Basically, on one end you have 2 HDMI ports, 2 component video ports and a composite port. Video from all your set-top boxes go in there, from the 480p Wii to the 1080p PS3. You select inputs the way you'd select them in a switcher—at any given time, the thing is only streaming one signal, upconverted to whatever resolution you choose. If you have an audio system nearby, you can send audio out of it via optical cable or digital coax. The system keeps the audio that goes out in sync with the picture that's distributed all over, so there's no lip-out-of-sync issues.

The video (and optionally, audio) is encoded and transmitted to a receiver unit with HDMI and optical outputs, so it can be the only thing next to your TV or projector. The transmitter also has a coax output, and the receiver has a coax input, to receive the signal. (When you're transmitting UWB through your house, it apparently doesn't interfere with your cable-TV signal.)

That means users could stream HD video content with full 1080p resolution between their HDTV displays, Blu-ray, DVD players and/or set-top boxes within a room or between adjacent rooms and transmit A/V contents up to 330 feet over existing coaxial cables. Monster expects their new wireless HD products to hit the market by this October. Check out the press release for full details.

Press release:

Monster Teams with Sigma Designs to “Go Wireless” in HD Home Entertainment with Exciting New Wireless HDAV and UWB-over-Coax Combination Solution

New Monster® “Wireless Digital Express HD” for HDMI Cable Replacement System Offers Both In-Room and Room-to-Room A/V Signal Distribution

New York City – June 12, 2008 – Monster, the world’s leading manufacturer of audio and video connectivity solutions, and Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM), a leader in digital media processing system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for consumer electronics, today announced a collaboration to create advanced wireless solutions for HDMI™ home entertainment distribution.

The first fruit of the Monster/Sigma Designs partnership will be the new “Monster® Wireless Digital Express HD” system, which will use Sigma’s Wireless HDAV™ for High-Definition (HD) A/V cable replacement as well as its UWB-over-Coax technology to offer consumers an elegant “wireless and no new wires” combination solution for enjoying HD content throughout the home. In addition to letting users stream HD video content with full 1080p resolution between their HDTV displays, DVD players (including Blu-ray), and/or set-top boxes within a room (or to an adjacent room), Monster’s Wireless Digital Express HD system will allow room-to-room HD entertainment streaming, transmitting A/V contents up to 330 ft. over a home’s existing coaxial cables. Monster’s Wireless Digital Express HD line of products was officially announced at Digital Downtown 2008, a CES showcase running June 12-14 in New York City. Monster® Wireless Digital Express HD products are scheduled to reach the market by October 2008.

“After evaluating other wireless solutions for A/V cable replacement, we chose Sigma as a partner for our entry into the wireless distribution arena simply because the company’s solutions proved to be the most reliable and because they meet Monster’s strict quality parameters,” said Noel Lee, The Head Monster. “In addition, Sigma’s UWB allows us to continue offering our customers the quality service levels they’ve come to expect. Together, we are achieving a “virtual wireless” solution for the whole home by combining wireless for in-room HD content streaming and UWB-over-Coax for room-to-room streaming.”

Monster’s Wireless Digital Express HD is powered by Sigma’s Wireless HDAV™ which features Sigma’s UWB Windeo® chipset and its Intelligent Array Radio™ (IAR) technology. Sigma’s IAR technology incorporates three antennas to deliver the industry’s most reliable wireless link that is uninhibited by walls, objects or people, also referred to as non-line-of-sight activity. Sigma’s Wireless HDAV solution will ultimately enable Monster’s customers to mount their HDTVs on walls without the need for multiple HDMI and A/V cables spread throughout the room or hanging across the walls. Meanwhile, users will experience the same advanced high definition signal quality they have come to expect via traditional wires.

Sigma’s Wireless HDAV and UWB-over-Coax combination solution also powers the Monster Wireless Digital Express HD product with long range capability to cover the whole home with wireless connectivity that achieves mobility and flexibility for in-room video streaming. At the same time, the solution maintains the highest quality of service that is required for HD content that travels from room-to-room. Finally, Sigma’s UWB technology is based on the most preferred WiMedia™ Alliance standard supported by many of the world’s leading technology companies. The WiMedia standard-based architecture and interoperability enables economies of scale and rapid market adoption.

“We are excited that Monster has chosen Sigma’s wireless HDAV and “no new wires” UWB-over-Coax solutions to power the new Wireless Digital Express HD product,” said Hung Nguyen, vice president and general manager at Sigma’s Wireless Products Division. “Monster’s selection of Sigma’s UWB technology further validates that advanced wireless home connectivity is here now, ready for our home high def products. We are delighted to offer Monster customers a simple way to set up and experience broadband wireless connectivity between their home entertainment products, and once and for all eliminate the need for any new complex wiring.”

More about Monster Wireless Digital Express HD

Monster’s Wireless Digital Express HD product includes transmitter and receiver elements inside box equipment that encodes older video formats to 1080P HDMI, can upscale all inputs to 1080p format, and offers in-room and adjacent room wireless connectivity, and 330 ft. plus range of coax connectivity room-to-room. In addition, the product offers a fully integrated Infrared (IR) distribution solution as well as inputs for two HDMI ports, two component, one composite video/S-video with audio, coax digital, optical digital with outputs of coax digital, optical digital F-connector for coax, 3 IR emitters and a serial communication input. The input switching is IR controlled for advanced whole home control capability. The Wireless Digital Express HD can be software updated through its included USB port.

More about Sigma’s Wireless HDAV Solutions

Sigma’s Wireless HDAV streaming is a technology for transporting HD multimedia using standard-based encoding technologies over Ultrawideband (UWB) to replace high definition audio/video cables. Sigma enables developers of home networking systems to eliminate cables between a television and set-top box or High-Definition DVD player using wireless HDAV, the first technology solution to support both the H.264 format and UWB based on the WiMedia® standard. Wireless HDAV streams high-definition content from device to device at distances up to 330 feet.

Sigma’s wireless solution combines the Fujitsu H.264-compliant MB86H52CODEC with Sigma Designs’ SMP8634 Secure Media Processor decoder and UWB Windeo® chipset, the only UWB chipset that uses Intelligent Array Radio (IAR) technology. IAR ensures the highest reliability in wireless connections between devices and also delivers through-wall and range extension capabilities. Using the MB86H52 to compress raw video allows wireless HD video streaming without compromising visual quality.

Let's start with the acronym: GPS stands for global positioning system. Originally a DARPA-funded joint project of the Air Force and Navy, this satellite network tells ya where stuff is, like bombers and cruise missiles in decades past, or you as of mid-2000 when the government made GPS of decent accuracy available for civilian electronics. (It was available before then, but wasn't good enough for reliable turn-by-turn app.) The soul of GPS is the constellation of at least 24 satellites way out in orbit. Signals from four separate birds are usually needed for a standard GPS receiver to peg your position.

The GPS goods most people are familiar with are ones you mount in your car (though like we said, GPS will fit just about anywhere now) with the biggest players being Garmin, TomTom and Magellan. They used to be a lot more expensive, but now you can get basic namebrand models for not much more than $200, and cheap knock-offs for even less.

At a basic level, these all operate the same way, with variations in feature sets and UI: Your GPS receiver picks up signals from orbiting satellites and plots your position accordingly on pre-loaded maps. (The maps themselves typically come from one of just two companies, Navteq and Tele Atlas.) More recently, live traffic info (or something close to it) to avoid the Monday jam courtesy of an overturned 18-wheeler of pig lard has been the goal, with the pricey (but awesome) Dash Express delivering the up to the minute goods via GPRS cellular connection.

While GPS has gotten better in your car and on your wrist, the real excitement is its movements into cellphones and other gadgets such as cameras for location-based services (and maybe ads) and tricks like geo-tagging. Sprint's Instinct phone, for instance, makes a big a deal out of having real GPS while the iPhone has less accurate triangulation via cellphone towers, since being accurate to within several blocks isn't nearly as helpful as knowing where you are within a couple of meters. Friend finders and kid locators are options on pretty much every carrier.

As GPS modules get smaller and less power-hungry, you can expect GPS to keep showing up in ever smaller and crazier gadgets, since it'll be cheap and easy to cram it in. Manufacturers on everything from laptops to shoes are getting in on GPS mania, so even if you never owned a GPS device, odds are, you soon will.

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

Having the connectivity of both GPRS and Wi-Fi makes it instantly more useful than many products with static points-of-interest catalogs, no matter how many million are boasted. And the same networking that goes to the net to get data can be used in reverse: sending addresses and search criteria to the device from any computer takes a few seconds and no wires.

But it's not a clean victory for Dash—for all of the steps forward, the upstart misses some elements essential to any portable navigation device. Meanwhile, Garmin, Magellan and TomTom are racing with their own connected and crowd-sourced strategies. This is the opening salvo of what will eventually be a tough, possibly deadly battle. So far, however, Dash is in great shape.
What Dash Got
There are four compelling aspects to the Dash Express which are not found, as such, in other portable navigators on the market.

• Live real-time traffic - It's the biggest and most powerful of the four keys, mainly because of how badly GPS traffic reporting has sucked in the past. Dash builds a teamwork system not unlike the original Napster—you got data I want, I got data you want, and that central server will make sure the sharing happens in a fast and orderly manner. As you drive, you not only help others out, but you add useful data to the historical record, so that the plan for your own commute or Friday getaway could grow smarter. As we've said before, once each metro area is seeded with a few hundred Dash units, the traffic reporting becomes exponentially better. The funny thing is, what we've already seen, with just a handful of units on the road, was already better than anything to date thanks to the historical data which runs in 15 minute increments, and therefore knows the difference between weekends and rush hour. If you're wondering who is working on the traffic modeling, it's a couple of eggheaded PhDs in Traffic.

• Live search - Most navis have search features, but they only query a POI database of an average of 5 million or so. Dash only has 1 Million built-in points of interest, but its better 99% of the time. That's because it uses its GPRS cellular connection to ping Yahoo Local search for stuff, delivering better information in the exact same amount of time. You can save search terms you like as favorites, alongside addresses and, yes, standard POI categories. Oh, Yahoo local searches are returned by relevance, not sorted by proximity, but most things can be resorted and gas can even be resorted by price.

• MyDash web interface including Send2Car, GeoRSS and other features - With a quick browser plug-in, you can highlight any address and right-click, selecting the option "Send To Car." You can even highlight name and address, but for now you need to leave off the phone number. Within a second or two, the address pops up on the Dash, which could be at your side, or miles away. Blam found that entering addresses on the web interface was actually more effective than typing them on the Express, since the server can do a better job of fuzzy-matching the data you type. There are plug-ins to allow you to send any text to the Dash unit by right clicking text and selecting "Send to Car."

In MyDash, you can browse "saved searches" for dynamically updating data—a POI-like request ("CVS" or "Sushi") gives you a Yahoo Local search criteria that you can send to the Express. But you can also copy GeoRSS and KML feed URLs from around the net at sites like Yelp.com and Chowhound, containing more exotic and time-dependent stuff—"Nationwide Airport Delays" and "California Surf Report." For the most part, everything we tried worked, save a Craigslist RSS of Seattle real estate. (But GeoRSS feeds are kind of tricky to find in the wild.)

• Over-the-air updates - The Express uses any open Wi-Fi network it can to pull chunks of update down as you drive around. You can teach it your SSIDs and passwords for best Wi-Fi, but it's not necessary. Dash will deliver a few different kinds of update that we'll cover below; the important thing is to think about the last time you updated your Garmin or TomTom. Your answer is most likely "never." If you have, you probably paid a lot to do it. Dash of courses charges $10 to $13 per month subscription, but promises a constantly evolving platform in return.
-Traffic data will be updated monthly, using historical data from Dash drivers. That means that the first one will be a good 'un, as the first crop of users starts putting on the mileage.
-Big map updates will come every six months or so, about the same time Tele Atlas will release to other vendors.
-The first major software updates with bug fixes and new features (see below) will come this summer, and then every three months or so.
-MyDash servers can be updated on a weekly basis, so new web features could be appearing all the time—not that they will.

Here's a video that explains it all very well, even if it does paint it rosier than we found in real life. (That's the part we get into next.)

The Test
For our testing, Brian drove from SF to Tahoe and back with hours of city driving; I did a roundtrip from New York up to Boston. When you enter a destination, Dash looks at mileage, road speed and known traffic in planning the trip, devising up to three possible routes. In my case, it never did more than two suggested routes, and usually the first was obviously the best, but it was reassuring that it had backups in mind.

Traffic currently works with a combination of historic data and real-time data. A solid red, orange, yellow or green line means that either a Dash driver is currently on that road, or the historic data has proven so accurate it's as good as realtime fact. Broken lines, commonly seen in this pre-launch period, show shakier historic data, or data from supplier Inrix that Dash hasn't verified independently. Inrix doesn't provde data for local roads, though, only highways. Any data on local roads comes from Dash alone.

Blam says:

Getting across town during rush hour is challenging even for locals. Using Dash and trusting its copious historical information about what side streets would be empty and which would be crowded, I managed to get across town to pick up a friend and back to my place to meet another darting through side streets I'd never even known of despite living in SF almost eight years. I can't stress how useful it is to have all this data, typically the kind you see on Google Maps on highways only, in my car. Even though Dash didn't reroute me automatically (It only opts to reroute you on drastic changes in arrival time), it was easy enough to follow the green lines and avoid the reds. Over time, even more local roads will be filled in with colored squigglies.

Dash uses traffic data to calculate the original route, so it doesn't automatically re-route you just because you hit a patch of congestion. Instead, it waits until your trip has been slowed by unplanned traffic. Any trip that lasts one hour or less gets delayed five unexpected minutes, and the Express offers to re-check the routes to see if there's a better way.

At one point just outside of Boston, when I had to drive through the same congested intersection several times, it was fun to see how the intersection's condition changed from moment to moment. (Sadly, I think I was the source of the data, which meant that I was unable to benefit from it. A crowdsource of one ain't much of a crowd... or source.)

Again, what's cool is that traffic data in the boonies will soon be available as historical or live meshed data as people drive through it. The Dash servers are constantly recording (without identifying) patterns.

To get a better idea of what real-time traffic looks like, check out this video of changes to New York City's traffic yesterday from about 3pm to just after 6pm. Pick a road and note how things get stickier as rush hour approaches.
Blam and I both suffered some routing issues, however. Mine was a traditional problem—a bad bit of map data (Tele Atlas) telling me to turn left when I couldn't, and haven't been able to do for years.

This is an unexpected usage model of the Dash. Sitting with it indoors, on Wi-Fi, as it updates the traffic model. When the traffic dies down, you can road trip. But Blam's situation was a bit stickier...

I'd been eyeing my Dash GPS on my desk all day, using it to tell when the drive from SF to Tahoe to drop below the 3.5 hour mark. At 11pm, on a Thursday before Easter, it was time to go. I loaded up the car, drove 20 minutes to the Bay Bridge, and jammed into some 0 MPH road flow. The Dash had reported yellow and red, earlier, but I didn't believe it so late at night (my fault). Right then, the other GPS I was using for a benchmark, a Garmin Nuvi, suddenly lit up with traffic data that the bridge was closed and rerouted me. Dash, for all its IP connectivity, had no clue, and continued to have no clue as the police redirected me to an exit. I later found out that road closure data wouldn't be on Dash until a later software update. And without that data, the Dash merely assumed I was exiting the highway of my own accord. The rest of the Dash users behind me would have no idea of the closing, either.

Competing With Other PNDs
Overall, as a portable navigation device, it was fairly responsive. I'd put its user interface somewhere between a Garmin (on the high side) and a TomTom (slightly lower down)—not counting the extra dimension of a web interface, of course. But while driving around, the Dash would occasionally turn bush-league, pulling amateur mistakes like being slow to recalculate after a missed turn.

Some of our other troubles pointed out other standard PND features that the Express is still missing:
• Scheduled road closures generally make it into any device with some kind of connectivity, be it FM or MSN Direct.
• Other navigators can string together several destinations as waypoints, where the Express has only a one-track mind.
• When heading into a turn, other navigators tend to zoom in to show key details—some newer TomToms and Navigons even specifically point out the lane issues. The Express has none of that.
• When the GPRS connectivity dies, Dash says the Express has just 1 million catalogued points-of-interest (others have 4-12m, and man, did we feel the lack of POI when the connection went down). The rest, of course, come from connectivity. But if you're out in the middle of nowhere with no service, you get the most essential stuff (gas, hotel, hospital, airport) but you don't get as many listings for luxury or tourist spots (Blam's favorite ski resort) as other PNDs.
• When redrawing maps and calculating routes, all that traffic data causes big lagtimes in zooming and setting course. This also caused delays in rerouting after missing a turn.
• Many GPS devices like Garmin's Nuvi line have language and currency translators for travellers, MP3 playback (lame), Bluetooth dialing and speakerphone, FM transmitters.
• This thing is big. And the mount looks like a crane arm. It is giant.
• UI not as clear as a Garmin's.
• The volume goes to 11, and yes, it is as loud as 11/10 should be, although sometimes overdriven a bit (crackly).
• The voice sounds like speak and spell had a daughter with Borat. I mean, a GPS shouldn't pronounce avenue, "oovenue."

Promises and Teases
Dash may be taking our laundry list of basic stuff to heart, but it's also hinting at plenty more crazy, unheard-of features in the updates to come:

• Automated correction of maps based on car flow that either wasn't there before, or has suddenly stopped - "We don't do any of that now, but that's something we think about a lot."

• Learning routes from drivers - People who know great shortcuts can eventually be traced (anonymously), and their routes can be incorporated into the Dash's own routing algorithms. "That's super important for the future."

• Real-time traffic data appearing on MyDash website, and not just on the Dash Express screen - "We're big believers in that, not just on the device but when they're sitting at their desk."

• Third-party services - There's an API for outside developers, and there was talk of some of these hitting at launch, but soon users will be able to pick through new apps and send them to their Express. "We are working with companies. We can't tell you who but our goal in this area is to make this as easy as humanly possible." Zillow, that real estate program that can detail the price of almost any house, was demoed in the past, but will not ship on the device. Driving up to a house and pricing it is amazing:

The Dash isn't perfect today, but it is great, and will be incredibly powerful in the future. Even with fewer than 20 production units in the SF bay area during testing, the traffic's historical and even Dash user updates were extremely useful. Traffic performance today is potent thanks to the historical data and its 15 minute granularity, and will undoubtedly get better by the day as more users sign on (live data is actually minute to minute.) The connectivity with Yahoo! works to give you unlimited POIs as long as your GPRS connection is there. And although the community of shared custom searches will thicken out later, programming your own is not going to be easy for your mom, ever. Ultimately, there's a certain lack of polish compared to the big Garmin and TomTom devices, in terms of UI and odd features. But the new lower price helps take away some of the pain, even when considering the subscription price of $10-$13 a month.

After a combined 1000+ miles of driving with Dash in a week, Blam and I agree. Geek to geek, we'd say go ahead and buy with confidence based on the IP features and powerful traffic features alone. And know that this thing will only get better in the future.

(Congrats, Dash, on building a great first product. But don't forget to keep improving this thing for your early adopters.)

Dash Navigation Now Shipping First Two-Way Connected GPS Device Exclusively in Amazon.com's Electronics Store

Award-winning Dash Express Now Available for $399.99 to Amazon.com Customers

SUNNYVALE, Calif., and SEATTLE, Mar. 27, 2008 - Dash NavigationTM, Inc. and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), today announced that the highly anticipated Dash Express™, the first Internet-connected GPS device, is now shipping. Designed to deliver the most accurate traffic and destination information to consumers in their cars every day, the Dash Express is available for purchase immediately in Amazon.com's Electronics store at www.amazon.com/dash.

With two-way connectivity, Dash Express delivers traffic and destination information in exciting new ways, and offers a wide range of unique capabilities.

Key features include:

• TruTraffic™: Powered by the Dash Driver Network
Dash approaches traffic in an entirely different way - by collecting information from other people driving real commute routes, during real commute times. Each Dash Express anonymously and automatically sends its position and speed back to Dash's servers. The servers then update all of the other Dash devices in the area with current road speeds, providing the most up-to-date traffic information available. The larger the Dash Network grows, the better traffic information becomes. Even the first Dash devices in an area get great traffic data since Dash also receives traffic information from road sensors, commercial fleets and other sources through its partnership with Inrix, the premier traffic data provider in the U.S. Dash adds further value by using these initial cars to calibrate the sensor data. The Dash Driver Network provides coverage on nearly two million miles of U.S. roads, and offers the only source of traffic flow data for arterials in addition to highways. The Dash traffic model also tracks approximately ten times more road segments than any competitive products.

• Internet-connected: Live content in your car.
Unlike other GPS devices that can only access content from a static, pre-loaded database, Dash provides the most current, locally relevant information by using the power of the Internet, including Yahoo! Local search and other trusted websites. With a touch of a button, customers can find everything from the cheapest gas station (and sort by price) to the latest concerts, the best restaurants, the closest yoga studios, dog-friendly parks or even nearby apartments for rent.

• AutoUpdate: Advanced and always up to date.
With its exclusive AutoUpdate feature, Dash has the unique ability to update and improve the Dash Express without requiring customers to connect it to a computer. Dash can automatically and wirelessly update software, maps*, and historical traffic information.

• MyDash: Plan and personalize from your PC.
Using the Send2Car™ feature, customers can send any address from the Web or e-mail directly to their device in seconds. Customers can even use the MyDash website to find or create new search lists and categories, and send them right to the Dash Express.

"With more and more customers visiting Amazon to research and purchase GPS devices, our goal is to continue to offer a wide selection and exclusive access to the latest and greatest consumer technologies," said Paul Ryder, Vice President, Consumer Electronics at Amazon.com. "GPS is one of the fastest growing consumer electronics categories and we are pleased to be partnering with Dash to bring their next generation solution to our customers,"

"The synergy between Dash and Amazon make this a perfect pairing to bring this first-of-its-kind product to market," said Paul Lego, CEO of Dash Navigation. "Amazon understands and caters to our tech savvy target customers and Amazon's Electronics store is one of the first places they turn for product information and customer reviews. We can't wait to get the Dash Express into the market so that we can start providing great real-time information to consumers in their cars every day."

"Personal navigation devices have to transform into dynamic services that go beyond simple directions and provide daily relevance to consumers," said Thilo Koslowski, vice-president and automotive practice leader at Gartner. "Successful navigation offerings will leverage network-based and community-generated data insights to offer a complete navigation experience and to build the foundation for new innovative location-based services in the future."

Pricing and availability

The Dash Express is available at Amazon.com for $399.99 and qualifies for FREE Super Saver Shipping or free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime.* Dash Express comes with a FREE three-month trial period and monthly rates are available for as low as $9.99. As part of any service plan provided by Dash, customers get data usage, including all map and software updates, traffic information as part of the Dash Driver Network, access to Yahoo! Local search and unlimited access to MyDash. There are no extra cellular or WiFi charges—Dash takes care of it all.

More information about the Dash Express and Dash Navigation is available at www.dash.net.

* Some restrictions apply; see www.amazon.com for details.

About Dash Navigation, Inc.
Dash Navigation finds the smartest way for people to get from A to B, and find everything in between. The company is located in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, Skymoon Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, Artis Capital and ZenShin Capital Partners. For more information visit Dash Navigation at www.dash.net.

About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc., (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as books, movies, music & games, digital downloads, electronics & computers, home & garden, toys, kids & baby, grocery, apparel, shoes & jewelry, health & beauty, sports & outdoors, and tools, auto & industrial.
Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Examples of the services offered by Amazon Web Services are Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon SimpleDB, Amazon Simple Queue Service (Amazon SQS), Amazon Flexible Payments Service (Amazon FPS), and Amazon Mechanical Turk.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, and the Joyo Amazon websites at www.joyo.cn and www.amazon.cn.

As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to the expected timing and financial or other benefits of the Audible.com transaction, competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, significant amount of indebtedness, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and subsequent filings.

*Some extremely large map updates may require a USB connection

**Dash purchasers will receive one month free Dash Service at initial turn-on and two additional free months Dash Service after registering at www.mydash.net. The Dash Service is available for as little as $9.99 per month.

Note: Dash Product and Dash Service subscription sold separately. Other fees and taxes, including a one-time activation fee to reactivate a deactivated Dash Product, may apply. The Dash Service and fees are subject to change, at any time as set forth in the Dash Service Agreement available at www.dash.net.

1. Each Dash Express anonymously and automatically sends its position and speed back to the Dash servers

2. Dash also receives traffic info from road sensors, commercial fleets and other sources through our partnership with Inrix [shown in dotted colored lines]

3. Dash then calibrates these sources against "ground truth" provided by the Dash devices actually driving the roads every day [shown in solid colored lines]

4. Dash then sends out updates to all of the Dash devices in the area with current road speeds

For an averaged sized metropolitan area it takes just a few hundred units for the Dash Driver Network to provide live up-to-the-minute data for most major roads during commute hours.

When the device hits the market, all those lines will go solid—green or red depending on whatever kind of hellish commuter traffic you're in for. Dash can steer you around it maybe, but it lacks the guided surface-to-surface missileage to actually make the other commuters go away. [Dash via NaviGadget]

Apple Introduces New AirPort Express With 802.11n

All AirPort Base Stations Now Run Fastest Wireless Standard

CUPERTINO, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today updated its AirPort Express(R) mobile base station with 802.11n to deliver up to five times the performance and twice the range of the previous model*. Priced at just $99, AirPort Express is the world's smallest 802.11n-based mobile base station. It can be plugged directly into the wall for wireless Internet connectivity and USB printing at home or easily brought on the road for wireless freedom wherever there is an Internet connection. AirPort Express features AirTunes(TM), which works seamlessly with iTunes(R) to give users a simple and inexpensive way to wirelessly stream iTunes music from a PC or Mac(R) to any room in the house.

"Apple is leading the way with a broad range of innovative 802.11n base stations for almost any wireless networking need," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "From the small and portable AirPort Express, to AirPort Extreme for workgroups of up to 50 users and the new Time Capsule for automated backups, Apple customers now have more great ways to extend their wireless networks with 802.11n."

AirPort Express features a single-piece, compact design weighing just 6.7 ounces, providing maximum portability. AirPort Express offers both PC and Mac users the ability to share a single DSL or cable broadband connection with up to 10 simultaneous users. Users can also share a printer wirelessly that is connected to the USB port. Apple's AirPort Utility software provides easy step-by-step instructions for setting up and configuring AirPort Express; and with its advanced security features, AirPort Express safeguards data on networked computers with support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2),

128-bit WEP encryption and a built-in firewall. Apple now includes 802.11n as standard in its entire line of AirPort base stations and Mac notebooks as well as iMac(R), Apple TV(R) and Time Capsule(TM).

AirPort Express includes a built-in combination digital and analog audio connector allowing users to connect to a home stereo or powered speakers. iTunes automatically detects remote speakers and displays them in a simple pop-up list for the user to select. Once the remote speakers are selected, AirTunes wirelessly streams iTunes music from the computer to the AirPort Express base station. Multiple AirPort Express base stations can be set up around a home, each connected to a set of powered speakers for a whole-home music experience. AirPort Express can also extend the range of an existing AirPort Extreme(R) wireless network.

Pricing & Availability

AirPort Express is available immediately through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $99 (US).

*AirPort Express is based on an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. Actual performance will vary based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network and other factors.

CeBit 2008 - Village Tronic will show ViDock Gfx, an extraordinary graphics docking solution for portable computers. Hanover, March 4th 2008 - Village Tronic is proud to announce during the CeBit fair will that ViDock Gfx, the first product of a new family of graphics docking solutions for notebooks, will begin delivery early in Q2 this year. The ViDock family of graphics docking solutions is aimed at the professional user that wants to use a single portable computer both on the road and with a large display area made up of multiple screens in the office. ViDock Gfx allows IT managers and finance professionals to view large quantities of data across multiple screens. Creative professionals can take advantage of ViDock's powerful multi-display support to experience the final work on one screen while viewing edit commands on another. Home users and gamers can use ViDock to turn their notebook into a high performance graphics platform, with full HDTV support. ViDock Gfx takes advantage of the fast connection offered by ExpressCard technology, the latest standard from PCMCIA for notebook expansion, to deliver an uncompromised user experience in term of speed, responsiveness, 3D acceleration and resolution support. Combined with DVI Dual Link and Dual DVI video output, all the displays currently in the market can be supported, including the 30" ones at 2560x1600. The operating system compatibility ensures support for Windows Vista, Windows XP and Mac OS X. Aero accelerated user interface for Vista is supported. ViDock will be on the market bundled with the valuable software application "VTMultiDisplay" that improves the user experience when working with multiple screens. Village Tronic is an international, Multi-Display company and since 1996 is the world market leader for independent graphics cards for Motorola based Work Stations. In 2004 Village Tronic ignited the Multi-Display-Revolution for Notebook workstations with the introduction of VTBook for the Windows, Macintosh & Linux platforms. For further information about Village Tronic and its products, please visit the company's web site: http://www.villagetronic.com. EMail: press@villagetronic.com

[Village Tronic via Impress]

Jan 02, 2008 09:15

OpenMoko Extends Mobile Phone to Power Next-Generation Dash GPS

New Dash Express(TM) GPS: Personal Navigation Device Leverages OpenMoko's Open Device Platform
TAIPEI, Taiwan —(Business Wire)— Jan. 2, 2008 OpenMoko and parent company FIC today announced a partnership with Dash Navigation, Inc. revealing that the Dash Express, the first Internet-connected GPS device for the consumer market, runs on the Neo mobile hardware and software platform. The partnership with Dash to build the Express device marks OpenMoko's first foray into the GPS market, and represents commercial validation of the company's mobile platform vision. The Dash Express is now available for pre-order directly from Dash Navigation.

On the heels of the successful launch of the Neo 1973, the world's first totally open FOSS mobile platform, the innovative Dash Express breaks ground as the first consumer electronics device based on the OpenMoko GTA0X reference design. Dash Express features applications developed by Dash Navigation and uses the OpenMoko kernel and bootloader. The GPS hardware was jointly designed to Dash's specifications by OpenMoko and FIC Mobility, who will manufacture the device.

"We always saw the Neo 1973 as more than a mobile phone; it's the harbinger of the coming generation of open mobile devices aimed at the Web2.0 social networking market," said Sean Moss-Pultz, CEO of OpenMoko. "We knew if we could free the phone, others would springboard from that and build revolutionary products. Dash seized the opportunity, improved the Neo hardware and OpenMoko Linux platform, and built a revolutionary product that will disrupt the mobile GPS market."

Dash marks a new kind of ODM relationship that enables companies to more easily create consumer products based on open hardware specifications and GPL licensing. OpenMoko officials predict this will enable more derivations of the Neo platform to enter the commercial market.

"Dash's support of open standards allows consumers to get the content they want into their cars," said Rob Currie, president and COO, Dash Navigation. "OpenMoko and FIC are technology leaders that have been great partners for us, and they continue to be important contributors to the development of diverse and accessible consumer mobile applications."

The Dash Express is now available for pre-order at the company's website (http://www.dash.net). The device is priced at $599.99 and includes three free months of Dash Service(1). The Dash Express will begin shipping in mid-to-late February directly from http://www.dash.net followed by broader retail distribution in Q2 2008.

OpenMoko and Dash will be featured at the press-only innovator showcase during CES, Lunch @ Piero's. The next generation of the Neo hardware platform will be announced shortly.

About Dash

Dash Navigation connects people to the information that empowers them in their cars. The company's first product, the Dash Express(TM), is the first personal navigation system with two-way, Internet connectivity. It's the smartest way to get from A to B — and get information about everything in between. Dash is located in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, Skymoon Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, Artis Capital and ZenShin Capital Partners. For more information visit Dash Navigation at http://www.dash.net.

About FIC

Founded in 1980, First International Computer, Inc (FIC) is a world leader in the design and production of computer motherboards, graphics cards, PC systems, notebooks, mobile solutions, and other electronic devices. Publicly listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE 3701), FIC has a workforce of over 5000 employees spread amongst six supplier hubs, ten manufacturing/assembly sites and seven branch offices.

As an OEM/ODM supplier to many of the leading brands in North America, Asia, and Europe, FIC has established itself as a pioneer of innovative products, supplying engineering expertise, advanced R&D, and logistical services throughout the world.

For the latest information on FIC products and services visit http://www.fic.com.tw.

About OpenMoko

OpenMoko is the commercial and community driven effort with a mission to create an open platform that empowers developers and consumers to customize their mobile devices, much like a computer, in any way they see fit. OpenMoko is dedicated to helping innovators bring the freedom and flexibility of Web2.0 to consumer electronics and vertical market devices.

For the latest information on OpenMoko visit http://www.openmoko.com.

(1)Note: Dash Product and Dash Service subscription sold separately. Other fees and taxes, including a one-time activation fee to reactivate a deactivated Dash Product, may apply. The Dash Service and fees are subject to change, at any time as set forth in the Dash Service Agreement available at http://www.dash.net. Dash purchasers will receive one month free Dash Service at initial turn-on and two additional free months Dash Service after registering at http://www.mydash.net.

• MyDash web interface lets you plan routes, browse through geoRSS feeds of different recommended destinations, and create Yahoo! search criteria (sushi restaurants in Boulder, CO) that you can send to the Express navigator as a search button. MyDash also offers user-generated searches and lists as well as static POS. It will soon feature third-party navigational POI lists as well, all options that you can choose to put on your system—or not. The coolest thing is, you don't have to think about these different sources of data if you don't want to, instead relying on a system-wide meta search with a variety of results.

• Send2Car is a freakin' amazing plug-in for Firefox, IE, Safari and Outlook that lets you right-click an address and, yep, send it to the Express's routes list. On Macs, you can just send any text. Have a look:

• Traffic data from three separate databases: the traffic-information provider Inrix, used by other GPS navigators; the historical data from the Dash database, which even now is being gradually beefed up by beta testers all over the country; and your own personal Dash database, which learns your local bottlenecks as you drive. The Express combines the data to make three different suggested routes for you to consider, with different time projections based on time of day and conditions.

• AutoUpdate for now means that traffic and software are automatically updated, but during my chats with Dash I've learned that at some point after launch, this service will include map updates as well, from provider Tele Atlas.

The first three months of Dash service are free The service plans break down a lot like TiVo's: If you want to tack on 24 months up front, you pay around $240. If you want to go month-to-month, it's $13. And if you want to round out the service to a full year (adding 9 months of paid service) it's an extra $100—the option intended for gift givers.

Of course, if you do plan to buy the Express for someone as a gift, you can only show them the receipt at Christmastime, since this pre-order corresponds to a delivery time of mid to late February. [Dash]

Award-winning Dash Express Now Available for Pre-Order

New GPS Leverages Two-Way Connectivity to Provide Real-time Answers to Drivers' Questions in the Car

December 17, 2007

News Facts

Dash Navigation, Inc. today announced that the Dash Express, the first Internet-connected GPS device, is now available for pre-order at the company's website (http://www.dash.net).

The Dash Express will be priced at $599.99 and will include three free months of Dash Service*.

While the Dash Express functions as a great GPS device even without the Dash Service, to take full advantage of the unique set of connected features including real-time traffic information from the Dash Driver Network, Internet Search, Send2Car and AutoUpdates, a subscription is required.

Consumers will have several options for subscribing to the Dash Service:

2 year pre-pay plan: Effectively $9.99 per month

1 year pre-pay plan: Effectively $10.99 per month

Month-to-month plan: $12.99/month
The Dash Express will begin shipping in mid-to-late February directly from www.dash.net followed by broader retail distribution in Q2 2008.

Product Features

While any GPS device can provide directions to get you from point A to B, the always-connected Dash Express gives you the information you need every day.

Superior traffic with the Dash Driver Network™: Select your route based on up-to-the-minute traffic data that is automatically and anonymously tivexchanged via the most reliable source - other Dash devices.
The Dash Express gathers traffic information from the Dash Driver Network and combines it with other sources of traffic data to provide you with the most accurate picture of what's happening on the routes you're traveling.
Only Dash provides traffic information for both freeways and local roads and side streets.
The Dash Express provides up to three routing options to your destination that are based on flow rather than incident data, and it has the ability to automatically alert you when traffic conditions change and route you around traffic problems on your route.

Find virtually anything with Yahoo! Local search: Connect to Yahoo! Local search to find unlimited points of interest—people, places, products and services.
Two-way connectivity gives Dash Express the ability to use Yahoo! Local search and other Internet search sources.
Unlike other GPS devices that come loaded with a static database of points of interest, Dash gives you access to unlimited points of interest based on your specific needs, and delivers key detailed information (i.e. gas prices, movie times) to help you chose the right destination.

Send2Car™ means no typing required: Simply highlight an address from any Internet browser or Microsoft Outlook and send it directly to your car.
You can use Send2Car yourself, or have someone else send it to your Dash device when you're already on the road.

MyDash makes it even easier to personalize your Dash Express: The MyDash portal (http://my.dash.net) enables you to customize your Dash Express.
Create your own lists and feeds or, if you prefer, import the great content created by other members of the Dash Community.
Easily send customized search buttons (i.e. LA Yoga Studios, Best Red Sox Bars in Boston, Toddler Playgrounds in New York City) straight to your device so you always have access to the places you want to go.

AutoUpdate™ means your GPS is always up to date: Dash Express is the only GPS that automatically and wirelessly updates software and traffic using two-way connectivity. You'll always have the latest features as soon as Dash releases them.

Remember, the first four products are going for ridiculous prices, but because of this they are only available on a certain day, in a certain timeslot:

Panasonic 42" 1080p HD Plasma TV
Available on My WishList: November 30
WishList Price: $700 (Retail Price: $1,999)

Dell XPS M1330 Notebook
Available on My WishList: December 3
WishList Price: $900 (Retail Price: $2,079)

Xbox Elite Game System and Five Games
Available on My WishList: December 11
WishList Price: $300 (Retail Price: $649.99)

BMW K 1200 R Sport Motorcycle
Available on My WishList: December 4
WishList Price: $5,000 (Retail Price: $17,000)

The rest of the products below will apparently be on sale until supplies run out; some deals might look similar to Black Friday pricing, while others may be crazy low. Have a look:

Denon Soundbar
WishList Price: $743.99 (Retail Price: $1199.99)

TiVo HD DVR with Service and Wireless Adapter
WishList Price: $399 (Retail Price: $538.98)

Audiovox 8" Picture Frame
WishList Price: $108 (Retail Price: $159.99)

Olive Opus N 250GB Pure Audio Server
WishList Price: $700 (Retail Price: $1,499)

Canon HD Camcorder with 40GB HDD
WishList Price: $500 (Retail Price: $1,299.99)

Helio Ocean with 6 Months Service
WishList Price: $400 (Retail Price: $1,249)

Rock Band Special Edition for Xbox
WishList Price: $50 (Retail Price: $169.99)

Nintendo DS Lite with Two Games
WishList Price: $160 (Retail Price: $199.96)

Toshiba 10.2" Portable DVD Player
WishList Price: $230 (Retail Price: $349.99)

Ultrasone iCans iPod Headphones
WishList Price: $99 (Retail Price: $159)

iStorm Wireless Speakers for iPod
WishList Price: $140 (Retail Price: $199.99)

Sirius Stiletto 2
WishList Price: $279 (Retail Price: $399.99)

Magellan Maestro Portable GPS System
WishList Price: $390 (Retail Price: $599.99)

To see if you can master Amex's wicked little game, visit the official website. [Amex My WishList]

The big news is that the software will support AVCHD (on Intel-based Macs), so you don't have to worry about incompatibilities with that cute little Panasonic SD-cam on your Christmas list. You can also now mix standard-def DV and both HDV and AVCHD in the same timeline, and gain access to FxPlug effects. Express 4 supports 1080i and 720p resolutions, and has a simplified setup and is compatible with iMovie 08 at the project level: you just import the whole thing and go.

But speaking of iM '08, my guess is that Apple is re-positioning this as an upsell, not to enthusiasts, but to all the ordinary Mac users who find themselves in need of a video editor with actual effects and more powerful editing features. David Pogue was right about iMovie 08, but maybe Final Cut Express 4 is the solution.

Apple Releases Final Cut Express 4

New Final Cut Express Features AVCHD Support and iMovie '08 Integration

CUPERTINO, California—November 15, 2007—Apple® today released Final Cut® Express 4, a significant upgrade to its powerful video editing software based on Apple's award-winning Final Cut Pro 6, with a new low price of $199. Final Cut Express 4 adds support for the latest AVCHD cameras, allows mixing of standard and high definition content on a single timeline, includes the ability to import iMovie® '08 projects, and gives users access to hundreds of sophisticated FxPlug cinematic effects and filters.

"Almost a million digital filmmakers have made Final Cut their editing application of choice," said Rob Schoeben, Apple's vice president of Applications Product Marketing. "With the introduction of Final Cut Express 4, Apple makes it easy for anyone to join the rapidly growing community of Final Cut editors worldwide."

The new Open Format Timeline in Final Cut Express 4 allows users to mix and match DV, HDV and AVCHD material*, all in realtime using the same industry-leading editing and trimming tools found in Final Cut Pro. Supporting both 1080i and 720p HD resolutions, Final Cut Express 4 automatically performs the necessary scaling, cropping and frame rate adjustments. When starting projects from scratch, the new simplified setup automatically configures everything based on the first clip dropped on the Timeline.

Final Cut Express 4 makes it easy to import iMovie '08 projects and enhance them with advanced editing capabilities such as multiple layers of video and graphics, picture in picture effects and animated titles. It includes over 50 new FxPlug filters, including Soft Focus, Vignette and Light Rays, with hundreds more available from a rapidly expanding FxPlug developer community. With enhanced audio controls, users can automatically raise any clip to its maximum level without distortion using the new Soft Normalize and Gain controls. Final Cut Express 4 also features LiveType 2, which provides an intuitive environment for creating dynamic and fun animated titles and includes an extensive library of animated fonts, textures, templates and effects.

Pricing & Availability
Final Cut Express 4 is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Owners of previous versions of Final Cut Express can upgrade to Final Cut Express 4 for just $99 (US). Full system requirements and more information on Final Cut Express 4 can be found at www.apple.com/finalcutexpress.

*AVCHD is only supported on Intel-based Macs.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone.

The announcement follows Adobe's implementation of Premiere Express, their online video editor, and it signifies a fairly progressive market plan by Adobe. In a content creation culture where every teen is a video editor, the democratization of powerful multimedia tools online allows Adobe to reach out to this new generation without abandoning their industry professional bread and butter. And it makes us want to remind kids that we once edited a movie on a VCR (after walking 30 miles barefoot in the snow, aiming our kite for lightning to capture the electricity to do our work). [adobe]

As long as you're under the 90 days that their plan covers (which is everybody right now), just call 800-297-8019 and tell them that you're inquiring about the iPhone price drop. They should know what you're talking about, since they've been getting so many calls the past two days. The service representative we spoke to was extremely nice, only asking for some details like when you purchased the phone, whether you bought it at an Apple store, and how much you paid for it.

The rep said it wasn't usually covered under their plan, but since they love their customers so much, they're going to honor it this time. And that's why we love American Express. [Amex]

Image Credit

Who will win?

DESIGN
In terms of design, the two docks have a similar, simplistic HAL-knob design. The Express is tiny, like a sporty scooter that can hook to your TV through video out. The Amplifi is much bigger, heavier and...dare we say...meaner, but there are no extras other than standard audio input. So while the Amplifi is well-built (the knob clicks like a receiver, wooden construction is a bonus), this round easily goes to the Express since it's smaller and slightly more feature-driven.

AUDIO
For the budget audio showdown, I went through multiple genres, and multiple songs within each genre.

Griffin Amplifi
I still appreciate the low range of this system. It's not necessarily real bass, but it almost fools you into thinking it's there. Take your average bass line. It's strongly present, even if not necessarily completely honest in its represented range.

Highs are well-represented with a tendency to blend a bit, missing some of the higher instrument textures.

Logitech
If I could describe the experience in one word, it would be "tasteful." But the Logitech is easily a tier, or even two, below the Griffin. The Express has no mid to low range fullness, making the entire sound field narrower than the Amplifi's. Surprisingly, regular rock performs poorly compared with other genres of music, such as solo acoustic, if only because of the disappointing low response that frequently grows muddy. High frequencies are actually pretty decent, with budget considerations taken into account.

Every genre, from rock to classical, goes to the Amplifi. With the Grffin's product, even though I am still compromising on perfect audio, it's just so much more fulfilling to listen to than the Logitech AudioStation Express.

SO...

Who wins? This is a tough call—probably the toughest of the competition. Sure, the Griffin sounds better. But it's almost three times the size of the inconspicuous Express. And the Amplifi's price runs $50 more than the $80 Express, which is quite a bit on the budget system scale. It took some honest soul-searching, a dramatic walk on the beach and 3/4 of a Michael Bolton album accompanied by 4/4 of a bottle of wine. But I came to a difficult one-man consensus.

WINNER: GRIFFIN AMPLIFI
It's no frills, and it's big. But at $130, you won't find a better sounding dock. For those who are looking to save money and space, we still heartily recommend the AudioStation Express. But the extra $50 is well worth the improved sound.

Since its initial review, I've been a little infatuated with the AudioStation Express. So it's almost unfair for the well-crafted IM3 to enter the ring today.

While the IM3 may have clearer highs, it's tinny...and a bit tiny. The entire sound experience is more rounded on the Logitech while listening to Sufijan Stevens' Chicago, and the battle isn't even close. Because as far as I'm concerned, the IM3's sleeker form is canceled out by the AudioStation's video-out and still-diminutive size.

WINNER: Logitech AudioStation Express

The night of Logitech laptop goodies continues, with two very different stands. One, the Alto Express, is sleek and ergonomic, and looks a little, um, analog for the $50 it's going to cost when it ships next month. Thankfully those Swiss engineers