Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced the launch of "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity™," a new, cloud-based, digital music service which gives music lovers access at any time to millions of songs from major labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Music as well as leading independent labels and major publishers worldwide. The "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" catalogue will initially offer about six million songs and will continue to expand over time.
Through "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity," users can play music any time on a wide variety of Internet-connected Sony devices including Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA® TV, Blu-ray Disc™ player, Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system as well as VAIO and other personal computers. It will also become available on a wide range of Sony's portable devices, as well as on Android-based mobile devices and other portable devices.
"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" is initially available in the U.K. and Ireland with service availability in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and U.S. to be announced in due course during 2011.
"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" is the next extension of services 'powered by Qriocity.' Sony debuted "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity™," a premium video streaming service, in the U.S. in April 2010 and expanded the service to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. in November 2010. Through "Video on Demand powered by Qriocity" customers can instantly rent from a growing library of thousands of Hollywood blockbuster movies across Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc player and Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system.
"As we continue to expand Qriocity globally, these services 'powered by Qriocity' offer a single ID log-in and wallet solution, and empower users to easily consume content including music and video across a growing number of integrated devices," said Kazuo Hirai, President of Networked Products & Services Group, Sony Corporation. "Seamless accessibility to content through these fresh user experiences will enrich Sony's network service offerings and continually add value to the unique aspects of Sony's network-enabled products."
Sony has developed "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" in partnership with Omnifone, a leading provider of cloud-based unlimited music services, with Omnifone contracted by Sony to coordinate content licensing as well as development and delivery of the service, leveraging its existing expertise in the music industry.
"Omnifone is delighted to partner with Sony to bring 'Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity' to hundreds of millions of Sony and other devices," said Rob Lewis, Executive Chairman of Omnifone. "'Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity' is designed to bring digital music into the homes and living rooms of consumers, as well as to PCs and portable devices, with every users' music experiences synchronized automatically across their devices without needing to manage media files."
"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" Features
With Basic (pounds Sterling 3.99 in the U.K. and 3.99 Euros in Ireland) and Premium (pounds 9.99 in the U.K. and 9.99 Euros in Ireland) monthly subscription plans, "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" offers breadth of content and easy music discovery, features cited as most important by music enthusiasts.
Unlike many other popular music services, the basic plan permits unlimited forward skipping of the songs to ensure users discover music they want to hear. With access to an expanding catalogue of about six million songs, the basic plan works as an infinite ad-free radio station and subscribers can listen to dozens of personalized channels – categorized by genre, era as well as mood through SensMe™(*1) – without the requirement to download or manage their music files.
Additionally, the premium subscription plan offers a one time 30 day Premium free trial enabling users to listen in full to every song on demand, create personal playlists of favorites, and gain access to premium Top 100 channels which are regularly updated with the latest hits.
By studying users' listening habits, incorporating their 'like/dislike' song ratings, analyzing their existing music collections and more, "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" adapts to users' music preferences and constantly tailors music channels to offer the most compatible and enjoyable list of songs. Therefore, the more you listen, the more uniquely personalized your music channels become.
Furthermore, users can also synchronize their existing music files and playlists from other media players including iTunes® into "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity," and enjoy their existing music at any time across all compatible devices(*2).
(*1) SensMe™ is Sony's proprietary 12 Tone Analysis technology to evaluate music tracks
(*2) Applies to DRM-free music files and to music which has been licensed for playback on "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity"
"Qriocity™" is a trademark of Sony Corporation
"PlayStation®" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
"iTunes®" is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
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Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa and City Council President Eric Garcetti today joined Streetline CEO Zia Yusuf to announce the Parker for iPhone App – the first app that gives drivers real-time parking information and a fast, convenient way to find open metered parking spaces and nearby garages. It is available now from the App Store.
The Parker for iPhone App features a simple interface that gives users an instant, location-based map pinpointing the city blocks with the most available parking spaces. Users can see which blocks have: more than four, more than two or less two spots; as well as blocks with "rock star" parking – the areas closest with the most open spaces. The app also delivers information about parking space time limits, pricing, and whether meters take credit cards or coins. It also will direct drivers to the nearest City parking garages as an alternative to street parking.
The app is based on Streetline's patented smart parking platform that detects the presence of a car through a network of ultra-low power wireless sensors located in each parking space. This information is then transmitted back to mobile smart phones and web applications that give drivers a live, accurate picture of open parking spaces across a city. The entire system helps cities, airports, universities and private organizations reduce costs, increase efficiencies, and alleviate the environmental impact of traffic caused by parking.
Studies estimate that more than 30 percent of city traffic is caused by drivers looking for parking, and Parker for iPhone dovetails Los Angeles' and Streetline's efforts to implement smart city technologies that make urban areas more livable, cleaner, and more efficient. Streetline smart parking solutions have been deployed in California and New York, and several U.S. cities will deploy its smart parking technology in 2011.
"We are excited that Los Angeles is the first city in the country to offer this unique app to residents and visitors," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "By making parking easier, we can help people get where they are going faster, and reduce pollution and traffic congestion caused by drivers circling in hopes of finding an open spot."
"Sometimes it feels like more movie stars have been discovered in Hollywood than parking spaces. This app will help drivers save time, reduce traffic and air pollution, and make visiting Hollywood even more enjoyable than it already is," said Council President Eric Garcetti.
"LADOT has been working hard to utilize new technologies like Streetline's to help connect the residents and visitors of Los Angeles with valuable information to make their lives easier," said Amir Sedadi, Interim General Manager of the City Los Angeles Department of Transportation. "This new system will transform the parking and driving experience in Hollywood, and we look forward to rolling out this service to other parts of Los Angeles."
"We are excited to partner with the City of Los Angeles to launch this innovative service for locals and visitors in Hollywood," said Zia Yusuf, CEO of Streetline. "We applaud Los Angeles for exploring and implementing smart parking solutions that can not only transform how people park, but also address the critical need to reduce traffic and pollution."
Initially covering the areas in and around Hollywood, the Parker for iPhone App is available for $1.99 from the App Store or at www.itunes.com/appstore.
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LensAlign MkII is a precision reference tool that enables photographers to accurately measure and then adjust the Auto Focusing accuracy of their DSLRs. It also reveals the performance of the camera’s manual focus system.
A few years ago, photographers started to notice front/back focusing problems with their DSLRs. For example, when their camera’s AF system was locked on a person’s eye, the person’s nose or ear was actually the sharpest part of the captured image. In order to allow hundreds of lenses and bodies to be interchangeable, the tolerances within the manufacturing process can cause any specific body/lens combination to potentionaly exhibit these front/back focus anomalies. To compensate for this condition, most new professional and enthusiast DSLRs have an Auto Focus Adjustment within their menu system. LensAlign was created as a focus system measurement standard by which photographers can accurately measure and improve the performance of their cameras’ focus systems.
Like its industry standard LensAlign PRO predecessor, the LensAlign MkII features our exclusive and patent pending True Parallel Alignment™ (TPA™). TPA verifies perfect parallel alignment between the camera sensor plane and the target surface of LensAlign, a requirement for consistent and precise Auto Focus adjustment.
LensAlign MkII comes standard with a 10.5” Focus Display Ruler containing 2 alternate display patterns, one on each side. A 24” Long Ruler add-on option will be available in early February. LensAlign MkII is shipped flat in a Priority Mail postal envelope to reduce shipping costs. The MkII can also also be disassembled for travel or storage.
LensAlign MkII Pricing
- LensAlign MkII is $79.95 and currently includes a free GENUINE WhiBal G7 White Balance Keychain Card. The WhiBal sells for $18.95 by itself. (Shipping is $5 US or $13 INT via Priority Mail).
- In appreciation of your support, current LensAlign owners can purchase MkII at special LensAlign owners pricing.
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