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New Virgin MP3 Players by Digitalway
Now if they get a jukebox?
Hopefully the picture police can put them side by side
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_2/602-2740894-5066209?asin=B00009XZTJ
http://www.mpio.com/product/product_info.html?id=74&category=1
moxa1______
FWIW it has been impossible to obtain the 1.8" HDD's in quantity until now due to the Apple iPod having first dibs on their availability
Are we back to using Toshiba (as used by Apple) drives? I thought we were going to be using Hitachi 1.8" HDD?????
Gateway and Napster Advance Home Entertainment
Thursday, October 09, 2003 - 10:20 AM PST
Gateway Also Launches Music Piracy Awareness Program
Gateway, Inc. and Napster today announced that starting next month, Napster 2.0 software -- plus 150 great songs -- will be pre-loaded on the hard drives of Gateway's best-selling consumer notebook and desktop PCs.
Gateway also announced the launch of its RipBurnRespect(TM) interactive learning CD-ROM, which is being shipped now to some 3,000 Boys & Girls Clubs of America across the nation and has the potential to reach three million club kids.
This year Gateway has been undergoing a sweeping transformation from a traditional PC maker to a branded integrator -- a marketer of digital gear that works together. These announcements reflect the central role that online content delivery and protection play in Gateway's strategy to expand consumers' entertainment options.
At a New York City launch event for the new Napster 2.0 service, Matt Milne, Gateway's general manager of digital solutions, announced Gateway's unprecedented initiative to help teenagers understand their rights and responsibilities as consumers of online music and entertainment.
Long an advocate of consumers' right to enjoy digital music legally, Gateway has begun distributing a 30-minute animated CD-ROM-based learning program designed to teach kids about the music business through the experiences of a fictitious band, The Hydroliks. Provided free of charge along with a promotional poster and background information to Boys & Girls Clubs, the RipBurnRespect CD-ROM is a fun, cool way for teenagers to discover how musicians and music professionals in supporting roles earn their living.
The new Napster 2.0 is a paid service that compensates musicians and other copyright holders for their work. Gateway now is pre-installing Napster 2.0 software on its most popular desktop and Media Center PCs; later this year, Gateway will pre-install the software on every consumer notebook and desktop PC it sells.
Gateway is the sole PC maker preloading Napster software and content on its consumer PCs.
Gateway demonstrated the Napster software at the New York launch event on its new Gateway 610® Media Center, a sleek, all-in-one desktop design with the appearance of a 17-inch widescreen flat panel TV. The PC utilizes Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, so its vast entertainment capabilities can be accessed and enjoyed using a remote control from the comfort of a living room couch.
LOL I guess Samsung tech sent me a mini BS email! eom
Samsung Launches Unique Digital Audio Player Co-Branded With Napster
New 20GB HDD, Portable Digital Audio Player Offers Seamless Integration With New Napster 2.0 Service
Features Storage for over 5,000 Songs, FM Tuner and Encoder,
Choice of 20 Free Tracks from Napster and Pre-Loaded Songs
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung Electronics, the world's fastest growing consumer electronics brand, today announced the introduction of the highly anticipated addition to its award-winning YEPP line of digital audio players, the Samsung Napster YP-910GS. Co-branded with Napster, the most recognizable name in digital music, the Samsung YP-910GS is the only player designed to operate seamlessly with the newly launched Napster 2.0 service.
Over 5,000 songs can be transferred directly on to the YP-910GS's 20GB hard drive. The intuitive user interface with the Napster 2.0 client software and the USB 2.0 connection ensures immediate access to more than 500,000 of the world's greatest songs from all five major record labels as well as hundreds of independent labels. Users of the Napster service are able to
purchase individual tracks or albums. A premium version of the service that offers unlimited listening and downloading, radio and community features, and unique content is also available.
"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 YP910GS 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.
"Samsung and Napster share the belief that the digital music experience should be fun and easy," said Chris Gorog, Chairman and CEO of Roxio, Inc., Napster's parent company. "This partnership between a global leader in consumer electronics and the most recognized online music brand in the world, will create a line of products that dramatically enhance and simplify the
digital music experience. We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Samsung that benefits music fans everywhere."
The YP-910GS features a unique, built-in FM transmitter, which allows users to wirelessly transmit saved tracks -- or an entire playlist -- to a nearby FM radio or FM-enabled stereo for instant playback on an unused FM station without the use of any cables. The YP-910GS also includes an FM tuner and encoder, so that in turn, MP3 files can be created directly from FM radio.
The unit's MP3 encoder takes digital music to a new frontier by allowing the creation of music files directly from a CD player onto the hard drive of the YP-910GS without having to connect to a PC. The MP3 encoder gives you the option of creating music files from any CD you are playing on a stereo with the touch of a button.
A customizable EQ gives users the power to adjust the sound levels for any given track. With more than 10 hours of playback time from a built-in Li- Polymer rechargeable battery, users will be rocking until dawn. An already slim and compact design (4.25" x 2.76" x .79"), the YP910GS is made even more usable and versatile with the inclusion of a remote control and carrying case.
As an added bonus, the YP-910GS will offer 20 free songs via Napster 2.0, and pre-loaded tracks from artists such as Liz Phair, Iggy Pop, The Faint, The Dandy Warhols, ZOEgirl and Madlib will be included with the purchase of the YP-910GS. To ensure future functionality, the YP-910GS firmware is
upgradeable.
The YP-910GS will be available this month at Best Buy for an MSRP of $399.
New Napster, IPod Don't Play Nice
By Katie Dean / Also by this reporter Page 1 of 1
02:00 AM Oct. 09, 2003 PT
With its relaunch on Thursday, Napster, the most notorious name in music downloads, will collide with the hottest music player on the market, the iPod.
That's because music downloaded from Napster will not be playable on Apple's insanely popular iPod. The newly legal Napster service and the iPod use incompatible file formats.
Open Access? Not Anytime Soon
The incompatibility problem may confuse customers and could detract from the success of the new service.
Mike McGuire, research director with GartnerG2, said that fiddling around with different file formats could be discouraging to consumers.
"If online music is going to require me to look at an option plan that is going to be as complex as your average cell-phone plan, none of this is going to work," said McGuire. "Online music, then, is still a niche.
"Until the majority of consumers decide which format they like the best, we're going to see the same struggle," he said.
Napster 2.0 is joining an ever-growing field of paid music services like Musicmatch and BuyMusic.com. These download services offer songs in Windows Media Audio, or WMA, format, the same format used by Napster.
Apple's iPod, on the other hand, encodes its songs using the Advanced Audio Coding, or AAC, specification. Napster's files, then, are incompatible with the iPod.
The clash between the two big names may not be of concern to Napster because Napster teamed with Samsung to sell a digital media player specifically designed to work with the Napster music service. The product will debut this fall.
And Apple likely feels the same way. Before the end of the year, Apple is launching its competing iTunes music store for Windows, which will sell songs that are compatible with the iPod.
Josh Bernoff, principal analyst at Forrester Research, said that Apple wants to use its upcoming music service as an incentive to sell iPods.
"The problem is that nobody can be compatible with an iPod without help from Apple," Bernoff said. "Apple has very little incentive to support that because they would rather sell iPods than support anyone else's device."
Forrester's Bernoff said Napster may have trouble building its business because it doesn't have a "natural constituency" that other services enjoy. MusicNet has support from AOL subscribers, Rhapsody enjoys an audience from RealNetworks, and iTunes is the natural destination for iPod users.
"It will be much harder for (Napster) to grow," he said.
Phil Leigh, an analyst with Inside Digital Media, said the incompatibility between Napster and iPod is a minor concern because most people just burn their digital music to CDs rather than using portable players.
"Most of the portability comes from burning CD-R media," said Phil Leigh, an analyst with Inside Digital Media. "There are 200 million CD burners in use right now, versus about 1 million iPods."
Napster 2.0 promises more than 500,000 tracks from the five major record labels and a smattering of independents. The service will offer consumers two choices: a la carte downloads à la Apple iTunes and a premium subscription service. The company would not provide further specifics on the new music service.
The original Napster was shut down in 2001 after an unsuccessful court battle with the music industry. Roxio, a company that makes CD- and DVD-burning software, bought the Napster name in November 2002 for $5 million. The company also acquired pressplay, an online music subscription service. Pressplay has since been shut down, and Napster 2.0 will take its place.
Short response from Samsung Napster YP910 FWIW
Date: 10/7/2003 3:14:20 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: electronics@samsung.com
Reply To:
To: $#$%^&@aol.com
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Internet Address Card Attached
Hi,
It is still being tested. About 2 more months.
OT: New TDK MOJO MP3 Players Deliver a Progressive Blend of Innovative Design, Leading Features & Pristine Sound
October 07, 2003 09:02 AM US Eastern Timezone
TDK introduces four exciting new MOJO MP3 players, the next generation of the company's highly acclaimed MOJO portable audio line. Each new MOJO model has a unique feature set, allowing customers to choose a player that best suits their individual needs, lifestyle and budget.
GARDEN CITY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 2003--
- Four Solid-State Models Incorporate a Host of Features Including Expandable Memory, FM Playback and Recording and More -TDK(R), a leading supplier of digital recording and playback solutions, introduces four exciting new MOJO(TM) MP3 players, the next generation of the company's highly acclaimed MOJO portable audio line. Each new MOJO model has a unique feature set, allowing customers to choose a player that best suits their individual needs, lifestyle and budget. Incorporating cutting-edge technology with a wide range of playback options, the next-gen MOJOs set new standards for ultra-portability, convenience and above all, great sounding audio.
Noted Nick Ikeya, TDK Executive Director, Hardware Product Management: "Our lineup of next-generation MOJO MP3 players gives music-passionate customers a new level of freedom and flexibility. Whether you're out jogging, commuting to work, bicycling, sunbathing or just relaxing, there is a MOJO model that provides all the features and functions you need for maximum musical enjoyment. It truly makes listening to your favorite music easier and more convenient than ever before."
MOJO 1 - Maximum Flexibility in a Wire-Free, All-In-One Design
Lightweight and highly comfortable, the all-in-one MOJO 1 is a full-featured MP3/FM player built into a set of attractive neckband style headphones. It's the ideal solution for today's mobile lifestyles.
MOJO 1 provides unrivaled on-the-go access to entertainment and information. With 128MB of built-in memory and support of virtually all bit rates (8-320 kbps including variable bit rates), it's the ideal player for MP3 and WMA files. A memory card slot (MMC and SD card compatible) enables unlimited expansion. By selecting one of the 25 programmable FM tuner presets, you are instantly in touch with music, news, sports and weather.
MOJO 1's intuitive controls reside conveniently on the outer side of each earpiece, delivering easy access to all functions and features. At the touch of a button, you can customize the sound with four equalizer presets (rock, jazz, classical and normal). A song intro function scans the first few seconds of each track, helping you easily cue up a favorite song. Repeat 1/all and random play modes provide additional flexibility.
Using the included MoodLogic(TM) software and a USB connection, tracks can be organized and rapidly downloaded to MOJO 1 from virtually any PC. A track transfer plug-in for MusicMatch(TM) Jukebox and a firmware upgrade/FM preset programming utility are also supplied. (In addition to the utility software, the player's controls can be used to program FM presets while on-the-go.) FM radio can be recorded directly to MOJO 1's internal memory, providing anytime enjoyment of favorite broadcasts.
MOJO 1 even has an audio output, which enables sharing music with a second set of headphones or playing the unit through a home stereo or mini-system. MOJO 1 delivers up to 10 hours of playback from its included AAA battery and is supplied with a user's guide, a USB cable, a software CD-ROM and three sets of ear covers for long-lasting performance. MOJO 1 will be available in October 2003 at an estimated street price of $179.99.
Pocket-sized Performers: MOJO 256F, MOJO 128F and MOJO X
Feel the music, not the player. MOJO 256F, MOJO 128F and MOJO X offer the ideal combination of streamlined style and high-performance substance. All three models feature MP3/WMA playback and support variable bit rates up to 320 kbps for the highest audio playback quality. For unmatched ease-of-use, each features an ergonomic button layout, making it simple to find tracks, select equalizer presets and change playback modes. Since each model doubles as a data storage device, you can even save, transport and transfer important non-music files with your MOJO. Upgradeable firmware guarantees that you can always keep MOJO MP3 players current with the latest features.
MOJO 256F, MOJO 128F and MOJO X: These ultra-portable players are all attractively styled and deliver pristine audio, but each model has a unique, carefully designed feature set, allowing individuals to choose the player that's their perfect match.
MOJO 256F - A Versatile Power Player
Total versatility makes MOJO 256F the ultimate MP3 player for a wide range of applications from the backyard to the boardroom. Combining a digital FM tuner, 256MB of internal memory, and an MMC/SD memory card slot, MOJO 256F delivers large storage capacity, expandability and superior portability. MOJO 256F is capable of recording voice memos and FM radio to its memory, and includes text-to-speech software for anywhere, anytime review of your text files.
MOJO 256F's backlit text display and TDK's exclusive NAV button make it simple to access functions, including seven equalizer presets (normal, jazz, pop, rock, classic, vocal and dynamic bass), a user-programmable EQ mode and four playback modes (random, repeat 1/all and normal). MOJO 256F's FM tuner features 20 programmable presets providing instant access to favorite radio stations.
Using a USB port and TDK's exclusive UniFi(TM) track transfer software, music is managed and tracks are transferred at blazing speeds to the MOJO 256F. For even greater music management versatility, MOJO 256F is supplied with RealOne(TM) Player and an exclusive MOJO track transfer plug-in. Windows Media Player(R), MoodLogic(TM) and Apple(R) iTunes(TM) track transfer plug-ins are also included.
MOJO 256F delivers up to 12 hours of playback from its included AAA battery and is supplied with a user's guide, a USB cable, and a software CD-ROM. For total comfort and convenience, MOJO 256F comes with ear-bud style headphones and a carrying case that provides extra player protection. MOJO 256F will be available in October 2003 at an estimated street price of $189.99.
MOJO 128F - Magical Music Machine
MOJO 128F provides hours of musical enjoyment. Designed for the music lover, its 128MB of internal memory, memory expansion slot (MMC and SD card compatible), and digital FM tuner make MOJO 128F a serious personal music machine. MOJO 128F is also capable of recording voice memos and FM broadcasts to its internal memory and features 20 programmable FM station presets. Like its sibling, the MOJO 256F, the MOJO 128F features a backlit text display, simple-to-use controls and versatile playback options, including seven EQ presets and four playback modes. MOJO 128F also includes TDK's UniFi track transfer software and plug-ins for other popular track transfer applications (RealOne Player, Windows Media Player, MoodLogic and Apple iTunes), making MOJO 128F a player that plays well with others.
MOJO 128F comes with ear-bud style headphones, a carrying case and AAA battery, providing up to 12 hours of music enjoyment. MOJO 128F will be available in October 2003 at an estimated street price of $139.99.
MOJO X - Grab Your Music and Go
It's as fast as it looks. The streamlined MOJO X is an excellent player for a variety of activities ranging from the morning jog to the daily commute. Featuring 128 MB of internal memory, and drag and drop track transfer, you can load music without using any proprietary software. Simply drag tracks from Windows Explorer (or the Mac OS interface) to the USB-connected player, and you're good to go.
MOJO X features five equalizer presets (normal, jazz, pop, rock and bass) plus a user-programmable EQ mode to "dial-in" the right sound for your style of music. To further increase your listening options for total sonic satisfaction, MOJO X incorporates repeat 1/all and A-B playback modes.
MOJO X comes with ear-bud style headphones, a carrying case and AAA battery, providing up to 12 hours of anytime, anywhere music enjoyment. MOJO X will be available in October 2003 at an estimated street price of $99.99.
About TDK
TDK Corporation (NYSE:TDK) is a leading global electronics company based in Japan. It was established in 1935 to commercialize "ferrite," a key material in electronics and magnetics. The company today is a world leader in digital audio and video recording solutions. Its line of Indi DVD and veloCD burners, MOJO portable audio players, digital audio jukeboxes and accessories represents today's most advanced thinking in high-tech lifestyle electronics. In addition, TDK is a world leader in advanced optical recording media with a full line of CD-R, CD-RW, and recordable/rewritable DVD discs, including the exclusive Armor Plated DVD, discs that are up to 100x more scratch resistant than standard DVD media.
MOJO and UniFi are registered trademarks of TDK Electronics Corporation
MoodLogic is a registered trademark of MoodLogic Inc.
MusicMatch Jukebox is a registered trademark of MusicMatch Inc.
Real One is a registered trademark of Real Networks Inc.
Microsoft and Windows Media are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries
Apple and iTunes are registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple Computer Inc.
Note: A photo is available at URL:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.100703/bb6
Lufthansa Technik Debuts as OEM for Cabin Management & Entertainment Systems nice -- Networked Integrated Cabin Equipment -- Launched
National Business Aviation Association's 56th Annual Meeting & Convention
ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2003--
Partners Cisco Systems and Videon Contribute to Latest Digital Developments
At this year's National Business Aviation Association's (NBAA) 56th Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, Florida, Lufthansa Technik is launching its new product nice(TM) -- networked integrated cabin equipment -- which will set new standards for cabin management and entertainment systems onboard of business and executive jets. The system has been jointly developed with Cisco Systems (Nasdaq:CSCO) and Videon.
Lufthansa Technik's nice(TM) will displace conglomerated in-flight entertainment systems with numerous separate networks that distribute entertainment and control cabin functions. nice(TM) controls all cabin functions and distributes audio/video and data on one digital Ethernet network over a 1000BaseTX uplink and 13.6 Gigabyte backbone.
Lufthansa Technik's nice(TM) features latest technologies such as voice over IP with interfaces to existing off-aircraft communications, a wireless control and command structure over an IEEE 802.11b network for which Lufthansa Technik has been granted a supplemental type certificate (STC). It is the first time an aviation company has gained approval for installing a wireless radio connection inside an airplane cabin. nice(TM) also employs enhanced passenger control units, such as a wireless, intuitive, easy to use and highly configurable Graphical User Interface (GUI) or a memory stick which supports system pre-sets and authentication/registration for fractional owners.
Lufthansa Technik's nice(TM) cabin management and entertainment system is certified, installed and already flying today on a Boeing Business Jet 2 of a private customer. nice(TM) is also the standard on all airplanes being redelivered by Lufthansa Technik`s Completion Center. The engineers from Hamburg are offering the system to the general aviation market for installation at other completion centers or OEM manufacturing centers. Unlike other in-flight entertainment solutions, nice(TM) is available in two versions: one for large jets based on commercial airliners with 115 VAC 400 Hz and one for the general business aviation with 28 VDC.
The nice(TM) system's integrated modular architecture allows Lufthansa Technik to test the system and deliver it ready for aircraft installation. These modular units or functional blocks containing core functionality are installed as LRUs to pre-wired connectors. In addition to an easy initial installation, troubleshooting is simple and kept to a minimum, enabling less time spent integrating the system at a completion center. The Ethernet based system requires less wiring and is lighter than competing systems. Due to the fact that nice(TM) is highly configurable it allows plug-and-play system upgrades. The system employs a solid state DHCP server that assigns addresses to LRUs that are added to the network, requiring no wire changes. In addition, maintenance is simple since the system is easily supported.
"With nice(TM) Lufthansa Technik becomes an OEM for the first time in the company's history. We will deliver our customers the latest technology, ready-to-fly with the quality and labeling 'Made by Lufthansa Technik' supported by our highly experienced partners Cisco Systems and Videon," explains Bernhard Conrad, Senior Vice President Engineering and Production Lufthansa Technik Completion Center and Head of approved design organization.
The launch of nice(TM) is the latest development in the partnership between Lufthansa Technik and Cisco Systems who have been working together for over two years on creating solutions to help business travellers on commercial airliners and in business jets. Their shared vision is to give travelers the ability to remain connected to business critical applications -- even when they are in the air. nice(TM) was developed by Lufthansa Technik together with Cisco Systems to create a standardized Ethernet networked architecture for an aircraft cabin, offering a range of cabin management, communication, business and entertainment applications to passengers and flight crews while meeting all specific industry legislations and certifications.
"With nice(TM) an aircraft cabin becomes an extension of a regular intranet or as an insertion point to all the information available on the World Wide Web. An aircraft becomes just another node on the network but in the air. The nice(TM) architecture offers a cost effective, easy to maintain, secure network on which competitive services -- Internet access, news and entertainment and telephony -- can be offered," explained Duncan Mitchell, Vice President, EMEA, Cisco Systems who is the executive sponsor for transport within Cisco Systems EMEA.
Cisco Systems is providing the technology for the onboard network with ruggerdised switch designs, which will provide Ethernet connectivity inside the cabin, compliant wireless access points throughout the cabins, and IP telephony solutions to enable communication within the cabin and to the ground via satellite. The Cisco standard designs are adapted, tested and certified by Lufthansa Technik in order to meet civil aviation regulations.
Lufthansa Technik is also working together with Videon to bring cutting edge digital video & audio solutions reliably to the aircraft cabin. This relationship is being enhanced to bring further state of the art technologies to the aircraft.
Todd Erdley, CEO of Videon explained: "This is just the first step in a technology relationship between Lufthansa Technik and Videon that will leverage Videon's relationship with semiconductor manufacturers to ensure the most leading edge products are brought to Lufthansa Technik and the nice(TM) system. Our goal is to lead the adoption of advanced video/audio technology in the aircraft prior to it becoming available in the home. Together with Lufthansa Technik we have laid a solid foundation through the introduction of nice(TM)".
The relationship between Lufthansa Technik and Videon will be enhanced in the form of further teaming in the areas of development and manufacturing during 2004. A MoU is being signed today between the two organisations to further solidify this successful partnership.
Example components of nice(TM) - networked integrated cabin equipment -- are: Lufthansa Technik`s universal DVD/CD player, which is capable of playing all formats of CDs and DVDs and producing a Hi-Fi audio output, a digital output, component video and a composite video output. On top of that list it delivers digital MPEG2 streams straight out of the unit, onto the network. The MP3 player supports multiple channels of stereo audio randomly from pre-selected directories containing thousands of MP3 files on the aircraft file server, making it possible to create and recall many play lists. This leads to the unexcelled comfort of quick and easy access to music for all tastes and moods anywhere at anytime. An Audio/Video file server provides storage for MP3 files, a video streaming server to provide audio/video on demand and a map server for a new moving map display. A multinorm VHS standard video cassette player is capable of playing NTSC 3.58, NTSC 4.43, PAL and SECAM video formats and producing a Hi-Fi audio output and a composite video output. It also delivers MPEG2 video and audio straight out to the network. Other components available for the system are smart LCD displays from 6.5" to 30" (with built in MPEG decoding and image enhancement), passenger control units with capacitive switches and/or touchscreens, plug-in seat display units (6" and 10"), speakers, surround processors, amplifiers and cabin system controllers. All devices are Ethernet controlled.
Airlines Place Priority On Email
October 06, 2003 07:35 PM US Eastern Timezone
World Airline Entertainment Association Conference
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2003--ASI Entertainment, Inc. (OTCBB:ASIQ) announced today that at the World Airline Entertainment Association Conference held recently in Seattle, a number of airlines showed strong interest in ASI's email solution, "Data3mail".
Ron Chapman, ASI's CEO said, "Airlines are now appreciating the simplicity and cost effectiveness of what is regarded as the lowest cost email solution for the airline industry."
ASI's strategy to date has been to focus its efforts on its existing launch programs with Alitalia and Saudi Arabian Airlines, however, it has become apparent that email is now a high priority for passenger service. This has more recently been reinforced by a survey reported in the Aircraft Comm Press Digest on September 30th.
"Airlines worldwide are poised to invest in on-board short messaging service (SMS) and email services according to the results of the latest annual Airline IT Trends Survey - conducted by SITA and Airline Business magazine.
The survey shows that by the end of this year 25 per cent of airlines will offer e-mail and 22 per cent SMS services to passengers onboard their aircraft. By 2006 these figures rise to 46 per cent offering email and 45 per cent offering SMS services. This is despite the impact of the 'perfect storm' provoked by the combination of the SARS virus, war in Iraq, an economic downturn and the impact of September 11th 2001.
The World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) recently issued a report that more than 4,980 aircraft, about 43% of the world's commercial fleet, are flying with some form of In-Flight Entertainment (IFE), and approximately 3,300 aircraft have satellite communications ability."
While the "perfect storm" has delayed the release of Data3mail, ASI now believes the next 3 months will be a very exciting time given ASI's current FAA approval of the Data3mail system and the passenger demonstrations taking place on 2 major international airlines.
ASI specializes in aircraft communications and is recognised for its innovative and cost effective solutions for airlines. ASI's provides the Data3Mail system, the lowest cost email system for airline passengers. For as little as $1.00 passengers can access their email via the certified global SITA and Inmarsat networks. Data3Mail is unique, as it does not interfere with the laptop's existing email accounts, and sends and receive emails using the passenger's normal email address.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements made by ASI Entertainment, Inc. are not a guarantee of future performance.
For further information, contact Tom Henderson on (760) 481-8181 or info@asieinc.com. ASI's websites: www.data3mail.com and www.asiq.com.
Samsung to unveil Napster digital device
Published: Friday, October 03, 2003
BY STEVE TANNER
Taking a page from Apple's digital music playbook, Roxio and Samsung plan to release a portable digital music device, similar to Apple's iPod, in conjunction with Roxio's October 9 relaunch of Napster as a for-pay music download service.
Roxio Inc., the Santa Clara-based company known for its CD-burning software, purchased the Napster brand last year for $5.3 million and is reinventing itself as an online music vendor. The day after the Sept. 16 announcement of Roxio's technology and marketing partnership with Samsung, shares of Roxio's stock (Nasdaq: ROXI) spiked 25 percent, from $8.37 to $10.46.
Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed, but Napster will receive royalties on each device sold, while Samsung is betting on the ability of the Napster brand to help sell players.
Roxio declined to discuss Napster prior to its relaunch, but Tara O'Donnell, spokeswoman for Samsung Electronics America Inc., says the success of Apple's iTunes/iPod is a model for what it wants to do with Napster. O'Donnell says Samsung is contractually barred from giving any details about the device.
Gene Munster, a senior analyst with U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, believes having a Napster-branded music player is key to Roxio's marketing campaign.
"They need a killer piece of hardware to help drive the demand," Munster says.
Munster holds no shares of Roxio, but Piper Jaffray makes a market in Roxio's stock and gives it a "strong buy" rating.
David Card, an analyst with Jupitermedia Corp., says the iPod model might bode well for Napster.
But not everyone agrees the Samsung-engineered, Napster-branded device is significant to distinguish it in the market.
Justin Cable, an analyst with Los Angeles-based brokerage B. Riley & Co., remains skeptical about the Napster brand and doesn't believe Roxio's agreement with Samsung justifies the 25 percent stock movement.
"In terms of financial implications, we don't find it significant, but certainly Samsung is a well-known name. We see this relationship as a marketing tool for Napster," Cable says.
B. Riley makes a market in Roxio's stock.
Besides Cable's belief that the online music field already is becoming crowded, splintering market share and potentially driving down prices, he believes competitors likely will offer such similar services that a Napster-branded device will not be unique.
BuyMusic.com Inc., an online music provider based in Alisa Viejo, is in talks with digital music player manufacturers Creative Technologies Ltd., based in Singapore, and Santa Clara-based RioAudio Inc., a subsidiary of Digital Networks North America Inc., to produce BuyMusic-branded devices.
Sean Ryan, vice president of music services for Seattle-based Real Networks Inc., which owns the Rhapsody music service, says Rhapsody will produce a device soon -- although he declined to give details. Ryan believes having a player to mesh with an online music service is absolutely critical to success.
"What iTunes doesn't get credit for is that it's not just a good online store, but it includes a good player that integrates with that. Companies without a good player will fail," Ryan says.
Steve Tanner is a Biz Ink reporter.
You can reach him at stanner@svbizink.com.
Napster goes legit this week
By Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY
Napster, the worldwide phenomenon that pioneered the idea of free music sharing on the Internet, returns to life this week after being forced by the courts to shut down in 2001.
It's not the same old Napster that started the whole file-swapping hoopla, but a legitimate service hoping to attract paying customers.
Software manufacturer Roxio (Easy CD Creator) paid $5 million to buy the Napster name in bankruptcy court, and an additional $40 million for the struggling Pressplay fee-based music subscription service last year. Pressplay shuts down Tuesday — its estimated 100,000 subscribers and purchasers of a new Samsung "Napster" MP3 player will be among the first to test Napster 2.0 when it launches Thursday — and the rest of the public will be invited later in the year.
Despite the record industry's best efforts to move the 60 million file sharers away from pirating on services such as Kazaa and Grokster, the success of legit alternatives has been limited. Fewer than 300,000 have signed up, says Phil Leigh, an analyst with Inside Digital Media.
Napster might be different, though.
"The name will really resonate, in a way the others haven't," Leigh says. "It's better known than Pressplay and MusicNet, and for many young people, even better (known) than Amazon."
Pricing details about the new Napster are being withheld until Thursday. What is known:
• The service will debut with 500,000 songs. (!n comparison, Apple's iTunes has 200,000 and Pressplay and rival Rhapsody currently have less than 375,000 each.)
• Users will be able to buy songs a la carte, for about $1 per song, or download as much as they want for a monthly fee.
The catch: If you want to use those downloads on recordable CDs or a portable MP3 player, you'll have to subscribe and pay an additional charge per song, probably about $1.
"Within the Napster environment, it's yours," says Roxio CEO Chris Gorog. "But if you elect to move it, you can click and buy it."
The structure is similar to Pressplay and MusicNet; Apple's iTunes has no subscription element and has sold 10 million downloads since launching in April.
Like Apple, and unlike most competitors, Napster plans to spend millions on marketing and has already begun, with ads of the old Napster logo in a graveyard.
How will Napster's terms play among users?
If the reactions of Tony Elbakyan, 25, a student at California State University-Long Beach, are universal, Roxio has some hard-core selling to do. "Napster's coming back? Great — is it still free?" he asks.
When told it will probably charge about $10 monthly, Elbakyan says, "That's nothing. A CD costs $15. If you can download all you want, that's a great deal."
But when told he'll have to pay extra to move the songs to his MP3 player, he says, "Forget it. That's ridiculous."
Consumers could cash in on Dell's electronics rollout
By Kevin Maney / USA TODAY
Consumers can expect to see lower prices on some of their favorite electronics -- including high-end televisions -- when Dell's starts selling a range of new products this month.
The No. 1 computer maker is launching a music download store, digital music jukebox and wireless personal digital assistant in October, followed by flat-panel televisions in November.
Dell is the latest computer company to march into territory dominated by the likes of Sony, Matsushita and Samsung.
In August, Hewlett-Packard announced 158 new products aimed at consumers, many revolving around digital photos. It's a major new direction for HP. A year ago, Gateway expanded into plasma televisions and grabbed the leading market share in the category.
The companies are moving into consumer electronics, in part because the PC business isn't growing much, but also because entertainment is increasingly digital. Music, movies and photos are becoming an extension of the PC.
Dell's entry into consumer electronics promises to be dramatic.
"The question is, how much and how far Dell can go with it?" says Dell President Kevin Rollins. "How many new products can Dell add to its portfolio? Where does it end? We think there's a somewhat limitless number of products and services we could get into."
Dell is among the few companies with the power to alter markets. The same kind of thing happens when Southwest Airlines moves into a new city, forcing all airlines there to lower ticket prices.
Similarly, Dell intends to drive down consumer electronics prices using its model of super-efficient manufacturing and selling direct to customers through the Web or phone orders. For consumers, that will likely mean downward pricing pressure on everything from 99-cent music downloads to $100 MP3 players to plasma televisions, which can cost thousands.
"Dell's no-middleman model almost guarantees a value-based price," says Aberdeen Group analyst Peter Kastner.
Dell is planning to introduce:
¥ Dell DJ and Dell Music Store. The DJ is an MP3 player. The music store, however, is likely to get more attention, given the hotly debated issue of online music and popularity of Apple Computer's iTunes music downloading service.
Dell is providing few details about either offering. The music store "will cover most major labels and artists," says chief marketing officer Mike George. It will work with Microsoft's Windows -- a key feature that's currently missing from iTunes.
¥ Televisions. The first models will be flat-panel computer monitors that can also be TV sets. Dell is already among the top sellers worldwide of flat-panel monitors; analysts say it's a short leap to turn that into a TV business.
¥ Dell Media Experience. Dell is aiming to make Media Experience an easy way for users to find music, photos and other media on their computers without having to open other programs or even start Windows.
¥ New wireless-capable versions of Dell's Axim handheld computer. As an example of Dell's clout, within half a year of launching its first handheld, Dell grabbed 36 percent of the market.
Dell would not provide prices or specs for its new offerings.
Dell is accustomed to dominating the PC world, but consumer electronics could be a tougher challenge.
Forrester Research analyst Jed Kolko notes that consumers generally want to see a TV set's picture before buying it. But Dell customers can buy only through catalogs and the Web site. "With video products, it's harder to demonstrate value online," he says.
Dell has 55 kiosks in malls, where products can be demonstrated, but that's not enough to reach many consumers. Online, Dell's George promises, the company will try out "various rich-media ways we can really communicate the quality of that TV viewing experience."
ot: Dual tracks to prevent Internet piracy is where new CD is 'Coming From'
Mike Snider
USA Today
Oct. 4, 2003 12:00 AM
In his new album, Anthony Hamilton reflects on his roots and the directions in which they have led him.
His CD, meanwhile, offers a glimpse of the direction the music industry is taking to prevent rampant piracy.
The soulful singer's Arista debut, Coming From Where I'm From, may look like a traditional CD, but it's the first of an expected new wave of CDs intended to keep listeners from swapping songs on the Internet.
The disc has two sets of music tracks: one set of encrypted songs that can be handled by CD players but cannot be copied to computers, and a duplicate set of tracks in the Windows Media format. These can be downloaded from the CD to a computer and then transferred to portable devices or recorded to home CDs.
But these "secure digital" tracks cannot be played on another computer should they be uploaded to the Net. "The whole concept was to create a legally licensed structure for computer use of recorded music," says William Whitmore of SunnComm, which designed the anti-copy technology.
Two years ago, the company released the first protected CD, Charley Pride's A Tribute to Jim Reeves. That disc, which simply encrypted the tracks so PCs couldn't copy them, and other early efforts met stiff consumer resistance.
Record labels hope this CD will prove more acceptable because it lets fans use music with their own devices and share with friends, but not with millions of others, says Nathaniel Brown of BMG, which distributes albums on the Arista label.
In CD players, the disc plays normally. When put into a Macintosh or Windows PC, the disc installs software to keep the music secure, and an interactive menu pops up with several links, including one to copy some or all of the Windows Media tracks to your hard drive.
Another link allows you to send e-mail to friends so they can download a copy of the song playable for 10 days.
OT: Malaysian chip company claims a world's first
By CHARLES F. MOREIRA
CYBERJAYA: Local integrated circuit designer and producer Sires Labs Sdn Bhd claims its SRL-3101N chip, announced last month, was the world's first optical transceiver to be constructed on a single chip.
Sires Labs said that a multinational electronics company in France, whose identity it was not at liberty to disclose, has completed testing the chip and plans to use it in aircraft inflight entertainment systems.,
The chip could also support services like video on demand, voice-over-IP (Internet Protocol) communications, fibre to the home, high-speed off-site data backup and retrieval, and massive multiplayer online gaming.
"The main advantage of optical fibres over copper is that fibre has much wider bandwidth and greater capacity to support richer, better quality multimedia content and faster interactive games," said Sires Labs chief technology officer Saravana Kumar Kuppusamy.
"Moreover fibre cabling is lighter than copper," he added.
Copper inevitably acts as a radio antenna and picks up electromagnetic interference, which degrades picture and sound quality, said Saravana.
"Glass fibre, being non-metallic, is immune to electromagnetic waves," he claimed.
Sires Labs is currently customising the chip for aeronautical use and expects to begin volume production early next year.
On Aug 1, the chip earned the company the MSC-APICTA (Asia Pacific ICT Awards) at the Malaysian level in the Best of Research and Development category, and is thus eligible for the regional APICTA awards, originally scheduled for Sept 24 to 26 in Cairns, Australia but now shifted to Bangkok in December.
Data communications
Sires Labs' main target customer for the SRL-3101N would be the data communications industry, according to chief executive officer Vyasa Kandasamy.
The chip is designed for short range optical communications at distances of under 600m to 2km, which makes it ideal for use for connection within buildings, in campus area networks between adjacent buildings, or even in a metropolitan area network (MAN) in parts of cities or towns.
Optical transceivers used for long range optical communications of over 100km would be "overkill" for the kind of range the SRL-3101N supports, said Vyasa.
Thus the chip is meant for interconnected and co-located network equipment used in communication service providers' central offices and points-of-presence, in terabit switches and routers, dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) terminals, multiprocessor computing systems and clusters, high-speed local area networks, storage area networks and others.
Built on a piece of semiconductor material measuring roughly 1.2 x 1.2mm, the chip consumes less than 165mw (milliwatt) of power under normal conditions. Saravana claimed that its power consumption was at least 30% lower than competing products, and this has several beneficial "knock-on effects" further down the production chain.
"Lower chip power consumption means smaller sized encapsulation is required to dissipate the heat generated, so the module size can in turn be smaller or more chips can be mounted in a module or circuit card.
"Since lower heat dissipation imposes lower ventilation requirements, more modules or boards can be installed closer together in equipment like switches and routers for instance, thus saving overall space," said Saravana.
Its design also uses Sires Labs own inhouse developed "dynamic Self Adapting Bias" (dSAB) technique which automatically compensates for variations in the manufacturing process, thus not only reducing the number of rejects created during manufacture but also widening the chip's tolerance to ambient operational conditions and environments.
"The different variations in parameters like chemical balance, temperature differences and so on during the manufacturing process determine whether the product works or doesn't," said Saravana.
Analogue circuits have much narrower tolerance to process variations versus their digital counterparts, mainly because digital chips need only cater to two distinct voltage levels -- like 0 volts and 3.3 volts representing a binary "0" and "1" respectively -- while analogue circuits (such as an audio amplifier) must properly handle all voltages between the above two levels.
"With 75% of the SRL-3101N's circuitry being analogue, our dSAB technique helps increase our chips' tolerance to these variations, thus increasing yield and lowering production costs," he claimed.
For more information call Sires Labs at (603) 8313-5318 or visit its website at www.sireslabs.com.
Philips HD100 is 15GB w recording feature.Dell look?
http://www.consumer.philips.com/global/b2c/ce/catalog/product.jhtml;jsessionid=GZVCSOYVRJBHCCRQNAVRZ...
The same reason Creative would switch to e.Digitals scroll wheel.....
Their Flash players have it
So no big deal.....
Not saying it is a Dell
http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/ifp-395t.asp
iRiver has 15GB HDD player
(repost)please put side by side with Dell and e.Digital
http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/iHP-100.asp#
20GB OGG
http://www.iriver.co.kr/ihp/ihp120/ihp500_500/03.htm
The metal cased Treo 10 made in USA is a classic...me want one!
OT:?Gadgets to Go: A Little Something for the Road
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/30/business/30gadg.html?ex=1065585600&en=41218a79a83890e0&ei=...
Dell is taking the lower-investment route with its entry into the consumer electronics market, rebranding rather than manufacturing. Thus, if selling tv, music, and mp3 players doesn't work out, they're not out as much money.
http://arstechnica.com/archive/news/1064925221.html?78367
Ot: SMC Ships New EZ-Stream Universal Wireless Multimedia Receiver
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 2003--
Cornerstone of company's new Wireless Home Entertainment Networking Product Line now available through retailers and integrators
SMC(R) Networks (www.smc.com), leading provider of networking solutions for the Enterprise, the SMB and all the way home, today announced that the first of its new EZ-Stream(TM) Universal wireless home entertainment networking products began shipping this week to retailers and integrators. The new EZ-Stream Universal Wireless Multimedia Receiver (SMCWMR-AG), which distributes entertainment media throughout the home without wires, is available now, at an MSRP of $249.99.
The EZ-Stream Universal Wireless Multimedia Receiver is a high-end networked entertainment receiver that streams, plays and shares audio (including MP3 and Internet radio), pictures and video from the networked PC to the Home Entertainment Center. Connected to the wired or wireless network for access to Internet resources, music, photos and videos stored on a computer's hard drive, it links to entertainment devices, including televisions and stereo receivers, via standard A/V connectors. Employing the latest in high-end wireless 802.11a/g technology for universal compatibility, speed and bandwidth that optimizes demanding wireless applications like streaming video, SMC's EZ-Stream Universal Wireless Multimedia Receiver is at the center of the best performing home entertainment networking solution available.
"We're working with SMC to bring advanced wireless products to market that 'untether' the home multimedia environment," said Craig Barratt, president and chief executive officer of Atheros. "The new EZ-Stream product line features high-performance, standards-based Atheros 802.11a/g networking technology. The EZ-Stream Universal Wireless Multimedia Receiver can distribute even the most demanding multimedia -- streaming video -- throughout the home, without wires."
Easy set-up and operation being as important as performance, the EZ-Stream Universal Wireless Multimedia Receiver includes an EZ Installation Wizard that makes loading its software on the PC a breeze. User-friendly Web-based management provides additional easy set-up tools, and an intuitive TV user interface means users can do it all from the living room couch. Staying current is effortless, thanks to Smart Box Management, which searches automatically for available firmware updates upon power-up.
"The EZ-Stream Universal Wireless Multimedia Receiver is the first of a new line of products that takes SMC's home networking expertise to a whole new level," said Tom Rizol, SMC's vice president of sales and marketing. "A high-performance entertainment networking solution for homes that far surpasses anything the competition can offer, EZ-Stream combines the best in networking with the best in consumer electronics."
Additional high-performance Universal Wireless 802.11a/g products will join the EZ-Stream Universal Wireless Multimedia Receiver over the next several weeks, to optimize connections between the server and computing, gaming or other network-capable devices.
About SMC Networks
A leading provider of networking solutions for the Enterprise, the SMB and all the way home, SMC puts its more than 30 years experience to work for every product and solution the company produces. Leveraging strong industry relationships in combination with experienced and talented in-house design and engineering, SMC continues to bring to market a host of affordable, high-performance products. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., SMC Networks supports its worldwide market through regional offices located throughout the United States and 20 other countries. For more information about SMC Networks or its products, visit www.smc.com, or call 800-SMC-4You (800-762-4968).
OT:Consumer high-definition video format due soon
By Martyn Williams, IDG News Service
September 30, 2003 7:05 am ET
Four Japanese electronics companies are planning to publish detailed specifications for a consumer high-definition digital video format in October, they said Tuesday.
The companies, Canon Inc., Sharp Corp., Sony Corp., and Victor Company of Japan Ltd. (JVC), got together earlier this year to produce the basic specifications for the format, which has been given the tentative name of HDV.
Based on the DV and MiniDV formats used in many consumer camcorders and digital video equipment, HDV also has numerous features common to both, such as the same cassette tape, tape speed and track pitch. That means it can use some of the same mechanical components already in production today for DV and MiniDV devices.
Video is recorded in MPEG2 (Motion Pictures Expert Group) and the system supports both 720 horizontal line progressive scan, with 1,280 vertical pixels, or 1,080-horizontal line interlaced scan video, with 1,440 vertical pixels, both at widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. Video data rates after compression are around 19M bps (bits per second) for 720p video and 25M bps for 1080i video, the companies said in a statement.
After publishing basic specifications in July this year, the group said it has already received a number of expressions of support for the standard including from: Adobe Systems Inc., Canopus Co. Ltd., KDDI R&D Laboratories, Sony Pictures Digital Networks and Ulead Systems Inc.
The four companies plan to release detailed specifications of the format, called HDV, sometime in October, they said in a statement.
OT: Digital car radio poised to show up in 2005 models
By Charles J. Murray
EE Times
September 29, 2003 (11:21 a.m. ET)
PARK RIDGE, Ill. — The move toward CD-quality car radios is gaining momentum with Kenwood Corp.'s delivery of the first HD Radio tuner and Philips Semiconductors' announcement that it is ready to roll out a new chip that could help cut the cost of entry into the fledgling market.
The separate rollouts of the chip and tuner-a black box that plugs into an existing car radio-follow on the heels of Texas Instruments Inc.'s introduction of an HD Radio chip earlier this month. Analysts believe the introductions could be a sign that automakers are preparing to launch the HD Radio technology in their 2005 vehicles, which debut less than a year from now. HD Radio technology sends digital signals over current radio spectrum.
Kenwood said last week that it has delivered the first production run of 1,000 of its HD Radio tuners. IBiquity Digital Corp. (Columbia, Md.), the licenser of the HD Radio technology, said that it will add its own software and take preorders on Kenwood tuners from broadcasters at this week's NAB Radio Show in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, Philips said that its new chip, which is scheduled for introduction today, will go into volume production during the first quarter of 2004.
"Now that the silicon makers are coming up to speed, we can finally expect to see this technology leave the gate on the consumer side," said Frank Viquez, director of automotive electronics for Allied Business Intelligence Inc. (Oyster Bay, N.Y.).
Philips hopes that the $25 price tag of its SAF3550 chip will attract automakers, enabling them to put the technology into their high-end vehicles. The company said it is working on integrating the chip into products made by a number of radio receiver manufacturers, including Alpine Electronics, Bose, Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, Harman Becker Automotive Systems, Panasonic, Pioneer Electronics, Siemens VDO and Visteon, among others.
"This is the first chip available to radio assemblers that offers a cost-effective solution for HD Radio," said Jack Morgan, director of automotive in North America for Philips Semiconductors. Morgan noted that the chip is a good deal less expensive than its predecessors, which ranged from $30 to $50.
No price was available for Kenwood's tuner at press time.
Philips engineers said they've been careful to develop their HD Radio chip in a way that makes it possible for automakers to add HD capabilities to existing radio designs, sparing them the cost of having to redesign their products from scratch.
HD Radio technology adds sidebands to existing AM and FM radio frequencies. The sidebands carry additional signals that enable conventional AM radios to produce "FM-type" sound, and enable FM radios to produce "CD-type" sound, iBiquity said. To accomplish that, however, HD Radio receivers must be endowed with specialized digital signal processors, which allow radios to capture signals from the sidebands.
Philips engineers said they hope to simplify the process of building HD Radios by providing DSP-based plug-in modules that could be easily added to existing DSP-based radios. The SAF3550 accomplishes that by working with an existing Philips chip set, the SAF7730 IF-CarDSP and the TEF6721 companion tuner.
"Radio manufacturers prefer to use the platform concept," Morgan said. "With the platform, they have the ability to add HD Radio or leave it off."
As a result, radio makers can employ the same platform across their product line without having to shoulder the extra cost of adding HD Radio capabilities to midline or low-end products.
Philips engineers also said they expect their new chip to appeal to tier-one vendors because it offers processing power of 650 million instructions per second, thus enabling it to serve in vehicles that have separate rear-seat audio systems. The raw number-crunching power is needed in applications that must do HD Radio processing in addition to other audio chores, such as playing MP3 files, Morgan said.
Makers of next-generation car radios said last week they are building products based on the Philips SAF3550 and on Texas Instruments Inc.'s DRI250 baseband, introduced three weeks ago. TI is sampling the chip for $30 each, and expects to be in production early in 2004. Most radio makers said they plan to roll out their first HD Radio-based receivers in the first quarter of 2004.
Visteon said that it now has a production-ready receiver available that will be employed on a European-based production vehicle in the 2005 model year, debuting approximately a year from now.
Industry analysts said last week that the HD Radio scheme has enormous economic potential because it requires little investment on the part of radio broad-casters, and because it requires no subscription fees to be paid by users. In addition to supplying higher-quality audio, the technology also provides a data signal that broadcasters find appealing because they could potentially use it as an advertising venue.
Still, many local broadcasters that have implemented the technology have been frustrated by the lack of available receivers. Receivers were supposed to have been ready during the summer, but manufacturers had to push back their introductions after a last-minute switch in the audio codec that serves as the heart of the HD system.
"Broadcasters can't even get working receivers to take around to show the concept to their advertisers," said Laura Behrens, senior analyst for GartnerG2 (Stamford, Conn.). Behrens said she knows of one broadcaster that tried four different demonstration receivers, only to find that none of them worked properly.
Behrens added, however, that those who have seen the technology during the past month or so have described the sound as "stunning."
"This technology has the potential to go in every car in America," Behrens said. "The question is: Will the change begin next year, or will it happen in 2012?"
Apple Dismisses Dell As Unoriginal, But Misses The Point
September 29th, 2003
Apple has issued a dismissive statement regarding Dell's new forays into the innovative world of MP3 players and online music stores, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Dell entered the consumer electronics market with pre-announced products last week, including a TV (like Gateway), a Dell-branded online music store (like Apple), and a Dell-branded MP3 player (also like Apple). The MP3 player will be a rebranded product from Creative that plays MP3 and WMA files that can be downloaded from the rebranded third party online music store that will sell WMA files.
The San Jose Mercury News story includes comments from a variety of industry sources, including some dismissive comments from both HP and Apple attacking Dell's new products as little more than me-too-offerings. From the Mercury News:
"It appears that Dell is re-branding one of the second-tier music services that will be announced soon, just like they are re-branding Creative's MP3 player. There is little original here," Apple's statement said.
Hewlett-Packard, which is tussling with Dell in PCs, printers, servers and other businesses, also had a strong reaction. Earlier this summer, HP announced a retail strategy based on making different pieces of the technology puzzle -- PCs, printers, digital cameras -- work better together.
"There's a big difference between putting your name on something and actually innovating," said Chris Morgan, vice president of sales and marketing for HP's imaging and printing group, pointing out that HP spends $4 billion a year cooking up new technologies and ideas, to Dell's $500 million. "More and more of what consumers want solved won't be solved by a single product."
The full article also talks about Sony's role in this battle, and other related issues, and I recommend it as a good read.
There's little surprise that Apple and HP would make statements criticizing a competitor, of course, but in this case the PR-speak is based on the truth. Dell is little more than a copy-cat company that waits for its betters to figure out something new so that it can then figure out how to do it cheaper. While that's true, that doesn't mean that Dell isn't a serious threat to Apple and the others in this market. Dell almost always does find a way to make things cheaper (in both senses of the word), and it doesn't matter if the company couldn't innovate its way out of a wet paper bag if consumers end up buying Dell's cheap stuff.
The thing is, however, that there is little that Dell can do to make either an online music store or a digital music player cheaper if it is merely rebranding third party products, so perhaps the company's vaunted talents at shaving off pennies will not help it so much. Can you imagine Michael Dell negotiating with record execs for a better price on songs? How about that tool Kevin Rollins? I just don't see that going too well for the Round Rock, Texas-based company.
Indeed, Dell may also be overestimating the power of its brand in markets outside of computers. Let me rephrase that: Dell is probably overestimating the power of its brand in markets outside of toasters...I mean PCs. Creative's brand is far stronger in this market, as is Apple's. I seriously think that Dell would be better off maintaining its place as a reseller of those companies' products, as it is now. Dell sells quite a few iPods and other third party peripheral, and there's nothing, at all, wrong with that.
In fact, I wish Dell would actually work with Apple to develop its online music store. A Dell branded iTMS would offer Dell's customers a better experience, and it would offer Apple more market share. Everyone wins. This is a similar argument I made urging Amazon and Apple to work together for that retailing behemoth's online music store.
Who knows if such things are in the works, or if Dell even tried to work with Apple when developing this stuff, but it's no stretch to think of Apple as being the one refusing to license out its technology and products. While Apple's single biggest competitive edge in the PC industry right now is "owning the whole widget," as Steve Jobs is wont to say, the same leverage is not necessary in the online music world.
In many ways, we are looking at a replay of the computer platform wars that Apple lost in the 1990s. Apple has a chance to utterly own the music download business by partnering with as many companies like Amazon, Dell, Gateway, AOL, Sony, Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, and heck, even BuyMusic.com. Talk about going back in time and righting a wrong...These companies are going to partner with someone, and so far it's mainly been Microsoft. How does that benefit Apple?
Right now, Apple owns the most market share and mind share in the digital music player business, and it certainly owns the most mind share of the music download business. That could well change, however, if two things happen: If the Microsoft-aligned companies get their act together and offer something that comes even remotely close to the iTMS experience, and someone like Creative comes out with an iPod killer, then Apple will lose its dominant position without also stepping up its products.
Right now, only Apple is offering AAC downloads, while the vast majority of competing products are adding WMA support to their MP3 players. Apple could find itself in the same position in this market as it has right now with the Mac, which is to say a minority position that can't get no respect. (Please note that I strongly believe that the Mac platform's situation is changing, but that's irrelevant to this discussion.)
Admittedly, we're not close to that, but once upon a time the Mac was light years ahead of DOS and Windows, too. Things change.
When it comes to the music player and online music download business, Apple needs market share, and it needs partners. With both of those things in place, it can set the standard for online music sales, make money from other companies licensing their technology, and simultaneously expand the market for QuickTime, too.
So, Dell is unoriginal, absolutely, but why shouldn't Apple be the company making money from that marginality? Instead of BM.com, Real, or whomever Dell is partnering with, getting the goods, Apple should think differently and reach out with the iTMS, and perhaps even the iPod.
Tacking upscale (long article, but possible IFE use?see bold)
New owners are taking Celebrity Cruises in a new direction, emphasizing service and extras such as vast music and book libraries, artworks, even four types of pillows.
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/09/28/Travel/Tacking_upscale.shtml
By ROBERT N. JENKINS, Times Staff Writer
Published September 28, 2003
VENICE - The Greeks have been sailing around a fair portion of the planet for a few millennia. But history meant little for the Greek-founded Celebrity Cruise Lines, which was largely being ignored by vacationers.
Then came an infusion of money - and ambition - from the New World.
Miami's Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. bought the much smaller line in 1997. Now Celebrity's nine ships can carry 16,000 people each day, about twice the capacity as before the merger.
Celebrity hopes to put plenty of distance between its midnight-blue and white hulls and the dozens of mass-market ships by offering an upscale experience and by sailing to more interesting ports.
"We want to be the undisputed leader in the "premium' cruise category," says Dietmar Wertanzl, Celebrity's senior vice president for fleet operations. "We want to provide a taste of luxury . . . greater service for a little bit more expense."
To accomplish that, Celebrity went head-hunting and hired Wertanzl away from the ultra-deluxe Crystal Cruises.
Speaking to reporters aboard the 1,950-passenger Millennium as it sailed through the Adriatic and Mediterranean this summer, Wertanzl explained that Celebrity had surveyed about 10,000 former passengers to see what sorts of changes - and prices - vacationers wanted in an upscale cruise.
"We made more than 50 enhancements, which we began testing on the Millennium" as it first began sailing in July 2000. These were refined and gradually added to the rest of the fleet by last month.
For instance, the line retrained its staff to emphasize service and "high energy." Each crew member carries a laminated card stating the service doctrine and can earn cash rewards based on passengers' comments.
The line's ratio is one crew member to about every two passengers. For comparison, recently launched ships of the parent Royal Caribbean line average closer to 2.7 passengers per crew member, while those of Holland America and Princess ships average about 2.2 passengers per crew member.
Those are mid-market brands that Celebrity wants to surpass; the just-launched Crystal Serenity has a ratio of 1.7 passengers to each crew member. But it also charges thousands of dollars more for the ride. (See related story, 1E.)
Lectures, pampering, extra pillows
Wertanzl said that rather than courting the party-at-sea or retiree crowds that fill most ships, Celebrity decided to go after customers who are "socially active, well traveled, well educated, interested in seeing new things and in meeting new people." A press release refined that to an age group of 35-54, with household income of at least $75,000.
To keep such passengers content while on board, Celebrity ships have an attractive combination of amenities. For instance, the line's four newest ships offer two-deck-tall libraries of both the printed word and more than 1,500 musical compositions, from rap to classical.
The music library, named Notes, also has nine listening stations. Visitors sit at a touch screen, scroll through the offerings by category, artist or title, and create their own playlist, which they can call up on each visit. Or they can take with them an iPod, at $10 a day; the music librarian loads it with their choices.
The level of on-board activities is higher than the shipboard standard, too. During my cruise, for instance, a professor lectured on the history of ancient Europe, and a 29-year veteran of the State Department's Foreign Service gave a three-part seminar on the United States relations with Europe, before and after the invasion of Iraq.
Demonstrations have moved past the usual napkin folding and vegetable carving to lessons in flower arranging (taught by the on-board florist), investment strategies, computer classes, even lessons in making trendy cocktails.
A classical guitarist and a harpist are soloists in the small lounges; another guitarist performed on a Renaissance lute. What had been Celebrity's enclosed cigar bar is now a piano bar without cigars.
For passengers who want to maintain their landside workout regimen, Celebrity offers 25,000 square feet of spa and fitness areas. The newer ships also feature a health-focused dining area by the spa's indoor pool. Here, hot entrees are cooked to order and, while the diner waits to be served, he or she is soothed by the sounds of waterfalls gushing into the hot tubs.
Passengers who want in-cabin pampering can book the Concierge level, at roughly $180 per person more than the standard cabin with a veranda. But Concierge clientele also receive such amenities as afternoon canapes served in the cabin, wine and champagne tastings, free dry cleaning, four kinds of bed pillows, priority boarding and disembarkation, and a 24-hour concierge desk.
Among the services by the concierge staff: The brother-sister team of port call/shopping advisers on Millennium offers to accompany "their" passengers ashore to advise on comparison-shopping luxury items. Alerted two days before the ship reached Naples, the concierge found for me the international-shipping office nearest to our pier and provided a street map to reach it.
A floating art gallery
But you don't have to pay extra to enjoy the sophisticated visual ambience of the ship.
Millennium's decor borders on elegant. Colors are rich or soothing, not the gaudy hues or neon-tubing that mass-market Carnival and Royal Caribbean plaster throughout their public rooms.
Especially impressive is the ship's collection of more than 500 original pieces of art. The cruise line hired Marlborough Gallery of New York City to curate this collection.
The names of some artists are immediately recognizable: Claes Oldenburg, Andy Warhol, Red Grooms, David Hockney, Dale Chihuly. But there are other, less widely known folk among the 150-plus artists being shown here: Even stairwells and elevator lobbies have imaginative works by Stephan Balkenhol and Anne Chu. Several aerial photographs by Georg Gerster make art of the patterns of things on the Earth as viewed from high above. His large works are given proper space along lobby walls.
This level of quality is referred to in promotional literature as "a taste of luxury"; ironically, the one shortcoming I noticed was in that more tangible taste - the ship's menu sometimes promised more than the kitchen could deliver.
The menu is fashioned by noted chef Michel Roux, Celebrity's "culinary and wine consultant" for 14 years. But during the cruise, passengers told me at various times they were disappointed in such basics as breakfast rolls and salads, as well as specialties such as risotto and lobster - every one of the eight diners at my table one night ordered the lobster and pronounced it tough or chewy. The maitre d' had cautioned before the lobster was served that some food items have to be frozen before being loaded on board.
I tried pizza-bar pizza twice and found it no better than the microwave kind.
A husband and wife from San Francisco were so frustrated by what they considered the lack of fresh produce that during the port call in Florence, she bought a cantaloupe to take back on board. One of the food writers who had sailed with me also lamented the lack of fresh provisioning.
On the other hand, I heard compliments for the fish and beef entrees, wine selection, sushi bar and menus at the AquaSpa. And the dining room staff overall was the best I've encountered at sea.
When I relayed the complaints about the food to Celebrity executives making the cruise, they were more than disappointed. One of them had me repeat the comments to an officer in charge of the on-board preparation and to the man in charge of buying fresh provisions.
All of them took the matter seriously. That is as it should be, considering that Celebrity, according to vice president Wertanzl, "wants to be 41/2 stars . . . to combine Cesar Ritz" - the hotelier whose name came to symbolize elegance - "with Walt Disney."
Certainly the cruise line is close. The most recent poll of Conde Nast Traveler magazine readers ranked five Celebrity vessels among the top 10 cruise ships.
If you go
The Millennium is still sailing its European itinerary but will be based in Fort Lauderdale in November. Its first sailing, Nov. 9, is a seven-night trip calling at Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Nassau.
The line's Web site, www.celebrity.com lists a cabin with veranda on that sailing for $1,274 per person, based on double occupancy. For better fares, check the Times for ads listing discounts or call a travel agent.
The Millennium has 20 suite and cabin categories; fares depend on the category, time of year and itinerary. Among those itineraries, Celebrity's ships spend seven months a year on routes that include the Panama Canal, six months on European routes, seven months calling on Bermuda, four months with South American ports and 12 months a year in the Caribbean. The Celebrity Horizon is based in Tampa during the fall and winter, sailing into the Caribbean.
ON-BOARD PROS: About 80 percent of Millennium's cabins have ocean views and nearly three fourths of those have verandas of varying sizes. Cabins are larger than cruise-ship average. Beyond common amenities such as hair dryers and safes, they also have good closet and shelf space, minibars, pay-per-view in addition to free TV, and lots of well-placed lights.
Millennium and its three nearly identical successors use gas turbines for propulsion, which greatly reduces engine sounds as well as air pollution.
The ship has an 18-screen Internet room - no food or drink, so it isn't a cafe - with online charges of 50 cents a minute or prepaid packages. I was among the several passengers who had occasional difficulties acquiring or keeping an online connection. We heard explanations that variously blamed the problems on AOL directly or on the positioning of the ship's antenna aimed toward satellites relaying the signals.
Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are among the cruise lines supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation by donating cruises to seriously ill children and their families. The cruise lines also publicize the Foundation by accompanying the usual turndown-service chocolate with small reproductions of colorful drawings by the children.
The 92-seat Cova Cafe Milano is named for the famed Italian chocolate shops; besides delicious pastries it has 19 specialty coffees and teas, champagnes, liqueurs and, of course, chocolates.
The ship has a playroom for youngsters and organized activities for children ages 3-12.
. . . AND CONS: Few of the performers in the 900-seat theater during my 12 days on board were imaginative or entertaining. Highlights were two shows by the Celtic Tenors, flown in for one night, and Pearl Kaufman, a pianist featured in the soundtracks of numerous films such as Dr. Zhivago and Breakfast at Tiffany's.
One night the theater show was an unusual pairing: classically trained violinist Claire Gobin and country-singing veteran Brenda Byers.
Gobin had been poured into a floor-length sequined gown, and as she tossed her blonde mane while strutting to Putting on the Ritz and I Want to Hold Your Hand, or swayed slightly to Cavalleria Rusticana - "What I would play for you in my living room" - I thought: Jessica Rabbit lives.
Byers used a throaty voice on All That Jazz, Stand by Your Man and the old novelty hit, The Auctioneer. She never missed a note when, while she was working the audience, one man pulled her down onto his lap.
In Michael's Piano Club, formerly the ship's enclosed cigar bar, Gary Negbaur alternated his keyboard sessions of Gershwin/Porter/show tunes with his own clever compositions. Classical guitarist Marek Glugosz was inspiring.
The cruise line offers two table-service alternatives to dinner in the 1,224-seat Metropolitan restaurant:
The Olympic is a 130-seat restaurant with its own galley, menus and wait staff; following the trend on many ships, there is a charge - $25 - to dine here. The service is attentive, but presentation is overly theatrical.
The second alternative is in a section of the pool deck's casual restaurant. It has linen tablecloths, a wine list and two menus (entrees include seared salmon and steak with peppercorn sauce) that are alternated day by day.
My service here was faulty the first night, much better the second time. But screens in place only partly block the traffic - and noise - of adults and children bound for the pool or the sushi bar and pizza bar just around the corner of what is a buffet line.
Most of the lounges, as well as entrance to the theater and the Metropolitan, are on two decks. But on one of these decks, passengers cannot walk from one end of the ship to the other without having to navigate narrow pathways through the casino.
While Celebrity boasts it offers chilled towels to refresh passengers returning from shore excursions, I experienced this only twice after seven port calls.
There are no laundry facilities for passenger use, an option more ships are adopting.
The ATM in the lobby has an outrageous charge of $5.50
OT: Kiwi firm makes a noise in IFE
28 September 2003
By LESLEY SPRINGALL
Less than four months after splitting from its parent company Slab International, small Kiwi electronics firm Phitek Systems has landed a multi-million-dollar deal with the world's largest supplier of in-flight entertainment systems.
Matsushita Avionics Systems, the avionics division of Panasonic, supplies up to 85% of the world's airlines. Under the terms of the deal, Phitek's noise cancellation technology will be installed in every seat in each new Boeing 777 built for Matsushita's customers.
Phitek's managing director Mark Donaldson said the deal was worth millions to the company over the next few years. "It also ensures we'll be a leader in supplying integrated noise cancellation solutions to the avionic market."
Airlines wishing to gain that elusive competitive edge have been ploughing cash into beefing-up their in-flight entertainment visual offerings to long-haul passengers. But audio advances remain "in the dark ages", commentators say.
Passengers mostly have to put up with low-quality headphones, which do little to cut out the noise from the aircraft's engines. Reducing cabin noise has been shown to cut stress and fatigue on flights, said Donaldson, but due to the cost of noise reduction headphones - offered now by many airlines to their premier passengers - long-suffering economy passengers are unable to benefit.
Phitek's "SmartJack" noise cancellation technology was contained in the jack, where the headphones attach to the arm rest of the seat, so the type of headphones used was irrelevant, and the cost was no longer prohibitive, said Donaldson.
"With airline headphones having a very limited life, the advantages of buying headphones at $1.50 each versus $10.50 are quite profound," he said.
Phitek, formerly Slab DSP (Digital Sound Processing) separated from its parent Slab International in May, after netting $1 million from a bunch of unnamed Kiwi investors. The firm came to prominence in February 2001 after AMP Henderson Private Capital took a 40% stake for $10m in Slab International and thus in Slab DSP (Phitek) and its sister company Slab Sound, known for its innovative flat panel speakers. AMP still has a 30% stake in Phitek.
The Sunday Star-Times understands Slab Sound is now on the block, with Phitek named as a possible buyer, though neither Donaldson nor AMP director Martin Turner were prepared to comment, saying discussions were commercially sensitive.
Donaldson said Phitek was looking at several acquisitions. Due to the firm's success in avionics - it was expected to record a turnover of more than $1m next year and break even in the next few months - the firm is now keen to move into the consumer electronics market, he said. To this end Phitek has opened an office in Hong Kong and will open another in Shenzen, China, next month.
"There's lots of Kiwi firms doing good things in electronics and we need a vehicle to export New Zealand's electronics innovations globally," said Donaldson
Other companies HDD Don't see any similarities
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(old design)
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Consumer Electronics Devices Drive Demand for Storage
By Clint Boulton
September 24, 2003
With more than 30 million households already surfing at high-speed -- and more than 130 million expected by the end of 2007 --nternet users are viewing high-quality streaming video content and many will be willing to pay for it, according to research firm In-Stat/MDR.
Forecasts from the research firm put the market for consumer online subscription video streaming services at roughly $991 million during 2003, growing to more than $4.5 billion during 2007. Asia is predicted to be the largest market in 2007, accounting for $1.2 billion. With the amount of digital content growing at a near exponential rate, there is a logical need for media-playback devices includes hard drives to store favorite audio and video on.
The big push is for consumer electronics devices, such as MP3 and DVD players, to include hard drives in the same component. And, with many content-loving consumers craving stored streaming video, magnetic hard drive storage is emerging as the method of choice over other formats, according to research group In-Stat/MDR.
In-Stat/MDR predicts that consumer electronics with integrated hard drives will represent about 7 percent of the total hard drive market, which is nearly double that of 2002. Looking forward, the research firm expects the market to grow from 9.3 million units in 2002 to about 16.7 million units this year, at a compound annual growth rate of 56.7 percent over the 2002-2007 period.
In-Stat/MDR analyst Cindy Wolf summed up the trend.
"As the PC market, which represents the bulk of hard drive shipments, has matured, there has been an increased emphasis by storage manufacturers to address, and even formulate, specific strategies to address the consumer electronics (CE) market," Wolf said.
Wolf said currently the majority of consumer electronics devices built with hard drives include personal video recorders (PVRs), such as TiVo, and portable digital audio players. With a choice of 10G, 20G, or even 30G hard drives, Apple's iPod is a classic example of this. Even video game consoles, such as Microsoft's Xbox, come with a hard drive. In fact, these products will remain the largest segment for CE devices with integrated hard drives.
However, the times they are a changing, according to Wolf, who said she anticipates the personal digital assistants, handheld PCs, portable A/V players, televisions, and digital camcorders will all tend toward the hard drive persuasion, leaving lucrative opportunities for hard drive makers.
In other findings, Wolf said 3.5-inch drives will continue to reign in CE devices because they are less expensive than 2.5-inch, 1.8-inch and 1-inch drives and hold the most content. In 2002, this size drive was integrated into 92 percent of CE devices with integrated hard drives.
Wolf also said PVRs have been gaining traction as both consumers and box manufacturers, with satellite set top boxes with integrated hard disk drives making up the bulk of PVR unit shipments.
The research is part of a "Hard Disk Drives For Consumer Electronics: Digital Entertainment Devices Drive Demand for Storage" study.
Tri-Vision licenses V-Chip Patents with EASTECH Singapore
TORONTO, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Tri-Vision International Ltd./Ltee (TSX:TVL) today announced that it has signed its 16th non-exclusive license for its Canadian and US V-chip Patents with Eastern Asia Technology Limited (EASTECH), Singapore.
The agreement covers all Television Sets and Set Boxes produced by any of the Eastern Asia Technology Limited Group of
Companies for sale in Canada and the United States through to 2016.
"Licensing to a group of companies like Eastern Asia Technology Limited which has facilities in several countries is important to Tri-vision," stated Tri-Vision President Toshinori Ikebe. "Licensing v-chip for set top boxes is important since STBs will be a necessary part of the Northern American
transition from analogue to digital television," Ikebe added.