Spain: Vodafone launches SmartPass m-payment service.

Spain: Vodafone launches SmartPass m-payment service.

Vodafone Spain has become the first operator in Spain to launch an NFC-powered mobile wallet service allowing customers to pay for goods and services with a touch or wave of their smartphone. The Vodafone Wallet app can also hold travel cards, library or gym membership cards, loyalty cards, gift cards and vouchers, the aim being to eventually replace plastic cards.

The first payment app available for the Wallet is called Vodafone SmartPass and has been developed in partnership with Visa. The app uses prepaid funds to enable customers to pay for goods with their smartphone at any Visa contactless payment terminal.

The service will initially be confined to NFC-capable smartphones from Samsung, Sony and HTC, with plans to expand the range rapidly in 2014. Vodafone also says that customers without a compatible NFC phone can apply for an NFC tag to stick to the back of their handset to use in conjunction with the SmartPass app.

Currently the app is only available on Android via Vodafone Updates and customers who install it on their phones will need to enter a password and provide their Visa card number before being allowed to use the service at 300,000-plus locations in Spain and 1.2 million in Europe.

The service will be launched in Germany in mid-December and expanded to the Netherlands, UK and Italy in spring 2014. Vodafone is also working with major European banks to integrate their card portfolios into the wallet.

Wirecard is supporting Vodafone as a technical service provider implementing the mobile payment application for various mobile phone types. Wirecard is also responsible for the creation, implementation and operations of all technical processes. Wirecard will provide NFC tags for mobile phone models which are not NFC-enabled. 

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Will Apple make an Smart iTV with Primesense 3D chip developer company acquisition?

Will Apple make an Smart  iTV with Primesense 3D chip developer company acquisition?

Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet confirmed the PrimeSense deal to AllThingsD.

A spokeswoman for PrimeSense said: “We can confirm the deal with Apple. Further than that, we cannot comment at this stage.”

PrimeSense became widely known in the sensor technology space for its early work with Microsoft’s Kinect gaming product, which uses cameras and depth sensors to capture players’ motions and incorporate them into Xbox gameplay. Microsoft now deploys its own homegrown sensor technology for the current generation of Kinect devices, which ship with the recently launched Xbox One.

PrimeSense has expanded its product line to include more hardware than the original large, stationary sensor seen in the Kinect, creating new, smaller sensors targeted at more compact devices.

PrimeSense’s technology could be used in any number of Apple’s actual and hypothetical products in development, including the long-rumored Apple television set (Steve Jobs told biographer Walter Isaacson that he “finally cracked” the TV)   or an Apple-made smartwatch.

Samsung gesture control.

http://www.primesense.com/

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CES 2014: Google selected ClearPad 3350 for the Nexus 5 first full HD In-Cell touchscreen.

Synaptics Inc., a leading developer of human interface solutions, today announced that Google has selected the ClearPad^® 3350 capacitive touchscreen solution to power its latest flagship smartphone device, the Nexus 5. As a single-chip touch controller solution, which integrates touch directly in the display, ClearPad 3350 enables leading OEMs to develop thinner, lighter, brighter and more responsive smartphone touchscreens. With ClearPad 3350, Nexus 5 users can experience the industry's first full high-definition (HD) In-Cell touchscreen, along with best-in-class touch sensitivity. Clearpad 3350 also incorporates software filters for excellent noise avoidance, while providing 10-finger multi-touch and up to 120 Hz touch refresh rates.

First introduced in 2011, Synaptics' patent-pending In-Cell touchscreen technology pushes the boundaries for device form factor and user input responsiveness in the Nexus 5. Working in close collaboration with LCD display manufacturers, Synaptics developed the ClearPad In-Cell technology by integrating touch functionality directly into the device's LCD display versus an additional discrete sensor layer. As a result, OEMs are able to deliver even slimmer devices with virtually zero display noise during touch sensing.

ClearPad 3350 Key Benefits:

• Ultra-thin Designs: Provides the thinnest solution available today by reducing the thickness by up to ~1mm, depending on the cover lens used.
• Brighter Displays: Increases the brightness by 10% by eliminating sensor transmitters on the color filter glass.
• Total System Cost Savings: Reduces total system cost through supply chain efficiencies and complete removal of a discrete sensor stackup.
• Display Compatibility: Provides maximum flexibility to the OEMs by making the solution fully compatible with TFT-LCD, a-Si and LTPS display types.
• User Interaction Features: Provides features like glove operation and stylus tracking by utilizing advanced trans-capacitance sensing in the display integrated systems.

"The Nexus brand of devices has long been known for innovative design and functionality, and our ClearPad technology supports this legacy by providing end users with the absolute best touchscreen experience available today," said Kevin Barber, senior vice president and general manager, Smart Display Division for Synaptics. "This latest design win with Google further underscores Synaptics' growing leadership in the mobile market and our commitment to forging strong partnerships across the mobile ecosystem to deliver groundbreaking, marketleading touchscreen technologies."

Synaptics will showcase its entire portfolio of human interface products at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show. Customers and suppliers are encouraged to contact their Synaptics partner to arrange a meeting time at CES. Media are encouraged to contact synaptics@text100.com to arrange a meeting time.

About Synaptics

As a leading developer of human interface solutions which enhance the user experience, Synaptics provides the broadest solutions portfolio in the industry. The ClearPad® family supports touchscreen solutions for devices ranging from entry-level mobile phones to flagship premium smartphones, tablets and notebook PCs. The TouchPad™ family, including ClickPad™ and ForcePad®, is integrated into the majority of today's notebook PCs. LiveFlex® fingerprint sensor technology enables authentication, mobile payments, and touch-based navigation for smartphones, tablets, and notebook computers. Synaptics' wide portfolio also includes ThinTouch® supporting thin and light keyboard solutions, as well as key technologies for next generation touch-enabled video and display applications. (NASDAQ: SYNA) www.synaptics.com .

Synaptics, TouchPad, ClearPad, ClickPad, ForcePad, ThinTouch, LiveFlex and the Synaptics logo are trademarks of Synaptics in the United States and/or other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

For further information, please contact:

Nick Rottler

Synaptics

408-904-1820

nrottler@synaptics.com

Public Relations:

Starlayne Meza

Text 100 Global Communications 

415-593-8431

synaptics@text100.com

SOURCE Synaptics Inc. http://www.synaptics.com/solutions/products/clearpad

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CES 2014: IZON to Unveil 3D TV Without Glasses.

CES 2014: IZON to Unveil 3D TV Without Glasses.

IZON™ will debut its line of 3D LED televisions without glasses at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas, January 7-10.

IZON eliminates the need for glasses, which consumers found annoying and uncomfortable and ultimately spurred the decline of home 3D television.

Orlando, Florida-based television manufacturer IZON, LLC, a subsidiary of 3D Future Vision II, Inc., solves this problem by removing the need for glasses. The company is anticipating the launch of its line of LED screens with 32-inch, 47-inch and 55-inch glasses-free models by the second quarter of 2014.

IZON ultimately expects to create 1,500 new jobs in the U.S., where the product line will be assembled.

"We have R&D'd what we believe is the ultimate solution to 3D home entertainment," said Joseph DiFrancesco, Chairman and CEO of 3D Future Vision. "IZON displays the sharpest pictures available, providing an amazing viewing experience."

IZON has perfected the assembly process to produce sub-pixel accurate alignment in the 3D displays, creating clear crisp imagery at an affordable price. IZON features its "HyperMix3D™", a multi-threaded 3D rendering technology that uses algorithms that take advantage of multi-core GPUs and produces immersive 3D without eyestrain. In addition, IZON processes 3D stereo movies which can be seamlessly watched on its glasses-free TV's.

IZON's number one feature is user-friendly technology. The IZON team knows that keeping up with technology is not everyone's focus, acknowledging that most of the time people don't want to struggle with turning the volume up or even turning the TV on. IZON models are geared to be simple, smart and fun. Consumers can enjoy traditional broadcast in 2D, view broadcast 3D and their favorite 3D Blu-ray movies with a push of a button. The glasses-free 3D TV wide viewing angle of over 150 degrees produces sharp, vivid imagery that enables the entire family to participate in the experience.

IZON will offer an array of apps for streaming thousands of movies and television shows.

IZON will exhibit at Booth #48005.

For more information: jd@izontv.com www.izontv.com

SOURCE 3D Future Vision

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13 years old boy Quin Etnyre, teaches engineering at MIT. Video.

13 years old boy Quin Etnyre, teaches engineering at MIT. Video.

In the past three years , Quin Etnyre , 13 , learned to program electronics and created his own company.

Recently, he began teaching students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT ) , one of the most prestigious schools in the world and technological development.

Quin teaches Arduino , a system for minicomputers that combine with open source software , easy to program , designed for people with no advanced engineering expertise to design all kinds of devices.

One objective is to revolutionize education and advocates the introduction of methods in schools to help children learn electronics programming.

" A special gift "

His parents, who have no training in engineering , which have proved very young Quin have a special gift .

According to his mother , from the beginning realized that his son had engineering skills , because I loved align all kinds of things and do puzzles. In only three years, and solve mathematical problems.

With Arduino modules , Quin has managed all kinds of devices, from robotic cleaner cap called a " gas cap " , an invention that has more to do with something you usually interest a child his age : farts .

What made Quin is to incorporate a methane sensor in a small device able to connect wirelessly to a cap full of lights .

The device goes into the pocket and when it carries a gas flops, methane sensors detect it and signal to the cap that makes the lights come on . A higher concentration of methane have higher intensity lights .

Interactive technology.

A year ago Quin founded his first company , Qtechknow dedicated to distributing welding equipment for beginners and intermediate interface boards for users.

It also offers a full to learn programming on the Arduino platform team .

Thanks to his passion for Arduino, now dedicated to teaching other children and adults in classes such as the MIT Club .

In five years, Quin wants to pursue his career at MIT to one day become an educator and an electronics engineer .

BBC

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CES 2014: RoboMe™ is the Perfect Gift for Tech and Robot fans this Holiday!

CES 2014: RoboMe™ is the Perfect Gift for Tech and Robot fans this Holiday!

RoboMe™ is the Perfect Gift for Tech and  Robot fans this Holiday! Robo-fy Yourself with RoboMe™! From WowWee®, the company that brought you Robosapien™ and  Roboraptor™ comes the latest fusion of personality and technology... RoboMe! RoboMe is a completely customizable robotic avatar that uses the power of your iPhone® or iPod® touch! RoboMe: Is Fully Programmable* Has Fun Customizable Faces and Personalities* Performs Remote Visual Telepresence (he sees what you see!)** Can Autonomously Roam & Navigate its Environment Has the ability to Understand Vocal Commands* Can have its Sensor Reactions Customized* Operates as a full-functioned R/C Robot right out of the box! *when used with an iOS smart device **when used with two iOS smart devices This robotic avatar will thrill and engage kids and people of all ages... You have never seen anything like it before! MSRP $99.99 Age 8+ Buy it on Amazon store:

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CES 2014: World's First Fully-Electric Zero-Turn Mower with Four-Wheel Steering Technology Again Validated as the Future of Lawn Care.

CES 2014: (CES) Recognizes Innovation of Fully-Electric Zero-Turn Mower; Honors Cub Cadet for Eco-Design and Sustainability.

World's First Fully-Electric Zero-Turn Mower with Four-Wheel Steering Technology Again Validated as the Future of Lawn Care.

Cub Cadet, the leader in outdoor power equipment, is excited to announce that the International Consumer Electronics Show has named the RZT S™ ZERO, the world's first fully-electric zero-turn riding mower with steering wheel control and four-wheel steering technology, as an Innovations Design and Engineering Awards Honoree in the Eco Design & Sustainable Technologies category. This is the second award of global prestige for the ZERO in 2013. It also received the coveted Breakthrough Award from Hearst Media's Popular Mechanics in October.

The ZERO is the only fully electric zero-turn rider that is controlled by a steering wheel and patented four-wheel steering technology. This provides incredible maneuverability on all types of terrain and allows for greater straight-line tracking as well as traction and stability on hills. The advantages are immediately apparent with the ZERO's "no compromise" cutting performance that produces the Cub Cadet Signature Cut that customers have come to expect from the brand.

The product is Cub Cadet's latest achievement in a history of American-inspired innovation dating back to 1961, as well as an extension of the Consumers Digest Best Buy Award winning line of zero-turn mowers.

"It's literally what you don't get with the Cub Cadet ZERO that's most valuable. The ZERO's name really says it all ... zero gas, zero oil, zero filters, zero belts, zero cumbersome lap bars, zero emissions, zero engine maintenance, zero turf damage, and most remarkably, zero engine noise," said Jeff Salamon, Cub Cadet's director of marketing. "To be recognized as an honoree in the International Consumer Electronics Show's Innovations Design and Engineering awards is awesome. Everyone knows the remarkable technologies that are showcased at CES each year and we are honored to be in such company."

The Cub Cadet ZERO will be on exhibit at the Digital Experience! in Las Vegas on Monday, January 6, 2014 from 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm at The Mirage Events Center (MEC) at the Mirage Hotel. It is currently available in select markets and will be expanded into new markets for spring 2014. For more information about the ZERO, visit cubcadet.com/zero. To join the conversation, follow Cub Cadet at:

• www.Facebook.com/CubCadet
• www.Twitter.com/Cub_Cadet
• www.YouTube.com/CubCadetRidingMowers

About the CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards

The CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards is an annual competition which honors outstanding design and engineering in consumer electronics products. All categories are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, independent engineers, and members of the trade media across 29 product categories. Winners include new consumer technology products or existing products with dramatic enhancements.

The Innovations entries were judged based on the following criteria:

• Engineering qualities, based on technical specs and materials used
• Aesthetic and design qualities
• The product's intended use/function and user value
• Design and innovation qualities of this product compared to others
• Why the product deserves the award -- its unique/novel features that consumers would find attractive.

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) ®, the producer of the International CES, the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology. Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering honoree products are featured on CESweb.org/Innovations, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.

About Cub Cadet 

The leader in the outdoor power equipment industry, Cub Cadet engineers innovative, premium quality products. Through a dedicated and extensive network of dealers and retailers, Cub Cadet delivers a full line of high performance power equipment and services that cover all aspects of grounds care for professionals and homeowners – including the world's only 4-wheel steer zero-turn riders; lap bar zero-turn riders; utility vehicles; lawn & garden tractors, lithium ion- and gasoline-powered handheld & chore products; snow throwers and more. A global company based in the U.S., Cub Cadet is recognized worldwide for its legacy in engineering excellence and its progressive dedication to exceeding owner expectations by delivering on its promise of better products, a better experience and better results. For more information on all Cub Cadet products, visit www.CubCadet.com.

SOURCE Cub Cadet.

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