Acer and Starbreeze Announce First Shipment of StarVR Head-Mounted Displays

Acer (TWSE: 2353, LSE: ACID) and Starbreeze AB (First North: STAR) today announced at a global press conference in Berlin that they have started to ship StarVR® Virtual Reality (VR) Head-Mounted Displays (HMD) to IMAX Corporation in preparation for the highly anticipated opening of the IMAX VR® Center in Los Angeles, expected later this year, and others in the near future. Earlier in 2016, Acer committed to delivering a small volume of units of StarVR® HMDs this year with mass production of the devices to commence in 2017. Also on hand at the press conference were Bo Andersson Klint, CEO at Starbreeze and Rob Lister, Chief Business Development Officer at IMAX Corporation.

“With this shipment to as important a player in the entertainment industry as IMAX, we are absolutely thrilled that we are well on our way in bringing the virtual reality experience to the next level and to the world” said Jason Chen, President and CEO at Acer. “The realization of the most premium VR experience ever offered isn’t just our dream, but one of an entire ecosystem that encompasses hardware makers, videogame developers, theater companies, filmmakers and many others.” Chen highlighted at the global press conference that movies and videogames have exceedingly become ever more closely entwined. The lines are blurring between movies and videogames, and are moving beyond just two mediums that have traditionally only complemented one another. He said they were converging to become a more dynamic, immersive form of storytelling, and virtual reality would feature prominently in this development.

“We’re extremely proud to be able to show the first manufactured units of the StarVR® headset produced in our collaboration with Acer. Since announcing the StarVR® headset in 2015, we’re finally at a place where we can see the pieces of our vision coming together. From day one we’ve been convinced that we can deliver premium experiences with premium hardware. The search for great partners sharing the same vision was long, but we’re happy to be able to lay down these two fundamental parts in Starbreeze VR-ecosystem together with Acer and IMAX. We can’t wait for people to start experiencing world-class virtual reality in the StarVR HMD and at IMAX VR® centers, said Bo Andersson Klint, Starbreeze CEO.

“We are looking forward to the launch of our first IMAX VR® center and pleased with the progress demonstrated by the initial shipment of StarVR® HMDs from Acer and Starbreeze, as this exciting industry continues to develop and grow," said Robert D. Lister, Chief Business Development Officer, IMAX Corp. “IMAX is committed to delivering immerse, multi-dimensional virtual reality experiences, featuring some of the world’s best entertainment and gaming properties, to premium locations, including multiplexes, malls and other commercial destinations.”

Acer Inc. and Starbreeze AB announced earlier in the year that their respective Board of Directors had approved the establishment of a joint venture, for design, manufacturing, promotion, marketing and sales of the StarVR® Head-Mounted Display. The joint venture has since obtained regulatory approval and will be known as Acer Starbreeze Corporation. With its best-in-class cinematic experience, StarVR® targets professional- and location-based entertainment markets such as high-end cinemas, gaming arcades, automotive retail and aviation training. StarVR® provides a truly immersive VR experience with its unique ultra-wide 210-degree horizontal field of view, with custom optics that deliver great image quality across the eye’s natural vision.

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About Acer:
Established in 1976, Acer is a hardware + software + services company dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of innovative products that enhance people's lives. Acer's product offerings include PCs, displays, projectors, servers, tablets, smartphones and wearables. It is also developing cloud solutions to bring together the Internet of Things. As one of the world’s top 5 PC companies, Acer employs 7,000 people worldwide and has a presence in over 160 countries. Its shares are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2353), and Global Depository Receipts (GDR) are listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: ACID). Please visit www.acer.com for more information.

About Starbreeze:
Starbreeze is an independent creator, publisher and distributor of high quality entertainment products. With studios in Stockholm, Paris and Los Angeles, the company creates games and other virtual reality entertainment products, based on proprietary design and licensed content. Starbreeze's most recent games include PAYDAY 2, the adrenaline fueled bank robbing co-op game and the upcoming John Wick VR shooter and survival co-op FPS OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead.
Starbreeze has set out to develop truly immersive virtual reality experiences, by integrating software and hardware in its StarVR head mounted display, to be produced together with Acer, displaying a unique field of vision and a mission to bring top-end VR to large audiences. Starbreeze launched StarVR with a VR-experience at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in June 2015, gained by teaming up with French Infinite Eye. In January 2016, Starbreeze unveiled the StarCade initiative; centers that invites people to immerse themselves into premium VR experiences. The first cinematic VR experience “Cockatoo Spritz” directed by Stephane Barbato, premiered at the 69th Cannes Film Festival 2016.
Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Starbreeze's shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm First North Premier under the tickers STAR A and STAR B with the ISIN-codes SE0007158928 (A-share) and SE0005992831 (B-share). Remium Nordic is the company's Certified Adviser. For more information, please visit www.starbreeze.com, www.starvr.com, www.overkillsoftware.com


*This is Press Release

Hack The Climate Business Unusual

Long before climate change emerged as a defining challenge for global development, adaptability to change was already a trait intrinsic to the business sector. However, climate change has now set a pace and scale of change thus far unprecedented, and businesses are being called to once again act as pioneers—in this case, by setting the agenda for climate-smart progress through innovation and social responsibility.
Across the globe, more companies are acknowledging that responding to climate change has become an imperative. The inability to integrate it into their business models has the potential to undermine long-term business continuity and bring harm to the communities that rely on their success. That said, while climate change threatens every sector, it also presents businesses with a unique opportunity to strengthen their plans and create shared resilience, to the benefit of both the bottom line and, more pressingly, to each individual impacted by their operations. At the Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation (OML Center), one of our primary goals is to develop and encourage the adoption of science-based solutions to climate-related risks. In line with this, the OML Center is holding its first hackathon, themed “Responsible business adaptation and its benefits to community resilience.” From September 16 to 18, 2016 at PLDT Innolab, up to 200 professionals and students from varying fields will work in teams to come up with out-of-the-box solutions and tools that will help promote responsible corporate adaptation. A winning prototype and a runner-up will be chosen on the basis of their technical soundness, originality, viability, and impact/relevance. The grand prize winner will receive P100,000 while the runner-up will win P50,000. On top of this, the OML Center is also offering the chance to qualify for an incubation grant. Prior to the hack proper, the OML Center will also be privileged to present notable speakers from the public and private sector, the academe, and civil society to discuss with participants the roles that adaptive solutions can play in their respective sectors. Hack the Climate: Business Unusual is organized by Red Wizard Events Management in partnership with ANC for television coverage and PLDT Innolab for the venue.

For more information, visit www.hacktheclimate.com. For inquiries, contact hacktheclimate@gmail.com.

Witness Local Teams Battle Their Way Up To Be The Next ROG Masters – ONLIVE LIVE STREAM

The Philippine ROG Masters qualifiers is currently happening from September 10, Saturday, until 18, Sunday wherein hundreds of Filipino Dota 2 and CS:GO teams will showcase their gaming strategy and tactics for a chance to represent Southeast Asis in the World Finals which will happen this October-November 2016.

In line with this, we would like to share with you a livestream link (https://player.twitch.tv/?channel=esportsinq&quot) of the online PH qualifiers which is happening today September 10 (Saturday) and 11 (Sunday) at exactly 11:00am.

Alcatel Announces PIXI Promo and Price Drop on Select Devices

Alcatel, a mobile device brand of TCL Communication, is saying hello to good buys as it offers great value deals for its select products.

The PIXI FIRST smartphone is now made more affordable with price cut from P3,299 to its dropped price of P2,699. Making it more enticing, there’s a magic promo period in which the PIXI FIRST is up for grabs for only P2,199. The magic promo runs until September 18 only.

The PIXI First is an ideal basic entry-level smart phone. It’s a dual sim smartphone supported by a quad core processor, the PIXI First is a smart choice for those looking for stylish yet packed with functionality devices. It also comes with 8MP back and 5MP front camera.

The PIXI 4 (5) is now available with a slashed price of P3,599 from its original price of P4,299. Get this powerful phone that comes with an enhanced camera, battery, and great audio experience at the most affordable deal.

The PIXI 4 (6) can now be yours at a super reduced price of only P4,999, a great offer from its original price of P5,499. This phone comes with a 13+8 MP camera and an 8GB memory in a slim and stylish hardware.

Another great offering from Alcatel is its PIXI 4 (7), a tablet powered by Quad Processor for a bigger screen experience. Now at P3,799, it is indeed a great slash treat from its original price of P4,499.

Included in the price drop is the Pop3 5.5” 3G Android which now sells at P4,399 from P6,299, Go Watch now at P3,449 from P4,799, and the GoPlay which is available at P6,149 from previous price of P8,999.

Hurry, grab your favorite PIXI product now and enjoy the perks of affordable and quality smartphones and tablets from Alcatel! This promo is per DTI-FTEB permit no. 8584 Series of 2016.


*This is Press Release

Acer Supports grandPad Expansion to Switzerland in Partnership With Swisscom

grandPad® is excited to announce the expansion of its service to Switzerland, through a partnership with the major Swiss telecommunications provider Swisscom. Swisscom will be commencing a pilot program in Switzerland in September 2016, bringing outstanding 4G LTE internet connectivity along with world-class customer service to grandPad users in the nation.

This marks grandPad’s expansion outside of the United States, made possible through its strategic partnership with Acer announced earlier this year. Leveraging Acer’s global footprint and vast experience in international operations, grandPad can now start to offer its unique and successful service to seniors around the world.

Swisscom, a leader in senior care in their own right, offers many products to help enrich the lives of seniors in Switzerland, including their senior care product line. grandPad CEO Scott Lien says: “We’re excited to bring the same benefits our users enjoy in the U.S. to Switzerland. By pairing up with such an established technology leader with deep ties to the senior community, we feel that we have an incredible opportunity to help a lot of people.” 

Prior to this new partnership, grandPad joined forces with Acer Group to build bridges across industries and create a new accessible reality for America’s seniors. “Acer is thrilled grandPad is taking its first step towards global expansion,” said Maverick Shih, President of the BYOC Smart Products Business at Acer. “40 years ago, Acer began its own journey of globalization, and now with our competencies and global reach, we hope to facilitate grandPad’s growth and bring this life-changing service to even more seniors.”

Reto Weber, senior product manager in the Swisscom SmartLife Care line said, “Part of what makes grandPad so versatile and groundbreaking is their ability to form business partnerships with other industry leaders in order to help seniors. Swisscom and the SmartLife line are proud to be in the company of other great brands to help enhance the lives of seniors.”

The grandPad Senior tablet is unique because it was designed from the ground up for "super seniors" (those over the age of 75). It includes a number of patent-pending features that make it a delight for super seniors to use and enjoy everyday. The grandPad senior tablet makes the world more accessible to seniors by providing simple and safe ways to stay connected with family, friends and caregivers. The grandPad offers access to games, photo sharing, email, video chat and more.


About grandPad®
Using technology to help bring families together, grandPad® provides innovative solutions that are intuitive, engaging, and safe. Their flagship product, grandPad®, is a solution that privately connects the entire family on a platform built for seniors. With grandPad®, seniors can video chat with the family, check emails in real-time, share photos, play games, and much more. The intuitive, easy-to-use design turns technology into a gateway instead of a barrier, empowering seniors and encouraging them to Live Grand™. grandPad® is a privately held company based in Orange, CA. For more information, please visit https://www.grandpad.net or follow on Twitter @grandpad_social.

About Swisscom
Swisscom, Switzerland’s leading telecom company and one of its leading IT companies, is headquartered in Ittigen, close to the capital city Berne. Swisscom’s international activities are concentrated mainly in Italy, where its subsidiary Fastweb is one of the biggest broadband providers. Over 21,600 employees generate annual revenue of around CHF 11.6 billion per year. Swisscom is one of the most sustainable companies in Switzerland and Europe.

About Acer
Established in 1976, Acer is a hardware + software + services company dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of innovative products that enhance people's lives. Acer's product offerings include PCs, displays, projectors, servers, tablets, smartphones and wearables. It is also developing cloud solutions to bring together the Internet of Things. Acer is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2016 and is one of the world’s top 5 PC companies. It employs 7,000 people worldwide and has a presence in over 160 countries. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.


*This is Press Release