Electronics Manufacturing News

Electronics and Factory Automation Sourcing Directories

Electronics products directories have been launched by IndustrialDirectory.com

Among these directories are Electronic Housings, Electronic Gauges, electromechanical assemblies

Industrial Directory brings the easy sourcing with "Natural Type In" directories also known as Keyword Direct Navigation Search.

Industrial Directory offers hundreds of directories including industrial automation, factory assembly systems, conveyors, automated machinery, and many other product specific directories.

Industrial Directory is designed for easy navigation to find industrial products manufacturers and distributors easily. Industrial sourcing is easy with being able to easily get quotes and information on specific products and services from manufacturers and distributors of industrial goods and services.

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To see more about these easy-to-use directories simply visit
IndustrialDirectory.com and read specifics at IndustrialDirectory.com/aboutus.php

Free E-Waste Collection Event in South Pasadena: January 27th and 28th

trueCycle, Inc. and Holy Family Church, South Pasadena, to host a two-day recycling event January, 27th - 28th, 2006. The event is open to the public. Donations dropped off at the Holy Family Recycling Drive are tax deductible. Proceeds will benefit the Holy Family Giving Bank and Community Services.

Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) January 23, 2006 -- trueCycle, Inc. and Holy Family Church, South Pasadena, will host a two-day recycling event January, 27th - 28th, 2006. The event is open to the public. Donations dropped off at the Holy Family Recycling Drive are tax deductible. Proceeds will benefit the Holy Family Giving Bank and Community Services.

]]> Because most consumers don't know where to take their obsolete electronics, the refuse from discarded electronic products often ends up in landfills or incinerators instead of being recycled. In a recent interview, Todd Hill, founder and CEO of trueCycle, Inc., said, "The improper disposal of end-of-life electronics, called e-waste, is the world's fastest growing waste problem. Rapidly evolving technology has produced a culture of disposable electronics, with replacement often easier and less costly than repair."

Electronic computer equipment is generally a complicated assembly of more than one thousand materials, many of which are highly toxic. Substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, brominated flame retardants and PVC plastics can cause significant risks to human health, wildlife, and the environment when e-waste ends up in landfills.

Todd Hill, a technology expert who sits on numerous National Councils for the EPA, believes local collection events serve the community in several ways. "trueCycle is pleased to provide consumers with a convenient, and responsible way to dispose of obsolete electronics while supporting community services. These events raise awareness about hazards associated with improper storage and disposal of electronic devices and give consumers appropriate alternatives."

Only electronic items from the following list will be accepted at
this event:
Monitors & Televisions
Desktop & Laptop Computers
Workstations & Servers
Printers & Copiers & Fax Machines
Cell Phones & PDAs
Scanners & Cameras
Radios & Stereos
LAN & Peripheral Cards
Mice & Keyboards

Who: trueCycle, Inc. and Holy Family Church of So. Pasadena
(626) 799-8908

What: Holy Family Electronics Recycling Drive

Where: Holy Family Church, St. Joseph Center, Fremont Avenue,
South Pasadena,CA 91030. Parking lot behind St. Joseph Center,
at the corner of Fremont Ave. and Oak St.

When: Friday, Jan. 27, 2006 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

A California Authorized e-waste recycler with corporate offices in Pasadena and operations facilities in Victorville and Placerville, trueCycle, Inc. provides environmentally responsible e-waste solutions for government agencies, corporations, healthcare organizations, and other waste handlers, nationwide.

Note: Todd Hill is available for interviews. Contact Marie Oser,
805-446-2908.

CONTACT: for trueCycle, Inc.
Todd Hill, 866.668.1888
http://www.truecycle.com

SOURCE: trueCycle, Inc.

Monsoon Redefines Remote and Wireless TV Viewing

Monsoon introduces HAVA, which allows consumers to view local TV programming on a notebook, from anywhere in the world over a broadband connection. Additionally, HAVA delivers video streaming wirelessly to multiple users simultaneously from any video source, TV, TiVo™, set top box, DVD, camcorder IPTV by using VBooster technology. HAVA will utilize its MPEG-2 streams to convert any PC or notebook with Media Center compatible software into a full Media Center PC, without having to add an additional TV Tuner, remote, IR Blaster etc. typically required for a complete Media Center experience.

San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) January 23, 2006 -- Monsoon demonstrated its groundbreaking wireless video streaming VBooster™ technology at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. VBooster, for the first time ever, allows video to be streamed wirelessly from any video source, to multiple Wi-Fi enabled clients in a MPEG-2/DVD video format, compatible with Microsoft’s popular Media Center standard.

]]> The Company has incorporated VBooster and its Remote Video Access engine into its HAVA™ external unit that Monsoon demonstrated at CES. By connecting HAVA to any video source such as a TV, TiVo™, set top, DVD, IPTV or a Camcorder, multiple users can watch their favorite channel or video on a notebook, cell phone or a personal media player simultaneously and wirelessly. Users can also control and watch their favorite TV show or TiVo from anywhere in the world. “HAVA converts a 3 and 10 foot Media Center experience to a 300 foot one! All you need is a Wi-Fi based PC or notebook with Media Center or compatible software, you don’t need any additional hardware,” says Vadim Dagman, Monsoon’s Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Dimitri Varsanofiev, Monsoon’s EVP of Wireless Technologies explained, “VBooster technology enables reliable multicast video delivery in 802.11 networks. VBooster allows the video stream to bypass the access point (AP), effectively doubling the available bandwidth while still keeping the PC or other Wi-Fi enabled clients connected to the AP for non-video traffic. VBooster is capable of streaming more than 20 Mbps in a legacy 802.11a/g network while permitting simultaneous viewing of video on multiple PCs using just one wireless stream.”

Unlike other competing products such as the Slingbox™, HAVA does not require a wired connection to the router. HAVA substantially differentiates itself from other competitive products, by allowing users to watch video while being able to browse the internet or print, without having to relocate their Access point or changing their network. Moreover, HAVA is able to utilize its MPEG-2 streams to convert any PC or notebook with Media Center compatible software into a full Media Center PC, without having to add an additional TV Tuner, remote, IR Blaster etc. typically required for a complete Media Center experience.

VBooster’s multicasting feature can be used at home, or in business or education environments. For example, it allows a classroom of students to watch video on their Wi-Fi enabled notebooks wirelessly. This feature can enable medical students to record a complex surgical procedure that is being beamed to their laptops from the surgery room and thus may be viewed at a later time.

Using the popular MPEG-4 standard, HAVA enables consumers to watch their TV remotely on their notebooks or cell phones at high quality, provided the broadband connection from their home or business permits more than a 250 Kbps uplink data rate. Using its easy to use software, users can change channels and control their video equipment from outside the house over the broadband connection. HAVA deploys circuitry that allows users from anywhere in the world with different TV standards such as PAL and SECAM to use the product. HAVA adheres to copy protection rules, and has implemented all copy protection features consistent with the Microsoft Media Center standard.

HAVA incorporates ViXS XCode II™ MPEG-2 / 4 encoder chip with dual stream capability that allows HAVA users to watch channels remotely and at home simultaneously. ViXS co-founder Shawn Saleem says “we are extremely pleased to be a partner with Monsoon Multimedia in the new emerging streaming video marketplace. With their VBooster technology, Monsoon is clearly a leader in remote TV viewing, and wireless video streaming over the home network.” With the ViXS XCode solution, Monsoon has developed a product design that streams DVD quality video over the wireless network, further extending the MCE experience.

HAVA, incorporating Monsoon’s VBooster and Remote Video Access technologies, is being licensed to major PC and Consumer Electronics OEM customers. Depending on the configurations, retail prices will vary from $200 to $300 and will be available worldwide in April, 2006.

About Monsoon Multimedia Inc.
Monsoon Multimedia Inc. develops innovative multimedia technologies, services and products for OEM customers in the rapidly expanding digital video marketplace. The Company has operations in India, Russia and the US. The Company’s customers are large OEMs in the Consumer Electronics, PC and Mobile arena. Monsoon’s founders have founded digital video companies such as Dazzle and Emuzed. The Company licenses its technologies and provides high end services on a turnkey basis. For more information on Monsoon, its products and services, visit http://www.monsoonmultimedia.com/

About ViXS Systems Inc.
ViXS Systems Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company providing market-leading video processing and wireless networking technology that enables complete flexibility and freedom for the use of video throughout the home, on any viewing device or storage medium. ViXS chipsets and software enable multimedia PCs, flat panel TVs, and consumer media centers to store, centrally manage, and distribute multiple high-quality MPEG video streams. The company is a key supplier of ICs and full production reference designs to the world’s top consumer electronics and PC manufacturers. ViXS components offer full support for HDTV, DVD, satellite or cable broadcasts and deliver uninterrupted, full Quality of Service video for consumer entertainment, personal computing applications and multimedia gateways. Founded in January 2001, the company is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and has filed over 90 patents to date. For further information, please visit us at www.vixs.com

Challenges of 0201 and 01005 Component Assembly Are Focus of Free Webcast Seminars on February 16th

Speedline Technologies experts will tackle issues involved the 0201 and 01005 component assembly process in free, live webinars on Thursday, February 16, 2006 designed for OEM and CEM process engineers. Visit http://www.speedlinetech.com/seminars.

Franklin, Mass. (PRWEB) January 23, 2006 -- Speedline Technologies experts will tackle issues involved the 0201 and 01005 component assembly process in free, live webinars on Thursday, February 16, 2006 designed for OEM and CEM process engineers.

]]> The continuing demand for smaller, lighter portable products has escalated the use of miniature components throughout the electronics industry. Two packages, currently being used for resistors and capacitors, are the 0201 and 01005 chip component packages. Assembling these components present a number of challenges for an electronic manufacturing operation.

Speedline Technologies will host the free one-hour Internet seminars to explore these challenges on Feb. 16th. Two live sessions are available: the first at 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. U.S. EST (2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Singapore Time), and the second at 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. U.S. EST.

The webinars will consist of an educational presentation, discussion of new technologies and techniques, practical how-to advice, and a Q&A opportunity. Specific areas of discussion will include:
* Printed Circuit Board Pad Design
* Solder Paste Printing
* Solder Paste Selection
* Component Placement
* Reflow Soldering
* Inspection
* Questions and answers

To register, go to http://www.speedlinetech.com/seminars or call 1-508-541-4749.

Each month, Speedline Technologies hosts a free one-hour Webcast tackling the SMT industry’s most pressing manufacturing challenges. The schedule throughout 2006 as follows:
* 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, 11:00 a.m. ET: 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

For times and to register, 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 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.

CDM Electronics Announces J. A. T. Electronics As Canadian Manufacturers' Representative

CDM Electronics Inc., a leading distributor of commercial and military (MIL-SPEC) interconnect products, and provider of contract manufacturing services announced an agreement with J. A. T. Electronics, a Canadian-based manufacturer’s representative firm.

Turnersville, NJ (PRWEB) January 21, 2006 -- CDM Electronics Inc., a leading distributor of commercial and military (MIL-SPEC) interconnect products, and premier provider of value-added contract manufacturing services has announced an agreement with J. A. T. Electronics, a Canadian-based manufacturer’s representative firm. The agreement is effective immediately, and authorizes the marketing, sales, and support of all CDM’s products and services throughout Canada. This strategic move affirms CDM’s ongoing commitment to provide worldwide customers with local engineering support, enhanced access to their products, and state-of-the-art cable assembly capabilities.

]]> Under the terms of the agreement, J. A. T. will sell CDM’s full lines of high-quality circular, printed circuit, rack and panel, RF, and audio communications connectors to EOEMs, EMS providers, and end users. The rep firm is charged with marketing CDM’s cost-effective and innovative interconnect products to companies in such specialized industries as military, aerospace, industrial, medical and telecommunications. Moreover, J. A. T. will offer direct in-the-field support to key accounts, and aggressively promote CDM’s comprehensive offering of customized interconnect solutions to their existing customer base and to prospective customers.

“Partnering with J. A. T. to better serve our Canadian customers and to further increase our global market share is an exciting opportunity,” said Carmen Deleo, Jr., general manager of CDM Electronics. “The firm’s long-standing reputation for excellence in interconnect technology, and unique understanding of design engineers’ and purchasing professionals’ requirements as they pertain to time-to-market and cost efficiencies make J. A. T. an ideal rep for our product offering. We are confident their specialized expertise will ensure a superior level of customer support, and that their appointment will enhance Canadian customers’ ability to leverage CDM’s world-class supply chain.”

Joe Tomlinson, president of J. A. T., commented, “The addition of CDM’s best-in-class interconnect products and cable assembly capabilities to our expanding line card brings tremendous value to our customers. With this agreement, we can save our customers both time and money by offering them an even deeper selection of interconnect solutions from a single source. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with CDM.”

About CDM
CDM Electronics, Inc. is an authorized, stocking distributor of full lines of high-quality circular, printed circuit, rack and panel, RF, and audio communications connectors. Serving world leaders in the military, aerospace, industrial, medical and telecommunications industries, the Company additionally employs state-of-the industry documented and controlled systems in its value-added contract manufacturer division which specializes in mission-critical cable assemblies. CDM is certified to ISO 9001:2000. For information on CDM and its services, visit www.CdmElectronics.com.

About J. A. T. Electronics

Founded in 1987, J. A. T. Electronics (www.jatelectronics.com) is a leading manufacturer’s representative and distributor of standard and custom electronic components, products, and technologies. J. A. T. specializes in providing the aerospace, defense, medical, telecommunications, space, and nuclear markets with ultra precise machining and assembly of complex components and assemblies. The Company serves all of Canada from its Ottawa, Ontario headquarters, and has built a solid reputation by offering quality products and services, unsurpassed customer service, and on-time delivery.

Contact: Carmen Deleo, Jr.
CDM Electronics, Inc.
130 American Blvd.
Turnersville, NJ 08012
Phone: 856/740-1200; Fax: 856/740-0500
www.CdmElectronics.com

Belden Brilliance® Shipboard Cables Deliver High-End Performance; Full Line is ABS Approved, RoHS Compliant

Belden CDT Electronics Division, a world leader in the development of specialty cable products for the industrial, commercial, broadcast and residential markets, recently unveiled its full line of Brilliance Shipboard cables for audio, video, security, networking and control applications.

Richmond, IN (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) January 20, 2006 -- Belden CDT Electronics Division, a world leader in the development of specialty cable products for the industrial, commercial, broadcast and residential markets, recently unveiled its full line of Brilliance Shipboard cables for audio, video, security, networking and control applications. The new Shipboard cables provide easy installation using standard connectors and established installation techniques, and carry Belden's exclusive 10-Year Warranty.

]]> The new line is comprised of top-performing Belden Brilliance® DataTwist® and Classic Design cables that have low smoke, zero halogen jackets. The series also includes a selection of all-dielectric fiber optic cables. Using these components, commercial and private owners can configure a fully certified cabling system that provides top quality performance in a variety of shipboard applications. The cables fully comply with all applicable industry standards (IEEE 45 and applicable sections of IEC 60092-376 for low smoke and zero halogen), and are designed and manufactured in compliance with the European Union RoHS Directive (2002/95/EC, 27-Jan-2003) to meet global environmental standards.

Even more important, Belden is currently the only cable manufacturer to offer a complete line of cables approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for use in demanding marine applications. The ABS is the leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities. With ABS approval, no additional special approvals or insurance company exceptions are required for Belden Shipboard cable system installations.

For more information about Belden Shipboard Cables, contact Belden CDT Electronics Division, P.O. Box 1980, Richmond, Indiana 47375, or call 1-800-BELDEN-4 to request New Product Bulletin NP222. 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.

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

Marble Blast Ultra Available on the Xbox 360 Live Arcade

Indie Built Arcade Title Blasts Into The New Year On Xbox 360. GarageGames, the leading publishing label for independent games and professional game makers, is pleased to announce the launch of Marble Blast Ultra on Xbox 360 Live® Arcade.

Eugene, OR (PRWEB) January 6, 2006 -- GarageGames, the leading publishing label for independent games and professional game makers, is pleased to announce the launch of Marble Blast Ultra on Xbox 360 Live® Arcade.

]]> “Multiplayer functionality and HD graphics represent an amazing evolution in the Marble Blast franchise, and unveiling Marble Blast Ultra alongside the launch of Xbox 360 is a historic moment for GarageGames and independent game developers,” said Mark Frohnmayer, President of GarageGames. “We hope Xbox 360 users have as much fun playing Marble Blast Ultra as we have.”

Marble Blast Ultra is the latest in the classic Marble Blast series. It is an online multiplayer arcade action masterpiece that is suitable for players of any age. The game takes place in a futuristic 'astrolabe' arena suspended high in the clouds, where players compete with each other by navigating their marbles through moving platforms and dangerous hazards, collecting rare gems and power up enhancements, all in an effort to complete each course in record time. Adding to the fun and excitement, players may compete with up to seven opponents in ultra blast multiplayer mode, where the race to collect gems combines with full on marble bashing to see who ultimately wins all the marbles.

“We are thrilled that Marble Blast Ultra is now available on Xbox Live Arcade on Xbox 360”, said Ross Erickson, Games Portfolio Manager for Xbox Live Arcade. “This enhanced version of Marble Blast represents a quantum leap forward in graphical fidelity and gameplay fun over the original Marble Blast. GarageGames has done a fantastic job of taking advantage of the unique technologies in Xbox 360, creating a great single-player and multi-player experience for Xbox Live Arcade.”

"Marble Blast Ultra has an extremely high fun-factor and a high level of visual polish that we were able to achieve in a relatively short timeframe using our Torque engine technology," commented Jay Moore, GarageGames and Torque Evangelist. "The Torque Shader Engine allowed us to quickly and easily take advantage of the extensive graphical capabilities of the Xbox 360, while our award-winning netcode delivers high quality and fast-paced Live! play, while maintaining rock solid performance."

The Torque Shader Engine for Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft enriches the game through the use of its graphical features - marbles reflect the world using dynamic cube maps and power-ups glow using the glow shader. Marble Blast Ultra is a visual feast of refractive glass, vividly colored tile, reflective metal, and glowing checkpoints set within a multi-layered, animated sky.

The demo is available for free directly on the revolutionary Xbox 360 Live® Arcade service, which allows for delivery of a wide variety of smaller scale, unique titles that quickly deliver a healthy dose of fun. The full version is available for only 800 points.

About GarageGames:
GarageGames' mission is to change the way games are made and played. GarageGames provides the technology, community and market to empower game makers to build commercial quality multiplatform games. GarageGames is located in Eugene, Oregon and on the web at www.garagegames.com and is the annual presenter of IndieGamesCon.

Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

"Must Have" Digital Camera Accessory: Photo Printers

Increase in digital pictures predicted to boost photo printing.

(PRWEB) January 18, 2006 -- Americans with disposable income and an interest in digital photography are creating more and more images. The result? Photo printers are topping the list of essential digital camera accessories.

]]> The number of images captured and shared is predicted to grow by 24% by 2009, boosting the worldwide growth of total photo print volume. The US market for photo finishing and merchandise more than quadrupled between 2002 and 2005 according to InfoTrends, a market research firm specializing in digital imaging. Americans are expected to spend $2 billion this year, just for paper and ink to print their digital photos at home.

"Digital cameras have created the need for a whole new category of photo management," says Michelle Ryther, Internet Marketing manager for Samy’s Camera, a leading resource for photographers on the Web. "The manufacturers are aware of this trend and offer rebates if you buy a camera and a printer together. Retailers are catering to this need with printers, paper and ink."

The Epson Stylus Photo R340 restores faded photos, slides and negatives, delivers beautiful enlargements, copies, prints and scans PC-free and prints on CDs/DVDs. This printer has a premium photo viewer to easily select and crop photos and allow direct printing from popular memory cards or PictBridge-enabled digital cameras.

"Canon is on the leading edge technologically," says Ryther. "Their PIXMA iP5000 is a powerhouse printer that combines next-generation print head technology with advanced 5-color printing, for fast, high-definition photos." Canon Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE) uses a high-performance 1,856-nozzle print head that ejects precise, consistent droplets of ink and prints an amazing resolution of up to 9600 x 2400 color dpi, for detail and clarity unmatched by comparable printers.

Photographs printed on color printers may not be quite the same as prints made with traditional photography, but they have a look and feel all their own. When choosing a printer the best way is to read reviews and compare different models. Samy's Camera is a resource for finding information about all the digital camera accessories you need, including photo printers.

Artemis Solutions Group (ASG) Files Lawsuit Against Tacoma-Based Sagem Morpho, Inc., (Sagem) a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of French Conglomerate SAFRAN Group.

Artemis Solutions Group (ASG), http://www.artemis-usa.com a global leader in consumer and small business smart card and biometric security solutions announced today that it has filed a lawsuit in United States District Court – Western District of Washington at Seattle against Tacoma based Sagem Morpho, Inc., (Sagem) a wholly owned subsidiary of French conglomerate SAFRAN group alleging willful and deliberate trademark/trade name infringement and unfair competition with regard to its registered trademark BioCert®.

SEATTLE (PRWEB) January 18, 2006 -- Artemis Solutions Group (ASG), http://www.artemis-usa.com a global leader in consumer and small business smart card and biometric security solutions announced today that it has filed a lawsuit in United States District Court – Western District of Washington at Seattle (Civil Action C06-0060) against Tacoma-based Sagem Morpho, Inc., (Sagem) a wholly-owned subsidiary of French conglomerate SAFRAN group alleging willful and deliberate trademark/trade name infringement and unfair competition with regard to its registered trademark BioCert®.

]]> ASG has been using its trademark BioCert® in connection with its biometric security solutions products since 2002. On February 24, 2004, ASG was granted a federal registration for its mark BioCert® by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (http://www.uspto.gov).

ASG has an ongoing OEM agreement with Memory Experts International (MEI) (http://www.canram.com) to provide its Odyssey ClipBio hardware under the BioCert® name. The BioCert® Odyssey ClipBio incorporates a secure fingerprint scanner that is a capacitive fingerprint sensor embedded into the USB key and provides secure storage of data within an encrypted partition on the key, and with the BioCert® BIIM provides secure login to a PC, authentication to a network, PKI functionality and other cryptographic capabilities to secure data, network and local drives or to access to the PC.

As early as February 2004, ASG Executives engaged in confidential business discussions with at least one high level employee within Sagem’s biometric group headquartered in Tacoma, Washington through direct face-to-face discussions in Seattle, in Hong Kong at the offices of ASG’s affiliated company IBSL and through the use of emails sent to and from Sagem’s own email servers regarding ASG’s BioCert® Odyssey ClipBio and related products.

“On numerous occasions I personally showed or discussed with a high level employee of Sagem’s Biometric Division our BioCert Odyssey ClipBio (http://www.clipbio.com) and the bundled BioCert Intelligent Identity Manager (BIIM) (http://www.mybiocert.com) on my laptop and on the laptop of another executive within our company at documented meetings at our offices in Hong Kong and in Seattle,” states James Childers – CEO of ASG and Executive Director of IBSL, ASG’s Hong Kong affiliate.

Sagem is widely renowned as the world leader in secure optical fingerprint sensors and has among the worlds largest installed base of highly reliable optical fingerprint sensors. Their optical sensor products are used by Governments, Airport Authorities, and other agencies for border control, maritime security, aviation security as well as many well-known International Companies to protect access to data and facilities on a global scale.

Childers further stated “The same exact hardware product - now incorporating a capacitive sensor -, Sagem’s “Xelios™ Secure Bio Drive USB Key” (http://www.xelios.com/secure-bio-drive.html) with a remarkably similar software suite, Sagem’s Xelios PC Login Pro Suite 5 (http://www.xelios.com/) that includes as one of its core technologies “…assure the protection (of your digital certificate and data) by use of a fingerprint.”, an infringing adaptation of our registered BioCert® trade name – “X-BioCert” is now is being sold by our competitor Sagem around the world and now offered for sale here in the USA.

We could not stand by while our intellectual property is misappropriated to such a large scale and to such an egregious extent.”

ASG, believing that Sagem’s actions have caused a substantial likelihood of confusion as to the source of Sagem’s technology and caused irreparable damage to ASG through the misappropriation of their valuable intellectual property is seeking immediate relief from the Court to bar Sagem from further advertising, sale or distribution of the product bearing the infringing trademark, and a permanent injunction against Sagem from offering for sale, advertising, selling or distributing or claiming a trademark similar to the BioCert® trademark owned by ASG. ASG has also asked the court to set the amount of damages to be awarded ASG, attorneys’ fees and other actions to be taken by and against Sagem to prevent further damage to ASG’s trademark BioCert®, its reputation or its customers.

In June 2005 ASG brought a similar trademark infringement lawsuit against Microsoft Corporation. In August 2005, ASG and Microsoft successfully settled said lawsuit regarding alleged infringement of the same BioCert® trademark. Microsoft affirmed ASG’s right to the trademark BioCert® and the companies were able to amicably reach a settlement. While the terms of the Microsoft settlement are confidential, the lawsuit and the mutual agreement to the settlement of the case are public domain and freely available from Microsoft’s own website and other media outlets.

About Artemis Solutions Group
ASG (www.artemis-usa.com) is a closely held, private security firm specializing in fingerprint biometric and smart card security solutions. With offices in the US, EU, Canada, Mexico and Hong Kong, ASG sells directly and through its global network of resellers and system integrators best of breed biometric and smart card security systems to small & medium business and local government agencies throughout the world. ASG’s related company Intelligent Biometric Solutions Limited HK (www.biometriq.com) is tasked with design, local supplier relations in Asia, manufacture and OEM manufacturing oversight and global sourcing, distribution and logistics of its solutions.

ASG markets a range of computer, software and consumer products under its properly registered and owned trademark BioCert® through a network of domestic and international resellers and extensively on the Internet at the following websites:

www.biocert.com
www.mybiocert.com
www.biocert.us
www.artemis-usa.com
www.biometricsdirect.com
www.fingerlock.net
www.biometricdoorlock.com
www.clipbio.com
www.iqbio.com

About Sagem Morpho, Inc. & SAFRAN – From http://www.morpho.com
Sagem Morpho, the industry leader in multi-biometric solutions, develops, manufactures, and integrates multiple biometric technologies that includes fingerprint, iris and facial recognition products and services. Sagem Morpho applies more than twenty years of global experience in biometric identification technology to deliver trusted and reliable biometric products that address markets including law enforcement, Federal Government, Homeland Security, driver’s licenses, civil identification, applicant background checks as well as consumer and commercial products. Sagem Morpho is a wholly owned subsidiary of the European firm Sagem Défense Sécurité, a branch of the SAFRAN Group.

The SAFRAN group is an international high-technology group with four core businesses: aerospace propulsion, defense and security, aerospace equipment and communications. SAFRAN has 56,000 employees in over 30 countries, and annual revenues exceeding 10 billion euros. The SAFRAN group comprises a number of companies with prestigious brand names, and holds, alone or in partnership, global or European leadership positions in all of its markets.

ASG will be represented in this matter by the law firm of HALLISKY & PHILIPP.

About Hallisky & Philipp – www.hallisky.com
Hallisky & Philipp (H&P) is a technology and entertainment boutique law firm founded in 2003. Unlike conventional boutique law firms who focus on a narrow set of legal specialties, H&P concentrates on the specific legal needs of technology and creative clients. Located in Seattle, Washington, H&P’s intellectual property, business and litigation lawyers represent sole proprietors, start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses and large multinational corporations throughout Washington and beyond.

“Xelios” and/or other Sagem Morpho, Inc. products referenced herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Sagem Morpho, Inc. Microsoft is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. No statement of claim to any of these marks not specifically claimed or owned by ASG or its affiliated companies is made by Artemis Solutions Group (ASG).

Press contacts should be directed to:
Artemis Solutions Group
Celeste Grunnam
Executive Administrator & Press Contact
PO Box 403 Freeland, WA 98249
800-519-8800

Press Relations
Hallisky & Phillipp
1725 Westlake Avenue N.
Suite 150
Seattle, WA 98109
206.217.2200

Cell Phones Valued at More Than $300 Million Tucked Away Every Month

U.S. Consumers retire over 11 million cell phones every month. CellForCash.com wants to buy them all.

Ocala, FL (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) January 19, 2006 -- Last year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, U.S. consumers purchased some 104 million cell phones for a total of $13.5 billion. Over the next 18 months those cell phones, all 104 million, will be retired.

]]> CTIA - The Wireless Association puts the total number of U.S. cell phone users over 200 million. The industry estimates that the average U.S. wireless user upgrades their old cell phone every 18 months. That means consumers purchase 11 million new cell phones every month.

That’s a lot of cell phones. But what makes those numbers even more dramatic is that many of those fancy new cell phones will be replacing older model phones – phones that work fine but don’t have all the bells and whistles of the shiny new models.

So what happens to all those old-model cell phones, anyway? James Mosieur, chief executive officer of RMS Communications Group Inc., hopes they find their way into his mailbox.

RMS is one of the nation’s leading recycler and re-marketer of old cell phones. The company actually pays cash to people who sell their old phones to RMS via their website, www.CellForCash.com.

“For almost every new cell phone purchased, one is retired” said Mosieur. “We estimate that over $300 million worth of cell phones are collecting dust when they should be collecting interest.”

Surveys suggest that less than 10% of U.S. consumers dispose of their old cell phones either by selling them or through other recycling methods. This leaves over 10 million cell phones to pile up every month in the homes of America.

“Currently our average pay out per cell phone is just over $30” said Mosieur, “when you multiply that by the number of cell phones retired every month, that’s a huge number.”

"The numbers say it all-the consumer electronics industry is hot," said Gary Shapiro, the Consumer Electronics Association's president and chief executive officer. According to CEA, wireless handset sales will reach $16 billion in the U.S. next year.

The growing problem has caught the attention of lawmakers across the country. Several states are considering legislation mandating cell phone recycling. California is the first state to pass such a law. Beginning this July it will be unlawful for a retailer to sell a cell phone in the State of California unless they have a comprehensive recycling program in place.

“CellForCash.com offers a complete consumer solution” said Mosieur. “Our program satisfies the needs of the consumer, the retailer and the legislators.”

About CellForCash.com
CellForCash.com pays cash for used cell phones, and makes the process simple by displaying the phones it will buy and the prices it will pay for them right on the web site. It also provides sellers with already-addressed, postage-paid mailing boxes. The site lists over 500 models from 21 manufacturers including Motorola, Nokia and Samsung. For more information visit the web site at www.CellForCash.com.

About RMS Communications Group Inc.
Based in Ocala, Fla., RMS Communications Group Inc. provides consumers and businesses a convenient way to get cash for cell phones that otherwise lay idle. Phones may qualify regardless of manufacturer – Motorola, Nokia, LG, etc.; or service provider - Sprint, Verizon, Cingular, T-Mobile, etc. The company often partners with non-profit organizations that find the collection and sale of old cell phones to be an excellent source of revenue. More information can be found at http://www.CellPhoneRecycling.com.

Contact:
Conrad Melancon
President
800-627-2022

Hanse Environmental’s 2006 HALT/HASS Seminars Starting in Israel

Hanse Environmental Inc. announced that its 2006 HALT/HASS Seminars will start in Israel and continue throughout North America.

Allegan, MI (PRWEB) January 19, 2006 -- Hanse Environmental Inc. announced that its 2006 HALT/HASS Seminars will start in Israel and continue throughout North America. The Israel seminar will be three days and include a work shop for “hands on” practical training

]]> The seminars will feature experts in the field. Theory, methodology, real world success experiences and the latest in HALT/HASS tools and equipment will be discussed. Hanse has been conducting these seminars since the early 1990’s.

The Pacific Rim will also have Hanse HALT/HASS seminars scheduled for Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore and India. European seminars are scheduled for the Fall, 2006.

Recently Hanse announced a new technological breakthrough with their new HALT/HASS vibration systems. The invention doubles the available six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) vibration force from the general industry specification of 50 Grms to 100 Grms. This allows larger product loads to be tested for reliability and/or production screening while markedly reducing air consumption per Grms.

This invention, U.S, Patent Pending, will mean that manufactures of electronic products will be able to shorten time to market of new products and improve production throughput. Prior to this, Highly Accelerated Life tests (HALT) and Highly Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS) were limited by the weight of products tested. HALT is used by manufactures to develop reliable robust products. HASS is used in production to screen out early life defects.

The Hanse 6Dof Vibration system consists of a specially designed table with pneumatic actuators underneath. The system can generated up to 100 Grms over a frequency range of 5 to 10,000 Hz in three axes and rotational about each axis. Eight standard models are available ranging from 1 to 36 square feet.

For HALT and HASS testing the vibration systems are installed in specially designed environmental chambers capable of temperature change rates of 70C
per minute. The chambers have a temperature range from –65 to 200C. More information is available at: http://www.hanseenv.com

For 15 years Hanse has been a global supplier of Environmental Stress Systems, HALT/HASS, specialized environmental chambers, environmental processing systems, and six-degree-of-freedom vibration systems. Hanse has concentrated on their engineering efforts to continually improve their products. The result is system performance that leapfrogs the industry as witnessed by this new invention.

CONTACT INFORMATION

John Sexton
Hanse Environmental, Inc.
Tel: 269-673-8638
Fax: 269-673-8632
http://www.hanseenv.com

The Pixel Farm and Cooke Optics Announce Collaboration

The Pixel Farm - a company focused on innovation in the field of high-end digital post-production, and Cooke Optics – a premier manufacturer of precision lenses for the motion picture industry, are pleased to jointly announce a collaboration that will yield enhanced post-production speed and accuracy.

Windsor, U.K. (PRWEB) January 18, 2006 -- The Pixel Farm - a company focused on innovation in the field of high-end digital post-production, and Cooke Optics Ltd – a premier manufacturer of precision lenses for the motion picture industry, are pleased to jointly announce a collaboration in which the The Pixel Farm will develop its renowned PFTrack software to work in conjunction with in-camera data, acquired via Cooke’s revolutionary /i Technology. This new technology will enable motion picture post-production professionals to save numerous hours –and significant amounts of money – in post-production. The Pixel Farm and Cooke are working together to develop tools that are designed to be used throughout the entire production process and thus help the production community to further enhance its post-production capabilities. This unique collaboration will also enable users of The Pixel Farm’s applications to further benefit from vital data such as this.

]]> Michael Lancaster, Product Director, The Pixel Farm says, “As a developer of products for the post market we view it as our responsibility to try to alleviate the issues that teams face in the management of data within the entire production process. And Cooke has developed a product that can greatly help this process. Having accurate lens parameters for each frame of action makes some aspects of post production considerably easier as the operator is no longer dependent on the production team to pass forward that information – a process that can fall prey to human error. In essence, they should be able to easily work on many, many more shots of far greater complexity without the guess work.”

Added Les Zellan, Chairman of Cooke Optics, “Cooke developed our revolutionary /i Technology in response to the production community’s need to streamline the production process and to better and more accurately interface with their post-production colleagues to achieve cost and labour savings, while ensuring enhanced quality control and greater creative freedom. Working with Pixel Farm will allow our /i Technology to better achieve this potential.”

The Cooke S4/i system will work via a /i data link that will seamlessly and effortlessly record all camera and lens settings, including focal length, on a per-frame basis, all synced to time code. The information is recorded as meta data during filming and given to the facility, guaranteeing that the relevant lens data will be available and ensuring even more accurate calibration of shots in post. Initially, this will be available in PFTrack with plans to include the system in other PF products at a later date.

About The Pixel Farm
The Pixel Farm was formed in 2002 to provide innovative solutions for digital compositing. Based in the UK, with a very strong focus on research and development, The Pixel Farm works with customers on key projects to ensure PF products match the needs of the production environment. By utilising its industry experience and working with some of the best researchers and developers in the world, The Pixel Farm ensures it is always one step ahead of the competition. The Pixel Farm looks to integrate best of breed technologies into a focused collaborative environment. For more information on The Pixel Farm and its products contact: e-mail protected from spam bots

About Cooke Optics Ltd.
Cooke is a storied name in both cinemagraphic and the ultra-high-end professional photography markets. Known worldwide for their precision, exacting tolerances and superior quality, Cooke lenses are specified by many of the world's most respected cinematographers in Hollywood. Cooke S4 Prime lenses, acclaimed for their unique mechanical design and extraordinary photographic qualities, have been used to shoot several of the most legendary and visually beautiful motion pictures of all time, both in Hollywood and internationally. Recent box office releases shot with Cooke lenses include Brokeback Mountain, Casanova, Munich, Jarhead, The Wedding Crashers, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Ray, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. For additional information, please visit www.cookeoptics.com.

For Press Information Please Contact:
The Pixel Farm
Louise Gray-Murray, Bubble & Squeak
+44 (0) 20 7636 0781

Cooke Optics:
Kyle Kappmeier, R&J Public Relations
+1 908-722-5757

Samsung Camera Enters DSLR Market with Launch of GX-1S

Samsung Camera has entered the DSLR market with the Samsung GX-1S, a six megapixel model featuring world renowned Schneider optics and a high-resolution 2.5-inch LCD. The interchangeable lens DSLR was developed jointly with partner Pentax Corporation.

Secaucus, NJ (PRWEB) January 18, 2006 -- Samsung Camera has entered the DSLR market with the Samsung GX-1S, a six megapixel model featuring world renowned Schneider optics and a high-resolution 2.5-inch LCD. The interchangeable lens DSLR was developed jointly with partner Pentax Corporation.

]]> “Through this partnership, and the GX-1S introduction, we have an opportunity to make an immediate impact in the DSLR space and dramatically expand the range of options available to consumers under the Samsung Brand,” says Ken Gerb, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Samsung Camera. “The GX-1S includes features that the consumer has demanded in the competitive digital camera market including a large, 2.5-inch LCD and the ability to interchangeably use Schneider and Pentax lenses for superb image clarity.”

For outstanding image quality, the GX-1S features high-precision, 16 segment multi-pattern metering to assure accurate light measurement in addition to center-weighted metering and spot metering for more advanced applications. To provide accurate focusing on a variety of subjects the GX 1S incorporates a sophisticated 11-point AF sensor and a choice of AF single or AF-continuous for a wide variety of options. For further image control, users can chose from several White Balance settings and a variety of automatic shooting modes such as Portrait, Landscape, Moving Object, Macro and more.

Developed specifically for use with the Samsung GX-1S is the Schneider D-XENON 18mm~55mm lens. World renowned Schnieder optics have long been a defining feature of Samsung’s high-end digital still camera models, and the GX-1S is no exception. The GX-1S will be available as a body only, or bundled with the D-XENON lens as a kit. For added convenience the GX-1S can be used with many Pentax DSLR lens and KAF2 and KAF mount lenses. Pricing and availability information will be provided at a later date.

The Samsung GX-1S includes a high-speed consecutive shooting mode of up to 2.8 frames per second up to eight frames in JPEG shooting and up to five frames per second when shooting in Raw Mode, allowing the user to capture a series of the subject’s action or movement.

Designed to enable easy viewing of images in all lighting conditions, the GX 1S features a large, 2.5-inch LCD monitor and a bright, high-magnification pentaprism viewfinder offering a 95-percent field view and .95-times magnification.

An ideal solution for picture-taking on-the-go, the Samsung GX-1S has a compact design measuring 4.9 x 3.6 x 2.6-inches and weighs 17.8-ounces*

The user-friendly model takes full advantage of the large LCD monitor with a convenient and informative in-camera guidance system that provides a detailed explanation of shooting, flash modes and White Balance settings.

The Samsung GX-1S can be powered by four AA-size Lithium, Ni-MH or CR-V3 batteries.

Samsung Opto-Electronics America, Inc., Secaucus, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd., Sungnam Kyungki-Do, Korea. Samsung Opto-Electronics markets a full line of auto focus cameras, zoom and digital cameras for the amateur as well as the professional under the Samsung brand name. CCTV monitors and lenses, motorized zoom lenses, binoculars, observation and security systems, and video presenters are other products in the family of photographic and optical equipment.

For more information please visit the Samsung Camera website at http://www.SamsungCameraUSA.com

Technical specifications subject to change prior to product launch

*Without memory card or battery

Media Contacts
Kristine McVicar or
Jason Ledder
R&J Public Relations, LLC
908-722-5757