News

eMedia Vitals Launches the Chief Digital Officer Council

Exclusive networking group provides a forum for digital media executives to share ideas for building sustainable publishing models.

NEW YORK, March 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- eMedia Vitals (http://www.emediavitals.com), the essential online publication for digital media professionals, announced the launch of a new executive networking group, the Chief Digital Officer Council (http://www.chiefdigitalofficer.org). The goal of the CDO Council is to help magazine, newspaper and brand publishers to develop and fine-tune new strategic models for sustainable growth.

"Having run a high-growth digital media division supporting over 100 magazines at, I know what a hard job it is to make the digital-first transition," said eMedia Vitals Publisher Prescott Shibles. "The CDO Council is designed to help media executives address that culture change and make a business pivot effectively and quickly."

Chief Digital Officer Council members will receive the following benefits:

Peer group advisory: Each Chief Digital Officer Council member will be matched to a group of five to 10 other non-competitive members to help them share relevant expertise and knowledge.

Best practice exchange: Through events and a secure digital community, CDO Council members can share their experiences with other members, gaining important insights into how others are tackling common challenges and growing their digital businesses.

Proprietary research: CDO Council research will dig past the hype to uncover fresh insights and benchmarking data around topics such as tablet publishing and social media.

Access to expertise: Need advice on the best CMS? How to build a cross-platform editorial team? Whether to launch a private ad exchange? CDO Council Analysts are made available to members to answer questions specifically or direct them to the right people and resources to get the answers, quickly.

CDO Council members will have their first meeting in May, with peer group meetings beginning after.

Membership to the Chief Digital Officer Council is currently being offered by invitation only to the top digital media executives at magazine, newspaper and brand publishers. To request an invitation or for more information, please visit http://chiefdigitalofficer.org.

About eMedia Vitals
eMedia Vitals (http://www.emediavitals.com) is the premiere digital publication of Vital Business Media. Through an open exchange of innovative ideas and best practices, eMedia Vitals inspires media professionals to create profitable digital businesses.

Contact: Prescott Shibles
eMedia Vitals                   
Phone: 917-740-0026

SOURCE  eMedia Vitals

eMedia Vitals

Web Site: http://www.emediavitals.com

SANYO Solar is to Present Their New Look as Panasonic Solar at Ecobuild

LONDON, March 9, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

    SANYO Component Europe GmbH (SANYO), a group company of Panasonic, is very pleased to
announce that it will be exhibiting at this year's Ecobuild, the world's biggest event for
sustainable design, construction and the built environment, to be held at ExCeL London in
the UK from Tuesday 20 - Thursday 22 March 2012. This year, SANYO will be exhibiting at
Stand Nr. N3910.

    At the booth this year, special focus will be on the upcoming "Panasonic" brand change
for SANYO HIT(R) solar modules, which will take affect from 1 April 2012. Sales and
marketing staff will be on hand at the booth to explain the shift to the Panasonic brand
and answer any questions that visitors may have about the brand change.

    In addition, the team will also be displaying information about the Panasonic HIT
Premium Installer Programme, the company's dedicated PV installer support programme.
Launched in September 2011 in the UK following similar successful schemes introduced in
other countries in Europe, the programme is designed to support PV installers in the UK,
providing them with sales leads from their region, the latest information on products and
technology and their own customisable micro site to help promote their business. At the
booth, potential participants of the programme will have the opportunity to learn
first-hand about the programme and see the benefits it can bring to their business.

    On display at the booth will be a number of models from the highly-acclaimed HIT(R)[1]
solar module series. HIT(R) solar modules are based on thin mono crystalline silicon
wafers surrounded by ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers to deliver high conversion
efficiency, outstanding temperature characteristics and higher output power on a given
roof area compared to conventional crystalline modules. Exhibited at the booth this year
will be the HIT(R) N240, the company's most efficient HIT(R) solar module to date with a
module conversion efficiency of 19.0%, the HIT(R) HD250, with a module conversion
efficiency of 18.0%, and the HIT(R) Double bifacial solar module series, as well as a
preview of the upcoming "Black Back-Sheet" solar module.

    Panasonic is committed to providing products and services that meet the needs of the
European solar market. By drawing on the group's expertise in solar and battery
technology, the company is aiming to become "No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the
Electronics Industry" by 2018.

    [1] The name "HIT(R)" comes from "Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer".

    About Panasonic

    Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of
electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in
Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 8.69 trillion yen (US$105
billion) for the year ended March 31, 2011. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo,
Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company
and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net.

    About SANYO Component Europe GmbH

    SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation, is a
global company with leading energy and environmental technology and products for
commercial and consumer use. SANYO Component Europe GmbH, a fully incorporated subsidiary
of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., is a supplier of highly developed environmental and energy
solutions. The company offers an extensive range of batteries, rechargeable batteries and
photovoltaic modules. The headquarters of SANYO Component Europe GmbH is located in Munich
with a subsidiary in France.

    You can find more information about SANYO Component Europe at:
http://www.sanyo-component.com

   
    Media Enquiries
    SANYO Component Europe GmbH
    Stahlgruberring 4, 81829 Munich, Germany
    Tel: +49-89-460095-238
    Jasmin.Hanf@sanyo-component.com
    http://www.sanyo-solar.eu

Source: SANYO by Panasonic

2012 SOUL BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL Announces Mega Line-Up R. Kelly, Ledisi, LL Cool J & Melanie Fiona

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EXPERIENCE

FEATURING THE BEST IN COMEDY AND R&B

HOSTED BY ARUBA

LOS ANGELES, March 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Rocking the crowd like no other, the 2012 SOUL BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL epic line-up of contemporary R&B, jazz infused, multi-platinum selling, chart-topping, Grammy Award-nominated and Grammy Award-winning perennial heavyweights hosted by Aruba are LL Cool J & Ledisi bringing the heat on May 26 followed by a stunning headline show, R. Kelly & Melanie Fiona performing May 27 on the Nikki Beach Amphitheatre main stage. SOUL BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL paints a broad stroke across the cosmopolitan landscape of Aruba presenting festival-goers a sure-to-be breathtaking entertainment Memorial Day weekend, May 23-28.

"Aruba welcomes all the fans of the SOUL BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL for another celebration of spectacular performances and a chic island ambiance under the starry skies and on Aruba's famous beaches," said Otmar Oduber, Minister of Tourism, Transportation and Labor.

"We are thrilled to deliver an artist line-up that has our radio and sponsor partners buzzing," said Mark Adkins, producer. "Fans will enjoy an intimate and personal show Memorial Day Weekend in Aruba coupled with the 2012 SOUL BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL'S sizzling beach parties, sophisticated Night Club after parties and extraordinary cuisine."

For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest updates sign up for CLUB SOUL BEACH, at http://www.soulbeach.net or visit http://www.aruba.com. Join the Soul Beach Music Festival community: follow us on Twitter @SoulBeachMusic and become a fan of 2012 Soul Beach Music Festival on http://www.Facebook.com/soulbeachmusic.

The 2012 Soul Beach Music Festival is sponsored by the Aruba Tourism Authority, Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association, Uptown Magazine, Renaissance Aruba Resorts & Casino, The Westin Resort & Casino, Aruba, De Palm Tours and Economy Car Rental.

Aruba, One happy island, is truly an extraordinary experience.  Located only two-and-a-half hours by air from Miami and four hours from New York City, the island is ideally situated in the southern Caribbean and boasts year-round cooling trade winds and perfect weather with average annual temperatures of 82 Fahrenheit and less than 20 inches of rainfall per year. Aruba serves up 28 luxurious hotels/resorts, championship golf courses, sumptuous spas, vibrant casinos, extraordinary international and local cuisine, exclusive shops and boutiques, exciting land and water activities, art galleries and museums, world-famous festivals and events, clubs and cafes with live music and world class beaches. The backdrop of a cosmopolitan tropical destination with warm, hospitable people is the perfect place for first-time guests and loyal visitors. For more information, please call 1-800-TO-ARUBA, visit us online at http://www.aruba.com or find us on Facebook.

Media Contact*donna@soulbeach.net

SOURCE  Soul Beach Festival Productions

Soul Beach Festival Productions

Web Site: http://www.aruba.com

Qwilt Unveils Unified, Transparent Caching Solution for Online-Video Delivery

Single platform combining networking, storage and video delivery is faster, smaller and more power-efficient than legacy technology; a plug-and-play device

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., March 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Qwilt Inc., a provider of pioneering video-infrastructure products that are enabling the online-entertainment revolution, today announced the release of its QB-Series transparent-video delivery solution, a transformative product that gives carriers unprecedented and cost-efficient control over Internet-video traffic on their networks.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111020/SF89908LOGO)

The QB-Series product packs the ability to identify, monitor, store and deliver video content on fixed or mobile networks onto a single platform, as opposed to the more-cumbersome, "bolted-together" solutions on the market today. The solution is sorely needed as carriers search for new technologies to handle a surge in online-video traffic over their networks; video is surpassing 50% of downstream Internet traffic in some markets.

More important, the performance of Qwilt's integrated solution is significantly faster than solutions that combine multiple products.  Qwilt testing reveals a performancegain of at least 5x over such competing products.

Qwilt's technology uses patented, video-content classification and analysis technology to accurately and transparently detect video content in an operator's Internet-traffic stream. Then, it adds optimized storage and delivery capabilities to create a unified appliance offering carrier-grade performance, scalability and reliability. The product is essentially a plug-and-play device that can be dropped easily into existing networks without requiring any infrastructure changes.

"More than 50 carriers worldwide with whom we are engaged are telling us that existing solutions to the online-video challenge are hard to deploy and use, and they don't scale well as the network grows," said Alon Maor, Qwilt CEO. "Qwilt, on the other hand, took a blank-slate approach, so we were able to design a new, single-platform solution that is significantly faster and more powerful than competitors'."

"We have identified an urgent need in Japan for a solution to ever-growing Internet video traffic and its associated costs for network operators. After working with many members of the Qwilt team for over a decade, we are pleased to be partnering with them yet again and believe the company and its products will have a major impact on network operators worldwide," said Masashi Ono, Division General Manager of IT Frontier Corporation, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan.

Specific benefits of Qwilt's solution include:

    --  Reduced infrastructure costs. Using the Qwilt QB-Series product can
        reduce carriers' video traffic demands by 60-80%. With video approaching
        50% of downstream traffic in some markets, this translates into a
        significant reduction in bandwidth demands and overall costs, reducing
        the need for infrastructure upgrades to support growing video delivery.
    --  Better network visibility and control. Today carriers have no insight
        into how over-the-top (OTT) video is traversing their networks, or the
        delivery costs it incurs. The QB-Series is the only offline solution
        that delivers insight into video-traffic characteristics and the ability
        to control delivery of that video for optimal performance.
    --  Dynamic adjustments to network change. By continuously analyzing and
        monitoring network traffic for new video sites and traffic patterns, and
        implementing delivery actions based on that insight, Qwilt helps carrier
        networks adjust in real time to changing network dynamics. As the market
        continues to grow and change, this agility will be essential for
        carriers.
    --  Improved Subscriber Quality of Experience (QoE). As subscriber retention
        becomes critical for operator bottom lines, protecting the subscriber
        experience becomes that much more important. By using in-network video
        delivery, Qwilt helps carriers improve the QoE for video and ensures an
        unparalleled online-viewing experience.
    --  New Monetization Avenues. By partnering with third-party CDNs Qwilt
        helps operators monetize delivery of over-the-top (OTT) video traffic
        while enhancing service levels to the consumers.
Qwilt's technology could help many carriers struggling with an upswing in high-quality, video traffic, says Aditya Kishore, a senior analyst with Heavy Reading who recently authored a whitepaper about video-optimized caching. "Simply expanding capacity as traffic grows exponentially is not sustainable without a clear, resultant revenue stream--and in competitive markets, that may not be a realistic expectation," he wrote in the report.

Qwilt will provide comprehensive demonstrations of the QB-Series Transparent Video Delivery solution at CableLabs' Winter Conference 2012 to be held in Philadelphia March 11 -13.

About Qwilt

Qwilt develops pioneering video technology that helps carriers identify, monitor, store and deliver high-quality, Internet video through one cost-effective platform. Qwilt's solutions enable carriers to better monetize Internet video and let consumers see the online entertainment they want in the highest possible quality. The company, based in Redwood Shores, Calif., is founded and staffed by veterans from Cisco and Juniper and backed by leading investors including Accel Partners, Redpoint Ventures and Crescent Point Group. For more information, visit http://www.qwilt.com.

CONTACT:

Rebecca Buckman

The Buckman Group / for Qwilt
becky@thebuckmangroup.com

650-703-0364

SOURCE  Qwilt Inc.

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111020/SF89908LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Qwilt Inc.

Web Site: http://www.qwilt.com

WD(R) Completes Acquisition of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies

Creates the Industry's Deepest Technology Capability and Broadest Product Portfolio

IRVINE, Calif., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Digital Corp. (NYSE: WDC) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Viviti Technologies Ltd. (formerly Hitachi Global Storage Technologies), effective Mar. 8, 2012, for $3.9 billion in cash and 25 million shares of WDC common stock valued at approximately $0.9 billion(1). Hitachi, Ltd. now owns approximately 10 percent of WDC shares outstanding, and it has the right to designate two individuals to the board of directors of WD.

The new WD will operate with WD Technologies (WD) and HGST as wholly owned subsidiaries. Aggregated revenues of the two companies in 2011 were $15 billion. As chief executive officer of WD, John Coyne heads up the new office of the CEO, with Steve Milligan as president, Tim Leyden as chief operating officer and Wolfgang Nickl as chief financial officer.

"The completion of this acquisition is a truly momentous event in the 42-year history of our company," said Coyne. "With ownership of two successful companies and the best talent available in the industry, we expect to accomplish great things as we build the new WD to be the world's leading storage solutions provider with the industry's deepest technology capability, broadest product portfolio and best-in-class execution. Similar to successful multi-brand models in other industries, the two subsidiaries will compete in the marketplace with separate brands and product lines while sharing common values of customer delight, value creation, consistent profitability and growth."

A recently updated HDD forecast by IDC predicts industry revenue growth at a compound annual growth rate of 8.6 percent per year from 2011 to 2016.(2) "The growth in demand for digital storage continues unabated driven by the expansion of digital content in consumer and commercial applications," said John Rydning, research vice president, hard disk drives & semiconductors, IDC. "Mobility, cloud infrastructure, social business, and big data analytics are stimulating demand for digital content in new formats and new market segments, creating the need for an increasingly diverse set of storage products and technology capabilities from storage solutions providers."

"With a significantly broadened customer base and expanded resources, the new WD is in a strong position to seize the growth opportunity in stored digital content," said Coyne. "We have acquired a strong presence in the traditional enterprise market, substantially increased our presence in the industry's fastest-growing segments--cloud and mobility--and improved our capability to address new market initiatives such as enterprise SSD, storage solutions for small business and low-profile HDDs and hybrid drives for Ultrabooks(TM). As a result, WD is better positioned than ever for success."

The cash portion of the purchase price was financed by a $2.3 billion, five-year term loan, short-term financing under a $500 million revolving credit agreement and existing company cash balances. The company expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis, excluding acquisition-related expenses, restructuring charges and amortization of intangibles. In addition, the company expects to maintain a positive net cash position.

Supplemental information regarding the HGST acquisition can be found on the WD website at http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/company/investor/SupplementalInformation.pdf. For additional information, please visit http://www.wdc.com/en/company/hgst/.

About WD 

WD, a storage industry pioneer and long-time leader, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users' data accessible and secure from loss. Its storage technologies serve a wide range of host applications including client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own storage systems. Its home entertainment products enable rich engagement with stored digital content.

WD was founded in 1970. The company's products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital®, WD® and HGST(TM) brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (http://www.westerndigital.com)to access a variety of financial and investor information.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used, the words "anticipates", "believes", "expects", "may", "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the anticipated benefits of the HGST acquisition, the company's expectation that the HGST acquisition will be immediately accretive to earnings on a non-GAAP basis (excluding acquisition-related expenses, restructuring charges and amortization of intangibles), the company's expectation that it will maintain a positive net cash position, statements concerning growth in demand for digital storage and the statement that the company is well positioned for continued success. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the possibility that the expected benefits of the HGST acquisition may not materialize as expected; higher than anticipated recovery costs associated with the 2011 Thailand floods; unfavorable changes in the results of the company's operations which adversely impact its ability to comply with financial covenants in its debt agreement entered into in connection with the acquisition; the commitments made pursuant to the regulatory approvals described below; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the company's recent Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on January 27, 2012, to which your attention is directed. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Regulatory Approvals: In connection with obtaining the regulatory approvals required to complete the acquisition of HGST, WD agreed, (i) subject to review by regulatory agencies in certain jurisdictions, to divest certain assets to Toshiba Corporation that will enable Toshiba to manufacture 3.5-inch hard drives for the desktop and consumer electronics markets and will expand Toshiba's capacity to manufacture and sell 3.5-inch hard drives for near-line (business critical) applications and (ii) to conditions required by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce ("MOFCOM") including adopting measures to keep HGST as an independent competitor until MOFCOM agrees otherwise (the minimum period is two years). Compliance with these undertakings may limit synergies that could otherwise be achieved and involve significant costs or require changes in business practices that result in reduced revenue.

Western Digital, WD and the WD logo are registered trademarks of Western Digital Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

(1) Valued as of closing price on Mar. 7, 2012.

(2) "IDC Worldwide Hard Disk Drive 2011-2016 Forecast: The Industry Hits the Reset Button", (IDC Doc # 233547), March 2012

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000711/WDCLOGO)

SOURCE  Western Digital Corp.

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000711/WDCLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Western Digital Corp.

CONTACT: Bob Blair, Investor Relations, +1-949-672-7834, robert.blair@wdc.com, or Steve Shattuck, Public Relations, +1-949-672-7817, steve.shattuck@wdc.com

Web Site: http://www.westerndigital.com

Fantasy Politics Unveiled at LAUNCH Festival

Rock the Vote, Intrade Partner on "Fantasy Football for Politics"

Quantifies Political Momentum and Influence in "Power Score"

SAN FRANCISCO, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the LAUNCH Festival a group of tech entrepreneurs and political enthusiasts unveiled Fantasy Politics, a product that applies the fantasy sports model to politics. The mission of Fantasy Politics is to engage and educate the American public about its leaders and the political process and to give political junkies an online gaming experience to compete with each other. The game is currently in closed beta.

Similar to fantasy sports, competitors draft a team of national political figures, including pundits, and then compete head-to-head with other teams in their league. Competitors can trade and drop politicians or sign free agents just as they would in fantasy sports. Points are accrued through several measurable metrics such as social media followers, news mentions, polling, and fundraising.

"More people voted in 2008 than watched this year's Super Bowl, yet there is no online gaming experience that matches the billion fantasy sports market played by over 30 million Americans," said Aaron Michel, founder of Fantasy Politics. "And the data we aggregate into one quantifiable Power Score will be a huge indicator of how politicians and pundits are trending in influence."

Aside from the gaming experience, Fantasy Politics collects over 30 data points on every politician and aggregates them into a Power Score, a relative measure of political momentum. The Power Score quantifiably measures the current influence, effectiveness, and popularity of a politician or pundit into a score between 0-100. All of this data is easily accessible on the website, offering users a one-stop-shop for political information.

The game also serves as an educational tool in getting students of all ages more engaged in politics and current events.

"Fantasy Politics is an innovative tool to engage young people in creating political and social change in our country," said Chrissy Faesson, VP, Marketing and Communications, Rock the Vote. "At Rock the Vote, we strive to motivate and mobilize young people to participate in our democracy and to become better, more informed citizens. Fantasy Politics is an excellent way to engage our leaders of tomorrow."

Rock the Vote, Intrade, Open Secrets, Eucalyptus, and Voto Latino have partnered with Fantasy Politics on this project.

The LAUNCH Festival features 40 cutting edge, and never-before seen, technology companies debuting their products for investors who have committed hundreds of thousands of dollars in investments for companies at LAUNCH. Hundreds of start-ups compete for the 40 spots awarded to the new companies debuting at LAUNCH.

Fantasy Politics was founded by Aaron Michel, who worked in presidential politics and attended Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government before entering the entrepreneurial arena.

The Fantasy Politics team includes:

    --  Morgan P. Muchnick, former government affairs director for a DC lobbying
        firm and former senior staff member for US Senate Homeland Security &
        Governmental Affairs Committee and Senator Fred Thompson. Morgan
        graduated from UCLA and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    --  George Marootian, a senior technical architect who spent the past 15
        years designing and building online equities trading platforms and
        complex modeling algorithms and working as a CTO
    --  Matt DiVito, a recent Boston University graduate, expert fantasy game
        player and budding entrepreneur
    --  Deepak Saxena, a senior software engineer who founded Playing11.com, a
        fantasy sports game with over 80,000 users
    --  Matt Freund, the team's Harvard Business School intern, a former Army
        Ranger, and President of the Harvard Business School Republicans

The Advisory Board includes:

    --  Scott Fairchild, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's campaign manager
    --  Scott Ferson, former press secretary to Senator Ted Kennedy and founder
        of the Liberty Square Group
    --  Aaron McLear, former press secretary to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
        and co-founder of The Ginsberg McLear Group
    --  Andy Tobias, Democratic National Committee Treasurer

For more information on Fantasy Politics please visit http://www.fantasypolitics.co

SOURCE  Fantasy Politics

Fantasy Politics

CONTACT: Aaron McLear, +1-916-753-3699, aaron@TheGMGroup.com, for Fantasy Politics

Web Site: http://www.fantasypolitics.co

UpTo's 'Future-Tense' Social Platform Brings Users Next Evolution of Social Media

UpTo is one of 40 companies selected to launch at this week's prestigious LAUNCH Festival in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- UpTo today announcedit has launched a new social application focused on the "future tense," allowing users to see what their friends are up to ahead of time and share what they will be up to directly from their existing calendar. UpTo is one of only 40 start-ups chosen to launch at this week's prestigious LAUNCH Festival in San Francisco.

Unlike Facebook and Foursquare, which allow people to share the recent past and present, UpTo delivers both social and utility value by focusing on the future. UpTo deeply integrates with the user's existing calendar to allow them to share and comment on meetings, appointments and events with a network of friends. With UpTo, users control exactly which events get shared and with whom.

"Over the past several years we've seen a social media landscape dominated by status updates and check-ins that are after-the-fact. Our approach was to build a social layer that deeply integrates with your existing calendar so users can share what they're up to and chat about it within the application," said Greg Schwartz, co-founder & CEO of UpTo. "The calendar is the platform that most people already use to keep track of activities and events. With UpTo you can share your daughter's school play with your family, your upcoming sales meeting with work colleagues, or this weekend's night out with friends. UpTo encompasses the next evolution of social media by going beyond the social graph and building the intent graph."

Users can add friends to their UpTo network from their existing social graph. When a friend is added, they can be placed into Groups, such as Friends, Family, Co-Workers, etc. The user is then able to see a dynamic feed of all upcoming events - his own, and those of his friends - looking forward in time. An intuitive Quick Share button allows the user to share events by simply tapping an event and selecting Groups to share with.

UpTo is also the first social platform to enable 'Calendar Tagging' as another way to share events. With this unique feature, users can tag the title of an event in their existing calendar to share with a specific UpTo Group. Users have the option to share events with multiple groups and can also share events straight from their calendar to Facebook or Twitter.

UpTo is based in Detroit and was co-founded by Schwartz along with David Webber, CTO; Chris Kaufman, Chief of Product Design; and Mathew Piccinato, Head of Mobile Development. The company is backed by Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) and Ludlow Ventures.

"At Detroit Venture Partners we're always looking for entrepreneurs that are committed to developing innovative, successful businesses - and the UpTo guys are just that," said Josh Linkner, CEO & Managing Partner of DVP. "UpTo's seamless calendar integration and focus on actionable, intent-based information distinguishes it from other apps like it in the space, and it's that type of ingenuity that makes a startup thrive."

UpTo is currently available in the App Store for iPhone users, and is expected to be available for Android users this summer. For more information about UpTo, please visit upto.com.

About UpTo:
UpTo (upto.com) is a Detroit-based start-up that designed and developed the UpTo platform.  Founded in 2011 and backed by Detroit Venture Partners and Ludlow Ventures, UpTo is focused on bringing users the next evolution of social media - the future tense.  UpTo enables users to share what they're up to, straight from their calendar with the people who matter.  For more information visit UpTo on the web at upto.com or on Twitter at twitter.com/uptoapp.

About Detroit Venture Partners:
Detroit Venture Partners (http://www.detroitventurepartners.com) is a venture capital firm that invests in seed and early-stage technology companies with a strong emphasis on Detroit-based startups.  In addition to capital, the company provides hands-on coaching, mentorship, support, and resources to help drive growth and success.  Founded in 2010 and led by Josh Linkner, Dan Gilbert, Brian Hermelin and Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the firm aims to create jobs, urban density, and hope by backing the next generation of Detroit entrepreneurs. 

SOURCE  UpTo

UpTo

CONTACT: Amy Farrell for UpTo, +1-214-250-4995, amy@upto.com

Web Site: http://upto.com

InnoDisk SATADOM Qualified by Intel for the New Romley Server Boards

SILICON VALLEY, Calif., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- InnoDisk Corporation, a leader in industrial DRAM and Flash storage solutions, announces that its SATADOM storage device has been qualified by Intel for the new Romley Server Boards. InnoDisk SATADOM has been selected as the preferred boot device on the SATA port.  SATADOM has five times the performance of normal USB drive (135MB/sec and 116MB/sec Read/Write versus 25MB/sec and 20MB/sec for USB). SATADOM's low profile form-factor makes it ideal for 1U and blade server applications. InnoDisk SATADOM, designed with SLC NAND Flash, delivers the highest endurance for performance demanding and mission critical applications.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120308/SF67400LOGO)

Innovative Solutions for Performance

InnoDisk SATADOM offers both Standard Grade (0 degree C~+70 degree C) and Industrial Grade (-40 degree C~+85 degree C), SMART function to monitor product life-cycle, and power pin 7 design.  SATADOM is currently the smallest Flash storage device with 64GB (SLC) capacity.  It features a cable-less (power pin 7) design, low power consumption and small form-factor for low-profile (1U blade server) applications.  In addition, users will also have the benefits of customized firmware, controller and fixed BOM, making SATADOM the best substitute industrial storage solution for HDD, SSD, and USB.

InnoDisk SATADOM is more reliable and durable than traditional HDD and USB, and it uses 80% less power than HDD.  SATADOM's unique designs and Plug & Play feature make it the most powerful boot device & energy-efficient storage solution for 1U server applications.

Why InnoDisk?

InnoDisk has demonstrated its strong capabilities in product design by better performance and higher quality innovative customizable solutions. This is one of the major factors why Intel works with InnoDisk as the preferred storage solution provider. InnoDisk will continue to cooperate with Intel to make innovative products while providing outstanding customer service.

About InnoDisk

Founded in March 2005, InnoDisk Corporation has become the industry-leading designer, manufacturer and solution provider of DRAM and Flash storage devices for industrial applications, cloud and data storage. With the extensive know-how and experience in DRAM and NAND flash memory, InnoDisk develops cost effective products with quality, performance and reliability.

Always focusing on the ever-changing demands of the market, InnoDisk provides industrial and enterprise storage solutions of DRAM and Flash products for a wide range of application platforms. InnoDisk also licenses its Intellectual Properties to many global corporations.

Visit us online at http://www.innodisk.com.

Marketing contact: George Liu at 510-770-9421 or george_liu@innodisk.com.

SOURCE  InnoDisk Corporation

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120308/SF67400LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
InnoDisk Corporation

Web Site: http://www.innodisk.com

Rune Announces Sponsorship of Black Hat Europe 2012

SINGAPORE, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Rune, an information security firm committed to empowering the defense of privacy, today announced its Platinum Sponsorship of Black Hat Europe 2012. Rune information security professionals will participate in the Black Hat Briefings that will be held March 14-16, 2012 at the NH Grand Krasnapolsky Hotel in Amsterdam. 

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110919/AQ71288LOGO)

Rune is thrilled to follow up a successful show at Black Hat Abu Dhabi 2011 with another show in the security-rich environment of Black Hat. As a Black Hat Sustaining Sponsor, Rune is continuing its commitment to collaboration with the global information security community.  It is these types of events and conferences that lead to great solutions that help solve the global information security epidemic. 

Rune will be showcasing its premier security product, Deadbolt. Deadbolt is a portable security solution that allows users to secure their critical information, such as emails, documents, images and spreadsheets, either at rest or in transit. With its focus on protecting the data, the secured information can easily move across any infrastructure, hostile or otherwise, providing the user confidence that it is protected and only those with a key will be able to access it. 

"We're really excited to be demonstrating Deadbolt at Black Hat Europe.  As we've continued on the Black Hat circuit over the last year, we've had a great time meeting customers, partners and other security professionals that all share a passion for privacy.  We'll be demonstrating how Deadbolt empowers users to take control of their information security locally and in the cloud," said Lance Gaines, President/CTO, of Rune.

About Rune

Singapore-based Rune Information Security Corporation Pte Ltd creates solutions that maintain email and Internet privacy and security in a world of electronic eavesdropping and cyber corporate espionage.  Rune delivers toolkits that security professionals and individuals can integrate into their information systems and PCs that guarantee that email, proprietary documents and other data remains private and secure. By using standards based encryption as well as unbreakable Vernam encryption one-time pad, Rune has developed an easy-to-use, easy-to-manage system that creates a standards based and compliance driven, unbeatable security  wall that will ensure proprietary private information and corporate data remains readable only to those who have the pad and key.  Rune was founded by a group of like-minded professionals who believe in empowering and maintaining digital privacy and security through tried and tested technology and methods. Please visit http://www.rune.sg for more information about Rune's full suite of security solutions and products.

About Black Hat

Black Hat provides briefings and training to leading corporations and government agencies around the world. Black Hat differentiates itself by working at many levels within the corporate, government, and underground communities. This unmatched informational reach enables Black Hat to be continuously aware of the newest vulnerabilities, defense mechanisms, and industry trends. Black Hat Briefings and Trainings are held annually in Abu Dhabi, Europe, and Las Vegas. Black Hat is produced by UBM TechWeb. More information is available at http://www.blackhat.com.

Rune Contact:
Name: Kim Mercier
Rune Information Security Corporation Pte Ltd
Telephone: +65 6408-0575
Email: kim.mercier@rune.sg

SOURCE  Rune

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110919/AQ71288LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Rune

Web Site: http://www.blackhat.com

Panasonic's First Wave of Award Winning 2012 Smart VIERA® HDTVs Now Available

Smart VIERA Plasma, LED and LCD Models Focus on Enhancing the User's TV Experience With Expanded Pristine Picture Quality, Easy Operation, VIERA Connect(TM) and Networking Capability, Cutting Edge Design and Eco Advances

SECAUCUS, N.J., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its history and tradition of producing award winning HDTVs and following on its success at the recently concluded 2012 CES, Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America, the industry and technology leader in High Definition televisions, today announced the availability of the company's initial wave of 2012 Smart VIERA® Plasma, LED and LCD HDTVs, defining the core of a new Internet connected lifestyle.

Panasonic models in the ST50, UT50, and XT50 Plasma series and the E50, ET5, E5 and X5 LED series will be available this month. The LED models introduce two new screen sizes - a 47-inch class (47 inches measured diagonally) that will be available this month, with 55-inch class (54.6 inches measured diagonally) models to follow in April and May. In addition to the two new screen sizes, Panasonic has increased its LED model line-up from seven models in 2011 to 16 in 2012.

The 2012 models expand Panasonic's 3D lineup and enhance its commitment to its Internet platform, VIERA Connect(TM)(1). With this in mind, new for 2012 is a cloud-based architecture that opens the VIERA Connect IPTV platform to an infinite number of apps, thereby cementing its reputation for creating innovative and cutting-edge products while focusing on providing the consumer with the ultimate in home entertainment(2).

In addition, Panasonic continues its commitment to the environment by improving the panel luminance efficiency of the VIERA Plasmas, as evidenced in the 100,000 hour life span of the panels, as well as producing mercury-and lead-free panels. Enhanced power efficiency has been addressed with, among other technology advances, new and improved phosphor mixtures and more efficient electronics. The new advanced LED IPS (In Plane Switching) panels reduce on-mode power consumption by about 25% compared with last year's comparable models. 

Panasonic is dedicated to bringing new picture-improving technologies to HDTVs and the 2012 Plasma lineup also builds upon that philosophy. The 2012 Smart VIERA® Plasma HDTVs produce black levels that have in the past been consistently recognized as among the best in the industry. The VIERA HDTVs also feature super fast response time, intuitive and therefore easy to operate controls, a vast number and variety of internet apps, and a new, clean and simple design incorporating Panasonic's Glass and Metal concept to express an elegant and luxurious theme.

"Our enhanced and very strong 2012 model lineup builds on Panasonic's priority to be the highest quality entertainment company, providing the consumer with many options and our new lineup does just that," said Henry Hauser, Vice President Merchandising, Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America. "Panasonic is extremely proud that for the last three years our Plasma HDTVs have been nominated as CES Best in Show and our LED and LCD lineup is stronger than ever with the addition of two larger screen sizes, the 47-inch and the 55-inch. We continually strive to surpass the previous year's commercial and critical success. And, Panasonic's new cosmetics and design make for a truly beautiful TV, further elevating our brand awareness with the consumer. That is precisely why Panasonic's 2012 Smart VIERA models will once again prove to be the industry leader. Panasonic is also very proud to have been named one of the top ten global green brands of 2011."

Select Smart VIERA Plasma models employ NeoPlasma Black 2500 to provide a crisp image with 2500 FFD (Focused Field Drive) technology even when the content shows very fast motion, and to control the light, which enables viewers to see subtle details in dark scenes, with the new 24,576-steps super fine gradation. The 2012 panel further reduces reflections and creates sharper pictures with higher contrast in brighter environments. In addition, a new panel structure with improved filter and pre-discharge control technology contributes to an increased native contrast level. Additionally, all the 3D models include DLNA connections for easy link-up to other DLNA equipped products.

The Smart VIERA LED line-up continues to benefit from the addition of the IPS LED Panel technology. The 2012 LED models deliver a wide viewing angle with almost no picture degradation at off angle viewing and offer up to 1920 backlight scanning for higher moving picture resolution during fast action scenes with a reduction of afterglow resulting in a smooth, crisp image. The high performance, high speed, high transmittance panel materials contribute to the 178 degree color viewing angle, high contrast performance and fast response time, which in turn dramatically reduces artifacts and 3D crosstalk.

The first Smart VIERA® Plasma series to hit the market features self illuminating panels with deep black levels and Neo Plasma technologies, providing an Infinite Black Filter with a high efficiency panel that generates the best balance of black and white under bright environments.  Select 2012 models employ the NeoPlasma Black 2500 (VT/GT/ST), a two million pixel dimming driver, a new custom driver LSI and a fast switching phosphor panel on all of Panasonic's 1080p 3D models.

The ST50 series is the first of Panasonic's highly regarded Plasma HDTVs to ship. The TC-P50ST50, 50-inch class (49.9 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-P55ST50, 55-inch class (55.1 inches measured diagonally) are now available, while  the TC-P60ST50, 60-inch class (60.1 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-P65ST50, 65-inch class (64.7 inches measured diagonally) will be available later this month and in April respectively. The ST50 models include the Infinite Black Pro Panel; Full HD 3D; VIERA Connect(TM) with a web browser and built-in WiFi; 1080p Full HD resolution; 2500 FFD (Focused Field Drive); fast switching phosphors; 2D to 3D conversion; Social Networking TV which allows the user to simultaneously view a program on the TV and connect with their Twitter and/or Facebook account on the same screen ; 3D Real Sound with 8-train speakers -eight dome type micro speakers with reflectors that deliver wide ranging, high quality sound; a new louver filter; Media Player;  Bluetooth; DLNA; VIERA Link(TM); three HDMI connections and two USB ports.

There are four screen sizes in the Full HD 3D UT50 series - the TC-P42UT50, 42-inch class (41.9 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-P50UT50, 50-inch class (49.9 inches measured diagonally) will be available later this month.  The TC-P55UT50, 55-inch class (55.1 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-P60UT50, 60-inch class (60.1 inches measured diagonally) will be available in April and May, respectively. All offer Full HD 3D; 1080p Full HD resolution; VIERA Connect (WiFi ready); 2500 FFD (Focused Field Drive); fast switching phosphors; 2D to 3D conversion; Social Networking TV; Media Player; Bluetooth; DLNA; VIERA Link; two HDMI connections and two USB ports.

The XT50 series provides the consumer with an affordable 3D solution and the Online Movies feature, a service that provides select Panasonic IPTV functionality by adding five of the most popular movie sites to the TV's internet functionality. The TC-P50XT50, 50-inch class (49.9 inches measured diagonally) produces 720p resolution and features 2D to 3D conversion; 600 Hz subfield drive; Bluetooth; Media Player; DLNA; VIERA Link(TM); two HDMI and two USB connections and will be available this month.

Panasonic's move to larger LED screen sizes is evident in the E50 Series, featuring the IPS LED panel, a slim design and brilliant picture. The E50 is available in three screen sizes. The  TC-L42E50, 42-inch class (42 inches measured diagonally) shipped in February, while the  TC-L47E50, 47-inch class (47 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-L55E50, 55-inch class (54.6 inches measured diagonally) will be available later this month. Featuring 360 backlight scanning for higher moving picture resolution during fast action scenes, and a crisp image, the E50 models also feature 1080p resolution; VIERA Connect(TM); Social Networking TV function; DLNA; a PC input; four HDMI terminals and two USB ports. The series is Wi-Fi ready and Energy Star certified.

The ET5 Series signals Panasonic's initial entry into the polarized 3D arena.  The TC-L47ET5, 47-inch class (47 inches measured diagonally) and the TC-L55ET5, 55-inch class (54.6 inches measured diagonally) ship this month while the TC-L42ET5, 42-inch class (42 inches measured diagonally) ships in April. The ET5 models incorporate the IPS LED panel; 360 backlight scanning for higher moving picture resolution during fast action scenes, and a smooth, crisp image; VIERA Connect with built-in WiFi and browser; 2D to 3D conversion; Social Networking TV function; Media Player; DLNA; four HDMI and two USB terminals and a PC input. Furthermore, each of the ET5s comes with 4 pairs of polarized 3D glasses. The ET5 series is also Energy Star certified.

The four LED HDTVs in the E5 series - available this month - include the IPS LED panel and feature 1080p resolution; Online Movies; DLNA; four HDMI terminals; two USB ports and a PC input. The TC-L32E5, 32-inch class (31.5 inches measured diagonally), TC-L37E5, 37-inch class (36.5 inches measured diagonally), TC-L42E5, 42-inch class (42 inches measured diagonally) and TC-L47E5-inch class (47 inches measured diagonally) are Wi-Fi ready and are Energy Star certified.

Also available this month is the TC-L32X5, a 32-inch class (31.5 inches measured diagonally) model. Featuring the IPS LED panel, the L32X5 includes three HDMI and one USB connection. The LED HDTV also incorporates a SD Memory card slot, allowing the user to view digital still images and video recorded on a SD card.

Panasonic's top of the line Plasma series, the VT50 and GT50 will be available later this month and in April. The top of the line LED models will begin shipping this month - the TC-L47DT50 ships later this month, the TC-L55DT50 ships in April and the TC-L55WT50 and the TC-L47WT50 will be available in May.

About Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American Subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations, offers a wide-range of consumer solutions in the U.S. and Canada.  The Company's portfolio of innovative consumer products ranges from VIERA Full HD 3D Televisions, Blu-ray players, LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Home Audio, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Wellness and Personal Care products and more. 

Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics company to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 ranking. Follow Panasonic on Twitter @panasonicdirect, and additional company information for media is available at http://www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

(1) Access to a broadband internet connection is required to access VIERA Connect features.

(2) Some services such as Netflix Amazon Instant Video and league sports sites have a separate fee structure to view movies and sports events

SOURCE  Panasonic

Panasonic

CONTACT: Chris De Maria (Panasonic), +1-201-348-7182, Christopher.Demaria@us.panasonic.com; Blayne Murphy (Cohn & Wolfe), +1-212-798-9763, blayne.murphy@cohnwolfe.com; or Jeff Samuels (Panasonic), +1-201-392-4571, jeff.samuels@ext.us.panasonic.com

Web Site: http://www.panasonic.com

Keynote Speakers Announced for UBM TechWeb's Enterprise 2.0 Conference in Boston

Registration Now Open; Event Co-Located with First-Time Mobile Connect to Highlight Mobility & Mobile Technology in the Enterprise

SAN FRANCISCO, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Enterprise 2.0 Conference , produced by UBM TechWeb, today announced keynote speakers from American Airlines, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Lithium Technologies and MIT.  These industry leaders and enterprise customers will take the mainstage to present the latest innovations in social, analytics and big data tools and technologies. The Enterprise 2.0 Conference, taking place at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, June 18-21, 2012, is the leading event for companies looking to optimize their business through next-generation collaborative applications and platforms. To register or for more information visit: http://www.e2conf.com/boston/.

The list of confirmed keynote speakers that will continue to grow as the event nears includes:

    --  Nathan Bricklin, Senior Vice President, Head of Social Strategy, Wells
        Fargo, Wholesale Services
    --  Phillip Easter, Director of Mobile Apps, American Airlines
    --  Andrew McAfee, Principal Research Scientist, MIT's Center for Digital
        Business
    --  Jared Spataro, Senior Director, SharePoint Product Management, Microsoft
        Corporation
    --  Michael Wu, PhD, Principal Scientist, Analytics, Lithium Technologies,
        Inc.
"Our impressive keynote line-up sets the tone for the Enterprise 2.0 Conference in 2012.  This year in Boston we're placing an emphasis on how businesses can put social, big data and analytics to work, accelerating information flow and increasing engagement and productivity," said Paige Finkelman, Enterprise 2.0 Conference General Manager.  "Expect to see rich keynote customer stories from the likes of Wells Fargo and American Airlines, as well as a live, interactive collaboration experiment with the audience that utilizes real-time analysis from Michael Wu, PhD."

In addition to keynote presentations, the Enterprise 2.0 Conference agenda includes a multi-track conference, including a fresh, new track on Organizational and Operational Readiness, deep-dive workshops, and an Expo floor featuring the latest technologies from top Enterprise 2.0 and social business vendors.  Enterprise 2.0 is the place to step back and rethink what the influences of social, big data and analytics means for business.  The Enterprise 2.0 Conference is co-located with newly launched Mobile Connect, uniquely positioned to bring together technology and business decision makers to explore the questions surrounding the technology, applications and management considerations for running business on a mobile platform.

Event sponsors include IBM, Cisco, Microsoft, Moxie Software, Yammer, Actiance, Saba, Badgeville and Spigit.  To register, visit: http://www.e2conf.com/boston/.  For media registration inquiries, email Joylyn Tanner at jtanner@techweb.com.

About The Enterprise 2.0 Conference
The Enterprise 2.0 Conference brings together business leaders and technologists to explore what the influences of social, mobile, analytics, cloud and big data mean for business, and to find out what's next in enterprise apps. Along with the Boston and Santa Clara conferences, Enterprise 2.0 digital's portfolio encompasses a monthly webcast series, virtual events, and The BrainYard.com. As the online destination for social business, The BrainYard.com provides news, analysis and insights on the social business market. The site was launched as a joint venture between UBM TechWeb's InformationWeek and Enterprise 2.0. For more information on Enterprise 2.0 portfolio visit http://www.e2conf.com.

About UBM TechWeb
UBM TechWeb the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology. Through its three core businesses - media solutions, marketing services and paid content - UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands and media applications in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs and IT managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software Developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively engage in UBM TechWeb's communities and information resources monthly. UBM TechWeb brands include: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat and Enterprise Connect; award-winning online resources such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Network Computing; and market-leading magazines InformationWeek, Wall Street & Technology, and Advanced Trading. UBM TechWeb is a part of UBM plc, one of the world's largest media businesses as a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

SOURCE  UBM TechWeb

UBM TechWeb

CONTACT: Joylyn Tanner, PR Manager, +1-415-947-6319, jtanner@techweb.com

Web Site: http://www.ubmtechweb.com

Jagermeister and Portugal. The Man Invite Fans to Design Official 2012 Jagermeister Music Tour Artwork

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jagermeister, the #1 selling imported liqueur in the United States and Alaskan rock band Portugal. The Man are teaming up with cutting-edge social media platform, Talenthouse, in search of artists to design a limited edition show poster for select markets of the 2012 Jagermeister Music Tour.

In celebration of the 2012 Jagermeister Music Tour, which is headlined by Portugal. The Man, fans are invited to submit designs for the opportunity to have their artwork become part of the official 2012 tour poster. Portugal. The Man's lead singer as well as designer of all the band's album artwork, t-shirts and posters, John Gourley, will hand select the winning design.

The winning design will be sold as part of the band's tour merchandise in ten markets across the nation, providing exposure for the winner. Ten total winners will be chosen across twelve different tour markets by the band, with the one grand prize winner receiving a MacBook Pro, a custom Jagermeister branded Schecter Guitar and Peavey amplifier and one iconic Jagermeister Tap Machine.

The remaining nine winners each take home a pair of tickets to a 2012 Jagermeister Music Tour show and experience a meet & greet with Portugal. The Man. Additionally, all submissions will face a public vote for "audience favorite" between March 21st and March 27th. The highest voted submission will receive ten quality prints of their artwork, a Jagermeister Tap Machine, a Wacom Tablet, two tickets to a 2012 Jagermeister Music Tour show and a meet & greet with the band.

"Whether it be tour posters, album packaging, videos, stage design, etc. the visual aspect of music is very important to us.  We have a lot of talented people who come to our shows and it seemed natural to present this opportunity," says Gourley.

Artists can submit their designs at http://www.talenthouse.com, beginning Thursday, March 8, 2012, and ending on March 20, 2012.

The band is asking artists to portray the Jagermeister elements that are present on the current poster template. These assets and all rules and regulations can be attained by those 21+ at http://www.talenthouse.com/design-for-portugal-the-man-and-jagermeister. The opportunity is open to U.S. residents only whom are at least 21 years of age. Void where prohibited by law.

Jagermeister promotes responsible drinking and will not include any submissions that portray underage drinking, overconsumption, sexual behavior, or violence.

ABOUT JAGERMEISTER: Jagermeister, which translates to "master hunter," is the #1 selling imported liqueur in the United States and one of the top shot brands in the world. The liqueur is based on a secret recipe, combining 56 different natural ingredients, including select herbs, blossoms, roots and fruits. Jagermeister, with the distinctive square bottle, was developed in 1934 in Germany and the brand quickly gained global fame through its innovative marketing, unique taste profile and its association with good times. Jagermeister Liqueur is 35% Alc. /Vol. and imported exclusively by Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc., New Rochelle, NY.  http://www.jager.com. JAGERMEISTER IS DEDICATED TO MUSIC, NOT UNDERAGE DRINKING

ABOUT PORTUGAL. THE MAN: Last year, Atlantic Records artist Portugal. The Man released In The Mountain In The Cloud, The sixth album in six years from the Wasilla, AK-via-Portland, OR-based band. The critically acclaimed album garnered inclusion in several notable "Best of 2011" lists, including MTV, Huffington Post, and KCRW. Produced by John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A.) with co-production from Portugal. The Man lead singer/guitarist/songwriter John Gourley as well as longtime band producer Casey Bates and mixed by Grammy Award winner Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Jeff Buckley), In The Mountain In The Cloud captures a truly distinctive band evolving in real time, revealing their singular sonic vision in its purest and most powerful form thus far. For more information, visit http://www.portugaltheman.com

ABOUT TALENTHOUSE: The cutting-edge social media technology platform, Talenthouse, launched in October 2009, utilizing social media to engage consumers and gain reach through life-changing, creative contests. In just two years, Talenthouse has developed more than 200 creative invites, integrating social media technology to aid emerging and established brands and artists gain recognition and virally grow their audiences.

CONTACT:  Kate Laufer
Director, PR
914-637-5752
klaufer@sidneyfrank.com

SOURCE  Sidney Frank Importing

Sidney Frank Importing

Web Site: http://www.jager.com

New Video from ConsumerWatchdogWatch.com: Consumer Watchdog - Or Special Interest Lapdog?

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new video that exposes the operations of ConsumerWatchdog.org was released today by ConsumerWatchdogWatch.com.

Titled "Consumer Watchdog - Or Special Interest Lapdog?," the 60-second video details a variety of facts about the group including: payments from special interest groups and companies; excessive salaries for the organization's founder, Harvey Rosenfield, and information on how the group collects more than $1 million in "intervenor" fees annually from the California Department of Insurance.

The video can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrqX4LVSmJ0&feature=youtu.be

"More Californians need to know the truth about ConsumerWatchdog.org - how, unlike any other consumer group, they opposed President Obama's health care plan as well as state efforts to provide health insurance to children, and how they profit from self-serving provisions they have put into state law," said Steven Maviglio of ConsumerWatchdogWatch.com.  "This video sheds some light on their operations since they refuse to disclose the funders that pay them to do their dirty work."

The video joins a website that houses public documents available on ConsumerWatchdog.org. These documents from the California Attorney General's Office, Department of Insurance, and Secretary of State's Office show that the "nonprofit" group pays its founder in excess of $600,000 annually, engages in significant political activity, and accepts special interest money.

For more information, visit the website, http://www.ConsumerWatchdogWatch.com.

SOURCE  ConsumerWatchdogWatch.com

ConsumerWatchdogWatch.com

CONTACT: Steven Maviglio, steve@forzacommunications.com, for ConsumerWatchdogWatch.com

Web Site: http://www.ConsumerWatchdogWatch.com

Studio Chateau Debuts Concierge Program

IRVINE, Calif., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Studio Chateau, the most innovative and cutting-edge new home custom options software program is designed with their homebuilder client in mind, turning requests into reality with just the click of the mouse. Highly skilled options analysts will guide customers step by step through their experience to discover the ultimate in the options selection process.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101210/LA16011LOGO)

Experience "The Magic Touch," Studio Chateau's five star approach to servicing their clients from initial contact through completion. Top of the line service and a stellar support team is the company's number one priority. The VIP concierge program is designed to make the client feel valued and appreciated. "Client satisfaction is of the utmost importance and we strive to perfect the software functionality to perform as uniquely and individual as the homes themselves" stated Carolyn Little, Vice President of Options Management. "With first quarter coming to a close, we are thrilled with the continuous upgrades integrated into the system so we may continue our white glove service to our customer base," noted Little.

Studio Chateau is an Internet-based options selection program designed to ease the process of selecting home upgrades for design professionals, homebuilders and homebuyers. The program includes: a visual lot specific options catalog for each community, drag and drop placement diagrams for each floorplan, construction cut-off date notification and management, purchase order generation and subcontractor notification, flooring entry and installation date management, accounting management and customer service follow-up and survey.

The creation of this innovative program stems from the 30-year history of parent company Chateau Interiors, a full-service interior design center focused on meeting the needs of the builder options program.

As the housing industry rises from the downturn, clients have seized the opportunity to pair Studio Chateau with their builder options program. This technology offers a web-based program that improves communications during the new home purchase coupled with the interior options selection process.  The system connects the homebuyer, sales, design center, purchasing, accounting, construction, trade partners, subcontractors and escrow by providing them all with accurate real-time information.

Studio Chateau is the national leader in design center technology for builder options.  Visit http://www.studiochateau.com or call options analyst Lynn Ellis (619) 916-7959 for more information.

SOURCE  Studio Chateau

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101210/LA16011LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Studio Chateau

Web Site: http://www.studiochateau.com

ATTO Technology Introduces Desklink(TM)

Next Generation in Thunderbolt(TM)-enabled Storage and Network Connectivity

AMHERST, N.Y., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ATTO Technology, Inc., today introduced the ATTO Desklink(TM) category of products for mobile devices, laptops and ultrabooks. Similar to host bus adapters and bridges, Desklink devices are the latest breakthrough in ATTO's portfolio of next generation, high-performance storage and network connectivity offerings.  This technology allows a variety of portable devices that typically incorporate FireWire and USB connections access to other storage protocols including Fibre Channel, SAS/SATA and Ethernet. The line is being launched with the introduction of ATTO's new ThunderLink(TM) and ThunderStream(TM) Desklinks devices.

The ThunderLink family allows Thunderbolt-enabled products to leverage ATTO's latest technology for access to Fibre Channel and SAS/SATA storage as well as Ethernet network connectivity previously unavailable for portable devices. They are an ideal solution for environments such as medical imaging and video rendering.

The ThunderStream line further enhances this connectivity and consists of embedded or desktop SAS/SATA RAID Storage Controller products. They are designed to optimize unified storage typically found in the media and entertainment market.

"We are pleased to announce ATTO Desklink(TM) devices as our latest technology category," said Timothy J. Klein, president and CEO at ATTO Technology.  "The launch of ThunderLink(TM) and ThunderStream(TM) signifies our initial offerings in what will make up a comprehensive line of Desklink performance devices. ATTO is proud to be on the forefront of the next generation of connectivity solutions that help meet growing storage and network demands." 

Desklink live demonstrations will be shown at NAB 2012 in Las Vegas, NV, April 16-19, including a ThunderLink utilizing a linear tape file system array and a ThunderStream embedded unit. Both solutions can be viewed in the ATTO booth located in the South Hall, number SL6320 as well as in a number of Access(TM) partner booths throughout the show.

For more information on ATTO ThunderLink and ThunderStream Desklink devices, please visit: http://www.attotech.com/thunderbolt.

For a complete list of ATTO's NAB partners, visit: http://www.attotech.com/nab.

For information on the ATTO Access Program, visit: http://www.attotech.com/alliances/access.

About ATTO Technology, Inc.:

ATTO Technology, Inc., a global leader of network and storage connectivity and infrastructure solutions for data-intensive computing environments for over 20 years, provides a wide range of solutions to help customers store, manage and deliver their data more efficiently. With a focus toward markets that require higher performance, ATTO manufactures host and RAID adapters, converged network adapters, bridges, switches, RAID storage controllers, and management software. ATTO solutions provide connectivity to all storage interfaces including SCSI, SATA, Thunderbolt, iSCSI, SAS, Fibre Channel, FCoE and 10GbE. ATTO distributes its products worldwide directly to Original Equipment Manufacturers, systems integrators, VARs and authorized distributors.

Follow ATTO on Twitter

Follow ATTO on LinkedIn

Follow ATTO on Facebook

SOURCE  ATTO Technology, Inc.

ATTO Technology, Inc.

CONTACT: Joshua Gregory, ATTO Technology, Inc., jgregory@attotech.com, Phone: +1-716-691-1999 x159, Fax: +1-716-691-9353

Web Site: http://www.attotech.com

MD of eGolfScore UK Joins VPAR Live Golf Scoring

LONDON, March 8, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

    Paul Fenton, Managing Director of eGolfScore UK, franchisee of US-based real-time golf
scoring eGolfScore Inc, has joined leading rival VPAR Live Golf Scoring
[http://www.vpar.com].

    Paul joins VPAR to spearhead a number of new initiatives within its rapidly growing
corporate, venue and charity events division.

    Jason Stoop, Managing Director of VPAR said "Paul brings with him a wealth of
knowledge and experience having successfully supplied real-time golf scoring events to
major clients for over seven years. Paul's skills and knowledge are a great asset for us
as we continue our successful expansion into the key global golf markets. I'm delighted to
have him on board."

    "VPAR have made tremendous technological advances recently in terms of usability,
design and functionality", Paul Fenton. "I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Jason and
his team and look forward to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in this exciting
and innovative environment".

    VPAR Live Golf Scoring [http://www.vpar.com] and eGolfScore have been direct
competitors in the real-time golf scoring space since 2008. VPAR's innovative system uses
live touchscreen leaderboard technologies and handheld devices that enable players to see
where they stand on the course and plan their next move.

    About VPAR

    VPAR Live Golf Scoring [http://www.vpar.com] is the world's most powerful handheld
real-time scoring and leaderboard experience - linking every player to the heart of the
action.

    VPAR's interactive, game-changing technology provides golfers with a real time
leaderboard as they are playing. Capturing all the excitement and adrenaline of the game
on easy-to-use handheld scorepads, players can track their progress, check out the
competition, and see what's happening elsewhere on the course as the game unfolds.

    Plus, with VPAR, everyone can enjoy the action live online - from colleagues back in
the office to family at home, or friends watching the interactive screens in the
clubhouse. VPAR is the most exciting and powerful way to get inside the game.

    VPAR is available at hundreds of leading clubs and resorts worldwide delivering
competitive tournament experiences for corporates, charities and event companies.

    For more information visit:

    http://www.vpar.com [http://www.vpar.com]

    tel +44(0)20-7524-7804

    email: enquiry@vpar.com

    Head office: VPAR Ltd. 126 Westbourne Studios, London, W10 5JJ, United Kingdom

    Regional offices: USA, Ireland, Spain, Australia, Hong Kong, India, South Africa

Source: VPAR Live Golf Scoring

Apogee Unveils Cutting-Edge Mobile Application: Interactive Text Response (ITR) at TechAdvantage

ATLANTA, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today in San Diego, more than 500 energy professionals turned out for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's 2012 TechAdvantage Conference. Apogee Interactive Business Development Executive Jon Scott, and Flint Energies' Sr. V.P., Jimmy Autry, shared the recent success of combining Flint Energies' Interactive Voice Response (IVR) with Apogee's new Interactive Text Response (ITR), which is enabled by Apogee's premier energy analysis application, BillingInsights(TM).

(LOGO: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091210/CL23938LOGO)

Apogee's BillingInsights provides automated explanation of customer's bills answering why they may have changed from month-to-month, or year-to-year, through sophisticated analysis involving their billing data, meter-read dates, and coincident weather.

By presenting BillingInsights through the IVR, members can hear a voice message explaining the differences in their bill amounts and offering suggestions for why it may have changed and tips on how to lower them. In addition, Interactive Text Response, or ITR, is also available allowing members to receive this information via a text message. The text message includes a link to Flint's BillingInsights tool on the website, which members can visit for more information.

Jimmy Autry is optimistic about the cost implications that IVR and ITR hold for handling billing questions. "The beauty of IVR and ITR as a means of explaining high bills is that it weeds out those calls that can best be answered through self-service technologies as opposed to requiring customer service representative assistance, which can run up to $50 per call," explained Autry.

Apogee President & CEO, Susan Gilbert, agrees with Autry and sees ITR as the way of the future.  "Customers want quick answers and have come to expect them to be available 24/7, and increasingly, they aren't talking as much as they're texting.  This customer service benefit of ITR is huge by itself, but combine that with the enormous savings potential from freeing up CSR time and you have a game-changer for utilities striving to make the most of every dollar."   

Georgia's Flint Energies holds the distinction of being the 36th largest rural electric cooperative in the nation, currently serving more than 84,600 members. The relationship between Apogee and Flint Energies has been long and fruitful, with Flint being instrumental in the evolution of Apogee's powerful, RESNET® accredited online energy use applications. Currently, Flint makes Apogee's complete suite of energy education and bill analysis tools available to members.

Apogee Interactive will share details of this successful partnership in a Webinar on Wednesday, March 21st at 2:00 PM Eastern. This Webinar is free, and available to the first 100 registrants. Click here to register.

About APOGEE Interactive, Inc.

APOGEE Interactive, Inc. (http://www.apogee.net) is a leading provider of online energy efficiency solutions to the utility industry. A certified woman-owned business founded in 1993, Apogee's energy analysis applications are currently in use by more than 600 utilities across the US, reaching millions of customers daily. Apogee's clients span a wide range of leading investor-owned, public power and cooperative energy companies including such energy leaders as American Electric Power (AEP), Southern Company (SO), PSEG (PEG), PECO (EXC), Consolidated Edison (ED), NSTAR (NST), BG&E (CEG), Entergy (ETR), SMUD, Jackson EMC and more.

SOURCE  APOGEE Interactive, Inc.

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091210/CL23938LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
APOGEE Interactive, Inc.

CONTACT: Brandi Kilgore, APOGEE Interactive Inc., bkilgore@apogee.net, +1-678-684-6828

Web Site: http://www.apogee.net

Sawbuck Launches HomeSnap

Closes New $2M Funding Round

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Online real estate broker Sawbuck Realty (http://www.sawbuck.com) today launched HomeSnap for iPhone. HomeSnap lets you take a picture of any home to find out all about it, including its current value, last sale date and price, local schools and more.

Also today, Sawbuck announced the closing of a new $2M round of funding, led by Washington DC real estate investor Robert Stewart.

Simple, Magical App Makes Real Estate Fun

HomeSnap's unique technology was built to do one thing: instantly tell you all about any home you snap. What is it worth? When did it last sell? For how much? Beds? Baths? Lot size? Which school would my child attend? HomeSnap answers all these questions with a single tap for over 90 million homes across the USA.

In much of the country, HomeSnap seamlessly integrates real-time data from the Multiple Listing Service. If a home is for sale, you see the current list price, interior pictures and complete listing details; even schedule a showing then and there. For a home that just sold, HomeSnap shows the final sale price and complete listing history.

Easy to Track and Share the Homes You Snap

HomeSnap tracks every home you snap and updates each one automatically with new information, including updated values. Snap a home for sale and find out when the price drops or the home goes under contract. HomeSnap also makes it easy to share homes you snap with friends or family through Facebook, Twitter, text message or email.

"Real estate is boring and dry, unless you're in the market," said Guy Wolcott, Sawbuck's co-founder and CEO. "HomeSnap makes real estate accessible, interesting and fun for anyone. It's Shazam for homes."

    --  Invited to a party? Take a picture on the way in to find out what they
        paid and what it's worth.
    --  Cutting through a neighborhood and see an awesome house for sale? Get
        complete listing details and bookmark that home for later.
    --  Out of town and wonder what home prices are like? Snap and find out.
HomeSnap for iPhone is free to download from Apple's App Store. For a video and screenshots, visit sawbuck.com/homesnap.

Download, Snap and Win at SXSW

The HomeSnap Tour Bus will arrive in Austin on Friday, March 9th, for South by Southwest. During the festival, everyone in Austin who downloads HomeSnap will be eligible for one of over 100 instant-win prizes, including an iPad, $100 Apple gift cards and $5 Starbucks gift cards. Follow @HomeSnap to find the Tour Bus and redeem prizes.

About Sawbuck

Headquartered in Washington DC, Sawbuck Realty (http://www.sawbuck.com) is an online real estate broker that combines industry-leading websites and apps with an award-winning, consumer-friendly business model. The company connects buyers and sellers with top local real estate agents, and streamlines their transactions. To stay up to date on Sawbuck, follow us on Twitter, @sawbuck, or at facebook.com/SawbuckRealty.

About HomeSnap

HomeSnap is a unique iPhone app that lets you take a picture of any home to find out all about it. Patent-pending technology, employing most of the iPhone's sensors, uses advanced algorithms to identify each home. Information comes from Sawbuck's unique blend of big data, including tax records, MLS data, school information and attendance zones, Census demographics, neighborhood information, lot boundaries, geolocation data and more. The result of all this technology and data is a bit of magic. Follow @HomeSnap or at facebook.com/HomeSnapApp.

SOURCE  Sawbuck Realty

Sawbuck Realty

Web Site: http://www.sawbuck.com/

SAND Announces Universal Query

MONTREAL, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SAND Technology Inc. (OTCBB: SNDTF), provider of the world's most advanced column store database has announced Universal Query Option (UQO). Universal Query Option extends SAND Analytic Server using external functions in other applications. Using bi-directional messaging other applications extend their functionality from within SAND's Analytic Server. 

"Using a data processing layer, such as Hadoop, to store unstructured data, processing routines in an analytic tool such as SAS, and using SAND Analytic Server for detailed analytics, you bring all the results together using one tool," said Mike Pilcher, SAND's President and COO. "UQO leverages the best of breed capabilities of each platform as a logical virtual data warehouse."

Customers extend SAND Analytic Server calling directly into legacy systems and beyond, connecting to external 3rd party services.  Application logic sitting in legacy applications is called from SAND and, once the results are executed, the answers are returned to SAND for analysis.  SAND UQO is bi-directional, pushing and pulling data; the data can be a single value, a set of values, or a table segment; taking advantage of non-relational processing including data mining procedures, for example Map Reduce, R, SAS, etc. 

"This is a game changer for the analytics market," said Mike Pilcher. "UQO puts analytic processing in the heart of both modern Big Data applications and leverages all the investment embedded in legacy applications and the information on the web.  We are extending SAND's vision of making data analytics a more productive discipline."

About SAND Technology
SAND is the world's most advanced analytic database for customer data, managing massive amounts of big data, driving unparalleled performance, and deploying actionable insight to tens of thousands of users across the enterprise. With industry-leading software solutions for CRM and Loyalty analytics, SAND delivers best-of-breed analytic performance to over 600 customers. SAND Technology has offices in the United States, Canada, UK and Germany and can be reached online at http://www.sand.com.

SOURCE  SAND Technology Inc.

SAND Technology Inc.

CONTACT: Media and Investor Relations, Mike Pilcher of SAND Technology, mike.pilcher@sand.com

Web Site: http://www.sand.com

Lenovo Recalls ThinkCentre Desktop Computers Due to Fire Hazard

In the news release, Lenovo Recalls ThinkCentre Desktop Computers Due to Fire Hazard, issued 08-Mar-2012 by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission over PR Newswire, we are advised by the organization that the product names should indicate specifically that they are desktop computers, and that the range of dates in the "Sold at" section should be May 2010 through January 2012, rather than May 2011 through January 2012, as originally issued. The full, corrected release follows.

Lenovo Recalls ThinkCentre Desktop Computers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Name of Product: Lenovo ThinkCentre M70z and M90z desktop computers

Units: About 50,500 

Hazard: A defect in an internal component in the power supply can overheat and pose a fire hazard.

Manufacturer/Importer: Lenovo, of Morrisville, N.C.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm received reports of one fire incident and one smoke incident in the U.S. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recalled all-in-one desktop computers, or PCs, are flat-panel monitors with the PC integrated into the monitor housing itself. The power supplies are also inside the monitor or PC housing. The computer chassis has a matte black finish with the brand name "ThinkCentre" in the lower left hand corner of the monitor front. The recalled desktop model numbers are M90z and M70z along with the serial number and manufacturing date code can be found on a label on the underside of the unit.

    Models                     Date Codes
    ------                     ----------
    M70z                  1001 to 1012
    and
    M90z
    ----
    1101 to 1112
    ------------
       001 to 012
       ----------
       101 to 112
       ----------
Only certain of the M70z and M90z computers built in this time frame are affected. Consumers will need to check the serial number on their computer with Lenovo to determine if it is subject to this recall.   

Sold at: Online atLenovo's websites, by telephone and direct sales through Lenovo authorized distributors nationwide from May 2010 through January 2012 for about $500 for the M70z model and $800 for the M90z model.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the computers, unplug the power supply and contact the firm to determine if your computer is included in the recall and to schedule an appointment for afree replacement of the power supply.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contactLenovo toll-free at (855)248-2194 anytime, or visit the firm's website at http://www.lenovo.com/aiopsurecall.

Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12129.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov.

Firm's Recall Hotline: (855) 248-2194
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

SOURCE  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Web Site: http://www.cpsc.gov

Bell and Howell Announces Technology Open House and Launch of New High-Speed Inserting System

Executives to Discuss Company's Business Strategy, Market Dynamics and New Opportunities in Document Messaging and Digital Print

DURHAM, N.C., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bell and Howell, a leading provider of solutions and services for paper-based and digital messaging, announced plans to unveil its newest high-speed inserting system at a technology showcase and open house on March 15. The event will be held at the company's headquarters in Durham, N.C.

The new Producer(TM) 30 inserting system is the latest in a continuous stream of innovations that the company has introduced over the past six months. Producer inserters are designed for environments that demand stringent mailpiece quality and integrity controls, high production volumes and low operating costs.

"Bell and Howell is committed to delivering the most innovative suite of solutions in the industry. With the Producer 30, we have a best-in-class offering that provides customers with the lowest cost of ownership and highest level of productivity," said Les Stern, Chief Executive Officer of Bell and Howell. "We are very excited about this launch, and look forward to engaging in discussions and demonstrations of the many ways that we can partner in our customers' success."

Features and benefits of the Producer 30 include:

    --  High-speed inserting - up to 30,000 cycles per hour with high net
        throughput
    --  Targeted at First Class(TM) transactional mail and Standard Mail®
    --  Helps mailers achieve the lowest cost per mailpiece
    --  Ideal for high-volume mail production environments
The open house includes demonstrations of the complete range of Bell and Howell finishing solutions, including the Ascender(TM), Forerunner(TM) and Producer inserting systems; Inveloper® finishing system; JETVision® reading system; and demonstrations of the IQ Software Suite, Bell and Howell's comprehensive postal and workflow process management software.

Stern will also discuss the company's business strategy, and additional Bell and Howell executives will speak on industry trends, productivity and personalization, and the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

For additional information, call 1-800-220-3030 or email marketing@bhemail.com.

About Bell and Howell
Bell and Howell, LLC is a leading provider of solutions and services for paper-based and digital messaging. The company's complete portfolio includes products that reduce production and postage costs, increase operational efficiency, message impact and relevancy, and ensure integrity and quality. Supporting these solutions is one of the largest dedicated service organizations in the industry. The company maintains facilities in Wheeling, Ill., Durham, N.C., Bethlehem, Pa. and Rochester, N.Y. For further information, please visit http://www.bellhowell.net.

SOURCE  Bell and Howell

Bell and Howell

CONTACT: Eileen Sarro, +1-919-767-7625, press.release@bhemail.com

Web Site: http://www.bellhowell.net

Panasonic Announces Pricing and Availability for 2012 Lineup of Home Audio Products

SECAUCUS, N.J., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic today announced pricing and availability for the 2012 lineup of home audio products including Compact Stereo Systems, Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc(TM) Home Theaters, DVD Home Theaters and Home Theater Systems.  The new 2012 lineup of audio and home theater products are developed to offer users design-oriented products that enhance the home entertainment experience and produce superior sound quality.   

Panasonic' Consumer Marketing Company of North America's 2012 line of Compact Stereo Systems, the SC series is comprised of six distinct models, all of which feature outstanding sound quality and offer users a pure, direct sound system with noise reduction capabilities that allow users to enjoy a crystal clear listening experience.  The SC-HC57, SC-HC37 and SC-HC27 offer sleek, ultra-slim designs with smart networking technology and can play music from a variety of music sources including iPhone/iPod, CD-R/RW and FM Radio.  Additionally, the SC-HC57 Compact Stereo System features AirPlay® which allows users to wirelessly stream music from an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or MAC/PC directly into the device through a home's wireless LAN network.  AirPlay allows lossless transmission for the finest sound quality playback of a personal music library and provides a multi-room listening function.  The Panasonic SC-HC series of Compact Stereo Systems will be available nationwide in April 2012 and will have the following SRP's: SC-HC57 $199.99, SC-HC37 $149.99 and SC-HC27 $99.99.   

Extending the 2012 line of Compact Stereo Systems, the SC-AP01 and SC-MC07 introduces users to a new micro system concept coupled with unique design styles and user-friendly functionality.  The SC-AP01 is a wireless, metal bar system that offers clear and dynamic sound in a slim and stylish design.  Featuring nano-sized bamboo cone speakers to create audio with clearer vocals and crisper dialog, the SC-AP01 utilizes Aero Stream Port to create rich and robust bass by controlling distortion and Direct-Vocal Surround to expand sound throughout a listening environment to mimic a concert hall and is equipped with AirPlay® to wirelessly stream music from supported devices.  The SC-MC07 is the smallest of the new compact stereo system products.  Bluetooth® compatible, the SC-MC07 streams music wirelessly from iPhone/iPad/iPod, Blackberry and other smartphone devices (with Bluetooth capability) to offer full digital, clear stereo sound in the compact size of a cookie to create an audio device that can be placed virtually anywhere, or even used on-the-go.  The SC-AP01 will be available in June with an SRP of $169.99.  The SC-MC07 will hit shelves in July with an SRP of $69.99.

Panasonic's new Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc(TM) Home Theaters, SC-BTT490, SC-BTT195 and SC-BTT190 employ advanced technologies to reproduce clearer, enhanced, theater-like surround sound to skillfully match high-quality 3-D imagery and are equipped with 3D Cinema Surround as a standard feature.  Additional expanded features also enhance the home entertainment experience.  VIERA Connect(TM)(*1) has been expanded to offer users a greater variety of online content and the DLNA function allows users to access, browse and view content stored on a home network server.  All 2012 Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc Home Theaters feature a digital music connection for iPod /iPhone, which minimizes sound degradation allowing users to enjoy their favorite iPod tunes with pure sound that is highly faithful to the original source.  All Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc Home Theaters will be available in April with the following SRP's: SC-BTT490, $499.99; SC-BTT195, $399.99; SC-BTT190, $299.99.

The 2012 DVD Home Theaters, SC-XH170 and SC-XH70, feature high sound quality technology for pure, clear sound reproduction and 1080p Up-Conversion(*2) to produce crystal clear picture quality.  The 2012 DVD Home Theaters have been revamped with a more sophisticated and stylish appearance and the SC-XH170 offers a visible speaker design to enhance the product's sleek look.  The easy-to-use systems are equipped with VIERA Link(TM), which provides simple, one-touch control of Panasonic VIERA-enabled products, ARC (Audio Return Channel), which allows for one HDMI cable smart connection, Selectable Speaker Layout and simple setup.  The SC-XH170 and SC-XH70 DVD Home Theaters will be available in April 2012 for a SRP of $199.99 and $149.99, respectively. 

The 2012 lineup of Home Theater Systems, the SC-HTB550, SC-HTB350 and SC-HTB20, offer multi-positional, detachable speakers for flexible layout options in the home environment and are equipped with a wireless subwoofer(*3) for freestanding placement options.  Each system's high-quality sound employs an Anti-Jitter Digital Amplifier to eliminate distortion and clearly direct sound to produce pure, brilliant audio, Clear-mode Dialog to deliver dialog that is more precise in the linking of picture and sound that seems like it is coming directly from the center of the TV and Auto Gain Control to provide users a smooth, automatic adjustment of volume between a movie or television show and commercial, reducing sudden volume increases.  With the Wireless Music Streaming with Bluetooth® function(*3), users can listen to their favorite music from Bluetooth-compatible devices without having to plug the device into a docking station or hook it into the sound system.  The Panasonic 2012 Home Theater System HTB series will be available in April.  Pricing for the series is as follows: SC-HTB550, $399.99 SC-HTB350, $299.99; SC-HTB20, $229.99.   

In keeping with Panasonic's commitment to the environment, the 2012 home audio products(*4) feature low power consumption and are Energy Star® Qualified.

"Made for iPod" and "Made for iPhone" mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod, or iPhone, respectively, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this accessory with iPod, or iPhone may affect wireless performance.
AirPlay, the AirPlay logo, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Panasonic Corporation is under license.
Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

(*1) Access to a broadband Internet connection is required to use VIERA Connect(TM) features. There is no fee to use the VIERA Connect(TM) functionality, however, some VIERA Connect(TM) services require membership registration and have a separate fee structure. Network services are operated by the respective service providers, and service may be discontinued either temporarily or permanently without notice. 
(*2) Video sources converted to 1920x1080 resolution, while of high quality, will exhibit somewhat lower subjective image resolution than true, native 1080p full-HD sources
(*3) Not available in the HTB20 model
(*4) The SC-MC07 features low power consumption but it not an Energy Star Qualified product

About Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America 
Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American Subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations, offers a wide-range of consumer solutions in the U.S. and Canada.  The Company's portfolio of innovative consumer products ranges from VIERA Full HD 3D Televisions, Blu-ray players, LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Home Audio, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Wellness and Personal Care products and more.   

Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics company to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 ranking. Follow Panasonic on Twitter @panasonicdirect, and additional company information for media is available at http://www.panasonic.com/pressroom. 

SOURCE  Panasonic

Panasonic

CONTACT: Jeff Samuels (Panasonic), +1-201-392-4571, jeff.samuels@ext.us.panasonic.com or Lori Chiazzo (Panasonic), +1-201-392-4178, lori.chiazzo@us.panasonic.com; or Blayne Murphy (Cohn & Wolfe), +1-212-798-9763, blayne.murphy@cohnwolfe.com

Web Site: http://www.panasonic.com

Most Leading Surgeons Now Rely on 3D Powered Consultations

ATLANTA, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 28th Annual Atlanta Breast Surgery Symposium, speakers included some of the most prominent names in aesthetic medicine. And this year, 9 of the 11 speakers at the Breast Augmentation Forum had one thing in common; their practices rely on 3D photography for patient consultations.  These leading surgeons represent the vanguard of the growing numbers that have made VECTRA® 3D aesthetic simulation the gold standard for patient consultations.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120308/NY66276 )

The most important question for women considering breast augmentation is "What will I look like after surgery?"  Only 1 in 20 women who consider breast augmentation actually get the procedure, largely because the outcome has been clouded in uncertainty.  By using VECTRA's high definition 3D photography and powerful aesthetic simulation tools, plastic surgeons worldwide have helped tens of thousands of women make this important decision.

And now, VECTRA 3D simulation comes to home computers and tablets with Canfield's interactive website, SculptMyDream.com. Here women can select a body type like their own, experiment with cup sizes, and view the result from any angle.  They can also connect with a board certified plastic surgeon in their area to experience VECTRA 3D simulation in person, eMail their simulation results to a friend and view actual patient videos on line.

To learn more about the VECTRA 3D experience, visit http://www.SculptMyDream.com.

ABOUT CANFIELD IMAGING SYSTEMS

Canfield Imaging Systems is a division of Canfield Scientific, Inc., the global leader in imaging systems services and products for scientific research and healthcare applications.  Canfield Scientific, Inc serves the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cosmetics, medical and skincare industries.

Canfield Imaging Systems utilizes the many years of experience and product breakthroughs of its parent company's clinical research services, and tailors their products to the unique requirements of direct patient care in healthcare and wellness environments.

SOURCE  Canfield Imaging Systems

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120308/NY66276
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Canfield Imaging Systems

CONTACT: Peter Lebovitz, Canfield Imaging Systems, +1-973-276-0336, peter.lebovitz@canfieldsci.com

Web Site: http://www.SculptMyDream.com

New Teradata Platform Reshapes Business Intelligence Industry

Hybrid storage innovations empower companies to make the best decisions possible

SAN DIEGO, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Teradata(NYSE: TDC), the leading analytic data solutions company, announced the immediate availability of the Teradata Active Enterprise Data Warehouse Platform 6690 (Teradata Active EDW), which offers the newest generation of hybrid storage that further enhances the data warehouse's capability to help companies make the best decisions possible.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090909/TERADATALOGO )

Please follow this link to view the full social media news release on Teradata.com
http://www.teradata.com/News-Releases/2012/New-Teradata-Platform-Reshapes-Business-Intelligence-Industry/

Teradata is the first vendor to provide customers with the optimized use of solid state drives (SSD) and hard disk drives (HDD), which is enabled by Teradata Virtual Storage(TM), its intelligent storage management software. The new hybrid storage-based platform meets a much broader range of customer analytic needs with expanded flexibility in the configuration and balance of SSD and HDD. The Teradata Active EDW supports robust strategic intelligence for long-range planning and reporting, and real-time operational intelligence for "front-line" employees.

"Businesses now demand real-time analytic solutions that provide the right answers at the right time - it's all about speed," said Scott Gnau, president, Teradata Labs, Teradata. "The Teradata Active EDW leverages multiple tiers of storage technology including main memory and both high-speed and high-capacity storage drives to achieve optimum data warehouse performance. It is clear that Teradata customers understand the value of this hybrid storage, based on an unprecedented rate of adoption by leading companies across many industries."

Customers in many different industries benefit from hybrid storage.

    --  A manufacturer of high-value products is using a Teradata Active EDW
        hybrid storage-based platform to quickly process data from a multitude
        of sensors located at multiple sites, on their production lines. They
        are able to significantly increase manufacturing yield with the
        high-velocity collection and analysis of real- time sensor data from
        fabrication machinery to make instant adjustments. These quick responses
        optimize the overall production flow in an environment where every one
        percent of yield improvement can mean millions of dollars in savings.
    --  A large wireless phone service provider wants to increase the velocity
        of intelligence about customers to support service agents' decisions.
        With this information, agents can reduce churn, lower costs, and
        increase revenue. Its hybrid storage- based Teradata Active EDW enables
        all of these benefits by analyzing the current hot data from customer
        interactions along with the cold data from the long-term customer
        history.
"Our research shows that organizations need frequent access to their large scale databases, and a majority analyze the data many times a day," said David Menninger, vice president and research director, Ventana Research. "Given the performance and cost differences between solid state disks and conventional disk drives, a hybrid storage system that recognizes the usage pattern in the data optimizes the trade-offs, delivering the advantage of solid state performance for most operations while minimizing costs."

The enhanced Teradata Active EDW 6690 is differentiated by these key elements.

Breakthrough Hybrid Storage Technology
Teradata is the only data warehouse provider to offer integrated, self-managing storage combining both SSD and HDD devices in the same platform. Its fully automated approach makes the storage management transparent to the database administrator and user.

Teradata is the first in the market to deliver a database-aware storage management capability, Teradata Virtual Storage, which continuously and automatically places the most frequently used "hot" data on the fast SSD, and the least-used "cold" data on the slower, less expensive HDD storage. The data placement is dynamic and based on usage patterns. Teradata Virtual Storage automatically moves data as its temperature naturally changes over time ensuring alignment to the most appropriate storage location. The result is not only accelerated analysis of hot data due to the speed of SSD, but also the faster analysis of cold data due to the now lightened load for the HDD storage.

Proven Analytic Workhorse
The proven analytical workhorse of the world's leading companies, the Teradata Active EDW is the foundation for enterprise-class analytics. This system can manage the toughest, most demanding real-time workloads. It has been architected to handle both massive data volumes and data traveling at extreme velocity, while it scales from 100s to 1,000s of concurrent users and business applications. In addition, the system easily manages concurrent mixed workloads that include ad hoc, tactical, and basic reporting queries.

For example, a leading e-retailer uses the new Teradata platform to cost-effectively store a relatively small amount of hot data on SSD to meet the high-performance analytic need to create on-the-fly customized sales offers for consumers, while storing a much larger amount of colder historical data on HDD. The enhanced flexibility of the new platform enables customers to choose an optimized configuration to meet their individual needs.

The Teradata Active EDW supports systems starting at six terabytes (TB) and scales up to 60 petabytes (PB) of user data to support a wide range of data space needs. Teradata continues to provide an optimized and integrated hardware and software stack based on best-of-breed technologies. The technologies include the powerful Intel Xeon Multi-Core Processors, the robust, field-proven NetApp E-series storage system with the new, space-efficient 2½-inch-sized HDD, while SanDisk provides the industry's leading enterprise-class SSD with 400-gigabyte (GB) capacity in a 2½-inch unit.

Power to Enable Integrated Data Warehousing 
The Teradata Active EDW provides an environment that enables integrated analytics with incredibly fast parallel processing, scalability for massive volumes of data, and rich in-database analytic capabilities. Teradata provides a comprehensive set of integrated analytics that leverage the speed of the database engine along with the cost-efficient performance of the hybrid storage platform. The analytics include data exploration, geospatial, temporal, predictive, and emerging open source technology such as "R." In addition, Teradata has collaborated with industry-leading data mining partners to provide analytics and business intelligence with highly optimized in-database integrations.

Powerful Analytical Ecosystems
Companies are building complete analytical ecosystems from their Teradata platforms, augmenting their Teradata Active EDW with one or more special purpose Teradata appliances. By doing so, they are creating a very efficient and powerful analytical ecosystem, which is optimized for price, performance, value, and system availability.

Unmatched Efficiency
Teradata has set the green standard in data warehousing - with up to a 10-times improvement in energy and space utilization for the same performance system compared to systems from six years ago. The enhanced Teradata Active EDW platform achieves data center efficiencies because hybrid storage delivers more performance with fewer storage units. Customers benefit from the innovative, high-density designs of the cabinet, power, and cooling. In addition, Teradata virtualizes all system resources for optimum utilization and green efficiencies. It is widely accepted that the costs for data center power, cooling, and floor space will soon outpace the cost of the equipment in the data center, so the sustainability benefits of the Teradata system have become a critical factor to the information technology industry.

Maximum Investment Protection 
Teradata's architecture is unique in the industry, because it enables multiple generations of Teradata Active EDW nodes to coexist within the same system, allowing each generation to deliver full performance. Teradata customers can continue to grow and expand their current system for many years, unlike all other data warehouse vendors that require an entirely new system to take advantage of new hardware.

Versatility of Cloud-Based Data Warehousing
The Teradata Active EDW platform supports a private cloud environment through virtualized resources, scalability, elasticity, self-service business intelligence, and consistent performance. As a result, the platform offers a powerful, flexible, and high-performance cloud-based data-warehousing environment to accommodate ever-changing business needs. The data warehouse as a private cloud enables companies to cost-effectively consolidate their many disparate data marts and "sand-boxes" into a true integrated data warehouse.

Relevant Links

Solid State Drives - A big Step Forward for Analytic Workloads: B-eye Network Podcast, Dan Graham
http://www.b-eye-network.com/listen/15619

The Magic Component in Teradata's Hybrid Storage: B-eye Network Podcast, Jim Dietz
http://www.b-eye-network.com/listen/15629

Hot and Cold Running Data: Teradata Magazine article, Keith Muller
http://www.teradata.com/videos/Intel-and-Teradata-A-History-of-Joint-Innovation/

The Heat is On: Teradata Magazine article, Jim Dietz
http://www.teradatamagazine.com/v11n03/Viewpoints/The-Heat-Is-On/

Conquer Complexity with Teradata Virtual Storage: White Paper, Ron Yellin
http://www.teradata.com/white-papers/Conquer-Complexity-with-Teradata-Virtual-Storage/?type=WP

Teradata's Hybrid Storage: White paper, Jerome Wendt, DCIG analyst
http://sponsored.dcig.com/2011/09/teradatas-hybrid-storage.html

Solid State Drives in Data warehousing, White paper, Richard Winter
http://www.wintercorp.com/WhitePapers/Solid%20State%20Storage%20for%20Data%20Warehousing%20%20-%20WinterCorp%20Executive%20Report%20v1b.pdf

About Teradata
Teradata Corporation (NYSE: TDC) is the world's leading analytic data solutions company, focused on integrated data warehousing, big data analytics, and business applications. Teradata's innovative products and services deliver data integration and business insight to empower organizations to make the best decisions possible for competitive advantage. Visit teradata.com for details.

Get to know Teradata:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/teradatanews

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Teradata

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/teradata

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/teradata/products

Teradata is a trademark or registered trademark of Teradata Corporation in the United States and other countries.

SOURCE  Teradata Corporation

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090909/TERADATALOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Teradata Corporation

CONTACT: Dan Conway, Teradata Corporation, +1-858-485-3029, dan.conway@teradata.com

Web Site: http://www.teradata.com

Sky Poker Tour 4th Leg set to raise the Stakes

LONDON, March 8, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

          Catch all of the action from the Alea Casino in Glasgow or the Rendezvous

                             Casino in Brighton on March 10th

    With the 4th season of the Sky Poker [http://www.skypoker.com ] Tour in full swing,
the dream of winning a part the GBP250,000 guaranteed prizepool is becoming a reality for
some. For the eventual tour champion, there will also be a spot on Team Sky Poker for
three months and free buy-ins to every Sky Poker Tour 2012-13 event. Not bad if you only
spent GBP1.40 to play in one of our satellites...

    But never fear, because for those who have yet to qualify for one of our Sky Poker
Tour legs, satellites are open throughout the season, along with many two-day events that
have helped to provide a better structure for Sky players to enjoy.

    Priority customers, on the other hand, will be able to buy-in directly to the Sky
Poker Tour. For this and information on other benefits, please visit our priority player
page [https://www.skypoker.com/secure/poker/sky_lobby/poker-promotions/priority ].

    The northern section of the Sky Poker Tour 4th leg is to be held at the Alea Casino,
an elegant, stylish, and ultra modern venue in Glasgow. Registration for the Sky Poker
Tour will open at 7.30pm on Saturday 10th March, with matches beginning at 8.30pm. This
one day event has a GBP110 buy-in and a 150 player cap.

    For those hoping to attend the southern section of the Sky Poker Tour 4th leg, it is
being held at the Rendezvous Casino in Brighton. The venue is renowned for its fantastic
gaming and sumptuous dining, and will provide an appropriate venue for all the tense
action. As with Glasgow, there is a buy-in of GBP110 but a player cap of 130.

    Come and join us this weekend at the Sky Poker Tour 4th leg. Not only will you get to
enjoy some fantastic poker, but it will be a great opportunity to meet your favourite Sky
Poker presenters, analysts, and other staff.

    Sky Poker Tour Schedule

   
    - Leg 4 North- March 10th, Alea Casino, Glasgow

    GBP110 buy-in, 1 day event (150 player cap)

   
    - Leg 4 South- March 10th, Rendezvous Casino, Brighton

    GBP110 buy-in, 1 day event (130 player cap)

   
    - Leg 5- 28th April, Les Croupiers, Cardiff

    GBP110 buy-in, 1 day event (200 player cap)

   
    - Leg 6- 23rd and 24th June, G Casino, Blackpool [BOUNTY HUNTER TOURNAMENT]

    GBP220 buy-in, 2 day event (150 player cap)

   
    - Grand Final, 8th and 9th September, Dusk Till Dawn, Nottingham

    GBP330 buy-in, 2 day event (250 player cap)

    About SkyPoker.com

    Sky Poker is the British Sky Broadcasting's online poker division, which allows users
to play poker online on their website and screens selected hands from various tournaments
and cash games on Sky Poker TV, allowing players on the site to become the stars of the TV
channel. Sky Poker focuses on UK poker players, with all play at the tables in pounds
rather than dollars, as well as its own Sky Poker Tour around the country.

    Sky Poker is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission
(AGCC).

    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OfficialSkyPoker

    Twitter: @sky_poker [https://twitter.com/#!/Sky_Poker ]

   
    Press Release Contact Details:
    Helen Jacob
    Sky Bet PR Manager
    T: +44(0)113-3895941
    E: Helen.Jacob@bskyb.com

Source: Sky Poker

Lenovo Recalls ThinkCentre Desktop Computers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Name of Product: Lenovo ThinkCentre M70z and M90z computers

Units: About 50,500 

Hazard: A defect in an internal component in the power supply can overheat and pose a fire hazard.

Manufacturer/Importer: Lenovo, of Morrisville, N.C.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm received reports of one fire incident and one smoke incident in the U.S. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recalled all-in-one desktop computers, or PCs, are flat-panel monitors with the PC integrated into the monitor housing itself. The power supplies are also inside the monitor or PC housing. The computer chassis has a matte black finish with the brand name "ThinkCentre" in the lower left hand corner of the monitor front. The recalled desktop model numbers are M90z and M70z along with the serial number and manufacturing date code can be found on a label on the underside of the unit.

    Models                Date Codes
    ------                ----------
    M70z                  1001 to 1012
    and
    M90z
    ----
    1101 to 1112
    ------------
       001 to 012
       ----------
       101 to 112
       ----------
Only certain of the M70z and M90z computers built in this time frame are affected. Consumers will need to check the serial number on their computer with Lenovo to determine if it is subject to this recall.   

Sold at: Online atLenovo's websites, by telephone and direct sales through Lenovo authorized distributors nationwide from May 2011 through January 2012 for about $500 for the M70z model and $800 for the M90z model.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the computers, unplug the power supply and contact the firm to determine if your computer is included in the recall and to schedule an appointment for afree replacement of the power supply.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contactLenovo toll-free at (855)248-2194 anytime, or visit the firm's website at http://www.lenovo.com/aiopsurecall.

Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12129.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov.

Firm's Recall Hotline: (855) 248-2194
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

SOURCE  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Web Site: http://www.cpsc.gov

Cooking With Your iPad?  CookEatShare.com Releases the Best Cooking Experience for the New iPad With the First HTML5 Enabled Recipe Cook View Optimized for the New iPad and Other Tablet Devices

SAN FRANCISCO, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, CookEatShare.com, the leading social recipe website, today released an HTML5 Cook View for the new iPad.  It also works on iPad2, the Kindle Fire, and all other tablet computers. The HTML Cook View, like all of the tools and content on CookEatShare.com, is available for free to all internet users.

The HTML Cook View is targeted specifically for people who want to cook while having a recipe open on their iPad or other mobile device.  It places the ingredients and directions side by side in separate, scrolling boxes, so the user never has to scroll up and down the page itself.  There is a slider to help keep track of what step you are on.  When you touch any step in the recipe, the slider automatically moves to that step and highlights that step.  With one touch, you can also increase or decrease the font size to make the recipe easy to read.

"During the holiday season, I found myself cooking most of the time with my iPad.  I quickly realized that the experience could be much, much better," said busy mom and CookEatShare.com founder Nancy Miyasaki.  "I hope the millions of users of CookEatShare around the world will enjoy the new iPad cooking experience as much as I do!"

The HTML Cook View is available for nearly all of the over 500,000 recipes found on CookEatShare.com.  Just go to http://www.cookeatshare.com, find a recipe you like, and click on the "iPad Cook View" button or link just below the recipe summary.

About CookEatShare

CookEatShare.com provides a user-generated platform for sharing recipes, themes, guides and ideas for all things food related. Through connecting with friends, interacting with professional, award-winning chefs and starting or joining groups, foodies around the world can now tap into more the more than 500,000 recipes and 200,000 registered chefs that CookEatShare.com has to offer.  CookEatShare is enjoyed around the world through its French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, and Japanese language editions.

SOURCE  CookEatShare.com

CookEatShare.com

CONTACT: Nancy Miyasaki of CookEatShare.com, +1-650-315-7413, nancy@cookeatshare.com

Prudential Preferred Realty Introduces New Agent Compatibility Matcher: Online Feature Provides Unique Way for Customers to Find Compatible Agents

PITTSBURGH, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In anticipation of a busy residential real estate market this spring, Prudential Preferred Realty recently introduced a new feature on its website that will help match prospective home buyers with potentially compatible Prudential agents. The Prudential Preferred Realty Agent Compatibility Matcher provides people with an automated and interesting way to find an agent who matches their unique preferences. 

"Compatibility is an important part of any successful relationship," said Debra Arrisher, director of marketing for Prudential Preferred Realty. "We hope that this online feature helps potential buyers, particularly those who don't already have an agent relationship, find agents who have similar styles, common interests or real estate expertise that matches their needs." 

The Agent Compatibility Matcher works in a similar way to an online dating site.  It uses an algorithm to rank a customer's preferences with the self-authored profiles of the more than 250 agents who are in the matching system. 

People interested in trying the free service can visit http://www.prudentialpreferredrealty.com and click on "Agent Compatibility Matcher." They will be prompted to complete a brief multiple-choice survey online, where they will provide their interests, real estate needs and tastes.  They then will receive a list of potential "matches" - profiles of Prudential Preferred Realty agents who might be a fit.     

"We know that the vast majority of people start their home searches online, and they continue to rely on the expertise of their agents to guide them in their home buying journey," Arrisher said. "We feel this is a unique, customer-centric approach to helping Internet-savvy buyers solve their challenge of finding the right agent, while also highlighting our company's best asset -- our professional agents."

Brian Cummings, a Prudential Preferred Realty sales associate and associate broker in the Rt. 19 South office, was the first agent to be contacted by a customer through the Agent Compatibility Matcher.  Cummings and his wife Karen Cummings, who also is a Prudential Preferred Realty sales associate, met with the customer and now have listed his home for sale.

"It was nice to know off the bat what common ground you might have with a potential client, and vice versa," Cummings said.  "We're excited about the potential of the Agent Compatibility Matcher and are looking forward to working with our new customer to sell his home for the best price possible." 

Ron Croushore, Prudential Preferred Realty owner and CEO and current President of the West Penn Multi-List, Inc., added: "Home listings, sales and average sale price are on the rise in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  We're pleased to build on Prudential Preferred Realty's already robust website to better serve our customers and support our agents, just in time for what we expect to be a busy spring and summer real estate market in our region."

Prudential Preferred Realty employs 120 employees and more than 600 residential sales associates in Southwestern Pennsylvania. It is part of the national Prudential network, yet is locally owned and operated.  Prudential Preferred Realty's professional agents have been helping Western Pennsylvanians with their real estate challenges for generations.  Visit http://www.prudentialpreferredrealty.com or call 800-860-SOLD to learn more about how Prudential Preferred Realty's agents can help with your real estate challenges.

SOURCE  Prudential Preferred Realty

Prudential Preferred Realty

CONTACT: Kristen Laney, +1-412-327-2907, kristenlaney@hotmail.com

Web Site: http://www.prudentialpreferred.com

The Epic Struggle Between Birds and Pigs Moves to Space With a NASA Science Twist

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For nearly three years, millions of gamers have used physics in the battle between birds and pigs in the video game Angry Birds. In cooperation with NASA, Finland-based Rovio Entertainment, creator of the Angry Birds franchise, announced its newest game, "Angry Birds Space," on Thursday, March 8. NASA and Rovio are working together to teach people about physics and space exploration through the internationally successful puzzle game.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

Game developers have incorporated concepts of human space exploration into the new game. From the weightlessness of space to the gravity wells of nearby planets, players use physics as they explore the various levels of the game set both on planets and in microgravity.

"This collaboration began with a simple Twitter exchange about birds and pigs in space, and it has grown into a tremendous outreach and education opportunity," said David Weaver, associate administrator for communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Games are fun and entertaining, but they also can be inspirational and informative. This ongoing collaboration with Rovio and Angry Birds is an exciting way to get people engaged with NASA's missions of exploration and discovery, and get students energized about future careers in science and technology."

Aboard the International Space Station, Flight Engineer Don Pettit of NASA created a video using Angry Birds Space to explain how physics works in space, including demonstrating trajectories in microgravity by catapulting an Angry Bird through the space station. The video was shown this week to an audience at the South by Southwest Conferences and Festivals, an annual convention of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies in Austin, Texas. It is also available on NASA's website at http://www.nasa.gov.

"We focused on every detail in development of Angry Birds Space to build a special experience for our fans," said Peter Vesterbacka, chief marketing officer and mighty eagle of Rovio Entertainment. "I believe we have succeeded well with the game, and we wanted to create something as unique around our launch events. NASA has been the perfect partner for our Angry Birds Space program, and we can't wait to work with them on creating more compelling educational experiences."

For more information on microgravity, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/microgravity

For more information about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

For more information about Angry Birds Space, visit: http://www.angrybirds.com/space

SOURCE  NASA

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
NASA

Web Site: http://www.nasa.gov

Zumba Fitness Announces Strategic Partnership With Top Media and Technology Firms

The Raine Group and Insight Venture Partners Will Help the Global Multimedia Company Fill Zumba Classes and Spur Growth Opportunities for Zumba Instructors

MIAMI, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zumba Fitness, the global multimedia fitness leader and creator of the acclaimed Zumba dance-fitness party workout, announced today that The Raine Group and Insight Venture Partners made a minority investment in the company.  The strategic partnership will further grow and optimize the company's digital and media footprint, generating even more mass awareness for the global brand.  The partnership will bring new benefits to all members of the Zumba community including class participants, instructors, fitness facilities and the health and fitness industry.

"This strategic partnership will allow us to unlock the potential of our brand for years to come," said Alberto Perlman, CEO of Zumba Fitness. "As when we founded Zumba, the success of our instructors and their ability to improve the lives of Zumba enthusiasts is what continues to drive us. With Raine's media and entertainment resources and Insight's technology and social media expertise, we're perfectly positioned to make Zumba the premier lifestyle brand."

Since its inception more than ten years ago, Zumba Fitness has proven that it bridges an important gap - a dance fitness workout that is appealing to both casual enthusiasts and active lifestyle consumers looking for a fun and energizing workout.

"What the founders, management team and Zumba instructors throughout the world have accomplished in the last ten years is truly remarkable," said John Salter, a partner at Raine. "The intersection of sports, fitness and lifestyle is a key focus of our firm, and we are extremely excited to have Zumba as partners. We look forward to their continued leadership as we help them to further consolidate their strong position and accelerate their growth into major international markets for many years to come."

"As technology investors, we are extremely impressed by how Zumba's founders are leveraging media and technology to build value for their community in dance studios, gyms and online," said Jeff Horing, founder of Insight Venture Partners. "We are excited to be partnering with the Zumba Fitness team, and look forward to leveraging our technology expertise to continue improving the experience for Zumba instructors and participants, as well as assist in Zumba's growth worldwide."

In connection with the partnership, Zumba also announced that WME Entertainment, a strategic partner of Raine, will work with the Company to further build the global Zumba brand.  "Zumba Fitness is an international phenomenon that has helped improve tens of millions of lives around the world," said Ari Emanuel, co-CEO of WME Entertainment. "Through this partnership, we will create unprecedented brand awareness and an infectious fusion of entertainment and fitness. I am thrilled to work with a brand that does so much good for so many people and that has such enormous potential."

The Zumba( )Fitness lifestyle is rounded out by the company's many consumer product offerings, including DVD sets, music collections, multi-seasonal apparel and footwear, video games, Fitness-Concert(TM) events and a lifestyle magazine.  Following this transaction, current Zumba Fitness leadership will continue to own and control all operations of the Zumba brand. For more information about Zumba Fitness programs and products, or to find a live class, visit zumba.com

About Zumba Fitness, LLC

Zumba Fitness is a global lifestyle brand that fuses fitness, entertainment and culture into an exhilarating dance-party workout.  Coined "fitness-parties," Zumba classes blend upbeat world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography, which provide effective, total-body workouts. Founded in 2001, the company is now the largest branded fitness program in the world -- reporting more than 12 million weekly class participants, in over 110,000 locations, across more than 125 countries. In addition to its original Zumba® program, the company also offers a range of specialty classes, including Zumba Gold®( )(for active older adults), Zumba® Toning (body-sculpting class that uses maraca-like Toning Sticks), Aqua Zumba® (the ultimate "pool party" workout), Zumbatomic®( )(Zumba routines for kids), Zumba Sentao(TM) (chair-based Zumba class that strengthens, balances and stabilizes the core) and Zumba® in the Circuit (a 30-minute workout that combines signature Zumba® moves with circuit training at timed intervals). The Zumba®( )fitness lifestyle is rounded out by the company's many consumer product offerings, including DVD sets, music collections, multi-seasonal apparel and footwear, video games, Fitness-Concert(TM) events and a lifestyle magazine.  For more information about Zumba Fitness programs and products, or to find a live class, visit zumba.com and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

A quick note about the Zumba® trademark

The word ZUMBA® was coined by our company and is the brand name for our fun and effective fitness program that combines easy-to-follow moves with invigorating Latin and international rhythms. When referring to ZUMBA® we ask that you please keep in mind the following to protect the thousands of instructors worldwide who make their careers teaching Zumba Fitness classes:

Please do not:

    --  Use Zumba as a verb -- for example, "once you zumba, you'll be hooked."
    --  Use Zumba as a noun -- for example, "zumba is my favorite exercise."
    --  Use Zumba as a generic term -- for example, as a name for a fitness
        program "My gym offers zumba."
Instead, please do:

    --  Capitalize the letter "Z" or the whole word "ZUMBA."
    --  Refer to "the Zumba fitness program," "Zumba class," "Zumba instructor"
        etc. - for example "The Zumba fitness program is the most fun you'll
        ever have while working out" or "I love my Zumba instructor, she's the
        best."
    --  Use the ® symbol following the word Zumba® - especially in headers and
        titles.
About the Raine Group

The Raine Group is a global merchant bank focused exclusively on entertainment, digital media, and sports & lifestyle. Founded in 2009 by Joseph Ravitch and Jeffrey Sine, in partnership with WME Entertainment, Raine has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Palo Alto and Beijing. With a global reach, Raine focuses on growth equity investments where its deep industry experience and unique network of strategic relationships, limited partners and advisory board members can create value for portfolio companies. For more information, visit: http://www.raine.com.

About Insight Venture Partners

Insight Venture Partners is a leading private equity and venture capital firm focused on the global software, Internet and data-services industries. Founded in 1995, Insight has raised more than $5 billion and made more than 150 investments. Insight has a successful two-team structure: its investment team evaluates thousands of companies globally each year; its Insight Onsite team of consultants works with growth-stage management to provide resources and advice to allow them to achieve long-term success. For more information, visit: http://www.insightpartners.com.

Relevant Statistics - Zumba Fitness

Largest branded fitness program in the world with more than 12 million weekly class participants in over 110,000 locations across more than 125 countries

In addition to its original Zumba® program, the company also offers a range of specialty classes, including Zumba Gold®, Zumba® Toning, Aqua Zumba®, Zumbatomic®, Zumba® in the Circuit and Zumba Sentao(TM)

Multimedia brand with an extensive portfolio of consumer products including DVD sets, music collections, multi-seasonal apparel and footwear, video games Fitness-Concert(TM) events and a lifestyle magazine

Named by Mashable as one of "5 Fitness Brands Kicking Butt on Social Media"; Highly engaged Facebook presence with more than three million fans since its November 2010 launch

More than three million dollars raised for philanthropic causes in communities across the globe in the past 24 months

Zumba Fitness' legal advisor for this transaction was a team led by Daniel Ganitsky of Proskauer Rose. The Raine Group and Insight Venture Partners were advised by a legal team led by Ilan Nissan of Dewey & LeBoeuf.

SOURCE  Zumba Fitness

Zumba Fitness

CONTACT: Shaun Leavy, MWW Group, +1-201-964-2427, sleavy@mww.com, or Mary Beth Grover, mbg@abmac.com/Kelly Smith, kas@abmac.com, The Abernathy MacGregor Group, +1-212-371-5999, or Erica Harris, Insight Venture Partners, +1-212-230-9276, eharris@insightpartners.com

Web Site: http://www.zumba.com