NAVTEQ previews Natural Guidance

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

NAVTEQ’s latest product, NAVTEQ Natural Guidance™, will materially change the way people interact with navigation systems and applications. Natural Guidance provides content that enables navigation systems to act more like a friend in your passenger seat, guiding you to turn left after the yellow shop instead of in 500 meters.

By using easily identifiable landmarks instead of just distance, directions from applications incorporating Natural Guidance data are more intuitive and easier for users to follow. Those applications can also keep drivers’ eyes on the road instead of looking for street signs to prepare for their next turn.

And NAVTEQ Natural Guidance is built using a unique global specification which takes into account the changing of landmark visibility based on time of day and seasonality for example. In summer for example a tree might block the view on a given landmark - while at night an illuminated sign on a building can be more visible than during the day.

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Double The Action: Altec Lansing Introduces New Octiv202 Dual Audio Dock that powers and seamlessly plays between two iPhones/iPods

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

The new Octiv 202 dual-dock speaker system gives iPod and iPhone users the ability to charge two devices at the same time and users can download the free Music Mix app that enables shuffling between songs from both players.

Altec Lansing have over 70 years history in creating award winning, professional audio products and the Octiv 202 delivers a crisp, clean sound within a compact size. Designed specifically to fit neatly in tight spaces and corners, the Octiv 202 is equally at home in the kitchen, living area or college room. The free Music Mix app can be downloaded from the Apple store along with the Alarm Rock app, which acts as a fully featured digital alarm clock complete with time display and an oversized snooze button. Users can choose to wake or sleep to their favorite audio files and songs while enjoying a fully customizable interface to match even the most eclectic taste.

Octiv 202 features include:

  • Listen without interference – Certified to work with iPhone and iPod
  • Remote Control with Storage – Fully featured remote allowing access to all the iPod and iPhone menus
  • Free Apps – Search for Altec Lansing in the App Store area of iTunes
  • Built in USB Port – charge a third USB device

The Altec Lansing Octiv 202 audio dock will be available from Sept 2010 at all good consumer electrical retailers. MSRP is £79.99 and €99.99.

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Vogel’s changes rules to cover & mount iPad

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

Introducing the Cover & Mount System® for iPad, from Vogel’s. With years of experience in mounting TVs and displays, Vogel’s bring their focus on security and accessibility to the iPad. The heart of the system is the BaseCover, that fixes securely but unobtrusively to the iPad, and hosts the neat aluminum receptor. This then clicks quickly into place onto any of a range of Mounts appropriate for each location. These include the WallMount, a small button-like device that screws easily to any suitable wall; the free-standing TableStand; the CarMount, developed from the Vogel’s DVDock, for back-seat passengers; and a range of future additional implementations. In each case the iPad is held securely, but with full 360° rotation, yet can be released and moved to a new Mount in seconds.

No question, the iPad has changed the rules. The stunning success of Apple’s new tablet sees a demand for instant access to this device, and its content, that neither the TV or the PC ever quite generated. Consumers want to use the iPad wherever and whenever possible: in the kitchen, lounge, bedroom, study, in the garage, and in the car. At the same time, an iPad is precious, and where it is kept must be accessible and secure, visible but unobtrusive. And like all such new phenomena, consumers will find other uses that were not predicted by Apple, or anyone else. So what is needed is a secure yet flexible and instantly accessible mounting system that lets users position their iPad where they need it, for when they need it.

It is this standardized flexibility that is the power of the Vogel’s Mount & Cover System (patent pending). Once the BaseCover is installed, extending the idea is limited only by the imagination of the market. And to aid this, Vogel’s will be introducing a licensing programme for developers, enabling them to add their own implementations, but all with Vogel’s renowned quality control. Over time, Vogel’s will create BaseCovers for other small-screen devices, including any future iPads, and tablets from other vendors, all of which will snap onto the same Mounts, all around the home, office and car. The future is mounted!

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Celebrate 20 years of domestic robotics with iRobot at this year’s IFA

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

irobot-englishiRobot is celebrating its 20th anniversary at this year’s IFA. The team will be showcasing the latest in household robotics, including its robotic vacuum cleaner, the iRobot Roomba.

The world’s best selling household cleaning robot, Roomba is perfect for the home. It manoeuvres its way around a room, using sophisticated technology to clean around furniture, along wall edges, under tables and sofas, without the owner having to lift a finger. The 555, 563 and 581 models allow homeowners to pre-set cleaning times throughout the week, so they can schedule Roomba to be active wherever they are; perfect for busy people who struggle to find time to keep their floors spotless.

The Roomba is the latest in three generations of technology, so is sophisticated and smart. 60 per cent of people name their Roomba and it’s now at the heart of five million homes across the globe.

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SoundFreaq delivers next-gen home audio

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

soundfreaqLaunching at ShowStoppers @ IFA 2010, The Sound Platform by SoundFreaq is the next generation of the home audio system. It combines exceptional acoustic performance with the possibilities of Bluetooth wireless technology to stream high-quality stereo audio directly from the iPhone, iPad, Mac or other Bluetooth-enabled devices.

The Sound Platform by SoundFreaq has been designed with three primary objectives: Performance, Experience and Design. Designers and audio experts have crafted a beautiful sound system with exceptional acoustic capabilities.  The Sound Platform’s drivers are custom made and fit into a fine tuned, dual port design to achieve superior vocal clarity and bass response. After a lifetime of being ‘wired’ to your favourite tunes, The Sound Platform can liberate your music to produce the ultimate sound experience.  The Pair and Play Bluetooth feature frees your device from the inconvenience of being docked, and even allows your friends to connect their own Bluetooth enabled devices.

The result is a scintillating, room filling sound, powered by a beautifully engineered unit that would not look out of place in any room.

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The future of remote control - VooMote ONE for iPhone and iPod touch

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

zero1-onezero1.tv introduces universal remote control for iPhone at IFA 2010

Start-up zero1.tv presents universal remote control VooMote ONE, which connects to an iPhone or iPod touch and controls all infrared-controlled devices such as TV-sets, DVD players or set-top boxes via touch screen. All you need is VooMote ONE and the free VooMote ONE App from the Apple App Store. This will replace all other remote controls, ridding your coffee table of any unnecessary clutter.

“An almost infinite number of devices can be controlled on the large touch-screen of the iPhone.” says Alexander Gruber, CEO of zero1.tv in Berlin. “The VooMote ONE is quick to set up and easy to use. 98% of all devices are covered instantly and the remaining 2% can be trained.”

Amongst VooMote ONE’s special features is the ability to simultaneously control many devices with a single button. For example, you could switch on the TV and DVD player and start the DVD with one tap. The simplicity of the product can be seen in the design of Oliver Renelt which demonstrates that good design speaks for itself. VooMote ONE fits iPhone naturally and enables an intuitive usability without turning the iPhone upside down, unlike many competing products. While VooMote ONE is mounted, other functions such as receiving phone calls or using other applications are still usable.

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Sonos previews Controller for iPad for wireless multi-room music systems

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

Sonos previews the Controller for iPad for the award-winning Wireless Multi-Room Music System

Sonos, the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the home, will be showcasing its latest range of wireless music products including the Sonos Controller for iPad and demonstrating new music services available on Sonos including Wolfgang’s Vault.

Key features of the Sonos Controller for iPad:

  • Landscape and portrait modes
  • No matter how you turn it, the iPad’s large screen makes controlling your music easier than ever.
  • Multi-pane view
  • See your music menu, what’s playing in every room, and what’s in your queue, complete with vivid album art—all at once. And thanks to “swipe” you can now switch more easily between zones/rooms.
  • Fun and easy for everyone
  • Quickly search for your favorite artists by typing on the virtual keyboard and browse through albums by pointing and flicking. Then simply drag and drop to add to your queue.

The Sonos Controller for iPad will be available, for free, on the iTunes App Store later this year.

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Otterbox covers smartphones, builds worldwide at IFA

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

Joining ShowStoppers for the first time during IFA on September 2, OtterBox™ will display an expansive line of protective solutions for smartphones including Apple®, BlackBerry®, Nokia, HTC, Palm®, Motorola, LG, Samsung and others. OtterBox is known worldwide for their high-quality handheld tech cases.

“We are working to build our presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia,” Matt Clark said, OtterBox Sales Director for EMEA.  “Our team is looking forward to this event in Berlin to promote the growing OtterBox brand and the cases we offer for technology worldwide.”

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Always in touch when working out: The new Sports headsets from Sennheiser and adidas for the iPhone

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

cx-680i-sports_1The music gets faster, your stride gets longer, the iPhone* rings. No need to stop. The new Sports headsets from Sennheiser and adidas enable you to effortlessly switch from listening to music to answering the phone at the touch of a button. Audio specialist Sennheiser and sports goods manufacturer adidas are extending their joint headphones range with the addition of the CX 680i Sports, MX 680i Sports, OMX 680i Sports and PMX 680i Sports models, which have been specially developed and designed for use with the iPhone.

The new Sports headsets combine top-quality sound and maximum functionality with their convenient hands-free system. “The remote and microphone unit integrated into the cable allows you to seamlessly switch between listening to music and telephoning at the push of a button,” explains Daniel Chee, Product Manager Consumer Electronics at Sennheiser. “If the phone rings, the music is automatically paused and restarts as soon as the phone call is finished. This ensures that you never miss an incoming call or your favourite song.” And no matter whether you are listening to music or telephoning, the new Sports headsets guarantee the best sound quality for the iPhone.

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A new look: Sennheiser presents new editions of its high-end headphones

By Steve | Published: 2 September 2010

hd-598_1A symbiosis of top technology and the option of an extravagant or classic design. The new 500 Series from audio specialist Sennheiser is the ideal choice for highly discerning music lovers. The three new models, the HD 598, HD 558 and HD 518, are now replacing the successful predecessor models in the audiophile segment.  Especially the HD 598 combines style and sound quality at the highest level. The high-end headphones have an impressively unique design. Cream-colored surfaces, dark wood grain effect and glossy metallic trim suggest luxury and elegance, rounded off with a highly attractive, exclusive silhouette.

To ensure a top-quality stereo sound experience, the three open, dynamic high-end headphones are equipped with Sennheiser’s specially developed E.A.R. (Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement) technology. Acoustic baffles inclined at a slight angle guide the audio signal directly to the ears. As a result, the excellent sound is optimally channeled. Powerful neodymium magnets and proven Duofol diaphragms guarantee natural, lifelike reproduction of even the finest musical details, while low-vibration plastic materials prevent distortions to the sound image. The HD 558 and HD 598 also feature a sound reflector that optimizes the spatial sound effect.

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