I recently heard about a new innovative device and system that could be beneficial for general, autism and other special needs education as well.
Author Archives: David Berkowitz, Editor in Chief.
Turtlebeach launches new gaming headsets at E3 as well as a new partnership!!
ONLIVE AND MAD CATZ BRING AAA GAMES TO BIG SCREENS WITH THE M.O.J.O. MICRO-CONSOLE FOR ANDROID
ONLIVE AND MAD CATZ BRING AAA GAMES TO BIG SCREENS WITH THE M.O.J.O. MICRO-CONSOLE FOR ANDROID
New Enhanced OnLive Android App Delivers the Latest High-End Games on M.O.J.O.
Mountain View, California — June 4, 2014 — OnLive, the leader in cloud gaming, and Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT/ TSX: MCZ), today announced completing joint development to optimize OnLive’s Android™ app for the Mad Catz® M.O.J.O.™ micro-console for Android.
Using the updated OnLive Android app (available to download free from the Google Play store), the Mad Catz M.O.J.O. micro-console for Android can stream PC games from OnLive’s high-end gaming optimized servers, enabling players on this small-but-powerful micro-console to have access to over 250 AAA games from OnLive’s PlayPack™ game service bundle, as well as to their own game libraries using OnLive’s new CloudLift™ service.
The OnLive Android app is fully customized for use with M.O.J.O. and the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R™ Mobile Gamepad, both key products in the Mad Catz GameSmart™ range of mobile hardware. Bandwidth caps, previously fixed for use on mobile Android devices, are now user-defined and enable 720p60 resolution when connected to an HD TV or monitor.
“We designed M.O.J.O. to a high specification, as we conceived the platform to grow and evolve, encompassing new features and services over time” said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz, “With the new generation of Cloud Gaming that OnLive heralds, gamers can now play AAA and PC Steam-purchased games in high-definition through their M.O.J.O. With our dedicated C.T.R.L.R, we can move the high-end gaming experience away from the desktop PC and into the living room.”
“One of our best features is that OnLive brings big games to small devices,” said Rick Sanchez, VP of Product and Marketing at OnLive. “We want to be everywhere the gamer wants to play their games, and M.O.J.O. from Mad Catz is a perfect fit in every respect. As a micro-console powered by Android, it’s powerful beyond its size, and now by installing the optimized OnLive Android app, users have access to the latest AAA games from publishers like Codemasters, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital, Gaijin Entertainment, Kalypso, Paradox, and Warner Bros.”
Details of the games available to play using CloudLift and the OnLive Game Service are available at games.onlive.com/cloudlift, including a free 7-day trial of CloudLift for new users. The new OnLive Android app can be downloaded free from the Google Play store.
For additional information about M.O.J.O., please visit: www.madcatz.com/mojo/
About Mad Catz
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT/TSX: MCZ) is a global provider of innovative interactive entertainment products marketed under its Mad Catz® (gaming), Tritton® (audio), and Saitek® (simulation) brands. Mad Catz products cater to passionate gamers across multiple platforms including in-home gaming consoles, handheld gaming consoles, Windows® PC and Mac® computers, smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices. Mad Catz distributes its products through its online store as well as distribution via many leading retailers around the globe. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Mad Catz maintains offices in Europe and Asia. For additional information about Mad Catz and its products, please visit the Company’s website at www.madcatz.com
About OnLive
OnLive is the originator of fast-twitch cloud gaming via the internet, innovating the delivery of real-time interactive experiences and rich media over any network. With ground-breaking video compression technology, OnLive harnesses cloud computing to instantly deliver full-featured, media-rich applications anytime and anywhere, across a range of devices. The OnLive Game Service — with its CloudLift and PlayPack subscriptions — gives gamers the freedom and convenience to play their games on PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones and HDTVs. OnLive Go brings the benefits of cloud gaming to MMOs, virtual worlds and other graphics-rich interactive applications. Having pioneered powerful cloud solutions for the most technologically challenging segment, fast-twitch AAA games, OnLive has hundreds of patents and patents pending that cover its innovations. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California. More information is available at www.onlive.com and www.onlive.co.uk.
OnLive, the OnLive logo, PlayPack and CloudLift are trademarks or registered trademarks of OL2, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All rights reserved. Mad Catz, the Mad Catz logo, M.O.J.O., C.T.R.L.R and GameSmart are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., its affiliates and/or subsidiary companies. Mac is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Android and Google TV are trademarks of Google, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Sennheiser builds MOMENTUM with the world’s longest goal celebration launches awesome new headphones!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!
Sennheiser builds MOMENTUM with the world’s longest goal celebration
Old Lyme, Conn., June 11, 2014 – The passion, the rhythm, the sound: As everyone is looking forward to a summer of football excellence, Sennheiser is inviting the world’s most vocal fans to join the biggest goal celebration. Inspired by the sheer football mania of Brazilian commentators who are legendary for their passionate goal celebrations, the audio specialist is calling on football fans to create the longest-ever online ‘goal’ shout in its Goooooool celebration chain. By joining the shout with their video clips, participants get the chance to win a limited-edition pair of MOMENTUM Samba headphones that feature the colors of the Brazilian flag. The Samba headphones will be available in the U.S. and in other regions for a limited time.
Just like Samba and Carnival – the passionate goal celebrations of football commentators such as Cleber Machado, Galvão Bueno or Luiz Roberto represent something distinctly Brazilian. Luiz Roberto became a legend around the globe when he seized the mic after his team had scored and shouted “gooooooooaaaaal” for a full 20 seconds. By building the longest goal shout, Sennheiser now aims to bring together the voices of fans from all over the world.
Inspired by their country’s incredible football commentators, the celebration will be kicked off by a group of Brazilian fans. Then fans from around the world can upload their own videos that take up the goal shout, each continuing the “ooooooooo” section for as long as possible. By uploading a video to www.sennheiser-momentum.com, it will automatically be linked to sections from other fans to make the ‘Goal-Celebration-Chain’ the world’s longest goal shout. If you are a passionate supporter of your team, it is time to be heard! Get your friends together, dress up in your team colors, and make it LOUD!
“We want to reflect the energy, the unstoppable football enthusiasm in Brazil and bring fans from around the globe together in celebrating the world’s longest goal shout,” said, Uwe Cremering, Head of Global Marketing. “Of course, while the fans will be coming together, I think we’ll also be able to enjoy the huge diversity – team colors and mascots. As part of the fun, we also want to see which country has the most fans in the shout. We are excited to see enthusiastic people joining in rooting for their team”, added Anaseth Martínez, Marketing Manager at Sennheiser Latin America.
As well as showing support, fans joining the goal shout have the opportunity to score a pair of MOMENTUM Samba headphones. Sennheiser will select ten winners from the teams and individuals taking part in the chain. The limited edition features a unique color scheme inspired by the Brazilian flag. The headphones with vibrant yellow ear cups and green detailing provide an incredible sound experience on the move. The MOMENTUM Samba will only be available in selected markets for a limited period of time.
The football-themed video chain will be part of Sennheiser’s “What’s Your MOMENTUM?” project. Together with Spotify, the audio specialist is presenting inspirational sound stories from all over the world, short films that showcase the life and work of some of the world’s most inspirational people, sharing their projects and unique achievements. The project is an invitation for others to share their own inspirational stories and to start video chains such as the ‘Goal-Celebration-Chain’. To learn more about the “What’s Your MOMENTUM?” project visit www.sennheiser-momentum.com. The MOMENTUM videos can also be found on www.youtube.com/sennheisermomentum.
About Sennheiser
Sennheiser is a world-leading manufacturer of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. Established in 1945 in Wedemark, Germany, Sennheiser is now a global brand represented in 60 countries around the world with U.S. headquarters in Old Lyme, Conn. Sennheiser’s pioneering excellence in technology has rewarded the company with numerous awards and accolades including an Emmy, a Grammy, and the Scientific and Engineering Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
You can find all the latest information on Sennheiser by visiting our website at http://www.sennheiserusa.com.
Contact:
| Jeff Touzeau
Public Relations Hummingbird Media, Inc. (914) 602-2913
|
SOUNDMATTERS DASH7 WORLD’S THINNEST HI-FI BLUETOOTH SPEAKER PERFECT GIFT FOR GRADS & FATHER’S DAY –
SOUNDMATTERS DASH7 WORLD’S THINNEST HI-FI BLUETOOTH SPEAKER PERFECT GIFT FOR GRADS & FATHER’S DAY –
Now Priced at $199 for Amazing Music Everywhere
“The One Bluetooth Speaker to Buy” – Men’s Journal
Super Thin, Doesn’t Block the View of an iPad or Other Tablet
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foxLO Subwoofer Now Has Lower Price of $129 and foxL DUET Now Priced at $279
Reno, NV, June 2, 2014 – Soundmatters www.soundmatters.com, the leader in high-quality, portable speakers founded by former NASA engineer/audio legend Dr. Godehard Guenther, announced today that the new DASH7 world’s slimmest, lightest high-fidelity Bluetooth speaker is available starting on June 1, 2014 at a lower price of $199 MAP (normally $219) in time for Father’s Day and graduation gifts. Available in vibrant red, arctic white, platinum silver and midnight black, DASH7 is über-flat at ¾ inch-high and easily fits in a coat jacket or pocket for wireless music on the go for watching movies, music videos and answering phone calls as a speaker phone. Chosen “The One Bluetooth Speaker to Buy” by Men’s Journal and one of the “Best New Travel Gadgets for 2014” by Travel + Leisure, DASH7 is the essential audio upgrade for tablets, smartphones, laptops, and more, so thin, it doesn’t blockthe view of an iPad or other device.
Luscious Sound Created with 5th Generation Twoofer & BassBattery Technologies for Tablets, Smartphones, Laptops, Guitars & More
In addition to high style and a thin shape, DASH7 also features huge omnidirectional sound in a slim size with 5th generation twoofer and BassBattery for truehi-fi sound, as well as an angled stand for direct on-axis high resolution music for the best stereo separation on the market for discerning music listeners.
Created by the inventor of the first high performance small portable Bluetooth speaker — the foxL (TIME Magazine’s “Top Ten Gadget of the Year”), and supplier of audio technology to the top-selling Jambox, the thin DASH7 has characteristically wide bandwidth, remarkable bass, clear open highs, and loudsound (like earlier foxLs), but with 40% less internal size than the already tiny foxLv2.
DASH7 Features:
- Slimmest, lightest high-performance sound system and speakerphone with a beautiful design.
- Unique ¾” height lets you nestle the DASH7 beautifully below your tablet.
- Omnidirectional sound for watching movies or music videos.
- Includes combo case and stand.
- Angled stand provides even higher resolution on-axis listening.
- Extended Bluetooth range and auto shut-off (user-selectable)
- Noise cancelling speakerphone to answer phone calls while listening to music or movies.
- Sub output allows you to add the optional foxLO, the travel-size powered subwoofer small enough to fit in a quart-size baggie.
- High power international USB Charger Kit (US/EU/AU/UK), powerful enough to charge your tablet.
- Four colors: vibrant red, arctic white, platinum silver and midnight black.
- Lower price at $199.
Lower Priced Palm-Sized Hi-Fi Subwoofer Systems
In addition, Soundmatters also announced today lower prices for their subwoofer system line, the foxLO world’s first palm-sized hi-fi subwoofer to $129(originally $149) and the foxL DUET high-powered compact desktop and travel-friendly stereo hi-fi satellite and subwoofer system, now priced at $279(originally $299).
DASH7 is available immediately through Amazon.com, Aetherapparel.com, Crutchfield.com, ListenUp.com, OneCall.com, www.theaudiosalon.com, and more, as well as through the Soundmatters site at: www.soundmatters.com, priced at $199 MAP in the U.S. The original Soundmatters foxL line is also available in two aptX versions priced starting at $199, along with the foxLO palm-sized powered subwoofer for foxL, Jambox, Pill, and other small speakers, now $129 MAP (previously $149).
Award-Winning foxL Line of Portable Speakers
The foxL line of portable speakers has won numerous industry awards and accolades, including Time Magazine’s “Top 10 Gadgets of the Year.” Sound & Vision said it is “the absolute best gift ever for the audiophile…fundamentally changes how and where we can enjoy great sound…it’s that good!” And CNN said,“So, travelers of all stripes, or any of you looking for a small system for your room or office that can fit in your pocket and go for a good long time on a full charge, this is ultimate gear.”
VIDEOS:
DASH7 at Coachella Music Festival 2014: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/soundmattersdash7coachella.html
MOV File: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/SoundmattersCoachellaVideo2014.MOV
WMV File: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/SoundmattersCoachellaVideo2014WMVV9.wmv
For more information, visit Soundmatters at: www.soundmatters.com.
About Soundmatters
Soundmatters International, Inc. www.soundmatters.com was founded in 1998 by physicist, former NASA engineer, and audio design legend Dr. Godehard Guenther. A world-renowned pioneer in the field of audio, Dr. Guenther introduced many firsts to the audio market, including the world’s first in-wall speaker; in-wall subwoofer; component loudspeaker for car hi–fi; switching power supply for car hi–fi; multi–channel car amplifier; hi–fi television monitor; and first complete digital time-delay system for surround sound. Soundmatters’ patented audio innovations are available through its own brand and embedded in other companies’ products, i.e. from International Gaming Technologies and Aliph®/Jawbone®.
Oppo N1 With CyanogenMod
Oppo’s flagship N1 smartphone went on sale globally for the first time on December 10, but the version everybody wants — that’s the one that comes with CyanogenMod 10.2 pre-installed — wasn’t available from day one. Oppo has today announced, however, that it will be available on December 24 — just in time for Christmas.
Oppo was waiting for the N1 to pass Google’s compatibility test suite (CTS) process, which gives it access to Google’s official Android apps — including the Google Play Store. Without this, the company would have had to launch the N1 without a Play Store — or build its own — and users would have had to side-load their applications.
It was certainly worth waiting for that before launching the CyanogenMod variant, then — even if it means you won’t quite get the N1 in time for Christmas.
The N1 becomes the first phone with CyanogenMod to have been certified by Google, “which marks a major milestone for everyone” involved in the project, said CyanogenMod developer Abhisek Devkota. “This has been something a long time in the making, ever since CM 4.0.4.”
It’s unclear how much this N1 variant will cost, but it’s expected to come with the same $599 price tag (€499 in Europe) as the original model. That gets you a 5.9-inch 1080p display, a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, a 13-megapixel camera, and 2GB of RAM.
- SourceCyanogenMod
- ViaEngadget
BlackBerry Z10 Review
I recently had the opportunity to test and review the Blackberry Z10 and was quite impressed by it overall.
It offers a decent 4.2-inch 1280 x 768 display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage. It is similar in size to the Iphone and a wee bit smaller than the Motorola Atrix HD.
I liked the user interface, especially the integration of email, and social media functions into one hub. It has decent applications available but just needs more of them.
Design:
The phone is a master of the simplicity of design, but it offers a nice level of function as well its’ form.
Compared to the iphone it is slightly larger, and feels nice in the hand as well:
Personally I found the phone to be one which would make a nice daily driver and would work well for my life. It could be a bit bigger, however there is now a larger device available on the market which was not available at the time of the original review.
I also liked the rubbery coating on the back of the device as well. It was great to stop it from slipping out of the hand.
Camera:
The camera was nicely designed, and worked fairly well. It was decent for day to day usage. Could it be better, of course, but things could always be better when it comes to technology.
Software:
I liked the user interface, the sound quality, and the overall design and usability.
I would definitely would recommend this device to most users. The design feels nice, well made and nicely made. There are other devices out there made of aluminum and other materials, but it really does not matter, but it is nicely designed as it is.
I like Android and IOS but I find Blackberry OS to be a refreshing alternative.
Expansion:
The device offers microSIM and microSD slots.
I think that the sd card will support up 32 gb, but have heard that it will also offer 64gb or larger cards as well.
The phone comes standard wiith 16GB of internal storage, which will appeal to many who have been put out by the devices that do not offer sd card expansion like the Iphone, and HTC’s One M7.
The phone also offers NFC communications, as well as Bluetooth which are quite nice features to have as far as expansion and connection to the world around us.
Besides the standard volume keys, the device also offers a third button to do voice control and play and stop music too.
Overall I was impressed by the phone, and it could work quite well for most users.
Autism begins in the womb by Rob Huthinson/ISpectrum Magazine!!
See for original post–>http://ispectrummagazine.com/wp/?p=2442
Autism is a complex developmental disability which, until now, researchers thought began during the first three years of life. So far there is much debate over risk factors and contributory factors involved in developing autism, with diet, the body’s ability to process vitamins and vaccines all linked to autism, but as yet there is not enough solid evidence to draw a straight line between them. The strongest case for a contributory factor is genes, as demonstrated most clearly by twin studies that have shown that identical twins are much more likely to both develop autism than non-identical twins. Now, however, scientists have found evidence that autism may well start to form in the womb. If this is true, how can it help
to shine new light on the disease? And what problems may it cause?
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine new research suggests that changes in the developing brain before birth may cause symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The researchers from the University of California, San Diego and the Allen Institute for Brain Sciences in Seattle, analaysed post-mortem brain tissue of children with and without autism, all aged between two and fifteen. Previous studies have tended to use adults, which may explain why the results are so breathtakingly new. Autism involves early brain overgrowth and dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex. As seen in a previous analysis an excess of neurons in the prefrontal cortex in children with autism signaled a disturbance in prenatal development. The researchers hoped to investigate this further by showing that those brain defects definitely occurred pre-birth.
Having examined the brain tissue of the deceased, researchers found clusters of disorganized cells in the regions of the brain that are pivotal for regulating social functioning, emotions and language, activities that are problematic for autism sufferers. Crucially, this cluster of cells was found in ten of the eleven children with autism, but only in one of the children who did not have the disease. It is believed that these defective cells formulate in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. By using genetic markers the researchers were able to study in detail how the cortex formed layers and connections. If these results are true then it would also explain how some children with autism show signs of improvement if treated early enough. With these clusters of cells spread about brain areas it would be possible, due to the plasticity (adaptiveness) of the brain, to compensate and rewire itself whilst the child is at a young age.
This new insight could be the key to unlocking the exact risk factors behind autism and also encourage early intervention and treatment as soon as the disorder is detected. It also serves to eliminate other theories as to risk factors, such as the aforementioned vaccination, as if autism forms during pregnancy then childhood vaccinations cannot possibly be a cause, and research can be realigned accordingly. However, these are but preliminary results and need to be replicated, ideally with a larger sample group. What cannot be denied though is that the results are promising and add credence to a belief that autism develops pre-birth. Finally there is a small piece of evidence that supports the theory, and the fact that the cell clusters are located in the most fundamental areas of brain development certainly suggest that researchers are on the right track.
Carol Povey, director of the National Autistic Society Centre for Autism, said the study shed light on a complex and often misunderstood disability.”Better understanding of the early brain development of children with autism could help us find new and more effective ways to support the estimated 700,000 people living with the condition across the UK,” she said. “Autism can have a profound and devastating impact but the right support can make a huge difference.” However, for all the good this new research can do, there is a possibility that it can be construed into a reason for malpractice. If autism does begin in the womb and can be detected it would give parents a heads up of what to expect and to better plan for the future – but it also opens a new door to them. For some, having a child with autism would be overwhelming, and they would start to think about having the foetus aborted. In countries with a one child policy, knowing your child would be disabled presents a stark, unjust reality. Where culture dictates that the young look after the old, not just for financial or traditional reasons but because there is no other option, a child with autism may risk the lives of all the family. In other countries it would be seen as bringing disrespect to the family, and in India or China where the aborting of girl foetuses is commonplace, then this research just provides another excuse for the ending of a life before it has even begun. Although pinpointing the starting point of autism will open up new possibilities at studying the contributing factors involved in its development, we must be careful that it does not become a double-edged sword.
‘Significant delays’ found in treatment of US veterans
‘Significant delays’ found in treatment of US veterans (via AFP)
US military veterans were subjected to “significant delays” at a government clinic where up to 1,700 of them may have been kept off waitlists, said an inspector’s report released Wednesday. With a swirling scandal over treatment of wounded warriors…
Remembering Maya Angelou A Great Woman!!
Remembering Maya Angelou (via Repost Video News)
An American literary and civil rights legend passed away today. Tonight a look back on the remarkable life of Maya Angelou.
