Scandinavian design has built a reputation for its sleek simplicity, with Bang & Olufsen leading a decades-long heritage in appealing home entertainment kit. It’s a legacy speaker start-up Libratone would like a part of, and the Beat is the company’s first step. A monolithic wireless speaker with a premium finish and premium price-tag to match, Libratone promises something that’s both easy on the eye and easy to use. Check out how it fares in the full SlashGear review.
Hardware
The Beat is certainly distinctive: a 47cm high tower, triangular in cross-section, predominantly clad in slate grey Italian wool. On the back there’s a slice of satin chrome which arches out into a handle for easier transportation. Build quality is very high, but our review unit was already showing some fluffiness around the edges of the wool where it had obviously been rubbed. Nothing some pruning with nail-scissors wouldn’t take care of, but we’re not really used to having to trim our home audio equipment.
Ports on the Beat are minimal, with a 3.5mm stereo input intended for legacy use, but Libratone expecting users to opt for one of the two bundled wireless adapters. There’s a USB adapter – a tiny, angled USB dongle that shows up in Windows or OS X as another sound output – together with an Apple-friendly transmitter that plugs into the dock connector of your iPhone, iPod or iPad. As a rather slick consideration, Libratone also throw in a custom USB cable which can dock with the iPod adapter, allowing you to recharge and sync the iOS device while also streaming wirelessly. The only thing you don’t get is a 3.5mm audio cable for use with a non-Apple PMP.
The streaming part of the Libratone Beat may be wireless, but the speaker itself doesn’t cut all of the cords. Despite the weight, there’s no internal battery for standalone use, and so you’ll need to find a plug to power the Beat up. A dedicated power switch on the back is one of two physical controls; the other is an illuminated multifunction button in the top right hand corner of the speaker’s fascia. It’s a single less-than-solid point on the Beat, being a little wobbly to the touch.
Pressing the button once switches between the wireless transmitters – that way you can leave the USB and iPod dongles plugged in, and switch between them from the speaker itself – while pressing twice triggers a scan for any new nearby transmitters. Three times mutes the speaker – actual volume control is via the transmitting device itself – and six times clears everything. The button’s backlighting switches from red when in standby, to yellow when searching/connecting, and then to white while it’s playing.
Performance
Libratone is particularly proud of the audio tech slotted inside the Beat, with a 50W bass amplifier and 2x25W tweeter/midrange amps driving a 5-inch bass speaker, two 3-inch midrange and two 1-inch ribbon-based tweeters. Rather than all pointing out the front of the Beat, they’re spread around the three edges; Libratone calls this FullRoom, and suggests the speaker sounds best if you position it 20cm away from a wall so that the rear-facing cones can reflect sound off of it. Corners, apparently, aren’t so helpful to the stereo effect.
The promise is 360-degree audio from a single source, something plenty of other companies have offered before, and as is usually the case it’s a mixed bag in practice. The Beat certainly doesn’t lack bass – in fact at times we wished we could tweak the low-end down somewhat, something you have to do via whatever EQ options are on your audio source, since there’s no way of doing it on the Libratone speaker itself – with the weighty unit getting the floor shivering with the amount of sound it can pump out, while the trebles are bright and clear. The mid-range gets somewhat lost in the process, however, taking its toll on guitars and acoustic music especially.
It’s also hard to identify the promised stereo effect, and while we tried the Beat in various different positions in different rooms, there’s really no way it can live up to a proper set of stereo speakers. That might not be an issue if your wireless speaker requirements run to a simple way to take music around the house with you, or out into the garden, but then the Beat’s high price tag and AC demands rear their heads.
What you do get is convenience. Libratone promise that those with more than one Beat unit can have them all active and paired simultaneously, with the speakers automatically starting playback when you come into range. If you’ve ever wanted a bubble of whole-house audio that follows you around, the Beat can deliver that, assuming you’ve the depth of wallet to accommodate. Unfortunately Libratone only supplied a single unit, so we were unable to test the multi-speaker functionality. Still, it’s worth noting that, even if you have two units set up, there’s no way to assign one to the left stereo channel and the other to the right. You merely get a louder version of the proprietary FullRoom effect.
Wireless range is quoted at up to 10m for the iPod adapter and up to 30m for the USB adapter. In practice, we had no trouble roaming throughout the apartment while maintaining a connection, with walls in-between.
Wrap-Up
There’s a lot to like about the Libratone Beat. The styling has the minimalist sparkle we’ve grown to expect from the Danes, and the focus on high-quality materials – multifunction button wobbles aside – adds up to a speaker that’s distinctive even when it’s turned off. If Italian wool isn’t luxe enough for you, Libratone will sell you a Beat clad in Italian cashmere instead; this is a speaker that dresses better than we do.
The wireless setup is super-simple as well; Windows and the iOS devices we tested automatically switched over to the Libratone adapters, while a quick click in the OS X settings page had our MacBook singing through the Beat. Subsequent plug-ins of the transmitters triggered an automatic switchover, the Beat automatically pairing and hardly a skipped note in the transition between onboard speakers and the Libratone monolith.
Unfortunately, that convenience and quality comes at a price, and it’s both on your wallet and your ears. At £549 for the wool and £599 for the cashmere versions, the Beat is tremendously expensive for an iPod speaker, and the audio output simply isn’t as precise as a traditional stereo speaker pair. In its favor there’s the convenience of its portability, but the absence of a battery option – and the sheer weight of the unit itself – somewhat undermines the flexibility on offer.
Nonetheless, there’s something appealing about the Beat. The ease of use and obvious consideration behind the design decisions are excellent, and we love the styling. If it were cheaper, we could probably describe the sound as playful and be thankful for the lashings of bass from a relatively small cabinet. At its current pricing, however, it’s hard to recommend the Libratone Beat to those who prioritize audio quality.
As consumers become more mobile, users are opting for more of a laptop experience compared to being stuck at a desktop. However, as we all know, the small screen and keyboard on your laptop is not always sufficient. Samsung has now solved this issue with Central Station.
Central Station seamlessly connects all elements of the of your mobile computer, including notebook PC, display, peripherals, network, and AV, to its own monitors.
Here’s how it works. Instead of plugging in all of your peripherals such as keyboard, mouse, printer, etc. to your desktop, the user will plug them into the central hub. Then, once the USB connector is inserted into a laptop, bring the laptop within 3.2 feet of the Central Station and you will be immediately presented with a full desktop experience right from your laptop.
The monitor and hub solutions come in both 23- and 27-inch options and will both sport WLED backlighting when it’s made available in March of this year.
As consumers become more and more, cables are becoming a thing of the past. Wireless printing is the next frontier in printing, and Samsung is jumping on the service now offering both wireless connected printers as well as an Android application.
Creating a seamless experience, the Samsung printing application is available for download and will allow printing to any WiFi connected Samsung printer. From an Android device, the user will have to use the application to print and can choose which printer from within the print screen.
Samsung Galaxy Tab users have the printing service built directly into the core OS. Users can print from Memos, Browser and other applications and will not have to open the application to print, although the application is available. The Samsung Mobile Print/Scan app will be available for free this winter, and will be built-in to the Galaxy Tab beginning this year. The application will be compatible with all existing and new Samsung wireless and network printers.
Press Release:
LAS VEGAS, NV – Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced the Samsung MobilePrint app, its first application for printing from Android and iOS mobile devices to Samsung wireless printers, at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The MobilePrint app allows users to print emails, web pages, maps, photos, and Microsoft Office and PDF files faster when traveling for business, working remotely, or visiting with friends and family. The solution will be on display at CES in Central Hall booth #12006, January 6-9, 2011.
“Over the past year Samsung has built its leadership in the printer space with the introduction of innovative features like the one-touch print button and AnyWeb Print software for easier web page prints,” said Ken Colby, director of printer marketing at Samsung Electronics Enterprise Business Division. “We are kicking off 2011 by expanding the depth of our printer solutions with the Samsung MobilePrint app which offers a convenient solution for printing from a mobile device, a very real need for today’s smartphone-centric lifestyle.”
HASSLE-FREE, SEAMLESS CONNECTIVITY?The Samsung MobilePrint app is available for Android smartphones, Android tablets and iOS based devices and can be downloaded from the relevant application store or marketplace. It will detect and connect directly to Samsung wireless printers in the area via WiFi or a network link. Samsung Mobile Print/Scan app users can then print directly from their devices with the click of a button, eliminating the hassle of driver installations and network configurations.
SIMPLE EDITING AND SCANNING?Samsung’s Mobile/Print Scan app also allows users to quickly review and edit documents that have been scanned into a local Samsung printer. Using this feature, mobile devices can detect documents scanned to a local multifunction printer (MFP) or, alternatively, be sent the scanned document by the MFP user. This is an ideal solution for editing document layouts, as it allows mobile edits to be made to the scan’s image quality and file type, and provides a choice between color or black and white scans.
FASTER PHOTO AND TRAVEL ITINERARY PRINTS ?Samsung’s Mobile Print/Scan app brings a new dimension to mobile photography by providing users with a way to select and print multiple images simultaneously through their Samsung device’s photo gallery. It also saves time for frequent travelers who need to print e-tickets, flight confirmations or other itineraries at the last minute by using their mobile device’s SD card.
The Samsung Mobile Print/Scan app will be available for free this winter. It will be built-in to the Galaxy Tab beginning in 2011. The application will be compatible with all existing and new Samsung wireless and network printers.
About Samsung Electronics America Enterprise Business Division?Based in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung’s Enterprise Business Division (EBD) is a division of Samsung Electronics America (SEA), a U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. (SEC), the world’s largest technology company based on revenue. As one of the fastest growing IT companies in the world, Samsung EBD is committed to serving the needs of consumers ranging from the home user to the Fortune 500 elite and supporting the valued channel partners who serve our customers. Samsung EBD offers a complete line of award-winning color and mono-laser printing solutions, desktop monitors, laptop computers, digital signage solutions and projectors. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com or call 1-800-SAMSUNG.
About Samsung Electronics America, Inc. ?Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, digital consumer electronics and home appliance products, including HDTVs, home theater systems, MP3 players, digital imaging products, refrigerators and washing machines. A recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology, Samsung is the HDTV market leader in the U.S. Please visit www.samsung.com for more information.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd?Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 174,000 people in 193 offices across 66 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
Sony and LG both turned to Hillcrest Labslast year for help with their motion-control remotes, and now it seems the company is looking to spread its love more generically. Hillcrest has inked a deal with Broadcom to make a pair of Bluetooth chips that integrate the Freespace MotionEngine, the Broadcom BCM35230 digital TV system-on-a-chip (SoC) and BCM20730 single-chip.
The new chips use a digital-output, 3-axis MEMS gyroscope from InvenSense, and can be used to control on-screen cursors, browsers and UIs. Considering the growth in smart TV, more intuitive ways of controlling ever more complex STBs has to be a good thing.
Press Release:
Hillcrest Labs Unveils Low Cost, Embedded Motion-Control System for Next-Generation Connected TVs
Company to Showcase Collaborative “Smart TV” Solutions with Universal Electronics at CES 2011
LAS VEGAS, NV and ROCKVILLE, MD — January 5, 2011 — Hillcrest Labs, a leader in motion-control technology and interactive television applications, today announced a new low cost, embedded motion-control system for TV manufacturers. The new turnkey solution is designed to support new motion pointing and gesture-enabled user interfaces for navigating the Web, Internet-based applications, and games on televisions. It will be showcased at the International CES show, January 6-10, 2011, in Las Vegas, NV, in the Broadcom Meeting Room, Hillcrest Labs suite at the Renaissance Hotel, and the Universal Electronics (UEI) booth on the CES show floor.
Specifically, the Company announced that Hillcrest’s patented Freespace(R) MotionEngine is now integrated with Broadcom’s new BCM35230 digital TV system-on-a-chip (SoC) and Broadcom’s new BCM20730 single-chip Bluetooth(R) solution, enabling a turn-key, cost-effective, and fully-featured motion control solution for connected televisions. In addition at CES, Universal Electronics, the world’s leading manufacturer of TV remotes, will showcase a new Freespace and Bluetooth-enabled TV remote control, utilizing the world’s first single-chip, digital-output, 3-axis MEMS gyroscope from InvenSense, that is compatible with the new system from Broadcom and Hillcrest. The demonstrations will include a TV user interface optimized for motion pointing, which includes Hillcrest’s HoMEcast(TM) video application and a Webkit browser engine.
“As the demand for Internet-based content on TV continues to rise, manufacturers are seeking differentiated, turn-key, and economical solutions that enable immersive and intuitive user experiences for consumers,” said Chad Lucien, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Hillcrest Labs. “We are proud to have collaborated with Broadcom and the market leaders in remote controls and MEMS devices to create a turnkey solution that enables TV manufactures to quickly add Freespace motion control, pointing applications, and Bluetooth to connected televisions.”
“Broadcom is at the forefront of producing very low power chipsets that will enable a growing portfolio of innovative remote control devices for Internet-connected TVs and home entertainment devices,” said Craig Ochikubo, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom’s Wireless Personal Area Networking line of business. “We are very pleased to have worked with Hillcrest Labs to incorporate their pioneering Freespace technology into our new class of Bluetooth and digital TV chipsets.”
Unlike alternative motion control technologies, both the new chipset and compatible TV remotes use fully-integrated motion sensors that do not require additional external cameras or lightbars in order to control the onscreen viewing experience. In addition, the low cost Bluetooth-based solution does not require line-of-site, which enables consumers to control their TVs without the need to aim at the TV. The new system is compatible with a variety of smart TV platforms including Linux, Android or Google TV-based solutions.
Broadcom is a leader in applying Bluetooth wireless technologies to an increasingly diverse range of consumer electronics and media devices. As a leading supplier of integrated solutions for digital TV, set-top box, Blu-ray disc players and other technologies, Broadcom is able to help drive the proliferation of Bluetooth based gestural and other advanced remote controls. Bluetooth is particularly well suited for the applications because they increasingly require higher data bandwidth than are available from other nascent radio technologies also targeting these devices.
For the past two consecutive years, Hillcrest Labs was named an International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards Honoree. For 2011, Hillcrest was selected for Kylo(TM), its free Web browser for television, and in 2010, the company was selected for its Loop(TM) pointer, an in air mouse designed for consumers who connect their computers to a television. Companies that have licensed Freespace for use in their products include: Eastman Kodak, LG Electronics, Logitech, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Universal Electronics (UEI), and others.
Additional information about Broadcom is available at www.broadcom.com.
Additional details about Freespace or Hillcrest Labs are available at www.hillcrestlabs.com.
Qualcomm is one of the wireless industry’s undisputed titans, but it’s looking to shore up a few holes in its component offerings today with the planned purchase of Atheros Communications, a company that primarily specializes in WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS chipsets. Atheros isn’t exactly a startup, either: at $45 a share, Qualcomm will be shelling out roughly $3.1 billion to complete the acquisition (assuming it passes all the usual bureaucratic hurdles) of a company that’s got WiFi silicon in products spanning the range from phones to PCs and every fledgling category in between. The deal’s expected to close in the first half of this year; follow the break for the full press release.
Qualcomm has announced that it will acquire Atheros, in a deal worth around $3.1bn. The deal is being described as a way for Qualcomm to jump into computing, networking and consumer electronics segments, expanding beyond its traditional expertise in cellular connectivity.
Atheros has made several announcements this week at CES 2011, including high-performance WiFi router chipsets, tablet WiFi/Bluetooth chips, and combo Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi chips. “It is Qualcomm’s strategy to continually integrate additional technologies into mobile devices to make them the primary way that people communicate, compute and access content” Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm said in a statement, “the combination of Qualcomm and Atheros is intended to accelerate this opportunity by utilizing best-in-class products for communications, computing and consumer electronics to broaden existing customer relationships and expand access to new partners and distribution channels.”
The acquisition will strengthen Qualcomm’s position in so-called “ubiquitous connectivity” segment, where mobile and home electronics interact with each other seamlessly. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2011, subject to regulator approval.
Press Release:
Qualcomm to Acquire Atheros, Leader in Connectivity & Networking Solutions
Accelerates Expansion of Company’s Semiconductor Business into Adjacent Markets
SAN DIEGO AND SAN JOSE – January 05, 2011 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) and Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Qualcomm intends to acquire Atheros, a leader in innovative technologies for wireless and wired local area connectivity in the computing, networking and consumer electronics industries. The acquisition is intended to help accelerate the expansion of Qualcomm’s technologies and platforms to new businesses beyond cellular and provide access to significant new growth opportunities.
Qualcomm has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Atheros for $45 per share in cash, representing an enterprise value of $3.1 billion. The transaction has been approved by the Qualcomm and Atheros boards of directors and is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of domestic and foreign regulatory approvals and the approval of Atheros’ stockholders. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2011. Excluding amortization of acquired intangibles, Qualcomm expects the acquisition to be modestly accretive to earnings per share in fiscal year 2012, the first full year of combined operations. Qualcomm intends to finalize its estimates of the transaction’s financial impact, as well as the accounting for the transaction, upon deal close.
“It is Qualcomm’s strategy to continually integrate additional technologies into mobile devices to make them the primary way that people communicate, compute and access content. This acquisition is a natural extension of that strategy into other types of devices,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. “The combination of Qualcomm and Atheros is intended to accelerate this opportunity by utilizing best-in-class products for communications, computing and consumer electronics to broaden existing customer relationships and expand access to new partners and distribution channels.”
Atheros’ current president and CEO, Dr. Craig H. Barratt, is expected to join Qualcomm as president of Qualcomm Networking & Connectivity.
“Qualcomm and Atheros have a long history of collaboration and share a culture of technical innovation and execution excellence,” Barratt said. “The Atheros team will build upon Qualcomm’s strengths and leadership to bolster our customers’ ability to deliver innovative and differentiated products in the increasingly connected world.”
“With this acquisition and our complementary products, Qualcomm will be in a strong position to take our successful mobile strategy of bringing the best technologies together into a systems solution and apply this to new opportunities,” said Steve Mollenkopf, EVP and group president of Qualcomm. “We see this strategy as central to helping our customers capitalize on the ubiquitous connectivity and seamless experiences that are developing across mobile phones, computing and consumer electronics.”
Editor’s Note: There will be a conference call on January 5, 2011 beginning at 5:30 a.m. PT on Qualcomm’s Investor Relations website at: http://investor.qualcomm.com/events.cfm. A taped audio replay will be available via telephone on January 5, 2011 through February 5, 2011 at 9:00 p.m. PT. To listen to the replay, U.S. callers may dial (800) 642-1687 and international callers may dial (706) 645-9291. U.S. and international callers should use reservation number 35060578. An audio replay of the conference call will be available on Qualcomm’s Investor Relations website at http://investor.qualcomm.com/events.cfm following the live call. To view the web slides that accompany this release and conference call, please go to the Qualcomm Investor Relations website at: http://investor.qualcomm.com/events.cfm
About Atheros
Atheros Communications delivers innovative technologies for wireless and wired communications. Its mission is to invent technologies that connect and empower people in ways that are elegant and accessible to all. Building upon its broad expertise in RF and mixed signal semiconductor design, Atheros’ portfolio includes a wide variety of connectivity solutions that are used by many of the world’s leading networking equipment, computing and consumer device manufacturers. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Atheros has a significant and growing presence in Asia and Europe to serve its global customer base. For more information, visit www.atheros.com.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in next-generation mobile technologies. For 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of wireless communications, connecting people more closely to information, entertainment and each other. Today, Qualcomm technologies are powering the convergence of mobile communications and consumer electronics, making wireless devices and services more personal, affordable and accessible to people everywhere.
Google’s NFC contactless payment ambitions have leaked, with sources supposedly close to the project suggesting that the payment and advertising system could launch as early as sometime this year. According to BusinessWeek‘s sources, the system would be built on top of Android, which added native NFC support in the recent 2.3 Gingerbread release.
That OS is running on the Nexus S, Google’s second own-brand Android smartphone, and the only Android device on the market presently with NFC. As we’ve suggested before, part of Google’s intention with the Nexus S is to encourage other manufacturers of Android smartphones to fit NFC, just as the Nexus One did with high-speed mobile processors.
The NFC payment plans would be use Google acquisition Zetawire, a start-up which developed an e-wallet system called Walleto. The search giant also has investments in mobile-payment companies. Back in November, Google’s Andy Rubin suggested that one day users would “be able to walk in a store and do commerce. You’d bump for everything and eventually replace credit cards.” Google has declined to comment on these specific payment rumors.
Samsung has unveiled its latest WiFi-enabled digital camera, the Samsung SH100, with a 14.2-megapixel CCD sensor and a 3-inch LCD preview display. It’s the wireless connectivity that makes the SH100 particularly impressive, however. Not only can you use it to upload photos and video direct to Facebook, Picasa and YouTube, among others, you can also pair it with a Samsung Galaxy S and use the smartphone to remotely preview the frame, snap the shot and even GPS tag it.
Meanwhile there’s DLNA streaming support, for easier sharing of photos onto TVs and media STBs, while the PC Auto Back-up function uses wake-on-LAN to turn on your PC remotely and then offload shots from the SH100′s memory card. Control is all via touchscreen, and there’s a 5x optical zoom, image stabilization, face-recognition and various auto modes.
There are a few limitations, unfortunately, such as the fact that only 2-megapixel stills or 720p HD video can be streamed via DLNA; more details in the gallery below. The Samsung SH100 is expected to go on sale in March 2011, priced at $199.99.
Press Release:
Samsung’s New SH100 Brings Your World Closer
New Wi-Fi-enabled camera delivers ultimate connectivity on the move
CES, Las Vegas – January 4, 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced today the launch of the new SH100, a compact Wi-Fi enabled camera that delivers great shots that you can share over the internet and social networks with your friends and family, from wherever you are in the world. The SH100 is set to be Samsung’s leading fully connected camera in 2011, building on the success of the company’s wirelessly connected cameras to date and allowing Samsung to take a dominant position within this growing market.
Samsung’s pioneering steps within the connected camera market can be seen in the SH100’s unique innovation, which allows you to connect wirelessly to your other devices with ease. You can use Wi-Fi to connect to your Android® powered Galaxy S™ smartphone, so you can view the shot you’re about to take in real time on your phone. If you’re not happy with it, you can zoom in and out to get the best picture, and then activate the shutter remotely when you’re ready to pose. This innovation means that the days of running between your camera and your subject, trying to line up the perfect group shot, are over. Users now have total control of their camera in the palm of their hand, from wherever they are in the shot. Users can even use their phone’s GPS to record exactly where they were when they captured their favorite memories.
The SH100’s built in Wi-Fi can also automatically back up your shots to your PC by only pushing two buttons, or by using DLNA to wirelessly connect to your HDTV and see your photos and videos right away. Wi-Fi enables you to upload your pictures instantly to your social networking sites such as Facebook, Picasa or Photo Bucket, or email them to individual email addresses straight from the camera. The people you care about can now enjoy your experience from wherever they are. You can also record HD video and share your favorite moments over sites such as YouTube™. To make the upload process of large files easier and quicker, the SH100 includes an account with mobile hotspot provider Boingo™, giving you access to over 200,000 Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide.
The SH100 is the latest example of Samsung’s user-focused innovation and design. The company has always carefully researched its target audience, and in 2011, Samsung is applying this research to create unique products for a younger, more digitally connected generation of camera users. The company is also leveraging its strength in other product areas, such as mobile phones, to make emerging camera technologies, such as Wi-Fi, accessible to all camera buyers, even those on smaller budgets.
“At Samsung, we are always striving to innovate and you can see this in every product we release,” said Mr. Hyunho Chung, Executive Vice President and Head of the Digital Imaging Business, Samsung Electronics. “From our in-depth consumer research, we know that younger users have different needs from their digital camera. They don’t want to wait until they get home to share their favorite moments with their friends, they want to be able to do this instantly from wherever they are. The SH100 gives young people the chance to bring their world closer, by drawing on Samsung’s technological strength to deliver total connectivity in a compact camera, at an accessible price. Through the SH100, we hope to provide the best product for people looking for ultimate connectivity from their camera, and strengthen Samsung’s leadership in the compact camera category.”
Experience the Convenience
The SH100 uses built in Wi-Fi capability to deliver unique new experiences for all camera users. By selecting the PC Auto Back-up function, your camera will automatically find your PC and download the latest photos onto it, even if the PC is turned off. This feature is compatible with the Wake-on-LAN (WoL) system which many modern home PCs are already equipped with.
Innovation in Control Helps you Capture the Moment
The Wi-Fi capability on the SH100 also allows you to use your smartphone as a remote control and viewing device for your camera. If you’re shooting over a crowd at a concert, you can enable the Remote Viewfinder function, meaning that you can hold your camera high over your head while you see a preview of the picture in real time on your phone screen. It’s also ideal for taking self shots as you can zoom in and out using the 5x optical zoom, and access basic menu functions including parameters and shooting modes. When you’re happy with the shot, you can operate the shutter remotely too, and the camera will record the GPS information for photo geo-tagging.
Seamlessly Simple
Samsung has also used its strength in the smartphone market to develop a new Smart Access user interface (UI) for all of its new compact cameras. The touch based UI works in the same quick, intuitive way as many smartphones. Advanced functions, such as sharing content wirelessly, can be done simply by a few touches of the buttons on the large, clear 3” LCD screen. The Smart Access UI enables users to drag, click and control ‘app-style’ icons, easily flip through photos, and control a range of the camera’s features.
The Heart of your Digital Home
The SH100 features Samsung AllShare, which uses DLNA technology to allow you to connect to your HDTV and stream content wirelessly. For instance, when you get home from a concert, you can now watch the videos of your favorite songs instantly on your TV.
Android and Youtube are registered trademarks of Google Inc. Boingo is a registered trademark of Boingo Wireless, Inc
Eye-Fi knows that when it comes to gratification, digital photographers want it instant. Hence the latest addition to the Eye-Fi X2 range of WiFi-enabled memory cards, Eye-Fi Direct Mode, a way to funnel photos straight from your camera to a nearby tablet or smartphone rather than send it via Eye-Fi’s servers.
The update will use an Eye-Fi app on the device itself, though the company hasn’t confirmed which platforms it will be releasing software for. We’re guessing iOS – for the iPhone and iPad – as well as Android would be sensible options for the first wave of app releases.
Eye-Fi is billing Direct Mode as a way to get instant access to photos – for sharing on online galleries or via social networks like Facebook and Twitter – without having to rely on the usually lower-quality cameras fitted to smartphones. The functionality will be pushed out as a free update to Eye-Fi X2 cards later this year.
Press Release:
Great Images and Instant Gratification with Eye-Fi’s Direct Mode – THE Mobile Solution
New Card Technology and Eye-Fi App Enable Consumers to Get the Best of their Digital Cameras and Mobile Devices; Further Expands Eye-Fi’s Connected Ecosystem
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., January 4, 2011 — Eye-Fi Inc. (www.eye.fi), makers of the world’s first wireless memory card, today announced Direct Mode at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Leveraging a combination of new technology in Eye-Fi cards and new Eye-Fi mobile apps, Direct Mode enables consumers to bring together the imaging quality of a digital camera and the connectivity of a smartphone or tablet in an unprecedented way. This innovative solution wirelessly connects the camera to the mobile device to provide a seamless experience between the moment a memory is captured and when consumers want to browse, edit, save and share their memories.
“For anyone who has ever had to choose between taking great images with their digital camera and the instant gratification of sharing with a smartphone, Direct Mode is the answer,” said Jef Holove, CEO of Eye-Fi. “New technology in the card combined with a free Eye-Fi app on a mobile device means consumers no longer have to compromise between rich, lifelike memories and saving or sharing those memories from anywhere.”
With Direct Mode, photos taken with your digital camera can immediately be sent to your smartphone or tablet. They can be viewed, used with myriad apps on the device, or uploaded and shared.
In addition, photos and videos can automatically and wirelessly be backed up and organized in the consumer’s private Eye-Fi View account. From there, they are accessible for viewing and sharing from any Internet connected device – regardless of which camera they were taken with.
“We have a diversity of devices we use for different purposes,” continued Holove. “Digital cameras are just plain better at taking photos and videos, especially when lighting, action, or zoom distance affect the shot. But, there’s no doubt that the apps, touch interface and always-connected nature of mobile devices are compelling. With this new technology, we are bridging the gap between the camera and mobile, bringing the best of all the devices that we own to the capture and sharing of memories.”
Eye-Fi also extends the browsing and sharing experience by providing a seamless connected imaging experience through its own ecosystem of partners – from leading digital camera makers like Canon, Nikon and Sony to 45 popular photo sharing sites like Facebook, Flickr and Picasa. The result is millions of photos and videos being effortlessly shared from cameras each month.
Direct Mode will be available as a free upgrade to all Eye-Fi X2 cards later in 2011.
To see more, Eye-Fi will be demonstrating this new capability at CES at booth #3615 in the “Living in Digital Times” section of the North Hall.
Qualcomm 
