Adobe released a security update to address “critical vulnerabilities” in Shockwave Player for Macintosh and Windows Tuesday, said an alert from the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team. U.S.-CERT said in a separate alert that Adobe also released security updates addressing vulnerabilities within the classes of Flash Player that could allow a “remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system." Affected versions of Adobe include Adobe Flash Player 9 through 18.0.0.204.

Comcast held a grand opening for its Studio Xfinity store in Chicago Friday. The new 9,000-square-foot space in Chicago’s Clybourn Corridor “brings together the best TV and Internet technology” and will be a testbed for “enhanced ways to serve customers,” said the company. The interactive space will allow customers to experience Comcast Internet, video, voice and home security and automation offerings, said Comcast. The “transformational retail environment” is part of a larger nationwide Comcast effort “to redefine the customer experience," said John Crowley, senior vice president-Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region. When customers enter the studio, store staff will greet and guide them throughout their visit, then provide support after they leave for any follow-up questions, said Crowley. Customers will be able to try out products and services at “demonstration towers,” while merchandise walls will show compatible third-party products including the Sonos Soundbar and Netgear routers “that complement the Xfinity lineup,” the company said. The store will hold informational events and activities, including workshops, product demos, sports-related events and game nights with coffee, tea and “refreshments,” said Comcast.

TCL LCD TV sales edged up 1.9 percent in June over June 2014, but volume fell 2.5 percent in overseas markets, the company said in a news release Wednesday. LCD TV sales in TCL’s strategic ODM business increased by 14 percent year over year to 150,567 units, while volume in emerging markets dropped 14 percent to 317,325 units, it said. Sales of smart TVs jumped 85 percent to 358,181 units, TCL said. In China, LCD TV sales grew 7 percent year over year to 500,906 sets in June, including 295,525 smart TVs, it said. Some 430,000 smart TVs were activated in June, said operator Huan Technology, and the daily average number of active smart TV users was 3.4 million out of a total smart TV customer base of 9 million, it said.

Sony expects to raise 440 billion yen ($3.6 billion) through issuance of 87.2 million shares of new common stock and other stock and bond offerings, the company said in a Tuesday announcement. It plans to use nearly three-quarters of the funds raised for research and development in its devices sector and to boost the production capacity of stacked CMOS image sensors for digital imaging products, the company said. It will use the rest of the proceeds to pay down debt, it said. Sony executives repeatedly touted their company’s global market-share supremacy in CMOS image sensors when they debuted three new cameras mid-June in what they called “game-changing announcements” (see 1506100046).

EBay said its board approved its previously announced (see report in the Oct. 1, 2014, issue) spinoff of PayPal into an independent company. EBay stockholders will receive one share of PayPal stock July 17 for each share of eBay stock held at the close of business July 8, eBay said Friday. PayPal is expected to trade on the Nasdaq stock market under the ticker “PYPL.” EBay and PayPal “will each have a sharper focus and greater flexibility to pursue future success in their respective global commerce and payments markets,” eBay CEO John Donahoe said in a news release.

Behind the theme “The Beat Goes On,” Monster CEO Noel Lee said at its CE Week news conference Wednesday that his company is at a “crossroads” and facing a “dilemma” that happens to every company with “a lot of years.” The issue is “how to stay relevant,” especially to an under-20 generation that thinks Monster “is an energy drink,” said Lee. Monster needs to engage bloggers and the Internet, he said, because “traditional is going the way of the dinosaur.” Monster’s other test is how it will survive getting the boot from Apple from the Made for iPhone certification program -- and from Apple stores -- as a result of its lawsuit (see 1501070009) against Apple’s Beats subsidiary filed in January alleging fraud and deceit and unfair competition. Monster designed the first generation of Beats by Dr Dre headphones before Beats went on its own and was later snatched up by Apple for $3.2 billion. A lawyer for Monster told the Wall Street Journal that losing the Apple Mfi license will hit Monster hard because nearly a quarter of its products were made under the Mfi program. At the news conference, Lee addressed the Apple breakup, saying, “Apple is clobbering us. They’re saying, ‘You will not be able to make Mfi products anymore after being the model of Mfi and Made for iPod.'” Monster “will not be making any Made for iPod products anymore,” Lee said. Monster retailers have panicked, he said, because “40 percent of headphone production” came from the Mfi program. Monster also discontinued production of the iOS lightning cable, he said. But in typical cheerleader fashion, the energetic “Head Monster” bounced back fighting and is coming out next month with a three-button universal remote for smartphones “that’s more universal than what we had." The new, re-engineered in-line remote is compatible with all the phones that aren't compatible with Apple ControlTalk, Lee said. The lesson from the Apple experience, he said, is “to be universal” and “a player in the worldwide market” and not have to “double inventory.” Another result of being out of the Apple certification program will be a reduction in product returns, said Lee. Customers who bought the ControlTalk-compatible Monster earphones for a Samsung Galaxy device and tried to use the track up or down feature were out of luck, he said. “And then guess what happens to retailers?” he asked.

Toshiba will begin two years of “verification testing” in August of “genome analysis data” transmissions using “quantum cryptography” technology that’s “theoretically completely secure” from hacking, the company said in a Thursday announcement. The testing will be the first use in Japan of quantum cryptographic communication for the transmission of actual data, Toshiba said. Quantum cryptography, which Toshiba began researching in 2003, uses quantum physics “to ensure that genomic data encrypted with digital keys remains secret,” it said. “Standard optical” cryptography methods can be “intercepted and read by measuring a part of the optical signal,” it said. In quantum cryptography, “communications bits are carried and sent by individual photons” that can’t be “tampered with,” it said. The secrecy of the system’s encryption keys, and the genome data they protect, “can be guaranteed,” it said. Toshiba representatives didn’t say why the company hedged as it did in the announcement by calling the technology “theoretically completely secure” from hacking. Toshiba’s goal is to use the results of the verification tests “to support commercialization within five years of a quantum cryptographic communication system able to guarantee secure transfers of confidential information and personal information,” the company said. “Potential users will include public agencies and medical institutions.”

Polk Audio bowed the Striker Pro gaming headset at E3 that’s PC, Mac and mobile device-compatible. The headset will be available in a licensed version for Xbox One, with a wireless headset adapter, and in a PlayStation 4-compatible version, said a Polk news release Tuesday. The Striker Pro comes with a flexible, removable omnidirectional mic with push-button mute for console and PC gaming and with an in-line mic for mobile use. The red Striker Pro P1 for PlayStation 4 ($129) and the emerald Striker Pro Zx ($149) for Xbox One will be available in September, said the company.

BeBop Sensors was named winner of the 2015 Frost & Sullivan North American Technology Award for its fabric sensor technology that has applications in wearables, sports, automotive, healthcare and manufacturing. BeBop has developed 14 sensors for OEM products in numerous fields using proprietary sensor technology that integrates all of the sensors, traces and electronics into one piece of fabric, said the company. The approach is said to provide sensitivity, resolution, range of deployment and robustness in a compressed space. For automotive applications, BeBop developed a prototype “smart tire” that can sense road surface, tire profile and details about a tire’s contact patch, which can be used “to adjust suspension, enlighten anti-lock braking and report on tread depth,” said the company.

Sprint said it became the first national carrier to offer an add-on plan making it easier for subscribers to call Cuba. For $10 per month, customers can add Sprint Cuba 20 Plus to their plan and get 20 minutes of monthly calling to Cuba. Additional minutes are 70 cents each. The plan also includes calling or texting to Mexico or Canada at no additional charge and discounted calling to 180 other countries, Sprint said Monday.