Visit the following Facebook Page and Website to have Body Chef Chris help bring satisfaction to your life! Tips on better self / Health - all tie in to the article below!

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Website - http://bodychefchris.com/


Enjoy!

JZ

Satisfaction With Life Seems Good for the Heart

Happiness in four key areas -- job, family, sex and self -- may protect coronary health, study suggests


WEDNESDAY, July 6 (HealthDay News) -- Being satisfied with your life can be good for your heart.
That's the finding of a new study that included almost 8,000 British civil servants, average age 49, who were asked about their satisfaction in seven areas of their lives: romantic relationships, leisure activities, job, family, sex, standard of living and one's self.
Over a follow-up period of about six years, higher levels of overall life satisfaction were associated with a statistically significant 13 percent reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Satisfaction in four main areas -- job, family, sex and self -- was also associated with a 13 percent reduced risk of heart disease.
The reduced risk, however, was not associated with love relationships, leisure activities or standard of living, the researchers found.
"Taken together, this research indicates that being satisfied with specific life domains -- in particular, one's job, family, sex life and self -- is a positive health asset associated with a reduction in incident coronary heart disease independently of traditional risk factors," the researchers wrote in a news release from the European Society of Cardiology.
The study was published online July 4 in the European Heart Journal.
The findings suggest that people at high risk for heart disease may benefit from programs to boost a positive state of mind, study author Dr. Julia Boehm, of Harvard School of Public Health, noted in the news release.

Health Lifestyle Helps Ward Off Sudden Cardiac Death in Women!

Get great tips and diet ideas and help from Body Chef Chris.

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JZ

Healthy Lifestyle May Ward Off Sudden Cardiac Death in Women

Exercise, staying slim and eating right were associated with a 92 percent decrease in risk


TUESDAY, July 5 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy living significantly reduces a woman's risk of sudden cardiac death, a new study says.
Researchers analyzed data from about 82,000 women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study from 1984 to 2010. During those 26 years, there were 321 cases of sudden cardiac death among the women. The average age of women who died was 72.
Four low-risk lifestyle factors were significantly and independently associated with a lower risk of sudden cardiac death: not smoking; having a body mass index lower than 25; exercising at least 30 minutes per day; and consuming a Mediterranean-style diet that included plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains and fish, with moderate alcohol intake.
Women who adhered to all four low-risk lifestyle factors had a 92 percent lower risk of SCD than those who didn't have any of the low-risk factors, said Stephanie Chiuve, of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues.
Their study appears in the July 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Each year in the United States, there are 250,000 to 310,000 cases of sudden cardiac death, which accounts for more than half of all cardiac deaths, according to the researchers.
More information
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about sudden cardiac arrest/death.
Robert Preidt SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, news release, July 5, 2011

Amazon Drops more Affiliates to avoid new CA Tax law

A few weeks back people in CA received their E-mail notice that Amazon was dropping them as affiliates. This is another in a growing list of states - please see the article below.

JZ

By By Daniel B. Wood | Christian Science Monitor – Fri, Jul 1, 2011

 

A new California law, taking effect Friday, requires large, out-of-state retailers to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases by California customers. The Golden State is the seventh, and most populous yet, to pass such a law.
Called the “Amazon tax,” the law was signed Wednesday by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) in hopes of raising an estimated $317 million annually to help close a yawning budget gap. At least 10 other cash-strapped states want to do the same.
But California’s new law has plenty of critics, including local business owners who may end up taking a big hit.
RECOMMENDED: Top five states for business
“We’re going to have to leave the state,” says Keith Posehn, who operates a website with his wife in San Diego.
California – like New York, Illinois, Arkansas, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Rhode Island before it – is trying to get around a 1992 US Supreme Court ruling that holds sellers can’t be forced to collect sales taxes unless they have a physical presence in the state.
“States in search of revenues try to find ways to establish that out-of-state retailers do have a presence or nexus,” says Stephen Liedtka, associate professor of accounting at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.
Indeed, California has come up with its own way of defining an online retailer’s physical presence in the state. This definition has everything to do with local affiliates, or businesses, that refer customers to the online retailers.
If such referrals result in substantial sales for an online retailer, then the retailer is considered to have a physical presence in California.
“The out-of-state retailer will have to collect tax if it pays commissions to people or businesses in California that refer buyers to the online retailer, and it makes more than $10,000 in sales on those referrals and it has more than $500,000 in total sales in California,” explains Daniel Schibley, senior state tax analyst at CCH, in an e-mail. CCH publishes tax information.
Mr. Posehn is one of at least 25,000 local affiliates affected by the new law. In 2008, he and his wife created Zorz.com – a website that helps clients develop online advertising campaigns. Until now, when his business referred a customer to an online retailer like Amazon or Overstock.com – and the customer made a purchase there – he was paid a commission. But now the online retailers are cutting off such payments, in a bid to erase their connections to California.
Posehn says that 35 percent of his business is evaporating without the commissions.
Looking for a state that is friendlier to tech-firm start-ups, Posehn says his next stop is Washington, Texas, or Utah. “We can either stay here and remain a target for a state that is hostile to the core of its own economy, or go to a state that is more supportive and open to tech and small business,” he says.
Mr. Schibley explains just how a referral to an online retailer works. He gives as an example a person who sells sewing supplies out of his home via a website. The website might include a notice that says, “Click here to shop for sewing machines.” That click would take the buyer to an Amazon site. If the buyer then purchased a sewing machine from Amazon, Amazon would pay the website operator a commission on that sale.
Not surprisingly, Amazon and other online retailers object to California’s new law. “We oppose this bill because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive,” Amazon says in an e-mailed letter that explains the termination of its affiliate advertising program.
Supporters of the law say they are just trying to level the playing field. Online sellers, they say, have turned local retail stores into places where shoppers go to examine merchandise – before buying it online.
“You can’t give one segment of retail a 10 percent discount every day. It’s just not fair,” Bill Dombrowski, president of the California Retailers Association, told the Los Angeles Times.
In the end, California’s hope that the law will produce more tax revenue may not become reality. In North Carolina and Rhode Island, tax revenues actually decreased after similar laws were enacted, according to the Tax Foundation in Washington.
That’s because the small businesses are crushed, says Rebecca Madigan, executive director of the trade group Performance Marketing Association in Camarillo, Calif. “Their only option is to move out of state and take their employees with them,” she says.
Ms. Madigan surmises that it is big-box stores like Wal-Mart and Costco that lobbied and sold lawmakers on the legislation in their own efforts to wipe out their online competition.
Her organization is suing Illinois over the law, and Amazon is suing the State of New York.

Vilolent Video Game Ban Fails again!!

So here we go again - This is NOT an issue about the content in the Video Game itself. It is a CLEAR issue of the parent not having control over the content that is being consumed in the household. In addition to not controlling the content, they have done a very POOR job with bringing up their children in understanding Right from Wrong and Real from Imaginary. It is a sad day that we continue to have to create laws for those that do not know how to bring up their children with basic skills in life to live a productive life. Stop blaming the media and entertainment industries for the lack of parenting skills that allow you to bring up a child that will be productive in society and not destructive! Take a hard look in the mirror and determine if you are doing everything you can in your house before blaming others for all your troubles in the world. Get off your ASS and do something about it, quit bitching and hope that someone else will control it for you. This is a good statement for life in general, but MOST important when it comes to taking on the responsibility of being a parent. You made the decision to bring this child into the world. It is YOUR JOB to give this child all the opportunity to be the best they can be, and better. Break the cycle, allow your child to do more, grow more, contribute more than you may have been able to. It is an incredible joy to mentor an individual and see them succeed, and it is a testament to you that they can achieve a higher level in life than what you may have had. STOP BEING SELFISH! Don't hold them back, let them grow, and do it in a way that allows them to be a positive influence on others as well.

Supremes Rule Against Ban on Sale of Violent Video Games to Minors

TV, film producers and distributors had been concerned about possible repercussions on them if ban were reinstated

John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/27/2011 10:31:54 AM

The Supreme Court has upheld a Ninth Circuit Appeals Court ruling that California's ban on violent video games was an unconstitutional content-based restriction on speech.
The Ninth Circuit had held that the state of California "has not demonstrated a compelling interest, has not tailored the restriction to its alleged compelling interest, and there exist less-restrictive means that would further the State's expressed interests."
In a 7-2 deision, the Supreme Court agreed the ban was a violation of the First Amendment.
"The Act does not comport with the First Amendment. Video games qualify for First Amendment protection. Like pro-tected books, plays, and movies, they communicate ideas through fa-miliar literary devices and features distinctive to the medium. And 'the basic principles of freedom of speech . . . do not vary' with a new and different communication medium, wrote Justice Antonin Scalia in the opinion, which was joined by Justices Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
In what would be a blow to effort to crack down on violence in other media,the court found that the ban "abridges the First Amendment rights of young people whose parents (and aunts and uncles) think violent video games are a harm-less pastime."
Justice Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts concurred in the opinion, but left room for states to come up with media violence restrictions that would pass muster. "I would hold only that the particular law at issue here fails to provide the clear notice that the Constitution requires," wrote Alito in an opinion joined by Roberts. " I would not squelch legislative efforts to deal with what is perceived by some to be a significant and developing social problem. If differently framed statutes are enacted by the States or by the Fed-eral Government, we can consider the constitutionality ofthose laws when cases challenging them are presented to us.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Stephen Breyer dissented.
Cable operators, in arguing that the Supreme Court should not reinstate the ban, were concerned that if California won and the court ruled that content-based violence restrictions can be justified for the sake of the children, as it were, much of its own industry's established First Amendment protections would be lost. "Courts would have little ability to undertake the critical task of distinguishing regulation of truly harmful speech from regulation of merely objectionable speech," the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) told the court in arguing against the ban.
NCTA didn't see the ban stopping at video games: "Petitioners invoke concerns about ‘violent scenes in television and movies' as well as ‘violent music lyrics.' If [they] were to have their way, therefore, it appears that States would be free to regulate any form of speech they deemed potentially harmful to minors' emotional development."
Studios were also concerned that TV fare could be a target of a government violence ban. If the Court ruled in favor of the ban, "the government would presumably be empowered to proscribe the distribution of depictions of violence in motion pictures, television and books," said the Motion Picture Association of America and various unions and guilds in a joint brief on the case.

Television Ownership Drops in US

NY Times article with news of the first drop in 20 years of TV ownership in the US. Neilsen is struggling a bit with the data to determine if it is Economy or cord cutting. I see Economy as the biggest factor. 40% still do not own their first Flat Panel TV, you will see the detail on the income range and impact going HD has had. Housing is having a large impact, and those numbers do not appear to be getting better anytime soon.

JZ

Ownership of TV Sets Falls in U.S.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Discarded analog television sets in Florida. Analog was rendered obsolete in the switch to digital broadcasting in 2009.

By BRIAN STELTER

Published: May 3, 2011

For the first time in 20 years, the number of homes in the United States with television sets has dropped.

Enlarge This Image

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Analog televisions, now obsolete, wrapped and waiting to be recycled in Florida.

Enlarge This Image

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Discarded analog television sets in Florida. Analog was rendered obsolete in the switch to digital broadcasting in 2009.

The Nielsen Company, which takes TV set ownership into account when it produces ratings, will tell television networks and advertisers on Tuesday that 96.7 percent of American households now own sets, down from 98.9 percent previously.
There are two reasons for the decline, according to Nielsen. One is poverty: some low-income households no longer own TV sets, most likely because they cannot afford new digital sets and antennas.
The other is technological wizardry: young people who have grown up with laptops in their hands instead of remote controls are opting not to buy TV sets when they graduate from college or enter the work force, at least not at first. Instead, they are subsisting on a diet of television shows and movies from the Internet.
That second reason is prompting Nielsen to think about a redefinition of the term “television household” to include Internet video viewers.
“We’ve been having conversations with clients,” said Pat McDonough, the senior vice president for insights and analysis at Nielsen. “That would be a big change for this industry, and we’d be doing it in consultation with clients if we do it.”
Nielsen’s household figures suggest that while the TV set is still firmly at the center of the average American’s media life, a small minority of Americans are finding ways to live without it. The “persistently rocky economy” is a factor, the company says in the report to be released Tuesday.
Similarly, the economy was the reason cited by Nielsen when the percentage of homes with sets declined in 1992. That decline, the company’s report says, “also followed a prolonged recession and was reversed during the economic upswing of the mid-1990s.” If the current decline persists, it will have profound implications for the networks, studios and distributors that are wedded, at least in part, to the current television ecosystem.
Nielsen’s estimates incorporate the results of the 2010 census as well as the behavior of the approximately 50,000 Americans in the national sample that the company relies upon to make ratings projections. “One thing we are seeing in the Nielsen sample are fewer people owning TVs,” Ms. McDonough said. It was first evident in the sample in late 2008, she said, during the worst of the financial crisis and the recession.
Nielsen’s research into these newly TV-less households indicates that they generally have incomes under $20,000. “They are people at the bottom of the economic spectrum for whom, if the TV breaks, if the antenna blows off the roof, they have to think long and hard about what to do,” Ms. McDonough said. Most of these households do not have Internet access either. Many live in rural areas.
The transition to digital broadcasting from analog in 2009 aggravated the hardship for some of these households. Some could not afford to upgrade, Nielsen surmised, though the government tried to provide subsidies in those situations.
And some in rural areas could not receive digital signals as effectively as analog signals for technical reasons. In those cases, “if you’re an affluent household — or most middle-class households — you’re going to get a satellite dish. If you’re a struggling household, likely you’re not going to be able to afford that option,” Ms. McDonough said.
Then there are the tech-savvy Americans who once lived in a household with a television, but no longer do. These are either cord-cutters — a term that refers to people who stop paying for cable television — or people who never signed on for cable. Ms. McDonough suggested that these were younger Americans who were moving into new residences and deciding not to buy a TV for themselves, especially if they “don’t have the financial means to get one immediately.”
Nielsen has not yet assessed what proportion of the decline can be attributed to this behavior. But the decline in the percentage of homes with sets is sure to kick off another round of speculation about cord-cutting.
Sensitive to its clients’ concerns, Nielsen explains the trend this way in the report: “While Nielsen data demonstrates that consumers are viewing more video content across all platforms — rather than replacing one medium with another — a small subset of younger, urban consumers seem to be going without paid TV subscriptions for the time being. The long-term effects of this are still unclear, as it is undetermined if this is also an economic issue that will see these individuals entering the TV marketplace once they have the means, or the beginning of a larger shift to online viewing.”

LCD TV NEWS - Samsung-Sony Venture to reduce Capital

From WSJ.COM

By Jung-Ah Lee

SEOUL—S-LCD, a flat-panel joint venture of Samsung Electronics Co. and Sony Corp., said Monday it will reduce its capital by 600 billion won (US$555 million), which the companies said will result in a more efficient capital structure but that analysts see as a sign of weakening commitment.
South Korea-based S-LCD, a 50-50 venture that makes liquid-crystal displays, was formed in 2004. The two companies' stakes will stay equal, with each taking 300 billion won, the venture said in a regulatory filing.
"This latest reduction was decided under the dual agreement by the two companies and we (Samsung) haven't yet decided where the proceeds will be spent," Samsung spokesman James Chung said.
Sony spokeswoman Yuki Shima said, "The main purpose of this capital reduction is to return the funds generated by S-LCD's operation to the parent companies. In the Joint Venture, it is a common option to implement a capital reduction to return the profit to the parent companies."
After the capital reduction, the joint venture said its equity capital will decline to 3.3 trillion won (US$3.1 billion) from 3.9 trillion won through share cancellations, and its issued shares will also decrease by about 15%, to 660 million from 780 million.
At a meeting last May in Seoul, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee and Sony Corp. Chief Executive Howard Stringer reportedly agreed to continue developing business ties and also discussed business cooperation in the area of LCDs used in televisions and handsets. A Korean newspaper reported in November that the two sides were in talks to jointly produce 11th-generation LCDs through the joint venture.
But analysts say the capital reduction suggests a lower chance that the venture will move into larger-sized LCD panels, for which demand is weakening. They expect Samsung to focus instead on its partnerships with Chinese counterparts and spend more on its advanced OLED screens—for "organic light-emitting diodes"—which require less power and offer clearer picture quality and faster response time than conventional LCD displays.
"The relationship between Samsung and Sony has been weakening since two years ago," said Jonathan Hwang, an analyst at Daewoo Securities. "The fastest-growing LCD market is China now. It's important for Samsung to strengthen its partnerships with them (China) now."
In its most recent efforts to gain a greater presence in the mainland and strengthen its ties with Chinese vendors, the Korean electronics giant said Friday that it will invest 541.1 billion won in a joint venture in China to make its 7.5th-generation flat panels,.
Samsung plans to team up with the local government of Suzhou to build a 2.6 trillion won LCD panel plant in that Chinese city. Samsung will hold a 50% stake, its Chinese affiliate 10%, the government-affiliated Suzhou Industrial Park 30% and Chinese television maker TCL Corp. the remaining 10%, Samsung said.
Meanwhile, Sony is backing away from plans to raise its stake in an LCD joint venture with Sharp Corp., people familiar with the matter told Dow Jones Newswires last week. Sony, which holds a 7% stake in Sharp Display Products Corp., had planned to raise that stake to 34% by the end of April. Some analysts say weak demand for large LCD panels for TV sets is the main cause behind the move Sony's changed.
—Juro Osawa and Daisuke Wakabayashi in Tokyo contributed to this article.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704132204576284151007446010.html#ixzz1Kecovtd1

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704132204576284151007446010.html?mod=dist_smartbrief



My view was that even though a flat panel can be made 60+ in size, historically no more than 2% of all consumers would purchase large screen - why does flat change that - surprise - IT DOESN'T

JZ

Kemba Walker Named to UCONN Huskies of Honor!

Gotta LOVE IT!!!! HUSKIES!!!!

JZ

What should your TV do.

Another good article below on IPTV - Google TV.

The question is - based on what they say is going to be released, what do you REALLY want to do on your TV.

This question may be a bit different based on the location of the TV in the home. On average there are a bit more than 2.5 TVs per household.

Think it through. Based on all of your options of how you can get information, what do you want pumped through your TV. At the end of a long day, what will you do with your TV when you turn it on. It is usually a place to escape for a few hours watching something entertaining. Relaxing and decompressing from a long day.

Let me know what you think! Article is below.

JZ

Google goes gaga for TV

By Jessica Van Sack
Monday, January 31, 2011 - Updated 1 day ago

Chief Enterprise Reporter
Jessica Van Sack is an award-winning journalist and the Herald's chief enterprise reporter. A graduate of Boston University, she interned in broadcast news in Europe and covered South Shore towns before joining the Herald. She works out of the State House where you can send tips to jvansack@bostonherald.com.

a battle is brewing over the future of television, and Google is making a big push to outgun Apple and others in the race to do for TVs what smartphones did for mobile technology.

Google TV allows users to surf the Web on their televisions while watching their favorite shows. TV sets can run Android apps, turning them into giant smartphones.
As it stands, the so-called set-top box market is like a sleeping giant. A handful of companies have tried — and no device, including Google TV, has blasted off like the iPhone or iPod. But analysts say the enhanced television platform, which integrates the Web with your favorite shows, is as well positioned as any of its competitors.

“My sense is it’s most of the way there as an experience,” said Roger Kay, a Wayland-based computer industry analyst. “But whether it becomes a habit of people to use it, that’s not established yet.”

The goal of the set-top box market is a seamless integration of Web- and channel-surfing, which Google admits is a work in progress.
“It is an evolution,” said Rishi Chandra, head product manager for Google TV. “What’s different here is that when you’re buying a Google TV, the product is going to be changing all the time. The innovation is built inside the product.”
Indeed, part of the business model for Google TV depends on the product getting better as you own it. Google is constantly loading updates and fixing bugs.
In coming months, Google TV plans to roll out its Holy Grail: open-source applications on an Android platform, — allowing amateur techies and innovators alike to go to town and design useful tools and funky games that assure the product becomes as ever-changing as the smartphone.
“One of the things we recognize with Android is that the power of the phone got significantly better when you got to bring the Web to it,” Chandra said. “It turned out the Web made every part of the phone experience better. That was one lesson that we learned.”
Here’s what the future holds for your TV experience:
• Twitter updates scrolling across the screen that relate to all your favorite TV shows.
• Applications that allow you to video conference with your family in high-definition --— and for free, from anywhere in the world.
• Security camera footage showing you who’s at your front door in a split-screen view with your show of choice.
• The ability to shop for products during commercials or song tracks while they’re performed on shows like “American Idol.”
Logitech recently partnered with Google TV, running the platform on its $300 Revue, a set-top box.
Though set-top box sales slid an estimated 8 percent last year, Logitech’s third-quarter earnings report shows Google TV might be seeing a surge, calling the system a “highlight” during a period in which sales were $754 million, up 22 percent from the same quarter a year ago

“We felt it was the first time someone was trying to create an open and equal system,” said Ashish Arora, vice president and general manager of Logitech’s digital home group.
While Google TV faces no shortage of competition, analysts say its biggest challenger, Apple TV, doesn’t have the same capability to access apps, a critical selling point for today’s tech-savvy consumers.
“Google’s model is aiming for a lot of other players to provide pieces of it,” said Kay, the Wayland analyst. “Apple likes to control the whole experience.”

Still, he said Google has not been “as supportive with its partners as Microsoft is.” He added, “I remain suspicious because of their record in this area.”

Opinions on IPTV

Connected Devices Proliferate, But What Works Best?

By : Chris Tribbey | Posted: 28 Jan 2011
ctribbey@questex.com

While their presence was more subtle than 3DTV and not as in-your-face as non-iPad tablets, connected consumer electronics devices were more diverse and pervasive at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, with every major manufacturer showing off new electronics that have their own built-in apps and can access content from the Internet.

With devices that incorporated complete Internet browsers, HDTVs that offered hundreds of applications, even set-tops that turned current HDTVs into a completely connected device, the theme of combining the home theater set-up with a PC experience was everywhere.

“We’re starting to see some real trends develop here,” said Kurt Scherf, VP and principal analyst with Parks Associates. “And connected TV is not just about online video.”

Consider: In 2010 less than a quarter of all HDTVs were connected, according to research firm Parks Associates. By 2015, Parks believes that number will hit 76% (more than 150 million units). The firm projects that by 2015 there will be more than $8 billion worth of transactions on connected consumer electronics devices, from e-purchases to gaming to VOD and streaming.

But while many of the consumer electronics companies dubbed their connected devices “smart,” some weren’t all that impressed with that moniker.

“I saw a lot of smart TVs at CES, and I’m mystified as to why they’re called smart,” said Colin Dixon, senior partner at research firm The Diffusion Group. “There are some big issues with the crop we see right now. It’s difficult to figure what apps should be [on them]. It’s an untenable position for consumers and a barrier for customers buying them in the first place.”

He questioned why someone would buy any of the connected HDTVs shown at CES when they can buy a device that connects to the HDTV and offers Internet-enabled content, such as a $60 Roku box, instead.

Will Richmond, president and founder of consulting firm Broadband Directions, and publisher of VideoNuze, said the increased connected capabilities of Blu-ray players should be disconcerting for manufacturers of higher-priced connected HDTVs, especially since more and more sub-$100 Blu-ray players are hitting the market. He specifically pointed to the Logitech, Google TV-enabled Revue set-top, currently priced at $299.

“You can get a $90 Blu-ray player that can do a lot of the same things,” he said. “Why wouldn’t you as a consumer [buy that]?”

However, the Google TV-enabled Logitech Revue, along with Sony Electronics HDTVs and Blu-ray players, aims to offer a full Web browser, instead of just Internet applications, an important distinction.

Other than Samsung Electronics, consumer electronics companies at CES 2011 shied away from showing off hardware that utilized the Google TV software platform, with word before the show that Google asked several manufacturers to hold off on debuting new Google TV devices.

“Every manufacturer is searching for a platform and, sadly, going their own way,” said Ben Drawbaugh, high-def editor for Engadget.com. “Developers are not going to want to design a different application for every brand TV, but there’s no way a lean-forward approach such as Google’s is going to take over in the living room.”

James Segars, co-founder of Pixljunkies.com, home theater enthusiast and independent filmmaker, said Google TV has yet to make its case for why it should be used over everything else, and that connected gaming consoles and Blu-ray players were gaining ground.

“I think there aren’t enough standards, with regard to hardware capabilities, connectivity and the apps/services that are available on the devices,” he said. “The PlayStation 3 has Vudu, Netflix, Hulu Plus and the PSN video marketplace. The Xbox 360 is trailing behind with only Netflix, and the Zune marketplace. Ideally, I’d like to see all apps and services available on a single device.”

Engadget.com high-def editor Richard Lawler said, in addition to having a full Web browser, Google TV devices need to snag more impressive applications such as Hulu Plus, Time Warner TV and Comcast’s Xfinity TV.

Whichever connected-devices format consumers latch on to, they’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

“We saw smart TV reach a new plateau at this year’s show,” said Dan Schinasi, senior marketing manager for HDTV product planning at Samsung Electronics America. “We debuted our Samsung Smart Hub, which includes over-the-top search, content sharing via AllShare, a growing offering of apps through Samsung Apps and, in select models, a full Web browser.”

Samsung also announced partnerships with Comcast and Time Warner Cable, which brings live streaming to consumers without the need for a cable set-top box, and debuted a Blu-ray player and companion box enabling GoogleTV, allowing users to surf the Internet on their HDTV screens.

LG Electronics’ Smart TV Upgrader (the ST600) allows users to turn their HDTV into a connected HDTV and access premium content and a full range of LG applications. LG also debuted its Smart TV platform for other devices, which incorporates a Web browser.

Panasonic said its Viera Connect platform would be the next generation of connected HDTV, with access to third-party apps tailored to each individual user, along with applications such as Twitter and Facebook, while Philips is offering an option that foregoes incorporating the Internet connection into HDTVs. Philips’ MediaConnect lets users stream their PC content directly to the HDTV, without worrying about any sites — such as Hulu or those from major networks — being blocked. And post-CES it was announced Sony’s Bravia HDTVs and Blu-ray players would soon feature Opera’s full Web browsers.

AT CES, Toshiba went with Yahoo’s Connected TV service, offering Yahoo applications on connected devices. Russ Shafer, senior director of product marketing, connected TV and desktop at Yahoo, said the reason some manufacturers aren’t yet going with the full Web browser experience is akin to the waste of having several hundred channels offered by a cable provider. “It’s not how many channels you have; it’s how many do you care about,” he said.
 

RCA Digital Television spot from CES 2011

Enjoy! JZ!

RCA Back at CES 2011 Press Release

RCA Returns to CES With Full Selection of High-End TV, Mobile Digital TV, Home and Business Telephones, Home Appliances, Blu-ray™, iPad and iPhone Speaker Systems

More than 60 new RCA products introduced at annual Consumer Electronics Show

2011 International CES

LAS VEGAS---RCA returns to the floor of the International CES this week with more than 60 new products available for retailers, including a host of new technologies that will soon reach electronics consumers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. RCA can be found in Central Hall #13338, under the “RCA Welcome Home” banner.
Interactive Android TV products, 3D TV, a wide assortment of Plasma, LED, and LCD high-definition TV models, Mobile Digital Television for “on the go” viewing of broadcast programs, fully-featured business and residential telephones, Wi-Fi and portable Blu-ray™ players, and speaker systems designed for popular tablets and mobile phones are all part of the selection offered under the RCA brand. This year’s CES is the first to showcase a variety of “white goods” for the kitchen – including a line of RCA home microwave ovens.
The latest market research on the RCA brand confirms that U.S. consumers regard RCA as a trustworthy and familiar brand name best known for offering affordable, quality electronics products. The 2011 lineup of more than 60 new products from RCA brand licensees insures that consumers will have a complete selection to consider in a variety of categories.
Big Screen to Small Screen Innovations
Dozens of new TV models are coming to the market for consumers in countries throughout the Americas including Android-based interactivity. The full line-up of big screen high-definition models includes screens in all popular technologies, including Plasma, LED backlit LCD, standard LCD, and combination TV/DVD products to simplify DVD playback in screen sizes from 19-inch to 46-inch.
RCA is showing LED backlit LCD sets that offer three-dimensional viewing (3D) with the addition of active shutter glasses and a 3D content source.
With nearly 70 U.S. TV broadcasters now transmitting in the new ATSC Mobile Digital TV format, RCA is also introducing handheld 3.5” and 7” portable TV models that offer the ability to receive both standard ATSC and Mobile DTV signals – an industry first. And a tiny RCA tuner/receiver will soon be available for a video-equipped van or other vehicle to allow easy reception of the new “on the go” transmissions.
A Phone for Every Desk
New residential telephone products from RCA are now reaching stores, with a full line of 14 models on display at CES, some for the Latin American market and others designed for U.S. consumers. RCA DECT 6.0 Digital models are available as standalone phones, with digital answering systems, or as corded home desktop phones. Intercom functions and call transferring between home phones are both available features, and a “Home Hub” phone is also coming soon with security accessories such as door bell, thermometer, burglary alert, and smoke alert capability.
RCA business phones include a variety of 2-line and 4-line models offering features such as multiple handsets, cordless headsets, and call attendant and call routing features. The latest innovation for RCA business telephone buyers is an 8-line small business phone system that can accommodate multiple corded base telephones.
Portable & Wi-Fi Blu-ray™, Speaker Systems for iPad
New audio products from RCA include a convenient portable Blu-ray™player that can easily connect to a big-screen display and an RCA Blu-ray™ player with Wi-Fi capability for viewing web-based content from VUDU, Pandora, and other sources.
A selection of RCA speakers systems specifically designed to operate with the iPad and iPhone will be revealed at CES, including a low-profile model with wall-mount capability, and a model with a 40-watt amplified speaker. A free app available with the RCA iPad/iPhone speaker systems unlocks and enhanced features.
About RCA: RCA is one of the most recognized names in the electronics industry, delivering innovative and reliable technology that has been entertaining families for over 90 years. Consumers throughout the world depend on the RCA brand to provide products and services that feature the latest technology and design, are easy to use, and deliver the highest value and longevity. It’s no wonder why generations of families continue to rely on the RCA brand for their home entertainment and lifestyle. RCA is a global trademark administered by RCA Trademark Management SAS of Technicolor SA.

Contacts

For RCA
Arland Communications:
Dave Arland, 317-701-0084
dave@arlandcom.com
Blake Lofgren
blake@arlandcom.com

 

RCA Android TV spot on PCMAG

Please see the spot on the RCA Android TV - size was actually a 42" vs. the 32" listed.

New Technology from RCA - very nice!

JZ!

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2375357,00.asp

RCA Back at CES 2011

Please see the link below for the full Press Release on RCA at CES 2011.

JZ!

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2011/01/09/5234154.htm

RCA TVs a hit at CES

Follow the link to see the line up of truly Mobile Televisions from RCA.

A lot of talk about this new technology. As you will see in the video spot, RCA also has the ability to convert your in car DVD unit to a mobile TV by connecting their TV adapter through the AV connection of the existing unit in the car or portable device.

JZ!

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-32254_1-20027477-283.html