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Ethernet Gets New Standard

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The IEEE 802.3 standard (better known as plain old ethernet) gets its first full revision since 2008-- IEEE 802.3-2012 "Standard for Ethernet" as approved by the IEEE Standards Association.

EthernetFirst published in 1985, according to the IEEE the 802.3 standard "defines the physical (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layers of ethernet transmission across wired connections of multiple media."

The latest revision addresses 10Gbit/s Ethernet Passive Optical Networks (EPONs), energy efficiency, extension to 40 and 100Gbit/s speeds (while maintaining compatibility with previous IEEE 802.3 installations), enhanced support for loss-sensitive applications and time synchronisations.

The curious and interested can get a copy of the updated standard from the IEEE standards store.

Go IEEE

Dixons: "Encouraging" Start to 2012

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Dixons describes Q1 2012 performance as "encouraging," with growth across both UK & Ireland and N. Europe... even if S. Europe continues feeling the current economic crunch.

DixonsTotal Dixons Q1 2012 growth reaches 2% Y-o-Y, while sales reach 5% like-for-like growth. Elkjøp "outperforms in its markets" as Dixons' N. European holdings (Nordics and C. Europe) reach 8% growth, while total UK & Ireland growth reaches 6%.

On the other hand S. European (Italy, Greece, Turkey) Dixons business drops by -13%.

Recent acquisition PIXmania also takes a hit, with "challenging" trading sinking LFL sales by -3% for Q1 2012. Back in August 2012 Dixons acquired the 22% interest in PIXmania owned by the Rosenblum family.

The retailer also grows within multichannel retail, with Q1 2012 sales up by 39% overall and 48% in UK & Ireland.

"While it is still early in our financial year, I am encouraged by the start we have made across the Group," CEO Sebastian James continues. The retailer has a positive outlook for the rest of 2012, with hopes for further improvement by the holiday season.

Go Dixons Q1 2012 Trading Statement

HP Spectre Line Gets AIO Addition

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HP adds the first non-laptop product to the high-end Spectre family-- the Spectre One, an All-in-One (AIO) PC with a 23.6-inch display just 11.5mm thick.

HP Spectre OneThe slim aluminium display comes at a price though. Unlike most newly-launched AIO PCs using the touch-friendly Windows 8, the Spectre One lacks a touchscreen.

HP still caters for customers wanting multitouch input, mind-- the Spectre One includes a wireless Apple-style touchpad, as well as a wireless keyboard.

Powering the Spectre One are Intel Ivy Bridge CPUs and a 1GB Nvidia graphics card. Further features include NFC connectivity (via x2 tags in the base), x4 USB ports, HDMI-in and Beats Audio technology.

HP also has other AIO PCs on offer-- the Envy 20 and 23 TouchSmart (with 20- and 23-inch touchscreens respectively) and the lower-end non-touch Pavilion 20.

Go HP Introduces New Consumer AIO PCs

Sharp Shows Prototypes of IGZO, First Time in Europe

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Sharp’s IGZO

For the first time in Europe, Sharp showed prototypes of its newly developed oxide semiconductor technology, known as IGZO. At IFA Berlin, Sharp showed how IGZO technology will enable even higher resolutions, lower power consumption, and higher performance touch screens, as well as narrower bezel widths for LCD display panels used in mobile devices such as smartphones.

This jointly developed new IGZO technology is an oxide semiconductor with a cocktail of indium (In), gallium (Ga) and zinc (Zn). Each pixel in an LCD screen is controlled by its own transistor and IGZO creates several favorable characteristics over the amorphous silicon used in today's LCD panels.

One prototype 6.1” screen on show at IFA squeezed in 2560 pixels by 1600 pixels, or 498 pixels per inch. Or 50% increase on the 326ppi screen used in Apple's iPhone 4S and roughly double that of the new iPad. The difference is clearly visible so it’s time to buy Sharp stock again.

Watch Sharp’s IGZO at IFA

Lenovo Buys Into Brazil

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Lenovo Group acquires Brazil's consumer electronics maker Digibras CCE to expand into one of the world's largest emerging economies.

Digibras Brazil

It's no secret that No. 2 Lenovo wants to be the Number One maker of personal computers worldwide.

Now Lenovo will pay about $148 million in a mix of stock and cash (and an additional $198 million on performance-based metrics over the four years) to add to its global attack on HP's top position as a pc maker.

While HP is recovering from its debate about whether or not to be in the PC business at all, this deal more than doubles Lenovo's PC market share in Brazil (world's third-largest PC market), raising its national ranking to third position from seventh.

Brazil's PC market should grow this year by 8% to 17 million units, says IDC.

CCE has nearly 6000 employees, seven factories and-- more importantly--a large sales network with over 20,000 points of sale. The acquisition not only significantly expands Lenovo's presence but it also adds local  manufacturing facilities in a country famous for its value-added taxes on imported PCs and smartphones-- as high as 43% compared with 2.75% for local products.

The Digibras purchase adds to Lenovo’s earlier announcement to invest $30 million to build a computer factory and a distribution center in São Paulo.

If this wasn't enough to shake up HP in the region, there's another bonus in the deal for Lenovo: CCE makes a full suite of consumer products across all four screens – PC, tablet, smart phone and TV.

Digibras’s products include the Onix and Iron line of laptop computers; the Mobi line of handsets; the Wintouch tablet that runs Microsoft software; and a range of desktop PCs and televisions.

In the last 5 years, Digibars made approximately 2.3 million computers and 7.4 million televisions. The expectation for 2012 is to produce 633,000 laptops, desktops 254,000 (Oh, yes, did we mention desktops are still alive in Brazil?) and 798,000 TVs.

Lenovo and CEE executives

''It not only helps Lenovo rapidly expand its leadership here, but it also lays a foundation for our future PC+ vision,'' says Yang Yuanqing, chairman and CEO, Lenovo Group (shown here in the center of a photo with CCE executives in a Brazil press conference announcing the deal).

''CCE is an excellent fit with its four screen product portfolio and a valuable manufacturing base in Brazil. CCE's management, who will become an essential part of our Brazilian operations, know the Brazilian consumer and will immediately help us establish a strong retail presence,'' he told local press.

Go Lenovo Buys into Brazil

 

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