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

TazTag introduces its TazPad at CeBIT 2011-- an Android tablet carrying NFC technology.

The TazPad has a 7" multitouch screen, alongside all tablet standards (camera, GPS, accelerometer, HDMI output). Connections come through wifi, bluetooth and ZigBee, as well as NFC.

Targetting its device for the market's professional end, TazTag also offers optional biometric authentication-- allowing customers to use the tablet as a business device.

Currently on display at CeBIT, the TazPad will be available by Q2 2011.

Go TazPad

Volfoni exhibits its ActivEyes "intelligent" 3D glasses at CeBIT 2011-- a set the company says eliminates customers' having to choose between active and passive glasses.

The ActivEyes system comes in 2 parts; the glasses (weighing only 29g and usable for passive 3D) and a separate integrated electronics-carrying mini "box" for active shutter TV, which the user connects to the glasses.

The set is compatible with both IR and RF systems, and its batteries last for 30 hours on a single charge. It is compatible with most 3D TVs and monitors, and is also upgradeable via online updates.

A 3D Hub accessory allowing up to 4 users to connect their glasses together will also be availble, together with a Sync module converting IR signals into RF (allowing users to move around the house while not losing their sets' signal).

Go Volfoni ActivEyes

CEMIX shows the German CE market going through a positive 2010-- growing by +6.2% in 2010 as compared to 2009.

The market indicator's results say the 3 sectors contributing to this growth are CE (+0.2%), B2C market telecommunications (+26.9%) and B2C market IT (+8.4%).

In the traditional CE sector, Flat TV sales continue growing, while the STB, home audio and A/V accessory markets show major growth potential.

Meanwhile smartphones and mobile computing devices remain the IT and telecommunication market's most important growth drivers.

Go German CE Market Shows Value Growth in 2010

Surprising exactly no one Apple unveils its second iPad, with CEO Steve Jobs halting his current leave of absence (due to health reasons) to take to the stage for the announcement.

The improvements on the original come as expected-- thinner, lighter, 1 GHz dual-core A5 chip, HDMI connectivity (through separate dongle, of course), x2 cameras and a choice of colours (black or... white).

One can easily say Apple hasn't done enough with the new tablet; the screen's resolution and IPS LCD technology remain the same (whereas Motorola's Gingerbread-powered Xoom has a higher-resolution screen), it lacks an SD card slot, the company's infamous 30-pin connectors continue handling connections and maximum storage size remains 64GB.

The new iPad's true winners? Its Taiwanese manufacturers, including sole assemblers Hon Hai, glass-based touchscreen module manufacturers TPK and Wintek and camera manufacturer Largan.

Some might describe Apple's competition as the losers, especially if taking Jobs' describing the likes of Samsung and RIM as "flumoxed" and "copycats" at face value. Others would differ, but reports already emerge of Samsung being in a bit of a panic-- Samsung's mobile division executive VP Lee Don-joo tells Korea's Yonhap News his company "...will have to improve the parts that are inadequate..." in reference to the soon released Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Meanwhile the iPad2 will hit (Apple) stores on March 11, with all the news stories on store queues that will entail.

Go Apple iPad

Go iPad 2: Winners and Losers (Financial Times)

Go Samsung Sees iPad 2's Thinness, Price as Challenges