AT&T Announces Pre-Orders For Samsung Gear(TM) 2, Gear 2 Neo And Gear(TM) Fit
$50 OFF GEAR 2 AND GEAR 2 NEO WHEN PURCHASED WITH A SAMSUNG GALAXY S® 5
DALLAS, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T(1) announced that pre-orders will begin tomorrow for the Samsung Gear 2, Samsung Gear 2 Neo and Samsung Gear Fit at att.com or at AT&T stores. Shipping will begin in early April. The Samsung Gear 2 is available for $299, Gear 2 Neo for $199 and the Gear Fit( )for $199, not including taxes. Additionally, when a Samsung Galaxy S® 5 is purchased from an AT&T company-owned retail store or att.com you can get $50 off the purchase of a Gear 2 or Gear 2 Neo(2).
The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo each have a 1.63 inch Super AMOLED display with interchangeable straps, compatible with standard 22mm pin watch bands that allow you to wear your favorite strap. Both devices are dustproof and water-resistant(3), so that they can be used at the beach or on a hike, and both come equipped with a heart rate monitor.
With the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, you can also make voice calls and send text messages right from your wrist when paired with select Galaxy mobile phones, from the company that covers 99 percent of all Americans. Automatic notifications can be sent from a Samsung Galaxy® smartphone to Gear. Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo both have a music player that lets users listen to their favorite tunes while on-the-move. Additionally, Gear 2 has a 2 megapixel camera that has been moved from the strap to the face of the device for a more sleek design.
With a 1.84 inch curved Super AMOLED display and interchangeable band, Gear Fit was designed with health and wellness in mind. With the S Health((TM)4) feature, you can track your steps, monitor heart rate on-the-go, and receive notifications for incoming calls, texts and emails.
"The Gear products are a great addition to our already strong lineup of wearable devices that meet your needs while on-the-go," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president - Devices, AT&T. "AT&T elevates mobility to the next level. Pair the Samsung Galaxy S 5 with Gear wearables for a great value that you can take anywhere and fits your lifestyle."
(1 )AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
(2 )Offer is available beginning March 21 and ends June 5, while supplies last at att.com or at AT&T stores. Discount applied at point of purchase via barcode.
(3) This device has been tested and received an IP (Ingress Protection) rating of IP67, which tests for dust intrusion and for water submersion up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Not shockproof. Covers must be tightly closed.
(4 )This device, S Health, and related software is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse(®) brand. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
RadioShack Brings Its Second California Concept Store to Sun Valley
Newly Remodeled Store Opens March 22, Featuring Top Brands and Interactive Experiences
FORT WORTH, Texas, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- RadioShack will open the company's second California concept store in Sun Valley on Saturday, March 22 at 9 a.m. This RadioShack had been a part of Sun Valley's community since the store opened in its original location more than 31 years ago in 1982. The relocated store can now be found in Canyon Plaza at 8385 Laurel Canyon Blvd.
All concept stores in the company's portfolio feature an upgraded shopping experience, which showcases the company's new look. Interactive areas throughout the store encourage shoppers to discover personalized solutions, connect with sales associates and realize the unlimited potential of technology. Our associates encourage a collaborative, "Do It Together" approach that results in smart solutions for technology needs. Concept store features include:
-- A speaker wall controlled by in-store tablets, empowering customers to
experience a dozen different speakers
-- Interactive displays that encourage shoppers to compare products,
including headphone demo stations where they can listen with leading
brands like SOL REPUBLIC, Skullcandy and Beats by Dr. Dre; a remote
control toy exploration center; and a GoPro camera display,
demonstrating the capabilities of several camera models
-- Idea Center where consumers can bring their ideas to life through
collaboration with store associates at a convenient work space
-- Technology that makes shopping interesting and playful, including
touchscreens and apps to help shoppers understand product benefits
-- Newly configured displays highlighting in-demand brands like Apple, HTC
and Samsung, as well as mobile carriers such as AT&T, Sprint and Verizon
RadioShack is opening a select number of these highly experiential stores in neighborhoods throughout the nation. The Sun Valley location is one of more than 25 concept stores to open since the company began converting to such stores in July 2013. The first California concept store opened in Lynwood in January. These new stores reflect the company's strides toward reinvigorating its stores, revamping its product assortment and repositioning the brand.
Neighbors are invited to come see the new, brighter RadioShack and pick up an instant savings coupon good for $10 off any $40 qualifying purchase, while supplies last. Customers can also check in to the store on Foursquare to claim the deal for a limited time.
About RadioShack Corporation
RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) is a leading national retailer of innovative mobile technology products and services, as well as products related to personal and home technology and power supply needs. RadioShack(® )offers consumers a targeted assortment of wireless phones and other electronic products and services from leading national brands, exclusive private brands and major wireless carriers, all within a comfortable and convenient shopping environment. RadioShack employs approximately 30,000 knowledgeable and helpful sales experts globally. RadioShack's retail network includes approximately 4,300 company-operated stores in the United States, over 270 company-operated stores in Mexico, and approximately 1,000 dealer and other outlets worldwide. For more information on RadioShack Corporation, please visit http://www.radioshackcorporation.com; to purchase items online, please visit http://www.radioshack.com. RadioShack(®) is a registered trademark licensed by RadioShack Corporation.
News Media Contact: Media Relations, +1-817-415-3300, Media.Relations@RadioShack.com
Mobiscope introduces cloud DVR to video surveillance as a service market
NEW YORK, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobiscope, a video surveillance and home monitoring startup, introduced intelligent cloud DVR service which allows customers to record, store and access footage from surveillance cameras on mobile devices. Starting today, Mobiscope Cloud is available worldwide.
While hardware manufacturers offer a great selection of consumer-targeted IP cameras, the very idea of video surveillance still resonates with wiring, expensive hardware and overall complexity in consumers mindset. Mobiscope Cloud is all about consumer side of things - it eliminates the need in hardware DVR or a computer with software DVR program running at all times, video from cameras is processed and stored in the cloud, and can be accessed from customer's Android or iOS device, or any web browser at any time, and the whole surveillance system can be set up in minutes right from customer's smartphone or tablet.
A reliable and secure solution, Mobiscope offers following features:
-- Automatic configuration of hundreds of popular network cameras
-- Live video viewing
-- Motion detection alerts delivered with instant notifications
-- Up to 1 month of secure and backed up cloud video storage
-- Digital Video Recorder (DVR) with graphical events timeline
-- Simultaneous access from multiple devices
Mobiscope Cloud subscription plans are structured around number of cameras customer wants to monitor simultaneously and video archive capacity, starting at $9.95 per month,with monthly and annual payment options available. Both iOS and Android apps offer free evaluation period.
About Mobiscope
Taking advantage of cutting-edge mobile and cloud technologies, Mobiscope is focused on small and home office video surveillance solutions, and is a white-label provider of its services to hardware manufacturers, wireless carriers, and other companies wishing to offer surveillance services for their clients. Mobiscope is lead by Alex Makarov.
SOURCE Mobiscope
Mobiscope
CONTACT: Maria Dyatlova, +380-50-1841581, maria@shapeservices.com
WESTBURY, N.Y., March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Switronix is thrilled to announce a new line of power solutions for the GoPro Hero 3/3+. Whether the GoPro is flying on a copter or YOU are flying on a copter, our power solutions will help push you forward.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and it's no clearer then with the release of these new GoPro Power Solutions. Being a battery power solution company, we get tasked with many different problems to solve. We were recently contacted by a company who needed to get power to GoPro Cameras at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. They didn't have access to their cameras for long stints of time, and they needed a reliable power connection with a run of over 50ft. Our new GoPro Power Solutions are specifically designed for any situation where power is critical.
The DV-GP3-PT3/6 adapter locks into the battery receptacle on the back of the camera, releasing the need to rely on the USB connection, which can come out easily in active situations. Providing a reliable and secure power connection is essential when using the GoPro camera, since the intended use is precarious and high impact settings.
Switronix is offering the adapter with power regulation and the ability to power from cigarette, powertap and an XT60 "Y" connection, widely used amongst Quad, Hex and Octocopters. Along with the mobile power options, Switronix is also offering a 10ft. USB extension which can be used with OEM GoPro Wall and Auto charging adapters.
Designed to withstand wind turbulence, motor vibration, and impact, the GoPro Power Solutions will guarantee power to the camera. The adapter also allows the use of the front submersible housing of the GoPro and the skeleton back. Covering the back skeleton housing openings with gaffer tape offers a splash/water resistant housing for many situations.
"We're excited to release a product that people want and need. It brings the company into a different market sector, which is fresh and new," says Chief Engineer Daniel Moore. "By developing this battery paddle which clicks and locks into the camera, people no longer need to rely on the USB connection. These cameras are in precarious situations many times, and a USB connection just won't do for reliable power."
These products have an MSRP range of $30-45US.
ABOUT SWITRONIX
Over the past decade, Switronix has established itself as one of the most prominent suppliers of batteries and charging solutions in the professional film and video industry. Switronix's line also includes superior LED lighting, camera supports, converter cables, and accessories. For more information about Switronix, please visit switronix.com.
IBM Launches New Software and Consulting Services to Help Organizations Tackle $3.5 Trillion Lost Annually to Fraud and Financial Crime
London Borough of Camden in the UK Harnesses Big Data and Analytics to Fight Fraud
NEW YORK, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today introduced new software and services to help organizations use Big Data and Analytics to address the $3.5 trillion lost each year to fraud and financial crimes. Through sophisticated business expertise and analytics, organizations can take a holistic approach to address the financial losses caused by fraud while protecting the value of their brands.
As part of today's news, IBM launched its "Smarter counter fraud" initiative, drawing on the expertise and innovation from more than 500 fraud consulting experts, 290 fraud-related research patents and $24 billion invested in IBM's Big Data and Analytics software and services capabilities since 2005. The initiative extends IBM's leadership in Big Data and Analytics and Cloud to help public and private organizations prevent, identify and investigate fraudulent activities.
Today's announcement comes at a time when a new generation of criminals are using digital channels - such as mobile devices, social networks and cloud platforms - to probe for weaknesses and vulnerabilities. The pace of this threat continues to accelerate - identity fraud impacted more than 12 million individuals in 2012, resulting in theft of nearly $21 billion, and each day the U.S. healthcare industry loses $650 million due to fraudulent claims and payments.
To address these complexities, IBM is delivering new software that allows organizations to gain better visibility and take a more proactive, holistic approach to countering fraud. This includes the ability to aggregate Big Data across a variety of internal and external sources - including mobile, social and online - and apply sophisticated analytics that continuously monitor for fraudulent indicators. The new offerings feature advanced analytics that understand non-obvious relationships and co-occurrences between entities, new enhanced visualization technologies that can identify and connect fraudulent patterns closer to point of operation, and machine learning to help prevent future occurrence based on previous attacks and behaviors.
Leading analysts estimate that market demand for fraud and risk solutions is quickly accelerating. According to Gartner*, 25 percent of large global companies will have adopted big data analytics for at least one security or fraud detection use case, up from eight percent today, and will achieve a positive return on investment within the first six months of implementation by 2016. IDC estimates that the market for Financial Crime solutions alone will be nearly $4.7 billion in 2014, with a 5.5 percent CAGR over the 2014-2017 forecast period**.
"With today's news, IBM is applying many of the same tactics, techniques and procedures used by the intelligence and law enforcement communities to help commercial organizations take a holistic view of this growing and pervasive threat," said Robert Griffin, Vice President, IBM Industry Solutions. "These technologies allow line of business leaders to quickly adapt to emerging threats across the entire organization. Our new initiative puts Big Data and Analytics into the hands of those tasked with defending their organizations from financial losses, protecting the brand and delivering exceptional customer service."
IBM is unique in its ability to combine market-leading software, services and research capabilities to address the full spectrum of fraud and financial crimes - from tax evasion, money laundering and cyber-attacks to threats from inside the organization. For example, the new offerings can detect cross-channel mobile fraud and prevent cybercrime enablers like phishing scams. They can enable an insurance company to review thousands of claims in real-time to flag potentially fraudulent activity while processing legitimate claims faster, or help a global bank more accurately detect and investigate money laundering activities to meet regulatory compliance.
IBM's new counter fraud portfolio builds on the company's unmatched R&D investments, and recent acquisitions of Cognos, i2, SPSS, Q1 Labs, Trusteer and SoftLayer. The new software and services include:
Counter Fraud Management Software: A single offering that brings together IBM's Big Data and Analytics capabilities to help organizations aggregate data from external and internal sources and apply sophisticated analytics to prevent, identify and investigate suspicious activity. It includes analytics that understand non-obvious relationships between entities, visualization technology that identifies larger patterns of fraud, and machine learning to help prevent future occurrence based on previous attacks. To enhance these capabilities as new threats emerge, IBM also launched a new counter fraud intelligence task force - IBM Red Cell - that will work in tandem with the IBM X-Force unit to continuously research trends, develop strategies, and deliver enhancements to the software and services R&D team.
Counter fraud service offerings: Industry-aligned services that combine IBM's consulting, software and technology expertise to help clients improve their counter fraud programs, including:
-- Outcome-based Accelerators: Evaluate an organization's counter fraud
capabilities and provide rapid prototyping to demonstrate business value
for enterprise-wide protection.
-- Target Operating Model: Design organizational constructs, operational
governance and technology architecture to better detect fraud, and
respond and investigate exposures.
-- Scale and Manage: Fast implementation of strategies and technological
dimensions to customize and run counter fraud programs tailored for each
client.
Fraud discovery assets: A portfolio of customizable, research-developed assets that use analytics to discover fraud, waste, abuse and errors in data intensive industries and functions. These assets analyze an organization's internal data to measure behavior, and then compare the results within specific peer groups to identify anomalies that indicate suspicious activity. Based on the results, an investigation recommendation is made. The assets are available across industries for enterprise-wide discovery. The fraud discovery assets will be available in the cloud, enabled by IBM SoftLayer, with focus on the following areas:
-- Medical Fraud: Discovers fraud during provider, beneficiary and internal
employee profiling using IBM's Fraud Asset Management System (FAMS).
-- Insurance Claim Fraud: Enables insurers to detect suspicious activity
for claims submitted by vendors, brokers and individuals using IBM's
Loss Analysis and Warning System (LAWS).
-- Public Tax Fraud: Empowers governments to address tax gaps by uncovering
tax evasion activities and filing inaccuracies using IBM's Tax and Audit
Compliance System (TACS).
-- Occupational Fraud: Helps organizations discover fraud for accounts
payable, travel and expense claims, and other fraud committed by
employees.
Counter fraud as a service: IBM will offer four levels of counter fraud capabilities as a service - including Hosting, Application Management, Behavior Modeling & Scoring and Analytics & Referral Generation - that use a subscription-based model to give clients flexible choices that match their business needs and technical requirements.IBM's Counter Fraud Center of Competency gives clients global access to expertise including fraud industry experts, advanced analytic capabilities and technical implementation services.
IBM has a long history working with hundreds of counter fraud clients such as the London Borough of Camden in the UK, which is using IBM Big Data and Analytics technology to streamline processes, improve services, reduce tax fraud and increase revenue. Working with IBM, Camden has been able to create a "Residents' Index," uniting information from multiple services to create a single, consistent view of all resident data, including the services they're accessing.
"Information we once considered unobtainable is now within our grasp," said Hilary Simpson, Head of ICT Business Partnering at London Borough of Camden. "We have identified at least a dozen specific examples where a Residents' Index, based on IBM Big Data and Analytics technology can help us. We have estimated that the solution could help to cut single person council tax discount fraud by five percent, potentially delivering major savings for our borough."
For more information about IBM's Smarter counter fraud initiative, visit http://www.ibm.com/smartercounterfraud. Follow the conversation on Twitter at #counterfraud
*Source: Gartner Report: Reality Check on Big Data Analytics for Cybersecurity and Fraud, January 2014
**Source: IDC Financial Insights, Pivot Table: Worldwide IT Spending 2013-2017 -- Worldwide Risk IT Spending Guide, 1H13, Doc # FIN240400, Mar 2013
About IBM Big Data & Analytics
Each day we generate 2.5 quintillion bytes of data from a variety of sources - climate information, to posts on social media sites, and purchase transaction records to healthcare medical images. At IBM we believe that data is emerging as the world's newest resource for competitive advantage, and analytics is the key to make sense of it. IBM is helping clients harness Big Data and Analytics to provide insights needed to make better decisions, create value, and deliver that value to customers and society. IBM has the world's deepest and broadest portfolio of Big Data and Analytics technologies and solutions, spanning services, software, research and hardware. For more information about IBM Big Data and Analytics, visit http://ibm.com/bigdataanalytics. Follow IBM Big Data and Analytics on Twitter @IBMbigdata and @IBMAnalytics.
uSamp Builds Adaptive Profiling(TM) to Improve Targeting Quality and Decrease Time to Field
Clients should expect time to field their projects to decrease by at least 20%
LOS ANGELES, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- uSamp, the technology leader in providing targeted audiences for global consumer and business insights, today announced it will soon launch its Adaptive Profiling(TM) system to manage and access audiences for market research. Representing a departure from current industry models, Adaptive Profiling involves asking questions to uSamp panelists based on their correlated attributes, which will reduce the total number of profile questions asked by half and ultimately double survey completion rates.
"Before today, profiling models were static and inflexible, which means 90% of the data collected could not be used for the intended project," said Carl Trudel, CTO, uSamp. "Adaptive Profiling is a true game changer, as it improves the likelihood that the filtered audience will match the desired profile sought by the client base."
Adaptive Profiling is expected to improve panelist engagement through correlative survey targeting. For example, if a client needs electric vehicle owners, uSamp can accelerate the targeting of these individuals by examining previously correlated attributes of other groups, such as wearable technology users.
"Most profiling models used by the industry don't paint an accurate picture of panel size and makeup," said Andy Jolls, senior vice president of global marketing, uSamp. "For instance, a panelist who is profiled as being pregnant may be counted this way for years because she hasn't been asked any follow-up profile questions. Adaptive Profiling is more accurate because it allows us to continuously collect data points on our panel and expire responses over time."
Using predictive analytics, uSamp's Adaptive Profiling employs complex statistical analyses to build relevancy models between different data points. This new approach will also help uSamp conduct a live incidence check before each study. Once implemented, uSamp expects overall time to field to decrease by 20% or more.
About uSamp
uSamp is the technology leader in market research providing automation, mobile and global sample and insight solutions for marketers. Based in Los Angeles, with five offices in the United States, Europe and Asia, uSamp has been recognized in Inc.'s 500|5000 exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. For more information visit http://www.usamp.com.
Media Contact:
Colette Cote
Kerlan Communications for uSamp
321 266 0917
MEI's FluidJet(TM) Metal Liftoff System Achieves Breakthrough for Compound Semiconductor Production
Patented process achieves superior metal lift-off performance, reducing damage, chemical consumption, increasing reclaim.
ALBANY, Ore., March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MEI, LLC announces FluidJet(TM) batch wet processing system for metal liftoff in MEMS manufacturing, delivering higher yielding, more cost effective metal liftoff processing.
MEI's FluidJet(TM) batch wet processing system for metal liftoff achieves breakthroughs with no metal re-deposition on either the front side or back side of the wafer, eliminates device damage, while using 80% less chemical than current single wafer processing solutions. In addition, FluidJet(TM) enables highly efficient, easily obtained gold and metal reclaim, reducing waste and downtime. FluidJet(TM) also saves valuable manufacturing floor space by reducing the wet process footprint requirement by at least 60% over comparable throughput single wafer spray tools.
"By adopting the FluidJet(TM) metal liftoff system, semiconductor manufacturers will increase yield while reducing downtime and chemical costs and disposal," said Dan Cappello, President and CEO, MEI LLC. "FluidJet cleans the surface gently improving metal liftoff performance at a lower cost. Side by side "split lot" comparison data demonstrates superior performance on liftoff and resist strip layers while also reducing defects."
About FluidJet(TM) metal liftoff wet processing system--a new approach.
The FluidJet(TM) metal liftoff system is unlike conventional single wafer metal liftoff systems. Conventional metal liftoff solutions rely on high-pressure sprays that produce metal debris that can scratch or tear fine metal features. Metal debris can also redeposit, causing shorts.
The FluidJet(TM) batch immersion system's gentle removal and self cleaning tanks enable lifted metals to be more easily and completely reclaimed. Strainer baskets are emptied in minutes and sized to easily hold several thousand wafers worth of lifted metal.
MEI's FluidJet(TM) targets semiconductor and MEMS processing applications where Metal Liftoff is required to create create GaAs BiFET device structures for mobile communications devices.
About MEI Wet Processing Systems and Services:
MEI Wet Processing Systems and Services LLC of Albany, Oregon, is a wet processing equipment and services company serving the semiconductor, MEMs, solar, and high technology industries. MEI Wet Processing has sales offices in the United States, Europe, China and Taiwan. MEI's specialties include patented solutions for wet processing applications, automated and semi-automated wet benches, process systems and services; automated chemical delivery systems; and IDX control automation software. MEI has a commitment to outstanding customer service. http://www.meillc.com.
Read more news from MEI Wet Processing Systems and Services.
Katherine Cleland Ed Jean
Cleland Marketing MEI Wet Processing
(541) 231-4445 541 704 2756
Email Email
SOURCE MEI Wet Processing Systems and Services
IGEL's Popular UD3 Gets a New Look and Better Functionality
The redesigned housing affords the IGEL UD3 and the IZ3 zero client advantageous connectivity, installation, convenience and eco-friendliness
CINCINNATI, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning this month, the German thin client market leader IGEL Technology will supply its bestselling IGEL UD3 model with a new housing. With its numerous details, the completely reworked exterior housing not only impresses with its new design but also makes the model easier to handle and more versatile. Thanks to a modular housing concept, the thin client becomes even more flexible and can be used in three possible usage scenarios. For example, it is now possible to save space by affixing the UD3/IZ3 including the optional Connectivity Base to the rear side of a monitor. Other new features include the slim design, a quick-connect VESA mounting, touch-sensitive buttons and the use of a plastic that is even easier to recycle. Equipped with a VIA Eden X2 dual core processor with 1 GHz and up to 2 GB DDR3 RAM, the IGEL UD3/IZ3 has been IGEL's most popular model and Germany's bestselling thin client for years.
The dimensions of the UD3's new housing are now even more compact and can easily be placed on a desk in the workplace environment without taking up needed space. As usual, the thin client can also be attached to the rear side of a monitor. The VESA mounting required for this purpose is available on the new IGEL thin client in both the 75 mm and the 100 mm version. If a user requires additional connectivity, IGEL offers the optional Connectivity Base. The latest version of this features two serial ports and a hidden USB port or, alternatively, two serial ports and an integrated WLAN module. The new version of the UD3/IZ3 with the Connectivity Base attached can be operated on the VESA mounting or on a desk as a standing device.
When it comes to operating components, the buttons and sockets on the front have also been redesigned. In order to eliminate a potential source of wear or faults, the new on/off button is touch-sensitive. This means that it no longer needs to be physically pressed. The new cover for the front USB and audio ports reacts to gentle pressure and is therefore extremely easy to open and close.
And because even the longest-lasting thin client will eventually reach the end of its life, the issue of recycling is always relevant. The new UD3/IZ3 housing scores points here too. Made of a single, durable type of plastic, it makes recycling and disposal easier.
Availability
The new UD3 housing is available now and can easily be integrated into existing UD3 installations. Identical in terms of construction, the IGEL IZ3 zero client series likewise features the new housing.
About IGEL Technology
A world leader in thin client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces one of the industry's widest range of thin clients, based on Linux and Microsoft Windows, allowing customers to access a broad spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers a powerful and intuitive management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Red Hat, Citrix, VMware, and Microsoft ensure that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide.To learn more, visit http://www.igel.com
Juniper Research & DIMOCO demonstrate the development of the digital generation: From morning to night, Mr. D. produces, consumes and shares digital content
BRUNN AM GEBIRGE, Austria, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
- In 2017 5.2 bn. Euros will be billed via cell phone billing.
Market research company Juniper Research and DIMOCO, the European mobile payment providerhttp://www.dimoco.eu, demonstrate the development of the digital generation.
"Mr. D." consumes, produces and shares digital content from morning to night. By 2017,
digital content worth more than 5.2 billion per annum is expected to be billed via direct
carrier billing in Europe.
"As a mobile payment provider, we are specialized in billing digital content via cell
phone billing. This makes it essential to keep an eye on trends in this area. Mr. D. shows
us how digital content influences our daily lives", says Gerald Tauchner, DIMOCO CEO,
adding: "We are happy to release a further publication together with Juniper Research".
DIMOCO and Juniper Research demonstrate digital generation trends
The European mobile payment provider DIMOCO http://www.dimoco.eu and the market
research company Juniper Research present "Mr. D." Mr. D. stands for "Mister Digital" and
is a symbol for the developments in the digital generation. "With Mr. D. as an example,
digital content trends become visible. On the one hand we would like to get a better
insight into the developments in this area, and on the other hand, we would like to show
companies their business potential and success with mobile operator payment," Tauchner
explains the project objective.
Digital generation trends overview:
- More than 130 million Western European smartphone owners accessed social
media sites on their handsets in 2012; Facebook alone now has more than 870 million
users worldwide on mobile handsets and tablets, while Twitter has around 175 million.
(Source: Juniper Research, 12/2013)
- Digital content worth around EUR790 million was billed via direct carrier
billing in Europe in 2012; this is expected to increase to more than EUR5.2 billion
per annum by 2017 (DIMOCO - Juniper Research, 12/2013)
- More than 45% of Western Europeans purchased digital content on their
smartphones or tablets in 2013 (Juniper Research, 12/2013)
- According to Localytics, the average time spent on a tablet news app session
is just under 15 minutes. (12/2013)
- Across Europe, more than 80 million consumer-owned devices were used in the
enterprise in 2013. (Juniper Research, 12/2013)
- NFC retail payments in Europe approached EUR1 billion in 2013. (Juniper
Research, 12/2013)
- Over 1 billion coupons delivered to mobile handsets in Western Europe in 2012
were redeemed. (Juniper Research, 12/2013)
- According to Ooyala, more than one-third of tablet viewing time is used to
watch content of more than an hour in length, while Adobe states that average session
time - for all tablet content - is 24 minutes, versus 13 minutes on a smartphone.
(12/2013)
- Mr. D. is both media meshing - performing a second media activity related to
his TV viewing (posting on social media about the TV programme) and media stacking -
performing an unrelated media activity (playing the game on his tablet) while watching
TV. According to OFCOM's 2013 Communications Market Report, 25% of UK adults now media
mesh and 49% media stack; amongst tablet owners, 81% media mesh and/or media stack.
(12/2013)
Mobile operator payment is the ideal billing method
In a recently published white paper by Juniper Research and DIMOCO, mobile operator
payment was confirmed as the ideal digital content payment method. Companies profit from a
higher reach, a better conversion rate and a transaction volume increase: "By implementing
direct carrier billing, a 10 to 14 time higher conversion rate and a transaction volume
increase was determined. (Juniper and DIMOCO White Paper: "Is Mobile Operator Payment the
Ideal Payment Method to Bill Digital Content" http://www.dimoco.us/download.html,
12/2013)
About DIMOCO
Founded in 2000, DIMOCO is a leading European mobile payment and messaging provider.
With its product line DIMOCO pay:smart, DIMOCO pay:flexible and DIMOCO pay:periodic and
only one technical interface DIMOCO offers companies an easy way to bill digital content
via cell phone billing. The DIMOCO mobile payment infrastructure covers a total market
potential of 1 billion mobile subscribers in 32 countries.
Mr. D. Poster: "A typical day of the digital generation: From morning to night, Mr. D.
produces, consumes and shares digital content." (c) DIMOCO, Juniper Research 03/2014
Real-Time Power-Consumption Monitoring From Wi-Next Makes Internet of Things Industrial Products More Efficient
TURIN, Italy, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
The low-Power Wi-Fi SmartNode can contribute to lower energy demands
The Italian Wi-Fi manufacturer Wi-Next [http://www.wi-next.com ] announces the
innovative low-power SmartNode for Industrial IoT applications.
Low-power SmartNode [http://www.wi-next.com/products/io-products/smartnode ] is a
unique appliance that is able to monitor in real-time the electrical consumption and the
operation of industrial machines, using a Wi-Fi Sensor Mesh Network.
The product allows remote definition and control of the maintenance plan of machinery,
along with a significant optimization of costs of management and fault prevention.
SmartNode demonstrates how Wi-Fi is a major enabling technology of M2M applications and
Internet of Things (IoT). Analysts forecast a market of more than $6 billion by 2020.
The data measured by SmartNode are sent to the cloud control application through a
mesh network connected to the Multiprotocol Wi-Fi gateway, Springmole
[http://www.wi-next.com/products/io-products/springmole ], launched last year by Wi-Next as
a Wireless Hub for networks of sensors and actuators.
To protect industrial equipment, the low-power SmartNode can automatically disconnect
the machinery in case of overcurrent and also guarantees the control of the power switch
via commands sent by third-party cloud applications. The low-power SmartNode includes an
STMicroelectronics low-power Wi-Fi module, SPWF01SA.11 [http://www.st.com/wifimodules ],
which is a high-performance solution for integration of Wi-Fi technology in a wide range
of IoT applications.
"We have been working for years to reinvent Wi-Fi through the development of Wi-Fi
technologies that allow the optimization of ROI and contribute to the next generation with
new revenue opportunities," said Nicola De Carne, CEO of Wi-Next. "The new low-power
SmartNode appliance is the first of a series of low-power Wi-Fi equipment designed for the
creation of end nodes and peripheral sensors based on 802.11 technology that will make
possible to provide sensors networks directly interconnected to network infrastructure
with obvious implementation and economic advantages."
Wi-Next is one of the most innovative Italian Wi-Fi Vendors. Founded in 2007 as a
research and development project at the Polytechnic of Turin, Wi-Next is a pioneer in
Wi-Fi mesh technology and distributed intelligence wireless networks which help companies
and telecommunications providers to reduce the complexity and the costs of networks and
maintenance, increase sources of revenue and maximize ROI. Wi-Next manufactures and sells
Wi-Fi equipment for SMBs and large enterprises through a network of partners and
distributors in Italy and abroad. The Wi-Fi Enterprise level offering of Wi-Next is
comprised of Indoor and Outdoor Access Point ( Naawigo and Knit ), entirely designed and
manufactured in Italy by the Team of Wi-Next , and the Wireless Manager System, whereby
the Italian company wants to consolidate its presence in the enterprise market. Last year
Wi-Next launched a new IoT platform, Springmole, that is networking OEM equipment designed
for multiprotocol gateway applications in the IoT market.
Selvas Introduces Its Latest Mobile Games in GDC 2014
Showcasing newest titles with superior developing and publishing capabilities
SEOUL, South Korea, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Selvas, an innovative mobile social game developing and publishing company, announced that it will showcase the latest additions to its acclaimed mobile game lineup at Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2014. At the exhibit, there will be three new game titles and the company's leading publishing capabilities.
Among the new titles is 'The Heart of Dragon'. With its outstanding graphic performance and various skillsets, the mobile action RPG game brings Dungeon MMORPG experiences in PC game to mobile environment. When Selvas launched 'The Heart of Dragon' in Korea last February, more than 30,000 gamers reserved the game prior to its release.
In addition to 'The Heart of Dragon', 'Hollow Point' and 'Town's Tale' will be introduced at GDC 2014.
'Town's Tale' is a social networking game (SNG) which the avatar develops and decorates a village with friends. Cooperative play is not only possible with non-player characters but also with other actual game players.
'Hollow Point' is a conventional mobile first-person shooter game, to be released in 2Q of 2014. Unreal Engine 3, aiming point correction system, and auto-shooting system allow precise control in realistic graphic, enabling a wide range of gamers, from beginners to advanced players to enjoy the game.
"With various game line-ups to be released this year, Selvas will grow as a definitive leader in mobile gaming," said Sang Hoon Chi, CEO of Selvas. "Our reliable and effective publishing skills and development operations will accelerate the company's global outreach, including America, China and Japan."
GDC 2014 will be held in San Francisco from March 17 to 21. To experience more from Selvas, be sure to visit the company's GDC 2014 booth, #217. More information can be found at: http://www.selvas.com/eng/index.aspx.
INFRAWARE is a software company that specializes in developing office solutions that enhances IT service, platform, Human Computer Interface (HCI) solutions and mobile games using its office engine technology. Over 80% of INFRAWARE's employees are focused on R&D. INFRAWARE develops software technology professionally and holds over 100 registered patents and approximately 430 patent applications that are currently under review.
About Selvas
Selvas, an affiliate company of INFRAWARE, is a game publishing and development company which strives to create various genre of mobile games, such as RPG, casual, FPS, SNG, in cooperation with its international branches in the U.S., China and Japan. Selvas has released more than 100 premium package games since 2004 and has also provided its service to Kakao game.
Contact:
INFRAWARE PR/IR
Eunjoo Kim (+82-2-6190-7676 / ejkim@infraware.co.kr)
INFRAWARE's PR Agency Burson-Marsteller Korea
Yoonkun Lee (822-3782-6459 / 82-10-7137-8507 yoonkun.lee@bm.com)
NASA Launches Its Third Global 'Codeathon' with New Coastal Flooding Challenge
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA along with space agencies around the world are preparing for the third annual International Space Apps Challenge, which will be held April 12-13. Participants will develop mobile applications, software, hardware, data visualization and platform solutions that could contribute to space exploration missions and help improve life on Earth.
At the Climate Data Initiative launch at the White House Wednesday, NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan will announce the inclusion of a new challenge focused on coastal flooding, developed by NASA and NOAA, and based on federal cross-agency data. The Coastal Inundation in Your Community challenge is one of four climate-related challenges using data provided by NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The challenge encourages entrepreneurs, technologists, and developers to create and deploy data-driven visualizations and simulations that will help people understand their exposure to coastal-inundation hazards and other vulnerabilities.
"Solutions developed through this challenge could have many potential impacts," said Stofan. "This includes helping coastal businesses determine whether they are currently at risk from coastal inundation, and whether they will be impacted in the future by sea level rise and coastal erosion."
The two-day International Space Apps Challenge will be a "codeathon"-style event locally hosted at almost 100 locations spanning six continents. More than 200 data sources, including data sets, data services, and tools will be made available. This event will bring tech-savvy citizens, scientists, entrepreneurs, educators, and students together to help solve challenges relevant to both space exploration and social needs.
"The International Space Apps Challenge is one of the U.S. commitments to the Open Government Partnership to explore new ways that open space data can help the planet and further space exploration," said Deborah Diaz, deputy chief information officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
This year, more than 40 new challenges will represent NASA mission priorities and be organized in five themes: Earth Watch, Technology in Space Human Spaceflight, Robotics, and Asteroids. About half of the challenges are in the Earth Watch theme, which supports NASA's focus on Earth science in 2014.
For the first time in more than a decade, five NASA Earth science missions are being launched into space in the same year, opening new and improved remote eyes to monitor our changing planet. The agency shares this unique knowledge with the global community and works with institutions in the United States and around the world that contribute to understanding and protecting our home planet.
For more information about NASA's Earth science activities in 2014, visit:
TSI Releases Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP)-Resistant Remote Particle Counters
Designed with VHP-resistant coatings and materials, the TSI AeroTrak® Remote Particle Counter 7510-VHP series is ideal for GMP manufacturing applications where accidental VHP exposure can occur.
SHOREVIEW, Minn., March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TSI Incorporated, the leader in continuous airborne monitoring solutions, released a new line of remote particle counters resistant to the damaging effects of Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP.) Designed with VHP-resistant coatings and materials, the TSI AeroTrak® Remote Particle Counter 7510-VHP series is ideal for GMP manufacturing applications where accidental VHP exposure can occur.
AeroTrak Remote Particle Counters integrate seamlessly with TSI's FMS validated monitoring software. Other connectivity options include Ethernet (TCP/IP), serial Modbus RTU communications or 4-20mA analog outputs. Installation is further simplified with power provided by the particle counter's Ethernet connection (Power-over-Ethernet), or via a local power supply. These particle counters can also store up to 3,000 sample records, providing data redundancy.
To learn more about TSI continuous monitoring solutions, visit tsi.com/continuous-monitoring-systems.
About TSI Incorporated
TSI Incorporated serves a global market by investigating, identifying and solving measurement problems. As an industry leader in the design and production of precision instruments, TSI partners with research institutions and customers around the world to set the standard for measurements relating to aerosol science, air flow, health and safety, indoor air quality, fluid dynamics and biohazard detection. With headquarters based in the U.S. and field offices throughout Europe and Asia, TSI has established a worldwide presence in the markets we serve. Every day, our dedicated employees turn research into reality.
Tactual Labs Announces Breakthrough Fast Multi-Touch(TM) Sensor Technology
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- GAME DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE --
News Highlights
-- Fast Multi-Touch(TM) (FMT), a revolutionary 40-microsecond capacitive
multi-touch sensor, is more than 300x faster and precise than today's
13-15 millisecond touch solutions
-- FMT(TM) enables development of zero-latency opaque gamepads and
trackpads as well as transparent touchscreens for touch and stylus input
-- Zero-latency touch input makes gaming more immersive, enabling new
mobile, console, PC, virtual-reality and augmented-reality gaming
mechanics and designs
Tactual Labs Corporation (Tactual), an innovator in multi-touch technology, announced today its breakthrough development of the world's fastest, most responsive, touch and stylus capacitive sensing technologies. Three-hundred times faster and more precise than leading capacitive sensors, Tactual's Fast Multi-Touch(TM) (FMT) technology enables zero-latency, multi-touch sensing with cross-industry applications for end users and OEMs.
Solving well-known issues with today's slow and clumsy natural user interfaces, the patent-pending FMT technology was developed by Tactual's team of experienced computer science academicians and business entrepreneurs, including:
-- Tactual VP Hardware, Dr. Darren Leigh, ACM UIST Lasting Impact Award
winner for his pioneering work in capacitive multi-touch at Mitsubishi
Electric Research Labs (MERL)
-- Tactual VP Software, Dr. Clifton Forlines, former Draper Laboratories
Senior Software Engineer in Human-Centered Engineering and MERL Research
Scientist
-- Tactual Science Advisor, Professor Daniel Wigdor, a Computer Science
Professor at the University of Toronto and former Architect of
Microsoft's Natural User Interfaces Team
-- Tactual President, Steven Sanders, of Sanders Capital and formerly Bank
of America
Zero Latency
Professor Wigdor said, "Tactual's goal is to eliminate all latency from natural user interfaces. Today, when you slide your finger along a touch sensor, on-screen content lags behind, leaving a disconnected, loose feeling. FMT(TM) reduces that latency to levels below human perception. It endows the user experience with a sense of reality, a feeling of interacting with real, physical objects." Professor Wigdor's team has shown that as little as 2 milliseconds of latency can degrade a user's experience and impair their control of the interface. FMT(TM) is the first touch sensor to capture and report input faster than the limits of human perception, providing users with a real-time, zero-latency input experience.
Tactual's development plan includes a family of FMT-powered zero-latency touch and stylus input solutions. Tactual's hardware and software input solutions will make direct and indirect touch input more immediate, expressive and rewarding across an array of creative and computing applications. The gaming industry, in particular, stands to benefit.
"Tactual's hardware solutions could revolutionize the way gamers play and developers build multi-touch games," said Tactual President, Steven Sanders. "Gamers can expect an unprecedented level of immediacy and realism. Developers can pioneer new touch and stylus gameplay scenarios, graphical controls and game mechanics only possible with zero-latency input sensing and processing. This makes GDC the ideal stage for FMT's debut."
Today, game developers are forced to build user interfaces that rely on software tricks like rubber-banding and curve-fitting. These fixes for slow, imprecise, capacitive sensing destroy gamer illusion and impair their insatiable thirst to win. For them, the exact angle and timing of a sword parry, forward pass or uppercut, can make the difference between winning and losing. By removing constraints on expressiveness, FMT could change the landscape of multi-touch gaming.
Fast responses are vital to maintain the illusion that in-game visuals "are" the user's physical world. Fortunately, new VR and AR displays have reduced the lag that users see. But unfortunately, today's input sensors remain out of sync with the visuals. Tactual's new generation of zero-latency touch sensors will enable multi-touch controls that truly tie in-game responses to users' actual hand movements.
Dr. Darren Leigh said, "If you can finally have a user interface that seems completely natural to a human-being and truly mimics the real world, you have the power to transform the way people work and play with their smart devices."
Patent-Pending Technology
FMT's technological superiority over today's sensing and touch processing solutions includes:
-- FMT scans for input up to 4,000 times a second, over 300 times faster
than today's 60 to 85 Hz solutions.
-- FMT recognizes touch input in approximately 40 microseconds. By
comparison, today's capacitive trackpads used in gamepads, mobile
consoles and laptops report a touch-input event in 13-17 milliseconds.
What this means on a practical level is the ability to capture the subtleties of human movement in computing. Today, finger and stylus gestures are poorly captured; digital objects visibly lag behind the finger; digital ink strokes lag behind the pen tip. More immediacy and accuracy can significantly enhance the user experience and reward developers.
For additional details on Tactual's presence at GDC 2014, please visit our press kit section at tactuallabs.com.
About Tactual Labs
Tactual Labs is an innovator in multi-touch sensing technology. It is leading development of the world's fastest, most responsive touch and stylus user interfaces. Its next generation touch sensors and architecture will create a zero-latency, real-time user experience for touchscreens, trackpads, and creative applications including gaming.
SOURCE Tactual Labs
Tactual Labs
CONTACT: Steven Sanders, 347-406-3966 (steven.sanders@tactuallabs.com)
Sony Computer Entertainment Further Strengthens Its Support For The Independent Development Community For PlayStation®4
- Introduction of New Native Development Solutions for GameMaker(TM):Studio and MonoGame, and Robust Solution Also Realized for Unity, Now Available for the PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®Vita Systems; Early Access Version for Unity for the PlayStation®4 System Coming in April 2014
TOKYO, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that it would further strengthen its support for the independent development community by introducing more tool and middleware solutions for the PlayStation®4 (PS4(TM)) computer entertainment system. Since the launch of PS4, SCE has introduced a wide variety of hardware and software tools to improve efficiency in game development for PS4, and the company will continue its effort to support the growing game development community.
SCE has entered into a strategic partnership to bring native solutions from popular middleware vendor GameMaker(TM):Studio from YoYo Games, and the company also announced that MonoGame would become available for the PS4 software title development, further expanding its already robust set of development tools available for the global gaming development community. The company also announced that fully integrated solutions for Unity from Unity Technologies are now available for the PlayStation®3 (PS3(TM)) and PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) systems, with the highly anticipated early access version for PS4 coming in April 2014. Unity, GameMaker:Studio and MonoGame represent the most popular game development tools leveraged by universities and independent developers alike for prototyping and full scale product development.
"SCE is an immense supporter of the indie movement within the game industry and is constantly collecting feedback on how to make things easier for developers. It became abundantly clear within the development community that these broad sets of tools and specific middleware solutions are in high-demand," said Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "We are pleased to provide these powerful tools to developers and add even more flexibility and development options for game developers around the world, and we know that PlayStation gamers will be thrilled to play the games that will come to our platforms as a result of these partnerships."
Jointly developed by SCE and YoYo Games, a GameMaker:Studio native solution for PS4 is now available free for all SCE-licensed developers, making it even easier for developers to bring their 2D games to the more than 6 million gamers worldwide that own PS4 systems. Renowned and beloved games popularized on PC like Hyper Light Drifter by Heart Machine, Samurai Gunn by Teknopants, Risk of Rain by Hopoo Games, Home by Benjamin Rivers and Nuclear Throne by Vlambeer are now able to more efficiently convert their titles for release on PS4 as a result of GameMaker:Studio's native export capabilities.
MonoGame makes up the C#-based open sourced engine suite available for licensed developers. MonoGame was first used in the development of indie darling Matt Makes Games' acclaimed Towerfall: Ascension for PS4 and will also help to bring anticipated titles Mercenary Kings by Tribute Games and Transistor by Supergiant Games to PS4 in the upcoming months.
SCE newly announced the release of its powerful game development tool, Authoring Tools Framework (ATF), as a free, open source download from the popular GitHub hosting site. SCE's ATF is widely used within SCE to develop popular software titles including blockbusters The Last of Us(TM) and Beyond: Two Souls(TM) (SCE Worldwide Studios)(*1). SCE's ATF is now joined by these tool and middleware solutions and SCE's graphics-rendering engine known as the PhyreEngine(TM), used in the development of the anticipated upcoming PS4 title Secret Ponchos by Switchblade Monkeys, as SCE-sponsored development tools available for all licensed developer partners.
SCE continues to set a high benchmark across the industry for working with the global development community to bring some of the world's greatest and most innovative games to PlayStation platforms, including improved processes, as well as flexible and extensive resource support. With more than 100 games in development for PS4 from independent developers and more than 1,000 licensed self-publishers, PS4 will continue to be the most appealing platform for both developers and gamers. With more and more new and exciting PS4 titles scheduled for release this year from third party developers and publishers including the independent development community as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios, SCE will deploy various measures to further reinforce game development for PS4 and will continue to expand the platform to offer attractive interactive entertainment experiences only possible on PS4.
For more information about developing games for PlayStation platforms, the tools and middleware available and our support of the development community, please visit us.playstation.com/develop.
*1 SCE's ATF is used to develop games for PS4, PS3, PS Vita and PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) games.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as a global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develops and markets the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system and the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since it launched PlayStation® in 1994. PlayStation®2 further enhanced the PlayStation® legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP broadens the entertainment experiences into the portable arena. PS3 is a computer entertainment system that incorporates the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity. PlayStation®4 redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalization and deeply integrated social capabilities. PSN(SM), that includes PlayStation®Store, delivers unparalleled online gaming experience to PlayStation users. SCEI also delivers the PlayStation experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Mobile, a cross device platform. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division company, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia, develops, publishes, markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in their respective markets worldwide.
"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "PS4", "PS3" are trademarks of the same company.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
GainSpan Announces New Family of Application Development Kits based on GS2000 Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n Chip
Smartplug reference design first available
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- GainSpan(®) Corporation, a leader in low-power Wi-Fi for the Internet of Things (IOT), today announced a new family of Application Development Kits (ADKs) built on its new GS2000 Wi-Fi/ZigBee chip. The new ADKs leverage the higher data rates and high speed serial interfaces such as SDIO offered by the GS2000 SOC. The new family will enable a whole slew of IOT applications including full HD resolution video streaming, high fidelity music streaming, smart home automation, wearables, and low power sensor based designs.
The first member of the ADK family to be launched is the Smartplug ADK, a reference design for a device that lets users control electrical loads and accurately measure power consumption of household electrical appliances either locally or remotely, using a PC or an iOS or Android smartphone, or through the cloud. A key feature of the GS2000 Smartplug ADK is the GS2000 on-chip16-bit Sigma Delta ADCs used for voltage, current, and power measurement. This feature reduces the bill-of-material of a smartplug by eliminating the cost of an additional power measurement chip.
The Smartplug Kit
The Smartplug ADK includes smartplug hardware, complete hardware design package and software suite with reference source code for the smart plug embedded application and iOS and Android based mobile applications. A Smartplug Application Evaluation Kit (AEK) is also available that provides a binary version of the software and can be used to evaluate and demonstrate smartplug operation.
The Smartplug hardware includes a standard socket, single-phase 100-265V, 10A plug which uses GainSpan's GS2100M Wi-Fi module. The embedded software runs on the Wi-Fi module and offers complete Wi-Fi functionality including networking stack and services and wireless security. It supports mDNS/DNS-SD based device and service discovery, allowing users to automatically discover and connect to the embedded Smartplug profile. It also supports connectivity to the cloud and works with the GainSpan Home Energy Management System mobile app that allows control of multiple smartplugs. The embedded software also includes provisioning software for configuration of the Wi-Fi module in Limited AP or Client modes and for over-the-air firmware upgrades. The smartplug mobile application for iOS and Android devices supports load control, and displays and charts the current, voltage and power measured over time.
"We will be introducing several ADKs in the next 60 days that will cut our customer's product development time by several months," said Bernard Aboussouan, vice president of marketing, GainSpan. "And more features will be enabled over time on each ADK, building on the extensive capabilities of the GS2000 chips and modules."
About GainSpan Corporation
GainSpan, a spinoff of Intel Corporation, is an innovator and leader in semiconductor solutions for wireless connectivity for the rapidly emerging Internet of Things. GainSpan solutions let customers easily create connected products for the Connected Home, Smart Energy, healthcare, control/monitoring in industrial, commercial and residential markets and high-speed audio, video and security applications. http://www.gainspan.com.
Media Contact:
Carol Felton, Communications/PR
T | 408-807-3780
carol.felton@gainspan.com
MetroMile Launches New, Free Mobile App Feature to Help Drivers Avoid Costly Parking Tickets
Street sweeping notifications, the latest service from MetroMile, will help drivers avoid one of the most common parking citations, which cost San Francisco drivers millions each year
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MetroMile today announced the latest enhancement to its connected driving platform with a new, free feature to help drivers avoid one of the most common parking citations - street sweeping tickets - via MetroMile's free mobile app and connected car device.
MetroMile's platform of services is centered on a connected car device, the Metronome, that plugs into the OBD-II port of a vehicle, and a free app for iOS, currently in beta. The street sweeping feature uses the Metronome's onboard GPS to note the location of the parked vehicle. If the vehicle is located in a street sweeping zone, the MetroMile app will send a push notification twelve hours ahead of the street sweeping timeframe, and a reminder an hour before street sweeping occurs.
"At MetroMile, our goal is to reinvent urban driving, unlocking the data in vehicles to help drivers take control of the costs and time associated with owning a car," said Dan Preston, CEO of MetroMile. "Our street sweeping notifications are the latest feature in our platform of services that provide practical solutions to some of the largest challenges of urban car ownership. These tickets, which cost drivers more than $60 each in San Francisco, were reported to be the most common ticket issued in San Francisco in 2011, costing drivers $29 million. With our new feature, we're leveraging data to empower drivers to save the time and money associated with fighting and paying for these everyday citations."
The new street sweeping notification feature joins the variety of other services available on the MetroMile platform to help drivers save time and money. MetroMile offers the nation's only pay-per-mile car insurance. Designed for those who drive 10,000 miles per year or less, MetroMile's flagship insurance saves its average customer over $400 per year. MetroMile also offers a free iOS app that provides drivers with predictive insights to help them save time and gas on their daily drives, easily diagnose check engine lights, and find their car wherever it is parked. MetroMile currently offers its services to drivers in California, Washington, Oregon and Illinois, with additional market rollouts on the horizon.
Street sweeping notifications will initially be available to drivers in San Francisco, with additional markets to come. Notifications will be available to all San Francisco drivers by March 31, 2014. Street sweeping notifications, the MetroMile Metronome, and the beta app for iOS are all free of charge to drivers who sign up for MetroMile.
About MetroMile
MetroMile is building a revolutionary platform for services built around the needs of drivers - from useful driving data and insights to an entirely new pay-per-mile car insurance model. MetroMile technology combines hardware, software, and cloud-based infrastructure to access, analyze and manage driving data at a massive scale. Over time, the company plans to harness the power of its predictive modeling expertise to make all aspects of driving and owning a car simpler, less expensive, and more convenient. Metromile is located in San Francisco, California. For more information, visit http://www.metromile.com
Press Contact:
Airfoil for MetroMile
Kristen Berry
metromile@airfoilgroup.com
650.691.7318
Seebright Reveals Industry's First Smartphone Integrated AR/VR Head-Mounted Display Platform With Wireless Controller
First "sneak peek" at Game Developers Conference 2014
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Emerging from stealth, Seebright, Inc. today revealed its affordable see-through head-mounted display platform and software development kit (SDK). Seebright's unique interactive platform uses innovative optics to extend popular smartphones with an ergonomic headset. The untethered headset delivers crisp stereoscopic images and 3-D graphics without blocking the user's peripheral view, hiding facial expressions, or limiting mobility.
Seebright's headset supports both augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) with immersive and see-through swappable eyepieces. The platform includes the industry's first companion wireless controller that supports precise user control, ideally suited for both AR and VR.
"We imagined a head-mounted display that leaves your eyes open to the world around you," said John Murray, CEO and co-founder of Seebright. "With a mix of unique engineering in optics, electronics, software and ergonomics the Seebright Platform enables enhanced reality in both AR and VR, affordable for everyone, accessible anywhere they go."
After demoing Seebright's prototype, Trak Lord, Head of US Marketing at Metaio, an augmented reality software and solutions company, called the new platform "an incredibly innovative use of Smartphones to achieve the missing link in wearable form factors."
Seebright's developer prototype is being shown for the first time in public at Moscone Center in booth 731 during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco March 19 - 21, 2014. Seebright will begin a Kickstarter campaign in April to provide access for developers to the Seebright SDK and HMD.
About Seebright:
Seebright, Inc. designs and produces an innovative, affordable head-mounted display (HMD) platform and SDK that adds astounding optics and intuitive controls to popular smartphones. Headquartered in Santa Cruz, Calif., Seebright provides a platform for games, education, media viewing and other applications in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Visit http://www.seebright.com or follow Seebright on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/seebrightR), Twitter (@seebrightR) or YouTube (http://www.YouTube.com/seebrightR).
Healthcare Startup Augmedix Announces $3.2 Million in Venture Funding
First and largest Google Glass startup poised to revolutionize healthcare
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Augmedix announced that it has received venture funding from DCM and Emergence Capital Partners. The funding closed on 31-Aug-2013. Foundedby CEO Ian Shakil and Chief Product Officer Pelu Tran, Augmedix -- a service powered by Google Glass -- reclaims the hours physicians spend on the computer entering or retrieving data from electronic health records and refocuses them on what matters most: patient care.
The company also announced that it will be moving to a new headquarters in San Francisco, and has grown to 36 employees.
Augmedix will utilize its VC funding to expand its team and ramp up its efforts to reach outpatient doctors across the nation. The company is revenue generating and working with a select number of national health systems.
"Doctors spend more than 1/3 of their day on the computer, inputting or retrieving data from electronic health records. The amount of data and documentation is overwhelming," said Shakil. "Powered by Google Glass, Augmedix rehumanizes the doctor-patient interaction by delivering patient satisfaction, doctor efficiency, doctor satisfaction and health record quality."
Augmedix has been working behind the scenes since 2012 to build its service platform. The company has completed several pilot studies demonstrating significant improvements in physician productivity across a variety of specialties.
"Augmedix reclaims the majority of the time that would otherwise be spent feeding the beast," said Shakil, referring to the time that doctors spend on the EHR. The Augmedix pilots also demonstrated high levels of patient satisfaction with the service. This is a testament to Augmedix's investment in the patient experience. The company educates each patient about the service and gives each the opportunity to decline if he or she so desires. "Patient acceptance and satisfaction has been resoundingly high throughout the country -- from San Francisco to rural areas," added Shakil.
"We believe in Google Glass, and we first expect to see an uptake in enterprise verticals -- especially in healthcare. Ian and Pelu have assembled the right team to lead the revolution. We've taken a look at just about every Google Glass startup concept -- and we've yet to see an opportunity as compelling as Augmedix," said Kevin Spain, general partner with Emergence Capital Partners.
"Augmedix is breaking new ground by using Google Glass in the healthcare space. They are at the right place at the right time to help healthcare organizations meet mandates such as 'meaningful use,' while improving the quality of patient care," said Peter Moran, general partner at DCM. "We believe Augmedix is an exceptionally promising startup that is destined for tremendous success. They already have established position and are seeing strong demand with a beneficial, completely unique solution."
The company's genesis began with the help of Rock Health (a San Francisco-based digital health seed fund) and Upstart (a funding/networking and mentoring platform). Since then, Augmedix has established a host of other service partners, including Cooper, Fenwick & West LLP, PLC, Schox, Stanford Venture Studio, and others.
About Augmedix
Augmedix' co-founders first teamed up at Stanford University to develop medical devices as part of the Biodesign program. Over the course of the program, the two realized that no matter what the specialty, physicians were drowning in a flood of data and documentation. Their focus quickly turned to digital health. After trying an early version of Google Glass in the summer of 2012, the two realized the platform's potential in healthcare and dropped everything to create the world's first Google Glass startup. That company, Augmedix, was founded with one core belief: technology can free physicians and allow them to focus on what they do best - taking care of patients.
Contact Information
David Templeton
davidt@upstart.com
203-530-0458
CEVA, SMIC and Brite Semiconductor Partner to Provide Hard Macro Versions of CEVA DSP Cores and Platforms
Agreement aimed at expediting customer designs utilizing CEVA DSP cores for a range of applications, including communications, connectivity, imaging, vision, audio and voice
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and SHANGHAI, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CEVA, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEVA), the leading licensor of silicon intellectual property (SIP) platform solutions and DSP cores, Brite Semiconductor (Shanghai) Corporation, a leading IC design and turnkey service provider, and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981), today jointly announced a collaboration to provide hard macro versions of CEVA's DSP cores for customers wishing to reduce the risk and design cycle time for their SoC projects. Under the agreement, Brite Semiconductor has licensed a range of CEVA DSP core technologies solely to develop fully optimized application-specific hard macros that will be manufactured at SMIC's foundry.
"CEVA's DSP cores and platforms lead the industry in terms of performance and power efficiency, and we are delighted to partner with them and SMIC to offer our customers fully optimized designs that reduce risk and expedite time-to-market for a wide range of applications," said Dr. Charlie Zhi, President & CEO of Brite Semiconductor. "Through the close collaboration with CEVA and SMIC, we are bringing significant value and expertise to our customers who seek to take advantage of CEVA's industry-leading DSP core technologies."
"Partnering with CEVA and Brite to deliver fully integrated platforms using our advanced processes and technologies will enable us to better serve our customers seeking increased performance and more energy-efficient solutions," said Dr. Tianshen Tang, senior vice president of SMIC Design Service. "Our foundry is the most advanced in mainland China and the addition of support for CEVA's latest DSP cores further extends our capabilities and leadership in China's burgeoning semiconductor industry."
"China is a highly strategic market for CEVA, with a rapidly expanding semiconductor industry developing some of the most innovative technologies in mobile and consumer electronics industries," said Gideon Wertheizer, CEO of CEVA. "Our DSPs for communications, connectivity, imaging, vision, audio and voice lead the industry in terms of performance and power efficiency and now our customers can gain access to them easier than ever. This collaboration between CEVA, SMIC and Brite aims to help companies to truly differentiate their SoCs with minimal design risk."
Under the agreement, Brite and SMIC will provide complete design and manufacturing services - including the incorporation of the CEVA DSP core hard macros into SMIC's design databases. The hard macro solutions resulting from the collaboration will enable SMIC customers to utilize their foundry process with minimum integration cost, accelerated integration time and reduced risk.
About CEVA, Inc.
CEVA is the world's leading licensor of silicon intellectual property (SIP) DSP cores and platform solutions for the mobile, portable and consumer electronics markets. CEVA's IP portfolio includes comprehensive technologies for cellular baseband (2G / 3G / 4G), multimedia (vision, imaging and HD audio), voice processing, Bluetooth, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and Serial ATA (SATA). In 2013, CEVA's IP shipped in over 1 billion devices, powering smartphones from many of the world's leading OEMs, including HTC, Huawei, Lenovo, LG, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony, TCL and ZTE. Today, more than 40% of handsets shipped worldwide are powered by a CEVA DSP core. For more information, visit http://www.ceva-dsp.com. Follow CEVA on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cevadsp.
About Brite Semiconductor
Brite Semiconductor is a world-leading ASIC design services company, providing customers with ULSI ASIC/SoC chip design and manufacturing services. Brite Semiconductor was co-founded by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation and Open-Silicon, as well as venture capital firms from China and abroad. As the strategic partners, SMIC and Open-Silicon provide Brite Semiconductor with strong technical and manufacturing support. Targeted at 90nm/65nm/40nm and high-end SoC design services, Brite Semiconductor provides flexible turn-key service from RTL/netlist to chip delivery, and seamless, low-cost, and low-risk solutions to customers. For more information, please refer to the Brite Semiconductor website: http://www.britesemi.com
About SMIC
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in mainland China. SMIC provides integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35-micron to 40-nanometer and has begun offering advanced 28nm process technology. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and a 200mm mega-fab in Shanghai, a 300mm mega-fab in Beijing, a 200mm fab in Tianjin, and a 200mm fab project under development in Shenzhen. SMIC also has customer service and marketing offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, and a representative office in Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.smics.com.
Safe Harbor Statements
(Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)
This document contains, in addition to historical information, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on SMIC's current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. SMIC uses words like "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project" and similar expressions to identify forward looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of SMIC's senior management and involve significant risks, both known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SMIC's actual performance, financial condition or results of operations to be materially different from those suggested by the forward-looking statements including, among others, risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in the semiconductor industry, intense competition, timely wafer acceptance by SMIC's customers, timely introduction of new technologies, SMIC's ability to ramp new products into volume, supply and demand for semiconductor foundry services, industry overcapacity, shortages in equipment, components and raw materials, availability of manufacturing capacity, financial stability in end markets and intensive intellectual property litigation in high tech industry.
In addition to the information contained in this document, you should also consider the information contained in our other filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 15, 2013, as amended on December 19, 2013, especially in the "Risk Factors" section and such other documents that we may file with the SEC or SEHK from time to time, including on Form 6-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this document may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated or, if no date is stated, as of the date of this document.
SMIC Contact Information:
English Media
Michael Cheung
Tel: +86-21-3861-0000 x16812
Email: Michael_Cheung@smics.com
Bullitt Mobile Ltd., worldwide licensee of Cat(R) phones and accessories, today
announced that its award-winning Cat B15 smartphone is available immediately from over 250
Vodacom stores across South Africa.
"We continue to be delighted with the great feedback we receive for the B15, and we
expect a similar response from customers in South Africa," said Oliver Schulte, COO of
Bullitt Mobile Ltd. "The B15 combines the reliability and quality of the Cat brand with
the latest mobile phone technology making it the most robust and reliable device in the
market."
The B15 is designed for use in harsh conditions and it's also the handset for anyone
who leads an active life. It can survive, for example, drops from heights of up to 1.8
metres, can be submerged under water for up to thirty minutes and it can even withstand
temperatures from -20OC to 55OC. It has a large 4-inch multi-touch screen with wet-finger
tracking, and the phone is also dust and scratch resistant.
Finally, the B15 has an impressive 2000mAh removable battery with 16 hours talk time
and is equipped with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and a dual core 1 GHz processor.
The B15 is available immediately from Vodacom's Enterprise business channel and
retail, franchise and dealer channels on a R339 a month contract for 24 months.
About Cat devices and accessories:
The Cat brand stands for trust, durability, reliability and quality. The Cat DNA is found
in every Cat mobile phone and accessory offered by Bullitt Mobile Ltd. and provides
boundless experience with robust mobility. A new product was created for wireless
communication that meets the great variety of needs of a demanding life.
To find out more about what Cat phones and accessories are made of visit http://www.catphones.com
"LINE Call: A Wake Up Call for Shifting Trend in Thailand's Telecom Landscape" Says Frost & Sullivan
BANGKOK, March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Japan's LINE has launched "LINE Call", a flat-rate low cost voice calling service that allows users to make phone call from LINE mobile app to home or mobile phone numbers directly. Currently the service is available only on Android platform.
On the first phase, LINE targets Android users in 8 markets which are Columbia, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Spain, USA, and Thailand. The launch of LINE Call can be considered an important step as LINE strives to become a complete communication platform. This feature also positions LINE in direct competition with other internet calling service providers namely Skype, Viber, and Google Hangout. The competition will also intensify as newly acquired WhatsApp also announced in February that it'll offer voice call service in the near future.
Teera Kanokkanjanarat, senior ICT analyst from Frost & Sullivan Thailand said, "If we take a close look at LINE's growth strategy, we wouldn't be surprised to see the launch of LINE Call as Internet Calling market has high market potential. The revenue of Skype, the leader in this market, was more than 700 million USD in 2012. Also, it was not surprising to see that Thailand has been among the first few countries to launch this service as the country has the second largest LINE users, second only to Japan."
LINE Call gives Thai consumers benefit of convenience and choices with its cheaper flat-rate service. Meanwhile, LINE Call was an early sign for the shifting trend happening in Thailand's telecommunication industry.
"The rising popularity and demand for mobile data service usage represent both threat and opportunity for telecom operators in Thailand. These operators will have to adapt their service and revenue model to match the changing demand from consumers. On one hand, LINE Call represents a new revenue stream from connection fee. On the other hand, it is also considered a threat to telcos' revenue from voice service, which has been their bread and butter for many years."
"Frost & Sullivan research shows that in 2013, revenue from voice call for Thailand's major telcos declined on average of 3.7%, while average revenue from data service grew by as much as approximately 26% y-o-y. In terms of subscribers, the number of pre-paid subscribers grew by 11.9% and on average of 27.8% for post-paid subscribers." Teera added.
The shifting trend in revenue structure for telcos has been spotted in various countries in the region. NTT DoCoMo experienced 40% decline in average revenue per user for two consecutive years after LINE was introduced in Japan in 2011. SingTel and StarHub, the two prominent telecom operators in Singapore also found themselves pressured from the rising popularity of WeChat and WhatsApp.
"What we see across the industry is the shifting trend for telecom operators to put focus on monetizing from OTT and value added services, including investment in other startup businesses both from within telecom boundary and from other industries."
"In Japan, NTT DoCoMo has begun invested in other businesses such as cooking school, as a way to generate content and distribute as value added service for its mobile users. Telstra from Australia offers HD voice that suppresses background noise so that the recipient gets very clear voice quality at the receiving end. NTT DoCoMo offers voice translation over LTE, which means that a person in Japan can speak in Japanese, while the receiving party in another country can hear it in another language, say English in real time. This gives people a reason to make overseas calls using NTT DoCoMo's service instead of an OTT service. In Singapore, SingTel and StarHub also made change in its data service plan to exclude WeChat and WhatsApp from regular data usage. Mobile phone users can then pay extra minimal fee to have unlimited WeChat and WhatsApp usages."
"The important factor for Thailand telecom market is the readiness and licensing of 4G LTE network. As we have seen it happened in many other countries, 4G network will create many more opportunities and give rise to many kinds of OTT and value added services. For the adoption and feedback on Line Call, we will have to wait and see the response from users as quality and stability of the service will determine its success in Thai market." Teera concluded.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.
Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.
-- The Integrated Value Proposition provides support
to our clients throughout all phases of their
journey to visionary innovation including:
research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation
and implementation.
-- The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique
as it constructs the foundation upon which
visionary innovation becomes possible. This
includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive
industry coverage, career best practices as well
as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.
For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?
Sony Computer Entertainment Announces "Project Morpheus" - A Virtual Reality System That Expands The World Of Playstation®4 (PS4(TM))
With Project Morpheus and PlayStation®Camera, Games will Immerse Players in Virtual Worlds, Delivering a Sense of Presence in Gaming Never Before Possible
TOKYO, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced the development of "Project Morpheus" (Morpheus) - a virtual reality (VR) system that takes the PlayStation®4 (PS4(TM)) system to the next level of immersion and demonstrates the future of gaming. SCE will continue development of Morpheus looking towards a future commercial launch.
"At SCE we view innovation as an opportunity to build on our mission to push the boundaries of play," said Shuhei Yoshida, President of SCE Worldwide Studios. "Project Morpheus is the latest example of innovation from SCE, and we're looking forward to its continued development and the games that will be created as development kits get into the hands of content creators."
Morpheus enables developers to create experiences that deliver a sense of presence - where players feel as though they are physically inside the virtual world of a game. Presence is like a window into another world that heightens the emotions gamers experience as they play. Morpheus features a visor style head-mounted display and works seamlessly with PlayStation®Camera to deliver a unique VR experience right before the player's eyes. Inertial sensors built into the head mount unit and PlayStation Camera accurately track head orientation and movement so as the player's head rotates, the image of the virtual world rotates naturally and intuitively in real-time. Furthermore, in supporting games, the player can use a PlayStation®Move (PS Move) Motion Controller as an object, such as a sword. Morpheus will reproduce the player's hands and sword within the game so the player feels like they are physically fighting off enemies with their sword in the virtual world.
Morpheus adopts 3D audio technology uniquely developed by SCE. In addition to sounds coming from front, behind, left and right, Morpheus re-creates stereoscopic sounds heard from below and above the players, such as footsteps climbing up stairs below them, or engine noises of helicopters flying overhead. Sounds that players hear change in real-time depending on their head orientation, creating a highly realistic audio environment within an immersive 360-degree virtual world.
Along with PlayStation Camera, Wireless Controller for PS4, and PS Move, Morpheus will deliver immersive breakthrough entertainment experiences to gamers through the PS4 system, leveraging SCE's expertise across key areas for VR - including display/optics, audio, tracking, control, ease of use, and content.
Developers will be able to create Morpheus content for PS4, a platform which has sold over 6 million units only after 3 months and a half of its launch, and is continuing to show strong momentum. The Morpheus dedicated SDK is currently under development and will become available when ready.
During the Game Developers Conference 2014 held in San Francisco from March 19 through March 21, attendees can visit the Sony Computer Entertainment America booth to have a hands-on experience with Morpheus, which will be exhibited for reference. Attendees can enjoy exclusive technology demo such as EVE Valkyrie (CCP), a multiplayer dogfighting shooter that uses virtual reality to give the player the sense of being a real pilot in an EVE Online spaceship, Thief (SQUARE ENIX Co., LTD.), which allows players to explore the dark shadowy world of the stealth action title, "The Castle" (SCE) that shows various VR interactions utilizing PS Move,and "The Deep" (SCE), where players can observe the waters from inside a shark proof cage.
< Specifications of "Project Morpheus" Prototype >
Component Processor unit, head-mounted unit
--------- ---------------------------------
Display Method LCD
-------------- ---
Panel Size 5 inches
---------- --------
Panel Resolution 1920xRGBx1080 (960xRGBx1080 per eye)
---------------- ------------------------------------
Connection interface HDMI + USB
-------------------- ----------
Function 3D audio, Social Screen
-------- -----------------------
*Specifications and designs
are those of the prototype
and are subject to change.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as a global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develops and markets the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system and the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since it launched PlayStation® in 1994. PlayStation®2 further enhanced the PlayStation® legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP broadens the entertainment experiences into the portable arena. PS3 is a computer entertainment system that incorporates the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity. PlayStation®4 redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalization and deeply integrated social capabilities. PSN(SM), that includes PlayStation®Store, delivers unparalleled online gaming experience to PlayStation users. SCEI also delivers the PlayStation experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Mobile, a cross device platform. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division company, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia, develops, publishes, markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in their respective markets worldwide.
"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "PS4" is a trademark of the same company. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Anritsu Company Adds TETRA Analysis and Coverage Mapping to Industry-leading LMR Master(TM)
-- S412E Handheld Analyzer Allows Field Engineers, Technicians to Diagnose and Troubleshoot TETRA Networks Quickly and Easily --
MORGAN HILL, Calif., March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Anritsu Company introduces TETRA analyzer and TETRA coverage mapping options to its industry-leading LMR Master(TM) S412E handheld analyzer. Combining the LMR Master's best-in-class performance and compact durable design with the new TETRA measuring and analysis tools makes the handheld analyzer the most comprehensive test solution for deploying, installing, and maintaining public safety, transportation, utility and critical communication networks, including those utilizing the TETRA technology.
Equipped with the new options, the LMR Master S412E can be used by field technicians and engineers for over-the-air and coverage analysis of TETRA networks. For advanced field analysis, the TETRA analyzer includes a special TETRA Summary display so users can view key data, such as base and mobile color codes, mobile network code, location area code, and mobile station maximum transmit power level. This new capability, coupled with the industry-leading receiver technology of the LMR Master S412E, allows users to quickly, easily and accurately diagnose and troubleshoot system performance of TETRA networks using over-the air analysis without preamplifiers.
In addition to new capabilities for TETRA networks, Anritsu has updated and enhanced the LMR Master Options 721 and 722 to match technical and lexical changes in the ITC-R Positive Train Control (PTC) standard. Among the updates are the alignment of symbol rates to "Half Rate" and "Full Rate," and support for new "burst/packet" air interfaces in the ITC-R standard, including updated signal generator patterns.
Further extending the capabilities of the LMR Master S412E, Anritsu has added support for the MA2700A InterferenceHunter(TM) Handheld Direction Finding System. Equipped with a built-in electronic compass, GPS receiver, and Preamplifier, the MA2700A can be attached to a wide variety of directional antennas.
The TETRA options expand the already-comprehensive measurement capabilities of the LMR Master S412E, which combines all of the tools required to install, maintain, and certify analog and digital Land Mobile Radio (LMR) and Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) networks in the shop or field. All LMR Master S412E analyzers come with a 42 dB directivity/100 dB transmission dynamic range VNA-based cable and antenna analyzer, ultra-low noise spectrum analyzer, signal generator, internal power meter, and analog FM analysis and coverage mapping.
Users can extend the value of their LMR Master S412E investment by adding options, such as interference analyzer, external power sensors (inline and terminating), distance-to-fault (DTF), and vector voltmeter. Signal analyzer/generator options are available for APCO P25 (Phase 1 FDMA and Phase 2 TDMA), NXDN(TM), MotoTRBO(TM)/DMR, and TETRA. The LMR Master S412E also offers analysis of LTE and WiMAX (IEEE 802.16 fixed and mobile) for mobile broadband networks. When equipped with the optional internal GPS, coverage analysis for all signal analyzers is available. All this testing capability is designed into a rugged, portable, handheld, battery-operated touchscreen package.
The LMR Master S412E with TETRA analyzer and TETRA coverage mapping options is available in 4 to 6 weeks.
About Anritsu
Anritsu Company (http://www.anritsu.com) is the United States subsidiary of Anritsu Corporation, a global provider of innovative communications test and measurement solutions for more than 110 years. Anritsu provides solutions for existing and next-generation wired and wireless communication systems and operators. Anritsu products include wireless, optical, microwave/RF, and digital instruments as well as operations support systems for R&D, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Anritsu also provides precision microwave/RF components, optical devices, and high-speed electrical devices for communication products and systems. With offices throughout the world, Anritsu sells in over 90 countries with approximately 4,000 employees.
CONTACT: Katherine Van Diepen, Director, Marketing Communications, Anritsu Company, 408.778.2000 ext. 1550, katherine.vandiepen@anritsu.com; or Patrick Brightman, 3E Public Relations, 973.263.5475, pbrightman@3epr.com
Axis Tel Aviv Unveils Names of Participating Startups
TEL AVIV, Israel, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Axis Innovation [http://www.axistelaviv.com/#!axis-innovation/cbfg ], the global
network helping startups intersect with international investors, announced today the
selection of 24 Israeli startups to present during Axis Tel Aviv
[http://www.axistelaviv.com/#!agenda/cee5 ], the two-day-event premiering today at the
Peres Peace Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. Startups were selected from over 200 applicants,
have beta products available, seek series A investments and include:
-Vodience [http://www.vodience.tv ] visualizes viewers as graphic-animated identities
and places them with other virtual identities consuming the same content. Vodience can be
used as a graphical plug-in for web content, or as a 2nd screen and smartTV app for TV
broadcasts
- MobileOCT [http://www.mobileoct.com ] developed a hardware device and mobile
application transforming digital cameras into a powerful imaging system able to identify
epithelial cancers, thereby providing a life-saving diagnosis to billions of people
without access to medical facilities
-DOVe [http://www.dov-e.com ] developed a patent pending Data Over Voice technology,
enabling secure mobile payment for in-store and online points on sale. DOVe can be used to
replace credit cards or and also enables promotion through mobile push notifications via a
nearby television, radio or computer
-HelixOS [http://helix-os.com ]: HelixOS is a secured operating system that modifies
the Android OS to enable enterprise-level security features, without the need to switch
between two different personas. HelixOS technology had been chosen and successfully
implemented by a large Israeli security body
"Every participating startup is given the unique opportunity to present their ideas to
high caliber investors from around the world, a decisive step shaping the future of these
companies" says Ed Frank, founder and CEO of Axis Innovation.
Investors [http://www.axistelaviv.com/#!profiles/c20tz ] from 16 countries include
T-Venture, Germany, Pix Vine Capital, Singapore, Intel Capital, Israel as well as India's
first Angel Investor Mumbai Angels and Arab startup accelerator MENA Apps.
Holger Wagner, Senior Investment Manager of T-Venture, noted:
"We acknowledge Israel for many years as an innovative location and are also engaged
there for a long time. Through events such as Axis Tel Aviv, we would like to expand our
relationships and our deal flow from Israel further on."
About Axis Innovation:
Axis Innovation is a global network helping startups intersect with international
investors. Axis is active in Israel, the United States, France, Turkey and other exciting
markets. For more information, please visit: http://www.axistelaviv.com
For Media Contact:
Hannah Mann
Reflectupon Media
Phone: +972-505-914-967
Email: hannah.reflectupon@gmail.com
Lextar to Release Next-generation Ultra-Slim Direct-lit LED Panel Light
HSINCHU, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lextar Electronics Corp. ("Lextar" or the "Company) (TAIEX: 3698) will release an ultra slim direct-lit panel light. Only 28mm in thickness, this new product is free from the stereotypically bulky exterior of its comparable products. Besides, it minimized the number of LED thanks to Lextar's state-of-the-art direct-lit backlighting technology. Lextar's new ultra-slim direct-lit panel light features low glare, creating a new alternative for customers who value both aesthetics and light quality. The Company will debut this new product at "Light + Building Frankfurt 2014" from March 30(th) through April 4(th), 2014.
Lextar's new 600 x 600 mm ultra-slim direct-lit LED panel light is intended for the Europe market where aesthetics weighs as much as functionality in a product. It is merely 28mm in thickness, 40% the slimness of other comparable products. Furthermore, it is the first direct-lit panel light available on the market that is suitable for suspension. Lextar adopted the latest direct-lit technology, which comprised its LM-80 accredited high power LEDs and optical lenses. Within the limited optical distance, this panel light provided uniform light distribution while minimizing the number of LEDs. Moreover, a special diffuser was embedded to achieve low glare (UGR<19) and to make this product especially applicable to offices, libraries and schools where higher lighting quality is required.
"Lextar has been noted for its backlighting excellence, and released its LED panel lights as early as in 2010, giving itself vast optical experience in panel light," said Francis Wong, Director of Lighting Product Business Division of Lextar. Using the latest direct-lit backlighting technology, this product was exquisitely crafted by its dedicated Industrial Design team who insisted on giving both aesthetic appeal and cost-effectiveness to the product, aiming for a significant sales in the Europe market. In addition, this new panel light can last as long as 40,000 hours to meet the quality requirement for European lighting fixtures. The product will be commercially available in Q2 this year.
"Light+Building Frankfurt 2014" continues to be the leading lighting show in Europe that takes place every two years. This is the third time Lextar participates in this show. Lextar will showcase a series of LED luminaires including a series of panel lights, troffer, base light, skyline and downlight. Visit Lextar.com to know more about Lextar's exhibit at Light+Building 2014.
Lextar Electronics Corp. (TAIEX 3698), founded on May 23, 2008, is a subsidiary of AU Optronics. It specializes in manufacturing high-brightness LED epi wafers, chips and packages, as well as energy-saving and smart lighting products. The range of applications includes LCD backlighting, LED light module, LED light source and luminaires. Lextar officially acquired LightHouse Technology Inc. in March 2010, and Wellypower Optronics in February 2013. The company now houses nearly 3,500 employees and its headquarters is in the Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan. Its manufacturing plants are located in the Hsinchu Science Park, Hukou Industrial Park and Chunan Science Park in Taiwan, and Suzhou and Xiamen in mainland China. Lextar's turnover in 2013: USD 462 million. Corporate website: Lextar.com
CHICAGO, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The KitchenAid brand, known for its iconic stand mixer and other cooking and baking essentials, is expanding its aluminized steel and vitrified ceramics bakeware collections to include more options for experienced bakers, and multi-piece sets for those just getting started.
"It's often said that baking is more science than art, requiring precision every step of the way," said Michael Huie, global business unit director for KitchenAid. "Our goal is to give bakers one less thing to worry about by providing meticulously designed tools that deliver professional-style results, whether it's perfecting a classic chocolate cake or tackling chocolate croissants."
A total of 16 new pieces and sets will be added to the brand's popular aluminized steel Classic and Professional bakeware collections. The Classic collection is constructed with .6mm of thickness and includes such new offerings as jelly roll pans, a quick loaf pan and 24 space mini muffin pan. The .8 mm thick Professional collection now includes large cookie sheets and a cake pan with handle, as well as two 2-piece bakeware sets, one with baking sheets and one with mini muffin pans. Also new to both collections are 5-piece bakeware sets with loaf, square, cake, 12-muffin and jelly roll pans.
The brand is also launching snap lids for the 12-muffin and 9" x 13" cake pans. The plastic lid sits on top of the pan and locks on both sides to shield baked goods for transport and extended freshness.
The Classic and Professional bakeware collections are rust resistant, warp resistant and dishwasher durable. Suggested retail prices for the Classic bakeware line begin at $14.99 per piece to $79.99 for the 5-piece set. Suggested retail prices for the Professional bakeware line begin at $24.99 per piece to $99.99 for the 5-piece set.
KitchenAid is rounding out its Streamline ceramics collection with new pieces ranging from canisters to serving platters. Refreshingly simple and sleek, the contemporary collection is designed to go stylishly and effortlessly from kitchen to table. The casserole pieces will be available in 1.9qt, 2.8qt. and 4.2qt. sizes, all with a white base matched to either an Almond Cream, Azure, Buttercup, Empire Red, Key Lime, Onyx Black or Persimmon top. Nesting sets of casseroles, available in the same colors plus Boysenberry, consist of .3qt, .7qt., 1.5qt. and 3.5qt. pieces that can be stored in one another.
The Streamline ceramics collection features a durable vitrified finish, creating a nonporous surface that is resistant to chipping, cracking, and stains. The pieces are microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe, and can be heated up to 500 degrees. All are designed for easy cleanability. The casseroles and nesting sets are available now, with suggested retail prices ranging from $49.99 to $99.99 for the casseroles and $149.99 for the nesting set.
Since the introduction of its legendary stand mixer in 1919 and first dishwasher in 1949, KitchenAid has built on the legacy of these icons to create a complete line of products designed for cooks. Today, the KitchenAid brand offers virtually every essential for the well-equipped kitchen with a collection that includes everything from countertop appliances to cookware, ranges to refrigerators, and whisks to wine cellars. Cook for the Cure®, the brand's partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, is now in its 13(th) year and has raised over $9 million to help find a cure for breast cancer. To learn why chefs choose KitchenAid for their homes more than any other brand*, visit KitchenAid.com or join us at Facebook.com/KitchenAid and Twitter.com/KitchenAidUSA.
* Based on a 2012 survey, KitchenAid was found to be the home kitchen appliance brand chosen most often by members of the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
KitchenAid Brings ExactSlice(TM) Innovation And Commercial Style Dicing To New Line Of Food Processors
CHICAGO, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- KitchenAid is introducing a new line of ExactSlice(TM) food processors at this week's International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. The ExactSlice(TM) system, first available on the brand's 13-cup food processor, will now be included on new 7, 9, 11, and 14-cup models as well. This first-of-its-kind innovation uses an external lever to adjust slicing from thick to thin without the need to change blades.
ExactSlice(TM), featuring six thickness settings and a new enlarged external lever makes it even easier to switch between thin and thick slices. A new crinkle cutting disc, along with multipurpose and dough blades, makes slicing, shredding, kneading, pureeing and chopping food a fast, simple process.
"The ExactSlice(TM) system is a true game changer in the food processor category," said Beth Robinson, senior manager of brand experience for KitchenAid. "It makes an already useful and versatile tool even more essential for both adventurous and everyday cooking."
The new 14-cup food processor can be paired with an optional commercial-style dicing kit that makes short work of cubing ingredients for soups, stews and salsas, as well as mirepoix and soffritto (diced carrot, celery and onion), the culinary building blocks of many dishes. The 14-cup model also includes a 3-cup mini bowl for making smaller recipes.
The 7, 9, 11 and 14-cup models all have dual shredding settings for fine and medium shredding, and multiple speeds, including high, low and pulse, for better precision and accuracy for both soft and hard foods. The 7 and 14-cup models are designed with a 2-in-1 feed tube, and the 9 and 11-cup models include a 3-in-1 wide mouth feed tube, capable of accommodating larger foods and requiring less prep work, meaning that even potatoes can be diced with ease. The work bowls and accessories are BPA-Free.
The Food Processors will be available in a range of colors including Contour Silver, Empire Red, Onyx Black and White. The 7-cup model will be available in March and carries a suggested retail price of $149.99. The 9-cup model is available now and has a suggested retail price of $199.99. The 11 and 14-cup models will be available in June and carry suggested retail prices of $249.99 and $299.99, respectively.
Since the introduction of its legendary stand mixer in 1919 and first dishwasher in 1949, KitchenAid has built on the legacy of these icons to create a complete line of products designed for cooks. Today, the KitchenAid brand offers virtually every essential for the well-equipped kitchen with a collection that includes everything from countertop appliances to cookware, ranges to refrigerators, and whisks to wine cellars. Cook for the Cure®, the brand's partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, is now in its 13(th) year and has raised over $9 million to help find a cure for breast cancer. To learn why chefs choose KitchenAid for their homes more than any other brand*, visit KitchenAid.com or join us at Facebook.com/KitchenAid and Twitter.com/KitchenAidUSA.
* Based on a 2012 survey, KitchenAid was found to be the home kitchen appliance brand chosen most often by members of the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
Sockets and switches specialist Socket Store has a new-look website, including a
mobile version for easier use for customers on the move.
The sockets, switches and lamps retailer has refreshed its existing website to keep
the appearance contemporary and to reflect the rapidly increasing range of stock it
carries. And the new site coincides with a move to bigger premises for the Socket Store
team, as part of an ongoing commitment to delivering a quality service for new and
existing customers.
The new website at http://www.socketstore.co.uk now fully showcases the retailer's
extensive lighting range, including downlights, wall lights, ceiling lights, table lamps,
floor lamps, touch lamps and outdoor lighting. Socket Store also has a large variety of
sockets and switches in finishes including chrome, brass, stainless steel, white, black
and nickel, as well as energy-saving LED bulbs and commercial parts. Also available are
essential spares such as extra long screws, dimmer modules and replacement bezels and, if
you want something completely different, take a look at the sculpture range, which will
brighten your home as much as the light bulbs!
Socket Store managing director Phil Stephens said: "We are proud of our new website as
it allows us to showcase even more of our fantastic products. Its appearance is sleeker
and extremely contemporary, and our mobile version means that our customers can see the
products they need in the format that suits them best.
"The website also contains a lot of helpful advice for customers, from explaining how
dimmers work to the differences between the various types of light bulbs on the market. So
read our blog, have a browse through more than 5,000 items and keep an eye on our featured
products, which we update regularly."
Socket Store launched in 2010 as an online-only retailer. Successful expansion led to
the opening of a small showroom earlier this year, and ongoing growth now sees the company
move from its Taffs Well location to bigger premises in nearby Trefforest Industrial
Estate.
As well as continuing to stock the ever-popular Windsor range, Socket Store has also
added the stunning DAR Lighting range to its portfolio. As ever, staff welcome enquiries
on all energy-related subjects and are happy to advise customers on the most suitable and
cost-effective lights and lamps for their homes and businesses, as well as offering a
30-day returns policy.
CloudEndure Eliminates Downtime in the Cloud with First Cloud-Centric Disaster Recovery Solution
Disaster Recovery by CloudEndure Replicates Cloud-Based Applications Continuously and in Real-Time So Data is Never Lost
SAN FRANCISCO, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CloudEndure, provider of real-time replication and recovery of cloud-based applications, today announced the availability of the public beta version of its disaster recovery solution. CloudEndure's disaster recovery technology supports business continuity by creating, on demand, a fully functioning up-to-the-second copy of cloud-based applications in an alternate cloud location. By creating an exact replica of the entire application stack, complete with the latest storage, services and configuration data, CloudEndure makes downtime in the cloud --for the first time ever--nonexistent.
In April of 2013, CloudEndure secured $5.2 million in funding in a round led by venture capital firm Magma, in conjunction with Tamar Technology Ventures and Teramips Technologies Ltd. Since launching in private beta mode last year, CloudEndure has grown its customer portfolio while expanding its team in Tel Aviv, Israel and the United States.
"CloudEndure has cut back on the amount of time my team spends on backups by 90%," said Oren Yagev, CTO of OneHourTranslation. "Automated Cloud Disaster Recovery is crucial to guarantee that our time-sensitive business continue to work 24/7 for our customers. CloudEndure helps us achieve that in less time."
In a crisis, without CloudEndure, a company might spend hours or even days restoring its cloud application from backup to its state prior to the disaster. CloudEndure creates an initial copy of the entire application stack at an alternate cloud region. After this initial sync, changes are mirrored to the alternate region in real time. In an actual downtime crisis, a single click on "Failover" recreates your entire application stack in the alternate region within minutes. Unlike snapshots or backup solutions, CloudEndure offers continuous replication in real time and automated recovery, ensuring maximum uptime and minimal loss of data.
"Across all industries, businesses are experiencing downtime in the cloud, directly affecting their revenues and reputation," said Ofer Gadish, CEO of CloudEndure. "CloudEndure's continuous replication solution prevents the downtime threat by continuously copying data to a secondary location. At a time when 54% of organizations say they've experienced at least one unplanned outage in the last 3 months, having a disaster recovery solution in place is imperative."
CloudEndure solves the problem of downtime in the cloud, using continuous replication of the entire cloud application stack for small, midsized, and enterprise organizations. Founded in 2012, CloudEndure's Disaster Recovery (DR) technology creates an exact copy of the entire application at a second location - at a touch of button, within minutes, and with the latest data. Unlike snapshots or backup solutions, CloudEndure offers continuous replication in real time and automated recovery, ensuring maximum uptime and minimal data loss. CloudEndure has received $5.2 million to date, in a funding round led by venture capital firm Magma. For more information, visit http://www.CloudEndure.com.