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

Near Field Communication (NFC) is a standards-based, short-range wireless connectivity technology to enable 2-way interactions between electronic devices.
The technology is based on RFID, which makes it compatible with the existing contactless infrastructure already in use for public transportation and payment. NFC is suitable for applications that can make plastic cards and paper tickets obsolete, resulting in cost savings and a solution to business/consumer needs in multiple industries.

Communication is enabled by bringing two NFC compatible devices within a few centimetres of one another or for the two devices to literally "touch" one another. NFC is compatible with the 13.56 MHz family and is based on the ISO standard 18092 approved in 2003 that integrates standard 14443 (which defines so-called "proximity" systems that can reach over 10 cm), as well as Sony's FeliCa and Philips's MIFARE systems (e.g. Oyster).

A 26% sales drop, dwindling margins and tighter credit terms from suppliers push specialty retailer Sharper Image to seek Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

TomTom and Garmin are among the company’s largest creditors, with unsecured claims of $2.1 million each.

Caught in a severe liquidity crisis, Sharper Image will shut 90 out of 184 stores. They had $251.5 million in assets and $199 million in debts at Jan. 31. The company wants a $60 million loan from current lender Wells Fargo while Chapter 11 protection allows it to sell off underperforming stores and escape unfavorable leases.

A Less-Sharper Image

AIR, a new software development system from Adobe will power tens of thousands of new applications to connect internet and PC (and also PCs and new mobile devices like smartphones).

AIR will help developers create apps that exist in part on a user’s PC or smartphone and in part on servers. Applications will look and run the same whether the user is on his notebook, at his desk or using a mobile device or at an internet kiosk. The AIR applications can mimic the functions of a Web browser but do not require a Web browser to run.

The first commercial release of AIR takes place this week, but dozens of applications have been built around a test or beta version. New AIR applications exist (from beta sites) with companies such as Salesforce, FedEx, eBay, Nickelodeon, Nasdaq, AOL and Yahoo.

Like Adobe’s Flash software, AIR will be given away. The company makes its money selling software development kits to programmers.

Fresh AIR

Apple develops a solution to access complete directions and maps using a portable device. Their “podmaps” patent describes the "Creation, Management and Delivery of Map-based Media Items."

The patent seems to link audio, video, and images with map for a solution that would enable users to access complete directions and maps using a portable device. Another threat to TomTom, Garmin, and Mio…

Apple Finds New Directions (Literally)