The J. M. Smucker Company to Merge
P&G's Folgers Business into the Company in an All-Stock Transaction
ORRVILLE and CINCINNATI, Ohio, June
4, 2008 -- The J. M. Smucker
Company (NYSE: SJM) and The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) announced
today the signing of a definitive agreement to merge the Folgers coffee
business ("Folgers") into The J. M. Smucker Company in an all-stock reverse
Morris Trust transaction valued at approximately $3.3 billion, including the
assumption of an estimated $350 million of Folgers debt. As part of the
transaction, Smucker will issue a one-time special dividend of $5 per share
to Smucker shareholders as of the record date, prior to the merger, a clear
indication of the strength of the combined businesses. Following this
one-time special dividend, P&G shareholders will receive approximately 53.5
percent of Smucker in a tax-free stock-for-stock merger.
Folgers is the leading producer of retail packaged coffee products in the
United States with a 150 year history. Folgers' broad portfolio of products
are sold primarily under its flagship Folgers(R) brand. This brand joins a
widely recognized portfolio of brands that include Smucker's(R), Jif(R),
Crisco(R), Pillsbury(R), Eagle Brand(R), Hungry Jack(R), Robin Hood(R) and
Bick's(R). The proposed transaction creates a powerful portfolio of brands
and an even stronger Smucker Company with annual sales approaching $5
billion, and greater scale that will benefit all of its businesses. With the
addition of Folgers, the total size of the categories in which Smucker
participates increases to approximately $15 billion as compared to $1
billion in 2002. The addition of Folgers, a billion dollar brand, is
consistent with Smucker's strategy to own and market number one food brands
in North America.
The merger provides investors with a compelling financial story and
further strengthens Smucker's ability to deliver enhanced shareholder value
over time. Smucker believes that the addition of the Folgers business will
benefit Smucker and its shareholders in several important ways, as detailed
below:
-- Assuming Folgers was owned for all of Smucker's fiscal year 2009:
-- Net sales are expected to increase to approximately $4.7 billion.
-- It is estimated that the transaction would be accretive by
approximately 9 percent to fiscal year 2009 earnings per share,
excluding merger and integration costs, and after giving effect to
the impact of the special dividend to Smucker shareholders, as
discussed in Transaction Details below.
-- Smucker expects to realize synergies in excess of $80 million.
-- The profit contribution from Folgers and fully realized synergies
of over $80 million are expected to result in estimated earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA")
of $820 million. This represents an increase in the EBITDA margin
of nearly 300 basis points.
-- Results for fiscal year 2009 will depend on the actual closing date.
Assuming the transaction closes early in the fourth quarter of calendar
2008:
-- Fiscal 2009 net sales are estimated to approximate $4 billion.
-- Fiscal 2009 earnings per share, before one-time costs associated
with the transaction, are estimated to range from $3.45 to $3.50.
-- Fiscal 2010 earnings per share, before one-time costs associated
with the transaction, are estimated to range from $3.62 to $3.72.
-- Longer term, sales for Smucker are expected to increase 6 percent per
year with acquisitions continuing to play a strategic role. The
ability to leverage the sales growth results in an expected earnings
per share growth rate of 8 percent or greater.
-- Smucker will continue to maintain a strong balance sheet with a
conservative leverage profile and substantial incremental free cash
flow, after capital expenditures ("FCF"). Smucker is expected to
generate pro forma FCF of approximately $400 million, which is 12
percent accretive on a per share basis. The enhanced cash flow will
allow Smucker to continue its historic strong dividend practice,
typically in the range of 40 percent of earnings, to pursue accretive
market-leading brand acquisitions, and to fund future share
repurchases.
Executive Comments
"Folgers is a perfect strategic fit within our portfolio of leading and
iconic North American food brands," said Tim Smucker, Chairman and Co-Chief
Executive Officer of Smucker. "Folgers will become our tenth number one
brand in North America and will further enhance the high quality, great
tasting, diverse product offerings that consumers expect from Smucker. We
are proud to welcome the talented Folgers employees to the Smucker Company
where brands and people are about more than making and marketing products.
We believe the many common values shared by our organizations represent a
great foundation for a smooth integration."
"Coffee is the perfect complement to breakfast or dessert -- two areas we
know a lot about," said Richard Smucker, President and Co-Chief Executive
Officer of Smucker. "Like Smucker's, Jif, Crisco, and Pillsbury, the Folgers
brand has exceptional equity with consumers. The addition of Folgers will
also enhance our ability to reach out to consumers at retail through
complementary, multi-brand merchandising activities. We are excited about
the addition of Folgers and the many dimensions this transaction brings in
our quest to meet and exceed consumer expectations."
"Since adding Jif and Crisco in 2002, we have continued to expand our
portfolio by completing ten brand acquisitions," added Tim Smucker. "We have
developed a core competency of integrating our acquisitions in a timely
fashion and growing the brands. As an example, Jif has experienced an
annualized sales growth of 7 percent, increased its share of market by 7
share points, and introduced a variety of new products."
"Strategically, P&G has exited certain categories in order to focus on
our core businesses and enhance the growth profile of the portfolio," said
A.G. Lafley, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Procter &
Gamble. "The structure and terms of this transaction deliver on the goals we
stated for the separation of the coffee business from P&G. This transaction
maximizes the after-tax value of the coffee business for P&G shareholders
and minimizes earnings per share dilution."
"Smucker has proven to be an excellent steward of Jif and Crisco since
taking ownership of the brands from P&G in 2002 and I am confident that
Folgers will continue to thrive as part of The J. M. Smucker Company," added
Lafley. "Smucker's core beliefs, values, and principles are very much the
same as those of P&G. We cannot think of a better long-term home for P&G's
former coffee employees and brands than Smucker."
Transaction Details
Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by the boards
of directors of both companies, P&G will distribute Folgers to P&G
shareholders in a tax-free transaction, with a simultaneous merger with
Smucker. P&G expects the Folgers separation to occur via a split-off and
plans to finalize the transaction structure in the early fall of 2008. In
the merger, current P&G shareholders will receive approximately 53.5 percent
of Smucker shares and current Smucker shareholders will own approximately
46.5 percent of the combined company upon closing. Upon closing, Smucker
will have approximately 118 million shares outstanding. As part of the
transaction, Smucker will be assuming an estimated $350 million of Folgers
debt. The transaction is expected to be tax-free to both companies and P&G
shareholders. In addition, Smucker shareholders as of the record date, prior
to the merger, will receive a special dividend of $5 per share. The record
date for the special dividend will be determined by Smucker at a future
date.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of calendar
2008, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory and
Smucker shareholder approvals. Smucker expects to incur approximately $100
million in one-time costs related to the transaction over the next 12 to 24
months.
Following completion of the transaction, the expanded Smucker Company
will add over 1,250 employees including sales, marketing, coffee
procurement, product development, supply chain and administrative functions
in Cincinnati and manufacturing plants in New Orleans, Louisiana; Kansas
City, Missouri; and Sherman, Texas, along with a key distribution center in
New Orleans.
Smucker was advised by Banc of America Securities LLC; William Blair &
Company, L.L.C.; Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP; and Weil, Gotshal & Manges
LLP. P&G was advised by Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., The Blackstone Group
L.P., Jones Day and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.
Conference Call
P&G and Smucker will jointly host a conference call today at 9:00 a.m. ET
to discuss the Folgers transaction. The webcast, as well as a replay in
downloadable MP3 format, can be accessed from the companies' websites at
www.smuckers.com and www.pg.com . An audio replay will be available
following the call and can be accessed by dialing 800-289-0579 or
719-457-2550, confirmation code 4697060 and will be available until Monday,
June 9, 2008.
About The J. M. Smucker Company
The J. M. Smucker Company is the leading marketer and manufacturer of
fruit spreads, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings,
sweetened condensed milk, and health and natural foods beverages in North
America. Its family of brands includes Smucker's(R), Jif(R), Crisco(R),
Pillsbury(R), Eagle Brand(R), R.W. Knudsen Family(R), Hungry Jack(R), White
Lily(R), and Martha White(R) in the United States, along with Robin Hood(R),
Five Roses(R), Carnation(R), Europe's Best(R) and Bick's(R) in Canada. The
Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics,
Growth and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a
century ago. Since 1998, the Company has appeared on FORTUNE Magazine's
annual listing of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States,
ranking number one in 2004. For more information about the Company, visit
www.smuckers.com .
The J. M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks, except
Pillsbury is a trademark of The Pillsbury Company, used under license and
Carnation is a trademark of Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., used under
license.
The J. M. Smucker Company Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially. These include statements regarding estimates of future earnings
and cash flows and expectations as to the closing of the transaction. Other
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions
within the U.S., strength of commodity markets from which raw materials are
procured and the related impact on costs, the ability to obtain regulatory
and shareholders' approval without unexpected delays or conditions,
integration of the merged businesses in a timely and cost effective manner,
retention of supplier and customer relationships and key employees, the
ability to achieve synergies and cost savings in the amounts and within the
time frames currently anticipated, and other factors affecting share prices
and capital markets generally. Other risks and uncertainties that may
materially affect the Company are detailed from time to time in reports
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
Forms 10-Q, 10-K, and 8-K.
About The Procter and Gamble Company
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around
the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted,
quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R),
Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Gain(R),
Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R),
Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella(R),
Gillette(R), and Braun(R). The P&G community consists of 138,000 employees
working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for
the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
The Procter & Gamble Company Forward Looking Information
All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this
release, are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based
on financial data, market assumptions and business plans available only as
of the time the statements are made, which may become out of date or
incomplete. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement
as a result of new information, future events or other factors.
Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must
recognize that events could differ significantly from our expectations. In
addition to the risks and uncertainties noted in this release, there are
certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those anticipated by some of the statements made. These include: (1) the
ability to achieve business plans, including with respect to lower income
consumers and growing existing sales and volume profitably despite high
levels of competitive activity, especially with respect to the product
categories and geographical markets (including developing markets) in which
the Company has chosen to focus; (2) the ability to successfully execute,
manage and integrate key acquisitions and mergers, including (i) the
Domination and Profit Transfer Agreement with Wella, and (ii) the Company's
merger with The Gillette Company, and to achieve the cost and growth
synergies in accordance with the stated goals of these transactions; (3) the
ability to manage and maintain key customer relationships; (4) the ability
to maintain key manufacturing and supply sources (including sole supplier
and plant manufacturing sources); (5) the ability to successfully manage
regulatory, tax and legal matters (including product liability, patent, and
intellectual property matters as well as those related to the integration of
Gillette and its subsidiaries), and to resolve pending matters within
current estimates; (6) the ability to successfully implement, achieve and
sustain cost improvement plans in manufacturing and overhead areas,
including the Company's outsourcing projects; (7) the ability to
successfully manage currency (including currency issues in volatile
countries), debt, interest rate and commodity cost exposures; (8) the
ability to manage continued global political and/or economic uncertainty and
disruptions, especially in the Company's significant geographical markets,
as well as any political and/or economic uncertainty and disruptions due to
terrorist activities; (9) the ability to successfully manage competitive
factors, including prices, promotional incentives and trade terms for
products; (10) the ability to obtain patents and respond to technological
advances attained by competitors and patents granted to competitors; (11)
the ability to successfully manage increases in the prices of raw materials
used to make the Company's products; (12) the ability to stay close to
consumers in an era of increased media fragmentation; (13) the ability to
stay on the leading edge of innovation and maintain a positive reputation on
our brands; and (14) the ability to successfully separate the company's
coffee business. For additional information concerning factors that could
cause actual results to materially differ from those projected herein,
please refer to our most recent 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports.
Additional Information
In connection with the proposed transaction between Smucker and P&G,
Smucker will file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the U. S.
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Such a registration statement
will include a proxy statement of Smucker that also constitutes a prospectus
of Smucker, and will be sent to the shareholders of Smucker. Shareholders
are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and any other relevant
documents when they become available, because they will contain important
information about Smucker, Folgers and the proposed transaction. The proxy
statement/prospectus and other documents relating to the proposed
transaction (when they are available) can be obtained free of charge from
the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . The documents (when they are available)
can also be obtained free of charge from Smucker upon written request to The
J. M. Smucker Company, Shareholder Relations, Strawberry Lane, Orrville,
Ohio 44667 or by calling (330) 684-3838, or from P&G upon written request to
The Procter and Gamble Company, Shareholder Services Department, P.O. Box
5572, Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-5572 or by calling (800) 742-6253.
This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any security
holder of Smucker. However, P&G, Smucker and certain of their respective
directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the proposed
transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information about the directors and
executive officers of The J. M. Smucker Company may be found in its 2007
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 26, 2007, and its
definitive proxy statement relating to its 2007 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders filed with the SEC on July 9, 2007. Information about the
directors and executive officers of The Procter & Gamble Company may be
found in its 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August
28, 2007, and its definitive proxy statement relating to its 2007 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on August 28, 2007.
SOURCE The J. M. Smucker Company; The Procter & Gamble Company
http://www.smuckers.com
Digital Anarchy Releases ToonIt! 1.1 for
Faster Processing of Video Footage Into a Cartoon Look
New Update Takes
Advantage of Multi-Processor Machines for Notable Speed Increase During Render
San Francisco, CA — June 3, 2008 — Digital Anarchy, a leading provider of
visual effects software for Adobe, Avid, and Apple products, today announced the
version 1.1 update for ToonIt! Film/Video and ToonIt! Avid. Version 1.1 speeds
up the rendering of ToonIt! by taking advantage of multi-processors. This allows
users to quickly render cartoon-like images from film and video footage. The
filters use advanced algorithms from Toonamation to create flat shades of color
with full control over details like outlines, shading styles and halftone
effects.
The ToonIt! 1.1 update adds a few new features, bug fixes, and speeds up
rendering time by taking advantage of multi-processor machines. ToonIt! 1.1
renders 70-90% faster than version 1.0.2 and over 300% faster when using After
Effects CS3 and a quad-core machine. Standard Definition footage takes about 1
sec/frame using After Effects CS3 and a quad-core.
Jim Tierney, president of Digital Anarchy, said, “ToonIt! has been incredibly
well received, but many users have complained about the speed. So we spent some
time optimizing it and retooling it for multi-processor machines. This has given
ToonIt! a tremendous speed boost. When used with the great multi-processor
support in After Effects CS3, the speed increase is pretty amazing. We’re very
excited about this update.”
With these four plugins, artists can customize the ‘toon’ effect for almost any
image with styles like Flat Cartoon, Graphic Novel, Line Art, and Pen & Ink. One
of the main features of ToonIt! is its ability to create a smooth animation over
time with very little jitter and minimal temporal artifacts. While other
cartooning software frequently produces an undesirable ‘vibrating’ image when
played back at full speed, ToonIt! filters reduce these graphic issues and
produce very consistent, pleasing results from one frame to the next.
Pricing and Availability
ToonIt! Film/Video is priced at USD $299. ToonIt! Avid is priced at USD $295.
Both products are on sale for USD $259 through June 15, 2008. Version 1.1 will
ship with all new orders. The 1.1 update is free to existing users, who should
visit the company’s website for update instructions at:
http://digitalanarchy.com/toonVID/request.php
ToonIt! Film/Video works in After Effects 5.5 and higher (including AE CS3),
Final Cut Pro 4.5 and higher, Motion 2.1 and higher, and Premiere Pro 2.0 and
higher. ToonIt! Avid works in Avid host applications that support the AVX1 and
AVX2 standards. Both products run under Macintosh 10.3.9 and higher (including
10.5) and runs natively on Intel Macs. The products run under Windows 2000, XP
Home, XP Pro, Vista 32-bit and Vista 64-bit systems. Demo filters and samples
are available at
www.digitalanarchy.com.
About Digital Anarchy
Digital Anarchy is a privately owned company operating out of San Francisco,
Calif., that creates high-quality creative software for broadcast designers, 2D
animators and professional photographers. These tools solve a wide range of
design issues, from creating text effects and background design elements, to
masking out bluescreens for commercial still photography. Digital Anarchy
products work in conjunction with a wide range of products from companies like
Adobe, Apple and Autodesk. For more information, please see the company’s
website at www.digitalanarchy.com or call 415-586-8434.
Digital Anarchy is a registered trademark of Digital Anarchy Inc. All other
brand names, product names, service marks, or trademarks belong to their
respective holders.
OtterBox, Colorado Company to Support Neighboring Tornado Victims
Fort Collins, COLO— Less than ten miles from the headquarters of Otter
Products, LLC., tornadoes instantaneously turned lives upside down. Homes,
vehicles, and belongings were lost, hundreds were injured and one man even lost
his life. To help a nearby family or families rebuild after the devastation,
OtterBox announces they will donate 10% of online proceeds from sales in June
2008.
Talking to people around town and at the office after the storm, it was evident
the close connections to those afflicted by the tornadoes.
“We are looking for a family or families through the Red Cross, churches and
other organizations to offer our assistance to,” said Curt Richardson, CEO of
Otter Products, LLC. “The OtterBox team is a family and we want to pull together
to offer what resources we can to help those who have lost so much.”
Whether making a monetary donation or going to assist in these areas, OtterBox
employees are ready for the challenge.
“So many people along the Colorado Front Range fell victim to these destructive
tornadoes and OtterBox wants to do everything we can to help,” said Richardson.
“As part of these communities we feel especially inclined to offer our support.”
Visit www.otterbox.com to “Donate
Now” to the American Red Cross to help tornado victims or purchase online
during the month of June and 10% of your purchase will go to help a family or
families in need.
Dress The Drink™ Announces Product Launch
Company introduces luxury garnishes for beverages
Las Vegas, NV (May, 2008 )- Dress The Drink™ announced today the launch of
their new drink kit. This drink kit is unlike anything available to the consumer
for enhancing beverages with flavor and beauty. Cindy McClure, President of
Dress The Drink™ states “This product was developed from an epiphany at 3am and
once we began, there was no question of its success. Timing is everything and
that is proven with the current hype and promotion for Sex And The City. Dress
The Drink has been placed on the fast track as the VIP sponsor for Manolos &
Martinis on May 18th, as well as the after party on May 30th.
Joining Cindy on this walk outside the box is Scott, VP of Marketing and
Kevin, VP Product Development. Each of them brings their expertise in the food
and beverage industry to the table, rounding out a highly skilled and talented
team. “It is not just about my company and its success, but it is also our vital
business relationships that truly catapult our product”, says Cindy.
From our clear acrylic and stainless case to the jars and spoons, it is clear
to see this is makeup for your drink. Dress the Drink ™ kit includes: edible
silver flakes, crushed red hots, rock candy pebbles, crushed toffee, toasted
coconut flakes and 2 outrageous flavors of rimming sugar. We topped it all off
with individual serving spoons, reusable drawstring bags and serving suggestions
with product brochure in the lid. We offer you sophisticated enhancements to the
overall look and appeal of your next intimate or casual gathering. Take the next
step and Dress Your Drink with Dress The Drink™. Priced at 59.99, this
combination of ingredients will enhance 150 drinks.
Never before has it been so easy to Dress The Drink™
FUEL
PRICES, ECONOMIC CONCERNS CHANGE HOW AMERICANS
DRIVE AND MAINTAIN THEIR CARS
3M Car
Care's "Elbow Grease Economics: A Study of American Driving Trends"
Shows that Car Owners
Are Driving Less and Tackling More Repair Projects
ST. PAUL, MN (May 14, 2008)--With
fuel prices still on the rise, American car owners are rolling up
their sleeves to save money on their driving and car maintenance
expenses.
While Americans have abdicated much of their car
maintenance and even cleaning to automotive service providers over the
past two decades, a new study from 3M Car Care finds that the current
economic environment is causing a dramatic shift in how Americans care
for their cars.
In the "Elbow Grease Economics", a study of more than
5,000 American consumers, 3M Car Care found that a surprising number
of car owners are taking their car maintenance into their own hands --
and on their own driveways.
And with the election on the horizon, survey
respondents voted on which presidential candidates were most likely to
wash or work on their own car -- Barack Obama won with 46 percent of
the vote, while John McCain followed at 44 percent and Hillary Clinton
trailed at just 10 percent.
3M Car Care has introduced an entire line of consumer
car care products, all based on its high-performance professional
products, to make it easier for consumers to take care of routine
maintenance and car appearance projects. It also offers easy to use
kits for tune-ups, headlight restoration and other tasks with all of
the products needed for the job in one package. There also are a
number of new products that make the projects easier, such as 3M
Performance Finish which lasts for up to 50 washes with no white
residue, 3M Scratch Remover to restore vehicle finish and 3M Fuel
System Cleaner to improve mileage.
Key findings of 3M Car Care's "Elbow Grease
Economics" include:
·Nearly
two-thirds (62 percent) of Americans are washing their own car to save
money -- or having someone in their household do it -- and 33 percent
are doing the detailing themselves. Even female baby boomers are
getting into the car wash spirit -- some 69 percent say they would now
do the task at home to pinch pennies
·Homes
with pre-teen and teenage children are taking advantage of the
built-in labor pool, with some 69 percent of 45-54 year old women
indicating they or someone in their household wash their own cars
·Families
making between $50,000 and $75,000 ranked highest (68 percent) in
tackling their car washing at home to save money
Other tasks car owners are tackling include repairing
or replacing windshield wipers or headlights (57 percent), using fuel
additives to improve fuel efficiency (17 percent), using at-home
tune-up kits instead of paying for tune-ups (16 percent) and making
repairs to their car's exterior (11 percent).
·
Americans also say they are driving less to deal with today's higher
fuel prices, with 68 percent spending less time on the road. Women
lead the pack on preserving fuel, with 71 percent cutting their car
time vs. 65 percent of men. Carpooling also appears trendy, with Gen
Y and Gen X car owners -- some 30 percent of adults 18-34 and 36
percent of women 18-34 -- sharing rides to shave expenses.
·
Households making less than $35,000 per year were very focused on
cutting their fuel costs -- with 76 percent driving less and 56
percent keeping their cars well-tuned to improve fuel mileage.
·Car
owners are paying more attention to getting more from their car, with
51 percent keeping their cars well-tuned to improve fuel efficiency
and nearly 10 percent using fuel additives. Nearly 20 percent of car
owners ages 18-34 are looking for a new car that gets better fuel
mileage.
·As it
relates to new car sales, more than three-fourths of car owners (77
percent) plan to hang on to their current vehicles -- with 31 percent
planning to drive their cars until the wheels fall off and 46 percent
set to keep their car as long as it runs well and looks good. Only 4
percent of car owners say they are going to buy another car regardless
of the economy while 11 percent are prepared to buy another car as
soon as they can afford it.
·Car
owners are nostalgic when it comes to washing their cars. Some 42
percent ranked it as their favorite summertime chore from a list of
six tasks when they were growing up, and some 36 percent of those
respondents still put washing cars at the top of their list for warm
weather tasks today.
This 3M Car Care
"Elbow Grease Economics" survey was conducted online within the United
States by Harris Interactive via its QuickQuery omnibus on behalf of
3M Car Care between March 20-24, 2008 among 2,543 U.S. adults (aged 18
years and older). No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be
calculated; a full methodology is available.
About Harris Interactive
Harris
Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long
and rich history in multimodal research that is powered by our science
and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results.
Harris Interactive serves clients globally through our North American,
European and Asian offices and a network of independent market
research firms. For more information, please visit
www.harrisinteractive.com.
About 3M - A Global, Diversified Technology Company
A
recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands
of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M's core
strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms -
often in combination - to a wide array of customer needs. With $23
billion in sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has
operations in more than 60 countries.
Shuttle Partners with Autodesk as Authorized Developer City of Industry , CA , May 2, 2008
Shuttle Inc. – leading designer and manufacturer of small form factor (SFF)
computers and accessories today announced its partnership with Autodesk, the
world leader in 2D and 3D design software.
As an Autodesk Authorized Developer, Shuttle offers solutions specially
engineered to meet the ever-increasing visual computing demands of architects,
engineers, video editors, and other professionals with its premium workstation
line.
Shuttle’s XPC Prima series workstations – P2 3500w and P2 3800w – are now
optimized for the Autodesk family of products, including AutoCAD®, Autodesk
Inventor, Autodesk Map 3D, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya.
White Castle Celebrates 'Daylight Cravings Time' -
2 Free Slyders for Each Customer Who Visits Any White Castle Restaurant Between
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., Sunday March 9, 2008!
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 5 -- All White Castle restaurants will offer 2 free
hamburgers to each customer visiting in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday
March 9, 2008, between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. standard time, just prior to the time
change.
Harkening back to late night visits that many cravers remember with fondness,
this limited time, one hour promotion is a salute to loyal White Castle
customers. The company is encouraging cravers everywhere to make it a special
occasion, gather friends and family and enjoy the free burgers before returning
home to turn the clocks forward.
"We're open 24 hours," said Jamie Richardson, White Castle Director of
Marketing. "On March 9, we refuse to lose an hour so we're offering two free
burgers to cravers who come in for this late night celebration. When it comes to
being proactive, Cravers are ahead of the pack -- so what better way to
acknowledge this than with some free tasty burgage on us."
The offer applies to customers visiting a White Castle restaurant between
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2008 only, limit 2 free hamburgers
per person. The promotion will be supported with in-store posters and reader
board messages.
White Castle was founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. The company owns and
operates over 400 units in 11 states and is considered to be the first fast food
hamburger chain. For more information go to www.whitecastle.com.
Internet Merchants Association
Ecommerce Expo March 2-5 Features Dozen Expert Speakers, Wall Street Panel & 75
Roundtables
The Second Annual Internet Merchant’s
Association is set for March 2-5 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort. The
agenda will feature more than a dozen expert speakers, a prestigous panel of
Wall Street analysts, plus more than 75 roundtable discussions.
“We’re delighted to announce an extensive agenda that will focus in on such
timely topics as ecommerce, search engine optimization, web statistics, market
intelligence, cross channel selling and even video presentations,” says Steve
Grossberg, IMA President in previewing the agenda for the Second Annual IMA
Ecommerce Expo. For more information on the speakers and the topics and last
minute reservations go to
www.imamerchant.org
Dozen VIP Speakers @ IMA Ecommerce Expo:
VIP Speakers for the IMA Ecommerce Expo include top executives from such firms
as A Genius Marketing, Amazon, Channel Business Advisor, Endicia, Google,
Infopia, Microsoft Office, Orange Soda, QL2, Sage Rock/Engine Ready, Talk Market
and Vendio.
Wall Street Panel & Roundtables Add
Breadth to IMA Programming
Grossberg announced that there will also be a special Wall Street panel at the
IMA Ecommerce Expo on Monday March 3 at 3 pm. The Wall Street analysts set to
speak include: Robert Peck, Bear Stearns,
Jim Friedland, Cowen and Co. LLC and Derek Brown, Cantor Fitzgerald.
In addition the more than 300 attendees a the
IMA Ecommerce Expo can select from a strong list of more than 75 roundtable
discussions to attend on Tuesday and Wednesday between 12 noon and 2 p.m. in
Tradewinds Rooms D & E.
The Internet Merchants Assn (www.imamerchant.org)
is a nonprofit 501.C6 organization.
For more information on the agenda for the IMA Ecommerce Expo go to
www.imamerchant.org.
Press please contact Joyce Schawrz, JCOM, 310-822-3119 or
joycecom@aol.com.
A limited number of press credentials are still available for the expo.
DCIA COMMENT ON PETITION FOR RULEMAKING
TO ESTABLISH RULES GOVERNING NETWORK
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BY BROADBAND NETWORK OPERATORS WC Docket No. 07-52
February 13, 2008 Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Commissioners: The Distributed Computing Industry
Association (www.DCIA.info) is a non-profit trade organization focused on
commercial development of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and related
distributed computing technologies. More than 100 companies are currently Members
of the DCIA, representing P2P and social networking software developers and
distributors, content rights holders, Internet service providers (ISPs) and
service-and-support companies. DCIA Membership is organized accordingly into
three Groups: Operations, Content, and Platform. The DCIA conducts working groups and special
projects, such as the Consumer Disclosures Working Group (CDWG), P2P Digital
Watermark Working Group (PDWG), P2P PATROL, P2P Revenue Engine (P2PRE), and
the P4P Working Group (P4PWG). The P4PWG, which was established in July 2007,
is relevant to this proceeding and will be described below. The DCIA also
publishes the weekly online newsletter DCINFO. Background – DCIA Interest
in this Matter DCIA Member companies are engaged in
developing and deploying competitive commercial services that use P2P and
related technologies, including downloadable file sharing, live P2P streaming,
swarming, caching, torrenting, content acceleration, peer-to-peer television
(P2PTV), and hybrid P2P content delivery network (CDN) offerings, among
others. DCIA Member companies are also engaged in creating, aggregating, and
delivering content, representing music, video, games, and software categories.
And finally, DCIA Member companies are engaged in providing and supporting
Internet access services, including the most rapidly expanding and highest
value area within the telecommunications sector, broadband or high-speed
offerings. In June 2007, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer
told the D5 Conference that, “Within five years, all media will be delivered
across the Internet.” DCIA Member companies and other competitive
distributed computing applications and services represent the technologically
most advanced and fastest growing segment for such delivery of digital content
over the Internet. In November 2007, Vuze, Inc., which became a
DCIA Member company and participant in the P4PWG in January 2008,
independently filed a Petition for Rulemaking requesting that the Commission
initiate proceedings to clarify what constitutes “‘reasonable network
management,’ by broadband network operators and to establish that such network
management does not permit network operators to block, degrade, or
unreasonably discriminate against lawful Internet applications, content, or
technologies,” as used in the Commission’s Internet Policy Statement. Vuze was motivated to file its petition as a
result of actions allegedly taken by Comcast Corporation, the largest US cable
multiple system operator (MSO) and a leading broadband ISP, which were
reported upon by the Associated Press earlier in 2007. Comcast became an
observer of the P4PWG in February 2008. According to Vuze, "When a user is sending
packets to others and not downloading them, Comcast shuts down the connection
between that user and other non-Comcast users by interfering with
communications at the transport layer. Comcast does this by hacking into its
own network and using a clandestine 'man-in-the-middle' tactic whereby each
party is sent a communication reset (RST) message, which falsely tells the
other party to shut down the connection. A particularly troubling aspect of
these tactics is that, through a third party, Comcast is engaging in deep
packet inspection (DPI) and then inserting false RST messages into
transmissions between two network users." With the understanding that this matter shall
be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the
Commission’s ex parte rules pursuant to sections 1.405 and 1.419 of the
Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.405, 1.419, the DCIA respectfully files the
following comments regarding that petition. It should be noted that the views expressed
in this document reflect those of the DCIA as a whole. Individual DCIA Member
companies' views may differ. The DCIA Supports the FCC's
Internet Policy Statement The DCIA strongly supports the FCC policy
statement: consumers should be entitled to lawfully access the content of
their choice, to run applications and use services of their choice, and to
benefit from competition among network providers, applications and services
providers, and content providers. These principles emphasize the importance of
an open Internet as a vehicle for empowering consumers, putting users at the
forefront of deliberations as to whether broadband networks are operating
appropriately, without discriminating against institutional users of network
resources; and whether such applications and services, as well as content
providers themselves are operating appropriately, without abusing these
network resources. Reports from the experiences of our Member
companies across the spectrum of such activities support the premise that it
is timely for the Commission to explore in greater depth its Internet Policy
Statement, as it is currently doing in the context of this proceeding that
covers a wide range of “broadband industry practices.” The DCIA gladly offers the trade
association's resources to support fact-finding activities, such as public
hearings and related undertakings, to ensure that the FCC gathers sufficient
relevant data to be able to act in the best interests of all constituents on
this issue. We also request the Commission's support and encouragement of
collaborative intra-industry private sector efforts as exemplified, although
not exclusively represented, by the P4PWG. While open P2P software is unfortunately
often associated with unauthorized file-sharing of copyrighted material, today
it is increasingly used by a growing number of licensed content distributors.
Major content library and catalog copyright holders have begun to embrace the
utility of P2P technology for distributing large audio and video and software
files efficiently, rapidly, and securely. P2P applications, working independently or in
concert with other content delivery solutions, enable rights holders – ranging
from major motion picture studios and music labels to independent professional
producers of a wide variety audio and video works to consumer publishers of
user-generated content (UGC) – to distribute their material to a global
audience in a simple and cost-effective fashion. Business models associated with commercial
P2P applications further enable rights holders to monetize their content
through methods ranging from paid-download to subscription to
advertising-supported. Content owners of virtually all sizes can offer their
works to viewers for free, at no charge with advertising support, packaged in
a variety of ways for one-time-only or recurring subscriptions, or a la carte
as stand-alone items for consumption at whatever prices they choose. P2P technologies can bring greater
scalability to what has previously been, by Internet standards, a relatively
inefficient market for the distribution and monetization of entertainment and
information content. With an ever-expanding variety of content and
flexible options for monetizing its distribution, P2P-based offerings have the
potential to help deliver on one of the most attractive promises of the
Internet, in which users can access virtually any content available as well as
produce and distribute their own content to the world. Network Management Issues
from the DCIA's Unique Perspective The steady growth in digital distribution of
rich media by a rapidly expanding field of competitors, particularly those
using various forms of distributed computing technologies, however, is also
creating new challenges and higher stakes. The FCC, therefore, has an important role to
play in ensuring that the Internet continues to develop to its fullest
potential as an open, competitive environment for innovative services that
will benefit consumers. Peak usage of current generation
high-bandwidth-using P2P and hybrid-P2P applications and services challenges
carriers by driving the need for significant capital investments. In some
cases, P2P applications can degrade the network performance of other consumer
applications, which increases the carrier’s customer care costs. The increasing use of such applications and
services to transmit high-value rich media content, supported by
paid-download, subscription, and advertising-supported business models, raises
the stakes for all involved in these new distribution systems. Projections
range from the tens to the hundreds of billions of dollars of commerce
annually for US-based companies operating in this space during the next five
years. The combination of these factors, and their
potential impact on other important uses of the Internet for communications,
research, and other vital business and personal purposes, which include
advancing First Amendment values as well as serving as an engine for economic
activity, further warrants the Commission’s attention to these important
issues. DCIA's Collaborative
Approach – The P4P Working Group (P4PWG) The P4P Working Group (P4PWG) was established
in July 2007 at the recommendation of DCIA Member companies Verizon
Communications and Pando Networks, industry leading firms representing ISPs
and P2P software distributors respectively, after separately reviewing
advanced research taking place at leading American academic institutions, led
by Yale University. The intention of establishing the P4PWG was
to formulate an approach to P2P network traffic management as a joint
optimization problem. The objective of certain participating ISPs, for
example, was to minimize network resource utilization by P2P services. The
objective of certain participating P2P software firms, conversely, was to
maximize throughput. The joint objective of both ISPs and P2P software
developers was to protect and improve their customers' experience. P4P was defined as a set of business
practices and integrated network topology awareness models designed to
optimize ISP network resources and enable P2P-based content payload
acceleration. The mission of the P4PWG was codified as, "To
work jointly and cooperatively with leading ISPs, P2P software distributors,
and technology researchers to ascertain appropriate and voluntary best
practices for the use of 'P4P' mechanisms to accelerate distribution of
content and optimize utilization of ISP network resources in order to provide
the best possible performance to end-user customers." Objectives of the P4PWG include providing
ISPs with the ability to optimize utilization of network resources while
enhancing service levels for P2P traffic; providing P2P software distributors
with the ability to accelerate content delivery while enhancing efficient
usage of ISP bandwidth; providing researchers developing P4P mechanisms with
the support to advance and the ability to publish their work; determining,
validating, and encouraging the adoption of methods for ISPs and P2P software
distributors to work together to enable and support consumer service
improvements as P2P adoption and resultant traffic evolves while protecting
the intellectual property (IP) of participating entities; and establishing
appropriate and voluntary best practices for the deployment of P4P mechanisms
to meet the above identified objectives in a way that can be sustained by all
of the necessary participants. Participants in the P4PWG include ISPs, P2P
software distributors, technology researchers, DCIA Member companies, and
information technology (IT) firms involved in digital media platforms. Participants share the view that the Internet
is the media delivery platform of the future; new technologies are needed to
scale the Internet for higher quality and greater capacity media delivery; and
P2P networks represent a disruptive and attractive market opportunity. From 2000 through 2006, P2P was often
considered a rogue technology, more associated with copyright infringement
than with highly efficient, secure commercial distribution of digital content.
Typical activity in this space tended to be relegated to the operation of
standalone open P2P networks by their respective software developers and
distributors. 2007 marked a turning point for the emerging
P2P industry, with P2P beginning to become part of the content delivery
infrastructure in large scale deployments, and content owners increasingly
indicating a preference for integrated P2P and content delivery network (CDN)
solutions. Major content and CDN players started to select P2P technology
partners to enhance their service offerings. Meanwhile, Internet traffic between the years
of 2000 and 2007 saw P2P grow from virtually non-existent to representing
fifty-to-sixty-five percent (50-65%) of downstream traffic and
seventy-to-eighty percent (70-80%) of upstream traffic. How the P4PWG is Addressing
the Problem Steadily increasing consumer adoption of P2P
services, along with the practice of random peering, has caused traffic to
spread across points of presence (POPs) and domains requiring greater than
necessary network resource usage (e.g., using bandwidth of more links)
resulting in higher than needed network operational costs, and at times
degraded performance of other applications. ISPs have addressed the growing predominance
of P2P traffic not only by upgrading their network infrastructures and
deploying P2P caching devices and content acceleration solutions, which are
constructive performance-enhancing approaches to this trend in consumer
adoption; but also in some cases by terminating P2P user connectivity,
rate-limiting P2P traffic, and similar practices that have led some parties to
raise concerns about the propriety of those techniques. P2P companies with sufficient resources have
retaliated by using random ports, encrypting their traffic, and implementing
similar work-arounds to protect their quality of service (QoS). A fundamental problem has been that
traditional ISP feedback/controls for application traffic, such as routing and
rate-control through congestion-feedback mechanisms (e.g., packet drops) are
ineffective for P2P. Due to the highly dynamic, scattered traffic
pattern caused by dynamic, unguided peer selection characteristics of many P2P
networks, a more advanced mechanism is needed for ISPs to communicate with P2P
applications about their network structures and policies. At its highest level, the P4PWG represents
the opportunity for partnerships among ISPs and P2P networks to address this.
There are currently eighteen active participating companies in the P4PWG
representing ISPs, P2P software distributors, researchers, and
service-and-support companies. In addition, there are now eighteen observers,
representing vendors, MSOs, content providers, and other interested parties. The P4PWG seeks to create a framework to
enable better ISP and P2P coordination. Guided P2P connections will yield
benefits to all affected parties, including an improvement of throughput to
P2P users, enablement of ISPs to manage link utilization, reduction of the
number of links transited by content, and a transitioning of traffic from
undesirable (expensive/limited capacity) links to more desirable
(inexpensive/available capacity) links. Benefits to commercial interests will include
an industry-wide solution based on open standards and best practices that will
be characterized by cooperative win-win attributes. P4P can provide the way to solve a pending
bandwidth crisis before it becomes a serious threat and provide a means to
collaboratively and cooperatively address future capacity concerns. There is
the potential to have carrier-grade P2P with P4P, which in turn can open
opportunities for innovative new services, once it has been established that
the fastest path from point A to point B on a network is via P4P-enhanced P2P. Benefits to consumers will include faster
downloads, higher QoS, and potential assurances of not being subject to
service interruptions or degradation. In short, P4P can enable content delivery
that is more efficient for both the consumer and the network operator compared
to alternative architectures. What the P4PWG has
Accomplished to Date With traditional client-server content
delivery networks (CDNs), each recipient's networked device requires an
individual session with the server housing a given content file as its
originating source for all distribution. More users result in worse
performance and higher costs. Decentralized P2P alleviates this, but is
blind to different network resource impacts at the Internet transit, regional
router, and edge network levels. Network-aware P2P, enhanced with P4P, has the
potential to reduce the network transport costs at each level of the network,
while also optimizing the traffic flow so that users receive better
performance. If P4P achieves these benefits, it can bring about a “win-win”
situation for carriers, consumers, software companies, and content providers. The framework for P4P as it is being
developed by the P4PWG is intended to support performance improvements for
both ISPs and P2P companies. Scalability is emphasized along with
flexibility to support a large number of P2P users, many P2P architectures
(including tracker-based and trackerless systems), and multiple networks in
dynamic settings. Consumer privacy is protected as a fundamental condition of
P4P. P4P will be formalized as an open standard that can be utilized by any
P2P firm and any ISP. The following data is exchanged in P4P:
Participating P2P companies implement pTracker software enhancements that
communicate with ISP-controlled iTrackers. ISPs provide network maps to their
iTrackers; the iTrackers provide a “weight matrix” to P2P applications
(without revealing proprietary ISP topology information). Information flow
occurs with the peer querying the pTracker, the pTracker asking the iTracker
for guidance, the iTracker returning high-level peering recommendations, and
the pTracker selecting and returning a set of active peers, according to these
suggestions. iTrackers can be run by trusted third parties, P2P networks, or
ISPs. The aim of P4P is a reduction in data
delivery average “hop count,” which will equate to lower costs to ISPs. P4P
will also yield a dramatic improvement in data delivery speed, which will
result in faster downloads for users and improved QoS for P2P services. The P4PWG is free to join, open and
inclusive. It operates with a public website to communicate information
industry-wide, a participant-only wiki to facilitate collaborative project
management work, monthly meetings / conference calls, and e-mail list
participation. After several sets of simulation studies conducted over the
past six months that demonstrated very significant potential, a field test is
now underway after which, based on continued positive results, an
industry-wide communications and education campaign will commence. Larger Issues Regarding
Network Management Practices Currently, however, outside of the work of
the P4PWG, there exists a situation where some (but not all) US and
international ISPs reportedly engage in bandwidth-shaping and related
traffic-interrupting techniques resulting in degradation of service levels for
certain applications and services providers, including P2Ps, which may impair
their commercial viability or drive them to engage in retaliatory
counter-measures to work around such practices. On the one hand, this raises the question of
whether broadband network operators should be permitted to restrict or block
traffic carried on their networks. On the other hand, this also raises the
question of what responsibilities application and service providers should
have in terms of the amount of bandwidth and other network resources their
innovative offerings consume, and the impact that such consumption has for an
ISP’s aggregate customer base, particularly in the distribution of
increasingly large files, which is the case with high-definition (HD)
full-length motion pictures and television program series, certain videogames,
large music collections, and other rich media properties. The core question underlying both of these
issues is what constitutes “reasonable network management?” DCIA Concerns and
Recommendations to the Commission The DCIA is concerned about allegations that
the distribution of rich media content by independent third parties can be
unfairly impeded by some network operators who would prefer to restrict their
Internet subscribers to content in which the network operator has a financial
interest. The alleged degradation and blocking of content delivered by certain
distribution technologies also calls into question whether consumers are
effectively able to access the content of their choice, run applications and
use services of their choice, and benefit fully from competition among network
providers, applications and services providers, and content rights holders –
in a manner consistent with the Commission’s broadband principles. Indeed,
some parties have argued that by degrading the high-quality content or slowing
the speed of delivery, or in other ways reducing the QoS by which such
competitors differentiate themselves in the marketplace, network operators
could unfairly create a competitive edge. The DCIA believes that, as a general matter,
ISPs need the ability to reasonably manage their networks, but such network
management practices should take into account the actual impact that Internet
traffic has on the network and should be utilized equitably on Internet
traffic, while recognizing that different applications can impact the network
differently. Likewise, application, content, and service provider practices
should be based on their actual requirements for use of bandwidth and other
network resources and they should not consume bandwidth and other network
resources inequitably. The DCIA also believes that ISPs should
explain to their customers, in plain English, how the ISP’s network management
practices may materially impact the customers’ Internet experience. At the
same time, however, ISPs should not be required to disclose network management
practices that are competitively sensitive or proprietary, nor should they be
required to disclose information that would undermine their ability to keep
their networks and customers secure. The DCIA further believes that the best way
to accomplish these goals is for all of the relevant stakeholders to work
collaboratively toward mutually beneficial solutions. To that end, we
recommend that the Commission encourage network operators, Internet companies,
content rights holders, consumer groups, and other interested parties to
discuss a variety of reasonable network management practices using private
sector forums such as the P4PWG as well as public platforms. With respect to the current petitions pending
before the Commission, the DCIA encourages the Commission to ensure that its
examination of any broadband ISP operator’s network management practices is
properly grounded on a clear and well-established factual record, while
avoiding speculative rulings that unnecessarily limit the flexibility required
by ISPs and P2Ps to develop innovative solutions in the rapidly evolving and
expanding marketplace for digital distribution of rich media content. The purpose of such an examination should be
to ensure that the Commission’s four broadband principles are being followed
by providers of networks, services, applications, and content and that those
principles are fostering continued innovation and advancement of
consumer-benefiting services in a free and competitive marketplace. Network management practices should be
implemented equitably for the collective benefit of all Internet users. Network management practices should not be
used as a pretext for unlawfully discriminating against particular types of
applications, content, or services that ISPs may view as potential sources of
competition. By the same token, applications and services that require
significant bandwidth and other network resources to deliver their large
rich-media content payloads should bear some meaningful responsibility for
consuming disproportionate amounts of network resources to the potential
detriment of an ISP’s collective customer base, and ISPs’ network management
practices should be permitted to take into account and manage their networks
to address any such impact. In light of the rapid growth in this area,
the scope of its impact on important consumer services and the commercial
value of the offerings thereby represented, and the potential impact of this
area of activity on other vital Internet services, the Commission should seek
to provide consumers, ISPs, and applications, services, and content providers
with clarity regarding what to expect with respect to broadband network
management practices. Respectfully submitted, Martin C. Lafferty Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA)
Distributed
Computing Industry Association 2838 Cox
Neck Road Suite 200 Chester, MD
21619 410-476-7965 www.dcia.info
New Water Purification Product from
Reliance Products and Procter & Gamble now Available in Retail Stores
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Feb. 14
/PRNewswire/ -- A new water purification technology by Reliance Products
L.P., one of Canada's largest providers of outdoor hydration and sanitation
products, and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is now available in retail stores
throughout the United States. The product, PUR(TM) Purifier of Water
(http://www.purpurifierofwater.com), is a powdered water clarifier and
disinfectant designed for outdoor recreation and emergency preparedness use.
PUR Purifier of Water provides clean drinking water at a very low cost per
liter, and can be purchased in complete water treatment kits, or as
additional replacement treatment packs.
"We're pleased to join forces with
Procter & Gamble in order to extend the many benefits of PUR Purifier of
Water technology," said Reliance Products CEO Charles Schiele. "This
partnership allows us to commercialize a disruptive technology in the field
of water purification, which will now be available for emergency
preparedness and outdoor recreational needs."
"The US launch is exciting because people will now be able to see and
understand the way PUR Purifier of Water turns dirty water into clear and
purified water," said Greg Allgood, Ph.D., Director, Children's Safe
Drinking Water program at P&G. "The US effort will help fund our
philanthropic efforts by providing two liters of water in the developing
world for every package purchased in the US."
P&G will also help support the Children's Safe Drinking Water program by
launching an initiative called GIVE PUR WATER. This will include TV
advertising, interactive elements, a public relations campaign and print
coupons to about 58 million households. The coupon booklet called P&G
brandSAVER will be in a majority of U.S. newspapers on March 2 and April 6,
and includes a $2.50 coupon towards purchase of the PUR Clean Drinking Water
Kit. People will also be able to donate directly to the cause via the
website http://www.givepurwater.org .
Using some of the same ingredients used in municipal water systems, PUR
Purifier of Water is engineered to be a mini-water treatment plant in a
packet. The product removes dirt, cysts, and pollutants, and kills bacteria
and viruses in contaminated water. By removing the dirt and sediment through
a flocculation process, PUR Purifier of Water gives a visible signal that
water is clean and ready to drink. PUR Purifier of Water will be the only
powdered water treatment product sold in the United States that eliminates
sediment, cysts, viruses, bacteria and pollutants. PUR Purifier of Water is
simple to use, provides a fresh taste similar to most household tap water,
and is ready to drink after 30 minutes at a minimal cost per gallon treated.
Working together, P&G and Reliance Products will contribute to the
Children's Safe Drinking Water program with every PUR product purchased. Any
profits to P&G from sales of the packets in the United States will be used
to support efforts to provide the PUR packets in the developing world. P&G
established the Children's Safe Drinking Water program in 2003. Since its
start-up, the program has provided over 900 million liters of clean drinking
water to people in developing nations with PUR Purifier of Water. The
product has been proven to purify and cleanse water in some of the harshest
conditions imaginable including during the Southeast Asia tsunami, the
Pakistan and Indonesian earthquakes, and floods in India, Bangladesh, Haiti,
Kenya, and Ethiopia.
About Reliance Products L.P.
Reliance Products L.P. is one of the largest rigid and collapsible
container companies in the world, servicing the chemical and food markets
since the 1960's. Reliance currently is the largest supplier of
environmentally friendly, reusable, water containers for the consumer
market. With distribution through the largest stores, mass merchants and
specialty outdoor retailers, Reliance products are available in most
communities in North America. Reliance enjoys global distribution and has
been a supplier to international relief organizations for years. Additional
information about Reliance Products is available at http://www.relianceproducts.com
.
About Procter & Gamble
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around
the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted,
quality, leadership brands. The P&G community consists of over 138,000
employees working in more than 80 countries worldwide. P&G is committed to
improving life for children in need, ages 0-13, through its global corporate
cause, Live, Learn and Thrive, and its Children's Safe Drinking Water
program. http://www.csdw.org .
SOURCE The Procter & Gamble Company
MoneyTV, Week of 1/4
LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - January 04, 2008) -
MoneyTV is the nationally syndicated television program all about money and
what makes it happen, (http://www.moneytv.net),
featuring informative interviews by hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman
with company CEOs, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for
their futures.
Free information packages from the featured companies can be requested by
sending an email to
info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program include:
Gold Reef International, Inc. (CNQ: GRIN) CFO and Co-Founder Lou Kost Jr.
spoke of the gold exploration company he founded with Poker Hall of Fame
member Crandall Addington. The company is making available commercially, an
exploration data management system, Metal Miners Plus, which the company says
provides superior field data management.
Semotus Solutions, Inc. (AMEX:
DLK) CEO Anthony Lapine gave an update on the company's AMEX listing.
The Green Baron Report Editor-in-Chief Matt Chipman provided outlook into
what the stock markets may do in 2008.
OptionPros CEO Nuri March spoke of the company's real estate option
contracts and discussed the real estate market outlook for 2008.
Cord Blood America, Inc. (OTCBB:
CBAI) CEO Matthew Schissler spoke of recent funding and plans to continue
acquisition activity.
RBC Dain Rauscher Senior VP Irwin Shapiro discussed the bond market outlook
for 2008.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information in the mail about featured
companies by calling the toll-free phone number on their TV screen. The weekly
television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast nationally in the USA to
70 million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET, Sundays at 8:30 AM PT, 8:30
AM ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in Western Europe, Wednesdays
at 5:00 PM
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Sundays at 8:00 AM.
MoneyTV is also available in Thailand on the Broad TV Network.
MoneyTV Executive Producer and Anchor Don Baillargeon is also the host of
MoneyRap Radio, heard weekly on the Business Talk Radio Network. For more
information, visit
http://www.moneyrap.com
MoneyTV television program, Copyright MMVIII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV
does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not
soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we
offering a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information
discussed herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified
independently with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides
companies a 3 to 4 month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a
cash fee of $11,500.00 to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as payment
for services, does not hold any positions, options or warrants in featured
companies. The information herein is not an endorsement by the hosts Donald
Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman, the producers, publisher or parent company of
MoneyTV.
ISIS
Introduces BNC Version of RGBHV Super Switch
INNOVATION 16x16 Switchers Now with BNC Connectors
Grass Valley, CA - The ISIS Group, Inc. announced
the introduction of a new 16x16 RGBHV routing switcher in the INNOVATION line.
The new model offers the same wide bandwidth, supporting all formats from VGA
(640x480) through QSXGA (2560x2048), the same flexibility and rugged
construction as the popular INNOVATION multimedia switchers.
"Customers tell us that they select the INNOVATION line for
its rugged construction, bandwidth, and competitive pricing - and they want
those same features for fixed installations, where footprint isn't a significant
concern. The new model, with BNC connectors, is easy to install where long
cable runs make the HD15 connectors on our other models less desirable," says
Steven Block, ISIS CEO. "Our distributors lobbied hard for this version, and
we've seen an early, positive response from customers."
The new switcher, designed specifically for multimedia
applications, uses the latest crosspoint technology to extend bandwidth and
slew-rate performance, allowing it to work with the most demanding resolutions.
It is rugged enough to meet the requirements of military applications, and
flexible enough for stadium and theater installations and video wall displays.
It features hot-swappable, front-loading modules, a redundant power supply
option, and a choice of local, remote, or GUI controls to ensure professional
performance in any venue. Like all ISIS products, this switcher carries a full
seven-year warranty.
About
The ISIS Group, Inc:
ISIS
Group manufactures high-performance video, audio, and signal management and
processing solutions for the television, post-production, and multimedia
industries worldwide. In 2004, ISIS acquired Graham-Patten Systems, a Grass
Valley company with an established reputation as the world's leading developer
of high performance digital audio products for the professional video industry.
Both companies are known for technical innovation, product reliability, and
outstanding customer support. Information about ISIS Group is available at
http://www.isis-group.com and Graham-Patten is at
http://www.gpsys.com
Setting Up a Toshiba HD DVD with HD Capable TV
Written by Joyce Chow
How long does it take to set up an HD DVD player? The Toshiba HD DVD player
sat in the box with The Bourne Supremacy HD DVD sitting next to it. The
television, a Toshiba that is high definition capable.
Opening the box, I had an assortment of cables, ready to go. Scanning the
manual for the Toshiba HD-A2, the most recommended is using an HDMI
connection. HDMI, high-definition multimedia interface, connects both
digital audio and video.
The HDMI cable was connected between the HD DVD player and the tv. The tv
input source was changed to HDMI and I went through the various options.
Why was there no picture? And then I looked at the HD DVD player. There was
no light. The HD DVD player was plugged in, the tv turned off and then on
again. Still there was no picture. The light on the HD DVD player was cobalt
blue, signaling that it was on. Bourne Supremacy was playing and I could see
the time clicking off, still there was no picture.
Looking through the manual, I noticed that you need to sync the remote with
the tv. Looking at the number of choices, I wondered how many codes I would
have to enter. There are 28 possible codes if you have a Toshiba tv. After I
had entered several codes I didn‘t hear any confirming beeps, then noticed
further up on the page that the Toshiba code was already set.
Glancing through the manual, I reviewed the troubleshooting pointers. The
HDMI input had been selected on the tv. The HDMI output was the only output
from the tv going towards the HD DVD player. Then I realized, the cable for
the HDMI input on the back of the HD DVD player was not connected. It had
loosened when I turned the player around after connecting the cable. Once
connected, the tv was turned off, the hd dvd player unplugged, after waiting
about a minute, each were powered on again.
Still there was no picture. What else was there to do? I began looking at
the manual again and looked to see the time passing on the HD DVD player.
Suddenly, there was a picture on the screen. I had been waiting for the boot
up, the time necessary to load the large amount of information on the HD
disc.
It had been just over half an hour since I started and already I was seeing
the HD DVD player work with my tv. Excited, I looked down and once again saw
the insert about obtaining firmware updates.
Firmware updates can be obtained over the internet through the Ethernet port
on the back of the HD DVD player or by contacting Toshiba Customer
Solutions. Sounds easy enough, but the router is down the hall in another
room and it’s not exactly set up for wireless. I can connect multiple
Ethernet cables for the initial firmware update, but changing it to being
always on would cause reconfiguring how the cable internet and wireless is
set up. Ideally, the HD DVD player is always connected to the internet. The
purpose, besides firmware updates is for access to special HD DVD sites, for
example linking to future movie trailers or enhanced content.
Happy to have the HD DVD connected, for now, I would just leave it and enjoy
the Bourne Supremacy movie. Next on the list, a firmware update, setting the
clock and connecting the audio. Well, it was just over half an hour to set
up the picture.
Editor’s Note: Based upon numerous presentations of high definition players,
I know what to expect in picture quality based upon the high definition
player and the monitor. There is a noticeable improved quality with matched
components, for example a Toshiba tv with a Toshiba HD DVD player.
Written by William Herman Jr.
Hooking up a HD-DVD player
Thanks to Black Friday, more than 750,000 HD DVD players are in U.S.
households, the North American HD DVD Promotional Group announced Nov. 27. The
group cites retailer reporters for the data, which includes Xbox 360 HD DVD
player add-ons.
As a result of a sale I am now the proud owner of a HD player.
As many that drop by here know I can fly a jet, sail a boat and have several
Doctorates and can make computers do everything but dance a Irish Jig, so
hooking up a device that my 11 year old can do in a matter of minutes should be
a simple task. (As all males know you would never ask your 11 year old to hook
up your set because they think you know very little to being with and this would
just re-enforce this knowledge with them)
I, like so many Americans have multiple televisions in my home, 6 , and as of
this moment none of which are high def. I have three DVD players and two VHS
players, all of which are currently hooked into television sets.
Since anyone my age, I am a boomer, can easily figure all you should have to
do is to un-plug an old unit and plug in a new one this is what I set out to do.
(Mistake 1)
I chose the 27 inch Sharp I have in front of my bed to add the HD unit too.
(Mistake 2)
I opened the box and took out all the parts then went to the back of my cable
box. With the cables in my hand I saw to my horror that the cables that I had in
the box did not fit the cable box. On top of that my television has front
hook-ups not rear. (Mistake 3)
My television was hooked directly by a co-lax cable directly to the cable box
so no need to ever use the front hook-ups. I never thought of simply asking the
sales person if it was compatible with anything that I own before I got the HD
player.
When you buy a HD unit you should always ask what cables are included with
the box, (they can use composite video cables, S-Video an
HDMI cables,) ask if they are compatible
with the set your planning to hook them up with and what you will need to hook
your set up with if none of the above are supplied are work with your set.
(Mistake 4) I did none of this and the batteries
supplied with the unit didn’t work an I had no spares.
I hooked the cable I was supplied with to the front of my set, it had only a
mono-hook-up on the front leaving one plug in dangling in front of my set. A
major eye sore a front plug in set
Next I turned on the set or more to the truth tried to turn it on because my
control did not work because of dead batteries. I went to a 99cent store and
picked up some triple A batteries and turned the set on.
(Mistake 5)
My set would not work with channel 3 or 4 for the hook up and I went back to
the set and tried to figure out what I had done wrong. Turns out with this model
I had to use the input channel to get a picture.
Once I had figured this part out I did the set up for the unit which was not
much fun considering to make the control unit work with my television set I had
put each code in individually till I found one that worked. Took three tries of
running all the codes to come up with one that would turn my set on and off.
Now I was ready for the great moment of truth, would it play a HD-DVD? I
pushed play and on the screen up came the menu for “Serenity”.
The picture looked great on my set but since it was not a HD-TV I have no
point of reference as to what the picture should look like to begin with.
After killing most of a day to do what my little one could have done without
even looking at the manual I had that proud moment that men have when they have
won a major battle against technology.
Then I tried to turn the HD player off. It turns the unit off but it then
goes into a very red stand-by mode. Just what I wanted, a red light shinning at
me all night long.
I did manage to get this feature of the HD-Unit corrected. I un-plugged it
till I needed to use it again.
Also found out that in the process of hooking the Hd player up I locked
channel 3 out of my set so I could not watch my cable programs without unlocking
3 again.
The moral is if you have children let them hook up your consumer electronic
units for you. When you do buy a unit tell the sales people what your going to
hook it up to, ask what cables are in the box with the unit and what you need to
make it work.
Hopefully Santa will have a large HD-TV in my sock for Christmas so I can see
what “Serenity” looks and sounds like properly.
ALPINE
ELECTRONICS UPS THE ANTE FOR IN-CAR CONNECTIVITY AND GREAT SOUND BY SHIPPING NEW
2008 HEAD UNITS
Consumers are becoming increasingly savvy about what they want for the
in-car environment. Not only do they want access to their digital sources while
on the road, they also demand a quality listening experience from these sources.
Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industry-leading manufacturer of
automotive mobile media solutions, today announced it is shipping four new 2008
in-dash head units that make it simple for consumers to get the most out of
their driving experience. With easy connectivity to the latest digital media and
entertainment sources such as iPod®, satellite radio, HD Radio™ and Bluetooth®,
the new 2008 head units offer innovative solutions for every consumer.
With the iPod becoming synonymous with today’s digital lifestyle, all four of
these new head units offer easy iPod connection through Alpine’s KCE-422i Full
Speed Connection™ for iPod cable. The KCE-422i comes packaged with the two new
Ai-NET head units (CDA-9884 and CDA-9886). All four head units feature
Percentage Search, which takes the iPod’s music library and divides it evenly
into six groups that are accessible through the six preset buttons on the head
unit. This unique feature lets users jump to a section of their music library
instead of individually scrolling through each file.
“The shift to a digital-based world is here, and Alpine is keeping in tune with
consumers’ needs,” said Stephen Witt, vice president, Marketing, Alpine
Electronics. “The new CD head units combine the best in digital connectivity
with the ability to achieve a great listening experience in the vehicle.
CDA-9886 The CDA-9886 is a robust CD-R/-RW/MP3/AAC/WMA head unit with simplified,
faster iPod connectivity and file navigation via the included KCE-422i iPod
cable and Percentage Search function. Built on Alpine’s proprietary Ai-NET BUS
platform, the head unit can connect to various digital media sources and
formats, including HD Radio™, XM® or SIRIUS® satellite radio, Bluetooth
connectivity for hands free calling, USB mass storage devices and CD changers,
for a truly integrated in-car digital experience. (Separate adapters and/or
subscriptions required.)
The CDA-9886’s three pairs of 4V pre-amp outputs make it easy to build a fully
amplified system, and provide the lowest noise floor for the discriminating
audio enthusiast. The unit also features a built-in 18W x 4 RMS amplifier (at
the CEA 2006 Power Rating), a high-pass crossover, blue illumination and backlit
buttons. Using Alpine’s own BioLite® display, the CDA-9886 can display icons of
each source that is connected to the unit, along with two lines of text and a
choice of viewing options. It comes with a remote control and is also steering
wheel remote ready.
CDA-9884 In addition to intuitive iPod command via the included KCE-422i iPod cable
and Percentage Search, the CDA-9884 CD-R/-RW/MP3/AAC/WMA receiver is built on
Alpine’s Ai-NET BUS platform, enabling full control of digital media sources and
formats directly from the head unit, such as HD Radio, XM or SIRIUS satellite
radio, HD Radio and Bluetooth. (Separate adapters and/or subscriptions
required.)
The CDA-9884 features a 12 segment dot matrix LCD display, three pairs of
pre-outs (2V), built-in 18W x 4 RMS amplifier (at the CEA 2006 Power Rating), a
high-pass crossover and blue or red selectable illumination for the buttons. It
is remote control ready and steering wheel remote ready.
CDE-9874 The CDE-9874 CD-R/-RW/MP3/AAC/WMA head unit makes it easy to connect to
external sources through its front panel auxiliary input. It is ideal for those
looking for a CD head unit that also offers quick, easy iPod connection and
Bluetooth capabilities (separate adapters required). iPod users will appreciate
the advanced human-to-machine interface (HMI) that uses the rotary encoder and
built-in Percentage Search function, making it simple to find iPod content
quickly. With the KCE-300BT Bluetooth adapter, consumers can enjoy hands-free
cell phone use, as well as streaming music from a Bluetooth device enabled with
A2DP or AVRCP protocol. The receiver features two pairs of pre-outs (2V) with
selectable subwoofer control, built-in 16W x 4 RMS amplifier (at the CEA 2006
Power Rating), a high-pass crossover and clean blue and red fixed illumination.
CDE-9872 The new CDE-9872 CD-R/-RW/MP3 receiver offers Full Speed iPod connection and
Percentage Search for quick, easy iPod file navigation (separate KCE-422i cable
required). The head unit also features one pair of pre-outs (2V) with selectable
subwoofer control, built-in 16W x 4 RMS amplifier (at the CEA 2006 Power
Rating), a high-pass crossover and blue and green fixed illumination.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY Alpine head units are available at authorized Alpine dealers.
KCE-422i Full Speed Connection for iPod cable
Availability – Now; Suggested retail index – $30
KCE-300BT Bluetooth Interface Module
Availability – Now; Suggested retail index – $220
Ikegami GF CAM (GF
Series)
Inter BEE 2007
Ikegami GF Cam GF Series Camcorder (Photo: Business Wire)
CHIBA CITY, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ikegami GF Series is a new line of
tape-free solutions that are based on Toshiba's flash memory technology and
Ikegami's camera technology. The series supports a wide range of video
production tasks from shooting to editing to delivery, in a seamless manner.
Ikegami is demonstrating the GF CAM camcorder at Inter BEE 2007, an
international broadcasting equipment exhibition, in Makuhari.
The GF CAM uses a new standard flash memory pack called GF PAK, and
supports Serial ATA and USB2.0 interfaces to enable high-speed data transfers.
Compared to the conventional ENG camera for electronic news gathering, the
GF CAM is designed in such a way that its gravity point is set low and its
shoulder pad has a greater contact area, allowing the cameraman to shoot
stably.
The GF CAM uses a 2/3-inch CCD, which is the industry's most advanced, and
also uses our state-of-the-art digital signal processor for video processing.
So, we're very confident that the GF CAM can produce high-quality video. We
also newly developed a codec system for the camcorder, which can support
various types of formats flexibly.
The GF CAM also features Packless Recording. Since the camera has buffer
memory large enough to store 30 seconds of video, if a new GF PAK is replaced
within 30 seconds, it's possible to continue shooting for a long period of
time.
Advanced Elastography Features
Available on HI VISION™ 900 Premium Ultrasound
System
RSNA 2007
CHICAGO---Hitachi Medical Systems
America anticipates a surge of excitement within the ultrasound community,
when more than ten live sessions and written posters evaluating the emerging
technique of ultrasound elastography are presented at this year’s
Scientific Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
Elastography is rooted in the practice of palpation, one of the oldest
concepts in medicine. When an abnormal mass is discovered in a patient, an
important aspect of the initial clinical examination is physically palpating
the mass to assess its stiffness. Hitachi’s
Elastography takes this concept one step further by using ultrasound to
perform sophisticated and sensitive measurements of relative stiffness and
creating detailed images depicting this information.
Hitachi’s Real-time Tissue Elastography
(E-mode) is capable of depicting a wide range of tissue stiffness using a
conventional color map, either side by side with the B-mode image or
superimposed onto it. Its 2nd generation features
include a Strain Ratio Measurement allowing clinicians to compare two
regions of interest and quantify the relative relationship between their
elasticity in the form of a strain ratio.
Hitachi will demonstrate their E-mode capabilities in conjunction with
the HI VISION 900 Premium Ultrasound System, Hitachi’s
newest ultrasound offering. The HI VISION 900 also offers a wide array of
features designed to streamline work flow, including programmable protocols,
live volumetric (4D) acquisition with available MPR reconstruction, and four
interfaces for operator control.
The HI VISION 900’s unique E-mode capabilities
complement its advanced B-mode imaging techniques that deliver extraordinary
penetration, image clarity, and tissue detail through HdTHI dual band
harmonics, advanced speckle reduction, and Coded B-mode imaging.
Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT)(TOKYO:6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a
leading global electronics company with approximately 384,000 employees
worldwide. Fiscal 2006 (ended March 31, 2007) consolidated revenues totaled
10,247 billion yen ($86.8 billion). The company offers a wide range of
systems, products, and services in market sectors including information
systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer
products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi,
please visit the company’s website at
http://www.hitachi.com.
Hitachi Enhances Echelon 1.5T MRI
Scanner with the TIGRE Pulse Sequence for Dynamic Studies
RSNA 2007
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hitachi
Medical Systems America has begun offering a new pulse sequence, called TIGRE™,
for its short-bore late-generation 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging scanner.
TIGRE makes it possible for Echelon to obtain dynamic abdominal and bilateral
breast studies with higher temporal and spatial resolution.
“When we designed Echelon, we incorporated
patient friendly features,” according to Shawn
Etheridge, Director, MR Marketing. “For one thing,
the magnet allows nearly all studies, including those of the brain, to be done
with the patient entering the magnet feet first. This scanner essentially
provides a high performance short-bore magnet without some of the drawbacks
typically associated with that design.”
Another feature that enhances the patient experience according to Hitachi
is HOAST™ (Higher-Order Active Shim Technology).
HOAST assures uniform RF fat saturation even in a large FOV, and drives
excellent saturation in those cases where many other scanners require
uncomfortable patient positioning. Echelon also includes the all plane/all
coil RADAR™ patient motion compensating technique,
minimizing the need for patient restraint.
Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT) (TSE:6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a
leading global electronics company with approximately 384,000 employees
worldwide. Fiscal 2006 (ended March 31, 2007) consolidated revenues totaled
10,247 billion yen ($86.8 billion). The company offers a wide range of
systems, products, and services in market sectors including information
systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products,
materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please
visit the company’s website at
http://www.hitachi.com.
Hitachi Commercializes OASIS, the
Highest Field Strength Open MRI
RSNA 2007
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hitachi
Medical Systems America commercialized OASIS, its new patient-centered open
architecture MRI scanner, at the Scientific Meeting of the Radiological
Society of North America. This system, with its superconducting 1.2T vertical
field magnet, was cleared for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration in September of this year.
“OASIS has the highest field-strength whole body
vertical field magnet available,” points out Shawn
Etheridge, Director, MR Marketing, at Hitachi Medical Systems.
“Couple that strength with the sensitive Zenith™
receiver coils and 1.5T imaging electronics, and you net high-field clinical
performance.”
According to Etheridge, the OASIS Zenith RF coils are the culmination of 20
years of vertical field MRI experience, incorporating highly sensitive volume
solenoid coil detection and driving up to eight RF channels for large FOV
uniformity. The OASIS standard special features include Higher-Order Active
Shim Technology (HOASTTM), ensuring high magnetic
field uniformity during scanning to achieve excellent fat saturation over
large FOVs. OASIS also includes RAPIDTM parallel
imaging, TRAQTM time-resolved MRA, Hitachi’s
all coil/all plane RADARTM patient motion
compensating technology and a 33mT/m – 100T/m/sec
gradient system.
Hitachi has long been known for a patient-centered equipment philosophy,
and according to the company, OASIS continues this tradition. OASIS is
equipped with such patient–centered features as a
270º viewing angle and a 82cm wide patient table.
According to Hitachi, OASIS will change the market perception of open MRI,
delivering high-field diagnostic confidence, plus patient comfort and a
differentiation opportunity for MRI providers.
OASIS: The Patient Magnet
Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT) (TOKYO:6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a
leading global electronics company with approximately 384,000 employees
worldwide. Fiscal 2006 (ended March 31, 2007) consolidated revenues totaled
10,247 billion yen ($86.8 billion). The company offers a wide range of
systems, products, and services in market sectors including information
systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products,
materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please
visit the company’s website at
http://www.hitachi.com.
Girls Crown Barbie®
Toys as This Holiday Season’s ``Most Requested''
Additionally, Mattel Tops Hottest Holiday
Gift Lists for Girls and Boys with Classic Favorites and Hi-Tech Gadgets
One of the hottest toys in the entire toy industry and one of the most
exciting tech gadgets introduced for girls this holiday is Barbie Girls(TM).
(Photo: Business Wire)
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.----As the holiday season’s
busiest shopping weekend kicks off today, gift-givers will be heading into the
Barbie® aisle to find the season’s
“most requested toy” for
girls. For the fifth year in a row, Barbie® toys
were named the No. 1 requested holiday gift by girls, per the National Retail
Federation, shining this year with the hugely innovative, tech-y Barbie Girls™
device and a new line of princess-themed dolls and playsets based on the
popular new DVD “Barbie™
as The Island Princess.” Additionally, several
other Mattel Brands’ toys have been named by toy,
parenting, technology and retail experts as the season’s
must-haves. Among this year’s big names on both
industry hot lists and kids’ wish lists are:
Hot Wheels® cars and tracksets, CARS toys, Polly
Pocket™ dolls and playsets, Hannah Montana Mattel®
DVD Board Game, U.B. Funkeys™ and High School
Musical dolls and games.
“This holiday season Mattel toys are topping
must-have holiday lists everywhere. Our holiday toy line-up delivers what
today’s kids want, combining popular themes and the
hottest properties with new technology and fun play experiences,”
said Neil Friedman, president, Mattel Brands.
What Girls Want
This year’s top choice among girls
– Barbie® brand
– has something for every girl
– from techy gadgets to pretty princesses. One of the hottest toys in
the entire toy industry and one of the most exciting tech gadgets introduced
for girls this holiday is Barbie Girls™. The
multi-functional Barbie Girl™ device functions as a
portable music/MP3 player, next generation fashion doll and a
“key” to unlock
exclusive play features and trillions of character and room combinations on
the popular BarbieGirls.com website. Barbie Girls™
was recently named one of Toy Wishes Magazines “Hot
Dozen” toys, named on the eToys 2007 Hot Holiday
Toy List and has received The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.
Another Barbie® favorite is “Barbie™
as The Island Princess,” offering little princesses
a magical assortment of toys that have received recognition from industry
insiders, such as the iParenting Media Award, listing in The Toy Insider Gift
Guide and About.com’s Top 10 Toys of 2007. The
popular “Barbie™ as The
Island Princess” made-for-DVD movie also continues
to top the Nielsen Entertainment VideoScan Top Kid Video Charts.
Mattel Brands also offers toys and games based on the hottest entertainment
properties for girls –“Hannah
Montana” and “High
School Musical.” The Hannah Montana Mattel®
DVD Board game is based on the hottest tween TV show and highest rated series
in Disney Channel history and features popular scenes and chart-topping songs
featured in the show, as well as girls’ favorite
characters – including Miley (aka Hannah.) And,
fans of the smash hit Disney Channel Original Movie “High
School Musical” are loving High School Musical
dolls, designed in the likenesses of the hugely popular characters. The dolls
are dancing their way off store shelves, in many cases selling out entirely.
What’s Big for Boys
From Hot Wheels® and Tyco®
R/C to CARS and DC Super Friends™, Mattel’s
toys for boys have been given the nod from parenting associations, such as the
Hot Wheels® Dragon Fire™
track set which received the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval and
the Matchbox® Mega Rig®
Wrecking Rig™ Vehicle honored as the Preferred
Choice Award “Toy of the Year Finalist”
and Today’s Parent Top Toys for 2007.
And, Radica’s hi-tech U.B. Funkeys™,
which combines vinyl toy collecting with the world of gaming, is a big
favorite among boys, making the eToys 2007 Hot Holiday Toys List and many
others, such as KOL Hot Holiday Toys 2007.
Family Favorites
Mattel’s Games and Radica®
are delivering must-haves for game enthusiasts and tech fanatics. Family
favorites such as the Disney Pictionary® DVD Game
and the High School Musical 2 Mattel® DVD
Game each secured “All-Star”
honors from Toy Wishes Magazine holiday issue. And, Radica’s
20Q™ Junior scored high on industry lists,
including the Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year Award.
Mattel
Girls’
Brands Take Top Holiday Honors
Barbie®
(Dolls, Toys, Role Play & Playsets)
About.com (Best Dolls of 2007, Top 10
Toys of 2007 and Top Toys of 2007 – Girls)
AllAboardToys.com (Best Toys for 2007)
Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice
Award (Toy of the Year Finalist)
eToys 2007 Hot Holiday Toys List (3 and
Up)
Indy’s Child
Gift Guide
iParenting Media Award (2007 Greatest
Products Winner)
KOL Hot Holiday Toys 2007
National Retail Federation 2007 Holiday
Intentions and Actions Survey
PC Magazine “10
Hottest Kid-Friendly Gadgets”
RedBook Magazine’s
“Hot 20”
The National Parenting Center Seal of
Approval
The Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide
TopToysGuide.com Top 10 Toys for Girls
Toy Wishes All-Star & Hot Dozen
Toys “R”Us
2007 Hot Toy List (8-11 years)
UK Toy Retailers Association 'Dream Toys'
List
Web Marketing Association’s
2007 WebAwards Best Toy & Hobby Website
“High School
Musical”
and “High
School Musical 2” Dolls
About.com (Best Dolls of 2007 and Top Toys of 2007 –
Girls)
AllAboardToys.com (Best Toys for 2007)
eToys 2007 Hot Holiday Toys List (6-10
years)
Toy Wishes All-Star
Polly Pocket™
(Dolls, Vehicles & Playsets)
Indy’s Child Gift Guide
iParenting Media Award (2007 Greatest
Products Winner)
Seal of Excellence Award (Creative Play
for Girls category)
The National Parenting Center Seal of
Approval
UK Toy Retailers Association 'Dream Toys'
List (Girls Top 12 Toys for Christmas)
Little Mommy™
Real Loving Baby™
Doll
Georgia Family Best Toys 2007
iParenting Media Award (2007 Greatest
Products Winner)
Wal-Mart Top 12 Toys of Christmas List
Pixel Chix™
(Interactive Games & Accessories)
About.com Top Toys of 2007 – Girls
KOL Hot Holiday Toys 2007
Toy Wishes All-Star
UK Toy Retailers Association 'Dream Toys'
List (Hip 'n' Kool Top 12 Toys for Christmas)
Mattel
Boys Toys Attract Industry Accolades
Hot Wheels®
(Vehicles, Tracks & Playsets)
Georgia Family Best Toys 2007
KB Toys Hot Holiday Toy List
The National Parenting Center Seal of
Approval
Toy Wishes All-Star
Matchbox®
(Vehicles & Playsets)
Canadian Toy Testing Council Best Bet Award 2008
Georgia Family Best Toys 2007
iParenting Media Award (2007 Greatest
Products Winner)
Preferred Choice Award (Creative
Adventures for Kids category, Toy of the Year Finalist)
The National Parenting Center Seal of
Approval
The Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide
Today's Parent Top Toys for 2007
Toy Wishes All-Star
Tyco® R/C
FamilyFun Magazine Finalist
Georgia Family Best Toys 2007
KOL Hot Holiday Toys 2007
Seal of Excellence Award (Outdoor R/C
Toys category)
The National Parenting Center Seal of
Approval
Toy Wishes All-Star
CARS
(Vehicles & Playsets)
AllAboardToys.com - Best Toys for 2007
KB Toys Hot Holiday Toy List
Toy Wishes All-Star
UK Toy Retailers Association 'Dream Toys'
List (Boys Top 12 Toys for Christmas)
DC Super Friends™
(Action Figures & Vehicles)
Indy’s Child Gift Guide
iParenting Media Award
– 2007 Greatest Products Winner
Parents Magazine Best Toys of the Year
List
The National Parenting Center Seal of
Approval
Mattel
Games Make Must-Have Gifts
Flippin’ Frogs™
Game
The Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide
Parents Magazine Best Toys of the Year
List
The National Parenting Center Seal of
Approval
Disney Pictionary® DVD Game
iParenting Media Award – 2007 Greatest
Products Winner
The National Parenting Center Seal of
Approval
Hannah Montana Mattel® DVD Game
Toy Wishes All-Star
AllAboardToys.com - Best Toys for 2007
KOL Hot Holiday Toys 2007
High School Musical 2 Mattel®
DVD Game
Toy Wishes All-Star
KOL Hot Holiday Toys 2007
Scene It?® DVD Games
The Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide (for Harry Potter™
2nd Edition DVD Game)
Toy Wishes All-Star (for Disney 2nd
Edition DVD Game)
Ratatouille Kitchen Quake™ Game
UK Toy Retailers Association 'Dream Toys' List (Games Top 12 Toys for
Christmas)
Radica
Tops Hi-Tech Holiday Wish Lists
U.B.Funkeys™
eToys 2007 Hot Holiday Toys List (8 and Up)
UK Toy Retailers Association 'Dream Toys'
List (Hip 'n' Kool Top 12 Toys for Christmas)
The Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide
PC Magazine “10
Hottest Kid-Friendly Gadgets”
iParenting Media Award
– 2007 Greatest Products Winner
KOL Hot Holiday Toys 2007
Girl Tech Video Journal™
UK Toy Retailers Association 'Dream Toys' List (Hip 'n' Kool Top 12 Toys
for Christmas)
The Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide
iParenting Media Award
– 2007 Greatest Products Winner
The National Parenting Center Seal of
Approval
Parents' Choice Award
Brain Games™
Indy’s Child Gift Guide
20Q™
UK Toy Retailers Association 'Dream Toys' List (Games Top 12 Toys for
Christmas)
Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year
Award (Travel Games category) for 20Q Junior
Say What?™
UK Toy Retailers Association 'Dream Toys' List (Dream Dozen and Games Top
12 Toys for Christmas)
About Mattel
Mattel, Inc., (NYSE:MAT)(www.mattel.com)
is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and
family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as
Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever
introduced, Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®,
American Girl®, Radica®
and Tyco® R/C, as well as Fisher-Price®
brands, including Little People®, Power Wheels®
and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. Mattel is recognized as
one of the 100 Most Trustworthy U.S. Companies by Forbes Magazine and
is ranked among the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by CRO Magazine. Committed
to ethical manufacturing practices, Mattel marks a 10-year milestone in 2007
for its ever-evolving Global Manufacturing Principles and focus on sustainable
business practices. With global headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel
employs more than 30,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells
products in more than 150 nations. Mattel's vision is to be the world's
premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow.
CHIBA CITY, Japan---Toshiba is
exhibiting the GF Station, a GF Series product that has both recorder and
video server capabilities, at Inter BEE 2007, an international broadcasting
equipment exhibition, at Makuhari Messe. The company collaborated with Ikegami
to develop the tape-free GF Series, which supports video production tasks
ranging from shooting to editing to transmission.
The GF Station supports various high-definition and standard-definition
formats, and also includes ample format conversion features for up-converting,
down-converting and cross-converting. The user can operate jog and shuttle
dials just as if using them with a conventional VCR system. The GF Station
also features a 3.5-inch LCD monitor to help the user easily make various
adjustments.
"This is not just a VCR replacement. It has built-in flash memory. With
this product, we have in mind a workflow innovation for broadcasting stations.
The concept of the product is that it is a VCR-like unit that will be
connected to a network in the future." (Toshiba Corporation, Social
Infrastructure Systems Company, Broadcasting System Technology group, Director
Haruyoshi Suzuki)
The GF Station is equipped with a flash memory board that incorporates the
VIDEOS flash memory video server technology, which is highly regarded as a
video transmission server. The board has 128 gigabytes of memory to support
recording or playing high-definition video for about 4 hours. Toshiba expects
the GF Station to be used for many situations, including use at studios and
in-vehicle use, as a location-independent general-use video server.
Retailers Off to a Bumpy Start
Online on Black Friday, Reports Keynote
Technical Quality at 30 Leading Web
Sites Measured by Keynote Indicies
One-Third of Retail Sites Measured
Struggle with Pressures of High Holiday Traffic
Industry-Wide Online Slow-Downs
Impact Search and Check-Out Processes
Keynote to Monitor Retail Sites
Throughout Holiday Season
SAN MATEO, Calif.--Keynote
Competitive Research, the industry analysis group of Keynote (Nasdaq:KEYN),
today provided an update on the technical performance (responsiveness and
reliability) of leading retail Web sites over the course of Black Friday,
one of the busiest online (and offline) shopping days of the year, and the
results were mixed for online retailers. Media interested in receiving
Keynote reports over the holiday season on online retail Web site
performance should email Dan Berkowitz at
dberkowitz@keynote.com or Dan Cahill at
dcahill@roaringcommunications.com.
“Our monitoring of retail site performance has
shown a definite slow-down in site performance over the course of Black
Friday for many leading sites,” said Shawn White,
director of external operations for Keynote. “Almost
a third of the thirty leading retail sites we monitor for our holiday
shopping index experienced significant slow-downs that impacted the product
search and check-out processes – and presumably
will impact online sales.”
Online shopping will represent about $30 billion in sales this holiday
season, according to eMarketer, and about 30% of all holiday shopping will
be done online this year, up strongly over last year, according to the
National Retail Federation and its Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.
“Consumers are increasingly turning to the Web
for their holiday shopping, and thus the success of a retailer’s
holiday season is increasingly tied to their site’s
performance,” said White.
Keynote reported that one-third of the thirty (30) sites it monitors for
its holiday retail index showed significant slow-downs as a result of the
increased Black Friday traffic. Keynote’s
reporting is based on The Keynote Retail Performance Indicies, transaction
performance indices comprised of leading online shopping sites across three
retail categories: apparel, electronics and books & music. The Keynote
Retail Transaction Performance Indicies measure and benchmark the
performance for a standard online shopping transaction for 30 leading retail
sites, including the product search, shopping cart, and check out process
performances on those sites. The data used in Keynote’s
indices is collected in real time on an hourly basis from 10 major cities
across the U.S., providing an up-to-the-minute barometer of online consumer
experience during the holiday shopping season.
“All sites are experiencing some slow-down,
which is natural given the increased number of online shoppers today. The
average site’s slow-down is almost imperceptible
to the consumer with high-speed access. However, those sites that experience
significant slow-down usually will have problems with their product search,
product information and check-out processes. We saw close to a dozen sites
with such problems today.”
Keynote experts note that 5% to 10% slow-downs in traffic on Black Friday
and Cyber Monday are common, and likely will not impact the consumer’s
online experience or check-out and sales. The worst performing sites on
Black Friday were showing up to a 400% slow down, which Keynote experts
caution will lead to consumers abandoning a product search or check-out.
Keynote said its monitoring showed that well-known brands such as Buy.com
and Lowes experienced significant slow downs that impacted their product
search and check-out processes.
Keynote recorded slow-downs and some retail site problems beginning at
9:00 AM Eastern Time on Friday and expected to continue through 10:00 PM
Eastern, peak Internet usage times when consumers from coast to coast are
accessing retail Web sites. Monday (November 26th),
known as Cyber Monday, is also expected to be a busy online shopping period
as many consumers go back to work or routines and shop from the convenience
of their home or office.
In a positive note, Keynote reported that none of the leading sites it
monitors appeared to go completely dark on Friday, whereas several leading
sites experienced periods with complete outages last holiday season.
“Online traffic and online shopping continue
to grow, continue to grow as part of consumer habit,”
said White. “And retailers are responding by
planning in advance for the online holiday shopping season, building site
capacity and testing load and performance months and months before the
season. That’s paid off for most retailers, but a
surprising number still have a ways to go,” said
White.
Keynote’s retail index data is collected using
Transaction Perspective® 8.0, Keynote’s
market–leading Web site performance measurement
and monitoring service. Further information on the Keynote Retail
Performance Indices is available online at:
http://www.keynote.com/keynote_competitive_research/performance_indice
s/retail/retail_index.html (Due to its
length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's
address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
Retail Web Sites Included in the Keynote Retail Performance Indices
Apparel sites on Keynote’s indices include:
Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF); Banana Republic (NYSE: GPS), Eddie Bauer (Nasdaq:
EBHI); Foot Locker (NYSE: FL); Gap (NYSE: GPS); JC Penney (NYSE: JCP); JCrew;
Macy’s (Federated Department Stores, NYSE: FD);
Neiman Marcus; Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN); Saks Fifth Avenue (NYSE: SKS); Sears (Nasdaq:
SHLD); and Zappos.
Books and music sites on Keynote’s indices
include: AbeBooks.com; Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN); Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS);
Borders (NYSE: BGP); Buy.com; Overstock.com (Nasdaq: OSTK); Target (NYSE:
TGT); Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT).
Retail electronics sites on Keynote’s indices
include: Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN); Best Buy (NYSE: BBY); Buy.com; CDW (Nasdaq:
CDWC); Circuit City (NYSE: CC); Dell (Nasdaq: DELL); Office Depot (NYSE: ODP);
OfficeMax (NYSE: OMX); Overstock.com (Nasdaq: OSTK); Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS);
Toys R Us (NYSE: XKE); Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT).
About Keynote
Keynote Systems (Nasdaq:KEYN) is the global leader in on-demand test &
measurement solutions for continuously improving the online experience. As
an independent and trusted third-party, Keynote provides IT and marketing
executives with an unbiased view into their Internet services from around
the world. For over a decade, Keynote has been providing measurement data
and testing capabilities that allow companies to understand and improve
their customers’ online and mobile experience.
Keynote has four test and measurement businesses: Web performance, mobile
quality, streaming & VoIP, and customer experience/UX. In addition, Keynote’s
industry analysis group called Keynote Competitive Research publishes
proprietary studies measuring customer experience and service levels across
a wide range of industries.
Known as The Mobile and Internet Performance Authority™,
Keynote has a market-leading infrastructure of 2,400 measurement computers
and mobile devices in over 240 locations around the world. Keynote also
maintains one of the most representative panels of online users consisting
of 160,000 consumers. Keynote’s on-demand,
hassle-free infrastructure allows businesses to access services they need,
when they need them to pinpoint and fix mobile quality and Internet problems
before they impact customers.
Keynote helps over 2,700 corporate customers become “the
best of the best” by helping them improve online
business performance and mobile communications quality. Keynote’s
customers represent top Internet and mobile companies including American
Express, BP, Caterpillar, Dell, Disney, eBay, ESPN Mobile, E*TRADE, Expedia,
FedEx, Microsoft, SonyEricsson, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and Vodafone.
Keynote Systems, Inc. is headquartered in San Mateo, California and can
be reached at
www.keynote.com or by phone in the U.S. at (650) 403-2400.
Each year the day after Thanksgiving, I’ve risen early to join my family in
the holiday tradition of Black Friday shopping. Bundled up and waiting
outside, we’ve watched the sun rise waiting for stores to open. Shopping in
groups, we’ve made it nearly a science, pursuing the great deals we just had
to have.
Welcome to the year 2007. With Black Friday ads online and the ability to
purchase online without having to endure waiting for hours upon hours in the
cold to enter too crowded retail stores with limited quantities, I can
happily slumber. The retailers that did, found me happily shopping in the
warmth of my home.
Upon consideration, would I miss out on those door buster specials only
available in the store? Am I going through withdrawal? Resolving, I will not
appear at any retail store before 9 am. Should I also mention that a late
Thanksgiving Eve tour of retailers, made the possibility of some Black
Friday only purchases a reality?
Previously, Black Friday signaled the beginning of shopping for the holiday
season for many families. This year, retailers got us in the mood earlier
with holiday decorations beside Halloween decorations.
This year there are 5 weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so
there’s an extra weekend for shopping and sales. If Thanksgiving weekend
sales meets expectations, you can expect fewer sales. Better sales if it
doesn’t. Based on what’s been seen thus far, I’m looking forward to taking
advantage of the one-gunmanship of retailers this holiday season.
Choosing HD DVD or Blu-Ray
Written by Joyce Chow
Waiting out the high definition format battleground may be closer than you
think. While the tide tips some days towards HD DVD and other days to Blu-Ray,
high def is closer than you think.
High definition options in HD DVD and Blu-Ray formats are approaching consumer
mass market affordability, with an abundance of choices. In a nutshell, it can
be divided into two sides - Toshiba and the HD DVD format and Sony counting on
its future with Blu-Ray.
Similar to VHS and Beta, the two formats are incompatible with each other so
if you want to play both, you’re either buying a combination player or you
have two different players. Think of it as Sony Playstation and Microsoft Xbox
or Nintendo Wii. The good news in all of this is that either of the players
should play standard dvds and may upconvert to a high definition picture.
Some movie studios are distributing DVDs in both formats or a combination HD/Blu-Ray
disc as well as standard dvd formats, some are choosing one or the other. If
you’re selecting a high definition player based on which studios they are
aligned with, similar to selecting a PS3 or Xbox based on game titles, you’ll
want to check current information for the Blu-Ray organization (www.blu-raydisc.com)
or HD organization (www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com).
Choosing Blu-Ray
Pioneer has an internal blu-ray disc/dvd/cd combo drive for pcs for $299. You
can watch movies in Blu-Ray while still having the ability to read and write
to most DVD and CD formats.
Sony’s Playstation 3, aka PS3, has been considered the Trojan horse in Blu-Ray
circles. Unfortunately, the Blu-Ray chip shortage hampered the shipments of
PS3s and the $500 price tag discouraged some consumers.
Earlier in 2007, Blu-Ray players were $999, fortunately they’re available
around beginning at $499 from Sony and Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung and Sharp.
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, promotions have Sony Full HD 1080p
Blu-ray disc players for $399.99
Sony laptops and computers with Blu-Ray players begin at $1599
Selecting HD DVD
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 HD DVD player at $179 is by far the most affordable
possibility but requires a Microsoft Xbox console, which is several hundred if
you don’t already have one. Surprisingly, this option has been barely
mentioned as a footnote in dvd circles.
Toshiba’s HD-A2 has been promoted at $298(after an in-store rebate), breaking
the $300 barrier. Black Friday prices are being offered as low as $199.99 with
7 free HD DVD movies.
Toshiba also leads the HD DVD camp with it’s laptops featuring the HD DVD
players available at $1399.
Still debating between HD DVD and Blu-Ray
Instead of choosing HD or Blu-Ray, LG instead chose to offer both, in one
player. At $999, you have both, so whether the Hollywood blockbuster you
choose is in HD DVD or Blu-Ray you’ll be able to watch either.
If you’re still not ready to take the plunge, a standard dvd upconverter will
bring greater definition to your dvd collection. A standard dvd upconverter
will play standard dvds and is available for under $100.
Navigation Tops Lists for Holiday 2007
Written by Joyce Chow
The buzz for the holidays is navigation. Journalist after journalist at SEMA
2007 in Las Vegas, was searching for the latest in navigation. It wasn’t
difficult to track down as it seems company after company was offering a
version.
More than half of the companies present during Autofocus, produced by Pepcom
Inc., were showcasing their portable navigation systems. Unlike the in-dash
navigation systems that are installed, a portable navigation system allows
portability amongst vehicles or even on foot. The invitation only media and
analyst event the eve before the SEMA show floor opening, showcased the latest
in high-tech products for the automotive market.
Although a main point of navigation system is to help you safely navigate,
besides the basic versions with preloaded maps, each company has premium
versions that helps you with better size and graphics - 2 or 3 D, Bluetooth,
cameras, multimedia players, inputs for audio and video, and real time traffic
possibilities.
The roundup of companies and features in the various versions displayed at
Autofocus follow:
HP
iPaq 310 Series Travel Companion is a reminder of HP’s iPaq PDA or pocket pc
in navigation
Features: high resolution 3D, 4.3” touch screen display for easy map
navigation, turn by turn directions, guide to help you find Outlook contacts,
tailor travel experience by downloading HP online planning services, SD memory
card, USB connector, Bluetooth capability for hands-free conversations,
digital entertainment with a music and video player and photo viewer
Suggested retail price is $449.99
Jensen
Audiovox’s NVXM1000 “Rock-n-Road” portable navigation system features XM
satellite radio
Features: 4” color touch screen, turn by turn directions in 12 languages, 11
million points of interest, optional rear-view camera for safely backing up,
XM mini tuner ready to bring the XM system into your car or home
Suggested retail price is $799.99
Magellan
Maestro 4250 and 3250 boast the thinnest industrial design at 17.8 mm and the
fastest growing GPS brand in North America.
Features: 4.3“ (4250) or 3.5” screen(3250), built in AAA TourBook® integrated
real-time traffic, exclusive voice command and control for commands such as
“go home” or “nearest coffee”, Bluetooth hands-free calling, 6 million points
of interest, Trip planning for multi-destination routing, Night View to
optimize display viewing based on time of day, SiRF Star III GPS chips for the
fastest GPS position acquisition in the industry
Suggested retail price is $499 for Maestro 4250 and $399 for Maestro 3250.
Maestro price range of $269 to $499.
MIO
DigiWalker™ C230, 320 and C720t can imbed camera pics into navigation
Features: 3.5” TFT touch screen with standard voice guidance in 3 languages
for over 1 million points of interest for the basic C230, 4.3” TFT touch
screen with split-screen interface a SD card for digital audio files nd 1.7
million points of interest available only at RadioShack for the C320. The top
of the line C720t has a 4.3” TFT touch screen, integrated two-mega pixel
camera allowing users to embed GPS coordinates into images for navigation,
business card recognition software inputs data by taking a picture of a
business card, Traffic Messaging Channel (3 month paid subscription),
text-to-speech driving insructions, split-screen interface, 12 million points
of interest, digital video, audio and photo files with the SD card, and
Bluetooth® capabilities.
Suggested Retail price is $ for the C230, $299.95 for the C320 and $599.95 for
the C720t
Motorola
MOTONAV with the Motorola T805 and T815 add satellite navigation to your
compatible Bluetooth enabled phone.
Features: maps on screen, turn by turn spoken and visual directions, may fit
within your pocket to be used while walking or in the car, accessories
included for mounting and charging in the car, night lighting mode (T815), 12
month MOTONAV national subscription included (T805).
Suggested retail price is approximately $150.
Nokia
You can have the entire internet in your pocket with navigation in the N810
Internet Tablet. Seen on the SEMA floor installed in a Scion both for the
driver as well as installed in headrests for passenger viewing of digital
entertainment.
Features: 4.13” WVGA display (800x480 pixels), wi-fi connectivity with
internet calls, integrated VGA web camera, digital media player for listening
to audio and video and viewing pictures, SD cards and compatible with miniSD
and microSD, integrated QWERTY keyboard, upgradeable to Wayfinder’s
voice-guided navigation for turn-by-turn directions,
Suggested Retail Price is $479 (estimated)
Panasonic
Introduced their first portable navigation system, the Strata at a press
conference just before their Autofocus showing.
Features: slim size with 5” touch color panel), turn by turn directions in 3
languages, Voice Command function ability to navigate to preprogrammed
destinations by voice, digital photo viewer, Bluetooth capability for
hands-free cell conversations, Lane Assist helps avoid last-minute lane
changes, 1.8 million points of interest in 51 categories, SD memory card
Suggested retail price is $499.95.
Sanyo
Easy Street NVM-4050 and NVM-4070 offers Traffic Message Channel
Features: 4 inch 16:9 widescreen LCD, 1.8 million points of interest, Traffic
Message Channel (4070) reports real-time information on traffic with icons
graphically displaying incidents on the navigation map (90 day trial
included), text to speech navigation with turn by turn voice directions,
Bluetooth hands free calling, built in FM transmitter, digital music and video
players, SD memory card
Suggested retail price is $499.99 (4070-black) and $399.99 (4050 - dark
charcoal gray)
Still confused about navigation? Consider how you would be using the
navigation system, what is needed, and what may already be fulfilled through
other electronic products you may own such as a cell phone or iPod and what
integration you may want to include. Features that matter most include ease of
use, quality and speed of route calculations for choices in route preferences
such as faster time or shorter distance or quickness in recalculating after
missed turns.
Minimally, having a navigation system that announces the street name instead
of simply “turn left” may keep you safe with your eyes on the road. If you
reside or visit an area where you’ll want to be aware of traffic conditions,
having traffic or the capability to add it may upgrade you from a basic
version. Traffic may be included or may be possible through a monthly or
annual subscription.
While many of the systems are in the $400-$500 range, the range in navigation
is broader and can be found as low as $150 on sale or upwards to $900. In the
end, it’s likely a combination of price, function and availability that will
direct you to your best navigation system.
By Notaspringchick
Costco Auto Buying Program
Costco has an auto buying program offering members fleet pricing for new cars.
I’d read comments about it online, some extremely favorable and others saying
that you could do better. At least, a starting point. While some may enjoy the
car buying process, many don’t, leading to the creation of no haggle
philosophy’s of General Motors’ Saturn and Car Max.
Utilizing Auto Trader, Consumer Reports and Edmunds as guides, my husband
diligently searched for an sport utility vehicle for me to drive. My brother
commented that our car shopping was all over the board. Even though I’d
determined that a sport utility vehicle was ideal, we were not limited to one
category nor manufacturer. If you were a car manufacturer, and had an SUV that
was 4 or 6 cylinders, you were considered. It was not easy replacing a
Mercedes-Benz coupe I’d grown attached to with over 200,000 miles.
My requirements were quite simple, something safe for Monte Bubbles to arrive
at dog shows in while carrying all her gear. His requirements were different,
considering miles per gallon with the ever increasing gas prices, financing
considering dual self-employment, the amount of miles driven per year, causing
the 10,000 miles per year leases to be thrown out the window, and last but not
least, unadmittedly something that would look good next to his BMW
convertible.
Costco members contact a toll free number to obtain a referral for a
dealership. You’ll need your Costco membership number and the name of a
vehicle you want prior to contacting them. If you’re not certain and are
looking at more than one car from a manufacturer’s line you can let them know
too. They’ll explain how the program works, receive your contact information
and give you contact information for the dealership. The fleet manager will
contact you within 24 hours, although you can contact them sooner. This first
step takes about 5-10 minutes.
Next, you’ll meet with the fleet manager. They’ll review what car you’re
looking for and then get right down to the numbers. When you meet with the
fleet manager, they will often pull out a price sheet which tells them what
pre-arranged Costco membership prices are over dealer invoice, typically $500
over dealer invoice. They’ll share dealer invoice and what your price will be.
The price can vary from car to car or manufacturer to manufacturer. If you
ask, they’ll print it out for you.
After that, the typical steps you would go through in buying a car is similar.
If you’re considering buying a new car, following are some pros and cons at
utilizing the Costco Auto Buying Program:
PROS
-They give you a great starting point for pricing.
-They maintain a database showing who they’ve referred you to..
-The second request you make for a manufacturer only takes a few minutes as
they’ve already explained how the program works
- There may be additional offers that the fleet manager is able to offer you
better than the typical $500 over dealer invoice.
- No pressure sales by the fleet managers.
- Once you start conversations with a fleet manager, you do not need to obtain
an additional referral for a different vehicle from the same manufacturer.
CONS
-They give you one recommendation at a time so if you’re
looking to compare pricing from several you have to call back.
-Typically, you have go in and meet with the Costco fleet
manager initially to obtain pricing.
-The dealership may not be the closest dealership to you. (for
the multiple manufacturers I’ve contacted them about, none were the closest
dealership. All however were within 7-30 miles from where I live)
-You may be able to obtain better pricing through negotiating
than the through the program.
Costco’s auto buying program has pros and cons, but in the
end, it does exactly as intended, it saves you time and money.
Gifts Cards A Phenom in The Hispanic Market
According to Comdata Stored Value Solutions fifth annual gift card survey of
US consumers, Hispanics received gift cards with the highest average value, $71,
compared to $41 for Caucasians and $60 for African-Americans. In addition, 26%
of Hispanics surveyed report giving gift cards to children as a budgeting tool
or in lieu of an allowance.
Other survey highlights related to Hispanics:
40% of Hispanics report buying cards for themselves vs. 30% of Caucasians
and 24% of African-Americans
31% of Hispanics report purchasing gift cards at gift card malls, which
provide a variety of card options at one location, compared with 26% of
Caucasians and 33% of African-Americans
Hispanics add their own money to increase their purchasing power. 69% of
those surveyed say they spend more than the amount of the card, compared with
52% of Caucasians and 44% of African-Americans
38% of Hispanics buy cards via the internet, 31% at gift card malls and 6%
at charity fundraisers and other events
And, considering gift cards among the entire population for the 2007 holiday
season, the study includes these highlights:
The average gift card purchaser expects to spend $203 on gift cards for
the 2007 holiday season, up from $186 in 2006
38% of those surveyed who have never purchased a gift card are very or
somewhat likely to purchase gifts cards this holiday season, representing an
81% increase in new card users
53% of card users often or always spend more than the amount originally
loaded onto their cards, and are most likely to redeem their cards over two
visits, increasing store traffic
85% purchase gift cards because they want the recipient to be able to
select their own gift, while 57% don't know what to buy
Department stores are the most popular place to purchase a card, followed
by clothing and book stores, then restaurants
The children's gift card market was measured last year, and showed that:
One-third of all gift cards purchased last year were purchased for
children or teens
4% of cards purchased were for children under the age of five
Of those who have purchased gift cards for children, 35% were the child's
parents, followed by 30% who are aunts or uncles
Google Announces $10 Million Android Developer Challenge
Challenge to Inspire Innovation and Improve Mobile Experience
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Google (NASDAQ: GOOG)
today announced the Android Developer Challenge, which will provide
$10 million to developers who build mobile applications for Android™,
the first complete, open, and free mobile platform. The Challenge is
designed to support the developer community and spark innovation on
the Android platform by awarding cash prizes ranging from $25,000 to
$275,000 to developers whose applications are picked by a panel of
judges.
"We've built some interesting applications for Android but the best
applications are not here yet and that's because they're going to be
written by developers," said Sergey Brin, Co-founder and President,
Technology, Google. "We'd like to reward these developers and
recognize them as much as possible."
"We believe that the Android platform offers developers a unique
opportunity to create truly innovative mobile software," said Andy
Rubin, Google's director of mobile platforms. "We're challenging
developers to stretch their imaginations and skills to leverage the
full capabilities of this new platform and to create something
amazing."
Android was announced on November 5 by the Open Handset AllianceTM, a
group of more than 30 technology and mobile industry leaders committed
to fostering innovation on mobile phones and offering a better
consumer experience. The Alliance will provide developers with a new
level of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively.
Today, the Alliance released an early look at the Android software
developer kit (SDK) that includes the documentation, sample projects,
development tools, emulator, and libraries that developers will need
to build an Android application. Today's Android SDK announcement can
be found on the Alliance blog:
http://android-developers.blogspot.com.
The $10 million total in the Android Developer Challenge will be
distributed equally between the Android Developer Challenge I and II.
Submissions for Challenge I will be accepted from January 2 through
March 3, 2008, and the 50 most promising entries will be recognized by
end of March with each receiving $25,000 awards to fund further
development. These 50 entries will then be eligible for even greater
recognition by applying by May 1, 2008 for ten awards worth $275,000
each and another ten worth $100,000 each. Recognition for the top apps
among those entries will be announced by end of May 2008. Challenge
II will launch after the first handsets built on the platform become
available in the second half of 2008.
A panel of technology and mobile experts selected from the Open
Handset Alliance member organizations and the industry in general will
judge all qualifying entries. Awards will be given to the developers
whose applications leverage all that the Android platform has to offer
in order to provide consumers with the most compelling experiences.
Developers retain all intellectual property and other rights to their
applications. Interested developers should:
1. Download the SDK at
http://code.google.com/android/download.html
2. Build a great app.
3. Submit an application between January 2 and March 3, 2008.
About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people
around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by
Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a
top Web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted
advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable
results, while enhancing the overall Web experience for users. Google
is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the
Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com
Show Poised for Move to Boston
in 2008 to Accommodate Continued Growth
NEW YORK (October 2, 2007) — Natural Products Expo
East (www.expoeast.com),
the largest natural and organic products trade show and conference on the east
coast, posted 7 percent growth in overall attendance this year with more than
25,000 attendees and 1,790 exhibits. With the natural and organic products
industry growing at 9.7 percent annually and topping more than $56 billion in
consumer sales, according to The Natural
Foods Merchandiser’s™ 2007 Market Overview, Natural Products Expo
East benefited from national trends toward healthier lifestyle choices, from
grocery store to pharmacy to home. The show, held September 26-29 in Baltimore ,
Md. , is co-located with the Healthy Foods Conference and produced by New Hope
Natural Media, a division of Penton Media, Inc.
“The record-breaking success of this show reflects
the escalating economic clout of natural, organic and healthy products,” said
Fred Linder, president of New Hope Natural Media. “Natural Products Expo East
once again provided the largest and most diverse opportunity on the east coast
for entrepreneurs, retailers and manufacturers in this growing industry.”
The 23rd annual gathering was an active launching
pad for new products, providing a glimpse of the healthy trends of tomorrow. The
show’s New Products Pavilion played host to product introductions and events,
including the 5th Annual New Products Showcase Awards. Winners of the 2007 New
Products Showcase Awards were: BeeCeuticals Organics Bee-Yond Body Rub(Personal
Care/Health & Beauty); FoodShouldTasteGood MultiGrain Tortilla Chips and
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils Organic Hempmilk (Food – tie); Nelsons Rescue
Remedy Pastilles (Supplement/Herbs); Sweetriot 100% Dark Chocolate Cacao Nibs
(Green/Environmentally-friendly); Wise-Acre, Inc. Frost Teas (Innovation); and Zhena
Gypsy Tea (Packaging).
In addition to the active trade show floor,
Natural Products Expo East 2007 featured numerous educational and networking
opportunities, highlighted by keynote speaker Paul Hawken, environmentalist,
entrepreneur, journalist and author.
“Natural Products Expo East ensures the continued
success of my business,” said Zedrick Clark, president of Nature’s Food Market.
“Whether I’m looking for a specific product or shopping a new category, this
show allows me to make the best use of my time—there is no comparison for
negotiating deals face to face.”
After 23 years in the mid-Atlantic region, Natural
Products Expo East will relocate to Boston in 2008. Scheduled for October 15-18
at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center , the move accommodates the
industry’s growth. The Boston location will provide increased proximity to the
retail buying audience of the Northeast.
“With the growth of the show and the industry,
we’re pleased to provide our clients with an exciting new venue in a progressive
region that is important to the natural products industry,” said Erica Hulsman,
show manager.
New Hope Natural Media (www.newhope.com),
a division of the Penton Media, Inc., is the leading media resource and
information provider for the natural, organic and healthy products industry with
print, in-person/event, and e-business products and services. Penton Media,
Inc. is the largest independent business-to-business media company in the U.S. ,
serving more than six million business professionals every month. The company’s
market-leading brands are focused on 30 industries and include 113 trade
magazines, 145 Web sites, 150 industry trade shows and conferences, and more
than 500 information data products. Headquartered in New York City , the
privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners
II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its coinvestors.
For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit
www.penton.com.
News
from The ISIS Group and Graham-Patten Systems
Graham-Patten now offers five models of SoundPals de-embedders
- all handy ways to monitor and troubleshoot embedded audio
streams. Each compact unit provides 8 channels (or 4 AES
pairs) of audio plus headphone connectors. Choose from
models that de-embed from SD or HD, or ones that auto-sense
SD or HD inputs. De-embed to analog or AES outputs.
Download your complimentary copy of Your Digital Ear:
Troubleshoot, Monitor and Meter Embedded Audio with
SoundPals Audio De-embedders - and discover how
SoundPals de-embedders make your job easier.
This is the second in our series of interviews with
ISIS people. You can also
see past interviews.
Meet our "Chief Everything Officer" - Steve Block, one of
the founders of The ISIS Group, Inc. Steve says "I've worked
in several different industries, and I find this one the
best by far. The people are . just generally decent human
beings."
If you are using any of the INNOVATION routers (Analog,
SDI, RGBHV, or auto-sensing SD/HD SDI versions), you'll want
the link coming in our October newsletter - it will let you
download the
INNOVATION GUI with a license for a fifteen-day trial.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please send
comments, suggestions and subscription requests to
info@isis-group.com
Tess Pender, Director of Marketing
September 24, 2007 11:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Papa John’s
Offers a Taste of Tuscany in Any Neighborhood
New Tuscan specialty pizzas
– Six Cheese and Roma Meats –
available for a limited time only -- for just $11.99
LOUISVILLE, Ky.
-Craving a Tuscan
getaway, but the boss won’t give you a week off
work? Now, thanks to Papa John’s, anyone can get a
taste of Tuscany for much less than the cost of round-trip airfare and hotel
accommodations!
Beginning Monday, Sept. 24 through Monday, Oct. 22, Papa John’s
customers can get their choice of a large Tuscan pizza –
brand-new from Papa John’s –
for just $11.99.
That’s the easy part. Now you just have to
decide which Tuscan pizza to order!
The Papa John’s Six Cheese Tuscan pizza is
served on a thin crust and loaded with a blend of six cheeses and Italian
herb seasoning, while the Roma Meats Tuscan pizza is topped with spicy
Italian sausage, Italian salami, Roma tomatoes, three cheeses, and Italian
herb seasonings.
Since both are delicious, Papa John’s suggests
saving yourself a headache and simply ordering one of each!
As with all Papa John’s pizzas and sides, the
new Tuscan pizzas are available to order online at
www.papajohns.com. Want to order your favorite meal with just two clicks
of the mouse? Simply save your order with Papa John’s
new online “Favorites Wizard”
option so that the next time you log on to
www.papajohns.com, you can quickly request “the
usual,” without need to remember what exactly
“the usual” is.
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John’s
International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) is the world’s
third largest pizza company. For eight years running, consumers have rated
Papa John’s No. 1 in customer satisfaction among
all national pizza chains in the highly regarded American Customer
Satisfaction Index (ACSI). For more information about the company or to
order pizza online, visit Papa John's at
www.papajohns.com.
September 24, 2007 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Dell to Partner with GOME on Retail Sales in
China
Dell Direct Experience Now Available to Millions of Customers at
China’s No. 1 Consumer Electronics Retailer
BEIJING--
Dell’s
(NASDAQ:DELL) direct advantage and industry-leading technology will
reach millions of in-store computer buyers across China thanks to a new
partnership to sell the company’s latest
products through GOME, China’s largest
consumer electronics retailer.
Today’s announcement adds to Dell’s
momentum with leading retailers in countries around the world. Dell will
begin rolling out its systems in about 50 major metropolitan GOME stores
during October and significantly expand its presence into the first half
of next year. Additionally, Dell employees will be available in GOME
stores to help customers with purchases and their overall experience.
“Starting in October, consumers can buy
Dell products at GOME stores that will help satisfy customers’
diversified needs. Our partnership with Dell will strengthen our
commitment in providing a superior customer experience, and is an
important action to deepen our customer relationships,”
Chen Xiao, president of GOME. “I am
confident that we made the right decision to partner with a top-name
brand to sustain our growth in China.”
Chen adds that Dell’s selection of GOME as
its first retail partner in China shows that the large-scale consumer
electronics retailer is becoming an increasingly important venue for
customers purchasing IT products. The high-value products GOME offers
are attracting more and more customers, especially from the younger
generation. GOME’s extensive sales network,
online store, reliable supply channel, shopping environment,
professional sales staff, and good services are highly recognized.
“Chinese consumers are increasingly
sophisticated in how they buy and use technology, so it is only natural
that a global brand like Dell partner with GOME to provide a preferred
shopping experience,” said Michael Tatelman,
vice president of marketing and sales for Dell’s
global consumer business. “For Dell, this is
a great opportunity to extend connections with Chinese customers we may
not have reached in the past. We look forward to a long and mutually
rewarding relationship with GOME.”
Dell products available at GOME will include the award-winning
notebooks and desktops such as the 13.3 inch XPS™
M1330, the XPS 720 performance desktop, Inspiron™
1420 notebook, Dimension™ 9200 desktop and
Inspiron 530 desktop.
The partnership with GOME is Dell’s latest
retail distribution agreement aimed at reaching more customers
worldwide. The company recently announced relationships with Bic Camera
Inc. in Japan, Carphone Warehouse in the U.K. and Wal-Mart in the U.S.
About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative
technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its
direct business model, Dell is a leading global systems and services
company and No. 34 on the Fortune 500. For more information, visit
www.dell.com, or to communicate directly with Dell via a variety of
online channels, go to
www.dell.com/conversations. To get Dell news direct, visit
www.dell.com/RSS.
September 24, 2007 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
TV Guide Launches Major National
Consumer Advertising Campaign
Campaign Assures Passionate TV Fans,
“We’ll Get You Through
the Week,” Via TV Guide Magazine, TV Guide
Online and TV Guide Network
Campaign Features 13 Innovative TV
Commercials Tied to This Fall’s Most Popular
Programs
LOS ANGELES----Gemstar -TV Guide
International, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMST), a leading media, entertainment and
technology company, announced today the launch of an innovative national
consumer advertising campaign tied to the official kickoff of television’s
new fall season. The multimillion-dollar campaign, which launches today and
runs through November sweeps, positions TV Guide as the brand that helps
viewers “get through the week”
between episodes of their favorite television shows. It is unique in two
important ways: the creative is show-specific, with each ad tied to one of
13 popular fall shows; and the media strategy is innovative in that the ads
will air only during these specific shows, running in the last half of the
episode, in order to let fans know at just the right time that TV Guide will
get them through the week until the next episode airs.
The overall campaign idea is driven by TV Guide’s
insight that TV fans are not so much passionate about television as
they are about their favorite television show(s). TV Guide
knows that these fans will go to great lengths to stay connected to that
show once the episode is over. This campaign speaks directly to them,
assuring the millions of passionate viewers that TV Guide will help get them
through until the next episode, with anytime, anywhere access to relevant,
unique and entertaining content about their favorite show(s) via TV Guide
Magazine,
TVGuide.com and TV Guide Network.
“With the continued enhancement of all our
products, including the new TV Guide Magazine, the redesigned
TVGuide.com Web site and hours of new original programming on TV Guide
Network, we felt this was the perfect time to launch a high-profile,
integrated campaign,” said Alan Cohen, chief
marketing officer at Gemstar-TV Guide. “This
effort is an important step in the continued revitalization of the TV Guide
brand and in driving further awareness and usage of our products and
services across the multiple platforms in which we operate.”
He continued, “Because of the unique way in
which we have designed this campaign and orchestrated its media placement,
we will reach exactly the TV fans we wish to influence. We know that TV
enthusiasts have a strong desire to fill the seven-day ‘withdrawal
period’ between episodes of their favorite shows.
They crave fresh and entertaining information, the backstories and the side
stories related to their favorite shows and stars, and they want it on their
terms. We offer unequaled access to breaking news, inside scoop and
celebrity interviews -- all available across our multiple consumer touch
points. And with a weekly reach of 73 million consumers across its various
platforms, TV Guide is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of these loyal
fans.”
Tailored to each show’s title and premise,
each ad utilizes a “countdown”
element to highlight the length of time between episodes, and that, for true
fans of the show, a week is a very long time to wait until the next episode.
The ads then go on to assure the viewer that by tuning in to one of TV Guide’s
platforms, they will be provided with a “fix”
that will help them get through the week. The “fix”
refers to TV Guide’s fresh and exclusive
information on the shows, stars, characters and story lines as well as
multimedia content including exclusive video, along with blogs and user
communities where fans can go to interact about these shows. Each of the ads
is punctuated with a cross-platform animated mnemonic, reinforcing TV Guide’s
print, online and network offerings.
The campaign creatively plays to how consumers are using television
today, and to two distinct advantages held by TV Guide: the long-standing
relationships the company shares with the networks (all of which were
involved in the process of developing brand-appropriate messaging for each
program), and the unparalleled level of access that TV Guide’s
reporters and editors have to news and information about the television
shows.
“Everyone talks about the show to come, but
until now no one has acknowledged the time between the shows for its
fans,” said Peter Krivkovich, CEO of Cramer-Krasselt,
the Chicago-based advertising agency that designed the campaign.
“TV Guide is about keeping the fans connected
with their favorite programs between episodes, and that’s
the insight we mined to develop this campaign.”
The TV spots will appear weekly on the following shows (in alphabetical
order): America’s Next Top Model, Brothers &
Sisters, CSI, Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Friday Night
Lights, Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes, House, Prison
Break, Survivor: China, The Office and Ugly Betty.
In addition to the TV spots, the campaign extends online, with banner and
interactive units that support the viewer’s
emotional connection to a show and their anticipation of the next episode.
The media plan is a mix of high-reach entertainment sites, as well as
show-specific pages within the broadcast and cable network sites that will
reach viewers who are looking for a deeper connection to their favorite
shows.
TV Guide is also taking the message “to the
streets” beginning September 28 with a free
“Daily Fix” themed
program, in which TV Guide will give consumers in select coffee shops in
L.A., N.Y. and Chicago free cups of coffee to “get
them through the day,” while letting them know
that the TV Guide brand will help “get them
through the week.” The program also provides all
patrons with the current issue of TV Guide.
TVGuide.com
TVguide.com will provide an abundance of exclusive multimedia content
that is continually updated throughout the week, with enhanced show pages
featuring:
Extensive video clips
Breaking news and related feature
stories on the shows and their stars
Extensive community features that allow
fans to share their passion with other fans
Live blogging during the show, after
and next morning
Show-specific countdown clock that lets
fans know the exact time until the next episode airs
TV Guide Magazine
In addition to our extensive, ongoing coverage of the top shows,
including breaking news and behind-the-scenes coverage, TV Guide Magazine
will have a weekly section dedicated to the top shows that will feature
engaging photos and content. The section will also direct fans to exclusive
video and multimedia content about the shows on TVGuide.com and TV Guide
Network.
TV Guide Network
TV Guide Network will provide extensive coverage of the 13 shows,
including:
Special 30-minute and hour-long
programs. The exciting content includes exclusive “Where
Are They Now” specials, behind-the-scenes scoop
on the shows, and exclusive interviews and set visits.
“Daily Fix”
content will also be integrated into current segments on our weekly shows
including our popular series inFANity.
About Gemstar-TV Guide
Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. (the “Company”)
(NASDAQ: GMST) is a leading global media, entertainment and technology
company that develops, licenses, markets and distributes products and
services that maximize the video guidance and entertainment experience for
consumers. The Company’s businesses include:
television, publishing and new-media properties; interactive program guide
services and products; and intellectual property licensing. Additional
information about the Company can be found at
www.gemstartvguide.com.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.
Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
or results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
performance or results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties related to the
timely availability and market acceptance of products and services
incorporating the Company's technologies and content; our investments in new
and existing businesses; the impact of competitive products and services;
and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports,
including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, each as it
may be amended from time to time. The Company assumes no obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.
Note to Editors: Gemstar, TV Guide, TVGuide.com and TV Guide Network
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gemstar-TV Guide International,
Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. The names of other companies, products and
services used herein are for identification purposes only and may be
trademarks of their respective owners
September 24, 2007 11:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time
The New York Times Runs Its
First-Ever Spadia Ads
NBC Uses Innovative Opportunity To Promote
Its Fall Season
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The New
York Times announced today that NBC has purchased four spadia advertisements
in today’s newspaper. NBC bought the
advertisements to promote its returning hit show “Heroes”
and new shows “Chuck,”“Bionic Woman” and
“Journeyman.”
The spadia, a page wrapped around the spine of a section of the paper
that appears as a partial page, ran in the Metro, Business Day, SportsMonday
and TheArts sections of today’s New York Times
distributed in the New York metropolitan area. Further supporting NBC’s
fall launch was a full page ad in the Main news section for the launch of
“Life.”
The campaign also includes front strip and full-page back cover national
ad buys for all sections except Main news and is the first time all four
front/backs have been purchased in one day by the same advertiser. NBC’s
ad buy constitutes an unusually large campaign for a single day, involving
all sections of the paper, and represents more than 2,000 column inches.
“We are extremely excited that NBC chose to
showcase its fall season in The New York Times by using these innovative
advertising units,” said Denise Warren, senior
vice president and chief advertising officer, The New York Times Media
Group. “A campaign such as this comes about as a
result of understanding our customers and offering them unique solutions to
meet their needs.”
“We are always looking for innovative new ways
to get our messages across,” said John Miller,
chief marketing officer, NBC Universal Television Group.
“The New York Times is a great strategic ally in creating their first
ever spadia unit for our Monday premieres. These will be heroic units for a
heroic line-up.”
Added Tim Farish, vice president of media for NBC, “We
feel The New York Times did what they do best –
take an idea and make it just a little bigger and a little bolder.”
Over the last year The New York Times has introduced several new premium
advertising positions, including its front page business ad program and
positions like checkerboards, book ends, checkerboard spreads and
fireplaces.
About The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2006
revenues of $3.3 billion, includes The New York Times, the International
Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and
more than 30 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The
Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and
distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.
ANNOUNCING MAX TOY COMPANY
NEW TO STRANGECO DISTRIBUTION! size
STRANGEco is proud to announce that it is now the exclusive distributor
of Max Toy Company, the brainchild of obsessive toy collector, magazine
founder and artist Mark Nagata. Max Toy Company creates high quality
vinyl figures in the tradition of classic Japanese character toys, with
exclusive designs by Nagata, Bwana Spoons and others, as well as
premier licenses from the golden age of Japanese kaiju.
Ask anyone who knows Mark Nagata to describe him and the two things that
will come up are toys and art.
After attending the Academy of Art College in San Francisco during the
late 80's and picking up a New York artist's rep, Mark embarked on a 10-year
plus journey as a freelance commercial illustrator. Churning out hundreds of
assignments over the years, coupled with deadlines from hell took a toll,
both mentally and physically. "I had to reassess what was important in my
life and refocus my abilities towards a new goal. " said Nagata.
"I'd been collecting Japanese toys all along, and suddenly realized it
would be cool to have a magazine of some type devoted to them." So it's no
surprise that Mark ended up creating and co- publishing Super7 Magazine.
After successfully building the Super7 brand for nearly 4 years, it was time
to move on. "I wasn't able to paint as much as I wanted, and I realized that
the part of Super7 I enjoyed the most was creating toys and artwork, "
reflects Nagata.
Thus was born Mark's new venture called Max Toy Company, named after his
son, Max. With a nod to the Golden Age of Japanese toys, Max Toy Co. will
continue the tradition of offering classic Japanese character toys by all
the best toy companies. Max Toy Co. produces its own exclusive toys, both
licensed and original.
In addition, Mark writes about Japanese Toys and is the toy editor for
the bi monthly magazine called Otaku USA, available at all major bookstores.
Now Mark has teamed up with StrangeCo to help wholesale and distribute its
product to a much wider audience.
"StrangeCo is the leader in distributing Art Toys and really curate their
offerings with care while expanding the brands identity. I think Japanese
inspired toys is a growing aspect of the Art Toy market and I'd like to
expand Max Toy Company products to these collectors. I'm looking forward to
have Max Toy Company as a part of their select group of offerings."
Max Toy Co is a synthesis of toys and art ... both of Mark Nagata's life
long passions.
ABOUT STRANGEco
Based in San Francisco, CA but catering to the world at large, STRANGEco is
a dynamic force behind the growing phenomenon of the designer art toy
movement.
After developing the successful online designer toy retailer, Kid Robot
in 2002, co-founders Gregory Blum and Jim Crawford left in order channel
their creative efforts in a different direction. Their hard work resulted
shortly afterward with STRANGEco.
Working closely with artists they admire, the STRANGEco staff helps to
develop character designs often only seen in two dimensions. The end results
are beautiful original art pieces in three-glorious dimensions which fans
can actually afford and collect. Notable artists STRANGEco has worked with
include Mars-1, Jim Woodring, Friend With You, tokidoki, Nathan Jurevicius
and many others.
Bombardier Q400 Aircraft Fleet Returning to Service
- Approximately 70 per cent of Q400 worldwide fleet in service
- More than 35 out of estimated 85 grounded Q400 aircraft back in service;
number of aircraft returned to service continues to rise
- After meeting the requirements of Transport Canada's Airworthiness Directive
(AD) related to the recent Bombardier Q400 aircraft landing gear issue,
operators worldwide have been returning their aircraft to service.
Approximately 70 per cent of the Q400 turboprop fleet is in service (or
approximately 116 aircraft out of total fleet of 165 aircraft). Of the
estimated 85 Q400 aircraft requiring detailed inspections, more than 35
aircraft are already back in service.
"Several airlines have reported that their Q400 aircraft have returned to
normal service. This is excellent news. We expect that more aircraft will also
return to service in the coming days. We remain committed to our customers and
are providing them with the necessary technical assistance to resolve the
issue," said Steven Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Regional Aircraft.
On September 13, Bombardier provided Q400 aircraft operators with detailed
inspection procedures developed by Goodrich, the landing gear manufacturer,
and approved by Bombardier. These inspection procedures address Transport
Canada's airworthiness directive related to the aircraft's recent main landing
gear issue.
Bombardier - with the support of Goodrich - continues to focus its efforts
on assisting its customers to return to normal flight schedules as quickly as
possible.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from
regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment,
Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues
for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2007, were $14.8 billion US and its shares
are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). News and information are
available at
www.bombardier.com.
Bombardier and Q400 are trademark(s) of Bombardier Inc. or its
subsidiaries.
Actresses, Singers,
Musicians and Athletes Come Together to Demonstrate the Wonders of Skin
New Vaseline®“Skin is Amazing”
Campaign Invites People to Express Their Own “Skin
Vision”
"I have very freckly, sensitive Irish skin and I don't go in for a whole
bunch of surgical procedures to make myself look younger or prettier, so
taking care of my skin is a huge part of what I do for a living." --Minnie
Driver, Actor (Photo: Business Wire)
"Skin is a part of you and you have to be proud of what you have. I feel
comfortable in my own skin." --Hilary Duff, Actress/Singer (Photo:
Business Wire)
--Skin is amazing. Each day it performs
many functions such as regulating our temperature or protecting us from the
elements. It speaks volumes about us. It can reveal our heritage or
communicate our emotions to the world. Now, celebrities including
Minnie Driver,
Hilary Duff,
Kim Raver,
Dave Navarro and
Laila Ali are featured in a breakthrough Vaseline campaign which reveals
up close and personal photographs and stories of their skin. Their images are
appearing in the October issues of national magazines.
The famous people whose glowing skin stars in the Vaseline campaign lead
lives that test their skin every day. Each photo displays a skin
“attribute” meaningful to
the celebrity. For example, Minnie Driver’s freckled
skin reveals her Irish heritage, Dave Navarro’s
tattoos transform his skin into a canvas to reveal a story of his life and Kim
Raver’s pregnant belly demonstrates the wonder of
how skin grows and grows with us.
The Vaseline “Skin is Amazing”
campaign also invites people to think about their own relationship with their
skin. Vaseline is asking Americans, “Do you see
skin the way we do?” As a coat of armor, a touch
point with the world, or maybe a map of your experiences? Consumers can log on
to
www.vaseline.com and enter the “Skin Vision”
contest by submitting their own skin portrait – a
photo of their skin in action that expresses everything their skin does for
them and unique skin story. The winner will receive a trip for two to New York
City for a photo session with a professional photographer and their skin
portrait will appear in the next Vaseline ad in a national magazine. The
contest begins September 15, 2007 and ends December 31, 2007. No purchase
necessary. Void where prohibited. See
www.vaseline.com/skinvisions for official rules.
Each person that enters will support the Vaseline donation to the Coalition
of Skin Diseases which helps address the needs of the millions of people whose
lives are affected by skin disease.
Kodak Brings High-Quality, Everyday
Low-Cost Printing to Wal-Mart Customers
Consumers Continue to Recognize and Validate
Kodak’s
Revolutionary Low-Cost Ink Value Proposition
-Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK)
today announced that it has extended the consumer reach of its breakthrough
home inkjet printer line while reinforcing the product’s
unique value proposition by making it available at Wal-Mart, America’s
leading retailer. The KODAK EASYSHARE 5100 All-in-One (AiO) Printer (U.S. MSRP
$129.99), is now available for purchase at 2,600 Wal-Mart stores nationwide.
With replacement ink cartridges priced at just $14.99 MSRP for color and
$9.99 MSRP for black, the KODAK EASYSHARE AiO Printer delivers crisp documents
and brilliant photos, offers print, scan and copy features, and saves
consumers up to 50 percent* on everything printed in the home.
“This new offering is an extension of Kodak’s
longstanding commitment to making technology easy, affordable and widely
accessible to consumers,” said Phil Faraci,
President of Kodak’s Consumer Digital Group.
“Momentum is clearly building as our unique AiO is
now widely available at Wal-Mart Superstores, along with Best Buy and Office
Depot in the U.S., Dixon’s, Media Markt, PC World
and Currys in Europe and JB HiFi and select Kodak Express stores in Australia.”
Kodak’s revolutionary inkjet business model
continues to be embraced by consumers. In fact, a recent study** conducted by
Ipsos, a leading global survey-based market research company, stated that
consumers rank cheaper ink cartridges and higher-quality photos as the #1 and
#2 most desired features and functionalities of an inkjet printer.
“Almost 70 percent of home printer users cite
lower-cost ink as a top priority,” said Faraci.
“Kodak designed our entire system with this in
mind, and we remain focused on addressing this significant need.”
To help reinforce its commitment to making ink affordable, Kodak is
offering Wal-Mart shoppers a limited-time offer: three additional high-yield,
5-ink color cartridges (a $45 value) at no additional cost when they purchase
the KODAK EASYSHARE 5100 AiO Printer (U.S. MSRP $129.99), while supplies last.
Kodak’s low-cost ink cartridges offer low
cost-per-page, as recently confirmed by independent testing lab, QualityLogic,
and Kodak’s cost-of-printing analysis. For more
information on the savings, testing and analysis, visit:
www.kodak.com/go/inkdata.
* Savings based on home printing of documents and photos using average ink
cost of comparable consumer inkjet printers. Actual results may vary. For more
information, visit
www.kodak.com/go/inkdata.
** Ipsos study: Data were collected through an internet-based sampling and
data collection methodology using the Ipsos US Internet panel and accurately
reflects the online population (18 years and older). A total of 1,183
respondents completed the online questionnaire between April 3 and April 8,
2007. For more information, visit
http://www.ipsosinsight.com/pressrelease.aspx?id=3609
About Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak is the world’s foremost imaging innovator.
With sales of $10.7 billion in 2006, the company is committed to a digitally
oriented growth strategy focused on helping people better use meaningful
images and information in their life and work. Consumers use Kodak’s
system of digital and traditional products and services to take, print and
share their pictures anytime, anywhere; Businesses effectively communicate
with customers worldwide using Kodak Solutions for prepress, conventional and
digital printing and document imaging; and Creative Professionals rely on
Kodak’s technology to uniquely tell their story
through moving or still images.
More information about Kodak (NYSE: EK) is available at
www.kodak.com.
Editor’s Note: Kodak corporate news releases are
now offered via RSS feeds. Many RSS aggregators or readers, including
my.Yahoo.com, NewsGator, and Google Reader, can be used to view these feeds.
To subscribe, visit
www.kodak.com/go/RSS and look for the RSS symbol. In addition, Kodak
podcasts are viewable at
www.kodak.com/go/podcasts. Podcasts may be downloaded for viewing on
iTunes, Quicktime, or other PC-based media players. Users may also subscribe
to Kodak podcasts via the iTunes store by typing “Kodak
Close Up” in the search field at the top of the
iTunes Store window.
GE Money and
Provident Bank Partner to Provide Credit Cards to Retail and Business Customers
Provident Bank Rewards Platinum MasterCard®and Business MasterCard Offered in Maryland, Virginia & Pennsylvania
-GE Money, the consumer lending unit
of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE),
and Provident Bank (NASDAQ: PBKS), Maryland’s
largest independent commercial bank, today announced they will offer a
Provident Bank Rewards Platinum MasterCard®
and ProductivitySM Card for Business MasterCard to
its customers in Maryland, Virginia and Southern York County, PA.
“For more than 120 years, Provident Bank has been
serving our communities and providing financial solutions and resources,”
said Stephen Heine, Executive Vice President, Consumer Banking for Provident
Bank. “We’re excited to
partner with GE Money and MasterCard to provide Provident Bank customers
convenient purchasing power and rewards advantages.”
The Provident Bank Rewards Platinum MasterCard credit card, issued by GE
Money Bank and featuring Provident Bank’s brand,
will be made available to Provident Bank’s retail
customers through its 149 branches, Website and direct mail. Cardholders will
earn Net Rewards points in the amount of one point for every dollar spent.
Points may be redeemed for merchandise, travel, cash and gift cards, including
the Provident Bank Gift Card.
“The Provident Bank Rewards Platinum MasterCard
is a great way to deliver greater flexibility and attractive rewards
– an important value proposition for cardholders,”
said Scott Young, senior vice president for GE Money’s
personal finance business. “Our expertise in
providing partnership credit programs that deliver high value and service
complement’s Provident Bank’s
superior reputation as a commercial bank that offers innovative financial
solutions.”
The Productivity Card for Business offers convenience and control for
commercial customers. With spending profiles that dictate employee usage,
online real-time transaction monitoring tools, and sophisticated exception
reporting, the card supports the expense management goals of business users.
The card also offers a rewards program and discounts with specific merchants.
“The GE Money business card has proven to be a
successful product for dozens of regional banks throughout the country,”
said Jeffery Dye, senior vice president for GE Money’s
commercial card business. “We deliver the program
support and technology while banks such as Provident control the branding and
marketing to their customers.”
About Provident Bank
Provident Bankshares Corporation is the holding company for Provident Bank
(NASDAQ: PBKS), largest independent commercial bank headquartered in Maryland.
With $6.3 billion in assets, Provident serves individuals and businesses in
the key urban areas of Baltimore, Washington and Richmond through a network of
149 offices in Maryland, Virginia, and southern York County, PA. Provident
Bank also offers related financial services through wholly owned subsidiaries.
Securities brokerage, investment management and related insurance services are
available through Provident Investment Company and leases through Court Square
Leasing and Provident Lease Corp. For more information, visit
www.provbank.com.
About GE Money
With $190 billion in assets, GE Money, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE),
is a leading provider of credit services to consumers, retailers and auto
dealers in 55 countries around the world. GE Money, based in Stamford, Conn.,
offers a range of financial products, including private label credit cards,
personal loans, bank cards, auto loans and leases, mortgages, corporate travel
and purchasing cards, debt consolidation and home equity loans and credit
insurance. More information can be found online at
www.gemoney.com.
GE (NYSE:GE)
is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial
services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems.
With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation,
water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and
consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers
in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For
more information, visit the company's Web site at
www.ge.com.
Strawberry Shortcake
Brand Tops $2 Billion in Worldwide Retail Sales
DIC Entertainment and American Greetings Corporation celebrate the success
of evergreen girls' property Strawberry Shortcake. Photo Credit:
Strawberry Shortcake is a registered trademark of Those Characters From
Cleveland, Inc. Strawberry Shortcake character designs (c) 2004 Those
Characters From Cleveland, Inc. Used under license. All rights reserved.
-The hit evergreen girls’ brand, Strawberry
Shortcake, has reached a new milestone with more than $2 billion achieved
in worldwide retail sales (cumulative 2003-2007) and continues to evolve as a
multi-dimensional entertainment franchise. The announcement was made today by
Josef Mandelbaum, President and CEO, American Greetings Properties, creator
and owner of the brand, and Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO, DIC Entertainment,
the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for Strawberry Shortcake.
With more than 300 licensees worldwide and available at every major U.S.
retailer, the Strawberry Shortcake brand celebrates another banner year
in 2007 with fresh themes and the introduction of new product lines, multiple
DVD releases, a theatrical feature, books and music, as well as an upcoming
broadcast network debut, major 4th quarter QSR
promotion and continued online growth. DIC and American Greetings Properties
will continue to work with partners to build the Strawberry Shortcake
franchise with new brand themes (dance, western, music, fairytale and
Hollywood glamour), content, categories and distribution channels in
development through 2010.
“We are thrilled with the phenomenal success of
Strawberry Shortcake over the past four years which has exceeded our
expectations and secured its position as one of the top girls’
brands of all time,” says Heyward.
“American Greetings has created a timeless brand and
we salute them and our network of partners and agents who have contributed to
this tremendous achievement.” He adds,
“We look forward to the continued growth and success
of the brand as we all work to deliver fresh and innovative ideas that will
keep our retailer partners excited and fans coming back for more.”
"DIC and all of our licensees, such as Playmates Toys, Penguin Putnam, and
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, have done a tremendous job in
keeping Strawberry Shortcake fresh, relevant and top of mind with
today's girls,” says Josef Mandelbaum, President and
CEO, American Greetings Properties. “The $2 billion
benchmark is a testament to the hard work our organizations have put into
building this brand to the evergreen status it is today, ensuring that
Strawberry Shortcake is truly 'growing better all the time.'"
In 2006, Playmates was named the new Master Toy Licensee for Strawberry
Shortcake and re-launched an all-new line of Strawberry Shortcake
toys. In 2007 and 2008, Playmates will continue to rollout new merchandise
that ties in with the tentpole themes, as well as support the brand with
national advertising campaigns. Penguin Putnam has 11 new books in release
this year, and to date has sold more than 11 million books from the
Strawberry Shortcake publishing program, which has published 70 titles
(since 2003).
The entertainment platform for Strawberry Shortcake features new DVD
titles, theatrical matinees, and for the first time, major broadcast
television exposure. With more than 10 million units of Strawberry
Shortcake shipped to date, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has
released two new DVD titles, “Sweet Dreams Movie”
and “Berry Blossom Festival,”
along with an upcoming October release of “Let’s
Dance,” to coincide with the fall 2007
“dance” tentpole theme.
In spring 2007, Fox released a theatrical feature, “Berry
Blossom Festival” on screens across the U.S., which
marked the second theatrical release for the brand. “The
Sweet Dreams Movie,” released in fall 2006,
achieved the best performance ever for a children’s
matinee-only release. Eight new DVD titles are planned for 2008
– 2009. Koch Records, which has sold nearly 500,000
Strawberry Shortcake CDs, released “World of
Friends” CD in May and is gearing up for the
September release of the “Let’s
Dance” CD.
In September 2007, Strawberry Shortcake will make its major
broadcast network debut on a new branded Saturday morning children’s
programming block with 26 half-hour episodes. Strawberry Shortcake also
airs on the syndicated programming block, DIC Kid’s
Network. The Strawberry Shortcake website,
www.strawberryshortcake.com, averages 200,000 unique visitors per month
while growing 40% month over month.
The Strawberry Shortcake program continues to receive industry
recognition, garnering three LIMA nominations this year for
“Best Overall License of the Year,”“Best Character Brand License of the Year”
and “Best Character Brand for Hard Lines.”
International Appeal
In the international arena, the Strawberry Shortcake merchandise
program and broadcast exposure continues to build and to expand into new
territories. In Europe, France has become the #1 market in Europe for
Strawberry Shortcake where it continues to perform at retail and is the
leading Saturday morning animated series on M6. Strawberry Shortcake is
also performing impressively at retail in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.
On the licensing front, Proctor & Gamble has signed a multi-territory
agreement (the U.K., Greece, Finland, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa)
to distribute Strawberry Shortcake branded merchandise as part of their
“feel and learn” line of
product. Additionally, the Strawberry Shortcake Baby program is set to
debut in France.
In Latin America, Strawberry Shortcake is available in all major
territories, including Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru,
Argentina and more, and Strawberry Shortcake Baby will debut this year in
Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Additionally, Turner’s
Pan Latin American Boomerang Channel will premiere Strawberry Shortcake
this year.
Strawberry Shortcake is available in Australia, New Zealand,
Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea and will launch in 2008 in
Japan.
First introduced in 1980 by American Greetings, Strawberry Shortcake
became one of the biggest licensing programs of its time, generating more than
$1 billion in retail sales between 1980 and 1985. American Greetings and DIC
reintroduced the brand in 2003, immediately achieving tremendous results, with
over $2 billion in retail sales since relaunch.
About American Greetings Properties
American Greetings intellectual property and outbound licensing division,
American Greetings Properties, was established to develop multi-platform
entertainment, licensing, merchandising and promotional campaigns for its
classic properties, as well as develop a new series of character brands. The
impetus for setting up the division was inspired by the success of two
properties, Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake, which have each
made $2 billion in retail sales, $4 billion collectively. For more
information, visit
www.agpbrands.com.
About American Greetings Corporation
American Greetings Corporation (NYSE:AM) is one of the world's largest
manufacturers of social expression products. Along with greeting cards, its
product lines include gift wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments
and electronic greetings. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings
generates annual net sales of approximately $1.7 billion. For more information
on the Company, visit
http://corporate.americangreetings.com.
About DIC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment, a fully-integrated global brand
management company, is dedicated to creating, developing, producing,
distributing, marketing and merchandising family-based intellectual
properties. The Company serves as the worldwide licensor or agent for brands
such as McDonald’s, Strawberry Shortcake,
Madeline, Mommy & Me, and Eloise. DIC has distinguished itself by
building one of the largest libraries of animation worldwide with
approximately 3,000 half-hours of programming, including Inspector Gadget™,
Strawberry Shortcake™, Horseland™,
Sabrina™, Madeline™,
Liberty’s Kids™, Sonic
The Hedgehog™ and Care Bears™.
This year, DIC will launch a new educational and informational Saturday
morning children’s programming block,
“Kewlopolis on CBS.” As
a pre-eminent supplier of kid’s programming
worldwide, DIC has developed strategic partnerships with key broadcast
partners throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and
Australia. In 2006, DIC acquired Copyright Promotions, a Pan-European
licensing agency that represents the licensing rights of a broad portfolio of
world-renowned companies including DreamWorks Animation, MGM, Marvel, Sony,
Twentieth Century Fox, Viacom and The Football Association. DIC is
headquartered in Burbank, California with offices in New York, Paris and
Carfax Advises Used Car Buyers About Shopping Smart
Scam Artists on the Prowl for Used Car
“Suckers”; Carfax
Experts on Hand at Delta 500 to Assist Consumers
-Labor Day Weekend marks the end of
the used car buying season and Carfax vehicle history experts will be
available to lend Utah shoppers a helping hand. Millions of great used cars
are on sale this weekend from reputable dealers nationwide looking to clear
inventory. However, crooked sellers are mobilizing to take advantage of
consumers searching for a great Labor Day deal.
Vehicles with hidden problems, such as flood damage, are on the rise and
may be for sale in your area, mainly from private sellers.
“Over the last five years, we’ve
seen a significant increase in flooded cars for sale all over the U.S.,”
said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. “Furthermore,
30 Katrina cars were recently bought by unsuspecting consumers in Canada and a
new influx of waterlogged wrecks will enter the market from the Midwest
storms. Used car buyers need to be especially attentive to the vehicle’s
history and results of a mechanical inspection.”
Carfax offers the following tips to help Labor Day shoppers buy smart:
Buy from licensed, reputable dealers
Be wary of cars sold curbside or in
parking lots at “too good to be true”
prices
Take the car for a thorough test drive
and inspect it inside and out for things like excessive wear or poor repairs
Ask your dealer for a free Carfax Vehicle
History Report or run one yourself at
www.carfax.com and make sure the car qualifies for the Carfax Buyback
Guarantee
Just as importantly, have the vehicle
inspected by a certified mechanic prior to purchase
Carfax experts will be on hand at three locations for the Delta 500, Utah’s
largest used car sale, to answer customer questions and offer shopping advice.
For four days, used car buyers will have unprecedented access to Carfax
experts at the Delta Center, Southtowne Expo Center and Valley Fair Mall.
“Shop with your head, not your heart,”
continued Gamache. “Carfax One Owner cars and
manufacturer Certified Pre-Owned cars offer great value and are often better
maintained. Using resources like Carfax Xpert available in every Carfax
Vehicle History Report and having your mechanic inspect the car and its safety
systems, you’re sure to find a great deal on a
safe, reliable used car this weekend.”
About Carfax
Millions of consumers rely on the most trusted provider of vehicle history
information, Carfax, each year. Using the unique 17-character vehicle
identification number (VIN) found on vehicle dashboards and title documents,
Carfax instantly generates a detailed Vehicle History Report on any used car
or light truck. Carfax Vehicle History Reports™
provide information that can impact a consumer's decision about a used car or
truck. Carfax is a wholly-owned subsidiary of R.L. Polk & Co. For more
information, visit
www.carfax.com.
Visa Helps Office
Depot Customers Speed Through Checkout Lines
State-of-the-Art Visa payWave Reader Makes
Electronic Payments up to 25-percent Faster for Customers
--Visa announced today that Office
Depot (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services,
will accept Visa payWave payments, an innovative contactless payment option,
in Office Depot’s 1,100-plus retail store locations
nationwide. With a strong consumer and small business customer base, Office
Depot is the ideal setting for the first contactless payment deployments in
the office supply industry. Office Depot will continue to accept traditional
magnetic-stripe payment cards as well.
“Office Depot is committed to providing our
customers with best-in-class service in everything we do,”
said George Bryan, Vice President of Financial Services for Office Depot.
“Our retail stores offer both a convenient and
enjoyable shopping experience and Visa payWaveis a great addition to
our portfolio of services.”
Visa payWave technology enables customers to make a purchase by simply
holding their Visa payWave card near a secure reader at checkout instead of
swiping it. Consumers no longer need to fumble for cash or hand their card to
a cashier for purchases. Most purchases under $25 will not require the
customer to sign the receipt, further speeding up the transaction.
“Visa cardholders consistently say they prefer
merchant locations that offer a variety of payment options, while maintaining
speed and convenience,” said Brian Triplett, senior
vice president, emerging product development, Visa USA. “Thanks
to our partnership with merchants like Office Depot, we are able to give
consumers the experience they demand.”
About Visa payWave
Visa payWave has been growing in popularity. To date, there are 7.3 million
cards issued worldwide and more than 31,000 merchant locations in the United
States accept Visa payWave. It is particularly useful in places where speed is
important to customers and where cash has been the traditional means of
payment. Visa payWave cardholders enjoy all the same security protections the
industry has come to expect from Visa, including zero liability for fraudulent
charges and Visa’s sophisticated anti-fraud
technology. Cardholders making purchases at Office Depot with Visa payWave
enjoy additional layers of security because the card never leaves the customer’s
hand, can only be read close proximity and uses data that is unique to each
contactless transaction.
About Visa
Visa USA is a leading payments brand and the nation's largest payments
system, enabling banks to provide their consumer and business customers with a
wide variety of payment alternatives tailored to meet their evolving needs.
Visa USA is committed to increasing the choice, convenience, acceptance and
security of Visa payments for all stakeholders –
financial institutions, cardholders and merchants. As of March 31, 2007, in
the United States, more than 521 million Visa-branded cards have been issued
by more than 13,000 financial institution customers. Visa products generated
$1.8 trillion in total volume in the United States during the four quarters
ended March 31, 2007. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the globe. For
more information, visit
www.visa.com
About Office Depot
Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers
in more countries than any other company.
Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Office Depot
has annual sales of over $15.4 billion, and employs approximately 52,000
associates around the world. Currently, the Company sells to customers
directly or through affiliates in 43 countries.
Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel -- from retail
stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. As of June 30, 2007,
Office Depot had 1,186 retail stores in North America and another 369 stores,
either company-owned, licensed or franchised, in other parts of the world.
Office Depot serves a wide range of customers through a dedicated sales force,
telephone account managers, direct mail offerings, and multiple web sites.
With $4.7 billion in online sales during the last twelve months, the Company
is also one of the world’s largest e-commerce
retailers.
Office Depot’s common stock is listed on the New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index
Redback Wireless Corp. Enters Mobile
Multimedia Messaging Service Advertising & Marketing Industry
Company to Establish MMS Software in
Growing North American Mobile Market
-
Redback Wireless Corp. (Redback), a provider of mobile advertising solutions,
is pleased to announce it has entered the global Mobile Advertising &
Marketing Marketplace and that it will be launching its proprietary Multimedia
Messaging Service (MMS) software in the coming months.
The company is developing a beta
version of its platform, and will be branding
www.redbackwirelesscorp.com as its showcase site. The company has created
new conduits in the mobile marketplace for existing branding and marketing to
leverage the intrinsic strengths of mobile advertising.
MMS is a standard for telephony
messaging systems that allow sending messages that include multimedia objects
(images, audio, video, rich text) and not just text messages as in Short
Message Service (SMS). MMS is the evolution of Short Message Service (SMS) (SMS
is a text-only messaging technology for mobile networks). With MMS, a mobile
device is no longer confined to text-only messages. It can send and receive
multimedia messages such as graphics, video and audio clips, and so on.
Ed Nijjer, President of Redback,
commented, "Our strong management and expertise in mobile technologies, and
our collective backgrounds in the Internet Advertising Industry will give us
the competitive leverage needed to enter this burgeoning sector. We are
excited to be part of an industry that has been estimated to be growing at an
extremely fast pace."
Mr. Nijjer continued, "ABI Research
forecasted that the total market for mobile marketing and advertising will
reach $3 billion by the end of 2007. The research estimates that the mobile
marketing and advertising total market, including search and video
advertising, will reach $19 billion by 2011."
About
Redback Wireless Inc. is an IP
message communications company focusing on the delivery of interactive
messages and target advertising to end users anywhere and anytime. Its range
of advanced mobile based IP applications and services are delivered and
enabled by using the data capacity of advanced mobile data networks that are
just emerging. Redback Wireless Inc. is a Utah registered company
MoneyTV, Week of 8/24
MoneyTV is the nationally syndicated television program all about money and
what makes it happen, (http://www.moneytv.net),
featuring informative interviews by hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman
with company CEOs, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for
their futures.
Free information packages from the featured companies can be requested by
sending an email to
info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program include:
Seamless Wi-Fi, Inc. (OTCBB:
SLWF) Executive VP Rich Schineller announced the company is making their
S-SIB Seamless Secure Internet Browser available for a free download and trial
for a limited time.
XsunX, Inc. (OTCBB:
XSNX) CEO Tom Djokovich updated information about the company's plans to
manufacture their own solar modules.
eTelCharge.com, Inc. (OTCBB:
ETLC) Chairman & CEO Rob Howe announced the company is scheduled to launch
the latest version of their product next month.
The Green Baron.com Editor-in-Chief Matt Chipman analyzed the effect recent
market volatility may have on small cap stocks.
Manhattan West Mortgage CEO Roger Schlesinger talked about the sub-prime
mortgage woes, the tightening credit markets and things that can be done to
finance real estate.
The Jenex Corporation (TSX-V:
JEN) CFO Don Felice announced the company has gained approval to market
their cold sore preventative treatment in Europe.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information in the mail about featured
companies by calling the toll-free phone number on their TV screen. The weekly
television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast nationally in the USA to
70 million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET, Sundays at 8:30 AM PT, 8:30
AM ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in Western Europe, Wednesdays
at 5:00 PM.
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Sundays at 8:00 AM.
MoneyTV is also available in Thailand on the Broad TV Network.
A complete menu of TV listings is available at the MoneyTV web site,
http://www.moneytv.net.
MoneyTV television program, Copyright MMVII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV
does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not
soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we
offering a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information
discussed herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified
independently with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides
companies a 3- to 4-month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a
cash fee of $11,500.00 to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as payment
for services, does not hold any positions, options or warrants in featured
companies. The information herein is not an endorsement by the hosts Donald
Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman, the producers, publisher or parent company of
MoneyTV.
Shell Stations Improve Visa Prepaid Cardholder Experience at the Pump
Implementation of Visa Partial Authorization at Service Stations Gives
Customers Greater Convenience, Security and Choice in Payments
-Visa USA today announced that Shell stations are adopting Visa partial
authorization, which allows drivers to more easily purchase gas at the pump
using a Visa prepaid card. Shell is in the process of expanding this service at
stations across the U.S.
Visa was first to develop this innovative solution, which can prevent
declined transactions when the balance on a Visa prepaid card is less than the
typical cost of a full tank of gas. The adoption of this solution by thousands
of Shell stations nationwide will help to make Visa prepaid cards even easier
for consumers to use at the pump.
The adoption of this technology at Shell will help improve customer
convenience, a key factor in the Gasoline Retailing business. Visa partial
authorization gives customers more choice in how they pay for gasoline at the
pump.
According to Visa research, partial authorization can help average approval
rates increase by up to 25 percent at automated fuel dispenser (AFD) merchants
who use Visa’s solution. With this solution in place, gas stations can help
ensure Visa prepaid cardholders have a positive and more convenient payment
experience at the pump, instead of having to pay inside. It also helps AFD
merchants avoid the potential loss of valuable sales.
“Visa is focused on building the prepaid category infrastructure to help
ensure convenient acceptance and to give consumers greater flexibility to use
Visa prepaid cards in more places,” said Todd Brockman, senior vice president,
prepaid products, Visa USA. “With a major oil brand like Shell using Visa
partial authorization, consumers can now more easily pay for gas at the pump
with a Visa prepaid card. Expanding this functionality also allows financial
institutions and merchants to better serve their customers.”
How Partial Authorization at the Pump Works
A consumer can use a wide range of Visa prepaid cards – including, but not
limited to, Visa Gift and Incentive cards, Visa TravelMoney, Visa Buxx, Visa
Payroll, and Visa General Purpose cards – to pay for gas at participating
stations.
The cardholder inserts the Visa prepaid card at the automatic fuel
dispenser to begin pumping gas. The Visa authorization service checks with
the card issuer for funds available for the gas purchase.
If the card only has enough funds to pay for a portion of a total gas
purchase, the transaction will no longer be declined, prompting the
cardholder to “see attendant.” Instead, the pump can now be instructed to
shut off when the funds on the Visa prepaid card reach zero.
Visa prepaid cards can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, and
are protected from fraudulent or unauthorized transactions by Visa’s Zero
Liability policy in the event the card is lost or stolen.1
About Visa USA
Visa USA is a leading payments brand and the nation's largest payments
system, enabling banks to provide their consumer and business customers with a
wide variety of payment alternatives tailored to meet their evolving needs. Visa
USA is committed to increasing the choice, convenience, acceptance and security
of Visa payments for all stakeholders – financial institutions, cardholders and
merchants. As of March 31, 2007, in the United States, more than 521 million
Visa-branded cards have been issued by more than 13,000 financial institution
customers. Visa products generated $1.8 trillion in total volume in the United
States during the four quarters ended March 31, 2007. Visa enjoys unsurpassed
acceptance around the globe. For more information, visit
www.visa.com
About Shell
Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader in the
refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, and has a network of
approximately 6,000 branded gasoline stations in the Western United States.
Shell Oil Company is a 50 percent owner of Motiva Enterprises LLC, along with
Saudi Refining, Inc. Motiva Enterprises LLC refines and markets branded products
through approximately 7,700 Shell-branded stations in the Eastern and Southern
United States. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Shell Group (NYSE:RDS.A)
and (NYSE:RDS.B). For more information, please visit
www.shell.com.
1 U.S. issued cards only. Visa’s Zero Liability policy does not apply to
commercial credit card or ATM transactions, or PIN transactions not processed by
Visa. Issuers should encourage cardholders to notify their financial institution
immediately of any fraudulent use. Any specific restrictions, limitations, and
other details should be set forth clearly in the cardholder agreement.
Women's Mind-Set Defines Shopping Habits
According to a new online survey of over 3,000 women, ages 18-49, by AMP
Agency, how a woman approaches shopping does not change as she grows older,
shifts from life stage to life stage, moves from region to region, has children,
or moves income brackets. A woman's approach to shopping is very much part of
who she is: "it is part of her DNA."
The report states that there are distinct approaches to shopping, and
identified and segmented women across four distinct mind-sets or "Shopping
Genes" :
The Content Responsibles (Practical, Loyal, Efficient)
The Natural Hybrids (Confident, Balanced, Classic)
The Social Catalysts (Social, Smart, Trendy)
The Cultural Artists (Creative, Impulsive, Adventurous)
With a 418 Billion dollar annual sales opportunity, figuring out how women
shop can help marketers determine how to connect with them in distinct and
effective ways, opines the report.
The groups were based on the respondents' self-reported views of themselves
and their place in the world according to respondents' answers to a series of
"influencer" type questions. This is how an estimated 67,560,586 women in the
United States between the ages 18-49 slice up in population and overall
discretionary and nondiscretionary spending.
Social Catalysts: 24 Million / Spending $153 Billion
Natural Hybrids: 23 Million / Spending $133 Billion
Content Responsibles: 13.5 Million / Spending $70 Billion
Cultural Artists: 7.5 Million / Spending $62 Billion
Total: 67,560,586 Million / Spending $ 417,747,533,559 Billion
And, on an individual annual spending basis, says the report:
Cultural Artist will spend an average of $7,672 annually
Natural Hybrid $5,383 Annually
Social Catalyst $6,035 Annually
Content Responsible $4,778 Annually
While the trendsetting Cultural Artists rank at the bottom for overall
spend, they are spending more on an individual basis. And when it comes to key
influencer categories including Fashion, Beauty, Health and Wellness, and Food
categories, the Cultural Artists spending reigns.
This 11% of consumers falls at the highest end of the influence spectrum as
the super influencers. Almost half stated they frequently go shopping just to
see what's new in the stores. They are always shopping and almost all of them
(97%) are willing to try new and different things and generally, want to be the
first to try new things on the market , with a significant 85% reporting so.
Surprisingly, they do rely strongly on information from friends, particularly
across fashion, technology and health and beauty.
The Natural Hybrid (34%), is a cross between a social and
trend-following butterfly and a grounded domestic diva. They look for classic
products, things that aren't too trendy and are long lasting. Though 80% like to
try new products, only half say they are likely to be the first of their friends
to try new things, while the other half would rather their friends try first and
report.
The Social Catalyst (35%) group falls near the top of the influencer
spectrum and can be one of the strongest brand advocates. They are the planners,
organizers, take pride in their friendship status and tend consider themselves
the experts amongst their group. Almost 80% of this group think a night on the
town is money well spent, but they are likely to seek out bargains to keep up
with the latest trends. Only a third, however, is willing to spend money on
products that may appear to be a fad.
The Content Responsible (20%) group is neither a trendsetter nor trend
spreader, and not much of a spender, but they can be lifelong and increasingly
loyal customers. 80% agreed that social status was not an important part of
their life. These Practical, Responsible, Loyal consumers crave a hassle free
shopping experience. Shopping to them is not seen as fun past time, but rather
an errand or chore.
Anastasia Toomey, VP Insights, AMP Agency, concluded, "...In the end,
understanding these mind-sets can help brands improve upon existing relationship
and start new ones with female shoppers."
For more information on AMP, and
details of the report including marital
status, number of children, ethnicity, working moms versus stay-at-home moms,
household income, profession, area of residence and age, please visit here.
Agencies and Prospects May See Things Differently
Last week, our ResearchBrief quoted a study that suggested a disconnect
between tech-sellers and tech-buyers in terms of information desired and the
seller's presentation material and technique. Now, a newly released Business
Intelligence Study from Pearlfinders finds sharp contrasts between what
marketing agencies say and what marketing decision-makers are saying. Agree or
not, the Study deserves some study.
A summary of the conclusions about prospecting noted in the report reveals
these dichotomies:
In the main, clients don't feel that size matters... but in the main
agencies do.
83% of clients don't feel geographical location is an issue... most
agencies think it is
85% of clients don't feel agencies prepare enough... many agencies don't
invest much in this area
75% of clients are buying solutions to their business problems... most
agencies think the client is looking for advertising, or PR, or design
Clients want agencies to be far more proactive... most agencies like to
sit in the bunker.
A major trend, and one which will undoubtedly impact on all marketing
communications agencies, says the report, is the increase in demand from clients
for better customer insights.... "proximity to the mind of the customer is
critical."
The Intelligent New Business Survey seeks to understand how marketing
communications agencies should best engage with prospective clients for the
purpose of winning new business. Major categories of the study include: (1) what
prompts them to search for a new agency, (2) the most effective ways for
agencies to engage with them, and (3) the reasons they choose one agency over
another.
In summarizing the responses that would cause an organization to look for a
new agency, the study finds that:
48% of respondents said a drop in creative quality would definitely
precipitate a review
51% of respondents might look for a new agency
87% said a breakdown in chemistry would, or might, prompt a review
93% of decision-makers said that if they noticed a lack of strategic
thinking that this would cause a review
Compulsory or annual reviews seem to provide no statistical advantage one way
or the other for this as a search trigger:
47% said it might prompt a search for a new agency, but
48% said it would have no effect on arrangements. It simply depends on
the organization.
Nor do changes changes in ownership or the structure of an agency
41% thought it would prompt a review, yet
40% thought that it would not.
13% of respondents said they would never be prompted (the highest score
in this category) to look for new agency support if there were a change to
the incumbent's ownership or structure.
But 73% of decision-makers say that in order to stay abreast of ‘new thinking
or emerging marketing channel / disciplines' that they would, or might be,
prompted to look for new agency support. 15% would always be prompted to look
for new agency support if there were new disciplines emerging, whatever the
circumstances.
When asked about the most effective way for agencies to engage with the
prospect:
92% said that they might respond if the agency had produced some research
or insights into their category
85% said they would respond positively if the agency wanted to inform
them about a recent case study in their category
75% said they might or would definitely ‘follow up' where an agency
wanted to pitch a solution relating to one of their current business
challenges
23% said they would be unlikely to respond to leveraging awards for
marketing purposes, and 55% said they would never respond to this type of
approach.
When queried about how prepared agencies were before they made approaches and
how important this was to the respondents, the study found that:
61% thought the majority of agencies that approach them have not done any
prior research on their company
85% thought the preparation was ‘only very rudimentary'. In fact, the
majority strongly agreed with the statement that ‘agencies rarely posses
enough knowledge of my company to make their unsolicited approaches
worthwhile'
75% said they wouldn't respond to an approach if there were a lack of
understanding about their particular business challenges.
67% would not, or would be unlikely, to follow up on an agency approach
if the agency got their contact details wrong (name, job title, address
etc.), while 16% didn't think this mattered
17% felt they wouldn't respond if the approach were from an agency
outside of their state
In responding to why choose one agency over another, 58% of the respondents
rated quality of customer insights as significant in the decision and all the
respondents considered it the most important factor within the next two highest
rankings. 75% thought level of client service in terms of speed and responding
to ongoing needs, as ‘fairly significant'.
Cost control was rated very highly. Less important in the choice were the
agency's size, geographic location, and its client list. A clear case for ROI, a
flair for innovation and creative thinking scored highly.
The polling group rated choice criteria by order:
Quality customer insights
Chemistry
Creative work
Service level / response to needs ongoing
Cost control
Innovative / strategic thinking
Case for ROI
Client list
Strict adherence to brief
Seniority of account team
Location
Size
Bill Colbourne, CEO of Pearlfinders, said "Overall, the lesson learned from
this survey is that clients want agencies to do their homework before pitching
for their business." And the summary of the client's needs came from a
respondent saying, "I'm looking for creativity, flexibility and value for my
marketing dollars."
eTech Automates Eight Ohio PBS Affiliates
with NVERZION
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (August 21, 2007) – NVERZION, a leading provider of
digital broadcasting and television station automation solutions, today
announced that the eTech Ohio Commission, a national leader in educational
technology access and integration serving Ohio's public television stations,
public radio stations and radio reading services, has added a customized suite
of NVERZION content distribution and automation solutions. These solutions will
support the implementation of edge media servers at each of Ohio’s eight PBS
affiliates including: WBGU, WCET, WGTE, WNEO, WOSU, WOUB, WPTD and WVIZ.
Beyond backup automation, NVERZION’s unique content distribution architecture
provides an effective method of managing and distributing content between eTech
Ohio and each affiliate, and between the affiliates themselves. By efficiently
facilitating the transfer of large A/V files through their fiber optic network,
eTech Ohio is implementing innovative solutions to meet the needs of their
affiliates. At eTech Ohio’s network operations center, two NVERZION NTime
solutions manage all time-based router events and Omneon Video Servers delivers
A/V output to the eight affiliates.
“In response to our affiliates’ need for additional program feeds we have
been working to implement asynchronous content delivery methods which take
advantage of our robust statewide fiber optic network,” said Jillian Froment,
Executive Director for eTech Ohio . “As we work to implement edge media servers,
we have been working with NVERZION, and other vendors, to ensure that our
automation, traffic and media storage systems are able to effectively
interoperate to meet the needs of our affiliates.”
Each affiliate has also been provided with an Omneon Media Deck server and
NVERZION backup automation software. NVERZION’s NGest product is used to manage
the majority of the quality control and trimming of the A/V files and XPlorer is
used to provide the station with the ability to manually move data through the
storage system for greater control and flexibility. Distribution is managed by
NVERZION’s XPansion software. Additionally, the ProTrack traffic system, which
is currently in use by the affiliates, has been customized to integrate with
NVERZION to allow it to act as the Master system for all content requests.
The solution gives the affiliates the ability to independently and
efficiently archive and access files of their choice at the central repository,
while assisting eTech Ohio in the management and monitoring of all traffic,
content control decisions and content dissemination for greater efficiency and
economy.
About eTech
The eTech Ohio Commission is a national leader in advancing
learning through technology. Established by the state, eTech Ohio manages a
telecommunications network that supports the distribution of educational content
and online learning. An innovative resource, eTech Ohio can rapidly react to
implement initiatives and technical solutions to support learning.
For more information on eTech Ohio, its programs and
affiliates, please visit www.etech.ohio.gov
or contact Dan Fitzpatrick, Public Affairs Officer, at
614-485-6008
About NVERZION
NVERZION provides the tools that make digital broadcasting
and television station automation a proven success. NVERZION offers the latest
advancements in broadcasting by controlling the equipment that acquires, and
distributes broadcast grade content through its progressive software solutions.
This software combined with powerful broadcast equipment and engineering
experience creates a network of efficient and reliable data control. Every
NVERZION product is designed to take the guesswork out of system implementation
by being intuitive and simple to use. And NVERZION backs everything they sell
with worldwide training, service and support.
For more details on NVERZION products, please visit
www.nverzion.com,
Blue Cow Relaxation Drink Will Be Distributed by Southern California's
Premiere Beverage Distributor Joining the Ranks of Such Beverages as Vitamin
Water, Snapple, Gatorade, Arizona Beverages, Nestle Waters and Campbell's
Beverages
Haralambos Beverages Signs as Exclusive Distributor of Blue Cow Relaxation
Drink in Southern California
Today, Mr. Anthony Haralambos, President of Haralambos Beverages, and George
S. Smart, Chairman/Founder of Blue Cow, jointly announced they had reached an
agreement where Haralambos Beverages would become the exclusive distributor of
Blue Cow in all Southern California markets. Haralambos Beverage was the driving
force behind the success of Glaceau's Vitamin Waters, and other key beverage
products.
Blue Cow, the original and always best anti-stress relaxation drink in the
United States, is beginning to launch its products starting in Southern
California where it is currently in select Ralphs, Albertsons, 7-Elevens,
AM/PM's and other fine stores.
About Haralambos Beverage
Haralambos Beverage Company began in1920 in a simple grocery store on
Brooklyn Avenue in Los Angeles, operated by a young Greek immigrant named Thomas
Haralambos. Through sweat and determination he survived the great depression and
upon the repeal of prohibition in 1933 opened one of the area's first liquor
distributorships, pioneering many of the most successful liquor brands of its
time.
Today Tony Haralambos, representing the third generation of the family, is
the President of the Company and Haralambos Beverages is one of the most
innovative and successful family-owned and operated businesses on the West
Coast. They now distribute select non-alcoholic beverages. The brands they
handle read like the "Who's Who" of non-alcoholic beverages and in addition to
Vitamin Water include Snapple, Gatorade, Arizona Ice Tea, Fuze and Nestle
Waters; Blue Cow will now be added to this list.
About Blue Cow
Blue Cow (www.BlueCowDrink.com)
is the "first and best anti-stress relaxation drink" on the market.
Blue Cow has zero calories, zero caffeine, zero carbs, and zero sodium and
works quickly and safely to reduce stress without drowsiness; this product is
safe for everyone, from the very young to the very old.
Top Video and Movie Sites, Viewers and Advertisers
A deeper look at most popular video and movie sites, exploring viewer
demographics as well as advertisers and types of ads.
Top 10 Videos/Movies
DestinationsWeek ending July 22, 2007 US, Home and Work
Brand or Channel
Unique Audience (000)
Active Reach (%)
YouTube
22,071
16.22
IMDb - Internet Movie Database
8,703
6.4
Netflix
6,068
4.46
Yahoo! Video
5,614
4.13
Moviefone
5,025
3.69
Google Video
4,940
3.63
Yahoo! Movies
4,418
3.25
BLOCKBUSTER
3,979
2.92
MSN Movies
3,500
2.57
MSN Video
3,264
2.4
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
NetView
Demographic Data for
Videos/Movies CategoryMonth of June 2007 US, Home and Work
Category
Target
Unique Audience (000)
Audience Composition (%)
Total
88,252
100
Male
44,648
50.59
Female
43,604
49.41
Age
2 - 11
4,401
4.99
12 - 17
10,073
11.41
18 - 24
6,056
6.86
25 - 34
12,820
14.53
35 - 49
28,309
32.08
45+
36,064
40.86
55+
17,127
19.41
65+
6,545
7.42
HH Income
$ 0 - 24999
4,925
5.58
$ 25000 - 49999
18,112
20.52
$ 50000 - 74999
23,090
26.16
$ 75000 - 99999
17,539
19.87
$ 100000 - 149999
14,577
16.52
$ 150000+
8,085
9.16
No Response
1,924
2.18
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
NetView
Data on the Entertainment Movies Segment Week ending July 22, 2007 US,
Home and Work
Top 20 Advertisers
Company
Impressions (000)
Share of all Impressions
General Electric Company
97,089
30.0%
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp
57,794
17.8%
Time Warner Inc.
44,840
13.8%
Viacom Inc
36,770
11.4%
The News Corporation Limited
26,611
8.2%
The Walt Disney Corporation
23,071
7.1%
Sony Corporation
16,901
5.2%
Metro-Goldwin-Mayer Inc.
12,599
3.9%
Classic Media, Inc.
1,948
0.6%
The Weinstein Company Inc.
1,158
0.4%
Cablevision Systems Corporation
1,025
0.3%
The Samuel Goldwyn Company
818
0.3%
Magnolia Pictures
800
0.2%
PictureHouse
536
0.2%
IndieVest, Inc.
384
0.1%
Yari Film Group
339
0.1%
Epiphany Films LLC
329
0.1%
Bombardier
290
0.1%
Cox Enterprises, Inc.
183
0.1%
Rogue Pictures
104
0.0%
Total
323,817
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
AdRelevance
Top Ad Sizes
Dimensions
Impressions (000)
Share of all Impressions
Non-Standard Dimension
84,437
26.1%
Leaderboard
(728x90)
76,706
23.7%
Wide Skyscraper
(160x600)
54,013
16.7%
Medium Rectangle
(300x250)
48,707
15.0%
Half Banner
(234x60)
26,076
8.1%
Large Rectangle
(336x280)
12,857
4.0%
Vertical Rectangle
(240x400)
10,066
3.1%
Skyscraper
(120x600)
5,796
1.8%
Micro Bar
(88x31)
1,721
0.5%
Button #1
(120x90)
1,323
0.4%
Button #2
(120x60)
749
0.2%
Vertical Banner
(120x240)
552
0.2%
Full Banner
(468x60)
404
0.1%
Rectangle
(180x150)
298
0.1%
Square
(250x250)
113
0.0%
Total
323,818
100.0%
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
AdRelevance
Ad Delivery Types
Impressions (000)
Share of all Impressions
In-Page
295,101
91.1%
Expanding
18,885
5.8%
Over-Page
7,323
2.3%
Pop-Under
1,410
0.4%
Transitional
1,041
0.3%
Pop-Up
59
0.0%
Total
323,819
100.0%
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
AdRelevance
Note: Nielsen//NetRatings AdRelevance reporting data reflects advertising
activity served on pages accessible via the World Wide Web and not within AOL's
proprietary service.
Tech Marketers And Tech Buyers Not Reading The Same Script
The third in a study series of tech marketers and buyers, recently released
by KnowledgeStorm, follows content and registration with the lead follow-up
process, including the comparisons of buyer experience with seller perceptions.
For instance, in the mismatch between vendor follow-ups reported and those
received, 26% of marketers say they "always" use sales calls and 42% always use
courtesy calls for initial follow-up. But, 26% of buyers say they "never"
receive a sales call and 23% say they never receive a courtesy call for initial
follow-up.
In defense of the seller, technology buyers say that they provide valid phone
numbers just 38% of the time. With the lower percentage of registrations
containing valid phone numbers, many calls may be attempted, but are never
received.
In the previous two "Connecting Through Content" studies, B2B marketers and
business and technology buyers weighed in on the most desirable and influential
types of content, where they post or look for content, how they use the content
in various phases of the buying cycle and what types of content prospects are
most likely to register for. This final study in the series examines what
happens once that registration has been submitted-the critical point of the
program's success or failure.
Despite some disconnects between marketers and buyers, the study found that
there are opportunities for marketers including:
Ensuring that follow-up on registrations is not just timely, but
delivered in ways most appealing to prospects
Greater involvement with sales to ensure early stage leads don't become
missed revenue opportunities
Posting content more broadly to achieve maximum visibility with buyers at
all stages of the buying cycle
Of the marketers surveyed:
40% hold the title of CMO, VP or Director of Marketing
37% are Marketing or Product Managers
The technology buyers' demographic profiles include the facts that:
52% are business professionals
48% are IT professionals
46% are involved with their company's technology at a strategic level
30% authorize IT purchases or have a major influence on purchases
Though the study offers insights and suggestions for performance, the bottom
line is that when marketers first receive a registration, nearly half enter new
registration information immediately into CRM systems for tracking, and 73% say
that their companies follow-up within two days. However, the majority of buyers
say that they receive follow-up just half the time or less. Technology buyers
are not seeing the activity that marketers report conducting.
Summary of Key Findings:
95% of marketers use their own Websites as their primary or secondary
source for generating registrations or leads, but 84% of technology buyers
consider IT directories their primary or secondary source of content that
requires registration.
Seventy-two percent of marketers state that the quality of registrations
from their own sites is "very good" or "excellent", while only 30% rated
other sources as high. However, 53% of technology buyers say they provide
equally valid registration information regardless of site. Notably, 47% of
buyers are less likely to provide valid information on sites in which they
lack confidence, and the lowest ranking among these are vendor sites and
online IT publications.
Sixty-five percent of technology buyers say they receive follow-up from
vendors half of the time or less when they submit registration information.
Of those buyers who do receive follow-up, 54% of them receive it within two
days, while 73% of marketers report that their company follows up on
registrations within one to two days.
The discrepancy is largest with sales calls, where 79% of marketers say
that they "always" or "sometimes" make sales calls, yet technology buyers
state that they receive such calls "always" or "sometimes" just 37% of the
time.
Finally, the report concludes that marketers must ensure that timely and
appropriate follow-up occurs. 73% of technology buyers say that the
timeliness of a vendor's follow-up at least moderately affects their
perception. However, only 38% of marketers follow-up with prospects within
one business day. Another 35% follow-up within two business days.
In addition, 53% of buyers always prefer to receive a courtesy email and
53% said they never prefer to receive a sales call as initial follow-up. The
study found that buyers tend to give a valid email address more often than
any other piece of registration information.
And there's more, lots more... to access the report and
learn more about KnowledgeStorm and
MarketingSherpa, a partner in the study, please visit here.
Canon U.S.A. Adds Remarkable Speed to Two New Stylish and Easy-to-Use
Scanners
Canon U.S.A, Inc. today announced two new color image scanners to the
industry’s best-selling line-up, the CanoScan 8800F and CanoScan LiDE90. In the
emerging world of digital imaging, consumers desire easy-to-use products like
these new Canon scanners that offer exceptional image quality in a compact and
stylish design, making archiving old shoeboxes of photos an enjoyable trip down
memory lane.
In addition to the stunning image quality that has become synonymous with
Canon scanners, speed takes on a whole new meaning with the Company's latest
products. The Canon CanoScan 8800F Color Image Scanner is the first Canon
scanner to come equipped with a high-luminance white LED lamp (instead of a
traditional fluorescent lamp). The white LED technology virtually eliminates
warm-up time1 and allows for scanning to begin instantaneously from sleep mode,
and be completed three times faster than in previous models. By improving data
reading methods, the scan speed at 300dpi (the most common resolution used for
reflective scans) is only approximately seven seconds for an 8.5” x 11” color
scan.2
The inclusion of seven “EZ Buttons” on the CanoScan 8800F Color Image Scanner
and four on the CanoScan LiDE90 Color Image Scanner enables consumers to quickly
copy, scan, e-mail or create a PDF file with just one push of a button. Perfect
for the crowded desktop, the new CanoScan LiDE90 Color Image Scanner is the
smallest ever in the popular LiDE scanner series.
“In the emerging scrapbooking and graphic design fields, the demand for
feature-rich, high-quality scanners is very prevalent. With the introduction of
these two scanners, Canon U.S.A. looks forward to maintaining its leading
position within this market by providing consumers with products that exceed
their expectations,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general
manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “Consumers want to be able to
preserve their memories and these new products allow for that to happen in a
quick, easy and affordable fashion.”
CANON CANOSCAN 8800F COLOR IMAGE SCANNER
The CanoScan 8800F Color Image Scanner provides consumers with a solution for
all photo archiving needs with the ability to scan up to twelve 35mm slides and
negatives at a time along with standard documents and images. The maximum
optical resolution for the CanoScan 8800F Color Image Scanner is 4800 x 9600
dots-per-inch (dpi).3 Equipped with Film Automatic Retouching and Enhancement
(FARE) Level 3 technology, which aids in automatic dust, scratch, fading and
graininess reduction, consumers can be comfortable knowing memories can be
preserved the way they were meant to be. With its height designed 17 percent
smaller than its predecessor, the Canon CanoScan 8800F Color Image Scanner
provides consumers with further desktop space to work on additional projects.
The estimated selling price for the CanoScan 8800F Color Image Scanner is
$199.99.4
CANON CANOSCAN LiDE90 COLOR IMAGE SCANNER
Using a Contact Image Sensor (CIS), and new drive system designs, the Canon
CanoScan LiDE90 Color Image Scanner is considered to be one of the world’s
thinnest scanners, and the smallest ever in the Canon LiDE scanner series. A
stand is included, enabling the scanner to be positioned vertically so even less
desktop space is required. This successor model to the popular CanoScan LiDE70
Color Image Scanner can reproduce images and documents with stunning quality
thanks to a maximum optical resolution of 2400 x 4800 dpi.3 Only one USB 2.0
high-speed cable is necessary for connecting to a computer and providing the
necessary power thus eliminating an extra wire from behind a desk. Additional
features such as the Quick and Automatic Retouching and Enhancement (QARE) Level
3 technology for quick, automatic removal of dust and scratches from scanned
images and an Advanced Z-Lid for scanning bulkier items, makes the task of
scanning old photos for a students’ class project more enjoyable. The estimated
selling price of the CanoScan LiDE90 Color Image Scanner is $79.99.4
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial
imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired
Companies in America and is on the 2006 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100
Brands.” Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), is a top patent holder of
technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2006†, with global revenues of
$34.9 billion. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
1 The time required for the light source to reach sufficient operating
temperature.
2 Scan speed indicates the time measured between pressing the scan button of
the scanner driver and the on-screen status display turns off. Scan speed may
vary depending on system configuration, interface, software, scan mode settings
and document size.
3 Optical resolution is a measure of maximum hardware sampling, based on ISO
14473 standard.
4 Pricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by
individual dealers and may vary.
+ IFI Patent Intelligence Press Release, January 2007.
Contacts
Editorial:
ELPH Elegance Reigns Supreme: Canon U.S.A. Introduces Two New Digital ELPH
Cameras That Are the Epitome of Substance with Style, Backed by a Plethora of
Powerful Features
Canon U.S.A., Inc. today introduced two new compact PowerShot Digital ELPH
Cameras – the top-of-the line 12.1-megapixel PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH and
the status-setting 8.0-megapixel resolution PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH.
Both cameras still have the alluring charm and color that keep them ahead of the
aesthetic curve, but now they are also loaded with advanced features and
functions, making them perfect for the trend-setting techie. For the consumer
attending a sunny backyard soiree, a relaxing respite getaway or an electrifying
night on the town, these two Digital ELPH cameras continue to hold court as the
perfect combination of beauty and brains. Canon’s PowerShot Digital ELPH cameras
verify the adage that you can never be too (feature) rich or too stylishly thin.
The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH and SD870 IS Digital ELPH cameras build
on Canon’s original, iconic box and circle design while maintaining their own
identity. The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH camera is sophisticated, sensual
and strikingly elegant, while the PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH camera is
sleek, sassy and serves as a fashion statement. Both Digital ELPHs are
lightweight and compact, allowing them to fit unobtrusively into a small purse
or shirt-pocket, and be whipped out easily to capture a memorable moment.
“Don’t be fooled by their stunning good looks,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior
vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “The
PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH and SD870 IS Digital ELPH cameras are filled
with top-performing features that deliver extraordinary results.”
The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH Camera is designed for the sophisticated
point-and-shoot user looking for top-level functionality in a compact, elegant
package. This camera continues the ELPH tradition with its full-body titanium
good looks, featuring sinuous curves and advanced design, while standing on its
own with optimal performance. The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH camera is
equipped with upgraded features such as 12.1-megapixel resolution, 3.7x optical
zoom with optical image stabilizer (OIS) for steady shooting and a
next-generation version of Canon’s Genuine Face Detection technology. This pure
titanium powerhouse has a DIGIC III image processor, red-eye correction, an
optical viewfinder and a 2.5-inch PureColor LCD screen with scratch-resistant
and anti-reflection coating for easy viewing at any angle. All of this packs a
powerful punch, but takes it easy on the pocketbook at an estimated selling
price of $449.99*.
The PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH Camera is ideal for style-conscious photo
enthusiasts with impeccable taste who want their substance to keep pace with
their style. The PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH camera is built on a foundation
consisting of one-part Canon technology – 8.0-megapixel resolution, 3.8x
wide-angle optical zoom with optical image stabilization and a DIGIC III
processor with Advanced Face Detection Technology– and one-part fashion
accessory – with its smooth curves, sleek mode dial and the option of a black or
silver lens ring that’s sure to complement any taste or style. This sassy
shooter’s wide-angle zoom lens makes it a snap to capture large group shots at a
favorite hang-out, the wide expanse of a sandy beach on a vacation or the
throngs of people at a red-carpet event. The extra-large three-inch PureColor
LCD screen with scratch-resistant and anti-reflection coating also makes it easy
to view and review these great shots. All this great photo-creating fun is
available for an estimated selling price of $399.99*.
New Canon PowerShot Digital Camera Lines’ Shared Technological Advancements
DIGIC III
The "brain" of these new PowerShot cameras is DIGIC III, the gold standard on
all new Canon digital cameras. The DIGIC III image processor accounts for the
camera's higher performance levels, including faster start-up, faster autofocus
and quicker shutter response times that leave long-lag competitors in the dust.
The DIGIC III chip design improves image quality and offers more efficient power
consumption, resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting
conditions.
ADVANCED FACE DETECTION
With Canon’s new Genuine Face Detection technology, the camera can detect up
to nine forward-looking human faces in a scene. The Face Detection algorithm
automatically prioritizes and selects faces and not simply the closest object
(based on Canon’s Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then
optimize the focus, exposure and flash to ensure the best possible results.
Using Canon’s Face Detection, photographers can keep up to nine faces in focus
at any one time no matter where they are within the image. Working in concert
with Face Detection, the “Red-Eye Correction” feature helps to detect and
correct red-eye during playback mode. Images can be corrected manually while
viewing photos on the LCD screen. Canon’s new Face Detection Technology makes
for even easier picture-taking moments, helping users ensure in-focus smiles,
and assist in the elimination of over-exposed faces.
OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION
The extended zoom range of the camera makes optical image stabilization (OIS)
essential. Canon's lens shift OIS provides an effective antidote to camera
shake, particularly at longer zoom lengths or during long exposures when even
the slightest hand-held shake is magnified to picture blurring proportions.
Superior to electronic image stabilization systems that simply use software to
mask movement, OIS actually shifts the lens proportionately to compensate for
unwanted motion, making it easier to snap great images. The OIS found in Canon
PowerShot digital cameras is based on technology developed for Canon’s renowned
high-end professional EOS SLR cameras.
The steady effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with the new "Auto
ISO Shift" feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase
the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting
in low-light conditions without a flash.
PRINTING MADE EASY
All Canon PowerShot digital cameras work seamlessly with Canon’s compact
photo printers to deliver stunning high-quality borderless prints. Consumers
simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a Canon compact photo printer,
press the Print/Share button, and moments later a brilliant, borderless 4” x 6”
print begins to emerge; it’s that simple. Canon’s compact photo printers are
PictBridge compatible, so they work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras to
provide users with excellent image quality and ease-of-use, especially when
paired with a Canon digital camera.
HIGH-CAPACITY MEMORY CARD CAPABILITY
As an added convenience, Canon PowerShot digital cameras also accommodate
MultiMedia MMC and MMC+ memory cards, as well as standard SD memory cards and
the new, high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This way, consumers do not have to
carry around multiple memory cards in order to be able to continue to save those
special moments during extended vacations or high-photo-taking adventures. Canon
PowerShot owners can travel in sleek style.
The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH and SD870 IS Digital ELPH Cameras are
scheduled to be available in stores in September. Both new cameras kits provide
everything a photographer needs to start enjoying these wonderful products as
soon as they are purchased, including a rechargeable battery pack, battery
charger, 32MB MMC memory card, and software as well as USB interface cable, AV
interface cables and wrist strap.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial
imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired
Companies in America and is on the 2006 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100
Brands.” Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), is a top patent holder of
technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2006†, with global revenues of
$34.9 billion. All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of
their respective owners.
Specifications and availability are subject to change without notice.
*Pricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by
individual dealers and may vary.
The Wait is Over: Canon U.S.A.’s Highly Anticipated EOS 40D Digital SLR
Delivers High-Resolution Image Quality, High-Speed Shooting and High–End
Functionality
Fastest in Class 6.5 FPS Shooting Speed, New Autofocus Sensor and Newly
Enhanced 10.1 Megapixel CMOS Imaging Sensor Combine to Boost the EOS 40D’s
Appeal While Maintaining its Accessible Mid-Market Pricing
Following months of intense anticipation by Digital SLR enthusiasts
worldwide, the EOS 40D DIGITAL SLR Camera from Canon U.S.A., Inc. is scheduled
to begin sailing into stores in early September. Building on the success of
Canon’s perennially popular “prosumer” EOS 20D and 30D models, the EOS 40D
advances the state-of-the-art for mid-range Digital SLR cameras, making it a
natural first choice for advanced amateur photographers and entry-level
professionals, and an ideal second body for more established photo pros. Indeed,
given the level of feature upgrades and improvements, technological wizardry and
user-requested creative controls, the Canon EOS 40D SLR’s “prosumer” appellation
may refer more to its accessible price point than to the exceptional quality,
clarity and resolution of the images it creates.
From the camera’s newly enhanced, 10.1-megapixel CMOS imaging sensor
(designed and manufactured by Canon) and its proprietary and super-efficient
DIGIC III image processor, to its completely redesigned autofocus sensor and
fast, 6.5 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability (for bursts of
up to 75 Large/Fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images), the EOS 40D SLR puts the fun in
functionality and makes serious photo business a positive pleasure.
Indeed, at 6.5 fps, no Digital SLR in the EOS 40D mid-range class and price
category has so high a continuous shooting capability1, making it ideal for
shooting – and actually capturing – speed-sensitive outdoor and wild-nature
shots as well as a wide variety of action and sports scenes. The speed of the
EOS 40D SLR comes from Canon’s balanced combination of its latest processor,
DIGIC IIII, DDR SDRAM high-speed memory, four-channel-per-line sensor readout,
and two separate motors for shutter and mirror operation.
“This newest member of Canon’s Digital SLR family takes mid-range Digital
SLRs to exciting new heights with enhanced resolution and image quality, faster
shooting and processing speeds and better overall functionality than ever
before,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager,
Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “The Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR Camera
incorporates many Canon innovations and advancements that differentiate our
products from the competition, while respecting and reinforcing our
long-standing traditions of providing superior value and innovative imaging
technology.”
Display’s the Thing
The most easily visible upgrade on the EOS 40D Digital SLR is the camera’s
larger three-inch LCD screen (compared with the EOS 30D’s 2.5-inch monitor).
Still, size is only the beginning of the difference between these two cameras’
displays. In order to increase viewing ease in outdoor conditions such as bright
sunlight, Canon raised the brightness level of the EOS 40D camera’s
230,000-pixel LCD screen, broadened the color gamut and narrowed the viewing
angle from 170 degrees to a still wide 140-degree perspective in all directions.
An added advantage of the larger-sized display is the ability to use a larger
font size for text, making it easier to read setting and menu options on the
screen. The camera’s menu is organized in the same tabbed format as the EOS-1D
Mark III Digital SLR.
Canon extends its “ease-of-reading” policy to the EOS 40D SLR’s viewfinder as
well. The upgraded viewfinder increases optical magnification from 0.90x to
0.95x, expands the viewing angle from 251 degrees to 264 degrees and raises the
eye point from 20mm to 22mm.
Enhanced Durability
Recognizing the often rigorous shooting conditions encountered by
professional and advanced amateur photographers, Canon design engineers made the
EOS 40D SLR’s magnesium alloy exterior even more ruggedly dependable than its
predecessors with upgraded dust and weather resistant construction, particularly
around the camera’s connection ports, battery compartment and single-slot
compact flash memory card door. Should the user inadvertently open the compact
flash card door while the camera is writing to the card, a warning will pop up
on the LCD screen and an open door “alarm” will sound, but the image(s) will
continue writing to the memory card without interruption. The EOS 40D SLR also
retains many of the outstanding features of the EOS 30D model, such as its fast
0.15-second initial start-up, its extremely durable shutter (rated up to 100,000
cycles), its top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec and 1/250 maximum X-sync flash
shutter speed setting.
Improved Image Quality
Although it is based on the image sensor used in the EOS Digital Rebel XTi,
the EOS 40D Digital SLR’s 10.1-megapixel CMOS APS-C size image sensor has been
significantly improved thanks to the use of larger microlenses over each pixel
to reduce noise and expand sensitivity up to ISO 3200. The EOS 40D retains the
model 30D camera’s 1.6x focal length conversion factor (compared to full-frame
digital image sensors or 35mm film) and is compatible with the full line-up of
Canon EF lenses as well as the Company’s expanding selection of high-quality,
affordable EF-S lenses created specifically for Canon Digital SLRs with APS-C
size image sensors.
Adding to the improved virtuosity of the images captured by the EOS 40D SLR
is the camera’s 14-bit Analog-to-Digital (A/D) conversion process. Able to
recognize 16,384 colors per channel (four times the number of colors recognized
by the EOS 30D SLR’s 12-bit conversion capability), the EOS 40D camera is able
to produce images with finer and more accurate gradations of tones and colors.
The EOS 40D also incorporates the optional Highlight Tone Priority and High-ISO
Noise Reduction functions first introduced earlier this year with the EOS-1D
Mark III Professional Digital SLR.
DIGIC III
DIGIC III is the latest generation of Canon’s proprietary image processing
engine. DIGIC III technology ensures that the fine details and natural colors of
the images are optimally recorded and, as an added bonus, is also responsible
for the EOS 40D SLR’s high-speed performance, faster signal processing and even
its efficient energy consumption.
sRAW
In addition to retaining the RAW image capture capabilities of its
predecessors, the EOS 40D SLR now offers a more manageable “sRAW” recording
format. In sRAW mode, the number of pixels is reduced to one-fourth that of a
standard RAW image and the file size is cut in half, while retaining all of the
flexibility and creative possibilities associated with full-size, conventional
RAW images.
Improved Autofocus and Exposure Control
While the EOS 40D SLR maintains the nine-point wide area AF coverage first
introduced on the EOS 20D camera, Canon has made significant improvements to its
speed, precision and functionality, minimizing subject recognition problems in
the process. The EOS 40D camera’s completely redesigned nine-point AF sensor
provides cross-type AF measurement at all nine focusing points for maximum
apertures up to f/5.6, and for the first time in any EOS camera, the central AF
point offers enhanced precision for both vertical and horizontal subject
contrast when using EF or EF-S lenses featuring maximum apertures of f/2.8 or
faster. AF calculation speed with the EOS 40D camera is 30 percent faster than
the EOS 30D model.
The Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR retains the same 35-zone metering sensor as its
predecessor. Available patterns include Evaluative metering, which is linked to
all AF points and is set automatically in the Basic Zone modes, Centerweighted
average metering, Partial metering and Spot metering, covering approximately 9
percent or 3.8 percent of the viewfinder at center, respectively. The camera’s
E-TTL II autoflash and 12 exposure control modes (11 AE modes plus manual) are
also unchanged from the EOS 30D SLR model. However, as a result of consumer
input, Canon has added three Custom exposure modes. As an added convenience,
particularly for wireless flash operations, users can adjust the flash settings
of the Canon Speedlite 580EX II directly from the camera.
The Canon EOS 40D camera offers ISO speeds from ISO 100 to ISO 1600 in
1/3-stop increments. Users can also opt for a high-speed setting of ISO 3200.
For the first time in any EOS camera, the 40D model offers Auto ISO capability
in Creative Zone exposure modes. This valuable new feature adjusts the ISO speed
to the optimal setting based on low light or shaky shooting conditions.
Additionally, the EOS 40D provides full-time display of the active ISO speed
setting, both in the viewfinder as well as on the top LCD data panel.
The Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR is also the first camera in its class to offer
two interchangeable focusing screens in addition to the standard precision matte
screen. Users can opt for a grid-type focus screen that makes it easier to
verify horizontal or vertical alignment while determining image composition, as
well as the Super-Precision Matte focusing screen that makes it easier to grasp
the “sweet spot” of manual focusing when using a lens with a maximum aperture of
f/2.8 or faster.
Enhanced Live View
Previously the province of the EOS-1D Mark III DSLR (one of Canon’s top-tier
professional cameras), the Live View function now gives EOS 40D camera users an
expanded and exceedingly convenient and comfortable set of shooting options. By
permitting the framing and capturing of subjects using the camera’s LCD screen
instead of the viewfinder, the shooter gains a 100 percent field view to more
easily achieve the desired composition. A new Custom Function on the EOS 40D
allows autofocus during Live View by pressing the camera’s AF-ON button. At that
point, the reflex mirror goes down and AF is carried out in the normal way.
Letting go of the AF-ON button resumes Live View functions. Also, in the Live
View shooting mode the user can magnify the image by five or ten times in order
to ensure that the shot is optimally focused. Live View is at its best during
tripod shooting – particularly for close-up photography where precise focusing
is imperative. As a side benefit, the Live View shooting mode helps to reduce
vibration by lifting the reflex mirror out of the optical path well in advance
of the exposure, improving image quality at slow shutter speeds. A new
electronic 1st-curtain shutter function in Live View mode reduces release time
lag and operational noise even further to avoid spooking wildlife or disturbing
people nearby with unwanted camera sounds. Additionally, as the release time lag
is miniscule, even instantaneous movements like a bird taking flight can be
readily captured.
EOS Integrated Cleaning System
First introduced on the EOS Digital Rebel XTi camera, the EOS Integrated
Cleaning System is a prime example of trickle-up technology and is now becoming
a standard feature on all new EOS Digital SLRs. The camera’s Self-Cleaning
Sensor Unit uses ultrasonic vibrations to literally shake dust particles off of
the low-pass filter in front of the sensor each time the camera is powered up or
shut down. Users also have the option of engaging the “clean now” function at
will or bypassing it altogether. Additionally, the EOS 40D SLR’s manual sensor
cleaning function raises the mirror and allows users to clean dust that has
stuck to the low-pass filter. Dust that has been shaken or blown loose is then
trapped by adhesive at the base of the sensor unit housing, preventing the
problematic particles from reattaching themselves to the filter when the camera
moves. The second part of the cleaning system is a software solution that maps
the location of any spots that may remain on the sensor. The mapped information
is saved as Dust Delete Data and attached to the image file. Subsequently, the
offending dust information is subtracted from the final image during post
processing with a compatible personal computer, using the supplied Digital Photo
Professional software.
Improved Software
Among the most valuable features of the Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR is its
compatibility with Canon’s Picture Style Editor (PSE) 1.0 software. With PSE,
shooters can actually design the look of their photographs by inputting their
own preferred style, color and tone curves. The EOS 40D Digital SLR also ships
with the latest versions of Canon's powerful software applications, including
Digital Photo Professional 3.1 and EOS Utility 2.1, which now support the
camera's Remote Live View and Dust Delete Data functions, as well as
incorporating a broad range of additional improvements designed to improve image
quality and speed up workflow. Also included are ZoomBrowser EX 5.8 and
ImageBrowser 5.8 for easy browsing, viewing, printing and archiving with
compatible computer operating systems, including Microsoft Windows Vista and
Windows XP, as well as Mac OS X.
Accessories
New system accessories for the EOS 40D SLR include the redesigned
high-capacity Battery Grip BG-E2N, which facilitates high-volume shooting and
easier vertical shooting. Compatible with up to two BP-511A battery packs or a
set of six AA-size batteries, the battery grip approximately doubles the number
of shots that can be taken, compared with the battery power of the EOS 40D SLR
alone. The BG-E2N grip features new sealing material around the battery
compartment to better resist water and dust. The new model replaces the original
BG-E2 grip and is compatible with the EOS 20D, 30D and 40D models.
Designed exclusively for the EOS 40D SLR, the new Wireless File Transmitter
WFT-E3A*/** permits wireless transfer and back-up, as well as remote control of
the camera in Live View mode. It can also be connected to various GPS receivers
or Hi-Speed USB 2.0 external storage devices such as convenient flash drives or
high-capacity hard drives with much larger storage capacity than the memory
cards in the camera for instant back-up as images are captured. Compact and
affordable, the WFT-E3A wireless transmitter also doubles as a vertical grip and
requires its own BP-511A battery pack in addition to the battery installed in
the camera body.
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
Developed in response to consumer demand for a high-quality yet affordable
optically image stabilized lens, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS standard
zoom lens adds a phenomenally flexible lens to the EOS 40D SLR shooter’s imaging
arsenal. While it features the wide-angle to mid-range zoom flexibility of its
non-IS predecessor, this new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens offers the
significant advantage of a true lens-shift image stabilization system that
yields up to a full four stops of image-shake correction.
The higher performance provided by Canon’s lens shift IS system (compared
with the in-camera sensor shift type offered in some competitive SLRs) includes
the ability to optimize the lens performance for specific shooting situations
such as low-light, long-zoom or movement while shooting (or virtually any
combination of the three). What’s more, the shooter can see the image
stabilization effect in the viewfinder. As the image already appears steady,
more accurate framing and composition is possible, the AF point can be placed
more precisely, and the photographer can concentrate on the optimal shot more
comfortably.
Compact and lightweight, the optional EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens is
manufactured by Canon specifically for the EOS 40D SLR and any other EOS SLR
that takes EF-S lenses including the EOS 30D, EOS 20D, EOS 20Da, EOS Digital
Rebel XTi, EOS Digital Rebel XT and the original EOS Digital Rebel camera. An
ideal complement to the EOS 40D SLR, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens is
scheduled to be in stores in October at an estimated selling price of $199.99.i
The Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR is scheduled for early September delivery and
will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated selling price of
$1,299.00i. It will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF
28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens at an estimated selling price of $1,499.00i.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial
imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired
Companies in America and is on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands.” Its
parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology,
ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2006†, with global revenues of $34.9
billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.
FCC Disclaimer
*This device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal
Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be offered for sale
or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.
FDA Disclaimer
**A Product Report required by 21 C.F.R. §1002.10 has not been submitted to
the United States Food and Drug Administration for this product. This product is
not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until the
required report has been submitted.
All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their
respective owners.
Specifications and availability are subject to change without notice.
iPricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by
individual dealers and may vary.
†IFI Patent Intelligence Press Release, January 2007
1 As of August 20, 2007
Canon U.S.A.’s New Powershot G9 Camera Combines Creative Control with Compact
Convenience
New G-Series Camera Gives Serious Photo Enthusiasts the Power of a
Professional Digital SLR in a Point-and-Shoot Package
Canon U.S.A., Inc. announced today that its acclaimed G-series has a new
top-of-the line model – the PowerShot G9 digital camera. The PowerShot G9
digital camera offers serious shooters and value-minded professionals a
feature-packed camera with many of the advanced photographic capabilities of a
high-end Digital SLR camera, in a lightweight, compact package at an affordable
price.
The PowerShot G9 digital camera features the same matte black, retro-hip
design that G-series fans have come to appreciate, with a simplified control
layout that is versatile yet easy to understand. This camera is loaded with
Canon’s latest and most advanced technologies, while raising the bar with the
addition of RAW Mode, usually reserved for larger and more expensive SLR
cameras. Advanced photographers also have the option of using RAW+JPEG
simultaneous capture functionality, giving photographers the best of both worlds
– JPEGs for immediate use and RAW images for faithful image reproduction, and
extensive, non-destructive image editing capability.
The PowerShot G9 digital camera features class-leading 12.1-megapixel
resolution for stunning, deeply detailed images that allow enlargements up to
poster size with cropping. A 6x optical zoom lens brings the photographer right
into the action, and by incorporating Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS),
excellent-quality images are assured in situations prone to camera shake and
image blurring. So, whether you are shooting outdoors at dusk or inside without
a flash, camera shake is detected and effectively canceled. Photographers will
find it quick and easy to review and compare photos for printing with Canon’s
Image Inspection Tool. And, because Image Inspection is now linked with Advanced
Face Detection technology, they can save considerable time while reviewing,
because the main subject is automatically detected and enlarged, eliminating the
need to zoom and scroll manually, while at the same time making it simple to
determine if facial expressions are pleasing before moving on to the next photo.
“The PowerShot G9 digital camera brings our highest levels of performance and
usability to the G-series,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and
general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “By combining RAW Mode
with our other key technologies in this camera, we’re providing a
high-performing and affordable option to advanced photo enthusiasts who want the
creative power of a Digital SLR in a smaller body form.”
The PowerShot G9 digital camera comes equipped with 23 shooting modes,
allowing for a myriad of different photo preferences and conditions including
Automatic, Manual, Shutter-speed-Priority, Aperture-Priority, and two Custom
modes as well as special scene modes such as Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene,
Sports, Indoor, Beach and Snow, offering users Digital SLR-like capability in a
compact digital camera. The PowerShot G9 also features Canon’s powerful DIGIC
III Image Processor, delivering superior image quality, ultra-responsive
performance, extended battery life and advanced Face Detection technology, so
users can be confident that the face they want, is the face that they capture.
And, with a new large, three-inch PureColor LCD II screen and easy-to-access ISO
and manual mode dials, customized shooting, reviewing and menu adjustments are
especially convenient. The PowerShot G9 digital camera is also compatible with
optional high-quality Canon wide-angle, telephoto and macro supplementary
lenses, as well as EOS Speedlite flashes and a waterproof case rated to a depth
of 40 meters/130 feet, giving photographers more robust photographic
capabilities that are in line with professional and expensive SLRs.
True to Canon’s industry leadership position, the PowerShot G9 digital camera
gives consumers interested in the ease of a compact camera many of the
technological advancements that are the result of Canon’s 70-year heritage as an
imaging innovator, differentiating it from competitive products.
New Canon PowerShot Product Lines’ Standard Advanced Technologies
DIGIC III
The "brain" of this new PowerShot camera is DIGIC III, the gold standard on
all new Canon digital cameras. The DIGIC III image processor accounts for the
camera's higher performance levels, including faster start-up, faster autofocus
and quicker shutter response times that leave long-lag competitors in the dust.
The DIGIC III chip design improves image quality and offers more efficient power
consumption, resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting
conditions.
ADVANCED FACE DETECTION
With Canon’s new Genuine Face Detection technology, the camera can detect,
lock-on and track up to nine forward-looking human faces in a scene. The Face
Detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects faces and not simply
the closest object (based on Canon’s Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS
technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure and flash to ensure the
best possible results. Using Canon’s Face Detection, photographers can keep up
to nine faces in focus at any one time no matter where they are within the
image. The PowerShot G9 camera also introduces an exclusive new function called
Face Select and Track. With this feature, when multiple faces are detected,
photographers can select any individual face they want the camera to
specifically track and be a primary focus. This feature is ideal for many
shooting situations such as birthday parties or graduation ceremonies, where
many people are present, but the photographer is primarily interested in just
one of them. Working in concert with Face Detection, the G9’s “Red-Eye
Correction” feature helps to detect and correct red-eye during playback mode.
Images can be corrected automatically or manually while viewing photos on the
LCD screen. All in all, Canon’s new Face Detection Technology makes for even
easier picture-taking moments, helping users ensure in-focus smiles, and
assisting in the elimination of over-exposed faces.
OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION (OIS)
The extended zoom range of the PowerShot G9 camera makes optical image
stabilization (OIS) essential. Canon's lens shift OIS provides an effective
antidote to camera shake, particularly at longer zoom lengths or during long
exposures when even the slightest hand-held shake is magnified to
picture-blurring proportions. Superior to electronic image stabilization systems
that simply use software to mask movement, OIS actually shifts the lens
proportionately to compensate for unwanted motion, making it easier to snap
great images. The OIS found in Canon PowerShot digital cameras is based on
technology developed for Canon’s renowned high-end professional SLR cameras.
The steady effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with the new "Auto
ISO Shift" feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase
the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting
in low light conditions without a flash.
PRINTING MADE EASY
All Canon PowerShot digital cameras work seamlessly with Canon’s compact
photo printers to deliver stunning high-quality borderless prints. Consumers
simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a Canon compact photo printer,
press the Print/Share button, and moments later a brilliant, borderless 4” x 6”
print begins to emerge; it’s that simple. Canon’s compact photo printers are
PictBridge compatible, so they work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras to
provide users with excellent image quality and ease-of-use, especially when
paired with a Canon digital camera.
HIGH-CAPACITY MEMORY CARD CAPABILITY
As an added convenience, Canon PowerShot digital cameras also accommodate
MultiMedia MMC memory cards, as well as standard SD memory cards and the new,
high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This way, consumers do not have to carry around
multiple memory cards in order to be able to continue to save those special
moments during extended vacations or high-photo-taking adventures. Canon
PowerShot owners can travel in sleek style.
Powerful Software
The PowerShot G9 is bundled with the latest versions of Canon’s powerful
digital imaging software, including ZoomBrowser EX 6.0 and ImageBrowser 6.0 for
easy downloading, viewing and printing. RAW Image Task software is also supplied
to facilitate high-quality processing of the PowerShot G9’s new RAW images.
In stores in October, the PowerShot G9 camera kit includes a lithium-ion
rechargeable battery and battery charger, a 32MB MMC plus memory card, a USB
interface cable, an AV cable, a neck strap, and Canon’s software suite at an
estimated selling price of $499.99*.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial
imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired
Companies in America and is on the 2006 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100
Brands.” Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), is a top patent holder of
technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2006†, with global revenues of
$34.9 billion. All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of
their respective owners.
Specifications and availability are subject to change without notice.
*Pricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by
individual dealers and may vary.
†IFI Patent Intelligence, January 2007.
Canon U.S.A. Adds Two New Stylish, High-Quality Photo Printers to Its
Renowned Line-Up
For the at-home or small office user who wants to combine high-quality and
fast photo printing with excellent text printing, the PIXMA iP4500 Photo Printer
and PIXMA iP3500 Photo Printer, announced today by Canon U.S.A., Inc., are two
great choices. The PIXMA iP4500 Photo Printer boasts high-resolution, fast photo
printing speeds and five individual ink tanks to deliver professional
performance. The PIXMA iP3500 Photo Printer offers four individual ink tanks and
a 4-inch x 6-inch photo lab quality borderless print in less than approximately
50 seconds,1 all at a value price point.
“These new printers deliver high-quality photo printing with exceptional text
printing. Canon’s award-winning photo printer line now provides users with
several choices over multiple performance and price ranges to satisfy a large
variety of needs,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general
manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “Together with our strong line of
photo and business All-in-One printers, Canon offers the printing consumer more
choices than ever.”
Building on Canon’s current line of highly touted photo printers, these two
models offer two levels of quality and speed with elegant styling and
exceptional printing features.
CANON PIXMA iP4500 PHOTO PRINTER
Designed for high-quality and fast photo and text printing, the PIXMA iP4500
Photo Printer features a maximum of 9600 x 2400 color dpi resolution2 and five
Smart LED equipped individual ink tanks in the trailblazing Canon FINE print
head. All these features together allow the printer to deliver print speeds of
approximately 31 pages per minute (ppm) for black, 24 ppm for color and 21
seconds for a 4” x 6” inch photo lab quality borderless photo.1 Built-in
automatic duplexing allows any user to print double-sided documents or photos
without having to manually turn the paper. Imagine the ability to seamlessly
turn a hefty 20-page report into a convenient and environmentally-friendly
10-page version. The PIXMA iP4500 Photo Printer has a stylish design with sleek
curves and silver and black accents that enhances the look of any home or small
office. The Canon PIXMA iP4500 Photo Printer will be available for an estimated
selling price of $129.99.3
PIXMA iP3500 PHOTO PRINTER
For consumers who require an even more wallet-friendly product, the Canon
PIXMA iP3500 Photo Printer offers exceptional features at a value price. Elegant
piano black with silver accents adds style to function. It boasts a maximum of
4800 x 1200 color dpi resolution4 and Smart LED equipped individual ink tanks in
a Canon-exclusive FINE print head. Printing speeds are exceptional at up to 25
ppm in black and 17 ppm in color with approximately 47-second 4” x 6” photo lab
quality, borderless photo printing1. The iP3500 Photo Printer is even equipped
with dual paper paths for greater convenience, eliminating the time consumed
switching paper types. The Canon PIXMA iP3500 Photo Printer will be available
for an estimated selling price of $99.99.3
These new Canon Photo Printer products can produce stunning output thanks to
FINE technology. Launched globally by Canon in 1999, the Canon FINE advanced
print head technology is one of the keys to the impressive speed and high photo
quality in PIXMA photo printers. FINE technology uses a high-performance
multi-nozzle print engine that ejects consistent and microscopic ink droplets.
The results are high-resolution photos with great detail and clarity in less
time.
ChromaLife100 System
The FINE print head employed by the PIXMA iP4500 and iP3500 Photo Printers,
together with select genuine Canon photo papers and select genuine Canon inks,
comprise the Canon ChromaLife100 system for long-lasting photo prints. When
using the FINE print head, select genuine Canon photo papers, and select genuine
Canon dye inks, prints can resist fading for up to 100 years when stored in an
archival quality photo album. The 100-year-lifespan rivals that of many
traditional film-based photos, long considered by consumers to be the benchmark
for image permanence. Prints produced on Canon Photo Paper Pro with
ChromaLife100 have up to a ten-year gas fastness when exposed to open air.
ChromaLife100 prints, when created using Canon Photo Paper Pro or Photo Paper
Plus Glossy, have up to a 30-year light fastness when displayed under glass.5
Creative Park/Easy-PhotoPrint EX
More than ever consumers are diving into digital scrapbooking, photo albums,
calendars and crafting projects. Canon's Creative Park Web site at
www.canon.com/c-park offers 3-D paper craft projects,
scrapbooking templates, novel greeting cards, educational materials, and the
opportunity to learn more about digital photography. Easy-PhotoPrint EX photo
printing software is included with both printers and makes printing multiple
size prints on a variety of Canon papers a snap with an automatic optimization
by Auto Image Fix. With the newly updated Easy-LayoutPrint application,
consumers can even produce beautiful photo calendars, albums, and stickers, with
little to no hassle. Other features such as cropping, increasing saturation and
correcting red eye are also included to allow the user to make corrections to
images without having to use additional software.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial
imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired
Companies in America and is on the 2006 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100
Brands.” Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), is a top patent holder of
technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2006†, with global revenues of
$34.9 billionSpecifications are subject to change without notice.
†IFI Patent Intelligence, January 11, 2007
1 Photo print speeds are based on the default mode driver setting using photo
test pattern(s) and select Canon Photo Paper. Print speed measured as soon as
first page begins to feed into printer and will vary depending on system
configuration, interface, software, document complexity, print mode, types of
paper used and page coverage. PPM speeds are based on the highest speed printer
driver mode using black and white and color text patterns. See
www.usa.canon.com/printspeed for additional information.
2 Resolution may vary based on printer driver settings. Color ink droplets
can be placed with a horizontal pitch of 1/9600 inch at minimum.
3 Pricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by
individual dealers and may vary.
4 Resolution may vary based on printer driver settings. Color ink droplets
can be placed with a horizontal pitch of 1/4800 inch at minimum.
5 Based on accelerated testing by Canon under controlled temperature,
humidity, and gas conditions. For the 100 year figure, Canon simulated storage
in an album with plastic sleeves. For the 30 year lightfastness figure, Canon
simulated display of a photo in a glass frame in an indoor location without
direct sunlight or other high intensity light. The 10 year gas fastness figure
is based on a testing ratio of gases typical to an indoor air composition (O3:
NOx:SOx=3:19:1) with 100 times concentration in order to accelerate color
fading. Canon cannot guarantee the longevity of prints; results may vary
depending on printed image, drying time, display/storage conditions and
environmental factors. See
www.consumer.usa.canon.com/ChromaLife100 for additional
details.
† IFI Patent Intelligence Press Release, January 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Miami Mobile Shoppers Top Coupon Users
Findings from a recent Cellfire study about mobile coupon redemption during
the six month period ending June 30 say that Miami-Fort Lauderdale tops the list
of markets with the highest per capita usage of mobile coupons, with Northern
California and Texas taking the majority of the remaining top spots.
68 percent of coupons redeemed were from mobile shoppers between the ages of
18-34, followed by shoppers aged 35-44 with 18 percent. Food and entertainment
topped the list of categories for which coupons were most frequently redeemed.
Brent Dusing, CEO of Cellfire, said "Young adults find great value in saving
on the activities that fuel their lifestyles by redeeming offers using their
mobile phone."
Top 10 Markets for Mobile Coupon
Usage per Capita
Rank
Market
1
Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL
2
Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, CA
3
Chico/Redding, CA
4
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
5
Waco/Temple-Bryan, TX
6
El Paso (Las Cruces), TX (NM)
7
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, CA
8
Jonesboro, AR
9
West Palm Beach/Fort Pierce, FL
10
Atlanta, GA
Source: Cellfire, August 2007
Analysis indicated the majority of discounts were redeemed on Saturday,
Tuesday and Sunday in that order. Somewhat surprising is that Tuesday is
typically one of the slowest days for retail, and yet one of the highest for
mobile coupon usage, says the report
Knott’s Berry Farm to Host First Ever World Championship Peanut Butter and
Jelly Sandwich Eating Contest
Knott’s Teams with Drum Corp International and Major League Eaters for a
Sticky Competition
Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park will be the site of the first ever world
championship peanut butter and jelly sandwich eating championship on Wednesday,
August 8 at 1:00 pm. The “PB&J Fest” was created to celebrate the start of the
2007 Drum Corps International Summer Music Games World Championship at the Rose
Bowl in Pasadena, California.
The competition, which is sanctioned by Major League Eating, will include 16
professional and amateur competitors. In preparation for the contest Knott’s
Berry Farm will make 300 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches using Peter Pan
Peanut Butter and Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry jelly.
As part of the days festivities one of the competing drum corps, The Pacific
Crest from Diamond Bar, will be performing throughout the park.
Drum Corp International is a recognized world leader in producing and
sanctioning competitive marching music and related stadium events for the
world’s most elite marching music ensembles. Over a typical season, top Drum
Corps International units will feed their combined 5,000 performers and staff
and make thousands of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches using 42,500 loaves of
bread, 20,000 lbs. of peanut butter, and 25,000 lbs. of jelly – all washed down
with 17,500 gallons of milk.
The competition will be held in Knott’s Calico Square and is included with
park admission. To purchase tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm, visit knotts.com.
Apple iPhones Will Be Sold for 99¢ Only to the First Nine Customers at the
25th Anniversary Celebration of the First 99¢ Only Stores® on Thursday, August
9th, 2007
99¢ Only Stores® invites all to join in celebrating our 25th anniversary! On
Thursday, August 9th, 2007, make sure to be one of the first nine in line. That
lucky group of shoppers will be able to purchase one innovative Apple 4GB iPhone
for just 99¢ only! The next 99 customers can purchase a scooter for 99¢ only at
the ribbon-cutting 25th anniversary celebration of our first store located in
Westchester, CA.
Join 99¢ Only Stores® founder and chairman, Dave Gold and his wife, Sherry
Gold, along with our very first customer and employees who have been with the
company since 1982.
Invitees include Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa,
and Tyra Banks.
The store is 10,000 square feet and located at 6854 La Tijera Boulevard - one
block west of La Cienega Boulevard.
The following 99 customers can buy a large glass vase - a $29.99 value - for
99¢ only! The next 999 customers can buy an official Year 2000 Millennium 36-pin
collector’s edition set for 99¢ only! These amazing deals don’t stop here.
The next day on Friday, August 10th, the first 99 customers can buy a Day
Runner 8.5” x 11” professional organizer - a $29.99 value - for 99¢ only! On
Saturday, August 11th, the first 99 customers can buy a Brilliant Beginnings
parent kit that includes toddler guidebooks plus two music CD’s - a $24.99 value
- for 99¢ only! On Sunday, August 12th, the first 99 customers can buy a
Friends® four-pack VHS movie set - a $19.99 value - for 99¢ only!
On Monday, August 13th, the first 99 customers can buy a twelve-piece cup and
saucer set - a $14.99 value - for 99¢ only! On Tuesday, August 14th, the first
99 customers can buy an insulated Igloo Lunch Mate lunch bag - a $9.99 value -
for 99¢ only! On Wednesday, August 15th, the first 99 customers can buy a pair
of Innovage automatic/cordless powered scissors - a $19.99 value - for 99¢ only!
99¢ Only Stores® is the nation's oldest existing one-price retailer. 99¢ Only
Stores® is celebrating 25 years of selling Everything, Everyday for 99¢
only in its 254 clean, attractively merchandised stores located in California,
Texas, Arizona and Nevada. The company’s New York Stock Exchange symbol is NDN.
JCPenney Announces Grand Opening of 14 New Stores
Store Expansion Represents Critical Element of Company’s Growth Strategy
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP) today opened 14 new stores nationwide,
which is part of its plan to open 250 new stores from 2007 through 2011 in order
to address the strong demand it sees for style and quality at smart prices. All
stores are fully stocked with JCPenney’s trend-right merchandise, including an
outstanding Back-to-School Assortment.
“We are delighted to be able to bring all that JCPenney has to offer,
including an inspiring assortment of brands and services, to customers around
the country as they prepare for the Back-to-School season and all of the
important moments in their lives,” said Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III, JCPenney
chairman and chief executive officer. “Our location strategy offers us the
flexibility to open stores where the opportunities best suit us, whether in a
mall or off-mall. This flexible approach gives us a distinct competitive
advantage and the greatest opportunity to attract new customers and address the
strong demand we see for JCPenney’s offering in both large and mid-size
markets.”
Stores celebrating grand openings today are in Alabaster, Ala.; Phoenix;
Montrose, Colo.; Nampa, Idaho; North Aurora and Montgomery, Ill.; Colerain,
Ohio; Midwest City and Moore, Okla.; Burlington, N.C.; Saratoga Springs, N.Y.;
Hampton, Va.; and San Antonio and Cypress, Texas. (Addresses, directions and
store hours for these and all JCPenney locations can be found at
jcp.com.)
Store Base Enhancement
JCPenney expects to open 250 new or relocated stores from 2007 through 2011.
In addition, the Company will remodel approximately 300 stores over the same
time frame (including 65 in 2007), supporting an easy, enjoyable shopping
experience that is consistent with new stores.
Eighty to 90 percent of all new JCPenney stores opening through 2011,
including 11 of the 14 opening today, will be off-mall stores, although the
Company continues to pursue mall-based opportunities in attractive locations.
The off-mall format, covering approximately 100,000 square feet on a single
level, features wider aisles, new lighting designs, convenient price-check
scanners and front linear checkout centers. The new store layout helps shoppers
easily locate major brands such as The Original Arizona Jean Company, Chris
Madden for JCPenney Home Collection, nicole by Nicole Miller, Worthington,
Stafford, Bisou-Bisou, Nike and more.
Store Highlights and Services
Seven of the 14 new stores will feature a Sephora inside. The approximately
1,500-square-foot Sephora inside JCPenney locations offer the best of Sephora,
including some of the most desired brands in makeup, skincare, fragrance, and
accessory products such as Bare Escentuals® and Philosophy®. They are staffed by
a team of beauty consultants thoroughly trained in the Science of Sephora.
JCPenney now has 39 stores with Sephora inside and expects to have 47 such
locations by the end of 2007.
For added convenience, the majority of new JCPenney stores offer an
assortment of services under one roof, including all-occasion portrait studios;
expert in-home custom decorating services; and full-service salons offering an
array of professional salon and spa services, as well as products from leading
beauty brands. In addition, customers are able to place orders or pick up
catalog and Internet purchases at each store’s catalog desk.
JCPenney Afterschool Fund Grants
The JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization created
by the J. C. Penney Company, Inc. to provide children in need with access to
life-enriching afterschool programs, is contributing grants to local YMCA and
Boys and Girls Clubs of America in each of the new markets where JCPenney is
opening. The grants will allow three local children in each market to
participate in afterschool programs during the school year that will keep them
safe and foster their academic, physical and social development. Each child
receiving a grant will also receive a JCPenney gift card for school apparel.
About JCPenney
JCPenney is one of America's leading retailers, operating 1,048 department
stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as one of the
largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet, jcp.com, and the
nation's largest general merchandise catalog business. Through these integrated
channels, JCPenney offers a wide array of national, private and exclusive brands
which reflect the Company's commitment to providing customers with style and
quality at a smart price. Traded as "JCP" on the New York Stock Exchange, the
Company posted revenue of $19.9 billion in 2006 and is executing its strategic
plan to be the growth leader in the retail industry. Key to this strategy is
JCPenney's "Every Day Matters" brand positioning, intended to generate deeper,
more emotionally driven relationships with customers by fully engaging the
Company's 155,000 Associates to offer encouragement, provide ideas and inspire
customers every time they shop with JCPenney.
Target to Open Forty-Two New Stores
Upscale discounter celebrates grand openings
on July 29
--On Sunday, July 29, Target will
celebrate the grand opening of forty-two Target stores. Target stores will
open in the following cities:
Naples North, FL
Fitchburg, WI
Philadelphia, PA
LaPlata, MD
Tustin, CA
Tempe, AZ
Mechanicsburg, PA
Boynton Beach, FL
Colorado Springs, CO
Cleveland West, OH
St. Paul, MN
Livonia, MI
Rowlett, TX
Stone Oak, TX
Richland Twp./Quakertown, PA
Port St. Lucie, FL
Ansonia, CT
Morgan Hill, CA
Washington, MO
South Brunswick, NJ
Apple Valley, CA
Richland Twp./Gibsonia, PA
Matteson, IL
Fairview Park, OH
Easton, MA
Titusville, FL
Sterling West, VA
Bossier City, LA
Prattville, AL
Alabaster, AL
Lexington, SC
Temple, TX
Pace, FL
Cicero, NY
Front Royal, VA
Brunswick, GA
Lincoln, NE
Westminster, CA
Glendale, CA
Bristol, VA
Moreno Valley, CA
Signal Hill, CA
In addition to offering the latest in trend-right merchandise, Target also
brings a 45-year tradition of community involvement. Target demonstrates its
commitment to its guests, team members and the communities it serves by
donating more than $3 million each week to area nonprofit organizations,
becoming involved in local volunteerism efforts through Target Volunteers,
and orchestrating other special projects that help meet area social service,
arts and education needs.
About Target
As of Sunday, July 29, Minneapolis-based Target will serve guests at 1,537
stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s
best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing
guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and
community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at
Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access
to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT)
gives back more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants
and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has
partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet
community needs.
Envivio Introduces World’s First Multichannel IP Video
Encoder Supporting AVS for IPTV Deployments in China
4Caster C4 with AVS Option to be Demonstrated at IBC2007
– Further increasing its commitment to support IPTV service providers in
China, Envivio Inc. today introduced the world’s first multichannel IP video
encoder supporting AVS (Audio Video Coding Standard). In 2006, AVS was approved
as the Chinese national standard. Available today, the telco-grade, quad-channel
4Caster™ C4 will be demonstrated encoding in AVS at IBC2007 in the Envivio stand
#4.260.
“Supporting the build-out of the digital television infrastructure market in
China remains a key focus for Envivio,” said Julien Signès, President and CEO of
Envivio Inc. “With the AVS enhancement to the 4Caster C4, we can now provide an
all-IP infrastructure solution offering the latest in video technology for
Chinese IPTV service providers.”
This is the second Envivio encoder to support AVS. The Envivio® 4Caster B3,
introduced in March of 2007 at the Beijing International Convention Center, was
the world’s first telco-grade encoder to support AVS for both broadcast and IPTV
deployments. Attendees to the formal product introduction included members from
the Chinese Ministry of Information and Industry, State Administration of Radio,
Film, and Television (SARFT) and the Audio Video Coding Standard (AVS) Workgroup
of China.
According to the Academy of Broadcasting Science and SARFT, China has the
largest radio and television audience in the world and is witnessing a booming
digital transformation. The TV ownership rate for families is at 98% and the
number of TV audiences currently reaches 1.167 billion. Service providers are
expected to support all-around digital broadcast services by 2010. Based on
current development trends, it’s estimated that the transition from analog to
digital broadcasting will create a market of several trillion US dollars.
The 4Caster C4 encoder is part of the Envivio Convergence Generation™ headend
which powers an all-IP infrastructure. C4 supports IPTV standard definition
video resolutions and CIF (Common Intermediate Format) Internet TV resolutions,
simultaneously. The C4 can also simultaneously encode in AVC / H.264 as well as
in the AVS, QuickTime and Windows Media formats. The design of the C4 allows
service providers to protect their investment by providing a solution that can
be easily configured to support a variety of formats within one unit. Operators
may begin offering services in one format, such as AVS, and evolve to add other
formats and services as needed.
Based on the latest quad-core Intel® processors, the flexible architecture
adopted by Envivio for the 4Caster C4 allows a service provider to receive
firmware upgrades from Envivio to quickly react to market demands for new
features. New features and functions can be added easily to each encoder without
the need to replace units deployed in the field.
Powering its vision of a converged world, Envivio continuously strives to
introduce advanced compression products for traditional and emerging media by
offering solutions to service providers which reduce their operational costs
while offering subscribers compelling video services anytime and anywhere.
About AVS
The Audio Video Coding Standard (AVS) Workgroup of China,
www.avs.org.cn/en, of which Envivio is a
member, applied the standard to high-resolution digital broadcasts, high-density
laser-digital storage media, wireless broadband multimedia communication, and
Internet broadband streaming media.
About Envivio Inc.
Envivio Inc. is the leading technology provider of MPEG-4-based IP video
convergence solutions for telcos, enterprises, and broadcasters. Supporting a
wide range of network protocols, resolutions, bit rates and devices, Envivio is
the only company to offer IP video convergence solutions from mobile to HD. In
2007, Envivio won the Frost and Sullivan’s Product Innovation award for the
4Caster M2 mobile TV encoder as well as the Entrepreneurial Company of the Year
award in the world digital media infrastructure market. Envivio solutions
deliver industry leading AVC/H.264 compressed video quality at the lowest bit
rate for mobile TV, Internet TV, broadcast contribution and interactive IPTV.
Service providers worldwide use Envivio solutions to reduce their operational
costs while offering subscribers compelling video services anytime and anywhere.
Visit
www.envivio.com for more information.
Envivio is a registered trademark of Envivio Inc. All trademarks used herein,
whether recognized or not, are the properties of their respective companies.
Phone Surveys Skewed by Cell-Only Homeowners
According to government statistics released last month, reports a recent
PEWresearch study, 12.8% of U.S. households cannot now be reached by the typical
telephone survey because they have only a cell phone and no landline telephone.
Twenty years ago the survey research profession worried mostly about the roughly
7% of U.S. households that could not be interviewed because they had no
telephone.
If people who can only be reached by cell phone were just like those with
landlines, their absence from surveys would not create a problem for polling.
But cell-only adults are very different.
The National Health Interview Survey found them to be much younger, more
likely to be African American or Hispanic, less likely to be married, and less
likely to be a homeowner than adults with landline telephones. These demographic
characteristics are correlated with a wide range of social and political
behaviors.
In early 2003, just 3.2% of households were cell-only. By the fall of 2004,
pollsters and journalists were openly worrying about the potential bias that
cell-only households might create for political surveys. The National Election
Pool's exit poll found that 7.1% of those who voted on Election Day had only a
cell phone, and these cell-only voters were somewhat more Democratic and liberal
than those who said they had a landline telephone.
Given the speed with which the number of cell-only households has increased,
there is growing concern within the polling business about how long the landline
telephone survey will remain a viable data collection tool, at least by itself.
At the annual meeting of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, a
government researcher told the audience that the size of the cell-only group
could approach 25% by the end of 2008 if the current rate of increase is
sustained.
The Pew Research Center conducted four studies that included samples of cell
phone numbers as well as landline numbers. The surveys covered a very wide range
of topics, including use of technology, media consumption, political and social
attitudes, and electoral engagement. Comparing the cell-only respondents with
those reached on landlines allowed an assessment of the degree to which our
traditional surveys are biased by the absence of the cell-only respondents.
Comparisons Between Landline
Samples and Cell-Only Samples
Number of survey questions compared
46
Average (mean) difference between
landline and cell-only samples across all 46 questions
7.8%
Range of differences (absolute
value)
0% - 29%
Maximum change in final survey
estimate when cell-only sample is blended in
2%
Average (mean) change in final
survey estimate when cell-only sample is blended in
0.7%
Source: PEW Research Center,
June 2007
The good news, says the report, is that none of the measures would change by
more than 2 percentage points when the cell-only respondents were blended into
the landline sample and weighted according to U.S. Census parameters on basic
demographic characteristics.
However, while the cell-only problem is currently not biasing polls based on
the entire population, it may very well be damaging estimates for certain
subgroups in which the use of only a cell phone is more common. According to the
most recent government estimate, more than 25% of those under age 30 use only a
cell phone. An analysis of young people ages 18-25 in one of the Pew polls found
that the exclusion of the cell-only respondents resulted in significantly lower
estimates of this age group's approval of alcohol consumption and marijuana use.
Perhaps, opines the report, excluding the cell-only respondents also yields
lower estimates of technological sophistication. For example, the overall
estimate for the proportion of 18-25 year olds using social networking sites is
57% when the cell-only sample is blended with the landline sample, while the
estimate based only on the landline sample is 50%.
Including a cell-only sample with a traditional landline-based poll is
feasible, but cell-only surveys are considerably more difficult and expensive to
conduct than landline surveys.
Federal law prohibits the use of automated dialing devices when calling
cell phones, so each number in the cell phone sample must be dialed
manually.
It also is common practice to provide respondents with a small monetary
incentive to offset the cost of the airtime used during the interview.
The screening necessary to reach cell-only respondents among all of those
reached on a cell phone greatly increases the effort needed to complete a
given number of interviews.
Pew estimates that interviewing a cell-only respondent costs
approximately four to five times as much as a landline respondent.
Pollsters recognize that some type of accommodation for the cell-only
population will have to be made eventually.
More Lookers Than Doers For User Generated Content
A recent article by eMarketer found that, even taking into account the power
and ease of use of user-generated content tools like digital cameras and
affordable audio/video production software, there are more content consumers
than creators.
The report shows that In the US, the number of users of user-generated
content will hit 101 million by 2011, up from the 2006 estimate of 69 million,
while the "generators" lag at 91 million.
U.S. Users of User-Generated
Content
Year
Users (millions)
2006
69.1
2007
75.2
2008
81.4
2009
88.0
2010
94.9
2011
101.4
Source: eMarketer, June 2007
Includes video, audio, photo sharing, blogs, wikis, podcasts and online
bulletin boards.
Globally, the estimated number of user-generated content users will hit 254
million by 2011, up from 128 million in 2006.
Worldwide Users of
User-Generated Content
Year
Users (millions)
2006
128.0
2007
147.5
2008
169.7
2009
195.7
2010
225.8
2011
253.6
Source: eMarketer, June 2007
Includes video, audio, photo sharing, blogs, wikis, podcasts and online
bulletin boards.
Not surprisingly, says the report, the number of people who create content is
expected to increase significantly as the user-generated content movement
gathers steam, rising to 95 million in the US by 2011, up from 70 million in
2007.
US User-Generated Content
Creators
Year
Content Creators (millions)
2006
63.7
2007
69.6
2008
75.6
2009
82.7
2010
88.7
2011
95.1
Source: eMarketer, June 2007
Includes video, audio, photo sharing, blogs, wikis, podcasts and online
bulletin boards.
And, globally, the number of user-generated content creators will reach 238
million in 2011, up from 137 million in 2007, according to eMarketer.
Worldwide User-Generated
Content Creators
Year
Content Creators (millions)
2006
117.9
2007
136.5
2008
157.5
2009
182.3
2010
211.1
2011
237.7
Source: eMarketer, June 2007
Includes video, audio, photo sharing, blogs, wikis, podcasts and online
bulletin boards.
More Lookers Than Doers For User Generated Content
A recent article by eMarketer found that, even taking into account the power
and ease of use of user-generated content tools like digital cameras and
affordable audio/video production software, there are more content consumers
than creators.
The report shows that In the US, the number of users of user-generated
content will hit 101 million by 2011, up from the 2006 estimate of 69 million,
while the "generators" lag at 91 million.
U.S. Users of User-Generated
Content
Year
Users (millions)
2006
69.1
2007
75.2
2008
81.4
2009
88.0
2010
94.9
2011
101.4
Source: eMarketer, June 2007
Includes video, audio, photo sharing, blogs, wikis, podcasts and online
bulletin boards.
Globally, the estimated number of user-generated content users will hit 254
million by 2011, up from 128 million in 2006.
Worldwide Users of
User-Generated Content
Year
Users (millions)
2006
128.0
2007
147.5
2008
169.7
2009
195.7
2010
225.8
2011
253.6
Source: eMarketer, June 2007
Includes video, audio, photo sharing, blogs, wikis, podcasts and online
bulletin boards.
Not surprisingly, says the report, the number of people who create content is
expected to increase significantly as the user-generated content movement
gathers steam, rising to 95 million in the US by 2011, up from 70 million in
2007.
US User-Generated Content
Creators
Year
Content Creators (millions)
2006
63.7
2007
69.6
2008
75.6
2009
82.7
2010
88.7
2011
95.1
Source: eMarketer, June 2007
Includes video, audio, photo sharing, blogs, wikis, podcasts and online
bulletin boards.
And, globally, the number of user-generated content creators will reach 238
million in 2011, up from 137 million in 2007, according to eMarketer.
Worldwide User-Generated
Content Creators
Year
Content Creators (millions)
2006
117.9
2007
136.5
2008
157.5
2009
182.3
2010
211.1
2011
237.7
Source: eMarketer, June 2007
Includes video, audio, photo sharing, blogs, wikis, podcasts and online
bulletin boards.
Four Out of Five Newspaper Website Readers Also Read the Printed Edition
A new study recently released by the Newspaper National Network LP, conducted
by Scarborough Research, found that 81% of newspaper website users also read the
printed newspaper in the last 7 days. Crossover users (those who used both
print and online newspapers in the past 7 days) have deep affinity with
both their printed newspaper and their newspaper website, and 83% say "I
love both my printed newspaper and visiting my newspapers website." Crossover
users visit their newspaper website to:
Access breaking news (96%),
Find articles seen previously (85%)
Find things to do/places to go (72%)
Jason E. Klein, President and CEO of Newspaper National Network, said "The
study shows that the core newspaper reader now accesses his or her local
newspaper across multiple formats, print and web, and is deeply engaged with
both... 83% of crossover users say their newspaper site will be among their
primary destinations 5 years from now."
The study found that newspaper website-only users are 55% female, while
crossover users are only 48% female. The main reasons newspaper website-only
users cited for using newspaper websites include:
Accessing local news (84%)
Entertainment information (74%)
Food or restaurant information (58%)
Newspaper website-only users are web-savvy group as 52% write or read blogs
and 46% have joined a web community.
The two segments differ in the time of day they are using newspapers:
Crossover users are more likely to read their printed newspaper in the
morning (63% read the printed newspaper before 10am) and access their
newspaper website in the afternoon or evening (46%).
Newspaper website only users are more likely to access the website in the
morning (49% of website-only users access the website before 10am vs. 34% of
crossover users).
Contrary to some perceptions, the web has not hurt overall newspaper
consumption, as 87% of crossover users report that their time spent with
newspaper media has increased or remained the same versus only 12% who say time
spent has decreased.
Other key Study findings:
The last time you read or looked into any printed copy of the (Newspaper
Name):
Read last 7 days: 81%
Read 8-30 days ago: 9%
Read longer than 30 days ago: 7%
Never Read: 3%
Combined Time Spent With Print And Web-Based Newspaper Media Since You Began
Using A Newspaper Website
52% remained the same
35% increased
12% decreased
1% Don't Know
MoneyTV is the nationally syndicated television program all about money and
what makes it happen, (http://www.moneytv.net),
featuring informative interviews by hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman
with company CEOs, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for
their futures.
Free information packages from the featured companies can be requested by
sending an email to
info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program include:
Cobalis Corporation (OTCBB:
CLSC) President Chas Radovich answered questions about recent preliminary
Phase III top line results and the effect the news has had on the company share
price.
Coates International, Ltd. (OTCBB:
COTE) Chairman & CEO George Coates talked about proposals the company has
made in China.
HealthSonix, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
HSXI) CEO Michael Ivezic announced a new product, ZingiberRX, a joint and
muscle pain relief cream and updated information about recent activity.
Manhattan West Mortgage CEO Roger Schlesinger debunked erroneous media
reports that mortgage rates were rising.
Universal Express, Inc. (OTCBB:
USXP) CEO Richard Altomare reacted to a motion filed by the SEC.
RBC Dain Rauscher Senior VP Irwin Shapiro spoke of the recent bond yield
rates.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information in the mail about featured
companies by calling the toll-free phone number on their TV screen. The weekly
television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast nationally in the USA to 70
million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET, Sundays at 8:30 AM PT, 8:30 AM
ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in Western Europe, Wednesdays at
5:00 PM.
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Sundays at 8:00 AM.
MoneyTV is also available in Thailand on the Broad TV Network.
A complete menu of TV listings is available at the MoneyTV web site,
http://www.moneytv.net.
MoneyTV television program, Copyright MMVII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV
does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not
soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering
a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed
herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently
with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3- to
4-month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $11,500.00
to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not
hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information
herein is not an endorsement by the hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman,
the producers, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV.
Consumers Spend More on Electronics if Studied First on Web
According to new research from Yahoo! and ChannelForce, consumers who search
online for televisions and digital cameras spend ten percent more when making
their purchase in-store than those who did not use a search engine. The survey
also found that a vast majority research products online prior to making
in-store purchases, and that online research is helping consumers make key
purchasing decisions before they enter a store.
Key findings include:
Seventy five percent who researched their purchases before visiting a
retail location used the Internet as their primary source of information.
The leading online resources were retail Web sites (73 percent),
manufacturer websites (68 percent) and search engines (49 percent).
Those who search spend an average of $31 more on digital cameras and $46
more on digital camera packages; and an average of $139 more on TVs and $190
on TV packages.
More than 80 percent of consumers who research before making a purchase
end up buying a brand from their original consideration set. The remaining
20 percent said the in-store sales person was highly influential in their
decision.
About 75 percent of people did not know the model they wanted when they
walked into a retail store.
David Rubinstein, senior director, Yahoo! Search Marketing, says "This study
confirms and quantifies that a more informed consumer is a more valuable
consumer... "
Kurt Higgins, president, ChannelForce, noted "... the brand experience begins
well before the shopper walks into the store, and this study confirms how
critical the in-store experience is to the consumer's decision..."
Organic chocolate sales are booming as more U.S. consumers seeking
untreated natural ingredients are choosing the sweet treat to satisfy their
cravings, and mainstream companies are entering what was once considered a
high-end market.
Chocolate is the largest growing snack segment in the U.S. organic market,
according to an industry study, with organic sales tallying a 49 percent
increase in sales in 2006.
Organic chocolate sales totaled a still small $70.8 million fraction of the
market in the year, according to a Euromonitor report cited by the Dagoba
Organic Chocolate company, compared with total U.S. chocolate sales in 2006 of
about $6 billion.
The average American consumes about 12 pounds of chocolate per year, said
Cathy Strange, global chocolate buyer for Whole Foods Market Inc., which sells
organic brands like Dagoba, Green & Black's, Lake Champlain, Chocolove and
Newman's Own.
Jay Jacobowitz, president of Retail Insights, a consulting service for
natural products retailers, said the trajectory for organic chocolate will
likely track that of the organic food market, which is on a double-digit growth
spurt.
Organic chocolate is made from cocoa grown without pesticides and herbicides.
Producers use certified organic sugar, essential oils, fruits, and nuts in
accordance with USDA organic regulations.
In the chocolate market, as in other food areas, education about issues like
sustainability and fair trade, as well as product quality, has evolved.
"We have a growing interest in where our food comes from, its pedigree,"
Jacobowitz said.
Big-name companies are responding to the trend. In May 2005, Cadbury
Schweppes Plc acquired the Green & Black's brand, and Hershey Co. bought Dagoba
in October 2006, both for undisclosed amounts.
Russell Stover, known for selling boxes of chocolate in drugstores, has even
entered the game, with its new organic Belgian milk and 60 percent solid dark
organic chocolate going on sale at Target Corp. stores in June.
INDULGENCE
But while organics are often associated with health, chocolate is seen as an
indulgence. Organic chocolate, like most other organic foods, generally costs at
least $1 more per 1.75-ounce bar (49.6 grams) than its nonorganic counterparts.
A nonorganic bar that size can cost less than $1.
Jacobowitz, however, believes chocolate is a product people are willing to
pay more for because they perceive it as "a treat, an affordable luxury."
Elaine Lipson, organic program director at New Hope Natural Media and author
of "The Organic Foods Sourcebook," agrees that price differential is not always
a barrier.
"You're already treating yourself, so you might as well treat yourself even
more," Lipson said.
According to Jacobowitz, baby boomers, now mostly in their 40s and 50s,
comprise the core group of organic chocolate consumers, followed by
25-to-34-year-olds.
"Natural food consumers are demanding it," said Katrina Markoff, founder of
Vosges Haut Chocolat, a Chicago-based boutique chocolatier. "Amongst certain
groups, this is a no-brainer."
Markoff's Chicago production facility was recently certified as organic. She
hopes for 80 percent of her product line to be organic by the end of 2008.
"Most people forget that chocolate comes from an agricultural product," said
Melissa Schweisguth, spokeswoman for Dagoba.
Lipson believes organic chocolate has become viable not only for small,
artisanal producers but for mass marketers as well.
With its new organic line, Russell Stover is moving into a higher-end market.
Its organic line costs about 30 percent more than its traditional offerings.
"We're seeing that the consumers most passionate about organic indulgence are
also those who are most interested in a premium product," said Mark Sesler, a
Russell Stover spokesman.
How's Russell Stover's organic line selling?
"It's meeting its need. It's not our best-selling product, but it's certainly
holding its own, justifying its position on the shelves," Sesler said.
Russell Stover hopes to show that organic choices can be found in places
besides Whole Foods.
"It's not just the natural stores that can sell a good amount of organic
chocolate," Sesler said.
NEWERTECH ANNOUNCES NEW MINISTACK V3
‘QUAD INTERFACE’ 1.0TB STORAGE SOLUTION
Features Integrated Powered Hub with Four Interfaces -
FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0, & eSATA - for Plug n’ Play Use with Any Computer
June 28, 2007, Woodstock, IL, -- Newer
Technology, Inc. (NewerTech)http://www.newertech.com, a leading
developer of PC, Macintosh® and iPod® performance upgrades and accessories,
today announced the newest addition to its award-winning storage solution line,
the miniStack® v3 ‘Quad Interface’ powered hub storage solution with up to1.0TB of storage capacity, for Plug n’ Play ease of use with any Mac or
PC with an available FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0, or eSATA port.
‘Quad Interface’ Benefits
With an ergonomically unique rear and side port configuration of one eSATA,
two FireWire 800, one FireWire 400, and three USB 2.0 ports, miniStack v3 lets
users connect multiple desktop digital accessories like scanners, printers,
memory card readers, digital cameras, and iPods simultaneously and clutter-free.
Its port flexibility and compact design also makes miniStack v3 an ideal
portable external hard drive storage solution to move among multiple systems for
future system compatibility.
Fast & Vast For The Modern Digital Lifestyle
miniStack v3 is ideal for data intensive uses like audio/video editing,
digital photography, MP3 libraries and high-speed back up because it utilizes
the latest generation Oxford 924 bridge chipset, the fastest drive mechanisms
available, and an eSATA port to deliver the fastest single drive data transfer
rates possible…up to 150 Megabytes per second. And with vast storage
capacities up to 1.0TB,users can store up to 1 million JPEG photos or
350,000 MP3 songs on miniStack v3depending upon file
settings/preferences.
Award-Winning Origins
A passive radiator heat sink, intelligent thermal monitoring, Whisper Quiet
Operation engineering, and stackable design are just a few of the features
miniStack v3 shares with the NewerTech miniStack v2, winner of Macworld
Magazine “Top Product,” MacAddict Magazine “Editor’s Choice,” and
123macmini.com
“Accessory of the Year” honors.
Maximum Features In A Mini Footprint
• Up to 1.0TB (1,000GB) of bootable disk capacity
• Up to 32MB of data cache
• Oxford OXUF924DSb bridge chipset with Native Command Queuing (NCQ) for
optimum drive performance.
• 6.5" x 6.5" x 1.5" size
• One eSATA port (rear)
• Two FireWire 800 (1394b) 9 pin ports (rear)
• One FireWire 400 (1394a) 6 pin port (side)
• Three USB 2.0/1.1 ‘A’ ports (2 rear, 1 side)
• External AutoSwitching 100~240v 50/60Hz 3 amp UL listed power adapter
• Auto-Power on/off automatically with computer
• Intelligent thermal monitoring for minimal fan power consumption and
Whisper Quiet operation
• 36" FireWire 800 connecting cable, 12" FireWire 800-400 interconnecting
cable and 36" USB 2.0/1.1 connecting cable
• Kensington Security Slot
Seven Models Up To 1.0TB Starting At $169.99
miniStack v3 is available in seven pre-configured 7200RPM solutions, from
160GB to 1.0TB (1,000GB), priced starting at $169.99 MSRP from NewerTech’s
exclusive distributor, Other World Computing, at
www.macsales.com,
as well as through the retail channel. The 0GB “Add Your Own Drive” kit is also
available for $119.99 MSRP. miniStack v3 is compatible with Apple OS 8.6 to
9.2.2, OS X 10.1.x and later (10.2 or later required for FW800 and USB 2.0), and
Windows ME and later operating systems. It includes a $200 retail value utility
software bundle comprised of ProSoft Engineering® Data Backup 3, NovaStor
NovaBACKUP®, and Intech® SpeedTools Utilities™. For more information, see
www.newertech.com/products/ministackv3.php
.
About Newer Technology, Inc.
Since 1984, Newer Technology, Inc. (NewerTech) has been recognized as the
leading developer of performance upgrades for PowerBooks®, desktop Macintosh
computers, Intel Macs, iMacs®, iPods and MacOS compatibles. NewerTech is
headquartered in Woodstock, Illinois. Dealer inquiries are welcome by calling
815-308-7001 or by emailing
sales@newertech.com.
Kino Flo and Element
Labs announce strategic partnership
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA-June 22,
2007-Kino Flo®,
the premier manufacturer of lighting for film and television, today
announced a strategic partnership with Element Labs®,
a global leader in LED technology. The partnership is designed to bring
intelligent LED lighting into the professional lighting industry.
Element Labs' Kelvin Technology Series
LED-based lighting system will be available for rent through Kino Flo in
September 2007.
"By combining Element Labs' advancement
in LED technology with Kino Flo's industry experience we look forward to
developing tools that will further advance the art of filmmaking," says
Kino Flo president and founder, Frieder Hochheim.
The Kelvin Technology Series represents
a major advancement in the application of LEDs to create intelligent,
controllable lighting. It provides variable color temperature and
maintains a color rendering index (CRI) of 95 between 3200 K and 6500 K.
It also offers Digital Gelling™, the ability to dial in a desired
theatrical gel, and the option to save, recall, and clone a series of
lighting parameters. Initial product offerings from Element Labs include
the
Kelvin TILE™, the compact
Kelvin BRICK™, and the Kelvin
PAINTBOX™ remote control unit.
"Element Labs is honored to be
partnering with the leader in film and television lighting," says Nils
Thorjussen, CEO and president of Element Labs. "Cinematographers and
gaffers look to Kino Flo for state-of-the-art technology and Element
Labs is proud to contribute its cutting-edge LED innovation to their
product offering."
ABOUT KINO FLO
Kino Flo, based in Burbank, California, designs and manufactures
professional fluorescent lighting systems for motion picture and
television production. Kino Flo has earned a Technical Achievement Award
from the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as other
awards. In 2007, Kino Flo celebrates its 20th anniversary as an
innovator of specialty lighting for film, video and photo capture. For
more information, visit
www.kinoflo.com.
ABOUT ELEMENT LABS
Element Labs is an award-winning, global leader in innovative LED
technology for entertainment, architectural, and signage applications.
Based in Austin, Texas with offices in London and Germany, Element Labs'
cutting-edge products embody the evolutionary convergence of LED and
video, opening eyes to a new world of visual effects. See more at
www.elementlabs.com.
Nuance to Acquire Tegic Communications
Subsidiary of Time Warner and AOL to Expand
Nuance's Mobile Offerings,
Enable New Mobile User Interface Converging Voice, Predictive Text and Touch
Input
BURLINGTON, Mass., and NEW
YORK, June 21, 2007 –
Nuance
Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) and Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) today
announced that Nuance and Time Warner's AOL LLC subsidiary have signed a
definitive agreement whereby Nuance will acquire Tegic Communications Inc., a
wholly owned subsidiary of AOL LLC and a developer of embedded software for
mobile devices.
The transaction expands
Nuance's presence in the mobile industry and allows it to further accelerate
the delivery of solutions that unlock the power of mobile devices and
networks. Tegic brings industry-leading T9 predictive text input software,
which has shipped on more than 2.5 billion devices, and next-generation
integrated text and touch input solutions to Nuance's portfolio of
voice-enabled applications for device control, mobile search, email and text
messaging. In addition, the companies share a common focus and strategy for
serving the needs of their shared customers and partners within the mobile
industry, including Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG and Motorola.
Combining Tegic's T9
predictive text and multimodal input solutions with Nuance's advanced speech
technologies for mobile devices, the acquisition sets the stage for a new
mobile user interface that combines voice, text and touch to dramatically
improve the user experience for consumers and mobile professionals. Building
on a partnership between Nuance and Tegic established in 2005, Nuance intends
to deliver an all-in-one interface that integrates Nuance and Tegic solutions
to support predictive text, speech and touch input. This multimodal interface
will provide easier access for users of mobile devices and will be available
to all manufacturers across their product lines.
“The enhanced capabilities
of mobile devices and networks have fueled significant innovation in features
and services, but their potential has been tempered by the traditional
interface on most mobile devices,” said Paul Ricci, chairman and CEO, at
Nuance. “Tegic shares our vision of delivering an integrated, superior and
flexible user experience for today's wireless subscribers. Together, we are
poised to redefine the way people interact with their mobile devices,
delivering a more convenient, simple way for consumers to control features and
access information on their phones, and search and navigate the mobile Web.”
In its fiscal year 2008,
Nuance expects Tegic to contribute between $65 million and $68 million in non-GAAP
revenue; $45 million and $48 million in GAAP revenue; a GAAP loss between
$0.12 and $0.13 per share; and non-GAAP earnings between $0.04 and $0.05 per
diluted share. The combination is expected to generate approximately $8
million to $10 million in cost synergies in fiscal year 2008. Under the terms
of the agreement, total consideration is approximately $265 million in cash.
The transaction is expected to close in Nuance's fiscal fourth quarter and is
subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Time Warner Inc. Chairman
and CEO Dick Parsons said: “AOL's sale of Tegic marks yet another step in our
overall strategy of focusing on our core assets to drive profitable growth for
our shareholders. As AOL continues to make impressive progress, it's more
important than ever that AOL's resources are fully aligned behind growing its
worldwide advertising businesses.”
AOL Chairman and CEO Randy
Falco said: “We believe that Nuance is a
good match for Tegic, its employees and its business partners, and we value
our relationships with both companies. This sale also lets us focus our
mobile business on building strong consumer-based,
ad-supported mobile experiences.”
With the addition of Tegic,
Nuance will significantly expand its presence on mobile devices. Through
extensive contractual relationships with the world's most prolific handset
vendors, Tegic's flagship T9 predictive text product is embedded on more
phones than any other single mobile software. Tegic's established
distribution channels and mobile device footprint offer continued growth for
its products and will help Nuance significantly expand its presence on mobile
devices, most notably by enhancing options for broadly distributing its speech
solutions. By combining speech, handwriting and predictive text into a single,
unified interface platform, joint customers, including mobile device vendors,
application developers and wireless carriers, can benefit from reduced cost,
risk and time to market as they expand efforts to create
market-differentiating multimodal features and applications.
The addition of Tegic brings
resources and capabilities that are expected to expand Nuance's market
presence and leadership in the rapidly expanding mobile industry:
·Focus on
Mobile Opportunities – The companies share core competencies in mobile
infrastructure, work closely with a common OEM customer base and maintain
similar relationships with leading carriers. Since both companies are focused
on the mobile user experience, they have compatible expertise and experience
in the areas of human factors and linguistics. Supporting more than 60
languages and 15 different character scripts, Tegic shares Nuance's commitment
to broad language coverage based on custom dictionaries and grammars.
·Strong
Industry Relationships – Shipped
on more than 2.5 billion mobile devices worldwide, including approximately
two-thirds of mobile devices shipped last year, Tegic maintains longstanding
relationships with the largest companies in the industry, including Nokia,
Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG and Motorola. This established customer base can be
leveraged to generate new opportunities for Nuance's existing mobile product
portfolio. In addition, Tegic's established distribution channel to all major
Chinese handset manufacturers offers tremendous growth opportunities for the
product lines of each organization in this fertile market.
·Technological
Leadership – Tegic embedded software solutions have set the bar for text input
on mobile devices, making mobile experiences faster, easier and more
compelling. In addition to its core T9 product, it has expanded its portfolio
to support multimodal interfaces, broad languages and additional databases.
More than 50 software engineers continue to advance Tegic's solutions and
bring to Nuance more than 70 patents and 140 patents pending worldwide. This
strong patent portfolio will serve as a competitive advantage as mobile
devices become increasingly complex and multimodal user interface software
evolves to directly address mobile search and content accessibility inherent
with greater data consumption on mobile devices.
·Talented,
Experienced Team – Nuance benefits from the addition of Tegic's strong
management, customer support, and engineering teams, with their proven
competencies in creating, selling and supporting mobile embedded software.
Tegic's expertise in the science of predictive linguistics and skills in the
architectures of wireless devices will complement Nuance's expanding teams
serving the mobile industry.
On this transaction, UBS
Investment Bank and Citigroup are acting as financial advisors to Nuance and
Time Warner, respectively.
Investor
Conference Call Information
In conjunction with this
announcement Nuance will broadcast a conference call over the Internet today
at 5:00 p.m. ET. Those who wish to listen to the live broadcast should visit
the Investor Relations section of the Nuance Web site (www.nuance.com)
at least 15 minutes prior to the event and follow the instructions provided to
ensure that the necessary audio applications are downloaded and installed. The
conference call can be heard live by dialing (800) 230-1085 or (612) 332-0345
five minutes prior to the call and reference conference code 877994. A replay
of the call will be available within 24 hours of the announcement. To access
the replay, dial (800) 475-6701 or (320) 365-3844 and refer to access code
877994.
About Tegic Communications
Inc.
Tegic is a leading provider
of enabling software for mobile data services, including market-leading T9
software. A wholly owned subsidiary of AOL LLC, Tegic was founded in 1995 to
develop and market communication technologies for the telecommunications and
computing industries. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington
(U.S.A.) and has offices in London, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Beijing,
New Delhi, Singapore and São Paulo. Tegic is on the Web at
http://www.tegic.com.
About Nuance Communications,
Inc.
Nuance
(NASDAQ: NUAN) is a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions for
businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and
services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way
people interact with information and how they create, share and use documents.
Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance's
proven applications. For more information, please visit
www.nuance.com.
###
Nuance and the Nuance logo
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its
affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks
referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
SAFE HARBOR FOR
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this document
regarding Nuance's proposed acquisition of Tegic, the product portfolio of the
combined company and the mobile industry for those products, the companies'
strategies for serving the needs of their customers, the anticipated
development and success of new interfaces for mobile devices, enhanced
capabilities of mobile devices and networks and increasing demand for these
services, future financial and operating results, expectations that the
acquisition will be accretive to Nuance's results, benefits and synergies of
the transaction, the expected timetable for completing the transaction, future
opportunities for the combined company, and any other statements about Nuance
management's future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects
constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not
statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words
"believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," “estimates” and similar
expressions) should also be considered to be forward looking statements.
There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking
statements, including: the ability to consummate the transaction; the ability
of Nuance to successfully integrate Tegic's operations and employees; the
ability to realize anticipated synergies and cost savings; the failure to
retain customers; and the other factors described in Nuance's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2007. Nuance disclaims any
intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result
of developments occurring after the date of this document.
NUANCE'S DISCUSSION OF NON-GAAP
FINANCIAL MEASURES
Nuance management utilizes a
number of different financial measures, both GAAP and non-GAAP, in analyzing
and assessing the overall performance of Nuance's business, for making
operating decisions and for forecasting and planning for future periods.
Nuance management considers the use of non-GAAP revenue helpful in
understanding the performance of its business, as it excludes the purchase
accounting impact on acquired deferred revenue. Nuance management also
considers the use of non-GAAP earnings per share helpful in assessing the
organic performance of the continuing operation of Nuance's business from a
cash perspective. By organic performance Nuance means performance as if the
company had not incurred certain costs and expenses associated with
acquisitions. By continuing operations Nuance mean the ongoing results of its
business excluding certain unplanned costs. While Nuance management uses these
non-GAAP financial measures as a tool to enhance their understanding of
certain aspects of Nuance's financial performance, Nuance management does not
consider these measures to be a substitute for, or superior to, the
information provided by GAAP revenue and earnings per share. When evaluating
the prospects of a transaction, one factor Nuance management considers is the
impact on, accretion or dilution of, our GAAP and non-GAAP revenue and
earnings per share. Consistent with this approach, Nuance believes that
disclosing non-GAAP revenue and accretion / dilution of non-GAAP earnings per
share to the readers of its financial statements provides such readers with
useful supplemental data that, while not a substitute for revenue determined
in accordance with GAAP and accretion / dilution of GAAP earnings per share,
allows for greater transparency in the review of our financial and operational
performance. In assessing the impact of our potential acquisition of Tegic,
Nuance's management has either included or excluded items in three general
categories, each of which are described below.
Acquisition Related Revenues
and Expenses.
Nuance included revenue related to its acquisition of Tegic that Nuance would
otherwise recognize but for the purchase accounting treatment of this
transaction to allow for more accurate comparisons to the financial results of
Nuance's historical operations, forward looking guidance and the financial
results of its peer companies. Nuance also excluded certain expense items
resulting from the acquisition to allow more accurate comparisons of Nuance's
financial results to its historical operations, forward looking guidance and
the financial results of our peer companies. These items include the
following: (i) acquisition-related transition and integration costs; and (ii)
amortization of intangible assets associated with the acquisition. In recent
years, Nuance has completed a number of acquisitions, which result in
non-continuing operating expenses which would not otherwise have been
incurred. For example, Nuance has incurred transition and integration costs
such as retention bonuses for employees of acquired companies. In addition,
actions taken by an acquired company, prior to an acquisition, could result in
expenses being incurred by us, such as expenses incurred as a result of the
restatement of the financial results of SpeechWorks International, Inc. Nuance
management believes that providing non-GAAP information for certain revenue
and expenses related to material acquisitions allows the users of Nuance's
financial statements to review both the GAAP revenue and expenses in the
period, as well as the non-GAAP revenue and expenses, thus providing for
enhanced understanding of Nuance's historic and future financial results and
facilitating comparisons to less acquisitive peer companies. Additionally, had
Nuance internally developed the products acquired, the amortization of
intangible assets would have been expensed historically, and Nuance believes
the assessment of its operations excluding these costs is relevant to the
assessment of internal operations and comparisons to industry performance.
Non-Cash Expenses.
Nuance provides non-GAAP information relative to the following non-cash
expenses: (i) stock-based compensation; (ii) certain accrued interest; and
(iii) certain accrued income taxes. Because of varying available valuation
methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of award types, Nuance
management believes that the exclusion of stock-based compensation allows for
more accurate comparisons of its operating results to the operating results of
its peer companies. Further, Nuance management believes that excluding
stock-based compensation expense allows for a more accurate comparison of
Nuance's financial results to previous periods during which Nuance's equity
compensation programs relied more heavily on equity-based awards that were not
required to be reflected on its income statement. Nuance believes that
excluding non-cash interest expense and non-cash income taxes provides its
senior management as well as other users of its financial statements, with a
valuable perspective on the cash based performance and health of the business,
including Nuance's current near-term projected liquidity.
Other Expenses.
Nuance excludes certain other expenses that are the result of other, unplanned
events to measure Nuance's operating performance as well as Nuance's current
and future liquidity both with and without these expenses. Included in these
expenses are items such as non-acquisition-related restructuring charges.
These events are unplanned and arose outside of the ordinary course of
Nuance's continuing operations. Nuance assesses its operating performance with
these amounts included, but also excluding these amounts; the amounts relate
to costs which are unplanned, and therefore by providing this information
Nuance believes its management and the users of its financial statements are
better able to understand the financial results of what Nuance considers to be
its organic continuing operations.
Nuance believes that
providing the non-GAAP information to investors, in addition to the GAAP
presentation, allows investors to view Nuance's financial results in the way
management views the operating results. Nuance further believes that providing
this information allows investors to not only better understand Nuance's
financial performance but more importantly, to evaluate the efficacy of the
methodology and information used by management to evaluate and measure such
performance.
The non-GAAP financial
measures described above, and used in this press release, should not be
considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, a measure of financial
performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, investors are cautioned
that there are material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP
financial measures as an analytical tool. In particular, many of the
adjustments to Nuance's GAAP financial measures reflect the inclusion or
exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in Nuance's
financial results for the foreseeable future. In addition, other companies,
including other companies in Nuance's industry, may calculate non-GAAP net
income (loss) differently than Nuance does, limiting it's usefulness as a
comparative tool. Nuance management compensates for these limitations by
providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts included and
excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures. In addition, as noted above,
Nuance's management evaluates the non-GAAP financial measures together with
the most directly comparable GAAP financial information.
Nuance Communications, Inc.
Reconciliation of Supplemental Financial Information
(in thousands, except per share amounts) Unaudited
Estimated Per Share Impact of Tegic Communications, Inc
Twelve Months Ended
September 30, 2008
Low
High
Total GAAP revenue
$ 45,000
$ 48,000
Purchase accounting adjustment - revenue
$ 20,000
$ 20,000
Total Non-GAAP revenue
$ 65,000
$ 68,000
Accretion of GAAP net income (loss), per share
(0.13)
(0.12)
Impact of revenue lost in purchase accounting, per share
0.10
0.10
Amortization of other intangible assets, per share
0.05
0.05
Stock based compensation, per share
0.01
0.01
Non-cash interest expense, per share
0.01
0.01
Accretion of non-GAAP net income (loss), per share
0.04
0.05
Shares used in computing Accretion/Dilution on non-GAAP net
income (loss), per share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Fully Diluted
208,500
208,500
Cold Stone Creamery Adds New Licensing Partnership to Business Mix
-- Global Icons, the premier licensing and brand merchandising agency
specializing in the development and extension of corporate brands and
trademarks, has been named the exclusive licensing agent for Cold Stone
Creamery, well-known for making people happy by serving the highest quality,
most creative ice cream experience.
As the fastest-growing concept in the super-premium ice cream category, Cold
Stone Creamery has become recognized for changing the way people think about ice
cream. Opening the first store in 1988, Cold Stone Creamery continues to lead
the industry and was ranked No. 14 in the January 2007 "Franchise 500" issue of
Entrepreneur magazine.
"We know ice cream aficionados are passionate about our brand, and this
partnership will enable the ice cream lovers of the world the opportunity to
enjoy Cold Stone Creamery in a variety of ways throughout their daily lives,"
stated Kevin Myers, vice president of sales & marketing of Cold Stone Creamery.
Global Icons will develop and manage the Cold Stone Creamery licensing
program by mixing the core brand ingredients of high quality, innovation and
personalization to create the Cold Stone Creamery signature experience through
licensed merchandise.
The Cold Stone Creamery-branded merchandise line will capture the "love it"
brand essence and bring the unique brand experience into consumers' homes
through multiple product categories including housewares, tabletop & kitchen
electrics, health & beauty products, gift items, kid's role-play activities &
toys and food & beverage.
"Cold Stone Creamery conjures up wonderful thoughts of delicious flavors,
endless varieties, unbelievable quality and happy memories made just for the
customer, the perfect mix of brand attributes that will be layered into the Cold
Stone Creamery-branded merchandise," said Jeff Lotman, CEO of Global Icons. "We
are thrilled to bring the Cold Stone Creamery experience to a whole new level
with branded products. We share Cold Stone Creamery's vision and enthusiasm to
bring the ultimate ice cream experience into all homes."
Global Icons is the premier licensing and brand merchandising agency
specializing in the development and extension of corporate brands and
trademarks. On behalf of its ever-expanding roster of clients, the company's
goal is to increase brand awareness and revenue through the establishment of new
products, distribution channels and revenue streams. Select clients include
Airstream, Breathe Right, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Chevron, Chuck E Cheese's, Cold
Stone Creamery, Cutex, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Gulf, Hershey's, Hollywood,
Humvee, Igloo, Tonino Lamborghini, Make-A-Wish, Miso Pretty, Spic and Span,
Texaco, and UPS, among others.
Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery delivers the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience® through a
community of franchisees who are passionate about ice cream. The secret recipe
for smooth and creamy ice cream is handcrafted fresh daily in each store, and
then customized by combining a variety of mix-ins on a frozen granite stone.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Cold Stone Creamery is part of the Kahala•Cold
Stone holding company, a leading brand-building franchisor with a portfolio of
13 diversified restaurant and service brands. Cold Stone Creamery alone operates
nearly 1,400 locations in the US, Puerto Rico, Guam, Japan, Korea, China and
Taiwan. For more information about Cold Stone Creamery, visit the company's Web
site at
www.coldstonecreamery.com.
C-nario Establishes New Platform For Highest Impact Digital Signage Campaigns
Businesses can now launch no-limit, targeted digital signage initiatives at
an eight-fold space and cost savings without compromising on quality
Visit C-nario at InfoComm 2007, Booth #14011
(June 11, 2007, Israel ) – C-nario, a global leader in digital signage
solutions, will showcase its new digital signage network tools at Digital
Signage Pavilion at the upcoming InfoComm 2007, introducing the powerful C-nario
Signage Server, the versatile Messenger™ 3.1 software suite and
revenue-generating Advertiser™ 4 platform.
“Digital Signage must now evolve from an industry that has relied on
traditional broadcast and information technologies into one that requires its
own set of advanced, highly-creative content creation capabilities, smart
network management tools and robust playback engines to deliver highest impact
presentations,” said Rami Bahar, VP, Marketing and Sales at C-nario. “Our new
solutions enable deployment at an 8-fold efficiency, increase the flexibility in
displaying creative digital environments and offer revenue-generating targeted
platforms at affordable costs, without compromising content quality.”
The new C-nario Signage Server powers up to eight different High Definition
content layouts from a single PC, offering affordability for the best-of-breed
video quality. C-nario’s signage solutions suite has evolved into the C-nario
Messenger™ 3.1, offering complete flexibility in multi-screen digital signage
campaigns at any size, number and type of display arrangement. Finally, the C-nario
Advertiser™ 4 will offer advertisers the highest standard of revenue-generating
signage platforms, via its targeted, easy-to-manage content scheduler and other
high-end tools.
C-nario was recently selected by advertising giant JCDecaux, as its digital
signage partner in Microsoft’s largest digital branding campaign at JFK
International Airport in New York . To date, C-nario, a digital signage leader,
has gained worldwide recognition having deployed in 26 countries with top-tier
partners and customers, including Clear Channel, BBC, CNN, Philips, Bank
Hapoalim and others.
C-nario will be presenting at InfoComm 2007, Booth #14011, at the Digital
Signage Pavilion.
About C-nario
C-nario is a world-class provider of end-to-end software-based digital
dynamic messaging and signage solutions across all industries, including
advertising, corporate, public, media and entertainment sectors. C-nario’s
cutting edge technology enables unparalleled playback and management
capabilities of complex better-than-broadcast quality video displays in an
extensive range of high traffic environments. To date, the company has deployed
in 26 countries through its global partners and international value-added
resellers. C-nario is part of the Carmel Ventures portfolio and a member of the
Disk-In Group, established in 1990.The company has offices in the United States
, Europe and Israel .
AdaptiveBlue, the smart browsing company, was selected as a Supernova 2007
Connected Innovator.
Connected Innovators are showcased at the Supernova 2007 Conference and
recognized for creating exciting emerging technologies.
The Supernova Connected Innovators program, co-hosted by TechCrunch,
recognizes compelling emerging technologies likely to make an impact on the
connected future. From a record number of applicants this year, Supernova
organizer Kevin Werbach and TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington selected only
twelve companies to highlight.
AdaptiveBlue recently announced its new version of the popular BlueOrganizer
extension for Firefox. BlueOrganizer Denim features the breakthrough BlueMenu
and SmartLinks technologies that help users experience a smarter, more
contextual and more personalized Web.
BlueOrganizer automatically recognizes things like books, wines, travel
destinations and offers contextual shortcuts between favorite sites.
BlueOrganizer can instantly send books to an Amazon Wishlist, find wines with
similar taste on Wine.com, or lookup maps on Google -- all from one simple,
personalized menu. This version eliminates the need for right-clicking and
introduces a time-saving BlueMenu option, which is accessible directly from the
Firefox toolbar.
BlueOrganizer Denim also debuts SmartLinks, which offer BlueOrganizer users
the ability to publish their favorites as structured content on their web sites,
blogs and social networks. In addition to the regular link, each SmartLink
contains a set of contextual shortcuts to related information. And since
SmartLinks work in any browser with or without the BlueOrganizer, SmartLink
publishers bring the power of context, semantics and relevance to anyone who
visits their site.
"The 12 innovators were selected from an impressive number of exciting
ventures; it's an promising reflection of the current state of innovation in our
industry," stated Kevin Werbach, Supernova founder and assistant professor at
Wharton. "Bringing this group together with industry influencers will only help
drive the development and impact of technology's next big thing. This is what
Supernova is all about."
The Connected Innovators showcase will take place on June 21 at the Westin
St. Francis during the conference general sessions.
Supernova unites business, government, and technology thought leaders to
understand how decentralization and pervasive connectivity are changing our
world. More information on Supernova and the full list of Supernova 2007
Connected Innovators can be found at www.supernova2007.com.
AdaptiveBlue, www.adaptiveblue.com, is the smart browsing company founded by
Alex Iskold in early 2006. The vision of AdaptiveBlue is to invent new browser
technologies that leverage semantics and attention to power better online
experience. Their keystone product, BlueOrganizer, has over 650,000 downloads
and is a recommended Firefox add-on. AdaptiveBlue has recently raised series A
from Union Square Ventures
Extreme Motorsports of California, Inc. (ETMO) SqueezeTrigger Price is
$0.0037. Approximately 279.9 Million Shares Shorted Since September 2006
According to BUYINS.NET Research Report
- Extreme Motorsports of California, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
ETMO) announced today that BUYINS.NET,
www.buyins.net,
is initiating coverage of Extreme Motorsports of California after releasing the
latest short sale data to June 2007. From September 2006 to June 2007
approximately 3.6 billion total aggregate shares of ETMO have traded for a total
dollar value of nearly $13.3 million. The total aggregate number of shares
shorted in this time period is approximately 279.9 million shares. The ETMO
SqueezeTrigger price of $0.0037 is the volume weighted average short price of
all short selling in ETMO. The first of several short squeezes is expected to
begin when shares of ETMO close above $.0008, where approximately 62 million
shares have been shorted. To access SqueezeTrigger Prices ahead of potential
short squeezes beginning, visit http://www.buyins.net.
Month Total Vol. Short Vol. Avg. Price Short $ Value
* short volume is approximated using a proprietary algorithm.
** average short price is calculated using a volume weighted average
short price.
*** short volume is the total short trade volume and does not account
for covers.
About Extreme Motorsports of California, Inc.
Extreme Motorsports of California, Inc. operating under the trade name "Xtreme
Motorsports," is a manufacturer of custom and production-line sandrails, desert
and dual sport racecars. Founded in 1983, Extreme's sandcars have been sold to
customers in England, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, South America and the
US. For more information, visit the corporate web site
www.xmssandcars.com.
About BUYINS.NET
www.buyins.net is a service designed to help bonafide
shareholders of publicly traded US companies fight naked short selling. Naked
short selling is the illegal act of short selling a stock when no affirmative
determination has been made to locate shares of the stock to hypothecate in
connection with the short sale. Buyins.net has built a proprietary database that
uses Threshold list feeds from NASDAQ, AMEX and NYSE to generate detailed and
useful information to combat the naked short selling problem. For the first
time, actual trade by trade data is available to the public that shows the
attempted size, actual size, price and average value of short sales in stocks
that have been shorted and naked shorted. This information is valuable in
determining the precise point at which short sellers go out-of-the-money and
start losing on their short and naked short trades.
BUYINS.NET has built a massive database that collects, analyzes and publishes
a proprietary SqueezeTrigger for each stock that has been shorted. The
SqueezeTrigger database of nearly 1,400,000,000 short sale transactions goes
back to January 1, 2005 and calculates the exact price at which the Total Short
Interest is short in each stock. This data was never before available prior to
January 1, 2005 because the Self Regulatory Organizations (primary exchanges)
guarded it aggressively. After the SEC passed Regulation SHO, exchanges were
forced to allow data processors like BUYINS.NET to access the data.
The SqueezeTrigger database collects individual short trade data on over
7,000 NYSE, AMEX and NASDAQ stocks and general short trade data on nearly 8,000
OTCBB and PINKSHEET stocks. Each month the database grows by approximately
50,000,000 short sale transactions and provides investors with the knowledge
necessary to time when to buy and sell stocks with outstanding short positions.
By tracking the size and price of each month's short transactions, BUYINS.NET
provides institutions, traders, analysts, journalists and individual investors
the exact price point where short sellers start losing money and a short squeeze
can begin.
All material herein was prepared by BUYINS.NET, based upon information
believed to be reliable. The information contained herein is not guaranteed by
BUYINS.NET to be accurate, and should not be considered to be all-inclusive. The
companies that are discussed in this opinion have not approved the statements
made in this opinion. Extreme Motorsports of California, Inc. has paid $995 per
report for six months to purchase data for information provided in this and
subsequent reports. The data service can be cancelled at any time. This opinion
contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. This
material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an
offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. BUYINS.NET is not a
licensed broker, broker dealer, market maker, investment banker, investment
advisor, analyst or underwriter. Please consult a broker before purchasing or
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BUYINS.NET and SqueezeTrigger are intended for use by stock market
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Please seek investment and/or trading advice, council, information or
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Certain statements in this release, and other written or oral statements made
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takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties
that are not paid for by the Company.
TriCaster to Stream Largest Multimedia Broadcast Press Event
in Disneyland's History
Breakthrough Production Device to Play Crucial Role in
Promotion for
Popular Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Attraction
Anaheim, Calif. (June 11, 2007) NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of
industry-leading video and 3D animation products, announced that its
TriCasterPRO portable video production device has been chosen by Knockout
Digital Media to stream Disneyland’s media coverage of its two-day press event
to commemorate the return of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage attraction on
June 10 and 11. Seventy members of the media from around the world will
participate in this event.
Four TriCaster PRO models will be used to stream live programming over the
Internet for the first time ever from the Disneyland property. Exclusive Web
coverage of the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony will also be streamed.
Knockout Digital Media, which has been selected as the exclusive multimedia
production company for this press event, will oversee four live interactive sets
at which video content will be produced for worldwide press.
" Knockout Digital Media and NewTek make such a great team to take our events to
the next level,” said Jay A. Hatcher, Disneyland’s Promotional Support Broadcast
Manager. “We are excited to bring the benefits of the TriCasters to the table to
take what has traditionally been a static one camera webcast to a dynamic
switched three-camera show. We will ‘wow’ our media partners while working
within a modest budget.”
“ Knockout Digital Media¹s cutting edge approach to live event multimedia
coverage has impressed all of our clients from ESPN to Walt Disney World thanks
to TriCaster. Now we will present another impressive showcase for the device’s
live multimedia content streaming capabilities at Disneyland,” said Gil Chavez,
President, Knockout Digital Media. “NewTek has been incredible in maintaining
its clear vision of the future of internet television and trailblazing past the
competition with the reliable, portable, and powerful TriCaster.”
The TriCaster PRO (SRP $6,999) is an economical and portable live production
suite which provides a comprehensive toolset designed to appeal to any
organization – including existing broadcasters, educators, churches and
individuals – who would like to reach local and worldwide audiences with
professional-quality, three-camera video via the Internet.
Pricing and Availability
TriCasterPRO is available at the suggested retail price of $6,995 US. For more
information, please visit http://www.newtek.com or call NewTek Sales at
1-800-368-5441, international callers dial +1-210-370-8000. To locate an
Authorized NewTek Reseller, please visit http://www.newtek.com/dealers .
About NewTek
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of
full-featured video editing, live production, presentation and visual effects
tools including TriCaster™, VT[4]™, SpeedEDIT™, 3D Arsenal™ and LightWave 3D®.
Disaboom Sponsors 3,861 Mile "Ride for Rehab"
-- Disaboom, Inc. (OTCBB:
DSBO), which is developing the first
online community for people living with or directly affected by disabilities or
functional limitations, today announced its participation as the platinum
corporate sponsor of "Ride for Rehab," kicking off in San Francisco tomorrow
morning.
Dr. Joel Press, President of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) and Medical Director of the Spine & Sports
Rehabilitation Centers at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), will
embark on a demanding physical adventure across the country to raise awareness
about physiatry and funding for rehabilitation research. He will be accompanied
in California by Dr. Jerome Schofferman, a pain management specialist from Daly
City, and members of the Thrive Team from Vallejo Medical Center/Kaiser
Foundation Rehabilitation Center.
An avid cyclist, Dr. Press will complete his Ride for Rehab, a 3,861 mile
cross-country bike ride from San Francisco to Boston, in ten weeks. Dr. Press
will cycle across the U.S. participating in local events, fundraisers and
visiting rehabilitation centers to speak on a variety of topics. As he turns 50
in the coming year and joins the more than 76 million aging baby boomers, Dr.
Press hopes to get more people talking about the critical role physiatry and
rehabilitation play in restoring function and improving quality of life for
patients.
"We are proud to support the efforts of Dr. Press in raising awareness of
physiatry, or rehabilitation medicine, which is also a key area of focus for the
disaboom community," said J.W. Roth, Chairman and CEO of Disaboom. "We commend
him for his dedication to this important cause and wish him the best of luck on
his journey."
The Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is committed to
developing programs that enhance the quality of life for rehabilitation
patients. All Ride for Rehab proceeds will go directly to the Foundation for
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (affiliated with the AAPM&R) and RIC.
During Dr. Press's 10-week Ride for Rehab, interested parties can log onto
www.aapmr.org
to learn more about the issue or www.ric.org to find out where he is
along his cycling route. Donations can be directed to rehabilitation research by
logging on to www.foundationforpmr.org.
About Disaboom
Disaboom, Inc. was founded to develop the first interactive online community
dedicated to constantly improving the way people with disabilities or functional
limitations live their lives. It will also serve as a comprehensive online
resource not only for people living with such conditions, but also their
immediate families and friends, caregivers, recreation and rehabilitation
providers, and employers. There are more than 44 million American adults living
with disabilities or functional limitations today in the United States alone.
Founded and designed by doctors and fellow disaboomers to meet this untapped
market's specific needs, disaboom.com will bring together content and tools
ranging from specialized health information to social networking to daily living
resources, in a single interactive site. The site is scheduled to launch in
September 2007.
About The Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
The Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation strives to enhance
health and function through education and research in the field of physical
medicine and rehabilitation. Each year, the Foundation administers awards to
recognize excellence in rehabilitation research and grants to fund new research
projects. The Foundation is committed to developing programs that advance
traditional values and stimulate innovation. For more information, visit
www.foundationforpmr.org.
About The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is dedicated to helping people with
all levels and types of physical disabilities live a fulfilling life. U.S. News
& World Report has ranked RIC the "#1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America" every
year since 1991. RIC operates a flagship hospital in Chicago as well as a
network of DayRehabCenters and outpatient centers located throughout the city
and surrounding suburbs. It also maintains strategic alliances with other
healthcare providers throughout the state of Illinois and north central Indiana.
For more information, visit the RIC website at www.ric.org.
Disclaimers & Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future
events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under
the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). These statements are based on current
expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industry in which
the Company operates and the beliefs and assumptions of the Company's
management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals,"
"projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues,"
"may," variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer
to projections of the Company's future financial performance, the time line for
the launch of the Company's website, the prospects for selling advertising on
the website, the Company's anticipated growth and potentials in its business,
and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking
statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and
assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those identified in our
filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking
statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and we
assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this
news release whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise, other than as required by law.
For more information about Disaboom, Inc., please visit the "About Us"
section of our web site at www.disaboom.com.
MoneyTV, Week of 6/8
- MoneyTV is the nationally syndicated television program all about money and
what makes it happen, (http://www.moneytv.net),
featuring informative interviews by hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman
with company CEOs, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for
their futures.
Free information packages from the featured companies can be requested by
sending an email to
info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program include:
Itronics, Inc. (OTCBB:
ITRO) Dr. John Whitney spoke of the company's photochemical recycling, which
creates pure silver bars and a line of "green" fertilizer products. He announced
a profitable Q1, the first time since the company had introduced their
fertilizer line.
Plasticon International Inc. CEO James Turek announced the company had won a
significant court decision.
XsunX, Inc. (OTCBB:
XSNX) CEO Tom Djokovich showed a diagram of the system they are marketing to
manufacture solar modules and announced the company would build their own system
to manufacture modules themselves.
Universal Express, Inc. (OTCBB:
USXP) CEO Richard Altomare reported on the success of "the first of three
planned auctions" of Jackson Family memorabilia.
Manhattan West Mortgage CEO Roger Schlesinger expressed economic concern over
the coming months and advised in favor of having cash reserves.
Pediatric Prosthetics, Inc. (OTCBB:
PDPR) CFO Kenneth Bean announced the hiring of an insurance reimbursement
specialist.
RBC Dain Rauscher Senior VP Irwin Shapiro discussed economic pressures he
feels are appearing on the horizon.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information in the mail about featured
companies by calling the toll-free phone number on their TV screen. The weekly
television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast nationally in the USA to 70
million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET, Sundays at 8:30 AM PT, 8:30 AM
ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in Western Europe, Wednesdays at
5:00 PM.
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Sundays at 8:00 AM.
MoneyTV is also available in Thailand on the Broad TV Network.
A complete menu of TV listings is available at the MoneyTV web site,
http://www.moneytv.net.
MoneyTV television program, Copyright MMVII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV
does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not
soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering
a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed
herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently
with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3- to
4-month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $11,500.00
to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not
hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information
herein is not an endorsement by the hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman,
the producers, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV.
MoneyTV, Week of 6/1
-- MoneyTV is the nationally syndicated television program all about money
and what makes it happen, (http://www.moneytv.net),
featuring informative interviews by hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman
with company CEOs, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for
their futures.
Free information packages from the featured companies can be requested by
sending an email to info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program include:
1st Global Financial Corporation (PINKSHEETS:
FGBF) spokesperson James Farinella
announced new credit card transaction processing clients which could generate
$24 million in annual transactions.
Semotus Solutions, Inc. (AMEX:
DLK) CEO Anthony Lapine provided an
update of recent company activity.
XsunX, Inc. (OTCBB:
XSNX) CEO Tom Djokovich announced the
company has received another Letter-of-Intent as a result of their sales
efforts.
Modern Technology Corporation (PINKSHEETS:
MODC) Chairman Anthony Welch described
the company's cancer detection technology and announced key appointments within
the company.
Manhattan West Mortgage CEO Roger Schlesinger spoke of the truth behind those
1% and 2% mortgage payments advertised heavily over the radio.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information in the mail about featured
companies by calling the toll-free phone number on their TV screen. The weekly
television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast nationally in the USA to 70
million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET, Sundays at 8:30 AM PT, 8:30 AM
ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in Western Europe, Wednesdays at
5:00 PM.
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Sundays at 8:00 AM.
MoneyTV is also available in Thailand on the Broad TV Network.
A complete menu of TV listings is available at the MoneyTV web site,
http://www.moneytv.net.
MoneyTV television program, Copyright MMVII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV
does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not
soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering
a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed
herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently
with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3- to
4-month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $11,500.00
to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not
hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information
herein is not an endorsement by the hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman,
the producers, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV.
Casamania sponsor of Art and Culture
1 June 2007
Just one month after the Milan Salone del Mobile 2007, where thirteen new
products and three editions of stuffed furniture debuted, another
positive experience was concluded in Berlin with I.DoT stop at the Designmai
Festival.
Now Casamania is continuing with its calendar of international events in the
most prestigious settings for Art and Culture all around the world, beginning
with their participation in the 52° International Exhibition of Art of the
Venice Bienniale, where some Casamania products will be exhibited for the entire
duration of the manifestation, from June 10 until November 21, 2007, in the
dining and relaxation area of the Gardens and the Arsenale. Products that
narrate the state of corporate art, balanced between strategically formal
innovation and the value of Made in Italy, consolidating a youthful and
contemporary offering with evident traces of territorial connotations.
It is precisely these qualities that made Casamania a welcome collaborator of
the Biennale, in perfect synch with the intentions of this celebration of
international resound, always dedicated to presenting expressions of Italian
culture on a worldwide level, that President Davide Croff himself defines as "an
outstanding centrality for artistic research, a pole of attraction, and a
creative laboratory of international contemporaneity."
But just around the proverbial corner, in another celebrated city of art and
culture like Florence , there is about to be another significant collaboration
in the splendid setting of the newly remodelled Library of the Oblate. In fact,
Casamania will be present with pieces selected from their latest production in
the scenario of the new and spectacular Florentine space, known in the city as
the old convent, just steps from the Piazza del Duomo in Via Oriuolo,
inaugurated on Friday, May 25th, 2007.
These are definitely highly evocative settings that underline Casamania's
aspirations to the world of art and culture, whether in temporary or permanent
exhibitions, organized in some of the most beautiful architectural attractions
both in Italy and abroad. We would also like to announce an imminent
collaboration with another pair of well-known events, like the International
Cinema Festival of Berlin and the Casa del Pane in Milan , a locale situated in
the elegant setting of the Porta Venezia quarter, where Casamania will furnish
the large roof garden of the structure.
Here emerges a distinctive trace of the corporate mission aimed at a sort of
cultural and artistic joint venture that, on the other hand, emphasizes the
level of appreciation of important institutional partners, implicitly confirming
the overall quality of our production. This is a production that brings life and
liveability to the landscapes of contemporary furniture everywhere, whether
private or public, in the workplace or in the dehors of major
international cultural events.
35 to 54's Index Above Average as Podcast Audience
According to a comScore study, sponsored Ad Infuse, males represented a
significantly larger share (63 percent) of the iTunes podcasting audience than
did females (37 percent). In addition, 18-24 year olds represented a substantial
share of the audience (29 percent) and were more than twice as likely as the
average Internet user to download podcasts. People between the ages of 35-54
represented about half of the podcasting audience and were also more likely than
average to download podcasts.
Nick Tabbal, comScore senior vice president of media and entertainment
solutions, said "...while the conventional wisdom says that only young,
tech-savvy consumers are downloading and listening to podcasts, there is also a
sizable market among 35-54 year olds, indicating that the audience is broader
than previously thought."
Demographic Profile for iTunes
Podcasting Audience(October 2006)
Demographic
Total Internet
Total Podcast Audience
Total Podcast Audience Index
Gender
Male
51%
63%
125
Female
49%
37%
74
Age
18-24
14%
29%
203
25-34
20%
14%
68
35-44
24%
27%
113
45-54
22%
23%
103
55-64
13%
5%
41
65+
6%
2%
29
Source: comScore, Inc., May 2007
Total Podcast Audience Index = 100 x (total podcast audience/total Internet);
Index of 100 represents parity
comScore also examined the household income and education levels of the
iTunes podcasting audience, revealing that consumption of podcasts increased
with both income and education. In particular, those individuals in households
making at least $100,000 annually were 28 percent more likely than average to
download podcasts, while college graduates were 25 percent more likely.
Demographic Profile for
Podcasting Audience(October 2006)
Demographic
Total Internet
Total Podcast Audience
Total Podcast Audience Index
Household Income
Less than $25,000
9%
7%
78
$25,000-$50,000
21%
16%
77
$50,000-$75,000
29%
27%
95
$75,000-$100,000
17%
19%
109
$100,000+
24%
31%
128
Education Level
High School
28%
25%
89
Some College/Assoc Degree
34%
28%
82
College/Graduate Degree
37%
47%
125
Source: comScore, Inc., May 2007
Mr. Tabbal goes on to say "It's not surprising that podcasts today appeal to
the more educated and higher-income consumer segments, since many of the top
podcasts are in the educational and business genres... it's probably just a
matter of time before significant advertising dollars begin to flow toward this
medium."
IEC's Broadband World Forum Asia 2007 Presents Olympics of Global Innovation
The International
Engineering Consortium (IEC) Goes for the Gold and Celebrates
Global Innovation by Bringing Pioneers from around the World to Beijing Next
Week
CHICAGO – May 30, 2007 – As Beijing prepares for the 2008 Olympics, the
International Engineering
Consortium (IEC) brings its own Olympics of global innovation to
the China World Hotel at the China World Trade Center with China Netcom as the
official host sponsor. Nearly 300 industry experts from around the world,
including leaders from Ministry of Information Industry (MII) and the National
Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), will speak in more than 60 sessions at
the Broadband World Forum Asia next week.
The Broadband World Forum Asia will focus on
the latest broadband technological advances, including global innovations and
mobile technologies as they relate to the 2008 Olympics.
"Recognizing Beijing as the host of the 2008 Olympics, it's fitting that the
Broadband World Forum Asia shares some of the broadband and mobile technologies
that will be implemented at the Games next year," commented IEC President John
Janowiak. "Attendees will learn of exciting, new user experiences, which China
Netcom experts will preview both on the exhibition floor and in our educational
conference programming."
The Broadband World Forum Asia will show carriers, content providers, and
equipment providers how to provide these new services and applications to users
and how to meet the challenges and requirements set by the Olympics.
The special Broadband Olympics Track will feature sessions such as the
following:
NOISE INDUSTRIES PARTNERS ROLL OUT FXPACKS FOR APPLE FINAL CUT STUDIO 2 New
designer FxPacks from Noise Industries partners Core Melt, Idustrial Revolution,
and SUGARfx, extend the visual effects capabilities of Apple Final Cut Studio 2
Boston MA – May 30, 2007 – Noise Industries, developer of visual effects
tools for the postproduction and broadcast markets, today announced Noise
Industries partners Core Melt, Idustrial Revolution, and SUGARfx have launched “FxFactory
Expansion FxPacks†for the new Apple Final Cut Studio 2.0 release. FxPacks are
developed by Noise Industries and its partners using the Noise Industries
FxFactory Pro plug-in manager. The FxFactory Pro plug-in manager provides
non-developers such as visual effects artists a user-friendly graphical user
interface to create additional effects for the Apple Final Cut Studio package.
Core Melt - FxFactory Expansion FxPack “ImageFlow FXâ€; Core Melt is a Noise
Industries partner and FxPack plug-in developer delivering real-time visual
effects plug-in libraries for Apple Final Cut Studio. Developed using the Noise
Industries FxFactory Pro plug-in manager, the new Core Melt ImageFlow FxPack is
a collection of plug-ins for creating slideshows and animating backgrounds.
Ideal for creating documentary photo montages, motion graphics menus or DVD
menus, the ImageFlow FX toolset includes catchy effects and transitions;
Dissolve Over, Flashcard, Multifader, Multigrow, Panels Transitions, Polaroids,
Random Move Over, Stills Grid, Zoom in and Stop, and Zoom Up. Idustrial
Revolution Updates FxFactory Expansion FxPack “Volumetrixâ€; Noise Industries
partner Idustrial Revolution has released an update of the popular FxPack
Volumetrix (version 1.03). The new release of Volumetrix adds two volumetric
light spill transitions; zoom and glow. These in demand features allow users to
apply a wipe on a clip or element such as text producing a volumetric effect.
Users can select from the luminance and alpha to drive the wipe. The new
Volumetrix update also adds support for presets, allowing users to save, recall,
and transport their favorite effects. SUGARfx - FxFactory Expansion FxPack “Video
Wallâ€; SUGARfx is an early adopter of the FxFactory Pro development tool and
long-time Noise Industries partner. Their new Video Wall package provides Apple
Final Cut Pro and Motion users the ability to easily and quickly construct a
video wall effect in 3D space. SUGARfx offers two versions of the Video Wall
package; standard and Pro. With Video Wall standard, users can create
interesting video wall setups quickly. The Video Wall Pro version provides
additional controls for creating more complex effects. Parameters include zoom,
twist, and turn for creating eye-catching animations. Pricing and Availability
for FxFactory Expansion FxPacks Core Melt ImageFlow FX and SUGARfx Video Wall
FxPacks are available today for $99.00 MSRP and $59.00 MSRP respectively.
Idustrial Revolution Volumetrix 1.03 is available for $49.00 MSRP. Idustrial
Revolution Volumetrix 1.03 is a free update for existing Volumetrix customers.
Apple Final Cut Studio 2.0 users can test drive FxFactory Expansion FxPacks by
downloading the 15-day trial version from
www.noiseindustries.com For more information about Noise
Industries or for product imagery, please contact Niclas Bahn at njb@noiseindustries.com.
About Noise Industries, LLC Established in 2004, Boston Massachusetts based
Noise Industries is an innovative developer of visual effects tools for the
postproduction and broadcast community. Their products are integrated with
popular non-linear editing and compositing products from Apple and Avid. For
more information about Noise Industries, please visit:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ZazilMediaGroup/e8a9c524b4/26970097f2/4afc96a960.
DXG ANNOUNCES THE SLEEK “SEXY WITHOUT THE ATTITUDE”
7 MEGAPIXEL DIGITAL CAMERA
Compact Design, 3X Optical Zoom, Large 2.5” High Res LCD, &
User-Friendly Features
City of Industry, CA, May 30, 2007 - DXG USA (www.dxgusa.com),
one of the fastest growing digital camera manufacturers, announced today their
new DXG-711 next-generation, slim and sexy 7 Megapixel digital camera,
with all the features consumers crave at an affordable price. The DXG-711 starts
with a sleek silver body and adds a 7 Megapixel CCD sensor, large 2.5” high
resolution LTPS LCD, 3X optical zoom, and an instant out-of-the-box experience,
so consumers can quickly start taking photos without spending hours studying the
manual.
Sexy without the Attitude
At less than an inch think, the DXG-711 camera will capture everyone’s
attention and can still be conveniently tucked in your pocket – perfect for road
trips, vacations and everyday occasions. The DXG-711 is equipped with a digital
voice recording function so users can record to-do lists and capture
thoughts on-the-fly with audio files saved directly into MP3 format. The camera
comes with a built-in flash, 32MB onboard memory and supports Direct
Printing for easy printing without the need of a computer.
The DXG-711 is perfect for users who want to migrate to more features, better
technology and a device that is multi-functional, convenient and affordable,
like parents who are looking for a replacement unit for their “old” 35mm
cameras, and college students.
Capture Life
The DXG-711 is a true 7 Megapixel Digital Camera that can also capture
vivid stills to up to 10MP, in addition to recording high-quality 640 x
480 video at 30 frames per second. When connected to your PC via the USB
cable, the DXG-711 also functions as an additional hard drive and can store
documents and other files with the built-in SD card slot.
Select your Scene
The DXG-711 offers 15 different scene modes that users can choose from. These
scene modes allow users to capture an image in various environments and light
situations without having to worry about the clarity and quality of the
pictures. Modes include Sports, Fireworks, Best Shot, Blur Reduction, Face
Chaser, Monochrome, Sepia, Vivid and Night View.
DXG-711 Features:
7 Megapixel digital camera
Records video at 640 x 480, 30 fps with sound
Digital Voice Recorder
Portable Storage Device
3X Optical, 4X Digital Zoom
2.5” LTPS screen
Built-in flash with a variety of modes
Pre-Set Scene and Macro Modes for optimal automatic exposure settings
ISO 400 Sensor Sensitivity
The DXG-711 is available immediately with a suggested retail price of
$149.99 through major retailers and at www.dxgusa.com.
About DXG USA
DXG USA “The Digital Camera Company” is one of the fastest growing digital
camera manufacturers in the United States, selling attractively-designed digital
cameras for the youth and mainstream markets. Compact, fashionable and
affordably priced, DXG digital cameras are setting trends for quality and
utility. DXG USA is a fully-owned subsidiary of DXG Technology Corporation, one
of the world’s leading manufacturers and designers (OEM/ODM) of digital cameras
and camcorders. With over 20 years of experience manufacturing digital
technology products under other brand names, DXG now designs and manufactures
cameras under its own name. DXG Technology has won numerous design and
innovation awards and employs over 4,000 people worldwide.
For more information on DXG USA, please visit
www.dxgusa.com.
Market News First, Live on Location With SUN Sports and Entertainment
CEO to Discuss Recent News on Company
DALLAS, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 30, 2007 -- SUN Sports and Entertainment,
Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
SSPE) is pleased to announce Market News
First will be on location at the corporate office's of SUN to conduct a live
interview with CEO, CJ Comu, who will discuss today's breaking news.
The interview is scheduled for Wednesday May 30th 2007, at 3:30 PM EST and
will be broadcast LIVE from Market News First's website at
www.mn1.com.
This is an exciting opportunity for SUN CEO to reach out to the shareholders and
all interested parties to discuss some of the developments at SUN. Be sure to
tune in and watch Mr. Comu talk about the company.
About SUN:
SUN is a Professional Sports & Entertainment Marketing Company. SUN
Production Group is a Certified Texas Combat Sports Promoter and produces World
Class Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts. The properties of SUN (www.sunorganization.com),
Art of War (www.artofwarlive.com)
and International Fighters Association (www.ifapro.com)
are pending trademarks.
Market News First is an online, market news provider that brings investors
current news on the market. Market News First is the only online, live IPTV web
site that brings real market news to investors and features live interaction
with companies from the Bulletin Board to NYSE. Through daily, live interviews,
we bring you up to date on all the established companies and inform the
investors of the newest opportunities within the market. Market News First
offers one-on-one interviews with the presidents and CFOs of companies to
deliver answers to the questions that investors may ask and provides them
insight into the companies' present condition and future plans. Stay up to date
with MN1 NewsWire "News You Can Trust" at http://www.mn1.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 27E of the Securities Act
of 1934. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may
be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that
forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and
results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to
certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, ability to obtain
financing and regulatory and shareholder approvals for anticipated actions. Such
statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to
certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events
and performance to differ materially from those referred to or implied by such
statements. In addition, actual or future results may differ materially from
those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, including continued
maintenance of favorable license arrangements, success of market research
identifying new product opportunities, successful introduction of new products,
continued product innovation, sales and earnings growth, ability to attract and
retain key personnel, and general economic conditions affecting consumer
spending, Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Sun Sports &
Entertainment Inc. do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements
after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or
to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.
DBL DISTRIBUTING AND VONAGE PARTNER TO
DELIVER VOIP SERVICES AND TURNKEY MARKETING
SOLUTIONS TO INDEPENDENT RETAILERS
Distribution Agreement Delivers Simplified VoIP Marketing Programs,
Activation Bonus
Incentives and VoIP-Ready Products to Independent Retailers Nationwide
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 30 -- DBL Distributing, Inc., one of the largest
and fastest-growing wholesale distributors of consumer electronics and related
accessories in the United States, today announced a new distribution partnership
with Vonage to deliver a full suite of innovative Vonage™-enabled devices. The
agreement helps level the playing field among independent consumer electronics
dealers as DBL delivers product opportunities typically associated with national
“big box” retailers.
As per the agreement, DBL will immediately begin marketing various Vonage-enabled
Internet telephony products and accessories which allow users to connect and
make calls through a high-speed Internet connection. Additionally, DBL will
provide an innovative “dealer quick-start marketing kit” that combines
everything a retailer needs to start marketing Vonage-enabled products. The kit
includes visual merchandising signage, training materials and point-of-sale
displays. DBL customers who participate in the program earn an activation
commission for each Vonage device sold resulting in a Vonage account activation.
In order to participate, dealers must become a Vonage/DBL authorized dealer.
Vonage, a leading provider of broadband telephone services, was recently
introduced to DBL’s base of 32,000 consumer electronics dealers and custom
installation consultants through DBL’s May sale flyer and will be featured in
DBL’s Summer/Fall 2007 catalog which was mailed to America’s top consumer
electronic dealers this week.
“Vonage is a great service, offering a compelling combination of features and
industry-leading price points” says Henry Chiarelli, chief merchandising officer
of DBL Distributing, Inc. “As a leading distributor of consumer electronics
among independent retailers, we’re always looking for services that add profit
potential and increase foot traffic to a dealer’s business. We believe Vonage
and VoIP-related products are two major components of consumer demand now and
long-term.”
Through DBL, retailers of any type are able to market and sell Vonage services
along with the following Vonage-enabled products:
V-Tech IP 8100-1 Internet Telephone System. 5.8GHz digital
spread-spectrum technology offers the best available performance with
increased sound quality, enhanced range and heightened security.
V-Tech IP 811 Handset. Designed as an expansion handset for the V-Tech IP
8100-1 phone system, the V-Tech IP 811 handset provides a “hands free”
speakerphone, call transfer capability and intercom features.
D-Link VTA Internet Phone Adapter. Simply connect this adapter to an
existing router and a touch-tone phone, which can be set up in minutes. The
D-Link phone adapter is equipped with two telephone jacks allowing two
separate Vonage phone lines; users can allocate one line to a voice line and
one to a fax line.
D-Link VWR Internet Phone Adapter with Wireless Router. Connects up to 2
Vonage lines through high-speed Cable or DSL Internet connection and
includes a wireless router. The router allows connection up to four PCs
directly while using an Internet connection for computers and phone at the
same time.
V-Phone. A portable USB 250MB flash drive for portability and convenience
in making and receiving calls on virtually any PC or laptop with a
high-speed internet connection. No software installation needed – just plug
it in and start making calls.
“We are excited to partner with DBL Distributing,” said James Flynn, Senior
Vice President of Sales for Vonage. “They are an innovative distributor widely
known for their ability to provide independent retailers with access to the
latest in technology and services. We view DBL as a powerful distribution point
for Vonage products and services.”
About DBL Distributing, Inc.: DBL Distributing, Inc. is one of the nation’s top wholesale distributors of
consumer electronics accessories and related products, with more than 32,000
retail customers nationwide. Headquartered in a custom-built 144,000 square foot
facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, DBL carries more than 17,000 products from
nearly 400 quality manufacturers. DBL offers same day shipping for orders placed
by 5:00pm MST, a best price for 1 or 100 piece policy and has a “no minimum”
order policy. DBL’s business strategy proves that customers come first. For more
information on Vonage products and services including Vonage-enabled hardware
and accessories please visit www.dbldistributing.com/ or contact them
at 800.733.6766.
About Vonage: Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a leading provider of broadband telephone services with
2.4 million subscriber lines. Our award-winning technology enables anyone to
make and receive phone calls with a touch tone telephone almost anywhere a
broadband Internet connection is available. We offer feature-rich and
cost-effective communication services that offer users an experience similar to
traditional telephone services.
Our Residential Premium Unlimited and Small Business Unlimited calling plans
offer consumers unlimited local and long distance calling, and popular features
like call waiting, call forwarding and voicemail -- for one low, flat monthly
rate. For more information about Vonage's products and services, please visit
www.vonage.com.
Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. Vonage® is a
registered trademark of Vonage Marketing Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings
Corp.
Consumer Confidence Running Out Of Gas
According to the BIGresearch May Consumer Intentions & Actions Survey,
consumer expectations are for gas price increases up to $3.32 a gallon by
Father's Day.
Gary Drenik, President & CEO of BIGresearch, says "The expectation of
ever-increasing gas prices has seeped into consumer attitudes toward the
economy, as consumer confidence declined to 44.6% in May, versus April's
46.5%... consumers continue to look for ways to stretch their paychecks by
deferring purchases."
The consumer market may be running out of gas, says the report. 33.3% of
consumers say they are worse off financially than they were a year ago. In
addition, pricing sensitivity for apparel purchases increased in May, with 18%
saying they only buy on sale, up from April's 16.8%.
Influence of Higher Gas Prices
(% of respondents)
All
North-east
Mid-west
South
West
Buying more store brand/generic
products
22.2%
17.5%
25.7%
24.0%
20.3%
Doing more comparative shopping
online
16.8%
16.0%
17.6%
16.8%
16.6%
Doing more comparative shopping
with ad circulars/newspapers
23.3%
21.4%
25.5%
24.2%
20.9%(
Shopping closer to home
37.9%
33.8%
38.5%
40.7%
36.9%
Shopping for sales more often
30.7%
28.7%
33.6%
31.3%
28.6%
Shopping more online
13.3%
13.8%
12.3%
14.5%
12.4%
Taking fewer shopping trips
40.2%
34.2%
43.0%
43.0%
38.3%
Using coupons more
23.5%
22.4%
24.8%
24.8%
21.2%
Source: BigResearch, May 2007
Consumers in the Midwest are more pessimistic in their responses to gas price
impacts and financial well being, as more Midwesterners said the following:
Gas prices would impact Memorial Day spending (47.1%)
They will be driving less (42.7%)
They will be taking fewer shopping trips (43%)
They are deferring purchases of clothing (27.2%) and dining out (32.7%)
They are decreasing overall spending (29.7%)
They believe the price of gas will reach $3.36 / gallon by Father's Day
They feel worse off financially than a year ago (37.4%)
Additionally, the BIGresearch Insights for Marketing Executives includes some
economic, financial and consumption updates with regard to consumer attitudes.
Worry about political and national security issues is down a point from
April (17.5%) to 16.6%. Stay tuned next month to see how the resignation of
Tony Blair - the U.S.'s closest ally over the war on terror - affects
consumer psyche.
Practicality in purchasing declines in May. This month, 36.7% indicate
they've become more practical or realistic in purchases in the last 6
months, down from 39.1% in April and 40.9% last year.
Drivers are supplementing spending at the pump with dollars earmarked for
savings and not cutting back so much on other purchases. Debt repayment and
savings rates continue to tumble. This month, fewer than a third (32.2%) are
focused on paying down debt, down from last month (34.0%) and May '06
(37.1%).
Grads may be receiving laptops, digital cameras, and perhaps even a wide
screen TV. Expect parents to make their Electronics purchases at Best Buy,
where almost a third (29.1%) of consumers shop most often, gaining from
25.6% last year. Second is Wal-Mart with 15.0% (declining from 18.4% in
'06), followed by Circuit City (7.8%), Sears (2.6%), and Target (2.2%).
Lowe's is drilling into Home Depot's current lead with a +15.5 rating
compared to the big Orange's -2.7 customer deficit:
Six month purchase intentions are down for all categories this month:
autos, computer, furniture, home appliances, housing, jewelry, major home
improvements, stereo equipment, TV, DVD/VCR, digital cameras, and vacation
travel.
For additional
information by Census Regions and other BIGresearch samples,
click on Complimentary Top Line Findings here.
Gefen Demos Cutting-Edge Extenders Using Wireless Technologies for Cable-Free
Installations InfoComm Booth 6237 – Three wireless solutions from Gefen showcase
the company’s skill at uniting today’s leading technologies with its own
strength in sender/receiver extension systems. Component and HDMI displays as
well as USB peripherals call all be extended with no connector cables using
various technologies best suited to the format. The Component Audio Extender
uses small sender and receiver units to deliver high definition video in
resolutions from 480i to 720p up to 60 feet in distance. It supports two
channels of RCA stereo audio to accompany the video for a true HDTV experience
using the IEEE 802.11a/g/e protocol. The Wireless for HDMI Extender uses ultra
wideband technology to deliver high definition resolutions up to 1080i to any
HDMI display or projector located 60 feet from the source. Sender and receiver
are HDCP-compliant and operate with a high-speed transmission rate so there is
no delay or signal loss. The Wireless USB Extender supports the connection of
hi-speed USB 2.0 devices up to 100 feet from the computer. It works with Apple (OSX)
and PC (Windows, Linux, Unix) systems using Icron Technologies’ ExtremeUSB based
on 802.11g technologies. The receiver is a four-port USB 2.0 hub that can
support additional devices by adding additional hubs. It boasts a high transfer
rate of video, audio and data streams wirelessly. Demos of all three wireless
solutions will be provided throughout Infocomm at Booth 6237. # # # About Gefen:
Gefen leads the industry in audio/video solutions for both professionals and
consumers with an eye for superior quality and reliable performance. In the HD
digital domain, Gefen delivers advanced technologies with multi-platform
extension, switching, distribution and conversion capabilities. Gefen equipment
is valued all over the world in professional AV/IT and consumer electronics/home
theater environments. Their add-on hardware maximizes system functionality by
enabling AV systems to operate beyond their original capabilities. A selection
of high quality cabling is also available. Visit www.gefen.com for detailed product
information.
THE NIELSEN COMPANY REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2007 RESULTS
May 30, 2007, NEW YORK and HAARLEM , the Netherlands – The Nielsen
Company bv, a leading global information and media company, today announced its
financial results for the first quarter 2007.
Reported revenues for the first quarter Successor period (January 1, 2007 to
March 31, 2007) were $1,072 million, an increase of 5% in constant currency*
over the reported revenues for first quarter Predecessor period (January 1, 2006
to March 31, 2006) of $1,003 million.
Reported operating income for the first quarter Successor period 2007 of $56
million compared to pro forma** operating income of $62 million in the first
quarter 2006. The first quarter 2007 results were negatively impacted by $19
million in restructuring costs and $8 million of costs associated with
recruiting and other acquisition related compensation.
Covenant earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and
other adjustments permitted under our senior credit facility (“Covenant EBITDA”)
was $1,121 million for the twelve month period ended March 31, 2007. Covenant
EBITDA is a non – GAAP measure. Refer to page 4 for a reconciliation of loss
from continuing operations for the twelve months ended March 31, 2007, (combined
operations from April 1, 2006 to May 23, 2006 for the Predecessor period and May
24, 2006 to March 31, 2007 for the Successor period) to Covenant EBITDA.
Finances
As of March 31, 2007, total debt was $7.75 billion, and cash balances were
$617 million. Capital expenditures were $49 million in first quarter of 2007
compared with $33 million in first quarter of 2006.
Conference Call and Webcast
The Nielsen Company will hold an earnings conference call, hosted by The
Nielsen Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David L. Calhoun and
Chief Financial Officer Brian J. West at 9:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time
(EDT) on Wednesday, May 30, 2007. The call will be audio-webcast live at
www.Nielsen.com,
and an archive will be available on the website after the call. In addition, the
company has posted its financial report at www.Nielsen.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release includes information that could constitute forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such
as ‘expect’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘shall’ and similar expressions. These
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and events
could differ materially from what presently is expected. Factors leading thereto
may include without limitations general economic conditions, conditions in the
markets Nielsen is engaged in, behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors,
technological developments, as well as legal and regulatory rules affecting
Nielsen’s business. This list of factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We
assume no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement
made by us or on our behalf as a result of new information, future events or
other factors.
About The Nielsen Company
Nielsen is a global information and media company with leading market
positions and recognized brands in marketing information (ACNielsen), media
information (Nielsen Media Research), business publications (Billboard and The
Hollywood Reporter) and trade shows. The privately held company is active in
more than 100 countries, with headquarters in New York , USA , and Haarlem , the
Netherlands . For more information, visit www.Nielsen.com.
*Constant currency growth rates eliminate the impact of year-over-year
foreign currency fluctuations.
**Pro forma represents the results for the Predecessor period, from January
1, 2006 through March 31, 2006, preceding the acquisition of The Nielsen Company
which occurred on May 23, 2006. The 2006 pro forma results are adjusted to
reflect the pro forma effect of the acquisition and related financing as if it
had occurred on January 1, 2006. Management believes this is the most meaningful
way to comment on the results of its operations. The pro forma financial
information is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations had the
acquisition occurred on January 1, 2006 or the results of operations that may be
obtained in the future.
NOTE: Additional detail regarding results (tables, etc.), can be found in
the PDF download version of this release on www.Nielsen.com
America Gets Invited to First Annual World Pizza Cup
June 12 -13, 2007
Naples, Italy
June 12 & 13, 2007 The World Pizza Champions,
America's # 1 Pizza Team, will be competing and
representing the US at the 2nd annual Trofeo Citta Di Napoli
Campionato Internazionale Per Pizzaioli/ 1st Annual World
Pizza Cup -
www.worldpizzacup.com
Members Tony Gemignani - CA, Bruno Di Fabio -
NY, William Manzo Jr. - RI, Tony Palombino -
KY, & Glenn Cybulski - CA, will represent the United
States.
Competitors from Japan, Ireland, Italy, Canada, France, the
United States and several other countries will be in
attendance. The World Pizza Champions were personally
invited by organizers and officials in Naples to be the
first and only team to represent the United States at the
World Pizza Cup.
There are many regional and national pizza competitions
held across the country and world. Out of all these
competitions a few stand out as true World Class
Competitions where winners can feel confident in calling
themselves "World Champions"...
With some confusion in the industry - The World Pizza Cup
is not held in May, it is held in June and is
sponsored by Molino San Felice, one of the oldest and
respected flour company's in Naples. Several Verace Pizza
Napoletana Restaurants use Molino San Felice all over the
world.
With the association Margherita Regina the World Pizza Cup
should make history right in the heart of where pizza
originated. Naples!!
For more info contact Nancy Puglisi
eliopizza@optonline.net or visit
www.worldpizzacup.com
About the World Pizza Champions
Professionals of the Pizza Industry
The World Pizza Champions are made up of members Michael
Shepherd of
Michael Angelo's Pizza in Kenton & Rushsylvania, Ohio; Tony Gemignani &
Ken Bryant of
Pyzano's Pizzeria in Castro Valley, CA; Joe
Carlucci of Famous Joe's in Danbury,CT; Siler Chapman
of
Si's Pizzeria in Fort
Mills, SC and Sean Brauser of
Romeo's Pizza in
Medina, OH.
Each member has earned the highest awards in several
different categories in the pizza industry. They are
considered by many pizza operators worldwide as
professionals and pioneers.
Team members have appeared on the Today Show, Tony Danza
Show, The Tonight Show, The Ellen Show, ESPN, the Food
Network, Good Morning America, BBC Radio, and numerous
industry magazine covers.
They have come together to form an affiliation to promote
their restaurants and their skills. Individually each of
them have performed on shows across the nation, but now they
plan to tour the world as a team. The World Pizza Champions
perform and/or compete at numerous festivals, fairs,
sporting events, and food shows all year long.
America's #1 Pizza Team, The World Pizza Champions,
will be in a town or on a TV near you.
Tony Gemignani would like to thank his individual
sponsors
Michael
Shepherd would like to thank his individual sponsors
Sean Brauser would
like to thank his individual sponsor
The Broadcast Media Internet Audience
An in-depth look at the Internet audience for broadcast media during the last
week in April, 2007, including destinations, demographics, advertisers, ad sizes
and delivery methodology.
Top 10 Broadcast Media Destinations(Week ending April 29, 2007 US, Home and Work)
Demographic Data for
Broadcast Media Category(Month of March 2007 US, Home and
Work)
Category
Target
Unique Audience (000)
Unique Audience Composition (%)
Total
68,762
100
Male
32,800
47.7
Female
35,962
52.3
Age
2 - 11
2,032
2.96
12 - 17
5,099
7.41
18 - 24
8,592
12.5
25 - 34
3,493
5.08
35 - 49
10,507
15.28
45+
30,894
44.93
55+
14,603
21.24
65+
5,098
7.41
HH Income
$ 0 - 24999
4,012
5.83
$ 25000 - 49999
14,509
21.1
$ 50000 - 74999
17,756
25.82
$ 75000 - 99999
13,056
18.99
$ 100000 - 149999
11,358
16.52
$ 150000+
6,693
9.73
No Response
1,377
2
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
NetView
Data on the Entertainment Industry, Television Segment
Week ending April 29, 2007 US, Home and Work
Top 20 Advertisers
Company
Impressions (000)
Share of all Impressions
General Electric Company
408,118
71.4%
iN DEMAND
36,031
6.3%
Viacom Inc
28,641
5.0%
The Walt Disney Corporation
22,949
4.0%
Public Broadcasting Service
13,880
2.4%
Jones International, Ltd
13,459
2.4%
Discovery Communications, Inc.
10,003
1.8%
Cox Enterprises, Inc.
7,106
1.2%
FUSE Networks LLC
3,492
0.6%
Current TV, LLC
3,238
0.6%
CSS Sports
3,181
0.6%
The News Corporation Limited
2,852
0.5%
College Sports Television
2,500
0.4%
Cablevision Systems Corporation
2,147
0.4%
Sundance Channel
2,145
0.4%
The Webby Awards
1,828
0.3%
Time Warner Inc.
1,463
0.3%
Speed Channel Network Inc
1,017
0.2%
E.W. Scripps Company
773
0.1%
Liberty Media Group
677
0.1%
Total
571,585
100.0%
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
AdRelevance
Top Ad Sizes
Dimensions
Impressions (000)
Share of all Impressions
Medium Rectangle
(300x250)
402,244
70.4%
Leaderboard
(728x90)
79,021
13.8%
Non-Standard Dimension
28,389
5.0%
Half Banner
(234x60)
25,224
4.4%
Wide Skyscraper
(160x600)
24,804
4.3%
Button #1
(120x90)
3,752
0.7%
Full Banner
(468x60)
2,795
0.5%
Rectangle
(180x150)
1,906
0.3%
Button #2
(120x60)
1,877
0.3%
Skyscraper
(120x600)
940
0.2%
Vertical Banner
(120x240)
435
0.1%
Square Button
(125x125)
73
0.0%
Micro Bar
(88x31)
45
0.0%
Large Rectangle
(336x280)
40
0.0%
Square
(250x250)
31
0.0%
Vertical Rectangle
(240x400)
10
0.0%
Total
571,586
100.0%
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
AdRelevance
Ad Delivery Types
Ad Delivery
Impressions (000)
Share of all Impressions
In-Page
542,918
95.0%
Over-Page
16,502
2.9%
Expanding
11,962
2.1%
Transitional
109
0.0%
Pop-Under
87
0.0%
Pop-Up
9
0.0%
Total
571,587
100.0%
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings AdRelevance
Note: Nielsen//NetRatings AdRelevance reporting data reflects advertising
activity served on pages accessible via the World Wide Web and not within AOL's
proprietary service.
70% of TV Sets in Cable Households Do Not Have a Set-Top Box
New consumer research from Leichtman Research Group, Inc. finds
that 23% of all TV sets in consumers' homes do not receive cable or
Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) programming. This represents over
70 million TV sets in US households that only receive over-the-air
broadcast television.
Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman
Research Group, Inc., said "Just 36% of all TV sets in the U.S. are
currently connected to a cable or DBS set-top converter box. With
the digital transition now less than two years away, much work
clearly still needs to be done to prevent millions of TV sets from
going dark in February 2009."
Half of all broadcast-only TV sets are in 15% of primary
households nationwide that do not subscribe to cable, DBS, or any
other type of multi-channel video service. The other half are in
households that subscribe to cable or DBS. Nine percent of TV sets
in cable households are broadcast-only, and 19% of TV sets in DBS
households are broadcast-only.
Other related key findings include:
70% of all TV sets in cable households are not connected to a
set-top box
42% of households that subscribe to cable TV do not have any
cable set-top boxes
The mean number of TV sets in digital cable households is 3.1,
compared to 2.7 in analog cable households; 2.9 in DBS households
(where cable is available); and 2.1 in households that do not
subscribe to a TV service
These findings are based on LRG's fifth annual study of this
topic, a telephone survey of 1,600 randomly selected households from
throughout the United States.
Sony expects vid game losses to continue
Sony will lose about 50 billion yen ($413 million) in its video games
business this fiscal year, and recovery won't come until the arrival of more
games to play on the PlayStation 3 machine, a company executive said Thursday.
"The main point is that the PS3 will still be producing operating losses,"
Senior Vice President Takao Yuhara told a small group of reporters at Sony Corp
(NYSE:SNE - news).'s Tokyo headquarters.
On Wednesday, Sony reported that losses for the January-March quarter widened
from the same period a year ago to 67.6 billion yen (563 million) in red ink,
largely on launch costs for the PS3, or PlayStation 3, which went on sale in
November in Japan and the U.S., and in March in Europe.
But Sony, which makes Vaio personal computers and Walkman portable music
players, forecast a record profit for the fiscal year through March 2008 at 320
billion yen ($2.7 billion).
Booming sales of flat-panel TVs and digital cameras that have been lifting
sales are expected to continue and boost Sony's earnings in coming months,
Yuhara said.
Although PS3 losses are expected to shrink with cost cuts this fiscal year,
the key lies in having Sony and outside game-makers produce attractive games to
play, which fully exploit the machine's expensive technology, he said.
"What's most important is software," Yuhara said. "In every region, our
software lineup will be strengthened."
Sony's revival efforts, led by Welsh-born American Howard Stringer, Sony's
first foreign CEO, may finally be starting to pay off. After taking the helm in
2005, Stringer got Sony to drop unprofitable businesses, sell off assets, reduce
jobs and shutter plants. But losses from PS3 remain Sony's biggest headache.
Intense competition with Nintendo Co.'s hit Wii, with its unique wand
controller, also has hurt PS3.
Sony shipped 5.5 million PS3 machines in the fiscal year through March 31,
fewer than the 6 million the company had targeted. Nintendo shipped 5.84 million
Wii machines worldwide during the same period.
Earlier this year, Yuhara had said Sony plans to break even in fiscal 2007 in
the gaming business. On Thursday, he said he hoped Sony's game operations will
turn a profit by fiscal 2008.
Sony shares, which have gained about a third over the past year, rose 2.6
percent to 6,630 yen ($55).
Affluent Regional Magazine Readership in 87 Markets
According to a new report by The Media Audit, Texas Monthly, which is read by
more than two million adults across the state of Texas, reaches 38.7% of all
adults in San Antonio who earn $75,000 or more in household income, making it
the number one publication in reaching affluent households among The Media
Audit's 87 measured markets.
And Austin came in second! The surveys, through March 2007, found that Texas
Monthly in Austin ranked second in reaching affluent households (38.2% of
affluent households read one or more of the past four issues). Affluent
households are defined as those adults who earn $75,000 or more in household
income. Next are:
Texas Monthly in Houston (33.5%)
Tucson Lifestyle (31.7%)
Boston Magazine (31.6%)
The conversion rate used by The Media Audit (the percent of total readers who
are likely to read every issue) points to the loyalty or frequency of exposure
of a media's audience. Among the affluent reading the Texas Monthly in San
Antonio and the Tucson Lifestyle, more than three quarters of the total readers
also read the past issue, suggesting that these publication's affluent readers
are very likely to be exposed to every issue, concludes the report.
Bob Jordan, President of Houston-based International Demographics, Inc.,
comments, "The degree of audience loyalty for these City and Regional Magazines
is significant when you compare them to other media such as radio or
television..."
Rounding out the top ten publications reaching affluent households one or
more times in the previous four issues are:
Pittsburgh Magazine (30.6% of affluent adults)
D Magazine in Dallas-Ft. Worth (30.4%)
Sacramento Magazine (29.5%)
Gulfshore Life in Ft. Myers-Naples (28.6%)
Milwaukee Magazine (28.3%)
Terra Nostra Scores Again! Chocolate After Award Winning Chocolate:
Terra Nostra Eats Up 20 Stars at the International Taste & Quality Institute
Superior Taste Awards 2007 in Brussels
Vancouver, BC – Terra Nostra™ Organic Chocolate is proud to announce that it
sweeps up ten awards out of its twelve bars submitted for its delectable and
deliciously indulgent organic chocolates at the International Taste & Quality
Institute Superior Taste Awards 2007.
Last year’s success at the iTQi 2006 Awards included 3 Stars for Terra Nostra’s
73% Intense Dark, 2 Stars for the 60% Double Dark Truffle and Satin Milk
Truffle, and 1 Star for the Robust Dark Raisin & Pecans. This year 10 out of the
12 bars submitted for the 2007 Awards consistently received 2 Stars Each
reflecting a Superior global sensory analysis score.
“We warmly congratulate you for this remarkable achievement. Your company and
your team should be particularly proud to market products that are so highly
prized for their superior taste,” commented Louis Frère and Christian De Bau,
Managing Partners of the International Taste & Quality Institute (iTQi).
KFM President Karlo Flores adds, "It is with great pride that we accept, on
behalf of the many grower families, processors and the many other partners that
take pride in providing us with the top quality ingredients and technology for
us to create our chocolate magic. Being recognized with 10 Superior Taste Awards
from such distinguished and well-trained palates comprising iTQi, re-enforces
the deep and continued commitment of Terra Nostra Organic and our new Bon Bona
All Natural Indulgence premium brand to provide the Best Tasting experience we
can."
2007 Award Winning Chocolates include:
Terra Nostra Organic
1) Dark Caramel Bar
2) Pomegranate Dark Truffle Bar
3) Milk Caramel Bar
4) Non-Dairy Rice Milk & Almonds
5) Non-Dairy Rice Milk & Dark Truffle
6) Robust Dark & Roasted Almond Bar
7) Toffee and Dark Chocolate Bar
8) Toffee and Milk Chocolate Bar
9) Dark Ganache Truffles
Bon-Bona All Natural Indulgence
10) Bon Bona Single Origin Choco
Superbly reputable, the iTQi actively partners with the 10 most prestigious
European culinary organizations: Maîtres Cuisiniers of France and Belgium ,
Academy of Culinary Arts, Federación de Asociaciones de CocinerosAcadémie
Culinaire of France , Academy of Culinary Arts, Associaciones de Cocineros de
España, Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe, Federazione dei Cuochi Italiana, Academia
Española de Gastronomía, Verband der Köche Deutschlands and Euro-Toques.
Going back to the source - Ohhh how we are proud to honor & speak the
language of chocolate!
Tiffany To Open Boutique at Selfridges NEW YORK,
NY (May 8, 2007) -- Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) today announced plans to open
an approximately 1,500 square-foot boutique at Selfridges, one of London's
premier department stores located at 400 Oxford Street, in September 2007.
Situated in The Wonder Room, the store's new showcase that will display the
world's top luxury brands, the TIFFANY & CO. boutique will be designed with a
private sales salon and feature signature details of the jeweler's famous New
York flagship store, including ebonized Makore and mahogany woods and brushed
stainless steel showcases. "Oxford Street has long been one of the city's major
shopping destinations," said Melvyn Kirtley, president of Tiffany & Co. U.K.
"With the big names in luxury retailing concentrated in the elegant new Wonder
Room at Selfridges, Londoners and tourists alike have even more reason to visit
Selfridges. When they do, they will find the TIFFANY & CO. shopping experience
awaiting them, with the quality, craftsmanship and service for which we are
known worldwide." The boutique, the jeweler's fifth London location, will offer
an array of TIFFANY & CO. collections, including the world's finest diamonds in
dazzling engagement rings and jewels in platinum and eighteen-karat gold
settings; rare and lustrous pearls; the signature designs of Elsa Peretti,
Paloma Picasso, Jean Schlumberger and Frank Gehry; watches; accessories and
gifts. Tiffany & Co. operates jewelry and specialty retail stores and
manufactures products through its subsidiary corporations. Its principal
subsidiary is Tiffany and Company. The Company operates TIFFANY & CO. retail
stores and boutiques in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe and engages in
direct selling through Internet, catalog and business gift operations. Other
operations include consolidated results from ventures operated under trademarks
or trade names other than TIFFANY & CO. For additional information, please visit
www.tiffany.com
or call our shareholder information line at 800-TIF-0110. TIFFANY & CO. and
TIFFANY are trademarks of Tiffany and Company.
TIFFANY TO OPEN STORE IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND NEW YORK,
NY (May 8, 2007) -- Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) today announced plans for the
November 2007 opening of an approximately 5,100-square-foot store in Providence
Place, an upscale retail center in Providence, Rhode Island. Owned and managed
by General Growth Properties, Inc. (NYSE:GGP), the center is located within the
Capital Center District of downtown Providence and is the prime destination for
shopping, dining and entertainment. "Tiffany is already at home in Rhode Island
with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility we opened in Cumberland in 2001,"
said Beth O. Canavan, executive vice president of Tiffany & Co. "Now with a
store in Providence, we can offer many Tiffany designs to our growing customer
base in the New England area. Providence Place is an ideal location that puts us
at the intersection of this sophisticated market with a long tradition and
appreciation for fine jewelry. We look forward to becoming a familiar presence
in this historic capital city." The new store will offer an array of renowned
TIFFANY & CO. collections, such as the jeweler's celebrated diamonds, including
engagement rings and jewels of ultimate glamour; the signature designs of Elsa
Peretti, Paloma Picasso, Jean Schlumberger, and the artful twists and curves of
Frank Gehry; watches; accessories; china and crystal gifts. "We are excited to
welcome the first Tiffany & Co. in Rhode Island," said Craig Gorris, Senior
General Manager at Providence Place. "Adding a retailer of this caliber will
enhance the shopping experience at Providence Place. The addition of Tiffany &
Co. is exciting not only to us, but to the Providence market as a whole, as it
signifies the present and future growth it is experiencing." Tiffany & Co.
operates jewelry and specialty retail stores and manufactures products through
its subsidiary corporations. Its principal subsidiary is Tiffany and Company.
The Company operates TIFFANY & CO. retail stores and boutiques in the Americas,
Asia-Pacific and Europe and engages in direct selling through Internet, catalog
and business gift operations. Other operations include consolidated results from
ventures operated under trademarks or trade names other than TIFFANY & CO. For
additional information, please visit www.tiffany.com or call our shareholder
information line at 800-TIF-0110. Providence Place is owned and managed by
General Growth Properties, Inc. the second largest U.S.-based publicly traded
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). General Growth currently has an ownership
interest in or management responsibility for a portfolio of more than 200
shopping malls in 45 states, as well as ownership in planned community
developments and commercial office buildings. The portfolio in totals
approximately 200 million square feet of retail space and includes more then
24,000 retail stores nationwide. General Growth Properties, Inc. is listed on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GGP. For more information, please
visit the Company Web site at http://www.generalgrowth.com. TIFFANY &
CO. and TIFFANY are trademarks of Tiffany and Company.
Deep Blue Marine, Inc. Talks Treasure Hunting Live on MN1.com
Wilf Blum, CEO of Deep Blue Marine, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
DPBM), will be featured live on Market
News First (www.mn1.com)
for an exclusive interview with the MN1 news team. The interview is scheduled
for May 2, 2007, at 11:45 AM CDT.
About The Company:
Deep Blue Marine, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
DPBM) is engaged in deep-water
exploration and recovery of important treasures and artifacts worldwide. In the
coming season the company will dive on known and permitted wrecks as well as
establish exact locations of other known wrecks. All work will be video
recorded.
Deep Blue Marine Strengthens Technology and Brings Together World Premiere
Researchers: DPBM has recently brought together some of the world's premiere
researchers, the most advanced, cutting-edge technology and equipment, and
extensively experienced and expert crew and managers.
Join Wilf Blum to learn more about the goals of the company, as well as its
position in the stock market.
Market News First is an online, market news provider that brings investors
current news on the market. Market News First is the only online, live IPTV web
site that brings real market news to investors and features live interaction
with companies from the Bulletin Board to NYSE.
Through daily, live interviews, we bring you up to date on all the
established companies and inform the investors of the newest opportunities
within the market. Market News First offers one-on-one interviews with the
presidents and CFOs of companies to deliver answers to the questions that
investors may ask and provides them insight into the companies' present
condition and future plans.
Nielsen to Acquire
Remaining Interest in BuzzMetrics;
Will Merge
Internet/Online Operations to Create ‘Fully Integrated Suite of Services’
April 30, 2007 - New
York and Haarlem, the Netherlands -
The Nielsen Company, a leading global information and media company, and
BuzzMetrics, the global leader in tracking and analysis of online
consumer-generated media, today announced that Nielsen and the other
stockholders of BuzzMetrics have agreed in principle to a transaction under
which Nielsen, which already owns approximately 58 percent of BuzzMetrics, would
acquire the remaining BuzzMetrics shares it does not currently own.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The
transaction is expected to be completed by the end of May 2007. Nielsen has
been involved with BuzzMetrics since January 2005, and took a majority position
in February 2006.
Earlier this year, Nielsen announced it
had entered into a merger agreement with NetRatings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRT) under
which Nielsen, which already owns approximately 60 percent of NetRatings, would
acquire the NetRatings shares it does not currently own. That transaction,
subject to NetRatings stockholder approval, is expected to be completed in the
second or third quarter of this year.
Upon completion of the BuzzMetrics and
NetRatings transactions, Nielsen’s premiere Internet information services --
which are marketed as Nielsen//NetRatings and Nielsen BuzzMetrics -- will be
consolidated into a single service unit. The new service will be led by Itzhak
Fisher, Executive Chairman of BuzzMetrics. As Executive Chairman of the new
service, Mr. Fisher will continue to report to David Calhoun, Chairman and CEO
of The Nielsen Company.
“NetRatings and BuzzMetrics are
recognized as the two leading providers of insight about consumer behavior
online,” said David Calhoun, Chairman and CEO of The Nielsen Company.
“By acquiring 100 percent of these
world-class brands, Nielsen can provide our clients with unrivaled understanding
of consumer behavior in this space, “added Calhoun. “More broadly, we can
provide our clients with even more insightful information when Internet/Online
consumer usage is combined with what products and services consumers buy (ACNielsen),
what consumers watch on television (Nielsen Media Research), and what books,
films, audio and video usages consumers interact with across multiple
platforms. Providing a fully integrated suite of services will enable Nielsen
to provide clients with unprecedented insights they need to grow their
businesses.”
About The Nielsen
Company
The Nielsen Company is a global
information and media company with leading market positions and recognized
brands in marketing information (ACNielsen), media information (Nielsen Media
Research), business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek),
trade shows and the newspaper sector (Scarborough Research). The privately
held company has more than 42,000 employees and is active in more than 100
countries, with headquarters in Haarlem , the Netherlands , and New York , USA
. For more information, please visit www.nielsen.com.
About NetRatings
NetRatings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRT) delivers
leading Internet media and market research solutions, marketed globally under
the Nielsen//NetRatings brand. With high quality, technology-driven products and
services, Nielsen//NetRatings is the global standard for Internet audience
measurement and premier source for online advertising intelligence, enabling
clients to make informed business decisions regarding their Internet and digital
strategies. The Nielsen//NetRatings portfolio includes panel-based and
site-centric Internet audience measurement services, online advertising
intelligence, user lifestyle and demographic data, e-commerce and transaction
metrics, and custom data, research and analysis. For more information, please
visit www.nielsen-netratings.com.
About Nielsen
BuzzMetrics
The Nielsen BuzzMetrics service,
marketed by BuzzMetrics, Inc., is the global standard in measuring
consumer-generated media and word of mouth. Nielsen BuzzMetrics helps more than
100 leading global companies interpret and leverage the buzz surrounding clients
such as Canon, Comcast, Ford, General Motors, HBO, Kraft, Microsoft, Nokia, P&G,
Sony, Target and Toyota , as well as the top 15 pharmaceutical concerns. Other
clients include the world ' s largest marketing-services firms, and innovative
new-marketing agencies. The company has also collaborated with distinguished
research organizations such as the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
BuzzMetrics, Inc. is a subsidiary of The Nielsen Company, owner of such renowned
research names as ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research. For more information,
visit
www.nielsenbuzzmetrics.com.
Forward-looking
Statements
This communication contains
“forward-looking statements” which represent the current expectations and
beliefs of management of Nielsen concerning the proposed acquisition of
BuzzMetrics and other future events and their potential effects on Nielsen and
BuzzMetrics. The statements, analyses, and other information contained herein
relating to the proposed acquisition, as well as other statements including
words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,”
“will,” “should,” “may,” and other similar expressions, are “forward-looking
statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated. Those factors include, without limitation:
(1) whether a definitive stock purchase agreement is signed by Nielsen and the
other stockholders of BuzzMetrics; (2) the satisfaction of the other conditions
specified in the purchase agreement; (3) the ability to successfully combine the
businesses of Nielsen and BuzzMetrics and BuzzMetrics and Nielsen NetRatings;
(4) operating costs and business disruption following the acquisition, including
adverse effects on relationships with employees; (5) changes in the stock market
and interest rate environment that affect revenues; (6) diversion of management
time on acquisition related issues; (7) control and retention of key employees
upon announcement of the proposed acquisition and following closing; (8) general
economic conditions
such as inflation; and (9) general
political and social conditions such as war, political unrest and terrorism.
Almost Half of Recent Movers Choose Non-Traditional Phone Service
According to Telephia's Total Communications Survey for Q4 2006,
49 percent of households who have moved recently have chosen
non-traditional residential phone options. Twenty-five percent have
opted for wireless only, while thirteen percent have chosen a cable
phone option.
Residential
Phone Service Market Share (Q4 2006)
Phone Service Provider
Moved Within Last Year
Did Not Move Within
Last Year
Telecom Carrier
51%
73%
Mobile Carrier Only
25%
9%
Cable MSO
13%
10%
VoIP Provider
6%
4%
Other
5%
4%
Source: Telephia
Total Communications Survey, April 2007
Recent-mover households tend to be young and to have a lower
overall household income than households that have not moved
recently, says the report. But, they do spend a higher proportion of
their income on communications and entertainment services.
Christianne Pang, product director, Telephia, said "Movers tend
to consider all available connectivity options... they... represent
an opportunity for providers to land long-term customers who
probably won't make a switch until the next move."
MoneyTV is the nationally syndicated
television program all about money and what makes it happen, (http://www.moneytv.net),
featuring informative interviews by hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman
with company CEOs, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for
their futures.
Free information packages from the featured
companies can be requested by sending an email to
info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online
immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program
include:
Capital Markets Technologies, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
CMKT) Chairman Jack Bouroudjian spoke of
the company's opportunities with the mandated and unprecedented changes
occurring in the European financial markets.
Pediatric Prosthetics, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
PDPR) CFO Kenneth Bean announced the
company is steps closer to filing for a listing on the OTC-BB.
RFID, Ltd. President Nicholas Chavez spoke of
the company entering the Identity Theft prevention market, by marketing
anti-theft devices for laptop computers.
Universal Express, Inc. (OTCBB:
USXP) CEO Richard Altomare spoke of the
company's success with their sports marketing and announced a closed door
meeting with their potential Saudi Arabian partners.
Sunrise Energy Resources, Inc. (OTCBB:
SEYR) CFO Roman Livson discussed the
many reasons the company is exploring for and producing oil and gas in Ukraine.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information
in the mail about featured companies by calling the toll-free phone number on
their TV screen. The weekly television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast
nationally in the USA to 70 million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET,
Sundays at 8:30 AM PT, 8:30 AM ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM
ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in
Western Europe, Wednesdays at 5:00 PM.
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Sundays at 8:00 AM.
MoneyTV is also available in Thailand on the
Broad TV Network.
A complete menu of TV listings is available at
the MoneyTV web site, http://www.moneytv.net.
MoneyTV television program, Copyright MMVII, all
rights reserved. MoneyTV does not provide an analysis of companies' financial
positions and is not soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies,
nor are we offering a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks.
Information discussed herein has been provided by the companies and should be
verified independently with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV
provides companies a 3- to 4-month corporate profile with multiple appearances
for a cash fee of $11,500.00 to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as
payment for services, does not hold any positions, options or warrants in
featured companies. The information herein is not an endorsement by the
producers, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV.
LECTROSONICS KEEPS ALLEN AT THE
FOREFRONT
OF HIS CRAFT Multiple generations of wireless
technology used on location and in education
Rio Rancho, NM – April 2007…
Whether on location for yet another TV or film project, or plying his craft to
future generations of film students at Full Sail, independent production sound
mixer Thomas E. Allen Sr. C.A.S. is one very busy audio professional. Having
started in this business more than 30 years back, Allen’s experience has taken
him from equipment repair to post production and on to location sound, which has
been his passion since 1985. Throughout a seemingly countless string of
projects, Allen has consistently relied on one company to provide the wireless
technology he credits with much of his success—Lectrosonics.
During the 30-plus years he’s been working on
location, Allen has been involved in episodic television shows such as
Murder, She Wrote and Columbo, along with numerous film projects,
including the recently completed Sydney White; also known as Sydney
White and the Seven Dorks. A Morgan Creek feature scheduled for release in
late 2007 or early 2008, Sydney is a modern retelling of Snow White
set against students in their freshman year of college in the
fraternity/sorority Greek system. Starring Amanda Bynes and John Schneider as
part of a sizable cast, Allen found himself interfacing multiple generations of
Lectrosonics wireless technology to accommodate the demands of production.
Allen’s wireless arsenal includes four channels
of Lectrosonics UM400 transmitters and UCR411A receivers plus another four
channels of earlier generation M185 transmitters and 185 VHF receivers. For his
work on Sydney, Allen reports placing every piece into service. “Because
we had as many as ten actors speaking on the set,” notes Allen, “this equipment
saved me a tremendous amount of time. There were simply too many people to
attempt miking everything with a fish pole (boom setup). Even though I was using
my early generation 185 series gear side by side with my 400 series equipment, I
was able to seamlessly blend all the Lectrosonics units into the mix with my
wired mics. I was running ten audio channels simultaneously and not once did I
encounter any RF issues. Without my Lectrosonics equipment, this would have been
an impossible task.”
While his 185 series gear may be showing its
age, not once has Allen considered retiring the equipment. “These have been
exceptionally dependable units and I still use them quite frequently,” Allen
said enthusiastically. “They’ve seen a lot of service—and some of it quite out
of the ordinary. I remember one project where I actually worked with wardrobe to
conceal a 185 transmitter in an actress’ hair because there was no other way to
hide the transmitter. Believe me… these units have seen it all!”
For Allen and others like him who spend their
time “in the trenches”, reliability is of critical concern, and on this note,
Lectrosonics gets high marks. “Their products run forever,” notes Allen. “I’ve
had virtually no problems with any Lectrosonics equipment—either my own or the
school’s. For Sydney, which came up at the last minute, I knew I needed a
lot of channels, so I sent my 185s in for checkups, since I hadn’t used them in
a while. I wanted them looked over as a precautionary measure because you never
know what you’ll encounter on location. The company serviced my equipment and
turned them around super fast. I was really appreciative of their customer
support—so much so, that I called the company back just to thank them.”
At Full Sail, which is recognized nationally as
one of the leading schools for TV/film/music production, computer animation, and
other production disciplines, Allen teaches using the school’s three channels of
Lectrosonics SM series transmitters and Venue receiver equipment. “This is a
wonderful system,” says Allen, “and I plan on adding a similar setup to my own
equipment arsenal in the near future. It’s amazing how compact the Venue system
is—even with a full six channels.”
Allen has grown particularly fond of the
Lectrosonics VR Field Receiver System. “I’ve been very impressed with the VR
Field version of the Venue system,” continued Allen, “as the battery operation
makes this a self contained unit that doesn’t depend upon 110 volts AC for
operation. When this is linked with the SM transmitters, the system is
unbelievable in terms of its compactness, its ability to conceal transmitters,
its sound quality, and the ability to mix it with other mics and make it all
sound like one. This will be my next major Lectrosonics purchase—no doubt about
it!”
Before rushing off for yet another hectic day,
Allen summed up his Lectrosonics experience. “With its durability and
unsurpassed sound quality, I don’t believe there’s another system on the market
that comes even close to Lectrosonics in terms of features and performance,”
said Allen. “I’ve always maintained that if I’m going to make a major capital
investment in equipment, Lectrosonics represents a wise, secure way to go that
will pay me back one hundred fold.”
About Lectrosonics
Well respected within the film, broadcast, and
theater technical communities since 1971, Lectrosonics wireless microphone
systems and audio processing products are used daily in mission-critical
applications by audio engineers familiar with the company's dedication to
quality, customer service, and innovation. Lectrosonics is a US manufacturer
based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. For additional information on the SM Series
transmitters, Venue receivers, UM400 transmitters, UCR411A receivers, and all
Lectrosonics products, visit the company online at
www.lectrosonics.com.
Tassili Airlines of Algeria Orders Four
Bombardier Q200 Airliners
-- Bombardier Aerospace announced today that
Tassili Airlines of Algiers, Algeria has placed a firm order for four 35-seat
Bombardier Q200 turboprop aircraft.
The value of the contract based on the list
price for the Q200 aircraft is approximately $74 million US.
This order for Q200 aircraft follows the
announcement on July 31, 2006 of Tassili Airlines' order for four 74-seat
Bombardier Q400 aircraft. Tassili will be the first operator of Q400 and Q200
aircraft in Algeria.
Tassili Airlines, a subsidiary of the Sonatrach
State Energy Group, will initially transport workers to several oil fields in
Algeria. It plans to add domestic and international scheduled airline service
within the next few years.
"The Q200 and the Q400 airliners will perform
different roles," said Capt. Rachid Nouar, Managing Director, Tassili Airlines.
"The Q400 airliners will fly between Algiers and the oilfields in southern
Algeria, while the Q200 aircraft will shuttle workers on shorter flights between
the southern oilfields. We chose the Q200 turboprop because of its family
commonality with the Q400 airliner. The Common Crew Qualification between the
two aircraft will give us great operational flexibility."
"We are gratified that Tassili Airlines has
shown confidence in Bombardier regional aircraft by placing this order so soon
after ordering the Q400 airliner," said Steven Ridolfi, President, Bombardier
Regional Aircraft. "The Q400 and Q200 aircraft will complement each other very
well in the Tassili operation."
As of January 31, 2007, Bombardier had delivered
778 Q-Series aircraft to customers around the world.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative
transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail
transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global
corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan.
31, 2007, were $14.8 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (BBD). News and information are available at
www.bombardier.com.
Bombardier, Q200 and Q400 are trademarks of
Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Chief Becomes AIA Cornerstone Partner!
Offering more effective communication with
architects
Chief® Manufacturing Inc., the
industry leader in mounting solutions, is excited to announce a Cornerstone
Partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA). With the new
partnership, Chief will be better able to educate and serve the mounting needs
of architects, consultants and designers.
AIA represents the professional interests of
American architects, and is “the voice of the architectural profession and the
resource for its members in service to society.” By being a part of the AIA
Cornerstone Partner program, Chief will be more effectively able to communicate
with architects nationwide.
Chief’s offers a variety of resources for
architects and designers, including a newly designed Design Center website. The
site is focused on helping architects, consultants and interior designers to
integrate technology into projects, while respecting the integrity of the
structure and overall design.
With the website, architects and designers can
get up-to-date information, specifications and drawings on the largest line of
mounting solutions worldwide for flat panels and projectors. Find
state-of-the-art solutions and easily download related documents in minutes. The
site features a “product specs” tab with downloads for CAD drawings and
-more-
Technical Manuals, CSI specs coming soon! The
“FAQ” section makes it easy to
choose the right custom or universal mount for
your application. Users can also register on the site to receive the latest news
and product updates from Chief. Access the site at
www.designcenter.chiefmfg.com.
About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, a division of CSAV – Chief/Sanus
Audio Visual, has more than 29 years of proven product and service excellence.
Committed to responding to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential and Office
markets, Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lifts and accessories for flat
panel displays and projectors.
Chief continues to design innovative mounting
solutions that complement the technology they support. With multiple product
awards and patented designs, Chief provides unique mount features, and is
recognized for delivering not only quality products, but knowledgeable, helpful
customer service.
U.S. and Europe sales offices support a global
network spanning the Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim and beyond. Chief
distribution centers are located in Minnesota and the Netherlands.
www.chiefmfg.com.
Free information packages from the featured
companies can be requested by sending an email to
info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online
immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program
include:
Capital Markets Technologies, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
CMKT) Chairman Jack Bouroudjian spoke of
the company's opportunities with the mandated and unprecedented changes
occurring in the European financial markets.
Pediatric Prosthetics, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
PDPR) CFO Kenneth Bean announced the
company is steps closer to filing for a listing on the OTC-BB.
RFID, Ltd. President Nicholas Chavez spoke of
the company entering the Identity Theft prevention market, by marketing
anti-theft devices for laptop computers.
Universal Express, Inc. (OTCBB:
USXP) CEO Richard Altomare spoke of the
company's success with their sports marketing and announced a closed door
meeting with their potential Saudi Arabian partners.
Sunrise Energy Resources, Inc. (OTCBB:
SEYR) CFO Roman Livson discussed the
many reasons the company is exploring for and producing oil and gas in Ukraine.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information
in the mail about featured companies by calling the toll-free phone number on
their TV screen. The weekly television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast
nationally in the USA to 70 million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET,
Sundays at 8:30 AM PT, 8:30 AM ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM
ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in
Western Europe, Wednesdays at 5:00 PM.
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Sundays at 8:00 AM.
MoneyTV is also available in Thailand on the
Broad TV Network.
A complete menu of TV listings is available at
the MoneyTV web site, http://www.moneytv.net.
MoneyTV television program, Copyright MMVII, all
rights reserved. MoneyTV does not provide an analysis of companies' financial
positions and is not soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies,
nor are we offering a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks.
Information discussed herein has been provided by the companies and should be
verified independently with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV
provides companies a 3- to 4-month corporate profile with multiple appearances
for a cash fee of $11,500.00 to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as
payment for services, does not hold any positions, options or warrants in
featured companies. The information herein is not an endorsement by the
producers, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV.
LECTROSONICS KEEPS ALLEN AT THE
FOREFRONT
OF HIS CRAFT Multiple generations of wireless
technology used on location and in education
Rio Rancho, NM – April 2007…
Whether on location for yet another TV or film project, or plying his craft to
future generations of film students at Full Sail, independent production sound
mixer Thomas E. Allen Sr. C.A.S. is one very busy audio professional. Having
started in this business more than 30 years back, Allen’s experience has taken
him from equipment repair to post production and on to location sound, which has
been his passion since 1985. Throughout a seemingly countless string of
projects, Allen has consistently relied on one company to provide the wireless
technology he credits with much of his success—Lectrosonics.
During the 30-plus years he’s been working on
location, Allen has been involved in episodic television shows such as
Murder, She Wrote and Columbo, along with numerous film projects,
including the recently completed Sydney White; also known as Sydney
White and the Seven Dorks. A Morgan Creek feature scheduled for release in
late 2007 or early 2008, Sydney is a modern retelling of Snow White
set against students in their freshman year of college in the
fraternity/sorority Greek system. Starring Amanda Bynes and John Schneider as
part of a sizable cast, Allen found himself interfacing multiple generations of
Lectrosonics wireless technology to accommodate the demands of production.
Allen’s wireless arsenal includes four channels
of Lectrosonics UM400 transmitters and UCR411A receivers plus another four
channels of earlier generation M185 transmitters and 185 VHF receivers. For his
work on Sydney, Allen reports placing every piece into service. “Because
we had as many as ten actors speaking on the set,” notes Allen, “this equipment
saved me a tremendous amount of time. There were simply too many people to
attempt miking everything with a fish pole (boom setup). Even though I was using
my early generation 185 series gear side by side with my 400 series equipment, I
was able to seamlessly blend all the Lectrosonics units into the mix with my
wired mics. I was running ten audio channels simultaneously and not once did I
encounter any RF issues. Without my Lectrosonics equipment, this would have been
an impossible task.”
While his 185 series gear may be showing its
age, not once has Allen considered retiring the equipment. “These have been
exceptionally dependable units and I still use them quite frequently,” Allen
said enthusiastically. “They’ve seen a lot of service—and some of it quite out
of the ordinary. I remember one project where I actually worked with wardrobe to
conceal a 185 transmitter in an actress’ hair because there was no other way to
hide the transmitter. Believe me… these units have seen it all!”
For Allen and others like him who spend their
time “in the trenches”, reliability is of critical concern, and on this note,
Lectrosonics gets high marks. “Their products run forever,” notes Allen. “I’ve
had virtually no problems with any Lectrosonics equipment—either my own or the
school’s. For Sydney, which came up at the last minute, I knew I needed a
lot of channels, so I sent my 185s in for checkups, since I hadn’t used them in
a while. I wanted them looked over as a precautionary measure because you never
know what you’ll encounter on location. The company serviced my equipment and
turned them around super fast. I was really appreciative of their customer
support—so much so, that I called the company back just to thank them.”
At Full Sail, which is recognized nationally as
one of the leading schools for TV/film/music production, computer animation, and
other production disciplines, Allen teaches using the school’s three channels of
Lectrosonics SM series transmitters and Venue receiver equipment. “This is a
wonderful system,” says Allen, “and I plan on adding a similar setup to my own
equipment arsenal in the near future. It’s amazing how compact the Venue system
is—even with a full six channels.”
Allen has grown particularly fond of the
Lectrosonics VR Field Receiver System. “I’ve been very impressed with the VR
Field version of the Venue system,” continued Allen, “as the battery operation
makes this a self contained unit that doesn’t depend upon 110 volts AC for
operation. When this is linked with the SM transmitters, the system is
unbelievable in terms of its compactness, its ability to conceal transmitters,
its sound quality, and the ability to mix it with other mics and make it all
sound like one. This will be my next major Lectrosonics purchase—no doubt about
it!”
Before rushing off for yet another hectic day,
Allen summed up his Lectrosonics experience. “With its durability and
unsurpassed sound quality, I don’t believe there’s another system on the market
that comes even close to Lectrosonics in terms of features and performance,”
said Allen. “I’ve always maintained that if I’m going to make a major capital
investment in equipment, Lectrosonics represents a wise, secure way to go that
will pay me back one hundred fold.”
About Lectrosonics
Well respected within the film, broadcast, and
theater technical communities since 1971, Lectrosonics wireless microphone
systems and audio processing products are used daily in mission-critical
applications by audio engineers familiar with the company's dedication to
quality, customer service, and innovation. Lectrosonics is a US manufacturer
based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. For additional information on the SM Series
transmitters, Venue receivers, UM400 transmitters, UCR411A receivers, and all
Lectrosonics products, visit the company online at
www.lectrosonics.com.
Tassili Airlines of Algeria Orders Four
Bombardier Q200 Airliners
-- Bombardier Aerospace announced today that
Tassili Airlines of Algiers, Algeria has placed a firm order for four 35-seat
Bombardier Q200 turboprop aircraft.
The value of the contract based on the list
price for the Q200 aircraft is approximately $74 million US.
This order for Q200 aircraft follows the
announcement on July 31, 2006 of Tassili Airlines' order for four 74-seat
Bombardier Q400 aircraft. Tassili will be the first operator of Q400 and Q200
aircraft in Algeria.
Tassili Airlines, a subsidiary of the Sonatrach
State Energy Group, will initially transport workers to several oil fields in
Algeria. It plans to add domestic and international scheduled airline service
within the next few years.
"The Q200 and the Q400 airliners will perform
different roles," said Capt. Rachid Nouar, Managing Director, Tassili Airlines.
"The Q400 airliners will fly between Algiers and the oilfields in southern
Algeria, while the Q200 aircraft will shuttle workers on shorter flights between
the southern oilfields. We chose the Q200 turboprop because of its family
commonality with the Q400 airliner. The Common Crew Qualification between the
two aircraft will give us great operational flexibility."
"We are gratified that Tassili Airlines has
shown confidence in Bombardier regional aircraft by placing this order so soon
after ordering the Q400 airliner," said Steven Ridolfi, President, Bombardier
Regional Aircraft. "The Q400 and Q200 aircraft will complement each other very
well in the Tassili operation."
As of January 31, 2007, Bombardier had delivered
778 Q-Series aircraft to customers around the world.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative
transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail
transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global
corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan.
31, 2007, were $14.8 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (BBD). News and information are available at
www.bombardier.com.
Bombardier, Q200 and Q400 are trademarks of
Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Chief Becomes AIA Cornerstone Partner!
Offering more effective communication with
architects
Chief® Manufacturing Inc., the
industry leader in mounting solutions, is excited to announce a Cornerstone
Partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA). With the new
partnership, Chief will be better able to educate and serve the mounting needs
of architects, consultants and designers.
AIA represents the professional interests of
American architects, and is “the voice of the architectural profession and the
resource for its members in service to society.” By being a part of the AIA
Cornerstone Partner program, Chief will be more effectively able to communicate
with architects nationwide.
Chief’s offers a variety of resources for
architects and designers, including a newly designed Design Center website. The
site is focused on helping architects, consultants and interior designers to
integrate technology into projects, while respecting the integrity of the
structure and overall design.
With the website, architects and designers can
get up-to-date information, specifications and drawings on the largest line of
mounting solutions worldwide for flat panels and projectors. Find
state-of-the-art solutions and easily download related documents in minutes. The
site features a “product specs” tab with downloads for CAD drawings and
-more-
Technical Manuals, CSI specs coming soon! The
“FAQ” section makes it easy to
choose the right custom or universal mount for
your application. Users can also register on the site to receive the latest news
and product updates from Chief. Access the site at
www.designcenter.chiefmfg.com.
About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, a division of CSAV – Chief/Sanus
Audio Visual, has more than 29 years of proven product and service excellence.
Committed to responding to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential and Office
markets, Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lifts and accessories for flat
panel displays and projectors.
Chief continues to design innovative mounting
solutions that complement the technology they support. With multiple product
awards and patented designs, Chief provides unique mount features, and is
recognized for delivering not only quality products, but knowledgeable, helpful
customer service.
U.S. and Europe sales offices support a global
network spanning the Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim and beyond. Chief
distribution centers are located in Minnesota and the Netherlands.
www.chiefmfg.com.
AM/FM Radio Continues to Dominate Digital Audio Platforms
AM/FM Radio Continues to Dominate Digital Audio Platforms
According to the latest study by Arbitron and Edison Media
Research, AM/FM radio continues to have a big impact on people's
lives. Nearly one in five consumers say radio impacts their lives,
ranking second only to mobile phones (35 percent) as the audio
platform/device that has the biggest impact on the lives of its
users.
Other Key findings from The Infinite Dial 2007 study: Radio's
Digital Platforms...
Among all persons 12 and older who participated in the study,
the average time spent listening to AM/FM radio per day was 2
hours, 37 minutes.
Those who use radio's newer digital platforms (online radio,
satellite radio or audio podcast) listen to AM/FM 2 hours, 45
minutes a day.
Eleven percent of the U.S. population (29 million) age 12 and
older have listened to Internet radio in the past week. 16 percent
of persons age 18-34 and 14 percent of persons 18-49 have done so.
Thirty percent of Americans age 12 and older own a portable
MP3 player, from 22 percent in 2006 and 14 percent in 2005. 54
percent of those age 12-17 own a digital audio player.
Seventy percent of Americans age 12 and older do not own an
iPod/portable MP3 player, and 15 percent report the device has had
no impact on radio listening. Nine percent say they are listening
less to over-the-air radio due to time spent with their iPod/portable
MP3 player.
In January 2007, 26 percent said they had heard or read about
HD Radio recently, compared to 14 percent in January 2006, but
only 6 percent said they were "very" interested in HD Radio
Awareness of podcasting has jumped from 22 percent in 2006 to
37 percent in 2007.
Bill Rose, senior vice president, Marketing,
Arbitron Inc., said "Broadcasters
should promote the vitality of over-the-air radio. On a weekly
basis, AM/FM radio is used by the overwhelming majority of
Americans, and it continues to have a big impact on the lives of
consumers."
COGNIZANT CITED AS A LEADER BY INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FIRM IN
NORTH AMERICAN APPLICATIONS OUTSOURCING REPORT, Q1 2007
Recognized as Top Offshore Provider for North American Applications
Outsourcing
Teaneck, New Jersey—March 26, 2007—Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH), a leading
provider of IT and business process outsourcing services, today announced that
it was among the select companies that Forrester invited to participate in The
Forrester Wave: North American Applications Outsourcing Q1 2007. In this
evaluation, Cognizant was recognized as a leader in the report and cited as the
top offshore provider for North American applications outsourcing.
"Among leading Indian offshore firms, Cognizant received the highest overall
grade for cultural fit while remaining price-competitive," states the report by
Forrester Research. "Cognizant performed well in our analysis because of a
variety of strengths. One that stood out in particular was its cultural affinity
with US clients. `What makes them so good is their ability to understand the
U.S. culture,' said one customer reference, who rated Cognizant as its top
applications outsourcing (AO) provider. Cognizant also exhibited strong price
competitiveness: a one-two punch that helps to explain its rapid growth."
The rankings represent Forrester's selection of the top performers from each of
the major categories that make up the North American Applications Outsourcing
Providers – multinational corporations (MNC's) and offshore players. Top
companies in each sector were chosen based on current offerings (technical,
engagement and functional approach; client references; and complementary
capabilities), strategy (solution and corporate) and market presence (based on
customer base, financial performance and engagement profile).
"We are honored to be recognized by Forrester for our applications outsourcing
strategy, cultural fit and global delivery capabilities," said Francisco D'Souza,
President and CEO, Cognizant. "What distinguishes Cognizant in the applications
outsourcing market is our utmost focus on client satisfaction and our commitment
to delivering higher returns on their IT outsourcing investment. This
recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our talented
employees around the world, and to our deep and long experience in Applications
Outsourcing, which has resulted in the maturity and completeness of our
offerings."
About Cognizant's Applications Outsourcing Approach Cognizant takes a holistic approach to managing outsourcing engagements via
its unique relationship management model. Cognizant tracks a client engagement
at various levels to ensure that all aspects – project delivery, infrastructure,
quality processes, resource management and financial issues – are addressed.
About Cognizant Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of IT and business process
outsourcing services. Focused on delivering strategic information technology
solutions that address the complex business needs of its clients, Cognizant uses
its own on-site/offshore outsourcing model to provide applications management,
development, integration, and reengineering; infrastructure management; business
process outsourcing; and numerous related services, such as enterprise
consulting, technology architecture, program management, and change management.
Cognizant has over 40,000 employees who are committed to partnerships that
sustain long-term, proven value for customers by delivering high-quality,
cost-effective solutions through its development centers in India and on-site
client teams. Cognizant maintains P-CMM, SW-CMM and CMMI Maturity Level 5
assessments from an independent third-party assessor and ranked among the top
information technology companies in Business Week's Hot Growth Companies.
Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100 Index and the S&P 500 Index. Find
additional information about Cognizant at http://www.cognizant.com.
This press release includes statements which may constitute forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to
risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to
be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied include general economic conditions and the factors
discussed in our most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Cognizant undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events, or otherwise.
Kraft Recommends Rejection of Mini-Tender
Offer by TRC Capital Corporation
--Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE:KFT) has been notified
of an unsolicited "mini-tender offer" by TRC Capital Corporation of Toronto (TRC)
for TRC to purchase in cash up to three million shares, or less than 0.2%
percent of the outstanding Kraft common stock, at a price of $31.00 per share.
TRC's offer price of $31.00 per share represents a 6.3% discount to the April
20, 2007 closing price of $33.09 per share on the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE). Kraft does not endorse TRC's unsolicited mini-tender offer and
recommends that stockholders not tender their shares in response to this
mini-tender offer. Kraft is not in any way associated with TRC, this mini-tender
offer or the offer documentation.
Mini-tender offers, such as this one by TRC, do
not give investors the same level of protection afforded by larger tender
offers. For example, in making this offer, TRC is not required to file
disclosure and other offer documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) or adhere to additional procedures mandated by U.S. securities laws.
Kraft urges investors to:
Obtain current market quotes for their
shares of common stock,
Consult with their financial advisors, and
Exercise caution with respect to TRC's
offer.
The SEC has issued "Investor Tips" on
mini-tender offers, which note that often in making the offers at below-market
prices, "bidders are hoping that they will catch investors off guard if the
investors do not compare the offer price to the current market price." The SEC's
advisory is available at www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/minitend.htm.
Kraft encourages stockbrokers and dealers as
well as other market participants to review the SEC's and the NYSE's
recommendations on the dissemination of mini-tender offers. These
recommendations are available at www.sec.gov/divisions/marketreg/minitenders/sia072401.htm
and in the Information Memo Number 01-27, issued by the NYSE on Sept. 28, 2001,
which can be found under the "NYSE Regulation -- Information Memos" tab at
www.nyse.com.
About Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods (NYSE:KFT) is one of the world's
largest food and beverage companies with annual revenues of more than $34
billion. For over 100 years, Kraft has offered consumers delicious and wholesome
foods that fit the way they live. Kraft markets a broad portfolio of iconic
brands in 155 countries, including seven brands with revenue of more than $1
billion, such as Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; Oscar Mayer meats;
Philadelphia cream cheese; Post cereals; Nabisco cookies and crackers; Jacobs
coffees and Milka chocolates. Kraft became a fully independent company on March
30, 2007, and is listed in the Standard & Poor's 100 and 500 indexes. The
company also is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel
Sustainability Index. For more information, visit the company's website at
www.kraft.com.
04.21.2007: Tickets are now available for GET SPRUNG,
our Spring Break bout!
Spring is upon us and the OC Roller Girls are ready to
let loose! You will want to join them for an
inhibitions-free spring break fling pitting the Psycho
Ex-Girlfriends against the Back Bay Bombshells.
The spring 2007 jewelry collection is now available.
We will be adding all of these amazing new pieces to
our web store over the next few days.
Come check it out.
You are gonna love it!
Thanks for taking a few minutes from your busy
schedule to catch up with Femme Metale "Sterling
Silver Jewelry That Rocks."
ARRIS Opens Testing & Interoperability Lab in Buenos Aires
Suwanee, GA – April 19, 2007: ARRIS (Nasdaq: ARRS) today announced that it has
opened a testing and interoperability lab in Buenos Aires, Argentina. With
several key voice over cable deployments planned for the Argentine market in the
coming months, the lab will serve as the center of ARRIS VoIP service and
quality assurance in the region to further support ARRIS customers as they
launch their triple play packages. The lab will be staffed by ARRIS field
support engineers and system integration specialists and will house a complete
line of ARRIS CMTS and CPE equipment as well as the ARRIS Universal CPE Test
Station (UCTS), third party call servers, gateways and appropriate testing and
interoperability equipment necessary to ensure effective field service and
support for Argentine cable operators.
"We have established this lab to provide local support and service to our MSO
customers in Argentina," said Claudio Cerioli, ARRIS Senior Vice President of
International Sales. "Delivering primary line voice service is a difficult
proposition and one that ARRIS understands very well. It requires the highest
standards of reliability and scalability, so it was in our customers' best
interests to have trained engineers and dedicated testing facilities in the
region to deliver them the world-class service they have come to expect from
ARRIS."
As deregulation of voice service in Central and South America occurs market to
market, ARRIS is at the forefront of numerous planned cable operator voice
rollouts and currently powers several VoIP deployments in the region. These
include a long-standing relationship with VTR of Chile and the
recently-announced launch of VoIP by Mexican MSO Cablemas. Both companies use
the ARRIS C4® CMTS and Touchstone® E-MTAs in their digital voice service.
Additionally, ARRIS E-MTAs are currently deployed in numerous Central American
markets and the Caribbean.
About ARRIS
ARRIS provides broadband local access networks with innovative video, high-speed
data and telephony systems for the delivery of voice, video and data to the home
and business. ARRIS complete solutions enhance the reliability and value of
converged services from the network to the subscriber. Headquartered in Suwanee,
Georgia, USA, ARRIS has design, engineering, distribution, service and sales
office locations throughout the world. Information about ARRIS products and
services can be found at
http://www.arrisi.com. For more information about ARRIS C4 CMTS visit
http://www.arrisi.com/c4.
Fitness, Diet Aids and Spas Boost Drug Ad Spending
According to figures recently released by the Publishers Information Bureau,
total magazine rate-card-reported ad revenue for the first quarter rose 6.9%
compared with the same period last year, closing at $5.3 billion. Ad pages were
up 1% for the quarter. Total PIB revenue for the month of March 2007 increased
8.8% compared to last year, closing at $2,282,204,898. Ad pages totaled
22,388.48, up 2% from March 2006.
Ten of the 12 ad categories tracked by PIB posted ad revenue gains, including
drugs & remedies, retail, and food and food products. Ad categories that posted
revenue declines included home furnishings and supplies, and financial,
insurance and real estate.
Considering business books in the first quarter:
Ad revenue for BusinessWeek was up 2.2%, while ad pages fell 3%
Forbes' ad revenue was up 2.2%, while ad pages were down 8.9%
Ad revenue for Fortune fell 5.4%, and ad pages declined 13%
The Economist's ad revenue rose 29%, while ad pages were up 14%
From January through March of 2007, half of the major advertising categories
posted both PIB revenue and page gains, including Drugs & Remedies; Food & Food
Products; Direct Response; Retail; Media & Advertising; and Public
Transportation, Hotels & Resorts. Three categories posted double-digit dollar
increases: Drugs & Remedies (20.4%); Retail (19.5%); and Food & Food Products
(11.7%).
Ad Revenue and Pages for 1st
Quarter, 2007 (% change from 2006 as of April 9, 2007)
Class
2007 Dollars
%Chg
2007 Pages
%Chg
Drugs & Remedies
596,179,028
20.4
4,445.39
13.7
Apparel & Accessories
464,891,813
7.9
5,577.08
-1.2
Toiletries & Cosmetics
457,605,721
6.5
3,412.56
-1.1
Food & Food Products
449,565,962
11.7
3,002.08
7.3
Direct Response Companies
449,050,993
7.1
4,560.95
3.6
Automotive
425,206,468
0.4
3,882.52
-3.7
Retail
382,474,668
19.5
4,035.22
9.2
Media & Advertising
353,811,062
8.8
2,992.62
2.5
Home Furnishings & Supplies
262,823,003
-14.0
2,483.12
-15.5
Public Transportation, Hotels &
Resorts
260,774,715
6.0
3,307.57
2.5
Financial, Insurance & Real Estate
256,162,052
-10.2
2,784.57
-10.8
Technology
233,533,543
0.7
2,335.78
-6.8
Source: Publishers Information
Bureau (PIB), April2007
Ellen Oppenheim, Executive Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer, Magazine
Publishers of America. said "While medicines and proprietary remedies account
for most of the spending in Drugs in Q1, it's interesting to note that fitness
and diet aids, and spas, boasted the biggest boost in spending within that
category. Advertising for health-oriented food products, as well as ads for
condiments, seasonings, ingredients and beverages aided the page growth in Food.
In addition, a range of companies targeting both high-end and mass market
shoppers contributed to overall Retail category gains."
"Finance and Home experienced the most softness during the first quarter. And
Automotive, while down in pages, experienced some positive shifts within the
category, with dealerships overall and some manufacturers and suppliers spending
more," remarked Ms. Oppenheim.
Six of 12 major advertising categories posted PIB revenue and page increases
in March 2007. Double-digit dollar growth was recorded by five categories:
Apparel & Accessories (11.9%); Retail (21.1%); Drugs & Remedies (28.7%); Food &
Food Products (30.8%); and Public Transportation, Hotels & Resorts (10.2%). On
the pages side, double-digit gains were seen in Retail (10.4%); Drugs & Remedies
(18.6%); and Food & Food Products (19.7%).
Ad Revenue and Pages for March,
2007 (% change from 2006 as of April 9, 2007)
Class
2007 Dollars
%Chg
2007 Pages
%Chg
Apparel & Accessories
254,132,705
.9
2,725.44
0.2
Retail
240,322,967
21.1
2,412.63
10.4
Drugs & Remedies
223,412,917
28.7
1,682.81
18.4
Toiletries & Cosmetics
205,401,202
3.6
1,559.45
-2.3
Food & Food Products
188,552,464
30.8
1,267.44
19.7
Direct Response Companies
171,987,500
7.5
1,761.76
2.1
Automotive
153,292,173
-11.0
1,472.56
-13.8
Public Transportation, Hotels &
Resorts
129,726,134
10.2
1,586.85
7.5
Media & Advertising
124,388,857
4.2
1,071.29
-4.8
Home Furnishings & Supplies
114,048,097
-14.1
1,097.22
-15.1
Financial, Insurance & Real Estate
100,952,222
-8.9
1,094.07
-8.6
Technology
85,866,108
-6.1
880.10
-6.6
Source: Publishers Information
Bureau (PIB), April2007
MRC's Announces New MRX4000 Plus High Performance
ENG Central Receiver
"NAB Pick Hit" Award winner becomes the MRX4000 Plus with much
more to offer!
NAB Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada - April 16, 2007, Microwave Radio
Communications (MRC) today announced the introduction of the MRX4000 Plus,
a new high performance ENG Central Receiver based on the original award winning
MRX4000 demodulator - decoder platform.
The MRX4000 Plus retains all of the capabilities that the MRX4000
offers, with the addition of all new, highly linear RF and IF system that
provides high dynamic range and improved MER performance in a compact, easy to
install rack mounted shelf. Other new features include:
· Four IF bandpass filter selections as standard equipment
· High and low IF outputs for spectrum monitoring
· Standard RS-232 serial remote control or optional 10/100 baseT control
interface
· NTSC or PAL options
· AGC and Link Quality data outputs
Tony Finizio, the president of MRC had this to say: "The MRX4000 Plus,
is the natural evolution of a highly successful product, and one that makes good
sense for our customers "
The original MRX4000 integrated demodulator-decoder was developed by MRC to
support narrow channel analog and digital operation in the 2 GHz Broadcast
Auxiliary Services (BAS) band. The company will continue to offer its CodeRunner
4 central receiver, but with an extended warranty incentive, and packaged with
the original MRX4000 decoder-demodulator as a BAS companion.
Moving to this new platform gives MRC the ability to support SD and HD
decoding in addition to alternate modulation formats in future releases.
The MRX4000 Plus and all of MRC's advanced platforms can be seen in booth
C2907 and OE300 at the Las Vegas Convention Center .
MRC's MTX5000 ENG Edge Access Transmission System Enables
Wireless Newsroom Network Extension and Full Remote Control Capability
New IP over ENG platform supports live feeds in SD or HD and video file
transfer via the newsroom LAN
NAB Convention, Las Vegas , Nevada - April 16, 2007,Microwave Radio
Communications (MRC) today announced a new and highly advance microwave mobile,
the MTX5000 ENG Edge Access Transmission system. The MTX5000 offers all of the
normal features of a typical ENG mobile transmitter, but adds a unique set of
additional features never before offered in one integrated package, including:
· Integrated SD/HD encoding at 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 profiles
· A multi-mode modulator that supports DVB-T - COFDM, DVB-S & S2, Single
Carrier, LMS-T, FM, and VSB
· IP encapsulation and return data support
· ASI multiplex and remux
· Remote control
· AC3 transport
· Newsroom LAN access
· Support for future DRL
"The MTX5000 is not only a D-ENG transmitter, it's a whole new set of tools
for news directors and engineers alike" said Tony Finizio, president of MRC.
"This new Edge Access platform extends the newsroom network into the field by
supporting IP data in both directions for file transfer and remote control and
other tasks.
The unique and industry leading feature set that MTX5000 offers will support
the simultaneous transmission of live, encoded SD or HD via several transmission
formats, and streaming of existing video files via IP to the studio. Local
control is via user friendly touch screen and key pad, which are duplicated in
the remote control interface that may be accessed via 10/100 networking.
MRC will continue to offer the CodeRunner 2 for applications that do not
require the highly advance features that the MTX5000 offers. In addition, the
company will double the warranty for new CodeRunner 2 purchases to four full
years.
"The MTX5000 represents a giant leap forward in combining electronic news
gathering and newsroom networks" said Michael Payne, Chief Technology Officer of
Vislink. "News directors now have the tools for virtual docking with ENG
vehicles at the network edge and controlling the on-board systems from the
studio. The payoff is in improved workflow efficiency more cost effective use of
news assets."
MRC's New Central Receive Diversity System Raises the Bar for
Features and Expandability
Fully integrated SD/HD, maximal ratio combining, and cellular
diversity capability lead a long list of features in the new DS4000
NAB Convention, Las Vegas , Nevada - April 16, 2007, Microwave Radio
Communications, today announced the DRS4000, a new and expandable central
receive diversity system that supports single or multi-site architectures for
SD/HD ENG and OB applications. The DRS4000 diversity system is based on advanced
maximal ratio combining (MaxRC), a sophisticated technology that employs
multiple receiving antennas to help combat multi-path fading. MaxRC adds the
signals from each antenna and automatically balances the gain, which also
provides greater operating range in the process.
The DRS4000 also includes the capability of combining multiple MaxRC sites to
form a cellular diversity network that can support a metro or regional
architecture. In addition to supporting DVB-T COFDM, the DRS4000 also includes
an LMS-T demodulator. Developed by MRC's sister company Link Research, LMS-T
combines DVB-T like OFDM techniques with powerful LDPC error correction codes to
achieve a 30% improvement in throughput and a corresponding increase in
robustness. Initially developed for Link's wireless camera systems, LMS-T will
now be offered in all MRC ENG/OB transmitters that are HD capable.
"We are very excited about the addition of the DRS4000 to our portfolio" said
Tony Finizio, president of MRC, "Central and cellular diversity is an idea whose
time has come, and this system has what it takes to make it a practical and
effective reality."
System parameters can be easily and quickly set locally with a user friendly
keypad and display screen, or remotely using the DRS4000's network manager
software. The front panel includes two display screens, one that provides real
time metrics for every channel, and a second screen that displays decoded video
with spectrum monitor overlay. The integrated SD/HD decoder supports both 4:2:0
and 4:2:2 profiles.
"The DRS4000 is a perfect example of sister companies combining their talents
and technologies to achieve world class results." said Mike Payne, Chief
Technology Officer of Vislink. "As we move forward, our customers can expect to
see more developments that take advantage of the natural synergy that exists
within our corporation."
Vislink Announces Appointment of
Michael Payne to Group Chief Technology Officer
NAB Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada - April 16, 2007- Microwave Radio
Communications (MRC) and parent company, UK based Vislink PLC, announces the
appointment of Michael C. Payne to the position of Group Chief Technology
Officer (CTO) reporting to the CEO. Payne, with over 20 years of experience in
the microwave communications industry, formerly held the position of VP,
Marketing and Business Development for Microwave Radio Communications (MRC), a
Vislink company. He spent the majority of his career at MRC located in Billerica
, MA where prior to his last role, he held various positions including Director
of R/D and VP of Operations.
"We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mike to Group CTO," said Ian
Scott-Gall, Vislink CEO, "Vislink's strategy is for organic growth by
capitalizing on new product and technology developments and initiatives from our
three industry leading companies, Link, MRC and Advent. Mike will lead these
initiatives from a Group perspective as well as play a key role in the Group's
strategic planning, utilizing his many years of experience in R/D and his
cumulative industry and market knowledge."
Mike has been with MRC since 1987 when he joined as an Electrical Engineer
becoming in turn R&D Director. After his 13-year career in R&D he then moved
into operations as Director/VP until his most recent assignment as VP of
Marketing and Business Development at MRC. Mike received his BSEE from Wentworth
Institute of Technology and an MBA from Suffolk University both located in
Boston , MA .
UTA ONLINE CHANNELS LAUNCH ON VEOH TODAY
Channels to provide promising digital artists platform for potential agency
representation; Showcase existing UTA Online clients LOS ANGELES, CA (April 18,
2007) - Veoh Networks (www.veoh.com),
the leading innovator in Internet television, today announced the official
launch of two channels dedicated to UTA Online, the new broadband division of
leading Beverly Hills-based talent & literary agency, United Talent Agency. Of
the two channels, the Submissions channel (www.veoh.com/channels/UTAOnlineSubmissions)
will allow amateur producers to submit their videos directly to UTA Online,
where agents will evaluate their work for potential representation. The
Submissions channel can be accessed through Veoh’s home portal, or through
UTAO’s new website (www.utaonline.net)
In addition to the Submissions channel, UTA Online is launching a Client
Showcase channel (http://www.veoh.com/channels/UTAOnlineshowcase)
to highlight the work of many existing UTAO clients. Some of the innovative
content being featured on the Client Showcase channel includes award-winning
videos from Ask a Ninja; Davidjr’s interviews with celebrities such as John
Leguizamo and Wilmer Valderrama; and hilarious clips from independent,
up-and-coming producers such as Handsome Donkey, Dutch West,
Rednecks.tv, and Invisible Engine. Both
channels will feature videos presented in full-screen, DVD-quality utilizing
Veoh’s unique peer-to-peer technology. And the UTAO videos will be downloadable
using the Veoh Player for viewing on any screen, online or off. UTAOnline,
launched in October of 2006, is the first dedicated online division to be
launched by a major Hollywood agency, and it represents the first time a major
agency has opened its doors to unsolicited submissions. “As an agency, UTA
Online wants to embrace the open access nature of today’s digital media
landscape. We are looking for new original creative voices, and we want
undiscovered talent to have an easy mechanism for finding us,” said Brent
Weinstein, head of UTA Online. “The UTAO Submissions channel provides a safe,
structured and legally sound environment for new filmmakers to submit videos for
representation consideration.” “The UTA Online Submissions channel will be
Hollywood’s newest gateway to talent discovery, and it supports Veoh’s mission
of providing the most innovative platform for independent content creators
online today and in the future,” said Dmitry Shapiro, CEO of Veoh Networks, Inc.
“Similarly, UTA Online’s Client Showcase gives viewers the opportunity to be
introduced to exciting new artists in the early stages of their careers.” Veoh’s
publishing tools allows budding video producers to easily upload, manage, and
distribute videos with one-step uploading, giving them more time to spend on
creating content. In addition to uploading their videos to the UTAO Submissions
channel, publishers can easily reach the widest audience on the web since Veoh
will automatically publish their videos to other sites they choose: YouTube,
Google Video, MySpace, Facebook, even the publishers’ own blog, and RSS feed
syndicators. The Player, Veoh’s virtual digital video recorder, allows users to
watch the best of the UTAO content at their leisure either on- or offline, or on
an assortment of portable viewing devices such as an iPod. Viewers can also
easily connect their Veoh Player to their television, allowing them to watch
this programming with the same quality and comfort as a broadcast television
show. About Veoh Networks Veoh Networks is a new, innovative Internet television
broadcasting system that delivers broadcast-quality entertainment and
informational content via the Internet, using unique distribution technologies
to allow for unlimited capacity for both long- and short-form programming. Veoh
allows content producers from major entertainment studios and television
networks to independent video producers and enthusiasts to deliver high-quality,
full-screen video directly to consumers without financial, geographical or
capacity restrictions found in traditional broadcasting systems. This
democratization of video distribution fundamentally changes the dynamics of
television, creating unprecedented choice for consumers and a compelling
marketplace for content providers and advertisers. Headquartered in San Diego,
California with additional offices in Los Angeles, Veoh Networks is privately
held company that is backed by leading technology and media investors, including
Spark Capital, Michael Eisner’s Tornante Company, Time Warner Inc. and Shelter
Capital Partners. About UTA Online UTAOnline is the new broadband division of
United Talent Agency, and is the first of its kind to be launched by a major
Hollywood agency. UTA is one of the entertainment industry's premier talent and
literary agencies, representing many of world's most widely-known figures in
every current and emerging area of entertainment, including motion pictures,
television, digital media, publishing, music, mobile and live entertainment.
Collectively, UTA agents represent a significant cross-section of today's most
acclaimed and inspiring artists and entertainers, including nominees and winners
of Academy, Emmy, Grammy, Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild, Writers Guild,
Producers Guild, Golden Globe and People's Choice awards. The agency is also
globally recognized in the areas of corporate consulting, branding & licensing,
endorsements and the representation of production talent.
Heat Up Your Lunch Break -- in Just 60 Seconds
Bid Farewell to Brown Bag Boredom With New OSCAR MAYER Deli Creations Hot
Sandwich Melts
MADISON, WI -- (MARKET WIRE) -- April 18, 2007 -- Between meetings, errands
and a seemingly endless to-do list, it can seem impossible for many Americans to
enjoy a hot lunch. In fact, a recent survey(1) revealed that 70 percent of
Americans work straight through lunch or only spend a mere 5-10 minutes wolfing
down a quick bite. Of those who sneak time to eat, nearly two-thirds nibble on a
cold lunch and say their meal is bland, boring or completely and utterly
forgettable. Now, the deprived and bored can say adieu to the lunchtime blues
and make the most of lunch -- in a mere 60 seconds -- with new OSCAR MAYER Deli
Creations Hot Sandwich Melts.
Each OSCAR MAYER Deli Creations Hot Sandwich Melt is a build-your-own
sandwich complete with OSCAR MAYER Shaved meats, premium KRAFT cheeses,
specialty sauces and an innovative sub roll that heats in the microwave for
fresh baked taste in 60 seconds. Simply unwrap the quality sandwich ingredients,
place them on the specially designed microwaveable tray, arrange the sandwich
the way you want it and heat in the microwave for 60 seconds.
The Cold, Hard Truth About Lunch
The mid-day meal seems pretty grim as nearly 40 percent of Americans lunch
hunched over a keyboard. And, more than three-fourths of Americans think a hot
lunch is impossible due to lack of time, cost and inconvenience. But, it doesn't
mean they don't crave one. Nearly half of those surveyed think enjoying a nice
lunch break includes a delicious hot meal.
"As we looked at the state of the lunch hour, we found that many Americans
were looking for convenient ways to free themselves of brown bag boredom and
enjoy a hot lunch," says Chris Carlisle, Senior Brand Manager. "So, we set out
to create an innovative new product to satisfy America's love for deli meats in
a more convenient way. By using a proprietary bread recipe, OSCAR MAYER Deli
Creations Hot Sandwich Melts allow you to enjoy a delicious, hot sandwich in
about a minute."
Heat Up Your Lunch
Available in five delicious, sandwich shop-inspired varieties -- Oven Roasted
Ham & Cheddar, Honey Ham & Swiss, Turkey Monterey, Turkey & Cheddar Dijon and
Steakhouse Cheddar -- OSCAR MAYER Deli Creations Hot Sandwich Melts are a great
choice for anyone who has a busy schedule and is looking for a hot, convenient
lunch option.
Available nationwide beginning April 2007, OSCAR MAYER Deli Creations Hot
Sandwich Melts can be found in your grocer's refrigerated meat case section and
have a suggested retail price of $2.99. For more information, please visit
www.makethemostoflunch.com.
About Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies with
annual revenues of more than $34 billion. For over 100 years, Kraft has offered
consumers delicious and wholesome foods that fit the way they live. Kraft
markets a broad portfolio of iconic brands in 155 countries, including seven
brands with revenue of more than $1 billion, such as Kraft cheeses, dinners and
dressings; Oscar Mayer meats; Philadelphia cream cheese; Post cereals; Nabisco
cookies and crackers; Jacobs coffees and Milka chocolates. Kraft became a fully
independent company on March 30, 2007, and is listed in the Standard and Poor's
100 and 500 indexes. The company also is a member of the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index. For more information,
visit the company's website at www.kraft.com.
(1) Impulse Research Corporation, a full-service market research firm,
conducted online surveys with 1,030 people (age 18 and up) nationwide. Results
were collected from a random sample of 1,030 men and women, 18 and over,
representing a cross-section of the United States. All participants are members
of the CyberPulse™ Advisory Panel. All results are representative of the
American population. All online surveys were conducted in March 2007. Impulse
Research is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif.
DAVE Networks Launches Next Generation of Its S.O.C.I.A.L. Platform
Powering Video Social Communities With Dozens of New Features Including Enhanced
Copyright Protection
Award-Winning White Label Video Social Community Platform Adds Many New
Features Including Improved Copyright Protection, Blogging and Messaging Tools,
Content Syndication and Advertising
April 18, 2007 -- NAB -- DAVE Networks, a leading digital media technology
platform provider, today announced the Version 2.0 of its S.O.C.I.A.L.™ (Social
Online Community & IPTV Application Library) platform adding dozens of new
features to its award-winning technology platform including enhanced copyright
protection and screening systems as well as improved blogging and messaging
tools, expanded content syndication, better targeted video advertising and new
tracking and measurement tools. DAVE's S.O.C.I.A.L. platform allows any company
to easily and quickly build video social communities around their brand and
content, leveraging DAVE Network's extensive API application library of video
social community tools designed to grow a social group base and generate user
participation or awareness for any brand or affinity group. S.O.C.I.A.L. is part
of DAVE Networks' expanding universe of enterprise applications geared at
digital media available on its B2B site,
www.davenw.com.
DAVE Networks will be at NAB on April 16-18, in booth C360 in the Central
Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, demonstrating its next generation
S.O.C.I.A.L. platform for next generation, branded video social communities.
The latest version of the S.O.C.I.A.L. Platform adds enhanced copyright
protection and screening systems to allow content owners and media companies to
add user-generated content functionality while protecting copyright owners'
rights. These systems include multiple screens and filters for reviewing and
removing copyright infringing, offensive and/or obscene content that may be
uploaded by users. As the popularity of sites such as YouTube continue to grow,
copyright infringement continues to be a growing problem as many of the most
popular videos on user-generated sites are professional, copyrighted content.
The S.O.C.I.A.L. Platform provides a comprehensive content upload review and
management workflow giving content owners a wide range of tools to protect
against copyright infringement.
"Since its launch, DAVE's S.O.C.I.A.L. Platform has changed the way content
owners distribute, syndicate and promote content by leveraging viral marketing
and social interaction," says Rex Wong, CEO of DAVE Networks. "The latest
version of our S.O.C.I.A.L. Platform enables companies to leverage the Web 2.0
and user-generated content revolution made popular by MySpace and YouTube to
empower and interact with their users while protecting the rights of content
owners."
DAVE Networks enables brands to utilize S.O.C.I.A.L. as a turnkey, white
label technology platform to create quick time-to-market, interactive video
social community portals that function as a public hub where customers, fans,
and users can develop dynamic personalized profiles, upload and share content,
blog/video blog, comment on message boards, and much more. Users can discover,
acquire, consume, upload, and share media from their own website and/or those of
their friends. Each social site can be custom tailored to fit the needs of the
community fan base for each brand or organization looking to generate buzz and
broaden its marketing scope. Leading content owners and brands such as MGM, CBS,
Oxygen Networks, Endemol, Xyience and many more are already leveraging the
S.O.C.I.A.L. platform to empower their fan bases to interact with their brands.
About DAVE Networks
DAVE Networks, Inc. is the first provider of an integrated video distribution
and social community platform designed to ignite brands. Founded in 2003, DAVE
Networks has developed a robust set of technologies and applications that
empower brands to build digital ecosystems while embracing online social
communities. The S.O.C.I.A.L. Platform enables brands and content owners to
easily leverage the new Web 2.0 user generated content revolution, viral content
distribution and word-of-mouth marketing to empower their user bases. For more
information, please visit www.davenw.com.
COGNIZANT COMPLETES mySAP™ ERP APPLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION AND
STANDARDIZATION FOR SERENA SOFTWARE
Project Concluded in Record Time,
Yielding High ROI and Business Benefits
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH), a leading provider of global IT and business
process outsourcing services, today announced it has completed a large scale
consolidation and standardization of the SAP® application portfolio for Serena
Software, Inc.
Based on mySAP ERP, the scope of this project included finance, materials
management, sales & distribution, IS-Software and human resources on a global
scale, encompassing the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. This project
was concluded in a record seven-month window, on-time, on-budget and with no
business disruption.
"Cognizant's professional, solutions-oriented approach convinced us to select
them over several other global services companies," said Robert Pender, CFO at
Serena Software. "Their support and understanding of our business issues have
allowed us to maximize our ROI through dramatic improvement to functionality,
adoption of best practices in standard processes and improvement in data
quality."
"We are pleased that Serena Software has selected Cognizant for this unique
initiative after weighing its cost-value-benefit versus alternative options,"
said Francisco D'Souza, President and CEO, Cognizant. "Our deep consulting
capabilities, long-standing relationships with technology and product customers,
and our investments in SAP applications across multiple domains have helped us
take ownership for this strategic business initiative and recommend a solution
that best suits Serena's business interests."
Cognizant presented a compelling solution for rationalizing business processes,
harmonizing data, and consolidating applications. Taking this route allowed
Serena to simplify their business processes, cleanse their master data and
eliminate years of customizations. Cognizant conducted a pro-active analysis
that revealed additional business benefits to Serena, resulting in faster
revenue growth and enhanced productivity. The standardization of SAP
applications was a more economical and faster approach than doing multiple
projects to bring the current system up to a comparable level.
About Cognizant's SAP Practice
Cognizant's SAP Practice provides Global 2000 companies a full range of SAP
services, leveraging its industry-specific expertise, technical depth and global
talent pool. Cognizant's SAP Practice aims to minimize clients' total cost of
ownership of SAP application environments, including development and support,
and maximize their applications' business-level value. Leveraging a unique
global development model, Cognizant's SAP Practice delivers functional and
technical expertise augmented by best practices for implementation, maintenance,
upgrade and enhancement services for end-to-end solutions.
About Serena Software, Inc.
Serena Software, the Change Governance™ leader, provides software and services
to more than 15,000 organizations around the world—including 96 of the Fortune
100 and 90 of the Global 100. Recognized by IDC as the largest software provider
focused exclusively on change, Serena offers a new approach to change—Change
Governance—that enables businesses to efficiently, consistently, and
successfully control change across the enterprise. Serena helps companies
capitalize on change to achieve transformative business results. Serena, a
portfolio company of Silver Lake Partners, has more than 800 employees worldwide
and is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with offices throughout the U.S.,
Europe, and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit
www.serena.com.
About Cognizant
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of global IT and business process
outsourcing services. Focused on delivering strategic information technology
solutions that address the complex business needs of its clients, Cognizant uses
its own on-site/offshore outsourcing model to provide applications management,
development, integration, and reengineering; infrastructure management; business
process outsourcing; and numerous related services, such as enterprise
consulting, technology architecture, program management, and change management.
Cognizant has over 43,000 employees who are committed to partnerships that
sustain long-term, proven value for customers by delivering high-quality,
cost-effective solutions through its development centers in India and on-site
client teams. Cognizant maintains P-CMM, SW-CMM and CMMI Maturity Level 5
assessments from an independent third-party assessor and ranked among the top
information technology companies in Business Week's Hot Growth Companies.
Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100 Index and the S&P 500 Index. Find
additional information about Cognizant at
www.cognizant.com.
This press release includes statements which may constitute forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and whose accuracy are necessarily subject to
risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to
be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied include general economic conditions and the factors
discussed in our most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Cognizant undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events, or otherwise.
More That a Fourth of Retirees Have Incomes Over $50,000
A recent report from The Media Audit show that the number of retirees in the
87 metropolitan markets surveyed regularly, with household incomes of $50,000 or
more, increased from 23.2 percent to 27.6 percent from 2003 thru 2006.
The survey covers only adults at least 18 years of age, the 142 million adult
population in the 87 metro markets surveyed.
Retiree households with annual incomes of $75,000 or more increased from 11.2
to 13.8 percent, according to Bob Jordan, president of International
Demographics, and those with annual incomes of $100,000 or more increased from
5.8 to 6.9 percent.
"By every financial measurement we take," says Jordan, "retirees improved
from 2003 to 2006." Retirees with liquid assets of $100,000 or more increased
from 27.8 to 29.9 percent and those with liquid assets of $250,000 or more
increased from 13.1 to 14.5.
Additional "retiree" demographics include data such as:
Those retirees that made at least one purchase on the Internet increased
from 19.7 percent in 2003 to 28.8 percent in 2006.
Those making five or more purchases increased from 10.2 percent to 15.8
percent.
In 2003, 31.4 percent were 75 or older
in 2006, 33.8 percent had reached 75 years of age
In 2003, 56.9 percent were married
in 2006 it was 57.8 percent
Considered on a market by market basis, says Jordan, "... in
Ocala,
Florida, 36.1 percent of the adults are retired compared to just 12.0
percent of those in Austin,
Texas...
the five metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of retirees are all in
Florida."
Nestle to buy Gerber for $5.5 billion
The famous Gerber Baby will change
parents, with Nestle SA announcing Thursday that it will buy Gerber Products
Co. for $5.5 billion, giving the world's biggest food and drink company the
largest share of the global baby food market.
The acquisition from pharmaceutical
maker Novartis SA helps further Nestle's recent focus on health and
nutrition, following its purchases of the U.S. weight control company Jenny
Craig and Novartis Medical Nutrition.
Nestle, which owns brands such as
Nescafe, Perrier and Dreyer's, is also the world's largest manufacturer of
infant nutritional products — largely through its leading positions in
developing countries such as Brazil and China — but had no presence in baby
food in the United States.
The cherubic face of the happy
Gerber infant dominates the U.S. baby-food market, with the company holding
a 79 percent share, according to Morgan Stanley.
"The acquisition of Gerber is the
perfect complementary fit," said Nestle Chairman and CEO Peter
Brabeck-Letmathe. "It not only gives Nestle the leadership position in baby
food, but it also constitutes a decisive step to establish Nestle Nutrition
as the undisputed global leader in the nutrition field."
Adding Gerber will help the
company's nutrition business generate annual sales of close to $8.2 billion.
The company said it expects Gerber to generate sales of around $1.95 billion
this year and a 10 percent sales growth in the long run.
"Our long-term growth objectives
really are ambitious, but we set them for ourselves and are confident we
will achieve them," said Richard Laube, who heads Nestle's nutrition unit.
Analysts said that although the
price appeared high at first sight, it was in line with similar deals.
"Added to Nestle's existing baby
food business in the U.S. and its overall North American business, this
makes Nestle a very clear leader in infant nutrition in the U.S., where,
unlike Western Europe, having babies remains in vogue," said Rob Mann, a
Collins Stewart food analyst in London.
Shares in Nestle fell 1.3 percent
to close at 483.25 Swiss francs ($396.56) in Zurich, while Novartis shares
were flat at 67.10 francs ($55.06).
Nestle has coveted Gerber for more
than a decade, first trying to acquire it in 1994, but losing out to Sandoz
AG, which later merged with Ciba-Geigy to form Novartis. Since then,
Novartis has taken steps to broaden Gerber's business beyond jarred foods.
In 2000, Gerber began selling a
line of powders, oils and other toiletries for children, and in 2002 it
launched microwavable meals for older toddlers. It also has a life-insurance
unit. But the baby-food business has never been a good fit for a parent
company that mainly sells medications.
Novartis, based in Basel, has shed
several noncore businesses in recent years. In December, it sold its
medical-nutrition division to Nestle for $2.5 billion. Novartis is focusing
on three main areas: inventing new prescription medicines, vaccines, and
selling low-cost generic drugs and over-the-counter medicines.
"This transaction is also the right
move for Gerber, as it will become a priority business in a leading global
nutrition company," Novartis Chairman and CEO Daniel Vasella said in a
statement.
The purchase is expected to be
completed during the second half of this year, subject to approval by
regulatory authorities, the companies said.
Leda Lhotska of the International
Baby Food Action Network said she was concerned that Nestle's acquisition of
Gerber would leave the market dominated by a company pushing hard to sell
its products to every mother — in competition with breast-feeding, which the
World Health Organization considers vital for infant health.
"Both Nestle and Gerber ... are
using marketing strategies that lead to discouragement of breast-feeding
Metal Storm and Electro Optics Systems (ASX: EOS) announced today the
successful field firing of the Redback™ weapon system. The firings, held over
two days at a major field firing range, are a key step in the lead up to
explosive firings planned to be held in
Singapore
by June 07 and follows the recent indoor integrated system test firings.
The firings tested some of the key features of the Redback™ weapon system
including the rapid engagement of multiple targets, and the firing of multiple
shots at different targets.
Metal Storm's CEO, Dr Lee Finniear, said, "The latest field firings were
designed to confirm the integration of the component sub-systems of Redback™
including ballistic testing and target acquisition. We are now very much on
track with our efforts in the run up to explosive live firings in
Singapore."
"In my view these have been the most comprehensive tests of the Redback™
system to date, demonstrating among other things the speed at which we can
launch multiple 40mm projectiles, a characteristic which will be an important
differentiator for missions that require incoming projectile intercept," said Dr
Finniear.
EOS' CEO, Dr Ben Greene, said, "this is a major milestone towards the
fielding of the Redback™ weapon system. These firings confirm our schedule is
running on time and points to the capabilities that Redback™ has been designed
to deliver."
Redback™ is a joint project developed by EOS, Metal Storm and
Singapore
Technologies Kinetic's (STK).
Video of the Redback™ field firings has been placed on Metal Storm's website
www.metalstorm.com
Notes:
Metal Storm's Australian Stock Exchange trading code: MST
Metal Storm's NASDAQ Small Cap ticker symbol: MTSX
About Metal Storm
Metal Storm Limited is a multi-national defence technology company engaged in
the development of electronically initiated ballistics systems using its unique
"stacked projectile" technology. The company is headquartered in
Brisbane,
Australia and incorporated in
Australia,
with an office in
Arlington,
Virginia.
Metal Storm is working with government agencies and departments, as well as
industry, to develop a variety of systems utilising the Metal Storm
non-mechanical, electronically fired stacked ammunition system.
Metal Storm's weapon technology uses computer-controlled electronic ignition
and a system of stacked projectiles, to achieve a completely non-mechanical gun
that is very lightweight and compact, providing a very high firepower to weight
ratio. The Metal Storm weapons system utilizes multiple barrels mounted together
on one platform which allows varying munitions types to be deployed in a single,
low cost, lightweight weapon system. Firing the weapons by electronic ignition
requires no moving parts, allowing reliable long term unattended weapon
operation.
About Electro Optic Systems Limited
EOS is a public company, specialising in the design, development and
production of sophisticated laser technologies, including supporting software
and electronic sub-systems. EOS' advanced technologies are applied to a variety
of sighting and surveillance applications in the aerospace and defence markets.
The combat-proven EOS sensor and fire control systems are currently deployed
in the US Army CROWS (Common Remotely Operated Weapons System) program which has
been successfully fielded since 2003, and is used in operations in
Iraq.
The EOS integrated surveillance and fire control technology employs
state-of-the-art multi-spectral sensors and fire control software for
direct-fire ballistic weapons.
About ST Kinetics
ST Kinetics is the land systems arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering. It
provides integrated systems, specialty vehicles and their related services for
defence, government and commercial applications. This includes design and
development, systems integration, production, operations & support and life
cycle management. Through its subsidiary, Advanced Material Engineering Pte Ltd,
ST Kinetics also designs and manufactures a comprehensive suite of 40 mm
munition solutions, conventional and smart munitions, advanced protective
materials as well as guided system components. It also provides consultancy,
design and engineering services for homeland security solutions.
Safe Harbour
Certain statements made herein that use the words "estimate," "project,"
"intend," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those
which may be expressed or implied by such statements, including, among others,
risks or uncertainties associated with the development of the company's
technology, the ability of the company to meet its financial requirements, the
ability of the company to protect its proprietary technology, potential
limitations on the company's technology, the market for the company's products,
government regulation in
Australia
and the US, changes in tax and other laws, changes in competition and the loss
of key personnel. For additional information regarding these and other risks and
uncertainties associated with the company's business, reference is made to the
company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the company's Form 20-F.
PRO STAGE PRODUCTIONS TAKES DELIVERY
OF D.A.S. AUDIO SYSTEM
D.A.S. Audio USA is pleased to announce that Pro Stage
Productions recently took delivery of a new SR system consisting of several
products from the company’s Aero catalog. Pro Stage Productions, based in
Duarte, CA (a suburb of Los Angeles) is a full service production
company—providing staging, sound, lighting, and video production, with the bulk
of their activities focused on live events such as concerts and corporate
industrials. The firm’s clients include BET (Black Entertainment Television),
Fox Sports Net West, the Los Angeles Kings, and Staples Center arena.
The sale to Pro Stage Productions includes four Aero 218A high performance
powered subwoofers, four CA-215A monoamplified arrayable subwoofers, twelve
CA-28A self- powered, bi-amplified, two-way compact line array modules, and a
DSP-26 loudspeaker management processor. Adrian Morales, President of Pro Stage
Productions, reports their purchase was based on a number of factors, including
considerable experience with the products, “Prior to this purchase, we were
renting D.A.S. Audio equipment for roughly a year, so we’ve had considerable
experience with the equipment. During this period, we were very impressed with
the system’s performance.”
An equally important factor in their purchase decision stems from the
requests of their clients. “Many of our customers are now requesting line array
systems,” continued Morales, “and we also found that more and more of these
clients are specifying D.A.S. equipment on their riders, so this made our
purchase decision considerably easier. Many of our clients are from Latin
America—where D.A.S. Audio is already a well known, very established brand. By
being able to support these clients with the equipment they prefer, it opens the
door to considerably more opportunity for us. In the relatively short time that
we’ve had our new system, our D.A.S. equipment has already been good for
business.”
Morales reports that his experience with a self-powered SR system has
dramatically changed his thinking and his approach to touring sound systems.
“Until the purchase of our D.A.S. system, I was never an advocate for
self-powered systems,” said Morales. “Now, however, the D.A.S. gear has
completely changed my view. The fact that we no longer have to haul power
amplifiers around is a big deal. In fact, on the last show we did, if we would
have had to haul around a bunch of amps, we wouldn’t have gotten all the gear
into the truck we were using.”
“Secondly, we no longer have to match the right amps with our loudspeakers,”
says Morales, “the D.A.S. equipment takes care of this for us. We also use less
cable, and the time it takes to erect and break the system down is reduced
considerably. Like any business these days, time is an important factor. If
you’re moving in on a tight schedule, a self-powered system is a huge
timesaver.”
In addition to the various loudspeakers Pro Stage Productions purchased,
Morales is equally enthusiastic about their new loudspeaker management
processor, which uses digital signal processing in order to accomplish the
functions of an analog crossover, equalizer, limiter, and delay unit. “The
system is ideal for both mains and monitors,” noted Morales. “The beauty of the
DSP-26 lies in the fact that it’s designed specifically for our D.A.S.
loudspeaker equipment—and it’s easy to use.”
The quality of D.A.S. Audio’s customer and technical support are two
additional factors that influenced Morales’ decision to go with his Aero system.
“While we certainly don’t anticipate any problems, it’s important to know that
the D.A.S. stands firmly behind their products,” said Morales. “In this area,
the company has been great. When we first purchased our equipment, D.A.S. Audio
took the initiative to send a representative to our first show with the
gear—just to make certain that everything went according to plan, and to help us
in any way they could. That meant a lot to us.”
As he prepared for yet another upcoming engagement, Morales summarized his
D.A.S. Audio experience, “We made the decision to go with D.A.S. because we
firmly believe the company is gaining considerable recognition in terms of the
equipment riders that accompany numerous performing acts, the quality of their
products, and the opportunity it represents for us. We have every intention to
grow our business, and I expect D.A.S. Audio will be an important part of this
process.”
For additional information on Pro Stage Productions, visit the company online
at
www.prostagela.com.
About D.A.S. Audio
Headquartered in Valencia, Spain, D.A.S. Audio is one of the world’s leading
manufacturers of loudspeaker systems, power amplification, signal processing,
and related components. For better than thirty years, D.A.S. Audio products have
been found on tour with the world’s greatest performing artists and installed in
many of the most prestigious facilities. For additional information about the
company, visit them online at
www.dasaudio.com
MoneyTV, Week of 4/6
- MoneyTV is the nationally syndicated television program all about money and
what makes it happen, (http://www.moneytv.net),
featuring informative interviews by hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman
with company CEOs, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for
their futures.
Free information packages from the featured companies can be requested by
sending an email to
info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program include:
EnXnet, Inc. (OTCBB:
EXNT) and 1st Global Financial Corporation
(PINKSHEETS:
FGBF) spokesperson James Farinella
announced that the manufacturing mold for EnXnet's flagship product is now
ready. He also announced that 1st Global had processed $2.5 million in credit
card transactions in February.
RBC Dain Rauscher Sr. VP Irwin Shapiro reiterated that the current inverted
curve on bond yields is of concern to him.
Universal Express, Inc. (OTCBB:
USXP) CEO Richard Altomare reported from
Las Vegas
about the Jackson Family Memorabilia auction being held at the Hard Rock Cafe
Casino later this Spring.
Manhattan West Mortgage CEO Roger Schlesinger pontificated about the changing
real estate market.
The Green Baron.com
Editor-in-Chief Matt Chipman spoke about recent economic developments and their
potential effect on the small and micro-cap markets.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information in the mail about featured
companies by calling the toll-free phone number on their TV screen. The weekly
television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast nationally in the
USA
to 70 million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET, Sundays at 8:30 AM PT,
8:30 AM ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in Western Europe, Wednesdays at
5:00 PM.
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the
Virgin
Islands and
Puerto
Rico Sundays at 8:00 AM.
MoneyTV is also available in
Thailand
on the Broad TV Network.
A complete menu of TV listings is available at the MoneyTV web site,
http://www.moneytv.net.
MoneyTV television program, Copyright MMVII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV
does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not
soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering
a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed
herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently
with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3- to
4-month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $11,500.00
to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not
hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information
herein is not an endorsement by the producers, publisher or parent company of
MoneyTV.
Integrity has begun site
preparation for the 39,000 sq ft state of the art facility 30 minutes south of
Nashville,
TN. The company expects to be moved in and open for business in the 3rd
quarter of 07. The facility will be GMP certified by NSF.
Integrity has become one of
the first nutritional ingredient suppliers certified in the Customs-Trade
Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program by the U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP). C-TPAT, a voluntary partnership overseen by the Department of
Homeland Security, is the first worldwide supply chain security initiative
designed to reduce the threat of terrorism while facilitating secure,
legitimate commerce for employers, suppliers and clients involved in the global
supply chain industry.
Research
Integrity has appointed Dr. Bolin Qin MD, PhD as Director of Research. Dr. Qin
will work in the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition facility through the Creative
Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) underway to further the body of
evidence on Cinnulin PF.
Two studies demonstrating the effects of Cinnulin PF have recently been
published (manuscripts are attached). The titles are as follows:
Effects of a Water-Soluble Cinnamon Extract on Body Composition and Features of
the Metabolic Syndrome in Pre-Diabetic Men and Women. J of ISSN 3(2):
45-53, 2006
The Effect of Cinnamon Extract on Insulin Resistance parameters in Polycystic
Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study. Fertil Steril
2007 Feb 9
IK Multimedia and Sonic Reality Announce Strategic Alliance
With Moog Music Inc®
Sound, software and hardware developers join forces for new
sample-based
products focused on legendary vintage analog synthesizers
March 2007, Modena, Italy IK Multimedia and Sonic Reality are proud
to
announce a strategic alliance with Moog Music Inc® to bring out
sample-based
products focused on Moog synthesizer sounds. In an effort to present
the
flavors of Moog synthesizer history as playable sounds, Sonic Reality
has
sampled the entire range of vintage Moog synthesizers and together with
IK
Multimedia, they have created "SampleMoog" the first comprehensive
collection of Moog samples available as a plug-in powered by
SampleTank.
"While there are already some Moog-themed plug-ins out there, we wanted
to
capture the wider sonic flavors that come from the entire range of Moog
synthesizers put out over the years including vintage Polymoogs,
Memorymoogs
and Taurus Pedals as well as the latest Minimoog Voyager and other
synths
that have never been modeled," says Dave Kerzner CEO of Sonic Reality.
"We're honored to be doing this in cooperation with Moog Music Inc. and
the
Moog Foundation to pay homage to the legendary Bob Moog and present
these
timeless sounds in software for anyone to use in their music."
The goal of these sample-based Moog-themed products is to broaden the
awareness of the wonderful sounds of Moog synthesizer history and the
accomplishments of Bob Moog as well as bringing musicians an affordable
source of some of the boldest, phat, punchy, liquid and cutting synth
sounds
you can find anywhere. From the deepest rumbling sound of Taurus bass
pedals
to creamy synth leads of a variety of rare Minimoogs® to the silky
ethereal
sound of a Polymoog string pad, SampleMoog is one diverse synth
plug-in to
use in any style of music from electronic music to rock, hip hop, R&B,
pop,
progressive, avant garde experimental and more.
Bob Moog's daughter, Michelle, director of the Bob Moog Memorial
Foundation
for Electronic Music had this to say about the project: "Dad was
committed
to creating tools that allowed musicians to customize their
instrument's
sounds and therefore give their creativity a musical voice; this
product is
an extension of that in the digital world. The Bob Moog Foundation is
honored to be part of this tribute to the sounds and legacy of Bob Moog
and
is deeply grateful to Sonic Reality and IK Multimedia for their
support."
About IK Multimedia: IK Multimedia is a music software company directly
operating in four countries, founded in 1996 for the purpose of
developing
software designed to enable people to listen, play and produce music
using
revolutionary new digital instruments, which are powerful and easy to
use.
AmpliTube®, T-Racks®, GrooveMaker®, SampleTank®, Sonik Synth, Miroslav
Philharmonik, Classik Studio Reverb, SVX, Total Studio Bundle,
Total
Effects Bundle, Total Workstation Bundle and StealthPlug, and
StompIO
are trademarks or registered trademarks property of IK Multimedia
Production
srl. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners,
which are
in no way associated or affiliated with IK Multimedia. Use of these
names
does not imply any cooperation or endorsement.
Announcing SampleTank 2.5
New and enhanced features for the ultimate sample workstation plug-in
March 2007, Modena, Italy IK Multimedia is proud to announce
SampleTank
2.5, a powerful upgrade for the industry standard sample workstation
plug-in, SampleTank 2. It includes many new features such as an
enhanced
built-in effects system with auxiliary and master effects, the addition
of a
high-quality studio reverb, the ability to read all ³Powered by
SampleTank²
instruments and more.
New effects section with AUX and MASTER effects. IK Multimedia has
added 5
AUX and 5 Master insert effects to the existing 5 insert effects, now
called
PART effects. This way each of the SampleTank 2.5 loadable sounds can
be
processed with a staggering total of 15 separate effects! In addition,
the
new AUX and MASTER effects allow for greater CPU efficiency when
loading
multiple parts since they are applied to all sounds loaded in the
module.
High-quality Classik Studio Reverb added. The addition of a
high-quality
reverb derived from Classik Studio Reverb, IK Multimedia¹s
award-winning
suite of studio-quality reverb models, extends the included effects to
33
selectable effects in SampleTank 2.5.
Can read Philharmonik, Sonik Synth and new "Powered by SampleTank"
Sonik
Instruments. SampleTank 2.5 allows the immediate usage of the sounds in
Miroslav Philharmonik, Sonik Synth and the new "Powered by SampleTank"
Sonik
Instruments with the same exact sonic results in one convenient
interface.
SampleTank 2.5 provides access to one of the largest and most diverse
ranges
of sample sounds available.
Free for all SampleTank L and XL users. The new SampleTank 2.5 upgrade
will
be FREE for all SampleTank 2 L and XL users and can be downloaded from
their
IK Personal User Area immediately upon release.
SampleTank 2.5 ŒŒWhat¹s New¹¹ Features:
· 5 AUX insert effects
· 5 Master insert effects
· 33 selectable effects, including a high-quality
reverb derived
from
CSR
· Free for all registered SampleTank 2 L and XL
users
Minimum System Requirements:
Power PC based Macintosh®: 866 MHz G4 processor, 512 MB of RAM, Mac OS
X
10.4 or later.
Intel based Macintosh®: 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo processor, 512 MB of
RAM,
Mac OS X 10.4.4 or later.
Windows®: Pentium 1GHz / Athlon XP 1.33 GHz, 512 MB of RAM, Windows XP.
Price & Availability
SampleTank 2.5 is a free downloadable upgrade for all registered users
of
SampleTank L and XL and is expected to be available in May 2007.
About IK Multimedia: IK Multimedia is a music software company directly
operating in four countries, founded in 1996 for the purpose of
developing
software designed to enable people to listen, play and produce music
using
revolutionary new digital instruments, which are powerful and easy to
use.
AmpliTube®, T-Racks®, GrooveMaker®, SampleTank®, Sonik Synth, Miroslav
Philharmonik, Classik Studio Reverb, SVX, Total Studio Bundle,
Total
Effects Bundle, Total Workstation Bundle, StealthPlug, and StompIO
are
trademarks or registered trademarks property of IK Multimedia
Production
srl. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Announcing Sonik Instruments
SampleMoog, SampleTron, and Studiophonik virtual instrument plug-ins
March 2007, Modena, Italy IK Multimedia and Sonic Reality are proud
to
announce their latest collaborative effort, Sonik Instruments, a series
of
virtual instrument plug-ins dedicated to focused collections of rare
and
top-of-the-line instruments and sounds. The first announced of this
series
are SampleMoog, SampleTron, and Studiophonik.
Each of these Sonik Instruments offers a full synth-sampler engine
powered
by SampleTank with an inspiring customized graphic interface and a full
range of built-in multi effects. 16 multi-timbral parts, 4 insert
effects
and 4 send effects per part, selectable among more than 30 high-quality
effects (with algorithms derived from IK¹s award winning T-RackS and
AmpliTube), fast loading and low-CPU demands, VST/AU/RTAS and
stand-alone
availability are only some of the high-end features that each of these
Sonik
Instruments is able to offer. Moreover, all Sonik Instrument sounds can
also
be loaded within SampleTank 2.5, making it possible to expand your
workstation to unbelievable proportions.
SampleMoog is the most complete collection of Moog sounds ever released
in
one product, done in cooperation with Moog Music Inc®. This virtual
instrument takes you back in time to the days of analog and honors one
of
the founding fathers of synthesis, Bob Moog. SampleMoog includes 22
rare,
collectible Moog synths, accurately sampled and programmed with the
addition
of built-in effects. This sample-based product offers a wide range of
basses, leads, pads, and effects from monstrous Moog Modulars® to rare
Minimoogs® to Taurus Bass Pedals, Polymoogs, Memorymoogs and more
virtually the entire range of Moog synthesizers in a single product. An
homage to the incredible history of vintage, keyboard instruments from
the
first Moog Theremin to the latest Minimoog Voyager, this plug-in is a
must-have for any fan of the ³Moog Sound.²
SampleTron offers the most diverse collection of ³Tron² sounds ever
released
in one product. It has samples of 18 rare, vintage keyboard instruments
such
as Mellotrons, Optigans, Chamberlins and other related ³Tron² family
instruments. These ³Trons² were ingenious keyboards made in the 60¹s
that
were the predecessors of today¹s samplers, with the capability of
reproducing many natural sounds that were recorded on tapes or disks
and
activated by keys. Brought to you from the personal archives of Dave
Kerzner, CEO of Sonic Reality, this unique virtual instrument includes
rare
sounds Dave has sampled with artists such as Crowded House, Smashing
Pumpkins, Tom Waits and more. SampleTron gives you more creative
control
over the sound than any other software vintage keyboard instrument.
Combi
instruments allow you to build extremely complex sound layering for
powerful
lo-fi orchestral soundscapes. SampleTron not only has traditional
classic
and progressive rock sounds such as the ³Strawberry Fields Forever²
flute
and sounds used by the Moody Blues, Yes, and Genesis, but also includes
unusual quirky sounds that today¹s alternative, rock, hip-hop and film
composers are in search of.
Studiophonik is a virtual instrument plug-in dedicated to reproducing
the
diverse sounds and instrumentation of full guitar, bass and drum bands
recorded in high-end studios and includes a diverse collection of
incredibly
realistic instruments. It¹s like having three plug-ins in one, putting
a
complete studio with the ultimate selection of top-of-the-line and
collectible vintage guitars, basses and drums right at your fingertips.
Studiophonik combines high-quality studio drum, bass and guitar
instruments
with powerful built-in modeled studio effects of the SampleTank engine
to
bring you a unique ³virtual band² instrument like no other.
Studiophonik
also gives you deeper control of pickups, microphones, performance
nuances
and mixing for the ultimate studio instrument expression. With more
control
over the sound, you can adjust ambient mics on drums, change pickups on
guitars and basses in real-time and process them internally with
vintage
modeled compressors, EQ, limiters, guitar amps, phasers, flangers,
delays,
reverbs and more. Studiophonik includes over 30 high-quality
instruments
with a wide range of brands offering one of the most authentic and
diverse
collections of guitar, bass and drums.
Sounds:
SampleMoog includes:
Modular Moog® System 15
MoogSource
Modular Moog® System 55 (921)
Modular Moog® System 3C (901)
Musonic Minimoog® (DK)
RA Moog Minimoog® (SS)
Minimoog® Model D
Polymoog
Taurus I Pedals
Taurus II Pedals
Prodigy
Rogue
Realistic MG-1
Opus 3
Liberation
MicroMoog
MultiMoog
Satellite
Sonic 6
Memorymoog
Theremin
Minimoog® Voyager®
Little Phatty®
Price & Availability
Sonik Instruments will be available during the second quarter of 2007.
More
detailed information about the pricing of Sonik Instruments will be
online
soon.
For more information on this exciting release from IK, please visit: http://www.iksounds.com
###
About IK Multimedia: IK Multimedia is a music software company directly
operating in four countries, founded in 1996 for the purpose of
developing
software designed to enable people to listen, play and produce music
using
revolutionary new digital instruments, which are powerful and easy to
use.
AmpliTube®, T-Racks®, GrooveMaker®, SampleTank®, Sonik Synth, Miroslav
Philharmonik, Classik Studio Reverb, SVX, Total Studio Bundle,
Total
Effects Bundle, Total Workstation Bundle and StealthPlug, and
StompIO
are trademarks or registered trademarks property of IK Multimedia
Production
srl. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners,
which are
in no way associated or affiliated with IK Multimedia. Use of these
names
does not imply any cooperation or endorsement.
Accountability and Performance Top Priorities For Marketers in 2007
The 2007 Marketing Outlook survey, by the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Council, to capture insights and opinions about how marketers are focusing their
efforts in 2007, finds that marketers look at measurement, improved efficiencies
and customer knowledge as top challenges. In addition, they plan on making
further changes to upgrade organizational effectiveness, strengthen customer
engagement and achieve even greater measurability.
Past studies by the CMO Council have demonstrated that chief marketers face
intense pressure from bottom-line focused CEOs and demanding corporate boards to
improve the relevance, accountability and performance of their organizations.
This pressure is gauged by the notoriously short tenure (less than two years) of
the average CMO. The era of brand-centric marketing is giving way to a new breed
of CMO who is more focused on measurable performance and business results,
concludes the report.
The report says that the results of the Marketing Outlook survey shows that
old habits die hard. Many of the top-line Marketing Outlook findings bear this
out:
Marketers number one accomplishment in 2006 was the restructuring and
realignment of marketing better support sales and drive demand generation.
And, chief marketers are still consumed with brand image, focusing on those
activities, as shown by the next two accomplishments: brand image and visual
identity overhaul.
The majority of marketers feel that their top goal in 2007 is to quantify
and measure the value of marketing programs and investments, followed
closely by a desire to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the
marketing organization.
60 percent of top marketers are taking a long, hard look at their
organizational resources, and plan to add new skill sets and capabilities
internally, and nearly half plan to review and evaluate all current
marketing resources.
35 percent of marketers replaced their PR agencies in 2006, and 21
percent of marketers tossed their Web design and development agencies. More
than half of respondents plan to make further agency changes this year.
Nearly 65 percent of respondents forecasted increased 2007 marketing
budgets-with close to 20 percent expecting an increase of 16 percent or
greater-versus 15.1 percent who expected a budget decrease. About 20 percent
expected no change.
More marketers are investing in public relations services, programs and
agencies for brand awareness Tapped as the top area of spend for 2007,
marketers are using PRto shape customer pre-disposition and generate
critical brand awareness. With the fervor for measures and metrics, the core
of branding and brand identity has not been lost. But, it has taken back
seat to accountability to both the C-suite and the customer, says the
report.
The Top Three Accomplishments
Marketing Organization Achieved In 2006
Accomplishment
% Respondents Including in
Top 3
Restructured and realigned
marketing to better support sales and drive demand generation
45.7%
Overhauled brand image, visual
identity, Web site and collaterals to better capture and convey value
proposition
29.2%
Produced new branding and messaging
platform to underscore differentiation
27.6%
Implemented new campaigns that
significantly advanced the business 26.7%
Added important new internal
resources
23.9%
Improved the yield and
accountability of the marketing organization worldwide
21.0%
Orchestrated successful new product
launches and go-to-market programs
21.0%
Better integrated tactical
marketing functions with the field and channel groups
16.5%
Extracted customer data and
analytics for more informed decision-making
15.6%
Built acquisition, qualification,
conversion and reactivation programs to optimize close and retention rates
15.2%
Introduced a formal marketing
performance measurement system
15.2%
Improved customer engagement
through councils and communities
11.1%
Created efficiencies with new
marketing automation solutions and hosted services
11.1%
Developed new channels of
engagement using new and digital media
9.9%
Reviewed and realigned agency
resources and consultants to increase value
8.6%
Other
5.8%
Created global campaign teams to
implement fully integrated programs
5.3%
Source: CMO Council, 2007
Measuring marketing's worth, improving marketing's efficiency and
effectiveness, and better customer knowledge are top of mind with marketers for
2007. These ranked highly as the top challenges for this year among respondents
from companies of all sizes.
The Top Three Issues Or
Challenges Facing Marketing Organization In 2007
Challenge
% of Respondents Including in
Top 3
Quantify and measure the value of
marketing programs and investments
43.8%
Improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of the marketing organization
38.7%
Grow customer knowledge, insight
and conversations
33.7%
Improve the allocation and ROIof
marketing spend
28.4%
Extract greater value and
profitability from customer relationships
24.2%
Increase credibility, influence and
perceived value with senior management
23.0%
Develop competencies, business
knowledge and strategic alignment of marketing functions and external assets
23.0%
Better capture, convey and deliver
a clear value proposition to all channels and audiences
23.0%
Advance alignments and linkages
with business groups, sales field marketing and channel organizations
21.0%
Establish a global organizational
structure that best delivers results, accountability and measurability
12.4%
Move more functions, communications
and processes to the Web
10.3%
Work more effectively with the IT
organization and sources of critical data inside the company
9.1%
Deploy new solutions and hosted
services that optimize outcomes and processes
Published
by
Chief Manufacturing
All
products within this document, unless noted otherwise,
are trademarks of Chief Manufacturing, a division of
CSAV inc.
Aladdin Beverage Announces Exclusive Rights to Antares Beer From Argentina
- Aladdin Beverage (PINKSHEETS:
ADTJ), Importer and distributor of fine
beer and ale throughout the
United
States, has been named the exclusive US importer for Antares Beer,
Argentina's fastest-growing premium beer from New Patagonia Brewery,
www.antaresbeer.com.
The exclusive and unique Antares Beer is a distinct alternative to other
premium beers, offering a genuine difference in taste and quality. Specially
brewed to be extra smooth and less grassy, Antares is a refreshing, full
flavored, super premium lager.
Brewed at the New Patagonia Brewery in the southernmost region of
Latin
America, at
Mar del Plata, Argentina, "quality and tradition" is the steadfast motto
of this family owned brewery. This commitment to quality and excellence has
allowed the brewery to become the most exclusive and unique independent brewery
in the Southern Cone.
The exclusive and selected beer portfolio includes: Kolsch Beer, Scotch Ale
Beer, Porter Beer, Imperial Stout beer, and Barley Wine Beer. Antares is
available both is 330ml and 600 ml amber glass bottles, including six pack for
330ml references.
Antares is already popular as an export beer is several other countries.
Outside of Argentina, Antares is currently sold in
Canada,
Germany,
Australia,
South
Africa,
Brazil,
and Japan
(coming soon).
Juan Manuel Balmaceda, Director of New Patagonia SA, is enthusiastic about
entering in the American market: "We know that Americans are becoming more and
more choosy and sophisticated about premium beers. Antares is among the best in
the entire world, and it will be the only beer from Patagonia in Aladdin's list
of world-class beers."
About Aladdin Trading & Co. (DBA: Aladdin Beverage):
Headquartered in
New York
City, Aladdin Trading is a leading fine craft beer and ale importer
serving the North American markets. It is Aladdin's goal to be known as the top
beer importer to
North
America, with only quality and forward-thinking brands in its portfolio.
Our mission is to generate sustained growth for all the brands in our portfolio
and generate maximum return on investments. For more information, visit the
company's web site at
www.aladdin-trading.com.
Forward-looking statements in this report are made pursuant to the 'safe
harbor' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We
wish to advise readers that actual results may differ substantially from such
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the
following: our ability to meet our cash and working capital needs, our ability
to successfully market our product, and other risks detailed in our periodic
report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Average
US Household Watches 15.7 TV Channels a Week
According to a new report from NeilsenMedia,
The number of television channels that the average U.S. home
receives has reached a record high of 104.2 TV channels, an increase
of almost eight channels since 2005. In 2006, the average household
tuned to 15.7, or 15.1% of the 104.2 channels available for at least
10 minutes per week.
General dramas still dominate the broadcast
networks program lineups, comprising 50% (67 of 134) of the
primetime programs, an increase of four programs since last year.
And, the 30-second commercial is still the television advertising
standard in primetime, accounting for 57% of all commercial units.
The percentage of homes receiving 100+ channels
rose from 42% in 2005 to 47% in 2006, with 33% receiving between 60
and 99 channels, down 4% since 2005. Nielsen found that the average
television household in the U.S. receives more than 17 broadcast TV
channels, while 58% of all homes can receive 15 or more, and 36%
receive 20 or more.
In 2006, the average household tuned to 15.7
(or 15.1%) of the 104.2 channels available. This compares to 2000,
when the average home viewed 22.1% of the available channels (13.6
channels viewed out of 61.4 available channels).
Number of Channels Available in the
Average U.S. Home
Year
# of Channels Available
# of Channels Viewed
% of Available Channels Viewed
2006
104.2
15.7
15.1%
2005
96.4
15.4
16.0%
2004
92.6
15.0
16.2%
2000
61.4
13.6
22.1%
1995
41.1
10.1
24.6%
1990
33.2
n/a
n/a
1985
18.8
n/a
n/a
Source: Nielsen Media Research, National
People Meter Sample
The total number of primetime broadcast
programs and news programs has decreased slightly since last year.
The number of Live Variety programs has declined as well, dropping
from 15 in 2005 to 13 in 2006. Situation Comedies have dropped from
35 to 28 total programs.
Types of Primetime Programs on Broadcast
Networks
Program Type
# of Programs 2006-07 Season
General Drama
67
Situation Comedy
28
Feature Film
3
News
4
Other
(sports events, animation, quiz shows)
14
Variety
13
Suspense Mystery
0
Adventure, Sci Fi, Western
5
Source: Nielsen Media Research
An analysis of trends in broadcast network
commercials shows that:
The 30-second commercial, the television
advertising standard in primetime, accounts for 57% of all units
The use of the 15-second commercial has
decreased in primetime but increased slightly in daytime
In 2006, the total number of commercial
units decreased in both primetime and daytime, dropping 2% in
primetime and 2% in daytime
The number of commercial minutes aired
decreased in daytime but increased in primetime
In primetime, 30-second and 15-second units
make up 90% of all commercials
Together, 15s and 30s account for 93% of the
total daytime commercials. Fifteen-second units account for the
largest percentage of daytime commercials at 50%.
Other TV facts from the Nielsen Study include:
There are an average of 111.4 million TV
homes in the U.S. for the 2006-07 TV season
The average U.S. TV home has 2.5 people and
2.8 television sets
28% of U.S. TV homes have Digital Cable
64% of homes have wired cable hook-ups, and
23% have satellite or specialized antenna systems to receive
television signals
82% of U.S homes have more than one
television sets at home
84% of U.S. homes have a DVD player
Cerwin
Vega! Announces the First 21-inch Active Subwoofer on the Market
Using Legendary Stroker™ Technology
New line of
active subwoofers to launch at Musikmesse include
21-inch and 18-inch
Hollywood, Fla. – (March 29, 2007) – Cerwin Vega!, a
leading manufacturer of loudspeakers and audio products, proudly
announces the introduction of a new line of professional active
subwoofers at Musikmesse. The Cerwin-Vega Active Series consists of
two unique models, CVA-121 and CVA-118, featuring Cerwin Vega’s
legendary driver design and bass performance, incorporated in a
small compact footprint. Built-in amplifiers provide a completely
integrated active system, and a functional cast aluminum grill
doubles as a heat-sink to minimize power compression and maximize
driver performance. Along with XLR and ¼-in connectors, the CVA
subwoofers have Master/Slave output connectors that allow for
multiple CVA subwoofers to be daisy-chained together using a single
signal. The subwoofers also feature a 35 mm pole-mount socket to
accommodate a satellite speaker for full range performance and the
CVA-121 includes removable steel casters for portability. Both
subwoofer enclosures are constructed of 18 mm hardwood and finished
with the option of a durable Coolex® polyurethane paint or
high-grade black carpet finish.
From the
company who pioneered bass and subwoofer technology, Cerwin Vega is
the first loudspeaker company to successfully design a 1200 watt,
21-inch active subwoofer. The CVA-121 features Cerwin Vega’s
innovative Stroker technology, which utilizes a three spider driver
design to optimize cone excursion and voice coil efficiency. The
powerful built-in 1200 watt (2400 watt peak), high-efficiency Class
H amplifier provides a highly-qualified amp solution. In addition,
the CVA-121 includes a unique onboard parametric equalizer that
allows for added adjustment of the gain, frequency and Q for
customized performance options. To add to its unique design, the
subwoofer is housed in a cabinet the size of a traditional 18-inch
subwoofer, and includes a striking cast aluminum grille design.
CVA-121
•
High-Performance 21-inch Woofer with Stroker™ Technology
• Powerful
Built-in 1200 watt Amplifier, 2400 watt Peak
• Solid
18-mm Hardwood Enclosure Construction
• Durable
Coolex® Polyurethane Paint Finish or Carpet Finish
• Versatile
Onboard Parametric Equalizer
• Scalable
with Multiple Subs using Master/Slave Outputs
•
Convenient Stereo Crossover Outputs
• Weight:
180 lb (81 kg)
•
Dimensions (H x W x D): 31.75 in x 23.5 in x 23.5 in - 806 mm x 533
mm x 533 mm
• MSRP
$1,999
The CVA-118
boasts a high-performance 18-inch Cerwin Vega woofer for extreme
power handling and exceptional low-frequency response. Like its
21-inch big brother, the CVA-118 features built-in amplification for
an integrated, all-in-one solution but with 700 watt (1400 watt
peak) of high performance output. The overall size of the subwoofer
is also minimal, housed in an enclosure the size of a standard
15-inch subwoofer.
CVA-118
•
High-Performance 18-inch Cerwin-Vega! Woofer
• Powerful
Built-in 700 watt Amplifier, 1400 watt Peak
• Solid
18-mm Hardwood Enclosure Construction
• Durable
Coolex® Polyurethane Paint or High Grade Carpet Finish
• Scalable
with Multiple Subs using Master/Slave Outputs
•
Convenient Stereo Crossover Outputs
• Weight:
115 lb (52 kg)
•
Dimensions (H x W x D): 25.0 in x 21.0 in x 23.5 in - 635 mm x
533 mm x 597 mm
• MSRP:
$1,499
Richard
Ngo-Tran, Cerwin Vega’s Product Marketing Manager, commented on the
company’s new line of active subwoofers, “We’ve built a 50 year
legacy on mastering the art of bass and continue that heritage today
with the CVA subwoofer line. An active subwoofer series that
demonstrates a level of innovation, uniqueness, and value is true to
the Cerwin-Vega corporate culture.”
Cerwin Vega!
will be showcasing the new CVA-118 and CVA-121 Active Subwoofers
during Musikmesse at meeting room #208 in hall
4C. To make an appointment at Musikmesse with
Cerwin Vega’s Director of Marketing Communications Rick Richardson,
please contact PR Representative Brian Metcalf at
(305) 576-1171 x11 or
brianmetcalf@maxborgesagency.com.
To request one of the new CVA-118 and CVA-121 Active Subwoofers for
review or for additional product images and information, please
contact PR Representative Brian Metcalf.
For more
information on Cerwin Vega! and to view the company’s complete
catalog, visit
www.cerwin-vega.com.
About
Cerwin Vega!
A member of
the Stanton Group of companies, Cerwin-Vega!, Inc. is a leader in
the design, manufacture, and distribution of loudspeakers for the
home, mobile, and professional audio markets. Designed in the
pursuit of dynamic, accurate sound reproduction since 1954, Cerwin-Vega!
products are distributed throughout the world via a network of
distributors and dealers in more than 75 countries. For additional
information on all Cerwin-Vega products, please visit us online at
www.cerwin-vega.com.
NEWERTECH INTRODUCES MAXPOWER G4/7448 PROCESSOR
UPGRADES FOR
POWERMAC G4
COMPUTERS
Faster Performance vs. Even the Latest Apple®
Intel® Core 2 Duo Macs
Plug and Play User Installable in Less than 10
Minutes
March 29, 2007,
Woodstock,
IL -- Newer Technology, Inc. (NewerTech)
http://www.newertech.com, the
leading developer of PC, Macintosh® and iPod® performance upgrades and
accessories, announced today the NewerTech MAXPower® G4/7448 Single and Dual
ProcessorUpgrades starting at $399 for Power Macintosh G4 AGP
Graphics/Sawtooth, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital/Audio, or Quicksilver model
computers. MAXPower Processor Upgrades are the world’s only available and
shipping G4 7448 processor upgrades,delivering better performance
than even new Intel-based Macintosh systems as well as up to 40% fasterperformance over competing 7447A processor upgrades.
Real-World Test Proven
In
both standard benchmark applications, as well as in real-world application
testing, the results show the incredible performance gains of the MAXPower
G4/7448 Processor equipped PowerMac G4s. In a real-world Adobe Creative Suite
Photoshop action test, the MAXPower was actually FASTER than the latest 2.33GHz
iMac Core 2 Duo system. When compared to an Intel Core Solo 1.5GHz equipped Mac
mini, MAXPower Processor Upgrades delivered up to 4.6 times faster performance
during intensive CPU usage.
MAXPower G4/7448 Processor Upgrades utilize state-of-the-art, latest generation
Freescale 7448 processors and are 100% compatible with existing hardware,
application software, and OS 9.2.2 and OS X 10.3.5 or later with NO operating
system modifications needed. By upgrading an existing
PowerMac G4
AGP Graphics/Sawtooth, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital/Audio, or Quicksilver model
with a MAXPower Processor Upgrade, users can enjoy faster performance better
than the latest
Intel
based Macs while maintaining their original system investment.
Performance increases are achieved with a strategic set of engineering
enhancements, including 1MB of on-chip L2 cache fully pipelined for two-cycle
throughput, a full implementation of AltiVec™ technology featuring enhanced
support for out-of-order instruction, and the use of 90 nanometer silicon on
insulator (SOI) CMOS process technology to dramatically increase clock and bus
speeds while reducing power requirements.
Plug-and-Play, Hassle-Free Solution
MAXPower Processor Upgrades are easily installed in 10 minutes or less and offer
a hassle-free solution to obtaining a huge boost in G4 performance. Now, instead
of buying an expensive new system plus the additional cost and hassle of
installing software and hardware upgrades to work with the new system,
PowerMac G4
owners can continue to use and enjoy their current system with the highest
performance available.
“Apple built the
PowerMac
G4 to last and our new MaxPower G4/7448 Processor Upgrades give these
systems an unprecedented level of processing power,” said Larry O’Connor,
President of Newer Technology. “Using less power and running cooler than the
competition, no other G4 processor upgrade even comes close to MAXPower’s
capabilities. When you consider the cost of not only a new computer, but also
the cost of software needed to get best use from it, NewerTech’s MAXPower
upholds our long standing reputation of cost-effective solutions which make a
NewerTech enhanced system ‘Better than New’.”
MAXPower G4/7448 Processor Upgrade Highlights:
Up to 12X MORE processing power
Up to 40% FASTER than 7447 processor upgrades
Runs FASTER and COOLER while using LESS power
than other processors
Fast 1MB L2 1:1 on-chip cache for GREATER
processor throughput
Plug and Play – 100% compatible with existing
hardware and software
Use with Apple OS 9.2.2, All Apple OS X 10.3.5 &
later
Easy to install – user installable in 10 minutes
or less
Full 128-bit implementation of AltiVec™
technology
Expanded DFS power management capability
64-bit bus interface
“We are so confident in user satisfaction of these
products as well as product quality, we offer a 30-day 100 percent money back
guarantee in addition to the three-year warranty these products include when
purchased from our distributor, Other World Computing, or any NewerTech
authorized reseller,” added O’Connor.
Four Configurations Starting At $399.00
NewerTech MAXPower G4/7448 Processor Upgrades are available in four
configurations: 1.8GHz single, 2.0GHz single, 1.7-1.73GHz DUAL, and 1.8GHz DUAL.
MSRP pricing starts at $399.00. NewerTech MAXPower Processor Upgrades are
available immediately from Other World Computing and other resellers. For more
information, see
http://www.newertech.com/products/maxpower48.php.
About Newer Technology, Inc.
Since 1984, Newer Technology, Inc. (NewerTech) has
been recognized as the leading developer of performance upgrades for PowerBooks,
desktop Macintosh computers,
Intel
Macs, iMacs, iPods and MacOS compatibles. NewerTech is headquartered in
Woodstock,
Illinois. Dealer inquiries are welcome by calling
815-308-7001or by emailing
sales@newertech.com.
About Other World Computing (OWC)
Other World Computing (OWC) has been
providing quality hardware products and support to the computer industry since
1988. The
Illinois based company is a strategic partner with Axiotron and
worldwide and exclusive US distributor of
the award winning Axiotron Modbook. OWC operates the popular
www.MacSales.com e-commerce portal which
features one of the largest online catalogs of computer and iPod enhancement
products, including Mercury, Neptune, and NewerTech acceleration, storage, and
FireWire product lines.
OWC is a Premiere Level Apple Developer
Connection member and provides extensive technical support for Macintosh users
around the world. The company’s management umbrella includes leading Internet
Service Providers
www.fastermac.net and
www.owc.net and is a leading technology
employer as ranked by McHenry County Business Journal. For more information,
see
www.otherworldcomputing.com or
www.macsales.com.
Fit & Fresh™
provides innovative product designs and delicious recipes to be the single
solution for healthier eating away from home. With Fit & Fresh™, you
can take great tasting healthy meals with you on the run.
We know you want to eat
healthy and you want your family to eat healthy. But it’s not always easy to
keep the foods you love fresh throughout the day. Now, you don’t need a
refrigerator. All you need is Fit & Fresh™. Freeze your ice pack in
advance and it’s ready when you are.
Fit & Fresh™ reusable
chill packs keep foods cold for up to 6 hours. Most products are microwaveable
and all are dishwasher safe. (Ice packs are not microwaveable or dishwasher
safe. Please hand rinse.) Our chill pack products help keep salads, fruits and
vegetables cold and delicious. Try our Warm Soup container or Soup and Salad
for another twist on healthy eating.
Proper nutrition and portion
size are important parts of eating well. You can count on Fit & Fresh™
to provide the information you need to make the right choice. Looking for a
recipe? Need to know the nutritional information? Visit our recipe section for
new ideas for your meals.
Fit &
Fresh™ products are designed and produced by MEDport, a company dedicated
to keeping people healthy and fit.
Free
Minutes and Cash Will Attract Cell Phone Ad Watching
According to a new study by Harris Interactive,
presented by Joe Porus and Judy Ricker at the Mobile Advertising and
Marketing USA Conference in
New York City, 35 percent of adult cell phone users are
willing to accept incentive-based advertisements. Of these adults:
78% say the best incentive would be cash
63% say by free minutes (63%),
40% want free entertainment (ring tones,
games)
40% prefer discount coupons
Judith Ricker, President of the Marketing
Communications Research Practice at Harris Interactive, says that
cell phone users are most interested in advertisements that have a
clear value proposition, are relevant, and allow recipients to
control how they are profiled.
The survey further reveals that:
56% of those respondents who are at least
somewhat interested in receiving ads on their cell phone say they
would prefer to receive them via text message
40% would like to receive them as a picture
message
24% of adults would choose to receive them
as videos
23% would have them transferred
automatically to email as a voice message or something else
In addition, 70% of respondents who are at
least somewhat interested in receiving mobile advertising are also
willing to provide information about themselves to their cell phone
provider in exchange for an ability to customize the service to
their needs. Among them, 30 percent are willing to receive the ads
for the right incentive, while 20 percent would receive them if they
have control to turn them on or off and 20 percent are willing to
receive the ads if they can choose who the information is sent to.
Adult mobile phone users who are at least
somewhat interested in mobile advertising feel that the following
considerations could make the ads more palatable:
The ability to opt out (66%)
Choosing the type of ads to be received
(56%)
Choosing the number of ads to be received in
a given period of time (48%)
Providing a profile of desired areas of
interest so only specific ads are sent (43%)
Different/discounted plan if ads included
(42%)
Choosing specific times when ads would be
received (40%)
Alcatel-Lucent
unveils the world’s first silicon-based tunable optical equalizer
New device opens the door to new optical networking architectures that could
usher in new types of broadband deployments and applications
Alcatel-Lucent
(Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that it has demonstrated the
first CMOS silicon-based tunable optical waveguide equalizer, a major step in
the industry’s drive toward sophisticated, high-density, low-cost silicon
chip-based optical networking devices. In a paper presented today at the Optical
Fiber Conference (OFC) in
Anaheim
California, researchers from Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Labs in
New Jersey
described how they had developed a versatile guided-wave equalizing optical
filter fabricated entirely in a CMOS manufacturing line – the sort of technology
that produces computer integrated circuits today.
This research will enable telecom providers to move from using specialized and
large optical networking devices to a new generation of low cost, mass produced
silicon chips that combine electronics and photonics in a single chip - opening
the door to new optical networking architectures that could usher in new sorts
of broadband deployments and applications. Possible new applications include
low-cost, mass deployment of fiber to the home; truly meshed optical networks
that cleanly switch optical signals between different transmission formats; and
the deployment of optical networking into places unapproachable by today’s
optical networking devices such as over short-runs or in confined spaces.
This unique optical filter builds upon the revolutionary work by the EPIC
(Electronic and Photonic Integrated Circuits) program, funded by DARPA and led
by BAE
Systems in partnership with MIT, Applied Wave Research, and Bell Labs,
through Alcatel-Lucent’s LGS subsidiary. The EPIC program produced the first
devices that embedded photonic filters, modulators, and detectors with
electronics onto the same silicon-based integrated circuit.
“The EPIC project achieved the critical first step in building the foundation
for this new breed of devices,” said
Alice White,
vice president, Enabling Physical Technologies Research at Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell
Labs. “We’ve applied our core competency in optics and expertise in chip design
and telecommunications technology towards realizing the full potential of
silicon-based optical networking by not only creating circuits that can carry
optical signals, but providing the control to modify those signals, which is a
much more sophisticated process.”
The demonstration of the new tunable filter is a critical step in this field of
research. These filters will enable network operators to clean up the light
pulses within a transmission channel on the silicon chip, either directly or by
modifying the signal in anticipation of later distortion, and balance the power
of different transmission channels. Such reconfigurable filters could
significantly improve the speed, cost, and performance of next-generation
optical and high-speed data networks by supporting advanced modulation formats
that transport more information over a longer distance.
This work could also enable devices that could be remotely reconfigured,
simplifying large-scale optical network management or reconfiguration. By
simultaneously equalizing the signal intensity profile, compensating for
dispersion, and switching transmission formats, such agile devices can also help
transform the network from a point-to-point architecture to a mesh topology.
While this work represents only a proof-of-concept demonstration (generally
available technologies are not expected for 3~5 years), synergistically
combining such optical filters with on-chip electronic circuits can provide a
commercially viable path to providing reconfigurable, low-cost, low power
consumption devices that could fit into small form factor pluggable modules.
These new devices are also ideal for dual-use applications in systems that route
data over both electronic and optical networks -– depending on the most
appropriate delivery and/or transport format.
The key to this groundbreaking demonstration is a new control configuration that
uses a single voltage to adjust the signal equalization and an innovative
architecture to realize complex responses in a low order filter. The result is a
highly adaptable transmitter, which brings a very rich level of control to
silicon-based optical networking.
This work was
sponsored under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s EPIC program
managed by Dr. Jagdeep Shah of the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO).
About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext
Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers,
enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video
communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged
broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services,
Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling
communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With
operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with
global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the
industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation
organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved
adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in
France , with executive offices located in Paris . [All figures exclude impact
of activities to be transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit
Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet:
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
Fjord Media
Presents a System Designer’s Delight at NAB 2007 with Free4
Multi-Signal Transport Products
Las Vegas,
NV (March 26, 2007) -- Booth N4135 at the National Association of
Broadcasters 2007 (NAB) will be popping with fresh ideas and innovative
solutions when Fjord Media presents the revolutionary possibilities of its
Free4®, routing and control systems as well as a host of new product
introductions.
"Free4 is a
System Designer’s delight,” states Lars Kristian Thomesen, Sales Director of
Fjord Media AS. “When it comes to convergence of audio, video, IP and telecom
signals there's virtually no limit to the power of our Free4, the first
multifunctional platform of its kind that simplifies the integration of all
types of digital signals."
The Free4
system is the world's first multipurpose frame and open standards platform to
support optical transport, multi-format routing and signal processing that is
flexible and expandable. Routers can be grown in any direction in steps of four,
from 4x4 up to 384 ports and handle any analog or digital signal within the same
frame including the up-coming Super HD 3.5 Gbps. Through an innovative
integration of frame, system control, crosspoint cards, I/O modules, control
panels and software, Free4 gives designers unparalleled freedom to incorporate
embedders/deembedders, frame syncs, DA's and converters in the same frame.
New
Products
joining the Free4 family at 2007 NAB:
● 6R
Multi-Format Frame: 240 ports.
● Power
Supply Frame, 1RU: separate power N+1 for all Free4 multi format frames that
house single or redundant Fjord controllers. Allows increased number of ports in
all Free4 multi-format frames. For example, a 6RU expands to 288 ports
(144x144), and an 8RU expands to 384 ports (192x192).
● User
Defined AES Backplanes: to choose or mix between Phoenix, Dsub-25 and Dsub-37.
● Ethernet
Switch, Optional Optical Output 4-Port Ethernet: 10Base-T/100Base-Tx/1000Base-T
switch, occupies two module slots. Available with Slots for 3x Optical or
electrical Ethernet ports. (SFP modules must be ordered separately) 1x
Electrical port with 8x GPI-IO + RS422 + DS3.
● HD-SDI
Changeover Switch, 2x1 with Monitoring Output. In/Out-put card w/2 dedicated
Input-ports and 2 dedicated Output-ports, for digital video up to 1485Mbps
(incl. DVB-ASI). Can be used as standalone 2x1 changeover with monitoring of
user selectable input port. Provides recognition and verification of correct
frame structure of Serial Digital signals, including DVB-ASI. Changeover
functionality and conditions defined via Fjord Device Configurator. Automatic,
manual and GPI-triggered operation, also over TCP/IP and/or RS-232/422. Does not
require a crosspoint card.
●
Distribution Amplifiers: for Analog Video, Analog Audio, SDI/DVB-ASI, HDSDI/SDI/DVB-ASI,
AES-EBU 100Ohm, AES-EBU-75Ohm and Telecom 140/155Mbps. All DA's are user
configurable as single or dual DA's.
● Digital
Signal Converters: Analog Audio to AES-EBU, AES-EBU to Analog Audio Analog Video
to SDI, SDI to Analog Video. Add or receive analog signals to digital routing
system on any number of ports.
● X-series
New HD-SDI Format: HD-SDI router in both 8x8 and 16x16 completes the existing
range offered (Analog Video, Analog Audio, SDI, AES, RS422 and T140/155).
●
CP-series, Monitor Module: dual 1.7-inch OLED monitor module with extreme
viewing angle for on-air/preview/status.
●
CP-series, GPI-IO module: 8 x GPI Inputs and 8 x GPI Outputs (rear mounted), 2
modules may be installed in each frame, allows for GPI signaling both locally
and over Ethernet.
FleetMaster
and Fjord Device Configurator Software: Advanced detection, configuration and
control tools for all Fjord products and most third party routers
VDS ANNOUNCES TWISTER HD V8 AT NAB 2007
PAINT AND WORKFLOW TOOLS IN ONE APPLICATION
New York, NY, March 26, 2007—VDS, a leading developer of broadcast
automation software, content design applications and plug-in products, announces
the Twister PaintStation HD V8 at NAB 2007.
The Twister PaintStation HD is a complete paint, graphic content creation,
and workflow utility application designed specifically for broadcasters. Twister
combines full feature graphic design tools with custom browser utilities which
solve many typical workflow issues that broadcasters face daily. The Twister’s
browser is rich with interoperability features which allow the operator to move
content and use files between practically any related broadcast device,
regardless whether it is open or proprietary in nature, or if it is local or
remote. Many of these system’s metadata formats are also supported for creating
and updating searchable database information.
The Twister PaintStation HD provides high quality SD/HD frame grab and
output, along with the ability to key and preview live graphics (real-time
paint) over incoming video. This also includes the ability to grab video from
canvas directly to layers. Twister can also switch instantly between HD and SD
operating modes at the click of a button. Other new V8 features include
selectable grouping/ungrouping, improved masking/layer mask tools, more dynamic
features and additional UI enhancements. It is now easier than ever to create
reusable daily templates in SD or HD. Content distribution is a breeze, as
Twister has been infused with many broadcast-friendly features such as R/W
Photoshop layers and direct connection/file support for most industry-standard
devices such as Chyron, Aprisa, Pinnacle, Avid, ORAD, and Quantel.
“We are looking forward to showing Twister at NAB2007.” comments David-Ray
Worthington, Director of Marketing and Product Development at VDS. “The new
templating, grouping and HD video I/O features take Twister to a whole new
level.”
With Twister, artists have access to VDS' famous content creation tools and
workflow utilities from within a single user environment. This includes a full
suite of comprehensive paint tools and brushes, unlimited layering capabilities,
and sophisticated image processing and masking tools developed specifically for
fast still graphic creation and distribution. In addition, most third-party
Photoshop plug-ins can be used in Twister, allowing access to hundreds of
inexpensive image effect libraries. All in all, Twister will bring unprecedented
content creation capability to any graphics facility.
See Twister HD PaintStation V8 at NAB 2007
Block Projector Theft and Protect
Your AV Investment with Chief Security Products!
Minneapolis, MN. -- (March 2007) –
Chief Manufacturing, the industry-leader in mounting solutions, offers a broad
lineup of products focused on projector security and protection. From basic
security to advanced options, Chief provides just the right amount of security
for your AV equipment.
Basic
Chief’s All-Points™ Security System
provides locking hardware at all key connection points to prevent removal of the
projector from the mount. Projector access is obtained with the use of a
security wrench. The All-Points System is included with all RPA Series projector
mounts.
Intermediate
Chief’s PL Series of projector locks
consists of an all-steel vented lock box that fits around an RPA Series mount
and secures with a key.
The Q-Lock Locking Lever is another
intermediate level security feature included on the RPA Elite projector mounts.
The Q-Lock lever provides enhanced security with a key and lock system.
Advanced NEW PRODUCT!
Chief’s RPA and RPA Elite Security
Series of mounts are all-in-one solutions that rely solely on key and lock
security. Fasteners are concealed beneath a universal steel interface and are
virtually inaccessible.
Complete
When maximum security is needed, the PG
Series of Projector Guards enclose the projector inside a solid steel cage for
ultimate protection.
Chief also offers additional security
with the security cable accessories. Choose from the PM-SC for use with the RPA
and RPM Series, the HC1 Heavy Duty Cable System, the LC1 Cable Lock and PL4
Projector Lock, and the SA1 Security Anchor.
About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, a division of CSAV
– Chief/Sanus Audio Visual, has more than 29 years of proven product and service
excellence. Committed to responding to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential
and Office markets, Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lifts and
accessories for flat panel displays and projectors.
Chief continues to design innovative
mounting solutions that complement the technology they support. With multiple
product awards and patented designs, Chief provides unique mount features, and
is recognized for delivering not only quality products, but knowledgeable,
helpful customer service.
U.S. and Europe sales offices support a
global network spanning the Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim and beyond. Chief
distribution centers are located in Minnesota and the Netherlands. www.chiefmfg.com.
MoneyTV, Week of 3/23
- MoneyTV is the nationally syndicated television program all about money and
what makes it happen, (http://www.moneytv.net),
featuring informative interviews by hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman
with company CEOs, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for
their futures.
Free information packages from the featured companies can be requested by
sending an email to
info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program include:
Spongetech Delivery Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:
SPNG) President Michael Metter spoke of
and displayed the company's Sponge technology, which is embedded with enough car
wash and car wax to wash the average SUV more than eight times.
Sunrise Energy Resources, Inc. (OTCBB:
SEYR) CFO Roman Livson announced the
beginning of development on their Rakitnyansk block.
The Green Baron.com Editor-in-Chief Matt Chipman
commented on the recent statements by the Federal Reserve and what effect they
may have on the small cap markets.
Cord
Blood America, Inc. (OTCBB:
CBAI) CEO Matthew Schissler announced the
company had been featured on ABC-TV's
Good
Morning America.
Universal Express, Inc. (OTCBB:
USXP) CEO Richard Altomare announced a
"blockbuster" speech he will deliver on April 3rd.
Manhattan West Mortgage CEO Roger Schlesinger discussed little known laws in
certain states that aid homeowners.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information in the mail about featured
companies by calling the toll-free phone number on their TV screen. The weekly
television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast nationally in the
USA
to 70 million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET, Sundays at 8:30 AM PT,
8:30 AM ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in Western Europe, Wednesdays at
5:00 PM.
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the
Virgin
Islands and
Puerto
Rico Sundays at 8:00 AM.
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PELEMAN INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES RETAIL PARTNERSHIP
WITH ADORAMA
Unibind PhotoBook Creator Low-Cost
Do-It-Yourself Binding System Now Available at Photo Specialty Retailer Adorama
March 23, 2007,
NY, NY
– Peleman Industries (http://www.peleman.com),
the leading binding, laminating, and presentation system company, announced
today their retail partnership with the NY-based leading photo specialty
retailer, Adoramahttp://www.adorama.com. Available
immediately,Adoramawill now carry the Unibind PhotoBook Creator
http://www.myphotobookcreator.com,
the first low-cost do-it-yourself complete photo binding system for consumers
and professional photographers. PhotoBook Creator makes it easy to create
instant hard-cover 8½” x 11” personalized photo albums in only a few seconds.
Peleman Expanding into
Professional/Prosumer Photography Market
Peleman’s partnership with
Adorama represents an expansion for Peleman into the professional and
prosumer photography markets. PhotoBook Creator is currently available
primarily through consumer and scrapbooking retailers and online sites, such as
consumer electronics company Bestbuy.com, superstore Target.com,
xPedx retail paper stores, Studio D
technology and learning stores, and digital color output company Lexjet.com.
Winner of the PMA DIMA
Innovation Award and other awards and accolades, Photobook Creator lets
photographers and consumers design professionally-bound wedding and other
photo albums in only a few seconds. For a minimal cost, photo books can be made
for friends and family for gifts that will be cherished for a lifetime.
PhotoBook Creator also makes perfect photo albums for birthdays, graduations,
vacations, baby showers, party mementos, and scrapbooking. Pricedat only $99.99 SRP, PhotoBook Creator creates a perfectly
bound hardcover book of up to 220 pages in a variety of colors and
finishes.Pre-manufactured hardback covers are available with a window
allowing the first photo to be viewed through the cover.
“We are excited to announce our
new partnership with Adorama. Adorama will bring our Photo Book technology to
professional photographers and consumers through a respected retailer that can
be trusted to carry only quality items,” said Brigitte Peleman, CEO, Pelaman
Industries, Inc.
UnibindPhotoBook Creator is available immediately from Adorama.com and the Adorama retail
location in
New York
City, NYpriced at $99 SRP. It includes the PhotoBook
Creator binding machine, 1 hardcover PhotoBook, and software to layout pages.
Additional covers are also available for purchase. For more information on the
PhotoBook Creator, see the website at:
http://www.myphotobookcreator.com.
About Peleman Industries
Peleman Industries is a global
leader in the binding, laminating, and presentation markets. With over 25 years
of research and development, the company specializes in the design, manufacture
and distribution of products for presentations and the protection of printed
documents. Peleman Industries has a presence in 110 countries and is known
for its revolutionary, easy-to-use, and super-fast binding, laminating and
presentations systems that create the most professional looking finished
documents on the market in just seconds.
Peleman’s products are
sold under the Unibind, WWAOW, and MyBook Company brands. Businesses and
consumers can find Peleman products in consumer electronics, photo specialty
stores, art supply, kiosks, and online suppliers. See http://www.peleman.com
for more info.
About Adorama
For more than 30 years Adorama
has been one of the nation's largest retail and mail order suppliers serving
professionals as well as amateurs in the photographic, video, digital imaging
and telescope fields. Adorama prides itself on offering the best combination of
quality services, selection, knowledgeable staff, and competitive pricing. For
more information about Adorama's products, services, and the unique Adorama
Imaging Resource Center visit www.adorama.com.
Yahoo! to Resurge in 2007, According to New Analysis by Pike & Fischer
March 21, 2007 --
Yahoo!'s
revenue growth has weakened in recent quarters as it faces increased
competition, alternatives to search-based advertising and a thunderous stampede
toward social-networking sites such as MySpace and YouTube. But market research
firm Pike & Fischer concludes that the company is on the verge of a comeback.
In a new analysis, P&F forecasts that Yahoo! will expand its user base
significantly thanks to its aggressive recruitment of top scientists and its
acquisition of such innovative social-networking and video services as
Bix.com
and Jumpcut. In addition, P&F projects that
Yahoo!'s
investment in such initiatives as its "Project Panama" -- designed to improve
search accuracy and increase click-throughs for paid advertisers -- will narrow
Google's
lead in online ad sales.
"Yahoo!'s
expansion into mobile content delivery and broadband video -- as well as a
number of other initiatives -- will better position the company to compete with
Google, AOL, and a host of established and burgeoning sites vying for
advertising dollars," says Tim Deal, Senior Analyst for P&F's Broadband Advisory
Services and author of the report.
Deal adds that Yahoo! is staffing its research department with a formidable
array of research scientists who can drive the development of innovative
products and services that will improve the company's competitive position.
But while these initiatives will result in increased sales in the long term,
the company will face an increase in operating costs this year, Deal cautions.
And Yahoo! must do a better job of marketing and monetizing the innovations
developed in its labs, he adds.
Pike & Fischer, a BNA company, offers a host of legal and business
information products covering the telecommunications industry. Yahoo! Business
Strategy Analysis is priced at $799 and can be purchased at
www.broadbandadvisoryservices.com
ARRIS Announces Opening of Major Research & Development Center in Shenzhen,
China
Suwanee, GA – March 19, 2007: ARRIS (Nasdaq: ARRS) today announced that
its Chinese enterprise, ARRIS Technology (Shenzhen) Company, Ltd., has opened a
Research and Development Center in Shenzhen, China. The Center's mission is to
support ARRIS in providing innovative, reliable and cost-effective technology
solutions for the Asia-Pacific region's cable operators. This is the fourth R&D
Center operated by ARRIS, with substantial lab facilities also operating in
Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; and Cork, Ireland.
"Our new Chinese R&D Center will enable ARRIS to accelerate delivery of new
product features to support our customers and value-added resellers in the
region," said ARRIS New Business Ventures President Bryant Isaacs. "We have
recruited some excellent talent, completed office and lab construction, have
started to establish our R&D and quality processes, and we will begin working
toward ISO9001 certification in the near future."
"Each year, tens of millions of new middle class families emerge in the
Asia-Pacific region and desire the information and entertainment options that
cable delivers," noted Dr. Hubert Wo, Director of ARRIS Technology Company, Ltd.
"With the addition of our R&D Center, we are better equipped to compete in this
exciting marketplace by improving our time to market, increasing our ability to
scale development teams and localize our products for the Region."
About ARRIS
ARRIS provides broadband local access networks with innovative video, high-speed
data and telephony systems for the delivery of voice, video and data to the home
and business. ARRIS complete solutions enhance the reliability and value of
converged services from the network to the subscriber. Headquartered in Suwanee,
Georgia, USA, ARRIS has design, engineering, distribution, service and sales
office locations throughout the world. Information about ARRIS products and
services can be found at www.arrisi.com.
Organic Satisfies the Palate
State of Science Review Shows Why Organic Produce Tastes Better
March 16, 2007 -- Demand for organic foods is on the rise as a
healthier choice, but some "food lovers" are skeptical when it comes to taste.
Taste plays a huge factor in converting consumers to try new foods and
according to a
Minnesota
Opinion Research Inc. poll, 43 percent of consumers say taste is a major reason
why they purchase organic fruits and vegetables. So what are the other 57
percent waiting for?
"People have a lot of misconceptions about what an organic meal tastes like,"
says celebrity chef Akasha Richmond. Eighty-five to 90 percent of the
ingredients she uses in her A-list recipes are organic. "Because organic is
associated with something that is good for you, people think it will be too
healthy and have no taste. But after they try it, most people are shocked at how
much more flavor some of their favorite foods have."
And while chefs like
Richmond have known instinctively for years that organic produce can add
flavor to their menus, a new state of science review, published by The Organic
Center, shows why organic fruits and vegetables often taste better.
Published studies have analyzed the sensory appeal of organic fruits and
vegetables compared to their conventional counterparts.
Organic fruits and vegetables tend to score higher in taste because they are
sweeter than conventionally grown foods. Scientists say this is because of the
nutrient density of organic produce and their smaller size. Conventional farming
methods are designed to produce bigger fruits and vegetables, but increasing
cells size adds more water, diluting the concentrations of both vitamins and
natural flavors.
Organic apples, strawberries and tomatoes showed some of the most significant
differences in taste, according to the report.
The report also dispels another misconception about freshness. Contrary to
what most people believe, organic fruits and vegetables often have a longer
shelf life than conventionally grown foods. The higher levels of antioxidants,
considered a natural preservative, are actually part of what enables some
organic fruits and vegetables to store longer. The other contributing factor is
the lower levels of nitrates that come from synthetic fertilizers, which aren't
used in organic farming.
Science is showing that organic fruits and vegetables not only taste better,
but they are better for you. Nutrient content in organic fruits and vegetables
is, on average, higher than in conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. In
many cases, the amount of antioxidants found in organic fruits and vegetables is
30-percent higher compared to conventionally grown produce. To get a copy of the
taste state of science review, go to
http://www.organic-center.org and visit
http://www.MO2010.org to find out how you can make a difference by just
eating 10-percent organic.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
World Pizza Champions
............
Press Release
.....
The World Pizza Champions Announce:
Five World Pizza Champions Members are Finalists
Columbus, OH
March 12, 2007 Five World Pizza Champions Team members took top
honors in the Traditional and Gourmet categories at the Pizza Pizzazz
competitions at
Napics.
John Gutekanst from
Avalanche Pizza in
Athens, OH won first place in Gourmet and took the $5000 dollar
prize with his award winning Fajita pizza.
Paul Cataldo from
Antonio's Restaurant in
Elkhart, IN came in 3rd place - Traditional
Joey Post from
Si's Pizzeria in
Charlotte, NC came in 4th place - Gourmet
Pete Di Fabio from
Amore Pizza in
Scarsdale, NY came in 5th place - Gourmet
These members placed in the top five out of the two competitions
from over 100 pizza makers from all over the U.S.
Congratulations! All of these members will be either competing at the
International Pizza Challenge or Pizza Festiva in
Las Vegas at the International Pizza Expo March 20,21,& 22 and
representing the
United States at the Pizza
Olympics on
March 26 -29 in Salsomaggiore, Italy.
Join our Revolutionary "How To" Pizza Site.
Join our revolutionary "How To" pizza site and be one on one with
experts in the pizza industry. Learn how to make/work Sauce, Dough,
Appetizers, Take & Bake, Desserts, Pizza Ovens, Fundamentals and much
more.
Our site contains real live videos of real live operators in their
actual kitchens showing you their secrets, industry experts and
consultants will give you tips and techniques to help build your
business, and if you are thinking of competing at the World Pizza
Games, then this is where you can learn from Gold Medal winners.
Most importantly you will see these all demonstrated, not just a
recipe on paper. Think of it as getting a one on one training session
from the experts for a fraction of the cost. Content is provided from
across the
USA and the World, giving you access to different points of
view, styles and techniques.
The World Pizza Champions are made up of members Michael Shepherd
of
Michael Angelo's Pizza in Kenton &
Rushsylvania, Ohio; Tony Gemignani & Ken Bryant
of
Pyzano's Pizzeria in
Castro Valley, CA; Joe Carlucci of Famous Joe's in
Danbury,CT; Siler Chapman of
Si's Pizzeria in Fort Mills, SC and Sean Brauser of
Romeo's Pizza in Medina, OH.
Each member has earned the highest awards in several different
categories in the pizza industry. They are considered by many pizza
operators worldwide as professionals and pioneers.
Team members have appeared on the Today Show, Tony Danza Show,
The Tonight Show,
The Ellen Show, ESPN, the Food Network,
Good Morning America, BBC Radio, and numerous industry magazine
covers.
They have come together to form an affiliation to promote their
restaurants and their skills. Individually each of them have performed
on shows across the nation, but now they plan to tour the world as a
team. The World Pizza Champions perform and/or compete at numerous
festivals, fairs, sporting events, and food shows all year long.
America's #1 Pizza Team, The World Pizza Champions, will be in
a town or on a TV near you.
Inconsistencies Prevalent in Email Metrics and Bounce Management
The EEC reports that Email has clearly evolved
into being the pivot point for online communication and commerce,
but a recently reported study by the Deliverability Roundtable of
the Email Experience Council found that email metrics and bounce
management have not kept pace with email's evolution. 321 Mailers
and 29 ESPs, representing a cross-section of both groups, showed
that the lack of standards around industry metrics, bounce data,
definitions and bounce management practices resulted in the
inability of Mailers and ESPs to properly execute, measure and
compare results on their programs.
The study says that, while four-fifths of ESPs
calculate "delivered" by deducting all failures from total mailed,
the remaining one-fifth calculate it by deducting only hard bounces
from total mailed. Consensus for Mailers is even less pronounced.
Two-thirds of Mailers expressed uncertainty as to how delivery was
calculated, or just guessed. Methodologies for calculating open and
click rates were even more convoluted and inconsistent.
In addition, the surveys revealed considerable
confusion around one of the key processes effecting deliverability -
bounce management. There's widespread industry disagreement on how
bounces should be defined and treated, and an acute lack of
visibility into specific bounce reasons. The surveys also highlight
a problem with inconsistent bounce data being provided by ISPs.
Collectively, concludes the report, these
issues pose a significant, bottom line risk to email marketers who
are unable to adequately measure their results, clean their lists,
improve their practices and safeguard their reputations because of
inconsistent metrics and unreliable or inadequate data.
Email is the only direct marketing channel that
lacks a standardized set of metrics, says the Whitepaper summarizing
the survey. The survey concludes that the findings validate the need
for such metrics as well as common definitions and uniform
practices.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Web Audience Up 10% Since January Last Year
According to a recent comScore Networks announcement, 747
million people, fifteen and over, used the Internet worldwide in January 2007, a
10-percent increase versus January 2006. Among the top 15 countries by
penetration, Internet audiences in India, the
Russian
Federation and China increased the most in 2006, growing 33, 21 and 20
percent, respectively. China now represents the second-largest Internet
population in the world, with 86.8 million users, after the U.S., which rose 2
percent year-over-year to 153.4 million users age 15 or older in January 2007.
Bob Ivins, managing director, comScore
Europe,
said "Internet users outside the U.S. now account for 80 percent of the world's
online population, with rapidly developing countries experiencing double-digit
growth rates year-over-year."
comScore ranked the top 10 countries ranked by average
hours online per visitor for January 2007.
Canada
led the list with the average user spending 39.6 hours (and 41.3 hours/ month
among broadband users) online during the month. The balance of the top 5 were
Israel,
South Korea, the U.S. and the U.K., significantly countries with high
broadband penetration. In each of the top 10 countries, the time spent online by
users with a broadband connection was substantially greater than the time spent
by users with a narrowband connection.
Ivins commented, "We have all believed that 'always-on'
broadband connections stimulate usage - this study empirically confirms that
conclusion."
Top 15 Countries by Internet Penetration
(Unique Visitors Age 15+* Total Worldwide)
Jan-06 (000)
Jan-07 (000)
Percentage Change
Worldwide
676,878
746,934
10%
United
States
150,897
153,447
2%
China
72,408
86,757
20%
Japan
51,450
53,670
4%
Germany
31,209
32,192
3%
United
Kingdom
29,773
30,072
1%
South
Korea
24,297
26,350
8%
France
23,712
24,560
4%
India
15,867
21,107
33%
Canada
18,332
20,392
11%
Italy
15,987
18,106
13%
Brazil
12,845
14,964
16%
Spain
12,206
12,710
4%
Russian Federation
10,471
12,707
21%
Netherlands
10,772
11,077
3%
Mexico
8,624
10,149
18%
Source: comScore World Metrix
* Excludes traffic from public computers such as
Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.
Top 10 Countries by Average Monthly Hours Online
(Broadband vs. Narrowband(Total Worldwide Visitors Age 15+* January
2007)
Average Monthly Hours Online (per Unique Visitor)
Unique Visitors Rank
Among All Users
Among Broadband Users
Among Narrowband Users
Canada
9
39.6
41.3
14.2
Israel
28
37.4
38.8
10.9
South
Korea
6
34.0
36.1
N/A**
United States
1
31.6
37.2
13.5
United
Kingdom
5
31.2
35.6
7.5
Chile
20
30.9
38.6
12.6
Brazil
11
30.2
38.5
17.0
Finland
30
28.7
34.2
N/A**
Spain
12
27.9
33.4
9.1
Sweden
21
27.5
31.4
9.7
Source: comScore World Metrix
Lucidiom Unleashes Eight Photofinishing Innovations at PMA 2007 to Grow
Profits for Retailers
– At PMA 2007, Lucidiom brings it all together for photofinishing retailers with
new products allowing their consumers to print from home, online, at kiosks or
in stores – all simply connected into one integrated system.
For more than five years, Lucidiom has enabled retailers to establish profitable
and varied photo category offerings. At Lucidiom's PMA booth, (#P130, Upper
Level, LVCC South Hall), attendees can preview the following products to
experience how they can profit from the digital imaging revolution:
1) Lucidiom EQ, the Complete Imaging System, contains every piece
retailers need to produce any product involving their customers' photos: two APM
kiosks, Photo Finale Web and Photo Finale Desktop, Lab 50 production software,
printers, book binder, DVD Cinema, exclusive Luci templates and Photo Folio
Bundle – all integrated together to create double-sided photo products, photo
books, folded cards, bound calendars, posters, enlargements, bordered photos,
passport photos, greeting cards, scrapbook pages and gifts.
2) Luci, Lucidiom's award-winning Luci creative kiosk program, is now
available as an addition to any standard APM, Photo Finale Web or Photo Finale
Desktop. Luci comes with more than 2,500 exclusive templates to make
personalized Wall Art, Collages, Red Letter Cards, Luci Layout scrapbook pages,
bordered prints, recipe cards, calendars, game boards and DVD Cinema
slideshows—all inventory that lets the retailers go well beyond the standard 4x6
print.
3) Photo Folio Bundle, allows retailers to create double-sided photo
products, such as photo books, folded cards and bound calendars, out of Luci art
using the Lucidiom EQ-9800 laser printer and Unibind binder.
4) Lab 50 software manages production workflow and interfaces with all
printers—inkjet, dye sub, minilab and laser. Lab 50 collects orders from kiosks,
Photo Finale Desktop and Photo Finale Web and funnels them into one
easy-to-manage queue. With its included APM Order Agent, retailers can manage
their kiosks remotely. Retailers also can control pricing and promotions on all
their customer interfaces.
5) APM 5.0, the newest version of Lucidiom's award-winning kiosk
software, features a shopping cart to allow consumers to order multiple products
at one time, along with numerous GUI enhancements. Creative Collections,
Creative Collections Plus, scanning, gifting and passport photos now come as
standard features, and APM 5.0 will support Luci, DVD Cinema and Photo Folio
Bundle as well as the Back Lab Burner for remote CD/DVD creation. Non-photo
files such as movies and audio clips also can be burned to image CDs.
6) The APM 2700, Lucidiom's newest APM, features an ultra bright 17"
screen, an Intel Core Duo processor, 2 GB of RAM, an easily customized monitor
frame, an inline EasyReader media drive, a CD/DVD burner and a built-in receipt
printer to take orders for prints, enlargements, greeting cards, passport photos
and other photo gifts in as little as two minutes.
7) The APM Print & Scan, housing one kiosk, two printers and flatbed
scanner, allows photofinishing retailers to grow beyond their store borders. At
only 18" wide, 25" deep and 42" high, the APM Print & Scan is ideal for retail
locations with limited space inside the store and for retailers that are looking
to set up remote kiosks in local cafés, hotels, hospitals and other community
gathering spots.
8) APM ProfitWatcher Dashboard, Lucidiom's award-winning, web-based,
interactive, reporting tool, lets retailers know exactly know exactly how their
photo kiosks are performing and where and how their customers spend powerful
purchasing dollars.
Note to editors: Detailed press releases on each of the Lucidiom products are
posted at the company's website,
http://www.lucidiom.com. Hi-res photos of the Lucidiom products are
available for media use as well. Contact Lisa Fasold,
lfasold@lucidiom.com for photo files.
About Lucidiom
With OEM and independent retail clients around the globe, Lucidiom Inc. enables
retailers to develop their digital image-based revenue streams. As the leading
provider of flexible and brand-independent photo kiosks, Lucidiom's innovative
solutions, all connected via the APM Network, include the Lucidiom EQ complete
imaging system; APM photo kiosk; Luci creative program; Photo Folio Bundle of
photo books, folded cards and bound calendars; APM ProfitWatcher statistics
tracker; Photo Finale software suite; and Lab 50 and Print Station job
management systems. For more information about how Lucidiom empowers the "Go
Beyond 4x6" digital imaging movement, visit
http://www.lucidiom.com.
Advertisers Want Independent Verification of Results
According to a new study by Forrester Research,
reported by eMarketer, many marketers are dissatisfied with
advertising's return on investment (ROI), and only 21% of those
clients surveyed would recommend their agencies' services to others.
At the same time, however, 76% of marketers had no way to determine
their ROI from their lead agencies, and 69% said ROI is too
difficult to measure.
Peter Kim, of Forrester, said "There's always
an undercurrent of discontent with agencies... not because the
agency didn't help them drive sales or meet some... business
outcome... it's a feeling that there isn't data to back up."
The eMarketer summary said that a new joint
survey by NSON Opinion Research and the Audit Bureau of Circulations
found that three-fourths of North American ad professionals said
that they would be more likely to advertise on Web sites if the
results were independently verified by a third party.
Ad Professionals "More Likely to
Advertise" if Results Independently Verified by 3rd Party (% of Respondents)
More Likely to Advertise
WebSites
75%
E-Newsletters
67
Search
66
Blogs
53
Streaming video
53
Podcasts
52
Mobile
50
Source: NSON Opinion Research and Audit
Bureau of Circulations, February 2007
Less than half of advertisers and agency
professionals said that they trusted online publisher metrics.
Ad Professionals Reporting Trust in
Online Metrics from Online Publishers
Trust
Strongly Trust
Advertisers
41%
7%
Ad Agency Professionals
36
7
Source: NSON Opinion Research and Audit
Bureau of Circulations, February 2007
The majority of respondents said that they
preferred advertising on audited Web sites when possible.
Advertisers Preference for Audited
Websites if Audited by 3rd Party(Oct-Dec, 2006)
% of Respondents
Prefer Audited Web Sites
67%
No Preference
33
Source: NSON Opinion Research and Audit
Bureau of Circulations, February 2007
D.A.S. AUDIO ON THE SET OF CBS’ THE EARLY SHOW Regional sound operator Roxy Productions
chosen to support John Legend performance
Miami, FL – March 2007… The recent Super Bowl clash at Dolphin Stadium
between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears wasn’t the only game in
town. Festivities were everywhere, and reporting live from this vibrant city the
entire week of the big game was none other than CBS’ The Early Show.
Holding the fort on trendy South Beach, one the show’s more memorable events was
a performance by five-time Grammy Award winning R&B vocalist, songwriter, and
pianist John Legend. Miami-based Roxy Productions handled sound reinforcement
for the event and their loudspeaker system of choice consisted of models drawn
from the D.A.S. Audio product line.
Roxy Productions—under the guidance of Technical Director/Partner Ulises
Otero—handles a variety of live sound projects, including corporate industrials,
concert production, and special events such as The Early Show broadcast.
For John Legend’s performance, which was one of only two live music programs
that week, Otero and his staff handled both the live sound reinforcement aspects
of the event as well as providing mix stems to the broadcast truck.
“Because of the way the show was sub-grouped and mixed down to TV,” said
Otero, “we were largely responsible for both aspects of the production. We
handled a variety of direct outs and a few sub groups of mixes coming from the
band, and ended up with roughly forty-plus inputs to the broadcast truck. We
also handled the entire live program with the same set of groups, and this was
ultimately brought down to twelve channels.”
As the immediate area surrounding the performance was only to have roughly
300 people, project specifications required that the gear be unobtrusive, yet
powerful. To address these requirements, Otero selected D.A.S. Audio CA-28A
self-powered, bi-amplified, two-way compact line array elements in tandem with
CA-215A monoamplified arrayable subwoofers—both from the Aero Series catalog.
According to Otero, “We used two CA-215A’s and four CA-28A’s per side in
their specified format, with the subs on top—all matched up with the built-in
crossover. Each loudspeaker group was placed on Genie lifts. This D.A.S. Audio
setup solved a lot of potential headaches since everything was self-powered. I
had no amp racks or processing that I had to concern myself with—be it monitors
or house. Since the entire system is self-contained, we didn't need to use
or adjust any crossover processing etc., as this is all taken care of by the
D.A.S. system. These are huge considerations—especially when time is an
important factor.”
Featuring dual 8-inch transducers for the mids and a 1.5-inch neodymium HF
driver, the D.A.S. Audio CA-28A’s rugged trapezoidal enclosure incorporates all
the rigging hardware needed to easily join one box to another. Similarly, the
CA-215A subwoofer utilizes dual 15-inch transducers front loaded in a bass
reflex configuration, with all rigging hardware incorporated into the system.
Designed for easy truck pack, the system transports, assembles, and disassembles
quickly—all of which were critical elements to the success of this project.
“We did a technical line check and set up all day Thursday, yet backline (the
band and their gear) didn't arrive ‘till early the next morning for set up,”
noted Otero. “The band performed elsewhere the night before, so there were a lot
of last minute adjustments that needed to occur. The D.A.S. equipment made a
huge difference on this job.”
At FOH, a Yamaha DM2000 digital mixing console—with 48 mic pres and several
mirrored outputs to drive both the live mix and the truck inputs—resided. The
setup included two Aviom A-16ii drive cards, with one card supporting monitor
world and all the stage monitors, and the other handling the mirrored outputs at
FOH plus the outputs that went to the truck. This arrangement enabled Otero and
his crew to accommodate both the live mix as well as the feeds that were
ultimately mixed down to the stereo nationwide TV feed.
On stage monitoring was provided by a combination of six Shure PM-700 in-ear
monitors in tandem with four D.A.S. Audio SML-12A and four D.A.S. Audio Compact
115 stage monitors. The D.A.S. Audio SML-12A is a low profile, biamplified stage
monitor utilizing a 12-inch LF driver and a neodymium HF driver with a 3-inch
titanium diaphragm and 1.5-inch exit throat, while the Compact 115 is a
self-powered, 3-way system utilizing a 15-inch LF transducer with a neodymium
magnet structure, an 8-inch midrange driver, plus a neodymium HF driver with a
3-inch titanium diaphragm and 1.5-inch exit throat.
Otero was quick to note the positive impact the D.A.S. Audio system had on
the event, “We’re finding that D.A.S. Audio is really having success penetrating
that wall of riders everyone wants to get on. The equipment performs beyond
expectations, the company provides the best service and support in the industry,
and they are rapidly becoming one of the leading accepted names in the market.
The Early Show project was yet another success for us, and D.A.S. Audio was
integral to that success.”
About D.A.S. Audio
Headquartered in Valencia, Spain, D.A.S. Audio is one of the world’s leading
manufacturers of loudspeaker systems, power amplification, signal processing,
and related components. For better than thirty years, D.A.S. Audio products have
been found on tour with the world’s greatest performing artists and installed in
many of the most prestigious facilities. For additional information about the
company, visit them online at www.dasaudio.com.
USAID and P&G Highlight Partnership
for Safe Drinking Water in Africa
WASHINGTON, March 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and the US Agency for International
Development (USAID) are highlighting their partnership to provide safe
drinking water at the household level to millions of children in Kenya,
Malawi, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.
"This
partnership is a significant step to provide safe drinking water in Africa
and elsewhere for millions of people," said Dr. Kent Hill, Assistant
Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development for Global
Health. "This unique effort demonstrates the power of partnership by
leveraging the skills and resources of Procter & Gamble and the U.S.
government to reduce diarrheal disease, responsible for the deaths of an
estimated 4,000 children per day around the globe."
This partnership focuses on provision of two proven, cost-effective,
household-level technologies to disinfect drinking water. WaterGuard is a
dilute bleach product developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and PUR(TM)
Purifier of Water is a powdered water treatment product developed by Procter
& Gamble and CDC. These disinfection technologies have been shown to reduce
disease and death in numerous health intervention trials. The technologies
are now in the process of being promoted using social marketing and other
approaches to raise awareness and change behavior in many African countries.
They are also being used to provide safe drinking water for emergency
relief, including the recent floods in Kenya and Ethiopia, and to help
address cholera outbreaks in the Congo and Malawi.
"We have provided more than 600 million liters of safe drinking water
over the last 3 years," said Charlotte Otto, Global External Relations
Officer at P&G. "Our efforts to date have been a drop in the ocean compared
to the vast need, and this partnership enables us to scale-up our efforts in
order to make a much larger health impact."
While USAID and P&G are key collaborators on this effort, it is comprised
of a network of partnerships focused on the provision of safe drinking
water. The main partner for social marketing is PSI, a mutual partner of
USAID and P&G in many countries. Currently PSI has outreach programs for PUR
in 8 countries, and WaterGuard, with USAID support, in 18 countries. More
than 6 million sachets of PUR and 7 million bottles of WaterGuard have
already been provided in Kenya, Malawi, and Ethiopia.
Other partners include the CDC's Global AIDS program, Rotary
International, and local community-based women's groups to provide the
products to people in part of the Nyanza region in Kenya. P&G also provided
1 million sachets of PUR in Kenya to people living with HIV/AIDs through the
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and Kenyan Red
Cross. In addition, P&G employees are volunteering to provide safe drinking
water training in schools. P&G is donating PUR to orphanages through the
International Council of Nurses and their affiliates in Kenya and Malawi,
working with YWCA to create a sustainable local income generation project in
Kenya, and collaborating with UNICEF, CARE and the Global Water Challenge
group to provide safe drinking water in schools in Kenya.
About USAID
USAID is an independent agency of the U.S. government that provides
economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world in
support of the foreign policy goals of the United States. USAID has offices
in Washington, DC, and in over 80 countries worldwide. USAID's Bureau for
Global Health has made water quality improvement a key component of its
environmental health agenda, working with the GDA as well as private sector
commercial and non-profit partners and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_partnerships/
About P&G
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around
the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted,
quality, leadership brands. The P&G community consists of over 135,000
employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. www.pg.com
P&G is committed to improving lives for children in need, ages 0-13,
through its global corporate cause, Live, Learn and Thrive, and its
Children's Safe Drinking Water program. www.csdw.org
BurnsAdler Partners With X-GEN Pharmaceuticals to Return Colistimethate for
Injection to the Mexican Market
CHARLOTTE, NC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 05, 2007 -- BurnsAdler
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("BurnsAdler") announced today that it has entered into a
long-term licensing and supply agreement with X-GEN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
("X-GEN") for the company's Colistimethate for Injection USP product. BurnsAdler
intends to market Colistimethate for Injection USP in Mexico, particularly to
fulfill an unmet therapeutic need. Colistimethate for Injection USP is indicated
for the treatment of acute or chronic infections due to sensitive strains of
certain gram-negative bacilli, such as Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Klebsiella Pnumoniae.
Bryan Somerville, Executive Vice President of BurnsAdler, remarked, "We are
very pleased to enter into this long-term partnership with X-GEN and to have
this opportunity to restore Colistimethate for Injection USP as a safe and
effective treatment option for healthcare professionals in Mexico. The very
serious nature of P. aeruginosa and other gram-negative bacilli infections makes
the lack of an effective patient therapy a critical focus. By working with X-GEN
to address this need, Mexican physicians will once again have a viable and
proven treatment alternative for their seriously ill patients."
Susan Badia, President and Chief Executive Officer, remarked, "X-GEN looks
forward to this opportunity to fulfill Mexico's physicians' and patients'
therapeutic needs. We are pleased to have a partner in BurnsAdler as we work to
serve the global healthcare community as a preferred source for generic choices,
including Colistimethate for Injection USP."
About BurnsAdler Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
BurnsAdler Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company that
promotes, sells and distributes products in
South
America, Mexico, Canada,
Puerto Rico
and the
Caribbean. BurnsAdler's portfolio strategy focuses on pharmaceutical
products and medical devices used in oncology, gastroenterology, cardiovascular
medicine, orthopedic medicine, hospitals and other critical care settings.
About X-GEN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
X-GEN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a generic drug company specializing in the
manufacturing and distribution of anti-infective pharmaceutical products which
serve as safe, effective and economical treatment options in patient care. By
continually adding to their anti-infective product portfolio, X-GEN remains true
its long standing tradition and commitment to provide affordable drug therapy
choices to the healthcare community. X-GEN's product offerings include a broad
range of dosage forms, including injectables, oral solutions, oral solids,
powders for prescription compounding and inhalants.
For additional information about this news release contact Maryori Oyola at +1.704.552.8410
Ext. 231. For additional information about BurnsAdler, please refer to
the company's website at
www.burnsadler.com.
MoneyTV, Week of 3/2
March 02, 2007 -- MoneyTV is the nationally syndicated television
program all about money and what makes it happen, (http://www.moneytv.net),
featuring informative interviews by hosts Donald Baillargeon and Skip Lindeman
with company CEOs, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for
their futures.
Free information packages from the featured companies can be requested by
sending an email to
info@moneytv.net.
The television program can also be viewed online immediately at
www.moneytv.net.
Featured companies on this week's program, "On-Location" from the American
Stock Exchange, include:
Your Cancer Today, Inc. Chairman & CEO Alan Painter discussed the company's
international television show and web site, which were created to inform and
educate viewers from both the institutional and patients' perspectives.
China Direct, Inc. (OTCBB:
CHND) President Marc Siegel spoke of the company's mission to create a
platform for medium-sized Chinese companies to compete in the global economy.
HealthSonix, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
HSXI) CEO Michael Ivezic discussed the company's science which helps
alleviate pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia and muscular injuries.
Universal Express, Inc. (OTCBB:
USXP) CEO Richard Altomare discussed a number of activities the company is
currently involved in.
1st Global Financial, Inc. (PINKSHEETS:
FGBF) Spokesperson James Farinella spoke of the company's stored value debit
cards and alternative working capital financing for small to medium sized
companies.
Manhattan West Mortgage CEO Roger Schlesinger reported on the current
mortgage markets and the opportunities they present.
Viewers of MoneyTV can receive free information in the mail about featured
companies by calling the toll-free phone number on their TV screen. The weekly
television program debuted in 1996 and is broadcast nationally in the
USA
to 70 million U.S. homes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET, Sundays at 8:30 AM PT,
8:30 AM ET, 9:30 AM ET, 3:30 PM ET and Mondays at 6:30 PM ET.
MoneyTV is broadcast to 45 million TV homes in Western
Europe,
Wednesdays at 5:00 PM.
MoneyTV is also broadcast on UPN-TV in the
Virgin
Islands and
Puerto Rico
Sundays at 8:00 AM.
MoneyTV is also available in
Thailand
on the Broad TV Network.
A complete menu of TV listings is available at the MoneyTV web site,
http://www.moneytv.net.
MoneyTV television program, Copyright MMVII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV
does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not
soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering
a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed
herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently
with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3- to
4-month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $11,500.00
to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not
hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information
herein is not an endorsement by the producers, publisher or parent company of
MoneyTV.
Chief Manufacturing Introduces New FUSION
Line of Mobile Carts and Stands, Maximizing Flat Panel Display Technology
Chief Manufacturing provides convenient flexibility for presentation
settings with new flat panel carts and stands.
Minneapolis, MN - March 2, 2007 –
www.chiefmfg.com – Chief Manufacturing, leading provider of mount, lifts and
accessories for
flat panel displays and projectors, announces the new FUSION Flat
Panel carts and stands that convert any space to center stage. The carts and
stands are perfect for a wide range of applications and are packed with
innovative features that help put the focus on your presentation.
PFCU and MFCU Mobile Carts
The
PFCU mobile cart for 42-63” screens and the
MFCU mobile cart for 30-50” screens provide tool-less telescoping
height adjustment for endless versatility. Easily position your screen at
the ideal height! The mobile carts feature Chief’s exclusive Centris® Technology, providing fingertip adjustable tilt to easily
adjust the angle of your screen. Modular design allows for quick
assembly/disassembly, and integrated cable management hides cables out of sight
for a clean installation. The compact angled base easily fits in doorways and
corner locations. Lockable rear wheels offer added stability. Choose from black
or silver finishes.
PF1 and MF1 Stands
The PF1 stand for 42-63” screens and MF1 stand
for 30-50” screens offer many of the same features as the PFCU and MFCU
including telescoping design and Centris Technology. The stands also feature a
low-profile base with solid steel construction for safe and stable
presentations. The stands are available in single or dual display models (for
dual displays, order PFC2 and MFC2).
Optional Accessories are available for the
mobile carts and stands. The PAC700™ Custom Travel Case provides a convenient
method for both storage and transportation of the new carts and stands. The
PAC700 features a durable design with custom-designed interior cutouts. The
PAC710™ Accessory Shelf is a new height-adjustable shelf designed specifically
for use with the new carts and stands. The shelf installs quickly without tools!
About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, a division of CSAV – Chief/Sanus
Audio Visual, has more than 29 years of proven product and service excellence.
Committed to responding to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential and Office
markets, Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lifts and accessories for flat
panel displays and projectors.
Chief continues to design innovative mounting
solutions that complement the technology they support. With multiple product
awards and patented designs, Chief provides unique mount features, and is
recognized for delivering not only quality products, but knowledgeable, helpful
customer service.
U.S. and Europe sales offices support a global
network spanning the Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim and beyond. Chief
distribution centers are located in Minnesota and the Netherlands. www.chiefmfg.com.
The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group Announces February Sales
The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:
SWRG) today announced sales for the fiscal month February 2007.
Total consolidated restaurant sales for the fiscal month ended February 26,
2007 were approximately $9.9 million, a 3.5% increase from February 2006.
Comparable consolidated restaurant sales decreased 1.9% to $9.0 million for
February 2007, as compared to the $9.2 million for February 2006. Comparable
consolidated restaurant sales include only units that have been open for 15
months or longer.
About Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group
The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group develops and operates high-end,
high-volume restaurants in major cities across the
United
States. The original Smith & Wollensky, a traditional
New York
steakhouse, opened in 1977 and is currently believed to be one of the
largest-grossing à la carte restaurants in the country. Since its inception, the
company has grown to include 14 restaurants, including Smith & Wollensky in
New York,
Miami Beach,
Chicago,
Las Vegas,
Washington,
D.C., Philadelphia, Columbus , Houston, and
Boston.
SWRG also operates several other restaurants in
New York,
including Cité, Maloney & Porcelli, Park Avenue Café, Quality Meats, and The
Post House.
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements made in
this press release regarding the Company's business, strategy and results of
operations are forward-looking statements which are based on management's
beliefs and information currently available to management. Readers are cautioned
not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are subject
to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from such statements. Factors that may cause such differences include
changes in economic conditions generally or in each of the markets in which the
Company is located, unanticipated changes in labor or food costs, changes in
consumer preferences, the level of competition in the high-end segment of the
restaurant industry and the success of the Company's growth strategy. For a more
detailed description of such factors, please see the Company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Chief Adds Exclusive Features to Wall Mounts
ClickConnect, Centris Select Technology and new interface!
Minneapolis, MN. -- (March, 2 2007) – Chief® Manufacturing Inc.,
the industry leader in mounting solutions, is excited to announce innovative new
features for the Reaction™ swing arms, and Fusion™ fixed and tilt mounts! The
exclusive new features include ClickConnect™ and Centris Select™ Technology for
the Reaction line (both effective May 1st), along with a redesigned
universal interface for the Fusion mounts (available now!). The new features
make Chief mounts even more user- and installer-friendly.
Chief’s 5 single or dual arm Reaction mounts now feature ClickConnect,
which engages the TV to the mount with an audible click – no tools
necessary! This new feature makes installing the mount even easier. Simply
listen for the “click,” and you’ll know the TV is securely attached to the
mount.
The second new feature to the Reaction series, Centris Select Technology,
adjusts to the weight and depth of any screen for easy fingertip tilt,
allowing precise positioning of your screen.
The Fusion mounts have a redesigned universal interface with an even
lower profile! The interface provides new mount options for 30-50” flat panel
TVs and is compatible with screens as large as 63”.
Chief’s Reaction and Fusion lines offer easy-to-install, universal mounting
solutions for 10 – 65” displays. Proven quality and expert designs ensure each
mount will stand the test of time. The Reaction line offers mounts with
unmatched functionality and a sleek look, perfect for any location.
Reaction mounts include the CableTrac™ System with channeled cable management
to provide quick and easy routing of cables through the mount arms. G-Force™
provides gravity-centered tilt and smooth adjustment without tools. Chief’s
Fusion series provides low-profile universal fixed and tilt wall mounts with the
exclusive Rapid Level™ System for hands-free leveling of the mount on the wall.
Chief mounts are easy-to-install and cover numerous flat panel displays on
the market – small, medium or large! Proven quality and expert designs ensure
each mount will stand the test of time. Innovative features are end-user focused
for increased flexibility. Every mount is backed by Chief’s expert Customer
Service team, providing superior support for all your installation needs.
About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, a division of CSAV – Chief/Sanus Audio Visual, has more
than 29 years of proven product and service excellence. Committed to responding
to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential and Office markets, Chief offers a
complete line of mounts, lifts and accessories for flat panel displays and
projectors.
Chief continues to design innovative mounting solutions that complement the
technology they support. With multiple product awards and patented designs,
Chief provides unique mount features, and is recognized for delivering not only
quality products, but knowledgeable, helpful customer service.
U.S. and Europe sales offices support a global network spanning the Americas,
Europe, the Pacific Rim and beyond. Chief distribution centers are located in
Minnesota and the Netherlands. www.chiefmfg.com.
MXL CUBE NOW SHIPPING Big sound belies its compact size
El Segundo, CA… MXL Microphones, the professional audio division of
Marshall Electronics, is pleased to announce that the MXL Cube microphone is now
shipping and available exclusively through Musicians Friend (www.musiciansfriend.com).
Featuring a gold sputtered diaphragm, FET balanced output, and internal Mogami
wiring, MXL’s new Cube is a versatile microphone that is well within the budget
of home and project studio recordists.
The Cube is a cardioid condenser mic that delivers powerful, clear, and
detailed vocals, and shimmers with acoustic instruments and percussion. With a
frequency response ranging from 20 Hz – 20 kHz, this unique microphone with its
small size and low profile is ideal for a wide range of recording tasks.
Featuring a 1-inch gold sputtered, six micron pressure gradient capsule and a
low-noise FET (field-effect transistor) preamp with balanced transformer coupled
output, the Cube delivers big sound from its surprisingly diminutive size.
Further contributing to its pristine audio quality is the fact that the
microphone is internally wired with Mogami cable—the choice of recording
professionals everywhere.
MXL’s new Cube cardioid condenser microphone looks as good as it sounds. The
microphone has a beautiful champagne finish and ships in a protective case with
a microphone clip. A shockmount is optionally available.
Wayne Freeman, MXL’s Director of Sales and Marketing, commented on the new
Cube, “MXL’s Cube is the type of microphone that surprises everyone who
encounters it. The microphone offers superior electronics, is fully wired with
Mogami cable, and delivers a big sound from its surprisingly compact size.”
The MXL Cube cardioid condenser microphone carries a street price of $69.99
and is available now at Musicians Friend.
About_MXL MXL is a leading manufacturer of professional audio products for the music
recording, broadcast, post production, and live sound markets. Additional
information on the MXL.006 USB / Cardioid Condenser Microphone and all MXL
microphones can be found at
www.mxlmics.com.
Bombardier Awarded 368 Million Euros Order in Italy
Adding Another 150 E464 Locomotives to Reinforce Regional Passenger Fleet
March 01, 2007 -- Trenitalia (Italian Railways) awarded Bombardier
Transportation an order to supply an additional150 of its popular and proven
E464 electric locomotives. Valued at approximately 368 million euros ($487
million US) the deal is a further landmark for Bombardier locomotives in
Italy,
having already received orders for a total of 538 E464 locomotives, of which 350
are already in successful commercial service.
With these additional E464 locomotives, Trenitalia will be operating one of
the largest single vehicle-type fleets in
Europe,
making them one of the first operators to benefit from considerably reduced
operational and maintenance costs. This latest order is due for delivery between
February 2008 and March 2010.
"We thank Trenitalia for their continued confidence in our locomotives. This
order reinforces Bombardier's already strong manufacturing presence in
Italy
as the production of the locomotives will be undertaken by our team in
Vado Ligure,"
commented Roberto Tazzioli, Chief Country Representative,
Italy,
Bombardier Transportation.
"Bombardier's locomotives are demonstrating superior technical arguments in
every market in which they are in commercial operation. In
Italy,
the E464 locomotives are as successful as the TRAXX locomotives are in the
growing number of other European Countries," said Edmund Schlummer, President,
Locomotives & Freight, Bombardier Transportation.
In addition to the locomotives being manufactured in
Vado Ligure,
the propulsion equipment and carbodies will be supplied respectively by
Bombardier's sites in Trápaga,
Spain
and
Wroclaw, Poland.
With a maximum power of 3.5 MW and a top-speed of 160 km/h, the E464 product
represents state-of-the-art technology for medium-power 3kV DC locomotives. It
is particularly well known for its high level of reliability, availability and
serviceability over the entire life cycle.
Note to editors:
Useful market and company background facts and contact details follow.
Bombardier is the largest producer of locomotives in
Europe
and the world's largest manufacturer of electric locomotives. The company's
portfolio covers all market segments, from heavy-haul to very high-speed
passenger rail. One of the greatest success stories is the Bombardier TRAXX
locomotive. Based on a standard platform, the TRAXX family of locomotives was
especially developed to meet the new requirements of train operators on today's
liberalized trans-European rail network. Today, more than 1040 Bombardier TRAXX
locomotives have been sold and more than 600 units are in revenue service.
Bombardier in
Italy
Bombardier Transportation is one of the most important manufacturers of
rolling stock in
Italy
and is involved in some of the country's most important rail projects.
Trenitalia's various types of electric locomotives, the high-speed train ETR500
(as a member of the Trevi consortium), the Rome-Fiumicino airport people-mover,
the tram vehicles in Milan and Palermo, the propulsion systems of the new Rome
metro vehicles and the traffic management system installed in various sections
of the Italian rail network (SCMT) are fine examples.
The group employs some 700 people in Italy. 500 people are employed in Vado
Ligure, the plant set up in 1905 and where more than 1,400 locomotives have been
manufactured to date. 200 people work at its engineering centre in Rome,
dedicated to the development of rail control solutions, signaling equipment and
rail traffic management systems.
About Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation has its global headquarters in
Berlin,
Germany with a presence in over 60 countries. It has an installed base of
over 100,000 vehicles worldwide. The Group offers the broadest product portfolio
and is recognized as the leader in the global rail sector.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from
regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems
and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in
Canada.
Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2006, were $14.7 billion US and
its shares are traded on the
Toronto
Stock Exchange (BBD). News and information are available at
www.bombardier.com.
Bombardier and TRAXX are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
6.2
Million Young-With-Money Households
According to a new report by The Media Audit,
there are 23.2 million adults in the 87 metropolitan markets,
regularly surveyed by The Media Audit, with annual household incomes
of $100,000 or more, and 6.2 million are between the ages of 18 and
34.
Bob Jordan, president of International
Demographics, producing The Media Audit, notes that "There are more,
by both percent and actual number, adults with six figure incomes
under the age of 35 than there are over the age of 54."
Among all those with six figure incomes:
26.6 percent, or 6.2 million, are under the
age of 35
19 percent, or 4.4 million, are over the age
of 54.
There are 43.8 million adults under age 35,
and 39.8 million over age 54 in the markets measured
Eighteen percent of the "young with money"
are age 18 - 20
18.9 percent are 21- 24
63.2 percent of the "young with money" are
25 - 34
Of the 6.2 million 18 - 34 year olds with
six figure incomes, 60.9 percent are men and 39.1 are women.
Jordan says, "The gender differences ...are in
spite of the fact that the women are more inclined to have a college
degree. Fifty six percent of 18-34 year old women earning $100,000
or more have one or more degrees. Just 46 percent of men in the
category have one or more college degrees."
In addition, 16.4 percent of men and 17.6
percent of women in the "young with money" group have advanced
degrees. Men also get to the $100,000 income level quicker. Among
women, 15.6 percent are 18 - 20 and 19.4 percent of men are in the
same age group.
In spite of the gender differences, however,
women buy more house. In the young with money group:
46.5 percent of women have homes valued at
$300,000 or more. Among
Men in the group, 42.2 percent have homes
valued at $300,000 or more
80.7 percent of women in this group own
their own home, compared with 74.3 percent of men
Approximately, says the report:
58.3 percent the "young with money" group
are Caucasian
9.7 percent are African-American
15.3 percent are Hispanic
12.7 percent are Asian
Dunkin' Brands and Procter & Gamble
Sign Agreement to Bring Dunkin' Donuts Packaged Coffee to Retail Outlets
Nationwide
Dunkin' Brands and Procter &
Gamble (NYSE: PG) announced today that they have signed an agreement to
launch Dunkin' Donuts coffee at retail. P&G Coffee will be responsible for
distributing Dunkin' Donuts packaged coffee to grocery stores, mass
merchandisers, club stores and other consumer retail channels across the
United States.
With Dunkin' Donuts as the #1 coffee and baked goods chain
worldwide and Procter & Gamble as the #1 selling coffee roaster in the
United States, the agreement brings together two leading consumer brands
with extensive knowledge of the coffee industry.
"We look forward to a collaborative partnership with Dunkin' Donuts, a
company that shares our passion for innovation and building strong brands,"
said Doug McGraw, Vice President of Global Coffee for Procter & Gamble. "We
are confident that the addition of Dunkin' Donuts high-quality coffee to our
existing portfolio will allow more consumers to enjoy this premium, trusted
brand of coffee at home."
Dunkin' Donuts Brand President Robert Rodriguez added: "We are excited to
partner with Procter & Gamble in this new venture. The strength of our
brands will provide a winning combination that will benefit both of our
businesses. For Dunkin' Donuts, this move will enable us to build our brand
not only by introducing our coffee to new customers across the country, but
also by strengthening the bond with our current customers, who will find it
even more convenient to enjoy our coffee both at home and on the go in our
stores."
Dunkin' Donuts has made its full range of coffee flavors and roasts
available for the retail launch, and P&G Coffee expects to offer several of
these flavors and roasts in both whole bean and ground varieties.
Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
About Dunkin' Donuts
Founded in 1950, today Dunkin' Donuts is the number one retailer of hot
regular coffee-by-the-cup in America, selling 2.7 million cups a day, nearly
one billion cups a year. Dunkin' Donuts is also the largest coffee and baked
goods chain in the world and sells more hot regular coffee, iced coffee,
donuts, and bagels than any other quick service restaurant in America.
Dunkin' Donuts has more than 7,200 restaurants in 30 countries worldwide.
Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin'
Brands, Inc. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.
About Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around
the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted,
quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R),
Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Pringles(R),
Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R),
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latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
Restaurant Industry Outlook Remains Positive
Despite Decline in Restaurant Performance Index
Weather and tough comparisons led to same-store sales and traffic declines
-- The outlook for the restaurant industry softened somewhat in
January, as the National Restaurant Association's comprehensive index of
restaurant activity registered its largest decline in 17 months. The
Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) -- a monthly composite index
that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry -- stood
at 100.6 in January, 2007, down 1.1 percent from its December, 2006, level.
Despite the decline, the RPI remained above 100 for the 45th consecutive month,
which represents expansion in the Association's composite index of eight key
industry indicators.
"January's decline in the Restaurant Performance Index was the result of a
dramatic drop in the current situation component of the index," said Hudson
Riehle, senior vice president of Research and Information Services for the
Association. "Each of the four current situation indicators fell sharply in
January, while three out of four expectations indicators registered gains. As a
result, the outlook for restaurant industry growth remains positive for the next
several months."
"The January sales and traffic declines were due in large part to the
combination of extreme weather conditions in some parts of the country and tough
comparisons with the strong January 2006 performance," Riehle added. "In fact,
restaurant operators reported solid sales results in each of the first three
months of 2006, which will likely make for challenging same-store sales
comparisons for the entire first quarter of this year."
The Restaurant Performance Index is based on the responses to the National
Restaurant Association's Restaurant Industry Tracking Survey, which is fielded
monthly among restaurant operators nationwide on a variety of indicators
including sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures. The RPI consists of
two components -- the Current Situation Index and the Expectations Index.
(Follow this link to view this month's Index report:
http://www.restaurant.org/pdfs/research/index/200701.pdf).
The Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry
indicators (same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures), stood at
98.8 in January -- down 2.5 percent from December and its sharpest decline on
record. In addition, the index reading below 100 signifies contraction in the
current situation indicators -- the first occurrence since September 2005.
The drop in the Current Situation Index was due in large part to softer
same-store sales in January. Thirty-eight percent of restaurant operators
reported a same-store sales gain between January 2006 and January 2007, down
from 54 percent who reported a sales gain in December and the lowest level in
more than three years. Forty-five percent of operators reported a same-store
sales decline in January, up from 24 percent who reported similarly in December.
Customer traffic results were also much weaker in January. Twenty-eight
percent of restaurant operators reported an increase in customer traffic between
January 2006 and January 2007 -- down from 48 percent who reported a traffic
gain in December. Forty-six percent of operators reported a traffic decline in
January, while 26 percent said their traffic levels were about the same as they
were in January 2006.
Despite the January sales and traffic declines, restaurant operators didn't
report much of a drop off in capital spending. Forty-eight percent of operators
said they made a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion or remodeling
during the last three months, down slightly from 51 percent who reported
similarly last month.
In contrast to the sharp decline in the Current Situation Index, the RPI's
expectations indicators registered improvements in January. The Expectations
Index, which measures restaurant operators' six-month outlook for four industry
indicators (same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures and business
conditions), stood at 102.2 in January -- up 0.3 percent from December and its
strongest level in seven months.
Restaurant operators remain optimistic about sales growth in their
establishments. Fifty percent of restaurant operators expect to have higher
sales in six months (compared to the same period in the previous year) while
only 11 percent of restaurant operators expect their sales volume in six months
to be lower than it was during the same period in the previous year.
Restaurant operators are also more optimistic about the direction of the
overall economy. Thirty-three percent of operators expect economic conditions to
improve in six months -- up slightly from 32 percent who reported similarly last
month. Fourteen percent of operators said they expect economic conditions to
worsen in six months, while 53 percent expect economic conditions to remain
about the same.
In addition to their positive outlook for sales and the economy, restaurant
operators continue to plan for new capital spending. Fifty-nine percent of
restaurant operators plan to make a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion
or remodeling in the next six months -- up from 58 percent who reported
similarly last month.
While the RPI is consistently released on the last business day of each
month, more detailed data and analysis can be found on Restaurant TrendMapper (http://www.restaurant.org/trendmapper),
the Association's subscription-based Web site that provides detailed analysis of
restaurant industry trends. A chart of the January 2007 RPI is available on the
Association's Web site,
http://www.restaurant.org/pressroom.
The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business
association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 935,000
restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 12.8 million employees --
making it the cornerstone of the economy, career and employment opportunities
and community involvement. Along with the National Restaurant Association
Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote
the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our Web site at
http://www.restaurant.org/
VIRTUAL KATY ROLLS OUT PAY AS YOU GO PROGRAM
New rental option provides flexible payment plans for utilizing the very best VK
technology
Los Angeles, CA “ February 28, 2007 Virtual Katy Development Limited, a
Digidesign® development partner delivering workflow solutions for audio
professionals, today announced their new VK pay as you go program. The new
payment model offers audio editors an option to rent VK CNA at a fraction of the
MSRP. Ideal for audio post editors who have infrequent conform jobs or those
audio post editors who bill VK conform projects directly to client sessions, the
VK Pay as You Go program offers attractive and flexible rental pricing for as
little as 96.00 USD. The VK Pay as You Go program is a direct result of VK
customer requests, comments Lynn Ryan-Loeb, Manager, VK Worldwide Sales, Virtual
Katy. Many of our customers walk into a project that needs VK CNA, and renting
for that specific session is not only a lifesaver, but a per hour rate
protection as editors are focused on finishing the session and not manual
piecing together the changes.
VK Pay as You Go Pricing
The VK Pay as You Go program is for VK CNA only and rental payments apply to the
purchase of the VK CNA product.
1 Day Rental “ 96.00 USD
1 Week Rental “ 192.00 USD
Virtual Katy also offers a 48 hour free trial period for the VK CNA product.
About VK CNA
A marriage of the recently acquired Change Note Assistant with the award-winning
VK change management technology, the new VK CNA product offers all of the VK2
features and functionality, Change Note Assistant algorithms, and support for
AAF formats. VK CNA began shipping in January of 2007. A free fully functioning
2 day demo is available at the Virtual Katy web site.
For more information about Virtual Katy please visit the Virtual Katy web site
at www.virtualkaty.com.
About Virtual Katy Development Limited
Virtual Katy Development Limited is a New Zealand based software developer
focused on delivering innovative solutions for the postproduction world. Their
flagship product, VK, is a battle hardened program designed for audio
professionals.
Virtual Katy, the Virtual Katy logo and VK are registered trademarks or
trademarks of Virtual Katy Development Limited. Other company and product names
may be trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information on Virtual Katy Development Limited visit
www.virtualkaty.com or contact:
Zazil Media Group
Chrysler to offer workers up to $100K
Chrysler Group will offer some of its 49,600
hourly U.S. workers at select plants up to $100,000 to leave the company as part
of a recovery plan announced earlier this month. The company, which lost $1.475
billion in 2006 and said it expects losses to continue through 2007, said on
Feb. 14 that it intends to shed 13,000 jobs, including 11,000 hourly positions
and 2,000 salaried, as it tries to further shrink itself to match reduced demand
for its products.
Under the buyout offer, workers would receive a
pretax lump-sum payment of $100,000 plus six months of medical and vision
coverage in exchange for their departure.
The early retirement package includes a $70,000
payment, health care benefits and whatever pension a worker was eligible for
based on age and years of service.
Chrysler plans to eliminate 3,000 hourly jobs
due to expected productivity gains at yet-to-be identified plants.
In all, 4,725 hourly posts will be eliminated
this year, with the remaining 4,275 in 2008 and 2009.
