The saga of the ill-fated luxury liner unfolds in photos and narrative in over 140 pages in this deluxe book.  It begins with the construction of a behemoth,   one of three enormous sister ships built by the White Star line to usher in a new era of sea-going luxury.  The Titanic offered the finest accommodations to its first-class passengers, who included some of New York’s most notable social figures, from Astor to Guggenheim.  Also on board, in the lower decks, were commoners and crew whose onboard experience was far less glamorous.  Just four days into their voyage, that segregation would end as all were brought together in tragedy.

TITANIC: The Tragedy That Shook the World chronicles the ship’s rapid descent into the icy Atlantic, botched distress communications and the horror as thousands of passengers and crew realized that there were not nearly enough lifeboats to save them all.  It also looks at the dramatic rescue of hundreds of passengers by the nearby ship Carpathia, whose captain emerged as one of the most visible heroes of this great tragedy.

Although there are no photographs of the Titanic disaster, there is a remarkable record of images of the ship’s final days thanks to Irish cleric and vocational photographer Father Frank Browne.  His photos as a passenger aboard the doomed vessel, many of which are featured in the book, offer an intimate depiction of what life was like aboard the Titanic before it met its ultimate fate.

A flurry of published remembrances from survivors of the Titanic disaster were just the beginning of what would be a continuous stream of journalistic and artistic interpretations of the Titanic tragedy.  TITANIC: The Tragedy That Shook the World  looks at how the Titanic has been depicted in books, plays, Broadway musicals and films, from A Night to Remember to the upcoming release of James Cameron’s Titanic in 3-D.

The final chapter, “At Rest,” features recent images of the ship in its final resting place at the bottom of the Atlantic, a remote memorial to a tragedy that somehow still feels entirely immediate.

SOURCE  Time Home Entertainment, Inc.

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4. Papers of Titanic Survivor Who Wrote about Sinking on Display
5. USA TODAY and National Geographic Channel Partner to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic
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“With the release of Stage3D, Adobe Flash Player is finally capable of handling the kind of GPU-accelerated 3D that Sherwood requires,” says Gene Endrody, creator of Sherwood Dungeon. “Although Shockwave has performed well for us over the years, it’s hard to argue with the plug-in penetration rates of Adobe Flash Player. Adobe Flash Player’s ubiquity means removing the requirement to install a browser plug-in for most customers. This can effectively double the number of players and increase the number of potential distribution partners. It also opens up many next-generation 3D graphic features.”

Flare3D Studio is a complete and easy to use 3D tool that allows Flash professionals to focus on creativity using an intuitive and user-friendly environment. With this tool, you can create your own custom materials in real time, drag & drop your 3D assets into the scene, and thanks to its own timeline, object transformations and material properties can be animated in the scene.

“Many Flash developers in the last few years have become more and more familiar with the usage of 3D assets. Switching pipelines from 2D to 3D assets has sped up the pace of design iterations, but most Flash developers still ‘bake’ the assets into 2D representations, which were handled more efficiently by the browser with Flash versions prior to 11,” commented Mixamo CEO Stefano Corazza. “The combination of Adobe Flash Player 11, Flare3D studio, and Mixamo 3D content, full 3D games can now be run efficiently on the browser and can be designed directly in 3D with the help of Flare3D studio’s user interface.”

Mixamo online 3D animation service allows real-time creation of 3D character animations that are ready to be dragged and dropped into Flare3D IDE. This is possible through the Collada format developed by Mixamo which is cross-compatible with the most established Collada standards and has been adopted and tested by partners such as Flare3D, Adobe and Blender3d. Details of the workflow are provided in this Mixamo-Flare-Flash tutorial.

Mixamo service includes automatic rigging of character meshes, a large collection of characters and animation of all sorts and premium content derived from AAA games.

Mixamo also developed the first game using full 3D in Adobe Flash Player for Renren, one of the largest social network platforms in China. The game, developed using Flare3D, was launched as a major marketing campaign in December 2011 and it has successfully reached millions of users in China throughout the past Chinese New Year.

About Mixamo
Mixamo, Inc. is a Silicon Valley, VC-funded company founded by 3D pioneers Stefano Corazza, CEO, and Nazim Kareemi. Based on research from Stanford University’s BioMotion lab, Mixamo offers the first online character animation service that provides game developers the power to customize and create professional-quality character animations at unprecedented speeds. Mixamo currently employs a team of outstanding animation and machine learning experts, 3D animators, software engineers and serial entrepreneurs from around the world.

For more information, please visit http://www.mixamo.com, or follow Mixamo on Twitter.

About Flare

Flare3D is an Argentine company that was born six years ago from the need to develop next-gen 3D applications for Adobe® Flash Player and Adobe® AIR. The engine was designed from the ground with workflow in mind by Ariel Nehmad (CTO). Nowadays Flare3D professional tools are being used by the major studios around the world for creating amazing 3D content for Adobe Flash Platform.

For more information, please visit http://www.flare3D.com, or follow Flare3D on Twitter.

Reader contact:
Mixamo, Inc.
2415 3rd Street, Unit 239
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 255-7455
Email Contact
www.mixamo.com
www.twitter.com/mixamo

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3. LG Electronics Smart TV Brings New Opportunities to Flash Developers
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Created entirely in-house, CHIP IT! is a project of the McKinney Ten Percent, an initiative that encourages all of the agency’s employees to dedicate 10% of their time to innovation.

“We’re always excited to present a big idea to a client, particularly when it’s inspired by the McKinney Ten Percent,” said McKinney Chief Creative Officer Jonathan Cude. “With CHIP IT!, we turned the entire Internet into a color library. It’s a powerful tool that reinvents the creative canvas and reinforces why Sherwin-Williams is best at helping consumers choose color with confidence.”

The idea for CHIP IT! came from McKinney‘s Stevie Archer, a copywriter not originally assigned to the Sherwin-Williams team. “I’m constantly working on do-it-yourself projects, and I love everything related to interior design. I pin all inspiration on Pinterest,” said Archer, who teamed with Art Director Rocky Reed, Creative Technologist Adam Carroll, Programmer Rafe Kemmis and Producer Jesse Wright. “I noticed how many Pinterest users, including myself, were pinning color palettes and inspiring images with no easy way of putting them to use in their homes. With CHIP IT! everyone can make their own palettes instantly and also get the paint colors they need to bring the palettes to life.”

Within days, the team had developed a working prototype. “CHIP IT! analyzes every single pixel in an image and compares each to one of more than 1,500 Sherwin-Williams paint colors,” explained Kemmis. “Then it uses an algorithm to find the most prominent colors and composites the top 10 into a ChipCard. All in seconds.”

McKinney presented the idea to Sherwin-Williams in September of last year and received approval in early November to begin the project for a first-quarter 2012 launch. “When we first saw CHIP IT! we believed it would be the perfect tool for consumers who want to take their inspiration and turn it into a reality,” said Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin- Williams.

CHIP IT! rounds out Sherwin-Williams‘ suite of interactive tools to help consumers choose color with confidence. The mobile ColorSnap® app allows users to quickly and easily identify the Sherwin-Williams paint colors that most closely resemble colors found in their smartphone’s photo album. Online, the Sherwin-Williams Color Visualizer offers consumers the ability to upload their own photos or choose from a library of home interior or exterior images to experiment with thousands of color combinations. For more information about CHIP IT! or to create an account, visit letschipit.com.

Here’s how to CHIP IT!:

• Go to letschipit.com and add the CHIP IT! bookmarklet to your Web browser toolbar. This bookmarklet allows you to create palettes from pictures online using up to 10 Sherwin-Williams paint colors. All you have to do is click to activate the tool, and then click the picture.

• After you’ve created a color ChipCard, log in with Facebook to save it to your CHIP IT! account.

• You can explore, share and print all your ChipCards from your CHIP IT! account whenever you want.

• Repeat!

Ask Sherwin-Williams™
As the nation’s largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting do-it-yourselfers with exceptional products, resources to make confident color selections and expert, personalized service that’s focused on unique project needs. Sherwin-Williams is committed to environmental responsibility in both manufacturing processes and finished products and, in 2011, earned the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. Sherwin-Williams products can only be found at its more than 3,400 neighborhood stores across North America. For more information, visit sherwin-williams.com or join the color conversation at Facebook.

About McKinney
McKinney is an independent advertising agency leading the evolution of the advertising industry in a post-digital world. Founded in 1969, the Durham, NC-based agency is recognized for having built one of the most innovative business models in the industry, one that blurs the lines between traditional and digital media. As a result, McKinney has been recognized as one of the best agencies in the country by Advertising Age and one of a handful of agencies setting the standard for creativity by ONE Magazine. The agency’s clients include Sherwin-Williams, Mizuno USA, GNC, Gold’s Gym, Nationwide Insurance, Big Boss Brewing, Lenovo, Meijer, Ruby Tuesday, CenturyLink and Brown-Forman Corporation. www.mckinney.com

Contact Info
Janet Northen
Partner/EVP Director Agency Communications
919.313.4062

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Making their fourth appearance at the world’s largest international trade show for the toy industry, Regal Elite will unveil Force Flyers, their new, highly unique line of remote controlled-aircraft.  But these creations are far from your run-of-the-mill flying helicopters. Operated via Glove Force Technology (GFT), the Force Flyer is patented by former NASA engineers and unique to Regal Elite, offering multi-dimensional flight through a motion controlled glove.

“Force flyers were inspired by the desire to take the Wii generation offline and bring them back to the physical world of play,” said Regal Elite’s vice president Jeff Hartman. ”When they experience this product in action, show visitors will see that moving a physical object with the mere twist of the wrist remains just as magical as an image on a video screen … perhaps even more so.”

With the living room now a personal launch pad, Force Flyers remote-controlled helicopters arrive to dominate the skies.  GFT aptly describes the hand-powered glove-like remote control that operates the company’s life-like toys, allowing the controller full 3-D flight control. The four-channel advantage allows the helicopters to fly up, down, left and right, spin on its axis and laterally hover left and right. Super stable gyro-controlled flight mechanisms make the craft easy to manipulate in any direction. Safe for indoor flight use, Force Flyers also contain LED lights and a USB charger.

If earth bound vehicles are more to one’s liking, Regal Elite will also showcase Force Racers, the company’s GFT- controlled line of race cars and a motorcycles for the NASCAR or motocross wannabe in every child.

Additionally, Regal Elite will showcase their most recent line of Robotime products. The only thing more exciting than building your own dinosaur is watching one come to life. Selected Toy of the Year in both 2010 and 2011 by Creative Child Magazine, Regal Elite’s Robotime Dinosaur is a 3-D wooden puzzle that comes to life when constructed. Once excavated from their containers, T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus and Triceratops can turn a playroom into a real-life Jurassic Park.  Robotime toys can be assembled without glue or tools making children’s paleontology easier than ever. Using the remote control, children become masters of their prehistoric pets. In “demo” mode, dino is motion-activated, warding off intruders with a terrifying roar. In “free range” mode, the creature will roar, snap and move freely around its habitat. If the Cenozoic era is more to your liking, Robotime puzzles can also be found in sabre tooth tiger and woolly mammoth models for Ice Age time travel.

Through Force Flyers and Robotime, Regal Elite continues the legacy they established back in 2010.  “Two years ago, we introduced Howlers and Roffle Mates, two lines of interactive stuffed animals that weave and bob, sing and roll on the floor,” said Hartman.  “The Roffles were so popular when they launched, that Jay Leno introduced them on his Christmas product show.” 

Can remote controlled helicopters and roaring giant dinosaur puzzles be far behind?  Stay tuned!

For more information about Regal Elite’s toys, please visit www.regalelite.com.  

About Toy Fair

Toys create magic for children of all ages; and there’s no better showcase for the wonders and wizardry of playthings than this annual trade show.  Hosted annually within the massive confines of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on the West Side of Manhattan, Toy Fair, owned and operated by Toy Industry Association (TIA), brings together the latest toy trends, technology and industry specialists under one, all-encompassing roof. Now in its 109th year, more than 1,100 exhibitors will showcase over 100,000 products from all four corners of the globe. Famous for the historical debuts of Silly Putty®, Mr. Potato Head and Barbie, Toy Fair is a much anticipated event throughout the toy community.

SOURCE Regal Elite

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6. Da-Lite to Showcase 3D Screen at CES With 3D Mash-Up Video by Lightspeed Design
7. BlueArc to Showcase Work With Arc Productions at SIGGRAPH 2011

AUSTIN, Texas, January 24, 2012 – LifeSize, a division of Logitech (NASDAQ:LOGI)(SIX:LOGN), today introduced a new online social learning platform to its partners: LifeSize Enablement Network (LEN). Training on LifeSize products and solutions is delivered in a series of short, engaging HD video episodes produced entirely in the LEN studio at LifeSize headquarters in Austin, Texas and is strategically designed for sales professionals, installers, administrators, support personnel and users.

“The days of traditional, not to mention boring, training aids like PowerPoint presentations and 3D avatars, are over”

“The days of traditional, not to mention boring, training aids like PowerPoint presentations and 3D avatars, are over,” said Wayne McCulloch, global director of education services, LifeSize. “Learning needs to be a fun and engaging experience. By delivering training via high-definition video, what we do best, we are taking training to a new level, unforeseen in the video conferencing industry.”

Along with an episodic video series on the various LifeSize solutions, LEN users have access to a wealth of interactive tools such as quizzes, downloadable sales assistance and personalized newscasts, which can be accessed on any browser or mobile device. While most episodes focus on the features and benefits of LifeSize solutions, ancillary episodes provide information on industry best practices, techniques and video conferencing etiquette.

One of the most groundbreaking features of LEN is the LifeSize Learning Exchange (LLX), a collaborative online social learning platform for community members to share information, create videos, download tools and ask questions about LifeSize solutions.

“LEN, with LLX, completely transforms the way we train and inform our partner community on LifeSize solutions,” said Sandra Hill, director of Americas channels, LifeSize. “By providing a unique social learning platform that partners actually want to use, we can enable our reseller community to deepen their understanding of LifeSize solutions. With these unique tools, partners can improve their selling techniques and significantly grow their businesses, giving customers the very best recommendation on how they deploy, manage and reap the benefits of HD video conferencing.”

Both LEN and LLX have recently garnered attention for their innovative approach to learning. LLX received the 2011 Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Award for “Best Use of Social Learning” and McCulloch was recognized by CLO Magazine with the Gold Award for Innovation in Learning for the development of LEN.

Additional Resources

• Learn more about LEN and LLX
• LifeSize blog

About LifeSize Communications

LifeSize is a pioneer and world leader in high-definition video collaboration. Designed to make video conferencing truly universal, LifeSize solutions are simple to buy, adopt, support and use. Offering video conferencing systems and software applications as well as a full line of video infrastructure, available on premises or in the cloud, LifeSize is committed to universal video collaboration. With LifeSize, customers can participate in large multi-party HD calls, live streaming and recording, collaboration on any mobile device, on any network, all at the highest level of quality. LifeSize was founded in 2003 and acquired by Logitech in 2009. For more information, visit www.lifesize.com.

Note to editors: Photos available at www.lifesize.com/press/media_kit

LifeSize, the LifeSize logo, Logitech, the Logitech logo, and other Logitech marks are trademarks and may be registered. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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NEW YORK, January 19, 2012 – Apple® today announced iBooks® 2 for iPad®, featuring iBooks textbooks, an entirely new kind of textbook that’s dynamic, engaging and truly interactive. iBooks textbooks offer iPad users gorgeous, fullscreen textbooks with interactive animations, diagrams, photos, videos, unrivaled navigation and much more. iBooks textbooks can be kept up to date, don’t weigh down a backpack and never have to be returned. Leading education services companies including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw-Hill and Pearson will deliver educational titles on the iBookstore℠ with most priced at $14.99 or less, and with the new iBooks Author, a free authoring tool available today, anyone with a Mac® can create stunning iBooks textbooks.

“Now with iBooks 2 for iPad, students have a more dynamic, engaging and truly interactive way to read and learn, using the device they already love.”

“Education is deep in Apple’s DNA and iPad may be our most exciting education product yet. With 1.5 million iPads already in use in education institutions, including over 1,000 one-to-one deployments, iPad is rapidly being adopted by schools across the US and around the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Now with iBooks 2 for iPad, students have a more dynamic, engaging and truly interactive way to read and learn, using the device they already love.”

The new iBooks 2 app is available today as a free download from the App Store™. With support for great new features including gorgeous, fullscreen books, interactive 3D objects, diagrams, videos and photos, the iBooks 2 app will let students learn about the solar system or the physics of a skyscraper with amazing new interactive textbooks that come to life with just a tap or swipe of the finger. With its fast, fluid navigation, easy highlighting and note-taking, searching and definitions, plus lesson reviews and study cards, the new iBooks 2 app lets students study and learn in more efficient and effective ways than ever before.

iBooks Author is also available today as a free download from the Mac App Store and lets anyone with a Mac create stunning iBooks textbooks, cookbooks, history books, picture books and more, and publish them to Apple’s iBookstore. Authors and publishers of any size can start creating with Apple-designed templates that feature a wide variety of page layouts. iBooks Author lets you add your own text and images by simply dragging and dropping, and with the Multi-Touch™ widgets you can easily add interactive photo galleries, movies, Keynote® presentations and 3D objects.

Apple today also announced an all-new iTunes® U app giving educators and students everything they need on their iPad, iPhone® and iPod touch® to teach and take entire courses. With the new iTunes U app, students using iPads have access to the world’s largest catalog of free educational content, along with over 20,000 education apps at their fingertips and hundreds of thousands of books in the iBookstore that can be used in their school curriculum, such as novels for English or Social Studies.* The iTunes U app is available today as a free download from the App Store.

*Some content is available only for iPad.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website (www.apple.com/pr), or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

© 2012 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iBooks, iPad, iBookstore, App Store, Multi-Touch, Keynote, iTunes, iPhone and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Sara Dople, Spectrum Policy Director at Smartcomm, says “Walking the floor at CES is a foot beating, sensory overloaded adventure…but well worth it! LG’s HD 3D display was out of this world with a wall of 3D action taking shape around you. Samsung’s 70” Ultra HD, reported at 4X the resolution of the best HD on the market today, defined clarity like I never knew was possible. From connected cars, 11.1 Dolby surround systems to 3D printers for home manufacturing and smartphone powered robotics, there was truly something interesting for everyone to see.”

Smartphones and tablets took center stage this year. While LG is still in the game, Samsung attracted the most crowds with the numerous tablets they’ve released, as well as the new phone Note – the first true crossover between a tablet and a phone with a 5” screen.

CES also sported green initiatives like wirelessly connected wall plugs to track usage, wireless tracking of home utilities from your phone or computer, “smart” strips which automatically cut all wall power to electronics when they are in the off mode, and solar solutions for everything from powering your phone to house generators.

Consumer electronics and the wireless industry are a merging world. You can manage your home through your phone, carry your own multi-mode 4G hot spot featuring LTE, WiMax and CDMA EVDO, and monitor and track your health and exercise wirelessly.

What can be expected in the coming year? “I anticipate we will hear more about the WiGig initiative through the next year and hopefully CES 2013 will have new innovations from that platform,” explains Ms. Dople. “WiGig works in the 60 GHz and should provide device docking using less power, with much less interference issues than the currently overcrowded WiFi.”

About Smartcomm, LLC

Phoenix-based Smartcomm, LLC provides consulting services and mobile broadband opportunities in the wireless communications industry to both individuals and institutions. The company specializes in opportunities to acquire 800 MHz and 1.9 GHz band spectrum through the filing of license applications, participation in FCC public auctions, or acquisitions in the secondary market.

Dana Maxwell
Smartcomm, LLC
602-224-7221

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Jan 18, 2012 – Andiamo Corporation (PINKSHEETS: ANDI) subsidiary ActionApp Corporation, a prolific mobile App development company, has entered into a purchase agreement with another independent developer to purchase 200 iPhone Apps, yielding 400 additional Apps to their rapidly growing inventory of iPhone and Android Apps once they are converted to their business model.

This acquisition is in addition to the 23 Apps announced last week. This should bring the App inventory, including iPad, iPhone and Android to over 520 Apps. This portfolio included Apps with HD and 3D graphics.

This purchase will also be consummated from existing cash flows and there will be no stock involved.

“We anticipate both of these acquisitions to be to our developers by the first week of February. Our team will re-work these Apps and integrate our proprietary backend database, social media, analytical tracking and our advertising before they are released. We anticipate these Apps hitting the market as they are completed over the next 120 days.

“Growing from 25 initial Apps to over 500 Apps in less than a year shows our growth plan and should continue to dramatically increase our downloads. Our goal is to engage the consumer and keep them in the ActionApp Network for multiple sales and downloads, which will lead to increased organic revenue and improved rankings through app sales and advertising,” said Secor, CEO.

www.action-app.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements covered within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply and demand conditions, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact and involve risks and uncertainties. Our expectations regarding future revenues depend upon our ability to develop and supply products and services that we may not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in pervasive markets.

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Swivel by FaceCake is a 3D virtual dressing room that enables shoppers to ‘try on’ and see themselves in multiple apparel and accessories with speed and ease.  Retailers can now deploy FaceCake’s patented real-time image processing and personalization technology for a unique shopping experience that lets customers see how they actually look from different angles in merchandise from the brick-and-mortar store they’re shopping in or at the e-commerce site they’re on. Selecting from ever-expanding fashion options, consumers can assemble and switch between new looks at lightning speed.

Through the Swivel Virtual Dressing Room, shoppers can:

• Virtually try on a single article of clothing or a whole outfit with accessories
• Instantly gather or swap items and sizes from multiple floors or departments with neither customer nor clerk trekking through the building
• Add immersive backdrops and environments to complete a look (envision evening wear on the red carpet, and see ski gear on the slopes)
• Accurately view and compare looks from different angles
• Shop with friends via complete social media integration, including the instant polling and real-time sharing of looks across Facebook and Twitter

Retailers will also love that Swivel:

• Enables up-sell and cross-sell success through the power of FaceCake’s recommendation engine, quickly and confidently exploring merchandise from disparate lines, departments and price points
• Customizes the dressing room experience with shopper personalization features including relevant products and colors
• Integrates with currently deployed Windows Embedded-powered digital signage and other devices
• Provides valuable shopper metrics and reporting including how long an item is tried on, what it was paired with and how many friends a shopper showed it to

“We’re excited to be working with Microsoft to provide retailers and shoppers an immersive, engaging and much more efficient shopping experience,” notes FaceCake’s founder and CEO, Linda Smith. “With Swivel’s real-time virtual Try-On and personalized shopping advice, it’s never been easier to sample a variety of head-to-toe looks without having to hunt through every department in a store.  When we put Swivel in front of real shoppers during our recent mall tour, they tried on three times as many products as a typical dressing room, and a staggering 77% shared their new looks with family and friends.”

“FaceCake’s deployment of Kinect for Windows with the Windows Embedded platform creates an innovative consumer retail technology experience,” said John Doyle, director of product management for Windows Embedded at Microsoft.  “Combining Kinect for Windows with Swivel by FaceCake’s virtual dressing room technology creates the foundation for the kind of connected intelligent systems that build immersive shopping experiences retailers have been seeking.”

About FaceCake Marketing Technologies, Inc.

FaceCake Marketing Technologies, Inc. is a pioneer and innovator in personalized interactive marketing and virtual Try-On technologies. FaceCake’s proprietary Visual Demonstration System (VDS) allows users to manipulate their own images with a wide range of image transformation and animation capabilities, and to try on and try out various products and services. The VDS in conjunction with the FaceCake-patented Mirror Image Marketing solution provides user-specific, highly-targeted promotion of products on user images, for unprecedented levels of personalization. The privately held company is based in Calabasas, CA. For more information, www.facecake.com. Please follow FaceCake on twitter.com/facecake and like us on facebook.com/facecakemarketing.

SOURCE FaceCake Marketing Technologies, Inc.

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LAS VEGAS, January 10, 2012 – Ortery Technologies launches 3D PhotoBench 260. What if a company created a computer-controlled product photography studio capable of taking product shots and 360° product animations with pure white backgrounds? Captured images would be web-ready straight out of the camera! Imagine the time and money companies could save per image.

“The ability to take product shots and animations with a pure white background is going to change everything”

Introducing Ortery Technologies 3D PhotoBench 260. This computer-controlled desktop photography studio integrates a 39.4 x 39.4 x 37.8” light box (featuring a 3D turntable with transparent platform) with a compatible Canon or Nikon digital camera and powerful workflow control software to simplify and automate business photography. With 3D PhotoBench 260, anyone can create professional product shots and 360° animations that feature pure white backgrounds. No experience necessary!

The camera and light box connect to a computer via USB. PhotoBench 260 software controls the studio, turntable movement, camera settings, picture taking and processing workflows. Simply place an item inside, compose using Preview, Dimming and Crop commands in the software. Click Snap and the picture automatically downloads to the computer screen in seconds. Users can annotate, mask, email and batch process images with regards to filename, size, editing, resolution, watermarking and saving.

3D PhotoBench 260 also creates pure white 360-degree animations. With a 33 lbs. load capacity, it can take between 4 and 360 pictures per rotation. Fully automated, 3D PhotoBench 260 can take and stitch 24 pictures in less than 1.5 minutes. Images can be exported as JPG or RAW or automatically stitched in the software to create animated HTML5, Flash and GIF animations.

“The ability to take product shots and animations with a pure white background is going to change everything,” said Sam Shearer, Managing Director, Ortery Technologies, Inc. “Companies selling online can now eliminate tedious background removal from their imaging workflow, saving them tens of thousands of dollars per year.”

3D PhotoBench 260 is compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7 and is currently available.

Founded February 2003 with offices in California and Taiwan, Ortery Technologies is the leading worldwide provider of business photography automation solutions and the inventor of the Office Photography Machine. www.ortery.com

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50128265&lang=en

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LAS VEGAS, January 10, 2012 – Omek Interactive (www.omekinteractive.com), the leading provider of gesture recognition and body tracking technology, and Jinni Media (www.jinni.com), the maker of the first and only taste-and-mood based engine powering video discovery, today announced the formation of a partnership to deliver a next-generation video content navigation system for consumer electronics manufacturers and content service providers.

“By working with Omek, we’re further enhancing the experience of using our system in a way that makes it more natural, personalized, and fun. Gesture and body language is a natural way to express one’s current mood or state of mind.”

The prototype solution, which is being demonstrated at the Omek CES booth and the two companies’ CES hospitality suites, combines Omek’s Beckon™ technology with Jinni’s unique semantic discovery engine for movies and TV shows, creating a gesture-enabled video discovery interface. The result allows viewers a natural and intuitive way to discover the film and television content that is best attuned to their tastes and moods, by using gestures to find and refine selections based on rich combinations of attributes (such as “thought provoking love story” or “clever cons and scams”) that go far beyond standard genres or popular categories typically used in content selection guides. The gesture control system also allows users to control the video stream, once selected, allowing them to play, pause, rewind and exit back to the video discovery interface.

The demonstration solution also simulates the next phase in the product’s development, which will use Omek Beckon technology to distinguish between different individuals based on their skeletal dimensions and other physical attributes. Omek enables the user to be identified and “recognized” by his TV, allowing the interface to retrieve that user’s pre-calculated set of “tastes” created by Jinni’s proprietary Taste Profile algorithms, resulting in an effortless selection of recommendations, reflecting his semantic taste based on previous preferences. Households will be able to set up profiles for each family member, and the Jinni semantic discovery engine will provide unique recommendations for each individual or, when needed, will cross-reference between profiles in order to deliver recommendations that reflect the tastes of all who are gathered round the TV at any given moment. This will be the ideal customized video guide for families and multi-member households, offering the perfect solution for “family night” or “date night.” As facial gestures express a person’s mood, and that mood defines the content he will most likely want to watch, the future possibilities for a product that brings together the approaches of both companies are endless.

“Through our partnership with Jinni, we are redefining the living room experience. Our two technologies combined put the consumer in the power seat, no longer encumbered by remote controls or at the mercy of scheduled programming and pre-packaged content,” said Jonathan Epstein, president of Omek.

“Jinni has already changed the way that all of us find the video content that is right for each of us, by providing a much more natural way of considering our tastes and moods,” said Yosi Glick, Jinni’s CEO and Co-Founder. “By working with Omek, we’re further enhancing the experience of using our system in a way that makes it more natural, personalized, and fun. Gesture and body language is a natural way to express one’s current mood or state of mind.”

The joint Omek-Jinni prototype will be available for viewing at CES 2012 in the Omek booth, #3619 in the LVCC North Hall, and by appointment at Omek’s and Jinni’s hospitality suites.

About Omek Interactive

Omek is transforming the way people interact with their devices and applications, by providing tools and technology that enable manufacturers and software developers to add gesture-based interfaces to their products. Omek’s gesture recognition and body tracking software is being incorporated into TVs, set-top boxes, computers and peripherals, smartphones, interactive signs, and medical and fitness devices – and into the content and applications that run on these devices. Omek’s tools work with all major 3D cameras, and support a broad range of processors and operating systems – giving customers the flexibility to take advantage of the latest technology, while maintaining portability for their applications. A privately held company, Omek is headquartered in Bet Shemesh, Israel, and has offices in San Francisco and Taipei. For more information, visit www.omekinteractive.com.

About Jinni Media

Jinni is the first and only taste-and-mood based engine powering video discovery. Using content genetics and nuanced understanding of user tastes, the Jinni engine powers a uniquely intuitive, personalized experience that increases content consumption and reduces churn. The Jinni service is powered by the Entertainment Genome, containing thousands of genes that are assigned to each title to describe mood, style, plot, setting and more; this is a rich alternative to the usual genre language. New titles are automatically indexed via analysis of user reviews and synopses, using a proprietary Natural Language Processing solution. Jinni’s content discovery solution was voted “Best Product Idea” at CableLabs last year. Jinni is a Webby Awards honoree, a Red Herring 100 Europe winner, an OnHollywood 100 winner, a SXSW Web Awards nominee, a TechCrunch Europas nominee and was selected as the best movie recommendation engine by CNET and Lifehacker. To see our award winning engine at work, visit www.jinni.com.

© 2012 Omek Interactive, Ltd and Jinni Media, Ltd. All rights reserved. Omek, the Omek logo, Omek Beckon, Beckon, and “The Future Beckons” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Omek Interactive, Ltd. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Jinni, Jinni Media and the Entertainment Genome are trademarks or registered trademarks of Jinni Media, Ltd. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

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The pilot enjoys an experience like never before, as if he was on board. For gaming purposes, this camera also can recognize specific shapes and colors to show augmented-reality elements on the smartphone’s screen.

Record and share flying experiences

Thanks to the new AR.FreeFlight 2.0 piloting application, players can record their own HD videos and watch them or share them with the AR.Drone community.

Additionally, with the “travelling” feature, the pilot can film HD video sequences like a professional! Simply select the direction of travel (forward, back, sideways) and the duration, and the AR.Drone 2.0 does the rest.

AR.FreeFlight 2.0, a new piloting and sharing platform

In addition to flying the AR.Drone, new application AR.FreeFlight 2.0 – available to download for free from the AppStore(SM) and Android™ Market – offers players a new interface and several options.

• FreeFlight: Access to the piloting application. The pilot can record flights, take HD videos or photos and save them in the piloting device. All the flight data (altitude, speed, duration and place) can be saved, checked by the pilot and shared with the community.
• Guest Space: Access an overview of the AR.Drone 2.0, the best flight videos and practical information.
• Drone Update: Access the AR.Drone 2.0‘s free software updates.
• AR.Drone Academy: Get geolocation data of the best flight zones, watch other pilots’ videos and access their shared flight data.
• AR.Games: Access applications/games available for the AR.Drone.
• Photos/Videos: Directly access your own videos and photos. Watch or upload to YouTube for the community to enjoy.

‘Absolute Flight’, a revolutionary ultra-intuitive flight mode

After the AR.FreeFlight 2.0 pilot application has been loaded onto an iOS or Android^TM smartphone or tablet, the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 connects to the device via Wi-Fi. After connection, all the on-board instruments appear on screen with a cockpit view.

Press the take off button briefly and the four brushless motors turn on. The AR.Drone 2.0 takes off.

Flying is very simple. With your thumbs placed on either side of the screen, a control button automatically forms beneath:

• Press and hold the left button and the AR.Drone 2.0 follows the movement of the pilot’s device: it moves forward, backwards or sideways when you tilt the tablet forward, towards you or to the left or right.
• Slide your finger over the right button, and the quadricopter rises, descends or rotates right or left.

Thanks to Parrot’s patented new ‘Absolute Control’ mode, the player accesses an even more intuitive piloting system.

With a 3D magnetometer, the AR.Drone 2.0 knows its precise orientation with respect to the smartphone, which becomes the reference point. The pilot no longer needs to care about the orientation of the AR.Drone 2.0‘s front camera, which will accurately track the smartphone’s motion and tilt.  

Experienced players will select ‘Relative Flight’ mode, the conventional flight mode. This disables Parrot AR.Drone 2.0‘s magnetometer. The pilot manages the quadricopter’s orientation with no assistance.

Surprising stability at any altitude

The heart of the AR.Drone 2.0 contains MEMS (microelectromechanical systems). A 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis magnetometer and a pressure sensor give the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 surprising stability, complete with:

• 2 ultrasound sensors, which analyze flight altitude up to 6 meters.
  New! A pressure sensor completes the device and provides great vertical stability.
• 4 blades, specially designed for the AR.Drone 2.0, make it possible to carry out smooth flights.
• A second camera, placed beneath the quadricopter and connected to the central inertial unit, measures the craft’s speed using an image comparison system.

2 hulls made for both types of flight

The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 has 2 hulls with specially designed contours. Made of EPP (a material used in designing car bumpers), they are light, highly resistant and protect the quadricopter.

For outdoor flight, the contoured hull, available in three colors (orange/yellow; orange/green; orange/blue), reduces wind resistance and preserves the AR.Drone 2.0‘s handling and stability.

When indoor, a second hull protects the blades from any impact. The black-and-white cockpit, underlined with a red stripe, reinforces the quadricopter’s mysterious, thrilling appearance.

Finally, light-emitting diodes (green in front, red in rear), positioned on the landing gear, help the pilot track the orientation of the AR.Drone 2.0 for easier flying. 

An Open Development Platform

In order to expand the use of the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 and its compatibility with other operating systems and to develop new flying games and applications, Parrot is providing developers and members of the Apple® and Android^™ communities with a software development kit.

By logging in at https://projects.ardrone.org and accepting the terms of the license, developers can access the source code used to fly the AR.Drone 2.0. A wiki and a tutorial also are available. A forum is available to discuss new developments and share feedback with Parrot engineers.

The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included).

Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 will be available for purchase at selected retailers in Q2-2012 in the United States for $299 MSRP

About PARROT                                                                                                                     

Parrot, a global leader in wireless devices for mobile phones, stands on the cutting edge of innovation. The company was founded in 1994 by Henri Seydoux as part of his determination to drive the inevitable breakthrough of mobile phones into everyday life by creating high-quality, user-friendly wireless devices for easy living.

Parrot has developed the most extensive range of hands-free systems on the market for cars. Its globally recognized expertise in the fields of mobile connectivity and multimedia around Smartphones has positioned Parrot as a key player of in-car infotainment. Additionally, Parrot designs and markets an exclusive ‘Parrot by’ range, consisting of a prestigious line of high-end wireless multimedia products in collaboration with some of the world’s most well-renowned artists; and the AR.Drone, the first quadricopter piloted via Wi-Fi and using augmented reality.

Parrot, headquartered in Paris, currently employs more than 650 people worldwide and generates the majority of its sales overseas. Parrot is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris since 2006. (FR0004038263 – PARRO)

More information: www.parrot.com / www.ardrone.com / www.parrotoem.com

(1) List of compatible smartphones and touchscreen tablets available at www.parrot.com

SOURCE Parrot

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“TI’s CC2540 Bluetooth low energy system-on-chip greatly enhances 9Solutions IPCS product line both from technology and business perspectives,” said Sami Herrala, CEO of 9Solutions. “Indoor navigation and real time tracking of assets, personnel and mobile phones is a globally growing market. The first generation of 9Solutions IPCS was Bluetooth 2.1 based. As such it offered superior compatibility, features and performance in RTLS realm. When Bluetooth 4.0 was released, 9Solutions started developing its Bluetooth low energy-based solution right away. We are proud to announce that 9Solutions entire product line is now Bluetooth low energy-based enabling tracking of virtually all Bluetooth devices, like IPCS Tags and Bluetooth enabled mobile phones.  9Solutions IPCS is available for immediate customer deliveries globally. We were fortunate to have a close relationship with TI and our needs were met with their Bluetooth 4.0 CC2540 solution.”

“Bluetooth low energy technology is ideal for real time locating systems and the 9Solutions IPCS product line offers an optimal solution for wireless indoor asset tracking,” said Volker Prueller, marketing manager, lowpower RF, TI. “We are excited to be showcasing 9Solutions products based on our CC2540 Bluetooth low energy system-on-chip at CES 2012.”

“9Solutions’ indoor tracking system based on TI’s Bluetooth 4.0 system-on-chip is an excellent example of how companies are using Bluetooth technology to bring innovative solutions to market through the Bluetooth SIG. At CES 2012, we’ll see a host of new and exciting Bluetooth Smart devices, including health and fitness devices like glucose meters and heart rate monitors and consumer electronics like Bluetooth enabled TVs and 3D glasses.” Suke Jawanda, Bluetooth SIG Chief Marketing Officer

The 2012 International CES in Las Vegas is the premier global consumer electronics tradeshow. 9Solutions’ Bluetooth low energy RTLS technology and its complete IPCS product family will be on hand for demoing and explanation.

About 9Solutions:

We develop, manufacture and sell 9Solutions IPCS, a wireless Bluetooth technology and SaaS based real time locating solution and application platform. IPCS enables real time tracking of IPCS Tags, mobile phones and billions of other Bluetooth devices. The IPCS product family by 9Solutions is a RTLS system that provides the location of assets and persons on a recurrent basis and improves quality of communication by enabling location based communication. 9Solutions is a Finland based company. SEEK NO MORE – visit http://www.9solutions.com

SOURCE 9Solutions

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“The number of connected Blu-ray players increased dramatically over the last year,” says Jin Kim, SVP New Media and Creative at Deluxe Digital Studios. “Trailer Pre-Roll usage has climbed well beyond our initial expectations and we expect our deliveries to exceed 10 million per month during 2012, which is exciting as it offers our partners an incredible source of incremental media value.”

Deluxe’s Trailer Pre-Roll technology enables trailers to change depending on what movie the consumer decides to watch. Trailers are streamed to internet connected Blu-ray players each time a disc is inserted. “Studios now have the option to promote and stream fresh trailers of new films rather than presenting old and dated trailers over and over again,” continues Kim.

Data shows over half of consumers watch entire trailers instead of skipping ahead to the movie menu. “Trailer Pre-Roll allows studios to reach a substantial number of households and target specific audiences based on the movies they watch,” says Kim.

About Deluxe

Deluxe Digital Studios staffs more than 1,500 full-time employees and 3,000 language translators in support of its DVD, Blu-ray and digital distribution content services.  The company’s monthly capacity exceeds 350 DVD, 100 Blu-ray and 18,000 digital distribution projects per month.  Deluxe Digital Studios provides services to every major Hollywood studio.

Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., is a leading provider of a broad range of entertainment industry services and technologies to the worldwide entertainment industry including the Hollywood studios, broadcast/cable/satellite providers, digital distribution, gaming as well as content owners and creators. Services for content creation in features, television and commercials are offered in production, post production, digital distribution, multi-platform development, marketing services and asset management.  They include motion picture film processing and printing; EFILM® and Company 3® digital intermediates; post production and subtitling services; titles design and digital VFX; DVD compression, encoding and authoring; advertising distribution and syndication services; digital cinema services, and 2D to 3D conversioning. Laboratory and post production facilities are located in North America, Europe, and Australia. Deluxe Digital Studios offer home entertainment services in North America, Europe and India. For more information, please visit www.bydeluxe.com.

SOURCE Deluxe Digital Studios

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The study confirms that using branded mobile phone apps increases a consumer’s general interest in product categories and improves the attitude they may have toward the sponsoring brand. The researchers also found that mobile apps which are informational in nature or utilitarian were more likely to engage users than those where the app focused on entertainment or gaming.

Apps could be a way for advertisers to reach across traditional product or gender boundaries to appeal to new types of customers. Unlike viewing information through a print ad, media spot or a website, consumers will process a company’s messages more deeply if they do so using an app that they’ve decided to download to their mobile device.

“You have a more personal connection with your mobile device than you will with a website,” said Robert F. Potter, director of the Institute for Communication Research at IU Bloomington and an associate professor of telecommunications in the IU College of Arts and Sciences. “One benefit of the mobile app is that you go, you get it and you download the app — it’s now yours. It may be a deeper level of interactivity.”

“The very personal nature of mobile phones, including the new smartphones, which are practically extensions of their owners, means that advertisers need to adopt new rules of conversation with mobile phone users,” said the research study, co-authored by Potter and four researchers at Murdoch University in Australia.

It is believed to be the first study to test the actual impact of branded apps on consumers and appears in the current issue of the Journal of Interactive Marketing. Previous research has focused on text messaging and Web advertising.

According to the researchers, retailers who develop apps overcome challenges being presented by dramatic shifts in television viewing and barriers to advertising on mobile devices. Using the app, consumers “talk to the brand, not the other way around,” and consumers feel comfortable controlling how much information they reveal when they customize the app.

“We found a double benefit,” Potter said. “First, the app increases the general interest in the product category that you’re trying to sell, and then the app also improves the attitude that you have toward the sponsoring brand … and the purchase intention that you have towards the product — your product.

“You have a more favorable attitude toward the brand that’s sponsoring the app when you go to think about where you shop,” he added.

The researchers used eight branded apps. Half of the brands were in product categories that predominantly target men and the other half, women. The four male-targeted brands were Best Buy, Gillette, BMW and Weber. The four female-targeted brands were Gap, Kraft, Lancôme and Target.

About 225 people between the ages of 18 and 74, from the United States and Australia, took part in the study. They generally were unfamiliar with the apps used. Respondents answered questions, and some had their psychophysiological data recorded, such as heart-rate and skin conductance, while they used the apps.

During a lab session, participants were presented with the apps in random order and were asked to interact with them for however long they chose. While they worked with the apps, researchers collected the participants’ heart rate and arousal. Past research has shown that when people are asked to do something that requires introspection — such as answering a question — their heart rate goes up. Conversely, when doing something external, like playing a game, their heart rate goes down.

“We found through the physiology measures that when you have an app that provides people with information that it is something they internalize and personalize more than the external-based focus of the game-based app,” Potter said. “You’ve invited the brand into your life and onto your phone. If it’s an informational app, you’re inviting that brand even deeper in, because now you’re thinking about what’s in your life and apply it to the things that the apps are presenting you with. With the experiential app, things are still kept at a distance — you’re still experiencing it on your phone and not in your life.”

Apps that used an informational style were more effective at shifting purchase intention, compared to apps that used an experiential style, the paper added.

Examples of informational apps were the Kraft app, which provided useful tips about cooking and entertaining guests with their food products, and Target’s app, which allowed shoppers to see the week’s deals and clearance items and access product reviews by scanning bar codes. They were less affected by the Gap app, which enabled users to dress a virtual model, and BMW, which allowed users to configure a 3-D replica of one of its cars and take it for a virtual test drive.

Respondents were unaware of the differences in how they reacted to various apps. When asked, people told researchers there was no qualitative difference between the various apps.

“This study also suggests that the most successful type of app is the one that is the most intensive to produce,” Potter and his co-authors wrote. “Designing an informational app that consumers find useful in their daily lives is a lot more difficult than building an experiential app by creating or adapting an interactive game: It requires developing a whole suite of tools instead of just one.”

As mentioned earlier, the experiment included apps that seemingly would appeal primarily to men or women. But the researchers found that involvement and interaction with the applications led people in the study to see new benefits of products targeted for those of the other gender.

Potter thinks that an important new strategy for many retailers will be to market their app as well as their product in order to reach new potential customers.

“Marketing their apps to consumers that aren’t a natural target can be a way of broadening the tent,” he said. “If you market apps to people who may have never heard of your product or who aren’t familiar with the product category, then our research shows that if you can get them to download the app then you may be able to introduce a whole new audience to your product.”

A challenge for many marketers is the success of Apple’s App Store, which offers more than 100,000 such applications. Getting a widespread interest in an app will require a major, persuasive ad campaign.

Other authors of the study were Steven Bellman, Shiree Treleaven-Hassard, Jennifer Robinson and Duane Varan of Murdoch University.

Source: Indiana University

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LEEDS, UK, December 2, 2011 — A warning has been issued to cinemas that are screening the new Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 film, following reported instances of cinema goers having epileptic seizures after watching a scene in the film. 

Reports of people in America having seizures after watching the vampire birthing scene hit the headlines last week. National charity, Epilepsy Action, responded to the news by asking the film’s UK distributor, entertainment one, to confirm whether the scene had been screened for photosensitive epilepsy issues. 

In response entertainment one has issued a statement to cinemas across the UK and Ireland which states that: “It has come to our attention that about 90 minutes into The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 there is a scene containing flashing lights that may cause seizures in people who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.”

Stacey Rennard, PR and campaigns manager at Epilepsy Action, said: “Although we have not yet had reports from the UK of people with photosensitive epilepsy having seizures as a result of the film, we are still concerned.

“We are pleased that as a result of our enquiries, entertainment one has now issued this statement to cinemas and that this will be passed on to cinema-goers. However, we don’t feel this goes far enough. We want the scene in question testing to give a definitive answer as to whether it could cause seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.”

Many people with photosensitive epilepsy, especially young people, do not know they have it until something triggers their first seizure. In 1997, an episode of Pokemon shown on Japanese television caused almost 600 people to have seizures. Of these, 76 per cent had no previous history of epilepsy.

Epilepsy affects around 600,000 people in the UK.  Around three per cent of people with epilepsy could have photosensitive epilepsy, which means their seizures are triggered by flashing or flickering light. Seizures can cause injury and can, in the worst cases, be fatal.

If people have concerns or have been affected by this film, they can contact the Epilepsy Helpline on freephone 0808 800 5050 or email helpline@epilepsy.org.uk . 

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Supported by TNS’s Digital Life Study, (www.tnsdigitallife.com) TNS examined different types of online activity, comparing usage patterns by gender, and determined that women have equally or surpassed their male counterparts in eight of eleven distinct areas. Women spend thirty-six (36) more minutes per week on social media, eighteen (18) more minutes shopping and six (6) more minutes on email, organizing and personal interests than men.  Internet interests for men encompass online gaming (48 more minutes than women), catching up on news (42 more minutes than women) and multi-media viewing (6 more minutes than women per week).

While the general gender communication trend holds constant around the world (women communicating online more than men), regional differences are apparent. Latin American women devoted the most time of any region to digital discussions, more than two-thirds of their online time, followed by European women at 54%, U.S. women at 45% and Asia Pacific women at 38%.

The emotional connections women have with the Internet also plays out differently across global markets. Women in developing markets are more than twice as likely as peers in developed nations to say they express their feelings more freely in the online world where political, cultural and religious strictures do not apply.

“Women have expanded their sphere of influence to the digital mainstream,” said Brian Cooper, Vice President at TNS.  ”Understanding their emotional connections with the web, and how that differs from region to region is critical. The more messaging aligns with the media and motivations the more it will likely be received and acted upon.”

The research was presented at ESOMAR’s 3D Digital Dimension Conference in Miami FL on October 27, 2011 and is based in part on findings from TNS Digital Life, TNS Mobile Life and Yahoo! Connectonomics.

About TNS

TNS advises clients on specific growth strategies around new market entry, innovation, brand switching and stakeholder management, based on long-established expertise and market-leading solutions. With a presence in over 80 countries, TNS has more conversations with the world’s consumers than anyone else and understands individual human behaviours and attitudes across every cultural, economic and political region of the world.

TNS is part of Kantar, one of the world’s largest insight, information and consultancy groups.

Please visit www.tns-us.com for more information.

About Kantar
Kantar is one of the world’s largest insight, information and consultancy groups. By uniting the diverse talents of its 13 specialist companies, the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and inspirational insights for the global business community. Its 28,500 employees work across 100 countries and across the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling the group to offer clients business insights at each and every point of the consumer cycle. The group’s services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies.

For further information, please visit us at www.kantar.com.

SOURCE TNS

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“In-vehicle digital video is no longer optional. It’s mandatory for law enforcement”

The Toughbook Arbitrator is a complete digital video system for evidence capture and management. It is the only all digital solid-state video system, capturing up to 2500-hours of high-quality video to four Class 10 SD Memory Cards. The Toughbook Arbitrator system compresses files for easy storage and fast, secure and auditable wireless transmission of full-motion video. All video and audio data files can be indexed and searched for rapid access by time, date, officer, vehicle or incident. Like all Panasonic Toughbook solutions, the Toughbook Arbitrator system is built to endure the rugged environments of law enforcement use, with a shock-resistant, multi-function mount that can withstand vibration and frequent physical shocks to the vehicle.

“The Florida Highway Patrol purchased the Panasonic Toughbook Arbitrator system to enhance our ability to capture and convict impaired drivers, while enhancing the safety of our troopers,” said Col. David H. Brierton, Jr., director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “We now have a useful tool benefiting our troopers, agency and the communities we serve.”

The investment in a digital video solution extends beyond just the hardware. It includes training and back office infrastructure. To aid the Florida Highway Patrol with a speedy deployment, Panasonic Solutions Company provided comprehensive engagement support, including vehicle installation, server implementation, training, and professional services.

“In-vehicle digital video is no longer optional. It’s mandatory for law enforcement,” said Scott French, vice president of public sector sales for Panasonic Solutions Company. “Innovators, such as the Florida Highway Patrol, recognize how a complete digital evidence capture and management system can help increase officer safety and protect departments from false allegations and frivolous lawsuits, while increasing the likelihood of successful prosecution.”

In 2004, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conducted law enforcement’s most comprehensive study of in-vehicle camera usage¹. The results highlighted the dramatic impact of video systems on officer safety and judicial process. The survey found that 33-percent of officers felt safer with the in-vehicle cameras. Additionally, 48-percent of officers reported that citizens were less aggressive when they knew an incident was being recorded. Of prosecutors surveyed in the study, more than 91-percent said they used in-car video evidence in court and that the evidence enhanced their ability to obtain convictions and increased the number of guilty pleas before a case went to trial.

The Panasonic Toughbook Arbitrator System will be demonstrated at the 118^th Annual Conference and Exposition of the International Association of Chiefs of Police., October 22^nd through 26^th at McCormick Place West, Chicago, Ill. Registered event attendees may visit the Panasonic booth at 3303.

About Florida Highway Patrol

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services it offers, visit, http://www.flhsmv.gov.

About Panasonic Solutions Company

Panasonic Solutions Company empowers people whose jobs depend on reliable technology. The company delivers collaboration, information-sharing and decision-support solutions for customers in government, healthcare, education and a wide variety of commercial enterprises. Products and services within the company’s portfolio include Panasonic Toughbook mobile computing solutions, projectors, professional displays (including both plasma and LCD), and HD and 3D video acquisition and production solutions. As a result of its commitment to R&D, manufacturing and quality control, Panasonic is known for the reliability and longevity of its products. Panasonic Solutions Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, which is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC).

All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Information on Panasonic Solutions Company’s full line of products can be obtained by calling 877-803-8492 or at www.panasonic.com/business-solutions.

¹ “The Impact of Video Evidence on Modern Policing” IACP Research Center. 2004.

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2. 3D video editing software on Mac for Panasonic 3D camcorders
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4. Malco Theatres Chooses Cinedigm Digital Cinema for Digital Deployment
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“We’re pleased to bring the ground-breaking technology of gesture-driven applications to AUSA this year,” began Erik Muendel, Creative Director at Brightline, “This is the future of interactive experiences, and we are excited to present our gesture-driven ideas at such an important conference.”

Brightline developed a gesture-driven timeline application for AUSA, which outlined a comprehensive history of the army’s progress in the last ten years following 9/11. Through gesture, users were able to explore the compiled information in an engaging way, learning about the army through interactive experience. Erik and his team at Brightline developed this application by using live 3D mapping sensors and open source code (Client: L-3 MPRI).

Brightline has created other custom gesture-driven technologies including two applications for the 2011 Sports Illustrated Heisman Trophy Tour Presented by Nissan. The two applications, a combine skills challenge and a head-to-head quarterback challenge, are the digital highlight of the tour that will host hundreds of thousands of college football fans at ten of this season’s highest profile college football games.

The head-to-head quarterback challenge pits two players against each other in a virtual throwing challenge while the combine challenge tests users’ skills in three basic football activities (throwing, dodging and sprinting). The combine also uses RFID technology that personalizes the experience by tracking high scores and posting live photos to users’ Facebook profiles (Client: Team Epic).

About Brightline Interactive
Brightline Interactive is an award-winning, multi-discipline digital services agency that delivers creative solutions for web, mobile and experiential environments. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, Brightline develops and delivers branded solutions for both the public and private sectors by blending creativity and expertise of any and all media and technology available.

Quin Woodward Pu
PLAY dsm+a
703-739-2424 121

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4. Casio Showcases Expanded Lamp-Free Projection Portfolio at InfoComm 2011
5. Movea unveils full body motion capture and gesture recognition system with 9 axis IMU Body Area
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7. Marvell Showcases 16 China Mobile TD-SCDMA Smartphones at PT/EXPO Comm China 2011

Almost 150 lectures, panels, keynotes and roundtable discussions, presented by 226 industry-leading speakers will be featured during GDC Online, with the first two days of the conference dedicated to a line-up of standalone Summits. With topics pertaining to game narrative, virtual items, and smartphone & tablet games, the Summits are designed to engage attendees and offer unique opportunities to gain knowledge and insight on the connected gaming space, all in a community-based setting.

Returning to GDC Online are the second annual Game Developers Choice Online Awards, a special event designed to honor excellence in online game development along with the rich history and technical excellence of past titles in the space. This year’s winners will be revealed at the ceremony hosted by Mike Goslin of Mindspark Interactive Network, with Special Award honorees John Taylor and Kelton Flinn being celebrated for their work on the major forerunners Island of Kesmai and Air Warrior. EverQuest, the breakout 3D MMO title and beloved fantasy game, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Game Developers Choice Online Awards will take place on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 6:30pm.

“Discussions about what’s important today and what is next in connected gaming are solidified each year at GDC Online,” says Izora de Lillard, GDC Online event director. “We are extremely proud of how the conference continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community.”

In addition to the GDC Online Summits and Main Conference sessions, a bustling Expo Floor featuring 78 exhibitors and 17 sponsors provides industry professionals with valuable opportunities to network and participate in discourse with peers.  For a complete list sessions and speakers or general event information for GDC Online 2011, please visit http://www.gdconline.com.

About the UBM TechWeb Game Network  

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the UBM TechWeb Game Network – formerly known as the Think Services Game Group – offers market-defining content, and drives community through its award winning lineup of print, online, event and research products and services. These include the Game Developers Conference®, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com and network of sites, the Game Advertising Online ad network, the Game Developers Conference® Online, the Game Developers Conference™ Europe, the Game Developers Conference™ China, the Game Developers Conference™ Canada, Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Game Career Seminars and GameCareerGuide.com, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards.  

About UBM TechWeb, a division of United Business Media

UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology.  Through its core businesses – media solutions, marketing services and professional information – UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands, applications and services in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs, IT and IT Support managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software and Game developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively participate in UBM TechWeb’s communities. UBM TechWeb brands includes: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Game Developers Conference (GDC), Web 2.0, Black Hat and VoiceCon; large-scale online networks such as InformationWeek,  Light Reading and Gamasutra; research, training, and certification services, including HDI, Pyramid Research, and InformationWeek Analytics; and market-leading magazines such as InformationWeek and Wall Street & Technology.  UBM TechWeb is part of UBM, a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.

SOURCE UBM TechWeb Game Network

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4. LG Electronics Smart TV Brings New Opportunities to Flash Developers
5. Discovery Communications CFO Brad Singer to Present at Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference 2011
6. Sprint Announces Samsung Device Giveaway and New Breakout Sessions for Open Solutions Conference
7. Bluestreak Technology Enables Video Everywhere at IBC Expo 2011

MONACO, October 10, 2011 – NewTek, worldwide leader in portable live production and 3D animation systems, today introduced 3Play™ 425, a four-input, two-output, slow motion system that supports the simultaneous display, recording and instant replay of up to four video sources. NewTek 3Play 425, a compact, turnkey solution, provides in-game highlights authoring on-the-fly to producers looking for a serious, professional replay system.

3Play 425 gives sports broadcasters, leagues, teams, schools and venues an affordable option to deliver instant replay and slow motion for broadcast, webcast, arena scoreboard displays, and more. 3Play 425 offers revolutionary price-performance value that makes high definition, multi-channel instant replay accessible to almost everyone.

“3Play from NewTek hits the sweet spot for producers looking for a slow motion replay system,” said Marc Solis, general manager of the San Antonio Alamodome. “Instant replay allows us to provide a more dynamic experience for fans in our venue. They can re-live all the key moments. Until now, it wasn’t realistic, but with 3Play we can afford to deliver broadcast-quality HD instant replay at every event.”

3Play 425 includes over-the-network integration with NewTek TriCaster™, appearing as a network input and providing a complete integrated solution for live sports production with a small footprint. Additionally, 3Play 425 can be connected to any switcher, providing additional capabilities for any existing production infrastructure. The system includes an intuitive control surface, giving replay operators hands-on control of every input.

NewTek 3Play 425 benefits include:

• Simultaneous display and synchronized, continuous recording of up to four live video sources
• Two fully independent playout channels for output flexibility (e.g. one for air, one for arena scoreboard display)
• Network-quality presentation, including interpolated slow motion and multi-angle switching during live playback
• Instant, in-game creation of playlists and highlight reels with transitions and soundtracks
• Team with TriCaster over Gig-E network to maximize production resources and distribution
• Independent audio routing for every input (e.g. assign broadcast audio or natural sound to a specific camera angle)
• Native HD/SD resolution (up to 1080p)
• Record up to 30 hours HD for immediate replay
• Integrated multi-view monitoring with Heads Up Display (HUD)
• Quick and easy import and export of media
• Compact 2U rack mount design with multi-tiered hardware and software fail-safe systems
• Premium hardware control surface

Pricing and Availability
3Play 425 will be available in Q4 2011 and retail in North America for US$21,995. International pricing may vary. Educational pricing is also available. For more information, please visit www.newtek.com, or call NewTek Sales at 800-368-5441. International callers dial +1-210-370-8000.

About NewTek
Benefiting producers and artists with cost-effective and groundbreaking technologies, NewTek is a worldwide leader in portable live production, video editing, 3D animation and special effects tools, including the TriCaster^™ product line, 3Play^™ and LightWave 3D^®. NewTek has won numerous industry accolades, including two Emmy^® Awards.

Clients include: Turner Sports, MTV, TWiT.TV, ESPN X Games, New York Giants, NBA Development League, Fox News, BBC, NHL, Nickelodeon, CBS Radio, ESPN Radio, Fox Sports, USA TODAY, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), North American Aerospace Defense Command, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NewTek products have been used in feature films and television shows, including “Avatar,” “TinTin,” “Repo Men,” “V,” “Fringe,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and more.

NewTek is privately owned and based in San Antonio, Texas. Please visit: www.newtek.com.

• TriCaster, TriCaster EXTREME, TriCaster BROADCAST and TriCaster STUDIO are trademarks of NewTek.
• IsoCorder, 3Play and LightWave are trademarks of NewTek.
• LightWave 3D is a registered trademark of NewTek.
• All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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LOS ANGELES, CA, October 6, 2011 – Escape Studios, one of the most successful and well-respected CG academies in the world, announced today that it will begin holding classes in Visual Effects and Compositing starting November 7, 2011 at its Santa Monica Campus.

The Visual Effects for Production course is a 12-week intensive program designed for students who want to become professional visual effects artists. Aspiring artists learn key techniques in camera tracking, particle effects, texturing, lighting, rendering and compositing. Students learn to create 3D elements and how to seamlessly integrate them with live action. In addition, they learn techniques in Maya, Photoshop, PFTrack, ZBrush, NUKE, HDR Shop and Pixar’s RenderMan Studio™.

The Compositing for Production 12-week intensive course teaches aspiring artists how to composite to cinematic standards using the tools and techniques used by professionals in the industry. Modules include rotoscoping, camera tracking and lighting and software utilized includes Maya and Silhouette.

“We are pleased to continue our close and collaborative relationship with Escape Studios here in the United States,” said Ben Hampshire, Managing Director, The Mill, Los Angeles. “We know and trust that Escape will provide students with the proper tools to become immediately useful in visual effects production.”

Escape Studios classroom courses are intensive, hands-on programs focused entirely on teaching the tools and techniques used by professionals in today’s post production houses. Each course is designed to give students the skills they need to get their first job in the industry and is followed up with unlimited demo reel support.

“The world of CG is full of opportunity and is always in need of good artists,” said Dominic Davenport, CEO of Escape Studios. “We’ve been working hard and for a long time to bring the Escape Studios brand to the US and specifically to Santa Monica, California which lies right in the heart of the visual effects industry. We want to help aspiring artists acquire the skills and knowledge they need to really make a difference in this growing, fast-paced industry so we are truly excited to be able to say we are starting these courses in November.”

Escape Studios also offers recruitment services to students so they are equipped to enter the workforce after they finish a course. Its approach to recruitment here in the US is modeled after its UK academy where 85% of classroom students get a job within a year of leaving the course.

“When students enroll at Escape Studios, they gain access to our online network of fellow students and exclusive industry contacts. That includes teams of CG artists and people who work at visual effects studios as well as recruitment specialists,” noted Davenport. “And, our advisory board is made up of industry experts. We help our students make the contacts they need to be successful in this market.”

Escape Studios advisory board is made up of influential people from inside the industry who share their knowledge and experience with Escape Studios to help keep training up to date and in line with the latest developments from the forefront of CG.

More Information
For information about course content, prerequisites and costs, please visit: http://www.escapestudios.com/intensive-computer-animation-courses/

About Escape Studios
Escape is one of the most successful and well-respected CG academies in the world. We’re the proving ground for a new generation of computer graphics stars breaking into film, TV, games and commercials. We’re a vibrant community of professional artists. We’re a unique outsourcing resource for leading CG studios. We’re a specialist creative recruitment agency for entertainment, advertising, architecture and manufacturing businesses. We’re an authority on all things CG, offering informed opinions on cutting-edge creative, commercial and political issues. We are all of these things. We are CG. We are Escape Studios.

For further information, please visit www.escapestudios.com

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“At Panasonic Solutions Company, we create the most advanced technology solutions to help our government sector customers do their jobs with greater ease and efficiency”

The Panasonic Tactical VTC, solution, which is ideal for rapid-setup applications, provides a direct line of contact from remote locations with the use of high-quality video and audio communications. The inclusion of Panasonic’s PF30 Series FULL-HD Plasma Displays within the Tactical VTC solution allows for clear and precise image quality with native contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1.

“At Panasonic Solutions Company, we create the most advanced technology solutions to help our government sector customers do their jobs with greater ease and efficiency,” said Tim Collins, Federal Sales Director, Panasonic Solutions Company. “Whether our customers will deploy this product for the purpose of mission planning, training simulations or educational classes, the Panasonic Tactical VTC solution provides a highly mobile, reliable communication system that keeps all parties informed and up to date.”

The solution offers a wide variety of uses, from the ability to roll it down a hall to taking it to the field for tactical videoconferencing. In addition to such versatility, the JELCO stabilizer plate protects against tipping over in outdoor environments and field locking casters ensure the VTC solution stays securely in place. Additionally, the Panasonic display fits comfortably into the JELCO shock-mounted mobile lift case for maximum protection in transit, providing safe shipping to any environment. The camera also has quick release and protective interior storage in the case lid, while the mounted speakers eliminate the need for additional equipment, wires or setup, which saves customers both time and money.

In the United States, the Panasonic Tactical VTC solution is now available from authorized Panasonic resellers.

The Panasonic Tactical VTC will be demonstrated at the upcoming Association of United States Army (AUSA) Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C., October 10^th through 12^th. Registered event attendees may visit the Panasonic booth at 2651.

About Panasonic Solutions Company

Panasonic Solutions Company empowers people whose jobs depend on reliable technology. The company delivers collaboration, information-sharing and decision-support solutions for customers in government, healthcare, education and a wide variety of commercial enterprises. Products and services within the company’s portfolio include Panasonic Toughbook mobile computing solutions, projectors, professional displays (including both plasma and LCD), and HD and 3D video acquisition and production solutions. As a result of its commitment to R&D, manufacturing and quality control, Panasonic is known for the reliability and longevity of its products. Panasonic Solutions Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, which is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC).

All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Information on Panasonic Solutions Company’s full line of products can be obtained by calling 877-803-8492 or at www.panasonic.com/business-solutions.

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4. 3D video editing software on Mac for Panasonic 3D camcorders
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“Music Brain is community matchmaking for music — it’s the eHarmony for music selection”

Here’s how Music Brain works: Site visitors on Music1.com, a NETE-owned and operated business unit, can obtain custom playlists based on Music1′s Music Brain algorithm. Music Brain provides site visitors with three images to choose from and then analyzes the visitors’ choices. Then, the algorithm selects music based on their image selections that is tailored to fit their unique preferences.

Music Brain is currently available to a private beta test group. To participate, users may visit www.Music1.com and request access.

“Music Brain is community matchmaking for music — it’s the eHarmony for music selection,” said Dmitry Kozko, co-inventor of Music Brain. “As a technology leader and innovator committed to redefining online experiences, Net Element is proud to offer innovative, first-of-a-kind technologies like Music Brain that are unique, fun and engaging.”

Ivan Onuchin, NETE’s chief technology officer, added: “Filing patent applications for our innovations is part of our company’s strategy to solidify Net Element’s intellectual property position and support our key growth initiatives. As we continue to expand our Music Brain technology and its applications, we plan to broaden the scope of these filings.”

Music Brain increases and enhances the accuracy and relevancy of content recommendation engines.

About Net Element (OTCQB:NETE)

Net Element (OTCQB:NETE) is a global publisher of online destinations and business services on a custom technology platform for Internet and mobile distribution. This platform enables the rapid development, production and distribution of rich media content (HD & 3D), services (SaaS) and branded content in entertainment and news. NETE owns and publishes Internet properties and creates social and business communities in motorsports, music, film and entertainment. Its portfolio includes: www.Motorsport.com; www.Openfilm.com; www.Music1.com; www.Yapik.com and www.ARLive.com. For more information, visit www.NetElement.com.

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LEEDS, UK, February 25, 2011 — A music video for Kanye West’s latest single, All of the Lights, has been reinstated on YouTube despite claims it can trigger epileptic seizures. The video was taken down yesterday after UK charity Epilepsy Action warned that extensive use of flashing imagery in the video could cause seizures in some people.  The video now carries a warning at the beginning that highlights the risks to people with photosensitive epilepsy.

Aimee Gee, PR and campaigns manager at Epilepsy Action, said: “We are pleased to see that YouTube and Kanye West’s representatives have listened to our concerns and are warning people that the video is a risk to some people. We hope this means they will consider amending their policies so that other videos containing flashing imagery can also be dealt with.”

The charity and others are concerned, however, that the warning does not go far enough and that the video still presents a danger. Many people with photosensitive epilepsy, especially young people, do not know they have it until something triggers their first seizure. In 1997, an episode of Pokemon shown on Japanese television caused almost 600 people to have seizures. Of these, 76 per cent had no previous history of epilepsy.

Epilepsy Action has learned this morning that a version of the video that doesn’t present a risk to people with photosensitive epilepsy may have been produced for UK television. The charity will this afternoon be asking YouTube whether it is possible to upload this, very similar, version instead of the original.

Epilepsy affects around 456,000 people in the UK.  As many as five per cent of people with epilepsy could have photosensitive epilepsy, which means their seizures are triggered by flashing or flickering light. Seizures can cause injury and can, in the worst cases, be fatal.

If people have concerns or have been affected by this video, they can contact the Epilepsy Helpline on freephone 0808 800 5050 or email helpline@epilepsy.org.uk . People outside the UK can call on +44 113 210 8800 or find a list of local epilepsy organisations at www.epilepsy.org.uk/about/international-epilepsy-organisations

Related:

1. Kanye West video taken off YouTube following epilepsy fears
2. Kanye West video may cause epileptic seizures, warns UK charity