Consumer Electronics Daily News

Build Your Own Electronic Musical Instrument with littleBits

littleBits™, maker of an open source library of electronic Bits™ modules that snap together with magnets for prototyping, learning and fun, announced today its partnership with KORG, a leading global manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, to launch the new littleBits Synth Kit. Designed to allow users to create brand new sounds and build their own electronic instruments, the new Synth Kits will be shipping the first week of December and available at littleBits.cc and select specialty retailers for $159.

From The Beatles to Bjork, legendary artists have used analog synthesizers to produce complex sounds and innovative music.  For the first time ever, the littleBits Synth Kit will enable curious hobbyists and musicians to easily explore the iconic synthesizer instrument, allowing them to build their own sound machines (with signal generators, modifiers, modulators and controllers) and put on their own performances - all with little to no engineering or musical knowledge.

"We're excited to work together with industry leader KORG to design and launch the new littleBits Synth Kit," said Ayah Bdeir, founder and CEO of littleBits, MIT Media Lab alumna and TED Senior Fellow. "Our goal is to break technology down to its fundamental parts and put the power of electronics in the hands of everyone. This new kit is an incredibly easy to use, high quality, analog modular synthesizer, and is designed to inspire people of all ages to unleash their inner rock star." 

The new Synth Kit includes an assortment of 12 electronic Bits modules that instantly snap together with magnets to create circuits like those used in KORG's famous analog synthesizers. Modules included in the Synth Kit are power, oscillator (x2), filter, envelope, delay, keyboard, micro sequencer, mix, split, random, and synth speaker (which can connect to recording or live sound equipment). The Synth Kit also includes a project booklet outlining step-by-step instructions for 10 projects. Accessories like mounting boards can be purchased separately to create a playable performance station.

With the new littleBits Synth Kit in hand, users can build infinitely reconfigurable sound circuits; and since the littleBits system is expandable, multiple Synth Kits can be used at once to create a massively powerful instrument. In addition, users can combine it with other littleBits modules to create complex visual, light, and mechanical installations – no wiring, soldering or programming required.

Users can also follow the step-by-step instructions in the project booklet, and combine Bits modules with assorted materials like cardboard, tape and 3D printed plastic to create fun and novel interfaces, such as:

• Percussion Party:  Snap seven modules together to build a circuit that lets you dance to the beat of your own drum.  Set the rhythm, adjust the timbre and control the envelope to create soothing, rhythmic sounds or a wailing drum beat.
• Keytar:  Combine nine modules with assorted household and craft materials to create a customized keytar. Decorate your instrument, add a strap and get ready to rock.
• Synth Spin Table:  Eight modules work together to create a synth with some spin.  Create turntables with paper plates and straws and play with your synth machine just like a DJ.
• Additional projects include Synthesizer with the Works, Tuning, Play a Song, Spooky Sounds, Metal Music, Synth Bandand Perform Like a Pro. Instructions for sound-altering circuit designs are also included, such as pitch sweeps, white noise, key player, sequencer control, frequency modulation, random voltage, filtering noise and echo and delay.

"The new littleBits Synth Kit lets music fans explore sound and the synthesizer in a truly new and unique way. We are thrilled to partner with littleBits to bring this exciting experience to our fans and music lovers around the world," said Tadahiko Sakamaki, Manager/Designer, Product Planning Department, KORG.

Winner of more than 20 product awards, littleBits is a well-funded, fast-growing startup based in New York City.  The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) acquired innovative littleBits to its permanent collection.  The company has been featured in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times Magazine and Fast Company.  Bloomberg TV recognized littleBits as "LEGO for the iPad generation."   In addition, the company was featured in a TED talk in 2012, which garnered more than 700,000 views worldwide.

Bits modules are reusable, compatible and color-coded, allowing users to grow their library as they add new Kits or specialty pieces to their collection.  Each module has a specific function (such as power, light, sound, pulse), and every module works with every other module in the library to make building projects easy for children, teens and adults.

Additional tips, tricks and project ideas are regularly posted on the company's website by littleBits and members of the littleBits maker community, and users can sign up for the littleBits e-newsletter to regularly receive updates on innovative projects and product information. 

For more information on littleBits, visit www.littleBits.cc, Facebook at Facebook/littleBitselectronics, or Twitter at @littleBits.

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Hammacher Schlemmer Introduces The Thermodynamic Cell Phone Charger

Continuing its 165-year history of offering the Best, the Only and the Unexpected, Hammacher Schlemmer introduces The Thermodynamic Cell Phone Charger, the only emergency charger that restores the drained batteries of electronic devices by boiling water.

Appearing as an unassuming 1.4-liter pot, The Thermodynamic Cell Phone Charger, converts heat into electricity using the laws of thermoelectricity when boiling water over a wood fire, camp stove, or the included propane-powered heating element.

"The Thermodynamic Cell Phone Charger is a classic Hammacher product that solves a problem—in this case, two," explained Hammacher Schlemmer's General Manager Fred Berns. "It recharges your handheld USB smartphones, carmeras, headlamps, and GPS receivers while reinvigorating you with a hot cup of hot chocolate!"

The Thermodynamic Cell Phone Charger recharged a dead cell phone to 100 percent battery power after four hours of heating in tests conducted by The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute.

The Thermodynamic Cell Phone Charger is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $199.95. For more information about this product, please visit The Thermodynamic Cell Phone Charger, or contact Trish Hammond at (847) 581-8987 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Lock and Unlock Your House with Your iPhone

Kwikset® answers consumer demand for both convenience and security with its Kevo™ smart lock. The highly anticipated Bluetooth®-enabled deadbolt is now available to order and has begun shipping to homes across America. By simply installing Kevo and downloading the mobile app, your iPhone® becomes your key. Convenient and versatile, Kevo gives owners the ability to unlock the door with their smartphone and a simple touch; send electronic keys (eKeys) to family, friends and service people; and receive notifications whenever a user enters or exits their door.

"Kevo is not just another lock, it represents a shift in lifestyle for busy homeowners. Whether keeping track of your teenage daughter, granting temporary access to a housecleaner or monitoring your front door activity while on vacation, Kevo redefines the meaning of smart, simple security," said Greg Gluchowski, President, Kwikset.

The Total Key Management Solution
Using the Kevo mobile app, homeowners can send eKeys to family, friends or service people, anytime, anywhere. Once an eKey is sent, recipients can simply download the mobile app, if they don't already have it installed, keep their iPhone in their purse or pocket and unlock the door with a simple touch. With several levels of permissions, Kevo owners and administrators have authorization to send, delete and disable eKeys within seconds. After distributing eKeys, they can choose to receive notifications when a user locks or unlocks the door, for convenient home security management. Homeowners agree, eKeys are the answer to every-day challenges in key (and home security) management:

"Using Kevo is like living in the future. My new smart lock, and therefore my home, now magically recognizes me by touch. Being able to issue and revoke virtual keys to family members or service providers is priceless. Install was a breeze, even for a guy like me who's never replaced a deadbolt, and it only required a single screwdriver," said David Zatz, blogger at "Zatz Not Funny".  

"I have two dogs that I walk and two children, ages four and two. I am always carrying the kids, groceries and my bags from work, holding the dog's leashes, or with my hands full," said Kathy Z. of "3 Boys and a Dog" blog. "This device is invaluable to me because, instead of fumbling for keys (that I inevitably drop), I can simply touch my lock with one finger and gain access to my home. I always have my phone on me, either in my pant pocket or in my purse, and I can just leave it in there, touch my Kevo and I am in. The convenience factor is huge!"

A Mobile App that Gives You Control and Convenience
Kwikset's Kevo mobile app includes a simple interface that delivers much more than eKey management. After setting up a Kevo account, Owners can customize and control everything through their app, including:

• Managing eKeys and settings associated with each given lock
• Receiving notifications when a user enters or exits the door
• Monitoring lock activity and tracking user history
• Updating Kevo lock software directly from a smartphone
• Instant access to Kevo's Help Center
• Kevo web portal offers the same management features as the app via a browser

The Kwikset Kevo Advantage
Kevo combines UniKey Technologies™, Inc.'s (UniKey) secure touch-to-open technology and Kwikset's 67 years of experience engineering and manufacturing residential door locks. This combination of expertise translates to unmatched convenience and security features that include:

• Inside-outside technology - Kevo offers patent-pending intelligent positioning technology that detects whether an authorized user is inside or outside of the home before granting access, to help prevent unauthorized entry. 
• Touch-to-open convenience - Users can keep their phones in their pocket or purse. No more fumbling for keys, simply touch the lock to open for the ultimate convenience.
• Kevo fob - No smartphone? No problem. Users can enjoy the same touch-to-open convenience with the fob. A single fob can be authorized to work with up to 25 Kevo locks.
• Multiple levels of encryption - Kevo uses multiple levels of encryption to increase digital security and is continually reviewed by industry leading independent security experts. 
• SmartKey¨ technology - Kwikset's patented SmartKey re-key technology provides superior security and re-key convenience unlike any other smart lock on the market.

"History has shown extremely powerful solutions that deliver a simple and elegant user experience evolve industries. Combining forces with Kwikset, we are able to deliver a complete, mass market product that will truly revolutionize the way we gain access to our homes," said Phil Dumas, founder, UniKey.

Compatibility, Pricing and Availability
Kevo is compatible with smartphones that support Bluetooth Smart Ready/Bluetooth 4.0 hardware and have the Kevo mobile app available. The app is currently available for iPhone® 4S, 5, 5c and 5s, as well as the fifth generation iPod® touch, third generation or higher iPad® and iPad mini. The app will become available for additional platforms such as Android™, pending software upgrades that will fully support Bluetooth Smart Ready/Bluetooth 4.0 technology. Homeowners can purchase their Kevo deadbolt for the suggested price of $219 at a wide range of retailers nationwide.

Surface 2, Surface Pro 2 and New Accessories Available for Purchase

Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced that its newest Surface models — Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 — as well as an expanded portfolio of new Surface accessories are now available for purchase at Microsoft retail stores, http://www.microsoftstore.com, select third-party retailers, and authorized commercial resellers in 21 initial markets, including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Austria,the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland. The new Surface products will be available in China in early November.

Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 each benefit from significant updates, including improvements to processing power and battery life, display and camera resolution, and the kickstand — now featuring a second, wider angle so it's more comfortable to use Surface on your lap or at your desk. Enhancements in Windows 8.1 RT and Windows 8.1 Pro make Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 even more powerful and customizable.

Knowledgeable staff are on hand at all Microsoft retail store locations to answer questions and help with Surface setup, so customers have a great out-of-box experience and walk out the door with a product that is personalized for them. Customers can visit http://www.microsoftstore.com to find a Microsoft retail store nearest them.

Each new Surface comes with built-in value
To help people get the most out of Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, customers who purchase either device will receive free Skype calling to landlines in more than 60 countries for one year, unlimited Skype Wi-Fi on their Surface 2 or Surface Pro 2 at more than 2 million hotspots worldwide for one year, and 200 GB of free SkyDrive storage for two years.

Surface 2
Surface 2 is the most productive tablet for personal use. It offers all the entertainment and gaming capabilities you expect from a tablet, along with the ability to get work done. Surface 2 is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, making apps run faster and smoother and increasing battery life to up to 10 hours for video playback. The 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD display now renders 1080p video for enjoying shows and movies, and its full-size USB port has been upgraded to USB 3.0 for up to four times faster file transfers. Camera resolution has also increased, with a 3.5-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel rear camera, both capable of capturing 1080p video and featuring improved low-light performance, making face-to-face conversations with your favorite people crisp and clear. Even with these and other upgrades, Surface 2 is slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor.

Surface 2 ships with Windows 8.1 RT, bringing improvements in key areas, such as personalization, search, multitasking, built-in apps, the Windows Store experience and cloud connectivity. The new Xbox Music allows you to stream millions of songs for free, and an updated Video app and great games from the Windows Store such as "Halo: Spartan Assault" will help ensure you never run out of ways to play. When it's time to get serious, Surface 2 is preloaded with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT and Outlook 2013 RT; simply click in a Touch or Type Cover and get to work.

Surface 2 is available in 32GB and 64GB configurations and starts at $449.

Surface Pro 2
Surface Pro 2 is the successor to Surface Pro and, like its predecessor, is a true laptop replacement, capable of running virtually all your Windows software, including the full Microsoft Office suite and apps from the Windows Store. Surface Pro 2 offers the portability and simplicity of a tablet when you want it and the power and flexibility of a laptop when you need it. It is powered by a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor that, combined with other improvements, delivers increased performance and up to 75 percent longer battery life than Surface Pro.

Starting at $899, Surface Pro 2 is offered in 64GB and 128GB configurations with 4 GB of RAM and in 256GB and 512GB configurations with 8 GB of RAM. Full specs are available at http://www.Surface.com.

New accessories
Microsoft also released seven new accessories that will make Surface even more flexible, more portable and more productive:

• Touch Cover 2. Thinner and lighter than the original Touch Cover and measuring just 2.75 millimeters thin, Touch Cover 2 features backlit keys for even better readability. Touch Cover 2 is more rigid, registers keystrokes with greater accuracy and features updated sensors that support a variety of gestures across the keyboard. Touch Cover 2 is available Tuesday for an estimated retail price of $119.99.
• Type Cover 2. Type Cover 2 features the same superthin, lightweight design of the original Type Cover, but it's now backlit and available in Cyan, Magenta, Purple and Black. It's also more rigid, providing a better lap-typing experience, and it was designed to be noticeably quieter when striking the keys. Type Cover 2 is available Tuesday for an estimated retail price of $129.99.
• Power Cover. Power Cover delivers the same great typing experience you get with Type Cover but adds up to 50 percent additional battery life to your Surface 2, Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 to help you make it through that late-night meeting or an international day of travel. Power Cover will have an estimated retail price of $199.99 and has a projected release date of early 2014.
• Docking Station for Surface Pro. The Docking Station for Surface Pro lets you quickly connect Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 to desktop PC peripherals in a single step, taking you from laptop to desktop in an instant. While Surface Pro or Surface Pro 2 is docked, it can connect with up to two 4K external monitors, Ethernet, speakers and power supply. PC peripherals connect via its one USB 3.0 port and three USB 2.0 ports. The Docking Station for Surface Pro will have an estimated retail price of $199.99 and has a projected release date of early 2014.
• Wireless Adapter for Typing Covers. The Wireless Adapter for Typing Covers connects magnetically to any Touch or Type Cover, letting you type from anywhere in the room using Bluetooth technology, so it is even easier to connect Surface to a TV or monitor and type from another location, such as the couch. Wireless Adapter for Typing Covers is available Tuesday for an estimated retail price of $59.99.
• Car Charger with USB. Car Charger plugs into most cars' power or lighter ports and charges Surface without the need for an additional adapter. It also features a USB port to allow simultaneous charging of a phone or other device. Car Charger will have an estimated retail price of $49.99 and has a projected release date of early 2014.
• Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition. This special-edition Arc Touch Mouse has been updated to match the look of Surface. Like other Arc Touch mice, it is designed for comfort and flattens for portability. It connects via Bluetooth 3.0, freeing Surface's USB port for use by other devices. Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition is available in the U.S. and CanadaTuesday for an estimated retail price of $69.99. Distribution in additional markets is projected to begin in the coming months.

More information on Surface and the new accessories is available at http://www.Surface.com.

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Polar Loop Activity Monitor Measures Daily Movement and Activities

Polar Electro Canada today announced a new activity monitor, Polar Loop. The smart bracelet is a stylish device that tracks daily activity and exercise levels. Created for people wanting to improve their overall fitness and achieve a balanced, healthy lifestyle, Polar Loop is designed for wear around the clock, even while sleeping. The waterproof device makes it ideal for swimming. Polar Loop, together with a free online service and app, uses collected information to suggest how to make small changes in one's daily lifestyle in order to improve health and well-being.

"The inspiration for the development of the Loop product comes from our desire to help improve an individual's overall health," said Marco Suvilaakso, Group Product Director at Polar. "The Loop is the result of our unique physiological expertise developed over 30 years of combining science and technology. It is a simple, easy-to-use tool that helps everyday people live a healthy lifestyle and reach their goals," added Suvilaakso.

A Cheyenne Odyssey Gives Middle Grade Students a Plains Indian Perspective

THIRTEEN announces the launch of "A Cheyenne Odyssey," the third interactive game in the Mission US series of captivating, digital role-playing games created to engage middle grade students in the exploration of U.S. history. "A Cheyenne Odyssey" debuts on October 16, 2013, and supports the study of westward expansion in the middle grade American history curriculum. The game engages students as they take on the role of a twelve-year-old Northern Cheyenne boy in the 1860s. Students can access the game via streaming and download through any Internet-connected computer at mission-us.org, making this history resource available to students in school, at home, in libraries and anywhere they access instructional content. Mission US is produced by THIRTEEN Productions LLC in association with WNET with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and additional support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

"Mission US taps into the ways 21st century students learn and explore content. Through immersive digital media and the engagement of gaming, students 'live' history and learn through experiences only this multimedia approach can deliver," saidNeal Shapiro, president and CEO of WNET.

In "A Cheyenne Odyssey" players take on the role of Little Fox, a fictional member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe. As players "live the life" of Little Fox, they experience sweeping changes and challenges and must choose how to react and adapt to the encroachment of settlers, the expansion of the railroads, the decline of the buffalo and the rise of the reservation system. Eventually Little Fox, now a grown warrior, will fight in the Battle of the Greasy Grass, known to non-Indians as the Battle of the Little Bighorn or Custer's Last Stand. With each change and each choice, players learn about the persistence of the Cheyenne through national transformations.

"'A Cheyenne Odyssey' is the first game to present the Northern Cheyenne perspective on real events our people experienced," said Dr. Richard Littlebear, President of Chief Dull Knife College and advisor to the project. "However, this is much more than a game about the high and low points of our history. It teaches students how to make decisions and how to live with the consequences of those decisions, just as one has to do in real life."

As students play "A Cheyenne Odyssey," they gain insight and understanding of westward expansion and its impact on America's native peoples, the economy, the landscape and environment. They interact with traders, railroad workers, soldiers and settlers who forged their way west to expand the United States. Accompanying curriculum activities and rich supplemental resources, including maps, visuals, artifacts, and more, deepen students' understanding and perspectives about the historical context of the period. The game also includes embedded "smartwords" to build vocabulary and support learners' growing historical literacy.

olloclip Unveils 4-IN-1 Lens for iPhone and iPod touch

olloclip takes mobile photography further with the new 4-IN-1 quick-connect lens, making it more fun to capture and share life's experiences with the iPhone and iPod touch.

The olloclip 4-IN-1 lens system, the latest in the company's line of simple, easy-to-use mobile photography tools, offers fisheye, wide-angle, and two macro (10x and 15x magnification) lenses in less than one ounce -- with enhanced optics and sleek new design -- all for $69.99 USD. See the simplicity and beauty of the 4-IN-1 lens in this video.

The four new quick-change lenses are similar to those available with larger DSLR cameras, yet fit easily in a pocket and palm of the hand. Simple, elegant and unobtrusive, the olloclip 4-IN-1 lens connects to the iPhone within seconds. With the fisheye and wide-angle lenses on opposite sides, selecting a lens is as simple as flipping the lens over. The macro lenses are cleverly revealed by unscrewing either the fisheye or wide-angle lens.

The olloclip 4-IN-1 lens works with all favorite apps in photo and video mode, making it easy for sports and travel enthusiasts, amateur and professional photographers to get exactly the shots and videos they want.

Building on the success of the original olloclip 3-in-1 lens, the olloclip 4-IN-1 lens solution is designed from aircraft-grade aluminum and precision-ground, coated glass optics -- but with the specific field-of-view, light-control and resolution characteristics of the iPhone 5s' eight-megapixel camera in mind. The wide-angle and fisheye lenses have been improved to deliver sharper images, edge to edge, with less lens distortion and enhanced clarity overall. Additionally, the 10x macro lens has a focus distance of about 18mm, allowing users to get more light on the subject (as compared to its predecessor, the 3-IN-1 olloclip lens) and allowing more depth of field so that more of the image is in focus.

"We wanted to enhance the new features of the iPhone 5s camera, including the five-element lens, autofocus matrix metering and dynamic local tone map that ensures more true-to-life color, while also complementing the iPhone's aesthetic look," said Patrick O'Neill, founder and president (CEO) of olloclip. "We believe we've succeeded in creating an elegant, pocket-size product that any iPhone user will be proud of and that any iPhone photographer will be inspired to use to create great art."

You Fight Like A Girl: Kickstarter Launch Of Massively Multiplayer Online Game

Two young Atlanta entrepreneurs, Aartiee Lallwani and Brianna Przybysz, who have never released or developed a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) before, have launched Realms of Goldesia. The first game of Lallwani's and Przybysz' company, Aarianna Publishing, Realms of Goldesia appeared live on Kickstarter on October 9.

Realms of Goldesia is a fast, battle-intensive narrative-based interactive adventure with memorable characters spanning multiple timelines and dimensions and a multitude of realms.  Players can inhabit avatars that feel love, fear, dreams, drive, and power with the same fervor of people making their way through ancient, modern-day and even future worlds.

Realms of Goldesia features a unique gamer-designed Katagon combat engine, a procedural combat and freenav system based on years of research into martial arts kinematics, culled down to their most elemental components.  These moves are then integrated into a series of constraints and scripted controls that allow for a near infinite set of natural motion and martial arts-styled movements that range from slow speed to lightning quick with almost no lag from start to finish.

Realms of Goldesia is set in a deep texture of multiple timelines and a large number of characters and realms that each player can explore, control and change by the choices and actions they and their fellow gamers make.

"Both Aartiee and I were heavily influenced by our older brothers at a young age who submerged us in video games here in the U.S. and with Aartiee in India," said Przybysz.  "In our other business start-ups, we had employees who actually came to work dressed as their favorite game characters.  We knew we had to get into this business," added Przybysz.

"People raise an eyebrow when they find out that two women are behind an M-rated game," said Lallwani.  "But, hey, we're human too, and who doesn't like a good fight over a beautiful woman.  Determination, fighting for a cause at all cost and sexual desire are raw human emotions.  We all have them, men and women, and we want to be part of all of those emotions."

Lallwani's talents were recognizable at an early age when, at the age of 14, she wrote the script to one of the most popular movies ever in India.  She sold the rights for $5,000 to help support her family along with a release to never associate any involvement with the movie again.

Przybysz' passion for art and design was evident from the age of three when she asked her parents for a drafting table.  She also forged a bond with her two brothers playing video games such as Mortal Kombat and F-Zero.  Brianna also had an instinct for making money to supplement her struggling family's income.  By the time she was 15, Brianna's eBay business was so successful that the company shut down her operation. So, it was natural that she would eventually make her mark in business management and in turn inspire others to become successful. 

Aarianna Publishing went the Kickstarter funding route not only to give gamers the opportunity to support the construction and engineering of this interactive universe but also to help determine the creation and direction of the game's characters, levels and realms.  So, each investor can potentially have a stake in the development of the game's overall look, characters, play schematics and ultimately, its success.

One of the more attractive ROG reward tier premium awards is the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. The first 75 investors who commit at the $250 level will receive the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset development kit, a $300 value, when Realms of Goldesia is released.  Aarianna Publishing is fully committed to incorporating Oculus Rift's technology in an advanced version of ROG when the final game is released, though the exact details are yet to be determined.

Realms of Goldesia, with its multiple layers of realms, worlds, dimensions and timelines will still function as one ecosystem.  Events will be dictated by the actions, behaviors, attitudes and alliances of the individual gamers.

Kickstarter fund raising for Realms of Goldesia began on October 9, 2013.

Unu, The First Universal, Portable, Smart Entertainment Hub Hits Retail This November

Starting today, consumers can preorder unu, the world's first universal entertainment hub, at Gamestop retail stores, Gamestop.com, and Newegg.com. The product will go on sale in November at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, and Walmart.com.

Available in two versions for the November launch, both have full access to the more than 1 million games and apps to enjoy via the Google Play store. The unu Media Edition comes with a TV docking station and an air mouse controller with keyboard for $199.99 MSRP, and the fully-loaded Gaming Edition adds an advanced game controller supporting tens of thousands of video games for $249.99 MSRP.

"unu may just be the 'why didn't I think of that' product for 2013," says Nicki Repenning, Vice President of Business Development, Sunflex. "The tablet is one of the most exciting consumer technologies in the last 50 years, but we knew it could and should do more. So, we built a custom smart TV user interface and two different controllers to match up with every entertainment experience found on the Google Play Store. That's how unu was born."

So, you can either be bummed you didn't think of it, or you can spoil yourself, friends, or family. Given its universal use, unu may be the best and easiest solution to the constant wail from kids of all ages, "I'm bored!" And, since it can move from TV to TV and room to room, it might even bring peace over living room big screen arguments.

unu is the lightest, easiest, and most unobtrusive way to play video games, watch movies, or enjoy hundreds of thousands of other experiences on any TV. Or, just enjoy it as a tablet. The backside of the air mouse also includes a keyboard for super easy Internet browsing, typing emails, or chatting on social media.

The slender, lightweight 7-inch system is an HD-display Android 4.2 tablet that can be used on its own or docked to your TV as a smart TV. It comes with a sleek portable docking station and a proprietary Bluetooth air mouse remote that lets users explore apps with immense ease. unu's proprietary user interface is simple and powerful. Enabled by the latest 1.6 GHZ quad-core processor, users will enjoy full HD 1080p videos, and seamless execution of any app.

Sunflex is the creator of unu. With 17 successful years in making gaming peripherals, unu's wireless game controller delivers high precision and extremely low latency, a crucial feature for gamers. And, it comes pre-loaded with APK support for nearly every video game app available.

Consumers can preorder today at http://theunu.com

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Brookstone Now Taking Pre-Orders For New Fitbit Force Wireless Activity Tracker

Brookstone, the multichannel specialty retailer and product development company, announced it is accepting pre-orders of the Fitbit® Force™ wireless activity and sleep tracking device online at Brookstone.com.

Building on the success of the popular Fitbit Flex tracker, which records steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes and sleep data, the Fitbit Force device will include an altimeter to measure the floors (or mountains) climbed, and a watch display with stopwatch functionality.

Reach goals 24 hours a day with ̶

• Tracks steps taken, distance travelled, calories burned, floors climbed, active minutes and sleep data
• LED screen with watch and stopwatch functions
• Works with iPod, iPhone, iPad devices, and select Android smartphones
• Syncs in real time with smartphone, PC or Mac via Bluetooth® wireless
• Track progress via FREE Fitbit app for Apple® or Android™
• Water-resistant
• Silent alarm

The Fitbit Force wireless activity tracker is available for pre-order today on Brookstone.com with shipment expected on November 15, and in Brookstone stores mid-November for $129.95. Fitbit Force includes a wristband, charging cable, wireless sync dongle, and free Fitbit account.

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