HGI breakthrough paves the way for home energy management, home automation, diagnostics and other next gen apps in the connected home

HGI breakthrough paves the way for home energy management, home automation, diagnostics and other next gen apps in the connected home



Service providers closer to deploying new next gen services to the digital home following publication of requirements by The Home Gateway Initiative software execution taskforce



19 July 2011. The Home Gateway Initiative (HGI), the world’s leading organisation for setting requirements for the building blocks of the digital home, has published a landmark document which brings service providers closer to making more next generation applications a reality.



HGI-RD008-3, “Requirements for Software Modularity on the Home Gateway” sets requirements that support software applications on the Home Gateway within a flexible, managed framework.



Duncan Bees, chief technical and business officer for HGI, said: “We are leading the way with this new document. Service providers are looking at deploying next generation applications using the Home Gateway and this document takes a major step towards making home automation, energy management and diagnostics, along with other next generation applications, a reality,” he said.



Mr Bees added that plans are already in place to considerably extend the scope of software modularity testing at a 2011 test event in the UK later this year.



Andreas Sayegh of Deutsche Telekom has played an integral role in bringing the RD008 document as well as the associated testing programme to fruition.



“This work has been completed thanks to the cooperation and input of vendors and service providers in the HGI working together. We have now set requirements allowing service providers to make progress, applying what has been learned to real world conditions. For consumers this will definitely mean tangible new services as a direct result of this work,” he said.



The next quarterly meeting of HGI members is set to take place in Chicago between 5 - 9 September 2011 with the timing of the test event yet to be announced.

For more information about the HGI please visit www.homegatewayinitiative.org or email contact@homegatewayinitiative.org.



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About the Home Gateway Initiative



The HGI, founded in 2004 by nine telecom operators, is shaping the next generation of internet and voice services. Starting from use-cases and service needs, the HGI sets requirements for Home Gateways, infrastructure devices, and the home network. The HGI now has members from across the globe, representing the entire spectrum of players in the broadband home area.



http://www.homegatewayinitiative.org/

Patriot Torqx 2 128GB SSD Drive Review by Jeff Roy

The better computers are, the faster they are. But, you are only as good as the weakest link. When it comes to computers, the weakest link tends to be the hard drive. Up for review today is the Patriot Torqx 2 128GB SSD hard drive.

Not only is it fast, it is also much more reliable. If you are asking yourself what an SSD drive is, think of it as a small flash drive or thumb drive on steroids. You know, the little things that are easily found in sizes now of up to 16 GBs? I remember when standard hard drives were about that size.

Hard drives also tend to be the source of our worst computer nightmares. After all, what's one of the worst things that can happen to your computer? That would be hard drive failure. Hard drives contain platters inside that hold all the information. These platters spin, and are read while they spin. The higher RPM they spin at, the higher the performance. But if they stop spinning, you are basically screwed. All of your data is gone, unless you want to spend a small fortune to get it recovered.

So, the small thumb drives aren't like your traditional hard drives. There are no moving parts inside. And this means chance of failure is far less likely to happen. Now the fast performance of small flash drives are now brought to your computer in a larger size. And the need for RAID configurations for back-up security is also gone.

It's features and specs include:

- Sequential Read: up to 270MB/s*
- Sequential Write: up to 230MB/s*
- Interface: SATA I/II
- TRIM Support (O/S dependent)
- RAID Support: Yes
- 128MB DRAM Cache
- Power Consumption: DC 5V, Standby 0.5W, Operating 5.3W
- MTBF: > 1,500,000 Hours
- Data Retention: >5 years at 25° C
- Data Reliability: Built in BCH 9, 24-bit ECC
- Operating Temperature: 0°C~70°C
- Storage Temperature: 40°C~85°C
- Operating Shock: 1,500G (@ 0.5msec half sine wave)
- Vibration Resistance: 20G/80~2000Hz w 3 axis
- Humidity: 0°C to 55°C / 95% RH, 10 cycles
- O/S Support: Win XP / Vista / 7

Build quality appears quite good. Although there is not a whole lot to it. The casing appears to be aluminum. It is a small 2.5" drive. And at the rear are your standard SATA data and power connections. It felt solid enough and well put together. And it was much lighter than a typical hard drive, as there is no dense platter inside.

As you can see from the specs listed below, it is quite speedy. It was the perfect size, so I installed it in my laptop. My hard drive used to be my weakest link. Now it is my strongest, giving me a windows experience index of 6.8. And as you can see from the benchmarks below, it performed very well. When compared to a standard hard drive......well, there really is no comparison. Trying to compare it to a standard hard drive would be like trying to race a new Camero Z28 in a new but stock Ford Focus. Don't do it. And in this case, my stock Seagate 500GB 5400RPM hard drive was the one that got embarrassed. Check out the benchmarks below.

As you can see the Patriot Torqx 2 is an excellent drive. What was probably the slowest component in your computer can now be one of the fastest. The Patriot Torqx 2 is built well, and performs well. SSD drives are the way to go, and the Patriot Torqx 2 performed amazingly without a single glitch. Based on it's features, quality and performance, it has earned our Highly Recommended Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.patriotmemory.com.

ASUS G74SX - Redefining the Gaming Notebook

-- ASUS Delivers Next-generation Mobile Gaming in a Strikingly-designed and
Spectacularly Performing Notebook --


Fremont, CA (July 14, 2011) - ASUS is excited to launch the Republic of Gamers (ROG) G74SX notebook featuring incredible visual performance from a 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7 CPU and NVIDIA® GTX 560M GPU with 3GB of GDDR5 VRAM. With support for the latest Microsoft DirectX®11 graphics, the G74SX delivers spectacular gaming and multimedia visuals along with NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ and 3DTV Play™ technology*, so games, photos and movies are all able to be enjoyed like never before in 3D on the notebook or a 3D-capable HDTV. The G74SX arrives in a sleek updated stealth design that excites your visual senses and features a matte black exterior, ergonomic keyboard, soft touch palm rest and new dual intelligent fan technology that exhausts heat at the back of the notebook for a quieter and cooler gaming experience.

ASUS ROG G74SX: The Gamer’s Notebook
Developed in response to gamers’ demand for a technically advanced mobile gaming machine, it looks as good on the desktop as it does on the go. At the heart of the G74SX lies the latest 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor, DirectX® 11 capable NVIDIA® GTX 560M graphics with 3D Vision™*, up to 16GB of DDR3 system memory, 8-channel HD audio with THX® TruStudio™ and Creative® EAX™ Advanced HD 5.0 compatibility, on-the-fly overclocking, ambient lighting, Blu-ray playback and Solid State Disk (SSD) storage options or up to 1.5TB of hard drive capacity for incredible gaming and multitasking performance**.

Refined Design
The G74Sx is similar to its predecessor in terms of design, but features improvements to give users an easier way to upgrade as well as a better gaming experience. The five-degree angled keyboard and soft touch palm rest are still present, though the keyboard is more spacious with extra room given for the number pad and arrow keys, as well as a bigger shift key that gamers will appreciate.

The rear venting system has also been upgraded, now consisting of Dual Intelligent Fan technology that independently cools both the CPU and GPU. When there is additional load on the CPU, the GPU fan will automatically switch to assist in cooling the CPU and vice versa resulting in lowering temperatures for a more comfortable gaming session.

A new feature is the Easy Upgrade Cover which allows users to remove a panel underneath the G74SS with a coin so they can upgrade their memory or HDD quickly. With support for up to 16GB of system memory and two slots for hard drives, the Easy Upgrade Cover will be come in handy when it comes time to upgrade.
*3D capabilities dependent upon product options.
**Check usa.asus.com for product details and availability in North America. Product specifications and features may change without prior notice.
###

About ASUS
ASUS, the world’s top 3 consumer notebook vendor and the maker of the world’s best-selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading enterprise in the new digital era. ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today's digital home, office and person, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktops, Eee Box and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, tablet devices, servers, multimedia and wireless solutions, networking devices, and mobile phones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 3,398 awards in 2010, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than 10,000 and a world-class R&D team of 3,000 engineers, the company's revenue for 2010 was around US$10.1 billion.

Summer Gadget Idea - Enjoy Summer with foxL Small Portable Bluetooth Hi-Fi Speaker for BBQs & Beach Parties:

foxL www.soundmatters.com, the world's best sounding tiny hi-fi portable Bluetooth speaker for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android and other Bluetooth devices, is the perfect portable hi-fi music speaker for the summer. Bring the tiny foxL with you in your bag wherever you go -- to the beach, picnics, and BBQs -- to show off this high-tech device. Created by former NASA engineer/audio legend Dr. Godehard Guenther, Soundmatters foxLv2 Bluetooth is the first pocket-sized wireless speaker that audio purists will love.

Pricing: $199
Website: www.soundmatters.com

Available at: www.soundmatters.com & online retailers, including Hammacher Schlemmer, Sharper Image, Frontgate, Music Direct, Amazon.com and more.

Vision X Dyna-Curve Receives Stellar Review

Front projection screen manufacturer Vutec's latest Vision X Dyna-Curve is an assault on state of the art projection screen technology, offering supreme flexibility and performance. The Dyna-Curve is, as its name suggests, a curved front projection screen with a native 2:35:1 aspect ratio that can also display 16:9 and even 4:3 aspect ratio material, thanks to its auto masking system, making it essentially three screens in one. In order to take full advantage of the Dyna-Curve's various aspect ratios you'll need an anamorphic lens / attachment or projector to properly display 2:35:1 material without bars top and bottom. However, if you prefer vertical masking or wish to save a little money, Vutec does offer a Dyna-Curve in a vertical masking format in the Dyna-Curve VM, though it can only display 2:35:1 and 16:9 material. If you require zero masking Vutec also offers the Dyna-Curve FS, which stands for fixed screen, meaning it's 2:35:1 aspect ratio screen only.

Click here to read the entire review: http://hometheaterreview.com/vision-x-dyna-curve-projection-screen-by-vutec-reviewed/

Onkyo with Spotify: now available in the US

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (7/14/11) -- Onkyo USA is pleased to announce that digital music service Spotify is now available through home theater receivers in the US.

Spotify Premium subscribers in seven countries (UK, France, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, and Norway) already use Spotify to expand their musical horizons. Now they will also be able to listen to the service via their Onkyo home entertainment systems in the United States.
Onkyo will provide a firmware update that will enable its 2011 network capable receivers beginning with the TX-NR609 to support Spotify. Onkyo will also be introducing additional networked Spotify-ready products in the near future. All you need to enjoy Spotify on Onkyo is an internet connection and a Spotify Premium account.

The addition of Spotify offers Premium subscribers instant access to one of the biggest music libraries in the world, in excellent sound quality, courtesy of Onkyo’s seamless integration of Spotify’s high quality streaming.

‘We are excited to be able to provide this update to owners of our 2011 network receivers beginning with model TX-NR609," says Paul Wasek, Onkyo USA's National Marketing Manager. "Spotify is an absolute must-have for Onkyo customers who want to enjoy their favorite music in the highest quality at home."

"We are very excited to be bringing Spotify to the US, and to be working with partners such as Onkyo towards our goal of making all the world's music available for everyone to enjoy, whenever they want it and wherever they are." Ken Parks Chief Content Officer and Managing Director, Spotify, North America.

Spotify is simple and intuitive to operate via the television screen connected to Onkyo home theater receivers. With a few simple clicks on your remote control you’re given quick, scrolling onscreen access to your own and collaborative playlists as well as Spotify’s 'What's New?' and 'Starred' features. Album cover art is displayed onscreen and subscribers can explore further to browse artists, albums and tracks.

About Onkyo

Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687.

About Spotify

Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to one of the biggest music libraries in the world. Our dream is to make all the world’s music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever they want it. Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal.
Spotify is available in 8 countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, The Netherlands and Spain.
www.spotify.com

Spotify Will Launch in the U.S. Tomorrow

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New York, July 13, 2011 - Spotfy, the award-winning digital music service loved by millions of Europeans, will become available tomorrow morning in the United States by invitation and subscription. Spotify is a new way to listen to and manage your music, discover new tracks and share songs and playlists with friends – music whenever you want it, wherever you are.

Be one of the first people in the U.S. to experience Spotify by signing up at www.spotify.com.

Spotify will announce more details at 8:00 AM EST.

Zoom H2n Handy Recorder. Enjoy the new standard.

First and only portable recorder with five studio-quality microphones onboard

Hauppauge, NY – (July 12, 2011) – Representing a new generation of portable recording, the H2n is Zoom’s most innovative handheld recorder to date. We’ve packed groundbreaking features into an ultra-portable device that allows you to record pristine audio anywhere you go.

The H2n features our best microphones yet and is the only portable recorder with five studio-quality microphones onboard. This design enables the H2n to offer four unique recording modes: Mid-Side (MS) stereo, a technique used for many years in film and broadcast, 90° X/Y stereo, 2-channel and 4-channel surround sound. With its newly designed user interface, 1.8-inch backlit LCD display for crystal-clear monitoring and built-in reference speaker that allows you to playback recordings on the spot, the H2n is remarkably easy to use in any application.

“A lot of musicians are going to be knocked-out when they use this device, but we’re really interested in seeing the response from the film and broadcast industries,” says Scott Goodman, President of Samson. “Mid-Side miking has been used in those industries since the ‘80s, but it’s never been available in a handheld recorder.”

Further enhancing its flexibility and convenience, the H2n provides over 20 hours of continuous operation on just two standard AA alkaline batteries. In addition, the H2n features a new data recovery function and a High-Speed USB 2.0 interface. You can even use the H2n as a USB microphone and record directly to your computer.

No matter the application, the H2n brings the very best in stereo recording to a convenient, user-friendly package that fits in your pocket.

Zoom H2n Handy Recorder. The new standard in portable recording.

The H2n will be available September 2011 for $199.

To request additional information about Zoom, please contact PR Representative Brad Hobbs at (305) 576-1171 x19 or by e-mail at bradhobbs@maxborgesagency.com .

About Zoom:
Zoom is renowned all over the world for its recording and guitar effects gear. Headquartered in Tokyo, Zoom has continuously created a diverse line of original, innovative audio products from effect processors, to rhythm machines, samplers and recorders. Samson Technologies is the exclusive U.S. distributor of Zoom products. Samson is based in Hauppauge, New York.

zoom.co.jp / samsontech.com

Bowers & Wilkins is proud to announce C5 in-ear, noise-isolating headphones

C5 in-ear, noise-isolating headphones offer pristine sound quality on the move. The innovate Secure Loop design keeps C5 comfortably in place, and aids fit and performance. Plus the proprietary Micro Porous Filter enables C5 to produce a wonderfully open, natural performance, perfect for longer listening sessions.

N. Reading, MA—July 11, 2011 B N. North Reading, MA—July 11, 2011 Bowers & Wilkins’ debut of the C5 in-ear headphones brings the option of amazing clarity of sound, innovative design, and high-quality materials for the discerning customer who demands premium performance from in-ear headphones.

Best in class sound quality is an attribute long associated with Bowers & Wilkins products. From the 800 Series Diamond to Zeppelin Air to the highly-regarded P5 mobile hi-fi headphones, Bowers & Wilkins products have stood out within their respective categories for 45 years. C5 takes this quality to a new arena: in-ear headphones.

As with all Bowers & Wilkins products, C5 is a mixture of long-held acoustic principles and technological advances. Key among the advances is the Micro Porous Filter. This acts as a diffuser, enabling C5 to deliver pristine, natural audio, while also providing a more spacious performance than previously possible from in-ear headphones. It also has the advantage of limiting noise bleed, and together with the noise-isolating properties of the sealed fit, this allows users to lose themselves in flawless audio.

Almost as vital as performance in the in-ear headphone arena is comfort and quality of fit. C5 addresses this with the introduction of the proprietary Secure Loop design, an ingenious innovation where a cushioned loop fixes quickly and comfortably in the inner ridge of the user’s ear. This solution holds C5 in place for improved sound, and also makes it ideal for use on the move and during activities. The Secure Loop is infinitely adjustable, so it works perfectly with anyone’s ears.

Adding to this sense of comfort is C5’s Tungsten Balanced design. Here, high-mass material is located closer to the user’s ear, for an improved seal for better sound and noise isolation. Elsewhere C5 is crafted from high-grade aluminum for a premium-quality finish.

C5 comes supplied with a Made For iPhone compatible cable, which is ideal for making calls on the move, and a quilted pouch for easy storage.

For additional information visit: http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Headphones/Headphones/C5/product-details.html

C5 is available August 2011 and will cost: $179.95 (U.S. & Canada)

SAMSUNG’S NEXUS S ABOARD NASA’S FINAL SHUTTLE

NASA has equipped a trio of SPHERES with a Nexus S by Google

smartphone to head to the International Space Station


Kennedy Space Center – July 8, 2011 — Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), a leading mobile phone provider and the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. 1, and Google™ today announced Nexus™ S, is aboard NASA’s final space shuttle. As a leader in technology and innovation, Samsung is pleased to be a part of this moment which will most certainly be marked in history.

Nexus S from Google is part of research that will equip small, free-flying satellites called Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) used by the astronauts to provide a broader range of capabilities and give better communication between land and sky. Nexus S is the first commercial smartphone certified by NASA to fly on the space shuttle and to be cleared for use on the International Space Station. The experiment will use the smartphone-enhanced SPHERES as remotely operated robots to conduct interior survey and inspections of the station, to capture mobile camera images and video, and to study how robots can support future human exploration.

The addition of Nexus S to the SPHERES will add to the capabilities of each individual satellite while further increasing NASA’s understanding and exploration of space. Lead engineer in the Intelligent Robotics Group at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., DW Wheeler, explains, "By connecting a smartphone, we can immediately make SPHERES more intelligent. With a smartphone, the SPHERES will have a built-in camera to take pictures and video, sensors to help conduct inspections, a powerful computing unit to make calculations, and a Wi-Fi connection that we will use to transfer data in real-time to the space station and mission control."

“Samsung is proud to have the Nexus S chosen to be aboard NASA’s final space shuttle launch, an event that is historical,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile. “The research that is being conducted with SPHERES using the Nexus S will help monitor and communicate from the International Space Station.”

Research Overview

In 1999, a group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) undergraduate students, in conjunction with the Department of Defense and NASA, built five volleyball-sized free-flying satellites. These satellites are now referred to as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reporient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) and three of them have been on the International Space Station since 2006. Each SPHERE satellite is self-contained with propulsion, power, navigation and computing equipment. When first designed, the usage possibilities of today were far from conceivable, thus an “expansion port” was built into each of the SPHERES. Additional appendages and sensors can be added to the satellites, allowing wireless power transfer systems and cameras to become parts of the systems. Nexus S is the first commercial smartphone to become a part of the SPHERES via this expansion port.

With the addition of Nexus S, it allows SPHERES a wider range of capabilities on the satellites and improved communication between the land and sky. Mission control can remotely operate Nexus S-enhanced satellites to perform relatively mundane tasks such as running inventory or environmental surveys on the space station. Thus, astronauts will be able to dedicate more time to science experiments and other work rather than having to respond to routine maintenance demands.

About Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space shuttle Atlantis will embark on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The STS-135 mission is the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program. Atlantis' STS-135 mission will deliver the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module filled with supplies and spare parts to sustain space station operations after the shuttles are retired.

About Nexus S

Co-developed by Google and Samsung, Nexus S features brilliant Super AMOLED touch screen technology, a 4-inch Contour Display with a curved design and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which allows information to be read off of everyday objects. The smartphone features a 5 megapixel rear facing camera and camcorders as well as a VGA front facing camera. Nexus S is powered by Android™ 2.3, the latest version of Google’s Android platform, making the smartphone not merely a telephone but a powerful mobile computer at the same time. Nexus S also has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networking, as well as 16 GB of internal memory.


1Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S. claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics Q1 2011 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

Google, Nexus, and Android are trademarks of Google, Inc.



About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of seven independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

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