Wednesday, January 4, 2006Pharos Combines GPS, WiFi, BlueTooth, VoIPTorrance-based Pharos said yesterday that it is introducing a GPS device with WiFi, Bluetooth, and Windows Mobile software support, along with voice over IP capability. The company's Pharos Traveler GPS 525 is a pocket GPS device intended for use in location-based services, and which has been pre-loaded with US metropolitan area maps and Skype for Pocket PC. The new device is targeted at business travelers, and includes both traditional navigation features and the ability to tap into the popular (More info...)
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Sonos Adds New Digital Music ProductSanta Barbara-based Sonos has added a new product for its digital music systems. The company has introduced a new device which connects its Sonos digital music system to existing audio equipment. The company's ZonePlayer ZP80 interfaces to home theater systems or any other amplified audio device via analog or digital outputs, allowing those devices to act as a part of the Sonos digital music system. The new device operates with the company's existing zoned music system, which allows consumers to (More info...)
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Boingo In Deal To Develop VoIP HandsetsSanta Monica-based Boingo Wireless and Taiwan-based Accton announced this morning that the two firms are working together on VoIP WiFi handsets, dual mode handsets, and gateways based on Boingo's wireless authentication services. The companies said that a VoIP WiFi handset will be available in March, and will expand to include dual mode GSM/WiFi handsets and personal gateways with embedded Boingo support. The products will automatically connect to Boingo wireless hotspots without need for a PC, (More info...)
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Thomson Inks Deal With Century TheatresBurbank-based Technical Digital Cinema, a division of Thomson, has inked a deal with Century Theatres to beta test of its digital cinema products in Century properties. The company said that Century Theatres will install DCI-compliant digital projection systems in Century-owned and operated screens as part of a beta test deployment of the digital cinema system. Technicolor said that it will roll out 90-120 screens in Q1 of this year. The move comes as the theatre industry has begun looking to mo (More info...)
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DIRECTV Unveils Portable Media Player ServiceEl Segundo-based DIRECTV is making an entree into video downloads for the growing portable media player market, saying yesterday that it will roll out a new DIRECTV 2Go service that will allow customers to transfer programming from DIRECTV's digital video recorder to portable media format. The firm said that the DIRECTV 2Go service will enable customers to connect DIRECTV compatible portable media players to their receivers, and separately download and view media through a DIRECTV branded user i (More info...)
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Studios Announce Next Generation DVD TitlesParamount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox have begun introducing titles for the next generation HD DVD and Blu-ray disk format, even as the two industry formats continue to fight it out for mindshare. Paramount Pictures is launching ten new titles this morning at CES for both Blu-ray and HD-DVD, and Twentieth Century Fox launched twenty titles for the Blu-ray format last night. Paramount said that the titles in its release include Four Brothers, Sahara, The Italian Job, Tomb Raider, U2 Rattle (More info...)
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Broadcom Rolls Out Combined HD-DVD, Blu-ray ChipIrvine-based Broadcom has decided to sidestep the current next generation DVD format battles, and has rolled out the first high definition decoder chip that supports both HD-DVD and Blu-ray. Broadcom launched the new chip at CES, saying that the new chip is focused on high definition set top boxes for cable, satellite, and IPTV. Broadcom's newest chip supports both the HD-DVD and Blu-ray optical disc formats, and can decode compressed HD video stored in either format. The BCM7411D HD A/V decoder (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006(Full story)