Samsung’s 63W plasma display panel may be year from market, but it’s getting prime placement in front window of CompUSA’s flagship 5th Ave. store in N.Y.C. Samsung leased space, which also contains 21” and 24 W LCD panels as well digital camcorder and DVD players, for 6 months. Company formally opened store- within-a-store format at CompUSA in N.Y.C. Fri., expanding test that began last July with 6 stores in Fla. Samsung 63 W, which is handbuilt prototype, is expected to available by end of next year.

By week’s end, 96% of CompUSA’s over 200 locations will have boosted game category presence as chain adds “game fixx” store- within-a-store section nationwide, CompUSA E-Commerce/game fixx Vp George Coll told us Fri. New game fixx section in brick-and- mortar stores is part of what Coll described as 3-tiered approach to boost presence of computer and videogame category. Initiative also includes new gamefixx.com Web site we reported on last week, along with start of game club. “Hardcore membership” for club costs $69.99 and allows member to get 10% off purchases and priority status when preordering new products. Members also automatically get $20 CompGift card upon signing up. “Junior membership” in club at $14.99 allows members to get $5 off purchases.

Rick Calacci, ex-Toshiba America Consumer Products, joins Sharp as senior vp-gen. mgr., Consumer Electronics Group… Dave Cox, ex-Eidos Interactive, named exec. vp, worldwide sales, sales, InterAct Accessories… Scott Miller resigns as AMX Corp. chmn., pres. and CEO, replaced by Robert Carroll, a dir… Barry Zwarenstein, ex-Mellanox Technologies, appointed Iomega CFO, succeeding (Philip Husby, resigned… OfficeMax.com/Direct Exec. Vp Ryan Vero adds responsibilities for chain’s product buying group, replacing Gene O'Donnell, who shifts to head visual mdsg., inventory planning & replenishment… Appointed at Magnetic Data Technologies: Wayne Stewart, ex-Iomega, as senior vp-quality; Fred Stickel, ex-Motorola, as vp-software services… Mike McEnaney promoted to Photo Trade News assoc. publisher & editorial dir.

Barnes & Noble signed lease agreement for 30,000-sq.-ft. superstore in Boston’s Prudential Center. Store is to open in June. Like chain’s other stores, new location will feature more than 25,000 CD, DVD and VHS titles, along with music listening stations and Red Dot electronic music kiosk catalog, company said.

Lucasfilm THX said industry had sold cumulative total of 300,000 products with THX Surround EX technology since its introduction in Sept. 1999.

Palm cut price of top-end color m500 to $399 from $449 as it prepared for holiday selling season. Palm’s move to lower retail is most recent to hit handheld market. Handspring dropped tag on VisorPrism to $299 and Palm cutmono m500 to $329 from $379. Meanwhile, Palm CEO Carl Yankowski told investors conference late last week that company remained committed to buying software company Be Inc. despite sharp decline in both companies’ shares since deal was announced in Aug. Palm, which has seen value of its shares plunge 40% since Aug. 16, has said it will buy Be’s intellectual property and other assets for $11 million in Palm stock. In same period, Be’s shares have fallen 64%. Yankowski told analysts and investors at Prudential Securities Technology Conference in N.Y.C. that Be acquisition would bolster Palm’s ability to add new features to its own operating system software. Be shareholders are expected to vote on proposed deal Nov. 12.

Konami of America (KOA) demonstrated PS2 games ESPN NFL PrimeTime 2002 and Frogger: The Great Quest at low-key showcase in N.Y.C. ESPN title is to ship Nov. 13 for PS2, as well as PC and Xbox, at $49.99 for each platform, while Frogger game, developed by Konami’s American design team, will arrive for PS2 Nov. 19 at $49.99. KOA spokesman said Xbox version of Frogger game would follow next year. Separate Frogger title, Frogger’s Adventures: Temple of the Frog, will ship Nov. 23 as company mounts major effort to resurrect once-popular franchise introduced by Konami as arcade game in 1981.

Bearing brunt of responsibility for collecting and managing burgeoning volume of electronic waste, localities are bringing pressure on states to enact extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, including for consumer electronics, that would reduce strain on their finances and infrastructure. At least 20 counties and cities in Mass. and Cal. have adopted resolutions calling on state legislatures to mandate producer responsibility, according to local govt. officials and green groups. Key reason for increased local activity is landfill bans on CRTs, they said.

No decisions have been made on equipment conversions for DirecTV and EchoStar customers, DirecTV spokesman said. He said that if there were an equipment change in either platform, it would be provided at no cost to consumers.