(CNN) -

Anybody who has a long daily commute knows the frustration of sitting in traffic with nothing to do but wait. Now, a study suggests that long commutes can take away more than just precious time - they also negatively impact your fitness and health.

Previous research has linked longer commutes with obesity. But this new research is believed to be "the first study to show that long commutes can take away from exercise time," explained lead investigator Christine M. Hoehner of Washington University in St. Louis.

Long commutes are associated with "higher weight, lower fitness levels and higher blood pressure, all of which are strong predictors of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers," she said.

One discovery that Hoehner found a little surprising was how "being exposed to the daily hassles of traffic can lead to higher chronic stress and higher blood pressure."

Here's how the research was conducted: Scientists studied 4,297 residents from the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin, Texas, metropolitan areas. They documented their commuting distances, body mass indices, and metabolic risk, including waist circumference, fasting glucose and lipid levels and blood pressure. Participants reported their physical activity for the previous three months.

What did scientists learn? Commuters who said they drove longer distances also reported they took part in less moderate or vigorous physical activity. They had lower cardiorespiratory fitness, greater body mass index, waist circumference, and higher blood pressure.

For a little historical perspective - as obesity rates have increased - so have the number of American commuters and the length of commute times.

Between 1960 and 2000, workers commuting in private vehicles jumped from 41.4 million to 112.7 million, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. And as suburbs have sprawled across the nation since the 1950s, commuter miles have increased too, along with the time drivers spend sitting behind the wheel. according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

For many commuters, moving closer to work isn't an option but Hoehner said there are solutions that can lead to more exercise.

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Longer commutes may steal health, fitness

VAIL, CO--(Marketwire -05/09/12)- Tennis legend Martina Navratilova will share her unparalleled health and fitness expertise as the keynote speaker at Living at Your Peak (www.livingatyourpeak.org), the Rocky Mountain region's premier interactive wellness experience, the Vail Symposium announced today. The inaugural event, to be held September 13-15, 2012, in Vail, Colo., is the nation's only gathering designed to help health-conscious individuals and influencers discover how to live longer, better and impact the wellbeing of their world.

"You don't need to be an elite athlete to be dedicated to wellness; anyone -- at any age -- can make a commitment to be fit and healthy," said Navratilova. "As AARP's Health and Fitness Ambassador, I have dedicated my time to helping those of us who are 50+ learn to lead healthy, active lives, and I am thrilled to be part of an event that is focused on teaching everyone health, fitness and longevity -- from elite athletes to weekend warriors to individuals just beginning their journey to wellness."

Navratilova is widely considered to be the greatest women's tennis player in the history of the sport. Over the course of a career that spanned an amazing four decades, she amassed an unmatched number of professional records. She won 59 grand slam titles, including a record nine Wimbledon singles championships. Still in phenomenal shape on the verge of 50, she became the oldest player to ever win a grand slam title before retiring in 2006.

In addition to her work on the tennis court, Navratilova is a compelling advocate for active living and aggressive goal setting. Her book, Shape Your Self, is a guide to personal fitness and healthy living. She has motivated thousands to live healthier lifestyles by taking simple steps to a better life. She also serves as the health and fitness ambassador for AARP, in an alliance created to help AARP's millions of members lead active, healthy lives.

"Martina Navratilova is not only a legend in the tennis world, she is also an inspiration to anyone with a commitment to lifelong wellness," said Jamie Stone, Living at Your Peak event champion and a board member of the Vail Symposium. "Her presence at Living at Your Peak elevates this event to the next level, enabling our guests to have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with a world-class health and fitness expert."

Living at Your Peak is an interactive health, fitness and longevity experience offering unparalleled access to accomplished world champions; internationally recognized trainers, coaches, researchers and doctors; top chefs, nutritionists and world-class restaurants; and peer networking opportunities. Living at Your Peak sessions will offer interactive components to engage guests beyond a traditional presentation environment. Jenna Wolfe, co-anchor of NBC News' Sunday TODAY show, will emcee the event.

Registration is $1,000 until June 30 and $1,200 beginning July 1, and includes priority access to event sessions, event coordination with a personal concierge, exclusive access to VIP events and gourmet meals prepared by Vail's internationally renowned chefs. Spouse passes are $300 and individual session fees start at $50 per session.

The event is organized by the Vail Symposium, a grassroots, non-profit organization providing thought-provoking, diverse and affordable educational programs to the Vail Valley community. Event sponsors include Vail Valley Medical Center, HealthONE, the Town of Vail, The Steadman Clinic, Vail Summit Orthopedics, Triumph Development, the Vail Daily, Antlers at Vail, Vitality Center, Udi's, The Biegler Foundation, Colorado Access and Wendy and Paul Raether.

For more information about Living at Your Peak or to register, please visit http://www.livingatyourpeak.org.

About Living at Your PeakLiving at Your Peak is a two-and-a-half day summit designed to help individuals learn how to live longer, better and influence positive change in the wellbeing of the world around them. The event is designed to promote lifelong health and fitness through customized experiences in an intimate setting. Program presenters are proven experts and peak performers in the fields of fitness, nutrition, cognitive and emotional wellbeing, preventive medicine and cutting-edge research. Living at Your Peak is organized by the Vail Symposium. For more information, please visit http://www.livingatyourpeak.org, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/LivingatYourPeak, follow us on twitter at @LivingaturPeak or follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/living-at-your-peak.

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Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova Will Keynote Living at Your Peak, Vail's Interactive Health Event

Whether youre a professional marathoner or you only get off the couch for a chip run, its hard to overlook the growing interest in health and fitness issues in the U.S.

With more Americans taking a proactive role in their health, careers in the health and fitness sectors are experiencing unprecedented growth.

In the last five years, Ive seen trainers and athletic coaches grow their businesses by 500%, says John Romaniello, author of Final Phase Fat Loss and founder of Roman Fitness Systems in New York City.

Ten years ago, Romaniello says personal trainers were paid around $75 an hour to train one person. Today, theres been a shift in training methods and many instructors now take on four clients per hour at $60 each. Additionally, things like bootcamps, outdoor group classes with up to 40 people, are also big money-makers for fitness pros.

Today, instructors are making $240 an hour, but the clients are happy, too, because theyre paying less overall, says Romaniello. With bootcamps, you can charge 30 people $20 per class without the overhead of a studio rental, and all of a sudden youre making $600 an hour.

For those interested in pursuing a career in health and fitness fields, Todd Galati, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise, says the current environment makes for an easy transition.

Public awareness is up that fitness is not only for the fit, says Galati. Fitness professionals aren't just working in gyms. Its going to be a solid growth industry over the next 10 years.

Fitness careers are also expanding online, according to Jake Steinfled, owner of the Body By Jake franchise and chair of the National Foundation for Governors Fitness Councils.

The change thats happening in the industry has to do with education and the fact that more people interested in getting in shape now have access to a professional, says Steinfeld. People are very private and a gym can be a very intimidating place if you are not in shape and not feeling good about yourself. Thankfully, more people are turning to the web to get their personal training sessions virtually.

Steinfled launched online fitness hub FitOrbit.com in 2009, and now employs more than 400 personal trainers all over the country that work with thousands of clients each month from the comfort of their bedrooms or living rooms.

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Health and Fitness Jobs: What You Need, Where to Go, and What You'll Pay

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

DCAdvisors, a retirement plan, investment strategy and plan governance consulting firm announced that industry veteran John Rowe has joined their client consulting group as well as the firms leadership team.

Mr. Rowe has served in a variety of market-facing roles throughout his distinguished 30-year career. His professional experience includes senior leadership roles in business development, client management and product development while working at American Express (now Ameriprise), Merrill Lynch, Genworth and MetLife. He is a frequent speaker at industry events and is a recognized expert in the use of lifetime income solutions within target risk and target date investment strategies.

DCAdvisors Managing Director Dan Esch stated, More than ever, corporate executives and retirement plan committees need objective guidance regarding their fiduciary responsibilities. Johns experience with institutional investments and his industry knowledge will be immensely valuable to our clients as we advise retirement plan sponsors on the new 408(b)(2) and 404(a)(5) fee transparency requirements, design appropriate risk mitigation strategies, and deliver enhanced service provider and investment menu benchmarking services.

Mr. Rowe served as a trustee for the Minnesota Zoo Foundation from 2003 to 2007 and as Board Chair from 2007 to 2009. Additionally, he served in a leadership capacity during the 2002 and 2009 PGA Championships held at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, MN and plans to serve in a similar capacity at the Ryder Cup Matches scheduled in 2016.

Mr. Rowe is a native of Kokomo, IN. He received a degree as Bachelor of Science (Finance and Economics) from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana in 1982. He and his wife Julie have lived in the Twin Cities since 1990 and have two grown children.

About DCAdvisors: DCAdvisors helps companies meet their retirement plan fiduciary responsibilities by providing plan design expertise, unbiased investment recommendations and comprehensive plan governance services to mid and large retirement plan sponsors across the U.S. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the firm prides itself on its independence and its reputation for passion, commitment and integrity.

DCAdvisors is a registered investment advisor, founded in 1994.

To find out more, please visit http://www.DCAdvisors.com

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Industry Veteran John Rowe Joins Retirement Plan, Governance and Investment Consulting Firm

RBC CANADIAN CONSUMER OUTLOOK - Percentage of share of responsibility for ensuring a financially secure retirement

Alberta residents acknowledge that their investment knowledge is limited

TORONTO , May 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Albertans on average say they are responsible for most (62 per cent) of their financial security in retirement - three percentage points higher than the national average, according to the latest RBC Canadian Consumer Outlook (RBC CCO).

Thirty-seven per cent of Albertans are confident they will have enough money to have a secure retirement. On the flip side, 35 per cent are concerned about securing their financial future and nearly one-third (29 per cent) say they will have to return to work or continue working after 65 to maintain a steady income stream.

"We're here to provide Canadians with the information and advice they need to make informed decisions about their financial future," said Michael Wood , regional vice-president, RBC. "Thinking about retirement from an early age and putting a plan in place builds a strong foundation for financial security whether they're saving $50 or $500 a month."

However, when it comes to understanding the array of investment options, two-thirds (62 per cent) of Albertans say that they don't know enough about how all retirement savings options work and 44 per cent say they don't have the time to learn and understand their retirement savings options.

Other highlights from the survey found:

The RBC CCO is Canada's most comprehensive consumer assessment of the economy, personal financial situation and economic and purchasing expectations.

About RBC's savings and other financial advice and interactive tools Canadians can freely access savings advice and resources at rbc.com/savingsspot. In addition, all personal RBC online banking clients can use myFinanceTracker, a no-cost interactive financial management tool, to create a budget and track their spending habits. Whether Canadians want to get more from their day to day banking, protect what's important, save and invest, borrow with confidence or take care of their businesses, the RBC Advice Centre can help answer their questions. Interactive tools and calculators provide customized information covering many facets of personal finance. In addition, online advice videos are updated regularly to reflect current trends and to answer the questions that are top of mind with Canadians. With the guidance of RBC advisors who are available to chat live, Canadians have access to free, no-obligation professional advice about RBC products and services and personalized one-on-one service at rbcadvicecentre.com.

About the RBC Canadian Consumer Outlook The survey is conducted online via Ipsos Reid's national I-Say Consumer Panel to 3,398 Canadians (489 British Columbia, 481 Alberta, 539 Saskatchewan/Manitoba, 778 Ontario, 525 Quebec , 586 Atlantic Canada ). Weightingwas thenemployed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. Data collection was April 2 to 9, 2012. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100 per cent response rate would have an estimated margin of error of 1.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

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Albertans taking retirement matters into their own hands: RBC

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) Retirement health-care costs are enough to cause a severe anxiety attack. Even with Medicare benefits, a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2012 will spend at least $240,000 in retirement, according to the latest estimate from Fidelity Investments.

That doesnt include long-term-care costs, over-the-counter medications and most dental costs.

Plus, that $240,000 estimate is based on average life expectancy for a 65-year-oldthe husband living until age 82 and the wife until 85but average means half of people live longer than that.

In other words, that 65-year-old couple may well need much more than $240,000.

No wonder almost half of wealthy Americans close to retirement said they are extremely worried about the effect health-care costs will have on their plans, according to a recent survey, by Harris Interactive for Nationwide Financial, of people with more than $250,000 in household assets.

When youre young, you cant envision what its actually going to cost you, said Henry Hebeler, a former Boeing executive who created AnalyzeNow.com, a retirement-planning website.

As you get older, thats when you start having the medical bills, said the 78-year-old Hebeler. I missed one day of work for sickness in 33 years at Boeing. And then I retired, he said.

Despite being relatively healthyhe and his wife still ski, for instancehes been in the hospital a number of times since retiring, he said, including for knee surgery. He details some of his experiences on his website.

Get your budget straight

If youre still in the retirement-planning stage, you might be envisioning lower living costsno more commuting, buying business attire, setting aside huge sums for retirement.

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Your retirement health-care tab will run $240,000

SHANGHAI, CHINA--(Marketwire -05/09/12)- HP (HPQ) today showcased its unparalleled line of computers and printers, the first show of resolve for the newly created HP Printing and Personal Systems group.

More than 500 media influencers from around the world gathered at the Shanghai Expo Center to view the new products, which include:

The newly merged HP Printing and Personal Systems group, announced March 21, enables HP to rally more energy and resources in service to customers. The combined organization enables greater investment in innovation and marketing, as well as streamlines HP's collaboration with channel partners globally.

"The products we unveiled today are inspired by our customers, and confirm our passion to fuse form, function, style and reliability into great computers and printers," said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Printing and Personal Systems, HP. "We are well positioned to continue delivering innovation in the future for customers in China and everywhere else around the globe."

HP's premier client event, HP Discover, takes place June 4-7 in Las Vegas.

About HPHP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) Based on market research of comparable A4 mobile inkjet printers less than $500 as of September 2011.

Ultrabook is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including execution of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the competitive pressures faced by HP's businesses; the development and transition of new products and services (and the enhancement of existing products and services) to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the protection of HP's intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties; integration and other risks associated with business combination and investment transactions; the hiring and retention of key employees; expectations and assumptions relating to the execution and timing of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; the resolution of pending investigations, claims and disputes; and other risks that are described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2012 and HP's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

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HP Unveils Powerful and Stylish Technology for Consumers and Businesses

SHANGHAI, CHINA--(Marketwire -05/09/12)- HP (HPQ) today announced powerful business products packed with energy-efficiency, security and performance features designed to meet customer needs across industries such as healthcare, retail, and media and entertainment.

Among the products announced for businesses are:

"HP's new high-performing business products allow our customers to get an exceptional user experience with better graphics and video performance, while still keeping operating costs low," said Jim Zafarana, vice president and general manager, Commercial Solutions Business Unit, HP.

Lower power usage and enhanced performanceThe HP t410 AiO operates within 13 watts of power envelope over PoE,(1) delivering great energy efficiency for businesses. It combines an 18.5-inch diagonal display and high-performing smart zero client in one space-saving unit. The HP t410 AiO requires no external power supply because it is powered via Ethernet connection. This offers customers a cleaner, more reliable power source and requires less cabling and set-up time.

The HP t410 AiO supports multiple protocols and can be reprogrammed on the fly. Auto-sensing technology automatically connects to the network and searches for a customer's existing client virtualization environments, be it from Citrix, Microsoft or VMware. This allows companies with a mix of infrastructures to use the HP t410 AiO across any of these solutions.

The HP t410 AiO delivers a rich multimedia computing experience using an innovative system-on-chip design. It also features a powerful, energy-efficient ARM processor technology with an integrated digital signal processor that gives the HP t410 AiO the capability to display full-screen high-definition (HD)(2) video, complex graphical content and rich media, while still running at optimum performance levels.

Customizable features for diverse retail environments The HP RP7 is a powerful and versatile all-in-one retail system that offers a variety of configurations and integrated peripherals that can be customized to meet retailers' diverse needs.

"HP's broad retail solutions portfolio, which includes the RP7 Retail System, combines the latest technologies with HP innovation to introduce several exciting new products designed with today's retailer in mind," said Ray Carlin, vice president, Retail Solutions, HP.

The HP RP7 is built to handle the rigorous demands of retail environments and includes a 15-inch or 17-inch diagonal touch-enabled display that is sealed to provide resistance against environmental contaminants, such as water and dust. Retailers can add an optional magnetic-stripe reader, biometric fingerprint reader or webcam, and either a two-line or 10-inch diagonal customer display to enhance promotional activities.

The new 15-inch and 17-inch HP L6015tm and L6017tm Retail Touch Monitors feature multitouch projected capacitive touch technology and offer maximum usability and durability, as well as a sleek modernized appearance. The 10-inch diagonal non-touch HP L6010 Retail Monitor is designed for use as a customer-facing display for order verification or promotional activities, or as an associate-facing display in space-constrained environments.

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HP Unveils New High-Performance Business Solutions

The LIFEBOOK family of notebooks includes the new UH family of "Made in Japan"(1) Ultrabooks(TM). Lightweight and measuring just 15.6mm at their thickest point-making them the world's thinnest(2) notebook PCs with an integrated hard disk drive-the UH family features a seamless, beautiful design and is equipped with a CPU from the powerful 3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) processor family.

From the ESPRIMO family of desktops, the FH family of all-in-one LCD models (FH98/HM, FH/77HD and FH56/HD) comes with a new Quick TV feature that can launch the PC's built-in TV viewer in approximately five seconds.

Fujitsu today also announced "My Cloud," a revolutionary new concept for PCs. In aiming to bring about a human centric intelligent society, the announcement is part of Fujitsu's continued efforts to create a prosperous future through a wide range of transformational technologies. Based on Fujitsu's human-centric approach of placing top emphasis on the user, My Cloud is a fresh concept in personal computing that will offer customers a new kind of experience. My Cloud will take advantage of Fujitsu's portfolio of transformational technologies-both past and future-and will present new possibilities for employing cloud computing.

1. Key Features of the Summer 2012 FMV Series Models

The new lineup includes the latest models from the UH and SH families of LIFEBOOK notebook PCs, which have been designed with a total emphasis on slimness. In addition, the ESPRIMO family of desktops boasts new models from the FH family that feature enhanced TV functionality and a revamped design.

(1) LIFEBOOK UH family: World's thinnest Ultrabook(TM)

There are two new models in the LIFEBOOK UH family of Ultrabooks(TM): LIFEBOOK UH75/H (14" wide-format LCD model) and LIFEBOOK UH55/H (13.3" wide-format LCD model). The LIFEBOOK UH75/H measures only 15.6mm at its thickest point, making it the world's thinnest LCD notebook PC with an integrated hard disk drive, weighs only 1.44kg, and offers 9.1-hours of battery runtime(3). Continuing with its efforts to pursue thinness and compactness, Fujitsu hasutilized Ultra Compressed Grid Construction technology and a durable magnesium alloy clamshell, which has undergone load testing of approximately 200kgf(4). These enable both durability and thinness, making this the ideal Ultrabook(TM) to accompany users wherever they go.

LIFEBOOK UH75/H is extremely beautifully designed thanks to an ultra-thin frame that is only 4.3mm on the top of the LCD screen and 4.1 on the left and right, and a full flat fine-panel. Both models are available in two different colors-LIFEBOOK UH75/H in Satin Red and Satin Silver, and LIFEBOOK UH55/H in Alumite Red and Alumite Silver. LIFEBOOK UH75/H also comes equipped with the latest high-performance CPU from the 3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) processor family.

(2) LIFEBOOK SH family: World's thinnest13.3-inch wide-format LCD notebook PC with an integrated optical disk drive

In addition to boasting high-spec performance that makes it perfect for use as a main machine, the thin, lightweight and long-lasting SH family of notebook PCs also features a built-in Super Multi Drive, enabling it to be carried anywhere at any time, both at home or when on the road.

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Fujitsu Announces Summer 2012 Line of FMV Series of Personal Computers

NEW ORLEANS, May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Phiaton Corporation, a premium manufacturer of high-performance personal audio products, is making it easy for everyone to "go wireless" with the debut of its new PS 210 BTNC Bluetooth Stereo Earphones (MSRP: $159). The stylish personal calling and music listening solution combines the total freedom and flexibility of wireless Bluetooth technology with dramatically improved audio performance. Notably, the PS 210 BTNC's enhanced noise cancelling technology neutralizes up to 95% of ambient background noise.

Phiaton's second-generation Everplay-X technology--made exclusively for the PS 210 BTNC earphones--allows you to plug your wireless earphones into most portable music players with a 3.5mm output. Plus, just like the first-generation Everplay, this feature allows you to continue listening to music even if the battery runs out. Phiaton's PS 210 BTNC's provide a calling time of 12 hours, 14 hours of music-listening time and 250 hours of standby.

The PS 210 BTNC features built-in Bluetooth 3.0 technology, which provides greater bandwidth, clarity, and sound quality compared to previous generations of Bluetooth. Now, users can easily answer phone calls without having to remove their earphones using the attached dongle microphone and remote control. The special "Echo-Off" noise reduction technology virtually eliminates most background noise from the microphone while on a call.

The PS 210 BTNC's powerful 14.3mm drivers produce pure and accurate sound. The ergonomic "half in-ear" design provides outstanding comfort and fit.The dongle easily clips onto a bag or clothing.Alternately, there is an included neck strap for extra convenience. Full inline musical controls allow you to take charge of your songs without having to find your device.

About Phiaton Corporation

Phiaton Corporation is a premium manufacturer of high-performance noise cancelling headphones and earphones for consumers who appreciate authentic sound reproduction, eye-catching design and superior technology. The Phiaton brand is created for audiophiles who demand the extraordinary from the consumer electronics they buy.

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Phiaton Makes it Easy for Everyone to "Go Wireless" With Bluetooth 3.0 Technology and Everplay-X in PS 210 BTNC ...