After a week in Japan for the consumer electronics tradeshow CEATEC in Tokyo, my alarm clocks are sounding off. The total amount of visitors was sharply down. There was no clear theme for the show, as it covers component sourcing, manufacturing equipment, semiconductors, and all the way over to consumer end devices. The show therefore sits between the traditional B2B trade show, and on the other hand, consumer marketing shows. In ways, it is neither fish nor fowl. This is a major challenge for the event. Hopefully the CEATEC organisers will define a clear theme and market position for next year. However, this is not to say that CEATEC is without value, but the show is undergoing an identity crisis. Many new technologies were on show, especially around interactivity, connectivity, and content.

Almost every consumer electronics vendor showed products with Internet connectivity. Last year was the year for Internet connected TVs, and this year was no exception. Read more

During the IFA Messe Samsung, Panasonic and Philips provided further details on their Internet-connected TV products. Enabling Internet services and developing network awareness is seen as the next big thing for most consumer electronics vendors around the world.

Samsung announced TVs using its Infolive Internet TV service, Panasonic showed Vieracast-enabled TVs, while Philips provided further information on its CE-HTML TVs, following the completion of the trials in The Netherlands.

However, vendors stand a great chance of failure with these products due to the complexity of the products and services. Premonvision advises consumer electronics vendors that target this market to: Read more

I was talking to a contact in North Asia, and we winded up talking about a report that we just published on how connected devices, and digital services and content change business dynamics. He asked me if I could write an industry comment on it, so that at least a few key points are made available to non-clients.

The best way of understanding the changing business dynamics for the players in the market for connected devices, and digital services and content, is by examining two industry giants; Apple & Sony. Read more

In short Jeff Bell will be departing the Xbox and WIndows gaming group during the Summer, where Shane Kim and Phil Spencer will step up to the plate and take on new challenges. More specifically, Shane Kim will assume the role as Corporate VP, and work up towards partners and other third parties, while developing general growth strategies. Phil Spencer on the other hand, will head up the first party title developments and publishing world wide.

This happens all the time in the corporate world, however the Xbox group has had its fair share of management turn-over, where Peter Moore and Ted Hase being the most prominent departures This follows only a few months after Sony Computer Entertainment lost Phil Harrison. Maybe not all is well for number 2 and 3 in the game console market. But departures also means the potential for change. Therefore key questions will be: Read more