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Archive for the ‘Consumer Electronics’ Category

TomTom (AMS:TOM2) Now Offering Free Roadside Assistance

Posted 14 May 2012 — by Lynn Shannon
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Investing, Market News, Navigation, Sectors, Services, Stocks, Technology, TOM2, Trading

By Lynn Shannon

TomTom NV (AMS:TOM2) announced it will offer free roadside assistance along with its “Start” portable navigation devices (PNDs), and it will extend the offer to its VIA and GO LIVE products in the coming months.

The service provides a basic level of roadside support, including the “quick and reliable dispatches of responsible and professional service providers with a simple phone call from anywhere in the U.S,” said the company. Read More

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Tags: additional services, AMS:TOM2, basic, company, Cross Country Motor Club, Cross Country Perks, device, discount, dispatch, emergency, FIRE, free, free roadside assistance, GO LIVE, medical, merchants, navigation, NV, offer, option, PNDs, police, portable navigation devices, products, program, registration, repair, road service, road service professionals, roadside, roadside assistance, Roadside Assistance program, roadside support, savings, service, special deal, special deals, Start, TomTom, TomTom NV, TomTom Roadside Assistance, towing, U.S., vehicle location, VIA

AT&T (NYSE:T): The Future of Teen Tracking

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Posted 30 Apr 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Communication Services, Consumer Electronics, Market News, Services, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) wants to play a leading role in “smart car solutions” in the future and so it has launched a research project that could be the future of teen tracking. The technology might also be used to tell if an elderly driver is no longer driving safely.

The company has created a device that plugs into the car’s on-board computer to monitor a teen’s driving in real time AND that works with his cellphone so the parent can remotely disable the phone if the kid is texting while driving.

The device transmits info such as car speed, accelerating, steering and braking, as well as GPS coordinates. Then the phone, through an app, sends out information on its usage. Read More

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Tags: Amy Gilroy, app, AT&T, AT&T Inc., cellphone, company, developers, device, discount, elderly driver, future, GPS, GPS coordinates, Inc., insurance, insurance rates, insurance tracking, Israel, launch, netrork, NYSE, NYSE:T, parents, phone, presentation, project, research, research project, roadside assistance, services, smart car, smart car solutions, software, system, T, technology, teen, teen driving, teen tracking, teens, texting, track, tracking, Traffilog

Smartphone to Car Radio Patent Awarded

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Posted 18 Apr 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Auto and Truck Manufacturers, Broadcasting and Cable TV, Consumer Electronics, F, Market News, Services, SIRI, Stocks, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

A patent that covers many wireless and voice recognition smartphone connections to a car radio or video system has been awarded to Ira Marlowe the owner of Blitzsafe, a car interface manufacturer.

The patent, issued on April 10, addresses car radios with the ability to connect to a cell phone wirelessly to view and control apps or web browsing via the radio.

The patent called “Multimedia Device Integration System,” was filed in 2006. Read More

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Tags: aftermarket, aftermarket radio, Amy Gilroy, app, Apple, apps, Audio Device Integration System, Blitzsafe, browser, car, car radio, car radios, car stereo, cell, cell phone, cellphone, cellular, cellular phones, cellular telephone, connection, description, device, display, F, filed, Ford, integration, interface, Internet, Internet browser, iPod, Ira Marlowe, manufacturer, manufacturers, Marlowe, Marlowe Holdings, multimedia, Multimedia Device Integration System, NASDAQ, NASDAQ: SIRI, NASDAQ:SIRI, NYSE, NYSE:F, patent, patents, phone, phones, radio, radios, receiver, satellite, Satellite Radio, satellite receiver, service, SIRI, Sirius, Sirius Radio, Sirius XM, Sirius XM Radio, SiriusXM, SiriusXM Radio, smartphone, smartphone-to-car patent, stereo, system, telephone, vehicle, video, video system, voice recognition, wireless, XM, XM Radio

QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ:QUIK): A Small Tech Play with Big Ambitions

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Posted 08 Apr 2012 — by Covestor
Category ALTR, ARMH, BRCM, Communications Equipment, Consumer Electronics, EZCH, GOOG, Investing, LSCC, Market News, QUIK, Sectors, Semiconductors, Stocks, Technology, Trading, TXN, XLNX

By Gerald Gehman

Back on December 22, 2011, I wrote an article that noted that EZchip Semiconductor (NASDAQ:EZCH), then priced at $29.61 per share, offered investors an “extremely attractive investment opportunity within the next year.” On March 23, 2012, EZchip closed at $44.44.

QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ:QUIK) also provides an opportunity to invest before the analysts and the public jump on board. The risks are much higher, but the rewards could also be much higher.

QuickLogic has been in business since 1988, and a public company since 1999. However, for investors, it is like a “start-up” company developing new, high-volume products for Tier I customers in the exploding handheld devices market — smartphones, tablets, notebooks, pico projectors, and so on. Read More

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Tags: 2012, 2013, Altera, Altera Corporation, ALTR, analysts, Andy Pease, annual report, Apical, Apical Ltd, applications, ArcticLink, ArcticLink II CX, ArcticLink II VX, ArcticLink III VX, Arm Holdings, Arm Holdings Plc, ARMH, battery life, battery power, BRCM, Broadcom, Broadcom Corporation, business, business model, capital, capital investments, cash flow, CEO, CertiVox, CFO, chips, common stock, company, competitors, components, consumers, Corporation, Covestor, credit, CSSPs, customer base, Customer Specific Standard Products, customers, data, data storage, design, devices, economy, electronics, embedded memory, employees, EZCH, EZChip, EZChip Semiconductor, field-programmable gate array, finances, fixed costs, FPGA, Gehman Capital, Gerald Gehman, GOOG, Google, gross margins, handheld devices, Ice Cream Sandwich, Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, Inc., incorporated, industry, invest, investments, investors, Jupiter, Jupiter platform, Jupiter reference platform, Lattice, Lattice Semiconductor, low-powered silicon chips, LSCC, Ltd., management, management team, margins, Market, markets, memory, mobile, mobile devices, mobile space, NASDAQ, NASDAQ:ALTR, NASDAQ:ARMH, NASDAQ:BRCM, NASDAQ:EZCH, Nasdaq:GOOG, NASDAQ:LSCC, NASDAQ:QCOM, NASDAQ:QUIK, NASDAQ:TXN, NASDAQ:XLNX, notebooks, operating costs, operating leases, operating losses, operating system, Pacific Media, Pacific Media Associates, pico projectors, Pink, PINK:SSNLF, platform, plc, President, press release, private equity investments, processing power, processor, product, products, profits, programmable chips, Proven System Blocks, PSB's, QCOM, Qualcomm, Qualcomm Inc., Quicklogic, QuickLogic Corporation, QuickLogic stock, QUIK, Ralph Marimon, results, Retail, revenue, revenue growth, revenues, risk, sales, Samsung, Samsung Electronics, sector, security, semiconductor, semiconductors, smartphones, SoC, SSNLF, stock, succession, System on a Chip, tablets, technologies, technology, Texas Instruments, Texas Instruments Inc., transcript, TXN, VEE HD+/DPO HD+, VEE technology, Xilinx, Xilinx Inc., XLNX

AT&T (NYSE:T) Develops Auto Navigation Steering Wheel

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Posted 23 Mar 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Communication Services, Consumer Electronics, Market News, Services, Stocks, T, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) Labs has created a steering wheel prototype that vibrates to give you navigation cues so you can keep your eyes on the road.

The wheel sends the driver vibrations in a clockwise motion to indicate a right turn, and in a counter clockwise pattern to indicate a left turn. These are called “haptic” controls. The steering wheel has 20 built-in actuators, which can be used to create other signals. It may signal if someone is in your blind spot, for example. Read More

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Tags: actuators, Amy Gilroy, AT&T, AT&T Inc., AT&T Labs, auto navigation, Carnegie Mellon University, conference, controls, distracted driving, findings, haptic, haptic controls, Inc., luxury vehicles, navigation, navigation steering wheel, NYSE, NYSE:T, prototype, prototypes, steering wheel, steering wheel prototype, T, vehicles

The U.S. Department of Transportation Delays Backup Camera Rules for a Year

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Posted 01 Mar 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Government, Market News

By Amy Gilroy

Ray LaHood, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary

Updated! Marking its third delay, the Fed elected to postpone setting into law final rules for car makers on including backup cameras in all new cars on a mandatory basis.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) was expected to announce the guidelines Wednesday, but instead told Congress that it would delay a final ruling until December 31, 2012.

The DOT was widely expected to confirm its preliminary recommendations that all cars must include backup cameras by 2014.

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, ”While the Department has made progress toward a final rule to improve rearward visibility, it has decided that further study and data analysis–including of a wider range of vehicles and drivers–is important to ensure the most protective and efficient rule possible.” Read More

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Tags: Amy Gilroy, Analysis, Audiovox, Audiovox Electronics, back up camera, back-up camera law, backover deaths, backup camera, backup camera guidlines, backup camera law, backup camera rules, backup cameras, Cameron Gulbransen, Cameron Gulbransen back-up camera law, Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, car, cars, Congress, data, deaths, delay, Department of Transportation, DOT, Fed, guidelines, Janette Fennell, KidsAndCars.org, law, news, postpone, preliminary recommendations, President, rear visibility rule, rearview visibility, recommendations, rule, rules, safety, study, technology, Tom Malone, U.S., U.S. Department of Transportation, vehicle, vehicles

Today is D-Day for Backup Cameras

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Posted 29 Feb 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Government, Market News

By Amy Gilroy

Today, Wednesday,February 29th, 2012, could prove to be a critical day for aftermarket sellers of backup cameras.

Unless there are further delays from the Fed, todday is the day it should publish clear standards for backup camera inclusion in new cars. This would mark a final stage in enacting a law requiring all new cars include back up cameras by 2014.

And the law is expected to generate a wave of media attention that could boost aftermarket sales. Read More

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Tags: aftermarket, aftermarket sales, airbags, Amy Gilroy, Audiovox, Audiovox Electronics, automakers, backup camera, backup camera law, backup cameras, Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2008, cars, Fed, industry, John Lombard., law, mandatory, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, new vehicles, NHTSA, President, safety, sales, standards, Steelmate USA, Tom Malone, vehicles

Auto Backup Camera Sales to Nearly Double

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Posted 21 Feb 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Market News

By Amy Gilroy

Backup cameras are expected to continue their ascent, growing by 40 to 50 percent in unit sales this year, according to three suppliers.

Sales should accelerate even more rapidly in a few years, as a law is expected to go into effect around 2014 mandating that back up cameras be included in new all new cars.

iSuppli adjusted its estimates favorably for the category since last year. It now expects aftermarket backup camera sales should rise from approximately 260,000 units in 2011 to 880,000 units in 2015. On the OEM side, back up sales should multiply from 1.4 million units in 2011 to 16.4 million in 2015. Read More

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Tags: Amy Gilroy, back up camera, backup camera, backup camera sales, backup camera system, Boyo, CES, Consumer Electronics Show, Escort, estimates, HD, HD camera, iSuppli, law, market share, Metra, mirror, OE Direct Fit, OEM, sales, Scytek, Smart Site, Smart Site mirror, suggested retail price, suppliers, system, Third Eye, VTL375HD, waterproof

Remote Start-from-a-Phone Sales Update

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Posted 16 Feb 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

Sales of smartphone-controlled remote start are beginning to make a dent in overall remote start sales.

The In-Car Experts (ICE) marketing/buying group reports that despite a warm winter, sales of remote starters were up for 35 percent of its members. The overwhelming reason, they said is because of increased sales of smartphone-based remote start.

(Still, 41 percent of ICE dealers said remote start sales were down due to the warm winter and 23 percent reported flat sales with last season).*

Directed is now at 1.2 million downloads for its SmartStart app that works with its smartphone-controlled remote start. Read More

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Tags: Amy Gilroy, app, Auto Page, buying, Compustar, dealers, Directed, Drone Mobile, Firstech, ICE, In Car Experts, installers, Jim Jardin, marketing, phone, products, rebate, remote start, remote start from phone, remote starters, retailers, sales, smartphone, smartphone-based remote start, smartphone-controlled, SmartStart, SmartStart app, SmartStart sales, spiff, transmitter

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Testing Smaller iPad

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Posted 14 Feb 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category AAPL, AMZN, Consumer Electronics, Market News, Stocks

By Amy Gilroy

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is beginning to test a smaller iPad, with a screen around the size of 8-inches, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The iPad maker is reportedly working with its component parts suppliers in Asia to test the smaller iPad, although that is no guarantee that Apple would market the device. Read More

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Tags: 4G, 7-inch, 7-inch iPad, AAPL, Amazon, AMZN, Apple, FIRE, iPad, iPad 3, iPad3, Kindle, Kindle Fire, Market, NASDAQ, Nasdaq:AAPL, NASDAQ:AMZN, new, new iPad, screen, smaller, smaller iPad, Steve Jobs, version

Samsung’s New Galaxy Note Android Smartphone: Video

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Posted 13 Feb 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Communication Services, Consumer Electronics, GOOG, Investing, Market News, Samsung, Services, Stocks, T, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

One of the more “notable” new smartphones shown at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was the Samsung Galaxy Note, sporting a very large 5.3 HD Super AMOLED screen. Read More

Tags: 4G, 4G LTE, AMOLED screen, Amy Gilroy, Android, Android 2.3, Android version, AT&T, camera, CES, Consumer Electronics Show, contract, digital drawing, Galaxy, Galaxy Note, Gingerbread, GOOG, Google, GPS, HD, HD Super AMOLED screen, Ice Cream Sandwich, LON:BC94, NASDAQ, Nasdaq:GOOG, Note, NYSE, NYSE:T, operating system, phone, pre-order, pre-orders, Samsung, Samsung Electronics, Samsung Galaxy Note, screen, smartphone, stylus, Super AMOLED screen, T, tablet, version, video

Market Playground

Archive for the ‘Consumer Electronics’ Category

TomTom (AMS:TOM2) Now Offering Free Roadside Assistance

AT&T (NYSE:T): The Future of Teen Tracking

Smartphone to Car Radio Patent Awarded

QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ:QUIK): A Small Tech Play with Big Ambitions

AT&T (NYSE:T) Develops Auto Navigation Steering Wheel

The U.S. Department of Transportation Delays Backup Camera Rules for a Year

Today is D-Day for Backup Cameras

Remote Start-from-a-Phone Sales Update

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Testing Smaller iPad

Samsung’s New Galaxy Note Android Smartphone: Video

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