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

Following a teaser campaign Nokia announces its latest Symbian update-- Belle, the successor to Anna, coming on 3 new devices launching on Q3 2011.

Belle brings single-tap NFC sharing and pairing to Nokia phones-- enabling data sharing and pairing with NFC-enabled devices (such as speakers or headsets) by touching devices together.

The update also increases the number of home screens, alongside tweaks on web browsing, widgets and notification access.

The announcement includes 3 new Nokia handsets-- the 700, 701 and 600 models.

Nokia says the 700 is its smallest smartphone, the 701 has its brightest ever display (with a 3.5" IPS LCD with ClearBlack tech and Gorilla Glass) and the 600 is a music-centric model Nokia says is its loudest yet (with 106 phons of sound).

The Belle update will also eventually show up on other phones-- specifically the N8, E6, E7, C6-01, C7 and X7.

Go Nokia Symbian Belle

Czech finance group PPF buys out all of Russian retailer Eldorado for an undisclosed price tag Russian paper Kommersant says totals $625M.

PPF says Russian competition authorities already approve of the buyout.

According to the Financial Times, Eldorado's sale took months of efforts-- Eldorado co-owner and founder Igor Yakovlev's pulled out of selling for at least 3 times beforehand.

PPF (owner of Eldorado's main consumer credit partners) bought 50% of the Russian retailer back in October 2008, via financing worth $400-800M requiring Eldorado stock as security-- a surprisingly low sum considering how once Eldorado's 1500+ chain was once estimated at nearly $5Bn.

2009 saw PPF (and Italian insurance firm Generali) converting $300M of Eldorado debt into a controlling stake in the retailer.

PPF is not the first company taking an interest in Eldorado's business-- in 2005 Dixons expressed interest in buying Eldorado for £1Bn. The plan was abandoned 2 years later due to "political, corporate and economic risks."

What now for Eldorado? Analysts predict the sale could prove to be a positive for its market presence, so long it doesn't change its pricing policies to much...

Go PPF Group Takes Full Control of Eldorado

Go Eldorado Leans on PPF

Go Czech Tycoon Strikes Gold with Eldorado (FT.com)

Vuzix plans to put a 3D display straight into your customers' faces-- the Wrap 1200 Video Eyewear wearable widescreen 3D display.

The company says wearing the Wrap 1200 feels like viewing a 75" 16:9 widescreen display from 3m away.

It carries AccuTilt technology technology, allowing users to adjust it by up to 15 degrees up or down to get the best fit and viewing angle. Additional controls include on-screen display controls and independent right-left eye focal adjustment.

Video connections come through either component and composite inputs.

The Wrap 1200 works with both 3D and 2D content, and comes complete with built-in detachable stereo headphones. Providing up to 3 hours of power are x2 rechargeable AA batteries (included), replaceable with lithium ion batteries for more juice.

Go Vuzix Wrap 1200

Walmart is currently one the USA's largest online movie retailers, overtaking the likes of Sony and Amazon while competing directly with Apple's iTunes, the Financial Times reports (quoting recent research from IHS Screen Digest).

The retail giant is "aggressively building" its online video presence-- buying Vudu and offering digital movies at discount prices. Vudu's US digital movie market share for H1 2011 is 5.3% (up H1 2010's 1%), with supported devices including the iPad.

The FT says "Walmart's growth came at Sony's expense," particularly as Sony had to shut down its online operations following attacks on its global security.

iTunes remains the dominant online movie retailer in the US (with 65.8% market share in H1 2011) while Amazon moves its online movie business to a streaming VOD model.

What does this mean to the European market? It's not too difficult to imagine any of our Walmart-equivalents starting to pay attention to the European online video market, isn't it?

Go Walmart's Online Movies Overtake Amazon (FT.com)