aluratek

Coby, Aluratek sign licensing agreements with Microsoft

Microsoft is making some extra dough off its patent portfolio thanks to two new agreements with two leading consumer electronics brands, Coby Electronics and Aluratek.

Both agreements cover products made by these manufacturers that are running Google's Android or Chrome platforms.

Specific financial details and amounts have not been disclosed, but Microsoft will receive royalties from both parties.

Other details were minimal, and executives from both Coby and Aluratek expressed that they were pleased to take part in a licensing program in resolving IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome.

Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003. Since … Read more

CES: Aluratek device turns your TV into a Web-surfing PC

LAS VEGAS--A new gadget from Aluratek takes the idea of an Internet-enabled TV and ramps it up a few notches.

Being demonstrated this week at the Consumer Electronics Show, the new device lets you use your TV as a full computer with the ability to surf any Web site. The device is so new that it doesn't yet have an official name. The working title is Plug PC, but that may change based in part on the response it gets from the crowds at CES.

How does it work? Plug PC contains an embedded copy of Ubuntu Linux. Just … Read more

CES: Aluratek mobile speaker streams music wirelessly

LAS VEGAS--Your vast collection of iTunes music is safely stored on your computer. But how can you listen to it when you're away from your PC? The folks at Aluratek have one solution.

Aluratek is demoing its new Bump portable speaker at the CES this week. This round, portable speaker wirelessly streams music from your PC so you can listen to it anywhere inside your house. Just plug the 2.4GHz USB transmitter into the speaker, power up your PC, and the music can reach you at full quality from as much as 60 feet away.

Though the Bump … Read more

Borders-compatible Kobo and Aluratek e-book readers get price cuts

Borders is cutting the prices of its two compatible e-book readers.

Effective September 1, the Kobo eReader will retail for $129 (a $20 reduction), and the Aluratek Libre will cost $99.99 (down from $119). Both devices can be used to read books from Borders e-book store (which, in turn, is powered by Kobo).

The Borders price cuts come less than a week after Amazon's third-generation Kindle began shipping to consumers. At $139, the most affordable Kindle costs slightly more than Borders' offering, but it offers direct access to Amazon's e-book store via Wi-Fi. (The $149 Barnes & Noble Nook … Read more