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April 21, 2008
Shift to Smaller TVs?
"Pacific Media Associates reported that unit sales for flat panel televisions under 35" in North America jumped in February. Their Consumer Flat Panel Display Sell-Through Tracking Service indicates that a lot of buyers are shifting their purchases to the smaller, lower priced models.
Total unit market share for 30" to 34" LCD televisions rose from 16% in January to 24% in February; that's nearly one out of every four flat panel televisions sold.
"The gains for the smaller sets came at the expense of mid-size models," according to Rosemary Abowd, Vice President with Pacific Media. "The 45" to 49" LCD segment dropped four unit share points from 18% to 14%, and the popular 40" to 44" 1080p segment (including LCD and plasma) lost two unit share points from 20% to 18%."
While the mid-size sales seemed to give way to smaller sizes, the larger sizes appeared untouched by the change. Both the unit market share and revenue share for models 50" and larger remained stable from January to February. It would appear that customers with the money to buy these larger sizes are not yet changing their buying patterns."
One month does not make a trend, but I called a few product managers at large consumer electronics companies and they are seeing the same shift in orders.
I think that there are a variety of reason for this shift:
- smaller sizes are getting more affordable, they are often at price points that almost make them an impulse purchase
- secondary locations, many families have a large display in the living room or family room and are now purchasing a smaller set for another location in the house..
- higher prices on gas, groceries and just about everything except consumer electronics are causing people to purchase smaller sets.
Comments?
Posted by Bob Gatton at 2:04 PM | Comments (3)
Organizing Cables - Monster Cable-It
Does the back of your audio video system or computer desk look like a rat's nest of wires? Cables going all over the place? There are a wide variety of cable ties and wraps on the market, but Monster's new Cable-It is a new, clever solution to cable organization.
Using it is very simple:
Step 1: Snap open included the tool -- the Zipper -- and insert your cables. Close the zipper around the cables.
Step 2: Slide the Cable-It sleeve onto the zipper's pointed tip with the sleeve openings pointing downward. Grip the sleeve around the cables.
Step 3: Holding the Zipper handgrip, pull the Zipper backward or the sleeve forward away from the Zipper. Unsnap the Zipper from the end of the sleeve. You're done. Cable organization made easy.
Available in lengths from 8 to 50 feet, three diameters and three colors -- white, gray and black -- from $13 to $100. And you can cut it with ordinary scissors.
For more information go to Monster Cable It, and watch the video
What do you think? You can use zip ties or even baggie ties to organize cables, but Monster's solution is so quick and easy. Comments?
Posted by Bob Gatton at 7:54 AM | Comments (0)
April 7, 2008
Unlimited Cell Phone Use for $99 per Month
The big guys - Verizon, AT&T, TMobile and Sprint now all have unlimited talking plans for $99 with no roaming or long distance charges. No more worries about going over on your minutes and ending up with a large bill. I currently have a 2000 minute plan for $99 dollars and have gone over several times, a couple of times very painfully - $400+.
All the plans have unlimited minutes $99, but there are some differences:
Verizon: Unlimited call plan and their Mobile Web 2.0 - this gives you access to news, weather, sports, etc. Text messaging, GPS navigation and other services are extra. For $119.99 you get everything in the $99 dollar plan plus unlimited texting. For $139.99 there is a plan with unlimited minutes, texting, GPS, VCast VPak and mobile email.
AT&T and TMobile: Unlimited calling, all other services are extra.
Sprint: Unlimited call plus mobile internet and messaging: Web surfing, email, GPS Navigation, Sprint Music, Sprint TV, text, pictures, video.
It looks like the Sprint is the best bang for the buck if you are interested in services beyond calling. Of course the best value in a plan doesn't count for much if that carrier doesn't offer the phone you want or doesn't have good coverage in your area. And remember that a $99 plan does not mean a $99 bill. My current $99 Verizon plan costs me about $116 each month, if I don't go over 2000 minutes.
Are any of these plans right for you? Probably not if you usually don't use close to 2,000 minutes (or more) each month. Or if most of your calls are to and from people on the same carrier. Most carriers offer plans where calls from, for instance, a Verizon customer to another Verizon customer are not billable minutes. TMobile has a few MyFaves plans that lets you choose five numbers that you can call without using your minutes - the numbers can be landlines or with any mobile carrier. TMobile is not an option for me, they currently do not offer service in Knoxville, TN.
What do you like - dislike about your current plan? Are you going to sign up for one of these plans?
Posted by Bob Gatton at 7:18 AM | Comments (3)
April 1, 2008
Making Good Sound Taste Better - Food and Music
I have been an audio enthusiast most of my life. But I never thought about the association between food and music. Take a look at this press release and be sure to click on the MyAudioControl link.
Never Listen on an Empty Stomach
New cookbook gives you the nourishment your ears need
Mountlake Terrace, WA - It's well known that a Turkey dinner causes drowsiness, but did you know that garlic mashed potatoes perk your ears to bass frequencies? "Making Good Sound Taste Better," AudioControl's new e-cookbook, provides the perfect dish to ready your ears for listening.
"There's nothing like a big batch of spaghetti before heading off to a hip-hop concert," reflects Tom Walker, President of AudioControl. "Carbohydrates are the perfect precursor to bass-heavy music, just like a caffeinated beverage will have you tapping your toe to jazz renditions of popular hits from the 80s in the elevator each morning."
"Making Good Sound Taste Better" includes recipes to ready you for a listening session filled with Jazz, Soft-Rock, Classical, 80s Punk-Rock, Ska, Hip-Hop, Celtic, New Age, Classic Rock, Country, and Blues among a number of other styles.
The e-cookbook is available for download now through AudioControls website at: MyAudioControl.
AudioControl is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of highest-quality home and car audio components, logging more than 30 years into the pursuit of perfect audio. And while the business of making fantastic products is serious, we like to inject a little humor into our product packaging, support documents, and yes, even the occasional press release.
Posted by Bob Gatton at 7:42 AM | Comments (4)
