Content about electronics

NEW YORK — A healthcare technology company introduced its latest health kiosk at a consumer-electronics event in New York.

HealthSpot showed off the HealthSpot Station at CES Unveiled New York. The walk-in kiosk provides acute care patients with live access to board-certified doctors through high-definition video conferencing and interactive digital medical devices.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Abbott’s latest glucose meter, the FreeStyle Insulinx, is helping to bring blood-glucose monitoring up to speed with the latest in smartphone and tablet technology. The new meter features a touchscreen interface, automated logbook and is equipped with built-in FreeStyle Auto-Assist software that enables patients to track progress, analyze trends and easily display data for their healthcare providers.

CHICAGO — According to a recent BDO USA survey, chief marketing officers at leading U.S. retailers expect a 3.7% increase in holiday comparable store sales, marking the survey’s most optimistic forecast since 2007, when CMOs projected a 5% increase in comparable store sales.

Apple sold 5 million iPhone 5 phones in the first weekend; thus, the new smartphone was available, so the newly compatible iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Wrist Monitor has a lot of potential. Right now, it’s one of the hottest selling items in the blood-pressure monitor space with more than $137,000 in sales for the 12 weeks ended Aug. 12, up a whopping 45,882.2% across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI Group. The new wrist monitor adds motion sensor technology to increase accuracy.

SAN FRANCISCO — As consumers anxiously await the debut of Apple's iPhone 5, two retailer applications — both of which were updated Wednesday — rank among the top 20 free "best-seller" apps as ranked by Apple.

Target ranks No. 8 overall and Walgreens No. 10. as of early morning Thursday. 

LOS ANGELES — 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is bringing a new sports film to Blu-ray and DVD.

"Crooked Arrows" stars Brandon Routh, Gil Birmingham and Crystal Allen. The film centers on Coach Joe Logan (Routh), who reluctantly leads a Native American high school team on their unlikely journey to the state lacrosse championship game against their prep school rivals. Along the way, Joe and the team rediscover their connection to the spiritual traditions of the ancient sport of lacrosse.

ATLANTA — Health kiosk manufacturer SoloHealth is in a deal with computer maker Dell to produce kiosks that it will deliver to retail locations around the country starting in the fall, the companies said Monday.

LOS ANGELES — Nearly half of consumers polled in the latest PriceGrabber survey said that retailers are serving up better back-to-school promotions this year, compared with 2011.

WASHINGTON — A survey released by the National Retail Federation and conducted by BIGInsight found that the average parent will spend $688.62 on back-to-school items this year, compared with $603.63 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $30.3 billion.

NRF cited an increased number of children entering elementary and middle school this fall, as well as necessary back-to-school replenishments after last year’s cutbacks, for the predicted improvements.

LOS ANGELES — "Marvel's The Avengers" is coming to Blu-ray, DVD, digital and on-demand platforms on Sept. 25.

TORONTO — That trip to the local restaurant is off the menu for consumers today, as are furnishings and electronics, Empathica reported on Thursday, citing its latest Consumer Insights Panel survey of more than 6,500 U.S. consumers. One-out-of-3 shoppers surveyed reported that the economy is still very much top of mind for them. But "need" items — gas, pharmacy and grocery — are not seeing declines in purchase intent compared to findings from this time the previous year, the report noted.

Self-service is becoming more prevalent as consumers grow accustomed to using kiosks for everything from self-checkout in the supermarket to checking in for their flights. Experts estimated that by 2016, 3 million kiosks will be in use globally.