Sena is the preferred leather vendor of Apple and it’s easy to understand why. The Colcha, Hampton Flip, Hampton Wallet, Florence Magnetic Closure Case, and the Laterale are but a few of their functional and fashionable designs.  The most recent luxury collection offers protective, premium leather cases for the iPhone 4/4S and the iPad 2 as well as customized accessories to fit every iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Samsung, HTC or Motorola devices.  Sena is unique in that it features cases for over 300 smart phones and tablets, all in 10 colors and 15 different styles for both men and women.  This amazing array of options makes it easy to find the perfect Christmas gift to fit any taste, no matter how picky.

Check out some of the great styles Sena has for the iPhone 4S:

Click here to view the embedded video.

While modern flair and aesthetics is something Sena prides itself on, their products are as well crafted as they are beautiful.  All of their cases are made with genuine calfskin Napa leather and the accessories are designed to ease the use of device functions, such as buttons and charging ports.  One of the biggest complaints of phone cases is that they’re too bulky and Sena seems to have taken that complaint to heart.  Their phone wallets, flips and cases are so sleek and ergonomic that they seem to make mobile devices less cumbersome.  There are few things more embarrassing than giving a gift that is cheaply made, but there are even fewer things more satisfying than a gift that works better than it looks.  Sena products are beautiful, so it’s saying something that their quality is even greater than one would expect from its appearance.

Check out some of the gorgeous Sena iPad 2 cases here:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sena was founded in 1999 by brothers Ramsey and Fevzi Oten, who were the grandchildren of an entrepreneur in the leather industry.  The brothers describe themselves as gadget enthusiasts that were constantly disappointed by mobile accessories that were either bulky, poorly made or just plain ugly.  Utilizing focus groups and other market research, Sena’s founders determined that the mobile  accessory market was filled with substandard products that actually hindered the use of the device they were bought to complement.

Therefore Ramsey and Fevzi began designing mobile accessories that were upscale, classy and provided real protection.  Understanding that most people bought a device specifically because it was slim, they based their styling around accentuating that slimness and made accessing the device as easy as possible.  They have been so successful that they have expanded their luxury mobile cases to all of today’s most popular brands.  Sena now features exceptional products for phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, e-readers, MP3 players and more.

Sena is a perfect choice for anyone who values their cellphone or tablet, which means it’s a perfect choice for just about everyone.  For upscale, high quality cases that protect as well as complement your device, Sena is a perfect gift source for your loved ones or yourself.

For a chance to win, go to our Facebook page “LA’s The Place Media” and “LIKE” it!

“Ergoline’s new Beauty Lounge, which I like to call the ‘Youth Booth’ based on the U.T.H.E. acronym for Ultralight Transdermal Health and Exercise technology, is designed to enhance one’s overall physique and image by reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and cellulite while also providing a fitness benefit to the user,” said Jerry Deveney, Executive Director of Sales at JK-North America.

2-in-1 Beauty Treatment

Egroline is usually known for its tanning beds, although it may appear as a standing tanning bed, it is not. The Beauty Lounge offers a seeker of eternal youth an opportunity for a 2-in-1 beauty treatment. Get total body skin rejuvenation and muscle-toning with the Beauty Lounge utilizing visible red light (non-UV) wavelengths together with pre-programmed platform-based vibration exercise technology. The Beauty Lounge would be a perfect addition to any tanning salon, health club, spa or beauty center.

How it Works

The Beauty Lounge reduces the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes, tightens the skin and enhances its general appearance with thirty, 2-meter, full-body collagen lamps to energize the skin’s natural collagen and elastin restoration processes via Photo Rejuvenation Therapy. The skin’s permeability also increases, improving the effect of cosmetics and allowing active ingredients to penetrate deeper. Together with platform-based vibration exercise technology, anyone can have firmer skin, toned muscles, increased circulation and a more youthful appearance within 90 days via the all new Beauty Lounge from Ergoline!

Vibrate Your Way to Youth

The Ergoline Beauty Lounge works not only on the outer appearance of skin but at the same time on the inside as well with the Platform Body Vibration. As the body basks in the soothing warmth of the full-body collagen lamps, the vibration platform in the base of the unit is activated. The combination of full-body light therapy and the gentle, yet effective resistance of the vibration platform increases circulation and enhances the body’s metabolic rate. Platform Body Vibration — with its four individual program modes — helps to condition the muscles in the legs, lower body, back and abdomen while also improving coordination and relieving muscle tension.

Luxurious Beauty Lounge Features

Not only will you be getting a super charged beauty treatment, but the Ergoline Beauty Lounge luxurious features provide ultra comfort with adjustable body ventilation, a 3D-Sound system with subwoofer and MP3 player connection so you can listen to your own mix of music.

The Business of Beauty Lounge

“The Beauty Lounge provides salons owners with a new product and service that appeals to everyone regardless of age, skin type, or lifestyle. Now ‘everybody’ is a potential customer,” states Deveney. Based on industry averages and sales analysis of similar type devices, the Beauty Lounge can potentially generate $15,000 to $20,000 per year in additional revenue via the sale of nominally priced sessions and packages.

By using the Ergoline’s Beauty Lounge, the fountain of youth is that much closer to becoming a reality. For more information on the new Ergoline Beauty Lounge, call toll-free 888.771.0996 or visit www.sunergoline.com.

To beging to grow younger today, go to www.sunstyle.la/

A qualified Orlando search engine optimization company should have a history of success. Get My Page Ranked has helped thousands of large and small businesses achieve top search engine rankings. Companies with experience in the realm of Orlando SEO understand that people who surf the web often do not trust paid advertisements on popular search engines and prefer to research businesses who appear naturally through search results. Get My Page Ranked helps clients get their websites found when customers search for relevant terms in search engines like Yahoo, Bing and Google. Hiring professionals to handle search engine optimization positioning is the only way to ensure quality work that delivers results.

Don’t trust just any SEO company to help improve website presence in popular search results, look for a company with testimonials and satisfied clients. Get My Page Ranked has video and written testimonials from clients who have learned first hand how Orlando search engine marketing experts can help attract customers who are using search terms related to their client’s products and services. Not only is GetMyPageRanked.com known for increasing organic search results, but also for their ability to help convert website visits into tangible sales and profits. The correct investment in search engine marketing can put a website on the map and create new possibilities for any business or service provider.

A stagnate website can be reinvigorated with the correct Orlando search engine optimization positioning. The experts at GetMyPageRanked.com help craft relevant search terms for every client that will help drive targeted traffic to their website each month. Get My Page Ranked guarantees top 10 page rankings for Orlando SEO, helping clients gain visibility with their customers and envy from their competitors. Many Orlando SEO companies require clients to sign long contracts that might begin with a hefty account set-up fee and continue with a monthly fee all year long, no matter how satisfied the client is with the service. Get My Page Ranked offers Orlando search engine marketing for a flat monthly fee and clients are free to cancel at any time. Get My Page Ranked allows businesses to affordably achieve first page representation on search engines with ease.

To find out more about Orlando Search Engine Optimization Services, visit GetMyPageRanked.com.

Sony Electronics executive vice president of sales operations Mike Fasulo hosted the press conference and shared what is new in design and experience for Sony customers.

Roberto Martinez and Ali Fedotowsky from the television show "The Bachelorette," Season 6.

Celebrity Attendees at Sony Store Event:

Mark Ballas (“Dancing with the Stars”); Adrian Grenier (“Entourage”); Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”); Brendan Hines (“Lie to Me”); Ali Fedotowsky & Roberto Martinez (“The Bachelorette,” Season 6); Craig Robinson (“The Office”); Spencer Grammer (“Greek”); Joey Lawrence (“Melissa & Joey”); Leven Rambin (“One Tree Hill,” “Grey’s Anatomy”); Melissa Joan Hart (“Melissa & Joey”); Anthony Anderson (“Scream 4,” “Law & Order”); Lisa Rinna (“The Apprentice”); Maria Canals-Barrera (“Wizards of Waverly Place”).

Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence, from the television show "Melissa & Joey".

Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence ham it up on the red carpet at the new Sony Store opening event in Los Angeles.

Lisa Rinna snaps away with a Sony NEX camera at the opening of the new Sony Store.

Adrian Grenier of “Entourage” strikes a pose on the red carpet at the new Sony Store opening event in Los Angeles.

Photo credit: Sony – Susan Goldman

International Reach

It is the only property site that translates in over 30 languages, helping you reach foreign buyers or that neighbor just outside your community. From single family homes, condominiums, apartments, adult communities, air parks, vineyards, a single room for rent, green homes and more. There’s a property for everyone on myHomeMatching.com.

The site delivers the most current, comprehensive detailed information on all kinds of properties. For everyone, everywhere – sellers, buyers and real estate professionals – this is the only site that has incorporated social networking into real estate marketing.

Alternative to MLS

Ninety-five percent of homes are now found online, consumers then attach themselves to an agent, but agents have no control where a client is going to see their information. myHomeMatching.com does not pull from the traditional MLS known as “Data Dumping.” Data dumping provides the public with limited information that is not always current or accurate. We give you complete control to post, edit and control information from their own dashboard.

Available to Professionals & Consumers

Using the fast, simple, step-by-step questionnaire, real estate professionals and consumers can post their property profiles in real time, in less than 10 minutes and let myHomeMatching.com do the rest. Users do not need to register with myHomeMatching.com to receive free, unlimited usage and detailed information when searching for a property, generating more qualified leads.

The advanced technology is many layers deep, providing greater search optimization, offering something superior to the community of buyers, renters and exchangers. This system is a great listing tool that will make presentations stand out.

MyHomeMatching.com offers these great FREE features:

• Free, unlimited property entries and open house listings
• The only real estate site translating in over 30 languages
• Unparalleled social marketing incorporated into Facebook and Twitter
• Google Pinpoint Maps and Street Maps (pinpoints by Yelp!)
• Unlimited photo uploads and up to four-minute (30mb) video tours.
• Open House Event Calendar to advertise and manage your events.
• Ability to Create property listing folders and set unique tracking features
• 30-day email notifications to keep postings up-to-date

MyHomeMatching.com’s Vision

“When I was relocating about two years ago from California to Arizona, I scoured almost every real estate site available to find a place and mostly what I found was frustration. That’s when I got the concept for my Home Matching: a real estate community servicing the consumers and real estate professionals that would be a better search vehicle and fill the void I’d found. I studied the competition, put together a team of programmers to build this community, and we’ve realized my vision. “ – Mark Lampe, Founder/President of myHomeMatching.com

For further information please visit www.myhomematching.com

This year’s hosts and nominees for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Director will be among the first to watch their favorite videos, play games, read books, surf the Internet all on Motorola XOOM’s HD widescreen display.

The Limited Edition Gold Motorola XOOM

The Motorola Xoom is a 10-inch tablet designed to run on Google’s new Android 3.0. It currently runs on the Verizon Wireless 3G networks but will be able to be upgraded to a 4G when the carrier releases it a few months from now.

The highly anticipated, stylishly thin tablet took home a total of eight awards at CSI.

The Motorola Xoom has features that aren’t found in Apple’s Ipad, such as front and rear facing cameras, and HDMI and USB ports. It has a built-in gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, e-compass and adaptive lighting for new types of applications.

Other Motorola Xoom specifics include:

* 1 GHz Dual Processor
* 10.1 inch widescreen HD display
* Native resolution of 1280×800
* HDMI output
* 1080p HD video playback
* Front facing 2MP camera
* Rearing facing 5MP camera with 720p HD video capture
* 3G/Wi0Fi with an upgrade to 4G LTE in Q2 2011

Based on the recommendations of the National Reading Panel, Smarty Pants School evaluates a child’s reading skills and then offers a carefully structured series of games and activities designed to bring out the smarty pants (and giggles) in any budding reader. Smarty Pants School assesses a child’s proficiency in five basic skill areas known to be the building blocks of reading success:

• Letter knowledge
• Phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Deciphering regular words
• Decoding irregular ‘sight’ words

The Smarty Pants Assessment report shows where a child excels relative to grade-level expectations and where they might benefit from some additional attention. And it suggests the additional Smarty Pants “classes” that are appropriate for that child’s particular strengths and weaknesses as well as links to more traditional, non-computer-based activities that parents can do with their children at home.

For more information about the methodology and the research behind Smarty Pants School, please see the Help and Advice section in the application or visit the website, http://smartypantsschool.com.

And what’s also wonderful is that the Smarty Pants School app is free to download for the next few days.

Please click on the following link for a free download: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id403824279?mt=8

After trying out the app, please write a review by clicking on the link that says “Write a review”, at the top of the “Customer Reviews” section.

You can also join them on Facebook and cheer them along. Here’s the link: Facebook Smarty Pants School

Thank you all (parents or not) for helping spread the word and giving children the opportunity to become smarty pants!

LATP Host Jeff Gaskin sat down with filmmaker Christopher Coppola of the famed Coppola family and brother of Nicholas Cage, to find out about his new show on the Reelz Channel, The DigiVangelist, where Christopher travels coast to coast, seeking out the latest innovations in creative technology. New Media Technology may be cool and addictive, but the DigiVangelist wants to explore the gadgets, gizmos and concepts that keep the heart and soul of human endeavor intact, says Coppola. Christopher travels to different places across the nation exploring how different emerging gadgets and gizmos affect the ever-changing direction of Hollywood filmmaking; how ordinary people can use everyday technology, as simple as a cell phone, to create an innovative project.

“The entertainment industry is at a crossroads. Some have predicted the future only holds digital disaster, mainly because they fear the unknown. I believe the digital arena will not only help mainstream Hollywood reinvent itself, but offer new opportunities to the independent filmmaker. Christopher R. Coppola Productions is firmly committed to help us all blaze a trail to a new digital renaissance”.
~ Christopher Coppola

On-location around the country, the DigiVangelist and his reality show team are always on the road, connecting Hollywood technology to Main Street and seeing how it’s playing a role in all our lives. Christopher will go anywhere and meet anyone to find what he’s after and share it with the audience; he will interview experts, experience the technology himself, and take it to a new level by sharing it with everyday folks. Through the DigiVangelist’s adventures, the audience is tapping into a digital movement that is unfolding right before our eyes.

DigiVangelist with Christopher Coppela can be seen on the Reelz Channel on Saturdays 12:30pm ET/ 9:30pm PT, and Sundays 6:00pm ET/3:00 pm PT

Touts Christopher: “Don’t just be plugged in… Stay in Charge!”

Christopher R Coppola Productions is a full service digital creative and production studio, specializing in original content that celebrates people from all walks of life, and the artistry of the everyman. The “DigiVangelist” interstitial series for Reelz Channel, with Christopher Coppola as producer and host, uncovers the latest innovative hybrids of technology and art in the rapidly expanding digital arena. Apple hired CRC Prod to produce the high production value showpiece for its Final Cut Studio 2 software release, starring the sexy new Ducati 1098i motorcycle. The company’s most recent endeavor is the humorous “Spices Of Life” webisode series, featuring Coppola on his own motorcycle, along with his Biker Cat sidekick, following the open road in search of the everyday “diamond in the rough” people who are making a difference in their communities.

Christopher R Coppola Productions is a leader in high definition production for theatrical, television, internet, wireless, in-store, emerging media, and non-profit. Providing an answer to the digital revolution, creating organic, honest, and diverse content for all distribution alternatives. www.crcoppolaproductions.com

Watch for more of Christopher’s interview with LA’s The Place on the next LA’s The Place Daily TV!

When John Jacobson’s educational dance video, Planet Rock, went viral on YouTube, it only took two weeks for the video to accumulate over one million views.  From there it spawned a flood of spoof videos.  “I first knew about it when a friend called me,” said Jacobson.  “I didn’t give it much thought at all until I started getting calls from all over the world!  Videos from Belgium to China were being sent to me of students and adults working their hardest to perfect these dance moves.  These moves were created for 4th-5th graders and watching adults do them has just been awesome!”

It’s been 30 years since Jacobson started his song and dance education journey.  From his early years of performance in high school and college to working as a performer for Disney, Jacobson wanted to spread the benefits of music and dance to the masses. He started as an instructor traveling to different schools leading concerts, sing and dance-a-thons as well as teaching musical curriculum.  “We would write shows that were curriculum based,” said Jacobson.  “We did a show with 6th graders called ‘Dig It’ that was all about archaeology and ancient civilizations.”

From there Jacobson created a highly popular program to help music teachers everywhere.  Reaching 9-10,000 schools, “Music Express Magazine is an affordable periodical that is made to give music teachers a strong curriculum,” explained Jacobson.  “With music programs getting cut and money getting scarce to support them, this is a great tool that will give teachers access to all that they need for a great price.  Teachers can also go online to use step-by-step videos if they don’t want to perform the moves themselves.  The program is geared towards K-6th grade and it’s very user friendly using contemporary bands like Black Eyed Peas and even Glee.”

Where there’s music, there’s a giving of joy!  America Sings! is a charitable nonprofit organization that Jacobson started around 25 years ago.  It has expanded its operations to produce festivals and special events all across the country with singers coming from all fifty states to attend.  “I was judging choir competitions and it was a lot of fun, but I had to constantly pick a winner and it began to seem more like an athletic competition than an expression of music,” explained Jacobson.  “With America Sings! it’s a combination of song and service.”  When singers have completed their show, they then go to participate in a community service project to help charities in the cities where the events are held.  They have donated tons of goods to food banks, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and programs for children who are sick, hospitalized, or in child care centers. 

John Jacobson loves to sing and dance, but his true passion is reaching out to children.  One statistic that caught his attention was that one out of three kids are overweight or obese.  “It’s a tragedy that this is happening to our youth and it’s our responsibility as adults to teach them to get up and move!” said Jacobson.  This created his idea for JJump Fitness 3 DVD series.  The video series is geared towards Preschool through Elementary aged kids.  The 3 DVD series teaches kids about flexibility, endurance and strength.  “The kids just dance along to the routines,” explained Jacobson.  “It’s a great and fun way for them to break up their day, get up and move and burn off some energy!”

John Jacobson became instantly famous because a few spoofs were made of his video on YouTube.  Is he angry?  No!  The attention has brought to light music education and the importance of song and dance.  “Kids just want to have fun and dance!” said Jacobson. “We, as adults, need to recognize this natural joy and make sure it’s carried over into adulthood.  We need to rediscover the emotional release dance can bring!  So, let’s get up and move!”
For more information about John Jacobson please visit:

http://www.johnjacobson.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm7yAWpX1Mc

The Duracell Mobile Smart Power Lab Pop-Up Event featured two Power Rovers being used to collect human-made energy to assist in the many lights needed in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The special event took place over two days in Madison Square Park and the Times Square Visitor Center, respectively.

Both days included several VIP guests who helped in lighting the 2011 numerals with human-generated energy. This is the third year that the method has been used.

New Yorkers, tourists and the VIPs all helped in a unique way—boarding one of the Power Rovers and pedaling, creating usable power that is stored in Duracell Battery Centers until it is needed during the annual New Year’s Eve celebration, when the 2011 numbers light up at the stroke of midnight.

First Round

The reality star VIP guests included Padma Lakshmi (“Top Chef All-Stars”), Carla Hall (“Top Chef All Stars”), Kyle Richards (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”), Reichen Lehmkuhl (Logo Network’s “The A-List: New York”), Rodiney Santiago (Logo Network’s “The A-List: New York”), Aasif Mandvi (“The Daily Show”), Erika Jayne (dancer/electronica singer), Dr. Elmo (music artist) and Jessica Cimato (VH1’s “You’re Cut Off”).

Bravo’s “Top Chef All Star” Carla Hall and host Padma Lakshmi help celebrate the holiday season in New York's Madison Square Park. (Photo/Stuart Ramson)

Pop-princess and #1 Billboard chart-queen Erika Jayne put the pedal to the metal. She has triumphantly jumped over Katy Perry and Cher to the #1 spot for the fifth consecutive time on Billboard’s “Hot Dance Club Play” chart this week, tying C&C Music Factory whose first five singles also went to #1. www.PrettyMessRecords.com

While Richards pedaled, she revealed information about the addicting drama that makes the newest edition of the “Real Housewives” series on Bravo a success. She said that the feud between her and Camille Grammar comes from Grammar’s “she’s jealous of my hot husband Mauricio.”

Kyle Richards strikes a pose on a Duracell Power Rover. (Photo/Stuart Ramson)

“Top Chef” contestant Hall came equipped with some energy for the pedalers by way of Pumpkin Bisque soup and Parmesan short-bread. “Top Chef” host Lakshmi used the Duracell pedaling for her daily work out and expressed her excitement to be a part of lighting the numbers and watching with her new daughter Krishna.

Reality TV personality Jessica Cimato generates power at Duracell Power Rover. (Photo/Stuart Ramson)

And being a festive time of year, Dr. Elmo donned reindeer antlers and sang his Christmas hit “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” while generating his share of energy. Everyone joined in on the familiar chorus as Elmo pedaled and simultaneously played guitar to the tune.

Music artist Dr. Elmo entertains the masses with his Christmas hit “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” (Photo/Stuart Ramson)

“New York City and Madison Square Park share such a rich culinary history,” said Bob Jacobs, Duracell Marketing Director, North America. “Duracell is excited to be here today with our Power Rovers and special guest Carla Hall gathering energy to power the New Year.”

Aasif Mandvi strikes a pose on the Duracell Power Rover. (Photo/Stuart Ramson)

Lehmkuhl and boyfriend Santiago competed against each other during the pedaling, looking to see who could create the most energy to store in the Duracell Battery Centers. Lehmkuhl won, and the two awarded themselves with a cup of Hall’s soup afterwards!

Reichen Lehmkhuhl and Rodiney Santiago pump their fists at Duracell Smart Power Lab. (Photo/Stuart Ramson)

Second Round

A second day of the Duracell Mobile Smart Power Lab Pop-Up Event occurred featuring television stars, all working to create energy to illuminate the seven-foot tall numerals creating next year’s 2011. The number one was brought in on a chauffeured limousine to the Times Square Visitors Center.

The VIP guests on Dec. 21 included Penn Badgley (CW’s “Gossip Girl”), Tristan Wilds (CW’s “90210”), Alex McCord (“The Real Housewives of New York”), Simon van Kempen (“The Real Housewives of New York”) and Daniel Kass (snowboarder and Olympic medalist).

Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New York” personalities, Simon Van Kempen and Alex McCord welcome the arrival of the numeral '1' on Dec 21, which will join the iconic '2011' numerals to be illuminated on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. (Photo/Stuart Ramson)

Husband and wife pair McCord and Van Kempen are planning to spend the holidays in Dallas and then finish them in Brooklyn, and McCord surprisingly said that she’s never actually been to the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration.

At the event, Badgley explained that he’s leaving New York for New Year’s for a tropical climate down south in Miami, and of all the TV shows available, he most watches “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and would love to be a guest. He said, “Jon Stewart, I’m coming for you!” Badgley is headed to the Sundance Film Festival in January to support his new film “Margin Call.”

Penn Badgley and Tristan Wilds strike a pose on the Duracell Power Rover. (Photo/Stuart Ramson)

While pedaling, Wilds sported an appropriate New York Yankees baseball cap and revealed his New Years resolution: “to be better than last year!” Here are Wilds’ top picks for 2010 in entertainment: Favorite TV Show: “Family Guy”—Favorite Movie: “Inception”—Music Artist: Kanye West—Gadget: iPad.

For more information, visit www.duracell.com or follow the brand at Twitter.com/Duracell_Power and Facebook.com/Duracell.

The hottest and fastest party in LA this week was held at the Avalon Hollywood for the Need for Speed Hot Pursuit (NFSHP) launch party on November 16th. The line was out the door to get into the party for EA and Criterion Games’ highest rated Need for Speed game ever. Expensive sports cars lined the streets as models dressed up as racers and police officers showed off the one of a kind Lamborghini cop car sitting outside the front door. While the celebration started on the street, the real party waited inside as celebrities and gamers alike came together to play what is a shoe-in for game of the year.

The historic Avalon Hollywood, which spans six decades as the musical playground of Hollywood greats such as Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner, Nirvana, The Beastie Boys and Prince was now open for a festival of music, videos and gaming unlike any other. The music was blasting as people took to the dance floor, which was lined with full versions of the game to play.  Fans took pictures in the mug shot style photo booth and played as both racers and cops in different modes of the game while waiting for up and coming Hip Hop Duo Chiddy Bang to perform.

Many celebrities came out to show their love for the racing franchise. Commercial and viral success stories Isaiah Mastafa of the widely popular Old Spice commercials and the Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World” Jonathan Goldsmith both took to the red carpet of the event. Bob Guiney of The Bachelorette and The Bachelor joined Heroes star and Band from TV band mate Greg Grunberg outside the party. Rob Kardashian of Keeping Up with the Kardashians fame, posed with the NFSHP models and the Lamborghini cop car. Inside, Hip Hop star Chris Brown enjoyed playing the game from the VIP section. But it was Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara of the show Entourage who were the talk of the night. The hilarious trailers they shot for the game were shown on the big screens over looking the entire event.

The biggest star of the night was the game itself, and for good reason: no one could keep their hands off it! Praised for its breathtaking visuals, addicting and varied game play and a near perfect racing experience, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit stands to be the best racer not only for this holiday season, but of the year. Adding to the fun of racing and taking down your friends is the new Autolog feature, which takes the social gaming experience to the next level by tracking your performance, comparing it with your friends and creating new and unique challenges seamlessly. Autolog is the biggest innovation for the Need for Speed franchise and is poised to be the future of online gaming.

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit has received perfect scores from PlayStation: The Official Magazine, GamesRadar.com, 1UP.com and Joysitq.com. It has received 9.3 out of 10 from GamesMaster magazine in the UK and IGN has praised it as a game that “breathes new life into the time-honored tradition of video game competition among friends.”

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit is available now in North America, Europe and the UK for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC and Wii. New copies for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 comes packaged with an Online Pass that include a head-to-head multiplayer mode, two exclusive Lamborghinis- the LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni and the LP 570-4 Superleggera, and 10x storage capacity for no extra charge. Players use the one-time- use registration included with new copies of the game to access the content. Players who don’t receive the Online Pass can purchase one for 800 Microsoft points on Xbox Live or $9.99 on the Playstation network.

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit also available from the AppStore for the iPhone and iPod touch mobile devices, supporting head-to-head action as a cop or racer via local WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity.

For more of the latest news and information on Need for Speed Hot

Pursuit, visit the official site www.needforspeed.com, the Facebook page www.facebook.com/needforspeed and follow the game on Twitter www.twitter.com/needforspeed.

Ivanka Trump checks out her very own Ivanka Trump Jewelry website on the SONY VAIO.

The exclusive, membership-only division of SONY that provides exclusive insider access to the entirety of the SONY experience, SONY Cierge, hosted the holiday preview event in downtown New York City.

Aasif Mandvi reaches out to touch the 3D screen of the SONY Bravia 3D set.

Celebrities and VIPs were on hand as SONY Electronics introduced a slew of holiday items, including:

-  The SONY Briavia TV collection, SONY 3D TVs and the world’s first SONY Internet TV powered by Google

- The hand held SONY Bloggie Touch, which captures full HD video and still shots at the same time

- The TX9 Cybershot, the world’s smallest 3D digital still camera

- The SONY Dash, making the internet uniquely yours and offering over 1,000 free applications with the Dash Personal Internet Viewer

- The SONY Reader, allowing you to take hundreds of books with you on the go

Daphne Rubin-Vega, Caroline Rhea, Ivanka Trump, and Sherri Shepherd strike an over-the-shoulder-pose while checking out the SONY VAIO.

Celebrities in attendance included: Caroline Rhea (Comedian, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Sherri Shepherd (The View), Ivanka Trump (The Apprentice), Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show), Laura Izibor (Recording Artist, For Colored Girls soundtrack)

Ivanka Trump taps away at SONY Dash touch-screen.

Kelly Choi (Bravo’sTop Chef Masters), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Jack Goes Boating), Lenay Dunn (Host of MTV’s Ten on Top), and Kelsey Chow (One Tree Hill).

Kelly Choi strikes a pose! - MTV cutie Lenay Dunn takes a snap with a hot pink SONY TX9 Cyber-shot.

Go to SONYStyle.com for more information.

The SONY Bloggie fits easily in the palm of your hand, has a bright, 3.0’’ LCD screen, and weighs only 4.4 ounces, giving the device a sleek and elegant look of simplicity.

The LCD touch screen allows users to easily slide through their videos and photos, and will auto-rotate for vertical or horizontal viewing based on how the user is holding the camera.

With full HD video capturing ability on such a small device, the Bloggie makes it more convenient than ever to capture moments on video. Bloggie videos are recorded in the universally used MP4 format, allowing the owner to easily upload a video to Facebook or YouTube. 

Eliminating the hassle of cables, the Bloggie comes with a built in USB stick; the camera connects with no problem to any compatible computer.  The Bloggie also comes standard with an HDMI out port, allowing one to watch their recently recorded HD videos on their HDTV.

The 4GB Bloggie captures up to two hours of HD video, while the 8GB model captures up to four.

The Bloggie’s video camera also doubles as a high-powered, 12.8 megapixel photo capturing camera.  With this large of a megapixel count, photos are captured beautifully.  Dual Recording is also a feature of the Bloggie, allowing the user to take photos while recording a video.  The camera has 4x digital zoom, and a built in macro feature enabling the capture of stunning close-up photos.

Sleek to look at and capable of beautiful video and photo capture, SONY again impresses the electronic market with the release of the Bloggie, and Bloggie accessories (printers, attachable flashes, and cases etc.) make using the Bloggie even more intuitive and enjoyable. www.SonyStyle.com

Earloomz’ products feature over 400 different designs to choose, from sports teams to recording artists, and features the designs of popular artists!

Earloomz unique patented design provides an earpiece that operates without bulky buttons or additional external pieces. This allows for easy accessibility, greater comfort and is lightweight for the ear.

Earloomz gives you the chance to stand apart from the crowd by bringing artistry and style to personal electronics. Makers of beautifully designed Bluetooth headsets for the discerning trendsetter, Earloomz are where art, fashion and technology meet. For more information, visit www.earloomz.com or call 877.995.6669.

Headset controls include call/answer, last number redial, call waiting, control for compatible mobile phones ● Easily manage calls with the touch of a button ● Compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones; supports Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR for simple, hands-free calling ● Technology allows you to pair your device easily ● Fits in either ear with adjustable earhook ● Multipoint technology allows you to stay connected with 2 Bluetooth-enabled phones ● 33′ range from your Bluetooth device

Celebrities and VIP’s gathered at ESPACE in New York City as SONY unveiled the world’s first ever Internet television.  SONY Electronics and Google staged an exclusive red carpet event to introduce the revolutionary product.

Adrienne Bailon

Catering to the current Internet crazed generation, it is no surprise that cutting edge SONY is the first to develop and release this revolutionary Internet television product.  Powered by Google TV, the television (which is available in a variety of different sizes) allows users to search the web, enabling access to ones favorite websites on the television itself.  The Internet powered television is also capable of searching TV listings, making it easier than ever to find when a specific show will be airing.   
 
The Internet Television also allows for a personalized TV experience.  With downloadable applications, new content can easily be synched directly to the television.  Twitter, Napster, Pandora, and Netflix are some of the apps currently available for download. 
 
Controlled by an intuitive hand held remote, the Internet television is easy to navigate.  The remote is powered by a QWERTY keyboard, similar to one found on the average Smartphone, allowing the user to simply type in the name of a show, website, or app they’re looking for.

SONY is no stranger to innovation, leading the high definition movement with its state of the art HDTV’s and Blu-Ray DVD players.  Now, with the development of the Internet television, SONY has forever changed the way television will be watched and used.

Attendees of the event included Taye Diggs (Private Practice), Bethenny Frankel (Bravo’s Bethenny’s Getting Married?), Katrina Bowden (30 Rock), Kat DeLuna (Recording Artist), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Jack Goes Boating), Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), Chaske Spencer (Twilight series), Michael Kenneth Williams (HBO’s Boardwalk Empire), Andy

Taye Diggs

Cohen (Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live), Adrienne Bailon (Cheetah Girls, 3LW), Tessa Thompson (Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls), Will Estes (Blue Bloods), Mateo (Recording Artist), Adam Rifkin(Showtime’s LOOK The Series), Micah Jesse (Music Choice on-air personality), Ahmad Bradshaw (New York Giants, Running Back) and the band Cobra Starship.

Mike Posner gave a live performance, and Clinton Sparks presented a DJ Set. 

According to Mike Abary, the Senior Vice President of SONY’s Television and Home Audio/Video business, the sleek Internet/television device will be available for purchase nationwide on October 18th.

Photo Credit: SONY

Adobe Photoshop

The latest versions of Adobe’s award-winning software can help you repair photos, create photo effects, match photo styles, piece together panoramas, and assemble richly layered photos for images that deserve to be framed and seen. Best of all, Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9 bundles these powerful photo- and video-editing capabilities in an affordable, easy-to-use package. Home users and hobbyists can look forward to transforming their favorite pictures and video footage into slick images and films that are ready to be shown off to friends, family, and the world.

One of the biggest secrets of professional photographers is that many of them don’t capture the perfect shots on their own. In fact, they’re not shy about getting a little digital help behind the scenes, all in the service of presenting the most effective image for public consumption. Adobe Photoshop frequently makes the difference between a good picture and an amazing shot, but unfortunately, there’s a steep learning curve with the program. Go to any library or bookstore and you’ll find thick tomes dedicated to learning all of Photoshop’s tricks and techniques; both online and college courses in Photoshop are also common for those who want to bone up on this indispensable app.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 removes much of the hassle of the original Photoshop while providing the program’s most useful tools. True newbies can use Photoshop Elements’ Guided Editing mode to take them through each step of creating reflections, pop-art motifs, 3D-style frames, and Lomo-style camera effects. A Perfect Portrait feature also provides assistance in the use of the spot healing brush and in red-eye removal, two of the tools that you’ll likely use most often and find most helpful.

Before and After

Red eye is a common effect when you take photos using the flash, so you’re probably already familiar with the red-eye-removal tool. However, you may not have used the spot healing brush previously, simply because it’s one of the more complicated tools in the Photoshop portfolio. Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 removes many of these obstacles with its comprehensive help system so that you can make the most of this powerful resource. Now you too can, for example, correct blemishes, fix damaged photos, or simply removed large unwanted portions of images.

Your vacation photos, especially of grand structures or expansive views, will benefit greatly from the improved panorama feature in Adobe Photoshop Elements 9. As with previous versions of the program, Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 lets you combine your shots, blending the edges to create a unified image, but Elements 9 takes it a step further. This latest version fills in the edges, resulting in a complete and breathtaking composition that captures the perspective and sight as you desire. The process is simple: Choose your photos, then select Photomerge Panorama from the menu. Photomerge will bring your photos together for the panorama shot. Finally, you’ll get a Clean Edges dialog box that asks you whether you’d like to automatically fill in the missing content. Click Yes, and Elements 9 will do the rest.

When you look at an extraordinary photo, the subject matter may be the first aspect that strikes you, but other factors are at play. Composition and color tone are two of these, and they’re both yours for the manipulating with Adobe Photoshop Elements 9. For example, you may want to bring the subjects of your photo closer together or remove extraneous items from the picture; alternatively, you might want the image to fit a frame of a specific size, but cropping or resizing won’t get the results you want. The solution to your dilemma is the Recompose Photo command and the Recompose tool; by clicking and dragging the image handles at the edge of the photo, then moving them toward the center of the frame can decrease the distance between your subjects.

Achieving the color tone or photo style you desire is easier than ever with Adobe Photoshop Elements 9. Bring up two images: your own and a second image with the style you admire. For example, you may want to apply a high-contrast effect to one of your original photos. With the Photomerge Style Match command, you can transform your shot and apply the affects you desire. You’ll also want to play with the sliders until you reach the results you envisioned.

In fact, you can accomplish many of these intermediate-level effects with layer masks, which has been available in Photoshop for a long time but is making its debut in Adobe Photoshop Elements 9. With layer masks, you can apply effects and play with the various layers, then reveal a percentage of that layer to enhance your original photo.

Home users and hobbyists have become used to doing more with their photos, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 continues this trend, providing malleable layouts for scrapbooks, photo books, cards, and calendars. Drop your pictures into Elements 9′s range of backgrounds and voila–they’re ready for you to print yourself or to order online. You get a slick-looking package populated with your own memories, ready to be displayed and shared.

Adobe Premiere Elements 9 promises to bring the same flexibility to video as Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 does for photos. First of all, Adobe Premiere Elements 9 imports from commonly used sources such as Flip cameras, camcorders, and digital cameras. Adobe Premiere Elements 9 also works with HD video.

Beginners will appreciate the tools included in Adobe Premiere Elements 9 for basic issues of video editing. For example, Adobe Premiere Elements 9 comes with a variety of options for correcting audio problems, such as excessive background noise.

But Adobe Premiere Elements 9 brings numerous enhancements that will suit both novices and old hands in video editing. One of the most impressive new features in Adobe Premiere Elements 9 is the ability to create Web DVDs–that is, movies that live online at Photoshop.com and come with DVD-like menus. In Premiere Elements 9, create your own menus, then select a still image and a song to be featured in the opening menu. You can designate the chapter points or let Elements create them, thus allowing viewers the option of fast-forwarding through segments.

Users can further spruce up their videos with cartoon effects or a selection of themes such as Pets or Fun in the Sun, complete with professional-looking transitions and titles. You can exercise your creativity in even more ways with the use of composite video; shoot your subject with any color background, though preferably one that isn’t too close to their skin tone or their clothes. Then use the Videomerge tool and choose a supplied background clip. Premiere Elements 9 will overlay your clip on top of the background for a brand-new video.

Both Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9 share a number of features, chief among them a media management hub that organizes all the photos and videos. Anyone who’s tried to sort their vacation and birthday and holiday photos will understand exactly how easy it is to lose track of their visual memories; with Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9, Adobe creates one unified locale to store your files and the media containing the memories of your life.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Adobe Premiere Elements 9 can be purchased as a bundle or separately.

Click here to find out more or to order Adobe Premiere Elements 9

Click here to find out more or to order Adobe Photoshop Elements 9

Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9 not only organizes your media, it helps you find the desired shots and clips with more ease through the use of the Auto-Analyzer feature and the People Recognition tool. You can also tag your media with labels pertaining to people, places, events, and other criteria that are important to you so that you can locate them more easily down the line.

In addition, Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9 make it easier to share your photos and video clips on Facebook and the Web. Mac users especially can rejoice: These features are now available for the Mac–you don’t need to have a PC to get in on all this multimedia expertise.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What is CEREC?

Never heard of CEREC? CEREC is an acronym that stands for the following:

* Chairside: The technology is in the dental operatory and used while you are in the chair.
* Economical: The procedure is economical for both dentist and patient. Its much less expensive than traditional crown work.
* Restorations: The procedure restores your tooth to its natural beauty, function, and strength.
* Esthetic: The restorations are metal-free and tooth-colored.
* Ceramic: High-strength ceramics are used that are close in composition to your natural tooth structure

How Does CEREC Work?

No more getting an impression of your teeth, then having to return to get the crown or veneer done at a later date. With the CEREC technology, they use a digital picture of your prepared tooth. This picture is used instead of a traditional impression.  What this means for you is no more impression tray or chalky material for you to gag on.  The computer and CEREC 3D software converts the digital picture to a three dimensional virtual model of your prepped tooth.  Dr. LaBounty and his team then design your restoration right on screen using the software while you wait (and watch!).

This software assists them with designing any single tooth restoration: crowns, inlays (fillings), onlays (partial crowns), and veneers.  Once they have designed your restoration (usually about 5 minutes), Dr. LaBounty clicks a button and Voila! – the design data is communicated via wireless radio signal to the CEREC Milling Unit.

Are You a Candidate for CEREC?

If you need to restore decayed teeth, place crowns, remove defective amalgam fillings, or place cosmetic veneers, it can all be done using this new technology in just one appointment.  Utilizing CEREC gives you the most lifelike dental restorations in just one visit to the dentist…in, out, and on with your busy life.

About CEREC

The state of the art CEREC system was developed in 1985 at the University of Zurich in Switzerland by a dentist, Dr. Werner H. Mormann, and an electrical engineer, Dr. Markus Brandistini.  Today, CEREC 3 with CEREC 3D software is still the world’s only chair side dental CAD/CAM restorative system.  At the heart of the system is the innovative technology.

Twenty-Year Track Record

Although it is new to most, this technology has a track record of almost 20 years, and more than 100 studies confirm the clinical excellence of the method.  This procedure is useful for replacing old silver filings as well as worn out composite fillings. Since it only takes one appointment, you don’t have to come back for a second appointment and you don’t have to worry about any temporaries falling out between appointments.  Contact SMILEWORKS Redondo Beach about CEREC today.

Dr. LaBounty’s Solid Expertise

Earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 2001 from the prestigious University of Southern California School of Dentistry (USC) gives Dr. LaBounty an edge above the rest in the dental industry. Throughout his career, Dr. LaBounty has completed countless hours of continuing education, has even taught Dental Anesthesiology  to other dentists, and consistently seeks out new opportunities to enhance his abilities, knowledge, and techniques.

Dr. LaBounty’s treatment philosophy combines expert technical abilities with a genuine passion for his patients’ well-being. He accomplishes this by utilizing cutting-edge technology and techniques that are backed by sound scientific clinical trials and research and endorsed by the American Dental Association. This allows him to provide procedures that are less invasive, more effective, often less painful and more cost-effective.

Smileworks of Redondo Beach – www.SmileworksRB.com

1951 Artesia Boulevard, #102, Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Phone: 310 303-7930

Keeping Your Bathroom Mold-free

With DewStop™ Fanswitch, you can keep your bathroom’s condensation level under constant surveillance.  DewStop™ uses similar technology to monitor temperature, humidity and dew point that meteorologists use for weather prediction.  This sensory software helps stop unhealthy mold and bacteria from growing on your bathroom walls and ceilings.

Smart & Green Fanswitch

DewStop™ finds the room’s condensation level and prompts your fan to turn on or off making it energy efficient. There will be no more family quarrels over who left the bathroom fan running, as DewStop™ turns your fan into a smart fan with an affordable and easy to install single switch.

To find out more about how it can work for you and your home, visit: www.dewstop.com.

Mike Koenigs is revolutionizing the way people view the world of Internet marketing and marketing in general, especially for small businesses. Mr. Koenigs is known as a speaker, video producer and internet marketer who is best known for creating Traffic Geyser, referred to in technology and Internet marketing circles as the magic behind many a successful online presence. Traffic Geyser is a video distribution tool that generates an amazing number of leads and a lot of traffic by pumping the video to over 100 social networking and video sites. Mike Koenigs is well known in the world of producing, marketing and consulting. His client list contains some of the most successful companies and individuals in the world.

Main Street Marketing – Revolutionary Business in a Box

In April 2010 Traffic Geyser launched Main Street Marketing, allowing small business owners at any level of Internet-savvy to build an online presence that will help their business and others skyrocket to the top of Google listings. The Main Street Marketing Machine has been called a “business in a box” because it can either teach you how to build a functional online business from scratch or it can be used to plug in information about your existing business to create a web presence that is currently nonexistent and needs a boost.

Virtually everyone does research and gets information from the Internet. Main Street Marketing is the answer to the question, “What is a low cost way a small business can advertise to a targeted market?” Small business owners understand the importance of ranking high on Google, but with Yellow Page ads ranking lower and lower, small businesses need a new approach to compete. Mike Koenigs’ revolutionary Main Street Marketing provides training and support throughout the process of building the business of creating traffic and ranking for businesses, and comes equipped with an Opportunity Finder that breaks downs statistics on thousands of local businesses. The information found through the Opportunity Finder in the Main Street Marketing Machine offers a competitive edge and contains information about what people who are searching for a particular product or service want as well as their contact information.

Mike Koenigs at Brian Tracy Event

Mike is one of the top internet marketers out there today. He has consulted with clients like Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Harvey MacKay, Paula Abdul, and many more.

Mike has served as a producer, marketer and consultant for Sony Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, 3M, General Mills, Dominos Pizza, Ralston, Mazda Motors and New York Times bestselling authors including Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford and Tony Robbins. He’s created over 300 web sites and more than 30 products.

Mike Koenigs and Tony Robbins at Digital Cafe

Timeka Drew with LA’s The Place Media recently sat down with Mike Koenigs at his “Digital Cafe” studio in San Diego for an in-depth interview.

LATP: Hi, my name is Temeka Drew with LA is the Place Media and I’m lucky enough to be sitting here today with and I’m going to call him the online marketing king – Mike Koenigs from trafficgeyser.com and we have a couple of questions for him and. Thank you so much for being here today.

Mike: It’s nice to be here. It’s nice to be here in my studio.

LATP: In the Digital Café, I’m lucky enough to be here. It’s my first chance to come up here to San Diego, so are you ready to answer my questions?

Mike: I’m all set, just let them roll!

LATP:  Alright, well we both know the internet started years ago as the information super highway and it has kind of moved towards Yellow Pages mixed with the lifeline of human interaction that we have with social media – how do you see the future of the world-wide-web and how does Traffic Geyser play a part in that?

Mike: Okay, well, I think – really when the iPad came out, there was something kind of magical about that because I thought, here you have this little piece of glass that you can interact with, you can rent, you can watch movies, music, television, you’ve got the web, you’ve got email, you’ve got all of these cool apps. It’s like the best of an iPhone, the best of a computer – Google, Wikipedia – literally, you can look at every element of human experience all in one place. That’s pretty cool and I found – okay, now think about what’s going to happen next, the concept of a magazine, a newspaper, television is now – you can combine everything, so you cannot only watch the videos, but very soon, you’re going to be able to make the video, submit it, participate in the community, exchange ideas with the creator, the editors, the viewers themselves.

So the whole idea of the experience and all of this is going to radically change and I think that we’re going to see another mental revolution because it doesn’t have to do with the technology anymore, it has to do with how rapidly we can get it, how rapidly we can mash it up and how rapidly we connect as human beings.

And again, we’re now growing way beyond what anyone could have ever imagined media could be. So it’s in the – the way I define Traffic Geyser – because right now, we’re a combination of a tool, utility to broadcast your message out to all the video sites, the social media, the social networking sites and blogs and podcasts and all of that stuff. It’s just like a one step broadcasting platform.

Mike Koenigs

I’d like to think of it as a new way, a way of revolutionizing and redefining how broadcasting works, so we were just together with our entire company. We took everyone to Las Vegas just last weekend, it turned out as a gift from a great lunch we had and our CFO said, what kind of big, hairy audacious goal could we have? And I’d say, Rupert Murdoch, look out! That’s really – we have a chance because television is irrelevant, movie distributions are irrelevant, music distribution is irrelevant and networks – Facebook has been important, but in a lot of ways, there is a lot about it that’s broken. All the privacy concerns and all the sort of stuff – so I think the community and the network and the speed and the relationship with technology and interactivity and how we create content is all hitting this cool gel-point where I think we’re going to see another rebirth, a change of how humans interact with technology and Ray Curswell talks about a lot of – I’m trying to think of the word he has for him spacing on it when it’s the singularity.

Okay that’s when humans and machines actually become one and when a machine is actually going to achieve consciousness and how we are already modifying our bodies with technology and it won’t be long in our bloodstreams, we’ll just put little devices that will essentially get rid of the fat cells and get rid of all the poisons in our body or increase our ability to hold oxygen.

I think the combination of all these things are going to join forces rapidly and much more quickly than people realize. So, I know that again, I probably went way too big out there. That was the fire…

It’s about what matters, what do people buy, how do they interact and how do they connect with one another and hopefully, our society will evolve beyond these senseless drones where everyone is texting each other, not paying attention to one another and it is like – try to walk through an airport today. It’s like this massive stupidity of people driving and dying because they’re texting at the same time. That kind of thing will be as crazy as throwing out your McDonalds trash while you’re driving or smoking and blowing the smoke in your children or drinking and driving from the 50s, right?

It’s just – society evolves and realizes oh my God! We’re killing ourselves here. I think in a way, technology is killing us because of the stupidity in how we interact and how we’re using it and I think it’s time for mankind to evolve and determine what’s right and what works and how we can use it to increase the quality of life, increase the quality of our interactions and get rid of the real poison that exist in our world, which is bad government, corruption, poverty and ignorance and what are you going to do about it.

So again, probably too much of the fire hose because that’s my way of – I think about this stuff a lot.

Read the entire transcribed interview or watch it live at LAsThePlace.tv.

LA’s The Place Media uses Traffic Geyser as a key part of our marketing strategy and have been able to use the system to achieve top rankings in Google quickly. If you’d like to learn more about how LA’s The Place Media can help your business get top rankings in Google using Traffic Geyser, please contact Jane Emery at Jane@LAsThePlace.com.

Image West of Las Vegas, Nevada is the premier source for video and digital photo lighting and video accessories, providing a wide variety of the most popular products designed with the advanced amateur and professional videographer or photographer in mind. And with internet video emerging, first-timers need a company you can trust to sell you the right equipment for the job at the right price.

Quality yet Budget-Friendly

They offer only the highest level of quality products and customer service, yet all at very affordable prices.  As follows, Image West can take care your needs in these categories:

Image West Studio LED Lights

- Studio & Location Lighting
- Green Screens & Backgrounds
- On-Camera & Portable Lights
- Camera Support Equipment
- Photographic Lighting &          Accessories
- Stabilization: Glidecam/Flycam
- Production Trucks & Gear

Immediate Availability

Their extensive client list consists of independent filmmakers, schools and colleges to some of the largest production companies and broadcast entities in the world. Although they are in Las Vegas, almost every item you’ll see on their website is in-stock and available for immediate shipment. In addition, Image West stands ready to serve you in anyway they can, both now and after the sale.

Three Decades of Experience

You’ll find comfort, knowing that you are dealing with seasoned professionals whose background spans nearly three decades in the film and video production business and not just equipment sellers. Simply stated, Image West knows these products because they use the products too and can stand behind them with their guarantee of your full satisfaction.

Customer service, quick shipment, and knowledgeable staff makes Image West the only place to go for your film or video production accessories.

Image West TV

Image West
6643 Schuster St
Las Vegas, Nevada 89118
Phone: (702) 233-0076
support@imagewest.tv
www.imagewest.tv

GBK will re-create one of their signature gifting environments online in its own 3D Virtual World, connected in real-time with the use of live-streaming technology, virtual instant chat and avatar based social networking software. With the help of Nathalie Basha, GBK’s Red Carpet Host for the virtual experience, these avatars will get the chance to mix and mingle with some of their favorite stars, chat with celebrity attendees and performers, view the live performances and experience our luxury sponsors. Through media partner, Celebuzz, one viewer will also receive an invitation to attend the real life gift lounge at The London Hotel on June 4th or 5th.

In addition to the virtual gift lounge, GBK and Virtual Celebrity Islands will partner together throughout 2010’s major award shows and special events to gift the celebrities use of these private islands for a whole year! Founded by Samy Montechristo and powered by Activeworlds, Virtual Celebrity Islands is the new home of a groundbreaking celebrity community. Each virtual celebrity island features a fully interactive 3D studio with a sound-stage for virtual live events, 300 acres of virtual land for fans and sponsors, a penthouse for the celebrity owner, and their own virtual Ferraris, limos, yachts and private helicopters. Quinton Aaron, star of The Blind Side and nominated for the MTV Movie Award as Best Breakout Star, will be the first to receive access to his virtual island and the GBK virtual event attendees will get to explore his island and take a peek into his own private world.

GBK is known for creating stylish settings with a great atmosphere and amazing luxury gifts. With this virtual lounge and a partnership with Samy Montechristo and Activeworlds, they are continuing to take things to the next level. Carla Domen, VP of GBK Productions, stated “We like to keep ahead of the trends in our industry and offer the latest and greatest to our honored guests. When designing the event, I was certainly inspired by the MTV nominated film Avatar, and it led us to a unique gift, a way to incorporate the outside world to these exclusive events and help enhance our sponsors’ return on investment.”

3-Dimensional interaction on the internet is growing at an astounding rate and it is projected that 1.6 Billion people will access the internet via Avatars. With advances in technology, accessibility, and the record-breaking popularity of the James Cameron movie “Avatar” (the highest grossing film ever, taking in over $2.7 billion), 3Dimentional interaction is “now providing new jobs and creative opportunities for Hollywood” – says Samy Montechristo – “Get Every Star an Avatar is our motto and goal for the Hollywood industry. We want to give celebrities a new way to connect with their fans, promote their projects, and offer meaningful and high-valued visibility for their sponsors and brands”. Virtual Celebrity Islands is powered by Activeworlds which means the recipients get high quality design and functionality with the potential for true ownership and independent operation of their 3D worlds, not something currently offered by other virtual companies. It is an unmatched offer to own a portal to the “new internet”, accessible to and operated by everyone.

GBK

GBK, formerly GBK Productions, is a luxury lifestyle gifting and special events company, specializing in entertainment marketing integration.  Formed in 2000 by Gavin Keilly, the company’s Founder and CEO, GBK consists of five divisions: GBK Celebrity Gifting Lounges, GBK Events, GBK Weddings, GBK Charitable Consulting and GBK Marketing/PR.  Widely known in the entertainment industry for bringing that little extra something into the Gifting Lounge environment, GBK offers its clients a full range of marketing services.  For more information on Gavin B. Keilly (CEO), Carla Domen (VP) or GBK, please go to www.gbkproductions.com. 

Samy (S@my):

Samy Montechristo is the founder of Virtual Hollywood. His motto: “Get every star an Avatar!”. For the past 10 years Samy has spent more time in virtual reality than in the ‘real world’ which makes him a real life avatar. He was prominently featured as one of the World’s leading 3D internet experts at the Consumer Electronics Show. He has invented entire virtual ecosystems and created more than 1000 virtual 3D destinations for top Fortune companies. When added together these properties are the size of England. By attracting audiences from around the world, Virtual Tourism is a promising way to generate a new form of revenues for the U.S. Economy. For more information on Samy Montechristo, please go to virtualhollywood.TV

Virtual Celebrity Islands:

Virtual Celebrity Islands is an interactive 3D city emerging on the 3D internet. Its purpose is to give a global audience a new way to get up close and personal with their favorite stars, to offer celebrities a new form of creative expression and to create new jobs for the entertainment industry. To see a demo on Virtual Celebrity Islands please visit virtualhollywood.tv/videos/vci.wmv www.virtualcelebrityislands.com

Activeworlds

Since 1995 Activeworlds has been the ultimate pioneer in virtual 3D worlds and Avatar based social networking software. Having delivered virtual real estate the size of the American and European Continents combined, Activeworlds maintains its leadership in ultra light virtual 3D world software and design. For more information on Activeworlds, please go to activeworlds.com

Designers, computer artists and developers, here is what you’ve been waiting for: the highly anticipated Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 product family has finally been released. With more than 250 new product features, the Creative Suite 5 product line is power-packed. It features revamped versions of its leading arts, design, video and animation tools, plus two new web-design applications, Flash Catalyst and Flash Builder.

Adobe Mobile

The Adobe CS5 product family is powering the creation of content and applications for the release of Flash® Player 10.1 and Adobe AIR® 2, which are optimized for high performance on mobile screens and designed to take advantage of native device capabilities for a richer, more integrated user experience. Featuring integration with online content and digital marketing measurement and optimization capabilities for the first time, Creative Suite 5 products include access to signature Omniture® technologies, to capture, store and analyze information generated by websites and other sources.

Adobe Creative Suite 5 products also integrate with Adobe CS Live*, a set of five innovative online services that accelerate key aspects of the creative workflow and enable designers to focus on creating their best work (*CS Live services are complimentary for a limited time).

Master Five

The Creative Suite 5 line-up includes five new versions: Creative Suite 5 Master Collection, Creative Suite 5 Design Premium, Creative Suite 5 Web Premium, Creative Suite 5 Production Premium, Creative Suite 5 Design Standard, as well as 15 point products and associated technologies. Creative Suite now includes a brand-new component, Adobe Flash® Catalyst™, a professional interaction design tool that allows designers to rapidly create expressive Web application interfaces and design interaction without writing code.

“We’ve seen from early customer reaction that Creative Suite 5 continues to inspire the design and developer world by combining time-saving workflow and productivity features with astonishing new capabilities, such as Content-Aware Fill in Photoshop CS5, that really push the creative envelope,” said John Loiacono, senior vice president of Creative Solutions at Adobe. “Whatever the media, CS5 is ensuring that publishers and creatives can deliver stand-out work and build great businesses around their unique digital assets and content.”

Updated Creative Tools

Also available as part of the Creative Suite 5 product family, sold separately or in one of the five Creative Suite editions, are new versions of the Adobe Creative Suite tools, including Photoshop® CS5, Illustrator® CS5, InDesign® CS5, Flash Catalyst CS5, Flash CS5 Professional, Dreamweaver® CS5, Adobe® Premiere® Pro CS5, After Effects® CS5 and more.

Photoshop CS5

Photoshop adds new show-stopping tools with each version. And CS5 offers more a plethora of these. Digital artists, listen up, the Mixer brush tool will be your new best friend. It’s a new paint system with a ‘wet canvas’ method for picking up multiple colors on a single tip while mixing and blending them with the underlying hues on the canvas. CS5 also performs magic with the Content-Aware Fill tool.  It removes elements from an image and fills the space with matching lighting, tone, and noise.

Innovate in 3d

3D is the rage in film and design. With the extended version of Photoshop CS5, you go beyond traditional image editing by bringing 3D elements to your 2D artwork directly within your favorite digital imaging application, which now offers an easy on-ramp to 3D image creation. Here are some of the features:

3D extrusions with Adobe Repoussé new

Create stunning 3D logos and artwork from any text layer, selection, path, or layer mask with Adobe® Repoussé technology. Then twist, rotate, extrude, bevel, and inflate these designs to get the look you want.

Rich 3D materials library and picker new

Explore different looks for your 3D objects by applying materials like chrome and gemstones from a rich materials library. Select and apply materials using intuitive tools, and add to your library by downloading materials from the web.

Ability to wrap 2D data around 3D geometry

Use convenient presets to wrap 2D images around common 3D geometric shapes, such as cylinders and spheres.

3D mesh creation enhanced

Quickly generate 3D objects from grayscale depth maps.

Depth of field for 3D new

Experiment with different focus points in your 3D scene by previewing and adjusting the range for depth of field.

Easy shadow creation new

Enhance the realism of your 3D designs by generating shadows in a few clicks with the shadow catcher.

Image-based lighting new

Use HDR images or panoramas to light your 3D scene.

Better 3D performance and workflow enhanced

Take advantage of a new ray tracer for immediate progressive feedback on rendering states. And experience superior 3D performance with improved import, interaction speeds, and merging of 3D objects into a single scene.

OBJ file import enhanced

Import Object (OBJ) files up to 50% faster.

3D object painting

Paint directly on 3D models or their unwrapped textures. Edit your textures directly using all the power of Adobe Photoshop®, and even view UV overlays on flattened textures for guidance.

An example of what you can do with Extraordinary Painting Tool.

3D object and property editing enhanced

Edit, enhance, and manipulate 3D scenes in a streamlined interface without dialog boxes. Enjoy a single, easy-to-use panel that contains all your 3D controls for meshes, materials, and lights.

Volume rendering

Add depth to pixel layers, text, 2D shapes, and DICOM frames with volume rendering.

3D and 2D image compositing enhanced

Combine 3D layers into a single scene, or incorporate 3D content into 2D composites. Support for popular 3D formats lets you import and export Collada, OBJ, U3D, and KMZ models, as well as import 3DS models.

Navigating and moving 3D objects enhanced

Use the new 3D axis to position objects, cameras, lights, and meshes. Use bounding overlays to easily identify which material or mesh is targeted, and toggle these on or off along with the ground plane and lights.

3D animation

Create 3D animations by mapping object movement, camera position, render settings, and cross sections to keyframes in your timeline. Take this further by using video layers to animate your textures, and include image-based lights.

Integration with Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro and After Effects

Collaborate on 3D content easily through tight integration with Adobe Acrobat® 9 Pro Extended and After Effects®. Convert to the robust COLLADA interchange format, enhance models, and embed 3D models into PDF files for review. Use 3D layers from Photoshop Extended in After Effects projects.

Vanishing Point with 3D support

Edit in perspective on multiple surfaces — even those connected at angles other than 90 degrees — with Vanishing Point. Measure in perspective; wrap graphics, images, and text around multiple planes; and output planes as 3D models to use in After Effects projects.

Illustrator CS5

Illustrator also has new ‘wow’ factor tools. The new Perspective Grid tool lets you draw shapes and scenes in accurate 1-, 2-, and 3-point linear perspectives. The new Perspective Selection tool lets you move, scale, duplicate, and transform objects dynamically in perspective. You can also move and duplicate objects from one plane to another. The new Bristle Brush lets you paint with vectors and mimic real-world brush strokes. You can set brush characteristics like size, length, thickness, stiffness, shape, bristle density, and paint opacity.

InDesign CS5

InDesign CS5, among the all of the applications, has seen the most dramatic changes in efficiency and ease of use in laying out pages. Enabling you to quickly rotate frames now, the Selection tool,  using on-screen handles, is a time-saver. InDesign also now automatically installs packaged fonts when you open a packaged document.

David Burkett, vice president and general manager of Creative Solutions at Adobe, says of Illustrator CS5, “Whether you’re creating for print or digital media, Illustrator CS5 strikes the right balance of productivity enhancements and powerful new drawing and paint tools that allow you to deliver striking, high-impact designs.”

Flash Catalyst CS5

Imagine a world where you can have interactive Web content without writing code. Poof! Flash Catalyst’s CS5 is a new pro design tool that allows you to just that. The main focus is on the components used to create interactive content—the buttons, scroll bars, sliders, text fields, and checkboxes that let users interact with a product or service. With Flash Catalyst CS5, designers can add interactive Flash content to Web sites and applications by transforming Photoshop and Illustrator artwork or Fireworks files into functional content and user interfaces. It lets you build interactive designs using concepts like pages and states, resembling traditional print or Web design projects.

DreamWeaver CS5

Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 software offers a comprehensive integrated environment in which to design, develop, test, and deploy websites and applications of all flavors—spanning the gamut from the simplest, static HTML page to complete websites built upon complex dynamic application frameworks. Dreamweaver CS5 streamlines both front-end and back-end development tasks.

Unlimited Possibilities

The Creative Suite 5 products offer more than 250 new features that embrace interactivity, enhance performance and maximize the impact of creative content and digital marketing campaigns.

Design CS5 powers the transition to digital publishing with new interactive documents and enhanced electronic reader device support.

Image creation and editing get a boost with Truer Edge technology in Photoshop CS5, which offers better edge detecting technology and masking results in less time. Photoshop CS5 also includes the ability to remove an image element and immediately replace the missing pixels with Content-Aware Fill.

New stroke options allow Adobe Illustrator CS5 users to create strokes of variable widths and precisely adjust the width at any point along the stroke.

New Text Layout Framework in Flash Professional CS5 provides professional-level typography capabilities with functions like kerning, ligatures, tracking, leading, threaded text block and multiple columns.

In addition, Dreamweaver CS5 now supports popular content management systems Drupal, Joomla! and WordPress, allowing designers to get accurate views of dynamic Web content from within the product.

Native 64-bit Support

Performance improvements abound in the Creative Suite 5 product line with engineering breakthroughs, including native 64-bit support on both Mac and Windows® in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects, that allows users to work more fluidly on high-resolution projects. The much anticipated NVIDIA® GPU-accelerated Adobe Mercury Playback Engine allows Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 users to open projects faster, refine effects-rich HD sequences in real time and play back complex projects without rendering. The revolutionary timesaving Roto Brush tool in After Effects helps users isolate moving foreground elements in a fraction of the normal time.

Adobe CS Live Accelerates Creativity

Adobe Creative Suite 5 products integrate with Adobe CS Live*, a set of five online services that accelerate key aspects of the creative workflow and enable designers to focus on creating their best work. CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time and currently include: Adobe BrowserLab, Adobe CS Review, Acrobat.com, Adobe Story and SiteCatalyst® NetAverages™ from Omniture. Adobe CS Review enables online design reviews from directly in Creative Suite 5 applications, while Adobe BrowserLab is an indispensable tool for testing website content across different browsers and operating systems. NetAverages provides Web usage data that helps reduce the guesswork early in the creative process when designing for Web and mobile. Adobe Story is a collaborative scriptwriting tool that improves production and post-production workflows in CS5 Production Premium. Access to Acrobat.com services, such as Adobe ConnectNow Web conferencing, is also included to enhance discussion and information exchange with colleagues and clients around the globe.

Create and Deliver to More Mobile Platforms

Using Flash Professional CS5, designers and developers can create, test and deliver Web content across a wide range of mobile platforms and devices such as smartphones, tablets, netbooks and other consumer electronics. Users can look forward to deploying content in the browser with Flash Player 10.1 and as a standalone application with AIR 2.

Affordable Pricing

Adobe Creative Suite 5 products and its associated point products will be available through Adobe Authorized Resellers, Adobe Direct Sales and the Adobe Store at www.adobe.com/store.

Estimated price for the suites is $1899 for CS5 Design Premium, $1799 for CS5 Web Premium, $1699 for CS5 Production Premium, $1299 for CS5 Design Standard and $2599 for Master Collection CS5. Upgrade pricing, volume licensing and education discounts are available. Adobe CS5 products integrate with Adobe CS Live online services which are complimentary for a limited time. For more detailed information about features, OS support, upgrade policies, pricing and international versions please visit: www.adobe.com/go/creativesuite.

About Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe revolutionizes how the world engages with ideas and information – anytime, anywhere and through any medium.

For more information, visit www.adobe.com.

For user advice, click HERE for John Nack’s Adobe blog.

Techie enthusiasts and Taylor Swift fans get ready. Sony has released two new digital cameras and feature a commercial with Taylor Swift. The Sony Cyber-shot® Digital still cameras are their best invention yet. They are raising the bar with technologies that answer your on-the-go needs like HD video capability, panorama capabilities, easier sharing options and light correction features all packed into a thin camera that fits in your palm.

“My fans are on the cutting edge, and I’m very interested in the newest and best technologies out there,” said Swift.  “I’m super excited to be working with Sony and using the TX7 camera.  The iSweep panorama mode is amazing.”

Kelly Davis, director of the Digital Imaging business at Sony Electronics, explains the launching of the two new cameras, “Our goal is not only to make it easy for consumers to get the best shot—still or video—but also to have the best sharing experience.”

HD Video Capablity

Sony's TX7 Cyber-shot in red.

Sony’s two new innovative Cyber-shot cameras (models DSC-HX5V and DSC-TX7) are the world’s first compact digital still cameras to include full HD (1920 x 1080 60i) Advanced Video Codec High Definition (AVCHD) video capability. They are also the world’s smallest and thinnest AVCHD capable cameras.

Lighting Features

These are the first Cyber-shot cameras with an in-camera Backlight Correction High Dynamic Range (HDR) feature for managing difficult lighting situations and TransferJet™ wireless technology for sharing, storing and viewing images. The HX5V model is also the world’s first still camera to include GPS + Compass and Optical SteadyShot™ with Active Mode technologies.

With Sony’s “Exmor R” back illuminated CMOS sensor technology, these cameras provide excellent low-light performance, 10fps burst shooting and the new Intelligent Sweep Panorama™ feature.

The Intelligent Sweep Panorama feature is groundbreaking; Just press the button and move your camera from either direction and the Sony TX takes an amazing panoramic shot, that was impossible to get on a camera before this. Instead of taking individual shots and pasting them together in editing, the TX7 performs this seamlessly.

TransferJet Technology

In addition to its cameras, Sony introduced three other devices with TransferJet technology at CES, including a Sony Memory Stick® memory card (model MS-JX8G) with a wireless transmitter/receiver, a Sony TransferJet Station (model TJS-1) and a VAIO® F Series notebook.

“Adding to the outstanding low-light performance and impressive Sweep Panorama feature, we are providing high-quality movies with full HD video, stereo sound recording when capturing movies on the go and an in-camera HDR solution for capturing high-contrast scenery. Sony can provide these solutions because of its expertise with other imaging products including Handycam® camcorders and α DSLR cameras,” said Kelly Davis.

High-Quality Stills and Videos

Sony's TX7 Cyber-shot back view.

With the AVCHD format, these new cameras record movies in 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution at 60i in 17Mbps. The AVCHD format captures a high degree of detail and smooth movement, and when footage is burned to disc, it can be played back on your HDTV using most Blu-ray Disc™ players, Sony® PlayStation®3 systems and compatible Blu-ray Disc enabled PCs. In addition to the supplied PMB software for Windows users, it is also possible to edit recorded AVCHD file using iMovie® for Macintosh users. The camera will also capture videos in the MP4 format (up to 1440 x1080 30p 12Mbps) for online sharing.

Managing Difficult Lighting

The HX5V and TX7 cameras offer in-camera multi-shot High Dynamic Range (HDR), which combines highlight and shadow detail of two separate captures into one remarkably natural looking image—even without a tripod.

HDR offers a solution for strong backlight situations which typically result in either dark shadows in the foreground or a washed out background. Sony’s “Exmor R” sensor and BIONZ™ processor help to correct these issues.

Impressive Panoramas

The HX5V and TX7 cameras have an Intelligent Sweep Panorama™ feature that captures wide landscapes or tall buildings in one easy “press and sweep” motion. Due to their “Exmor R” CMOS sensor technology, they can take up to 270 and 258-degree panorama shots, respectively, horizontally or vertically with an image size of 7,152 x 1,080 (horizontal wide panorama mode). In addition, these cameras’ Intelligent Sweep Panorama feature, which is comprised of up to 100 separate captures, detects faces and subject motion and intelligently adjusts the width of each picture while stitching them together, resulting in natural looking panoramic photos.

Relive the Experience

Ideal for travelers who take hundreds of photos, the in-camera GPS + Compass feature on the HX5V camera makes it easy to store and share the location and direction of where photos were taken.

With social networking sites becoming more popular, people want to share more details of their experiences. The GPS + Compass feature provides a fun new way to share where they were — beyond the location. Using the free online satellite imagery application, Google Earth™ mapping service, users can view the images from a bird’s eye view or from the direction in which the photo was taken. The GPS function automatically adjusts the camera’s internal clock by selecting the traveling area, without the hassle of setting the time manually.

A Wireless Way of Sharing, Storing and Viewing

TransferJet technology, which was developed by Sony and is supported by a consortium of other companies, allows you to transfer files between two TransferJet-enabled devices just by bringing the TransferJet marks on each product within one inch of each other without the hassle of hunting for cables or the complication of pairing. To transfer photos, TransferJet-enabled still cameras must each utilize the TransferJet Memory Stick media (sold separately).

TransferJet technology is perfect for sharing on the go. You can select up to 10 pictures and transfer them from camera to camera. For storing images, you can place the HX5V or TX7 cameras on the lower left-hand corner of the VAIO F Series notebook and import photos. For sharing at home on devices which do not have the technology, you can connect the TransferJet Station to devices with a type-A USB port, including your TV, digital photo frame or PlayStation®3.

Designed for Technology Enthusiasts

With the most innovative digital imaging technologies, the HX5V camera is ideal for everyone from travelers to party-goers.  The multi-occasion camera features a 10 megapixel “Exmor R” sensor, a 3-inch LCD screen (measured diagonally) and a 10x optical zoom with wide-angle 25mm-250mm equivalent high-quality G lens allowing easy group shots and close ups when on the move.

In addition to its AVCHD video capability, the HX5V camera has Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization with Active Mode, which lets you capture moving subjects such as kids walking or running. It allows a moveable lens element to shift with greater range of motion—10 times the range of the Optical Steady Shot™ feature at wide end in standard mode—during camera shake. The feature reduces camera shake so users can shoot smoother movie footage on the move. The cameras also have an HDMI™ output adapter for easily connecting to an HDTV for viewing pictures and movies (HDMI cable required).

Powerful,  Stylish and Discreet

For those seeking a sleek, compact camera, the 10MP TX7 model is just under an inch thin and is slim enough to slip into a pocket or purse.  The 3.5-inch (measured diagonally) high resolution (921K) touch LCD screen offers easy image scroll by simply swiping your finger across the display. The camera’s high-performance Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® 4x optical wide angle 25mm-100mm equivalent zoom lens brings distant subjects closer and Close Focus snaps close-ups in just under a half an inch from the subject.

Party Shot Feature

The DSC-TX7 camera is also compatible with the Party-shot™ (model IPT-DS1) automatic photographer, which pans, tilts, zooms and adjusts composition to capture spontaneous images. Additionally, an embedded touch sensor located on the front edge illuminates when the TX7 camera is attached.  By touching the sensor, the camera goes into the “On-demand shot” mode, which allows users to select the shutter timing without losing the advantage of Party-shot’s built-in intelligence.

To give customers greater choice and enhance the overall customer experience, the TX7 and HX5V cameras feature a memory card slot compatible with both Memory Stick® (PRO Duo™) and SD/SDHC formats. Sony is also expanding its industry leading line of consumer media with the addition of SD/SDHC memory cards.

SteadyShot

Additional features found on HX5V and TX7 include iAuto, which detects eight and nine scenes, respectively, and optimizes camera settings and Easy Mode, which simplifies the camera menu. Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization reduces blur without impacting image quality, Face Detection and Smile Shutter™ technology, which captures faces and smiles naturally.

A New Way to Share

These models include Picture Motion Browser (“PMB”) software for viewing, editing, organizing and uploading images to many major video and photo sharing Web sites.

This spring, Sony will launch a new service and a new integration with Facebook® allowing users to easily and quickly share their photos and videos privately with friends and family. The service and the integration will be available as a downloadable update to the “PMB” and “PMB portable” software applications that are embedded with bloggie™ and Cyber-shot cameras and bundled with Handycam® camcorders, bloggie cameras, Cyber-Shot cameras and α cameras. The Facebook integration complements the existing sharing capability with such sites as YouTube™ and Picasa® Web Albums.

Where to Get Yours

The HX5V camera is available in black for about $350, and the TX7 camera is available in silver, blue and red for about $400. The TransferJet-enabled Memory Stick media is about $100, and the station is available for about $150. The cameras, Memory Stick, station, and a range of accessories will be available online at Sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores (www.Sonystyle.com/retail), at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.

Follow Sony Electronics online at www.sonyelectronicscommunity.com, www.facebook.com/SonyElectronics, www.Twitter.com/SonyElectronics, www.YouTube.com/SonyElectronics and www.Flickr.com/SonyElectronics.

More Than Guitar Heros

Although guitar stars often take the lead in modern popular music, rock & roll has always been a group activity, and Activision’s Band Hero aims to gets the whole crew into the act. As its title proclaims, the continuation of the genre-founding Guitar Hero series sets center stage for the whole band — drummers and vocalists as well as lead and bass guitarists — and is designed to let gamers play along with a diverse selection of contemporary and classic rock and pop songs, using their favorite instruments in their own style.

Fun Focus

To keep the focus on fun, Band Hero offers “No Fail” gameplay modes for instrumentalists, and a “Sing-Along” mode for karaoke-style parties, allowing players to open up and express themselves, without worrying about keeping up with progressions or scoring points. The game’s “Party Play” mode allows players to drop in and out of a song at will, as the music keeps playing.

Battle of the Bands

Hardcore console rockers looking for a challenge can still find it in the game’s more traditional modes of play. Bands can battle in “Rockfest” competitive modes such as “Elimination,” “Do or Die,” “Perfectionist,” and “Pro Face Off,” that can be played with up to four others on the same console, or as many as eight over an online connection. For veteran guitar heroes, the game is also compatible with previously available Guitar Hero content, with updates that allow players to perform any instrument part and take advantage of new Band Hero features with many of the earlier downloadable songs from the Guitar Hero: World Tour edition of the game. Also building upon the series’ World Tour release, the high-def console editions of Band Hero include a fully featured “GHTM Studio,” allowing players to remix with new samples, patterns, and playing styles.

Classics and Modern Hits

Taylor Swift in Band Hero

The console disc edition of Band Hero offers more than 65 popular songs. Top-selling country crossover star Taylor Swift with lots of animated blonde curly hair is prominently featured in the game, with the inclusion of three songs from her first two original albums, and the artist’s performances were motion-captured to bring her in-game persona realistically to life.

Guitarist and singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5 was motion-captured, as well, for his appearance in the game as a playable character.

Band Hero’s play-along soundtrack also includes timeless tracks such as David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” Devo’s “Whip It,” the Jackson 5′s “ABC,” “Mr. Roboto” from Styx, and original hit singles from a diverse selection of artists, including Aly and AJ, Cheap Trick, Fall Out Boy, the Go-Gos, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Roy Orbison, Tonic, the Village People, and many others.

Band Hero is available for the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and Wii consoles. It’s rated E10+.

Click HERE for more info and a current play list of Band Hero.

FreeAgent Desk

The easy-to-use software of FreeAgent Desk helps keep your information safe and private with automatic backup and encryption of your important files and folders. Saving files and space, its design allows you to either sit it vertically or horizontally on its side, giving you the most out of your work area.

Highlights

FreeAgent Desk conveniently stores and automatically backups all your photos, music, videos and documents in one place thanks to large storage capacities. With powerful software encryption technology, the Desk keeps files and folders private as well as safe and handy. You can sync material from the FreeAgent Desk drive to your other portable drives so that your files can be where you need them to. Experience fast data transfer with a USB 2.0 interface.

Not only does the Desk save backups of your most important files, it saves energy too. The eco-friendly device is also an environmentally smart utility that puts your drive in sleep mode once it has been idle for fifteen minutes.

Seagate FreeAgent Go for Mac

The FreeAgent Desk is only available in silver, but does come in four space capacities: 500 GB, 1 TB, 1.5 TB and 2 TB and you can enjoy peace of mind with a 5-year limited warranty from the worldwide leader in storage solutions.  It is available online at prices that range from $99.99 to $249.99 depending on the storage capacity.

FreeAgent Go

With Seagate’s FreeAgent Go, easily take your photos, music, videos, and documents everywhere. It’s the world’s first portable hard drive with a convenient desktop dock accessory. All you have to do is plug your drive into a FreeAgent dock whenever you want to access your files and there they will be.

Features

Take all your photos, music, videos and documents with you everywhere with Go, as it comes in large storage capacities of 250 GB, 320 GB, 500 GB, 640 GB, 750 GB, 880GB, and 1 TB. It helps you protect your data with automatic backup software in simple and easy steps.

Keep your most important files and folders private with software encryption technology. To ensure you’ll always have your most current versions, you can sync your documents by using the FreeAgent Go and experiencing the

Seagate FreeAgent Go Portable

fast data transfer of a USB 2.0 interface. And when not in use, an environmentally smart utility can power down your drive and save energy.

Enjoy peace of mind with a 5-year limited warranty from the world leader in storage solutions.

Complement your style and help yourself differentiate between multiple drives by choosing the FreeAgent Go in either, silver, black, blue, red, or others in the various storage capacities starting at $89.99.

Both the FreeAgent Desk and FreeAgent Go are available online at www.seagate.com.