Alex Semanin and Kate Dmitrieva, are making beautiful music together – music on fountain pens! Their creations – some call it a riot of colours, some a ode to the written word, some another name of creative excellence –   are already a rage among the connoisseurs and pen pundits alike . Created exclusively bu hand, offerings from their company Benu Pens, are as aesthetically pleasing as they are functional. Here they talk exclusively with Inked Happiness, excerpts:

Q1. Why did you choose a pen as the canvas for highlighting your inner creativity?

Being a Chief designer and a Production director for a number of production companies, the BENU’s co-founder and the creator of our pens, Alex Semanin has acquired a comprehensive experience with decorative arts, jeweller, watches, and pens. However, they were fountain pens that Alex enjoyed creating the most, partly because he always preferred using them himself and partly because there were a special joy and pride in creating something where aesthetics and comfort of use are equally appreciated.

Q2. What prompted you to call yourselves Benu – the ancient Egyptian deity connected with the Sun, Creation and Rebirth?

Benu – the ancient Egyptian deity linked with the sun, creation, and rebirth.  Periodically renewing itself like the sun, Benu is a symbol of constant changes, recurrence, renovations.  The name reflects our feelings about the history of writing instruments. Changing throughout centuries, in today’s digital world handwriting has become more of an art, than a communication tool.  Pens are much less needed nowadays, as we have computers, tablets, and smartphones. Yet interest in stylish writing instruments among trendsetters remains high. Moreover, an expensive and stylish pen becomes not only a tool but also an important accessory. A beautiful pen is a status symbol that reflects the personal taste of its owner. The art of writing is reinvented and redefined again.

Q3. In the world of fine writing implements, which niche is Benu seeking to curve out for itself? Why?

Right from the start, our aim was clear: to make writing instruments and desk accessories for those who prefer bright colors and new designs that are playful, stylish and fun. So if we are to describe the niche we are striving to fill it would be artful, creative handmade writing instruments with an average price tag (70 – 150 USD) that is affordable for many pen lovers.

Q4. How has the journey been so far, since your inception? Where do you see yourself in the near future?

Since January 2016 when we launched our first collection the journey was not particularly easy nevertheless enjoyable. There are many different producers of the fountain pens both global and domestic in the market and it is quite difficult for a new brand to be noticed. Especially considering that, we did not have any investors or financial supporters to lean on and had quite modest resources to support promotions and product development. On a bright side, we discovered that word of mouth could be a very powerful marketing tool. Within only a year, our pens sparked the interest of many pen lovers all over the world. People started buying our pens and showing them to friends, posting their photos on social media and recommending to others. So our company has started growing and continues to grow only because of the support and loyalty of our clients for which we are eternally grateful.

As for the future, we are planning to expand our collections furthermore by introducing new designs, shapes and colour combinations. We are also planning to enrich our product line with other writing desk accessories. And of course we will always be striving to find new ways to surprise and amaze our clients with our new creations, be that unusual shapes, new creative features or eye-catching bold concept design.

Q5. From your vantage point, how does the fountain pen industry look like? Many claim that its death knell has already been sounded, while there are others who see a revival – what is your take?

For the past two decades, the fountain pens industry has shown a steady year-on-year growth. It is a remarkable achievement considering that tablets, smartphones, and computers have become the dominant means for written communication, both business and personal. The reason is quite simple – fountain pens are no longer mere working tools. They are objects of artisan ship that provide joy not only from using them but also from owning, gift-giving, collecting.

Q6. What is the USP of a Benu pen? How do you propose to take on well-entrenched global players in the segment?

BENU pens have an original, instantly recognisable design, a handmade product of superb quality and very comfortable, hand-friendly shapes. Our prices are affordable and our customer service always meets our customers’ expectations. Nevertheless, we believe that this is not what makes our brand stand out in the fountain pen market. The key is that we value customer’s experience and emotions from using our products above anything else. Our purpose is not only to deliver beautiful pens but also to guarantee that the client will have joy, amusement, excitement and other strong positive emotions by using them.  Playful colours, unusual shapes, surprising colour combinations – this is what makes our products truly unique.

Q7. Any specific plans for India?

India is a wonderful market, with a great potential. It turns out that many fountain pen lovers in India greatly appreciate our design. But because of high shipping costs and customs duties, it is difficult for many to buy our pens directly from our online store. So the main course for us would be to cooperate with respected retail partners that will make our pens available in the local market. We have recently started working with Aditya Bhansali of The Pen World company, so our pens will become available at the store in the very near future.

Q8. How sustainable are your pens?

Very. All our pens have Schmidt stainless steel nibs that have an unblemished reputation for reliability. The pens’ bodies made of high-quality acrylic resin that is highly durable and scratch resistant. Of course, we always recommend avoiding strong shocks and contacts with abrasive surfaces, but it is true about any quality pen – if one misuse it, it can break. Fountain pens, like the love that makes one create or carry them, are supposed to be handled with care!

For More Information Visit:

Editor’s Note: Aditya Bhansali of the Pen World, the fastest growing pen portal in India has confirmed that Benu pens will be available with them from early September, 2018!

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Etymotic Research Offers Low Cost, High Fidelity Hearing Device With Superior Look and Unique Functionality

Elk Grove Village, IL – August 28, 2018 — Since the invention of the first electronic product in 1920 intended to help people with severe-to-profound hearing loss, hearing aids gradually evolved from a large box on the table to the first body-worn device and later to head-worn designs suitable for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

In the modern era, the cost for a custom-fitted pair of hearing aids from an audiologist ranges from $2,200 to $7,000. AARP says that according to a recently published survey by the Hearing Review, the average price of a mid-level pair of aids hovers around $4,500. Alternatively, a sea of low-priced products are available at a fraction of those prices, but some have such poor design that the wearer can actually understand speech better without the device.

In 2009, The Food and Drug Administration coined the acronym PSAP, to stand for personal sound amplification product, drawing a distinction between personal sound amplifiers and hearing aids. Anyone can purchase personal sound amplifiers. They are not subject to state or federal regulations and are available without medical referral or prescription.

“Some people only need help in certain situations, and like reading glasses, will only use one, or a pair of PSAPs, on a part-time basis. For these people, PSAPs like Etymotic’s BEAN® are an ideal option and designed for this type of use. The BEAN® is available direct to consumers, at a fraction of the cost of custom-fitted hearing aids, and they work well ‘right out of the box’” says Etymotic’s Al Arends.

“With a slim profile, and worn completely in the ear, The BEAN enhances soft sounds so that speech can be heard more clearly, but allows louder sounds to pass through naturally as if nothing is in the ears.”

Healthcare in America has evolved from treating disease to a focus on wellness and disease prevention. This shift, plus advances in technology, makes it possible for consumers to take an active role in their own and their family’s wellness decisions. The impetus for developing The BEAN comes from decades of interacting with consumers who need a boost in sound for worship, television and other communications situations, depending on background noise and proximity to a sound source.

About Etymotic

Etymotic is a research, development and manufacturing company that designs high-fidelity personal audio products and hearing wellness solutions to assess, enhance and protect hearing. For over 30 years, innovation and education have been central to Etymotic’s mission. Etymotic is one of the most respected leaders in high-fidelity audio and hearing conservation. For more information about Etymotic, its hearing wellness mission and its products, please visit www.etymotic.com.

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Healthcare Industry Meets to Identify Ways to Improve India’s Health

Delhi, May 7, 2018: The first of Future Care Conference series, started with a resounding success on the evening of 5^th May, at India Habitat Center.  The conference was aptly titled ‘The Care Continuum: Challenges and Solutions’ and was jointly organized by continuum healthcare industry’s three emerging leaders– ElderCare, India Virtual Hospital and Kainos Global.

Swadeep Srivastava, Founding Partner and CBO India Virtual Hospital (IVH), Capt. Harsh, CEO, Eldercare and Bhuwan Bhaskar CEO, Kainos Global applauded Government of India’s Ayusman Bharat scheme and felt the time was ripe to have conferences like this all over India to provide Care Continuum and collaborate and integrate in various ways to improve healthcare in India.  Through this series of conferences, together the organizers are trying to find a reliable mechanism, overcome challenges and find solutions to provide entire spectrum of healthcare right from preventive to tertiary to end of life care across the length and breadth of India.

The conference witnessed some active discussions from renowned doctors from Delhi, media and social workers.  Thought provoking conversations identified the need for four main pillars of Care Continuum Model viz Compassion, Affordability, Accessibility and Sustainability. The need to make patients aware of the right treatment, understand their fears and address their gaps in knowledge was identified as a major need for the day. The last mile connectivity and accessibility can only be provided through technology, the speakers felt.

Swadeep Srivastava, explained that his initiative IVH “is already helping thousands of Indians in second and third tier cities by compassionately handling their need for tertiary care in big metro like Delhi-right from identifying the doctor and hospital to getting them discounts on treatment, helping them communicate with doctors, with out of pocket expenses etc. IVH experts also provide the Care Continuum beyond discharge when patient is back to his home right up the time he is alive.”

Speaking about their unique initiative, Capt. Harsh said “our elderly are the most affected due to the disruption of the Indian joint family system and globalization of job opportunities. Eldercare uses the expertise of Veterans and thousands of doctors to take care of entire spectrum of elderly care. The concept is to provide a local child to care for them and to provide job opportunities to the underprivileged by training them on compassionate elderly care including healthcare and imbibing them into the system.”

Bhuwan Bhaskar stressed “Technology along will not help. We need technology providers, connectors and trainers. Technology is of no use if end user cannot operate it. This is the major focus of Kainos Global to provide Care Continuum via technology.”

The conference ended with dinner and cocktails providing the healthcare providers the opportunity to interact with the dignitaries. The conference provided everyone present a path to channelize their expertise towards health revolution in India.

Company details

India Virtual Hospital: India Virtual Hospital (IVH) is a tech-enabled specialised Medical Concierge Service addressing the needs of Medical Travelers (domestic & international) looking for quality medical treatments in Indian Hospitals and Health Care Centres.

http://www.indiavirtualhospital.com/

Eldercare: ElderCare.com matches families with the world’s most trustworthy senior care providers.

https://eldercare.com/

Kainos Global:

http://www.kainosglobal.com/

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New Delhi September 21, 2017: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Global Diversity Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) are calling for entries for “Enable Makeathon 2.0” to crowdsource new, innovative solutions by and with persons with disabilities (PwDs) for challenges faced by them. Applications are invited from PwDs, designers, the scientific and innovation community, manufacturers and entrepreneurs. The deadline for the applications is 30 September 2017. This year, the programme addresses 12 accessibility and employability related challenges faced by persons with hearing or sight impairment or with locomotor disabilities.

A panel of experts will review the entries and 15 teams with the most interesting and innovative ideas will be shortlisted to participate in the co-creation camp where they will interact with PwDs, designers and investors, mentors and domain experts. This year, the Enable Makeathon 2.0 (EM2) co-creation camps will take place simultaneously in: Bengaluru, India hosted by the ICRC and in London, UK hosted by the GDI Hub and University College London. After an intense 15-day co-creation programme, 10 teams and their product prototypes will advance to the next stage of the competition. These product prototypes will undergo further refinement and market and user-testing phase for the next 6 weeks. The grand finale will be held on 6 February 2018, where three winners will receive cash awards of USD 25,000, USD 15,000 and USD 10,000 and further incubation support. Along with the winners, other teams could potentially have their products incubated in India and the UK, depending upon the relevance and market acceptability of the solutions.

Commenting on the project, Mr. Tarun Sarwal, Innovation Advisor at the ICRC said, “Enable Makeathon is a unique social movement. It brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts with persons with disability to find solutions for the real challenges that they would like to address. The platform allows us to take ideas from their conceptualisation to execution to testing in a fairly short span of time. Just like the first edition of Enable Makeathon, I have no doubt that Enable Makeathon 2.0 will also be a resounding success and deliver effective, inclusive solutions that are much needed in challenging contexts globally.”

For more details on the challenges that EM2 is seeking solutions to, please check the following link.

The EM2 movement is an initiative of the ICRC in collaboration with GDI and with the support of several institutions including V-Shesh, Applied Singularity, University College London, Global Shapers Bangalore, Global Humanitarian Lab, Project DEFY, The Association of People with Disability, Innovation Alchemy, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, IKP Eden, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Formulate IP and the Indian Red Cross Society.

About the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an independent and non-political organisation with a large scope of activities which it undertakes through its presence in most countries. Its existence and activities are universally recognised and it regularly responds to the needs of people adversely affected by situations of humanitarian concern, in particular armed conflict and violence.

Established in 1863 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ICRC employs some 14,500 people in more than 80 countries.

The ICRC supports physical rehabilitation services worldwide. Since 1979 people in more than 48 countries have benefited from physical rehabilitation services, such as physiotherapy, the provision of over 1.4 million assistive devices, their repair and maintenance and social inclusion activities.

For more information: blogs.icrc.org/new-delhi | Twitter @ICRC_nd

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Celebrate Independence Day with super fast internet connectivity & superior voice call quality at an affordable price

 Kolkata: Mafe Mobile, a leading brand of affordable phones, has announced the launch of its latest 4G -VoLTE ready smartphone – the Shine M810. Dedicated to India’s 71^st Independence Day, the Mafe Shine M810 offers super fast internet connectivity and superior voice call quality at an affordable price.

The Shine M810 sports a 12.7cm (5 inch), (480 x 854pixels) FWVGA display which makes movies, videos and games come to life. The device is powered by a 1.3 Ghz QuadCore SPREADTRUM processor, 1 GB RAM and Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, delivering a smooth performance and makes multi-tasking a breeze. Now, watching movies, video calling, chatting and playing games is a glitch free experience!

The Shine M810 features a 5MP rear camera with LED flash and a 2 MP front camera with Selfie Flash and comes equipped with a solid 2800mAh  Li-ion battery with 8 hours of talk time(GSM) and 200 (GSM) hours  of standby time. It offers internal memory storage of 16GB expandable upto 64 GB .Weighing just 170 gms and measuring 8.5mm in thickness, the SHINE M810 is extremely light weight and fits nicely into your palm or pocket. Additionally, the 4G VoLTE smartphone comes with a host of useful features like GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi with tethering, proximity sensor and FM radio

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Jaikishan Agarwala, Director- Marketing, Saawariya Impex Pvt Ltd, said, ‘Mobile phone usage in India has witnessed a paradigm shift with data consumption on the rise and millions of apps available to satiate this demand. However, internet connectivity and voice call quality is still poor owing to outdated networks and handsets. This Independence Day, we offer our customers freedom from such issues with our new 4G-VoLTE enabled Shine M810 smartphone. Designed for internet savvy users, our new offering promises super fast data connectivity and superior voice call quality at a very affordable price. It comes with a host of useful features making it a truly value for money product. Additionally, our 650 service centers across the country deliver all necessary support and peace of mind. We are positive that the Shine M810 will certainly appeal to our customers”

Priced at Rs 4599, the ShineM810 is available in 2 vibrant golden & black colors. The product is available at 14,000+ retail points and leading e-commerce sites. For more information please visit https://www.mafemobile.com.

About Mafe Mobile

Mafe is a leading domestic handset brand promoted by Saawariya Impex Pvt. Ltd. Founded in the year 2013 and based in New Delhi; the home grown brand focuses on the affordable phone market and offers a range of feature and smart phones. With a world class manufacturing plant in Haryana having an installed capacity of 250,000 units+ per month and an in-house R&D unit, the company adheres to stringent quality standards. Backed by committed promoters, a team of 250+ experienced telecom professionals, a network of 400 + distributors, 14000+ retail points and 650 service centers, the brand has sold over 2.5 million handsets till date. With a current CAGR of 40 per cent, Mafe is one of the fastest growing, Made in India telecom brand.

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• Successfully taps students from more than 1500 small villages and towns where no company has willing to reach so far

• Helps rural boy from Chhattisgarh top the International Science Olympiad

 With the commitment to provide quality education to students living in the country’s hinterland, Dron Study today announced the launch of their new school based courses in the form of video lectures and test series for school education. The courses will be offered to students from class 8-12th and competitive exams like IIT-JEE and Medical prepared by top faculty of India. These courses will be available for any students at very affordable prices

Dron Study also announced their penetration into more than 1500 small cities and villages in India where no other education company has ever set their foot strongly. Their efforts paid off when they helped a rural school boy from Chhattisgarh top the International Science Olympiad from www.dronstudy.com.

Speaking about the announcement, Mr. Neetin Agrawal, Dronstudy.com CEO said ‘We are delighted and feel honored by reaching out to students in rural hinterland where good education facility are lacking .With courses prepared by top faculty of India, students get the personalized teaching experience while sitting in the comforts of their home, without having to spend additionally on hostel and tuition fee which scoops their pockets real deep. We are teaching thousands of students in rural areas for exams like IIT-JEE and AIPMT/NEET so that they can also get admission in premiere institutes of India.

He further added ‘there are about 113 million students who are continuing to get their education from government schools, according to District Information System for Education (DISE) and education ministry , providing quality education to students in rural areas  is a challenging task. Further lack of quality teachers and large number of teacher’s vacancies in government schools are major cause of concern to educate rural children.Dronstudy.com is committed to this cause and will continue to launch new products and services keeping in mind these talented students’.

The company has tied up with around 70 top faculty of India who have prepared around 15,000 hours of video lectures related with school education of class 8-12th, IIT-JEE and Medical entrance exams and government jobs like Bank/PO and SSC. There are various other courses for exams like CA/CS/CMA on Dronstudy.com. Dronstudy.com has launched free test series for IIT-JEE and AIPMT/NEET examinations so that students can practice hundreds of tests to know their weaker areas and rectify them before the examination.

Student can visit www.dronstudy.com to watch, learn and purchase these courses. There courses are available in pendrive which can be used offline and there is no need of having internet connection to run the courses. Dronstudy.com has also developed mobile app and learning management system to help facilitate student learning at the personalized level. Students have the option to clear their doubts from Dronstudy.com faculties.

About Dronstudy.com

Dronstudy an online education company (www.dronstudy.com) was started by a group of IIT-ians in 2010 from Kota, Rajasthan and its main office is at Surat, Gujarat. It provides audio, videos and study notes for class 8-12, IIT-JEE, AIPMT, CA/CS/CMA, Bank-PO and SSC examination which are available through Pen-drive. Students also have the option to purchase video lectures in Mobile, Tablet and SD Cards at very affordable prices.

About the founder

The founder of Dronstudy.com is Mr. Neetin Agrawal, Btech from IIT-Madras. He has more than 10 years of experience in teaching field. He has been among the top faculty of Physics in Kota Rajasthan and has worked with Bansal Classes and Vibrant Academy in Kota. He has guided many students to crack IIT-JEE exam and has authored two books on IIT Physics. He has also won US Patents for invention while working with top MNCs in Bengaluru.

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NEW DELHI, March 22, 2017: Safe Water Network India (SWN), a not-for-profit organization that has demonstrated leadership in providing affordable, reliable, sustainable, and safe off-grid drinking water solutions, has launched “Water ATM” in the areas that suffer acute groundwater contamination.

This initiative enables consumers to purchase 20 liters of safe drinking water at any time of the day by swiping their smart cards against the Water ATM in SWN facilitated iJal water station. The stations are connected via cloud-based technology, enabling online analysis of operational parameters and volumes. Further, many of these water stations run on solar energy and electricity, thereby reducing operating costs.

According to Ravi Sewak, Country Director, SWN, “The next step is to move towards digital payments, enabling cashless transactions at the water stations. To begin with, we have collaborated with Medak District to conduct awareness workshops on the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) mobile app.”

In the run up to World Water Day, SWN conducted these awareness camps in and around its safe water stations in Medak district of Telangana. The drive was supported by SWN and volunteers from Honeywell India, which funds these safe water stations under its corporate social responsibility program. This program is awarded HYSEA CSR Award in 2017.

SWN has set up more than 150 safe water stations in Telangana, across Karimnagar, Adilabad, Warangal Rural, Warangal Urban, Jayashankar, Mahabubabad, Jagtiyal, Peddapalli, Badradri, Mancherial, Suryapet, Khammam, and Nalgonda districts. Safe Water Network has set up 170 safe water stations in Telangana, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and western UP until now.

Vikas Chadha, President, Honeywell India, said, “Through our partnership with SWN, we are providing safe water access to more than two lakh people in Telangana. Honeywell is deeply invested in the region, and our employees are proud to volunteer and continue to add value to the program.”

About Safe Water Network

Safe Water Network India has been working alongside communities in Ghana and India since 2009 to establish decentralized and locally-owned community water supply systems that provide affordable, reliable and safe off-grid drinking water. Over the past seven years Safe Water Network India, has established more than 170 iJal safe water stations in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh providing access of safe water to over 600,000 beneficiaries. We work along with local governments (Panchayati Raj Institutions) and enable local communities / entrepreneurs by providing training, tools and support to enable financially sustainable iJal stations. The communities buy safe drinking water at nominal rate of Rs 5 / 20L can for walk in consumers. Working with government and other stakeholders, our priority is to document the success of this approach and, working with other entities, reach millions in need of safe water through its broad-scale replication. For more information on Safe Water Network please visit www.safewaternetwork.org

About Honeywell India
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable.  All of Honeywell’s global businesses have a strong legacy in India, built over the last eight decades. Honeywell’s India commitment is evident in seven state-of-the-art manufacturing and engineering operations, and five global centers of excellence for technology development and innovation. Honeywell employs close to 15,000 people across 50 locations including Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Madurai, Pune and Vadodara. For additional information on Honeywell India, please visit https://honeywell.com/country/in/

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London – November 1, 2016 @ 4PM EST – ROLI, the music technology innovator, today launches BLOCKS, the most accessible and scalable music creation system ever made.

ROLI BLOCKS is a modular music studio that opens up the world of music-making to everyone. Each individual Block offers unique capabilities that enable people to create music in simple but far-reaching ways. The Blocks connect together to create customizable kits that suit any budget, skill level, and musical style. With a click of magnetic connectors, music-makers can now build their own instruments as they go.

Renowned artists including Grimes, Steve Aoki, and RZA are already making music on BLOCKS and creating signature soundpacks for BLOCKS musicians. Grimes — a composer, producer, and global superstar whose sound is redefining pop music — said, “ROLI BLOCKS will democratize music production. It’s so intuitive and versatile. I’m always on the go, and BLOCKS is the most powerful mobile production tool I’ve ever used.”

Three Blocks launch today. The Lightpad Block features a tactile, glowing surface that lets people shape music through presses, glides, and other natural gestures. The Live Block and Loop Block have controls that make it even easier to perform and produce in real time. BLOCKS is powered by NOISE, a free music app for iPhone and iPad that is now available at the App Store. NOISE connects to BLOCKS wirelessly over Bluetooth, becoming the system’s sound engine as well as a standalone app.

Roland Lamb, founder and CEO of ROLI, and inventor of BLOCKS, said, “Many areas of life have been transformed by the digital. Music, though, remains a universal language that everyone understands, but only a few can speak. BLOCKS will change that, and enable people around the world to experience the joy of music-making for the first time.”

The Lightpad Block, Live Block, and Loop Block are exclusively available at ROLI.com, Apple.com, and Apple Stores around the world. With a Lightpad Block retailing at $179 and the Live Block and Loop Block at $79, BLOCKS is extraordinarily affordable as well as powerful.

ROLI celebrates today with an event at the Steel Yard in London. Roland Lamb’s keynote address and the world’s first BLOCKS performance will be live-streamed on ROLI’s Facebook page.

The launch caps an important year for ROLI, which has emerged as a leader in music technology innovation. The award-winning Seaboard RISE, a reinvention of the piano that has redefined the expressive capability of electronic instruments, has been adopted by a range of artists from Stevie Wonder to Meghan Trainor. ROLI acquired FXpansion, a London-based maker of audio software and virtual instruments, in September 2016.

Visit ROLI.com and watch the BLOCKS video to see and hear how this modular music studio will give everyone a musical voice.

About ROLI

ROLI is a leading music technology startup whose mission is to extend the joy of music creation to everyone. Its multi-award-winning Seaboard RISE and Seaboard GRAND — adopted by world-renowned artists including Stevie Wonder, Meghan Trainor, and A.R. Rahman — have redefined the expressive potential of keyboard instruments. NOISE, ROLI’s free iOS app, turns iPhones and iPads into powerful and fun music-making devices. ROLI has raised over $50 million from leading investors including Foundry Group, Balderton Capital, and Founders Fund as well as Universal Music Group. “The most important company in music technology right now” (Music Tech magazine) is building a Connected Music ecosystem of hardware and software products that will change the way people create and enjoy music.

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NIAGARA FALLS, ON – (May 31, 2016) – Fluance, engineers of Serious Performance, audiophile-approved home theater systems and speakers, is announcing the availability of its first turntables, the RT80 and RT81. Product video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A1fm1vru98.

Looking to make a splash in the turntable market after years of producing exceptional audio and home theater products, Fluance is releasing two new stunning turntables. The RT80 and RT81 have been meticulously engineered to deliver true high fidelity sound and bring your record collection to life. With each model not only producing incredible sound but standing out as an elegantly designed showpiece.

Both turntables are beautifully crafted with an audio-grade MDF wood cabinet, which incorporates isolation feet and an aluminum platter, resulting in a significant reduction in reverberation, leaving listeners with pure stereophonic sound.

The RT80 incorporates an AT91 Audio Technica stylus that produces warm rich sounds. Using these premium components allow for accurate sound reproduction while ensuring longevity to your record collection. In terms of build, the RT80 boasts a lightweight MDF wood cabinet design. The slightly more advanced RT81 features an AT95E Audio Technica stylus and is built with a fully solid body cabinet to further eliminate vibrations.

The balanced aluminum S-Type tonearm ensures the stylus is rested deep in the record’s groove, producing every audio detail indistinguishable from the original recording and creating pristine playback. The fluid movement of the bearings within the tonearm, coupled with its advanced anti-skating system, caresses each record to conserve and protect a user’s beloved vinyl collection.

Additional premium components include a high-quality Texas Instruments preamp, ground terminal and gold plated RCA line outputs that ensures high fidelity sound in its truest form.

Fluance combined its extensive experience in audio engineering, signature sound and impeccable design to create its first turntables, which have excited consumers with their high-fidelity audio and affordable price. The belt driven RT80 and RT81 produce a pure analog listening experience that transports users through a stunning adventure down the sonic spectrum.

The RT80 and RT81 are available now at Fluance.com for $199.99 and $249.99, respectively, and are currently shipping to backers from their successful Kickstarter campaign. With Father’s Day and graduation season approaching, the RT80 and RT81 are ideal gifts for music lovers and design connoisseurs.

Join the vinyl movement on social media by utilizing the #RespectTheRecord hashtag. For more information on the RT80, RT81 and all of Fluance’s high-quality audio products, visit Facebook.com/FluanceSpeakers and follow @Fluance.

About Fluance:
Fluance is a North American-based speaker brand that produces high-end home theater speaker systems. Established in 1999 and based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, it markets to both USA and Canada. Known for Serious Performance, Fluance prides itself on pushing cutting-edge technology to its limits based on five key aspects: Sound Quality, Solid Construction, Performance, Style, and Value while using only premium components in the construction of its speaker systems. Fluance encourages its customers to buy direct so they can provide their products at a price point well below those of its main competitors. Fluance Speakers can be purchased directly at www.Fluance.com.

The post Fluance’s Hi-Fi, Affordable and Beautifully Designed RT80/81 Turntables are now Available appeared first on Core Sector Communique.

 NIAGARA FALLS, ON – (March 31, 2016) – Fluance, engineers of Serious Performance, audiophile-approved home theater systems and speakers, is reinvigorating consumers’ love for vinyl with its new RT80 and RT81 turntables. Fluance has made waves in the audio industry recently with its Fi70 and Fi50 Bluetooth speakers, and Signature Series home theater system. Now, the company is combining its extensive experience in audio engineering, signature sound and impeccable design to introduce its first turntables that will excite consumers with its high-fidelity audio and affordable price tag. Download high-res images here: http://bit.ly/1RJbyCn.

Engineered with only premium components, the high-fidelity, belt driven RT80 and RT81 produce a pure analog listening experience that authentically recreates artists’ performances. The RT80 and RT81 play traditional LP and EP vinyl albums (33 1/3 or 45 RPM). Whether a user is dusting off a classic album from their parent’s collection, or discovering vinyl for the first time with Adele’s 25, Fluance’s new turntables will transport them through a stunning adventure down the sonic spectrum.

The RT80 incorporates an AT91 Audio Technica needle that produces rich sounds. Users will rest in the grooves of their favorite vinyl records at a mere 2.0 grams of tracking force. The slightly more advanced RT81 features an AT95E Audio Technica needle. Both included styluses are renowned for their freedom from noise and distortion, clarity on musical peaks and channel balance.

The balanced aluminum S-Type tonearm ensures the needle is rested deep in the record’s groove, producing every audio detail indistinguishable from the original record and creating pristine playback. The fluid movement of the bearings within the tonearm, coupled with its advanced anti-skating system, caresses each record to conserve and protect a user’s beloved vinyl collection.

The RT80 and RT81 are crafted with Fluance’s proprietary audiophile-grade MDF wood cabinet, which incorporates isolation feet and a die-cast aluminum platter. This results in a significant reduction in reverberation, leaving listeners with pure stereophonic sound. The RT80 boasts a lightweight, hollow cabinet design, while the RT81 is built with a fully solid body cabinet to further eliminate vibrations.

Additional premium components include high-quality Texas Instruments preamp and gold plated RCA line outputs for captivating signal clarity, and a ground terminal that ensures warm, true sound.

The RT80 and RT81 are available now for pre-order on Kickstarter for $195 CAD/ $150 USD and $265 CAD / $200 USD respectively. Fluance expects to ship to backers and be fully available by May 2016 for $199 and $249 respectively. For more information, please visit Fluance’s RT80 and RT81 Kickstarter page.

Join the vinyl movement on social media with the #RespectTheRecord hashtag. For more information on the RT81, RT81 and all of Fluance’s high-quality audio products, “like” Facebook.com/FluanceSpeakers and follow @Fluance.

About Fluance:
Fluance is a North American-based speaker brand that produces high-end home theater speaker systems. Established in 1999 and based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, it markets to both USA and Canada. Known for Serious Performance, Fluance prides itself on pushing cutting-edge technology to its limits based on five key aspects: Sound Quality, Solid Construction, Performance, Style, and Value while using only premium components in the construction of its speaker systems. Fluance encourages its customers to buy direct so they can provide their products at a price point well below those of its main competitors. Fluance Speakers can be purchased directly at www.Fluance.com.

The post Introducing Fluance RT80/81: High-Fidelity, Affordable and Beautifully Designed Turntables that Reinvigorate Consumers’ Love for Vinyl appeared first on Core Sector Communique.