ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

Western Digital reveals additions to the My Net router family-- the My Net AC1300 HD Dual-Band Router and the companion AC Bridge, both with 802.11ac wireless technology.

The company claims the two devices are ideal for high-bandwidth entertainment services, thanks to FasTrack technology prioritising streaming performance.

The AC1300 uses 802.11n wireless on the 2.4GHz and 802.11ac on the 5GHz band. Both bands work simultaneously, with a "unique" horizontal 3x3 antenna array supposedly boosting throughput and signal quality.

Meanwhile the AC Bridge allows customers to convert up to 4 devices (such as TVs, consoles or Blu-ray players) from wired-ethernet to wireless, reducing the amount of cabling needed to connect devices to the internet.

Go WD Unveils 802.11ac Wireless Router and Bridge

Customers afraid of leaving fingerprints all over their new Windows 8 laptops? Elliptic Labs might just have a future solution with the Windows 8 Gesture Suite, a touch-free gesture-based control system for the touchable OS.

The system might sound similar to the Kinect and its ilk, but Elliptic claims its solution is even better-- it uses ultrasound, with multiple microphones taking the place of cameras.

Ultrasound has a wider field of view, requires no lights, uses less power and is more responsive than camera-based alternatives according to Elliptic.

The system has touch-free gestures for each Windows 8 control, such as selecting files, accessing the Charms menu and cycling between different applications.

Currently the technology is available as an SDK for developers, as well as a "start kit" for OEMs wanting to integrate the technology into products. Elliptic hopes products with the technology will be available in 12-14 months, and hopes it will be integrated into tablets, smartphones and cars as well as laptops. In the meantime... we'll just stick to obsessively cleaning our displays.

Go Windows 8 Gesture Suite

New Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly lays down his turnaround plan for the largest electronics retailer in the US-- one listing online and internet sales as the top priority for the retailer.

"We have been too slow to capture our fair share of the online channel," Joly remarks.

Dubbed "Renew Blue," the Joly plan outlines 5 priorities for Best Buy-- improvement of the customer experience across all channels (including online), investment in employees (especially the "Blue Shirts" and Geek Squad agents), work with vendor partners, driving operational performance and further investment in local communities.

The retailer will introduce a team-based incentive program tied to both customer service and sales, while during the holiday season employees will have the authority to price-match against the online competition in efforts to defeat the "showrooming" trend.

Stores will also see a redesign-- Apple Store-style "Solutions" central desk, in-store shops with labels such as Sony, Apple and Samsung, and more space to popular items such as app accessories or tablet and smartphone cases for women.

“There’s a sense of urgency” at Best Buy, Joly concludes. “I’m sick and tired of negative [comparable sales.] We are working very hard to have an impact. There are a lot of low-hanging fruits.”

Go Best Buy Holds Analyst and Investor Day

According to Reuters AMD hired the services of the JPMorgan bank to "explore options"-- options such as the sale of patents and IP, if not actually selling the company.

In reply to Reuters AMD says "the strategy the company is currently pursuing to drive long-term growth by leveraging AMD's highly-differentiated technology assets is the right approach to enhance shareholder value. AMD is not actively pursuing a sale of the company or significant assets at this time."

What is certain is AMD has financial troubles. The company's value is falling as it lays off engineers and struggles with growing debt and smaller cash reserves. A shrinking PC market is also not doing the company any favours either.

AMD recently started using ARM-based designs for low-cost and power-efficient chips, but the unkind might suggest that is a bit too little, too late. It is also investing further in non-PC business, such as communications, industrial and gaming, segments one Reuters source describes as "the company's silver linings."

The company already sold some segments a few years ago-- back in 2008 it sold the Imageon handheld graphics division and Xileon 32-bit MIPS SoC to Broadcom and Qualcomm. It also divested of some 200mm fab equipment before spinning off GlobalFoundries altogether.

Wall Street analysts suggest Microsoft, Google, Samsung, Intel or Facebook might be interested in at least "some" AMD business, such as the graphics, PC processor and server chip divisions. Another potentially valuable AMD assets are its engineers or patents.

Go AMD Hires Bank to Explore Options (Reuters)