Consumer Electronics Daily News

Dolby Axon Voice Chat Software Now Available For All Multiplayer Online Games

New Software Delivers Surround Sound Capability, Making Voice Chat More Intelligible and Easier to Use

 

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) today announced the general availability of its new Dolby® Axon desktop client software, a PC-based application with surround sound capabilities developed specifically to complement any multiplayer online game.

“The Dolby Axon desktop client proves that online chat can be easy to use and still have the features and sound quality that gamers demand”

“The Dolby Axon desktop client proves that online chat can be easy to use and still have the features and sound quality that gamers demand,” said Matt Tullis, Marketing Director for Games at Dolby Laboratories. “Adding surround sound is a natural direction for us, and it transforms online voice chat into a more natural and realistic conversation.”

Available at http://axon.dolby.com, the free basic software features:

• High-quality sound—Key Dolby audio technologies, including noise reduction, automatic dialogue leveling, echo cancellation, and clipping detection
• Simple interface—Easy-to-use interface based on friend lists
• Complete access control—Invitation-only chat rooms
• Clan organization—Friend lists and groups enable users to keep tabs on everyone
• Data efficiency—Crystal clear audio quality at very low bandwidth

Users can upgrade their Dolby Axon desktop experience with the Surround Pass, which enables:

• Surround sound—Know instantly who is talking based on the direction of that person’s voice.
• Visual interface—See who is in the chat room and who is talking through the visual representation of the chat room.
• Divide and conquer—Divide chat participants into smaller groups quickly for easier communication.
• Permanent chat rooms—Create up to three permanent rooms for friends/guilds so everyone knows where to meet.
• Larger chat rooms—Have up to 50 people active in a chat.
• Upgrade everyone—Enter any chat room and automatically provide surround sound capability to everyone in it.

The Surround Pass is available for an annual subscription fee of $19.99. All new Dolby Axon users will be given a free 30-day upgrade to the Dolby Axon Surround Pass for a limited time.

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) is the global leader in technologies that are essential elements in the best entertainment experiences. Founded in 1965 and best known for high-quality audio and surround sound, Dolby creates innovations that enrich entertainment at the movies, at home, or on the go.

For more information, visit Dolby Laboratories.

Sensonor Announces Ultra Low Power Pressure Sensor With Programmable, Embedded µC & Optional Accelerometer

 

Sensonor Technologies AS is launching their SP300-series, a multipurpose digital absolute pressure sensor – fully calibrated and compensated with programmable, embedded RISC µC and optional accelerometer. Flexible and customer specified communication is via 5 general purpose I/O pins and a 2 channel LF receiver supporting wireless command and data reception, which can be used for configuration and device wake up. Sophisticated features like electronic ID, temperature measurement, supply voltage measurement, diagnostics and an optional 125g on-chip accelerometer are available. A set of ROM library functions simplifies code development. A fully autonomous pressure, acceleration and temperature measurement system is created by adding a battery, an RF transmitter IC and an antenna. Due to the unique ultra low power architecture the sensor is ideal for battery operation. Stand-by current is an astonishing 0.3µA and a low noise 11-bit measurement requires a minute 4µAs. The SP300-series is offered in 0.5 to 16 bar FS ranges and in a 14 pin plastic SOIC package with optional pressure tube connection.

“Launch of SP300 is a milestone in history of MEMS pressure sensors; capable of operating in the most demanding environments, using a patented bulk micro machined triple stack design with backside media access, and functional over the full -40 to +125°C temperature range with survival even up to +175°C for shorter periods” commented Mr. Carsten Fongen, Sales Manager at Sensonor Technologies. “The exceptional multifunction makes SP300 ideal for applications with distributed points of measurement; system architecture can be realized with a minimum of components and without wiring each unit to a central control; this provides system designers full flexibility and secures the lowest system cost. Due to the extreme low power a tiny coin type battery provides enough energy for years and years of operation” he goes on. SP300 is available in volumes and pricing, without accelerometer and pressure tube, starts at € 18.00 in 1k quantities.

About Sensonor Technologies AS

Sensonor is a global leader in high precision MEMS technology; designing and manufacturing advanced, integrated gyro and pressure sensors for harsh environments. Based on a continuous MEMS activity since 1965, Sensonor pioneered the introduction of MEMS accelerometers and gyros to the automotive market and also became the leading supplier of tire pressure sensors.

For more information, visit Sensonor Technologies AS.

Sophos Security & Data Protection To Be Offered On Lenovo PCs

 

IT security and data protection firm Sophos announced that global PC maker Lenovo will operate as a Sophos global channel partner by offering Sophos security and data protection technology bundles with new Lenovo Think-branded PCs to corporate customers. Lenovo will also promote Sophos’s threat protection solution.

“Sophos has taken a unique approach in securing the endpoint and sensitive data by wrapping multiple technologies – anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, HIPS, application control, NAC, DLP, and encryption – into a single solution. With Sophos running transparently in the background, Lenovo customers will benefit from broader protection with less investment.”

“We’re excited to work with Lenovo to offer Sophos’s proactive endpoint security to their customers especially as businesses are bombarded with an increasing number of sophisticated threats and tighter regulations to secure confidential data,” said Mike McGuinness, senior vice president of worldwide sales and field operations at Sophos. “Sophos has taken a unique approach in securing the endpoint and sensitive data by wrapping multiple technologies – anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, HIPS, application control, NAC, DLP, and encryption – into a single solution. With Sophos running transparently in the background, Lenovo customers will benefit from broader protection with less investment.”

“We’re working with Sophos to give customers an even stronger combination of PC hardware and software security,” said Peter Schrady, vice president and general manager, Software, Peripherals and Enterprise Products, Lenovo. “Now customers can choose from an extensive menu of security technologies, from PC hardware features like fingerprint readers and encrypted hard drives, to Sophos’s threat protection software tools that are easy to install, deploy and manage.”

This alliance extends a longstanding relationship between Lenovo and Utimaco, a data encryption vendor acquired by Sophos in 2009, that integrated SafeGuard Encryption technology with Lenovo’s ThinkVantage Technologies productivity tools.

About Sophos

More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs – a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.

For more information, visit Sophos.

TS700V- A State Of The Art Sub-Micron BCD Technology Featuring A 700V Power NMOS, Is Available NOW

 

Telefunken Semiconductors, as a leading provider of niche analog and mixed signal process technology, today announced that TS700V, a state of the art sub-micron BCD technology featuring a 700V power NMOS, is offered as the latest technology by TS.

The unique combination of sub-micron CMOS with high voltage power electronics, and a dual metal layer option enables a new level of integration. The process offers a competitive on-resistance area product (RDSon x A) enabling cost effective integration of smart power devices.

This technology is ideal for applications such as off-line switching AC/DC converters, LED lighting, and Industrial Motor Control.

TS700V environment (PDK) provides design engineers with the ability to accelerate time to market for highly integrated, low cost, energy efficient solutions for today’s most power sensitive applications. A feature-rich device portfolio equips design engineers to optimize trade-offs when attempting to achieve stringent regulatory requirements such as Energy Star and Blue Angel.

TS 700 V is now available with appropriate NDA and already used by TS customers for designing products on this TS Technology.

About TELEFUNKEN Semiconductors

TELEFUNKEN Semiconductors is a specialty Analog & Mixed Signal facility with ISO Automotive and Industrial Class Certifications. TS offers state-of-the-art contract semiconductor foundry services at their world class manufacturing location in Heilbronn, Germany. 

For more information, visit TELEFUNKEN Semiconductors.

Ciranova PyCells A Key Component Of The IPL Standard 1.0

Proven Interoperable Parameterized Cell Technology Enables Next Generation Custom IC Design Flows

Ciranova, the automation technology leader for analog/mixed-signal IC physical design, today announced that its interoperable PCell technology, PyCells™, is an integral part of the just announced IPL Standard 1.0 specification. PyCell Studio™, the company’s PyCell development system, is available for free download at www.ciranova.com. PyCells have been well received by the analog design community with many tapeouts to date, and are supported in most major Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) OpenAccess-capable tools.

“Ciranova PyCells are a key component of the emerging interoperable design platform that is based on OpenAccess. We will continue to collaborate with Ciranova and other industry leaders such as the IPL Alliance as part of our OpenPDK initiative”

Today, several Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs) are developing PDKs using PyCells. At the 2009 Design Automation Conference, TSMC announced the 65nm iPDK which marked the first time that PyCells were deployed in a Top-5 foundry’s PDK offering. In addition, to ensure the continuing availability of PyCell Studio at no cost to users, Ciranova established a source code escrow and assigned Si2 as the beneficiary in 2007.

“Ciranova PyCells are a key component of the emerging interoperable design platform that is based on OpenAccess. We will continue to collaborate with Ciranova and other industry leaders such as the IPL Alliance as part of our OpenPDK initiative,” said Steve Schulz, President and CEO, Silicon Integration Initiative, Inc.

“A standard interoperable design kit format further supports innovation and best of breed tool flows for analog/mixed-signal design,” said Michael Ma, Ciranova Vice President for Business Development and a member of the Board of Directors of the IPL Alliance. “Ciranova will continue to innovate and contribute to this cause.”

About Ciranova

Ciranova is electronic design automation (EDA) company focused on large productivity improvements in RF, analog and mixed-signal IC physical design. Complementary to existing design flows, Ciranova technology dramatically reduces the time and effort needed to develop device-level layout at both the circuit and PDK levels. Ciranova supports the Si2 OpenAccess database.

For more information, visit Ciranova.

ngmoco Acquires Leading iPhone Game-Maker Freeverse

 

ngmoco, the leading iPhone and iPod touch game developer and publisher, has acquired fellow hit-maker, Freeverse.

“ngmoco is the leader in this realm both in terms of vision and execution and therefore the right partner for us to take our business to the next level. We are thrilled to be a part of the ngmoco family.”

“Freeverse, much like us, is comprised of true game-makers,” said Neil Young, CEO, ngmoco. “Now with our combined forces, their titles can reach more people and the talented folks at Freeverse can keep doing what they do best, which is making great games.”

Freeverse, formed more than 15 years ago, has continually produced quality games and the company has held a dedicated base of fans. Hit titles in the Freeverse portfolio include the #1 App Store smash hit Skee-Ball, Moto Chaser, Flick Fishing, SlotZ Racer, Flick Bowling and NBA Hotshot, among many others.

“ngmoco’s creative DNA is well-suited to us,” said Ian Lynch Smith, Freeverse Founder and VP. “We have always admired the quality that ngmoco approaches all endeavors with.”

Freeverse will retain its own name, brand and management, under the ngmoco umbrella.

“We see the value and immense potential in free to play services on mobile web,” noted Colin Lynch Smith, Freeverse Founder and VP. “ngmoco is the leader in this realm both in terms of vision and execution and therefore the right partner for us to take our business to the next level. We are thrilled to be a part of the ngmoco family.”

This week, ngmoco also announced Series C funding of nearly $25 million. The round comes on the heels of a momentous year for ngmoco. The company’s titles dominated the charts with blockbusters and critical successes like Rolando 2, Star Defense, Eliminate Pro and Touch Pets Dogs. Last year ngmoco added top executives from the games, platform technology and web sectors and launched its leading player network, Plus+. The company shifted its production structures to build free-to-play games.

About ngmoco

Headquartered in San Francisco, ngmoco was founded in 2008 by games industry veterans committed to the new mobile landscape opened up by Apple’s iPhone. ngmoco creates and publishes games for the iPhone and beyond in collaboration with the best and brightest game makers in the world. Founded by Neil Young, Bob Stevenson, Alan Yu and Joe Keene, the company’s investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Maples Investments and Norwest Venture Partners.

About Plus+

The Plus+ Network is a social play service free to players that harnesses the iPhone OS 3.0 technology and enables players to create a persistent profile, challenge friends via social channels, compete for leaderboard glory, participate in game events and discover new games. 

About Freeverse

Freeverse strives to develop and publish seamless software, with a particular concentration on the Mac and iPhone platforms. Our developed and published titles have been honored with more Apple Design Awards than any other company. With 2 of the Top 10 paid iPhone Apps of All-Time, Freeverse is at the forefront of creating compelling, cutting edge games. Headquartered in New York City, Freeverse draws upon the talents of artists, programmers and sound designers from around the globe.

For more information, visit ngmoco, Plus+ Network or Freeverse.

Momocat Studios Set To Drop Paratroopers Onto Your iPhone/iPod Touch

Company Intros Air Brawn, a Remake of Classic Action Shooter for Mac, Airborne!

Momocat Studios, an independent developer of iPhone software, today introduced Air Brawn for iPhone 3G/3GS and iPod Touch. A remake of the 1984 classic Mac game Airborne!, Air Brawn is a fun shooter style game in a third person perspective. Players, acting as the sole remaining defender of an outpost under relentless air attack, have to ward off destruction from waves of helicopters and other aircraft that drop paratroopers and bombs onto the screen to blow up the player’s gun station. With only their trusty mortars and antiaircraft gun in hand, players’ skill levels are greatly challenged. Air Brawn is now available on the Apple iTunes App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/air-brawn/id355457826?mt=8 for $0.99.

“How hard can it be to write an iPhone game?”

When playing Air Brawn, players must avoid having too many paratroopers land. If this happens, they will be brazen enough to advance on the player’s station. Once close, the paratroopers will drop grenades in the player’s base and then it’s game over. If a player survives, carrier jets dropping tanks and large numbers of paratroopers will start appearing. Players must eliminate tanks quickly, as they can fire upon the player’s base from a great distance and destroy them in only seconds after landing on the ground.

Should a player best these forces, they are then faced with bomber jets. Traveling at great speeds, the jets launch air-to-ground missiles with great accuracy, which can destroy the player’s base in the blink of an eye. If lucky, the player may shoot down the bomber before it launches its deadly payload. If very lucky, the player may shoot down the air-to-ground missile before it impacts with their base.

Points are awarded for each enemy that the player destroys, but for every round of mortar or antiaircraft gun that a player fires, they also lose a point. Thus, players need to watch how many times they fire.

Features:

• Easy to use touch based interface
• Four airborne attackers
• Two ground attackers
• Online leader boards powered by OpenFeint
• Play your own music in the background
• Progress is automatically saved when the game is closed, allowing players to continue the epic struggle whenever they wish

About Momocat Studios

Momocat Studios is an independent developer of iPhone software in Melbourne, Australia. Founded by Sam King Coward, a software developer by day and an avid iPhone enthusiast, he unwittingly started what became Momocat Studios in July 2009 when he wondered to himself "How hard can it be to write an iPhone game?" As a lover of computer games, writing an iPhone game independently was empowering for Sam, and drives the ongoing development of exciting and new titles for Momocat Studios. The name "Momocat Studios" is a tribute to Momo, a dear friend of Sam's for 10 years who passed away in 2009 from stomach cancer.

For more information, visit Momocat Studios.

2K Games Continues The Carnage With The Secret Armory Of General Knoxx

 - the Biggest Downloadable Add-on for Borderlands™- 

  

2K Games announced today that The Secret Armory of General Knoxx*, the third explosive piece of downloadable game add-on content for Borderlands™, is now available for detonation starting today via the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points. The add-on content will also be available on February 25 from the PlayStation®Network and from store.gearboxsoftware.com, Steam and Direct2Drive for Windows PC for $9.99. The Secret Armory of General Knoxx was developed by Gearbox Software and offers scorching new gameplay that expands on the core story of Borderlands, giving gamers even more reason to tout the title as one of the best role-playing shooter experiences ever!

“Players have embraced the action-packed mayhem of the Borderlands saga and we made sure that they had plenty to chew on with our first two DLC entries - The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned* and Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot*”

The Secret Armory of General Knoxx picks up right where Borderlands ends – players have discovered and unlocked the alien vault, but now must face the unscrupulous wrath of the vengeful Atlas Corporation and its deadly, death-dealing badass, General Knoxx. With more than 16 million unique weapons (and the help of an Atlas insider), the vault hunters must protect Pandora and save their own necks by destroying the munitions hoard and blow General Knoxx and his Crimson Lance force to kingdom come, but not before reaping the rewards of Atlas’ weaponry stockpile.

“Players have embraced the action-packed mayhem of the Borderlands saga and we made sure that they had plenty to chew on with our first two DLC entries - The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned* and Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot*,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “With The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, we continue to deliver on our promise of more Borderlands action by unleashing more ways for our fans to deal out even more raw bloody death and co-op carnage.”

The Secret Armory of General Knoxx is an intense single-player or co-operative entertainment experience that presents the freshest gameplay features known to Borderlands’ gamers. The Secret Armory of General Knoxx increases the level cap from 50 to 61, introduces new vehicles that allow for four-player off road havoc, explosive combat missions that unlock never-before-seen areas and increasingly difficult challenges, foes dead-set on removing your head from your body, and of course, even more insane weapons.

Borderlands, rated M for Mature by the ESRB, is developed by Gearbox Software and is currently available for the Xbox 360, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot are currently available for all platforms.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games for the PC, PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo DS™, iPhone™ and iPod® touch. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games and 2K, which publishes its titles under 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play. Take-Two also distributes software, hardware and accessories in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. The Company's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO.

About Gearbox Software

Gearbox Software is respected industry wide for the award winning, best-selling original and licensed video games they have developed for major video game platforms.

Founded in 1999 and located near Dallas, TX, Gearbox Software is well known for the creation and development of their original blockbuster franchise, Brothers in Arms, which has sold over 7 million units. Additionally, Gearbox Software has developed games and added value to many of the industry’s top franchises including Halo, Half-Life, Tony Hawk, James Bond and others. Gearbox Software’s success has been enabled and supported through several key mutually beneficial business relationships with strong publishing partners including Activision, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft Entertainment, Microsoft Games Studios, Sega of America and Take-Two/2K Games.

For more information, visit Take-Two Interactive Software or Gearbox Software.

Freeverse's Zombie Cannon Carnage Is Available Now!

 

Freeverse's newest release, Zombie Cannon Carnage, is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch! The highly anticipated zombie ragdoll-blasting game centers on three intergalactic zombies who crash-land on our lovely little Earth and try to launch themselves back home into space. Use the Zombie Cannon to fire your zombie into the night sky, and activate your Jet Pack to rocket through the city avoiding everything from air conditioners to the pesky Police Helicopter.

Rack up insane points with power-ups, pinball bumper obstacles scattered around the destructible city skyline, and try to travel the furthest distance possible. Wreck havoc and destroy everything in your path, including yourself! With Upgrade items from chainsaws to TNT, this exploding ragdoll blaster game, developed by H.grenade, will have you leaving a flaming path of carnage in your wake. ZCC features realistic physics, Plus+ integration and 11 signature impact trophies to collect.

Available now on the iTunes App Store, Zombie Cannon Carnage is priced at $1.99.

 

About Freeverse

Freeverse strives to develop and publish seamless software, with a particular concentration on the Mac and iPhone platforms. Our developed and published titles have been honored with six Apple Design Awards. Our company is at the forefront of creating compelling, cutting edge games.

About h.grenade

h.grenade games was established to develop casual gamers for hard core gamers. Created by artists Se7en and Kelly X to bring hard core attitude, style and design to gamers looking to fill those in-between moments in their lives. h.grenade has racked up 20+ years of award winning graphic design, game development and more for top companies. h.grenade's first iPhone game Circuit_Strike.One was critically acclaimed with an average review score of 81 and was featured twice by Apple in What's Hot and Best Shooters reaching number 36 in the App Store games chart.

For more information, visit Freeverse.

NXP Licenses ARM Cortex- M4 Processor For 32-bit Microcontroller Signal Processing Applications

 

NXP Semiconductors today announced it is one of the first ARM partners to license the latest ARM® Cortex™-M4 processor. The Cortex-M4 processor is a highly efficient solution for digital signal control (DSC) applications, while maintaining the industry leading capabilities of the ARM® Cortex-M family of processors for advanced microcontroller (MCU) applications. NXP intends to use the Cortex-M4 processor for a wide range of applications which require greater flexibility and signal processing capabilities, such as motor control, automotive, power management, embedded audio and industrial automation applications. NXP will demonstrate these DSP extensions at Embedded World, Nuremberg (March 2 - 5, 2010) to highlight Cortex-M4’s DSP capabilities. NXP’s booth number: Hall 12, 218.

“The addition of the ARM Cortex-M4 processor to our ARM Cortex portfolio complements our Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M0 processor-based devices and enables us to provide an end to end solution to the MCU community”

“The addition of the ARM Cortex-M4 processor to our ARM Cortex portfolio complements our Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M0 processor-based devices and enables us to provide an end to end solution to the MCU community,” said Geoff Lees, vice president and general manager, microcontroller product line, NXP Semiconductors. “With NXP focusing on High Performance Mixed Signal technologies and building on our close cooperation with ARM, we look forward to bringing a Cortex-M4 based MCU to the market, very soon.”

The Cortex-M4 processor is the latest member of the Cortex-M family and is the most efficient ARM processor ever for digital signal control applications. It provides an optimal blend of high-performance digital signal processing features like single-cycle MAC, single instruction multiple data (SIMD) techniques, saturating arithmetic, and a floating point unit, with essential microcontroller features such as integrated interrupt control, low power modes, low cost debug and ease of use. More information is available at: www.arm.com.

NXP provides the complete range of ARM-based 32-bit microcontroller portfolio from the ARM7TDMI®, the ARM968™, the ARM926™, to the Cortex-M3, Cortex-M0 and now Cortex-M4 processors. This award winning product range includes the industry's fastest microcontrollers based on the low-power, cost-effective ARM Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M0 cores. The NXP LPC1100 is the world's first Cortex-M0 based microcontroller series. With 32-bit performance and multiple power modes including very low, deep sleep power, the LPC1100 series offers industry-leading energy efficiency, greatly extending battery life. The LPC1100 series sets new benchmarks in performance efficiency with dramatically improved code density enabling longer battery life and lower system costs.

About NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors provides High Performance Mixed Signal and Standard Product solutions that leverage its leading RF, Analog, Power, Digital Processing and manufacturing expertise. These innovations are used in a wide range of automotive, industrial, consumer, lighting, medical, computing and identification applications. Headquartered in Europe, the company has about 29,000 employees working in more than 30 countries and posted sales of USD 5.4 billion in 2008.

For more information, visit NXP Semiconductors.