LG, Philips and Sharp will work together on defining common technical requirements for their Smart TVs, based upon open standards such as HTML5, CE-HTML and HbbTV. The group’s first step will be to introduce the first beta version of a common Software Development Kit (SDK), which highlights the need to define the technical requirements that would allow content developers to create a single application that can run on Smart TVs from LG, Philips and Sharp Aquos Net+.

Responding to the concerns of the independent repair companies that face an increasing burden of service provision for fast diminishing returns, DASA, the Domestic Appliance Service Association, has organised an annual conference to discuss these issues. It will be held, alongside its AGM, in the Orton Hall Hotel, Peterborough on 10 November 2011.

Consumer database specialist, All About Response is launching a new initiative programme designed to attract new brand partnerships. AAR gathers data which has been provided by a consumer whilst in a dialogue with a trusted brand from which they have recently made a purchase. The company develops brand partnership surveys which take the form of warranty cards, online registration sites, customer questionnaires and readership surveys.

Gorenje UK has launched a Centre of Excellence scheme, offering enhanced support and commitment to the independent retailer. The scheme has been introduced to benefit both the retailer and the consumer. The retailer gains increased marketing and sales support while the consumer will be able to familiarize themselves with Gorenje appliances in dedicated showrooms where they will receive in-depth product information and first class customer service.

At the Awards Dinner marking the end of its trade show, AGM and the September Golf Tournament, Sirius Buying Group presented its annual awards to its partners, suppliers and members. The Manufacturer of the Year 2011 title was given to SMEG. The Distriubutor of the Year 2011 accolade was awarded, for the second year running, to D.A.D. – Domestic Appliance Distributors.

Many visitors to this year’s IFA commented that the solutions, both in the consumer electronics and domestic appliances field, showcased there were genuine innovations (for full IFA report turn to page 12). Sony’s Personal 3D viewer, LG’s PenTouch TV, Toshiba’s glasses-free 3D autostereoscopic TV and LG’s SBS with Smart Manager food system that with the help of a mobile phone updates the owner on the contents of their fridge – are just some examples.

Vogel’s has just unveiled its new brand strategy that aims to create greater consumer engagement with the company’s products transforming them from a low interest to a high interest category. The new strategy, Expanding Experiences, has been based on extensive market research into consumer buying behaviour carried out by the manufacturer in 2011.

The new premium food mixer from Bosch makes baking and food preparation a breeze. The 700W motor has the power to mix heavy pasta and bread dough with ease and it features four drive speeds and a pulse setting. Thanks to the MultiMotion Drive, mixing in the big, 3.9 litre stainless steel bowl is more thorough than ever before. A system of gears sweeps the specially-designed beaters in three directions as it mixes, ensuring every scrap of the ingredients is mixed in and the bowl wall is left clean.

Maytag’s new portfolio of dishwashers is spearheaded by two machines with the world’s best dishwasher water consumption of just six litres. The six-model collection offers a choice of different capabilities in both freestanding and integrated formats. All models feature Maytag’s IntelliSense technology that offers top energy saving performance.

The MC-UG614’s vacuum cleaner from Panasonic combines a lightweight body with a super energy efficient Eco Max Light motor to ensure an effortless cleaning experience. Building on the features of the Eco Max series of cleaners, the MC-UG614 weighs only 5.9kg and offers easy manoeuvrability around furniture thanks to the new swivel nozzle.

The Dyson Hot is a fan heater, which like Dyson fans, uses Air Multiplier technology that draws air in through an impeller. The air is then accelerated through a 2.5mm aperture set within the loop amplifier. This creates a jet of hot air which passes over an airfoil-shaped ramp channelling its direction. Dyson Hot fan heater can be set between 1 and 37°C and is equipped with an intelligent thermostat that starts monitoring the room temperature when the heater reaches the desired temperature.

ONE Classic Series II is the third generation of the manufacturer’s best selling digital radio which has been updated with ‘Listen Later’, a feature that allows the user to save a favourite programme daily or weekly or once-only, and listen to it later. The user then chooses which programme they want to save by selecting the Listen Later button to set the time, duration, regularity and station.

The Movie, the new range of AV furniture from Cherub AV, has been designed and manufactured in Britain. It offers easy to assemble solutions for mounting a flat screen TV on the wall whilst hiding all the cables and providing storage for media equipment. The range consists of three modules which can be used as stand alone units or combined in different configurations.

The new Reader Wi-Fi from Sony allows users to buy, borrow or get eBooks for free wherever there’s a wireless connection available. It is the first eReader that gives users access to e-collections of public libraries thanks to simple access on the device. Weighing just 168g, it features the advanced Dual Touch screen. E Ink Pearl electronic paper displays a clear, glare-free, high contrast image even in direct sunlight.

LG’s Pentouch TV (PZ850T) is equipped with an interactive screen that allows viewers to control content directly on the screen using innovative Touch Pens. The PZ850T brings the interactivity of the home computer to the big screen, along with 3D technology and 2D to 3D conversion. Connecting the PZ850T to a PC allows users to access a wealth of software, as well as the internet, transforming the TV into an entertainment hub.

The consumer electronics business regained its momentum at IFA 2011. While key themes, such as 3D and network connectivity, remain unchanged from last year’s show, genuine product innovation was most definitely back in fashion. One company that appeared completely refocused was Sony. Its chairman and chief executive, Sir Howard Stringer, was in fine fettle, delivering an opening address that was both self depreciating and deliciously confrontational.

The Electrolux Design Lab competition, annually conducted by the manufacturer since 2003, has again proved Electrolux’s commitment to design innovation and its dedication to finding the best of the new talent. This year, industrial design students from all over the world were asked to consider intelligent mobility in the context of home appliances.

European legislation to reduce the environmental impact of electrical and other ‘energy-related’ products is about to be reviewed. It is likely to result in new requirements to help conserve resources and provide more ‘environmental information’ for a wider range of products. Sian Lewis of AMDEA considers the implications.

Many TVs now include technology to enhance the frame rate of moving images and reduce flicker, jerkiness and blur. 100Hz and 200Hz rates are common, while some quote 400Hz, 600Hz and beyond. The Hz (Hertz) measurement is inherited from cathode ray tube TVs (CRTs) and refers to impulse-driven cycles per second. This doesn’t really apply to LCD and plasma but the notion of frames per second remains important along with any additional frames generated to modify motion handling.

The world of digital imaging is constantly on the move. The demand from the enthusiast to the professional, for products that are of the highest design standards, comfortable and easy to use and producing outstanding image quality is firmly at the forefront of Sony’s mind. When we all took pictures, you could not always be sure how the image would turn out and when you recorded those special moments on video, every time you played back to tape, the quality would degrade.

Moss of Bath won the Best Customer Service title at the Independent Business Awards 2011. The cornerstone of the company’s success is not only the fast growing custom install business but also the proactive and positive attitude of Tim Moss, the company’s owner. Anna Ryland reports.

The Whirlpool Corporation will be celebrating its centenary on 11 November 2011. Anna Ryland spoke to Juliana Saldo, Whirlpool brand marketing manager, about the most significant developments in the company’s history, its guiding principles and most recent achievements that have made Whirlpool the global domestic appliance leader.

Selling financial services has become increasingly difficult for retailers over the last few years. Compressed margins and lower volume sales of major products along with an increasing propensity for manufacturers to offer promotional finance or warranties has made stand alone financial products look like a tough sell. The flip side is that in the current economic climate, finance and protection has never been more popular with consumers.

Although TVs and broadcast-tuner boxes are similar in nature and both are microprocessor-controlled, the latter always seem more temperamental and prone to glitches and breakdown. Here, then, is a run-down on what goes wrong and how to get out of trouble when it does: in the showroom, in the customer's home and at the repair bench. If in any particular case the advice given here fails to provide a solution, it may well be that the box has a serious internal fault, and thus not be viable for repair, especially as service data and non-generic parts can be very hard to get hold of ...