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

EITO Expects Strong European CE Market Growth

October 12, 2010 | Marco Attard | Market Trends - Stats

The European CE market will grow by 3.1% in 2010, EITO forecasts. President Bruno Lamborghini says this is due to the strong increase in flat screen sets before the World Cup.

CE Market

LCD and plasma TV set sales amount to half of European CE spending, with around 61.5 million devices sold, an increase of 25%. EITO forecasts sales will increase by 13% to €32 billion.

Set-top box sales will see growth of up to 85% in France, Italy and UK, together with Blu-ray players, digital cameras and hi-fi systems.

Game console, MP3 player and navigation devices sales are on decline.

Strongest growth among EU countries is in Italy at a rate of 4.8% to €6.5 billion and Germany at around 3% to €13.4 billion. CE markets in Spain and France are slightly negative with declines of 0.5% to €5 billion and 1.3% to €9.6 billion respectively in 2010.

Europe's second-largest CE market is being severely hit: In Great Britain, sales drop for the third time by over 10% in a row in 2010 (this time to around €10 billion).

Go EITO CE Market Forecasts

Drive for Electric Vehicles at CES

October 12, 2010 | Marco Attard | Trade Shows and Conferences

CES announces its lineup of electric car and in-vehicle technology exhibits for its 2011 show.

Electric vehicle

The new Electric Vehicle Techzone will showcase a range of high and low speed electric vehicles, energy storage devices and charging solutions.

The Safe Driver TechZone will return, showcasing auto collision avoidance, lane drift assistance, parking aids and other such technologies.

Major trends at 2011 CES also include internet connectivity, voice recognition and vehicles applications.

The 2011 CES keynote line-up will feature Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler and Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally.

Go CES 2011 Details

Reflections on Low Power Displays Lead to Breakthroughs

October 12, 2010 | Marco Attard | TV - Display - Projectors

Univeristy of Cincinnati and Gamma Dynamics' e-Display screen technology potentially improves the next generation of LCD displays, with low-power consumptions and improved image response times.

e-Display prototype

E-Design technology uses a highly reflective electrode layer in the screen's substrata that reflects ambient light and creates the perception of a bright, colour-saturated image.

Lead researcher Jason Hekenfeld says the development is equal quality-wise to conventional LCD screens with an energy cost comparable to E Ink displays.

The e-Display design is manufacturable with current facilities and technology.

Meanwhile chemists at Vanderbilt University are working on a new class of liquid crystals which could improve digital display performance. These "zwitterionic" crystals not only require less voltage to switch between from bright and dark states, but also do so faster.

If this technology passes durability and lifetime tests it will be added to the complex mixtures used in LCD manufacture.

Go e-Display Technology Findings

Go New Type of Liquid Crystals

2014: Galileo to Increase SatNav Market in EU

October 12, 2010 | Marco Attard | Auto electronics, sat nav

According to the European GNSS Authority (GSA) the market for satellite-based navigation services and products will reach €250 billion by 2030, with Galileo increasing market value by €14 billion over the 2010-2027 period.

Galilelo

Once operational in 2014 Galileo's configuration of 30 medium Earth orbit satellites is to provide reliable uninterrupted service. It will also possess a built-in reliability check system to warn of any integrity loss in the system.

The benefits of Galileo and GNSS are the focus of an international conference to be held in Malta on October 12th.

The conference will discuss Galileo and GNSS participation opportunities in the form of funding, grants and knowledge-transfer programs with other EU member states.

Go Malta hosting International Satellite System Conference