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

Garmin and Asus no longer co-develop Garmin-Asus phones as they announce a new partnership model.

Asus developed sets will come preloaded with Garmin's navigation software. The Taiwanese company's phones will be Asus-branded in front, with a "Garmin Navigation" logo on the back.

Garmin's navigation software will be exclusive to Asus-- on the Android platform. Garmin is now free to compete with Tom Tom and Magellan in Apple and Blackberry's app stores.

Further details will be announced during the 2 companies' respective Q3 earnings calls.

Go Garmin-Asus Partnership Announcement

Philips fails to find a buyer for its universal control line-- and shuts down the Pronto line as a result.

It’s all quiet from Eindhoven (we mean Amsterdam these days) which is unusual. Philips just shut the doors on Pronto in Leuven, Belgium and left the market upset and puzzled.

“We tried to sell it,” says the CE giant. But they didn’t try too hard. And frankly selling a peanut is just too much trouble for an elephant. Small deals make just as much paperwork as big ones.

What went wrong? The only indication was their announcement about trying to shift production to Asia last year. Some blame labour restrictions. Employees in Belgium work 12 months but get paid for 13. They also get 4 weeks vacation, so they work 11 months for 13 months pay.

We shouldn’t pick on Belgium as much of W. Europe is equally expensive, but Philips seems to be blaming the costs in the Land of Beer for closing down Pronto. But producing kit in Europe and Asia is not a new skill set for the conglomerate that has survived the CE wars in TV, audio, CD players, VCRs, portable audio and cassettes.

The pronto closure of the Pronto division leaves lots of loyal installers in a pickle. These installers were hit with a big wholesale price increase from Pronto last year and some think Pronto became too expensive versus RTI, Universal Electronics and Control4.

Consumer Lifestyle products at Philips is facing the greatest challenge of its business life...after fighting all the CE recessions, now it faces the transition from analogue to digital products. And the top management, those guys that moved the HQ from Eindhoven to Amsterdam, have no loyalty to consumer electronics. Their new love is consumer health products (including related areas, see our link).

Go Where Philips Consumer Lifestyle is Really Headed (less “remote” and more up close and personal)

Go Pronto web (let’s call it the “memorial website” as no one has bothered to put up an indication of corporate status)

UPDATE: Philips issues a letter of clarification to its Pronto dealers. Although the company will stop selling Pronto products, it will still offer product service and support.

Current Pronto Products are still available throughout November.

The ProntoEdit Professional3 (PEP3) will also be released as scheduled. Philips says it will provide firmware updates for all TSU and RFX devices to be fully compatible with the PEP3.

Go Philps Pronto Dealer Letter

This year's edition of CEA's Tech Trends to Watch names technology and privacy, the future of video distribution & consumption, mobile broadband/4G, green technology and the future of apps.

CEA president and CEO Gary Shapiro says the report offers crucial insight into a rapidly changing industry. The highlighted trends are the ones impacting the marketplace, he continues.

The report includes a special section dedicated to the question "Are we changing technology to suit our needs, or is technology changing us?"

Go CEA's 5 Technology Trends to Watch

Despite initial low interest levels, IPTV is reaching a point of critical mass, says Futuresource's latest report. Consultant David Watkins says analysis shows consumer usage growing as IPTV devices become more versatile and content range increases.

Futuresource's predictions show IPTV growing by 67% by 2014.

Competition comes from devices already proving easy access to entertainment and information- - PCs, smartphones and tablets.

Manufacturers look for monetization models from content owners and online service providers. The current growing interest in TV app development follows the smartphone model, including micropayments.

With factors like screen size and image quality running out of headroom, connection creates added value via web services and interactive TV.

Go Futuresource's Predictions for IPTV