nPower Personal Energy Generator Charges Mobile Phones, GPS and Other Mobile Devices

#nPowerPeg Personal Energy Generator http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
I really like to hike and usually I go on long hikes like recent Winter Death Vally Hike. It was the first time that I experienced violent rain storms and no sun for a few days. So my plans for using my solar charging devices for my electronic devices fell apart. I had to do with bunch of dead electronic devices while we tried to scale telescope peak (unsuccessfully due to weather).
Then I went to CES 2011 in Vegas after visiting those glimmering booths I noticed the nPower PEG at the Venetian,  and instantly, I knew I got to have one. I have placed an order and awaiting it now!
each PEG comes complete with:
- nPower® PEG
- iGo cable (to connect your PEG to your device)
- iGo adapter tip of your choice (to make your PEG a universal charger that's compatible with over 3,000 hand-held devices)
- USB cable (to quick-charge your PEG from a USB port)
Get yours at www.npowerpeg.com
Press Release;

The nPower® PEG (Personal Energy Generator) to Exhibit at CES Unveiled & the 2011 Consumer Electronic Show
Cleveland, OH, December 27, 2010. Tremont Electric, second place winner of the Consumer Electronics Association’s i-stage competition, is exhibiting the nPower® PEG at CES Unveiled and the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show. Through i-stage, the nPower® PEG has been “certified by the CES brand as a standout in categories of innovation, impact, and marketability” (http://i-stage.ce.org/?page_id=79). The nPower® PEG is the world’s first passive kinetic energy charger for hand-held electronic devices.
The nPower® PEG allows individuals, for the first time ever, to capture and store their personal kinetic energy generated from walking, running, or biking. The PEG is a backup battery charger for hand-held electronic devices (i.e. cell phones, iPods, GPS). By placing the lightweight nPower® PEG vertically in a backpack, briefcase, or purse and going about daily activities, the user will have extra power when it is needed most. –While on the go.
The nPower® PEG is ahead of its time! According to the recent Consumer Electronics Association report, 5 Technology Trends to Watch, “Consumers will be looking for consumer electronic devices to have greener options such as compatibility with current energy management systems, the ability to produce its own energy and/or act as a storage device.”
The PEG is a hybrid charger that receives a charge from kinetic energy and via USB. Originally revealed to consumers as a prototype at the 2009 International CES, the nPower® PEG is now fully commercialized. The nPower® PEG retails for $159.00 and was initially made available to consumers in summer of 2010. Due to high demand, the PEG is currently on backorder and can be reserved at www.npowerpeg.com

CES 2011 And Year Of The Tablets.

#CES2011 And #YearOfTheTablets http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
I am a gadget buff and more a tablet buff. I have tablets based on intel 486 :), a long before Steve Jobs was dreaming about iPad (I guess).
I expected to have enough information to select a tablet for my personal use after the CES 2011. But I am still looking. But I already know it will not be an iPad, I had enough of an enlarged iPhone and it will not be an Windows based tablet, I have a convertible tablet notebook, Thinkpad which is three years old but doing very well. So it has to be a native Android Tablet with a large screen. Even though ExoPC seem to run Android 2.2.1, I like to keep my personal stuff, original.
But if you too are looking for a tablet, Engadget has a collection of Tablets form CES 2011, which is fairly complete. What more is they marked some in bold letters which were Engadget's favorites. All of those tablets have some sort of review on site.
Engadget

Microsoft, CES and Tablets Did not Mix Very Well And Lead To Android Hacking

#Microsoft, #CES and Tablets http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
I think almost everyone expected to hear something about Microsoft's drive towards tablet OS. While most of the other manufacturers and OS companies had a lot to offer in the tablet front. Make no mistakes, there were many Windows 7 based tablets peppering the vast Android based tablet landscape, it was not enough to drive enthusiasm towards Microsoft.
Windows on ARM has been the the theme fro Microsoft but I have even forgotten what an ARM processor is. On the other hand, Windows 7 has been running fine on my Asus convertible tablet based on ATOM Processor for a while. I expected to see more on that front as most tablets seem to run ATOM processors. Actually we have a bunch of projects that being developed on ATOM based Windows tablets.
Yes there were rumors or reaffirmation of rumors about Windows 8 or Microsoft Jupiter planing to do wonders on tablet front (ZDNet), but not really enough to drive me to get a tablet based on windows.
But the 11.6" ExoPC seem to be a fine candidate for hacking as it is possible to run Android on it, ExoPC is now available on Microsoft Stores. Sorry Balmer, at least Gates brought us something we could scream at but you even fail at that!. If you want to get Android on ExoPC, ExoPC Forums has info on the subject.which actually lead to this blog by Al Sutton, which we sometimes run to get Android info.

Vydio And VidyoConferencing Brings HD Multi Party Telepresence To Homes

#Vydio And #VidyoConferencing http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vidyo®, Inc., will demonstrate tonight, at CES Showstoppers, its HD multipoint video conferencing over the Internet, connecting consumer devices including laptops, an iPad, iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy Tab and the new Google Nexus S running “Gingerbread” with enterprise room systems, enabling users to visually connect with friends, families and business colleagues from home, the office or wherever life takes them. VidyoConferencing™ is an HD multi-point solution available today that extends work productivity tools into the home, leveraging popular consumer devices that users already own and use with their residential and wireless broadband connections, without requiring costly purpose-built devices or networks.

“Vidyo’s solution has been used for over two years to connect business colleagues and customers via HD video conferences over cable modems and DSL from homes, offices, airports and cafes,” said Ofer Shapiro, co-founder and CEO of Vidyo. “Today Vidyo’s users are also connecting their PCs and Macs to TVs in their living rooms and kitchens to gather the family and interact with multiple friends and relatives around the world in an HD, highly reliable personal telepresence experience. We’re at the beginning of an exciting new era of joining smart phones and tablets with these desktop and room system-based experiences, and Vidyo’s unique architecture makes this possible today. Vidyo’s solution on mobile devices is currently being piloted by a telecom carrier in Europe and we believe these services will be broadly available to consumers around the world in 2011.”

Vidyo’s patented architecture offers the highest quality video via less than perfect networks when connecting to remote areas, or internationally, into areas with limited bandwidth like India or China. Click here (link did not have a embeddable video one below is from Youtube) to see a demonstration of Vidyo versus a competitor over the Internet with packet loss.

Vidyo’s unique VidyoRouter architecture is the first in a new generation of software solutions that leverages H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) and eliminates the Multipoint Control Unit (MCU), enabling natural, high quality video to work over the Internet, 3G, 4G and WiFi networks at a fraction of the cost of MCU-based solutions. The company’s solution is software-based, and adapts easily to virtually any hardware platform and operating system. This combination of performance, flexibility and price has led partners, including telecom carriers, conferencing service providers and OEMs to deliver new service offerings that weren’t previously possible. Vidyo spans a full range of applications, from the VidyoDesktop™ with personal telepresence capabilities on a PC or a Mac to the VidyoRoom™ that encodes and decodes HD-quality video at up to 1080p and 60 frames per second. Software Development Kits (SDKs) are available today for mobile devices running Android, iOS, and Meego operating systems.

Vidyo’s solution was recently the recipient of the Wall Street Journal’s 2010 Technology Innovation Award, nudging out other formidable nominees to win the top honor in the publication’s “Network/Internet Technologies/Broadband” category. Vidyo technology is licensed by HP, Hitachi, Teliris, ShoreTel and others and Vidyo is available today in a pilot mobile service from Elisa Corporation on the Samsung Galaxy Tablet.
More information from Vydio

Android 3.0, Honeycomb, Build Specially For Tablets Is Official Now

#Android3.0, #Honeycomb http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
CES 2011 brought out many thing to day. It also leaked a version of Android 3.0, honeycomb. So with that Android team delivered the following on the YouTube page saying;
"Google's CES promo video for Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) that got leaked and then made private." I think at least Motorola must be happy now that Google itself has said the Android was built for tablets. Motorola ad for the Honeycomb tablet laughs at Samsung Galaxy Tab for running Phone OS! With Entirely for tablets, Google Talk video calling will bring, well video calling over GoogleTalk.

Hyundai Blue Link Telematics System, Do Stuff With / To Your Sonata!

#Hyundai #BlueLink #Telematics Sonata,http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
It was not only electronic and mobile companies at CES 2011 that were drawing attention. Hyundai was one of those companies. They demonstrated the Blue Link Telematics system for Hyundai automobiles. Blue Link
 stand to change the automobile market again, just like Hyundai has been doing all along.
There are many things you could do with Blue Link, from total control of your prized car to daya to day tasks such as using voice recognition, to search for POIs and getting Blue Link Navigation to take your there, without taking hands off the wheel. If you are locked inside with current cold spell, you will love the remote start, to warm up your ride even before you enter it. Then there is remote disabling of the car via text message, in the event thieves somehow manage to steal your car or your teenager took it without permission.

"Blue Link combines safety, service and infotainment into a complete package that works to both help simplify Hyundai owners' lives and reduce distracted driving. We've carefully studied how drivers rely on smart phones and navigation systems as an innovative link to the outside world. Blue Link brings that seamless connectivity directly into the car with technology like voice text messaging, POI web search download, turn-by-turn navigation, and monthly vehicle reporting. Our agent-assisted advanced voice recognition system offers a 21st century solution to performing POI searches in the vehicle. This unique and innovative approach enables Hyundai to deliver fast, accurate searches and downloads of POIs to vehicles without the unnecessary costs of traditional operator-only type systems of our competitors."  said Barry Ratzlaff, director of customer satisfaction and service business development, Hyundai Motor America.

If you know "On Star", you will recognize the Blue Link Assurance, a premium part of the Blue Link Service (initially free) providing Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) and Assistance, SOS Emergency Assistance, and Enhanced Roadside Assistance.
No word on the cost associated with the service but it will be complementary on  Hyundai cars and will debut on Hyundai Sonata, this spring.
For all the goddies it brings, please read the following Press release;

HYUNDAI LAUNCHES ALL-NEW BLUE LINK® TELEMATICS PLATFORM

Hyundai-developed in-vehicle telematics platform incorporates more than 30 innovative connectivity functions and core safety services

LAS VEGAS, January 5, 2011 – Hyundai is set to challenge conventional wisdom in the automotive industry again in 2011 with the introduction of Blue Link®, an all-new telematics platform exclusive to Hyundai models. This new telematics platform will offer more than 30 unique connectivity features on future models.

A variety of different features will be available at launch, including unique applications such as a maintenance alert that helps drivers identify and schedule service; an "Eco-Coach" that improves efficient driving; restaurant ratings; and remote door lock/unlock capabilities. Blue Link's innovative features continue with remote vehicle start, which allows a driver to heat or cool the car before driving; geofence, which can send a text if a driver has ventured outside prescribed borders or time constraints; and stolen vehicle slowdown to help police recover a stolen vehicle.

Drivers will not have to wait long for the arrival of Blue Link on Hyundai models as it will debut this spring on the popular Sonata sedan, one of three finalists for the North American Car of the Year award. In addition, Hyundai soon will announce a second Blue Link-equipped, youth-oriented coupe model, which will also be available before summer. Hyundai projects Blue Link to be available across the majority of the lineup by the 2013 model year.

"Blue Link combines safety, service and infotainment into a complete package that works to both help simplify Hyundai owners' lives and reduce distracted driving," said Barry Ratzlaff, director of customer satisfaction and service business development, Hyundai Motor America. "We've carefully studied how drivers rely on smart phones and navigation systems as an innovative link to the outside world. Blue Link brings that seamless connectivity directly into the car with technology like voice text messaging, POI web search download, turn-by-turn navigation, and monthly vehicle reporting. Our agent-assisted advanced voice recognition system offers a 21st century solution to performing POI searches in the vehicle. This unique and innovative approach enables Hyundai to deliver fast, accurate searches and downloads of POIs to vehicles without the unnecessary costs of traditional operator-only type systems of our competitors."

As part of the Blue Link launch, Hyundai also will provide Blue Link Assurance on Blue Link-equipped vehicles, which includes core safety services for an introductory period. These key safety services include: Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) and Assistance, SOS Emergency Assistance, and Enhanced Roadside Assistance. After the introductory period, owners of Blue Link-equipped vehicles can choose to extend these and other services as desired. Blue Link package subscription fees will be announced this spring on Sonata.

Blue Link Assurance further expands Hyundai's industry leadership formerly established by Hyundai Assurance, the industry's most comprehensive suite of new-vehicle protection. Hyundai Assurance already offers a 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable bumper-to-bumper warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 5-years complimentary Roadside Assistance, and Buyer Protection - a credit-protecting job-loss vehicle return program.

In typical Hyundai fashion, Blue Link services were developed with targeted packaging options that are tailored to distinct telematics user groups:

Blue Link Assurance package:
• Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) and Assistance - Provides immediate assistance when an accident occurs and an airbag is deployed. In this event, an ACN signal, containing customer and location information, will automatically be transmitted to the response center. Upon receipt of the signal, a response specialist will attempt to establish voice communications with the vehicle occupants and forward any pertinent information to emergency services.
• SOS Emergency Assistance - Customers request emergency 911 assistance by pressing the dedicated SOS button in the vehicle. This action transmits vehicle information and location to specially-trained response specialists, who assist in coordinating the dispatch of appropriate emergency assistance to the customer. The response specialist remains on the line with the customer until advised assistance has arrived.
• Enhanced Roadside Assistance - Enables customers to contact Roadside Assistance via a single in-vehicle button-press. Vehicle information (including location) is automatically transmitted to a response center, enabling the specialist to dispatch assistance more quickly and efficiently for vehicle assistance and retrieval.

Blue Link Essentials package:
Remote Access:
• Remote Door Lock/Unlock - Enables locking or unlocking vehicle doors via a toll-free number, owner's website, or mobile phone application.
• Remote Horn and Lights - Enables activating the horn and/or lights via a toll-free number, owner's website, or mobile phone application.
• Panic Notification - Notifies customers when the panic button on their vehicle key fob has been activated, signifying when a family member or other vehicle occupant may be in danger. Notifications are configured online and occur via email or text message.
• Remote Vehicle Start - Enables customers to start the vehicle via owner's website or toll-free number, or mobile phone application.

Convenience:
• Alarm Notification - Notifies customers when and where the vehicle alert is activated via a text message, email or an automated phone call.
• Quick Tips – Provides quick reference assistance for primary vehicle feature location and function.
• Location Sharing - Enables sending vehicle location to select friends and members of social networking sites, including Facebook - directly from the vehicle.
• Voice Text Messaging – Enables hands-free text messaging to SMS text recipients, including the ability to initiate text messages, rather than only respond to messages, as with some competitive systems.
Vehicle Self Diagnostics:
• Automated Diagnostic Trouble Code Notification - Provides explanation and repair assistance using vehicle data and off-board diagnosis capabilities to better inform the customer of vehicle trouble alerts. A combination of in-vehicle display alerts and guided voice messages provides customers with additional instructions (information also sent to the customer's preferred dealer to assist with the repair process).
• Maintenance Alert - Notifies customers via website, email or SMS message that an upcoming service is due at various thresholds leading up to the event. Configured online, the alerts explain what is included in particular maintenance intervals.
• Recall Advisor – Provides all pertinent recall information should a recall be initiated.
• Web Vehicle Diagnostics - Provides a report of vehicle diagnostics, eco-coach performance and other important information in a monthly email report and web page update, starting 30 days after registering with the Blue Link service.
Theft Protection:
• Stolen Vehicle Recovery - In the event a customer's vehicle is reported stolen (and a stolen vehicle report has been filed with the appropriate police department), the response center can provide assistance to the police in an attempt to recover the vehicle.
• Stolen Vehicle Slowdown - Used with Stolen Vehicle Recovery, this enables law enforcement to gradually reduce the engine power of the vehicle, thus slowing it down to safe levels. A warning will be transmitted to the driver prior to the slowdown procedure.
• Vehicle Immobilization - Used with Stolen Vehicle Recovery, this enables law enforcement to send a signal to the vehicle which immobilizes the engine management system, thus preventing startup. This capability is only valid when the ignition is off, but the command can be saved by the engine ECU for later immobilization if the vehicle is on or in motion at the time of signal transmission.
Safeguard:
• Valet Alert – Enables alert via text message or automated phone message when the customer's vehicle moves beyond a prescribed region.
• Geofence - Enable monitoring vehicle movement in and out of pre-defined regions configured on the owner's website. When the vehicle enters or leaves a designated region, the customer is notified by email, text message or automated phone message.
• Speed Alert - Notifies the customer via email, text message or automated phone message when their vehicle exceeds the specified speed threshold established on the owner's website. High value for parents of teen drivers and fleet customers.
• Curfew - Alerts owners if the vehicle is being used outside a pre-determined time interval. Alerts are configured online and sent via text message and/or automated phone message.

Blue Link Guidance package:
• Turn-by-Turn Navigation Service - Provides traffic information surrounding the customer's vehicle and in the nearby area, based on preferences established using the owner's website.
• POI Web Search by advanced voice recognition system and download - Enables Point-of-Interest searches using an automated voice system. Results can be downloaded to the vehicle navigation system. Live operators provide additional support, if needed.
• Daily Route Guidance with Traffic Condition - Enables customers to pre-define several routes to a common destination and receive a regularly-scheduled traffic alert for traffic delays along those routes. Results include flow and incident data, along with "Fastest Route" recommendation.
• Traffic - Provides traffic information surrounding the customer's vehicle and in the nearby area, based on preferences established using the owner's website.
• Gas Station Locations and Gas Prices - Locates gas stations by price, brand or fuel type from the vehicle. Results are played back via automated voice, and can be downloaded to the vehicle's navigation system.
• Eco-Coach - Tracks the customer's driving performance habits (MPG and CO2 emissions) on a continual and historical basis. Results and environmentally responsible driving recommendations are provided on the owner's website.
• Restaurant Ratings – Provides restaurant ratings for local restaurants with address download for turn-by-turn navigation or onboard navigation.
• Weather - Provides weather forecasts and alerts for the immediate area or for customer-defined locations within the owner website. Alerts also appear during navigation routing.

More details on Hyundai Blue Link are available at www.HyundaiBlueLink.com.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

AT&T To Launch 12 Android Devices In 2011, Perhaps To Cover iPhone Losses.

#ATT To Launch 12 Android Devices, #ComplemenTV http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Looks like AT&T is going Google Friendly in 2011, after it nearly killed Google Voice on iPhone. May be it is begining to feel the heat form having to share the iPhone with a carrier with better network. AT&T is also taking care of 4G, or rather the lack of it, AT&T Mobility boss Ralph de la Vega said at the carrier's Developer Summit in Vegas today that he considers both LTE and HSPA+ to be 4G technologies, I agreed with him, saying my rump is red too, like those of snow monkeys.
Many of the devices were already announced at the Developer Summit at CES 2011, which even "bare naked ladies" could not drag me.. But knowing the experience, do not expect stock Android phones.
We will have to wait and see what AT&T's Android Strategy is. I really hope it to be different from it's iPhone Strategy.
AT&T also announced the mobile and U-verse integration.Through DLNA authentication, apps will control U_Verse TV experience. An iPad demo showed an show schedule on iPad control U-Verse DVR. But if you are an advertiser, you can jump up to AT&T's offering to the field, ComplemenTV. It allows to check what channel is being watched on the U-Verse and deliver extra content on the iPad, just like the ComCast Xfinity App.

AT&T Dev Summit Home page

Motorola HoneyComb (Android 3.0) Tablet To Release Today At CES 2011

#Motorola #HoneyComb (Android 3.0) Tablet  http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

You can find more at Motorola

Checking Your Heart Rate With iPhoneECG

#Alivecor #iPhoneECG See your heart rate http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Checking your heart rate with iPhone is possible now with iPhoneECG, an iPhone case from Alivecor. iPhoneECG will debut in CES 2011 in Las Vegas.

Alivecor via engadget

Android iPod Touch? Samsung Galaxy Player Seem To Be One!

YP-GB1 Samsung Galaxy Player

#Android #iPod Touch? Samsung #GalaxyPlayer http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Riding the success of it's Galaxy phones and tablets, Samsung seem to be entering the field to challenge Apple's iPod Touch dominance as well.
Last night I saw an AD for Samsung Galaxy Tab for Japanese market and it was fantastic. I am sure it would have drown a few customers away from iPads.

The Samsung Galaxy Player, which seem to be as attractive as the rest of the Galaxy products will debut at CES 2011
The Galaxy Player itself is mostly the Samsung Galaxy S phone without the cellular technology. But apps like Skype for Android will work without any issues on the device and users will be able to make calls when ever there is a WiFi network.  The Galaxy Player code named YP-GB1, is 9.9 mm thin and runs Android 2.2 Froyo as the OS. The Galaxy Player sports a very capable 1GHz CPU, which is underneath a 4-inch Super Clear LCD screen supporting up to WVGA resolution (800×480). The Samsung's T-DMB, SoundAlive audio enhancing technology will enliven the sound while Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, 3.2MP rear camera with front facing VGA camera for video calling will enhance the network activity. The GPS, HD video playback, microSD card slot, Android Market and Samsung Apps access makes it a sound competitor for iPod touch if Samsung makes the price point attractive to the audience that will look for such devices. The Galaxy Player is powered by a 1200mAh removable battery.
The Samsung Galaxy Player will come in 8, 16 and 32 GB storage capacities. The price is not known yet.
Samsunghub