love

Samsung today announced two environment-friendly mobile handsets, W510 and F268 at World IT Show in Seoul. W510 is Samsung's first mobile phone with 'bio-plastic' made from natural material extracted from corns. Moreover, when producing W510, Samsung did not use any heavy metals, such as Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium, and applied water-soluble coating. Samsung F268 with all the accessories including charger and headset does not contain BFRs(Brominated Flame Retardant) or PVC. Samsung F268 has an alarm function to encourage users to unplug their charger when the devices are fully charged.Samsung has been making an effort to develop more renewable and eco-friendly material compared with common plastic produced from petroleum. Both Samsung W510 for the Korean market and F268 for the Chinese market will be launched in June.

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

The Flip Mino, the third version of the popular Flip video camera, launched today to a torrent of well orchestrated press coverage. We’ve been a little harsh on the Flip in the past, so I was pleased when they reached out to us under embargo to write about the new launch. The only problem was, they wouldn’t send a test unit until after the embargo was over. We declined. But I noted that nearly all of the press coverage today dutifully followed the suggestive comments given in the press information. The WSJ writer frankly sounded like she wanted to quit and go work for the company.So I haven’t actually tried out the new Flip Mino. But I’ve spoken with people who have, and I used the Flip Ultra, which launched late last year, for a while before abandoning it. And I just can’t figure out why people like this thing.None of the reviews compared the Flip to it’s core competition: normal digital cameras. Instead everyone focuses on the fact that Flip has sold nearly a million units, saying that’s 15-20% of the camcorder market.

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

Most new cellphones feature integrated Bluetooth technology. If your phone offers stereo Bluetooth (also referred to as A2DP for Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), you can listen to your music wirelessly with a pair of compatible Bluetooth headphones, For example, the comfortable Cardo S-2 ($99.99) behind-the-neck wireless headphones can play your favorite songs while your phone is tucked in your pocket, purse, briefcase or backpack. When a call comes in, the music is automatically muted so you can chat using the S-2's built-in microphone. Buttons on the right earpiece also let you pause, change tracks or adjust volume. Battery life is about 7.5 hours for music and talk and up to 150 hours for standby time. A similar product, the iLuv i222 Bluetooth phone headset ($149.99), has an optional adapter (for $89.99) that snaps into any portable media player, such as an iPod, so you can also use these wireless headphones with it.

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

Motorola announced two new Bluetooth-enabled headsets the H620 and H560. Both headsets feature noise reduction and echo cancellation technology as well as automatic volume reduction that adjust to the level of noise surrounding the users. In addition these headsets employ TrueComfort design which also helps in reducing background noise when calling. And most importantly the H620 and H560 headsets use the EasyPair technology which enables easy connection/pairing with more than 200 Bluetooth-enabled handsets. Both handsets also feature a three-color battery indicator light which tells users of the headset’s remaining battery life. We expect to see both H620 and H560 hitting the market sometime in Q3 2008. If you’re planning to get one of these Bluetooth headsets, you can either get the H620 which is geared more for in-car use and comes with dashboard headset holder and rapid in-car charger or the H560 which you can take along with you anywhere.

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

For toy enthusiasts, it was almost like Christmas in June. The Marx Toy Museum in Erie began selling off much of its collection this weekend after permanently closing its doors two months ago.About 75 people had lined up by 10 a.m. Saturday for their chance to purchase toys like Penny the Poodle, the Great Garloo and the Green Machine—some of the hundreds of toys produced in Erie's Marx manufacturing plants from the early 1930s until 1975. "This is all a part of Erie's history," said museum co-founder Betty Portenier as shoppers swirled around her. The 8-year-old museum closed because of a lack of funding, volunteers and public support. About 1,000 people came through the museum each year. Despite offers of cash from philanthropists—and offers to display the collection from the Erie Manufacturers' Association and Erie County—the museum's board of directors decided to sell much of its inventory. Portenier said the proceeds will be used to pay the museum's bills, though she would not discuss how much is owed. Portenier and board member Judy Emling said the museum might someday reopen if enough funding can be acquired. Some collections remain in storage. "We need $50,000 at least," Emling said. "No museum can function well without a full-time director, and we need a paid director to keep going." Mark Starocci, 53, of Erie, had both nostalgia and investment in mind as he shopped for toys. His top prize included the Great Garloo, a green monster marked at $295. It sold for $17.98 in 1961. "I want to recapture things I once had," Starocci said. "I used to play with these toys. But I'll also keep it as a financial investment for the future."

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

A million pieces of stainless steel toy parts Toy Museum assembled into a nearly seven-story model skyscraper glimmered under the hot sun in New York on Tuesday, in American artist Chris Burden's latest project. The 16,000-pound (7,250-kg) "poetic interpretation" of the 30 Rock Building at Rockefeller Center was made of replicated Erector set pieces from the toy created by A.C. Gilbert in 1912, Burden said."He was inspired by the buildings to build this toy system and I used this toy system to build a building," Burden said."It's a poetic interpretation of 30 Rock, it's not a model of it. It references all the tall buildings in Manhattan," Burden said, standing near his 65-foot (20-metre) tower.The project, assembled by 20 to 30 people using screwdrivers, began in late 2006 and was put together in Los Angeles County and trucked across the country in two parts."It's very reflective, sort of like a faceted jewel, really picks up the light," Burden said.The exhibit, titled "What my dad gave me," will be on display through July 19 at Rockefeller Center.Burden, who lives in Los Angeles, was born in Boston in 1946. He received attention as a performance artist in 1971 when he was shot in the arm for the sake of art in a performance called "Shoot."

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam

Component To Video Avocent Corporation (NASDAQ: AVCT) today introduced a new model of theEmerge? MPX extender, the MPX1500T high-definition (HD)multipoint extender transmitter, which wirelessly distributes HDcontent from a source to multiple destinations. Avocent's wirelessHD video distribution system is changing the way digital signagesystems are being deployed. In the rapidly growing digital signagemarket, speed of network deployment has been a key advantage formany strategic partners. Avocent's MPX system improves the valueproposition for both the end-user and the integrator. For theend-user, wireless digital signage minimizes business disruption bynot requiring new wiring and minimizing installation time. For theintegrator, wireless video distribution allows a turn-key system tobe developed, pre-staged, and then dropped into place at thecustomer's site. "Basically, the Avocent wireless system works like a long rangevideo splitter without wires. It just works. The audio videoquality and system reliability has far exceeded our expectations,"said Mike Reese of Ultimate AV. "In addition, Avocent's web basedmanagement has saved us thousands of dollars by allowing us totroubleshoot issues over the Internet without needing to physicallygo to the customer's site." Emerge MPX extenders can be deployed for a variety of professionalvideo applications, such as digital signage -- providing panelswith live content, entertainment and advertising in retail outlets,theaters, restaurants, airports, gas stations, and other venues.The MPX1500T transmitter has added new functionality for centrallymanaging the MPX extender and attached devices over the Internet,such as turning displays on or off. The AV infrastructure createdby the MPX extenders can be centrally accessed and controlledthrough a Web management interface. This latest version of the MPXextender expands the status information available, enabling notonly general troubleshooting of connections, but more specificdetails to ensure uptime and reliability. AV and IT managers cannow connect to each individual transmitter and receiver to reboot,update, adjust the luminance and chrominance, change the frequencythe radio transmits, and various other tuning parameters. For awidely dispersed digital signage network, this minimizes the needto send technical staff onsite for troubleshooting and maintenance. "Being able to drop in a complete system in a matter of minutes hasbeen a key to the build out of our digital signage network. WithoutAvocent's wireless system, installation normally could take hoursor even days to deploy a single site," said Ethen Cheramie ofPetroTV. "The Avocent MPX has been extremely reliable even in ourcustomers' harsh outdoor environments." The MPX1500T transmitter has a universal media port based upon adigital video interface (DVI) connector. Supporting both digitaland analog video signals allows the MPX to use DVI, HDMI, or VGAsignals. The product can even perform a VGA to DVI conversion ifyour source is a computer and your display needs to be digital. TheMPX system works like a video splitter and a video extender bywirelessly delivering audio and video to multiple displays up to1000 feet away. The new MPX extender is dramatically smaller thanthe previous version allowing for more flexible and convenientmounting options. "When it comes to wireless HD video distribution, Avocent leads theindustry," said Mitch Friend, senior vice president and generalmanager of Avocent. "With the introduction of the new MPX1500T,we've added a number of features to make it easier for integratorsto use and centrally manage highly distributed systems withoutleaving their desk." Demonstrations of Avocent's new MPX1500T transmitter will takeplace at the InfoComm 2008 tradeshow, Avocent Booth #N6925 in LasVegas, Nevada June 18 - 20, 2008. Additional details about theMPX1500T and the entire Emerge MPX family can be found at www.avocent.com/proav . The MPX1500T is now available and priced at a MSRP of $995 USD. About Avocent Professional A/V Products The Avocent connectivity and control business unit offers managedAV infrastructure solutions for professional audio/video andbroadcast markets. Our Emerge product family allows industryprofessionals to deliver innovative wired and wireless solutionsfor AV and KVM extension, switching, distribution, and signalprocessing needs. For additional information visit: www.connectivity.avocent.com About Avocent Corporation Avocent delivers IT infrastructure management solutions that reduceoperating costs, simplify management and increase the availabilityof critical, "always on" IT environments via integrated,centralized in-band and out-of-band hardware and software.Additional information is available at: www.avocent.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that are forward-lookingstatements as defined within the U.S. Private Securities LitigationReform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding marketopportunity, product development, engineering and designactivities, and product availability and operability. Theseforward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertaintiesthat could cause actual results to differ materially from thestatements made, including the risks associated with generaleconomic conditions, risks attributable to future product demand,sales, and expenses, risks associated with product design effortsand the introduction of new products and technologies, risksassociated with reliance on a limited number of component suppliersand single source components, and risk associated with obtainingand protecting intellectual property rights. Other factors thatcould cause operating and financial results to differ are describedin Avocent's reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission. Avocent, the Avocent logo and Emerge are registered trademarks ofAvocent Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and othercountries. All other marks are the property of their respectiveowners. ? 2008 Avocent Corporation.

comments | Add comment | Report as Spam