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Kia OTA update adds SoundCloud and enhances EV Route Planner and voice control

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The latest Kia over-the-air (OTA) update includes music streaming from SoundCloud and improvements to planning EV chargingUpdate has more than 150 changes, with additional voice commands enhancing the in-car experienceDriver speed assistance warning can be turned off using the mute button at the steering wheel

FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Telematics-equipped Kia vehicles from the model year 2022 onwards are eligible to get over-the-air (OTA) updates. The latest batch of updates available includes 153 changes, with music streaming service SoundCloud, enhancements to the EV Route Planner and new voice commands all added.

 

Using the Kia Connect App, customers can benefit from a range of digital features and services from the Kia Connect Store that can elevate the vehicle’s capabilities and performance, with the vehicle being updated remotely via OTA. A bandwidth that is three times wider than before now enables OTA updates to be completed faster. The latest updates available are designed to enhance and improve the in-car experience. Driver speed assistance warnings can now be deactivated simply by using the mute button at the steering wheel*, while a split screen for the EV Route Planner provides easier viewing of arrival time, state-of-charge and charging point information.

“The array of intelligent changes available in this latest update is strong proof that over-the-air updates deliver significant improvements that enable the vehicle to get better throughout the ownership experience,” said Sjoerd Knipping, Vice President of Marketing and Product at Kia Europe and Managing Director of Kia Connect. “At Kia, we are always looking at ways to make our vehicles better, and our customers now get to enjoy these improvements several times a year, without having to do anything.”

Wireless technology is used to download the latest available software, and, once the download is complete and the ignition is turned off, a confirmation window appears on the infotainment screen. SoundCloud is a leading music streaming service offering more than 375 million tracks from 40 million artists. In Kia vehicles, SoundCloud joins Amazon Music – now supported by voice recognition – as the second method for music streaming.

The Kia EV Route Planner, one of the first updates made available through the Kia Connect Store, enables the vehicle’s navigation system to detect charging stations along the route and add them as waypoints automatically. Now, it is available in a split screen, to give the driver an improved overview of key charging information. It can also now automatically add charging stations to the route if the set destination cannot be reached with the vehicle’s current charging level, resulting in faster route calculation. 

Other key updates include:

Battery conditioning being activated when the customer searches for charging stations via voice recognitionVoice control that supports new commands for flight information, date/time, ambient lighting and cluster information Changing the priority related to the parking button; when the parking button is on, the nearest EV station is displayed with a higher priority than the parking icon

An initial one-year trial bundles two free OTA updates for the vehicle’s navigation maps and infotainment. After that, a subscription service is available on the Kia Connect Store from 89 EUR* per year, with the update packages delivered twice per year. Prices may vary depending on the country.

 

Notes to editors
(*) Only available for some models. Remaining models will only follow with the next software update.

About Kia Europe
Kia Europe is the European sales and manufacturing division of Kia Corporation – a global mobility brand that is creating innovative, pioneering and leading sustainable mobility solutions for consumers, communities and societies around the world. As a Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider, Kia is spearheading the popularization of electrified and battery electric vehicles and developing a growing range of mobility services, encouraging people around the world to explore the best ways of getting around.

Kia Europe, headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, employs in total over 5,500 employees from 40 nationalities in 39 markets across Europe and the Caucasus. It also oversees European production at the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Zilina, Slovakia.
Kia’s innovative products continue to attract great acclaim, notably the EV6 battery electric vehicle becoming the first Korean car to be named European Car of the Year in 2022.
Further information can be found here: www.press.kia.com

About Kia Connect
Kia Connect is the European subsidiary of Kia Europe delivering connected car services to Kia customers. Headquartered in Frankfurt, it covers more than 30 markets.
Kia Connect in-car and app-based telematics services are designed to make driving and charging a smarter and more intuitive experience. Features include accurate traffic and ETA prediction, ‘best-in-class’ data provision, remote access to vehicle information, and now over-the-air software updates. Kia Connect’s suite of on-board technologies can be accessed through the vehicles’ head unit.

EV owners can also use the Kia Connect smartphone app to set climate control levels, view their vehicle’s charging status, plan smart charging schedules and check the range radius based on the remaining charge. Users can also check and change their vehicle settings directly from their smartphone, including navigation, radio and Bluetooth preferences. The Kia Connect smartphone app is available for download via the Google Play and Apple App stores.

Contact:
Pablo Gonzalez Huerta
+49 69 850 028 100
Kme-press@kia-europe.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2512756/KIA_SoundCloud_EV.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2316606/KIA_LOGO.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kia-ota-update-adds-soundcloud-and-enhances-ev-route-planner-and-voice-control-302255949.html

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Waters Corporation to Host Investor Day on March 5, 2025

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MILFORD, Mass., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) announced that it will host an Investor Day on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025, in New York City, starting at 8:30 AM ET.

The event will feature presentations by members of the senior management team, who will discuss business initiative achievements, new strategic priorities, and our vision for future shareholder value creation. A Q&A session will follow.

In-Person Attendance
To request in-person attendance at this event, please click here or visit the Waters Investor Relations website at https://ir.waters.com, under ‘Events’.

Webcast
A live webcast will be available the day of the event. To register for the webcast, please click here or visit the Waters Investor Relations website at https://ir.waters.com, under ‘Events’. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the event concludes.

About Waters Corporation
Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT), a global leader in analytical instruments and software, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials, food, and environmental sciences for more than 65 years. With approximately 7,500 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 15 manufacturing facilities, and with products available in more than 100 countries.

Caspar Tudor, Head of Investor Relations
investor_relations@waters.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/waters-corporation-to-host-investor-day-on-march-5-2025-302348226.html

SOURCE Waters Corporation

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As Retail Cybercrime Surges, Plank Road Ventures To Present Technology Solutions At NRF 2025 Big Show

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HOBOKEN, N.J., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Credit cards and other non-cash payment methods now account for some 80% of purchasing activity, according to some reports. It’s convenient for consumers, but each retail transaction may expose vital shopper information to nation-state and other cybercriminals. Consumers are inconvenienced, while retailers may suffer reputational and financial damage.

To combat the upsurge in digital incursions, Plank Road Ventures — an eMazzanti Technologies company — will present artificial intelligence, cybersecurity best-practice and other retail solutions at the NRF (National Retail Federation) 2025 Retail’s Big Show at Booth 2306, in the Startup Hub of New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from January 12 through January 14, 2025.

“The rise in credit card, digital and other payment methods have made retailers a rich target for cyberthieves,” warns eMazzanti Technologies President Carl Mazzanti. “POS systems, for example, can store customer information and purchase history, enabling retailers to capture the information they need to inform targeted marking campaigns and personalized shopping experiences. But POS transactions also pose an attractive target for cybercriminals, and a successful data breach will have far-reaching consequences.”

Plank Road Ventures, a global managed services provider, partners with leading companies like Microsoft, Watchguard, HP, and I3 Communications to help retailers deploy technology that improve and secure their operations and store strategies, while enhancing customer experience and engagement. Retailers can meet with trained professionals from Plank Road Ventures at the NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show, and learn about leading-edge POS and other solutions.

About eMazzanti Technologies
eMazzanti’s team of trained, certified IT experts deliver rapid response, increased revenue growth, data security, and productivity for organizations of all sizes. The firm offers cloud and mobile solutions, multi-site technology implementations, outsourced network management, 24 x 7 support, digital marketing services, and cyber security assessments and protection services.

About Plank Road Ventures
Our team of experienced retail experts works with clients to understand their specific requirements and recommend the best options. Specializing in store operations and support, the team is available 24x7x 365.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-retail-cybercrime-surges-plank-road-ventures-to-present-technology-solutions-at-nrf-2025-big-show-302348181.html

SOURCE Plank Road Ventures

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Kevin Lanouette Named Senior Vice President and General Counsel

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BEDFORD, Mass., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in consumer robots, today announced that Kevin Lanouette has been named Senior Vice President and General Counsel, effective January 17, 2025. Tonya Drake, the Company’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, will transition to an advisory role ending March 7, 2025.

“I’d like to thank Tonya for her many years of service to iRobot,” said Gary Cohen, iRobot CEO. “Her legacy of tenacity and rigor in protecting the iRobot Company and our brand has been exemplary.”

“Kevin is a seasoned and highly skilled attorney whose experience in advising on complex corporate and securities, commercial, M&A and IP protection matters will be invaluable as we execute our strategic initiatives and work toward a return to profitable growth,” said Cohen.

Formerly, Mr. Lanouette was a Partner at OutsideGC, a Boston-based law firm, where he specialized in providing strategic legal counsel to clients at all stages of development and across a broad range of industries, including technology development, software and services and healthcare. Previously, he served as Assistant General Counsel at Analog Devices, Inc., a leading global semiconductor manufacturer, from 2006 to 2020, where he had responsibility for several critical legal functions, including corporate, SEC and securities matters, IP licensing and technology transfers, M&A and investments, global commercial transactions, and governance and compliance issues.

He is a graduate of the University of Maine and Harvard Law School.

About iRobot Corp.
iRobot is a global consumer robot company that designs and builds thoughtful robots and intelligent home innovations that make life better. iRobot introduced the first Roomba robot vacuum in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 50 million robots worldwide. iRobot’s product portfolio features technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. Working from this portfolio, iRobot engineers are building robots and smart home devices to help consumers make their homes easier to maintain and healthier places to live. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com

For iRobot Investors
Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to iRobot Corporation’s expectations concerning executive transitions and execution of the company’s strategy. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. iRobot undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iRobot, see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

 

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SOURCE iRobot Corporation

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