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Received email from Eliot Van Buskirk (CNET reviewer)
He is expecting a Gateway player for review...soon.....
NEWe.LONG
I was not thrilled with that statement from RP, because the 0-1000 is mostly for sale in England. 0-1000 sales and HD100 sales have not been good, but also they have not been promoted. Hopefully with new OEM's and a newer, smaller 0-1000 variant, this will change.
Confirmed (again) by Gateway 1.8" HDD. eom
NEWe.LONG
FWIW RP told me the 0-1000 was outselling the MPIO HD100 in Europe
26th? Gateway IS IN STOCK NOW!!!!! Ships 2-3 days eom
Comparison of major HDD
Gateway
2.6 x 3.9 x 0.83____ 7.7 ounces
0-1000
2.9 x 4.4 x__ 1_____ 8.2 ounces
iPod
2.4 x 4.1 x 0.62____ 5.6 ounces
Samsung
2.6 x 4.2 x 0.8 ____6 ounces
Dell
2.6 x 3.9 x 0.9_____7.6 ounces
iRiver
2.4 x 4.1 x 0.75___ 5.6 ounces
Nomad Zen Xtra
3 x 4.4 x 0.86"_____7.9 ounces
Philips
2.5 x 4.2 x 0.7_____5.9 ounces
Gateway smaller lighter than 0-1000 larger than iPod
Gateway
2.6 x 3.9 x 0.83____ 7.7 ounces
0-1000
2.9 x 4.4 x__ 1_____ 8.2 ounces
iPod
2.4 x 4.1 x 0.62____ 5.6 ounces
Didn't the "first" 0-1000 look like the Gateway version? I remember there have been two versions of 0-1000. Anyone have the side by side pictures? It was about the time of CES and comparison to Samsing YP-900
Digitalway dropped the HD-100 off their website this last week. Gateway has worldwide sales, so no conflict........
Apple says it's Creative
Kidding..that was for Cassie LOL
They are nearly identical!!!!!!!!!!! eom
Toshiba's Groundbreaking 1.8-Inch Hard Disk Drive Reaches Three-Million-Produced Milestone
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 2003--
Company Builds the Small Form Factor HDD Category, Leading its Expansion Into New Markets and Enabling Today's Generation of Digital Devices
Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD) today announced it has surpassed the milestone of cumulative production of three million 1.8-inch hard disk drives (HDDs), validating the need for small form factor, high-capacity storage to create today's new breed of consumer electronics devices and mobile products.
With its place "under the hood" of some of today's hottest portable gadgets, Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDD has been an immediate success since its launch in 2000. The small form factor HDD delivers the unbeatable combination of high-performance and high-capacity storage, enabling product manufacturers to offer unprecedented functionality in mobile products. Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDDs are the heart of today's exciting new mobile entertainment devices, handheld computers, ultraportable notebooks, portable handheld GPS units, MP3 players, automotive jukebox systems and other specialized digital products.
"Toshiba is the first company to successfully market storage products in the 1.8-inch category and currently is the only 1.8-inch supplier shipping multiple platforms in volume today," said Amy Dalphy, manager, HDD business unit, Toshiba SDD. "We looked at the trends, listened to our customers and then put a stake in the ground that this product was the right fit for emerging business computing tools and consumer electronics products."
Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDD has been a key element of the company's successful strategy to expand its business into non-PC and consumer electronics applications. As advances in HDD technology continue to evolve and push the limits on areal density and speed, these tiny HDDs have transformed basic products into compelling power tools.
"We are thrilled to achieve this significant production milestone of three million units, proving this storage category is capable of driving explosive growth in smaller and more mobile digital devices," Dalphy added. "With our industry-leading research and development, this achievement is only the beginning of continued technology advancements that will revolutionize mobile digital devices."
Toshiba's 1.8-inch hard disk drives began mass production in 2000 with a removable 1.8-inch PC Card HDD in a 2GB(a) capacity. The company has subsequently introduced a series of products that consistently push the borders of capacity and performance, including a 1.8-inch 5GB PC Card HDD and 1.8-inch embedded HDDs available in 5GB, 10GB, 15GB, 20GB, 30GB and 40GB capacities.
Toshiba estimates the market for 1.8-inch HDDs will rise to 70 million in 2010. As the demand for small form factor HDDs continues, Toshiba is responding by doubling its production volume to 600,000 units per month by March 2004, including in-house production and outsourced manufacturing by Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd.
"This production, along with the drive's tremendous advantages in size, weight, low power consumption and overall performance ensures that Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDD will continue to be a winner in the market for mobile digital products," Dalphy said.
For more information about Toshiba's line of 1.8-inch HDDs, visit www.harddrives.toshiba.com.
About Toshiba Storage Device Division
Toshiba SDD, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., leads the market in the development, design and manufacturing of DVD-ROM, slim CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW, combination CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW, 1.8-inch hard disk drives and 2.5-inch hard disk drives. Toshiba SDD markets high-quality peripherals to original equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers, value-added dealers, systems integrators and distributors in the United States. Inherent in the company's product line is the high-quality engineering and manufacturing that has established Toshiba products as worldwide leaders. For more information, visit www.sdd.toshiba.com.
About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS)
Toshiba to Double Production of Popular 1.8-inch HDD
Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, November 11, 2003 -- (business2media)
Pioneering Small Form Factor Brought HDD into New Markets, Enabled a New Generation of Digital Devices
Toshiba Corporation Monday announced that it would meet fast increasing demand for its 1.8-inch hard disk drives (HDD) by doubling production to 600,000 units a month by March 2004. The innovative drive, a winner since its 2000 launch, delivers high-performance, high-capacity storage in a small form factor that has supported creation of today's new breed of consumer electronics devices and mobile products. The drive's versatility is reflected in the recent achievement of cumulative production of 3 million units on consistently rising demand. Toshiba will support increased production by expanding outsourcing, including manufacturing at Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd.
As the storage device of choice for some of the hottest portable gadgets on the market, Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDD has supported manufacturers in delivering unprecedented functionality to exciting new mobile entertainment products. Handheld computers, ultraportable notebooks, portable handheld GPS units, MP3 players and automotive MP3 jukebox systems are just a few of the specialized digital devices made possible by the performance of Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDD. And that performance, combined with superb advantages in size, weight and low power consumption, assures that Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDD will continue to be a winner in the market for mobile digital products in this age of ubiquitous computing. Toshiba estimates show the market for 1.8-inch HDD rising to 25 million units in 2006.
"Toshiba is the first company to successfully market storage products in the 1.8-inch category and currently is the only 1.8-inch supplier shipping in volume today," said Hiroyuki Sato, Senior Manager of Storage Device Div., HDD Sales & Marketing Dept. of Toshiba's Digital Media Network Company. "We looked at the trends, listened to our customers, and were convinced that this kind of small but powerful, highly functional drive, was the right product for the fusion of computing tools and consumer electronics products.
"We were very happy to pass the milestone of production of three million units. By further increasing production capacity, we will confirm that our 1.8-inch drive is capable of driving explosive growth in smaller and more mobile digital devices. As far as we are concerned, this is only the beginning of a market where we will do all we need to do to grow and advance."
Toshiba's created the 1.8-inch HDD market in 2000, when it started mass production of a PC-Card-type removable 1.8-inch HDD with a 2GB capacity. The company has subsequently rolled out a series of products that consistently push back the borders of capacity and performance: a 1.8-inch, 5mm height, 5GB embedded HDD in 2001; and a 5mm height 10GB embedded model and 8mm height, 20GB and 30GB embedded HDD in 2002. Toshiba's latest 1.8-inch embedded HDD offers a capacity of 40GB with 8mm height and a 20GB capacity with 5mm height.
The 1.8-inch HDD drive has been a key element of Toshiba's successful strategy to expand its storage business into non-PC and consumer electronics applications. Advances in hard drive technology continues to push the limits on areal density and speed, and Toshiba has used the power of these diminutive HDDs to transform basic products into compellingly necessary power tools.
Toshiba is also a technology leader in 2.5-inch HDD. Here too demand is growing beyond the core market of portable computers, and the 2.5-inch HDD is now a key component of car navigation systems. Toshiba developed and started mass production of a highly reliable, vibration resistant 2.5-inch HDD for automotive use in 2001, and expects cumulative production of these drives to reach one million units by the end of 2003. Toshiba's cumulative production for all 2.5-inch HDDs now stands at 60 million units.
I show resistance at .45 .52 and .55. Anyone else? eom
MusicNow and Best Buy Launch New Digital Music Store
MusicNow Works With Top Digital Device Manufacturers and Best Buy for Launch Of New Digital Music Store
New Online Store Works Easily with More Than 40 Portable Digital Music Players To Make Digital Music Simple for Millions of Customers
(IT looks like some possible new OEM's....)
CHICAGO and MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- MusicNow Inc., developer of a legal online music store and service, and Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), North America's leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics and entertainment products, today announced the launch of the MusicNow Download Store, which will be available only through Best Buy for the month of November. The new store lets music lovers download songs directly to more than 40 portable digital music players, giving them more options to enjoy their music than any other digital music site.
The MusicNow Download Store for Best Buy allows consumers to download music more easily to their favorite digital music players from industry leaders such as Creative, Rio, iRiver, Phillips/Nike, and Digitalway. Unlike other digital music offerings, the MusicNow Download Store for Best Buy enables users to transfer songs directly to more than 40 portable devices without having to convert their music or download extra plug-ins. This impressive compatibility is possible through MusicNow's special integration with the Windows Media Player 9 Series. In addition, the compression efficiencies of the Windows Media Audio 9 format provides music content in half the size of MP3 files without sacrificing quality, making it possible to store more music on portable devices.
"Best Buy is committed to offering our customers leading services that make buying entertainment digitally a great experience. With the launch of the MusicNow Download Store in the Windows format, we believe consumers now have a great choice to purchase digital music that will work on many devices," said Scott Young, vice president of digital entertainment for Best Buy. "We want music to be available to people how and when they want it, and that means letting them take their music with them on the road, in the car, or wherever they want to enjoy it. The combination of Best Buy's retail expertise and MusicNow's integration with more than 40 portable audio players offers an exciting digital entertainment experience for music fans."
The MusicNow Download Store for Best Buy features more than 400,000 tracks from all the major labels. It is available now at
http://www.bestbuy.com/digitalmusic and also can be viewed through special kiosks at Best Buy retail stores. MusicNow customized its service for Best Buy and the two companies are working closely with portable device manufacturers to continue improving the way consumers experience digital music -- at home, at work and on the go. The ability to work seamlessly with so many different music devices is one feature that differentiates the MusicNow Download Store for Best Buy from the rest of the digital music field.
MusicNow gives consumers a single, comprehensive destination to enjoy digital music through a wide array of listening options. Shopping at the MusicNow Download Store for Best Buy enables consumers to purchase music a la carte, giving them the freedom to buy digital tracks and albums without a subscription. In addition, Best Buy customers also have the option of becoming MusicNow members, enabling them to accumulate larger digital music collections at a lower cost and giving them access to MusicNow' unique entertainment features. Following are the simple options:
Shopping
-- MusicNow Download Store for Best Buy: Shoppers can purchase individual tracks for $0.99 or full albums for $9.95 with no subscription fee
Membership
-- All MusicNow: $9.95/month for premium channels of exclusive music programming showcasing the work of a particular artist or genre; unlimited tracks on demand that are available for play online and offline for the duration of the subscription; $0.99 per song and $9.95 per album for permanent downloads that can be burned to CD and transferred to portable devices
-- MusicNow Premium Channels: $4.95/month for premium channels
The MusicNow service is designed more like a music magazine than a music database. With MusicNow memberships, music enthusiasts receive access to 40 channels of original music programming including the co-branded channels Elvis 2nd to None, The Soul of Quincy Jones and the Blue Note Channel. MusicNow members enjoy premium, commercial-free radio stations distinctive to each channel. TrackPaks -- MusicNow's exclusive compilation series -- offer a unique way to discover the channel's new recordings alongside old favorites.
Channel home pages spotlight new hits and other special tracks and albums, which subscribers can listen to on-demand or purchase for transfer to their favorite portable device. MusicNow will continue to add additional channels to the service featuring the biggest names in music.
As part of the nationwide launch of the service, Best Buy and MusicNow are conducting a promotion with portable audio devices and blank media such as CD's: when music lovers purchase these items and sign up for a month of the All MusicNow service, they receive their first 10 song downloads at no additional cost. Participants in this promotion include: Creative, Rio, iRiver, Digitalway, Phillips/Nike, Samsung, Fujifilm, Imation, Memorex, and
TDK.
Also, to promote digital music as a holiday gift giving idea, Best Buy will sell holiday gift cards that are redeemable at The MusicNow Download Store for Best Buy beginning in mid-November. These cards will be displayed in three locations within Best Buy stores -- with the portable audio players, in the music section, and with the gift cards.
"With the launch of the Download Store that works with more than 40 devices and our launch with Best Buy, MusicNow offers consumers the best way to purchase and use digital music," said Scott Kauffman, president and chief executive officer of MusicNow. "Our Windows-based service and unprecedented ease of use with multiple portable devices will further accelerate the mainstream consumer adoption of digital music services."
Manufacturer Comments
Creative
"Seamless integration between PCs and NOMAD portable audio players gives music-passionate customers a new level of freedom and flexibility. Customers can download music from the MusicNow Download Store directly to a Creative NOMAD portable audio player in just one easy step, giving users more time to enjoy new music on their NOMAD anywhere they want to go."
Lisa O'Malley, senior brand manager for portable audio products at
Creative
Rio
"Rio's approach has always been to support non-proprietary music services that will benefit the digital music consumer. We're excited to be supporting Best Buy and the MusicNow Download Store. It's a validation that this is a good market for consumers, and the store will provide them with another choice to find the music they're searching for."
Jeff Hastings, president of Rio
iRiver
"Customers require online music services to deliver a superior online
music experience. The MusicNow Download Store for Best Buy mirrors what
customers want from a music service. iRiver is committed to providing
products for online music services, and it's refreshing when music services,
such as MusicNow, heed customer demands."
Jonathan Sasse, president of iRiver America
Digitalway
"By integrating the MusicNow Download Store into our digital music players, Best Buy customers will love how easy it is to download music right onto an MPIO Digital Music Player. Our already easy to use players combined with the convenience of the MusicNow Download Store, open the door for everyone to leave a Best Buy store and start downloading and enjoying digital music immediately."
Marcelino Kim, vice president marketing and sales for Digitalway Inc.
TDK
"As a premier supplier of portable music players and recording media, TDK has always recognized the need to encourage legal music sharing among listeners. We are proud to support the launch of the MusicNow Download Store for Best Buy, and its efforts to make access to digital music easy, economical and enjoyable."
Bruce Youmans, TDK vice president of marketing
Samsung
"Giving customers easy-to-use and convenient access to the music they love is a priority of ours. The MusicNow Download Store helps our customers get access to and manage music so they can take their favorite tunes with them wherever they go."
Erin Burns, channel marketing manager - retail, Samsung Electronics
Memorex
"Memorex is convinced that working with Best Buy and MusicNow will benefit the consumers in obtaining their favorite music in a quick and convenient manner. As the market leader in blank CD and DVD media, Memorex is committed to providing high quality digital media that will enable consumers to enjoy their legally downloaded music on any CD or DVD player."
Allen H. Gharapetian, vice president of marketing and product development for Memorex
Fujifilm
"Fujifilm is pleased to join Best Buy in bringing consumers new and different ways to enjoy their favorite music. We believe that today's music enthusiast will embrace the flexibility, choice, and convenience that the MusicNow Download Store offers."
Bill Drysdale, director of sales, Fuji Photo Film USA Inc.
About MusicNow
MusicNow Inc., formerly FullAudio, develops a legal online music store and service with more than 40 channels of original music programming and content from all five major labels -- BMG, EMI, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and the Warner Music Group -- as well as the independent labels Koch and Sanctuary. Customers have the option to either purchase tracks and albums a la carte or subscribe to MusicNow's subscription service, which provides unlimited access to the music in MusicNow's library for a monthly subscription fee. MusicNow is primarily marketed through distribution partners, which currently include Best Buy, Charter Communications, Clear Channel Communications, EarthLink and Microsoft.
Founded in April 1999, MusicNow manages the software and systems that cover every aspect of music content aggregation and delivery including content acquisition and management, media storage, secure delivery and digital rights management to ensure that all rights holders are fairly compensated for their work.
The company is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Palo Alto, CA. For more information or to subscribe to MusicNow, please visit http://www.musicnow.com .
Is this new? It looks like older design from 2 websites ago. If already posted, I am sorry. I just got in, checked the site.
http://www.edigital.com/
Stocks are flying on NO NEWS, so anything is possible. This is still an OTC stock..........I have Amex stocks going nuts on no news......
OT:
MXR
New RoadStor Portable Media Player Allows Viewing And Sharing Of Digital Photos, Audio & Video
Micro Solutions has started shipping RoadStor, a compact yet powerful product for viewing, copying, toting and sharing digital photos, audio and video almost anywhere. It is the first product on the market to combine a digital photo viewer, CD burner, DVD player and MP3 player all in one package. RoadStor doesn't require a computer to use (but it works with both PCs and Macs), making it the first device available that will let users burn CDs directly from storage cards.
RoadStor connects to TVs and computers, and it's portable, so with it, users can share vacation videos and pictures among family and friends, keep the kids entertained during a road trip, burn CDs, listen to an MP3 song or make an important business presentation. It's ideal for digital camera users, consumer technology buffs who want the latest and greatest, and families that travel with children. (photo available at http://www.micro-solutions.com/editors_corner/product_photos/drive_photos/401010.jpg)
DeKalb, Ill (November 5, 2003) - Micro Solutions, Inc. today announced it has started shipping its new RoadStor portable media player, a compact yet powerful product for viewing, copying, toting and sharing digital photos, audio and video almost anywhere with or without a computer. It is the first product on the market to combine a digital photo viewer, CD burner, DVD player and MP3 player all in one package.
With its own snap-on rechargeable Lithium Ion battery that delivers two hours of continuous play time, and at about the size of a small hardback book, RoadStor travels easily. Simple to operate, it connects directly to a TV and works as a stand-alone device or as a PC or Mac accessory.
“RoadStor is like a Swiss Army knife for the digital media era and can be used in many fun and practical ways,” said Pat Barron, vice president of sales at Micro Solutions. “Whether you want to share vacation videos and pictures among family and friends, keep the kids entertained during a road trip, burn CDs, listen to an MP3 song or make an important business presentation, RoadStor lets you do it all.”
Powerful Features Yet Simple To Use
RoadStor incorporates many powerful features, but it’s simple to use. Built-in video and S-Video output jacks and a stereo audio output jack allow it to easily connect directly to a TV for viewing digital photos and DVDs. Plus, its CD burner lets users quickly and easily make digital photo CDs from flash memory cards. With one touch of a button, this innovative product can take anything stored on a flash memory card and record it to a CD-R or CD-RW.
RoadStor’s six-in-one flash memory card reader works with six different types of memory cards?including SecureDigital (SD) cards, SmartMedia (SM) cards, MultiMedia Cards (MMC), Memory Stick, Compact Flash (CF) type I and type II cards, and MicroDrives. These cards are forms of removable memory that work with many digital cameras, PDAs, cell phones and computers; consumers commonly use these cards to store their digital photos, MP3 files or other data. RoadStor will work with all of those items that are stored on these cards; it can play MP3 digital audio files, show JPEG digital photo files and play MPEG digital video files.
RoadStor also can be used for making music or data CDs for backup or storage.
It reads CD-RW, CD-R and regular CD-ROMs, plays regular music CDs and reads DVD movie discs, DVD plus and dash (DVD +/-) videos and DVD data discs. A remote control is included with the product, as well.
If a user wants to connect RoadStor to an Intel-based PC or Mac, the built-in USB 2.0 port will come in handy. The unit also is backward-compatible with the USB 1.1 ports found on many older computers.
Software bundled with RoadStor includes Micro Solutions SpeedyCD for creating and editing CD-R and CD-RW discs and CyberLink PowerDVD for playing DVDs.
Wide Variety of Uses
Thanks to its versatility and portability, RoadStor can be used in a wide variety of ways, for both leisure and business. For example:
• A family can use RoadStor as its primary DVD player at home, or take RoadStor for on-the-road entertainment, if the vehicle is equipped with a TV screen for back-seat viewing;
• Family and friends can use RoadStor to view a “slideshow” of vacation photos while still away from home, and burn CDs of the photos for everyone on the trip;
• A leisure or business traveler can use RoadStor to watch a DVD movie or play favorite music in a hotel room;
• A businessperson can use RoadStor to show a PowerPoint presentation stored on a flash memory card, CD or DVD, and then make a copy of the presentation on a CD-R to give to a client or colleague;
• A real estate agent can use RoadStor to show pictures of homes for sale to potential buyers, and then create custom CDs for them with pictures of their most-eligible homes; and
• Musicians can use RoadStor to make CDs of their best songs to give to prospective music publishers and pursue that “big break.”
System Requirements
RoadStor does not need a computer; however, when connected to a computer, it requires Microsoft Windows 98, Me, 2000 SP3, or XP, or Mac OS 10.1.3 or above; USB 2.0 capability (for DVD video playback on a computer); IBM-compatible Pentium II or faster (for DVD video playback on a computer); 8MB or more of video RAM (recommended for DVD playback on a computer); and 16MB minimum and preferably 32MB of regular RAM. Audio/video input jacks and/or an S-Video input jack are needed for DVD video playback on a TV.
Pricing, Availability and Warranty
RoadStor (model number is 401010) has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $249 and is available now through Micro Solutions Direct (accessible at www.micro-solutions.com), and will be available soon in the United States at CDW, Ingram, Insight, Office Depot and Tech Data, and in Canada at Best Buy, Future Shop and Staples. It comes with a one-year warranty. For more information, call Micro Solutions at 800-890-7227 or 815-756-3411, ext. 200, or visit the company’s Web site at www.micro-solutions.com
About Micro Solutions
Founded in 1980, Micro Solutions, Inc. pioneered parallel-port-attach mass storage technology. Its award-winning products are distributed worldwide at major retail outlets, through mail-order catalogs and Web sites, and through distribution. The privately held company is headquartered in DeKalb, Ill.
MICRO SOLUTIONS
Editorial Contact:
Glynis Gibson
773-278-7700
glynis@gibsoncommunications.com
Rockford Releases Wi-Fi Enabled Car Stereo
Now, you can beam a music collection to your car wirelessly, via 802.1b networking. Rockford Corporation says it is now shipping the Omnifi mobile audio system it previewed at last January's Consumer Electronics Show.
The system includes an in-car music player, built around a removable, shock-mounted hard drive. For file transfer, the hard drive can be removed and connected to a PC, or it can be updated directly via a wireless receiver developed in conjunction with D-Link. Customers, of course, need to have an 802.11b network and host PC already in place.
Rockford's SimpleWare software includes a scheduling application that lets users download information to the car at specific times. In the words of Rockford's promotional copy:"While you're sound asleep, your computer comes to life, grabs that new CD that you saved to your hard drive yesterday, and sends it to your vehicle parked outside (within 150 feet). Therefore, you can automatically transmit new MP3 files to you car every evening."
Specific marketing and advertising plans were not available. However, Rockford plans to position the product at the top of its car stereo line. Units are currently available from online retailers such as Crutchfield.
By Jonathan Angel
E-mail: jangel@adweek.com
November 04, 2003
How things have changed. Even a deal with Gateway would be a yawner to some. Unbelievable........
Name: STRUTHERS, INC.
Type: Corporation File Number: C17559-1995 State: NEVADA Incorporated On: October 10, 1995
Status: Current list of officers on file Corp Type: Regular
Resident Agent: CSC SERVICES OF NEVADA, INC. (Accepted)
Address: 502 EAST JOHN STREET
ROOM E
CARSON CITY NV 89706-
President: DOUGLAS W BEATTY
Address: 2343 MACLAURA HALL AVE
CHARLESTON SC 29414-
Secretary: BERTRAM K REMLEY
Address: 13 BRIGADOON PL
CHARLESTON SC 29414-
Treasurer: BERTRAM K REMLEY
Address: 13 BRIGADOON PL
CHARLESTON SC 29414-
Works fine. Same old site
http://www.edigital.com/
OT:New car audio integration system for iPods
Friday, October 31, 2003 @ 9:20am
Dension Audio Systems is advertising a new iPod-based audio integration system for cars: "ice>Link:iPod is the ultimate car kit for your Apple iPod. iPod audio is routed through your head unit's CD changer port and keypresses including FF & RW are passed from your head unit (and steering wheel controls in suitably-equipped vehicles) to your iPod resulting in safe control of your iPod while driving." It is available with an optional cradle manufactured by Brodit (for classic and 3rd generation iPods: "We recomend Brodit's range of ProClip damage free mounting brackets which are available for a wide range of vehicles and mounting locations.") Pricing was not available.
http://www.ice-link.com/
The trouble is APS has sent out mixed messages, mostly downplaying or totally ignoring e.Digitals involvement. More often than not, APS has taken full credit. Remember the "off the shelf parts" remark? This latest statement where patents are mentioned has gone to far and needs to be stopped IMO
High-Tech Car Systems Are Music To Audio Manufacturer's Ears
BY KIRK SHINKLE
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY
October 29
During a shaky economy, high-end home stereo equipment doesn't exactly fly off store shelves.
That's why sound system maker Harman International Industries Inc. (HAR) is putting its energy into the fast-growing automotive audio market.
Last week the firm reported profit of 58 cents a share for its fiscal first quarter, which ended in September. That was double the prior year's total and a hefty 21 cents ahead of consensus Wall Street views.
The results helped push Harman's stock up more than 16% on Oct. 22. It currently trades near an all-time high of 126.
Harman cited strong sales of advanced, higher-priced systems installed in German luxury cars.
The company is probably best known for its home-audio brands like JBL or Harman/Kardon. But it's greatest growth potential is in outfitting cars with top-of-the-line entertainment and communication systems.
Chief Financial Officer Frank Meredith boasts that Harman has a two- to three-year lead on the competition when it comes to high-end car systems.
"We're just getting started, and the marketplace is huge," Meredith said. "That's the story."
Harman's success centers around its Infotainment Systems, a blanket term that covers what it hopes will be the future of driving convenience.
While the company has been putting stereos in cars for more than half a century, this platform is designed to go beyond music players to include car DVD players, global positioning systems and hands-free cell phone technology.
The Infotainment System was unveiled in the BMW 7 Series in 2001. It's also been used in other luxury vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz E class, the Audi 8 and the Porsche Cayenne.
While customers complained early on that the system was tough to use, they've come around — as have manufacturers.
The company's deal with BMW to include its "iDrive" infotainment system in the car maker's European-class BMW 5-Series vehicles could be worth $200 million a year, analysts say.
"(Harman is) strong in the (BMW) 7 Series, and in the 5 Series the ramp curve has been better than expected," said analyst David Leiker of Robert W. Baird & Co.
Harman looks for future profit growth from expanded deals with Mercedes, Audi 6 and Dodge Ram trucks. New contracts include a 2005 deal with General Motors Corp. (GM) to offer the system on its Buick line. Three Mercury lines will offer the system in the 2006 model year, thanks to a contract signed last quarter.
Meredith admits that the Buick and Mercury deals are both small.
"(But) they're strategic in that they give us an opportunity to get back in front of those customers on a regular basis," he said.
He also points out the deals will expand Harman's business away from a luxury-only customer base.
Not that he minds the current business.
"People say, 'You're only on the high-end vehicles. Will the technology migrate to lower-end vehicles?' " he said. "My response is, 'We're on the car companies that are the leading edge.' "
When the 2005 model year cars hit the road, Harman's products will be in 1 million to 1.2 million vehicles.
Competition is slim, mainly because Harman's system is the only one of its kind on the market. To keep its lead, the company aims to make its products the control center of all the functions in a car's dashboard.
"Everything that goes on outside a car will eventually go on inside a car," Meredith said. "You get a (navigation) box, a radio, a climate control box each with their own video display. That piles up."
Cars are becoming so smart, they eventually might repair themselves while you're fast asleep.
"Wouldn't it be cool to know when you come home at night, your car could call up a server in Stuttgart (Germany) from your house in New York, and the server could fix it with a software download, or notify the dealer as to what your car's issues are?" Meredith said.
That technology's a ways off. In the meantime, Harman has plenty to keep it busy.
The firm's professional audio business keeps taking on larger projects. Its systems can be found in movie theaters, airports, sports arenas and music venues such as the new Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles.
Still, Harman's professional division hasn't been growing nearly as quickly as the consumer side. Fiscal 2003 sales for the professional division grew only 5% to $446 million, while overall sales were up 22% to $2.2 billion.
"Its a business that's driven by construction spending," Meredith said.
He sees it growing 6% to 10% a year.
Harman's not seeing much growth from its line of consumer electronics, either. It sells through retailers such as Best Buy Co. (BBY) and Circuit City Stores Inc. (CC)
One problem is the market is crowded — even on the high end. Still, Meredith says the home stereo line helps keep Harman in customers' minds when they go shopping for cars.
"We want to keep our consumer business small and special, so customers value our brands," he said. "We can use those brands to help car companies sell our products in their cars."
Analysts polled by First Call expect Harman's full-year profit to rise 66% to $3.10 a share.
IFE in the air, MAJOR oem jukebox for sale in next few weeks, F10 this quarter, headset product in Disneyworld.
Yeah no progress.....a waste of a year,
OT: Creative Sees Christmas Mini-Boom
Wednesday October 29, 3:11 PM
Singapore's Creative Sees Christmas Mini-Boom
By Sai Man
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Singapore's Creative Technology Ltd. (CREAF) is looking forward to a bright Christmas quarter, with consumer products like MP3 players and digital cameras driving sales.
"It seems like a mini-boom," Sim Wong Hoo, the company's chairman, said in an interview Wednesday.
The computer sound card and personal digital equipment maker said Tuesday that it expects revenue to rise 10% to 15% on year in the fiscal second quarter ending Dec. 31 to between US$250 million and US$265 million. Earnings per share for the quarter should come in around US$0.28, the company said, up from US$0.23 a year earlier.
"I think personal digital entertainment products are growing very very fast," Sim told Dow Jones Newswires.
But Creative doesn't see its digital consumer products replacing sound cards as its main source of revenue anytime soon.
"Hopefully," digital consumer products will supplant audio cards, he said, "but then again, maybe not."
Digital consumer products accounted for 22% of revenue in the first quarter ended Sept. 30, up from 14% a year earlier.
Sim said Creative was focusing on the higher-end market for its core sound card business, which accounted for one-third of total sales in the first quarter.
"In the past we were too dependent on lower-end (audio) products. Now it's time to change the (business) model," Sim said on the sidelines of a business and technology conference in Singapore. Sound cards are "still our cash cow," he said, but Creative needs to give its consumers, many of whom are computer gamers, a "motivation to upgrade" to more expensive sound cards.
The strategy is paying off, Sim said, with about 90% of Creative's audio card sales now at the high end, with low-end products becoming "insignificant."
He said revenue growth in the current quarter likely would come from products like MP3 players, a market showing "very fast" growth.
"Personal digital entertainment (products) and speakers are still growing. With the new audio (products) we can have some growth there," he said.
Sim said the initial public offering of Sigmatel Inc. (SGTL), a maker of MP3 chips in which it now holds a 22.5% stake, would allow Creative to increase its marketing.
"We will use it to frighten people," he said. "We will spend more money on marketing and research (which we need) because we are growing into so many spaces now."
The company booked a US$23.1 million gain from the September Nasdaq listing of Sigmatel. The amount of the gain represents the net increase in Creative's share of Sigmatel's net assets as a result of the IPO, even though Creative didn't actually sell any of its 7.6 million shares in Sigmatel. The non-cash gain was consistent with U.S. accounting rules, Creative said.
If you connected to the site and were listening to old CC, it did not switch over to todays CC. You had to refresh site....
Microsoft sets answer to iPod
No. 1 software maker playing catchup in the market for portable media software.
October 27, 2003: 4:52 PM EST
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. said Monday it would launch software for a new portable media device due next year that will allow users to listen to music and watch movies on the road.
Portable Media Center, Microsoft's answer to Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod digital music player, will be able to play MP3 files as well as audio and video content recorded in Microsoft's own digital format.
The devices, which will run Microsoft software but be designed and built by various manufacturers, including Tatung Co., AboCom Systems Inc., Creative Technology Co. Ltd., and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., are set to hit store shelves during the second half of next year, Microsoft said.
The world's largest software maker said that its device will allow users to listen to "thousands of hours of music, watch digitally recorded TV shows or home movies, and store and view digital photo albums."
Frank Barbieri, product manager for Microsoft's embedded software group, said the Portable Media Center devices will be designed to be easy to operate and transfer files from a personal computer.
"People are using their PCs for music, picture and video and that makes a good argument for people to take that content with them," Barbieri said.
Apple's iPod, which became a huge hit for the computer company known for its distinctive designs, is one of the best-selling digital music devices on the market, according to various research firms.
Although various manufacturers have long sold portable players for digital music and even videos -- both for Windows and for Apple's computers-- the larger computer software and hardware makers had put little of their marketing muscle behind such devices.
Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft (MSFT: Research, Estimates) said it was too early to set a price for the Portable Media Center devices, although the company said prices would be in line with other digital music players. Digital music players typically cost upward of $400.
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Recently, Dell Inc. (DELL: Research, Estimates) also announced plans to make a digital music player. The No. 1 personal computer maker said it will start selling a digital music player called Dell DJ that starts at $249 for a handheld player with 15 gigabytes of data storage and $329 for one with 20 gigs.
Dell, which is launching new consumer products to diversify revenue, also launched the Dell Music Store, which is based on MusicMatch software and sells songs for 99 cents each, the same price as Apple's iTunes online music store.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2003 Reuters All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
"Dell is our most significant and earliest customer to adopt this (drive) in high volumes," said Bill Healy, Hitachi's senior vice president of consumer and commercial hard-disk drives.
Possibly they are playing it safe with content until everyone is ok with how the system actually works..security...problems etc.?
Also, e.Digital still mentioned on APS site
https://www.digeplayer.com/about_aps.php
I like the "Please choose your airline:"
More than Alaska is coming.....
Is it possible that during this "test" that these "other" movies are being used until the player passes it tests??
Alpine HDA-5460 @CES Still not out!
http://www.alpine-usa.com/html/D2_n_1_n_n.html
Go to products and find HDA-5460
Again I state
Posted by: Tenderloin
In reply to: None Date:10/15/2003 11:54:33 AM
Post #of 49047
Alpine HDA-5460 "similar" to F10 was announced at CES to come out early summer. It still is not out........
Delays happen to the best of them.....for many reasons
OT: Delta Eliminates In-flight Entertainment Fee
Wednesday October 22, 9:40 am ET
ATLANTA, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL - News) today announced it will provide complimentary audio and video entertainment in all cabins beginning Nov. 1, 2003. The change will eliminate the $5 in-flight entertainment fee in economy class. Customers may enjoy onboard audio and video entertainment by bringing their own headsets or purchasing headsets in- flight for $2.
"Delta is committed to enhancing our customers' travel experiences," said Patrice Miles, vice president of Consumer Marketing. "Delta is pleased to offer award-winning in-flight entertainment to our customers at no cost."
Customers who purchase headsets may keep them for use on future flights and with personal audio devices. The headsets fit comfortably around the ears instead of over the head and include a two-prong adapter for use on Delta flights. The adapter can be removed for use with any standard single-prong portable music player.
Customers in first class, BusinessElite and international economy will continue to receive complimentary headsets.
Delta's award-winning in-flight programming offers customers current feature films, highly rated television programs and eight audio channels. Spafax In-flight Entertainment recently won its first Telly Award for the Delta Horizons Delta VJ segment, produced exclusively for Delta. Additionally, Delta received five nominations at the 2003 World Airline Entertainment Association AVION Awards including Best Overall In-flight Entertainment, Best In-flight Video Programming and Best Audio Entertainment.
Delta Air Lines, the world's second largest airline in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. carrier across the Atlantic, offers 6,130 flights each day to 453 destinations in 82 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection and Delta's worldwide partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. For more information, please go to delta.com .