TV Energy Regulations Will Harm Innovation

How much energy does the average flat panel TV use? Given the intensity of the California Energy Commission's efforts to ban many popular big-screen televisions from California homes, you might be surprised to learn that the average flat-panel TV uses less energy (142 watts) than two regular 75-watt household lightbulbs.

Listening to the commision's rhetoric over the last few months, you also might believe that your entertainment center is causing an energy crisis.

The truth of the matter is that important projects to generate new supplies of power - such as power plants and renewable energy transmission lines - are incredibly difficult to build in California. Rather than tackle these challenges head-on, the commission is pursuing rigid regulations that will harm California's economy and stifle innovation.

The proposed regulations set arbitrary limits on TV energy use, thereby banning the sale of TVs that do not meet the standards. An economic study by LECG estimates that it will cost California $47 million a year in lost tax revenues and destroy more than 4,000 jobs, largely tied to local retailers, installers and distributors. With California facing its highest unemployment rate since World War II, job-killing measures should not be up for discussion.

The some 700 TV models banned for sale would still be available for sale online and in all other 49 states. Televisions serve as the hearth of the home, and these onerous regulations would simply push many sales online and across statelines, sending critically needed tax revenue outside of California.

Product development requires flexibility, not regulatory limits, and time, not timetables. The regulations could delay or prohibit new products and technologies - liked 3D-HDTV and Internet-enabled TVS - if they can't comply with these regulations.

A Zogby International survey found that 57 percent of Californians are against the proposal, and 59 percent believe that picking a television should be the consumer's choice - not the government's decision.

Americans already buy energy-efficient TVs and other consumer electronics products through the nationwide EPA-run Energy Star program. And not just a few products - 1.2 billion consumer electronics products have been sold to date.

New initiatives, like a statewide advertising campaign to encourage consumers to change preset viewing modes and the accelerated retirement of old, inefficient TVs, combined with industry-supported regulations, like auto power-down and forced brightness menu functions, will save as much or more energy than the commission's proposed regulations.

The commission has stated that TVs are just the beginning, and they intend to regulate other high-tech electronics used for home entertainment, information and communication.

As in other markets for high-tech devices, components and systems, televisions are already evolving in response to consumer demand, technological innovation and product convergence - all of which drive and support energy efficiency.

We respectfully urge the California Energy Commission to drop its proposed regulations and work with industry to develop market-based and consumer-friendly alternatives that won't hurt California's economy, consumers or industry innovation.

NEC NP610 Entry-Level Installation Projector

NEC presents to us the NP610 entry-level installation projector. It was designed for users who require incredible image quality with advanced capabilities in a powerful yet affordable package. It features a 3500 lumens brightness, a 500:1 contrast ratio and a eco mode which offers up 5000 hours of lamp life.

There are other notable features which includes built-in closed captioning which enables decoding and text display from a video, automatic keystone correction technology which instantly projects a square image even when the projector is set up at a steep offset angle to the screen, Autosense which intuitively syncs the projector with most computer signals and features one-touch image optimization, built-in wall color correction preset, 7-watt speaker and inputs such as DVI-I with HDCP, 15-pin, RCA and S-Video.

2010 iPod + iPhone Buyers' Guide Debuts, Joining iLounge's Multi-Million-Strong Family

Authoritative. Comprehensive. Incredible. These are the words that readers use to describe iLounge's annual iPod + iPhone Buyers' Guides - respected annual overviews of Apple's portable media devices and third-party add-ons. Today, iLounge proudly debuts the brand-new 2010 iPod + iPhone Buyers' Guide, the latest in its multi-million-downloaded series of publications. The 200-page Guide is available immediately as a free, hassle-free download from iLounge.com, and will be featured at the iLounge Pavilion of the January 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

With thousands of accessories and "apps" now competing for attention, this is the most exciting time in history to buy iPods, iPhones, and add-ons, but also the most confusing. As the world's leading reviewer of these products since 2001, iLounge has distilled years of honest, smart analysis into the 2010 Guide, creating four easy-to-read sections that spotlight the year's most essential products: Apple hardware, games, applications, and accessories. New headphones, speakers, cases, batteries, and car accessories receive special attention inside.

Serious iPod and iPhone fans will enjoy exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming accessories, as well as gift recommendations that range from free games to a $41,000 platinum and diamond-encrusted iPhone 3GS - plus plenty of affordable choices in the middle. First-time users will especially appreciate the iGlossary, which clearly explains all the Apple technical jargon that has become common over the last several years, and a Where To Buy section, which clearly shows the lowest-priced and smartest places to purchase iPods, iPhones, and accessories.

"Apple has sold over 260 million iPods and iPhones," said Jeremy Horwitz, Editor-in-Chief of iLounge and the Guide, "so there's never been a greater appetite for honest information about these devices and their add-ons. The 2010 Buyers' Guide is a quick, downloadable summary you can read on your computer or carry in your pocket when shopping, helping you make educated choices about what best fits your needs."

Additional key sections of the 2010 iPod + iPhone Buyers' Guide include:

* Buying and Selling Tips: Looking to buy a new iPod or iPhone right now? Skip the screwy 2009 iPod shuffle, and try the tricked-out new iPod touch, iPod nano, or iPhone 3GS. Want to sell your old model? Check the Guide for current used pricing for every iPod and iPhone released since 2001.

* Best of the Year and Readers' Choice Awards: Sixteen products and three top developers are named as winners of iLounge's prestigious Best of the Year awards for 2009, with highest honors going to Speck Products, iHome, Gameloft, Facebook, and SwitchEasy. Thousands of reader votes selected the winners of four Readers' Choice Awards, as well.

* The Complete History of iPod, iPhone + iTunes: Over 54 million iPods and 20 million iPhones were sold in the past year, along with roughly one billion App Store downloads. Our milestone-based timeline covers everything from the January 2001 release of iTunes through October 2009's release of Apple TV 3.0.

* Contests: With over $2,300 in prizes at stake, winners of iLounge's Design The Apple Tablet art contest are named, and a new iD the iPods + iPhones photo contest debuts.

"With two million downloads of our Guides in the last year alone, iLounge has built an unmatched reputation for honest and objective coverage of Apple's digital media products," said Dennis Lloyd, Publisher of iLounge. "Our latest 2010 Buyers' Guide is a must-read for anyone who has an iPod or iPhone, and anyone who's thinking of buying Apple-related products this year."

The 2010 iPod + iPhone Buyers' Guide is available now in Adobe PDF format from http://www.ilounge.com/2010bg/ . Widely heralded as "the iPod Bible," iLounge's popular tutorial edition, The Free iPod + iPhone Book, and previous years' versions of the Buyers' Guide can also be downloaded from http://www.ilounge.com/library/ .

Hasta La Vista, Power-Hungry TVs

How green is your TV? If you're like most people, you have no idea how much energy your television uses. Yet as screens have grown bigger in recent years, the amount of electricity gobbled up by TVs has soared. The trend worries some regulators and utilities. They say big-screen energy hogs are taxing the power system and consumers are unwilling to buy energy-efficient sets since they often cost several hundred dollars more.

California plans to force the issue. As early as Nov. 4, the state is expected to set new guidelines that would require retailers by 2011 to sell only sets that consume about a third less power than they do today. Manufacturers and retailers say the new rules could force them to pull large-screen plasma TVs and many other models off store shelves. But California's Energy Commission says it's confident manufacturers will be able to retool their products to meet the deadline and that tighter standards are necessary.

The cost to power a big-screen TV may not seem high for one family. A 42-inch plasma model turned on for the average 4.5 hours a day uses about $4.50 in electricity a month, or $54 a year. But the extra demand adds up across millions of homes. "If we did nothing, we'd be looking at 38 million people [doubling TV] energy usage in the state by 2020," says Adam Gottlieb, spokesman for the Energy Commission. The commission figures the new standards, which are backed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, would conserve enough electricity by 2013 to power about 864,000 homes annually.

Consumer electronics companies and retailers are up in arms over California's proposed rules. They say that adding new technology to lower energy consumption on TVs will force them to raise prices. That could stop consumers from buying new TVs or send them to the Internet to purchase sets from out of state. In addition, the California mandate may force TV makers to cut back on new features that require additional energy, such as the ability to surf the Web from the TV. "Imposing arbitrary limits deprives the consumer of buying the television they want, at a price that's affordable to each individual," says Douglas Johnson, senior director of technology policy for the Consumer Electronics Assn.
"SLEDGEHAMMER OF REGULATION"

Johnson says consumers should be able to decide whether they want energy-efficient televisions or not, just like they do with automobiles. He points out that electronics companies already offer a wide variety of energy-saving products. Many consumers do opt to buy sets that meet the Energy Star standard, a federal gauge of energy efficiency that is voluntary rather than mandatory. In fact, 98 out of the 100 best-selling televisions at retailer Best Buy (BBY) meet the Energy Star standard. "The commission is working with one tool in its toolbox, and that's the sledgehammer of regulation," Johnson says. "We think there are other ways of supporting energy efficiency."

Still, gadget-loving shoppers should be on notice: Big-screen TVs may just be the start. Gottlieb says regulators could impose new power-consumption rules for digital video recorders, game consoles, Blu-ray players, and other gizmos. The reason, he says, is that electronics are gobbling up an increasing amount of electricity, adding up to as much as 10% of the average home's electric bill. Big-screen televisions, Gottlieb says, are just "the low-hanging fruit."

World First Laser Based 3D HDTV

When we first caught wind of HDI’s “world’s first laser-based 3D HDTV,” we were cautiously hopeful that it’d be ready to go (at least as a prototype) at CES 2010. Looks like we may actually get our wish, as the company has today announced that its magical set has reached the manufacturing stage. What’s it all mean? It means that the set is being fast-tracked for release in 2010, meaning that you’re just months away from having stereoscopic 1,920 x 1,080 content in your living room… provided there’s actually any programming to view, that is. Of course, it’ll handle the 2D stuff too, and the twin RGP LCoS micro-display imagers in there ought to provide plenty of crisp imagery regardless of the source. We’re still not sure if the Woz-approved 100-inch version that’s being shown to curious onlookers is the size that’ll be pumped out to the mainstream, but we’re hoping for at least a few smaller siblings for those of us with last names other than Kennedy, Gates, Buffet and Ellison.

World's First 3.5G Touch Watch Phone

Today, I received this Media Release of LG latest 3.5G Touch Watch, LG-GD910. I remembered playing with it at CommunicAsia 2009. During that time, we were not told about the release date or the pricing. Finally, the day has come that GD910 becomes official. The recommended retail price for this touch watch is SG$1,688. Media release after the break.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 84,000 people working in 115 operations including 84 subsidiaries around the world. With 2008 global sales of $44.7 billion, LG comprises of five business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, Air Conditioning and Business Solutions. LG is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, audio and video products, mobile handsets, air conditioners and washing machines. LG has signed a long-term agreement to become both A Global Partner of Formula 1™ and A Technology Partner of Formula 1™. As part of this top-level association, LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor of this global sporting event.

About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company

The LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a leading global mobile communications and information company. With its cutting-edge technology and innovative design capabilities, LG creates handsets that provide an optimized mobile experience to customers around the world. LG is pursuing convergence technology and mobile computing products, while continuing its leadership role in mobile communication with stylish designs and smart technology. For more information, please visit www.lge.com.

About LG Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd

LG Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd is a fully-owned subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., the pioneer and market leader of the Korean electronics industry for over four decades. In recognition of its vision of bringing great design to category defining products, and its fast-growing market appeal in Singapore, LG Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd is a recipient of leading local and international industry accolades such as the Superbrands 2006, Red dot Design and GfK No. 1 Awards. Poised to be the Number One electronics and telecommunications brand in Singapore, LG Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd runs a customer-focused centre: the LG Service Centre at Alexandra Road.

Apple iPhone vs. Google Android: Machine vs. Platform

We hear a lot about the iPhone and various handsets sporting Android 1.0 — make that 2.0 — duking it out, with the Palm Pre limping along somewhere behind. But that’s the market struggle on the surface, there’s another battle going on: whether mobile will be ruled by device or platform. And history suggests that the natural winner will be platform, much to the pleasure of Google and eventual dismay of Apple.

This isn’t a feature slug-out where only the well-positioned survives. The mobile space fight more resembles the personal computer space in the early years, where IBM established a category and both Microsoft and Digital Research wrestled to create the default operating system. At the same time, Apple had a closed system, hardware and software all under its thumb. I think we’re seeing a similar scenario play out today.

There are some significant differences. For example, Apple is out in the lead early in the race. But in the long run, that isn’t going to be enough. The issues are economics and scalability. There are too many people in the world who will want units without having to pay a premium price. That’s why the openly available platform is going to win. It’s too cheap and well-developed for the hardware manufacturers, who, as one expert in cost management for consumer electronics companies told me, work on shaving fractions of a cent off per-unit costs.

And how can a company like Google afford this economic advantage? Online ads. When I mentioned the other day about Eric Schmidt saying that the company wanted to avoid Microsoft’s mistakes, I failed to mention something else he said in the Fox Business interview: Google can give away Android because “we make money, and lots of it, it turns out, from advertising on mobile phones.” Not will make money, but do make money. Google can infinitely leverage its development over many handset manufacturers and carriers without worrying about maintaining margins or overexposing itself. The more places Android is, the more money Google will make.

I also realized that Google has a tremendous advantage in the way it reports revenue. Ad revenue is all in one bucket, with no differentiation among platforms. As its numbers have shown at least a little growth during tough economic times, many — myself included — have assumed that they were doing a bit better than keeping par on search ads. But what if they weren’t? What if that had gone down and the “lots” of mobile advertising dollars have more than backfilled the drop? You can tell what the iPhone means to Apple, but Android’s fiscal importance to Google is like the Purloined Letter: invisible and in plain sight, all at the same time.