Consumer Electronics Daily News

New Bike Mount Kit for foxL Speakers

Soundmatters, the leader in high-quality, portable speakers founded by former NASA engineer/audio legend Dr. Godehard Guenther, announced today the new foxL BKMT-2 Bike Mount Kit for the ultimate wireless portable speaker on the road – the foxLTMv2 Hi-Fi Bluetooth speaker line. The foxL BKMT-2 Bike Mount Kit is a universal bicycle mount that works with any bicycle to mount the pocket-sized foxL HiFi speaker, letting you enjoy wireless music and hands-free speakerphone capabilities while biking, avoiding the dangerous isolation of earbuds (which are also illegal while riding in a number of states and parts of Australia and Canada).

Priced at only $29.95, the foxL BKMT-2 Bike Mount Kit works with any foxL speaker model, including the both original foxLs, foxLv2 Bluetooth, foxLv2 (non-Bluetooth), and foxLv2 PLATINUM models. With major improvements in cost and functionality from the previous foxL bike mount, the new two piece foxL Bike Mount Kit now utilizes Arkon’s popular Dual T-tab mounting, making its cradle easy to remove from the bike and compatible with a range of other Arkon mounting options. In addition, the foxL mount now uses “biking-standard” Allen bolts for its mounting hardware.

“When TIME magazine named foxL a Top 10 Gadget of the Year, they applauded both its amazing sound and on-road application and we’ve since had lots and lots of customers ask us about using their foxL for biking, both for music AND as a speakerphone,” said Lee Adams, Vice President, Soundmatters International, Inc. “Now with the foxL BKMT-2 Bike Mount Kit, we have the functionality and pricing for every biker to mount the foxL on their bike.”

foxL is World’s Only Pocket-sized HiFi Speaker & Speaker Phone for Audio Purists

The perfect travel companion, foxL is both a speakerphone AND the first pocket-sized wireless speaker that audio purists will love, with a range of unique sound features, such as foxL’s patented “Twoofers,” “BassBattery,” and other technologies. foxL provides amazingly smooth deep bass and an “open & airy” listening experience that provides iPhones, iPads, Android and Blackberry phones, and other Bluetooth devices with the superior sound quality they desperately need to enjoy a portable music and movie experience to the fullest. Pricing & Availability Priced at $29.95, the foxL BKMT-2 Bike Mount Kit Universal Bicycle Mount is immediately available from Soundmatters.com, Amazon.com, Listenup.com, select bicycle shops nationwide, and more; and in Canada at Audiobasics.com. It includes the handlebar mount, removable foxL speaker cradle, and hardware with Allen tool. The foxLv2 speakers are sold separately, priced from $149-$229.

For more information, see the Soundmatters site at: www.soundmatters.com.

Entropic Communications Helps Gamers 'Level Up'

Entropic Communications,Inc., a world leader in semiconductor solutions for the connected home, and the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA(R))is showcasing for the press how MoCA-based network adapters effectively 'level up' gamers'consoles by minimizing latency and maximizing throughput to ensure smooth gameplay and media streaming at E3, the tradeshow for the videogame and entertainment industries. The modern gaming console provides several entertainment options -- however if the throughput isn't there -- the overall user experience will suffer. Entropic is demonstrating that MoCA will allow gamers to unlock a new level of performance -- whether finding more low ping servers or enabling a lag-free experience -- with a variety of MoCA adapters that essentially upgrade the underlying connected home network. MoCA adapters transform existing in-home coax cabling to a network with Ethernet speed and reliability. MoCA is the universal standard for home entertainment networking and can support multiple streams of HD video content while delivering up to 175 Mbps net throughput at less than 4.5ms of average network latency. MoCA has more than 100 certified products, which can give gamers: -- Low latency, lag-free, Internet gaming across any platform -- HD-quality entertainment for over-the-top video streaming services -- Maximized high-speed broadband access from the cloud

Samsung Introduces Two New Laptops

Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, today announced two additions to its mobile PC line: the 15.6-inch Series 5 notebook and the 14-inch Series 5 500 notebook. Both products feature a 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor and top-of-the-line entertainment features, including JBL® stereo speakers and NVIDIA® GeForce® Graphics. Additionally, Samsung announced that its Series 9, Series 5 and Series 3 models will feature Intel’s new, more powerful processors.

“Our latest Series 5 notebooks offer a premium computing experience, thanks to Samsung’s advanced engineering and Intel’s new processors, as well as enviable entertainment features including JBL audio speakers to provide a home theater experience in a mobile PC, whether you’re using it in your office, home or at a hotel,” said Todd Bouman, vice president of marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. “The power and speed of Intel’s latest processors have enabled us to create even faster, more efficient laptops, and we’re excited to have begun integrating them into these new models and several of our existing designs as well.”

15.6-inch Series 5 Notebook

The Series 5 notebook features an Intel® Core™ i7-3610QM processor, which delivers unprecedented speed and performance. Thanks to Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, users can effortlessly multitask between applications, and Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0.1 gives you an automatic burst of speed whenever you need it – making this a perfect laptop for users looking for a powerful, easily portable solution with a large screen. The new processor, combined with 8GB of RAM and a 750GB HDD, provides the power users need to stay productive everywhere.

With the Series 5 notebook’s embedded JBL® 3 speakers and sub-woofer, users will enjoy clear, rich sound, deep bass and great tone articulation – making it an ideal laptop for music lovers and video enthusiasts. SoundAlive technology adds to this premium experience by offering virtual 3D sound, further enhancing the overall sound quality and enabling users to switch between various modes (such as movie mode and music mode) to optimize sound quality for different usage. In order to match this premium audio quality with an unrivalled visual experience, Samsung incorporated NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 630M Graphics into the new Series 5 notebook, which make fast-paced games and videos come alive on the 15.6-inch LED HD 1366x768 screen.

14-inch Series 5 500 Notebook

The 14-inch Samsung Series 5 500 notebook is an ideal laptop for multi-tasking users, from college students to busy professionals. It features an Intel® Core™ i5-3210M Processor, which delivers high speed right from the start, as well as Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology and Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0.1 for optimal multitasking. Samsung also incorporated a range of intelligent solutions into the laptop to maximize usability. Tilting legs and a backlit keyboard enable you to comfortably use it anywhere, while a power saving button lets you set the laptop to automatically power down when not in use. Users can also access Samsung EasyShare with just the click of a button, allowing them to effortless share files with friends and colleagues. The 14-inch Series 5 500 notebook also provides the latest advances in multimedia technology.

As with the 15.6-inch Series 5, the inclusion of powerful JBL® stereo speakers, a sub-woofer, HD audio processing and NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 630M Graphics offer an unrivaled entertainment experience. The laptop features an LED HD 1366 x 768 resolution display, with Samsung’s slim bezel, giving you the largest screen possible in its small, sleek chassis. This larger screen enables you to easily create presentations, edit photos, watch videos and surf multiple Internet windows without sacrificing portability.

Both the 15.6-inch Series 5 notebook and the 14-inch Series 5 500 notebook feature Samsung’s renowned style profile and a patterned silver body. The 15.6-inch product will retail for $899.99 and the 14-inch model will retail for $799.99, both beginning in mid-June 2012. Updated Series 9, Series 5 and Series 3 Lines Samsung will also introduce its13.3-inch and 15-inch second-generation Series 9, the 13-inch and 14-inch Series 5 ULTRA and Series 3 laptops with the latest Intel processors beginning in mid-June 2012. The company recently introduced two other laptops featuring 3rd generation Intel processors, the 17-inch Series 7 CHRONOS and Series 7 GAMER, both of which currently available.    

Activision Shows Off its Line-Up of Fan Favorites at E3

Cutting-edge innovation and experiential digital entertainment will be on display from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc., at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 5 – 7, 2012. Highly anticipated and fan-favorite titles Call of Duty®: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants™ and TRANSFORMERS™: FALL OF CYBERTRON lead Activision's line-up of blockbuster titles being showcased in the South Hall, booth #647.

"The level of creativity driving video games has never been greater. Our industry has the greatest talent in the world and E3 gives us all a chance to showcase the innovative titles that will continue to make games the leading form of entertainment today," said Eric Hirschberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "This year's line-up is one of our strongest, and we can't wait for our fans to see for themselves."

Activision's full E3 Slate Includes: Call of Duty: Black Ops II – The most groundbreaking and ambitious Call of Duty to date, Call of Duty: Black Ops II pushes the boundaries of the record-setting franchise and will turn the future black for everyone worldwide on November 13th. Set in the year 2025, Call of Duty: Black Ops II propels players into a near-future, introducing them to a fiction that is taking root in today's headlines. Advanced weaponry, robotics and drone warfare define the battle space and challenges players to ask, "What happens when someone steals the keys" and turns our greatest strengths into our greatest weaknesses? Strike Force Levels bring a fresh take on single-player missions, introducing players to sandbox-style gameplay and branching storylines for the first time in franchise history. With equally ambitious Zombies and multiplayer modes yet to be unveiled, Call of Duty: Black Ops II delivers the complete package, offering fans the most expansive Call of Duty experience ever. (Developed by Treyarch for Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.; not yet rated by the ESRB.)

Skylanders Giants – Skylanders Giants builds upon the breakthrough fundamentals of the Skylanders Spyro's Adventure™—merging the physical and virtual realms with an innovative line of cross-platform toys with "brains," which players everywhere can magically bring to life in the world of Skylands. Using the mystical Portal of Power®, players once again lead a team of heroic Skylanders in a new adventure to save their world. Portal Masters will journey through new areas of Skylands, encountering new enemies, solving fun puzzles, overcoming different hazards and obstacles, and finding a variety of collectable rewards and treasure. Skylanders Giants introduces sixteen new characters to build on the magic of Skylanders Spyro's Adventures, including super-sized giants with powers to match, as well as the new LightCore™ Skylanders that light-up in the game and in the real-world as players transport them to Skylands using the Portal of Power. Additionally, the game features new Hero Challenges, more Battle Mode gameplay, and advanced integration across console, handheld, mobile and Skylanders Universe(SM). (Developed by Toys for Bob for Wii™, Nintendo 3DS™, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system, Windows PC and mobile devices; not yet rated by the ESRB.)

TRANSFORMERS: FALL OF CYBERTRON – TRANSFORMERS: FALL OF CYBERTRON allows players to experience the darkest hours of the war between the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS as they vie for control of their dying home world. Fans will fight through both sides of the TRANSFORMERS' most epic battles that culminate in their legendary exodus from CYBERTRON. With the stakes higher than ever, players will embark on an action-packed journey through massive, war-torn environments designed around each character's unique abilities and alternate forms, including GRIMLOCK's nearly indestructible T-Rex form and the legendary COMBATICONS combining into the colossal BRUTICUS. Taking the franchise's competitive multiplayer to all-new heights, TRANSFORMERS: FALL OF CYBERTRON lets fans go head-to-head in blistering AUTOBOT vs. DECEPTICON matches after creating their own unique characters with the most in-depth, advanced customization ever before seen in a TRANSFORMERS game. Additionally, High Moon Studios is announcing at E3 that they have listened to the passionate PC fans and have been working closely with fellow developer Mercenary Games to create a PC sku that will launch day and date with the console versions on August 28. (Developed by High Moon Studios for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system and by Mercenary Games for Windows PC; rated "T" for Teen on all platforms by the ESRB.)

The Amazing Spider-Man™ – Go beyond Sony Picture Entertainment's Columbia Pictures feature film and find out what happens next in The Amazing Spider-Man video game, which brings Spider-Man's free-roaming, web-slinging action back to New York City. Players take on the role of a young Peter Parker discovering his new Spider-Man powers and added Super Hero responsibilities, using the game's innovative Web Rush mechanic to swing freely around Manhattan, combat a variety of criminal activities and take on classic Marvel Super Villains, such as Rhino, Iguana, Felicia Hardy and more. Set against an original story crafted by Hollywood writer Seamus Kevin Fahey (Spartacus: Vengeance, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, Battlestar Galactica) that takes place entirely after the events of the upcoming feature film, The Amazing Spider-Man video game delivers an immersive and cinematic adventure allowing players to truly harness the power of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. (Developed by Beenox for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system, Wii, and Nintendo 3DS, with a Windows PC version slated for release later in the year; developed by Other Ocean for Nintendo DS™; rated "T" for Teen on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii and "E10+" on Nintendo DS by the ESRB.)

007™ Legends – Celebrating the Bond franchise's 50th anniversary, the latest instalment in the video game series – 007 Legends – launches gamers back through time to relive a selection of James Bond's iconic and intense undercover missions from the popular films. A first-of-its-kind Bond video game, 007 Legends features an original, overarching storyline tying together five classic Bond movie-inspired missions plus a sixth mission based on this year's highly-anticipated movie – SKYFALL – which will be available post launch as free downloadable content, to offer the most diverse Bond gaming experience yet! Delivering the action that gamers expect from a Bond game, 007 Legends equips players with state-of-the-art spy gadgets, an arsenal of weapons, and sleek vehicles as they jet off to exotic locations and utilize Bond's unmatched combat abilities, quick wits, class and style to take down notorious villains and their brutal henchmen and perform impressive stunts. (Developed by Eurocom for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Windows PC; not yet rated by the ESRB.)

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse – Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse features an all-new original narrative which is an expansion on the popular episode, "Road to the Multiverse", turning the outrageous world of Family Guy into an action-packed video game filled with nods to the long-running comedy. Playing as either Stewie or Brian, each with unique abilities and weapons, players will battle their favorite Family Guy characters as they advance through 'Multiverse' themed levels in their pursuit to battle Stewie's evil twin, Bertram, who has returned and is hell-bent on destroying Quahog. Fans will also be able to team up in co-op multiplayer mode or compete against each other in competitive multiplayer levels – all with a Family Guy twist. (Developed by Heavy Iron for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system; not yet rated by the ESRB.)

Sony Unveils VAIO T Series Ultrabook

Sony's VAIO® Expo Tour at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in New York heralded the brand new VAIO T Series Ultrabook™ as well as a new portfolio of VAIO PCs built with Sony's industry-leading audio, video, imaging and software technology.

The first Ultrabook to carry the VAIO name, the T Series packs high performance and responsiveness into a stylishly slim magnesium and aluminum chassis for daily trips to the office or campus. Also in the VAIO family are enhancements to the E, S, Z and L All-in-One Series models, incorporating advanced features and a platform of innovations for all around excellence in productivity and entertainment.

"Thin and light is nothing new to Sony – we built the T Series Ultrabook from many of the same features as our amazingly thin and powerful ultra-premium VAIO Z Series, which has long exceeded Ultrabook specifications," said Mike Abary, Senior Vice president of Networked Technology and Services Division of Sony Electronics. "Our entire new VAIO portfolio incorporates the best technology from our innovative digital imaging, sound and TV divisions and unique features across all the models such as backlit keyboard and Sony's Rapid Wake technology. The new VAIO family continues Sony's efforts to offer advanced performance and design that fit all business and personal lifestyles."

Ultimate Travel Companion: VAIO T Series Ultrabook The new VAIO T Series Ultrabook is the ultimate travel companion designed from the ground up to deliver intense performance and extreme mobility in an ultra-smooth full-flat brushed aluminum and magnesium chassis. Available with a 13.3-inch display, the new VAIO T Series features the latest generation Ultra Low Voltage Intel® Core™ processors.

The Ultrabook comes with an optional Solid State Drive or Hybrid drive, providing the best of both worlds, using new Intel® Smart Response Technology. With all the built-in ports and connectivity that other Ultrabook laptops may lack, the VAIO T Series is made for business with two USB ports including a charging function for mobile devices, HDMI® out, VGA, Ethernet, Memory Stick® and SD Card Reader for easy connection to monitors, projectors without the need for a dongle.

Diamond Edge Excellence: VAIO E Series Ideal for students and everyday users, the easy-to-use VAIO E Series features a new wrap around design. Available in 11.6-inch, 14-inch, and the 15.5-inch models, which feature an Aluminum design with a diamond cut VAIO logo, the PCs include backlit keyboards (14-inch and 15.5-inch), smooth graphics and clear high contrast display and AMD Radeon® graphics. The 11-inch model comes with an AMD processor, the 14-inch comes with second-generation Intel® Core™ processor and 15-inch is available with a variety of second and third generation Intel® Core™ processors.

Future Sounds: LL COOL J E 14P Series Boomdizzle Bundle In collaboration with entertainment icon and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist LL COOL J, Sony offers the exclusive VAIO E 14P bundle in red and black wrap design featuring Boomdizzle's MyConnect Studio Technology, allowing multiple artists and musicians to record, edit and produce new music together in real-time from anywhere in the world. The completely web-based software eliminates the geographical and economical barriers for musicians. The bundle also includes Dolby® Home Theatre v4 Audio Technology and Sony MDR-V55 DJ style headphones styled to match.

Scoop: Queen Marie-Antoinette will be Present for the First Time at the E3 2012 in Los Angeles!

History comes alive - Némopolis has gained, in less than nine years, a leading position in the much coveted segment of historical adventure video games. They produce games with the most prestigious partners in France (Château de Versailles…).

Némopolis has developed an original and upmarket catalogue of video games, addressing people who want to discover history and famous monuments of Europe and the USA while being entertained. Diverting and addictive, the latest collection "Travels in time" has met with great success in France, USA, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Russia with more than 100,000 families!

The new title, "Marie-Antoinette and the disciples of Loki" on first Look @E3:

•Uncover a traitorous plot surrounding Marie-Antoinette, the Queen of France, and track down the suspicious disciples of Loki.

•Travel to marvellous cities like Philadelphia, Versailles, Vienna and Prague at the end of the 18th century

•Meet famous historical characters such as Mozart, Benjamin Franklin, Jeanne of Valois and Marie-Antoinette! Sharpen your skills through puzzles, brainteasers, exciting Hidden Object adventures and fun mini games + a virtual encyclopedia embedded in the game reveals itself as the game develops to complete your experience.

Available on PC, Mac - online and physical - and Nintendo DS. An Ipad version, and a Facebook game demo will also be released soon... on June 15th. The game is localized in nine languages(FRA/ENG/PORT/ITA/GER/DUTCH/SPA/JAP). Other key titles will be introduced at the E3 2012: •The Vulture, Paris under Napoleon (PC/MAC) (FRA/ENG/ RU). •Versailles Mysteries I and II (PC/MAC) (FRA/ENG). •The American war of Independence and Marie-Antoinette, NDS (FRA /ENG/SPA/ITA/GER). More information on http://www.nemopolis.net

Penguin Announces Partnership for New e-Book Format

In a groundbreaking marriage of book publishing and technology, Penguin Group (USA) has partnered with digital publisher Citia to introduce a series of interactive, shareable nonfiction works, starting with "Wired" cofounder Kevin Kelly's "What Technology Wants." The Citia edition will be available for $9.99 in the App Store for the iPad 2 and iPad 3.

"Penguin has always looked for new ways to serve both writers and readers," says Susan Petersen Kennedy, President of Penguin Group (USA). "Allen Lane, our founder, famously started the paperback revolution in the 1930s; recently, we've created innovative, interactive eBooks. Today, we're proud to announce this new partnership with Citia, which is offering an entirely new way to read. Kevin Kelly is one of our most progressive thinkers, and 'What Technology Wants' is the perfect book to launch this format."

A Citia edition of a book reveals the idea structure of the book in a highly visual manner and allows readers to absorb book content rapidly and in whatever sequence they prefer. Books are transformed into decks of informational cards about the major themes of the book and the cards are connected in a three-dimensional landscape. While reading "What Technology Wants" in this form, each digital card is shareable via social media (Twitter, Facebook and Google+) and email. This social capability makes it easy to start and to further rich conversations with friends, family and colleagues. The Citia platform will allow ideas in books to travel farther and faster than ever before.

"I am gobsmacked," says Kelly. "Citia managed to digest the entire book, and to make it sing as well. I can't speak for other readers, but I found the Citia app edition of my book fast moving, yet deep, and clear. I am really proud to be associated with this experiment." What Technology Wants posits that technology is a living force that can expand our individual potential—if we listen to what it wants.

Microsoft Unveils XBox Upgrades

To kick-start the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. today unveiled a bold new vision for enjoying entertainment at home and on the go with Xbox SmartGlass. Launching this year, Xbox SmartGlass is an application for Windows 8, Windows Phone, and other portable devices that connects phones, PCs and tablets with your Xbox 360 console to make your entertainment smarter, more interactive and more fun.

The intelligence of Xbox SmartGlass makes your entertainment more engaging, Web surfing more effortless, and playing games more immersive by delivering companion content and control to enhance your TV experience.

"Xbox is on a mission to make the entertainment that you love even more amazing," said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "With Xbox SmartGlass, we are lighting up entertainment across your phone, tablet, PC and TV in a completely new way. If you love to play games, watch TV and movies, surf the Web, or listen to music, there has never been a better time to be on Xbox."

Two years after the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360, Microsoft unveiled the next step in its journey to make Xbox synonymous with entertainment by unveiling Xbox SmartGlass, Internet Explorer for Xbox, and new TV, movie and music offerings.

The Web Transformed for TV

Microsoft will launch Internet Explorer for Xbox this fall in all countries where Xbox and Xbox LIVE are available. Through the power of Xbox, the magic of Kinect and the intelligence of Xbox SmartGlass, you will be able to surf the Internet using your voice on your Xbox 360 and navigate using your mobile devices for an incredibly easy Web browsing experience on the television.

Whether it is a new website you want to check out on the big screen, an HD video you want to share in your living room, or your favorite website you check daily and want to view in the 10-foot experience, you will have the power of the Web now on your TV.

Entertainment Keeps Getting Better on Xbox

Last year, Xbox added voice search powered by Bing and the power of Kinect, making it easier to find the entertainment you want. This year, voice search is expanding to 12 additional countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland.