SMS Audio headphones powered by Intel will track fitness

Intel has partnered with SMS Audio, an audio headphone and accessories brand from Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, to produce a personal audio system that combines technology and fitness called the SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear Headphones powered by Intel.

The new headphones will be part of the recently-launched SMS Audio Sport Collection and are designed to deliver high-quality audio while gathering actionable data on fitness progress.

"With SMS Audio, we will bring smart headphones to market that eliminate the inconvenience of add-on devices with an integrated, one-device fitness accessory offering high-end style and premier sound quality for an exceptional fitness experience. This is a prime example of Intel driving innovation in wearable devices while being a forerunner in merging lifestyle and technology," said Michael Bell, Corporate VP and GM of the New Devices Group at Intel.

The SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear Headphones powered by Intel will integrate biometric sensors in a custom heart rate monitor in-ear headphone to collect fitness data. A built-in optical sensor that continuously measures heart rate during intense exercise, states of relaxation and every moment in between - while dynamically removing noise signals caused by body motion and ambient light.

Source: Intel.

To help track heart rate, pace, distance, elevation and calorie burn, the SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear Headphones will be compatible with mainstream fitness app RunKeeper, with additional application support planned in the future. The earphones will also be IPX4 rated for protection against sweat and resistance to water. A patented ear-hook design ensures a comfortable fit while an energy-harvesting audio jack removes the need for extra batteries or chargers.

The SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear Headphones will be available at SMSAudio.com in Q4 2014. Specific pricing will be announced later this year.

Tsukaeru.net upgrades cloud computing services

Source: Tsukaeru.net website.

Tsukaeru.net, a fast growing, full-service hosting firm in Japan and a major player in the rental server industry that is known for offering services at affordable prices, has partnered with Parallels to update its Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) business offering in Japan, providing affordable, flexible and secure cloud computing to customers.

Parallels Automation for Cloud Infrastructure enables Tsukaeru.net to move its customers easily and cost-effectively to the cloud. These services include virtualisation, automated operations and billing, customer self-service, and an online store.

According to Jason Frisch, CEO of Tsukaeru.net, demand for IaaS services is growing aggressively among Japanese small and medium businesses (SMBs) that lack in-house technical capability and financial resources to build, operate and maintain their own compute infrastructure.

“At Tsukaeru.net, our cloud offerings have zero hidden costs. You pay for what you use, no more,” said Frisch. "Packaged plans from other subscribers may mean that you end up buying functionality that you don't need to achieve the desired performance, and thus may be significantly more expensive than what we offer."

Frisch added that most SMBs would prefer to concentrate their own limited resources on service development and marketing than worry about day-to-day running and maintenance.

“As a leading hosting service provider in Japan, Tsukaeru.net understands the challenging business and operational environment in the region and has developed purpose-built IaaS offerings to support businesses that operate under extreme competitive pressures,” said Pavel Ershov, Vice President, Service Provider Business, Parallels Asia Pacific and Japan. 

“Their IaaS portfolio is designed to deliver fast, reliable and secure compute resources for businesses no matter the size and business model. By partnering with Parallels, they’re able to deliver highly elastic and very cost-effective solutions that enable these companies to focus on their business without thinking about their technology needs.”