Now hear this! Scanner makes big impression

A medical device from Lantos Technologies will change the face — and ear — of the audiology industry when it hits the market later this year as it aims to replace the "medieval art" of silicone ear canal impression-taking, according to the company's chief executive.

Spun out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology labs, the company's 3D Ear Scanning System can be used in a variety of markets, including consumer audio, industrial and military hearing protection, and hearing aids, said Lantos CEO and Chairman Jeffrey Leathe.

"These industries have been looking for a Holy Grail since their inception," Leathe, 56, said. "Every ear canal is different. They're just like fingerprints."

Founded in 2009, the Cambridge company has raised nearly $12 million to date. The Lantos device is the first 3-D ear scanning technology to land U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance, Leathe said.

The Lantos portable handheld scanner can capture precise images of an individual's ear canal as a soft membrane fills with a water-based optical dye and conforms to his or her specific ear anatomy. The device membrane can also extend all the way to the eardrum and be easily removed once the process is complete, Leathe said.

"There's a lot of real estate in the ear canal not being used currently," he said. "The devices that work best are those deepest in the ear canal."

Lantos scans take less than two minutes for both ears, unlike traditional impressions, which can last up to 15 minutes, Leathe said.

The Lantos scanner is currently being tested by three of the largest hearing aid manufacturers in the world, Leathe said. The companies were not disclosed.

The device, which is expected to be commercially available in six to nine months, will also be "well within the standard (price) range" of instrumentation already being used by audiologists, Leathe said.

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The Ticker

Cynosure buys Palomar

Cynosure's stock dipped slightly yesterday after the Westford company announced it was buying Palomar Medical Technologies Inc. of Burlington in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $294 million.

"Both have been industry leaders in light laser technology for cosmetic purposes," said Cynosure Chairman and CEO Michael Davin, above, who will assume those roles at the combined company. "I think they will complement each other very well."

Cynosure specializes in a minimally invasive laser approach to cellulite and non-invasive technology for tattoo removal, Davin said, while Palomar is a leader in hair removal and intense pulsed light for skin rejuvenation.

Cynoshare shares closed at $27.10, down nearly 
5 percent, while Palomar's rose 4.36 percent to $13.17 amid news of the deal between the companies.

SEC freezes Wilmington co.'s assets

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced an asset freeze against a Massachusetts-based investment adviser charged with stealing money from clients who were given the false impression they were investing in a hedge fund.

The SEC alleges that Gregg D. Caplitz and Insight Onsite Strategic Management in Wilmington sraised at least $1.1 million from clients that was used for purposes other than investing in the hedge fund they purported to manage.

Mass. agency invests $4.1M in Forsyth

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center today awarded a $4.1 million capital grant to the Forsyth Institute for a new center to transform the way disease testing is done.

TODAY

 The Commerce Department releases housing starts for February.

 Federal Reserve policy makers meet to discuss interest rates.

TOMORROW

 Babson College hosts the 7th annual NFTE New England Youth Entrepreneurship Conference on its campus.

 Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke holds a news conference on interest rates and an economic forecast.

 American Science and Engineering Inc. of Billerica has named Tyco Electronics executive Charles P. Dougherty, left, as the company's new president and chief executive officer. Dougherty replaces Anthony R. Fabiano, who is retiring from the company.

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BlackBerry OS not a perfect 10

The new BlackBerry 10 operating system is a total revamp. It has not one line of code in common with the software that powered previous BlackBerry smartphones, but still manages to feel like an improvement on something familiar. The new touchscreen-only BlackBerry Z10, available at the end of the month from Verizon and AT&T, is therefore a brand-new product — not an evolved device like the iPhone 5 or upcoming Samsung Galaxy S 4.

The OS is made up of a set of desktop panels accessed by a conventional slider tray, an active frames screen and the "Hub." Swiping up from the bottom takes you to your active frames screen, which contains open applications. An inward swipe from the left takes you to the Hub, which is a chronology of notifications, messages, emails and calls — convenient for a busy day.

The BlackBerry die-hards might be turned off by the Z10's lack of a physical keyboard. But the virtual keyboard is among the best in the touchscreen world, with a new auto-complete feature that will finish your word with an upward swipe.

Yet the biggest problem with this phone almost feels weird to write about a smartphone: It's no fun.

Yes, fun. We now live in a world of mobile apps, with their funky camera filters, mobile window shopping, GPS navigation and custom radio channels. And what exists of this in the BlackBerry World store is mostly expensive and poorly reviewed. There's no Yelp, Instagram, Google Maps, Netflix, Vine or Amazon, to name some popular apps.

Almost making up for this lack of apps is the incredibly fast LTE speeds from AT&T on the Z10 I tested. And while BlackBerry 10 does have social media integration, it feels half-baked. For instance, if you receive a notification that one of your friends has updated her Facebook status, clicking on it will show you the full status update but lead you to a dead-end.

This is just one of a handful of improvements that the new OS on the Z10 needs to be a game-changer. Yet it should be considered a respectable entrant to the most competitive industry in the world.

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The Ticker

State: Please file online

Less than a month before the tax filing deadline, Massachusetts officials continue to urge taxpayers to file their state returns electronically if possible.

The state Revenue Department said it had processed nearly 1.4 million electronic returns as of Friday, compared with about 154,000 paper returns. The average turnaround for a refund was just under three and a half days for electronically filed returns and five days for those filed the old-fashioned way.

Maxim's up for sale

Racy men's magazine Maxim is up for sale, according to the publication's president, Ben Madden. The private equity owners of Maxim's parent, Alpha Media Group, have owned the business for more than six years, and that is the usual time for such investors to try to sell, he said. Madden added that the company's investment in online video and digital subscriptions is starting to pay off. Digital revenue is up 
45 percent so far this year, compared to a year ago, while print ad revenue is set to rise in the first half, he said.

Today

 The Boston Redevelopment Authority holds a community meeting for a convention center hotel project on D Street in South Boston.

 Moscow government officials and KPMG host conclude presentations of their "Destination Moscow Roadshow 2013" at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston.

TOMORROW

 The Commerce Department releases housing starts for February.

 Federal Reserve policymakers meet to discuss interest rates.

 Commerce Bank has promoted Alan Jenne, left, as senior vice president of consumer lending. Jenne, who is responsible for the bank's consumer lending and classic car divisions, joined the bank in 2009 as vice president of consumer lending.

 Welch's of Concord has appointed Geralyn R. Breig to its board of directors. Breig is a former executive with the Avon and Godiva brands and is currently a board director with 1-800-Flowers.com.

 Monster has hired Matt Anchin as senior vice president of global communications. Most recently, Anchin served as senior vice president of global marketing and communications for the media businesses of Nielsen, and vice president of online communications at American Express.

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Heiress talk of Tinseltown

Hub celebrity hounds are giddy about sightings of Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams, but the person who is really shaking up Hollywood is the 27-year-old heiress who is signing their checks.

Megan Ellison is the daughter of Oracle Corp. co-founder and CEO Larry Ellison, who is ranked by Forbes as the fifth-richest person on the planet and whose $43 billion fortune includes the Hawaiian island of Lanai.

Megan and her brother, David, also a film producer, are Ellison's only children, the products of his marriage to Barbara Boothe — his third of four wives.

Like any young woman who has received — depending on which reports you believe — anywhere between $200 million and $2 billion from her father, Megan 
Ellison has skipped the waiting tables, fetching coffee and doing commercials stages of most Hollywood hopefuls. She seems to have started her career as a film prod­ucer — and a very talented one.

So far, unlike many super-rich folks who have tried to take Tinseltown by storm, Megan and her production company, Annapurna Pictures — operated from three houses in the Hollywood Hills — have backed some real winners.

In fact, if you enjoyed "Lawless, "The Master" or "Zero Dark Thirty," you have Megan Ellison to thank.

According to its website, 
Annapurna Pictures, which gets its name from the Hindu harvest goddess who protects the world from starvation, has "the goal of creating sophisticated, high-
quality films that might otherwise be considered risky by trad­itional Hollywood studios."

It seems that Ellison is on the right track again by backing 
David O. Russell's untitled 
Abscam film project, which has brought the latest crop of stars to Boston.

Ellison, who "does not do press interviews," according to her publicist, reportedly rides a Harley and likes to hang out with Jessica Chastain. In a nod to Hollywood's love of sequels, she also has purchased the rights to the "Terminator" film franchise.

In other words, Ellison is living the dream.

According to her Twitter 
account, she was recently at the South by Southwest festival for the premier of "Spring Breakers," a film she produced that stars James Franco and several women in 
bikinis, including Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez.

Hopefully, Boston will be next on Ellison's itinerary. She can stop by the Herald — we're in the same building as the Abscam flick's 
offices — and we can join her 
in bashing Vanity Fair for a nasty little comment about her looks in a recent profile.

It may take several more great films, but we can't wait for the day when Larry is introduced as Megan Ellison's father.

Boston, keep an eye out for 
Megan. She's the one to watch.

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PAX East goes for big game

Bay State digital artists are taking their creations to a new level for this year's PAX East video gaming expo, which kicks off Friday.

Visible from a half-mile away on a digital canvas, six marquee artworks have gone live on an 80-foot-tall LED tower outside the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. All the videos were designed by video game company employees or video game design teachers.

"This is the future of public art," said George Fifield, president of Boston Cyberarts, a local nonprofit arts group that organized the display with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. "The first time (the artists) see something they made on something so humongous, you see their jaws drop and their eyes open wide."

The 30-second works on the digital billboard reflect gaming culture, either in vintage or modern forms. For example, a group of eight artists who work for Needham-based game design company Turbine Inc. created "Mists of Mortal Legends" featuring "high-flying intergalactic combat where issues of control are turned upside down."

Meanwhile, Fitchburg State College media professor Jeffu Warmouth's "1UP" shows a self-inspired character "moving through a shifting set of game environments drawn from the Golden Age of arcade games."

Warmouth, 42, a Groton resident, said he spent about 100 hours creating his video, which recalls scenes from the classic 8-bit games "Donkey Kong," "Joust" and "Dig Dug."

"I've always done work with kind of a popular bent to it and I've done a lot of work about pop culture, and I've always been interested in venues that are not white gallery space," said Warmouth, who has made two previous videos for the BCEC marquee. "There's something great about the marquee being in the public space where people are not expecting art. Definitely, it's expanded my audience."

Other digital works include "LARP" by Chris Florio; "Space Plants" by Fish McGill; "Tiger Training" by William Russell Pensyl; and "Growing Phones" by Joshua Pablo Rosenstock.

The artists and teams chosen to produce marquee art are paid a $500 honorarium for their work, which take about a month to complete.

PAX East, which attracts thousands of video game enthusiasts from around the globe, runs March 22-24.

"(The marquee's) become something of a landmark for the South Boston waterfront and reflective of the fact this is the Innovation District," said convention center chief Jim Rooney, adding the agency would consider calling for more videos geared toward future BCEC events.

A separate Boston Cyberarts gallery exhibition in Jamaica Plain titled "The Game's Afoot: Video Game Art" runs until April 14.

"The whole gaming industry has been in retreat these days as people change the game platforms they've been using," Fifield said. "When all gaming finds its feet again, Massachusetts is positioned to be a really important player."

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Turbo-boosted Beetle

Sporty, quick and fuel-efficient — that sums up the 2013 VW Beetle TDI.

Based on the popular Golf architecture, the 2.0 liter, 140-horsepower Turbo Diesel offers pleasantly surprising performance. Driven through the upgraded DSG Automatic Transmission, or Direct Shift Gearbox, it can be wrung out for quick, sport-like driving or babied as an economical commuter car.

What's great about this car is watching the digital display counting out at least 35 mpg in mixed driving and a robust 39 on the highway. So even though diesel fuel costs more, the extra 10 mpg gained over gasoline models makes this an intriguing choice.

The flat metal dash and tiny glovebox highlight the throwback interior, which is a bit spartan in places, but the controls are well-placed and intuitive. The rear seat straps also pay homage to the cars of yesteryear, but remain helpful when clambering out of the very tight rear seats. The good news: The trunk has more space now. The rigid and bench-like leatherette front seats are a disappointment. A more supportive seat would make the driving experience better: Go with cloth for more comfort. The squared-off steering wheel with its easy infotainment controls makes you want to run this Bug through a weekend rally.

Thanks for the heated seats, but the car interior eventually warms and then roasts you! As high schoolers we rattled around in a mid-'60s era Bug and had to use an ice scraper on the interior window. Looks like this Bug is plagued by erratic heating, too.

The handling is crisp and sure with just the right amount of feedback to the driver, and the electronic braking distribution system delivers nice, solid stopping power. The electronic stability and independent strut suspension keeps the Bug flat on turns with little body roll. The torquey diesel accelerates quickly with just enough turbo gurgle to let you know that this is not one of the air-cooled bangers from the '60s. This is a good engine, and it produces. Step on it for immediate response, and the Bug scoots swiftly into traffic.

Our tester was the base DSG TDI, so for $24,395 you get a nicely packaged coupe that includes satellite-ready stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and 
17-inch wheels. Upgrades will get you navigation, sunroof and the Fender stereo. However, the hands-free phone is miserable. It's difficult to understand and callers had a difficult time hearing me.

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Court gives OK for wharf eatery

Redevelopment of Boston's Long Wharf pavilion into a waterfront restaurant — seven years in the making — is a step closer thanks to a decision by Massachusetts' highest court.

Restaurateur Michael Conlon and the Boston Redevelopment Authority welcomed yesterday's Supreme Judicial Court ruling that the pavilion doesn't constitute a public park and its redevelopment doesn't require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.

"We look forward to moving ahead with the BRA on this project, which we believe will benefit the city, the waterfront and the neighborhood," Conlon said in a statement.

In 2007, Conlon's Eat Drink Laugh Restaurant Group was the winning bidder for a 10-year lease of the pavilion, which is slated to be enclosed and expanded to make way for Doc's Long Wharf, a 220-seat casual, moderately priced eatery.

The next year, the state issued a Chapter 91 waterways license to the BRA for the redevelopment of the pavilion, which sits atop an MBTA ventilation shaft.

But a group of 10 North Enders appealed the license and eventually filed suit in Superior Court in 2010. They argued the state Department of Environmental Protection acted unconstitutionally and beyond its authority in issuing the license without legislative approval, which is needed when land taken for open space is used for other purposes.

The BRA argued that it took the land by eminent domain in 1970 as part of a waterfront urban renewal plan to eliminate blight and stimulate development.

A Superior Court judge sided with the North End residents, and the BRA waged an appeal.

"We are pleased with the SJC's decision," BRA director Peter Meade said in a statement. "It paves the way for yet another great destination on the edge of the Boston Harbor."

The SJC sent the case back to Superior Court to heed the North End residents' request for review of the Chapter 91 license.

"They will have to litigate the Chapter 91 legal claim and consider litigating alleged violations of federal law," said Gregor McGregor, the residents' attorney, referring to legal requirements tied to federal funding for Long Wharf improvements.

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They’re married all year – to the IRS

Tax season is upon us and the Herald's TaxSmart experts are here each Friday to help.

Today, Norwood CPA Robert Fineman discusses how married couples can cope with filing statuses.

I got married toward the end of 2012. My wife and I had already bought a house together the previous year. We don't have children.

Since we were only married for a short time in 2012, I'm confused as to how we should file. Am I single or married? Sort of married? Not quite single? Do I have to file differently for the different time periods? It all seems problematic.

— Mark Irving

I have good news. The answer to your complicated question is actually very simple.

Your filing status for the entire year is whatever your marital status is on the last day of the year. For example, if you get married on Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m., you are considered married, for tax purposes, for the entire year.

Generally, "Married Filing Jointly" is the more favorable status as opposed to "Married Filing Separately." Couples filing separately reach the 28 percent, 33 percent and 35 percent tax brackets much sooner than those filing jointly.

Certain deductions and credits are not available to taxpayers who elect to file separately, such as student loan interest deductions, college tuition deductions, the American Opportunity Tax Credit of up to $2,500, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Also, taxpayers filing jointly can deduct capital losses of up to $3,000 per year, compared to $1,500 if filing separately.

Email tax questions 
to bizsmart@boston
herald.com.

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Rooms with a view of St. Pat’s Day fun

Rooms with a view of St. Pat's Day fun

Once a year, a select group of Southie residents have front-row seats to the neighborhood's storied St. Patrick's Day parade.

Tens of thousands flood the sidewalks and fill the windows along Broadway, East Fourth, East Fifth and Dorchester streets as green floats, bagpipers and marching bands pass by.

It's too late to settle into a piece of property along the parade route in time for Sunday's Irish festivities, but here's a sampling of residences on the market with their asking prices, listed from start to finish:

• 258 West Broadway, Unit 1 — $365,000. Located two blocks from the Broadway MBTA station, this 1,100-square-foot loft with possibilities to be a live/work place offers 13-foot ceilings and exposed brick. The one-bedroom property also has exclusive use of a rear patio area and a shared roof deck. The monthly condo fee is $110 per month. Terry Hillery of Commonwealth Coastal Real Estate is the listing agent.

• 399 West Broadway, Unit 4 — $529,000. This 1,260-square-foot condo with two bedrooms and two bathrooms has an open floor plan featuring a living and dining room, along with a wood-burning fireplace and custom built-ins. The home has 10-foot-high ceilings, walnut-stained floors and a third bedroom that has been converted to a custom walk-in closet. There is also a large roof deck with views of downtown Boston. The monthly condo fee is $285. Listed by John Collins Capital Residential Group.

• 796 East Fourth St. — $939,000. This is only the second time in 100 years this magnificent 4,175-square-foot Victorian home near City Point has been available for sale. The eight-bedroom residence has four levels and 12-foot-high ceilings with original mill work, three marble fireplaces and stained glass window doors. There is also a private backyard. The property was the setting for the 2009 film "The Box," starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. Listed by Mike Sullivan and Stephen Hussey of Meridian Realty Group.

• 689 East Fourth St., Unit 2 — $729,000. This is one of seven newly constructed condos in a building at the corner of K Street. The 2,100-square-foot property fills two levels and features three bedrooms, three full baths and central heat and air conditioning. Units come with two deeded parking spaces. The monthly condo fee is $275. Listed by Jackie Rooney of Rooney Real Estate.

• 362 Dorchester St., Unit 3 — $459,000. This penthouse duplex has two bedrooms, two baths and two sunny decks. Built/renovated in 2005, the 1,109-square-foot condo features a chef's kitchen with stainless steel appliances, stone counters, marble baths, recessed accent lighting, hardwood floors and a gas fireplace. Garage parking is available for $200 per month. Listed with the Ranco & DeAngelo team at Hammond Residential.

Jennifer Athas, a licensed real estate broker, can be reached on Twitter 
@JenAthas.

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