August 2012 - Plugged In


	An Exciting, Innovative Change is Coming Vision Magazine, the official publication of CEA, is evolving and changing. Starting with the January 2013 edition (to be seen first at CES), Vision will relaunch as It Is Innovation (i³). Take advantage of all the press and get your message out with a print ad in our inaugural edition. For additional information about promotional opportunities with i³, please contact Dan Cole at 703-907-7987.

	New Multi-Client Study on In-Vehicle Technology Americans spend on average 16.5 hours a week in their vehicles. Are in-vehicle technology offerings keeping up with consumer needs and desires? To answer this question, CEA has partnered with the GfK Group, a world leader in market research, on an emerging car technologies study. The study will bring to light the products consumers will want inside their vehicles over the next five years. For additional information, please visit CEA Market Research or contact Tara Hutton at 703-907-7663.

	U.S Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts The bi-annual projections for the U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts predict industry sales will surpass the $206 billion mark. Sales growth will likely grow 4.5 percent, reaching $215.8 billion. Sales of mobile connected devices, led by tablets, have pushed overall industry revenues to record highs. The complete report is available free to CEA member companies. Non-members may purchase the study for $2,000 at the CEA store.	Understanding the Drivers of Adoption of Aftermarket Automotive Technologies Thursday, September 6, 2012 2-3 p.m.
	CEA Consumer Outlook on Tablets Report Ownership rates for tablet computers increased in the second quarter of 2012, according to CEA’s Consumer Outlook on Tablets: Q3 2012. The report shows that tablet ownership rates among online U.S. consumers reached 29 percent as of June 2012, an increase of nine percentage points from the end of the previous quarter.	Making Sense of the Connected Health Opportunity Thursday, September 13, 2012 2-3 p.m.

	Great Ideas Come to Expo The Retailer Council and Audio-Video Retailer Division are hosting four “Great Ideas Workshops” at the Indianapolis Convention Center, September 5-6, during CEDIA Expo. The free workshops for dealers, custom installers (CIs) and integrators will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas with experts and discuss solutions that work. It’s like having free access to top business consultants. Register today.	WELCOME NEW CEA MEMBERS! Since July 1, CEA has welcomed more than 40 new members including: 4Sight ALpha-Nav Multimedia Association of Loudspeaker Manufacturing and Acoustics Intl. Audio Craft Co. AUDIO VISIONS SOUTH B&H Photo Video Pro Audio ClamCase LLC Concept Green Energy Solutions, Inc. Corpcom Company LLC Definitive Audio Elevated Electronics LLC Fidelity Security Services Inc. GOLD TOUCH INC HB Optoelectronics, Inc. HDBaseT Alliance HealthSpot Inc. Higher Ground LLC Hipstreet inNuevo Ken Oh Corporation LifeProof LightWedge Luardi Corp. Lynn's Audio Video Martian Watches Mathew B. RabinLaw Group Mavertronics NORTH CANTON TV & APPLIANCE O&K Reach Omega Brandess Distribution One Iron LLC Phiaton Sedgwick Specialties Division ServInt Sixth Fuel Specialized Retail Services LLC Suncrest Products Inc. Tejas Innovative Solutions Telecommunications Law Professionals PLLC The Sound Room For a list of all new 2012 members, please visit CEA’s members-only website.
	Drive Business Discovery in Your Channel Which color SKU is selling best – black or white? Where do we need to run promotions to reduce inventories? These are the questions that channel and retail account managers need to answer on a daily or weekly basis. Changes in the demand chain of the CE industry have led to a need for timely, high-quality channel data for business discovery purposes. Learn how technology channel data dashboards enable CE companies to: • Analyze variances in sales seasonality, inventory patterns, and return rates by retailer • Track trends in store-level, SKU level sales • Monitor SKU inventory by region to prioritize replenishment and avoid stock-outs • Identify key markets within the U.S. where market penetration lags behind the national average Download Zyme’s white paper on business discovery in the CE industry.
	New Member Benefit: Compliance Manual for FCC's Apparatus Closed Captioning Rules CEA is pleased to present a Compliance Manual for its members pertaining to the FCC’s Apparatus Closed Captioning rules or “ACC Rules.” This manual provides a guide to complying with the FCC’s rules that implement the statutory requirements applicable to end-user equipment (‘i.e., “apparatus”) designed to receive, playback or record video programming, including such programming delivered via Internet protocol (“IP”). The rules also amend existing closed captioning rules. We hope that you find the manual to be a valuable benefit of your CEA membership. Please feel free to share the Compliance Manual with others within your company (and note the important legal disclaimer included on the cover sheet).
	CEA Demo Days III Invite your customers to “bring their own device” for CEA Demo Days III, the weekend of September 14-16, to experience The Complete Digital Music Experience. No matter what device, demonstrate the complete digital music experience and show ways to upgrade that experience with better headphones, speakers – even a full audio system. And, don’t forget gaming! With our program partner Revenew, CEA is funding a fully digital promotion campaign for every participating dealer and will provide all participating dealers with a FREE “Toolkit” loaded with ready-to-go promo resources. There are several ways for manufacturers to get involved as well. For more information, contact Kerry Moyer.

	Component Video Interface Standard for Analog TV Reaffirmed The DTV Interface Subcommittee is pleased to announce the publication of Standard Definition TV Analog Component Video Interface. This standard defines the physical characteristics of the interface as well as the characteristics of the signals carried across the interface. For additional information, please visit CEA Standards or contact Shazia McGeehan.
	Audiobook File Format and Player Requirement Standard Under Review The Portable, Handheld and In-Vehicle Electronics Committee is reviewing the standard, Digital Audiobook File Format and Player Requirements. This standard includes requirements and recommendations for the data structure, usability requirements, playback systems, and delivery systems for audiobooks in digital file format, and defines “audiobook.” For additional information, please visit CEA Standards or contact Shazia McGeehan.
	Updated Specifications for Sending Control Signals Over Home Networks The Home Networks Committee is updating the Free-Topology Twisted-Pair Channel Specification and considering reaffirmation of two related standards; Control Network Power Line Channel Specification and Fiber-Optic Channel Specification. These standards describe how to send control signals over different types of wiring in home networks. For additional information, please visit CEA Standards or contact Shazia McGeehan.

	Call for Entries Open for Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Awards The industry-recognized annual competition will honor outstanding design and engineering across 29 consumer electronics categories. Two new product categories were added to the 2013 awards program: Tech for a Better World, and Accessible and Universal Design Technologies. Entries for the International CES Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Awards will be accepted now through Sept. 14, 2012. The 2013 Best of Innovations Honorees will be announced November 12, at CEA’s New York Press Preview and showcased at next year’s CES.
	Exhibit in the GoElectricDrive TechZone at the 2013 International CES The GoElectricDrive TechZone, sponsored by the Electric Drive Transportation Association features electric vehicles and the technologies and services used to power them. Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular within the automotive industry. For more information about exhibiting in this area please contact Shari Sally at 703-907-7025.