| December 27, 2012 | News covering the consumer electronics industry |
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| Today's Digital Pulse |  |  |
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- Sales of MP3 players wane as phones get smarter
Sales of iPods and other MP3 players dropped 22% in 2012 compared with 2011, and they're on track to drop by half again in the next five years as more consumers turn to their smartphones to play music as well as make calls and access the Internet, according to Mintel. "The convenience of a smartphone is greater than an MP3 player because it is always with someone," said IHS analyst Ian Fogg. The Telegraph (London) (tiered subscription model)
(12/26)      
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| CE in the Home | | |
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- Headphones, streaming speakers were strong 2012 sellers in Canada
Headphones with microphones, soundbars and wireless streaming speakers were among the best-selling consumer electronics in Canada this year, according to reports by the Consumer Electronics Marketers of Canada and NPD Canada. During the first 10 months of 2012, unit sales of wireless streaming speakers increased by more than three-quarters compared with the same period in 2011, while dollar volume was up 132%, NPD reported. Marketnews Magazine (Toronto)
(12/25)
| From Blue Chips to Startups | | |
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- Nokia sells Lumia models at heavy discounts in U.S.
Nokia has begun offering its Lumia line of smartphones at discounts -- and even for free -- in the U.S. Amazon.com is selling the month-old 920 model for $39 with an AT&T contract, compared with its original $99 price tag. Verizon Wireless is giving away the Lumia 822, while T-Mobile is not charging for the Lumia 810 under contract. Nokia noted that smartphone promotions are "fairly standard" during the holidays. The Wall Street Journal
(12/26)
| Tech News | | |
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- Intel granted patent for "Gaming System with Safety Features"
Intel this month was granted U.S. Patent 8,333,661, which is described as a microprocessor capable of helping to "avoid or minimize the probability of a collision between the user of the gaming console and the surrounding objects while the user is playing a game." The device would warn game players if they are in jeopardy of crashing into an object and momentarily pause the game. Forbes
(12/26)
| Retail Trends | | |
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- Multiple factors held down consumer spending for the holidays
U.S. spending on electronics and other goods in the two months prior to Christmas was up only 0.7% from last year, the worst year-to-year performance since the financial crisis of 2008, the MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse report said. Bad weather, economic uncertainty and the school shooting in Connecticut were among the factors depressing holiday gift buying this year, according to retail analysts. Detroit Free Press/Associated Press
(12/27)
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