iLuv unveils new series of WorkStation accessories for the iPad 2

iLuv unveils new series of WorkStation accessories for the iPad 2 | Ubergizmo window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '139683546053659', status : true, // check login status cookie : true, // enable cookies to allow the server to access the session xfbml : true // parse XFBML }); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.src = document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js'; e.async = true; document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e); }()); Network:Ubergizmo English, French, SpanishUberphones Subscribe to RSS Ubergizmo ReviewsMobileGamingAndroidAppleComputersGadgetsConceptsPhoto/VideoEvents |  Jobs Home > Apple > iLuv unveils new series of WorkStation accessories for the iPad 2 iLuv unveils new series of WorkStation accessories for the iPad 2 Tyler Lee 09/27/2011 10:28 PDT

iLuv, a company that is well known for putting out iOS accessories has unveiled several new iPad 2 accessories, such as the iMM737 “The WorkStation” and the iLuv iMM517 WorkStation Pro, with the former sporting a wired keyboard and a posable mount, while the latter makes use of a Bluetooth keyboard and will feature a speaker dock as well.

The company is also introducing the iLuv iCK826/iSK912 Professional WorkStation Portfolio case, which as the name implies is a case for the iPad 2 but also comes with a detachable Bluetooth keyboard. Not just limited for the iPad 2, the case will also be available for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, with either keyboards sporting OS-specific related shortcut keys.

Last but not least, iLuv will also be introducing the iBTKB20 WorkStation Bluetooth Keyboard, which like the rest of the WorkStation series, will allow you to hook up your iPad 2 to it, with its Bluetooth keyboard featuring low-profile laptop-styled keys. The series of WorkStation devices is expected to range from $49.99 to $179.99 and are expected to go on sale next month, with the exception of the iMM737, which will be released in November.

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Sony launches series of headphones with micro sized drivers

Sony launches series of headphones with micro sized drivers | Ubergizmo window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '139683546053659', status : true, // check login status cookie : true, // enable cookies to allow the server to access the session xfbml : true // parse XFBML }); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.src = document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js'; e.async = true; document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e); }()); Network:Ubergizmo English, French, SpanishUberphones Subscribe to RSS Ubergizmo ReviewsMobileGamingAndroidAppleComputersGadgetsConceptsPhoto/VideoEvents |  Jobs Home > Audio > Sony launches series of headphones with micro sized drivers Sony launches series of headphones with micro sized drivers Tyler Lee 09/20/2011 06:14 PDT

Looking for a new pair of headphones? If so, Sony has launched a new series of headphones that appears to be cover a wide range of audiences, so whether you’re just looking for a casual pair of headphones or one for sports/exercise, it looks like Sony has you covered.

However, if there’s one thing that all these headphones have in common is that they feature Sony’s new BA drivers, which reportedly offer the same dynamic response as 13.5mm drivers, but come in a smaller package.

Starting with the XBA-1, XBA-2, XBA-3 and XBA-4, these headphones offer one (full range), two (full range plus a woofer), three (full range plus woofer and tweeter), and four (full range plus woofer, tweeter, and super woofer) BA driver units respectively. Not forgetting smartphone users on the iPhone, Sony has even created an “ip” version of the headphones which adds a remote control for music players and for handsfree talking.

Catering to those who work out a lot or require headphones for vigorous use, Sony has created the XBA-S65, which is a washable and waterproof set of headphones.

Sony’s XBA-BT75 is a wireless Bluetooth headset, and has designed it in such a way that the battery and control chip has been integrated into headphones’ housing, giving it an extremely compact shape.

For those on the lookout for noise-canceling headphones, Sony offers the XBA-NC85D in-ear digital noise canceling headphones, which is reportedly the smallest and lightest of such devices available on the market today. Sony is claiming battery life for active noise cancellation of up to 20 hours and overall ambient noise cancellation at 97.5 percent.

Unfortunately it appears that these series of headphones will be made available first in the Asian markets come this November, and there has been no word if Sony has plans to make them available in the US.

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Polk Audio launches UltraFit series of headphones

Polk Audio launches UltraFit series of headphones | Ubergizmo window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '139683546053659', status : true, // check login status cookie : true, // enable cookies to allow the server to access the session xfbml : true // parse XFBML }); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.src = document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js'; e.async = true; document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e); }()); Network:Ubergizmo English, French, SpanishUberphones Subscribe to RSS Ubergizmo ReviewsMobileGamingAndroidAppleComputersGadgetsConceptsPhoto/VideoEvents |  Jobs Home > Audio > Polk Audio launches UltraFit series of headphones Polk Audio launches UltraFit series of headphones Tyler Lee 09/14/2011 08:49 PDT

We all love to listen to music while we work out. It helps motivate us and pump us up, and it’s also a great way to pass the time while walking/running on the treadmill. Unfortunately due to the amount of sweat we produce during our workouts, going to the gym with a pair of regular, but expensive headphones is just asking for your headphones to see a shorter (and smellier) life as the sweat could get into the circuitry and damage it. Polk Audio announced back in June their UltraFit series of headphones, designed for those leading sporty and active lifestyles.

The good news for those who were on the lookout for a pair of sporty headphones is that they are now available in four different models. Starting with the UltraFit 500, these are a pair of in-ear headphones and will retail for $49.95. It comes with SecureFit, tangle free cables, Strainguard and a moisture shield. It will also come with three pairs of silicone tips.

The UltraFit 1000 in-ear headphones will retail for $69.95 and will feature a three button remote control and microphone. It too will come with a Strainguard and moisture shield and tangle free cables.

The UltraFit 2000 is a pair of on-ear headphones and will set you back $69.95. Essentially it is more or less similar to the UltraFit 1000, with the difference being that it is a pair of on-ear headphones and will come with a reflective wraparound headband which is great for those who run at night and need the reflective band so that cars will be able to spot you.

Last but not least is the UltraFit 3000 which retails for $99.95. These are the most expensive of the lot and supposedly will provide ultra-high performance digital sound. Instead of just one set of tangle free cables, the UltraFit 3000 will come with two tangle free cables.

They aren’t priced too expensive, and while we can’t speak for the quality of audio, they seem to be affordable enough for those who just need a pair of headphones for their workout. For more information head on down to Polk Audio’s website.

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The Sales Training Series - How to Develop a Strong Sales Culture

In every other business function (accounting, engineering, operations) there are documented processes, common cultures, and established vocabularies with terms that are clearly understood-everywhere except in sales.

It is a rare company that has a strong and distinct sales culture, complete with a common language for discussing, conducting, and improving the sales process. The few companies that have built such sales cultures are easy to recognize-they're a lot more successful.

Everyone who makes contact with customers should understand your sales language.

It isn't only salespeople who should be indoctrinated into your sales culture. Every time a customer contacts your company, that customer becomes more or less sold on your products. If your employees all know how your sales process works, they can be far more effective at influencing customers in your favor.

Here are some tips to help you begin building a common sales culture.

o Document the way your sales process works, and identify the important milestones in the process. What are the major steps that lead to a sale? Everyone in the organization who comes into contact with customers should know what the next logical step would be.

o Teach employees how to ask better questions-what Action Selling calls The Best Questions. This allows your people to do a better job of building rapport and identifying how best to proceed with particular customers.

o Teach employees how and when to make Positive Company Statements. Nobody should miss an opportunity to pass along good news about your company, whether it involves a new product, favorable financial performance, a joint venture, or whatever the case may be.

o Within the sales force itself, a common language is especially important. For instance, terms unique to Action Selling (such as Commitment Objective, TFBR, and Universal Stall Breaker) allow a sales team to communicate clearly and precisely about how to improve performance in specific areas of the sales process.

Develop a strong sales culture, based on a common language and built upon a well-defined sales process. You will create a powerful orchestra, with all the musicians playing from the same score for your customer audience.

In The Field:

When companies see the results of Action Selling on the performance of individual sales teams, they often decide to use the system as a catalyst for building or improving their entire "sales culture."

"Our goal in implementing Action Selling was to develop a common selling language for our 300-unit franchise network," says Terry Huber, director of training at Signs Now. "We wanted a solid sales standard that could drive sales productivity in the field."

Now Action Selling Sales Training is delivering results across the whole network. Roger Watkins, owner of the Signs Now franchise in Bloomington, Ind., sums it up this way: "Before starting my franchise, I was a police officer. Gaining commitment as a police officer was relatively easy. In sales, it's a different challenge. Action Selling has given me the ammunition I needed. I'm now ahead of my aggressive goal of 26 percent sales growth."

Similar performance changes are sited by other franchises. "At Signs Now," says Terry Huber, "we have adopted Action Selling as part of our culture with tremendous success."

Action Selling Sales Management Training gives Sales Executives all the tools needed to unlock the full potential of their salespeople and coaches. They'll have sales skills assessments and diagnostic tools to assess skills that need developing, online sales training and reinforcement tools to transfer learning into the field and certification tools to measure learning and insure accountability. Action Selling provides a strategic process to follow and a common selling language that enhances communication. With Action Selling, they'll get a complete selling and coaching process in one great program so that their salespeople will close more sales, reduce sell cycle time and build stronger customer relationships.

Duane Sparks is chairman and founder of The Sales Board, a Minneapolis-based sales training company that has trained and certified more than 350,000 salespeople in the system and skills of Action Selling.

In a 30-year career as a salesperson and sales manager, Duane has sold products ranging from office equipment to insurance. He was the top salesperson at every company he ever worked for. He developed Action Selling Sales Training while owner of one of the largest computer marketers in the United States. Even in the roaring computer business of the 1980's, his company grew six times faster than the industry norm, differentiating itself not by the products offered but by the way it sold them. Duane founded The Sales Board in 1990 to teach the skills of Action Selling to others.

Contact The Sales Board for more sales information or sales training that's been documented and research-proven to help you sell more! 1-800-232-3485

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Facing cutbacks, UC Press will suspend poetry series

Facing cutbacks, UC Press will suspend poetry series - latimes.comp.content-nav { margin:-15px 0px 0px 0px; }#commentsArchive { display: none; visibility: hidden; }#archiveShow, #fbShow { cursor:pointer; } body {background-color:#ffffff !important;}ul#root li.navLink a {padding-top:17px; padding-right:4px; padding-bottom:16px; padding-left: 5px;} Subscribe/Manage Account Place Ad LAT Store Jobs Cars Real Estate Rentals Classifieds Custom Publishing Books HOME LOCAL L.A. Now Politics Crime Education O.C. Westside Neighborhoods Environment Obituaries Findlocal U.S. Politics Now Top of the Ticket Science & Environment Obituaries Religion WORLD Afghanistan & Pakistan Africa Asia Europe Iran Iraq Latin America Mexico Under Siege Middle East Business Money & Co. Technology Personal Finance Small Business Company Town Jobs Real Estate Cars SPORTS Lakers Clippers Dodgers Angels NFL Ducks/Kings USC UCLA Soccer High Schools Scores/Stats ENTERTAINMENT Movies Television Music Celebrity Arts & Culture Company Town Calendar The Envelope Findlocal Health Booster Shots Fitness & Nutrition Medicine Behavior Healthcare Reform Hospitals Living Home Food Image Books Parenting Findlocal Magazine Reader Photos Summer Guide Travel California Hawaii Mexico Las Vegas Europe Asia Australia Travel & Deal Blog Opinion Editorials Op-Ed Letters Opinion L.A. Deals Save: Deals Go: Travel Eat: Food Wear: Apparel Live: Everyday Needs Play: Electronics Drive More Mobile Site Subscribe / Manage Account Print Ads Place an Ad LAT Store Jobs Cars Real Estate Rentals More Classifieds Weekly Ad#inTheNews {min-height:20px;} Advanced Search Advanced Search X include all of these words: include any of these words: include this exact phrase: exclude: Select a date range this week past 30 days past 3 months past year Create a custom date range From: To: Jacket CopyBooks, authors and all things bookish« Previous |Jacket Copy Home

Facing cutbacks, UC Press will suspend poetry seriesJuly 19, 2011 |  9:00am

With still to-be-determined state budget cuts looming, University of California Press has decided to suspend the publication of its poetry book series New California Poetry. The press expects to take a cut of about 10% in direct funding from the University of California.

It's not just the expected cuts that motivated the suspension of New California Poetry. Director Alison Mudditt, whose appointment was announced in December, told The Times that the shifting marketplace for books and publishing are of even greater concern. "The far bigger challenges are the structural ones to our industry and markets which (not unlike the newspaper industry!) require us to rethink and retool to remain a vibrant and relevant voice in the digital age," she wrote in an email. "I've only been here six months, and much of my focus has been on developing strategies to meet these challenges."

In November, shortly before Mudditt joined UC Press, it had a surprise hit with the 738-page "Autobiography of Mark Twain." Published 100 years after the classic American humorist's death, the book reached an unexpectedly wide audience, hitting national bestseller lists. Two subsequent books concluding Twain's autobiography will be published in the coming years.

But one bestseller -- and its sequels, with any luck -- cannot forge an entire press. UC Press is both large and largely academic. In addition to the poetry series, it currently maintains 15 to 20 other book series, and many of its books aren't included in those series at all. Many of the books it publishes each year are geared for specialized, scholarly audiences. 2010's titles included "Aristotle and Xenophon on Democracy and Oligarchy," "Essentials of Paleomagnetism," "Reproduction and Sexuality in Marine Fishes: Patterns and Processes," "Studying Global Pentecostalism: Theories and Methods," "Objects as History in Twentieth-Century German Art: Beckmann to Beuys" and "Sand: The Never-Ending Story."

The books in the "New California Poetry" series, Mudditt explains, frequently find a limited audience. "Most titles sell around 1,000 copies," she wrote, emphasizing that the series "requires substantial support."

“They have been wonderfully committed to poetry," Forrest Gander of Brown University told the Chronicle of Education's PageView blog. "They haven't been making money on the series, anyway. And they have allowed the editors to choose work based on the quality of the work and not on the potential for sales, which is a big deal." Gander has served as one of four editors on the series, which launched in 2000; it has published 33 titles by 25 poets.

The series has received plenty of acclaim, and sometimes critical attention has created momentum for a title. "Sleeping with the Dictionary" by Harryette Mullen won the National Book Award and sold about 15 times more than the average "New California Poetry" collection. 

UC Press will publish three titles in the series in 2012 and, though it is not currently reviewing manuscripts for 2013, it is working to secure the kind of funding it would take to relaunch the series in the future.

RELATED:

UC Press hires new director

Inside the next volume of Mark Twain's autobiography

Twain scholar Laura Trombley reviews "Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1"

-- Carolyn Kellogg

Image: "Transcendental Studies: A Trilogy" by Keith Waldrop, from UC Press' "New California Poetry" series, won the 2009 National Book Award for poetry. Credit: UC Press

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Science Fiction Literature Lecture Series Audio Book Review

There sure is a big difference in Science Fiction Literature or the modern label "Sci Fi" and you have to be careful when you tell people you like Science Fiction, as they are liable to label you a wacko. The Genre has certainly widened in the Twentieth Century and it has become very popular thanks to Hollywood making some of these classic novels into major movies.

Movies such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Gattaca, Logan's Run, 2001, and most recently the Blockbuster Matrix has done wonders in expanding the base of readers and fans of the genre. Of course to truly understand how all this came to be, perhaps it might be wise to understand the entire history. So, I'd like to recommend a very good Audio Book Lecture Series, which can be found on the NetLibrary System, easily accessible online once you have a library card to most major libraries;

"From Here to Infinity: An Exploration of Science Fiction Literature - Modern Scholar Lecture Series" by Drout, Michael D. C.; Publication: Prince Frederick, MD Recorded Books, 2006.

This audio book modern lecture series is 7 hours and 33 minutes long, and you might have to listen to it twice to really get acquainted with the history of Science Fiction. It explains all the authors, their styles, concepts, trilogies, series, and the sub genres, many of which are a little out there, not very politically correct and way outside the mainstream; such as Sci fi horror and fantasy.

Drout was very careful to give proper tribute and acknowledge the genius of the greats like Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series and the excellent and numerous works by Arthur C. Clarke and others. I hope you will enjoy this audio book as much as I have.

Lance Winslow enjoys community philanthropy - Lance Winslow likes small business. Lance Winslow has also been involved in the Oil Industry; http://www.oilchangeguys.com/aboutus.shtml/.

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Social Media Start-Up Kit Series Part One: Facebook

With 2011 approaching, I wanted to reach out to small business owners looking to ramp up social media efforts for the New Year. This is part one of a four part social media start-up package series. This series will particularly help you if you've a) heard about social media but don't know how it can benefit your business or b) have invested some time and money into social media, but haven't seen any results.

My goal is to help the small business owner, move from curiosity and exploration in the social media realm to results and value. In part one of this series, I am going to cover Facebook, but stay tuned parts two, three, and four on Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogging.

FACEBOOK

Why

For a small business, there are few excuses not to have a Facebook Page. Over 500 million people have Facebook and 250,000 more join each day. It helps small business build brand awareness. Facebook can provide your business with real time feedback. It's the fastest way to communicate with many customers at once. You can track the effectiveness of your Facebook efforts. And it's free to set up a Fan Page.

How to for Beginners (skip this section if your business already has a Facebook Fan Page)

If you're not on Facebook, you need to first create a personal profile. You can do that by going to Facebook and filling in your name, email, password, gender, birthday, and all of the other required information. It's good to add a picture too so that people identify you and "add you as a friend".

Once you've set up your profile, you can create a page for your business called a Fan Page. You can do so by clicking on "Ads and Pages" which can be found on the left hand side of your Facebook Home Page.

Then click "+Create Page". This will prompt you to create a "Community Page" or "Official Page". If you're a small business owner, click the "Local business" button under the "Official Page" section and enter the name of your business where it says "Page name:". Check the box that says you are the official representative of the page and click "Create Official Page". Finally, verify it's the official page by clicking "create page," and then, in less than five minutes you've created a Facebook Page for your business.

Then click on the "Info" tab near the top of the screen, and click "edit information." This will prompt you to enter your company's "basic info," "detailed info," and "contact info".

Once you've finished filling out that information, click on the box to the left that says "Write Something About (YOUR BUSINESS)". In this section write a good, short description of your business and provide a link to your website and any other relevant sites (blog, twitter, etc.). If you'd like to edit what you wrote, click the pencil button in the upper right corner.

I would then recommend posting a few status updates. Spread them out over a few days, and provide useful information such as good links to relevant articles. Also add company photos of your products, services, and team.

The purpose for doing this before reaching out to people to "like" your page is so that people get a feel for the type of content you will provide on the page. If you have a relatively blank Facebook Page, people may not click the "like" button when they are invited to join it.

Complete your Facebook Fan Page by following the next steps as prompted by Facebook. Add your logo to your profile by clicking "Upload an Image" and then "Browse." Finally, you can invite your friends on Facebook to "like" your page by clicking the button that says "suggest to friends" on the upper left hand side of your page, underneath the logo.

And there you have it. If you've completed these steps, you've got a solid page with a good amount of people that "like" the page.

How to Grow Your Reach for Intermediate/Advanced Facebook Users

For business owners that have a Facebook Page set up, here are some tips and applications that can help grow your reach:

1. Import contacts from your email list.

You can do so from your Facebook home page. Find the "Get Connected" section on the right hand side of your profile. Click on "Find Your Friends" underneath where it says "Who's On Facebook?" This will bring you to a "Find Friends" page where you are prompted to add your email service provider. If your domain is yourbusinessname.com and you use Microsoft Outlook, choose "other email service" and click on the small link that says "File Importer". Then click on "Find my Windows Contacts" when prompted, and click "run" or "allow" when the security message appears. This will bring up a list of all of your contacts in Outlook that you are not friends with on Facebook.

After you've added friends from your email provider, Facebook prompts you to invite other contacts you have that are not on Facebook to join Facebook. I wouldn't recommend inviting everyone because a lot of those will be email addresses of people that are not linked to their Facebook account. In other words, they probably have Facebook, but are using a different email address with the account. If you go through each name and find people that you aren't friends with on Facebook, type their name into Facebook and see if they come up. If they do, add them as a friend instead of bombarding them with email.

Keep in mind that adding these people as friends won't necessarily motivate them to "like" your Fan Page. After you've added your email contacts, go back to your Fan Page, click the "suggest to friends" option, and choose the people that you think would like to be your fans.

2. Create a welcome tab and other compelling visuals using Static FBML.

Standard Facebook Pages come with the "Wall," "Info," "Photos," "Reviews," and "Video" tabs automatically. These are good to start, but there are plenty of other applications that can help reach and engage people. One of the most pervasive applications that is useful for every business is Static FBML. This application creates a new tab for your Facebook Page where you can upload compelling graphics. One of the first graphics you should make is a welcome tab that encourages people on your page to click the "like" button. If you'd like step by step instructions on how to create a welcome tab and other graphics using Static FMBL, check out our previous post "How to Create a Facebook Tab with Static FBML".

3. Measure the quality of your posts with Facebook Analytics.

With Facebook Analytics, you can track the number of impressions per post, daily "likes" over time, monthly active users, daily comments, and other metrics right on Facebook. If you'd like to learn how to do so, check out my previous post "How to Measure the Effectiveness of Your Facebook Posts".

4. Put the Facebook Icon on Your Marketing Materials.

Place the Facebook logo on your homepage, email signature, newsletter, LinkedIn profile, business cards, and other print materials. Also include a call to action on each to "like" your page on Facebook for deals, tips, articles, photos, updates, etc.

5. Advertise on Facebook.

Facebook offers more targeted advertising than traditional outlets. Facebook enables you to target individual people of a specific location, age, gender, interest, education level, birthday, relationship status, workplace, and even connections of your friends. If your business has an advertising budget, consider investing in highly targeted Facebook ads, track your success, and use these highly effective tips http://blog.wildfireapp.com/2010/10/19/18-highly-effective-tips-to-grow-your-fans-via-facebook-ads/ to maximize results.

6. Download Roominate's The First Step to Social Media Success.

This will hone your value offering to your customers and help you determine useful content for your Facebook Page.

Go to http://www.roominatemarketing.com/ and fill out the form in the bottom left corner for this useful resource.

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