FromtheWire

New HT-BD3252 delivers cutting-edge video playback, HD Sound, and diverse networking

July 21, 2009--Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced the introduction of its new HT-BD3252 home theater system to deliver an enhanced Blu-ray integrated home theater experience for consumers. The new HT-BD3252 combines a high quality viewing experience, with powerful audio and an array of advanced networking options in a boldly designed player that can help convert almost any living space into a premium HD showroom.

"Samsung has been offering Blu-ray video and HD audio as an integrated and powerful home entertainment package for the last two years, and our continuing drive to bring premium and extraordinarily designed products into consumers' homes is underscored by the HT-BD3252," said Reid Sullivan, senior vice president of audio/video and digital imaging marketing, Samsung Electronics America. "The HT-BD3252 builds on the success of the HT-BD1250 and adds several performance and ease of use enhancements including rear wireless speakers and built-in wireless access to the latest streaming and PC-based multimedia content." Read more

July 20, 2009 – Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and 11-time Grammy Award winner, Carlos Santana, is set to appear as an exclusive in-game artist in the upcoming Guitar Hero 5. Santana's accomplishments span four decades and more than 40 albums including the self-titled album, Santana, that launched one of the most recognizable Latin-infused classic rock anthems, "No One to Depend On." The live version of the song will be featured in Guitar Hero 5 with Carlos Santana jamming on stage as a playable character.

In addition to music from Santana, Guitar Hero 5 features a wide variety of today's hottest rock 'n' roll bands mixed with classic tracks. Brand new game features let fans tailor their experience to meet the evolving ways consumers are interacting with their favorite music and allows them to challenge themselves as a solo act or band member, or kick back with friends and enjoy their personalized set list.Read more

Twelpforce ™ is a new service from Best Buy for people to ask tech questions to Best Buy employees via micro blogging site Twitter. Staffed by Best Buy employees from across all operations, including Blue Shirts and Geek Squad, Twelpforce will answer product questions, troubleshoot technology challenges and solve customer service issues, all from the comfort of the users' keyboard or mobile phone. Twitter users attempting to reach Twelpforce should address their questions to @twelpforce, to alert Best Buy employees of their problems or questions.

July 20, 2009 -- Best Buy just unleashed a new service that enlists the passion and knowledge of Best Buy's vast employee base to bring assistance directly to customer computer screens via micro blogging site Twitter http://twitter.com. Staffed by Best Buy employees from across all operations, including Blue Shirts and Geek Squad, Twelpforce ™ will answer product questions, troubleshoot technology challenges and solve customer service issues, all from the comfort of the users' keyboard or mobile phone. Read more

July 2009— Sennheiser, known around the world and in virtually every professional sound studio for its reference-standard headphones and microphones, recently kicked off a unique new marketing initiative. The Sennheiser Sound Tour started on July 2, 2009, at Milwaukee Summerfest, the world's largest music festival. The promotional tour puts the company's highly regarded consumer headphones and headsets into the hands—and onto the heads—of thousands of music and technology fans, in a fun, fast-paced, light-hearted setting.

The Sennheiser Sound Tour has two road-ready teams setting out, one heading east, one west, on a mission: to put Sennheisers on as many heads as possible. The two intrepid sextets compete to determine which can Sennheiser-ize the greatest number of unsuspecting civilians. Oh—and did we mention that one team is composed of girls; the other of guys?

While the resultant Sennheiser-centric battle of the sexes is sure to be outrageous in person, the Sound Tour promises just as much fun online. Both teams are posting their progress in sound, pictures, and video to "webisodes" on the dedicated site www.sennheisersoundtour.com. This in turn links up connected sites on social-media destinations Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and all of these will encourage consumers and Sennheiser fans across North America and around the world to join in, even to mount a team challenge such as to Sennheiser-ize people in a particular place, specific individuals, or even celebrities.Read more

Free summer webinars offer information, insights and tips on using Nik Software products

July 14, 2009 — Nik Software announces today its Summer 2009 Webinar schedule. These six free hour-long educational webinars, starting July 14th and continuing through mid-September, will cover a range of photography topics including weddings, wildlife, portraits, landscapes, and fine art while offering basic information, insights and tips on using all Nik Software's award-winning image enhancing products. Additionally, the webinars enable attendees to pose questions to the live educators. Read more

July 1, 2009-To celebrate 10 years of the popular NBA 2K franchise, and the milestone of having sold two million units of NBA 2K9 worldwide, 2K Sports today announced that the NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition is planned for release in North America this fall for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition will come packaged in a specially designed 2K Sports locker configured for game storage, and include exclusive items featuring 2009 NBA Finals MVP, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, along with a special commemorative video looking back on 10 years of the NBA 2K franchise and its past cover athletes.

As part of a limited edition offering of only 30,000 copies, each NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition will be individually numbered for authenticity. Fans can now preorder their copy online and at local retail outlets across the country. Ten lucky fans will have the rare opportunity to find an autographed Kobe Bryant fine-art print, designed by Shepard Fairey's Studio Number One, which will be hidden and randomly packaged among the different lockers. Gamers with Xbox LIVE online entertainment network and PlayStation Network membership will also be able to enjoy special privileges for NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition, including exclusive access to an online lobby - the Gold Room - where celebrities and other VIP members will go to play, and only players with the Anniversary Edition will be allowed to enter. Read more

July 1, 2009--Raising the bar on high power A/V Receiver performance, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today unveils four A/V Receivers designed to bring enhanced clarity, detail and dynamic "quick response" from uncompressed Dolby True-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks used in Blu-ray Disc entertainment. The new Pioneer Elite SC-25 and SC-27 A/V Receivers incorporate a Direct Energy HD Class D amplifier featuring ICEPower technology to ensure unprecedented reproduction of high resolution multi-channel, stereo as well as compressed audio and provide premium home entertainment that rivals the movie theater experience. Pioneer pushes the limits of A/V Receiver innovation with the Elite SC-27, which leverages the full advantages of this emerging amplification technology to become the industry’s first Class D amp design to achieve THX Ultra2 Plus as well as AIR Studio monitor certifications. Together, these achievements undoubtedly affirm the company’s position as the preeminent home entertainment manufacturer for the most critical home entertainment enthusiast. Read more

June 30, 2009 – It's time for gamers around the world to embark on an all-new incredible adventure with their favorite sub-zero heroes in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs from Activision Publishing, Inc. and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising (Fox Licensing). Based on the highly anticipated 3-D animated feature from Twentieth Century Fox, which debuts worldwide on July 1, the game allows players to command their favorite movie characters, including Sid, Manny, Diego, Scrat and the relentless one-eyed Dino hunting weasel, Buck, and venture into a mysterious underground world of dinosaurs, while solving puzzles and platforming through more than 15 exciting levels.

"Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs allows kids to play as some of their favorite movie characters on their own, or, for the first time in the series, with their family and friends in multiplayer mini-games," said Rob Kostich, head of marketing for licensed properties, Activision Publishing, Inc. "Family game night will take on a whole new meaning as you compete in hilarious challenges like Sloth Throw, Dino Targets and Sloth Chase using your Wii Remote or gamepad." Read more

June 24, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- From power for iPhone and Smart phones to netbooks and camcorders, Energizer continues to develop innovative and creative portable power solutions for on-the-go consumers. Making its debut will be the new line of Energizer Energi To Go branded rechargeable power packs and emergency charger products for all types of mobile electronic devices.

"Our goal is to make consumers' lives easier by giving them the power that they need, when and how they need it," said Jeff Ziminski, Chief Marketing Officer, Energizer. "Our newest Energi To Go products use the latest rechargeable charging technology to help people - and their high drain gadgets - Keep Going."Read more

June 29, 2009--T-Mobile, USA, Inc. announced today the debut of Green Perks, a new mobile application that offers exclusive discounts on environmentally conscious products and services. Available for download to many current T-Mobile handsets, the free-of-charge* application brings customers green-oriented offers and promotions from T-Mobile Green Perks partners including Method, Jamba Juice, Volcom, Roxy and Quiksilver. The new promotional program is designed to reward consumers who make environmentally responsible purchasing decisions.

The opt-in Green Perks application delivers electronic coupons directly to customers' phones, which can be redeemed manually at store point-of-sale systems. Green Perks is the latest program under T-Mobile's recently launched Mobilize™ initiative, which encompasses multiple products and services designed to help consumers who want to make more eco-friendly choices in their daily lives. Read more