More Wireless Data and Call Capacity Activated for Lancaster, California
Verizon Wireless adds capacity to cell sites to stay ahead of demand for calls, e-mail, text and web surfing
IRVINE, Calif.,Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Even moreLos Angeles County residents, businesses and visitors can now enjoy enhanced high-speed wireless data and voice connections in the area of General Fox Airfield, thanks to recent Verizon Wireless network upgrades. Hundreds of upgrades since December 2009 have increased the company's 3G data and voice capacity by nearly thirty percent in Southern California. The increased capacity means more users are empowered to surf the web, download applications and content, and exchange e-mail and other messages.
"People expect their cell phones and wireless devices to work whenever and wherever they need them," said Bill D'Agostino, executive director of network for Verizon Wireless in Southern California. "That's why we continue to invest in our network. By meeting the growing demand for data services on our network, we empower each of our customers to Rule the Air in their own unique, individual way."
To learn more about how Verizon Wireless empowers its customers to Rule the Air, visit: http://tinyurl.com/2arpjjs
Businesses can tap into the power of Mobile Broadband
Mobile Broadband allows users to connect to the Internet wirelessly to download applications, business documents and music, as well as accessing e-mail and corporate data while on the go. Small business owners interested in Mobile Broadband can visit http://tinyurl.com/392334gwhere they can:
-- Watch videos about how mobile technologies can improve business results
-- Check out case studies and articles on business strategies to become
more productive
-- Learn about the latest promotions and discounts for small businesses
-- Read white papers about wireless security and connectivity options for
business
4G LTE services
Verizon Wireless launched its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network in the Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan areas. In the Los Angeles area, 4G LTE coverage extends north to Pasadena, east to Chino, south to San Clemente and west to Woodland Hills. In the San Diego area, 4G LTE coverage extends north to Del Mar and Poway, east to Lakeside and south to Imperial Beach.
The company's ongoing aggressive network build includes launch in 38 major metropolitan areas, including 60 airports, covering more than 110 million people. The company will cover virtually all its current nationwide 3G footprint with the 4G network by the end of 2013.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Ken Muche of Verizon Wireless, +1-949-286-8193, Ken.Muche@VerizonWireless.Com
Payless Car Sales Selects Experian Automotive's AutoCheck® as Exclusive Vehicle History Provider
AutoCheck reports now available on all pre-owned vehicles sold through Payless Car Sales' dealer network and Websites
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Payless Car Sales today announced that Experian Automotive's AutoCheck® will be used as the exclusive vehicle history report for all pre-owned vehicles sold through its nationwide dealership network; its company-provided Websites; and its corporate Website, http://www.paylesscarsales.com.
Providing AutoCheck vehicle history reports at its dealerships and on its Websites will help Payless Car Sales shoppers quickly and easily see that a Payless Car Sales Certified Pre-Owned vehicle is free of reported accidents, odometer issues, title brands, frame-damage announcements and other important information that will help buyers make a confident pre-owned vehicle purchase.
"Transparency is a crucial element of building trustworthy customer relationships, and the AutoCheck vehicle history reports provide a level of detail that we believe is the best in the industry," said Phil Morgan, executive director of Payless Development, U.S. master developer for Payless Car Sales. "We know that our customers are particularly interested in the most up-to-date accident data, and with the robust accident and frame damage data that Experian Automotive provides, AutoCheck was the clear choice. We are pleased to bring this information to our Certified Pre-Owned program, as well as provide it on all pre-owned vehicles sold through our dealerships in order to protect our customers and increase their confidence with the Payless Car Sales shopping and purchasing process."
Under this exclusive agreement, free vehicle history reports will be available to customers for all pre-owned vehicles at Payless Car Sales franchise dealerships or listed on its Websites.
"We are excited to bring AutoCheck to Payless Car Sales and its dealer network," said Scott Waldron, president of Experian Automotive. "Every time an automotive dealer commits to using AutoCheck vehicle history reports, they are taking an important step forward for both the buyer and seller. The detailed vehicle history information in AutoCheck enhances the credibility of any Certified Pre-Owned program and provides car shoppers with an increased level of confidence that they are buying a quality pre-owned vehicle."
About Payless Car Sales
Payless Car Sales, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avalon Global Group, Inc., which also owns Payless Car Rental System, Inc. and other related companies. Payless Car Rental has been franchising and operating auto rental locations in the United States since 1970 and currently serves more than 80 locations worldwide.
Payless Car Sales has developed a nationwide network of quality pre-owned auto dealers that have been carefully screened and selected based on key parameters. The Payless Car Sales system provides its franchisees with a wide variety of products and services focused on the success of its dealers.
The Payless Car Sales Franchise Program is entering its 10th year of operation and has recently reengineered its program to provide more value to its franchised dealers through enhanced operating standards and a value-based customer offering that requires quality inspections, inventory certification, limited warranties, roadside assistance, vehicle history reports, endorsed service providers, private-labeled backend products, standard delivery and customer follow-up procedures, and a customer satisfaction measurement program. For more information, visit http://www.paylesscarsales.com.
About Experian Automotive
Experian Automotive, a part of Experian, delivers information services to manufacturers, dealers, finance and insurance companies, and consumers. Experian® helps automotive clients increase customer loyalty, target and win new business, and make better lending and vehicle purchase decisions. Its North American Vehicle Database, housing more than 650 million vehicles, along with Experian's credit, consumer and business information assets, meets the industry's growing demand for an integrated information source. Experian's advanced decision support services help clients turn this information into improved business results. Experian technology supports top automotive businesses, including eBay Motors, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Affinia and NADAguides.com. For more information on Experian Automotive and its suite of services, visit our Website at http://www.experianautomotive.com.
About Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 90 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft.
Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2010, was $3.9 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; Costa Mesa, California; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
Contact:
Mike DeVilling
DeVilling Group for Experian Automotive
1 248 875 4207
mjdevilling@yahoo.com
Jim Snodgrass
Payless Development
1 918 252 4700
jsnodgrass@paylessdevelopment.com
SOURCE Experian Automotive
Experian Automotive
CONTACT: Mike DeVilling of DeVilling Group, +1-248-875-4207, mjdevilling@yahoo.com, for Experian Automotive; or Jim Snodgrass of Payless Development, +1-918-252-4700, jsnodgrass@paylessdevelopment.com
Alibris Introduces Free New Apple iDevice Application--Alibris Recommends
New Apple app lets you be shaken and then stirred with recommended offerings from more than nine million titles
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibris, a division of Monsoon Commerce Solutions and the world's most advanced online media marketplace provider for sellers of new and used books, textbooks, music, and movies, today announced the launch of the Alibris Recommends Apple iDevice application for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. The app allows you to search for your favorite book or author, and then shake to instantly get new recommendations based on your favorites.
"'Alibris Recommends' is a fun way for consumers to discover new authors and titles. Our app also showcases the depth and breadth of Alibris, the largest source of titles from independent booksellers in the U.S.," said Liz Derr, COO of Monsoon Commerce Solutions. "It's a great way to get gift suggestions and provides a handy link to the new Alibris mobile site, making purchasing a breeze."
Available free on the Apple App store, users are calling Alibris Recommends a "handy little app" with "great titles" that provides the "easiest shopping experience from my phone yet" while being "cool" and "simple to use."
Alibris Recommends utilizes Alibris's search and recommendation APIs to help users find books they'll love. The API was built using Mashery's API management solution, and the source code for the new "Alibris Recommends" iDevice app is available on the Alibris Developer portal. In addition, Objective-C libraries are available, enabling developers on the iOs platform to immediately start using the Alibris APIs.
Alibris's Developer Portal, announced today, includes technical documentation, developer forums, and sample code libraries. As an added incentive, developers can earn five percent or more on all merchandise purchases they drive to Alibris.com, providing an attractive and direct monetization strategy.
About Alibris and Monsoon Commerce Solutions
Alibris.com, a premier online marketplace, is the retail division of Monsoon Commerce Solutions (MCS). MCS helps online sellers and retailers grow their sales through online marketplaces. Learn more at http://www.monsooncommerce.com.
About Mashery
Mashery's API management tools and strategic services help companies connect with customers and partners in a changing digital world by extending reach across devices, markets and the Web. For more information, visit http://www.mashery.com.
Bitrix(R) Site Manager Allows Launching a Full-Scale E-Commerce Solution in Only 45 Minutes
Bitrix Revolutionizes the Market by Introducing a New Way to Create E-Commerce Solutions for Small and Mid-size Businesses
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, December 13, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- Bitrix, Inc. (http://www.bitrixsoft.com?r1=prbx&r2Emvideo),
a technology trendsetter in web business communications, announces the
availability of a turnkey e-commerce solution that allows launching a
full-scale online shop in only 45 minutes. Additionally, thanks to Amber
Ergonomics, an innovative approach in content management usability, small and
mid-size businesses can easily orchestrate their e-commerce solution in-house
without costly consulting or dedicated IT staff.
Bitrix Site Manager delivers a turnkey solution
(http://www.bitrixsoft.com/products/cms/features/turnkey_websites.php?r1
=prbx&r2Emvideo) that contains a pre-set online shop structure, demo
content, powerful sales analytics and connection to payment systems like
PayPal and Authorize.NET.
The structure and content are based on the best practices for
implementing online shops as gathered from thousands of websites using the
Bitrix e-commerce platform. The structure contains commonly used sections for
content-rich product catalogue, ordering, delivery and contact information.
The demo content, along with the structure gives a snapshot of how a typical
online shop may look like. Customers can choose among a variety of pre-set
color schemes and design templates to add their website original appearance.
After familiarizing with the suggested structure and content,
editors can either selectively clear out the demo data or simply edit the
existing pages and menus directly on the website. Intuitive wizards will
guide editors through the step-by-step procedure of setting up new catalogs
and other important website sections. The whole process of launching the
full-scale online shop, external complications notwithstanding, fits in the
industry-leading 45 minutes.
Using the flexible price management feature, editors can
create virtually unlimited pricing groups for different types of customers,
quickly launch special promotion campaigns, juggle discounts and multiple
currencies, and introduce a variety of delivery and payment options.
Extensive information about completed orders is accumulated in
the centralized database, allowing order tracking, troubleshooting, research
of correlated purchases and in-depth marketing analysis for better
understanding of customer behavior, maximizing business results.
The integrated SEO module
(http://www.bitrixsoft.com/products/cms/features/seo.php?r1=prbx&r2Emvideo)
automatically optimizes the online shop content to get the best rating
positions in popular search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. With better
ratings, the website will get more visitors and ensure better online sales
and marketing results.
Importantly, Bitrix Site Manager comes with the integrated
PRO+PRO(TM) security framework ( http://www.bitrixsoft.com/products/intranet/security.php?r1=prbx&r2
Emvideo). It contains a set of must-have technologies to ensure online
business continuity from the very beginning without the need to spend money
on third-party security software.
In the store front, Bitrix Site Manager provides online shop
customers with unrivaled simplicity in placing orders as well as additional
services that leads to improved customer satisfaction. Friendly wizards
gently guide the customer through the whole ordering process and order
processing notifications can be sent via e-mail. Each customer possesses a
personal shopping account with detailed history of completed orders for
future references.
Bitrix is a privately-owned company developing an advanced
business communications platform to bridge SMBs with their customers
(Internet), partners (Extranet) and employees (Intranet). Founded in 1998 and
headquartered in Alexandria, VA, Bitrix now incorporates 90+ staff, 40,000+
customers and 4,000+ partners worldwide. The customer list includes Hyundai,
Volkswagen, Panasonic, Gazprom, Xerox, PricewaterhouseCoopers, DPD, VTB,
Samsung and Cosmopolitan. Localized into 13 languages, the company's products
are distinguished for their pioneering technology, unique security features,
extreme performance capacity and unmatched ease-of-use.
Adaptec by PMC Series 6 Controllers Deliver Superior Bandwidth and Reliability with SAS 2.0 and PCI Express(R) Technology
BEIJING, Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- PMC-Sierra, Inc.
(Nasdaq:PMCS), the premier Internet infrastructure semiconductor solution
provider, today announced the Adaptec by PMC family of Series 6 RAID
controllers designed to excel in high I/O transaction and high bandwidth
processing applications. Based on PMC-Sierra's market-leading, multi-core SRC
8x6G RAID-on-Chip (RoC) controller, the Adaptec Series 6 family is the
industry's first 6Gb/s Unified Serial RAID controller channel solution with
Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection which reduces operating costs and minimizes
environmental impact.
"Since the acquisition of the Adaptec channel storage business in June, we
have been focused on leveraging PMC-Sierra's SRC RoC technology to bring a
6Gb/s SAS controller to the channel," said Jared Peters, vice president and
general manager of PMC-Sierra's Channel Storage Division. "We're launching our
Series 6 solutions just as the market and ecosystem for 6Gb/s channel storage
products has begun to emerge. With our industry-proven SRC RoC as the core,
our feature-rich Series 6 family of storage controllers goes beyond RAID with
Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection and intelligent power management for maximum
reliability, lower power consumption and reduced costs."
With support for up to 256 SATA/SAS devices using SAS expanders and an
eight lane PCIe Gen 2 host interface bus connection, the Series 6 delivers
high performance, scalability and flexibility. While the Series 5 family
provides robustness and compatibility with today's market standard of 3Gb/s
performance, the enhanced bandwidth of the Series 6 with SAS 2.0 interfaces
and the PCIe Gen 2 host connection offers a 60 percent higher sustained
sequential throughput than previous generations of Adaptec controllers.
The Series 6 delivers up to 2GB/s sustained data transfer rate to a host
of applications that require high sequential bandwidth. At peak performance,
this solution offers 4.8GB/s through the SAS 2.0 interfaces and 4GB/s through
the PCIe Gen 2 host interface delivering enough bandwidth for high streaming
applications, such as editing and broadcasting uncompressed 3D video streams.
Using this solution, a 14TB array used as a virtual tape library can be filled
in less than two hours compared to previous generation interfaces that take
more than three hours.
"Today's storage infrastructures require technologies that provide the
highest levels of performance with robust functionality, efficient power and
cooling and environmental characteristics," said Roger Cox, Research Vice
President, Data Center Systems, Gartner. "Storage products with these
capabilities help system integrators and others to further differentiate their
storage solution offerings."
With the significant adoption of Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection the
need to replace Lithium Ion batteries is eliminated and as a result reduces
the hazardous waste disposal previously required in cache-critical computing
applications. This product family also features advanced intelligent power
management, which reduces storage power and cooling costs by up to 70 percent.
Series 6 RAID controllers feature:
-- Superior bandwidth with 6Gb/s SAS 2.0 interfaces and PCIe Gen 2 host
connection
-- Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection (option)
-- Hardware RAID levels 0,1,1E,5,5EE,6,10,50,60
-- Hybrid RAID 1,10 support for arrays of Solid State Drives (SSD) and
Hard Disk Drives (HDD) for maximum performance
-- Intelligent power management
-- Centralized storage management with Adaptec Storage Manager(TM)
-- Broad range of operating systems supported
Availability and Pricing
Series 6 RAID controllers are sampling now to select customers. Available
in singles and kits, the suggested retail pricing for the Adaptec RAID 6405,
Adaptec RAID 6445 and Adaptec RAID 6805 ranges from US$395 to US$630. For more
information on Adaptec by PMC's storage products, visit http://www.adaptec.com.
About Adaptec by PMC
Adaptec by PMC storage products protect, accelerate, optimize and
condition data. The company's software and hardware-based solutions are
delivered through leading channel partners to provide storage connectivity,
data protection, and networked storage to enterprises, government
organizations, medium and small businesses worldwide. For more information,
visit http://www.adaptec.com
About PMC-Sierra
PMC-Sierra(R), the premier Internet infrastructure semiconductor solution
provider, offers its customers technical and sales support worldwide through a
network of offices in North America, Europe, Israel and Asia. PMC-Sierra
provides semiconductor solutions for Enterprise and Channel Storage, Wide Area
Network Infrastructure, Fiber To The Home, and Laser Printer/Enterprise market
segments. The Company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the
PMCS symbol. For more information, visit http://www.pmc-sierra.com.
Resources to Extend your Product Knowledge and Understanding
Adaptec by PMC New Products http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/products
Adaptec by PMC White Papers http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/_whitepapers/tech
(C) Copyright PMC-Sierra, Inc. 2010. All rights reserved. PMC, PMC-SIERRA
and Adaptec are registered trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. "Adaptec by PMC" and
"Adaptec Storage Manager" are trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. Other product and
company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
For a complete list of PMC-Sierra trademarks, see http://www.pmc-sierra.com/legal.
PMC-Sierra Contact:
Susan Shaw
Tel: +1-408-988-8515
Email: susan_shaw@pmc-sierra.com
US Editorial:
Adrian Eyre
Tel: +1-415-677-2708
Email: adrian.eyre@SohoSquarePR.com
China Editorial:
Jo Soo
Tel: +852-2837-4744
Email: jo.soo@edelman.com
SOURCE PMC-Sierra, Inc.
PMC-Sierra, Inc.
CONTACT: Susan Shaw of PMC-Sierra, +1-408-988-8515, susan_shaw@pmc- sierra.com
CarWoo! Celebrates the Twelve Days of Christmas - Offers Cash to Holiday Car Buyers
BURLINGAME, Calif., Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- San Francisco based CarWoo! (http://www.carwoo.com) announces the CarWoo Twelve Days Of Christmas promotion. CarWoo! offers the best way to buy a car online, having dealers compete while the buyer remains anonymous.
Beginning on December 13 and continuing through Christmas Eve, CarWoo! is offering car buyers a discount off of their service and a cash rebate when a car is purchased. In keeping with the spirit of the twelve days, the discount increases every day for each of the twelve days and the cash rebate to buyers who accept an offer made by a dealer through CarWoo!, take delivery of that car and send CarWoo! a picture increases every day as well, culminating in a $1,000 rebate for the first buyer to take advantage of this promotion on Christmas Eve Day.
The rebates and discounts will be available to the first twelve buyers taking advantage of this promotion on the first day, the first eleven buyers on the second day, with the number of eligible buyers decreasing by one each day until this promotion is only available to the first buyer who signs up on Christmas Eve Day.
According to CarWoo! CEO, Tommy McClung, "The holidays are a great time to buy a car. Celebrating the twelve days leading up to Christmas by making it not only easy and fun to buy a car, but also putting some much needed holiday cash in car buyers pockets is CarWoo!'s way of contributing to the joyous spirit of the holidays."
Specifics can be found on the CarWoo! website from December 13 through December 24.
About CarWoo!
CarWoo!, simply the best way to buy a new car, was founded in 2009 by serial entrepreneurs, Tommy McClung, Erik Landerholm and Michael Young. It is the first online service that allows buyers to negotiate anonymously with multiple dealers, ensuring the best offers on the car they want. With early funding by Y Combinator, CarWoo! is based in Burlingame, CA and is now funded by Blumberg Capital,Comcast Interactive Capital and Interwest Partners. Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com and on Twitter at twitter.com/carwoo.
SOURCE CarWoo!
CarWoo!
CONTACT: Renee Blodgett of Magic Sauce Media, +1-617-620-9664, renee at magicsaucemedia dot com, @magicsaucemedia, for CarWoo!; or Myril Shaw of CarWoo, +1-678-935-7312, myril@carwoo.com
Kaleidescape Introduces Industry's First Blu-ray Movie Server
Pristine Digital Storage of Blu-ray Discs for Instant Playback throughout the Home
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --Kaleidescape, Inc., creator of the movie server product category, today announced shipment of the industry's first Blu-ray movie server. The Kaleidescape System stores exact copies of your Blu-ray Discs on its hard drives, and transforms your collection of movies into a magical experience. Kaleidescape's simple and elegant user interface makes choosing something to watch part of the fun.
"Blu-ray offers the highest fidelity for my discerning clients, but if you thought watching a DVD was frustrating, just try a Blu-ray Disc," said Jeff Cherun, owner of Teatro Custom Installation, Inc. in Los Angeles, California. "With the Kaleidescape System you're enjoying any of your Blu-ray movies in seconds instead of minutes. My customers will never go back to an ordinary Blu-ray player."
The Kaleidescape Movie Guide enables an unparalleled movie-watching experience. High resolution cover art combined with a brief synopsis of each film and many other details make it entertaining to explore your collection of movies. Video bookmarks and triggers enable the system to start a movie instantly and automatically adjust lighting, curtains and screen masking during playback. With over 145,000 titles, Kaleidescape's exclusive Movie Guide is the largest database of its kind.
"The simplicity and elegance that we have achieved for watching Blu-ray movies required significant hardware and software innovation, legal analysis and user interface design," said Michael Malcolm, Kaleidescape's founder, chairman and CEO. "My family and I enjoy the freedom to jump to a favorite scene in a movie or to any song in a concert. For the first time, all of our Blu-ray movies are literally at our fingertips, at any screen in our home."
The new Kaleidescape Modular Disc Vault completes the Kaleidescape Blu-ray movie server. Paired with a Kaleidescape M-Class player, the disc vault imports, houses, and organizes your Blu-ray Discs. The copies stored on the server are then ready for instant playback. With a capacity of 100 discs, the Modular Disc Vault simplifies ownership by automating the import process. Any number of Modular Disc Vaults may be added to a system, but each must be connected to its own M-Class player.
The Modular Disc Vault is priced at $1,495 MSRP in the United States and Canada, and is available now. The M500 Player and M300 Player have been shipping since May 2010 and are priced at $3,995 and $2,495 MSRP, respectively, in the United States and Canada. Any Kaleidescape System can be upgraded to be a Blu-ray movie server with the addition of an M-Class player and a Modular Disc Vault.
About Kaleidescape
Kaleidescape designs and manufactures the world's leading DVD and Blu-ray movie servers, bringing lifestyle convenience to families with young children and movie enthusiasts. The Kaleidescape System, renowned for its intuitive user interface, presents your entire collection of movies on any TV in your home, and provides a rich, cinematic experience for the entire family. Kaleidescape's innovative products and services are protected by over 50 patents issued and pending. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Kaleidescape sells its movie servers through custom installation dealers and distributors throughout the world. For more information, please visit http://www.kaleidescape.com.
Kaleidescape and the Kaleidescape logo are trademarks of Kaleidescape, Inc.; they are registered in the United States and certain other jurisdictions. Other trademarks and trade names are owned by third parties and may be registered in some jurisdictions.
SOURCE Kaleidescape, Inc.
Kaleidescape, Inc.
CONTACT: Media, Linus Wong of Kaleidescape, Inc., +1-650-625-6140, press@kaleidescape.com
DUBAI, December 12, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- HR Technology is set to change the face of payroll, performance
appraisals, learning & development and event execution strategies. Despite
the downturn of 2009 companies in MENA have come to the realisation of the
need to invest and transform their HR departments.
IQPC and Monster.com are pleased to announce the inaugural HR Technology
MENA conference taking place 23 - 26 January 2011 in Dubai at The Movenpick
Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Residence.
With the unique HR landscape and challenges such as high reliance on
expatriate workers, strong public sector presence, workforce nationalisation
policies, strict workers visa regulations and recent regulatory changes in
some countries in payroll systems and WPS. This conference has been tailored
and designed for the MENA region and will look at how technology can be
leveraged to achieve HR strategic objectives and what are the biggest
challenges.
The programme agenda will facilitate discussions on key solutions to help
organisations align IT with a HR transformation strategy. Speakers will
highlight competency based payroll systems, how organisations should
integrate payroll systems with other functions, which technologies and tools
will enhance recruitment, talent management, eLearning, employee engagement
and workforce planning.
There's never been a better time to restructure and introduce this
crucial aspect of technology to the HR department. Large organisations such
as Al-Futtaim Group, Azadea Group, Unilever, Jumeirah Group and Etisalat will
head line this subject at this first-of-its kind event.
Sponsoring the HR Technology MENA conference are Monster.com, Kronos,
Prodcutiva and SuccessFactors.
About IQPC
IQPC provides business executives around the world with tailored
practical conferences, large scale events, topical seminars and in-house
training programs, keeping them up-to-date with industry trends,
technological developments and the regulatory landscape. IQPC's large scale
conferences are market leading "must attend" events for their respective
industries.
IQPC produces more than 1,500 events annually around the world, and
continues to grow. Founded in 1973, IQPC now has offices in major cities
across six continents including: Berlin, Bengalaru, Dubai, Johannesburg,
London, Madrid, New York, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, and
Toronto. IQPC leverages a global research base of best practices to produce
an unrivalled portfolio of conferences.
For more information contact Michelle Petiza, Marketing Manager, IQPC
Middle East. Email enquiry@iqpc.ae or call +971-364-2975.
Source: IQPC Middle East
For more information contact Michelle Petiza, Marketing Manager, IQPC Middle East. Email enquiry@iqpc.ae or call +971-364-2975.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC Announce Mortal Kombat Will Include Kratos as a Playable Character Exclusively on PlayStation® 3
Celebrated God of War® Warrior Enters the Arena of the Landmark Fighting Game When Mortal Kombat Launches in April 2011
BURBANK, Calif., Dec. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) today announce that Mortal Kombat, the award-winning fighting game created by NetherRealm Studios, will add Kratos -- from the multi-million unit-selling God of War® franchise -- as a new warrior to their line-up exclusively for the PlayStation®3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system. Kratos will have his own customized move set, fatality, and fighting arena available when Mortal Kombat hits stores worldwide in April 2011.
"When we were approached with the opportunity, it was a no-brainer. Fans of both games have been asking for this to happen," said Stig Asmussen, Game Director, God of War® III. "Kratos belongs in Mortal Kombat, and I'm thrilled about the potential."
Through the exclusive partnership between Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA), Kratos will face off against the most renowned Mortal Kombat fighters, including Scorpion and Sub Zero, and the game will be available in Stereoscopic 3-D on the PS3.
"We could not be more excited to have Kratos in the new Mortal Kombat, since we've always felt he would fit perfectly into our universe and can't wait for Mortal Kombat and God of War fans to play this game," says Ed Boon, Creative Director of NetherRealm Studios. "Not only is Kratos in the game, but we have an exciting partnership with Sony to develop Mortal Kombat in Stereoscopic 3-D, which makes the fighting experience much more immersive"
The newest chapter of Mortal Kombat, releasing in April 2011 for the PS3 and Xbox 360, marks a triumphant return to the series' mature presentation and a reinvention of its classic 2-D fighting mechanic.
Mortal Kombat will also introduce a number of new game-play features including tag team, a deeper story mode, and nostalgic arcade battle online and offline. Players will be able to choose from an extensive line-up of the game's iconic warriors and challenge their friends in traditional 1 vs. 1 matches as well as several new game modes.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.
About the God of War® Franchise
Developed exclusively for the PlayStation® family of products, the God of War series is a multi-million unit-selling franchise. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica Studios, God of War brings epic battles to life with stunning graphics and an elaborate plot that puts Kratos at the center of carnage and destruction as he seeks revenge against the Gods who have betrayed him. For more information, please visit http://www.GodofWar.com.
About Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its online and network services PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store.
Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 3 and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101211/LA16153LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
CONTACT: Remi Sklar, +1-818-977-3023, remi.sklar@warnerbros.com, or Tali Fischer, +1-818-977-3106, tali.fischer@warnerbros.com, both of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment; or Craig Sinel of fortyseven communications, +1-323-658-1200, craig@fortyseven.com, for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Become an 'iDinor,' Make Purchases at 50 Percent Discount for the Lifetime
HONG KONG, China, Dec. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- "Crazy Week" is over. If you were unable to grab the best lucrative deals of crazy week, there is no reason to lose your heart. DinoDirect has decided to run the fifty percent discount sale forever yet for some specific clients. To get the fifty percent deals, all round the year, all you need to do is to become a V.I.P. of DinoDirect.com. DinoDirect's "iDinor" scheme is available online now. You can register on the site to receive a fifty percent bonus on whatever you shop.
"iDinor" is aimed to provide you the best return on your money. As you register for the "iDinor" membership and shop for the first time, you will receive an unbelievable discount of straight seventy percent on all what you purchase. So, make the best use of your credit card and shop to your heart's content to avail a straight discount of seventy percent on all what you purchase. Remember, the incredible seventy percent discount will be available only once. For all following purchases, you will be entitled to receive a discount of fifty percent, which is also quite alluring.
An "iDinor" of DinoDirect will get access to a wide range of 300,000 products offered by the store. Therefore, whether it is his Christmas shopping or you need perfect decor items for your home remodeling, DinoDirect is for you. Purchase anything you want and get a flat discount of fifty percent. By becoming an "iDinor," you can forget the hassles of running to the retail stores to get hold of the discount deals. DinoDirect's offers will continue all over the year and for the lifetime of "iDinor".
By becoming an "iDinor" of DinoDirect, you will not only be entitled to receive a flat discount of fifty percent for your lifetime but also you will receive many other privileges. As you will become a V.I.P. member of DinoDirect, you will receive a double DinoPoints for all shopping made on the site. In addition, you will receive special birthday offers and entitled to receive a five dollar Gift Card on your birthday.
To become an "iDinor," you just need to follow some simple steps. Before Dec. 16, if the customer registers to become an "iDinor," he only needs to pay $6.99 as the monthly fee and will enjoy a three-month 50% discount of all items purchased in the store. DinoDirect is always motivated to provide you the best shopping experience. If you are interested in "iDinor," please check out http://www.dinodirect.com/html/idinor.html to get hold of the best deal. DinoDirect fifty percent deals are available throughout the month, so rush to the store now.
About DinoDirect.com
DinoDirect China Limited (http://www.dinodirect.com) is one of the biggest global online retailers. It offers a great quantity of products at competitive prices by cutting the middleman and offering products directly to the terminal consumers.
DinoDirect.com possesses a great many software products with proprietary intellectual property rights, owns technological superiority and is an efficient marketing team among similar industries.
Lyris Reveals Five Ways to Immediately Improve Email Marketing Performance
Free Webinar to Take Your Email Marketing Up a Notch
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyris, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: LYRI), the online marketing expert, today announced its upcoming Webinar, "Turn Your Email Marketing Up a Notch: Five Ways to Improve Performance Now." Despite decreases in budget and higher expectations, marketers are still challenged to optimize email marketing channels with minimal cost and effort. Staying current and implementing best practices are crucial to improving email performance and enhance ROI.
The Webinar will teach marketers best practices and give insight into increasing email effectiveness including:
-- Subject Lines: Fifty characters could be all that stands between you and
email success
-- Email Content: Providing value with relevant, customized email messages
and offers
-- Landing Pages: The hard-working "conversion genies" of email campaigns
-- Design and Rendering: Optimizing for ISPs, opens and click-throughs
-- Deliverability: It starts with managing your online reputation
On December 14, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. PT, email marketing experts from Lyris will share five ways to optimize email marketing campaigns in order to meet their revenue-generating potential.
WHO: Lyris Global Director of Deliverability, Email Strategy and
Privacy Compliance, David Fowler
Lyris Senior Manager of Marketing Programs, Shannon Titus
WHAT: Webinar - Turn Your Email Marketing Up a Notch: Five Ways to
Improve Performance Now
WHEN: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. PT
WHERE: To register for the Webinar, click here
---------------------------------------
Webinar attendees will be able to submit questions either directly through the Webinar interface or via Twitter to @Lyris using the #LyrisROI hashtag. Following the Webinar, all attendees will receive a complimentary action guide full of best practices, tips and techniques to help boost email revenue.
About Lyris, Inc.
Lyris, Inc. is the online marketing expert delivering the right mix of software technology and industry knowledge to help its customers simplify their marketing efforts and optimize campaign ROI. Through its on-demand integrated marketing suite, Lyris HQ, and reliable on-premise solutions, including Lyris ListManager, Lyris provides customers the right tools to optimize their online and mobile marketing initiatives.
More Wireless Data and Call Capacity Activated for Idyllwild, California
Verizon Wireless adds capacity to cell sites to stay ahead of demand for calls, e-mail, text and web surfing
IRVINE, Calif.,Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --Even moreRiverside County residents, businesses and visitors can now enjoy high-speed wireless data and voice connections along Highway 74 and Highway 243 in the city of Idyllwild, thanks to recent Verizon Wireless network upgrades. Hundreds of upgrades since December 2009 have increased the company's 3G data and voice capacity by nearly thirty percent in Southern California. The increased capacity means more users are empowered to surf the web, download applications and content, and exchange e-mail and other messages.
"People expect their cell phones and wireless devices to work whenever and wherever they need them," said Bill D'Agostino, executive director of network for Verizon Wireless in Southern California. "That's why we continue to invest in our network. By meeting the growing demand for data services on our network, we empower each of our customers to Rule the Air in their own unique, individual way."
To learn more about how Verizon Wireless empowers its customers to Rule the Air, visit: http://tinyurl.com/2arpjjs
Businesses can tap into the power of Mobile Broadband
Mobile Broadband allows users to connect to the Internet wirelessly to download applications, business documents and music, as well as accessing e-mail and corporate data while on the go. Small business owners interested in Mobile Broadband can visit http://tinyurl.com/392334gwhere they can:
-- Watch videos about how mobile technologies can improve business results
-- Check out case studies and articles on business strategies to become
more productive
-- Learn about the latest promotions and discounts for small businesses
-- Read white papers about wireless security and connectivity options for
business
4G LTE services
Verizon Wireless launched its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network in the Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan areas. In the Los Angeles area, 4G LTE coverage extends north to Pasadena, east to Chino, south to San Clemente and west to Woodland Hills. In the San Diego area, 4G LTE coverage extends north to Del Mar and Poway, east to Lakeside and south to Imperial Beach.
The company's ongoing aggressive network build includes launch in 38 major metropolitan areas, including 60 airports, covering more than 110 million people. The company will cover virtually all its current nationwide 3G footprint with the 4G network by the end of 2013.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Ken Muche of Verizon Wireless, +1-949-286-8193, Ken.Muche@VerizonWireless.com
KRAFT FOODS PUBLISHES COMPANY'S FIRST BRANDED EBOOK
Taps Mobile Entertainment Agency skyrockit to Develop
GLENVIEW, Ill., Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraft Foods and skyrockit, a full service mobile entertainment agency, have joined together to produce Kraft Foods' first eBook. "Spread a Little Joy" is available today in Apple's AppStore, http://bit.ly/h4V99P, and at Amazon.com for $9.99.
The "Spread a Little Joy" eBook contains a compilation of creative and delicious recipes featuring Kraft Foods' popular PHILADELPHIA cream cheese. Culinary fans can wow their families and friends with over 70 recipes, including appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts made with PHILADELPHIA cream cheese - all available in the form of an aesthetic, easy-to-use eBook.
"We know our consumers are constantly on the lookout for new food ideas, and we thought a cookbook would be the perfect way to demonstrate how delicious and versatile Philly can be as a rich and creamy cooking ingredient," said Adam Butler, Brand Manager PHILADELPHIA cream cheese, Kraft Foods. "skyrockit's team understood our goals and was able to bring this unique branded mobile experience to life very easily through their intuitive platform."
Today's launch marks the first branded eBook built on skyrockit's turnkey platform solution. skyrockit enables rapid conversion of multiple digital file formats into eBooks in as little as one to two weeks, and has plans to further enhance the eBook experience by implementing additional interactive features including exclusive content and social media.
"We are at a fascinating juncture in advertising where brands can now cost effectively create their own media properties and offer them directly to end consumers," said Jon Vlassopulos, CEO, skyrockit. "We are focused on facilitating this change and are delighted to be working with Kraft Foods on this exciting new mobile initiative, and to have them as our first eBook partner."
Kraft Foods saw success last fall when it introduced a premium branded iFood Assistant app, changing the perception that brands can only succeed with free mobile content. The iFood Assistant was then followed by Big Fork Little Fork, Kraft Foods' first iPad app. Kraft Foods strikes again, this time with the help of skyrockit to create an eBook experience for cream cheese lovers.
About Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods is building a global snacks powerhouse and an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love. With annual revenues of approximately $48 billion, the company is the world's second largest food company, making delicious products for billions of consumers in approximately 170 countries. The portfolio includes 11 iconic brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion - Oreo, Nabisco and LU biscuits; Milka and Cadbury chocolates; Trident gum; Jacobs and Maxwell House coffees; Philadelphia cream cheeses; Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; and Oscar Mayer meats. Approximately 70 brands generate annual revenues of more than $100 million. Kraft Foods (http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com; NYSE: KFT) is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index.
About skyrockit, a Bellrock Media Company
skyrockit is an award-winning full-service mobile entertainment agency designed to help brands, media companies and technology companies leverage mobile in exciting ways through the creation of innovative products, new services and compelling marketing campaigns. Connecting brands with consumers through engaging experiences, skyrockit draws upon its relationships with Hollywood, Madison Avenue and Silicon Valley to spawn massively popular initiatives for major brands, record labels, and studios. Over the past eight years, the company's initiatives have resulted in more than $250m in revenue for its partners and over 100 million pieces of content enjoyed worldwide. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, skyrockit is a subsidiary of Japan's leading branded entertainment shop, Bellrock Media, with principle backing from Yoshimoto Kogyo, the number one entertainment company in Japan, and Intel capital.
Gameloft's Eternal Legacy and Dungeon Hunter 2 Take the App Store by Storm
Both Games Secure Top Slots Across Multiple Countries
PARIS, December 10, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gameloft, a leading developer and publisher of digitally
distributed games, announced Eternal Legacy and Dungeon Hunter 2 premiered in
the Top Grossing Games charts worldwide. Dungeon Hunter 2 soared into the #2
position in the U.S., France, Canada, China and Germany. Eternal Legacy
climbed to the Top 5 in the U.S., Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain,
China, etc.
"The continued success of our games in the Top Grossing Games
chart tells us, that more than ever, gamers welcome high quality titles in
the App Store," said Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president, publishing,
Gameloft. "The immediate success of Eternal Legacy and Dungeon Hunter 2 is on
par with our expectation and we look forward to the evolution of these strong
brands."
Eternal Legacy drops you in a world of huge cinematic
environments inspired by Japanese role-playing games. With beautifully 3D
rendered locations and immersive sci-fi/fantasy gameplay, Eternal Legacy is
filled with epic combats and exploration. Dungeon Hunter 2 revisits
Gothicus's dark fantasy world where the hero is on a quest to save a kingdom
gripped with evil. The game features hack n' slash action and an exclusive
co-op multiplayer mode.
Look for more exciting titles to launch from Gameloft in the
coming weeks.
About Gameloft
Gameloft is the worldwide leader in developing and publishing
downloadable video games. Gameloft is now positioned, after 10 years, as one
of the most innovative companies in its field. The company designs games for
mobile phones, smartphones, iPhone, iPod touch and iPad for which the number
of units should exceed four billion in 2012. As a pioneer in the new
downloadable game console market, Gameloft publishes games for WiiWare,
DSiWare, Microsoft Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network. Partnership
agreements with major licensors allow Gameloft to associate the strongest
international brands with such games as Uno, Ferrari, Shrek, CSI, Iron Man,
Spiderman and Sonic. The company also has its own brand portfolio with
established franchises such as Real Football, Asphalt and Cerebral Challenge.
Gameloft has locations on all continents, distributes its games in 100
countries and has its own production studios with over 3,500 developers.
Gameloft is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN: FR0000079600,
Bloomberg: GFT FP, Reuters: GLFT.PA).
KingsIsle Entertainment Brings Gardening to the Magical World of Wizard101
KingsIsle Unveils Holiday 'Giving Tree' Item in Crown Shop; Proceeds to Benefit Charitable Organizations in Texas
PLANO, Texas, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Reports are coming in from across the Spiral that a new race of mysterious Garden Moles has begun to teach Wizards the secrets of growing exotic magical plants, the likes of which have never been seen before. KingsIsle Entertainment is delighted to confirm that the reports are true and Gardening has officially come to Wizard101.
The new Gardening system enables students at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts to grow amazing plants in their Dorms and Castles. As Wizards progress through the ranks of gardening mastery they will earn unique rewards including gold and powerful magical treasures. As plants grow from seedlings to elders, they will come alive with distinct personalities, sounds and animations.
Highlights of Gardening in Wizard101 include:
-- Eighteen species of loot-producing plants packing plenty of personality,
from King Parsley to Baby Carrots
-- A new system for casting spells outside of duels, enabling players to
grow extraordinary plants and fulfill their needs with magic
-- Powerful new spells to battle and vanquish challenging pests
-- The new "Garden Mole" race of expert gardeners
-- Plants that can grow virtually anywhere, from inside the smallest
dorm-room, to outside the most extravagant Castle
The Gardening system is open to all Wizards level 12 and greater. Wizards progress through 10 ranks of expertise, earning experience and loot as they tend their gardens. Gardening brings a new dimension to the game, offering players a whole new way to play and progress in Wizard101.
"It's exciting to bring a new system of this size and scope to the Spiral so soon after the launch of Celestia, our largest expansion ever," said Josef Hall, vice president of Development for KingsIsle Entertainment. "I think we've created a system that fits perfectly into the Wizard101 universe. I can't wait for our players to show off their green thumbs!"
To celebrate the introduction of Gardening in Wizard101, and in the spirit of the holiday season, KingsIsle has added a special item to its in-game Crown Shop -- a Giving Tree. The Giving Tree starts as a seedling, flourishes into a gift-bearing tree and eventually grants Wizards a wondrous harvest of magical treasures. The Giving Tree is available for a limited time and provides Wizard101 players the opportunity to purchase a great Crowns item while simultaneously helping others.
Giving Tree seeds sell for 2,500 Crowns apiece (approximately $5). For each sale, KingsIsle will donate the net proceeds, evenly divided, to two Texas organizations devoted to helping children: the Austin Children's Shelter located in Austin, Texas, and Children's Medical Center at Legacy, a pediatric hospital located in Plano, Texas.
In Wizard101, kids and families enter the magical world of Wizard City as student Wizards setting out to hone their skills, cast spells and summon powerful creatures to fight evil forces. The characters and worlds of Wizard101 are influenced by literature, history and pop culture, giving the game a depth and quality appreciated by families and players of all ages.
Wizard101 can be downloaded at http://www.Wizard101.com. Players seeking access to premium areas and items may purchase pre-paid cards in participating stores or purchase a subscription or Crowns online. New worlds, activities, pets and Wizard clothing are periodically added to the game, creating an ever-changing world with new things to see and do.
About KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc.
KingsIsle Entertainment is a developer and publisher that specializes in creating high-quality massively multiplayer online games which provide entertainment for the entire family. Wizard101, KingsIsle's flagship property, has received the Parent Tested Parent Approved Media Seal of Approval in 2009 and has been recognized by the National Parenting Publications Awards. Wizard101 was named the #1 Best Family/All Age Game by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, and the #1 Best Family Game by MMORPG.com for 2009. The company's experienced and creative team is raising the bar in online entertainment by offering products with rich storylines, friendly navigation, top-quality art and fully-voiced characters. KingsIsle is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and has a development studio in Austin, Texas. For more information, please visit http://www.kingsisle.com.
KingsIsle and Wizard101 are trademarks or registered trademarks of KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc.
Airline Offers Twitter Followers the Chance to win a $1,000 southwestgiftcard During "12 Days of LUV" Contest
DALLAS, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As the song goes, for 12 days in December, your "true love" is supposed to give you gifts. Well, this year, Southwest Airlines could be your "true LUV," except we aren't giving away Turtle Doves or French Hens. We're giving away one $1,000 southwestgiftcard® each day for 12 days in December with our "12 Days of LUV" contest sponsored by our friends at Visa®.
Beginning today, the Southwest Airlines Twitter account (@southwestair) will ask each day for a FUN holiday photo over the next 12 days. Each day has a theme, which will be announced at some point during the day, so be prepared to get crafty and creative! To be included in the contest, Twitterers must include the #12daysofluv hashtag and the requested original photo in their tweet. The Twitterer with the best photo each day will win a $1,000 southwestgiftcard®. Each daily tweet will announce the photo theme for the day, and Twitter followers won't want to miss this!
Through active participation and engagement with online consumers, the airline has amassed more than a million Twitter followers. To see more details about the "12 Days of LUV" contest, visit: http://www.southwest.com/12daysofluv
After nearly 40 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV)continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Beginning March 13, 2011, Southwest will initiate service in Charleston and Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, and on March 27, 2011, service will begin to Newark Liberty International Airport. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the One Report. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
1. How to Enter the Contest
a. Southwest Airlines "12 Days of LUV" ("Contest") will begin on or around 10 a.m. CST on Friday, December 10, 2010 and will end on or around 4 p.m. CST on Tuesday, December 21, 2010.
b. Southwest Airlines is not responsible for lost, stolen, mangled, miss-delivered, postage due, illegible, incomplete or late entries, telephone service outages, delays, busy signals, equipment malfunctions and any other technological difficulties that may prevent an individual from entering.
c. To participate in the Contest, you may enter via the following method:
Submit a funny photo highlighting a memorable holiday moment via Southwest Airlines Twitter account @SouthwestAir using the hashtag "#12daysofluv." All entries submitted become the sole property of Southwest Airlines and will not be acknowledged or returned. Use of any device to automate entry is prohibited. Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by Southwest. Southwest Airlines computer is the official time keeping device for the contest. Southwest is not responsible for entries not received due to difficulty accessing the internet, service outage or delays, computer difficulties or other technological glitches.
d. One internet entry per person and one entry per twitter account is permitted per day.
2. Eligibility Restrictions
a. The contest is open to all legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States who are 18 years of age or older as of December 10, 2010. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited or restricted by law. The contest is open to legal residents of the United States and is offered only in the United States. Employees of Visa, Southwest Airlines, the independent judging entity and the members of their immediate families and/or households are ineligible to enter or win. The contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
b. Only one winner per household is permitted in any Contest administered by Southwest.
c. Entrants are required to provide truthful information and Southwest will reject and delete any entry that it discovers to be false or fraudulent. Southwest Airlines will disqualify any entry from individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements, and Southwest Airlines will also delete any entry received from persons under the age of 13 in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
3. Prizes:
a. One (1) Prize to be given daily for 12 consecutive days: The daily winner will receive one $1000 southwestgiftcard to be redeemed for travel on Southwest Airlines. (Total Retail Value: $12,000, which $1000 is to be given away daily) Certain travel restrictions may apply, and the terms and conditions of the southwestgiftcard apply. No prize substitutions, cash equivalent, or transfer of prizes permitted except at the sole discretion of the Contest Entities. Prize subject to availability and the Contest Entities reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to award a prize of greater or equal value if the advertised prize is unavailable. Taxes are solely the responsibility of the winner.
b. In the event that a prize or prize certificate is mailed to the winner, it will be with the prior written consent of the winner and therefore, winner assumes the risk of its loss. Southwest Airlines is not responsible for the safe arrival of a prize or prize certificate.
4. Selection of Winners
Decisions of judges with respect to the Contest are final. This is a contest of skill. Your chances of winning depend on how well your entry reflects the judging criteria, as compared to the other entries in the contest.
The judges will be judging on the following qualities:
-- Creativity and Originality: 20%
-- Entertaining: 25%
-- Southwest Appeal: 35% photo should reflect our Culture and Fun-LUVing
Attitude.
-- Rules: 20% Read and complied with the official rules.
a. The top "12 Days of LUV" submission per day will be selected by an independent panel of judges. You need not be present to win.
b. Winners must execute and return any required affidavit of eligibility and/or liability/publicity release within one (1) day of notification attempt or prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner may be chosen. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the required affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within the required time period, or if a prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. Winner notification will be made daily via our social channels. Affidavits will be mailed/emailed based on the winners' preference beginning January 3rd 2011. And upon timely completion of required affidavits and release, winners should expect to receive their prizes in the mail by January 31, 2011.
5. Conditions
a. Payments of all federal, state and local taxes are solely the responsibility of the winners. Winners may be required to sign an IRS Form W-9 or the equivalent.
b. By participating in the contest, the winner or winners agree to have their name, voice, or likeness used in any advertising or broadcasting material relating to this contest without additional financial or other compensation unless prohibited by law, and, where legal, to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the prize.
c. Prior to awarding any prize or prize certificate, Southwest Airlines in its sole discretion may require contest winners (and their travel companions, if any) to sign a publicity release, where allowed, and a liability release, agreeing to hold Sponsor, Southwest Airlines, their corporate licensee, and each of their parent, subsidiary and affiliated corporations, and the officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents and representatives of each of them harmless against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from the prize or participation in the Contest.
d. Southwest Airlines, in is sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process, the operation of Southwest Airlines website or is otherwise in violation of the rules. It further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the contest if it is not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures of any sort.
e. The Contest Entities reserve the right to make changes in the rules of the Contest, including the substitution of a prize or equivalent value, which will become effective upon announcement.
f. Failure to comply with the Contest rules may result in a contestant's disqualification solely at the discretion of the Administrator and/or judges.
g. The Administrator is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the printing, the offering or the administration of the Contest, or in the announcement of a prize.
h. Copies of the written Contest rules and a list of winners (when complete) are available during regular business hours at Southwest Airlines, Emerging Media P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611. For a winners list, send a self-addressed stamped return envelope, after January 4, 2011. All requests must be received by January 19, 2011. Vermont and Washington residents may omit return postage.
6. Sponsor/Administrator: Sponsor and Administrator is Southwest Airlines Co., Emerging Media, P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611. Visa and its client Financial Institutions have not sponsored or offered this promotion in any way.
Interos Solutions President Jennifer Bisceglie Wins ACT-IAC Cybersecurity Vice Chair Seat
Also Participated on Organization's ELC "Securing the Supply Chain" Panel
MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jennifer Bisceglie, President, Interos Solutions, Inc., a supply chain process and commercial technology optimization company with a core focus on supply chain risk management, has been appointed the 2011 Vice Chair, American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council's (ACT-IAC) Cybersecurity Shared Interest Group (SIG). In October, she participated in the organization's 2010 Executive Leadership conference (ELC), whose main audience is the civilian sector of federal agencies. A first-year member, Interos was the only small business Cyber panel speaker.
ACT-IAC's Cybersecurity SIG provides opportunities for the industry and federal government to work together to identify and overcome obstacles to help secure the cyberspace and critical infrastructure on which the nation depends. Members tackle these challenges through informative programs, focused working groups, and whitepapers emphasizing the adoption of standards, best practices and solutions.
At the ELC, she presented "Aspects of Supply Chain Security," underscoring the importance of four specific areas: defining the problem; creating a culture shift in thinking; weighing offense/defense or risk assurance/risk management positions; and addressing the framework.
"This SIG appointment and the conference serve to further the discussion on supply chain risk management and how to best handle risks within our enterprises," said Jennifer Bisceglie, President, Interos Solutions, Inc. "I was very happy to see ACT-IAC take a thought leadership role on this topic. The timing is right for this level of discussion, focus and collaboration."
ELC brings government and industry leaders together to discuss how to best leverage the government's accountability and transparency tools to enhance collaboration, accelerate innovation and engage citizens in delivering results efficiently. The conference addresses existing capability gaps and considers methods for sustaining continuous government transformation.
About Interos Solutions, Inc.
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Interos Solutions is a woman-owned, business enterprise-certified corporation that supports customers in transforming and securing their enterprise business operations. Using a proven business architecture approach, Interos helps our clients define smart, tactical business solutions that generate measurable performance, cost-efficiency and improved security, specifically in areas such as Supply Chain Risk Management. For more information, please visit http://www.interos.net.
SOURCE Interos Solutions, Inc.
Interos Solutions, Inc.
CONTACT: Media Contact: Julie Johnson, +1-703-314-9489, jjohnson@juliewrites.com, for Interos; or Corporate Contact: Jennifer Bisceglie, President, Interos Solutions, Inc., +1-703-677-3135, jbisceglie@interos.net
HP Collaborates With Rossignol to Deliver Notebooks That Let You Express Your Style on and off the Slopes
GENEVA, December 10, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- HP today announced the launch of two limited edition notebooks developed
with Rossignol, (http://www.rossignol.com/) the mountain lifestyle brand
especially for snow sports fans. Part of a truly integrated design
experience, spanning skiwear and technology, these products have been created
for those who want to express their sense of style and have unlimited
entertainment at their fingertips. The HP Pavilion dv6 Rossignol edition
notebooks (http://www.hp.com/eur/rossignol) complement the
Attraxion VIII Echo for women, and the Freeride S7 for men, Rossignol skis
and accessories to create the ultimate stylish technology for mountain
lifestyle fanatics. Each notebook comes with exclusive content and a
complementing notebook sleeve.
High-quality materials create a simple, clean look that seamlessly fits
into the lives of style conscious consumers. The HP Pavilion dv6 Rossignol
edition notebook PCs can also be customised with a choice of exclusive
wallpapers, designed by Rossignol.
Jean-Pierre LeCalvez, vice-president, marketing, HP Personal Systems
Group, EMEA, said: "Winter sports fans are looking for new ways to express
their style and make a statement. Performance technology sits at the heart of
the snow sports lifestyle, so it's logical to extend the Rossignol design
ethos to the new HP Pavilion dv6 Rossignol edition. It delivers great design
and reliable performance with software to help share experiences and stay
connected."
The Rossignol skis have been developed with a strong environmental ethos,
therefore, the team have ensured that the notebook's packaging is printed
with soy/water based inks and made with recycled materials. Further
accessories are available to complement the notebooks including optical mice,
long life battery and HP stereo headsets.
Yann Laphin, Rossignol Group International Communication Director, said:
"For all winter sports enthusiasts, Rossignol is the true legendary brand. We
share common values with HP such as technological leadership and a passion
for innovation. This year we've taken our partnership a step further and
co-created the striking new HP Pavilion dv6 Rossignol edition notebooks. A
perfect accessory to our ski collection, stylish without compromising on
quality or performance, we're confident these notebooks will be on many of
our customers' wish-lists this season."
Price and availability
- The Pavilion dv6 Rossignol edition notebooks will be available from mid
January 2010 starting at EUR699.
- Visit hp.com/eur/rossignol for more information
About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact
on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest
technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing,
personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve
customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.
(1) Available in selective countries only
(2) Printers using HP Latex Inks use internal heaters to dry and cure the
latex polymer film. Some substrates may have inherent odour.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or
such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated
subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than
statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the
plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any
statements concerning expected development, performance or market share
relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated
operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief;
and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks,
uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends
and events; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its
customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected operational
and financial results; and other risks that are described in HP's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2010 and HP's
other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not
limited to HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October
31, 2009. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these
forward-looking statements.
(c) 2010 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information
contained herein is subject to change without notice.
The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the
express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing
herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall
not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained
herein.
More Wireless Data and Call Capacity Activated for Camarillo, California
Verizon Wireless adds capacity to cell sites to stay ahead of demand for calls, e-mail, text and web surfing
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Even more Ventura County residents, businesses and visitors can now enjoy high-speed wireless data and voice connections in the campus of California State University Channel Islands, thanks to recent Verizon Wireless network upgrades. Hundreds of upgrades since December 2009 have increased the company's 3G data and voice capacity by nearly thirty percent in Southern California. The increased capacity means more users are empowered to surf the web, download applications and content, and exchange e-mail and other messages.
"People expect their cell phones and wireless devices to work whenever and wherever they need them," said Bill D'Agostino, executive director of network for Verizon Wireless in Southern California. "That's why we continue to invest in our network. By meeting the growing demand for data services on our network, we empower each of our customers to Rule the Air in their own unique, individual way."
To learn more about how Verizon Wireless empowers its customers to Rule the Air, visit: http://tinyurl.com/2arpjjs
Businesses can tap into the power of Mobile Broadband
Mobile Broadband allows users to connect to the Internet wirelessly to download applications, business documents and music, as well as accessing e-mail and corporate data while on the go. Small business owners interested in Mobile Broadband can visit http://tinyurl.com/392334gwhere they can:
-- Watch videos about how mobile technologies can improve business results
-- Check out case studies and articles on business strategies to become
more productive
-- Learn about the latest promotions and discounts for small businesses
-- Read white papers about wireless security and connectivity options for
business
4G LTE services
Verizon Wireless launched its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network in the Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan areas. In the Los Angeles area, 4G LTE coverage extends north to Pasadena, east to Chino, south to San Clemente and west to Woodland Hills. In the San Diego area, 4G LTE coverage extends north to Del Mar and Poway, east to Lakeside and south to Imperial Beach.
The company's ongoing aggressive network build includes launch in 38 major metropolitan areas, including 60 airports, covering more than 110 million people. The company will cover virtually all its current nationwide 3G footprint with the 4G network by the end of 2013.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Ken Muche of Verizon Wireless, +1-949-286-8193, Ken.Muche@VerizonWireless.com
Celebrate Christmas with Daniusoft iPod, iPad and iPhone Applications at 50% Off
SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Daniusoft, a leading multimedia software provider of digital video and audio conversion solutions, is spreading holiday cheer with its "Merry Christmas and Happy Discount Days" promotion that kicks off on December 10, 2010 and lasts until January 10, 2011.
50% Discount Suites
During this Christmas Promotion 2010, customers can save 50% on iPad Suite, iPhone Suite, and iPod Suite (Both Windows and Mac versions are available).
iPad Suite: Daniusoft iPad Video Converter + Daniusoft DVD to iPad Converter + Daniusoft iTransfer.
iPod Suite: Daniusoft iPod Video Converter + Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter + Daniusoft iTransfer.
iPhone Suite: Daniusoft iPhone Video Converter + Daniusoft DVD to iPhone Converter+ Daniusoft iTransfer.
20% off Flagship Products
To celebrate this holiday season, Daniusoft will also offer 20% off on its flagship products including Daniusoft Video Converter Ultimate for Windows and Daniusoft Video Converter Pro for Mac at respectively $49.00 and $39.00.
Daniusoft DVD Creator, the most popular product, will be offered by 20% off at $19.95.
Daniusoft Video Converter Ultimate will be updated on December 13th. More amazing functions will be enjoyed such as recording videos, converting Tivo recordings, and customizing output for Windows 7 phone and iTunes 10.1, besides its original versatile functions as a Video Converter, DVD Ripper, DVD Burner, Device Transfer and YouTube Downloader. All customers of Daniusoft Video Converter Ultimate will get free updates from December 13th.
Availability
Daniusoft Merry Christmas and Happy Discount Days Promotion is now available, you can get your Christmas discounts from Daniusoft at http://www.daniusoft.com/special-offer-xmas.html andDaniusoft Facebook.
About Daniusoft Studio
Founded in 2007, Daniusoft Studio is a leading multimedia software provider, offering digital video and audio conversion solutions to customers around the world, and now serves both Windows and Mac users. And the product line ranges from Video Conversion Tools, DVD Ripping Tools, and DVD Authoring Tools to Media Device Tools.
Mobile Bytes Launches 'Never Miss A Moment' Arena App
Powered by YWaiter, Service Delivers 'VIP' Food and Beverage Service to Guests at Arenas and Theatres
PHOENIX, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- You've got great seats and you're watching your favorite sporting event or concert. What could be better? How about food and drinks delivered right to your seats like a VIP, so you don't miss any of the action! Yeah, now there's an App for that!
Mobile Bytes, LLC., a Phoenix, Arizona based provider of mobile Smartphone Food & Beverage apps today announced the successful launch of its first white-label "Never Miss A Moment" app for iPhone and Android Smartphones in partnership with iconic Phoenix venue, Celebrity Theatre. Dubbed the "Celebrity Theatre Personal Bartender", this groundbreaking Smartphone app allows guests to order and pay for food and beverages while seated in the arena. Their orders are prepared by venue staff and delivered directly to the patron's seat.
"Arena apps are a natural extension of our proven YWaiter technology platform", noted Dan Calderone, CEO of Mobile Bytes, LLC. "and Celebrity Theatre is the perfect partner for proving the concept. We believe people would rather not wait in a line for concessions if given a great alternative, and our YWaiter technology delivers that alternative."
The "Celebrity Theatre Personal Bartender" app was officially launched to coincide with performances by the renowned comedian, Dane Cook. Pre-show marketing efforts were utilized to ensure patrons with iPhone and Android Smartphones were aware of the app. Patrons downloaded the free app from either the Apple iTunes App Store or the Android Market.
"We are very excited about the tremendous benefit our new app can provide our patrons, while increasing our overall food & beverage revenue," commented Alycia Klein, General Manager for Celebrity Theatre. "The app is so easy; and our guests were excited to use it immediately. In fact, 8% of our total F&B sales were processed through the app on launch night contributing to a 44% overall increase in per person sales compared to a recent similar show. This app is truly a win-win for Celebrity Theatre and our patrons."
Not only can sporting event and concert venues offer delivered concessions to patrons using Mobile Bytes white-label arena apps, they can also utilize the platform for communicating marketing messages and promotions. Setup and order management is easy using the Mobile Bytes Management Dashboard at http://www.mobilebytes.com. Credit card transactions are safe and secure using Mobile Bytes PCI-DSS compliant processes or PayPal.
Venues can acquire their own white-label app at no cost and can elect to pass a small per-order surcharge to their customers if desired.
For information on becoming a part of the "Never Miss A Moment" White-Label Arena App program, visit http://www.mobilebytes.com or call (602) 492-4837 [602-4WAITER].
A Review of 'SearchGBY', the Website and Extensions for FireFox and Chrome. The New Enhancements to Search, and a New Twist in the Search Engine Wars.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Every few months, someone tries to develop some new search technology, to challenge Google, and inevitably they fail. Nobody ever thought of simply enhancing the current search engine technologies. Along comes SearchGBY.com. SearchGBY stands for Search Google, Bing and Yahoo - essentially what they have accomplished is aggregating the information from the three search engines, keeping the exact display format currently in use, while also introducing much needed search enhancements. Due to the innovative search engine technology enhancements, SearchGBY.com is currently defining themselves in the search engine technology war, while gaining attention, momentum, and copycats worldwide.
SearchGBY.com founder Leo Jeremias states, "What we have been working for over a year has recently been launched by Google with half the functionality." Google has recently announced image previews to their search, one of the fundamentals of SearchGBY, but they essentially ignored the main function, which is to be able to see the actual image preview and read it as if actually going to the website."
"Although our website is very nice, we don't want to change users search habits or what they are used to," said Mr. Jeremias. So what SearchGBY.com has developed is a browsers plug-in for both Firefox and Chrome which essentially upgrades your search with all the bells and whistles you see on SearchGBY's website.
The first thing we noticed when installing SearchGBY internet browser extension was a small icon in the bottom right which acts as an on and off button so a user can turn the Plug in it on and off, and right click to toggle different features and play with different options. Since these plug-ins have so many enhancements you can pick and choose which is more important to you, and switch on and off as needed.
A tiny non invasive toolbar provides logos for Google Bing and Yahoo and takes you directly to the results of either search engine, which actually isn't needed since the results are available directly below if turned on. However that feature was useful when we turned off the aggregation. Here was the kicker, although you can switch websites easily you don't have to since even when on Google you can see Bing and Yahoos results right underneath completely separated in the same format as if Google itself was giving you Yahoo and Bing results. An automatic filter removes duplicate results, so you get only unique results in one page.
Another unique feature of SearchGBY.com is their "Fast Preview" search feature. We will get to that later.
Image previews are neatly placed next to the results and this is completely different than thumbnails, since clicking on them and rolling your mouse wheel, gives you a clear picture of the resulting page and if you wait another three seconds it pulls a real time image that is as clear as going to the website itself. This is perfect for avoiding ad heavy sites, malware, pop ups and viruses allowing a user to get the search results that are relevant without loading any websites, or even leaving Google.
This leads to the "Fast Preview" button, which opens a small square box directly within Google and provides a crystal clear slide show format of results that you can flip through, similar to Goggle flip or other readers.
Load time was lightning fast and the simplicity and quality of the entire program was astounding.
When comparing the search engines side by side with traditional methods of search, here were the results:
When searching Google, the top ten results and after reading descriptions and deciding to visit half the sites for relevancy, we loaded 5 sites with a total search time of 1 minute 55 seconds (using a high speed connection)
When searching with SearchGBY we received more results since we were served Yahoo and Bing which left us after the filter with a total of twenty two results. Using a combination of fast preview and site previews, the total search time for the entire page was twenty seconds and we never left Google, although fast preview loaded two blank images.
Another big advantage of SearchGBY's search engine technologies and browser extensions is the image searching, the one thing we feel like Google has major shortfalls with. Google's image preview display is unorganized, and clicking on any image loads the web page with the image. However with "Fast preview" a user can directly flip through images on one page and in large format. A user can also change the size of the images, and most importantly a user can right click and save different sizes of the images. The install was worth it just for this feature alone, especially since we have all recently seen viruses being passed on via image searching, most notably the "think point virus".
In the Chrome extension we were given an additional option that enhanced image search even more. When clicking on the GBY logo it opened a pop up, that loaded the website and when searching images you can click the images and drag the corner of the box to change the picture size. This provided a clickable image search capability, that is more efficient than every other image search.
The image previews lead to the unique image bookmarks and bookmarking system. The concept behind this idea was pure genius, although this utility is better served for students or advanced users than the average user who has a hard time using computers in general. When a user previews the site result, and waits three seconds to fetch a real time image, the user can click and drag within the image to crop a small section, the image gets a small box that you can move and resize, and by clicking the small plus sign it actually saves a section of the website you just viewed. This freezes it in time and allows you to pull interesting info, quotes and research. A user can then save it in a folder and view it as an image instead of a webpage, on and offline and can provide groups of people the availability to share bookmarks and research easily, without sending them to twenty different sites.
Within image bookmarks they have a feature which is useful. The "Fast Preview" can be turned into a news aggregator that allows a user to flip through their favorite news sites and blogs, which will allow a user to read them in fast preview quickly.
The main difference between this news viewer and Google flip was that a user can add and remove news sites, and are not limited to the pre-packaged sites that Google will feed you, allowing a user to add blogs as well, something a user cannot currently do with Google.
Another difference noticed is Google updates news once an hour, while the fast preview was pulling news in real time and we were seeing live stories as they happened in the slide show format.
We asked Mr. Jeremias what stops Google from doing this themselves and he answered, "First of all, we have a patent pending", and quickly added, "and the one thing no search engine can do is aggregate the results of its competition, so we will always be a step ahead."
The Firefox plug-in already has received thousands of downloads and reviews have been amazing. The Chrome extension has had fewer users, but was only released as recently as last week.
When Mr. Jeremias was asked, "What's next?", he responded that they are currently working on an Internet Explorer extension, numerous enhancements that will provide additional results for different searches from more places, an IPHONE app, and much more. When we asked what else, he laughed and said he couldn't tell us but to, "stay tuned", and we will.
Atari and Cryptic Studios Launch Season Three: Genesis, the Latest Content Update for Star Trek(TM) Online
"DESIGN THE NEXT ENTERPRISE" CONTEST NOW LIVE FOR NORTH AMERICAN PARTICIPANTS
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Atari, one of the world's most recognized publishers and producers of interactive entertainment, and Cryptic Studios, creators of the acclaimed City of Heroes and Champions Online, today announced the availability of Season Three: Genesis, the latest content update for the Star Trek(TM) Online universe. Additionally, Intel, Alienware, Cryptic and Atari are sponsoring Design the Next Enterprise, a special contest where one winner will add an unforgettable entry to Star Trek's iconic Starfleet.
Season Three: Genesis is Cryptic Studios' latest major content update to Star Trek Online. This new update features a host of upgrades, progressive changes and new features to the game. Key features include:
-- The Foundry Beta (v 0.3) - Cryptic's player-created content system is
now in public beta. The Foundry gives players the chance to design their
own missions in Star Trek Online. Players may share creations with
friends, and Cryptic's proprietary content rating system ensures only
the best missions are promoted.
-- Episode Replay - In Genesis, every previously enjoyed mission may now be
replayed. Some even feature brand new rewards.
-- Borg Technology In Ships - Integrate Borg technology into existing
starships! New Borg loot from Special Task Force missions greatly
augment a ship's usefulness as well as its appearance.
-- New Sector Space - Cryptic has revamped Sector Space to give it a more
realistic look and feel!
In addition to Season Three: Genesis, Cryptic and Atari are working with Intel to host a "Design the Next Enterprise" contest, turning over design of a future version of the Galaxy's most famous starship to fans of Star Trek. Entrants can currently visit the Design Hangar and submit their version of a future Enterprise online. The best design will be selected and converted into a playable ship within Star Trek Online.
The grand prize package includes:
-- An Alienware M11x Laptop with custom Star Trek Online paintjob.
-- Collector's Edition copy of Star Trek Online.
-- A Lifetime Subscription to Star Trek Online.
-- A 3-D model of the winning ship.
-- Inclusion of the winning ship in Star Trek Online.
Runners-up will receive prizes. The Design the Next Enterprise contest ends January 15, 2011.
For eligibility and official rules, or to learn more about the Design the Next Enterprise contest and to submit your own starship, please visit: http://www.startrekonline.com/Enterprise
Taking place in the year 2409, Star Trek Online boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures. Players have the opportunity to become high-ranking Starfleet officers and participate in missions that take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets and inside other starships. Star Trek Online offers total customization, from a player's avatar to the ship he captains.
Atari group is a global creator, producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Atari's brands and content are available across all key traditional and digital distribution touch points, including browser-based and social online platforms, PC, consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, and advanced smart phones (i.e. iPhone, Android and RIM devices).
Divisions of Atari, SA include Cryptic Studios, Eden Studios, Atari Interactive, Inc. and Atari, Inc. Atari benefits from the strength of its worldwide brand and its extensive catalogue of contemporary classic game franchises (Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Lunar Lander®), original owned franchises (Test Drive®, Backyard Sports®, Deer Hunter®), MMO games from Cryptic Studios (Star Trek(TM) Online, Champions(TM)) and third party franchises (Ghostbusters®, Rollercoaster Tycoon®, Dungeons and Dragons®). Atari also leverages the power of its franchises to deliver movies and merchandise to consumers around the world.
Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.
About Cryptic Studios
Based in Los Gatos, CA, Cryptic Studios is a leading developer of massively multiplayer online games committed to delivering the next level of MMO gameplay. Cryptic develops AAA titles for PC and consoles, including Star Trek Online and Champions Online. For more information on Cryptic Studios, please visit the official website at: http://www.crypticstudios.com. Cryptic word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Cryptic Studios, Inc.
SOURCE Atari
Atari
CONTACT: Tiyson Reynolds, Atari, +1-310-806-6195, tiyson.reynolds@atari.com; or Erik Reynolds, Atari, +1-310-405-7662, erik.reynolds@atari.com
LAS VEGAS, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- In conjunction with the premiere performances of SINATRA Dance With Me, Wynn Las Vegas (Nasdaq: WYNN) is excited to announce the launch of an online Digital Center press site, where credentialed media can access and download broadcast-quality videos, hi-resolution photos and other multimedia content showcasing the evening's opening events. Additionally, the Wynn Digital Center will feature all of the latest multimedia stories about the resorts, including nightlife, entertainment, dining, spas and retail. For additional information and photography, please visit the Wynn Press Room.
SOURCE Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas
CONTACT: Julia Humbert of Wynn Las Vegas, +1-702-770-2120, pr@wynnlasvegas.com
Energid Technologies and ITRI to Advance Humanoid Robot Grasping and Manipulation
New motion planning software enables dramatic humanoid robotics
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Energid Technologies Corporation has partnered with the Industrial Technologies Research Institute (ITRI) to provide grasping and manipulation for ITRI's Roppie, a humanoid robot with powerful actuation and versatile human-like motion.
With more than 20 degrees of freedom, Roppie is a premier platform for developing powerful behaviors and grasping control. Roppie's fingers expose advanced touch sensors, allowing it to perform delicate manipulation tasks. The system was designed with the capability to perform burdensome household tasks, including manipulating and folding towels, linens, and certain types of clothing.
Energid and ITRI will apply new grasping software developed by Energid under a grant from the National Science Foundation. This software removes the complexity involved in controlling advanced high-degree-of-freedom robots. Algorithmic strategies are cascaded to build unique grasping and manipulation systems that allow robotic hardware to achieve its full potential.
"With extra degrees of freedom, humanoid robots can perform tasks in many ways," said James English, CTO of Energid Technologies. "Energid and ITRI will take advantage of this to enable advanced grasping with Roppie."
"Through cooperation with Energid, ITRI will use Actin to accelerate the development of advanced robotic behaviors. ITRI's Roppie humanoid robot will perform genuinely useful tasks," said Cheng-hua Wu, Department Manager at ITRI's Intelligent Robotics Technology Division.
For more information, contact Mary Salzman at Energid Technologies (pr@energid.com), +1.617.401.7090 x 420, or Cheng-hua Wu at ITRI (JHWu@itri.org.tw).
About Energid Technologies
Energid Technologies develops tools for robotic applications in the aerospace, agriculture, transportation, defense, and medical industries. Energid's Actin(TM) and Selectin(TM) products provide advanced robotics technology in the form of extendable software toolkits. Energid specializes in complex systems.
About ITRI
ITRI is Taiwan's largest applied technology R&D institution. Since its founding in 1973, ITRI has accomplished to promote development of Taiwan's high-tech industry. To date, ITRI has accumulated over 9000 patents and has assisted in the creation of over 150 start-up and spin-offs, including global semiconductor leaders TSMC and UMC. Our current focus areas include Information and Communications, Electronics and Optoelectronics, Nanotechnology, Material and Chemical, Energy and Environment, Advanced Manufacturing and System, and Biomedical Technology.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- WikiLoan, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: WKLI), a financial social networktoday announced that it has launched its new peer-to-peer lending platform located at http://www.wikiloan.com.
As part of the launch, WikiLoan has added a new feature that allows users to push their loan request out through their social networks via its invitation system called "Wikinvite".
Marco Garibaldi, CEO, said, "I'm proud of the enhanced features, our branding effort and overall look and feel of the new website. It's a dramatic improvement and should serve to make us a strong competitor in the US market."
About WikiLoan
WikiLoan is a Social Network with a focus on finance. At WikiLoan.com, family and friends can borrow and lend money among themselves at rates suitable to their respective needs. The company's website provides repayment schedules and documentation for loans, along with proprietary administrative tools, which enable users to securely pull credit reports and automate the loan repayment process.
Investors may contact: Ben Hansel (720) 288-8495.
This release contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which represent the company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events of the company's financial performance. These forward-looking statements are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the effect of competitive pricing, the company's dependence on the ability of third party manufacturers to produce components on a basis which is cost-effective to the company, market acceptance of the company's products and the effects of government regulation. Results actually achieved may differ materially from expected results included in these statements.
Going a Little Crazy Over Computer Performance Issues? Don't Try This!
LONDON, December 10, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- Diskeeper Corporation releases the first in a series of corporate videos
addressing problems caused by fragmented computers. This comical video
portrays a key problem plaguing all Windows based computer systems today.
Aimed at the corporate market, the video gives a dramatic but somewhat
improbable solution to slow computers - one that all of us have considered at
some time or another.
Computers performing at an optimum are the lifeblood of production for
any organisation today. So not only is it highly frustrating when computers
slow, it is also very expensive to individuals and companies, resulting in
lost production, deadline failures and many other time sensitive issues.
Thankfully, there is a far better solution than using a hammer, which is
the real message and point. That solution of course is Diskeeper(R)
performance software, the leading automatic defragmenter and industry
standard used by the majority of fortune 500 companies today.
"Disk fragmentation is one of the top killers of desktop and server
performance. Diskeeper is the premier solution in eliminating performance
degradation caused by disk fragmentation." - J. Savill leading industry
technologist and author.
A "defragged" computer is noticeably faster and more efficient. "Chris
Preimesberger, Writer
Thousands of customers have experienced the performance benefits of
Diskeeper. These corporate videos open up another avenue to promote
Diskeeper's cost effective solution.
Innovators in Performance and Reliability Technologies(R):
CIOs, IT Managers and System Administrators of Global Fortune 1000 and Forbes
500 enterprises rely on Diskeeper(R) performance software to provide
unparalleled performance and reliability to their business laptops, desktops
and servers. Diskeeper 2010 includes the breakthrough IntelliWrite(R)
fragmentation prevention technology. V-locity(R) 2.0 virtual platform disk
optimizer for VMware ESX and Hyper-V eliminates the barriers to full virtual
efficiency and maximum I/O performance on virtual servers. Diskeeper
Corporation further provides real-time data protection and real-time data
recovery with Undelete(R) data recovery software (http://www.undelete.com).
InvisiTasking(R) technology enables any process to run completely invisibly
in the background, fully tapping the power of otherwise unused idle resources
(http://www.invisitasking.com).
(c) 2010 Diskeeper Corporation. All Rights Reserved.,
Diskeeper, V-locity, Undelete, InvisiTasking, IntelliWrite, real-time data
protection and real-time data recovery and Innovators in Performance and
Reliability Technologies are trademarks owned by Diskeeper Corporation. All
other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, Antiwar.com launched wikileaks.antiwar.com, a new site designed to direct any user to the best WikiLeaks mirror site in his or her area.
"Since the shutdown of the main site WikiLeaks.org, thousands of mirror sites have been established to maintain access to the important documents that WikiLeaks has made available," said Antiwar.com founder Eric Garris. "However, each mirror is run separately, and may not always be accessible or up-to-date. This sporadic availability forces users to click on multiple mirror links until they find one that is current. Our new site, wikileaks.antiwar.com solves all of that by eliminating the guesswork."
Users wishing to review the leaked documents first-hand are encouraged to try wikileaks.antiwar.com. In one step, they will be automatically redirected to the best mirror for their ISP and area.
"As the US government continues to escalate its efforts to shut down WikiLeaks in spite of the fact that it has been unable to identify any actual laws that may have been broken by the organization, such efforts will continue to be thwarted by WikiLeaks supporters who value it as an important journalistic resource," said Garris.
"WikiLeaks is presenting an important service to the public by revealing the damning truth behind the US government's foreign policies. It is essential to keep this information flowing and available to Americans and the rest of the world."
Antiwar.com is a non-profit, non-partisan news and opinion site dedicated to the cause of non-intervention. To learn more or to donate, please visit http://www.antiwar.com.
SOURCE Antiwar.com
Antiwar.com
CONTACT: Wendy Honett of Antiwar.com, +1-510-217-8665, wendy@antiwar.com
Free Book Shines Light on Best Practices of Silicon Valley Serial Entrepreneurs
AMSTERDAM, December 10, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- Management consultant Cees J. Quirijns discovers the dos and
don'ts for starting a business in his book Startup Best Practices:
Conversations with Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs and shares his insights in a
free e-book that is available for download at http://www.efactor.com/sbp and
is distributed via EFactor; the largest global online community for
entrepreneurs.
The entry rate of new firms is remarkably high across
industries in most modern economies. The exit rate is often also very high.
According to several researchers the probability of new firm survival after
five years is only around 50%.
This was yet another reason for management consultant Cees J.
Quirijns to go in search of the critical success factors of startups in the
one true bastion of entrepreneurship: Silicon Valley. Quirijns: "The Bay Area
has produced a gigantic number of entrepreneurial tribulations and successes
over the past decades, so in order to discover startup best practices,
Silicon Valley is the best place to start."
The book contains interviews with 15 entrepreneurs, most of
whom have started and sold companies, not just once, but several times.
Quirijns: "These serial entrepreneurs, such as Naeem Zafar and Eileen
Gittins, have a wealth of experience. By sharing this empiricism in my book,
they help newborn entrepreneurs focus on the essential issues. Such best
practices are not often documented. I wanted to change that."
Startup Best Practices contains practical recommendations in
business fields such as marketing and sales, management and organization, and
finance. Quirijns: "The importance of being passionate, customer centric, and
having an excellent team in place, is seen as essential by many of the
interviewees. The value of this book does not lie only in the commonalities,
but even more so in the individual eye-openers that these successful
entrepreneurs so gracefully share. Examples are the critical role one's
spouse plays and the necessity to keep knocking on doors."
Co-founder and CEO of EFactor, Adrie Reinders comments: "We
are very pleased to provide our members, and other entrepreneurs, with this
pearl of entrepreneurial wisdom. We invite everyone to visit our site and
download the book. Membership of EFactor is of course free as well".
More Wireless Data and Call Capacity Activated for San Diego, California
Verizon Wireless adds capacity to cell sites to stay ahead of demand for calls, e-mail, text and web surfing
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --Even moreSan Diego County residents, businesses and visitors can now enjoy enhanced high-speed wireless data and voice connections in the area of Skyline Drive and Jamacha Road within the city of Lemon Grove, thanks to recent Verizon Wireless network upgrades. Hundreds of upgrades since December 2009 have increased the company's 3G data and voice capacity by nearly thirty percent in Southern California. The increased capacity means more users are empowered to surf the web, download applications and content, and exchange e-mail and other messages.
"People expect their cell phones and wireless devices to work whenever and wherever they need them," said Bill D'Agostino, executive director of network for Verizon Wireless in Southern California. "That's why we continue to invest in our network. By meeting the growing demand for data services on our network, we empower each of our customers to Rule the Air in their own unique, individual way."
To learn more about how Verizon Wireless empowers its customers to Rule the Air, visit: http://tinyurl.com/2arpjjs
Businesses can tap into the power of Mobile Broadband
Mobile Broadband allows users to connect to the Internet wirelessly to download applications, business documents and music, as well as accessing e-mail and corporate data while on the go. Small business owners interested in Mobile Broadband can visit http://tinyurl.com/392334gwhere they can:
-- Watch videos about how mobile technologies can improve business results
-- Check out case studies and articles on business strategies to become
more productive
-- Learn about the latest promotions and discounts for small businesses
-- Read white papers about wireless security and connectivity options for
business
4G LTE services
Verizon Wireless launched its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network in the Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan areas. In the Los Angeles area, 4G LTE coverage extends north to Pasadena, east to Chino, south to San Clemente and west to Woodland Hills. In the San Diego area, 4G LTE coverage extends north to Del Mar and Poway, east to Lakeside and south to Imperial Beach.
The company's ongoing aggressive network build includes launch in 38 major metropolitan areas, including 60 airports, covering more than 110 million people. The company will cover virtually all its current nationwide 3G footprint with the 4G network by the end of 2013.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Ken Muche of Verizon Wireless, +1-949-286-8193, Ken.Muche@VerizonWireless.com