You are certainly right about new comers to the party.

For those in the big box sales world, now is the time of year that all the new product presentations are finialized and all those ``closed door`` CES products show up. We are seeing a lot of convergence type products at these presentations. These are products that I did not see or even hear about at CES from any of the buyers. In many cases our buyer is also one of the electronics buyers.

Yesterday was the big Target buyers event at the Minneapolis CC. Lots of new electronic toys coming to market this fall. According to one of the buyers, more than in the previous two years combined. There are many ``iPod killer wantabees`` with new features and more memory and larger screens and maybe a cell phone attachment and maybe a TV tuner and maybe a cork screw and maybe a car washer to boot.

While I have no idea if EDIG is involved with any of the products, the market is certainly changing as consumers want less stuff to haul around and more stuff on the toys they do haul around. The opportunity to play in the game is there as I am sure the video content guys will remain very security minded. In addition, lots of brands I have never seen nor heard about are showing lots of these products. An OEM`s dream: Product first, brand second.

On to MusicLand (Sam Goody`s) and Best Buy (same city)....I bet they will have still more toys with more features as they prefer exclusive products (ala Costco) these days. I also bet it will be cold!

...wishing I was with Gil on the slopes drinking good wine... if I`m going to be cold as least I could be digin` those nose threnches down a beautiful mountain...

John