Blog articles from 01/2010

Finally - some hard numbers in the digital media player device space. According to the article in Multichannel News, Roku has sold 500,000 of the devices, and is looking to double that figure in 2010.

With much fanfare, Steve Jobs unveiled his new darling today—a much-hyped iPad. It’s a big iPod Touch for sure. For now, the iPad appears to wow netbook and Kindle users, but intentionally or not, the iPad could lead to a sea change to the designs of a more established product category: digital photo frame. With a dock and purportedly 10-hour battery life, the iPad can be used as a photo frame when owners are not actively using it. It won’t be the major function of the iPad, but...

Mobile ad company Crisp Wireless has introduced a fixed placement unit for smartphones that stays onscreen as a user scrolls up or down on a mobile Web page. The new "Adhesion" ads support rich media formats like expandable, tap-to-call and tap-to-video as well as the ability to share, close or save, or ad content via email or social networks. But what if users aren't so enamored of the in-you-face factor of the new ads? A Crisp Wireless spokesman emphasized that people...

Parks Associates announced that Robert Heffron, Utility Market Manager, Verizon, will deliver the morning keynote at the Smart Energy Summit on Wednesday, January 27, at 9:00 a.m. In his keynote, “Home Energy Management is Ripe for Huge Innovation,” Mr. Heffron will discuss the role of the carrier in addressing sustainability and home energy management. As the home becomes more connected, it is open to a variety of new energy applications, including smarter appliances, load...

Smart Energy Summit analyzes the consumer side of the changing energy industry and the impact of Smart Grid technologies and in-home management solutions. Sessions feature over 30 government, utility, and industry executives, offering insight into the current landscape for energy management, barriers to overcome, the mass-market potential, and deployment status of smart infrastructure and energy management devices for in-home use. Keynote speakers include Andres Carvallo, CIO, Austin...

Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer examines the roadmap for the in-home energy management technology market, offering consumer and industry research and strategic insight. Parks Associates research finds: · Over 80% of consumers are very interested in learning about how to cut their energy costs, but less than half want to learn more about smart grids. · 80% to 85% of households are willing to pay $80 to $100 for cost saving equipment if they are guaranteed to save...

International research firm Parks Associates will host two CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summits in 2010. The first CONNECTIONS™ Europe of 2010 will be April 27 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This executive summit will focus on connected consumer electronics and digital media, including analysis of new monetization models and the impact of technologies such as 3D TV and smartphones. The second CONNECTIONS™ Europe of 2010 will take place in November in Paris, France. Both events will...

Parks Associates announced the Smart Energy Summit will feature a special session focusing on the Pecan Street Project, with a presentation from the project’s executive director Brewster McCracken on January 27, 3:30 p.m. Mr. McCracken will discuss the activities of the Pecan Street Project, which was awarded $10.4 million in federal stimulus money in November 2009 for its proposed Energy Internet project. Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer , hosted by Parks Associates in...