Author: Serkadis

The Mistral 202 DS Z22 is the last born in the wide Delfin range of ATEX Explosion proof models, designed to match the most hazardous working conditions and the strictest norms in ATEX rated (classified as subject to explosion risk) areas.
The compliance with health and safety norms and the high quality standards make this model very popular and requested in several industrial fields, such as the pharmaceutical, chemical, food, paper and wood industry.
The Mistral 202 DS Z22 is a lightweight, compact and mobile vacuum cleaner, matching the typical features of an industrial vacuum (steel construction, high filtration capacity, resistance to continuous duty service, detachable collection bin with collection bags), with the requirements of handiness and mobility that often do not make it possible to use a bigger and heavier industrial vacuum. The Mistral 202 DS Z22 can indeed be moved easily by just one person, used in limited spaces thanks to its compact dimensions (45 x 50 cm.) and fit easily into small vehicles.
Available in stainless steel and with class H / HEPA filter (with 99,995% DOP on 0,18% efficiency), certified for service in ATEX zone 22 (Explosive Dust) it is fitted with a side channel blower motor, matching the reliability under continuous “round the clock” duty service, with the handiness of single phase voltage.
Its high surface cartridge filter (filtration class M – 1 micron) provides an outstanding filter area and unmatched resistance to clogging, if compared to any similar vacuum of its size. The Mistral 202 DS Z22 is available with a full range of ATEX compliant accessories, specifically designed for applications in ATEX rated areas.

“We want a very basic indicator with minimal functions that still supports field networks.”

A&D recently released the AD-4408A in response to such user requests. The AD-4408A has no control input or output, but instead supports various types of field networks. The AD-4408A incorporates the Anybus CompactCom interface (provided by HMS Industrial Networks), which is compatible with Profibus, Modbus, and DeviceNet plug-in modules. These modules can be purchased locally by users and distributors. In addition, the AD-4408A is equipped with the High-Performance Digital Filter, which can eliminate the effects of strong vibration, realizing extremely efficient weighing for both dynamic and static applications.

Portable equipment for measurement of the resonance frequency of vibrating systems in the ultrasonic welding technology.
Extremely precise and reliable, easy to use, connectable to all converters, the SONOBOX allows to check periodically the functioning of the sonotrodes.

For more information please contact Sirius sales dept. phone: ++39/0381/325610

Filed under: Chrysler, Earnings/Financials, Fiat

Think Chrysler is having a banner 2010? A quick glance at the sales charts shows a company in dire need of new product, better quality and a Hail Mary on the showroom floor. But as bad as the situation is right now in Auburn Hills, MI, it appears the company could just about be done bleeding cash.

The Detroit News reports that Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne told a group of reporters that he was committed to breaking even, adding that the company won’t lose money on an operations basis this year. Is Sergio being optimistic or is he basing his numbers on cold, hard facts? Who knows, but when asked if there was a chance Team Pentastar could pull of an actual 2010 profit, he reportedly answered “who knows?”

Marchionne also told reporters that Chrysler had $5 billion in cash at the end of 2009, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee was on schedule to hit production on May 3, and that 50 percent of all Chrysler Group vehicles will be riding on Fiat platforms by 2014. The Fiat/Chrysler CEO also reiterated his stance that Chrysler would sell 1.1 million vehicles this year and that U.S. auto sales would crest 11 million units in 2010.

It’s only fair that Marchionne gave us a state of The Pentastar update given the fact that today marks the one-year anniversary of when the Obama Administration gave Chrysler 30 days of working capital to work out an official tie-up with Fiat.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Marchionne: Chrysler will break even in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The big news yesterday, of course, was the district court ruling that found that genes were unpatentable. The full decision was over 150 pages, so I wanted to spend some time reading through it. It’s mostly a really good ruling that makes a number of important statements. Dan Vorhaus has a good post highlighting some of the key points, including this particular sentence:

The identification of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene sequences is unquestionably a valuable scientific achievement for which Myriad deserves recognition, but that is not the same as concluding that it is something for which they are entitled to a patent.

This is a point that often seems to get lost in this debate, with patent system supporters assuming some sort of “sweat of the brow” argument for patents: that hard work automatically deserves protection. But that’s not how the patent system works, and it’s good that the judge recognizes this.

The one point that the judge punted on was the Constitutional question — basically noting that the case didn’t even need to get that far, since it could be decided based on other issues. This is somewhat unfortunate, because the issues being raised by the ACLU are important ones for patents (and copyrights). As summarized by Joe Mullin in his post about the ruling:

The ACLU argued that genetic patents aren’t only banned under the patent laws, but that they violate the First Amendment because they prevent research and discussions with patients; and that they violate the so-called “Progress Clause” of the U.S. Constitution because patents like Myriad’s don’t “promote the progress” of science.

This is unfortunate because we’ve long argued that the Constitution makes it clear that if copyrights or patents do not, in fact, “promote the progress,” then they are not valid. This is an issue that gets ignored frequently, but it would be good to get addressed. Also, the First Amendment argument is another important one, as the courts have generally punted on cases where lawyers have brought up the conflicts between the First Amendment and copyright law. It would be interesting to see the issue approached from the patent side of the house as well.

In the meantime, while this is an important ruling, it really means very little until the appeal happens (not for a while, most likely), and CAFC weighs in. On that front, there may be some good news. I’d been meaning to write up a ruling from last week on CAFC which a few people submitted, invalidating a specific gene patent held by Harvard and MIT. If you look closely at that ruling you can get a sense of how CAFC is viewing these kinds of patents:

Patents are not awarded for academic theories, no matter how groundbreaking or necessary to the later patentable inventions of others. “[A] patent is not a hunting license. It is not a reward for the search, but compensation for its successful conclusion.” Id. at 930 n.10 (quoting Brenner, 383 U.S. at 536). Requiring a written description of the invention limits patent protection to those who actually perform the difficult work of “invention”–that is, conceive of the complete and final invention with all its claimed limitations–and disclose the fruits of that effort to the public.

Thus, there’s a question of how CAFC will view Myriad’s BRCA patents. Will it see them as just a description of something found in nature, as the lower court did, or will it see them as a true invention.

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A couple of days ago, right around the launch of the McLaren MP4-12C, Lamborghini said it will continue to stay dedicated to the construction of lightweight vehicles and improving power-to-weight ratios. The move is being made as a part of the Italian automaker’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions by 35 percent.

The folks at CARandDRIVER recently sat down with Maurizio Reggiani, the director of research and development at Lamborghini, to get a hint of what we can expect next from Lamborghini.

Click here to get prices on the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Reggiani said that Lamborghini’s priorities are as follows:1. Design 2. Handling 3. Acceleration 4. Top Speed. Fuel-economy hasn’t made the list and we’re a bit glad to see that. However, Reggiani hinted that Lamborghini may follow Ferrari in getting rid of manual transmissions from its vehicles. He said that manual transmissions are fitted to less than five percent of the company’s car.

Nonetheless, Reggiani said that he is somewhat skeptical of the common belief that dual-clutch automated manuals with seven speeds or more (like Porsche’s PDK) are better than Lamborghini’s 6-speed single-clutch unit. He noted that Porsche’s gearbox is roughly 50 pounds heavier than the Lambo 6-speed.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera:

– By: Kap Shah

Source: CARandDRIVER

We’ve got one more day of window-dressing in Q1 (but don’t expect much, judging by the market action today, we wonder if fund managers have fired all of their bullets).

Then starts Q2 and April, which should usher in all kinds of new worries.

David Rosenberg of Gluskin-Sheff lists ’em:

April will be a key month
… no fooling

Last week’s bond auctions did not go well.  It seems that Japan and China did
not show much interest.  The lack of bids was no better underscored than in
the 7-year Treasury note auction where the median yield was 3.29% versus
3.05% a month earlier.  April is a cruel month for the U.S. Treasury market,
with 10-year yields rising in each of the past 4 Aprils and in 6 of the past 7,
and by an average of 25 basis points.  (As Alan Greenspan said on Bloomberg
News last week, higher yields are “the canary in the mine”.)  

• That, in turn, could spook the equity market since another 25bps of upside
pressure could then generate a fund-flow spiral as was the case in the
summer of 2007 — 3.85% (where we are now) ostensibly is a trigger point for
selling of mortgage bonds.  As rates rise, homeowners are less likely to pay
their mortgages early, which extends the life of the mortgage and that in turn
encourages mortgage investors to neutralize the duration of their portfolios by
selling T-bonds and notes.  We have seen this happen before and while it will
likely provide a nice buying opportunity given the deflationary headwinds the
economy now faces, the prospect of a spasm in the Treasury market is worth
considering.  Every equity market correction in the past — 1987, 1994, 1998,
2000, and 2007 — was preceded by what turned out to be a brief but
significant runup in yields.  See Stock Rally at Mercy of Rising Rates on page
C1 of today’s WSJ).  And, the more overvalued the equity market is, the more
the downside risks if bonds begin to provide greater yield competition in the
near-term.  Jeffery Hirsch over at the Stock Trader’s Almanac is in today’s NYT
predicting a 20-30% correction ahead (see Stocks Soar, But Many Ask Why on
page B1) — he notes the modest number of stocks hitting new 52-week highs
with every new interim peak being reached by the overall market.   

• The leading indicators are all pointing to a slowdown, and this could show up in
a critical data-release week in mid-April with retail sales on the 14th, industrial
production on the 15th, and housing starts, as well as consumer sentiment, on
the 16th.  The broad money supply measures are contracting again as the Fed is
no longer boosting its balance sheet at a time when both the money multiplier
and money velocity are showing no signs of turning higher. 

• Greece will be put to the test in April when €15 billion of bonds have to be
rolled over (through the end of May).  

• The Fed ceases to buy mortgage securities on Wednesday and this is
happening at a time when mortgage rates have already climbed back above
5% and the housing market is showing signs of rolling over again.  See Spike
in Treasury Yields Jolts Mortgages on page C2 of today’s WSJ.  There is also
pressure from within the Fed (Plosser the latest) to soon begin to sell
securities outright.  One thing that is very likely on its way again is another
50bps hike on the discount rate — has anyone noticed the TED spread
beginning to widen ahead of this?  The banks, going forward, will not have
easy access to the window and will have to rely on each other for funding.    
April 15 looms as a critical day from a geopolitical standpoint.  It is the day that
the Treasury Department will issue its report concluding whether or not China is
a currency manipulator.  If it is viewed as such then trade sanctions are likely to
ensue and very likely some bilateral tensions.  This could be very good news for
the bullion market (as well as the Bloomberg News report today stating that gold
imports in India are surging right now — up six-fold from a year ago — as there
are an expected 1 million marriages planned for April and May).  

• Speaking of geopolitical risks, President Obama has allowed U.S. relations with
Israel to deteriorate to such an extent, and is handling the Iran nuclear situation
with such a kid-gloves approach, that disturbing columns like this are now
popping up in newspapers like the NYT (Rift Exposes Larger Split In Views On
Mideast — page A4), the National Post (Iran Preparing to Build Two More Secret
Nuclear Sites in Mountains, Experts Say — page A8), and the WSJ (How the Next
Middle East War Could Start — page A23).  Even the prospect is enough to
underpin the energy stocks, which are currently priced for $69/bbl on WTI.  

Join the conversation about this story »

Starting 2012, Buick will no longer use trim level badges like the CX, CXS and CXL to differentiate between models with different equipment offerings.

However, the only Buick models that will receive separate trim-level badging will be GS models to indicate their high-performance factor.

Click here to get prices the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.

The change is being made to streamline the production and buying processes.

Buick Regal GS Concept:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: CARandDRIVER

According to top execs, Toyota has repaired about 1.7 million vehicles under its two recall programs and expects sales for March to be 35% higher than the same period last year. Jim Lentz had also mentioned that the company welcomes the moves taken by the Obama administration to probe the vehicles electronic systems, as the Toyota investigation has a largely mechanical focus.

“We have 40 million cars with electronic throttle controls, and not one case of failure of ETCs that has resulted in unintended acceleration,” Lentz told an auto dealer forum sponsored by the National Automobile Dealers Association and IHS Global Insight. Lentz had also pointed out that most of the recalled models that received repairs were covered by the sticking pedal recall, and that the floor mat recall will take longer to address.

Toyota has a barrage of incentives out there, having caused Honda to follow suit. Some speculate that Toyota could outsell all other automakers in the U.S. this month.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Free Press

Auto sales may be slow-going right now, but don’t be surprised if we see a burst in sales when the economy improves. The average age of a vehicle on the road in the U.S. is now at its highest since 1995, and less cars were registered than were scrapped last year; a sign that consumer’s vehicles are wearing out and will soon have to be replaced.

14.8 million cars met their fate last year, while only 13.6 million registrations were issued in the U.S., according to R.L. Polk. Remember however, that 2009 also saw ‘Cash for Clunkers‘ which would increase the scrappage rate.

The average age of a vehicle on the road in the U.S. today is 10.2 years old. With all the gimmicks recently being employed by dealers, it seems that good old wear and tear is what’s going to be forcing buyers back into showrooms.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: DriveOn

Now that BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is ready to hit retailers, Zen United, Arc System Works and gamerbase are teaming up to generate some hype for the 2D fighter. How? By letting players battle it out in a tournament.

Heidi Moore Lauren Young caught up with Mohammed El-Erian over at CBS Moneywatch. The full interview is here.

Here are his key points:

• U.S. could go to levels that are no longer compatible with a triple A rating.

• The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond will bounce around between 2.75 percent to 5 percent until the end of 2011.

• Look for [US] growth rates to be an annualized 4 percent to 5 percent in the first half of the year. Growth will likely slow in the second half to an annualized 2 percent.

Join the conversation about this story »

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Cadillac, GM, Hyundai, Infiniti

Sam and Dan kick off Episode #172 of the Autoblog Podcast with guest Jason Vuic, author of a historical treatise on the Yugo.

Alex Nunez joins us afterwards for news items. We cover sights coming to the New York Auto Show, including the next Mercedes R-Class, Infiniti QX56, Cadillac CTS-V Wagon and Sonata Hybrid, among other topics. We babble for an hour and twenty and then split.

Autoblog Podcast #172: YUGOMANIA!

In the Autoblog Garage:

Toyota Prius

News:
Cadillac CTS-V Wagon
Infiniti QX56
Mercedes-Benz R Class
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Hosts:
Alex Nunez, Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid

Guest:
Jason Vuic, author of The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History

Runtime: 1:16:45

---

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #172: YUGOMANIA! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jose Berber-Lopez from RBS’ Emerging Markets team lays out how Chile will finance its reconstruction post-earthquakes.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Finance Minister Larrain will soon announce how the reconstruction efforts will be financed. There are important asset price implications based on the combinations of financing options.
• Locals are now working with a lower assumption about the total reconstruction cost of USD10bn but Finance Minister Felipe Larrain reinforced that the total cost is closer to USD30bn.
• Our initial analysis is that Chile will issue USD1bn in the external capital markets, accept a USD0.5bn loan from the IADB, tap the stabilization fund for USD1bn and issue at least USD2.5bn in the domestic debt markets to sterilize these inflows.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• How To Survive A Tsunami: Abandon Belongings, Head For Higher Ground, And Climb A Tree
• This Is What The Tsunami Fallout Looks Like
• Tsunami Fears In Hawaii Following Massive Earthquake In Chile

We’ll be in New York City starting tomorrow bringing you live coverage of the 2010 New York Auto Show, which kicks of tomorrow (some surprises will show up later tonight so make sure you come back).

If you need quick access to all the 2010 New York Auto Show news, click the shortcut in the sidebar (under the Breaking and Featured Headlines) – or you can just visit the 2010 New York Auto Show tag directly.

Check out the list of 2010 New York Auto Show debuts after the jump.

2010 New York Auto Show Debuts:

2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon
2011 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive
2011 BMW 335is
2011 BMW 5-Series
2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco
2011 Chevrolet Cruze RS
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
2011 Infiniti QX56
2011 Kia Optima
2011 Lexus CT 200h
2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
2011 Nissan Juke
2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid
2011 Subaru Impreza WRX
2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

– By: Omar Rana

 

1 : to deprive of the use of a limb and especially a leg <the accident left him crippled>
2 : to deprive of capability for service or of strength, efficiency, or wholeness <an economy crippled by inflation>

This was taken from Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crippled).

As much as we like referring to Android personified (I mean, who doesn’t love that little green guy), we should digress and use the 2nd referenced definition. Let’s elaborate after the break.

read more

Dow: Up 11 points to 10,907.

NASDAQ: Up 6 points to 2410.

S&P 500: Flat at 1173.

Commodities: Mixed. Oil is up $0.29 to $82.46 a barrel. Natgas futures rose 1.7% today in a reverse from the current downtrend.

Gold is down $5.70 to $1105.80 an ounce and silver is slightly down, currently at $17.35 an ounce, down $0.04.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Mid-Day Market Recap: Indices Hold Their Gains While Commodities Climb
• The Unstoppable Bulls: Indices Post Solid Gains, Gold Retreats
• Mid-Day Market Recap: Stocks Up, Volume Light As Traders Await Fed Announcements

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan

A while back we showed you the 40th Anniversary Nissan 370Z. The special package for the 370Z adds a healthy dose of show and a wee dash of go to the already heady mix of Z-car sportiness. It’s hard to believe we’ve had 40 years of Z-cars – the car that became the best-selling sportscar series of all time with its perfect blend of performance, styling and value. Coincidentally, Los Angeles area Nissan dealer Universal City Nissan is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year as well.

Sounds like the makings of a great party, doesn’t it? Universal City is pulling out all the stops, inviting Z-car enthusiasts and anyone else who wants to have a good time down for the celebration. Those who register at the company’s website will get a coupon redeemable for some free Kogi Korean BBQ, too, as if the unveiling of the 40th Anniversary Z wasn’t enough. Well, there’s actually more to the deal.

According to the website, there’s a whole day of activities planned, starting with a visit to the Datsun Heritage Museum in Murrieta, CA. Guests will get a tour of the museum and snacks before the gang caravans up to Universal City Nissan in Los Angeles. That’s where the Kogi BBQ truck will be, along with a local radio station that will be broadcasting live and giving away 40th Anniversary swag.

The grand finale will be the unveiling of both the Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition and the first 2010 Nismo Edition 370Z made. Sounds like a great day of Z-car action. To whet our appetites, they’ve even put together a fun video scrapbook featuring 40 years of Nissan Z-car commercials and insider videos that we’ve embedded after the jump. So check it out and click on over to the Universal City site to register.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Take a walk down Nissan Z-car memory lane, look into the future

Video: Take a walk down Nissan Z-car memory lane, look into the future originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uh oh. It appears that a group of independent filmmakers don’t seem to recognize the kind of backlash they can receive for going to war against file sharers. It appears that a company, ridiculously named the US Copyright Group, has signed up a bunch of independent filmmakers, with the unofficial backing of Independent Film & Television Alliance, to follow in the footsteps of the disastrous European automated copyright infringement threat letter campaign, and have already gone after 20,000 alleged file sharers with another 30,000 about to follow. Five specific lawsuits have been filed, listing the 20,000 IP addresses accused of infringement.

We’ve covered the shenanigans of companies like DigiProtect, Davenport Lyons and ACS:Law over in Europe for a while, where they monitor BitTorrent activity and then send out tens of thousands of “pre-settlement” threat letters, demanding payment to avoid a lawsuit. Of course, with such a machine gun approach, a ton of totally innocent people are sent such letters demanding payment. This practice has been condemned by politicians, consumer advocates, lawyers, ISPs and even (believe it or not) the recording industry. Some of the lawyers involved in these programs have been referred for disciplinary action and some involved in this practice have been barred from practicing law.

And yet, apparently these letters are really lucrative. Many people just pay up to avoid any lawsuit — and many of the companies in the space pitch this not as a way to “stop file sharing” but as a way to “monetize file sharing.” In fact, with at least some companies in the space, they’re seeding the content themselves — despite the fact that this raises all sorts of questions over whether or not this is “authorized.”

For a while, we’ve wondered why such practices have stayed in Europe, and assumed that perhaps those in the US had looked at the disastrous PR results of the RIAA’s lawsuit campaign. Or, maybe, seen how well-known companies quickly backed out of such schemes after the negative publicity of mass threat letters. These days, most of these threats seem to come from porn providers and small software firms.

However, with this new campaign in the US, it looks like the lawyers involved (built off a program in Germany) have signed up a bunch of independent film producers. The full story, by Eriq Gardner at THREsq, has plenty of details. Apparently, the lawyers sought to get the support of both the IFTA and the MPAA, and got some sort of unofficial support:

Before doing so, however, Dunlap talked with the IFTA, which wouldn’t explicitly endorse the litigation, but which agreed to be generally supportive. Dunlap also talked with the MPAA and other big studios, which expressed interest but wanted to see proof that ISPs would be cooperative. And so, in the past few weeks on behalf of some low-key indie films, the first lawsuits were filed.

Of course, those involved are also touting this as a “revenue stream” and “monetizing the equivalent of an alternative distribution channel.” That’s a really stunning statement when you think about it. While I’m sure some independent filmmakers are happy to get some money, this is a scorched earth method of getting paid. This is putting a gun to people, based on little evidence, and forcing them to pay up.

That’s not how you build a business. That’s not how you build up fans. It’s certainly not going to build up any loyalty.

Gardner’s article highlights three risks with this plan: the PR disaster potential, the legal questions over IP addresses as evidence as well as whether or not a BitTorrent fragment really is infringement, and ISPs’ general unwillingness to hand over names without a lawsuit filed:

To get past ISPs, a copyright holder needs to file a “John Doe” case and get a court to issue a subpoena that orders the ISP to hand over information. This can be costly. According to Dunlap, ISPs are charging $32 to $60 for each IP address account requested. ISPs cite the cost of notifying the account holder and giving them opportunity to file a motion to quash the subpoena.

When the U.S. Copyright Group filed its recent lawsuits and approached AT&T and other ISPs for account information, the lawyers say they were stunned at the reaction. “Their subpoena compliance group said, ‘We thought we had shut this (approach) down with the MPAA before,’” says Dunlap.

The difference between the MPAA’s past approach and the new one being offered by the US Copyright Group could come down to numbers. Weaver says the MPAA took a less targeted approach going after a smaller sampling of infringers in a single suit for multiple films, to send a message that would hopefully resonate to a much larger crowd. In contrast, Dunlap and his partners are using the new monitoring technology to go after tens of thousands of infringers at a time on a contingency basis in hopes of coming up with the right cost-benefit incentive to pursue individual pirates.

He then noted that one ISP (unnamed, unfortunately) has cooperated and just handed over 71 names, all of whom were sent “settlement offers.” The other ISPs, who fought this in the past, are apparently trying to fight it here as well. Hopefully the courts shut down such a blatant machine gun approach quickly.

But the bigger issue, really, is that anyone thinks this sort of move makes business sense. We’ve been seeing more and more independent filmmakers embracing smart new business models that involve building a loyal fan base and giving them a real reason to buy. We’ve seen independent filmmakers embracing file sharing to their own advantage, building up huge and loyal followings, and then figuring out how to sell them something valuable and scarce. To see a bunch of independent filmmakers now go down this extortion-like path instead is really disheartening.

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Sony Japan has officially announced that it is delaying the release date of several BRAVIA NX800 series HDTV’s. The 40″ (KDL-40NX800) and 46″ (KDL-46NX800) models were due to be released in Sony’s home country on April 30th, but has now been pushed back. The 40″ will be released now on May 20th, and the 46″ will be released there on June 10th. We also noticed that the 46″ BRAVIA NX800 television will not ship in the USA until late May. According to Sony Japan, the reason for the delay is “the demand exceeded the original anticipated supply of key components.”

What’s truly odd is that the 52″ (KDL-52NX800) and 60″ (KDL-60NX800) NX800 models are shipping normally on SonyStyle USA. There have been several intense rumors that revolves around a faulty module on various 2010 Sony TV models but we have been assured by Sony that they are completely untrue. We sure hope so.