Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/918277
Consumer Electronics Daily News 5 5 Thursday, January 11, 2018 try each one and rank their favorite based on overall functionality. Here are the results: 1. LoveHandle – The clear winner for function and comfort, LoveHandle passed the pocket-friendly test as the lowest-profile grip in the group. The thin profile also allowed it to operate with wireless charging, unlike some of its thicker and all metal competition. Reviewers liked its use of a softer elastic grip surface instead of hard plastic or metal, but promptly commented on how comfortable it is to securely hold the phone with just a fingertip. 2. Metal Rings – Coming in second place in the survey were the variety of swiveling metal rings that boast grip and stand functionality. While these rigid ver- sions did offer a reliable grip when worn as a ring on the user's finger, they did not score well in the comfort category. Some reviewers commented that the ring was somewhat uncomfortable and was not really a one-size-fits-all product. 3. Expanding Circles – These round expandable knobs are a current pop culture fad among young teens and LoveHandle (Cont'd. from p. 1) middle-school lunchrooms. However, reviewers said they lack the basic util- ity of offering a reliable and comfort- able grip for the phone. Large and bulky, many survey respondents com- plained that the knob would get hung on their pocket or purse when putting their phone away. On the comfort rank- ings, the popping circles scored low as well due to the way it is held precari- ously between your fingers and con- stantly requires an active grip to pre- vent phone drops. Young reviewers still gave high marks for the addictive fidget-like qualities of popping and collapsing these expanding grips just for fun, though. It doesn't seem like the smartphone is going anywhere in the near future, so all of these grip accessories will have a piece of a growing market. However, its quite likely that fads will give way to function as mature consumers have the opportunity to try each of the current available solutions and decide which one works best for their needs. For more information, visit www .lovehandle.com or email sales@ lovehandle.com. phones safely in their vehicles. In some states, it's illegal to hold your phone while you're driving. Most manufactur- ers of smartphone mounts have solely focused on function and features to sell their products in the market. The Lux line of smartphone holders not only works great, but looks great. It complements the sleek design of smart- phones and car interiors alike. Lux mounts are made with high quality zinc alloy materials, soft touch rubber accents with smartly designed acces- sories to complete the experience of Bracketron (Cont'd. from p. 1) using a Lux mount in your car or home. All mounts come with a dash and vent option to fit anyone's needs. Lux phone holders work with almost all smartphones, including popular models like iPhone X, 8, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Google Pixel 2. Keep your Lux, even when you're ready to upgrade your phone, making it truly universal. For more information, stop by booth #35232, South Hall 4, and ask about get- ting your free Lux gift. To learn more, visit www.bracketron.com or call 952.746.7775. much more. Its features include: an ABS plas- tic body; extendable trolley handle and wheels for easy transport; two 10" woofers with a 3" tweeter; 250 watts of power; frequency response 20Hz – 20kHz; 15V 6600mAh user replace- able lithium ion battery; up to 40 hours of battery time; Bluetooth con- nectivity with 33' range; 1/4" micro- phone input, 1/4" guitar input; RCA auxiliary input; USB input with built- in MP3 player; built-in recording function to record your jams onto USB; SD card reader; built-in FM radio w/external antenna; multi-col- Blaupunkt (Cont'd. from p. 1) ored LED lights flash to the beat of the music; separate level controls for Master, Mic, & Line-In; includes wireless VHF dynamic microphone and wireless remote control. On www.back-in-usa.com you can regis- ter for a VIP meeting with the Blaupunkt licensing specialists, audio-sales or car audio sales. Everybody registering for a Blaupunkt meeting is eligible for a free VIP Pick Up Service with the Blaupunkt shuttle. See the Blaupunkt Audio and Accessories Portfolio in the Worldwide Accessories booth and the Blaupunkt Lounge in South Hall 3, Upper Level, booth #30742. video interfaces across platforms, and to enable greater opportunities for branded content. A key new feature, Remote Assets, allows developers to configure applications to retrieve all UX elements, including layout, styling and motion, dynamically from a server. Designers can export screen updates through the You.i Engine One After Effects Workflow and deploy changes to market without recer- tification. This provides brand leaders with the speed and flexibility required to deploy custom redesigns, branded moments or sponsorships consistently across all screens. In addition, source-code for flexible cross-platform app accelerators, contain- ing pre-built user flows and UX tem- plates to support SVOD, AVOD and TVE business models are readily available. Developers will now have full access to the following features: Improved flexibility for native plat- form and web user interface integrations on mobile devices. Developers can now use native platform user interface con- trols within You.i Engine One interfaces and apply decorations to augment embedded webviews, providing end users with a natural experience for embedded native widgets, such as Twitter, or web based content. The most commonly used user inter- face components have been improved to give application designers and develop- ers greater flexibility and control over app elements, including animations, focus and data modelling. A redesigned cross-platform build system that simplifies the management You.i (Cont'd. from p. 1) and inclusion of dependencies, and pro- vides developers with additional flexibil- ity to automate application pipelines and introduce more testing. Improved custom debugging tools for rendering performance, focus and layout. C++ 11 compatible libraries, giving developers more flexibility around the kinds of technologies they want to include in their application, and greater design options. "The product enhancements announced today are a direct result of intense collaboration with our customers around a shared vision of the video land- scape," says Jason Flick, Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder of You.i TV. "We're thrilled to help lay the ground- work for both app experience and busi- ness model innovation at pace." About You.i TV You.i TV is a privately held company whose You.i Engine One software plat- form enables TV and media companies worldwide to create fans, engage users and convert customers. You.i Engine One allows brand owners to build per- sonalized, profitable experiences quickly on all platforms – mobile devices, set-top boxes, game consoles and streaming devices – from a single code base. Brands such as Turner, Disney, Fox, National Geographic, NBA, Cartoon Network and the Canadian Football League are spear- heading direct-to-consumer and OTT strategies using You.i Engine One- powered TV applications. You.i Engine One has been licensed in major indus- try genres, including entertainment, kids, sports and news. The Self-Cleaning Robot for Cats Now Has App AutoPets™ is excited to announce the launch of the Connect app for the Litter-Robot automatic, self-cleaning litter box. The new Connect app gives users additional freedom from their lit- ter box duties by allowing them to remotely monitor and control a single Litter-Robot or multiple units. The app is compatible with the new, WiFi-enabled Litter-Robot III Open Air with Connect. "We are so excited for this launch; not only are we fulfilling a customer wish, we are also catapulting the Litter-Robot into the IoT space," states Brad Baxter, President and inventor of the Litter- Robot. "By bringing together the Litter- Robot with the newest technology, we're giving pet parents a way to solve a problem and manage the solution." "A key part of our product design process is to think about how we can continue to improve the lives of our customers," says Jacob Zuppke, Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "We've taken an already-smart product and made it even smarter." A key feature of the Connect app is the waste level gauge, an animated gauge that displays the real-time waste level. The gauge uses AutoPets' pro- prietary machine learning algorithm to refine its cycles-until-full estimate and increase accuracy over time. The app will also alert the user through a push notification when it's time to empty the Litter-Robot. "No one likes to deal with the litter box, automated or not. It's typically located out-of- sight and, unfortunately, out-of-mind," says David Saterstad, Director of Marketing. "Now, with the Litter-Robot and Connect app, you don't have to scoop the litter box and you don't have to check on it to know when it needs your attention; it will tell you." The app also gives the user full remote control. Through an easy-to-use interface, users can change feature settings, see notification history, view usage stats and get troubleshoot- ing support. The Stats feature displays unprecedented data about the cat's litter box habits, so owners can gain insight into their cat's health. About AutoPets Established in 1999 and based in Auburn Hills, M i c h i g a n , AutoPets is dedi- cated to the design and manufacture of highly functional, easy-to-use prod- ucts with a modern aesthetic, that make caring for your pet more e n j o y a b l e . AutoPets under- stands that pets are more than just ani- mals, they are parts of our lives and members of the family. The company takes a fresh-eyes, open-minded approach to everything it does. AutoPets is pet care, reimagined. For more information, visit www.litter- robot.com or go to the Smart Home sec- tion at Tech East, booth #42935 in Halls A-D at the Sands.