Samsung Electronics is supplying color LCDs to Sony Computer Entertainment (SCEA) for PS One version of PlayStation, according to South China Morning Post, which said Samsung now was making 12.5 centimeter (4.92") thin film transistor (TFT) LCDs for console. SCEA recently started shipping $129 LCD screen attachment for PS One and plans to follow with $199 bundle combining LCD and console after Christmas (CED Nov 2 p4). Unclear at our deadline was whether LCD already on N. American market for PS One -- described as 5” in size by Sony -- was from Samsung or another source. Comments were unavailable from Samsung and SCEA at our Wed. deadline. SCEA’s Jack Tretton recently told us LCD debut was aimed at least partly at reassuring retailers and consumers that his company had no current plans to abandon its successful older system. One of Samsung’s main competitors in LCD category is Sharp Electronics, which supplied 2.9” reflective TFT LCD for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance. Sharp display has 240 x 160 pixel resolution, 30:1 contrast ratio, 45% reflectivity and 80 millisecond response time, Sharp said. While contrast ratio and reflectivity are double that of display used by Game Boy Color, which Sharp also supplied, many GBA users have complained about display, saying it’s often difficult to see game play without light accessory that attaches to game machine.
Kurt Praschak, 15-year veteran at Matsushita/Panasonic P.R. in U.S., leaves today on early retirement plan offer… Colin Newnham, Ultralife Batteries managing dir.-U.K., advanced to European Operations vp-managing dir.; Patrick Hanna, dir.- corporate business planning, promoted to vp-corporate business strategy.
It will be blue Christmas for 13 PC and Internet companies now that Nasdaq exchange has announced it will drop their stocks from Nasdaq 100 Index Dec. 24. Stocks to be dropped are Palm, 3Com, RealNetworks, Broadvision, CNET Networks, Novell, Level 3, Ariba, CMGI, Metromedia Fiber, Inktomi, Mcleodusa and Parametric Technology. Criteria for selection to index include: Stock’s market value must rank in top 150 traded on Nasdaq, and stock must have average daily trading volume of 100,000 shares.
SonicBlue said it would unveil 2 new products at CES in Las Vegas Jan. 8 -- 20 GB hard drive-based Rio portable digital audio player and complete Go-Video home theater system. Company said features and specifications wouldn’t be announced until show. SonicBlue said it also would show recently-announced Rio Advanced Digital Audio Center home stereo component and ReplayTV 4000 digital video recorder for first time in public at CES.
Silicon Image COO Steve Tirado acquired 5,000 shares in Nov. at $1.62, boosting total holdings to 800,314 shares, according to SEC filing.
Purported pirate DVD of Disney movie whose picture vanished after few plays was demonstrated by British official on popular TV show there last week -- but as of Wed. neither official, show’s producers nor studio could shed any light on disappearing act that might have been staged and mistaken.
Downloadable spoken audio provider Audible said it would provide audio content for RealNetworks’ RealOne service. RealNetworks Programming Vp Scott Ehrlich said Audible content has “been very popular to visitors at Real.com.”
NPDFunworld said Wed. that total U.S. videogame industry -- including hardware, software and accessories -- generated $6.4 billion revenue through Nov., compared with $4.7 billion in same period year ago. Despite what NPDFunworld called “substantial growth” in overall game industry, Port Washington, N.Y., market information provider said next-generation systems -- including Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2 and Xbox -- took in largest amount of revenue, showing 436% increase in dollar sales in year.
Enroute received International Electronic Multimedia Award for technical excellence for its music CD-extra The Throwaways in FirstPerson, Palo Alto company said Wed. Immersive video technology developer Enroute announced Mon. that it had agreement to license its FirstPerson technology to Calabasas Hills, Cal., game maker THQ (CED Dec 17 p7). Enroute described FirstPerson as “entirely new immersive viewing experience that places the user in the center of the action and gives them the full freedom over where to look and what to watch as a recorded event unfolds on a 360-degree wrap-around landscape.” Technology is being used in THQ’s upcoming Britney Spears videogame for PS2.
Universal Interactive (UI) said Crash Bandicoot was official sponsor of Alien Ant Farm concert at House of Blues Dec. 22. Game character Crash is featured in Universal’s recently released Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cordex -- title that marks his first appearance on PS2. UI and House of Blues Entertainment also announced online contest with grand prize of trip for 2 to L.A. to see concert. Game maker said sponsorship of band was part of “national grass-roots consumer outreach tour and multimillion-dollar advertising campaign” backing game’s release.