Handy Gadgets

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen which is a computer within a pen that captures handwriting and simultaneously records audio and synchronizes it to the writing. 'The Pulse is about the size and weight of a highlighter; it has a ballpoint cartridge and includes three refills of black ink and a stylus tip. About 6 inches long and half an inch in diameter, the charcoal blue, anodized aluminum pen is easy to tote in its included case and fits into a shirt pocket or pen slot. On its spine the Pulse has a 96 x 18-pixel OLED display and a power button above it. Dual embedded mics straddle the screen, and a speaker lies below. The Pulse comes with a cradle that both charges the pen and syncs it with a PC; the pen clips to the cradle magnetically.'

Read: Livescribe Pulse Smartpen - Laptop Mag

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Posted by Admin at 10:11 PM | Permalink

PC Advisor have published a review of the TomTom-XL navigator. 'The XL is the first of a new breed of TomTom devices that sports a slimmed down cradle unit. For drivers fed up with the chunky cradles and curved armatures that usually accompany satnav units, the TomTom XL's new EasyPort mount design will be great news. The TomTom XL twists in and out of the circular retaining bracket and can be angled forward as far as you need so the screen is clearly visible to the driver. The whole setup of the TomTom XL feels secure and more robust - we managed to snap the top off the brittle stalk on a TomTom device we tested a year or so ago. The new design was therefore a reassuring development.'

Read: TomTom XL review - PC Advisor

Posted by Admin at 10:15 PM | Permalink

A review of the Toshiba XD-E500 DVD player has been posted over at Pocket-Lint. 'The Toshiba XD-E500 is a black box with minimal fuss in design. The size of an old VHS player and sporting a new look from Toshiba that it is promising to roll out across its range of DVD players and televisions, you'll get a glowing white Toshiba logo when on, a stack of numbers displayed in green and a clear green display giving you the chapter numbers and other info about the DVD you are watching. There are hard playback buttons along the front, although refined enough that they don't distract too much and virtually all the player's controls are operated via the well laid out remote.'

Read: Toshiba XD-E500 upscaling DVD player review - Pocket-Lint

Posted by Admin at 3:04 PM | Permalink

The Gadgeteer have publsihed a review of the Mobile Edge Mini Messenger Bag 'This bag is made of heavy-duty 1680D Ballistic Nylon and is available in four color styles, that include Black with Orange piping, Black with Pink piping, Black with Red front and Black with Silver front. I was sent the Black with Orange. Right away I realized that the Mobile Edge Mini Messenger was not really a true messenger style bag - not that there is a definition carved in stone somewhere out there... This bag is more vertical than horizontal, with a long flap that is held closed by a pinch plastic clip.'

Read: Mobile Edge Mini Messenger Bag - The Gadgeteer

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Posted by Admin at 10:10 PM | Permalink

CNET have published a review of the Mophie Juice Pack for iPod Touch media player. 'Constructed from matte black plastic with a green interior, the Juice Pack's unique design fits onto your iPod Touch like a case. If the iPod Touch wasn't already so thin, we'd feel the need to complain about how the Juice Pack doubles the total thickness of the player. In truth, we thought the extra bulk added by the Juice Pack made our iPod Touch feel more substantial. The Mophie Juice Pack also adds an extra inch to the bottom of the Touch, obscuring the iPod's dock connection and relocating the headphone jack to the bottom left.'

Read: Mophie Juice Pack for iPod Touch - CNET

Posted by Admin at 1:57 PM | Permalink

Trusted Reviews have published a review of the LG DP391B portable DVD player. 'A collection of buttons covering all of the player’s key functions sit along the top and right side is, whereas on the left you’ll find a small selection of sockets. Among these is a mini USB port (with a USB adapter in the box) that enables you to plug in a USB flash drive and play digital media files; plus an AV minijack input/output to feed composite video and stereo audio to your TV and sound system, should you want to watch DVDs on the big screen. There’s no digital audio output, however, so you’ll have to make do with stereo sound. Twin headphone jacks allow two people to listen to the DP391B simultaneously, while on the opposite side is a three-in-one card reader (SD, MMC and Memory Stick), which will no doubt come in handy when the 256MB of internal memory is full.'

Read: LG DP391B Portable DVD Player - Trusted Reviews

Posted by Admin at 10:10 PM | Permalink

Press Release

Award winning image quality now accessible for lower volume users

Trumbull, CT - Océ have announced that the Océ Arizona® 200 GT UV curable flatbed printer is available for order in the United States. The Océ Arizona 200 GT printer delivers the same award-winning image quality as the Océ Arizona 250 GT printer but is configured for light production environments, making it accessible to print shops and sign makers with lower volume demands. It produces near-photographic image quality with the flexibility of printing onto both rigid substrates and roll-based, flexible media.

Proven platform, fully upgradeable
The Océ Arizona 200 GT printer is based on the Océ Arizona 250 GT platform that combines a true flatbed architecture with a separate, dedicated roll-to-roll system. It can print onto rigid media up to 49 inches wide x 98 inches long x 1.89 inches thick. By adding the Roll Media Option, users can print onto flexible media up to 87 inches wide in an automated and unattended manner.

Like the award-winning Océ Arizona 250 GT printer, the Océ Arizona 200 GT uses Océ VariaDotTM imaging technology and four-color (CMYK) UV curable inks to produce near-photographic image quality at a true production print speed (sellable prints) of 101 ft2 per hour. The availability of this new, more accessible Océ Arizona model enables smaller companies to adopt this exceptional Océ printing technology. As production volumes grow, customers can field-upgrade their Océ Arizona 200 GT printer to an Océ Arizona 250 GT printer and realize production print speeds of up to 172 ft2 per hour.

Océ VariaDot Imaging Technology for stunning image quality
The Océ Arizona 200 GT printer uses Océ VariaDot imaging technology, the next evolution of piezoelectric inkjet technology that enables a print head to produce dots of variable size versus print heads using fixed-droplet technology. Océ VariaDot technology creates these variable dots by dispensing ink droplets that vary in volume from six to 42 picoliters. The ability to vary the drop size to as little as 6 picoliters produces sharp images with smoother gradients and quarter-tones. The ability to jet larger droplets up to 42 picoliters produces dense, uniform solid colors. The result is near-photographic image quality with sharpness only before seen at resolutions of 1,440 dpi or higher.

In addition to superior image quality, Océ VariaDot imaging technology with four color inks uses significantly less ink compared to six color printers with fixed-droplet inkjet technology. The resulting lower ink consumption results in ink savings of up to 35 percent over fixed-droplet, six color printers, making it one of the most economical printers to use for sign and display applications.

True flatbed, true flexible media printer
The Océ Arizona 200 GT is a true flatbed system that uses vacuum pressure to hold media stationary on a flat surface, ensuring accurate registration even on multiple imaging passes. Full bleeds can be printed, saving time and labor costs in finishing. No minimum print size means only the necessary materials are used with no substrate waste. Unlike all other flatbed or rigid-capable printers, the Océ Arizona 200 GT prints along the long axis of rigid media to optimize throughput – the fewer the number of printing passes over the media, the higher the average productivity.

The Roll Media Option can be added at any time, giving customers the ability to print onto flexible media including vinyl, self-adhesive vinyl, scrim banner, textiles, paper and blue backed paper without compromising the rigid printing workflow. Once a rigid print is finished, the print head assembly is moved to a position over the flexible media and begins printing, while the rigid material is swapped out and the new board is placed on the vacuum table and prepared for printing. When the flexible media printing is completed, the print head assembly moves back to the table to resume printing on the rigid media. The roll media can be dismounted at any time without disturbing the rigid printing function, and there is no down time to reconfigure the system to change from one print mode to the other.

The modularity of this system protects the customer’s initial investment because the Roll Media Option can be added in the field at any time without cost penalty. The Roll Media Option can support roll-based stock from 35.4 inches to 86.6 inches wide with a maximum print width of 86.2 inches.

Availability
The Océ Arizona 200 GT printer and the Roll Media Option are available now for order in the United States. For other geographies, please contact your local Océ office. To drive the Océ Arizona 200 GT printer, ONYX® ProductionHouseTM Océ Edition software is available as an option.

Océ Display Graphics Systems
Océ Display Graphics Systems is a leading provider of professional, wide format solutions for indoor and outdoor color display graphics applications. Océ solutions are specifically designed to enhance the revenue and profit opportunities for service providers by combining hardware with workflow software and the expertise to help companies expand into digital wide format color. From extremely high-quality photo laser printers to outdoor-durable systems, Océ offers a total solution including hardware, software, services and financing. Customers benefit in working with a full-service partner they can count on to help their businesses grow.

About Océ
Océ N.V. is a leading international provider of digital document management technology and services. The company’s solutions are based on Océ’s advanced software applications that deliver documents and data over internal networks and the Internet to printing devices and archives -- locally and around the world. Supporting the workflow solutions are Océ digital printers and scanners, considered the most reliable and productive in the world. Océ also offers a wide range of display graphics, consulting and outsourcing solutions.

Océ employs around 24,000 people, with 2007 revenues of approximately $4.6 billion, operates in more than 90 countries and maintains research and manufacturing centers in the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Romania and Singapore. Océ North America is headquartered in Trumbull, CT, with additional business units in Chicago, IL; New York City; Boca Raton, FL; Salt Lake City, UT; Coventry, RI; and Vancouver, BC. North American revenues represented approximately half of Océ’s worldwide business in 2007, and employment is currently 11,000. For more information about Océ, visit www.oceusa.com. Outside the U.S., consult www.oce.com.

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Posted by Admin at 10:13 PM | Permalink

A review of the Navigon 2100 max navigator has been posted over at PC Magazine. 'The 2100 max has three usage profiles (Car, Bike, and Pedestrian) as well as three route preferences (Fast, Optimum, and Short). Using the default settings (Car and Fast), the routes my test unit generated were identical to those calculated by other Navtec-based devices. I did note, however, that route calculation times were significantly longer than those of competing devices. For example, my extended trip test route (about 640 miles) took almost 80 seconds to compute. I've found that most TomTom units calculate the same route in about 10 seconds, while the Garmin nüvis take about 20 seconds—reasonable times. Eighty seconds feels like an eternity in comparison.'

Read: Navigon 2100 max - PC Mag

Posted by Admin at 10:10 PM | Permalink

CNET have published a review of the Penguin 4X Quad Charge Station for the Wii which recharges 4 Wii remotes simultaneously. 'The Quad Charge Station is a circular base that won't go sliding away thanks to its rubber feet. The four Wii remote docking slots are arranged in a cross-shaped pattern on the unit's topside, which is sloped upward. The bright blue LEDs under each docking slot aren't the tackiest thing we've ever come across, but in a dark room they may become distracting. Unfortunately, there's no way to turn these lights off once the charging base is plugged in, but the AC adapter cable is detachable from the base itself.

The Quad Charge Station ships with four rechargeable battery packs that snap into the battery compartment of any standard Wii remote. These battery/cover combinations are actually lighter than the standard AA batteries and battery cover they replace, and the result is a Wii controller with a slightly different weight. We detected no change in gameplay experience, but hardcore Wii fans might need awhile to adjust to the new feel.'

Read: Penguin 4X Quad Charge Station for Wii - CNET

Posted by Admin at 12:31 PM | Permalink

Press Release

Manufacturer Continues to “Go Green” with LED Lighting

Garden City, New York—As part of its ongoing program to “Go Green,” W.A.C. Lighting has introduced InvisiLED energy-saving display and accent lighting solutions using the latest LED technology. W.A.C. Lighting is a leading manufacturer of track, recessed, undercabinet, decorative and monorail lighting.

Ideal for both new construction and retrofit projects, InvisiLED Tape Lights perform effectively for a broad range of applications including cove lighting, under counters and bars, toe kick spaces, display windows, refrigerated cases, trade show booths and architectural accents.

The energy efficient LED tape delivers a crisp, quality light while only using two watts per-foot. It has a life expectancy up to 50,000 hours and operates on a 12-volt AC Class II power supply center.

Flexible and easy to install, InvisiLED offers an extremely low profile. Less than one-eight of an inch tall and just seven-sixteenths of an inch wide, the LED tape lights are virtually invisible. LEDs (light emitting diodes) are spaced evenly one-inch apart.

The self-adhesive tape is designed with 3M? adhesive backing and ideal for customizing lighting designs to meet the exact specifications of each project. LED tape is available in two-inch sections, as well as one-foot and five-foot sections that are field cuttable at the end of each run. InvisiLED is crafted in a sealed thermoplastic enclosure for longlasting durability but flexible enough to negotiate curves effortlessly.

The LED Tape Lights are available in White, Blue, Red, Green and Amber.

All InvisiLED Tape Lights are UL Listed.

W.A.C. Lighting is also offering an InvisiLED Project Solutions Kit for lighting distributors and electrical contractors. The kit includes a durable and reusable traveling case that includes LED Tape Lights, plug-in and remote power supplies, joiner cables, L-connectors, end caps and mounting clips.

About W.A.C. Lighting
W.A.C. Lighting has developed a stellar reputation for a high quality product line backed by an extraordinary level of service. Superlative customer service features an unprecedented shipping record (96% of orders shipped within 48 hours), a state-of-the-art SAP software system; new service professionals; updated product literature (including a new full-size catalog), and a strong lineup of point-of-purchase displays.

The firm also offers extensive manufacturing capabilities, product development and engineering in its ISO 9001-certified, production facilities and offices in China, as well as a west coast distribution center and offices in City of Industry, Calif., an expanded corporate headquarters and east coast distribution center in Garden City, NY, and a new state-0f-the-art showroom in Dallas.

Innovative and integrated systems technology are hallmarks of the W.A.C. Lighting product line. Most recently the firm has introduced a new Bronze finish in its Low Voltage Monorail System and Counter Balance Adjustables family, stunning blown-glass pendants, Flexrail1- a new line voltage monorail system, new undercabinet lighting fixtures, and more.

Its extensive line includes: a Low Voltage Monorail System; a Line and Low Voltage Recessed Line; Undercabinet Lighting; and Crystal Beauty Spots. Also offered are Glass Companion Wall Sconces and Pendants, Counter Balance Adjustables, Monopoints and Multipoints; State-of-the-Art Transformers; and accessories.

W.A.C. Lighting is headquartered at 615 South Street, Garden City, New York 11530. The phone is 1.800.526.2588, and the fax is 1.800.526.2585. The email address is info@waclighting.com and the website is www.waclighting.com

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Posted by Admin at 10:48 PM | Permalink

A review of the D-Link DSM-330 DivX Connected HD Media Player which allows you to view your digital media without having to be in front of your PC has been posted over at Tracy and Matt's Blog. 'The DSM-330 box is a client that displays on the attached TV. So the first thing you do is install the included server software on the PC. Once installed, you tell the software which folders you want to share for your videos, mp3's and photos. You can even add PIN codes for folders if you want some of them to be protected. This server software then sits as a tray icon and runs in the background. This PC needs to be connected to your local network (either with a direct cable or else wirelessly). It should be noted that as you are going to be pushing your media over the network that the speed of the network will directly affect the results you are going to get. The DSM-330 box itself connects to your TV. There are quite a few connections on the back so you should be able to find a connector to suit your needs.'

Read: D-Link DSM-330 DivX Connected HD Media Player Review - Tracy and Matt's Blog

Posted by Admin at 10:30 PM | Permalink

Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Navman S50 3D navigator. 'The Navman S50 3D also boasts Sirfstar's new InstantFixII technology. This effectively allows GPS devices to predict more effectively the position of satellites in the sky, resulting in (supposedly) a much faster time to initial satellite fix, especially when the device has been switched off for a few hours or more. But, though the S50 3D is pretty quick at picking up a signal lock - around a minute from off even in extremely challenging situations - it's not noticeably quicker than other sat-navs I've tested. It does, however, hold onto its signal well once locked on - more reliably than the Navigon 2100, for example, when the tall city buildings loom.'

Read: Navman S50 3D - Trusted Reviews

Posted by Admin at 1:42 PM | Permalink

The Gadgeteer have published a review of the Aerielle i2i Stream wireless digital audio device for iPod and MP3 Players. 'The i2i Stream is a small module that has both a receiver and a transmitter contained inside it, that operates on the 2.5GHz frequency. They are sold in packs of two for $119.95, or can be purchased separately at $69.95 each. I was sent one package of two for this review. The modules are approximately 2.5 x 1.25 x 075 inches in size. On the face of the i2i Stream are three buttons and two LEDs. The round center button is the channel button. It has an LED behind it, that can glow Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple or Light Blue. Each color signifies a different transmit channel and changes each time you press it. The button above the channel button is the Send button and the button below it is the Receive button. If you press the Send button, it will cause the center LED to blink, which shows that you're broadcasting audio on whichever colored channel is blinking. Pressing the Receive button will cause the module to receive any audio that is being broadcast on whichever colored channel that you're set to.'

Read: Aerielle i2i Stream Wireless Digital Audio Streaming Device - The Gadgeteer

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Posted by Admin at 11:41 PM | Permalink

Press Release

Deerfield, Ill.,Pregis Corp. is launching Astro-Bubble® Renew™, an economy air cushioning grade that contains 25% pre-consumer recycled content. The product is an ideal alternative for economy bubble users who want environmental benefits coupled with a less volatile pricing structure.

“At Pregis, we are committed to engineering protective cushioning products for a broad range of applications. This new bubble helps customers mitigate price pressures that stem from today’s raw material environment,” says Josephine Lee, marketing director, Pregis Protective Packaging North America.

Because 25% regrind is used, the decreased dependence on 100% virgin resin smooths out spikes in cost which translates into more consistent pricing for Pregis customers. Renew also contributes to the conservation of petroleum-derived raw materials.

“This is an environmentally-responsible product which incorporates waste material that would otherwise be diverted into the waste stream,” Lee says. “Astro- Bubble® Renew™ is the latest addition to the Pregis “green” family of products whose purpose is to address the growing need for sustainable packaging alternatives.”

Due to the percentage and type of regrind being used, Astro-Bubble® Renew™ typically will have subtle color tones depending on which colorants are part of each specific batch. (Most frequently, the grade will have a silvery tone, but other subtle shades may also occur.)

Astro-Bubble® Renew™ is available in coex (low-density polyethylene/nylon) and monolayer (linear-low density polyethylene) options with bubble sizes consisting of very small, small, medium and large. Bubble diameters range from 1/8- to ½-inch.

Its lightweight characteristics make it an ideal cushioning, surface protection and void-fill option which helps minimize weight during finished goods delivery. In turn, this helps lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions throughout the supply chain.

Market segments targeted by the product line include: aerospace, agriculture/produce, automotive, doors/building material, electronics/appliances, food, fulfillment/mail order, furniture, glass/china, industrial equipment/supplies, jewelry, medical, military/government, moving and storage, pharmaceuticals, publishing, retail and transportation.

About Pregis:
Pregis Corporation is a leading global provider of innovative protective, flexible, and foodservice packaging and hospital supply products. The company offers packaging and product solutions for a wide variety of consumer and industrial market segments including food and foodservice, healthcare, agriculture, automotive, furniture, electronics, construction, fulfillment, catalog and military/aerospace. The specialty-packaging leader currently operates 47 facilities in 18 countries around the world. For more information about Pregis, visit www.pregis.com.

Posted by Admin at 10:12 PM | Permalink

A review of the Philips DCP951 portable DVD player with Ipod dock has been posted over at Pocket-Lint. 'The Philips DCP951 is top of the pile of three new portable DVD players launched by Philips. The design, like other Philips home entertainment products, is glossy black with the 9-inch 16:9 ratio screen taking centre stage. Beneath the screen are a number of shortcut keys for controlling DVD playback - play, pause and skip - and these are set in the speaker panel which offers a slightly tinny rather than bassy sound.'

Read: Philips DCP951 portable DVD player review

Posted by Admin at 10:05 PM | Permalink

TabletPCReview have published a review of the CODi Phantom CT3 Checkpoint laptop bag. 'If you are familiar with CODi products, you would recognize the Phantom CT3 as a CODi design immediately. It is simple, no frills and is made of the same black ballistic nylon as many of their other bags. There is a small red CODi CT3 label on the front and the zipper hardware has CODi engraved on them. The CT3 is basically two bags hinged together at the top so it can fold out into a butterfly design when going through airport security. The two "pockets" - as CODi refers to them - are secured together for normal use with Velcro and plastic side buckles.'

Read: CODi Phantom CT3 review - TabletPCReview

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Posted by Admin at 3:56 PM | Permalink

Press Release

In a tight economy, packing your lunch becomes a popular habit, but just because you’re pinching pennies doesn’t mean you have to brown-bag it. Coleman’s new line of soft-sided coolers offers the perfect lunch tote for anyone’s taste. There’s the standard charcoal-colored “Classic” with rugged reinforced nylon and heavy-duty rubberized bottom, and then there’s the fashion-forward “Excursion” cooler with your choice of brightly colored stripes or flowers on the exterior fabric and two carrying options – by handle or shoulder strap. And that’s just for starters.

Coleman’s new line includes several sizes and styles of coolers – for petite-sized appetites all the way up to a meal for a family – but they aren’t just for lunches. They can be stored conveniently out of the way, then easily retrieved for any of your daylong outings such as family get-togethers, picnics in the park, ball games and visits to the pool or beach.

Coleman’s new soft-sided coolers range in capacity from six to 30 cans plus ice, and all models are leak-resistant with 6-mm insulation and have reinforced external bottoms for durability. The coolers’ PVC-free liners are made from materials that are FDA-certified for food contact. Each cooler is easy to carry, easy to clean and convenient to use and to store. Some of the models have pockets for magazines, books, keys and other small items.

“The core line was designed to appeal to the person who just needs a reliable, durable cooler for outings of short duration. These coolers will perform well for them,” said David Johnston, Coleman’s director of marketing for insulated products. “We added the extra storage features such as side pockets, zippered compartments, and bungee cords to provide more bang for the buck.”

Inspired by the designs of Coleman’s European counterparts, Coleman’s fashion line doesn’t neglect durability and performance, but throws in a little extra “cafeteria appeal,” with fashion-forward fabric designs. The line consists of four styles of coolers in two different patterns. It includes the six- and 16-can size coolers, as well as the larger Day Trip Tote and Shopping Tote.

More and more grocery stores are ending the practice of offering plastic bags and instead encouraging shoppers to bring their own bags from home and reusing them. The insulated Shopping Tote provides a fashionable and smart way to convey your cold foods home to the refrigerator.

Coleman’s new soft-sided coolers will be available at retailers by March 2009.

As an international leader in the innovation and marketing of outdoor products, The Coleman Company, Inc., helps people have fun and make memories by providing the gear integral to their favorite outdoor experiences. The company’s products include its legendary lanterns and stoves, as well as coolers, tents, sleeping bags, airbeds, backpacks, furniture, and grills under its Coleman® and Exponent® brands. Additionally, the company provides flotation devices, towables, rainwear, waders, hunting and fishing gear, and safety and survival equipment under its Stearns®, Sevylor®, Sospenders®, Hodgman®, Mad Dog Gear®, Nevin® and Helium® brands. Founded in 1900 and based in Wichita, Kan., Coleman is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation and can be found online at www.coleman.com. Consumers can call 800-835-3278 or e-mail consumerservice@coleman.com for general information or for Coleman and Exponent products. For all other brands, call 800-328-3208 or e-mail stearnsrec@stearnsnet.com. Note to Media: News releases and images are available upon request or can be downloaded at www.coleman.com/newsroom.

Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of niche consumer products used in and around the home. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bicycle®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, First Alert®, Forster®, Hoyle®, Java Log®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Leslie-Locke®, Loew-Cornell® and Pine Mountain®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Harmony®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain™; and Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, Berkley®, Campingaz®, Coleman®, Fenwick®, Gulp®, JT®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Rawlings®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene®, and Volkl®. Headquartered in Rye, N.Y., Jarden has over 25,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.jarden.com.