On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

With Windows 8 to launch soon-ish, your customers will want upgrades on the Microsoft peripheral selection, offering x4 wireless battery-powered and tablet-friendly keyboards and mice.

Most interesting are the Wedge Touch Mouse and Keyboard-- Bluetooth-enabled compact devices with Windows 8 features (such as shortcut keys) and pleasing industrial design.

The Wedge Touch Mouse features 4-way scrolling and Bluetrack technology, allowing customers to use it on any surface. Meanwhile the Wedge Keyboard has a removable cover that doubles as a multi-angle (via centre joint) tablet stand and a set of hotkeys for launching Windows 8 menu functions.

The Explorer Touch Mouse and Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000 get an update, and are now the Sculpt Touch Mouse and Sculpt Mobile Keyboard-- thanks to extra Windows 8 functions and a change of Windows logo.

Go Microsoft Hardware Delivers on Windows 8

Struggling mail-order retailer Neckermann manages to prevent collapse following negotiations with suppliers, creditors and the Federal Employment Agency.

The retailer filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month following failure assure owners Sun Capital Partners earlier cost-cutting plans (involving the slashing of 1380 out of 2400 jobs) would result in profitable results.

The situation was bad enough to stop DHL and Deutsche Post from delivering Neckermann packages to customers. In fiscal 2010 (more recent figures are not available) Neckermann paid  €113 million in shipping costs, in addition to €15m worth in catalog delivery postage.

Neckerman now asks for "loyalty and support" from all suppliers and customers, and offers a "loyalty line" in select white goods (namely washing machines, refrigerators, dryers and TVs) via its still-operational website throughout July 2012.

Go Neckermann Initially Stablised (German)

Go For the Time Being Neckermann Can Sigh in Relief (Handelsblatt)

The European Commission (EC) announces an online service boosting existing GPS accuracy-- the European Data Access Service (EDAS) a commercial offering from the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

EGNOS is a high-precision navigation service. It taps into 40 ranging and integrity monitoring stations (RIMS) across Europe receiving signals from US GPS satellites. Six navigation stations manage the data and correct errors caused by atmospheric disturbances, before sending it back to three satellite transponders for distribution.

EDAS makes EGNOS data available online-- ensuring GPS navigations access even when satellite signals are not available. EDAS also allows the addition of extra data, allowing "the creation of new and innovative products and services."

The EC says EDAS will be accessible via internet-enabled handheld devices. It also supports services such as high-precision fertiliser spraying, automatic road-tolling, fleet management, inland waterway navigation, dangerous goods transportation and accurate area measurement.

Go New Internet Service Improves Greatly GPS Reliability

According to Gartner WW consumer spending on CE and technology services will spend $2.1 trillion in 2012-- with products bought including mobile phones, PCs, digital media and services.

The 2012 forecast is $114bn more 2011 CE spending, and Gartner projects such a growth trend will continue over the next 5 years with an annual WW growth rate of $130bn. By 2016 the analyst predicts global CE spending will total $2.7tr.

"The three largest segments of the consumer technology market are, and will continue to be, mobile services, mobile phones and entertainment services," Gartner says.

The mobile device segment accounts for 10% of the total 2012 CE market-- being worth $222bn, a total set to reach around $300bn by 2016.

Mobile services (including apps and e-text content) consumer spending should reach $18bn in 2016 before growing to $61bn by 2016, as customers prefer spending on digital content than using retailers.

Gartner forecasts entertainment services (including cable, satellite, IPTV and online gaming) spending will total $290bn in 2016, up from $210bn in 2012.

The analyst remarks "consumers are willing to pay for [digital] content they deem 'worth it'," but ad-supported business models should also find success in services such as personal cloud storage, social networking, information searching, VoIP and online media streaming.

Go Gartner Says Consumers Will Spend $2.1 Trillion on Technology Products and Services in 2012