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Boyer at it again
Alaska Airlines First to Offer DigEplayer
October 21, 2003 at 9:05 p.m.
BAY AREA (KRON) -- At a time when carriers are cutting costs, Alaska Airlines turned to one of its employees to put together a new in-flight entertainment system.
Bill Boyer isn't an upper-level executive at Alaska Airlines, but a long-time baggage handler. Boyer heard an executive talk about a need for cheap entertainment on its flights. He invented a solution Alaska couldn't refuse.
"A lot of airlines want flexibility and choice," says Boyer.
Boyer and his tech team came up with a "digEplayer." There are companies offering similar devices.
The product is made from off the shelf products--it's just putting it all together. But Boyer worked with movie and television studios to gather content for the machines which none of his competitors could offer.
Alaska wants to offer entertainment choices, now that it's branching out to more cross-country flights. But retrofitting a plane to carry on-demand video systems costs half-a-million dollars a plane. That's why Boyer's alternative was so attractive to Alaska executives.
"It basically has a stand that can stand on your tray table. There's no wiring to the aircraft and it's very light compared to the systems that are onboard right now," says Boyer.
Alaska plans to offer first class passengers the digEplayer for free on select flights. Those flying coach can always rent the machines for $8 or $10.
Boyer who dropped out of college a semester short of an engineering degree says he's a testament to hard work. "I used to always create things, like toys when I was little and like to build certain things. My parents always told me keep an open mind and try to better [m]yself in whatever do, so I always tinker with things," explains Boyer.
Other airlines are interested in Boyer's digEplayer. Now some NFL teams are looking at renting his machines so its players can review game video on their team flights.
(Copyright 2003, KRON 4. All rights reserved.)
LOL You are joking... Good one
"and what does this have to do with EDIG? eom"
Three U.S. airlines post profits GO ALASKA!
http://www.forbes.com/business/newswire/2003/10/21/rtr1116545.html
http://www.thestreet.com/markets/ericgillin/10120977.html
OT: New RoadStor Portable Media Player Allows Viewing and Sharing of Digital Photos, Audio and Video, With or Without a Computer
Tuesday October 21, 9:12 am ET
Is First to Combine Digital Photo Viewer, CD Burner, DVD and MP3 Players All In One Portable, Easy-To-Use Device
DEKALB, Ill., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Micro Solutions, Inc. today introduced 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 $249 and will be available in late October through Micro Solutions Direct (accessible at www.micro-solutions.com ), in the United States at CDW, Ingram, Insight, Office Depot and Tech Data, and in Canada at Best Buy, Future Shop and Staples. It comes with a one-year warranty. For more information, call Micro Solutions at 800-890-7227 or 815-756-3411, ext. 200, or visit the company's Web site at www.micro-solutions.com .
About Micro Solutions
Founded in 1980, Micro Solutions, Inc. pioneered parallel-port-attach mass storage technology. Its award-winning products are distributed worldwide at major retail outlets, through mail-order catalogs and Web sites, and through distribution. The privately held company is headquartered in DeKalb, Ill.
Companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
No Virgin Pulse Jukebox at this time
FWIW
Subject: RE: Jukebox
Date: 10/20/2003 2:48:26 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: support@virginpulse.com
Reply To:
To: com
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:
Hi %$#^,
At this time Virgin Pulse is not coming out with a Gigabyte MP3 player but you can expand the recording capacity with memory cards. Stay tuned for what's next from Virgin Plse at www.VirginPulse.com. You can also check us out at Target.
SRS technology integrated into ARM processors
(if already posted...sorry)
21 Oct 2003
SRS Labs Inc., a provider of audio, voice and semiconductor technology solutions, has announced that its SRS WOW audio enhancement technology is now available for ARM processors, including the ARM7 and ARM9 core families. Additionally, SRS Labs has also become a member of the ARM Connected Community to market the solution to manufacturers that have ARM core-based product designs.
SRS Labs has already provided its licensees with WOW libraries optimized for the ARM processor including newly developed audio features customized for embedded devices. ARM technology-based SRS WOW libraries optimized for embedded device OSs such as Symbian OS and Microsoft's Mobile 2003 OS are also available for license from SRS.
MusicMatch CEO: 'If AAC gets any kind of traction, we'll support it'
Monday, October 20, 2003 - 09:26 AM EDT
"At the launch of the long-awaited iTunes for Windows Music Store last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs boasted last week that the music-download program written to work with that service was the 'best Windows application ever.' With several days of usage now under my belt, I'm now in a better position to comment. The bottom line: two out of three isn't bad. He still has the best MP3 player and a great music store. The iTunes for Windows program, however, was clearly rushed out before the bugs were fixed," Jefferson Graham reports for USA Today.
Graham then goes on to wonder if it's because he has so many diiferent applications loaded on his Windows PC, including EphPod which was screwing up iTuns ripping and burning, and complains that WMA files "don't exist in iTunes." However, Graham sees other services adding AAC support in the future because Apple is the market leader here and people will simply need to have ways to play AAC files.
So the real news here is not one newspaper reviewer's iTunes "issues," which sound like Windows problems to us, the news is what Graham writes at the bottom of his "review." Graham writes, "Jobs has vowed to sell 100 million songs by next April, and with his marketing brilliance, and alliances with AOL and Pepsi, odds are he will. So while the absence of non-Apple support for the AAC format may be a pain initially, odds are other MP3 players and player software will start to recognize such files. 'If it gets any kind of traction, we'll support it,' says MusicMatch CEO Dennis Mudd. My hunch is, he will."
Apples Jobs on iPod, iTunes etc.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/982147.asp#BODY
You stated that e.Digital had yet to receive any monies from PortalPlayer. How much cheaper can anyone else be?
New iPod software has voice, photo features
Thursday, October 16, 2003 @ 2:45pm
Apple today announced a free software update for iPod, which adds support for new Belkin voice recording and photo storage accessories for dockable iPods, allowing users to record hundreds of hours of audio and store thousands of digital photos on their iPod. Available for both Mac and Windows, the iPod software update also includes faster browsing and accessing of large music libraries, the ability to sync On-The-Go playlists back to iTunes and a new Music Quiz game which tests a player's knowledge of their own iTunes music library.
Apple, Belkin introduce iPod accessories
Thursday, October 16, 2003 @ 3:55pm
Apple and Belkin today introduced new accessories for the iPod, including the Belkin Voice Recorder ($50), which allows users to record voice notes on your iPod with date/time stamp. It also offers playback via a built-in speaker, your earbud headphones, or a Mac, automatically syncs voice memos to iTunes 4.1, and offers a travel alarm clock.
The new Belkin Media Reader ($100) allows you to directly transfer the images to your iPod via FireWire. It protects the media slots from pocket dust and dirt when not in use with sliding cover, a stow-away Dock Connector Cable, a LED indicator for power and data transfer status. The readers supports Compact Flash (Type 1 and 2), Smart Media, Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, and Multi Media Card (MMC) media. It runs on 4 AAA batteries (included) and has a 3-year warranty.
Apple 31 percent share of the MP3 player market by units and 50 percent by revenues.
Apple Launches iTunes Music Service for Windows
Thu 16 October, 2003 20:51 BST
By Duncan Martell
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. on Thursday launched the long-awaited Windows-compatible version of its iTunes online music service, promising a wider library of songs and new features to maintain its lead in an increasingly competitive market.
Apple also announced a marketing pact with PepsiCo Inc. PEP.N to promote the wider availability of its song-download service, saying that it would give away some 100 million free tracks to lucky soft drink buyers in a promotion starting on Super Bowl Sunday in February and running for 60 days.
To meet that goal, Apple said it would make it easier for AOL's AOL.N 25 million subscribers to register for the iTunes service and use it to buy music. The company also raised the bar for itself, setting a goal of selling 100 million songs by April 28, 2004, one year from the music store's launch.
It also unveiled new add-ons for its popular digital music player, the iPod, that allow it to be used for voice recording and digital photo storage, with digital photos automatically downloaded into Apple's iPhoto software when users place the iPod into its cradle plugged to a Macintosh computer.
In a characteristically glitzy presentation, Apple AAPL.O co-founder and Chief Executive Steve Jobs chatted via remote link-up with U2 front man Bono and the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, before calling singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan on stage for a live performance.
HELLO, DALI
"It's like the pope of software meeting up with the Dali Lama of integration," Bono said, of the iTunes software and integrated online music store now available for free download for Windows and Mac users at the company's Web site.
With the Windows version, Apple is looking to bring iTunes to a far wider audience: the 90 percent-plus of personal computers that use Microsoft Corp.'s MSFT.O Windows operating system. Apple has about a 5 percent market share of the installed PC user base.
But analysts have said that Apple faces a tougher market in the Windows market for digital music, because there are competing services already available, such as MusicMatch and another called BuyMusic.com.
And MusicNow, owned by closely held, Chicago-based FullAudio, will announce an a la carte download music service with all the major record labels and others in the next few weeks, a company spokeswoman told Reuters. To date, MusicNow has been a subscription-based service.
But Jobs said iTunes had pioneered the mass-market appeal of legal song downloading and promised to take that momentum to its wider release for Windows, adding that the company's own surveys show that consumers don't want to "rent their music," they want to own it.
"This isn't some baby version of iTunes. It's the whole thing," Jobs said. He cited data from Nielsen SoundScan showing that as of last week it accounted for about 70 percent of all legal downloads.
BIRTH OF A NOTION
Apple's pumped-up online music service will now feature over 400,000 tracks by the end of the month, double the amount available at launch almost six months ago. The Macintosh version of the download service has sold more than 13 million songs during that time.
"This has been the birth of legal downloading," Jobs said.
Jobs said the new version of iTunes would also offer a library of some 5,000 audio books and allow parents to set a monthly allowance of up to $200 for children to download songs, an attempt to cut back on the illicit file-swapping that the record industry has challenged in court. Gift certificates are also available.
The audiobooks will be offered exclusively through iTunes by Audible Inc. ADBL.OB , the companies said.
The launch on Thursday means that Apple will be ready for the crucial holiday shopping season, which gets underway after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday in late November.
Among its competitors will be the pioneering file-swapping service Napster, which has been resurrected as a pay-for-use music service under parent company Roxio Inc. ROXI.O .
Apple has said that the Windows launch of iTunes would help spur more sales of its popular iPod digital music players, which range in price from $299 to $499 and can store as many as 10,000 songs and have been popular with Windows users.
The company said on Wednesday it had shipped 336,000 iPod units in the September-ended quarter, a rise of 140 percent from the year earlier. Apple said it has a 31 percent share of the MP3 player market by units and 50 percent by revenues.
iTunes Music Service Faces Tough Battle in the Windows World
By Bob Keefe
October 16, 2003
Except with consumers who use the highly successful iPod portable music player, "Apple's really fighting the tide here if it's trying to fit in with the Windows environment," Forrester analyst Josh Bernoff said.
Apple Computer Inc., which jump-started the legitimate market for online music six months ago with its iTunes music store for the Macintosh, is expected to release a long-awaited version for Windows on Thursday.
But while it may have helped pioneer the pay-per-song music market, Apple will find a host of new competitors has joined the party in the Windows world since then.
"I'd say we're clearly back on the launch pad and the rockets are starting up" again in the online music business, said Phil Leigh, senior analyst at Inside Digital Media.
Since April, when Apple started its easy-to-use, legal and cheap -- 99 cents a song -- music site, several companies have opened similar sites where the 95 percent of computers using Windows can download music over the Internet.
RealNetworks Inc., based in Seattle, launched its RealOne Rhapsody service in May, offering 200,000 downloadable songs at 79 cents a track.
San Diego-based Musicmatch Inc. started a similar service in September, also offering songs at 99 cents a pop.
Even infamous Napster, which almost single-handedly created the online music phenomenon a few years ago by allowing users to illegally swap copyrighted songs, is back in business -- this time legally.
In an attempt to steal a little thunder from Apple, Napster's new owner, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Roxio Inc., this month unveiled a long-awaited service it plans to open up to all PC users beginning Oct. 29. Napster also is pricing song downloads at 99 cents apiece and says it will have a library of some 500,000 titles.
Other companies, ranging from Dell Inc. to Amazon Inc., also are considering getting into the downloadable music business.
To be sure, online music never really went away since Napster founder Shawn Fanning figured out a way to swap songs on the Internet back in 1999.
Although record labels sued Fanning's original Napster out of business in 2001, music file swapping is still more common in college dorms and elsewhere than underage drinking.
According to afternapster.com, Internet users can still swap copyrighted songs illegally at more than 50 Web sites. Well-publicized lawsuits filed recently by the recording industry against everyday song-swappers show how seriously the record labels view the swapping threat.
While the labels and others started their own subscription-based music services, such as America Online Inc.-backed Musicnet.com, former Napster fans scoff at paying a monthly fee only to face strict limitations on what they can download, burn to CDs or copy to their MP3 music players.
By contrast, Apple's iTunes was a watershed in the online music phenomenon, said Josh Bernoff, an analyst with technology research company Forrester Research Inc.
By striking copyright deals with all five major record labels, Apple let users for the first time download music legally at a per-song price, transfer it to CDs or portable music players, and keep the tunes as long as they wanted.
"They sort of showed people how this ought to be done, as Apple often does," Bernoff said.
But technology waits for no one, not even Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. The rollout of a Windows version may be a little too late for Apple to gain much business among Windows users, given the crowd of newcomers.
Even though its iTunes system is considered one of the best online music stores, Windows users already hooked on Musicmatch or the new Napster have no reason to switch to a new Window-based service from Apple, he said.
Except with consumers who use the highly successful iPod portable music player, "Apple's really fighting the tide here if it's trying to fit in with the Windows environment," Bernoff said.
One bright spot for Apple: There's plenty of room for growth.
Leigh, of Inside Digital Media, estimates that less than 1 percent of music buyers get their tunes online, and more are showing interest in trying legal download sites everyday, given the recording industry's lawsuits.
Apple and the other Windows services may mark a defining moment in the transition of online music from an underground free-for-all to a legitimate marketplace for paying customers.
"This is the pregnant moment, the crucial point in time at which we'll find out whether people really are willing to pay to use an easy-to-use digital music service or not," Bernoff said.
"At the end of a couple of years, we'll look back and either say, 'This is when digital music services turned the corner and became an important part of the music industry,'" he said, "or we'll say, 'This was the last best chance, and they blew it.'"
Leigh and others predict that two or three major players will come to dominate the online music business.
Apple may have a struggle becoming one of them, even with a new Windows version of its software, because of the company's history as a niche player in the PC business.
For its part, notoriously secretive Apple isn't saying anything about its plans until Thursday.
Company officials did not return a reporter's phone calls or e-mails seeking more information about the expected Windows launch or other potential announcements Thursday.
Analysts and others who watch Apple closely say the company might also introduce new versions of iPod -- including one that can function as a tape-recorder -- and other gadgets at a media event in San Francisco.
© 2003 New York Times Syndicate, Cox News Service i/a/w Pinnacor, Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2003 ECT News Network. All rights reserved.
OT: LA Times: Apple, Pepsi partner for iTunes promo?
Posted by malebolgia on 16 Oct 2003 - 21:27 / 1 comment
Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Jeff Leeds and Terril Yue Jones indicate that Apple and PepsiCo Inc. are poised to unveil a promotional deal that rewards Pepsi buyers with free songs from Apple's iTunes Music Store. The report comes on the same day that Apple is expected to unveil the Windows version of its iTunes software.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to make a presentation scheduled for 10AM Pacific Time at the Moscone West facility of San Francisco, Calif.'s Moscone Center. The LA Times couldn't reach representatives of either company for comment, but reported that sources indicate that Pepsi will "craft a multimillion-dollar ad campaign around the music store."
The report suggests that consumers will be able to find codes in Pepsi's packaging that they will be able to redeem online for free downloads through the iTunes Music Store.
The iTunes Music Store was first unveiled in late April. The service provides users -- up until now Macintosh users, specifically -- with the ability to purchase and download commercially available music for $0.99 a song, or, in many cases, $9.99 for an entire album. Encoded using Dolby Advanced Audio Codec (AAC) and encrypted with Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection, the songs can be played on up to three Macs, burned to CD or synchronized to one of Apple's own iPod MP3 players.
Yesterday Apple reported a $44 million profit for its fourth quarter, on revenues of more than $1.7 billion. The company cited the best quarterly sales of its iPod player to date -- 336,000 units were sold during the quarter. Apple CFO Fred Anderson deferred questions from analysts about the performance of the iTunes Music Store to today's special event -- he indicated he didn't want to take away from Steve Jobs' presentation to invitees.
Cost of Air NZ to upgrade IFE
Other elements of Air NZ's four-year strategy include greater use of computer technology, including electronic ticketing and electronic data transfers between airlines, and a $150 million to $200 million upgrade of seating and in-flight entertainment on its international fleet. - NZPA
OT: UK Apple Store leaks iPod voice recording
[PC Pro] 13:33
The UK Apple Store has leaked details of new iPod accessories, including a microphone for recording audio direct to the device.
The Register reports that the store advertised, 'iPod Hot accessories! Now records your voice and stores more than tunes.'
The presumably inadvertent leak has now been plugged, but seems to confirm rumours that Apple will soon unlock the recording capabilities of the iPod, which have been hidden in the firmware for some time.
Apple is expected to announce iTunes for Windows at a special event later today, and it now seems that new iPod features - which could also include a memory card reader - will also be unveiled.
Two iPod sales a minute’ – Apple
By Macworld staff
While Apple declined to discuss its Music Store sales during last night’s results announcement, it confirmed a massive 140 per cent increase in iPod sales, year-on-year. 336,000 units shipped across the last quarter – just over two iPod sales per minute.
Apple chief financial officer Fred Anderson confirmed the Windows/Mac iPod sales split to be around 50/50 each. The company's MP3 player contributed $121 million to its bottom line.
Apple said that research firm NPD had confirmed that the iPod remains as the number one MP3 player in the market. Apple hopes to boost sales of its product even more; Anderson confirmed last night that the company is arranging deals with new outlets. The product should be available at 8,000 resellers worldwide before Christmas, he said.
The company is announcing more plans relating to its music endeavors today at 6pm (BST). These are expected to include iTunes and iTunes Music Store for Windows, and a possible deal with Pepsi, under which music lovers will be able to obtain some tracks for free.
With strategies and products like these, Anderson sees Apple as "well-positioned" for the holiday shopping season.
BTW Napster/Samsung player getting ALOT of press......
Apple shipped 336,000 iPods for $121 million revenue Apple held the No. 1 position in the MP3 player again, according to NPD. It expects to have 8,000 retail points of distribution (worldwide) for the Christmas buying season.
(last reporting quarter yesterday)
OT: Samsung YP-910 on Time.com
http://www.time.com/time/gadget/20031015/
BTW Here are some great computer speakers, especially considering the price. Southern California "audiophiles" will remember the company.
http://www.rslspeakers.com/index.cfm
One PR will probably be the DigEplayer actually being distributed for use IMHO.........
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: LOL Talk about delays
RCA LYRA 20GB RD2780 Audio/Video Jukebox was introduced at CES, and was suppsed to hit market in June
Update July 17th 2003 - We spoke with RCA Thomson Electronics and they have not gone into production yet. Production will take place shortly and estimated availability will be the begining of September 2003 regardless of what retail outlets may tell you.
Update August 9th 2003 - Amazon.com has updated shipping availability to October 1st 2003. About time! Pre-Order yours here.
Update October 1st 2003 - Amazon.com has pushed the release date to October 30th. By the time this thing hits the market it will be outdated. This hyped out media game they are playing has hurt RCAs reputation as a manufacturer, and Amazon as an online retailer.
OT: For the Beat in Your Life(TM); Virgin Launches Premium Brand of 'Lifestyle Electronics'
(edited by me)
NEW YORK, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Quality, style and sleek urban appeal best describes Virgin Pulse, a new line of "lifestyle electronics" from Virgin. Consisting of 15 high-design, user-friendly electronics, Virgin Pulse products are the latest example of Virgin's competitive approach to producing superior quality products at a low price. The Virgin Pulse line is carried exclusively at Target, target.com and Virgin Megastores.
Consumer research, industry feedback and Virgin brand strategies led to the creation of the new product line which focuses on ergonomics, styling and functionality to meet the demand of today's fast paced trends. The dual headphone jacks, easy-grip rubberized paint, removable remotes and "hip clips" are just a few of the creative transformations Virgin Pulse has brought to the world of standard, everyday electronics. The "Brilliant Blue" backlit screens, the "velvety" feel, tactile grip and hidden tooling are accents ofthe Virgin Pulse brand and distinguish the inherent quality detailing throughout.
"While we have been looking at the consumer electronics market for years," said Sir Richard Branson, Virgin's chairman, "we didn't want to launch our own line until we had products that look great, work great and could thrash the competition with one hand tied behind our backs and the other one scrolling an MP3 player."
The initial Virgin Pulse line will consist of 15 products. Two MP3 players, MP3 Player / 64MB with FM Tuner and Smart Media Card Expansion Slot,$79.99 MP3 Player / 128MB with FM Tuner and SD Memory Card Expansion Slot, $129.99 (both mfg by Digitalway)
Steve Eastman, vice president, electronics for Target stores calls the line "the ultimate mix of high design and functionality at incredible price
points."
"Our guests have always appreciated innovation, value, and a high degree of design," said Eastman. "For those very reasons, we're excited to be partnering with Virgin Pulse on this collection."
Available now at Target and Virgin retailers Branson himself will
officially introduce the Virgin Pulse line at a Manhattan party highlighting innovative performers and models wearing the electronic products as hats, shirts, belts and/or pants.
Virgin Pulse. For the beat of your life.
About Virgin
Virgin Pulse is the newest company in the Virgin family of products and services including planes, trains, finance, soft drinks, music, mobile phones, holidays, cars, wines, publishing and cosmetics. Virgin Pulse brings the Virgin brand attributes to consumer electronics continuing the company goal of seizing opportunities to offer something better, fresher and more valuable to the customer.
Consumer Electronics Products Top America's Holiday Gift-Giving and Wish Lists, According to Annual CEA Survey; DVD Tops the Charts for Third Straight Year
CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2003--Nearly three-quarters of all U.S. households say they are likely to purchase at least one consumer electronics product as a gift this holiday season, according to the results of the "10th Annual Holiday Purchase Patterns" survey released yesterday by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) during the CEA Industry Forum held in Carlsbad, California. Retailers should expect strong sales of DVD players, digital cameras and video gaming systems, and a steady flow of shoppers, with 71 percent of consumers expecting to visit electronics retailers during their hunt for the perfect gift. The CEA Industry Forum runs through Wednesday.
"The appeal of consumer electronics products - digital products, in particular - has become so broad, so universal, that it is hard to find a U.S. household without at least one CE product at the top of a holiday gift-giving check list," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. "And in many households we also find a CE product or two at the top of each individual's wish list, as well. Digital cameras, DVD players and high-definition televisions (HDTV) are the items many of us will be hoping to unwrap this holiday season. It is hard not to experience child-like delight during the holidays for CE products when they deliver such quality, value, entertainment and convenience."
According to the CEA survey, 70 percent of consumers expect to spend the same amount or more this year on gifts this holiday season, up from 68 percent in 2002. The average consumer will purchase approximately seven electronics products this holiday season, up from six products in 2002. This increase in consumer purchases will boost total electronics gift sales by four percent compared to the 2002 holiday shopping season, despite a slight drop in overall average prices of five percent.
In addition, more than half (55 percent) of consumers believe economic conditions are the same or better than those they faced last year. Price declines, combined with consumer sentiment about the economy, stand as strong drivers for the anticipated increase in holiday purchases
"But falling prices are a double-edged sword in the consumer electronics industry," said Sean Wargo, director of Industry Analysis for CEA. "While lower price points are a windfall for consumers looking to purchase the myriad of products available in audio, video, wireless, home networking, digital imaging, gaming and accessories categories, price decay places strong pressure on manufacturers' profit margins."
DVD players, the fastest selling consumer electronics product in history, topped the list of electronics gift items likely to be purchased this season for the third consecutive year, with 31 percent of consumers likely to make the purchase. Other products on the minds of gift-givers include digital cameras (24 percent), video gaming systems (20 percent), wireless phones (19 percent), portable MP3 players (16 percent), desktop, laptop or notebook PCs (13 percent), and HDTV (12 percent).
When asked what consumer electronics products they would most like to receive as a gift this holiday season, DVD players again rose to the top, along with digital cameras. Also making the list of most wanted electronics gifts for the 2003 holidays were notebook or laptop computers, digital cameras, HDTV and wireless phones.
304,000 iPods sold third quarter
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?NewsID=7071
OT:Kingston Introduces 512MB Secure Digital Card
Tuesday October 14, 8:08 am ET
512MB Secure Digital Card (SD) Is Size Of Postage Stamp With Cryptographic Security Protection
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingston Technology Company, Inc. today announced the release of a 512MB Secure Digital Card (SD), the latest generation of high capacity, small form factor digital storage devices on the market today.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991011/KINGSTON )
SD is the latest addition to Kingston®'s continuously expanding spectrum of digital storage devices. The SD card's postage stamp size weighs less than two grams and provides up to 500 digital photos. The SD card also provides enhanced cryptographic security protection for copyrighted data. SD cards are used in the latest SD compatible digital devices such as PDAs, digital cameras, digital camcorders and MP3 players.
"Kingston is committed to supplying our customers with the latest in high-performance portable digital media solutions," said Mike Kuppinger, product manager, digital media products, Kingston. "The Secure Digital Card's small postage stamp size and enhanced security features is the ideal way to add storage to the latest SD compatible digital devices," added Kuppinger.
Available immediately, Kingston's 512MB Secure Digital Card, part number: (SD/512) carries a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $187.00. SD is also available in 32MB, 64MB, 128MB and 256MB capacities. All of Kingston's digital media products are offered through Kingston's traditional channel of distributors, resellers, e-tailers and retailers. Kingston's Secure Digital Cards are individually tested, backed by a five-year warranty and free technical support.
Kingston's website at http://www.kingston.com/flash has detailed product information and purchase referrals for customers interested in the SD card. Also available on Kingston's website is Kingston's Memory Configurator, which can be used to determine upgrade requirements of specific digital devices
iRiver America Unveils iHP-120 - Sleekest and Most Advanced MP3 Hard-Drive Player
iRiver iHP-120 Surpasses MP3 Hard-Drive Competitors With Longer Battery Life,Real-Time MP3 Encoding, FM Tuner and Digital Input/Output
SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- iRiver, the emerging leader in digital entertainment, today added the sleek and feature-packed iRiver iHP-120 to its line of award-winning portable music players. The 20GB* iRiver iHP-120 stores over 600 hours** of digital music in MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG and ASF and works with PC or Mac computers.
Compared to leading competitors, the iRiver iHP-120 has double the battery life (16 hours), an FM tuner, backlit remote, built-in MP3 encoding, optical audio output, built-in voice recording and WMA support. The iRiver iHP-120 also gives customers the option of using familiar folder navigation to sort
through files quickly and easily.
"Consumer demand continues to increase significantly for portable MP3 players, especially in the hard-drive segment," said Cindy Wolf, an industry analyst at In-Stat/MDR. "In addition, the products are reaching a broader demographic, as more consumers become familiar with digital technology and
recognize how the convenience integrates with their active lifestyles.
Shipments of portable MP3 players are expected to reach about 12.5 million this year (this number includes solid state, hard-drive and revolving media), up from about 6.8 million in 2002. As the competition in this market increases, new products, such as the iRiver iHP-120, will be essential for continued growth."
The iRiver iHP-120 features the unique ability to record, encode and store MP3s all in real-time direct from the unit's FM tuner, built-in microphone or optical input, giving users the ability to record MP3s on the fly from an array of sources.
"We are expanding into the MP3 hard-drive player market after attaining North American leadership position in the MP3 flash-memory player and MP3 CD player categories," said Jonathan Sasse, president of iRiver America. "We are choosing now to enter the hard-drive portable MP3 player market after spending
considerable research effort in designing and developing a product that is exactly what our customers have come to expect from iRiver. We are convinced customers will embrace our innovative iRiver iHP-120 with the same enthusiasm as our MP3 flash-memory and MP3 CD players."
The iRiver iHP-120 comes bundled with iRiver earphones, remote control with backlit LCD, carrying case, AC adapter, USB 2.0 cable, line in/out cable, microphone and the iRiver Music Manager CD.
iRiver iHP-120 features:
-- Plays 600 hours of digital music**
-- Supports MP3, WMA, ASF, WAV and OGG files
-- Ultra-fast USB 2.0 transfers
-- Integrated FM tuner & voice recorder
-- Simple music navigation on 8-line backlit LCD
-- Real-time MP3 encoding (voice, FM, optical & analog - no PC required)
-- Remote control with backlit display
-- Store or transfer files of any type
-- Rechargeable battery lasts up to 16 hours
-- Optical input and output for high-quality audio
-- Enhanced 3D audio
Pricing and Availability
The iRiver iHP-120 is available now at selected retailers and the iRiver E-Store (http://www.iriveramerica.com). iHP-120 MSRP is $399.99.
About iRiver
iRiver is the emerging global leader in delivering advanced portable digital audio devices. iRiver provides consumers with listening and recording flexibility to accommodate their active lifestyles by manufacturing award-winning hybrid products supporting existing and emerging formats, including MP3, WMA, ASF, AAC and OGG. San Jose-based iRiver America, Inc. can
be found on the Web at http://www.iriveramerica.com.
It seems this Classic XP3 has nothing to do with e.Digital
LOL
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3052134284&category=11024
The e.Digital-powered jukebox
Classic XP3(TM) Portable 10 Gigabyte Capacity MP3 Encoder/Player Needs No PC
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2001--
e.Digital Corp. (OTC:EDIG), a global provider of comprehensive digital product development and designs, and Musical Electronics Ltd., a major Asian OEM manufacturer with annual sales totaling $160 million, today announced that the first product, the Classic XP3, created under their multi-year licensing agreement is now available on shelves at Circuit City.
The e.Digital-powered jukebox product features the ability to encode music directly from a CD player into MP3 files, bypassing the need for a PC to perform digital compression.
The Classic XP3 also features a 10 GB capacity hard disk drive (HDD), superior sound quality and support for both MP3 and Windows Media(TM) file formats. The unit is field upgradeable to support other popular formats as they become available. The Classic XP3 also ships with MusicMatch(TM) Jukebox software.
Fred Falk, president and CEO of e.Digital, said, ``We are pleased that this unique product based on e.Digital's MicroOS(TM) 2.0 technology is on retail shelves in time for the holiday selling season. We believe consumers will find the Classic XP3's direct encoding feature to be very desirable. Because the encoding is performed using a low-cost digital signal processor, the consumer pricing is extremely competitive. Also, the Classic XP3's great sound quality, small form factor, and over eight hours of battery life make it a superior choice for music lovers.'
The upgrade will be available "In time for the holiday selling season." Per RP
Could be tied into new product/news?
From Agora
Subject: RE: MusicMatch music to 0-1000 question problem solved EDIGlong//sinacull
From EDIGlong
PostID 286182 On Monday, October 13, 2003 (EST) at 12:12:33 PM
Response To: sinacull PostID 286175
sinacull
I just called EDIG technical support.
The O-1000 in its present configuration will not play DRM WMA files.
It will only play WMA files without DRM
You downloaded the WMA with DRM file to your computer and that is the only device that will recognize the and play the file. You cannot transfer it to any other device. The next software upgrade will take care of the problem.
When you are able to download DRM to the player there will be controls in MusicMatch that you select to enable DRM on the player.
OT: Treo 10 Metal USA player on eBay
Newly refurbished unit...scratches on face
(I have no connection with this..just letting those who might be interested know about it)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3052160396&category=11024&rd=1
Audio firm cranks it up
Suzanne Starr/The Arizona Republic
.
Wireless system gives lift to Rockford of Tempe
Jane Larson
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 11, 2003 12:00 AM
The Tempe company whose high-performance car stereos have made young men hyperventilate since the 1980s is about to do it again - wirelessly.
Rockford Corp. is rolling out two new audio products that will enable users to transfer music from their personal computers to their car or home stereos, without having to burn favorite tunes onto CDs, tote portable devices or run wires from room to room.
Called Omnifi, the technology was such a hit when it was launched at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it earned Rockford a best-of-show award in the mobile electronic devices category.
http://www.omnifimedia.com/home/
Rockford Corp.
Business: Design and manufacturing of mobile audio and home theater equip- ment. Brand names include Rockford Fosgate, Lightning Audio and MB Quart.
Headquarters: Tempe.
Employees: 725 worldwide, 322 of them in Arizona.
Financial results: 2002 net income of $6.3 million on sales of $168.9 million. For the first six months of 2003, net income of $887,000 on sales of $96.2 million.
Stock: Trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ROFO. Closed unchanged Friday at $6.96 a share, up 18 percent year-to-date.
Web sites: www.rockfordcorp.com, www.omnifimedia.com.
The Omnifi car product, Digital Media Player, began shipping to retailers this month. The first shipment of thousands of units has already sold out, said Tom O'Mara, managing director for Omnifi.
Digital Media Streamer, the home product that integrates with a user's home stereo, began shipping in July and is also drawing positive response, he said.
Rockford's car stereos have a youthful, cultlike image, and the company's business depends on managing its popular brands and rapid development of new products, Chief Executive Officer Gary Suttle said.
The Omnifi products came about because Rockford has been watching the growth in digital media and how it has changed the way people buy and acquire music, O'Mara said.
"We realized there needs to be a way for the user to not just listen to all the great music at their PC," he said. Moving music from the computer to the home or car "seemed like a natural progression for us," he added.
Omnifi products consist of components and other hardware that Rockford developed internally and software it acquired when it bought a majority share of SimpleDevices Inc. of San Mateo, Calif., a year ago.
The SimpleCenter software organizes all the music on a user's computer and makes it available to the Omnifi devices. To make up for the lack of Internet radio service when a user is on the road, the car version also has NewsCenter software that can download news broadcasts, sports scores and stock quotes for play later.
The home version includes a streamer, a wireless unit and a remote control. Users must have a wireless home network that connects with the Rockford's system.
The car version includes a hard drive that can hold 300 hours of music, a radio-dial-like controller and a wireless unit.
The move into digital media opens a significant new avenue for Rockford, which cut 8 percent of its workforce earlier this year and has fought to grow sales in a down economy. It also could expand Rockford's customer base beyond its traditional target market of 18- to 24-year-old men to include the broader demographic of computer users with broadband service, O'Mara said.
"The younger generation will be using these products because they are MP3 users," he said. "But there are a lot (of users) in the higher demographic."
Justin Udelhofen, an analyst at New York-based Needham & Co., said the new products are leading edge and thus can be a blessing or a bane for Rockford.
On the blessing side, Rockford is the first to offer such a car product, and the home product will help the company expand its presence in that market, he said. On the bane side, at $299 for the home product and $599 for the car one, the products are not cheap, he said. They also rely on the continued growth of MP3 files and digital media, he said.
But he called the move wise for Rockford.
"They are trying to capitalize on the new wave of music formats and the ways people are using music," he said.
Samsung Napster YP-910GS
Samsung and Napster team up for a new 20GB hard drive portable.
October 09, 2003 - Remember the glory days of P2P? Nobody really cared, files were easy to find, the recording industry hadn't gone berserk, Metallica had smaller mortgages, you wouldn't get fined out of your shirt, etc. Napster was the business back then. There were solid alternatives, but Napster was snapping and you could find anything you wanted. It's not as if the end of Napster was the end of P2P file sharing, but you had to work a little harder for a while.
Of course, Napster never really went away. In fact, the cat will be back later this month. The new Napster, however, will be a pay service. Users will be able to buy songs for $.99 or albums for $9.95. Now a part of the Roxio Empire, Napster is in cahoots with five major labels and scores of independents and will launch with more than 500,000 songs. The company is also branching out to the hardware community with a Napster branded MP3 player.
I don't mean to marginalize Samsung's role in the new Samsung Napster YP-910GS. (YP is shorthand for Yepp, Samsung's MP3 brand.) It should be fairly obvious that Samsung is responsible for the hardware. However, the Napster name could do much to help sell the new device.
What will really help sell the new Yepp is solid performance and good features. I can't comment on the performance, as we're still waiting for our review unit, but it looks as if Samsung was pretty thorough while deciding what to include.
For starters, the 910GS comes with a 20GB hard drive. The current Samsung jukebox can hold 10GB, which is plenty for most users but not enough to please hardcore users. In fact, the 20GB really just cuts it. A look at the competition will tell you that most are available with larger drives, and I wouldn't be surprised if a 30GB or 40GB is launched in the future.
For communication Samsung went with USB 2.0. It will also work with USB 1.1 computers, but you should really upgrade if you have an old computer. USB 2.0 PCI cards are cheap as dirt. The lack of FireWire isn't a big deal, especially since the 910GS is a PC only device. I learned about this in the news release. Check the last sentence:
"Bringing together two great companies -- Napster and Samsung -- creates the perfect marriage of hardware, software and content," said Claude Frank, Director of Marketing, Digital Audio/Video Products, Samsung Electronics America. "Together with Napster, Samsung set out to make the combination of the YP-910GS and Napster 2.0 smart, simple and easy to use. Best of all, the YP-910GS is designed for the Windows platform, so it will reach more than 95% of PC users."
Slick the way that was snuck in, huh? They don't know it, but they're actually bringing together three companies if you include Microsoft.
This leads me to believe that the 910GS will not be a drag-and-drop player. You will most likely need both drivers and software. I do not like this scheme for any digital audio device, as it both slows down transfers and limits its use as a generic hard drive.
One of the unusual features of the 910GS is the built-in FM transmitter. There are several standalone devices that do this, but the integration is convenient. It basically allows you to transmit music on the player to an open FM station in the area. This is an extremely easy way to stream music to a home audio system or car stereo.
An integrated allows you to record the FM signal as well. In fact, you can record MP3s on the fly from any external source. With hope Samsung plenty of options for quality control. I am not sure if the 910GS has a microphone, but one would hope it could serve as a voice recorder as well.
Samsung opted for a Lithium-Polymer rechargeable. As companies retreat to the more affordable Lithium-Ion format it's nice to see the superior choice. Strangely, Samsung quotes "up to" ten hours, which seems a bit shy for a Li-Poly battery.
You neo-rockers with tight jeans will appreciate the petite dimensions. Measuring a scant 4.25" x 2.76" x .79",(O-1000 4.4 x 2.9 x 1) in the 910GS is only a hair larger than the 40GB iPod, which measures 4.1" x 2.4" x .73". No word on the weight, but I would guess -- that means that I do not know -- eight ounces.
Lastly, the 910GS will come stock with a great accessory bundle. You get a remote, earbuds, USB 2.0 cable, USB charger, encoding wire, carrying case, and FM transmitter antenna. (The encoding cable is most likely a simple 1/8"-to-1/8" cord.)
What is not clear is just how the 910GS is optimized to work with Napster 2.0. I don't really know what that means. Perhaps the Napster software can communicate directly with the player for transfers of new music? Perhaps you can download directly to your portable? I can't imagine a non-Napster 2.0 would be at much of a disadvantage, but I'll have to wait for the review unit to sort it out. However, as a bonus, 910GS owners will get 20 free songs via Napster 2.0. Additionally, pre-loaded tracks include Liz Phair, Iggy Pop, The Faint, The Dandy Warhols, ZOEgirl, and Madlib.
The YP-910GS will be available this month at Best Buy for $399.00.
As I mentioned, we are waiting for a sample unit. Keep your eyes peeled
5 Free downloads with Napster early registration
http://www.napster.com/
Napster launches, minus the revolution
By John Borland, CNET News.com
Friday, October 10 2003 9:47 AM
A brand-new Napster unveiled its digital face Thursday morning, a year after the once-proud file-swapping service was sold in pieces in bankruptcy court.
The new digital music service, owned by CD- and DVD-burning software company Roxio, bears little resemblance to the original anarchic Napster. In its place is something like a cross between Apple Computer's iTunes download store and the Pressplay monthly digital music subscription service Roxio purchased not long after buying the Napster name for about US$5 million in court.
Like an increasing number of rival digital song stores, the new Napster will offer US$0.99 downloads of single tunes to anyone who downloads the free software. People also can pay about US$10 a month to listen to an unlimited numbers of streams and downloads, although subscribers will be more limited in what they can do with those downloaded songs.
Roxio is betting that the Napster brand name and the familiar earphone-wearing kitty logo will be enough to win back people's attention, followed quickly by their wallets. Analysts say the company is likely to get a quick look from many nostalgic online music lovers, but building that initial curiosity into a profitable business will be a long-term task.
"A lot of people will stop by, just so they can accuse everybody of being sellouts. That will be a challenge," said Mike McGuire, an analyst with GartnerG2, a division of the Gartner research group "But at the same time, it is a significant set of brand attributes. If they hit the right chord, they can make it work."
What that "right chord" is for the online music market remains to be seen. In the wake of Apple's iTunes launch, a myriad of companies launched into the song-selling business, their ambitions fired by newly flexible licensing terms from the major record labels and increasing interest from consumers.
iTunes sold nearly 10 million songs in its first four months of operation, serving just the relatively small Macintosh market. Its Windows version of the service is expected to be unveiled next week. MusicMatch and BuyMusic are each operating download services that are aimed at Windows users. Sony has announced that it will launch a service next year. RealNetworks said it will add a download component to its Rhapsody service, and companies such as America Online and Amazon.com are expected to throw their rings into the hat before long.
Napster, like RealNetworks, is betting that the subscription model--in which consumers have limited access to an unlimited quantity of music without paying by the song--will resonate with a sector of the music market that is used to getting all the music it wants for free.
"Napster invented online music, and we are reinventing it with Napster 2.0," Chris Gorog, chief executive of Roxio, said in a statement. "Napster 2.0 is unequivocally the most complete and comprehensive music service in the world."
Roxio had original Napster creator Shawn Fanning, who served as a consultant on the new service, on hand for the unveiling.
"I've used Napster 2.0, and it's really great," Fanning said. "It has community features and tools for discovering new music that were important parts of the original Napster experience."
The hybrid per-song and subscription model will give the new service valuable room for experimentation, analysts said. Indeed, metrics released by RealNetworks' Rhapsody service Monday indicated that its unlimited streaming service is gaining some traction, despite the greater attention that's being paid to download services such as iTunes. Subscribers listened to more than 21 million songs in the month of September, RealNetworks said, representing a 30 percent jump in usage since August.
Napster is going a step further than some other services, adding direct relationships with hardware makers. Samsung, for example, is co-marketing a line of digital music players with the new Napster. Roxio also announced that the Napster software will be preloaded on some new Gateway PCs.
All this is still part of a trial stage, analysts said. Although the music services boast catalogs of hundreds of thousands of songs, critical gaps--including a lack of songs from such standbys as The Beatles and Madonna--will keep some consumers from switching wholly to the digital realm. Nor do any of the services offer sound quality that's entirely comparable to a CD, although most are now of a high quality.
"This isn't the end," GartnerG2's McGuire said. "Napster and all the others will have to be committed to constantly tweaking and bit-twiddling the model."
The Napster software will officially launch on October 29, the company said.
Napster runs test launch for legal return
By: Agencies
October 10, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York: Pioneering song-swapping internet service Napster has taken the first step in its legal return to business, two years after it was shut down.
The service was running a test launch yesterday and is due to launch fully on October 29.
The original website boasted 60 million users but was forced to close when record companies began legal action for copyright infringements. Users will now have to pay for music from the renamed Napster 2.0 site.
Digital media company Roxio bought Napster last year for $5m (around Rs 25 crore), with plans to launch a legal service but cashing in on the brand name.
Napster’s founder Shawn Fanning was brought back by Roxio to work as a consultant.
Roxio hopes the Napster name will give the service a boost in what is becoming a busy and fragmented market place — with many different firms offering music online.
“The space has become crowded because there's a recognition of this is going to be a very substantial business," Chris Gorog, Roxio's chairman and chief executive, said. “It validates Roxio’s strategy to enter this business.”
Online music sales are expected to grow from 1 per cent of the total music market to 12 per cent in 2008, generating about $1.5 billion in sales, according to Jupiter Research.
Napster 2.0 is set to offer 5 lakh songs which fans will be able to buy through a monthly subscription or through one-off purchases. It is set to offer single tracks for 99 cents (around Rs 50) and albums for $9.95 (around Rs 500).
Another Virgin / Digitalway player
They sure nees a O-1000/ Mpio HD100 Jukebox to fill their lineup.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Digitalway_MPIO_FL100__128_MB_/4505-6490_7-20763548.html?tag=pdtl-list
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-2740894-5066209?asin=B0000A4XRF&alt%5fview=images#image....
Another view of Napster player
http://reviews.cnet.com/Samsung_Napster_YP_910GS__20GB_/4505-6490_7-30571545.html