New York, U.S.A. – New York City commuters lose one-and-a-half days per year waiting for delayed trains and buses according to analysis and a new infographic from moovit, the free, crowd-sourced, real-time public transportation app which launches in New York this week. Commuters travelling into New York’s Penn Station from Staten Island are the most affected, with average delay time of up to 8.8 minutes, followed by Queens (7.4 minutes) and the Bronx (5.6 minutes) on their daily commutes. Brooklyn and Manhattan commuters suffer average delays of up to 3.5 and 3.2 minutes respectively. The new infographic detailing these findings and analysis can be seen on the moovit website.

According to moovit’s analysis of MTA data, the 2012 Straphangers State of the Subways Report Card and moovit’s proprietary data, the average annual time New Yorkers spend waiting for delayed public transportation amounts to a fifth of the total time they spend on public transportation each year (12.5 days).

Moovit will be launching in New York City this week on the iOS (Apple) and Android mobile platforms to enable commuters to claim back at least  15 hours of those one-and-a-half-days spent waiting for delayed buses and trains each year. The application uses real time data from individual commuters who have also installed the app to provide minute-by-minute information about train and bus speeds and locations, providing alternative routes in case of delays and enabling commuters to get to their destinations faster.

The free app will also let commuters share additional information about their commute, such as whether their bus or train is over-crowded and the reasons for their delays. moovit also provides commuters step-by-step guidance and alerts when it is time to get off at the next stop.

Since releasing its beta version earlier this year, moovit has amassed over 300,000 users. The app launched in the US in beta six weeks ago, adding 100,000 new users just last month across twenty cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, Madrid,  Rome, and Tel Aviv among others. Analysis of real-time commuter-sourced information from the app’s 300,000 users has shown that commuters using the app have on average been able to cut the amount of time they would otherwise spend waiting in delays by 43 percent.

Nir Erez, CEO, moovit commented, “New York is one of the world’s busiest cities with an equally convenient and complex public transportation system. Faced with a number of possible routes to work each morning and a backdrop of regular delays, the average New Yorker spends the equivalent of an entire weekend each year just waiting for their delayed bus or train to get to its destination.

Delays will always be an unwanted aspect of travel, but we are launching moovit in New York City to help commuters give each other real-time information on viable alternative travel options and help the fight to reclaim as much lost time commuting as possible. Essentially, we want to put the control of the New York City commute back in the hands of the commuter.”

Moovit is a free app available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Image Courtesy : Littleny / Shutterstock.com

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San Diego, U.S.A. — PacketVideo announced on December 12 that the company’s Twonky Beam product, a free app that lets users discover and transfer online video content from a  tablet or mobile device to a television with the touch of a button, now works with the Xbox 360 game console and Roku streaming players. With the addition of these popular products to the existing lineup of devices that support Twonky Beam, including Apple TV, AT&T U-verse, multiple models of connected televisions, and legacy DLNA devices, Twonky Beam now works with well over 90% of connected living room media devices.

Twonky Beam enables users to easily “beam” online and personal video content from a PC, Android or iOS device to the living room with the simple press of a button. Unlike proprietary solutions that only work within a closed environment, Twonky technology is an open solution that works across brands, operating systems and industry standards to bridge the gap between mobile devices and the living room.

“Twonky Beam offers the best of both worlds for today’s connected consumer. Tablet and mobile devices have become enormously popular for the discovery and consumption of video content, and that trend shows no sign of slowing down,” said Jerome Rota, Senior Vice President of Consumer Products and Services at Packet Video.

“We believe that the so-called ‘second screen’ will soon become the hub of the consumer media experience, but we also know that video content is best enjoyed in the living room on the big screen. With Twonky Beam, anyone can discover and access content on a tablet or smartphone and then seamlessly enjoy that content on the television through great products like the Xbox 360, Roku and Apple TV.”

Twonky Beam is part of Packet Video’s full suite of connected home products, which includes the flagship Twonky Server software. Twonky Beam is available as a free download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. For more information on Packet Video products and solutions, visit www.packetvideo.com

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New York, U.S.A. — Kids Discover, creator of award-winning reading products for children ages 6-12, announces a New interactive reading experience for kids available now for the iPad.

Kids Discover for iPad is compatible with all generations of the iPad, including the iPad mini, and features interactive 3D models, animations, HD video, audio, high-res photos, and fun activities that will engross kids (and parents) for hours.

“We’ve taken our core mission, which is to create a compelling learning experience for kids, and re-imagined it for the iPad,” says Ted Levine, Director of Digital Development at Kids Discover. “We recognized a need among parents and teachers for highly-interactive educational apps that can get kids excited about reading, so we developed a product that would take advantage of the tactile properties native to iPad while retaining a strong focus on reading and learning.”

To celebrate the launch, Kids Discover is making a complete issue — Galaxies — available for free in the Apple App Store. “We believe that experiencing a full issue is the best way to demonstrate the value of Kids Discover for iPad. Once kids and parents experience Kids Discover in this new format, we’re confident they will want more,” says Levine. “And, as with our print products, there are never any ads, keeping Kids Discover a protected space for children.”

Current titles include Antarctica, Washington, D.C. and Galaxies, while upcoming titles include Ancient China, Simple Machines, Extreme Weather, Lewis & Clark and Cells.

Kids Discover for iPad is available monthly and can be purchased by annual subscription for $19.99 or monthly for $1.99. In-app purchases can also be made for individual titles at $2.99.

For more information visit www.kidsdiscover.com

Image Courtesy : Courosa

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Los Angeles, U.S.A. — Alicia Keys and AK Worldwide have teamed up with Bento Box Interactive, to create a one-of-a-kind immersive storytelling app, entitled The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee. Centered on a touching story, the app encourages exploration through music, journaling, games, rewards and more. Underscored by Alicia Keys’ original music and inspired by Keys’ own relationship with her Nana, the app tells the story of a relationship between a young girl (LeeLee) in New York City and her wise and mystical grandmother (Mama Mae).

The app has been created to redefine the classic storytelling experience for children and parents utilizing interactivity and animation within innovative tactile features to engage them within the story and immerse them into the world beyond the pages of a book.  Combined with stylized art direction and beautiful animation, Mama Mae’s magical adventures from her journal provide empowering life lessons to LeeLee and drive the app’s unique interplay.

Co-produced by AK Worldwide and Bento Box Interactive, the new app is available for download from the Apple App Store for the iPad, iPhone and iTouch on October 25 for $3.99;  and shortly after on other devices and platforms. The characters and stories for the app were created by Alicia Keys, DJ Walton and Jessica Walton with the innovative App technology and platform developed by Bento Box Interactive and animation produced by the Bento Box team.

“I feel it’s so important to tell the story of Mama Mae and LeeLee through an app because this has the potential to really bring everybody together in an interesting way,” said Keys. “Mama Mae is a character that is partially born from the spirit of my Nana, who instilled in me all of the values that still guide my path to this day. As technology continues to advance, I feel it is so important to continue growing and fostering those indelible relationships as children tap into the digital landscape. The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee has the potential to enrich the way children, parents and grandparents participate in each other’s lives.”

“This is a very proud moment for all of us at Bento Box Interactive,” said Scott Greenberg, CEO Bento Box Interactive. “We are absolutely thrilled to collaborate with such a great storyteller in Alicia Keys and her amazing team. Alicia keenly understands technology and its great potential for engaging the iPad generation. Together, we’ve opened the door to a new kind of storytelling experience. With music, games, journaling, rewards, and so much more all in one app we are charting a course for the next generation of readers. We are incredibly excited to share The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee with the world.”

The first story in the app titled “Blue Moon,” challenges users with true-to-life obstacles which empower children to face their fears, break free from limitation, and open themselves to unearthing their love for adventure and discovery within. This first story is highlighted by the song, “Follow the Moon,” composed and produced by Keys.

Throughout the app and the series of story-packs, all music is produced and scored by Alicia Keys including the main theme song “Unlock Yourself,” which is composed and performed by Keys and serves as a central theme reminding children to be true to themselves and follow their dreams.

Additional story-packs, featuring the magical adventures within Mama Mae’s journal, will be released within the app’s bookshelf in the future on a regular basis. Each story-pack will also populate the interactive environment of LeeLee’s 3D animated bedroom with additional original content that encourages users to explore and “unlock” all the possibilities.

The pristine functionality of the app’s design allows for seamless transitions between the series of stories and the interactive world of LeeLee’s bedroom that enables the reader to immerse within the story’s experience. Through Mama Mae’s wisdom and the app’s compelling features, children can explore new worlds with the touch of their fingertips.

To access a trailer of the app, please visit the link: http://www.youtube.com/embed/IbNfdFhNZrY

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The Concussion Assessment and Response: Sport Version (CARE-Sport Version) is a new app from PAR that helps athletic trainers, team physicians, and other health care professionals assess and respond to a potential concussion—one of the most common yet serious medical situations for athletes at all levels.

From the instant a player is injured, the app guides users through a series of questions and activities that helps rule out a cervical spine injury, evaluate concussion signs and symptoms, and assess cranial nerve function. Designed for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android device or tablet, the app is now available for download from the Apple App Store or Android Marketplace.

The CARE-Sport Version app features:

• The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), which evaluates an athlete’s ability to maintain postural stability, providing important information about loss of balance in an injured athlete.
• The Sideline Assessment of Concussion (SAC), which assesses the mental status of the athlete—it addresses orientation, immediate memory, concentration, and memory recall.
• A Graded Symptom Checklist (GSC), which enables users to track the severity of post-concussion symptoms during the athlete’s recovery process.
• A Return-to-Play Guide, which helps protect athletes from further injury by guiding them through a gradual daily physical exercise routine that tests their tolerance for exertional activity.
• A Concussion Information Section, which helps ensure that users have a comprehensive understanding of concussions as well as the function of the CARE-Sport Version.
• The ACE Post-Concussion Home/School Instructions, an instructional page that users can share with non-medical personnel, including coaches, parents, and athletes, to guide early management of the athlete following a concussion.

PAR’s CARE-Sport Version app was developed by concussion experts Jason Mihalik, PhD, CAT, ATC, Assistant Professor at the Matthew A. Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and Gerard A. Gioia, PhD, Director of the Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC.

Image Courtesy of   sportgraphic / Shutterstock.com

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Microsoft has announced the release of their Windows phone 7.5 “Mango.” It will be released in September. This anticipated phone is set to include almost 500 new features.

A Feature of the phone makes it easier to stay in touch with friends and family, by integrating a new method of communication known as threads. With threads you can see if your friends are online on any social media platform.

These networks are intertwined in order to simplify conversations between friends. For example, if a friend starts up a conversation via Facebook and is no longer available on that particular site, then there are other services listed where that person can be contacted through, if they happen to be logged on elsewhere.

Multitasking is also very simple on the Mango phone. While running an application, the user simply holds the back button, and a screen displaying all the open apps springs up. He or she can then pan over to the open application of their choice.

Internet Explorer, quoted by the Corporate VP of Windows Phone, is said to be blazing fast, faster than the internet service provided on iPhone, Blackberry, and Android phone. Along with speedy internet, Windows included a new feature called Local Scout.

This feature tracks your location and makes suggestions of places to eat, activities nearby, shopping areas and highlights of areas that should not be missed. This feature will make searching for entertainment a lot easier for customers.

There are now more than 30,000 apps available in Microsoft’s App Hub but it still has a long ways to go to catch up to Apples App store with 420,000 Apps and Googles 250,000 Android Apps.

It was only about a year ago Microsoft launched their first version of the Windows phone 7. The phone received positive reviews but failed in the market after the release of several android phones and updates to the Apple iPhone. Microsoft has worked hard and has made many improvements to their smartphone in such little time.

International Data Corporation expects this phone to be a high competitor against Android and iPhones, predicting a market share of 20.9 percent by 2015.

pcruciatti / Shutterstock.com

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