Consumer Electronics Daily News

Mom Meet Mom Expands Nationwide

Mom Meet Mom, a women-owned startup, today announced the nationwide beta launch of its online social platform that connects like-minded, local moms with one another. The website was created by three mom co-founders, Julia High, Christa Terry, and Meg Gerritson, and launched in Boston on Mother's Day. After experiencing rapid growth, Mom Meet Mom is expanding nationwide. The website helps moms meet and plan playdates by finding other mothers and caregivers whose children, schedules, parenting styles, family challenges, and personalities are most alike.

"We saw an immediate need to bring location and compatibility technology-- similar to Zillow and Match.com-- to the mom demographic," said High. "We know from experience that both new moms and moms of older kids are desperate to get out and get social with their peers, but it's not always easy to meet other mothers in the neighborhood. We're changing the way moms meet so every mom has a chance to lead an active social life and forge a strong network of support."

Following a model similar to high-profile dating sites, Mom Meet Mom's specially-designed geo-mapping and social-matching features take the guesswork and anxiety out of finding and meeting moms locally. As mothers, the founders of Mom Meet Mom are personally invested in helping moms build local support networks. The site was created to provide a solution to the many challenges moms face when parenting and trying to stay social; including scheduling conflicts, food allergies, maintaining work-life balance, raising kids as a single parent, and coping with autism, diabetes, or other health concerns.

"Our Boston-area beta was extremely successful, and the feedback we continue to receive from our early adopters is phenomenal," said Terry. "We are really excited to expand our beta and to provide the same one-of-a-kind experience to moms across the country."

During its nationwide launch, Mom Meet Mom will continue to enhance the site's personality-matching and geo-location technology while rolling out a variety of additional features.

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The World's First Socially Connected Smart Headphones Coming Late 2013

Muzik is bringing "smart" headphones to the market by the end of 2013, seeking to transform the way music is experienced. Muzik is pioneering a new space called Social Smartware™, coined to describe the seamless connection of consumer electronic devices, content and social media platforms to make music instantly discoverable and shareable in an effortless way.

Muzik's lineup features the smart, on-ear wireless headphone that combines high-fidelity audio in a simple, elegant sleek design with groundbreaking capacitive touch controls. They are the first headphones in the world that allow users to natively share what they are listening to on Facebook and Twitter or instantly send a song anywhere in the world.

Jason Hardi, founder, president and CEO, Muzik, said "Headphones will never again just be for listening to music or talking on the phone – our headphones will improve the way we socially discover, share, listen and experience music. In addition to music exploration, I look forward to working with the developer community to create amazing applications leveraging smart headphones." 

John Cawley, Muzik's Chief Strategy Officer and Vice Chairman, comes to Muzik after a successful stint as the COO for Music World Entertainment, best known as the management company for Beyonce and Destiny's Child.  

"We are not another headphone company in the audio space," said Cawley. "We are a wearable technology company making smart headphones and accessories. Jason's vision is genius and we were singularly focused on joining the ranks of the world's most innovative companies-- Apple, Google, Microsoft, Nike and Samsung-- in one of today's hottest sectors, wearable technology and connected devices."

"We are very clear in our mission," continued Cawley.  "We will focus on product development and patent portfolio building as we continue to build state-of-the-art products with a compelling user experience."

Together, Hardi and Cawley have built Muzik over the last year, created a robust hardware and software product lineup and recruited a powerhouse team that includes industry leaders, connected investors, and forward-thinking strategic partners who are driven to provide consumers an enhanced, interactive music listening experience.

Muzik headphones and other related products will be publicly available in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Presales for Muzik products will be announced shortly.  Visit us at www.muzikofficial.com and through social media @MuzikOfficial

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M-Edge Announces Thin and Sleek Universal Keyboard Case for Tablets

M-Edge today unveiled the Stealth Pro Universal Keyboard Folio, a thin universal keyboard case that works with most 7 and 10 inch tablets, such as the iPad, iPad mini, Google Nexus 7, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and Kindle Fire HD 7 and 8.9. The Stealth Pro Universal Keyboard Folio will be available on September 6 at T-mobile, US Cellular, and medgestore.com; it is coming soon to other retailers such as Walmart.

The Stealth Pro Universal Keyboard has a sturdy and slim profile with a detachable magnetic Bluetooth keyboard that slides to any position the user desires. A multitude of stand modes are possible with M-Edge's patent-pending GripTrack technology-- with this solution, an unlimited number of viewing and typing positions are possible. As with other M-Edge products, the Stealth Pro Universal Keyboard has a silicone mount that expands and contracts to adapt to a variety of device sizes. The Keyboard Folio is constructed with a soft-touch leather and a magnetic close for a sleek look and comfortable feel.

Sign up to be notified about this product at medgestore.com or follow M-Edge on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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Matrix Protection Plan Prepares for Launch of Lifetime Electronics Plan, Opens Marketing Office in South Carolina

Matrix Protection announced today that it has opened a national marketing office in South Carolina in preparation for the scheduled launch of its revolutionary Lifetime Electronics Plan. This plan offers one warranty that covers all consumer electronics products of a single user, at a price point under $20 a month.

The Matrix Protection Lifetime Electronics Plan will stand in place of those costly, store-bought extended service and repair warranties. Instead of paying large premiums for each electronic device, all of a user's eligible electronic devices (new and refurbished) are now covered with a monthly fee.

"The Matrix Electronics Protection Plan covers all of your new and refurbished electronics. Our feature packed plan offers consumers a fantastic value at only a fraction of the cost of traditional extended warranties. With no expiration date on the protection plan, consumers can rest assured with the knowledge that their electronics are guaranteed to function as intended for years after the manufacturer's warranty has expired," said Jay Tuerk, Co-Founder of Matrix Protection.

Every Matrix Electronics Service Plan is fully insured, and value depreciation will not factor into the protection of an electronic device. If a protected product is beyond repair and a replacement product is not available, Matrix Protection will cover the cost of the original purchase price.

Look for other Matrix Protection Warranty Plans in the marketplace around September 2013 including Home Warranty, Furniture Warranty and Auto Warranty Coverages. All are backed by an "A" Rated Insurance Carrier.

To learn more about the Lifetime Electronics Plan go to: http://www.matrixprotectionwarranty.com.  

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Cloud Security Corporation Observes Rise in Demand for Cybersecurity

Cloud Security Corporation, a Nevada corporation specializing in security technology for cloud computing, today discussed the rise in demand for cybersecurity products that address the growing threat to cloud computing and mobile security. 

Safa Movassaghi, President and CEO of Cloud Security Corporation, stated, "The acquisition of Sourcefire by Cisco for $2.7 Billion is another clear signal that cybersecurity continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy. Companies are willing to pay a premium to acquire security technology to address the growing reliance on mobile technology, increasing use of cloud computing and the rapidly evolving sophistication of cybercrime."

Cloud Security Corporation continues to develop and produce cybersecurity technology that creates secure connectivity solutions. The Company is focusing on secure remote access, online app security, and secure IP to IP connectivity focusing on cloud computing.

For more information, visit: www.cloudsecuritycorporation.com 

PRNewswire

Le Vamp Breaks Free on iTunes This Week

In celebration of darkness and all things creepy and crawly, High Voltage Software has announced that its endless runner sensation, Le Vamp for iPhone, will be 100% off its regular price of $1.99 this week. This critically-acclaimed game has already garnered the prestigious Editor's Choice in the App Store as well as rave reviews from the living and undead.

CEO Kerry J. Ganofsky said, "Le Vamp has seen such a phenomenal response from the iTunes community, and we want to give back the best way we know how. And what better way than going free for a limited time to celebrate the success we've had so far?"

In the game, Le Vamp, a headstrong vampire child, has managed to infuriate the local villagers in his attempt to go outside and have some fun. Now he is fleeing for his unlife, dodging sunlight, quirky monsters, and staying ahead of the angry mob.

With nine hideously adorable enemies and hazards, as well as magic and upgrades like Sunblock, Bacon Cologne and Super Fingers, Le Vamp offers a dark and whimsical challenge enjoyable by casual and hardcore players alike.

Available as a universal app for iPhone, iPad and iPad Touch, the game offers a novel twist on the endless runner genre; rather than directly controlling the main character, players use simple gestures to deal with the threats that face the tiny vampire as he traverses the hostile French countryside.

Le Vamp's macabre mix of cartoony and cadaverous styles has captured the hearts and souls of gamers on the iTunes App Store with an exceptional 4.5 average rating. It has also received ghoulishly glowing reviews from USA Today, 148Apps, Modojo and Macworld, among others.

Please visit the Le Vamp Facebook page for additional information and screenshots.

PRNewswire

Humans to be Outsourced by Robots?

In 2006, more than 40 percent of the orders at the London Stock Exchange were generated by robots, and one-third of all stocks trading in the US and Europe was generated by robots as well. Today, 70 percent of the orders are generated by robots. In foreign currency markets, almost 45 percent of orders are executed by robots, running on automatic programs designed by humans. These algorhythm-based trades are on the rise in futures, bond, and option markets as well.

So, there is speculation that humans could be completely outsourced by robots in the trading of stocks, commodities, and foreign currencies. But "not so fast," says James Roth, a senior analyst at Algo Capital in the United Kingdom, which runs the website http://www.algorates.com. As one of the most successful algo trading platforms in 2012, Algo Capital's name has become synonymous with algorithmic trading, the trading done automatically by computer programs. During an exclusive interview, Roth explains that for algorithmic trading to be successful, it requires expert human analysis and supervision.

"The computerization of the trading in financial markets began in the early 1970s," explains Roth. "An important milestone of this process was the New York Stock Exchange's 'designated order turnaround' system, also known as DOT. This system was the first to send electronic orders to the market in the US."

In 2001, a team of researchers at IBM published the experiments they had conducted showing that their algorithms were able to consistently outperform human traders. "Machines can react faster to new data, and they have no emotions when reacting. This helps to explain the success of algo-trading and its better performance," says Roth.

When it comes to speed of thought and processing data without emotional hindrances, many experts agree that computers can be more effective than humans. However, Roth believes that their success in ago-trading depends on the development of the most precise algorithms, and the integration of these robots with human supervision.

"The competition is fierce," says Roth. "We are constantly modifying and improving our algo-trading robots to stay ahead and improve our results." This process involves the best computer brains and experienced traders in the business.

And yet, for these robots to be successful, they still need human expert traders to supervise them. "At the end of the day, robots will never be able to completely replace human traders. There are aspects of the market that only humans can understand," adds Roth.

"But the combination of split-second market analysis and decision making by the robot along with our human traders' experience and expertise has proven an unbelievably successful combination."

PRNewswire

Julie Bauer Appointed President of Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Panasonic Corporation of North America today announced the appointment ofJulie Bauer as President of its consumer sales division, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. 

"Julie Bauer comes to Panasonic as a marketing and technology leader with particular expertise in direct marketing, retail and online commerce," said Panasonic Corporation of North America Chairman & CEO Joseph M. Taylor.  "She has the ability to manage Panasonic's broad array of consumer products through our distribution channels and I'm confident that she will ensure we achieve our strategic objectives." 

"Panasonic has been an innovator in the consumer electronics sector for years and we have the strong brand, unique products and great people to further extend the company's success," said Bauer.  "I have no doubt that we can take Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company to the next level. To do that, it's my mission to reach, learn from, and engage with consumers wherever they are." 

Bauer, a Wisconsin native, has held senior level positions in direct marketing, online strategy, e-commerce, and multichannel transformation with Guthy-Renker, Mattel, Inc. and Best Buy Co., Inc. She earned a B.S. in Business and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA in Marketing and Business from the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, MN. 

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Maclocks Applies Bracket Lock Technology to MacBook Air for an Integrated Locking Solution

After the release of the Macbook Pro Locking Bracket, Maclocks.com introduces the MacBook Air Lock Bracket Kit.

Following the success of the MBPR locking bracket, "Mac-heads" have been searching for a similar solution for their MBAs that don't have an included security slot.

In comes Maclocks, the maker of the world's first iPad lock, who completed the design and production of the most secure and slim bracket the MBA Lock Bracket Kit.

The new MBA Lock Bracket Kit is made of high-grade aerospace aluminum bracket, designed with the patented "Wedge" security slot. The included Wedge Security Cable (with the World's slimmest locking head) has a 360-degree rotational locking head that enables a full range of motion while holding the secured device.

The super slim bracket (only 1mm thick) along with its lightweight construction (less than 0.1lb) is easily fastened to the bottom of the MBA using its own original four screw holes. The MBA Lock Bracket Kit includes all the tools you'll need to secure your device while maintaining the elegant design of the MBA.

"In 2012 we were the first to launch a MBA security cover and lock bundle with an integrated security slot which worked great for many of our customers and key corporate accounts," says Alexander Gad, Maclocks GM. "Our customers have been requesting a MacBook Air lock which does not require the use of a case, and it would almost be unnoticeable. Our new MacBook Air Lockhas achieved just that."

The new MBA Lock Bracket Kit, in both 11" and 13" sizes, is available for pre-order on Maclocks.com for $69.95.

PRNewswire

Sogou: the Google Killer?

Sogou, a Chinese Internet company, has recently released a new product which is designed based on the Discovery engine technology. The revolutionary Discovery engine could knock Google off its pedestal, due to its new approach to search engine technology. Previously, Google released a similar product but it failed. Sogou's new product combines search technology with Internet Explorer, pushing information to users that is based on information searched. It is also possible that the Discovery engine will change the traditional "search frame + main words" mode.

Sogou is a sub company of Sohu and it has the third biggest number of users in China. The main products of Sogou include input software, web browsing, and the search engine. On the 10th of July, Sogou released a new product-- Sogou for Internet Explorer, which carries the Discovery engine technology. The featured function of the product is "Sogou Discovery," which is able to recommend users relevant information smartly in multiple areas such as news, shopping, travel, and more. Users can acquire the information directly.

The Discovery engine represents a new trend in search engines. Previously, Google released a similar product - Google Related, achieving simple information recommendations, but it was shut down in 2012. Moreover, in 2011, two other famous Chinese search engine companies, Baidu and Qihoo360, also claimed that they would make attempts to do some breakthrough investigation in this area. With these new search engine technologies on the horizon, when will the verb "to google" fall out of favor?

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