Best Buy Leaves UK on January 2012

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Best Buy's UK saga comes to a complete close-- Best Buy is pulling out of the UK after only 2 years in the British retail scene, with the closing date set on 15th January 2012.

Best BuyThe announcement comes in the shape of an "Open Letter" signed by Best Buy UK MD Steve Jensen. Reports of Best Buy's closing were already out earlier this month.

The closing will not only affect all 11 brick and mortar Best Buy stores-- the company's UK website will also go out of service.

Now all Best Buy stores are operating a clearance sale, as the retailer seeks to clear out remaining inventory.

This is not the first exit from an international market for the biggest CE retailer in the world this year-- in February it closed all 9 Best Buy-branded stores in China (in order to expand the more profitable Five Star-branded domestic chain) before exiting Turkey after a 2-store trial.

Now all European retailers can breathe a sigh of relief while the British retail market prepares to receive a rush of retail applicants...

Go An Open Letter From Best Buy

Go Bye, Bye, BEST BUY: Closing UK Stores

Niedermeyer and Cyberport Start Austrian Team-Up

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Austrian CE retailer Niedermeyer teams up with German internet and mail order company Cyberport in a collaboration the two companies say combines "the best of retail stores and online trading."

Niedermayer cooperationThe retailers now allow customers to shop online through Cyberport's website before picking up purchases at a Niedermeyer outlet.

Cyberport is trialling the system with 9 Niedermeyer pick-up points (including Niedermeyer's Vienna HQ), with plans to expand the service across all of Austria in 2012.

The German-Austrian collaboration will make best use of both companies' "genetic code," according to Niedermeyer CEO Werner Weber. Niedermeyer employees will also receive training on the Cyberport product range, and will be showing customers how to make use of their purchases.

Go Cyberport and Niedermeyer Start Cooperation in Austria

Xbox to Get Video Search

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Microsoft buys video search company VideoSurf, and will eventually integrate VideoSurf technology to the Xbox ecosystem in order to "evolve search and discovery of entertainment content."

Ballmer KinectVideoSurf technology "sees" frames inside videos in order to index content, rather than relying on tagging systems.

Microsoft also plans to launch voice search (via Kinect) capability across all Xbox LIVE entertainment partners-- and adding VideoSurf technology could expand the funcionality of such a voice-based system, allowing for the use of more random search terms.

Xbox LIVE is getting the support of a number of European TV providers over the coming months, including BBC (UK), Telefonica (Spain), ZDF (German) and Mediaset (Italy).

The companies give no price details on the sale, but rumours insist Microsoft is paying around $70M.

Go Microsoft Acquires Video Content Discovery Company VideoSurf

Panasonic to Sell Smartphones in Europe in 2012

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Panasonic will enter the European mobile market again-- and plans to start selling smartphones in Europe from Spring 2012-- according to the Nikkei business daily.

Panasonic smartphonesThe newspaper says Panasonic is in talks with "a major telecommunications firm" operating in Europe and will be offering Android-powered handsets.

The news lines up with rumours Panasonic is looking for a PR agency to help with a smartphone launch covering 6 EU countries (including the UK). According to PR Week, Panasonic will launch the P-07C-- a 4.3" touchscreen handset with mobile TV capabilities.

Another potential Panasonic Android is the Lumix P-02D, currently offered in Japan by NTT DoCoMo.

Panasonic used to sell mobile phones outside of its home Japan until 2005, when it retreated out of Europe and China due to stiff price competition and other market pressures. More news should emerge on the run-up to CES or MWC 2012, since Panasonic will be making an appearance at both shows.

Go Panasonic To Sell Smartphones Overseas (Nikkei)

Go Panasonic in PR Agency Hunt for Foray into Smartphones (PR Week)

Turning iDevices into Recorders

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Customers looking for a dictaphone might find an ideal replacement in the Tacsam iM2 Stereo Microphone-- an iPhone accessory turning the mobile device into a stereo recorder.

iM2It carries x2 condenser microphones (the same found in Tacsam's DR-series recorders) and plugs into Apple dock connectors. The microphones are adjustable over 180-degrees, with uni-directional elements arranged in an AB pattern for detailed stereo imaging.

A built-in microphone pre-amp allows it to handle up to 125dB sound levels, while a stereo limiter tames sudden loud sounds.

It takes power through the dock connector (meaning it needs no batteries), and works with any recording app, including the built-in video camera and a free companion recording app.

Go Tacsam iM2 Stereo Microphone

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