Don't use your cellphone in Ontario this Fall

Mobile tech retailers in Ontario are expecting a big boost in sales for hands-free products as the province's cellphone ban comes into effect.

On Tuesday, Queen's Park passed Bill 118, banning people from using hand-held devices while driving -- but the law won't be enforced until at least this fall.

The latest "must have" is the popular Jawbone bluetooth headset which is getting an update. The new Jawbone PRIME model, which is designed to offer better performance and a more cutomizable fit, will be available later this week.

The Jawbone PRIME features updated better noise elimination than past versions, thanks to its updated NoiseAssassin technology, the company says. I tested the last version of Aliph's NoiseAssassin when reviewing the current Jawbone headset, and found that it worked very well. Aliph says the new Jawbone also includes a digital wind reduction feature, making it easier to use outside.

In addition, the PRIME will feature more customization options for finding a comfortable fit. You'll get an earhook, three round earbuds in varying sizes, and three "new fit" earbuds, which are designed for a better fit if you opt not to use the earhook.

The PRIME is available in a variety of colors, including standards like black, plus bright hues like purple and green. It will be available on May 2 for $130.

How many USB drives do you have?

PHILM - Putting content onto USB drives

Look on your desk, in your draws you probably by now are the proud owner of at least one USB drive. 

What's on that drive? Nothing, a few files, PowerPoint, a PDF, link to a website. 

Most of the time that's it, you wipe off those files and use it to store your own stuff! 

Now imagine if you used the power of that drive, it's got a memory, it has a unique number, it can be setup to communicate, it can store stuff that is useful and it can present it in an easy way on and off line. 

Welcome to a new world, the world of PHILM. 

How can PHILM help you...

Bridge On and Offline

Clearwire's Ben Wolff on nationwide WiMax

Clearwire's CEO talks about building out WiMax nationwide, finding Wimax's killer app and surviving the economic downturn.

Click for article on Computerworld

Clearwire shareholders back Sprint venture

NEW YORK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Clearwire Corp (CLWR) said on Thursday its shareholders had voted to approve its proposed high-speed wireless joint venture with Sprint Nextel Corp (S) that includes an investment of $3.2 billion from cable, Web and chip partners.
Analysts had widely expected the vote, which was the last remaining hurdle for the deal, to be in favor of the venture, which will take on the Clearwire name. The venture would build a network based on WiMax, an emerging high-speed wireless technology.
Clearwire, which has the consent of the majority of its lenders, said it expects to amend and restate its credit agreements shortly to permit the deal.
In early May Clearwire and Sprint announced plans for a $14.5 billion venture that they hope would give them a head-start on AT&T Inc (T) and Verizon Wireless in developing the next generation of wireless data services.
As part of the deal, five strategic partners are investing a combined $3.2 billion in the venture. They include Intel Corp (INTC), Google Inc (GOOG), Comcast Corp (CMCSA), Time Warner Cable Inc (TWC) and Bright House Networks.
It wasn't immediately clear why shares of both Clearwire and Sprint were down sharply following the news.
Clearwire fell 23 percent to $4.46 at mid-afternoon on Nasdaq. Sprint dropped 20 percent to $1.50 on New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Sinead Carew, editing by Richard Chang)

Extra Monitors - Nanovision MIMO 7" USB

USB graphics productivity is available now in a fun new pint size package. Powered by DisplayLink technology, the Nanovision MIMO 7" USB connected and powered LCD mini monitors are a friendly and affordable way to add productivity to notebook and desktop computers.

Hitting the Korean market first, the Nanovision MIMO monitors are ideal for dedicating visual workspace to applications that are used at a glance, such as instant messaging and calendars. MIMO is also perfect for Gadgets and Widget applications like news and weather monitoring and multimedia playback such as digital TV, video conferencing, MP3s, photos and more.

"Nanovision gives you what you want, when you want it," said Hamid Farzaneh, president and CEO of DisplayLink. "Fun applications are always within view, while reserving your main screens to the productivity task at hand."

Using USB for both connectivity and power, Nanovision is able to offer MIMO at consumer price points. The 700 series starts with the UM-710 7". Priced at 130,000 South Korean Won (US $129), it supports 800x480 resolution and both landscape and portrait orientation and either mirror or extend display modes.

"By exclusively becoming a USB device, the monitor has been transformed from a PC component to a consumer electronics gadget," added Farzaneh. "And by integrating multi-function features like VoIP, DTV and Touch Panels, the interesting uses for this technology have yet to be fully realized."

The MIMO model UM-730 adds a complete videophone with 1.3M Webcam, MIC and earphone jack, and the UM-750 features a Touch Screen. Nanovision sells direct to consumers and to electronics Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). For more information about Nanovision and the MIMO mini display visit www.nanovision.co.kr

"The MIMO mini display is so versatile," concluded Farzaneh. "We can't wait to see it make its way to desks worldwide."

About DisplayLink

DisplayLink Corp. is a chip and software company that helps people to create simple connections between computers and displays -- via USB or Ethernet. Its innovations make it easy to get more visual workspace while taking less time, money and energy than competing multi-monitor solutions. Using universally accepted wired or wireless networking protocols and proprietary software compression techniques, DisplayLink technology can transmit graphically rich content between a single device and multiple displays over a network. Leading global manufacturers have integrated DisplayLink technology into an array of PC accessories including monitors, video docking stations, display adapters and projectors. More information is at www.displaylink.com.

Wolff outlines top management for "new" Clearwire

Ahead of the finalization of its joint venture with Sprint Nextel's Xohm unit, Clearwire Corp. provided details about its top management, and said its chief financial officer was leaving the company. 

In an SEC filing, Ben Wolff, Clearwire's CEO, said that Barry West would be the company's president and chief architect, and that Atish Gude would serve as the chief marketing officer of the mobile WiMAX company. In the filing, Wolff also said that CFO Jon Butler would be stepping down to "spend more time with his family."

Both West and Gude will relocate to Clearwire's offices in Seattle.

Clearwire announced in May that it was merging with Sprint's Xohm unit to create a new company, and the joint venture has received billions of dollars in capital investment from Google, Comcast, Intel and other Internet and technology power players. Wolff said he expects to have all staff positions finalized by Oct. 31.

OpenTV and Adobe Collaborate To Advance Rich Television Experiences

Integration of Adobe Flash onto OpenTV Middleware To Enable New Applications and User Interfaces

SAN JOSE, Calif. and AMSTERDAM — At IBC2008 OpenTV Corp. (Nasdaq: OPTV), a leading provider of advanced television services, and Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE), today announced that they have agreed to integrate Adobe® Flash® Lite™ software onto OpenTV middleware as an additional application environment, complementing OpenTV’s standard and HTML offerings, further enhancing Web browsing capabilities and strengthening the development of rich applications and user interfaces.

The agreement is based on a longstanding relationship between the two companies. OpenTV is also joining the Open Screen Project and will be working with Adobe and other members of the initiative to define the TV profile and Open Screen requirements to help enable great user experiences on television screens. Announced in May 2008, the Open Screen Project brings together industry leaders to deliver a consistent runtime environment across desktops, televisions and mobile devices by leveraging Adobe Flash technology and Adobe AIR™software.

“This collaboration is significant in that it brings two market leaders together to provide the best solutions for consumers of digital television,” said Tracy Geist, OpenTV’s senior vice president of Market Development. “By combining our technologies, the authoring and development benefits of Adobe Flash with the digital TV experience and technology of OpenTV, we’re opening the door to a host of new service possibilities for operators and developers worldwide.”

“Together, Adobe and OpenTV can push the boundaries of digital TV application development and bridge the gap between various sources of content, such as Web and television,” said Gary Kovacs, vice president and general manager, of Mobile and Devices at Adobe. “By combining the rich graphical effects of Flash technology with the advanced features of OpenTV’s Core middleware, we’re enabling developers of digital television services to leverage the best technologies for the delivery of advanced services to consumers worldwide.”

Extending OpenTV middleware to support Adobe Flash technology will be yet another key platform differentiator for OpenTV’s customers, allowing them to easily combine web technologies such as HTML and Adobe Flash to deploy new, rich services faster and readily generate time-sensitive applications such as advertising and other enhanced TV applications.

Availability

The first commercial deployment of OpenTV Core2 middleware with integrated Adobe Flash support is expected to be targeted at the Japanese market in the second half of 2009.

About OpenTV

OpenTV is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced digital television solutions and is dedicated to creating and delivering compelling viewing experiences to consumers of digital content worldwide. The company’s software has been integrated in more than 111 million devices around the world, and enables enhances program guides, video-on-demand, personal video recording, enhanced television, interactive and addressable advertising and a variety of enhanced television applications. For more information, please visit www.opentv.com

About Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe revolutionizes how the world engages with ideas and information - anytime, anywhere and through any medium. For more information, visit www.adobe.com .