DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
More than 2,700 consumer-technology exhibitors have gathered in Las Vegas this week to tout the next generation of gizmos and gadgets - from audio equipment to wireless-communications add-ons - that will be vying for shoppers' dollars, yen and euros this year.
Worldwide, annual factory-to-dealer sales of consumer electronics will likely top $155 billion as consumers' appetite for technology continues its steady climb, the Consumer Electronics Association forecast a day before the 40th annual Consumer Electronics Show got underway Monday.
The trade show, the industry's largest, runs through Thursday.
Here is a look at some of the products unveiled and major announcements by publicly traded companies at the Consumer Electronics Show on Monday:
Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS:YHOO) (YHOO) unveiled Yahoo (NASDAQ-NMS:YHOO) ! Go for Mobile 2.0, an Internet-search service specifically designed for mobile devices, as the company squares off with Google Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS:GOOG) (GOOG) and jockeys for the number-one slot in the mobile- Internet market. The Santa Clara, Calif., Internet communications and media company said it has entered agreements with several mobile-device manufacturers to preload Yahoo (NASDAQ-NMS:YHOO) ! Go on select handsets starting in the first half of 2007 and plans to distribute the application through a number of service providers worldwide.
(VTKHY) communications unit unveiled its updated cordless phone designs which feature the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications 6.0 systems, or DECT, which uses 1.9-GHz frequencies. The company also unveiled its line of expandable 5.8-GHz phones.
AsusteK Computer Inc. (Taiwan:2357) (2357.TW) has a new line of wireless-for-high-definition multimedia interface, or HDMI, products. The products have capabilities allowing devices to communicate wirelessly through walls and extend through multiple rooms. The products include Tzero, which connects devices throughout the home and has transmission speeds of up to 480 megabits per second; JPEG2000 video compression ICs, which transmits high-definition quality video; and ADV202 JPEG2000 video codec, which compresses video data.
Intel Corp. (NASDAQ-NMS:INTC) (INTC) introduced three quad-core processors, including the Q6600, the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor X3220 and the X3210. Quad-core processors are microprocessors which target performance desktop and gaming personal computers.
London's CSR Plc (LSE:CSR) (CSR.LN) said AvantWave's Bluetooth v2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate module will use its BlueCore4-ROM to achieve wireless data rates up to 3 megabits per second. The product, Bluetron BTR300S Bluetooth SiP, is designed for consumer products such as digital music players; digital cameras; personal digital assistants, or PDAs; handsets and portable media players.
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS:ERTS) (ERTS) and Namco Bandai Games America Inc. expect to launch the widely anticipated online action game Hellgate: London. The game is the first original personal-computer title from developer Flagship Studios.
Acer Inc.'s (Taiwan:2353) (2353.TW) America unit said its small-form factor desktop computers are now available. The AcerPower 1000 and 2000 series are systems 1/10 the size of traditional desktop services. The company also said Blu-ray is available on the TravelMate 8210 notebook and HD-DVD is offered on the Aspire 9810 notebook. Blu-ray gives users the ability to store up to 50 gigabytes on a single dual-layer disc.
IRobot Corp. (NASDAQ-NMS:IRBT) (IRBT) introduced its iRobot Create, a programmable robot. The Create has access to robot sensors and actuators, as well as standard connections for electronics and threaded mounting holes that allow users to secure electronics such as sensors, cameras, arms and wireless connections, to the robot.
Energizer Holdings Inc. (NYSE:ENR) (ENR) unveiled its Energi To Go battery-powered instant cellphone charger, which enables calls to be placed within 30 seconds of activation. The company also introduced e(2) Lithium Headlight and the Hard Case Tactical 2AA Swivel Head, two high-performance lighting products. Energizer also showed its e(2) lithium batteries and re-launched its AAAA battery.
Hauppauge Digital Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS:HAUP) (HAUP) showed four television-tuner products designed to support Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ-NMS:MSFT) (MSFT) Vista Media Center. The products are WinTV- NOVA-TD-500 for the European and Asian markets, the WinTV-HVR-1800, the WinTV- HVR-1600 and the WinTV-HVR-1500 for the North American market. The company says prices will range from $99 to $149.
Harman International Industries Inc.'s (NYSE:HAR) (HAR) JBL unit introduced the JBL GTi Competition Speaker System, the 560 GTi and the 660 GTI, both priced at $2,000 a pair. Both have the new elliptical oblate spheroidal tweeter waveguide, designed to easily change to high frequencies from midrange frequencies.
Sigma Designs Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS:SIGM) (SIGM) and Taiyo Yudon Co. Ltd. (6976.TO) showcased a WiMedia Alliance-based ultra wideband wireless high definition audio/video streaming service.
