Consumer Electronics Daily News

VTech Brings Parents a Bundle of Joy with New Line of Competitively Priced, Feature-Rich Baby Monitors

VTech® Communications Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of VTech Holdings Ltd. (HKSE: 303;  the world's largest manufacturer of cordless telephones for home and electronic learning products for children), today launched a new line of baby monitors: the Safe & Sound™ Full-Color Video and Audio Monitor (VM321) and the Safe & Sound Digital Audio Monitor (DM221). Both VTech baby monitor systems offer robust features at affordable price points, enabling parents to maximize their monitoring options with less impact to their wallets.

VTech has combined its expertise in wireless home communication with its knowledge of innovative children's electronics products to deliver a highly functional and affordable line of baby monitors.  The new baby monitor line features digital communication technology, which improves range, sound quality and reduces interference from other home devices, so that parents can easily hear sounds and see the images from the baby monitor.

For parents wanting to be completely in tune with their little ones, the VTech Safe & Sound Full-Color Video and Audio Monitor (VM321, MSRP: $149.95) provides a full audio/visual monitoring solution that gives parents peace-of-mind with up to 1,000 feet of range between the camera and parent unit. The system features high-quality video resolution (transmitting up to 22 frames per second) on a sizeable 2.8-inch video screen with a 320 x 240 pixel display (compared to a 2-inch display for the competition's slightly more expensive models).

Other unique features include a split video screen, enabling simultaneous viewing from up to four separate cameras with the purchase of additional cameras (VM310, MSRP: $49.95), along with infrared night-vision capability for viewing when the room is completely dark. The Safe & Sound Full-Color Video and Audio Monitor also features a two-way intercom system to let the little one hear parents' voices, polyphonic lullabies to play, a temperature sensor to ensure parents can keep rooms heated or cooled appropriately and vibrating alerts to noise in the baby's room for notification when the parent unit is attached with the belt clip or in a pocket. Finally, the system offers a six-level LED sound indicator to adjust volume and a rechargeable battery on the parent unit, avoiding the need to continuously stock and replace batteries.

For parents needing a more affordable solution, the VTech Safe and Sound Digital Audio Monitor (DM221, MSRP: $39.95) offers up to 1,000 feet of range and features Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) 6.0 technology, ensuring high-quality and reliable sound that prevents wireless interference from other electronic devices and security from digital snooping. Parents won't miss a gurgle or hiccup with vibrating sound alerts, sound indicators, backlit display on the parent unit and a belt clip for constant monitoring.  In addition, the intercom system allows immediate two-way communication to sooth the baby when restless. VTech offers up to 18 hours of battery life and rechargeable batteries, ensuring continuous monitoring all night, even if the family is on the go.

"Parents want peace of mind when their babies aren't in their arms, and VTech is giving them a solid alternative with monitoring products that deliver the best value for their dollar," said Matt Ramage, senior vice president, product management, VTech Communications. "Our leadership in wireless communication for the home enables us to be competitive in both quality and price, providing parents with a reliable, feature-rich solution to keep tabs on their little ones, as they go about their days and nights."

For more information on VTech and its new baby monitor products, please visit http://www.babymonitors.vtech.com.

Turtle Beach Number One Third Party Console Gaming Accessory Brand for 2011

Turtle Beach, pioneers of the game audio category, announced today that based on year-ending NPD data for 2011, Turtle Beach was the number one gaming headsets/headphones company with 50% of the market for the year and the number one third party console video gaming accessories company, based on 2011 dollar volume.

The strong growth for the category has led NPD to create a dedicated Headsets category, splitting off from the general Audio category. Headsets continue to be the strongest growing segment in the gaming industry and is expanding rapidly. Turtle Beach led the field with 12 of the top 25 Gaming Headset SKUS in 2011. Overall, Turtle Beach dominated the market, taking an average of 50% market share for 2011, with a 58% share in December alone, a high for the year.

“Turtle Beach created the console gaming headset category and we have been the leader ever since releasing our first XBOX headset more than five years ago. We are number one because our products are based on the principle that quality audio is a critical part of the video game experience and the market has responded,” said Bob Picunko, Chief Marketing Officer at Turtle Beach. “The latest NPD data has shown the strongest growth in the history of Turtle Beach and the category itself. The creation of a dedicated Gaming Headset category and our significant market share is a testament to the quality of our product and the desire of players to have a more immersive audio experience.”

Turtle Beach kicked off with a strong start at CES 2012, where its Ear Force XP400 was named “Best Gaming Hardware” for IGN’s Best of CES 2012 Awards. The Ear Force XP400 features 2.4/5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi technology, an industry first, plus Dolby Post-Processing with six variable virtual speaker configurations that offer custom tuned angles to optimize the surround sound effect.

2011’s successes and continued growth in the category were driven by a range of new products with trailblazing innovations, bringing expanded offerings for gamers of all types. Leading the charge was the Ear Force X12, successor to the Ear Force X11, the best-selling stereo headset for the Xbox 360 of all time. Early in the year the Ear Force PX5 reinvented gaming headsets by introducing patent-pending audio “presets” which allow developers and players to customize audio settings that enhances the game experience and offers a competitive edge. Turtle Beach also launched a line of limited edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 headsets to coincide with the biggest entertainment launch in history. The end of the year brought the Ear Force XP500, the first Xbox 360 headset to feature completely wireless XBOX Live chat capabilities with integrated Bluetooth technology that enables gamers to answer phone calls and stream audio while gaming.

Motorola CLP Two-Way Radios Enable Security Guards to Comfortably Monitor Security Gates and Doors

When used in conjunction with a wireless callbox, the new Motorola CLP1010 and CLP1040 two-way radios enable security guards to monitor security gates and doors without being confined to a desk. These radios are about than half the size of a dollar bill and weigh less than 2.5 ounces so security guards can comfortably carry them all day long. The palm-sized CLP series radios are 40% smaller and 50% lighter than other business two-way radios.

IntercomsOnline.com is now the Motorola Authorized Business Two-Way Radio Reseller for these radios.

One of the most unique characteristics that make the radio even more comfortable to carry is the CLPs optional magnet-mount accessory. With it, you can literally mount the radio anywhere on your clothing. No belt or even pants required!

Says IntercomsOnline.com marketing director David Onslow, "When paired with one of our long-range wireless callboxes, the Motorola CLP series enable security guards to roam the building or campus and not be confined to a guard shack or desk. This enables a single guard to be more productive thus reducing the number of security guards needed. That’s something you can’t do with a traditional wired access control solution."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment of security guards is expected to grow by 14 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This occupation will have a very large number of new jobs arise, about 152,500 over the projections decade. Concern about crime, vandalism, and terrorism continues to increase the need for security."

With rising demand comes rising employment costs so finding ways to increase efficiency of your guards will become increasingly important.

While the CLP1010 and CLP1040 radios were designed for the retail, hospitality, and restaurant industry, with their military-grade reliability, ease of use, and sleek styling, IntercomsOnline.com is finding that they have uses in a myriad of other industries.

Creative Announces New HN-900 and Aurvana X-Fi 2 Active Noise-Canceling Headphones

Creative Technology Ltd today announced the new Creative HN-900 headphones, which utilize active noise cancellation to reduce ambient noise by up to 85 percent.  The Creative HN-900 headphones also feature an in-line microphone and switch for convenient one-click voice communication on the iPhone, and 40mm Neodymium drivers and gold-plated plugs for outstanding audio playback. Dual-mode usage allows active noise-cancellation for up to 40 hours by a single AAA alkaline battery or in passive mode without power.

Creative today also introduced the Aurvana™ X-Fi® 2 Noise-Canceling Headphones, which utilize active noise cancellation to reduce ambient noise by up to 90 percent, and feature X-Fi audio technology for improved sound quality and a virtual surround sound effect that is ideal for watching in-flight entertainment.  The Creative X-Fi Crystalizer™ utilizes algorithms to make any digital audio sound better by intelligently and selectively restoring the highs and lows that were lost during MP3 or other compression. The Creative X-Fi CMSS-3D™ virtually transforms stereo headphone playback into the more immersive listening experience of a surround sound speaker system.  Users can independently select noise cancellation, X-Fi Crystalizer, X-Fi CMSS-3D and volume with convenient controls on the headphones. All of the technologies can be enjoyed together for up to nine hours from two AAA batteries.  The headphones can also be used without audio technologies in passive mode.

Technical Specifications of the Creative HN-900
Headphones
•    40mm Neodymium magnet drivers
•    Frequency Response of 20Hz ~ 20kHz
•    Noise Reduction Level of -18dB (85%)
•    Impedance of 290ohms*
•    Sensitivity at 1kHz of 100dB/mW*
Microphone 
•    Omni-directional
•    Frequency Response of 100Hz ~ 10kHz
•    Impedance of 2.2kohms
•    Sensitivity at 1kHz of -38dBV/Pa
•    Cable length of 1.5m detachable with inline microphone
•    Approximate battery life of up to 40 hours from 1 x AAA alkaline battery.
•    Product weight of 168 grams
* Specifications measured in active Noise Cancellation mode

Technical Specifications of the Creative Aurvana X-Fi 2
•    40mm Neodymium magnet drivers
•    Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
•    Noise Reduction Level: 20dB
•    Impedance: 450ohms (on), 72ohms (off)
•    Sensitivity (1kHz): 105dB/mW (on), 95dB/mW (off)
•    Oxygen-Free Copper cables
•    Gold-plated connectors, including airline adapter
•    1.5m (5 ft) standard cable and 1.5m (5 ft) extension (iPhone compatible)

Pricing and Availability
The Creative HN-900 noise-canceling headphones are now available at creative.com and InMotion Entertainment at the suggested retail price of US$99.99.  The Creative Aurvana X-Fi noise-canceling headphones will be available in February 2012 at the suggested retail price of US$199.99.  For more information please visit.creative.com/headphones.

Rhapsody Debuts App For Android Tablets

Rhapsody today announced the availability of its new application for Android tablets.  This latest product innovation from the most popular premium subscription music service in America makes it even easier for Rhapsody members to discover new music, read about their favorite artists and rediscover music with expert playlists, guides and features.

The tablet transforms Rhapsody into an immersive experience that's inspired by what digital music lovers miss about physical albums and CDs: album art, photos and the ability to reach out and touch the next album you're playing.  The tablet amplifies the experience with the best aspects of digital, with links across the universe of content that Rhapsody editors have produced over the past decade.

"We didn't just resize Rhapsody – we re-imagined the entire experience for the tablet," said Brendan Benzing, chief product officer, Rhapsody.  "The tablet is not a giant phone or a mini computer. It's your companion on the couch, in transit and out in the world, and therefore people experience music and consume content differently than they would on a computer, portable device, TV or home audio system."

Original editorial content has been a mainstay of the Rhapsody service since it launched in 2001. Each week, the editorial team--who are the leading writers in their respective genres--produces features, reviews, videos and playlists designed to guide members through Rhapsody's vast catalog of 14 million songs across nearly 600 musical genres.  The tablet application is built around this content, with lush imagery, playable links and franchises designed to guide members through the service.

The application maximizes the unique capabilities of the tablet.  Members can tap, swipe and zoom through Rhapsody content while listening.  In addition to streaming the Rhapsody catalog while connected to the Internet, tablet users can download playlists to their tablet and store them to enjoy offline anywhere.

"We are dedicated to creating a premium experience that consistently brings value to every aspect of the Rhapsody service," said Benzing. "The tablet app delivers on this promise by providing more than just access to music—it's a guided tour of millions of songs and a musical canvas for a myriad of experiences, from collaborating with friends to build a party playlist by passing the tablet around the room, to providing a soundtrack to a recipe or an e-book."

The tablet application is available today in the Android Market and the Amazon Appstore for Android.

Rhapsody applications are also available on the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, RIM BlackBerry, and Windows Phone 7 as well as through more than 70 consumer electronics devices, including those by Vizio, SanDisk, HP, Sonos and Philips. 

Bang & Olufsen Offers Facebook Users a Creative Design Contest

Bang & Olufsen, the world's leading provider of exclusive, high quality audio and video products, has announced a consumer design competition via its facebook fan page, www.bang-olufsen.dk/facebook, where anyone can design new speaker covers for its widely popular BeoSound 8 iPad/iPhone/iPod docking station. The contest began last week and will continue until March 18. Twelve finalists will be selected by public vote and the final winner will be chosen by Bang & Olufsen executives. The winning design will be manufactured in a limited edition series to be available for purchase later in 2012.

"BeoSound 8 is known for its excellent sound quality and distinct design," states Zean Nielsen, President of Bang & Olufsen America, Inc. "It appeals to a wide variety of customers and is already in thousands of homes around the world. It is our best-selling audio product to date and to commemorate its success, we now invite any and every B&O customer and brand enthusiast the opportunity to create a unique design expression for BeoSound 8 and to join our prestigious roster of product designers."

The competition runs through Bang & Olufsen's facebook site, where people are invited to upload a photo or design suggestion. Visitors to the competition page on Facebook will vote on the incoming design suggestions every week. Every two weeks, the three designs with the top voting scores will be selected to enter the Hall of Fame. After eight weeks Bang & Olufsen will select one Grand Prize winner among the 12 designs in the Hall of Fame.

The winning design will be manufactured by Bang & Olufsen and sold worldwide as a Limited Edition BeoSound 8.

Positive reviews
Bang & Olufsen's powerful and distinctive looking speaker dock sold more than 55,000 units in the first year on the market, which makes BeoSound 8 the best-selling audio product in Bang & Olufsen history. It has seen an incredible amount of positive reviews in international magazines thanks to its striking design and sound performance.

For example, Men's Journal refers to it as a "Sexier, smarter iPod dock, able to optimize its acoustics for any room."  Angeleno magazine also adds "Design buffs will love the system's sleek conical speakers, while music lovers will appreciate the cutting edge technology."

Go to the Bang & Olufsen facebook site for detailed information about the competition.

Recommended consumer price is $999.00, it is available in all B&O showrooms, select Apple stores and online www.shopbangolufsen.com

Rhapsody Acquires Napster International

Rhapsody announced its European expansion today through the acquisition of Napster International, the first subscription (flat-rate) music service in Europe. Rhapsody will own and operate the Napster service in Germany and the United Kingdom.

"The acquisition of Napster and its subscriber base in the UK and Germany gives us an ideal entry to the European market," said Jon Irwin, president, Rhapsody. "Through the benefit of scale, the strength of our editorial programming and strategic partnerships, we can now bring the Napster service to even more consumers on a variety of platforms."

The news of the acquisition was warmly received among music industry executives across Europe, who have been ardent supporters of Rhapsody and its business model.

"Rhapsody has played a pivotal role defining streaming music services, which are essential to the future of the entire industry," said Rob Wells, president, global digital business, Universal Music Group.  "I welcome Rhapsody's arrival in Europe, where I am eager to see them duplicate their success attracting paid subscribers in the United States." 

Rhapsody retains all Napster International employees and will operate under the Napster brand in Germany and the UK, where it is widely recognized, based on an independent brand awareness study.  Napster subscribers will be migrated to Rhapsody's infrastructure in March, at which time they will enjoy new features, including a new Web experience and improved speed and performance—while keeping the music libraries they have built.

"We have always been and will continue to be committed to offering music fans the most flexible, comfortable way to consume and discover music – wherever and whenever they want," said Thorsten Schliesche, general manager, Napster International.  "The acquisition is another important milestone. Combining Napster International subscribers with Rhapsody's massive base in the U.S. will further strengthen our position as the leading music subscription service."

Napster subscribers will immediately benefit from several improvements to the product.  In coming months, consumers will also see enhancements to the Web client and mobile apps, most notably improved offline playback quality and a greater ability to manage playlists.

Rhapsody was the first subscription music service, launched in December 2001. Today, it is the largest premium subscription music service in the United States, with more than 1 million paying subscribers and more than 14 million tracks across nearly 600 genres.  The Rhapsody service is available on more than 70 consumer electronic devices, including all smartphone platforms; more than any service of its kind.  Rhapsody subscribers also enjoy original editorial content from its staff of the most renowned music writers anywhere, including reviews, features, playlists and more than 200 programmed radio stations.

"This is the perfect time to extend our borders—both geographically and technologically, as we take our service to new places, including the automobile and the living room," said Irwin. "Consumer demand for subscription music has never been greater, and our partners are eager to bring music to the masses in new and creative ways. There is a lot of room for growth in this market and I firmly believe that 2012 is going to be our biggest year yet."

Pandora Records Local Radio Market Growth

Pandora, the leading personalized radio service, today announced its 2011 full year* listenership results and that it has now reached an Average Quarter Hour (AQH) rating of 1.0 or more among adults 18-34 in the top radio markets. The full year listenership results revealed AQH and cumulative audience (cume) increases in each of the top local radio markets in the country based on listener data from January 6, 2011 through January 4, 2012.

During that period, Pandora experienced 50 to 100 percent growth in AQH ratings in all of the top radio markets for adults ages 18-34 and 18-49, with the largest AQH gains of 100 percent in the New York, Atlanta, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Boston metro survey areas (MSA).  An AQH rating of 1.0 means an average of one percent of a target population listened to Pandora for at least five minutes within a quarter hour window between 6.00 a.m. and midnight.

Pandora posted 44 to 75 percent cume increases in each local market with the Atlanta and Dallas-Ft. Worth areas posting the largest cume gains. Cume is the weekly measure of the total number of unique Pandora listeners in each market.

During the holiday season in December 2011, the ratings revealed that among adults ages 18-34, Pandora now has an AQH rating of 1.0 in all of the top local radio markets and the weekly cume reached more than 22 percent in each of the top local radio metro survey areas.

Pandora Chief Revenue Officer John Trimble said, "Our 2011 listenership results demonstrate our local radio market penetration and enable advertisers to fully understand the scope and scale of Pandora's audience."

Edison Research analyzed Pandora data to determine exactly how many listeners tuned in, how long each listened, and then converted that into Average Quarter Hour and weekly cume metrics using industry accepted methodology for metro survey areas. For this analysis, Edison did not include Pandora One subscribers who are not served any advertisements. To see the full methodology please visit: http://www.edisonresearch.com/home/archives/2012/01/pandora-local-market-analysis-by-edison-research-methodology.php

* 2011 full year is defined as January 6, 2011 to January 4, 2012.

AQH Rating Adults 18-34 (Mon-Sun 6 a.m. -Midnight)	Jan 2011	Holiday 2011	Full Year Increase
New York	0.5	1.0	100%
Los Angeles	0.7	1.2	71.4%
Chicago	0.6	1.0	66.6%
San Francisco	0.7	1.2	71.4%
Dallas-Ft. Worth	0.6	1.1	83.3%
Houston	0.6	1.0	66.6%
Philadelphia	0.6	1.0	66.6%
Washington, DC	0.7	1.2	71.4%
Atlanta	0.5	1.0	100%
Boston	0.6	1.1	83.3%
Portland	0.8	1.2	50%

Cume Rating Adults 18-34 (Mon-Sun 6 a.m. -Midnight)	Jan 2011	Holiday 2011	Full Year Increase
New York	13.4	22.2	65.6%
Los Angeles	16.8	27.2	61.9%
Chicago	14.3	23.8	66.4%
San Francisco	18.0	27.8	54.4%
Dallas-Ft. Worth	14.4	25.2	75%
Houston	14.9	24.6	65.1%
Philadelphia	14.8	24.8	67.5%
Washington, DC	18.4	27.7	50.5%
Atlanta	13.4	23.3	73.8%
Boston	16.1	24.8	54%
Portland	18.1	26.2	44.7%

AQH Rating Adults 18-49 (Mon-Sun 6 a.m. -Midnight)	Jan 2011	Holiday 2011	Full Year Increase
New York	0.4	0.7	75%
Los Angeles	0.5	0.9	80%
Chicago	0.4	0.7	75%
San Francisco	0.5	0.9	80%
Dallas-Ft. Worth	0.4	0.8	100%
Houston	0.4	0.7	75%
Philadelphia	0.4	0.7	75%
Washington, DC	0.5	0.8	60%
Atlanta	0.4	0.7	75%
Boston	0.4	0.8	100%
Portland	0.6	0.9	50%

Cume Rating Adults 18-49 (Mon-Sun 6 a.m. -Midnight)	Jan 2011	Holiday 2011	Full Year Increase
New York	8.9	15.2	70.7%
Los Angeles	11.3	18.8	66.3%
Chicago	9.7	16.6	71.1%
San Francisco	12.3	19.1	55.2%
Dallas-Ft. Worth	10.3	18.0	74.7%
Houston	10.4	17.4	67.3%
Philadelphia	9.8	16.9	72.4%
Washington, DC	12.4	19.1	54%
Atlanta	9.6	16.8	75%
Boston	10.6	17.0	60.3%
Portland	13.0	19.1	46.9%

Rhapsody Goes Platinum

Rhapsody has cemented its position as the largest premium subscription music service in the United States with the announcement today that it has surpassed the one million paying subscriber milestone. On the heels of its 10-year anniversary, Rhapsody is delivering more music—averaging more than 10 million songs a day—to more music lovers than ever before.

"We've accomplished quite a bit over the past decade, so it's no small statement to say that 2011 was probably our biggest year yet," said Jon Irwin, president, Rhapsody. "I told our team that when we topped one million paid subscribers, I'd shave my head… it was probably the best free haircut I've ever had."

In addition to surpassing the one million mark, it's been a noteworthy year for Rhapsody, which launched a new, social music experience in September, completed an acquisition of Napster November 30 and celebrated its 10^th anniversary in early December.

Rhapsody's ongoing commitment to accessibility has also helped create separation in the space. Now available on more devices (60+) than any other subscription music service, Rhapsody has shown that access beyond the PC is a premium feature consumers are willing to pay for, as demonstrated both by subscriber growth and usage. 2011 was the first year that a majority of the playback came on a device other than a PC--40 percent of which was mobile--a trend that's expected to continue.

Partnerships with companies such as MetroPCS, which bundles Rhapsody with its prepaid unlimited text and data plans, continue to introduce Rhapsody to new consumers who value having their music on the go.

What's next for Rhapsody?

"The next frontiers for subscription music are the living room and the car," said Irwin. "Consumers will be able to enjoy Rhapsody from even more connected audio and video systems, as well as other platforms and distribution channels—at home, in the car and everywhere in-between, domestically and abroad. This has been an incredible year, marked by several notable achievements, and we're entering 2012 with big plans to bring music to even more people, in more places."

Automotive Technologies to be Featured at CES

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), owner and producer of the International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, has announced that a record number of automotive exhibitors will be showing their wares at the upcoming 2012 International CES. At least six of the industry’s top ten manufacturers will showcase their latest technologies among CES’ enhanced lineup of automotive technology exhibits, TechZones and conference sessions. The 2012 International CES will run January 10-13, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Many of the most innovative automotive technologies make their debut at the International CES®, and the 2012 show will continue this tradition. More than six of the top ten manufacturers and other automotive tech companies at the 2012 CES will span more than 95,000 net square feet of exhibit space, up 10 percent over last year’s in-vehicle tech presence.

This year, vehicle OEMs account for nearly two-thirds of $9.3 billion in wholesale industry shipments for in-vehicle technology. Audi, Chrysler, Ford, GM/Onstar, Kia, and Mercedes all will showcase their latest technologies on the CES show floor.

Highlighting automotive technology at CES, Alan Mulally, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company, is the first announced participant on the year’s Innovation Power Panel, a CES keynote taking place Wednesday, Jan 11 at 9 a.m. in the Las Vegas Hilton. Panelists will discuss how a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship has made them global leaders in their industries. This keynote panel debuted in 2011 and featured the CEOs of Cisco, GE and Xerox. Ford will be the first automotive company on this panel. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, will deliver a keynote address at the 2012 International CES at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 10, at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater.

In 2012, CEA industry forecasts predict sales of factory-installed vehicle technologies will increase by 16 percent, to nearly $7 billion. Connected systems like OnStar and Ford SYNC offer infotainment, communication, safety and driver assistance solutions and services. CEA consumer research shows approximately 15 percent of U.S. households now own a vehicle with a connected communication/entertainment system. CEA expects this figure to rise quickly in the coming years as car companies make these solutions available across more models.

CES attendees also will see innovative new electric vehicles and charging solutions on the show floor. The GoElectricDrive TechZone, sponsored by the Electric Drive Transportation Association in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC), will showcase electric drive technologies, products and services. Electric vehicles and their associated charge stations – for homes, condominiums, public facilities – and a range of electric mobility products and services will be on display. The Safe Driver TechZone will focus on technologies that assist in auto collision avoidance, lane drift assistance, parking, speed monitoring, hands-free, text-to-voice, driver drowsiness detection and more. The Location Based Services TechZone will serve as the premier location for providers of custom technologies, services and advertising sent to portable and in-car navigation devices based on current location. The 2012 CES will also offer the Connect2Car: Connecting Automotive and Consumer Electronics Lifestyles SuperSession focused on integration of new systems and apps into the car, and the In-Vehicle Technology Conference Track, featuring the following conference sessions focused on smart technologies that minimize driver error, enhance the driving experience and boost road safety: •Cars Online: Integrating smartphone and wireless-assist platforms into automobile electronics is transforming the connected car. Drivers and passengers have vastly more entertainment and communications options - from hands-free texting to Pandora and more. Panelists will review innovations and options in car technology and their impact on driver safety.

•Smart Cars Talking to Each Other – New Applications Using Vehicle-to-X Technology: Cars soon will be able to talk to neighboring vehicles, traffic lights, even to pedestrians using short-range Vehicle-to-X (V2X) technology, aka "Wi-Fi on wheels." V2X may open new safety and consumer applications for both mobile devices and cars. Find out what opportunities are ahead for peer-to-peer apps in automotive. For more news on the 2012 International CES before, during and after the show, including information on CES exhibitors, conference sessions and TechZones, visit www.CESweb.org.