Consumer Electronics Daily News

Sun Microsystems Unveils VirtualBox 3.0 With Powerful New Server Virtualization Features

New Capabilities Span Desktop-to-Datacenter Workloads; Sun VirtualBox Sets New Marks With Unprecedented Market Uptake of Desktop Virtualization Software

Sun Microsystems, Inc., today announced a significant new version of Sun^TM VirtualBox^TM, its high performance, cross-platform virtualization software. VirtualBox 3.0 is capable of creating and running multi-processor virtual machines that can handle heavyweight server-class workloads, and also delivers enhanced graphics support for desktop-class workloads, reinforcing VirtualBox's position as one of the world's most popular virtualization platforms. 

Many multi-threaded server-based workloads, such as database and Web applications, can benefit from Symmetric Multiple Processing (SMP) systems, which contain multiple CPUs. VirtualBox 3.0 can now support virtual SMP systems with up to 32 virtual CPUs (vCPUs) in a single virtual machine. With this major enhancement, VirtualBox software can be used to run not only desktop workloads on client or server systems, but also demanding server workloads.

“The rapid evolution and proliferation of VirtualBox software continues,” said Jim McHugh, vice president of marketing, Datacenter Software, Sun Microsystems. “With each new version, VirtualBox software delivers more innovation, performance and power. And as virtualization continues to gain momentum in the market, the world's developers and IT decision makers are turning to VirtualBox en masse.”

“VirtualBox is a key embedded technology in our Business and Disaster Recovery product line. The great new SMP capabilities in the VirtualBox software allow us to build even more powerful products satisfying our most demanding customers,” said Akash Saraf, CEO of Zenith Infotech.

A key component of Sun's industry-leading desktop-to-datacenter virtualization portfolio, VirtualBox software has been rapidly growing in popularity, surpassing 14.5 million downloads and 4 million registrations worldwide, as well as more than 25,000 downloads a day. A mere 50 megabyte download, VirtualBox software is incredibly compact and efficient and installs in just a few minutes.

New server features of VirtualBox 3.0 software include:

• Up to 32 vCPUs per guest to accommodate heavyweight data-processing workloads.
  
• Hypervisor enhancements for SMP to enable optimum performance.
  
• Updated API platform designed to be the basis of the community-driven VirtualBox Web Console project, which is coming soon to allow IT administrators to manage their datacenters from a Web console. This project is based on the popular Python language.
  

New desktop features of VirtualBox 3.0 software include:

• Microsoft Direct3D support for Windows guests, which enables graphically intensive Windows applications, like computer modeling, 3D design and games software, to run in a virtual environment.
• Support for version 2.0 of the Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) standard. As a result, high-performance Windows, Linux, Solaris(TM), and OpenSolaris(TM) graphical applications, which typically use graphical hardware acceleration, are able to run applications like Google Earth and CAM-based software on VirtualBox software.
• Support for a wider range of USB devices, including storage devices, iPods and phones.

Pricing and Availability

VirtualBox software is free of charge for personal use. For wider deployments within an organization, Enterprise subscriptions are also available, starting at $30 (USD) per user per year, which includes 24/7 premium support from Sun's technical team. Discounts are available based on volume. 

For more information visit Sun Microsystems.

New Lenovo Servers Rack Up On Performance, Virtualization & Usability

Lenovo today announced its latest line of servers, the ThinkServer TD200 and TD200x tower servers as well as the RD210 and RD220 rack servers. The new servers offer small to mid-sized businesses the latest in performance with several choices of Intel Xeon 5500 Series processors and vastly expanded memory and storage. These ThinkServers are also equipped for virtualization and several power saving features to help customers cut their energy usage without sacrificing performance.

Powering Up for Performance

Equipped with the latest Intel Xeon 5500 Series processors, the new ThinkServers are up to three times faster than their predecessors. With high-speed DDR3 memory up to 128GB, the latest models offer more memory than previous Lenovo servers. These highly scalable, dual processor servers also offer increased storage capacity with up to 12 hard drive bays in the rack models and up to 16 in the tower models.

Equipped for Virtualization

Lenovo’s new ThinkServers are virtualization ready and are equipped with several time and cost saving features that help customers seamlessly transition to a virtual environment. The latest ThinkServers come with an onboard connector for an embedded hypervisor. With the expanded memory and storage capacity on the new models, customers can consolidate several legacy servers onto a single new ThinkServer to save on hardware costs and energy usage while boosting their return on investment. Lenovo supports a variety of virtualization solutions from Microsoft, Novell, VMWare and Red Hat.

“Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and System Center management suite running on Lenovo ThinkServers offers customers a solution that can help them be more efficient, lower operational costs and optimize power consumption,” said Zane Adam, senior director of virtualization and management, Server and Tools Business, Microsoft Corp. “This combination empowers our customers to optimize their IT operations with tools that are familiar and easier to use.”

Powering Greener, More Energy Efficient Servers

The ThinkServer TD200, TD200x, RD210 and RD220 are the most energy efficient servers from Lenovo yet, featuring low wattage processor and memory options, and small form factor hard drives. Select models are compliant with Energy Star for Servers 1.0, finalized in May 2009, which provides a 30 percent reduction in power usage compared with other x86 servers that do not meet the standard. In addition, the ThinkServers’ power supplies are more than 92 percent efficient, meaning more energy is translated into usable power.

Server Management Goes Mobile

The new ThinkServers come with the Integrated Management Module (IMM), which provides complete, “always-on,” out-of-band server management capabilities via an easy-to-use Web interface. With IMM, users can remotely access and manage their ThinkServer from anywhere, anytime, even if the server has crashed or is turned off.

Select models come with IMM Premium, giving users full control of their ThinkServer (including the mouse, keyboard and video) from remote locations, as well as the ability to connect local drives remotely to their ThinkServer through virtual media.

“Our second generation of ThinkServers makes giant leaps in both performance and usability for small and mid-sized businesses, while offering new virtualization and energy efficient features leading to a substantially lower cost of ownership,” said Tom Tobul, executive director, Enterprise Systems, Software and Peripherals, Lenovo. “Lenovo ThinkServers are designed as turnkey solutions to help our customers smoothly scale up and easily manage their server environment.”

Peace-of-Mind Services

Servers are a critical IT mechanism at the heart of many businesses. That’s why Lenovo’s server solution provides total support for both hardware and software to help customers without IT departments quickly set up, update and manage their servers.

In addition to its standard warranty, Lenovo offers ThinkServer customers a 90-day trial of ThinkPlus Priority Support services so customers have the complete support they need during the critical first days after their server purchase. This provides services such as next business day warranty service, 24x7 hardware and software phone support as well as priority call routing to advanced technicians. For customers who need on-site hardware installation and online training, Lenovo also offers the ThinkPlus Productivity service plan.

Follow Lenovo news through Lenovo’s Twitter feed at lenovopress or through Facebook.

Pricing and Availability

The RD210 and RD220 are available immediately, and TD200 and TD200x will be available starting July 2009. The ThinkServer RD210, RD220 and TD200x are available worldwide through business partners and Lenovo sales representatives. The TD200 is available through Lenovo sales representatives for special bid. Pricing for the RD210 starts at approximately $1,699 and $2,199 for the RD220. The TD200x starts at approximately $2,699.

For more information visit Lenovo.

Lighthouse1 Announces New Partner Features @ Rev ‘09

Last week at Revolution 09, the company’s annual partner conference, Lighthouse1 unveiled innovative new functionality and services. Lighthouse1 Partners, industry experts, and media were the first to see new capabilities and services, including new partner support services, a new sales incentive program, exclusive industry benchmark statistics, and groundbreaking advances in healthcare account administration technology.

Of particular interest to attendees was the unveiling of Lighthouse1’s new consumer portal. Over a year in the making, this new web interface was designed to leverage powerful features such as online enrollment and reimbursement claim filing with the highest degree of simplicity, usability, and security for consumers. “The new Consumer Portal gives individuals tremendous online access to benefits and control over healthcare spending, whether they are web-savvy or just an occasional user. Our Partners see this as a huge competitive advantage as it drives plan adoption and satisfaction up, and costs down,” said Jeff Brunsberg, Chief Market Officer at Lighthouse1.

Other innovative technology announcements, including enhancements to Lighthouse1’s high volume data management service, Consumer Data Exchange. Consumer Data Exchange enhancements will simplify interoperability between plan administrators, employer, and service provider HRIS, payroll, and enrollment systems. Lighthouse1 also announced a new payment solution based on its partnership with RelayHealth, McKesson’s connectivity business, the Lighthouse1 OneCard™.

In addition, Lighthouse1 provided attendees with its second annual Lighthouse1 Benchmark Report, which provides the only industry benchmark analysis for financial, customer, operational, and team engagement and innovation, comparing each organization to the wide cross-section of benefit administrators partnered with Lighthouse1. “Our mission goes well beyond providing a world-class technology platform. We are helping our Partners grow faster, increase adoption, and service their clients better than the competition. This information gives both our Partner and Lighthouse1 tremendous insight into our joint progress” said Jeff Bakke, Executive Vice President of Strategy for Lighthouse1.

“With the technology innovations released at Revolution 09, Lighthouse1 is creating dynamic enhancements for how consumers will manage their healthcare spending ” said David Randall, Executive Director at The Consumer Driven Health Care Institute out of Washington DC, “A true technology leader in the space has emerged.”

Revolution 09 was sponsored by strategic and business partners of Lighthouse1 including: Union Health Shares, Dorsey & Whitney, First Data, UMB Bank, Coherent Solutions, RelayHealth, intouch, Rackspace Hosting, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, The Latitude Group and HealthcareBank.

For more information visit LightHouse1.

Comcast Launches New Worldwide Calling Plan

Comcast Digital Voice® Customers Save with Carefree Minutes™ Worldwide 300

Comcast Corporation, the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services, announced the launch of Carefree Minutes™ Worldwide 300, providing even more competitive rates to some of the most popular calling destinations around the globe.

Carefree Minutes™ Worldwide 300 offers 300 anytime minutes to 100 countries for $14.95 per month.

“Our goal is to provide customers with plans that allow them to easily connect with family and friends, no matter where they live, at a low cost with premium call quality,” said Cathy Avgiris, SVP and General Manager, Voice Services, Comcast.  “Our Worldwide calling plan is another example of how we continue to reinvent phone service while offering competitive cost savings.”

Carefree Minutes™ Worldwide 300 Calling Plan includes:

41 countries in Europe

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican City

26 countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America

Antigua, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Uruguay, Venezuela

20 countries in Asia and the Pacific

Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyz Republic, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

8 countries in the Middle East

Bahrain, Brunei, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Turkey

5 countries in Africa

Cameroon, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

In addition to the calling plan options and competitive international rates, Comcast Digital Voice customers can benefit from a number of new, innovative home phone products and features such as:

• Universal Caller ID – Comcast Triple Play customers can view incoming caller information on their TV or PC while watching a movie or surfing the Web.
• SmartZone™ Communications Center – this online application brings simplicity and convenience to customers by enabling them to manage email, voice mail and their universal address book all in one place.
• Enhanced Cordless Telephone – a feature-rich home phone that offers all of the popular features that come with Comcast Digital Voice plus integrated services and advanced functionality such as the ability to view email, view/forward/manage voice mail from the phone or PC, read news, sports and horoscopes, access a universal address book and search using online directory assistance.

To further complement the features offered by Comcast Digital Voice, a study by the economic consulting firm Microeconomic Consulting and Research Associates (MiCRA), found that consumers have already saved $23.5 billion, including $13 billion in 2007 alone because of phone competition from companies like Comcast. Customers can save 20 to 30 percent or more with Comcast Digital Voice, which is proof of the success of pro-competitive policies that ensure choice for consumers.

For more information about Carefree Minutes™ Worldwide 300, visit http://www.comcast.com/internationalcalling/ and for more information about Comcast Digital Voice visit www.comcast.com/comcastdigitalvoice/

Note: 300 anytime minutes per month to 100 specified countries.  Cannot be used in combination with any other Carefree Minutes™ plan.  Available to Comcast Digital Voice customers only.  No roll over minutes - minutes must be used each billing cycle and calls include landline termination only and exclude operator services and directory assistance. If a customer exceeds the allotted minutes, they will be billed at the standard international rates for landline termination calls. Equipment, taxes, surcharges and other telephone charges extra.

For more information visit Comcast.

Sprint Introduces Motorola Clutch i465

A Tough, Affordable Nextel Direct Connect Device with a Full QWERTY Keyboard for Mobile Messaging

Sprint announced Motorola® ClutchTM i465 will be available this summer, in all Sprint sales channels, including Sprint stores, www.sprint.com/nexteldirectconnect and 1-800-Nextel-9 for $39.99 with a new two-year service agreement, $20 instant rebate and $50 mail-in rebate (excluding taxes).

Motorola Clutch i465, fueled by the Nextel National Network, is a rugged device in a slender candy bar form factor, and the first Nextel Direct Connect® messaging-centric device that brings the strength of a full QWERTY keyboard to the iDEN line. Motorola Clutch i465 also offers Group Messaging, which lets customers create groups of up to 20 people to send messages to at the same time.

“Sprint Nextel Direct Connect customers are used to the immediate communications offered by push-to-talk devices, but Motorola Clutch i465 with a QWERTY keyboard gives those customers a better way to instantly communicate with friends, family and colleagues,” said Danny Bowman, president of Sprint’s iDEN Business Unit. “By combining Nextel Direct Connect with text messaging, Sprint customers have two of the most efficient ways to get business done wirelessly.”

According to a study commissioned by Sprint, the number of texters in the 50-64 year-old range has grown by more than 50 percent since 2006, mostly driven by parents who have adopted texting to stay connected to their children. In that demographic, 75 percent of text messages are sent to the user’s children. People under 30 are four times more likely to respond within a few minutes to a text than to voicemail.1

“Motorola Clutch was designed to give serious texters and talkers multiple ways to get the word out,” said Rick Gadd, vice president, Motorola Mobile Devices. “With a full QWERTY keyboard featuring shortcut keys, IM-style texting and push-to-talk technology which works like a verbal IM, Sprint customers are able to keep in constant contact, no matter how they prefer to communicate.”

Motorola Clutch i465 is an attractive utility device that meets Military Specification 810F for low pressure, high and low temperatures, dust, shock, vibration and solar radiation. It is also Java-enabled, comes with a digital still and video camera, and supports GPS, Bluetooth® and third-party applications.

“During these cost-cutting times, Motorola Clutch i465 is a dependable and durable handset perfect for those who require a messaging handset at a good price,” Bowman said. “Nextel Direct Connect customers recognize the value of instant communications in the form of push-to-talk offers, and mobile messaging extends the ability of our customers to reach the people they need to when time matters most.”

Nextel Direct Connect services help families and friends stay connected and they are often depended upon by businesses and first responders who need to get things done fast, and includes one-to-one push-to-talk communication in less than one second with millions of other Nextel Direct Connect subscribers, available nationwide from coast-to-coast. With more than 16 years of expertise, Sprint is the undisputed leader in push-to-talk services. Nextel Direct Connect® has set the industry standard for push-to-talk worldwide, and serves the world’s largest push-to-talk community with millions of Nextel Direct Connect subscribers on the fastest national push-to-talk network.

With Nextel Direct Connect Custom Plans, the focus is on the key services used most by workgroups, which are bundled with unlimited usage, at a low flat monthly rate. Specifically, businesses can choose from the following Nextel Direct Connect Custom Plans:

• Unlimited Workgroup Communications – with unlimited Direct Connect and Group Connect® plus unlimited text messaging, mobile-to-mobile minutes and night and weekend minutes starting at 9 p.m.
• $29.99 per month per line (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)
• Web & Navigation – includes the above features, plus unlimited data, Web browsing and GPS navigation
• $39.99 per month per line for Nextel phones (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)
• $49.99 per month per line for PowerSource and Nextel Direct Connect capable Sprint phones (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)
• Pooled voice minutes can be added to either plan for the group to share
• 500 minutes for $30 per month per line (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)
• Or 2,000 minutes for $100 per month per line (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)

Additionally, Sprint offers affordable Everything Messaging plans that let customers – particularly the growing numbers who are new to texting – take advantage of the Motorola Clutch i465 messaging features at a great value. These plans start at just $49.99 per month for 450 anytime minutes and include unlimited Nextel Direct Connect, unlimited night and weekend minutes starting at 7 p.m., unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes, plus unlimited text and picture messaging (excludes taxes and Sprint surcharges). This plan provides a savings of $180 (savings based on additional $5 per month charge for push-to-talk service from AT&T and Verizon) per year vs. comparable AT&T and Verizon plans.2

Everything Data plans are also a great value, starting at just $69.99 per month for 450 minutes of talk time, unlimited Direct Connect and unlimited data, including texting, email, Web browsing and GPS. Unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling to other Sprint customers and free nights & weekends starting at 7 p.m. are also included in these affordable plans (excludes taxes and Sprint surcharges).

Families can also take advantage of unlimited messaging on Motorola Clutch i465 with Sprint’s Everything Messaging Family plans. At an annual savings of $240 vs. comparable Verizon and AT&T plans, these plans start at $99.99 per month, allowing two customers to share 1,500 minutes, including free nights starting at 7 p.m. and weekends, unlimited texting and picture sharing. Unlimited Nextel Direct Connect can be added for only $5 per line per month (excludes taxes and Sprint surcharges).3

For customers who need unlimited voice, messaging, Nextel Direct Connect and data, including email, Web browsing, social networking and GPS navigation, Sprint offers the Simply EverythingSM plan for just $99.99. That’s a savings of more than $1,200 over two years vs. AT&T’s comparable plan for the iPhone.

For more information visit Sprint.

CEA Applauds Supreme Court’s Decision In Remote DVR Case

Decision is a Triumph for Home Recording and Common Sense

The United States Supreme Court has denied the petition for a writ of certiorari upholding the legality of Cablevision’s remote digital video recorder (DVR). The technology is functionally identical to a home DVR, and allows viewers to record programs on a remote system within Cablevision’s offices. The following statement can be attributed to CEA President and CEO, Gary Shapiro.

“We applaud the U.S. Supreme Court today for letting stand a decision that supports the growth of technology and innovation. The ability to record television programming has become commonplace to millions of Americans which has benefited consumers and allowed the consumer technology and content industries to contribute billions of dollars to our economy and create millions of jobs.

“From a common-sense standpoint, the Court’s decision was a slam-dunk. The Court has already ruled that consumers have the right to time-shift television shows. Whether the bits reside in a box under your TV or a box in the cable field office is not relevant.

“CEA has been at the forefront of promoting digital technologies for decades. The ability to shift content among devices and products within the home is paramount in allowing technology to thrive and allowing companies to continue to design and develop new products.

“In addition, remote computing and data storage, like that allowed by the remote DVR, offers extraordinary benefits. Indeed Americans already enjoy this technology through services like Google applications and Mac. An adverse ruling would have hamstrung this exciting new area of innovation.

“We commend the Supreme Court for protecting our ability to innovate and ensure that America remains the world’s technology leader.”

For more information visit CEA.

SMSC Introduces Low-Cost, High-Performance I/O Port Expander & DTCP Co-Processor For MOST® Networks

OS85650 Expands Audio/Video Capability for Next Generation Automotive Infotainment Devices

SMSC, a leading semiconductor company that provides Smart Mixed-Signal Connectivity™ solutions, today announced the OS85650 I/O companion chip for MOST® Intelligent Network Interface Controllers (INICs).

With its multiple interfaces, powerful routing engine and the DTCP co-processor, the OS85650 can be used for various audio and video applications such as Head Units, Rear Seat Entertainment, Amplifiers, TV-Tuners and Video Displays.

The OS85650 works together with SMSC INICs for all MOST speed grades (MOST25, MOST50 and MOST150) and can replace many of today’s expensive FPGA solutions.

“With its expanded communication ports, this companion chip allows the INIC family to stay cost optimized in providing minimal application interfaces at a low pin count,” said Stefan Lux, Product Marketing Manager for SMSC’s Automotive group. “Together with the INIC, the OS85650 offers a complete solution for network applications, including data exchange on MOST networks.”

The primary function of the OS85650 is to route data streams simultaneously between industry standard application I/O interfaces, including MediaLB® (3-Pin and 6-Pin), HBI, TSI, SPI and I²S. It is the first MediaLB 6-Pin device that supports all features of the MOST150 multimedia network. Together with the 16 bit parallel Host Bus Interface (HBI), it enables a high-speed connection between the INIC150 and multiple External Host Controllers (EHCs) with over 300Mbit/s. It is also possible to use the OS85650 as a bridge between MediaLB 6-Pin and MediaLB 3-Pin devices.

The high-performance routing engine operates at an internal speed up to 1.5 GBit/s. It is able to route on top of the standard MOST network communication, Ethernet IP packets, multiple MPEG-TS and several high quality 7.1 audio streams.

The Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) co-processor autonomously encrypts and decrypts up to 8 multiple synchronous and isochronous data channels routed through the device. It includes full AKE functionality and supports both M6 and AES-128 cipher engines according to DTCP for MOST and DTCP-IP. This content protection is required for high quality audio and video content, like DVD, Blu-ray Disc™ and HD-Broadcasting Services.

Availability:

In addition to the OS85652, a pin-compatible version without a DTCP coprocessor is available.

Samples of the OS85650 and the OS85652 are available now.

For more information visit SMSC.

California Gold Rush & 3D Rollercoaster Rush Blast Into Apple App Store

Digital Chocolate Launches Its Addicting and Stunning California Gold Rush Game on iPhone and iPod Touch

Digital Chocolate, a quality leader in original mobile games for iPhone and iPod touch, announced that California Gold Rush has tunneled its way into the Apple App Store and is now available. Created especially for iPhone and iPod touch, California Gold Rush boasts rich graphics, high production values and creative gameplay.

California Gold Rush allows players to explore up to 30 mines and features a compelling story with a colorful cast of characters. Your objective is to help Mandy dig for gold, artifacts and gems below the depths of the earth as you avoid collapses, cave bats and other dangers! The game leverages the innovative Multi-Touch user interface of iPhone and iPod touch, allowing players to move Mandy and start digging with the touch of their fingers. California Gold Rush provides depth and long lasting gameplay that will keep players digging for hours.

California Gold Rush is available for $2.99 from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at iTunes. There is also a free version available that will provide a limited number of levels.

3D Rollercoaster Rush Speeds into Apple App Store

Digital Chocolate Launches 3D Rollercoaster Rush Based on the Original Award-Winning Rollercoaster Rush Game on iPhone and iPod Touch

Digital Chocolate, also announces that 3D Rollercoaster Rush is now available on Apple's App Store. Adapted specifically for iPhone and iPod touch, this game will thrill players with its stunning 3D graphics and expertly crafted tracks with realistic coaster physics.

“We were thrilled to see the original Rollercoaster Rush become a top downloaded game in June," said Trip Hawkins, CEO of Digital Chocolate. “Apple customers who enjoyed the original are going to love this 3D version where camera angles shift with the coaster.”

3D Rollercoaster Rush comes with 40 different rollercoaster tracks set in the Wild West, each with a Challenge Race Mode where you can play against the designer of the game! The game leverages the devices’ accelerometer feature allowing players to easily accelerate and brake by tilting the device to make the carts go faster and slower.

3D Rollercoaster Rush is available for $4.99 from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at iTunes.

Resources:

• Twitter.
• MySpace.
  
• Facebook.
• YouTube.
• Download at iTunes.
• Download at Digital Chocolate.

About Digital Chocolate

Digital Chocolate is a leading publisher of original, high-quality Omni games - games that reach mass market consumers across all platforms and are driven by social value, convenience and instant gratification. Consumers can "Seize the Minute!" with a catalog of more than 80 award-winning Digital Chocolate games available for Apple iPhone, smartphones, the Web, Facebook, Xbox LIVE and thousands of different mobile phones in more than 80 countries. Recently Digital Chocolate had 4 different games chart at # 1 in the App Store in 4 consecutive months including Crazy Penguin Catapult, 3D Brick Breaker Deluxe, 3D Tower Bloxx Deluxe and Mini Golf 99 Holes Theme Park. The company has major offices in San Mateo, Helsinki, Bangalore and Barcelona and was founded in 2003 by Trip Hawkins, who was also the founder and CEO of Electronic Arts. Digital Chocolate partners with major mobile and media companies including Verizon, AT&T, Vodafone, Fox, Paramount, HBO, Google, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony/Ericsson. Leading competitors include Electronic Arts, Gameloft, I-Play and Glu Mobile. 

For more information visit Digital Chocolate. 

Free Laptop Filtering For Schools

SmoothWall Launches Special Offer for NECC Visitors

National Educational Computing Conference 2009 booth #1936

Web filtering vendor SmoothWall is launching a special filtering offer for schools at the National Education Computing Conference (NECC 2009), which takes place this year from June 28 – July 1st in Washington DC.

SmoothWall say they will give their new laptop filtering software, Mobile Guardian, free of charge to any customers who visit their booth (#1936) to request a copy at the NECC show.

With its affordable price tag and pioneering Dynamic Content Analysis™ technology, the company’s intelligent Guardian web filter has already proved to be a big hit with US school districts. In the last couple of months, the company has installed over 10,000 licenses in K12 schools in New York State alone.

The standard version of Guardian is a perimeter or gateway-based web filtering device, designed to control internet use within the school network. But with laptop numbers rising rapidly in schools, there is an increasing requirement to extend web filtering beyond the school gates to protect and ensure the same safe-surfing experience for laptop users too. Mobile Guardian is designed to enforce filtering regardless of location, with laptop browsing logs automatically uploaded as soon as users return to the network.

Product Manager Tom Newton said: “It is critical that schools recognize the risks associated with laptop use and take steps to protect students from undesirable content. Instead of getting on with their homework, kids are much more likely to spend their time discovering the seedier side of the Internet – along with a mass of malware which will hastily hop onto the network the moment they log back in.”

Stewart Allen, an independent analyst and consultant explains, “Issues in policy enforcement arise when the student’s assigned laptop leaves the controlled network of the school. Once they connect to another network which is not under the schools control, the policy cannot be enforced. With Mobile Guardian, the control follows the student and provides the same organizational policy no matter where they connect.”

K12 customers keen to take advantage of this offer should visit SmoothWall at the NECC show in Washington DC between June 28th and July 1st (booth #1936). SmoothWall’s mobile filtering client will be officially released to other customers later this summer.

For more information visit SmoothWall.

Nuance Mobile’s VSuite 3 & XT9 Available On Samsung Memoir

Nuance’s Proven Speech Recognition and Predictive Text Applications Increase Ease of Use and Discovery on Innovative 8 Megapixel Camera Phone

Nuance Communications, Inc., announced that Nuance’s VSuite® 3 and XT9® Smart Input products are both embedded on the commercially available Samsung Memoir™ (SGH-t929), enhancing the user experience of the eight megapixel camera phone, available exclusively through T-Mobile USA. VSuite enables Memoir users to leverage their own voice as a complementary interface for accessing and enjoying many device features, while XT9 offers predictive text support for a variety of applications, making it faster and easier to send text messages and emails, as well as quickly type URLs via the full touch virtual QWERTY keypad.

In addition to its advanced imaging capabilities, the Memoir features Samsung’s unique TouchWiz™ user interface, a Web browser, a music player, and assisted GPS navigation. The Samsung Memoir and the Samsung Behold™, also exclusively available from T-Mobile USA, both offer voice command and control capabilities accompanied by the audio-visual feedback that is made possible with VSuite.

VSuite on the Memoir provides many application shortcuts via its “Go To” commands, including:

• “Go to Web” to open the mobile Web browser;
  
• “Go to Calendar” to input and reference appointments;
  
• “Go to Ringtones” to find and reset ringtones;
  
• “Go to Voicemail” to dial voicemail;
  
• “Go to Games” to discover the games folder;

The Samsung Memoir also features Nuance’s XT9 predictive text input software, which is optimized for mobile devices with advanced input methods such as touchscreens and QWERTY keypads. XT9 allows users to easily switch between input modes, which is particularly valuable for devices like the Memoir. Alternating between numbers, letters, symbols and languages is simple with XT9. XT9 also corrects common misspellings while typing, making it faster and easier to write text messages and emails as well as enter search queries in the Memoir’s full HTML Web browser.

“Voice recognition and predictive text are becoming a core component of the various mobile handsets brought to market as a way to elevate the user experience, and bring consumers’ favorite applications and services closer to the surface,” said Michael Thompson, senior vice president and general manager, Nuance Mobile. “VSuite takes voice recognition capabilities way beyond calling contacts. Users can browse the Web, find new ringtones, and discover a cool mobile game. And the same can be said for XT9 in making text input for messaging and browsing easier and faster. The possibilities for today’s mobile devices are endless.”

The latest version of Nuance’s VSuite 3 framework allows users to leverage simple commands that engage connected services that support complex grammars and large vocabulary recognition for local business and Web search, and give OEMs the ability to build and deploy custom text-to-speech applications. Nuance’s VSuite and XT9 software are part of the larger Nuance Mobile portfolio that has solutions embedded in more than 3.75 billion shipped handsets worldwide. Nuance has extensive relationships with carriers around the world and with every major mobile OEM. 

For more information visit Nuance.