EU decides on Nokia backed DVB-H Mobile TV, 4 reasons to not complain

When it comes to new technology standards, having a single protocol on which everybody can base their hardware and service decisions can only be described as a blessing. The European Commission has made a significant move by adopting DVB-H as the single European standard for mobile TV.

Critics argue that it is backed by Nokia and that there is also other standards that might be technologically superior. However, the EU is firm that 16 countries -the majority- in the EU are on course with DVB-H, while the decision will also turn other undecided countries outside the EU towards the same standard. The GSM association is impartial as long as there is a single standard, while some criticism has come from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

Is consumer spending on electronics going to slow down?

Now that US economic forecasts do not look so rosy, consumer response related to electronic products has become a constant worry. Manufacturers are churning out new models as if there is no tomorrow and if we are to believe the uplifting CES atmosphere all is going smooth. So who is right, the optimists that believe that the current US predictions will have no effect, or the pessimists that see a serious cut in spending?

One first remark is that to determine what’s happening we must consider the fact that most electronics and IT companies are already international operations, the US represents a portion and not all of their sales. Read the dealer/distributor page of any medium or small company and you will be surprised. There is contacts all over the world, often in all continents. This means that the US economic cycle is not necessarily the whole picture. The high exchange rate of the euro against the dollar for the moment shields the EU from high oil prices and is favourable for American imports! Asian markets are doing pretty well.

Good news, the US to switch to efficient light bulbs too

Saving energy is preferable to producing more of it, even if it is 100% green. Politicians have recently got the message and earlier this year EU leaders decided to follow Australia’s lead and stop the sale of incandescent light bulbs by 2010. Now the new US energy bill makes a similar move and 2012 will be the date after which consumers will only have access to more efficient incandescent or new technology bulbs of the fluorescent type. The news is more than welcome since the EU and US are the largest energy consumers worldwide with a combined population of 800 million consumers. The race is on of course for even more efficient LED lighting, a technology promising further efficiency gains.

Link: New York Times

Can the Desertec project provide the EU with green energy?

Desertec is one of those huge projects that could have instant positive environmental impact. It is a proposal by TREC (Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation) an initiative between the EU, North Africa and the Middle East. The target is to provide Europe with about one sixth of its energy needs and the countries where production takes place with energy and much needed fresh water. It all works as follows: