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December 30, 2005

Xbox 360 Gets Chilled in Vegas at CES - CoolIT Systems Unveils Liquid Chilled Xbox 360

CoolIT Systems Inc. today announced that they are showcasing the world's first truly liquid cooled Xbox 360 in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show from January 4 – 8, 2006.

Calgary, AB (PRWEB) December 30, 2005 -- CoolIT Systems Inc. today announced that they are showcasing the world's first truly liquid cooled Xbox 360 in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show from January 4 – 8, 2006.


The retrofitted Xbox 360 will be on display at the CoolIT Systems booth 70556 in The Sands Expo Center throughout the duration of the CES Show. The display will feature a side-by-side comparison of the CoolIT MTEC liquid chilled Xbox 360 to the standard Xbox 360 to demonstrate superiority for temperature, noise level and ultimate performance.

Geoff Lyon, CEO of CoolIT commented, “Whether it’s a PC or Gaming Console, the avid gamer is constantly raising the bar for performance. I think it’s now obvious that only the most technologically advanced cooling system will be capable of keeping up with the heat production of today’s CPU’s and GPU’s.” Lyon then added, “The exclusive MTEC technology, allows us to provide enormous cooling power in a very compact form factor suitable for maintaining stable temperatures and ensuring optimum performance.”

The Microsoft Xbox 360 has been the topic of much discussion since its release on November 22. Aside from its short supply through Christmas and fantastic gaming abilities, many headlines have been about problems related to the excessive thermal output of Microsoft’s latest gaming console product. In an effort to provide gaming consumers with a high performance option, CoolIT Systems has designed a retrofit product that will transform the stock forced air cooling system with a state-of-the-art liquid chilled system that employs the exclusive MTEC technology pioneered by CoolIT Systems.

The CoolIT Booth will also showcase several newly released retail products including the Freezone CPU Cooler compatible with both AMD and Intel processors and the USB Beverage Chiller. More information about CoolIT Systems can be found at www.coolitsystems.com

Press contact info for CoolIT Systems:
Tel: 866-621-COOL (2665)
Fax: 403-770-8306

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:36 AM | Comments (0)

December 29, 2005

LoadPod Launches DVD Movie Loading Service for Video iPods

LoadPod offers DVD movie loading for video iPod users in eight major U.S. cities. This one-of-a-kind service allows video iPod users to watch full-length movies on their iPod.

(PRWEB) December 29, 2005 -- LoadPod, the nation's leader in iPod loading services, has launched a DVD movie loading service for users of the new Fifth Generation "video iPod" in eight major U.S. cities.


LoadPod picks up the customer's video iPod and DVD collection at the customer's home or office, and returns the iPod fully loaded in a few days. Movies are encoded into 320x240 display format, ideal for the video iPod's screen, and take up an average of less than one gigabyte of iPod space apiece. iPod Movie Loading service is currently available in New York City, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.

LoadPod invented the iPod loading industry in early 2004 when it became the first and only nationwide service to load a customer's existing music CD collection into their iPod via in-person service. Today, LoadPod is proud to extend its services to include loading a customer's existing DVD movie collection into their video iPod. As with all LoadPod services, iPod Movie Loading requires no shipping, traveling, labor, or hassle on the part of the customer. Customers can place their iPod Movie Loading order via the LoadPod website starting today at http://www.loadpod.com/movieloading.html

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:29 AM | Comments (0)

December 28, 2005

LASERline Introduces Apple iPod Nano Accessory to Protect from Scratching

After reports of Apple iPod nano scratching, LASERline launches silicone iPod nano accessory.

New York (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 28, 2005 -- After increasing media reports about the Apple iPod nano’s susceptibility to scratches, LASERline introduced an iPod nano accessory that repels dust and scratches. LASERline’s Silicone Skins are made of light-weight, high-grade, waterproof silicone elastomer that won’t break, snap, tear, pill or split like rubber.

The LASERline silicone skins are translucent membranes that fit snugly around the Apple iPod nano. The shock-absorbing material protects against accidental bumps as well
as annoying fingerprints and scratches. The skins have an anti-static feature which repels the dust that can scratch and harm an iPod. Because the skins are waterproof, rain, snow or sweat are not problems, so users can take their music with them wherever they go in complete comfort and style.

“This is a stylish and affordable way to protect your investment,” says Jack Graham, vice president of sales for LASERline. “And we have Silicone Skins to fit all iPod models not just the nano.”

Apple iPod nanos are so portable they can be slipped into a shirt pocket or the small coin pocket of a user’s jeans -- but left unprotected, they are subject to annoying scratches that can distort the screen and impact their sleek look. The LASERline Silicone Skins are the perfect iPod nano accessory.

LASERline Silicone skins for the Apple iPod nano are available in a variety of colors including: pale baby pink, icy blue, pearly white and not-so-basic black. Customers can also purchase the skins in convenient two-packs of white/black, pink/purple and blue/green. Five-packs of white, black, blue, green and pink are also available.

LASERline Silicone skins are available online at iPod nano accessory skins for $14.99 and come with a free neck lanyard and wrist strap.

About LASERline
LASERline offers an extensive line of portable and home or office media storage as well as an ever-growing product line of media accessories. LASERline designers create products that offer innovative solutions for the electronic industry. The company puts enormous forethought into the front-end design of its products so the end product is stylish, functional and cost-effective. Their complete line of Apple Nano iPod accessories can be seen on their website at www.laserline.com.

Contact:
Kimberly Grustas
IDG
860.489.9912

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:54 PM | Comments (0)

Farnam Emphasizes Complete Thermal Systems

New air heater control systems combined with the most innovative heating element designs on the market create a winning combination for heater manufacturers.

(PRWEB) December 28, 2005 -- Complete Thermal Systems to be emphasized by Farnam Custom Products as a new product capability. The company has long engineered and provided heating elements, air heaters, and surface heaters for Original Equipment Manufacturers. These traditional products are custom heaters designed to address a client's specific needs in the most effective and successful way possible.

Farnam's Business Development manager, Dean Hamel, explained that "Farnam always considers the client’s entire thermal system and engineers the most effective components possible for the client's specific set of circumstances and requirements. We've always had to think in terms of systems. It's just a natural evolution to develop complete thermal systems for clients. It's a turn key service or package we now offer."

These thermal systems may typically include heaters, temperature sensors, blowers, thermal controls, pressure or flow switches, and other safety devices as required. These systems are usually integrated into an enclosure or housing designed to fit a specific function in a client's product.

Some examples of recently developed systems are: an environmental temperature control system for a CT Scan manufacturer – a mobile shrinking station for a packaging machinery manufacturer – a complete dry air system developed for an industrial spray paint systems manufacturer.

Hamel says having one source design and provide an integrated thermal system appeals to many clients. "It's hard to find a source that understands thermal systems who will develop a custom system to precisely meet all the customers requirements, test the system, and then assure that it always delivers the performance and reliability needed by the client. And we do this very effectively." Farnam, in Asheville, NC, is an ISO 9001 certified company.

View the Farnam-Custom website for more information including case studies and other company news.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)

December 26, 2005

Toumaz Technology Limited Signs Manufacturing Agreement with Infineon Technologies AG

Toumaz Technology Limited signs manufacturing agreement with Infineon Technologies AG.

Abingdon, United Kingdom, (PRWEB) December 25, 2005 -- Toumaz Technology Limited has signed an agreement with Infineon to use Infineon’s advanced 130 nanometre RF CMOS process to manufacture Toumaz’s Generation 1 and Generation 2 Sensium chips. Toumaz is the first external customer to be offered the use of this process and is planning to tape out the first prototype chip in mid January. As part of the agreement Infineon will license certain IP, predominantly digital blocks and cores, to Toumaz for integration into the Sensium devices.

The 130 nanometre RF CMOS process which is currently being run at Infineon’s Altis Semiconductor fabrication facility in Essonne, France, is expected to be replicated at another European site.

The Sensium is an ultra low power sensor interface and transceiver for applications in the medical and professional healthcare area. The device achieves ultra low power through the use of patented AMx™ technology for signal processing and includes a reconfigurable sensor interface and RF transceiver block. The Advanced Mixed Signal (AMx™) approach to system-on-chip integration features sub-threshold CMOS analog signal processing coupled with digital closed-loop control for self-calibration and re-tuning. Using a proven RF foundry maximises the predictability and accuracy of the sub-threshold analog processing blocks.

Thomas Pollakowski, VP and General Manager of Infineon’s business unit ‘Connectivity” explained: “Infineon offers over three decades of experience in development, design, and manufacturing of world class communication systems. With the newly invoked foundry program we are granting external customers access to our RF-CMOS, Bipolar, and SiGe process technology which have been concertedly developed with available application specific IP. With Toumaz we have found a partner with a very exciting application allowing Infineon to demonstrate its foundry capabilities.”

Commenting on the agreement, Keith Errey, CEO of Toumaz Technology, said, “As a fabless semiconductor business, managing the supply side is critical to our success. Having Infineon as a foundry partner not only provides access to the best available semiconductor manufacturing technology for our applications but also offers a wealth of expertise and back-end support, thus ensuring faster times to market and lower costs for Toumaz.”

This is a very strong validation of the Toumaz technology and the strength of our design team. An early return in advance of actual product sales is good news for our investors and confirms management’s view of the attractiveness and value of the low power technology.”

About Toumaz Technology Ltd.
Toumaz Technology Limited is a developer of advanced RF, analogue and mixed signal semiconductors. The focus of the business is low power devices based on the company’s proprietary AMx™ (Advanced Mixed Signal) technology which addresses the needs of lower power consumption for mobile and wirelessly connected systems.

About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions for automotive, industrial and multimarket sectors, for applications in communication, as well as memory products. With a global presence, Infineon operates through its subsidiaries in the US from San Jose, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore and in Japan from Tokyo. In fiscal year 2005 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 6.8 billion with about 35,600 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX). Further information is available at www.infineon.com.
This news alert is available online at http://www.infineon.com/news/

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:59 AM | Comments (0)

OneWorld Computers Introduces Apple’s iPod Like Famous Luxpro MP3 Player in Bangladesh Market

OneWorld Computers introduces famous Luxpro MP3 player in Bangladesh market being the exclusive distributor of Luxpro Corporation in Bangladesh. This famous Luxpro MP3 player bears a strong resemblance to Apple’s iPod shuffle but with less price tag and thus is expected to attract the local consumers.

Dhaka, Bangladesh (PRWEB) December 25, 2005 -- OneWorld Computers has introduced Luxpro MP3 player in the local market being appointed as the exclusive distributor of Luxpro Corporation in Bangladesh. This famous Luxpro MP3 player bears a strong resemblance to Apple’s iPod shuffle but with less price tag.

From the front, the Luxpro MP3 player (EZ Tangent) is physically quite identical to Apple's iPod shuffle, straight down to the control pad and white headphones. But even with the less price tag, this player has lot more to offer than the iPod shuffle from features perspective!

Luxpro MP3 player (EZ Tangent) contains a 128 pixel by 64 pixel OLED screen, supports simultaneous music playback with Lyrics display, provides 19 equalizer patterns, and capable of playing MP3s, WAV files and Windows Media Audio (WMA) files. On top of these, it includes an FM tuner and a digital voice recorder that the iPod surely lacks. The Luxpro MP3 player also serves as a portable USB flash drive with up to 1GB of storage space to back up personal files and exchange them between computers.

The Luxpro MP3 player (EZ Tangent series) is now available for a suggested retail starting price of TK 5,990 (BDT) and includes the necklace earphone. Currently, these players are available through all Etcetera Bangladesh retail stores in Dhaka.

About OneWorld Computers
Headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, OneWorld Computers is a provider of computer and computer accessories thru partnering with the leading manufacturers worldwide. The company product line includes its own branded unique space saving All-in-One LCD PC as well as world famous Inland branded computer accessories.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:59 AM | Comments (0)

DRAM Contract Prices Stay Flat in 2HDec but Chipmakers are Joyful about Potential Rebound, DRAMeXchange Says

DRAMeXchange foresees some DRAM makers should continue quoting DDR2 at a lower rate than DDR in order to encourage DDR2 sales. As chipmakers vary among each other on respective DDR/ DDR2 production ratio with relative customers demand also varies at the meantime, the quotes for DDR and DDR2 should report with slight difference among players.

(PRWEB) December 24, 2005 -- Although DRAM makers attempted to propose slight DRAM contract price raise in 2HDec with reference to the hike of recent spot prices and solid customers demand, they were disappointed by the final quotes with most prices were settled flat. Of which, one Germany and Taiwan based chipmaker stood firm on respective quotations and related contract price negotiations should be delayed to Christmas eve.

DRAM contract prices start trending down from September with the drop of DDR module reaches 22% and DDR2 reaches 32%. DRAM makers force to reshuffle capacity allocation and product mixture amid the severe price drop pressures, as evident in the DRAM supply bit growth that was trimmed down to 2.65% in November, versus the 10% sequential bit growth that records during September and October.

US-based PC OEMs usually see a massive drop of DRAM inventory levels in December along with the seasonality impact with DRAM contract prices should drop in a relatively large rate along with the demand drop. The scenario swings this year with contract prices keep staying stable, thanks to the previous DRAM price drops. This implies contract prices should bottom out with a price rebounding chance about to emerge.

A majority of DDR and DDR2 modules, no matter for the desktop or notebook segments, stay flat in 2HDec with modules for servers even enjoy growth. Most DRAM makers are optimistic about the price trend for the next update and project price raise.

DRAMeXchange foresees some DRAM makers should continue quoting DDR2 at a lower rate than DDR in order to encourage DDR2 sales. As chipmakers vary among each other on respective DDR/ DDR2 production ratio with relative customers demand also varies at the meantime, the quotes for DDR and DDR2 should report with slight difference among players.
For detail DRAM and NAND Flash spot price records, please visit: www.dramexchange.com

Contact:

Jocelyn Chen
DRAMeXchange
Tel: +886-2- 77026888 ext 620
Fax: +886-2-7702-6989

About DRAMeXchange:

DRAMeXchange is a global primary provider of futures intelligence, in-depth analysis reports and advisory services on DRAM and flash memory industry with coverage including current business, spot trading prices, and market trends, capital spending and wafer capacity trends, the impact of DRAM/flash memory products on the market, and other relevant PC industry information.

Founded in 2000, DRAMeXchange serves more than 45, 00 clients, including main information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations, as well as technology firms and the investment community. DRAMeXchange helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment communities make fact-based decisions on memory purchases and business strategy. For more information, visit www.dramexchange.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:57 AM | Comments (0)

December 23, 2005

iFurn.com to Add Alphason Designs to Their Wide Selection of High Quality Plasma Screen TV Stands and Entertainment Furniture

iFurn.com, a division of Norris Enterprises, added a new line of high quality plasma screen TV stands to their selection. This brand new line of contemporary TV and Audio stands from Alphason adds a level of depth to the website’s great collection of entertainment products.

(PRWEB) December 23, 2005 -- iFurn.com, a division of Norris Enterprises, added a new line of high quality plasma screen TV stands to their selection. This brand new line of contemporary TV and Audio stands from Alphason adds a level of depth to the website’s great collection of entertainment products.

Some of the items in this new line of products include:

• Flat panel TV stands
• Audio towers with built in CD racks
• Contemporary styled speaker stands

Alphason Designs, a company formed in 1985 in Lancashire England, got their start making high quality turntables and loudspeakers. These products appealed to music fans with the finest ears. Alphason’s turntable products reached high status as some of the finest audio products in the world. This status lead the company to turn to commercial furniture so everyone could enjoy their audio and television equipment at the highest quality possible. In addition to the improvement of sound quality, Alphason products possess a visual appeal that has yet to be seen in other entertainment products. Each item encompasses a space age design to appeal to anyone with a contemporary taste.

iFurn.com is proud to add Alphason’s high quality products to their vast collection.

About iFurn.com

Norris-Enterprises started on the internet in Wichita Kansas in 1997. Tracy Norris, a local Chiropractor, started a web company called Pain-Reliever.com, which is a national supplier of pain relieving products. Norris eventually decided to branch out into furniture, and started iFurn.com. iFurn, is a distributor for several furniture manufacturers, and sells everything from office furniture to children’s furniture.

iFurn.com prides itself in its customer service and the quality of items it sells.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:46 AM | Comments (0)

Mobasoft, LLC Announces Enhanced Pod-casting via Audio Merge Service

By using an online post-production audio merge service, online podcast listeners are able to actively provide feedback, participate in polls and surveys, and can connect to relevant web sites which offer more information for products or services which may be reference during the podcast show.

(PRWEB) December 23, 2005 -- Mobasoft, LLC announced today, the immediate availability of the Audio Merge service, which enables podcast producers to deploy their audio with web based enhancements. When online listeners play back a project through the use of the audio merge service, they are able to actively provide feedback, participate in polls and surveys, and can connect to web sites which offer more information for products or services which may be reference during the podcast show.

For the Pod-casting community, the traffic analysis reporting features are quite informative. Analysis reports include the number of loads, the number of plays, and the number of downloads. For each page displayed during playback of the podcast, pod-casters may view data regarding the number of impressions, click-through percentages, poll and survey results, and the number of comments sent.

"In my opinion, looking at a bunch of different players that are out there, this one offers more options for the pod-caster than any of the other ones out there. As a matter of fact, I don't think anything even comes close," said Rob Walch, of Podcast411.com, during a recently released podcast episode.

Audio Merge is currently in beta test development and is being driven by customer feedback and is part of Mobasofts commitment to deliver the latest product features. A scaled down version of the player will be available soon, and will offer the pod-caster to capture playback and usage statistics, and provide their audience with quick access to various portions of each published episode. Pod-casters may become a member of the site during beta testing for no charge by visiting http://www.audiomerge.com

Founded in 2002; Mobasoft, LLC is rapidly becoming a leader in web-based application development for business computing.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:45 AM | Comments (0)

Digigami Announces Competitive Upgrade from "BitVice MPEG-2 Encoder" to MegaPEG.X

Digigami today announced a competitive upgrade program for current owners of BitVice MPEG-2 Encoder for Macintosh. Any current owner of BitVice qualifies for this special, time-limited offer. Pricing starts at just $59.00 for MegaPEG Pro SD and Digigami's top of the line encoder MegaPEG HDTV is only $299.00 under the competitive upgrade offer.

Long Beach, CA (PRWEB) December 23, 2005 -- Digigami today announced a competitive upgrade program for current owners of BitVice MPEG-2 Encoder for Macintosh. Any current owner of BitVice qualifies for this special, time-limited offer. Pricing starts at just $59.00 for MegaPEG Pro SD and Digigami's top of the line encoder MegaPEG HDTV is only $299.00 under the competitive upgrade offer.

Upgrade to Broadcast-Quality HD Encoding For All DTV/HD/DVD Post-Production

"The BitVice MPEG-2 encoder is a popular product among Macintosh DVD authoring professionals. As good as it is, we find many Macintosh video professionals turning to MegaPEG.X for their high-end HD encoding jobs and for the most challenging DVD compression projects," said Digigami CTO Gen Kiyooka.

"Under our competitive upgrade program it is inexpensive and easy for existing BitVice customers to upgrade their studios to the state of the art MPEG-2 compression tools found in MegaPEG HDTV.

With it's superb analysis tools, using the MegaPEG HDTV mpeg-2 encoder with BitVice provides users with the necessary analysis/feedback for demystifying the compression process. Conceptual jargon such as quantization, peak and average bitrate all are available as visual, easy to read charts and graphs in MegaPEG HDTV. The analysis tools included with MegaPEG HDTV work with MPEG-2 files produced by any software or hardware MPEG-2 encoder, including BitVice."

MegaPEG.X also adds many other extremely practical features to BitVice, such as the ability to create MPEG audio and muxed CBR and VBR MPEG movies. Digigami MegaPEG Pro HD and MegaPEG HDTV are among the very few modern MPEG-2 encoders that can create high definition bitstreams which rival H.264 quality at similar bitrates.

The competitive upgrade promotion is available to all owners of BitVice and similar competitive products. The promotion consists of a one-page, simple, interactive qualification form which prepares a mail-in order-form. To qualify, owners of BitVice need only provide an original copy of a sales receipt or a front cover from one of their manuals, a valid serial number, or any other proof-of-purchase that Digigami deems valid.

Pricing and Availability
Digigami "BitVice MPEG-2 Encoder Competitive Upgrade" Promotion Page:
http://www.digigami.com/store/bitvice-mpeg-2-encoder-mac.php

The promotional price for a 4-seat MPEG-2 Encoding Render Farm is just $149.00. The promotional price for the "Digigami 3-in-1 Master Your Moving Picture Bundle" (SD - standard definition) is just $99.00. The promotional price for the "Digigami 2-in-1 Master Your Hi-Def Picture" Bundle is $249.00. MegaPEG HDTV, Digigami's high-end encoding station, is just $299.00 under the special offer.

About Digigami
Digigami is a privately held company headquartered in the greater Los Angeles area. Digigami was founded in 1994 and released its first MPEG-1/MPEG-2 encoder, MegaPEG, in 1996 along with an early Netscape plug-in that plays streaming video in MPEG, AVI, QuickTime formats. For the past 10 years, Digigami has been continuously improving its MPEG video compression technology; MPressionist HDTV, MegaPEG HDTV and MoviesForMyPod are the most recent Digigami products.

For details and pricing information on all Digigami products, please visit our Web site at http://www.digigami.com/.

Digigami product names are trademarks of Digigami, Inc. Apple, Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro and Velocity Engine are the trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. BitVice is a trademark of Innobits AB. MainConcept is a trademark of, well, MainConcept. Altivec is a trademark of Freescale Semiconductor Inc. MPEG is the colloquial acronym for the international video compression standard created by the Motion Pictures Experts Group aka ISO/IEC-11172 (MPEG-1) and ISO/IEC 13818 (MPEG-2).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:44 AM | Comments (0)

Wasps, Sand Flies, Moquitoes? Bite Back This Summer with New Bite-Away Product

So far it was highly impossible to guarantee a fast and effective treatment after insect bites Now there is a solution: Bite-Away. The new innovative product works through a specially triggered heating impulse – without any chemicals – and it even fits in the smallest pocket. Ideal for people with allergies.

Auckland, New Zealand (PRWEB) December 23, 2005 -- For many people summer means the best time of the year. Life takes place outdoors: Whether it’s on the beach, in the mountains or just having a relaxed barbeque time, we all thoroughly enjoy this time of the year.

But when spending time outdoors – especially close to water and by consuming sweets or drinks, the little sand flies, mosquitoes, bees and wasps are not far. Stings are not only annoying and mean itching and swelling but can be really dangerous for people with allergies!

So what to do if the little pest has bitten? We say: bite back!

So far it was highly impossible to guarantee a fast and effective treatment – while travelling for example; we have hardly any ice packs or other tools at hand.

Now there is a solution: Bite-Away. The new innovative product works through a specially triggered heating impulse – without any chemicals – and it even fits in the smallest pocket.

The Bite-Away sting healer is a patented high tech product from Germany and has been developed for effectively treating all kinds of insect stings and bites immediately on the spot. When using the Bite-Away right after a sting, it prevents the itching as well as the swelling. Even when using it later or after hours, it will still drastically reduce the itching and swelling.

The Bite-Away works purely naturally by concentrated heat. The golden plate of the device is pointed directly on the sting location and by the push of a button heats up to 50 degrees Celsius. Controlled by an integrated microchip, the heat impulse destroys the protein molecules of the insect poison fast, uncomplicated and safe within just 3-6 seconds.

This innovative gadget is brand new in our country. It works with two standard AA batteries and you can use it for up to 200-300 applications – after that – just replace the batteries! With two different usages and button selections to chose from, the device can be safely used for kids as well as for adults.

Introductory pricing is set at 49.80 NZD (incl. Gst), with a later retail price of 59.90 NZD (incl. Gst) and the item can be ordered directly online under www.wellness-shop.co.nz

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:43 AM | Comments (0)

Regift Your Old Computers on December 28th in Birmingham, Alabama

Vulcan Park Foundation to host “Ecycling” Drive: Wednesday, December 28, Noon-6pm, 1701 Valley View Drive in Birmingham, AL.

Birmingham, AL (PRWEB) December 23, 2005 -- Why keep an old computer laying around if a new one is received for Christmas? On Wednesday, December 28 from noon – 6 pm, the public is encouraged to drop off any used computers, laptops, cell phones and a number of other accepted items to Vulcan Park to be “ecycled.” Volunteers will be on site to assist in the unloading of donated equipment and provide each consumer with a tax receipt. Co-sponsored by TechBirmingham and Vulcan Park Foundation (VPF), this “ecycling” drive is to encourage local residents to recycle their used electronic equipment for the benefit of local non-profits within the greater Birmingham community.

Accepted items include: Desktop computers, Laptop computers, Computer monitors, Keyboards and input devices, Printers, Scanners, Digital cameras, PDAs and handheld devices, Game systems, Printer cartridges (laser and inkjet), and Cell phones.

While most of the items received will be recycled and demanufactured, many will be refurbished. All usable desktop computers will be refurbished and redistributed to select community-based computer learning centers whose programs would benefit from an additional supply of computers. All laptops will be considered for use by Vulcan Park Foundation for educational use in conjunction with Vulcan Park’s wireless Internet service. Such laptops, along with the park’s wireless Internet capability, will allow VPF the opportunity to integrate Internet use in existing children’s workshops, create new educational opportunities designed specifically for learning about “WiFi,” and offer the community access to a valuable resource.

ABOUT VULCAN PARK:
Vulcan Park is home to the world's largest cast iron statue and features spectacular views of Birmingham. We tell the story of Birmingham's past, present and promise for the future. See www.VulcanPark.org for more details or call (205) 933-1409.

ABOUT TECHBIRMINGHAM:
TechBirmingham is a non-profit entity aimed at growing Birmingham’s technology economy. It is a not-for-profit entity formed to lead, support, and coordinate the start-up, attraction, growth, retention, and expansion of technology-based businesses, investments, and jobs for the entire Birmingham metropolitan region. For more information about ecycling, see www.EcyclingDay.org.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:42 AM | Comments (0)

DRAM Demand Grows Mild But High-Density Flash Reports Enlarged Drops, Says DRAMeXchange

Despite demand did spurred demand growth from early December amid the soon coming Christmas impact, DRAM supply trended in a divergent mode as chipmakers found the rapid price drops had edged chip prices to their cost bottom. Demand was encouraged by the growing tight memory supply at the spot market over the week December 13-20 with some speculative transactions being observed.

(PRWEB) December 23, 2005 -- Despite demand did spurred demand growth from early December amid the soon coming Christmas impact, DRAM supply trended in a divergent mode as chipmakers found the rapid price drops had edged chip prices to their cost bottom. Demand was encouraged by the growing tight memory supply at the spot market over the week December 13-20 with some speculative transactions being observed.

DRAMeXchange observes that prices of mainstream DRAM chips remained flat during Dec. 7-13 with module houses started to collect parts. As prices rebounded last week, most traders and distributors hold their inventory and the speculation demand had boosted prices grow further on Dec. 16 2005.

Supply of eTT (UTT) chips and the Hynix made 512Mb 64Mbx8 chips showed particular shortage last week. The major domestic eTT chip supplier who rejected to sell chips under US$1.85 since early December have stimulated memory buyers to collect those available chips which quoted below this price tag from the market, thus boosting related prices up almost 9% sequentially from US$1.86 to US$2.02.

DDR 32Mbx8 400MHz has been up from US$2.0 to US$2.11 from Dec.14 to Dec. 20. DDR 512Mb 64Mbx8 was up from US$3.85 to US$4.16. Marketers showed more interest to source for DDR2 chips, as evident in the stable spot prices of both major and NMB (non-major-brand) chips prices. Major and NMB DDR2 512Mb chip prices were stabilized at US$3.72 and US$3.03 respectively on Dec.20.

Encouraged by the upward pricing trend for both DDR and DDR2 chips, Samsung ramped up its supply of SDRAM chips including SDRAM 1Mx16, 4Mx16 and 8Mx16. However, demand was not pick up significantly with transactions volume turned even lower.

Ample 16Gb NAND Flash supply drags price down further

NAND Flash spot prices keep heading south last week with prices of low-density parts slowed down but the high-density 16Gb enlarged. Spot prices for 1Gb slipped 2% at US$7.54; 2Gb slipped 1% at US$14.76; 4Gb slipped 1% at US$25.98; 8Gb slipped 2% at US$44 and 16Gb slipped 5% at US$74.56 on December 19.

NAND Flash Category Price on Dec. 19
1Gb US$ 7.54 (-2%)
2Gb US$14.76 (-1%)
4Gb US$25.98 (-1%)
8Gb US$44 (-2%)
16Gb US$74.56 (-5%)
▲ NAND Flash Spot Price on Dec. 19, Source: DRAMeXchange

Memory makers keep growing demand last week. OEMs who aim to grab the last batch of orders that they might land before Christmas boosted pushed them to source for the low-density parts (4Gb and below) amid the continuous price drops at these segments. Spot prices were once being boosted, thanks to the urgent inquiries from these vendors. However the price ups scared away demand immediately and pot prices were then once again forced to lower to accommodate demand.

The ample 16Gb NAND flash supply dragged related spot price down as much as 5% at US$74.56 last week, versus the previous 3.9% sequential drop. This price level is set even lower than the contract quotes that some smaller scale customers obtained and this level is edging to the price range of second tier players’.

DRAMeXchange foresees NAND Flash spot prices to slide further as most NAND Flash makers and module houses set their deal date earlier in December and attempt to lower inventory by releasing more stocks. Some chipmakers may even ship unpacked chips in wafer form. Under the severe price pressure, only those OEMs who place urgent orders for low-priced chips or those demands for immediate delivery shipment could be spot at the market.
For detail DRAM and NAND Flash spot price records, please visit: www.dramexchange.com.

About DRAMeXchange:

DRAMeXchange is a global primary provider of futures intelligence, in-depth analysis reports and advisory services on DRAM and flash memory industry with coverage including current business, spot trading prices, and market trends, capital spending and wafer capacity trends, the impact of DRAM/flash memory products on the market, and other relevant PC industry information.

Founded in 2000, DRAMeXchange serves more than 45, 00 clients, including main information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations, as well as technology firms and the investment community. DRAMeXchange helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment communities make fact-based decisions on memory purchases and business strategy. For more information, visit www.dramexchange.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:41 AM | Comments (0)

Low Rate Electronics

Can you find low rate electronics in market now a days? Let us give you some solutions for that.

(PRWEB) December 23, 2005 -- Simpletk.com offers electronics at a discount.


Residents of United States are getting online to buy latest technology. With the new savings on advance technology from simpletk you can save over $250 on every purchase. Simpletk.com allows buyers to save on everything from Ipod to computers. A regular customer was quoted saying “I purchased my computer and was amazed at the savings inside”. This is because every electronics purchased from simpletk.com includes $50 rebate and over $250 savings on each item.

The convenience of www.simpletk.com is amazing. You order your item, you receive $50 rebate plus over $250 savings on each item. The website simpletk.com provides a place for buyers to view details of every product they want. Buyers can find the best rates on electronics with simpletk.com.

The electronics are available 24 hours. Customers are urged to buy any kind of electronics before rates go up.

Simpletk.com is owned and operated by the local business cheapbuy.org.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:40 AM | Comments (0)

Are You Tired of Internet Fraud?

Can you find low rate electronics in market now a days? let us give you some solutions for that.

(PRWEB) December 23, 2005 -- Cheapbuy.org offers electronics at a discount.

Residents of United States are getting online to buy latest technology. With the new savings on advance technology from cheapbuy you can save over $500 on every purchase. cheapbuy.org allows buyers to save on everything from Ipod to computers, radar detector to cb radios. A regular customer was quoted saying “I purchased my computer and was amazed at the savings inside”. This is because every electronics purchased from cheapbuy.org includes $50 rebate and over $500 savings on each item.

The convenience of www.cheapbuy.org is amazing. You order your item, you receive $50 rebate plus over $500 savings on each item. The website cheapbuy.org provides a place for buyers to view details of every product they want. Buyers can find the best rates on electronics with cheapbuy.org

The electronics are available 24 hours. Customers are urged to buy any kind of electronics before rates go up.

Cheapbuy.org is owned and operated by the local business in Newjersey.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:38 AM | Comments (0)

December 22, 2005

Shopping Mavens Get High-Tech Reinforcement for Final Push to Christmas, Using Mobile Devices to Find Gifts in Nearby Shops

The publishers of "Where to Wear," a connoisseur’s directory of merchandise in every “in” store in shopping capitals around the world, released today a high-tech electronic guide for New York City that scans stores in the vicinity and reports which ones have hits on the user’s shopping list.

New York (PRWEB via MobilityNewswire) December 22, 2005 -- Desperate times call for desperate measures, and with Christmas just days away, shoppers can now resort to a mobile-tech guide that sniffs out gifts as they walk.

The publishers of "Where to Wear," a connoisseur’s directory of merchandise in every “in” store in shopping capitals around the world, released today a high-tech electronic guide for New York City that scans stores in the vicinity and reports which ones have hits on the user’s shopping list.

“This is the Google of shopping – except you don’t have to do searches, you don’t have to ask for every item over and over and you don’t even have to be thinking about it,” said Jill Fairchild, founder of Where to Wear and daughter of fashion publishing mogul John Fairchild. “It just happens on your handheld. It’s becoming all about accessibility and this is like having a personal shopper at your fingertips.”

The Where to Wear “spot guide” downloads to Palm OS PDAs or smartphones. Using built-in maps and location awareness, a user can choose one or more items from a particular shopping list, and the device will scan through thousands of store listings to show which places have the item, and where they are on the map.

“There's plenty of shopping time, you can even be a hero, if you have the info,” said Jim Brady, self-described compulsive shopper and CEO of Earthcomber, the developer of the GPS-targeting shopping guide, during a hasty demonstration. “Watch this.”

Tapping the map at the intersection of Spring and Crosby just above the Village, more than a dozen miniature shopping bags dotted the screen, marking nearby stores that had “hits” for Brady's list of outerwear, cashmere, retro, wearable art and Western.

Tapping “Western,” four shops appeared, including “Western Spirit,” where Where to Wear's insiders promised, “You don't need to be a Texan to dress like a cowboy,” and inventoried moccasins, hats, boots, buckles and pearl-buttoned shirts on three floors.

The shopping guide is available – instantly - as a download at www.Earthcomber.com, where a number of other mobile guides from publishers such as Mobil Travel Guides, Moon and Damron are available. The cost for the Where to Wear shopping guide is $9.95.

Where to Wear will be releasing guides for other American cities in January and cities abroad later in 2006, the publishers said.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:38 AM | Comments (0)

Digigami Demonstrates VBR HD MPEG-2 Encoding Competitve with H.264

Digigami today announced its new MegaPEG HD MPEG-2 VBR encoder is capable of matching and, in some cases, exceeding the picture quality while offering reduced bitrates compared to current H.264 encoders.

Long Beach, CA (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 22, 2005 -- Digigami today announced its new MegaPEG HD MPEG-2 VBR encoder is capable of matching and, in some cases, exceeding the picture quality while offering reduced bitrates compared to current H.264 encoders.

Recently, Sony Pictures senior VP of advanced technologies, Don Ecklund, was blasted for his assertions about MPEG-2 video quality in defense of Sony's decision to release HD MPEG-2 encoded feature films on Blu-Ray discs. Digigami's own research and actual MPEG encoder output (sample movies available at http://www.digigami.com/megapeg/hdtv_samples.php) verify Ecklund's claims that MPEG-2 can and will continue to achieve quality/bitrates comparable to H.264 for the next generation of optical disc formats, including Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

New Advances in MPEG-2 VBR Encoding squeeze Hi-Def MPEG-2 on standard DVD

Proponents claim H.264 is capable of HD encoding feature films at the same bitrates as standard definition DVD. To the extent that this is true, the capability is not unique to H.264. The new Digigami HD encoder can produce 720p content with an average bitrate of 3-7 mbit/s, which is equivalent to the bitrates used in today's standard definition DVD titles. Comparing with H.264 we can see there is no advantage; an improved MPEG-2 encoder can perform this feat well. Score one for MPEG-2.

"In our tests here at Digigami, we find that our MPEG-2 encoder is actually outperforming H.264 by a wide margin on 720p/1080p film content. Typically, our HD MPEG-2 encoder can produce VBR files two thirds to one half the bitrate produced by current H.264 encoders. On our website we have compressed material which supports this assertion. A recent example is a 400MB H.264 720p video blog that we recompressed to 172MB MPEG-1 VBR. In our testing, only highly saturated, brightly colored material (atypical of most content) is improved by H.264 - owing primarily to the use of 4:2:2 color."

Improves Widely Used MPEG-2 Rather Than Hopping H.264 Bandwagon

Digigami took a different approach to improving their video encoder technology. Firstly, the company built a powerful analysis tool (http://www.digigami.com/mpressionist/), which allows employees and customers to quantitatively analyze any existing compressed MPEG-2 footage. The results of different encoders, including H.264 encoders, can be compared quantitatively. Secondly, Digigami used these tools to analyze a large number of commercial DVD titles encoded by different encoders and mastering houses. Based on the findings, they made improvements to the company's core MPEG-2 encoder which eliminates inefficiencies of previous generation encoders - the same goal as H.264. However, these improvements require no changes to MPEG-2 HD televisions, which is the reason for having an ISO standard in the first place.

Pricing and Availability
The Digigami MegaPEG HDTV VBR MPEG-2 encoder is currently shipping and is available for Mac OS X, and runs on most modern Apple hardware. The price is $995.00, which includes everything you need for multi-pass interactive VBR encoding of feature film content. Digigami technical support provides assistance in achieving superior quality and file sizes with both HD and SD encoding.

About Digigami
Digigami is a privately held company headquartered in the greater Los Angeles area. Digigami was founded in 1994 and released its first MPEG-1/MPEG-2 encoder, MegaPEG, in 1996 along with an early Netscape plug-in that plays streaming video in MPEG, AVI, QuickTime formats. For the past 10 years, Digigami has been continuously improving its MPEG video compression technology; MPressionist HDTV, MegaPEG HDTV and MoviesForMyPod are the most recent Digigami products.

For details and pricing information on all Digigami products, please visit our Web site at http://www.digigami.com/.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:37 AM | Comments (0)

December 21, 2005

Fastrax Appoints RUTRONIK as Distributor of Fastrax GPS Technology

Fastrax Ltd., a leading provider of open and portable OEM GPS Software Development Kit environments and programmable OEM GPS receivers, today announced a distribution agreement with RUTRONIK Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH, one of Europe's leading distributors for electromechanical components.

Helsinki, Finland and Ispringen, Germany (PRWEB) December 21, 2005 -– Fastrax Ltd., a leading provider of open and portable OEM GPS Software Development Kit environments and programmable OEM GPS receivers, today announced a distribution agreement with RUTRONIK Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH, one of Europe's leading broadband distributors for active, passive and electromechanical components in addition to displays and embedded boards.

RUTRONIK represents leading electronics manufacturers in a wide range of product categories. The company will distribute Fastrax GPS products in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Switzerland.

"At RUTRONIK, our aim is to combine innovation with outstanding expertise and a wide market presence. Fastrax' state-of-the-art OEM GPS receivers are an excellent addition to our product portfolio, and we are delighted to welcome the company to our worldwide network of industry-leading suppliers," said Thomas Rudel, Managing Director, Sales and Marketing, RUTRONIK.

"RUTRONIK is a leader in the highly competitive European electronics distribution sector. We look forward to the new collaboration and expect that this agreement will further strengthen our position in the global market for OEM GPS products," said Mr. Fredrik Borgstrom, responsible for Fastrax's European sales.

Fastrax OEM GPS receivers offer industry-leading benefits in performance, size, power consumption and versatility. Fastrax products enable the implementation of position-aware features into practically any device. The GPS modules are ideally suited for both industrial tracking systems and small battery-operated products such as mobile phones, asset tracking devices, handheld computers and sports accessories.

The Fastrax iSuite 3 SDK can be used to rapidly modify the features and functionality of a GPS receiver, allowing receiver performance and power management to be tailored for any usage scenario. By utilizing the spare CPU and memory resources of the GPS receiver, the Fastrax iSuite 3 SDK can significantly reduce the bill of materials and non-recurring expenses of GPS products.

Fastrax contact:
Fredrik Borgstrom
Sales Manager, Europe
Tel. +358 40 564 4498

Fastrax agency contact:
Netprofile Tech PR
Juha Rantanen
Tel. +358 9 6812 080

Rutronik contact:
Edgar Huber
Head of Marketing and Communications
Tel. +49 7231 801 628

About Fastrax Ltd
Fastrax provides industry-leading receivers and software solutions for optimal utilization of GPS (Global Positioning System) and other GNSS location services (Global Navigation Satellite Systems). Fastrax transforms GPS technologies into highly scalable iTrax and iSuite solutions with open interfaces, combined to ultra low power consumption and miniature hardware design. With industry-leading performance, Fastrax GPS receivers navigate continuously even in extreme conditions. Receivers are ideally suited to both industrial location applications and high-volume consumer products such as cell phones and sports accessories. Fastrax Engineering Services provide expert services in application design. Headquartered in Finland and founded in 1999, the company is privately owned and backed by leading venture capital investors CapMan, Eqvitec, Startupfactory and Innocap, with a strategic investment by Suunto Corporation, a subsidiary of Amer Sports Corporation, one of the world's leading sports equipment companies. More information: www.fastrax.fi.

About RUTRONIK
RUTRONIK Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH is one of Europe's leading broadband distributors for active, passive and electromechanical components in addition to displays and embedded boards. The markets that the company primarily targets include the automotive, telecommunications, consumer goods and industrial electronics industries. Wide-ranging services, competent transfers of expertise in the areas of product development and design, as well as logistics and supply chain management solutions round off its customer and future-oriented range of goods and services. The company, established by Helmut Rudel in Ispringen, Germany in 1973, employs about 1,000 staff throughout Europe and is looking to achieve sales of EUR 425 million in fiscal year 2005.
More information: www.rutronik.com.

About GPS
Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide satellite navigation infrastructure funded and controlled by the U.S. Department of Defense, originally developed for U.S. military purposes. GPS provides satellite signals that enable GPS receivers to calculate their exact position and velocity. The GPS infrastructure has three segments. The space segment consists of 24 satellites that orbit the earth every 12 hours. The control segment consists of tracking stations located around the world, with the master control station located at Falcon Air Force Base in Colorado. The user segment consists of GPS receivers and users utilizing the information provided by the system. GPS is widely used in applications such as marine navigation.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:18 AM | Comments (0)

Doctor Sound Makes Home Theater Dreaming Easier and Reality a Click Away

Doctor Sound Home Theater announces the launching of their new Web site, www.drsoundinc.com. Doctor Sound specializes in designing and installing home theater and entertainment systems, intercom systems and even central vacuums.

Lewisville, Texas (PRWEB) December 21, 2005 -- Have you ever dreamed of having the ultimate home entertainment center? Where do you turn for creative ideas and trustworthy, cost effective solutions?

Doctor Sound, leader in home entertainment systems and home automation, announces the launch of their new website www.DrSoundInc.com.

Doctor Sound was founded in 1997 in Lewisville, Texas. Because Doctor Sound is dedicated to quality products and customer satisfaction, there are already many delighted customers in the Lewisville, Flower Mound, Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake areas of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

Doctor Sound offers a wide variety of Home Entertainment Systems, from custom design and installation of home theaters, home wiring, intercom systems and even central vacuum installation.

The easily accessible Gallery of home entertainment solutions on www.DrSoundInc.com will help you visualize the many possibilities for your personal home entertainment system.

The owners want you to know, “Our mission in life, and in business, is to be honest, sincere servants of God, and to cherish our many blessings. We have enjoyed meeting such dynamic people through our business, and look forward to building relationships with many more clients as we continue to grow. We would love to help make your entertainment system a dream come true.”

The process is easy. It starts with a free quote. If necessary, an appointment for an In-Home Estimate will be arranged.
A design is developed for your approval.

The installation is scheduled at your convenience.
On completion, you receive a tutorial on your new specific system, complete with cheat sheets.

Remember, all Doctor Sound products come with an Exclusive 60 Day Operation Training Guarantee to help you maximize your understanding of the features available within your new system.
Please take a moment and visit this highly intuitive new website www.DrSoundInc.com

Carita Weaver, WSI Internet Consultant, is the web designer responsible for this excellent site. www.wsipowernet.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:16 AM | Comments (0)

Wireless Extenders Offers New Signal Booster at 800MHZ To Increase Cell Phone Coverage in Homes and Offices

Wireless Extenders, Inc. (www.wirelessextenders.com), a leader in developing new products that enhance wireless cellular communications, announced their latest product, the YX500-CEL. This reliable product captures and amplifies the 800MHz signal for cell phone users in homes or offices where cellular signal cannot penetrate.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) December 21, 2005 -- Wireless Extenders, Inc. (www.wirelessextenders.com), a leader in developing new products that enhance wireless cellular communications, announced their latest product, the YX500-CEL. This reliable product captures and amplifies the 800MHz signal for cell phone users in homes or offices where cellular signal cannot penetrate. This product joins the strong-selling YX500PCS and the YX600PCS versions that are compatible with all PCS (1900Mhz) phones.

According to research, over 35% of cellular phone users nationwide experience poor quality or loss of signal strength when using a cell phone in their office or home. Increasing the indoor coverage can translate into increased productivity and savings. Some of the benefits include extending the battery life, replacing landlines phones, reducing or eliminating dropped calls and increasing wireless applications such as instant messaging, 3G high-speed data picture mail and more.

“Now our products increase cellular coverage indoors on two different bands and work with most carriers including Cingular, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon,” says Lloyd R. Meese, President and CEO of Wireless Extenders, “In addition, our products allow consumers to remain wireless indoors – they require no cradles or wires like other available booster options.”

Wireless Extenders products are sold at major retail outlets such as CompUSA, Fry’s and Solid Signal.

About Wireless Extenders (www.wirelessextenders.com)
Wireless Extenders manufactures and distributes the YX series of cell phone signal boosters. They are available at many retail outlets including CompUSA (www.compusa.com ), Fry’s www.frys.com and Solid Signal (www.solidsignal.com ). With research and development headquarters in Atlanta’s Technology Park, the company has developed the first consumer-priced signal booster for the small office/home office (SOHO) wireless market. These signal boosters work with wireless carriers such as Cingular, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. Wireless Extenders, Inc. continues to develop new products to meet the demands of an increasingly wireless society by enhancing wireless signals. Upcoming additions to the popular YX series of cell phone signal boosters include products for the Nextel, units for automobiles, travel units and units for European frequencies

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:16 AM | Comments (0)

Kozio Announces Support for Freescale's PowerQUICC™ II Pro Communications Processor Family; Kozio Provides Hardware Validation Through the Entire Product Life-Cycle

Kozio, Inc., the leading provider of advanced embedded functional test and diagnostics capabilities ideally suited for board bring-up, manufacturing test and power-on self-test, today announced support for the Freescale Semiconductor (www.freescale.com) PowerQUICC™ II Pro family of communications processors based on PowerPC® cores.

Longmont, Colorado (PRWEB) December 21, 2005 -- Kozio, Inc., the leading provider of advanced embedded functional test and diagnostics capabilities ideally suited for board bring-up, manufacturing test and power-on self-test, today announced support for the Freescale Semiconductor (www.freescale.com) PowerQUICC™ II Pro family of communications processors based on PowerPC® cores. Kozio broadens its line of supported processors for its production-ready embedded software products, enabling customers to quickly validate new board designs. Kozio’s products are the perfect solution for companies looking to save development effort while streamlining the process of preparing production-ready processor boards with increased reliability.

“We are thrilled to be adding to our support of Freescale processors as well as extending our alliance with Silicon Turnkey Express. This is an exciting time for us as our customers are realizing the value of adding extensive hardware testing and diagnostics to their overall product development,” stated Joseph Skazinski, Kozio’s president.

Kozio, a member of the Freescale Tools Alliance Program, provides advanced test capabilities for custom board designs based on the PowerQUICC II Pro processor with two week delivery times. Kozio’s latest release includes support for the MPC8343E, MPC8347E, MPC8349E, MPC8358E, and MPC8360E processors. Functional tests, diagnostics and programming capabilities are provided for the CPU, Flash memory, DDR SDRAM, NVRAM, PCI, I2C, GPIO, Ethernet Controllers, USB, local bus, UART, DMA Controllers, SPI and Interrupt Controller. Kozio software allows faults to be isolated down to the component level. Additional capabilities are available as needed, because each Kozio product delivery is custom tailored to each customer’s board design.

“Extensive hardware test capabilities provide a great enabler for Freescale customers, allowing them to get products to market faster,” said Mike Shoemake, business manager for Freescale’s Digital Systems Division. “Kozio software provides very attractive test capabilities for PowerQUICC processors, including the functional testing of high-speed serial interfaces.”

Kozio is partnering with Silicon Turnkey Express (www.silicontkx.com) and providing evaluation copies of Kozio’s kDiagnostics software package for STx’s GP2-PRO reference platform, a low-cost single-board computer using the Freescale PowerQUICC II Pro processor. The GP2-PRO provides an upgrade path from 82xx PowerQUICC II processor-based systems and provides integral cryptographic accelerator and Gigabit Ethernet features, making it ideal for network security and virtual storage applications. Kozio's evaluation copy of kDiagnostics includes functional tests for SATA, USB, Gigabit Ethernet and the core MPC83xx features.

“I see significant value in using Kozio test software for manufacturing PowerQUICC devices,” said Robert Applebaum, President of Silicon Turnkey Express.

Support for your custom hardware platform using a PowerQUICC II Pro processor is now available. As with all Kozio products, software can be customized to meet specific customer requirements.

About Kozio, Inc.
Kozio, Inc. develops software solutions that verify design and validate hardware for embedded single-board computer systems used in products such as ADSL gateways, wireless access points, network routers, voice solutions, security and test equipment, and aerospace systems. Kozio's products provide comprehensive test solutions, including diagnostics for board bring-up, automated manufacturing test, and built-in self-test software for manufactured products. Kozio's customers design, develop and manufacture boards used in computer-based electronic systems for the aerospace, networking, defense, test and wireless industries. Kozio products ease many embedded systems development challenges, from design through manufacturing and support, saving customers time and money. The company is privately held and based in Longmont, Colorado. For more information, visit www.kozio.com.

Kozio and kDiagnostics is a registered trademark of Kozio, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Contact: Joseph Skazinski, Kozio, Inc., (303) 776-1356,
or Brad Shannon, Shannon Marketing Communications, (970) 461-4906.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:15 AM | Comments (0)

The RFID Patent Pool: Playing Poker

RFID Consortium Charts Its Next Move.

(PRWEB) December 21, 2005 -- By Mark Johnson, RFID Tribe -- It has been several months since the RFID Consortium announced its intent to form a patent pool for the intellectual property required for UHF RFID standards from EPCglobal and ISO. The RFID Consortium is charting its structure and creating its licensing rules.

Let the Game Begin:
The RFID Consortium publicly announced its intent to form a patent pool in August 2005 and followed with an announcement in September 2005 that it had selected MPEG LA, LLC as the administrator for the RFID patent licensing process.

The RFID Consortium official members are Alien Technology, Applied Wireless Identifications Group (AWID), Avery Dennison, Moore Wallace, Symbol Technologies, ThingMagic, Tyco Fire & Security and Zebra Technologies. The group of eight companies that are official members of the consortium has not grown since the August announcement according to Stan Drobac, vice president of RFID applications at Avery Dennison and spokesperson for the RFID Consortium.

Patent pool structures and consortia royalty sharing models vary. Drobac told RFID Tribe, "We are borrowing elements from multiple business models to construct our model.”

Playing Poker:
RFID Tribe talked with Andrew Updegrove, partner at Gesmer Updegrove LLP and editor of ConsortiumInfo.org. Gesmer Updegrove has advised more than 70 standards-setting and promotional consortia regarding their formation, member classes, dues structure, standards and certification processes, including the Near Field Communication (NFC) Forum and the Mobile Payments Forum.

Updegrove said. “The idea for patent pools is to cap the ‘tax’ on a device to allow for greater market adoption.” The tax in the form of a royalty is set at ‘what the market will bear’. The cap is typically either a percent of the device’s price or a flat fee per device.

There are several advantages to patent pool consortia. Patent pools enable efficiency when the market can obtain a single capped royalty for a device where equipment providers need only one license and deal with one entity for licensing. Consortium patent pool participants benefit by sharing in the consortium’s royalty stream according to a patent pool formula devised by the participating companies. In addition, patent pools level the playing field so that one firm pays the same royalty fee as its competitor for selling a device. Consortia tend to save valuable resources for member companies - they spend less time and less capital defending a lower number of lawsuits.

With much at stake, companies work diligently to set technology standards and to commercialize their intellectual property by pooling their patents with others. “Standards setting is a game of hardball” said Updegrove.

Due to anti-trust issues associated with patent pooling, some consortia in the United States send a letter to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking an opinion. This letter details the consortium’s structure, membership model and licensing algorithms and asks the DOJ for an opinion on whether the consortium, as proposed, would violate anti-trust laws. The DOJ issues a non-binding letter back to the consortium rendering an opinion.

The DOJ letter is not required, but gives the consortium member companies a signal on whether their consortium will withstand potential legal challenges regarding anti-trust issues.

“Consortia and patent pools are like a poker game” said Updegrove. Anyone can play, anyone can drop out if they don’t like the game and any player can challenge another’s patents to “call a bluff.”

Successful consortia start with a population of “promoting companies” and grow their efforts to include “adopting companies” which adopt the licensing model. The RFID Consortium “promoting companies” began marketing their efforts with the August 2005 announcement, followed by the September 2005 announcement on selecting MPEG LA as the licensing administrator. As the poker game continues, potential member companies should receive invitations from consortium member companies to join the patent pool, followed by announcements defining the patent pool and regarding licensing enforcement.

According to Updegrove a typical path, for a consortium forming a patent pool might involve the following activities: pre-formation meetings held by the initial promoting companies, seeking a DOJ opinion letter, selecting a legal or operating structure, selecting a licensing administrator, setting the agreement for the patent pool, selecting an expert or experts to qualify the patents for inclusion in the pool, creating a call for patents, qualifying patents, documenting patents included in the pool, releasing a public announcement of the patent royalty, ensuring the licensing administrator protects patent pool IP and directing the licensing administer to manage the royalty stream.

Gaining Efficiencies:
According to Larry Horn, vice president of licensing and business development at MPEG LA, the “most efficient” licensing structure for the RFID industry is a place to obtain a single license for all the patents associated with a given standard. This saves transactional costs associated with negotiating with several firms and paying multiple license fees to use a technology. To achieve that most efficient structure requires that all of the patent holders for the technologies required to implement the RFID UHF standard would be a part of the RFID Consortium. Horn indicated that 100 percent participation is a goal but is not always possible. He has seldom seen any patent pool obtain all the patents for a given standard.

A recent study published in November 2005 examined licensing rules for 63 patent pools established between 1895 and 2001 ( “The Design of Patent Pools: The Determinants of Licensing Rules” by Josh Lerner, Marcin Strojwas, and Jean Tirole). The study found that pools consisting of complementary patents are more likely to allow members to engage in independent licensing. The study also found the requirement that firms license patents to the pool (grantbacks), should be associated with pools that consist of complementary patents and allow independent licensing.

License fees for the RFID Consortium have not been set. Horn commented that the license fees will be non-exclusive – the market retains the right to negotiate bilaterally with any of the firms in the patent pool for rights to use that firm’s technology. But most equipment providers who want to license the applicable RFID technologies will recognize the efficiency of licensing from the RFID Consortium’s patent pool.

Setting a Structure:
“The RFID Consortium has not yet selected a structure” said Bill Dolan, of Bell, Boyd and Lloyd, LLC, the law firm advising the RFID Consortium. The consortium may form as a limited liability company (LLC) or it may require members to sign patent pool agreements and create an administrative committee comprised of representatives from its member firms.

The RFID Consortium’s current agreement with MPEG LA, its licensing administrator, more closely resembles a memorandum of understanding (MOU) than a contract. RFID Consortium members are to be determined in the consortium’s early stages. A more detailed contract may be forthcoming when the consortium membership solidifies and when there is more definition regarding licensing details.

There are no patents in the pool at this point. Horn anticipates that the call for patents will come from MPEG LA in the first quarter of 2006.

The RFID Consortium will identify an independent expert to qualify patents as part of the patent pool. Horn says, “The expert is like an umpire in a baseball game calling strikes and balls for each pitch.” As patent holders submit patent claims through MPEG LA, the expert will make a call on each patent. The expert evaluates the patent to determine whether the patent is required to implement a given technology standard.

The RFID Consortium may send the DOJ a letter seeking an opinion on the consortium’s structure. Horn claims that the MPEG LA licensing model is widely accepted by the DOJ with respect to anti-trust issues and that there may not be a need to seek a DOJ letter of opinion for the RFID Consortium. That decision will be left to RFID Consortium members.

The following agreements are not completed, but are anticipated as the RFID Consortium progresses:
1. Agreement to pool patents using reasonable and non-discriminatory pricing (RAND). This is an agreement between the patent pool participants – the licensing administrator is typically not a party to this agreement. The agreement would detail license fees and royalty split algorithms.
2. Agreement in which RFID Consortium grants licensing rights to the licensing administrator (MPEG LA).
3. Licensing administrator agreement in which MPEG LA and consortium agree to the terms for services provided by licensing administrator and details of payments for those services.
4. License for the RFID Consortium’s pooled patents detailing the rights purchased by the licensee.

“My experience is that patent pools start with a base of patents that grow and gain momentum over time.” Horn said.

Technology standards, patent pools and efficient licensing structures are all part of the landscape as RFID technology matures and gains market acceptance. Eight companies have answered the call to “ante-up” and join the patent pool, optimistic that the RFID industry will benefit from a more efficient licensing model.

Copyright © 2005 RFID Tribe. All rights reserved. www.rfidtribe.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:13 AM | Comments (0)

December 20, 2005

Worlds First Full Speed USB Keystroke Recording Device or Keylogger, Looks Like USB Extension Cable.

Keystroke recording device that looks like USB extension cable. Records USB keystrokes in 512KB of non-volatile flash memory. Measures 60x18x18mm. Worlds first device to work with all USB keyboards on both PC and Mac.

Christchurch, Canterbury (PRWEB) December 20, 2005 -- DesignREM today announced the release of the worlds first device that records USB full speed keystrokes.

The keylogger device has 512KB of non-volatile flash memory, and looks like a USB extension cable.

Measuring just 60x18x18mm, the USB keylogger has two internal CPU's totalling 90MIPS of processing power. 90MIPS of processing power is more processing power than an iPod Nano contains.

Records keystrokes from all USB keyboards on both PC and Mac. Works on any operating system including Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

"Journalists and writers have shown a particularly strong interest - the ability to record the last 3 years of typing in secure flash memory is proving to be an invaluable backup tool." says Shane Tolmie, managing director of DesignREM.

"I can't tell you how many articles I have lost over the years when Windows flakes out," says Shane McGlaun, Computer Peripherals editor of www.about.com.

The founding director of DesignREM was also responsible for the invention of the worlds first PS/2 keylogger in 1999. This PS/2 keylogger device was later annexed in 2003 and sold separately by the current competitor, KeyGhost.

The KeyPhantom USB is entirely firmware upgradable via a Windows utility, allowing future expansion for recording generic USB traffic from devices such as bar code, thumb print, or magnetic stripe readers.

See www.keyphantom.com.

Animated product demo at www.keyphantom.com/demo (25 seconds long).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:58 AM | Comments (0)

Speedline Announces Free Monthly Webinars to Tackle SMT Manufacturing Challenges

Speedline Technologies experts will tackle the SMT industry’s most pressing manufacturing challenges in a new series of free, monthly webinars. More info: Speedline Technologies experts will tackle the SMT industry’s most pressing manufacturing challenges in a new series of free, monthly webinars (www.speedlinetech.com/seminars).

FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS (PRWEB) December 20, 2005 -- Speedline Technologies experts will tackle the SMT industry’s most pressing manufacturing challenges in a new series of free, monthly webinars.

Designed for OEM and CEM process engineers, each of the monthly one-hour Internet-based seminars will focus on challenges specific to a major surface mount technology manufacturing process – ranging from lead free printing to high speed underfill to practical DOE and SPC for electronics assembly to 0201 and 01005 component assembly – and more.

Experts from Speedline Technologies, the SMT industry’s single-source of process knowledge, solutions, and service, will host the online workshops. The webinars will include an educational presentation, discussion of new technologies and techniques, practical how-to advice, and a Q&A opportunity.

The 2006 schedule is:
• Thursday, January 19 - Lead Free Printing Process
• Thursday, February 16 - 0201 and 01005 Component Assembly Process
• Thursday, March 16 - Lead Free Reflow Soldering
• Thursday, April 13 - Adhesive Printing
• Thursday, May 18 - Pin in Paste (Intrusive Reflow)
• Thursday, June 15 - Lead Free Wave Soldering
• Thursday, July 13 - Challenges of High Speed Underfill
• Thursday, August 17 - Lead Free Printing Process
• Thursday, September 14 - Practical DOE and SPC for Electronics Assembly
• Thursday, October 19 - Cleaning Lead Free Residues
• Thursday, November 16 - MicroDot Dispensing
• Thursday, December 14 - 0201 and 01005 Component Assembly Process

All Web casts are free and will begin at 11 AM, U.S. Eastern time. For more information, or to register, go to www.speedlinetech.com/seminars or call 1-508-541-4749.

About Speedline Technologies
Speedline Technologies is the global leader in process knowledge and expertise for the PCB assembly and semiconductor industries. Based in Franklin, Massachusetts, U.S.A., the company markets five best-in-class brands — Accel microelectronics cleaning equipment; Camalot dispensing systems; Electrovert wave soldering, reflow soldering, and cleaning equipment; MPM stencil and screen printing systems; and Protect global services, support, and training solutions.

Speedline Technologies is Frost & Sullivan’s “2005 Surface Mount Technology Company of the Year.” For more information, visit: http://www.speedlinetech.com or contact Speedline at:
• USA: Speedline Technologies, 16 Forge Park, Franklin, MA 02038 USA, Tel: 1-508-520-0083, Fax: 1-508-520-2288
• Europe: Speedline Technologies GmbH, Im Gefierth 14, 63303 Dreieich, Germany, Tel: +49 (0)6103/832-0, Fax: +49(0)6103/832-299
• Asia: Speedline Technologies Asia Pte Ltd, 150 Kampong Ampat, #05-08 KA Centre, Singapore 368324, Tel: 65-6286-6635, Fax: 65-6289-9411.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:57 AM | Comments (0)

LoadPod Offers Holiday Shoppers Same-Day Delivery on Gift Certificates

LoadPod gift certificates can be ordered as late as Saturday, December 24th and receive them in time for the holidays thanks to LoadPod's same-day delivery service.

(PRWEB) December 20, 2005 -- Last-minute holiday shoppers can order a LoadPod Gift Certificate for their favorite iPod user as late as December 24th, and a printable copy of the Gift Certificate will be emailed to the customer the same day. This same-day delivery allows shoppers to place their order at the last minute and still receive the Gift Certificate in time to use it as a holiday gift. LoadPod Gift Certificates are available in increments starting at $100 and can be used for any combination of iPod loading, iPod training, and any other service LoadPod offers.

For more information on LoadPod Gift Certificates, visit http://www.loadpod.com/gift.html

About LoadPod

LoadPod was founded in early 2004 as the first company to load a customer's CD collection into their iPod for them. The in-person service quickly caught on and grew to be nationwide by mid-2004, with the team of local service providers numbering in the hundreds and providing blanket service to every area code in the United States. Today, LoadPod has loaded millions of songs into thousands of iPods, and is the nation's leader in iPod loading services. LoadPod is proud to have single-handedly invented the iPod loading industry. The service works by picking up the customer's iPod and CD collection at their home or office anywhere in the United States, and returning it all to them five days later with the music fully loaded. At that time the music is also loaded into iTunes on the customer's computer so that the iPod's auto-sync is kept intact, allowing customers to continue to easily add new music to the iPod themselves in the future.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:56 AM | Comments (0)

Belden's Expanded Line of New Generation® Safe-T-Line™ Cables Ensures Continued Operation of Emergency Warning and EVAC Systems

Belden CDT Electronics Division, a world leader in the development of specialty cable products for the industrial, commercial, broadcast and residential markets, has expanded its line of New Generation® Safe-T-Line™ cables, which now includes circuit integrity (CI), CI-PLTC, and circuit integrity in conduit (CIC) cables.

Richmond, IN (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 19, 2005 -- Belden CDT Electronics Division, a world leader in the development of specialty cable products for the industrial, commercial, broadcast and residential markets, has expanded its line of New Generation® Safe-T-Line™ cables, which now includes circuit integrity (CI), CI-PLTC, and circuit integrity in conduit (CIC) cables. In the event of fire or emergency in high-rise buildings, Safe-T-Line CI and CIC cables are used to connect the Fire Command Center to various zones throughout the building. The cables are designed to help ensure continued operation of a building's emergency warning systems for sufficient time to allow occupants to evacuate in a timely, safe and orderly fashion.

The NFPA 101® Life Safety Code®, and many local building codes, mandate ongoing operation of Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications (EVAC) systems for two hours in structures where immediate evacuation is difficult or impossible, such as high-rise office buildings. Cables designated by the NEC as Circuit Integrity are riser-rated, which means they can be installed vertically and still withstand direct contact with flame. Cables designated as CIC may be installed in the area above a ceiling, but they must be contained within conduit. All of Belden's New Generation Safe-T-Line cables are designed, engineered and constructed to meet applicable electrical requirements for CI, CIC and CI-PLTC as established by NEC, NFPA and UL standards and codes.

Safe-T-Line CI cables have been tested to and passed the 2-hour UL 2196 Flame Test without the use of conduit. They cannot, however, be deployed in conduit and still maintain their 2-hour rating and thus are riser-rated only. Safe-T-Line CIC cables have been tested to and passed the UL 2196 Flame Test while installed in EMT conduit according to the Electrical Circuit Protective System (FHIT) #30 of the UL Fire Resistance Directory. Therefore, CIC cables are designated for use in plenum installations, but cannot be deployed outside of conduit. Belden also offers Safe-T-Line Circuit Integrity Power Limited Tray Cables (CI-PLTC) and higher pair/triad counts on a special order basis.

To ensure their respective 2-hour Flame Test compliance ratings, Belden Safe-T-Line cables feature thermoset elastomer insulation and flame-retardant, low smoke, zero halogen (LSZH) polyolefin jackets. The cables are available in solid, stranded shielded or unshielded construction in various AWG sizes to meet a wide range of application requirements.

And, because electrical codes dictate that CI and CIC cables must not be spliced between the Fire Command Center and the zone served, Belden offers its Safe-T-Line cables in 1,000-ft lengths, with longer lengths available upon request.

For more information about Belden's New Generation Safe-T-Line Cables, contact Belden CDT Electronics Division, P.O. Box 1980, Richmond, Indiana 47375, or call 1-800-BELDEN-4 to request New Product Bulletin NP205. FAX: 765-983-5294. Or visit the Web site: www.belden.com.

About Belden CDT Electronics Division
Belden CDT Electronics Division, a unit of Belden CDT Inc., is a leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of cable products for the entertainment, residential, industrial and security markets. It also provides highly engineered products for both the aerospace and automotive markets. Belden CDT Electronics Division is headquartered in Richmond, Indiana, it has manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe and distribution centers in the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Australia and the Netherlands. A majority of Belden's manufacturing, engineering and support functions are registered to the International Organization for Standardization.

Belden CDT Inc., formed in July 2004 through the merger of Belden Inc. and Cable Design Technologies Corp., is one of the largest U.S.-based manufacturers of high-speed electronic cables and focuses on products for the specialty electronics and data networking markets, including connectivity.

Media Contact:
Belden CDT Electronics Division
Frank Stone
1-800-BELDEN-4

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:54 AM | Comments (0)

December 19, 2005

Not Your Average Wireless Thingy: LTB Audio Systems Announces New 2.4GHz Digital True 5.1 Headphones Named Cinema 1 and Stereo Wireless Headphones Named 'Concert'

LTB Audio Systems, the leading manufacturer of true digital 5.1 headphone technology announces it will begin showing it’s new line of True Digital 2.4GHz wireless headphones including the revolutionary True 5.1 Version at this years International CES 2006 in Las Vegas. These wireless 2.4GHz true digital non-compressed audio headphone systems are already starting to become available in stereo at many retailers. The True 5.1 Model will reach stores in mid January.

Teterboro, NJ (PRWEB) December 19, 2005 -- LTB Audio Systems will be showing it’s new line of True Digital Wireless 2.4GHz headphone systems at CES 2006. The greatly anticipated True 5.1 model called Cinema 1 is designed to revolutionize home theater and consol gaming. The true 5.1 technology used in LTB wired headphones will now take a leap into a high fidelity digital wireless product that utilizes ac3 input from digital audio sources and creates a true 6 channel, distortion free listening experience with the convenience of personal headphones.

Utilizing Lithium Polyma high capacity batteries has enabled the Cinema 1 to be a long playing, quick charging companion to you personal media experience. “Once you put these on, it’s hard to image how you watched a movie without them” says product manager Tony Tong. LTB has already begun taking back orders for the cinema 1 model and has been shipping a similar digital stereo model call Concert since December 1st. The technology behind LTB’s wireless headphones is a mix of FSK modulation used in digital network technology and multi-band selections of channels. The True 5.1 Model is equipped with patented Independent Sound Chambers and SafeBass technology, used to protect ones ears against overwhelming Bass levels. LTB has combined several digital technologies in their new wireless line designed to create a definitive signal clarity that is unrivaled by other wireless headphone products on the market today.

LTB Audio Systems focuses attention exclusively on Digital Headphone solutions for Home Theater, Gaming and Audiophiles. The announcement of the new Concert wireless headphones will be followed within the coming weeks by the announcement of the world's first True 5.1 Six channel Wireless Digital Headphone system called Cinema 1 due out in December.
Customer's looking to find the LTB 5.1 Headphones can checkout Staples.com, QVC.com, Smarthome.com or Techdepot.com or Skymall.com. Also LTB has a company store at shopltb.com for Headphones and accessories. Also check the “where to buy” section on LTBaudio.com.

About LTB Audio Systems
LTB, which stands for Listen To Believe, represents a product line focused on providing leading edge audio and multimedia headphones designed to meet the optimal demands of the latest Digital Media in Games, and Movies as well as music and Hi Def Audio. LTB controls various key technology patents that have made them an upcoming leading manufacturer of True surround sound technology products. For more information visit LTB at www.ltbaudio.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:59 AM | Comments (0)

'Forecasts for Broadband Communications:' A New Analyst Paper by Technology Futures, Inc. (TFI)

Broadband will continue to be adopted at a rapid rate and higher broadband speeds will also increase dramatically. This 12-page analyst paper by Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D. (President, TFI) provides analyses and forecasts for each.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) December 19, 2005 -- Broadband will continue to be adopted at a rapid rate, and ultimately, reach levels of penetration comparable to other popular consumer electronics. Higher broadband speeds will also increase dramatically. By 2010, over 10% of U.S. households will likely subscribe to at least 24 Mb/s service, and by 2015 penetration should exceed 50%. Internet protocol video (IP video), especially high-definition (HD) IP video, is a key driver for higher data rates. This 12-page analyst paper by Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D. (President, TFI) provides analyses and forecasts for each.

According to Dr. Vanston, "Both Moore's Law and the move to IP video are driving an increase in data rates for broadband, and with entertainment, voice, and information all being delivered efficiently over Internet connections, near ubiquity is almost inevitable. The ability to provision very high data rates, reliably, economically, and universally, will be the key to carrier competitiveness in the future."

The paper is priced at $199. More information is available at http://www.tfi.com/pubs/p/p2005-fhbbs.html.

The material in this paper is adapted from TFI's report "Forecasts for Higher Bandwidth Broadband Services." The research was sponsored by the Telecommunications Technology Forecasting
Group (TTFG), a consortium of telephone companies comprised of Bell Canada, BellSouth Telecommunications, Qwest, SBC, Sprint, and Verizon.

Two graphs from the paper are available on TFI's website:

Broadband Households by Nominal Data Rate,
http://www.tfi.com/pressroom/pr/2004_broadband-fig1.html.

Provisional Forecast of U.S. Households Using High-Definition IP Video, http://www.tfi.com/pressroom/pr/2004_broadband-fig2.html.

A table of contents and a list of exhibits follow this press release.

This paper would be of interest to the following organizations:

--Telcos
--Cable Companies
--Wireless Broadband Providers
--Equipment Manufacturers
--Content Providers
--Municipal Broadband Providers
--Utility Broadband Providers
--Internet Service Providers

This paper would be of interest to those involved in:

--Strategic Planning
--Network Planning
--Technology Planning
--Finance
--Market Development
--Regulatory / Tax / Legal
--Depreciation and Assessment

We would be pleased to have this analyst report reviewed by your publication and/or be cited for articles examining the subject matter. Dr. Vanston would also be glad to be interviewed and
quoted for articles relating to the subject matter.

Author Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D., is an internationally-recognized authority in the use of technology forecasting in the telecom industry. His research reports and forecasts are used and referenced extensively worldwide. Dr. Vanston's views on telecom trends have also been cited in many major publications including "Telephony," "America's Network," and "Lightwave." The September 21, 1998 issue of "The Wall Street Journal" featured an in-depth interview entitled "Consultant's Call: Lawrence Vanston Makes Some Pretty Bold Predictions for the Future of Telecommunications. He Has Been Right Before."
Notably, the predictions therein have likewise come true. His full bio is available at http://www.tfi.com/staff/bios/vanstonl.html.

For more than 25 years, TFI has helped organizations plan for the future by offering outstanding technology forecasting, strategic planning, trend analysis, and strategic market research services in high-technology and telecom technologies. Drawing on proven, quantifiable forecasting methods and strategic applications, we combine the vision of the futurist with the down-to-earth judgment of the technologist. Let us be "Your Bridge to the Future."

We are always happy to comment on the subjects of technology and telecom trends. For a list of citations by our staff members, please see "TFI News" at http://www.tfi.com/pressroom/tfinews.html.
For our "Press Room," please see http://www.tfi.com/pressroom/index.html.

Press contact: Please contact Ms. Carrie Vanston at (800) TEK-FUTR, (512) 258-8898, or by e-mail with questions about the paper, and/or to arrange an interview with Dr. Vanston, or other technology and telecom experts at TFI.

Thank you for your attention.

December 2005

Technology Futures, Inc.
13740 Research Boulevard, Building C
Austin, TX 78750
(800) 835-3887 or (512) 258-8898
Fax: (512) 258-0087
www.tfi.com

"Forecasts for Broadband Communications"

Table of Contents:

Status and Forecast for Broadband Access
Drivers for Higher Bandwidth
Forecast of Households with Very-High-Speed Broadband Access
Forecasts for Broadband Video
Summary

List of Exhibits:

1. Forecast Broadband Households, Percentage of Households
2. Adoption of Various Consumer Communications Products and Services
3. Broadband Households in the United States and South Korea
4. Forecast of HDTV Households
5. Broadband Households by Nominal Data Rate, Percentage of Households
6. Trend in Residential Access Data Rates
7. Forecast Adoption of Standard and Very-High-Speed Broadband, Percentage of Households
8. TF Forecast of U.S. Households using IP Video
9. Provisional Forecast of U.S. Households Using High-Definition IP Video
10. Comparison of High Definition IP Video and 24 Mb/s Broadband Bandwidth Forecasts

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:57 AM | Comments (0)

Pacific Media Finds Larger Flat Panel TVs Boost Average Prices in October; Panasonic Holds Onto #1 Position, but Pioneer Closes the Gap

Pacific Media Associates (PMA), the global market information experts on large-screen displays, reports that unit sales for flat panel televisions and business displays in North America rose 15% in October, but that revenues increased by a greater margin of 18%. Average street price rose by 3% to $2,840 for the period.

Menlo Park, Calif. (PRWEB) December 16, 2005 -- Pacific Media Associates (PMA), the global market information experts on large-screen displays, reports that unit sales for flat panel televisions and business displays in North America rose 15% in October, but that revenues increased by a greater margin of 18%. Average street price rose by 3% to $2,840 for the period, as described in the company’s Flat Panel Display Tracking Service which provides true sell-through data on unit sales, prices, and inventories, based on a sample of retailers and resellers.

“In spite of falling prices for individual models, the average selling price for flat panel TVs actually went up in October. The rise in the overall street price was caused by a shift in the product mix in October, as sales increased for larger and more expensive models. Except for the Panasonic line, prices declined for nearly every top-selling model in October,” according to Pacific Media Vice President Rosemary Abowd. “The 50-to-55-inch category gained three unit share points; nearly one in five panels sold this month were 50-inch plasma models.
“Higher resolution products gained market share in October. Wide XGA models gained 4 points of unit market share, while EDTV models lost 5 share points and now represent only 10% of the total market, down from 30% in the first half of 2005.”

Panasonic remains #1 both in unit sales and revenues. But Pioneer gained 8 unit share points and 10 revenue share points, capturing 17% unit market share — nearly double September's unit share — on strong sales for the new PRO-1130HD.

Sony's new 40" Bravia LCD TV (KDL-V40XBR1) was the top-selling model for the month, helping Sony hold onto the #2 spot in unit market share and #3 position in revenue share.

Note: Data cited here is based on a sample of retailers and resellers, and is subject to sampling error.

About Pacific Media Associates
PMA specializes in global display market information, covering all large-screen display categories: front projectors, plasma and LCD TVs, and rear-projection displays. Their Large-Screen Displays Industry Service family of publications provides detailed worldwide quarterly updates (sell-in data) on large-screen display markets, newsletters on new product announcements and other key industry developments, and annual Web surveys of North American resellers/retailers and end users (including both organizations and individual consumers). Their Large-Screen Displays Tracking Service family of monthly reports offers timely sell-through data on unit sales, street prices, and inventories of large-screen displays sold by leading North American retailers, resellers, and distributors. PMA was established by Dr. William Coggshall, who was previously a co-founder of Dataquest and helped start the syndicated market research business. PMA is headquartered at 1060 Siskiyou Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Tel. +1 650-561-9020. Fax +1 650-561-9019. www.pacificmediaassociates.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:57 AM | Comments (0)

iPod Garage Releases Free Nanobook for iPod nano

The iPod Garage has released the Holiday 2005 Nanobook, the free downloadable guide to all aspects of the iPod nano. From exclusive commentary and tutorials by iPod Garage staff members, to more than one hundred hands-on reviews of iPod nano accessories, the Nanobookspans 159 pages and includes everything we know about the iPod nano.

(PRWEB) December 19, 2005 -- The iPod Garage has released the Holiday 2005 Nanobook, the free downloadable guide to all aspects of the iPod nano. From exclusive commentary and tutorials by iPod Garage staff members, to more than one hundred hands-on reviews of iPod nano accessories, the Nanobook spans 159 pages and includes everything we know about the iPod nano.

Sponsored by Macally, HandStands, and LoadPod, the Nanobook is the first-ever official iPod Garage book and features exclusive content from ten iPod Garage staff members. The Nanobook also features the winners of the first-ever iPod Garage photo contest, sponsored by Proporta. The Nanobook is a must-have for current and future iPod nano users everywhere. And best of all, it's free.

Download the free Nanobook now and use it to plan your holiday season and to learn more about one of the greatest iPod models ever released.

Download now: http://www.ipodgarage.com/NANOBOOK.pdf

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:56 AM | Comments (0)

Contract Manufacturer Barric Partners with XJTAG for Boundary Scan Solution

XJTAG system has enabled Barric to increase test coverage and speed up fault diagnosis on complex printed circuits - and significantly increase PCB yields. XJTAG selected ahead of competition due to its price, speed of development, reusability of scripts and excellent customer service.

CAMBRIDGE, England (PRWEB) December 18, 2005 -- Barric Limited (www.barric.co.uk), a UK based contract electronics manufacturer, has selected XJTAG as its boundary scan test solution partner. The XJTAG system has been implemented at Barric’s 12,000 square foot production facility at Diss in Norfolk, England.

The powerful and easy-to-use XJTAG boundary scan Development System meets the growing market need for a cost-effective solution for testing tightly-packed printed circuit boards populated with JTAG devices such as ball grid array (BGA) and chip scale devices, which cannot be tested by traditional methods.

According to Barric, since introducing XJTAG the company has seen production yields increase significantly. “The XJTAG system is an excellent and highly versatile product which has transformed the way we test complex printed circuit boards populated with BGA devices,” said Simon Bayley, technical director at Barric.

“XJTAG is easy to use, requires no training, enables rapid fault diagnosis and consistently gives us 80% test coverage across digital circuits,” added Simon Bayley. “We can now test our boards in a matter of minutes rather than hours and we have reduced the number of more complex board faults. This is good news for customers and for our overall efficiency as these boards typically contain large and expensive chips such as FPGAs, which we do not want to hold in our inventory any longer than necessary.”

Barric provides a range of electronics manufacturing services from prototyping and new product introductions through to printed circuit assembly, system build and repair. The company offers low volume, high mix, high-technology manufacturing and specialises in prototyping as well as short run and batch production of printed circuits.

“We opted for the XJTAG system ahead of competitive products due to its price, speed of development and because the technical support was excellent,” added Simon Bayley. “In addition, because the test scripts are device rather than board-centric in XJTAG, we are able to reuse them on different projects - this is a major benefit for a company that manufactures numerous different board designs for multiple customers each month.”

Barric works for variety of original equipment manufacturers across communications, medical, industrial and consumer markets. Having a sophisticated boundary scan solution is becoming a prerequisite and many customers are already using XJTAG during the board design and development stage.

“We manufacture a dozen or so different development boards for one Cambridge-based company and work closely with their designers to ensure that XJTAG is optimised to best effect,” said Sarah Green, test engineer at Barric. “Using XJTAG, the designer or developer can automatically select or ‘pack’ all the relevant data for a particular board – BSDL files, netlists, XJEase files, pin mapping files etc. – and forward this to our production team. This streamlines the whole development process and ensures that the yields are kept high and that any recurring issues are looped back to the design stage for rectifying.”

The powerful and easy-to-use XJTAG Development System is designed to cut the cost and shorten the development cycle of electronic products and provides a unique solution that can test JTAG as well as non-JTAG devices. XJTAG can test a high proportion of a circuit including ball grid array (BGA) and chip scale devices, SDRAMs, Ethernet controllers, video interfaces, Flash memories, FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), microprocessors and many other devices. XJTAG also enables In-System Programming of FPGAs, CPLDs (Complex Programmable Logic Devices) and Flash memories.

The XJTAG Development System can migrate through the product life cycle from early design to field support and repair. XJTAG enables circuit designers to shorten the development cycle and prototyping process by facilitating early test development, early design validation of CAD netlists, fast generation of complex functional tests and test re-use across circuits that use the same devices. XJTAG test scripts are also re-usable and portable across different boards, due to the novel device-centric approach that the designers have adopted.

Simon Payne, chief executive at XJTAG, said: “XJTAG is becoming a popular choice for contract manufacturers who are under pressure to improve yields and because of the prevalence of BGA devices on modern printed circuits need to complement their in-circuit, functional or flying probe test equipment with a cost-effective boundary scan solution.”

Photos to accompany the story can be downloaded using the following links: Photo one shows (l-r) Patrick Kibble, commercial director at Barric shaking hands with Simon Payne, XJTAG's CEO with Simon Bayley, Barric's technical director between them.

http://www.xjtag.com/images/press/16-12-05c.jpg

Photo two shows (l to r) Barric's Sarah Green, test engineer (using XJTAG) alongside Simon Bayley, technical director

http://www.xjtag.com/images/press/16-12-05b.jpg

For more information about the XJTAG Development System, please contact XJTAG, The Irwin Centre, Scotland Road, Dry Drayton, Cambridge CB3 8AR, UK. Telephone +44 (0) 1954 213888, facsimile +44 (0) 1954 211565. Alternatively visit www.xjtag.com.

About Barric (www.barric.co.uk)
Barric Limited, a UK based contract electronics manufacturer, provides a range of electronics manufacturing services from prototyping and new product introductions through to printed circuit assembly, system build and repair for original equipment manufacturers across communications, medical, industrial and consumer markets. The company offers low volume, high mix, high-technology manufacturing and specialises in prototyping as well as short run and batch production of printed circuits. Barric operates a 12,000 square foot production facility at Diss in Norfolk, England.

About XJTAG (www.xjtag.com)
XJTAG is a specialist design and test tool developer. Its JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) development system offers a competitive solution for designers and developers of electronic circuits. Utilising XJTAG allows the circuit development and prototyping process to be shortened significantly by facilitating early test development, early design validation, fast development of functional tests and test re-use across circuits that utilise the same devices. The company is based in the UK at The Irwin Centre, Dry Drayton, Cambridge. XJTAG is part of the Cambridge Technology Group (www.cambridgetechgroup.com).

What is JTAG?
Advances in silicon design, such as increasing device density and, more recently, ball grid array (BGA) and chip scale packaging, have reduced the efficacy of traditional electronic circuit testing methods. In order to overcome these problems and others; some of the world’s leading silicon manufacturers combined to form the Joint Test Action Group (JTAG). The findings of this group were used as the basis for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standard 1149.1: Standard Test Access Port and Boundary Scan Architecture and subsequently the standard became known as JTAG.

Media contact (for XJTAG):
Martin Brooke
Martin Brooke Associates
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 244500

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:55 AM | Comments (0)

Vishay Siliconix Announces New PolarPAK Double-Sided Cooling MOSFETs

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. today announced that it is shipping the first two power MOSFETs to be offered in its innovative PolarPAK package, which uses double-sided cooling to reduce thermal resistance, package resistance, and package inductance for a more efficient, faster-switching power MOSFET.

(PRWEB) December 17, 2005 -- Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. today announced that it is shipping the first two power MOSFETs to be offered in its innovative PolarPAK package, which uses double-sided cooling to reduce thermal resistance, package resistance, and package inductance for a more efficient, faster-switching power MOSFET.

PolarPAK was specifically designed for easy handling and mounting onto the PCB with high-speed assembly equipment, thus enabling high assembly yields in mass-volume production. This is one reason why PolarPAK has already earned the distinction of being the first MOSFET package with double-sided cooling to be sourced by multiple manufacturers, beginning with a license agreement concluded between Vishay and STMicroelectronics in March 2005.

The first PolarPAK power MOSFETs are the 30-V n-channel SiE802DF and SiE800DF. Optimized for the low-side control switch in synchronous rectification dc-to-dc converters, the SiE802DF offers exceptionally low on-resistance of 1.9 milliohms maximum at a 10-V gate drive (2.6 milliohms maximum at 4.5 V) and can handle current levels up to 60 A. The SiE800DF, optimized to work as the low-duty-cycle high-side MOSFET in synchronous dc-to-dc converter designs, features a very low typical gate charge Qg of 12 nC, with on-resistance of 7.2 milliohms maximum at 10 V and 11.5 milliohms at 4.5 V.

The new PolarPAK power MOSFETs, which have the same footprint dimensions of the standard SO-8, dissipate 1 degree Celsius per Watt from their top surface and 1 degree Celsius per Watt from their bottom surface. This provides a dual heat dissipation path that gives the devices twice the current density of the standard SO-8. With its improved junction-to-ambient thermal impedance, a PolarPAK power MOSFET can either handle more power or operate with a lower junction temperature. A lower junction temperature means a lower rDS(on), which in turn means higher efficiency. A reduction in junction temperature of just 20 degrees Celsius can also result in a 2-1/2 times increase in lifetime reliability.

Typical applications for the new PolarPAK devices include voltage regulator modules in notebook and desktop PCs, and other systems requiring high-efficiency dc-to-dc conversion. By delivering superior thermal performance and reducing package-related losses, the 5-mm by 6-mm PolarPAK package allows designers to create smaller, more compact circuit designs with a lower component count. With a height dimension of just 0.8 mm, half the height of the SO-8, the PolarPAK package enables end products that are thinner as well.

Samples and production quantities of the SiE800DF and SiE802DF are available now, with lead times of 10 to 12 weeks for larger orders. Pricing in 10,000-piece quantities starts at $1.00 per piece for the SiE802DF and $0.80 per piece for the SiE800DF.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics) and selected ICs, and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transducers). Vishay's components can be found in products manufactured in a very broad range of industries worldwide. Vishay is headquartered in Malvern, Pa., and has operations in 17 countries employing over 25,000 people. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.

PolarPAK is a registered trademark of Siliconix incorporated

Editor resources:

Links to product datasheets:
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73199 (SiE800DF)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?72985 (SiE802DF)

Link to product photo:
http://www.wallstcom.com/vishay/sie800df.zip

Editorial contact:
Bob Decker, Wall Street Communications (+1 415 409-0233)

Reader contact:
Web: www.vishay.com
Phone (samples): 1 619 336-0860

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:53 AM | Comments (0)

Sullins Electronics And Bisco Industries Ink Distribution Agreement

Sullins Electronics, a world leader in the design and manufacture of connectors and interconnect systems, announced the signing of a distribution agreement with Bisco Industries, Inc., an international distributor of specialty fasteners and electronic components.

(PRWEB) December 17, 2005 -- Announced today by Sullins Electronics, a world leader in the design and manufacture of connectors and interconnect systems, is the signing of a distribution agreement with Bisco Industries, Inc., an international distributor of specialty fasteners and electronic components. The agreement, effective immediately, allows Bisco to promote, supply and support both the Sullins and Micro Plastics lines of connectors and interconnect systems throughout North America. Among the products covered in the contract are conventional, lead-free and RoHS-compliant edge cards, headers, bi-level, and CompactPCI(TM) connectors, along with parts engineered for high-temperature applications.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bisco is responsible for the distribution and marketing of the product lines from their over 32 sales and service offices throughout the United States and Canada. The company will focus on offering local customer service and engineering support to design engineers and purchasing professionals in the aerospace, medical instrumentation, test and measurement, telecommunications, audio, video and broadcast industries. Moreover, they are charged with reaching out to new customers and market sectors to increase Sullins’ overall sales penetration.

According to Soussan Sullins, president of Sullins, “Naming Bisco to our roster of North American distributors is a critical step in Sullins’ strategic plan to broaden both international and domestic distribution channels. Bisco’s impressive record of achievement in uncovering opportunities for connector sales in markets we’ve targeted for superior growth potential made them a logical choice. Sullins is proud to be partnering with Bisco as they not only understand our markets, but respect customers’ requirements for responsive service, and technical assistance.”

“We’re extremely pleased to add Sullins’ quality products to our line card of best-in-class suppliers,” stated Don Wagner, executive vice president, of Bisco. “Their products are a natural complement to Bisco’s existing portfolio, and round out our connector and interconnect offering. This agreement strengthens our ability to offer one-stop shopping for quality connector and interconnect solutions, and gives customers increased access to premier products at highly competitive price points.”

About Sullins Electronics, Corp.
Headquartered in San Marcos, CA, Sullins Electronics, Corp. (www.SullinsElectronics.com) has been a world leader in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of high-quality edge cards and headers since 1971. The Company provides the industry’s widest selection of UL/CUL approved edge cards, and additionally offers product development services together with engineering support. Sullins’ edge cards, headers, bi level and CompactPCI(TM) connectors are widely specified for use in mission-critical applications by a broad spectrum of leading industrial, commercial, military and consumer products manufacturers. Sullins’ connectors and interconnect systems are offered through a global network of sales representatives and distributors.

About Bisco Industries, Inc.
Bisco Industries (www.biscoind.com), a leading distributor of specialty fasteners and electronic components, was established in 1973 in Chicago, IL, and is incorporated in that state. The Company employs highly skilled professionals at over 32 locations throughout the United States and Canada to offer local service and support, one-stop shopping and fast delivery. Specialists in the electronics, aerospace, and fabrication industries, Bisco’s reputation is built on providing customers with efficient, knowledgeable service, and highly competitive pricing on quality products.

Sullins Electronics, Corp.
801 E. Mission Road
San Marcos, CA 92069
888/774-3100; Fax: 760/744-6081
www.SullinsElectronics.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:52 AM | Comments (0)

December 16, 2005

Hybrid Fibre Optic Camera Cables to SMPTE 311M

Using the very latest in polishing and testing technologies, Bryant Broadcast and Data Communications now manufactures and stocks a complete line of hybrid optical fibre camera cables to the SMPTE 311M specification incorporating LEMO and other manufacturer’s SMPTE 304M connectors.

London, UK (PRWEB) December 16, 2005 -- No other medium can cost-effectively challenge fibre optics for bandwidth, unrepeated transmission distance and noise immunity in SD or HDTV camera systems; and as for bulk, an SMPTE fibre cable can be half the weight of a comparable (and much stiffer) triax camera cable. Given the nature of the uncertain environments which camera cable “hire stock” is put to, it’s small wonder that demand has been increasing for a professional and reliable source of optical camera cable repairs.

Now, as a result of recent extensive investment in optical fibre production kit and exhaustive training, coupled with a 20 year track record manufacturing and repairing triax and CCZA type camera cables for such clients as Sony and the BBC ~ Bryant technicians are equipped to terminate and repair optical cables using all the major connector types including LEMO, Fischer and Stratos ~ in house, far faster than the original equipment manufacturer.

Bryant also manufactures lightweight ‘tactical’ fibre optic cable assemblies as deployed and retrieved in both military and broadcast environments. These units are resistant to crushing by tanks or Outside Broadcast vehicles (some OB companies ask ~ what’s the difference?) contact with most chemicals, continued deployment over rough terrain and multiple powered and/or manual reeling. These can be supplied on preterminated and tested standard reel lengths 100m, 250m, 500m, etc. terminated with “expanded beam” hermaphroditic connectors that can be “daisy chained” together to achieve any transmission length.
These tight-buffered tactical cables are reinforced with aramide protection/strength members and a polyurethane outer sheath. Both distribution and breakout cables are available with either single or multimode fibres.

Bryant also terminate ST, SC, LC, etc. and carry stocks to build cables that can “interface” between camera or central control unit mounted SMPTE connectors like LEMO and Fischer and the ‘throw down’ and forget Stratos, FibreCo and Amphenol tactical expanded beam types.

Bryant metal working department can manufacture a range of fibre optic patching and interface products including break-out boxes, patching trays, patch panels, splice boxes, etc. for use with their floor standing and wall mounting 19 inch racks and enclosures.
Everything for broadcasting audio or professional video via fibre available from a single UK source ~ the demand is satisfied.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:24 PM | Comments (0)

Technology Conservation Group Expands in Singapore

Electronic recycler announces expansion into Asia, one of now 9 facilties worldwide.

(PRWEB) December 16, 2005 -- Technology Conservation Group, an electronic recycler centered in Crystal River, Florida, is proud to announce expansion of their worldwide operations to include an 80,000 square foot facility in Singapore, TCG's Asia headquarters. The Technology Conservation Group (TCG) headquarters in the US is certified to ISO 14001:1996 standards, adheres to all levels of environmental regulations, and respects design security without sacrificing returns. In addition to ISO 14001 certification, TCG headquarters in Crystal River, Florida, USA is also working toward ISO 9001 and 18001 certification by December 2005. TCG facilities in Puerto Rico, Guadalajara, Mexico, Monterrey, Mexico, United Kingdom, and Singapore are in the process becoming ISO 14001 certified by January 2006. All Technology Conservation Group (TCG) facilities worldwide adhere to the same ISO standards so no matter which facility handles material, it will be processed using the same high standards. This recent expansion will improve on TCG’s current and future business partners’ (contract manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, government municipalities, medical facilities, or any other type of business with electronic waste) ease of doing business worldwide. For additional information, please visit our website at http://www.tcgrecycling.com or contact Don Andes, V.P. Business Development at 1-877-926-8824 extension 300.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:23 PM | Comments (0)

Electronic Nose Sniffs Out False Alarms

An electronic nose is so sensitive that it can distinguish between cigarette smoke and smoke from an office or factory fire. Developed by a European research consortium the device will help to end the vast number of false alarms recorded by fire brigades each year.

(PRWEB) December 16, 2005 -- An electronic nose is so sensitive that it can distinguish between cigarette smoke and smoke from an office or factory fire. Developed by a European research consortium the device will help to end the vast number of false alarms recorded by fire brigades each year.

The researchers developed a demonstrator of the new device and now hope to complete a viable commercial product by October 2006.

The Intelligent Modular, multi-Sensor (IMOS) and networked fire detection system was developed by a 9-member partnership from across Europe to tackle the critical problem of false alarms.

"Currently 90 per cent percent of regular fire alarms are false," says Florence Daniault, coordinator of the IST-funded IMOS project. "Fire brigades must investigate every alarm logged and it causes enormous inefficiencies."

The false alarm rate can rise to 99 per cent. "In cargo planes, for example, you may have humidity in the hold which condenses once the airplane takes off. That condensate registers as a particulate and sets off the alarm," says Daniault.

Furthermore people lose faith in the alarm system and may delay evacuation because they believe there is no fire, with potentially disastrous consequences.

"We started off with the idea of developing a system using several sensors that could eliminate most of the false alarms," says Daniault.

The team first investigated a variety of sensor types, including gas, optical and conducting polymer sensors. Optical sensors detect light scattering as an indication particulates, while gas sensors detect gases like CO, CO2 or NOx. But conducting polymer sensors can detect a wide variety of volatiles because of their novel properties.

Conducting polymers are an exciting emerging technology because the electrical resistance in the polymer varies in the presence of gas. Even more interesting, however, is that once the gas disappears the polymers resistance returns to its 'resting' state.

The IMOS team identified the specific chemicals associated with the smoke emitted from various sources, including wood, cotton, paper, polyurethane (plastics) foam and cigarettes. "Isolating cigarette smoke is a breakthrough," she says. They developed dedicated polymer sensors to build an array able to identify these specific chemicals.

Their complete fire alarms system now combines a traditional optical detector, which uses light scattering to detect particulates in the air. Once particulates are detected the optical sensors then recruits the conducting polymer sensor to 'smell' the type of smoke that's producing the particulate. If it senses any of a number of characteristic smoke types, it sets off the alarm.

"We tested a demonstration device in an office building and at a recycling centre. We used an employee smoking room for the office demonstration, and the recycling centre had a lot of dust and activity. Both were ideal locations to generate false alarms, but the IMOS worked perfectly," says Daniault.

Later the team again tested the device in a fire lab where it reacted appropriately to given fire situations.

"There is still some work to be done. We'd like to improve the response time on the conducting polymer sensors, for example. But we've started to design a product and hope to complete that in time for the Security 2006 exhibition in Essen next October," she says.

The security industry will certainly be very interested in a sensor that has a nose for fire.

Source: Based on information from IMOS
IMOS project website http://imos.fhnon.de

PLEASE MENTION IST RESULTS AS THE SOURCE OF THIS STORY AND, IF PUBLISHING ONLINE, PLEASE HYPERLINK TO: http://istresults.cordis.lu/
Contact: Tara Morris, +32-2-2861985, tmorris at gopa-cartermill.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:22 PM | Comments (0)

Pacific Media Undertakes Delphi Study of Pocket Projector Market: Worldwide effort seeks to accurately forecast this exciting segment

Pacific Media Associates (PMA), the global market information experts on large-screen displays, announces that they are sponsoring a Delphi Survey on the exciting new pocket projector segment, with the final results expected to be available in January 2006.

(PRWEB) December 16, 2005 -- Pacific Media Associates (PMA), the global market information experts on large-screen displays, announces that they are sponsoring a Delphi Survey on the exciting new pocket projector segment, with the final results expected to be available in January 2006.

During the last few quarters, the front projection business has been fascinated with the possibility of pocket projectors, which are tiny front projector devices capable of displaying data or video images. Several companies have demonstrated prototypes that weigh less than a pound and run on battery power; some manufacturers have even announced specific shipping dates before the end of 2005. We have already seen a few speculative forecasts for the possible size of the market. But everyone is wondering what application(s) there will be for these gadgets, and when the market might really take off.

It is difficult to come up with a reliable starting forecast, where there is no prior data to use as a basis for projections. One of the popular tools in such cases is a Delphi Survey, named after the Oracle of Delphi, which polls an audience of experts. These responses are then circulated back to the experts, who then refine their responses in light of the information they receive from the rest of the participants.

Dr. Peter Philippi directs PMA’s EMEA market information activities, and is also a Professor of International Business at the University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten in Germany. Dr. Philippi will provide guidance for the student team conducting the survey. Dr. Philippi says, “The Delphi Survey of Pocket Projectors will provide valuable insight into what applications are likely to be most successful for pocket projectors, and just how long it may take for that potential to be realized. Pacific Media is able to draw on its global list of clients in the front projector business to find the experts who will participate in this survey. As a result, the survey will include industry experts from the Americas, Asia, and Europe/Middle East/Africa markets for a truly worldwide perspective. We have already received many expressions of strong interest in this ground-breaking survey.”

About Pacific Media Associates
PMA specializes in global display market information, covering all large-screen display categories: front projectors, plasma and LCD TVs, and rear-projection displays. Their Large-Screen Displays Industry Service family of publications provides detailed worldwide quarterly updates (sell-in data) on large-screen display markets, newsletters on new product announcements and other key industry developments, and annual Web surveys of North American resellers/retailers and end users (including both organizations and individual consumers). Their Large-Screen Displays Tracking Service family of monthly reports offers timely sell-through data on unit sales, street prices, and inventories of large-screen displays sold by leading North American retailers, resellers, and distributors. PMA was established by Dr. William Coggshall, who was previously a co-founder of Dataquest and helped start the syndicated market research business. PMA is headquartered at 1060 Siskiyou Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Tel. +1 650-561-9020. Fax +1 650-561-9019. www.pacificmediaassociates.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:21 PM | Comments (0)

Ignios Demonstrates Efficient, Flexible Multicore Solution Using T-Engine Board Featuring Fujitsu SoC

Ignios Ltd., a provider of semiconductor IP for the multicore System-on-Chip (SoC) market, today unveiled a T-Engine based demonstration of the seamless integration of Ignios’ SystemWeaver™ multicore-enabling technology with the multicore MB87Q1100 Fujitsu SoC.

TRONSHOW2006 - Tokyo, Japan (PRWEB) December 16, 2005 -- Ignios Ltd., a provider of semiconductor IP for the multicore System-on-Chip (SoC) market, today unveiled a T-Engine based demonstration of the seamless integration of Ignios’ SystemWeaver™ multicore-enabling technology with the multicore MB87Q1100 Fujitsu SoC. The demonstration shows how the use of the SystemWeaver API allows application software to be written, via a T-Kernel adaptation layer, and compiled in a manner that is independent of the number of underlying processing resources. The SystemWeaver IP core then manages the dynamic run-time distribution of software across all available processing resources in the multicore MB87Q1100 device, delivering the full potential of the hardware to the application.

"SystemWeaver technology clearly shows the path to establishing a viable way of using multicore SoCs. We believe that the success of this demonstration has now opened the door for the deployment of this technology. We have made a step forward in enabling concurrent, system-level software development independent of hardware, achieving seamless interaction of multiple heterogeneous CPU cores in the system," commented Tetsu Tanizawa, Deputy General Manager, Strategic Business Development Division, Fujitsu Electronic Devices Business Unit.

The demonstration is based on a combination of connected T-Engine boards – one containing the Fujitsu MB87Q1100 device, the other containing an FPGA onto which the SystemWeaver IP core is synthesized. The MB87Q1100 integrates ARM926EJ-S and ARM946E-S embedded cores in Fujitsu's SoC platform. SystemWeaver manages the ARM processors via an AHB-Lite interface that connects the FPGA to the AHB bus within the MB87Q1100. In production systems, SystemWeaver would be integrated on-chip within the multicore SoC.

In addition to improving multicore software development and delivering run-time management efficiency, the demonstration also shows how the SystemWeaver IP core provides non-intrusive access to system-level trace information to enhance multicore debug.

“We are delighted to be working with a leading semiconductor company such as Fujitsu to demonstrate the capabilities of SystemWeaver,” declared Rick Clucas, Ignios CEO. “The results of this project again show that SystemWeaver provides unparalleled ease-of-use and efficiency for multicore architectures.”

Ignios is demonstrating the SystemWeaver-enabled MB87Q1100 T-Engine based multicore system at the TRONSHOW2006 event (December 14 -16 2005 in Tokyo) on the Fujitsu booth (booth number 5-3).

About SystemWeaver
SystemWeaver addresses the software and hardware challenges presented by the proliferation of all multicore architectures – simple and complex – in the embedded chip market. The SystemWeaver API provides a unified abstraction layer for complex multicore devices. This abstraction allows embedded systems companies to develop and debug multicore applications more effectively, improving time to market. The key underlying system management and communications functions are implemented natively in a SystemWeaver IP core that is integrated on-chip. SystemWeaver unlocks the full performance of the multicore hardware, with significant cost, power and performance benefits that maximise product competitiveness.

SystemWeaver release v1.1 is available now and consists of the parameterisable, synthesisable SystemWeaver IP core and the SystemWeaver API. A SystemC model of the core and reference models of SystemWeaver-enabled SoCs are also provided.

About Ignios Ltd.
Ignios was established in 2003 to develop and market products that enable the real-time on-chip system management of multicore SoC devices. Ignios raised a total of $3.8 million in a first round of private financing early in 2004. The funding round was jointly led by Alice Lab and BTG. Further information on Ignios can be found at www.ignios.com.

About T-Engine
T-Engine is an open, standardized, real-time operating system development environment for constructing a ubiquitous computing environment. The T-Engine Project standardizes the hardware, a real-time operating system, and the object format. For more information see http://www.t-engine.org/.

Trademarks
SystemWeaver is a trademark of Ignios Ltd. T-Engine and T-Kernel are computer specification names, but are not particular product names or product family names. All other company names or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Chris Dace
PR for Ignios Ltd.
+44 8700 110 520

Dan Chester
Ignios Ltd.
Tel: +44 1865 78 46 30

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:20 PM | Comments (0)

Seized Electronics and Government Surplus Auctions

The general public really find name brand electronics at up to 90% below retail prices. Well, the creators of the wildly popular website "Seized Electronics" are making sure that now the general public can.

(PRWEB) December 16, 2005 -- The newly created website, "Seized Electronics" offers the general public a chance to buy name brand electronics at significantly below wholesale prices.

With the constant upgrades and high costs of popular electronic products, the creators of a popular, brand new, discount electronics virtual store, are looking to make shopping for electronics a little easier and a whole lot cheaper. No standing in lines, fighting for parking spaces or paying top dollar is neccessary in order to purchase popular, name brand electronics at low prices. At "Seized Electronics", individuals can purchase seized electronics from auctions, online, near their homes, or buy directly from sources.

Visit the website at http://hop.clickbank.net/?overcomers/bigdeals

Individuals around the world are now able to take advantage of prices that where once only available to wholesalers. Anyone can become a member of this online auction site and save as much as 90% off retail prices on top electronics brands. One customer was recently quoted as reporting, " My new Hewlett-Packard notebook cost me less than $300. I can't believe I am able to afford brand names at such prices. Thank you. "Another customer writes, "I was able to locate an auction 10 miles from my house through your site and as a result of my membership I'm enjoying a $3000.00 plasma TV in my living room which I bought for $677.00."

Every month, tens of thousands of various electronics items become government and bank property through various seizure and surplus laws. Because of the enormous expense to store them, seized and unsold electronics must go fast and very cheaply. "Seized Electronics" provides a place where this all can take place efficiently, conviently and inexpensively.

"Seized Electronics" currently has digital cameras, camcorders, cell phones, dvd players, mp3 players, tv sets, home theaters, game consoles, desktop pcs, notebook pcs, monitors, printers, car electronics and more. The following brands are available. They include, Blaupunkt, Nikon, Gateway, Nokia, LG, Dell, Compaq, Sony, IBM, Olympus, HP, Canon, Panasonic, Toshiba, Bose, Pioneer, and Motorola.

"Seized Electronics" is owned and operated by Airon Corporation. The website can be viewed at:

http://hop.clickbank.net/?overcomers/bigdeals

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:19 PM | Comments (0)

Technology Conservation Group Expands in Singapore

Electronic recycler announces expansion into Asia, one of now 9 facilties worldwide.

(PRWEB) December 16, 2005--Technology Conservation Group, an electronic recycler centered in Crystal River, Florida, is proud to announce expansion of their worldwide operations to include an 80,000 square foot facility in Singapore. The Technology Conservation Group Asia headquarters is certified to ISO 14001:1996 standards, adheres to all levels of environmental regulations, and respects design security without sacrificing returns. In addition to ISO 14001 certification, TCG headquarters in Crystal River, Florida, USA is also working toward ISO 9001 and 18001 certification by December 2005. TCG facilities in Puerto Rico, Guadalajara, Mexico, Monterrey, Mexico, United Kingdom, and Singapore are in the process becoming ISO 14001 certified by January 2006. All Technology Conservation Group (TCG) facilities worldwide adhere to the same ISO standards so no matter which facility handles material, it will be processed using the same high standards. This recent expansion will improve on TCG’s current and future business partners’ (contract manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, government municipalities, medical facilities, or any other type of business with electronic waste) ease of doing business worldwide. For additional information, please visit our website at http://www.tcgrecycling.com or contact Don Andes, V.P. Business Development at 1-877-926-8824 extension 300.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:18 PM | Comments (0)

Materials for Printable Electronics to Reach $1.9 Billion

The market for inks, substrates and other materials used in printable electronics is expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2010 rising to $8.9 billion in 2013, according to a new report from NanoMarkets, LC, a market research firm based here.

Glen Allen, VA (PRWEB via NSTI) December 15, 2005 -- The market for inks, substrates and other materials used in printable electronics is expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2010 rising to $8.9 billion in 2013, according to a new report from NanoMarkets, LC, a market research firm based here. Information about the report including its first chapter, which is available for download, can be found at www.nanomarkets.net.

Why the Fuss About Materials?

NanoMarkets’ report notes that the next few years represent a key period for the Printable Electronics (PE) business as a whole. Crucial development work has to take place at the materials level in order for future revenue opportunities to be realized for all segments of the value chain. Materials and production issues in many ways are the limiting factor for what PE will ultimately enable, namely, electronics anywhere they are needed. PE will generate numerous opportunities for materials and specialty chemicals firms and will also help bring new business revenues to the printing industry. And, while the industry remains focused on applications such as displays and RFID, PE also provides the means for innovative companies to create the next break-out application that generates tens of millions of dollars in revenue in the blink of an eye.

Other Findings:

• Applications make the materials. Some of the highest potential applications for printable electronics have very demanding requirements for materials. For example, flexible displays obviously require flexible substrates, but they also need inks that do not easily crack when dry. Printed RFIDs will be created on high-speed printing machinery that places strict requirements on ink viscosity. NanoMarkets believes that such needs will help drive both the demand and R&D dollars in the novel inks sector.

• New directions for inks. Printable electronics inks already exhibit good stability and performance. Nanoparticle inks have shown good conductivity and curing properties in actual products. However, NanoMarkets expects that the rapidly growing PE business will lead to an arrival on the market of new inks with even better performance and suitability to specific applications. These will include inks based on oligomers, small molecules, and a variety of traditional metals and semiconductors. By 2010, the ink segment of the PE materials market alone will be worth over $700 million.

• Plastic substrates to dominate. NanoMarkets’ report states that the lion’s share of the opportunities for printable electronics substrates will be found in plastic substrates, revenues from which are expected to reach $735 million by 2010. This is an area where NanoMarkets sees business flowing to those who can show the best performance in a number of areas, especially flexibility, smoothness and antistatic properties.

• Electronics on paper. Over the next eight-years, NanoMarkets expects paper and card to become an increasingly important substrate for printable electronics. This will be required as printable electronics quickly finds its way into smart packaging, greeting cards and other novelties. Printable electronics on a paper substrate may even be the ultimate in electronic paper. To make this happen, however, paper manufacturers will have to come up with special coated papers suitable for taking electronic inks.

• Printable electronics for actual printers. At present, interest in printable electronics is mainly confined to specialists, who feel comfortable with the complex chemistries involved. However, NanoMarkets believes that the rise of “user friendly” inks and substrates will be one of the most important catalysts that will propel printable electronics into the mainstream printing industry and garner more attention from both printers and printing equipment. This will enable conventional printers to generate new revenues from prototyping and build printable electronics inline with their graphics facilities.

About the Report:

NanoMarkets’ new report, “Materials and Substrates for Printable Electronics: Opportunities and Markets,” provides a thorough analysis of market opportunities available in printable electronics for a wide range of materials including nano-metallic silver and polymer inks, as well as other inks made from metals, organic materials and standard semiconductors. It also provides in-depth coverage of evolving substrates for printable electronics including glass, plastic, paper and even niche substrates such as wood, metal and wearable fabrics. Finally, the report covers other materials that are used in printable electronics including solvents, adhesives, etc. In order to cover the broadest range of opinion, the report is based on in-depth interviews of firms throughout the entire value chain including materials, manufacturing equipment, printable electronic device and finished products companies.

The report includes an analysis of how materials for printable electronics technology are likely to evolve over the coming decade, forecasts through 2013 of all the major material types used in printed electronics, including breakouts by application and chemistry, and a guide to which companies are active in this space now and what they are doing.

Among the materials firms currently pursuing opportunities in this space are 3M, Advanced Nano Products, BASF, Cabot, Dow, DuPont, Merck, Plextronics, Sun Chemical and others, with many more eyeing the market. However, while this report will be essential reading for firms in the specialty chemicals and materials business, it will also be invaluable for device manufacturers and OEMs seeking to understand how new developments in printable materials will impact their product strategies, as well as traditional printers and printing equipment firms looking for profitable new diversifications for their business. VCs and others that are investing in the printable electronics space will also find this an important resource.

Please visit www.nanomarkets.net for additional information or contact Robert Nolan at (804) 360-2967. Members of the press may receive an executive summary upon request or schedule an interview with the report’s author by emailing the company.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:17 PM | Comments (0)

December 15, 2005

Premium Alert Service Launched For Buying The Next Generation Video Game Consoles: Xbox 360, Sony PS3, Nintendo Revolution

CE Buys Offers Help To Consumers Looking To Buy The Next Generation Video Game Consoles From Microsoft, Sony, And Nintendo. Sign Up For The Premium Alert Service Now To Avoid Disappointments In 2006.

San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) December 15, 2005 -- CE Buys, is now taking sign-ups for its Premium Alert Service mailing list. Subscribers are alerted instantly when online merchants start taking preorders or when items are back in stock for Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony Playstation 3 (PS3), and Nintendo Revolution consoles. CE Buys is an affiliate partner of trusted online merchants including WalMart, Amazon.com, ToysRUs, eToys, EBGames, GameStop, BestBuy, and CircuitCity.

"We launched our free alert notification service in October 2004 with the Nintendo DS, followed by the Sony PSP in February 2005, and finally the Microsoft Xbox 360 in September 2005. We now have well over 20,000 active and happy subscribers who mostly preordered their systems," said Nick Pang, President. "Without our notification service, consumers won’t be able to get the Xbox 360 in their hands by Christmas Day 2005. Unless they are willing to pay the outrageous premiums on online auction sites.”

“With the Premium Alert Service, our alert engine will instantly notify subscribers via emails and mobile text messaging when in-stock or preorder conditions occurs at any of our monitored list of trusted and reliable online merchants from the US, Europe, and Asia. Our experience with online merchants for the Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, and Xbox 360, pre-qualifies who we work with and thus improve the chances of a subscriber actually being able to purchase a system with confidence. We now have a complete and fully automated system in place. Even eBay auction sellers can benefit from our alert service!”

Consumers can sign up for the alert service at Premium Alert Service.

About CE Buys, LLC
CE Buys, LLC, a Delaware company, has operations located in the Bay Area of Northern California. CE Buys assist clients with Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising, search engine optimization (SEO) for natural search, and provide price comparisons information to consumers for making better shopping decisions.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:18 AM | Comments (0)

CarStereo.Com to Judge the Hottest Vehicles on Display at CES

Virtual Competition between Mobile Electronics Manufacturers to tie in with OCAC Online Car Audio Competition and showcase the demo vehicles of CES 2006.

Flint, MI (PRWEB) December 15, 2005 -- CarStereo.com will be holding a special edition of its Online Car Audio Competition (OCAC) during the CES show this January. They will be visiting the mobile electronics manufacturers at the show that would like to participate in this special competition, to photograph their vehicles on display. The photos and information about these vehicles will be displayed on CarStereo.com for their members to vote on.

“This will give our members a look inside some really incredible installations”, says Dan Morris of CarStereo.com. “We’ll have the vehicles displayed on the website by Tuesday, January 10th, 2006 and our members will then be able to rank the vehicles, with the winner being announced on February 1st.”

The competition between these manufacturers’ vehicles will be kept separate and have a different format than the standard OCAC competition, which runs regularly. The CES vehicles will only be competing against other CES vehicles, not against OCAC’s regular competition members.

CarStereo.com has over 35,000 members and over 1,000 active OCAC competitors. The OCAC allows car audio enthusiasts and professionals to compete online for trophies and prizes. At the same time, it showcases the car audio systems and the installers to millions of online visitors world wide.


Press Contact: Dan Morris
Company Name: ONLINE CONNEXIONS INC.
Phone: 1-800-874-4550
Website: http://www.carstereo.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:17 AM | Comments (0)

Worldwide Laser Introduce Zap-Alone Laser Controller Option for LP8000 Series of Co2 Laser Systems

Worldwide Laser Services Corporation introduces the Zap-Alone laser controller option for the LP8000 series of Co2 laser systems.

Gilbert, Arizona (PRWEB) December 20, 2005 -- Worldwide Laser Services Corporation, a laser automation and integration specialist announced today the introduction of their new Zap-Alone laser controller option now available on all LP8000 series of Co2 laser systems.

The new Zap Alone controller has a USB input and smart chip on board. The Zap-Alone board is incorporated into the LP8000 Co2 laser series power supplies and replaces the traditional interface PCI card that was located in the computer. The Zap-Alone board is located in the power supply, a laptop or remote computer is plugged into the USB port for dowloading the Zap-IT laser marking, laser etching, or laser cutting files which are retained by the smart chip on board the Zap-Alone. When programming is completed the laptop or programming computer is removed & the laser runs completely independently of any computer system.

Clients with multiple laser marking or laser cutting files can have the correct laser etching or laser cutting files automatically selected via binary input from a programmable controller or serial input using a devise such as a bar code reader among other methods, hundreds of laser marking, laser cutting, or laser etching files can be retained on the Zap-Alone smart chip.

The Zap-Alone laser controller option includes a system clock for automatic marking of time, date, Julian date, or designation of operating shift. When this is coupled with Worldwide Laser’s new proprietary laser controller software, Zap-IT and design cad front end, a powerful user friendly laser control system, that can run on any windows platform, is created.

The Zap-Alone options are perfect for laser marking, laser etching or a laser cutting system where lack of space will not allow a computer and monitor. It is also perfect for installations where security is important, and removal of the computer lessens the chance that laser marking, laser cutting, or laser etching files will be altered or misapplied.

The addition of a Zap-Alone system is available on all LP8000 series of Co2 lasers at no additional cost, for details or additional information on the Zap-Alone laser controller option just call Worldwide Laser 480.892.8566 option 5 or visit our web site www.wlsc.com

About Worldwide Laser
Worldwide Laser was founded in 1986 and the company has evolved into a respected major laser marking systems manufacturer. They have also developed an impressive list of national and international service and parts clients. Worldwide currently has active clients in ten countries on three continents. Worldwide has developed a major service organization for TEA CO2, CWCO2, and ND-YAG based laser marking products. They provide one of the largest inventories of spare parts in North America. Their own products include the LP2000 series of TEA Co2 lasers, the LP9000 series of diode & flash lamp YAG lasers, and the LP8000 series of Co2 lasers. Worldwide Laser has established a major laser marking job shop with TEA CO2, CWCO2, Diode, and flash lamp ND-YAG laser marking systems. For further information call (480) 892-8566 or visit their website http://www.wlsc.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:16 AM | Comments (0)

Electronic Data Interchange Helps to Minimize Staff Involvement, Reduce Errors and Delays Which Usually Occur With Manual Processing

Research and Markets (researchandmarkets.com/reports/c29484) has announced the addition of Emerging Trends in EDI For 2006 to their offering.

Dublin (PRWEB) December 15, 2005 -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c29484) has announced the addition of Emerging Trends in EDI For 2006 to their offering.

In this report we examine the emerging trends in Electronic Data Interchange to explore the value it generates to not only organisations but to its stakeholders. EDI can minimise staff involvement and reduce the delays and errors that include the manual processing of business documents.

EDI allows organisations to cut costs by simplifying and streamlining business procedures through increased efficiency and improved customer service levels. It also cut costs through decreased safety-stock inventory levels and diminished administrative requirements.

Despite numerous predictions on the contrary, we have found that EDI usage continues to grow, with ASC X12 and EDIFACT data standards remaining the dominant protocols in the B2B world and EDI-related network traffic volumes increasing globally between 5% and 10% during the last eighteen months. There are a number of reasons for these developing trends, all of which are critiqued in this report.

We review the influence of the internet in modifying EDI software and services to proactively capitalize on market innovations.

This report examines the latest software on offer that has made it significantly easier to adopt EDI technology due to lowered cost internet competition and increased connectivity.

The trends in the international and domestic environment identify the key growth market for organisations across different industry verticals. We breakdown the key service and product requirements that are forecasted for 2006 to reveal valuable insights for organisations from a variety of industry verticals such as retail, food and distribution.

Summary
In this report we analyse the future trends in EDI as forecasted for 2006. During the past five years, vendors providing EDI software and services have modified their offerings to take advantage of many Internet-era improvements. Web-browser-based forms, Internet gateways, IP-based in-network translation, and email EDI have significantly lowered the bar for adoption of this technology, especially among smaller organisations.

We have compiled a report on the emerging trends in EDI across a number of key industry verticals. The trends in the international and domestic environment identify the key growth market for organisations across different industry verticals.

Throughout this report, we breakdown the key services and product requirements that are forecasted for 2006 to reveal valuable insights for organisations from a variety of industry verticals such as retail, food and distribution.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c29484

Laura Wood
Senior Manager
Research and Markets
e-mail protected from spam bots
Fax: +353 1 4100 980

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:15 AM | Comments (0)

December 14, 2005

Become a King Kong Game Developer with 'The Black Art of Video Game Console Design'

"The Black Art of Video Game Console Design" is a rare book that actually teaches the black art of hardware design of game consoles. Great for game developers, hardware hackers, students, and hobbiests that want to be involved in the next generation of console design and gaming.

Silicon Valley, CA (PRWEB) December 14, 2005 -- Written by Andre' LaMothe, the world's best selling game programming author, "The Black Art of Video Game Console Design" breaks new ground in game development by bridging the alien worlds of hardware and software together for the first time. Its been a decade nearly to the day when LaMothe set out to teach game programming to the world and released his opus 3D game programming book, "The Black Art of 3D Game Programming", now 10 years later LaMothe strikes yet another decisive blow to uncover the hardware of how game consoles are made.

"The Black Art of Video Game Console Design" is written for the programmer and/or hobbyist interested in software game development, but also wants to understand the hardware games are implemented on such as the XBOX 360 and Playstation III. This book assumes no prior knowledge of Electrical Engineering or Computer Architecture, but takes you on a breathtaking journey from atomic semiconductor theory to the design and construction of basic video game consoles that you can build and write your own games for! Included in the book is the entire design of numerous embedded game systems including the XGameStation Micro and Pico Editions and much more.

"The Black Art of Video Game Console Design" with its nearly 1000 pages covers everything you need to know to design your own game console including: Basic atomic physics and semiconductor theory primer. Introduction to circuit analysis; current, voltage, and resistance. Analog design using discrete components. Digital electronics and Boolean algebra. Physical hardware construction and prototyping techniques. Combinational logic and advanced integrated circuit building blocks. Finite state machine design. Computer architecture and design. Understanding and using microprocessors and microcontrollers. Developing software for embedded systems. Designing video (NTSC/VGA), audio, and input device systems. Interfacing and communications. And finally, the complete design and discussion of the XGS Micro Edition as well as XGS Pico Edition.

As if that wasn't enough a complete copy of LaMothe's 1995 groundbreaking work "The Black Art of 3D Game Programming is included on the CD in electronic form with complete source!

In LaMothe's own words, "Game development has become almost a pure software endevour, the days of a game developer/designer creating an entire game including the concept, hardware, and software are long gone. The art and skill of this is also being lost, especially the electrical engineering aspects. I hope to rekindle the knowledge of game hardware design as well as give software game developers something new and exciting to explore. Additionally, retro games and hardware are a lot of fun to play and develop and this book is a pathway to this technology and more"

"The Black Art of Video Game Console Design" is on sale at fine books stores around the world including Borders, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:59 AM | Comments (0)

Electronics eTailer eGizmo.com Reports that the Pink RAZR is its Hottest Selling Phone

Electronics and communications equipment retailer eGizmo.com reports that Motorola’s new Pink RAZR cell phone is its best selling product yet.

Great Neck, NY (PRWEB) December 14, 2005 -- Electronics and communications equipment retailer eGizmo.com (http://www.egizmo.com) reports that Motorola’s new Pink RAZR cell phone has shattered all of its sales records.

“Once we lowered the sale price of the pink RAZR for the holidays, all sales records were shattered in matter of days,” says eGizmo.com Vice President Joe Altin. “Our website has been getting a record number of visitors looking for the pink RAZR and our call center phones have been ringing off the hook in the past week.”

“We’ve never seen any phone or any other electronics sell this quickly and intensely,” adds Altin. When asked why he thinks there is such a buzz around the Pink RAZR, Altin responds that “it’s simply a conveniently shaped, feature-rich cell phone in a funky color that has generated mass appeal in the pop culture market. It doesn’t really have any upgraded bells and whistles vis-a-vis the black or silver versions, but it’s a vibrant pink, ultra slim and people really do love it.”

The retail price of the Pink RAZR right now is substantially higher than that of the Black or Silver version. Asked why this is so, Altin explains that “it’s simply the law of supply and demand. We, for example, pay more for these phones, and therefore we charge more for them, but there’s no artificial profit margin built in, and, as a result, our retail prices are extremely competitive.”

“Christmas shopping and our recently-reduced prices have obviously helped fuel demand,” reports eGizmo.com, “but we believe the public’s desire wont die down so quickly after the holidays and look forward to selling many more Pink RAZRs come January.”

About eGizmo.com
eGizmo.com (http://www.egizmo.com), a New York corporation, is an internet-based electronics retailer whose mission is to provide cell phones, cameras, camcorders and other gizmos at competitive prices alongside customer-oriented service.


Interview Contact: Joseph Altin
Tel: 516-684-9383
Fax: 516-706-0894 Attn: PR
URL: http://www.egizmo.com
Business Address: 70 Middle Neck Rd., Suite 5, Great Neck, NY 11021

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:58 AM | Comments (0)

Laptopical.com Announces Winners of 2005 Laptop Awards

"The Magnificent Seven!" - Laptopical's 2005 laptop award recipients have finally been revealed.

(PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 14, 2005 -- Laptopical.com, The Laptops Weblog, today announced the winners of its 2005 Laptop Awards. The annual awards highlight the year's most outstanding notebook computers, as judged by the website's senior writers.


Laptopical editor Tom Fox says, "2005 has been a phenomenal year for laptops and their ever-continuing monopolisation of the PC market. Laptop sales figures are not just a blip on the tech radar. Mobile chips from manufacturers such as AMD and Intel, now boast speeds rivaling those found in desktop computers."

Fox believes pricing is one of the highest considerations for potential customers. "Factor in lower prices and portability, and it's easy to see why buyers are voting for laptops with their bank accounts. Expect to see sales of notebooks rise exponentially in the first half of 2006," Fox continues. "We are confident that the seven laptop computers chosen by Laptopical reflect the quality available on the mobile market today."

Laptopical's 2005 Winners:

Acer's Ferrari 4000
Apple's G4 Powerbook
Fujitsu's P1500 Lifebook
Lenovo's Z60M Thinkpad
Panasonic's Toughbook Elite
Toshiba's Libretto
Twinhead's Durabook N15RI

For more information about the awards: http://www.laptopical.com/2005-laptop-award.html

About Laptopical
http://www.laptopical.com/ is a blog offering relevant news commentary about laptops, notebooks and mobile computers. In 2005 Laptopical was recognised as a "Hot Site" by the USA Today editorial team. Laptopical is also a past winner of the coveted "Cool Site of the Day" award.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:58 AM | Comments (0)

XM-R3™ Triple Satellite Audio Receiver From ELAN® Home Systems Now Shipping

Revolutionary New Receiver Simultaneously Delivers Three Discrete XM Satellite Radio Channels for Independent Access From Any Room in the House

(PRWEB) December 14, 2005 -- ELAN® Home Systems, a leading manufacturer of award-winning Multi-Room audio/video and home control systems, announced today that the company has begun shipping its revolutionary XM-R3™ Triple Satellite Audio Receiver. The ELAN XM-R3 marks the company’s first major step into the realm of satellite radio. The announcement was made by Bob Farinelli, ELAN’s President and Chief Technology Officer.

“We are pleased to announce that our XM-R3 is now shipping. The implementation of the XM-R3 represents a great move forward in perfecting Multi-Room satellite radio listening,” stated Mr. Farinelli. “ELAN is renowned for products that easily integrate with each other in order to provide whole house, Multi-Room home entertainment delivery and control. In keeping with this reputation, the XM-R3 seamlessly integrates into our existing line of home systems to provide multiple people within the home the type of entertainment they want - when and where they want it.”

Featuring plug-and-play compatibility with ELAN’s home systems, the XM-R3 Receiver is revolutionary in that it delivers, simultaneously, three discrete XM Satellite Radio channels that can be accessed independently from any room in the house. This provides ELAN customers with easy access to XM’s more than 150 digital channels of award-winning programming from the company’s VIA!® Touch Panels and allows distribution throughout the home.

Full, two-way RS-232 serial communications between the XM-R3 and ELAN VIA!® Touch Panels provide the user with on-screen details about what they’re listening to, including channel name and number, artist name, and song title. Each full-color VIA! Touch Panel can be customized for instant, one-button access to the user’s favorite music, whether it is classical, jazz, country, rock, or another category. For those clients who are using ELAN Keypads in their system, intuitive basic button control is also possible, using ELAN’s custom keycaps.

The XM-R3 can be controlled by either IR or RS-232 serial communications, making it compatible with virtually any system on the market today, in addition to ELAN systems. The product has also been designed with Dealer setup in mind. Both the IR and RS-232 serial drivers have been be embedded in the latest version of ELAN’s award-winning VIA!TOOLS setup software so that installers can simply point and click on the appropriate file for control of the XM-R3, saving time and money on jobsite.

As an added bonus, the XM-R3’s antenna can be located up to 300’ away from head end using standard RG-6 coaxial cable and add-on ELAN antenna amplifier kits. This exclusive feature is not provided by any other Custom Installation product manufacturer. Other features include multi-output display, multi-output presets, parental control locks, and channel skip control.

The XM-R3 carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1,550.00 and includes a handheld remote control, rack mount ears, and an XM-approved antenna with a 20-foot run. Antenna kits for longer distances may also be purchased separately from ELAN.

About ELAN Home Systems:
ELAN Home Systems is a leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video and home automation systems. Based in Lexington, KY, the company’s systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use “whole house” experience. The company’s unique products provide complete lifestyle, feature-rich solutions, yet can be configured to fit the specific needs of every homeowner. ELAN products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and distributors throughout the United States, Canada and 58 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

ELAN is a registered trademark of ELAN Home Systems, LLC, Lexington, KY. VIA! is a registered trademark of ELAN Home Systems, LLC. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:57 AM | Comments (0)

Electric Pocket Launches Ringo Mobile for Pocket PC Phone Edition

Electric Pocket’s popular Ringo ringtone manager is now available for users of Windows Mobile Pocket PC phone devices.

Wye Valley, UK (PRWEB via MobilityNewswire) December 13th, 2005 -- Electric Pocket’s popular Ringo ringtone manager is now available for users of Windows Mobile Pocket PC phone devices.

Ringo has long been the best selling ringtone manager for Palm’s Treo-brand smartphones, where it has proved popular for the ease with which users can customize their phones with personal ringtones and SMS tones. The new Ringo Mobile brings these features to the Windows Mobile phone platform, and is available for devices running Windows Mobile 5.0 and Pocket PC Phone Edition. Supported devices include the iMate JasJar and HP iPAQ Mobile Messenger series.

Ringo Mobile enables users to easily assign MP3, WMA or WAV format ringtones to every incoming call they receive on their Pocket PC phone. Ringtones can be assigned to individual callers or to groups of callers—such as business, family, or friends. Setting a sound clip as a ringtone is as simple as copying it to their Pocket PC phone and linking it to individuals or groups in Ringo. Ringo Mobile also allows users to set custom tones for incoming SMS messages from individuals and groups.

Users of Ringo can have fun setting lively tones for friends and gloomy tunes for their bosses or mothers-in-law.

“Ringo Mobile enables Pocket PC phone users to add their own personal flair to every call, providing them with the ability to use their favorite music as ringtones and associate tunes with specific individuals or groups of callers,” said Iain Barclay, Electric Pocket’s Chief Product Officer. “Being able to identify callers with music or sound clips of your choice makes Ringo Mobile both a practical and fun add-on for a Pocket PC phone.”

Ringo Mobile is available from Electric Pocket’s web site at http://electricpocket.com for US$14.95.

About Electric Pocket Limited
Electric Pocket is a privately held company offering leading-edge mobile and wireless computing solutions and services from its base in the Wye Valley, UK. The company’s product portfolio includes a rich set of wireless messaging solutions, mobile commerce and configuration toolkits. Electric Pocket’s consulting group has provided solutions to global companies such as Ericsson, Palm and Vodafone. For more information, visit www.electricpocket.com.


Media Relations Contact:
TalonPR, Inc.
Kevin Doel
785-273-9660


Company Contact:
Electric Pocket, Ltd.
Steve Bennett
+44-1291-689202
www.electricpocket.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:55 AM | Comments (0)

December 13, 2005

Adeptron Employs Kinaxis RapidResponse to Optimize Customer Service and Responsiveness within Unpredictable Electronics Market

EMS solutions provider deploys response management software to improve operations performance and increase customers’ visibility into extended supply chain.

Ottawa, Canada (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 13, 2005 -- Kinaxis™ Inc., formerly Webplan, a provider of response management solutions that deliver operations performance management for manufacturing by rapidly responding to change at the point-of-action, today announced that Adeptron Technologies Corporation (TSX: ATQ), a provider of Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) to the global electronics industry, deployed Kinaxis’ RapidResponse™ software at each of its three manufacturing facilities.

As an EMS provider operating in a volatile market, the customer relationship is paramount to Adeptron’s success. Building a close partnership based on timely communication, efficient processes and responsive action, helps Adeptron and its customers achieve a competitive advantage. To build this partnership however, Adeptron employees need accessible and actionable supply chain information in order to effectively respond to the constant stream of customer requests for changes to order quantities, delivery dates or product engineering.

RapidResponse, integrated with Adeptron’s Syspro ERP system, provides real-time visibility into the effects of customer requests on its supply chain and enables front-line staff to determine the optimal resolution(s) by performing “what if” scenarios. Analysis of supply chain changes that, before RapidResponse, could take days to compile and provide to the customer, can be done in a half-hour without considerable buyer participation, extended ERP system downtime or abundant paper reports. As a result, Adeptron has been able to significantly reduce its inventory exposure in terms of both order cancellations and Purchase Order push outs.

“Kinaxis RapidResponse was the perfect solution to address our need for improved analysis and responsiveness”, said Geoff Beale, vice president of Operations for Adeptron. “We believe our success is dependent upon our ability to build a business that is entirely structured around providing solutions to our customers’ challenges and being responsive to their changing demands. RapidResponse has not only strengthened our ability to deliver on that commitment, but has also benefited our business by improving our overall operations performance.”

By adopting RapidResponse, Adeptron has also empowered its customers to quickly access pertinent supply chain information. Whether a customer wants insight into the status of an order or is looking to provide comment on a revised production schedule, Adeptron’s immediate feedback has increased the level of visibility offered to the customer. Adeptron can provide and receive supply chain information it needs from its supplier base, via a web portal, at a vastly expedited pace, thus freeing up its purchasing group's time to focus more extensively on higher value activities.

“Adeptron’s Response Management capabilities is proof that OEMs don’t have to give up visibility and control when outsourcing their operations,” said Randy Littleson, vice president of Marketing for Kinaxis. “Adeptron recognizes that by being a responsive and transparent solutions provider, they are able to enhance their customer’s competitive advantages. This is a very compelling value proposition for Adeptron to bring to the table and we look forward to helping them continue to provide it to their customers year after year.”

About Kinaxis
Kinaxis stands alone in delivering Response Management solutions that provide operations performance management for manufacturing. RapidResponse extends beyond traditional supply chain planning systems to allow global leaders such as Casio, Coty, Honeywell, Jabil Circuit, Raytheon and Solectron to access real-time information; quickly collaborate to reach optimal decisions that align with corporate objectives; and rapidly drive effective action when faced with constant changes at the point-of-action. For more information, visit the Kinaxis web site at www.kinaxis.com or the company’s blog at blog.kinaxis.com.

For more information please contact:

Lori Smith
Tel: +1-613-592-5780 ext. 5297
www.kinaxis.com

Brittany Morris
Ruder Finn
Tel: +1-312-329-3983
www.ruderfinn.com

Copyright (c) 2005 Kinaxis Corp. All rights reserved. Kinaxis and Kinaxis Live Scorecard are trademarks of Kinaxis Inc. All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and should be treated as such.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:21 AM | Comments (0)

New Report Predicts 'Push Comes to Shove” in Wireless Sensor Solutions as the Waiting Market Looks for Working Products Rather than Standards Decisions

New "Wireless Sensor Technology and Market Tracking Service" Market Report analyzes developments and concludes that the wireless sensor industry today is being driven by customer choice independent of the standards process. Competing wireless sensor and mesh network solutions will be sorted out by customer demand for simplicity, value and availability.

Mtn View, CA (PRWEB) December 13, 2005 -- New WTRS Report finds the era of hyped high technology will be pushed aside by an existing demand for products that plug in simply, network with ease, expand with application development, and don’t require equity loans to purchase nor advanced degrees for installation. Wireless mesh networking standards will be set by market demand rather than by a standardization process beset by setbacks due to delaying deliberation and rancor among its members.

According to the WTRS report, the OEMs and end-users care less about “gee whiz” technology than “yes, this stuff works!” Wireless mesh deployments in the home are not in effect dependent on standardization, and therefore this market segment readily adapts and responds to customer need. The discussion, debate, argument and turmoil over standards will become less relevant as products come on line from, for example, Eaton, as others surface over the next 6 months.

“The companies with the products that solve real customer needs and desires will likely become the standard in the home market,” says Kirsten West PhD, Principal Analyst with WTRS, “We are seeing companies and OEMs using technologies such as INSTEON and Z-Wave as well as creating business alliances to build product eco-systems that solve the problems of safety, lifestyle enhancement and general home control while developing products using the technologies available today in the smoke detector, blind and drapery, lighting, and general appliance control area. One of the next big trends is electronic home improvement enabled by low cost, easy to use wireless solutions.”

“The predominant growth in wireless sensor markets in the coming year will be in home automation. Existing homes will find the installation of specific sensor applications growing in erratic patterns as new uses and developments become attractive to individual owners who add these incrementally," says West. “The adoption rate for wireless sensors and control product will follow the very traditional supply-and-demand pattern. In new housing markets wireless home automation technology will be installed by the builder or general contractor as part of the homebuilders standard offering. Overall, the predominant wireless sensor markets that will develop over the next year include home automation, commercial control, and industrial automation applications.”

WTRS new report, “Wireless Sensor Technology and Market Tracking Service: ZigBee, Zwave, Insteon, RFID, IEEE 802.15.4 and their Competition”, examines this inexorable move to market on the one hand, counterpoised with seemingly endless “standardization” discussions and maneuvers across all sensor markets.

This Tracking Service analyzes the Sensor and M2M Market in terms of its emerging technologies. It is written both for component-level companies and end-product companies who are in the process of evaluating the market and the Wireless Sensor and M2M Technology arena in general.

The twelve individual Market Reports packaged in this service analyze and forecast 20 market segments, 4 geographical areas and include a detailed analysis of the top 30 companies involved in the wireless connectivity segment. A purchase of the report includes one hour of phone consultation with an analyst each month. Reports which are part of the Tracking Service package are delivered on a quarterly basis, according to update schedule.

WTRS provides flagship market research reports in many areas of the wireless application space, and for six years has been a true market leader in accurate forecasting based on proprietary macroeconomic solutions. We know wireless technologies. WTRS, for six years “the place for independent wireless research.”

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:20 AM | Comments (0)

PMC Telecom Prepares for Continued VoIP Market Expansion

PMC Telecom, already one of the leading suppliers of telephony equipment in the UK, is preparing for continued expansion of VoIP use in Britain, with new product ranges to cope with demand.

Manchester, UK (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 13, 2005 -- PMC Telecom (http://www.pmctelecom.co.uk), already one of the leading suppliers of telephony equipment in the UK, is preparing for continued expansion of VoIP use in Britain, with new product ranges to cope with demand.

VoIP – Voice over IP telephony – is fast becoming a revolution in telephone use. With just a home computer and a phone that will connect to it, people can call anywhere in the world for less cost than using fixed landlines or mobile device.

According to Paul Conway, the Managing Director of PMC Telecom, “2005 has shown that VoIP isn’t going to be a passing phase. People realise that VoIP’s promise of low-cost internet phone calls isn’t a gimmick, it’s a reality. It’s a real consumer market, and one that’s expanding rapidly.

There are a number of VoIP services already available in the UK, such as Skype (http://www.skype.com), FreeTalk (http://www.freetalk.co.uk/) and PlusNet (http://www.plus.net). Some allow you to use existing phone equipment, while others require you have a phone or phone headset to connect directly with your PC.

Skype remains the most popular service so far, claiming over 200 million downloads since it began. It’s not just about phone calls, though – this month Skype announced the inclusion of support for video conferencing in its new release (http://www.usb-phones.co.uk/).

Paul says, “People who use Skype still have to buy equipment to connect with. Our own VoIP product ranges (http://www.pmctelecom.co.uk/voip/) focus on USB phones and digital headsets, but we also sell other equipment for VoIP, such as adapters and USB plug-ins.”

Whichever service people use, VoIP remains an expanding market (http://www.voip-news.co.uk).

Plantronics (http://www.plantronics.com) and Bluetooth (http://www.bluetooth.com/) products are particularly popular for use with VoIP services. “The wireless office is becoming more of a reality, and not least with VoIP. You can sit at your PC with a wireless headset, keep your hands free, and with no trailing wires.”

VoIP isn’t simply just for the home user. There are real advantages for business with VoIP as well. “Businesses are waking up to the idea that they can cut down their telephony costs simply and easily,” said Paul. “Heavy users, such as call centres, are moving to VoIP use.”

Whichever VoIP network supplier becomes dominant in the UK, PMC Telecom has moved itself into a prime position to supply all aspects of the domestic and business VoIP product market.

For more information, contact:
Brian Turner
Britecorp Marketing Services
Telephone: +44 (0)7963 808470
http://www.britecorp.co.uk

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:19 AM | Comments (0)

Micro/sys 486/586 Computer Packs Powerful Data Acquisition, GPS, and Wireless Communication

Based on a high-performance 486/586 core, the SBC4495 from Micro/sys provides a powerful, feature-rich controller in a 4.5” x 6.5” EPIC™-standard footprint. Eight channels of 14-bit A/D with simultaneous reads and eight channels of 14-bit D/A provide a highly accurate temperature-compensated data acquisition system. In addition, the on-board GPS provides timing that can synchronize the data acquisition of geographically distant systems to within 190ns, along with providing location and altitude. The CardBus slot allows a diverse selection of cards to be plugged in, from Wi-Fi, to modems, to mass storage.

Montrose, CA. (PRWEB) December 13, 2005 -- Based on a high-performance 486/586 core, the SBC4495 from Micro/sys provides a powerful, feature-rich controller in a 4.5” x 6.5” EPIC™-standard footprint. Eight channels of 14-bit A/D with simultaneous reads and eight channels of 14-bit D/A provide a highly accurate temperature-compensated data acquisition system. In addition, the on-board GPS provides timing that can synchronize the data acquisition of geographically distant systems to within 190ns, along with providing location and altitude. The CardBus slot allows a diverse selection of cards to be plugged in, from Wi-Fi, to modems, to mass storage.

In addition to PC-compatible features, such as SVGA and four serial ports, the new model also includes 100BASE-T Ethernet support. With 64MB of SDRAM, CompactFlash, and full AT-compatibility, high-performance control systems can be developed as single board solutions. In its stackthrough version, the SBC4495 is ideal for plugging into a custom OEM I/O card. The SBC4495 can boot DOS, Windows 98, Linux, Windows CE, VxWorks®, and other PC-compatible operating systems.

The SBC4495 is implemented with the STPC Atlas processor, which offers speeds up to 133MHz, on-chip cache, 64-bit DRAM access, hardware floating point, and AT-compatible interrupt, timer, and DMA controllers. It also includes COM1-COM4, 24 bits digital I/O, SuperVGA, keyboard, and mouse. The SuperVGA includes hardware acceleration, and drives CRT monitors and LVDS TFT flat panel displays with resolutions up to 1280 x 1024. 100 MHz Ethernet provides fast, reliable communications. If needed, I/O expansion can be added to the SBC4495 through PC/104 cards or high-speed I/O expansion can be added with PC/104-plus cards. The CompactFlash socket on the SBC4495 can be used as solid-state storage for operating systems and large applications. A free development kit is provided that includes cables, sample software, and full documentation.

The basic SBC4495 starts at $495 in single quantity. An industrial temperature (-40°C to +85°C) version is also available starting at $565. Optional features are quite cost-effective, as they do not require additional boards. Significant OEM discounts are available. Contact Technical Sales Dept., Micro/sys, Inc., 3730 Park Place, Montrose, CA, 91020, phone (818) 244-4600, FAX (818) 244-4246, email: e-mail protected from spam bots, URL: www.embeddedsys.com.

Micro/sys has been manufacturing OEM industrial microcomputer products since 1976, including board-level products and integrated computers. Micro/sys embedded computers are specified by OEMs in semiconductor processing, medical, mail handling, pharmaceutical, industrial marking, process control, and many other industries.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:18 AM | Comments (0)

2006: The Year the Program Guide Begins to Get Personal

New Report from The Diffusion Group argues that multi-platform, multi-network guides will begin to replace single-user IPGs.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB via PR Web Direct)December 13, 2005 –- 2006 will see the emergence of a new class of video guide – the Personal Entertainment Guide or PEG.

According to Program Guides at the Crossroads: The IPG Gets Personal, TDG’s latest report on the evolving digital media market, the PEG will capitalize on many of the techniques pioneered on the web in the areas of search, behavior prediction, and distributed computing. The PEG will thus be more attuned to the viewer’s preferences and capable of spanning a multitude of consumer devices, both stationary and portable. As a result, global licensing revenue from standard guides will decline to $356 million in 2010, while PEG licensing revenue will grow to $1.4 billion in the same time period.

According to TDG’s new report, four factors are coalescing to forever will alter the way consumers view video:

- The shift from watching television on the broadcaster’s schedule to watching television on the viewer’s schedule (time-shifting);
- The emergence of mobile media as an important part of the consumers’ entertainment experience (place-shifting);
- The explosion of digital media services competing for the consumers’ attention; and
- The emergence of broadband as a medium capable of delivering high-quality entertainment directly to the consumer.

“At the center of these tectonic shifts stands the electronic program guide,” said Colin Dixon, senior analyst with The Diffusion Group. “As the variety of content expands, and as the avenues through which consumers can enjoy this content multiply, the importance of an integrated, interactive, and personalized guide becomes key to user experience. Without it, navigating this complex array of content and services will prove burdensome to consumers, and those companies that can provide an easy-to-use and integrated guide will have a distinct and persuasive advantage over competitors.”

According to Dixon, video content owners will look to leverage traditional, broadband, and cellular networks to push their content to consumers. Those that can provide a highly-personalized and consistent user interface will no doubt have a “leg up” on their competitors. As Dixon stated, “Given how competitive the TV environment is becoming, the importance of a superior program guide cannot be underestimated. A poor or inflexible interface leads directly to unhappy viewers, falling average revenue per unit (ARPU), and increased churn.”

TDG’s latest report on trends in digital video, Program Guides at the Crossroads: The IPG Gets Personal, offers an examination of the various technological and economic trends underlying the move to PEGs (e.g. search, end-user behavior, multi-platform distribution); the impact of PEGs on video advertising; the importance of metadata in the PEG environment; profiles of leading EPG and emerging PEG players; global forecasts for broadband-enabled versus traditional set-top box deployments; and global forecasts for PEG licenses.

About The Diffusion Group (TDG) -
The Diffusion Group is a strategic research and consulting firm focused on the new media and digital home markets. Using a unique blend of consumer insights, executive-level consultants, and hands-on technical experts, we produce more than just research - we create Intelligence in Action™. TDG is committed to providing market research and strategic consulting services based on conservative, real-world analysis and forecasts grounded in consumer research.

For more information about The Diffusion Group, visit our website at www.thediffusiongroup.com.

Contact:
Andy Tarczon
469.287.8060

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:17 AM | Comments (0)

Voice Tracker Array Microphone Endorsed by InquireTec for Use with Voice-Driven 4D Databases

InquireTec Software LLC, provider of the Inquire4D plug-ins for building voice-driven databases in 4th Dimension, has elected to endorse and resell the Voice Tracker™ Array Microphone because it enables voice control from a distance without the encumbrance of a headset or handheld mic.

Delhi, CA, December 13, 2005 - InquireTec Software LLC, provider of the Inquire4D plug-ins for building voice-driven databases in 4th Dimension, has elected to endorse and resell the Voice Tracker™ Array Microphone.

RJ Sharp, founder of InquireTec, states, "Our focus is helping database developers build speech interfaces which are practical, and the ability to not be tethered to your desk is a key factor. It’s a neat experience to be across the room and have a working conversation with your system”.

According to Bob Feingold, CEO of Acoustic Magic, “the Voice Tracker™ is ideal for voice control because its unique technology locates a talker, and electronically steers a "listening beam", like an acoustic searchlight, in that direction. This creates spatial filtering; sounds from other parts of the room are not picked up. This noise reduction, coupled with increased sensitivity since the Voice Tracker's eight microphone elements are utilized continuously and constructively, give the Voice Tracker™ outstanding range and sound quality”.

Sharp adds, “Inquire4D utilizes many large language models, including those which allow the spoken entry of date, time, and numeric values. When using the Voice Tracker™, the recognition accuracy is impressive - even while moving about the room”.

About InquireTec Software LLC (www.inquire4d.com)

InquireTec is a speech-interface tool supplier based in the California Central Valley, empowering developers to create voice-driven databases using the 4D environment for both Windows and Mac OS X. They also help connect solution seekers with developers. InquireTec can be reached at 1-866-247-9824 or on the internet at http://www.inquire4d.com.

About Acoustic Magic, Inc. (www.AcousticMagic.com):

Acoustic Magic, Inc., located near Boston, manufactures the Voice Tracker™ desktop microphone that has found application in speech recognition, meeting and transcription recording, VoIP and conventional teleconferencing, voice control for home automation, and security surveillance. The Voice Tracker™ Array microphone has been Certified by Dragon, iListen, and ViaVoice speech recognition software, HomeSeer and HAL Home Automation software, as well as WinScribe, and SoniClear dictation recording software. For additional information, see www.AcousticMagic.com or contact Bob Feingold ( 978 440 9384).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:16 AM | Comments (0)

Beatzblog Features Electronica & Dance Music Playlists and Reviews

Beatzblog is the newest and hippest place to find all the best electronica and dance music album reviews, plus information about upcoming electronica album releases, electronica/dance music playlists for your iTunes collection or your iPod.

(PRWEB) December 13, 2005 -- Beatzblog http://www.beatzblog.com is the newest and hippest place to find all the best electronica and dance music album reviews, plus information about upcoming electronica album releases, electronica/dance music playlists for your iTunes collection or your iPod. That’s not all; you’ll also find electronica/dance music press releases as well as news and information about Apple's iTunes and iPod technology. Electronic technologies go perfectly … hand in hand and ear to ear.

Now, find the perfect electronica and dance music playlists and the latest information regarding the iTunes and iPod technology – all in one place. Seb Jarakian, music genius, contributes and updates Beatzblog regularly. He’s focused on creating the best playlists for aficionados of this genre and reports are, “People love what he’s doing.”

As an example of what Seb’s up to, he’s taking the best tracks from a specific sub-genre and laying them back-to-back on a seamless mix of a downbeat/chill out playlist, or maybe even a rocking electro mix.

Beatzblog links to several other related blogs, artists, labels, and websites that lovers of this genre will be guaranteed to find new and exciting.

To learn more about Beatzblog and to review the playlists and other fun facts, visit http://www.beatzblog.com. It’s hot, pass it on!

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:15 AM | Comments (0)

Vigilante Personal Protection Systems Introduces 32 Zone Do-It-Yourself Wireless Security

Vigilante Personal Protection Systems™ will begin U.S. shipments in March 2006 of two models of security systems designed to provide affordable security protection for homes, apartments, and small businesses. Easy “Do-It-Yourself” wireless installation, and the included emergency phone dialer eliminate a consumer’s need for expensive professional installation and typical monthly monitoring fees.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) December 13, 2005 -- Vigilante Personal Protection Systems™ will begin U.S. shipments in March 2006 of two models of security systems designed to provide affordable security protection for homes, apartments, and small businesses. Easy “Do-It-Yourself” wireless installation, and the included emergency phone dialer eliminate a consumer’s need for expensive professional installation and typical monthly monitoring fees.

The systems, designed for quick no-tool installation, will provide any home or small business with the ability to secure doors, windows, and provide motion detection at a fraction of the cost of a custom installed security system. “Our wireless systems eliminate the need for expensive installations.” said David Happe, President of Vigilante Personal Protection Systems. “And, our emergency dialing system eliminates the need for expensive monthly monitoring, which is the profit center for most existing professional security installers. The more affordable we can make our systems, the more people our systems can protect.”

According to a study completed by Dallas based research firm Parks Associates, roughly 21% of homes in the United States had existing home security systems in 2004. That number is expected to grow to nearly 29% by the end of the decade, creating the potential for 8,800,000 new home security installations across the country. “The average customer investment for mass market residential systems is $525, based on data provided by Security Sales and Integration Magazine’s 2005 Annual Business Report” said Happe. “Most of those customers also pay monthly monitoring service fees that can exceed $30 a month. Vigilante’s new wireless systems give you complete home protection at a fraction of the cost, and without the required monthly monitoring fee or contracts that accompany the old industry’s type of home security systems.”

The DX1000, with a suggested retail of $149, is a wireless starter package including everything you need for basic home and small business security. The central controller for the DX1000 features a 6-number voice dialer, programmable to dial up to 6 contacts in the event of an alarm or emergency. The control unit also features backlit keys, an LCD screen for system zone control and status updates, and integrated 110db alarm, and battery backup. The system allows up to 32 separate control zones (30 wireless and 2 hardwired). Included with the basic DX1000 package is the central controller, 2 wireless door/window sensors, a wireless motion detector, a keychain wireless remote control, and installation accessories. Installation is simple, with no wiring and no tools necessary.

The DX5000 includes all of the features and accessories of the DX1000, plus 2 additional door/window sensors (total of 4), plus 1 additional motion detector, a 110db wireless external siren and full function remote control. The DX5000 is also monitoring-capable in case customers want the added security option of affordable professional monitoring.

A full line of optional accessories converts either system to a complete home automation system. The V101 wireless lamp module allows you to control lamps and outlets from a remote location, while the V102 wireless light switch allows you to control your overhead lights without rewiring your home. TheV103 appliance module gives you wireless control over home appliances such as coffee makers, while the V133 outdoor adaptor gives you the ability to extend your system to outside applications such as yard lights. All functions of the system can be controlled remotely via. telephone using a password (PIN) protected system.

Both the DX1000 and DX5000 wireless systems are expected to launch at selected specialty retailers in April, with several additional security products launching quarterly throughout 2006. Retailers interested in learning more about Vigilante’s complete line of home and personal security products should call 866-664-CCTV to schedule a private appointment at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2006.

About Vigilante Personal Protection Systems:
vig•i•lan•te. n. One who takes or advocates the taking of law enforcement into one's own hands.

Vigilante Personal Protection Systems™ is a division of Advanced Marketing Team Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:13 AM | Comments (0)

December 12, 2005

RadioScape Appoints Clere as UK Distributor for its Digital Radio Modules

RadioScape, one of the world leaders in digital radio technology, has appointed Clere Electronic Components Limited as its UK distributor. Clere will stock RadioScape’s comprehensive range of modules for Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB), DRM and FM.

London, UK (PRWEB) December 12, 2005 -- RadioScape, one of the world leaders in digital radio technology, has appointed Clere Electronic Components Limited as its UK distributor. Clere will stock RadioScape’s comprehensive range of modules for Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) and FM, including the latest addition, the RS500, that can also handle Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM).

“Clere is the ideal choice of distributor for our products,” said Kevin Parslow, RadioScape’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “The company is technically focused and specialises in supplying components to high end hi-fi manufacturers who may want samples and small volumes for limited production runs. The UK has a number of these specialist hi-fi manufacturers who now want to avail themselves of the ease of implementation of our software-based modules.”

Clere will be stocking each of RadioScape’s modules so that they can fulfill customer’s orders off the shelf.

Paul Bundy, Clere’s Marketing Director, added, “RadioScape’s modules are already used by many of the leading volume manufacturers of digital radios. Reviewers of these often comment on the quality of not only the DAB but also of the FM reception and so we are confident that the modules will meet the discerning standards of the specialist hi-fi manufacturers.”

About RadioScape
RadioScape® Ltd. is the world’s only developer of end-to-end digital audio broadcasting solutions giving RadioScape unmatched systems knowledge and enabling it to ensure that customers receive the highest levels of quality, robustness and reception at all stages. Its Digital Radio broadcast suite is used extensively throughout the world including the largest DAB installation to date -- the UK’s commercial DAB network.

Its innovative Software Defined Digital Radio™ approach has made it a leader in DAB and DMB technology with its DAB receiver modules being extensively used by many of the world’s leading consumer electronics manufacturers. The company has announced that it is working on DRM capability that will result in true, multi-standard, digital radio receivers.

Founded in 1996, RadioScape's investors include Atlas Venture, Royal Bank Ventures, Scottish Equity Partners, JAFCO, Texas Instruments, Yasuda Enterprise Development, iGlobe Partners, Psion and Arqiva. RadioScape is headquartered in London, England with offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.radioscape.com

RadioScape is a registered trademark and Software Defined Digital Radio is a trademark of RadioScape Limited. All other trademarks are acknowledged.

For an image of the RadioScape modules, please go to
http://www.radioscape.com/Resource_Library/Images/Modules/default.asp

About Clere Electronic Components Ltd
Established in 1978, Clere is a specialist technical distributor, focusing on high technology solutions to the electronics industry. It has over 25 years history dealing with UK and European Audio manufacturers. www.clere.com

For more information, please contact:
Caroline Skipworth
RadioScape Ltd
+44 20 7317 1996

Nigel Robson
Vortex PR
+44 1481 233080

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:58 PM | Comments (0)

New Device for Gas Heaters Offers Relief from Rising Energy Costs

The PowerSmart HeatMiser cuts heating bills up to 40%.

(PRWEB) December 12, 2005 -- PowerSmart Technologies, LLC is unveiling today the new PowerSmart HeatMiser, an add-on device for gas forced-air heaters that optimizes gas consumption, cutting energy bills by as much as 40%.

This winter is expected to be especially harsh on consumers’ wallets. Atmos Energy Corp. recently hiked its forecast for natural gas utility bills in North Texas, predicting customers will pay 60 percent to 90 percent more this winter compared with last year after hurricanes boosted natural gas prices.

Traditional energy-saving measures such as insulation, weatherstripping, double-pane windows, and caulking are designed to seal air leaks, preventing heat from escaping. The PowerSmart HeatMiser economizes fuel consumption at the source—the furnace—for lower gas bills regardless of the home’s heat demand.

“It’s important to weatherize your home,” says Eric Barger, PowerSmart’s chief executive officer. “But these projects cost a lot of money that can take years to earn back in fuel savings. With the PowerSmart HeatMiser, you can buy it, install it in less than an hour, and start saving enough to recover your investment before the end of winter.”

The PowerSmart HeatMiser comes do-it-yourself ready, but contractor resources are available at www.PowerSmartHome.com for homeowners who wish to have the device installed by a professional. Installation generally takes less than 30 minutes, and the PowerSmart HeatMiser works on all models of gas and propane forced-air furnaces, or about 90% of the furnaces in operation in North Texas today.

“Most of us feel powerless to fight the rise in heating costs,” adds Barger. “We wanted to give people a way to manage these increases while improving their heating comfort, and we wanted to do it in a way that would allow them to see the savings this winter, not in ten winters.”

Just in time for the cold weather, the PowerSmart HeatMiser can be ordered online at www.PowerSmartHome.com for $199.99, and financing is available.

About PowerSmart Technologies, LLC

PowerSmart Technologies, LLC is an engineering solutions firm specializing in the invention and design of power-saving technologies. PowerSmart was founded in 2005 and is based in Dallas, Texas. For information, contact via 877.888.6473 or www.PowerSmartHome.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:57 PM | Comments (0)

Cybermind launches Visette45 SXGA with CRLO Displays Core at Orlando I/ITSEC Conference

This year’s Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference was an ideal opportunity for Cybermind Interactive Nederland to showcase the new Visette45 SXGA See Through Head Mounted Display (HMD).

(PRWEB)December 11, 2005 - The Visette45 SXGA was shown for the first time at the InterSense exhibit. Using the CRLO Displays’ SXGA chipset, Cybermind have been able to produce a fully packaged HMD that includes headphones and weighs less than 600 grams.

“The flexible functionality of the CRLO Displays core means that our HMD is not only light weight and low power, but we can also provide the Visette45 with a see-through option,” said Vincent Graham, of Cybermind.

“CRLO Displays fast switching microdisplay means that we can use LEDs as our illumination source and provide our customers with sharp, smear free images at a fraction of today’s prices,” said Graham.

The SXGA chipset enables an HD-capable, fully digital, 24bit, 1280 x 1024 pixel colour microdisplay. It can also accept lower resolution image sources. When integrated into Cybermind’s Visette45 SXGA, it becomes a powerful tool for use with interchangeable image devices, as in DVDs, PCs, PDAs, VODs, TVs, game machines and medical equipment.

“The flexibility, performance and lower cost of CRLO Displays’ cores is allowing our system customers to offer new features for a growing list of new application segments, “ said Ryan West, Sales Manager for CRLO Displays Ltd.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)

Sealevel Systems, Inc. Introduces Industry-First RoHS-Compliant Low Profile PCIDigital I/O Board

Sealevel Systems, Inc. announces the first RoHS-compliant low profile PCI digital I/O adapter, the PIO-24.LPCI. The PIO-24.LPCI is the first in a series of forthcoming RoHS-compliant digital I/O product introductions as Sealevel embraces this important environmental initiative.

(PRWEB) December 11, 2005 -- Sealevel Systems, Inc. announces the first RoHS-compliant low profile PCI digital I/O adapter, the PIO-24.LPCI. The board offers easy connection to industry-standard solid-state relay racks for monitoring and control of AC and DC signals. Designed for compatibility with legacy and new computer systems, the board is MD1 low profile and universal bus compatible (3.3V or 5V). The PIO-24.LPCI is the first in a series of forthcoming RoHS-compliant digital I/O product introductions as Sealevel embraces this important environmental initiative.

Sealevel is proactively leading the industry in the development of innovative communications and I/O products that meet the RoHS (2002/95/EC) and WEEE (2002/96/EC) directives adopted by the European Union. The RoHS directive restricts the use of lead and certain other hazardous materials in electronic products. Sealevel designs all new products for RoHS process compatibility and is modifying legacy products and manufacturing processes for RoHS compliance. The Company will continue to offer both RoHS-compliant and noncompliant products to meet global and domestic customer demand.

The PIO-24.LPCI provides 24 channels of TTL I/O selectable as inputs or outputs in eight-bit groups. Each of the groups can be configured to generate an interrupt for status monitoring applications. The board’s low profile form factor is especially useful in applications where space is at a premium such as 1U Servers, Thin Clients, and Net Appliance applications. The PIO-24.LPCI ships with a 40” ribbon cable that terminates to a 50-pin IDC connector compatible with most solid-state relay racks.

The RoHS-compliant PIO-24.LPCI, product number 8018-RoHS, is available immediately from stock. Price is $219.00 in low volume quantities and a non-RoHS version, product number 8018, is also available.

For more information on Sealevel Systems, please contact Earle Foster at Sealevel by phone at (864) 843-4343.

Download this media release along with high-resolution graphic at your convenience from the Sealevel ftp site at ftp://ftp.sealevel.com/pub/MEDIA/8018_RoHS.zip.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)

Stewart Connector's New CAT 6 Plugs Support 10 Gigabit Ethernet To Optimize The Performance of Next Generation High-Speed Applications

Stewart Connector, a subsidiary of Bel Fuse Inc., today announced the availability the 39200 Series of Category 6 modular plugs engineered to exceed TIA/EIA-568B.2 data wiring standards. The new parts join Stewart Connector’s comprehensive offering of connectors designed for high-speed networking and computing applications, and are the latest addition to the Company’s next generation of shielded Cat 6 RJ-45 plugs.

(PRWEB) December 11, 2005 -- Stewart Connector, a subsidiary of Bel Fuse Inc., today announced the availability the 39200 Series of Category 6 modular plugs engineered to exceed TIA/EIA-568B.2 data wiring standards. The new parts join Stewart Connector’s comprehensive offering of connectors designed for high-speed networking and computing applications, and are the latest addition to the Company’s next generation of shielded Cat 6 RJ-45 plugs. Notably, the plugs feature a 2-level load bar that separates the split pairs to ensure the plugs’ ability to exceed CAT 6 transfer performance requirements for NEXT (Near End Crosstalk) and Return Loss. The load bar also aids in the connectors’ assembly as it accurately positions the wires for termination. Another outstanding feature of the Series is that its termination tool crimps both the contacts and the shield fingers in a single step to maximize installation and applied cost efficiencies. The plug features a dual crimp shield resulting in a reliable ground path connection as well as strain relief. A new bend limiting strain relief boot, featuring an anti-snag tab is optionally available also.

The 8-conductor plugs are ideal for use on CAT 6-rated cable assemblies in the broadest range of next-generation 10 Gigabit Ethernet telecommunication, premise wiring, and computer networking technologies. Among the most common uses for which they are typically specified are in high-speed patch cords used in wiring closets to interconnect patch panels, hubs, routers, switches, and servers. The Series is equably suitable for employment in office environments to connect computers and peripherals to modular wall jacks. Moreover, the plugs are capable of accommodating both typical 24 and 26 gauge solid or stranded cables due to their patented
contact design.

The Series is manufactured of UL94-VO polycarbonate and is equipped with electro-polished 50 microinch gold-plated contacts for durable, long-lasting connections. Additional specifications include an operating temperature range of –40 degrees to +85 degrees C, and durability of 750 matching cycles. Voltage rating is 150 VAC, and current rating is 1.5 A at 25 degrees C. Plugs’ performance is tested and monitored on the leading manufacturers’ CAT 6 patch cables to assure optimum yields in system performance and unsurpassed repeatability.

Pricing for Stewart Connector’s 39200 Series of CAT 6 plugs with strain relief boots starts at $0.57 each in quantities of 10,000. While delivery is from stock to 4 weeks, samples are immediately available. To locate a representative or distributor, visit http://www.belfuse.com/StewartConnector/RepsList.asp, or http://www.belfuse.com/StewartConnector/DistributorList.asp.

About Bel
Bel (www.belfuse.com) and its subsidiaries, including Stewart Connector, are primarily engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of products used in networking, telecommunications, high speed data transmission, automotive and consumer electronics. Products include magnetics (discrete components, power transformers and MagJack(R) connectors with integrated magnetics), modules (dc-dc converters, integrated analog front end modules, custom designs), circuit protection (miniature, micro and surface mount fuses) and interconnect devices (passive jacks, plugs and cable assemblies). The Company operates facilities around the world.

Information contained in this news release (including information regarding the 39200 Series of Category 6 modular plugs) may constitute forward looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercializing or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company's SEC report.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:54 PM | Comments (0)

4Freebie.com Gives Away Free Xbox 360 Systems & iPods

4Freebie.com is a new revolutionary marketing concept giving consumers free hot products such as Xbox 360 and Ipods thanks to sponsorships with reputable sponsoring companies.

(PRWEB) December 10, 2005 -- 4Freebie.com announced today that they have just launched a new internet site that gives consumers an opportunity to receive cash and high quality free products, while advertisers get instant access to hundreds of thousands of potential new customers.

Through a cross promotion strategy with large businesses, retail outlets and online stores, the company’s unique business model works in such a way that the advertisers like Blockbuster, Citibank and BMG pay for the products that get sent to the consumer. These sponsors are looking for new customers and in exchange for trying their products and services the consumer receives high end, and totally free products. The sponsors pay 4Freebie.com referral fees for helping them acquire new customers and this money in turn goes towards the cost of the free items sent to the consumer.

In order to participate in the program, consumers must first visit www.4Freebie.com and fill out a simple registration. Secondly, the consumer must complete an online offer. These are special online offers from well-known advertisers, and can be found on the "Offers" page once a person is logged in. Once a member tries one of these offers and completes the referral requirements they receive a free product.

In order to receive the free products, each consumer must refer friends or business associates to the site and have them click on their referral link. Once that new person has joined, they must also complete one online offer from their account. The more referrals a member makes, the more credits they receive that can be used towards free products.

Once the consumer has completed the above steps, 4freebie.com will ship their order out promptly exactly the same as ordering through any other online store. The difference is that the consumer doesn’t pay a dime.

4Freebie currently offers Apple 30GB Video iPod, Xbox 360, Digital Cameras, a $500 Wal-Mart Gift Card, PayPal Cash & more. The company plans on offering numerous high quality free products as more advertisers begin to participate in the company’s unique advertising model.
About 4Freebie.com

4Freebie.com is a unique way for advertisers to access potentially new customers while giving consumers the opportunity to receive cash and high quality free products.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)

Orbit Micro introduces the S3N-PGUTS-04-GP Passive Heat Sink for Intel Xeon Potomac MP and Nocona DP Processors

Orbit Micro an industrial and server systems integrator, announced the availability of a new high performance 3U passive heatsink, the S3N-PGUTS-04-GP, for Intel Xeon Grandford/Potomac MP and Nocona DP Processors.

(PRWEB) December 10, 2005 -- Orbit Micro an industrial and server systems integrator, announced the availability of a new high performance 3U passive heatsink, the S3N-PGUTS-04-GP, for Intel Xeon Grandford/Potomac MP and Nocona DP Processors. Orbit Micro’s solution for Intel Xeon Potomac MP and Nocona DP processors is designed
specifically for thermal and system engineers who require a high performance solutions for multiprocessor 3U servers, or for whisper quiet high performance workstations. Orbit Micro’s high performance heat sink is designed to meet Intel ® recommendations for thermal performance. In addition, the lightweight design is well below the maximum weight specifications of the Intel ® CEK retention system. The high efficiency, low-pressure drop fin design provides the necessary cooling capacity to support processors thermal requirements up to 200 watts without the addition of expensive system blowers or additional fans.

The heat sink features a base consisting of an aluminum frame and copper center with six embedded heat pipes for superior heat transfer to the fins. Complete specs can be found online at
http://store.orbitmicro.com/ccp20561-s3n-pguts-04-gp.htm

For more information or pricing please contact an Orbit Micro representative call toll-free at 1-877-722-1116.

About Orbit Micro
Orbit Micro is a system integrator of servers, workstations, industrial computers and networking products. Our application design approach allows us to maximize performance for your computing needs. Our product line also includes a variety of computer components and peripherals as well as software. Through its premier market position, Orbit Micro enables its customer’s growth potential by offering innovative solutions and expertise that give them the leading edge.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:52 PM | Comments (0)

Aries Electronics Has Released a New Dynamic Burn-In Socket for Devices Up To 13 mm²

Aries Electronics, an international manufacturer of standard, programmed and custom interconnection products, has released a new dynamic burn-in socket for devices up to 13 mm².

(PRWEB) December 10, 2005 -- Aries Electronics, an international manufacturer of standard, programmed and custom interconnection products, has released a new dynamic burn-in socket for devices up to 13 mm². The new burn-in socket is ideal for all CSP, MLF, QFN, BGA, uBGA and, LGA, packages with a pitch of 0.50 mm and larger, for applications up to 18.5 GHz.


The pressure-mounted socket requires no soldering and incorporates Aries’ proprietary spring probe technology for higher performance and lower cost. The spring probe includes either a four-point crown tip for ball terminations or a .004” flat tip probe for pad terminations. The burn-in socket features a bandwidth of 1 dB at 18.5 GHz.

Contact force is 12 g to 15 g per contact for devices with pitches up to 0.80 mm. Estimated contact life is 10,000 cycles. Contact resistance is < 40 mOhms and contact inductance is 0.59 nH at 0.50 mm pitch. Operating temperature is -25°C to +125°C
(-13°F to 257°F).

Compression spring probes are heat-treated beryllium copper alloy with 30µ” min (0.75 µm) gold per Mil-G-45204, over 30 µ” min. (0.75 µm) nickel per QQ-N-290. Molded socket components are UL94V-0 glass-filled Ultem and all hardware is stainless steel.

As with all Aries sockets, the new dynamic burn-in socket is available in custom materials, platings, sizes and configurations to suit specific customer applications.

Pricing for a dynamic burn-in socket with up to 50 pins is $239 per socket in quantities of 25 or more. Delivery is five weeks ARO.

For additional information, contact Aries Electronics, Inc., P.O. Box 130, Frenchtown, NJ 08825. Tel: 908/996-6841; Fax: 908/996-3891;
Data sheet: http://www.arieselec.com/products/24008.pdf
Website: www.arieselec.com
Europe contact Tel: +44 870 240 0249

READER SERVICE INQUIRIES: Please forward all reader service inquiries to Frank Folmsbee, Aries Electronics, Inc., P.O. Box 130, Frenchtown, NJ 08825.

EDITORS NOTE: Headquartered in Frenchtown, NJ, Aries Electronics, Inc., manufactures an extremely broad range of custom and standard interconnection and packaging products for electronics. Industry leading products include Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) test sockets for DIP, PGA, PLCC and SOIC devices; the Correct-A-Chip™ product line of "intelligent connectors"; adapters and connectors; several patented concepts for BGA (ball grid array) and LGA (land grid array) sockets; and an extensive array of high frequency test and burn in sockets. The company also specializes in meeting custom requirements for its customers.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:51 PM | Comments (0)

ELAN® Home Systems Expands Product Marketing Team With Promotion of David Moore

Seasoned ELAN regional technical associate to now play key role as product line manager for user interfaces.

Lexington, KY (PRWEB) December 10, 2005 -- ELAN® Home Systems, a leading manufacturer of award-winning Multi-Room audio/video and home automation systems, announced today that David Moore has been promoted to the Company’s Product Line Manager for User Interfaces. The announcement was made by Bob Farinelli, ELAN’s President and Chief Technology Officer.

In his new capacity, Mr. Moore will serve as Line Manager for ELAN’s broad range of user interface products, including volume controls, keypads, and in-wall, table-top, and mobile touch panels. In addition, he will focus on growing ELAN’s VIA! ® Integration Partner (VIP) program. David will work closely with ELAN’s integration partners and be responsible for establishing new product integration relationships as well as oversee ELAN’s libraries of Infrared codes and one- and two-way serial drivers.

“This move further illustrates our strong commitment to the continued expansion of our range of user interface and product integration options for our Dealers. David is well-seasoned in both of these areas, having been hands-on in the field with our Dealers on a daily basis, and is the perfect candidate for the job. This step will add velocity to ELAN’s delivery of exiting new user interfaces, as we continue to be a leading force in specialty control,” said Mr. Farinelli.

Mr. Moore holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Electronics Engineering, and has spent the past two years serving as a Senior Technical Regional Associate for ELAN’s Southeastern territory. In this role, he oversaw in-field Dealer training and technical support, as well as advanced programming and applications for a seven state territory. Mr. Moore achieved Senior Regional status and is considered a “super tech” who was readily available to Dealers in the region, which has had significant impact on the area’s growth and success.

Before joining ELAN, Mr. Moore also gained real-world, hands-on experience in selling, designing and installing home audio, video and control products including ELAN merchandise.

“We welcome David to ELAN Headquarters,” said Rick Gratz, ELAN’s Product Marketing Manager. “As we continue to take our award-winning Dealer setup tools, VIP Program, and user interface options to the next level to be the best in the business, David’s expertise, and commitment to excellence is certain to have profound impact.”

As a result of the promotion, ELAN will soon announce that the company has appointed a new Southeast Regional Technical Associate who will take over the position formerly held by Mr. Moore. In 2006, the company will also be adding a full-time Engineering counterpart who will be working closely with Mr. Moore as ELAN delivers additional IR and serial drivers and integration capabilities.

About ELAN’s VIP Program:
Established in 2001, the VIP program is a collaborative effort between ELAN and numerous custom electronics manufacturers that provides support for systems integration. VIP partners provide ELAN with fully operational home systems and products to be used by engineers and technical support staff in design and trouble-shooting. As a result, this allows the engineers to confirm functionality before release, and tech support to possess the tools they need to provide top-notch support of each and every system. Charter members of the VIP program include Apex, Aprilaire, GE Security, HAI, LiteTouch, Lutron and Vantage.

About ELAN Home Systems:
ELAN Home Systems is a leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video and home automation systems. Based in Lexington, KY, the company’s systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use “whole house” experience. The company’s unique products provide complete lifestyle, feature-rich solutions, yet can be configured to fit the specific needs of every homeowner. ELAN products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and distributors throughout the United States, Canada and 58 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

ELAN is a trademark of ELAN Home Systems, LLC, Lexington, KY. VIA! is a registered trademark of ELAN Home Systems, LLC. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Press Contacts:

Steven Style
The Steven Style Group
New York, NY
t) 212-465-1290
f) 212-465-1299
e) e-mail protected from spam bots

OR

Cat Fowler
ELAN Home Systems
Lexington, KY
t) 859-269-7760 x161
f) 859-268-2132
e) e-mail protected from spam bots

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)

December 09, 2005

Intelligent Biometric Controls LLC Releases 1Touch Fingerprint Lock for Homes and Offices

IBC's new 1Touch biometric fingerprint door lock now offers the ability to manage users who need quick, secure, and conveinent access to their home or office without compromising security.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) December 9, 2005 -- Intelligent Biometric Controls (IBC) is pleased to announce the release of the new 1Touch fingerprint door lock for home and office use. The 1Touch fingerprint lock is the only single latch lock available on the market today which allows you to manage users at the lock and does not require you to drill additional holes. Featuring the latest in fingerprint recognition optical technology.

The newly designed slide body cover not only protects the scanner from the outside elements but also triggers the unit to wake up and allow a user to simply place their finger for quick access. No Pin number required.It's that simple! The 1Touch uses a high-performance algorithm to capture and identify each user.

It does not store your fingerprint, but what is kown as minutiae data into a mathimatical string. This mathematical template cannot be removed from the lock to create a duplicate of your fingerprint by any method. IBC offers a 2 year warranty on every 1Touch lock sold. 1Touch is the only fingerprint lock that runs on 4 AA batteries with a life of approx.15,000 uses. Other single latch locks offer a fraction of the uses and do not offer the features and functionality of the new 1Touch. Intelligent Biometric Controls offers several different fingerprint locks from residential to enterprise wide solutions. IBC offers its locks thru over 150 resellers nationwide.

To purchase your locks directly from our website please visit us at http://www.fingerprintdoorlocks.com.

IBC is a USA biometric importer / distributor that offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee on all its fingerprint door locks.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:16 AM | Comments (0)

Ocuview Technologies, Inc introduces WEBCAM USB 2.0 PRO

Ocuview Technologies, Inc introduces WEBCAM USB 2.0 PRO, a web camera of superior quality at an affordable price. For just $54.95, you can purchase this versatile web cam with an Internet Chat Headset. Ocuview’s WEBCAM USB 2.0 PRO captures fluid, natural movement for seamless video conferencing and video chat with USB 2.0 technology, the fastest interface for more frames-per-second. This high-end, high resolution webcam features a stylish, lamp stand design. Its sleek, moldable spring stem base adjusts to the desired position for perfect aim. Can also be used with USB 1.1 equipped PCs.

(PRWEB) December 9, 2005 -- Ocuview Technologies, Inc introduces WEBCAM USB 2.0 PRO, a web camera of superior quality at an affordable price. For just $54.95, you can purchase this versatile web cam with an Internet Chat Headset. Ocuview’s WEBCAM USB 2.0 PRO captures fluid, natural movement for seamless video conferencing and video chat with USB 2.0 technology, the fastest interface for more frames-per-second. This high-end, high resolution webcam features a stylish, lamp stand design. Its sleek, moldable spring stem base adjusts to the desired position for perfect aim. Can also be used with USB 1.1 equipped PCs.
Product features include:

- Flat Mount Base with Moldable Spring Stem
- 640×480 VGA Resolutions
- USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Connection (Fully backward compatible with USB 1 .1)
- Manual focus
- Color: Yellow or Red

Ocuview’s WEBCAM USB 2.0 PRO makes it quick and easy to take digital pictures without a digital camera – no more downloading necessary! You can add live video to your favorite instant messenger. With the WEBCAM USB 2.0 PRO you can video chat, create short video clips or send photo greeting cards to your loved ones over the Internet. It’s easy to use! In minutes, you’ll be sharing live video over the Internet. Our webcam is ideal for either laptops or desktops. Ocuview’s WEBCAM USB 2.0 PRO can be purchased now at www.ocuview.com/shop.

Ocuview is an international, full-service digital and video company performing product design and manufacturing with marketing capabilities. It not only packages products for individual sale, but also offers retailers and distributors the latest in quality video and digital equipment at a competitive price. The WEBCAM PRO is a prime example of Ocuview’s commitment to affordably offering “name-brand” quality and customer service.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:14 AM | Comments (0)

Winegard and AMS Enter Exclusive Agreement to Supply Enhanced Triple Play Bundle - Broadband Access, Phone and Video Including Proactive 24/7 Remote Services Monitoring

To Be Delivered On One Existing Coax Cable Using New MultiletTM Technology.

Burlington, IA (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 8, 2005 -- Winegard Company, a leading manufacturer of video reception and distribution equipment for over 50 years, announced today it has contracted Advanced Media Services to be its exclusive supplier of Triple Play services for Winegard’s new product line using Multilet technology. Winegard’s Triple Play is aimed specifically at Multi-Dwelling Unit owners and managers. Multilet offers MDUs the enormous advantage of networking or retro-fitting entire MDU projects using existing RG-6 coaxial runs, eliminating the necessity to pull additional coax or CAT-5 wire-runs. Under this agreement, AMS will install or retrofit, deliver and service Triple Play PlusTM Video, including DIRECTV® or Dish Network programming and Off-Air local broadcasts, Broadband Access (high speed Internet) and Broadband Phone (Voice-over-IP), supporting Winegard’s marketing of the new Multilet Triple Play “Plus” product. Why Plus

Bob Howell, Director Signal Distribution/Off-Air Antenna Business Group, said “AMS’s QuantumAlertTM proactive web-enabled real-time 24/7 remote management system, monitors the entire MDU IP physical signal distribution network, taking our Triple Play to a whole new level by eliminating IP service quality headache in an MDU installation.”

QuantumAlert is a powerful tool allowing AMS technicians to monitor, manage and troubleshoot MDU system status from signal source, through distribution and amplification, to the subscriber modem. This network management capability allows AMS engineers to achieve optimum performance levels with minimal service disruption, minimizing repair time and costly outages, while maximizing optimum user performance and fast resolution.

Chris Silk, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at AMS states: “We are very pleased to partner with a well known and respected company like Winegard Company to support Multilet with our QuantumAlert state-of-the-art monitoring software, which greatly enhances their Triple Play. We will also supply Winegard with customized Triple Play design options for each property with attractive revenue sharing programs for MDU owners, while delivering guaranteed quality and outstanding customer service providing the necessary peace of mind property managers and owners expect and Winegard requires.”

“Winegard has a tradition in leading the industry with new technology innovation, quality built products and customer service” said Howell, “AMS’s QuantumSpeedTM high speed Broadband Access and QuantumVoiceTM VoIP services have been well received in the industry already and their dedication to quality assurance through their Service Level Guarantee was a very important selection criteria.”

For more information or to schedule an interview with Bob Howell or Chris Silk, please call Michael Sherman at 319-754-0604.

About Winegard:

The Winegard Company is widely considered an innovator and pioneer in product design, performance and assembly and has consistently adapted to meet the challenges of the ever-changing electronics market. It remains committed to continuous improvement in the quality, cost and delivery of its products and services to effectively meet all of its customer’s needs and currently designs and manufactures more than 1,000 different products in six product lines distributed in all states and worldwide, including:

• Bundled Signal Distribution: Video, VoIP and High Speed Data and More, on a single cable run.
• Satellite Antennas and Mounts: Residential antennas ranging in size from 46 cm to 1 meter.
• Mobile Television Reception Products: RV, Trucking, and Marine applications. Satellite systems ranging from manual crank-up models to automatic satellite tracking systems with GPS/DVB. Off-air antennas including bi-directional and omni-directional VHF/UHF/FM antennas. Ground Antenna Mounts and Accessories.
• Off-Air Antennas: From DC to 5.8 gigs AM/FM/VHF/UHF Antenna Systems, Distribution and Pre-Amplifiers, Power Supplies and Accessories
• Telemetry: Medical and Data Antenna Systems, Distribution Amplifiers, Power Supplies and Accessories.
• Two-way Fixed/Transportable Mobile Satellite Internet Systems: offers real-time IP, video, voice, audio and data communications virtually anywhere, anytime.

About Advanced Media Services

AMS was founded in 2002 by former UUNET Executives and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their services provide owners and managers of multi-tenant properties a complete pre-packaged solution offering a substantial source of revenue sharing by delivering a highly reliable "Triple Play" product suite including QuantumSpeedTM High Speed Broadband Access, QuantumVoiceTM Broadband Phone (VoIP) and QuantumVideoTM services. The product platform can be delivered on one existing or new coax cable. In addition, AMS offers QuantumAlertTM proactive real-time 24/7 remote monitoring of the entire MDU physical signal distribution network. AMS optimally incorporates commercially available technology combined it with uniquely designed proprietary support systems and processes. Technology and Service design options allow for customization in every property. Because of its past accomplishments in the Internet Service Provider industry, the AMS Team is able to provide a superior service experience, backed by a Service Level Guarantee.

QuantumSpeed
• High-speed internet for multi-dwelling residential properties
• Email Service with customized domain addressing
• Service Level Agreement with performance guaranteed

QuantumVoice
• Full featured flat-rate Broadband Phone service at subscription prices far below market averages;
• Available nationwide for individual residential and small business customers who already have high-speed internet access

QuantumVideo
• Provide your residents the video programming that they demand. Whether direct or through an affiliate, AMS can deliver satellite programming to meet your needs, both analog/digital system applications in standard or high definition.
• Customer Service/Tech Support, plus Online resources for self help.
• Service Level Agreement with performance guaranteed

QuantumAlert
• Proactive real-time 24/7 remote monitoring of the entire MDU physical signal distribution network
• Monitors Signal Quality for: Entire Properties, Single Buildings, Individual Users

About Multilet

Multilet is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macab AB. In business over 20 years, Macab AB is well known for a wide range of quality products providing superior solutions for MDU, CATV and SMATV applications. The Multilet equipment is a system for the distribution of broadband services within and between residential buildings. It uses the buildings' existing wiring infrastructure and overlays a new network using Ethernet technology.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:12 AM | Comments (0)

December 08, 2005

From the Giant Keyboard in the Movie “Big”, to the Magic of “Piano Wizard”, FAO Schwarz Toyland Continues It’s Landmark Music Making Tradition This Holiday Season

This year FAO Schwarz Toylands in New York and Las Vegas will be displaying the Top Toy of The Year 2005 Award Winner, Piano Wizard™.

(PRWEB) December 9, 2005 -- The holiday season in New York City means snow-covered sidewalks, ice-skating at Rockefeller Center, and no kid’s winter experience is complete without a visit to the world famous toy display at FAO Schwarz. The store's guiding principle has not changed since 1862: to provide the world's children with the most extraordinary toys, and this year FAO’s Toyland will include one of the hottest new gifts on the market: Piano Wizard™.

“One of the classic movie moments and memories is Tom Hanks hopping across the giant keyboard at FAO Schwarz in the movie Big,” said Chris Salter, inventor of Piano Wizard and founder of parent company Allegro Multimedia. “In that moment, he brings out the musical child in all of us, and that is what we have strived to do with Piano Wizard from the outset.”

“To have Piano Wizard as part of that landmark annual toy display is a delight for us and the children, because now they can play real music quickly and easily, almost magically, the way they did in the movie,” Salter added.

Piano Wizard, which is experiencing strong sales at FAO’s New York and Las Vegas Toylands is rapidly gaining popularity everywhere, because it combines the fun of a video game with the fundamentals of piano lessons. That means children can sit at a keyboard and instantly play music. What once felt like practice now feels like play, and the sky is the limit when kids are engaged and enthusiastic.

To ensure that children never tire of the game, and thereby continue to learn, Piano Wizard lets children choose from hundreds of songs and play with a dozen game characters in four different fantasy worlds. They can change the speed, the instrument sounds, the skill levels, and more. And in addition to the MIDI songs that come standard with Piano Wizard’s Easy Mode version, a Premier version enables thousands of songs to be downloaded from internet libraries. So children can download and play any MIDI song, from virtually any artist, whether the music style is classical, pop, rock, country, or alternative-- making it a game to be enjoyed for life, for kids of any age.

Piano Wizard includes a CD containing its proprietary computer game, color-coded stickers, and is bundled with or without an electronic MIDI keyboard. The Piano Wizard software allows kids to simply and quickly hit the correct note at the correct time, letting the user play actual songs immediately, and in the process, learn music logic, theory and notation while playing a game.

The game, which won Creative Child Magazine’s prestigious Top Toy of The Year 2005 Award, will be on display in FAO’s New York and Las Vegas stores until Christmas Eve, and as is the case with most of the toys in the FAO Schwarz display, it will allow shoppers to play the game at the display. Piano Wizard is also available at FAO’s online store under Electronics (Educational Electronics) at www.fao.com.

About Allegro Multimedia
Allegro Multimedia, Inc. (dba Allegro Rainbow, maker of Piano Wizard) is a leading provider of music gaming software and musical educational tools that teach both young and old alike how to play the piano and read music.

Allegro Multimedia's mission is to; increase music literacy and the ability to play and read music among all classes of people; to provide an answer for parents and educators as well as religious groups and government agencies to combat the onslaught of mind-numbing violence and destruction that has traditionally dominated the video game industry; and to build long-term relationships with customers by providing quality products, training, support and additional exciting gaming products that continue to move this mission forward in a fun, safe, exciting, and yet non-violent and yet exciting way.

Allegro Multimedia seeks to create a tidal wave of interest in music making and achieve universal musical literacy among all people regardless of age, through fun and exciting non-violent, music training video games.

About FAO Schwarz
FAO Schwarz has been enchanting children since 1862, when a Westphalian goldsmith's son named Frederick August Otto Schwarz began importing fine toys from Europe and selling them through his fancy-goods shop in Baltimore. In 1870, he opened the Schwarz Toy Bazaar on Broadway in lower Manhattan; the store issued its first catalogue six years later.

The Company’s flagship store opened at its current location at the corner of 58th Street and Fifth Avenue in 1986 and was joined in 1997 by its sister store in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Today, FAO Schwarz is not only the oldest toy store in the United States, but one of the oldest retail establishments of any kind. FAO Schwarz has been an essential part of any visit to New York for generations of children—and adults—from every corner of the globe.
The store's guiding principle has not changed since 1862: to provide the world's children with the world's most extraordinary toys.

For More Information, contact:
Brian Metcalf
Account Executive
Max Borges Marketing Solutions, Inc
www.MaxBorges.com
3550 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 501
Miami, Florida 33137
T: 305-576-1171 Ext 11
F: 305-402-6373

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:13 AM | Comments (0)

Great New Products and New Services on the Hot Product News Site

Hot Product News is a quick reference site for anyone interested in the latest and greatest new products and services recently announced; A worldwide, 24/7/365 showcase for companies introducing new products and new services

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) December 8, 2005 -- Hot Product News, exclusively for information on new products and services recently introduced from around the world, is pleased to announce some of the new product and services that have been listed recently. Information on hundreds of new products can easily be found at, http://www.HotProductNews.com.

- Computer Products -

New ORCA 9098 Laptop
CompAmerica Claims Title to 'the Most Powerful Laptop on Earth!' -- the ORCA 9098
New ORCA 9098 boasts a choice of several video adapters, single or dual hard drives, single or dual DVRWs, wide angle glass view WUXGA 17” diagonal screen and optional TV Tuner, all starting at a little over $2000.
CompAmerica added on to the top end of its “exotics” with a new laptop for the very enthusiastic and professional laptop user community...
More information http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16818&News_Categories=Computers

Total Online Security - Could The End Be Here for Adware and Spyware?
One USB Device Brings You the Results of Many Virus Removal Programs. This Christmas, Give The Gift of Total Online Security.
AdwareDoc introduces a USB Flash drive that will resolve the frustration caused by Adware/Spyware, Trojans, Viruses, and Worms on a PC. "The Defender brings AdwareDoc's vision ...
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16948&News_Categories=Computers

- Software -

'Free' Personal Video Encoder - Maui Based Company Now Offers a 'Free' Personal Video Encoder
We have video streaming solutions for every need, from simple consumer use, to the most complex corporate communications requirements.
Maui X-Stream (MXS) today announced its new "Zentu" codec boasting 35% greater compression than its former VX30 codec.
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16976&News_Categories=Software

JobTraq X5
Intuitive web-based business process management software assists you in managing the resources and workflow of your business to increase profits.
It helps you more accurately track and record Jobs, Tasks, Workflow, Projects, Sales, etc. Log in with your Username and Password and it is ready to go to work. Access it remotely 24/7 from any device that has Internet access.
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16851&News_Categories=Software

- Automotive -

NanoStrate
Graphics Fusion Introduces NanoStrate(TM), the World's Thinnest Graphic Transfer Material.
New Patented Polymer Is the Most Significant Development in Automotive Graphics Since Vinyl.
The Graphics Fusion Company Inc. is introducing an innovative new material, NanoStrate(TM), which will be used in a new generation of automotive graphics transfer products as thin as a human hair and ...
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16763&News_Categories=Vehicles

Optimizer 6500 V-8 Diesel Engine - GEP Launches V-8 Diesel Solution - Company Highlights Strengths of Optimizer 6500 for Repower Efforts
The company cited numerous technical advancements and other critical factors to illustrate how the engine has been out-performing its competition.
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16761&News_Categories=Vehicles

- Wireless -

Wireless Internet Calling Kit - Motorola and Skype Bring Mobility to Internet Voice Communications With Bluetooth(R) Wireless Technology - Now Available at RadioShack Retailers Nationwide.
Motorola, Inc., a global leader in wireless communications, and Skype, a global Internet communications company, today announced the first Skype-certified Bluetooth headset solution in Ame...
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16927&News_Categories=Wireless

Mobile Phone Digital Document Viewer
NEC Develops Mobile Phone Digital Document Viewer for Quick & High Quality Display of Mail Attachments Anywhere, Anytime.
This technology can also be used to view manuals or magazines, and is expected to fulfill a broad range of viewing needs.
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16589&News_Categories=Wireless

- Entertainment -

TrackIR 4 Pro NaturalPoint Inc. Announces the TrackIR 4 Pro, a Revolutionary Six Degree of Freedom Optical Head Tracker for Computer Game View Control.
Using NaturalPoint's exclusive Vector Technology the TrackIR 4 Pro offers full six degrees of freedom (6DOF) tracking capability, allowing users to quickly, easily, and intuitively look around their game environment with slight movements of the head.
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16839&News_Categories=Entertainment

Mexican Cinema Initiative - Mill Creek Entertainment Announces Mexican Cinema Initiative
Initial genres will include action, comedy, horror, drama, religion, cartoon, and bull riding. Additional releases will occur on a bi-monthly basis.
Minneapolis-based Mill Creek Entertainment is launching a breakthrough value line of Mexican Cinema Value Packs featuring box office favorites and popular feature films. The packs will feature either ...
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16837&News_Categories=Entertainment

- Other Products -

Antagonizor Diamond Recip Saw Blades
New Diamond in the Ruff Recip Saw Blades Provide Long Lasting Superior Performance and a Curved Radius Pattern For Hugging Bars and Pipes
THE ANTAGONIZOR reciprocating saw blades are ideal for heavy demolition, fire, and rescue applications, industrial, commercial and aerospace use.
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16295&News_Categories=Products

Cooler Gadgets and Gifts - New Gadgets For the Holiday Season and Beyond
The 2006 line-up of 'Drinking Solutions' is on the CoolerGadgets.com web site and available now for your personal pleasure, as unique gifts for friends and family, and/or as promotional products for your business or retail establishment.
Motivational Creations, Inc., A New Product Development & Marketing Firm, has announced their latest innovative convenience products including the Opener Hat, a baseball hat with built-in bottle opener...
More information at http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=16869&News_Categories=Products

Hot Product News, established in 1997, is a unique program offering free timely information on new products and services to the public while providing companies a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to promote their new products to the world marketplace. Hot Product News has been a member of the Better Business Bureau since 1998 and is ranked by Alexa Web Information Services as one of the top 20,000 Web sites in the world.


Contact:
Chuck Mooney, Publisher
Hot Product News
505-296-1898

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:12 AM | Comments (0)

InkTec Zone to Introduce Ink-O-Matic Automated Inkjet Cartridge Refilling System for Retail at CES 2006--Opens Fast-Growing Market to Any Retailer

InkTec Zone (www.inkteczone.us) will launch its new Ink-O-Matic automated inkjet cartridge refilling system at CES 2006. The introduction of the breakthrough system opens the fast-growing inkjet refilling market to any retailer.

Cambridge, Mass. (PRWEB) December 8, 2005 -- InkTec Zone will launch its new Ink-O-Matic automated inkjet cartridge refilling system at CES 2006. The introduction of the breakthrough system opens the fast-growing inkjet refilling market to any retailer.

“Inkjet refilling is a very lucrative market – earning margins of 85% to 95% for retailers while offering significant savings to consumers,” said Bill McKenney, CEO of InkTec Zone.

“Until recently, refilling services have been reserved for specialty stores with highly trained employees. Now, with the Ink-O-Matic system and one hour of training, your employees can successfully refill inkjet cartridges,” he said. The Ink-O-Matic's interactive touch screen guides employees through the process.

“The Ink-O-Matic represents a significant advance in inkjet refilling technology,” McKenney said. ”We believe that this technology will lead to a significant shift in the way consumers purchase inkjet cartridges."

The Ink-O-Matic system includes everything necessary to provide refilling services for the most popular Dell, HP, and Lexmark cartridges within a single machine, including cartridge tester, sonicator, centrifuge, video-based training, and customer support.

For more information, see the Ink-O-Matic at the 2006 International CES expo in the InkTec Zone exhibit, Sands #71637, or on the Web at http://www.inkteczone.us.

About InkTec Zone America Corp.
InkTec Zone, in partnership with InkTec Co., is opening the fast-growing inkjet refilling market to retail outlets across the U.S. and Canada. As the region’s exclusive Ink-O-Matic distributor, the company provides sales, service, and support for retailers throughout North America. For more information, visit www.inkteczone.us.

About InkTec Corporation
InkTec Corporation was founded in 1992 to manufacture commercial electronic ink products and was the first company in Korea to adopt the refill cartridge system for printers. With a vision of becoming the world leader in inkjet technology, InkTec has invested heavily in research and development. InkTec Corporation is a registered company on the KOSDAQ.

Editors Note: High resolution photo available on request.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:11 AM | Comments (0)

Jennic Partners with Taiwan’s III to Deliver ZigBee Stack On Its JN5121 Microcontroller for Asia-Pacific Market

Jennic has announced a partnership with Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry (III) to deliver ZigBee solutions. III has ported its ZigBee stack to Jennic’s JN5121 IEEE802.15.4 wireless microcontroller, and is now able to offer this solution to local customers in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific Region.

Sheffield, UK (PRWEB) December 8, 2005 -- Jennic has announced a partnership with Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry (III) to deliver ZigBee solutions. As the primary ICT research development organization in Taiwan, III has ported its ZigBee stack to Jennic’s JN5121 IEEE802.15.4 wireless microcontroller, and is now able to offer this solution to local customers in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific Region. The result of this joint development will be shown at the ZigBee Alliance Open House in Hong Kong this week (8th December 2005, Langham Place Hotel).

The ZigBee stack is developed by the Networks and Multimedia Institute (NMI) of III, which has been involved in wireless sensor network and IEEE802.15.4 related research fields since 2002. Having joined the ZigBee Alliance in early 2004 and evolved as an IEEE802.15.4/ZigBee software solution provider, III became the first company in Asia to pass the ZigBee Compliant Platform certification.

Tony Lucido, VP marketing at Jennic commented, “We are seeing very strong interest in ZigBee applications in Asia. Our strategy is to work closely with partners like III to provide a strong regional presence.”

Dr. J. C. Dorng, VP and general director of the NMI, indicated, “We are pleased to work with Jennic in combining its state of the art wireless microcontroller with III’s ZigBee stack and excellent application middleware capability to produce a differentiated solution. We are confident this will drive the adoption and growth of wireless sensor network applications in Asia.”.

About Jennic
Jennic is a fabless semiconductor company leading the wireless connectivity revolution into new applications. Its expertise in systems and software combined with world class RF and digital chip design provides low cost, highly integrated silicon solutions for the low power short range wireless data market with a focus on the IEEE802.15.4 and ZigBee standards. The company’s products include state-of-the-art low power wireless microcontrollers, transceivers and low cost development platforms. Headquartered in Sheffield, UK, and employing over 70 people, Jennic is privately held and has a track record of successful silicon chip development for wireless applications over the last nine years. For more information, visit www.jennic.com.

About III
Institute for Information Industry (III) is the think tank and management consultancy in the PMO (Program Management Office)/CIO (Chief Information Office) for the Taiwan government. III acts as the government think tank in which the chairman is the S&T advisor to the Prime Minister, and President; senior executives within III act as members of various government task forces. Current research areas at the Networks and Multimedia Institute (NMI), which is part of the III, include mobile computing, ubiquitous multimedia content sharing, context aware computing and enterprise networks. By employing core ICT technologies, digital content and domain know-how, NMI develops innovative technology, integrated systems or advanced applications, including wireless sensor networks and IEEE802.15.4 related research fields.

About The ZigBee Alliance
The ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies working together to enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wirelessly networked, monitoring and control products based on an open global standard. The ZigBee Alliance is a rapidly growing, non-profit industry consortium of leading semiconductor manufacturers, technology providers, OEMs, and end-users worldwide. Membership is open to all. Additional information can be found at www.zigbee.org.

Contact:
Fiona Davis, Jennic
Tel: +44 (0) 114 281 2655

Ray Chen, Institute for Information Industry
Tel: 886-2-2739-9616-162

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:10 AM | Comments (0)

Vishay's New Dual-Output LDO Regulators With 48-Microamp Ground Current Convert 2.25-V to 5.5-V Inputs to Outputs as Low as 1.5 V at Current Levels of 150 mA and 300 mA

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) today announced the release of four compact dual-output low-dropout (LDO) regulators capable of converting 2.25-V to 5.5-V inputs to outputs as low as 1.5 V at current levels of 150 mA and 300 mA.

(PRWEB) December 8, 2005 -- Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) today announced the release of four compact dual-output low-dropout (LDO) regulators capable of converting 2.25-V to 5.5-V inputs to outputs as low as 1.5 V at current levels of 150 mA and 300 mA. Operating with exceptional efficiency, the new devices provide a low ground current of 48 microamps.

The new SiP2210, SiP2211, SiP2213, and SiP2214 LDO regulators are designed to provide space savings and enhanced electrical performance in portable electronic devices such as cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players, and wireless modems.

Each part is available in a choice of two lead (Pb)-free packages: a very small 3-mm by 3-mm MLP33-10 PowerPAK package with a fixed output or a MLP44-16 PowerPAK® package with an adjustable output. All four devices are capable of supplying 150 mA from output 1 and 300 mA from output 2.

The SiP2210 and SiP2211 are pin-for-pin replacements for the MIC2210 and MIC2211 and are rated for a low dropout voltage of 65 mV at 100 mA and low ground current. Both feature independently enabled outputs, and the SiP2210 also includes an additional open-drain driver output capable of sinking 150 mA, as well as integrated POR (power-on reset) protection.

The SiP2213 and SiP2214 are pin-for-pin replacements for the MIC2213 and MIC2214. In the SiP2213, the outputs are sequenced at power on, with output 1 settling before output 2 begins turning on. Both devices also feature an open-drain driver output capable of sinking 150 mA, as well as POR protection with an adjustable delay that can be set to alert the processor when the output of the regulator has reached and settled at its designated voltage.

In addition to low dropout values and low power consumption, the new devices offer extremely low noise of 30 µV with the addition of a bypass capacitor. Protection features include undervoltage lockout, output-current limiting, and thermal shutdown.

Samples and production quantities of the SiP2210/11/13/14 are available now, with lead times of seven to eight weeks for larger orders. Pricing for U.S. delivery starts at $0.70 in 10,000-piece quantities.

Vishay, a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, optoelectronics, and selected ICs) and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transducers). The Company's components can be found in products manufactured in a very broad range of industries worldwide. Vishay is headquartered in Malvern, Pa., and has operations in 17 countries employing over 25,000 people. Vishay can be found on the Internet at www.vishay.com.

PowerPAK is a registered trademark of Siliconix incorporated

Editor resources:

Links to product datasheets:
www.vishay.com/doc?73441 (SiP2210)
www.vishay.com/doc?73479 (SiP2211)
www.vishay.com/doc?73190 (SiP2213)
www.vishay.com/doc?73191 (SiP2214)

Link to product photo:
http://www.wallstcom.com/vishay/sip2210.zip

Editorial contact:
Bob Decker, Wall Street Communications +1 415 409-0233

Reader contact:
Web: www.vishay.com
Phone (samples): +1 619 336-0860

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:09 AM | Comments (0)

New Vishay Siliconix Slew-Rate-Controlled 1-A Load Switches

New Vishay Siliconix Slew-Rate-Controlled 1-A Load Switches for 1.8-V to 5-V Systems offer designers turn-on ptions of 1000, 100, or 0.5 microseconds.

(PRWEB) December 8, 2005 -- A new family of p-channel load switches with slew-rate control for high-volume mobile phone and PDA power management applications was announced today by Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH).

The new SiP4280 devices will be used to turn on and turn off the power for the display, speakerphone, memory cards, and other such functions in portable electronic systems. Their integrated slew-rate control, allowing output voltage to be ramped up more or less gradually, means that designers can supply smaller power-supply capacitors to handle the current sags and surges encountered in the load-switching application, saving space in handheld products.

The new devices also conserve on space with their typical low on-resistance of 80 milliohms, ensuring efficient use of battery power. The SiP4280 devices are designed to handle 1 A of current and have an absolute maximum current rating of 2 A.

The device family announced today provides a choice of controlled-slew rate options. For applications requiring a relatively slow slew rate, the SiP4280-1 version provides a typical 1000-microsecond turn-on time. For applications where a minimal level of slew-rate control is needed, the SiP4280-3 version provides a 100-microsecond turn-on time. The SiP4280-2 version provides no slew rate control and delivers turn-on times of typically less than 0.5 microseconds.

Devices in the SiP4280 family are specified for a 1.8-V to 5.5-V input range, a 2.5-µA typical quiescent current, and packaging in the 6-pin SOT-23 or 8-pin SC-70. An undervoltage lockout feature turns the switch off if the input voltage drops below 1.8 V.

The SiP4280 can be used as a direct replacement for the AAT4280. The new device complements the wide range of Vishay Siliconix power-switching products, which include the current-limited
SiP4610A/B (1 A), the Si4701BDY (7 A) load switch with level-shift, and the LITTLE FOOT® Plus families of power MOSFETs with integrated drivers and Schottky diodes.

Samples and production quantities of the new slew-rate-controlled load switches are available now, with lead times of six to eight weeks for larger orders. Pricing for U.S. delivery in 1,000-piece quantities starts at $0.28.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics) and selected ICs, and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transducers). Vishay's components can be found in products manufactured in a very broad range of industries worldwide. Vishay is headquartered in Malvern, Pa., and has operations in 17 countries employing over 25,000 people. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.

LITTLE FOOT is a registered trademark of Siliconix incorporated

Editor resources:

Links to product datasheet:
www.vishay.com/doc?73476 (SiP4280)

Link to product photo:
http://www.wallstcom.com/vishay/sip4280.zip

Editorial contact:
Bob Decker, Wall Street Communications +1 415 409-0233

Reader contact:
Web: www.vishay.com
Phone (samples): +1 619 336-0860

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:08 AM | Comments (0)

December 07, 2005

Digital Camera Buyers Guide Now Available For Holiday Shopping

Digital camera comparisons and prices are included in an easy-to-use format for even the newest digital camera user.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) December 7, 2005 -- With the multitude of digital cameras available on the market today, and with so many options available that make it hard for the average consumer to make meaningful comparisons, DigitalCameraReview.com recently published its “2005 Digital Camera Buyers Guide” at its web site, http://www.DigitalCameraReview.com.

“Millions of people are searching online each month for digital cameras,” said Brian Beeler, president of TechnologyGuide.com, which publishes four technology-oriented products web sites, including sites for notebook pc’s, PDAs, and Tablet PCs.

“Given the increasing interest by consumers in digital cameras , and the wide and almost confusing number of options and pricing available, we wanted to put an easy-to-use resource in place so consumers could find what they need. Plus,” he said, “the Buyers Guide also ties in with our Users’ Forum' , where an individual can get an answer to almost any question he or she has about a digital camera .”

DigitalCameraReview.com began operation in 2004 as a consumer information web site, offering up-to-date newsfeeds and unbiased user-based information, including product ratings and reviews on all major digital camera manufacturers’ products, including Canon digital cameras, Sony digital cameras, Olympus digital cameras, and more. Its Users Forum has garnered industry praise as a consumer-friendly resource where people can get “straight answers.”

“People are looking for the best digital camera , but that is purely in the ‘eyes of the beholder’”, Beeler said. “The best digital camera is not only a function of price, but what functionality the individual requires or may be interested in. That’s why the 2005 Digital Camera Buyers Guide is so helpful.”

The 2005 Digital Camera Buyers Guide breaks down the comparison into four separate segments of digital camera prices (under $200, $200 - $300, $300 - $400, and $400 - $600) along with five different functional options (entry level digital slr’s, ultra slim/slim, ultra/super zoom, waterproof/weatherproof, and wireless enabled). This, along with the Users Forum, makes it easy for any digital camera consumer, whether a beginner or an advanced user, to find and compare his or her options.

Click here to go to the 2005 Digital Camera Buyers’ Guide .

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:23 AM | Comments (0)

Decision Tree Consulting Signs for Technology Partnership with Contour Components

Decision Tree Consulting, a leading provider of continuous and bespoke research in the handheld computers, displays, mobile and peripherals markets, and Contour Components – innovative Business Intelligence software vendor, announce a technology partnership.

London (PRWEB) December 7, 2005 -- Decision Tree Consulting, a leading provider of continuous and bespoke research in the handheld computers, displays, mobile and peripherals markets, and Contour Components – innovative Business Intelligence software vendor, announce a technology partnership.

According to the terms of partnership, Decision Tree Consulting (DTC) gets extended access to the BI products and technologies of Contour Components, for their wide use in distribution of statistical and marketing data to DTC's clientele.

Contour Components also agrees to supply the partner with technical support and pre-release software for trial. In return, Decision Tree Consulting agrees to promote Contour BI technologies through DTC's marketing channels, and to encourage their adoption in the digital equipment industry.

Decision Tree Consulting is a leading provider of market analysis and marketing data. Its products and services are consumed by more than 40 of the world’s largest electronic equipment vendors. The proprietary methodology, wide network of skilled analysts, accuracy of reports, and advanced information technologies bring value and a solid reputation to its market research activities.

Since 2003, DTC's market sizing and forecast reports have been delivered in the proprietary microcube format introduced by Contour Components, enabling the distribution of complete multidimensional reports as standalone highly compressed files. Around 100 OLAP reports are updated weekly and distributed to DTC subscribers throughout the world.

The DTC software (developed by Worldwide Data Access) is based on the Contour OLAP engine and is used by more than 1000 customers, analyzing worldwide markets for large corporations. The technology partnership enables DTC to extend these products with universal functionality for creating and distributing interactive multidimensional reports, extensively used for the customers’ analytical tasks.

Tony Bicknell, Director of Decision Tree Consulting, says: “Partnering with Contour Components has enabled DTC and Worldwide Data Access to develop a powerful and user-friendly data analysis tool for use in market research applications. The development of our software for this very specific application has required the involvement of Contour Components from the beginning. Their positive approach and responsiveness to our on-going development ideas makes them an ideal partner.”

“It is very important for us to partner a well-known and reputable company like Decision Tree Consulting. Our software and technologies are designed for mass publishing and distributing of business and statistical information. For that purpose, we conceived Contour microcube – mobile container of multidimensional reports,” said Contour Components’ CEO Vladimir Nekrasov. “During the three years of our collaboration we have gained valuable ideas from DTC and from Worldwide Data Access their software developer, helping us to improve our products. We believe this technology partnership will help enable DTC to maintain its leading position in market research activities, and will expand our customer list with large vendors of electronic equipment.”

The parties intend to extend their partnership with new collaborate technology and marketing projects in the near future.

About Decision Tree Consulting Ltd
Decision Tree Consulting (DTC) is a privately owned UK registered Company in its 10th year of trading. It offers research-based marketing consultancy and specializes in continuous and bespoke research in the handheld computer, visual displays, mobile telecoms and peripherals markets. Thousands of customers in more than 40 of the world’s largest electronics vendors rely on DTC’s market sizing and forecasting data to help them with their business decision making.
Home page of Decision Tree Consulting Ltd: www.dtc-worldwide.com

About Worldwide Data Access Ltd
Worldwide Data Access (WWDA) is a software company responsible for the development and marketing of a range of business synthesis software products. Of these, the Analyzer Desktop (used by DTC in market research applications) is a powerful desktop analysis tool allowing users to slice and dice large sets of data and create presentations and reports with ease.

Home page of Worldwide Data Access Ltd: www.ww-da.com

About Contour Components Ltd
Contour Components is a private British company. It offers Contour Business Intelligence platform for developers and end users. Contour software and technologies are based on more than 10 years extensive expertise of its team in writing Business Intelligence solutions for banks, enterprises, state organizations and software developers. Thousands of people in more than 50 countries analyze data with Contour BI. Contour BI products are used in such widely-known companies as Fidelity Investments, Verizon Wireless, Commerzbank, JPMorgan Chase, NEC, Pfizer.

Home page of Contour Components Ltd: www.contourcomponents.com

About Contour Business Intelligence
Contour Business Intelligence Platform provides a new innovative technology for Data access, Interactive Reporting, Data Analysis and Information Delivery. Contour products provide end-users in banks, enterprises, information and governmental agencies with highly interactive data analysis and configuring tools and add capabilities of printing tens of reports in a minute without programming.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:22 AM | Comments (0)

IntelliScanner Announces Kitchen Companion 100 Grocery Management System, Featuring Barcode Scanning And Bluetooth Wireless Technology

Portable Grocery Scanner for the home builds shopping lists, tracks nutrition with barcode technology. Ships January 9 for PC and Mac.

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 7, 2005 -- IntelliScanner, makers of automatic organization devices for home and business, today announced IntelliScanner Kitchen Companion 100, the Company's new barcode scanner and software bundle for grocery shopping and nutrition/recipe management.

Kitchen Companion is powered by an Internet-enabled database of over 300,000 grocery items. Simply scan the barcode on anything as it's thrown away, then download the information to the software for Windows or Mac OS X for complete details including the name, brand, category, shopping section, and size. Users can print out a categorized shopping list, or send the list to an iPod, Palm, or cell phone. For power users, Kitchen Companion offers advanced quantity management, scan in/out capabilities, consumption history, physical location tracking, custom searching, dynamic shopping lists, and nutrition information from the USDA.

The new Kitchen Companion 100 features:

- 1-2-3 Shopping -- Scan, Connect, Shop: Simply scan the barcodes from groceries as they're thrown away, connect the scanner to download, then view your automatic shopping list and bring it to the store.

- Integrated tools for Groceries, Nutrition, and Recipes in one package.

- Printed Shopping Lists: Kitchen Companion can print custom shopping lists and reports, sorted for efficiency by section and category.

- iPod Shopping Lists: send your shopping lists directly to any iPod with a screen, including the iPod nano and iPod with video.

- Advanced features for power users and dietary consultants, including: quantity tracking, scan in/out capabilities, XML data export, purchasing and consumption history, searchable custom fields, and smart lists, powered by an integrated SQL database engine.

- Integrated USDA nutrition database: displays industry standard Nutrition Facts labels and allows for direct links to groceries.

- Included plastic IntelliScanner On-The-Go Card, for scanning quantities and deleting scanning mistakes without a computer.

- Palm Shopping Lists: support for SplashShopper from SplashData, Inc. for fast shopping with any Palm OS or Treo handheld device.

- Phone Shopping Lists: send lists to any Bluetooth-enabled phone with a Notes, Memos, or To Do type function.

- Included reference tools: Nutrition Browser displays Nutrition Facts labels from an embedded USDA database; My Recipes makes it easy to store your favorite recipes and view them on screen for cooking.

- Complete bundled package includes portable IntelliScanner barcode reader and Kitchen Companion software in one box.

Pricing, Requirements & Availability

Kitchen Companion 100 is fully portable with an integrated 500 barcode memory chip, making it easy to scan groceries anywhere and download them to the computer. Choose between a detachable serial interface for Windows PCs ($249.00) or a Bluetooth wireless interface for Windows and Mac OS X ($279.00; for Bluetooth equipped computers). A "tethered" USB model for use while at a computer only is also available for $179.00.

Kitchen Companion includes the scanner and software in one box. The product is now available for pre-order, shipping January 9th, 2006 during Macworld Expo San Francisco 2006.

System Requirements: Windows XP/2000/NT, or Mac OS X 10.3 or later; proper computer interface (serial port, or a Bluetooth wireless antenna -- either built-in or provided by a third-party USB adapter).

For more information or to place an order:

http://www.intelliscanner.com/products/kitchen/

IntelliScanner Express bundle, the company's combination home scanning bundle with an IntelliScanner barcode reader, along with Media Collector, Wine Collector, Home Assets, and Auction Automator software, has been revised to also include the new Kitchen Companion software. IntelliScanner Express starts at $249.00 (tethered USB model); now shipping worldwide.

About IntelliScanner Corporation

IntelliScanner delivers intelligent barcode organization products -- complete packages that include everything needed to organize items in a home or business. The company's award-winning IntelliScanner barcode readers for Windows and Mac OS X deliver comprehensive, easy-to-use solutions for personal collecting, inventory control, wine tracking, lending management, grocery shopping, and more.

Contact: (800) 550-5470, or visit us at http://www.intelliscanner.com

Press Contact:
Paul Scandariato
IntelliScanner Corp.
e-mail protected from spam bots
(800) 550-5470

Press Kit & Product Photography: http://www.intelliscanner.com/press/

Visit IntelliScanner Corporation this January at Macworld Expo San Francisco, booth 2149. http://www.macworldexpo.com

Kitchen Companion is designed for use within the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Copyright (c) 2005 IntelliScanner Corporation / dare to organize

IntelliScanner's barcode solutions are built for Mac OS X and Windows.

The Bluetooth(r) word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and use of such marks by IntelliScanner Corporation is under license.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:21 AM | Comments (0)

Electric Pocket Rings in the Festive Season with 20 Free Holiday Ringtones

Electric Pocket announces a collection of 20 free Christmas and New Year ringtones that will be provided with all new Ringo purchases and separately to existing Ringo users.

Wye Valley, UK (PRWEB via MobilityNewswire) December 7, 2005 -- Electric Pocket, developer of the popular Ringo ringtone manager for Treo smartphones, announces a collection of 20 free Christmas and New Year ringtones that will be provided with all new Ringo purchases and separately to existing Ringo users.

The festive ringtones collection includes seasonal tunes to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

“This Christmas ringtone collection is our gift to all of our customers that have made Ringo the top ringtone manager for the Treo,” said Iain Barclay, Chief Product Officer for Electric Pocket. “The team at Electric Pocket wishes everyone a wonderful, fun-filled holiday season.”

Ringo has long been the best selling ringtone manager for Palm’s Treo-brand smartphones, with features such as playing MP3 tunes as ringtones, assigning ringtones and SMS tones to individual callers or groups of callers and composing ringtones with Ringo’s unique ringtone mixer.

Ringo is available from Electric Pocket’s web site at http://electricpocket.com for US$29.95.
The Christmas ringtones can be downloaded directly to the Treo, from Ringo’s built-in Ringtones Store, or from the web at http://www.electricpocket.com/ringotones.html.

The ringtones are free, but operator data charges may apply for mobile downloads.

About Electric Pocket Limited
Electric Pocket is a privately held company offering leading-edge mobile and wireless computing solutions and services from its base in Wye Valley, UK. The company’s product portfolio includes a rich set of wireless messaging solutions, mobile commerce and configuration toolkits. Electric Pocket’s consulting group has provided solutions to global companies such as Ericsson, Palm and Vodafone. For more information, visit www.electricpocket.com.

PalmSource, Palm Powered and Palm OS are trademarks or registered trademarks of PalmSource, Inc. or its affiliate in the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and other countries.


Contacts:
TalonPR, Inc.
Kevin Doel
785-273-9660

Electric Pocket, Ltd.
Iain Barclay
+44-1-291-6285 ext.99

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:20 AM | Comments (0)

PhotographyCorner.com Re-Launches its Premier Website With New Look and New Services

PhotographyCorner.com recently announced the re-launch of their website with a brand new look and a host of new services for the novice, amateur and professional photographer. With traffic to PhotographyCorner.com in tens of thousands of visitors per day, the website truly has become the on-line home for a significant percentage of active photographers around the world today.

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) December 7, 2005 -- PhotographyCorner.com (http://www.photographycorner.com) recently announced the re-launch of their website with a brand new look and a host of new services for the novice, amateur and professional photographer. With traffic to PhotographyCorner.com in tens of thousands of visitors per day, the website truly has become the on-line home for a significant percentage of active photographers around the world today.

One of the most important new additions at PhotographyCorner.com is a comprehensive resource center. The new resource center offers in-depth and quality information on all issues relating to photography. The resource center at the website provides useful information for photographers of all skill levels.

As one recent visitor to the resource center noted: “At PhotographyCorner.com I was able to find more information than I ever anticipated. I had some very specific questions that I needed answered in regard to my own camera equipment. Not being able to get a useful answer from the manufacturer, and after scouring the Net for help, I found PhotographyCorner.com and had the information that I needed in no time.” This particular photographer went on to remark: “You know, on the welcome page at PhotographyCorner.com, there is a comment that the website is home to many, many photographers. After spending just a short amount of time at the website, and getting the information I needed in not time at all, I certainly can see why this is the case.”

The resource center also offers educational opportunities and different tutorial programs that allow a photographer the chance to hone his or her skills. Again, PhotographyCorner.com takes pride in the comprehensive nature of its online resource center.

An element of the site that remains equally vibrant and lively since the re-launch of the PhotographyCorner.com website are the forums. The forums attract thousands of photographers from all corners of the globe and from all walks of life. At the forums, professionals come together with amateurs, all sharing their experiences in photography with one and another. As one professional photographer who frequents the forums at PhotographyCorner.com remarked: “You know, I’ve been at this business for twenty-six years. No matter how long I’ve been at it, I still find myself learning something new all of the time. At these forums, I am able to exchange ideas with people all of the time. PhotographyCorner.com and its forums actually have made me a better photographer.”

In a recent interview, the owner and founder of PhotographyCorner.com, Tim L. Walker, expressed that "the site continues to grow each and every month. Every month brings more members, more resources and increasingly inspiring photographs and discussion. With the expansion of the photographer resources section of the site, even more photographers, ranging from beginner to professional, will gather at the Corner to learn and teach with other photographers."

In addition to the comprehensive resource center now offered at PhotographyCorner.com and the forums, the website maintains the latest information and news of interest to photographers. The site provides a one-stop location where a photographer can obtain all the news and updates available anywhere.

PhotographyCorner.com also offers a popular Photograph of the Month contest as well as other regular themed contests and projects that allow photographers of all skill levels a chance to compete.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:19 AM | Comments (0)

Manfrotto Articulated Arm Wins Hot1 Award

Professional Photographer Magazine honors Innovative Articulated Arm.

Bassano del Grappa, Italia (PRWEB) December 7, 2005 -- Manfrotto, the world’s leading manufacturer of photographic support products, is proud to announce the Articulated Arm with Camera Bracket among the select group of 2005 Hot1 award winners from Professional Photographer Magazine.

The prestigious Hot1 Awards honors professional photographic products that are revolutionizing today’s imaging industry, and is given to a product for its exceptional quality, innovation, design and performance.

“The Professional Photographer magazine Hot1 Awards represent a must-have list of this year’s hottest, most sought-after new products,” said Jeff Kent, Special Hot1 Awards Editor and Editor at Large of Professional Photographer magazine. “The awards are selected by a panel of working professional photographers, and are chosen based on innovation, overall quality and value for price.”

With the development of the inventive and multitalented two-section 196B-2 Articulate Arm with Camera Bracket, Manfrotto has provided photographers with a user-friendly lighting accessory to assist in their many projects. This adaptable arm supports 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) at full extension, and weighs only 0.53 kg (1.17 lbs). Extra versatility is also given by the sliding extension system which allows for easier positioning of lighting fixtures even in awkward and tight spaces. The Articulated Arm has a maximum length of 60.5 cm (23.8 inches), and the bottom 16mm (5/8") spigot (compatible with the Superclamp), has a 1/4" thread.

Professional Photographer, the official magazine of the Professional Photographers of America, helps readers advance careers in the photographic industry. Each issue contains practical yet cutting edge lessons for both the business and artistic sides of professional photography.

Manfrotto is proud to be the recipient of the Hot1 Award for the Articulated Arm.

Manfrotto products are distributed exclusively by Bogen Imaging in the United States. For information, contact Bogen Imaging at e-mail protected from spam bots or 565 East Crescent Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446-0506.

About Manfrotto
Gruppo Manfrotto are world leaders in the manufacture of professional camera and lighting supports for photography, video, broadcast and entertainment. For 35 years, Manfrotto has been building the world’s widest range of tripods, heads and dedicated accessories to support professional and semi-professional still cameras, from the traditional small, medium and large format to the latest digital camera. Every product in the Manfrotto range is designed to provide a perfect combination of important features such as: load capacity, size, stability, transportability, interchangeability and construction quality -- guaranteeing unique inimitable reliability and longevity.

About Bogen Imaging:
Since 1959, Bogen Imaging (formerly Bogen Photo) has been a leading source for photographic, cinematic and video lighting, supports, and accessories. Many of the most respected manufacturers of precision products for the photographic, video, Cine and lighting are distributed in the U.S. exclusively by Bogen. These include Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods and heads, Kata protective carrying systems and accessories, Avenger lighting grip, I.F.F. ceiling mounted lighting suspension, Metz on-camera flash systems, Gossen light meters, Elinchrom studio lighting systems and a wide host of additional product lines which round out the most complete range of exceptional accessories in the business.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:19 AM | Comments (0)

Gitzo Basalt Tripod Wins Hot1 Award

Professional photographer Magazine honors innovative Basalt-Fiber Tripod.

Nogent La Phaye, France (PRWEB) December 7, 2005 -- Gitzo, revered throughout the world for its precision, quality and innovation in bringing new products to market for both the professional photo and video markets, is proud to announce the Basalt Tripod among the select group of 2005 Hot1 award winners from Professional Photographer Magazine.

The Hot1 awards honors professional photographic products that are revolutionizing today’s imaging industry. This prestigious award is given to a product for its exceptional quality, innovation, design and performance.

“The Professional Photographer magazine Hot1 Awards represent a must-have list of this year’s hottest, most sought-after new products,” said Jeff Kent, Special Hot1 Awards Editor and Editor at Large of Professional Photographer magazine. “The awards are selected by a panel of working professional photographers, and are chosen based on innovation, overall quality and value for price.”

With the development of the new Basalt Tripod, Gitzo has modernized a new generation of tripods. The volcanic-based basalt materials used to develop them from the ground up provide photographers advanced performance and durability at affordable prices. Suited for all camera types, ranging from compact digital to medium format film, these new tripods are more durable and better at absorbing vibrations than aluminum models with similar dimensions. With Basalt fiber legs, this new tripod is tougher than aluminum, yet 20 percent lighter. It is also recyclable, provides stability and has easy-to-use features. Gitzo is the first and only manufacturer in the world to create basalt fiber tripods.

Basalt fiber tube fabrication capabilities were developed for the space program because of the material’s lightweight and fire-proof properties. Gitzo utilized these while creating a new way of producing tripods. The basalt, a black lightweight rock, is pulverized, then melted at extreme temperatures (1500 degrees Celsius) and combined with other materials and spun into a strong fiber which is used to create multi-layer composite tubing. The result is a non-rotating tube of exceptional performance that meets the demands of today’s professional photographers. The legs are assembled using Gitzo’s “H.I.S,” a dual “screw thread and glue” jointing technology that provides greater durability than alternative methods.

It only takes seconds to open and secure the tripod with the new Anti-Leg-Rotation (ALR) system. Just loosen all twist locks at the same time and pull down the leg before tightening the twist locks, making setup a mere 15 seconds.

Waterproof bushings were employed making it safer to use the tripod near and in fresh water. An added plus, basalt tubes won’t get hot and cold to your touch the way aluminum does.

Gitzo, as usual, left no detail overlooked. Even the stabilizing hooks that used to take up space and snag on clothing or equipment will no longer be problematic. A newly redesigned built-in, spring-loaded, retractable accessory hook provides a place to hang equipment, such as camera, sand, or water bags, on the bottom of the center column.

Professional Photographer, the official magazine of the Professional Photographers of America, helps readers advance careers in the photographic industry. Each issue contains practical yet cutting edge lessons for both the business and artistic sides of professional photography.

Gitzo is proud to be the recipient of the Hot1 Award for the Basalt Tripod.

Gitzo products are distributed exclusively by Bogen Imaging in the United States. For information, contact Bogen Imaging at 565 East Crescent Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446-0506.

About Gitzo
Professionals the world over acknowledge Gitzo tripods, monopods, heads and accessories as setting the industry’s standards for excellence. Innovations such as the first uses of carbon and basalt fiber to make tripods and magnesium to make heads, matched with a design policy of “no gimmicks and no compromise on quality,” put Gitzo products in a class of their own. Gitzo’s carefully crafted products form a comprehensive range of supports for large, medium and small format cameras, for film or digital technology, for still photography or dynamic video, for studio or location work. Precision assembly, high quality materials and fine control are all qualities that represent Gitzo products.

About Bogen Imaging:
Since 1959, Bogen Imaging (formerly Bogen Photo) has been a leading source for photographic, cinematic and video lighting, supports, and accessories. Many of the most respected manufacturers of precision products for the photographic, video, Cine and lighting are distributed in the U.S. exclusively by Bogen. These include Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods and heads, Kata protective carrying systems and accessories, Avenger lighting grip, I.F.F. ceiling mounted lighting suspension, Metz on-camera flash systems, Gossen light meters, Elinchrom studio lighting systems and a wide host of additional product lines which round out the most complete range of exceptional accessories in the business.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:18 AM | Comments (0)

SchmartBoard Signs Japanese Distributor

Microbot Education to supply Japan high tech with SchmartBoard.

Fremont, CA (PRWEB) December 7, 2005 -- SchmartBoard, Inc., a prototype board manufacturer that is revolutionizing the way engineers, students and hobbyists create electronic circuits, has signed an agreement with Tokyo-based distributor Microbot Education of Japan. The company released its SchmartBoard|ez™ prototyping technology in September 2005. SchmartBoard’s technology is a major advancement for teaching electronics and prototyping circuits that have surface mount components.

"SchmartBoard has just begun to add international distributors," said Neal Greenberg, SchmartBoard vice president of sales and marketing. "We are targeting hobbyists and students as well as engineers. With Japan’s technology leadership and Microbot’s distribution capabilities, we are confident that SchmartBoard will the preferred tool used by companies for prototype development and by universities for electronics education."

SchmartBoard’s new product makes it possible for virtually anyone to hand solder surface mount integrated circuits, including BGA (Ball Grid Array). Historically, only a very small percentage of skilled engineers and technicians could hand solder small components. With SchmartBoard|ez, a ten year old can pick up a soldering iron and hand solder the smallest IC on the market.

"Microbot Education of Japan is very excited to introduce this new technology to the people of Japan," said Kiyoshi Sekimoto, president of Microbot Education of Japan. "The ability to easily hand solder surface mount components has been a need for our customers for a long time. The SchmartBoard|ez line will resolve this need and bring new customers to Microbot Education."

Prototyping boards have long been the standard for manually verifying circuits, but as surface mount components have become smaller and smaller, these boards have not kept up with the technology and have become impractical for most applications. Therefore, engineers are forced to spend large amounts of time and money making revisions on expensive, custom PCBs. By making prototyping boards viable again, SchmartBoard|ez will save companies and universities a tremendous amount of time and money.

About SchmartBoard (www.schmartboard.com)
SchmartBoard is committed to helping engineers, students, and hobbyists develop electronic circuits faster, easier, and less expensively than previously possible. At SchmartBoard, our three-word mission statement is "Electronics for Everyone."

About Microbot Education of Japan (www.microbot-ed.com)
Microbot Education of Japan was established in 2003 in Hachioji-shi, Tokyo to distribute educational materials through the Internet to the Japanese market. Microbot distributes products from Parallax Inc., Indytel Systems, Vernier International and SchmartBoard, Inc. Microbot searches for the best products to supply Japans significant population of electronics and robotics enthusiasts and students.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:16 AM | Comments (0)

Mr Test Equipment Announces Free Repair Evaluation Program for Electronic Test Equipment

Mr Test Equipment announces free repair evaluation program for electronic test equipment.

(PRWEB) December 7, 2005 -- Mr Test Equipment is pleased to announce the formal launch of the Free Repair Evaluation Program for Electronic Test Equipment.

Instead of buying new equipment from the manufacturer, or instead of grossly overpaying for manufacturer to repair broken equipment, our clients are realizing significant savings by having their existing equipment repaired by Mr Test Equipment. This equipment can be current technology, obsolete, end, or out of support and/or legacy equipment.

The Mr Test Equipment Repair Program is a natural extension of our sales of calibrated used and refurbished electronic test equipment. Over time, we have become experts in the repair of all quality brands of electronic test equipment.

In general, the Mr Test Equipment Free Repair Evaluation Program includes the following:

1. Free evaluation of the broken, obsolete, malfunctioning, out of specification and/or out of calibration electronic test equipment.

2. Official Quotation. Once the repair evaluation is complete, Mr Test Equipment will email you with our findings, including an official quotation for the cost for repair.

3. Price guarantee. Mr Test Equipment includes a price guarantee on our repair quotation. What is quoted is what you will pay. There are no surprises.

4. No obligation. Our clients are never under obligation to proceed with the repair. If for whatever reason, the repair quote is rejected, the equipment is returned. No fee is ever charged for the evaluation. Clients do remain responsible for return shipments.

5. All service work is guaranteed. All work completed comes with a comprehensive parts and labour warranty.

Mr Test Equipment is an international company, with offices and inventory around the globe (Canada, USA, UK, India and Australia), that specializes in buying, selling, leasing, calibration and repair of previously owned (used and refurbished) electronic test and measurement equipment (oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, signal generator, calibrator, etc.) from all major manufacturers.

For more detailed information, contact Stephen Hopkins, Mr Test Equipment by email at e-mail protected from spam bots or call 905 274 6200 or visit http://www.mrtestequipment.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:14 AM | Comments (0)

December 06, 2005

Computer Systems Reaching Record Low Price-Point

Insiders credit recently reduced component costs, record sales growth, and growing internet usage as key contributors.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 6, 2005 -- Computer system prices are at an all-time low - some approaching a fabled $300 price-point that could bring nearly universal usage among US consumers. Several key factors including rapidly declining computer component costs, record sales growth rates, and the spread of internet usage are attributed to this stunning phenomenon. The great news for consumers is that computer retailers are becoming more capable of offering high-end desktops for bargain desktop prices, further fueling the purchasing boom.

Breakthroughs in semiconductor technology play a large role in the cost of computers. The semiconductor industry - the fundamental base of the information revolution, has in the past few years seen astounding growth thanks to groundbreaking technological innovations such as VLSI, magnetic memory, and complex tools for modeling and synthesis. These technological breakthroughs have made possible increasingly complex and faster computers at lower prices. Propelled by a year-on year growth rate of 28 percent, global sales of the semiconductor industry were $219 billion in 2004, surpassing the previous record of $204 billion reached in 2000. As a result of this staggering growth rate, the semiconductor prices have fallen steeply thus contributing to the recent sharp fall in computer prices.

Increased internet usage drives computer sales. Record increases in the number of internet users worldwide are also responsible for the PC boom. Internet usage has soared from 274 million users in 1999 to 605 million users in 2002 - a staggering growth of 119%. In the US alone, the number of Internet users has increased by 53 million (16%) with penetration of 52%. Additionally, the percentage of total world population with internet access has increased to 9% in 2002 from 7% in 1999. It's clear to see that the nearly ubiquitous use of the internet worldwide is going to continue to drive PC sales and reduce prices.

Computer financing opens new options for consumers. Computer financing retailers are finding that they are able to offer much more powerful, affordable, and feature-rich systems to their customers through financing. This purchasing model greatly extends the usable life-cycle of these newly purchased computers. By getting more computer with less initial cash outlay the consumer gets a more robust computer while still staying within their budget.

According to Leonard Durow, Vice President of My Computer Club, "69 million working Americans have a pre-tax income of less than $40,802 which equates to 60% of the working population. These individuals are having difficulties purchasing the more expensive computers and related equipment necessary for their personal use, supporting the proper educational needs of their children or sustaining their small businesses." This helps to explain why many computer retailers are aggressively seeking computer financing programs targeted to individuals who are classified as low income and derogatory credit consumers.

For additional facts regarding computer financing, pricing trends and other info, visit: http://www.mycompclub.com/library/

Contact:
Leonard Durow
MyCompClub.com
619-578-5969
http://www.mycompclub.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:24 AM | Comments (0)

MoD Automated Test Equipment Delivered Ahead of Schedule

Gaddon Consultants, working a leading US ATE manufacturer, have successfully delivered a new ATE system to the MoD ahead of schedule

Sheffield, U.K. (PRWEB) December 6, 2005 -- Gaddon Consultants is proud to announce participation and completion of the first phase of a major Automated Test Equipment Project for the MoD. Work in conjunction with a major US ATE manufacturer Gaddon Consultants was involved in a specialist role in the initial specification, through the design and manufacture stage and delivery.

Working as a technical liaison between the MoD and the US ATE manufacturer as well as giving specialist advice and engineer training, Gaddon Consultants ensured that technical solutions matched the customers’ requirements, and the ATE was delivered ahead of schedule.

Gaddon Consultants will be continuing to work within the project giving technical support to field engineers, and designing the support solution for the special to type equipment used.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:23 AM | Comments (0)

Blue Nomad Releases Nomad Security Suite for Palm Powered Mobile Devices

Nomad Security Suite brings comprehensive data security to Palm Powered Mobile Devices

Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB via MobilityNewswire) December 5, 2005 - Blue Nomad, LLC today announced the immediate availability of the Nomad Security Suite, a comprehensive data security package, for Palm Powered handhelds and smartphones. The security suite includes RemoveIt for Palm OS™, which allows users to identify programs taking up hidden space on their devices and provides an audit trail of files and preferences created by running programs, BackupBuddyVFS Professional™ which creates quick and secure device backups to external memory cards, and SwordFish for Palm OS which allows users to securely store personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and passwords.

Blue Nomad has also made available the Nomad Security Suite Plus, which includes the above applications as well as BackupBuddy for Windows/Mac OS X. BackupBuddy uses a unique process for maintaining a complete history of any given device's files and settings so that users can restore individual files or their entire device to any previous point in time with the simple click of a button—a process called ZoomBackTM. BackupBuddy, when used with a Palm Powered device, provides a complete backup solution for both consumer and enterprise customers. BackupBuddy for Mac OS X contains all the features present in its Windows counterpart and works both with the Missing Sync from MarkSpace, as well as with the standard HotSync software as supplied by PalmOne.

"We are very excited by our release of the Nomad Security Suite,” says Dr. Alexis S. Hinds, CEO of Nomad. “It is the first comprehensive data security solution available for Palm Powered devices. As users continue to store more and more data on their handhelds and smartphones, they need to feel confident that they can securely manage the data present on their device and have access to comprehensive backups should the need arise.”

Palm OS is known for the power and flexibility of its sophisticated, easy-to-use interface. As the foundation for 30 million mobile devices sold to-date, Palm OS platform provides an open, modular architecture that allows licensees, including Aceeca, AlphaSmart, Fossil, Garmin, Kyocera, Lenovo, palmOne, Samsung, and Symbol Technologies to develop a broad range of innovative handhelds for consumers and enterprise customers.

Pricing and Availability
The Nomad Security Suite is available now from Blue Nomad's website (www.bluenomad.com) for $29.95. Customers may also purchase the Nomad Security Suite Plus for $39.95 which includes a license for BackupBuddy 2 Professional for Windows or Mac OS X.

About Blue Nomad, LLC
Blue Nomad, LLC, was founded in 1997 by Alexis S. Hinds, M.D. Blue Nomad has developed a comprehensive suite of award-winning backup and installation software for the Palm OS.

Palm, Palm OS and PalmSource are registered trademarks of, and Palm Powered is a trademark of, Palm Trademark Holding Company, LLC. Other brands may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact: Alexis Hinds
(323) 284-5083

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:21 AM | Comments (0)

December 05, 2005

Airport Wireless Retail Stores To Offer Audiofy Audiobook Chips (“Bookchips”) at International Airport Hubs in Ten States

Partnership Gives Business and Recreational Travelers On-The-Go Access to Hundreds of Audiobook Titles, Including Pimsleur Foreign Language Training Courses and Bestselling Business Audiobooks

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) December 5, 2005 -- Airport Wireless, the top airport consumer electronics reseller, and Audiofy Corporation, a premier digital audiobook publisher, today announced that Airport Wireless will offer Audiofy audiobook chips for sale at more than twenty airport stores, including international airport hubs spanning the U.S. eastern seaboard and a retail outlet at San Francisco International Airport. The announcement represents an expansion of a recent pilot sales test program at Philadelphia International Airport.

“We’re excited to be offering these popular audiobook titles for business and recreational travelers,” said David Goldschmidt of Airport Wireless. “Audiofy titles play seamlessly on the mobile gear that today’s frequent travelers consider essential equipment – Microsoft Windows laptops and desktop computers, Palm and Microsoft Pocket PC handheld PDAs, Palm Treo and Windows Mobile smartphones, and the company’s inexpensive Audiofy Player.”

“Airport Wireless is a major player in the airport system. Now, our digital audiobook titles can be enjoyed by the technology enthusiasts that are generating nonstop foot traffic at their stores,” said Peter D. Nalle, Audiofy’s CEO. “Unlike traditional audiobooks on stacks of CDs or cassettes, each Audiofy title is contained on a single stamp-sized audiobook chip that fits easily into carry-on luggage, and Airport Wireless is able to offer a wide selection of titles at sites where shelf space is at a premium. Airport Wireless is also demonstrating how Audiofy audiobook chips offer a retail opportunity superior to audiobook downloads. Audiofy audiobook chips can be purchased on the spur of the moment, for personal enjoyment and as last-minute gifts, even by travelers without Internet-equipped laptops or ample time to download and sync before their next flight.”

Every Audiofy audiobook chip can be played on a variety of devices with SD memory card expansion slots, including Microsoft Pocket PC handheld PDAs and Windows Mobile smartphones running Pocket PC 2002 or later, and Palm handheld PDAs and Treo smartphones running Palm OS 5.2.1 or later. The chips will play on desktop and laptop computers running Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000, as well as Apple PowerBook and iBook laptops and Apple Power Mac, iMac and Mac mini computers running Mac OS X 10.3 and above, using any available SD memory card expansion slot or a low-cost USB adapter.

Additionally, the Audiofy Player offers an inexpensive alternative for customers to listen to audiobook chips without any need for a computer. The $29.95 player is pocket-sized, weighs just ounces, and is easy to use whether you are driving, commuting, exercising or just on the living room sofa. All Audiofy products comply with the “Audiobook Compatible” standard established by the Audio Publishers Association and the Consumer Electronics Association.

About Audiofy Corporation

Audiofy is a leading developer of digital audiobook solutions and the publisher of “audiobooks on chips.” Audiofy’s titles include the Pimsleur line of spoken audio foreign language training courses from Simon & Schuster, best-selling business audiobooks from Soundview Executive Book Summaries, a range of fiction and non-fiction titles from Gildan Media Corporation, InAudio and Jimcin Recordings, and spiritual titles from Litchfield Associates and Covenant Press.

Audiofy audiobook chips are available for sale at www.audiofy.com, www.pimsleurdirect.com and many other online retailers. Audiofy delivers an innovative audiobook platform and services for the world’s spoken audio and audiobook content, enabling publishing partners to rapidly and cost effectively launch complete, customized digital audiobook titles.

About Airport Wireless

Established in 1997 at Philadelphia International Airport, Airport Wireless began life as a small concession offering mobile phones and related accessories. Eight years later, twenty Airport Wireless stores serve travelers in major airports around the United States, and the company is rolling out an additional dozen stores in the next six months. Through the company’s relationship with Palm Inc., Airport Wireless is able to offer a unique and exclusive product offering to business travelers and technology enthusiasts. The company also provides substantial discount opportunities for corporations and elite travelers, detailed on its Web site at www.airportwireless.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:08 AM | Comments (0)

TechJobsToronto.com Launched with 1505 High Tech Jobs in Toronto

Tech professionals in Toronto now have their own career site listing over one thousand job opportunities.

Richmond, BC (PRWEB) December 5, 2005 -- JobArrow Solutions (http://www.jobarrow.com) officially launched its fourth job site: TechJobsToronto.com (http://www.techjobstoronto.com) with 1505 high tech jobs in the Greater Toronto Area. TechJobsToronto.com is a one-stop job site that provides free access for job seekers to its entire listing of job opportunities.

Over 100 companies have jobs listed on TechJobsToronto.com. The basic job posting service is free and hiring managers are invited to submit their company by visiting the website and using the company submission form (http://www.techjobstoronto.com/employers/submit.php). Premium job posting services are also available at competitive rates.

"TechJobsToronto.com is our fourth and largest career website thus far," says Keith Phu, Vice President of Operations at JobArrow. "The tech sector is growing at a rapid pace in many major Canadian cities. There are thousands of high tech jobs currently available in Canada. According to the number of jobs listed on our career sites, Toronto has the most opportunities for skilled tech professionals."

TechJobsToronto.com relies on search software developed by JobArrow Solutions. Job seekers are able to quickly search thousands of jobs found on corporate websites. Job postings are updated every day, multiple times a day.

JobArrow Solutions produces career websites that are specific to a profession and location. The websites attract a focused demographic of professionals interested in a specific industry and area. JobArrow’s other websites include TechJobsVancouver.com (http://www.techjobsvancouver.com), TechJobsOttawa.com (http://www.techjobsottawa.com) and TechJobsVictoria.com (http://www.techjobsvictoria.com).

Contact Information:
Olive Chan
Marketing and Media Relations
JobArrow Solutions Inc.
Tel: +1 604 628 7608

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:08 AM | Comments (0)

ICD Develops Advanced Power Conversion Methodology

ICD is bringing to market a new patent-pending power conversion methodology using Extrapolative Conductance Mode Control (ECMC(TM)). ECMC(TM) enables power conversion with high signal-to-noise ratio current sensing, minimal sense-element losses, and operation for duty cycles greater than 50% without the need for slope compensation.

Ellicott City, MD (PRWEB) December 5, 2005 -- Integrated Circuit Designs, Inc. (ICD) is bringing to market a new patent-pending power conversion methodology using Extrapolative Conductance Mode Control (ECMC(TM)). ICD's Extrapolative Conductance Mode Control has been in development for five years, and enables power conversion with high signal-to-noise ratio current sensing, minimal sense-element losses, and operation for duty cycles greater than 50% without the need for slope compensation. Extrapolative Conductance Mode Control is a cost effective, low noise, efficient and reliable power conversion solution.

"ICD's mission is to develop and bring to market innovative technologies for the national and international electronics community that will positively impact those customers who require cost effective and highly efficient power conversion solutions," said Edward Chalfin, President and founder of ICD.

About ICD
ICD is a leading independent provider of high-value analog, RF, mixed signal and power management IC design services and IP. Since its founding in 1995, ICD has taped out over 80 designs to fab for more than 35 fabless, integrated and OEM customers. ICD is located in Ellicott City, Maryland and serves a worldwide customer base.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:06 AM | Comments (0)

Analyst Profiles Debuts Affiliate Program

Free program pays for referrals… Tekrati™ Inc. today unveiled an affiliate program for its Analyst Profiles worldwide industry analyst directory.

Belmont, Calif. (PRWEB) December 5, 2005 -- Tekrati™ Inc. today unveiled an affiliate program for its Analyst Profiles [www.AnalystProfiles.com worldwide industry analyst directory. The free program enables qualified referrers, such as marketing associations, public relations agencies, publishers, blogs, and others, to use logo, banner and textual links to redirect people from their Web sites to the Analyst Profiles site. Analyst Profiles will pay 10% of its subscription fee to referring organizations when a client purchases an annual subscription. Details of the program and the linking library are available at http://affiliates.analystprofiles.com.

“Analyst Profiles was launched in October and is growing exponentially,” said Barbara French, Tekrati founder and Analyst Profiles managing editor. “This new program is a good marketing tool for us and gives our affiliates the opportunity to associate themselves with the most comprehensive, up-to-date technology analyst directory available in the world -- and make some money in the process.”

Analyst Profiles provides in-depth information on almost 400 information technology (IT), telecommunications and semiconductor analyst firms and more than 3,000 individual analysts and consultants. It brings all important research analyst and consultant information together into a consistently presented keyword and phrase searchable directory. Subscribers can search by firm or analyst name, geography, or any number of other criteria, including research focus area. Each analyst record includes phone and email contact details, research focus areas, a biography and information on how to arrange meetings. The records also include hyperlinks to recent news items on Google, MSN and Yahoo! for each analyst.

Analyst Profiles is ideal for public relations and analyst relations practitioners, vendor and service provider product and development engineers and managers, and corporate planners and purchasers of technology, such as CIOs and other IT management.

Analyst Profiles subscriptions are priced at $379/year. All major credit cards are accepted. Discounted, multiple-subscriber and corporate licenses are also available. Analyst Profiles is fully compatible with Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows operating systems and all major browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Netscape and Safari.

About Analyst Profiles
Analyst Profiles [www.AnalystProfiles.com is the first comprehensive site to provide biographies for more than 3,000 analysts and consultants, and descriptions of nearly 400 analyst firms that serve the IT, telecommunications and semiconductor industries. Analyst Profiles details each analyst’s areas of specialty and gives both technology suppliers and corporate technology buyers specific directions on how to contact the individuals/firms. Updated daily, Analyst Profiles is the single analyst information source for engineers, managers, analyst relations professionals and the media.

About Tekrati Inc.
Tekrati Inc. [www.Tekrati.com is the leading news source covering high tech industry analysts and firms. Tekrati enables IT, telecom and semiconductor professionals to connect in meaningful ways with the global industry analyst community. Tekrati monitors, profiles and reports on almost 400 industry analyst firms worldwide. Through its Web sites and events, Tekrati helps analyst relations specialists, technology users and technology product and service providers gather actionable information for their jobs. Tekrati resources include Industry Analyst Reporter [www.IndustryAnalystReporter.com and Analyst Profiles [www.AnalystProfiles.com.

Tekrati and Industry Analyst Reporter are trademarks of Tekrati Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Editors: For further information:
Sandy McLaughlin
Soucy Communications Group
162 Great Rd.
Acton, MA 01720
978-266-1700

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:05 AM | Comments (0)

Fine Pitch Printing is Focus of Free Web Seminar, Dec. 15, from Speedline Technologies

SMT manufacturing experts from Speedline Technologies will address the issues of "Fine Pitch Printing" in a free, live, Web seminar on Thursday, December 15, from 11 AM to 12 Noon, U.S. Eastern time, at: http://www.speedlinetech.com/seminars.

Franklin, MA (PRWEB) December 5, 2005 -- In the SMT manufacturing process, as technology continues to move towards smaller components, it becomes increasingly important to meet fine pitch requirements. With 0201 chips, chip scale packages and micro BGAs becoming more prevalent, a process engineer must fully understand every aspect of the fine printing process.

To help, SMT manufacturing experts from Speedline Technologies will address the issues involved in a free, live, Web seminar, titled “Fine-Pitch Printing,” on Thursday, December 15, from 11 AM to 12 Noon, U.S. Eastern time. Topics will include:
* Squeegee selection
* Solder paste evaluation
* Lead free solder paste printing
* Stencil design, including pin-in-paste
* Aperture design
* 45 degree printing
* Board support
* Fast cycle time printing
* Post-print inspection (2D and 3D)

A Questions & Answers discussion will be included.

For more information, and to register, on the Net visit http://www.speedlinetech.com/seminars or call 1-508-541-4749.

About Speedline Technologies
Speedline Technologies is the global leader in process knowledge and expertise for the PCB assembly and semiconductor industries. Based in Franklin, Massachusetts, U.S.A., the company markets five best-in-class brands — Accel microelectronics cleaning equipment; Camalot dispensing systems; Electrovert wave soldering, reflow soldering, and cleaning equipment; MPM stencil and screen printing systems; and Protect global services, support, and training solutions. Speedline was named as the “2005 Surface Mount Technology Company of the Year” by Frost & Sullivan.
For more information, on the Net visit http://www.speedlinetech.com or contact Speedline at:
* USA: Speedline Technologies, 16 Forge Park, Franklin, MA 02038 USA, Tel: 1-508-520-0083, Fax: 1-508-520-2288, E-mail: e-mail protected from spam bots;
* Europe: Speedline Technologies GmbH, Im Gefierth 14, 63303 Dreieich, Germany, Tel: +49 (0)6103/832-0, Fax: +49(0)6103/832-299, E-mail: e-mail protected from spam bots;
* Asia: Speedline Technologies Asia Pte Ltd, 150 Kampong Ampat, #05-08 KA Centre, Singapore 368324, Tel: 65-6286-6635, Fax: 65-6289-9411, E-mail: e-mail protected from spam bots.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:05 AM | Comments (0)

Companies May Not be Included in New Manufacturing Contracts if Their Employees Don't Know What RoHS and WEEE Stand For

The deadline is staring us straight in the face and what is being done about it? Not enough, soon enough.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) December 5, 2005 -- The upcoming deadline (July 1, 2006) for RoHS is upon us and what seems to be the response? There are plenty of people that don't even know what these acronyms mean. RoHS is a new European restriction on six hazardous substances.

The substances are Mercury, Cadmium, Lead, Chromium VI, Polybrominated Biphenyls,Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers. The other directive WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. This is a directive to mandate proper disposal of electronics equipment.These materials are common in the electronics industry. There is preparation by raw material vendors such as Kester, and Indium www.indium.com www.kester.com . There are supplies available for the transition. On the manufacturing end is there preparation? Precision Assemblies is one company that has prepared for the transition www.precisionassmblies.com.

But the problem is very few customers have even mentioned the deadline. Precision Assemblies can produce lead free assemblies, but that is not enough if no one is ordering them. If OEM companies do not start executing a plan the result is going to be disaster. According to Mr. Lasky's blog (http://www.indium.com/drlasky/entry.php?id=375)there is some evidence of this ignorance in the industry. A writer a popular PC Magazine was unaware of this issue.

The leaders of the industry should be more aware of issues than the general public. This is scary evidence that this event is going to cause some major upset. Billions of dollars of electronics are purchased by foreign countries. Companies are going to lose a lot of orders. There is going to be chaos if they do not prepare. This is not a simple issue where a hasty solution can be used. The high temperatures used to solder these parts can have devastating effects. (www.pbfree.com/pdf/ica_authored_papers/changing_to_pbfree.pdf).

As with any new procedure much care must be taken to assure no damage is being caused. Companies in the U.S. need to have the ability to manufacture RoHS compliant products. The world is a more competitive place as it gets smaller. Companies cannot afford to pass up contracts due to lack of preparation. Most foreign counties are adopting a similar policy to the European Union. China for instance is implementing a policy that has the same restrictions. Please prepare yourself if you want your company to survive. If you wish to educate yourself on these directives click on these links http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_037/l_03720030213en00190023.pdf and http://www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability/pdfs/finalweee.pdf

Best regards, Nathan Warren
Owner, Precision Assemblies

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:04 AM | Comments (0)

Lights, Plasma, Action! By David Knoop, Product Engineer Electronic Design Technology (EDT)

Among the myriad choices in lighting control, it is easy to find a system within your budget. Your best bet is a lighting control system which works reliably in your home, is easy to program, and integrates with your home automation controller.

(PRWEB) December 5, 2005 -- Proper lighting control is essential to a well-designed home theater. Careful control of ambient light levels is critical for the viewing experience and requires careful planning of the lighting system which includes the window coverings and light dimming.

Today’s sophisticated lighting control systems can put control of theater lighting and motorized blinds at your fingertips through universal learning remote controls. With a universal remote control, you will be able to turn on or off all the home theater components, adjust the blinds, and dim the lights, all from where you are seated.

Lighting control systems for a home theater are available to fit a wide range of budgets. So don’t despair if your theater budget is sunk into plasmas and sound systems. You can still get quality lighting control without spending a fortune.

But how do you choose a lighting control system? Some key features to look for in a good lighting control system are reliability, ease of use, and the ability to integrate with other household electronic systems.

Is It Reliable?

When it comes to working each and every time, it is hard to beat a hard-wired lighting control system. As the name suggests, hard-wired systems use dedicated low voltage cables to signal switches to turn on and off. These systems work 100% of the time. Bear in mind though hard-wired systems are limited to new construction since it is difficult to retrofit the cabling into existing structures. The other two types of lighting control systems work in retrofit situations, but have their own weaknesses. Power line carrier (PLC) systems use a structure’s electrical power lines as a path for signaling. PLC systems are usually fine for smaller homes and can reach 99% success rates. However, not all PLC products are created equally; some older technologies don’t do much better than 70%. Wireless lighting control products provide an exciting alternative to hard-wired and power line carrier technology. However, these systems use radio frequency transceivers for signaling and are prone to fail in buildings which use metal studs, metal switch boxes and concrete or stucco construction.

Is It Easy to Use?

While most lighting control systems are easy to operate, many are difficult or impossible for the homeowner to program themselves. Look for a system that can be programmed manually through the switches themselves and can also be programmed through a computer or central controller. Systems which offer both types of programming are both sophisticated enough to accomplish complicated lighting scenes and simple enough for the homeowner to make changes without having to call a technician.

Can It Integrate with Other Household Systems?

Many home automation products can control subsystems from other manufacturers. For example, some security panels can turn on lights, adjust thermostats, and more. Many of these controllers communicate through serial RS-232 cables. If you have this type of controller or your house is pre-wired for such a controller, choose a lighting control system which has a serial connection for third-party devices.

“That’s a Wrap”

Among the myriad choices in lighting control, it is easy to find a system within your budget. Your best bet is a lighting control system which works reliably in your home, is easy to program, and integrates with your home automation controller.

The i-LiNE Lighting Control System by Electronic Design Technology is a hard-wired lighting control system featuring dimmer switches and on/off relay switches which require no additional electrical wiring and install in regular switch boxes. Switches are daisy-chained together with Category 5E cable. Lighting scenes can be programmed manually through any switch or remotely through a PC. For more information, please visit www.edt.biz or call 866-753-4180.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:03 AM | Comments (0)

Availability of FPGA PowerPC Hardware Software Debugger and Emulator

HiTech Global announced the availability of the world’s most advanced FPGA and PowerPC 405 hardware/software debugger and emulator designed by Computex.

December 5, 2005, San Jose, California - HiTech Global announced the availability of the world’s most advanced FPGA and PowerPC 405 hardware/software debugger and emulator designed by Computex.

The F-Sight emulator is specifically designed for Xilinx Virtex-II Pro and Virtex-4 devices containing IBM PowerPC 405 microprocessor(s). The F-Sight supports cooperative and simultaneous debugging of the PowerPC microprocessor software and FPGA hardware instead of independent debugging with an in-circuit emulator and logic analyzer, respectively. The F-Sight also supports Xilinx FPGA configuration.

The software is the powerful CSIDE debugger which offers higher-level language (C) debugging plus support for embedded Linux and other real-time operating systems from various manufacturers.

"Availability of the F-sight for CPU emulation, analyzer function, and FPGA configuration has made FPGA and processor based system designs easier, faster, and more effective” Said Cyrus Merati Sr. Director of Marketing at HiTech Global.

Hardware/software co-debug enables FPGA hardware and PowerPC software to be debugged simultaneously. As a strong feature of the F-sight, both program execution history and its waveform can be checked while synchronizing.

Additional product information is available at http://www.hitechglobal.com/DesignTools/Computex/FSight.htm


Pricing and Availability:

Please contact HiTech Global sales offices or the product’s web page for pricing and availability information.

About HiTech Global

HiTech Global (HTG) is a North American based design house and distributor headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. HTG's main line of products includes IP Cores, prototyping boards, IC components, modules, and embedded system design tools. HiTech Global also provides FPGA, ASIC, SOC, and PCB design services. For additional information about HiTech Global, please visit: http://www.hitechglobal.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:02 AM | Comments (0)

SkyBox USA Rocks with a Sirius Sweepstakes

SkyBox USA offers a trip for two to New York City to Tour the Sirius Satellite Radio Studios during the first week of Howard Stern's debut on Sirius.

Boynton Beach, FL (PRWEB) December 4, 2005 -- SkyBox USA, a leading online retailer of satellite products and services, announces a sweepstakes to win a trip to New York City to see Sirius' studios and celebrate Howard Stern's first week on the air.

SkyBox USA's sweepstakes gives Sirius fans a chance to win airfare for two, plus two nights hotel accommodations in a trendy hotel, $500 spending cash and an organized tour of the Sirius Satellite Radio Studios. The trip is scheduled for January 12, 13, and 14, 2006. This coincides with the close of the first week of Howard Sterns exclusive, and highly anticipated, debut on Sirius.

Jason Myers, Co-Founder of SkyBox-USA was quoted as saying, "Our partnership with Sirius has afforded us the opportunity to offer the trip of a lifetime to a lucky winner and their guest. We plan to make some Sirius fan very happy. They will enjoy a beautiful and vibrant city, lavish accommodations, great meals, a tour of Sirius studios and souvenir cash."

The first of its kind, from SkyBox USA, the sweepstakes is open to residents of the US, 21 or over and no purchase is necessary. Details can be found at SkyBox-USA.com or by calling the companies toll free number.

"This sweepstakes builds on the excitement of the Sirius S50 and propels it into outer space," said Dave Cassie Co-Founder. "The third generation Sirius S50 has exploded sales of Sirius, Howard Stern has added nitro to this momentum and with more than 20 million loyal Stern fans out there, our sweepstakes is already gaining record entries!"

The S50 comes bundled with a car kit and the home dock is sold separately. SkyBox USA offers a special bundle of the S50-TK1 and Home kit to its customers.

About SkyBox USA:
SkyBox USA owns and operates the nation's most reliable satellite radio e-store, securely serving millions of shoppers annually. Headquartered in Lake Worth, FL, SkyBox USA is a DBA of privately held, Gold Chip Investments, LLC. Find more information on the Web at www.SkyBox-USA.com.

For media inquiries, contact 866-278-5672 ext 41.

Cautionary statement from skybox-USA: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements regarding the satellite radio market and the timeframe in which products may be available or unavailable. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially, including, without limitation, the following: SkyBox USA's ability to forecast demand for its products; SkyBox USA's ability to introduce new products and services successfully and in a cost effective and timely manner; SkyBox USA's ability to timely and cost-effectively obtain components and elements of its technology from suppliers; SkyBox USA's dependence on satellite service providers. SkyBox USA undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Sirius and S50-TK1, are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Sirius, Inc. SkyBox USA is either a registered trademark or trademark of Gold Chip Investments, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:01 AM | Comments (0)

Holiday Shopping Made Easy and at Great Prices with the Launch of FarLower.com

The convenience of shopping at home has lured many holiday shoppers to the internet this year. The launch of new website www.FarLower.com offering name brand products at great prices has made shopping from home easier than ever before.

(PRWEB) December 4, 2005 -- The convenience of shopping from home and internet discounting will draw more people than ever before to purchase their holiday gifts via the internet this year. A new website recently launched offering brand name products often far lower than retail prices. www.FarLower.com Why Pay Retail? offers a wide range of name brand products at prices that are always up to 60% lower than retail prices.

Name brand items in the 1000’s including: Xbox, DVD players, fragrances, Movodo, PS2, Plasma & LCD TV’s, and much more are always marked down far below retail prices.

FarLower.com also offers a Limited Stock section which includes all the hottest consumer electronics such as digital cameras, Ipod, home theater systems, camcorders, and much more. Limited Stock items will be on a first come basis as they are too popular to keep stocked at below retail prices.

FarLower.com “Why Pay Retail?,” owned and operated by Immersive Inc., launched this November and provides customers with discount prices on 1000’s of name brand products.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:00 AM | Comments (0)

Ocuview Technologies, Inc Introduces WEBCAM USB 2.0 Mini

Ocuview Technologies, Inc introduces WEBCAM USB 2.0 MINI, a web camera of superior quality at an affordable price. Ocuview’s WEBCAM USB 2 .0 MINI is a compact powerhouse. WEBCAM USB 2.0 Mini delivers superior quality resolution, natural movement, and low distortion video at Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity. Proving that good things come in small packages, this high quality, high resolution webcam features slick design and a swiveling clip-on or flat base. Perfect for users on-the-go!

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 4, 2005 -- Ocuview Technologies, Inc introduces WEBCAM USB 2.0 MINI, a web camera of superior quality at an affordable price. Ocuview’s WEBCAM USB 2 .0 MINI is a compact powerhouse. WEBCAM USB 2.0 Mini delivers superior quality resolution, natural movement, and low distortion video at Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity. Proving that good things come in small packages, this high quality, high resolution webcam features slick design and a swiveling clip-on or flat base. Perfect for users on-the-go.

Product features include:
•Clip-On or Flat Mount Base
•640×480 VGA Resolutions
•USB 2 .0 Hi-Speed Connection (Fully backward compatible with USB 1 .1)
•Manual focus
•Color: Black or Green

Ocuview’s WEBCAM USB 2.0 MINI makes it quick and easy to take digital pictures without a digital camera – no more downloading necessary! You can add live video to your favorite instant messenger. With the WEBCAM USB 2.0 MINI you can video chat, create short video clips or send photo greeting cards to your loved ones over the Internet. It’s easy to use! In minutes, you’ll be sharing live video over the Internet. Our webcam is ideal for either laptops or desktops. Ocuview’s WEBCAM USB 2.0 MINI can be purchased now at www.ocuview.com/shop.

Ocuview is an international, full-service digital and video company performing product design and manufacturing with marketing capabilities. It not only packages products for individual sale, but also offers retailers and distributors the latest in quality video and digital equipment at a competitive price. The WEBCAM MINI is a prime example of Ocuview’s commitment to affordably offering “name-brand” quality and customer service.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:59 AM | Comments (0)

Tablet Authority Protects the Productivity of Motion Computing Tablet PC Users with its New TLC Program - Tablet Loaner for Clients

Tablet Authority, the online Tablet PC reseller, announced its new TLC Program, Tablet PC Loaner Program for Clients. The new Tablet Authority Table PC Loaner Program solves the problem users have should their Tablet PC need repairs.

Torrance, CA (PRWEB) December 3, 2005 -- Tablet Authority, the online Tablet PC reseller, announced its new TLC Program, Tablet PC Loaner Program for Clients. In response to demand from clients who need their Tablet PCs available 100% of the time, the new Tablet Authority Table PC Loaner Program solves the problem users have should their Tablet PC need repairs.

Motion Tablet PCs that require warranty repair must be sent to the Motion Computing facilities. Units in for repair may be unavailable to the owner for as long as a week. This down time can be very costly to businesses that depend on their Tablet PCs.

Tablet Authority's TLC Program solves this critical need for Tablet PC users. In the event of a problem with their Tablet PC, all the owner has to do is call Tablet Authority for a loaner unit. Depending on the time of day, the owner can have a loaner unit sent via overnight delivery and get it the next morning. The loaner unit can be kept until the original tablet is sent back from Motion Computing.

Tablet Authority's new TLC Program is available to all clients who purchase a new Motion Computing LS800 or LE1600 Tablet PC from Tablet Authority. The cost is only $50 per year, and protection can be purchased for one, two or three years. The only requirement is that the unit covered by the TLC Program is under warranty through Motion Computing, and that repairs made to the covered unit are performed by Motion Computing.

A one year Motion Computing manufacturer's warranty is included with every Motion Tablet PC, so owners can buy one year of coverage for $50.

1 Year TLC Protection: $50
2 Year TLC Protection: $100 (+ $129.27 For 2 Year Warranty)
3 Year TLC Protection: $150 (+ $231.57 For 3 Year Warranty)

According to Steve Harper, director of sales at Tablet Authority, "The price of the TLC Program is very attracting, especially when compared to the cost of going without your tablet for a week. The only other option is to buy extra Tablet PCs for emergency use. The TLC Program is far more cost effective. Even for three years of coverage, it's less than 10% of one backup unit."

Details on the Tablet PC Loaner for Clients Program are available at the Tablet Authority website, http://www.tabletauthorityinc.com.

About Tablet Authority Inc.

Tablet Authority is an authorized provider and leading supplier of Motion Computing Tablet PCs, the most advanced tablet PC on the market. Tablet Authority provides a complete vertical market solution that includes everything from custom configuration of Motion Computing Tablet PCs to knowledgeable customer support. The Tablet Authority website includes an extensive knowledge base to assist Motion Computing users. All custom solutions from Tablet Authority come fully tested and ready to use.

Motion Computing, Motion, View Anywhere and Speak Anywhere are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motion Computing, Inc, in the United States and other countries.

For more information about Tablet Authority, visit http://www.tabletauthorityinc.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:58 AM | Comments (0)

Frontier Silicon Launches Mobile Digital TV Module for Cars

New T-DMB version of Roadster is the first to enable automotive manufacturers to integrate T-DMB mobile digital TV receivers in vehicles.

(PRWEB) December 3, 2005 -- Frontier Silicon - the leading fabless manufacturer of semiconductors for mobile digital television (MDTV) and DAB digital radio products – has launched Roadster T-DMB, a new mobile digital television version of the successful Roadster automotive DAB module. The module will enable the reception of terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasts (T-DMB) in vehicles, so that manufacturers can add mobile TV to the existing Roadster module’s already versatile DAB digital radio and infotainment capabilities.

Roadster T-DMB is initially aimed at Korean car manufacturers, where the first commercial mobile TV, radio and multimedia services were launched today by six major broadcasters in the Seoul area. Other key areas of interest for the new module are Germany and the UK, where services are expected to roll out in time for coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2006 via mobile devices.

The Roadster module launched in 2004 is already designed into car audio and telematics systems by several first tier automotive manufacturers and has successfully completed road trials. Roadster T-DMB extends the capability of this high performance module so that it can be used to receive mobile multimedia services, including television.. To complement this new product, Frontier Silicon is developing reference designs for complete T-DMB media solutions for the automotive environment.

Frontier Silicon's automotive business manager, Dennis Laudick, commented, “We have seen tremendous success with our Roadster product in the automotive sector, with several major tier one manufacturers introducing DAB technology in line with rapidly increasing demand. Using our background and experience in digital multimedia solutions to provide T-DMB capability on Roadster within our current OEM qualification was an obvious next step. This progression is also consistent with Frontier Silicon’s multi-standard platform strategy.”

Roadster T-DMB fully utilises and exploits the Eureka 147 specification (also known as DAB technology) to offer a combination of video and data which when combined with GPS information provides a variety of entertainment, infotainment and traffic information plus place of interest information from a single module. This means it allows the reception of emerging mobile digital TV broadcasts, DAB digital radio with its excellent audio performance, and telematics features such as Traffic Message Channel (TMC), TPEG and other traffic data services.

The module is available for either vertical or horizontal mounting as a fully shielded, self-contained complete system module featuring Eureka 147 DAB receiver, dual band (Band III and L-band) high performance RF front end, base band processor, power supply, flash memory for program and data storage, additional random access memory and a full suite of firmware supporting T-DMB and DAB reception.

The module maintains the low power operational characteristics of other Frontier Silicon modules for digital radio and television, operating from a single 3.3V supply consuming just 800mW, and also includes a phantom antenna power supply to support active antenna arrangements. The module measures only 61mm x 37mm x 13mm which means it can be mounted inside a 1DIN radio/CD player.

Editor's note:

About Frontier Silicon
Frontier Silicon is an award-winning company at the forefront of the digital multimedia revolution with a range of semiconductor solutions for mobile digital television, digital TV and digital radio. The company develops and delivers both the broadcast signal receiver modules and digital processing circuits as individual chips and complete system modules to leading consumer electronics and mobile phone brands.

As a fabless semiconductor business, Frontier Silicon's core products include complete DAB modules, T-DMB (terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting) solutions, and the underlying system-on-chip (SoC) devices and receiver chips. Key customers for the company's products include consumer electronic, automotive entertainment and PDA/mobile phone manufacturers such as Bang & Olufsen, Cambridge Audio, Goodmans, Grundig, Hitachi, Ministry of Sound, Philips, PURE Digital, Roberts Radio, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and TEAC. Frontier Silicon has won a number of awards from the Fabless Semiconductor Association (2004), PricewaterhouseCoopers (2004), the World Economic Forum (2005), and the Tornado T100 award. For more information visit www.frontier-silicon.com.

Frontier Silicon uses Meta™ and UCC™ intellectual property from Imagination Technologies.

Contact:
Anthony Sethill, CEO, Frontier Silicon
Tel: +44 (0) 1923 474200
Fax: +44 (0)1923 202251

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:57 AM | Comments (0)

Telesis Technology Corp Receives New Orders of $ 518,000 During Fourth Quarter, 2005

Telesis Technology Corp today announced that it has received a series of new orders and backlog totaling $ 518,000 specifically for the repair and maintenance of avionic instruments, ground support and equipment spares program.

Palmetto, FL (PRWEB) December 3, 2005 -- Telesis Technology Corporation (OTC: TLST) today announced that it has received a series of new orders and backlog totaling $ 518,000 specifically for the repair and maintenance of avionic instruments, ground support and equipment spares program. The Company also confirmed that it has received a major sub-contract from a very large prime contractor for the repair, parts replacement, maintenance and overhaul of military level radio communication equipment. Deliveries and performance on these contracts are expected to commence during the fourth quarter of 2005 and continue through the first quarter of 2006.

Mr. Hasit Vibhakar, Chairman, CEO & President of Telesis commented "Telesis continues to effectively focus our efforts and expertise on maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of avionics instruments and military equipment. The wear and tear on military equipment is costing over $ 8 billion a year and demand for MRO services has increased dramatically. We will continue to build our business around our core competencies and continue to divest from non core assets. We expect very strong operating results in 2005 with record gross profit.”

Telesis Technology Corporation also announced that it has completed construction on the new 20,000 sqft manufacturing and distribution facility in Superior, Nebraska. Opening of the facility will commence in the second quarter of 2006.

About Telesis Technology Corporation
Telesis Technology Corporation is a Federal Aerospace and Defense Contractor. Telesis Technology Corporation has several operating divisions with main locations in Florida and Nebraska.

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act Reform Act of 1995. In this press release, the words "estimate," "project," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the Company's ability to obtain additional financing to implement its business strategy, the delay or failure to properly manage growth and successfully integrate acquired companies and operations, lack of geographic diversification, imposition of new regulatory requirements affecting its business, a downturn in the general economic conditions, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:55 AM | Comments (0)

December 02, 2005

GNT Acquires Santech Micro Group - Finland-based GNT Becomes Largest IT Distributor in Nordic Countries

GNT Group, the leading IT and consumer electronics wholesale distributor in Finland and the Baltic region, has signed an agreement for the acquisition of all shares of IT distributor group Santech Micro Group AS. The acquisition covers the SMG companies in Norway, Sweden and Finland. SMG's Supplies Team companies in Sweden and Norway and SMG Denmark are not included in the deal.

HELSINKI, FINLAND (PRWEB) December 2, 2005 -- GNT Group, the leading IT and consumer electronics wholesale distributor in Finland and the Baltic region, has signed an agreement for the acquisition of all shares of IT distributor group Santech Micro Group AS. The acquisition covers the SMG companies in Norway, Sweden and Finland. SMG's Supplies Team companies in Sweden and Norway and SMG Denmark are not included in the deal.

The combined pro forma revenue of GNT and SMG was approximately 1.3 billion euros in 2004. Pro forma revenue in 2005 is estimated at 1.5 billion euros. The agreement is pending approval by competition authorities. The sale price was not disclosed.

As a result of the acquisition, GNT becomes the largest IT distributor in the Nordic countries. The deal will expand GNT's operations into Norway and will make the company one of the leading IT distributors in Sweden. SMG's personnel in Norway, Sweden and Finland will transfer to GNT. The combined companies will employ approximately 1,000 people.

"GNT and SMG share a strong local market expertise, cost-efficient operations and a focus on value-added customer service. Combined, we are a major Nordic company that believes in local presence and management. Our own logistics in each country provide us with a significant competitive advantage, allowing us to serve our customers and vendors quickly and flexibly," said Mika Junnila, CEO, GNT Group.

"SMG has strong relations with a wide range of vendors and resellers in Sweden and Finland. When integrated with GNT's efficient processes and systems, we expect to see even stronger results and continued growth," Mr. Junnila continued.

On Tuesday, November 29th 2005, GNT Group announced the acquisition of Hot One Group, which distributes approximately half of the music recordings sold in Finland. Last year, the company's revenues were 28.5 million euros. The deal is pending approval by competition authorities.

About GNT
GNT Group is the largest IT wholesale distributor in Finland and the Baltic countries. GNT represents leading brands including 3Com, Acer, Canon, Electronic Arts, Fujitsu-Siemens, F-Secure, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, IBM, Kingston, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, Philips, Samsung, Siemens, Sony and Viewsonic. GNT Group’s headquarters and main logistics centre are located in Tampere, Finland, with country offices in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Poland. GNT employs 596 people. The company is a member of the European Wholesale Group (EWG), which represents the leading vendors of IT hardware and software products and is the third-largest IT distributor in Europe. For more information, please visit www.gnt.fi.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:44 AM | Comments (0)

Effortless Night Vision Conversion For ENG/EFP Camera Systems

AstroScope 9323B™ is the ultimate night vision module for converting 2/3” B4-mount cameras into portable, low-light video imaging systems.

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) December 2, 2005 -– Whether it’s the media reporting on the War on Terror, broadcasting from the front lines at night, or the production of a feature film that includes special scenes created to captivate audiences with spectacular low-light images, Electrophysics has the solution – the AstroScope 9323B. The ultimate night vision module for 2/3” B4-mount cameras, the AstroScope 9323B provides superior low-light performance, transforming dark, moonlight or starlit nights into bright, high-resolution scenes that can be seen through the viewfinder and easily recorded.

Boasting a rugged and compact design that makes it ideal for field use, the AstroScope 9323B incorporates a state-of-the-art, Gen III image intensifier that automatically transforms dark scenes, below 10-4 lux, into bright, high-resolution images. Delivering optimum performance in every configuration, the AstroScope 9323B delivers the sharpest detail and highest quality full-frame images with no vignetting, a common problem with many night vision platforms. Electrophysics also offers a wide range of intensifier performance levels and camera specific adapters and brackets that allow users to customize the AstroScope9323 to fit their individual camera models and needs. Additional AstroScope models are also available for a broad range of still cameras and camcorders, including the Nikon AF-type and Canon EOS-type SLR and DSLR cameras, the Canon XL-2 camcorder and the Sony DSR-PD170 prosumer camcorder.

“The impact of the media’s in-depth war coverage, especially with the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, can be felt worldwide,” said Jay Jones, Director of Night Vision Sales for Electrophysics. “Advanced, high-tech equipment, such as the AstroScope 9323B, has given the media the ability to elevate its reporting, and through the broadcast of striking and moving night vision images, communicate the hardships, adversities and real-time conditions that the military faces everyday.”

The AstroScope 9323B is easy to set up and essentially requires no additional training in order to operate. Designed specifically for B4-mount camera systems, the AstroScope 9323B mounts between the objective lens and the camera body and features a seamless electronic integration that maintains existing communication between the camera and the objective lens. In addition, many lens functions, including zoom and control of the lens iris are maintained. The AstroScope 9323B also requires no additional power source, as it draws the small amount it needs directly from the camera via the lens cable.

For additional information, please visit www.electrophysics.com.

Headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, Electrophysics develops advanced near infrared, night vision and thermal imaging systems for use in a host of imaging applications. Since 1969, Electrophysics has maintained its focus on delivering products that reflect the company’s exceptional engineering capabilities to meet specific real world demands while keeping pace with rapidly evolving imaging technologies. The Company has realized exceptional growth as a result of its customer-centric philosophy and remains firmly committed to continually innovating its products in order to enhance the experience of end-users. Electrophysics is vertically integrated with expertise in complex signal processing, optics, embedded software, PC software applications development and hardware design.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:43 AM | Comments (0)

Speedline MPM Accela Printer Wins the Global Technology Award Printer Category for 2005

At the Global Technology Awards Presentation Ceremony at the Productronica Trade Show in Munich, Germany, Speedline Technologies, Inc. received the Global Technology Award for the Printing Category. This award was based upon the innovation of the new MPM Accela Printer platform launched in June of this year.

Franklin, MA (PRWEB) December 2, 2005 -- At the Global Technology Awards Presentation Ceremony at the Productronica Trade Show in Munich, Germany, Speedline Technologies, Inc. received the Global Technology Award for the Printing Category. This award was based upon the innovation of the new MPM Accela Printer platform launched in June of this year.

This prestigious award is presented to the company and product that demonstrates the ability to meet a significant industry challenge, is a creative application of a new or existing technology, presents consistently superior quality performance, economic characteristics and / or throughput characteristics. The Accela was entered based upon merits in all of these categories.

The Award selections are made based on review of submissions by an independent panel of judges and audited by an independent firm. Global SMT & Packaging Magazine, a subsidiary of Trafalgar Productions, manages the award process and concludes the events with an Awards Ceremony at the Productronica Trade Show.

The Accela printer, featuring dramatic industry-shifting innovations in parallel processing technology for the SMT industry, succeeds on the most challenging applications facing electronics manufacturers building the highest volume and most complex printed circuit boards.

The Accela’s innovative parallel processing technology, backed by 11 U.S. patents or patents-pending innovations, refocuses the measurement of printer performance from base cycle time to total throughput – a much more important criteria for manufacturers requiring high volume throughput with high yield performance.

Already seeing widespread installations throughout Europe, the Accela printer produces the most boards per hour of any industry printer – delivering raw throughput gains of more than 20% over the closest competitor – with the best accuracy and repeatability specifications of any printer on the market.

Further coverage of this award process will be published in the January 2006 issue of Global SMT & Packaging Magazine.

For more information, visit Speedline Technologies at Productronica 2005, booth A4-250, or contact your Speedline distributor or representative. Reach Speedline Technologies directly at +49 (0)6103/832-0, or on the Internet at: http://www.speedlinetech.com.

About Speedline Technologies
Speedline Technologies is the global leader in process knowledge and expertise for the PCB assembly and semiconductor industries. Based in Franklin, Massachusetts, U.S.A., the company markets five best-in-class brands — Accel microelectronics cleaning equipment; Camalot dispensing systems; Electrovert wave soldering, reflow soldering, and cleaning equipment; MPM stencil and screen printing systems; and Protect global services, support, and training solutions. Speedline Technologies is Frost & Sullivan’s “2005 Surface Mount Technology Company of the Year."

For more information, visit: http://www.speedlinetech.com or contact Speedline at:

• USA: Speedline Technologies, 16 Forge Park, Franklin, MA 02038 USA, Tel: 1-508-520-0083, Fax: 1-508-520-2288.
• Europe: Speedline Technologies GmbH, Im Gefierth 14, 63303 Dreieich, Germany, Tel: +49 (0)6103/832-0, Fax: +49(0)6103/832-299.
• Asia: Speedline Technologies Asia Pte Ltd, 150 Kampong Ampat, #05-08 KA Centre, Singapore 368324, Tel: 65-6286-6635, Fax: 65-6289-9411.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:42 AM | Comments (0)

The American Hair Styling Appliances Market Experienced Stable Growth between 1999 and 2005

Dublin (PRWEB) December 2, 2005 -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c28337) has announced the addition of Hair Styling Appliances - in the United States to their offering.

The hair styling appliance market has experienced steady growth between 1999 and 2005. Some of that growth is organic, stemming from the growing American population.

Major innovations in the market happen only periodically, like the introduction of the ionic hair dryer in 2002, and the launch of ceramic-coated appliances in 2003. As a result, about two-thirds of our consumer survey say they buy new hair styling appliances only to replace existing ones. Only a quarter of consumers purchase products for their new features. About 35% say they buy a new appliance in order to create a new hair style.

This report covers electrical hair care appliances that are designed for drying and/or styling (including curling or straightening) hair. Included in the report are the following products:
hair dryers, hand held curling irons/brushes, including spring irons, tongs, wands, crimpers and hot air brushes, straighteners, heat setters or hot rollers

Information throughout this report refers to hair care appliances bought for domestic use via the retail trade, and thus excludes any appliances bought through specialist wholesalers for salon use.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c28337

Laura Wood
Senior Manager
Research and Markets
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Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:41 AM | Comments (0)

Pigeon Point Systems™ Announces the Immediate Availability Of Its IPM Sentry™ Shelf Manager.

Pigeon Point Systems™, the leading supplier of shelf and board management solutions for AdvancedTCA® and AdvancedMC™, announces the immediate availability of its IPM Sentry™ Shelf Manager supporting the recent AdvancedTCA specification improvement that adds ShMC (Shelf Management Controller) cross-connects.

(PRWEB) December 2, 2005 -- Pigeon Point Systems™, the leading supplier of shelf and board management solutions for AdvancedTCA® and AdvancedMC™, announces the immediate availability of its IPM Sentry™ Shelf Manager supporting the recent AdvancedTCA specification improvement that adds ShMC (Shelf Management Controller) cross-connects.

Adopted by PICMG® in June 2005, ShMC cross-connects dramatically improve redundancy by allowing the two shelf managers in an AdvancedTCA shelf to communicate with both of the Ethernet hub boards, rather than just one of them, as provided in the original AdvancedTCA architecture. Now, if a failure occurs in either an Ethernet hub board or in a shelf manager, a switchover of just the failed type of module is needed, which is much simpler and more reliable than coordinating a combined failover of both module types.

Pigeon Point Systems’ IPM Sentry ShMM-500 shelf management mezzanine module provides hardware and software support for the new feature. Many of the industry’s leading vendors have integrated the ShMM-500 and its predecessor, the ShMM-300,
into their AdvancedTCA and CompactPCI® shelves. The IPM Sentry Shelf Management Starter Kit provides the hardware and software support for new shelf developers to build AdvancedTCA and CompactPCI shelves based on the IPM Sentry ShMM-500.

“We have worked closely with Pigeon Point Systems to support the just-adopted ShMC cross-connect Engineering Change Notice (ECN) in our ATS1460 and ATS2148 AdvancedTCA hub boards for PICMG 3.1 and 3.2,” said Joe McDevitt, AdvancedTCA program manager for Diversified Technologies, Inc. “Our Tier 1 customers that are using ShMC cross-connects with the ATS1460 in IPM Sentry ShMM-500-based shelves are already seeing the benefits this improvement provides.”

“ZNYX Networks is incorporating support for the ShMC cross-connect ECN in its second generation AdvancedTCA switch products, including the ZX6000 and ZX7000, to provide a specification-compliant, shelf-independent solution,” said Connie Austin, President and CEO of ZNYX Networks. “We developed the initial proposal with Pigeon Point Systems because we wanted this improvement in high availability at the soonest possible point in our product line. As a result, we have just completed interoperability testing with our ZX7000s in IPM Sentry ShMM-500-based shelves.”

“The ShMC cross-connects initiative demonstrates the vital role that Pigeon Point Systems plays in the rapidly growing AdvancedTCA ecosystem,” said Joe Pavlat, President of PICMG. “In just over a year, Pigeon Point Systems conceived this improvement, led development and adoption of the formal ECN within PICMG, and delivered working support for this feature to Tier 1 AdvancedTCA adopters, in collaboration with their shelf and hub developer partners. Now, shortly after PICMG’s formal approval, this improvement is already broadly benefiting the users of AdvancedTCA shelves, the great majority of which incorporate the IPM Sentry Shelf Manager.”

Pigeon Point Systems led the initiative to make this improvement, formally defined in an Engineering Change Notice (ECN) to PICMG 3.0 R2.0 (the AdvancedTCA specification). The company also chaired the PICMG subcommittee that developed the ECN, and now is delivering the first implementation in the industry, which has been already tested with leading vendors’ cross-connect-ready AdvancedTCA shelves and Ethernet hub boards.

The IPM Sentry ShMM-500 is a member of Pigeon Point Systems’ IPM Sentry family of hardware and software products that enable cost-effective, interoperable management of open modular platforms based on the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) standard. Using IPM Sentry components, developers of AdvancedTCA, AdvancedMC and CompactPCI products can quickly and efficiently incorporate compliant, competitive, and interoperable management solutions into their systems. More than 65 companies worldwide employ Pigeon Point Systems’ IPM Sentry components at the shelf level, board level, or both.

The IPM Sentry ShMM-500 with ShMC cross-connect support is available now, with prices starting at $350 each for 1,000 units.

For additional information, contact Mark Overgaard, Pigeon Point Systems,
Tel: 831-438-1565; e-mail protected from spam bots; www.pigeonpoint.com--especially the product briefs for the IPM Sentry ShMM-500 and the corresponding Shelf Management Starter Kit:
www.pigeonpoint.com/ShMM-500%20ShM%20pb.pdf
www.pigeonpoint.com/ShMM-500%20SK%20pb.pdf

About Pigeon Point Systems
Pigeon Point Systems (PPS) provides products and services that enable cost-effective management of standards-based platforms—including AdvancedTCA, AdvancedMC (AMC), CompactTCA and CompactPCI—and is a leader in the definition of those platforms. With its IPM Sentry shelf management products, PPS offers the first shelf management building blocks that compatibly support AdvancedTCA and CompactPCI, with similar support for CompactTCA to come. The IPM Sentry board management products—also the first off-the-shelf offerings in the industry—enable compact, cost-effective management subsystems for boards and other field replaceable units (FRUs), including AMC carriers and modules.

PPS, an executive member of PICMG, is a leader in the AdvancedTCA, AdvancedMC and CompactTCA subcommittees and is active in many other technical subcommittees. PPS is also a contributing member of the Service Availability™ Forum. For more information about PPS, visit www.pigeonpoint.com or call 831-438-1565.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:40 AM | Comments (0)

HandHeld Entertainment Gets 1,000 Comedic Short Films for the ZVUE: Fun Little Movies Gives ZVUE Owners Laugh - After Laugh - After Laugh

HandHeld Entertainment (TM) today announced it will add more than 1,000 comedic short films to its downloadable collection of ZVUE-ready videos available at www.zvue.com/downloads. The films are available through a content licensing agreement with Fun Little Movies (FLM), a leading provider and distributor of mobile entertainment and short comedy films.

SAN FRANCISCO; HOLLYWOOD, CA (PRWEB) December 2, 2005 -- HandHeld Entertainment(TM) today announced it will add more than 1,000 comedic short films to its downloadable collection of ZVUE-ready videos available at www.zvue.com/downloads. The films are available through a content licensing agreement with Fun Little Movies (FLM), a leading provider and distributor of mobile entertainment and short comedy films.

The agreement with FLM gives ZVUE users access to a large collection of downloadable comedy shorts, which are readily playable on the ZVUE portable media player, as well as other compatible PMPs and Sprint mobile phones. Videos produced by FLM have appeared on HBO, Showtime, MTV, Comedy Central, A&E, PBS, Fox and WarnerBros.com. FLM has also received many cinematic awards, including First Prize for Best Comedy at the World’s Smallest Film Festival for its ‘Love Bytes’ series, and a finalist’s place for Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival.

“Humor is something that everyone loves to share,” said Jeffrey D. Oscodar, chief executive officer and president of HandHeld Entertainment. “Our partnership with FLM allows ZVUE users to carry great comedy videos in their pockets and to share these videos with their friends. Short format entertainment, such as music videos, short films, news and comedy shorts, is exactly the type of video content that our customers are asking for, and Fun Little Movies will make them very happy.”

FLM has successfully created a library of quality content that optimizes the mobile entertainment experience because it understands the difference between video that is best viewed on a mobile device like the ZVUE and video that is best viewed using a home theater system.

About the size of a pack of playing cards, the ZVUE offers full-color video and clear audio sound that gives users a robust, on-the-go digital experience when coupled with downloadable content from the ZVUE website at http://www.zvue.com/downloads/. FLM’s comedic short films will be available at ZVUE.com in mid-December, in addition to thousands of other quality titles for the ZVUE.

“The ZVUE is great because it provides a portable medium for hilarious content and, at $99, people can actually afford to buy it,” said Frank Chindamo, president and chief creative officer of Fun Little Movies. “The ZVUE’s ease-of-use is perfect for FLM’s content, and its portability allows you to watch our movies beyond your desktop, computer or television; just put some films on your ZVUE and go. I love it.”

HandHeld Entertainment Touts ZVUE Family of Portable Media Players
HandHeld Entertainment also recently announced that it is introducing a new ZVUE at CES 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The upcoming next generation ZVUE will feature on-board flash memory, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and be compatible with Windows Media Video (WMV) and Windows Media Audio (WMA) through the use of Microsoft’s secure Digital Rights Management (DRM) software.

The next generation ZVUE (visit http://ftp.hheld.com/zvue_photos/ for digital photos) will utilize a thinner housing than the original ZVUE and will be available in new colors. HandHeld will publicly unveil the next generation ZVUE in January at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company plans to have multiple ZVUE models available for purchase in 2006, including both the original and the next generation ZVUE models.

About Fun Little Movies
Fun Little Movies is a Los Angeles-based film and broadband production company specializing in short comedy films. Its work has played on HBO, Showtime, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS, PBS, A&E, Bravo, Fox, NationalLampoon.com and WarnerBros.com. The films have won 20 awards and honors including a finalists’ place for Best Live Action Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival, two American Cine’ Golden Eagles, and First Prize for Best Comedy at the CTIA World’s Smallest Film Festival for its Love Bytes series. Fun Little Movies is a pioneer in mobile entertainment content and distribution, and its success demonstrates an appetite for fresh comedy on mobile handsets. More information is available at: www.FunLittleMovies.com.

About HandHeld Entertainment
HandHeld Entertainment is the world's first portable digital entertainment company to offer mass-market portable media players at mass-market prices via mass-market distribution at more than 1,500 retail locations across the United States. ZVUE users can download thousands of free media titles at www.zvue.com/downloads. For more information, visit http://www.zvue.com or call 415-495-6470.

HandHeld Entertainment and ZVUE are trademarks of HandHeld Entertainment.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:39 AM | Comments (0)

December 01, 2005

Mobiledia Recommends Top 10 Cell Phones for Holiday Shopping Season

The mobile technology education site highlights this year's latest and most-wanted toys, gadgets and fully-loaded phones.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) December 1, 2005 -- Mobiledia, the Web's leading mobile technology resource, today announced their Top 10 Cell Phones to look out for in the 2005 holiday season. Identifying the latest phones for every shopping list, the best devices were carefully chosen from a wide range of categories and price ranges, from high-tech to sleek, for everyone from music lovers to game players.

Adding the hottest phones and electronic gadgets to holiday wish lists is no new trend; however, if current sales and spending trends in the mobile industry continue, this year's holiday shopping season may be the busiest and most successful yet.

Recent data from The NPD Group, the market information leader for the wireless industry, indicates consumer cell phone sales reached 31.6 million units in the third quarter of 2005. Representing a seven percent growth over second quarter sales volume of 29.6 million units, this number increased more than 30 percent compared to the same period in 2004. NPD estimates total third quarter 2005 consumer sales will be slightly more than $2 billion.

"With the rise of music and video phones, and the continuing popularity of camera phones, multimedia capabilities are taking a leading role in cell phone selection," said Allen Tsai, founder of Mobiledia.com. "However, not every phone is right for every individual. From business, fashion and music to camera phone capabilities, our holiday hits list features our favorites in categories for every user."

The Mobiledia Top 10 Cell Phone Picks for 2005 list features:

1. Motorola RAZR V3c
Motorola combines the sophistication of the RAZR with CDMA technology in its RAZR V3c. Don't be fooled by its tiny exterior—the model features powerful technology, including a 1.3-megapixel camera, EV-DO technology for video-on-demand and broadband-like connections and Bluetooth wireless technology.

2. Sony Ericsson Z520a
While the Sony Ericsson Z520a is directed towards the image-conscious consumer, its fashion sense does not diminish its technical capabilities. As a quad-band phone, the Z520a works on GSM networks worldwide. Lined with flashing perimeter lights combined with music alerts, incoming calls never go unnoticed. The Z520a also contains a 4x digital zoom VGA camera, supports infrared and Bluetooth connectivity and Mobile Java 3D gaming.

3. Samsung SCH-A950
The Samsung SCH-A950 is full of multimedia capabilities, combining camera, video and music functions. Equipped with an MP3 player, music lovers can use the SCH-A950's sleek jog dial to scroll through their playlists, or use the keys on the exterior to conveniently stop, start and skip around to find the tune to fit the mood.

4. Sony Ericsson W600i
The Sony Ericsson W600i Walkman phone is the phone for music lovers on the move, featuring an advanced digital music player and FM radio. The swivel-action W600i has a 1.8-inch color screen for the best possible video viewing and gaming experience, and dedicated gaming buttons for fast and action-packed 3D gaming on the go. In addition, W600i has a built-in 1.3-megapixel camera with video recording and digital camera menus.

5. RIM Blackberry 7105t
The RIM BlackBerry 7105t is the successor to the 7100t, adding enhanced Yahoo! Mail access allowing customers to manage their personal and corporate e-mail with real-time push-based delivery. The BlackBerry 7105t also puts top-of-the-line features, such as speakerphone and Bluetooth technology into a sleek and stylish handset.

6. Motorola PEBL U6
Created with a smooth oval form, the Motorola PEBL U6 elevates mobile design to a new level. An innovative dual-hinge mechanism opens and closes the device with one swift and delicate motion. Its sophisticated look and feel is complemented by discreet high-tech capabilities including video capture and playback and Bluetooth wireless technology.

7. Samsung MM-A940 (SPH-A940)
The Samsung MM-A940 (SPH-A940) is a phone for the camera-lover, featuring a brilliant 262K-color LCD and 2.0-megapixel digital camera with 2x optical zoom, auto focus, multi-shot and brightness adjustments. Users also have the flexibility to either save their photos or videos using the phone's internal memory, or store them on a removable TransFlash memory card.

8. LG VX9800
The LG VX9800 uses advanced wireless technology and design to offer a complete multimedia entertainment experience along with the latest in wireless phone communication. Users can stream news and sports video highlights on Verizon Wireless' VCAST service, download and watch VCAST video clips from the hottest names in entertainment, or listen to their favorite songs through the phone's MP3 player and stereo speakers.

9. Motorola E815
The Motorola E815 delivers premium wireless broadband connectivity via EV-DO technology with video-on-demand capability, a 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3 player and brilliant color screen. And thanks to Bluetooth wireless technology, fast downloading, optional storage via a TransFlash memory expansion slot, speaker-independent name and digit dialing, and advanced messaging, the E815 features an incomparable mobile package.

10. Nokia 6102
The Nokia 6102 is a flip phone with an easy-to-use menu structure. The built-in VGA camera with a dedicated button takes colorful videos and pictures that can be shared via MMS or uploaded to an online photo album or printing service. With two bright color displays, the Nokia 6102 can be personalized with animated wallpapers and screensavers.

Product reviews, side-by-side phone comparisons and the latest mobile technology news is available at http://www.mobiledia.com.

About Mobiledia
Mobiledia is a global resource leader on mobile technology, serving over 1.8 million visitors monthly. Devoted to educating consumers about wireless devices, Mobiledia provides in-depth editorial reviews, powerful comparison shopping tools, breaking industry news, and active community discussion forums.

Mobiledia is also the parent company of CellReception.com, a leading cell phone tower and reception resource providing search tools to find antenna and wireless coverage locations.

Media Contact:
Allen Tsai
443-910-3013

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:44 AM | Comments (0)

Everlast Coatings, Inc. Announces Appointments of Christopher J. Siemer as Technical Director/Plant Manager and Christopher D. Willey as Director of Sales/Marketing

Everlast Coatings, Inc. announced the additions to Company Staff of both Chris Siemer and Chris Willey; both will serve in newly-created Staff Positions.

Camden, New Jersey (PRWEB) December 2, 2005 -- Everlast Coatings Inc. announced the additions to Company Staff of both Chris Siemer and Chris Willey; both will serve in newly-created Staff Positions.

“We are delighted to announce these staff appointments, and excited about the changes in technologies and marketing efforts that will continue to fuel Everlast’s momentum into new, high technology surface finishing,” stated Everlast Vice President/Operations, Sarina DiBianca. “These staff changes support and reflect Everlast Coatings’ interest in, and commitment to, the environmentally responsible future of coatings and surface finishing technology.”

Christopher J. Siemer brings broad educational and practical expertise to Everlast. A graduate of Wichita State University with both Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Chemistry, Mr. Siemer is continuing his formal education at Princeton University, where he is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering. Published in scientific journals including “Polyhedron”, “Inorganic Chemistry”, and “Synthetic Metals”, Chris also has direct plating and coatings experience at Kansas Plating, Inc. where he served in various management and technical capacities.

Mr. Siemer comments, “I am thrilled to join the Everlast Coatings team, and am confident that I will be able to assist in the Company’s development. I’m additionally pleased to make use of my knowledge of chemistry and engineering as it relates to the plating industry in a practical manner, such as the addition to our product line of metallic coatings on plastics.”

Christopher D. Willey also has both educational and direct experience which will assist him with the responsibilities of his new Position. A graduate of both Gloucester County College and Monmouth University, Chris holds Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Marketing.

States Mr. Willey, “This Company has a long, proud heritage generally associated with the electroplating of rolls used in the paper and plastics industries. Although our dedication to our traditional product lines remains firm, the company intends to develop growth by serving industries requiring new technologies including cellular, microwave and ultrasonic sound coatings applications.”

About Everlast Coatings
Everlast Coatings, Inc. develops and provides coatings designed to reduce abrasion, improve corrosion resistance, or enhance/eliminate the conductive characteristics of metals used in paper equipment, power transmission, and cellular microwave filters, connectors and enclosures. Globally-recognized products include engineered corrugator roll coatings “NUchrome®” and “NUchrome2®”, as well as doctor and metering blade coatings “WearEX®” and “WearEX+®”.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:43 AM | Comments (0)

A Revolution In Large Area Night-Time Surveillance

Electrophysics® takes night-time surveillance to a new level with the ALS-20™ infrared illuminator.

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) December 1, 2005 -- There is no room for error when dealing with the night-time surveillance of large areas such as property borders at ranges 800 meters and beyond, fence lines and large public works expanding over 15 acres. Gaps or weaknesses in any security framework, especially those designed for these types of wide area applications, could result in substantially reduced protection with the potential for costly and irreversible damage. Ensuring the optimal performance of large area security systems under low-light conditions has been both difficult and cost prohibitive, until now. At the 2005 GVExpo, Electrophysics, a leading manufacturer of night vision solutions, will be showcasing the ALS-20 line of infrared illuminators – a revolution in large area night-time surveillance.

The ALS-20 Infrared Illuminators deliver high power levels of invisible illumination so that near-infrared capable CCD cameras can maintain a clear, sharp view of large areas at night. Other night-time illumination technologies such as filtered-incandescent-based and LED-based illuminators require the use of many fixtures to achieve the same large area performance as the ALS-20 systems. These technologies are undesirable because of the substantial costs of installation as well as the ongoing maintenance and service they require. Because the ALS-20 systems are based on a highly efficient 810 nm solid-state laser diode, they deliver high output power and longer service life with greater MTBF than other technologies.

Because of a highly unique lens system, the ALS-20 produces evenly illuminated areas from edge-to-edge. Different models produce different beam patterns. For example, the most common model is offered with a horizontal beam angle of 20° and a vertical beam angle of 10°. Alternate beam angles are available between 10° and 80°, allowing users to optimize the illuminator to best suit their surveillance needs. Despite the fact that the ALS-20 is based on a high output laser, the use of patented optics and diffusers allows the unit to be classified as an eye safe Class 1 laser device for which exposure to the laser beam will not result in eye or bodily injury. As an eye safe device, the ALS-20 can be installed virtually anywhere.

“The ALS-20 is one the most efficient methods of ensuring that your night-time area surveillance requirements are fully satisfied,” said Jay Jones, Director of Night Vision Sales for Electrophysics. “With today’s homeland security focus, there is a significant concern over the surveillance of large industrial infrastructure facilities, including power plants, chemical plants and public areas such as dams and reservoirs. These areas must be kept under the most stringent and secure watch throughout the day and night. Integrating the ALS-20 illuminators into existing security systems will provide surveillance personnel the ability to essentially turn night into day and monitor large areas in the most covert manner possible.”

An important benefit of using the ALS-20 is that there is often no need to re-outfit existing surveillance systems once the installation is complete. When used in combination with CCD cameras that can see into the near-infrared spectral range, the ALS can effectively leverage existing CCTV Systems already in place.

For additional information, please visit www.electrophysics.com.

Headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, Electrophysics develops advanced near infrared, night vision and thermal imaging systems for use in a host of imaging applications. Since 1969, Electrophysics has maintained its focus on delivering products that reflect the company’s exceptional engineering capabilities to meet specific real world demands while keeping pace with rapidly evolving imaging technologies. The Company has realized exceptional growth as a result of its customer-centric philosophy and remains firmly committed to continually innovating its products in order to enhance the experience of end-users. Electrophysics is vertically integrated with expertise in complex signal processing, optics, embedded software, PC software applications development and hardware design.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:42 AM | Comments (0)

Klipsch Audio Tabs New Dealer/Distributor in Indy

Technology Interiors, “The Real Home Theater Experts” in Indianapolis, Indiana, joins forces with Klipsch Audio Technologies.

Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) December 1, 2005 -- Technology Interiors is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Klipsch Audio Technologies, a leading global manufacturer of premium audio products. The agreement allows Indy’s “Real Home Theater Experts” to market, sell, and install Klipsch’s outstanding lineup of high-end audio products.

“We are very excited to align ourselves with a world-leading manufacturer like Klipsch,” said Technology Interiors president Rick Goren. “Our customers have come to expect truly great audio in the systems we install, whether we are talking about custom-designed home theater, whole-house audio-video, or any number of other projects. Klipsch products deliver the incredible performance we are proud to feature.”

Klipsch is a globally recognized brand known for its ultradynamic sound systems for homes, computers, professional cinemas and commercial venues, including more than 100 Hard Rock Cafes in 36 countries and thousands of movie theaters across the U.S. alone. With a cult-status following of dedicated fans, Klipsch is acclaimed throughout the industry as an innovator that strives for excellence in the powerful, detailed reproduction of music and film sound.

About Technology Interiors

Technology Interiors has been an industry leader in whole house audio/video, home theater, and home security across the Indianapolis market for nearly 10 years. With many families deciding to spend more and more time in the relative security of their own homes, Technology Interiors has provided the type of user-friendly technology that promises to continue in popularity over the next several decades.

For more information on Technology Interiors, visit www.technology-interiors.com or call (317) 826-8840. Normal hours of operation are Monday-Friday 8 AM to 5 PM, but evening appointments are accepted.

About Klipsch Audio, Inc.
Chairman Fred Klipsch and Vice Chairman Judy Klipsch have owned Klipsch Audio, Inc. since 1989. Wholly owned subsidiary Klipsch Audio Technologies, a family business founded in 1946, today is a leading global manufacturer of high-performance loudspeakers and other entertainment products for consumer and professional markets. Klipsch is privately held with worldwide headquarters and Audio Engineering and Technology Center in Indianapolis, manufacturing facilities and distribution center in Hope, Arkansas, distribution center in Fullerton, Calif., and wholly owned subsidiary Klipsch Europe BV in the Netherlands. The company and its employees are committed to developing products that create the most engaging, emotional and dynamic entertainment experiences.

For further information contact:
Markus Kidwell, Two Dog Design, Inc. - Marketing/Advertising
Phone: 317-884-3540

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:41 AM | Comments (0)

New Aggregated Technology News Channel Launched at TechTopic.net

A new aggregated technology and electronics news website has been launched at http://www.techtopic.net. TechTopic is a free service that provides every technology geek with all the latest gadget news and articles.

(PRWEB) December 1, 2005 -- TechTopic at http://www.techtopic.net/ is a free electronics and gadget news aggregator. That means it gathers news from hundreds of different sources and websites all around the internet, orders them by categories and then displays them in an easily browsable format.

Currently the website provides general gadget news at http://www.techtopic.net/news/gadgets.htm as well as exclusive news on many different electronic products. You can for example find the latest audio and video news at http://www.techtopic.net/news/audio-video.htm, digital camera headlines at http://www.techtopic.net/news/digital-cameras.htm and news on music players at http://www.techtopic.net/news/music-players.htm . Other topics include the latest technology press releases from around the world, bluetooth news, home automation news, remote control news and even robot news.

Because the news are gathered from many different sources on the internet automatically the pages on TechTopic.net are instantly updated with fresh headlines the moment they become published. In general there are several new news articles released every hour and some topics are even updated every few minutes, so in order to stay informed it might be worthwhile to check back regularly.

"Getting hold of the latest gadget news has never been easier," said Thomas Höfter, the owner of http://www.techtopic.net/ . "On the TechTopic website the user can find them all nicely ordered by theme and category, which means there won't be any more need to search through loads of cluttered online e-zines to stay up to date and find information on the latest hi-tech products."

TechTopic is the successor of the website http://www.musictopic.net/ , which provides aggregated music news, and there are already plans to release more similar websites for several other topics like for example aggregated sports news or entertainment and movie news.

About TechTopic:

TechTopic is part of the Every Topic News Network, a network of many different content aggregation websites with the goal to provide users with news on every topic they desire. Other sites in the network include the music news channel http://www.musictopic.net/ and the cellular phone news site http://www.mobiletopic.net/ .

About The Lunatic Studios:

The Lunatic Studios are a small, independent web development agency, based in Germany and owned by Thomas Höfter. We publish and promote several large and reputable music, cell phone and entertainment websites on the internet. To learn more about us and find a list of all our internet properties please visit our website at http://www.lunaticstudios.com/.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:40 AM | Comments (0)

Vishay Siliconix Announces Two New 10-A Synchronous Buck Controller ICs

New Vishay Siliconix Synchronous Buck Step-Down Controller ICs Handle 10-A Currents, Provide Industry-Low Outputs to 0.6 V With 93% Efficiency

Malvern, PA (PRWEB) December 1, 2005 -- Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH), today released two new synchronous buck step-down controller ICs designed to operate with external MOSFETs -- and a minimum of external components -- in dc-to-dc converter circuits that require output currents upwards of 10 A.

The high-voltage SiP12201 and low-voltage SiP12202 controllers both are designed to enable flexible, efficient voltage conversion in a broad range of applications in battery-powered, telecom, and industrial end systems. The new devices' synchronous buck architecture allows voltages to be converted with efficiencies of 93%, prolonging battery life while lowering heat in enclosed field-mounted or rack-mounted systems and reducing the need for cooling systems.

The input voltage range is 4.2 V to 26 V for the SiP12201 and 2.7 to 5.5 V for the SiP12202. Adjustable output voltages for the two devices range from 0.6 V to 20 V for the SiP12201 and from 0.6 V to 5.5 V for the SiP12202. The ability to reach 0.6 V at the low end is a unique capability for a device with a 500-kHz operating frequency and ensures the SiP12201 and SiP12202 will be able to satisfy the future requirements of lower voltages, predicted to decrease to 0.6 V during the next decade.

SiP12201 High-Voltage Step-Down Controller
The high-voltage SiP12201 synchronous buck step-down controller is designed for industrial controls, wireless and cable modems, set-top boxes, LCD TVs, telecom power supplies and servers, point-of-load (POL) modules, and for delivering regulated power to microprocessors, ASICs, FPGAs, and DSPs in a wide variety of end products. Able to drive n-channel MOSFETs for both the high side and low side in a synchronous converter, the SiP12201 helps to reduce overall design costs by allowing the use of two lower-cost n-channel devices instead of one n-channel and one p-channel device. The SiP12201 also offers the advantage of 500-kHz operation, which allows the use of smaller passive components in converter designs.

SiP12202 Low-Voltage Step-Down Controller
The low-voltage SiP12202 synchronous buck step-down controller is intended for power conversion in battery-powered electronics, as well as in notebook and desktop computers and a wide range of other systems using point-of-load or distributed power converters. The controller can be set to 100% duty cycle to assure continued efficiency during low input-voltage conditions. In the event of a low-battery condition, the chip is able to operate as a low dropout (LDO) regulator by going to 100% duty cycle.

The SiP12202 drives an n-channel MOSFET on the low side and a p-channel MOSFET on the high side. Use of the p-channel MOSFET on the high side eliminates the need for an external charge pump while also simplifying the high-side gate driver. High-frequency operation up to 500 kHz enables use of smaller passive components for more compact end systems.

Because Vishay provides compatible controller and MOSFET devices, designers have access to the best complete solutions for high- and low-voltage step-down applications. The SiP12201 is optimized for use with Vishay's Si7114DN n-channel power MOSFETs, while the SiP12202 is optimized for use with the Si7106DN p-channel and Si7110DN n-channel power MOSFETs.

Both of the new step-down controllers include a combination compensation/shutdown pin, as well as additional protection features such as undervoltage lockout, power good output, output-current limit, and thermal shutdown. Internal soft start prevents voltage spikes during startup. Each controller is available in a lead (Pb)-free MLP33-10 package and is specified to operate over a temperature range of -40 to +85 degrees Celsius.

Samples and production quantities of the new synchronous buck step-down controller ICs are available now, with lead times of six to seven weeks for larger orders. Pricing for U.S. delivery in 1,000-piece quantities is $0.82 for the SiP12201 and $0.80 for the SiP12202.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics) and selected ICs, and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transducers). Vishay's components can be found in products manufactured in a very broad range of industries worldwide. Vishay is headquartered in Malvern, Pa., and has operations in 17 countries employing over 25,000 people. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.

Editor resources:

Links to product datasheets:
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73541 (SiP12201)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73542 (SiP12202)

Link to product summary table:
http://www.wallstcom.com/vishay/051128.htm

Link to product photo:
http://www.wallstcom.com/vishay/sip12201.zip

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:39 AM | Comments (0)

17 New Siliconix PowerPAK 1212-8 Power MOSFETs Offer Superior Thermal Performance in DC-to-DC Apps

New Vishay Siliconix Power MOSFETs in Thermally Enhanced PowerPAK 1212-8 Package Combine 3.3 mm by 3.3 mm Footprint, Thermal Resistance of Less Than 2 Degrees Celsius Per Watt, and On-Resistance Values Down to 3.7 Milliohms

MALVERN, PA (PRWEB) December 1, 2005 -- Seventeen new power MOSFETs that offer exceptionally low on-resistance values down to 3.7 milliohms in the compact PowerPAK 1212?8 package were released today by Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH).

These TrenchFET Gen II devices deliver significant space savings with dimensions of just 3.3 mm by 3.3 mm by 1 mm -- just 1/3 the size of the SO-8 package -- as well as low thermal resistance of 2 degrees Celsius per watt for an eightfold improvement when compared with SO?8 devices.

Intended for synchronous rectification, synchronous buck, and intermediate switching applications in point-of-load (POL) converters and high-density dc-to-dc converters used in datacom systems, the new power MOSFETs enable designers to reduce board space dramatically and/or increase functionality without sacrificing performance. With their excellent electrical performance, the power MOSFETs introduced today serve as a viable replacement for SO-8 devices in many applications.

The 12-V through 40-V single n-channel devices released today feature on-resistance values ranging from 3.7 milliohms to 10 milliohms at a 4.5-V gate drive, and they include the 12-V Si7104DN; 20-V Si7106DN, Si7108DN, and Si7110DN; 30-V Si7112DN and Si7114DN; and 40-V Si7116DN.

Dual n-channel devices released today offer on-resistance values down to 36 milliohms and include the 30-V Si7212DN and Si7214DN, 40-V Si7222DN, and 60-V Si7220DN.

Also being released today in the PowerPAK 1212-8 package are the single-channel 60-V Si7120DN, 75-V Si7812DN, 150-V Si7818DN, 220-V Si7302DN, and 250-V Si7802DN. These devices feature on-resistance values ranging from 135 milliohms to 435 milliohms at a 10-V gate drive. The 200-V Si7820DN was previously released.

Samples and production quantities of the new power MOSFETs in the PowerPAK 1212-8 package are available now, with lead times of 12 weeks for larger orders. Pricing for U.S. delivery in 100,000-piece quantities starts at $0.50.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics) and selected ICs, and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transducers). Vishay's components can be found in products manufactured in a very broad range of industries worldwide. Vishay is headquartered in Malvern, Pa., and has operations in 17 countries employing over 25,000 people. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.

TrenchFET and PowerPAK are registered trademarks of Siliconix incorporated

Editor resources:
Links to product datasheets:
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73406 (Si7104DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73142 (Si7106DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73216 (Si7108DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73143 (Si7110DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?72864 (Si7112DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73039 (Si7114DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73139 (Si7116DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?72771 (Si7120DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73128 (Si7212DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?72973 (Si7214DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73117 (Si7220DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73439 (Si7222DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73306 (Si7302DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73133 (Si7802DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73332 (Si7812DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?73252 (Si7818DN)
http://www.vishay.com/doc?72581 (Si7820DN)

Link to product photo:
http://www.wallstcom.com/vishay/si7106dn.zip

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:38 AM | Comments (0)