“ACCESS” MUSIC FOR LESS WITH SONY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK’S MUSIC UNLIMITED SERVICE
New Subscription Tier Unlocks Entire On-Demand Cloud-Based Music Library for Under €5
BERLIN, Aug. 29, 2012 – Sony Network Entertainment International today announced that its Music Unlimited service now offers a new subscription tier, “Access,” opening its entire on-demand cloud-based music catalog for €4.991 (US$4.99) per month. The service’s new subscription tier gives users access to millions of songs via PCs (including Mac computers) and the PlayStation®3 (PS3) computer entertainment system.
“Digital music subscription services represent a huge shift in the way people listen to music and our goal is to provide users with easy and convenient access to songs they love,” said Tim Schaaff, President of Sony Network Entertainment International. “The growing list of compatible devices and new subscription opens the Music Unlimited service library to more people around the world at a very attractive price.”
In addition to the new subscription plan, the service is offering a 14-day, no credit card Premium service trial for new customers2. Also, new customers2 who own a compatible Sony device3, including the new Sony Xperia smartphone or tablet introduced today during IFA, are eligible for a 60 day free Premium service trial of the Music Unlimited service4. Both free trial offers, which are available for a limited time, give users unrestricted access to the Music Unlimited service, including all the great songs and full array of compatible devices5. Visit https://music.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com for further details.
For users who desire the full Music Unlimited service experience across the entire range of compatible devices, the service offers a Premium subscription for €9.996 (US$9.99) per month. In addition to access via personal computers and the PS3 system, the Premium subscription features the ability to link the Music Unlimited service to Sony Xperia smartphones and tablet (as well as other Android smartphones and tablets), Apple® iOS devices including iPhone® and iPod touch®7, and PlayStation®Vita. Premium subscribers can also link their account to a number of other Sony connected home entertainment products including BRAVIA HDTVs, Sony Blu-ray Disc players and home audio systems.
About the Music Unlimited service
The Music Unlimited service is a cloud-based digital music service that hosts a global catalog of over 16 million licensed songs8 including all major US labels, leading independent labels, and major publishers worldwide. Originally launched in December 2010, the Music Unlimited service now reaches 17 countries and is available on a wide range of Sony and non-Sony connected devices. With its breadth of available devices and regional reach, along with the depth of its music catalog, the Music Unlimited service is the ultimate music subscription service for users who want to play their music whenever and wherever. For more information, please visit: http://sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/music-unlimited.
About Sony Entertainment Network
Sony Entertainment Network is the ultimate destination for digital music, movies, games and more. All through the convenience of a single account, Sony Entertainment Network is a global comprehensive network platform that unifies Sony’s digital entertainment experience across a growing ecosystem of Sony and non-Sony devices. Additional information blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.comabout Sony Entertainment Network can be found by visiting: blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com www.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com, www.facebook.com/sonyentertainment, and www.twitter.com/sonyentnet.
Bravia®, “Sony Entertainment Network,” “Music Unlimited” logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation
PlayStation is a registered trademark, and PS3 is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
“Xperia” is a trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Mobile Communications AB
Android is a trademark of Google Inc.
iPhone® and iPod Touch® are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
Blu-ray disc is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association

Samsung Sound Dock, http://www.samsung.com/us/video/home-theater
Roku Breaks the Smart TV Mold
New Roku Streaming Stick Integrates “Smart” Experience into TVs Instantly

Saratoga, Calif. – Jan. 4, 2012 – Building on the success of the award-winning Roku streaming players, Roku® today unveiled a new solution to make a better Smart TV. The new Roku Streaming Stick is a wireless device about the size of a standard USB flash drive that will plug into a TV to instantly transform it into a Smart TV. The Roku Streaming Stick will feature built-in WiFi, processor, memory and software to deliver Roku’s growing collection of streaming entertainment. With the Roku Streaming Stick, these new Smart TVs allow consumers to enjoy a fully integrated high-definition streaming experience.

“Insignia is proud to be among the first manufacturers to pair the Roku Streaming Stick with a TV,” said Scott Jacobi, director of Exclusive Brands at Best Buy. “The Roku Streaming Stick provides an elegant and easy over-the-top streaming solution for customers who want the full experience of a Smart TV without adding an external set box, HDMI cable and power adapter to their TV. Insignia looks forward to rolling out our first MHL-enabled TVs compatible with the Roku Streaming Stick in 2012 at Best Buy.”

“Roku was the first to deliver movies and TV shows streaming over the Internet from Netflix to TVs and since then has been delivering a great experience to Netflix members,” said Greg Peters, vice president of product development at Netflix. “The Roku Streaming Stick offers another innovative option for our members to enjoy the Netflix experience.”

Today’s Smart TVs become outdated in just a couple of years because as software evolves the hardware needs to be upgraded to keep pace. While short hardware product cycles are expected with mobile devices such as smart phones, consumers generally keep their TVs for six to eight years. By moving the streaming platform to a stick that’s easily replaceable, consumers no longer have to worry about their large-screen Smart TVs becoming obsolete before their time.

“The Roku platform has been extremely successful as a stand-alone streaming device,” said Roku Founder and CEO Anthony Wood. “Extending the Roku streaming experience through the Roku Streaming Stick to Smart TVs is a natural next step for the market.”

“Smart TV manufacturers have struggled to find an application platform that sticks with consumers especially since software is not their area of expertise,” said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst at Parks Associates. “The Roku Streaming Stick is a game changer for the Smart TV market. It takes the leading streaming platform and integrates into the TV in a way that no one has been able to do before.”

The Roku Streaming Stick will not require any cables or a separate power source, and can be controlled by the TV remote. Like Roku players, it will deliver the more than 400 channels found on the Roku platform today and will benefit from regular, free software updates and channel enhancements.
The Roku Streaming Stick will be available in the second half of 2012. It can be bundled with a TV in retail or sold separately for consumers to use with their own TVs.

The Roku Streaming Stick will plug into MHL-enabled HDMI ports on TVs. MHL is a new standard that uses the HDMI connector on TVs to deliver power and other critical elements for the streaming experience. MHL is currently adopted by nearly 100 hardware and manufacturing vendors including Nokia Corporation; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Silicon Image, Inc.; Sony Corporation; and Toshiba Corporation, who are the joint founders of the MHL Consortium.

About Roku Inc.
Roku is the leading streaming platform. Since launching the first Netflix streaming player in 2008, Roku has delivered entertainment to approximately 2.5 million streaming players in the U.S. Roku features more than 400 entertainment channels including Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Angry Birds, Crackle, NHL GameCenter LIVE and HBO GO. Roku streaming players are renowned for their ease of use, value and selection of content and are sold through leading retailers. Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR. For more information about Roku, visit www.roku.com

Roku Unveils New Roku Streaming Stick Partners
Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Others Developing New CE Devices for Roku Streaming Stick

Saratoga, Calif. – Aug. 1, 2012 – Roku® today unveiled that Element Electronics; GlobalVue International, LLC; Haier; Hitachi America, Ltd.; Insignia, a Best Buy brand; Mitsubishi Electric (TVs); Onkyo and Integra; OPPO and TMAX Digital, Inc.(Apex Digital® TVs) are among the first companies working closely with Roku to develop new consumer electronics devices for the Roku Streaming Stick. Launching in the coming weeks, the Roku Streaming Stick is an easy and cost-effective way for consumer electronics manufacturers to add the proven Roku streaming platform to a device that features Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL). These new ‘Roku Ready®’ devices will display a distinctive Roku logo on their packaging, indicating they will work seamlessly out of the box with the Roku Streaming Stick. In addition, select devices will be bundled with the Roku Streaming Stick so consumers can immediately receive the full benefits of the Roku streaming platform.

Announced in January, the Roku Streaming Stick is a tiny, wireless streaming player that is the size of a USB flash drive. It features built-in WiFi, a processor, memory as well as software, updated on a regular basis, free of charge. Once plugged into a MHL-enabled device, the Roku Streaming Stick will stream video and music as well as enable casual game play from the more than 500 entertainment channels available on the Roku platform. When paired with a TV, the Roku Streaming Stick integrates the Roku streaming experience seamlessly into the TV user interface, giving the customer the ability to use the TV remote for all streaming activities.

“The response to the Roku Streaming Stick is tremendous. Consumer electronics manufacturers recognize the value in making products that stream entertainment, yet it is very difficult for them to deliver and sustain a vibrant, robust streaming platform on their own,” said Chas Smith, vice president of business development at Roku. “The Roku Streaming Stick adds instant access to the leading streaming platform with virtually no overhead from manufacturers, while giving consumers the best streaming experience available.”

“By partnering with Roku, and developing a line of new Mitsubishi TVs that will support their new Roku Streaming Stick, we will be able to offer the best big screen TVs and the most powerful internet streaming device together, bringing web-based entertainment to a whole new level for our customers,” said James Chan, vice president of marketing, Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America (MEVSA), Inc.

MHL is a new standard that is seeing wide adoption by consumer electronics manufacturers. MHL resembles HDMI in appearance but unlike other connectors, it delivers power and other critical elements for the Roku Streaming Stick.

The Roku Streaming Stick will be available in the coming weeks from Roku and retailers. It will be sold separately as well as bundled with select consumer electronics devices. Pricing will be announced at a later date. For more information about the Roku Streaming Stick visit www.roku.com/streamingstick.

About Roku Inc.
Roku is the leading streaming platform for delivering video, music and casual games to the TV. Roku launched the first player to stream Netflix to the TV in 2008, and today streams more than 500 entertainment channels to millions of customers. Roku streaming players can be purchased from Roku and major retailers in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and the Republic of Ireland. Founded by Anthony Wood, Roku is headquartered in Saratoga, Calif. For more information, visit www.roku.com

Roku and Roku Ready are registered trademarks and the Roku Streaming Stick is a trademark of Roku, Inc.
Disney’s Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, http://disney.go.com/mickey/disney-epic-mickey-2.html#/video_games/disney_epic_mickey2

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Excerpt from The ABC’s of Homeschooling

By Laura Ann Huber

My husband and I don’t always see things eye to eye. We have had many disagreements and arguments, mostly because I have what I like to call “Momma Bear Syndrome.” Momma Bear Syndrome is an instinctive, unthinking act to defend the cubs at all costs. If Poppa Bear disciplines more harshly than Momma Bear deems appropriate the claws come out, and Momma Bear is on the attack. Watch Out! This can cause confusion and disruption in the den. Parents must quietly go behind doors if this happens and talk about what is wrong or right. Try to find middle ground. Sticking together is very important. Sometimes it’s hard because men and women see things so differently. Once a decision is made, go out and talk to the kids together. If a punishment is needed now is the time to explain it to the child. Let them see you are now on the same page. You must stick together, or your children and the outside world will—wear you down.

Our decision to homeschool our children was not made overnight, nor was it blissfully blessed by both of us at first. The idea was first introduced to us when my husband met a colleague’s son, named Josh. The boy seemed so bright and out-going, able to speak and talk to adults better than any other child my husband knew. Every day he would come home from work bragging about Josh and the fact that his mother homeschooled him. I was really intrigued, but in my own small thinking brain the thought that I could homeschool my children never occurred to me.

When it was time to sign our oldest child up for kindergarten I was having a very difficult time. He was still so little and young; I just couldn’t imagine sending him off into a world that didn’t include me or his family. I prayed and prayed about it without my husband knowing how I was feeling. The year I was supposed to sign Keith up for kindergarten happened to be 1999. On Tuesday, April 20, 1999, the unthinkable happened in a high school named Columbine. Two high school seniors went on a murderous rampage, killing thirteen students. It sickened every parent in America and frightened every student who heard of the horrific event. My heart had been telling me for quite some time I should homeschool Keith, but being inundated with the culture and society we live in I just didn’t feel I was qualified. I felt that he needed to go to school. Even after the tragedy, I still thought it best that he attend school. After all, that’s what everyone else was doing.

But my spirit would not let the issue rest. I lay in bed every night praying for an answer. Finally, I expressed my feelings to my husband, “You are always coming home and talking about how well rounded and what a great kid Josh is. I thought maybe I should homeschool Keith.” His answer echoed my own feelings of self-doubt and he said, “But you’re not a teacher. Josh’s mom is a licensed teacher.” Sad and dejected I decided to sign Keith up for kindergarten.

I made arrangements to talk to some kindergarten teachers and visit some classrooms. First I would be going to the public school, and then to the private Catholic school I had attended as a child. Since my nephew, Ethan, was in first grade and attended the public school I would be visiting, I decided it would be fun if I could take him to school that morning. We started off around eight. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining brilliantly, and I couldn’t help noticing he would really rather be playing outside. He took me in through the front doors of the school into what I perceived as total pandemonium. Having attended a Catholic school all my life, I had never witnessed children running from here to there in the hallways. I put it aside because Ethan was excited about me purchasing a mechanical pencil for him to use that day. After visiting with a kindergarten teacher, I was more confused than ever. I told her I had been considering homeschooling and asked her opinion, expecting her to convince me sending my children to school was the best thing for them. She answered me honestly saying, “If you can homeschool, your children will be better off. My sister homeschools her children. She offers them way more than any teacher could.” This was a lot to consider.

Next it was off to my old alma mater. Here the children were treated totally the opposite of what I had witnessed at the public school. Discipline ruled as the kids walked out of church in quiet lines like little soldiers. Neither school was what I wanted for my children.

Perplexed and confused I went to a store before going home. As I was making my purchase the woman behind the counter asked me in a shocked voice, “Have you heard about the bomb threat at

Brookville Elementary School?” All I could see was my precious, little blond headed, blue-eyed nephew whom I had just dropped off less than an hour ago. My heart aching and my stomach churning, I longed to go back into the school and pick him up and take him back to his safe home, but this was not in my authority. I had no right to do that. Only his parents could. I did, however, have a say about my own children.

That afternoon I called a neighbor who homeschools her children. She is not a licensed teacher and her children were learning just like everyone else’s children. It could be done. I approached my husband that night about how I was feeling. The shootings. The threats of bombings. The pandemonium. The discipline. The words of the kindergarten teacher. He took a long deep breath and said he would think about it. We were both unsure, but we both agreed that no matter what we decided to do, we would stick together on our decision. Supporting each other through thick and thin.

Finally we both agreed that we would give homeschooling a try, at least through Keith’s first year of kindergarten. After that, each year we would re-evaluate making sure we were doing the right thing. Back in 1999 if you were homeschooling your child many people questioned your motives and the well-being of the child. Some people were supportive, some were not. One thing is for sure, when you decide to homeschool your children, many people become experts in giving advice on raising them, even if their kids didn’t turn out to be successful well-rounded adults, they now know what is best for yours. Even if a person doesn’t have any kids, some still think they know what’s best for yours.

That happened to me a lot back then. I took most of the flack because I am the children’s primary care giver, and my husband is the bread winner. He always seemed to be at work or in another room when people questioned me. Sometimes I felt as if I had to defend my position like Grant defending the Union. But my husband, Bryon, always had my back, and if someone would sneak in from the left flank when my defenses were down—he was on guard and there to protect me. Once a close friend of Bryon’s was questioning me about homeschooling after Bryon went out of the room. He was getting madder and madder at the fact that we weren’t sending Keith to school; not now and not any time in the near future. Neither of us knew that Bryon could hear his every word. I was feeling overwhelmed and was really getting upset, when Bryon came in like the knight in shining armor he always is for me. He sat down banging his fist on the table and saying, in a rather commanding voice, “If anyone has anything to say about our decision to homeschool, they need to come to me and I will answer any questions they may have.” No one questioned us much after that. Everyone knew we had made a decision and were sticking together and sticking to it. This meant more to me than words can say. It gave me confidence in myself, our decision, and our marriage.

Each of us is a different individual raised in different home environments with a variety of discipline techniques and belief systems. When you marry and have a family you must take the best from both sides and leave the rest rumbling behind, creating new values and new ideas. George Washington once said, “I have always considered marriage as the most interesting event of one’s life, the foundation of happiness or misery.” Keep a loving and respectful open mind toward your spouse’s views and opinions.

Encourage him to do the same for you and you’re most likely to experience happiness and not misery. The country music song by Diamond Rio, Meet in the Middle, tells us how to stick together and avoid arguments. It goes like this, “I’d start walking your way, you’d start walking mine. We’d meet in the middle ‘neath that old Georgia pine.” Sometimes, it’s not quite the middle where we have to meet. Sometimes one spouse has to walk a lot farther than the other. Once a decision is made, stand by your spouse. Be proud of each other. Your family will be much stronger and you’ll create a home that no one can divide.

Laura Ann Huber is the author of The ABC’s of Homeschooling and the proud parent of three children.More information about their adventures can be found at: www.laurahuber.com.

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