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Liberate, Signatures Eye Music VOD
Simon Applebaum
Multichannel News
10/8/2002 11:37:00 AM
Liberate Technologies is out to make music as a content provider.
The interactive-TV-software vendor unwrapped its first video-on-demand content play Tuesday morning at a media briefing in New York.
Liberate will partner with Signatures Network, an entertainment-licensing and event-merchandising firm, on a set of music services that can run in VOD or subscription-VOD settings. The idea is to give viewers the option to personalize their music TV by specific artists, genres, record labels or advertisers.
Service elements showcased at the briefing included concert performances, music videos, backstage clips, biographies/discographies, tour dates and at least one T-commerce feature, artist merchandise. All features are accessible through a special on-screen program guide.
Liberate will take its music-on-demand collaboration with Signature on a demo tour among cable and direct-broadcast satellite operators the next few weeks, out to land as many takers as possible for market trials early next year. The company's Web site (http://www.liberate.com/) is also presenting a VOD demo.
Liberate president Coleman Sisson said the venture would benefit the music and media industries simultaneously, with a new distribution system for musical content and more original on-demand fare for cable and DBS.
'Our technology supports a business model that provides the ideal solution to everyone involved,' he added in a prepared statement.
'It offers artists an unprecedented opportunity to commercialize their live performances while retaining creative oversight,' Signatures CEO Dell Furano said in his own statement, prepared in advance of appearing at Liberate's event, 'and it gives fans access to a limitless amount of great personalized content.'
Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Britney Spears, Shakira and U2 are among the artists connected in merchandising and/or marketing rights agreements with Signatures.
Separately, Liberate has more than 3,000 interactive-TV content/application providers worldwide in its PopTV developers program. Several PopTV representatives were scheduled to update their situations at the briefing.
Misha DaBushka Edigteers-- we are entering another one of the infamous EDIG "buying opportunities" period as we approach the one year PPS low; so saddle on up and take an Odyssey down to your local edig store because the 'Evolution will NOT be televised
Internet Movies Special Report
Cinema Now or Later?
Posted on: 10/12/2001 @ 1800
Subject: Downloading movies from CinemaNow.com
In recent news articles we learned that CinemaNow relaunched its Web site with a custom version of Microsoft's Windows Media Player and begun to offer downloadable movies in addition to their streaming movies.
CinemaNow recently launched PatchBay, a video on demand system built on Microsoft's Technology. PatchBay uses Microsoft's digital rights management (DRM) technology.
Two different deals have been announced in the past few months between different Hollywood studios. Hollywood is saying they are going to start releasing their films on their websites about the time that it would appear on pay-per-view systems which is anywhere from two to four weeks after it is released on video/DVD. But still no word on whether they will ever use current distribution channels like CinemaNow.
We decided to test out CinemaNow's new downloadable movie service. First we visited CinemaNow and located their downloadable movies section. Their web site is laid out well and is very easy to navigate.
The process was exceptionally well thought out and professional. We located the movie we wanted to download and clicked to download. A small window then launched explaining the process. It took us step by step through system requirements that we would need to watch the movie and even tested our system for us to be sure we had all the required components needed.
Next we were presented with a screen containing purchase options and an area to accept our payment information. The payment options were as follows:
$1.99 : 48 hour unlimited access to this movie.
$9.95 : Premium Pass monthly subscription for unlimited access to all movies (except new releases).
We choose the first option and entered our payment information. Our payment information was accepted and we continued on to download the film.
The download process worked great. The download information was contained right in the small open window including a progress meter and all. The file size was only 450 Mb compared to most DivX downloads we have seen that run around 650 Mb. The file downloaded at 400 K/sec., which is the top speed for the DSL connection we were using. In fact the download was done in less than 2 hours.
Once the download was completed it was time to check out the quality. We must admit we were a bit concerned because it was all encoded using Windows Media and we have always been under the impression that DivX was better. To say the least we are completely satisfied with both the video and the audio quality of the file we downloaded.
Now about the DRM that is part the file we downloaded. The DRM works great. The movie played for 48 hours after the first time we played it. After the license expired and we tried to play the movie up popped the friendly window from CinemaNow with the payment options.
What we like most about the way the DRM works is that we could share this file with others online via P2P or any other means and the original distributor would still be selling the access. I think this would make the most sense as a distribution channel. People are already trading movies online through several channels so all Hollywood needs to do is release their movies protected with this DRM technology to companies like CinemaNow and let them distribute the movies. This way no one company will have to carry all the bandwidth. We can all continue to use the same channels we do now. This in itself would be the best defense against piracy. After all if I use my favorite P2P program and download a large movie file then click on it and up pops a window asking me for $1.99 to view the movie what am I most likely to do? Will I delete it and go looking for another place to download the file wondering if it will be protected as well or will I just pay the $1.99 and enjoy the movie?
It is notable to mention that the file we downloaded could easily be renamed something like bigmovie(DivX).SCR.AVI and released on P2P networks. As I said above this could be effective in fighting online movie piracy. If Hollywood released their films to 3rd party distributors like CinemaNow they would most certainly infiltrate the current distribution channels and users would pay.
When we decided to do this report we contacted CinemaNow to let then know we were going to do a small write up on their new service. Jared Goldsmith Director of Marketing responded immediately offering to answer any specific questions we might have. We did not have a lot of questions specifically about CinemaNow since all of the information we needed was provided by their web site. We did however decide to send him some questions that we thought our members would be interested in getting some input from CinemaNow.
Here are our questions and the answers as provided by Curt Marvis CEO CinemaNow:
Q) In general what do see as the future for CinemaNow?
A) For CinemaNow to succeed as a major independent distributor of video on demand.
Q) What is your idea of the ultimate distribution channel for feature films online once released?
A) I'm not sure what you mean, but it is for the largest capacity servers with access to as many films as possible served on robust high speed networks
Q) How do you feel about the growing problem of Movie Piracy online and do you feel that it has impacted your company?
A) I think the problem is overstated. All the films we have are already out on VHS and/or DVD and this is the outlet for pirates to steal from. (i.e, the genie is already out of the bottle before we put it up online). Until distribution windows online preceed theatrical and DVD, this problem will stem from those copies of the films. Piracy is best countered with a combination of better quality of service and marketing form the legitimate distribution entities combined with legal enforcement.
Q) Can you explain why Hollywood Movies have been so big at the box office setting several new records this year yet the industry is claiming hugh losses due to online piracy?
A) Piracy is a huge financial loss regardless of the box office amounts. It particularly hits home video and DVD in territories outside the US.
Q) Do you agree that Hollywood is somewhat to blame for piracy because of their refusal to release films on-line?
A) Initially, perhaps, but that will change as soon as services like CinemaNow become more familiar to people.
Q) Do you think Hollywood will start releasing their films to the online community any time soon? How do you think that will take place?
A) I think you will see this before the end of 2002.
Q) If Hollywood does release their films online but not until weeks after they are released on DVD/Video do you think that it would be successful?
A) Yes. There is still a huge market in television (Pay, Free, Syndication) after the Home Video release. I think the same holds true online.
Q) Do you think a day will come where we would be able to download and view a newly released film at the same time it hits the box office or slightly before as consumers do now with pirated films?
A) Perhaps. But that remains many years down the road. We're not close yet.
Q) Any other comments?
A) We see this as yet another distribution window/channel. It should co-exist and strengthen that overall revenue picture for films in the same way that Cable, Home Video and PPV have done in the traditional space. Bottom line, there is a great thirst for content received by a wide variety of means by the end user. We think online VOD is the next big one.
In conclusion CinemaNow has a well-rounded service. We really had no trouble at all with any aspect of their service and found it very professional. Too bad there are not any major films to download. We all continue to wait for Hollywood. I find it strange that most businesses are formed by their consumers demand. Well the movie industry has a huge consumer demand for downloadable movies and there are numerous sites that want to distribute their films yet they continue to look for ways to control their consumers and demand that consumers do what they ask in order to watch the movies. That in our opinion is what has created the huge trend to download pirated films. If I am able to download and watch a movie that is in the theater in the comfort of my own home I feel like I have the power to choose. I was not forced to go to a building full of people because that is the only option. Consumers just want the choice. We are not cattle and do not like being herded.
Thanks for being an InternetMovies.com member and stay tuned to our members area as we continue to bring you special reports. Remember, as an Internetmovies.com member you can request a special report about anything related to movies and the Internet. Just click the special reports link above and follow the directions in the yellow box.
Funding keeps DataPlay open
Co. hopes venture capital lines up next week
By Matt Branaugh, Camera Business Writer
October 5, 2002
One week after putting its employees on mandatory furloughs, troubled disc-maker DataPlay Inc. landed a small amount of funding, enough to keep it going at least one more week.
Employees who checked in with the Boulder company Friday learned the furloughs remain in place until at least next Friday. But the emergency funding offers a sliver of hope DataPlay can still find the venture capital it needs to stay alive.
The company desperately needs the money -- as much as $50 million -- to launch an aggressive marketing campaign for the tiny discs and disc players it spent four years and $120 million developing.
While the company's executive team continues meeting with investors, the bridge funding at least signals some optimism, said Todd Oseth, DataPlay's senior vice president of business development.
"We keep the lights on and a hope of making this happen," said Oseth, who declined to say how much was raised.
The privately held DataPlay is also considering strategic alternatives, which could include a sale or merger of some kind, he said.
The company's troubles began a year ago, when glitches delayed the launches of both the tiny, half-dollar-sized discs, which can hold 500 megabytes of content, and the disc players. Record labels have signed up several artists for the format, including country stars Brooks & Dunn and teen pop artists Britney Spears and 'NSync.
Products, available on several Web sites, including Amazon.com and CircuitCity.com, finally began hitting Best Buy's shelves in August, but not before DataPlay was forced to ax half of its staff worldwide.
On Sept. 25, the company told its 120 workers, including the 80 at its Boulder headquarters, not to come to work until further notice. Employees are allowed to take any remaining vacation and sick days as a way to collect a paycheck.
Some analysts openly ques-
tion whether the technology's arrival came too late. While DataPlay contends its products are selling, it knows it can't sustain solid, long-term success without any advertising.
Prerecorded discs cost about the same as compact discs, while blank discs are priced at about $10 each. The players hover around $300.
By comparison, a spindle of 50 blank compact discs retails for as little as $10. DVD players that also play compact discs sell for as little as $60.
"If any product sells right now, it's unbelievable for one reason: No one knows it exists," Oseth said.
Some units are selling from foot traffic, he added.
"It must really be an eye-catcher," he said.
Contact Matt Branaugh at (303) 473-1363 or
branaughm@dailycamera.com.
Copyright decision to shape technology
By Declan McCullagh
Special to ZDNet
October 7, 2002, 5:24 AM PT
COMMENTARY--Anyone interested in the future direction of technology should pay attention to a case the U.S. Supreme Court will hear when the new session begins this week.
Technically, the oral arguments on Wednesday are about the fate of a federal law called the Copyright Term Extension Act, which extends the duration of all U.S. copyrights for 20 years.
A group of artists and moviemakers sued to overturn the law, saying they had hoped to make use of materials that were in the public domain--but found they no longer could because of the longer duration of each copyright. Championing their suit is a who's-who of law professors, led by Stanford University's Larry Lessig.
This case is not directly about technology. It's not even about topics that, compared with the sickly stock market or a war with Iraq, many people would find all that compelling. Few of us are legal academics, and almost nobody is directly affected by whether or not a book, song, or movie created in 1923 can be copied legally or not.
But what the Supreme Court decides in this case, Eldred v. Ashcroft, could create ripple effects that spread throughout the technology industry and shape what kind of software and hardware products are legal to create and sell.
Here's an example. Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), it's illegal to sell software or hardware that could descramble DVDs, unlock copy-protected CDs, or strip the protection away from Adobe's eBooks. The DMCA has even been used to threaten programmers who write font-manipulation software and researchers who point out security flaws.
As I wrote in a recent column, the DMCA may not be as noxious as some of its detractors claim it is, but any law that would ban software that could be used for both good and bad purposes goes too far. (It would be as nutty as banning all handguns, which Washington, D.C. does, just because some miscreants may use them for ill purposes.) Unfortunately, all court challenges to the "anti-circumvention" sections of the DMCA have failed.
The Supreme Court's eventual decision in the copyright extension case, which will come sometime in the next eight months or so, could change this losing streak. If the judges choose--and this is hardly certain--they could hand down a ruling that dramatically limits the reach of copyright law.
"I think the best case scenario is for them to say the First Amendment is a serious limitation on copyright law so we have to look critically and not permissively at what Congress is doing," says Peter Jaszi, a professor at American University who sometimes teaches his copyright law class wearing a T-shirt protesting the copyright extension act. "Then we would know something important. And that would, for instance, breathe new life into the discredited or disrespected First Amendment arguments in the DMCA cases."
Jaszi says the Supreme Court could, if it chose, "bring back the notion that one has to measure congressional judgments about intellectual property policy by a higher-than-normal standard because of the First Amendment stakes. And that's something that the Second Circuit didn't do. That was a very deferential decision."
Jaszi is talking about a November 2001 decision by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled 3-0 that it was illegal to distribute a DVD-unlocking program called DeCSS.exe. The Electronic Frontier Foundation repeatedly cited the First Amendment, saying that it should be considered along with the movie studios' arguments about copyright.
The judges didn't listen. They wrote: "The government's interest in preventing unauthorized access to encrypted copyrighted material is unquestionably substantial, and the regulation of DeCSS by the posting prohibition plainly serves that interest. Moreover, that interest is unrelated to the suppression of free expression. The injunction regulates the posting of DeCSS, regardless of whether DeCSS code contains any information comprehensible by human beings that would qualify as speech." (EFF chose not to appeal.)
In their legal briefs, Lessig and the other law professors correctly stress the importance of paying attention to both of these two vital parts of the U.S. Constitution: The copyright clause, which gives Congress the power to create copyright laws for a limited time, and the First Amendment, which prohibits Congress from curtailing speech or expression.
The Appeals Court didn't pay sufficient attention. This time, let's hope the justices do.
Declan McCullagh is the Washington correspondent for CNET News.com, chronicling the ever-busier intersection between technology and politics. Before that, he worked for several years as Washington bureau chief for Wired News. He has also worked as a reporter for The Netly News, Time magazine and HotWired.
dinkie-- IMHO neither samsung nor toshiba will come out with a player until the format has legs; DP's only hope (and even then the odds will be long) is if MTV/evolution and RIO come out with players AND heavily market the DP format in conjunction with a major camera company also coming out with a DP camera:
DataPlay digital media is a creative, exciting technology that we expect will make a huge impact on the way people use and store digital content not only with digital cameras, but all consumer electronics," said Yusuke Kojima, Division Manager, Olympus Optical Co., LTD. "We view DataPlay as an integral part of our efforts to incorporate advanced technologies that let our customers get more use and enjoyment out of Olympus products."
However, as we all have come to learn again and again:
TALK IS CHEAP!!!
o/w good buddy MH is probably correct.
remember JC/edig not counting on DP revenues-- i think this also sends a loud message. DP's odds for success are probably less than 5%.
MH-you once again have confirmed you don't have an original thought in there--------LOL!!!
Posted by: cksla
In reply to: gernb1 who wrote msg# 15972 Date:9/27/2002 2:38:32 PM
Post #of 16016
Baca, the wireless analyst, says he doesn't think satellite radio providers have done adequate market studies. "Just because it's terrific whiz-bang stuff doesn't necessarily mean that people are willing to pay for it," he said. "We've got spoiled consumers in this country. We've got a consumer now that expects to get absolutely cutting-edge technology, but they don't want to pay for it."
=====================
can you say Dataplay--i am afraid to say that you can probably stick a fork in it--when everyone (ie the Samsungs and Toshibas of the world are going to wait to see if the platform will succeed) they pretty much ensure that it won't!
DCP-450 for sale at the Samsung Mall for 209,000 won
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cache:yaIIQNqWxYoC:www.samsungmall.co.kr/catalog/hitproduct/best_prod...
read from bottom up re Dioneer 450
re Dioneer DCP-450 Admin 09-10-2002
We really appreciate the interest and support that all the participants in this forum has been showing.
We are as much excited to introduce our new slim models to the market as all of you are.
However, we are afraid to inform you that DCP-450 will not be available in Europe and some countries in Asia.
But, DCP-400 will be available sometime in October.
We will provide more information as time goes.
Thank you.
===========================
Why is the DCP-450 not to be sold in Europe? Personally I would much prefer the DCP-450 then the DCP-400, the LCD display on the unit itself is a key feature! You guys really should do some market research before making your decisions, even an online poll. It sounds like so much hastle having to carry the remote everywhere you take your unit, for example, if travelling by car(using a car adaptor), it is much easier just to have the LCD on the unit itself, also if you hook it up to a stereo system at home, the remote comes with both models, so I dont see why us Europeans should'nt get the DCP-450, why dont you set up an online poll ask people what they prefer, 400 or 450, I'd say 450 will get most votes.
Corm
===========================
I hear you all... Admin 09-12-2002
Hi people..
Well, I share your complain and disappointment, and regret that we cannot offer it to our European supporters.
It is because of an OEM agreement with one of our buyers that they will cover Europe as well.
Technically, DCP-450 will be available in Europe, but not as our brand, which is Dion.
I don't know when the OEM version will be ready to lauch it in Europe, but soon or later you will be able to see it in your country.
======================================
e.digital's silhouette = dioneer feel willem 09-13-2002 41
Is this oem product of the dioneer dcp-450 feel you're talking about is the upcoming product from e.digital, silhouette?...i.ve seen it in a link of its web of upcoming products...and i'm sure it's the dioneer feel...it's identical! is this the only brand you are for now selling oem? there's one thing i don't understand. e.digital is not a very known brand, less here in europe, because they don't sell here, well, you can buy their products at there online store in the U.S. I think iriver did a good job with rio, it's a more popular brand.
Is the dioneer feel 17.7 mm high...including the other platform in the middle of the player which holds the buttons and lcd, or only counting what you see at the sides and not middle?
Will dioneer cool sell in spain? where? when?
Thanks
don't think so--
Posted by: rstring
In reply to: Trenddetector who wrote msg# 13180 Date:6/25/2002 8:53:59 PM
Post #of 15980
MPIO-CMG: Trend, if that's not it, it's very close.
Special Features
MPIO adds new features that break the boundaries of the existing MP3CDPs
1.MULTI-CODEC CD PLAYER(SUPPORTS WMA)
You've enjoyed WMA files only on computers?
-Dion CDP breaks the boundary of MP3 and WMA files
-Dion supports audio CDs, MP3s, and WMA CD
2. SUPPORTS ALL THE AVAILABLE CD FORMATS
Supports Packet Write, Multi-session, iso9660, Joliet, Enhanced CD(CD-Extra), mixed CDs.
3. EASY BOOKMARK
A simple playback of the tracks you want to listen to, use bookmark. Select and Cancel is a click away.
- Bookmark can be selected and canceled in navigation
- Bookmark during playback is possible. just simply press bookmark key.
- LCD reconfirms by displaying the bookmark status.
4. EASY NAVIGATION
How can I find the specific song I want to listen to from a CD that has more than 170 tracks? CMG provides a user-friendly navigation feature so that users can easily fied the desired track.
- Directory Navigation Through the 4-line LCD tracks can be navigated by the designated folers in a CD
- Alpha Navigation All tracks in a CD can be arranged and found alphabetically
- Bookmark Navigation Only the bookmarked tracks can be found
5. ALPHA NAVI How
can I find the desired track from more than 170 tracks? MPIO-CMG arranges korean in korean alphabets and English in English alphabets, and of course, Japanese in Hiragana and Katakana.
6. DUAL PLAY MODE
Can I listen to the bookmarked tracks and then freely listen to entire tracks at the same time? Not a provlem with CMG.
- A Mode (All Songs Mode): listening to the entire tracks stored in a CD
- B Mode (Bookmark Mode): listening just to the bookmarked tracks
7 .FIRMWARE UPGRADE
Worried about getting behind to find other new products with more features?
Firmware upgrade is possible for MPIO-CMG.
This will help users keep up with the latest features.
8. MULTI 4-LINE GRAPHIC LCD (SUPPORTS MULTI-LANGUAGE)
When you don't remember the artist's name, or the title, and the fonts are broken and it's to dark to read the display. Does any of this sound familiar? Supports a 4-line Full Graphic LCDs and multi-language, and displays various information.
- Supports Korean, English, Japanese, European scripts and even Russian
- Indicates file names,ID3 Tag information(track titles, artists)
- Indicates the next track information(see n0.8)
- Displays the number of the entire tracks and the number of the current playback (for Bookmark Playback) andnumber of bookmarked tracks, numbers
9. NEXT SONG INFORMATION
What's the title of the next track?
CMG not only lets you learn the information about the current playback but also the information of the next track.
10. 12CDS AUTO MEMORY(RESUME FUNCTION)
Too much hassle to re-select and bookmark each time you slide another CD?
MPIO-CMG rememvers and stores the information about up to the last.
12. CDs that were played.
-Stores information of up to 12 CDs (Bookmark, selected features, the last track that was played, etc)
11. RELIABLE ANTI-SHOCK FEATURE
-MP3 CD: 480 sec (standard)
-WMA CD: 960 sec (standard)
-Audio CD: Maximum 192 seconds(users can select 0, 48, 192 sec)
12. VARIOUS REPEAT MODES
Repeating a track, repeating the entire tracks, repeating a directory, random, intro and many more can be selected.
13. A<->B UNLIMITED LOOPS REPEAT
A desired part of a track can be designated and repeated.
(useful for language-related activities)
14. 7 BAND REAL EQUALIZERS CMG
created equalizers by extracting actual frequency
15. 4 DIFFERENT EQUALIZERS
Provides Normal, Jazz, Rock, Classic
16. EASY MENU SELECTION
Using Menu key users can easily select and cancel many features of the unit. (Navigation, Play Mode, Equalizers, BASS, ESP, SYSTEM and etc)
17.13-HOUR CONTINUOUS PLAYBACK(2 AA ALKALINE BATTERY)
18.COMPLETE VBR(VARIAVLE BIT RATE)
19.MULTI-FUNCTION REMOTE CONTROL WITH A SLICK DESIGN
Users can ferrly use every function from the remote control.
Category Item Specifications
Audio (CD) Number of channels stereo(L+R)
Frequency Range 20Hz ~ 20KHz
Headphone Output 12mW(L) + 12mW(R) at 16§Ù max-volume
Line out Level 0.57V rms : (47k ohms) at max-volume
S/N Ratio 90dB (CD-DA), 90dB (MP3 CD);A Weighted
Connectors
(LCD)
REOMTE Controller connector 3.5mm 5 polar
Lineout 3.5mm 3 polar
DC connector OUT 3.5/IN 1.3
EL Backlight Brightness 40 cd/m2 (70Vrms/300Hz)
LCD 112 x 64 Dot Matrix Graphics LCD WITH EL
CD Support CD Type CD-DA, CD-Text (8§¯/12§¯) CD-ROM Mode 1, Mode 2 Form 1 Enhanced CD, CD-Plus, CD-Extra UDF
CD-R/RW Readability Packet-Write, ISO9660, Joliet, Romeo, Multi-Session
File Support File Type MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA
Bit Rate 8Kbps ~ 320Kbps Áö¿ø
Tag ID3 V1 Tag, ID3 V2 2.0, ID3 V2 3.0
Power
Supply AC adapter DC 4.5V 700mA
Battery 1.5V AA °ÇÀüÁö 2°³
Recharger Built in Recharger with Over Charge Protection Circuit
General Dimension Approx 130(W) X 150(L) X 26(H)mm
Weight Approx 230g (Excluding Batteries)
Operational Temperature 0- 40 degree C
Firmware Upgrade New Digital Audio Format & Enhanced Features
LCD Large Graphic LCDs on main body Supporting ID3 V1 , V2 2.0, V2 3.0
Multi- Lingual Type 1 and Type 2 language displays.
ESP-Time 480 Seconds MP3 / WMA, Audio CD 180 Seconds
coincidence in the name???
Posted by: gernb1
In reply to: None Date:8/16/2002 7:46:11 AM
Post #of 15979
DGN Introduces The Unique Dion DMX MP3 Player
San Diego, Calif., August 13, 2002 - Digital Global Network, the company behind the success of the MPIO Players in the US, today announced their newest addition to their popular line of portable MP3 players, the Dion DMX player. Packing such functions as an MP3 player, voice recorder, portable data storage device, image editor, as well as a Clock/Alarm function, truly makes this player a first-of-a-kind in several aspects. In addition to the numerous capabilities of the DMX, it also offers up to 256MB of internal memory, a slim compact design, full graphic LCD, bookmarking features, and a fully customizable equalizer, all built conveniently into the player.
All these features can be accessed and fully utilized across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and even Linux, making portable MP3 players accessible to any computer user. The DMX player provides features and capabilities not found in even the most advanced and expensive MP3 players offered by competitors. It includes an easy to use USB cable for the computer which allows for quick recognition of the DMX as an additional hard drive on any computer, whether it is Windows, Mac, or Linux based; this allows for both downloading, as well as uploading of any file between any compatible computer and the DMX player.
"We are very excited about adding the Dion DMX to our product line," said Joseph Lee, CEO for Digital Global Network. "By far this player is one of the most innovative players we have yet launched and it is so simple to use, even a beginner can succeeded the first time."
Digital Global Network will have the DMX player available in August with 128MB and 64MB versions of internal memory for $149.00 and $119.00. In addition, a 256MB and 64MB model will be offered starting in October. It measures in at a tiny 2.2 x 2.2 x 0.5 inches, and weighs in at just 30 grams. The DMX player is compatible with Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/XP, MacOS (v. 8.6 or higher), and Linux. The DMX Player is bundled with a CD with additional software, necklace for carrying the player, USB cable, 1 x AAA battery, user's manual, and earphones.
back / top
Baca, the wireless analyst, says he doesn't think satellite radio providers have done adequate market studies. "Just because it's terrific whiz-bang stuff doesn't necessarily mean that people are willing to pay for it," he said. "We've got spoiled consumers in this country. We've got a consumer now that expects to get absolutely cutting-edge technology, but they don't want to pay for it."
=====================
can you say Dataplay--i am afraid to say that you can probably stick a fork in it--when everyone (ie the Samsungs and Toshibas of the world are going to wait to see if the platform will succeed) they pretty much ensure that it won't!
MEDIA ENABLING UNVEILS THE DATAPLAY-ENABLED VERSO-USB AT PHOTOKINA
(Cologne, Germany - September 16, 2002) - Media Enabling and Dane-Elec have joined their expertise to bring Verso-USB, the DataPlay-enabled universal portable storage system designed for digital photographers, to market. Verso-USB will be presented at Photokina (Cologne, September 25th-30th , 2002), the most relevant event in digital imaging. Media Enabling and Dane-Elec can been seen at Photokina in Hall 5.1, Stand C018.
Media Enabling, the 1st European partner of DataPlay, and Dane-Elec, a major producer of Flash memory, have joined their skills so as to enable the launch of the new device.
Verso-USB is a compact and portable universal storage system that enables data transfer from any Flash memory to DataPlay digital media. Flash memory supported includes the IBM-micro Drive, Compact flash I, Compact flash II, Smart-Media, Memory-Stick and Secure-Digital Multi-Media Cards.
Verso-USB works as a standalone unit, powered by a Li-ion battery, but when connect via USB to a PC or laptop it becomes a DataPlay driver, which supports bi-directional "drag & drop" operations from/to all supported media.
An upgraded version of Verso-USB will also be available, featuring a build-in output for RGB-signal for rendering of pictures on a TV screen.
Verso-USB will be presented officially at Photokina and is scheduled to be available to consumers in Europe by the beginning of 2003. Media Enabling will be hosted at Photokina by Dane-Elec (Hall 5.1 Stand C018). Dane-Elec will operate as the exclusive distributor of Media Enabling products in several European Countries.
About Media Enabling
Founded in 2001 and based in Italy, Media Enabling is among the first DataPlay development partners, and is the most advanced in all of Europe. The company is focused on developing hardware and software applications for the DataPlay technology, both as a development partner, and as a complete system supplier. Media Enabling is currently building a growing number of strategic partnerships with major players in the audio, digital photography, video, wireless, gaming and computing markets. www.mediaenabling.com
About Dane-Elec Memory
Founded in 1985, DANE-ELEC MEMORY is Europe's leader in the manufacturing and distribution of memory modules for computing, telecommunications and digital photography. It is the only firm in its sector of activity to be so specialized. Present in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark and in the United States by its DANE-ELEC's subsidiaries, DANE-ELEC MEMORY continues to grow in the North-American market and diversifies its activity through INTERVALLE, specialized in telecommunications and networking solutions. The Group has assembly and manufacturing units for memory modules and Compact Flash in Ireland and in California as well as a planning department in Ireland specialized in memory design. In 2001, DANE-ELEC MEMORY's sales amounted to M€ 180. DANE-ELEC MEMORY is currently listed on the Second Market of the Paris Stock Exchange (Sicovam code: 3677).
About DataPlay, Inc.
DataPlay, Inc. was incorporated in November 1998 to develop a Web-enabled digital content recording and distribution media for portable Internet appliances and hand-held consumer entertainment devices. Visit DataPlay on the Internet at www.dataplay.com.
Kazaa Taunts Record Biz: Catch Us
By Brad King
2:00 a.m. Sep. 25, 2002 PDT
In a war with media conglomerates hoping to shut down its Kazaa file-trading service, Sharman Networks has flipped the familiar slogan, "think globally, act locally."
Despite an ongoing American copyright-infringement lawsuit, the Australian company has so far evaded the international recording industry's attempts to shut down Kazaa by setting up operations around the globe. It has offices in the United States, the South Pacific island nation Vanuatu and the Netherlands.
On Monday, Italian ISP Tiscali agreed to advertise its broadband services through Kazaa.
The agreement could make the recording industry's attempts to shutter Kazaa that much more difficult because individual countries are responsible for regulating the Internet within their borders. Stronger ties between ISPs and file-trading companies could bolster Kazaa's defenses.
The international recording industry, however, was quick to condemn the move.
"I am shocked that Tiscali ... believes that by entering into an agreement with an unauthorized service it will promote the development of legitimate online offerings," said Jay Berman, chairman of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, a global music industry organization. "By subsidizing Kazaa, Tiscali is jeopardizing the development of legitimate online services, and it is important that Internet service providers everywhere understand this."
Berman's words have more bark than bite. International copyright laws vary widely, and courts outside America have not been particularly aggressive about prosecuting companies distributing file-trading software.
The World Intellectual Property Organization hoped to stop this type of nation hopping when it enacted the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty. Each outlines in very broad terms the type of copyright legislation countries should adopt.
However, many of the world's largest economies, including Italy and the rest of the European Union, didn't sign on, which means they are free to draft -- or not draft -- whatever legislation they choose.
On top of that, some lawyers contend the treaties don't apply to companies distributing peer-to-peer software.
Napster was knocked offline because it provided the software that its 70 million members used to share music. The concept is called "contributory infringement," but it doesn't exist in many countries -- and the WIPO treaties won't change that.
"Many countries don't have a version of contributory infringement, and the treaties don't make any mention of it, so it's hard to imagine that they will have any real effect on any file-trading networks," said Jonathan Band, an intellectual property lawyer with the Washington, D.C., branch of Morrison & Foerster.
That makes it less likely Kazaa will meet the same fate as Napster because if Sharman Networks gets run out of one country, it can simply relocate its headquarters to a place like the Netherlands, where a Dutch appeals court ruled that distributing software didn't amount to copyright infringement.
"The record companies can go after Kazaa in any country, but in a country like the Netherlands, the record industry went in to court with a theory and they lost," Band said. "(In the Netherlands), it's not contributory infringement to distribute their software."
For now, Sharman Networks remains safe at home. The Australian recording industry hasn't filed any lawsuits against the company.
Even as the U.S. recording industry continues its global pursuit of Kazaa, it must also cope with the growing perception that peer-to-peer networks encourage broadband use in America.
Economists at the Brookings Institute estimated that widespread broadband would increase the gross domestic product by $500 billion, according to a study released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. But consumers have been slow to adopt costly high-speed access, citing its lack of relevance to their lives.
"A majority of consumers will sign up for broadband when value-adding applications and services are readily available, easily understood and offered at reasonable prices," the study reported.
Consumers cited telecommuting and online video games as two important factors in their decision to sign up for broadband access. But the most compelling service, the study found, is the ability to download movies and music.
So far, such services have only been available through the very file-trading networks the entertainment industry has tried to quash.
Japanese Market for Car Navigation Systems Increases by 21 Pct. for 2002
September 24, 2002 (TOKYO) -- The Japanese market for car navigation systems is brisk.
A survey conducted by Nikkei Market Access estimates the total shipments of car navigation systems will increase by 21 percent on a year-to-year basis to 2.66 million units in 2002.
The rapid growth of the Japanese automobile output from now on and the fact that almost half of the latest cars on sale are pre-equipped with car navigation systems are developing concerns about a plunge in the growth rate of the car navigation market. On the other hand, working in the network of wireless infrastructures, including mobile phones and car navigation systems, are likely to become an indispensable information device to automobiles. Thus, the car navigation market is expected to continue expanding, with a smaller growth at a 6 percent to 10 percent annual rate, to have output of 3.78 million units -- almost 4 million units -- in 2007.
The Japanese automobile market already has matured in terms of unit sales. Annual sales of new cars, including light cars, have stayed around 4 million to 4.5 million units for several years. According to a survey of Nikkei Market Access, *standard car navigation systems make up 61 percent of the entire output for 2002. It suggests that about 40 percent of new cars should be furnished with car navigation systems on the assumption that sales of automobiles for 2002 are 4 million cars. These numbers bring out an idea that the car navigation market is already just a step from saturation. Actually, some car navigation manufacturers have a pessimistic forecast that future growth rates will turn down to several percent or less.
There is little hope for further prevalence of car navigation systems as long as they remain geared only to ongoing navigation capability. It would be very crucial to develop car navigation systems as an indispensable information device for drivers, on top of further price reductions from now on. Car navigation systems can spread as well as such car amenities as car audio and air conditioning systems.
In the meantime, automobile manufacturers are emphasizing an on-demand information service, telematics. Car navigation systems play a crucial role as a portal for input and output of such services.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. took a lead in starting such a service last spring, and Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. are following it to introduce the service this autumn.
The content for telematics varies depending on automobile makers, but all the services emphasize compatibility with mobile phones. With this compatibility, car navigation systems will become important not only in obtaining information, but also in enabling drivers to call without holding a phone. Mobile phones are indispensable in the latest lifestyles of people. However, it is illegal for drivers in Japan to use mobile phones when they are driving cars.
In addition, further development of communication infrastructure would enable low-priced network services, and then enhance the importance of car navigation systems as an information terminal.
*1 standard car navigation systems are those pre-installed in cars on assembly lines, and those offered as an option by associated car dealers. On the other hand, those purchased privately by drivers at auto components stores or large-scale retailers of home electronic devices and attached to cars afterwards are categorized into marketed car navigation systems.
Study Faults Media Focus on Copyright Piracy
Wed Sep 25,12:04 AM ET
By Bob Tourtellotte
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Media companies must put less emphasis on protecting digital content and instead find ways to make money from digital music and movies if they hope to beat back copyright pirates who threaten their businesses, according to a study released on Wednesday from KPMG.
The tax, assurance and financial consulting firm said the responsibility for finding new digital business models lies with the boards of directors and not just with mid-level managers. With an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion in lost revenues annually, the issue should be a corporate governance matter.
"What we don't see is a real questioning of business models," said Ashley Steel, a partner in KPMG's Information, Communications and Entertainment practice.
"They complain about the Napsters," she said, referring to the bankrupt music swap site that was found to violate U.S. copyright laws. "But why do the Napsters exist, because the marketplace wants them."
Steel said that if the issue "is not on boardroom table ... then that boardroom has problems."
Ever since the 1990s technology boom fueled the drive to put music, movies, TV shows and books on the Web, the world's major record labels, movie and TV studios and publishers have focused on creating software and hardware that prevents people from illegally copying digital content and re-selling it.
The music industry has been the hardest hit with CD sales dropping dramatically over the past few years as so-called peer-to-peer Web sites like Napster ( news - web sites) were used prominently by people who would trade, for free, digital files of the songs.
The record labels, too, did not collect royalty payments from the swap sites like they would have from radio stations. The labels launched subscription Web sites in answer to the swap sites, but they have failed to meet expectations.
The same scenario is quickly spreading to the movies, although the distribution of digital video content is hampered by slow Web connections for most home computer users.
Still, the KPMG study that polled some 40 top executives from major players to smaller independent producers and Web firms found the media executives focus on encryption software and other technologies to thwart pirates, instead of looking for ways to beat the pirates to the consumer pocketbook.
The study found that some 81 percent of the executives relied on encryption to prevent piracy, but Steel argued that the pirates will always exist.
"The next stage of encryption just means it will take a hacker a couple of days longer," to crack software codes and make digital copies of material.
She pointed to the home video industry that as far back as 20 years ago was battling video pirates, but the media firms found ways to profit from video in spite of the pirates.
Steel said that in order to build new business models, the companies' digital content must first be valued properly.
The study found that currently only 43 percent of the companies even make some of their content available in digital form, and fully 57 percent of the executives admitted to failing to have a review process in place to determine types of digital content should be deemed intellectual property.
Major global media companies include AOL Time Warner Inc. , The Walt Disney Co. , Viacom Inc. , Vivendi Universal and News Corp. Ltd. and Bertelsmann AG ( news - web sites) .
Japanese Market for Car Navigation Systems Increases by 21 Pct. for 2002
September 24, 2002 (TOKYO) -- The Japanese market for car navigation systems is brisk.
A survey conducted by Nikkei Market Access estimates the total shipments of car navigation systems will increase by 21 percent on a year-to-year basis to 2.66 million units in 2002.
The rapid growth of the Japanese automobile output from now on and the fact that almost half of the latest cars on sale are pre-equipped with car navigation systems are developing concerns about a plunge in the growth rate of the car navigation market. On the other hand, working in the network of wireless infrastructures, including mobile phones and car navigation systems, are likely to become an indispensable information device to automobiles. Thus, the car navigation market is expected to continue expanding, with a smaller growth at a 6 percent to 10 percent annual rate, to have output of 3.78 million units -- almost 4 million units -- in 2007.
The Japanese automobile market already has matured in terms of unit sales. Annual sales of new cars, including light cars, have stayed around 4 million to 4.5 million units for several years. According to a survey of Nikkei Market Access, *standard car navigation systems make up 61 percent of the entire output for 2002. It suggests that about 40 percent of new cars should be furnished with car navigation systems on the assumption that sales of automobiles for 2002 are 4 million cars. These numbers bring out an idea that the car navigation market is already just a step from saturation. Actually, some car navigation manufacturers have a pessimistic forecast that future growth rates will turn down to several percent or less.
There is little hope for further prevalence of car navigation systems as long as they remain geared only to ongoing navigation capability. It would be very crucial to develop car navigation systems as an indispensable information device for drivers, on top of further price reductions from now on. Car navigation systems can spread as well as such car amenities as car audio and air conditioning systems.
In the meantime, automobile manufacturers are emphasizing an on-demand information service, telematics. Car navigation systems play a crucial role as a portal for input and output of such services.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. took a lead in starting such a service last spring, and Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. are following it to introduce the service this autumn.
The content for telematics varies depending on automobile makers, but all the services emphasize compatibility with mobile phones. With this compatibility, car navigation systems will become important not only in obtaining information, but also in enabling drivers to call without holding a phone. Mobile phones are indispensable in the latest lifestyles of people. However, it is illegal for drivers in Japan to use mobile phones when they are driving cars.
In addition, further development of communication infrastructure would enable low-priced network services, and then enhance the importance of car navigation systems as an information terminal.
*1 standard car navigation systems are those pre-installed in cars on assembly lines, and those offered as an option by associated car dealers. On the other hand, those purchased privately by drivers at auto components stores or large-scale retailers of home electronic devices and attached to cars afterwards are categorized into marketed car navigation systems.
Samsung taking hefty gamble on NAND chips
By Jack Robertson
EBN
(09/20/02, 02:46 PM EST)
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is staking its future heavily on NAND flash chips to offset an expected slowdown in the PC main memory market, a top Samsung executive told EBN this week.
The company also will up the ante in the flash market by producing the chips on 90nm technology by next year.
"It's unusual to use flash memory as one of the first products on a new process technology," said Chang-Gyu Hwang, president of the memory division at Samsung's semiconductor group, in an interview. "But we can cut costs 60% with the 90nm [node], have a higher-density, lower-power chip, and achieve higher yields."
While DRAM will still be Samsung's primary revenue source, Hwang said that wireless handsets and consumer electronics will grow at a faster rate than PCs in the next three years.
Annual PC memory growth will slow to an average of 5%, down from an historical growth rate of 15% a year, he said.
"By 2005 the non-PC market will account for 30% of all memory [semiconductors], compared to 10% today," Hwang added.
Samsung isn't backing away from PC memory and still intends to remain the world's largest supplier, Hwang said. The company will also use its new 90nm process to mass produce 1Gbit DDR SDRAM chips in the second half of next year. "We just expect higher growth rates in markets other than PC," he said.
Hwang forecasts that in 2005, NAND flash will equal 40% of all memory in wireless handsets, up from 1% this year and 6% in 2003.
Emphasizing its commitment to NAND flash, Samsung in the third quarter of 2003 will begin mass producing a 2Gbit NAND chip built on a 90nm process at its planned 300mm-wafer fab, known as Line 12.
Samsung last week said the 2Gbit device is already sampling and will be in pilot production early next year in one of the company's existing 200mm-wafer fabs. The Korean chipmaker already is volume producing a 1Gbit NAND flash.
Hwang said Samsung is "rewriting" Moore's Law, which postulates semiconductor performance doubles every 18 months. "We're doubling the density of NAND chips every year, from 512Mbits last year to 1Gbit this year, 2Gbits in 2003, and 4Gbits in 2004."
Samsung hopes its aggressive NAND push will carry it to global dominance, just as similar strategies have in DRAM and SRAM. That will take a strong effort, since Semico Research Corp., Phoenix, ranks Samsung as No. 2 in the NAND market with an estimated revenue in 2001 of $200 million, well behind Toshiba Corp.'s $500 million. Hitachi Ltd. rounds out the top three with revenue of $100 million.
Jim Handy, a Los Gatos, Calif.-based Semico analyst, believes the NAND market will grow somewhat slower than Samsung's enthusiastic forecast. He estimated NAND revenue at $742 million this year, rising to $1.16 billion in 2003, $1.97 billion in 2004, and dipping to $1.92 billion in 2005.
Meanwhile, Samsung is continuing to push process technology beyond 90nm, expecting to reach an interim 70nm development node next year and 55nm by 2004 or 2005, Hwang said.
Highlighting the technology drive, Morgan Stanley, New York, this week reported that Samsung plans to raise its semiconductor and LCD capital expenditures by 30% next year, to $4.39 billion.
Next year's capex compares with an estimated $3.38 billion for 2002, up from $2.97 billion in 2001, the report said.
Keon Han, a Morgan Stanley analyst in Seoul, Korea, said Samsung will spend an estimated
9/20/02 In tech world, recovery always seems six months away
NEW YORK (Reuters) - For more than two years now the big question in every corner of tech world has been: ''Where's that recovery?''
And like an old, scratched-up vinyl record, the answer repeated ad infinitum has been: ``Six months from now.''
Maybe it's lingering optimism, a longing for the old days, when technology companies believed the growth would go on forever. Or perhaps there is a disconnect between what technology buyers say they expect to spend and then what they eventually do buy.
Whatever the reason -- the long dream recovery is perpetually two quarters away.
``The reality is that many of these companies were born and raised in a time of unbelievable growth, it's probably a different skill set to manage during a period when things are maturing before your eyes,'' said Marty Shagrin, research analyst at Victory Capital Management, which has about $75 billion in assets under management.
In the late 1990s, technology companies saw an unprecedented boom driven by the wide use of the Internet and an economy that supported massive sales growth of computer systems.
While companies have had to face slower spending, some investors say that executives may be worse than inept -- they pumped up their companies' outlooks in order to fatten their own wallets.
``They can tell a bullish story while they sell the stock,'' said Christopher Bonavico at Transamerica Investment Management, which has $12 billion in assets under management. ''They have an inherent bias to get their share price up.''
That contention has been made against executives at AOL Time Warner , WorldCom Inc. WCOEQ.PK, and Global Crossing Ltd. GBLXQ.PK who have all come under fire for selling shares while painting a happy picture for the public.
AOL Time Warner's top executives, including Chairman Steve Case, have been particularly criticized for selling shares since the merger was completed in January 2001.
The company maintained its aggressive financial targets for much of last year before finally abandoning them last fall -- and the stock has dropped 70 percent since the $106.2 billion deal was completed.
``Steve Case was promising advertising is fine and he was selling stock in the meantime,'' Bonavico said.
AOL declined to comment. WorldCom and Global Crossing are under investigation for similar stock sales.
Whatever the case, many companies have stretched investor tolerance to the snapping point, sending their stock prices to the rock bottom, because they've been unable or unwilling to forecast the bad news ahead.
BAD NEWS KEEPS ON COMING
Sanmina-SCI Corp. has been something of a bellwether for the contract manufacturing industry's persistent optimism that a recovery is only quarters away.
Early last September Sanmina Corp., which had not yet closed its SCI Systems merger, guided lower for the September quarter, then the next month gave guidance for the December quarter below Wall Street estimates.
In December, after the merger closed, the company gave forecasts for fiscal 2002, ending in September, assuming 80 percent of its profits would be in the second half of the year. In January, the company reeled that in, blaming poor forecasting.
In April, the company warned of a revenue shortfall in its fiscal third and fourth quarters, met Wall Street estimates in June, and then said it saw some recovery in the second half of calendar 2002. That remains to be seen, with a profit warning from rival Celestica Inc. earlier this week.
``They and others got caught up in this business of being somewhat impervious, and that's baloney,'' said Chuck Hill director of research at Thomson First Call. ``We refer to them as one of the canary group because they serve such a diversified group of customers and markets.''
Sanmina-SCI's shares have fallen more than 81 percent this year. The company was not immediately available for comment.
LONG TIME GONE
Some say that companies -- and technology companies especially -- feel comfortable with a six-month horizon.
``Any company, when they have a problem, they say `it'll take six months to fix -- three months to get a handle on it and another three to turn it around.' But things take longer to correct than you think,'' said Ken Smith, a fund manager at Munder Capital, which has about $30 billion in assets under management.
``For a lot of technology companies, that may be more true,'' he said. ``The product cycles are shorter and the business moves faster.''
Most companies are at a loss as their future financial performance depends on a broader economic rebound, and many have stopped making official forecasts altogether .
Interpublic Group of Cos. Inc. and Omnicom Group Inc. have been forced to lower expectations when a recovery in the advertising market never materialized.
In the computer industry, companies such as Hewlett-Packard Co. and International Business Machines Corp. have been forced to push back their hopes for a rebound when corporate technology spending has stayed weak.
SAP AG , Oracle Corp., and a host of other software companies have been forced to reduce expectations, many more than once.
Despite moves by companies to be more conservative, technology expectations have consistently been puffed up and then reeled in. The tech sector has had the biggest downward revisions in analysts' estimates of 11 industries tracked by Thomson First Call.
On July 1, analysts had expected 81 percent earnings growth overall for technology as a sector for the third quarter, according to Thomson First Call. That expectation was ratcheted down to about 38 percent today.
BRS--thought you would enjoy this and have a good laugh or cry:
BusyBump $$$$
Reply To: None Tuesday, 22 May 2001 at 11:22 AM EDT
Post # of 690600
A Long Talk w/Robert.
Things are improving at home for me and the entire family. I thank all of you for your kind thoughts.
As I have been out of the loop for over a month, my questions to RP may be old news to some of you, but I hope there will be something informative for each of you. The talk was more like friends discussing business rather than an interview. I found it exhillarating, extremely encouraging, and filled with the promise of old.
Question #1- After no communications from the company since Mar. 29th, many of us who have been here following Edig for many years are concerned. Is the company still on solid ground? Are we still involved in lots of contract talks, product development, etc. or are things as quiet there as from the outside?
Response #1- Oh! There is a lot going on everyday! We have made a decision that PRs must only contain significant news, i.e. regarding contracts, revenue, products, and OEMs. We are on the verge of concluding many agreements and we are very aware of how frustrating it is for the shareholders to wait patiently without the benefit of knowing what is going on and we are committed to getting the news out as soon as we are able.
Question #2- Concerning our burn rate...do we have any income or are we still waiting for royalties to begin while using up our cash?
Response #2- We have monies coming in from Lanier, from NREs, and other sources. Yes, there is definitely cash coming in but we all realize that the majority of our revenues will come from royalties from our various jukebox platforms, from DataPlay products, and from products yet to be announced.
Q #3- There was a lot of talk over the past year about bundling our products with PCs. Is this still ongoin and is anything imminent?
R #3- There is a lot going on in this area. We are looking to close some of these deals shortly. The parties involved are talking substantial size orders. You must understand that this takes a great deal of coordination to make sure all the numbers match from a manufacturing point of view. In at least one case, there are 4 parties involved, some of which have been announced previously, and some who have not.
Q#4- You mean we have 4 manufacturers involved in the PC bundling negotiations?
R#4- Yes, 4 in at least one case.
Q#5- According to Fred's last letter, we would have products on the retail shelves this quarter. Will this still hold true?
R#5- We will have products in the retail distribution channels by the end of this quarter. The exact when and where is still in the hands of the OEMs but it will be sometime by the end of this quarter.
Q#6- How about the new product platforms announcements also due this quarter?
R#6- Keep in mind that we would like to make these new product announcements in conjunction with our OEMs so that will dictate the timing of these announcements as well.
Q#7- A long while back you told me that we were working with "double-digit" OEMs. That phrase has been quoted a lot since. Is it still applicable?
R#7- Yes.
Q#8- Where is TREO?
R#8- Ask Hy-Tek! We know that the manufacturing is ongoing...the pipeline is getting filled....and everyone is waiting for the launch. It's in their hands.
Q#9- Do you still see Edig establishing itself as a global standard?
R#9- Absolutely! This has been and remains the goal, the focus of this company and we can only achieve this by successful relationships with our OEMs, by providing them with products and service that make them want to put "Powered by e.Digital Technology" on the outside of their products. We are well on our way to achieving this. Let me say that this is and has been the driving goal behind this company from the very beginning.
Q#10- I own some stock in XMSR and SIRI. Are we actively pursuing products uniquely suited to this growing area?
R#10- I can't give you specific details of what we are working on. Just let me say that we are involved in developing products related to this discipline in the automotive marketplace. This will be a very strong new business over the next year.
Q#11- The broadcasting begins this summer but there are very limited receivers available. Does this make any sense?
R#11- These two companies recognized what the music industry didn't....that you have to provide content to sell the hardware and the subscription services. The content will soon be there and the hardware will follow.
I thanked him for taking his time to talk with me and provide some insight during this virtual news drought.
I was most pleased with the anticipation of great things to come that I sensed in all of his responses. Our investment in Edig is a wise one and the patience we have all had (with the exception of a few!!!) will be justly rewarded.
My very best to all/
==============================
BTW, i guess sh*t happens or in this case doesn't happen----
Posted by: 2manyfatcats
In reply to: None Date:6/3/2002 6:53:08 AM
Post #of 15671
'Mobile Video' Changing Industry Outlook
June 3, 2002 (TOKYO) -- A new type of video medium has arrived on the scene. "Mobile video" services -- those designed for mobile phones and other portable devices like personal digital assistants (PDAs), and which allow users to both watch and record/distribute video data -- are set to change the face of the "video" industry.
Until now video data, in the form of TV programs and movies, for example, has always been restricted to particular places like viewers' homes or movie theaters.
Mobile video is beginning to turn the tables. It is the first video medium that is centered on the viewer rather than the producer/distributor. And it is likely to revolutionize the way the whole video industry works.
Mass Consumption, Mass Creation of Video Content to Occur
There are three changes, all well underway, that are necessary for mobile video to become widespread: (1) user behavior, (2) viewing devices and content, and (3) the business model for video data.
Change (1) is happening because more and more users are now creating their own content as well as just viewing it. A good example is the popular "Sha-Mail" service from J-Phone Co., Ltd., which allows users to use small digital cameras built into their phone handsets to take still pictures and then send them to other phone users via e-mail. Similar services employing video will follow (see graph).
The SV-AV10 portable video camera, launched in January by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., records data on SD memory cards. The camera weighs only 98g and is about the same size as a mobile phone, making it easy for users to create their own video content. The SV-AV10 is proving to be extremely popular with consumers, as it quickly sells out wherever it goes on sale.
As soon as users start using mobile video amongst themselves, it will not be at all long before masses and masses of video content is being created -- and consumed. There are three things necessary that will lead to greater consumption of video content. (see chart) The first is lightweight and easy-to-use portable devices, the second is data compression technology to make the content less bulky, and the third is network connectivity.
Matsushita's SV-AV10 satisfies the first two necessary conditions outlined above. If it were possible for this type of portable device to be connected to a network so that it could send/receive video data to/from other people, then it would spark mass production and mass consumption of video content.
Devices Starting to Appear
Manufacturers of electronic equipment and producers of content are increasingly starting to sense this change in users' desires and are now seriously setting about trying to develop the market for mobile video products and services. This is change (2).
Mobile phone service operators and handset manufacturers are beginning to give users the tools they want -- enabling them to watch, produce and distribute video data. NTT DoCoMo Inc.'s P2101V handset, launched in October 2001, and J-Phone's Movie Sha-Mail service, available from March 2003, are two good examples.
Whether the new mobile video market is to be dominated by mobile phones, or whether other types of portable devices will also play a significant role, is still unclear. For example, many PDAs now come equipped with functions for video playback as standard. In March, Sharp Corp. decided to launch a new type of portable video player that is best described as a mobile video device. Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. already has a prototype miniature TV that will allow users to watch terrestrial digital TV broadcasts, while Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has already exhibited a concept mobile phone that has a built-in receiver capable of picking up the same digital TV broadcasts.
Content Producers Also Active
Hand in hand with the new mobile video hardware, there is also increasing demand for content. Most of the currently available mobile video content was originally produced for TV or other media and has simply been reformatted. However, from now on new content created specifically for mobile video will start to appear. This new content will probably consist mostly of video clips that last for 5 minutes or less -- ideal for users who are on the go and who just want something to kill time. Creators capable of producing such content are now readying themselves. They include makers of short films and TV commercials.
Until now, most short films, which have been made and distributed in the United States or Europe, have been mostly treated as screening materials for up-and-coming producers and not as a commercially established content. If the short film market adapts itself for mobile video it is possible that growth will be very rapid.
Images from video cameras that are installed in fixed locations, so that parents can see what is going on at their child's kindergarten, for example, are also highly suited to mobile video. Other people may like to keep an eye on pets at home, or to see how crowded a particular restaurant is before setting out.
Searching for New Business Model
Although it has fantastic potential, the fledgling mobile video market is still in chaotic condition at present. This is because change in the traditional business model, change (3), is still up in the air. People hoping to think up a method of profiting from distributing mobile video content keep running into dead ends. One reason is the fear that if the conventional business model (i.e. that for TV and movies) is maintained for mobile video, then the viewing audience will be so disparate and fractured that the average number of people interested in a particular piece of content will not high enough for profits to be generated.
However, ideas for new ways of doing business have now started appearing. It is clear anyway that there will many mobile devices in circulation -- capable of being used anytime and anywhere -- so the potential audience is massive. And therefore, producers of mobile video content will have a lot of viewers even if they only attract a small fraction of the total number of mobile video users.
And the expected large number of mobile video users also gives opportunities for advertising. While users watch video content, a small part of the phone's or PDA's screen could be reserved for ads. The ads could be distributed by the telecoms operators, regardless of what content the user decides to watch.
There has also been a suggestion that the content itself should include advertising. This does not just mean inserting ads at the beginning and end of video clips, or having 'commercial breaks' in the middle. It would also mean using the advertised products as the main focus of the content, or at least allowing for lots of "product placement" opportunities.
Advertising is not the only option to help ensure profitable operations. Another is the possibility of selling the content itself. AtomShockwave KK, a firm that owns around 2,500 short films and animated features, has already begun offering licenses for its content.
(Masayuki Arai, Fumitada Takahashi, Staff Editors, Nikkei Electronics)
Posted by: cksla
In reply to: None Date:5/3/2002 11:19:32 AM
Post #of 344
Panasonic combines sights and sounds
Fri May 3, 8:43 AM ET
By Richard Shim, ZDNet News
Panasonic pressed play on Thursday for the launch of its 4-in-1 combination audio-video device.
The consumer-electronics maker started selling its SV-AV10 in the United States for $450. The gadget combines a camcorder, digital camera, digital audio player and a voice recorder into a single device. The unit had already been shipping in Japan.
The SV-AV10 comes with a 2-inch liquid crystal display that flips out like those on most camcorders, making it easier to view what is being recorded. The device can play back MPEG-4 video and display digital still images as well as play MP3 files.
Weighing in at less than 3.5 ounces, not including the battery, the gadget is roughly the size of a small stack of business cards. It comes with a removable 64MB Secure Digital card, which can store up to 30 minutes of video, 880 digital still images or one hour's worth of audio, according to the company. The device comes with a rechargeable battery and a charger.
The SV-AV10 is the latest addition to Panasonic's e-wear line of portable consumer-electronics devices, which so far has included a digital audio player and a printer designed to support other e-wear gadgets.
The addition of digital audio playback capabilities to consumer-electronics devices is in vogue, according to analyst Susan Kevorkian, who covers digital audio players for research firm IDC.
"We're seeing digital audio playback being added to numerous devices, such as CD players and eventually DVRs," Kevorkian said. "It's definitely a trend, as digital audio players proliferate and become a mass market device, companies are looking to differentiate their products by adding audio playback."
A recent IDC report estimated that shipments of devices that combine digital audio playback with another feature were higher than shipments of audio-only devices. Shipments in 2001 for combined devices in the United States reached 5 million, while shipments for audio players were around 4.7 million units.
Kevorkian added that the SV-AV10 was primarily a digital camcorder that adds digital audio playback.
Chris Chute who covers digital imaging for IDC said that it made sense for Panasonic to add audio playback to a digital camcorder. Camcorder manufacturers, he said, were feeling the price pressure of analog camcorders, which are much less expensive than the digital variety.
"Camcorder companies are staving off the erosion of the digital business by lowering prices and adding new features to digital models," Chute said.
The adding of digital audio playback features follows the addition of DVD playback capabilities to other devices.
Nearly 13 million DVD players were sold in the United States in 2001--an increase of 49.5 percent compared with the previous year. Sales are expected to grow another 25 percent in 2002, according to new figures from the Consumer Electronics Association.
Sales of decoder chips, which are used in devices that play DVD discs, such as PCs and standalone machines, reached 29.6 million in 2001--a 60 percent increase compared with the previous year--according to Jon Peddie Research.
The cost of DVD players fell more than $200 within two years of their introduction in 1997, at which point they were going for nearly $500, according to Peddie. And the price slide hasn't stopped. Although the Consumer Electronics Association says the average price of a DVD player was $193 last year, consumers can now find players for less than $100.
Manufacturers are responding to the price erosion by building new entertainment technologies around the basic DVD player.
Panasonic representatives did not immediately return calls seeking further details on the device. Panasonic is a division of Matsushita Electric of America, which is a North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric of Japan
On the Go, Stalked All the While By a Bland Corporate Voice
By MARK GLASSMAN
or years, computers have been telling us when we have mail. A beep. A whistle. And more recently computers have also read e-mail messages aloud. Now iSpeak has developed a talking application for the PocketPC.
Rather than scrolling laboriously through mailboxes, calling up and reading each message, PocketPC owners can download their messages into their hand-helds and, using iSpeak, listen through headphones as a synthesized voice reads their e-mail or other documents.
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The software, which is available for $29.95 from Fonix (www.fonix.com), can browse most of the audio information playable on a PocketPC, reading any text file and playing music files as well.
If it seems surreal to hear the words of friends and family members spoken by what amounts to a complete stranger, it will not be surprising to learn that Fonix is marketing iSpeak mainly to professionals on the go. The emphasis is on the ability to jog while reviewing conference notes or sales presentations (rather than, say, birthday wishes from Grandma).
The software does not add much in the way of personality to palmtops. While iSpeak adjusts its tone of voice on the basis of the punctuation of a sentence, the voice remains stilted and mechanical, bringing to mind the "Lost in Space" robot from 1960's television land. ("Danger, Will Robinson!")
ISpeak has 11 preset voices. Those who tire of listening to the same crew can create voices with new characteristics by toying with pitch, speed and gender controls. But Grandma is still a long way off. Mark Glassman
On2 and EnReach Port Complete Secure Multimedia Solution to Texas Instruments TMS320C64x(TM) DSP Generation
Single Solution for IP-Based Set-Top Market
Thursday September 19, 8:54 am ET
NEW YORK and MILPITAS, Calif., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- On2 Technologies (Amex: ONT - News) and EnReach Corporation today announced that they are launching a complete video-on-demand system for the Texas Instruments' TMS320C64x(TM) DSP generation which includes digital rights management software from a third party company. The solution is projected to be ready for the market in October.
This project is based on On2's VP5 video compression technology and its TrueCast client/server application. Together, these products provide state-of-the-art video over IP functionality using industry-standard RTP/RTSP protocols. Additionally, it will include EnReach's Internet Browser 5.0 and its Centralized Server Group for full web access and video-on-demand from any C64x DSP-enabled device. This combined application will allow manufacturers of IP-based set-top boxes and other related devices to enable these products with a complete end-to-end solution that allows users to access highly secure audio and video and use the web, all from one platform with unparalleled convenience.
"There is a tremendous market opportunity for secure, low-bandwidth, broadband VOD and Internet services. We are delighted to have been selected by On2 to play a pivotal role in their system offering," said Bo Wu, President and CEO for EnReach. "Additionally, the other component suppliers selected will provide content owners and service providers with a best-of-class solution that will deliver the latest in digital video technology to subscribers."
"Our Video On Demand over IP OEM customers desire a high performance, secure multimedia solution enabling any content, any format, any time," said Eric Braddom, manager of TI's DSP video imaging business. "Today, OEMs can meet this need on TI's C64x DSP generation, then migrate to our new DM642 media processor and take advantage of the complete applications provided by On2 and EnReach. This VoD solution also includes APIs so that OEMs can add new features and codecs to the system."
"This gives DSL, satellite, and cable companies the opportunity to use the TI solution and have all of the necessary software for a complete video-on-demand application that is flexible, high quality and secure," said Douglas A. McIntyre, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of On2 Technologies, Inc.
About EnReach
EnReach is a global provider of digital video entertainment solutions for broadband IP networks. EnReach has developed complete broadband-ready entertainment systems for Residential, MDU and Hospitality operators to offer revenue-generating services such as: VOD, TV over IP, Internet and E-mail to their subscribers. EnReach's Backend Service Management System enables key functions such as set-top box registration, subscriber self-provisioning, service enable/disable, remote set-top box software upgrades, remote set-top box graphical user interface (GUI) customization, VOD server/service management, TV channel packaging, service charging policies, billing system interfaces and content distribution system interfaces. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the privately held company has offices in Toronto, Canada, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shenzhen, China. Additional information regarding EnReach Technology, Inc. is available at http://www.enreach.com .
About On2 Technologies, The Duck Corporation
On2 Technologies (Amex: ONT - News) is a video compression software company. On2 licenses its high quality video codecs for use in set-top boxes, consumer electronics devices and wireless applications. In addition, On2 offers a suite of products and services, including high-level video encoding, customized technical support, and consulting services. Headquartered in New York City, the Company has an office in Albany, NY, and operations in London, UK, and Seoul, Korea. On2 may be reached at 145 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013, telephone 917-237-0500 or info@on2.com. Investor inquiries should be sent to invest@on2.com.
Gadgets galore: Tune in to the latest MP3 players
(CNN) --Music you can take with you. That seems to be one of the biggest priorities for today's music lover.
And whether you're on the bus, waiting in line, jogging around the park or sitting by the pool, portable MP3 players are fast becoming the most popular way to listen to tunes.
Since the prickly debate over downloading music on the Internet hasn't stopped companies from making them, there's a huge range of players designed to suit your music needs (Of course, manufacturers do expect users to get their tunes from the array of record industry-friendly Web sites available).
Here are some of the hottest MP3 players to hit the streets.
Apple iPod
Apple released its next generation iPod in August. The MP3 player is available in three different sizes. It supports 5 and 10 gigabyte hard drives (like Apple's original model) but the company has now added a 20 gigabyte iPod capable of storing up to 4,000 songs. And to keep envious PC-users happy, all three models are available to run on both Apple and Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system. Critics point out that the iPod is fairly pricey, however, it does offer plenty of features:
Slim, lightweight design.
Operates intuitively, much like a miniature computer. A touch sensitive scroll wheel allows users to adjust the volume and scroll through the iPod's menu options.
Firewire connection allows users to transfer a 4,000-song library from a Macintosh to the iPod in a little more than 30 minutes.
iTunes 3 software included has an auto-sync function, which means any songs added or changes made to playlists automatically transfer to the iPod when it's plugged into the computer.
Stores addresses, phone numbers and calendar events.
Accessories include a remote, carrying case and headphones.
Cost: 5 GB (1, 000 songs) for $299, 305 euros, ¥35,959; 10 GB (2, 000 songs) for $399, 407 euros, ¥47,912; 20 GB (4, 000 songs) for $499, 509 euros, ¥59,937.
For more information on the iPod visit Apple's Web site.
Sony Net MD MZ-N707
Remember Sony's clunky cassette Walkman that was really popular with aerobics enthusiasts in the 1980's? Well, now Sony has released a Walkman for the digital age that fuses MP3 technology with a MiniDisc player.
The MZ-N707 allows you to transfer up to 5 hours of MP3 files on a MiniDisc, so storage capacity for the player doesn't come close to the iPod. Other features of the gadget include:
Light, compact design.
Can make recordings from multiple sources, including PC's, CD players, home stereos and microphones.
Car adaptor included so users can listen while driving.
Comes with over-the-ear headphones and a stick remote control.
Cost: $229, 234 euros, ¥27,549.
Click here for an official Sony product demonstration. Select MZ-N707.
MTV256
No doubt you associate "MTV" with a TV channel that pumps out endless music videos and interviews. Now you can associate it with gadgets. The company has teemed with Evolution Technologies to offer a range of MP3 players, like the MTV256. Features of the device include:
Lightweight, small design.
Compatible with both Macintosh and Windows.
Slide apart case protects controls and makes the unit easy to hold in one hand when it's shut (the case doesn't open very smoothly, though).
Allows you to adjust the in-built equalizer to emphasize your favorite sound: Rock, pop, techno, hip-hop or flat.
Has up to 384 megabytes of memory using two expansion slots for memory cards.
Cost: $219, 233 euros, ¥26,340.
See the complete range of MTV players.
SONICblue RioRiot
With a 20 GB drive that holds about 400 albums, the RioRiot's storage space rivals that of the iPod. The device allows you to sort songs by artist, title or genre and it has a built-in Rio DJ function that creates playlists based on your most or least-played tracks, your most recently added music, songs from a certain decade or random play. Other features include:
Built in digital FM tuner (in case you get tired of 4, 000 tracks!)
Mac and PC-compatible.
Scroll wheel and large backlit liquid crystal display for browsing songs and menu functions.
Comes in a carrier case with a clip for wearing it on a belt (however, you might want to think twice before taking the Riot jogging, since it's kind of bulky). Also includes over-the-ear headphones.
Cost: $399, 407 euros, ¥47,912
Visit SONICblue's Web site for more information.
Flipster
Can't get enough of all things multimedia? Try Flipster on for size. Made by PoGo Products, this device plays MP3 files, video, voice recordings and video games and shows digital images. Keep in mind, though, that video might fight for space with your MP3's. Flipsters other features include:
2.5-inch color screen.
Comes in two versions: one with 64MB of internal flash memory, and one with 128MB. Both include expansion slots for memory cards to increase storage space.
Personal address book.
Compact, lightweight design that folds out like a cell phone.
Cost: from $399, 407 euros, ¥47,912.
You can find out more about this product on PoGo Product's official site.
Dion DMX
The Dion DMX offers users a range of functions, but one of its unique features is its size. Measuring 2.2 inches across, the digital audio player is so small you can wear it around your neck with the cord provided. You might want to avoid purchasing this one If you're the type of person who loses small objects! Some of the player's features include:
Available in 2 formats: 128MB or 256MB.
Allows users to edit images on a color screen.
Voice recording function.
Built-in alarm clock.
Mac and PC-compatible.
Cost: from $169, 172 euros, ¥20,308.
More information on the Dion DMX ca be found at the official site for Digital Global Network.
Creative Labs NOMAD Jukebox 3
Like the RioRiot and the iPod, the Jukebox is up there with a big memory capacity at 20GB or 40GB. It's a similar size and shape to a portable CD player, so it's not the player of choice for the athlete who likes to listen while working out, but it does make a big noise with its EAX sound capabilities. More of the Jukebox's features include:
Well set out and easy to use controls and a large LCD screen.
Search option helps users get straight to their song of choice.
Can convert music straight from albums and cassettes to the player.
Comes with stereo headphones and a carrying pouch.
Cost: 20GB: $399, 407 euros, ¥47,912. 40GB: $499, 509 euros, ¥59,937.
Find out more about the Jukebox at Creative's official site.
Cable Likely to Hold Lead in Broadband-Report
Wed Sep 18,12:23 PM ET
BOSTON (Reuters) - Cable modems, the primary means currently used to connect to the Web for high-speed service, are the next growth area for the Internet as more consumers seek out digital movies and music, a research firm said on Wednesday.
In a research report, Yankee Group said 58 percent of high-speed Internet users were accessing the Web while about one-third of users are using digital subscriber lines.
Cable modems will easily maintain leadership as the most important technology used to connect to high-speed services. At the end of 2001, more than 7 million consumers and 500,000 business subscribers were connecting via cable modem ( news - web sites), Yankee Group said. But cable will likely have to chase DSL in the small business area, they said.
"Emerging technologies have the potential to shake up this forecast in the 2004-2007 timeframe, however, over the next two to three years, the market share for broadband access technologies is unlikely to change substantially," said Matt Davis, broadband access technologies director at Yankee Group.
Internet companies have been aggressively seeking deals with cable operators and digital subscriber lines so they can offer high-speed, or broadband, access to subscribers wherever they live.
For example, in some areas Internet service providers do not have deals to offer their subscribers access via cable but they do have a deal for DSL.
To the consumer, cable modems and DSL offer about the same type of service although some have complained the implementation process for DSL is more cumbersome.
Meanwhile, consumer access of high-speed Internet service through satellite technology has not grown at the rate it had expected, the research firm said, because it saw the proposed merger of EchoStar Communications Corp. and Hughes Network Systems being approval by regulators more quickly.
Between the close of 2001 and the beginning of 2003, 5.6 million U.S. broadband subscribers will be added to the 13.3 million that make up the installed base, Yankee said in its report.
As dial-up growth slows, Internet giants such as AOL Time Warner Inc.'s America Online, Microsoft Corp.'s MSN and Yahoo Inc. have stepped up their efforts to offer high-speed access and services.
"The question most important to mass-market broadband proliferation is now changing from 'Can I get broadband?' to 'Do I want broadband?,"' Yankee Group said, adding that the core issue at the moment was pricing as it costs more than $40 per month in most areas.
edigokie--so long as Tallulah Bankhead and Walter Slezak are on board you will be okay-- cksla
Cable glitch shows potential power of copy-blocking
By Dawn C. Chmielewski
Mercury News
Some subscribers to one of the nation's largest cable systems are unable to make digital recordings of television shows in what the company labeled an unforeseen technological glitch but consumer advocates called a chilling curb on home recording.
An industry newsletter reported that Cablevision has invoked copy restrictions on all unscrambled digital TV programming delivered to its 3 million subscribers in metropolitan New York. It renders a range of cable shows -- from late 1970s sitcoms like ``Diff'rent Strokes'' to Formula One racing on Speedvision -- unrecordable on certain types of devices.
The incident shows how easy it is for cable providers to block recording, consumer advocates said. Even if what Cablevision did was inadvertent, they said, it is a example of how copy-blocking can be used to set limits on how individuals use the most ubiquitous of technologies -- the television set.
``The trend here is if Hollywood has its way, this is what the future looks like,'' said Joe Kraus, co-founder of dig italconsumer.org, an advocacy group. ``The future looks like the world where you press record and it doesn't work and you don't know why. You no longer control the media you pay for.''
The blocking affects a small number of subscribers who use an advanced digital recording device.
Cablevision, the nation's seventh-largest cable company, said it didn't deliberately suspend home recording. Rather, it blamed an unexpected clash between its conditional access system -- which makes sure subscribers see only the TV programs they've paid for -- and the software inside Sony's television set-top boxes.
This software conflict somehow triggered a copy protection scheme known as 5C, which is designed to prevent mass duplication of television shows and movies. It labeled all digital programming off limits to copying.
For now, the glitch prevents viewers from digitally taping any cable show using a next-generation digital videotape recorder called DVHS, the HDTV Insider newsletter reported. These devices recognize the programming as copy-blocked -- and turn off.
Cablevision said it is scrambling to eradicate the bug, identified three weeks ago.
But it notes the problem only affects subscribers who attempt to record programming through the IEEE 1394 interface, a high-speed digital connection known as Firewire or iLink found on high-end digital televisions manufactured by Mitsubishi, RCA and Hitachi, certain set-top boxes and DVHS recorders.
Cablevision says it does not prevent recording on more familiar consumer devices, such as a videocassette recorder or a Tivo-like digital video recorder.
Advocacy groups said the rollout of 5C's copy-protection scheme -- together with the entertainment industry's attempts to extend copy-protection to over-the-air television broadcasts -- are eroding home recording rights, with little consumer input.
``The content industry denies it will affect how consumers watch, enjoy and record television,'' said Kraus. ``But the Cablevision example goes to prove these technologies impact consumers dramatically.''
An attorney for the consortium of technology companies that developed the 5C copy-protection technology said just the opposite is true. He says rules are designed to reflect home use -- while addressing piracy fears that prevent Hollywood from releasing more high-quality content.
Cablevision violated strict licensing agreements when it imposed copy bans on generic cable programming -- shows that consumers should be entitled to copy freely, said Seth Greenstein, a Washington lawyer who negotiates 5C licenses for the consortium.
The only time 5C licensing rules allow copying to be prohibited is with special categories of paid programming, such as on-demand movie services or pay-per-view events, like the Oscar de la Hoya and Fernando Vargas prize fight.
And the movie studios and broadcasters ultimately get to decide what shows to protect -- the cable and satellite operators act as distributors, who honor the rules. They're not supposed to impose copy bans unilaterally.
``We have to figure what happened here,'' said Greenstein. ``5C worked awfully hard to put these encryption rules into its agreement to achieve a certain level of consumer recording rights. Having fought for it, we don't intend to relinquish it.''
DivXNetworks Launches Official DivX Certified Partner Program
Texas Instruments, Philips, Equator Technologies and Ingenient Technologies Announced as Inaugural Suite of DivX Certified Partners
Wednesday September 18, 8:04 am ET
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- DivXNetworks, Inc., the company that created the revolutionary patent-pending DivX (TM) video compression technology, today announced the launch of a new DivX Certified partner program to ensure best-of-class DivX certified solutions for next generation consumer electronics devices.
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Four companies were announced as the inaugural suite of official DivX Certified partners: Texas Instruments, Inc (NYSE: TXN - News); Philips (NYSE: PHG - News); Equator Technologies; and Ingenient Technologies. Each company has been officially certified through a rigorous testing process to ensure that their solutions are fully compatible with the entire suite of DivX technologies.
The new DivX Certified partner program was created to certify companies that are working with DivXNetworks to enable the creation of official DivX consumer electronics devices. There are three categories of DivX Certified partners: DivX Certified Hardware Partners, DivX Certified Embedded Software Partners, and DivX Certified Consumer Electronics Devices.
DivX Certification includes a full DivX development kit to help third parties make their existing solutions compatible with DivX technology, or to help them create new solutions from scratch. DivX Certified partner solutions are co-marketed by both companies to consumer electronics manufacturers who want to offer their customers DivX compatibility in next-generation devices. The official DivX Certified solutions will power DivX-enabled products including portable video players, DivX compatible DVD players, digital still cameras, digital video cameras, set-top boxes, home media gateways and more.
''We created the DivX Certification process to guarantee that consumers will receive only the highest-quality experience when they purchase next- generation devices that carry the DivX brand name,'' said Jordan Greenhall, co-founder and CEO of DivXNetworks, Inc. ( www.divxnetworks.com ). ''We are providing full development, marketing and sales support to ensure that DivX Certified solutions meet the global demand we've seen for high-quality DivX- powered devices.''
As official DivX Certified Hardware partners, Texas Instruments, Philips and Equator Technologies are working closely with DivXNetworks to create DivX certified solutions to power a wide range of next-generation video convergence devices.
''We are excited to join with DivX to ensure our OEMs have the latest video compression technology for their next generation products,'' said Raj Chirayil, business development manager, Audio and Infotainment Group, Texas Instruments. ''The inherent programmability of TI's DSP architecture, coupled with DivX's MPEG-4 technology, makes our solution versatile for a variety of consumer electronics and video-on-demand applications.''
''We are pleased to offer consumer electronics manufacturers the ability to rapidly deploy leading edge streaming media solutions based on Philips' Nexperia(TM) platform,'' said Chris Day, senior marketing director media processing, Philips Semiconductors. ''The highly flexible Nexperia platform gives increased opportunities for product differentiation, as well as simplified development and fast design cycles resulting in a shorter time to market.''
''Our customers are looking for robust, high-performance solutions that enable a variety of DivX-compatible devices, from handheld multimedia devices to next-generation Home Media Centers. Our BSP(TM)-15 processor and the DivX Certified partner program together allow us to provide quality solutions that video-centric consumer device manufactures can use today,'' said Rich Christopher, senior VP of sales and marketing, Equator Technologies.
The first publicly announced DivX Certified Embedded Software partner, Ingenient Technologies, is working closely with DivXNetworks to deliver DivX video technology to Texas Instruments' DSP-based products.
''We share DivXNetworks' focus on creating and delivering high performance digital video technology, and the global market acceptance and unsurpassed quality of DivX video provide a welcome addition to our growing embedded software product offerings,'' said Sami Levi, president and CEO, Ingenient Technologies.
DivX MPEG-4 compatible video compression technology was hailed as a ''revolutionary product'' by Tom's Hardware Guide and has been downloaded over 65 million times. The new DivX Certified Partner Program was created to enable the development of official DivX-enabled consumer electronics products to meet the global demand for high-quality DivX convergence devices. For more information on DivX certification process, visit www.divx.com/certified .
About DivXNetworks
DivXNetworks is a leading technology company that enables the rapid proliferation of video content over Internet Protocol (IP) networks by combining the lightweight, ubiquitous access of the Internet with DVD-quality video performance. The company's approach is built upon the success of the DivX(TM) codec, a leading standard for MPEG-4 compatible video distribution with over 65 million users worldwide, and the DivX Open Video System(TM), a next-generation content delivery system that provides unsurpassed aggregation, promotion, and distribution of video content for mass markets. DivXNetworks is headquartered in San Diego, California, with a satellite office in Los Angeles. For more information about DivXNetworks, visit http://www.divxnetworks.com .
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated is the world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. The company's businesses also include sensors and controls, and educational and productivity solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ti.com .
About Philips
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of $ 28.8 billion (EUR 32.2 billion) in 2001. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, and one-chip TV products. Its 184,000 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.newscenter.philips.com/usa .
About Equator Technologies, Inc.
Equator Technologies is a leading provider of high performance, programmable, power efficient System-on-a-chip processors designed for video streaming and image processing applications across a wide range of consumer and enterprise end markets. Equator offers the BSP family of Broadband Signal Processor chips, the iMMediaTools® software development toolkit, media libraries, and reference platforms for development and deployment of video streaming and video processing systems. With more than 150 customers worldwide, Equator provides solutions to the digital media, digital video communications, video security and surveillance, digital imaging, and automotive video markets. Winner of the ''2001 Fabless Semiconductor Association Best Financial Performer - Private Company'' award and picked by Cahners Research as the top private company on the list of 30 best small electronics companies, Equator is a recognized leader in video processing solutions. Founded in 1996, Equator is a privately held company headquartered in Campbell, Calif., with additional offices worldwide. More information about Equator is available at www.equator.com .
About Ingenient Technologies
Ingenient Technologies is emerging as a premier supplier of embedded multimedia solutions that enable the creation, delivery, management and presentation of multimedia content. Their comprehensive suites of proprietary enhanced international standards compliant algorithms, transraters/transcoders and framework products enable fast time-to-market for products addressing the consumer electronics, video security and surveillance, video server, and video infrastructure markets. Headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. More information can be found by visiting http://www.ingenient.com .
Toshiba's Mobile Digital Audio Player Integrates With Liquid(TM) Audio
15 March, 2000
Toshiba Corporation
Liquid Audio, Inc
REDWOOD CITY Calif. and TOKYO, (Mar. 15, 2000)-- Toshiba Corporation and Liquid Audio, Inc. (Nasdaq: LQID) have announced that support for Liquid Audio's Internet music delivery system will be integrated into the mobile digital audio player that Toshiba today launched in the Japanese market. This cooperation between the two companies will allow consumers using Toshiba's new player to download LiquidTM Music from the Internet for copyright-protected playback.
Toshiba's new digital audio player, MEA110AS, is the world's first AAC- and MP3-compatible mobile audio player to feature an SD memory card slot. The SD memory card, a new breed of postage-stamp-sized, high-density flash memory card, supports Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM), an advanced copy protection technology.
LiquidTM Audio's sophisticated electronic distribution and digital rights management system supports the digital delivery of music in all popular media formats, including MP3, AAC and others. Using LiquidTM Player software, consumers will be able to download music from 1,000 record labels and play it back on Toshiba portable products.
"Integration of Liquid Audio's popular music distribution system with our new portable products will allow our customers to enjoy an unrivalled range of digital music," said Mr. Masao Suga, general manager, Toshiba's Digital Home Products Division.
"Liquid Audio's music delivery system simplifies the consumer experience by enabling access to music in the widest range of digital music formats," said Phil Wiser, chief technology officer at Liquid Audio, Inc. "Together, Toshiba and Liquid Audio are making it easy for consumers using new devices from Toshiba, a leading consumer electronics company, to access and playback a broad selection of CD-quality music."
MEA110AS supports both AAC, high-quality sound compression for music distribution and digital satellite broadcasts that will start later this year, and MP3, today's most widely used format for digital music on the Internet.
Toshiba's new digital music player will be available from April 22, initially in Japan.
About Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation is a global leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products, and power systems. The company's integration of these wide-ranging capabilities assures its position as a leading company in notebook PCs, digital audio/visual products, semiconductors, LCD and other advanced devices. Toshiba has 197,000 employees worldwide, and annual sales of over US$40 billion.
About Liquid Audio
Liquid Audio, Inc. is a leading provider of software and services for the digital delivery of music over the Internet. The Liquid Audio solution gives musicians, record labels, Web sites and music retailers the ability to publish, syndicate and securely sell record music online with copy protection and copyright management. Using the LiquidTM Player software, available for free download at www.liquidaudio.com, music fans can preview and purchase downloadable music from the more than 500 affiliate Web sites in the LiquidTM Music Network. Traded on Nasdaq under the symbol LQID, Liquid audio is located in Redwood City, California.
Liquid, Liquid Audio, Inc., Liquid Audio, the Liquid Audio logo, Liquifier and Liquid Music are trademarks of Liquid Audio, Inc.
For more information about Liquid Audio software and services call 1-888-liquid-0 or visit http://www.liquidaudio.com.
IBM and Liquid Audio Announce Technology Agreement
Liquid Audio Plans to Integrate IBM's EMMS into Next Generation Liquid Player Software
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Feb. 22, 2002) - IBM® and Liquid Audio Inc. (Nasdaq: LQID), a leading provider of software and services for the online delivery of music, today announced they have entered into an agreement to integrate IBM's Electronic Media Management System (EMMS) Digital Rights Management technology into Liquid Audio's upcoming v7.0 Liquid Player software.
This agreement builds on Liquid Audio's commitment to support leading digital media technologies in its format-neutral solution and is one of the first technology licensing agreements to take advantage of IBM's new Digital Media Factory framework.
"Today there are two leading formats record labels use to securely distribute their content in Japan, Liquid and EMMS," said Gerry Kearby, chief executive officer of Liquid Audio, Inc. "This relationship will give content owners the flexibility and security they require for digital distribution, while continuing to make it easier for consumers to access all their favorite digital music from one player."
"IBM has a new business unit to address digital media opportunities, and this agreement demonstrates our efforts to develop an inclusive, standards-based platform for content distribution that encourages industry acceptance and growth, worldwide," said Scott Burnett, director of Marketing, IBM Digital Media Group. "Teaming with Liquid Audio, who has an established reputation and presence in the digital music marketplace, is an important step for IBM and demonstrates the growing acceptance of EMMS around the world."
The Electronic Music Management System
EMMS is a comprehensive electronic media distribution and digital rights management system designed to support a broad range of media types, beginning first with music and audio content. EMMS has an open architecture and offers a rich set of security and rights management features designed to protect the intellectual property rights of artists and record labels. EMMS has been designed to allow technology advances in music compression, encryption, formatting, watermarking, and end-user devices and applications to be integrated. EMMS is part of IBM's broad-based digital media management portfolio, which offers comprehensive, enterprise-wide solutions for creating, managing, storing and distributing digital assets.
Liquid Audio Digital Music Solutions
The Liquid Music Distribution System, which serves as the backbone for Liquid Audio's global distribution network, integrates Liquid Audio's digital music authoring, asset management, hosting, DRM, clearinghouse, distribution and reporting services with 3rd-party codecs, DRMs and clearinghouses such as Sony, Microsoft, mp3 and, now, IBM's EMMS.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM is helping media and entertainment companies worldwide take advantage of the business opportunities made possible by digital technology. IBM offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, networking and service offerings that is transforming the traditional creative and business processes of media and entertainment companies and positioning them to leverage their intellectual assets into new commercial opportunities. For more information on IBM strategy for the media and entertainment industry, contact www.ibm.com/solutions/media.
About Liquid Audio, Inc.
Liquid Audio, Inc. is a leading provider of software, infrastructure and services for the secure digital delivery of media over the Internet. The Liquid Audio solution gives content owners, Web sites and companies the ability to publish, syndicate and securely sell digital media online with copy protection and copyright management. Using the Liquid™ Player software, available for free download at www.liquidaudio.com, consumers can preview and purchase downloadable music from hundreds of affiliate Web sites in the Liquid Music Network™.
# # #
Posted by: packers1
In reply to: None Date:8/13/2002 4:14:40 PM
Post #of 15542
AND IT START'S! Liquid Audio Releases Thousands of New Digital Music Downloads from BMG
New Tracks From Top Notch BMG Artists Available Digitally for the First Time, Including New Elvis Presley #1 Single, 'A Little Less Conversation' Remixed by DJ JXL
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Liquid Audio, Inc. (Nasdaq: LQID - News) today announced that it is making thousands of songs from BMG artists available to consumers as digital downloads. Music fans can preview and purchase tracks in both the Liquid(TM) and Windows Media format and transfer tracks to portable devices. These new digital downloads can be found at leading retail and music Web sites in the Liquid Music Network including Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com), Compact Disc World (www.clubcd.com), Face the Music (www.facethe.com) and Waterloo Records (www.waterloorecords.com) as well as http://store.liquid.com.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990915/LQIDLOGO )
Using Liquid Audio technology, music fans can download tracks from a wide variety of BMG artists including Kenny Chesney, Dido, Eve 6, David Gray, Alan Jackson, Run-DMC, The Strokes and many more. In addition, the companies are making a new single from legendary rock star Elvis Presley, as remixed by DJ JXL, available for the first time as a digital download. The single, "A Little Less Conversation," is available to music fans in the U.S. for .98 cents and can be downloaded and burned to a CD. The track is the first single to be released from BMG's forthcoming album project, ELV1S 30 #1 Hits, available to music fans on September 24, 2002.
"This launch of new releases from BMG brings a variety of top name digital music to our growing catalog of secure a la carte downloads," said Dick Wingate, senior vice president of Content Development and Label Relations. "We're excited to be the first digital music service provider to release the Elvis worldwide smash remix and look forward to working with BMG to bring even more of their music to consumers via the Internet. 'The King' has finally gone digital."
BMG is the global music division of Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's leading media companies, with annual revenues of $17.86 billion. BMG owns more than 200 record labels in 42 countries including Arista Records, RCA Records, RCA Label Group -- Nashville, and Ariola. In addition, BMG owns one of the world's largest music publishing companies.
Liquid Audio, Inc. is a leading provider of software, infrastructure and services for the secure digital delivery of media over the Internet. The Liquid Audio solution gives content owners, Web sites and companies the ability to publish, syndicate and securely sell digital media online with copy protection and copyright management. Using the Liquid(TM) Player software, available for free download at www.liquidaudio.com, consumers can preview and purchase downloadable music from hundreds of affiliate Web sites in the Liquid Music Network(TM).
NOTE: Liquid, Liquid Audio, Liquid Player, Liquid Music Network and the Liquid Audio logo are trademarks of Liquid Audio, Inc
Best Buy Re-Launches Digital Music Site Powered By Liquid Audio
Consumers Can Now Access More Than 240,000 Digital Music Downloads, Including Tracks For CD Burn And Portable Device Export
MINNEAPOLIS, MN and REDWOOD CITY, CA--(INTERNET WIRE)--May 16, 2002 -- Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY - news), North America's number one specialty retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software and appliances, today announced it is re-launching the Liquid Audio digital music storefront on its Web site, powered by distribution software and content from Liquid Audio, Inc. (NASDAQ:LQID - news). The new storefront gives music fans and Best Buy customers access to more than 240,000 digital music downloads, from more than 1,800 major and independent record labels, including tracks with CD burn and portable device export permissions. Best Buy's new digital music store can be accessed at www.liquid.com/bestbuy.
Posted by: cksla
In reply to: None Date:10/16/2001 3:06:56 PM
Post #of 15533
Best Buy Expands Netflix Rentals Offline
Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy has expanded its DVD rental service with Netflix from the Internet to brick-and-mortar stores. Visitors to the more than 1,800 Best Buy, Sam Goody, Suncoast, On Cue and Media Play stores may sign up for the service, which charges subscribers $20 a month for unlimited DVD rentals by mail, up to three discs at a time. Last month, Best Buy and Netflix launched a co-branded online service through Best Buy's web sites. The two companies said at the time that the relationship is a step towards offering additional services including video on-demand to consumers.
DivXNetworks and BroadQ Team to Bring
DivX; Video to Sony" PlayStation" 2
Preview Edition of Qcast Tuner Software Allows Playback of DivX Video at
Certain Resolutions on Popular PlayStation 2
September 16, 2002--San Diego, CA and Austin, TX--DivXNetworks, Inc, the
company that created the revolutionary patent-pending DivX video compression
technology, and BroadQ LLC, a software company developing innovative solutions for
communicating digital content, today announced that the new QCast Tuner software from
BroadQ is capable of playing back DivX video on the Sony PlayStation 2gaming
console. With the Qcast Tuner Preview Edition released today, consumers can play back
videos encoded in all versions (5.xx and earlier) of DivX video at resolutions of 720x320
and below.
Additionally, the two companies have signed a strategic marketing agreement and plan to
work together to integrate playback support for advanced DivX video features at higher
resolutions in future versions of QCast Tuner software. With over 60 million global
users, the revolutionary patent-pending DivX video compression technology offers DVDquality
video at sizes 7-10 times smaller than MPEG-2 and ranks among the world's most
popular and fastest growing video technologies.
QCast Tuner is a home entertainment software product for the Sony PlayStation 2. The
first practical, easy-to-use solution that provides home entertainment systems with remote
access to computer based music, video, images or other digital content, QCast Tuner
software brings the power and excitement of vast world of digital media to the living
room with the touch of a button on a remote control. In addition to DivX compatibility,
the Qcast Tuner software provides playback support for MP3 audio, and MPEG-1 and
MPEG-2 video formats.
"We are very excited to be working with DivX Networks, and their patent-pending DivX
video technology enables us to deliver an exceptional DVD-like quality with our QCast
Tuner Software," said Stacy Cook, president and CEO of BroadQ. "The combination of
the audio/video capabilities of the Sony PlayStation 2 coupled with our innovative
software and the DivX video technology creates an all-in-one, true cinematic home
entertainment experience completely unlike anything available today."
"The QCast Tuner is a very cool convergence application that will help empower DivX
users everywhere to bring their DivX videos beyond the PC," said Jerome Rota, DivX
creator and co-founder of DivXNetworks, Inc. (www.divxnetworks.com). "The global
community of DivX users has been clamoring for versatile multimedia products that are
compatible with DivX Video, and the preview edition of QCast Tuner certainly fits that
bill. We look forward to working closely with BroadQ to bring even greater DivX
compatibility to future versions of the product."
To purchase a preview edition of Qcast Tuner software, visit www.broadq.com. For more
information on DivX video technology, visit www.divx.com.
About DivXNetworks
DivXNetworks is a leading technology company that enables the rapid proliferation of
video content over Internet Protocol (IP) networks by combining the lightweight,
ubiquitous access of the Internet with DVD-quality video performance. The company's
approach is built upon the success of the DivX codec, a leading standard for MPEG-4
video distribution with over 60 million users worldwide, and the DivX Open Video
System, a next-generation content delivery system that provides unsurpassed aggregation,
promotion, and distribution of video content for mass markets. DivXNetworks is
headquartered in San Diego, California, with a satellite office in Los Angeles. For more
information about DivXNetworks, visit http://www.divxnetworks.com.
About BroadQ
BroadQ, LLC, is a privately held digital lifestyle and entertainment software company in
Austin, Texas, developing innovative solutions for communicating digital content. The
company's flagship product, QCast Tuner software, networks the PC to the consumers
Sony PlayStation 2 to create a digital media center. BroadQ intends to be the premier
choice for the management and delivery of digital content to consumers worldwide. For
more information, visit www.broadq.com.
On2 And Equator Extend Relationship
On2's VP5 Codec to be ported to Equator's BSP™-15 Platform
New York, NY and Campbell, CA - May 30, 2002 -- On2 Technologies, The Duck Corporation (AMEX: ONT), the industry leader in video compression technology, and Equator Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of high performance, programmable and power efficient System-on-a-chip processors for video streaming and image processing applications, today announced that On2's VP5 video compression technology will be ported to Equator's high-performance BSP™-15 Broadband Signal Processor (BSP) chip.
The combination of On2's VP5 codec and Equator's BSP-15 processor will be offered on Equator's new Tetra™ Hardware Platform. This new product is ideal for clients looking to deploy low bit-rate real-time TV delivery to set-top boxes.
"On2 is striving to be the de facto standard for low bit rate video delivery initiatives. With its unique ability to deliver DVD-quality video at lower bit rates than other video codecs, VP5 allows clients to maximize the use of network bandwidth. Additionally, VP5 handles real-time encoding and interlaced content," stated Douglas A. McIntyre, President and CEO of On2 Technologies. "The power of VP5 combined with Equator's Dolphin and Tetra platforms open a lot of options for potential clients, lowering cost for service providers as well as set-top box manufacturers."
"Our highly programmable BSP-15 processor is an open platform that is ideally suited for codec technologies such as VP5, which utilizes the performance of our platform to deliver a competitive edge to customers, allowing them to immediately benefit from the latest advances in compression technology," said Avi Katz, President and CEO of Equator Technologies, Inc. "We are excited about this opportunity to partner with On2 to deliver new services at our signature low-bit rate and great video quality."
VP5 is On2 Technologies' newest advancement in video compression technology, containing improvements in quality and efficiency over all other existing algorithms, beating some by over 50% in perceptual quality over a variety of data rates. VP5 is the first low bit-rate codec capable of properly handling interlaced video content (60 fields per second), and is designed to utilize minimal processor power while delivering high-quality video.
The BSP-15 processor is the latest from Equator with performance ranging from 300MHz to 400MHz. Capable of delivering up to 40 billion operations per second (GOPS) of video processing power, BSP-15 chips are designed to provide unmatched price/performance points for a wide range of applications from high-performance head-end video encoding and video streaming applications to low-power broadband video client applications.
The new Tetra hardware platform provides Equator's customers a low cost, compact and modular hardware reference design enabling rapid development and deployment for a range of applications such as IP based set-top boxes and personal video recorders (PVRs). The Tetra hardware platform is a modular design, which includes the Tetra CPU board, an open peripheral interface for add-on modules, and a growing list of add-on 'personality' modules. Extremely compact in size, the Tetra CPU board measures in at 2.75" x 4.00", making it an ideal hardware reference design for applications that require a small footprint and low cost.
About Equator
Equator Technologies is a leading provider of high performance, programmable, power efficient System-on-a-chip processors designed for video streaming and image processing applications across a wide range of consumer and enterprise end markets. Equator offers the BSP™ family of Broadband Signal Processor chips, the iMMediaTools™ software development toolkit, media libraries, and reference platforms for development and deployment of video streaming and video processing systems. With more than 120 customers worldwide, Equator provides solutions to the digital media, digital video communications, video security and surveillance, digital imaging, and automotive video markets. Based on a high-performance VLIW core and optimized for video processing, the BSP-15 family of chips delivers up to 40 GOPS of video processing power. Utilizing Equator's optimizing compiler technology; BSP-15 chips are 100% programmable in C/C++, enabling rapid deployment and field upgradeability of new applications and devices. A software programmable BSP-15 chip can replace multiple fixed-function ASICs, thereby reducing both complexity and cost of system designs. Winner of the "2001 Fabless Semiconductor Association Best Financial Performer - Private Company" award and picked by Cahners Research as one of the 30 best small electronics companies, Equator is a recognized leader in video processing solutions. Founded in 1996, Equator is a privately held company headquartered in Campbell, Calif., with additional offices worldwide. More information about Equator is available at www.equator.com.
About On2 Technologies, The Duck Corporation
On2 Technologies (AMEX: ONT) is a leading technology firm at the forefront of video compression. The Company revolutionized video encoding with the creation of its advanced full-motion, full-screen, video compression and streaming technology (TrueMotion® VP3/VP4/VP5). On2 licenses its high quality video codecs for use in set-top boxes, consumer electronics devices and wireless applications. In addition, On2 offers a suite of products and services, including high-level video encoding, customized technical support, and consulting services. Headquartered in New York City, the Company has an office in Albany, NY, and operations in London, UK, and Seoul, Korea. On2 may be reached at 145 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013, telephone 917-237-0500 or info@on2.com. Investor inquiries should be sent to invest@on2.com.
Equator Releases Fully Interactive Broadband VOD Reference Design on New Tetra Hardware Platform
CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 20, 2002--Equator Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of high performance, programmable and power efficient System-on-a-Chip (SoC) processors for video streaming and image processing applications, today announced the immediate availability of a new Broadband Video-on-Demand (VOD) Reference Platform based on the recently introduced Tetra(TM) Hardware Platform. Powered by Equator's high performance BSP(TM)-15 processor, the new reference design combines a comprehensive suite of software for a fully interactive IP set-top box and a modular, super compact and cost effective hardware platform, resulting in a solution with an unprecedented combination of price/performance and programmability resulting in a significantly reduced total cost of ownership.
"Our BSP-15 processor is a complete video-centric SoC that greatly reduces complexity and overall system design costs. The need for either an additional host processor or additional fixed-function ASICs are eliminated, as the BSP-15 processor runs all of the major software components needed by a fully interactive set-top box, which include, among others, low-bit rate codecs, operating systems, web browser and content security software," said Frans Sijstermans, Vice President of Engineering, Equator Technologies, Inc. "With the new Tetra Hardware Platform, we've introduced a modular design that enables our customers to build their variant of a set-top box in less time. This low-cost, compact, and flexible design really appeals to savvy customers who demand it all."
The new reference platform provides a comprehensive suite of software for a low-bit rate IP-based set-top box. Key features include a sub-1Mbps streaming video decoder, digital PVR functions such as recording and time-shifting, web browser, electronic programming guide and an infrastructure to support end-to-end content security. The software architecture of this reference platform is codec-agnostic, thereby allowing customers a wide range of choice for codecs from unique specialized proprietary algorithms to well-established industry standards such as MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.
The Tetra Hardware Platform provides the hardware reference design for a range of ultra compact and low-cost set-top boxes. Including the Tetra CPU board, an open peripheral interface, and an add-on "personality" module, the modular design of the Tetra Hardware Platform allows its adopter to rapidly deploy a variety of set-top boxes from diskless streaming systems to advanced system with PVR functionality.
About Equator Technologies, Inc.
Equator Technologies is a leading provider of high performance, programmable, power efficient System-on-a-chip processors designed for video streaming and image processing applications across a wide range of consumer and enterprise end markets. Equator offers the BSP family of Broadband Signal Processor chips, the iMMediaTools® software development toolkit, media libraries, and reference platforms for development and deployment of video streaming and video processing systems. With more than 130 customers worldwide, Equator provides solutions to the digital media, digital video communications, video security and surveillance, digital imaging, and automotive video markets. Based on a high-performance VLIW core and optimized for video processing, the BSP-15 family of chips delivers up to 40 GOPS of video processing power. Utilizing Equator's optimizing compiler technology, BSP-15 chips are 100% programmable in C/C++, enabling rapid deployment and field upgradeability of new applications and devices. A software programmable BSP-15 chip can replace multiple fixed-function ASICs, thereby reducing both complexity and cost of system designs. Winner of the "2001 Fabless Semiconductor Association Best Financial Performer -- Private Company" award and picked by Cahners Research as the top private company on the list of 30 best small electronics companies, Equator is a recognized leader in video processing solutions. Founded in 1996, Equator is a privately held company headquartered in Campbell, Calif., with additional offices worldwide. More information about Equator is available at www.equator.com.
The following are trademarks of Equator Technologies, Inc., and may be used to identify Equator products only: Equator, the Equator logo, Equator Around, the Equator Around logo, MAP, MAP1000, MAP1000A, MAP-CA, MAP Series, Broadband Signal Processor, BSP, FIRtree, DataStreamer, DS, iMMediaC, iMMediaTools, iMMediaToolsLite, Media Intrinsics, VersaPort, SofTV, StingRay, Dolphin, Tetra, and Barracuda. Other product and company names contained herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Music Hits Broadband Note
By Matt Stump
from the October 29, 2001 issue of Broadband Week
Two music-centered broadband-content plays picked up steam last week, and the developments could factor into cable operators' future modem and interactive digital set-top plans.
MusicNet, the AOL Time Warner Inc.-Real Networks Inc. online paid music venture, named former MTV: Music Television and Video Jukebox Network executive Alan McGlade its president and CEO.
Separately, World Theater Inc. -- a relative unknown to the cable industry -- announced a music video and audio content deal with Bertelsmann Music Group, one of the five big music labels, under which it would develop an interactive-TV music video and audio service.
MusicNet will provide a platform for music downloading and streaming from Warner Music Group, EMI and BMG. America Online and Real's RealPlayer will serve as platforms, but McGlade will actively seek other distribution partners, which could include other Internet portals, ISPs or cable operators.
Cable's broadband data subscribers are a key target area for MusicNet, McGlade said.
"With my background in cable, I've clearly identified MusicNet as a great service to enhance the offering of high-speed cable modems," he said. "We'll engage in conversations rather quickly with the providers of that service.
"Users will have a great experience with that sort of speed, quick downloads and quality streaming," McGlade added.
MusicNet hasn't set the pricing for its service, but music files will be either streamed or downloaded for purchase or be part of a monthly subscription package. AOL, Real and other online retailers will set pricing, McGlade said.
Real plans to launch the service by Dec. 1.
"I do believe music is a tremendous application to give people a reason to have a high-speed modem service," McGlade said.
But it's also possible MusicNet could wind up on the Scientific-Atlanta Explorer 2000 series of boxes in Time Warner Cable systems.
"We do have an internal initiative to look at set-top boxes as a delivery method," McGlade said.
Advanced boxes with hard-drive storage would be even more alluring because consumers could store purchased music inside set-tops and transfer the content to other devices.
MusicNet will be compatible with Real Player at launch, but McGlade said the service would also eventually work with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media Player and Apple Computer Inc.'s QuickTime.
"It's a very interesting blend of technology and entertainment. This business suits my skills and prior experience," McGlade said. "It's going to be an emerging business, and all the rules haven't been written yet."
McGlade will be based in New York, although MusicNet will have a product development team near Real's headquarters in Seattle.
MusicNet will be part of Real Networks' new monthly subscription service, titled "RealOne."
RealOne -- the successor to Real's "GoldPass" content service -- will be launched in November. More than 400,000 subscribers pay $9.95 a month for GoldPass content, which includes Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association radio feeds and extra footage from the CBS television series Survivor.
Other cable and media content is provided ABCNEWS.com, CNET, Cable News Network, E! Entertainment Television, Fox Sports and The Weather Channel.
For its part, World Theater is building an interactive television music service that will scale across various set-top boxes, president Kelly Sparks said.
We've designed and built service from ground up for delivery over cable and direct-broadcast satellite systems, he said.
At one level, the service will be a 24-hour channel dedicated to music videos, specials and series produced by the record labels. Although BMG is the only announced label so far, Sparks said we're in discussions with all the others.
For more than a year, Universal Music Group, Vivendi Universal S.A.'s record label has distributed similar content to Excite@Home Corp. cable-modem users and Qwest Communications International Inc. DSL subscribers. Recently, UMG said it will integrate the same content into advanced set-top boxes with the help of sister company Canal Plus U.S. Technologies.
World Theater will do more than allow users to view content or listen to sample songs from albums, according to Sparks. Its electronic-commerce element will let users buy CDs via the TV.
Sparks said he's talked with Liberate Technologies Inc., Microsoft and Open V Corp., as well as development houses associated with the major set-top manufacturers.
Operators would share in World Theater's revenues.The business model is unique and attractive to the operators, he said.
Equator and Liberate to Deliver TV Navigator on a Chip
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 2002--SUPERCOMM, Georgia World Congress Center, Booth # 23918--Equator Technologies Inc., a leading provider of high performance, programmable System-on-a-chip processors for video streaming and image processing applications and Liberate Technologies (Nasdaq:LBRT - News) today announced that they will collaborate to develop a next-generation set-top box reference platform based on Equator's recently announced Tetra(TM) Hardware Platform powered by the BSP(TM)-15 processor.
The new platform will give cable, satellite, telco, and terrestrial digital television operators access to new digital video streaming technologies, greatly reducing the bandwidth necessary for broadcast and point-to-point Video On Demand services. By providing a completely programmable solution, the new platform architecture will enable more affordable set-top products and will accelerate the introduction of new video solutions and on demand services.
"Broadcasters and network operators are looking to deliver video to their consumers with greater choice and flexibility," said Herve Utheza, Vice President of Product & Solutions Marketing, Liberate Technologies. "The Equator solution enables operators to harness the latest in video streaming technologies without having to upgrade their existing set-tops."
"Indeed, the Equator platform will enable the latest industry standards, such as MPEG-4, to be brought to market with hardware acceleration. This suddenly opens up the way an operator thinks about their bandwidth allocation, cost structure, and range of video services offering," said Avi Katz, President and CEO of Equator Technologies, Inc.
Equator's business model is to license its reference designs to leading OEM manufacturers and other chipset vendors, with the assurance that Liberate software will be pre-ported and pre-certified to accelerate time to market. The new reference design will integrate Equator's Tetra Hardware Platform with the Liberate TV Platform(TM) software to enable emerging interactive applications such as interactive television, Electronic Program Guides, all forms of Video On Demand services, as well as Personal Video Recording (PVR) and e-Commerce.
Taking full advantage of the BSP-15 chip as a video centric system-on-a-chip, the Tetra CPU board is a single-processor design that not only delivers video, but will also run operating systems and the Liberate TV Platform software, thereby eliminating the need for additional processors in the system and lowering the overall system cost. In addition to collaborating on technology development, Equator and Liberate will pursue joint marketing and sales initiatives to build and support market demand for the new set-top box platform.
The Liberate TV Platform software enables cable, satellite and telecommunication companies to deliver applications that integrate the Web's interactivity with the richness of TV-based content. Using open Internet and international broadcast standards, Liberate provides an efficient client (Liberate TV Navigator(TM)) and server (Liberate Connect(TM)) platform that combines the best of both the Internet and television into one compelling, interactive medium - enhanced TV. Liberate enables a range of services and applications from interactive advertising and gaming, to chat and email, to enhanced programming.