DigitalLife Announces Best of Show Winners

    NEW YORK, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- DigitalLife, Ziff Davis Media's
 leading consumer electronics and digital lifestyle event, announced the
 winners of the coveted Best of Show awards, as chosen by the PC Magazine
 editorial staff in a presentation at DigitalLife last Friday. These
 standout products represent the most innovative, most useful, and most fun
 products found on the DigitalLife show floor. The winners represent not
 only the elite technologies found at the show, but the hottest products
 available for this holiday season.
     This year, DigitalLife showcased more than 250,000 square feet of the
 latest consumer technology products and services, touching on every aspect
 of the digital lifestyle. From cell phones, smartphones and a host of
 amazing new mobile services to digital cameras, GPS devices, desktops and
 laptops, to home theater equipment, tech toys for kids, videogames, and
 safety and security tools, this year's show floor had the latest products
 on display for every kind of consumer.
     From this amazing variety of cutting-edge technology, the PC Magazine
 editors, led by Editor-in-Chief, Lance Ulanoff, were tasked with selecting
 the Best of Show across 12 categories. This year's honorees are:
     -- CATEGORY: PC
        Winner: Gateway One
        Company: Gateway Inc., www.gateway.com
        One of the biggest splashes at this year's show was the launch of the
        Gateway One all-in-one PC. The One is more than just good looks. It has
        a Core 2 Duo processor, built-in speakers, 802.11n, minimal cabling
        (including wireless keyboard and mouse), and a detachable Web cam.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Portable Gear
        Winner: Zipit Wireless Messenger 2
        Company: Zipit Wireless, www.zipitwireless.com
        The Zipit Wireless Messenger 2 is a great way to get your kids off your
        PC. The Zipit is a handheld dedicated IM device that can connect to the
        three major IM clients simultaneously and supports 40-bit WEP
        encryption. The interface is customized Linux, and the device has six
        programmable function keys.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Home Networking
        Winner: Axentra
        Company: Axentra Corp., www.axentra.com
        Axentra could finally bring the complex world of home media servers to
        the masses. Using a 500GB LaCie storage drive, Axentra has a Linux-
        based HipServ interface that is easy to set up and is accessible
        anywhere through a Web service. It can integrate with gaming boxes and
        wireless security cameras, as well as support all of your media file
        formats.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Game
        Winner: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
        Company: Activision, www.activision.com
        The latest version of this interactive music game features a slew of
        new songs and an update on the guitar hardware. Any skeptics were
        quieted after visiting the boisterous GH booth at DigitalLife and
        witnessing aspiring rockers of all ages jamming out with a smile.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Software
        Winner: ZoneAlarm(R) ForceField(TM)
        Company: Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., www.zonealarm.com
        Designed to work alongside your existing security software, ForceField
        protects both your system files and your Web browsing by blocking bad
        sites, warning of dangerous downloads, and keeps keystroke loggers at
        bay. It also virtualizes browser-initiated file system and Registry
        changes.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Gaming Hardware
        Winner: HP Blackbird 002
        Company: Hewlett-Packard, www.hp.com
        The first foray into the gaming market since acquiring Voodoo, HP hit
        the ground running with the Blackbird. This top-of-the-line system will
        make any gamer drool with dual nVidia graphics cards, 2GB of RAM,
        liquid cooling, and a super-cool black case design with a bottom
        platform stand for ventilation. The chassis is tool-free and highly
        customizable with lots of spare bays for expansion.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Gift for Kids
        Winner: Hasbro FurReal Friends Squawkers McCaw Parrot
        Company: Hasbro, www.hasbro.com
        Squawkers is an animatronic parrot that has voice recognition and
        programmable features. It comes with a remote to activate pre-
        programmed voice commands, and can repeat words spoken to it. Squawkers
        will even dance to music.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Gift for Adults
        Winner: iRobot Looj 130
        Company: iRobot Corp., www.irobot.com
        The Looj is a storm-gutter cleaning robot with a rotating cleaning
        propeller and tank treads to shuttle it along. You can even add a belt
        holster. Chore day just got a lot easier.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Software Innovator
        Winner: ooVoo
        Company: ooVoo LLC, www.oovoo.com
        This free video chat software for Windows or Mac can conference in up
        to six people, send video messages, send big files (up to 25MB), and
        more. You can also configure security settings and permissions for your
        chat buddies.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Hardware Innovator
        Winner: Ooma Hub
        Company: Ooma Inc., www.ooma.com
        This broadband calling device sits between your phone and Internet
        connection. With it, you can make free calls over the Web. The device
        includes handy features, such as the "Instant Second Line," three-way
        conferencing, enhanced call waiting, and everywhere access to
        voicemail.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Automobile Technology
        Winner: Ford Sync
        Company: Ford Motor Co./Microsoft Corp., www.syncmyride.com
        Sync is a Microsoft-powered in-car communication and entertainment
        system available on Ford vehicles. Previously, such systems were only
        options on astronomically priced luxury cars, but Ford has brought it
        to the masses. Sync lets you build an in-car music library using your
        iPhone, iPod, or Microsoft Zune, and it will load your contacts from
        your phone. You can also use the Bluetooth feature to make voice-
        activated phone calls.
 
     -- CATEGORY: Overall Best of Show
        Winner: Gateway One
        Company: Gateway Inc., www.gateway.com
     "This year's Best of Show winners represent some of the most exciting
 technology products on the horizon," commented Monica Vila, Vice President,
 Ziff Davis Media. "The quality and quantity of new product announcements at
 this year's show indicates that DigitalLife continues to evolve from being
 a great venue to interact with consumers to an industry gathering place,
 and one of the year's major focal points for technology and lifestyle
 press."
     To read more about this year's winners, go to www.pcmag.com for the
 full article.
     About DigitalLife
     DigitalLife -- the consumer electronics and entertainment event of the
 year -- invites consumers of every interest and age to experience the
 latest in digital technology by exploring hundreds of interactive and
 hands-on exhibits geared to educate, entertain, inspire, and support
 adoption of the digital lifestyle. For more information visit
 www.digitallife.com.
     About Ziff Davis Media Inc.
     Ziff Davis Media is a leading integrated media company serving the
 technology and videogame markets. The Company is an information services
 provider of technology media including publications, websites, conferences,
 events, eSeminars, eNewsletters, custom publishing, list rentals, research
 and market intelligence. Additional information is available at
 www.ziffdavis.com.
 
 

SOURCE DigitalLife

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