Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/439826
C o n s u m e r E l e c t ro n i c s D a i l y N e ws 7 3 Fri d a y, J a n u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 5 JC: We design and manufacture advanced personal-scale energy prod- ucts that serve off-grid users around the world, including outdoor recre- ationalists as well as rural communi- ties in emerging markets. We launched in 2012 with the BioLite CampStove, a portable wood-burning stove that gen- erates electricity from the heat of the fire. We have launched five additional products to date. CEDN: 'Energy' can mean a lot of things – what's your take on it? JC: At BioLite, we try to look at a complete ecosystem of energy – we use it everyday, sometimes in ways we're not even aware of. Just take a look at your kitchen, it's a great exam- ple of a hub of energy. In that single room, you might be using forms of energy for cooking, refrigeration, lighting, communication, even enter- tainment. We want to take the energy you experience indoors that makes you feel safe, productive and connected, and bring it to an off-grid environment in an approachable, dependable way. CEDN: This is your first year at International CES ® – why come this year in particular? JC: I'm proud to announce that we are debuting a new line in a new category here at CES - The BioLite NanoGrid. The NanoGrid is our entry into the lighting and power category and expands how BioLite can play an important role in our consumers' ener- gy habits and experiences. CEDN: What's different about BioLite's approach to consumer light- ing? JC: Three things: design, functionality and origins. We have designed a prod- uct inspired by indoor lighting, but we BioLite ( Cont'd. from p. 1) take into account the unique needs of outdoor environments. We also includ- ed a USB powerbank within the core product, the PowerLight; we believe energy should not be trapped in a device. If you need that power to be shared with your phone, camera, GPS, you should be able to access it and direct where it goes. Lastly, a large portion of the research that went into this product was conducted in emerg- ing markets where innovative lighting solutions are paramount. Insights from these homes informed key elements of the NanoGrid such as the daisy-chain light system and the commitment to providing a warm but powerful light. CEDN: You mentioned emerging mar- kets – does BioLite work in that space? JC: It's the mission of our business. Half the planet cooks on smoky open fires, resulting in four million prema- ture deaths annually. Additionally, 2.5 billion people lack reliable access to electricity. These outdated energy sys- tems have a dramatic impact on health, climate and personal economics. At BioLite, we use the near term revenue generated by our outdoor recreation markets to invest in the long-term mar- ket building costs to incubate our tech- nologies in the communities that need them most. We call it Parallel Innovation. CEDN: Why should people visit BioLite at CES this year? JC: You'll be the first to see our new NanoGrid line. We'll also have our existing award-winning products on display. Eureka Park is a great way to discover what's really happening in emerging technologies, and we'll charge your phone! Visit BioLite at booth #75617. For more information, go to www .biolitestove.com or email sales@ biolitestove.com. SS: The Jump&Go Mini is a portable power solution that can jump start a variety of smaller 12 volt vehicles, including garden tractors, ATVs, motorcycles and four cylinder cars, trucks and boats. CEDN: What is the Jump&Go Maxx? SS: The Jump&Go Maxx is also a portable power solution that can jump start a wider variety of 12 volt vehicles, including garden tractors, ATVs, motorcycles and also larger V8 cars, trucks and boats, including dual battery systems like those found in heavy duty trucks like the Ford F350. CEDN: How are these new Jumpstarts different than the original Jump&Go? SS: The biggest differences are their physical size and capacity. All three Jump&Go's are still very small for con- venient storage, and with three differ- ent capacity sizes, there is a Jump&Go for every need. CEDN: How long will the new Jump&Go additions hold a charge? SS: Since all batteries will self-dis- charge over time, the length of time a battery will hold a charge varies, and depends on several factors like charge level when stored and storage tempera- ture. The Mini and Maxx will both hold a charge for an extended period of time; however, we recommend an occasional maintenance charge be done every three months when being stored for extended periods. This will ensure the Jump&Go is ready for use when needed. CEDN: The Jump&Go Mini and Maxx both offer back feed protection. What benefit does back feed provide? SS: Back feed protection prevents alternator voltage from charging the Jump&Go after the engine is started. CEDN: Can I use the Mini and/or Maxx to charge my devices? SS: Yes. Both the Mini and the Maxx have a 2.1 amp USB port to power phones, MP3 players, cameras and more. CEDN: What does mAh stand for? SS: Milliamp Hours (mAh). A unit for The Whistler G roup ( Cont'd. from p. 1) measuring electric power over time. mAh is commonly used to describe the total amount of energy charge that a battery will hold and how long a device will run before the battery needs recharging. Example: 1,000mAh bat- tery can provide 1,000mA for one hour, 500mA for two hours, or 250ma for four hours. CEDN: How many battery cells are in the Jump&Go Mini? SS: There are three internal cells con- nected in series, each having 1800mAh capacity. CEDN: How many battery cells are in the Jump&Go Maxx? SS: There are three internal cells con- nected in series, each having 4200mAh capacity. CEDN: How does adding batteries in series compare to adding batteries in parallel? SS: Adding batteries in series adds voltage, not current. Adding batteries in parallel adds current, not voltage. It's important to understand this when making comparisons to similar prod- ucts, since some products overstate the available capacity by incorrectly adding the capacity of each internal cell. A better way for comparison would be the expression of Watt hours CEDN: How are the Watt hours deter- mined? SS: Watt hours are determined by volt- age multiplied by current. Using the original Jump&Go as an example, each internal cell has 11.1v and 3000mAh. This means that 11.1v x 3,000mAh = 33.3Wh or 33,300mWh. CEDN: What are the Watt hours of energy in the Jump&Go Mini? SS: The Jump&Go Mini has 1800mAh capacity, or 20.0Wh. CEDN: What are the Watt hours of energy in the Jump&Go Maxx? SS: The Jump&Go Maxx has 4200mAh capacity, or 46.6Wh. Visit The Whistler Group at booth #4128. To learn more, visit www.whistler group.com. by Intelsat, 63 percent of those sur- veyed predicted that 4K UHD TV con- sumption will become mainstream within five to seven years. The adop- tion of 4K UHD TVs among technical and non-technical users will be driven by the creation and distribution of 4K content. In video-on-demand, Netflix ® was the first to offer Ultra HD stream- ing for their original series "House of Cards." The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) also announced its plans to develop an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc stan- dard effectively extending the life of traditional physical media. While the market for native 4K content begins to flourish, THX ® and its partners contin- ue to push for performance and tech- nology standards that ensure the full potential of 4K entertainment experi- ences – in the cinema and the home. HDMI ® has become the standard multimedia interface in home applica- tions. With the introduction of HDMI 2.0™ the organization is defining the medium through which 4K source and playback devices communicate. HDMI cable manufacturers are realizing that to properly support HDMI 2.0 and new high bandwidth content formats, their products must satisfy significantly more stringent performance require- ments. Analyzing current HDMI com- pliance standards and certified prod- ucts, THX observed a need for a more rigorous interconnect performance specification that guarantees an absolute zero effect on picture and sound characteristics within high bandwidth content. To satisfy this THX ( Cont'd. from p. 1) need, and guarantee a truthful delivery of the artist's vision, THX launched an interconnect certification program for cables designed to support future 4K media. The THX program was designed to test beyond HDMI ATC (Approved Testing Center) requirements, comple- menting the HDMI program with a specific focus on high performance applications. Only manufacturers reg- istered as HDMI adopters are eligible for THX certification and their prod- ucts will follow one of two THX test- ing tracks for either Active or Passive applications. Cables that satisfy THX performance requirements at 3 Gbps per channel will be certified as THX Level 3. Cables that satisfy require- ments at 6 Gbps per channel will be certified as THX Level 6. With the first THX Certified 4K interconnect cables being introduced by Kordz at CES ® 2015, THX is working to ensure that content creators, integrators and consumers feel confident in realizing the full impact of 4K entertainment expe- riences – as the artists intended. 2015 will be the year in which the hard work of CE manufacturers and content creators pays dividends. For the first time, the majority of consumers will experience the marvel and detail of 4K entertainment and wowed by its benefits, they will look to your brands to personalize the experi- ence. For more information, go to www.thx.com, call 415-492-3907, email mseveraid@thx.com or visit the Renaissance Hospitality Suites at CES 2015.