Mississauga, Canada — Samsung Electronics Co., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced the latest addition to its range of Wi-Fi enabled SMART CAMERAs, the MV900F. Following the success of Samsung’s MV800, the MV900F also features Samsung’s innovative 180 degree Flip-out display, making it easy to capture and share your passions from any angle, at any time.

Incorporating Samsung’s Wi-Fi features with beauty-perfecting creative functions, it is ideal for creating a polished self-portrait. Making a beautiful capture possible even in low light conditions, the MV900F features a F2.5 bright lens and 16.3M pixels BSI CMOS sensor as well as a wider 25mm lens for fully framed images. This combination of design, creativity and connectivity ensures the MV900F shows everyone at their best.

“The MV900F is another example of Samsung’s dedication to creating products that allow users to express their personalities, with creative features that ensure every shot is worth sharing,” said Craig McLennan, Vice-President, Consumer Electronics at Samsung Canada. “The unique Flip-out display coupled with cutting-edge SMART CAMERA technology means the MV900F is the perfect social companion for pursuing your passions. Ideal for capturing stunning low-light images of nights on the town, it is also a pocket-stylist for creating and sharing fantastic profile pictures in an instant.”

Innovative features for easy group shots and full self-portraits

Adopting Samsung’s innovative 3.3inch, 180-degree Flip-out display the MV900F allows users to easily capture and frame images from any angle, whether you’re looking to shoot large groups of friends or full-body self-portraits.

Even when subjects aren’t ready for their close-up, the MV900F has a range of functions to easily create beautiful professional shots. A virtual make-up bag, Samsung’s new Beauty Palette feature allows users to choose from ten different make-up options to smooth, brighten and add color to their personal profile shots from the camera itself.

Additionally, to aid the capture of full-body self-portraits or group shots Samsung’s unique Gesture Shot utilizes motion-sensing technology so that users can control the camera remotely through gestures alone. To control the camera’s zoom functions users simply make a circular motion with their hand. When the shot is ready to be taken users move their hand up and down and the image is captured.

Designed for All Conditions

To make sure photos match the real memory of the moment, the MV900F guarantees superb image quality even in low-light situations. Featuring a 16.3M BSI CMOS sensor and brighter F2.5 lens, the MV900F ensures that images shot in dimly lit conditions retain detail without the bleaching effect of artificial light.  Working alongside these features, the Low Light Shot mode automatically selects the camera’s best setting for low light conditions. By taking three continuous shots and merging them together into one this feature creates an image free from the blurs and noise which can often accompany low light photography.

Additionally, for shots that ensure no one and nothing is left out of the picture, the MV900F features a wider 25mm and brighter F2.5 lens with x5 optical zoom making it the ideal companion for nights out or vacations.

Not only does the MV900F deliver in low-light settings, it is also designed for ease of use in the brightest sunlight. The MV900F’s upgraded display boasts a 3.3″ WVGA AMOLED touch display for seeing clearer images even in bright light.

Beautiful Capture, Instant Share

A new addition to Samsung’s SMART CAMERA range, the MV900F features the latest in Wi-Fi functionality, allowing instant connectivity with social networks and devices. At a touch of the SMART LINK button, or through the easily navigated touch screen it is easier than ever to instantly share and securely store pictures without the need for cables.

With a range of wireless functions users can transfer images to their phone with Mobile Link, easily save to cloud services or upload to social networks and email for instant sharing.

Create, Play and Share with Added Creative Options

Boasting 1920×1080 Full HD video recording at 30fps the MV900F creates movies that burst with life and demand to be shared. Combining the best of still photography with dynamic movies the Motion Photo feature cleverly brings subjects to life. Subjects can now become the centre of attention, as they appear to wave from a crowd or busy street whilst time stops around them.

Available in a range of three stylish colors, white, black and red the MV900F suits any style and is designed to turn heads wherever it goes.

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Los Angeles, U.S.A. — BUZZMEDIA one of the fastest growing digital media companies, has acquired SPIN Media, an iconic brand and pioneer in music journalism for more than 25 years—extending BUZZMEDIA’s commitment to providing the most insightful and authentic coverage of music and culture.

Under the terms of the deal, BUZZMEDIA gains SPIN.com, an industry-leading source of news and features; SPIN’s print magazine; the award-winning SPIN Play app for iPad; and SPIN’s established events business.

“As music consumption continues to grow, there is an enormous demand for deeper context and engagement with thousands of diverse artists,” said Tyler Goldman, CEO of BUZZMEDIA. “SPIN’s category-leading editorial and photographic content provides the added social context that the audience is seeking by identifying, exploring and documenting the trends and scenes that shape music culture. While content is now being consumed across numerous devices, the key for all platforms is the type of great storytelling that SPIN provides.”

SPIN complements BUZZMEDIA’s existing suite of leading music offerings—including Stereogum, Idolator, Hype Machine, Pure Volume, Brooklyn Vegan, AbsolutePunk, Buzznet, Concrete Loop, Gorilla vs. Bear, Pop Matters, Punk News, RCRD LBL, and the recently acquired XLR8R. From a reach standpoint, these properties establish BUZZMEDIA as the fourth largest digital publisher of original music content in the U.S., alongside MTV, Yahoo! Music and AOL Music, according to comScore*.

Adding SPIN builds on this reach and BUZZMEDIA’s unsurpassed coverage of music and the surrounding culture through its in-depth and thoughtful narrative on issues that matter to millennials (18-to 34-year-olds) globally. BUZZMEDIA will continue to invest in this vision by expanding the overall SPIN editorial team and coverage areas in connection with extending digital distribution, so that audiences can better experience, consume and participate in SPIN’s original content.

“As our audience has migrated to digital platforms, so too has SPIN, as evidenced by our growing audience of more than one million digital users and our award-winning iPad app,” said Alan Nichols, CEO of SPIN Media. “This deal greatly accelerates our digital transition, enabling us to not only tap into BUZZMEDIA’s digital audience of 120 million unique monthly visitors, but also its ability to foster original, authentic and insightful voices in a digital world.”

The SPIN acquisition is part of BUZZMEDIA’s ongoing efforts to provide the voices that define popular culture for millions of millennials. BUZZMEDIA is among the top-40 most trafficked online destinations in the U.S. according to comScore, and more than one in four millennials consume content fromBUZZMEDIA digital brands every month.

For more information about Buzz Media and Spin please visit www.buzz-media.com and www.spin.com

Image Courtesy of   BuzzMedia

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Carlsbad, U.S.A. – After a successful soft launch beginning in late 2011, Daphne’s California Greek have  launched a multi-platform, new music initiative to discover and foster new music talent through several distinct and complementary digital and social media channels. Daphne’s turned to Hollywood-based DeepMix, known for bringing cutting-edge music to mainstream advertising and corporate settings, to help curate artists and manage the overall program.

The music program, which also involves the development of a distinctive Daphne’s playlist, is integral to cultivating Daphne’s new brand and echoes Daphne’s re-envisioned culture after an ambitious, year-long rebranding effort that has transformed it into a more modern, lifestyle concept that appeals to a broader segment of active and health-oriented consumers.

“Daphne’s is an eclectic fusion of California and Mediterranean flavors and our music – our playlist – reflects that diversity and authenticity,” said Bill Trefethen, CEO, Daphne’s California Greek. “We want to become the place for great food but also to discover new music talent. And we want to provide a platform for these tremendous artists to share their music and their passion with a larger audience.”

Originally called Daphne’s Greek Cafe, the company was acquired in 2010 by entrepreneur Bill Trefethen, who immediately re-imagined the 56-unit, fast casual restaurant chain, which now offers more healthful California-inspired Mediterranean fare, a current remodeling program with interiors featuring a hip California vibe with a focus on re-purposed and sustained materials, and far-reaching grass roots community support program that aligns with the new music program.

Daphne’s music program is built around today’s new music discovery and tastemaker scene, showcasing an eclectic group of emerging artists who span various genres from alternative, rock, singer/songwriter and folk, giving them a multi-platform opportunity to reach new audiences on both local and global levels.

The initiative incorporates both in-restaurant and external elements, including in-house music and videos and an Artist of the Month program with free monthly downloads, special live concerts, and exclusive concert videos. Past Artists of the Month include: Mike Stocksdale, Donovan Frankenreiter, Kelley James, The Jezebels, Elan, Madi Diaz and Portugal.

“For Daphne’s, DeepMix assembled a mix of artists that convey the hip new California lifestyle feeling,” said Dave Curtin, managing director, DeepMix. “Our deep roots in the music industry including acting as artist managers, music producers, music supervisors and DJs will allow us to expand this program to add more interesting new artists and book great names to appear at intimate concerts sponsored for Daphne’s.”

Daphne’s also created a streaming radio channel on its website that’s “Always Free, Always On” and hosted by online radio platform Live365. A just-released, iPhone app will bring that soundtrack to a potentially enormous audience of listeners across the globe. Daphne’s also leverages its multiple social media channels to help spread the word about the new music.

Rounding out the program is a successful “Fuel the Artist” initiative, where Daphne’s caters the soundchecks of bands and musicians touring in Southern California, including Parachute, Kate Voegele, Allen Stone, The Jezebels, Portugal.

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comScore, a leader in measuring the digital world, on February 09, 2012 released the 2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus report. This annual report examines how the prevailing trends in social media, search, online video, digital advertising, mobile and e-commerce are defining the current marketplace and what these trends mean for the year ahead.

“2012 promises to be an exciting year for the digital media industry as the explosion of available content and proliferation of web-enabled devices drive the evolution of the digital consumer, creating new opportunities and challenges for the entire digital ecosystem,” said Linda Abraham, comScore CMO and EVP of Global Product Development. “In order to be successful in this new paradigm, digital marketers must understand the key trends shaping the current marketplace and what that means for the future of their businesses.”

Key insights from the 2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus include:

Facebook-Led Social Media Market is Redefining Communication in the Digital and Physical Worlds

• Social Networking accounted for 16.6 percent of all online minutes at the end of 2011 and is on track to surpass Portals as the most engaging online activity in 2012. Facebook continues to lead as the driving force behind this shift in consumer behavior, accounting for the largest share of online minutes across the entire web in 2011.

Bing Gains Ground in Search

• Although Google maintains a strong lead in the U.S. search market, one of the most notable stories in search in 2011 was Bing’s positive growth trajectory. Bing closed out the year by surpassing Yahoo! for the #2 position among core search engines for the first time in its history, bolstered in part by its social search partnership with Facebook implemented in early 2011.

Online Video Boom Signals Sea Change in Video Ecosystem

• Online video viewing witnessed impressive gains across a variety of measures in 2011, signaling a behavioral shift in how Americans are consuming video content. More than 100 million Americans watched online video content on an average day to close out 2011, representing a 43-percent increase versus year ago.

Digital Advertising Enters Era of Increased Accountability as Brand Dollars Continue to Shift Online

• A staggering 4.8 trillion display ad impressions were delivered across the U.S. web in 2011 as brand advertisers continued to shift dollars to the digital medium. This shift in ad dollars has magnified the need for greater transparency and accountability in ad delivery across the digital advertising ecosystem.

Smartphone and Tablets Fuel the Rise of the Digital Omnivore

• The rise of smartphones and tablets has drastically altered consumers’ digital media consumption. In 2011, the majority of all mobile phone owners consumed mobile media on their device, marking an important milestone in the evolution of mobile from primarily a communication device to also a content consumption tool. At the end of the year, more than 8 percent of all digital traffic was consumed beyond the ‘classic web’ via devices such as smartphones and tablets.

E-Commerce is Back and Better Than Ever

• Despite the backdrop of continued economic uncertainty, 2011 was a strong year for retail e-commerce. Throughout the year, growth rates versus the prior year remained in double-digits to significantly outpace growth at brick-and-mortar retail. Total U.S. retail and travel-related e-commerce reached $256 billion in 2011, up 12 percent from 2010.

Webinar – 2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus: Trends Every Marketer Needs to Know

Join Jeff Hackett, executive vice president of comScore Media Metrix, and Eli Goodman, comScore Media Evangelist, on Wednesday February 22nd at 2 PM EST, as they share key insights from the 2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus report and discuss what these trends mean for today’s marketers. For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.comscore.com/2012_Future_in_Focus_Webinar

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Just one year after its launch, JustFilms, the Ford Foundation’s documentary film fund, is providing major support to five independent films selected for competition and premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the world’s leading showcase for independent filmmaking.

Each of the five embodies JustFilms’ vision of the power of independent film to illuminate the world in which we live and inspire people to engage in pressing social challenges, from the untold story of bravery and activism that opened access to AIDS drugs in the United States to a poignant account of Detroit residents reimagining their city.

“We’re extremely pleased that five projects receiving major support from JustFilms have been selected to premiere at Sundance,” said Darren Walker, vice president of Ford’s Education, Creativity and Free Expression Program. “This is exactly what our initiative is all about– ensuring that talented filmmakers who are tackling tough social issues can break through to large new audiences in a timely way.”

JustFilms was launched one year ago, a day before the start of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. In its inaugural year, the initiative has made more than $10 million in grants to support more than 100 filmmakers and mediamakers around the world.

“We believe that Sundance is just the beginning of an opportunity for these filmmakers, and many others like them, to reach a new audience of engaged people who are hungry for stories about issues shaping our future,” added Walker.

JustFilms focuses on film, video and digital works that show courageous people confronting difficult issues and actively pursuing a more just, secure, and sustainable world. Through 2016, it will invest $10 million every year to support and expand the community of filmmakers and mediamakers around the world focused on creating documentaries with passion and purpose, but who often lack funding to realize their visions or reach audiences.

“While focusing on issues as diverse as human rights, poverty, cultural expression, and sustainable development, every project supported by JustFilms has one thing in common– the power of good storytelling,” said Orlando Bagwell, director of the JustFilms initiative at Ford. “These films make complex and often difficult issues accessible and entertaining, opening up whole new opportunities for audiences to engage on topics that may have once felt overwhelming or simply out of reach.”

With the explosion of digital media production over the past decade, there is far more film and video content available from which audiences can choose. However, it remains a challenge for most documentary filmmakers to find support– and audiences– for works that address social issues in meaningful and compelling ways. JustFilms seeks to support courageous filmmakers to complete their important works and to help them reach a growing audience of engaged and socially conscious viewers.

The Ford Foundation’s JustFilms initiative builds on the foundation’s longtime support for scores of documentaries, including such landmark productions as “Eyes on the Prize,” “State of Fear,” and “Why Democracy.” It also leverages the foundation’s global network of 10 regional offices to identify and lift new talent from around the world and to strengthen emerging communities of documentary filmmakers.

Ben Haslam / Haslam Photography / Shutterstock.com

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