Category: IT Management

IT Management News

P&G To Launch Ecommerce Site

Procter & Gamble said today it would begin piloting an online store this month in an effort to improve brand loyalty and sales.

P&G has tapped ecommerce firm PFSweb to manage the online shopping site called the "eStore." P&G said PFSweb will own and operate the eStore and exclusively feature P&G products to consumers in the U.S. The eStore is set to launch this spring, following a pilot of the site with 5,000 consumers that will begin in the coming weeks.

"We are very excited about the eStore’s potential to reach more consumers and create new online experiences and innovations that build our brands online," said Kirk Perry, P&G’s Vice President, North America.

"Ultimately, our goal in working with an experienced e-commerce business like PFSweb is to test concepts and programs that can be reapplied with all of our online retail partners in ways that exponentially grow consumer affinity for our brands and mutually increase sales for P&G and our retailer partners."

The eStore will test a number of concepts to improve relationships with consumers and deliver ecommerce insights for categories such as beauty and grooming, health and well being, and household care. The test initiatives include subscription models and cross selling, targeted media and search ads, and the integration of social media with the online store.

According to PFSweb research, consumers expect brand websites they visit to be the best sources of information about the products offered, including access to packaging, size and product variations that meet their needs.

Related Articles:

>Cyber Monday Deals Attract Online Shoppers

>Walmart Wins Thanksgiving, Amazon Wins Black Friday

>Online Retailers See Strong Cyber Monday Sales

January 15, 2010
Google Tailors Mobile Search Suggestions to Location

Google has launched search suggestions based on geographical location for iPhone and Android devices. This is currently only available in the United States.

"Typing a query into the search box on a phone can often be slow and difficult," says Google’s Mobile Engineering Team. "For this reason, relevant search suggestions that match your intended query can meaningfully reduce the time and effort it takes to submit a search."

"For example, when users in the Boston metro area begin typing ‘Muse’, suggestions such as ‘museum of science boston’ and ‘museum of fine arts boston’ are provided because people near Boston frequently look for these very popular museums," the team explains. "On the other hand, users in San Francisco who begin their query with ‘Muse’ will see suggestions for museums in the San Francisco area. By using the device’s current or most recent location, Google is able to offer even better, more useful suggestions than ever before."

Users can simply go to Google.com on their phone’s browser and start typing a query to see the suggestions, although they may have to refresh the page first. Users also must have "save recent locations" and "allow use of device location" turned on in the settings.

This feature is just the latest in Google’s frequent upgrades that may have a direct impact on local businesses. This week, Google also made its Place Pages for businesses more useful by letting businesses update them in real-time.

Related Articles:

> Google Simplifies Finding Nearby Businesses from Your Phone

> Critical Local Search Factors To Pay Attention To

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January 15, 2010
Windows 7 Drives Holiday Software Sales

U.S. software retail sales fell slightly by just over 1 percent for the 2009 holiday season, according to The NPD Group.

Sales for the 5-week holiday period totaled $278 million dollars, up from the 13 percent decline during the 2008 holiday season.

The operating systems category showed the strongest improvement during the holiday season, boosted by the sales of Microsoft’s Windows 7. Overall operating systems revenue increased from $10 million in 2008 to $29 million in 2009. Education software performed well, with revenue increasing by 15 percent, driven y the strong performance of Rosetta Stone and Topics Entertainment. Business software, which posted flat year-over-year holiday sales, was the highest revenue grossing retail software category, with sales of over $77 million.

"Despite a slight decline in overall sales, boxed software showed pockets of strength as publishers, especially Microsoft, invested money in holiday promotional activity," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD.

"Aggressive pricing on Office 2007 and continued strong sales of boxed versions of Windows 7 added a big kick to retail software sales during the holiday. But weak results in the key utilities category, along with ongoing weakness in PC games sales proved too much for the market to overcome."

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> Bing Gets a Bunch of New Search Features

> Yahoo and Microsoft May Be Close to Signing

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January 14, 2010
The World’s Smallest USB Drive and Portable Hard Drive

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas wrapped up this past weekend, but the experience will be felt throughout the year as the companies that demonstrated upcoming products release those products to the world. One of the companies presenting at the event was Verbatim, and they have some new portable data devices on the way.

WebProNews got a look at some of the company’s upcoming offerings, which can be viewed in the following clip:

Among the Verbatim’s upcoming offerings are the "smalest USB drive in the world and the "smallest portable hard drive in the world). These are the "Tuff-‘N’-Tiny" USB drive and the Titan SX portable hard drive. The former, which is waterproof, dust proof, and shock resistant comes with password protectection software, and in 2, 4, 8, and 16GB capacities. The price points are affordable too, with the 2GB drive priced at $12.95 and the soon to be released 16GB drive retailing for $86.99. The Titan SX portable hard drive will come in 320, 500, and 640 GB capacities at the end of February, and up to a TB by Q3.

Also on display was the upcoming InSight USB portable hard drive with always-on LCD display. Check out the video to catch a glimpse of the products.

Keep an eye out on WebProNews and the WebProNews Video Blog for more interviews and product demos from CES.

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January 14, 2010
Online Shoppers Want More Interactivity From Retailers

Consumers want online retailers to be more interactive and offer more personalization features according to a new a survey from IBM.

The changing economy has led to a smarter consumer who uses technology to make more informed buying decisions, exchange information with others, make purchases on-the-go and shop multiple channels.

More than three-quarters (79%) of consumers want to use websites to access and print coupons, while 75 percent want to use mobile phones to find out where the nearest store is located and 66 percent want to see what items are in stock before going to a store.

"We are in a shopper’s market today, because consumer access to technology and information gives them all the power," said Jill Puleri, IBM Global Industry Retail Executive, IBM Global Business Services.

"Retailers cannot afford to sit still as this digital revolution happens. They must engage plugged-in consumers in new and different ways, on their terms, and with more bi-directional feedback and dialogue."

From the consumer’s point of view, the top areas of improvement for online retailers were around offering customized promotions and ensuring product availability. More than half (61%) of respondents said they would spend more with a retailer if they got these two areas right.

While IBM’s analysis found that consumers are increasingly ready to use technologies to interact with retailers and with other consumers, this trend is even more pronounced in growth markets. Consumers in India, China and Brazil, are almost twice as willing to use multiple technologies for shopping and making purchases. This is mainly because the adoption of new technologies is often faster in emerging countries.

Related Articles:

>Cyber Monday Deals Attract Online Shoppers

>Walmart Wins Thanksgiving, Amazon Wins Black Friday

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January 14, 2010
U.S. PC Shipments Up 24%

The global PC market saw double-digit growth in the fourth quarter, led by strong U.S. holiday sales of low-cost netbooks, according to the latest report by IDC.

The U.S. PC market reached a new record of nearly 20.7 million units shipped in the fourth quarter of 2009 (4Q09), resulting in year-on-year growth of 24 percent. Other regions also experienced solid growth, particularly emerging markets in Asia/Pacific and Latin America, leading the global market to 15.2 percent year-on-year growth for the quarter. According to IDC, this marked the first quarter of double-digit volume growth since 3Q08.

Along with continuing price cuts throughout the year, other factors were in play in the fourth quarter. Following a number of improving economic indicators, which began in 3Q09, pent-up demand led buyers to focus on a variety of value-oriented notebooks that dominated the landscape in the holiday season.

"The U.S. market exploded in the fourth quarter, driven by a series of factors contributing to the unexpected 24% year-on-year growth. First is the rubber-band effect and recovery from the year-ago quarter, which suffered from buyer contraction when the economic crisis was confirmed," said David Daoud, research manager, IDC U.S. Quarterly PC Tracker.

"The vendors responded with new low price points to stimulate demand and face competition. In this context, low-cost notebooks and mininotebooks were the biggest contributors to the successful fourth quarter. Once again, the consumer market overcame the weak commercial sector to save the quarter."

When it came to vendors, HP had strong market performance in all regions except Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), with solid shipments in the U.S. from holiday retail sales. It also gained double-digit growth in the emerging markets of Asia/Pacific and Latin America.

Dell moved back into positive territory after four quarters of yearly declines. The company managed overall growth of 5 percent and gains of 24 percent in Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan).

"The market has weathered a storm which looks to be behind us," says Jay Chou, research analyst, Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.

"But salvaging decreasing margins will soon become even more pertinent as one considers the long-term effects of holding market share at the cost of profitability. Without an effective strategy to convey a clear usage model and feature set tied to each segment, the market will inevitably continue down the slippery slope of ‘good-enough’ computing sold to the lowest bidder."

Related Articles:

> PC Market To See Positive Growth In Q4

> Global PC Market Up 16%

> PC Shipments To See Record Decline

January 14, 2010
Realtor.com Launches iPhone App

Realtor.com, the website for the National Association of Realtors, has launched a Real Estate Search iPhone app.

Users can search for every property listed on Realtor.com by price, location, property type, MLS ID number, square foot, lot size, open house events, distance from a user’s current location and age.

The real estate iPhone app allows users to send a link of a specific property via email, Twitter or Facebook to family, friends or a realtor.

"The Realtor.com iPhone app places the power of Realtor.com in the hands of millions of highly mobile consumers that depend on us to deliver the largest collection of properties with the freshest and most accurate information available on the market," said Errol Samuelson, president of Realtor.com.

"By combining our unmatched search power with the ability to instantly share listings and feedback by email, Twitter or Facebook from an iPhone, millions now have mobile access to a phenomenal property search experience superior to other apps already on the market. We expect Realtors and their clients will appreciate the ease and convenience that our app brings to their experience as they work together to find the ideal property."

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January 13, 2010
Netflix To Be Available On The Wii This Spring

Netflix said today it has reached an agreement with Nintendo that will allow Netflix members who own a Wii to instantly stream movies and TV shows directly to their TVs.

Netflix is scheduled to go live on the Wii this spring in the United States at no additional cost to Netflix members who have a plan starting at $8.99 a month, a Wii console and a broadband Internet connection.

"Our goal is to offer Netflix members as many ways as possible to watch movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix right to their TVs and to give non-members more and compelling reasons to consider the service," said Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings.

"Joining forces with Nintendo, which has been so immensely popular with consumers since its introduction, is a very meaningful step in that direction."

Netflix already has deals in place to stream movies and TV episodes on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3.

Wii remains the fastest-selling game console in history, and reaches more consumers than any other device that currently offers streaming movies from Netflix. In December 2009, Nintendo sold over 3 million Wii consoles in the United States.

"Soon both new and longtime Wii owners will enjoy the benefits of Netflix – and a variety of informational and entertainment options – by being Netflix members and connecting their consoles to the Internet," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime.

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January 13, 2010
Advocacy Group Aims To Take On Distracted Drivers

U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and National Safety Council President Janet Froetscher today announced the creation of FocusDriven, a national nonprofit organization designed to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

The group will be led by Jennifer Smith, who has been an advocate against distracted driving since her mother was killed by someone talking on a cell phone while driving in 2008.

Focusdriven is a result of a September 2009 national Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, DC. Since the two-day meeting that brought together affected families, law enforcement, researchers and public officials, family members of distracted driving victims have worked to create an advocacy organization with support from the Department of Transportation and the National Safety Council.

FocusDriven’s website has information on distracted driving, help for victims and family members, and ways to get involved.

"I first met several of the founding members of FocusDriven at our Distracted Driving Summit, and I’m deeply impressed by their commitment to turn these tragic events into positive actions that will help save lives," said Secretary LaHood. "Their stories are not just heartbreaking; they’re also a clear and compelling call to action."

FocusDriven is modeled after Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which helped to change society’s attitudes about drinking and driving

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January 12, 2010
IT Spending Set For Global Rebound In 2010

After a challenging 2009, the technology sector will see a recovery in 2010 as businesses and governments in the U.S. and around the globe begin spending again on information technology, according to a new report by Forrester Research.

After declining 8.2 percent in 2009, U.S. IT spending will grow 6.6 percent in 2010 to $568 billion. Global IT spending, which fell 8.9 percent last year, will increase 8.1 percent in 2010 to more than $1.6 trillion. Software and computer hardware will see the most growth.

"The technology downturn of 2008 and 2009 is unofficially over," said Andrew Bartels, Forrester Research vice president and principal analyst.

"All the pieces are in place for a 2010 tech spending rebound. In the US, the tech recovery will be much stronger than the overall economic recovery, with technology spending growing at more than twice the rate of gross domestic product (GDP) this year."

Global purchases of computer equipment will be up 8.2 percent, communications equipment buying will increase 7.6 percent, software spending will rise 9.7 percent, purchases of IT consulting and systems integration services will grow by 6.8 percent, and IT outsourcing services will be 7.1 percent higher.

On a regional basis, the strongest growth in 2010 will be in Western and Central Europe, where tech purchases will increase by 11.2 percent. IT purchases in Canada will grow by 9.9 percent, Asia Pacific by 7.8 percent, and Latin America by 7.7 percent. The weakest market will be Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, increasing just 2.4 percent.

"We are entering a new six- to seven-year cycle of IT growth and innovation that Forrester calls Smart Computing," said Bartels. "New technologies of awareness married to advanced business intelligence analytics make computing smart."

"Smart Computing rests on new foundation technologies such as service-oriented architecture, server and storage virtualization, cloud computing, and unified communications. 2010 marks the beginning of this next phase of technology advancement."
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January 12, 2010
PubMatic Extends Platform To Include Mobile Advertising
PubMatic said today it would extend its ad network optimization technology to include mobile advertising.

The company said it would use its real-time optimization technology to help publishers maximize revenue from their mobile ad inventory. PubMatic’s technology helps online publishers get the most revenue from their advertising space by determining in real-time which ad network or exchange can best monetize each impression.

"While the consumption of mobile content has grown exponentially, particularly with the iPhone and Android platforms, the ability to monetize the mobile web has become increasingly difficult for premium publishers," said Rajeev Goel, Co-Founder and CEO of PubMatic.

"Our integrated mobile solution gives publishers the ability to take full advantage of their highly lucrative mobile ad inventory by simplifying the process by which they manage and select the most effective ads for their mobile web sites and applications."

Publisher benefits Include:
- Ad Network Representation: PubMatic will help publishers connect to the optimal mix of mobile ad networks according to publishers’ content, audience, and brand safety requirements
- Real-Time Decision Making: PubMatic will decide in real-time which mobile ad network can best monetize each impression and select the highest paying ad network every time
- Brand Control: The same comprehensive brand control capabilities that protect PubMatic’s Web publishers from unwanted ads, channel conflict, and ad latency issues will also extend to the mobile platform
- Audience Insight: Mobile-specific data points such as device, user location, and user demographics are considered as part of the ad network and exchange selection process to maximize publisher revenue
- One Consolidated Management Dashboard (Web & Mobile): Publishers will be able to manage and review comprehensive reporting and analytics from one consolidated dashboard that tracks both their Web based ad sales and mobile ad sales
  
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January 12, 2010
More Than Half Of Holidays Shoppers Relied On Cell Phones

More than half (51%) of holiday shoppers across 11 countries used their mobile phones for in-store activities such as comparison shopping, getting peer feedback, product information and coupons, according to a new study by Motorola.

The survey found 64 percent of GenY (age 18 to 34) shoppers used their mobile phones for in-store shopping-related activities during the holiday season. In addition, all surveyed age-segments cited interest in next-generation retail technologies to make better-informed decisions. When in-store employees used mobile technologies, such as two-way radios and handheld mobile computers, shoppers reported a better experience due to the use of the devices ((59 percent and 56 percent respectively).

"With nearly seven in 10 surveyed holiday shoppers either reporting flat or declining budgets, retailers vying for finite shopper dollars need to provide a seamless customer experience," said Frank Riso, senior director of retail solutions, Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions.

"By utilizing mobile technologies, consumers have become empowered, better informed and more critical shoppers. Retailers need to establish near-term strategies to provide product information, stock availability, discounts and coupons directly to shoppers to help them to remain competitive."

Because of the economy, shoppers were after more coupons and discounts in 2009 with 39 percent willing to abandon purchases if coupons and discounts were unavailable.

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January 11, 2010
Online Tax Programs Gaining Popularity

More than one in five taxpayers say they will go online to prepare their taxes according to a new survey by Opinion Research, conducted for CompleteTax.

The survey found sixty percent of taxpayers plan to use an accountant or professional tax preparer. The number of taxpayers turning to online tax programs now slightly surpasses those planning to use packaged software with 11 percent saying they will go online compared to 10 percent saying they will buy a packaged program.

Not surprisingly age was a factor in how people will pay their taxes. Online tax preparation is most popular among people 18-34 years of age, where 16 percent plan to use online tax programs and 8 percent packaged software compared to just 2 percent of taxpayers 65 or older using online tax prep and 6 percent using packaged software. Those 65 and older are the most likely to use a professional tax preparer, with 69 percent saying they will do so, compared to just 55 percent of 18-34 year-olds opting for this approach.

"Use of online tax programs is gaining momentum for a number of reasons," said Gary Lundberg, product management director for CompleteTax.

"A generation has now grown up regularly banking and paying bills online, and they are comfortable with the process. Online tax programs, such as CompleteTax, also allow you to try before you buy, making certain the program matches your needs, and offer a version that’s entirely free. So it’s an easy, safe and risk-free way to get your taxes done."

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January 11, 2010
Google Tries to Carve Out its Place in Mobile

Arguably the biggest news in the tech industry so far this year, has been Google’s launch of the Nexus One smartphone. The company rocked the mobile space when it announced that it would be selling the device on its own without the need of a carrier contract (although such contracts are available).

The device has come under fire from some consumers, who complain about poor 3G connections, as well as customer support issues. It has reportedly been difficult for people to get the support they’re after via phone call, with the company apparently preferring online and email support.

Google has acknowledged the problems that exist though, and seems to be taking the position that everything will get straightened out, chalking up the trouble to a new way of doing things. One Google spokesperson is quoted as saying:

"We’ve worked closely with our Nexus One launch partners to make support available through a variety of channels. This is a new way to purchase and support a mobile phone, and we’re committed to sorting out the few kinks that do exist."

Google is advertising the Nexus One hard. For a while, it even had its own spot right on the Google.com home page. As other have noted, the company has been flooding the web with ads for it in general.

The Nexus One is only the beginning of Google’s mobile plans though. In time, the company will release more devices. WebProNews recently spoke with GoogleAndBlog author Michael Martin about the company’s plans in the mobile market (keep in mind this was shot prior to the release of the Nexus One):

The Nexus One has been forecast to sell 5 or 6 million units this year, and generate between $2.6 billion and $3.2 billion. Google is currently selling the phone for $529 on its own, with T-Mobile offering it with a two-year contract for $179. eWeek reports that it costs $174.15 to make, according to iSuppli.

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January 11, 2010
Consumer Technology Holiday Sales Hit $10.8 Billion

U.S. consumer technology retail sales fell less than one percent for the 2009 holiday season, according to a new report from The NPD Group.

The report found sales for the five-week holiday period reached $10.8 billion, a big improvement from the 6 percent decline during the 2008 holiday season.

The holiday season had its share of fluctuations. Overall revenue declined three out of the five weeks. While the second week of the season posted the largest revenue growth it only represented for 15 percent of overall holiday sales. The final week of the season also saw revenue growth and represented 22 percent of all sales, so the success of the final week was more relevant to the overall success of the season.

"The dynamics of the holiday season changed this year; the holiday season started before Black Friday as retailers ran Black Friday-like sales throughout November," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD.

"That move may have lessened the Black Friday hype for consumers, but the increase during the final week of the season is a sign that consumers either went back out or waited it out to get the best deal."

PCs and flash-based camcorders were popular this holiday leading the way in unit growth among large categories, but total sales numbers were dependent on the success of PCs and flat-panel TVs. Combined they accounted for 41 percent of the revenue over the five week holiday period, up from 39 percent in 2008 and 34 percent in 2007.

Despite the high revenue, flat-panel TVs registered a decline in dollars of 13 percent, in line with their performance during most of 2009. That decline pulled down the industry overall. MP3 players, for the third year in a row, were the largest unit volume category despite increased ASPs and declining unit volumes.

"Just cutting prices this year was not enough to guarantee successful sales results," said Baker. Flat-panel TVs had a disappointing holiday because there wasn’t enough price-cutting on the right items, while notebook PCs and camcorders offered new form factors and price points that drove enormous increases in units and revenue despite falling prices."

January 9, 2010
A Glimpse of This Year’s Upcoming Gadgets

As you are probably aware, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has been going on this week, and will continue to do so through Sunday January, 10. WebProNews is in attendance, and will be periodically posting exclusive video interviews and looks at new products, continuing after the show is over.

What are your favorite releases from CES? Tell us in the comments.

As one would imagine, there have been quite a few announcements made up to this point. Due to the incredible amount of companies presenting products at the event (find the entire 400 page directory here), it would be near impossible to cover everything, but let us reflect upon some of the highlights.

Microsoft has had quite a few things to talk about at CES. The company unveiled a new HP Windows 7 slate device, as well as some other new Windows 7 devices from Sony and Lenovo. Microsoft and HP are teaming up ohn search and portal experiences, which will see Bing as the default search engine, and MSN the default homepage on HP PCs in 42 countries.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced the upcoming exclusive availability of the HTC HD2 in partnership with T-Mobile and HTC. Microsoft announced Mediaroom 2.0, the next version of its IP TV solution for service providers. The company also announced a handful of big-name video games coming to the XBox (like the new Halo), Game Room on XBox Live, and Project Natal, the controller-free gaming experience.

Intel launched a whole new family of processors. HP unveiled a new touch notebook and some new minis. Palm announced a couple of new handsets, updates to the webOS platform, and a deal with Verizon.

Internet-ready television and video in general have been frequent themes throughout the event. Netflix announced deals with five new partners to create Netflix-ready TVs and Blu-ray players. DivX showed off a new online TV platform. Yahoo made multiple strides on the connected TV front, and introduced new hardware partnerships.

Cisco unveiled some big plans it has in the way of video. The company announced new customers, features, and professional service options for the Cisco Eos social entertainment platform, and that it is providing a medianet to NBC during the network’s coverage of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. The company also announced some impressive data for Flip Video during the holiday season.

Boxee is also showing off the details of its Boxee Box and Boxee Beta became available for general downloading. Opera released some new software development kits and a new browser. Research in Motion (RIM)unveiled the BlackBerry presenter, which is a way to show PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, etc. right from your BlackBerry device.

Samsung is one company that has had a lot of announcements at CES. They announced their first e-readers, a new "eco-friendly" external hard drive family, a new slim external DVD writer for laptop and netbook markets, a new app store for TVs, Blu-Ray players, home theater systems and mobile phones, a new series of Plasma HDTVs, a new series of LED HDTVs, a new series of LCD TVs, new Blu-ray players, home theater systems, standalone AV receivers, and a four-door refrigerator. The company also teamed with DreamWorks Animation and Technicolor to form a global strategic alliance for 3D home entertainment.

HD Radio is involved with a lot of exhibits at CES. There are 25 new HD Radio products being introduced and 15 auto brands will be producing over 80 vehicle types this year, with 36 of them including HD Radio technology.

There are hundreds of car-related electronics exhibits at CES, but the most attention has been given to Ford and its Internet-ready vehicles.

The Open Internet has been heavily promoted throughout CES, thanks to the Open Internet Coalition, who has distributing buttons and laptop stickers throughout the CES event, with a quick response code. When captured by a reader on a mobile device, the QR code will launch a webpage, which allows users to add their names to a petition supporting the FCC’s proposed rules for maintaining an open Internet.

CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro announced that the consumer electronics industry is set to generate over $165 billion in U.S. shipment revenues this year.

The things discussed in this article really only scratch the surface of the things being showed off at CES. Stay tuned to WebProNews and the WebProNews Video Blog in particular for exclusive looks at a lot of the products from the event.

How do you rate this CES compared to years past? Share your thoughts. Talk about some of the other products from CES in the comments.

January 9, 2010
Cell Phone Use May Protect Against Alzheimer

Talking on a cell phone may actually help to protect against and even reverse Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study by researchers at the University of South Florida.

The study involved exposing mice over long periods of time to electromagnetic waves associated with cell phone use.

"It surprised us to find that cell phone exposure, begun in early adulthood, protects the memory of mice otherwise destined to develop Alzheimer’s symptoms," said lead author Gary Arendash, PhD, Research Professor at the Florida ADRC.

"It was even more astonishing that the electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones actually reversed memory impairment in old Alzheimer’s mice."

The researchers showed that exposing old Alzheimer’s mice to electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones erased brain deposits of the harmful protein beta-amyloid, in addition to preventing the protein’s build-up in younger Alzheimer’s mice. The sticky brain plaques formed by the abnormal accumulation of beta amyloid are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Most treatments against Alzheimer’s try to target beta-amyloid.

The study involved 96, most of which were genetically altered to develop problems mimicking Alzheimer’s disease as they aged. The mouse cages were arranged around a centrally-located antenna generating the cell phone signal.

Each animal was housed the same distance from the antenna and exposed to electromagnetic waves typically emitted by a cell phone pressed up against a human head.

If cell phone exposure was started when the genetically-programmed mice were young adults — before signs of memory impairment were apparent — their cognitive ability was protected. In fact, the Alzheimer’s mice performed as well on tests measuring memory and thinking skills as aged mice without dementia. If older Alzheimer’s mice already exhibiting memory problems were exposed to the electromagnetic waves, their memory impairment disappeared.

"It will take some time to determine the exact mechanisms involved in these beneficial memory effects," Arendash said.

"One thing is clear, however – the cognitive benefits of long-term electromagnetic exposure are real, because we saw them in both protection- and treatment-based experiments involving Alzheimer’s mice, as well as in normal mice."

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January 8, 2010
Consumer Electronic Sales To Top $165 Billion In 2010

The consumer electronics (CE) industry is set to generate more than $165 billion in U.S. shipment revenues this year, a slight increase from 2009, according to the semi-annual industry forecast released by the Consumer Electronics Association.

CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro announced the forecast in his opening remarks at the 2010 International CES technology trade show.

"2009 is a year none of us wish to repeat and now we look forward to 2010. There is light at the end of the tunnel and it is the bright light of innovation," said Shapiro.

"We are seeing more innovation at this show than at any show in our history. There are a record number of new exhibitors, more than 330, among the 2,500 companies showcasing the next generation of technology."

The CE industry will see positive growth in 2010 after a revenue dip in 2009. Total industry shipment revenue fell an estimated 7.8 percent in 2009.

The wireless handset category is on track to have a strong 2010, becoming the main revenue driver for the industry. Smartphones continue to lead the way, generating nearly $17 billion in shipment revenue and more than 52 million unit sales in 2010. Smartphones account for more than 30 percent of total wireless phone shipments, with that number increasing in the years ahead.

Sales of computers will also be a bright spot in 2010 driven by the popularity of netbooks. Netbook sales more than doubled in 2009 as the computer category showed stronger sales than forecasts predicted. In 2010, more than 30 million notebooks will be sold, generating more than $14 billion in revenue.

"Smartphones and netbooks are primed for strong growth as consumers continue to seek efficient, portable devices," said Steve Koenig, CEA’s director of industry analysis.

"With more consumers seeking content anywhere, anytime, the demand for products facilitating these experiences will drive purchases going forward."

Blu-ray players will continue to grow after a solid 2009. Blu-ray unit sales increased 155 percent in 2009 with more than seven million units being sold, generating more than $1 billion in revenue. In 2010, unit sales are forecast to top 11.5 million and revenues to increase to $1.4 billion.

Television unit sales will climb to more than 37 million in 2010 but price drops will cause display revenue to decline slightly to $22 billion. Innovation in TV displays, such as 3D, Internet connectivity and OLED technology, will continue to grow and help maintain revenue in the display category. CEA projects sales of more than 4 million 3D television sets in 2010.

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January 8, 2010
Google Simplifies Finding Nearby Businesses from Your Phone

Google has released what is called the "Near me Now" feature for the iPhone and Android browser. The feature shows nearby businesses by category based on the user’s location.

"’Near me now’ was designed to address two user problems," explains Google’s Mobile team. "First, we wanted to make it fast and easy to find out more about a place in your immediate vicinity, whether you’re standing right in front of a business or if it’s just a short walk away. For example, you may want to know what other customers think about a restaurant before you go inside (see quick video below) or what they have been raving about on the menu before you order. By selecting the ‘Explore right here’ option, you can find out more about a place ‘right here’ with just a few clicks."

The restaurant example is illustrated in the following clip:

"Second, we wanted to make searching for popular categories of nearby places really simple," the team adds. "Imagine that you emerge from the subway station and you want to grab a coffee, but you don’t see a coffee shop around you. You can simply search for all nearby coffee shops by using ‘Near me now’. To search other categories of places not shown, ‘Browse more categories’ provides access to our local search product with more category choices."

The feature is available in the US only at this point. It works for iPhone (OS 3.x) or Android-powered devices with version 2.0.1 and up. Users have to enable their location for the feature to even appear.

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January 8, 2010
Intel Shows Off Whole New Family of Processors

Intel has unveiled a whole new family of Intel Core Processors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. These include Intel Turbo Boost technology for laptops, desktops, and embedded devices.

"For the first time, there’s a new family of Intel processors with the industry’s most advanced technology available immediately at virtually every PC price point," said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and general manager of the Intel Architecture Group. "These smart processors adapt to an individual’s needs, automatically providing a ‘boost’ of performance for everyday applications. They become energy efficient to the point of shutting down processing cores or reducing power consumption to provide performance when people need it, and energy efficient when they don’t."

Highlights of the news include:

– Mainstream processors now offer Intel Turbo Boost Technology, automatically adapting to an individual’s performance needs

– First 32 nanometer processors and first time Intel is mass-producing a variety of chips at mainstream prices at start of new manufacturing process, reflecting last year’s $7 billion investment during economic recession

– Intel Core i5 processors are about twice as fast as comparable existing PCs for visibly faster video, photo and music downloading experience4

– Select processors integrate graphics directly on processors; also include Intel’s second generation high-k metal gate transistors

– Beyond laptops and PCs, processors also target ATMs, travel kiosks, digital displays

– More than 10 new chipsets and new 802.11n WiFi and WiMAX products with new Intel My WiFi features

More details about the new family of processors can be found here. Watch for more WebProNews coverage of CES, with exclusive video interviews coming soon.

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January 7, 2010
What Microsoft is Sharing in Consumer Electronics

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s keynote last night was one of the most anticipated events of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. It was expected that he would unveil a device to compete with a supposedly upcoming tablet from Apple, but people anticipating such news were met with the unveiling of a different device – the HP Windows 7 slate device, which apparently doesn’t live up to some of the tech crowd’s expectations.

Ballmer says the device is more powerful than a phone, and "almost as powerful" as a PC. You can’t get too much out of it, but here’s an official video of the device that’s floating around:

The device will be available some time later this year.

In addition to this, Microsoft-related news to come out of CES includes:

– The Sony VAIO L all-in-one laptop built for HD entertainment and multimedia content creation, and including a 24-inch touchscreen (Windows 7)

– The Lenovo A300, one of the thinnest PCs yet at just 18mm, but with a 21.5-inch HD widescreen LED display (Windows 7)

– Microsoft and HP are teaming up on search and portal experiences. Bing will be the default search engine, and MSN the default homepage on HP PCs in 42 countries.

– Ballmer announced the upcoming exclusive availability of the HTC HD2 in partnership with T-Mobile USA, Inc. and HTC.

– Microsoft Mediaroom 2.0, the next version of its Internet Protocol Television solution for service providers

– Big games coming to XBox: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Halo Reach, Conviction, Crackdown 2, Mass Effect 2, Alan Wake, and Fable 3

– Game Room on Xbox LIVE, which Microsoft says will be the place to relive the glory days of arcade games, with over 1000 games being released throughout the next three years

– "Project Natal," the controller-free gaming experience that tracks movement of the body and facial expressions, and responds to your voice, scheduled to be available in holiday season 2010

"We’ve reached a point with technology where it’s very feasible to listen to or watch whatever you want, whenever you want, whether on your smartphone, laptop or a connected TV in the comfort of your living room," said Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division President Robbie Bach. "That concept of greater control is compelling to many people. It’s all about tying together these disparate technologies into a digital entertainment experience that’s consistent, easy to use and relevant to consumers’ needs."

Watch for more WebProNews coverage of CES, with exclusive video interviews coming soon.

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January 7, 2010