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Looxcie Brings Social Video Platform to iPhone Users

Frank Guillen — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:18:49 +0000

Looxcie announced today the availability of its iPhone-compatible wearable camcorder at www.bestbuy.com. Initially launched in September 2010, Looxcie (look-see) is the first small, light, easy-to-wear camcorder that videos everything the user sees. A Bluetooth-enabled headset, Looxcie fits comfortably on the ear and points where the user looks. Because it is always on, always videoing, users never have to worry about pressing a record button or missing a key event. When an unexpected event occurs, a press of the instant clip button captures the last 30 seconds of video and stores it as a video clip on the device. When paired with an iPhone, the phone becomes both a view-finder and an accessory that lets users share video clips by email, post to Facebook or upload to YouTube in real-time.

Looxcie for iPhone, compatible with any iPhone running i-OS 4.2, is available beginning today at Bestbuy.com and Amazon.com for a suggested retail price of $199. Looxcie also operates with the majority of Android 2.0 and higher smartphones, with support for additional smartphone operating systems forthcoming. A complete list of compatible phones is available at www.looxcie.com/looxcie-app.html.

Product Details:
Looxcie clips can be shared in the moment, or they can be uploaded to a Mac or PC via the USB connector for archiving, viewing, editing or additional sharing. Users can also pre-program an Instant Share recipient so that when they “long-press” the instant clip button, Looxcie automatically sends the clip to the pre-determined email address. Looxcie utilizes a dual processor system for video and Bluetooth communication so the headset can operate in video mode and talk mode at the same time, or separately. Looxcie uses a mini processor for Bluetooth that includes a digital signal processing system to process and optimize the audio. The camcorder’s mini video processor includes software by Looxcie that optimizes power use, 1automatically corrects for light and color, and formats video for mobile devices. These processing systems operate concurrently so users can simultaneously handle calls and capture video.

Additional Product Features & Specs:
Fully adjustable fit for comfort and view refinement
Lightweight: less than 28g (1 oz.)
Always on battery life allows up to 4 hrs of continuous video use
6+ hours of continuous talk time when the video capability is not on
Clips are time stamped and stored in a clip register as MP4 files
On-board storage of up to 4 hrs of video and hundreds of instant clips (3 hrs of clips)
Stored video drops off on FIFO basis for any material unsaved as clips
15 FPS, HVGA resolution camera
Bluetooth Class 2 (2.5mW) for up to 10 meters range
480mAh Li Po battery for extended record and talk times
ROHS compliant manufacturer
DSP optimized for clear, crisp audio

New Yamaha TSX-140 iPod Speaker Dock

Frank Guillen — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 20:12:39 +0000

Yamaha introduced the TSX-140 Desktop Audio System with integrated iPod/iPhone dock featuring IntelliAlarm functionality.

With earth-inspired color choices, the TSX-140 is beautiful to the eye and ear, offering compact, elegant design. It represents the latest addition to Yamaha’s TSX family of docks compatible with Apple’s iPod Touch and iPhone (3G/3GS/4). Moreover, the Yamaha TSX-140 is capable of playing MP3 and WMA files stored on a USB stick, as well as FM/AM radio programming.

With its twin 3-1/2 inch ported bass reflex speakers and Yamaha digital amplifiers, the TSX-140 delivers its superlative performance through Concert Quality Sound, a proprietary Yamaha concept that virtually eliminates all unnecessary noise and distortion, and Extended Stereo, which creates a perceptually larger stereo sound field through Yamaha DSP.

Unique to Yamaha, the TSX-140’s IntelliAlarm wakes you gently with the audio source of your choosing, first filtering out uncomfortable high frequencies, then gradually restoring the full audio spectrum before beeping to ensure you are awake. The IntelliAlarm provides a gentle, stress-free feeling that makes waking up a pleasure.

For added convenience, the TSX-140 offers a USB mini-B connector that facilitates iPod/iPhone syncing to a computer while charging in the dock. In addition to the illuminated buttons on the top panel, three front panel controls give access to source, volume, radio presets, alarm clock and equalizer functions. LED indicators show which function has been selected for simple, fast tuning. A brightness sensor automatically adjusts all display LEDs to suit the ambient light level.

Features
Stunning sound quality from integrated CD and radio
iPod/iPhone Digital Docking for lossless playback
USB and Aux inputs
iTunes Sync facility to external computer
Powerful 15W + 15W digital amplifier and speakers
Touch Smart controls for intuitive parameter selection
Contemporary styling to suit any environment
Simple, elegant control layout and LED design
Visually appealing from all angles
Choice of “earth-inspired” colours

The Yamaha TSX-140 is available for $399.95 in three finishes: black, brick and gray.

New ROCK BAND Reloaded for the iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone

Frank Guillen — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:49:57 +0000

EA Mobile, Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games today announced that ROCK BAND Reloaded is now available on the App Store. The iPad-exclusive HD version and the version for iPhone and iPod touch offers players an initial powerhouse setlist of songs from artists including Nirvana, Billy Idol, No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails and Vampire Weekend. More than 20 songs will be available today with new tracks launching throughout the holidays. Plus, for the first time, ROCK BAND Reloaded players now have a “5th Way to Play” by singing directly into their iPhone, iPod touch and iPad utilizing new vocal recognition features.

New vocal recognition features introduce players to a unique way to play by singing directly into their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad to earn points. Players can showcase their inner rock star by picking from a setlist of songs that include “Hella Good” by No Doubt, “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down, “Your Decision” by Alice in Chains, “White Wedding” by Billy Idol, “In Bloom” by Nirvana, “A-Punk” by Vampire Weekend and many more. In addition to the songs included with the initial purchase, free* tracks are available in the Music Store along with Premium Packs by The All American Rejects, Third Eye Blind, Blink-182 and other top-selling artists available through In App Purchase.

For the first time on iPad, ROCK BAND Reloaded packs delivers device-exclusive features including a Multiplayer mode where players can challenge friends live in a head-to-head split-screen environment. Flexible controls provide for ultimate customization of all play styles. The iPad game’s new “Big Drums” layout increases the interactivity of this fan-favorite instrument. Songs are now more accessible to players with custom playlists in Quick Play and quick replay using an “Encore” feature.

Other game features include a new Expert mode for experienced players along with a World Tour mode that enables players to rock six cities and 36 events earning up to 50 awards and achievements all while living the Rock N’ Roll dream. By logging into Facebook, players have access to the News Center where they can find out when new songs launch, follow friends’ exploits and directly challenge their friends’ accomplishments with a simple touch of the screen. And for those just looking to jam, get “the band” together via local WiFi and Bluetooth and play live on guitar, bass, drums, or vocals with up to three bandmates using their own iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.

ROCK BAND Reloaded and ROCK BAND Reloaded HD are available today from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Viber: New free Wi-Fi/3G VoIP iPhone app launched

Frank Guillen — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:48:29 +0000

Viber uses the latest in VoIP technology to offer completely free calling with superior sound quality. Better yet, you can dial phone numbers directly without having to register a username or add friends to a contact list! Once you and your friends have the app installed, you can call each other for free directly from your 3G- or Wi-Fi-enabled phones. Click here to watch Viber’s promo video.

Despite debuting with a limited “friends and family test” on the Israeli App Store on November 10, Viber took only 16 days to become the most-downloaded app in Israel. Out of 400,000 iPhones in Israel, 6,000 people are downloading it to their iPhones each day, Viber is now the #1 app in the Israeli App Store with a four out of five stars rating.

Viber is totally free to download and has no hidden costs, in-app purchases or in-app ads. It’s fully compatible with iOS 3.X and 4.X on the iPhone – partially supported by the iPad and iPod Touch – and is coming soon to Android, Blackberry and Symbian operating systems.

Unlike other popular VoIP apps, Viber isn’t a battery hog; you can leave the app running all day without it draining your battery or heating up your iPhone. It also offers Bluetooth support so you can switch in and out of Bluetooth at any time with your headset. And to top it all off, upcoming features include free text messaging, custom ringtones, wallpapers and location-based services.

Thanks to the massive growth of smartphones with wireless connectivity, Viber is poised to revolutionize the way we make mobile calls. People can save bundles of money by migrating from expensive voice/data/text plans to cheap data-only plans, while still enjoying the mobility and versatility of their mobile devices.

Viber overcomes the biggest barrier to using VoIP on your mobile device – it’s modeled after an actual phone rather than an instant messaging client. With Viber you can call ordinary numbers just like you would with a regular phone… the calls just happen to be free! Furthermore, a Viber icon indicates which of your contacts also have Viber, so you’ll know whom you can call for free. Watch this video to see how Viber works.

Since there’s no need to register, build a friends list and keep the app open to use it, you can even make free calls to people who aren’t on your contact list. This means businesses can advertise themselves as having a “global toll-free number,” letting their clients know “it’s a free call with Viber”.

No other app offers this game-changing combination of simplicity, versatility and totally free service between mobile phones. Simply, Viber is the most useful VoIP app to date.

Be among the first to download Viber from the Apple App Store – the sooner you tell your friends and family about it, the sooner you can start calling them for free! You can also find out about Viber updates on Facebook and Twitter.

New WowWee Cinemin Slice Pico DLP Projector for iPad

Frank Guillen — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 22:37:39 +0000

WowWee announced the Cinemin Slice, a multimedia pico projector with audio speaker dock. Slice features vivid WVGA-resolution DLP projection (with a 90-degree pivot), rich stereo sound, and the first projector-dock to naturally fit iPad — all in a unique triangular design.

Slice also docks iPhone and iPod, and has AV, VGA, and HDMI ports to connect to nearly any device with video-out functionality. Viewers can enjoy their videos, photos, slides, games, and apps at an image size of up to 60″ in a dimly-lit room.

Features
Take projection out of boardrooms and movie theaters and into any room
Easily share your favorite media with friends and family
Perfect for multimedia, for small groups and small rooms, and for where TVs can’t go
30-pin Apple connector compatible with iPod, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPhone, and iPad (docking trays included)
Mini-HDMI (1.3) and AV ports for personal media players
VGA port for PCs, laptops, and netbooks
Image size of up to 1.5m (60″)
Viewable range of 3.2m (125″)
90° hinge
Bright – 16 ANSI lumens
WVGA (854 x480) resolution
16:9 aspect ratio
1000:1 contrast ratio
Manual focus
6 watt stereo speakers
Headphone jack
Infrared remote control

Cinemin Slice will be available for $429.99 in January 2011. Pre-orders begin November 23 at the WowWee Tech Shop.

New ZTE Peel Sprint 3G iPod touch Cradle

Frank Guillen — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:51:41 +0000

ZTE PEEL enhances the experience for Apple iPod touch users, unshackling users from Wi-Fi hotspots and allowing them to connect to the Internet wherever and whenever they want on the nationwide Sprint 3G network. ZTE PEEL cradles the second and third generation iPod touch so that users can carry one seamless device at all times. This portable, secure, and truly wireless device is the first of its kind to be added to Sprint’s portfolio of Mobile Broadband devices. With universal Wi-Fi compatibility and support for up to two Wi-Fi enabled devices to be connected at the same, users will appreciate the flexibility and convenience of virtually anywhere, anytime connection. Customers simply slide their iPod touch (touch-screen face out) into ZTE PEEL, press down on both sides until it clicks into place, and then press the power button located on the back of ZTE PEEL to connect to Sprint’s 3G network.

Price and Availability
ZTE PEEL will be available beginning Sunday, Nov. 14, through Sprint retail stores and direct ship sales channels, including Web sales (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) for $79.99 (taxes excluded). The ZTE PEEL $29.99 monthly service plan from Sprint allows up to 1GB of 3G data on the Sprint network (taxes and surcharges excluded) with no annual contract required.

Features
Provides 3G Internet access wirelessly.
Hardware design is meant for versions 2 & 3 of an iPod Touch to slide in and stay in securely in normal use situations.
Universal Wi-Fi compatibility with 802.11b and 802.11g.
Supports up to 2 Wi-Fi enabled devices to be connected at the same time.
Compatible with Windows® 7, Vista®, XP® and Macintosh® OS 10.5 and 10.6.
Advanced security through WEP 64 Bit (Open or shared).
Simple to connect with Hands-Free Activation.
Easy to use Admin UI.
No software installation required.
Internal antenna.

Specifications
Dimensions: 4.8″ x 2.62″ x .86″, 3.2 oz.
Standard 900 mAH Li-Ion Battery, up to 3 hours of active use time.

Apple unveiled the New Macbook Aire 11? and 13?

Frank Guillen — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:45:36 +0000

Apple today unveiled an all new MacBook Air, the first of a next generation of notebooks which will replace mechanical hard disks and optical drives with Internet services and solid state flash storage. These next generation notebooks are:
faster–solid state flash storage is up to twice as fast as hard drive storage
more reliable–hard drive crashes are eliminated
lighter and smaller–solid state flash storage is up to 90 percent smaller and lighter than hard drives

Available in 11-inch and 13-inch models and weighing as little as 2.3 pounds, the new MacBook Air is Apple’s lightest and most portable notebook ever. MacBook Air uses the same solid state storage technology as iPad™ to deliver instant-on responsiveness, up to seven hours of battery life and up to 30 days of standby time.* Starting at $999, the affordable MacBook Air defines the next generation of MacBooks.

With its precision aluminum unibody enclosure, the new MacBook Air measures an incredibly thin 0.11-inches at its thinnest point and 0.68-inches at its thickest, and weighs just 2.3 pounds for the 11-inch model and 2.9 pounds for the 13-inch. Like iPad, MacBook Air was designed from the ground up to use flash storage exclusively. Apple’s custom-designed flash storage is 90 percent smaller and lighter than a conventional notebook hard drive, contributing to MacBook Air’s mobile, featherweight design. MacBook Air’s flash storage also provides faster data access and is more reliable than notebook hard drives due to its solid state design.

MacBook Air features a full-sized keyboard for typing comfort and productivity, as well as the highly acclaimed glass Multi-Touch™ trackpad found on Apple’s MacBook® Pro, so you can scroll through web sites, flip through photos, and resize or rotate images all from the trackpad. The built-in FaceTime® camera, mic and stereo speakers are perfect for video calls with iPhone® 4, iPod touch® and other Macs.

Flash storage combined with power-efficient Intel Core 2 Duo processors and NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics delivers an ideal balance of mobility, battery life and performance. MacBook Air features an 11.6-inch or 13.3-inch high-resolution LED-backlit display and Mini DisplayPort to connect your 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display, projector or HD TV. Ultra-fast 802.11n Wi-Fi networking allows you to download music and movies from iTunes®, back up data to Time Capsule and store or share files with MobileMe? and iDisk. MacBook Air includes Bluetooth 2.1+EDR for wireless peripherals and two USB ports making it easy to sync and charge an iPad, iPhone or iPod® while using another device. The 13-inch MacBook Air also includes an SD card slot.

Apple makes the industry’s greenest notebooks and the MacBook Air is the latest Mac® notebook to achieve EPEAT Gold status and meet Energy Star 5.0 requirements. Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are PVC-free and are constructed of recyclable materials.

Apple uses advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology to create a MacBook Air battery that delivers up to seven hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges. The built-in battery design results in less waste, and depleted MacBook Air batteries can be replaced for $129, which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner.

Every Mac comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for creating and sharing great photos, movies and music. Snow Leopard builds on more than a decade of innovation and includes multiple features for portable computing such as Multi-Touch navigation, advanced wireless networking, easy file sharing, automated data backup and intelligent power management. The new iLife ‘11 features iPhoto® with stunning full screen views for browsing, editing and sharing photos; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use tools to transform home videos into fun theatrical trailers; and GarageBand® with new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs.

The 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air are immediately available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The 1.4 GHz 11-inch MacBook Air with 2GB of memory and 64GB of flash storage starts at a suggested retail price of $999 (US) with a 128GB model for $1,199 (US). The 1.86 GHz 13-inch MacBook Air with 2GB of memory and 128GB of flash storage starts at a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US) with a 256GB model for $1,599 (US). Configure-to-order options and accessories include faster processors, 4GB of memory, MacBook Air SuperDrive® and a USB Ethernet Adapter.

Apple launches lighter, faster Macbook Air 11? and 13?

Frank Guillen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:44:18 +0000

Available in 11-inch and 13-inch models and weighing as little as 2.3 pounds, the new MacBook Air is Apple’s lightest and most portable notebook ever. MacBook Air uses the same solid state storage technology as iPad™ to deliver instant-on responsiveness, up to seven hours of battery life and up to 30 days of standby time.* Starting at $999, the affordable MacBook Air defines the next generation of MacBooks.

With its precision aluminum unibody enclosure, the new MacBook Air measures an incredibly thin 0.11-inches at its thinnest point and 0.68-inches at its thickest, and weighs just 2.3 pounds for the 11-inch model and 2.9 pounds for the 13-inch. Like iPad, MacBook Air was designed from the ground up to use flash storage exclusively. Apple’s custom-designed flash storage is 90 percent smaller and lighter than a conventional notebook hard drive, contributing to MacBook Air’s mobile, featherweight design. MacBook Air’s flash storage also provides faster data access and is more reliable than notebook hard drives due to its solid state design.

MacBook Air features a full-sized keyboard for typing comfort and productivity, as well as the highly acclaimed glass Multi-Touch™ trackpad found on Apple’s MacBook® Pro, so you can scroll through web sites, flip through photos, and resize or rotate images all from the trackpad. The built-in FaceTime® camera, mic and stereo speakers are perfect for video calls with iPhone® 4, iPod touch® and other Macs.

Flash storage combined with power-efficient Intel Core 2 Duo processors and NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics delivers an ideal balance of mobility, battery life and performance. MacBook Air features an 11.6-inch or 13.3-inch high-resolution LED-backlit display and Mini DisplayPort to connect your 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display, projector or HD TV. Ultra-fast 802.11n Wi-Fi networking allows you to download music and movies from iTunes®, back up data to Time Capsule and store or share files with MobileMe? and iDisk. MacBook Air includes Bluetooth 2.1+EDR for wireless peripherals and two USB ports making it easy to sync and charge an iPad, iPhone or iPod® while using another device. The 13-inch MacBook Air also includes an SD card slot.

Apple makes the industry’s greenest notebooks and the MacBook Air is the latest Mac® notebook to achieve EPEAT Gold status and meet Energy Star 5.0 requirements. Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are PVC-free and are constructed of recyclable materials.

Every Mac comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for creating and sharing great photos, movies and music. Snow Leopard builds on more than a decade of innovation and includes multiple features for portable computing such as Multi-Touch navigation, advanced wireless networking, easy file sharing, automated data backup and intelligent power management. The new iLife ’11 features iPhoto® with stunning full screen views for browsing, editing and sharing photos; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use tools to transform home videos into fun theatrical trailers; and GarageBand® with new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs.

DeNA buys iOS game developer Ngmoco – brings Android to the mix

Frank Guillen — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:25:04 +0000

Ngmoco, the hardcore iOS developer announced that it has been acquired by japanese DeNA for about $400 million, ngmoco has numerous social games for the iOS platform and was one of the first company funded by the KPCB’s ifund and recently received a small investment from Google ($5 million).

Ngmoco will continue to provide its iOS games but will expand its gaming platform to Android and at the same time will help DeNA to launch Mobage, its western Social Games Network.

ngmoco will lead DeNA’s efforts in the Western world, including launching a new western smartphone version of the incredibly successful Social Games Network, Mobage (we say “Mo-ba-gae”) that we’re building together with DeNA.

Mobage has tens of millions of users in Japan who play many hundreds of applications all woven together through a connected service. We’ll be bringing our two companies’ collective experience & technology to bear and delivering you the smartphone version of this incredible service filled with amazing games and services, wrapped inside a vibrant community.

We’re also branching out beyond just iOS devices, introducing existing and new products to Android devices. We love iOS and our commitment there hasn’t diminished, we’re simply adding Android into the mix, bringing the very best titles from ngmoco, Freeverse, Miraphonic, Stump Town & our plus+ partners to these amazing devices

New Horror App for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad Now Available on App Store

Frank Guillen — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:51:17 +0000

Screenlife today announced Scene It? Horror, a new app for iPhone and iPod touch and an enhanced HD app for iPad, are available now on the App Store.

Scene It? Horror features hours of fun with terrifying trivia, creepy clips, and petrifying puzzles pulled from the scariest classic and current horror movies of all time, including Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Paranormal Activity, The Exorcist, Shutter Island and Psycho to name a few. Scene It? Horror is truly a one-of-a-kind game experience for fans of the paranormal and will have players begging for more.

The Scene It? Horror App allows fans to extend the scares by offering content packs as an In App Purchase, featuring questions, clips and puzzlers focused on their favorite horror film genres. The first pack features all things “Undead” and will be available for purchase in time for Halloween.

The Scene It? Horror App for iPhone and iPod touch features:
A fiendish fast-paced single-player mode that boasts 30 distinct games and 15 puzzle types
Scream Machine – Scare your friends and sample a variety of bone-chilling screams with this bonus sound board
Multiplayer – Utilize Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to connect up to 4 iOS devices (iPhone, iPod touch or iPad)
Facebook Connect – Challenge friends, post scores and translate game points into Scene It? Facebook Glitz

The Scene It? Horror HD App for iPad includes all of the above features, with the addition of:
HD quality video clips, eye-popping graphics and upscaled user interface
Dynamic motion backgrounds and animations
Enhanced puzzle types that take full advantage of the larger, high-resolution iPad screen
Death Match – Tabletop huddle mode that will determine who’s the biggest horror fan in the room

The Scene It? Horror App is available for $1.99 from App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at http://bit.ly/horroriphone

The Scene It? Horror HD App is available for $4.99 from the App Store on iPad or at http://bit.ly/horroripad