Twonky Beam Now Compatible with Xbox 360 and Roku, Offering a Seamless Multi-Device Video Experience for Both iOS and Android users
Free App Lets Users Stream Online Videos from Smartphones and Tablets to Virtually Any Connected Living Room Device
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PacketVideo today announced that the company's Twonky Beam product, a free app that lets users discover and transfer online video content from a tablet or mobile device to a television with the touch of a button, now works with the Xbox 360 game console and Roku streaming players. With the addition of these popular products to the existing lineup of devices that support Twonky Beam, including Apple TV, AT&T U-verse, multiple models of connected televisions, and legacy DLNA devices, Twonky Beam now works with well over 90% of connected living room media devices.
Twonky Beam enables users to easily "beam" online and personal video content from a PC, Android or iOS device to the living room with the simple press of a button. Unlike proprietary solutions that only work within a closed environment, Twonky technology is an open solution that works across brands, operating systems and industry standards to bridge the gap between mobile devices and the living room.
"Twonky Beam offers the best of both worlds for today's connected consumer. Tablet and mobile devices have become enormously popular for the discovery and consumption of video content, and that trend shows no sign of slowing down," said Jerome Rota, Senior Vice President of Consumer Products and Services at Packet Video. "We believe that the so-called 'second screen' will soon become the hub of the consumer media experience, but we also know that video content is best enjoyed in the living room on the big screen. With Twonky Beam, anyone can discover and access content on a tablet or smartphone and then seamlessly enjoy that content on the television through great products like the Xbox 360, Roku and Apple TV."
Twonky Beam is part of Packet Video's full suite of connected home products, which includes the flagship Twonky Server software. Twonky Beam is available as a free download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. For more information on Packet Video products and solutions, visit http://www.packetvideo.com.
ABOUT PACKETVIDEO
Founded in 1998, PacketVideo is the software pioneer powering the world's leading multimedia services on millions of home and mobile devices. For more information, visit http://www.pv.com. Twonky (http://www.twonky.com) is PV's line of consumer software.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurances that forward-looking statements will be achieved, and actual events or results could differ materially from the events or results predicted by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially are discussed in greater detail in the filings of NTT DOCOMO with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such documents are available through the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. PacketVideo makes no commitment to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect subsequent changes in events or circumstances except as may be required pursuant to applicable law.
For PacketVideo:
Tom Huntington
huntington@pv.com
858.731.5355
Xbox owners will now be able to access CNET's full range of extended TV reviews, as
well as live streaming of product launches and other tutorials. In addition to standard
content, Xbox Live users will have exclusive access to special reviews, whilst also being
able to control their viewing using the voice and gesture capabilities on their Kinect
devices.
CNET General Manager Mark Larkin enthused over his company's developments, whilst also
hinting at future innovations, stating, "We're programming for every possible screen -
from the smartphone to the television - with video increasingly at the heart of everything
we do." Windows Phone users will also have access to Xbox-related content, via the partner
app.
The new device will allow both public and private law enforcement agencies across the
US to implement a real-time fingerprint scanning solution, delivering real-time results
after cross-checking them against the national database. Recent changes to the law have
meant that all agencies are now required to switch from the traditional paper-based print
scans, and Mace hope that their revolutionary new device can take advantage of this new
opportunity.
Not only will paper/ink scans be made obsolete, the XPrint also removes the need for
the involvement of other technology hardware, with storage, scanning and searching all
accessed directly through the device.
The device will be available in a variety of retailers across the US and Australia
from mid-December, although potential purchasers from the UK and Europe will be forced to
use the exclusive online outlet. In addition to the latest product availability
announcement, Microsoft has also noted its intention to convert a number of temporary
holiday stores into permanent locations, following on from a successful Thanksgiving sales
period.
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Industry's Smallest Bipolar, Beyond-the-Rails ADCs from Maxim Integrated Have an Internal Reference and Save Designers at Least 88% Board Space
Maxim's highly integrated 16-bit ADCs offer lower power and high integration for precision measurement applications.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: MXIM) today announced that it is now shipping the MAX11166 and MAX11167, the industry's smallest bipolar +/-5V, 16-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Available in a tiny 9mm(2) package, the MAX11166 and MAX11167 are the only 12-pin 16-bit bipolar ADCs to integrate an internal reference with buffer, saving cost and at least 88% board space over competing solutions. These highly integrated ADCs feature Beyond-the-Rails(TM) technology, which supports +/-5V input signal from a single positive 5V rail. This technology eliminates the need for negative power supplies and simplifies designs. At 19.5mW, 500ksps, and 1uA in shutdown mode, the ADCs are applicable for precision measurement data acquisition systems (DASs), industrial/process control, medical instrumentation, and automatic test equipment (ATE).
The MAX11166 and MAX11167 communicate using an SPI-compatible serial interface at 2.5V, 3V, 3.3V, or 5V logic levels and have sample rates of 500ksps and 250ksps, respectively. The serial interface can be used to daisy-chain multiple ADCs for multichannel simultaneous-sampling applications; it also provides a "busy" indicator option for simplified system synchronization and timing. Maxim's proprietary input-charge-pump architecture allows direct sampling of high-impedance sources, eliminating the need for external analog buffers to drive the ADC inputs in some applications.
Key Advantages
-- High integration: industry's smallest (9mm(2)) package, 16-bit ADCs with
integrated reference with buffer and +/-5V true bipolar measurement
above and below ground using Beyond-the-Rails technology
-- Excellent analog performance: 92.6dB SNR supports wide-dynamic-range
applications with best-in-class linearity (typically +/-0.5 LSB INL,
+/-0.2 LSB DNL) allows precise measurements at half the power of nearest
competitors
-- Ease of design: integrated precision voltage reference with reference
buffer and high-impedance input saves power and space
Industry Commentary
-- "Maxim is the only company to offer an internal reference in a tiny
16-bit bipolar ADC," said Martin Mason, Executive Director of ADC
Business Management at Maxim Integrated. "By integrating the reference
and offering bipolar inputs in a tiny part, engineers save the power,
space, and cost of doing this externally."
-- "Previously, engineers had to measure a true bipolar signal with a good
amount of external circuitry," said Susie Inouye, Research Director at
Databeans. "The MAX11166 and MAX11167 family offers a great combination
of small size and wide input range, and the internal reference lets
engineers simplify their designs."
Availability, Temperature, and Pricing
-- Available in a robust 12-pin package (3mm x 3mm TDFN), +/-5V input,
250ksps and 500ksps options
-- Specified over the -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C temperature range
-- Pricing starts at $16.07 (1000-up, FOB USA)
The 18-bit extended resolution versions of these parts are slated for introduction in the first half of 2013.
For more details, please click here. For a hi-res image, click here.
About Maxim Integrated
At Maxim Integrated, we put analog together in a way that sets our customers apart. In Fiscal 2012, we reported revenues of $2.4 billion.
Beyond-the-Rails is a trademark of Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
Vivante Goes Mainstream with OpenCL(TM) Computer Vision Products for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Applications
Multi-core GPU Compute increases automotive safety with optimized vision algorithms for active safety monitoring, situational awareness, object detection/recognition, and collision avoidance (CAS).
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivante Corporation, a world-wide leader in graphics and compute technologies, today announced its cores have been widely adopted to power the next generation ADAS Computer Vision applications from top tier automotive OEMs. ADAS is a term that describes the latest electronic technologies found in automobiles that focus on increasing safety for occupants, pedestrians, and surrounding vehicles. These safety technologies use sensor fusion to combine inputs from cameras, sensors, GPS, RADAR, and IR to create "intelligent" cars that are very aware of their surroundings. These real time systems continuously monitor, predict, and try to prevent accidents. Automobiles from Acura, BMW, Ford, GM, Mercedes, and Volvo have safety packages that include different forms of ADAS.
What the automotive industry is saying about ADAS and OpenCL(TM)
"We definitely see OpenCL gaining momentum as the industry emphasizes safety, features, and convenience," said Dan Loop, Freescale Semiconductor i.MX Automotive Product Marketing. "One reason for this rapid adoption of new safety features is the traction OpenCL is getting from OEMs and developers. The programmability and speed-up of some critical computer vision algorithms on the GPGPU provide significant performance gains and power savings over DSPs and CPUs. Using the OpenCL solution available in the i.MX 6 platform, our customers optimize their algorithms for hybrid systems to take full advantage of the GPU as well as the CPU."
In a publication from research firm ABI Research, they report "this year [2011], global ADAS market value should approach $10 billion, growing to an impressive $130 billion in 2016."(1)
Two reports from Research and Markets about ADAS state "recent growth in installations of ADAS is set to accelerate and provide opportunities for those innovative suppliers participating."(2) A second report focusing on the EU market mentions "Moving ADAS from niche to mass market: Europe is witnessing a surge in the availability of ADAS, reflecting the joint efforts of the automotive industry and European governments to improve safety and enhance driver comfort."(3)
Another industry report(4) concludes that factors supporting ADAS are "Inclusion of ADAS in new car safety assessments ... by Euro NCAP and NHTSA", "EC legislation requiring fitment of ADAS in trucks and buses will come into force at the end of 2012 and private cars are expected to follow", and "vehicle manufacturers are continuing to reduce system prices and migrate ADAS availability to mass market models."
The Vivante ADAS OpenCL(TM) Solution
Vivante's second generation fully programmable ScalarMorphic(TM) architecture processes thousands of concurrent threads to achieve gigaflops (GFLOPS) of high precision, real-time computational performance. OpenCL ADAS calculations leverage parallel GPU SIMD engines to boost computation density by performing massively parallel data processing on multiple data streams simultaneously. Vivante GPGPU solutions are built around the just released OpenCL 1.2 Full Profile specification that enables refinement of the most important parallel algorithms.
For certain classes of problems, the GPU is far more computationally and power efficient than other SIMD vector processors with a similar number of functional units. The GPGPU paradigm shines on "embarrassingly data parallel" problems, which are ubiquitous in Computer Vision applications like ADAS. More specifically, computations requiring heavy use of floating-point arithmetic and/or image warping and resampling will see significant benefits.
As part of the heterogeneous ADAS architecture in the Freescale i.MX 6 automotive grade applications processor, Vivante cores process incoming data streams from cameras and other sensors to accelerate the parallel portions of CV algorithms. Typical ADAS computations that see significant speed-up on the GPU include SURF, SIFT, Hough Transform, Canny or Sobel edge detectors, HOGS (Histogram of Oriented Gradients), Integral Image, and point cloud processing. These algorithms can also be used in other areas ranging from Eye Tracking, Face and Gesture Recognition Natural User Interfaces, classical Computer Vision, and advanced image processing for CE, Industrial, and Mil-Aero products.
"OpenCL on the GPU has now become a fundamental part of the latest heterogeneous compute architectures. ADAS is one key area where the jump from GPU research exercise to real world implementation has been made. We are proud to partner with Freescale's automotive team to bring leading safety and computer vision features to the next generation of cars," said Wei-Jin Dai, President and CEO of Vivante.
About Vivante Corporation
Vivante Corporation, a leader in multi-core GPU, OpenCL(TM), and 2D Composition IP solutions, provides the highest performance and lowest power characteristics across a range of Khronos(TM) and Microsoft API conformant standards based on its ScalarMorphic(TM) architecture. Vivante GPUs are integrated into customer silicon solutions in mass market products including smartphones, tablets, HDTVs, consumer electronics and embedded devices, running thousands of graphics applications across multiple operating systems and software platforms. Vivante is a privately held company incorporated and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with R&D centers in Sunnyvale and China. For more information, visit http://www.vivantecorp.com.
Vivante and the Vivante logo are trademarks of Vivante. OpenCL is trademark of Apple Inc. used under license to the Khronos Group Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.
Windows 8 Blu-ray Player Facilitates Playing Fantastic Blu-ray Films
BEIJING, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The brand new Windows 8 has recently been released, which hit a new record on Windows operating systems. With functional features and a friendly UI, Windows 8 provides you a comfy experience on the PC. Yet with the mighty Windows 8, the PC still fails to play Blu-ray discs directly. Nevertheless, the renowned Macgo Inc. has released a fantastic Window 8 Blu-ray Player to fit this bill.
The amazing Window 8 Blu-ray Player is able to play Blu-ray discs and Blu-ray ISO on popular Windows platforms, especially on Window 8, in a successful way. Apart from the Blu-ray format, it can also support other media formats, including DVD, VCD, MOV, MKV, AVI, FLV, WMV, MP4, MPEG, RMVB, MP3, WMA, AAC, AC3, and more. This Blu-ray player software recognizes Blu-ray devices automatically and is easy to use. Therefore, you can make it the default player on your computer.
What's more, it connects easily to social network. You can share your reviews or comment on Facebook or Twitter directly only by clicking on the "Share" button. With 1080p and DTS audio system supported, it will give you a great Blu-ray audiovisual experience on Windows 8. In time, updates and considerate after-sales service guarantee safety and convenience. Currently, to celebrate the upcoming Christmas holiday, there is a big discount for the Windows 8 Blu-ray Player.
All things considered, if you need an app of this kind, Windows 8 Blu-ray Player software is indeed a great buy. For more information about this all-in-one Blu-ray media software, please visit the following webpage: http://www.macblurayplayer.com/windows-bluray-player.htm
Please like us on Facebook, and you can get more timely updates and discount information, such as giveaway campaigns.
System Requirements
OS Supported: Microsoft(R) Windows XP (SP2 or later), Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
CPU: Intel Core2 Duo 2.4GHz processor or equivalent AMD Athlon(TM) processor or higher recommended
RAM: 512 MB RAM or higher recommended
250 MB of free disk space.
An internal or external Blu-ray drive
Pricing and Availability
Macgo's Windows 8 Blu-ray Player is available now at $39.95.
Macgo International Limited has over ten years' experience in video conversion and has developed many video conversion tools with advanced technology. During this time Macgo has established itself as the innovative leader in video conversion technology by pioneering more performance enhancing technology. For more details about Macgo, please visit: http://www.macblurayplayer.com
ProjectSpeaker's New Speaker Management Platform Designed to Save Meeting and Conference Planners Time and Resources
Cloud-based technology company dedicated to providing planners with highly efficient solutions
OTTAWA, Ontario, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ProjectSpeaker Inc. (http://www.projectspeaker.com), a cloud-based technology company, has launched its speaker management platform to save conference and meeting planners' time and resources. Planners can search our speaker database of complete profiles, manage events and sessions and engage directly with speakers and/or their representatives through our internal communication channel.
Conference and meeting planners consistently identify the process of finding the ideal professional speaker as their most resource-intensive task in planning an event.
With over 300 speaker bureaus and over 2,000,000 "professional speaker" search results on Google, the process of locating the ideal speaker and managing the engagement process is daunting. With ProjectSpeaker, planners are now able to create unlimited events and sessions, assign and review speakers and engage them directly to streamline the entire process.
ProjectSpeaker is free for both planners and speakers. It features an innovative business model in which we partner with conference industry suppliers to bid on their services in response to planners' requests. ProjectSpeaker shares in the revenue generated.
ProjectSpeaker was founded by Pierre Bisaillon, CEO. He created this technology company to deliver new efficiency to planners. These are profound and significant improvements in an industry which has seen relatively little change over the past 75 years.
SteamLite Declares Special Offers to Reward its Loyal E-Cig Customers This Christmas
LONDON, December 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Announces up to 25% OFF this Christmas on SteamLite Electronic Cigarette Website to
say Thank You!
To say thank you to loyal long-term customers Steamlite have introduced 25% off on all
orders placed during this month. Steamlite has always been known for its quality products
at affordable prices amongst buyers. Steamlite kits are sold nearly half the price of some
other giants in the industry with none or little difference in the packaging, but quality
has never been compromised. The 25% off have put the prices even cheaper for customers who
want to get the product to gift it to a friend or relative. Get your discounts on http://www.steamlite.co.uk [http://www.steamlite.co.uk. ].
Electronic cigarettes have become one of the best Christmas gifts in the last 3-4
years. E-cigs have lots of advantages over normal, traditional cigarettes and it's a
little difficult to predict but E-cigarette companies are looking at a future which will
put the normal tobacco items out of the market. SteamLite have seen thousands of smokers
switch to the Steamlite product and never gone back to traditional items. This is a gentle
way for SteamLite to say thank you very much to the customers who have put their trust in
the company and its products.
Also, SteamLite have just introduced new rechargeable E-cigars which give nearly
800-900 puffs per cartomizer, which is around 60-70 normal cigarettes. This new E-cigar
kit will cost around GBP19.99 but comes with one 1200 mAh rechargeable battery and three
added cartomizers with gold cigar flavor in the box. The E-cigar just looks and feels like
a normal cigar but works around 70% cheaper than real ones. SteamLite have decided to give
away 500 units free of charge to their long-term loyal customers this year as Christmas
gifts; to check the product click here [http://www.steamlite.co.uk/steamlite-e-cigar.html
].
SteamLite is one of the fastest-growing E-cigarette companies worldwide. Steamlite
operates in the United Kingdom, USA, most European countries, India and some other Asian
countries as well. This Christmas SteamLite wants to say thank you to all loyal customers
by giving a 25% discount on all orders placed during the month. E-cig is one of the best
Christmas gifts for relatives and friends who are looking for an alternative to
traditional cigarettes. SteamLite have introduced the new E-cigar as a Christmas gift and
are giving away nearly 500 units to long-term customers. Check SteamLite product YouTube
video here [http://www.youtube.com/watch?vNby-aFoWlk ].
SteamLite is a well-known name among the E-cig community. Started from a small room,
now it is operating in more than 12 different nations including United Kingdom, Ireland,
most of Europe, United States and some Asian countries including India. SteamLite is
growing very fast and also retaining long-term customers.
FANDANGO LAUNCHES "THE FRONTRUNNERS" ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, AS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL ORIGINAL VIDEO SERIES
Timed to Awards Season and Hosted By Fandango's Chief Correspondent and Movie Expert Dave Karger, The Weekly Series Offers Predictions, Commentary, and Unique Interviews with Front-running A-Listers Including Ben Affleck, Amy Adams, Richard Gere and Keira Knightley
Series Will Live on Fandango's "Awards Watch" Destination and Offer Ticketing Opportunities for the Nominated Films
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fandango, the nation's leading moviegoer destination, today launched its first original digital video series, "The Frontrunners," hosted by Fandango's Chief Correspondent and one of the nation's leading movie experts, Dave Karger. "The Frontrunners," which will cover the latest news and commentary around awards season, is the first of several original video series to be unveiled in the coming months and is part of Fandango's new strategy of providing moviegoers with a complete entertainment experience around their movie night out. The first three episodes are available for viewing now on the site's "Awards Watch" destination at Fandango.com/AwardsWatch, a one-stop awards season hub.
"The Frontrunners video series is a great example of our commitment to creating high quality entertainment content for Fandango, further enhancing the movie-going experience for fans everywhere," said Paul Yanover, President of Fandango. "'I'm excited that Dave Karger will be hosting our first show and know that our audiences will enjoy Dave's expert insight and fresh take on this year's hottest movies."
New episodes of "The Frontrunners" (fandango.com/thefrontrunners) will air weekly through the Academy Awards on February 24. Karger will fill shows with exclusive interviews with A-listers in award contention including Richard Gere ('Arbitrage'), Amy Adams ('The Master'), Ewan McGregor ('The Impossible'), Hugh Jackman ('Les Miserables'), Ben Affleck ('Argo') and Keira Knightley ('Anna Karenina'), as well as offer up his award predictions, day-of-nomination reactions, and Hollywood buzz. The site will also offer ticketing opportunities for the nominated films.
"Since I was a little kid I have been fascinated by the Oscars, so to develop an entire series about Hollywood's awards season has been a dream come true," said Karger. "I hope that 'The Frontrunners' gives Fandango's movie fans an insider's look at what inspires the incredibly talented performers and filmmakers who are at the center of the conversation."
On Fandango's "Awards Watch" destination, movie fans can share in the awards season excitement by offering their own opinions and predictions, as well as participating in surveys on who they think deserves to take home the gold, the award season's biggest snubs and surprises, and more. "Awards Watch" will also feature a printable Oscar ballot for tallying votes at Oscar viewing parties, weekly polls, red carpet coverage, videos and photo galleries, and a full list of Oscar winners dating back to the first ceremony.
Dave Karger, who recently joined Fandango as the company's Chief Correspondent, is a 17-year movie industry veteran. He most recently was a senior writer for Entertainment Weekly magazine and has served as the Academy's official Red Carpet Greeter for the 2011 and 2012 Oscars. He is frequently a guest correspondent for national entertainment and news shows, including Access Hollywood and TODAY. While at EW, Karger wrote more than 50 cover stories on Hollywood's A-list celebrities including George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Denzel Washington, Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Will Smith, Elton John, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood.
About Fandango
Fandango, the nation's leading moviegoer destination, sells tickets to more than 20,000 screens nationwide. Fandango entertains and informs consumers with reviews, commentary, celebrity interviews and trailers, and offers the ability to quickly select a film, plan where and when to see it, and conveniently buy tickets in advance. At many theaters, fans can print their tickets at home or receive them as a paperless Mobile Ticket on their smartphones.
Fandango is available online at http://www.fandango.com, via smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, and at 1-800-FANDANGO. Fandango's top-ranking movie ticketing apps, with nearly 30 million downloads, are available on the iPhone and iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 and many other platforms. Fandango is enjoyed by more than 41 million online and mobile visitors per month. Film fans find Fandango on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/fandango and on Twitter @Fandango.
CONTACT: Harry Medved, Senior Director, Public Relations, +1-310-954-0461, harry.medved@fandango.com; Elizabeth Schmidt, Manager, Public Relations, +1-212-413-5574, eschmidt@fandango.com
Google Debuts What Portland, Oregon Searched For In 2012
List shows Portland Public Schools and OnPoint Community Credit Union ranked in the "Top Ten" most searched terms in Portland, Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland showed its passion for community and local restaurants today as Google released the top ten most popular searched terms in Portland. As part of Google's 12(th) annual Year-End Zeitgeist, it is an annual "spirit of the times" that showcases the businesses, places, and topics that captured Seattle's attention this year.
The following terms make up Google's Portland top ten searched list:
1. Portland Public Schools
2. Craigslist Portland
3. LA Fitness Portland
4. Costco
5. Olympics 2012
6. Easter 2012
7. OnPoint Community Credit Union
8. iPhone 5
9. Mother's Day 2012
10. Mega Millions
"As a search engine we are always curious as to what the people look for the most when surfing the Web," said Darcy Nothnagle, Google's public affairs director, western region. "Releasing the top ten searched terms in Portland showcases the topics and trends that were the most culturally relevant to Portland residents in 2012."
The following terms make up Google's national top ten searched list:
1. Whitney Houston
2. Hurricane Sandy
3. Election 2012
4. Hunger Games
5. Jeremy Lin
6. Olympics 2012
7. Amanda Todd
8. Gangnam Style
9. Michael Clarke Duncan
10. Kony 2012
The searched terms come from local IP addresses searched on Google.com which are then ranked in order by volume of searches. Every year Google highlights the top ten most searched terms in most major metropolitan cities across the United States.
For the first time this year Google also looked at the top 10 most searched restaurants on Zagat in Portland, Ore. The list is headed by Pok Pok, Le Pigeon, Castagna, and Portland City Grill.
To learn more about Google's Portland top ten list and the Zagat top ten list for Portland, visit 2012 Zeitgeist site.
SOURCE Google
Google
CONTACT: Darcy Nothnagle, Google, Public Affairs Director, Western Region, +1-206-486-4311, Work, +1-206-687-5788, Mobile, dnothnagle@google.com
Tis The Season To Procrastinate--ShopAtHome.com Shares Tips For Last-Minute Holiday Shoppers
With 12 days until Christmas, savvy shoppers find top savings on the holiday's best gifts
DENVER, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ShopAtHome.com, the largest coupon search engine that connects upwards of 12 million consumers each month to the best deals and cash back savings, today unveiled its online shopping tips for the procrastinator in all of us. With only 12 shopping days remaining until Christmas and Free Shipping Day fast approaching on December 17, there are still numerous ways for shoppers to find substantial savings during the hustle-and-bustle of the holiday shopping season.
"Consumers want to maximize their savings, especially during the holidays," said Marc Braunstein, founder and CEO, ShopAtHome.com. "And, even procrastinators can still find great savings with faster order processing time and shipping options - shoppers can buy online even later and still have gifts arrive in time for the holidays. At ShopAtHome.com, we aim to help online shoppers yield the most savings at checkout with our Cash Back rewards and coupons when they buy online and pick-up in-store."
For those last-minute shoppers who are seeking ways to save both money and time during the last 12 days of Christmas, ShopAtHome.com offers the following tips:
-- Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store--Take advantage of online coupons and Cash
Back savings by avoiding the inevitable long lines in stores. Many
merchants such as Toys "R" Us offer this option through Christmas Eve.
-- eGift cards arrive almost instantaneously--Add a little something extra
or grab gifts for those that may have slipped your mind with an eGift
card. This is a great last-minute option that won't come with a hefty
last-minute shipping price tag. Also, consider gifts that keep on
giving such as Wine.com and Omaha Steaks monthly gift packages. You can
notify the recipient via email of their gift and they can select when to
start shipping.
-- Stack Deals--Check and see if a merchant allows you to combine a store
coupon with a manufacturer's coupon. The end result will likely yield
deep savings. Be sure to look for Cash Back rewards to stretch your
money even further this holiday season.
-- Mobilize your shopping--Browse on-the-go with your smartphone for easy
access to savings and deals. Use mobile apps like ShopAtHome.com and
simply browse by store to uncover coupon codes, daily deals and
automatic Cash Back rewards. If you decide to select an in-store
pick-up option for shipping, then you can still take advantage of Cash
Back savings even while browsing in store.
-- Relax, there's time--Many retailers are extending their deadlines so
your gifts arrive by Christmas. You can shop even later with in-store
pick-up and avoid express shipping fees - most stores offer this service
for free. To ensure your gifts arrive in time:
-- Toys "R" Us: Purchase by Friday, December 21 and choose Express
Shipping for most items; Order by 2:00 pm on December 24 for
same-day in-store pick-up
-- Sears: Purchase by Saturday, December 22 and choose Express Shipping
for most items; Choose same-day in-store pick-up and allow at least
2 hours for processing
-- Apple: Order by Saturday, December 22 and choose Express Shipping
-- Walmart: Order by Friday, December 21 and choose Express Shipping;
Choose same-day in-store pick-up and allow 4 hours for processing
time
With over 18,000 retailers and a 110 percent Cash Back guarantee, ShopAtHome.com delivers the most effective shopping experience by combining all savings tools in one online destination. ShopAtHome.com differentiates itself from other coupon sites with its cash back incentives - bringing together the top online coupons plus additional cash back sent directly to their members' free ShopAtHome.com accounts.
Don't forget to join our Facebook community and follow us on Twitter!
About ShopAtHome.com
Founded in 1986 by husband-and-wife team Marc and Claudia Braunstein, ShopAtHome.com is the web's largest provider of online coupons, Cash Back rewards and printable grocery and restaurant coupons. The only destination integrating the best discounts from coupons, deals and Cash Back, the site has evolved from its early roots as the 'Catalog of Catalogs'. Throughout this transformation, the company has kept the same goal - helping improve the shopping experience for millions of shoppers. As a true coupon powerhouse, ShopAtHome.com aims to provide the most savings to consumers whether they're shopping at the grocery store or at their favorite online retailer. For more information visit http://www.ShopAtHome.com.
New technology connects members to flybuys offers and content; rewarding members with flybuys points for online searches
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- flybuys, the leading Australian loyalty program, owned by Coles Supermarkets, announced today that is has partnered with Yahoo7 and rewards technology leader Rakuten Loyalty to unveil a revolutionary rewards acceleration browser app for its members. The flybuys Toolbar connects members to flybuys content and exclusive offers while also rewarding members with flybuys points for their online search activity.
Members download the browser app to their computer and are instantly connected to exclusive flybuys offers, redemption deals, and their flybuys points balance, regardless of where they are on the web. When a member searches the web, they are credited with flybuys points, adding a new and engaging opportunity to earn additional flybuys points.
The flybuys Toolbar is the first-of-its-kind in the Australian market and is expected to help Coles increase the number of members in its flybuys program while also better engaging members and accelerating the pace at which they earn flybuys points. "We're very excited to be partnering with Rakuten Loyalty as the flybuys Toolbar is another innovative way for our members to earn points," said Roger Sniezek, General Manager of flybuys. "Millions of our members interact with us digitally so we're sure that this will have great appeal."
For Rakuten Loyalty, the Coles partnership is the latest in a series of successful collaborations with leading international loyalty programs. "Our rewards acceleration technology is winning fans across the globe as we continue to help expand the digital ecosystems these programs seek to develop. By focusing on core mechanics for building a rewarding loyalty currency - frequency, velocity of earn, and ubiquity, The Rakuten Loyalty Platform is setting the standard for loyalty innovation worldwide," said Michael Jaconi, CEO of Rakuten Loyalty. "The Coles leadership is some of the best minds in loyalty and we are thrilled to announce this technology as a first step in what will become a powerful partnership for both companies."
About Rakuten Loyalty
Rakuten Loyalty, one of the fastest growing technology companies in Boston, specializes in building cloud-based technology that enables major loyalty programs worldwide to monetize and reward their members for their everyday online activity. The Rakuten Loyalty team develops award-winning, revolutionary rewards technology that accelerates the rate at which members earn and gives our clients scientifically proven mechanics that foster greater loyalty from their members. Rakuten Loyalty is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rakuten (JASDAQ: 4755).
About Rakuten
Rakuten, Inc. (JASDAQ:4755), is one of the world's leading Internet service companies, providing a variety of consumer- and business-focused services including e-commerce, e-reading, travel, banking, securities, credit card, e-money, portal and media, online marketing and professional sports. Selected by Forbes as 7(th) in the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2012, Rakuten is expanding globally and currently has operations throughout Asia, Western Europe, and the Americas. Founded in 1997, Rakuten is headquartered in Tokyo, with over 10,000 staff worldwide. For more information, visit http://global.rakuten.com/corp/.
SOURCE Rakuten Loyalty
Rakuten Loyalty
CONTACT: Tom Guenette, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Rakuten Loyalty, +1-617-502-8935, thomas.guenette@rakutenloyalty.com
TripIt Announces New Way to Share Travel Plans on LinkedIn
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TripIt,the leading mobile travel organizer fromConcur (Nasdaq: CNQR), today announced travelers can now share trips on LinkedIn in the main network update stream, making it even easier to coordinate plans or get suggestions from business connections.
"Sharing trip plans on LinkedIn is an easy way to make the most of your time visiting a particular city," says Nancy Ramamurthi, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing for TripIt. "Whether it's a meeting invitation or restaurant recommendation, TripIt and LinkedIn can uncover opportunities you may not have otherwise thought of."
To get started, TripIt users can click here to connect their accounts or simply learn more.
LinkedIn has remained one of the most popular ways for TripIt users to share trip plans, since TripIt's original MyTravel LinkedIn app launched in 2008. It's also a favorite social media destination among users. In fact, a recent TripIt survey* found that more frequent travelers regularly visit LinkedIn than Twitter or Google+. Of the travelers surveyed, 53% visit LinkedIn at least weekly, 37% visit Twitter at least weekly, and 24% visit Google+ at least weekly.
TripIt also makes it easy to automatically share trip plans on Facebook, Salesforce Chatter, Yammer, and privately via email with the click of a button. Sharing must be initiated by the individual traveler, and can be turned off anytime, as well as by making an itinerary private.
To learn more about how TripIt creates a master itinerary for free when a traveler sends their travel confirmations to plans@tripit.com, visit http://tripit.com.
*For information about TripIt's survey methodology, please contact press@tripit.com.
About TripIt
TripIt®, the leading mobile travel organizer from Concur® (Nasdaq: CNQR), makes it easy for millions of travelers to organize and share their trips. Simply forward confirmation emails from anywhere you book to plans@tripit.com and TripIt automagically creates one simple, smart itinerary to access on a smartphone, calendar, or anywhere online. For even greater peace of mind while traveling, TripIt Pro acts like a personal travel assistant that keeps travelers in the know regarding flight status, alternate flights, and more; tracks all frequent traveler points in one place; and monitors eligible flights for fare refunds. TripIt for Business is an easier way for companies to organize office travel; keep track of who's traveling when and where, and whether travel dollars are being spent wisely. For more information, please visit http://www.tripit.com and follow @TripIt at http://twitter.com/tripit.
About Concur
Concur is a leading provider of integrated travel and expense management solutions. Concur's easy-to-use Web-based and mobile solutions help companies and their employees control costs and save time. Concur Connect is the platform that enables the entire travel and expense ecosystem of customers, suppliers, and solution partners to access and extend Concur's T&E cloud. Concur's systems adapt to individual employee preferences and scale to meet the needs of companies from small to large. Learn more at http://www.concur.com or the Concur blog.
SOURCE TripIt
TripIt
CONTACT: Amy Jackson, Director of Public Relations, TripIt ?and Concur Traveler Services, +1-415-401-1152, press@tripit.com
AUDI AG Launches All-new Driving Technology Simulation Game to Celebrate their 3rd Anniversary on PlayStation
LONDON, December 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Today AUDI AG, the first automotive manufacturer to release a space in PlayStation(R
)Home are now taking their partnership to the next level with the launch of an all-new
driving technology simulation game.
The game focuses on three core AUDI AG technologies: Quattro; Transmission; and Ultra.
Players learn about these different AUDI AG technologies by racing a concept car made
specifically for the game on 3 unique tracks. Each track offers a number of challenges and
to complete them the player must modify their car with a selection of AUDI AG Technologies
enabling them to win Gold, Silver or Bronze on each track and challenge combination.
The AUDI AG Space in PlayStation(R)Home was conceived as a space for gamers to meet
up, hang out, and experience the world of AUDI AG. It's a living, breathing AUDI AG world
featuring AUDI AGtv and a calendar of content from virtual lectures on AUDI AG
announcements, product launches, VIP events to mini-games and interactive objects all
released throughout 2009-2012.
3 years later AUDI AG have become an established presence and games publisher of note
for the platform, admired by the community for their content and level of innovation. As
of 12th December 2012 AUDI AG have had over 15m games played by over 3m users with an
average user engagement of 10 minutes per session.
Roland Hoepting, the Project Manager for videogames and virtual worlds at AUDI AG
explained, "As a brand, AUDI AG saw great value and potential in the experiences and level
of interaction the world of gaming affords. PlayStation(R)Home gives AUDI AG the perfect
environment to connect with gamers in an unexpected way. The numbers and reaction we've
had from the PlayStation(R)Home audience speak for themselves."
Kirk Ewing, Creative Director at VEEMEE explained, "AUDI AG have succeeded where
others have failed in integrating brands into games. They've started with the audience -
gamers - and worked backwards to understand what's meaningful to them in a games context
to present AUDI AG's brand and technologies in an entertaining but also educational way.
It's fair to say AUDI AG have become a trusted brand in PlayStation(R)Home and have won
fans who've voted with their thumbs because of it!"
Caspar Thykier, Managing Director of VEEMEE concluded, "As a former ad-man I know how
difficult it is for a brand to try and credibly become a content provider and reach the
all important 18-35 year old demographic. But the AUDI AG PlayStation(R)Home case study
shows how a brand can effectively connect with new consumers and deliver fantastic
results. What brand wouldn't want to achieve 75 years of consumer engagement in 3 years,
as AUDI AG have in PlayStation(R)Home."
The new AUDI Technology Experience simulation launches in PlayStation(R)Home on
Wednesday 12th December 2012.
To watch the Audi Technology Experience trailer click here:
To find out more about AUDI AG's 3 years in PlayStation(R)Home visit:
Celebrating 3 Years of AUDI AG in Playstation Home [http://vimeo.com/55284544 ]
Password: mUBr2c9cRESw
Notes to Editors:
- AUDI AG celebrates its 3rd year since opening its doors in PlayStation(R
)Home on 17th December 2009 with the launch of its all-new driving technology
simulation game.
- AUDI AG reaches milestone of 15m games played in the AUDI AGo Terminal in
PlayStation(R)Home by 3m users with an average user engagement of 10 minutes per
session.
- Users of the AUDI AG space have clocked up an incredible combined 73 1/2 years
of continuous game play of AUDI AG games in PlayStation(R)Home.
VEEMEE Ltd
VEEMEE brings together expertise in both marketing and console gaming under one roof
through its founding partners Caspar Thykier and Kirk Ewing.
VEEMEE is a creator of branded and original content for games platforms and virtual
worlds, with offices in Edinburgh and London.
Alongside AUDI AG, VEEMEE works with other brand partners in PlayStation(R)Home
including Billabong, Diesel, Wrangler and Universal Music as well as producing its own
original IP.
PlayStation(R)Home
PlayStation(R)Home is free to download from any PS3 games console with a broadband
connection.
For further information contact Caspar Thykier, CEO of VEEMEE
caspar@veemee.com
Mobile: +44-(0)7702-161-754
Expect Labs Uses the Power of Nuance Voice Technology to Enhance Their Anticipatory Computing Engine
In advance of the release of the MindMeld iPad app, Expect Labs bolsters their technology platform with Dragon voice recognition capabilities from Nuance
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Expect Labs, a San Francisco-based startup focused on developing a technology platform to reinvent how we have conversations, today announced plans to integrate Nuance Communications' voice technology to expand the voice recognition capabilities of their Anticipatory Computing Engine. The Expect Labs Anticipatory Computing Engine is a technology platform designed to analyze and understand conversations in real-time and proactively find related information. It is the underlying platform that powers MindMeld, the intelligent voice and video calling app for the iPad. Leveraging the Dragon Mobile SDK as part of Nuance's NDEV mobile developer program, Expect Labs will be able to extend the voice capabilities of MindMeld across a variety of mobile device platforms.
After two years of development, Expect Labs emerged from stealth mode in September and was selected from among hundreds of companies as a finalist in TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield. Since then, Expect Labs has announced the backing of prominent Silicon Valley investors including Google Ventures and Greylock Partners. Expect Labs is developing a new type of computing platform to analyze and model the various streams of data that are generated by the computing devices in our lives. By continuously analyzing signals such as location, voice, and online activity, the Expect Labs platform creates a real-time context model, which can be used to anticipate and filter any information that a user may need. As an initial demonstration of the capabilities of this platform, Expect Labs has built MindMeld, which is the first mobile voice and video calling app that can understand conversations in real-time.
With the growing adoption of smartphones, the past year has witnessed the emergence of a first generation of intelligent mobile applications. With the launch of the Expect Labs Anticipatory Computing Engine, which deploys Nuance's voice capabilities, application intelligence can now be extended well beyond answering questions and simple voice search. Since it is designed to pay attention continuously as you use your device, Expect Labs' technology can bring context-aware intelligence to a wide range of applications related to real-time communication and collaboration. Expect Labs has filed several patents covering its core technology and has pioneered advances in three key areas:
1. Real-Time, Multi-Party Conversation Analysis: The Expect Labs technology
platform is capable of concurrently analyzing audio signals for each
participant in a group conversation in order to understand the key topics
and concepts of the conversation in real-time.
2. Continuous Context Modeling: Based on this understanding of the
conversation, the Expect Labs technology constructs a continuous model
that captures the overall meaning of any conversation as it changes from
second to second.
3. Proactive Information Discovery: Rather than wait for a user to make a
request, the Expect Labs platform leverages its real-time context model
to proactively analyze thousands of pieces of content and data sources
that may potentially contain relevant information. With this approach,
Expect Labs can identify highly relevant pieces of information before a
user needs to make an explicit request.
"We launched NDEV Mobile Platform to inspire mobile developers like Expect Labs to create breakthrough applications with our industry-leading speech recognition platform. MindMeld is a great example of the types of innovative applications that we're seeing across the NDEV program," said Matt Revis, Vice President and General Manager, Dragon Devices, Nuance Mobile.
"The Nuance platform is the gold standard for voice recognition technology," said Timothy Tuttle, CEO of Expect Labs. "We look forward to partnering with them to pioneer this new class of anticipatory computing applications."
About Expect Labs
Expect Labs (http://www.expectlabs.com) is a startup based in San Francisco that is building a technology platform designed to reinvent how we have conversations. Expect Labs is the creator of the iPad app called MindMeld, which is the first voice and video calling app that can actually understand conversations in real-time to make it easy to find and share related information as you talk. Expect Labs was founded in early 2011 by successful, repeat entrepreneurs who have built and sold large-scale Internet businesses. Our team includes PhDs and world-class researchers from places like the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, Carnegie Mellon University, Bell Labs and HP Labs. The company is backed by some of Silicon Valley's most well-known investors including Google Ventures, Greylock Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, IDG Ventures, KPG Ventures, Quest Venture Partners and several prominent angels.
About Nuance Communications, Inc.
Nuance Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of voice and language solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with devices and systems. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance's proven applications. For more information, please visit http://www.nuance.com.
Nuance, Dragon, and the Nuance logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States of America and/or other countries. All other company names or product names may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Media Contacts
Expect Labs
Jeff Koo, (415) 321-1866
expectlabs@sparkpr.com
Eutelsat Brings "12-12-12" Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief to Europe from New York's Madison Square Garden
PARIS, December 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Satellite capacity offered by Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) will
enable television networks and operators across Europe to broadcast in High Definition the
exceptional 12-12-12 live concert to be held tonight in New York City to aid the victims
of Hurricane Sandy.
The musical line-up performing at the "12-12-12" concert at Madison Square Garden in
New York City includes Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris
Martin, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Eddie Vedder, Roger
Waters, Kanye West, The Who and Paul McCartney. Celebrity presenters will include Chelsea
Clinton, Billy Crystal, Leo DiCaprio, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kristen Stewart and Quentin
Tarantino.
The live concert will cross the Atlantic via the EUTELSAT 12 West A satellite
(downlink frequency 12.638 GHz, horizontal polarisation). The Free-to-Air signal will be
received by Telefonica at its facilities in Madrid and reuplinked to the EUTELSAT 9A
satellite (downlink frequency 12.054 GHz, horizontal polarisation) for Direct-to-Home
reception as well as for cable and IP network distribution across Europe.
"12-12-12" will be distributed worldwide to nearly two billion people through
television feeds, radio and online streaming and available to 114 million television
households in the US and to more than 400 million television households internationally
via networks and feeds in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
The concert is being produced by James Dolan, Executive Chairman of The Madison Square
Garden Company; John Sykes, President of Clear Channel Entertainment Enterprises; and
Harvey Weinstein, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Weinstein Company.
Every single penny from ticket purchases and donations will go to serve the victims of
Hurricane Sandy through the Robin Hood Relief Fund.
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding
company of Eutelsat S.A. With capacity commercialised on 30 satellites that provide
coverage across Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia
and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators. As of
30 September 2012 Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting 4,400 television channels to
over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The
Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications
services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet
Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband
subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates high speed Internet services through teleports
in France and Italy that serve consumers, enterprises, local communities, government
agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in
Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ just over 750 commercial, technical and
operational professionals. This culturally diverse staff comprises employees from 30
countries. http://www.eutelsat.com
Neurotechnology Launches SkyBiometry Spin-off Company to Deliver SaaS Biometric Identification and Feature Analysis
SkyBiometry Provides a Cloud Platform for Fast, Accurate Biometric Technology, Introduces Face Biometrics Service with Face Detection, Feature Analysis and Identification
VILNIUS, Lithuania, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyBiometry, a new company providing cloud-based biometric software as a service (SaaS), was officially launched today as a spin-off of Neurotechnology, a trusted provider of high-precision biometric identification, object recognition and computer vision technologies for more than 20 years. In conjunction with the corporate launch, SkyBiometry introduced a free, cloud-based face detection and recognition API based on a facial recognition algorithm from Neurotechnology, the underlying technology behind many commercial facial recognition products around the world. SkyBiometry also offers a range of paid plans and services to help customers rapidly integrate biometric technologies into their products and online services.
SkyBiometry's team of experienced Neurotechnology professionals have from five to 15 years of experience in algorithm research, biometric solution development and consultancy, enabling them to help customers - even those who are new to biometrics - accelerate product development, integration and time to market. The fast, accurate detection and identification technologies can be used for traditional biometric identification systems such as user ID, security and time management as well as new uses in entertainment, games, online marketing, social media and mobile applications.
"With the launch of SkyBiometry we are pleased to provide cloud-based biometric products and services," said Denis Kocetkov, CEO of SkyBiometry. "The flexibility and scalability of the SaaS delivery model, together with trusted and proven computer vision technology, creates unique advantages in helping to solve our customers' business needs."
The rapid growth of cloud technologies is creating opportunities for developers and integrators to deliver better products faster than ever before. Because SkyBiometry's offerings are based on the strong foundation of Neurotechnology's proven biometric technologies, solution providers now have an efficient and cost-effective way to deliver fast, high quality biometric capabilities while providing their customers with the flexibility and scalability that SaaS solutions can provide.
"Some face recognition integrators prefer to implement their solutions as online services instead of implementing them as on-premises end-user applications," said Dr. Algimantas Malickas, CEO of Neurotechnology. "SkyBiometry offers integrators an easy way to use our face recognition technologies in their online service offerings."
The company is making its first offering, the new SkyBiometry face detection and recognition API, available for free. The new API gives developers who are new to biometric face recognition a no-risk opportunity to explore using the technology. It also provides the large group of developers who have invested time and money in creating applications based on the discontinued face.com API to continue their work with a compatible API while taking advantage of the robust SkyBiometry facial identification algorithm.
The SkyBiometry service is accessible via the internet. A user sends an image (digital photograph) to the secure SkyBiometry web server. SkyBiometry processes the image using fast and highly accurate recognition technology and returns the result to the user.
For more information about SkyBiometry, to see a demo or to try the free face detection and recognition API, go to: http://www.skybiometry.com.
About SkyBiometry
SkyBiometry, a spin-off of Neurotechnology, is a provider of cloud-based biometric technologies delivered via software-as-a-service (SaaS). The technology behind SkyBiometry is based on more than 20 years of continuous algorithm research and software development in the areas of biometrics and object recognition. The algorithms used by SkyBiometry are trusted by millions of customers worldwide to provide fast, accurate biometric identification. The SkyBiometry team is comprised of professionals with five to 15 years of experience in algorithm research, biometric solution development and consultancy.
About Neurotechnology
Neurotechnology is a provider of high-precision biometric fingerprint, face, iris, palmprint and voice identification algorithms, object recognition technology and software development products. More than 2500 system integrators, security companies and hardware providers integrate Neurotechnology's algorithms into their products, with millions of customer installations worldwide.
Drawing from years of academic research in the fields of neuroinformatics, image processing and pattern recognition, Neurotechnology was founded in 1990 in Vilnius, Lithuania and released its first fingerprint identification system in 1991. Since that time the company has released more than 80 products and version upgrades for identification and verification of objects and personal identity.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Allen Newton
Bluehouse Consulting Group, Inc.
+1-503-805-7540
Jennifer (at) bluehousecg (dot) com
Altera SoCs Deliver a Preferred Feature Set that Meets the Performance and Reliability Requirements of Embedded System Developers
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) today announced the first shipments of its 28 nm SoC devices, which combine a dual-core ARM® Cortex(TM)-A9 processor system with FPGA logic on a single device. Altera SoCs include several distinctive features that enable developers in the wireless communications, industrial, video surveillance, automotive and medical equipment markets to create custom SoC variants optimized for system power, board space, performance and cost requirements. The first devices Altera is shipping are low-power, low-cost Cyclone® V SoCs. Altera is demonstrating these SoCs at the ARM Technology Symposium Europe.
"The number of customers who have already committed to using Altera SoCs has exceeded our expectations," said Vince Hu, vice president of product and corporate marketing at Altera. "Embedded developers selected Altera SoCs because of the undeniable feature-set advantage the device family delivers. With silicon now available, customers who used our SoC Virtual Target to develop their application software can now quickly port their application software into the SoC, saving months of development time."
Altera is the only FPGA vendor today shipping SoCs that offer 32-bit error correction code (ECC) support which helps ensure data integrity throughout the embedded system. ECC support is a requirement for customers who must have high performance and reliable systems. ECC functionality is built into the SoC's external DRAM memory interface and an extensive number on-chip memory instances and peripheral interfaces, including L2 Cache, scratch RAM, Ethernet MACs, USB ports and flash memory interfaces. Other unique features in the device family include a high-bandwidth memory controller with built-in memory protection, flexible boot capability and integrated PCI Express® (PCIe®) across all SoC devices.
"SoCs are a compelling solution for use in our commercial satellite communication terminals, as they enable us to reduce the number of discrete devices in our space- and power-constrained systems," said Avihay Lahman, director of research and development at Gilat. "After careful evaluation and testing, we believe Altera's SoCs include the most comprehensive set of features that assists us to build highly reliable systems that are performance and power optimized."
Altera's SoCs are supported by a broad ecosystem of operating systems, hardware design tools and software-development solutions from Altera, ARM, and third parties that ease the development and use of the devices. Strengthening its tools ecosystem support, Altera and ARM announced today they have jointly developed the ARM Development Studio 5(TM) Altera® Edition toolkit with FPGA-adaptive debugging that exclusively supports Altera SoC devices. More information about this toolkit can be found at http://www.altera.com/ds-5-ae.
To enable early software development, Altera released the SoC Virtual Target software design tool in October 2011, which allowed customers to start developing their application software prior to hardware availability. Many of Altera's customers have leveraged the SoC Virtual Target tool and are now able to port their application software to the SoC FPGA, saving months of development time.
Altera will demonstrate its Cyclone V SoC Development Kit at the ARM Technology Symposium Europe taking place this week. The demonstration includes a Cyclone V SoC development board booting and running Linux on two CPUs. Altera representatives will be one hand to discuss the SoC FPGAs and to highlight its development tools ecosystem.
Availability
Altera is currently shipping initial samples of the Cyclone V SoC FPGA (5CSXA6), which features 110K logic elements (LEs). Broader sample availability will be in the first quarter of 2013, followed by production device availability later in the year. For ordering information, or for questions on pricing, contact your local Altera sales representative.
About Altera
Altera programmable solutions enable system and semiconductor companies to rapidly and cost-effectively innovate, differentiate and win in their markets. Find out more about Altera's FPGA, SoC, CPLD and ASIC devices at http://www.altera.com. Follow Altera via Facebook, RSS and Twitter.
ALTERA, ARRIA, CYCLONE, HARDCOPY, MAX, MEGACORE, NIOS, QUARTUS and STRATIX words and logos are trademarks of Altera Corporation and registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. All other words and logos identified as trademarks or service marks are the property of their respective holders as described at http://www.altera.com/legal.
Editor Contact:
Steve Gabriel
Altera Corporation
(408) 544-6846
newsroom@altera.com
Acquired by Magic in 2011
[http://www.magicsoftware.com/feature_news/magic-software-completes-acquisition-bluephoenix%E2%80%99s-appbuilder-activity?utm_source=pr ]
, AppBuilder [http://appbuilder.com ]
provides a comprehensive application development infrastructure for large-scale and
complex environments employed by many Fortune 1000 enterprises around the world.
AppBuilder enables development teams to quickly and easily build, deploy, and maintain
large-scale, custom-built business applications. Because AppBuilder uses a
platform-independent model and generates code for COBOL, Java/J2EE, and C#, enterprises
get the benefit of easy-to-maintain applications, without being dependent on any
particular technology.
"We are very pleased to have a large and prestigious AppBuilder client firmly
demonstrate its continued confidence in AppBuilder after our recent acquisition," said Guy
Bernstein, CEO of Magic Software Enterprises. "This deal is evidence that AppBuilder has
proven to be a good fit and an important addition to the Magic family, broadening our
product portfolio, strengthening our position as a global provider of application
development platforms, and increasing our growth opportunities."
About Magic Software Enterprises
Magic Software Enterprises
[http://www.magicsoftware.com/investor-relations?utm_source=pr ] (NASDAQ: MGIC) empowers
customers and partners around the globe with smarter technology that provides a
multichannel user experience of enterprise logic and data.
Except for any historical information contained herein, matters discussed in this
press release might include forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Regarding any financial statements, actual results might vary significantly
based upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, risks in product and
technology development, market acceptance of new products and continuing product
conditions, both locally and abroad, release and sales of new products by strategic
resellers and customers, and other risk factors detailed in Magic's most recent annual
report and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Magic has made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this press
release is accurate; however, there are no representations or warranties regarding this
information, including warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Magic assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may occur in this press
release.
Magic is a registered trademark of Magic Software Enterprises Ltd. All other product
and company names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and are the
property of, and might be trademarks of, their respective owners.
Press Contact:
Tania Amar | VP Global Marketing
Magic Software Enterprises
tania@magicsoftware.com
Backupify Winter Release 2012 Launches with Additional IT Control Features for Enterprises on Google Apps
Improvements to Industry's Most Comprehensive Backup for Cloud Application Data Accelerates Customer Growth
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Backupify, the leading provider of online backup services for cloud application data, today launched "Backupify Winter Release 2012," the new version of its backup and recovery solution for enterprises using Google Apps. Designed to better meet the needs of larger organizations that have more complex internal structures, legal requirements and subdomains, Backupify for Google Apps now provides customers with a strong set of administrative control features and a centralized interface for managing their business-critical data stored in the cloud.
The Winter Release delivers on Backupify's promise of incorporating new features based on customer feedback during the initial launch of the Enterprise Edition of Backupify for Google Apps in August. With larger organizations receiving automated backups three times per day, Backupify has remained committed to providing enterprise-level organizations with the industry's most trustworthy and comprehensive backup and restore solution.
"This year Google Apps in the enterprise space has reached new heights and we'll continue to see enterprise-level organizations migrating to the cloud in increasing numbers," said Rob May, CEO and co-founder of Backupify. "Larger organizations like the Museum of Modern Art, the Financial Times, Jawbone, Park Hotels and Auberge Resorts, and leading academic institutions like Berklee College of Music and Rice University trust Backupify to safeguard their Google Apps data. As we work with these organizations to ensure they always have a secure second copy of their data, we've developed better tools that give more control to the administrator while managing multiple sets of daily backups."
Backupify for Google Apps now includes the following advanced data management and admin controls for enterprise organizations:
Multiple Administrator Management provides enterprise organizations with multiple administrators across different departments, business lines and locations with a central portal to manage a Backupify account. Now, a company can empower multiple Backupify Administrators to easily and securely add users, or initiate a restore or export on behalf of their end users.
Audit Logs provide a comprehensive audit log, which allows administrators to monitor all actions within their Backupify account, including those taken by both the administrator and end users. Each log entry includes action type, action description, username, IP address and timestamp.
Subdomain Management allows administrators to easily add and securely manage the backups for multiple Google Apps subdomains from one Backupify account, providing the three times daily backups to all existing accounts under the parent domain.
"Backupify makes it easy for our administrators to manage the growing number of Google Apps users and data within our organizational structure," said Dave Ouyang, IT Manager at leading residential solar company, Sungevity, Inc. "Our confidence in Backupify is based on its ongoing developments with Google Apps as Sungevity continues to grow. With Backupify, our mission critical data is always being backed up across the company no matter how many users we add to the cloud."
The new release comes on the heels of the company's rapid growth in 2012. With more than 5,000 paying business customers to date, Backupify reached the following milestones in the past six months:
-- Grew data under management to more than 900TB
-- Grew number of stored Gmail messages by 35 percent to 3 billion
-- Grew number of documents backed up by 29 percent from 500 million to 700
million
-- Added the one-millionth online account for backup; across the services
that we support, Backupify is now backing up more than one million
accounts in total
Pricing and Availability
Backupify for Google Apps is available for larger organizations through two plans. The Enterprise Edition is $4 per month per user, which requires a minimum of 25 seats and includes unlimited storage. The Enterprise Plus Edition backs up an unlimited amount of users with up to one terabyte of data for $990 per month, with the option to buy additional storage as needed.
About Backupify
Backupify is the leading backup provider for cloud application data, offering an all-in-one archiving, search and restore solution for the most popular online services including Salesforce, Google Apps, Facebook, Twitter and more. Backupify ensures that companies can access and control the data they entrust to these systems and prevents data loss from external threats, user error or service failure. Backupify was founded in 2008 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit http://www.backupify.com or follow @Backupify on Twitter.
SOURCE Backupify
Backupify
CONTACT: Nina Velasquez, North 6th Agency, +1-212-334-9770, nvelasquez@n6a.com
MediaTek Strengthens Global Position with World's First Quad-Core Cortex-A7 System on a Chip - MT6589
An advanced smart device platform delivering leading power efficiency and multi-media experience without compromising performance
Drives competitive advantage in the mid-to high end mobile device ecosystem
HSINCHU, Taiwan, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MediaTek Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, announced the launch of the MT6589, the world's first commercialized quad-core System on a Chip (SoC), available for mid to high-end Android smartphones and tablets worldwide. The new quad-core SoC integrates MediaTek's advanced multi-mode UMTS Rel. 8/HSPA+/TD-SCDMA modem, a power-efficient quad-core Cortex(TM)-A7 CPU subsystem from ARM, PowerVR(TM) Series5XT GPU from Imagination Technologies, and is delivered in 28nm process technology. As a leader in Dual-SIM technology, the MT6589 is also the world's first HSPA+ smartphone platform supporting Dual-SIM, Dual-Active functionality to address increasing multi-SIM demand around the world. The integration of these compelling features makes the MT6589 a universal platform that delivers premium multimedia capabilities with extremely low power consumption for an outstanding user experience. It also enables handset makers to reduce time to market, simplify product development and manage product differentiation in a more cost effective way, for any market worldwide.
"The ARM Cortex(TM)-A7 is the most power-efficient applications processor ever developed by ARM. We are pleased MediaTek is the first company to combine a quad-core Cortex-A7 and leading edge 28nm manufacturing with TrustZone® for system-level security. The MT6589system-on-chip brings the performance and features associated with high-end mobile devices to mass-market smartphones and tablets," said Laurence Bryant, director of mobile solutions, ARM.
The MediaTek MT6589 quad-core solution supports 1080p 30fps/30fps low-power video playback and recording, a 13MP Camera with Integrated ISP, up to FHD (1920x1080) LCD displays, and enhanced picture processing for DTV-grade image quality. In addition, the MT6589 also supports MediaTek's "Cool 3D" suite, which includes support for stereo 3D cameras and displays, real-time 2D-to-3D conversion and an optimal 3D user interface. Leveraging MediaTek's established 3D technologies from the DTV and Digital Home markets, this suite helps create an optimal stereo 3D display with a custom-tailored 3D interface, providing an extremely flexible platform for product differentiation.
Tony King-Smith, Vice President Marketing, Imagination Technologies, said, "Today's smart device users have very high expectations for graphic quality and performance. The MT6589 gives Imagination a great opportunity to show the abilities of the PowerVR(TM) Series5XT GPU, which delivers around twice the performance of previous generation devices while maintaining the lowest possible power and silicon area. We are delighted to contribute to this impressive, highly integrated solution, which demonstrates the benefits of our ongoing close strategic relationship with MediaTek."
The MT6589 also supports Miracast(TM) technology for multi-screen content sharing and pre-integrates MediaTek's leading 4-in-1 connectivity combo, which supports 802.11n Wi-Fi, BT4.0, GPS and FM.
Jeffrey Ju, GM of the smartphone business unit at MediaTek, said, "As the world's first quad-core SoC, the MT6589 is a strong proof point of MediaTek's growing global presence and ambition to drive the democratization of the smartphone and reshape the mid to high-end device market. Having built a solid reputation for quality and reliability over the last 15 years, we've created a one-of-a-kind achievement with the MT6589 platform -- marrying blazing performance and flexibility with surprising affordability and simplicity. It's an innovative solution that accelerates product development, simplifies differentiation, and offers the best possible experience that mid to high-end smart device owners desire."
"The demand for a Smartphone SoC that can be delivered anywhere in the world has never been greater, which is why the MT6589 is so important to our business," said Dr. Ji-Yang Wang, COO at TCL Communications Technology/Alcatel One Touch. "As the first truly universal platform it is designed with the customer in mind to give us a crucial competitive edge. The MT6589 will make the life of our customers and partners easier, allowing them to bring the best possible experience to mid-to high-end users in multiple markets in the most timely and affordable manner, and most importantly, without compromising its performance."
The MediaTek MT6589 is currently being incorporated into smart devices by MediaTek's leading global customers, and the first models based on this new chipset are expected to ship commercially in Q1 2013.
About MediaTek Inc.
MediaTek Inc. is a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions. The company is a market leader and pioneer in cutting-edge SOC system solutions for wireless communications, high-definition TV, optical storage, and DVD and Blu-ray products. Founded in 1997 and listed on Taiwan Stock Exchange under the code "2454", MediaTek is headquartered in Taiwan and has sales or research subsidiaries in Mainland China, Singapore, India, U.S., Japan, South Korea, Denmark, England, Sweden and Dubai. For more information, please visit MediaTek's website at http://www.mediatek.com.
Mom Trusted Announces New Scholarship; One Family to Win $1,000 Toward Preschool or Childcare
MENLO PARK, Calif., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mom Trusted, an online community bringing together parents with childcare providers and preschools, announced a new contest offering of a $1,000 scholarship to one parent who enters by Dec. 31, 2012.
"We are so excited to be offering our second scholarship award so close to the holidays," said Angela Conley, Co-founder & President at Mom Trusted. "This is a time when families want to focus on activities and fun with each other, and not be worried about next month's childcare costs. We are so pleased to be able to help one lucky family do just that."
Past winners included moms in San Mateo, Calif., Irwin, Penn., and Lakeside, Calif. "We're so excited to have won this; it will help us right before Christmas! Our children mean the world to us and having a wonderful education is the greatest gift we can give them!" said Lisa Klugh of Pennsylvania. Lisa was one of three winners, announced in November, of Mom Trusted's "Pin It to Win It/Share It to Win It" contest.
About Mom Trusted
Mom Trusted (http://www.momtrusted.com) is a community of parents and early education & child care providers. They help parents find education and care trusted by their friends. Parents can research providers, get the inside scoop from current and alumni parents, and see which providers are recommended by their friends network. Using Mom Trusted Connect, enrolled parents and their providers stay connected and can share the great moments that happen every day with private photo sharing, classroom discussions, and announcements.
For more information, please visit their website at http://www.MomTrusted.com. Their next scholarship will end December 31, 2012. Parents can enter here: http://www.blog.momtrusted.com/scholarship Also, Mom Trusted loves people to "like" them on Facebook (facebook.com/momtrusted) and follow them on Pinterest (pinterest.com/momtrusted).
Global Media Monitor TVEyes Enters Australia Market
Fixed price service offers compelling value and capabilities; free trial subscriptions available now.
FAIRFIELD, Conn. and MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TVEyes global broadcast media media monitoring is now available in Australia. The company's Media Monitoring Suite provides fixed-price access to Australia TV and global TV broadcast and radio.
John Harrison, managing director of TVEyes, Pty Ltd., said, "Until today, PR and media professionals in Australia have had to pay exorbitant and unpredictable fees for media monitoring services compared to going rates in other global markets. High fixed costs combined with pay-per-view pricing schemes make for an inordinately high expense. The TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite is offered on far more attractive monthly terms and unlike competitive services has zero incremental usage cost."
TVEyes officially launches in Australia on January 1, 2013 with the ABC, Nine Network and Network Ten national broadcasts and selected capital city feeds. Additional feeds throughout Australia will be added in the first quarter. Free trial accounts are available beginning today to qualified users at public relations agencies, businesses, government agencies, military and not-for profit organisations.
"Our Media Monitoring Suite enables users to create unlimited watch lists for keyword monitoring, perform ad-hoc search by keyword, phrase, date and time, and network, and then immediately stream unlimited clips - all at a fixed monthly cost that includes copyright licensing fees," continued Harrison. "There's no more powerful broadcast TV monitoring system available in Australia and no competitor even comes close to our value proposition."
TVEyes subscriptions start at A$1,000 per month for Australia media monitoring. TVEyes Australia subscribers may add global media monitoring for the U.S., Canada, U.K., Middle East and China at a modest fixed additional cost.
For more information, readers may email TVEyes at oz@tveyes.com
About TVEyes
TVEyes Pty Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TVEyes Inc., with U.S. headquarters in Fairfield, Connecticut. TVEyes provides online, real-time search and indexing for television and radio broadcasts, and audio and video search infrastructure for search engines and content aggregators. Its Media Monitoring Suite(TM) is in use by corporations, professional sports teams, political campaigns, elected officials and the military to provide up-to-the-second intelligence on broadcast in multiple languages for US and international markets. More information on TVEyes can be found at http://www.tveyes.com.
SOURCE TVEyes Pty Ltd
TVEyes Pty Ltd
CONTACT: Ken Lempit, +1-203-391-3006, k.lempit@austinlawrence.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Intigold Mines Ltd. ("Intigold" or "the Company") (OTCQX: IDMNF) (TSX.V: IGD), announces that the Company is pleased to confirm that it has received final Exchange acceptance of its 51% interest in TTAGIT Social Networks Inc. ("TTAGIT") (the "Transaction"):
Pursuant to an investment agreement between the Company and TTAGIT, dated November 14, 2012, Intigold agreed to purchase and TTAGIT agreed to sell a 51% interest, subject to a 2.5% royalty, in TTAGIT, in consideration of Intigold paying to TTAGIT the aggregate sum of $300,000 in cash and funding $500,000 for the development and marketing of TTAGIT over a 12 month period. The Company has now received shareholder and final Exchange acceptance to the Transaction.
About TTAGIT Social Networks Inc.
TTAGIT holds all right, title and interest in and to certain assets relating to a "proprietary" social networking technology and online Internet commentary system, and the intellectual property rights therein.
TTAGIT, the first open-forum discussion social network and comment management system that permits users to comment on all URLs with one login, allows you to talk over any website without leaving the page. TTAGIT is a social networking tool where members can engage in conversations and participate in debates on sites and portals that currently do not allow live streaming. Contrary to most social media sites, TTAGIT is an open forum that is not just limited to the people you know or "follow."
Different from any other social network, TTAGIT's primary focus is on commenting and sharing at the source. The standard sharing platform of social networks is to bring information to the social network itself. TTAGIT not only brings information in but also leaves it where it belongs - the source. For example, with Facebook and Twitter a user can share a URL by posting to their wall or tweeting about it. With TTAGIT not only does it post to TTAGIT but you can also find the data on the source, the URL.
For information on Intigold and its projects, please visit us at http://www.intigold.com or call Lori McClenahan, President at 604-669-4677 or toll free at 1-888-895-5522:
INTIGOLD MINES LTD.
(signed "Lori McClenahan")
Lori McClenahan,
President
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CNET Video Programming Available On Microsoft's Xbox 360 And Samsung Smart TVs
Companion Android and iOS Apps Offer Deeper Engagement, Allowing Viewers to Interact With and Control Content
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CNET, the world's #1 consumer electronics news and reviews brand, today announced its popular video programming is available now on Microsoft's industry-leading Xbox 360® and will appear later this month on Samsung's Smart TVs.
Xbox 360 and Samsung Smart TV customers can sit back and watch popular long-form programs from CNET such as Molly Wood's "Always On," Brian Cooley's "On Cars" and Brian Tong's "Apple Byte" on their big-screen TVs. Viewers can also catch live-streamed tech events or learn about the latest gadgets through hands-on product reviews and comparative videos.
Additionally, CNET Video+, a complementary second-screen app for the Android, iOS and Xbox SmartGlass platforms, will let viewers interact with the video in real-time.
-- For Samsung Smart TV users, CNET's video content will be available on a
wide range of 2011 and newer Samsung Smart TV and Blu-ray players. The
companion CNET Video+ for Android app can intuitively determine the
specific episode that is playing and offer complementary content, such
as polls, quizzes, product information, reviews and more. Users can
play/pause/show content with a mobile device like the Samsung Galaxy S
III, Galaxy Note 10.1 or Galaxy Tab 2. The Smart TV integration and
Android and iOS apps will be available later this month. Visit Samsung's
app page at http://www.samsung.com/us/article/know-your-apps-cnet for
more information.
-- For the Xbox LIVE® platform on Xbox 360, CNET is creating specially
curated editorial content and exclusive deals/subscription offers for
Xbox LIVE audiences. Users can also navigate CNET content via voice and
gesture control using Kinect for Xbox 360. More information about CNET
programming on Xbox 360 is available at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/partners. In addition, CNET Video+ soon
will be available on Xbox SmartGlass, which will let viewers use their
phone or tablet as a second-screen with their Xbox 360. With SmartGlass,
multiple devices work together for rich, interactive experiences.
The licensing agreements with Microsoft and Samsung are at the heart of CNET's strategy to bring its award-winning video programming into the digital living room.
"We're programming for every possible screen - from the smartphone to the television - with video increasingly at the heart of everything we do," said Mark Larkin, Senior Vice President and General Manager of CNET. "Platforms like the Xbox 360 and Samsung Smart TV allow us to extend the reach of our short- and long-form content and deliver a unique, engaging experience where users love to watch video."
"Our goal is to make the entertainment people love more amazing on Xbox by delivering high-quality video from premium content providers to consumers everywhere," said Ross Honey, General Manager of Xbox LIVE Entertainment and Advertising. "We expect CNET's programming will perform well with the Xbox 360 audience, who are looking for the latest tech news and reviews to help shape their purchasing decisions."
"Increasingly, those who enjoy programming on Samsung Smart TVs also have a phone or tablet in their hand," said Eric Anderson, Vice President of Content and Product Solutions at Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "The new CNET app is a perfect example of an effective multi-screen experience."
The Xbox 360 and Samsung partnerships bring CNET content to greater numbers of potential viewers. CNET's broadcast-quality video programming already attracts nearly 20 million monthly views through select CBS Audience Network partners, including AOL, MSN, Yahoo! and YouTube, as well as Roku (http://www.roku.com/channels#!details/2251/cnet), which has delivered a 150 percent year-over-year increase in completed video views.
About CNET
CNET shows the exciting possibilities of how technology can enhance and enrich people's lives. Each month, millions of people visit CNET to get the information, tools, and advice that help them decide what to buy and how to get the most out of that technology. CNET features the latest news and unbiased reviews, videos that help demystify technology, software, mobile apps and game downloads, user opinion and reviews, and popular shows like "The 404." Follow CNET on Twitter (@CNET) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cnet). CNET is a property of CBS Interactive.
SOURCE CNET
CNET
CONTACT: Matthew Hutchison, +1-415-344-2368, matthew.hutchison@cbsinteractive.com; Jenifer Boscacci, +1-415-344-2441, Jenifer.Boscacci@cbsi.com
Microsoft Increases Production and Expands Retail Distribution for Microsoft Surface With Windows RT
Makes Surface available at additional retailers, extends successful Microsoft holiday stores into new year.
REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced plans to make Microsoft Surface available at additional retailers as soon as mid-December. In addition, the company announced the extension of the Microsoft holiday stores, including the transition of several of the stores into permanent Microsoft retail outlets.
"The public reaction to Surface has been exciting to see. We've increased production and are expanding the ways in which customers can interact with, experience and purchase Surface," said Panos Panay, general manager, Microsoft Surface.
As early as mid-December, consumers will be able to go to retail stores in the United States and Australia to purchase a Surface with Windows RT. Additional availability will be added in a number of countries in the coming months.
"Our plan has been to expand the retail presence for Surface after the first of the year. Based on interest from retailers, we are giving them the option to carry Surface with Windows RT even earlier," said Steve Schueler, corporate vice president, Microsoft Retail Sales and Marketing.
Surface will continue to be available for purchase at all Microsoft retail stores in the United States and Canada and online in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Based on the success of the Microsoft holiday stores, the company will extend all of these locations into the new year. These stores will transition into either permanent brick-and-mortar retail outlets or specialty store locations.
Microsoft stores will continue to offer best-in-class technology and a premium retail experience, allowing customers to interact with Microsoft products that impact the way people live, work and play. All Microsoft stores provide consumers with the same excellent choice, value and service in an engaging way to experience the best of Microsoft products.
Starting at $499, Surface combines the functionality of a laptop with the portability of a tablet. From the fun and unique touch cover that provides a super-thin, spill-resistant keyboard in a variety of vibrant colors to the integrated kickstand that enables hands-free entertainment, Surface stands out while delivering value and performance like nothing else on the market. With Windows apps, SkyDrive cloud connectivity, HD video, Xbox Music, games, a full-size USB port, a microSD card slot and the productivity of Office Home & Student 2013 RT, Surface with Windows RT brings work and play together in style.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Journal of Radiology Inc. / Interactive Spaces, Targets Stage Lighting
Lighting Technicians using technology to add interactivity during shows!
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Journal of Radiology Inc. (OTCBB: JRRD) has upgraded their software to now support the Stage Equipment and Lighting industry. With many show choreographers adding digital elements to their productions, having interactive experience controllers such as ours meets their need. The added functionality of our product is first of its kind for this market and it is seen as a clear competitive advantage.
Aaron Shrira, President of Journal of Radiology, said "Stage lighting is a natural fit for our existing technologies. Choreographers can now easily add digital elements that react in real time to actors and/or presenters on stage without manual intervention. The experience for the actors and audience is much more natural and integrated than pre-recorded video." Aaron continued, "The initial tests performed in Texas is showing great promise. It is one more revenue stream for us."
About Journal of Radiology Inc.
Journal of Radiology Inc., a development stage interactive media display company specializing in touchless, gesture - hand and body motion enabled software solutions that combine body motion with interactive surfaces, including walls, tables, windows and floors.
About Interactive Spaces
Interactive Spaces, licensed to Journal of Radiology, is a company specializing in touchless, gesture recognition - hand and body motion enabled, multi-touch software solutions that provide an innovative new way of interfacing with consumers. This technology is rapidly becoming one of the most effective ways of engaging people in a public space - providing both entertainment and relevant information.
Forward Looking Information Disclaimer and Caution: Statements, expectations and assumptions contained in the foregoing press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The realization of any or all of these expectations is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and it is possible that the assumptions made by management may not materialize.
Broadcom BroadR-Reach Portfolio Achieves Full Automotive Qualification and Production Release
Automotive-Qualified Solutions Enable Advanced Driver Safety and Infotainment Features
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
News Highlights:
-- BroadR-Reach(®) portfolio certified to meet rigorous demands of global
automotive industry
-- Achieves production part approval process (PPAP) with leading tier-one
automotive supplier
-- Extends leadership in fast-growing automotive semiconductor market
-- Automotive OPEN Alliance SIG membership surges to 100+ members
Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced that its BroadR-Reach(®) automotive portfolio has met the rigorous requirements of the global automotive industry including TS16949 compliance/ISO 9001 certification, in-car EMC performance and AEC-Q100 qualification. The BroadR-Reach portfolio also has attained PPAP production release with Valeo, one of the world's leading tier-one automotive component suppliers. For more news, visit Broadcom's Newsroom.
ISO 9001/TS16949 is an international standard that specifies stringent requirements for a zero-defect quality management system throughout an organization. Compliance with the standard is a key requirement in serving the automotive industry and Broadcom's accreditation is expected to further propel wide-scale adoption of Ethernet-based networks as the standard in automotive driver safety and infotainment applications.
According to ABI Research, the prevalence of in-vehicle electronics has nearly doubled in the last decade as consumer demand for in-vehicle connectivity continues to grow. As a result, automotive manufacturers are under increasing pressure to offer advanced driver safety and infotainment features as standard equipment throughout the fleet while reducing cost, complexity and overall weight.
Broadcom's BroadR-Reach automotive-qualified Ethernet solutions allow multiple in-vehicle systems to simultaneously access information over a single unshielded twisted pair cable at speeds of up to 100 Mbps. By eliminating cumbersome, shielded cabling, automotive manufacturers can reduce connectivity costs up to 80 percent(1) and cabling weight up to 30 percent(2).
Automotive OPEN Alliance SIG Promotes Proliferation of In-Car Ethernet
Interest in Broadcom's BroadR-Reach technology has grown dramatically as the industry accelerates adoption of Ethernet-based networks to deliver high-performance bandwidth over the industry's lowest cost cabling solution. Last month marked the one year anniversary of the OPEN (One-Pair Ether-Net) Alliance Special Interest Group that Broadcom, together with leading technology and automotive manufacturers, established to encourage Ethernet-based networks as the standard in automotive applications.
Since its inception just one year ago, the OPEN Alliance has surged to more than 100 members strong, representing many of the world's leading technology companies and automakers. Visit http://www.opensig.org to learn more.
Automotive Ethernet Market Drivers
-- The automotive semiconductor market is expected to reach $39B by 2018(3)
-- Automotive manufacturers require open, scalable, in-vehicle
connectivity(3)
-- New vehicle factory-installed connected car penetration will reach 60
percent by 2017(4)
-- Growing consumer awareness of vehicle safety spurring demand for new
driver assistance features such as speed monitoring, lane departure
warnings and driver behavior feedback(4)
-- Growing number of drivers expecting the same infotainment experience in
the car that is available in the home. Internet access, real-time
location-based search, and music streaming are among the most desired
applications(4)
-- Infotainment has moved from the luxury segment to the mass market
vehicles due to falling prices and increased economy vehicle
deployment(4)
Availability:
The full line of BroadR-Reach automotive-qualified switch and PHY devices are immediately available.
For ongoing Broadcom news visit our Newsroom, read our B-Connected Blog, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter. And to stay connected, subscribe to our RSS Feed.
Quotes:
Dominque Bonte, Vice President & Practice Director, Automotive/Navigation/Telematics/M2M, ABI Research
"ADAS and infotainment features are now available on a wide range of vehicles, not just high luxury models. Consumer awareness of safety issues is pushing vehicle manufacturers to install systems that can help prevent collisions from occurring while additional convenience features, such as parking and lane change assistance, are making safety features more attractive. We expect demand for enabling technologies such as Broadcom's BroadR-Reach Ethernet technology to continue to grow as these features become more ubiquitous as standard equipment."
Dr. Ali Abaye, Broadcom's Senior Director of Automotive PHY Product Marketing
"The car is the next frontier for high speed communications, and Broadcom's expertise in intelligent connectivity allowed us to deliver innovative technology to the automotive industry. Full automotive qualification shows our commitment to this fast-growing market."
Robert Lutze, Broadcom's Vice President of Quality Assurance
"This formal recognition is a testimonial to Broadcom's leadership in providing our automotive customers with electronic devices that meet rigorous standards for quality and reliability. This achievement marks yet another milestone in our expanding commitment to serve the automotive industry with unique products and features."
Resources:
(1) Based on current market prices for unshielded single twisted pair FlexRay cables
(2) Based on combined weight of 2-meter twisted, single-pair FlexRay cables and connectors
(3) ABI Semiconductor Forecast, 2012
(4) ABI Connected Car, May 2012
About Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500® company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments. With the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and embedded software solutions, Broadcom is changing the world by Connecting everything®. For more information, go to http://www.broadcom.com.
Broadcom®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything®, the Connecting everything logo, and BroadR-Reach® are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
REI Systems and ENC Strategy Announce New Tools at SBA.gov to Help Small Businesses Grow
The U.S. Small Business Administration launches new online functionality to help small businesses get the information they need to grow easily and rapidly.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With the help of Sterling, Va.-based REI Systems, and McLean-based ENC Strategy, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched new online tools designed to help small business owners develop and grow their companies. Available online at http://www.sba.gov, the new software tools include the Build a Business Plan tool, the Size Standards tool, a Learning Center, an Events Calendar and a Local Assistance locator for entrepreneurs to access resources sponsored by their nearest SBA field office. REI and ENC developed the software, conducting usability testing, and provided content, creative direction, design support and constituent outreach.
To help small business owners plan and steer their businesses, the Build a Business Plan tool guides them through the process of creating a basic, downloadable business plan. Users can save progress and build the plan at their own pace.
To determine whether they are eligible to sell products and services to government agencies, and to compete for small business set-aside contracts, business owners previously had to search through various rules and matrices to determine whether their businesses qualify for the small business set-aside procurement opportunities. Now, with the Size Standards tool, there are three simple steps to eliminate the guesswork and quickly find qualified for government procurement opportunities.
Each year, SBA and its partners host hundreds of small business training seminars and workshops across the country. Until now, there was no single repository for these events. Now, with SBA's Events Calendar, small business owners can quickly find and register for training.
The Learning Center is an online learning portal for small business entrepreneurs. It features a streamlined, searchable catalog of small business educational resources, including self-paced courses and informational videos. The resources may be sorted by topic, making it easier to locate helpful information.
Using the Local Assistance tool, those seeking help from SBA district offices and other local resource partners can quickly find the right contact information by clicking on a state or searching by zip code.
More information about SBA's resources is available by visiting http://www.sba.gov. REI Systems and ENC Strategy are members of the eStars Enterprise Team, a group of companies that also includes Fairfax-based ADG Tech Consulting and Boston-based Acquia that provide technical and content support for SBA.gov.
DealerSocket Continues Bringing New Technology to Dealer Space
DealerSocket Adds SocketTalk and PhoneTracking Tools to Its Popular Product, MobileCRM
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading auto dealer CRM DealerSocket (DealerSocket.com) continues to make the newest and best technology available to auto dealers. DealerSocket announced today the release of PhoneTracking and SocketTalk, two additional tools to the highly successful MobileCRM.
SocketTalk allows users to instant message (IM) from within the CRM to internal DealerSocket users. SocketTalk is also a true texting tool that allows instant, two-way communication between the dealership and a customer's mobile device. Users can send texts from a mobile device or desktop, and the customer will receive it as a text message. This efficient communication channel is opt-in and opt-out compliant to protect dealerships and their customers.
MobileCRM PhoneTracking allows dealers currently tracking calls made from their LAN lines or other phone systems through DealerSocket's CTI (Call Tracking Integration) can extend the functionality to calls from mobile devices, as well. Every call, regardless of whether it is made from a landline or a mobile phone, can now be tracked by a dealer.
"SocketTalk is a highly effective way for dealers to communicate with their customers," said Brad Perry, DealerSocket Co-Founder and CTO. "We are also very excited about our new tool, PhoneTracking. Dealers can now rest assured all calls are tracked, whether from a landline or mobile phone."
DealerSocket SocketTalk and PhoneTracking are currently available. For more information, please call (877) 888-8048.
ABOUT DEALERSOCKET
For ten years, DealerSocket has provided the automotive industry with the most comprehensive Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and training solutions available, allowing auto dealers to save time and money, and improve sales staff effectiveness, with one consolidated product. With the power to manage sales, service, CSI, marketing and training, DealerSocket is the complete source for all customer-facing automotive dealership departments.
DealerSocket's core CRM is enhanced by a powerful, customer-facing Mobile Portal application to keep in contact with customers and prospects via all mobile devices, a data-mining tool called RevenueRadar, an online process-training university called CarMind and an efficient CallCenter solution. These products can be used alone or in conjunction with the core CRM solution to provide an end-to-end marketing and revenue-producing engine. More than 100,000 users at over 3,000 auto dealerships throughout the U.S. and Canada now leverage DealerSocket's automotive CRM solution to optimize and manage marketing activities, sales processes, customer satisfaction and retention and service-department operations. For more information, call 877-888-8048, email sales@DealerSocket.com, visit DealerSocket.com, like us at Facebook.com/DealerSocketCRM, or follow us on Twitter at @DealerSocketCRM.
SOURCE DealerSocket
DealerSocket
CONTACT: Matt Redden, DealerSocket, +1-949-900-0300, mredden@dealersocket.com
Vidtel's Affordable, High-Quality Cloud Video Conferencing Available to VTEL Customers in Business and Education Markets
Vidtel's cloud service enables cost-effective, enterprise-grade video conferencing between room-based systems, executive desktop products, tablets, PCs, Skype, Google, WebRTC
SUNNYVALE, Calif. and AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- When fulfilling video conferencing needs, enterprises of all forms share a common goal: affordable, easy to use, high-quality video conferencing. To meet that need, Vidtel's cloud-based MeetMe service enables video conferencing between room-based systems, executive desktop video systems, PCs/Macs, and mobiles using any combination of SIP, H.323, Skype, GoogleTalk and soon WebRTC technologies. Today, Vidtel announced another video conferencing manufacturer that interoperates with its service - VTEL.
The underlying Windows 7 architecture of the VTEL systems renders them useful in a classroom or conference room, even when not in a video conference. The systems may be used to display websites, stream video, play a DVD, run any enterprise PC software, such as PowerPoint, or for conventional HDTV viewing. The partnership with Vidtel enables VTEL's customers to conduct business-grade multi-party video conferencing regardless of endpoint, platform or service and without the need for expensive bridges or exchange services. With MeetMe, customers of VTEL equipment will now be able to conduct multi-party video conferences spanning a variety of equipment vendors and service providers, including Cisco, Google, LifeSize, Polycom, and Skype.
Aggressive pricing on MeetMe makes enterprise-grade video conferencing a viable option for enterprises of any size. And since Vidtel runs the infrastructure in the cloud, the service requires no IT expertise or additional capital expenditure beyond existing systems and is as easy to use as an audio conferencing bridge.
"VTEL has been growing rapidly over the last year due to our ability to provide a turnkey group videoconferencing system for under $5,000", said Richard Ford, VTEL's CEO. "Offering the low cost Vidtel multipoint videoconferencing service along with VTEL IPanels enables our end-users to dramatically reduce the capital expense required to implement an enterprise-wide professional quality videoconferencing solution."
"With Vidtel's MeetMe, VTEL customers will enjoy enormous flexibility in terms of video conferencing with other organizations on SIP, H.323 and web-based standards," said Mariette Johnson Wharton, Vidtel VP of Marketing and co-founder. "VTEL has a long track history of innovation in video conferencing, so it is not surprising to see VTEL embrace our cloud service."
The Vidtel MeetMe video conferencing service is available immediately to VTEL customers.
About Vidtel:
Vidtel is a pioneer of any-to-any cloud video conferencing services. Our easy-to-use service provides compatibility between a diverse set of business-grade SIP and H.323 (e.g., Polycom, Cisco, LifeSize) and consumer-grade video endpoints. Vidtel enables enterprises of any size to affordably experience the productivity of business-quality video conferencing between dispersed employees, partners and customers. Vidtel is located in Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, California.
About VTEL:
Based in Austin, TX VTEL Products Corporation is celebrating its 27(th) anniversary as a videoconferencing system manufacturer. The company introduced the industry's first PC-based videoconferencing systems in the late 1980's. VTEL has an installed base of tens of thousands of videoconferencing systems in education, healthcare, legal and in commercial corporations. For more information on VTEL's competitively-priced and high-performing video conferencing systems, please visit http://www.vtel.com.
Contacts:
Mariette Johnson Wharton
mariette@vidtel.com
(650) 273-4104
Todd Clayton
Director of Marketing
todd_clayton@vtel.com