Meanwhile, Panasonic’s coveted plasma display production – which was previously expected to shift to Shanghai, bringing the production line equipment back up to speed – will no longer be restarted. In a dramatic move, Panasonic’s headquarters will decamp from Osaka, Japan, and move instead to Singapore.

Panasonic blamed the continued strength of the Japanese yen and sidelined demand from developed markets for the underwhelming quarter, with sales in Europe, China, Asia, Japan and the Americas all down by as much as 13-percent. However, those global figures hide some pockets of success: sales in Nigeria over the last six months have leapt 64-percent year-on-year, and in India 40-percent, excluding Sanyo-branded devices.

Nonetheless, Panasonic’s semiconductor business is floundering, with a 7.4bn yen ($94.8m) operating loss in Components and Devices “mainly due to significantly worsened profit in semiconductors.” Overall, Panasonic now estimates its 2012 full-year results will include a 420bn yen ($5.4bn) net loss.

The other Samsung is described as “a full touch 4G” phone, with no QWERTY but everything else pointing to one of the US carrier variants of the Samsung Galaxy S II. That would imply a WiMAX upgrade for the Super AMOLED Plus smartphone, though we’re guessing the same 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 8-megapixel, Full HD video capable camera.

Next, there’s some CDMA BlackBerry news for the quarter, with the Bold Touch and the Monaco (aka BlackBerry Touch) tipped to arrive sometime between July and September. Each will be Global Phones, with both CDMA and GSM radios for use in North America and when roaming abroad. A third, unnamed device will apparently support push-to-talk, as will a few new Kyocera/Sanyo handsets.

That means the devices you put the Pro version of the batteries into will last longer than if you crammed a normal Eneloop inside. Sanyo recommends the pro battery for high drain devices like digital cameras, strobe lights or flashlights. The Eneloop Plus battery has an overheat function that helps prevent the batteries from overheating. Overheating of a battery can lead to fire risk so the extra protection is good.

Sanyo will also offer a Wireless Charging Carrying Case to recharge the batteries with no wire that is compatible with the Qi standard. The Eneloop Pro battery will be offered in AA size only and will hit the market on July 21 in Japan. The Eneloop Plus won’t hit Japan until December 1. Pricing is 1260 yen for a pair of the Pro batteries and unannounced on the Plus offerings or the wireless charge cases.

Apple scored 795 out of 1,000, maintaining their pole position from last year’s satisfaction survey, while HTC and Motorola have switched positions, with 763 and 762 respectively. That’s a dip for all three from last year, where Apple scored 800, HTC scored 781 and Motorola scored 791, suggesting that smartphone buyers are generally getting tougher to please.

As for regular cellphones, Sanyo leads the field with strong scores for physical design, battery and operation, with LG and Samsung following in second and third places. J.D. Power found

Press Release:

J.D. Power and Associates Reports:
Social Media Use Drives Higher Satisfaction among Owners of
Smartphones and Traditional Mobile Phones

Apple Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Smartphone Manufacturers,
While Sanyo Ranks Highest among Traditional Mobile Phone Manufacturers

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 17 March 2011 — Overall satisfaction with smartphones and traditional mobile phones is considerably higher among owners who use their devices for social media activity, compared with satisfaction among owners who do not access social media platforms on their phones, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction StudySM—Volume 1 and the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction StudySM—Volume 1, both released today.

Among smartphone owners who use their device to access social media sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, satisfaction averages 783 on a 1,000-point scale—nearly 22 points higher than among those smartphone owners who do not often use social media sites on their device. Currently, more than one-half of smartphone owners report having used their device to access social media sites via the mobile Web or mobile applications. While rates of mobile social media site usage are not nearly as high among owners of traditional mobile phones (9%, on average), satisfaction among traditional handset owners who use their device for social media is notably higher than that of traditional handset owners who don’t access social media (754 vs. 696).

“It’s not unexpected that smartphone owners access social media sites from their device more frequently than traditional mobile phone owners due to features such as larger screens and QWERTY keyboards,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. “However, these findings demonstrate that equipping devices with powerful features and service is key to creating positive customer experiences with wireless devices.”

The study finds that wireless users who engage in mobile social media activity on their mobile device also tend to use it more often for calls, texts and data; are more likely to purchase additional wireless services in the future; and are also more likely to provide positive recommendations for their handset brand and service provider, compared with users who don’t use social media on their device.

“It’s clear that the gap in satisfaction between customers who use social media applications on their device and those who don’t is driven by several factors, but the critical ingredient is whether the user has a positive experience with the wireless device itself,” said Parsons. “Providing features that facilitate social networking activity and make it easy for users to communicate and share information between various social media sites may be an effective way for service providers to further engage customers and increase loyalty.”

These two studies measure customer satisfaction with traditional wireless handsets and smartphones among owners who have used their current mobile phone for less than two years, by examining several key factors. In order of importance, the key factors of overall satisfaction with traditional wireless handsets are: operation (30%); physical design (30%); features (20%); and battery function (20%). For smartphones, the key factors are: ease of operation (26%); operating system (24%); physical design (23%); features (19%); and battery function (8%).

For a fifth consecutive time, Apple ranks highest among manufacturers of smartphones in customer satisfaction with a score of 795 and performs particularly well in ease of operation, operating system, features and physical design. Motorola (763) and HTC (762) follow Apple in the smartphone rankings.

Sanyo ranks highest in overall wireless customer satisfaction with traditional handsets with a score of 715. Sanyo performs well in three factors: physical design, battery functionality and operation. LG (711) and Samsung (703) follow Sanyo in the traditional handset rankings.

The studies also find the following key wireless handset usage patterns:

The average price of a traditional wireless mobile phone continues to decline and averages $73 in 2011, compared with an average of $81 at the beginning of 2009. The decline is primarily due to discounts provided by handset providers and wireless service carriers to incentivize sales. Currently, 46 percent of owners report having received a free mobile phone when subscribing to a wireless service, which is a historical high.
Mobile applications continue to enhance the smartphone user experience. Two-thirds of owners say they have downloaded games and social networking applications to their device. More than one-half (54%) say they have downloaded travel software, such as maps and weather applications, while 53 percent indicate having downloaded entertainment-oriented applications. This indicates that smartphone owners are continuing to integrate their device usage into both their business and personal lives.
Ownership tenure impacts overall satisfaction with the device experience. Those who report owning their device less than one year are significantly more likely to be more satisfied than those who have owned their wireless phone for a longer period of time (773 vs. 728). Newer devices tend to offer more features, services and better quality than older phones.
The 2011 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study—Volume 1 and the 2011 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction Study—Volume 1 are based on experiences reported by 7,275 smartphone owners and 11,347 traditional mobile phone owners. The studies were fielded between July and December 2010.

Updating to Android 2.2 Froyo for the Samsung Epic 4G will mean increased speed, improved Bluetooth device support, Bluetooth voice dialing, Flash Player 10.1, GPS enhancements, and the ability to install applications to external storage. Once your device has been queued by Sprint, you will receive a message on your device letting you know the update is available. If you attempt to check manually before your device is queued, you will receive a “no upgrade available” message.

The Sanyo Zio will also receive the Android 2.2 Froyo update on February 21st. Improvements here will include the addition of Swype, Sprint Zone 2.5.5, Sprint ID activation improvements, and better battery life. However, Flash 10.1 may not be supported and the update will come as three separate downloads best received via a Wi-Fi connection.

[via IntoMobile]

Video demo after the cut

Sanyo has managed it by slotting in a cutting blade as well as the usual dough hook, and adding a second compartment – built into the lid – which dumps the rest of the ingredients into the mixture once the grains have been suitably shredded. The whole process takes about four hours from rice to fresh loaf.

There’s something gloriously hypnotic about the grains of rice being ground up into first a fine powder and then a paste in the video below, so we’re glad to hear Sanyo is planning on launching the GOPAN internationally sometime in 2011.

[via OhGizmo!]

Sanyo has unveiled a new projector that is aimed at use in large venues the projector is called the PLC-HF15000L. The projector has 15,000 ANSI lumens and supports really high resolutions as well with more than full HD and an inorganic 2K LCD panel. The projector has four 380W lamps inside with unique cooling technology.

The inputs on the projector include HDMI 1.3; DVI-D; D-sub 15 pin RGB; BNC for RGBHV and CV/Y-Pb/Cb-Pr/Cr; and S-Video, with optional boards available for HD/SD-SDI and Dual Link SDI. Other features include power zoom and motorized lens shift. The only thing that is bad about this projector is the price. The projector will ship this month for $44,995.

SlashVERIZON’D
Looks like blogger “Marley” of ShutterMug found a simple way to prove Verizon to be amongst those evil companies who sell your information unless you tell them specifically you’d like them not to do that. Upon signing up with a friend to FiOs with Verizon recently, Marley was asked if they’d like to use “an alias for [their] listing.” Not soon after signing up, a common bit of snail-mail spam came through the mail with none other than that alias printed quite clearly. Shucks.

[Via ShutterMug]

R3 Media Network

SlashPhone
HTC Merge Accessories Spotted in Wild
AT&T Announces Olympus Availabile December/January Via Facebook
BlackBerry Empathy Concept Made to Detect its Users Mood
Microsoft Retail Stores Offer Windows Phone 7 Devices For Free With Contract

Android Community
University of Missouri to offer goMizzou app on Android
Angry Birds on Android Downloads 7M copies
LG P990 Star smartphone surfaces with new UI pics
DROID 2 Global hits Wirefly for just $80
HTC considering E Ink and 3D displays/imaging for future devices?
Show off your Allegiance to the almighty Android in Call of Duty: Black Ops [LOLS]
AT&T and T-Mobile to possibly get Acer Liquid Metal?
NOOKcolor Rooted! [HOLY CRAP]
New LG Star Pictures and Details Leaked
Samsung GT-i9200 snapshots caught on Picasa
T-Mobile G2 hardware security hacked completely!
WiFi Syncing coming to Android via Winamp
HTC Merge Spotted Entrepreneur Magazine
Android 2.2 Froyo Now Available On Archos Array of Internet Tablets
Android Market Content Ratings Now Live
Samsung Posts GPS Fix Guide for Captivate and Vibrant
Verizon Offers Up Entire DROID Lineup BOGA through Christmas
Android Tablets in 5-inch and 8-inch Sizes Offered Up by View Quest in the UK
Verizon Pastes iPhone Maps App into Droid X Ad
RPG Zenonia 3 Available in Android Market in Korea [IN MAIN PICTURE ABOVE]

SlashGear
Barnes & Noble finances released: saved by NOOK
A Week with NOOKcolor: The Missing Link – Viewing Manually Loaded Books and What a Root Means for the Future [FEATURED]
FarmVille credit & exclusive items added to American Express reward scheme
Verizon 4G LTE event on December 1 will detail US roll-out
Windows Phone 7 update “took 3 months to do what Apple did in 3 years” tips developer
Google Earth 6 adds full Street View, 3D trees & more [Video] [MAP AS BIG AS WHATS MAPPED]
LG Optimus 7 uses NAND flash for storage
Project iPad magazine arrives in App Store [PROJECT]
NASA holding press conference Thursday, has it found extraterrestrial life? [NEATO]
Linutop 3 fanless Atom-powered PC surfaces
Microsoft takes i4i case to Supreme Court
135k Windows Phone 7 sales tip Facebook stat watchers
Microsoft Kinect sells 2.5 million units in 25 days
Buy.com blows up on Cyber Monday
BlueAnt unveils new Q2 Platinum Bluetooth headset
HTC E Ink plus 3D displays & cameras in consideration tips job spec
SiliconPower unveils speedy E20 SSD
Comcast accused of internet abuse in latest net neutrality spat [NET NEUTRALITY NOW!]
Sanyo Pedal Juice box gives guitarists staying-power
High-Speed 500MB/sec CompactFlash next-gen standard proposed by Sony, Nikon & SanDisk
iPad goes free in Japan with Softbank deal
Google social networking drive delayed until Spring 2011?
Apple block PhotoFast MacBook Air SSD kit production?
Dell Vostro V130 adds HDMI & Hyperbaric Cooling, keeps ultraportable style
LG Star leaks, blows benchmarking out the water with Tegra 2
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm to be Released Midnight, December 6th 2010 at (all?) Hastings Entertainment Locations
DIY Death Star Holiday Tree Ornament
ASUS and Lamborghini Present Backpack, Laptop Cases, Mouse, and HDD
Gifts for Smartphone Owners? Try Smartphone Accessories
Asetek Liquid Cooling for Small Gaming PCs, 3U Servers, and Workstations
Project Magazine for iPad Gets Hands-on, Takes a Swing at The Daily [PROJECT]
Happy Birthday To You Who Won’t Read This [COLUMN]
Google Sends out Holiday Media Party Invites to Publishers
Panasonic Jungle Being Tested in the United States
Samsung Mobile Display Shows Off Flexible 3D OLED Concept at FPD International
PlayStation Move Sells 4.1 Million Worldwide
LMP Keypad Bluetooth numeric pad for Mac hits FCC
Google under antitrust investigation over allegations it squeezed out search rivals

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

R3 Media Network

SlashPhone
HTC Merge Accessories Spotted in Wild
AT&T Announces Olympus Availabile December/January Via Facebook
BlackBerry Empathy Concept Made to Detect its Users Mood
Microsoft Retail Stores Offer Windows Phone 7 Devices For Free With Contract

Android Community
University of Missouri to offer goMizzou app on Android
Angry Birds on Android Downloads 7M copies
LG P990 Star smartphone surfaces with new UI pics
DROID 2 Global hits Wirefly for just $80
HTC considering E Ink and 3D displays/imaging for future devices?
Show off your Allegiance to the almighty Android in Call of Duty: Black Ops [LOLS]
AT&T and T-Mobile to possibly get Acer Liquid Metal?
NOOKcolor Rooted! [HOLY CRAP]
New LG Star Pictures and Details Leaked
Samsung GT-i9200 snapshots caught on Picasa

SlashGear
Barnes & Noble finances released: saved by NOOK
A Week with NOOKcolor: The Missing Link – Viewing Manually Loaded Books and What a Root Means for the Future [FEATURED]
FarmVille credit & exclusive items added to American Express reward scheme
Verizon 4G LTE event on December 1 will detail US roll-out
Windows Phone 7 update “took 3 months to do what Apple did in 3 years” tips developer
Google Earth 6 adds full Street View, 3D trees & more [Video] [MAP AS BIG AS WHATS MAPPED]
LG Optimus 7 uses NAND flash for storage
Project iPad magazine arrives in App Store
NASA holding press conference Thursday, has it found extraterrestrial life? [NEATO]
Linutop 3 fanless Atom-powered PC surfaces
Microsoft takes i4i case to Supreme Court
135k Windows Phone 7 sales tip Facebook stat watchers
Microsoft Kinect sells 2.5 million units in 25 days
Buy.com blows up on Cyber Monday
BlueAnt unveils new Q2 Platinum Bluetooth headset
HTC E Ink plus 3D displays & cameras in consideration tips job spec
SiliconPower unveils speedy E20 SSD
Comcast accused of internet abuse in latest net neutrality spat [NET NEUTRALITY NOW!]
Sanyo Pedal Juice box gives guitarists staying-power
High-Speed 500MB/sec CompactFlash next-gen standard proposed by Sony, Nikon & SanDisk
iPad goes free in Japan with Softbank deal
Google social networking drive delayed until Spring 2011?
Apple block PhotoFast MacBook Air SSD kit production?
Dell Vostro V130 adds HDMI & Hyperbaric Cooling, keeps ultraportable style
LG Star leaks, blows benchmarking out the water with Tegra 2

To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

On the back there are twin 9V DC outputs, and you can daisy-chain multiple effects units together and power them all from a single Pedal Juice box. Sanyo claims that, unlike 9V batteries which lose voltage quickly, the Pedal Juice provides stable voltage across its full charge, making it more cost-effective in the long-run.

You’re not just limited to pedals, either; the Pedal Juice will also power synths and even external speakers, though you’ll get a lot less than 50hrs runtime from them. It’s available now, priced at $149.99.

The WK2500 has a 16:10 aspect ratio with a contrast ratio of 3000:1 and 2500 lumens of brightness. The XK3010 has a XGA resolution with a 2000:1 contrast ratio and 3000 lumens of brightness. The XK2600 and XK2200 both have XGA resolution and 2000:1 contrast ratios. The difference between the two is that the 2600 has 2600 lumens of brightness with the 2200 getting 2200 lumens.

The projectors can all throw an image ranging from 40″ to 300″ depending on how far it is from the projection surface. Inputs for the range include VGA and RCA. The projectors have mini stereo inputs and LAN ports for control. The line is all the same size as well measuring 13.1″ W x 4″ H x 9.7″ D and weighing in at 6.4 pounds. The WK2500 will ship this month for $995 with the others coming in December at $1145 for the 3010, $995 for the 2600, and $845 for the 2200.

The batteries are being offered in eight different glitter colors of the batteries in a limited edition. The batteries will be available on November 14 in Japan in purple, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, silver, and black. Do we really need batteries in glitter colors? You won’t see them unless they are in the charger.

I guess the glitter colors will look better on store shelves and with the price, being equal folks will take a pretty design over a plain one with the same performance. Sanyo isn’t exactly clear on the point of if the pack has all of the different colors in one bundle or if the colors are offered individually.

From Around the Web

Panasonic and Sanyo Create EVERLED Li-Ion Solar Street Lights: As technology companies all over the globe figure out ways to create better technology, that also combines the efforts of an eco-friendly stature, we’re left watching even the most seemingly mundane pieces of technology being upgraded. For instance, Panasonic and Sanyo saw fit to fix street lights. The new versions, called EVERLEDs, combines the use of solar cells and Lithiu-ion batteries. The lights feature Sanyo’s HIT solar cells, which boast the highest-class conversion efficiency in the world, and more integrated thin solar cells. As you can imagine ,the electricity needed to power the lights is gathered from the solar panels, and then the energy is stored in the Li-ion batteries. The LED lights can be then be powered for up to 15 hours at night, without sun. The pair of companies plan on launching the new street lights in January, 2011, in Japan. [via FarEastGizmos]

R3 Media Network

SlashGear

Palm Pre 2 Heading to Verizon
Google Comes Clean on Q3 Results
FedEx Overnight Delivery is Terrible
Verizon FIVESPOT Hands-On
Gran Turismo Delayed Due to Executive Team
MacBook Air Getting a Refresh Next Week

Android Community

T-Mobile G2 Gets Temporary Root Fix
Adobe’s Flash Player Hits 1 Million Downloads

SlashPhone

Samsung Galaxy Tab Lands in Germany
Vertu Unveils Constellation Quest Smartphone

While Sprint’s on stage, they’re taking their time and making sure that all of their announcements sink in accordingly. While the Sprint ID Packs may be the focus for now, there’s also the fact that Sprint is officially announcing three brand new devices joining the Sprint network. The first up is the Sanyo Zio, which spent some time on another regional carrier here in the States, but now it’s on the Sprint network, with some major improvements.

The Sanyo Zio is an Android-based device, and will launch on October 10th. The device features a 3.5-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen display, a 3.2MP camera on the back, and Android 2.1 pre-loaded onto the device. You’ll find all of the standard Google-centric applications on the handset, too, including Gmail. Sprint’s marketing this as a price-friendly device, bringing the Android 2.1 experience to a smartphone that costs less than $100. You’ll be able to pick up the device in less than a week at a Sprint store, and it will cost you only $99 with a new, two-year contract.

Of course, the device is one of the announcement handsets for Sprint’s new Sprint ID Packs, which let you bring more customization and personalization to your device. With the Sprint ID packs, you’ll be able to put a specific theme on a single homescreen, which will also include brand new applications for each of those themes. You’ll be able to find Sprint ID Packs from partners like ESPN, Disney, and E! Entertainment. Check out the Sprint ID video below to see how it works.

Press Release

Sprint Announces Sanyo Zio Featuring Sprint ID
for a Personalized Android Experience at a Great Value

Thin, sleek Sanyo Zio from Kyocera debuts at Sprint on Oct. 10
as an ideal blend of brains and beauty for less than $100

SAN FRANCISCO – Oct. 6, 2010 – Proving that a wireless device can be smart, attractive and unique to each individual, the Android™-powered Sanyo Zio™ will launch with Sprint (NYSE: S) on Oct. 10. At the CTIA Enterprise & Applications trade show today, Sprint and Kyocera Communications Inc., provider of Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded wireless devices, announced the launch of the new smartphone to coincide with the rollout of Sprint ID, a user-friendly new means of personalizing Android devices.

With a focus on making the Android experience accessible to those looking for a phone priced under $100, Zio will cost just $99.99 with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $100 mail-in rebate (pricing excludes surcharges and taxes). It will be available in all Sprint retail channels, including www.sprint.com and 1-800-SPRINT1.

Sprint ID allows Zio users to quickly download ID packs that deliver a predefined experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, all at once. Packs are designed to meet customers’ interests, whether they are sports fans, fitness fanatics, auto enthusiasts or more. The packs could be brand-specific; allow users to easily switch between English or Spanish; or be specifically tailored to the customers’ businesses or lines of work. The marketplace of Sprint ID experiences is growing and customers can have one or up to five on their devices, powered by the Now Network.

”With Sprint ID, Zio introduces a new level of personalization that allows users to completely customize their devices to match their hobbies, interests or personalities,” said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Each ID offers a variety of unique apps, widgets, wallpapers and ringtones and gives users the opportunity to customize their devices. Pairing Sprint ID with Zio, a robust and easy-to-use Android 2.1 device, offers a rich multimedia experience with a large intuitive touch-screen at an amazing price.”

The intelligently sleek device with the customizable Android 2.1 operating system opens new realms of rich multimedia experiences with a 3.5-inch WVGA touch-screen, 3.2 MP camera and 30-frame-per-second video record and playback. The handset’s high-resolution, touch-screen display is like carrying a flatscreen TV that fits in a pocket.

Designed with productivity and entertainment in mind, Zio boasts multiple keyboard options, all with haptic feedback, an accelerometer to rotate between landscape and portrait orientations and an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts screen brightness to optimize viewing. The easy-to-use trackball also helps users navigate between the seemingly endless features found on Zio, including address book integration with such social apps as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace; GPS functionality and digital compass plus preloaded Google Maps™; media player for streaming videos; full HTML Web browser; and a full library of more than 80,000 widgets and applications available from Android Market™. Zio also features a pre-loaded Exchange Email application that supports corporate Outlook e-mail, calendar, contacts and tasks, while also supporting ActiveSync and enhanced security features.

“We are confident that Zio’s blend of style, functionality and affordability will make the virtually unlimited customization and personalization of Android available to entirely new groups of consumers who were intimidated by the technology or price of previous smartphones,” said Yasuhiro Oishi, vice president of Sales and Marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. “Zio humanizes the technology and puts the power of Android in a sleek, attractive device.”

As beautiful as it is powerful, Zio is only 0.5 inches thick and weighs only 3.7 ounces, making it one of the thinnest, lightest Android devices on the market. The jet-black exterior is trimmed in silver with a soft-touch back that helps ensure that it won’t slip out of your hands. With 512MB of internal memory, a 2GB microSD memory card (provided in box) and support for up to 32GB microSDHC cards, Zio can handle even the most robust of applications.

Find Your Own “Best of Android” with Sprint ID
Sprint ID brings together content into themed packs that can be deployed on Zio at the touch of a button. Zio users can load up to five Sprint ID packs on their phones and change themes on a whim as the mood strikes. Specific packs can even be further customized – adding or removing elements to match preferences – while the MyID function allows users to define and create their own application packs.

Zio requires activation on one of Sprint’s Everything Data plans. For just $69.99 Sprint’s Everything Data 450 plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM gives customers unlimited text, Web and calling with any mobile in America while on the Nationwide Sprint Network – all for the same price AT&T and Verizon charge for unlimited talk only (excluding Verizon’s Southern California plan; pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).

Sprint Everything Data plans automatically enroll customers in the Sprint Premier loyalty program, for benefits including annual device upgrades on the primary line. Existing Sprint customers can switch to an Everything Data plan without extending their service agreement. New lines of service require a two-year service agreement.

The Sprint Free Guarantee is the only full-money back guarantee on service plans in the wireless industry today, allowing customers to try a new line of service with Sprint for 30 days. If a customer isn’t completely satisfied, they can cancel service and return their device to be reimbursed for the device purchase and activation fee, get the early termination fee waived, get a full refund for monthly service plan recurring charges incurred, and get all associated taxes and fees waived. In addition, Sprint will waive the restocking fee for new customer exchanges as part of this policy. Refund excludes usage not included in the service plan, premium content, third-party billing and international charges.

###

About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 48.1 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, Common Cents Mobile and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. With its customer-focused strategy, you can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About Kyocera Communications Inc.
Kyocera Communications Inc. (KCI) is the headquarters for Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded wireless products and accessories in the Americas. The company’s devices are driving the convergence of telecommunications, broadband and multimedia. KCI was formed in April 2009 through the combination of Kyocera Wireless Corp. and Kyocera Sanyo Telecommunications Inc., two wholly owned subsidiaries of Kyocera International Inc. The former was created when Kyocera purchased QUALCOMM Incorporated’s consumer wireless phone business in 2000, while the latter was formed when Kyocera purchased the wireless phone business of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. in 2008. Based in San Diego, KCI leverages Japan’s history of creating advanced consumer technologies around humanism and respect for the environment and blending them with a Western entrepreneurialism and style, resulting in a unique design language and a natural, user-friendly interface. For more information, http://www.kyocera-wireless.com or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kyoceramobilephones.

Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as “advanced ceramics”). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, office-document imaging equipment, solar power generating systems, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended During the year ended March 31, 2010, the company’s net sales totaled 1.07 trillion yen (approximately US $11.5 billion). Kyocera marked its 50th anniversary in 2009, and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations. It is ranked #554 on Forbes magazine’s 2010 “Global 2000″ listing of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.

The handsets, while perhaps not the main takeaway of the announcement itself, are indeed still important. The Samsung Transform is bringing another landscape QWERTY keyboard to the mix, while the Sanyo Zio is a device that we’ve seen available here in the States under the Cricket banner for a little while now. The LG Optimus S is the first handset here in the States to sport the Optimus brand name. All three devices are going to be Sprint ID ready.

The main pull is Sprint’s ID Pack, which will allow customers to have a brand new way to customize their devices. The idea behind the Sprint ID Pack is a way for customers to download packs of applications, based on your particular interest. If you like ESPN, there’s an ID for that, which you can download and install onto your phone. Once you do, and you add it to a certain homescreen, then that homescreen actually becomes themed. It’s a whole new means of customization, and will show off your particular interests, in a theme and app packages, in a whole new way. And, if you’re wanting a Spanish variation of an application, Latin America Company will be supplying app packages with Spanish language support.

As far as partners go, Sprint has announced that they will be working with ESPN, Disney, Oprah, Amazon, StubHub, E! Entertainment, and the Home Shopping Network to bring Sprint ID Packs to these new devices. Information is still coming through the pipe, so stay tuned. Check out the video below of Sprint ID in action.

The QuaDrive engine allows a yellow control device to be added to the traditional red, blue, and green elements of the 3LCD system. The addition of the yellow controller allows a better image and improves the color accuracy of the projector and allows for more brightness.

The contrast ratio of the projector is 3000:1 and to customize the projector for each installation. The inputs include HDMI 1.3, DVI-D, D-sub, BNC, and several other inputs are available. The projector will ship in November for $34,995.

Sanyo implemented their own lithium-ion batteries in the e-Let’s, as well as including a dedicated charger and a brand new battery system used specifically for electric motors. The new scooter weighs just a little less than the petrol-engine version, but it’s enough to be noticeable. And, as with many electric scooters, the e-Let’s offers up a soundless drive, low vibration, zero emissions, and smooth acceleration.

You can charge the e-Let’s from a 100V household outlet, and it will give you a range of 30km after a four hour full charge. The scooter is a single-seater, though, so you won’t be taking any dates around on this thing. No word on when Sanyo or Suzuki will market the e-Let’s, or where, or for how much.

[via FarEastGizmos]

The device has a high-gloss blue finish that has a glow-through dial pad and a 2.8-inch internal display. The outside of the phone has small display for showing numbers and the time. Other features include a media player and a 3.2MP digital camera that can shoot video and the handset has full messaging options.

Music loaded onto a microSD card can be played on the handset and the device supports Sprint TV and YouTube videos. The handset has full MMS and other messaging options and supports push email from most online and IMAP/POP3 accounts. Spring will offer the Innuendo for $49.99 with a new contract and a $50 mail-in rebate.

The camera can shoot 1080p 30p video and has a 3x optical zoom lens. The camera can also shoot still photos at 10MP resolution and is about the size of a deck of cards making it easy to take with you on the go. The little camera also records stereo sound along with that HD video footage.

The lens is a 37mm wide-angle unit and the camera sports a mini HDMI port for watching your video directly on a big screen. Power comes from a lithium-ion battery and that battery charges via the USB port on your computer. Images and video are stored to SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards up to 64GB. The little camera measures 2.48″ W x 0.87″ D x 4.36″ H and weighs 3.7 ounces. Sanyo will ship the camera in September for $169.99.

There’s also a 5x optical zoom, speed shooting mode which can snap up to 22 photos at 7fps, and a battery good for 60 minutes of solid video recording.  The waterproofing is good for up to 1oft below the surface, and an integrated HDMI port (along with the SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot) makes viewing content easier than previous Xacti camcorders that demanded an adapter cable or cradle be used.

What’s kept the same is the distinctive pistol-grip form factor and the rotating 2.7-inch LCD display, and the whole thing measures in at a pocket-friendly 3.37 x 1.47 x 4.34 inches.  The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA102YL will hit US shelves later this month, priced at $349.99.

Press Release:

SANYO Takes Underwater Full HD Video to a Whole New Level

1080 Full HD Videos and 14MP Photos from Ten Feet Underwater to the Top of the Slopes

CHATSWORTH, Calif., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ — SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO), introduces a new waterproof Full HD (1920 x 1080) Dual Camera Xacti, model VPC-CA102YL, for active lifestyles. The new Dual Camera can be used to record over 480 minutes of 1080 Full HD video on a single 64GB SDXC memory card and 14MP photos from a depth of ten feet underwater. The camera will be available for purchase in August with an MSRP of $349.99.
Designed for any indoor or outdoor adventure, the VPC-CA102YL fits perfectly in the palm of the user’s hand and is small enough to be carried in a pocket, backpack, or purse — ready to be used at any time and in any weather condition. SANYO Dual Cameras use a convenient video format, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, which makes sharing videos online, on blogs or on other multimedia sites simple. The media created can also be easily edited and exported to portable media devices. Photos and videos can be displayed in Full HD resolution on high definition TVs.
“Dual Cameras are packed with features and offer incredible flexibility,” says Tom Van Voy, Vice President and General Manager of the Digital Solutions Division for SANYO North America. “This is the ‘take everywhere’ camera; water, snow, or land. Getting great HD video and still images is incredibly easy with the new CA102YL,” said Van Voy.
The camera uses a proprietary “double-range zoom” feature for zoom operation while filming video with 12x zoom available from wide angle to telephoto for capturing distant objects (equivalent to 40mm to 480 mm zoom in a 35mm film camera). In addition, the High-Speed Sequential Shooting mode enables capturing up to 22 photos at 7 frames per second.
The VPC-CA102YL is stylish and compact with a yellow, vertical-shaped body with gray accents. The new SANYO high-speed image processing engine contributes to the small size.
Files can be saved to SD, SDHC or ultra-high capacity SDXC (up to 2Tb) memory cards. Also, there are multiple video and photo modes for flexibility in memory use. The battery will allow approximately 60 minutes of continuous filming time in Full HD mode.
Main Features: VPC-CA102YL
Full-HD videos, 1080 60i (1920 x 1080 pixels)
14MP photos
Waterproof (can be used in water up to 10 ft depth)
Compact, vertical form factor
CMOS sensor (14.4MP)
38 mm wide-angle lens
5x optical zoom, 12x double-range zoom
Compatible with SD, SDHC, or SDXC memory cards
Wireless data transfer via Eye-Fi SD cards*
2.7-inch TFT LCD display (can be turned 285 degrees)
“Face Chaser” and “Target a Color” functions
Mini-HDMI port
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Rechargeable via USB port
Stylish yellow body with gray accents
Size: 3.37 x 1.47 x 4.34 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: approx. 5.5 ounces

*Eye-Fi memory cards are sold separately, and specifications subject to change
For more information about the SANYO VPC-CA102YL please visit http://www.us.sanyo.com/Dual-Cameras.
About SANYO
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. is a global, leading provider of energy, environment, and lifestyle applications. Digital Solutions, a division of SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO North America is a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.), is based in Chatsworth, California, and is a service and sales division with two main groups: Corporate Solutions and Consumer Solutions. The division markets digital projectors, Dual Cameras, digital still cameras, home appliances, security video equipment, audio systems, and portable electronics. For more information on SANYO, please visit http://us.SANYO.com .

The PLV-HF10000L (they need a different name) has a native 2K resolution, which means it’ll bring 2048 x 1080 images to your wall. What makes it better, though, is the fact that it can bring that resolution to work in conjunction with several units, which can then use edge blending to bring together the images they’re displaying, making one giant –and we mean giant– projection. As far as contrast ratios go, the PLV packs a 3,000:1, and utilizes QuaDrive technology together with a Color Control Device (CCD) to separately control the yellow light insdie the optical engine. Which, hopefully, should mean that the image itself is sharper, and the color should be a bit more precise and feature far more clarity.

You also get picture-in-picture, as well as picture-by-picture features, too. Just in case all of that wasn’t enough to make you want this thing. As the title suggests, Sanyo is set to launch it upon the world in November, but they don’t have any word on pricing quite yet. Though, we can probably safely say that it’s going to be expensive.

[via Pocket-Lint]

The camera is called the DMX-CA100 and it will launch at the end of June. The camera will be offered in black, yellow, and pink colors and pricing is not yet announced. The camera is capable of being underwater at up to 3 meters for up to an hour meeting IPX8 standards. The resolution is 1920 x 1080 and video is recorded in MPEG-4 AVC and H.264 formats.

In addition to recording 1080p video, the camera can also shoot 14MP still shots and has high-speed sequential shooting mode that can take 22 photos in a row at seven frames per second. To hit that speed photos at shot in 2MP resolution. The camera also has up to 12x zoom.

Sanyo has unveiled a new projector for home theaters called the PLV-Z4000. The projector has some nice features for the home theater enthusiast like a 65000:1 contrast ratio and 1200 ANSI lumens of brightness.

The projector has 3LCD technology with a 120Hz refresh rate and lots of connectivity options. Connectivity includes dual HDMI 1.3b ports, component RCA, D-Sub, S-video, and composite RCA ports. A 100-inch image requires the projector to be 10 to 20 feet from the projection surface. Sanyo will ship the PLV-Z4000 at the end of May for $2495.

The new projectors include the PLC-WM4500 and PLC-WM5500; versions with the power lens add an L at the end of the model number. The projectors each have PiP functionality allowing them to show two images at once on a single screen. The resolution on each is 1280 x 800.

The WM5500 has 5500 ANSI lumens of brightness and the WM4500 has 4500 lumens. Contrast ratio on both projectors is 800:1. Connectivity includes DVI-D, HDMI 1.3, D-Sub, and more. Each projector also has a wired remote and Ethernet port. The 5500 will sell for $5,645 in July with the 4500 selling for $4,545 in August.

Meanwhile the XACTI CG20 drops the still resolution down to 10.7-megapixels.  Sanyo have added SDXC memory card support, and the cameras have a 5x optical zoom that, with some lens trickery, can apparently be extended to 12x.

All three models will arrive in the US come March 2010.  Pricing is expected to be $229 for both the XACTI CG102 and GH2, and $199 for the XACTI CG20.

[via Electronista]

There’s also an SD card slot that’s happy with SDHC and SDXC memory, meaning you could add a further 64GB if your wallet can afford it.  A 5x optical zoom, digital image stabilization and face detection are also onboard, together with a stereo speaker and flash.  Sanyo have also fettled the CG110 to aid Eye-Fi memory card compatibility, with improved power and access point management.

Connectivity includes USB 2.0, HDMI and composite, along with an A/V output, and there’s a 2.7-inch fold-out LCD preview display.  Sanyo reckon you’ll see 190 still shots or 60 minutes of Full HD recording from a single charge.  No word on pricing, but the Sanyo XACTI CG110 will arrive in Japan in late April 2010, in both black and red.

The device is a 9V DC battery pack that has dual 9V outputs supporting a maximum of 2000mA on one outlet used or 1000ma per outlet when both are in use. The device is also water resistant to JIS IPX3 levels and has an on/off switch to keep the user from having to unplug their instruments manually.

Sanyo is set to launch the device this spring for $149.99. Inside the case is a high-capacity lithium ion battery that can recharge fully in 3.5 hours. The battery has 7.35Ah of power and can run for about 50 hours with analog effects units, 27 hours with digital effects units, and about two hours with electronic drum kits.

The BlackBerry Tour 2 9650 is tipped to include WiFi and use the new BlackBerry 5.0 OS; other BlackBerry devices will include the new BlackBerry Pearl Flip.  Meanwhile there’ll apparently be a Motorola Windows Mobile smartphone, which given the company have said they’ve no plans for a WinMo 6.5 device would seem to suggest it could be a Windows Mobile 7 device.

Elsewhere there are several LG devices – the LG LN510, LN240 and LS680 – with various combinations of touchscreens and QWERTY keyboards, models from Samsung – the M350, M570 and M910 – and a new Sanyo 8600.  The tipster also reckons Sprint will launch a full-touchscreen Android 1.6 smartphone, the Motorola i1, for its Nextel iDEN subscribers, complete with a 5-megapixel camera, together with a black version of the Clutch and new rugged i680 and i890 devices.

Updated with video after the cut

Head-on (and in Sanyo’s own press shots) the VPC-SH1 doesn’t look so skinny, but view it from above or below and you can see how much of the barrel the company have removed.  The end result is a camcorder that fits snugly into the palm of your hand, something which makes supporting the large LCD preview display without shaking a little more straightforward.

We’ll have to spend a little more time with the two camcorders to know how well they perform in terms of recording.  Unfortunately both use digital rather than optical image stabilization, something that has been criticized in previous XACTI models for introducing odd juddering and artefacts.  Smaller chassis also mean less space for optics, especially in the case of the CS1.

Still, there’s a lot to be said for a camcorder you can comfortably slip into your jeans pocket, and there’s no doubting that these are two of the most attractive XACTI models to date.

Sanyo XACTI VPC-CS1 demo:

Even better for ease of use, Sanyo have switched to MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 as the native recording format, which means drag-and-drop compatibility with apps like Windows Live Movie Maker.  Previously you’d have had to convert the AVCHD footage into something more software-friendly, a time-consuming intermediary stage.

The XACTI VPC-CS1 can capture 3-megapixel stills (8MP with interpolation) and the VPC-SH1 can manage 4-megapixel (10MP with interpolation); they both feature zoom microphones which narrow to gun-mode the more you zoom in on a subject.  Similarly each has digital image stabilization and face tracking, together with the more unusual “target a color function”.  Connectivity includes a mini-HDMI port, Eye-Fi compatibility and SDXC memory card compatibility.

Both camcorders will go on sale in February 2010, priced at $399.99 for the Sanyo XACTI VPC-SH1 (in either red or black) and $299.99 for the Sanyo XACTI VPC-CS1 (in silver).

The Air Washer Plus is a home air purifier that can suppress airborne germs, bacterial, allergens and odors. The device works using both electrolyzed water and a standard HEPA filter to grab pollutants from the air.

If you have pets in the home, the device should be able to filter pet hair and animal dander out of the air. If you or someone in your home has allergies or asthma, keeping the air clean can go a long way towards reducing asthma symptoms. Sanyo uses a three-direction air distribution system to maximize the flow of air to cover an entire room. The filtration system can remove 99.97% of airborne particles. Sanyo will ship the purifier in early December for $249.99.

The big feature of the projector is its whopping 12,000 lumen light output. To get such a huge amount of lumens the projector uses two lamps. Sanyo claims that the 12,000-lumen number makes the XF1000 the brightest projector in the industry for 100V AC units.

Other features include a 4000:1 contrast ratio and Sanyo’s exclusive QuaDrive optical engine. The QuaDrive engine adds a yellow light control device to the mix of red, green, and blue in the typical 3LCD set up. Inputs include DVI-D, RGB, component and composite as well as S-Video. The projector will ship in December for $24,995.

Sanyo uses a new optical engine for both projectors with an inorganic liquid crystal panel. The light efficiency of the new projectors is 20% higher than compared to conventional models. These features make the projectors good for well-lit rooms and large convention halls.

Both the projectors also use the Sanyo active filter system with filter rolls that are good for 10,000 hours to keep intakes and vents clean. Five different lens options are available for the projector to customize the units to the venue being used. Other specifications include a resolution of 1024 x 768, 4:3 aspect ratio, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 40″ to 400″ screen sizes and DVI-D and other inputs. The PLC-XM140 projector sells for $5,460 and will ship in mid-November. The PLC-XM100 will sell for $4,349 and will ship mid-December. The projectors with part number ending in L sell without lenses.

The iFrame format is a next generation format of video designed to allow the video to be easy to import, edit, and share. The VPC-HD2000A will sell for $599.99 and the VPC-FH1A will sell for $499.99 with both available in stores today.

The iFrame format is compatible with editing applications on both Mac and Windows PCs. Video recorded on both cams is stored to SD/SDHC cards. The cameras both record in 1080i and 1080p HD formats at 60 frames per second. Resolution with the iFrame format is 960 x 540 at 30 frames per second. Both cameras can shoot 8MP still shots. The FH1A has a 3-inch LCD and the HD2000A has a 2.7-inch screen. Both sport 10x optical zoom for still shots and 16x optical zoom for video. The FH1A has HDMI out, the other cam features an HDMI cradle and an external mic input.

Sanyo has unveiled a couple new iPod alarm clocks called the DMP-P1 Cube Alarm Clock Radio and the DMP-692 Dual Dock Music System. The Cube radio will sell for $39.99 and can recharge dockable iPods while playing music. Controls are located on top of the radio and it features BassXpander for improved bass response.

The Dual Dock Music system has dual programmable alarms and can charge two iPods at one time or an iPod and an iPhone. The dock has an integrated rear passive subwoofer and has a standard alarm clock built-in. The device ships with a remote control for fully controlling the dock and the iPod from across the room. The device will sell for $89.99, making it quite a bit cheaper than the dual dock iHome clock radio I talked about last week.

Monday’s here and we’ve got another week ahead of us. And today’s already been pretty busy, considering Apple’s gone and outed the official release date of their upcoming OS, and even Nokia got some netbook action unveiled. And while I’m sure someone at Sanyo cares about all of that, we’re sure they’re thinking you should be more excited about a small camcorder that’s capable of recording at 720p. And, if that’s not all, there’s something else that might entice you to grab this little camera.

First though, we should mention that while Sanyo has brought its previous Xacti camcorders here to the States, this model, the Xacti CG11, will release first in Japan, but there isn’t any reason to think it won’t come here soon. Stats wise, the CG11 is promoting that 720p record rate, but obviously that’s not revolutionary or anything. What makes the CG11 stand out though, is its on board built-in recognition of Eye-Fi cards. This gives users the ability to transfer the recorded videos has taken, and share them with YouTube and other online video sites without having to plug anything in. And compared to the previous CG10 model, the CG11 also acquires a mini-HDMI port to preview your stuff on a bigger screen, at full resolution.

The CG11 takes JPEG images at 10-megapixels, and offers a 5X optical zoom. It has video capture at H.264. And memory is the pretty standard SDHC cards. For those lucky enough to be in Japan to get their paws on this thing, it starts shipping September 11th, and will cost about $317 locally. You probably won’t have to wait very long to get your hands on this here in the States though, so be a little patient if you want some 720p, Eye-Fi sharing goodness.

[via Impress]

In fact, the Repoch is a DVR device that features slot-in hard drives, which are actually compliant with the Information Versatile Disk or iVR standard. The device features a tuner for digital viewing and recording and the capability to watch recordings on analog TVs.

This is good news for those who can’t quite make the upgrade to a digital TV at the moment. Other notable features include numerous connections like an HDMI output, Ethernet, two antenna posts and component video and audio. It comes with a 160GB iVR disk and the expected price tag is $668 when it’s released in Japan on September 1.

The lamp is designed to work as a regular desk lamp but then can be turned sideways to become a flashlight. The light source shifts upon turning the lamp on its side. There is also a “Healing Light” mode that emits a blue glow.

You can adjust the brightness of the lamp by twisting it. It runs on batteries and can be charged up for use as a flashlight. You can get the eneloop starting in September in Japan for about $155.

The PDG-DET100L has a brightness rating of 7,500 lumens with two 330W lamps and a 1,400 x 1,050 resolution. Other features include a contrast ratio of 7,500:1, a 4:3 aspect ratio, HDMI 1.3, DVI-D, S-video and RGB. Additionally, it has a DICOM Simulation Mode, which means it can be used to project X-rays in medical environments.

The PLC-WTC500L on the other hand has a brightness of 5,000 lumens, a contrast ratio of 3,000:1, dual-lamps, 16:10 aspect ratio and a PJ Net organizer connector. Both models share a 10-filter roller and picture-in-picture. Both will be available later this month for $14,995 and $6,995.

Both projectors have a 1,280 x 768 resolution and feature a standby mode that uses only 0.4W of power. This is actually an 80% improvement since the last Sanyo projector line. It should also be noted that the packaging is thoroughly green as well, with recyclable pulp molds being used over styrofoam.

To get down to the specifics, both projectors have a 500:1 contrast ratio, a 200W lamp, minimum and maximum screen sizes of 40- and 300-inches and a 4:3 aspect ratio. Also included are several inputs include S-video, composite, VGA and an Ethernet jack. The only difference between the two models is the brightness. The PLC-XW-200 has a brightness rating of 2,200 lumens, while the PLC-XW250 has 2,600 lumens. Both will be available this month for $795 and $895, respectively.