Tech and Gadgets

With the latest improvements in light bulb technology such as the explosion of LED lights and compact fluorescent bulbs, no market has incorporated lighting technology into their products like the outdoor lighting market.  Typically known for the primary use of halogen light to produce ultra bright light, many outdoor lighting products are incorporating new technologies into their products to develop more creative and energy efficient options.  There are huge selections with in the landscape and garden lighting segment that feature LED bulb technology and solar power recruitment that combined create a light that is both bright and incredibly energy efficient while also being inexpensive to free to operate.

The area of hand held lighting has probably gained the most from technology improvements.  No a days spotlights and flashlights both are being manufactured with high end LED technology that is producing super bright lights that can last much longer an either a charge or through use of batteries than the standard halogen, krypton of incandescent predecessors.  Many handheld lights are also incorporating two forms of light into a single products such as combination LED and halogen which gives the user the best of both worlds.  A high powered halogen beam for long distance coupled with a bright, energy efficient beam for close quarters.

Retailers are not missing out on this growth either.  There are many stores both online and brick and mortar that are carrying more of a selection of these innovative products now.  The price points for them are competitive with the older technology and customer intelligence has grown to the point where they understand the difference, so it is a win win for all involved.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) January 14, 2010 — Bloxx Inc., the innovator in Web content filtering, today announced the launch of the Bloxx Media Filter, a secure web appliance which enables schools and students to obtain all of the educational benefits of online social media content, such as YouTube, in a safe and secure online environment.

The Bloxx Media Filter lets teachers quickly identify curriculum related YouTube video clips and with just a few clicks tag, assign these to a subject area and age range and submit the clips for approval. Once approved, students can easily search and view clips which are streamed directly from the YouTube site through the appliance directly to classroom PCs, without related video clips, contextual advertising or user submitted comments being displayed.

This new appliance eliminates the need for IT managers to allow students access to the entire YouTube site, which could allow students to inadvertently view inappropriate content. Since only approved video clips can be viewed, this eliminates the risk of students viewing inappropriate material or comments.

“Social media sites such as YouTube contain vast libraries of fantastic educational related content which can dramatically improve the effectiveness of teaching and improve learning outcomes,” said Eamonn Doyle, Bloxx Chief Executive Officer. “Unfortunately, since there’s often a large amount of inappropriate content available on these sites, schools and colleges have so far been reluctant to use this free and valuable resource. The Bloxx Media Filter now allows schools to quickly create an approved library of YouTube content that can be used by teachers to reinforce the delivery of the curriculum with rich media that students can relate to.”

Pricing and Availability
The Bloxx Media Filter is available now in hardware configurations to support different network sizes and includes the appliance, the Media Filter software, software updates and support and maintenance for one or three years. Prices available on application.

http:www.bloxx.com.com/mediafilter [www.bloxx.com/mediafilter

About Bloxx
Headquartered in the UK with sales offices in Holland, the USA and Australia, Bloxx offers appliance-based web filtering for medium and large organisations in both the business and public sectors. Bloxx has achieved unrivalled sales growth year-on-year to become a leading web-filtering provider with an estimated 2 million+ users worldwide. Leading UK investment groups Archangel Investments Ltd and Braveheart Investment Group Plc have invested in Bloxx.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) November 20, 2009 — Invodo®, the hub for eCommerce video, announced today the launch of a program designed to help selected online retailers get more product video coverage. The offering is targeted at industry-leading online retailers to help them acquire the customized video content they need while offsetting the costs of their video program.

Participating retailers actively work with Invodo to recruit manufacturers. Invodo creates custom video content for the manufacturers to syndicate to the retailer’s site. The result is more videos for the retailer’s product pages at a lower cost, while the manufacturers get broader exposure across the retailer’s site.

“We’re excited to work with retailers to get more video content in front of consumers at a lower cost,” said Invodo CEO Craig Wax. “Everybody wins here – this program is a gain for retailers, manufacturers and consumers.”

About Invodo
Invodo is the de facto hub for eCommerce video, connecting manufacturers and retailers through the largest product video library in the world.

The immediacy of video drives conversion for retailers, consideration for manufacturers, and satisfaction for consumers. With a library of over 20,000 product videos from more than 2,000 manufacturers, Invodo syndicates the content consumers look for in making purchase decisions to over 1,000 eCommerce sites.

Based in Austin, TX, Invodo is funded by Sevin Rosen and S3 Ventures. Visit www.invodo.com or call 512.279.4800 to learn more about Invodo and its product video syndication services.

Recently I stopped by the local pond shop becuase I have been interested in possibly putting a small pond in my backyard, so I wanted to see first hand what I might be getting into and needless to say I was amazed.  I really thought a backyard pond was not much more than a hole in the fround that you fill up with water. I had no idea of the technology involved in the equipment that is necessary to support a thriving pond.  There are various types of pond liners that best meet certain demands, there are all types of pumps with different mechanisms that make them better suited for certain tasks, there are pond filters that house all types of components for filtering just about anything, there are pond skimmers that are stationary and others that free float.  I was just blown away by it all, but not in a bad way.  I just couldnt believe the technology in place for ponds.  As a gadget guy I find myself even more interested than ever in putting in a pond.  The necessity of sizing and piecing these components together is a challenge I look forward to and one I can only assume will ve very rewarding.

Windmills have been around for centuries, utilizing wind to generate power. In the early days they were used to crush and grind crops like corn and to also draw water up from drains or wells.  Over the years windmills evolved to more sophistiocated uses such as creating and storing energy used for electricity to power homes and businesses.  in recent years windmills have gained favor in the area of pond and lake managment as a tool to generate energy to power air compressors for aerating ponds that do not have easy access to electricity. In the last 15 -20 years increasing awareness has led to a higher demand in pond aeration, however rural ponds do not always have electrical sources nearby.  This created a need for a means to generate energy in a remote location to power a pond aerator and windmill aerators have been growing in popularity since.

Another recent trend has been the production of garden windmills.  These windmills are smaller in stature that normal ones and allow for easy assembly and set up in backyards and gardens.  Typically ranging from 9 ft to 16 ft these windmills are usually just for looks, but can be retrofitted with the proper equipment to make them functional aerating windmills for backyard ponds.  These windmills can be found made from steel or wood and many can be custom painted to match other outdoor decor.

Lake Forest, California (PRWEB) October 12, 2009 — Kwikset, an innovation leader in the residential door hardware industry, today announced that SmartKey re-key technology is available in all of Kwikset’s box pack keyed entry products. The expanded availability of this groundbreaking technology ultimately provides an opportunity for a greater number of American homeowners to have the ability to provide their families with improved home security and access control. SmartKey combines the simplicity of re-keying in seconds without removing the lock from the door, the security of BumpGuard to protect against lock bumping, and the pick resistance that withstands the highest levels of testing.
“The benefits of SmartKey technology are clear to homeowners, but building and construction industry professionals also find that Kwikset’s SmartKey locks increase job site efficiency, reduce job site liability due to improved security and control, and also increase inventory productivity,” said Brent Flaharty, vice president of Marketing, Kwikset.

Originally introduced in 2007 and available only in mid-price point products, SmartKey locks feature a patented side-locking bar technology, central to the device’s ability to be rapidly and easily re-keyed in the event a key is lost or stolen. Re-keying also allows homeowners the flexibility to match all Kwikset keyed entries to one key for added convenience and security. This stainless steel side-locking bar also replaces the traditional pin and tumbler design that is particularly vulnerable to lock bumping attacks. The cylinder uses two steel balls inserted into the front of the key face to provide improved drill resistance.

“While there are many great benefits to SmartKey, we don’t think there’s anything better than being able to give your customers the peace of mind of improved security and access control,” said Mary Nichols, senior product manager, Kwikset. “Additionally, that peace of mind shouldn’t be reserved for a few. By expanding our offering to all price points, we aim to make improved home security available to everyone.”

Kwikset box pack SmartKey products are now available in all price points. Design families recently added to the SmartKey line-up include Tylo®, Polo®, Dorian®, Delta®, Cove™, Dakota™ and the 660/665 deadbolt. For more information on these and other products, visit www.kwikset.com/smartkey.
About Kwikset®

For more than 60 years, Kwikset, manufacturer of America’s most trusted name in security has provided beauty, security and peace of mind for millions of families. For additional information on Kwikset products, visit www.kwikset.com, or call 1-800-327-LOCK.

Black & Decker Hardware and Home Improvement (BDHHI) Group is a division of Black & Decker, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of power tools, power tool accessories and security hardware. Today, the BDHHI Group includes some of the most recognizable hardware and home improvement brands in the world including Baldwin®, Kwikset, Weiser®, Price Pfister® and K2™ Commercial Hardware by Black & Decker.

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) September 28, 2009 — Albeo Technologies Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of energy efficient LED lighting systems, today announced that the Bowden Ice Arena in Alberta has retrofitted entirely with Albeo’s C-Series High-Bay white-LED Solid-State Luminaire. Albeo’s C-Series high-bay produces over 25,000 lumens at 79 lm/W giving it a wall plug efficiency that surpasses fluorescent and HID high-bay lighting systems. Independently tested to LM-79 standards. With fixtures mounted at 16 feet, illumination levels on the ice were increased 160% from 50 foot-candles (ft-cds) to 80 ft-cds, while energy consumption was lowered 28% from 458 Watts to 325 Watts.
“The fast pace of hockey, the high speed of the puck, and the need for quick action demands high lighting levels,” said Andy Weiss, Bowden Administrative Services Manager. “Albeo’s LED High Bay more than doubled the light levels while reducing the electricity consumption. The LED lights also eliminated the need for maintaining fixtures over ice and the whiter, cleaner light color is perceived as higher quality.”

“High light levels, cold air temperatures, shock and impact potential, and instant on requirements create a demanding environment for illumination systems in ice arenas,” said Jason Korbelik, Sales Manager at Albeo Technologies. “Albeo’s LED lighting is superior to any other high-bay lighting system in all these dimensions including efficiency.”

Job foreman Bud Oldenburger of Olds Electric & Lighting installed the LED high bays. “Albeo’s use of a toroid for power conversion, gave me added confidence that their fixture would last longer than power supply based solutions. Installation was straight forward and the results were outstanding.”

About Albeo Technologies
Albeo Technologies, Inc. manufactures high quality, long-lasting LED lighting products for commercial and industrial facilities. Albeo’s LED light fixtures improve energy savings, reduce maintenance costs, eliminate recycling costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and are safe and easy to install. Albeo’s products include C-Series Linear, Low-Bay, and High Bay for general illumination, Atmosphere for cove lighting, Talea for under cabinet, and Brilliance for display case lighting. For details go to www.albeotech.com

Port Washington, NY (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 18, 2009 — Sales during the first two weeks of Apple’s Snow Leopard OS X release far exceed those of the last two Apple operating systems. According to leading market research company The NPD Group’s retail tracking service, Snow Leopard sales were more than two times higher than Leopard’s initial release sales and almost four times higher than Tiger.

“Even though some considered Snow Leopard to be less feature-focused than the releases of Leopard or Tiger, the ease of upgrading to Snow Leopard and the affordable pricing made it a win-win for Apple computer owners – thus helping to push sales to record numbers” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD.

Snow Leopard’s sales momentum extended beyond the initial first week purchasing rush.
Sales only declined about 25 percent from week 1 to week 2, while for both Leopard and Tiger the second week of sales was more than 60 percent below the opening week volumes.

“With pricing reduced by more than $100 for both the single-user and five-user pack versus Leopard pricing, Apple has clearly demonstrated that aggressive pricing policies in this economic environment generate an outstanding consumer response,” said Baker. “As we head into the fall selling season, and the release of another major OS upgrade, it will be instructive to see if that upgrade – currently projected to sell at ASPs much higher than Snow Leopard – can deliver the same incremental increase in consumer demand that Snow Leopard has enjoyed.”

About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,700 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, contact us or visit @npdtech and @npdgroup.