Pioneer has confirmed that it is to exit the plasma business. In addition to dropping its Kuro TV brand, the company will reduce its global workforce by approximately 6,000 employees and 4,000 temporary staff. This move comes as a result of declining demand for consumer electronics and other market pressures associated with the global economic crisis, says Pioneer.

This year's CIH Overseas Conference will be held in New York between 18 and 23 June at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. It will feature business presentations from leading manufacturers and presentations by CIH head office management covering different sectors of the business.

Digital TV switchover presents some excellent business opportunities for retailers, however, one area that can still cause confusion is aerials, reported Digital UK, the organisation leading digital switchover.

Independent electrical retailers have scored highly in the latest Retail Satisfaction Survey conducted by Which? magazine. Independents were placed third overall in the survey of 96 UK retailers. The only electrical retailer ranked higher was John Lewis, who came second. Retailers were judged on products, environment, staff and convenience.

James Methven has been appointed product & brand director, Electrolux Major Appliances, UK & Ireland. James has over 20 years' experience within the consumer goods industry. 

Despite recessionary pressures, the key players in the industry have just launched - as always at the beginning of the year - a great deal of genuine product innovation. A strong and consistent message has also emerged from the recent launches - that of a need to continue putting value back into the electrical market.

Whirlpool Corporation has won two iF Product Design Awards 2009 from the German International Design Forum in Hannover, for its Glamour Oven (pictured) and for Greenkitchen, a kitchen eco-system design concept.

Philips has just previewed its latest product innovation - the Cinema 21:9 LCD TV - the first cinema-proportioned LCD television. It comes as a 52in model which is shaped in the 21:9 aspect ratio, so movies in the 2.39:1 format completely fill the screen. "Cinema 21:9 lets you enjoy movies as you would in the cinema and just as the director intended", stated the manufacturer.  Three-sided Ambilight Spectra technology on this model helps to deliver the ultimate cinematic viewing experience at home.

PURE, one of the UK's leading radio manufacturers, which holds a 30% share of the UK DAB portable radio market and approximately 80% of the UK DAB in-car market, has announced that Highway, PURE's in-car DAB adaptor, was the second best selling car audio product overall in 2008.

The Oliso steam iron from Domotec has a patented safety system designed to prevent users from burning a hole in their favourite shirt.

Sanyo's new Xacti Dual camera line-up comprises three models with the familiar ‘pistol grip' body, along with three models with a new horizontal design.

Intempo's new iPod dock includes an integrated sub-woofer and is set to retail at a bargain price tag of under £80.

Panasonic's latest 12.1-megapixel Lumix compact camera benefits from newly added Face Recognition technology.

Eco-conscious consumers will welcome Etón's new range of green radios.

Hot on the heels of the successful launch of the Quick Cup in 2007, Tefal has introduced the new energy-saving Quick Cup Deluxe.

Pioneer's new flagship Blu-ray player is the manufacturer's first deck to be tuned at Sir George Martin's Air Studios.

Sony is claiming a number of world firsts with its new Bravia TV range, including the world's thinnest LCD TV.

Neil, who has been working for Philips for the last 13 years, four of which he spent running Philips' Nordic region, has a unique perspective on the European electrical market and the UK's place in it. Managing Philips' operations in such diverse markets as Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland - in terms of industry structure and trade practices - taught him a lot about electrical distribution channels.

Sony is changing the way it will be introducing new products into the UK market. "We are at the cross-roads now and have to decide which way we'll go - work on keeping up the value or go down market," said Steve Dowdle, managing director of Sony UK to the trade press at the Sony Key Dealer launch in Dublin. From now onwards the company will be scrutinizing carefully the needs and aspirations of its consumer markets (they may vary from country to country) and will diversify its product proposals to match precisely the requirements of local markets.

JVC's annual Key Dealer Meeting (KDM) offers the first chance to check out the maker's latest products and see what's in the pipeline for the future. The 2009 KDM was no exception, with JVC showing off its latest wares, including a re-vamped Everio camcorder line-up and its new Blu-ray developments.

Are consumer rights in relation to faulty goods going to change as a result of the new EU Directive currently under discussion? Douglas Hebison, Chief Executive of Amdea reviews the wider issues concerning faulty goods.

Is this the year that Blu-ray makes a big breakthrough and moves from being a high-end enthusiast's format to a mass market proposition? With prices of Blu-ray hardware already falling, and A-branded Blu-ray players now selling for less than £200 on the high street, it's easy to see why some in the industry believe the next twelve months will see a big boost in Blu-ray sales.

While dishwashers are considered indispensible by big families, busy professionals and young homeowners who grew up with a dishwasher, people who for many years did without one are neither appreciative of their role in the household or their efficiencies. For them the dishwasher remains an energy and water guzzler, taking precious space in the kitchen.

This AAA-energy rated, freestanding model has been launched to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Miele launching its first electrically powered dishwasher in 1929.  It has a capacity of 14 place settings and noise level of 44db. It also has a very low water consumption level of only 8 litres when using the Sensor Wash programme (although its usual water consumption is 10 litres). It is equipped with turbothermic drying which uses filtered air to ensure that the items inside come out completely dry, without drops of water.

This A-energy rated model offers an innovative SensorSteam Programme that operates via intelligent sensors monitoring solid levels in the water and adapting the washing cycle accordingly saving time, energy and water. The steam function is integrated within normal programmes, so where high solid levels are found, a steam injection helps to soften the soil on the dishes. Another unique feature of this integrated model is Visible Feedback.  A discreet light is projected on the kitchen floor, which provides the user with visible feedback when the machine is running.

This model, clad in finger-friendly stainless steel, is energy saving recommended by the Energy Saving Trust.  It features a host of benefits including Save+ (combining an alternative drying system with a more efficient washing cycle to obtain a 10% energy usage reduction), Quick Time (a technology combining higher temperatures with an intense mechanical spray action to save time and energy) and sensor programme Aquatest. The ‘AAA' rated machine is both eco-friendly and efficient boasting 12 place settings, 9 programmes and 5 temperatures.  Other features include Total Aquastop and an Orbital Spray System.

Whirlpool's ADP8800 6th Sense one touch AquaSteam freestanding dishwasher combines steam and water to clean dishes effectively without the need for scrubbing or pre-soaking. Steam loosens food particles of even dried-on waste. It also features the PowerClean device, which comprises 32 high powered jets that sit at the bottom of the dishwasher and are designed to tackle the most stubborn, burnt-on food. The dishwasher is equipped with OptiFlex racks in lower drawer which can be folded to create up to 30% extra space.

Precision engineering has made this beautifully designed dishwasher one of the quietest in the world -  just 39dB on night cycle and as little as 41dB on its day cycles.

The fully-integrated, AAA-rated, 60cm ZIM627 dishwasher by leading Polish brand, Amica, is new to the UK, with its LED indicators and soft-touch electronic buttons.

Smeg's eco-friendly and efficient DF6SPLUS 60cm dishwasher, with finger-friendly stainless steel, effortlessly combines style with practicality.  Recommended by the Energy Saving Trust, the ‘AAA' rated DF6SPLUS features 12 place settings; Quick Time, which reduces the length of the washing cycle by up to 55%; and ‘Save+', an option able to obtain a 10% reduction in energy consumption compared to a standard ‘A' class dishwasher.  Additional benefits include nine programmes, five temperatures, Aquatest, total Aquastop, Ultracleanse, and a sleek electronic display.

The Belling IDW450 is a slimline integrated dishwasher with 8 place settings.  Despite its compact size, the IDW450 is not short of features, offering 3 wash programmes including pre-rinse, intensive and normal. The three temperature settings allow the user to adjust the wash cycle to their requirements and an adjustable upper basket makes it easier to accommodate larger dishes. The IDW450 offers a noise level of 53Dba, well below the level of normal conversation, so cleaning doesn't interrupt entertaining.

The economic downturn has had a grave affect on many industries, with the consumer electronics sector being no exception. However, as consumers cut costs and look for cheaper ways to entertain themselves, there is still profit to be had. Epson's projector product manager, Graeme Davidson explains: "With the credit crunch hitting hard now, consumers are looking to make investments in hobbies and past times that they can conduct at home - such as family film nights in instead of going to the cinema, with quality and reliability guaranteed".

Over the past month or so, Empire Direct, Miller Brothers and Dial-a-TV have each appointed administrators, thus joining the ever-lengthening list of recent casualties.