PR Newswire's Business Technology Round-up, 4 January 2013

LONDON, January 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Sound hat to hit CES 2013, zeebox enlists Gracenote technology for latest development and Samsung Smart TVs get AutoTrader app

A unique type of hat that allows its owner to listen to music and take calls without the need for earphones or earpieces has been announced for this coming week's CES 2013 in Los Angeles.

Max Virtual LLC, a small start-up based in Delaware, has produced a special hat called "Cynaps" which, on the surface, looks just like a regular baseball cap. However the inclusion of small modules inside the lining of the hat, which vibrate using bone conduction to transmit sound directly to the inner ear, sets it apart from the crowd.

It is widely believed that the Cynaps also has the edge over traditional everyday headphones in terms of audio quality and clearness of sound, with music, conversations and other audio media being transferred directly to your inner ear.

The project to find financial backing for the Cynaps continues on Indiegogo.com, a crowdfunding website for independent enterprises and inventions.

zeebox, an award-winning app for iOS and Android that allows users to find out information about TV, such as which shows are currently trending, has announced that it will soon be adding a new feature to the app, courtesy of established metadata provider Gracenote.

The feature - powered by Gracenote Entourage Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) - will allow zeebox users to identify TV programmes and movies by using their smartphone or tablet to "listen" to a few seconds of what's on screen. The app will then be able to provide, within moments, a synchronised second-screen experience whether the footage is live or time-shifted.

The new edition of the zeebox app will also be demonstrated at the CES 2013 next week.

And as well as the normal selection of car-related shows on TV, car-lovers in possession of Samsung Smart TVs now have the option of downloading a special app that relates to their interest too.

The app, created with AutoTrader.com - a leading resource for car buyers and sellers - allows the viewer to watch video reviews and shopping advice films produced by AutoTrader experts. Users can also make use of a search function to locate specific models they're interested in.

The app is the brainchild of AutoTrader.com's Product Innovation Team, who are keen on creating new technologies that challenge what is seen to be the traditional car purchasing route. Nick Park, director at AutoTrader.com, spoke on the company's choice of television manufacturer, saying: "Samsung Smart TV is a widely available platform so it's a great test bed for us."

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