Consumer Electronics Daily News

DX Greatly Appreciates MOCREO MOSOUND MINI Bluetooth Speakers

The variety of wireless mini speakers that are flooding the market today is countless. However, not every unit is worthwhile when considering ones which ensure both quality and a fair price. If you are scouting for a speaker that also combines the power of microphone and wireless connectivity along with facilitating easy portability then choose wireless mini Bluetooth speakers only. One single unit can give you great features and performance.

DX is happy that one of the most highly appreciated mini speakers - MOCREO™ MOSOUND MINI Bluetooth Speaker is now available on the DX website. MOCREO MOSOUND MINI Bluetooth Speaker is versatile and practical. It is designed to provide users with multipurpose features and smooth portability. With the compact mini speaker device enabled with Bluetooth, you can connect any of your favorite devices to listen to your choice of music.

MOCREO MOSOUND MINI Bluetooth Speakers can be connected to any device to stream your favorite music even from a distance of nearly 30 feet. Due to this, you don't have to bother about the tangle of wires or speaker dock system. This means you don't have to confine yourself within a limited physical boundary to listen to your choice of music. Good sound and clutter-free experience is a guarantee.

With this tiny MOSOUND MINI Speaker, you can simply keep your device in your pocket and roam freely without having to worry about the position of the speaker. Your speaker will be sitting on a desktop while you are in some other room or place. Not only this, but both audio and video files can be played through wireless connectivity with this unit.

MOCREO MOSOUND MINI Bluetooth Speakers also feature a built-in microphone, enabling you to listen and answer your calls hands-free. It lasts 6 hours with the built-in battery, and it can be easily charged with a USB cable.

VUZIX Announces 2014 CES Innovations Award

 Vuzix® Corporation today announced that its breakthrough V720 video headphone is the winner of two 2014 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards in the "Headphones" and "Wireless Handset Accessories" Product Categories.

This is the tenth consecutive year Vuzix has won a CES Innovation award and increases the total to 16 awards received over that time, including "Best of Innovation" last year for the highly-acclaimed M100 Smart Glasses.

The V720 are high-performance headphones with HD video screens that provide a huge fold-up 720p display to immerse the viewer in an incredibly detailed, lifelike video experience that is like watching an IMAX® movie. Ideal for games or movies which can be enjoyed with great audio, the V720 can even be used as a desktop display replacement. The V720 video headphones easily connect to PCs, mobile phones, tablets and game consoles and provides full support for 3D HDMI content.

"Vuzix is incredibly excited to have won our 16^th CES Innovation Award," said Paul Travers, CEO of Vuzix. "These awards showcase Vuzix' leadership in both product design as well as core technologies including our new waveguide optics, co-developed with Nokia®. Our decades of innovation in both the augmented reality and personal display categories have led to several milestone product lines focused on the exploding wearable tech markets. 2014 promises to be a great year for Vuzix – and this CES award is only the beginning."

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Basis Announces Most Advanced Sleep Analytics Among Health Trackers and New 2014 Carbon Steel Edition

BASIS Science, Inc. today unveiled Advanced Sleep Analysis, the most in-depth sleep analytics among health tracking devices, as well as their new Basis 2014 Carbon Steel Edition band. Advanced Sleep Analysis will be available on January 21 with the release of version 2.0 of the Basis app for iOS, Android and Web.

Leveraging the Body IQ™ technology, Basis' multi-sensor approach enables Advanced Sleep Analysis to accurately identify users' sleep phases - REM Sleep, Deep Sleep and Light Sleep - as well as Toss-and-Turn, Interruptions and Duration. Basis also provides personalized sleep analysis with daily and average sleep scores so users can track their progress over time. All of this information is displayed in their web and mobile dashboards, along with activity tracking and physiological metrics like continuous heart rate to track stress, to provide users with the most comprehensive picture of their health.

"Proper sleep is just as important as exercise and good nutrition for a healthy lifestyle," said Jef Holove, CEO, Basis. "With Advanced Sleep Analysis, we are striving to provide users with the most comprehensive sleep metrics that can empower real habit change and improve overall health. No other tracker is able to provide this level of insight."

The Basis Science team partnered with researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC) and the Northern California Institute of Research and Education (NCIRE) in the testing and validation of Advanced Sleep Analysis.  Basis was benchmarked against the leading consumer devices as well as medical grade devices to provide the most comprehensive picture of your sleep among health trackers. Some of the features include:

• REM Sleep, Deep Sleep and Light Sleep Tracking – Among health trackers, only Basis captures these 3 critical sleep phases for mental and physical health. Basis charts each phase over the course of a sleep cycle and provides a breakdown of whether users achieve the proper ratio of each phase nightly.
• Personal Sleep Score – This proprietary metric provides insight into overall sleep quality. Users can compare daily scores to an ongoing average to track progress. Basis' healthy habits, such as Consistent Bedtime, provide small actions to improve sleep habits over time.
• Automatic Sleep Capturing - Leveraging its Body IQ™ technology, Basis automatically captures all of these sleep phases. No need to push buttons or change modes like the other trackers on the market.

"Basis is the most accurate for capturing sleep duration among all of the products we have tested," said Leslie Ruoff, Sleep Core Director with UCSF, the SFVAMC and NCIRE. "We plan on primarily using Basis for our studies on insomnia as well as the interaction of activity and sleep."

The new 2014 Carbon Steel Edition is the culmination of hundreds of improvements over the last year based on user feedback, real-life testing and incorporating the latest technology. It features a new look, fit and feel with polished chrome details and stretchable, silicone black straps that allow for improved flexibility and breathability for all-day wear. The Carbon Steel Edition is available currently for $199 on the Basis website, will soon be available on Amazon, and will be for sale at top Best Buy stores starting February 2.

The 2013 Basis B1 band is still available for purchase, priced at $179, at the Basis store and on Amazon. Basis B1 users will also have access to Advanced Sleep Analysis upon its release. The ability to upgrade the B1 band demonstrates Basis' unique ability to provide new features without requiring new hardware purchases.  For more information, visit: www.mybasis.com.

NYNE Announces Speakers to be Showcased at CES

NYNE will unveil its next generation of speakers at CES 2014. The new lineup consists of four portable Bluetooth speakers designed to make life more enjoyable by letting consumers take their music with them and share it anytime, anywhere. The 2014 line will be showcased at CES in Central Hall Booth #11626.

"We are excited to show our redesigned portable Bluetooth speakers at CES," said Arman Arami, President of NYNE. "With improved features such as near field communication (NFC), built-in charging banks and built-in microphones, as well as new color combinations, each speaker is stylish and functional for a variety of lifestyle applications. This next generation of products continue our tradition of providing customers with audiophile quality sound at affordable prices, backed by a one-year warranty."

NYNE Bass - The Outdoor Performer

Featuring 20 watts of output power, the NYNE Bass is the largest speaker, yet remains portable with a hidden carrying handle. With Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, a 3.5mm aux-in port, built-in microphone, built-in USB charging, and 10 hours of playtime, the Bass is perfect for campers, tailgaters, beach goers and outdoor parties. In addition, the Bass comes with an international AC adapter with four international plugs for traveling.

NYNE TT - The Travel Companion

Light, easy to transport with a carrying case with shoulder strap, and an included international AC adapter with four international plugs, the NYNE TT is the perfect companion for travelers. The TT is packed with 16 watts of powerful sound and features Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, a 3.5 mm aux-in port, built-in microphone, built-in USB charging and 10 hours of playtime.

NYNE Cruiser - The Sports Buddy

Designed for your next ride, the NYNE Cruiser comes with handlebar clips that can mount on to your bike, exercise machine, or even your baby stroller. With Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, a 3.5mm aux-in port, built-in microphone, built-in USB charging, 10 hours of playtime, and 10 watts of output power, the Cruiser livens up any ride.

NYNE Mini - The Anywhere Accessory

Small and affordable with a carrying case with spring loaded hook, the NYNE Mini portable speaker is designed for tweens and teens and features Bluetooth 2.1, a 3.5mm aux-in port, built-in microphone and 5 watts of power. Users can express their personal style by choosing from five different color combinations.

The new NYNE series will be available in Q1 2014 for prices ranging from $49.95 to $149.95.

Lepow Goes Retro with the Mod Speaker

Lepow International, a mobile device accessories company focused on creative designs and ideas, will introduce its throwback-named, ultra-modern designed Bluetooth speaker, the Mod, at 2014 International CES. It is inspired by record players from the 1960s and incorporates today's latest technology such as Bluetooth 4.0, 360-degree surround sound and four sound modes. The unit will be showcased at the Lepow CES booth, 50015, located in the iLounge Pavilion in LVH.

"The Mod's advanced-sound technology, combined with its bold intrinsic structure, is created for music lovers who desire an escape from the usual speakers," stated Jacky Fan, Lepow CEO. "Its vintage design reflects record players that were the primary source for music during the Mod era. Its impressive sound quality is a testament that this speaker was definitely engineered for today's selective audiophile."

The new Lepow Mod's modern look is enhanced by its metal construction. It features four sound modes - normal, rock, classic, and vocals - that provide the perfect tone for whatever is playing, touch controls for volume and play, a built-in lithium battery that provides up to eight hours of play time, 360-degree audio distribution, and a USB port and cable to charge the speaker. It has a transmission distance of up to 30 feet. The unit measures 9.5 inches by 4 inches by 5.5 inches.

In addition to being a wireless music player for smartphones and tablets, the Mod also acts as a hands-free speakerphone with its built-in microphone, and an external USB charger for mobile devices with its built-in 6000mAh battery.

In the mid-1960s, Mod was a youth subculture, predominately in Great Britain, but spread to other parts of the world as well. Its primary focus was on fashion and music, and had its roots in stylish young men of the time, who were called modernists, because they listened to modern jazz. The culture was known for its preference for fashion - often Italian tailor-made suits, music, and scooters. Mods were well known for their all-night dancing at clubs.

Availability

The Lepow Mod Bluetooth speaker will be available in a variety of stylish colors in late first quarter 2014. All Lepow products are available online at http://lepowglobal.com/official-webstore

Lepow to Present Power Banks for Smartphones at CES

Lepow International will showcase its new 2-in-1 'Pixels' and 'Pie' magnetic power banks and phone cases at 2014 International CES. The two models feature 3000mAh power capacity, magnetized connection between the power bank and case, and are available for the Samsung Galaxy S3, Note 2, HTC, and Apple iPhone 5 and iPad Mini. The new combo packages will be shown in the Lepow CES booth, 50015, located in the iLounge Pavilion in LVH.

"Our new magnetized power-continuation solutions, 'Pixels' and 'Pie', are specially designed as true combinations of science, technology, and fashion," commented Jacky Fan, Lepow CEO. "The power bank and phone case are easily attached using the magnetic plate that is on both of the items. Additionally, both models come in stylish fashion colors, allowing the user to choose the combination of colors that match his or her style."

'Pixels' and 'Pie' were designed to improve how power banks function. Unlike other smartphone case chargers that are one piece, 'Pixels' and 'Pie' have a detachable power bank, which allows users to remove the bulk and keep their phone thin when it doesn't need a charge. Since the power bank can be separated from the case, it is easier and more convenient for everyday use. Additionally, if users change phone models, they can simply buy a new phone case and use their existing power bank.

'Pixels' has a unique fashion-inspired latticework design on both the case and power bank that offers comfort and sure grip. It is available in bright colors for young, fashion-forward consumers. 'Pie' has a smooth, streamlined design made of rubberized material that fits comfortably in the hand. It is available in softer colors for professional applications. The USB charger on both models is located at the bottom of the battery pack for convenience and no tangled wires.

By gently shaking either model's power bank, the four LED lights at the top will light according to how much power is left (each represents 25 percent power). Conversely, the lights also indicate the charging status.

Availability

The Lepow 'Pixels' and 'Pie' power banks and phone cases will be available online in January 2014 with an MSRP of $79.99. 'Pixels' is available in sky blue or banana yellow and 'Pie' is available in watermelon green, banana yellow or persimmon orange. All Lepow products are available online at http://lepowglobal.com/official-webstore

 

STREAMZ Introduces World's First Smart Streaming Headphones

STREAMZ^™, a Mozaex^® spin-off company, announced today it has released the world's first smart streaming headphones called STREAMZ^™. STREAMZ are breakthrough headphones that allow you to play music and audio from multiple sources, including onboard stored music, streaming online radio, streamed phone music, plus audio from your TV, movie, and game player.

The company will be demonstrating STREAMZ and its BLUWAVS 7.1 HDMI Surround headphones during  2014 International CES, held in Las Vegas from January 7–10, booth #54009 (inside the iLounge of the LVH Hall).

STREAMZ Headphones Offer Simplicity and Value with Multi-Device Playback

With its built in Android processor, WIFI, Bluetooth, and storage, STREAMZ simplifies and enhances the entertainment experience when enjoying streaming or stored music, movies, games and TV shows.

"When it comes to entertainment there is only one thing more valuable than free, and that is simplicity," said STREAMZ CEO Douglas Kihm. "You no longer need to bother with a separate player since it's all built inside. Many people don't want the hassle of carrying, connecting, and draining the battery of their phone or music player. STREAMZ replaces multiple headphones so that you can enjoy all of your entertainment from any device with one simple-to-use pair of headphones."

First Headphones to Incorporate Both Auto Detect WIFI and Bluetooth  

STREAMZ makes listening to any source of music and audio fast and easy.  STREAMZ incorporates both Smart WIFI and Bluetooth interfaces that auto detect and connect to your WIFI internet hotspot, a Bluetooth device such as a smartphone, or with an optional module your Bluetooth enabled AVR receiver.

Built-In Music Player, HIFI DAC, and Two-Way Speakers Deliver Unmatched Sound Quality  

STREAMZ are based on patent-pending smart headphone technology that uniquely delivers higher fidelity music and audio than traditional headphones. STREAMZ are the first headphones to incorporate a music player, a 48 kHz/16 bit CD quality digital analog converter (DAC) plus individual 3 Watt vibration drivers and 160 mWatt dynamic amplifiers.

With its built-in DAC and AMP, STREAMZ delivers CD quality sound with optimum dynamic range, equalization, and amplification, which results in incomparable clarity and fidelity. The two vibration speakers uniquely deliver high power and low frequency range audio that you can literally feel.

Since most phones and mobile music players have sub-par quality DACs and amps, they are unable to play true FLAC, ALAC, and WAV CD quality music without adding cumbersome external components.  To address this problem, the company built the finest quality audio components inside the headphones.  

Unique High Powered Vibration Speakers Reduce Headphone Pressure and Discomfort

Traditional headphones require an uncomfortable amount of pressure on your head and ears to achieve optimum sound quality.  STREAMZ's vibration speakers achieve the same or better sound quality than traditional headphones with little or no head pressure being applied, which results in exceptional comfort. 

The four speakers are arranged as bi-amped, two-way speakers with two vibration speakers, and two 50mm dynamic speakers. STREAMZ has soft over the ear leather cushions with collapsible frames and are designed for active, mobile use.        

STREAMZ Patent Pending Technology Addresses a Unique Fast Growing Premium Niche Market

STREAMZ addresses an un-served market in the "premium" ($100+ USD) headphone niche, where people want simpler "in-line play controls" to listen to their music, wherever they are and from any device. 

The market for headphones continues to experience high growth, especially in the premium sector. Global headphone sales in 2013 were $7B (USD) with a growth of 20 percent per year. According to The NPD Group's Retail Tracking Service, "U.S. sales of premium stereo headphones ($100+) grew 25 percent in units in Q1 2013 year-over-year, accounting for 95 percent of the revenue growth for the total headphone market."

According to NPD , "more than one-in-three premium buyers cited in-line play controls as 'extremely' or 'very' important in their decision to buy…".  As Ben Arnold, Director of Industry Analysis at NPD explains, "Consumers are looking for ways to get the best audio experience no matter where they are or what device they are using."   Continued Arnold, "In fact, features designed to enable easier mobile playback are impacting premium headphone purchase decisions more heavily."

STREAMZ meets these needs with the ultimate in simplicity, in-line controls, device compatibility and quality.

An SDK and a Kickstarter STREAMZ for App Developers Will Soon be Announced

"STREAMZ is 30 years in the making since founding my first company in 1983," explained Kihm.  "We are all visionaries of sorts here at STREAMZ, with a passion to invent and share something amazing with consumers and other developers who share in our desire to design products that will make people's life simpler and more entertaining. To that end we plan to release a STREAMZ App Software Developers Kit (SDK) on Kickstarter along with a specially priced development model of STREAMZ. We anticipate that the SDK will spur the development of dozens if not hundreds of new STREAMZ Smart Headphone Apps, including voice activated Apps and interactive social and informational Apps."

North American Pricing and Specifications (Contact STREAMZ for International pricing):

STREAMZ Headphones – $549 MSRP USD

Android 1.6 Ghz dual core processor, WIFI 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, 4GB upgradeable to 36GB with a micro SD RAM card, two vibration and two dynamic speakers, 48kHz/16 bit DAC, 2-channel 3 Watt amplifier and 2-channel 160 mWatt amplifier, microphone input jack, rechargeable battery, and adapter.  

Availability – STREAMZ Headphones are shipping March 2014.   

ZeroHour Tactical USB Battery Backup Flashlight Achieves Kickstarter Goal

ZeroHour Innovations has reached its $100,000 Kickstarter goal to fund ZeroHour, a tactical-grade flashlight integrated with a USB Battery Backup that can charge smartphones, tablets, and other USB devices. Over 400 backers will be rewarded a ZeroHour flashlight, which features a 1,000 lumen LED, up to 10,000mAh of USB backup power, and a unique modular component design.

"Reaching our Kickstarter goal is the best gift we could ask for this holiday season," said Aaron Son, Co-founder of ZeroHour Innovations. "We've built a wonderful team of backers, and together we will make ZeroHour the next standard in flashlights for homes and outdoor adventures."

ZeroHour joins an elite group of Kickstarter projects to have raised over $100,000, with less than 2 percent of the 54,000 funded projects to date achieving this goal. Pledges will cover ZeroHour's initial manufacturing costs, with rewards to begin shipping in March 2014.

ZeroHour is now available for pre-order starting at $175 from www.zerohourxd.com. ZeroHour will make its public debut at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas from January 7-10, 2014.

Video Game Feedback May Help the Injured Heal

Video gamers have long been familiar with the thrill of force feedback—the technology that allows players to feel the rumble of a racecar hitting a virtual road or sense the weight of wielding an on-screen sword.  A team of researchers from the Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) and Sapienza University of Rome have now published findings showing that force feedback is much more than fun. Combined with science learning in a therapeutic setting, it may even be healing.

A paper in the journal PLOS ONE details the experiments devised and performed by NYU-Poly's Maurizio Porfiri, Associate Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Oded Nov, Associate Professor of technology management and innovation, along with Professor Paolo Cappa, an NYU-Poly affiliated faculty member, and visiting master student Andrea Clerico of Sapienza University of Rome.

The use of robotic machines in physical therapy and rehabilitation has been evolving for more than two decades. So-called robot-mediated therapy (RMT) is viewed as too costly or complicated to implement in many care settings.  However, haptic devices—those that provide tactile or force feedback—have become less expensive and are now integrated into gaming joysticks, personal computers, mobile devices, and other everyday technologies. The researchers wanted to test the utility of these haptic devices in physical rehabilitation. In a novel twist, they also incorporated science education elements into the experimental tasks to gauge if such content increased participants' engagement with the exercises.

The team devised a series of experiments on 48 healthy test subjects to determine if force feedback delivered through a readily available, low-cost haptic gaming joystick would positively impact participants' ability to complete on-screen tasks.

They created a 2D virtual map of a popular local attraction, New York City's Bronx Zoo, and asked participants to use the joystick to move a cursor along a set path through the zoo. Short paragraphs of science trivia and information about the zoo popped up along the course, and subjects were asked to read this content when presented.  

Participants were subjected to several types of force feedback and a variety of assessments of their performance were calculated. The joystick delivered converging and diverging forces, pushing the cursor either toward or away from the proscribed path.

"These conditions meant that subjects had to make continual adjustments to counter the force feedback and keep the cursor on track, which affected speed, smoothness, accuracy, and hand position," said Porfiri. "The actions and movements we elicited are similar to the motor exercises used to rehabilitate upper-limb paralysis."

Perhaps one of the most significant findings was the impact of the learning modules. A post-task survey showed that the learning aspect increased participants' interest and engagement in the activity. "This has a particularly strong implication for rehabilitative therapies, as patients quickly grow bored of repetitive tasks," said Nov. "If we can maintain engagement by incorporating some form of learning, there may be greater motivation to perform the tasks and reap the therapeutic benefits."

The research team believes that further studies are warranted, both to test the haptic device in patients with partially paralyzed upper limbs, and to test different types of learning content. The use of specially tuned affordable haptic devices may make it possible for patients to complete sophisticated rehabilitative tasks at home—and flex their mental muscles, too.

This research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Italian Ministry of Health Department of Medical Devices and Drugs, and the Honours Center of Italian Universities.

The paper, "Can Force Feedback and Science Learning Enhance the Effectiveness of Neuro-Rehabilitation? An Experimental Study on Using a Low-Cost 3D Joystick and a Virtual Visit to a Zoo," is at http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0083945#B1.

Avegant Introduces Glyph Head Mounted Virtual Retinal Display Technology

After years of development and research, Avegant is releasing the beta consumer concept of the Virtual Retinal Display now called Glyph™.

The Glyph™ headset integrates a brilliant, vivid video display and premium audio experience in a unique flip-down form factor. Prototypes of the Glyph™ Beta are currently assembled and tested and will be featured at the International CES in Las Vegas from January 7-10, 2014. Consumer units will be available by Kickstarter on January 22 for $499 and will ship later in the year.

Key to the innovative nature of Glyph™ is its optical engine called a Virtual Retinal Display. Using a low powered LED, a series of custom optics and a micromirror array, the visuals produced by the headset are crisper and brighter than those from conventional display technologies. This creates an environment perfect for media consumption from 3D movies to desktop environments to streamed television shows. Integrated head tracking allows for immersive, responsive gaming that is compatible with all of the latest consoles and games.

"We've created a premium media experience that people can use with music, movies and games on any device they already own, including their smart phone. Integrating high-end audio with the Glyph™ and packaging it into a forward-thinking design is critical to a great experience "said Allan Evans, CTO of Avegant.

"Avegant has made some great progress improving core technology that will make generalized virtual worlds possible," added Phillip Rosedale, creator of Second Life.

Avegant plans to unveil Glyph™ Beta headsets to the public and media at CES on January 6. The headset will make its first public appearance at NBCUniversal cable network Syfy's CES 2014 event "Who Will Take Your Brand Into the Future?", part of VivaKi/Publicis Groupe's "Bright Lights, Big Ideas" CES initiative.

Said Michael Engleman, EVP Marketing, Digital and Global Brand Strategy, Syfy, "We're excited about featuring Avegant to debut the Glyph™ at our CES event.  It's an extremely innovative product that perfectly demonstrates the next wave of how consumers, and more specifically our audience of Igniters, experience immersive entertainment."

Media and public interested in demoing the Glyph™ at CES can register their interest at avegant.com/ces.

A Kickstarter campaign around Glyph™ will commence on January 22, 2014. The shipped version will have one HDMI/MHL cable, onboard battery power and a thinner, narrower display band than the Glyph™ Beta shown at CES. The presale price for Glyph™ will be set at $499 with ancillary incentives via the campaign.

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