Consumer Electronics Daily News

GameStop Hosts Midnight Launch Events For NCAA Football 10

Compete in a One-day Tournament to Win a T-shirt and Xbox 360 Faceplate

GameStop Corp., the world’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer, announced that it will host midnight launch events for Electronic Arts’ NCAA Football 10 at more than 1,300 of its U.S. locations on Monday, July 13, 2009.

Football fans from any conference will have their chance to represent their team by participating in several activities including:

• “Ultimate Football Fan” Contests
  
• Tailgate Party Challenges
  
• “End Zone Dance” Contests
  
• In-store tournaments
  
• The tournament will test players’ skills on the field against other contestants on NCAA Football 10 on the Xbox 360. Starting at 10 p.m., players will be randomly paired off for the opening match and continue until the last two players remain to compete. The winner of the final match goes home with an NCAA Football 10 T-shirt and Xbox 360 faceplate.

Whether you’re a first time player or a repeated fan, NCAA Football 10 has new features to offer including the all-new Season Showdown which ensures everything you do counts toward your goal of helping your school become the best in the nation. With the game’s innovative features, you will have every advantage you need to get your team to the national championship in 2010.

For additional details and to obtain a list of participating tournament locations, visit a local GameStop retail location or http://www.gamestop.com/ncaafootball.

For more information visit GameStop.

Starz Entertainment To Join Comcast’s On Demand Online Trial

Adds 300 Movies and Original Programming with More to Come, Including HD; Available Online at No Additional Charge to Starz Subscribers

Starz Entertainment, LLC, which operates 16 premium movie channels including the flagship Starz and Encore brands, and Comcast Corporation have together announced that selections from the programmer’s vast lineup of premium content will be available online to Comcast Starz subscribers as part of Comcast’s On Demand Online trial. On Demand Online is a new service that will significantly expand the number of top-rated TV choices available online at no additional charge to cable customers. The trial will initially make 300 movies and other original programming available to Starz subscribers in standard definition, with HD versions and more content added in coming months.

Comcast’s Starz subscribers participating in the trial will have online access to a wide array of programming including:

• Contemporary feature films such as Hancock, Vantage Point, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Wall-E, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Step Brothers, National Treasure: Book of Secrets; Pineapple Express, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Righteous Kill, No Country for Old Men and Enchanted.
• Starz original series including “Crash”, “Head Case”, and “Party Down”.

Customers will be able in many cases to see the movies and originals online as soon as they premiere on the standard Comcast video on demand service and before they air on the linear channels. The content will be initially accessible on Comcast.net and Fancast.com.

“At Starz our goal is to allow subscribers to watch our programming whenever and wherever they want,” said Starz Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Myers. “We are delighted to join with Comcast in this trial of Comcast On Demand Online. Comcast, with its existing base of millions of Starz subscribers, robust plant and strong commitment to on demand will be a terrific partner to help explore the new world of Internet video distribution.”

“Starz Entertainment brings some of the most popular contemporary feature films to television and we are pleased to partner with them to bring their exclusive content online to consumers for the first time ever at no additional charge to our existing Starz customers,” said Matt Bond, Executive Vice President of Content Acquisition for Comcast. “The addition of Starz premium content to On Demand Online’s quickly growing line-up demonstrates the programming industry’s desire to meet consumers’ increasing demand for content online.”

Starz’ participation in Comcast’s technical trial comes on the heels of last month’s joint announcement between Time Warner Inc. and Comcast which introduced a set of principles called “TV Everywhere.” Developed by the two companies, the principles are designed to serve as a framework to facilitate deployment of online television content across the industry in a way that is consumer friendly, pro-competitive and at no additional cost to subscribers.

Comcast will begin its technical trial of On Demand Online with approximately 5,000 customers from across the U.S. in the coming weeks – the first national trial of its kind. A major focus of the trial is to test the Company’s new “authentication” technology, which will allow customers to receive the same content online for free that they subscribe to on TV. The service will utilize a simple log-on system for streaming content and, in the future, will allow for download content to go. The On Demand Online service will roll-out in phases, adding new features, functionality and content over time to provide consumers with a new way to watch television.

On Demand Online is part of Comcast’s Project Infinity, the company’s long-term vision to give customers an ever growing amount of video content on multiple platforms, whenever they want.

For more information visit Starz & Comcast.

EachScape Launches The First Web-Based Drag & Drop Platform For Creating Mobile Applications For The iPhone

Enables Anyone to Quickly and Easily Develop a Mobile Application for the iPhone

EachScape, a provider of mobile application development tools, has announced the launch of its flagship, Web-based development platform designed to allow companies to quickly and easily create mobile applications for smartphones. Initially, EachScape’s platform will enable application development for the iPhone but will soon expand to include others such as Google Android and RIM.

To date, publishing giants Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. and Time Out are using EachScape’s platform during the beta phase to create iPhone applications.

EachScape was founded by mobile veterans Ludo Collin and Bob Fitterman, both of whom have been in the mobile content industry since the late 1990’s. They worked together at Vindigo, the first company specializing on applications on Palm and Windows Mobile, then J2ME and BREW.

“EachScape was created to help media companies and brands capitalize on the exploding popularity of mobile applications, enabling them to quickly design and launch a mobile application,” said Ludo Collin, CEO and co-founder of EachScape. “We believe that consumers will soon come to expect every company to have a mobile application, just as there is an expectation that every company has a Website. With EachScape, unique mobile applications can be built with ease.”

EachScape is the only web-based tool that enables the development of original applications without using templates, meaning that companies can build applications that are native and unique. Using simple drag-and-drop functionality, anyone with even a basic understanding of design can build an iPhone application and keep it current. Application creators have control, meaning they can update and change out their application with greater frequency and ease.

“The popularity of mobile applications stores like iPhone’s App Store and RIM’s App World means that media and brands are overwhelmed trying to quickly build high quality applications,” continued Collin. “EachScape greatly simplifies the development process. If you can design a decent PowerPoint presentation, you can now build and manage your own mobile application.”

Given the popularity of Apple’s App Store, EachScape will initially offer its users the ability to create applications for the iPhone. In the coming months, the company will roll out a capability that will allow its customers to make their applications compatible across a range of platforms.

For additional information visit EachScape.

ArcSoft Announces Support Of ATI Stream On SimHD

Video upscaling technology employs ATI Stream technology to balance CPU and GPU usage while optimizing video viewing experience

ArcSoft, Inc. announced that its in-house upscaling technology, SimHD, now supports ATI Stream. This collaboration simply brings standard-definition video to near high-definition quality in real time with an unsurpassed speed.

ATI Stream technology enables graphics processors (GPU) to work seamlessly with the central processor (CPU), to accelerate applications. The result is balance enhanced platforms capable of running demanding computing tasks faster than ever without sacrificing performance.

“The complicated calculation conducted during real time upscaling has always been challenging,” said George Tang, ArcSoft Vice President and General Manager of Video and Home Entertainment Group. "With ATI Stream, SimHD is able to take advantage of GPGPU, performs much faster during playback while presenting the ultimate video quality to users.”

“SimHD shows how AMD’s state of the art ATI graphics processing technology is not just limited to gaming,” said Godfrey Cheng, Director of Technical Marketing for Graphics Products at AMD. “Equipped with TotalMedia Theatre and an ATI Stream compatible graphics card, anyone can experience their movies in near-HD quality.”

TotalMedia Theatre with support for ATI Stream technology is available for OEM licensing now and will be ready for consumers by the end of June. For more information about SimHD, visit www.arcsoft.com/intouch/simhdstreampr.

For information visit ArcSoft.

Diodes Incorporated Introduces DAC & Pre-Amplifier Audio Device

Offers Cost Reduction and Performance Enhancements for Audio/Video Receivers and Sound Card Designs

Diodes Incorporated, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality application specific standard products within the broad discrete and analog semiconductor markets, announced the release of an 8-channel DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and pre-amplifier chip. This new device offers designers of audio/video receivers (AVRs) and add-on sound cards the opportunity to improve audio performance, while also reducing costs.

As an addition to the Diodes’ Direct Digital Feedback Amplifier (DDFA™) product line, the ZXCZM800 dramatically reduces circuit complexity. In both consumer and professional audio product designs that currently use multiple quality 2-channel DACs to achieve mid- to high-level audio performance, the ZXCZM800 significantly reduces component count and printed circuit board (PCB) real estate. In high-performance differential mode, the DDFA product line delivers a dynamic range (DNR) up to 126dB. Additionally, Diodes’ solution provides equal and, oftentimes, improved sound quality of typical mid-range AVRs and sound cards that currently produce a DNR of 112dB. For designers looking to expand a product’s feature set, the ZXCZM800 also offers pre-amplifier digital signal processor (DSP) features, which can be easily programmed using an existing system host processor.

The ZXCZM800 DAC and pre-amplifier chip is supported by an 8-channel demonstration board, which is available for volume production DAC and pre-amplifier designs.

For more detailed information visit Diodes Incorporated.

Introducing AmazonWireless – A New Amazon Web Site Offering Cell Phones & Service Plans

Easy-to-Use Web Site Guides Customers Through the Purchase Process; Rebate-Free Shopping and FREE Two-Day Shipping on All Phones

Amazon.com, Inc. has announced the beta launch of AmazonWireless, a new Web site offering cell phones and service plans, easy shopping without rebate hassles and FREE Two-Day Shipping on a broad selection of phones from AT&T and Verizon Wireless. In addition to expanding selection and adding carriers during the beta test phase, Amazon will be testing different features and gathering input from customers to ensure the best possible customer experience.

“We've taken our eight years’ experience selling cell phones to create a new site that makes a potentially confusing transaction much easier for customers,” said Paul Ryder, vice president of Consumer Electronics for Amazon.com. “The step-by-step purchase process on AmazonWireless makes it easy for customers who already have a plan to upgrade their phones. If you want to establish new cell phone service, we’ve made it simple to find the right phone, service plan and options for your needs. We’ve also eliminated the technical jargon and frustrating rebate paperwork that customers often face when buying a phone.”

AmazonWireless currently offers more than 120 phones, including a great selection of smart phones and the latest models for shoppers on a budget. Customers can shop for phones by carrier, phone feature, price, color and brand. The site’s shopping cart guides customers through each stage of the purchase process, where customers will find familiar Amazon features like bestseller lists, detailed product descriptions and customer reviews.

AmazonWireless is owned and operated by Amazon.com. Customers shop securely with their Amazon.com accounts and benefit from Amazon’s world-class service and security. All phones purchased on AmazonWireless are eligible for FREE Two-Day Shipping.

For additional information visit AmazonWireless.

V.I.O. Launches Exposure Control Firmware Upgrade

V.I.O., the leader in wearable video technology, today launches a new firmware upgrade that expands the Exposure Control options users will have for all POV systems. The latest firmware upgrade improves overall subjective video quality by adding several choices in automatic exposure settings to complement the CLASSIC setting. The additional exposure settings are designed to enhance the performance of video capture by allowing users to adjust their system to match the recording conditions encountered in different performance shooting environments.

The new exposure control settings include:

• COLOR OPTIMIZED: Similar to the POV.1 CLASSIC setting but with tweaks in the algorithm to provide the best all-around color and brightness.
  
• DETAIL OPTIMIZED: Detail enhancements over CLASSIC and COLOR OPTIMIZED that provide for increased detail in the darkest areas of the scene.
  
• TWILIGHT/ENHANCED: Increased sensitivity and optimization for outdoor use specifically designed for twilight/high-contrast scenarios.
  
• SPOT METERING (NARROW): Concentrates the algorithm on the center of the image and discounts the extreme edges of the field of view for difficult lighting situations where the subject is significantly brighter or darker than the rest of the field.
  
• SPOT (WIDE): Similar to Spot Narrow, except with an increased algorithm area to provide a wider spot.
  
• AE Lock--Fixed Exposure Setting: Locks the exposure settings to their current values.
  

The V.I.O. Exposure Control Firmware 1.4 Upgrade can be downloaded as of July 8th 2009 from the V.I.O. website at http://www.vio-pov.com/firmware_update/ for $9.99.

For more information visit V.I.O.

EA Los Angeles Announces The Development Of Command & Conquer 4

Next Game in the Best-Selling Real-Time-Strategy Series Will Reveal the Epic Conclusion of the Tiberium Saga

Behold disciples of Nod, the end is soon upon us. Electronic Arts Inc. today announced that, after almost 15 years and 30 million games sold, EALA is bringing the award-winning Tiberium series to an epic conclusion with Command & Conquer™ 4. Shipping in 2010, Command & Conquer 4 will introduce a multitude of innovations to the to the classic fast and fluid Command & Conquer gameplay while retaining the core compulsions that fans have come to love over the series’ history. Introducing new class-based gameplay, mobile bases and persistent player progression throughout all game modes, Command & Conquer 4 offers players new, innovative and compelling strategic depth.

“Command & Conquer is a powerful franchise with an amazing 15-year legacy. We are thrilled to bring the dramatic Tiberium saga to a conclusion in Command & Conquer 4. This game is designed to give fans all the answers they’ve been looking for,” said Mike Glosecki, Lead Producer of Command & Conquer 4 at EA Los Angeles. “With its objective-based multiplayer mode, persistent player progression and all-in-one mobile base, players will experience Command & Conquer like never before.”

The story of Command & Conquer 4 takes place after the events of the critically acclaimed Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars™. The year is 2062 and humanity is at the brink of extinction. With only six years left until the mysterious crystalline structure Tiberium renders the earth entirely uninhabitable, the two opposing factions – Global Defense Initiative (GDI) and the Brotherhood of Nod – inevitably find themselves in desperation for the same cause: to stop Tiberium from extinguishing mankind. The unthinkable becomes reality and Nod’s enigmatic leader Kane takes off for GDI headquarters. What is Kane planning in the heart of his enemies’ base? Command & Conquer 4 draws the epic conclusion to the beloved Tiberium universe, where fans will learn the fate of Earth, Nod, Tiberium, GDI and most importantly, Kane’s motivations behind his decade-long plan.

In addition to the two campaigns on the epic battles of GDI and Nod, which players will get to conquer alone or in a cooperative mode, Command & Conquer 4 will also feature a new 5v5 objective-based multiplayer mode, promoting teamwork and cooperation and delivering a social real-time-strategy experience never seen before in a Command & Conquer game.

Command & Conquer 4 is being developed at EA Los Angeles and will ship to retailers in 2010 for the PC. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI. For more information about the game, please visit www.commandandconquer.com or follow the community and development team on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ea_apoc. The July 24th episode of BattleCast™ PrimeTime will give fans the latest news and exclusive information on Command & Conquer 4. Additionally, Gametrailers TV will exclusively reveal the first cinematic trailer for Command & Conquer 4 in its July 23rd episode on SPIKE TV.

About Command & Conquer

The groundbreaking Command & Conquer franchise was one of the first to introduce players to the modern RTS genre, has spawned over a dozen PC titles, and ranks in the top 5 best-selling PC franchises of all-time according to the NPD Group. Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium WarsTM was the number #1 selling PC RTS of 2007 and won numerous awards, including the “Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year” award from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Additionally, Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 and Command & Conquer Generals were the number one best-selling* PC RTS titles in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3 won the 2008 “Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year” award from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Collectively, the series has sold more than 30 million units worldwide to date. The franchise boasts one of the largest and most active fan communities in the world. 

For more information visit Command & Conquer.

Inlet Technologies Announces Support For Live Streaming To Apple iPhone

Latest Release of Inlet’s Spinnaker Includes Adaptive Streaming Support, Multi-encoder Synchronization and Audio Enhancements

Inlet Technologies, the leading provider of live streaming and on-demand solutions for digital media, announced today that the company is one of the first encoding technology providers to publicly demonstrate and support live streaming to the Apple® iPhone™. Inlet was the first to showcase iPhone streaming at Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference last month in San Francisco.

Using iPhone OS 3.0 and the latest release of Inlet’s SpinnakerTM live streaming solution, real-time streaming of live sports, news or other events can now reach an iPhone. Additionally, capabilities similar to Apple’s Stream Segmenter will be built directly into Spinnaker, simplifying the customer’s workflow and eliminating additional hardware from the system. The level of interoperability provided by Spinnaker allows content creators to stream live to the iPhone in popular formats including H.264 video and HE-AAC audio. These new advances enable any broadcaster, sports league or entertainment provider to deliver live content to the iPhone with a minimum of effort.

“We are proud to add this to a long list of industry ‘firsts’ from Inlet. By supporting live streaming to Apple’s iPhone, Inlet is once again at the forefront of the digital media revolution. The iPhone is clearly a pervasive consumer device, offering compelling opportunities to reach viewers,” said John Bishop, senior vice president of strategy and business development, Inlet Technologies. “This also reflects our continued commitment to helping companies increase the reach of their content, in any format to any screen, through intelligent media infrastructure solutions.”

Inlet’s Spinnaker family of live streaming appliances delivers stunning picture quality (in HD or SD), allowing content creators to offer viewers a “living room” experience over the Web. Spinnaker supports all of the major formats, including H.264, VC-1, Silverlight and Flash VP6, and allows content creators to stream multiple formats simultaneously from one source. Spinnaker is ideal for live sports, as it can create real-time highlights without the need for additional file preparation. Users can switch between multiple games or multiple camera angles during a single event. URLs or captions, such as scores and statistics, can also be inserted directly into the live stream. Spinnaker also offers calendar-based scheduling (ideal for recurring events), 24/7 reliability, and is designed to be used remotely, in fleets, or locally.

In addition to support for streaming to Apple’s iPhone, Spinnaker also includes support for other adaptive streaming protocols, including Microsoft Smooth Streaming and Adobe Dynamic Streaming. Other updates include multi-encoder synchronization and numerous audio enhancements. For more details on this latest release of Spinnaker, visit http://www.inlethd.com/?q=products/spinnaker.

For more information visit Inlet Technologies.

Topaz Labs Releases Fusion Express Plug-In For Aperture

New Software Grants Aperture Compatibility to Topaz Photoshop Plug-Ins

Topaz Labs releases the long-awaited, Aperture-friendly Topaz Fusion Express for Mac. Topaz Fusion is an Aperture plug-in that allows Topaz Photoshop plug-ins to be imported into Aperture, providing Aperture users with the same image-editing capabilities and features that Photoshop users currently enjoy.

Topaz Fusion Express is changing the way that photographers process their images. Fusion Express brings the simplicity and vibrancy of Topaz plug-ins and fuses them with Aperture, giving photographers total control over their workflow. “Previously, Aperture users have not been able to use Topaz plug-ins, or have had to go through the process of exporting images into Photoshop to edit them, then import them back into Aperture,” says Eric Yang, Marketing Manager of Topaz Labs. “With Fusion Express, Aperture users can now run their Topaz plug-ins in Aperture without interrupting their workflow.”

Topaz Fusion Express provides users with direct access to the Photoshop bundle plug-ins: Adjust, DeNoise, Simplify, Clean 2 and DeJPEG, in a convenient and efficient form. Fusion Express is available free of charge to all Topaz users. For more information visit the Topaz Fusion webpage at http://www.topazlabs.com/fusion.

For additional information visit Topaz Labs.

Joybook Lite T131: BenQ Does Light Right with New 13.3” Netbook

BenQ is bringing more enjoyment and quality to the lives of today’s on-the-go Internet generation with the official launch of their latest ultra-portable netbook, the 13.3” Joybook Lite T131.  At a petite 1.8kg (3.97lbs.), the T131 effortlessly enables multimedia/Internet entertainment to become a take-anywhere companion for consumers of all age groups.  Everyday digital fun – such as web browsing, video chatting, email, IM, home/office networking, games, and movies – is brought in-hand and on-demand with an eye-pleasing 13.3” super-enhanced UltraVivid™ screen, AMD’s® next-generation Yukon mobile platform, integrated microphone and fun-packed webcam, and WiFi connectivity.

"This newest netbook from BenQ reflects the personality and lifestyle of the Internet adventurer – spontaneous, resourceful, daring, and capable of handling whatever comes its way,” said Peter Chen, General Manager of BenQ’s Technology and Product Center.  “Visuals are exhilarating and performance is without hesitation, ensuring pure and uncompromised mobile enjoyment of the digital age.”   

A svelte 320mm(W) x 240mm(D) x 28mm(H) (12.6” x 9.45” x 1.1”) form belies the considerable capabilities of the T131 netbook.  The large 250-nit CCFL screen is super-charged by BenQ’s exclusive UltraVivid Technology, Display Brilliance Enhancement Film (DBEF™), and a low-reflectivity, anti-glare coating that keeps movies, games, office applications, and Internet activities lookin’ great wherever you go…from bedroom to sidewalk café.  HD audio, VoIP, and smart noise suppression and echo cancellation also promote spontaneity by ensuring video web chats with friends and video conferencing with business clients are always clear-sounding.  Also uncharacteristic of the netbook’s compact size and modest price tag is a big 320GB hard disk drive, high-resolution 1.3MP webcam featuring fun WebCam® Companion®, two built-in speakers, integrated microphone, and high-speed WiFi.  Likewise unexpected in this diminutive netbook is a generously-sized keyboard featuring isolated “Chiclet” style keys for easier, less error-prone typing.  An SD/MMC card reader and two USB ports further testify to the T131’s well-thought engineering.

For additional information visit BenQ.

Manage Your Life In The Zoo As ZooLoo.com Launches

ZooLoo.com, an Internet start-up located in Scottsdale, Ariz., announced its public beta launch.

ZooLoo allows users to manage their life online on their own domain name, and is a combination of personal space and their own site. ZooLoo utilizes a patent-pending Privacy Manager that gives users the control to display different content to different people or groups.

“Our mission is simply this—to create a smarter, more personal way to experience the Web for the everyday person,” said ZooLoo CEO Jeff Herzog. “We know people want online privacy, personalization and a site that is truly their own; these pieces are currently missing from the marketplace. We aspire to incorporate the best services and features on the Web to make ZooLoo everyone’s online home.”

ZooLoo’s personal space features include:

• My ZooLoo – Web dashboard that brings a user’s interests into one place to manage news, photos, videos, calendars, dinner reservations, local events, music and integrated third-party sites, including Facebook, Twitter, eBay and Flickr
• zSocial – Integrated social platform
• My Media – Upload, store and share photos and videos
• zPrints – Create and purchase photo prints and custom gifts
• Shopping – Customizable shopping mall that allows users to access their favorite stores and brands
• Entertainment - Entertainment center with on-demand TV shows, music, videos, movie previews and more
• zLife - Organizational tools, including calendars, to-do lists, contact management and an event invitation system
• ZooLoo’s site builder features include:

zCreator – Easy-to-use site builder and publisher

Blog – Personal or professional blogging publisher

zControls – Patent-pending Privacy Manager that allows users to set individual permissions to the pages and albums on their site

“ZooLoo brings everything that’s important to you into one place around your own domain name. Instead of going to multiple news, shopping and entertainment sites each day, visiting Facebook and Twitter and checking various e-mail accounts, you can do it all in one place with ZooLoo,” said ZooLoo Co-Founder and Spokesperson Jill Miles. “When friends visit your site, they can each have a completely different experience, based on the permissions you’ve set.”

ZooLoo, which has been in development since the summer of 2008, recently concluded extensive private testing. The company, now in public beta launch, is allowing only a certain number of users onto the site during this period. The team is working on its next release, which includes additional integrated sites, an iPhone application, expanded on-demand entertainment library and an innovative audience-driven advertising platform.

“ZooLoo will be continuously evolving,” said Herzog.

Before developing ZooLoo, Herzog was recognized as the Founder and CEO of iCrossing, a leading digital marketing company. In 10 years, Herzog developed the company from an inspired idea into one of the leading digital marketing companies in the world, with over $100M in annual revenue.

ZooLoo is part of the Zog Media suite of companies and is actively seeking partnerships. 

For more information visit Zooloo.

New BenQ Joybook Lite U102 Lightens Up On-the-Run Internet Fun

BenQ announced the release of their latest ultra-portable netbook, the Joybook Lite U102, fashioned for the always-connected, on-the-go, style-setting Internet enthusiast.  Deluxe online fun rivaling laptop performance is made possible by Intel’s® Atom™ processor, a 10.1” UltraVivid™ 16:9 WSVGA LED-backlit screen, a 250GB HDD, connection essentials, and cool web conveniences.  Despite its heavyweight Internet capabilities, the U102 travels light and easily at much less the laptop load – weighing about 1kg, under an inch in thickness, and is accompanied by an unusually petite AC adapter.

A must-have accessory for today’s social Internet butterfly, the Joybook Lite U102 makes sharing videos and photos effortless with a high-resolution webcam, crystal-clear built-in speakers, and integrated microphone with smart noise suppression and echo cancellation.  Accessing all the wonders of the World Wide Web – such as surfing, messaging, email, and shopping – is always reliable via wide-coverage, high-speed WiFi and optional 3.75G HSUPA.  A clever hotkey even enables instant switching between the different types of wireless networks.  And because instant messaging can get quite intense, the U102 is fitted with a comfortably-sized keyboard (90% of full-size QWERTY) for more ergonomic, error-free typing, while an expanded touchpad makes scrolling web pages much easier.  

Whatever content, wherever setting, the U102’s 10.1” 1024x600 widescreen is sure to display in brilliant, true colors and clean definition.  In particular, HD content is immaculately rendered without distortion or annoying black bars, courtesy of the native 16:9 aspect ratio, which ensures 1:1 mapping to HD content.  For boundless “anywhere” enjoyment and use, BenQ’s exclusive UltraVivid technology coupled with LED-backlighting advantages optimize color and vibrancy whether viewing content indoors or out… wherever life leads.

Ultra-extreme portability distinguishes the U102 as an essential companion for today’s worldly Internet traveler.  Featherweight at 1.05kg^ (2.3lbs.) and under an inch in thickness, the U102 is powered by Intel’s low-power-consuming processor, Atom. Paired with BenQ’s power-conserving advancements, the Atom enables overall higher energy efficiency and extends battery life.  In fact, the included 3-cell battery can last an unsurpassed three hours.  For serious uninterrupted U102 joy, an optional 6-cell battery enables nearly six hours of operation.  When non-stop operation is required, the petite AC adapter is light to tote at around 200g.  A 250GB hard disk storage, three USB 2.0 slots, and a 4-in-1 card reader afford easy access to photos, music, and other media.  

As with all BenQ digital lifestyle innovations, the U102 is engineered to capture the personality and style of its target audience not only in product purpose, but in aesthetics.  A spirit of spontaneity and playful sophistication is reflected in its svelte form – a beautifully sculpted casing in a polished obsidian finish. 

For additional information visit BenQ.

Audio-Technica Introduces Improved ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint® Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Audio-Technica has announced the introduction of its ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint® active noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, which have the same 85% noise-cancellation but incorporate improvements from the previous model to offer better sound quality, comfort and convenience.

The ATH-ANC7b delivers superior audio performance, with a smoother, more natural tonal balance. The headphones provide clear, high-resolution sound, with impactful bass, a detailed midrange, extended treble and accurate imaging.

The earcups have been redesigned for greater comfort, feature generously cushioned padding and fit easily over any ear. In addition, the ATH-ANC7b is supplied with 1.6 m (5.2') and 1.0 m (3.3') detachable cables, and offers easier battery access.

The ATH-ANC7b employs exclusive QuietPoint active noise-cancellation technology that eliminates up to 85% of outside noise. A miniature microphone in each earcup detects environmental noise, and a corresponding sound-cancelling signal is applied. The headphones are ideal for use with the Apple® iPod®, iPhone™ and iPod touch® portable music and DVD players, laptop computers, in-flight entertainment systems and other devices.

The ATH-ANC7b utilizes large-aperture 40 mm drivers for a wide 10 – 25,000 Hz frequency response. The headphones have extremely high 109 dB sensitivity to provide generous volume from any music source. The ATH-ANC7b also works when the noise-cancelling function is turned off, and operates in passive mode without batteries.

The headphones fold for storage and come with two detachable cables, a 1/4-inch adapter, an airline adapter and a hard, durable carrying case.

The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint active noise-cancelling headphones will be available in August 2009 at a suggested retail price of $219.95. They will be available online or in stores at the Apple Store®, Electronics Expo and other Audio-Technica authorized dealers.

Celebrating 47 years of audio excellence, Audio-Technica is renowned worldwide for a broad range of consumer and professional audio products, including high-performance headphones, microphones, wireless systems, turntables and phono cartridges. Winner of numerous industry awards, Audio-Technica designs and manufactures products that set quality, durability and price/performance standards for major concert tours, broadcast and recording studios, corporate and government facilities, theaters, house-of-worship venues, and consumer applications.

For additional information visit Audio-Technica.

Audioboo Integrates SpinVox Across Its Audio Recording And Broadcasting Platform

API Brings Automatic Speech to Text Conversion to iPhone Podcasting and Twitter Posting

Audioboo, which aims to become the `Twitter of the spoken word` through its audio recording and broadcasting platform, and SpinVox, the global leader in voice to content messaging, have announced the SpinVox API (Application Programming Interface) will be used to automatically convert speech to text across Audioboo’s applications - including iPhone podcasting and Twitter posting.

Audioboo was established in March 2009 and already more than one Audioboo audio recording (boo) is being made every five minutes. The Audioboo.fm website is attracting more than 100,000 unique users, RSS and iTunes links every week with over 1,000 hours of audio having been uploaded by the more than 30,000 registered users.

Audioboo CEO, Mark Rock, says: “The deal with Spinvox is of immense importance to Audioboo as we roll out both our API and business model. With the Audioboo API, any developer will be able to build their own mobile and web applications to record to Audioboo and SpinVox integration will be an important addition to that which we can deliver simply and quickly through the SpinVox API.”

“On a wider scale, we have already begun to roll out Audioboo Pro accounts for media companies,” he continues. “These increase the recording time available and add a variety of web-based tools - such as moderation- to help companies manage content. SpinVox integration will be an additional feature for Audioboo Pro, allowing journalists a simple way to record draft articles and have them automatically converted to text and sent to their news desks.”

ITV.com has already used the Pro account for the FA Cup Final, Radio 1 for their Big Weekend event and 6Music with Adam & Joe for Glastonbury 2009.

Christina Domecq, SpinVox co-founder and CEO, says: “Audio has been so ignored for so long, and now Audioboo is doing something fresh and new with it and growing fast as a consequence. Automatically turning their audio input to text will take them to the next stage.”

For additional information visit Audioboo or SpinVox.