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Latest News [2007] archive from August 2007
| Philips celebrates millionth digital photo frame at IFA
Philips has celebrated the production of its millionth digital photo frame by announcing a special presentation exclusive to this year’s IFA. | |
| Pure uses IFA to unveil third generation Tempus DAB
At IFA, Pure launched the third generation of its Tempus family of DAB bedside radios – the Tempus-1S. | |
| Hitachi launches world’s first Blu-ray camcorder at IFA
At IFA, Hitachi unveiled its high end X series of flatscreen HD TVs as well as the world’s first Blu-ray camcorder. | |
| Binatone moves into GPS
Binatone, the world’s second largest DECT manufacturer, is moving into the GPS market. | |
| Ofcom denies Freeview space for HD services
The man in charge of regulator Ofcom's spectrum policy has come out against granting additional spectrum for high-definition services on digital terrestrial TV. | |
| ERT online team to report from IFA
ERTWeekly's online team will be heading out to IFA in Berlin later this week, to bring you the latest developments from one of the world's biggest technology shows. | |
| Switchover campaign breaks in Cumbria
Last week saw the launch of a local press campaign in Copeland, Cumbria, highlighting the first digital switchover. | |
| Experience Sony HD at training roadshows
Sony is planning to hold a series of Sony High-Definition Experience dealer training roadshows in September and October. | |
| Anger at free rein for banks
The Competition Commission's decision to lift price controls on the four main banks that serve the small and medium-sized business sector has angered business chiefs. | |
| Record first-half profit for Haier
Qingdao Haier, the air-conditioner and refrigerator sector of China's biggest appliance maker, has risen to a record high on the Shanghai stock exchange, after the company posted a 37 per cent increase in first-half profit. | |
| Internet access on the up
The number of UK homes with internet access has gone up by nearly a million over the last year, according to new figures. | |
| Retra appoints new chief executive
Bryan Lovewell has been appointed chief executive for Retra (the Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers’ Association). | |
| BRC claims victory over debit card charging
Sustained pressure from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and its members has lead to the withdrawal of plans for a costly new approach to debit card charging. | |
| Online banking usage amongst over 55s up
APACS, the UK payments association, has released telephone, internet banking and e-commerce figures for 2006, which reveal that in the past five years the greatest proportion of new internet banking users are in the over-55 age group. | |
| DAB hindered by Goverment's silence over switchover
The future success of DAB is blighted by the Government's silence on the switchover of the radio network from analogue to digital. | |
| Old people are keen users of modern technology
Silver surfers are taking over the Internet, according to media regulator Ofcom's annual report. | |
| iPod insurance offers commissions to dealers
Insurance policies designed to provide monthly commissions to retailers who sign up customers buying iPods and MP3 players have been launched by Podsure. | |
| Sharp develops prototype ultra-thin LCD TV
Sharp has developed a prototype super-thin LCD TV which, says the company, far surpasses existing models in terms of image quality, design and environmental performance. | |
| Phoar, what a squawker!
Rodney, a yellow crowned Amazon parrot, not only gave himself a headache but gave his owner one as well when he flew into the family's 42in rear projection TV set. | |
| Licences axed for UWB devices
Red tape that has blocked the use of a technology that could speed up the move towards the connected digital home has been cut by the Government. | |
| £4bn online in July
For the first time ever, UK online retailers have notched up more than £4 billion sales in a single month. | |
| Tom Jones wins ERT online competition
It's up, up and away for Tom Jones, the latest winner of www.ERTWeekly.com's Business Development Zone (BDZ) competition. | |
| Miele launches WEEE consumer guide
Miele, the German manufacturer of high quality domestic appliances, has responded to recent legislation laying down rules for the recycling and safe disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) by launching its very own consumer guide. 21 August 2007 | |
| Nokia to open flagship store
Nokia today announced that its pioneering UK flagship store is scheduled to open in London’s Regent Street in November 2007. | |
| Relaunch for Boston brand
A major relaunch of the Boston Acoustics brand is signalled by new owner D&M Holdings. | |
| BRC calls on Government to change minimum wage
Retail chiefs have called for openness in the setting of the minimum wage, which they claim has been "shrouded in mystery" up to now. 20 August 2007 | |
| Record-breaking turnover for Alphason
AV furniture maker Alphason Designs has had a record-breaking three months. | |
| Radio listening on the up
Almost 13 per cent (12.8) of UK radio listeners use a digital platform (DAB, DTV or the Internet) to access the service, according to the latest figures from RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research). | |
| Sony cuts power consumption
Sony claimed to have cut power consumption in 90 per cent of its product categories within its last financial year. | |
| Nine out of 10 shoppers carry out Internet research
Nine out of every 10 shoppers are now using the Internet to research products they intend to buy, according to a new report. | |
| Half of homes are digital
Every TV in half the homes in Britain can now receive digital broadcasts. | |
| New LCD plant for Sharp
| |
| CIH introduces twice weekly deliveries
Independent buying group CIH has started twice weekly deliveries from its two central warehouses in Andover | |
| Theobald's sold in management buyout
Distributor James Theobald has been sold in a management buyout. | |
| Cromwell sees new store openings
Cromwell Business Systems found one in every five of its customers were planning store openings by the end of the year. | |
| Vita Audio signs up Lawton
Radio brand Vita Audio is to make its DAB digital radios available exclusively to independent dealers through distributor Lawton from September 1. | |
| Digital UK blames retailers for poor advice
Digital UK has accused electrical retailers of giving consumers poor advice about digital TV. | |
| New general manager for Onkyo UK
Onkyo UK has announced a key new appointment to its UK team in the form of new general manager, David Anderson. | |
| Krups moves into food prep
Coffee machine brand Krups has launched into the premium food preparation market with a new range of products. | |
| FSB offers rewards to help catch killers
Rewards for information that lead to the conviction of thugs who murder of shopkeepers are to be offered by the Federation of Small Businesses. | |
| Pace deals more with Sky
Set-top box maker Pace reported that it has won additional Digibox business with satellite broadcaster Sky. | |
| Tom Tom launches online academy
An online "academy" to teach store staff more about satellite navigation products as well as itself has been launched by Tom Tom. | |
| Baylis unveils world's first wind-up video player
Wind-up radio pioneer Trevor Baylis has now launched the world's first wind-up video player. | |
| Government should set cut-off date for analogue TV
The Government should act now and set a cut-off date for the sale of analogue TVs and recording equipment as the country moves towards digital TV switchover. | |
| Samsung becomes UK number one CE brand
Samsung is the UK's number one consumer electronics brand, according to GfK data. | |
| Threefold surge in flat TV ownership
There has been a threefold increase in flat TV ownership across Europe, according to new research from Philips. | |
| Hitachi unveils world's first Blu-ray camcorder
Hitachi will launch the world's first Blu-ray camcorders at IFA 2007 in Berlin later this month. | |
| Widespread ignorance over TV switchoff dates
Thirty three million Britons still do not know when their TV region will switch off analogue services just three months before the residents of Whitehaven become the UK's first all-digital viewers. | |
| Consumer is king in UK, says Indesit boss
More choice for British shoppers has turned the country into one of Europe’s most competitive markets. | |
| Virgin trials Freeview box
Virgin Media is trialling its own-branded Freeview set-top box in Virgin Megastores. | |
| Squeeze is on for spending
Retailers should brace themselves for a downturn, according to retail analyst SPSL. | |
| Retailers 'must improve switchover advice'
Too many electrical retailers are giving poor advice to consumers about digital television, just weeks before digital switchover begins, according to research published today. | |
| Sharp plans 10th-gen LCD plant
Sharp is to build a new plant in Japan for the combined production of 10th-generation LCD panels and thin-film solar cells, according to a report on www.twice.com | |
| Shaun Barrett cycles for charity
Kent retailer Shaun Barrett is to set off this week (Aug 9) cycling to Rome through the Alps in aid of charity. | |
| Almost half of TVs sold still analogue
More than 4 million analogue TVs have been sold in the past year – that’s just under half of all TVs sold in the UK. | |
| Snap up a digital deal
INDEPENDENTS have a chance to get into the digital camera market, on the back of troubled photographic retailer Jessops. | |
| Polti sets up UK subsidiary
POLTI, the Italian steam cleaner manufacturer, has set-up a UK subsidiary company to "rebuild the brand" here. | |
| Supermarkets take 10 per cent of non-food retail market
Supermarkets are taking £1 in every £10 spent on non-food retail products sold in the UK. | |
| Sky and Virgin agree timetable
The dispute between Virgin Media and BskyB looks certain to rumble for at least another year. | |
| Kesa to buy Spanish retailer
Kesa Electrical, the parent company of Comet in the UK, is to buy Spanish electrical retailer Electrodomesticos Menaje Del Hogar Sociedad Anonima (EMH). | |
| EEIBA charity golf day
Golfers, including former Scotland and Arsenal defender Frank McClintock, raised around £10,000 for industry charity. | |
