NDC Academy 2011 Transforms Capitol Hill Reception into First Ever Tweet-Up in Historic Kennedy Caucus Room
National Development Council taps its Twitter following of economic and community development leaders, officials and members of Congress put a spotlight on the nation's top community development projects
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NDC Academy 2011 today announced its re-envisioned program for the May 23-25th Conference's signature networking event, the Capitol Hill Reception. In the past, the reception served as a networking event for the economic and community development conference-goers to meet and mingle with policy leaders, officials and members of Congress. With a focus on building a more interactive and engaging event, the new Capitol Hill Reception and Tweet-Up aims to highlight the growing importance of social networking to economic and community development practitioners across the country and provide dedicated networking opportunities.
"The NDC Academy is responsive to changes and challenges impacting community development as well as to what our community partners tell us they will find most valuable and useful. Providing productive learning and networking opportunities that come from face-to-face interactions are a vital part of the conference," said Kevin Urquhart, director of training for the National Development Council (NDC) and Academy director. "The Capitol Reception and Tweet-Up demonstrates our commitment to grow and nurture relationships at Academy and through social media. It will create an atmosphere where attendees, honored guests and officials, and panelists and moderators can actively contribute to the dialogue here, online and on an ongoing basis."
Under the theme, "Navigating Changing Times," NDC Academy 2011 will feature 20 sessions focused on the latest financing tools and development strategies for every type of community development project. Topics include: Going Green for Community Development; the Small Business Jobs Act; Affordable Housing; Foundations and Community Development; Public-Private Partnerships; New Market Tax Credits; and more.
NDC Academy 2011 is May 23 - 25 at the Renaissance Hotel Dupont Circle, 1143 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. A few openings remain; to register please visit: http://bit.ly/NDCAcademy.
NDC Academy's Capitol Hill Reception and Tweet-Up will take place May 24, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Historic Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building - Room 325. For more information or to RSVP to the event, please visit: http://tweetvite.com/event/NDCTweetup.
NDC Academy is pleased to have the support of several sponsors, including the Citi Foundation; Branch Banking and Trust Company; Reznick Group; American Express Center for Community Development; Mark Foster, Attorney; Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses; Hillis Clark Martin and Peterson; Promotion Execution Partners (PEP); Shallo, Galluscio, Bianchi and Fucito; Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, P.C.; Dudley Ventures; Vincent P. Hauser, Architect; and Jill Kotvis, Attorney.
The NDC Academy is a biennial conference of the National Development Council, which brings together economic and community development professionals from around the nation with policy makers, advocates and elected officials for high impact training, learning and networking. NDC Academy 2011 takes place May 23 - 25, at the Renaissance Hotel Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C. Visit: http://bit.ly/NDCAcademy.
About the National Development Council
For more than 40 years, the National Development Council (NDC) has worked to create and implement economic and community development strategies that increase the flow of capital, establish finance programs and help to create a professional economic and community development workforce. NDC offers a wide range of services, including development assistance, professional training, small business financing and debt and equity for residential, commercial, public and non-profit facilities projects. To learn more, please visit http://www.nationaldevelopmentcouncil.org.
Media Contacts:
Amina Suchoski
The Fearey Group for NDC
206-229-0496; asuchoski@feareygroup.com
New ALEKS Course Products Offered Through McGraw-Hill Cover All Florida Developmental Education Math Competencies
Full Coverage Correlation and Online Reporting Combined with ALEKS Artificial Intelligence
NEW YORK, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw-Hill Education and ALEKS Corporation today announced the release of ALEKS Florida Math 0018 and Florida Math 0028, two new higher education course products that offer 100% coverage of the new Florida developmental education mathematics competencies. These competencies were released by the Florida Department of Education in November 2010 as part of an effort to restructure and standardize the developmental education course sequences in Florida.
ALEKS Florida Math 0018 and Florida Math 0028, available through McGraw-Hill's higher education group, provide students with a personalized, cost-effective solution to course mastery. Using a sophisticated artificial intelligence engine, ALEKS guides students to work on the material they are ready to learn, quickly filling their individual knowledge gaps. These courses also include detailed, online reporting to track student and class progress toward these specific Florida mathematics competencies.
ALEKS is a Research-Based Online Program featuring:
-- Artificial Intelligence Targeting Gaps in Student Knowledge;
-- Highly Individualized Assessment and Learning to Ensure Student Mastery;
-- Robust Course Management Tools including Gradebook, Calendar, and More;
-- Automatically-Graded Assignments: e-Homework, Quizzes, Tests, and
Assessments;
-- Progress Monitoring Toward Mastery of Competencies and Course
Completion; and
-- Adaptive, Open-Response Environment Avoids Multiple-Choice Questions.
"At ALEKS, we develop unique learning solutions that ensure student competence in essential course material," said Wil Lampros, President of ALEKS Corporation. "These new course products cover 100% of the new Florida statewide developmental education mathematics competencies, providing an affordable and personalized path for students to acquire the necessary background knowledge for college-level course work and facilitating full in-state transferability of students."
ALEKS is a unique, web-based program that dramatically raises student proficiency and success rates in mathematics, while reducing faculty workload and office-hour lines. Through artificial intelligence and adaptive questioning, ALEKS assesses precisely a student's knowledge and delivers an individualized, dynamic learning plan on topics the student is ready to learn in the course. As a result, ALEKS interacts with students much like a skilled, human tutor to ensure long-term mastery of course material and educational standards. College case studies have shown that ALEKS has increased pass rates by more than 20 percentage points versus other online homework systems, and by more than 30 percentage points compared to using a textbook alone.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education, a unit of McGraw-Hill Education, is a leading innovator in the development of 21st century teaching and learning solutions for postsecondary and higher education markets worldwide. Through a comprehensive range of traditional and digital education content and tools focused on improving student learning outcomes, McGraw-Hill Higher Education empowers and prepares professionals and students to connect, learn and succeed in the global economy. McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65 languages. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com.
About ALEKS Corporation
ALEKS Corporation is a leader in the creation of web-based, artificially intelligent, educational software. ALEKS assessment and learning technologies were originally developed by a team of cognitive scientists, mathematicians, and software engineers at the University of California, Irvine, with major funding from the National Science Foundation. ALEKS is founded on groundbreaking research in mathematical cognitive science known as Knowledge Space Theory. Through adaptive questioning, ALEKS accurately assesses a student's knowledge state and then delivers targeted instruction on the topics the student is ready to learn.
ALEKS has been used by millions of students in more than 50 academic subjects at thousands of schools and other educational institutions throughout the world. For additional information, visit http://www.aleks.com.
Contacts:
Tom StantonMcGraw-Hill Education(212) 904-3214tom_stanton@mcgraw-hill.com
VerveLife Secures Leadership in Music Marketing Space with Acquisition of AppliedSB
Combination provides the broadest portfolio of music-centric products and services to brand marketers and digital music providers
CHICAGO, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- VerveLife (http://www.VerveLife.com) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of AppliedSB, creating a new leader in tech-driven music marketing solutions that help brands and digital music providers harness the power of music. The acquisition creates the only company to offer world-class technology, music marketing, creative expertise, industry relationships and original content development under one roof.
"By combining the scale of VerveLife and AppliedSB, we have cemented our position as a global leader in helping clients use music to engage consumers and drive sales," said Victor Siegel, CEO and President of VerveLife. "We now offer the most comprehensive, interactive music platform for consumer engagement. No other company comes close to matching VerveLife's level of music and creative expertise or offering clients such a vast suite of technology-based products and services."
At the core of the technology is Rhymba(TM), a proprietary music and media delivery platform that provides massive scalability. Rhymba's flexible architecture can manage digital content on a global basis or create personalized music experiences for individual consumers. Growing at 15 percent per month, Rhymba currently delivers 50 million tracks per month at rates as high as 5,000 continuous streams per second.
Rhymba's dynamic design allows digital music providers such as IMVU, an online social entertainment destination, and Roqbot, winner of SXSW 2011's Accelerator music award, to give each visitor a personalized interactive experience. It also allows clients like LiveNation/Musictoday to offer digital music for purchase, and Fortune 500 brands such as Quaker (PepsiCo), Dell and American Airlines to create interactive music platforms that engage consumers, reward purchase and build customer loyalty.
"The Roqbot team has enjoyed working with VerveLife as a trusted partner and looks forward to using their new suite of products and services to further leverage the power of music in innovative and compelling ways," says Garrett Dodge, CEO of Roqbot.
Roqbot is just one of the many clients benefiting from VerveLife's unprecedented access to the whole music ecosystem including artists, labels, artist management, music publishers and talent agencies. These long-standing partnerships combined with a robust technology platform and a pre-licensed library of more than 4 million tracks from the major labels and leading independents, make the acquisition of AppliedSB a natural fit.
"I've always known brands would play a significant role in the future of the music business," said Justin Jarvinen, founder of VerveLife. "The combination of these two companies bring together a superlative blend of technology, access and marketing know-how to one location. I am delighted about what the future holds."
The purchase of AppliedSB is a key element in VerveLife's aggressive growth strategy. "Going forward, we will continue to make acquisitions that enhance our leadership in the digital music space with cutting-edge solutions that put music at the center of our clients' strategic business building efforts," said Siegel, who will continue to lead the company from its headquarters in Chicago.
Zippi Announces New App Submission for iPhone and iPad Devices, Titled "Millionaire Brain" Movies and TV Edition.
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zippi Networks, Inc. (Pink Sheets: ZIPZ), an Applications company focused on delivering entertainment, gaming, and social networking Apps for today's mobile lifestyle, announced its latest app release, "Millionaire Brain" Movies and TV edition.
The company has received various accolades on their first release of the iPhone and iPad trivia app, titled "Millionaire Brain," which is currently available in iTunes. The popularity of Zippi's first "Millionaire Brain" app achieved the company a number one rank in the iTunes store for Apple's iPad, as well as a number seven rank for the iPhone. With the popularity of trivia apps continuing to rise, the company sights the popularity of its original release as the main driver in completing the release of a new, and category specific version of its trivial app, specifically designed for Movie and TV buffs.
Robert A. Rositano Jr., CEO of Zippi Networks, Inc., stated, "'Millionaire Brain' has certainly provided Zippi with quantifiable metrics, and proven how viral marketing can contribute to app downloads and distribution, when the market decides it likes a certain app. The trivia category continues to show strong growth in the app store, as more and more users look for ways to test their brain power, or simply kill some time. Zippi believes this 'Movies and TV' edition of 'Millionaire Brain' creates an entirely new opportunity of expansion, into vertical market channels, or topics of trivia. We are excited about our sixth app release, and now await approval for iTunes distribution. This has been a significant achievement for the business, and I am very pleased to announce its completion and submission to Apple."
About Zippi Networks, Inc.:
Zippi is an Applications company; delivering consumers entertainment, gaming, and social networking Apps for today's Mobile lifestyle.
Safe Harbor:
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as results of various factors including the ability of the company to successfully commercialize its new technologies and service offerings. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Zippi is a trademark of Zippi Networks, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Media Contacts:
Robert Rositano Jr.
robert@zippi.com
Karen Ashley
1 408 933-3974
karen@zippi.com
investor@zippi.com
A10 Networks Sets Industry Performance Records with AX Series Application Delivery Platforms
New 64-bit Hardware and Software Solutions, Increased SSL 2048-bit Key Performance, Virtual Chassis Enhancements and Diameter Support
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A10 Networks(TM), the technology leader in Application Networking, unveiled its new Advanced Core Operating System (ACOS) release 2.6.1 that supports new hardware and software models and feature enhancements for its flagship AX Series Application Delivery Controller (ADC) family, delivering the highest performance in their respective categories and providing comprehensive application focused capabilities. A10's AX Series ADCs are new generation server load balancers with an innovative 64-bit shared-memory and multi-process, multi-core, multi-CPU architecture that leaps the competition in performance, scalability, efficiency and flexibility.
"Release 2.6.1 supports A10's innovative Virtual Chassis System (aVCS), and has over 100 new features. We also fine-tuned ACOS to improve overall system performance," said Lee Chen, Founder and CEO for A10 Networks. "Many of our large customers prefer our Virtual Chassis System over competitors' fixed chassis systems. With aVCS, there is upfront savings of space, energy and cost and customers can add additional AX models as demand increases. Customers are increasingly choosing the AX Series over traditional platforms due to its unique capabilities, flexibility, scalability and overall value."
Updates to the AX Series family include:
-- Performance Leading 64-bit Platforms To Scale Enterprise and Service
Provider Data Centers
-- AX 3000-11-GCF: The new mid-range appliance is a compact 1U platform
designed for running multiple enterprise applications, high density
deployments, and multi-vendor data center consolidation.
-- Intel hex-core processor combined with ACOS doubles the
performance of the quad-core AX 3000 with 850,000 Layer 4
connections per second (CPS). Throughput is increased to 30
Gbps.
-- Includes four 10-Gigabit Fiber ports, eight Gigabit Copper
ports, eight Gigabit Fiber ports, solid-state drive (SSD),
redundant power supplies (RPS), removable smart fans and onboard
ASIC hardware for SSL acceleration.
-- aVCS (AX Virtual Chassis System): Configure up to eight AX Series
appliances in a virtual cluster, providing the highest performing
ADC solution on the market with a cost effective "pay as you grow"
model.
-- Delivers 300+ Gbps throughput and 24 million+ L4 CPS, managed as
a single unified device.
-- Simplified migration from non-aVCS configurations.
-- Offers over eight times the performance and greater flexibility
than competitors' fixed chassis systems.
-- SoftAX: AX Series Virtual Appliance is available at various
performance levels, up to 4 Gbps, offering the highest performance
on the market today by any leading ADC vendor.
-- Runs on VMware vSphere and can be deployed in minutes.
-- Flexibility, with a range of virtual appliances that offer a
hardware appliance upgrade path as needed, all with a common
configuration.
-- Application Networking Solutions
-- Diameter Protocol and Diameter Application (e.g. IMS) Support:
Diameter is the next generation AAA protocol of choice for meeting
emerging service provider requirements. Extensions to the Diameter
base protocol allow flexibility in use, including reliable
authentication and accounting applications compared to traditional
RADIUS options.
-- Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft Lync Server 2010 and
Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) Certified: With the
latest AX Series platform release, both 64-bit hardware and virtual
appliances are certified. Having undergone rigorous testing and
performance checks, the AX Series can be trusted as compatible for
key enterprise applications, delivering high availability,
scalability and security.
-- Other Notable Enhancements
-- SSL Processing: AX 5200 increases SSL CPS by 40% for 1024-bit keys
and 90% for 2048-bit keys based on hardware and/or software
enhancements. Increased processing requirements amid the move from
1024-bit to 2048-bit keys can cause SSL performance on competitors'
ADCs to be reduced as much as 600%. The AX Series can ensure SSL
capacity can meet ever increasing requirements (including HTTPS and
STARTTLS for secure web and secure email offload).
-- Solid-state Drive Support Across All Hardware Appliances: All AX
Series hardware models now offer SSDs for carrier grade reliability.
With near zero failure rates, faster performance and lower power
draw, SSDs are the choice for next generation data center platforms.
-- Other Enhancements: Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
enhancements; Client-SSL template enhancement for Google Chrome; New
aFleX commands and Dynamic IPv6 source NAT enhancements.
All AX Series platforms are dual-stack ready, ensuring the maximum flexibility with IPv4 and IPv6 protocols, enabling both native support and the most advanced IPv4/IPv6 translation capabilities. All AX Series features are available without extra licensing fees, including aFleX Layer 7 traffic scripting, aXAPI (RESTful XML management API) and more.
Availability AX Series enhancements and new models are available this month.
About A10 Networks A10 Networks was founded in Q4 2004 with a mission to provide innovative networking and security solutions. A10 Networks makes high-performance products that help organizations accelerate, optimize and secure their applications. A10 Networks is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, France, The Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. For more information, visit http://www.a10networks.com
ACOS, aFleX, aXAPI, aVCS, Virtual Chassis, SoftAX, SmartFlow and aFlow are registered trademarks of A10 Networks. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE A10 Networks
A10 Networks
CONTACT: Kelly LeBlanc, A10 Networks, +1-408-203-2608, kleblanc@a10networks.com
Manage Wireless Use With Content Filters From Verizon Wireless
New Video Shows How to Manage Access to Mobile Internet, Applications on Verizon Wireless Handsets
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With Content Filters, part of the suite of Parental Controls from Verizon Wireless, customers can help manage the games, videos and apps their children are accessing and sharing on their wireless devices to make sure they are age appropriate.
Verizon Wireless today posted "Managing Wireless Access: Content Filters," the third in a series of videos advising customers on how to manage their wireless lives. In this video, Verizon Wireless representatives describe how parents can use age-based Content Filters to manage access to content and applications, including those found in V CAST Apps, the Verizon Wireless Media Store and Mobile Web from phones on their account. The filter settings, which can be changed at any time using My Verizon, are:
-- Children 7 Plus, C7+: Recommended for children ages 7 to 12
-- Teens 13 Plus, T13+: Recommended for teens ages 13 to 16
-- Young Adults 17 Plus, YA17+: Recommended for young adults ages 17 and up
-- Filters Off: Recommended for adults; provides access to all content
accessible through your mobile phone
Verizon Wireless Content Filters are available at no extra charge for every line on a account. Android-based Verizon Wireless smartphones with active Content Filters set below the Young Adult level will not be able to access Android Market(TM). For more information, visit the Verizon Wireless Content Filters page.
More Information on How to Manage Wireless Use
Verizon Wireless offers a variety of ways for customers to manage their wireless lives. Additional video guides highlighting tools customers can use are available on YouTube or in the Multimedia Library:
-- "It's Easy To Track Your Wireless Usage," which highlights easy ways to
check and monitor usage.
-- "Tips For Traveling Overseas," which highlights tips for customers on
how to prepare their phones for overseas travel.
-- Customers can also visit Verizon Wireless Support to view "How To"
videos with step-by-step directions on different aspects of account
management.
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
EPT Grand Final in Madrid to be Most-Watched Live Poker Broadcast Ever With Live Feeds Across Europe, Russia and Canada
MADRID, May 9, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- PokerStars - the world's largest poker site - today announced that the
EPT Grand Final will be the most watched live poker show ever, with numerous
countries set to air the coverage to an estimated 500,000 people across
Europe, Russia and Canada.
This is a historic moment for poker, as PokerStars delivers live poker on
TV to a large audience by terrestrial, satellite and online channels across
the European Union, Russia and Canada. Spectators from around the world will
be able to see all the action of the most crucial stages of Europe's most
prestigious poker tournament - and all from their own homes.
Alfredo Alvarez Jardon, Marketing Director Casino Gran Madrid, said: "We
are pleased to be part of this major step forward in poker broadcasting in
Europe. It's significant in that it means many people will be able to watch
the action from so many countries, further positioning the Gran Casino Madrid
as one of the leading centres of poker in Europe."
Grand Final closing stages
The final table on May 12 will commence at 14.00 CET, broadcast live on
PokerStars.tv (no hole cards shown) until play gets down to the final four
players. At this point there will be a break in play, the players will be
sequestered, and play will recommence at 21.00 with live hole cards recorded
and played out on a two-hour delay. The broadcast will begin airing across
Europe from 23.00 CET until a winner is crowned.
The live broadcast will take place on these networks in the following
countries:
- Germany: Sport 1 - 23.30-03.30 CET (German commentary)
- Netherlands: RTL7 - 01.30-End of play CET (Dutch commentary)
- Spain: Antenna3 - 01.45-04.45 CET (Spanish commentary)
- Russia: TV3 - 23.00-03.00 CET (Russian commentary)
- Romania: Sport.ro - 23.00-03.00 CET (Romanian commentary)
- Slovenia: Sport TV - 23.00-03.00 CET (Slovenian commentary)
- Belgium (North): Jim - 23.30-End of Play (Dutch commentary)
- Belgium (South): Plug RTL - 23.30-End of Play (French commentary)
- Canada: The Score - 23.00-04.00 CET (English commentary)
- PokerStars.tv: 23.00-End of play (English, Spanish, German, Russian,
Dutch, Italian)
Live poker broadcasts
Live webcasts of EPT tournaments have been a resounding success over the
past three seasons, typically broadcast on PokerStars.tv with hole cards
concealed. But following similar broadcasts with hole cards revealed during
the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) in January this year, the concluding
action from the EPT Grand Final will also be shown with cards up. A two-hour
delay between action and broadcast ensures players' security is not
compromised, as PokerStars will put to work its technology and staff to
ensure the highest levels of security and integrity in the game.
EPT Grand Final Madrid
The EPT Grand Final Madrid Poker Festival takes place from May 5-13 at
the Casino Gran Madrid. It features 28 individual events, including: the
EUR10,000 Main Event, the invitation-only Champion of Champions, a EUR25,000
High Roller event, a EUR500 Women-only competition, a EUR5,000 Heads-up
tournament, and many more events starting from EUR220. Registration for all
events is available now through PokerStars or the casino.
More than 40 of the world's top poker players have already confirmed
their participation in the EPT Grand Final Main Event, including: Liv Boeree
(EPT6 San Remo Champion), Vicky Coren (EPT3 London Champion), Galen Hall
(EPT7 PCA Champion), Carter Phillips (EPT6 Barcelona Champion), Sandra
Naujoks (EPT5 Dortmund Champion), Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier (EPT4 PCA
Champion), Arnaud Mattern (EPT4 Prague Champion), Pieter de Korver (EPT5
Monte Carlo Champion), and Jason Mercier (EPT4 San Remo Champion).
If you would like further details on this event or to embed the
PokerStars EPT Live Madrid webcast feed onto your website, please contact
press@pokerstars.com.
PokerStars.com is the world's largest regulated gaming operator and poker
site, with more than 46 million members. It's the first choice of the world's
top players, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else, and with the
best security online. More hands have been dealt on PokerStars.com than any
other site; that's over 60 billion hands and more than 375 million
tournaments played.
PokerStars.com operates worldwide under license from the Isle of Man
government. Recent additions to the PokerStars family include PokerStars.fr,
which operates in France under the French government license, as well as
PokerStars.it, which operates in Italy under the Italian government license,
and PokerStars.ee, which operates in Estonia under the Estonian government
license.
PokerStars.com stages some of the biggest online poker tournaments in the
world, including the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) and the
Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP), and is the official sponsor of
some of the biggest live poker tournaments in the world, including the
European Poker Tour (EPT), the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) and the
UK & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT).
PokerStars.com is also home to a team of sponsored players known as Team
PokerStars Pro. This elite group of players travel the world competing in
international tournaments. For a complete list, visit the Team PokerStars Pro
home page.
Source: PokerStars
Contact: Mark Stuart +44(0)20-73193051; press@pokerstars.com
Ethertronics Offers Unique Solutions for LTE-enabled Notebook Computers
Utilizing Advanced Antenna System Techniques, New Product Line Meets Global Carrier Specifications in a Compact, High-Performance Design
SAN DIEGO, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ethertronics, a leading technology company enabling the future direction of mobile communications via its portfolio of antenna and RF solutions, today unveiled the Ether(TM) 1.2 product line. Designed to enable LTE notebook computers to support the frequencies required for global operation and specification compliance, the Ether 1.2 product line combines years of experience with Ethertronics' patented IMD(TM) antenna design and several advanced antenna system techniques, including active band switching capabilities. The result is a high-performance system that can meet global carrier specifications in any of the challenging industrial designs that exist for modern LTE notebooks.
"The Ether 1.2 product line has some unique attributes that meet the needs of both notebook OEMs and global wireless carriers in the LTE market," said Barry Matsumori, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for Ethertronics. "It is no secret that some of the bands for LTE, especially those in North America, significantly expand the requirements for the antenna system. Our new product line meets these challenges by providing an LTE solution that doesn't compromise performance or efficiency, and all in a compact design."
The Ether 1.2 products consist of a thin and narrow antenna structure that will fit in the most challenging notebook display bezels alongside important active components such as switches. The product line is available for integration into LTE notebooks now.
For more information on the Ether 1.2 LTE Notebook Computer solution, contact Ethertronics for an appointment and additional detail.
About Ethertronics
Headquartered in San Diego, Ethertronics is a technology company enabling the future direction of mobile communications through antenna and RF system solutions. The company is established in designing and manufacturing high-performance embedded antenna solutions supporting a wide range of applications. The company's patented Isolated Magnetic Dipole(TM) (IMD) technology has a legacy as a strong foundation for passive, as well as active antennas designs. Ethertronics' technology has been selected by major customers with worldwide annual shipments well over 100 million annually. Ethertronics maintains a global network of design centers and manufacturing operations. For more information, visit http://www.ethertronics.com.
TrueCar, Inc. Agreement Incorporates Black Book Used Car Values to Enhance New ClearBook.com Consumer Website
Arrangement with Hearst's renowned used car pricing values helps TrueCar bring truth, trust and transparency to used auto sales
SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TrueCar, which provides consumers with reliable, trustworthy car pricing information, has reached an agreement with National Auto Research, a division of Hearst Business Media, to license Black Book used car values. This allows TrueCar to provide richer information and further enhance its recently launched used car pricing website, ClearBook.com, with extensive information supplied by Black Book, a valued automotive industry resource for more than 60 years.
ClearBook is the first used vehicle pricing website, free to consumers, that analyzes listing and transaction prices for the used car marketplace. With ClearBook, used car purchasers obtain objective, unbiased price guidance for a car based on year, make, model, mileage and condition. With the addition of Black Book's values, the industry's most relied upon source for trade-in prices, consumers will now know the real value of their trade-in before they walk into the dealership, helping to facilitate a fair transaction between buyer and seller.
Scott Painter, CEO and Founder of TrueCar and ClearBook, said, "Black Book's data is an invaluable tool in generating a fair value for the sale or trade-in price of a used vehicle. Consumers in the market for a used car will benefit greatly from this relationship."
The next ClearBook upgrade will combine trade-in value, target sales price, and list price to give buyers and sellers the most transparent view into vehicle pricing, whether that vehicle is a trade-in or sold privately.
Tom Cross, President of Black Book, said, "Pricing transparency helps consumers and dealers make the car buying and selling processes easier. Black Book's retail trade-in pricing provides consumers with very accurate and up to date insight into the used car trade-in market and nicely rounds out the ClearBook.com experience. We are delighted to be working with the TrueCar team, and are excited about the value that this new tool brings to automotive consumers."
Painter went on to say, "Black Book's commitment to comprehensive, unbiased pricing information is in lock-step with the goals we have set to create a fair, trustworthy and informed marketplace. Black Book partnering with us is a ringing endorsement of the value proposition ClearBook and TrueCar both offer consumers."
About Hearst Business Media
Hearst Business Media, a division of Hearst Corporation, operates more than 20 business-to-business information services, electronic databases and publications. The group has holdings in the automotive, electronic, medical/pharmaceutical and finance industries.
About Black Book
Best known in the Automotive Industry for providing timely, independent, and accurate vehicle pricing data, the Black Book® family of vehicle appraisal guides (http://www.BlackBookUSA.com) is published by National Auto Research, a division of Hearst Business Media. New and used car dealers, lenders, manufacturers, fleet remarketers, and government agencies have relied on Black Book since 1955. Black Book provides values for both new and used vehicles, including cars and light trucks produced since 1946, collectible and exotic vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, and heavy duty commercial trucks and trailers. Black Book data is published daily in multiple electronic formats including data feeds, Internet-based applications, hand held PDAs, web enabled cell phones, Pocket PCs, iPhone, iPad, iTouch, Droid, BlackBerry and Palm devices, SmartPhones, Micro Browsers, online trade appraisal services, and in a variety of other custom products. Printed versions are also available on a weekly basis. Whether you're buying, selling, or lending, Black Book's mission is to provide the Automotive Industry with timely, independent, and accurate information to help make the right decisions.
About TrueCar, Inc.
TrueCar, Inc. is an automotive solutions provider focused on changing how cars are sold by providing a significantly better customer experience while helping qualified dealer partners to gain incremental market share and reduce costs. TrueCar.com is a transparent, visual publisher of new car transaction data. TrueCar.com price reports help both dealers and consumers to agree on the parameters of a fair deal by providing an accurate, comprehensive and simple understanding of what others actually paid for the identically equipped new car over the last 30 days both locally and nationally. TrueCar, Inc. works with a national network of nearly 5,000 Certified Dealers that provide up-front, no-haggle, competitive pricing to assist some of the nation's largest and most well respected membership and service organizations to meet the auto buying needs of their members and customers. These partnerships include American Express, AAA, USAA and more than 60 others. Collectively these audiences represent over 1M in-market customers each month. TrueCar, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA and has offices in San Francisco. The company was founded in 2005 and has been profitable since 2009. With nearly 200 percent year-over-year growth TrueCar has driven nearly 300,000 sales and is developing a suite of transaction oriented products and services centered on transparency and radical clarity as a result of comprehensively analyzing market data and information. You can follow TrueCar on Twitter and become a fan of TrueCar on Facebook.
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READING, England, May 9, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Cloud and Managed Hosting expert, DediPower, has taken Atlantic
Shopping's hosting infrastructure into the Cloud; helping to increase site
speed by 40%. Specialising in bar stools and furniture, Atlantic Shopping is
one of a growing generation of British retailers who are driving strong sales
via the web.
With fast and reliable Cloud hosting from DediPower, and compelling web
design from e-commerce specialists, Lost Ferret, the company is able to
market it products across the UK. In fact, its new website is so successful
that this Birmingham-based, family-run, business has boosted sales by almost
40% in less than 6 months.
Business founder, Adrian Higgins, comments: "There are three things vital
to our business - great products, appealing web presence and a fast and
reliable hosting platform. We switched to Lost Ferret and DediPower because
our previous system was difficult to update and was slow and unreliable. Now
we have a feature rich site, managed by Lost Ferret, which is packed with
fresh content that drives throughput through regular national media
promotions. And, because it is delivered through DediPower's virtualised
Cloud platform, it is also reliable, more cost-effective to run and operates
up to 40% faster than before - vital for web retailers like us who rely on
instant access to 'capture' customers at the online salespoint."
"Reliable Hosting is vital to digital retailers like Atlantic Shopping,"
confirms Chris Miller, DediPower CEO "The Internet can transform local
businesses into national and international ones. But that means keeping their
online stores open 24/7; and ensuring that their visitors can access and buy
quickly. Taking Atlantic into the Cloud, allows DediPower to use the latest
virtualisation tools to optimise their system and deliver 100% availability
while boosting speed and keeping their costs down."
Tom Cahalan, Lost Ferret's CEO confirms: "We pride ourselves on
delivering web-sites that drive sales. That means great looks backed by solid
delivery. We are migrating our clients to DediPower's secure Cloud platform
because it offers distinct performance advantages and competitive pricing. We
are delighted with DediPower's system monitoring and technical support, which
leaves our own team free to focus on building even better websites for the
likes of Atlantic Shopping."
Rdio App Now Available for Download From V CAST Apps From Verizon Wireless
Rdio is One of the First Music Apps in V CAST Apps to Offer Subscriptions with Direct Carrier Billing
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rdio (http://www.rdio.com), the unlimited, on-demand social music service from the founders of Skype(TM), today announced its Rdio app is now available in V CAST Apps. Verizon Wireless' mobile applications storefront gives customers a one-click process to purchase a wide array of apps with the ease and convenience of direct billing; apps purchased are invoiced on customers' monthly account billing statements. Verizon Wireless customers with select Android devices with V CAST Apps that run on Verizon Wireless' 3G network can now download Rdio to enjoy a seven-day free trial of Rdio Unlimited which lets users search and play any song, artist, album and playlist from its catalogue of more than 8.5 million songs. Users can then subscribe directly using their Verizon Wireless accounts.
"When it comes to recorded music, the only thing better than Rdio is being able to enjoy Rdio on the go," said Drew Larner, chief executive officer, Rdio. "Our new relationship with Verizon Wireless makes the Rdio social music experience available to millions of mobile subscribers and simple to pay for through direct carrier billing."
"Along with downloading apps and surfing the Web, the ability to access and listen to music on a mobile device is one of the things we know customers want to do with their smartphones," said Tom Villa, director, business development at Verizon Wireless. "Rdio's social music experience and innovative app is a great addition to V CAST Apps and for our customers."
Rdio's app gives users a variety of key Rdio features, including:
-- Access to your collection in the cloud - No need to waste precious phone
memory by carrying around all your songs. Use Rdio to access all the
great songs you own in our cloud-based catalogue on the go through your
mobile device.
-- Sync music to your mobile device - Want to access your music offline?
Save as many songs, albums and playlists as your phone can hold so that
you can listen to them even without a wireless connection. You can
choose to download over Verizon Wireless' reliable network or only when
you're connected to Wi-Fi.
-- Recent Activity - Share the music you love and find out what your
friends and other influencers are listening to. With our Recent
Activity stream you can see what albums and songs people in your network
are adding to their collections and playlists, who they are following,
and the music they are reviewing.
-- Top charts and heavy rotation - See and hear what songs and albums are
currently popular across the entire Rdio community or just among the
influencers you follow.
-- Playlists - Access playlists that you have created, subscribed to and
collaborated on from your mobile device.
-- Seamless listening experience - With Rdio Unlimited you can access your
music anywhere - on your mobile device during your commute, on your Roku
or Sonos at home, on your laptop at work, or on the Web at your friend's
house. No matter where you are, Rdio remembers your listening history
and what songs you have remaining in your queue. You can even stop a
song playing on your home browser and continue where you left off the
next time you log in, even if you're on a different computer.
Verizon Wireless customers who download Rdio can access a seven-day free trial, after which Rdio users can elect to subscribe to Rdio Unlimited for $9.99 per month. The Rdio app is now available on select Android smartphones, in addition to the Samsung Galaxy Tab(TM). V CAST Apps provides direct carrier billing so customers can use a simple, one-click process to purchase apps which are then invoiced on customers' monthly bills. Download charges vary and airtime or megabyte charges may apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications.
V CAST Apps gives customers an ever-expanding selection of games, productivity tools, entertainment and news apps. Rdio is one of the first apps to take advantage of the subscription option available to developers.
For more information on the Rdio app, visit http://www.rdio.com. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About Rdio
Rdio is an unlimited, on-demand social music service that brings music alive by letting subscribers listen to as many songs as they want, anytime, anywhere, and discover and share new music with friends. Rdio subscribers build and share their online music collections from a catalogue of over 8 million songs and can check out the listening activity, collections and playlists of other users and influencers as well as see what's in heavy rotation in their network, top charts, and newly released albums. Subscribers can access their Rdio on a variety of platforms including web, Mac or PC desktop client, mobile devices such as iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile 7, and in-home devices like Sonos and Roku. Rdio was founded by Janus Friis, one of the founders of Skype and is funded by Atomico, Janus Friis through his investment entities, Mangrove Capital Partners and Skype. For more information please visit http://www.rdio.com.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Debra Lewis, Verizon Wireless, +1-908-559-7512, Debra.Lewis@verizonwireless.com; or Jeff Koo, Sparkpr for Rdio, +1-415-321-1866, press@rdio.com
BELLEVUE, Wash., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Voip-Pal.Com Inc. is a provider of international calls using VoIP technology on the internet, smart cell phones and PC Tablets. Voip-Pal's goal is to provide a quality, reliable, cost-effective and safe telephone solution for the casual and business international traveler who must rely on their smartphones, laptops or tablets to communicate.
Voip-Pal.Com Inc. ("Voip-Pal") announces the beta testing of its PointsPhone Mobile(TM) App for the iPad 2. Users can immediately download the beta version of the new App on their iPad 2.
"Apple has revolutionized the personal computing world with its introduction of the original iPad last year." states Dennis Chang, President of Voip-Pal. "With the introduction of its new iPad 2, Apple begins to solidify its hold on the PC Tablet marketplace. Some experts predict that Tablet sales will eventually outpace the sales of laptops. Users, in particular the business traveler, want the additional portability that Tablets provide. With the new iPad 2, Apple introduces a thinner, sleeker and faster version of its original iPad and is holding onto an 80% marketshare of Tablets. In spite of the new features, Apple looks like it is holding back some key features. Because the iPad does not have built-in telephone capabilities, Voip-Pal has filled that void with the development of its PointsPhone Mobile(TM) App for the iPad and iPad 2. By downloading our App, the iPad 2 is turned instantly into a telephone. The same VoIP technology that turns your smartphone into a cost-effective telephone for domestic and international calls, can now be used on the iPad 2 for both domestic and international calls at about 2 cents per minute."
"Our Development Team has added proprietary and key features to the iPad 2 App that no one else developed yet. We have specialized Voice Mail capabilities that will email a digital voice mail to the user. This is an important feature for traveling business people who can easily listen to all their voice mail through their email using Wi-Fi connections. In addition, our App allows recording of phone calls. Now the user can document conversations and even answer back to companies who use the ubiquitous phrase 'we are recording this conversation for quality purposes' and state 'so am I'."
"We have a beta version of our original PointsPhone Mobile(TM) App that now works on the iPad 2." says Mukesh (Mike) Mohanbhai, Chief Technical Officer (CTO). "In the next coming weeks, a fully tested version will be announced and released for the iPad 2. Our Development Team has overcome the challenge that the iPad does not have a telephone. We are very proud in successfully creating a fully functional VoIP Telephone App for the iPad. We want the public to know that the Beta Testing has not been completed and we are continually testing and modifying the new App to meet our quality standards. New users will discover that the quality of the call even during this beta phase is excellent."
The Beta Version of the PointsPhone Mobile(TM) App is immediately available for free downloading on the Apple App Store (search 'pointsphone'). Users will need to logon to our retail website http://www.pointsphone.com in order to register and activate their account for $10. A User account and password will be created and users will have immediate access to use their PointsPhone App for airtime minutes anywhere in the world without roaming charges.
About Voip-Pal.Com Inc.
Voip-Pal.Com Inc. is a broadband VoIP telecom company offering local and long distance VoIP services to consumers and business owners. The company offers turnkey VoIP communication and reseller solutions for its Partners. For products and services, visit us at http://www.pointsphone.com. For more Company information, please contact Dennis Chang at dtchang@voip-pal.com or visit us at http://www.voip-pal.com .
All statements contained in this news release, other than those identifying historical facts, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Safe Harbor provisions as contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relating to the Company's future expectations, including but not limited to revenues and earnings, technology efficacy, strategies and plans, are subject to safe harbors protection. Actual Company results and performance may be materially different from any future results, performance, strategies, plans, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by any such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Voip-Pal.Com Inc.
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Interop 2011: All New Netreo OmniCenter® Version 7.0
Enhanced User Interface layout delivers greater flexibility, navigability, and consolidated views into all key Enterprise IT metrics
LAS VEGAS, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Interop 2011-- Netreo, industry leading developer of cost-effective and easy-to-deploy IT dashboard solutions, today introduced version 7.0 of its flagship OmniCenter product. This new major revision incorporates an entirely new AJAX-based UI that delivers dynamic graphing and improved usability. It includes Active Directory and LDAP integration, improved event correlation and incident management, a new real-time Network Operations Center (NOC) dashboard, as well as seamless integration with Virtualization Visualizer, Netreo's virtualization management product. Also new with 7.0 is a Virtual Appliance (VA) option. The announcement was made today at the 2011 Interop Las Vegas Business Technology Conference and Expo.
"We understand the challenges that IT organizations face in their efforts to increase transparency into key IT resources such as web, mail, cloud-based services, virtualization, IP telephony, and the network. Version 7.0 enables our customers to more effectively face these challenges," says Kevin Kinsey, CEO.
Prime Healthcare Services along with Prime Healthcare Services Foundation, a California-based hospital system with 14 locations and over 9,000 employees, has used OmniCenter to manage their network for years. "To be able to cost-effectively view and manage all IT elements without adding an array of expensive enterprise software products, hardware, and manpower is a huge win for us," says Sreekant Gotti, CIO of Prime Healthcare.
OmniCenter has historically utilized a minimal-footprint architecture that is free of probes, distributed hardware and databases, client software, or agents. OmniCenter 7.0 expands upon this theme with a new, zero-footprint downloadable Virtual Appliance (VA) option that enables seamless rollouts, scalability, and redundancy options.
About Netreo, Inc.
Netreo is a leading developer of appliance-based network and systems management solutions. Since 2000, Netreo has been continually delighting customers with web-based enterprise IT management solutions, offered in a wide variety of capacity and application-specific configurations that can be scaled to support virtually any environment. For more information, please dial (866) netreo1 or visit http://www.netreo.com
About Prime Healthcare Services
Prime Healthcare Services, headquartered Ontario, California, is a progressive, innovative and rapidly expanding hospital management company in Northern and Southern California that provides comprehensive quality healthcare in a compassionate, convenient and cost-effective manner. With more than 9,000 employees, PHS, by and through its subsidiaries, currently owns and operates twelve acute care hospitals: Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, Centinela Hospital Medical in Inglewood, Chino Valley Medical Center in Chino, Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville, Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center in Garden Grove, Huntington Beach Hospital in Huntington Beach, La Palma Intercommunity Hospital in La Palma, Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, San Dimas Community Hospital in San Dimas, Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, and West Anaheim Medical Center in Anaheim in California. Prime Healthcare Services Foundation owns and operates Encino Hospital Medical Center in Encino, and Montclair Hospital Medical Center in Montclair, California. For more information, please visit http://www.primehealthcare.com.
SOURCE Netreo
Netreo
CONTACT: Kevin Kinsey, Netreo, Inc., +1-949-769-5700, info@netreo.com
Limitless Computing to Debut CloudRender for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012 at AIA National Convention
Revit Architecture Add-In Enables Simultaneous Rendering and Modeling without Tying Up Local Computing Resources
BOULDER, Colo., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Limitless Computing Inc.,(TM) the company that provides faster rendering with cloud computing for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, today announced that it will debut its new CloudRender(TM) for Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2012 and Limitless Rendering(TM) for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2009-2012 in booth 3509 at the AIA (American Institute of Architects) National Convention and Design Exposition. An exclusive preview of Limitless Computing's upcoming SightSpace 3D for Google SketchUp(TM) iPad® 2 app will also be on display.
"We are gratified that our cloud computing offerings have gained significant momentum in the AEC industry," commented Dr. Errin T. Weller, president, Limitless Computing Inc. "We are eager to demonstrate to AIA attendees how rendering on the cloud can increase efficiency and productivity."
The AIA National Convention and Design Exposition will take place May 12-14 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA
The following products will be featured in booth 3509:
-- CloudRender(TM) for Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2011-2012: This
add-in for Revit Architecture renders scenes faster on the cloud
directly from Revit, enabling simultaneous modeling without tying up
local computing resources.
-- Limitless Rendering(TM) for Autodesk Revit Architecture2009-2012: This
online service complements CloudRender by also decreasing rendering
times for Revit scenes and delivering many walkthroughs in 24 hours.
CloudRender and Limitless Rendering increase efficiency and
productivity.
-- Augmented Reality (AR) Mobile Application SightSpace 3D for Google
SketchUp(TM): This iPad® 2 app overlays Google SketchUp files onto the
iPad camera view in real-time. As the iPad moves, the view changes to
display the SketchUp model superimposed over the landscape. View models
in the real world, prior to construction.
About Limitless Computing
Limitless Computing Inc. is a Boulder CO-based company that has been providing cloud computing since 2006 and specializes in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Originally offering private clouds hosted in its data center, in 2009 Limitless Computing launched is online Limitless Rendering(TM) service for Autodesk® Revit® Architecture. Its current cloud rendering service provides photorealistic images to architects, interior designers, and colleges and universities, offering faster graphic renderings and saving productive hours resulting in quality, complete renderings in time for critical meetings. Follow @LimitlessComp on Twitter. http://www.LimitlessComputing.com
SOURCE Limitless Computing Inc.
Limitless Computing Inc.
CONTACT: Marilyn R. Kroner of Kroner Communications, +1-303-478-3044, marilyn@kronercommunications.com, for Limitless Computing Inc.
Rdio Releases its Mobile API for iOS and Android to Empower Next Generation Music Apps
Developer Sandbox Demonstration Planned at Google I/O 2011
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rdio (http://www.rdio.com), the unlimited, on-demand social music service from the founders of Skype, today announced the public availability of their Mobile Playback API for Android and iOS. Like the Web Playback API announced two months ago at South by Southwest, Rdio's Mobile API exposes much of the functionality of Rdio.com and gives developers the ability to create mobile applications that can search, access and play all of the artists, songs, albums, playlists, and top charts in Rdio's catalog of over 8.5 million songs.
"Our Mobile Playback API is one of the first of its kind so we expect that mobile developers will be very eager to integrate Rdio into all sorts of new and innovative iPhone, iPad and Android mobile apps," said Todd Berman, VP of Engineering at Rdio. "Giving mobile developers a way to legally integrate music and its metadata into their mobile apps is a huge win for the developer community and for Rdio."
Like Rdio's Web Playback API, the Mobile Playback API is the most robust and full-featured music service API in the industry. It's been used by AOL (http://playbyaol.com), and The GRAMMY Awards'® MusicMapper app as well as Music Quiz for Rdio, an example application created by Rdio. It gives developers a way to tap into Rdio's full catalog of over 8.5 million songs, as well as access several Rdio community only features such as the ability to see what's in heavy rotation in your network, follow people whose music tastes you like, check out other people's music collections and modify a personal collection or playlist.
Rdio will be demonstrating our unique and robust Mobile Playback API for Android devices at Google I/O on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10-11. If you have registered for a Google I/O pass and are in attendance, please drop by our Developer Sandbox at Moscone Center in San Francisco to see the Mobile Playback API in action.
About Rdio
Rdio is an unlimited, on-demand social music service that brings music alive by letting subscribers listen to as many songs as they want, anytime, anywhere, and discover and share new music with friends. Rdio subscribers build and share their online music collections from a catalogue of over 8 million songs and can check out the listening activity, collections and playlists of other users and influencers as well as see what's in heavy rotation in their network, top charts, and newly released albums. Subscribers can access their Rdio on a variety of platforms including web, Mac or PC desktop client, mobile devices such as iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile 7, and in-home devices like Sonos and Roku. Rdio was founded by Janus Friis, one of the founders of Skype and is funded by Atomico, Janus Friis through his investment entities, Mangrove Capital Partners and Skype. For more information please visit http://www.rdio.com.
SOURCE Rdio.com
Rdio.com
CONTACT: Jeff Koo of Sparkpr, +1-415-321-1866, press@rdio.com, for Rdio
Colonial Life Benefits Learning Center is All About "You"
New online benefits education tool lets workers get personal
COLUMBIA, S.C., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --You may see your insurance benefits as necessary, important and valuable -- but do you see them as fun? You could starting today with the launch of Youville(SM), a feature of Colonial Life's new web-based Benefits Learning Center.
This interactive online tool offers an entertaining way for workers to individualize their benefits education and explore their unique benefits needs. After logging on at http://www.BenefitsLearningCenter.com, employees are invited to enter Youville(SM), their own benefits world named in their honor. The tool then asks a short series of questions about their age, marital status and family history, using the answers to create recommendations for types of insurance coverage to consider. Employees can print a summary of the recommendations, adjusting them and adding notes if needed, and bring the document to their workplace benefits enrollment session.
"The new Colonial Life Benefits Learning Center is an interactive, fun way for employees to learn more about their needs and their options to protect themselves and their families," says Dana Bagwell, Colonial Life's director of benefits communication and education. "The tool is very simple to use and provides useful, practical knowledge to help them prepare for and make the most of their benefits enrollment."
The Benefits Learning Center includes information on different kinds of insurance coverage, what each type covers and what it may exclude. The center also offers information on financial protection, insurance terms, changing needs at different life stages, and how to save for retirement. In addition, employees can find answers to frequently asked benefits questions.
Research shows most employees don't actively search for information about their benefits, don't want frequent communication from their employers about them, and don't dedicate a significant amount of time to learning more about them.(1) The trip to Youville (SM) offers important benefits information with minimal effort.
"Most employees these days say their benefits are just as valuable to them as their paychecks," Bagwell says. "This new tool gives them easy access to the information they need to make informed benefits decisions, all in one place."
Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company is a market leader in providing insurance benefits for employees and their families through the workplace, along with individual benefits education, advanced yet simple-to-use enrollment technology and quality personal service. Colonial Life offers disability, life and supplemental accident and health insurance policies in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Similar policies, if approved, are underwritten in New York by a Colonial Life affiliate, The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, Worcester, Mass. Colonial Life is based in Columbia, S.C., and is a subsidiary of Unum Group, one of the world's leading providers of employee benefits. For more information about benefits communication, call Colonial Life at (803) 798-7000 or visit http://www.coloniallife.com.
(1) Employee Education Qualitative Research, Unum, April 2010.
TrendPoint Systems Launches EnviroCube® -- First Data Center Cooling Management Appliance
EnviroCube is first solution that provides both downtime prevention and energy savings
SAN RAMON, Calif., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TrendPoint Systems, the leader in data center smart grids, today announced EnviroCube, the first data center cooling management appliance. EnviroCube is the first solution that prevents heat-related data center downtime while also improving energy efficiency - goals that were previously thought to be mutually exclusive in data center management.
EnviroCube monitors a full spectrum of electrical and environmental metrics that have been proven to indicate cooling inefficiencies before they cause heat-related downtime, which can happen in a matter of seconds if a cooling unit fails. The EnviroCube also provides the first set of metrics that allows cooling units to be tuned to their best possible performance, which has been shown to cut cooling costs by up to 30%. The new energy management appliance also enables power and cooling units to run in a manner that extends equipment life, making them much less likely to fail, and ensuring that they perform at maximum energy efficiency.
"Preventing downtime is the paramount concern for datacenter managers because the consequences can be so devastating to the business," said Katherine Broderick, Senior Research Analyst, Servers and Datacenters, IDC. "TrendPoint's EnviroCube helps solve this problem in a compelling way. By cutting energy costs while preventing downtime, the EnviroCube tackles these two major issues at the same time."
"An efficient infrastructure is a reliable infrastructure"
"Until now, common industry wisdom held that you couldn't simultaneously focus on preventing downtime and saving energy - it was always thought to be a tradeoff between the two," said Bob Hunter, CEO of TrendPoint Systems. "But we've eliminated this notion with EnviroCube. The key is to precisely measure - and manage - the effectiveness of cooling units, spotting any potential problems and inefficiencies before they cause downtime. Our extensive tests show that an efficient infrastructure is a healthy and reliable infrastructure. EnviroCube's full spectrum of metrics captures the efficiency of each individual cooling unit, taking this concept to a whole new level."
Data center cooling systems consume one-third to one-half of total data center energy. Yet until now, data center managers have not had an accurate way to measure and manage the performance of CRAC (computer room air conditioning) and CRAH (computer room air handling) cooling units. Latent power or mechanical problems with cooling units has caused significant downtime and been a significant contributor to data center energy waste. By placing an EnviroCube appliance in each cooling unit, data center managers can now spot poor-performing units and continuously rank units from highest to lowest efficiency. Lower efficiency units can be further examined with TrendPoint's full spectrum of power and environmental data from the targeted units.
"As a result, data center managers can move beyond hoping that each unit is functioning effectively, to fully understanding the condition of each unit and proactively preventing any problems," said Hunter.
EnviroCube product highlights and beta installations:
EnviroCube is the only product on the market that can measure all the key metrics required to manage cooling performance: CRAC/CRAH air flow (in cubic feet per minute); temperature rise (return temperature minus supply temperature); as well as voltage, amperage, power factor and wattage of each phase of power feeding the unit. This information is used to:
-- Rank the CRAC/CRAH units from highest-to lowest-performing
-- Spot potential cooling unit failures before they cause downtime
-- Target unnecessary cooling units for shutdown, based on performance data
-- Tune the lowest performing units
-- Add Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) with full understanding of their
performance before purchasing.
The EnviroCube energy management app uses HTML to render live graphs of all key metrics required to manage cooling performance. By choosing HTML, TrendPoint has ensured that the systems' live graphs are optimized for both the iPad/iPod platforms as well as PCs. "It literally allows you to carry your data center with you," Hunter noted. In addition, TrendPoint's partners including Schneider and CA will support the EnviroCube as well.
EnviroCube is currently installed in several locations including SpringNet's 70,000 sq.ft. hosting center located in Springfield, Missouri. "We have a long and successful relationship with TrendPoint and have used their EnerSure product to bill and manage our data center's power usage," said Chris Yates, Operations & Engineering Manager. "We have been looking forward to using their EnviroCube and now have four of them installed in one of our separate data rooms. The unique and targeted information from the EnviroCube has allowed us to identify opportunities to increase our cooling system performance. This allows us both to insure that our uptime remains at its highest possible levels and that our cooling systems are tuned for peak energy efficiency. We plan to deploy the units throughout our data center and expect a payback on investment in less than two years."
EnviroCube pricing and availability
EnviroCube is available immediately. It is priced at $2295 per unit.
About TrendPoint
TrendPoint is the leader in data center smart grids, providing patented smart metering and smart management appliances for the data center. TrendPoint provides the industry's first complete data center energy and cooling management solutions that ensure uptime while increasing energy efficiency and lowering environmental impact. Customers who standardize on TrendPoint systems include the Federal Aviation Administration, VMware, SpringNet and dozens of others. Channel partners include Schneider Electric and CA (the former Computer Associates). TrendPoint is headquartered in San Ramon, California. For more information, visit http://www.trendpoint.com. A narrated presentation about the new product as well as product images are available at http://www.trendpoint.com/envirocube
IBM Delivers Technology to Help Clients Protect and Retain "Big Data"
Introduces industry-first tape library technology capable of storing nearly 3 exabytes of data -- enough to store almost 3X the mobile data in U.S. in 2010
ARMONK, N.Y., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced new tape storage and enhanced archiving, deduplication offerings designed to help clients efficiently store and extract intelligence from massive amounts of data.
The amount of information generated is increasing dramatically each year driven by armies of sensors, mobile devices, social networks, cloud computing and public sources of information like the Web. At the same time, demand for storage capacity worldwide will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 49.8 percent from 2009-2014, according to IDC (1). Clients require new technologies and ways to capitalize on the growing volume, variety and velocity of information known as "Big Data."
IBM continues to invest in the development of tape storage as an inexpensive, efficient way to store massive volumes of data. For example, IBM is today detailing seven significant improvements to its portfolio of tape and other storage archiving products, including the industry's first tape library system to provide over 2.7 exabytes of automated, low cost storage -- enough to store nearly 3 times all the mobile data generated in the U.S. in 2010 (an exabyte is 1 followed by 18 zeroes) (2).
IBM System Storage(TM) TS3500 Tape Library is enabled by a new, IBM-developed shuttle technology -- a mechanical attachment that connects up to 15 tape libraries to create a single, high capacity library complex at a lower cost. The TS3500 offers 80 percent more capacity than a comparable Oracle tape library and is the highest capacity library in the industry, making it ideal for the world's largest data archives (3).
For example, the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in New Zealand uses two TS3500 Tape Libraries to support a sophisticated POWER supercomputer used to tackle challenges in such fields as energy, aerospace, weather and climate modeling. The libraries together hold 5 petabytes of data, the equivalent of more than 1,000,000 DVDs. This means that if a DVD were written to the tape libraries at the rate of one every minute, it would take more than 2 years before their capacity was exhausted.
IBM in 1952 pioneered the use of magnetic tape for data storage, which is one of the 100 Icons of Progress in IBM's century-long history. Today, IBM is announcing the IBM System Storage TS1140 Tape Drive, which holds 2 million times more data than IBM's first tape drive (4). The TS1140 employs fewer and more efficient components developed with IBM Research, enabling it to use up to 64 percent less energy and can deliver up to 80 percent more performance than a comparable Oracle drive, so clients can improve productivity at a lower cost (5).
Tape storage is gaining new opportunities as a low cost, energy efficient way for companies in industries like media and entertainment and healthcare to create huge archives of digital assets and information being driven by Big Data. In fact, the amount of digital archives stored to tape is set to experience a six fold increase from 2010 through 2015, according to Enterprise Strategy Group (6). IBM is well positioned to capitalize on this opportunity as the tape storage market share leader with over 40% revenue share -- more than twice as much share as the next competitors HP and Oracle, according to IDC (7).
Today, IBM is announcing file system access to select IBM tape libraries with the IBM Linear Tape File System Library Edition (LTFS LE), invented by IBM Research to provide a simple, cost efficient way to access and manage massive archives of data and digital assets. LTFS clients can now more efficiently index, search, retrieve and share data stored on Generation 5 LTO tape, an open tape storage format.
IBM has a clear edge over storage vendors like EMC that don't support or develop tape. Tape and disk can be used together to deliver clients tiered storage that enables them to store data within the different tiers based on their data priorities. For example, IBM's Scale-out Network Attached Storage (SONAS) system and Information Archive both use policies to automatically migrate data to the tape storage tier. This can reduce total cost of ownership for clients by up to 40% in the long-term, according to an internal IBM study (8).
Klinikverbund Suedwest GmbH is an association of clinics and hospitals in Southwest Germany with 4,200 employees caring for more than 250,000 patients each year. Working with IBM Business Partner Profi AG, the Association installed the IBM XIV storage system with IBM Tivoli Storage Manager to work with its existing IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library. "By using both IBM tape and disk technology, the Association has lowered storage costs significantly," said Dr. med. Gunther K. Weiss, M.Sc., managing director, Klinikverbund Suedwest GmbH. "With these different storage tiers at our disposal, we can ensure that our clients and employees have secure, ready access to their data."
IBM is announcing today enhancements to SONAS, which scales to over 14 petabytes of clustered storage and is based on technology invented by IBM Research. SONAS now offers double the throughput -- or the amount of data processed by the system during a given period of time -- of its predecessor and faster response times (9). The technology, which will provide support for commonly used anti-virus applications, is designed to offer protection from viruses and malware threats with the ability to scan archived data and isolate or delete compromised files. In addition, SONAS will now support an open standard protocol called NDMP, enabling clients to backup and protect large amounts of data in SONAS using ISV applications that support NDMP.
IBM is also improving the IBM Information Archive for Email, Files and eDiscovery, a pre-installed, pre-configured archiving solution. With integrated hardware, software and services, the technology can reduce the cost of installing and implementing a storage archive by up to 70% compared to starting with piece parts and can be deployed in a few days, according to IBM's internal measurements (10).
Finally, IBM is announcing new or enhanced tape virtualization offerings for mainframe or open storage environments to provide clients improved access to and protection for their data in the virtualized datacenter. These include:
-- The addition of a many-to-many replication feature to IBM System Storage
TS7650 ProtecTIER® Deduplication Solutions that will allow enterprises
with multiple data centers to automatically replicate backup data
between locations so multiple copies of critical data can be stored and
quickly restored if needed. By stripping out duplicate data before it's
replicated, ProtecTIER customers have experienced a reduction in
bandwidth needed to send the data of up to 95% or more, reducing the
amount of storage needed to archive and protect data (11); and
-- Enhancements to the TS7700 Virtual Tape Library family include doubling
the number of virtual tape cartridges it contains to 2 million and
leveraging IBM POWER7 technology to significantly improve performance,
delivering 70% better performance than a comparable Oracle offering
(12).
"As part of its $6 billion annual investment in R&D, IBM continues to develop innovative storage technologies for smarter computing," said Brian Truskowski, General Manager, IBM System Storage and Networking. "The data protection and retention solutions IBM is announcing today provide clients with a comprehensive approach to protecting and accessing their most valuable asset -- their data."
IBM
For more information on IBM storage, visit http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/storage/. For more information on IBM Smarter Computing, please visit: www-03.ibm.com/systems/data/flash/smartercomputing/
Also visit http://www.storagecommunity.org, a new online Storage Community launched today and sponsored by IBM. Participants can network with peers, share best practices and dialogue with storage experts.
Editors' Note: Photos are available via the Associated Press Photo Network and on the Internet at Feature Photo Service's link through http://www.newscom.com.
1. IDC, Worldwide Enterprise Storage Systems 2010-2014 Forecast Update:
Better Expectations on 2010 Growth, No Changes to Long-Term Outlook, Doc
# 224618, August 2010.
2. Data traffic on cell phones in the U.S. reached an exabyte in 2010,
according to Chetan Sharma Consulting. Comparison assumes 3:1 compressed
data.
3. As compared to the Oracle SL8500 max tape library complex with native
T10000c, which offers a max capacity of 500PB. The TS3500 max tape
library complex with native TS1140 offers a max capacity of 900PB, when
maximizing cartridge capacity. SL8500 source:
http://www.oracle.com/us/products/servers-storage/storage/tape-storage/03
4341.pdf.
4. The TS1140 holds 4,000,000MB. The IBM 726 Magnetic Tape Unit held 2MB.
5. As compared to the Oracle T10k-C. The TS1140 operates at 51W and at 24W
standby power. The Oracle T10k-C operates at 67W max power. The TS1140
max throughput is 650MBps. The Oracle T10k-C max throughput is 360MBps.
Assumes compressible data.
6. Briefs: NERSC: Proving Tape as Cost-Effective and Reliable Primary Data
Storage, Enterprise Strategy Group, December 2010.
7. Total branded tape storage revenue share, IDC Branded Tape Pivot Q4CY10.
8. Based on an internal IBM study.
9. SONAS single interface node doubled the available bandwidth with dual
active 10 GbE interface ports, while code optimization improved
pathlength efficiency.
10. Based on IBM's internal measurements.
11. ProtecTIER's deduplication reduces storage requirements 20:1 per IBM
production client data.
12. The TS7700 delivers up to 900MBps throughput compared to Oracle
StorageTek Virtual Storage Manager's 640MBps throughput.
Contact: Joanna Brewer IBM Media Relations 415-971-2777 jmbrewer@us.ibm.com
IBM, the IBM logo, DB2, System z and z/OS are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. For a current list of IBM trademarks, please see http://www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml.
Linear Tape-Open, LTO, the LTO Logo, Ultrium, and the Ultrium logo are trademarks of HP, IBM Corp. and Quantum in the U.S. and other countries.
Other company, product or service names may be trademarks, or service marks of others. All customer examples cited represent how some customers have used IBM products and the results they may have achieved. Actual costs and performance characteristics will vary depending on individual customer configurations and conditions.
Alpine Access Expands its Colorado Presence With New Technology and Operational Excellence Lab
Increased Demand for Company's Virtual Call Center Services Spurs Need for New Facility, Creating 50 New Denver Jobs
DENVER, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpine Access, the premier provider of virtual contact center solutions and services, today announced the opening of its new Technology & Operational Excellence Lab. The new facility will complement Alpine Access' downtown Denver headquarters by providing a location dedicated to driving innovation, improving operational efficiencies and supporting its extensive technology infrastructure.
"Alpine Access is a perfect example of the entrepreneurial spirit we have in our great state," said Matt Cheroutes, director of communications for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. "It is through companies like Alpine Access that Colorado continues to demonstrate that we are a pro-business, pro-growth state and this company is proof that with vision, persistence and teamwork, success is achievable."
The need for the new 22,000 square-foot facility located in the North Denver Technology Center area is a result of Alpine Access' recent international expansion into Canada as well as spiking demand for its virtual call center services from Fortune 500 companies and other industry heavyweights. The new lab will house the company's foundational operations including:
-- Information Technology and Security
-- Support Operations for over 5,000 home-based customer care professionals
-- Business Intelligence and Analytics
-- Continuous Improvement Process Management (CIPM)
"Alpine Access is proud to be based in Colorado, bringing jobs to the community and doing our part to further stimulate the state economy," said Christopher M. Carrington, president and CEO of Alpine Access. "Our ability to bring the value of the at-home model to a wide-range of industries has led to incredible growth and we anticipate even further success over the next few years. The company currently employs over 520 Coloradoans and is seeking another 50 extraordinary professionals to immediately join the Alpine Access team."
Alpine Access continues to transform how and where the world works and learns. Their virtual business processes include outsourced home-based contact center solutions, SaaS-based e-learning capabilities, a virtual recruiting platform and consulting services.
Alpine Access' Technology & Operational Excellence Lab is located at 600 S. Syracuse St., Suite 101, Denver, CO 80237. To learn more about specific employment requirements or to apply, please visit the Alpine Access website at http://www.alpineaccess.com.
About Alpine Access
Alpine Access pioneered the virtual contact center model in 1998 to deliver high quality customer service at a lower cost for brand-conscious companies. With more than 4,500 professionals in the U.S. and Canada, Alpine Access was recently named the best contact center and CRM outsourcer for client satisfaction by the Black Book of Outsourcing. Alpine Access' clients include ten of the Fortune 100 companies in the financial services, communications, technology, healthcare, retail, travel and hospitality sectors. Visit http://www.alpineaccess.com or call 1-866-279-0585 for more information.
SOURCE Alpine Access
Alpine Access
CONTACT: Cori Keeton Pope of Stefanie Jones Public Relations, Inc., +1-720-887-5978, ckpope@sjonespr.com
VIZIO's Theater 3D Movement Gains Credibility at Retail and with Industry Experts
- VIZIO's Theater 3D(TM) enhances the home 3D experience
- Technology partner LG Display ramps up production plans to support the growing, high-demand Passive 3D category
IRVINE, Calif., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- VIZIO, announced today growing support from consumers and critics alike for their line of Theater 3D(TM) LCD HDTVs, reinforcing the company's belief that Passive 3D technology is the future of 3D viewing. With the goal to deliver superior 3D performance for all, VIZIO has expanded the Passive Theater 3D technology in their HDTV lineup, with sizes ranging from 32 to 71 inches. Now offering five Theater 3D models in 32", 42", 47" and 65" class sizes with a bright, crystal-clear, virtually flicker-free 3D picture, these TVs have become a fan favorite because crosstalk is virtually a nonissue and eyewear for watching 3D content is included with each model that is battery-free as well as lightweight, stylish and comfortable.
"What's exciting about VIZIO's Theater 3D is that the technology is what works best for consumers," said Randy Waynick, VIZIO's Chief Sales Officer. "Theater 3D is about user acceptance and our brand promise of Entertainment Freedom For All. Growing sales continue to show that consumers want a high quality theater-style 3D experience without flicker and the inconveniences of cumbersome, expensive eyewear. Positive press from industry experts and feedback from Hollywood strengthens our confidence as well."
Better 3D Experience
VIZIO's Passive Theater 3D technology utilizes circular polarization for superior performance boasting a better viewing experience. Key panel technology partner LG Display refers to this as FPR (Film Patterned Retarder) technology. This approach uses Polarizer Filters that are built into the TV, meaning that viewers can use battery-free, stylish polarized glasses instead of the bulky, heavy and uncomfortable active shutter glasses used for other 3DTVs. VIZIO Theater 3D eyewear can even be used for 3D viewing in most local movie theaters.
VIZIO's technology team was an early champion of this approach for 3D TV and was instrumental in focusing their partner's support to meet planned market demand.
Key Technology Partners Prepare to Support and Expect Big Things from 3D Technology
"Shutter glass (SG) 3D technology has been criticized for picture quality problems associated with flickers and cross talks, as well as bulky, battery-operated glasses. Given these issues, consumers have been reluctant to purchase more expensive SG 3D TVs over traditional 2D models. Combined with the knowledge that consumers were comfortable with the glasses and flicker free technology, we made the decision to switch our focus and efforts to LG Display's Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology," stated LG Display Executive Vice President and Head of the TV Business Unit, Sang Beom Han. "Early reports from around the world including sales in the very competitive U.S. and Chinese markets give us confidence that we will meet our goals for FPR 3D."
One of VIZIO's strategic manufacturing partners AmTRAN Technology sees several benefits to VIZIO's 3D plans. "We at AmTRAN believe that passive Theater 3D is the most economically efficient, easily adopted, user-friendly 3D technology," stated Alpha Wu, AmTRAN Technology CEO. "In addition to a superior experience for the consumer with better picture quality and a comfortable viewing experience, Theater 3D offers more flexibility in the choice of LCD backlighting technology. This choice will lead to greater cost efficiency and to faster adoption of 3D in the home."
What Industry Experts and "The 3D King of the World" Are Saying
Consumer Electronics Daily recently reported that Academy Award Winning Director and 3D trailblazer James Cameron stated at NAB, that he "is no fan of active-shutter 3D TVs, and when passive sets become a dominant product over active 3D TVs, that will mark the next big 'threshold' in home 3D adoption." Cameron further explained, "Instead of having a few-hundred-dollars-a-pair of active glasses, making sure they're all charged up and are they working and are they switched on, there'll be a bowl of disposable -- we like to say recyclable -- cheap plastic glasses that work very well in decoding the image to the left and to the right eyes. If you're having a Super Bowl party, you'll have a bowl on the coffee table, and if the kids sit on a pair of glasses there's no major scold, just a minor scold. And that's going to accelerate adoption of 3D into the home. Of course, the content is going to have to rise rapidly to meet that."
Passive 3D technology is not only receiving praise from Hollywood moguls such as Cameron, but industry experts have also been impressed by the alternative to Active 3D. Dick De Jong, of HDTVSolutions.com wrote in his recent review, "For me, the active vs. passive debate boils down to two factors, perceived PQ and the 3D glasses. Right now, I am not noticing a great difference in 3D PQ (picture quality) between the two technologies." And to sum up his findings, "For now, let me say that the [VIZIO] XVT3D650SV delivers some of the most pronounced 3D effects that I have seen from a 3D TV."
DigitalTrends reporter and analyst Rob Enderle reported on his recent VIZIO XVT3D650SV purchase, "Active shutter TVs make no sense to me because the glasses they use have to be charged, cost up to $150 a pair, tend to lose sync if you turn your head, and make me look more dorky than I already do (which isn't easy). The depth and picture quality of my setup was impressive... In the end, while I just couldn't get around the cost and problems with active shutter glasses, this passive shutter VIZIO system has impressed me."
PCWorld's CES 2011 Report from Patrick Miller included his much anticipated VIZIO Theater 3D coverage, "...I was struck more by what it lacked than what it had: specifically, it lacked that annoying flicker characteristic of active-shutter glasses, and the glasses themselves were much lighter (not to mention more stylish). The actual '3D-ness' of the image was just as good as what I'd expect from an active-shutter 3D TV, and the image quality didn't seem significantly hampered by the dimmed glasses." In summary, "...VIZIO's new Theater 3D TVs are promising indeed."
Key television analysts such as Riddhi Patel of IHS iSuppli believe that consumers will have a stronger acceptance to 3D in 2011. "Global 3-D television shipments in 2011 will catapult by a spectacular 463 percent to reach 23.4 million units according to IHS iSuppli research. Sales growth is being driven partly by declining prices and the increasing choice of set sizes," stated Riddhi Patel HIS iSuppli Principal Analyst - Television Systems. "Furthermore, brands are changing their marketing strategy to promote 3-D as a desirable feature, attracting the interest of consumers. Finally, the availability of Film Patterned Retarder or passive 3D technology will make 3-D televisions more appealing to consumers," concluded Patel.
Sources:
Consumer Electronics Daily: Passive 3D TV's Dominance Next Big 'Threshold' in Home 3D Adoption, Cameron Tells NAB - Subscription required
HDTVSolutions.com:VIZIO XVT3D650SV Review by Dick De Jong, March 23, 2011
VIZIO, Inc., "Entertainment Freedom For All," headquartered in Irvine, California, is America's HDTV and Consumer Electronics Company. In 2007, VIZIO skyrocketed to the top by becoming the #1 selling brand of flat panel HDTVs in North America and became the first American brand in over a decade to lead in U.S. TV sales. Since 2007 VIZIO HDTV shipments remain in the top ranks in the U.S. and were #1 for the total year in 2009 and 2010. VIZIO is committed to bringing feature-rich consumer electronics to market at a value through practical innovation. VIZIO offers a broad range of award winning consumer electronics. VIZIO's products are found at Costco Wholesale, Sam's Club, Walmart, Target, BJ's Wholesale, and other retailers nationwide along with authorized online partners. VIZIO has won numerous awards including a #1 ranking in the Inc. 500 for Top Companies in Computers and Electronics, Fast Company's 6th Most Innovative CE Company of 2009, and made the lists of Ad Age's Hottest Brands, CNET's Editor's Choice, CNET Best of CES 2011 - Television, IGN Best of CES - Television, Bluetooth.org Best of CES,Good Housekeeping's Best Big-Screens, PC World's Best Buy, Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice and OC Metro's 10 Most Trustworthy Brands among many other prestigious honors. For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit on the web at http://www.VIZIO.com.
The V, VIZIO, TruLED, Extreme VIZIO Technology XVT, VIZIO Internet Apps, 480Hz SPS, 240Hz SPS, Thin Line, Smooth Motion, Razor LED, Smart Dimming, Theater 3D, Cinemawide HDTV, Entertainment Freedom For All, names, phrase and symbols are trademarks or registered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks may be the property of their respective holders.
CONTACT: Jim Noyd, Noyd Communications Inc., +1-310-951-3768, jim.noyd@noydcom.com, or Charley Fitzwilliam, Leader Enterprises, +1-949-579-0405, cfitzwilliam@leaderenterprises.com, both for VIZIO
SonicWALL Extends Next-Generation Firewall Product Line with Wide Area Network Acceleration
Users in Remote Offices Benefit from Boost in WAN Performance, Up to 95% Reduction in Traffic, Uncompromised Security and Comprehensive Application Intelligence and Control
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SonicWALL, Inc., the leading provider of intelligent network security and data protection solutions, today launched the SonicWALL WAN Acceleration Appliance (WXA) Series, an extension of the current SonicWALL Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) suite. The SonicWALL WXA Series consists of the WXA 5000 virtual appliance, the WXA 2000 and WXA 4000 hardware appliances and the WXA 500 Live CD. The offerings allow businesses of any size to select the right deployment solution for their network. The new series significantly improves WAN (Wide Area Network) performance between regional and branch offices and reduces traffic by up to 95%. It gives users faster access to mission-critical applications, resulting in increased employee productivity.
To simplify the deployment of WAN acceleration, the WXA Series attaches directly to SonicWALL Network Security Appliance (NSA) and TZ Series appliances for seamless integration, without requiring any reconfiguration of the network. SonicOS, SonicWALL's firmware, automatically detects, provisions and manages the WXA solution. Because the SonicWALL firewall is able to combine both application intelligence and WAN optimization in a single solution, networks experience unprecedented speed and bandwidth efficiencies. Unwanted applications are eliminated from the network, while mission critical applications are allocated increased bandwidth. WAN optimization then reduces the total traffic over WAN links improving network capacity and speed. All traffic is scanned for intrusions and malware with SonicWALL's Reassembly-Free Deep Packet Inspection engine. Additionally, since the solution is integrated with IPsec and SSL Virtual Private Networking (VPN) features, it eliminates the problems associated with WAN Acceleration of encrypted traffic by auto creating the routing and policy logic for remote and branch offices.
With the WXA Series, application acceleration is achieved through the de-duplication of transmitted data using SonicWALL's advanced proprietary byte caching technology as well as TCP protocol optimization and data compression. Further, for Wide Area File Services (WFS), the WXA Series provides intelligent local file caching and CIFS protocol optimization which enables acceleration of remote file servers saving time and network resources.
"The amount of data being transmitted across company networks has grown exponentially in recent years - and this trend won't be reversed. It is critical for businesses that network infrastructures keep up with these increased volumes," said Shane O'Hanlon, director of software engineering at SonicWALL. "Companies that use a WXA Series appliance in conjunction with a SonicWALL NGFW solution greatly reduce expenditures and eliminate the need for network upgrades. In addition, they benefit from superior security and tightly integrated network management."
The WXA Series works in combination with SonicWALL's DPI scanning technology and Application Intelligence and Control to speed up the network and better gauge where bandwidth is being wasted. This gives IT managers granular control over network data while analyzing every byte of every packet of all network traffic. Networks also benefit from top-notch security scanning capabilities with the guarantee that data is moving quickly and still being scanned effectively. Ultimately, businesses now have the ability to control non-business applications in the branch and not compromise security while continuing to receive the benefits of WAN Acceleration.
For more news on Dynamic Security and Next-Generation Networks, follow SonicWALL on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
About SonicWALL, Inc.
Guided by its vision of Dynamic Security for the Global Network, SonicWALL develops advanced intelligent network security and data protection solutions that adapt as organizations evolve and as threats evolve. Trusted by small and large enterprises worldwide, SonicWALL solutions are designed to detect and control applications and protect networks from intrusions and malware attacks through award-winning hardware, software and virtual appliance-based solutions. For more information, visit http://www.sonicwall.com/.
Novel Concepts Announces ThinSink(TM), the World's Thinnest Air-Cooled Heat Sink
LAS VEGAS, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Novel Concepts, Inc. announced today that it has developed and has patents pending for the world's thinnest forced convection (fan cooled) heat sink, dubbed ThinSink(TM). Thinner than a credit card, this low-profile ThinSink has a volumetric cooling efficiency 25 times greater than today's best microprocessor heat sinks, which means it cools 25 times more heat per cubic centimeter.
Developed to fit inside small electronic devices such as notebooks, monitors, and tablets, ThinSink efficiently cools integrated circuits, semiconductors, LED's and other microelectronic heat generating devices.
ThinSink's smooth fan surface requires very little electrical power. A credit card-sized ThinSink (85mm by 55mm by 0.75mm), using a 40mm diameter smooth fan, spinning at 6,000 RPM, consumes only 0.031 watts of electricity (up to 2 days on a AAA battery) (click for chart).
Even with its low power consumption, this same credit card-sized ThinSink has an amazing thermal performance of 2.73 degrees Centigrade per watt at a fan speed of 6,000 RPM.
ThinSink is also extremely quiet, due to its thin, smooth fan surface, which eliminates the pulsating sound and vibration caused by traditional fan blades. At 6,000 RPM, this credit card-sized ThinSink has a sound output less than 34 dBA (quieter than a soft whisper at one meter distance).
Since ThinSink is thin and flat, it's also very lightweight. An aluminum credit card-sized ThinSink weighs only 13.8 grams, including motor, and only occupies 4.5 cubic centimeters of space.
Additionally, ThinSink may be very cost effective. Excluding the motor, ThinSink has only two thin flat parts, which can be stamped or molded from metal or plastic.
About Novel Concepts
Novel Concepts develops, designs, and optimizes thermal management technologies. With a core focus on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) integrated with proprietary computer shape optimization, Novel Concepts has uniquely solved some of the industry's most difficult thermal challenges. Using high speed servers, Novel Concepts can quickly explore a large solution space, allowing for greater design flexibility, while improving the chances of finding those "unique patentable solutions" necessary for today's competitive environment.
Since 1982, Novel Concepts has provided its clients with a broad spectrum of thermal management hardware and services, including heat sinks, cold plates, Peltier coolers, heat spreaders, vapor chambers, thermal interface materials, heat pipes, solid state thermoelectric coolers, liquid cooled heat sinks, computational fluid dynamics analysis, high power density LED heat sinks, computer design optimization, thin microfluidic heat sinks, thermal consulting, compact heat exchangers, heat transfer software, transient phase change heat sinks.
Licensing and Prototypes
Novel Concepts is pursuing partnering and licensing opportunities for its ThinSink technologies, as well as licensing opportunities for its portfolio of patents and patent applications.
The singe-piece price for the credit card-sized ThinSink evaluation unit is $750, reduced pricing is available on larger quantities, request pricing.
Contact:
Novel Concepts, Inc.
Daniel L. Thomas, President/CTO
dt@novelconceptsinc.com http://www.novelconceptsinc.com
702.363.8443 - Direct
DataStax Releases Dramatically Simpler, More Reliable, High-Performance Hadoop Solution
DataStax' Brisk is Open-Source and Available Now for Download
BURLINGAME, Calif., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --Today, DataStax, the commercial leader in Apache Cassandra(TM), released DataStax' Brisk - a second-generation open-source Hadoop distribution that eliminates the key operational complexities with deploying and running Hadoop and Hive in production. Brisk is powered by Cassandra and offers a single platform containing a low-latency database for extremely high-volume web and real-time applications, while providing tightly coupled Hadoop and Hive analytics.
"The goal in developing and deploying Brisk was to provide customers an easier way to manage large volumes of data, while extracting business insights from that data in the most efficient way possible," said Matt Pfeil, CEO and co-founder, DataStax. "By utilizing Apache Cassandra(TM) as the foundation for Hadoop, we've created a distribution where the real-time analysis and creation of data live in the same data-store, effectively eliminating the need to move data or risk systems failing due to work overload."
Brisk was previewed at the GigaOM Structure Big Data conference and has gained industry attention for the way it utilizes the best of Hadoop (i.e. MapReduce and Hive capabilities), while replacing the weaker pieces (i.e. HDFS and HBase) with Cassandra-based technology. The result is a Hadoop distribution containing a single layer of peer nodes that communicate via a state-of-the-art 'gossip protocol' for replication and fault-tolerance. This entirely eliminates the HDFS 'name node' and associated single-points-of-failure and scalability pains.
DataStax' Brisk also benefits from Cassandra's intrinsic support for multi-datacenter replication. For the first time Hadoop provides automatic synchronous or asynchronous replication of data between two or more distributed datacenters - all controlled through simple policy definitions.
"At Ooyala we focus on delivering an extremely personalized online video experience to end-users as well as deep insights to our customers on how their content is performing, and this requires vast amounts of analytics data," said Harry Robertson, Analytic Technical Lead, Ooyala. "DataStax' Brisk really has the potential to change the way enterprises use Hadoop through its Cassandra core. The potential gains are faster time to insight, simpler operation and effortless multi-datacenter Hadoop replication."
According to the company's early customers and a wide variety of benchmarks, the initial Brisk beta release has equal or better performance than existing, widely-used Hadoop distributions. Brisk is compatible with all widely used Hadoop distributions and tools. To download DataStax' Brisk, please go to http://www.datastax.com/brisk.
"DataStax is an exciting entrant into the Hadoop Big Data ecosystem," said Martin Hall, executive vice president, Karmasphere. "Its Brisk product offers companies a compelling way to integrate operational data stored in Cassandra with Hadoop, expanding the options for analyzing data using Hadoop MapReduce. Through our partnership, customers will be able to use Karmasphere solutions to analyze broader sets of Hadoop data and bring new innovation and services to market."
About DataStax
DataStax, the commercial leader in Apache Cassandra(TM) and Hadoop(TM), offers products and services that make it easy for customers to build, deploy and operate elastically scalable and cloud-optimized applications and data services. The company has over 80 customers, including leaders such as Netflix, Cisco, Rackspace and Constant Contact, and spanning verticals including web, financial services, telecommunications, logistics and government. DataStax is backed by industry leading investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital and Rackspace Hosting, and is based in Burlingame, CA with offices in Austin, TX and Stamford, CT. For more information, visit http://www.datastax.com.
About Apache Cassandra(TM)
Apache Cassandra(TM) is an open source distributed database management system. It is designed to store and allow very low-latency access to very large amounts of data spread out across many commodity servers while providing a highly available service with no single point of failure. This next-generation data platform evolved from work at Google, Amazon and Facebook, and is an Apache Software Foundation top-level project.
CONTACT: Michael Weir, DataStax, mweir@datastax.com, +1-650-270-7776; or Michelle Van Jura, Intersect Communications, michelle@intersectcom.com, +1-646-781-9323
Interleukin Genetics Launches Enhanced Online Weight Loss Services For Its Inherent Health® Genetic Test
WALTHAM, Mass., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (OTCQB: ILIU) today announced the launch of a comprehensive suite of new free and subscriber-based weight loss web-based tools on the Inherent Health website (http://www.inherenthealth.com). The new tools help to optimize diet and exercise management for users of the Inherent Health® Weight Management Genetic Test. These tools provide customers with a convenient, informative and fun way to manage diet and exercise based on their specific genetic makeup.
As part of the new tools, the free Inherent Diet and Nutrient Analyzer(TM) service includes an improved calorie and nutrient tracking tool. Now for the first time, customers will be able to record calories consumed for more than 35,000 different foods and energy burned for approximately 10,000 exercises. The Analyzer library can determine a food's macronutrient content in terms of fat, carbohydrates and protein. In addition, the application matches a person's genetics to specific menus, provides recipes for low-fat, low-carb or balanced meals. Customers on the site will also be able to create grocery lists and interact with people of similar genetic diet IDs via chat rooms. While some of the features are only available through a premium service package billed monthly, for the first 30 days after purchasing a test, customers can enjoy the full suite of all weight loss web applications for free.
"These new and improved tools are expected to improve the genetic test service and overall weight management experience of our customers," said Lewis H. Bender, CEO, Interleukin Genetics. "We're thrilled to be able to provide a comprehensive online element to our Weight Management genetic test program that will help our customers navigate their weight loss journey more effectively."
About Interleukin Genetics
Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (OTCQB: ILIU) develops and markets a line of genetic tests under the Inherent Health® brand. The products empower individuals to prevent certain chronic conditions and manage their existing health and wellness through genetic-based insights with actionable guidance. Interleukin Genetics leverages its research, intellectual property and genetic panel development expertise in metabolism and inflammation to facilitate the emerging personalized healthcare market. The Company markets its tests through partnerships with health and wellness companies, healthcare professionals and other distribution channels. Interleukin Genetics' flagship products include its proprietary PST® genetic risk panel for periodontal disease and tooth loss susceptibility sold through dentists, and the Inherent Health Weight Management Genetic Test that identifies the most effective diet and exercise program for an individual based on genetics. Interleukin Genetics is headquartered in Waltham, MA and operates an on-site, state-of-the-art DNA testing laboratory certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). For more information please visit http://www.ilgenetics.com.
Contacts:
Media:
Jon Siegal
Schwartz Communications, Inc.
(781) 684-0770
interleukin@schwartzcomm.com
STOCKHOLM, May 9, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Mobile Make Out is the iPhone app that makes it possible to make out with
the hot colleague, classmate or receptionist - without being unfaithful. When
spring arrives this app a must.
Mobile Make Out app is a multiplayer experience. Excellent for
flirting at a party, at school, at work or anywhere. Instead of kissing
each other for real, you and your "make out partner" are kissing your own
iPhones at the same time. Via WiFi or Bluetooth signals are sent between you.
Magic occurs. The feeling's tingling and hot - almost like the real thing. If
you want to make out with someone else, simply invite by a text message in
the app or a post on Facebook.
The Mobile Make Out was developed by the new app agency Sparkling Zoo
from the sinful country Sweden. It can be downloaded from the AppStore today.
Sparkling Zoo produce high quality app experiences for iPhone, iPad,
Android and the social web. And offers creative strategies to connect our
clients with the millions of users who are downloading applications right
now. http://www.sparklingzoo.com
Contact: Karin Ernerot, Creative Director karin@sparklingzoo.com, +46-
732038430
New Business Book Provides Insights and Advice On Employing, Entertaining, Educating, and Marketing to Members of the First Generation Born Into a World of Ubiquitous Digital Technology
MEDFORD, N.J., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Information Today, Inc. (ITI) announced the publication of Dancing With Digital Natives: Staying in Step With the Generation That's Transforming the Way Business Is Done, edited by Michelle Manafy and Heidi Gautschi.
The new book brings together research, opinions, and business advice on "digital natives," a term coined by author Marc Prensky to describe a generation of young people who have "spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, videogames, digital music players, video cams, cell phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age." Flawed stereotypes of digital natives abound, but not in dispute is that, globally, an increasingly mobile, socially networked consumer base and workforce is creating fundamental changes in the way business is done.
"Generational differences have always influenced how business is done, but in the case of digital natives we are witnessing a tectonic shift," Michelle Manafy said. "We are connected to and must tap into this generation as we educate them and work with them, and as they become the dominant consuming force." Heidi Gautschi added, "We must understand how their lifelong immersion in digital technologies colors every aspect of their behavior, so that we can maximize their effectiveness in the workplace and understand their buying behaviors."
In Dancing With Digital Natives, Manafy and Gautschi and twenty contributors explore a wide range of business issues and impacts. They offer nineteen thought-provoking chapters organized in four major parts: "The Digital Native Goes to Work," "Marketing and Selling to the Digital Native," "Entertaining the Digital Native," and "Educating the Digital Native." The editors solicited contributions from experts working in diverse sectors in order to provide a broad overview of the first generation of digital natives.
"Contributors come from both the business and the academic worlds and some have a foot in both," Manafy said. "Their generations range from baby boomers to the natives themselves." The contributors are Mary Ann Bell, Shashi Bellamkonda, Sarah Bryans Bongey, Jami L. Carlacio, Albert M. Erisman, Brynn Evans, Susan Evans, Lance Heidig, David Hubbard, Richard Hull, Marshall Lager, Christa M. Miller, Emilie Moreau, Carolina M. Reid, Rebecca Rufo-Tepper, Michael P. Russell, Peggy Anne Salz, Dan Schawbel, Arana Shapiro, and Robert J. Torres.
Addressing the impact of digital natives in the workplace in Chapter 1 of Dancing With Digital Natives, contributor Brynn Evans explains, "It's not just their hip iPhones and contemporary slang ('Facebook me!') that marks this as a new era. Their work practice is fundamentally changing as they live and breathe this culture of distributed networking and social technologies." Evans, chief experience officer at a stealth tech startup in San Francisco, adds, "It may never be a practice that managers and previous generations wish to embrace personally--and that's fine. They will, however, need to recognize and understand this emerging work practice if they wish to maximize the digital native workforce."
Dancing With Digital Natives has garnered strong pre-publication praise from a number of leading writers and researchers who have studied the phenomenon. Don Tapscott, author of Grown Up Digital, said, "The wide array of fresh insights offered gives educators, employers and marketers the techniques and tools to better understand this challenging generation." John Palfrey, co-author of Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives, said, "This remarkable group of editors and authors present a range of opinions about the challenges and opportunities of business life in a digital era. ... No matter what, this book will make you think." And Lou Frillman, Chairman of the Unity Fund who held multiple leadership roles in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, said, "The digital native generation doesn't want to be talked to; young people want to interact, engage, and effect change. ... Dancing With Digital Natives shows you how to make that real connection happen."
ABOUT THE EDITORS
Michelle Manafy is director of content for FreePint, Ltd. and was previously editorial director of the Enterprise Group for Information Today, Inc. An award-winning writer and editor, her focus is on emerging trends in digital content and how they shape successful business practices. In addition to writing on such technology topics as digital publishing, econtent development, and social media, Michelle is a sought-after speaker and a dedicated mentor to many digital natives. Heidi Gautschi grew up in France and the United States, and continues to divide her time between the two countries. She has taught in the French university system for more than ten years, most recently at University of Lille 3, and developed her intense interest in digital natives from experiences and observations both in and beyond the classroom. Her research looks at the cultural, social, political, and economic implications of communication technology.
Dancing With Digital Natives: Staying in Step With the Generation That's Transforming the Way Business Is Done (408pp/hardbound/$27.95/ISBN 978-0-910965-87-3) is a CyberAge Book from Information Today, Inc. (ITI). It is available in bookstores through Independent Publishers Group (IPG) and direct from the publisher. For more information visit the ITI website at http://www.infotoday.com.
Contact: Rob Colding
Information Today, Inc.
(609) 654-6266, ext. 330
Perfect World Announces Recent Business Developments
BEIJING, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD) ("Perfect World" or the "Company"), a leading online game developer and operator based in China, today announced its recent business developments as of May 9, 2011.
On April 28, 2011, Perfect World released the expansion pack "Fantasy Zhu Xian 2.0" for its first turn-based 2D MMORPG "Fantasy Zhu Xian." This expansion pack introduces new team-battle instances and gameplay including exciting aerial combat and a new wing system, creating a stunning aerial fantasy world for players to explore.
OVERSEAS LICENSING AGREEMENTS
Licensing "Perfect World II" to the Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America
In March 2011, Perfect World signed an agreement with Aeria Games & Entertainment Inc. ("Aeria Games") to license "Perfect World II" to the Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. Perfect World II is a 3D MMORPG launched in Mainland China in 2006 by Perfect World, and has since been successfully launched in dozens of countries and territories throughout Asia, Europe and North America.
Licensing "Legend of Martial Arts" to the Russian Federation and other Russian-speaking Territories
In April 2011, Perfect World signed an agreement with Inter-s Co., Ltd. ("Inter-s") to license "Legend of Martial Arts" to the Russian Federation and other Russian-speaking Territories. "Legend of Martial Arts", first launched in Mainland China in September 2006, is a 3D cartoon adventure MMORPG based on a popular TV drama series with the same Chinese name.
Licensing "Empire of the Immortals" to Taiwan
In April 2011, Perfect World signed an agreement with Gameastor Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. ("Gameastor"), a subsidiary of Gamania Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (OTC: 6180) ("Gamania"), to license "Empire of the Immortals" to Taiwan. Following "Battle of the Immortals," "Empire of Immortals" is another 2.5D MMORPG in Perfect World's "Immortals" franchise. Featuring the international style of the Immortals series, "Empire of the Immortals" runs on an upgraded Cube engine to render exciting visual effects, and innovative game play and battle modes.
OVERSEAS LAUNCHES THROUGH LICENSEES
Launch of "Forsaken World" in Singapore and Malaysia
In March 2011, Perfect World launched its "Forsaken World" in Singapore and Malaysia through Cubinet Interactive Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary under Cubinet Interactive Group ("Cubinet Interactive"). "Forsaken World" is a 3D MMORPG which caters to the tastes of global game players. Set against the backdrop of a fantasy world, "Forsaken World" breaks new ground by introducing a multitude of innovative features and novel gaming concepts. Players themselves are able to alter the fate of the world through their individual actions in the game. "Forsaken World" was first launched in Mainland China in October 2010.
Launches of "Legend of Martial Arts" and "Hot Dance Party" in the Philippines
In March and May 2011, Perfect World launched its 3D MMORPG "Legend of Martial Arts" and 3D online casual game "Hot Dance Party" in the Philippines through Cubinet Interactive Philippines Corporation, a subsidiary under Cubinet Interactive. To date, these games have been exported to a number of countries and regions. "Hot Dance Party" is Perfect World's first online casual game and was first launched in Mainland China in March 2008.
OVERSEAS OPERATIONS
Obtained License to Operate "RaiderZ" in North America
In February 2011, Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Perfect World, signed a licensing agreement with Korea-based MAIET Entertainment ("MAIET"), to operate "RaiderZ" in North America. "RaiderZ" is an action MMORPG, where players can fully experience fun of battling and hunting a myriad of huge monsters that require strategy, skill, and in most cases teamwork.
Launch of "Forsaken World" in North America and Europe
In March 2011, Perfect World launched its 3D MMORPG "Forsaken World" in US and Europe through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and Perfect World Europe B.V., respectively.
Aeria Games & Entertainment Inc. is a leader in free-to-play massively multiplayer online (MMO) games in North America, Latin America and Europe, with offices in Santa Clara, USA, Berlin, Germany and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Since its establishment in 2006, Aeria Games has published a diversified and growing portfolio of critically-acclaimed microtransaction-based online games, from action MMO games, first-person shooters (FPS), to fantasy and casual MMORPGs. Aeria Games is committed to delivering deep, immersive and interactive entertainment to millions of gamers worldwide.
Founded in April 2009, Russia-based Inter-s Co., Ltd. specializes in R&D of software and online projects. To date, the company's self-developed casual and social networking games are operated by tabagame.ru, its gaming portal. In 2010, Inter-s began its plan to operate MMORPGs in the Russian Federation and other Russian-speaking territories, and recently obtained the licensing agreement to operate Perfect World's Legend of Martial Arts in the Russian Federation and other Russian speaking territories. Inter-s aims to introduce more exciting and high-quality games to the market.
Gamania Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (OTC: 6180) is a leading PC online game and digital entertainment corporation, providing high quality online games and digital entertainment content to consumers all over the world. Gamania has established a number of overseas branch offices in China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, the United States and Europe. With its core-business being PC online gaming, Gamania aims to become a leading digital entertainment brand, providing diversified digital entertainment content including online games, animations, and other entertainment platform to the world.
Cubinet Interactive Group is engaged in developing and publishing high-quality game products in the Southeast Asia market. Composed of a large number of senior experts in all aspects, Cubinet Interactive also has strong network support and a strong user's community. In addition to the publication and operation of games in Malaysia and Singapore, Cubinet Interactive also develops business throughout the rest of Southeast Asia region. Through cooperation with Perfect World, the company successfully launched "Perfect World II" in Malaysia and Singapore. "Perfect World II" was one of the best performing online games in Southeast Asia in 2007. In addition, the company also introduced other Perfect World games including "Battle of the Immortals," "Legend of Martial Arts," "Chi Bi," "Zhu Xian" and "Hot Dance Party" to the region where they also became popular.
MAIET Entertainment, Inc. is a developer of online games focused at being excellent and entertaining while utilizing the best advanced development technology. MAIET Entertainment's goal is to develop the best games possible with best services since its first release in 2002 with "AceSaga" and later with "GunZ" in 2004.
Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD) is a leading online game developer and operator based in China. Perfect World primarily develops online games based on proprietary game engines and game development platforms. The Company's strong technology and creative game design capabilities, combined with extensive knowledge and experiences in the online game market, enable it to frequently and promptly introduce popular games designed to cater changing customer preferences and market trends. The Company's current portfolio of self-developed online games includes massively multiplayer online role playing games ("MMORPGs"): "Perfect World," "Legend of Martial Arts," "Perfect World II," "Zhu Xian," "Chi Bi," "Pocketpet Journey West," "Battle of the Immortals," "Fantasy Zhu Xian," "Forsaken World," "Dragon Excalibur," and "Empire of the Immortals;" and an online casual game: "Hot Dance Party." While a substantial portion of the revenues are generated in China, the Company's games have been licensed to leading game operators in a number of countries and regions in Asia, Latin America and the Russian Federation and other Russian speaking territories. The Company also generates revenues from game operations in North America, Europe and Japan. The Company plans to continue to explore new and innovative business models and remains deeply committed to maximizing shareholder value over time.
Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute forward-looking statements under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our limited operating history, our ability to develop and operate new games that are commercially successful, the growth of the online game market and the continuing market acceptance of our games and in-game items in China and elsewhere, our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, our ability to respond to competitive pressure, our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, changes of the regulatory environment in China, and economic slowdown in China and/or elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Perfect World's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Perfect World does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.
For further information, please contact
Perfect World Co., Ltd.
Vivien Wang
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Tel: +86-10-5780-5700
Fax: +86-10-5780-5713
Email: ir@pwrd.com http://www.pwrd.com
Groupon and Live Nation Entertainment Form Joint Venture to Launch New Online Ticketing Deals Marketplace
CHICAGO and LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Groupon and Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV) today announced that they have a formed a joint venture to develop a new online ticketing deals channel, GrouponLive.
GrouponLive will serve as a local resource for Live Nation events and clients of its global ticketing business, Ticketmaster. The site will be a groundbreaking resource for consumers to find high-value tickets to concerts, sports, theater, arts and other live events, while serving as a timely and effective way for merchants to sell more tickets. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Launch is planned in time for the summer concert season.
"With unprecedented access to Live Nation's expansive roster of performers and events, GrouponLive will be the destination for exclusive live event deals," said Andrew Mason, founder and CEO, Groupon. "We're excited to work with Live Nation to further deliver on our commitment to offer amazing local experiences to our subscribers."
"GrouponLive represents a new channel to drive value for fans, while helping artists and others to reach ever larger audiences," said Michael Rapino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Live Nation Entertainment. "By adding this channel to our ticketing platform, we will also provide our venue partners with another option for driving ticket sales across a wide range of events. Our success is based on selling tickets and filling seats and GrouponLive gives us another platform to achieve this."
Both Groupon and Live Nation would like to thank Guy Oseary who advised on the deal and was instrumental in helping develop the partnership. Mr. Oseary is on Groupon's Advisory Board, and has worked with Live Nation through his role as artist manager and event promoter.
Users of GrouponLive will have access to limited-time deals on a variety of events across North America. The site will update offers as new events become available. To be notified when GrouponLive launches, visit http://www.grouponlive.com.
About Groupon:
Groupon, launched in November 2008 in Chicago, features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, eat, see and buy in more than 500 markets around the world. Groupon uses collective buying power to offer unbeatable prices and provide a win-win for businesses and consumers, delivering more than 900 daily deals globally. To subscribe for the best deals in your city, visit http://www.groupon.com. To learn how to become a featured business, visit http://www.grouponworks.com.
About Live Nation Entertainment:
Live Nation Entertainment is the world's leading live entertainment and eCommerce company, comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster.com, Live Nation Concerts, Front Line Management Group and Live Nation Network. Ticketmaster.com is the global event ticketing leader and one of the world's top five eCommerce sites, with over 26 million monthly unique visitors. Live Nation Concerts produces over 20,000 shows annually for more than 2,000 artists globally. Front Line is the world's top artist management company, representing over 250 artists. These businesses power Live Nation Network, the leading provider of entertainment marketing solutions, enabling over 800 advertisers to tap into the 200 million consumers Live Nation delivers annually through its live event and digital platforms. For additional information, visit http://www.livenation.com/investors.
SOURCE Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment
CONTACT: For Groupon, Julie Mossler, +1-312-242-2033, julie@groupon.com; for Live Nation Entertainment, Linda Bandov Pazin, +1-310-867-7000, lindabandov@livenation.com
Business Execution Software Leader to Unveil Updated Brand Identity, and Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative
SAN MATEO, Calif., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SuccessFactors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFSF), the global leader in business execution software, announced its 10-year anniversary as well as its key milestones in the cloud. SuccessFactors is also introducing a bold new brand identity to reflect its evolution over the past decade, as well as the creation of the SuccessFactors Foundation, a community service initiative to empower future leaders.
"Ten years ago, we set out to build a new kind of company and a new kind of software, delivered through a revolutionary fast-to-results cloud platform, to run companies much better by driving mutual accountability in the organization and tapping into the magic of people, through business applications, that allows both managers and employees to collaborate and communicate efficiently on direction, responsibility, rewards and careers. Today we are very proud of the trusted brand we have built to transform our customers' organizations through their people and in turn, help their people transform their organization," said Lars Dalgaard, co-founder and CEO, SuccessFactors. "We've maintained a culture of extraordinary passion, commitment, love and results. We have grown almost 100 percent in compounded annual growth rate for a decade, and it feels like the platform and many firsts we have offered customers every year, has put us in a situation to accelerate our impact on the 3 billion people in today's workforce, and through that make it a better world to live in. SuccessFactors has a real chance to help the world put the heart back into business, hold everyone accountable and deliver better, and execute strategy faster."
kind of software, delivered through a revolutionary fast-to-results cloud platform"
Key Milestones in SuccessFactors' 10 year history are significant and testify to the company's continued innovation and commitment:
-- May 2001: Lars Dalgaard founded SuccessFactors.
-- September 2001: SuccessFactors launched its first product; Performance
Management.
-- October 2006: SuccessFactors launched the first complete suite of
integrated, on-demand HCM applications.
-- November 2007: SuccessFactors announced its initial public offering
amidst a choppy market.
-- June 2009: SuccessFactors announced the largest cloud deployment in
Europe at Siemens AG with more than 400,000 users.
-- September 2009: SuccessFactors created the Business Execution (BizX)
category and redefined the market.
-- February 2010-April 2011: SuccessFactors made five game-changing
acquisitions (Inform, CubeTree, YouCalc, Jambok, and the pending Plateau
acquisition).
-- February 2010: InformationWeek Declares SuccessFactors 'The Future of
Business Software.'
-- May 2010: SuccessFactors announces the world's largest cloud deployment
with 2 million end-users at a single customer.
-- April 2011: SuccessFactors becomes the first company to announce plans
to list and trade shares on NYSE, EuroNext Paris and Deutsche Boerse.
-- April 2011: With the potential acquisition of Plateau, SuccessFactors
becomes the first and only company with an HCM suite across all pillars
- performance, compensation, recruiting and learning - sitting on a HR
system of record, powered by analytics, and delivered as SaaS.
-- 2011: From initial estimates, SuccessFactors and Plateau's potential
combined companies will have more than 10 million users in the cloud.
Unlike many other cloud companies, SuccessFactors was built from day one for massive deployments and can be used by virtually anyone in a company. As one of the most widely deployed cloud-based business software solutions in the market, the company has continued to build on its initial Performance Management product released in 2001 and now offers 20 modules across its BizX Suite, with five major product updates and releases every year.
More than Skin Deep: SuccessFactors' Updated Brand Identity: It's Time to Love Work Again(TM)
SuccessFactors will unveil a bold change to its corporate identity at its SuccessConnect San Francisco event, beginning on May 10, and reflects the company's evolution over the last decade. The brand and visual change incorporates the overall growth, maturity, and expanded portfolio and capabilities of the company, but also makes a statement around the "human-ness" of doing business, with people at the heart of it all. Core brand elements and rationale behind it include:
-- Empowering: SuccessFactors helps companies draw out the passion in their
employees to "get stuff done", grow and win.
-- Proven: SuccessFactors puts a huge emphasis on creating software that is
easy to use, and that friendly, accessible nature is now better
reflected in the company's corporate brand. SuccessFactors' software can
be used by virtually any person, in any type of company, in geographies
around the world.
-- Visionary: SuccessFactors started its journey as a cloud company and
continues to listen to its customers and develop and deliver new
capabilities and innovations.
"SuccessFactors' new branding acknowledges that people are at the heart of what gets done in companies, and in turn our own passion around making our customers successful," said Darryl Dickens, CMO, SuccessFactors. "It demonstrates the power of an aligned, empowered workplace, which is what truly fuels a business and its success. It also builds out a new set of icons and visual language to represent our products, services and solutions as we continue to grow and scale our business."
SuccessFactors Foundation: Empowering the Future Leaders of Tomorrow's Workforce
Today, SuccessFactors also announced the SuccessFactors Foundation, a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) program designed to allow its employees from all levels, departments and regions to be more involved in the community and organizations in need. The SuccessFactors Foundation partners with Junior Achievement Worldwide and Ashoka Youth Venture Program, two organizations focused on inspiring young people to work toward their own economic success and lead social change. Recognizing that today's youth are the future leaders of tomorrow's workforce, the program sets out to support SuccessFactors employees to commit their own time and energy to empower these future leaders and bridge the gap between dreams and achievement.
About SuccessFactors
SuccessFactors is the leading provider of cloud-based Business Execution (BizX) software solutions to organizations of all sizes, with more than 8 million users across multiple industries and geographies. We strive to delight our customers by delivering innovative solutions, a broad range of content, process expertise and best practices knowledge gained from serving our large and varied customer base. Today, we have more than 3,200 customers in more than 168 countries using our application suite in 34 languages.
"Safe harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are SuccessFactors' current expectations and beliefs.
These forward-looking statements include statements about future growth prospects. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements include: our ability to retain customers and to experience high customer renewal rates; whether customers renew their agreements for additional modules or users; pricing pressures; the uncertain impact of the overall global economic conditions, including on customers, prospective customers and partners, renewal rates and length of sales cycles; the fact that the business execution market is at an early stage of development, and may not develop as rapidly as we anticipate; risks related to the integration of the acquisitions, including retaining customers and employees and managing geographically-dispersed operations; competitive factors; outages or security breaches; our ability to develop, and market acceptance of, new services; the impact of any discovered product defects or outages; our ability to continue to sell our services outside the HR area; our ability to manage our growth; our ability to successfully expand our sales force and its effectiveness; whether our resellers and other partners will be successful in marketing our products; our ability to continue to manage expenses; the impact of unforeseen expenses, including as a result of integrating acquisitions; and general economic conditions worldwide. If any such risks or uncertainties materialize or if any of the assumptions proves incorrect, our results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements we make.
Further information on these and other factors that could affect these forward-looking statements is included in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our most recent report on Form 10-Q and in other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.
Contact:
For media inquiries:Andrea Meyer+1.415.370.7329ameyer@successfactors.com
For investor inquiries:Karen Moran+1.650.645.4439kmoran@successfactors.com
SOURCE SuccessFactors, Inc.
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110509/SF97767LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/
SuccessFactors, Inc.
Fighting Back! Online Businesses Need to Adopt a More Offensive Line of Attack Against Cyber Crime
Radware offers tips to e-businesses on how to fight back against attackers even beyond the perimeter's borders
MAHWAH, N.J., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- By the very definition, businesses with an online presence including retailers, tourism, sports, financial services, or gambling, rely on Internet connectivity to generate revenue. These organizations are the perfect targets for security attacks of all types including information theft, denial of service (DoS) attacks, application vulnerabilities, etc. Radware (NASDAQ: RDWR) a leading provider of integrated application delivery and network security solutions for business-smart networking, is recommending that all online businesses take a more offensive approach in the way in which they fight against these attacks by adopting a more complete solution that counters the attack at its real origin.
In addition to the broad spectrum of attacks that have developed in the past years, the motivation for these attacks has evolved from basic financial to vandalism and social activism ("Hacktivism") developing into a "power struggle" between the attacker and the object of the attack as these businesses try to fend off yet another attack. And yet, online businesses have not adjusted their network security solutions to these changes - with many still relying upon traditional defensive-only mitigation technologies. And, these security technologies based on signature detection or behavioral analysis have proven to be inadequate - at best they offer defensive-only business protection against perimeter attacks. Although effective in certain situations, i.e. mitigating the effects of an attack, they are unable to address the underlying cause itself. They are incapable of taking the reins and obtaining the advantage from the attackers.
As such, online businesses need to reassess the security solutions they have in place so as to best protect their businesses. And, to cite Carl von Clausewitz's adage "The best defense is a good offense"; the mitigation of attacks should be done by slowing down or even completely shutting down the zombie computers that generated these attacks. This is the only way to reverse the power relationship that exists between attackers and defenders. This may even convince the attacker to stop targeting one business and attacking another which may be less secure.
As part of its security offering, Radware created the Emergency Response Team (ERT). The ERT consists of security experts with vast knowledge in network threats, detection and mitigation is well aware of the security challenges faced by customers. Taking from lessons learned throughout their daily activities, the ERT has developed a new methodology to fight against cyber attacks.
Based on this, Radware has created a list of tips that each online business should follow in order to instill a top-level offensive strategy in fighting cybercrime and protecting their networks.
Good Offense Tips
1. Study normal usage patterns: Using behavioral analysis tools, profile and
characterize the normal usage habits of the application as well as the
behavior of users accessing online services;
2. Identify types of behavior: Create a methodology to detect deviations
from normal activity of in different types of applications. This will
help in clearly identifying abnormal behavior and thus identify users who
appear to be acting suspiciously. These types of users tend to, more than
not, represent a Botnet attack;
3. Analyze and mitigate the attack: Isolate the transactions of the
suspicious user and block them at the network's perimeter,
4. Analyze the attack tool: analyze the use of the attack tool deployed and
its weaknesses;
5. Create an offensive: Create a method that will exploit the attack tool's
weakness identified previously to deactivate the tool wherever located,
thus cleaning the "bad traffic" end-to-end beyond the perimeter borders ;
and
6. Measure the effectiveness: Assess the tool used and the success rate.
Make adjustments if deemed necessary.
About Radware's Security Offering
Radware's Attack Mitigation System (AMS) is a real-time network and application attack mitigation solution that protects the application infrastructure against network & application downtime, application vulnerability exploitation, malware spread, information theft, web service attacks and web defacement.
AMS contains 4 key components:
-- Radware's award winning DefensePro® and AppWall® which a set of
security modules - Denial-of-service (DoS) Protection, Network
Behavioral Analysis (NBA), Intrusion Prevention (IPS), Reputation Engine
and Web Application Firewall (WAF) - to fully protect networks and
applications against known and emerging network security threats
-- APSolute Vision® accompanies the security solution with an
enterprise-wide view of security event management (SEM) and compliance
platform
-- Radware's Emergency Response Team (ERT) consists of knowledgeable and
specialized security experts who provide 24x7 instantaneous services for
customers facing a denial-of-service (DoS) attack in order to restore
network and service operational status
About Radware
Radware (NASDAQ:RDWR), a global leader in integrated application delivery solutions, assures the full availability, maximum performance, and complete security of business-critical applications for nearly 10,000 enterprises and carriers worldwide. With APSolute®, Radware's comprehensive and award-winning suite of application delivery and network security products, companies in every industry can drive business productivity, improve profitability, and reduce IT operating and infrastructure costs by making their networks "business smart". For more information, please visit http://www.radware.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general business conditions in the Application Switching or Network Security industry, changes in demand for Application Switching or Network Security products, the timing and amount or cancellation of orders and other risks detailed from time to time in Radware's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Radware's Form 20-F.
Press Relations:
Joyce Anne Shulman+1 201 785 3209joyceannes@radware.com