Automotive Mobile Audio Video

Mobile phones from Nokia incorporate the latest and the best in mobile telecommunications technology. When we think of mobile phones, one of the first things that come to mind is the name “Nokia.” This fact goes to show the extent of the achievements of the company in terms of adherence to the highest standards of quality as well as brand recognition. Nokia 8800 is one of the more popular mobile phone handsets from its kitty. In this article, we take a brief look at this mobile handset model from Nokia.

The Nokia 8800 mobile phone is sleek in its looks and comes in a luxurious slide open design. The handset is durable as it is made of stainless steel. Another feature of the Nokia 8800 mobile phone that would strike you instantaneously is the scratch resistant screen, which is made of reinforced glass. Because of this special screen, you would be able to view all your images and files quite clearly. The Nokia 8800 mobile phone also comes with 3D image engine which ensures enhanced quality of graphics and a much more fulfilling viewing experience.

The multimedia capabilities of this handset are also quite comprehensive. You can use the handset for video recording and video streaming; you can listen to your favorite music tracks using the in-built digital music player; you can also access the FM radio options that are inherent in this handset and spend some moments of pure relaxation. There is an integrated SVGA camera, which you can use to capture some of the most memorable moments of your day to day life. You could also browse the internet through the integrated XHTML browsing connections over TCP/IP. This Nokia mobile phone is Bluetooth enabled. It is also tri-band compatible and can be used on up to five continents.

To conclude, it can be said that the Nokia 8800 is a precision engineered mobile handset model which also showcases some of the most innovative features that are available as of now.

Verizon Wireless owns the America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 55 million cell phone customers. Verizon Wireless operates the second-largest wireless telecommunications network in America, based on total cell phone customers. And Verizon Wireless still continues to increase its market share of the postpaid retail market segment. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Vodafone Group (NYSE and LSE: VOD) and Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ), with 45 and 55 percent ownership respectively. Verizon plans to make way for the quadruple play with Verizon Wireless by adding the wireless service to Internet broadband, landline phone service and TV service.Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, NJ and Verizon Wireless has a diverse workforce of more than 58,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $32 billion.

Verizon Wireless delivered America’s first wireless consumer 3G multimedia services and Verizon Wireless has also launched one of the most comprehensive mobile music services in the world. And with their service “Get It Now”, a proprietary interface, you can download ringtones for Verizon Wireless, java games, mobile applications, e-mails, directions, wireless internet, etc., and use instant messaging on your cell phone. With just a few taps on your cell phone keypad, you can associate different free Verizon Wireless ringtones for different phonebook entries, download some cool wallpapers and ringback tones, snap and send photos, check local movie times now and a lot more. You need to use a Verizon Wireless Get It Now-enabled cell phone like the brand new Motorola K1m cell phone to use all these mobile value added services.

The number of Verizon Wireless ringtones wallpapers you can store on your cell phone varies by model (LG ringtones Verizon Wireless, Verizon Treo ringtones, Verizon Motorola ringtones,...). The current most popular ringtone downloads are:

London Bridge - Fergie

Money Maker - Ludacris

Sexy Love - Ne-Yo

Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake

Ring the Alarm - Beyonce

Far Away - Nickelback

About Us - Brooke Hogan

Push It - Rick Ross

When You Gonna Give It Up To Me feat Keyshia Cole

Too many people overlook the potential of the cell phone when dealing with emergencies. Most people see cell phones as simple communication devices – and they are that. But they are also so much more. Whether you own a cell phone or not, you should not overlook how a cell phone can save your life, or the lives of the people you love.

Many people have been conditioned to call the authorities when catastrophe strikes. When the emergency occurs at home, it is not hard to get assistance. You simply dial 911 and you will get the help you need. But what happens when the problem occurs at an inopportune time and place? It might still be easy enough to get help if you’re in the big city – someone else can call for you.

But what if no one is around to assist you, and there is no way to contact the people who can help? What happens if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere? What happens when you have a heart attack while you’re hiking in the woods? What happens when you run out of supplies in storm, and the phone lines are down?

Having a cell phone will solve this little dilemma. With a cellular phone, you will have the ability to communicate to anyone in the country, no matter where you may be at the moment. You will be able to keep in touch with not only your family and friends, but also with the police, the fire department, and even your hospital. And when a dreaded emergency strikes, you won’t be caught unprepared. I’m sure you’ll agree: the price of a cell phone subscription is a small price to pay for your personal safety.

The growing use of cell phones has sparked an international debate: is using a cell phone a health risk or not? Some people think that they are.

Cell phones, like microwaves and televisions, emit radioactive waves whenever they are turned on. In the past, the radiation emitted by these appliances was not given much notice, but with the renewed emphasis towards the healthy lifestyle, it is beginning to receive media attention. With millions of people now using cell phones, the issue is becoming a very salient one.

Since cell phone technology is relatively new, there is no long-term evidence on the effects of the cell phone radiation on the human body. Some tentative research, however, points to a small body of evidence that seems to indicate that cell phone use leads to the development of cancer. This is especially true for people who use cell phones on a very frequent basis. Overall, though, there is no agreement on whether cell phones are as harmful as some people would have you believe.

Perhaps a more sinister (and valid) reason to label the cell phone as a health risk is when it is used while driving. Several studies have now conclusively proved that using a cell phone while on the wheel dramatically increases the chances of an accident. Some research studies have even concluded that using a cell phone while driving is just as risky as driving under the influence of alcohol.

If you are on the road traveling or if you are a college student who is studying away from home and you want to keep in touch with your family and your friends back in the village, you certainly have pondered on the possibility of purchasing a prepaid calling card. Calling back home these days has definitely become much easier, but selecting the right card is difficult when you are presented with a plethora of options to choose from. So how does one go about choosing the right prepaid calling card?

There is no such thing as best prepaid calling card; only the right calling card for you. Before picking up your card, you should figure out how many calls will you make, how often do you make them and the destination.

After you have found the Website of a prepaid calling card company which holds an outstanding business reputation, you can choose the destination and see the products available. Each calling card has different rates depending on the features that go along with it. Do not go straight away for the lowest rate, because some fees may be applied. This article enumerates and describes some of the features you should look for before purchasing a prepaid calling card.

The most common feature that many customers tend to neglect is the maintenance fee. This is a monthly or weekly charge deducted from the balance of your card. If you intend to make many long calls in a short period of time, you will probably use up the card before the maintenance fee. In addition, a connection fee can be applied every time you are connected to the number you are calling. The charge is also applied if you get a voicemail, an answering machine or if you are prematurely disconnected. In general however, this fee comes with lower rates per minute so it is a good option if you will be targeting for very long calls.

The talking fee can applied to some cards whenever the call goes beyond a specified amount of time. This duration is usually set at 20 minutes, so it is better to hang up and reconnect again to avoid it or choose a card without such a fee.

Another common feature of prepaid calling cards is the expiration date. This entails a certain period of time beyond which you cannot use your card even if you still have some minutes left on it. The expiration date can vary from 2 weeks to 1 year after the first or last call placed. To make sure the balance on the card will not expire, you must use up the card before the expiration date or buy one with a bigger expiration date.

Billing increments or rounding means that the time you spent on the phone is rounded up to a certain amount of minutes. That means that, with a 5 minute rounding, you will pay the same, even if you talked for just 50 seconds or 4 minutes. If you want to avoid such an inconvenience—and quite an annoying one it is—you should look for a card with a 1 minute rounding or less.

Today, mobile phones are not only restricted to talking, they are loaded with several other features which make them more than just a communication device. Your mobile phone can be your MP3 player or camera or you can even use it for surfing the internet. You can play a movie clip with high sound quality and better picture resolution. The latest mobile phones provide an unbelievable array of functions and new models are being added at a fast pace. When you buy a mobile phone, you are satisfied only when you get the one that fits your personality.

So where do you look for when you wish to buy a mobile phone handset? There is no better place than online mobile phone shop. These shops provide a quick, easy and convenient way to shop for mobile phones. You can find all the popular handsets, mobile accessories, best mobile deals, cash back offers, etc. You can compare features and prices of different mobile brands and models.

When you logon to the online mobile shops, you find offers like mobile phone offers, deals, cheap mobile phones, free line rentals, half line rentals, free handsets, etc. These days’ people demand increasingly high standard of functionality in their mobile phones. The internet can be a great place if you are looking forward to buy a mobile phone. The comfort of buying a mobile phone from your own home keeps you away from pushy dealers. No more have you to go all the way to street shops to buy a mobile phone. By logging in to an online mobile shop, you can take your own time, research, compare rates, read reviews and then decide your right mobile phone. The best part is that online shops provide you the best deals compared to the stores. Moreover you could get unbelievable discounts, free gifts, and special offers and you could benefit a lot from them.

LG KG920 is a high quality camera which has been designed keeping in mind of its imaging features. The mobile phone with its silver coloured casing looks simply astounding. The handset has two different faces, one face looks like a digital camera and the other side looks like a mobile phone with simple and easy to access feature buttons. The handset comes with built-in memory with an additional 256 MB MiniSD memory cards for expansion. You can obtain the handset under LG KG920 deals in the UK.

LG KG920 handset is integrated with 5.0 mega pixels camera with xenon flash that helps you in taking crystal clear photos. You can also take self portrait photos easily as the camera lens rotates 180 degrees from its original position. And, say thanks to Xenon flash, you can take pictures at night also that will look as good as the real one.

Taking a video from LG KG920 is as easy as that of taking a photo. The video feature is same as that of camera but it gives a real life movie video recording. With video settings and video effects, you can get the finishing effect as you desire.

Enjoy the beautiful and soothing music in your LG KG920 handset. Simply press the MP3 button and the handset will open into music player mode. You can also control the music with the key pad or the remote control given with the mobile phones. The music player in the handset supports MP3, AAC and AAC+ file formats. Play the music in any of the given format and enjoy.

Transfer data from the LG KG920 handset to a PC using USB cable. Save as many photos as video in your handset without thinking about the storage capacity. The handset is having 256 MB MiniSD memory card additional storage.

You can obtain LG KG920 contact phone from the network service providers in the UK. There are different contact deals, choose that suits you most. Capture the moment with your LG KG920 camera phone and stay connected with the people all around the globe.

Access to the internet has been available via cell phones for quite a number of years and in many countries, especially in Asia, cell phones are the primary method of using the web. The major benefits of using cell phones for internet access are affordability and convenience. The cost of a cell phone is minimal compared to that of a computer and if the truth be known, most of us prefer to tote our cell phone around when we go out and about versus our computer.

The popularity of using cell phones for internet access in the US has not grown as rapidly as it has in many other areas of the world. Although nearly three quarters of all Americans possess a cell phone, fewer than one quarter of them are using their phones for internet based services. In the US, internet access via a cell phone can be achieved through either WAP or a wireless internet connection.

How to Connect

WAP, or Wireless Application Protocol, was developed specifically to provide internet access for mobile phones and PDAs. Because WAP was designed differently than the World Wide Web, users can best view sites designed specifically for WAP and therefore get a smaller, revised version of what is on the web. Many WAP based services offer the ability to retrieve e-mail, check stock quotes, obtain movie listings, flight times, and similar types of information. Services such as 4INFO and even Google offer a wireless search service designed specifically for mobile/cellular devices.

To use the wireless internet, a cell phone can either be used as a modem with a laptop computer to connect to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or it can connect to a cellular provider's data service. For instance, Verizon, Cingular, and Sprint all offer data service plans allowing internet access.

What is Needed

To make a connection to the internet, a cell phone must be web enabled. It should be either dual mode or tri mode so that it can handle both voice calls and data transmission. In addition, the cellular service provider must transmit via digital signals versus analog. Users will also need to become familiar with the data service plans to be well acquainted with any charges associated with the service. When necessary the cellular service provider should also be able to provide any needed cables and software to make the phone to laptop connection

Other considerations

As is true with almost any new service or product, those new to internet services via their cell phone should try it on for size at the store before buying. Not all service providers offer equal connection speeds. The display size on a cell phone is generally small which makes browsing of websites somewhat tedious but newer PDA phones offer screens that are significantly larger and certainly connecting to a laptop makes viewing easier as well. For users who just want to check e-mail and obtain information on the weather, stock quotes, sports scores, etc. the smaller screen of the average cell phone should not be a problem however. Smaller key pads, less memory, occasional connection disruption, and less power can be drawbacks of using a cell phone for internet access but improvements continue to occur. Overall, for those who like to stay connected the affordability and convenience makes using a cell phone for internet activity an excellent option.

Alltel Wireless (NYSE: AT) is a telecommunications giant with headquarters in Arkansas. Alltel communication provides wireless data services to both business and residential customers in 36 states.

With over 15 million cell phone customers, Alltel wireless phone company is the largest regional cell phone company in America, and the 5th largest cell phone company overall. Alltel Wireless primary targets small to medium-sized cities, but also has inexpensive roaming agreements with the other national CDMA carriers, particularly Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel, in order to provide national wireless phone service. But other arrangements are in place between Alltel Wireless and U.S. Cellular, Cingular Wireless and most Canadian cellular providers.

Alltel communication networks consist of both analog and digital systems which operate on the 800 MHz cellular band, pretty much like competitors Verizon Wireless.

Recently, network operator Alltel Wireless just acquired Midwest Wireless Holdings in a $1 billion acquisition that would allow them to gain additional 450,000 wireless customers.

Alltel mobile works with cell phones typically manufactured by BlackBerry, Kyocera, LG, Motorola and more recently Samsung. Alltel wireless cell phones use the BREW interface.

There are a variety of mobile phone applications you can download to your Alltel cell phone. One of which is the ringtones which is a very common feature of a cell phone of any brands and models, whether older or newer.

Indeed, Alltel ringtones allow customers to hear the songs of their choice each time they receive wireless phone calls. Alltel customers may download these real audio quality Alltel downloadable ringtones from a Web site to their cell phone via SMS.

All you need is a phone and a plan from Alltel Wireless. Alltel Wireless offers a variety of ringtone-capable phones. The last handset is the slim and affordable Nokia 2865i which can be obtained at all Alltel stores.

Alltel Wireless ringtones (Alltel Motorola ringtones, Alltel Kyocera ringtones, Alltel LG ringtones, Alltel Nokia ringtones,…) cost on average $3 per download, and typically, one free Alltel ringtone is available from the ringtones web site. Ringtones for Alltel cell phone are delivered to your cell phone in a series of text messages, usually 2 to 4 text messages per ringtone. Downloading Alltel music ringtones does not use additional airtime.

To check the model number on your Alltel cell phone, simply remove the Alltel cell phone's battery and look at the model number on the back of the Alltel cell phone.

Famous singer Ludacris (born Christopher Brian Bridges) is a Grammy Award winning US rapper with more than ten million albums sold. Ludacris is also one of the only rapper turned actors worth checking for. Ludacris the rapper was born in Illinois, then Ludacris moved to Atlanta GA where Ludacris made a name for himself, as a Radio DJ at the beginning and thereafter as one of the most successful Southern rappers. The uncle of Ludacris is R & B singer Monica’s stepfather.

As an actor, Ludacris has been acting in several films since 2001 in the movie The Wash, but his big success came in 4 years later in 2005, when Ludacris received numerous critical praise for his roles in Oscar-winning films Crash and Hustle & Flow.

Overall, Ludacris played in The Wash (2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Lil Pimp (2003), Crash (2005), Hustle & Flow (2005), The Heart of the Game (2006) and Ballers (2007).

And most latest Ludacris news say that Ludacris has just joined the cast of the Warner Bros. Pictures' new comedy “Fred Claus” with Vince Vaughn, Dame Judi Dench, Paul Giamatti, and Kevin Spacey. The new movie, directed by David Dobkin, is about Santa's loser brother.

As a singer, Ludacris was nominated numerous times for Grammy Awards:

Best Male Rap Solo Performance (Stand Up and Roll Out My Business)

Best R&B Song (Yeah!)

Best Rap Album (Word of Mouf and Back For the First Time)

Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group (Gossip Folks)

Best Rap Solo Performance (Number 1 Spot)

Best Rap/Song Collaboration (Yeah! and Area Codes)

Best Short Form Music Video (One Minute Man)

Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television Special (Act A Fool)

Record of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Song Collaboration (Yeah!)

His most recent and fifth major-label new cd album "Release Therapy" (Warning, Grew Up a Screw Up - Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Money Maker – Ludacris feat Pharrell, Girls Gone Wild, Ultimate Satisfaction - Field Mob, Ludacris, Mouths to Feed, End of the Night - Ludacris, Bobby Valentino, Woozy, Tell It Like It Is, War with God, Do Your Time - Ludacris, Beanie Sigel, Slap, Runaway Love - Mary J. Blige, Ludacris, Freedom of Preach) was released on September 26, 2006. The Ludacris new album just top number 1 on the Billboard 200 album charts with sales of over 300,000 in its first week.

Ludacris the rapper once again proves to be fantastic with his lyrics and wordplay. I can appreciate this Ludacris new album that is unlike the others. Ludacris got way more personal than before and the beats are somewhat different than his usual pattern. I feel like that this is the best record of Ludacris. The concept and lyrical content has made Ludacris the rapper a more mature artist. It is really a pretty good album, but maybe the latter half is much better than the first part. But overall, the production is really top notch.

The slim yet multimedia packed flip phone, LG U890 is designed to operate in 3G network. The LG U890 comes with a rotating 1.3 megapixel camera and a 176x220 pixel display, internal memory is around 70Mb, with a microSD (TransFlash) slot that will add up to another 512Mb of memory. The LG U890 plays back a wide variety of multimedia types including MP3, AAC and WMA audio, and MPEG4 and WMV video clips.

This clamshell packs a good amount of features into a slim form factor with 3G capabilities. The most striking feature of the phone is its built-in 3D which attracts music lovers. The LG U890 features 128MB on board memory, a 1.3 megapixel camera providing imaging needs with flash and video camera, 262K colour internal screen. The phone comes with a nicely designed menu and easy to use functions. There is enhanced support for music playback with support for MP3, AAC, enhanced AAC+, AMR and WAV formats, and dedicated exterior music buttons.

Listen to music wirelessly in full stereo with a pair of compatible headphones via Bluetooth. The talktime is good enough at 3.5 hours, with around 10 days of standby time which is pretty standard. You can easily access the video feature which can record, play & stream video. Capture the special moments in full colour action with the video feature. As far as the keypad of the phone is concerned, it is given a new look, allowing the manufacturers to slim the phone down further. There are a number of shortcut keys and there are dedicated buttons to Mobile TV, the 3 homepage, messages, recent calls, ringing profiles, phone list, etc.When it comes to functions, the LG U890 is a good phone. The music features are well integrated and there are sensible additions, like stereo Bluetooth, and a MiniSD memory card. It is available free on contract with many network providers; the 3G phone has decent music credentials.

The mix n’ match is back! Come out of the mundane hues! Grab the attention-grabber - the two-toned LG U300! The stunningly stylish powerful feature-rich handset is a music devout designed especially for the trendy self-conscious music lovers. The rounded contours, soft-touch, an astonishing coloured screen, this 3G handset is bound to let you stand out in a crowd!Concealed n the radical designing, an integrated music player to play your favourite tunes in all the formats makes you a DJ of your own! You can manage to save your PC files in your mobile phones with an easy drag and drop to store all the songs you want to play everyday for yourself.

Adding to your personality, the LG on 3 features an astonishing 262K colour screen with an amazing display quality and clarity to enjoy every aspect of your mobile screen – video calling, browsing, imaging and viewing video files and snap-shots! The big screen makes the live calls enchanting, viewing the recordings, snaps and the rich web pages an absolute experience.In addition to the big display screen, LG U300 supports a 1.3 megapixel camera to awake an amateur photographer in you! Keep on clicking to your camera the moment an inspiration dawns on you and share them with your friends and all the loved ones!

The stylish LG U300 vests the power of MMS, SMS and email in you to share the moments of life! You also have the advantage of the Bluetooth wireless technology to make the sharing an easy and funnier aspect along with the handy and fast data transmission. The LG U300 phone weighing only 93g with 8 MB of internal memory features T9, a Calculator, polyphonic ringtones, video-recorder, video playback and voice recorder too! So stand out with the two-toned music phone and download the latest music and that second look!

Third generation (3g) mobile phones, with their innovative capabilities and advanced features, are gradually replacing second generation handsets. The 3gmobile phones are special as they can be used for quite a lot more than other types of mobile phones. For instance, 3g handsets enable a person to browse the web. He can make video calls, conduct video conferences, send and receive emails as well as download music files and multimedia clips. In a nutshell, a 3g handset is capable of bringing the world within the reach of a potential user. TheSony Ericsson K608i mobile phone is one such 3g mobile phone which is being used extensively by tech-savvy people in diverse parts of the globe.

Apart from providing the whole gamut of 3g services, the Sony K608i also comes with advanced imaging capabilities. The handset comes with a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, which can be used for capturing images as well as for video recording. Another interesting feature of this mobile handset model needs to be mentioned. It is possible to perform multiple tasks at the same time using the Sony Ericsson K608i. As an owner of this handset, you can talk as well as browse the web or talk as well as send files.

Genalog can now supply low-cost surface-mounting Flash memory card sockets for a variety of formats used in applications requiring compact removable memory.
Genalog can now supply low-cost surface-mounting Flash memory card sockets for a variety of formats used in applications requiring compact removable memory such as digital cameras, video cameras, PDAs, MP3 players, computer peripherals, automotive audio, GPS systems, printers and mobile phones. This memory card socket range provides a high-quality miniaturised removable storage solution for these applications. Features include phosphor bronze contacts gold plated to 1-micron thickness, rated for over 10,000 mating cycles.

The glass reinforced plastic sockets will withstand temperatures up to 230C for 3s during reflow soldering.

Locating lugs facilitate placement and there is a selectable left or right-handed ejector mechanism to match the application requirements.

Philips and Intel have created a new digital multimedia reference platform called Pronto++ Software and Systems.
Philips and Intel have created a new digital multimedia reference platform called Pronto++ Software and Systems. This platform will enable Philips and its original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create next-generation interactive, digital audio and video devices running on Intel PXA250 processors. The Pronto++ Software and Systems platform consists of reference hardware, a complete stack of enabling software and multimedia services geared toward consumer simplicity and ease-of-use.

The Intel PXA250 processor - part of the Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture - is based on Intel XScale technology, which enables low-power, high-performance building blocks for the wireless, handheld and consumer electronic market segments.

"Over the last few years, the opportunity to provide new digital systems and solutions to home, mobile and automotive consumer environments has been quickly accelerating", said Matt Medeiros, CEO of Philips' Components Division.

"Philips' leadership in home and audio/visual market segments, coupled with Intel's strengths in technology, provides us with a significant opportunity to deliver more powerful, robust solutions to our customers".

"This multimedia platform is a complete solution powered by Intel Xscale technology and provides major components and entertainment services to enable OEMs to quickly design a new category of multimedia devices", said Peter Green, general manager, Intel Extended Computing Division.

"In a single device, consumers will have access to interactive digital content consisting of music, pictures, video, gaming and other unique infotainment services.

These devices will help expand the digital multimedia experience from the PC throughout the digital home".

The Philips Pronto++ Software and Systems platform is available immediately and builds on the heritage of the company's Pronto product line, a leader in advanced remote controls for complex and diverse multimedia entertainment systems.

This platform brings two sets of solutions: fully integrated hardware devices that include software and services, and software-only solutions for other devices, including PDAs, smart phones and notebook PCs.

The Pronto++ Software and Systems platform will be shown this week at the Intel Developer Forum in San Jose.

DaVinci is billed as the world's most advanced semiconductor technology for next generations of digital video products.
During a global event last week, Rich Templeton, President and CEO of Texas Instruments introduced DaVinci, billed as the world's most advanced semiconductor technology for next generations of digital video products. DaVinci technology is a DSP-based solution tailored for digital video applications that provides video equipment manufacturers with integrated processors, software and tools to simplify the design process and accelerate innovation. Much like what TI has done for its wireless mobile phone customers, DaVinci will allow digital video designers to choose a signal processor tailored for their needs and then select from a menu of production ready software, reducing time to market and increasing innovation by an order of magnitude.

For consumers, these advancements will result in new generations of digital video products that go far beyond today's capabilities.

For example, consumers will no longer have to correct colour and lighting problems on a digital photo using their PC; those corrections will be done automatically by the camera.

Instead of multiple systems, one TV set-top box will allow consumers to play and/or record, as well as video conference with friends simultaneously.

Taking this technology one step further, consumers with a video security system will be able to identify a visitor at the front door, unlock it and open it via their TV remote.

'Microsoft continues to innovate by delivering products and technologies that offer the highest quality digital audio and video experiences available', said Amir Majidimehr, Corporate Vice President for the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft.

'Texas Instruments is a key partner in these efforts, and new technologies like DaVinci are poised to transform the way consumers experience digital video entertainment'.

TI expects to announce DaVinci-based processor samples, software and development tools by year-end 2005.

DaVinci-enabled solutions are in the pipeline for products such as digital cameras, automotive infotainment products, portable media players, set-top boxes and video security systems.

'This is premier digital signal processing technology that will grow the market for new digital video applications and make existing applications much easier to use', said Rich Templeton, President and CEO of Texas Instruments.

'TI is continuing its promise to accelerate the pace of innovation for the communications and entertainment era'.

Texas Instruments has invested in Digital 5 (D5), a leading full-service embedded systems solutions provider.
Texas Instruments has invested in Digital 5 (D5), a leading full-service embedded systems solutions provider. The $2 million investment gives TI a sizable percentage stake in the company and allows D5 to expand its operations to develop additional innovative and cutting-edge applications for mobile, wireless, automotive and home networking products. D5's embedded systems are primarily used in digital entertainment products that sell in high volume, such as Internet audio products based on Flash, hard disk drive (HDD) and CD digital media, as well as portable multimedia applications that merge audio and video.

"By partnering with a leading embedded systems solution provider, TI is positioned well in markets that are growing rapidly and leveraging DSP technology", said Bob McKune, worldwide business manager of Internet audio CD at TI.

"With a solid history of cooperative successes, TI and D5 have strong synergies in developing advanced digital audio technology and building good customer relations".

"TI offers D5 the most advanced semiconductor technology in an explosive new industry, as well as a strong, global marketing partner with the experience to help us navigate this exciting but ever-changing market", said Ron Stevens, president and CEO of Digital 5.

"Securing the support of industry leaders, like TI, will allow D5 to focus on what we do best - developing innovative and creative embedded solutions".

D5 is a leading provider of application-specific DSP software intellectual property, IC solutions, systems integration and complete product design for large OEMs.

D5 develops proprietary software, firmware and fully tested hardware systems around industry leading embedded ICs.

This investment is part of D5's $11 million second round of funding from top venture capitalists and strategic corporate investors.

D5 is currently using TI DSP technology in their symphony embedded system product line, covering flash, CD, and HDD products.

An innovative wireless application uses the Blackfin processor to secure and stream video from a camera to an enabled portable device, such as a GPRS or 3G phone, or laptop.
An innovative wireless application called the Iris camera uses the Blackfin processor from Analog Devices to secure and stream video from a camera to an enabled portable device, such as a GPRS or 3G phone, or laptop. The Iris camera can be deployed in a variety of applications ranging from a creative marketing channel for businesses to a home or office surveillance system. The Iris technology transmits live or recorded video to a mobile device over a standard mobile phone network.

Blackfin's RISC-like instruction simplified the porting of algorithms such as the MPEG4 Common Image Format.

Because the Iris technology enables multiple users to access the same camera, data security was a key consideration.

Blackfin encrypts the video from end-to-end, ensuring that it will not be tampered with by unauthorised users.

The Iris technology is the result of a joint venture between wireless multimedia specialist Pedagog and Bridisco - the UK's largest electrical distributor.

'One of the major issues facing today's content providers is digital rights management (DRM)', said Dr Olinga Ta'eed, CEO of Pedagog.

'The Blackfin processor provided the video processing capabilities we needed to deliver image sizes from 80 x 60 to 160 x 120 from the Iris camera to consumer mobile devices, but it also provided the instruction set and RISC processor capabilities needed to secure data at all points of the delivery cycle'.

The camera is ideal for home and business video surveillance - for instance, the camera features motion detection sensors, which can alert users via text message of movement - but it is also being used as a direct marketing tool.

For example, nightclubs are using the technology to provide potential club goers with a sneak peek of activity at the club to draw them in.

Similar to Internet search engines, Pedagog charges for search optimisation, enabling companies to be ranked in search results for public phones.

'The unique control and signal processing capabilities of the Blackfin processor make it ideal for multimedia data delivery that requires DRM', said John Croteau, General Manager, Convergent Platforms and Services Group, Analog Devices.

'The encryption and decryption part of DRM involves some fairly heavy math lifting which makes the real-time capabilities ideal for processors that do digital signal processing'.

'However, there is also a control, administrative and management side to DRM that requires the use of a good RISC processor'.

'By combining control and signal processing on one chip, the Blackfin processor eliminates the complicated partitioning of a multiple processor system and enables companies like Pedagog to unleash new consumer applications to the market with ease and in record time'.

Analog Devices' Blackfin embodies a new breed of 16/32bit embedded processor with the industry's highest performance and power efficiency for applications where a convergence of capabilities - multiformat audio, video, voice and image processing; multimode baseband and packet processing; and real-time security and control processing - are critical.

Microtune has unveiled three products aimed at the emerging in-car entertainment and personal telematics markets.
Microtune has unveiled three products aimed at the emerging in-car entertainment and personal telematics markets. The MT1110 broadband amplifier chip, the MT7402 in-car digital TV tuner and the MT0755A Bluetooth OneChip provide cost-optimised core components that enable global car manufacturers to deliver digital video and multimedia, mobile Internet access and hands-free communications to mainstream drivers and passengers. The silicon and subsystems products are currently being deployed in automotive applications, and Microtune plans to showcase them in customer solutions at the upcoming Convergence Trade Show, 21st-23rd October in Detroit, MI.

"Consistent with our strategy, Microtune's goal is to grow our automotive business by supplying a multiproduct portfolio of innovative RF silicon and systems solutions", said Douglas J Bartek, Chairman and CEO of Microtune.

"By leveraging our broadband and Bluetooth technologies with our extensive automotive systems experience, we are positioned to develop new products qualified to meet the specific performance requirements of the in-vehicle environment.

At the same time, we enable automakers to deploy leading-edge, market-proven RF technologies that accelerate the introduction of advanced communications and entertainment electronics into their cars".

As companions to Microtune's world-class AM/FM, analogue car TV, multimedia and telematics tuners, Microtune's three automotive products provide the complementary RF components required to deliver data, video and voice to the vehicle via RF or wireless networks.

The new MT7402 MicroModule is a complete DVB-T TV subsystem enabling in-car TV and multimedia applications.

Designed for high-end, multiple-tuner configurations, the MT7402 is aimed at worldwide automakers that require a digital or hybrid analogue/digital solution.

The MT7402 incorporates the tuner, the SAW filter and Microtune's MT1230 intermediate frequency variable-gain amplifier in a production-ready, pretested solution.

Optimised for excellent sensitivity and superior adjacent channel and multipath suppression, the MT7402 offers robust performance, producing clean sound, pictures and data with minimal noise and interference.

Packaged in a compact, highly integrated module, the MT7402 offers maximum design flexibility.

It permits direct interface to the digital demodulator, such as Microtune's MT8872 DVB-T demodulator.

At the same time, the device features the lower profile, expanded temperature range and ruggedised electronics required for the automotive environment.

The MT1110 RF broadband amplifier is a high-performance, low-power IC that improves the quality of RF signals delivered to in-vehicle navigation or entertainment systems.

Functioning as a complement to Microtune's automotive TV tuners, the MT1110 boosts and conditions the RF signal, compensating for the reduced strength of signals received from in-glass antennas or from splitters used in multiple-tuner configurations.

Fabricated in silicon germanium, the MT1110 is engineered to deliver an extended temperature range (-40 to +85C), outstanding large signal performance, very low noise figure, excellent linearity, extremely low distortion and 5V operation.

It enables clearer pictures with better audio quality for an optimised price/performance solution.

Originally developed for stringent broadband video applications, the MT1110 has undergone the extensive reliability testing and qualification required for mobile TV applications.

The MT0755A OneChip is a single-package system-on-chip solution, certified to Bluetooth1.1, for wireless voice and data communications.

Based on advanced technology developed for 2.4GHz cordless phones, mobile phones and wireless headsets, this new product is engineered to provide enhancements for automotive hands-free, cable-free applications.

The MT0755A integrates the Bluetooth radio and baseband into one small package and is engineered to offer system-on-chip capabilities unmatched by other solutions.

The baseband features an onboard processor, embedded Flash memory, analogue/digital convertors, G711 audio codec, dual UART/SPI ports and a wide variety of general-purpose I/O pins.

As a key advantage, the MT0755A's level of integration reduces the total bill of materials (BOM) cost for automotive suppliers in implementing a Bluetooth solution, while ensuring robust end products with better ergonomics and aesthetics.

The embedded Flash memory can be loaded with Microtune's Bluetooth-certified software and the automotive hands-free profile for direct audio connection from car microphone to mobile phone via the onboard codec and wireless Bluetooth link.

Using built-in UART/SPI connections, Microtune's solution enables the transmission of GPS information and telematics data between the car and a variety of devices.

The MT7402 DVB-T MicroModule and MT1110 broadband amplifier are available today and are priced at $15.50 and $2.00, respectively, in quantities of 10,000.

The Bluetooth MT0755A will be sampling in Q4 with production planned for Q1, 2003, and it is priced at $7.50 in quantities of 100,000.

Pricing is also negotiable based on volume, feature sets and customisation requirements.