Hot Industry News: Apples Files Patent Application for ‘Intelligent Automated Assistant’

Apple made a move to try and protect what we assume is its beloved Siri today by filing a patent on the voice navigation system. The patent describs an “intelligent  Automated Assistant”, with a description detailing an application that is guided through the user’s speech. Yup, sounds like Siri.

The patent then describes how ‘user intent’ is carried out, either by launching an additional app or performing a specific function. The commands are also described pretty thoroughly, with examples of anchor text that could be used by the automated assistant to understand what exactly it is you’re asking.

To read this article in full (or see the patent in its entirety), click here.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra 5-in-5, Week 39, 2012

Just a few days left to earn free freight on Monster Products, even more guesswork gets taken out of photography, Apple and Google duke it out, Samsung phones could be at risk to get wiped, and Wal-Mart releases a Ninja Turtles app.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Product Spotlight: Pinnacle Speakers P-WAFR Bar 32 Wafer™ Series 7-Element Speaker Bar for Super Thin TVs 32" & Up

The Pinnacle Speakers P-WAFR Bar 32 Wafer™ Series 7-Element Speaker Bar for Super Thin TVs 32" & Up is a fantastic accessory for your gorgeous, but acoustically lacking flat panel television. This 200-watt speaker bar is just 1.9” deep, so you can even mount it on the wall directly below or above your television.

The carbon graphite woofers and mid-bass drivers help create a smooth, linear response, and the gold-plated binding posts offer a secure connection. The spring-loaded binding posts offer fast and simple hook-up, and the 3” polymer cone woofers and three 1” pivoting liquid-cooled titanium dome tweeter with plasma vapor treatment offer a pristine sound. It’s also internally braced to eliminate distortion at all volume levels, and includes a Flush Fit™ wall bracket for horizontal mounting and threaded inserts that accept after-market pivot bracket wall mounts.
At just under 10 pounds and created by a more than 30-year-young company, these speakers make a great investment. Check out more of our Home Theater offerings, or head over to the Pinnacle web page.
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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 39, 2012: Part 4

Closeout time! That's right, here's Part 4 of the Pulse, with Aaron talking about some of this week's hot closeout deals.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 39, 2012: Part 3

For Part 3 of the Pulse, Aaron talks about the Swann OutbackCam Portable Video 5 Megapixel Camera & Recorder. Powered by just four AA batteries!

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 39, 2012: Part 2

Here's Part 2 of the Pulse, as Aaron chats up the Proficient Audio Systems MaxTV Plug & Play Amplified Tabletop Soundbar with Built-In Subwoofer, with two 1" silk-dome tweeters, four 2.5" treated paper midranges, and inputs for RCA analog, optical, and digital coax.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 39, 2012: Part 1

Check out Part 1 of this week's Pulse as Aaron talks about the OptomaUSA 3D RF Glasses. They make you look way cool!
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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Minute - September 24, 2012

Here's Monica bringing you a quick summary of what you'll be seeing this week on Petra Channels!
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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Hot Industry News: AT&T Chief Speaks Out on Texting at the Wheel

This week, the chairman and chief executive of AT&T confronted an issue unrelated to the business meeting at which he was about to speak. In front of hundreds of major investors, including Fortune 500 executives, Randall L. Stephenson urged the audience not to text and drive.

He didn’t start there, though – he’s been spreading the message at meetings and in conversations with executives at other major companies. AT&T isn’t the first company to take this stance, although in Stephenson’s case, the issue is certainly personal: he revealed in an interview that, a few years ago, someone close to him caused an accident while texting and driving.

Apparently, public service campaigns have done little to curb the issue… but hopefully, as more and more companies step up to plead for better driving habits – especially telecommunications companies – things will begin to improve.

To read this article in full, click here.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading wholesale distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Product Spotlight: The Clarion Marine CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with USB

Looking for a waterproof receiver for your outdoor setup or boat? Look no further. The Clarion Marine CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with USB has a watertight flip-down control panel with rubber gaskets to prevent water damage. It also has integrated drainage channels to keep water out. It’s even built to keep both salt and fog out, as well as UV exposure.

This receiver is also equipped for CD, MP3, and WMA playback – it also has a rear USB port with iPod audio direct connect. It’s Sirius direct connect reader, and comes with Beat EQ for sound adjustment. The Magna Bass EX sound enhancement ensures your music will sound great; the 4-channel/2V RCA output for front, rear, and sub certainly won’t hurt, either.
Last but not least, this receiver comes with a wired marine remote, ready with optional MW1/MW2 controllers.
Looking for more great mobile audio/video products? Check out the Category Navigation near the top left hand corner of our site.
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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 38, 2012: Part 4

Amazing closeout deals this week include the Whistler Exclusive High-Performance Radar/Laser Detector with Blue 7-Segment Display, the Sony Playstation Move Navigation Controller, and the Targus Small Camera Case in Gray.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 38, 2012: Part 3

The Whistler Tire Scout Tire Pressure Monitoring System is great for reducing risk and improving fuel economy!

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 38, 2012: Part 2

In part two of the Pulse, Monica talks about the Audiofly 56 Series Noise-Isolating Headset with Microphone in Vintage White. They even come with their own velvet-lined storage tin!

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 38, 2012: Part 1

Here's Monica with part one of the Pulse, talking about the Trident iPhone 4/4S Apollo Case with 2 Interchangeable Back Plates (Red/Black). The interchangeable back plates make it like having two cases in one!

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Minute - September 17, 2012

Check in with Aaron as he recaps what to expect for this week on Petra Channels.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

New at Petra: The 16.0 Megapixel PowerShot® SX160IS Digital Camera (Red)

Looking for the next big thing to capture your family memories with? Look no further – you’ve found it. The 16.0 Megapixel PowerShot® SX160IS Digital Camera (Red) serves as a great, easy-to-use way to make your pictures speak – and it won’t just be a thousand words, either. The 16x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom, and 64x combined optical zoom with optical image stabilizer (which corrects for unwanted camera movement) will snap photos that make you feel like you’re still in the moment.

This product also comes with face detect, and is powered by two AA batteries. To see more great Photo and Video products, check out the Category Navigation in the upper left hand part of the page.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Hot Industry News: Wearable Robots That Can Help People Walk Again

In California, a pair of robotic legs are being developed which can help paraplegics and those with other types of spinal injuries walk again. Using a set of what looks like futuristic ski poles, the user can signal to the robotic legs when they’re ready to take a step.  The “bionic suit” also consists of a pair of mechanical braces wrapped around one’s legs, and electric muscles that do much of the work of actually walking.

The company behind the suit is called Ekso Bionics, and they’re one of several companies and research labs that are working on creating equipment which will help disabled people or even make the body superhuman. Ekso also happens to be the first company to introduce a self-contained robotic suit, without any tethers to a power supply. Right now they’re just being used for rehabilitation centers, but the hope is that one day people will be wearing them in everyday life.

Ekso was founded seven years ago, and takes its name from the word exoskeleton – makes sense, right? The company started shipping the suits in February, and right now about 15 rehabilitation centers in the United States are using the suits. These things don’t come cheap, though – a suit runs about $140,000 for each one, along with a $10,000 annual service contract.

Reports are stating that patients who haven’t walked in years are able to use the suits on their own in as little as two days. The ultimate hope is that, as technology progresses, the suits will come down in cost and eventually become as commonplace as a smartphone. Pretty cool, huh?

To read this article in full, click here.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra 5-in-5, Week 37, 2012

Petra.com closeouts, Google Fiber may be coming to a neighborhood near you, a new sleep monitoring device may help identify your ideal sleeping conditions, new iPad cases make a splash, and GoDaddy gets hacked. All right here on Petra Channels!

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 37, 2012: Part 4

Who loves closeouts? We do! New to the closeout section this week is the Fujifilm 14-Megapixel Finepix Digital Camera Bundle, the Optimus High-Velocity Fan, and the MadCatz Nintendo Wii Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard & Software Bundle.

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 37, 2012: Part 3

Having problems with raccoons or other pests? The P3 Solar Animal Chaser can help with that!

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 37, 2012: Part 2

Here's Monica, bringing you the Speck new iPad 3rd Gen Magfolio Luxe Case. It has a beautiful burgundy leather finish, and comes with INFINITE viewing angles!
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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Pulse - Week 37, 2012: Part 1

Kicking off this week's Petra Pulse is the P3 SockitBox, great for protecting outdoor power connections!

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Petra Minute - September 10, 2012

Here's Aaron, summing up what to expect this week on Petra Channels!

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.

Hot Industry News: Will Apple be the ONLY One to Make the New iPhone 5 Dock Adapters?

It’s official: Apple is definitely up to something, and we’re pretty sure it’s going to be an iPhone 5, set to release next Wednesday. Or at least that’s what they’re very strongly hinting at.

It’s not all fun and games and PR buzz, though. There’s just one – or perhaps 19 – tiny little concerns. That is, one of the more prominent rumors regarding the iPhone 5 is that instead of its traditional 30-pin dock, the device will come with a 19-pin one. This doesn’t sound so bad in theory – until you hear the second part of the rumor. The second part of the rumor is that Apple will be the ONLY provider of dock adapters.

This just got a little scary, didn’t it?

According to the writers at Forbes, the primary belief regarding Apple’s decision to be the only source of dock adapters (if it’s true) isn’t because they wanted to cash in on forcing people to convert. The way they figure – if Apple can handle the demand for new adapters – then why not? I can definitely see their reasoning – why give someone else that revenue, if you don’t have to?

In any case, the expectation is that the adapters in question will cost about $10 each. If the company can’t keep up, then it’s not as if they’ll have trouble finding a few developers to help them out.

That’s your bit of hot industry news for today! Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter feeds for more tech news.

Petra 5-in-5, Week 36, 2012

Coming up on this week's 5-in-5 - Petra.com contact information, Samsung threatens to leave bloggers stranded, Square-Enix makes a big announcement, computers cause stress, and GPS problems are probably caused by user error. All right here on Petra Channels!

Want to become a Petra customer? Go to petra.com/application.

Petra Product Spotlight: The Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS Receiver

Are your customers runners? Then you might want to take a look at the Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS Receiver. This product is an easy-to-use, button-operated sport watch. It’s also GPS enabled, allowing runners to easily gauge their distance run, time, pace, elevation, and more. The 1.06” x 1.06” diameter display is easy to read, with a display resolution of 124 x 95 pixels.




The Forerunner also uses a high sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix® technology, meaning buyers still get programmer support to make sure those pesky bugs stay away. It also has a USB interface, which is compatible with Garmin Connect™, and a built-in rechargeable li-ion battery.

The battery lasts for up to eight hours in training mode, and up to two weeks in power save mode. Last but not least, this product tips the scales at a light, functional 2.11 ounces.

Make sure to check out our other outdoor and fitness products while you’re at it!

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Petra Industries is the nation's leading electronics distributor for consumer electronics, custom installation, mobile A/V, and appliance accessories.