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

As a new way for consumers to access 3D content for their Samsung 3D Smart TVs, Samsung launches the “Explore 3D” app with access to dozens of free 3D clips and movies - all streaming in HD - including trailers, music videos and full feature documentaries.

“Explore 3D” will be available first in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain – other European countries will follow. Highlights at launch will include 10 IMAX Theatre movies (previously only available for home use via BluRay). Samsung plans to add more content until the end of the year to satisfy the increasing demand for attractive 3D content from its Smart TV customers.

At the same time Samsung will launch the new “3D Entertainment pack” containing two pairs of active Bluetooth 3D glasses at a suggested retail price of around 79 Euro. Samsung says, "Using those comfortable  active glasses will provide, unlike other approaches, a Full HD 3D image and 3D from almost any position in the living room. At same time the 2D experience is not compromised by e.g. adding additional filters or black lines which influence the quality of the 2D TV experience."

Samsung’s market share in the 3D TV market in Europe in 2010 was more than 60% and they were the first to launch an HDTV-based application store for TV(Samsung Apps).

Yarvik takes on the tablet market with a lightweight 7" Android, the TAB210.

It comes with Android 2.1, a resistive touch screen (800 x 480 resolution) and, rather unusually, a scroll wheel allowing users to scroll through their files. It comes with 4GB of memory (expandable via Micro-SD card) as well as a 600 MHz processor and 256 MB of RAM.

Meanwhile internet connections come via wifi.

The company claims its battery has a life of up to 4 hours for video (or up to 14 hours for music).

Go Yarvik

IHS iSuppli describes Cisco's closing of its Flip camcorder line as a somewhat shrewd move-- as an exit from the slow-growing single-purpose CE device market, particularly when it comes to camcorders.

The analyst predicts WW camcorder shipment growth will total 4.1% in 2011, compared to 2010's 6.1%. It will then decelerate further in the future to reach 1.7% growth in 2012 before rebounding to 202% growth in 2013.

The camcorder market's total CAGR from 2010 to 2015 will be somehow weak, at 4.4%-- with 3D camcorder sales as a primary driver.

Ultimately consumers still want to record videos to upload on Youtube at its like, but nowadays they can (and will) do this using either their smartphones or personal media players.

The conclusion from all this? The single-purpose device is becoming the CE market's endangered species-- and not just camcorders. The portable media player is under threat from smartphones, while e-readers face increasing competition from tablets. Cisco's Flip will be remembered, but mainly as an early casuality of the multi-tasking device trend shaping our market.

Go Dwindling Growth of Single-Purpose Devices Spurs Cisco to Close Flip Division

Go Flip Goes Flop

Dubai's Sharaf DG plans to expand towards the GCC and other countries in the Middle East within the next 5 years, MD Yasser Sharaf tells Khaleej Times in an interview.

The retailer expects open a second Abu Dhabi outlet next month, and wants to enter Fujairah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaima later this year.

It will, however, be reconsidering at least part of its expansion plans into countries currently hit by political unrest-- particularly Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Syria. The retailer's expansion into Bahrain is already on hold, again due to unrest in the country.

The interview also provides some insight on the UAE's CE market-- with an estimate size of around $12.72BN for 2010 (and 20% growth for the same year) and consumers wanting to buy the market's best and latest available products (including LED screens and tablets).

Sharaf says the retailer records 23% sales growth for Q1 2011, and is positive it will sustain such growth through the rest of the year, with 1m customers visiting Sharaf DG stores each month.

Go Sharaf DG to Review GCC Expansions

Go Sharaf DG