The Bottom Falls Out Of The European Consumer

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/horrendous-european-retail-sales-2012-12

There are green shoots in Europe.

Financial markets are doing well both on the equity and debt front. Germany's engine is revving again. PMI data hit its lowest level in 8 months.

But as always, the biggest risk in Europe is, well, how long will the people tolerate recession? How long can they handle dismal growth.

New data from Eurostat provides a really depressing snapshot of the state of the consumer, at least as of October.

In October 2012 compared with September 2012, the volume of retail trade fell by 1.2% in the euro area (EA17) and by 1.1% in the EU272, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In September, retail trade decreased by 0.6% and 0.2% respectively. In October 2012, compared with October 2011, the retail sales index fell by 3.6% in the euro area and by 2.4% in the EU27.

Click to enlarge the chart. It's really ugly.

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Westinghouse teases 110-inch 4K LED TV, promises more details at CES

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/04/westinghouse-110-inch-4k-tv/

With CES just around the corner, there's plenty of promo mail to dig through each and every day. One of this afternoon's tidbits came from the good folks at Westinghouse, hinting at a hot product that'll be unveiled at the show. The 4K LED TV will ring in at a massive 110 inches -- a significantly larger offering than the bevy of 84-inch sets we caught this past summer at IFA. The manufacturer hesitated to share any further details, but did suggest that there were a few more "surprises" in store, including plenty of connected HDTVs. If you've been pondering a 4K set, but just can't come to grips with a measly 84-inch footprint, it's certainly looking like Westinghouse will have something to catch your eye next year in Vegas.

Filed under: Displays, HD

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Marvell brings a gig to WiFi with new 802.11ac 4x4 system-on-chip

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/04/marvel-brings-the-gig-to-wifi-with-new-802-11ac-4x4-SoC/

If you need data to flow more copiously than your current wireless connection will permit, Marvell has just announced a new WiFi product that might let you finally cut the cord. The Avastar 88W8864 802.11ac "4x4" SoC will permit WLAN products to stream data at up to 1.3Gbps using four antennas, over three times faster than the 802.11n standard used now. The system also sports a specialized transmission method called "beamforming," that "greatly improves link robustness and wireless performance," according to Marvell, enabling seamless HD streaming in traditionally difficult spots, for instance. The new tech will also let you stretch out your wireless range by at least six times, while increasing the battery life of any connected device, to boot. The company expects the new technology to start arriving to products like set-top boxes, access points and "carrier-grade" HD by mid next year -- so you may want to put that messy wire-routing project on permanent hold.

Continue reading Marvell brings a gig to WiFi with new 802.11ac 4x4 system-on-chip

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

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Toshiba intros Excite 10 SE tablet with Android 4.1, available December 6th for $350

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/04/toshiba-excite-10-se-android-tablet/

Toshiba's been relatively quiet on the tablet front since announcing its Excite lineup back in April, but today the company's making a mild comeback with a hot-off-the-press, Jelly Bean-loaded slate. Aside from packing Android 4.1, though, the newly announced (although not exactly unknown) Excite 10 SE also boasts a 10.1-inch, AutoBrite HD (1280 x 800) display and NVIDIA'S Tegra 3 CPU -- all while weighing just shy of 23 ounces (22.6, to be exact) and measuring in at only 0.4 inches thick. Toshiba's making the Excite 10 SE available a couple of days from now, on December 6th, starting at a decent price of $350 with 16GB of internal storage -- at which point you'll be able to snag one from the source link below or at 'select' brick-and-mortar retailers.

Continue reading Toshiba intros Excite 10 SE tablet with Android 4.1, available December 6th for $350

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Source: Toshiba

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CyPhy Works reveals tethered flying bots that can spy on you indefinitely (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/04/cyphy-works-reveals-tethered-flying-bots-that-stay-aloft-forever/

A new venture from an iRobot co-founder called CyPhy Works has borne fruit in the form of two flying drones dedicated to surveillance duty. The first, called Ease, is a mere foot in diameter by 16-inches tall and can fly safely in tight spaces or through open windows or doors, thanks to its petite size and ducted rotors. It packs a pair of HD cameras along with a thermal imager and can stay aloft permanently, in theory, thanks to a microfilament tether attached to a ground station -- which also makes it impervious to weather, tracking and interception at the same time, according to CyPhy. The second drone, an insect-like quadrotor called Parc, is designed for higher flying missions thanks to its larger size and maximum 1,000-foot altitude. It also uses a tether and can stay aloft for 12-hours on a single ground-station battery, letting it spy from afar with on-board HD, night-vision and thermal cameras. The company's yet to take any orders, but thanks to investors and government grants, the snoopy little bots could be getting up into your business one day soon -- as creepily shown in the video after the break.

Continue reading CyPhy Works reveals tethered flying bots that can spy on you indefinitely (video)

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Via: Wired

Source: Cy Phi Works

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