Accessories Briefs

By TWICE Staff On Aug 22 2011 - 4:01am

Future Automation Enters U.S. Market

HERTFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM – Future Automation, the British supplier of high-end flat-panel mounting solutions and automated lifts, will begin distributing in the United States, and will debut its lines at next month’s CEDIA Expo.

The company designs and manufactures a comprehensive range of lift mechanisms for flat screens, wall mounts, projector mounts and drops, moving panel mechanisms, ceiling mounts and drops, floor and table mounts, as well as a full line of control, connectivity and safety accessories. It also offers custom design services.

Future Automation said it is entering the U.S. market “to fill a gaping hole in the high-end custom home market.”

Marketing director Ollie French said every Future Automation lift, drop or mount, whether a standard product offering or custom design, is 100 percent handcrafted with the highest quality materials available. Future Automation’s state-of-the-art facilities enable the company to customize in 3D and 2D through the use of a laser profiling machine, CNC lathes, CNC mills and a full metal fabrication facility.

All Future Automation products are designed to interface with whichever third-party control system that the integrator requires.

Future Automation will exhibit in booth 1940 at CEDIA Expo, as well as in the CEDIA Future Technology Pavilion, in booth 4754.

SteelSeries Ships Mouse With Arm Processor

COLOGNE, GERMANY — SteelSeries used the GamesCom trade show, held here this month, to announce the Sensei, a customizable mouse with an Arm processor.

The gaming mouse’s built-in 32-bit Arm processor is designed to let Steel- Series ExactTech calculations to be done directly on the eight-button device, as well as allow for configurations via its LCD screen. Features include an ambidextrous design with a metal, nonslip grip coating; three areas of illumination with 16.8 million color options; and sensitivity settings from 1 cpi to 5,700 cpi.

According to the company, the Sensei’s ExactTech settings can be calculated directly on the hardware, providing a mouse that is completely free of any interpolation or extrapolation, delay, and filtering, and without using up memory or resources on the user’s computer.

The mouse has three areas of illumination — at the wheel, cpi indicator and at the SteelSeries logo — in 16.8 million color options, including an off setting.

It also has a double-braided nylon cord. Suggested retail is $89.99. Availability is slated for September.

Logitech Offers Solar Keyboard For Macs

FREMONT, CALIF. — Logitech introduced its first wireless solar keyboard for Mac computers.

The Logitech wireless solar keyboard K750 for Mac is available in five colors and is powered by the ambient light in any room. On a full charge it can work for up to three months in total darkness, the company said.

A solar power app download allows at-a-glance battery-level information and alerts a user when the onboard solar panels need more light to charge.

The full-size wireless keyboard includes a number pad and features a layout mirroring Apple’s Mac keyboard.

The K750 is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning this month, for a suggested retail of $59.99.

Sakar Adds Skechers License For Youth Line

MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF. — Sakar International has entered into a licensing agreement with footware company Skechers.

Under the agreement, Sakar will produce a line of youth electronics and accessories featuring Skechers branding and animated characters. The line will launch in the first quarter of next year, according to a release.

Few details were given, but the line will include MP3 players, ear buds, speakers, digital cameras, cases, skins and USB flash drives.

“Skechers has all the ingredients for a successful electronics licensing program, from distinctive brands and sub-brands with a large following, to characters who star in their own entertainment content, to effective marketing that can help drive sellthrough,” said Liza Abrams, Sakar’s licensing VP. “As a licensee, this gives us the foundation we need to develop branded products that will sell themselves.”