capable of running on T-Mobile’s 4G network, delivers high-performance hardware, Nokia’s best social and Internet experience, and access to popular smartphone applications and services from Windows Phone Marketplace.

Running on America’s Largest 4G Network™, the Nokia Lumia 710 benefits from the unique people-first approach of Windows Phone, bringing together all interactions with family and friends in People Hub. The Nokia Lumia 710 also provides one-click access to popular services, such as Netflix, T-Mobile TV with mobile HD1 and a leading mobile Web experience with Internet Explorer® Mobile, Bing™ Search with voice activation and Local Scout for locally relevant search results. The smartphone also brings access to signature Nokia experiences, such as Nokia Drive for voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation and ESPN for exclusive sports content.

“We’re excited to team with Nokia in bringing its first Windows Phone to the U.S. with the elegantly designed Nokia Lumia 710,” said Cole Brodman, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. “Windows Phone offers a compelling mobile OS choice for people who want a smartphone built around them, their family and friends. We expect it to play a more prominent role in our lineup and marketing efforts in 2012.”

Today, people are increasingly upgrading to smartphones, and many are doing so for the first time. According to the NPD Group, U.S. smartphone sales reached 59 percent in the third quarter 2011, an increase of 13 percent since third quarter 2010. With an increasing demand for smartphones, the Nokia Lumia 710 offers a compelling experience aimed at addressing the needs of the nearly 150 million people in the U.S. who have yet to upgrade to their first smartphones.

“Our research shows nearly everybody in the U.S. wants a smartphone, but many believe they can’t afford it,” Brodman said. “That’s where T-Mobile shines. Our Unlimited Value and Monthly4G plans make it more affordable than ever to step up to mobile data on our 4G network.”

”The Nokia Lumia 710 is the perfect first-time smartphone: a well-designed product that delivers the most compelling Windows Phone experience in its price range and with access to great content and thousands of applications,” said Chris Weber, president, Nokia Americas. “This is the perfect first Nokia Lumia experience and the start of our re-entry into the U.S. smartphone market.”

Available in a black or white finish, the Nokia Lumia 710 features a 3.7-inch ClearBlack WVGA scratch-resistant display for outstanding outdoor viewing and a Qualcomm 1.4 GHz Snapdragon™ processor providing speedy access to entertainment and information on-the-go. It also features a 5-megapixel camera with Nokia’s leading camera technology, enabling people to take pictures in almost any light condition and share on social networks in seconds. With the most integrated work-life solution of any mobile platform via the Windows Phone Office Hub and an interactive mobile gaming experience via Xbox LIVE®, the Nokia Lumia 710 is the complete all-round first-time smartphone experience.

Availability
The Nokia Lumia 710 is expected to be available at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers and retailers nationwide, and online at http://www.t-mobile.com starting Jan. 11. The Nokia Lumia 710 is expected to cost $49.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate card, with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan. For more information, visit http://www.t-mobile.com/lumia.

For more information on T-Mobile’s Unlimited Value and Monthly4G plans, see: http://family.t-mobile.com/phone-plans.

1 Mobile HD TV can deliver a bit rate of 800kbps and 16:9 resolution; the bit rate and resolution you experience will vary based on many factors, e.g., programming, network connection and device.

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Droid Razor Pulls an iPhone and Shows Up White Tomorrow

Sven Rafferty — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:38:48 +0000

Don’t fret Android users looking to be as cool as iPhone users with their cool white units. Tomorrow, Motorola releases to the Android Army a new color: white. Not fully white like the iPhone 4 and 4S but rather white like the 3GS white. As you can see by the image here, the white border outlines the RAZR most have been already impressed and wooed by. There is not much info on just how white this baby is so I guess you’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Enjoy the press release and its marketing babble below.

View Press Release »

Just in time for the holidays, the DROID RAZR™ by Motorola in White will be available on Dec. 15 at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. Customers can purchase the DROID RAZR in the new color for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Additionally, for a limited time only, customers can take advantage of a special promotion and receive $100 off a DROID XYBOARD tablet with the purchase of a white DROID RAZR with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers that purchase a DROID RAZR will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

The DROID RAZR not only shreds through the Web at blazing 4G LTE speeds, it does it in style with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED™ Advanced display, measuring 7.1 mm thin. The DROID RAZR is also packed with brains and security giving customers apps like MotoCast™ and features like remote wipe, pin lock and government-grade encryption for email, calendar and contacts.

Customers can visit www.droiddoes.com/razr for information about the DROID RAZR. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

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Anticipated Tablet Growth Alters TFT LCD Manufacturing Strategies, NPD DisplaySearch Reports

DisplaySearch — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:39:38 +0000

SANTA CLARA, CALIF., December 13, 2011—In response to falling large-area TFT LCD panel prices in 2011, panel makers have minimized their 2H’11 production, but preparation for 2012 models and gradual clearing of supply chain inventories are encouraging panel makers to take a more positive stance in their production strategies. According to the NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area Production Strategy Report, global TFT LCD glass input peaked in Q2’11, achieving a record 42.1 million square meters, but then fell to 36.5 million square meters in Q3’11, and is expected to reach 37.8 million square meters in Q4’11.

In Q1’12, panel makers are expecting to increase glass input by 5%, to 39.8 million square meters. The forecast capacity utilization is 77% in Q1’12, which is 7% higher than previously expected. This is partly based on expectations that prices have bottomed out in this cycle. Also, panel makers are planning for new models, such as larger size multi-function monitor panels, ultra-slim notebook PC panels, new TV panel sizes including 39”W, 43”W, 48”W and 50”W with cost effective CCFL and LED backlights, and slim bezels. However, with 2012 market demand still unclear, panel makers foresee the possibility of adjusting capacity utilization again in Q1’12.

According to Shawn Lee, Senior Analyst for NPD DisplaySearch, “Increasing production does not necessarily increase shipments, as panel prices are close to cash costs in many cases. However, improved inventory and price outlooks, as well as the launch of new panel models, are leading panel makers to be more optimistic.” Lee added, “Other factors leading to the increased production forecast include the need to increase utilization rates in order to cover depreciation costs, and the fact that new panel producers in China are starting to ramp up their fabs, contributing to the increased input. Lee concluded, “After a long oversupply period, panel makers are still cautious about glass input and utilization rates, and they do not plan to increase utilization to more than 80% in Q1’12.”

Tablet Panel Production on the Rise, While Mini-Notes Slide

In mobile PC applications, panel makers plan to decrease production of mini-note PC panels while increasing production of tablet PC panels, with area production of tablet PC panels expected to double from Q1’11 to Q2’11. Panel makers are also reshaping their tablet PC panel production strategies, with Sharp using its Gen 8 fab to produce tablet PC panels with oxide TFT backplanes, and Samsung, LG Display, and Sharp producing tablet PC panels with more than 200 pixels per inch.

Other panel makers, including AUO, Chimei Innolux, BOE, CPT and HannStar, are planning to apply more production resources to tablet PC panels in 2012. Although Gen 5 and smaller fabs will mainly produce mini-note and tablet PC panels, more than half of these will be produced in Gen 6 and Gen 8 starting in Q1’12.

The NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area Production Strategy Reportoffers the industry’s most complete view of large-area panel production by analyzing panel makers’ quarterly production plans. Subscribers receive production plans by application in different generation fabs, with granular detail down to the size by aspect ratio and by country. With 100% coverage of panel makers, the Quarterly Large-Area Production Strategy Reportprovides reliable information and insight needed to evaluate production strategies, understand current capacity, spot key supply trends before it is too late and manage inventory. Please contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, e-mail contact@displaysearch.com or contact your regional NPD DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan for more information.

About NPD DisplaySearch
Since 1996, NPD DisplaySearch has been recognized as a leading global market research and consulting firm specializing in the display supply chain, as well as the emerging photovoltaic/solar cell industries. NPD DisplaySearch provides trend information, forecasts and analyses developed by a global team of experienced analysts with extensive industry knowledge and resources. In collaboration with The NPD Group, its parent company, NPD DisplaySearch uniquely offers a true end-to-end view of the display supply chain from materials and components to shipments of electronic devices with displays to sales of major consumer and commercial channels. For more information on NPD DisplaySearch analysts, reports and industry events, visit us at www.displaysearch.com. Read our blog at www.displaysearchblog.com and follow us on Twitter at @DisplaySearch.

About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,800 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, contact us or visit www.npd.com and www.npdgroupblog.com. Follow us on Twitter at @npdtech and @npdgroup.

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Siri a Fun Novelty But Not as Useful as Apple Advertises

Sven Rafferty — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:48:28 +0000

Apple made a big splash at its iPhone 4S keynote with the introduction of Siri, the voice assistant Apple integrated into the iOS from its acquiring of Siri 18 months earlier. I remember when the Siri app first arrived and I dwell upon how little it worked for me when it was 1.0. Now that Apple was able to throw money, in both purchase and development, at Siri and has taken its time with presenting the updated version, I was excited to see what 2.0 would be like. Well, first we were told it was a beta, not a revised version. Second, it no longer would run on anything but an iPhone 4S due to the need for a hefty processor (which has since been proven wrong with the many hacks floating around the Internet.) But that commercial shown at Moscone Center definitely made it look like it was going to be the sweet deal nevertheless.

Now, I wasn’t expecting perfection from Siri when my white 32GB iPhone 4S arrived at my door step via UPS upon the day of release. No, I had used Android’s voice-to-text without much success and, again, the original Siri app wasn’t all that impressive. In short, my expectations were honestly low.

After removing the phone from its packaging and activating it on the third attempt – third time’s the charm, AT&T – I of course asked Siri if I would need an umbrella tomorrow even though it was sunny and in the 80s outside. Siri responded with the weather for the next week. My family and I then went on to ask it more of the silly questions such as what is the meaning of life and what do yo look like.

When it came time time to really test it, this is where the shine began to fade. I attempted to text my wife a short message to which it understood who my wife was but didn’t even have any of the text for the message. I tried again and then it got it. Well, most of it. The end of the message was just chopped off as if I hadn’t even said it and the last two words were incorrect. I chalked it up to a busy day for Siri as this was her/his debut.

Over the next few weeks, I used Siri in the truck, in my home, in stores, in offices. I used it in many different environments and pretty much received consistent results. Poor ones. My truck gave me the worse and I attribute that to the cabin noise since I have a large Ford F-250. My wife’s Yukon isn’t much better with its Flowise pipes so results were about the same there as well. In a quiet environment, such as my bedroom, the accuracy was improved but not by much. To gain near perfect accuracy, I found I had to be holding the phone near to my mouth, about a foot or two, angled with the mic toward me, and not to use conjunctions such as you’ll. When using this method, I obtained near 90% accuracy. But the problem with this is that it’s more like a lab than real life.

Let me be clear, I did not just use the iPhone 4Ses built-in microphone or supplied wired headset. I also employed the use of third-party hands-free sets such as my Alpine IVA-W505 (my review), SuperTooth buddy (here’s that review), and the Magellan Premium Car Kit (yup, reviewed that, too.) I live in California where it has some of the most stringent laws against distracted driving so I engage technology to help me be safe and avoid unneeded fines. In reality, one would presume this is the point of Siri as we watch the jogger run along the bay with Treasure Island in the background. Siri is our assistant when our hands and eyes are busy doing other things.

What it comes down to is the best place to use Siri is not the best place to use Siri. The most common place to use Siri, chatter filled offices or noisy homes, gives you the most common errors. I also found myself flustered many times when speaking to Siri and correcting myself mid-sentence and boy did that make things even worse. From what I gather speaking to my other Siri using friends, I’m not the only one that suffers from the same tongue-tie issue. Part of it is that our brain thinks we need to sound like a robot when speaking to Siri but the other part is Siri needs to recognize human short comings and prevail as well.

I have also noted the lack of punctuation. If I speak more than a single sentence, even with proper pause, Siri doesn’t get the period. It either ends taking my dictation or makes a run-on sentence. I have discovered that I can state the needed mark, such as period or question mark, but it doesn’t always get it. If I give Siri too much, either via the Siri interface or the Mic icon on the keyboard, it will simply double beep and translate what I have said up to that point. Sometimes, it comes up completely blank! This leads me to wonder about the articles I’ve read on ZDNet and the Sun Times by Andy Ihnatko that claim they dictated the entire article to Siri. I would sure love to see a video of that because I really do not think it’s possible without much interaction with the Home or Mic button. Maybe I’m missing something but Apple is well known for it’s ease of use and Steve Jobs was found of saying, “It just works”.

What it comes down to is that Apple has advertised something that really isn’t. Sure, these keyword tips help your accuracy but note how short the sentences are.

Going back to that jogger and the way he made a meeting so natural and so easy, this is what Average Joe and Mom Consumer will see. They don’t watch keynotes. So how much higher will their expectations be than mine? Apple has done well with its products in the last decade from the iPod, iPhone, and the iPad, and I’m certain Siri is what will set the next decade for Apple, but beta or not, Siri needs to get it and get it quick.

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