Global HDTV Shipments Exceed SDTVs for First Time
[Via InformationWeek, image courtesy of ThePoolSide]
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[Via InformationWeek, image courtesy of ThePoolSide]
Survey Finds Many Americans Work on the Toilet
Just think -- the next time your buddy answers with a hint of stress in his / her voice, there's a statistically significant chance that you're barging in on some seriously personal business.
[Image courtesy of fletchy182]
Over Half of 2009 Vehicles in America Offering iPod Support
Consumers Delaying Blu-ray Purchases
You just have to love the mixed messages, don't you? On one hand, you've got research asserting that Blu-ray simply isn't gaining the desired amount of traction since the demise of HD DVD; on the other, you've got numbers showing that BD adoption actually is on the up and up. So, which is it? According to a hot-out-of-the-oven study by ABI Research, consumers in America are still procrastinating when it comes to buying into Blu-ray. Over half of the 1,000 respondents noted that they had "no plans to purchase one," with 23% suggesting that they might take the plunge in 2009. Principal analyst Steve Wilson, in our estimation, nails the reason right on the head: consumers can't see why Blu-ray is worth the extra coin over DVD. Let's face it -- VHS to DVD was entirely more dramatic than DVD to Blu-ray, and for folks still watching an SDTV, Blu-ray isn't even a consideration. Slow and steady, BD, slow and steady. [Source: Market Watch]
[Image courtesy of WikInvest]
DVR Owners Do Indeed Skip Ads, Study Affirms
You know those situations where everyone knows something yet no one is courageous enough to just blurt out the obvious? Pardon us, but yes, people do actually use their DVRs to skip commercials. In case our word isn't good enough for you, research firm Oliver Wyman has just completed a study which found that 85% of the 1,000 global participants used their DVR to skip at least three-quarters of all commercials.
Furthermore, most viewers stated that they would not be willing to "watch advertising even when it underwrites free content," and they wouldn't want to pay extra (in addition to the DVR cost, we presume) to remove ads. Really though, we ad skippers are simply keeping those lucrative media marketing firms on their toes, and trust us, they have / will continue to find ways to circumvent our circumvention. Full release after the jump.
Salespeople Push LCD TVs More Than Plasmas, Study Finds
For some strange reason, we can't say we're surprised by the latest J.D. Power and Associates report. Maybe it's how LCD HDTVs seem to be highlighted in most retail locations, or maybe it's just because the negative burn-in stigma attached to earlier PDPs has yet to wear off.
Whatever the case, said research firm has just produced an article claiming that "retail electronics salespersons are recommending LCD TVs instead of plasma TVs at a rate of more than three to one." The research focused on shoppers looking for sets 40-inches and up over the past six months, though it didn't specifically mention where it went undercover to source such data.
Really though, it's not shocking to hear that B&M salespeople aren't totally adept at explaining pros and cons -- after all, we'd recommend doing your own independent research and ordering online -- but hopefully this will beat the message home to those who've been blindly believing anything they hear when shopping for a new set. [Image courtesy of Exceptional Innovation]
U.S. Leads World's Mobile Web Use
Out of the 16 countries studied by the firm, America ranked number one in terms of usage, and oddly enough, Motorola's RAZR / RAZR2 were found as the top devices (10%) for accessing the mobile Web. For those curious, Apple's iPhone came in second with 4%, while RIM's BlackBerry 8100 and 8800 series claimed 2% each. Even if you're usually not the numbers type, we'd say it's worth your while to give these a peek -- pretty interesting stuff, from a nerd's point of view. [Warning: PDF read link [Via modoNews]
Study Finds That One-Third of Consumers Copy DVDs
According to poll results from US and UK consumers, around 1 in 3 individuals admitted to "making copies of pre-recorded DVDs in the past 6 months, up over a quarter from the previous year's study." Predictably, males aged 18 to 24 were most likely to wear an eye patch and own a DVD burner (if you catch our drift), and while revenue loss due to illegal copying is certainly a valid concern, researchers did find that 62% of American respondents (and 49% in the UK) were duping flicks they already owned. Arrr! [Image courtesy of George Dillon]
82% of Americans Never Use Text Messaging
On the flip-side, those who aren't savvy with text messaging aren't apt to just dabble in it. For instance, 82% of respondents in America said "that they never used text messaging, while 3% said that they used it monthly or less" and 15% reported using it "every week or even more. Who knows what that figure would be if carriers stopping charging an arm and a leg for per-use messaging. [Source: New York Times via Textually, image courtesy of ugo]
Laptop and Data Searches at U.S. Borders Rankles Senator -- and You
Border patrol and customs agents can search not just your bags but your laptop, mobile phone and any other electronic device you carry across the United States' border when returning from a trip abroad, and that's got some senators a bit rankled on your behalf.
Russ Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, says the open-ended ability to search and hold data or devices is troubling, considering privacy laws protect Americans from search and seizure in most other situations. But the Department of Homeland Security says it's doing what it must to protect us from smut, terrorist influence and other bad things. (Because, of course, none of these are available from other sources, like, oh, say, the Internet?)
Here at Switched, we're big proponents of traveling safely, and that includes keeping your private information private. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just leave your laptop at home when you travel. If you must bring it for work, consider uploading documents to a secure server, wiping your hard drive and then downloading the documents once you reach your international destination. And then be sure to do it all again before you start your trip home. We've got more tips to help you protect your data while you travel.
Beyond Feingold's concern, however, is the allegation by some that Muslim Americans are being searched more than others and having their devices and data seized without apparent cause. They also sometimes have to answer questions about their political views. (Who knew paying attention in social studies class would come back to help in such a critical moment?)
One witness who testified before Feingold's committee made an interesting observation. Susan K. Gurley, executive director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, said "In today's wired, networked and borderless world, one's office no longer sits within four walls or a cubicle; rather, one's office consists of a collection of mobile electronic devices such as a laptop, a BlackBerry, PDA, and a cellphone." Because of the searches, "you may find yourself effectively locked out of your office indefinitely." [Source: The New York Times.]
