Year in review: From iPhone to Kindle
Apple, Amazon.com, and Vizio take a plunge into the consumer electronics world.
From the iPhone to the Kindle
This year was bookended by two very high-profile gadget announcements--the iPhone (of course), and the Kindle e-book reader from Amazon.com.
While Apple's phone is a runaway success,
The breathless anticipation leading up to the iPhone launch was unlike anything ever seen in the consumer electronics industry, as Apple entered an entirely new (to it, at least) segment of the hardware business. Conversely, Apple's set-top box, AppleTV,
A gadget that didn't get released also had the gadget world buzzing. The Foleo, created by Palm founder Jeff Hawkins, was intended to be a mini laptop purely for sending e-mail, but the company
Combined with Palm's failure to make any significant updates to its Treo smart phone or its respected Palm OS, the Foleo's premature cancellation caused many in the tech world to wonder whether Palm had hit "
The next-generation DVD battle intensified this year. Though it appeared that Blu-ray was winning the war with consumers, the sudden defection of Paramount Studios and DreamWorks Animation to the HD DVD camp caused quite a stir and included accusations that the studios were convinced to lend their support with monetary compensation.
As both sides
Though consumers haven't bought into the idea of high-definition discs wholesale yet, they have been eager to jump on the HDTV bandwagon. Sales of flat-panel sets
One TV manufacturer in particular took the industry by storm this year: California-based Vizio clawed its way into the lead as the biggest supplier of LCD TVs in the U.S. in the second quarter. In doing so, it shoved aside electronics heavyweights like Samsung, Sharp, and Sony, due in large part to its strategy of selling through club stores such as Sam's Club and Costco.
LCD manufacturers' ability to produce panels cheaply and scale them quickly led to the rise of liquid crystal as the display of choice by most consumers. But near the end of 2007, it appeared plasma was staging a comeback. Renewed research on the technology and cheaper technology could lead to a fresh round of interest in plasma TVs in the next year.
2007 Highlights
LG to sell first Blu-ray/HD DVD combo
Electronics maker unveils the Super Multi Blue, the first player that can play discs from the competing formats.
Finally, Apple answers call for iPhone
After years of speculation, Apple reveals its iPod mobile phone, as well as a home networking device, at Macworld.
Apple aiming for TV breakthrough
Tech companies haven't had much success in the living room. Can the iPod maker do any better with its Apple TV?
Is Foleo Palm's folly?
Device billed as "new category of mobile device" is actually an underpowered laptop best for reading e-mail, analysts say.
Private equity firm buys into Palm
Elevation Partners invests $325 million in struggling maker of handhelds and adds a former Apple exec to Palm's board.
iPhone supply lives to sell another day
Customers lined up in droves, some for days, but plenty of the phones are still available for the taking.
Some iPhone customers put on hold
As iPhone supply finally starts to dwindle, reports emerge of problems with the device's activation process.
Rock bottom for Palm and Hawkins?
Decision to cancel the Foleo is a mark on the otherwise stellar career of Palm founder Jeff Hawkins.
The secret of Vizio's success
Start-up's strategy of low prices and discount retail wins out, as it tops all LCD TV makers in the second quarter.
iPod gets touchy, with price cut
Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces several new iPods, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a dramatic price drop on the iPhone.
Sling founder 'stoked' about sale to EchoStar
Co-founder and CEO of Sling Media speaks to CNET News.com about what the sale means to the company.
Amazon to debut Kindle e-book reader Monday
After rumors and delays, online retailer is set to break into the hardware business with a high-profile launch.
Additional Headlines
Nokia to buy Navteq for $8.1 billion
For handset makers, it's all about location
Chilly forecast for wireless HD video
IT pros battle clock and code in time change
Wireless USB gadgets trickle into marketplace
From the iPhone to the Kindle
This year was bookended by two very high-profile gadget announcements--the iPhone (of course), and the Kindle e-book reader from Amazon.com.
While Apple's phone is a runaway success,
The breathless anticipation leading up to the iPhone launch was unlike anything ever seen in the consumer electronics industry, as Apple entered an entirely new (to it, at least) segment of the hardware business. Conversely, Apple's set-top box, AppleTV,
A gadget that didn't get released also had the gadget world buzzing. The Foleo, created by Palm founder Jeff Hawkins, was intended to be a mini laptop purely for sending e-mail, but the company
Combined with Palm's failure to make any significant updates to its Treo smart phone or its respected Palm OS, the Foleo's premature cancellation caused many in the tech world to wonder whether Palm had hit "
The next-generation DVD battle intensified this year. Though it appeared that Blu-ray was winning the war with consumers, the sudden defection of Paramount Studios and DreamWorks Animation to the HD DVD camp caused quite a stir and included accusations that the studios were convinced to lend their support with monetary compensation.
As both sides
Though consumers haven't bought into the idea of high-definition discs wholesale yet, they have been eager to jump on the HDTV bandwagon. Sales of flat-panel sets
One TV manufacturer in particular took the industry by storm this year: California-based Vizio clawed its way into the lead as the biggest supplier of LCD TVs in the U.S. in the second quarter. In doing so, it shoved aside electronics heavyweights like Samsung, Sharp, and Sony, due in large part to its strategy of selling through club stores such as Sam's Club and Costco.
LCD manufacturers' ability to produce panels cheaply and scale them quickly led to the rise of liquid crystal as the display of choice by most consumers. But near the end of 2007, it appeared plasma was staging a comeback. Renewed research on the technology and cheaper technology could lead to a fresh round of interest in plasma TVs in the next year.
2007 Highlights
LG to sell first Blu-ray/HD DVD combo
Electronics maker unveils the Super Multi Blue, the first player that can play discs from the competing formats.
Finally, Apple answers call for iPhone
After years of speculation, Apple reveals its iPod mobile phone, as well as a home networking device, at Macworld.
Apple aiming for TV breakthrough
Tech companies haven't had much success in the living room. Can the iPod maker do any better with its Apple TV?
Is Foleo Palm's folly?
Device billed as "new category of mobile device" is actually an underpowered laptop best for reading e-mail, analysts say.
Private equity firm buys into Palm
Elevation Partners invests $325 million in struggling maker of handhelds and adds a former Apple exec to Palm's board.
iPhone supply lives to sell another day
Customers lined up in droves, some for days, but plenty of the phones are still available for the taking.
Some iPhone customers put on hold
As iPhone supply finally starts to dwindle, reports emerge of problems with the device's activation process.
Rock bottom for Palm and Hawkins?
Decision to cancel the Foleo is a mark on the otherwise stellar career of Palm founder Jeff Hawkins.
The secret of Vizio's success
Start-up's strategy of low prices and discount retail wins out, as it tops all LCD TV makers in the second quarter.
iPod gets touchy, with price cut
Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces several new iPods, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a dramatic price drop on the iPhone.
Sling founder 'stoked' about sale to EchoStar
Co-founder and CEO of Sling Media speaks to CNET News.com about what the sale means to the company.
Amazon to debut Kindle e-book reader Monday
After rumors and delays, online retailer is set to break into the hardware business with a high-profile launch.
Additional Headlines
Nokia to buy Navteq for $8.1 billion
IT pros battle clock and code in time change
Wireless USB gadgets trickle into marketplace