- When the Greatest Tale of Chivalry Ends, the Nightmare Begins
Paradox Interactive and Neocore Games today announced that development
for King Arthur II is underway. Critically praised by reviewers and gamers
alike, King Arthur was received as one of the biggest surprises to emerge on
the gaming scene in 2009. The Fantasy/Role-playing RTS returns in a sequel
set to push the boundaries of the genre even further.
King Arthur II will feature a new and dark fantasy setting. No longer a
valiant ruler, King Arthur is now the Maimed King trying to mend a land
almost beyond repair in a stunning new plot. More heroic, large scale battles
with bigger armies are at reach to defeat more powerful foes. Intense boss
fights never seen before promise to pit hero's forces against unique and
terrifying enemies. A new wide range of camera control options, revised
animations and an extensive tutorial will provide for the ultimate gaming
experience.
"We are excited to begin King Arthur II with the Paradox publishing
team," said Zoltan Pozsonyi, Producer of King Arthur II for Neocore. "We have
every intention of testing the limits in the sequel. With an extraordinary
new plot and insane new battles, our community's expectations will be blown
away."
"We couldn't be more thrilled to add King Arthur II to our lineup of
exceptional upcoming titles. From the early development that has taken place,
we know this newest title will more than live up to its predecessor," said
Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive.
Founded in 2005, Neocore Games aims to develop high quality products.
Developers of Crusaders: Thy Kingdom Come and King Arthur: The
Role-Playing Wargame, Neocore Games utilizes its Coretech 3D engine to offer
stable and strong technology to deliver the best in-game graphics of the
industry. For more on Neocore Games, visit http://www.neocoregames.com
About Paradox Interactive
Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and
publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy
catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United
States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally
developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis,
Crusader Kings, Victoria and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as
publishing titles such as the Mount&Blade series, Lionheart: Kings' Crusade,
Majesty 2, Cities in Motion and Magicka. Paradox made an explosive entry onto
consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild
West. For more information, please visit http://www.paradoxplaza.com and
follow http://www.facebook.com/ParadoxInteractive and http://www.twitter.com/pdxinteractive.
King Arthur II (c) Paradox Interactive. All Rights Reserved.
Jet off to Sun, Sea and Sand with SlotsandGames.com
LONDON, January 14, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Slots & Games [http://www.SlotsandGames.com] is now giving you an extra
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HONG KONG, Jan. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- There's a saying in Brazil: E o jeitinho brasileiro, and you can bet DealExtreme.com knows the Brazilian way, too. Where else could you get such fantastic deals on the hottest electronic products from such a well respected online shopping website? And with their FREE world-wide shipping, low prices and well earned reputation for high quality products, there is no competition in the industry.
1. WIFI enabled, Night Vision IR Camera with Microphone.
Speaking of hiding, the first spotlight product is designed to make sure no one is lurking outside your home or office. Whether you live in a humble abode in Sao Paulo, or a fabulous mansion in Rio, this WIFI enabled, Night Vision Camera with Microphone is the perfect addition to your security arsenal. With features such as remote pan and tilt, 10 IR LEDs, 640x480 image resolution and the ability to record video from any internet connection, not even James Bond and the lovely Manuela could slip past it.
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With crime rates on the rise, and thieves getting smarter and smarter, why not take a preemptive step towards keeping your vehicle safe and sound with DealExtreme.com's GPS + Dual Band GSM Real-Time Spy/Anti-Theft Vehicle Tracker. This handy-dandy unit is highly accurate and can transmit its longitude and latitude to an authorized cell phone via SMS. The device can be used on automobiles, motorcycles, golf carts or even your company's jet if you worry about the pilot taking it on joy-rides when you're not looking.
3. 5" LCD, Windows CE, GPS Navigator with Brazil Maps.
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This rounds out DealExtreme.com's trifecta of top 3 electronic goodies for your New Year shopping pleasure. Be sure to check out the details of each of these premiere products!
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BYO Network has announced the launch of BYOCHANNEL.COM, streaming online and on mobile devices. The BYO digital network, currently in beta, delivers what the company name implies: Build Your Own Channel.
Believing that the best person to program someone's music experience is the person who is listening, BYO's team developed proprietary technology that gives any user the ability to create and share an unlimited number of listening channels according to their unique tastes and preferences. With BYO you can update your channels as often as you want. The result is a portable, sharable listening experience that is flexible for today's mobile lifestyle.
BYO is free to the user. In addition to streaming online, BYO provides applications for most mobile devices where a 3G, Edge, or Wi-Fi connection is available. BYO's programmers sum up their mission statement: "Wherever you go, the music you love goes right along with you."
BYO counts among its supporters Rick Dees, who provides this enthusiastic endorsement for BYO: "Today's generation has sent a clear message: 'I want what I want, when I want it.' Enter BYO.You can now listen on YOUR schedule, to the music YOU want, wherever you are. And the best part: it's FREE!"
For more information - and to Build Your Own Channel, go to BYOCHANNEL.COM.
SOURCE BYO Network
BYO Network
CONTACT: Anne Hedgpeth of BYO Network, Inc., 1-888-388-2375, or Fax 1- 888-845-4736
comScore Launches Video Metrix 2.0 in the UK to Measure Evolving Online Video Landscape
LONDON, January 14, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
- New Metrics Offer Detailed Market Intelligence for UK Industry
comScore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world,
today announced the UK launch of Video Metrix 2.0, the next generation of
comScore's industry leading online video measurement service. The new service
offers several enhancements - including reporting of online video ad
impressions - designed to better align with the realities of today's online
video landscape. For more information on Video Metrix 2.0, please visit http://www.videometrix2.com.
"The dynamics of online video - both in terms of consumption patterns and
economics - have evolved considerably in recent years and the industry has
come to recognize its growing importance as an advertising channel," said
Mike Read, comScore senior vice president and managing director for Europe.
"Video measurement needs to be just as innovative in order to capitalize on
new monetization opportunities and help pave the way for digital media
convergence with traditional media."
Enhancements to the service include:
- The ability to filter video viewing activity between advertising and
content
- A unique reach/frequency tool to help agencies plan against online
video
- Additional reporting metrics, including average daily unique viewers,
viewing sessions, percentage of ads by videos viewed, percentage of ads
by time spent viewing video, ads per content video, content minutes per
ad minute
- Ranking of video advertising networks by actual reach of ads delivered
(as opposed to potential reach of the network)
For more detailed insights into Video Metrix 2.0 please join us for a
complimentary webinar (see details below).
Top 5 UK Video Content Properties by Viewing Sessions
In the UK, 34.7 million Internet users watched 6 billion content videos
in November 2010. During the same month nearly 964 million viewing sessions
took place, resulting in an average of 6 videos viewed per session. Google
Sites, driven primarily by video viewing at YouTube.com, ranked as the top
video content property with 428 million viewing sessions during the month and
30.4 million unique viewers, followed by BBC Sites (46.8 million viewing
sessions) and Vevo (41.4 million sessions).
Top UK Online Video Content Properties
Ranked by Viewing Sessions (000)
November 2010
Total UK - Home & Work Locations
Source: comScore Video Metrix
-----------------------------
Viewing Total Unique
Sessions Viewers Videos
Property (000) (000) (000)
Total Internet : Total
Audience 963,971 34,720 6,032,002
Google Sites 427,608 30,401 2,831,218
BBC Sites 46,845 9,917 146,240
VEVO 41,430 9,774 71,174
Facebook.com 28,205 8,819 42,328
Dailymotion.com 13,099 3,382 33,282
*A session is a period of time with continuous video-viewing. A
session ends, if a viewer is inactive for 30 minutes.
Top 5 UK Video Ad Properties by Unique Video Viewers
In November 2010, 527 million video ads were viewed by 23 million UK
Internet users, representing an average of 23 video ads per viewer.
SpotXchange Video Network ranked first reaching 7.2 million unique viewers,
followed by Google Sites (5.8 million) and Joost Video Network (5.8 million).
Among the top 5 sites, ITV delivered the highest number of video ads (62.6
million) and frequency of video ads (14 video ads per viewer).
Top UK Online Video Ad Properties
Ranked by Unique Video Viewers (000)
November 2010
Total UK - Home & Work Locations
Source: comScore Video Metrix
-----------------------------
Total Unique
Viewers Video Ads*
Property (000) (000)
Total Internet : Total Audience 23,007 527,132
SpotXchange Video Ad Network** 7,218 28,952
Google Sites 5,777 22,561
Joost Video Network (by Adconion
Media Group)** 5,757 20,469
ITV Sites 4,553 62,603
Crosspoint Media** 4,269 38,582
* Video ads include streaming-video advertising only and do not
include other types of video
monetization, such as overlays, branded players, matching banner ads,
homepage ads, etc.
**Indicates video ad network
Live Webinar on Wednesday, 26th January 2011, 3pm GMT
This comScore webinar will showcase the latest trends in the UK video
market to help media planners and media owners navigate the changing video
landscape more effectively.
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital
world and preferred source of digital business analytics. For more
information, please visit http://www.comscore.com/companyinfo.
LONDON, Jan. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IG Markets, the UK's leading Contract for Difference (CFD) firm, is now offering its new iPhone dealing app for download. Available free of charge from the AppStore, the application will offer CFD trading (http://www.igmarkets.co.uk/) clients a range of facilities including the ability to view prices on the full range of markets, place trades, obtain real-time charts and also receive breaking news headlines from Thomson Reuters.
Philip Adler, Managing Director of IG Markets (UK), commented:
'The popularity of the iPhone has been nothing short of phenomenal. We launched an award winning browser optimised for the handset in 2009, but this latest move means existing and new clients alike can find IG Markets in the AppStore too.'
IG Markets has been offering an optimised browser for the iPhone since early 2009, which proved to be highly popular with existing clients. Making a widely accessible, downloadable application available from the AppStore was the obvious next step. At present the app is designed for UK clients only but will be rolled out to other territories in the coming months. In addition to the next-generation features mentioned above, clients will also be able to:
-- Place CFD trades on the full IG Markets range of instruments - over
8,000 shares, indices, currencies, commodities and bonds
-- Open and close positions
-- Edit and delete working orders
-- Add stops and limits, including guaranteed stops
-- View watchlists
-- See open positions at a glance
-- View real-time account balances.
Widely recognised as an innovator in its field, IG Markets has offered dealing on mobile phones since 2004. In addition to the iPhone, IG Markets also fully supports BlackBerry devices, PDAs and other smartphones, such as those running the Android operating system. The iPhone app is also compatible with Apple's iPad.
About IG Markets
IG Markets is an international market-maker in financial derivatives, offering clients the ability to trade CFDs (http://www.igmarkets.co.uk/cfd/about-cfds.html) on over 8,000 shares listed on markets worldwide, along with indices, currencies, commodities and treasuries. IG Markets is part of IG Group (IGG.L), which employs in excess of 900 people and has offices in 14 countries worldwide. For further information please visit http://www.igmarkets.co.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7896 0011.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPod, iPod touch, iPad and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
*Largest CFD provider based on number of accounts as judged by Investment Trends 2010 UK Spread Betting/CFD Report
Namecheck.com Checks Availability of Domain Names, Social Media Usernames, Trademarks
BOSTON, January 14, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Domain registrar United Domains has today announced the launch of
Namecheck.com (http://www.namecheck.com/), an innovative new search engine
for discovering and registering online names.
This user-friendly website allows for the simultaneous search of domain
names, trademarks and usernames for the most popular social media networks,
including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The easy to read results page
lists available domains, usernames, and word-based trademarks in green,
registered ones in red. Clicking on a result takes the user to either the
account information if the domain or username has already been registered or
to a registration page where the user can claim the available name.
Namecheck.com is designed to serve multiple audiences:
- Established companies and brands: companies can search with
Namecheck.com to find gaps in their online brand management, or
discover unauthorized third-party use of their brand or name. For
example, a quick search for the name "Adidas" reveals that the Twitter
username (http://www.twitter.com/adidas) is not being used by Adidas,
the international sports manufacturer, but instead by an individual.
- New organizations: For organizations looking to establish a web
presence, Namecheck.com provides easy means to search for a single
available name across many platforms. Additionally, the site is an
excellent tool for brainstorming names.
- Personal branders: Even individuals need a coherent online presence,
and Namecheck.com can help job seekers, freelancers, and other personal
branders secure their name to help build a solid online reputation.
United Domains acquired the noteworthy and internationally recognizable
domain name Namecheck.com in November 2010 for $50,000.
About United Domains, Inc.
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United Domains ( http://www.uniteddomains.com) is a member of the United Internet Group, along
with successful brands like 1&1, GMX and mail.com. With more than 10 years of
industry experience involved in administering an excess of 1.5 million domain
names for more than 240,000 customers, United Domains is a leading domain
name registrar, with its global headquarters in Munich, Germany. The company
was founded in August 2000 by Florian Huber, Alexander Helm and Markus
Eggensperger. United Domains is focussed exclusively on domain names and
recommends the services of 1&1 Internet Inc. (http://www.1and1.com) for
Webhosting or server needs of US SMBs and consumers.
Press Contact
Kate Hutchinson
PR Manager
United Domains
161 First Street, 4th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
USA
Press Contact: Kate Hutchinson, PR Manager, United Domains, 161 First Street, 4th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA, Phone: +1(781)285-1851, Email: kh@ud.com
Virgin Casino Offers High Rollers an Industry Leading Sign-Up Bonus
LONDON, January 14, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Casino, (http://www.virgingames.com/casino/) part of the online
gaming company - Virgin Games, (http://www.virgingames.com/) is now offering
fantastic new sign-up offers designed uniquely for High Rollers as well as
bonus offers for regular players.
Virgin Casino is offering High Rollers one of the best sign-up bonuses in
the industry. There are three offers available: GBP350 for a GBP500 deposit,
GBP600 for a GBP1,000 deposit, and GBP1,200 for a GBP3,000 deposit. Details
of the High Roll sign-up bonuses can be found at http://www.virgincasino.com.
For regular players Virgin Casino is offering a 100% sign-up bonus up to
GBP100. For details of the promotional offer go to http://www.virgincasino.com.
Oliver Wilson, Casino Acquisition Manager at Virgin Games, commented:
"For bigger players looking for a better deal than the standard GBP100
sign-up bonus, our High Roller offer is seriously generous and one of the
best deals to be had in the industry. We're offering up to GBP1,200 - a great
gift for the New Year!"
Founded in 2004, Virgin Games has over 1,000,000 players and over 250
games on its site. Through the introduction of a custom built Virgin Games
platform in 2008, Virgin Games seeks to provide its players with the widest
possible choice of casino games. A growing selection of games can be found at
Virgin Games from a number of producers including Microgaming, WagerWorks,
Cryptologic, Freemantle and Ash Gaming.
Notes to editors:
About Virgin Games:
Virgin Games (http://www.virgingames.com) launched in June 2004 and has
quickly established itself as one of the leading gaming websites in the UK.
Virgin Games comprises three distinct offerings:
- Virgin Casino, (http://www.virgingames.com/casino/) offers
content from a range of games suppliers including WagerWorks,
Microgaming, Cryptologic, Freemantle and Ash Gaming, bringing consumers
classic casino games like Blackjack and Roulette, as well as great
feature slots like Monopoly, Rubik's, X-Factor and the highly popular
MegaJackpots progressive games.
- Virgin Poker, (http://www.virgingames.com/poker/) part of the
Boss Media network, offers a huge array of games and content for
beginners through to experienced pros - as well as the most generous
loyalty scheme in the industry
- Virgin Bingo, (http://www.virgingames.com/bingo/) part of the
Virtue Fusion network, offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in
the progressive jackpots, as well as Virgin prize bingo and a range of
unique Virgin Games bingo games.
Source: Virgin Games
For further information please contact: Rebecca Clark, PR Consultant, Tel. +44(0)7909-918478, Email rebecca@virgingames.com
League of Two Web Series Delves Deep Into the Creative Process of Duos
42BELOW Vodka joins VICE on Seven Episode Series Featuring Chromeo, Bompas & Parr, Duckie Brown, Roman & Williams and more
CORAL GABLES, Fla., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today VICE and 42BELOW vodka announcethe debut of League of Two, a new Web series exploring the nature of creative partnerships. Seven webisodes profile several of the most innovative dynamic duos working in the fields of music, film, food, fashion and design. Each piece presents the history, significance and working process of each pair while capturing the agonies and ecstasies of working in collaboration. The seven webisodes can be viewed at http://vbs.tv/leagueoftwo.
"A brand that celebrates independent spirit, creativity and being a bit different from the rest, 42BELOW vodka saw an opportunity to showcase thriving creative duos with the League of Two, so we jumped at it," said Joe Metevier, brand director, 42BELOW vodka.
Some of today's most creative and gifted duos may fly below the radar to many people, but are well regarded in their industries. Foodies, audiophiles, and film buffs may enjoy the end result of a particular collaboration, but do they know what goes into making it that spectacular? It's an intricate process with many highs and lows, and conceivably some hair loss, but ultimately the final product is worth their efforts.
"We started to notice that a lot of the most interesting, innovative and strangest subjects worked in pairs, so we decided to create the League of Two series and put a microscope on the collaborative process of duos," said Thobey Campion, producer, VBS.TV. "Instead of common profile pieces, we found duos from all walks of life and joined their on-going work process. From legendary designers, Duckie Brown and Roman & Williams, to experimental food pioneers, Bompas & Parr, the resulting episodes all provide a true explanation of the term mutually beneficial."
League of Two featured artists and webisode launch dates, include:
-- Partners & Spade (Tuesday, Jan. 4)
-- Creative tycoons Andy Spade and Anthony Sperduti are behind the
hybrid design agency Partners & Spade, located in the heart of
Manhattan's NoHo district.
-- YACHT (Tuesday, Jan. 18)
-- A product of Portland, Oregon, this electro-pop lifestyle band
entered duo-ship in 2008. Their manifesto reads; YACHT is a
"...belief system...all people are welcome to become members of
YACHT." We suggest you climb aboard.
-- Duckie Brown (Tuesday, Feb. 1)
-- New York designers Daniel Silver and Steven Cox of the menswear line
Duckie Brown use hand tailoring, unique fabrics and bold colors to
ensure they are "dressing men beautifully."
-- Bompas & Parr (Tuesday, Feb. 15)
-- London blokes Sam Bompas and Harry Parr are something like culinary
architects, on a mission to show the world what it means to truly
experience food.
-- Duo To Be Announced (Tuesday, March 1)
-- Roman & Williams (Tuesday, March 15)
-- Founded by Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, the New York based
architectural design duo have an uncanny ability to find harmony in
"seemingly disparate objects," fostering the creation of some of the
worlds most renowned design spaces.
-- Chromeo (Tuesday, March 29)
-- Montreal-based electrofunk duo, P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel) and Dave 1
(David Macklovitch) are best friends and a rarity as an Arab/Jewish
collaboration that happens to make amazing music.
As evidenced by its name, 42BELOW has a penchant for numbers. This highly awarded vodka is created 42 degrees below the equator in one of the most remote places in the world - New Zealand. One of the last countries to be inhabited by man, New Zealand is home to some of the purist water and air the world, another combination that works well together. 42BELOW respects the natural elements of its native land and the imaginative and artistic qualities of their consumers and the duos captured in the League of Two series.
42BELOW Duo
42BELOW has its own duo worthy of inclusion in the League of Two, Vodka Professors Paul Franich and Raj Nagra. Franich has been with 42BELOW vodka since its inception - helping launch the brand in New Zealand with founder Geoff Ross and has since carried the brand to the U.S. as the New York City Brand Ambassador.
Nagra an expert mixologist and bartender has been at it for more than 15 years. Impressing cocktail seekers with precision bottle flair and well crafted beverages, he joins forces with Franich during the United States Bartender's Guild's 42BELOW Cocktail World Cupto share their art and passion with the world. This truly unique event brings the world's best and most passionate bartenders to the world's greatest country, New Zealand, for a week of extreme activities and innovative cocktail making.
In honor of the League of Two and its subjects, Paul and Raj paired up to create a dynamic dozy of a drink known as "The Duo."
-- Two parts 42BELOW Vodka
-- One half part Martini Bianco
-- One lemon twist
Instructions:
-- Take a frozen mixing glass and fill with large cold, hard ice cubes. Add
Martini Bianco, stir briefly and strain. Add two parts of 42BELOW vodka
and stir rapidly for 12 seconds. Strain into a frozen cocktail glass and
garnish with a lemon twist.
About VICE
VICE was launched in 1994 as a small print zine in Montreal and has since grown into a global media juggernaut, featuring Vice Magazine, VBS.TV, VIRTUE Worldwide, VICE Music, VICE Films, VICE Books and more. Vice Magazine has a circulation of over 1.2 million and is distributed in 30 countries and in 13 languages. VBS.TV, launched in 2007 as VICE's online television network, has become an industry leader in broadcasting original content and news online.
The channel now boasts over 40 established shows covering everything from current events to sports to investigative reporting to music. For more information, visit http://viceland.com.
About 42BELOW
42BELOW vodka was launched in 1998 in the premium vodka segment and has shown strong volume growth since its inception. The brand known for its innovative, bold and entrepreneurial style has earned a strong reputation for authentic New Zealand quality and exceptional taste, reflected in winning numerous prestigious international awards. 42BELOW vodka, acquired by Bacardi Limited in 2006, is currently distributed in more than 25 countries.
About Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.
Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. is the United States import and distribution arm of one of the world's leading spirits and wine producers. The company boasts a portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits brands in the United States including BACARDI® rum, the world's favorite and best-selling premium rum, as well as the world's most awarded rum; GREY GOOSE® vodka, the world-leader in super-premium vodka; DEWAR'S® Blended Scotch Whisky, the number-one selling blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the top-valued premium gin in the world; CAZADORES® blue agave tequila, the number-one premium tequila in the world; MARTINI® vermouth, the world-leader in vermouth; and other leading and emerging brands. For additional information, please visit http://www.BacardiUSA.com.
Media Contacts:
Josh Rangel, GolinHarris
312.729.4168
jrangel@golinharris.com
Joe Gerbino, Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.
786.264.8421
jgerbino@bacardi.com
SOURCE Bacardi
Bacardi
CONTACT: Josh Rangel of GolinHarris, +1-312-729-4168, jrangel@golinharris.com; or Joe Gerbino of Bacardi U.S.A., Inc., +1-786-264-8421, jgerbino@bacardi.com, both for 42BELOW
AOL Selects Everyday Health to Become Exclusive Health Destination
New Partnership to Drive AOL Users to Everyday Health
NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyday Health, Inc., a leading provider of health solutions, today announced that AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) will make Everyday Health the exclusive health destination for AOL Network, replacing AOL Health. Beginning April 1, 2011, AOL's nearly 14 million daily users* [*December 2010 comScore Media Metrix] seeking health content will be directed to Everyday Health's award-winning health content.
This partnership solidifies Everyday Health's leadership in online health. In Q4 2010, Everyday Health led the health category, according to comScore, with 26.8 million monthly unique visitors. This deal will provide AOL users with easy access to the advice, tools, guidance, and support, which has made Everyday Health so popular with health-information seekers. The deal underscores Everyday Health's importance to health marketers--the company will retain responsibility for all advertising sales, regardless of where users come from, and offer a significant increase in qualified users and valuable advertising inventory on Everyday Health.
"We are excited to service AOL's qualified health users with the information they need to live better every day," said Everyday Health CEO, Ben Wolin. "This deal is part of an aggressive growth strategy for Everyday Health to make the greatest impact on the widest audience. Just last month we announced our expansion into the healthcare professional market with the acquisition of MedPage Today. We are committed to providing consumers, professionals and advertisers with the best health solutions."
As the exclusive health destination for AOL's health condition, disease and drug content, Everyday Health will be promoted through AOL's homepage with prominent placement throughout AOL. AOL's active health seekers will be led to EverydayHealth.com and its comprehensive portfolio of health and wellness sites that span the health spectrum - from in-depth medical content for condition prevention and management to healthy lifestyle offerings.
About Everyday Health, Inc.
Everyday Health is a leading provider of health solutions. The company provides consumers, healthcare professionals, and brands with content and advertising-based services across a broad portfolio of over 25 websites that span the health spectrum - from in-depth medical content for condition prevention and management to lifestyle offerings in pregnancy, diet and fitness. With over 27 million unique users each month (source: comScore), Everyday Health offers users the tools, community, and expert advice they need to live healthier, every day.
The Everyday Health portfolio includes well-recognized and trusted health brands, including http://www.EverydayHealth.com; http://www.Carepages.com; PDRHealth.com; http://www.WhatToExpect.com, from the world-renowned pregnancy and parenting brand, What to Expect; and http://www.JillianMichaels.com, from Jillian Michaels, star of the hit NBC television show, "The Biggest Loser." The portfolio now includes http://www.medpagetoday.com, a news organization serving healthcare professionals. Everyday Health was founded in 2002 by CEO, Ben Wolin, and President, Mike Keriakos and investors include Foundation Capital, NeoCarta Ventures, Revolution, Rho Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Technology Crossover Ventures and Village Ventures.
About AOL
AOL Inc. (NYSE:AOL) is a leading global Web services company with an extensive suite of brands and offerings and a substantial worldwide audience. AOL's business spans online content, products and services that the company offers to consumers, publishers and advertisers. AOL is focused on attracting and engaging consumers and providing valuable online advertising services on both AOL's owned and operated properties and third-party websites. In addition, AOL operates one of the largest Internet subscription access services in the United States, which serves as a valuable distribution channel for AOL's consumer offerings.
SOURCE Everyday Health, Inc.
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101112/NY00568LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Everyday Health, Inc.
CONTACT: Jennifer Perciballi, Vice President, Public Relations, Everyday Health, Inc., +1-646-728-9777 office, or +1-646-476-1245 mobile, jperciballi@everydayhealthinc.com; or Graham James, AOL Corporate Communications, +1-212-206-5012 office, or +1-917-319-7936 mobile, graham.james@teamaol.com
Environmental Tectonics Corporation's Simulation Division Goes Live with Redesigned Website Showcasing the Advanced Disaster Management Simulator
SOUTHAMPTON, Pa., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental Tectonics Corporation's (OTC Bulletin Board: ETCC) ("ETC" or the "Company") Simulation Division, located in Orlando, FL, is excited to announce the launch of its completely redesigned website, http://www.TrainingForDisasterManagement.com. Fueled by the growth of the ADMS product line, the new site offers additional pages of sector-specific training solutions, including ADMS-POLICE and ADMS-EOC. The website was created with a new focus on customer usability, and includes a user-friendly way for global customers to find answers to their training needs quickly and easily.
The new site welcomes you with a clean and uncluttered design and completely new navigational tools. Enhanced resources include rich content, streaming media and detailed product information categorized by organizational need. A completely new "ADMS Community" has been added, where current ADMS users can discuss their experiences, gain insight and share information on the practical usage of ADMS in emergency management training. This Community was created to add value to the support services ADMS customers have come to expect from ETC Simulation.
Marco van Wijngaarden, President of ETC Simulation, stated, "The new site was a response to the growth and success of ADMS and embodies ETC's commitment to the growing needs of our customers. We will continue to add content as new developments and products are launched."
The website showcases the Advanced Disaster Management Simulator (ADMS). ADMS is the new standard in interactive virtual reality training systems. ADMS is used globally to train Incident Command at all levels, along with Vehicle Operation. ADMS simulates disasters and incidents in high-definition quality with amazing visualizations and effects. Simulated response vehicles and crews react to the trainee's commands in real-time, and the outcome of the situation is based completely on these decisions. The training experience is true-to-life due to the built-in artificial intelligence and physics-based effects. With the Scenario Generator the instructor can create fresh scenarios based on individual training goals and objectives, and the entire exercise is scored and recorded for a comprehensive after action debriefing. ADMS offers a cost effective, positive training experience allowing for emergency management training whenever and wherever is needed in a safe and controlled environment.
ETC was incorporated in 1969 in Pennsylvania and last year we celebrated our 40th anniversary. Our core technologies include the design, manufacture and sale of Training Services (TSG) which includes (1) software driven products and services used to create and monitor the physiological effects of flight; (2) high performance jet tactical flight simulation, and; (3) driving and disaster simulation systems, and Control Systems (CSG) which includes: (1) steam and gas sterilization; (2) testing and simulation devices for the automotive industry, and; (3) hyperbaric and hypobaric chambers. Product categories included in TSG are Aircrew Training Systems (ATS) and flight simulators, disaster management systems and entertainment applications. CSG includes sterilizers, environmental control devices and hyperbaric chambers along with parts and service support.
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on ETC's current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about ETC's and its subsidiaries that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company's vision, mission, strategies, goals, beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, intentions, financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business of the company, including but not limited to,( i) projections of revenues, costs of materials, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, capital expenditures, growth prospects, dividends, capital structure, other financial items and the effects of currency fluctuations, (ii) statements of our plans and objectives of the Company or its management or Board of Directors, including the introduction of new products, or estimates or predictions of actions of customers, suppliers, competitors or regulatory authorities, (iii) statements of future economic performance, (iv) statements of assumptions and other statements about the Company or its business, (v) statements made about the possible outcomes of litigation involving the Company, (vi) statements regarding the Company's ability to obtain financing to support its operations and other expenses, and (vii) statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words, "may," "could," "should," "looking forward," "would," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," or the negative of such terms or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which are subject to change based on various important factors. Some of these risks and uncertainties, in whole or in part, are beyond the Company's control. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a material difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10 K for the fiscal year ended February 26, 2010, in the section entitled "Risks Particular to Our Business." Shareholders are urged to review these risks carefully prior to making an investment in the Company's common stock.
The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Except as required by federal securities law, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.
Contact: Duane D. Deaner, CFO
Tel: 215-355-9100 (ext. 1203)
Fax: 215-357-4000
ETC - Internet Home Page: http://www.etcusa.com
SOURCE Environmental Tectonics Corporation
Environmental Tectonics Corporation
CONTACT: Duane D. Deaner, CFO, +1-215-355-9100 (ext. 1203), Fax: +1-215-357-4000
Cyber Switching Releases Firmware Update for ePower® Intelligent Power Distribution Units
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyber Switching (http://www.cyberswitching.com), a leading provider and innovator of power distribution and power management solutions, announced the availability of csLinux 2011.01, the latest firmware for its award-winning ePower® series intelligent power distribution unit (iPDU). ePower, launched in 2010 and awarded the 2010 Best of INTEROP Green Award, is the new class of intelligent PDU offering innovative power management features to help keep data centers "green."
ePower units ordered after January 5, 2011 will be preloaded with this latest firmware version. Those customers with existing units already deployed can upgrade their units software by logging into the ePower's web interface through an administrator account and choosing the Upgrade option from the System > Maintenance section. A valid Internet connection is required and the entire upgrade process may take 15-20 minutes, depending on the speed of the connection. Outlet states will not be affected during this upgrade process.
This firmware update features several enhancements, including:
-- 5x performance increase for power measurement updates
-- Support for Cisco EnergyWise v2.5 with individual outlet management
-- Additional CLI targets for managing outlets, banks, and inputs
-- Updated CLI online help with examples
-- Improved system stability
A full description of all features can be found in the ePower User Manual, available for download from Cyber Switching's website.
Cyber Switching ePower products are available direct or through Cyber Switching resellers worldwide. Cyber Switching products are backed by a standard 2-year warranty, complete with customer support via telephone and email. For more information on Cyber Switching products and technology, please visit http://www.cyberswitching.com or call (888) 311-6277.
An Inc. 5000 company, Cyber Switching is a leading provider and innovator of power distribution and power management products. Cyber Switching has a reputation for developing green solutions which integrate rich features with unsurpassed reliability and great value.
CONTACT: Chris Bulaon
(408) 436-9830
chrisb@cyberswitching.com
SOURCE Cyber Switching
Cyber Switching
CONTACT: Chris Bulaon of Cyber Switching, +1-408-436-9830, chrisb@cyberswitching.com
UT Southwestern to Accelerate its Early Leadership in Using Electronic Health Records to Improve Patient Care
DALLAS, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the first major medical center in North Texas to implement electronic medical records in all its clinical practice groups, UT Southwestern Medical Center today applauded the government's initiative to get hospitals and health care providers across the nation to embrace new health care technology. The medical center said it will achieve the goal of "meaningful use" of electronic health records (EHR) and register for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
"As the only medical center in North Texas to have 'meaningful use' across all of our ambulatory and inpatient settings, we allow patients to be connected to their overall health care, whether they are in the hospital or see their physician at one of our clinics," said Dr. Bruce A. Meyer, executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern. "We think it is vitally important for patients to participate in their own care, and the meaningful use of our EHR allows that."
In addition to its ambulatory clinics, UT Southwestern has expanded its use of electronic medical records throughout its University Hospitals. Since 2005, the medical center's electronic "My Chart" product links patients online directly with their UT Southwestern care providers, with more than 50,000 now registered and using it to schedule appointments, request prescription refills or direct private inquiries to their physicians and other health care providers.
"As the leader in implementing electronic medical records, we already have witnessed how this technology can enhance the safety and efficiency of patient care, while providing the analytics so crucial to achieving evidenced-based quality improvement," said Kirk A. Kirksey, vice president for information resources at UT Southwestern.
"Moreover, as a major clinical research institution, electronic records enable us uniquely to integrate data from clinical trials to accelerate the delivery of the very latest discoveries as we seek to provide the highest quality of patient care," Mr. Kirksey said.
With the government's ARRA initiative, January 2011 marks the first time in our nation's history that hospitals and eligible health care providers can register their intent to achieve "meaningful use" of certified electronic health records and qualify for incentive payments under the HITECH Act portion of ARRA. This program is accelerating the transformation of health care that was already happening, moving the country closer to nationwide interoperable electronic patient records.
"UT Southwestern is proud to have been the only medical center and hospital selected to be a founding member and to serve on the board of the North Texas Regional Extension Center," Mr. Kirksey said. "We are extending our early leadership now by actively promoting the expanded use of electronic medical records in physician offices and other health care facilities across this region."
Sell Anything Anywhere With 'Pay Anywhere' Free iPhone App & Reader from North American Bancard
First True "No Compromise" App Brings Affordability, Simplicity and Peace-of-Mind to Mobile Payment Market
TROY, Mich., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- No payment system is as simple as swiping a credit card. Consumers expect it and businesses prefer it. And now, "Pay Anywhere" from North American Bancard (NAB) allows anyone to take advantage of that simplicity to sell anything, anywhere - with no monthly or equipment fees.
NAB, an industry leader in credit card processing, today announced the launch of its Pay Anywhere (http://www.payanywhere.com) mobile payment application, which allows users to process credit card payments via mobile devices. NAB currently processes more than $10 billion in electronic transactions annually for more than 100,000 merchants nationwide.
"Up to now people have had to compromise when picking a mobile payment option. While some are flashy and free, they can lack critical financial and security resources on the back-end. Others offer the reliability many consumers want, but are cost-prohibitive," said Marc Gardner, NAB founder and president.
"Pay Anywhere is the first to offer the best of both worlds - superior hardware and technology, ease-of-use, an affordable pay-as-you-go platform and the peace-of-mind that comes with NAB's nearly 20 years of credit card processing experience."
Features and highlights of Pay Anywhere include:
-- Free software and hardware - The Pay Anywhere application is free from
Apple's App Store. Upon approval of a merchant account, the card reader
accessory - a $149.95 retail value - also will be given to users free.
The card reader is included so that users can swipe cards to receive
lower transaction rates. Other comparable card readers are being sold
from $75 to $195.
-- Dependability and Security - Unlike other products on the market, Pay
Anywhere users and their customers can swipe with confidence, knowing
the application is backed by 24/7 support, NAB's 400-person staff and
nearly 20 years of credit card processing experience. Pay Anywhere uses
the highest available level of encryption and the strictest standards of
payment card industry security.
-- Affordability - With Pay Anywhere, there are:
-- No setup fees
-- No application fees
-- No monthly service fees
-- No cancellation fees at any time
-- No monthly minimums required
Pay Anywhere charges a flat fee of 19 cents per transaction, and 2.69 percent and 3.49 percent in service costs for swiped and keyed entries, respectively.
-- Convenience - The Pay Anywhere application is currently available for
Apple iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 users, as well as the Apple iPad and iPod
Touch, and will soon be available for Android and BlackBerry mobile
customers. The card reader accessory is currently available for iPhone
3G and 3GS, with an audio jack accessory for iPhone 4, the iPad and iPod
Touch coming soon. Pay Anywhere accepts all major credit cards.
-- Ease & Ability - The free Pay Anywhere app can easily be set up in a
matter of minutes and offers a user-friendly interface with an
impressive set of features. Pay Anywhere users can set default tax and
tip percentages, inventory and categorize items and services, take
advantage of real-time sales tracking and reporting and "go green" with
custom e-mail receipts.
"We want Pay Anywhere users to be confident every time they sell a product or service or pay for one, so we made the same NAB professional resources and expertise that our business customers receive accessible to everyone," continued Gardner. "In addition to the free app and free reader, Pay Anywhere merchants will only pay when they use the service. If their business is seasonal and they process transactions only three months of the year, they pay nothing for the other nine months."
Getting started with a Pay Anywhere account is easy. iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users download the free app from the App Store, set up a merchant account with NAB and a free card reader device, where applicable, is delivered directly to each customer. For more information on Pay Anywhere or to get started, interested users can visit http://www.payanywhere.com.
About North American Bancard
Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, North American Bancard is a multi-faceted payment solutions provider dedicated to providing the latest technology as well as committing to the highest service levels. As a registered MSP/ISO since 1992, North American Bancard provides its clients with a full suite of products and services including Credit, Debit, EBT, Check Conversion and Guarantee, ATM, Gift and Loyalty Cards and Online Payment Gateway solutions. NAB processes over $10 billion in electronic transactions annually for over 100,000 merchants nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.nabancard.com.
SOURCE North American Bancard
North American Bancard
CONTACT: Don Hunt, +1-616-233-0500, dhunt@lambert-edwards.com, or Hope Brown, +1-248-519-1504, hbrown@lambert-edwards.com, both of Lambert, Edwards & Associates
STMicroelectronics Advances Easy-Access Microcontroller Development with Third-Generation Platform - Delivering Extra Flexibility Plus Cost Savings
EvoPrimer platform for STM8 and STM32 introduces modular quick-change target boards, cutting time and cost to explore more design avenues
GENEVA, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a world leader in microcontrollers, is leading the trend to simplify product design with plug-and-play modules for prototyping, by releasing its third-generation development platform for customers using STM8 and STM32 microcontrollers.
The new EvoPrimer platform builds on experience from ST's Primer and Primer2 kits, the industry's first low-cost, hand-held tools for rapid prototyping with the STM8 and STM32. Now, EvoPrimer further increases flexibility and lowers customers' overall investment in tools by providing a common base unit with interchangeable low-cost microcontroller modules, or target boards. This flexibility provides a quick and cost-effective way to evaluate alternative variants from the large STM8 and STM32 families.
Target boards are available now to support STM8L ultra low-power 8-bit microcontrollers, as well as the 32-bit STM32F Connectivity and Performance Lines families. Additional target boards are soon to be introduced for the ultra low-power STM32L and the ultra high-performance STM32 F-2 series featuring advanced 90nm process technology.
The target boards connect readily to functions on board the EvoPrimer base unit, including an LCD touchscreen, a joystick, a MEMS accelerometer, a microphone, loudspeaker and jack, a Micro SD card connector, and a Li-ion battery with charge-management circuitry. An integrated extension connector allows extra functions to be added, if needed. EvoPrimer is also integrated with the CircleOS operating system, which provides services that save designers having to understand all the complexities of the microcontroller.
To help users succeed with their designs, ST supports two online communities bringing together over 15,000 engineers using Primer tools with the STM8 or STM32 families. Almost 100 downloadable projects are available to members, and most will run immediately on EvoPrimer.
The EvoPrimer is initially available as a kit with one specified target board, priced at $99. Extra target boards are available for $24, and the base unit can also be purchased separately for $75. The platform is shipped with the Raisonance Ride 7 application development environment, and the Raisonance STM8 C compiler or GNU C compiler for STM32.
Available configurations and part numbers:
-- EvoPrimer base platform only: STMPRIMER-BASE
-- EvoPrimer with STM8L target board: STM8L1526PRIMER
-- EvoPrimer with STM32 Performance Line target board: STM3210EPRIMER
-- EvoPrimer with STM32 Connectivity Line target board: STM3210CPRIMER
-- STM8L target board standalone: STM8L1526PRIM-D
-- STM32 Performance Line target board standalone: STM3210EPRIM-D
-- STM32 Connectivity Line target board standalone: STM3210CPRIM-D
-- Extension board with wrapping area: STMPRIMER-PROTO
About the STM8 family
ST's STM8 is an 8-bit family featuring an advanced processing core that delivers performance comparable to that of many 16-bit devices at significantly lower cost. All family members are pin and software compatible thereby enhancing design migration and future-proof scalability. Designers can also move easily from an STM8 based design to the STM32, benefiting from a high degree of commonality among available peripherals. Further advantages for designers include access to the STM8 Touch Sensing Library, which simplifies development of advanced use interfaces.
The STM8L family supported initially by EvoPrimer uses ST's EnergyLite(TM) technology, featuring a dedicated, proprietary 130nm process optimized for ultra-low leakage and other innovations including low-power embedded non-volatile memory and power consumption independent of Vdd.
About the STM32 family
The STM32 family is built using the industry-standard ARM® Cortex(TM)-M3 core, which features a modern architecture delivering low power consumption as well as cost savings compared to other 32-bit or even 16-bit devices. In total, more than 140 variants are now available including the devices supported by EvoPrimer target boards. Among these, the STM32F103 Performance Line variants operate up to 72MHz and provide up to 1Mbyte on-chip Flash, while the STM32F105 and F107 Connectivity Line devices add the extra flexibility of Ethernet, USB OTG, CAN and SPI connections all in one device.
New target boards planned for the EvoPrimer range will support advanced 90nm STM32 F-2 devices offering increased performance including operation up to 120MHz, and the ultra low-power STM32L family featuring EnergyLite technology.
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2009, the Company's net revenues were $8.51 billion. Further information on ST can be found at http://www.st.com.
SOURCE STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics
CONTACT: Michael Markowitz of STMicroelectronics, +1-781-591-0354, michael.markowitz@st.com
Mirial Releases SIP/H.323 Video Conferencing Client for iPhone
MILAN, January 13, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Mirial announced today the availability of the first professional video
conferencing client for Apple iOS devices, supporting both SIP and H.323
standards, featuring high-quality video conference and optimized in order to
get the most out of the mobile networks.
The software is available today for iPhone(R) 4 and iPod(R) Touch 4th
gen, and in few weeks for iPhone(R) 3GS and iPad(TM).
Built by Mirial on over 10 years of video communication excellence, it
provides a standards-based solution for video conferencing over Wi-Fi, 3G and
4G networks, enabling iPhone users to connect to other iPhones, iPods,
Android phones and tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Windows PC and Mac
or to any H323 standards-based video conferencing equipment such as room
systems or existing MCUs.
With 28,6% of U.S. market share, iOS still represents the leading mobile
operating system despite the rapid growth of Android. "We are proud to be the
only company offering an H323/SIP interoperable solution available for all
the most used platforms: Windows PC, Mac, Android and now iOS/iPhone" said
Cristoforo Mione, VP Marketing. "Once again, Mirial standards based products
are playing a key role in mass adoption of interoperable Visual Communication
solutions."
The client for iPhone is available today as an option for ClearSea and
MCS desktop video conferencing products, granting both enterprises and
service providers the possibility to offer a solid and consistent user
experience to their employees and customers.
Mirial is one of the world's premier providers of cutting-edge products
for audio and video communication over convergent networks, and a pioneer in
software-only desktop video conferencing since 1999. The company portfolio
includes a comprehensive set of products enabling hosted interactive
audio/video services on IP networks and professional SD and HD desktop and
mobile video conferencing.
Mirial products and solutions are available at the company's
sales representatives and resellers worldwide.
Every Child Healthy network Launches to Help Kids Get Fit, Grow Confidence
Creating Champions for Life is Every Child Healthy network's objective; Fighting childhood obesity is only part of the overall health battle
CARSON CITY, Nev., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Every Child Healthy network, the nation's newest, most unique holistic program to help children win the battle against obesity, launches today with comprehensive web-based and summer camp programs dedicated to helping youth become champions for life.
The Every Child Healthy network's global portal, http://www.everychildhealthy.com, is the interactive centerpiece of a comprehensive, professionally-designed program to help families learn new, whole-person processes resulting in greater happiness, self-esteem, success and overall quality of life.
"It's not just about losing the weight!" declares the founder of the Every Child Healthy network, lifelong transformational expert Carl V. Logrecco, known to his clients for years as Coach Carl.
Coach Carl says the Every Child Healthy movement intends to debunk some tired old myths about diet and exercise and focus new techniques on helping youth overcome obesity and its related ills by addressing emotional, psychological, spiritual and environmental challenges, in addition to physical issues.
"Millions more youth in our country continue to become obese every year, so what has been tried so far is not working," says Coach Carl. "We risk losing another generation to obesity and all of the negatives associated with this ongoing epidemic unless new, more effective, thoughtful and creative methods are initiated now. We believe the Every Child Healthy network, with its dozens of interactive components, finally has the answer."
In development for more than two years, the Every Child Healthy network and its team of licensed physicians, counselors, nutritional and exercise experts will offer families free advice and downloads at http://www.everychildhealthy.com, with options for fee-based downloads, consultations, services and products that will guide them through processes proven to help kids lose weight, gain self confidence and adopt healthy nutritional habits for life.
SUMMER CAMP WILL PRODUCE CHAMPIONS
The Every Child Healthy Champions for Life(TM) summer camp in Lake Tahoe will offer a wide array of holistic residential programs - staffed by senior, licensed physicians and professionals - that will guarantee participants will grow in spirit, self-confidence, self-awareness, personal strength and emotional consciousness in addition to losing weight and learning new habits for healthy eating.
SOURCE Every Child Healthy network
Every Child Healthy network
CONTACT: Andy Bowen, +1-404-822-3309, ab@clearviewcom.com
ISL Groop Offers a Free Online Meeting Alternative to DimDim Customers
SWINDON, England, January 13, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
- With Photo
A few days ago, Salesforce announced the acquisition of the web
conference provider DimDim and left its users questioning what's next?
Meanwhile, ISL Online has published on its blog [http://bit.ly/frrPjc] that
its online collaboration application ISL Groop is a perfect alternative, as
it allows DimDim SaaS Subscribers to continue meeting online. ISL Online even
offers a prolonged free trial until the expiry date of a valid DimDim
subscription.
ISL Online (http://www.islonline.com) has been supplying easy-to-use,
on-demand business software for remote desktop support and access, web
meetings and instant live chats since 2003 to over 90,000 business users
worldwide which establish more than 5 million session per year. ISL Groop is
their software solution for online meetings, live webinars, e-learning and
web collaboration. It is an ideal alternative for DimDim as it allows users
all over the world to communicate via the integrated VoIP and video, work on
shared documents or even share their desktop. It works on operating systems
Windows, Mac, Linux. You can try it now if you join a demo session at http://www.islonline.net/join/233-686-955. No registration and no personal
information are required.
According to DimDim, their customers with monthly accounts will have a
valid service until the 15th March, while annual accounts will be available
until their current subscription ends. To make the transition of DimDim users
as smooth as possible, ISL Online offers all users with a valid DimDim
account a free ISL Online subscription until the expiry date of their DimDim
subscription. For more detailed information you can write to
sales@islonline.com or come to ISL Online Live Chat [http://bit.ly/hbzjwi].
DimDim is an online collaboration software based on an open source
platform, hence DimDim offered online meetings for free for up to 20 people.
Since its foundation in 2007 DimDim has gained a high number of users
worldwide, and its existing customers can now find a quick solution by
migrating over to ISL Groop.
New Software Provides Automated Capture of Printed Text with Broad Multilingual Support and Direct Access to Social Networks
MILPITAS, Calif., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ABBYY, a leading provider of document recognition, data capture, and linguistic technologies and services, today announced the availability of its Business Card Reader for Android®. The Android application rounds out ABBYY's support of the major smartphone platforms, including Symbian and Apple iOS. The application enables users to accurately transfer contact information from paper business cards into their Android phone's address book. The solution also allows users to search for additional information about new contacts across popular social networks and Google Maps.
The new product reads text in nineteen languages including popular European languages such as English, German, French, Italian and Russian, providing business users with an efficient way to process both unilingual and multilingual business cards. Leveraging the device's camera and ABBYY's award-winning mobile OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology, the application intelligently locates contact data within a business card and saves it into the corresponding data fields. It allows users to not only create new contact records, but also quickly update existing ones with newly obtained information. The software simplifies the checking of captured data by highlighting uncertain characters in the resulting text and displaying the original photo for visual comparison.
ABBYY Business Card Reader offers a simple and efficient way to learn more about a company or individual via the ability to search across social networks such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook directly from within the application. It also allows users to look up a new address captured from a business card with Google Maps, without requiring it to be saved in the mobile address book. "Business Card Reader for Android does more than simple contact reading - it gives users an efficient way to acquire, store and manage valuable business information," added Katya Solntseva, director of mobile products department at ABBYY.
ABBYY Business Card Reader for Android will also be available in a free, lite version that will allow users to capture data on a business card, preview the results on a phone's display, and search for additional information on Facebook. The lite version will transfer the contact's first name, last name and first detected phone number. The remaining contact data can be saved into the address book by upgrading to the full version.
Availability and Specifications
ABBYY Business Card Reader for Android is now available via the Google Android Market. Supported user interface languages include English and Russian. For more information about ABBYY Business Card Reader, including the product's system specifications and a full list of recognition languages, visit http://www.abbyy.com/bcr_android.
About ABBYY
ABBYY is a leading provider of document recognition, data capture, and linguistic technologies and services. Its products include the ABBYY FineReader line of optical character recognition (OCR) applications, ABBYY FlexiCapture line of data capture solutions, ABBYY Lingvo dictionary software, and development tools. ABBYY Language Services provides comprehensive linguistic solutions to corporate customers. Paper-intensive organizations from all over the world use ABBYY solutions to automate time- and labour-consuming tasks and to streamline business processes. ABBYY products are used in large-scale government projects such as those of Australian Taxation Office, Lithuanian Tax Inspectorate, Ministry of Education of Russia, Ministry of Education of Ukraine, and Montgomery County Government of the USA. Companies that license ABBYY technologies include BancTec, Canon, EMC/Captiva, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, NewSoft, Notable Solutions, Samsung Electronics and more. ABBYY OCR applications are shipped with equipment from the world's top manufacturers such as BenQ, Epson, Fujitsu, Fuji Xerox, Microtek, Panasonic, Plustek, Toshiba, and Xerox. ABBYY is headquartered in Moscow, Russia, with offices in Germany, the United States, Ukraine, the UK, Japan and Taiwan. For more information, visit http://www.ABBYY.com.
ABBYY, the ABBYY Logo, FineReader, ADRT, Lingvo, FlexiCapture, Recognition Server, and PDF Transformer are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ABBYY Software Ltd. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby recognized.
SOURCE ABBYY
ABBYY
CONTACT: Derek James of McGrath/Power, +1-408-727-0351, derekj@mcgrathpower.com, for ABBYY USA
Majesco Entertainment Launches First Game on Facebook® Platform With COOKING MAMA FRIENDS' CAFE
EDISON, N.J., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Majesco Entertainment Company (Nasdaq: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, announced today the launch of its first free-to-play social game, COOKING MAMA FRIENDS' CAFE for Facebook Platform. Based on the world renowned best-selling Cooking Mama franchise, COOKING MAMA FRIENDS' CAFE is an all new experience that lets players chop, mix, stir, fry, bake and pour to create more than 40 recipes with infinite menu combinations. COOKING MAMA FRIENDS' CAFE has been developed by Arkadium, a leading social game developer.
"With domestic franchise sales of more than 8 million units to date, Cooking Mama is an incredibly strong brand to launch our entry into social gaming," said Jesse Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Majesco Entertainment.
Social gaming is exploding where "freemium" business models supported by micro-transactions have helped drive category growth to a projected $2.2 billion by 2012. COOKING MAMA FRIENDS' CAFE'S gameplay and art style are highly innovative and differentiated; the experience features immersive mechanics and an overall aesthetic similar to those in the Cooking Mama console and handheld games.
Sutton added, "COOKING MAMA FRIENDS' CAFE is just the first of several social games we'll be unveiling, and demonstrates our strategic focus to create unique games leveraging leading brands that appeal to our target audience."
COOKING MAMA FRIENDS' CAFE features the same accessible, recipe-based mini-game formula that has made the franchise so popular. On Facebook Platform, that mechanic is combined with new menu and customer management within an economy driven restaurant. Players first buy ingredients, then chop, mix, pour, and bake with their mouse to create delectable dishes like holiday ham, fried rice and chicken parm. Coins and XP points are awarded to chefs for creating tasty food and serving up dishes. Players can also purchase special ingredients and decorations to customize kitchens with virtual and real dollars. Ultimately, players must return regularly and cook to maintain the business or risk their restaurant shutting down for good.
COOKING MAMA FRIENDS' CAFE is free to play at facebook.com/cookingmamacafe. New features and enhancements are being added continuously. For additional information about the Cooking Mama franchise, please visit http://www.CookingMamaUS.com.
About Arkadium
Arkadium (http://www.arkadium.com) is the largest provider of game solutions for some of the biggest brands in the world. The company's extensive library of popular games can be found on Facebook, iPhone, Android and premium websites by clients such as MSN, Hearst Magazines Digital Media, ESPN, ABC, Lifetime, and Discovery. Family owned and operated, the company has grown organically since 2001 without funding, to more than 100 employees in offices in New York City and Ukraine. With over 6 million unique users a month playing Arkadium game titles, the company is pioneering the movement to bring the best of casual online games to social.
About Majesco Entertainment Company
Majesco Entertainment Company is a provider of video games for the mass market. Building on more than 20 years of operating history, the company is focused on developing and publishing a wide range of casual and family oriented video games on Kinect for Xbox 360®, PlayStation®Move motion controller, Wii(TM), Nintendo 3DS(TM) and DS(TM), Facebook® Platform, mobile and other leading platforms. Product highlights include Cooking Mama(TM), Babysitting Mama(TM), TETRIS® Party Deluxe and Zumba Fitness®. The company's shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol: COOL. Majesco is headquartered in Edison, NJ and has an international office in Bristol, UK. More info can be found online at http://www.majescoentertainment.com or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/majesco.
Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.
International Law Firm Can Now Easily Connect with Clients through AT&T Business Exchange
CHICAGO, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Winston & Strawn, one of the largest international law firms, will begin using AT&T* Telepresence Solution®, an immersive video communications solution, to connect participants in Chicago, New York and San Francisco to clients and partners across the world. Telepresence will help Winston & Strawn address business challenges and opportunities in a timely, cost-effective manner while maintaining the interaction crucial for establishing and enhancing client relationships.
"To best meet the challenges of our global client base, it is essential for us to be able to deliver outstanding client service despite distance," said Chip Goodman, CIO at Winston & Strawn. "AT&T Telepresence Solution, enabled by Cisco TelePresence®, allows us to provide our clients with convenience and flexibility, and changes the way we are able to collaborate with other offices. And not only will we be able to save our clients money and time, but this technology also helps us achieve our environmental goals by reducing carbon emissions."
Additionally, Winston & Strawn will leverage the AT&T Business Exchange - a "meet-me" business-to-business global collaboration technology that allows multiple companies in different locations to connect to one another - to enable greater collaboration between its clients and business partners.
How AT&T Telepresence SolutionWorks
More than 100 companies and organizations are connecting with one another via thousands of endpoints on the AT&T Business Exchange.
The technology creates the experience of being in the same room with remote participants, whether they are down the street or halfway around the world. Participants sit across the table from an "actual-size" video of their colleagues and can converse through spatial, wide-band audio.
The AT&T Telepresence Solution, enabled by Cisco TelePresence, allows Winston & Strawn's employees from locations around the world to interact face-to-face through ultra-high definition 1080p screens, allowing real-time intra- and intercompany collaboration across AT&T's reliable network. By providing the equipment, installation, full monitoring, maintenance and management of the application, AT&T Telepresence Solution saves time and money and provides a sustainable and reliable communication tool for the firm and its clients.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About Winston & Strawn
Winston & Strawn LLP is an international law firm with more than 900 attorneys among 14 offices in Beijing, Charlotte, Chicago, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, New York, Newark, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at http://www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.
The George Washington University, K12 Inc. Launch Online High School
New Private Online School to Serve U.S. and International Students Beginning Jan. 2011
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The George Washington University and K12 Inc., a leader in online K-12 education, today announced a partnership to launch an elite new online private high school - the George Washington University Online High School (GWUOHS), http://www.gwuohs.com.
The independent private school will serve students in the U.S. and in countries around the world. Classes begin in January 2011.
"We are excited to expand our portfolio of private online schools to include this prestigious college preparatory program," said Ron Packard, CEO of K12. "We know high achieving students are looking for flexible schooling alternatives that will equip them for success in college and beyond. We are confident that GWUOHS' unique program will not only engage and stimulate students, but prepare them for future leadership roles in today's global society."
GWUOHS is designed for high school students who are seeking a challenging academic experience and aspire to attend top colleges and universities. The school will offer intensive college-preparatory academic programs in a highly-personalized and flexible learning model. Admission into GWUOHS will be highly selective.
Once accepted, students will be able to access courses anywhere an Internet connection can be found. Certified teachers and academic advisors with deep expertise in their disciplines will work closely with students. Teachers will provide instruction and communicate with students through interactive online class sessions, tutorials and one-on-one discussions. From enrollment to graduation, students will receive personalized college counseling support services, including SAT and ACT preparation, college evaluation and application support and guidance through the scholarship and financial aid process.
The George Washington University and K12 partnership brings together two institutions known for their work in education, research, innovation and the pursuit of academic excellence. GWUOHS will be operated by K12, with oversight from GW on program quality and operational performance. Additionally, GWUOHS will provide research opportunities for the university on a critically important trend in education - the design, delivery and evaluation of online learning.
"This collaboration with K12 will afford unique research, teaching and professional development opportunities for our students and faculty," said Michael Feuer, dean of the GW Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD). "There is little doubt that online learning will continue to be viewed as an alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar schooling in the U.S. and elsewhere, and it's vital for the nation's best scholars to be involved in the design of such programs and to undertake research on how people learn in these environments."
K12's rigorous and vast college preparatory curriculum will be offered at GWUOHS. With over 100 high school courses across varying disciplines, GWUOHS students will have access to multiple levels of college prep courses including comprehensive, honors and AP classes, and can choose from a variety of electives based on their interests in liberal arts, science and technology, or business and entrepreneurship. The program's unique 4-year "Journeys Symposium" curriculum emphasizes holistic student development, focusing on leadership, problem solving, and interpersonal communications within a framework of planning for success in college and personal professional achievement. The rigor and scope of the curricular offering is designed to fully prepare students for entrance into highly selective colleges and universities.
K12 is nationally renowned for its high quality online schools and has received numerous awards and honors for excellence in online learning. Students graduating from K12® schools have been accepted into hundreds of post-secondary institutions including top ranked universities and colleges such as Cornell, Purdue, Middlebury and the University of California, Berkeley.
The GWUOHS administrative offices will be housed at GW's Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, Virginia. Barbara Brueggemann, a distinguished educator with more than two decades of education experience in a variety of school settings, will oversee the school's operations. A faculty member from GW GSEHD will also serve as a liaison between the university and GWUOHS to identify research opportunities.
GWUOHS students will also be able to take advantage of numerous resources and programs affiliated with the George Washington University, such as a summer enrichment program at the GW campus in Washington, D.C. Graduates of the GWUOHS will be eligible for admission to GW to the same extent as graduates of other high schools.
Through the launch of GWUOHS, the university expands its commitment to high school education. Currently, the university has relationships with several D.C. Public High Schools including 2010 Blue Ribbon School award winner School Without Walls High School, the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Anacostia Senior High School, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School and Ballou High School.
About George Washington University
In the heart of the nation's capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 countries.
About K12 Inc.
K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), a technology-based education company, is America's largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education programs for students in kindergarten through high school. Founded in 2000, K12 has provided over 2 million courses to students worldwide. K12 offers its curriculum and academic services to public and private online schools, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families. K12 also operates online public and private schools serving tens of thousands of students in the U.S. and worldwide. More information can be found at http://www.K12.com
In the past, food trucks relied mainly on word of mouth to get the word out about their location. However, with half of all Americans expected to own smartphones by the end of 2011, it is crucial for all businesses - especially those on the move - to maintain a mobile presence.
Now, customers can find their favorite trucks just by going to their websites thanks to Mobile Meteor, which optimizes businesses' websites for smartphone users.
In addition, Twitter-savvy food trucks who already tweet their locations to regular customers can now reach new customers thanks to a new Mobile Meteor application that works with a food truck's existing Twitter account: By sending a tweet with "#open" plus the truck's address, a map automatically appears on the business's mobile web site with a link to their location on Google maps.
In the first week of using the feature and their new mobile site, New York's Frites 'N' Meats truck got more than 300 hits.
"We move our truck all over Manhattan, and we've been using Twitter (@FritesNMeats) for a while to let customers know where we are," says Frites 'N' Meats owner Moe Beydoun. "Now, people can go right to our own site (http://fritesnmeats.com) and see our location. This makes it easier for customers, especially those who aren't on Twitter, to find us."
Although it's an important tool, only 6% of American adults use Twitter. Thus Mobile Meteor's new feature drives sales and lets food trucks do other things with their Twitter accounts.
"Thanks to Mobile Meteor, we can Tweet about things other than just our location, like specials, food news and other bits of information that will help build our brand," says Frites 'N' Meats co-owner Ali Beydoun.
The response from customers has been extremely positive. Even Twitter users are seeing the benefits of a mobile site with real-time updates.
"Love that @fritesnmeats gets it: their site http://fritesnmeats.com is perfect on mobile devices. Oh, and their burgers ROCK. #WIN" - tweeted @lacreid.
"Our goal is to make it easier for businesses to communicate directly with their customers, and ultimately increase revenue," says Denis Hurley, founder of Mobile Meteor. "Frites 'N' Meats' mobile site offers even more: their fans can check their menu, read their blog and give them direct feedback. This is also helpful for keeping customers happy while they're waiting in line or for their order."
This service is a web application that works on iPhones, Android devices, BlackBerry, Palm and more. There's nothing to download - it's activated from a business's existing website.
Mobile Meteor provides a service that helps small businesses develop and maintain a presence on the mobile web. Learn more about the Food Truck Feature here: http://bit.ly/a0QjEn
Audience and AT&T Complete First Phase of Handset Introductions Offering Advanced Voice Technology
Delivers Improved Call Clarity For Mobile Phones Aimed at Varied User Segments
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Audience, Inc., a leading global provider of advanced voice processors for the mobile market, today announced that, with AT&T, it has completed the first phase of product roll-outs, offering the company's earSmart(TM) voice processing technology. Audience voice chips with earSmart technology, replicate the functions of human hearing to suppress background noise and enhance voice communications, and are now featured in a range of AT&T handsets to meet varied customer needs and preferences.
"Working with AT&T and leading handset makers, we've successfully integrated our intelligent voice processor into an array of devices, from smartphones, to multimedia and messaging phones, and enterprise devices, allowing customers to find a phone that delivers unsurpassed call clarity, and which suits their need for style and function," said Peter Santos, president and chief executive officer at Audience. "Our earSmart technology solves the ongoing challenge of noise in the mobile world, giving customers the freedom to use their phones in more places to stay connected and productive, with clear conversations in any environment."
Audience's earSmart technology is based on reverse-engineering the human hearing system, so the company's voice chips can evaluate, distinguish and interpret sounds in the same way people actually hear. This capability allows the processor to isolate the primary voice conversation from all the surrounding sounds, filter out the background noise, and provide clear voice for the person on the other end of the line.
AT&T mobile phones that feature the Audience chip include:
-- Samsung Focus(TM), a recently released Windows® Phone 7 device,
offering a sleek, lightweight design and a new user interface experience
with seamless access to social networking, mobile entertainment, plus
integration with Internet Explorer®, Microsoft Office, and more
-- Samsung Captivate(TM), a Galaxy S(TM) phone, a full-featured Android(TM)
smartphone, that offers users a highly integrated entertainment,
messaging and social networking experience
-- Samsung Eternity(TM) II, a touchscreen multimedia-enabled,
quick-messaging phone
-- Pantech Ease, a quick-messaging phone with features designed for
simplicity and ease-of-use
-- Samsung Rugby® II, a next generation push-to-talk device, offering a
rugged design for use in the toughest business environments
About Audience
Audience is a leading global provider of intelligent voice and audio processors for the mobile marketplace, based on pioneering work to reverse-engineer human hearing. The company's technology is redefining the mobile voice experience by enhancing call quality, and suppressing noise to enable clear communications in any environment and optimizing performance of speech-based applications. Audience technology is featured in mobile handsets from leading manufacturers in markets across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the U.S. The company was the Silver Winner in the 2008 Wall Street Journal "Technology Innovation Awards" and the Winner of the Semiconductor category. It was also selected as the Most Innovative True Mobile Start-Up for the "2008 GSMA Mobile Innovation Global Awards." Audience is one of 34 founding member companies of the Open Handset Alliance and the only one with advanced noise suppression technology. Investors in Audience include Vulcan Capital, NEA, Tallwood Venture Capital and VentureTech Alliance. The company is based in Mountain View, California. http://www.audience.com
Audience, the Audience logo, and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of Audience or are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Audience, Inc.
Audience, Inc.
CONTACT: Carrie Worley of Audience, Inc., +1-917-714-7458, cworley@audience.com; or Sean Stevens of Atomic PR, +1-415-402-0230, sean@atomicpr.com, for Audience, Inc.
Automotive Connected Center Stack from Johnson Controls Enhances Driving Experience by Providing Leading-edge Connectivity
Product delivers the features consumers want, while offering an outstanding user experience
DETROIT, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls is a leading provider of automotive connectivity products. At the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the company unveiled its latest product - the Connected Center Stack. This product helps consumers connect consumer electronics products and off board applications to their vehicle.
"The Connected Center Stack exemplifies our capabilities in speech recognition, Human Machine Interaction, and vehicle-interior integration," said Jeff DeBest, global vice president and general manager, Electronics, for Johnson Controls Automotive Experience. "Our goal is to create connectivity solutions for matching the vehicle's lifecycle to the fast-changing consumer electronics industry."
The Connected Center Stack provides unique Human Machine Interaction (HMI) focused on the consumer, along with connectivity to mobile devices and off board devices. This gives consumers convenient and easy access to social, entertainment and location-based features.
The features of the Johnson Controls Connected Center Stack product include:
-- Natural language speech recognition;
-- Hands-free phone usage - including voice dialing, phone book downloads,
phone book image transfer and text/e-mail messaging using text to
speech;
-- Music playback using USB connectivity or Bluetooth streaming audio for
MP3 players, flash devices or mobile phones;
-- Ability to access popular phone applications such as Pandora Internet
Music;
-- Phone HMI replication using Nokia Terminal Mode which enables what is
seen on the consumer's mobile phone shown on the in-vehicle display;
-- Connectivity to Johnson Controls-developed phone applications, which
allows consumers to access vehicle information, update vehicle software
and find the vehicle when lost;
-- Upgradable architecture for software updates and new software
applications; and,
-- Global-Positioning System (GPS) and location-based services.
During the past two decades, Johnson Controls has cultivated numerous relationships within the industry based on its connectivity experience. This represents a major advantage the supplier has gained in providing telematics.
For example, QNX technology and real-time operating systems helpJohnson Controls to provide customers with scalable infotainment, connectivity and telematics solutions, which range from entry-level Bluetooth Hands-free systems to infotainment systems including connectivity, multimedia and HMI. In addition, Johnson Controls has been working with VoiceBox to develop systems that allow drivers to search, navigate and retrieve information safely while on the move. VoiceBox's natural language speech technology allows consumers to use voice commands that are understood within a conversational context. The company also works with Pandora to enable its service in the vehicle, with accompanying voice controls and visual user interfaces. Pandora is the leader in Internet radio and has more than 75 million registered listeners.
The Connected Center Stack product will be available for integration into 2014 model-year vehicles.
Johnson Controls currently provides connectivity products, testing and customer service on a global basis for a number of major automakers.
About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in over 150 countries. Our 137,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful.
About Johnson Controls Automotive Experience:
Johnson Controls is a global leader in automotive seating, overhead systems, door and instrument panels, and interior electronics. We support all major automakers in the differentiation of their vehicles through our products, technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities. With more than 200 plants worldwide, we are where our customers need us to be. Consumers have enjoyed the comfort and style of our products, from single components to complete interiors. With our global capability we supply more than 30 million cars per year.
SOURCE Johnson Controls, Inc.
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081030/AQTH055ALOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Johnson Controls, Inc.
CONTACT: Debra Lacey of Johnson Controls, Inc., +1-734-254-5735, debra.l.lacey@jci.com
'Tripping,' a New Travel Social Networking Site, Changes the Way People Travel
Launch of Partnerships and Networks Platform Allows Like-Minded Travelers to Connect
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Tripping, a new travel social networking site with members in more than 100 countries, announced today the launch of Networks, a platform that connects travelers who share common interests and affiliations. Both public and private Networks are currently live on Tripping.com.
Built on a social networking platform, Tripping helps travelers find locals who want to meet up for a drink, play tour guide and even provide a spare room or sofa, making it no longer necessary to pay for that expensive hotel room. The site is free and since keeping members safe is a top priority, it offers a wide range of safety mechanisms through its TripSafe Program that includes references, anonymous ratings, video validation and an emergency hotline for all of its members.
With Networks, members of that particular community will be able to connect directly with each other for conversation, shared cups of coffee and even home stays all around the world. Twenty official partners are already on board to have dedicated Networks including universities, travel associations, international volunteer organizations and even touring rock bands.
"As our world becomes globalized, we have a growing need for cross-cultural connections," said Jen O'Neal CEO and co-founder of Tripping. "Tripping is changing the way people travel by providing travelers with a safe, easy and free way to connect with local people worldwide. Our partners understand the value of cultural exchange and we're confident that Networks will strengthen their organizations on an international scale."
One such partner is Hostelling International New York, the largest hostel in North America. "HI New York gives travelers an opportunity to encounter people globally," said Community Outreach Manager Anthony Sodd. "We're excited to offer a Tripping Network to our members as it will enhance their cultural exchange experience while simultaneously introducing new travelers and volunteers to our hostel."
Other partners include AmeriCorps Alums, Trinity College, the seafaring travel program Williams-Mystic, the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, tech organization Girls in Tech San Francisco, volunteer groups Tourism Cares and Hands Up Holidays, and touring rock band The Ruse.
In addition to public Networks, Tripping also makes it possible to set up a private Network, which adds another layer of safety to the site. "Lost Girls World," a leading online travel website and resource for women, is one of the first private networks to launch on the site. "We've chosen to create a Network exclusively for female travelers," said Amanda Pressner, co-creator of Lost Girls World whose book The Lost Girls has been optioned by Bruckheimer TV and Warner Bros. TV for a potential series on ABC. "Women can openly share their travel stories and experiences here. And then they can use Tripping to meet and stay with each other while traveling. It's fantastic."
Tripping also launched a series of Community Networks that are currently run by volunteers. These networks are open to all Tripping members and include such themes as Yoga Lovers, Travel Photographers, Expats, Golfers, Foodies, Musicians and more.
"We're excited to launch Networks and partner with so many top-notch organizations," continued O'Neal. "Through Networks, travelers can step off the tourist path and meet locals who share their personal and professional interests. This is going to take cultural exchange to the next level."
Find Tripping on the web at Tripping.com; Twitter.com/Tripping; Facebook.com/Tripping
ABOUT TRIPPING
Tripping, headquartered in San Francisco, is a travel social networking site that gives travelers a safe and easy way to connect with local people for conversation, shared cups of coffee and homestays. The company was founded in 2009 by Jen O'Neal and Nate Weisiger, who were among the first employees at StubHub, an online marketplace later acquired by eBay. Tripping's mission is to make the world a better place through cultural exchange. For more information, please visit https://www.tripping.com.
SOURCE Tripping
Tripping
CONTACT: Kimberly Stirdivant, +1-310-482-4277, Kimberly.Stirdivant@fleishman.com, or John Soriano, +1-310-482-4282, John.Soriano@fleishman.com, both of Fleishman-Hillard for Tripping
Catapult Systems Launches Interactive Agency with Acquisition of The Ad Ranch
New Division Fuses Award-Winning Technology Expertise with Top Creative Talent
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning Microsoft IT consulting firm, Catapult Systems today announced it has acquired The Ad Ranch, an Austin-based advertising and interactive company, has launched Slingrock, a new interactive branding, design and marketing agency. Slingrock will offer valuable brand development, digital marketing, e-commerce, mobile application and design services to the roster of top companies that rely on Catapult Systems to improve their business operations.
"By combining Catapult's extensive business technology expertise with The Ad Ranch's branding and marketing abilities, we believe we've created one of the most comprehensive and talented digital agencies in the country," said Sam Goodner, Catapult Systems CEO. "We expect Slingrock to be of great benefit to all of our clients, giving them the ability to further enhance technology solutions for their business and customers."
The new Slingrock division provides a unique combination of custom development and enterprise-level technology services with well-designed user experiences to help companies improve their image and business.
"By joining forces with Catapult Systems, we're now able to provide customers with the full breadth of technical programming design talent that can deliver competitive advantages to businesses of all sizes," noted Chris Greta, founder of The Ad Ranch and new creative director of Slingrock. "The talent team at Slingrock will be a powerful force among the new breed of hybrid digital agencies."
Catapult Systems is a widely recognized IT consulting services firm with nearly 20 years experience delivering Microsoft-based technology solutions to enterprises of all sizes. A Microsoft National Systems Integrator, the company is ranked in the top 0.1% of Microsoft partners globally. For more information, visit http://www.CatapultSystems.com. For more information on Slingrock visit http://www.slingrock.com.
About Catapult Systems, Inc.
Catapult Systems provides Microsoft IT consulting services in enterprise solutions, infrastructure and custom development. With offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Denver, Tampa and Washington D.C., Catapult implements secured, innovative technology solutions, enabling our clients to achieve their business priorities while deriving the maximum value from their Microsoft technology investments. A Microsoft National Systems Integrator (NSI), Catapult holds 13 Microsoft competencies, placing the company in the top 0.1% of Microsoft partners globally. For more information about Catapult visit http://www.CatapultSystems.com.
Catapult Systems is a trademark of Catapult Systems, Inc. All other company and product names mentioned are used only for identification and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Media Contact:
Nancy Rush
Catapult Systems
nancy.rush@catapultsystems.com
(512) 225-6926
SOURCE Catapult Systems, Inc.
Catapult Systems, Inc.
CONTACT: Nancy Rush of Catapult Systems, +1-512-225-6926, nancy.rush@catapultsystems.com
NetSuite Continues Crusade to Rid Companies of Software Hairball Syndrome
NetSuite Particularly Effective Against the Nastiest Hairballs Created By Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains
SAN MATEO, Calif.,Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NetSuite Inc. (NYSE: N), the industry's leading provider of cloud-based financials / ERP software suites, today announced the details of its latest efforts to rid the world of costly software hairballs (commonly known as Software Hairball Syndrome) that are choking corporate productivity, profitability and innovation. This NetSuite initiative includes new software hairball diagnostic tools, a downloadable Hairball Elimination Kit and a series of detailed case studies highlighting the steps a number of companies have taken to successfully eradicate Software Hairball Syndrome from their organizations while reaping the benefits of reduced IT costs and complexity, enhanced reporting and analytics, and improved productivity and business performance.
Business software hairballs are the inefficient, ineffective tangle of disparate enterprise applications and middleware that hinders productivity and drives up costs due to brittle integration, incompatible processes, low productivity and high maintenance costs. Companies featured in the program include Advantage Sign Supply, The Chefs Toolbox, Clickstop, avVenta Worldwide and Learning.com, joining thousands of businesses to benefit from NetSuite's suite of cloud business applications that cures hairballs with end-to-end, cloud-based integration of core enterprise data and processes.
Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly known as Great Plains) is commonly found at the heart of Software Hairball Syndrome, the inevitable result of acquiring and trying to maintain the integration of multiple, siloed business software applications. This mess of disconnected systems often creates an unstable, confusing, and ineffective tangle of ad hoc integrations, processes, and systems. As the business grows, the hairball acts like a parasite, sapping productivity and profits, calcifying data silos, cramping growth and devouring cash flow. By providing one complete suite of cloud business applications, including accounting/ERP, order management, CRM, and Ecommerce, NetSuite can help fast-growing and midsized companies to permanently dislodge even the mightiest software hairball.
With the guidance provided by the Hairball Elimination Kit, businesses can quickly self-identify data silos, wasteful and error-prone data entry, redundant processes and other tell-tale hairball symptoms and take the first important steps towards purging these hairballs from their business software systems. Featured in the Kit are some of the thousands of customers who have already disentangled their hairballs with NetSuite's complete seamless cloud business system to unlock their value from their enterprise. The kit is available for free download at http://www.netsuite.com/nohairballs.
"Companies should know that they need not suffer the slow growth, high costs and inefficiencies that software hairballs invariably create," said NetSuite Chief Marketing Officer David Downing. "NetSuite leads the fight to eliminate Microsoft Dynamics GP hairballs with the world's leading cloud-based business management software suite, and with the Hairball Elimination Kit, executives can join us in eradicating these enemies of profit and expansion."
These companies are among the many to overcome Software Hairball Syndrome by switching to NetSuite:
Advantage Sign Supply (http://www.advantagesignsupply.com), of Grand Rapids, MI has been serving the sign and graphics industry for 20 years from 10 facilities throughout the US. The company's business software management revolved around a master inventory and AR system written in COBOL, the great-grandfather of enterprise hairballs dating back to the 1960s. Caught up in the tangle was Microsoft Dynamics GP for accounting and AP, and OnContact for CRM which struggled with stability and performance issues under the strain of Advantage's high-volume business. The hairball's inefficiencies were responsible for significant excess inventory, and systems could not even be configured to support standard trade credit for buyers. Switching to NetSuite gave Advantage an immediate boost. Real-time inventory and analytics have reduced costly surplus stock, fully integrated Ecommerce has opened new international markets, and the consolidated database and user-friendly interface has slashed the time necessary to process orders and maintain the product catalog by 66 percent and up. "Our hairball was dictating to us how to run our business," said David Jarrell, Director of IT at Advantage Sign Supply. "NetSuite was able to simplify our business by increasing visibility and unifying our transactions."
The Chefs Toolbox (http://www.chefstoolbox.com), based in Sydney, Australia, distributes and sells cookware in Australia, New Zealand, and the US. As the company's revenues and complexity grew, the start-up software powering the company showed its limitations, so The Chefs Toolbox undertook a migration to Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains. But after one year of intense investment and effort, the project was abandoned. With expansion to the US, and the adoption of new wholesale/distribution sales model looming, The Chefs Toolbox made the bold decision to cut ties with Dynamics GP and switch to NetSuite OneWorld. Replacing the hairball with NetSuite OneWorld saves The Chefs Toolbox hundreds of thousands of dollars, including reduced accounting hours and consulting fees, as well as eliminating the costs and IT overhead of maintaining expensive enterprise servers. "We quickly realized just how deep NetSuite's functionality is, and how much we would benefit from the cloud-based delivery," said David Mills, founder of The Chefs Toolbox. "NetSuite is powerful enough for us to enhance, refine, and grow with it."
Clickstop (http://www.clickstop.com), based in Urbana, IA, is a multi-brand Ecommerce merchant, selling everything from pet supplies to cargo equipment. The company's numerous merchant sites spawned several instances of entry-level bookkeeping systems and countless spreadsheets, uneasily paired with Sage Peachtree. This hairball required constant manual attention and endless re-keying, and provided virtually no business insights or reporting. Business processes were error-prone and growth was threatened. Switching to NetSuite saves Clickstop $70,000 per year in IT costs, and NetSuite's integration and automation saves the company up to 20 hours per week in manual processing tasks. These improvements helped fuel 65 percent growth in year-over-year revenue, accompanied by the hiring of 17 new employees and an impending move to a larger facility. "We knew that we couldn't continue manually typing and retyping information like our tangle of systems forced us to do," said Shaun Linderbaum, Clickstop Vice President and CTO. "We always lacked important analysis and reporting. It was slowing our sales down and was much too error-prone for our multi-brand retail business. With NetSuite, our accounting, shipping, Ecommerce and CRM are all integrated, and because NetSuite is cloud-based, it gives us capacity to grow into a large company."
avVenta Worldwide (http://www.avventa.com), based in Mount Pleasant, SC, is a digital production and interactive services agency, producing digital assets for top brands including Intel, Starwood, and Merck. To service its clients in Europe, North America, Asia and Latin America, avVenta previously relied on a cumbersome hairball incorporating entry-level bookkeeping systems, salesforce.com, numerous spreadsheets and various legacy systems. The lack of integration slowed the flow of data through the company, creating complications for the short sales cycle necessary to stay current and competitive in the media space. Accurately accounting for professional services activity was difficult because of the disconnected systems, and avVenta's hairball was forcing it to leave money on the table. NetSuite solutions have provided significantly streamlined operations and ongoing savings. "Before adopting NetSuite solutions, we had no way to track our utilization or bill clients correctly, so we were losing a lot of money simply because we did not know how our time was being used," said David Kelley, avVenta CFO. "We save thousands of dollars per month and close our books in one-quarter of the time."
Learning.com (http://www.learning.com), based in Portland, OR, provides 21st-century learning environments for teachers and students. A hairball made up of entry-level bookkeeping systems, salesforce.com and a myriad of spreadsheets was inhibiting the company's ability to grow into the broader US and Canadian markets. The poorly-integrated systems could not support the necessary sales channel expansion required to further Learning.com's business goals. Order processing was slow and the hairball limited the scope of the company's commission structure. Clearing out the hairball in favor of NetSuite saves Learning.com $150,000 in IT infrastructure costs and dramatically reduced the time necessary to process invoices and commissions, by anywhere from 60 to over 90 percent. Now, Learning.com's executives, employees, and partners enjoy an integrated, real-time view of all the company's opportunities and sales activities, and expansion is back on track. "Without NetSuite's integrated architecture, it would have been near impossible to expand as smoothly as we did, and to be able to do business remotely with a fairly complex hierarchy of sales channels," said Jerry Soto, Consultant at Learning.com. "That's one of the main reasons we've grown tremendously since 2007."
Latest Release of WebWorks ePublisher Introduces Reverb Help, the First Help Authoring Tool Format Designed Exclusively for Internet Users
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- WebWorks, a leading enterprise digital content conversion and publishing software company based in Austin, today announced the release of its newest version of ePublisher that includes Reverb Help, the first help authoring tool format designed exclusively to deploy via browser with the ability to leverage the speed, social and data mining functionality of the internet.
Reverb Help differs from presently available browser capable help formats such as MadCap Flare and Adobe RoboHelp by offering support for user communities with social plugins such as Facebook, Twitter and Disqus. Companies deploying Reverb Help will now be able to leverage integrated Google Search, Google Analytics, and Google Translate.
"Reverb Help allows companies that require Help documentation for their user base to improve their customer experience by offering a Help format that is light, fast and can easily be included in an overall community engagement strategy," said WebWorks CEO Tony McDow. "We have seen a huge demand for an easily customizable, agile version of Help--especially one that is deployable across internet-enabled mobile devices. For the first time, businesses will be able to produce their own community help solution. Reverb is the most significant addition to the WebWorks ePublisher platform in the last three years."
Reverb Help is now available and included as a new format in the latest release of the WebWorks ePublisher platform which allows Fortune 100 companies, technical communication authors and software development teams to automatically convert and publish high volumes of content from Microsoft Word, Adobe FrameMaker and DITA-XML files to common formats such as PDF, Online Help, Wiki and mobile devices.
Current ePublisher customers with active support agreements will receive access to the WebWorks Reverb Help for no additional cost as part of the continual growth of the ePublisher product.
WebWorks (a brand of Quadralay Corporation), maker of ePublisher, is the leading provider of comprehensive digital content delivery solutions. ePublisher is a conversion and publishing platform that outputs to HTML, Help, Reverb Help, Wiki, and other technical publication formats. ePublisher is used by Fortune 100 companies, technical communication professionals and software development teams worldwide. For more information visit http://www.webworks.com.
SOURCE WebWorks
WebWorks
CONTACT: Courtney Powell, +1-512-300-0522, cpowell@leedseed.com, for WebWorks
Zillow® Surfaces Thousands of Real Estate Agent Ratings and Reviews
Consumers Can Now Search and Find Local Agents Based on Client Feedback
SEATTLE, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Real estate website Zillow.com® today launched the ability for home buyers and sellers to search for and find local real estate agents based on ratings and reviews from former clients. Thousands of consumers have rated and reviewed their agents since Zillow launched the ability to review agents in December. Now, Zillow has made these reviews discoverable, enabling consumers to search for local agents in the Zillow Directory, and compare ratings and reviews to find an agent that's best for them.
Over 13 million people(1) visit Zillow each month, and many have not yet found a real estate agent to help them buy or sell their home. Knowing others' experiences with a particular agent is valuable information for potential home buyers and sellers to have before selecting a real estate agent.
"Zillow was created to help people make smarter real estate decisions, and choosing an agent is one of the most important decisions a buyer or seller can make," said Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff. "Agent Reviews are another huge step towards transparency for buyers and sellers. For good agents, it's a terrific way to stand out from the crowd - the next best thing to a referral. "
When visitors use the Zillow Directory to search for a real estate agent in their area, results are sorted by local agents with the highest overall ratings and greatest number of reviews. Overall ratings are based on a consumer's likelihood to recommend, running on scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being "very likely" and 1 "very unlikely". Consumers can compare agents' overall ratings, as well as ratings across several categories of service including: process expertise, local knowledge, responsiveness and negotiation skills. Along with ratings, qualitative reviews further help consumers understand a former client's experience with that agent.
Consumers can access ratings and reviews everywhere they interact with agents on Zillow.com - such as for-sale listings, or when agents answer questions in Zillow Advice, since reviews are connected to an agent's Zillow profile.
Current and former clients can also rate and review their agents who have profiles on Zillow by searching for the agent in the Zillow Directory.
About Zillow.com®
Zillow.com is an online real estate marketplace where homeowners, buyers, sellers, renters, real estate agents and mortgage professionals find and share vital information about homes and mortgages. Launched in early 2006 with Zestimate® home values and data on millions of U.S. homes, Zillow has since added homes for sale and homes for rent, a directory of real estate and lending professionals, Zillow Advice, Zillow Mobile apps and Zillow Mortgage Marketplace. One of the most-visited U.S. real estate websites, with more than 13 million unique visitors per month, Zillow's goal is to help people become smarter about homes and real estate in every stage of their lives -- home buying, selling, renting, remodeling and financing.
Zillow.com, Zillow and Zestimate are registered trademarks of Zillow, Inc.
(1) Unique users to Zillow are measured by Omniture, December 2010.