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

IDC reports the W. European mobile market returns to growth in Q1 2012, following 3 quarters of decline-- with shipments growing by 1.3% Y-o-Y to reach 44.8 million units.

Smartphones account for 63% of the total Q1 2012 mobile market, with shipments of 28.2m units and 37% Y-o-Y growth.

Meanwhile the feature phone segment shrinks further (by -30% Y-o-Y) and reaches 16.6m units.

IDC says European customers "are are still willing" to spend on smartphones-- the most expensive devices (priced over €400) account for 49% of total Q1 2012 smartphone shipments (up from 46% in Q1 2011), with the iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy S II topping sales rankings.

According to NPD DisplaySearch the global TV replacement cycle is down from 8.4 to 6.9 years, as more households (particularly in emerging markets) want more from their TVs.

A number of reasons fuel the trend, including declining prices, a wider variety of sizes and customers simply wanting the latest technologies.

The study covers 14 global markets and suggests 31% of households plan to replace an existing TV, while 22% plan to add a new TV.

The most critical TV replacement driver is larger sizes, followed by wanting a flat panel TV with improved picture quality. The majority of customers in emerging markets (including BRIC countries) want to replace CRT TVs, while mature regions (like Europe) want to upgrade 1st generation flat panel sets.

The most popular TV sizes in mature markets are 40-44-inch.

Do features such as internet connectivity and 3D drive TV replacement? According to DisplaySearch not really, since such features are "only somewhat important" and "not a strong motivator to upgrade."

To the contrary of popular belief the moving of household is also a weak TV replacement driver.

“The good news is that a large number of markets still have a long way to go toward replacing all CRTs with flat panel TVs, which should continue to sustain growth, but mostly in emerging markets,” DisplaySearch concludes.

Go DisplaySearch Global TV Replacement Study

Asus goes all out with the Windows 8 device announcements at Computex 2012-- with x2 tablets, a tablet/laptop hybrid, a convertible notebook and even a dual-booting (Win 8-Android) All-in-One PC.

The Windows 8 tablets come in 2 varieties-- Tablet 600 and Tablet 810, both with Transformer-style detachable keyboards.

The Tablet 600 runs on Windows RT, carries an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, a 10.1-inch 1366x768 Super IPS+ display, 2GB RAM and an 8MP camera, while the Tablet 810 features a "next generation" Intel Atom processor, an 11.6-inch 1366x768 display, 2GB RAM and 64GB of storage.

Then there is the "first convertible notebook," the Transformer Book-- a Windows 8 notebook with a detachable touchscreen in either 11.6, 13 or 14.6-inch sizes. It carries a 3rd generation Intel Core processor (i7, i5 or i3), SSD-HDD hybrid storage, 4GB RAM and USB ports.

Piper Jaffray Apple analyst Gene Munster says Apple is definitely releasing a TV-- one with Siri integration, an App store and typical Apple design.

It is a question of "when" not "if," Munster insists. And "when" will Apple release a TV? According to the analyst, H1 2013.

However Apple still has to tackle one sizable problem-- content providers. While Apple wants to provide "unbundled" content (perhaps offering subscriptions to individual channels through the iTunes store), the cable industry refuses to let that happen.

As Munster puts it, "...while we believe Apple will innovate on its existing TV content offering at the launch of Apple Television, we caution that the initial offering may more closely resemble the current Apple TV content offering (Netflix, iTunes, and eventually Hulu)."

One can also expect "a new way to search, interact and record cable content."

The rest of Munster's predictions are fairly obvious-- Siri integration, control via iDevices, iOS-baed apps and slick Apple industrial design. The panel of choice? LCD, in 42-55-inch size.

Go The Apple TV is Coming (Business Insider SAI)