As Hurricane Season Approaches Gulf Coast - New Free App Provides Real-Time Local Updates to Keep Residents Safe and Informed
Tropical Storm Don Lurches Toward the Texas Gulf Coast, Residents Hunker Down
HOUSTON, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year hurricanes and tropical storms ravage the Gulf Coast leaving trails of destruction, costing unprepared residents their homes and sometimes their lives. Right now, all eyes are on Tropical Storm Don which is on track to make landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast soon.
Global Alert Network (GAN) now offers a free mobile application to Gulf Coast residents that will provide them with real-time local weather, traffic and emergency updates to help them prepare for these storms.
Using a mobile device's GPS, the app will recognize the user's location sending breaking local alerts instantly. These alerts are automatic, and once downloaded the user can choose the types of alerts to subscribe to without having to engage with their mobile devices. The app is currently available on BlackBerry and Android devices through AppWorld and Android Market, and will be available on the iPhone in the coming weeks.
"Natural disasters, from hurricanes to tornados, have been particularly harsh throughout the country this year and the best way to mitigate the damage of these storms is to prepare. The free app gives users the peace of mind of knowing that if severe weather is headed toward them, they will automatically be alerted and can immediately take action," said Scott Hughes, President of Global Alert Network.
Official hurricane season generally lasts from June through November and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently predicted that this will be a particularly harsh season with anywhere from 12 to 18 named storms on the horizon.
"Within minutes of downloading the GAN app, users have a free, potentially life saving tool at their fingertips," continued Hughes. "Especially during seasons with devastating weather and in the regions that often get hit, there is no reason why residents should not be downloading this application."
Global Alert Network (http://www.globalalertnetwork.com/) is a national mobile platform that provides safe, automatic, hands-free audio alerts to a user's mobile phone. The app, which is free to download, senses when the user is driving and initiates automatically. Global Alert Network (GAN) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Traffic Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNET), a leading provider of custom traffic and news reports to radio and television stations.
CONTACTS:
Anne Donohoe / Samantha Wolf
(212) 896-1261/ (212) 896-1220
adonohoe@kcsa.com / swolf@kcsa.com
KB Covers Brings First Final Cut Pro X Keyboard Cover to Market
Film Editors at Any Experience Level Can Learn the new Final Cut Pro X Shortcuts and Improve Their Workflow
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- KB Covers, a leader in keyboard covers, keyboards and other Apple centric accessories, today announced the release of the first Final Cut Pro X keyboard shortcut covers for Apple's Final Cut Pro X video editing software. The new keyboard covers are available for all Apple notebook and desktop keyboards, including US and European keyboards.
The Final Cut Pro X software offers several advanced features that the KB Cover helps users take advantage of, such as the new Skimming and Audition functions. KB Covers designed this cover to take advantage of these and many other updated features, so that video editors can learn the software changes quickly.
"I was pleased to work with KB Covers on finalizing the best shortcuts to put on these Final Cut Pro X covers," said Larry Jordan, renowned Final Cut Pro certified trainer and President of Larry Jordan & Associates, Inc. "Nothing is more helpful than having the right keyboard shortcuts at your finger-tips, which is why I've been so impressed with KB Covers since I helped them design their very first cover many years ago."
"We noticed very quickly that Apple had revamped the entire software architecture of the new Final Cut Pro X, and we are trying to help video editors stay ahead of the curve on this one," said Greg Sad, marketing director for KB Covers. "We were able to get the design of the cover validated by industry experts swiftly, so that we could finalize it and get the cover onto the market as rapidly as possible."
KB Covers is dedicated to providing the finest quality keyboard covers for Apple/Mac desktop and laptop computers. Covers are made with stringent Quality Assurance methods, which help to ensure a tight fit, long-lasting durability, no paint cracking/chipping, a soft-feel, and ultimately a happy customer. To learn more about the KB Covers lineup please visit http://www.kbcovers.com.
About Larry Jordan & Associates, Inc.
Based in Southern California, Larry Jordan & Associates, Inc. provides training, support and production services for Final Cut Studio. The company was founded in 2003 by Larry Jordan, a digital media analyst, producer, director, editor, writer, and trainer with over 30 years video production and post-production experience. Jordan is also the Executive Producer and Host of Digital Production Buzz.
SOURCE KB Covers
KB Covers
CONTACT: Greg Sad, Marketing Director, KB Covers, greg@kbcovers.com; or Media: Ian Cohen, IGC Public Relations, +1-310-457-4291, kbcovers@igcpr.com
Paramount Pictures Announces the Entire Jackass Movie Catalogue for Rental Directly to Fans on Facebook® Platform
All Three Feature Films and Two Digital Features Now Available to Stream Using Facebook Credits
LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating nearly a decade of stunts, pranks and camaraderie, Paramount Pictures announced today it is offering the entire Jackass movie catalogue including Jackass The Movie, Jackass 2, Jackass 3, as well as, digital features Jackass 2.5 and Jackass 3.5 available for rent directly through the Jackass Facebook Page.
Millions of people that Like the Jackass Page can easily rent and enjoy the entire collection of Jackass movies directly through Facebook using Facebook Credits at https://www.facebook.com/jackass. Consumers simply click the 'Rent Movies' link on the Jackass Facebook Page and choose among five Jackass movie apps to seamlessly rent, watch and enjoy the outrageous pranks from Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, Wee Man, Preston Lacy, Dave England and "Danger Ehren" McGhehey.
"The secret to the enduring popularity of Jackass goes beyond the jaw dropping stunts and cringe-worthy pranks, it's the true friendship that exists between each one of the Jackass members. What better way for the millions of Jackass fans to celebrate the legacy of these pioneers of social entertainment than through Facebook," said Thomas Lesinski, President of Paramount Digital Entertainment.
Jackass movies can be rented individually using Facebook Credits and viewed for up to 48 hours. While watching through Facebook, consumers will have full control over their movie viewing experience. They can choose to watch in full screen, pause the movie, leave Facebook and resume playing when logged back in.
Jackass The Movie, Jackass 2 and Jackass 2.5 can each be purchased for 30 Facebook Credits ($2.99). Recently released movies Jackass 3 and Jackass 3.5 are available for purchase for 40 Facebook Credits ($3.99). This offering is currently only available to consumers in the United States. The Jackass movies are rated R and can only be rented by Facebook users who are at least 17 years old.
Paramount Pictures is also launching a Jackass ClipApp, a fully customizable application that allows fans to search over 100 pre-selected scenes from all five movies, create custom clips and edit how they are linked together for a personalized Jackass experience. Clips can be shared by users with their friends on Facebook and other social sites. The Jackass ClipApp is free and available in the United States giving fans the ability to combine together their favorite Jackass experience and share it with friends through Facebook Platform.
Clips are searchable by any keyword or through more structured categories including scene, individual cast member or performer. For example, a fan can search by categories such as punch, pranks, sports or "Johnny Knoxville." There is no limit to the number of ways a fan can search Jackass content. Viewing and sharing content will require age verification. Users must be at least 17 years old to access the ClipApp or view shared clips.
"The great thing about Jackass ClipApp is that there's a stunt, joke or type of humor for every fan to find, clip and share with their friends using the Jackass ClipApp," Geremie Camara, Vice President of Product Development for Paramount Digital Entertainment. "ClipApp is designed to give fans the maximum amount of creativity in combining their favorite Jackass moments from all the movies to share with their friends."
MTV recently launched two mobile Jackass apps, one on iPad and one on iPhone, in honor and celebration of Jackass' 10 year anniversary.
The Jackass franchise first debuted as an original television series on MTV from 2000 to 2002, launching the careers of Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera and other now-popular personalities shown performing outrageous stunts and hysterical pranks. Since 2002, three successful Jackass theatrical films have been produced and released by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. Jackass: The Movie grossed more than $64 million in the United States alone, and finished in the # 1 spot at the box office in its opening weekend. Jackass Number Two was released in September 2006 and like its predecessor, topped the box office in its debut weekend, and ultimately earned more than $72 million in cumulative box office revenues. Jackass 3D, released in October 2010 dominated the weekend box office opening to $50 million in ticket sales, setting several records such as becoming the biggest opening ever for a non-scripted/documentary-esque film, the 10th highest opening comedy of all-time, notching the record for an October midnight gross with $2.5 million, making it a special event for throngs of moviegoers. Jackass 3D has earned more than $117 million at the box office in the U.S.
In 2007, Paramount Digital Entertainment and MTV released Jackass 2.5, the first digital movie released by a studio that quickly became the most successful non-theatrical release in the studio's history. In the first few weeks of launch, the digital property garnered over 20 million views and was the #1 title on iTunes the week it launched. On April 1, 2011 Paramount Digital Entertainment and MTV premiered Jackass 3.5 to a worldwide audience on Joost.com. Directed by Jeff Tremaine, the digital feature contains over 85 minutes of all-new stunts, outrageous pranks and other side-splitting antics from the legendary pranksters. Jackass 3.5 The Unrated Movie is also available on DVD (nationwide) and on Blu-ray (exclusively at Best Buy) and On Demand and for digital download.
The Jackass franchise also includes a Jackass: The Game video game for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS. Its numerous DVD releases include Jackass Vol. 1, Jackass: Vol. 2, Jackass: The Movie, Jackass: Vol. 3, Jackass: The Box Set, Jackass Number Two,Jackass 2.5, and Jackass World Presents: Matt Hoffmans Tribute to Evil Knievel.
Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Paramount Television & Digital Distribution.
AllograftPossibilities.org Meets Unmet Need for Consumer-Oriented Information on Tissue Donation, Transplantation on the Internet
Educational website from nonprofit tissue bank, AlloSource, grows rapidly, honors tissue donors, spotlights tissue transplant recipients
CENTENNIAL, Colo., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AllograftPossibilities.org has rapidly grown into the premier source for straightforward information on tissue donation and transplant on the web. Although it has the same life-saving and life-enhancing benefits of organ donation, tissue donation is still lesser understood by the general public. The nonprofit AlloSource, a leading developer, processor, and distributor of bone and soft-tissue allografts for use in surgical procedures around the world, created the educational website, AllograftPossibilities.org, to fill an unmet need for consumer information about tissue donation and transplantation on the internet.
Tissue donation rates are lower than organ donation rates and AlloSource found that there was not an online resource dedicated to talking about the benefits of tissue transplantation. The company wanted to honor donor families and encourage others to be both organ and tissue donors by presenting straightforward case studies and medical information on tissue transplant procedures. The easy-to-access online source provides interactive opportunities to ask questions, share stories and connect with others. The website has also become a valued source of information for organ procurement organizations, which work with families throughout the donation process and coordinate transplants.
"Patients presented with the option of a tissue transplant had few places to go beyond their surgeon to get information. As many people are now consumers of online information, we wanted to create a place that these patients could go to have their questions answered and to read about the donation process and surgical outcomes," said Thomas Cycyota, AlloSource President and CEO. "Encouraging donation and honoring donors is a cornerstone of AlloSource's mission and this site is a tribute to those who make our jobs possible."
In less than two years, the website has already generated impressive web traffic for such a niche topic. It has received more than 10,000 page views and other key indicators for growth also look positive: number of visits, time spent on the site, bounce rate and percentage of new visitors in year two have all beat those from year one.
Key accomplishments of the website include:
-- Promotes tissue donation and honors families touched by the donation
process
-- Helps potential patients learn more about the donation side of allograft
transplant surgery and better understand the potential surgical outcomes
-- Brings to life the stories of tissue donation by publishing case studies
from recipients and donor families
-- Quickly provides expert answers to incoming questions from the public
-- Shares consumer news on updates about medical advancements related to
tissue transplantation
-- Provides organ procurement organizations with resources that can be
easily downloaded, printed or emailed to assist in their interactions
with donor families or in their event and marketing efforts
-- Shares the medical perspective on tissue transplantation to help readers
understand how doctors of various specialties utilize allograft tissue
-- Provides a forum for people touched by tissue donation or
transplantation to share their stories publicly
-- Promotes donation events throughout the country
AlloSource is a non-profit company that offers more than 200 precise bone, skin, soft-tissue and custom-machined allografts for use in an array of life-saving and life-enhancing medical procedures. As the world's leader in fresh cartilage tissue used for joint repair and skin allografts to heal severe burns, AlloSource has grown into one of the largest tissue networks in the country with more than 350 employees. It is the world's largest processor of live cellular bone growth substitutes and delivers unparalleled expertise and customer service to its growing network of surgeons, partners and the country's most reputable organ procurement organizations. As one of the leading innovators in maximizing tissue donation with the goal of offering optimal solutions for healthcare providers and their patients, AlloSource is recognized by the medical community for its ability to process and provide high quality tissue. The company is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and is headquartered in Centennial, CO. For more information, please visit allosource.org and allograftpossibilities.org.
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
New! Casual Gamers Can Now Win Guaranteed Cash Prizes
Gamesville.com releases first for the casual gaming industry
WALTHAM, Mass., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gamesville.com, part of the Lycos Network and the web's premier destination for free online "game shows" offering real cash prizes, has distinguished themselves even more by announcing the release of the all-new Countdown to Ca$h.
How does Countdown to Ca$h work? A special meter keeps track of how many games a Gamesville member has played in the last month. When a member plays enough games to unlock a given prize (ranging from $5 - $100) they can claim their winnings during their unique two-day claim window. Each month, new prizes are added and there's a new opportunity to claim a prize.
"Gamesville.com already awards more cash prizes to more people than anyone else," says Chris Cummings, Director of Product Management for Lycos. "With Countdown to Ca$h, it's no longer a matter of 'if' you'll win a prize; it's just a matter of 'when'."
In addition to Countdown to Ca$h, Gamesville offers many free games with progressive jackpots, instant wins, and a variety of special sweepstakes. In May, Gamesville debuted a re-imagined version of Frantic Fish®, their free, massively multi-player free bingo game with chat and prizes.
About Gamesville
Gamesville.com specializes in massively multi-player online game shows. Like TV game shows, Gamesville game shows are free to play, award winners prizes, and are supported by sponsors. But unlike TV, where only a handful of people play while the rest of the world watches, at Gamesville everyone plays to win. http://www.gamesville.com
About Lycos, Inc.
Lycos, Inc., owns and operates multiple businesses that foster online communities including Tripod, Gamesville, HotBot, and Angelfire. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Ybrant Digital, Lycos is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Ybrant Digital is headquartered in Hyderabad, India, and has a global presence with offices in 20 countries http://www.ybrantdigital.com
The Launch of the Official Valentino Rossi art Collection on DucatiArt.com
GENEVA, July 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
Cultwork is proud to announce the launch of an art collection dedicated
to one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, Valentino
Rossi, winner of nine GP World Championships. Ducati are proud that
Valentino has joined their official team in 2011 having not appeared on an
Italian motorcycle since 1999.
To celebrate Valentino joining the Ducati Team, a collection of artworks
have been created by the talented Polish artist, Patryk Kuleta from the
Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz, Poland. For the collection Pat chose a bold
and colourful artistic direction with vivid and bright colours all mixed
together to give the artworks a vibrant and electric look symbolising the
legendary racer. The artworks of the Ducati art collection are: The Fight,
46 Reasons, First Ride, Front Runner and Perpetually Stronger. They can be
found on: http://www.ducatiart.com/category/valentino-rossi
Valentino joining Ducati is a historic moment for the legendary Italian
motorcycle brand and the art collection is a strong contribution to the
official Ducati art collection, available on http://www.DucatiArt.com.
"Owning a limited edition artwork from the collection allows fans of
Valentino Rossi, Ducati and MotoGP to have a piece of history hanging on
their wall," explained Patrick Ashworth, CEO of Cultwork. "With limited
editions of 46 pieces only a handful of fans will be fortunate to own one of
these incredible artworks."
Design your life with your passion. Visit the Ducati art collection on: http://www.ducatiart.com
About Cultwork
Cultwork SA, selling through ArtOfBrands.com, creates, promotes and
sells officially licensed fine graphic art collections inspired by legendary
products and brands. Among others, ArtOfBrands.com has official licenses for
the creation and sale of art collections for Ducati, Alfa Romeo, MV Agusta
and Alinghi, and is presently concluding agreements with Smiley, American
Airlines, GM, and Olympique de Marseille.
Art is created from an international network of artists, designers and
photographers. Artworks are museum quality prints realized in open,
numbered, limited or unique editions and available on different media such
as canvas, plexiglass, Alu-Dibond, crystal or fine art paper.
CyberLink Releases YouCam 5 with Advanced Facial Recognition Technology
LONDON, July 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
New Face Login, Face-Out Technology and Dual Webcam Support
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW) today launched YouCam 5
[http://www.cyberlink.com/products/youcam/overview_en_US.html ], the latest
version of its popular webcam software. Interoperable with leading web chat
clients, YouCam 5 goes beyond video effects by adding innovative webcam
usage models for both play and work. New features include:
- Face Login signs into Windows and popular sites such as
Facebook, YouTube, Amazon and eBay by using a smart face recognition
algorithm. No need to fill in usernames or passwords anymore.
- Face-out detects when users move out of the webcam frame and
automatically locks, sleeps, or hibernates the PC to better protect your
data. Users unlock their computers again using Face Login.
- Webcam Presentation embeds webcam faces into slides to create
more personal and effective online presentations.
- Dual Webcam support for advanced users to produce creative
vlogging content or online training videos.
"CyberLink combines webcams, faces and imaging and video technologies to
create innovative usages," said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink Corp.
"While YouCam retains all the fantastic fun effects, in this new version we
added smart features to make YouCam the ideal webcam software for the home
and workplace."
Key Features and Usages for Webcams:
- Sign in with Face Login: Advanced facial recognition
technology to login to Windows and online websites.
- Interact with Augmented Reality: Use webcams and patterns to
generate virtual 3D objects.
- Create videos with interactive fun effects: Includes filters,
headgear, emoticons, frames and virtual scenes to create fun videos and
to express yourself while chatting online.
- Takecenter stage with FaceTracking technology: Tracks your face
accurately for applying headgear gadgets, avatars, cool effects and to
ensure you're always the focus in online chats.
- Look better with TrueTheater(R) technology: Enhances lighting
and removes noise from captured videos to make you look better on
screen.
- Create effective presentations and tutorials: Import PowerPoint
files to create effective webcam video presentations. Capture your PC
screen in HD or use support for dual webcam streams to produce
compelling tutorials and training videos.
- Download unlimited FREE effects from DirectorZone: A repository
of uploaded content from thousands of creative users, DirectorZone
[http://directorzone.cyberlink.com ] is home to extra effects, 3D
objects, avatars, and more.
- Share videos to social networks: Users can now publish HD videos
to YouTube, Facebook and DirectorZone directly from YouCam.
- Surveillance mode: Set YouCam to automatically activate
recording when any kind of motion is detected; and get notified by
email.
Upgrades for previous YouCam versions are available starting at GBP12.99
About CyberLink
CyberLink Corp [http://www.cyberlink.com ] is the leader and pioneer in
enabling digital multimedia on PCs, CEs and mobile devices through the use
of video editing software
[http://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector/overview_en_US.html ], video
player software
[http://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdvd/overview_en_US.html ], and other
multimedia solutions [http://www.cyberlink.com/products/index_en_US.html ].
Backed by a group of high-caliber software engineers, CyberLink owns its
core codec and a number of patented technologies. CyberLink has built a
solid reputation for delivering high-quality, interoperable, and fast
time-to-market solutions that keep our OEM partners on the leading edge. Our
business partners include leaders in the PC industry: top-5 desktop and
notebook providers, optical drive manufacturers and graphic-card makers.
Today, CyberLink's software solutions include: complete applications for
Blu-ray Disc playback and creation
[http://www.cyberlink.com/stat/technology/enu/next-gen-disc-solution.jsp ];
digital home entertainment
[http://www.cyberlink.com/stat/technology/enu/digital-home-solution.jsp ];
and touch-enabled media solution
[http://www.cyberlink.com/stat/technology/enu/touch-solution.jsp ]. With
customers spanning from multi-national corporations to small/medium-sized
businesses, and from power users to home users, CyberLink has enjoyed rapid
and consistent growth leading to a record breaking IPO in 2000 on the Taiwan
Over The Counter Exchange (OTC: 5203). Currently, CyberLink is listed on the
Taiwan Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: 5203.TW). CyberLink's worldwide
headquarters is located in Taipei. To keep up with market demands, CyberLink
has operations in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region,
including Japan. For more information, please visit CyberLink's website at http://www.cyberlink.com.
All companies and product names mentioned herein are for
identification purposes only and are the sole property of their respective
owners. Copyright (c) 2010 CyberLink Corp. All rights reserved.
Source: CyberLink Corp.
Press Contact: Toby Felder at toby@zaboura.com or by phone: +44(0)783-4221570
TiVUS Live in 1200 Rooms at Host Hotels and Resorts Property
-- Company nears completion of phase II development --
OMAHA, Neb., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TiVUS, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: TIVU) today announced it is now live in 1200 rooms of the 1408 room downtown Philadelphia hotel property operated by Host Hotels and Resorts, and reports it is nearing completion of its inaugural TiVUS HD IPTV(TM) installation.
"I am pleased to report we remain on schedule for completion of the Philadelphia installation in late August," commented Shiva Prakash, TiVUS' president and chief executive officer. "The system itself can safely be called a 'hit' with both staff and guests at the hotel property.
"With hundreds of rooms operating since early this year, hard customer satisfaction data measured by number of guest issues and complaints with TV equipment have shown significantly above-average satisfaction as compared to the same period last year, while technical issues for the same period have been markedly below average with 86% resolved as user error."
TiVUS' agreement with Host Hotels to deploy its new HD IPTV systems in Host properties was previously announced in March of this year. Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., an S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, is the largest lodging real estate investment trust (REIT) and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels.
"I look forward to soon announcing completion of Philadelphia, as well as commencement of our Omaha installation, and others," Prakash concluded.
About TiVUS, Inc.
TiVUS, Inc. is a technology entertainment services company providing Internet-based TV and Cable programming, interactive game content, and goods & services to the hotel/hospitality industry. TiVUS' unique HD IPTV system is a complete hotel entertainment platform that, for the first time in the industry, generates previously untapped income for the hotel through ad-revenue sharing. For more information, please visit http://www.TiVUS.com and http://www.TiVUSconnect.com, or check us out on http://www.facebook.com/TiVUSConnect or http://www.twitter.com/TiVUSInc.
Comments are based on current management expectations, and are considered "forward-looking statements," generally preceded by words such as "plans," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," or "intends." We cannot promise future returns. Our statements reflect our best judgment at the time they are issued, and we disclaim any obligation to update forward-looking statements as the result of new information or future events. We urge investors to review the risks and uncertainties within its filings with the OTC Markets and/or United States Securities & Exchange Commission.
Media Relations:
Steven Haag
(832) 413-6206
stevehaag@TiVUS.com
zvelo Partners With IWF to Combat Online Child Sexual Abuse Content
Partnership confirms joint commitment to prevent the online revictimization of child sexual abuse victims and protect online users from inadvertent exposure to criminal content
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- zvelo, Inc., a leader in URL database, website categorization and zero-hour malicious website detection solutions for the OEM market, has partnered with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), an independent UK self-regulatory organization established to combat criminal online content, primarily images of child sexual abuse hosted worldwide.
"zvelo holds a firm stance against the dissemination of inappropriate online content and images of child sexual abuse," says Jay Rollings, Sr. VP of Service Delivery. "The protection of these innocent victims, combined with shutting down global online access to these sites is paramount. zvelo looks forward to working with the IWF to identify inappropriate URLs so that our OEM Partners can continue offering cutting-edge policy management, web filtering, endpoint security and parental controls solutions to help protect their end-users."
zvelo's OEM Partners include vendors in the UTM, endpoint security/anti-virus, service provider, ad network, analytics and other high-growth vertical markets, where website categorization, zero-hour malicious and inappropriate website detection at the domain, sub-domain, sub-path and page levels are required. These auto-detection capabilities are particularly important on social networking, blogging, forum and other websites where user-generated content is ever-changing.
Peter Robbins OBE, QPM, Chief Executive of the IWF said, "Combating child sexual abuse images on the Internet is a global problem that requires a global solution. It is thanks to international industry support that the IWF can, with global law enforcement agencies, track, trace and remove the images of children being sexually abused which the public have reported to us. We are therefore delighted to welcome zvelo as an IWF member and we look forward to working with them to promote a safer online experience for internet users."
About the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
The IWF was established in 1996 by the internet industry to provide the UK internet Hotline for the public and IT professionals to report criminal online content in a secure and confidential way. The Hotline service can be used anonymously to report content within our remit. We work in partnership with the online industry, law enforcement, government, and international partners to minimize the availability of this content, specifically:
-- Child sexual abuse images hosted anywhere in the world.
-- Criminally obscene adult content hosted in the UK.
-- Non-photographic child sexual abuse images hosted in the UK.
zvelo is a leading provider of website categorization technologies, URL database (zveloDB(TM)), malicious website detection and reputation blocklist solutions. zvelo licenses its zveloDB exclusively through OEM partnerships with service providers (ISP/MSSP, mobile, etc.), endpoint security and anti-virus vendors, UTM and gateway appliance vendors, content and URL filtering vendors, advertising network providers, and other high growth market segments where accuracy, coverage, malicious website detection and fast URL query performance are required. To learn more, visit http://zvelo.com/.
Live From ATX: CultureMap Launches in the Texas Capital
DAILY DIGITAL MAGAZINE MAKES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT
HOUSTON, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CultureMap (http://www.culturemap.com) - a daily digital magazine for Austin announced its highly anticipated launch with unique, 24/7 coverage of culturally relevant news, information, events and features for the local community. CultureMap has run successfully in Houston for two years and aims to be the source for lifestyle, arts, and cultural news in Texas' capital city.
Heading up the CultureMap editorial team is Editor-in-Chief Kevin Benz, who served for 11 years as News Director of News 8 Austin, Time Warner Cable's 24-hour Newschannel. He is also the current Chair-elect of the RTDNA (Radio Television Digital News Association) national board and recently served as chairman of the Texas Associated Press Broadcaster's board of directors. Benz is working side-by-side CultureMap's Managing Editor Caitlin Ryan, former Editor-in-Chief of Rare magazine, a monthly cultural, lifestyle magazine in Austin. The duo will lead a full-time newsroom as well as a growing stable of columnists and contributors.
"Austin was always at the top of the list for our first expansion market," said CultureMap CEO Stephen Newman. "CultureMap is a perfect fit for Austin's ever-evolving vibrant city life because it covers all the things that make the quality of life here so amazing."
Indeed, Austin's highly developed music, film, arts, entertainment, restaurant, political, sports, and social scenes are ripe for extensive, insider and thought-provoking coverage from the website's eclectic group of informed columnists and contributors. The website also works as a location-aware city guide with listings of Austin's best restaurants, bars & clubs, shopping, arts/entertainment and things that are uniquely Austin - along with insider information, key facts and individual maps for hundreds of venues and growing.
CultureMap Austin was first announced in April 2011 as a joint venture between CultureMap LLC and LIN Media (NYSE: TVL), a multimedia company that owns, operates or services 32 network-affiliated broadcast television stations, niche websites, mobile platforms, performance-based local and national advertising solutions, and other digital services in 17 U.S. markets, including Austin's KXAN-TV (NBC), KNVA-TV (CW) and KBVO-TV (MyNetworkTV).
ABOUT CULTUREMAP AUSTIN
A daily digital magazine revolutionizing the local news format - CultureMap brings a 24/7 mentality to covering lifestyle and culturally relevant news, information, events and features delivered digitally through the web, mobile, tablet and social media platforms. Building on the success of the Houston-based original, CultureMap launched in Austin on Monday, July 18, 2011, covering the region's lifestyle and cultural news with a highly-regarded stable of editors, writers, and photographers. Intelligent and insightful, CultureMap's trademark insider knowledge and unique reporting offers a bold new voice to Austin journalism. For more information, please visit http://www.culturemap.com.
SOURCE CultureMap
CultureMap
CONTACT: Mark Sullivan of On the Mark Communications, +1-713-978-5050, mark@onthemarkcom.com, for CultureMap
ING Expands Distribution of Voluntary Insurance Products Through Leading Online Platform
Access through Benefitfocus makes enrollment process easier for employees
MINNEAPOLIS, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ING's U.S. Employee Benefits division (ING) today announced the expanded availability of its voluntary insurance products through distribution on BENEFITFOCUS HR InTouch®, a technology platform for online enrollment, HR efficiency and employee communication.
This new distribution vehicle for ING enables employers to provide ING benefits through an app that is tightly integrated with their core enrollment process, eliminating the extra steps that can sometimes deter employees from participating in voluntary benefits programs.
In addition to voluntary benefits, ING offers traditional group life insurance, disability-income insurance and stop-loss insurance products for employers. ING's group life and disability-income insurance products are distributed through independent brokers and agents utilizing ING's enrollment software, national and regional enrollment firms and technology platform providers such as Benefitfocus.
ING has been expanding its voluntary benefits efforts over the past year, hiring a new head of sales and distribution, bolstering its regional voluntary sales organization, and expanding distribution of its products.
"ING has developed, implemented and administered voluntary benefit plans in the workplace for more than 60 years, and we're actively looking to expand our reach so we can help meet the needs of more working Americans," said Marc Lower, head of voluntary strategy and distribution for ING Employee Benefits. "Benefitfocus is a strong player in the employee benefits arena. With our new agreement, their employer clients can now offer ING's voluntary benefits products, and provide a simple, integrated enrollment process for employees."
Benefitfocus provides the ability for companies and third-party developers to build apps that plug into and extend the platform. This enables carriers to integrate their products, content and existing web tools with enrollment and billing technology.
"We are very excited about our relationship with ING. At Benefitfocus, our goal is to provide both speed-to-market for our insurance providers and efficiency for our employer clients," said Shawn Jenkins, president and CEO of Benefitfocus. "By offering all benefits in one place, we eliminate paper-based enrollment and give employers the tools they need to lower costs and offer well-rounded benefits packages to their employees."
ING's voluntary insurance products include universal life, whole life, disability income, critical illness, and accident insurance, all of which enhance the benefit plan at little to no premium cost to the employer.
For more information about ING Employee Benefits and the voluntary services available, contact Marc Lower at marc.lower@us.ing.com.
Press inquiries:
Philip Margolis
ING
(860) 580-2676
phil.margolis@us.ing.com
Kate Lewis
Benefitfocus
(843) 849-7476
pr@benefitfocus.com
About ING
ING U.S. is a subsidiary of Dutch-based ING Groep N.V. In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits and financial planning. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves more than 15 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit ING.us.
ING Employee Benefits offers a range of products and services that include stop-loss, accident, critical illness, life and disability- income insurance. The insurers have more than 90 years of experience in the design, implementation and administration of employee benefit plans. Most insurance products and services are provided by ReliaStar Life Insurance Company (Minneapolis) and ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York, (Woodbury, NY) members of the ING family of companies. Within the State of New York, only ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York is admitted and its products issued. Both are members of the ING family of companies. Each insurer is solely responsible for the financial obligations under the policies or contracts it issues.
About Benefitfocus
Benefitfocus is the largest healthcare and voluntary benefits software provider in the U.S. with 13,726,347 consumers, 305,289 employers, 60,274 agents, and 3,447 carrier representatives live on the Benefitfocus Platform. Benefitfocus offers a single Web-based platform for benefit shopping, enrollment, management and industry-standard data exchange. Benefitfocus - All Your Benefits. One Place. http://www.benefitfocus.com
Honeywell Announces Voluntary Recall of Electric Baseboard and Fan Heater Thermostats
Models Include CT1950A1011, CT1957A1008, T4700B1030, T4700A1040, T4700A1024 and T4700B1022
MINNEAPOLIS, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced the voluntary recall of certain electric baseboard heater thermostats: model numbers T4700, CT1950 and CT1957 manufactured between 2000 and 2006 and sold under the Honeywell and Cadet brand names. Consumers should stop using these electric baseboard heater thermostats immediately by setting the thermostats to 45 degrees or turning them off, even if they seem to be functioning properly.
The electric baseboard and fan heater thermostats contain a line voltage relay that is used to switch the power to the electric baseboard or fan heater. The line voltage relay may not function properly and cause the thermostat plastic to melt. Honeywell has received 16 reports of thermostats melting. There have been no reports of injuries.
The electric baseboard heater thermostats are manufactured with self-extinguishing plastic housing. Although the plastic can melt and generate smoke, it shouldn't ignite other materials in the home. Honeywell has sold just over 240,000 T4700, CT1950 and CT1957electric baseboard and fan heater thermostats in Canada.
The recalled thermostats can be identified by their overall rectangular shape. "Honeywell" or "Cadet" is printed on the front of the thermostats that come in various sizes. The model number and four-digit date code are printed on a label inside the front cover of the thermostat. Only models with date codes beginning with 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or 06 are included.
Consumers who believe they have one of the affected electric baseboard or fan heater thermostats should telephone Honeywell toll-free at 888-235-7363 or visit http://www.yourhome.honeywell.com/T4700 for information on how to receive a free electric baseboard heater replacement thermostat for the T4700, CT1950 or CT1957. Please do not return these products to retail stores.
Honeywell International (http://www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit http://www.honeywellnow.com. Honeywell Environmental & Combustion Control is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, providing integrated product solutions in heating and heating processes, ventilation, cooling and refrigeration, air filtration, zoning, humidification, air conditioning, water controls and processes, electrical devices and systems, lighting control, buildings controls, switches, sensors and controllers. ECC's technologies are found in more than 150 million homes, 10 million buildings, and a multitude of manufacturing plants around the world.
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Honeywell
Sarah McHugh-Ring
763-954-4917
sarah.mchugh-ring@honeywell.com
Spotted Fox Brings Customized Daily Deals to Tri-Cities, Yakima
SAN DIEGO, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Merchants and consumers in Tri-Cities and Yakima, Washington celebrated the launch of Spotted Fox this week after a host of festivities welcomed the next-generation daily deal site to the city. The rapidly-growing Spotted Fox will now bring Tri-Cities and Yakima consumers daily deals up to 90% off while tending to the merchant's bottom line - in other words, the popular daily deal site will please both consumers and merchants alike.
Spotted Fox launched into Tri-Cities and Yakima as part of their overall strategic growth plan since the area enjoys a stable economy including an enduring retail marketplace - a perfect pairing to the daily deal offerings at Spotted Fox.
"We had a fabulous response after Spotted Fox launched our daily deal, and we really appreciated how it benefited both us and our new customers," said Jenae Skerritt, owner at Six Degrees Restaurant in Kennewick, Washington.
The daily deal site offers a convenient marriage between consumers and merchants within the Tri-Cities area: deep (and relevant) discounts are delivered to the consumer with a focus on return business for the merchant.
"We strategically planned our launch into Tri-Cities because we noticed a growing trend of merchants in the area who were looking for a direct response marketing solution that also offered repeat customers as part of the overall strategy," said Jeff Haux, CEO and co-founder at Spotted Fox. "Our research also indicated that consumers in Tri-Cities wanted a more customized daily deal experience that actually matched their interests. Since we've launched Spotted Fox in Tri-Cities and Yakima, we couldn't be more pleased with how we've been able to gain traction in such a short period of time in such a great city."
As part of the kickoff, Spotted Fox hosted an event at Joker's Comedy Club where partygoers enjoyed numerous prizes on behalf of the daily deal site. Following the celebration, new subscribers were treated to a hugely popular daily deal, which sold out within hours of its announcement: a $20 Target Gift Card for $10 which made the daily deal website an instant success in the Tri-Cities and Yakima areas.
Future plans for expansion at Spotted Fox include a list of twelve other U.S. cities by the completion of 2011. To sign up for daily deals in your city, go to http://SpottedFox.com and be sure to join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
About Spotted Fox
Spotted Fox is a San Diego-based next-generation daily deal site that provides a fully customized user experience and a unique business consulting model for its merchants, ensuring deals are deeply discounted while tending to the merchant's bottom line.
Contact:
Ruth Fine, Director of Public Relations
Spotted Fox
Tel: (858) 805-1993
One-click subscriptions available today through the App Store
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News Media Group announced today that its U.S. News Weekly App for iPad is now available on the App Store. Readers can now experience U.S. News Weekly's insightful content and compelling features by purchasing a monthly subscription for only 99 cents through In-App Purchase on the App Store. Existing subscribers have access to the iPad edition immediately through their current subscription, and for new users, access to the first issue is free.
U.S. News Weekly debuted in January 2009 as a digital-only publication from the editors of U.S. News & World Report, combining the magazine-reading experience with the timeliness and flexibility of the Internet. The app's functionality, multimedia, and interactivity add new layers of versatility to U.S. News Weekly.
"We're doing what a newsweekly does best: stopping a frantic world for a moment to take stock of events and make sense of it all," says Editor Brian Kelly. "As one of our many content offerings, the new app allows us to bring more readers into the fold. iPad's many features are creating new ways for us to help people understand what's going on in the world today."
The U.S. News Weekly App for iPad is free to download from the App Store. Once the app is installed, users can read the current issue at no charge. After getting that first issue for free, users can, with one click, sign up for a monthly subscription. The subscription is automatically renewed through the subscriber's iTunes account until canceled.
U.S. News Weekly includes videos to give subscribers a more in-depth view of current events. On the iPad, these videos take advantage of Apple's innovative AirPlay video streaming, which brings U.S. News Weekly content to life on the big screen. The app also offers features that make reading the magazine on an iPad user-friendly, including swipe navigation and interactive quizzes.
Each week, U.S. News Weekly serves up U.S. News's trusted reporting and analysis on the pressing topics of the day, from politics and policy to the economy and the environment. The current issue -- free for anyone to download through the App Store -- is a prime example: In an exclusive commentary, First Lady Michelle Obama extols the virtues of veterans and military spouses in the workforce; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich debates Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin on the merits of the Environmental Protection Agency; presidential aspirant and Texas Rep. Ron Paul explains what President Obama has done wrong on the economy; and U.S. News Editor-in-Chief Mort Zuckerman offers his prescription for ending the great job famine. There's also an examination of the unbridled power of the super PAC and a look at why Obama has lost his "cool" status.
Readers will also find:
*This Week in Washington: Follow the current events that have captured the nation's attention
*Washington Whispers: Get the latest political buzz and hot gossip on everyone from presidents, congressmen, and cabinet secretaries to lobbyists, bureaucrats, and White House chefs
*The Presidency: Award-winning reporter Ken Walsh offers a contemporary and historical perspective on life inside the West Wing
*Opinion: Our guest columnists -- governors, senators, presidential wannabes, senior policymakers, think tank experts, and other newsmakers -- argue their cases on hot-button issues
*News You Can Use: Best Colleges, Best Hospitals, Best Mutual Funds, Best Cars for the Money -- and much more!
The U.S. News Weekly App is available for free from the App Store on iPad or at http://www.iTunes.com/AppStore. Monthly subscriptions are available for 99 cents through In-App Purchase.
About the U.S. News Media Group
The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform publisher of news and analysis, which includes the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, http://www.usnews.com, and http://www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money, Education, Travel, Cars, and Public Service/Opinion, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. The U.S. News MediaGroup's signature franchise includes its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, mutual funds, health plans, and more.
SOURCE U.S. News Media Group
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100603/PH13717LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/
U.S. News Media Group
4Videosoft's Newly Upgraded Blu-ray Products: Offering Legal Removal of MKB V25 Copy Protection
BEIJING, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Good news for Blu-ray users! 4Videosoft's newly upgraded Blu-ray products support removing the latest MKB V25 copy protection of BD discs, which will bring a new visual perception for Blu-ray fans to enjoy the newly released Blu-ray movies.
Among all the 4videosoft Blu-ray tools, Blu-ray Converter is the most popular one among users. This highly efficient Blu-ray Converter can remove various copy protections of commercial BD discs, such as AACS, BD+, even MKB V25. Besides, this Blu-ray converter is also capable of converting DVD and common video files for you to enjoy them on your portable digital devices, like iPhone, iPhone 4, iPad, iPad 2, PSP, etc. Powerful and professional editing functions help you get the perfect output movie effect you want. What's more, it is available only for $59.00. For more information or free trial, please visit: http://www.4videosoft.com/blu-ray-converter.html.
In order to continuously satisfy the needs of Blu-ray users, 4Videosoft also launched other Blu-ray software, such as Blu-ray to iPad 2 Ripper, a delicate ripping product for you to rip Blu-ray disc to iPad 2 compatible formats. Another highly recommended software is Blu-ray ripper, which assists you to rip BD discs with 6x faster speed. If you want to get more information about 4VideosoftBlu-ray products, please visit: http://www.4videosoft.com/products-bluray.html.
System Requirements
OS Supported: Windows XP/2000/Vista/Windows 7
Hardware Requirements: 800MHz Intel or AMD CPU, or above; 512MB RAM or more
About 4Videosoft Studio
4Videosoft Studio is a professional multimedia software provider, which aims to constantly produce excellent multimedia desktop applications for all Windows and Mac users, so as to give 4Videosoft users an unparalleled digital life. With advanced technologies, dedicated R&D team and progressive spirit, it always brings multimedia users various surprises and excellent audiovisual experiences. For more information, please visit: http://www.4videosoft.com.
NetSuite Charts Course to Ecommerce Success for Magellan GPS
Global GPS Navigation Leader Triples Ecommerce Productivity and Reduces IT Costs with NetSuite
NetSuite's SuiteCloud Platform Delivers Rapid Implementation and Integration With Corporate ERP System
SAN MATEO, Calif., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NetSuite Inc. (NYSE: N), the industry's leading provider of cloud-based financials / ERP software suites, today announced that Magellan GPS, a leading portable navigation consumer electronics company, has adopted NetSuite to overhaul its Ecommerce operations. Keeping its business on course, Magellan GPS has eliminated its home-grown legacy Ecommerce system for NetSuite's cloud-based solution to run Ecommerce, marketing, merchandising and customer service. In addition, NetSuite's powerful SuiteCloud development platform enabled rapid deployment and integration with its existing corporate ERP instance, Oracle Financials. As a result, Magellan GPS has reduced Ecommerce technology expenditures, streamlined online shopping processes for customers, improved call handle times, tripled daily transaction processing and improved fraud management. And NetSuite met Magellan GPS' aggressive deployment goals. For information about how Ecommerce businesses run better on NetSuite, please visit: http://bit.ly/industries_ecommerce.
Adopting NetSuite instead of continuing to pour resources into an outdated solution has made it possible for Magellan GPS to enhance its direct-to-consumer Ecommerce offerings, boost the productivity of the Ecommerce team, and ensure stability and scalability for years to come. "NetSuite unifies our telesales, support, and Ecommerce efforts on a single platform, and gives us real-time order processing unavailable with our outdated legacy system," said Renato Siljeg, Head of Information Technology for Magellan GPS and MiTAC Digital Corporation. "We have tripled our productivity, enhanced our risk management, and reduced our overall Ecommerce IT expenditures by more than 20 percent switching to NetSuite."
Based in Santa Clara, Calif., Magellan GPS (also known as MiTAC Digital Corporation) has more than 200 key patents in GPS technology and is recognized as an industry innovator and leader. As the company expanded its offerings to new mobile and outdoor product lines, including the RoadMate App for iPhone, the limitations of its legacy Ecommerce system became clear. The software was inflexible and required extensive customization to support the new product lines, which would have escalated IT costs and slowed the company's responsiveness in the fast-moving market for GPS products. Transaction processing was nowhere near real-time, delaying order flows and obscuring insights into Ecommerce success. And Magellan GPS wanted an Ecommerce technology partner with deep roots in the industry, proven product scalability, and acceptance by publically traded companies.
NetSuite now enables Magellan GPS's Ecommerce marketing and merchandising teams, as well as its 200 customer service representatives, to provide a superior experience for buyers. The superior merchant gateway and deep integration with well-known fraud protection and risk scoring has made it possible for Magellan GPS to triple the number of orders processed per day while cutting Ecommerce-related IT spending by more than 20 percent. Creating new products and associated workflows is done at least three times faster than it was with the previous system, and the deep integration provided by the NetSuite solution has reduced call handling times by 35 percent and overall transaction processing times by 10 percent. Magellan GPS manages over 800 transactions per day through NetSuite.
NetSuite's SuiteCloud development platform offers flexibility and extensibility that have helped Magellan GPS enhance its partner selling programs with major brands such as AAA, Penske Racing, and Micron. Working with NetSuite SuiteCloud Developer Network (SDN) partner Celigo, Magellan GPS has achieved tight integration between the NetSuite Ecommerce solution and its corporate Oracle ERP financials, which provide major improvements in logistics, order flow, and the ability to process transactions in a timely and accurate fashion. Using NetSuite single sign-on technology, customers can seamlessly upgrade their products online without the need for additional credentials.
Follow NetSuite's Cloud blog, NetSuite's Facebook page and @NetSuite Twitter handle for real-time updates. To join the NetSuite and Magellan GPS conversation on Twitter use @NetSuite @MagellanGPS.
SANTE ANA, Calif., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- AuraSound, Inc. (OTC BB: ARUZ) announced today it once again achieved record TV soundbar shipments in the quarter ending June 30th, 2011. Unit shipments increased 160% versus the same period the prior year and 128% versus the prior quarter, and represent the 10th consecutive quarter of record shipments on a year-to-year basis.
"We are very proud of our continued rapid growth in this emerging and strategic market for AuraSound," Vaughn Rhodes, Vice President of Products & Engineering stated. "Our increased manufacturing capability, expanded sales channels, and strong customer demand enabled this important milestone. We are proud of our leading position in the U.S. market and the continued very positive global independent reviews of our products, including our manufactured TV soundbars winning the top three ratings from U.S. Consumer Reports earlier this year. We continue to develop new leading edge products that will be introduced into the market early next year that should keep us ahead of our competitors. Based on this we are very optimistic about our ongoing success in the TV soundbar segment, given our ability to provide products with unsurpassed acoustic performance and quality at competitive prices to our customers."
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond the control of AuraSound. Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those relating to the AuraSound's long-term strategic objectives. Actual events, performance or results could differ materially from the anticipated events, performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT DECISIONS REGARDING OUR COMPANY, WE STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO READ THE SECTION ENTITLED "RISK FACTORS" IN OUR MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED AT http://www.SEC.GOV. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About AuraSound, Inc.
AuraSound has almost 25 years' experience specializing in the design and manufacturing of high-end speakers, consistently providing people with an optimal audio experience. AuraSound's broad range of products includes high-quality drivers for TV's and laptops, state-of-the art subwoofers and tactile transducers. AuraSound's products are based on patented and proprietary NRT® Drivers, Bass Shakers, Line Source tweeters and more. With their 2010 acquisition of ASI Audiotechnologies, they added an industry leading TV soundbar business, additional proprietary transducer technology, application specific amplifier designs and award winning ID designs. For more information visit the company web site at http://www.aurasound.com.
Contact:
Pete Andreyev
Executive VP, Sales & Marketing
AuraSound, Inc.
+ 852 6194 8333
+ 86 156 2607 8084
pandreyev@aurasound.com
WeDo Technologies Publishes Best Practice for M2M Fraud Protection and Security
READING, England and LISBON, Portugal, July 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
New Whitepaper Examines New Risks of M2M Communications for Operator
Revenues and Customer Security
WeDo Technologies [http://www.wedotechnologies.com/en/home ], a leader
in business and revenue assurance solutions, today announced the launch of
its latest whitepaper. 'Embedded Mobile (M2M) - Telecoms Fraud & Security
Management' focuses on the risks M2M services can cause operators in terms
of fraud and revenue assurance and how they can effectively deal with these
problems.
Created by Praesidium Consulting, WeDo Tecnologies' business consulting
division, the whitepaper considers the rise of M2M devices and services
across a number of vertical sectors and the risks that they create for
Communication Service Providers' (CSPs) businesses. From the greater
complexity introduced by third party partners to new data protection issues
and the new operational procedures required, the whitepaper goes on to
outline a number of risk management and defence strategies that CSPs can
adopt to counter the threats involved.
"M2M is an exciting technology that offers a host of benefits and
additional revenue streams to operators," said Simon Collins, WeDo
Technologies' Vice President for business consulting division, Praesidium.
"However, as with many new technologies, it also brings with it a number of
threats to both consumer security and revenue assurance. When planning for
and launching M2M strategies, operators must defend themselves and their
customers against these fraud risks in order to protect their brand
reputation and business for the long term."
The whitepaper, available to download from http://www.wedotechnologies.com/m2m-fraudprotection, is the accumulation
of WeDo Technologies' expertise and knowledge as leaders in the fraud
management and revenue assurance space. It is the first in a new series of
whitepapers aimed to educate CSPs on the fraud and revenue assurance
problems that can occur when launching services based on new technologies
and the management strategies required to protect against them.
About WeDo Technologies
WeDo Technologies is a worldwide leader in revenue and business
assurance, providing software and expert consultancy, to intelligently
analyse large quantities of data from across an organisation - helping to
negate or minimise operational or business inefficiencies and allowing
businesses to achieve significant return on investment via revenue
protection and cost savings.
WeDo Technologies works with some of the world's leading blue chip
companies from the retail, energy and finance industries, as well as more
than 100 telecommunications operators from almost 80 countries, through 400
highly-skilled professionals.
WeDo Technologies is owned by the largest non financial Portuguese group
- Sonae Group with more than 40.000 employees in 29 countries.
Source: WeDo Technologies
Contact details: For Wedo Technologies: Elizabeth Chadwick or Jen Hibberd, Tel: +44-20-7751-4444, Fax: +44-20-7751-4440, wedo@miliberty.com
Call of Duty®: Black Ops Unleashes Annihilation, the Latest Content Pack Now Available on PlayStation®3 System and Windows PC
New DLC for Global Phenomenon Call of Duty: Black Ops Launches on PSN and Windows PC Today
SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Call of Duty®: Black Ops detonates its latest downloadable content pack on PlayStation®3 and Windows PC gamers with the release of Annihilation, the third DLC pack for the critically acclaimed and best-selling title.
Fans have logged billions of hours in Call of Duty: Black Ops since its record-setting debut in 2010. Annihilation packs four of the most varied and intense Black Ops maps to date, along with a new Zombies experience filled with countless hours of new gameplay.
The Annihilation content pack includes:
-- "Hangar 18," buried deep within the military black site Area 51, where
gamers will battle through experimental weapons labs, the SR-71 test
hangar and a mysterious autopsy room.
-- "Drive-In," where players engage in close-quarters combat through a
1960s drive-in theater, complete with snack shack and a classic arcade.
-- "Silo," a massive multilevel battleground tucked within a super-secret
Soviet era nuclear missile site.
-- "Hazard," perched on the verdant Cuban cliffside, where gamers traverse
a coastal golf course fit for a dictator. This is the only set of links
where the hazards shoot back.
-- "Shangri-La," the all-new Zombies experience, which transports players
to a mythical paradise overrun with the undead. Face off against new
species of zombies and navigate a treacherous labyrinth of underground
caverns, all set within a lost jungle shrine.
"Annihilation delivers four of the best Black Ops multiplayer maps, and a mind blowing new Zombies experience with Shangri La," said Treyarch Studio Head, Mark Lamia. "With Annihilation,fans are really going to have a lot of fun continuing to play Black Ops online for a long time to come."
Developed by Treyarch and published by Activision Publishing, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), Call of Duty: Black Ops is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language. For additional Call of Duty updates and information, visit us on the web at http://www.callofduty.com/blackops,http://www.facebook.com/codblackops, and also via Twitter @Treyarch. In celebration of this launch, Treyarch will host Double XP across all platforms, including Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Nintendo Wii(TM) and Windows PC, starting Friday, July 29th through Sunday, July 31st.
About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, http://www.activision.com.
Call of Duty and Activision are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.
"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Windows PC is a registered trademark of the Microsoft group of companies.
AT&T Celebrates New High Tech Store in Cranberry Township
The new store offers a "try before you buy" experience
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To address the growing demand for advanced wireless data products and services, AT&T* today announced the grand opening of a new high-tech wireless store on Route 19 in Cranberry Township. The new store gives customers more options than ever, and the store design makes visiting a convenient and enjoyable experience.
"Our new store lets customers 'try before they buy' today's leading wireless devices," said Larry Evans, vice president and general manager, AT&T Ohio and western Pennsylvania. "No single cell phone or application is for everyone. It's our job to make sure every customer makes the right wireless selection and chooses the right plan to fit their wireless needs. In addition, we have hired eight new employees for the store, and we feel continuing to invest in the community benefits both local businesses and consumers alike."
This store is another example of AT&T's ongoing investments in Pennsylvania. From 2008 through 2010, AT&T has invested nearly $875 million across Pennsylvania in its wireless and wireline networks as part of our commitment to superior service in the state.
Located at 20125 Route 19 in Cranberry Township, the new store is led by industry veteran Joe Dananay and has a team of six trained sales consultants who can demonstrate a wide range of products and assist both consumers and businesses with purchasing decisions, customer service and technical support. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
*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.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, 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 services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.
HTC Plays Key Implementation Partner Role in MSU Enterprise Business Systems
TROY, Mich., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HTC Global Services (HTC) is pleased to announce its role as an Implementation Partner in the successful deployment of Michigan State University (MSU)'s Enterprise Business Systems (EBS). The new systems replaced MSU's legacy Financial, HR, and BI systems with integrated enterprise-wide systems that are flexible, sustainable and support improved and streamlined business processes.
MSU selected HTC as an Implementation Partner to assist in the following applications:
-- Financial: Kuali Financial System (KFS)
-- HR and Payroll: SAP
-- BI: Cognos
As a Kuali Commercial Affiliate, HTC provided its proven technology expertise to enhance KFS to meet MSU's functional requirements. HTC assisted MSU with setup of KFS in development, testing, training, and production environments, undertook data migration activities, customized KFS business rules, created extension objects, electronic documents (both maintenance and transactional), and a batch framework that integrated with third party vendor products. HTC also developed real-time external system interfaces, reporting structures and performance testing scripts.
"HTC 's team of application architects, Java and Cognos developers and SAP technical-functional consultants worked along side MSU staff through the various phases of this multi-year engagement. The EBS suite of applications are critically important for MSU, and we are very pleased to go live with this implementation," says Bruce Alexander, MSU's EBS Project Director.
"The Kuali community is pleased to recognize the success of MSU in their KFS implementation, and pleased that HTC was part of that success. HTC is a Kuali Commercial Affiliate that exhibits the core values of Kuali by working with both project teams and implementing schools to provide services around the open source software. This creates a support model that the community needs, while creating an effective model for their own business activities," said Jennifer Foutty, Executive Director of the Kuali Foundation.
"HTC is thrilled to be an implementation partner to MSU for the EBS project. HTC continues to play an active role in advocating and promoting the mission of the Kuali Foundation and its associated initiatives, as it continues to implement multiple solutions for higher education," says Vikas Bhutada, Executive VP of HTC.
HTC Global Services
Established in 1990, HTC is focused on providing business value to clients through IT and BPO services and solutions. An Inc 500 Hall of Fame Company, HTC is based in Troy, MI. http://www.htcinc.com.
Michigan State University
MSU is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan. Founded in 1855, MSU has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach. http://www.ebsp.msu.edu.
Kuali Foundation
The Kuali Foundation is a non-profit organization that coordinates the efforts of colleges and universities to sustain and evolve open-source, community-owned administrative software that meets the needs of all sizes of higher education institutions. http://kuali.org
Contact: Ravi Shankar RajagopalSenior Sales ExecutiveHTC Global Services3270 W. Big Beaver RoadTroy MI 48084248-786-2500 x 294
Trover Launches Mobile Discovery Network to Connect People with Remarkable Places and Things
Company Attracts 70,000 People from 150 Countries During Limited Trial; Expands Network to Include Anyone with a Facebook, Twitter or Email Account
SEATTLE, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Trover LLC, a start-up company created for explorers worldwide, today formally launched Trover, a mobile discovery network where people share location-specific discoveries of remarkable places and things in a fun, visual way. Founded by experienced social, mobile and travel industry entrepreneurs, Trover's founding team includes: Jason Karas, CEO, who founded Carbonrally.com; Andrew Coldham, vice president of technology who directed software development at Expedia.com's corporate travel divisionand Rich Barton, chairman, who founded Expedia.com and co-founded Zillow.
During a limited spring trial, open to Facebook members only, the Trover community attracted more than 70,000 users in 150 countries. To set the stage for significant expansion, the company has now opened its network to Twitter and email users as well. Trover is available today as a free iPhone app in the Apple iTunes Store, with an Android version planned for fall. Non-mobile users can view Trover content at trover.com.
Sharing Discoveries
"Trovers are passionate about sharing the unique things they uncover while exploring their cities or far away places," said CEO Jason Karas. "People find fulfillment in introducing something remarkable to another person. That, in turn, creates a social resource that's fun, entertaining and ultimately very useful. Whether it's a favorite boutique, a great bartender, a hidden piece of graffiti or a secret path to a deserted beach, with Trover in your pocket it's easy to find and share amazing discoveries."
Trover's defining feature is its location-based discovery mosaic, which allows explorers to visually browse through an eye-catching collection of thumbnail images featuring places to see and things to do nearby. As the user scrolls, a mileage indicator guides them to hidden gems located in nearby neighborhoods, towns, states and beyond, allowing users to explore new places or plan activities. To view a specific location, simply push the Jump To button for a virtual adventure. Trover's search features also make it easy to find and follow people with common interests.
Adding new discoveries is simple and encouraged. Just snap a picture, create a quick description and Trover automatically tags it with location data and positions it where others can easily find it later. The Feed button provides an entertaining way to track the discoveries and adventures of friends and fellow explorers, and a Featured button showcases one great discovery from the community each day.
"I've always dreamed of having a personal guide to the world with me at all times, full of recommendations from my friends on where to go and what to see," said Rich Barton, chairman of Trover. "Likewise, I have a strong urge to capture my own discoveries, so when my friends and followers come by in the future I can steer them to the good stuff. This is why we built Trover."
FoundingTrover
Trover was born as an idea among the management team at TravelPost, a community for travel enthusiasts that will continue to serve members worldwide. On April 1, Trover LLC was created as a new company wholly owned by TravelPost, with an investment earmarked from the $9.8 million Series A funds TravelPost received in March 2010. Investors include General Catalyst Partners, Ignition Partners and Benchmark Capital, each of which plays an active role in Trover's development.
About Trover
Founded in April 2011, Trover is a mobile discovery network designed to allow people to share location-specific discoveries of remarkable places and things in a fun, visual way. Its community of explorers worldwide is building a unique resource of amazing discoveries that's fun, entertaining and over time will grow increasingly useful. Trover is a private company funded by General Catalyst Partners, Ignition Partners and Benchmark Capital with offices located in Seattle, WA. For more information, visit http://www.trover.com.
Press Contact
David Templeton
DBT Communications
203.483.7373
dbtcom@gmail.com
Barchart Partners with Technical Trading Solutions, Provider of iPad® Charting App
CHICAGO, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Barchart.com, Inc., a leading provider of market data and information, today announced a data feed relationship with Technical Trading Solutions Ltd., a provider of technical analysis software, and developer of iChartist for iPad(®). With their newly formed relationship, users of iChartist for iPad can subscribe to Barchart's real-time data feeds which are sourced directly from futures and equity exchanges. iChartist and Barchart have implemented a direct integration for users to select Barchart as a data source.
"iChartist users are now able to receive real-time equity, index, forex and futures data from Barchart, directly on their iPad," said Eero Pikat, President of Barchart. "We are excited to partner with iChartist and for their users to have access to Barchart's data through a mobile device," said Pikat.
iChartist for iPad is a fully featured charting and technical analysis application for active traders and investors. Designed to provide the power and flexibility of a high-end desktop application, iChartist supports a wide selection of the most popular technical indicators and drawing tools. iChartist allows traders to actively monitor intraday charts in real-time, and perform advanced technical analysis, while away from their trading desk.
"iChartist is the first iPad app that provides the full power of a desktop charting application. With support for tick-by-tick real-time data from Barchart, intraday traders no longer need to be glued to their trading desk to monitor their positions," said Timon Haringa, Technical Director of Technical Trading Solutions. "The ability to interact with charts through the iPad's touch screen also provides for a more intimate and immersive user experience, and the mobility of the iPad provides technical analysts with the convenience of being able to review charts from the couch, or even the beach for that matter," said Haringa.
About Barchart
With a heritage dating back to 1934, Barchart.com, Inc. has substantial experience in meeting the information needs of the financial, agriculture, energy and media industries. As a full-service provider of futures, equity and foreign exchange market data, Barchart provides a wide range of market data products and solutions for customers ranging from institutional to retail. As an established leader in an industry that demands accuracy and innovation, Barchart's goal is to form partnerships that deliver comprehensive solutions for success. For more information, please visit http://www.barchartinc.com.
About Technical Trading Solutions Ltd
Located in Hong Kong, Technical Trading Solutions Ltd. is a privately owned software company founded by a group of seasoned wireless software developers and experienced traders. Their core business is to develop financial trading, charting and technical analysis software for wireless devices, intended for serious traders and investors. For more info about Technical Trading Solutions Ltd. and its products please visit http://www.ichartist.com.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod, and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
CONTACT: Mark Haraburda, Managing Director of Barchart.com, Inc., +1-312-506-8705, haraburda@barchart.com; or Timon Haringa, Technical Director of Technical Trading Solutions Ltd., +852 3012 9808, press@ichartist.com
Fusion-io Unleashes CPUs, Reduces I/O Bottleneck to Accelerate StatSoft Data Analysis Software
White Paper from StatSoft Details 300-500% Performance Improvements and Latency Reductions in Testing Fusion ioMemory with STATISTICA Software
SALT LAKE CITY, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fusion-io (NYSE: FIO), developer of a next-generation shared data decentralization platform, today announced that StatSoft, provider of a comprehensive array of data analysis, data management, data visualization and data mining technologies, recently tested Fusion's ioMemory platform with its flagship STATISTICA software, comparing Fusion ioDrives to disk-based storage components.
The StatSoft white paper concluded that Fusion ioDrives significantly increased the I/O performance in the STATISTICA suite of analytics software products and solutions, greatly increasing CPU utilization and efficiency. With ioMemory, StatSoft achieved 300 and 500 percent data performance and latency reduction improvements when compared to legacy disk-based storage. With the increased I/O performance enabled by the Fusion ioDrives, CPU utilization increased to 90 percent in tests of large data sets, versus the 32 percent CPU utilization observed with the disk-based technology.
"Our global client base shares a common need for the fastest possible data access in order to perform analyses that drive business-critical decisions," said George Butler, Vice President, Platform Development, StatSoft. "STATISTICA is already among the fastest data analysis software tools on the market. With the Fusion-io memory platform, STATISTICA customers can analyze information from even the largest data sets more quickly than ever before through a solution that greatly improves the efficiency of their current infrastructure."
STATISTICA is widely used as an integral component of corporate computer infrastructures to boost productivity and the bottom line, to increase safety, reduce industrial pollution and develop environmental solutions. The STATISTICA product line and its scalable, fully web-enabled distributed processing systems are utilized in more than 60 countries in numerous languages. STATISTICA's 600,000 end users include leading global corporations in verticals such as manufacturing, power generation, semiconductors, pharmaceutical, chemical, petrochemical, food processing, automotive, heavy equipment, insurance, telecom, R&D and more.
"Few enterprises today have the luxury of wasting capital to build and run an enormous, inefficient storage system," said Neil Carson, Fusion-io Chief Technology Officer. "Seeking an intelligently simple solution, StatSoft's forward-thinking engineers have found a way to deliver data to their customers even faster by boosting the efficiency of their current infrastructures. The StatSoft white paper clearly demonstrates the potential for Fusion ioMemory to unlock hidden value by reducing the I/O bottleneck to put idle CPUs to work."
STATISTICA is optimized for processing large amounts of data, so quick access to stored data is essential. Whether processing a large STATISTICA Spreadsheet in read-only mode for analysis, or creating temporary objects during data management operations, storage performance and latency directly affects application performance.
StatSoft tested the ioDrives in two categories: Extensive Temp directory access and analyzing large spreadsheets. In real-world scenarios accessing Temp directories, Fusion-io enabled performance improvements three times greater than traditional disks. In analyzing large spreadsheets, Fusion's technology produced five times the performance of disk-based storage. To review the StatSoft white paper, "STATISTICA Performance with Fusion-io ioDrive," go to http://www.statsoft.com/Portals/0/Support/Download/STATISTICA_Fusion_ioDrive_WhitePaper.pdf
Fusion-io has pioneered a next generation storage memory platform for shared data decentralization that significantly improves the processing capabilities within a datacenter by relocating process-critical, or "active," data from centralized storage to the server where it is being processed, a methodology referred to as data decentralization. Fusion's integrated hardware and software solutions leverage non-volatile memory to significantly increase datacenter efficiency and offers enterprise grade performance, reliability, availability and manageability. Fusion's data decentralization platform can transform legacy architectures into next generation datacenters and allows enterprises to consolidate or significantly reduce complex and expensive high performance storage, high performance networking and memory-rich servers. Fusion's platform enables enterprises to increase the utilization, performance and efficiency of their datacenter resources and extract greater value from their information assets.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, including, but are not limited to, statements concerning the performance improvements experienced and test results reported by StatSoft and the effect of these on its operations and business and that of its STATISTICA suite customers. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions regarding future events and business performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained, anticipated, or implied in any forward-looking statement, including, but not limited to, the risk that StatSoft may not realize the advantages it expects from deploying our technology and that other users of STATISTICA with our technology may not experience the performance advantages reported by StatSoft in its testing, and such other risks set forth in the registration statements and reports that Fusion-io files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the Investor Relations section of our website at http://www.fusionio.com. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Fusion-io undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason after the date of this press release.
Robert Brumfield
Media Relations
Fusion-io
917.224.7769
bbrumfield@fusionio.com
Nefsis Adds PDF Sharing to its Video Conferencing Cloud
Secure, multiparty videoconference sessions among employees and business partners can share and annotate multipage PDF documents
SAN DIEGO, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Online services innovator Nefsis® announced today that its cloud-based HD video conferencing sessions now support live sharing of portable document format (PDF) files. At the click of a mouse, videoconference participants can share, annotate, and save multipage PDF documents on-the-fly, just as easily as sharing any other document type including PowerPoint® presentations and Word documents. As video conferencing adoption grows beyond the boardroom, seamlessly integrated collaboration features become more important. Nefsis helps its business customers by eliminating the cost and complexity of managing on-premise multichannel channel units (MCUs), desktop gateways, and collaboration servers by delivering all of these software-based capabilities via its global video conferencing cloud.
"Talking heads alone don't cut it anymore, the demands of inter-office meetings, training and sales presentations require secure, high-quality video, and advanced collaboration features such as PowerPoint, PDF, and media file sharing," said Tom Toperczer, Nefsis Vice President of Marketing. "Video conferencing without advanced collaboration falls short. Nefsis provides a complete business solution via lower-cost, cloud-based delivery."
The Nefsis PDF codec uploads a shared PDF on-the-fly, no preprocessing required. The document and any page changes are displayed to all conference participants simultaneously. The codec preserves the vector graphic display providing a high-quality presentation, allowing zoom-in, zoom-out, various display options, and thumbnail views. This is in marked contrast to H.239 and other screen capture methods that do not preserve rich text and vector graphics.
The new PDF codec is available now as a seamlessly integrated, advanced collaboration feature to all Nefsis Professional subscribers and trial users. For a free 14-day trial of Nefsis Professional, visit http://www.Nefsis.com.
About Nefsis
Headquartered in San Diego, California, Nefsis is a technology specialist in video conferencing software and cloud computing online services. The Company's global cloud provides multipoint HD video and advanced collaboration tools to business, government and educational customers in more than 45 countries worldwide. As compared to previous generations of infrastructure hardware solutions such as video routers, MCUs and gateways, the Nefsis cloud-based offering is less expensive, automatically maintained, and easier to expand.
For more information, please visit http://www.nefsis.com or call +1 (858) 715-0970 in the Americas or +44 (0) 870 224 0415 in the UK and Europe.
MEDIA CONTACT
Xenia Moore
Phone: (858) 715-0970
xmoore@nefsis.com
Nefsis is a registered trademark of Nefsis Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned are property of their respective owners.
INRIX Announces $60 Million Offer to Acquire UK-Based ITIS Holdings, a Leading European Traffic Information Company
Proposed Acquisition Adds $27 Million in Revenue, 70 Leading Customers, Traffic Services in 8 New Countries & 155 Employees to INRIX
KIRKLAND, Wash., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- INRIX, Inc., a leading international provider of real-time traffic information and connected driving services, announced it has extended an offer to ITIS Holdings plc and its shareholders to acquire the company for approximately $60 million (37 million pounds Sterling).
"Automakers, mobile companies and other customers are increasingly demanding global traffic and connected driving solutions," said Bryan Mistele, president and CEO of INRIX. "ITIS is a strategic investment that expands our geographic reach, technical expertise and suite of market leading technologies to offer customers the best traffic information, more cost-effectively and in more markets."
The proposed acquisition grows INRIX's business exponentially in several areas including:
-- Geographic & Market Reach: INRIX would extend its global footprint into
8 new markets including Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Singapore and
Russia - better coverage in markets like the U.K. and Germany providing
customers with coverage across 30 countries. Through ITIS' TrafficLink
subsidiary, INRIX would deliver daily traffic broadcasts to millions
U.K. listeners across the entire BBC local radio network, major
commercial radio stations nationwide, ITV and Sky News.
-- Customers & Revenues: INRIX would add 70 customers and $27M in annual
revenue across similar automotive, mobile, public sector and media
businesses. Key new customers and partners include Nissan, Telefonica,
Vodafone and O2. The proposed deal also would expand INRIX's role with
existing customers including Toyota, TomTom and TeleNav.
-- Increased Technical Expertise. INRIX would gain 155 new employees with
technical expertise in cellular network data collection, traffic
incident information, RDS-TMC and digital radio data broadcasting,
interactive-voice response systems and multi-modal routing to better
serve its rapidly expanding customer base. As the leading Cellular
Floating Vehicle Data (CFVD) network in production in the world, ITIS
CFVD would add 20 million connected devices to INRIX's crowd-sourced
traffic network and accelerate the introduction of traffic services in
emerging markets. Automakers benefit from INRIX's increased ability to
meet their short-term need for RDS and DAB-based broadcast traffic
delivery methods as they transition toward fully connected solutions.
Lastly, ITIS' traffic operations data center helps INRIX further scale
the company's international expansion.
Improved Competiveness in the Global Marketplace
Through the acquisition, INRIX is uniquely positioned to benefit from the convergence of automotive, mobile and public sector efforts to leverage the latest smart devices, data analytics and connectivity technologies for improving how the world's one billion drivers travel from place to place. As the market for traffic and travel information has moved from being highly fragmented and country specific to one where customers sought and have found global providers to support global technology standards in the vehicle, INRIX's proposed acquisition of ITIS provides the company with additional scale to compete with much larger competitors. As a result, INRIX would offer customers the best real-time, predictive and historical traffic information available for 30 countries, sourced from the largest traffic network in the world and delivered using an unrivaled set of standards and patented technologies.
Pending approval by ITIS shareholders, the deal is expected to close in late August 2011.
About INRIX
INRIX® is a leading international provider of real-time traffic information and connected driving services in the car, online and on mobile devices. With more than 150 customers and partners including Audi AG, ADAC, ALK, ANWB, Coyote, the Ford Motor Company, I-95 Coalition, MapQuest, Microsoft, NAVIGON, Tele Atlas, Telmap, TeleNav, Texas Transportation Institute and Toyota, INRIX's real-time traffic and traffic forecasts help drivers save time every day.
INRIX Traffic Services leverage sophisticated statistical analysis techniques, originally developed by Microsoft Research, to aggregate and enhance traffic-related information from hundreds of public and private sources, including traditional road sensors and the company's unique network of more than 10 million GPS-enabled vehicles and cellular devices. INRIX delivers highly accurate real-time and historical traffic information today for 22 countries across North America and Europe. To experience the traffic technology revolution behind the next generation of navigation and location-based service applications, visit http://www.INRIX.com.
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the ability of the companies to successfully and efficiently integrate, the expected benefits or synergies of the acquisition, the expected performance and features of ITIS' or INRIX's products and any INRIX and ITIS combined products, the impact of the acquisition on the future innovation of INRIX and ITIS products, the future product roadmap for ITIS products, the continued availability of and support for ITIS' products, INRIX's expectation with respect to investment in existing ITIS products, the impact of the acquisition on, and the expected benefits of the acquisition for, users of INRIX and ITIS products, INRIX's and ITIS' ability to serve certain market segments, and INRIX's and ITIS' expectation about whether ITIS will operate as an independent company or be integrated into INRIX. These statements are based on the current expectations or beliefs of management of INRIX, Inc., and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to (1) changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, (2) failure to compete successfully in this highly competitive and rapidly changing marketplace, (3) failure to retain key employees, and(4) other factors affecting the operation of the respective businesses of INRIX and ITIS. INRIX is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter their respective forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
IBM Announces New Innovation Lab Dedicated To Technology Services
New Services Innovation Lab To Help Clients Capitalize On New Opportunities
ARMONK, N.Y., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced the creation of the Services Innovation Lab (SIL), a new global lab that will initially comprise about 200 technology experts hand-picked from around the company. The lab will accelerate the expansion of real-time analytics and software automation in both IBM's technology services offerings and its global services delivery capabilities.
The SIL significantly expands IBM's nearly 10-year-old services research program by bringing together services, research, software developers and industry experts from around the company to focus initially on the creation of services software applications for cloud computing, analytics and mobility. IBM invests more than $6 billion annually on research and development and employs about 3,000 researchers worldwide, with about a third of them focused on services and analytics.
"Our singular focus is to help our clients capitalize on technologies that solve problems and create new possibilities," said Mike Daniels, senior vice president and group executive, IBM Services. "Creation of the Services Innovation Lab demonstrates how we at IBM differentiate our capabilities vs. competition. We harness the best of what IBM research and development can deliver in science and engineering to help our clients be more innovative."
IBM researchers, developers and other technical experts who will participate in the SIL have an array of credentials, including development and client experience in computer science, software, security and compliance, systems management, mathematics and business optimization, data mining, storage, computer systems, user interaction and cognitive sciences. The central mission of these elite researchers and developers is to turn the intellectual property created during client engagements into software - thereby making it easier and faster to replicate a solution to thousands of engagements around the globe.
"The Services Innovation Lab is creating a research environment that leverages advances in services science, analytics and cloud computing to create innovation that matters for our clients anywhere in the world," said Mahmoud Naghshineh, vice president and director, IBM Services Innovation Lab. "Our efforts are focused on understanding the problems of service organizations from the perspectives of people, practices, information and technology to provide them new opportunities for revenue, cost savings and to foster innovation."
The SIL will operate out of IBM Research's Labs worldwide, including New York, California, China, Israel, India, Japan, Switzerland and Brazil. The initial focus of the SIL projects includes:
-- Cloud Computing -- The SIL will create both new Cloud services and
devise new methods for moving traditional computing environments to a
Cloud-based model. For example, one of the initial projects will be the
creation of so-called dashboards that will enable an information
technology (IT) professionals more effectively learn what is happening
inside a datacenter, where to apply resources and improve productivity.
-- Advanced Analytics - The SIL will invent new ways to tightly integrate
analytic services with business processes to create new types of
services and applications that can be injected into client accounts more
quickly. One example already in the market is IBM's Tax Collections
Optimizer, which uses new IBM-patented analytics technology to help
governments identify the most effective and efficient methods to collect
taxes from delinquent debtors.
-- Service Delivery Automation -- The SIL will use data mining and
real-time analytics software to create new delivery capabilities that
will dramatically improve the operation of a data center by enabling IT
management to become predictive and proactive. For example, one project
will more accurately predict if a data center will lose power. The new
technologies will enable better monitoring and maintenance of data
centers that will improve quality and reduce costs.
-- Enterprise Mobilization and Smarter Planet - Focused on helping our
services clients capitalize on mobile technologies, the SIL will develop
new ways to access enterprise applications and infrastructure regardless
of the device being used. For example, the SIL will design a way to
enable a mobile device to more easily access with enterprise customer
reference systems or expense reporting applications.
The SIL is the latest example of the investments in research innovation and software capabilities that IBM has made over the past decade to create higher-value service offerings. IBM researchers have participated in more than 1,000 IT business process and consulting client services engagements.
With more than 15,000 services and software patents issued to IBM inventors in the last five years, patented services applications have played a major role in enabling IBM to deliver on its smarter planet vision - a world where technologies are increasingly interconnected, instrumented and intelligent -- by quickly moving an invention into client engagements around the world, from smarter healthcare and smarter water management to smarter buildings and smarter crime prevention.
Contacts:
Randy Zane IBM Media Relations 914-945-1655 rzane@us.ibm.com
Bruce McConnel IBM Media Relations 804-402-2229 wmcconn@us.ibm.com
New Technology Solutions Company Launches in Atlanta
TekStream builds experienced team of industry experts to deliver long-term and cost-effective solutions for enterprise companies
ATLANTA, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TekStream Solutions, LLC, announced today its launch as a new Atlanta-based information technology services firm. The company will specialize in providing content management, enterprise portal and resourcing services to enterprise businesses, and has already signed on notable Fortune 500 clients.
The executive management of TekStream consists of Rob Jansen, CEO; Judd Robins, Executive Vice President, Consulting Services; and Mark Gannon, Executive Vice President, Resourcing Services. The trio, together with its senior team of experts, has deep and extensive experience delivering long-term and cost-effective technology solutions for large clients in a wide range of industries.
"After decades of enterprise companies investing in technology solutions for many individual business units with different functional needs, companies are left with disparate systems and deep inefficiencies. They are challenged to manage the volumes of content and internet-based services that have been created during a transition to digital content," Jansen said. "Our specialty is finding solutions to these company-wide problems faced by enterprise businesses, such as consolidating and streamlining systems and creating 'anytime, anywhere access' to data for employees and customers."
According to Jansen, newer technologies have resulted in a changing work environment that involves an experienced and mobile workforce. Companies must make it easier for knowledge workers to share, connect and collaborate across geographies. TekStream helps companies make information and services available to workers across many different channels and devices.
TekStream also serves companies looking to rebuild staff previously trimmed during the down economy and executives looking for ways to restructure teams with greater efficiencies. Rather than hiring full-time workers, companies can turn to providers like TekStream who offer extremely experienced talent that specialize in their unique business challenges to reduce risk and increase business agility.
While there are many industries and technologies, TekStream has developed "repeatable solutions" to address similar needs, such as compliance that allow companies to adhere to industry standards. The company has achieved "trusted advisor status" with large software suppliers such as Oracle that provides clients with deep product expertise, access to product roadmap/strategy and unparalleled support.
About TekStream Solutions, LLC
TekStream Solutions is an Atlanta-based technology solutions company that specializes in addressing the company-wide IT problems faced by enterprise businesses, such as consolidating and streamlining disparate content and application delivery systems and the market challenges to create "anytime, anywhere access" to data for employees, partners and customers. TekStream's IT consulting solutions combined with its specialized IT recruiting expertise helps businesses increase efficiencies, streamline costs and remain competitive in an extremely fast-changing market. For more information, visit http://www.tekstream.com.
RRSAT to Present at the Oppenheimer 14th Annual Technology Conference in Boston
AIRPORT CITY BUSINESS PARK, Israel, July 28, 2011/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST), a leading
provider of comprehensive content management and global distribution
services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, today
announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. David Rivel, and Chief
Financial Officer, David Aber, will present at the Oppenheimer 14th Annual
Technology Conference.
The Oppenheimer 14th Annual Technology Conference is taking place at the
Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, MA. Mr. Rivel and Mr. Aber are scheduled to
present at 3:45 pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.
At the conference there will be an opportunity for investors to meet
with Mr. Rivel and Mr. Aber during that day. Interested investors should
contact the conference organizers at Oppenheimer or the Investor Relations
team at RRsat at rrsat@ccgisrael.com.
About RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd.
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST) provides global,
end-to-end, content management and distribution services to the rapidly
expanding television and radio broadcasting industries, covering more than
150 countries. Through its RRsat Global Network, composed of satellite and
terrestrial fiber optic capacity and the public Internet, RRsat provides
high-quality and flexible global distribution services 24/7 to more than 630
channels reaching multiplatform operators, Internet TV and direct-to-home
viewers worldwide and also offers occasional use services for sports, news
and events with a fleet of flyaways and over 10 transportable satellite
newsgathering services (SNG) units. More than 130 television and radio
channels use RRsat's advanced production and playout centers comprising
comprehensive media asset management services. Visit the company's website
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including
statements regarding (i) the growth of our business and the television and
radio broadcasting industries, (ii) our expectation to expand our client
base and sell additional services to our existing client base, (iii) our
ability to successfully integrate the teleports we acquired, (iv) our
ability to develop and commercialize the RRinternetTV service, (v) our
expectation to extend the average length of our contracts in the future,
(vi) our ability to develop, expand and commercialize our HD Platform, (vii)
our ability to report future successes, (viii) our ability to expand our
activity in the American market, and (ix) our intention to distribute
dividends in the future and the size of any dividends declared. These
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties
and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and
projections about the companies and the industry as of the date of this
press release. The company undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or
circumstances, or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required
by law. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated
by the forward-looking statements, including the risks indicated in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For more details,
please refer to our SEC filings and the amendments thereto, including our
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010 and our
Current Reports on Form 6-K.
Company Contact Information:
David Aber, CFO
Tel: +972-8-861-0000
Email: investors@rrsat.com
Powermat Releases Wireless Charging System for T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide in Time with Phone Launch
NEW YORK, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Powermat, the leader in wireless charging, announced today the availability of a dedicated wireless charging solution for the T-Mobile® myTouch 4G Slide coinciding with in-store availability of the new Android(TM)-powered smartphone.
The Powermat solution for the myTouch 4G Slide will allow users to wirelessly charge their Smartphones by replacing the battery cover on the device with a Powermat receiver that mimics the look and feel of the smartphone's original battery cover. The one time replacement allows customers to simply 'drop and charge' their myTouch 4G Slide on any Powermat to begin wireless power delivery.
The new T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide features the most advanced camera of any smartphone with zero shutter lag, backside illuminated sensor and additional premium digital camera features that offer consumers a viable replacement for their digital point & shoot camera.
With a Powermat wireless charging system specifically designed for the myTouch 4G Slide, customers will have less worry about their charging needs, the tangle of spaghetti wires or the daily hassle of plugging/unplugging their device.
"We are delighted to work closely with T-Mobile to support the new T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide as it becomes available to consumers," said Ran Poliakine, Powermat CEO. "The opportunity to collaborate with T-Mobile and introduce Powermat technology with the launch of the myTouch 4G Slide helps expand the nationwide availability of wireless charging."
The Powermat wireless charging solution for the myTouch 4G Slide will be sold exclusively by T-Mobile. Powermat wireless charging support for additional products from T-Mobile is anticipated in the future.
About Powermat
Powermat, Ltd. is pioneering the wireless charging revolution. The first company to perfect wireless charging and to then bring it to consumers in a widely available, meaningful way via mainstream retail channels, Powermat is leading the charge in helping consumers lose the cords. The dominant market leader, Powermat allows users to enable their favorite electronic devices once with a Powermat receiver and then set down up to three devices on the charging mat for fast and effective wireless charging. Powermat technology is scalable and embeddable, allowing it to be built directly into electronics of all kinds as well as almost any surface to create wireless energy "hubs" within homes, automobiles, airports, offices and other venues Visit http://www.powermat.com.
Contact: Scott Eisenstein
scott@powermat.com
(212) 297 2762