Monday, February 4,2008 @ 10:50pm
Briefly: Apple selling Polk, NWU student poll, more
In brief: Apple stores are now selling Polk Audio products, students at Northwestern University are using Facebook and the iPhone to perform a statistical analysis, and Tessera Technologies is in the process of acquiring FotoNation. Starting in March 2008, Apple's US retail outlets will sell the I-Sonic ES2 sound system, which features iTunes tagging for HD radio, allowing users to bookmark songs. Once songs are tagged, users can attach the iPod to their computer, and preview, buy, and download the tagged tracks.
Northwestern University graduate students are using the Mimieo social networking service to perform a study of which Superbowl ads were most appealing to users. After every quarter, the page compiled responses of how liked the ads were, and whether or not the advertisement influenced potential shopping decisions for viewers. Users could vote directly through the page, as well as through Facebook, and through an iPhone-specific web site. The graduates will compile and analyze the results, as well as publishing a detailed report of both winners and losers.
Tessera Technologies is buying embedded media specialist FotoNation for $29 million, as well as a bonus of $10 million to be paid out as milestones are achieved throughout the year. According to the deal, Tessera will gain access to FotoNation's technologies, such as face tracking, red-eye correction, smile and blink detection, and more. “FotoNation’s solutions are a perfect complement to Tessera’s image enhancement technologies and the combined strengths of our two companies will help drive the proliferation of digital still camera functionality in mobile camera devices, as well as open new channels such as digital still cameras for our product portfolio,” said Bruce McWilliams, CEO of Tessera