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		February 2012 CES 2012 Show Review Available as Free Download from Futuresource Consulting Futuresource analysts spent a much-anticipated week at CES checking out what's new and what's hot across the consumer electronics spectrum, and compiled a report highlighting the key themes and trends entering the marketplace in 2012 and beyond. This report is now available for free download. show more/less Here's a snapshot of what they found: * Smart TV undoubtedly held centre stage with the speed of convergence posing both opportunities and challenges to the content industry in terms of traditional PC vs. TV platform boundaries. * Smart TV is integrating into a multi-platform offering alongside smartphones, tablets and PCs, with content sharing across devices and from the Cloud a major theme. * Strong emphasis on Smart TV user interface, intuitive remote control and navigation, exploiting on-screen graphics, motion control and voice and gesture recognition. * Flat panel display developments are driving a continued trend to larger TV screens, offering an enhanced home theatre experience without the need for projectors and darkened rooms. * Ever-thinner TV displays boosted interest in speakers, soundbars and home theatre systems. * TV manufacturers continue to strengthen their 3D propositions. * Auto-stereoscopic 3DTV was on show but is still some way behind on quality and will need another few years development before moving mainstream. * Apple AirPlay is having a major impact on digital speakers with most vendors now embracing the feature. * Networking, apps and Smart TV features are being added to the Blu-ray hardware product range, and most major brands are also now marketing standalone digital media streamers, some with app capability. * Content and media partnerships and new deal announcements were a major theme of this year's CES. * Hardware vendors were heavily promoting Cloud-based content solutions, multi-platform networking, sharing and local interaction between handheld devices and TV. * The main impetus for connected CE growth is coming from major video brands, notably Netflix, YouTube and Hulu+, who are effectively competing for viewing time with pay-TV, video sell-through and rental. * CES welcomed an array of Ultrabook announcements from all major PC vendors, backed up with major marketing campaigns. * Key developments in the digital camera and camcorder segment centred on wireless connectivity and the cloud, including smartphone-like features integrated into new models. Visit http://www.futuresource-consulting.com/ces2012 to find out more and download the report for free.

		January 2012 Networking technology used by over 50% of all global broadband homes The abundance of innovative connected devices is fuelling a rise in the consumption of digital content and home networking. In turn, this is driving demand for faster broadband speeds and advances in networking technology to improve consumer experiences and create new revenue stream opportunities. show more/less Consumer electronics manufacturers are rapidly adopting the networked movement, integrating IP connectivity into devices as standard, allowing consumers to stream online content through multiple devices in the home. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that over 50% of all broadband homes utilise some form of networking technology on a day-to-day basis. According to research from Futuresource Consulting, of the 600 million global broadband homes at the end of 2011, 400 million deployed home networking technology. By 2015, expectations are for 650 million of the 700 million broadband homes to be interacting with networked devices. Growth for broadband equipment including modems and new generation digital media gateways will continue throughout the forecast period, hitting a value close to $6 billion by 2015. This is driven predominantly through the connection of multiple devices to home networks and the richer experience available through online services; consequently the demand for higher tier premium broadband packages is rapidly increasing. Tablets and smartphones are influencing the market significantly due to the Wi-Fi connectivity inherent in these devices, especially with wireless being the preferred connection method. In addition, device mobility, quality viewing experience and growing availability of content are also major contributors. Tablets in particular are of key strategic interest to the pay-TV industry as an additional viewing platform with content delivered through apps, enabling subscribers to access on-demand content and broadcast programming. Despite a rise in sales from $173 billion in 2010 to $184 billion in 2011, the pay-TV industry looks set to be reaching saturation across the Western Hemisphere, forcing operators to launch additional or added-value services to drive growth and focus on other aspects of their business including broadband. The pay-TV industry - particularly in North America - has recognised a potential revenue stream following increased consumer demand to access content on multiple devices, and responded by launching 'TV Everywhere' which adds subscriber value by delivering content to any connected device in the home. This service is being trialled in the US and Western Europe, and due to constant demand, pressure is on operators and retailers to incessantly deliver innovation in home networking and broadband infrastructure. The ubiquitous standard to emerge into the home networking market has been DLNA supported by all key industry players with the exception of Apple, and it has become the industry's adopted standard for cross-consumer device communication. The technology is now a default feature in the majority of network-enabled equipment, from traditional products such as TVs and Blu-ray players through to fridges. 2011 saw DLNA announce support for commercial video, incorporating content protection and rights management allowing for deployment within pay-TV applications. This initiative is likely to raise the profile and usage of DLNA within devices as pay-TV operators look to use the technology to enhance their services and improve the customer experience. Futuresource announces new Chief Executive position Futuresource Consulting, the specialist research and knowledge-based consulting firm, today announced its intention to recruit a Chief Executive to lead the organisation into its next growth phase. show more/less "As a result of rapid organic growth and ongoing international expansion plans, the time is right to appoint a Chief Executive to manage the company's continued advancement and evolution," says Andrew Snoad, director and co-founder of Futuresource Consulting. "Since the creation of Futuresource four years ago through the merger between Understanding & Solutions and DTC, we have strengthened our market position and extended our expertise across the entire research and analysis chain. Rather than rest on this success, we are committed to advancing our market position and continually delivering client satisfaction across all our markets." Providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, education technology, storage media and IT, Futuresource delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Driven by the needs of clients operating in these very challenging and dynamic global marketplaces, this new role provides a unique opportunity for the right person to lead the next phase of expansion. "This significant appointment will enable us to build on the expertise that we have developed over a 25 year history and represents another major landmark as we continue to maximize the business opportunities available to us," says Snoad. In addition to driving the company through its next phase of growth, the appointment will also allow the existing directors to continue to build on long-lasting client relationships, focus on adding value to the current range of services and identify new areas of business potential. For more information about this role, please visit www.futuresource-consulting.com/recruit.html Notes: Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, education technology, storage media and IT. The company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. www.futuresource-consulting.com Press Contact: Andy C Watson, Head of Marketing & PR T: 01582 500 169 E: andy.watson@futuresource-hq.com Recruitment Contact: Jan Hulatt, HR Director T: 01582 500 142 E: jan.hulatt@futuresource-hq.com Futuresource and Intellect announce the Future of Entertainment Summit BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones to chair inaugural event London. 24 January, 2012: Futuresource Consulting, the leading specialist research and knowledge-based consulting firm and Intellect, the trade association for the UK's technology industry have announced a new 'must attend' event which will help shape the future of digital entertainment. show more/less The Future of Entertainment Summit will take place in London on 20 June this year, providing a prestigious platform for industry leaders, policy makers, entrepreneurs and those driving innovation in digital entertainment and consumer electronics, to share opinions and shape strategy. For many years, both Futuresource and Intellect have run highly successful conferences in this arena and the Future of Entertainment Summit builds on the success of the Futuresource Entertainment Summit and Intellect's Future of Digital Entertainment conference, with the companies joining forces to meet the needs of increasingly converging markets. Jim Bottoms, co-founder and director, Futuresource Consulting said: "The integration of two highly successful conferences to form a new entertainment summit clearly demonstrates our commitment to providing premier, best-in-class events to the entertainment industry. These are challenging times and this partnership allows us to add even more value for attendees as all elements of the industry come together under one roof to explore the full scale of the business opportunity." William Higham, Intellect's director of digital media convergence said: "We are increasingly seeing convergence between the interests and activities of device manufacturers, content creators, technology companies, broadcasters and infrastructure owners. This conference will build on the strong position each organisation enjoys within these dynamic communities and will become an agenda setting industry event." Rory Cellan-Jones, the BBC's highly influential technology correspondent will chair the Future of Entertainment Summit. Follow the conversation on Twitter #fes2012 Conference details Date: 20 June, 2012 Venue: The Grange City Hotel, Cooper's Row London EC3N 2BQ Details of the agenda and speakers will be released in the coming weeks. Ends. Notes to editors: Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, education technology, storage media and IT. The company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. www.futuresource-consulting.com Intellect is the trade association for the UK's technology sector which includes the IT, telecoms and electronics industries. Intellect has 780 member companies ranging from major multinationals to SMEs which account for approximately 10per cent of UK GDP. For more information about Intellect please visit: www.intellectuk.org Contacts: Futuresource Consulting Andy C Watson, Head of Marketing & PR T: 01582 500 169 E: andy.watson@futuresource-hq.com Intellect Tony Henderson, Head of Communications T: 020 7331 2031 M: 07730988295 E: tony.henderson@intellectuk.org Connected TV to Dominate Global TV Shipments by 2015 With forecasts exceeding 80% of units shipped by 2015, connected TVs are expected to lead the way in global TV shipments escalating from 27% in 2011, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less On a regional level, Japan leads the way in the adoption of connected TVs, with 59% of shipments in 2011 integrating IP connectivity as standard. Penetration in the USA and China hit 29%, however Europe is behind the curve with 24% of TV sales being connected. As demand for connected TVs gains momentum, major TV manufacturers are responding by making IP connectivity a standard feature in 60% to 80% of their product portfolio. In addition, embedded Wi-Fi is expected to drive usage moving forwards and many premium models now incorporate this feature enabling consumers to connect and use with ease. Looking to the wider market, as developed territories head towards saturation the world's emerging markets including Brazil and India, witnessing 40% and 86% growth respectively, look set to be driving the global consumer TV industry. Market development will be primarily driven by LED TV shipments, accounting for 90% of units to be shipped globally by 2015. Other technologies including LCD, PDP and CRT are expected to decline throughout the forecast period, while OLED currently used in smartphone technology, will gain traction in TV development by 2015. Market leaders Samsung and LG are already showcasing this technology with launches anticipated in 2012. Increased product availability and falling price premiums have contributed to a growth in global shipments of 3DTVs. Shipments of 16 million units are expected for 2011 once final numbers are in, with anticipated growth throughout the forecast period accounting for 50% of the market in 2015. One of the key reasons behind the growth of 3DTVs is that consumers are purchasing the 3D function by default when looking to upgrade to higher-end models, mainly as they are unaware of the in-built 3D capability at the time of purchase. The new TV Market Report from Futuresource Consulting provides an update for the global consumer TV market. It reviews key developments in the market up to 2011 and provides an outlook to 2015. It profiles key regions and countries and reviews the major developments in terms of product features and the competitive landscape. The report consists of the following sections: * Flat Panel TV Market Development by Region: Global * Global Flat Panel TV Revenues Flattening as the Market Saturates * TV Market Profile by Country * TV Market Development by Technology: Global * Flat Panel TV feature Development: Global * Flat Panel TV Market Shipments by Vendor: Global * Vendor Share of Flat Panel TV Shipments (Volume) by Country 2011 PC Shipments Into Education on Track For 28% Growth Futuresource Consulting has released a strategic research report focusing on the opportunities for personal computer devices within the K-12 education sector, showing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28% for 2011 to 2016. show more/less As the global PC market continues to flatten off and revenue streams within enterprise and consumer segments become harder to sustain, the education sector is bucking the trend and opening up new areas of opportunity for vendors and component suppliers alike. "There is no doubt that education is undergoing profound change in many countries across the globe, with the adoption of ICT as a learning tool forming the nucleus of this change," says Mike Fisher, Convergence and New Technologies Consultant, Futuresource Consulting. "From providing a richer, tailored learning environment to allowing students to study at their own pace, many governments are not only recognizing the benefits of ICT in the classroom, but are also going to great lengths to make sure 1:1 learning programmes are rolled out. The proven vote winning power of investment in education combined with declining prices and increased product customisation is developing considerable market demand. And with nearly 1.4 billion enrolled students and teachers across the world, this clearly represents a significant opportunity for vendors." In addition to hardware supply, the content and delivery infrastructures are vital to an effective and successful rollout. As a result, telecommunications companies have become increasingly involved in technology deployments into education. Their role can be seen in various elements of projects, from funding and financial contributions to networking the devices or distributing hardware and content. These companies have a keen interest in being involved, as an increasingly IT-dependent student population will naturally result in increased content consumption in the long term. As a result, the telecommunications industry is - and will continue to be - a major source of non-governmental funding. Futuresource research shows that global PC shipments into education exceeded 11 million units in 2011, with a significant amount of activity taking place in Central and South America. "A number of substantial nationwide rollouts took place last year," says Fisher. "In Argentina, the Conectar Igualdad project reached its stage two goal by mid-2011, deploying 1.2 million devices across the country. Preparations are now being made for the final stage, which should see similar numbers deployed in 2012. Over the border in Uruguay, the Plan Ceibal project now has 100% ICT penetration in primary schools and is expected to get close to 100% penetration in secondary schools in 2012." With strong expectations of multiple government tenders during 2012 and beyond, Futuresource forecasts indicate large sales volumes across many territories, with global shipments reaching close to 12 million units in 2012, rising to over 40 million units by 2016, though the installed base will still represent less than 8% penetration. Potential market entrants need to tailor their strategies to the different decision making hierarchies, purchase responsibilities and power bases that define each country. "We've been tracking education markets for more than ten years and it is clear that there is little correlation between a region's economic prosperity and the investment in school spending," says Joe Mugan, Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting. "The key determining factor is government support for ICT usage in the classroom, often driven by the positive messages that this sends out to the electorate. However, many large and financially established countries - such as Germany and Japan - have concentrated on traditional teaching methods and as a consequence technology adoption in schools has remained relatively low. The interest is coming from elsewhere: the areas to watch this year include Turkey, Thailand and the Middle East, where multi-billion dollar nationwide tenders are likely to be initiated. "The speed of market rollout is dependent on the complexity of the decision making structure in each country. Widespread and rapid adoption of ICT is typically easiest when budgeting is carried out centrally, although there are huge opportunities for vendors regardless of a country's governmental structure, as long as a vendor's resources are focused on the right target at the right time, with strategies optimized to the nuances of the country. Make no mistake, once a government decides to invest in education, the implementation can be fast and the expenditure enormous." Global Tablet PC Market Hits 15.5 Million Shipments in Q3 2011 The consumer tablet market hit a global high of 15.5 million units shipped in Q3 2011 climbing from 4.5 million in Q3 2010, according to the latest Tablet Tracking report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less Exploring the ownership and uptake of tablet devices across the USA, Europe and Japan, the latest report in Futuresource's Tablet Tracking Service quantifies the industry position for Q3 2011, highlighting market movements and trends, as well as providing forecasts for Q4 2011 through to 2015. This recent update highlights significant industry growth across the three key territories, demonstrating that a product with little consumer demand prior to development and launch can experience a massive upsurge in approval, thus proving that an unsurpassed reputation, expert technological development and streamlined marketing activities can quickly turn an item into that 'must have' product. The USA leads the way in tablet adoption accounting for 46% of global ownership, and exceeding an installed base of 24 million devices at the end of Q3. Europe has seen a slower uptake at just 4.2 million shipments in Q3 compared to 7.1 million in the US, however this still represents over 300% growth year-on-year. In terms of brand positioning, Apple continues to dominate the global market. This is certainly true in the US accounting for over 70%unit shipments, though Samsung, HP and Acer are beginning to gain some traction. Europe is more fragmented with Apple still on top but with other brands shining through, although the competitive landscape varies country by country. Looking to the immediate future, the emergence of major sporting events in 2012 is expected to fuel a rise in the uptake of tablets as consumers demand connection while away from home to view TV content or keep on track of results. The associated size and features of the tablet mean that consumers can enjoy a higher quality viewing experience in comparison to that of a smartphone. Long-term prospects for the tablet industry are positive with strong growth throughout the forecast period out to 2015, driven by a widening array of mobile content for tablets including apps, declining prices making the product widely available to an increased user-base and product replacement as consumers look to update and modernise. Multiple ownership per household will also drive market growth as advances are made in the range of uses and applications available. The Tablet Tracking Service from Futuresource Consulting delivers expert forecasting, strategic assessments and insight into market trends and the expected life-cycle of tablets with reports delivered every quarter. There is also the option to track additional markets across 26 countries worldwide besides those featured. To find out more visit www.futuresource-consulting.com, or alternatively contact Simon Bryant on +44 (0) 1582 500 152 or via simon.bryant@futuresource-hq.com. Futuresource Consulting is proud to be a media partner for Digital Content Monetisation Europe 17-19 January 2012, where David Sidebottom, Senior Consultant for Digital Media and Content at Futuresource Consulting will be chairing the Mobile Summit. Visit the website to find out more. www.dcm-eu.com

		December 2011 New Study: Multiple platforms and devices now the norm when sharing personal photos Highlighting many similarities in camera ownership and behaviour between consumers in the UK and USA, a new wave of consumer research by Futuresource Consulting looks into image-capturing and photo-sharing behaviours across these two major markets. show more/less Futuresource conducted 2,000 online surveys with UK and USA consumers aged 18 and over to review the range of devices used for capturing images and the way in which these photos are stored and shared. The research reveals that consumers aged 18 to 34 are more likely than any other age group to be capturing images with a camera phone, particularly in the UK. This allows them to easily share images through the use of social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook, and access them using a range of connected devices including smartphones and tablets. Responses show that consumers age 55+ are least likely to be using camera phones, choosing the traditional digital camera to capture images. Around 80% of respondents across both the UK and USA are sharing some or all of their photos with family and friends. The primary method of sharing photos is directly from the camera, with 38% and 35% of UK and USA consumers respectively choosing this option, and secondly 26% (UK) and 34% (USA) are sharing via email. As a third option, UK consumers opt for viewing on a laptop or netbook PC and conversely, consumers in the USA tend to use the desktop PC. Around 60% of respondents in the UK and USA are using websites to store, share and print their images. Facebook is seen to be the principal choice for consumers and is predominantly female dominated, with Flickr in the UK and Snapfish in the USA in second place. In addition, other websites have witnessed considerable activity over recent months with Dropbox and Google+ witnessing the fastest uptake, this could be temporary though with the initial spike from Google+ resulting from its launch in summer 2011. There is a notably higher number of active ‘silver surfers’ in the USA, with over 30% of those using websites being in the 55+ age group as opposed to only 19% in the UK. Kodak Gallery and Snapfish are proving to be the most popular destination of choice for consumers in this age bracket. With more than 100 billion photos stored using these online services, there is a potentially lucrative opportunity to boost growth in the photobook market through effective CRM strategies, considering 75% of respondents who have previously purchased photobooks indicate that additional purchases are likely within the next 12 months. Acquisition is also a key strategic focus in order to capture more consumers by providing them with a motive to purchase. With this in mind, brands are locking into the older consumer market as they have a higher propensity to print photos. They are then building promotional campaigns around the ‘saving memories’ approach with a notable move towards TV and newspaper advertising. Digital Services to Boost Russian Home Video Market The growing presence of online video has given rise to significant advances in the overall Russian home video market, with uptake in digital viewing triggering market forecasts in the region of 1000% in 2011, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "Consumer appetite for viewing video content online is strong with over 100 billion views expected in 2011, consequently presenting the paid-for online video market as a highly commercial opportunity," says Hoy, "and our forecasts show that by 2015 the online market is expected to exceed 30% of total home video market revenues, driven primarily by subscription services." The overall Russian video market looks fragmented, following a trend similar to more established European markets faced with declining packaged sell-through, with widespread piracy in Russia exacerbating the problem. Interest in in-home 3D viewing however, is relatively strong, mainly as it is more difficult for pirates to replicate. "Bundling 3D titles with 3D compatible hardware has proved popular, often accounting for 70% of 3D Blu-ray trade sales," says Hoy. "3D Blu-ray combo packs are also growing in demand, with consumers prepared to pay a 70% to 100% price-premium. Theatrical revenues are also playing a part in the current market witnessing 37% growth in 2010, primarily driven by 3D, which is creating a rise in ticket prices and triggering continued investment in cinema complexes moving forwards. The segment is forecast to grow to 2015, albeit at single digit increments. On-going investment from cable providers has uncovered significant revenue-generating possibilities through increased broadband speed and penetration, with 54% of households expecting to have access by 2015, an increase of nearly 60% from 2011, and average achieved download speeds gaining pace from 2.9Mbps in 2010 to nearly 10 Mbps by 2015. Faster broadband speed and connectivity means greater scope for multi-platform use, with many online providers aggressively launching services compatible for download onto connected devices. "Consumer research indicates that Russian consumers are often reluctant to pay for online content available for free on a laptop or PC, however they are willing to pay for the same content if accessible on a big screen at home," says Hoy. "This presents a strong opportunity for Hollywood studios to monetise their content through paid-for online video services. "Leading CE manufacturers have recognised the potentially lucrative opportunity to grow online video revenue using connected devices, by providing direct multi-platform accessibility to online content," says Hoy, "and given that forecasts for personal devices including smartphones and connected TVs show impressive growth throughout the forecast period, investment in combined online video and multi-platform usage is of high value to manufacturers, content providers and the consumer."

		November 2011 European Photobook Market Value to Exceed 650 Million Euros in 2011 The Western European photobook market is on track to achieve 20% growth this year, with value expected to top 650 million euros, according to a new photobook market report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "The photobook market continues to put in a strong performance across Western Europe," says Joanna Wright, Senior Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting, "with our forecasts showing shipments will exceed 20 million units this year, and will continue to grow throughout the forecast period out to 2015. "However, consumer awareness and acceptance of photobooks is still relatively low in most countries. The UK and Italy are performing least favourably, with only 2% to 3% of households purchasing a photobook, while Benelux leads the way at 15%. When compared with households that printed their photos this year - around 30% across Western Europe - and digital cameras at 70% household penetration, there are definite opportunities for growth across the region. A renewed focus on marketing activities will help drive product uptake, with a move towards TV and newspaper campaigns that will bolster existing online advertising strategies. Additionally, promotion at retail can be highly influential and will have its part to play as the market moves forward." Photos are increasingly being stored in the cloud, rather than locally on consumers' hard drives, making photobook creation possible across a wide variety of personal and public devices. At present, more than 100 billion personal photos are stored in cloud services such as Facebook, Flickr, Kodak Gallery and Photobox. In addition, the Western European installed base of tablets, smartphones and connected CE devices (including TVs and Blu-ray Players) is set to grow from 160 million units in 2010 to nearly 600 million units by 2015. Embedded solutions in photo libraries such as Facebook, Flickr and Google+ are being trialled, with fan pages and apps available, but usage and awareness has yet to gain traction. "Moving forward, a number of new business models could emerge, particularly within self-publishing and school yearbooks, as well as a blurring between consumer and professional markets for wedding albums and children's portraits," says Wright. "The two overriding factors that will see the photobook market ramp up are still consumer awareness and a simplified and improved online workflow, helping to increase conversion rates and reduce the negative feedback sometimes associated with creating photobooks, mainly focused around lengthy creation processes and unintuitive user interfaces." For more information or to buy the Western Europe photobook market report, please contact Joanna Wright on +44 (0) 1582 500 147 or via email to joanna.wright@futuresource-hq.com. Online Video Revenues to Exceed $3bn in 2011 Consumption of legitimate free and paid for online video is on track to exceed 770 billion views across the USA, UK, France and Germany this year, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less Improvements in accessibility and ease of use are among the growth triggers that have seen the rise from around 640 billion views last year, with the USA dominating the market. "Total free and paid for online video views are on track to grow by 20%, while paid-for online video revenues will reach in excess of $3bn this year," says Mai Hoang, Senior Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. "Online purchase and rental transactions are playing a part, but the majority of this revenue is coming out of the USA, predominantly through streaming subscription service Netflix. By 2015, paid-for online video spend is forecast to hit close to $7 billion across the four countries." Although paid-for online is growing, it still remains negligible in many markets when compared with free, and is up against stiff competition from other forms of viewing, notably pay TV, free movies and television content. Moving forward, Futuresource expects the paid-for segment in Europe to be boosted by the launch of a handful of key regional streaming subscription services, similar to Netflix in the USA. It is anticipated that these services will be led by existing online players including YouTube, Apple and Netflix, rather than new entrants. The potential for future online video revenue extends beyond online purchase and rental and the expansion of subscription services across all major markets, with contributions from ad-funded services having a key role to play. "Brands have only recently started to harness the full potential of online video," says Hoang, "with ad-funded revenues expected to grow by 50% in 2011 as advertisers continue to develop and refine content specifically for the online environment, rather than repurposing content originally destined for television. At the same time, consumers become more receptive as ads are effectively targeted." YouTube in particular has recognised the potential of online advertising, as it continues to introduce initiatives to increase consumer engagement on ad-funded videos, even allowing viewers to stop ads that do not appeal to them. This is then reflected in advertising rates, with more popular ads attracting preferential rates, thus encouraging an upsurge of enjoyable, targeted ad content and an enhanced experience for the consumer. "The growing range of mobile devices is playing an increasingly significant part in the online video market," says Hoang. "Sales of smartphones are expected to exceed 450 million units worldwide this year, fuelled predominantly by the growing influence of Android-based handsets. This groundswell is building to a significant content distribution platform, largely driven by growth in the development and consumption of apps and rapidly becoming an essential part of service providers' multi-platform strategies. "With tablets showing even more impressive growth and evolution, content holders, broadcasters and hardware manufacturers are increasingly interested in the relatively untapped growth potential in the online video market for these devices." The Futuresource Online Video Market Report is over 60 pages long and provides highly detailed analysis and forecasting, including 42 detailed charts and graphs. The report is available for immediate purchase, for more information visit the webpage http://www.futuresource-consulting.com/report_OnlineVideo.html. New Futuresource Study: 50% of consumers using second screen when watching television Nearly 50% of consumers are using another electronic device while watching TV at home, according to findings from a new wave of 'Living with Digital' consumer research carried out by Futuresource Consulting. show more/less The most popular reasons for this include combating boredom, needing something else to do and keeping in touch with friends, though 10% said it makes them feel part of the show, highlighting the complementary nature of second screens. The study also found that younger respondents are more likely to be participating in this behaviour. 'Living with Digital', which was carried out in the USA, UK, France and Germany with more than 2,600 respondents ranging from 12 to 65+ years of age, explores the ways in which consumers interact with and consume digital entertainment and compares behaviours with those of six months ago. The study also shows that 57% of people are watching online video content, with nearly one in four using their smartphones, at least occasionally. Watching online video on a desktop PC is still the most common method, very closely followed by laptop. In all four countries surveyed, there has been a net increase in online video viewing over the last six months, with wider choice, more appealing content and being able to watch content at any time the key factors behind the shift. However, more than 80% of respondents still do not pay for online video content; although nearly 40% of these said they could be persuaded in the future. Among respondents that have paid for online content already, more than two in every three have paid for movies. When asked about their buying behaviours for physical media, 60% of respondents are still buying DVDs and 19% are buying Blu-ray Discs. Of the countries surveyed, people living in the UK buy the most DVDs, an average of nearly 6.5 during the last six months. For Blu-ray, the USA leads the way, with US purchasers of Blu-ray Discs buying an average of 5.75 in the last six months. In Germany and France there is a net increase in the number of people buying more Blu-ray Discs than six months ago, with 41% of people in Germany buying more titles than they did six months ago. 'Living with Digital' is an ongoing programme of independent research from Futuresource Consulting, exploring the ways in which consumers interact with and consume digital entertainment, whether via the TV, online or on a mobile device. The study is based on regular consumer surveys carried out in the USA, UK, France and Germany, with more than 2,500 respondents surveyed in each round. Notes The current wave of research is captured in a 90 page report, which focuses on changing trends in video viewing behaviour and how consumers are dividing their time. Questions asked include: Do respondents have a 3DTV or a Connected HDTV? Have they recently bought or do they plan to buy a new main TV and what are the key purchase decisions? How interested are they in PVR-ready capability? Which connected TV features would they use most? How often do they use connected TV features? How do they use and access Skype? Do they have an iTunes account and do they download content directly to their iPhone or iPad? Do they buy DVDs or Blu-rays? Have they purchased or rented more, the same or less DVDs and Blu-rays than in the previous six months? What are the reasons for buying more/less DVDs and Blu-rays? Do they go to the cinema and how frequently do they go? What factors have led to visiting the cinema more/less during the last six months? Do they have a paid-for TV package? What is the main package and do they buy extras? Do they watch catch-up TV? On what devices? Do they watch pay-per-view? What are their pay-per-view usage habits? Have viewing habits changed over the past year? Which devices do they use to connect to the internet? Do they watch online video content and what devices do they use? How many hours a week do respondents spend watching online video content? What factors have led to a change in the amount of video content being viewed online during the last six months? Do they pay to watch online video content? Which payment methods are used for online video content? Which devices are used to view online video content and where is it being watched? Do they interact with other CE devices when watching TV? Professional Flat Panel Display Market grows 29% y-o-y In the global professional flat panel display sector, the pure pro display market experienced quarter-on-quarter growth of close to 6% in Q3, with year-on-year growth of nearly 29% and volume sales of 454,000 units, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less Combining pro displays with consumer displays sold into the professional market, the combined market grew by nearly 7% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 and 25% year-on-year. After a difficult Q2 for the Japanese market - when professional display sales fell 55% - the country began its recovery in Q3, posting sales of 26,000 units, equivalent to quarter-on-quarter growth of 68%. It was also a strong quarter for Japanese vendors, who all experienced good growth in their professional display line-ups, ahead of the market curve. China continues to lead the market for professional display, with the transport sector in particular driving growth. Domestic players still dominate the competitive landscape, though international brands are beginning to enjoy some traction after a long period of investment. Selected Q3 highlights from the Futuresource report: Q3 has been a relatively slow period for super-narrow bezel products, with growth of less than 1% quarter-on-quarter. The 46" to 49" higher brightness segment has suffered the most, with a fall in sales of 21%, though this has been offset by the growth of higher value, larger screen sizes, such as 55" and 60" models. The transition from CCFL backlighting to LED continues apace, as the number of professional displays sold with LED backlighting doubled quarter-on-quarter, to reach more than 15,000. The lower energy consumption and thinner form factor are key drivers for this technology as end users look for savings where they can. The market for screen sizes over 45" continues to grow, with 10% quarter-on-quarter growth, and more than 50% year-on-year. As the prices for these larger displays continue to fall, the demand will continue to increase. Aggressive pricing - such as the recently announced Sharp 80" interactive LCD display for under US$6,000 - will continue to drive the larger screen size segment and subsequently put pressure on the current pricing structure of smaller sizes. Q3 Growth in Projector Markets The global market for projectors reached 1.98 million units in Q3 this year, representing year-on-year growth of 4%, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less Moving forward, the outlook for 2012 looks relatively mixed, with economic uncertainty continuing to surround the US and European territories. The Euro 2012 Football tournament should help to stimulate entry-level demand in Europe in 2012 - and also affect market cycles. However, overall market activity is expected to remain relatively flat, with market growth expected to continue to come from emerging markets with Latin America, China, India, Russia and Indonesia the ones to watch. Key Q3 highlights from the Futuresource report: Short Throw (UST and ST) currently accounts for more than 14% of all global projector sales, up from 12.7% in Q3 2010 Projectors with built-in interactivity accounted for nearly 2% of all sales XGA accounted for over 50% of overall sales as SVGA sales dropped off slightly WXGA again gained a small amount of share. However, in the US market, WXGA reached almost 30% as adoption gains pace. The new 500 lumen category (LED based) reached just over 4,000 units with five brands now bringing product to market Year-to-date home display sales are significantly down, as projectors continue to struggle for shelf space within retail

		October 2011 Daily Price Tracking: price movements within the Compact System Camera market Commentary by James Wells, Research Consultant, Futuresource Consulting (21/10/2011) Pioneered by Panasonic and Olympus, the Compact System Camera (CSC) segment has witnessed healthy growth over the past three years; shipments to Western Europe reached 392k units and accounted for 11% of total interchangeable lens camera volumes in 2010, which is expected to grow to 615k units and account for 16% of interchangeable lens camera shipments in 2011. show more/less NB - all camera prices in this article were collected across France, Germany and the UK by Futuresource Price Checking Systems on 21 October 2011 and are for a standard zoom one lens kit for selected leading online retailers. Most of the leading camera brands now have interchangeable lens cameras at the heart of their strategy and seven brands have either already launched a CSC model or have announced their intention to enter the market, Canon being the main exception. According to industry feedback, around 70% of demand is currently driven by existing fixed lens camera users who are attracted by smaller form factors, ease of use and stylised designs, rather than users who are replacing or upgrading a DSLR. The average price for the latest crop of CSC models bundled with a standard zoom lens range from €1,438 to €380, which represents a significant premium over fixed lens cameras and clearly shows why all of the leading brands are interested in the segment, in addition to the opportunity for selling additional accessories. Broadly speaking the CSC market can be split into models aimed at amateur enthusiast users which are on average mostly priced above €750 and those aimed at existing fixed lens users who want to step up to a more advanced camera and are mostly priced below €750. Of the latest crop of models, five sit within the amateur enthusiast end of the market, Sony NEX-7, Olympus E-P3, Samsung NX200, Panasonic GH2 and the Nikon J1, with the average price for models currently available ranging from €774 for the Samsung NX200 to €876 for Nikon's V1. Retailers have started taking advance orders for Sony's NEX-7, although this is limited to Fotokoch in Germany €1,349, Amazon UK €1,438 and Jessops, Jacobs Digital and Warehouse Express all charging €1,290. Nine of the latest models sit at the step-up end of the market, the Pentax Q, Sony NEX-5N and NEX-C3, Olympus E-PL3 & E-PM1, Nikon J1, Samsung NX11 and Panasonic GF3 & G3, with average prices ranging from €427 for Samsung NX11 to €694 for the Pentax Q. One of the characteristics which distinguish CSCs from DSLRs is the fact they are generally more stylised - examples being retro designs, different colours and body materials - so as to appeal to a wide section of users. Looking at current prices it is interesting that many retailers are charging a premium for specific body colours, a trend that is common in the fixed lens market. An example is a white or silver version of the Olympus E-P3 is €34 more expensive than a black one at Jessops UK, €25 more at Amazon UK and €13 more at Amazon France. Prices are relatively stable at the moment, as of the 164 individual SKUs included in this analysis (not including different colours), only 13 prices have moved by more than 5% for a specific model at a specific retailer over the past seven days. Interestingly, six of these movements were all for Panasonic models, including Pixmania France and Germany that dropped the price of the G3 by 10% and 14% respectively, and Amazon Germany that dropped its price for the GF3 by 13%. Industry feedback suggest that marketing and advertising spend by camera brands in the run up to Christmas will be disproportionately focused on the CSC segment, with pricing an important factor in the current economic climate as consumers search for the best deals. It is therefore interesting to see large price differentials across the leading online retailers for the same model: the Sony NEX-C3 varies by €71 in France, €172 in Germany and €91 in the UK, whereas the Olympus E-PL3 varies by €79 in France, €162 in Germany and €74 in the UK. Of the 21 leading online retailers selected for this analysis across France, Germany and the UK, the Panasonic G3 and GF3 enjoyed the widest availability, with both models being offered across 18 of these retailers; the Sony NEX-C3 followed this and was available across 17 retailers and the Olympus E-PL3 across 16. Futuresource Consulting provides price checking and price matching systems across a wide variety of product categories and delivers daily updates that allow companies to reduce prices to maintain price advantage, but also allow margins to be held where pricing efforts do not need to be so aggressive. The highly advance software solution rapidly pulls price tracking data from sales-based websites on a daily basis and pricing data can be matched at model level. Western-Europe Photo-Merchandise Market on Track to Hit €470 Million in 2011 The Western European photo-merchandise market, which includes personalised calendars, wall décor, greetings cards and single image gifts, continues to make gains with consumers and is on track to grow by 11% this year to hit sales of close to €470 million, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "Within Western Europe, Germany dominates most photo-merchandise segments. Accounting for €127 million of market value in 2010, it's the largest in the region" says Joanna Wright, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource. "Photo-cards are the exception, where the UK continues to lead the charge. The UK follows Germany as the second largest photo-merchandise market overall, witnessing 35% growth and reaching nearly €70 million in 2010." Market growth has varied significantly across all segments and countries, with wall décor - in particular canvas print and photo-cards - pushing through with growth of 80% and 50% respectively in some European countries. “This growth has been fuelled by increased services offered to consumers and a number of highly effective marketing activities, including promotional offers and prominent TV campaigns,” says Wright. “In 2010 the canvas print market grew 44% in Western Europe, reaching €85 million.” “While demand for some segments remains constant throughout the year, specific market segments like calendars and photo-cards remain purely seasonal products, with more than 90% of calendar sales and nearly 60% of photo-card sales experienced in the lead up to Christmas.” Competitively, the photo-merchandise market remains highly fragmented with a mixture of traditional photo brands, commercial print houses and photo-merchandise specialists. In terms of the position of photo-merchandise producers in Western Europe, CeWe Color led each segment in 2010, except posters where Fujifilm was the most dominant player. Online was the leading sales channel in 2010, accounting for more than 86% of sales in Western Europe. However, across Western Europe this figure varies significantly by both country and product. Moving forward we can expect to see new roll-outs of in-store merchandise equipment in some of the leading retailers in the UK & Germany which could help drive growth for in-store channels this year and into 2012. The outlook for the photo-merchandise market is positive, with value expected to rise at a steady rate through to 2014. There are many opportunities for key players to contribute to future market growth, and to do this they must focus on the innovation of new products, fresh content designs and strong and targeted marketing activity.

		September 2011 EMEA External Hard Disk Drive Market Achieves 20% Growth in Q2 2011 The external hard disk drive (HDD) market experienced strong growth in the EMEA region in Q2 this year, achieving shipments of close to six million units, compared with 4.9 million in Q2 2010, according to a new market tracking report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "During the last quarter there has been a notable year-on-year increase in demand for external HDDs, despite the fallout from the Japanese earthquake, which did result in some supply chain challenges early in Q2," says Mats Larsson, Research Consultant at Futuresource. "These challenges were swiftly overcome and strong demand from emerging markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East powered the sector to new growth." Futuresource has been tracking quarterly shipments across the 17 key EMEA countries for two years, covering portable, desktop, multimedia and NAS drive form factors, with shipment and price tracking services that deliver 100% market coverage, including highly detailed outputs that track sales by country, by brand, by form factor and by quarter. "We're seeing a number of distinct trend differences appearing across countries and product sectors," says Larsson, "with very strong growth in Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, in contrast to recent declines in Sweden where the introduction of a new levy has impacted. Denmark has exhibited an even stronger decline as its levy has sharply increased cross border retail from Germany. "Germany continues to dominate the EMEA market, generating more than 1.1 million shipments in Q2 2011, closely followed by France with the UK in third position. Portable drives - 2.5 inch - continue to outsell desktop drives in all territories, but gains in market share did not match the pace of demand, due to the stronger impact of shortages on this segment. Looking to consumer NAS, the market continues to grow, but at a slower rate than many predicted a year ago." Moving forward, there are still many opportunities within this market sector and Futuresource forecasts show the external HDD market across EMEA 17 will reach 30 million units shipped by year end 2011. USA Photobook market on track to reach 25 million units this year Consumer demand for photobooks in the USA continues to rise, with the market growing by nearly 25% last year, achieving in excess of 20 million units sold according to a new market report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "This market is really starting to ramp up, with US photobooks on track to make double-digit volume growth again this year and also in 2012," says Jeremy Wills, Senior Consultant with Futuresource. "Our forecasts are indicating 25 million photobooks will be sold in 2011 and nearly 29 million in 2012." Despite the increase in sales volumes, there is a high level of competition and a glut of softcover and smaller sized photobooks, which is driving down the average retail price per unit. In particular, competition is strong among the online consumer portals, such as Shutterfly, Snapfish and Kodak Gallery, as well as the fact that there are a greater number of high street retailers offering photobooks. "The decline in average retail price per unit will continue across the forecast period, out to 2015," says Wills, "but that is being overshadowed by the increasing number of units being sold, and the retail market value of photobooks is on track to rise by 17% in 2011." The online channels are still the main source of photobook orders, though in-store will begin to take a larger share of the market. Despite this, online orders will still account for around 75% of the market by 2015. "The growth of in-store is being driven by a growing installed base of photobook-capable equipment at retail," says Wills, "with some of the mass-merchandisers, such as Walmart and Target, and pharmacy chains like CVS and Rite-Aid either fully or partially re-equipping their stores." Just as the 4"x6" photo prints market has been impacted - and will continue to be impacted - by electronic image-sharing via social networking sites and the rise of mobile devices that combine camera and connectivity capabilities, Futuresource research shows that these technologies will also have some impact on the photobook market moving forwards, particularly with the growth in the installed base of Tablet PCs that can facilitate image sharing on a larger and very portable screen. Nevertheless, aided by improving consumer interfaces, expanding retail production capacity for photobooks and a wider range of choice in terms of style and size of photobook, USA consumer volumes will continue to increase. Looking further ahead, volumes are set to keep on growing through to 2015, albeit at a slowing rate.

		August 2011 Futuresource Consulting and the EBU launch new Europe-wide broadcast industry research London, 25 August 2011 - Futuresource Consulting, working with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), today announced the launch of new research into the key business challenges and future opportunities for European broadcasters in an evolving market. show more/less This is the first study of its kind within the broadcast industry and will shed light on the shifting broadcast marketplace, consolidation, cost pressures and potential new revenue streams for the industry, as well as how buying behaviours may be changing on account of financial pressures. The results will be analysed within the context of the wider broadcast environment to ensure a thorough and long-term understanding of the marketplace. "This is a clear demonstration of our commitment to providing our membership with the insight they need," says Lieven Vermaele, Director, EBU Technology & Development. "In light of the many changes in broadcast technology and channels over recent years, this study will provide the foundations for new growth. From broadcast purchase decisions with major strategic implications, to identifying operational issues and solutions, our aim is to allow our members to take effective and timely action in anticipation of industry change." "There is no doubt that the broadcast industry is evolving in a number of key areas," says Andrew Snoad, Director of Custom Solutions, Futuresource Consulting. "From an infrastructure perspective, the move from traditional broadcast equipment towards IT solutions continues to impact. Content delivery is also facing challenges. In recent years, the number of channels has skyrocketed. Traditional viewing may be challenged by a whole host of new platforms such as smartphone, PC and tablet. However, there are many opportunities for broadcasters to exploit additional revenue streams, and this is a driving force behind the research study." The basic concept for the study is that EBU member broadcasters respond to requests for company-specific information, which remains confidential, and in return are given the aggregated (average) information. The EBU has called this 'Project Fair Exchange' for its members. The study will be conducted by Futuresource Consulting with public and commercial broadcasters across Europe and the findings will be delivered towards the end of 2011. E-book market to exceed 30 million paid-for units this year says Futuresource The Western European e-book market continues to gain traction, growing by over 400% in 2010 to exceed ten million paid-for books, and on track to achieve unit sales of 32 million this year, according to a new European e-book and e-reader report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less The Western European e-book market continues to gain traction, growing by over 400% in 2010 to exceed ten million paid-for books, and on track to achieve unit sales of 32 million this year, according to a new European e-book and e-reader report from Futuresource Consulting. "During the last 12 months there has been a notable change in the industry's attitude towards e-books," says Fiona Hoy, Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting, "with publishers and retailers alike underlining the importance of a digital revenue stream to help offset the slow decline of the previously stable Western European physical book market. And despite all this rapid growth in demand for e-books in Western Europe, the market is still in its infancy, representing less than 1% of total consumer spending on books. Moving forward, there are enormous opportunities within the market and our forecasts show Western European e-book revenues will reach €1.6 billion by 2015, accounting for 15% of total book spend and representing one out of every five books sold in the region." The UK continues to dominate the European market and generated close to half of all Western European e-book spend last year, this despite only accounting for 15% of the region's physical book spend. The country is on track to achieve sales of £100m this year and over 5% of total UK consumer spending on books. "The introduction of Amazon's e-reading device and Kindle Store to the UK during August 2010 was a key catalyst behind the UK's strong growth," says Hoy. "Within a five month period Amazon sold close to 400,000 Kindle devices and achieved e-book sales in the region of £20 million. Amazon not only launched a premium brand e-reading device into a market which had previously been fragmented with unbranded dedicated devices, but also provided an extensive catalogue of e-book titles at loss leading price points from key publishers. In addition, aggressive aspirational TV and print advertising campaigns continue to drive demand." In Germany, which has the highest per capita spend on books in Western Europe - more than twice that of the UK - the opportunity for e-books is highly favourable, although local book pricing laws will restrict companies from replicating the loss leading pricing strategies that have been implemented in the UK and US. With the installed base of dedicated e-reading devices in Germany currently below 1% and the market relying heavily on the tablet as an e-reading device, the country is primed for both hardware and content opportunities. "By 2015 the tablet market will account for close to half of all paid-for e-book sales in Germany, compared to around one in three in the UK and France," says Hoy. "The Kindle store launched into the market during the first half of 2011, though consumer demand for devices and content has so far been relatively low, in part due to low consumer awareness. However, strong promotional campaigns in Q4 will help stimulate demand and convert the market potential into real revenues." For many countries across the region - including Italy and Spain - 2010 was the first full year that e-readers were readily available at retail. However, a lack of local language titles and limited paid-for e-book services acted as key obstacles to legitimate paid-for e-book market growth. Since then, local language content and demand has started to develop; and combined with the strength of Amazon and Apple's iBookstore for both the iPad and smartphone market, the significance of the Western European market on the world stage will continue to develop. The Impact of Large Sensor Video Acquisition on the Pro Camcorder Market Recent market movements in digital cinema have created a new video camera segment that has the potential to command a large revenue share. show more/less At the premium end of the camera market, Red and Arri are leading the charge, with Canon and its revolutionary EOS 5D Mark II DSLR taking command at the lower end. This product polarisation has led to a new opportunity in the middle ground: the large sensor pro camcorder. "At the top end of the market, the transition to digital from film has been set against the backdrop of tough economic conditions," says Adam Cox, Broadcast Industry Analyst, Futuresource Consulting. "Belts are tightening, costs are being cut and 'good enough' is replacing best-in-class. As a result, the purchase or rental decision makers are changing their outlook as well. In the past, creative considerations were given top priority, but there is now a trend towards the financial teams getting involved at an earlier stage and for cost savings to take on a central role in proceedings. Large sensor video production with DSLRs or low-end, professional camcorders is therefore proving very attractive." Over the last year, four large sensor pro camcorders have been released; the AG-AF101 from Panasonic and the NEX-VG10, NEX-FS100 and PMW-F3 from Sony, mainly targeting the lower end of the market, which includes videographers and education. Here, videographers in particular are struggling, as spend on weddings is down and corporate budgets are slashed. The limited number of jobs, particularly after such a period of prosperity, has meant that many low-end video professionals are struggling in an incredibly competitive environment. Large sensor camcorders therefore provide a new opportunity for professionals to differentiate themselves from their competition. Typically these camcorders aren't being used as the primary acquisition devices, but as second or third cameras, allowing end users to add complementary, artistic shots to their videos. "Shooting video with a DSLR or large sensor camcorder and utilising the shallow depth of field to its full potential is a highly-skilled undertaking that needs to be learned and mastered," says Cox. "These camcorders are not products that an inexperienced user can pick up and use to shoot cinematic masterpieces. For event videos in particular, there is a concern that the lack of control of the surrounding environment may lead to missing the key 'I do' moments if the subject moves out of focus. "Our recent research shows that the hype surrounding this new way of shooting, partly created by the success of Red, but also by HD-capable DSLRs, has driven so much innovation in the industry that it has cancelled out many potential problems in the eyes of many end users," says Cox. "But the real growth area at the moment lies within the pro camcorder segment and large sensor pro camcorders are going from strength to strength. In the first half of 2011, the segment accounted for almost a fifth of market volumes in EMEA, growing the market by nearly 20% when compared to the same time last year. And this increase comes from just four products. "As this period coincides with Sony's warehouses in Japan being shut for most of April due to the tragic earthquake, the impact on the pro camcorder market has been astonishing." This impact is set to continue, with large sensor camcorders set to account for a quarter of market volumes by the end of the year, rising to almost a third by 2016. The real question now is how do the DSLR manufacturers react? Professional large sensor video camcorders largely do the same job as HD-capable DSLRs, but with the added bonus that they're purpose-made for video production. Price is a key differentiating factor for many, but once all the peripheral equipment is purchased to make the DSLR more video-friendly, the price ends up roughly the same as some of the large sensor camcorders on the market. The profile and industry buzz that currently surrounds DSLR video production is providing significant traction at the moment, but the vendors need to find a way to sustain this activity or the DSLR video production bubble may burst. Photobooks on track for 26% growth in China, India and Australia The photobook market continues to gain momentum in India, China and Australia, with volumes forecast to grow 26% in 2011 across all three countries, according to a new market report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "The overall photo markets of India, China and Australia represented a combined market value of 565 million Euros last year," says Joanna Wright, Senior Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting, "and while these countries face similar challenges to other global markets, they can harness their robust economic growth, growing disposable incomes, strong camera uptake and improvements in broadband and postal infrastructures. That's without taking into account the 2.6 billion population opportunity." The new Futuresource report, 'Consumer Photo Markets: Australia, China and India', explores the development of photo prints and photobooks in each of the three countries separately, projecting volume and value demand by channel, including retail over-the-counter, instant kiosk, online pickup in store, online mail order and home printing. Key findings of the report show some similarities between all three countries, though there are many marked differences too. In terms of prints from film, this represented 38% of print sales in India last year, compared with just 6% in China and Australia. Retail over-the-counter comfortably dominates distribution in all three countries but is losing share to online and home printing. In terms of photobook production the market remains fragmented, key brands with market poresence in their respective countries and channels include BigW, Harvey Norman, Photo Create, NetEase, Kunlun, and Yofus. Major global brands such as Kodak, Fuji, and HP (including Snapfish) are present in all three countries. Although market potential exists across the entire photo market, Wright urges caution; "Despite the drivers, retail and online infrastructures in India and China remain highly fragmented and a significant obstacle to achieving market and channel growth."

		July 2011 Digital entertainment spend will exceed $50bn by 2014 By 2014 consumer spend on digital content across video (including paid for online and pay TV VoD), gaming and music will reach nearly $52bn, accounting for 46% of total global spend across packaged and digital media. This compared with the 24% share in 2010, demonstrates that this $113bn industry is going digital. show more/less "While packaged media is declining, it certainly isn't falling off a cliff," explained Futuresource Senior Analyst, Mai Hoang at this year's Futuresource Entertainment Summit. "The decline in packaged media across video, gaming and music has attracted a lot of debate regarding the future of entertainment content, but packaged media still plays a huge part in total sales. Combined with the availability of new platforms, digital and packaged media together will still achieve $112bn in revenue in 2014. "In 2010, packaged video generated $42bn globally, and although decline is apparent in the video industry, packaged will continue to produce significant revenues in the coming years, with spend still at $33bn in 2014, accounting for 72% of total consumer spend." Sell-through currently accounts for the majority of total revenues in packaged media, though rental plays its part, this trend is set to continue as Hoang revealed. "2014 will see sell-through account for 70% of total physical video spend, of which Blu-ray contributes over 50%, compared to just 13% in 2010. Globally, DVD and Blu-ray rental is still significant, although popularity varies greatly between territories - in Japan, rental accounts for over half of total spend while in the European markets, rental barely accounts for 10% share." While Blu-ray is gaining traction growth in the new format will not be enough to compensate for the decline in DVD. Any growth in the home entertainment industry will need to come from digital content distribution, though key challenges for digital video include the wide availability of other online content, in particular free content, and the ongoing consumption of illegal video. "An estimated 400 billion videos were watched online last year in the US, most of which were viewed for free via services like YouTube and Hulu," said Hoang. "In Western Europe, paid for online video accounted for just 2% of total video spend and 5% in the US, but the market is gaining ground and expected to increase to 12% and 16% respectively by 2014." In Western Europe Apple, Microsoft and Sony are the main contenders in the paid for online video market, while smaller service providers continue to fuel the competitive environment. As a result the market is hugely fragmented, with a variety of services offering very different business models. Objectives among online service providers also vary greatly and many services have struggled, with some exiting the market entirely over the last two to three years. In conclusion, Hoang stated that a number of strategies are being trialled to build bridges between digital and physical content, including industry initiatives to push digital through bundling, experimentation with release windows and exclusive downloadable content. "For digital, the online user experience needs to be as seamless and enjoyable as possible for the video industry to maximise the future opportunities and make this revenue stream really perform," said Hoang.

		June 2011 New Futuresource study: 64% of iPhone users watching video Alison Casey's 'Living With Digital' presentation at this year's Futuresource Entertainment Summit revealed that as many as 64% of iPhone users and 32% of other smartphone users are viewing video on their smartphones. show more/less Results of the ongoing consumer study were presented in London on 16 June, and based on consumer research carried out in the US, UK, France and Germany, using a sample of 2,500 respondents, representative of the population and including feedback from consumers as young as 12 years old. "A quarter of people in the UK and a third in the US now own a smartphone and this growth is set to continue, with Futuresource research showing that three in four people across the UK and US will own a smartphone by 2014," said Alison Casey, Head of Global Content at Futuresource Consulting. "The ever-increasing presence of smartphones across all four territories surveyed in our 'Living With Digital' study has seen greatest adoption of iPhone, HTC and Blackberry phones by the younger consumer, with the higher percentage of owners being under 25." Across all territories, smartphones are being used to access a wide variety of entertainment content. Casey revealed that "Facebook is a keystone for driving mobile internet usage, being the most visited site across all territories, followed by Google and YouTube, although in the UK YouTube relinquishes its third place position to the BBC, which is accessed by 44% of smartphone owners using mobile internet." User generated content (UGC) was another area flagged during Casey's presentation, which continues to account for the majority of video watched online via mobile devices, although she stated that users are also viewing clips, trailers and music videos. Looking to the Apps market, the phenomenal uptake of smartphones and mobile devices has seen the segment skyrocket, providing users with an abundance of choice covering everything from communication to location-based, from education to entertainment. The staggering 10bn App downloads in 2010 resulted in $4bn in revenue. "With over 25% of smartphone owners surveyed in the UK and US downloading Apps to their phones, this market will continue to thrive," said Casey. "Gaming is the main driver for App downloads, across all four territories and 65% of smartphone owners regularly playing games on their phones. This is closely followed by social networking and music, with more than 40% downloading social networking Apps across all territories." The focus on what consumers are willing to pay for when accessing content on smartphones and mobile devices continues to influence the App development. A prevalent area of income for the Apps market is in-App purchasing, which has started to emerge as a considerable revenue contributor. Apple iPhone users are downloading the most games and most frequently paying for content, with one in three users making 'in App' purchases compared to other smartphone users, one in ten Blackberry and Android users are also making 'in App' purchases. "Moving forward, the industry needs to be aware of the considerable percentage of phone owners - particularly in the UK - that are still using Pay-as-You-Go services, as Futuresource research shows users on contract tariffs are far more likely to pay for content and downloads. Strategies need to be in place to transition consumers towards a contract mentality." In closing, Casey highlighted that the non-transferable nature of Apps between operating systems is driving brand loyalty and defined what this may mean for content providers and App developers alike. Brand loyalty was shown to be particularly relevant to iPhone owners, with 54% intending to commit to the Apple brand in order to keep the Apps they have come to depend upon. "Apps for smartphones and tablets continue to offer significant opportunities for promoting and monetizing games, books, movie and TV content," said Casey. "Although the market is in its early stages, tablets will become the portable device for entertainment in the future, generating a new breed of applications and services that will breath additional life into this already lucrative market segment." 'Living With Digital' is a regular consumer survey, carried out twice a year. This study covers topics such as connectivity, attitudes towards online content - including whether consumers are paying for online content and downloads, entertainment content consumption and mobile devices. The complete in-depth 'Living With Digital' study is available as a report from Futuresource Consulting. For more details, contact Alison Casey via alison.casey@futuresource-hq.com. Nearly 40% of Western European homes will own a 3DTV by 2015 "There are around 10 million televisions being sold each year in the UK - and that's in a country that has just 25 million households," said Jim Bottoms, Director and Co-Founder of Futuresource Consulting, in his opening presentation at the 2011 Futuresource Entertainment Summit on 16 June. "That means that every home is going out and buying a TV every two and a half years." show more/less With such elevated levels of consumption - albeit the figure includes purchases of additional secondary televisions as well as main set replacement activity - CE manufacturers introducing new technologies and features into the marketplace can expect fairly rapid uptake and adoption, with 3D and connectivity driving the next period of change. And although flat panels have been around for the best part of a decade, it is only in the last three years or so that screens measuring 42 inches and above have become affordable for the average household. This has attracted a groundswell of consumer demand for larger sized panels, where the sheer bulk of a similar sized cathode ray tube set would have been a near impossibility for many European homes. Demand for larger screen sizes is expected to continue to grow, as prices for televisions of 40 inches and above have now reached the level of mass market appeal. Additionally, early adopters of flat panel TVs are looking to replace their original set with a larger more feature-rich model, opting for value-add features like ultra-thin bezels, connectivity, energy saving and 3D capability. These new technologies will ensure that future replacement rates will stay similar to today's levels. "Nearly 40% of homes in Western Europe will own a 3D TV by 2015," said Bottoms, "which equates to an installed base of nearly 65 million. Whether consumers use the feature or not, they will be buying it by default, as the technology will increasingly be incorporated in many of the sets in manufacturers' product ranges. And where previously there was little 3D content available, the growth and acceptance of 3D is now being driven by the broadcasters. Going forward, the increased availability of 3D content will encourage viewers to engage with and evaluate 3D offerings." Since last year's Futuresource Entertainment Summit in June 2010, the number of broadcasters across the planet that are planning 3D content has grown almost threefold. "3D Blu-ray players are also beginning to gain traction in the market and close to 50% of homes in Western Europe will own such a device by 2015. Although there was little 3D content available on Blu-ray last year, this is definitely being addressed this year, with 43 BD titles now available in the US, 37 in the UK and 30 in Germany. And it isn't just about Hollywood content either, with nature and special interest titles being released - in the US, 33% of titles released so far are non-Hollywood content, which is adding to the diversity, generating interest and encouraging consumer engagement." Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as "Source: Futuresource Consulting" and all graphics are credited with "Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2011". Interactive Whiteboard Market Valued at $1.4bn The Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) market continues to gain momentum, growing by 15% last year to reach total revenues of US$1.4 billion, according to a new market report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "Over 3.6 million IWBs have now been installed globally, with the technology taking a secure hold within the education sector," says Colin Messenger, Senior Consultant at Futuresource. "And there is still a huge opportunity available here - world classroom penetration has just tipped 9%, which means there are still more than 30 million classrooms across the globe without a board. The demand is there and the future prospects are first-rate." In its recently-released quarterly report, Futuresource reveals that EMEA will be the biggest IWB region from 2012 onwards, with strong expectations of multiple government tenders during the year and sales gaining traction in many countries across the region. Looking to the US, there have been challenges to budgets and reductions in funding. Although over its sales peak, the US is still a very important market, with classroom penetration levels at 35%, which is half the UK figure. "Despite the budget restrictions faced by the US, there is still plenty of room for growth and we're predicting a strong market for at least the next four years," says Messenger. "Although federal government will no longer stimulate the economy, local school districts can raise money for technology funding. As with the world tenders we track, there seems to be no direct link between a district's economic prosperity and the investment in school spending." There have been two significant acquisitions in the last quarter, namely DYMO / Mimio buying Headsprout and Pearson buying Schoolnet. Both these purchases highlight the desire for the leading players to build the education focus of their businesses. This is a major differentiator and sets them aside from a manufacturer who is just producing hardware. "In this current economically unsure world, education is a beacon that remains universally valued across the globe," says Messenger. Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing its clients with expertise in consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, optical manufacturing, storage media and IT. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as "Source: Futuresource" and all graphics are credited with "Futuresource, copyright 2011".

		May 2011 Satellite Operators Evaluated in New Report The operational performance and commercial practices of the top four satellite operators, Telesat, SES, Intelsat and Eutelsat, have been evaluated by teleport operators in a new research study undertaken by Futuresource Consulting. show more/less The study, commissioned by The World Teleport Association - the trade association focusing on the business of satellite communications - was carried out in response to member requests and expresses the collective voice of teleport operators on issues such as the quality of sales representation, pricing, competition, availability and the handling of outages and interference. The findings, published in the WTA's new report 'Satellite Operator Benchmarks 2011', are intended to drive positive industry improvements. 'Satellite Operator Benchmarks 2011' shows that teleport operators are less satisfied with the commercial performance of their satellite vendors than with their operational performance, highlighting the need for improvement in a number of areas. The study explored satisfaction with commercial and legal representatives, commercial communication, escalation, invoicing, pricing fairness, pricing consistency, commercial flexibility and a joint partnership approach to bidding. Telesat was the satisfaction leader in overall commercial terms, with SES in the number two position. Scoring last, Intelsat and Eutelsat showed a similar profile of strengths and weaknesses, though Intelsat was rated higher overall. "The primary recommendation for improvement was for satellite operators to take an improved partnership approach to business with teleports," says Robert Bell, Executive Director, WTA. "This reflects, in part, continuing concerns about competition with satellite operators that own teleports and have the opportunity to price their teleport services below market rates. Respondents identified Intelsat and Eutelsat as companies that represent a competitive threat, while viewing SES and particularly Telesat as being more 'teleport-friendly' in their policies and implementation." In operational terms, all four operators scored well, receiving a 'strong' rating on 80% of the measurement criteria. Telesat was again the satisfaction leader, followed by SES, Intelsat and Eutelsat. Respondents rated satellite operators on attributes which included the communication and management of planned and unplanned outages, RF interference and frequency grooming. Teleport operators advised that performance could be improved with greater responsiveness and more proactive reporting on problems and solutions in progress. In summing up, the survey asked respondents to rate on a scale from zero to ten - with ten being the highest - how likely they were to recommend the satellite operator to others. The resulting Net Promoter Score (NPS) gives the percentage of respondents who are promoters, less the percentage of respondents who are detractors. SES led the way, with Intelsat in second place, slightly ahead of Telesat, and Eutelsat receiving the lowest score of the group. "This first-of-its-kind research project for the WTA demonstrates the value of structured research on supplier performance as the basis for identifying and addressing key areas for improvement," says Andrew Snoad, Director of Custom Solutions at Futuresource. "We were extremely pleased with the enthusiasm and openness with which WTA member organisations participated and with the very positive feedback we have had from both the WTA and its leading members on the project outputs." The survey was conducted by Futuresource Consulting with multi-region and regional teleport operators in the Americas, Europe and Asia. A total of 70 in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with senior technical and commercial executives at 35 teleport operators, with teleports rating performance and providing feedback on the multiple satellite operators with which they do business. The 37-page report is free to members of World Teleport Association and accredited press and is available for purchase by non-members through the WTA website. Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. www.futuresource-consulting.com The World Teleport Association focuses on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations. www.worldteleport.org Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as "Source: Futuresource Consulting" and all graphics are credited with "Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2011".

		April 2011 Internet Radio: New Business Models Will Define Growth Pure-play (online only) Internet radio and music streaming services continue to experience relatively high consumer usage, although revenue stream development remains key to the future, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "Over the last 18 months a number of dominant pure-play regional Internet radio and music streaming companies have emerged with substantial user bases, notably Pandora in the USA and Spotify in the UK," says David Sidebottom, Senior Consultant, Digital Media at Futuresource Consulting. "These services offer many attractions, such as personalisation, playlists, social sharing and access from any device connected to the Internet, though competition is prevalent - in the USA, ad-free subscription satellite radio Sirius/XM is one such example." The regular Futuresource consumer research study, 'Living with Digital', shows that the number of US and European Internet users listening to Internet radio or music streaming services on a regular basis has remained relatively unchanged since 2009, at 38% in the USA and 30% in Western Europe. However, the study also shows that total Internet radio listening hours in these territories has increased by 27% and around 20% respectively. "Most pure-play Internet radio and music streaming business models are built around free-with-ads and some low-priced premium subscriptions," says Sidebottom. "Other streamed music services charge up to 15 dollars a month and allow unlimited on-demand streams, though subscriber bases are currently small. "A key driver of usage is mobile, which now accounts for around half of listening hours for pure-play, using apps on leading smartphone platforms like iPhone and Android. Additionally, 70% of conventional radio listening in the USA takes place in vehicles - a market currently occupied by Sirius/XM. Therefore, increasing use of smartphone Apps, connected devices and the march of mobile broadband are all key to a sustainable future." Although there are issues still to be resolved, Futuresource believes pure-play Internet radio and music streaming services have a successful future, with one or two major players dominating national markets. Pandora and Spotify are currently attracting investor valuations of around $1bn, indicating that there is market confidence, despite low margins and current low remuneration to record companies. Ultimately, to transition towards a long-term business proposition, pure-play Internet radio providers must overcome the large volume of users that are choosing to listen for free, channelling them towards premium, paid-for services. The new report, The Outlook for Pure-play Internet Radio and Music Streaming Services, focuses on the USA, which is setting the scene for digital music media development, and also explores and evaluates competitive profiles of leading European players. For more information or to purchase this report please contact David Sidebottom on +44 (0)1582 500 127 or email info@futuresource-hq.com. Futuresource will be hosting the Futuresource Entertainment Summit in London again this year, taking place on 16 and 17 June. Topics will include the rise of digital content delivery, convergent devices vs. dedicated devices, and the business opportunities presented by new home entertainment technologies, platforms and delivery systems. For more information visit www.fes2011.com. Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as "Source: Futuresource Consulting" and all graphics are credited with "Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2011".

		March 2011 Digital Camera Outlook Strengthened by Emerging Markets: New Futuresource Report The global digital camera market is on track for continued recovery according to a new Digital Camera Market report from Futuresource Consulting. After a 4% fall in overall digital camera shipment volumes in 2009, the report shows gains of 8% last year, with the market on track to grow another 7% in 2011. show more/less "This new report covers all key markets across the globe and shows that demand is shifting from the developed markets of Western Europe, the USA and Japan," says James Wells, Research Consultant at Futuresource. "We're now seeing rapid growth within emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, where just 2% of the population currently owns a digital camera. In addition, the average trade price in the BRICs region is higher than the global average, as demand is coming from a much smaller and wealthier segment of the population, therefore deriving 25% ($6.6bn) of the total global value from just 20% of the global volume. "Within the BRICs region, Brazil is experiencing the highest unit growth. Last year we saw an increase in overall shipments of nearly 40% compared with 2009 and by 2015 we expect CE device ownership to be the highest of the BRICs countries. However, import tax is high in Brazil, which has fuelled grey imports estimated to account for nearly 20% of fixed lens camera sales and 50% of the interchangeable lens camera market." In developed markets - with nearly 80% household penetration - vendors are focusing on existing owners in an effort to shorten the upgrade/replacement cycle, as well as differentiating digital cameras from smartphones, which continue to pose a growing threat. "As we move forward, the primary opportunity for digital cameras is as a 'one in every household' device as opposed to one in every pocket," says Wells. "Despite lacking the imaging capabilities of most digital cameras, the smartphone will satisfy the personal role and will help to complement the overall photo experience". Smartphone penetration across Western Europe, Japan and the USA will grow from 44% of the population in 2010 to 74% by 2015, whereas in the BRICs region it will grow from 8% to 24% over the same period. The digital camera category will differentiate itself from smartphones by emphasising premium features like HD video and powerful optical zooms, greater than ten times magnification. Looking to the interchangeable lens category, the emergence of the new compact system camera (CSC) has energised the segment, significantly altering the market outlook of the category in the mid- to long-term. A larger-than-anticipated proportion of CSCs are being purchased by existing fixed lens users enticed by interchangeable lens functionality, stylised looks, ease of use and the smaller form factors when compared with a DSLR, which is adding to the overall number of users in the category. Futuresource will be hosting the Futuresource Entertainment Summit in London again this year, taking place on 16 and 17 June. Topics will include the rise of digital content delivery, convergent devices vs. dedicated devices, and the business opportunities presented by new home entertainment technologies, platforms and delivery systems. For more information visit www.fes2011.com. Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as "Source: Futuresource Consulting" and all graphics are credited with "Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2011". 15 million 3DTVs in US homes by 2012 3D for the home continues to gain traction in key markets, with nearly 15 million US homes forecast to own a 3DTV by the end of next year, according to a new Home 3D Tracker report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less 3DTV emerged early in 2010 amidst a wave of publicity, with manufacturers quickly engaging in a battle for market supremacy. As a result of this, the price premium for the 3D feature has already reduced quite sharply and the well known-brands are now incorporating 3D in more and more of their TV and BD model ranges. The year finished on a positive note for manufacturers, with strong sales during the final quarter. However, 3D content was unable to keep pace with consumers expectations, as studios agreed hardware/content bundling deals with CE manufacturers, creating a lack of packaged 3D content at retail. Limited retail content availability has placed greater importance on the role of the broadcast segment as a key 3D content source, says Fiona Hoy, Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting. Although early broadcast services struggled to provide the breadth and quality of viewing material that this nascent technology requires, many CE manufacturers have now formed partnerships with pay-TV operators to help co-fund and produce original 3D content. Many of these partnerships will last up to three years, by which time the market will have become more established. Collaborations have included Cyfra (Poland) and LG for 3D sports; NTV-Plus (Russia) and Panasonic; Sky (UK), LG and Panasonic; and DirecTV and Panasonic (USA). By the end of 2010, 31 3D pay-TV services were available throughout Europe, with 18 linear/demo channels and 13 VoD services. Across North America, 11 3D services have been launched, with two 24/7 channels and six separate VoD services. Looking ahead, broadcast will continue to play an important role, not only in providing 3D content directly into the home, but also in educating the consumer and driving awareness. The Sky 3D launch in the UK made a great impact on consumer awareness and helped drive equipment sales, with 3DTV sales picking up noticeably following the launch of the channel. In addition, 3D disc title sales are expected to see a significant boost this year, says Hoy, with a strong release slate which includes key franchises Harry Potter and Transformers. Although 3D represented less than 1% of total US Blu-ray retail sales during 2010, this is expected to reach nearly 25% by 2015. The need for 3D glasses continues to be a key talking point within the industry, with the high cost and weight of glasses and the premature hype around glasses-free (auto-stereoscopic) 3DTV said to be potential obstacles to market development. Futuresource research continues to indicate that auto-stereoscopic technology is still many years away from offering the quality andlarge screen viewing experience demanded by the consumer and at an affordable price point, says Jim Bottoms, Director and Co-founder, Futuresource Consulting. Several key technical issues still remain: a highly restricted viewing angle and a limited number of viewing points or sweet spots are among the primary challenges. Outside the sweet spot, the viewer sees either no 3D effect or, worse still, a reverse image which is highly uncomfortable to watch. Although 12-inch and 20-inch glasses-free 3DTVs are now available in Japan, designed primarily to work for a single viewer, a large screen watched by more than one person may need to display up to 100 unique views, each of which must be created separately. Even when the TV technology is in place, the production issues for live action content are still likely to be a major hurdle, as creating content for these multi-view displays requires multiple cameras and a different production/broadcast infrastructure. This is just a small insight into the new Futuresource Home 3D Tracker report, which provides market updates for the USA, total Western Europe (including UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain identified separately) and Japan. The report draws on the ongoing Futuresource dialogue with all industry segments concerned with the development of consumer 3D, including broadcasters, programme makers, the home electronics industry and movie studios and their home video divisions, among others. For more information about this report or to make a purchase, get in touch with Jim Bottoms at Futuresource Consulting on +44 (0) 1582 500 100 or visit www.futuresource-consulting.com. Futuresource will be hosting the Futuresource Entertainment Summit in London again this year, taking place on 16 and 17 June. In addition to 3D, topics will include the rise of digital content delivery, convergent devices vs. dedicated devices, and the business opportunities presented by new home entertainment technologies, platforms and delivery systems. For more information visit www.fes2011.com. Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as Source: Futuresource Consulting and all graphics are credited with Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2011.

		February 2011 Competitive Developments Driving PC/Mobile Convergence Commentary from John Bird, Principal Consultant, Futuresource Consulting Earlier in February, Nokia formed a broad strategic partnership with Microsoft to defend its number one position in the global cellphone market, a deal that forms part of a larger series of competitive events that are driving PC and mobile convergence. John Bird, Principal Consultant at Futuresource Consulting puts recent market movements into context. show more/less A Backdrop to the Nokia-Microsoft Alliance Almost 20 years ago, Nokia was the pioneer of converged devices with its Communicator, a combined cellphone, Internet browser and organiser able to download apps, and the company went on to buy its competitors' shares in platform developer Symbian as the industry's commitment to smartphones began to slump. During this period, Nokia and Samsung displaced Motorola to become numbers one and two respectively in the cellphone market. iPhone arrived in 2007, with the Apps Store strengthening Apple's competitive thrust from 2009. In addition, BlackBerry began pushing into the consumer market from its secure position within enterprise and secure e-mail. Nokia's traditional competitors - Samsung, LG, Motorola and Sony-Ericsson - looked to Android to create a counterbalance to Apple, with Android's shipment share overtaking iPhone in Q4 2010. However, surging sales of iPad and iPhone have maintained Apple's momentum. Nokia's overall mobile share has fallen by five points in the last two years - though it is still over 30% - and fell even more in the high-end smartphone market. The company has been challenged, and new management has been called in (including an ex-Microsoft executive as CEO). A revitalised strategy was urgently required, with a clear choice between backing Android or Microsoft. Looking to Microsoft, the company has been in the mobile market for many years, but Windows-powered products have never risen above 2% share of total handsets; the land grab by Apple, BlackBerry and Android has marginalised Windows still further. Against this backdrop, Nokia partnered with Microsoft in an alliance to drive Windows into the mobile market, and reaction has been mixed both within and outside of the company. Microsoft Extending Windows to ARM Chips During CES 2011, paving the way for the Nokia announcement, Microsoft stated that the next generation of Windows will run on ARM architectures. ARM does not make chips, but its low power designs are used in the majority of the world's mobile devices and increasingly appear in a wide range of other products such as games, cameras and STBs. Over the last 30 years, Microsoft has partnered with Intel in a 'Wintel' dominance of the computing market, but this new shift will enable Microsoft to offer Windows mobile to OEMs using ARM architectures, hence intensifying its push into the burgeoning market for PC/mobile converged devices, not least with Nokia. Intel Steps Up Drive into Converged Devices and Mobile Intel is pushing forward. As well as powering all PCs and Macs, Intel's chips reside in the majority of netbooks and many of the new non-Apple tablets currently being launched. Many of these products will run Android as well as Windows. At Mobile World Congress last week, Intel announced Medfield, a low cost 32nM Atom chip designed to take on ARM in the mobile space. During CES, Intel announced it is acquiring Infineon's Wireless Solutions Business, WLS, to provide a link between baseband processors and Intel CPUs and - more recently - Silicon Hive, to enable an integrated graphics solution. These moves allow Intel to offer a more competitive solution to mobile device OEMs running ARM chipsets. Android Extends its Footprint into Computing Google's Linux-based Android has become a major force in the mobile market through support by Samsung, the global number two in cellphones, and other major mobile brands such as LG, Motorola, Sony-Ericsson and HTC. The combined share of Android devices overtook iPhone and BlackBerry sales in Q4 2010 globally, and with over 150,000 apps now available in Android Market, the platform has become a standard requirement for developers, alongside iOS. Significantly, Android is running on an increasing range of devices and pushing into the computing space. Mobile PC market leader Acer's new netbooks are Dual OS, running Windows and Android, RIMs new Playbook will run Android apps and Motorola's new Atrix Android-powered phone docks with a keyboard and display to become a fully-fledged computer. Android, with the resources of Google behind it, is emerging as a competitor to both Windows and Mac OS in the mainstream computing space, as well as lower level mobile apps. Flash 10.1: A New Competitive Factor Shipments of Apple's devices continue to skyrocket - iPhone reached 47m in 2010, and this year iPad will almost double its 2010 shipments volumes. Mac is also significantly outgrowing the PC market. With such growth, Apple is unlikely to feel seriously threatened by Android or the Nokia-Microsoft alliance. However, Flash may be an issue, as it dominates video distribution on the web (over 90%) and is supported by all of Apple's competitors. Flash will run on Apple Macs, but was barred from running native on iPhone in 2007, and, in 2010, a more forceful move stopped developers converting Flash script into native iOS applications. iPad users were greeted with a frustrating blank when they clicked on a Flash video link on a website. In September 2010, Apple reversed the decision, allowing developers to convert Flash into iOS apps, including Adobe's AIR run-time environment, although the Flash Player still cannot run native in the iOS browser. In version 10.1, Adobe has optimised Flash Player for mobiles. The company expects it to be supported by at least 130m tablets and smartphones by the end of 2011. Predictably, since Apple's ban on Flash, its competitors have increased support for the format. In addition to its Chrome browser, Google's Android platform supports Flash, including the new Honeycomb tablet version. RIM will support Flash in its new Playbook tablet, and HP in their webOS tablet born from the Palm acquisition: the HP TouchPad. Apple has maintained that there are many alternatives to Flash, in particular HTML5, which can support the VP8 codec. However, progress towards finalisation of HTML5 is slow, and in the meantime Apple is facing many competitive converged mobile devices able to run native Flash Internet video. The company may have to reconsider this if growth in iPad and iPhone shows any sign of slowing. This is just a small insight into Futuresource Consulting's studies into the convergence of mobile and PC. For more information or to subscribe to this service, get in touch with David Sidebottom at Futuresource Consulting on +44 (0) 1582 500 127. Futuresource will be hosting the Futuresource Entertainment Summit in London again this year, taking place on 16 and 17 June. Topics will include the rise of digital content delivery, convergent devices vs. dedicated devices and the business opportunities presented by new home entertainment technologies, platforms and delivery systems. For more information visit www.fes2011.com. Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as "Source: Futuresource Consulting" and all graphics are credited with "Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2011". New Study: 90% of camera users are sharing their images Research suggests that there are 3.5 billion cameras in use across the globe and in excess of one trillion personal digital photos stored on PC hard-drives, portable devices and 'in the cloud'. However, in the time between camera purchase and a consumer buying a photo-finished product or uploading a photo to a social networking website, camera usage can be difficult to define and quantify. show more/less With this in mind, Futuresource Consulting recently carried out consumer research into photo-sharing habits in the UK, Germany and France. The study focused on the images that ultimately have a high personal value to the consumer: those that are shared, as opposed to the billions that remain dormant on computer hard drives or memory cards. Survey questions were also included to pinpoint the features that consumers will look for in their next digital camera. The research showed, beyond doubt, that consumers are embracing many new ways to share their personal photos; printed media continues to play an important role in photo sharing, though digital dominates. Some of the key trends mirrored the trends found in previous waves of research, with the vast majority - around 90% - of respondents across the UK, France and Germany sharing images with friends and family. Respondents continued to use a wide variety of methods to share their images, with females more likely to be sharing than males. The main method of sharing for French and German respondents was via laptop or desktop PC, while UK respondents mainly shared using websites and e-mail. In terms of image capture, approximately a third of respondents in each of the territories used a cameraphone to capture up to a quarter of the images that they then went on to share. This varies quite considerably with age, with respondents aged 55 or older the least likely to be capturing images with a cameraphone, with over a third using their digital camera for all of their image capture. Respondents aged 16 to 34 are more likely than any other age group to be capturing 75 to 100% of their images with a cameraphone. Notably, a quarter of respondents in each country are capturing all of their images using a digital camera only. This is just a small insight into the Futuresource study. For more information or to make a purchase, get in touch with Simon Bryant at Futuresource Consulting on +44 (0) 1582 500 100. Futuresource will be hosting the Futuresource Entertainment Summit in London again this year, taking place on 16 and 17 June. Topics will include the rise of digital content delivery, convergent devices vs. dedicated devices, and the business opportunities presented by new home entertainment technologies, platforms and delivery systems. For more information visit www.fes2011.com. Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as "Source: Futuresource Consulting" and all graphics are credited with "Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2011". Free White Paper: Projector & IWB usage in Chinese schools Following on from Futuresource Consulting's study into projector usage in UK schools, this second end-user market survey, again sponsored by Philips Lighting, provides the results of a projector usage study in Chinese schools. The purposes of the study were to explore the energy saving opportunities in the classroom for projectors with lamp systems that can adjust image brightness based upon end-user requirements, and to define a representative education lifetime test cycle for lamp systems using ImageCare® technology. Parallels were also drawn between Chinese and UK schools. Click here for the white paper.

		January 2011 Online and Mobile Entertainment Offerings Captivate Consumers Consumer expenditure on entertainment content is expected to have reached close to $320bn worldwide last year, with online and mobile media segments experiencing the largest percentage growth. Research carried out by Futuresource Consulting indicates that consumer expenditure on online entertainment grew by around 23%, while expenditure on mobile media grew by more than 15%, far outstripping gains made by packaged media, theatrical, cable, satellite and IPTV, albeit from a lower base. show more/less Moving forward, the rise of digital content delivery through mobile and online will continue to drive revenues, with 2009-2014 CAGR forecast at 16% and 24% respectively. In recent years, much of the success in mobile has been driven by the growth in smartphones, with the market generating around 280 million unit sales in 2010 - an increase of 56% - translating to a total installed base of almost 580 million. Smartphone form factors are continuingly being optimised for multimedia use, particularly for viewing video, using apps and browsing the Internet. As a result, in the last year, mobile Internet traffic has doubled globally, with the growth in tablets expected to contribute to further activity. The launch of Apple's Apps store in 2008 created a new mobile content revenue stream, reinvigorating the mobile content industry. A number of other mobile apps services have launched, creating opportunities, particularly for handset vendors, operators, OS suppliers, content holders, publishers, developers and advertising companies. Over 10 billion apps were downloaded in 2010, and more than 50% of those were via the Apple Apps store - with a total retail value of over $4bn, even though 85% of downloaded apps are free. Moving forward to 2014, nearly 35 billion apps will be downloaded by consumers, worth $17bn. Streaming media activity has been rising significantly in recent months, with consumers more likely to stream content than download it. YouTube, catch up TV and embedded flash/HTML video have been central to driving streaming activity and traffic. Improvements in broadband performance, advancements in video compression technology and, more importantly, the availability of compelling services have led to a significant continued rise in streaming media activity. This growth is not exclusive to video: streaming audio has become a mainstream activity through online radio and personalised streamed music services such as Spotify and Last.fm, whilst streamed social gaming services are extremely popular. Futuresource will be hosting the Futuresource Entertainment Summit in London again this year, taking place on 16 and 17 June. Topics will include the rise of digital content delivery and the business opportunities presented by new home entertainment technologies, platforms and delivery systems. For more information visit www.fes2011.com. Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2011”.

		December 2010 Interactive Whiteboards to reach 900,000 unit sales The Interactive Whiteboard phenomenon continues to take hold on a global scale, with 750,000 boards sold worldwide in 2009 and the market on track to reach close to 900,000 unit sales in 2010, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "With global classroom penetration sitting at just 7%, these numbers only represent the tip of the market potential iceberg," says Colin Messenger, senior consultant at Futuresource. "This ever-expanding penetration of IWB and other associated technologies has helped drive a significant evolution in interactive education from a relatively passive one-to-many learning experience. "There is little doubt that IWBs are radically changing teaching styles and the full potential of digital interactive learning is being harnessed. Certainly there are still elements of passive learning, there probably always will be, but digital technology is allowing passive styles to evolve, as educators are able to draw from numerous multimedia platforms and create more visually rich content." How the interactive display will look in the future is still unclear, with flat panel products gradually coming to market and interactive projection units also gathering traction at the low end. However, with so many countries still only at the starting line, the outlook is extremely positive for interactivity in education. Against this backdrop, Futuresource Consulting is pleased to announce that it is the exclusive 'Knowledge Partner' for the BETT education show, taking place at Olympia, London on 12 - 15 January. BETT is the largest education solutions exhibition in the world and provides the opportunity to view, touch and test all that is new in the industry. As well as free entry and fast-track into the exhibition, attendees will also receive exclusive whitepapers provided by Futuresource, which give an overview of the education technology landscape now and in the future. Futuresource representatives will be chairing and moderating conference sessions, and will be on hand to answer questions. For more information, visit the BETT website at www.bettshow.com/efr Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Blu-ray video disc production to approach 2bn units by 2014 Worldwide pre-recorded Blu-ray video disc production is on track to exceed 400 million units in 2010, an increase of nearly 60% compared with 2009, according to a new research report from Futuresource Consulting. When factoring in PS3 titles, overall BD production volumes are somewhat higher. show more/less “Moving forward we expect to see continued expansion in BD video production volumes, with our forecasts indicating that annual global output will reach two billion discs by 2014,” says Michael Boreham, Senior Consultant Disc Manufacturing & Storage Media at Futuresource. The BD replication industry has seen capacity utilisation improve markedly during 2010. “As a result of this output expansion, BD capacity utilisation will hit nearly 80% in the US during Q4 of this year and 75% in Europe,” says Boreham. “This is about as high as it can comfortably get, and given the continued market expansion expected over the next few years, which is being driven by growing player ownership and falling disc prices, the industry will need to invest further in 2011 to prevent peak quarter disc shortages. “Production quantities are boosted by the continued pipeline fill and infrastructure requirements. Studios remain committed to maintaining inventory levels to ensure demand can be met in a growing market and retailers are keen to maintain a good level of copy depth in store, to strongly promote BD and eliminate out-of-stocks and lost sales." Fiona Hoy, Market Analyst at Futuresource, adds, “Bundling discs with hardware is also a factor, and the launch of 3D BD titles has added extra importance to this. As 3D is ideally suited to the BD delivery platform, this is clearly a long-term opportunity for the industry to further sustain consumer interest in packaged entertainment media. From 2012 we’re going to see very strong demand for 3D content, which will fuel additional growth. A number of bundled exclusives are already boosting demand from this sector, such as ‘Avatar’ with Panasonic displays or ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ with Samsung displays.” Futuresource Consulting’s Blu-ray Disc Replication Report was released in November 2010 and explores the current and future developments within the Blu-ray Disc industry across the USA, Western Europe, Canada, Mexico, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia, Australia and South America. Notes Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource, copyright 2010”. Print Kiosk and Dry Minilab Installations on the Rise Across Western Europe Commentary by: Jeremy Wills, Senior Consultant / Manager - Imaging & Storage Media, Futuresource Consulting With more than 6,000 European sales between January and June this year, installations of retail photo equipment units, including minilabs and instant print kiosks, grew by nearly 2.5% in the first half of this year, to exceed 81,000 units. This sector is characterised by an ongoing increase in the overall installed base of instant print kiosks and the gradual transition from wet to dry minilab technology, giving retailers the opportunity to offer a wider portfolio of products, such as duplex prints and photobooks. show more/less Despite the growth, the number of installations was lower than had been anticipated by many of the equipment vendors, with some retailers retaining older wet minilabs or instant print kiosks for longer than had been expected. There has been more optimism for the second half of 2010 and into the first half of 2011, as smaller retailers may find it easier to obtain financial support to purchase equipment, and more retailers overall will begin to evaluate replacing older wet minilabs with dry minilabs. Dry minilab installations increased by 30%, to nearly 1,800 units, with Spain, the UK and Italy accounting for over 65% of sales. Instant print kiosks increased to more than 67,000 installed units, a rise of 3.6%, with nearly 50% of sales being made to Germany. There were 167 sales of wet minilabs, of which over 80% were replacement units and the overall installed base fell by 6%. In the UK, 87 dry minilabs were sold, taking the installed base to 400 units, while new sales of 600+ instant print kiosks increased the installed base to just under 8,750 units. Kodak represented the largest brand of equipment installed, both in Western Europe and in the UK. In retailer terms, DM in Germany had the largest number of equipment installations in Western Europe, while in the UK, Boots had the largest installed base of equipment. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.

		November 2010 3DTVs shipping faster than HDTV The retail performance of 3D hardware for the home has been developing at a healthy pace, bolstered by 3DTV prices falling by close to 40% in some cases, and year one adoption of 3DTV is running at a far quicker rate in most territories than it did for high definition, according to a new industry report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less Futuresource expects global sales of 3DTVs to exceed four million this year. Across Western Europe alone, 1.2 million 3DTVs will be sold, rising to more than three million in 2011. In the US, more than five million 3DTVs will be sold next year. "3DTV will continue to provide 'premium brand' CE manufacturers with a way to differentiate themselves from the competition and add value for consumers," says Bill Foster, Senior Technology Consultant at Futuresource Consulting. "For systems that use active glasses technology, manufacturers are now able to embed 3D chipsets at a relatively low cost, allowing them to increase their margins while still keeping 3D affordable. Passive glasses technology, as used in cinemas, is still more expensive to produce for the home and will remain costly for some time, as the TV requires a polarised screen. In addition, passive systems are unable to show 3D in full 1080p, as the picture on the screen is polarised, with half the image delivered to the left eye and half to the right." As the television market continues to be commoditised, with traditional factors like screen size, display thickness and the quality of image reaching their peak, 3D capability will increasingly be bundled with other features like connectivity, web services and energy efficiency to add a new dimension beyond the battle for price point. "Toshiba's announcement about its autostereoscopic (glasses-free) 3DTVs, combined with a number of optimistic predictions across the industry, may be discouraging some consumers from investing in the current generation of 3DTV," says Foster. "However, Futuresource research shows that autostereoscopic technologies are at least four years away from a large screen solution for the home, and it will likely be a few years beyond this before sets reach mass-market pricing." At a smaller screen size, auto-stereoscopic 3D devices are commercially viable as they are viewed close-up by a single person. The highest profile device to be announced so far is without doubt the Nintendo 3DS, due for launch in early 2011 and featuring a 3.53-inch display, but the developers of these small displays readily admit that scaling to larger sizes for a living room environment presents a significant technical challenge. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.

		October 2010 Mobile gaming market worth 10 billion dollars by 2014 The rapid growth in apps games continues to drive the mobile gaming industry, with the total mobile games market on track to reach nearly US$10bn worldwide by 2014, according to a new strategic report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less In 2010, the Apple App Store alone, excluding iPad, is forecast to generate around US$1.7bn in games revenues globally, accounting for almost 30% of the total mobile gaming market. In comparison, traditional mobile games - mainly downloaded from mobile network operator stores - account for 60%, with other apps stores, in particular the Android market, representing the remaining 10%. “There is no doubt that paid-for apps games are leading the gaming charge,” says Patrik Pfandler, Lead Mobile Analyst at Futuresource, “and our forecasts show apps-based gaming will account for more than 95% of total mobile gaming revenues by 2014 –that’s despite the glut of free apps games out there. “The growth of in-apps payments is a key ingredient in the commercial success of apps gaming. In the short term we’ll see the rise of the ‘freemium’ business model, where the game is downloaded for free, but incorporates micro-transactions and virtual currencies, encouraging users to unlock additional features, new levels and premium content. In the longer run, we’re going to see ad-funded apps games start to gain more traction as well. “The accelerating uptake of smartphones has been the primary driver in apps growth, with high quality touchscreens, powerful programmable processors, improved graphics and cameras, increased storage, accelerometer and GPS all becoming standard and all making their contribution to an improved mobile gaming experience.” Futuresource expects smartphone ownership to grow by 50% in 2010, achieving 270 million units worldwide, with the uptake being driven by the increased availability of devices, continued strong sales of iPhones and - more recently - a growing demand for Android-powered mobile handsets. And although the Android market currently lacks the variety of quality apps and games titles that can be found in the Apple App Store, Google’s mobile platform is rapidly gaining a share of the apps market, as more games developers and publishers begin to migrate across. The Futuresource Mobile Games Report was released in October 2010 and explores the current and future developments within the mobile gaming industry, putting apps-based gaming into the overall mobile gaming and applications context. Detailed mobile games forecasts are provided by platform and country, and countries covered in the report include USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. For more information or to purchase this report, please contact Patrik Pfandler on +44 (0) 1582 500 163 or via email at patrik.pfandler@futuresource-hq.com. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”. Connected TV begins its move mainstream “Despite the initial low level of interest in connected TVs, we are now reaching a point of critical mass,” says David Watkins, Consumer Electronics Consultant, Futuresource Consulting. “Our analysis shows consumer usage growing as connected TV devices become increasingly versatile and the range of content, applications and major web brands available on CE platforms increases." show more/less Consumer interest in connected CE devices – particularly connected TVs and Blu-ray players - has been slow to develop, predominantly due to a lack of industry and retail push, and a glut of competing solutions which are already providing swift and easy access to entertainment, information and communications. Pay-TV, PCs, smartphones and - most recently – the iPad are all enabling consumers to access information however, wherever and whenever they want it. “Despite the initial low level of interest in connected TVs, we are now reaching a point of critical mass,” says David Watkins, Consumer Electronics Consultant, Futuresource Consulting. “Our analysis shows consumer usage growing as connected TV devices become increasingly versatile and the range of content, applications and major web brands available on CE platforms increases. “There is a current surge of industry interest in TV application development, closely following the mobile phone model, and in some instances this will also allow a micropayments business model to be put in place. In the mobile market, only Apple and Blackberry have, so far, created revenue models based on apps and services respectively, and other cellphone makers are dependent primarily on device sales. Despite this, in the emerging Connected CE space, hardware makers are looking for monetization models from content owners and online service providers, with a variety of approaches under review.” Connected CE devices will stimulate further growth in digital content sell-through, boosted by enhanced networking solutions, more flexible access to purchased content and growth in streaming media. “Online subscription and VoD services may experience some growth through connected CE devices, but there will be competition from incumbent Pay-TV distributors, and these providers are looking to exploit Connected CE, to broaden reach and extend their brands into new and lucrative markets,” says Watkins. “As the penetration and versatility of television sets continues to rise, we’re also going to see programmers, advertisers, publishers and e-commerce providers tapping into Interactive TV, enabling real-time interaction between broadcast and online media. “A significant amount of flow associated with Connected CE services and apps will come from advertising, sponsorships, e-commerce, and interactive services. Many of the revenue streams will build upon existing opportunities, such as premium rate phone lines.” For the CE hardware manufacturers, connected CE creates a path to added value via Web services and Interactive TV applications. In the highly commoditised flat panel market, where traditional factors like screen size, thinness and image quality are running out of headroom, value-add inclusions like connectivity, energy saving and 3D capability are adding a new dimension to the offering and adding a new competitive element beyond the battle for price point. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”. 24m Blu-ray players will be sold this year Sales of Blu-ray players, excluding PS3, are expected to total nearly 24m units this year across the three key growth regions (USA, Europe and Japan), according to a new Blu-ray and DVD Hardware Performance report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less "Last year's crucial Q4 period accounted for nearly half of all BD players that were sold globally in 2009, and the upward trend is continuing, with our projections showing in excess of 80% unit growth across this year," says Jack Wetherill, Research Consultant at Futuresource. "This view is based on inputs from a wide range of companies operating in the global Blu-ray hardware business, including vendors, retailers and component suppliers, and forms part of our ongoing research in this area." All eyes will again be on Q4, with Futuresource predicting sales in excess of 11 million units in that quarter alone, a healthy year-on-year growth that will continue to drive BD into the mass market. "Sales of HD-capable and 3D-capable TVs, coupled with dramatic reductions in BD player prices are continuing to fuel interest," Wetherill continues. "Add to that the burgeoning 3D Blu-ray market segment, and we'll see the format continue to gather momentum in all major markets across the globe." At least 10% of all Blu-ray devices shipped this year are expected to offer 3D playback, rising to more than 25% in 2011. By 2014, nearly 40% of homes across the three key regions - Western Europe, the USA and Japan - will own a 3D Blu-ray player, recorder or home theatre. With a lucrative roadmap stretching out for at least the next five years, when factoring in the rise of 3D and its associated technologies, there is clearly a long-term opportunity for the industry to further sustain consumer interest in Blu-ray. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.

		September 2010 The Future of Broadcast: New market analysis from Futuresource Consulting At the end of last year, over 600 million homes across the globe were connected to cable, satellite or IPTV subscription TV networks, with nearly 200 million set top boxes shipped last year alone, of which over 60% were pay-TV boxes, according to Futuresource Consulting. Although worldwide set top box shipments and the subscriber base will continue to grow during the period under review, revenue growth will decelerate due to market saturation, price competition and the continued impact of the economic climate on consumer spending. show more/less As margins shrink, businesses operating at all points along the capture and delivery pipeline will need to focus on greater efficiencies and improved workflow. Now more than ever, investments made within the broadcast industry will need to show a rapid - if not immediate - return on investment. Capturing the action In the first half of 2010, non-tape camcorders accounted for 48% of the EMEA pro camcorder market, driven primarily by the efficiencies afforded by non-tape workflows. "For many, the painstaking task of digitizing footage from tape is a distant memory," says Adam Cox, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource. "However, instead of digitizing, time-consuming transcoding can be required before post production, thus diluting one of the key benefits of non-tape. That said, the situation is improving, though the NLE vendors have been slow to catch up." For non-tape to reach its full potential, camcorder manufacturers must work closely with NLE vendors to ensure that new acquisition codecs are adequately supported through post production. Despite the importance of non-tape capture, tape-based products remain extremely popular, not simply because the format is familiar to users, but due to its ability to shoot in HD (HDV) as well as SD. "Format flexibility is a key purchase trigger, as many broadcast professionals and videographers work on a freelance basis, moving from project to project, with varying demands placed upon them and their kit," says Cox. "Purchasing an HD and SD capable camcorder gives the end user the flexibility they need in this period of transition." Investment in encoding "Broadcasters and pay-TV operators are keen to reduce costs through increasingly sophisticated compression techniques, but highly compressed content remains a secondary concern, with the fidelity of the video produced being of primary importance," says Cox. "Any investment in new technology must therefore translate into 'on air' quality." H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) is a major driver for future encoder demand, but the factors behind uptake vary between distribution and contribution applications. In particular, there remains a huge global installed base of legacy MPEG-2 set top boxes for both HD and SD, meaning that many pay-TV operators will require significant investment to migrate to H.264. Reaching out to the consumer "Established pay-TV majors are focusing on the bigger picture, providing a bundle of benefits to attract various subscriber segments," says Carl Hibbert, Head of Broadcast Research at Futuresource. "Depth of content, added value in the guise of HD, DVR, Free VoD and multi-room, and multi-platform distribution, including online & mobile are some of the strategies being rolled out. Cable and IPTV operators are focusing on broadband pipes, Triple or Quad Play, On-Demand and HD content. We're also seeing increasing Telco investment in sports and movie VoD rights." The recent emergence of IP connected devices has opened the doors for traditional PC-based content to be delivered directly to the TV screen, creating another avenue of competition for pay-TV services and taking a portion of consumers' viewing time. In order to remain competitive against this threat, operators are reviewing IP connectivity within set top boxes and seeking to deploy hybrid broadcast/broadband solutions to support the roll-out of additional content and services. "Pay-TV providers see IP as a way to enhance and complement their existing subscriber proposition, as well as reaching into markets with ad-funded and paid-for content on both PCs and Connected CE devices," says Hibbert, "and broadcasters are evaluating IP delivery as a way to tap into the growth of online advertising with catch-up TV and additional programming, as well as selective development of Pay-TV opportunities." By the end of 2010, the European installed base of connected TVs will swell to 16m devices, representing nearly 10% of the total number of flat panel TVs in use. The next step for manufacturers will be to add more compelling video services, including paid for movie streaming that will create revenue sharing opportunities with content owners, aggregators and application developers. Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”. European Photobook Market on track for 25% growth this year The Western European photobook market is on track for continued healthy growth this year, with its value projected to grow 25%, reaching in excess of 500 million Euros, according to a new Photobook Market Report from Futuresource Consulting. show more/less “This segment has put in a strong performance, with a pricing boost which can be attributed to consumers migrating to larger sized books and more pages per book,” says Joanna Wright, Senior Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting. “Online continues to drive the bulk of European purchases, accounting for 90% of orders last year. Looking to the high street, volumes grew steadily through 2009, but at a slower pace than the rest of the market, largely due to dwindling store numbers and a lack of marketing activity from the retailers.” “This year we’re seeing an improvement at retail, as a number of chains have become more active in the photobook space particularly in the UK, with Boots, Jessops, Asda and Tesco all rolling out additional in-store solutions. At Photokina later this month, onsite photobook solutions are expected to be a prominent theme, with new Dry minilab solutions due to launch from the likes of Sony and Noritsu, and strong equipment sales expected in Q1 2011.” In terms of photobook production the market remains fragmented, with a mix of traditional photo brands, commercial print houses and specialist book companies all vying for market share. The leading six photobook producers - CeWe Color, Albumprinter, Hofmann, Schmidkonz, Photobox and Infowerk – accounted for more than 50% of the market in 2009, with CeWe Color leading the charge in the Western European market. The remainder of the market was made up of around 60 different companies. “We carry out in-depth primary research on an ongoing basis, obtaining inputs from a wide range of companies operating in the photobook business,” says Wright, “and this is showing us consumer awareness and acceptance of photobooks is on the up, with new customers often acquired through books instead of prints. As a result, many brands are trying to capitalise on this by focusing on a few key areas to help drive demand in 2010, including product range development, additional finishing options, software and user interface improvements, and increased production efficiencies.” Authorised use of information All information provided by Futuresource in any form is proprietary information that belongs to Futuresource and is protected by UK and international copyright law. Except as outlined below, direct or indirect reproduction of information, in whole or in part and by any means, is prohibited without the express written consent of Futuresource. Members of the press may use a press release in its entirety or take segments from it as necessary; they may also use a graph, a slide, or a section of a supplied research report less than fifty words long, provided all text is identified as “Source: Futuresource Consulting” and all graphics are credited with “Futuresource Consulting, copyright 2010”.

		July 2010 Strong growth for Interchangeable Lens Compact Cameras Following the release of a Futuresource industry report earlier this month on the Western European market opportunity for Interchangeable Lens Compact Cameras, James Wells, consultant with Futuresource discusses some of the key issues surrounding this market. "Since the end of 2008 when Panasonic launched the world’s first Interchangeable Lens Compact, Olympus, Samsung and Sony have introduced their own models into this segment," says Wells. "However, the market was still relatively small last year, with just 80,000 units shipped across Western Europe, compared with 3.2m DSLRs." New Futuresource Report: Analysing the Future of Classroom Display Technology The classroom has been quietly benefiting from the digital revolution for many years, with interactive technology changing the face of teaching in a space that had previously seen little or no change for many decades. Over the last 10 years Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) have become the dominant classroom display solution, and in 2009 became a $1 billion industry, with just two vendors enjoying 70% share.

		June 2010 Futuresource Entertainment Summit plays host to 200+ attendees: The Conference Highlights The industry’s focus on the integration of entertainment content and home and personal electronics equipment has never been more intense, as the pace of innovation shifts up several gears. Against this backdrop, on 10 – 11 June, Futuresource Consulting hosted the Futuresource Entertainment Summit, where prominent industry executives came together in front of an audience of 200 to explore the hardware and content landscapes. Consumer camcorder market posts Q1 growth in EMEA In Q1 this year the consumer camcorder market in the leading 17 EMEA countries witnessed 6% year-on-year unit growth, according to sell-in shipment data collected by Futuresource Consulting. In terms of shipment volumes, the UK continued to lead the way in EMEA, though year-on-year unit growth has largely been fuelled by territories such as France and Germany Visualiser market worth $200m in USA and Western Europe The visualiser continues to excel as a teaching tool in classrooms and training rooms across the world. This device for projecting small objects onto a screen is forecast to reach a value of almost $200m across USA and Western Europe in 2010, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting.

		May 2010 Focus on 3D Gaming: titles prevalent by 2011 There are no major obstacles to 3D games development and production, the process is relatively straightforward and is all done in post production. Development costs of a 3D game are only 10% to 15% higher than a 2D game and most developers and publishers are already fully geared up for 3D, according to Futuresource. New White Paper: Projector & IWB usage in UK schools Conducted and prepared by Futuresource and sponsored by Philips Lighting, this end-user market survey provides the results of a projector usage study in UK schools. The purposes of the study were to explore the energy saving opportunities in the classroom for projectors with lamp systems that can adjust image brightness based upon end-user requirements, and to define a representative education lifetime test cycle for lamp systems using ImageCare® technology.

		April 2010 The Strategic Impact of 3D: new Futuresource report now available Following on from last year's 3D study, Futuresource Consulting is delighted to announce a new updated report, 'The Strategic Impact of 3D', which examines the recent developments surrounding 3D in the home and evaluates the future opportunities for the broadcast industry, consumer and professional electronics sectors, gaming, advertising, optical disc replicators and the retail trade.

		February 2010 New breed of BD player will drive 3D forward The BDA’s announcement in December last year on the finalisation of the ‘Blu-ray 3D’ specification has been cemented by Sony’s release of a standalone 3D-Ready Blu-ray player, firmly fixing the industry’s crosshairs on a 3D future. Within four years, 50% of US homes will own a 3D-Ready display, and the uptake of 3D–Ready Blu-ray players won’t be far behind, with one out of every three US homes owning one. This is according to Futuresource Consulting, with new research scheduled to be unveiled at their forthcoming webinar, ‘3D: How Big, How Soon?’, taking place on Thursday 25 February. 1 million Interactive Whiteboards will be sold in 2010 according to new Futuresource report “All regions experienced major growth last year, spread across multiple countries rather than localised hotspots,” says Colin Messenger, Senior Consultant, Futuresource. “Back in 2005 only three countries sold more than 10,000 IWBs; last year we saw 12 countries hit this level. Driven by continued technological developments, our projections show that one in six classrooms will have an Interactive Whiteboard by 2012. There is a justifiably strong mood of optimism amongst manufacturers.” The Futuresource Entertainment Summit, 10-11 June 2010: Save the Date Futuresource Consulting is delighted to announce the Futuresource Entertainment Summit, a major event spanning two days, delivering key industry insights and bringing together international opinion leaders from the world of consumer electronics, entertainment content, retail, broadcast, online and mobile. Feargal Sharkey announced as speaking at the Futuresource Entertainment Summit Feargal Sharkey has confirmed he will be speaking at the Futuresource Entertainment Summit, taking place on 10-11 June 2010 at London’s Marble Arch. The ex-Undertones lead singer and successful solo artist hung up his pop star boots and successfully transferred to the business side of the industry, holding such posts as A&R manager, record label MD and similar roles.

		January 2010 Mobile App stores will generate 15 billion dollars in 2013 Mobile application stores are revitalising the mobile content market, with 3.6 billion apps downloaded from app stores in 2009, expected to rise to 6.6 billion this year, and growing to 16.2 billion in 2013, according to a new strategic report from Futuresource Consulting. Futuresource CES Show Report: Free Publication CES2010 was overflowing with innovation from both full-range and niche vendors. Much of this show report consists of first-hand experiences of the team of seven Futuresource analysts who were on the ground throughout the show. China schools are on track for 2m+ projectors by 2013 A new China Schools Technology report from Futuresource Consulting reveals explosive growth for the interactive whiteboard (IWB) market in the region, with an installed base of more than 200,000 forecast for the end of 2010, equating to 40%+ sales growth. “By 2013 we’re going to see the number of IWBs in Chinese schools increase to nearly 650,000”, says Colin Messenger, Senior Consultant, Futuresource. Movie-on-Demand revenues to reach 430m Euros in Western Europe and 2.4bn dollars in USA by 2013 Video on Demand (VoD) delivered straight to the television is generating high levels of consumer interest, but little revenue, with free content accounting for more than 95% of the material being watched. However, a new Pay-TV market report from Futuresource Consulting shows consumers will pay extra for movies on demand delivered by their broadcaster or Pay TV operator. By 2013, transactional revenues from movies on demand alone will reach 2.4bn dollars in the USA and 430m Euros in the leading five Western European countries. One billion people will own a smartphone by 2013 Despite the increasing overlap between mobile phone functionality and other handheld devices, consumers are still purchasing standalone cameras, sat navs, personal media players and handheld gaming devices, according to a new convergence report from Futuresource Consulting. Industry Update: The Photobook Market The photo industry continues to evolve and experience significant change, with falling demand for 6x4” hardcopy prints (worth €4.5 billion in 2006, against €2.8 billion in 2009), and the photobook and photo-merchandise market shaking up the traditional photo market. It is clear that consumers are becoming more creative and are looking for different ways to share their images, encouraged by the many options now available to them.

		December 2009 Mainstream adoption of 3D in the home moves one step closer In line with the BDA’s announcement this month on the finalisation and release of their ‘Blu-ray 3D’ specification, a recent strategic 3D report from Futuresource Consulting shows an upsurge in the adoption of High Definition and Blu-ray hardware in 2010, strengthened by a clearly defined 3D roadmap. 20% of TVs shipped in Europe next year will have Internet capability The first TV and Blu-ray devices capable of accessing content directly from the Internet emerged in Europe during 2009 and will start to gain ground fast, with more than 20% of flat panel TVs shipped in the region next year able to connect to the Internet, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting. Implications of the Comcast/NBC Universal Deal The announcement earlier this month that Comcast has acquired a 51% stake in NBC Universal will result in a massive new media conglomerate. The potential implications for the market are currently being hotly debated, with a wide variety of very differing views being expressed.

		November 2009 New consumer research: 9 out of 10 are photo sharing With growing consumer interest in personal video sharing and photo sharing both digitally and in print form, Futuresource Consulting has carried out a UK consumer survey to gain greater insight into the media that are being used, the decision-making process and the level of reliance on the available platforms. Business Display Categories: Q3 Global Roundup Q3 heralded a return to business growth for the displays category with projectors, large format flat panels and Interactive whiteboards all witnessing strong sales growth on a global level. Following relatively weak first half performances (except for the IWB segment), vendors and channel partners alike are now reporting an increase in activity and heightened end-user demand from a number of sectors. Internet radio to ignite networked audio market The rise of connected devices and Internet radio are laying the foundations for multi-room networked audio, according to a new strategic report from Futuresource Consulting. The digital music market in the USA now accounts for 35% of the country's music revenues, with a subscription market worth nearly US$3bn (85% derived from satellite radio).

		October 2009 Mobile Handsets: USA & UK see polarisation, China & India capture 30% Emerging markets now account for over two thirds of all mobile phone handset shipments with China and India leading the charge, according to a new global tracking service from Futuresource Consulting. “The global handset market will decline by around 3% in 2009, with consumers and businesses alike keeping hold of their handsets for longer,” says David Sidebottom, Digital Media Consultant at Futuresource Consulting. Photobook market to grow 36% in Western Europe this year The European photobook market is on track for continued healthy growth, with demand projected to reach nearly 14.5m units this year, up from 10.7m in 2008, according to a new Photobook Market Report from Futuresource Consulting.

		September 2009 The Portable Consumer Electronics Market in Europe Netbooks, pocket video cameras, digital SLRs, smartphones, mobile Internet devices and handheld games consoles are fuelling growth in the European portable electronics market this year, which in the face of economic challenges and convergence, grew 18% in 2008 to reach 155 million units and is forecast to grow a further 7% in 2009 to reach close to 170 million units. Hot or Not? Predictions for the UK CE market in Q4 2009 As we move ever closer to the critical Q4 trading period, Futuresource Consulting takes a look at some of the hot product segments, providing an insight into where the CE market is going and what movements we should expect to see on the UK high street in the run up to Christmas. B2B Flat Panel Market: 30% y-o-y growth seen in Q2 this year In contrast to many other product categories in the Pro AV/IT space, the B2B flat panel market has experienced steady growth this year, with the market racking up sales in excess of 400,000 units in Q2 2009, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting.

		August 2009 Visualisers: The Market Snapshot, UK & Europe Futuresource Consulting has finalised its UK and European report on the Visualiser. This electronic imaging tool for projecting small objects, images and text onto a screen is coming to the fore as a key teaching tool in classrooms and training rooms across the world.

		July 2009 3D Digital Out-Of-Home may bridge the R&D gap As the development of 3D technologies intensifies, opportunities within B2B applications become more attractive, with digital out of home (DOOH) systems offering an ideal proving ground for ‘no glasses’ 3D systems. For the potential to be realised there are serious obstacles to overcome, according to a new market report from Futuresource Consulting. Home broadband to exceed 500 million connections by 2010 Global household penetration of fixed broadband continues apace, with total subscribers on track to break the 500 million barrier next year, according to recent research from Futuresource Consulting. Interactive Voting Systems market worth $400m by 2010 Interactive Voting Systems - or audience participation systems - continue to flourish across the globe, with more than eight million handsets forecast to be sold worldwide next year, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting.

		June 2009 New international study: 8% admit to downloading video content illegally 8% of consumers across the UK, France, Germany and the USA admitted to downloading video content illegally from file sharing websites, a new consumer research study by Futuresource Consulting reveals. Interactive Whiteboard market continues to perform for education There are still no signs of recession in education technology markets according to Futuresource Consulting’s latest quarterly report focusing on the interactive display segment.

		May 2009 Driving Digital Content: It's happening in less than a week!! Less than one week to go until Driving Digital Content and we'll soon be taking final bookings, so don't miss out on what promises to be the definitive digital content conference of 2009. Results of consumer study to be unveiled at Driving Digital Content All delegates attending Driving Digital Content in London on 4-5 June will be the first to hear the results of "Living With Digital: Consumer Insights into Entertainment Consumption", new consumer research into European and US attitudes to digital entertainment consumption, including feedback from consumers as young as 12 years old. Delegates will also receive a free copy of the findings. 10%+ of US and Japanese households will be ‘3D enabled’ by 2012 Now more than ever 3D is coming to the fore, with backing from all major sectors of the entertainment and consumer electronics industries. 3D movie production is intensifying, cinemas all over the world are investing in 3D technologies and feedback from audiences has been highly positive, with encouraging ticket sales. Yet the ultimate goal is to bring 3D to the home, according to Futuresource Consulting’s newly-released ‘Strategic Impact of 3D’ report. US Photobook market to exceed $500m this year The US photobook market is on track for healthy growth this year, with demand projected to reach nearly 17m units this year, up from close to 12.5m in 2008, according to a new US Photobook Market Report from Futuresource Consulting.

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