Archive for the 'Press Release' Category
Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless service provider, and Loopt® announced today that Verizon Wireless customers can now access Loopt’s interoperable location-based service.
Loopt allows friends who opt in to be located by other friends to show where the friends are located and what they are doing via detailed, interactive maps on their mobile phones. Loopt helps friends connect on the go and navigate their social lives by orienting them to people, places and events. Users can also choose to permit sharing of location updates, geo-tagged photos and comments with friends in their mobile address book or on online social networks, communities and blogs.
“Loopt helps Verizon Wireless customers stay connected to friends and share their location in a fun and interactive way,” said Ryan Hughes, vice president of digital media programming for Verizon. “Loopt enhances our customers’ real world experiences by helping friends stay informed of their friends’ lives.”
“We are on a mission to deliver Loopt to consumers everywhere, and by offering our service to Verizon Wireless customers, we’re significantly closer to achieving that goal,” said Sam Altman, chief executive officer and co-founder of Loopt. “With Loopt, Verizon Wireless customers now have a powerful tool to navigate their mobile lifestyles and easily connect with people and places around them.”
Loopt, the social mapping industry leader, offers the most intuitive and effective privacy controls and security features for end users. Loopt is 100 percent permission-based and users share location information only with their known friends via private networks. In addition, Loopt users can easily turn location-sharing on or off at any time on a friend-by-friend basis or for all friends at once. Loopt regularly works with organizations such as the Family Online Safety Institute, ConnectSafely.org, the Center for Democracy & Technology, Progress & Freedom Foundation’s Center for Digital Media Freedom, and the Internet Safety Task Force.
Loopt is available today on select Verizon Wireless phones for $3.99 monthly access in the Tools on the Go, Featured Applications and Community shopping aisles in the Get It Now® virtual store. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.
MacGourmet Deluxe brings recipe collection and organization into the digital age. Users are able to create, edit and share recipes; make wine and cooking notes, and easily import recipes found on the Web and expand their collection. Recipes can be published to a .mac account or to a personal Web site. MacGourmet Deluxe can also create a shopping list that can be printed or exported to a PDA.
Even more exciting in the introduction of MacGourmet Deluxe is an industry first feature - the Cookbook Builder. Using a recipe collection, the user can build, print and share their own cookbook. The Cookbook Builder allows the easy addition of images, chapters and text pages. Saving it as a high resolution PDF, the cookbook can be printed out on a desktop printer or through a print-on-demand source.
Also in this release of MacGourmet Deluxe:
A Mealplan feature to create a weekly meal plan with iCal integration.
Access to the USDA Nutritional database.
The ability to view the nutritional value of recipes.
All-new shopping list editor, with simple pantry/favorites and column ordering/hiding functionality added.
The addition of a number of award winning recipes.
Pricing and Availability:
MacGourmet Deluxe is now available on the Mariner Software Web site at www.marinersoftware.com. The shipping version will initially be offered in English and sell for $49.95USD ($44.95 download). Support for more languages is expected in the near future. MacGourmet Deluxe requires Mac OS 10.4 or higher. The standard version of MacGourmet will continue to be available on the Advenio Web site. Registered MacGourmet customers may upgrade to MacGourmet Deluxe for a special price in the Mariner Software eStore.
Immediately available and priced starting at $239.99, the new Mercury On-The-Go 320GB 7200RPM drive has models available with USB 2.0, USB 2.0+eSATA, FireWire 400+USB 2.0, and FireWire 800/400+USB 2.0 Interfaces. These portable drive solutions are built with the latest Hitachi 7K320 mechanism with OWC’s custom bridge interfaces and provide the highest performance of any portable storage solution available on the market.
Geared for the demanding “On-the-Go” professional road warrior who requires dependable, high-performance storage, the OWC Mercury On-The-Go 320GB 7200RPM portable drive solution offers options for virtually all computers and gadgets with an available FireWire or USB port, including all Macs and PCs, as well as digital cameras and camcorders for an instant on-the-go portable storage solution to quickly and safely store all your digital photos and video when traveling.
With The Mercury On-The-Go portable drive, you can back-up your entire desktop computer and bring it with you everywhere you go. For easy backup, the drive also includes the full retail versions of the latest award-winning Prosoft DataBackup III for OS X and NovaStor NovaBackup for Windows.
In addition to the 320GB 7200RPM drive, OWC also offers additional 7200RPM models with capacities of 100GB to 200GB, priced from $109.99; and 5400RPM Models from 60GB to 500GB, priced from $74.99. All drive solutions offer leading performance and reliability due to a well thought-out design, performance bridge interface, and the best hard disk drive mechanisms inside.
The Mercury On-The-Go 320GB 7200RPM portable storage drive is available immediately priced starting at $239.99 through OWC and other retailers. It includes a carrying case, connecting cables, Prosoft DataRescue III for OS X, and NovaStor NovaBackup for Windows. All Mercury-On-The-Go models are covered by a one-year warranty and are compatible with Apple OS Versions 8.5 through 9.2.x; Apple OS X (including the latest OS 10.5.x); and Microsoft Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, Vista.
For more information, see: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go.
Typhoon Touch Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:TYPT), owner of foundational intellectual property in the area of portable touch-screen computing, announced today that it has significantly expanded its patent infringement suit commenced in December 2007 against Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) by adding Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and the following additional defendants via amended complaint: Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation; Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.; Lenovo (United States) Inc.; Panasonic Corporation of North America; HTC America, Inc.; Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ:PALM); Samsung Electronics America, Inc.; Nokia Inc. (NYSE:NOK); and LG Electronics USA, Inc.
“The addition of these defendants is a further step in protecting Typhoon’s IP from being unfairly exploited. Hopefully, the world of potential infringers will take notice that it is the Company’s intent to aggressively protect its intellectual property,” stated Craig Weiner, Esq., from the law firm of Hofheimer, Gartlir & Gross LLP in New York City, Director of Legal Affairs and Licensing for Typhoon. “As alleged in the amended complaint, Typhoon believes that numerous defendants are selling and/or offering for sale — what could be millions of devices — which may infringe Typhoon’s patents.”
Typhoon Touch Technologies and its licensee and co-plaintiff, Nova Mobility Systems, Inc., previously reached an out-of-court settlement with Motion Computing, Inc. and recently completed a settlement with Electrovaya Inc., wherein Electrovaya recognized the validity of Typhoon’s patents at issue in the litigation, acknowledged infringement of one or more of the patent claims and made an undisclosed royalty payment of at least 20% on past and future sales of its Scribbler Tablet PC’s in the United States.
In the last month, Typhoon withdrew from preliminary settlement talks with defendant Sand Dune Ventures (Tabletkiosk). The Action, which seeks damages for lost profits as well as a permanent injunction from continued infringing activity by the defendants, is pending in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division, Case No. 6:07-cv-546. The Action was filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs by Blank Rome LLP and shall proceed against both Sand Dune (Tabletkiosk) and the other remaining defendants.
Typhoon’s complaint alleges that defendants have infringed and continue to infringe its U.S. Patent No. 5,379,057 (”the ‘057 patent”) issued January 3, 1995 and entitled “Portable Computer with Touch Screen and Computer System Employing Same,” and U.S. Patent No. 5,675,362 (”the ‘362 patent”) issued October 7, 1997 and entitled “Portable Computer with Touch Screen and Computing System Employing Same,” through various actions including the manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, and/or importing of a variety of portable computer products, including but not limited to tablet PCs, slate PCs, handheld PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), ultra mobile PCs (UMPCs), smart phones, and/or other products covered by the patents-in-suit.
When connected to an ultra-mobile device, the four-ounce Optoma Pico Projector allows users to share photos and videos, and enjoy a far better visual experience with an image that is up to 100 times larger than the small screen of the source device.
“The Pico Projector is the next step in sharing visual media for today’s ultra-mobile consumers. Fitting in your shirt pocket, the Pico Projector can display pictures, videos or any content from a mobile media player or smart phone” says Jon Grodem, director of Product Management for Optoma. “Optoma’s Pico breaks free from the limitations of the 2 or 3 inch displays found on today’s mobile devices. This category defining projector creates a new benchmark for sharing content-on-the-go.”
Optoma’s Pico Projector utilizes the latest LED technology resulting in a colorful and vivid image. The small and powerful unit is based upon DLP technology assuring the highest possible contrast.
“The handheld Pico projector represents the latest advancement in the mobile device display industry. We view the Pico projector as a completely new and exciting market – one which dramatically expands the reach and potential of projection products into new end user applications,” says Dr. William Coggshall, founder and president of Pacific Media Associates.
The product will be first shown at Texas Instrument’s InfoComm 2008 booth C909 and will be available in limited distribution in Europe and Asia in late 2008, with a worldwide launch in 2009.
Utilizing the latest technology advances in energy efficiency, the Guardian MAXimus eMAX is RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) certified to deliver maximum data protection and backup performance while using less energy. Compared to other low-powered 1TB external storage solutions, Guardian MAXimus eMAX provides a 15 percent power savings and up to a 50 percent power reduction versus traditionally powered 1TB drives. The Guardian MAXimus eMAX also provides the utmost in low noise operation, data storage stability, and per disk capacity for 1TB drives.
“The addition of the new Guardian MAXimus eMAX continues the product development mission of the Guardian MAXimus line,” said Grant Dahlke, Marketing Manager, NewerTech. “When only maximum performance, quality, ease of use, and now energy efficiency savings will suffice for data protection/backup needs, Mac and PC users alike will find their needs exceeded by a Guardian MAXimus model.”
The new Guardian MAXimus eMAX compliments the broad Guardian MAXimus lineup that has earned widespread praise and awards. “Easy to use, incredibly fast, and offers a lot of space for the price…the perfect space-to-speed ratio that’s so important to graphics professionals, digital photographers, and designers,” said PhotoShop User magazine about Guardian MAXimus in its Five Star rated review. “The fastest drive with the biggest oomph in the smallest form we’ve seen,” said Macsimum News in awarding Guardian MAXimus the Macsimum Macworld 2008 Award.
Guardian MAXimus eMAX is a 1.0TB Mirror (1.0TB + 1.0TB) 5400RPM w/64MB total buffer drive priced at $549.99.
Guardian MAXimus line pricing:
Astraware(R) is excited to announce the release of Bubble Babble - a brand new word game for Palm OS(R) and Windows Mobile(R) smartphones and PDAs.
Challenge your word power with this undersea bubble-bursting brain teaser! Link together letter bubbles to form words and impress Wordsworth Smartygills - your friendly fishy host! Bubble Babble includes a fun interactive tutorial to teach you how to play with the bubbles and make words from them. Score points for each word you make. Impress Wordsworth with more complex or unusual words and he’ll reward you with shiny shells for your collection!
Bubble Babble has 4 entertaining play modes which are perfect for both adults and children, for all levels of skill or vocabulary:
Challenge - create a set number of words against the clock,
Target - reconstruct the separated word from the letter bubbles,
Mystery - try different permutations of letters to find the hidden word,
Freeplay - just enjoy making words to boost your points score.
Each day Wordsworth Smartygills will tell you the Word of the Day. Make this word during play to earn a special award!
Use multiplier bubbles to enhance your points score, and get help from Stella Starfish, in her wildcard bubble! Unlock higher difficulty levels as you play - it can help you keep your brain sharp and maybe learn some interesting new words!
Bubble Babble is available for smartphones and PDAs running Palm OS(R) 5 and above, and Windows Mobile Professional, Classic and Standard devices running Windows Mobile 2003 and later. The game is available from http://www.astraware.com/bubblebabble priced $19.95, with a limited time new release discount.
We know our resident DDS reader Dr. Andrew Fletcher (a.k.a. theMangoTimes man) will be loving this. Press release, please…
MacPractice, Inc., developer of MacPractice DDS, and National Dental, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high quality, easy to use intraoral cameras for dentistry, announce the release of the first direct-to-USB intraoral camera solution for the MAC with foot pedal option, comprised of the top selling DocPort Macro Intraoral Camera and MacPractice DR (Digital Radiography/Photo) software.
The new DocPortMacro-U for the MAC delivers exceptionally high image quality with a unique easy to use no focus design that incorporates a patent-pending one touch Macro close up feature enabling the user to quickly zoom in on problem areas in the mouth such as fractures and margins with ease and diagnostic clarity. The ergonomic handpiece design and automatic on/off feature ensure that the camera is always ready to use and easy to manipulate in the patient’s mouth.
National Dental’s 15 years of experience in intraoral cameras has culminated in the development of a product that is unmatched in the industry in all aspects including ease of use, diagnostic quality and system compatibility. With the new release of the Macintosh drivers, MacPractice owners now have the ability to add high quality intraoral images via USB to their operatories.
“National Dental is pleased to be working closely with MacPractice on the release of the newest member of our DocPortMacro line of Cameras, and we believe that our new camera is the perfect fit for Mac lovers that have become accustom to having quality and ease of use….DocPortMacro and the MAC are a perfect fit.,” commented Neil Magneson, President of National Dental Inc.
Dentists are encouraged to view QuickTime demonstration movies of MacPractice DR and MacPractice DDS after registering at MacPractice.com.
2100 doctors’ offices have chosen MacPractice to provide their practice management software and technical support. MacPractice, Inc. also supports the use of DentalMac, MediMac, and ChiroMac for several hundred offices.
Verizon Wireless has entered into an agreement with Alltel Corporation and Atlantis Holdings LLC, an affiliate of private investment firm TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners, to acquire Alltel Corporation in a cash merger. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD).
Under the terms of the agreement, Verizon Wireless will acquire the equity of Alltel for approximately $5.9 billion. Based on Alltel’s projected net debt at closing of $22.2 billion, the aggregate value of the transaction is $28.1 billion.
The parties are targeting completion of the merger by the end of the year, subject to obtaining regulatory approvals.
Once this transaction closes, customers of both companies will have access to an expanded range of products and services, including a premier lineup of basic and advanced devices and an expanded IN Network calling community. Alltel customers also will benefit from advanced services including over-the-air downloadable music from a three-million-song library, and a network that is nationwide, for a uniform coast-to-coast experience. They also will be able to take advantage of industry-leading consumer policies, including Test Drive and Worry Free Guarantee®.
“This move will create an enhanced platform of network coverage, spectrum and customer care to better serve the growing needs of both Alltel and Verizon Wireless customers for reliable basic and advanced broadband wireless services,” said Lowell McAdam, Verizon Wireless president and chief executive officer.
Alltel serves more than 13 million customers in markets in 34 states. This includes 57 primarily rural markets that Verizon Wireless does not serve. The transaction puts the Alltel markets and customers on a path to advanced 4th generation services as Verizon Wireless deploys LTE technology throughout its network over the next several years. Alltel’s customers also will reap the benefits of Verizon Wireless’ Open Development initiative, which welcomes third-party devices and services to use the Verizon Wireless network.
Verizon Communications, the owner of the majority stake in Verizon Wireless, expects that the transaction will be immediately accretive, excluding transaction and integration costs. “This is a perfect fit, with Alltel’s high-value post-paid customer base, its solid financials, our common network technology, and significant, readily attainable synergies,” said Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon chief executive officer and chairman of the Verizon board. “Verizon Wireless’ acquisition of Alltel clearly provides opportunities for enhanced value for Verizon shareholders.”
Alltel President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Ford will continue in his current position as head of Alltel until the merger is completed.
“Both Alltel and Verizon Wireless have long track records of delivering a high-quality customer experience in the marketplace,” Ford said. “The combination of our two companies will continue and improve upon that heritage as, together, we can more quickly deliver an expanded range of innovative products and services to our customers.”
Verizon Wireless expects to realize synergies with a net present value, after integration costs, of more than $9 billion driven by reduced capital and operating expense savings. Synergies are expected to generate incremental cost savings of $1 billion in the second year after closing.
Alltel and Verizon Wireless both use a common network technology, which provides advantages of a seamless transition for Alltel customers, ease in integrating the two companies’ networks, and scale efficiencies in operating the larger integrated network.
Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor to Verizon Wireless on this transaction and is providing bridge financing. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted as legal advisor to Verizon Wireless.
Citibank, Goldman Sachs and RBS advised the sellers on the transaction. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz acted as legal advisor to Alltel, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP acted as legal advisors to the sellers.
sipgate Inc. today announces the immediate availability of a free application for the iPhone, which, for the first time allows consumers to natively use any VoIP service which uses the industry standard SIP. Consumers can now use their iPhones to make and receive VoIP calls from their devices over a Wi-Fi Internet connection using a wide variety of VoIP providers. The VoIP-enabling software is available from sipgate’s website
www.sipgate.com.
With the sipgate service, users can dial any number without using minutes from a wireless plan. This is particularly useful when calling to or from other countries, as call costs can be as high as $3 per minute. However, when using a VoIP service, costs can be kept as low as $0.01 per minute. sipgate is giving new users 111 free minutes for domestic calls for users to test out VoIP usage on the device*.
Another benefit of sipgate is that consumers can use any domestic or international number provided by their VoIP service on their iPhone. This means that they can make and receive calls from different domestic and international numbers, all on a single device.
Thilo Salmon, CEO of sipgate commented: “We love VoIP and we love the iPhone so we are giving people like us who always wanted VoIP on the iPhone the ability to use any SIP-based VoIP service they want. We are thrilled that Apple is opening up the iPhone and we look forward to taking part in future application development.”
Salmon continued: “As a company we strive to make useful services accessible to everyone. There will be more innovation for businesses and consumers coming from sipgate this year, so keep your eyes open for more news.”