| March 13, 2013 | News covering the consumer electronics industry |
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| Today's Digital Pulse |  |  |
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- Leap Motion CEO: We've sent 12,000+ controllers to developers
 Michael Buckwald, CEO of Leap Motion, said the stealth startup plans to begin shipping and selling its gesture-based controller in May. The company has sent out more than 12,000 units of the Leap Motion Controller to software developers to provide applications for the product. "Interaction with a computer should be as similar to interaction with the real-world as possible," Buckwald said in an interview at South by Southwest Interactive. He added, "Usually it takes people only a few seconds to recalibrate, and ultimately that deep, hardwired, instinctual ability to reach out and just grab an object in 3D space -- because the world is 3D -- that wins out." Engadget
(3/11), TechCrunch
(3/12)      
| CE in the Home | | |
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| Wireless | | |
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- For Samsung, hype brings huge expectations for Galaxy phone
Samsung Electronics has built up expectations so much for its Galaxy S IV launch in New York on Thursday night that analysts wonder if the smartphone maker has not set too high a bar for itself. "Samsung has positioned itself as the only alternative to Apple for high-end phones. With that comes expectations and responsibility," Gartner Group analyst Carolina Milanesi said. Samsung, which last year outspent Apple in marketing its phones in the U.S., also faces concerns about a repetition of last year's distribution snags for the Galaxy S III. Samsung said that it has built a backup plan to ensure adequate supplies reach consumers. The Wall Street Journal
(3/12), Reuters
(3/13), The Wall Street Journal
(3/12), Bloomberg Businessweek
(3/13)
- Report: Many teens browse only via their smartphones
Not only are teenagers using smartphones more to go online, but 23% of them access the Internet only through their handsets, according to a new Pew Research Center report, which found that 15% of adults browse exclusively via their cellphones. Pew found that 37% of those aged 12 to 17 used the Internet from their smartphones in 2012, compared with 23% in 2011. A Pew analyst said the trends were significant because teens have proved to be highly predictive of how society would embrace other new technologies, such as the Internet, social media and text messaging. GigaOm
(3/12), Reuters
(3/12)
- IDC: Android will become top tablet platform in 2013
The broad popularity of the iPad Mini aside, Android is expected to supplant Apple's iOS as the most popular tablet platform this year, research firm IDC says. Apple's insistence on keeping its tablet more expensive than the typical $200 price for Android's 7-inch tablets has cost the iPad-maker, IDC analysts say. IDC raised its estimate for 2013 tablet shipments by 11% largely because of sales of the smaller-screen devices. Computerworld
(3/12)
| Tech News | | |
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- Google Glass will fit your eyeglass prescription, company says
The plan is to have Google Glass wearable computers accommodate eyeglass prescriptions, the company revealed in a post on Google+. "The Glass design is modular, so you will be able to add frames and lenses that match your prescription," Google said in the post. "We're still perfecting the design for prescription frames. Although the frames won't be ready for the Explorer Edition's release, hang in there -- you can expect to see them later this year." Ars Technica/Technology Lab
(3/12), CNET/Crave blog
(3/12), Technology Guide
(3/12)
- Microsoft sees Bing, machine learning as key in the connected future
The Bing search engine and machine-learning technology are crucial elements in business and home electronics of the future, according to Microsoft executives. For example, the company used its Kinect controller to "teach" an elevator to open its doors when people appeared to be waiting for it, without those people pushing the usual summoning buttons. GigaOm
(3/12), GigaOm
(3/12)
| Retail Trends | | |
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- Retailers like mobile payments but wary of confusion in the field
Retailers are generally enthusiastic about the potential of mobile payments, but more than three-quarters cite uncertainty and the confusing proliferation of services as a major challenge, according to RSR Research. "Retailers certainly seem to say they are not going to invest this year. The way I read it is, if the other players in the payments space would get going on some standards and a method of adoption that they can roll out quickly to consumers, then we may all be surprised at how quickly retailers move to join in," said Nikki Baird, Denver-based managing partner at RSR. MobileCommerceDaily.com
(3/11)
| CEA Zap | | |
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Gary Shapiro on The Hill: "Skilled immigrants an asset to the U.S."
Read what CEA President and CEO, Gary Shapiro, had to say in an article for The Hill. In the article, Gary discusses America's immigration problem and how it can be solved, "Bipartisan visa reform legislation, such as I-Squared and Startup 3.0, is a positive step toward sustaining the impact that immigrant entrepreneurs and engineers have on our economy today while feeding the pipeline for future high-skilled American workers," said Shapiro. What do you think Congress should do to help solve America's immigration problem? Check out and comment on the full article on The Hill.
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Only 3 weeks left to enter the 2013 Innovation Entrepreneur Awards
CEA's Innovation Entrepreneur Awards Program recognizes entrepreneurs leading businesses with revenues under $30 million and the contributions they make to the U.S. economy. Any small business or small-business owner/executive in the CE industry that demonstrates innovation, dedication to the industry and their local community, and the tenacity to persevere through business and economic challenges are welcome to apply. The deadline to submit nominations is March 29. Watch videos of the 2012 award winners and submit your nomination today.
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