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SHM might be around 7,8,or 9 Nov. JMHO.
Kenwood introduces an "entertainment hub" complete with MP3 support, a burner, and much, much more.
http://formen.ign.com/news/35536.html
June 6, 2001 [Press Release]
Kenwood USA Corporation recently became the first major consumer electronics manufacturer to introduce an entertainment hub, a single component that stores and streams compressed and uncompressed music files, internet radio, and serves as a main controller for other Kenwood Sovereign components in a home entertainment system. Jointly developed with OpenGlobe, Inc. the new Kenwood Sovereign Entré allows users to create play lists via on-screen menus, connect and control other Kenwood Sovereign components, and store and play MP3 or WMA music files on its 20-gigabyte hard disk drive. A built-in CD recorder allows creation of compressed and uncompressed audio CDs for use in the car or with a portable player. Entré, which streams multiple audio programs simultaneously to different rooms in a house, will reach stores this summer.
“Entré complements Kenwood Sovereign systems by providing access to new media such as compressed MP3 music files and Internet radio,” said Bob Law, Kenwood vice president of sales and marketing. “This component gives independent specialty retailers the opportunity to increase sales because of the added value and functionality it brings to other Kenwood Sovereign components.”
Part of the new Kenwood Sovereign line of premium audio/video components, Entré makes it easy to access both internal and external audio, and to control other Kenwood Sovereign components. The unit’s RS-232 ports allow Entré to connect to other Kenwood Sovereign components, including four new A/V receivers and two new 400 disc DVD mega changers. It neatly integrates all the component’s functions with an easy to use on-screen menu displayed on the video monitor. For example, DVDs and CDs stored in a compatible Kenwood Sovereign changer can be accessed with cover art, title, track, artist and genre information via online databases such as CDDB Music Recognition Service and OpenGlobe MovieDB, and may be displayed on a television monitor. Connect Entré to a Kenwood Sovereign A/V receiver and it seamlessly integrates listening of standard AM/FM radio with Internet radio. Select receiver functions can be controlled with on on-screen video menus.
Although Entré supports playback of both MP3 and WMA music files, it will only store compressed audio files in the MP3 format. Play lists of all stored MP3 music files can be created, and music libraries compiled by making selections from on-screen menus.
Entré allows consumers to take music anywhere. It incorporates a built-in CD recorder and users will be able to burn both standard, uncompressed CD audio tracks as well as compressed MP3 files onto CD-R and CD-RW discs. Uncompressed CD-R and CD-RW discs will play on virtually every 2001 Kenwood in-dash car audio CD player, while any MP3-encoded CD-Rs or CD-RWs will play on the new Kenwood Excelon Z828 and Kenwood KDC-MP8017 in-dash car audio CD/MP3 players.
Consumers can also use Kenwood’s new DPC-MP922 handheld MP3/WMA/CD player. The DPC-MP922 plays standard CD as well as CD-R and CD-RWs encoded with MP3 or WMA files.
In addition, Entré provides a USB connection on the front panel, enabling easy connection and download of compressed audio to MP3 players with a USB port (however, music can not be uploaded to Entré through this port).
Entré is capable of storing hundreds of hours of compressed music on its internal hard disk, and simultaneously streaming different audio programs (such as MP3 files and Internet radio) to different rooms using the Home PNA 2.0 protocol. Home PNA 2.0 uses a home's existing phone wiring to create a network for streaming audio at 10Mbps without laying new wires. Kenwood’s Axcess, a remote portal available later this year, will make it possible to play streaming audio in any room with a phone jack. Entré can stream multiple audio files through four Axcess portals at once and not interfere with standard phone, fax or DSL modem services. Additionally, later this year Kenwood will be introducing an application that will allow transfer of both MP3 and WMA files from a computer desktop to the Entré as well as setup of the Entré’s meta-data Home PNA.
Kenwood has worked with OpenGlobe to develop a user interface that’s simple to use, yet allows complete management of the Entré’s functions and delivery of the full benefits of the following services:
Access to Internet radio stations
Access to Internet databases such as CDDB Music Recognition Service and OpenGlobe’s MovieDB
Downloading graphics and related content pertaining to CDs, DVDs and artists
Additional functions provided by OpenGlobe include ongoing CE-Commerce services that enable consumers to purchase items such as DVDs or CDs online, surf the net, and send and receive email. The Internet connection also allows Kenwood and OpenGlobe to automatically upgrade the Entertainment Hub software so that the user always has the latest version.
Entré will be available in September from authorized Kenwood Sovereign dealers for an MSRP of $1,800.
-- IGN Staff
Typically, the testing is done either in-house or via an independent lab. The FCC must review and approve the test results documentation supplied to them. That would appear to be where we are at if HyTek's statement is accurate.
NEWS from Olympus...
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=698109
===================================================
Olympus Announces The First Digital Voice Recorder/MP3 Player Geared For Business Users
22 Hours of Voice Recording or Over 1 Hour of MP3 Music Recording
With Included 64MB SmartMedia - Interfaces with PC
MELVILLE, N.Y., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus America Inc., Consumer Products Group, a leading consumer electronics manufacturer, today announced the DM-1, the first digital voice recorder/MP3 player geared for business users. The DM-1 supports removable SmartMedia cards for up to 22 hours of voice recording time or over one hour of MP3 or WMA music recording time on the included 64MB SmartMedia card. The DM-1 is geared for consumers and corporate road warriors, as well as students, journalists, doctors, and lawyers.
MP3 Player
The DM-1's MP3 music player provides high-quality music with a built-in WOW(TM) sound system by SRS Labs for the production of rich bass, clear three-dimensional stereo sound and user-selectable 5-setting equalizer for settings from classical to rock. The DM-1 is the first MP3 player in the world to feature the WOW system. For music listening & organizing on the computer, easy-to-use MusicMatch jukebox software is included.
The DM-1 uses the same SmartMedia that has been used in popular Olympus digital cameras. The DM-1 comes with a 64MB card, but is compatible with all SmartMedia cards up to 128MB. Downloading speech files to a PC is quick and easy. The DM-1 can be attached to a PC by the included USB cable. Also, the SmartMedia can be removed and downloaded to a PC by a variety of SmartMedia download devices.
The DM1 supports both MP3 and WMA (Windows Media Audio) music files.
Digital Voice Recorder
The DM-1 includes three folders for voice file management, capable of storing up to 199 messages per folder. Messages can be moved from one folder to another for easy organization. The DM-1 has 2 recording modes, SP mode when speech-to-text applications are used; and LP mode when a longer recording time is needed. An LCD display is provided to check remaining recording time, the date & time, voice activation mode, play mode (SP/LP), and battery status. A Microphone Sensitivity Selector and voice activation for hands-free recording are also included.
Olympus uses compact .DSS (Digital Speech Standard) files, which are 12 - 20 times smaller than standard .WAV sound files, and are optimized for voice applications. DSS files are also ideal for sending email to colleagues or transcription services. Transcription can also be done manually with an optional transcription accessory kit including a foot-switch and headset. Users can download the entire contents of the recorder, one specific folder or even one specific recording.
In addition, the DM-1 enables you to manage all of your dictation with the DSS Player Dictation Software. The software can automate many manual functions, such as auto-detection and auto-download of dictation from the DM-1. All you have to do is attach the DM-1 to your USB port.
"We are very excited about the release of the DM-1," said Keith Swiderski, Product Manager, Olympus America, Consumer Products Group. "The DM-1 is perfect for business users who need a digital recorder, but also want to take advantage of MP3 music. With 64MB of memory, you can make hours of high quality voice recordings and still carry your favorite music along for the ride."
The DM-1 is the latest in a long line of Olympus innovative award-winning digital voice recorders, such as the DS-320, a digital recorder with over five hours of recording time bundled with IBM's ViaVoice speech recognition software. The DS-150, released in April of 1999, was well received for its ease of use and affordable price. It was chosen as a preferred mobile solution for IBM ViaVoice, and was also bundled as part of L&H Voice Express Mobile Professional. The D1000, released in June of 1998, won numerous industry awards for its enhancement of the mobile office, including the coveted PC Computing MVP Award, November 1998; Popular Mechanics, Editor's Choice Award, January 1999; and Popular Science, "Best of What's New," November 11, 1997.
The DM-1 will be available in June 2001 for a Suggested Retail Price of $349, Street Price $299. It comes with a 64MB SmartMedia card, DSS Player software, MusicMatch software, USB cable, carrying case with belt clip and stereo headphones.
For more information, contact Olympus America, Consumer Products Group, Two Corporate Center Dr., Melville, NY 11747-3157, ph: (631) 844-5000, (800) 347-4027, Fax: (631) 844-5262 or the Olympus Web Site: http://www.olympus.com. For consumer questions/comments, e-mail us at distec@olympus.com.
About Olympus America, Inc.
Olympus America distributes a wide range of products to the consumer, scientific, healthcare, commercial and industrial markets. These include film and filmless cameras, Microcassette(TM) and digital voice recorders, binoculars, film scanners, personal photo printers, medical and industrial endoscopes, biological and metallurgical microscopes and measuring instruments, clinical analyzers, and other high technology products. Olympus America is responsible for sales in United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
DM-1: Main Specifications
Digital voice recording>
Recording Format Digital Speech Standard (DSS)-format
digital recording
Recommended input level -70dBv
Sampling frequency SP mode: 12kHz
LP mode: 8kHz
Overall Frequency Response SP Mode:300~5,000Hz
LP Mode:300~3,000Hz
Recording Time SP Mode: approx. 10 hr 10 min.
LP Mode: approx. 22 hr
(Figures given for 64MB SmartMedia card )
Continuous Battery
Duration Time Recording: approx. 11 hours
Playback : approx. 8 hour
(according to Olympus tests using an
alkaline dry cell battery)
Digital music playback>
Compatible file formats WMA, MP3 formats (multi-decoding
system used)
Sampling frequency 44.1kHz (maximum value; use of different
data format or bit rate may result in
different value)
Frequency Response 20~20,000Hz (maximum value; use of different
data format or bit rate may result in
different value)
Recording Time Bit rate 160 kbps: approx. 50 min
Bit rate 128 kbps: approx. 60 min
Bit rate 96 kbps: approx. 82 min
Bit rate 64 kbps: approx. 120 min
(Figures given for 64MB SmartMedia card; use
of different bit rate may result in
different value)
Continuous Battery
Duration Time Approx. 8 hour
(according to Olympus tests using an
alkaline dry cell battery)
Other specifications>
Recording Medium 3V (3.3V) SmartMedia cards (4, 8, 16,
32, 64, 128MB)
(Cards without ID functions cannot be used
for music playback)
Card Format SSFDC forum- SmartMedia format
Speaker 28mm-diameter round dynamic speaker
Microphone Jack 3.5mm-diameter: 2ohm impedance
Earphone Jack 3.5mm-diameter: 8ohm impedance or higher
Practical Max. Output Max. 180mW (8ohm speaker)
Power Source Rated voltage DC3V - Two R03/LR03 alkaline
batteries
External power source: by connecting AC
Adaptor A321 (sold separately)
Dimensions 109.5(H)x50.0(W)x16.7(D)mm
(excluding protrusions)
Weight 86g including battery
Accessories 64MB SmartMedia, Stereo Earphones (E30),
Carrying Case, USB Connection Cable
(CB-USB1), PC Connection Cable (KP4),
CD-ROM, 2 x AAA batteries, User's Manual
DSS Player, MP3 Jukebox: Operating Environment
OS Supported Microsoft Windows 98/98SE/Me/2000
Professional
CPU Intel Pentium 166MHz or faster,
Intel Pentium and faster when using CD-R or
Windows 2000
RAM Min. 32MB
Hard Disk Space Min. 50MB
(additional space is required to store
voice files)
Sound Board Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 or
100% compatible card
Video Card and Display SVGA (High-color (16-bit or higher
resolution)
Removable Drive Min. 16x CD-ROM or CR-R, CD-RW, CD-ROM
USB Port At least 1 free USB port
Audio Output Speaker or earphone output
* Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Company Contact: Agency contact:
Olympus America Inc. Karen Thomas
Consumer Products Group Thomas Public Relations
Keith Swiderski (631) 549-7575
Product Manager kthomas@thomas-pr.com
(631) 844-5187
swidek@olympus.com
MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -- Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X28678451
SOURCE Olympus America Inc.
CO: Olympus America Inc.
ST: New York
IN: CSE CPR
SU: PDT
06/15/2001 09:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
Treo & Vedalabs???
http://www.vedalabs.com/html/beta_faq.html
Steve, electronic equipment sold in the US has to meet certain FCC standards before being sold:
"This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules"
Duet Officially Named Pressplay
http://123jump.com/news_story.htm?id_news=6400574
New York, Jun 14, 2001 (123Jump via COMTEX) -- Sony Music Entertainment Inc. and Universal Music Group late Monday came up with a name for their online music subscription service and appointed a management team.
The distribution venture known by the working title "Duet" was officially christened "Pressplay", a name that presumably reflects its ease-of-use.
First announced in May of last year, Pressplay is a 50-50 joint music initiative between the two companies. It is scheduled to be launched in late summer and would be licensed to various online music outlets. Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) became the venture's first licensee in April.
Pressplay was created as an independent company with a board of directors and its corporate structure will be much like the Columbia House Record Club, which is half-owned by Sony and half by Warner Music Group. Presently, the digital-music venture employs 70 people in its offices in Los Angeles and New York.
Monday's announcement revealed the appointment of Andy Schuon as PressPlay's president and chief executive officer, with Michael Bebel as chief operating officer.
Schuon had previously led Jimmy and Doug's Farmclub.com, an online music site of the Universal Music Group, which has since been folded into GetMusic.com Inc., another Universal venture. Previously, he served as executive vice president and general manager of Warner Brothers Records and as the top programmer at MTV for several years.
Schuon therefore comes with valuable experience in online music. He will run all of Pressplay's operations, including the launch of the online subscription service, the management of its technical operations and the overall branding and development of the service.
"Andy has proven time and time again that he understands how to take a concept and turn it into a cultural touchstone," said Sony Music Entertainment Chairman and CEO Tommy Mottola, in a statement. "Mike Bebel brings to the table enormous technical experience and a broad-based knowledge of music distribution."
As COO of the venture, Bebel will oversee the business affairs, finance and day-to-day operations of the company, as well as lead its technology implementation.
Bebel previously served as executive vice president, business development and strategic planning for Universal Music Group's eLabs, where he was responsible for the development of e-commerce enterprises and business opportunities.
In his former role with Universal, Bebel also led its strategic investments in ClickRadio Inc., DataPlay Inc. and Listen.com. Besides this, he spearheaded Universal and BMG's GetMusic initiative and sat on the joint venture's board.
The appointments come as Pressplay negotiates with several technology companies, such as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), according to sources familiar with the talks. Pressplay has been exploring a deal with Microsoft similar to its existing deal with Yahoo to distribute songs once the service launches, the sources said.
In an interview on Monday, neither Schuon nor Bebel confirmed that discussions with Microsoft were underway, but said the venture was negotiating with several parties.
"We already have the support of two of the world's largest music companies and Yahoo, and we hope to get as many music companies and online affiliate partners on board as possible by the time we launch,'' Bebel said.
Vivendi Gets the Upper Hand Over Sony
Monday's appointments thus shed more light on the direction of Pressplay, which to date has existed more as an idea than an actual product. The latest announcement also marks one of the firsts tangible steps of the venture to keep its promise of creating the online music service.
The announcement also underscores the fact that Universal has taken a much more prominent role in the venture than its partner, Sony. This is due, in part, to eagerness on the side of Vivendi Universal's CEO Jean-Marie Messier to compete in the realm of digital distribution with AOL Time Warner (AOL) and Bertelsmann AG and Emi Group Plc.
Vivendi Universal has been a major mover of consolidation in the online music industry in recent months. In May, the company paid $372 million to purchase music site MP3.com Inc. (MPPP), which increased its online reach by 40 million users.
In April, Vivendi shelled out $32 million to acquire EMusic.com Inc., as well as an undisclosed sum to buy out BMG's share of the companies' joint venture, GetMusic.com. With these acquisitions it hopes to bolster the technological prowess and content offerings of these companies to battle successfully with the rest of the top five record labels.
Labels' Contest
After their industry-wide effort to halt Napster, the record labels abandoned their united front, splitting into two major camps each of which control roughly 40 % of the music market. Pressplay's main rival is expected to be MusicNet, a similar distribution venture backed by AOL Time Warner, EMI Recorded Music, Bertelsmann and the streaming media company RealNetworks Inc. (RNWK).
Plans began to take shape following the recent court decision that sharply curtailed free music swapping on Napster. The world's big five labels have been announcing alignments and acquisitions at breakneck speed as they are preparing to launch music subscription services to fill the void left by the once wildly popular song-swap Napster. Their ambition is to find out viable alternatives quickly to hold up current Napster users, who could migrate to other file-sharing sites.
Vivendi believes that together with Sony, it will have a reliable system in place in just a few months and that it will challenge Napster and act as its legal alternative. On its part, MusicNet also hopes to be the next big trend in distributing music on the Web.
Pressplay's executive appointments follow a licensing deal announced last week between Napster and MusicNet. . This agreement, struck Wednesday, could give Napster the right to sell music from MusicNet's label partners, depending on whether the company can ease security concerns raised by those partners.
MusicNet is also trying to fill its top executive spot. It has begun searching for a new CEO, and has considered executives at EMusic and MP3.com as potential candidates, according to sources close to the companies. EMusic CEO Gene Hoffman has been approached by MusicNet's interim CEO Rob Glaser as one potential candidate, sources say, but they described the talks as "preliminary" and said no formal offer has been extended.
MusicNet has gathered momentum in the eyes of the music and technology industries, while Pressplay has been silent on many details of its service. RealNetworks' CEO Glaser has demonstrated the MusicNet service in front of Congress, showing a system that provides music in streaming and download forms.
Several analysts have said MusicNet has an edge over Pressplay because of its use of RealNetworks' secure technology. Pressplay, is yet to publicly display its service and demonstrate its platform.
.
CONTACT:
For more information, contact 123Jump.com, Inc. Send email to: info@123jump.com
Or, visit 123Jump at: http://123jump.com
DataPlay to Offer Solution to Storage Woes
http://123jump.com/news_story.htm?id_news=6400230
New York, Jun 14, 2001 (123Jump via COMTEX) -- All tech start-ups boast that their technologies are set to revolutionize the field they work in. But when high-profile names such as Kodak, Intel Capital, Olympus Optical and Toshiba bet on a young firm's potential and its products receive three major awards at the
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the start-up may be well worth watching.
Boulder, Colorado-based DataPlay Inc. offers a solution to storage woes and aims to become a standard for the distribution and recording of digital content in the consumer electronics marketplace.
DataPlay is on its way to launch a product that can be used for all forms of digital content, such as music, video, digital images, games and software, and is even more compact than the compact disc.
Tiny Size and Low Cost
The company's universal media solution is designed to permanently store a large amount of digital content. One 500-MB digital media disc can store a staggering 11 hours of digital MP3 music, or the equivalent of five standard CDs, several
albums worth of photos, or dozens of games.
Furthermore, DataPlay's disc, that competes directly with compact flash memory is about the size of a quarter-dollar and will cost you no more than $10.
The company plans to start selling the product in electronics stores in the upcoming fourth quarter. DataPlay discs will at first be used in music players and digital cameras.
The marketplace is already flooded with different storage technologies. They include Sony Corp's (SNE) MemoryStick ; DVD-Audio and SACD; Flash or SmartMedia cards; floppy disks or pint-size recordable CDs, and SD (Secure Digital) memory cards from Panasonic, Toshiba, and SanDisk Corp. (SNDK).
Roy, Utah-based Iomega Corp. (IOM) is another emerging rival of DataPlay . The firm recently released an upgrade to its PocketZip line of small storage disks for portable devices. Previously limited to only 40MB of memory, the newer matchbook-sized PocketZip disks can hold 100 MB.
DataPlay bets on the affordability and multiuse appeal of its products to capture the hearts of consumers as they are aimed at the mass market. But given the tough competition, it still remains to be seen whether they will be able to enter massive markets and become a standard.
Strong Partners
In order to penetrate the market, the firm has forged several strategic partnerships with leading content providers and consumer electronics manufacturers.
Toshiba, Samsung Electronics, Imation Corp. (IMN) and SonicBlue Inc. (SBLU) are already designing a variety of devices like audio and multimedia players and digital cameras that use DataPlay's micro-optical engines and discs. In additon, nearly 40 manufacturers have expressed an interest in building products that use DataPlay technology.
Besides electronics manufacturers, the firm is targeting the music industry as well. DataPlay's storage format will allow recording companies to pre-record their music on the discs. The technology enables music to be combined with videos, interviews, photos and additional content on the same disc.
Three of the Big Five music companies have signed agreements with DataPlay to release new albums on its high-capacity discs by the year-end. In March, BMG Entertainment followed Universal Music Group and EMI Group in adopting the new format.
In addition to content arrangements with music labels, Rosetta Books is planning to release e-book content on DataPlay digital media disc for use in multiple consumer electronic devices.
DataPlay enjoyed wide recognition at the January 2001 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, an event that is reputed to be the showcase of the industry's most promising companies and products . It received an innovation award, the best award in the mobile device category and the best of CES award out of more than 1,800 exhibitors at the show.
The company was also a winner at The Boulder County Business Report's 2000 IQ Awards event. This event recognizes the innovative abilities of the county's prominent entrepreneurs.
VC Money Flows
DataPlay was founded in November 1998 with Universal Music, Toshiba, Samsung Electronics, and Imation as investors. The company has seen an infusion of $119 million in financing since its inception.
After closing a $50 million round of venture funding in May 2000, DataPlay clinched another $55 million from investors in early June 2001. Kodak, Olympus Optical, Intel Capital, Imation Corp., and Trans World Entertainment (TWMC) took part in the round. Musician David Crosby was also one of the investors.
The company intends to use the money for the pending launch and marketing of its products. It also plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities. Currently about 175 employees work for DataPlay in the United States, Singapore and Japan, but staff is expected to exceed 250 by the end of the year.
DataPlay's executives said the latest round, coupled with expected revenues, will launch the firm on the road to profitability.
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Compaq Attacks Digital Audio
By Arik Hesseldahl
http://biz.yahoo.com/fo/010614/0614tentech.html
It used to be that personal computer companies just sold personal computers. Now they're selling stereo equipment too.
PC giant Compaq Computer unveiled a trio of products this week that it hopes will make it a serious contender in the trendy market for digital music players--a market that has put stars in the eyes of consumer electronics makers.
The smallest of the three is the iPaq PA-2, a handheld MP3 player that is a follow-up to its first effort, the PA-1. It's about on par with the other portable digital music players on the market. It comes with 64 megabytes of memory built in, or about two hours worth of music and is expandable through the use of a standard MMC flash memory card to 128 MB, or about four hours worth of playing time. It weighs in about 3 ounces and Compaq says it will run for about 14 hours on one set of batteries. The player will start shipping to retail outlets next month for about $250 and will also be sold online on Compaq's Web site.
The second of Compaq's trio of music players is the iPaq personal CD player, PCD-1. It's a lot like SonicBlue 's Rio Volt line of CD players, in that it can play both conventional compact discs that you buy at the record store as well as digital music files that you've burned onto a rewritable CD from a personal computer.
Typical audio discs can hold about 74 minutes worth of music. But when you save MP3 music files to a CD-R or CD-RW, you can pack about 300 songs, or about 20 hours worth of tunes, onto a single disc. That's a lot of listening. And should you get bored with that, the player also has a built-in FM radio tuner. You can take it with you and listen on headphones, or you can connect it to your home stereo system. It will start selling in August for about $200.
The third player isn't portable, but rather is designed to become a permanent part of your home entertainment system. It's called the iPaq Music Center, and it's a CD player with a built-in hard drive. Each time you insert a CD, you can store its contents directly on the hard drive, meaning you can play the same music later without needing the disc in the tray. The hard drive is 20 gigabytes in size, which is enough to store the contents of about 400 conventional music CDs, or about 5,000 songs.
It also has a built-in modem with two main functions: The unit can dial out to the Internet to connect to a database of CD information and automatically download the name of the album and the name of every song on it, and then display that information on your TV screen. The modem also connects the device to Internet radio and music recommendations by touching a button on the remote control.
The player is an awful lot like the AudioRequest CD player from ReQuest Multimedia. That company's player comes in three models, all with bigger hard drives than the Compaq model. ReQuest's player also lets you record CDs, but Compaq's doesn't. And it can play music stored on CD-R and CD-RW discs.
Since Compaq is a computer company, the player will talk to your computer over a home phone line network. If you have a big collection of music stored on your PC, you can transfer them to the Music Center. It's also got three universal serial bus (USB) connection ports, so you can take songs stored on the Music Center and transfer them to the portable PA-2 unit. The Music Center will start shipping to retailers in the middle of July and will sell for about $800.
Of course Compaq isn't the only PC company to embrace the digital audio craze. Dell Computer has been selling a digital audio receiver made by SonicBlue. Sony 's Vaio line of PCs work with its digital audio players. And Gateway carries a few brands of MP3 players on its Web site and in its stores. Even Intel has its own portable MP3 player. Now its Compaq's turn, and having tested the waters with its first player, the company must like what it sees in the market for digital audio.
It has reason to expect success. Market research firm Forward Concepts, based in Tempe, Ariz., has forecast that the size of the market for MP3 players will grow to about 30 million units by next year, up from less than a million in 1999. That leaves room for lots of vendors, including Compaq.
Thomson multimedia Launches New mp3PRO With Free Download Availability of Demonstration Software
http://sf-web1.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/211652124&ticker=tms
PARIS & INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 14, 2001--
Backwards Compatible with mp3, New mp3PRO Digital Audio Codec Dramatically Improves Compression Rate and Audio Quality
mp3PRO, the eagerly anticipated next generation version of the world's most popular audio compression format, makes its debut with the introduction of the free demonstration mp3PRO encoder/decoder now available for download from www.thomson-multimedia.com and www.rca.com.
Launched by Thomson multimedia (Paris Sicovam: 18453) (NYSE:TMS), mp3PRO is an improved version of the popular mp3 coding-decoding (codec) format that provides improved sound and creates files that are half or less the size of original mp3 files.
In addition to its combination of more compact mp3 files and superior audio quality, mp3PRO offers backwards and forwards compatibility enabling original mp3 files to play normally on the new mp3PRO player and mp3PRO files to play on original mp3 systems. The best audio performance is achieved when consumers both encode and decode music files in mp3PRO. Thomson multimedia is the exclusive licensing representative of mp3 and mp3PRO patents and software of Fraunhofer IIS-A, Coding Technologies and Thomson multimedia.
Beginning today, the mp3PRO encoder/decoder demonstration software can be downloaded from Thomson's websites (listed above), as well as the website of Coding Technologies, www.codingtechnologies.com . This application, which is compatible with Windows 9X, 2000, NT, and Millennium, encodes .WAV files into mp3PRO files at 64 kbps and plays back all mp3 and mp3PRO files. Availability of other mp3PRO software products supporting other mp3PRO bit rates and mp3PRO-compatible portable devices is expected later.
Coinciding with Thomson's introduction of the downloadable mp3PRO software, integration work for popular PC based players and jukebox products of current mp3 licensees and for several Thomson and RCA hardware products has started. In addition, the mp3 licensing division of Thomson multimedia has embarked on a comprehensive program designed to introduce mp3PRO capabilities across the audio hardware and online sectors.
According to Henri Linde, Vice President, New Business of the Patent and Licensing unit for Thomson multimedia, mp3PRO has been well received by the audio manufacturing and Internet streaming industries. Details will be announced soon.
"Today there are more than 12 million portable mp3 players, 250 million personal computers playing mp3 files and practically every song in the world has been encoded as an mp3 file. These numbers underscore the tremendous appeal mp3 has within the global consumer marketplace - and the need for continued compatibility as we continue to advance the format. In addition to offering improved quality, mp3PRO recognizes the consumers' investment in the format by providing both backward and forward compatibility with mp3 files," said Linde.
Developed by Coding Technologies, mp3PRO utilizes both Coding Technologies' codec enhancement technology and the pioneering work in the field of perceptual audio coding covered under the basic mp3 patents owned by Thomson and Fraunhofer.
When making an mp3Pro file, the new mp3PRO encoder splits audio recordings in two. One part of the new files contains all the information found in ordinary mp3 recordings to maintain complete compatibility with original version players. At the same time, new or upgraded players supporting mp3PRO will tap into another stream that holds high audio frequencies, putting them together to make a higher-quality sound.
Offering 128kbs performance at a 64kbs-encoding rate, mp3PRO doubles the digital music capacity of flash memory and of compact discs. For example, traditional audio CDs hold 15 songs, and an mp3 CD today holds up to 150 songs. In the near future, mp3PRO will allow consumers to store over 300 songs on an mp3PRO Compact Disc. Utilizing advanced psychoacoustic techniques and music structure analysis, mp3PRO creates files that are twice (or more) as compact as original mp3 files, with equal or better sound quality, along with backwards and forwards compatibility.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding prospects for the future that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual income to differ materially from those expected are the following: business conditions and general economic conditions; competitive factors such as pricing and marketing efforts of rival companies; timing of product introductions; ability of contract manufacturers to meet product price objectives and delivery schedules; legislative, regulatory, and industry initiatives that may affect planned or actual product features and marketing methods; and the pace and success of product research and development. For more information on the potential factors that could affect the company's financial income, please review the relevant SEC filings.
About Thomson multimedia
With sales of 9.1 billion Euros (U.S. $ 8.3 billion) in 2000 and 73,000 employees in more than 30 countries, Thomson multimedia (Paris Sicovam:18453) (NYSE:TMS), provides a wide range of technologies, systems, finished products and services to consumers and professionals of the entertainment and media industries. To advance and enable the digital media transition, Thomson multimedia has five principal activities: Digital Media Solutions, Displays and Components, Consumer Products, New Media Services, and Patents and Licensing. The company distributes its products under the popular THOMSON, RCA and TECHNICOLOR brand names. For more information: www.thomson-multimedia.com.
About Coding Technologies
Coding Technologies is a privately held company having offices in Stockholm, Sweden, and Nuremberg, Germany. It employs 20 people to date, most of them highly skilled researchers and software developers with a multi-year background in audio compression. Coding Technologies is focusing on developing and implementing unique audio compression technologies for the broadcasting, Internet and telecommunication markets. The company offers its audio solutions to system designers, chip/device manufacturers and content providers. For more information, visit http://www.codingtechnologies.com .
About The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft is the leading organization of applied research in Germany. It operates 47 research centers in Germany with about 9,000 employees, about half of them scientists and engineers. The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft expands to a worldwide Organization, especially in USA and Asia. Home of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft is Munich, Germany. One of the goals of the Fraunhofer policy is a rapid transfer of innovations into products. The total research expenditure is about US$ 700 million.
The Fraunhofer Institut Integrierte Schaltungen (Fraunhofer IIS-A), based in Erlangen, Germany, is one of the 47 research centers. Fraunhofer IIS-A is the leading international research lab in the field of high quality low bit rate audio coding. Fraunhofer IIS-A has been the main developer of the most advanced audio coding schemes, like MPEG Layer-3 and MPEG-2 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding). Fraunhofer IIS-A plays a major role in the ongoing work for the MPEG-4 Audio standardization process and contributes to many other standards bodies as well, like ITU-R TG10/4, ITU-R WP10C and AES.
--30--slb/clv*
CONTACT: Thomson multimedia
Press Relations:
Marc Meyer, Tel: 331.41.86.5003 (France)
meyerm@thmulti.com
Dave Arland Tel: 317/587-4450 (United States)
ArlandD@tce.com
Investor Relations:
Stephane Rougeot, Tel: 331.41.86.5297
rougeots@thmulti.com
or
SSA Public Relations:
Los Angeles: Steve Syatt, John Russel, 818/501-0700
New York: Blanche Frankel, 212/679-4750
London: Andrew O'Driscoll, +44 207 494 2755
rwrf, I don't see any conclusive evidence that there is EDIG involvement in the new Compaq audio products. I do find it encouraging that at least one of the products employs a TI (rather than Cirrus) DSP. I am somewhat puzzled by the PA-2 portable player, as its specifications don't differ a great deal from the older (and similarly-priced) Cirrus-powered PA-1. The expanded memory capacity isn't a big deal, as both units have expansion slots for MMC flash cards.
cindere11y speaks w/Putnam:
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=696486
Last Fri. I received a return on a call from Robert Putnam. He talked to me quiet a bit about our direction ,and I don't remember just what it was all about , but the one thing that I got or at least this is what I thought he said, EDIG hired this new COO Jim Collier because he is an expert in the process of getting our own thing going. In other words I was thinking that we were going to stop letting these other companies hold us up ,and we were going to do something to get some products out on the market. I know I am going to get a lot of guff from some of you calling me all kinds of names and running off at the mouth, but I DO NOT respond to ANYONE.
All I can say is call the man. You can find his # on the EDIG profile page.
OT: Real, the digital media player
by Ryan Tate
June 13, 2001
http://www.upside.com/texis/mvm/print-it?id=3b26a7091&t=
RealNetworks (RNWK) has become the swinger of the digital media set, inking deals with everyone from Cisco (CSCO) to the record labels, but will its dalliances bolster sales?
Real expects second-quarter sales to be off sequentially and has said it has no visibility into the second half of the year. Its earnings for the last three quarters have come in sharply lower than year-earlier numbers, and it has met analyst expectations in the last two quarters only by issuing a December warning and keeping expectations low.
Real is suffering as its dotcom startup customers go out of business and as more established customers rein in plans to stream audio and video online. But it has shown no shortage of energy this year.
Dealmaker
In January, RealNetworks struck a deal to stream the audio from NBA games. In Feburary, Real hired former Fox TV exec Larry Jacobson, an old-media executive who could accelerate the company's dealmaking. (See related story, "RealNetworks after old-media sales with new president.")
By the end of March, Jacobson had signed off on a licensing pact with Major League Baseball, in which Real promised the association $20 million in revenue over three years for the right to webcast play-by-plays. (See related story, "RealNetworks pays $20M for baseball audio rights.")
In April, RealNetworks unveiled MusicNet, a company it had formed with three of the five major record labels -- Bertelsmann's BMG, EMI and AOL Time Warner's (AOL) Warner Music Group. Real had the largest stake in the venture and supplied the technology. (See related story, "RealNetworks grabs largest share of MusicNet.")
In May, Sony (SNE) announced RealPlayer would ship with Internet-enabled PlayStation 2 game consoles and in an upcoming Internet appliance made by Nokia (NOK). (See related story, "RealNetworks wants to deliver your streaming-media TV.") Intel (INTC) also agreed to distribute RealPlayer with two of its PC motherboards.
Just this month
And this month, the deals have come fast and furious. Through MusicNet, the company entered a technology alliance with Napster. (See related story, "Doors open, close for Napster.") It struck yet another deal with Sony, this time to bundle RealPlayer with a forthcoming Internet appliance called eVilla.
It also trumpeted a pact with Cisco on Monday, in which the networking giant will install Real's server software on some of its content networking hardware and sell the product to its customers.
Not everyone is impressed. CIBC World Markets analysts John Corcoran and Ken Gawrelski reiterated their "hold" rating on RealNetworks shares in a research note earlier this month. Technology alliances like MusicNet and content partnerships like the pro-basketball deal are "relatively small parts of the overall business today," they wrote, while Real's "core business" of selling software continues to be a problem. "RealNetworks may face increasing challenges in its core client/server software business over the next two to four quarters," they wrote. "We believe Microsoft is gaining momentum in the market."
Bill Lennan with WR Hambrecht is also not expecting most of Real's recent deals to lift the company any time soon. "The fundamental issue remains: Are people lining up and opening their checkbooks to pay for server software?," he said.
"Recently, they've been announcing a lot of deals to proliferate the player technology," he added. "A lot of their more recent announcement have been more strategic than real revenue producers."
This one's different
But Lennan said "the Cisco one is different -- it has the potential to produce real revenue." That, he said, is because the company's products are nearly ubiquitous in corporate America and the company's client base is thus very large. More importantly, Cisco will be reselling high-margin server software rather than giving away Real's consumer offerings, as is the case in many of Real's deals.
Lennan said the Cisco deal is potentially important for Real even though Cisco also resells Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows Media server software. Microsoft, he said, "will always be there," and it would be unwise to expect a company like Cisco to agree to an exclusive distribution deal.
Of course, all the deals in the world, even the best ones, won't boost demand. And Lennan said he will be watching the enterprise software sector over the next week or two for earnings warnings and signs that businesses are cutting back on their most critical software -- software that has a higher priority than streaming media servers. "If demand is softening for their server products, having someone else to sell doesn't help things much," he said.
RealNetworks is set to release its second-quarter financials on July 17.
Compaq introduces Ipaq digital jukebox
By Margaret Quan, EE Times
Jun 12, 2001 (2:47 PM)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20010612S0065
MANHASSET, N.Y. — Compaq Computer Corp. introduced a digital jukebox on Tuesday (June 12), the first consumer electronics product from its Home Entertainment Products Group. The Ipaq Music Center delivers Internet radio, plays CDs and lets users rip CD music files, all without the help of a PC.
Compaq went to great lengths to design the device as a consumer appliance, rather than as a repackaged PC, said Rob Masterson, manager of product marketing for the Home Entertainment Products Group. The toughest, most time-consuming part of the system's development involved the user interface, which was jointly developed with OpenGlobe Inc. (Indianapolis), an audio systems design firm.
Designed to fit into a stereo rack, the VCR-shaped, 4-inch-tall Ipaq Music Center will play, store and organize more than 400 CDs or 5,000 songs on its 20-Gbyte hard drive. The system is the first of many products Compaq will introduce over the next 18 months in an effort to expand digital audio technology into mainstream use.
The unit's non-PC nature is evident in some of its capabilities. It does not have a browser and cannot download digital music files directly from the Internet. The jukebox must be connected to a stereo to get high-quality audio output, and to a TV to view a menu of stored music selections. Digital music files can be transferred from a PC to the jukebox through version 2.0 of a HomePNA home network, or from the jukebox to a Compaq Ipaq portable music player via a USB connection. The PowerPC-based Ipaq Music Center has three USB ports, runs Wind River's pSOS real-time operating system, and uses Texas Instruments Inc.'s TMS320C5416 DSP to encode and decode MP3 and Windows Media Audio files.
Masterson said some functionality was intentional excluded from the jukebox because Compaq didn't want to get involved into a Napster-like debate with the recording industry. Characterizing himself as a cynic, Masterson said he didn't expect the issue of protecting digital music to be resolved this year, and wanted to stay on the good side of the music industry.
The music industry is not expected to select a standard method for protecting copyrighted music for some time. Last month the Secure Digital Music Initiative, a group with strong backing from the recording industry, said it could not agree on a specification for a screening technology to protect copyrighted music from piracy, but said it planned to revisit the issue later this year. In the meantime, the world's five major record labels have chosen proprietary digital rights management technologies to protect content they will deliver in music services that debut later this year.
Once a standard to protect digital music is chosen, Masterson said Compaq would support it and implement it in the Ipaq Music Center (if no hardware is required), or in future home entertainment products.
The Ipaq Music Center will be available in July for $799.
Old DD Summaries (12/21/99 to 3/6/00)
EDIG News and Opinion: 2/9/00 to 3/6/00
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=237590 (RioPort jazzes up their offerings)
http://www.edig.com/Releases/pr010600.htm (The EDIG/RioPort connection)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=237286 (Sanyo intoduces MP3/AAC player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=237329 (Moxa1 on the Sanyo player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=237730 (cksla re Sanyo)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=237764 (Jimee11 re Sanyo)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=235422 (UMG to release secure content)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=235248 (Balrog offers a prediction)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=235113 (Putnam replies to gerryz's e-mail)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=235134 (JimC1997 sees a possible hint- #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=235198 (JimC1997 sees a possible hint- #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=234591 (Robert Putnam re Non-Disclosure)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=235041 (Sony's Music Clip- impressions)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=234744 (Some educated predictions)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=233758 (JimC1997 on Millennium Fund)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=234325 (airys4180 talks with Putnam, pt. 1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=234416 (airys4180 talks with Putnam, pt. 2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=234296 (Millennium Fund picks EDIG - note disclaimer)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=233778 (Background on Millennium Fund)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=231545 (TWOMIL on LU & EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=231462 (mmbull considers SDMI's CfP)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=231356 (Balrog re the lack of news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=226177 (rgallihugh re IJam/OBJX/Maycom)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=230213 (Bloomberg News Radio mentions EDIG #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=230270 (Bloomberg News Radio mentions EDIG #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=230284 (Bloomberg News Radio mentions EDIG #3)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=230061 (Some notes on interoperability)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=229960 (SDMI Phase 2/3 specs - part 1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=229970 (SDMI Phase 2/3 specs - part 2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=229990 (SDMI Phase 2/3 specs - part 3)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=228774 (cksla on EDIG - part 1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=228826 (cksla on EDIG - part 2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=227679 (Some Compaq dots)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=227462 (More VedaLab dots)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=227462 (cksla connects some dots)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=227221 (Interesting VedaLabs info)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=227379 (Older VedaLabs info)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=226039 (New Toshiba player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=226059 (Some recollections from cksla)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=226142 (Robert Putnam on Viavid)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=223336 (New TXN DSP core)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=223365 (Full TXN PR)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=219267 (IBM chit-chat)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=217795 (Intel/Sony News)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=217882 (Right said Fred?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=216668 (Greetings from Asbury Park)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=216253 (Putnam on Packet Video and equity investments)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=215416 (RadioWallStreet interview feedback #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=216258 (RadioWallStreet interview feedback #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=210701 (Wendy on Insider Sales)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=210506 and
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=210512 and
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=210537 (DABOSS and Ribbo chat)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=210303 (JimC1997 on insider selling)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=210179 (Fropa looks at OBJX)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=209643 (Hmmm... March, huh? Maycom -> AudioVeda?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=209414 (deja vu all over again)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=207724 (CQuence news from Lanier)
EDIG News and Opinion: 1/20/00 to 2/8/00
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=206616 (..talk about yer target-rich environments!)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=206365 (wbucukjr looks ahead)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=205559 (Webnoize interviews WEI VP)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=201641 (Intel/Ericsson News Flash)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=201523 and
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=197192 (Two takes on time to listing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=198943 (MIDEM interoperability discussions per Webnoize)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=198310 (EDIG applies for NASDAQ Nat'l Mkt)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=196921 (PartyTime on the significance of Nasdaq, etc.)
http://www.lucent.com./press/0100/000124.cod.html (Lucent PR re Blue Spike w/nod in our direction)
http://www.bell-labs.com/org/1133/Research/Audiocoding/ (More from Lucent's Bell Labs re EPAC & EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=194127 (a few Compaq dots)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=194116 (galimatias letter to the SD Union-Trib editor)
http://www.union-trib.com/news/utarchives/cgi/idoc.cgi?525163+unix++www.uniontrib.com..80+Union-Trib... (1/30 SD Union-Trib article re EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=190244 (PartyTime's erudite analysis of the U-T story)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=190693 (1/31 CEO letter)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=190479 (VedaLabs licenses player, or so I was told)
http://www.on24.com/vuwindow/scripts/vuwin.asp?id=13321&type=av&ref=on24 (Ask the Analyst at On24 didn't do enough DD, definitely doesn't understand!)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/articles/freedman/01-27-00.html (random1 likes EDIG's prospects)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=182672 (Intellafund comments on the market)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=182036 (PartyTime disembowels a short at SI)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=181415 (wtmgyes gets an update from IR)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=176616 (PartyTime recaps EDIG's current status)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=175803 (some thoughts re a buyout)
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/story/story_4387.html (ZDNet article re digital music; gotta love that PS!)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=174214 (Good synopsis of 1/25 On24 interview)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=173896 (rgallihugh on potential market cap)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=173381 (moxa1 previews upcoming Billboard article re EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=173096 (EDIG creeps on to more radars)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=166579 (WSJ/Dow Jones re EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=166133 (LU EPAC PR #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=166137 (LU EPAC PR #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=166139 (LU EPAC PR #3)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=166140 (LU EPAC PR #4)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=166142 (LU EPAC PR #5)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/000120/webnoize_1.html (Webnoize re this week's MIDEM convention)
News and Opinion (12/21 - 1/23):
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=164218 (Balrog ponders the possibilities)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=163908 (Mainer peeks around the corner)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=155762 (Evil Gary shares a secret)
http://cbs.marketwatch.com/archive/20000119/news/current/ipo_rep.htx?source=blq/yhoo&dist=yhoo (Another nod from Marketwatch)
Hear & see yesterday's e.Digital CEO interview on http://www.viavid.com
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=151324 (1/17 Webnoize aricle re EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=150158 (Seymour staggers on, afraid to admit failure)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=147187 (moxa1 catches a new perspective)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=147187 (Ron sees Bill on Today)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=146400 (CBS Marketwatch takes another look at EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=144665 (rsimoni overhears some PC dots)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=144191 (some blockbuster IBM news re Madison)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=144513 (Falk 1/12 interview on AOL)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=141626 (CRQ shares some tid... er...chunks of info)
http://www.cnbc.com/commentary/commentary_full_story_money.asp?StoryID=11418 (CNBC/Steve Harmon re-examines EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=141626 (TWOMIL comments on developments)
http://www.wallstreetnewscast.net/home/New-Interviews.htm (1/11 Fred Falk interview at Wall St Newscast)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=141304 (Sunraven's synopsis of WSNC interview)
http://www.techstocks.com/stocktalk/msg.gsp?msgid=12529330 (Commentary on 1/10/00 radio interview)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIGNW&read=203 (Interesting IBM/Ericsson/Micronos article)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=140793 (OBJX: Competitor or customer?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=138915 (Falk quoted in Upside article)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=137410 (AudioVeda to release ver. 3.0 EPAC encoder/Library)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=136552 (Trenddetector report from CES)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=137643 (Jon's CES Synopsis)
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/engine_38?c&.flabel=fld4&.src=... (Jon's pix from CES)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=130069 (Jon's 2nd report from CES)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=129007 (Engine38 reports from CES)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=134278 (Wall Street Journal re EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=131998 (EDIG player supports SD card)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=131098 (JimC1997 shares a history lesson)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=130235
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=130239 (Dow Jones reports on EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=129605 (Secure Digital Association formed)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=129574 (EDIG/LU/MSFT news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=127612 (IBM/EDIG news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=127050 (Rioport/EDIG partnership)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=123461 (Maycom licenses EDIG's player design)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=124728 (Bill Gates w/Maycom player on Larry King Live)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=126721) (TWOMIL comments on Gates' motivation)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=123205 (Intel announces new product lines)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=123033 (JimC1997 on INTC/EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=119580 (mainer's excellent summary of EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=119577 (Jimee11 shares some investment advice)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=115369 (Intel on the need for a flash O/S)
http://biz.yahoo.com/oo/991221/10618.html (12/21 interview featuring our CEO, RealPlayer req'd)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=113862 (Fred's Xmas letter)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=113927 (Wayne777 examines some salient points)
Old DD Summaries (3/7/00 to 4/10/00)
EDIG News & Opinion: 3/24/00 - 4/11/00
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=272060 (EDIG/Maycom player debuts at NAB show)
http://www.ibm.com/Press/prnews.nsf/jan/CDD63AEDB7382934852568BD0053A7A0 (Some related news from IBM)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=270822 (EDIG gets more international exposure)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=270684 (A reminder re ATRAC & Sony)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=270614 (Sony news re content)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=270539 (More re BMG & downloads)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=269637 (More re Sony from Billboard mag)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=269503 (Sony unveils Net Music plans Monday)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=269003 (Murrayhill on content and codecs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=268499 (IBM & Reciprocal in DRM Alliance)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=268449 (New Toshiba SD player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=268232 (Forbes article re music online)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=268085 (Tobago explains where MicroOS fits in)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=267287 (BMG unveils Online Distribution plans)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=266278
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=266312 (Raven and Mary share experiences)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=266226 (DABOSS gets a Lanier update)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=266069
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=266102 (More content infrastructure)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=265832 (More content from LQID & Sony)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=265083
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=265161 (mmbull answers some OBJX concerns)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=264031 (Virgin & LQID offer content via WMA)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=263941 (fropa examines the Rioport/Maycom news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=263584 (Rioport/Maycom news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=262785 (wtmgyes chays w/Wendy)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=262030 (Nomad II ships)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=261319 (Insider buying)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=261223 (3/30/00 Sony/TXN PR)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=261042 (Intel VTT/TTV )
See the following for a real fun read:
http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?&pn=US06044346__&s_bsum=1#bsum
http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?&pn=US06044346__&s_detd=1#detd
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=260999 (Potential revenue streams?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=260946 (The Cksla VTT/TTV Chronicles)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=260911 (Time-Warner jumps on the ATRAC-3 bandwagon)
http://www.umich.edu/~msjrnl/current/technology/tech01.html (Jim Laboda on new business models)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=258733 (This is gonna be BIG, folks)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=258073 (JimC1997 on EDIG market cap)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=257571 (TWOMIL on EDIG positioning)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=257372 (AKAOOS considers a basher's agenda)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=256894 (Some interesting Intel/Toshiba news)
EDIG News & Opinion: 2/9/00 - 3/23/00
http://www.stockrebel.com/newsandrumors032300EDIG.html (EDIG plug from StockRebel.com)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/000323/ca_e_digit_1.html (Sort Of Nags You, don't it)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=254538 (gobigjoe visits EDIG- Pt. 2)
http://www.clearstation.com/cgi-bin/bbs?post_id=1123939&Refer=/cgi-bin/drill_open_positions%3FPo... (drhunt chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=254035 (Tinroad on NASDAQ listing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=253708 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/000322/wa_microso_3.html (TXN & MSFT collaborate on DSP/CE apps) (OT???)
http://prostudio.com/studiosound/mar00/bcast_download.html (Simon Trask article on downloading music)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=252167 (gobigjoe visits EDIG- Pt. 1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=250900 (A bit of Rio DD from AKAOOS)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=250246 (TWOMIL muses about Maycom and OEMs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=249723 (Putnam lays a happy face on cksla)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=248923 (Dow Jones chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=248296 (wtmgyes speaks with the company)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=248296 (wbucukjr shares some thoughts)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=248051 (Sentinel chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=247722 (logline chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=247520 (cksla on PR timing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=247399 (tientien re the new Rio)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=246739 (TWils gets some goodies from Maycom)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=246825 (TWOMIL comments on the Maycom MP2000 spec)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=246429 (cksla on the state of EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=246423 (boggled gets an e-mail from Wendy)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=245843 (TWOMIL comments on Fred's latest release)
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2466285,00.html (RNWK comments on Mr. Softee's latest release)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=245244 (Fropa comments on Fred's latest release)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=245131 (New state of the union address from our President)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=244926 (MSFT tries to play)
http://www.zdnet.com/zdlabs/reports/msaudio.pdf (Well, at least it's better than MP3)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=244004 (IBM/Toshiba news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=243561 and
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=243608 (Moxa1 and bimages re Compaq/Rioport)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=243465 (The Little Engine That Could) http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=240053 (JimC re NASDAQ listing Part 1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=240232 (JimC re NASDAQ listing Part 2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=240151 (New Venture Cap group forming)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=239849 (IBM's VTT Palm Pilot)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=239364 (IBM & VTT/TTV, Part 1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=239361 (IBM & VTT/TTV, Part 2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=239707 (Intel re internet appliances)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=239439 (balrog on our VTT/TTV prospects)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=239331 (ilkeipos & balrog re content)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=237809 (Lucent introduces web access via voice)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=238177 (More on LU Voice/Web)
Old DD Summaries (4/11/00 to 6/4/00)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (pre-6/5/00):
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=330385 (Webnoize mentions EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=330299 (A lurker vents)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=329195 (Music retailers'death knell?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=329141 (New Toshiba player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=329038 (Behold the power of MicroOS)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=328067 (Prudent Bear sells EDIG short)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=328140 (Could you bear to be this prudent?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=328124 (Rome2 - 3 codecs and SDMI-compliant)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=327999 (ATLM's ET320 multi-codec player) http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=328025 (A bit more re ATLM)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=327794 (Seagram/Universal support for secure downloads)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIGNW&read=294 (Some press coverage)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=2873 (Putnam answers some questions)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=326169 (EDIG licenses MSFT's WMA)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=326053 (Cheap OTC stocks?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=325189 (Why multi-codec/multi-DRM?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIGOT&read=2660 (Recent conversations with Robert Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=324343 (EDIG could get $1,000,000 from JABRA sale)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=323129 (BusyBump chats with Putnam again)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=322812 (Some RNWK A/V news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=320162 (SDBob reports re Lydstrom)
http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,15279,00.html (More content coming via Yahoo)
http://www.fallingshort.com/otc/archive/05172000_OTa.html (Updated EDIG summary from Fallingshort website)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=320302 (TXN licenses ITRU's DRM system too)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=320296 (Some VedaLabs/EPAC news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=190479 (Some older VedaLabs stuff #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=190507 (Some older VedaLabs stuff #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=190521 (Some older VedaLabs stuff #3)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=318259 (To DSP or not to DSP?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=318040 (Maycom/Sanyo #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=318059 (Maycom/Sanyo #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=317673 (A PS from BusyBump)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=317572 (Terra Lycos/BMG news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=317567 (More Intel/Mitsubishi news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=317198 (nikoj visits EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=316994 and
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=314855 (BusyBump chats w/Robert Putnam)
http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?&pn=US06044346__ (hmmm...)
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/trends/0,7607,1512598,00.html (PC Magazine mentions EDIG/EPAC)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=314776 (More LHSP news re Nak)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=1861 (BestBuy gets into downloads)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=310374 (wbucukjr re strategic investing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=309803 (randyn re market timing, etc.)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=308505 (Some LHSP news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=307960 (MPPP shuts down My.MP3.com)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=307173 (Why the wait is almost over)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=307099 (EDIG plays the waiting game)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=306520 (EMI starts download trial in US)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=306442 (EDIG licenses ITRU DRM)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=306392 (Jocks wired by Nike & Rio- #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=306389 (Jocks wired by Nike & Rio- #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=1038 (Some Micronas dots)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=305816 (Flash memory shortages)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=305776 (a tantalizing Intel tidbit)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=996 (rainlady makes a case for reason)
http://www.mmca.org/Press/Sanyo-ssap.htm (TexasEdigger finds a direct link to Sanyo/Fisher)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=304827 (Maybe not as OT as you think ; - )
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=304771 (More EPAC/ClickRadio news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=942 (CRQ & Fremont_Seattle on the PR drought #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=944 (CRQ & Fremont_Seattle on the PR drought #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=304100 (Robert Putnam addresses some shareholder concerns)
EDIG News & Opinion: 4/11/00 - 5/7/00
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=724 (Hatari reviews some old news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=300875 (TXN's CEO on the future of programmable DSPs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=300823 (Lanier to retain/enhance Cquence)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=300368 (An update from Lydstrom)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=296120 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=298449 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=298412 (A veteran NCII/EDIG long shares his experiences)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=298146 (TWOMIL re timing & market share)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/000502/s3_diamond_1.html (SIII announces Rio strategy)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=297388 (SNDK re our potential customer base)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=296983 (Even more content news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=294887 (More content news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=MPPP&read=3073 (Why SDMI & the labels will prevail)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=293026 (AKAOOS re MPPP investors)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=292941 (DABOSS re MPPP woes)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=291695 (TWOMIL on Lanier & SDMI/EPAC)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=291036 (Compaq gears up for secure downloads)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=289085 (SDeDiggy visits e.Digital)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=288820 (vtsandiego also attended #1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=289143 (vtsandiego also attended #2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=289180 (vtsandiego also attended #3)
http://home.san.rr.com/vt/ (some pix from their visit)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=289043 (The QVS of music goes digital)
http://www.otcinternetstocks.com/directory/D-H/EDIG/edig.html (New Fred Falk interview)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=287205 (MaryinRed's notes on the Fred/Robert interview)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=286737 (heybrad's comments on the interview)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=282613 (In the palm of your hand, part 1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=282684 (In the palm of your hand, part 2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=282696 (trenddetector visits EDIG)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/000420/ny_clickra_1.html (ClickRadio gets EPAC content from Universal)
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,35738,00.html (Wired interview w/Emusic's CEO)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=282265 (Lanier news next week)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=282074 (BusyBump chats with Putnam again)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=282053 (Russ on the virtues of patience)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=281649 (A Knapster sees the light)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=280837 (An EPAC update from fastsongs/VedaLabs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=280835 (More content from The Orchard)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=280472 (Mix & Match content)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=280466 (More content from EMI)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=279897 (BusyBump chats with Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=276192 (drhunt on EDIG positioning)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=275650 (dataweenie visits NAB2000)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=275144 (EDIG adds board member, etc)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=274992 (TWOMIL's thoughts on current affairs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=274213 (Bustario chats with Wendy)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=273664 (Still more content from Universal & BMG)
Jart_thrower, check your mailbox (hot link at top of screen).
Old DD summaries (6/5/00-9/7/00)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (8/6 to 9/7)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=458685
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=458741 (Chupacabras & balrog contemplate hypotheticals)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=458408 (Some thoughts from balrog)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=454496 (BusyBump speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=450359 (Nozzle speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=448043 (TXN adds speech to DSPs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=447806 (LG's new MPFree to use TXN DSP)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=447019 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=446630 (EDIG licenses AAC)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=445786 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=445609 (Nozzle speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=445294 (BMG & Universal go with AAC)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=444818 (WSJ article re digital music)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=443677 (EDIG responds to Dow Jones article)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=443582 (Hail_Ignatius' perspective on listing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=443348 (Agiledit's perspective on listing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=442512 (Business Week article re Compaq)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=443078 (Tolstoy-00 re the Compaq PJB)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=442090
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=442536 (Hail_Ignatius speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=441830 (Sentinel e-mail from Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=441048
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=441287 (JimC1997 runs some numbers)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=441103 (BusyBump chats w/Wayne777)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=440386 (Dow Junes update re EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=440441 (BusyBump complains to Dow Jones)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=439818 (Pearls Before Swine, Part Deux)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=438723 (Hango to build EDIG-baseded player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=438836 (Hango/Compaq player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=438888 (Hango/Apple player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=437595 (BMG contacts for more infrastructure)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=436332 (Content news from Supertracks/EMusic)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=433449 (MicroOS & MRAM)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=432638
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=434325
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=434366 (Sentinel chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=432638 (Sentinel chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=432271
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=432907 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=428519 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=425017
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=425039 (JimC1997 answers a question from heybrad)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=424956 (JimC1997 reviews the 10Q) http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=424940 (skipc4fun speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=424745 (Link to 8/10 10K filing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=424867 (8/10 CEO letter to shareholders)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=424192 (Robertchip e-mail from Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=424189 (Dukeofprunes chats w/Putnam)
http://windowsmedia.com/mediaguide/cooldevices/cooldevices.asp (A little exposure courtesy of MSN)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=421046 (Logline chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=420474 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=419840 (Intel & Panasonic debut secure download system)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=419867 (More re Intel/Panasonic)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=418465 (BMG sets trial using AAC)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (7/17 to 8/5)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=416624 (A Texas Instruments dot?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=415223 (RollingStone.com to offer Universal content)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=415190 (PacketVideo & Warner in wireless video deal)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=414131 (SDMI broadens its specification)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=413779 (RioPort/Universal content deal)
http://www.otcnn.com/articles.html?id=965309580 (Falk re Knapster at OTCNN.com)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=413478 (JimC1997 re earnings, etc.)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=413335 (DABOSS chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=412444 (Wongyal chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=412667 (BusyBump hears different than Oliocom)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=411684 (the mechanics of listing notification)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=411441 (Subscription-based downloads coming)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=410478 (Oliocom speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=409965 (More news from Universal)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=409940 (Preview Systems licenses AAC)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=409729 (EDIG to produce player for QDesign)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=408263 (BusyBump speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=408221 (Universal content this week?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=407553 (JimC1997 on NASDAQ listing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=407154 (The NASDAQ $5 factor explained)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=406736 (TXN vs. CRUS)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=406708 (NASDAQ listing - WAVX parallels?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=403082 (New Hitachi multi-codec player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIGNW&read=338 (Murrayhill visits Jupiter PlugIn Expo)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=398503 (BusyBump speaks w/Wendy)
http://www.marketfollower.com/edig_feature.htm (EDIG featured at Marketfollower.com)
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/msg.gsp?msgid=14095220 (RioPort MDM 2.0 released)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=392068 (Balrog re recent trading activity)
http://www.inside.com/story/Story_Cached/0,2770,7005_9,00.html (Fumbling towards ecstasy)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=391877 (New NY Times article re music downloads)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=391624 (Potential new coverage)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=391724 (A satisfied Liquid Audio customer)
http://www.fallingshort.com/otc/archive/19Jul2000_OTa.html (updated Fallingshort.com capsule report)
http://www.it-analysis.com/00-07-19-1.html (Is Mr. Softee outgunned?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=390995 (TIN-DanCatone speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=388425 (New article re content)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=388449 (Maycom MP-2000 in late October)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=388306 (New TI audio/video DSP)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=387798 (More re WMA vs G2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=387624 (LQID up & running)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=OBJX&read=8195 (Nomad II adds WMA support)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (6/27 to 7/16)
http://www.msnbc.com/news/432986.asp (Applesoup.com - the movie)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=387164 (Labels paying the price of apathy?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=387141 (Sandisk supports Micronas multi-codec board)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=387111 (EMI content in Canada via HMV)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=387059 (Where's the flash memory market headed?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIGNW&read=311 (Micronas' new multi-codec interface)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=386957 (WSJ re digital music industry)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=386831 (Where MPEG4 video's currently at)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=384988 (More details re EMI downloads)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=384453 (Off to the races)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=384306 (New article re content licensing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=383994 (Washington Post on digital music)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=188037 (Prophetic early post re fragile watermarks)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=383735 (More secure content)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=383655 (Online music ready for blastoff)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=383419 (Wtmgyes visits BestBuy) http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=LQID&read=2897 (More details on EMI downloads)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=382821 (Yet another BB/RP chat)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=381945 (Wendy re transcoding & watermarks)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=381855 (Soundscan to track music download sales) http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=381783 (Cirrus' new 'net audio chip)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=380596 (More content infrastructure)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=380436 (EMI adds Liquid Audio format to trial)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=379455 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/000711/ny_jupiter.html (Upcoming 'net music conference)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=378908 (Sanyo player goes global in Aug)
http://www.nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com/wcs/leaf?CID=onair/asabt/moren/106993 (NTT Docomo moving ahead w/music distribution service)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=378812 (SDMI specifies fragile watermarks)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=377778 (triples00 speaks with Putnam)
http://www.etown.com/news/article.jhtml;$sessionid$HRSUYBQAAAEUXUPZJEFCFEY?articleID=3027 (New article re AAC vs MP3)
http://www.commvergemag.com/commverge/issues/2000/200004/04f3.asp (Nice article find from cksla)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=372326
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=372331 (cksla chats with Rioport)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=372298 (new article on status of secure downloads)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=371531 (BusyBump chats with Putnam)
http://209.10.46.178/default.asp?lang=eng&group=Products&menu=Rio800&submenu=Coming_Soon (Early blurb for Rio 800)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=371140 (Samsung/ITRU launch secure digital content service)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=370903 (Preview Systems adds MusicMatch Jukebox support)
http://www.etown.com/news/article.jhtml?articleID=2818 (Nwe Panasonic SD card player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=365709 (BMG CEO re digital music market)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=362740
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=363048 (murgirl looks into Cirrus' multicodec DSP)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=363565
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=362711
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=362476 (Three takes on the latest 10K)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=362386 (The new Rio 600 ships)
http://www.edig.com/10KSB.pdf (6/27/00 10K filing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=360733 (New CEO letter to shareholders)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (6/5/00 to 6/27/00)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=360733 (Bustario reports from PC Expo, part 1)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=360753 (Bustario reports from PC Expo, part 2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=4471 (SD Cards in the palm of your hand)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=360328 (LQID/Japan adopts IBM DRM)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=360287 (Putnam addresses some technical issues)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=360241 (Lyra II debuts)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=359968 (presented for entertainment only)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=359890 (bigdogs re MM games)
http://www.cvcn.co.kr/eng/IC_player/mp3_player3.htm
and http://www.cvcn.co.kr/eng/htm/document.htm (Another multi-codec player, "microc-cos" embedded s/w)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=353261 (wtmgyes chats with Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=351683 (Forbes re digital music)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=351778 (More IBM VTT/TTV news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=351410 (Washington Post digital music story)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/electronics/electronics-reviews/-/B00004SPUN/002-1975421-918802... (Rio 600 debuts June 26)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=351213 (IBM integrates VoiceXML w/WebSphere s/w)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=351003 (New Fallingshort.com EDIG capsule report)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350966 (Onehouse.com CEO critiques digital music industry)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350881 (EPAC licensed to web video co.)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350777 (Dell incorporates RioPort system)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=349797 (More grist for the rumor mill)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350609 (Rio 600 adds AAC codec support)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350603 (Seagram & Vivendi CEOs comment on merger)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350216 (mfc, what the puck?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350473 ( < :)))) )
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=349202 (Compaq players delayed)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350134 (ETTG comments on the latest interview)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350069 (333 re Maycom, etc)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=347806 (333 attempts to educate an imbecile)
http://www.ti.com/sc/docs/news/2000/00096.htm (New multi-codec Jukebox player)
http://www.wallstreetnewscast.net/home/a-z-directory/e-list.html (New interview w/Fred Falk & Robt. Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=350111 (AKAOOS' interview transcript)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=349386 (SD/MS battle heats up)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=348021 (New multi-codec player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=348212 (More players coming)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=348013 (Content news from Universal)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=346922 (trenddetector chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=346480 (JimC's mouth & money's on EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=345994 (Preview Systems and content)
http://www.zdnet.com/eweek/stories/general/0,11011,2587019,00.html (Some OT Intel news?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=343717 (cksla on embeds and ports)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=343299 (BusyBump speaks w/Putnam again)
http://www.realnetworks.com/company/pressroom/pr/2000/panasonic.html?src=000612realhome_3,home_06120... (Panasonic teams up with RNWK)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=342703 (II & backward-looking investing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=343147 (browninvst re apples & oranges)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=342751 (Pearls before swine)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=342010 (Lydstrom Songbank news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=341856 (EMI/Supertracks news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=341812 (newsalert repost; original removed?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=3798 (zibel peeks at a directory)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=341140 (Tinroad looks a little further)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=340401 (BMG - streaming out loud)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=340243 (How important is MicroOS?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=3640 (dataweenie looks down the audio highway)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=338533 (Portal Player does the Tango)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=338014 (AKAOOS' notes on RWS interview)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=337919 (BusyBump/Putnam re Leigh)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=337867 (TWils re RWS/Leigh)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=337818 (BusyBump re Leigh)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?read=337575&board=EDIG (RSW tries to get it right)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=337068 (BusyBump/Putnam conversation)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?read=3438&board=CLB00154 (MWW re 10K filing date)
Old DD summaries (9/8/00-10/31/00)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (10/18 to 10/31)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=516447 (Warner music goes with WMA)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=516153 (Haiyaku re java apps)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=515660 (AudioVeda gets a trademark)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=515635 (Putnam e-mail to DaiLin)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=515583 (Putnam e-mail to Sentinel)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=515385 (Putnam e-mail to SDeDiggy)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=515153
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=515108 (BMG allies w/Napster)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=515025 (Some reminiscent DD from JimC1997)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=514735 (Putnam e-mail to cal_law)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=514709 (Win an MP2000 at Webnoize)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=514705 (Wtmgyes chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=513627 (Riva soils herself again)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=514077 (Putnam e-mail to T.MAC)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=513533 (HanGo PJB finalist for PC Mag award)
http://www.edig.com/Releases/pr102700.htm (NASDAQ application denied)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=507885 (Eiger/iPaq news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=507497 (doni shares some thoughts re MicroOS)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=507398
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=507413 (DABOSS and murrayhill re QDesign) http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=507362 (Lickily chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=507347 (Putnam e-mails podyboy)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506526 (Kishsing speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506925 (AOL 6.0 adds secure media players)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506713 (Eiger hooks up w/DataPlay)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506526 (Creative Jukebox revenue projections)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506464 (New jukebox from Archos)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506662 (Archos due 11/10/00?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506162 (Trillium speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506174
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506120 (Some random thoughts re Intel)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506144
and http://www.cs.princeton.edu/sip/sdmi/faq.html (More re SDMI hackers)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=506123 (EMI adds more content to trial)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=505751 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=505548 (EMI chooses Windows Media & RioPort)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=504562 (Webnoize mentions EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=504562 (RNWK goes w/ATRAC-3)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=504381 (Balrog's take on the 10/20 interview)
http://www.potce.com/Cat1/01/Electronics/MP3_Players/mp3_players.htm (MP-2000 on the cutting edge)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=503047 (New Toshiba AAC-enabled DSP)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=502970
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=502988 (Tolstoy-00 & CRQ speak w/Putnam)
http://news.webnoize.com/daily.rs?y=2000&m=10&d=20
and http://news.webnoize.com/item.rs?ID=10814 (Webnoize coverage of EDIG & Toshiba)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=501801 (Loest sells EDIG position)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=501683 (Packers1 speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=501170 (EDIG to provide DataPlay-enabled devices)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500974 (DataPlay hooks up w/Toshiba)
http://news.mp3.com/news/liststory?topic_id=1322&category_id=1001&month=200010 (MPPP gets megatunes)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500956
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500987 (Murrayhill re MPPP settlement)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (10/2 to 10/18)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500593 (CRQ speaks w/Remote Solutions) http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500565 (hdbooster speaks w/Remote Solutions)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500486 (SDMI expands functionality)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500413 (DatPlay launches in Q2, 2001)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500392 (TWOMIL re DataPlay partners)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500389 (DataPlay endorsement due soon)
http://www.loudeye.com/company/news/releases/wmg_10_18_2000.html (Loudeye signs encoding deal w/Warner)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=499204 (Loudeye computers humming)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=499156 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=499202
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=499214
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=500218 (Cksla looks into the VTT/TTV angle)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=499139 (Nozzle chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=498699 (SDMI crack results still pending)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=498318 (Murrayhill speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=497636 (SDMI disputes Salon report re cracks)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=495881 (Putnam e-mail re automotive apps)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=495873 (CRQ on timing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=495634 (Putnam re watermark cracks)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=495616 (Putnam e-mail to 50+)
http://salon.com/tech/log/2000/10/12/sdmi_hacked/index.html (SDMI cracked?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=495440 (Some DataPlay news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=495393 (Cksla peers behind the curtain?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=495430 (Putnam e-mail to browninvst)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=495417 (Putnam e-mail to borofox)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494823
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494868 (Hail_Ignatius re Falk's new shares)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494715 (Traderden speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494659 (JDrake e-mail from Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494608 (Makememoney speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494598 (Bustario e-mail from Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494566 (miamia54 e-mail from Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494565 (The Smart Song Selection trademark)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494562 (Putnam re MP2000s at SHM)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=494369 (Timidi e-mail from Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=493742 (Judodog e-mail from Putnam)
http://news.webnoize.com/daily.rs?y=2000&m=10&d=10 (Webnoize coverage of equity investment)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=493362 (Lycos offers BMG content)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=493334 (Putnam e-mails lovelygrl)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=493317 (Putnam e-mails billwilke)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=493180 (Putnam IDs investors)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=492996 (BMG On-line sales begin today)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=492873 (EDIG receives $4 million investment)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=492273 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://news.webnoize.com/daily.rs?y=2000&m=10&d=09 (Webnoize story re MP-2000)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=491930 (New 'Net audio research report out)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=491908 (Falk adds to EDIG holdings)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=491817 (Pine Multi-Audio player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=491108 (No worries, mon; Maycom soon come)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=489647 (MP2000 shpping for Xmas)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=489090
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=489109 (ads chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=488007 (Packers1 chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=487727 (Wtmgyes chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=485718 (Maycom MP2000 hands-on report)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (9/7 to 10/2)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=484608 (TI announces 4G DSP for 'net audio)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=482861
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=483109 (DADOSS drops a hint)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=482241 (Open letter from SDMI)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=482038 (Cksla re the Sony Airboard)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=481884 (TWOMIL shares some thoughts)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=481475 (EDIG augments technical staff)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=479246 (SanDisk & Toshiba announce 512 Meg flash production)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=478819 (HipZip reviewed)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=478781 (Some Blockbuster dots)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=478345 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=476660 (Website article re EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=476258 (Gnutella neutered?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=476164
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=476169 (Universal encodes via Loudeye)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=476175 (Murrayhill's take on Universal news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=475804 (Wtmgyes speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=474487 (CRQ speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=472216
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=472227 (DABOSS DDs QDesign and PortalPlayer)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=472394 (Some background on PortalPlayer)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=471474 (Enads gets a call from Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=468351 (Johnqlaw sees a dot)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=8742 (Wickera gets Windows Media 7.0)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=468146 (BusyBump speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=466889
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=467696 (unclejed47 chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=467929 (Personal jukeboxes article)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=466493
and http://www.planetit.com/techcenters/docs/mobile_computing/news/PIT20000907S0031 (PacketVideo articles)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=466453 (JimC1997 on buyouts)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=465348 (Some Compaq developments)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=465009 (e.Digital appoints new board member)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=464276
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=464304 (BusyBump speaks w/Putnam re NASDAQ & PRs)
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000911/tc/texas_instruments_wireless_1.html (TI wireless plans)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=464142 (Lucent wireless/PacketVideo deal)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=463489 (Warner content in Nov)
Old DD summaries (11/1/00-12/31/00)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (12/20-12/31)
http://www.pc-ephone.com/tech.html (Website for the PC-Ephone)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=565488 (Why timf is still holding)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=565396 (333's perspective on EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=565002 (AAC to be featured at CES) http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=564993 (Simbirsk chats w/Putnam) http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=564973 (Timf takes a sobering look back)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=564930 (Organdonor chats w/Putnam)
http://allnetdevices.com/wireless/news/2000/12/29/company_launches.html (PC-EPHONE CES PR)
http://www.belgotrade.com/edigital/dataplay.jpg (DataPlay and EDIG get some exposure in Belgium)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=564892(RP per DB re STDs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=564885 (Nozzle chats w/Putnam)
http://developer.intel.com/design/flash/intro/fdi30demo/fdiflash.htm (Interesting Intel flash promo)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=563269 (Hardware-based copy protection comong?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=563237 (Maltedmb touches base w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=563222 (New PDA handset released by Samsung)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=561947 (PC-flavored audio at CES)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=561908 (Wolfpackvoltare assesses market conditions)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=561755 (Sentinel gets a voicemail from Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=561521 (JimC1997 gets am invite from DataPlay)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=561009 (Lanier completes sale of Voice Products division)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=560821 (EDIGOKIE chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=560506 (Hard drives moving beyond PCs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=560053 (Moxa1 chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=560029 (JayWagner chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=559849 (Wtmgyes chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=559836 (1914 chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=559293 (Some flash news from Samsung)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=559264 (Samsung & MSFT retrospective)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=558957 (Eartotheground chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=558726 (Krazak chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=558333 (Nozzle chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=558357 (MP3 players- not ready for prime time?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=558316 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=557619 (Dataplay write-up in Jan Popular Science)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=557491 (Oliocom chats w/Putnam)
http://www.egroups.com/files/tinroad/PocketConcert.jpg (Photo of Intel's Pocket Concert)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=557086 (Napster traffic jam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=556967
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=558612 (Cksla re telematics)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (11/22-12/18)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=556625 (Otiscampbell chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=556438 (Emit finds a big Intel file)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=556376 (TXN all-digital audio solution)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=556328 (MP3 player market taking off)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=555917 (BMG-Asia commencing commercial secure downloads)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=555840 (Panasonic SD car receiver/player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=555816
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=555817
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=555858 (Cksla re VoiceTimes, telematics, etc)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=555534 ('Net audio appliance schedule slippage)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=555049 (TOBAGO reviews the Nomad II MG)
http://www.pine-dmusic.com/specs.htm
and http://www.pineusa.com/others/new_products_coming_soon.htm (New multi-codec player from Pine)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=554977 (VedaLabs public beta test in Jan)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=PTSC&read=33706 (A PTSC long speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=554739
and http://www.volan.com/work/projects/pop-concept-02.html (Some PDA designs from Samsung and DataPlay)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=554632 (MP3.com plans digital music event)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=554607 (New TXN 4G DSP announced)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=554460 (Tinroad chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=554014 (Palm hooks up w/Samsung, adds file manager)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=553742 (Packers1 chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=553728 (Debeer chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=553721 (Another institutional investment in EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=553690 (Nozzle chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=198 (A golden oldie courtesy of mincha)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=553586 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=553571 (Bustario chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=553379 (Packet Video opens new website)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=553538 (Some older PacketVideo stuff)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=553345 (SanDisk expands product line)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=551939 (Cksla re EPAC & Intel)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=551746
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=551760 (Putnam comments on Eiger)
http://www.business2.com/content/magazine/indepth/2000/12/04/23296?template=article_pf.wm (Nice "State of the Industry" article found by Wilks)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=543171
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=551041 (Intel to produce audio player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=550461 (Upgradable's the way to go)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=549968 (Emit clears up some tech questions w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=549645 (EDIG gets new CFO)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=549511 (Mainer re the Treo/Samsung theory)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=549404
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=549499
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=549526 (Three longs discuss the future)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=549096 (Gernb1 re Lanier conferernce call)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=548727 (Volan Design PR re EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=548682 (New Panasonic CD/MP3/AAC car player)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=548575 (Intel/Analog Devices DSP PR)
http://www.dataplay.com/jsp_files/en/community/mb_faq.jsp (Some DataPlay FAQs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=546712 (BusyBump 12/1 chat w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=546712 (Samsung using TI DSP)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=546535
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=546556 (Dougito chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=541818 (Creative Nomad update)
http://www.commvergemag.com/commverge/issues/2000/200012/12cs.asp
and http://www.commvergemag.com/commverge/issues/2000/200012/12f1.asp (Commverge cover story and feature w/EDIG mention)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=545896
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=545898 (Putnam re bundled Treos)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=545812 (Putnam e-mail re Dataplay)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=545732 (Lanier conference call on 12/5)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544905 (New Philips set-top box)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544839 (Putnam e-mail re Treo promos)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544720
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544973 (Some changes at Lanier)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544574
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544594 (Sentinel & Nozzle re PRs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544464
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544474 (Cksla re Samsung partners)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544288 (Oliocom runs some numbers)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544171 (Lickily chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=544037 (Acrazjo chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=543945 (Putnam on Treo battery life)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=543577 (Debeer e-mail from Putnam re MP2000)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=543547
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=543590 (Sentinel speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=543059 (Trillium speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=543018 (Nozzle speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=542764
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=542775 (Putnam e-mails re Treo/MP2000 numbers)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=541942 (Trillium re DataPlay)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=541804 (Letgojoe re CES)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=540688 (JimC1997 on revenues)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=540370 (Sentinel clears up a few things)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (11/14-11/21)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=539507
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=539553 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=539376 (Timf re EDIG positioning)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=539253
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=539274 (JimC & MIR re PRs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=539122 (Mainer questions Putnam re Treo specs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=538879 (moxa1 speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=538813 (BusyBump chats w/Hy-Tek)
http://sf-web1.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/203250258&ticker=edig (EDIG PR re COMDEX)
http://hardware.dmusic.com/comdex/2000/awards.php (Dmusic.com picks Best of Show at Comdex)
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article.asp?aid=35270&pg=2 (Brief Treo writeup at PCWorld.com)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=537348
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=537364 (Samsung PDAs in the pipe)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=537240 (Hewlett Packard sketches its MP3 plans)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=536863 (Zibel e-mail to Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=536681 (Murrayhill re BMG/EMI merger)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=536641 (Sentinel e-mail to Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=535739 (browninvst e-mail to Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=535576 (Nozzle chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=535372 (Sentinel e-mail to Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=535132 (COMDEX Best in Show awards)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=535066 (Some video cellphone developments)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=534824 (UHU to sell Cleo in Europe?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=534803 (Wickedsister report from Comdex)
http://www.zdnet.com/special/stories/comdex/0,12245,2654290,00.html (Treo blurb at ZDNet)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=534329
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=534350 (Nekos' SHM notes)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=534157 (MP2000 wholesale pricing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=534040 (IBM's ViaVoice goes mobile)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=533983 (HuskerTodd visits Comdex)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=534127 (Debeer & JimC1997 re Treo)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=533399 (Murrayhill re HY-TEK, Remote Solutions & HanGo)
EDIG News & Opinions Archives (11/1 to 11/13):
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=532820 (HUNTINGTON-LI visits Comdex)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=532374
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=533200
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=533293 (MKK3 visits Hy-Tek)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=532382 (Treo PR from COMDEX)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=531931
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=532063 (PortalPlayer dots?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=532079
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=532118 (Digital music without the PC)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=532064 (Putnam e-mail re Treo quantities)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=531681 (Putnam e-mail re Samsung PRs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=531428 (New Samsung wireless PDA)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=530912 (HAYSTACK7 chats w/Falk, Putnam, & Daberko)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=530905 (Some digital radio dots?)
http://samsungelectronics.com/products/yepp/yp-mfo.html (Multi-Codec YEPP from Samsung)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=530626
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=531501 (Hy-Tek, distributor for HanGo)
http://www.edig.com/news/releases/pr111000.html (SHM PR)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=530173 (Hatari looks at DataPlay)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=529711 (Putnam e-mail re Samsung/DataPlay PRs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=529830
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=529848
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=530223 (Voice to text angles)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=529703
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=529764 (Some DD re Volan)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=529699 (Balrog re jukebox revenues)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=529346 (SDBob re PR from Samsung)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=529474 (Husker Todd summarizes the meeting)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=529535 (An addendum from CRQ)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=528659
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=528680
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=528681 (Lickily's meeting notes)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=528207 (Quick synopsis of Falk's remarks)
http://www.edig.com (New EDIG website featuring Macromedia player)
http://www.edig.com/news/releases/pr110800.html (2nd Quarter earnings released)
http://209.162.206.28/cmgnews/aircooled_1105.asp (EDIG gets a plug at AirCooled's site)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIGNW&read=364 (Some revenue discussion at Agoracom)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=520204
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=520366
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=520432 (Discussion of the new S-3 filing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=519883 (nozzle speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=519828 (balrog speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=532737 (Cksla re XM, satellites, etc.)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=519791 (Samsung video/MP3 handheld in March?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=519665 (AirCooled speaks w/Putnam)
http://ecommercebusinessdaily.com/archive/ECBFA92500-114611.asp (Falk quoted at ecommercebusinessdaily.com)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=518355 (JimC1997 re PR moves)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=518201 (Corker & Riva again)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=517391 (LQID pursues multi-codec path)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=517058 (Aiwa player aims low)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=517052 (BMG/Napster deal fallout)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=516968 (Putnam e-mail to Bustario)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=516803 (Warner music downloading today)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=516621 (Putnam e-mail to dukeofprunes)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=516540 (Wash Post re BMG/Napster deal)
BusyBump chats w/Putnam
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=695381
A few comments from Robert from a brief conversation last week.... (I will paraphrase...)
-several new product platforms will be announced between now and the end of this calendar year...one very likely this month but the actual timing is still up to the OEM.
-as these new products are announced, exact numbers (total initial units ordered) and dates will also be announced.
-(concerning speech recognition companies)-as you know, we are IBM-centric around here, but we are also working with some other companies that have technology specific to our product developments.
-(concerning set-top boxes)-we are very involved in product development in this burgeoning market.
-one big reason we hired Jim Collier was to be able to offer a suite of services to OEM customers and the public alike which will lead to increased revenue over and above royalties, as well as increased visibility.
-we understand the frustration among shareholders because we share that frustration...one of the first topics discussed at initial meetings with OEMs is the OEMs complete control over launch dates, PRs, etc. and the need to protect their interest and competitive edge. No one wants the public to be aware of what we are doing more than we do, so one of our first requests at initial meetings is that, when products are launched, Edig will receive the credit it is due.
-we feel good about revenues over the next 6 months and FY 2002, which is already underway, should be very good indeed.
-(concerning the recent BestBuy/RioPort deal)-I cannot comment specifically about that but I can say that we are still very involved in working with RioPort.
Many of you on this board are expressing various degrees of frustration with Edig. It is understandable. There have been high hopes followed by delays and disappointments. The rhetoric has become somewhat predictable and the litany of problems is familiar to all.
Yet, most of us are still here because a) we have a significant investment in Edig, b) we have done our DD and grasp the awesome potential of this company and its technology, and c) we don't want to miss yet another ship when it sails!
As you know, I still believe in Edig. It is not a blind faith but based upon my own understanding of Edig's role and position in the product development process, Edig's impressive list of partners and alliances, confidence in the dedicated management and highly qualified Board of Directors, awareness of the early stage we are in in the digital handheld products marketplace and its huge potential, and the realization that, no matter what has gone before, that I am still in on the ground floor of a company capable of becoming a global standard.
OT: Xybernaut's Wearable Computer Chosen for Mars Training Mission in Northern Canada
Mobile Assistant to be Integrated Into Space Suit
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010612/2175.html
FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 2001--Xybernaut® Corporation (Nasdaq:XYBR - news), the leader in mobile wearable computing and wireless communications, today announced that it has been chosen to provide its Mobile Assistant® wearable computers for the 2001 Haughton-Mars Project (HMP).
Heavily funded through NASA and the non-profit SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) Institute, this research project is dedicated to the exploration of the planet Mars.
Xybernaut equipment will help the proto-Mars explorers of the HMP learn to use hands-free computing environments in exploration field work, and will be used as processing nodes for the delivery of video and high resolution imaging from the field site to remote operations centers.
Xybernaut's video capability will also be used for two-way conferencing and audio conferencing between remote field parties. Researchers will also test ways to integrate the MA IV into several prototype `Mars suits' built by Hamilton-Sundstrand, the makers of spacesuits for NASA.
``Xybernaut equipment will help pioneer human exploration of Mars,'' said Dr. Pascal Lee, Project Scientist on the Haughton-Mars Project. ``HMP scientists are convinced that Xybernaut devices are the ones they want for their field work, since Xybernaut makes the best and most industrially robust wearable computing systems available. We need relatively high processor speed and memory, which the Xybernaut devices have. Wearable computers may be the future not only for Mars expeditions, but for many future space missions.''
``Xybernaut has long believed in the infinite utility of wearable computers,'' said Edward G. Newman, President and CEO of Xybernaut. ``Our Mobile Assistant is ideally designed for the demands of space travel and exploration. We look forward to pushing the boundaries of Mars exploration with the Haughton-Mars team.''
The research project is being staged on Devon Island, located in northern Canada within the Arctic Circle. It has the distinction of being the world's largest completely uninhabited island. It is one of the best sites on earth that mirrors some of the extreme conditions of Mars.
About Xybernaut Corporation:
Xybernaut Corporation is the leading provider of wearable computing hardware, software and services, bringing communications and full-function computing power in a hands-free design to people when and where they need it. The Mobile Assistant® V (MA® V), Xybernaut®'s patented wearable PC, runs all major PC operating systems, including Windows® 98/2000/NT, Linux and SCO Unix.
With the MA V, customers can realize immediate savings in maintenance, repair, diagnosis, inspection, inventory control and data collection in a broad spectrum of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, utilities, government and transportation. Xybernaut also provides hyper linking, multimedia authoring tools, project management, asset management and speech software toolkits.
Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Xybernaut has offices and subsidiaries in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan). Visit Xybernaut's web site at www.xybernaut.com.
MS-DOS, Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the ``Act''). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words ``plan,'' ``confident that,'' ``believe,'' ``scheduled,'' ``expect,'' or ``intend to,'' and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act.
Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward-looking statements.
Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, the availability of components and successful production of the Company's products, general acceptance of the Company's products and technologies, competitive factors, timing, and other risks described in the Company's SEC reports and filings.
Compaq Secures Key Place in Consumer Electronics Market With Expanded Audio Products Line
Compaq Turns Up the Volume With Robust Family of iPAQ Audio Solutions
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010612/datu007.html
HOUSTON, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ - news), a global enterprise technology and solutions company, today re-invents the consumer electronics market with the unveiling of the iPAQ family of digital audio solutions, including the first-of-its-kind iPAQ(TM) Music Center, the iPAQ Personal CD Player PCD-1 and the second generation of its popular iPAQ Personal Audio Player, the PA-2.
Designed to satisfy the audio needs of the most demanding music enthusiast, the iPAQ family of digital audio solutions provides customization, organization and storage capabilities never before available in consumer electronics products.
``With the iPAQ family of audio solutions, Compaq is establishing its presence as a major player in the digital entertainment market,'' said Sean Burke, vice president and general manager for iPAQ Products and Connected Devices in Compaq's Access Business Group. ``We began this venture last year with the iPAQ Personal Audio Player PA-1, and with the expansion of the line to include the iPAQ Music Center and Personal CD Player, we're bringing PC technology to the consumer electronics world, providing the highest quality digital audio anytime and anywhere.''
iPAQ Music Center
Compaq announced today the availability of the most advanced music management tool to hit the market, the iPAQ Music Center. The Music Center stores a music collection of over 5,000 songs (or 400 CDs) in MP3 format on an internal hard drive, providing unmatched organization and customization capabilities for large music collections. Powered by OpenGlobe(TM) Entertainment Services, iPAQ Music Center delivers entertainment content, music recommendations and Internet radio. By simply pressing the OpenGlobe button on the remote, users will have access to the free and ever-evolving services that can be enjoyed from the convenience of their couch.
The Music Center easily integrates into a stereo or home theater system and uses a television to visually manage a music collection, allowing for easy searching and sorting and personalization of music. Music Center users can create endless numbers of custom playlists of favorite songs for any mood or occasion, and when networked, can be managed from virtually any PC, anywhere.
This intelligent device not only hooks up to a stereo system to digitally record an entire CD collection, but when connected to a phone line, also identifies CDs through an Internet connection as they are recorded. Song titles, artists, album covers and genre information are automatically downloaded at no extra cost, eliminating the need to manually input CD music information. An Internet connection also allows users to listen and purchase music from around the world over the World Wide Web.
The iPAQ Music Center, the first audio device of its kind available through retail at a breakthrough price, will be available in retail outlets and online on July 15 for $799.99. For more information visit www.compaq.com/ipaqaudio.
iPAQ Personal CD Player PCD-1
For the mobile audio aficionado who wants an entire music collection available at home or away, Compaq is introducing the iPAQ Personal CD Player PCD-1. The PCD-1 is the fullest featured, highest quality portable MP3 CD player, allowing users to listen to recordable CDs (CD-Rs) and re-writeable CDs (CD-RWs) that hold up to 300 songs in MP3 or WMA formats- or 20 hours of music - on a single disc. In addition, the PCD-1 plays traditional compact discs and includes an FM tuner, providing the widest variety of listening choices. The PCD-1 also features rechargeable batteries, for added convenience.
The PCD-1 is a solution that gives consumers total control over their music with playlist management that allows grouping and categorizing of songs or albums for fast and easy selection. The PCD-1 also includes customizable equalizer settings for high-quality digital sound performance and a display screen that lists track and artist information for each song. In addition, the PCD-1 can connect to a home stereo for hours of music at home.
And with the built-in infrared remote control, the listening experience can be enjoyed and leisurely managed from across the room.
Packaged with MusicMatch Jukebox 6.0 and Windows Media(TM) 7.0 Player software and easily upgradeable to support future formats, the iPAQ Personal CD Player PCD-1 will be available early August for $199.99. For more information on the PCD-1, visit www.compaq.com/ipaqaudio.
iPAQ Personal Audio Player PA-2
Built for the active, mobile user, the new three-ounce iPAQ Personal Audio Player PA-2 is both compact and solid, making it ideal for use while working out, jogging or traveling. Expanding on the capabilities of the award-winning PA-1, the 64 MB PA-2 allows for memory expansion with the addition of a standard MMC card, doubling the storage capacity to 128 MB of MP3, WMA or AAC digital audio files -- or up to four hours of music. In addition, the PA-2's provides extended battery life for up to 14 hours of continuous skip-free, CD- quality play anytime, anywhere.
The iPAQ Personal Audio Player PA-2 will available in retail outlets in late July for $249.99, less a $50 rebate. For more about the PA-2, visit www.compaq.com/ipaqaudio.
In addition to retail outlets, these new iPAQ audio products will also be available for purchase through Compaq's ``Built for You'' kiosks at participating retailers, on Compaq's Web site at http://www.compaq.com and by calling 1-800-888-0220. The iPAQ Music Center will be available on July 15, 2001; the iPAQ Personal Audio Player PA-2 in late July; and, the iPAQ Personal CD Player PCD-1 in late August. Compaq's ``Built for You'' program allows customers to configure their PCs to meet their specific needs and gives them access to the latest products as soon as they become available.
Company Background
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is a leading global provider of technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures, and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, and communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs that are sold in more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at www.compaq.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others: market conditions, particularly in the U.S.; increased competitive environment and pricing pressures; disruptions related to restructuring activity and delays in the implementation of changes in delivery models. Further information on these and other factors that could affect Compaq's financial results is included in Compaq's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on form 10-K and the latest quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
SOURCE: Compaq Computer Corporation
TI's Programmable DSP Powers Compaq's iPAQ Music Center, Enabling Digital Recording From Virtually Any Source Without a PC
iPAQ Music Center, TI's First Programmable DSP-Based Audio Encoding Device, Re-invents Home Entertainment Systems
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010612/datu005.html
DALLAS, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- In its continued effort to expand the scope of digital music and grow its market position in digital audio, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN - news; TI) today announced that Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ - news) selected TI's industry-leading programmable digital signal processor (DSP) technology to enable audio encoding and decoding in the iPAQ Music Center, a digital audio device that serves as Compaq's first home entertainment system and extends Compaq's iPAQ(TM) product line. The iPAQ Music Center, the first TI-enabled product that allows users to digitally record music from almost any source, will store and organize thousands of digital music files without the use of a PC. (See http://www.ti.com/sc/internetaudio.)
The iPAQ Music Center enables users to store, compile and catalog more than 400 CDs or 5,000 songs. Using TI's programmable DSP, the iPAQ Music Center can play both MP3 and Windows Media Audio (WMA, currently supported in streaming Internet radio only) as well as digitally record music directly from CDs into MP3 files at speeds up to six times faster than real-time. The DSP's programmability also enables the Music Center to be upgraded via the Web to support future digital audio formats. With stand-alone access to the Internet using an existing ISP, consumers can use the iPAQ Music Center to listen to streaming radio stations worldwide. It is also compatible with existing entertainment components, such as a TV and stereo.
Compaq and OpenGlobe co-developed the iPAQ Music Center, moving beyond ``old-fashioned'' CD players with advanced features such as music management, direct recording capability, Internet access and Internet radio functionality, home network connectivity and support for portable digital audio players.
``Compaq is committed to delivering cutting-edge, user-friendly home entertainment products and services that enhance consumers' lifestyles,'' said Michael Brown, director and general manager, Entertainment Products, Compaq Computer Corporation. ``Leveraging TI's leading technology, the iPAQ Music Center is ahead of its time in features, flexibility and ease-of-use.''
A recent report from IDC predicts that worldwide shipments of digital audio players will reach 5.5 million units in 2001, and grow to 25.9 million units by 2001. ``IDC believes that the market will expand significantly beyond the current set of portable products,'' said Susan Kevorkian, analyst with IDC's Consumer Devices research practice. ``Jukebox units with hard drive storage are expected to be a major growth category. IDC projects that this category will total 6.3 million units worldwide by 2005, representing an annual growth rate of almost 120% from 2000.''
``Compaq's iPAQ Music Center is a great example of the growth and development of the digital audio hardware market, and we agree with forecasts that 2001 will continue to see phenomenal growth in this industry,'' said Chris Schairbaum, worldwide marketing manager of Internet Audio at TI. ``As the preferred supplier of DSPs to the leading consumer electronics manufacturers, TI expects a whole new generation of TI-powered Internet Audio devices to emerge this year. The iPAQ Music Center offers the first glimpse of what's to come.''
TI's Programmable DSP Offers the Broadest Solution in Internet Audio
Only TI's family of Internet Audio DSP solutions, based on TI's low-power TMS320C5000(TM) DSPs, support all the widely used digital audio formats including MP3, WMA, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), ATRAC3 and AudibleReady software speech codec ACELP®.net from VoiceAge. Furthermore, TI's programmable DSPs offer the versatility to support future product features and audio compression formats by means of simple software downloads, rather than costly hardware upgrades. The chip's small size also enables Internet Audio player manufacturers to design devices with extremely compact form factors.
TI provides high-performance, programmable DSP and analog-based solutions for many digital audio segments. TI offers a broad range of audio products with the performance headroom and flexibility in a low power solution for designs ranging from portable Internet audio players and digital radios to home jukeboxes and home theatres in a box. Building on its market leadership, TI's award-winning, next-generation product line already has received commitments from leading consumer electronics manufacturers in the Internet Audio industry. TI shipped its two-millionth Internet Audio DSP in November 2000 and has recently received technology awards from EDN and MicroDesign.
Compaq's iPAQ Music Center is expected to be available in early July 2001 at a suggested retail price of $799. For more information, or to purchase the iPAQ Music Center online, visit http://www.compaq.com/ipaqaudio.
About TI
Texas Instruments Incorporated is the world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. The company's businesses also include sensors and controls, and educational and productivity solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. The company's web site is www.ti.com.
Safe Harbor Statement: Statements contained in this press release regarding the Internet appliance market and other statements of management's beliefs, goals and expectations may be considered ``forward-looking statements'' as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Statements regarding growth in the Internet appliance market are based on projections from International Data Corporation, an independent market analysis firm. The following factors and the factors discussed in TI's most recent Form 10-K could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements contained in this press release: changes in expected customer acceptance of Internet appliances and changes in the market for such appliances. TI disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward- looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.
Trademarks:
TMS320C5000 is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated.
ACELP is a registered trademark of the Universite de Sherbrooke.
iPAQ is a trademark of Compaq Computer Corporation.
Note: IDC forecasts are from the April 2001 report from Bryan Ma and Susan Kevorkian entitled ``MP3 Players and More: Forecast and Analysis of the Worldwide Compressed Audio Player Market, 2000-2005''
SOURCE: Texas Instruments Incorporated
Media Grok: Pressplay's Press Play
By David Sims
http://biz.yahoo.com/st/010612/27084.html
As two camps form to do battle (or maybe cooperate, who knows?) over the soul of digital music, MusicNet seems to be winning the first challenge: advance publicity. While neither service is up and running yet, the one promised by AOL Time Warner's Warner Music Group, EMI and Bertelsmann has drawn headlines by using RealNetworks' secure streaming format. And this group gets to use Napster, too.
Yesterday the service formerly known as Duet made its own play for some press by announcing its new name: pressplay (no capital letters, apparently). At some point, it must have become clear that the implication that two players were teaming up (rather than, say, three) must have seemed something less than comprehensive. The year-old service backed by the other two of the Big Five record companies, Vivendi-Universal and Sony Music, also named its top executives. Andy Schuon, formerly head of programming at MTV and president of the music site Jimmy and Doug's Farmclub.com, will become the venture's president. Michael Bebel, an EVP with Universal's eLabs, will become the chief operating officer.
Several sites ran Reuters' comprehensive report on the pressplay announcement, which included background on both ventures and some chin-pulling on where Microsoft will fit into all this. But the radio industry site Gavin.com yawned at the news, saying Duet had changed its name but little else. Specifically, correspondent Doug Wyllie was disappointed that pressplay still has not announced what technology it will use. Reuters' Sue Zeidler furnished a hint, noting that analysts said Vivendi had purchased MP3.com last month "in large part to acquire its technology." In the Wall Street Journal, Jennifer Ordonez and Nick Wingfield cited inside sources who said pressplay was talking with Microsoft about using Microsoft's Windows Media Player technology. It's a logical place for pressplay to turn, since MusicNet relies on RealNetworks.
Meanwhile, Wired News' Brad King stood tearfully on the bluff and wept out loud at the sun setting on the era of free music downloads. Remember the days, man, when 70 million users were grooving on Napster, with access to "any music they wanted - for free"? Napster's soon-to-be-reborn service, King wrote, is "founded on a different principle: keeping free music away from consumers." He cited last week's report from Webnoize that the average Napster user is sharing 90 percent less music than in the heyday of the revolution. Looks like another victory for the Man. Take notes: The grandkids will want details.
Pressplay née Duet
http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,27072,00.html
Napster-MusicNet Deal Is a Real Help
http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,27069,00.html
Sony, Universal Nix "Duet" for "pressplay"
http://www.internetnews.com/streaming-news/article/0,,8161_782441,00.html
Duet Changes Name, Leadership, But Little Else
http://www.gavin.com/news/article.php?id=296
Farewell Free Downloads
http://www.wired.com/news/mp3/0,1285,44412,00.html
Sony-Universal Web-Music Service Negotiates for Microsoft Technology
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB99229678760872401.htm
(Paid subscription required)
New Program From MP3.com Puts Massive Music Collection and First-Time Functions a Mere Click Away
Premium Listener Subscription Service Lets Customers Enjoy The Music They Want - The Way They Want It - From One Location
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010612/latu085.html
SAN DIEGO, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Online music fans have been waiting for the day when their entire music collection could exist in one place -- just clicks away from their ears and with the functions they want most. Owners of computers, portable MP3 players, CD players, and music lovers everywhere, have good reason to be excited, because that day has arrived.
MP3.com (Nasdaq: MPPP - news) today announced the release of Premium Listener Service (TM) (PLuS(TM)) (www.mp3.com/premiumlistener), an intuitive suite of tools that for the first time gives consumers worldwide access to their digital music collection and puts them clicks away from burning CDs or hearing the latest tracks ... all from one location.
The PLuS Express package from MP3.com (www.mp3.com) offers, for the first time, hundreds of thousands of songs from digital artists plus subscription channels and commercial CDs in a single easy-to-use program. Users can browse the massive near million-song music collection on MP3.com, listen to songs, create playlists, and more.
Audio CDs, and the growing popularity of MP3 CDs, can be created from users' favorite songs directly from their online music collections. Many portable MP3 players now have the ability to be loaded directly from PLuS Express, allowing an online experience that combines the best of online music with a consumer's personal offline audio devices.
Using PLuS Express, music fans can access and manage their online personal music library like never before. CDs from their own collection can be loaded in just seconds through the Beam-It(TM) technology. High-quality song previews from commercially available CDs, can be played and newly purchased CDs can become immediately available in a user's account through Instant Listening(TM) relationships with retail partnerships.
Through PLuS Express, charts and featured songs from MP3.com's massive digital music library can become part of every user's music collection. Additionally, music channels a user subscribes to, such as MP3.com's Classical Music Channel, become part of their music library. Together, these private and public music resources are efficiently combined and presented, allowing the user to organize tracks through playlists and stream the music in lo-fi or hi-fi quality. An integrated search facility spans not only the music in an individual's music collection, but the MP3.com song library and commercially available artists as well.
``Nobody wants to scrap their entire music collection when they sign up for an online music subscription service, which will likely only have a tiny fraction of the music they want to listen to,'' said Michael Robertson, chairman and chief executive officer of MP3.com. ``Consumers want a platform where digital music expands their music collection, by allowing them to combine digital music with the CDs they own and devices like CD-Rs and portable MP3 players, which they use to get the most value from their music.''
CD-burning capability and portable MP3 support are built directly into the PLuS program to facilitate new ways music fans are listening to their music. By clicking on a CD burning icon, PLuS Express users can create custom CD compilations from the music in their free My.MP3 account, which is immediately burned onto their home CD-R unit.
PLuS Express users also can create traditional audio CDs playable in standard CD players. With just a few mouse clicks, a CD of favorite songs can be created that will play in a car or home CD player. Another CD-burning feature is the ability to create an MP3 format CD, allows more than 100 songs to be burned onto each CD. Owners of popular portable memory-based MP3 players will find an icon to load songs from their online account directly to their portable player in a one-click fashion.
``Digital music isn't just about online music, but also about a wealth of new devices that give consumers new ways to listen to their music when they're not connected to the net,'' said Stacy Clark, senior director of marketing at MP3.com. ``PLuS Express integrates support for both portable MP3 players and CD burning. It's designed to give consumers the best possible music experience online and offline.''
PLuS allows immediate access to all MP3.com content. Consumers can access PLuS for $2.99 a month or $29.99 annually. A 14-day, fully functional free trial is offered to interested individuals who want to experience the future of digital music for themselves. To sign up for PLuS, visit www.mp3.com/premiumlistener.
In other news:
On June 13, MP3.com will issue a press release announcing that it has reached a major milestone in digital music. The announcement, issued in audio and video formats, will be hosted by MP3.com's chairman and chief executive officer, Michael Robertson. The announcement will be fun and informative, so log on to www.mp3.com/summit on June 13 to witness history being made.
To receive MP3.com press releases via email or to unsubscribe from this service, visit pr.mp3.com.
For further information please contact Greg Wilfahrt, Director of Public Relations, of MP3.com, 858-623-7280, pr@mp3.com.
About MP3.com
MP3.com, Inc. has created a unique and robust technology infrastructure designed to facilitate the storage, management, promotion and delivery of digital music. As the Internet's premier Music Service Provider (MSP), the company is dedicated to providing consumers with access to music when they want it, where they want it, using any web-enabled device. The company's web site hosts what MP3.com believes is the largest collection of digital music available on the Internet, with more than 967,000 songs and audio files posted from over 150,000 digital artists and record labels. Dedicated to growing the digital music space, the company's products and services include on-demand Subscription Music Channels, an innovative Business Music Services program, a Syndicated Radio program and others. Additionally, through the company's MSP technology initiative and its music InterOperating System, MP3.com is partnering with a variety of forward-looking businesses to expand its digital music strategy. MP3.com's common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol MPPP. MP3.com, My.MP3, Beam-It, Instant Listening and PLuS are trademarks of MP3.com, Inc. The company is based in San Diego, California. For more information on MP3.com, visit www.mp3.com.
All good info IMHO, cksla. If we get a design win vs a dominant player like M-Systems, it will be Very Good News.
Advanced Digital Set-Top Boxes -
A Strong Case for Flash File Systems
by Gerard O'Driscoll
http://www.hometoys.com/htinews/jun01/articles/odriscoll/odriscoll.htm
There are various implementation issues to be addressed before the construction of a mid-range or high-end advanced digital set-top box is initiated. A great deal of thought needs to be given to the type of storage solution to be selected out of the variety of storage solutions that is currently available. Each alternative has unique economic benefits and tradeoffs that will impact the overall cost of the set-top box. NAND flash disks seem to be better fitted for the future of advanced digital set-top boxes than their NOR counterparts.
Prelude
Over the past couple of years the convergence of television and computers has taken a major step forward with the proliferation of digital TV technologies. This new environment facilitates the broadcasting of data alongside video and audio content. One of the more practical devices for accessing and using this new media is the digital set-top box. Multiple Service Operators (MSOs) such as cable TV and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are moving aggressively to capitalize on the opportunities that are emanating from this new paradigm by installing millions of these types of appliances in homes across the globe. The storage technology chosen by set-top manufacturers accounts for a substantial percentage of the overall cost of a digital set-top box. The following paper offers a new insight into the technical and financial benefits of incorporating storage solutions based on flash file system technology into mid-range and advanced digital set-top boxes.
Digital Set-top boxes - a new computing paradigm
The launch of digital television services is having a profound affect on the market for set-top boxes. In many countries, service providers are retrofitting subscriber's analog set-top boxes with new digital set-top boxes. Additionally, some of the more technologically developed countries are beginning to push second-generation set-top boxes to support a range of new services. The set-top box, once a relatively passive device, is now capable of handling traditional computing and multimedia applications.
Categories of set-top boxes
This huge installed base of set-top boxes can be broadly classified into the following categories:
Analog set-top boxes
Dial-up set-top boxes
Entry-level digital set-top boxes
Mid-range digital set-top boxes
Advanced digital set-top boxes
Advanced set-top boxes that include PVR functionality
Analog set-top boxes perform the functions of receiving, tuning and de-scrambling incoming television signals. These appliances have changed very little over the past twenty years.
Dial up set-top boxes allow subscribers to access the Internet from the comfort of their living room through the television. An excellent example in this category would be the NetGem Netbox.
Entry-level digital set-top boxes are capable of receiving broadcast digital television that is complemented with a pay-per-view system and a very basic navigation tool. Characteristics of this type of box include low cost, limited quantities of memory, interface ports and processing power.
Mid-range set-top boxes include a return path or back channel, which provides communication with a server located at the head-end. These types of boxes have double the processing power and storage capabilities of entry-level boxes. For example, while a basic set-top box needs approximately 1-2 MB of flash memory (mostly for code storage) in order to operate, mid range set-top boxes normally include between 4MB and 8MB of flash memory for code and data storage.
Digital set-top boxes from the advanced category bare close resemblance to a multimedia desktop computer. They can contain more than ten times the processing power of a low-level broadcast TV set-top box. Enhanced storage capabilities of between 16MB and 32 MB of flash memory (for code and data storage) in conjunction with a high speed return path can be used to run a variety of advanced services such as video teleconferencing, home networking, IP telephony, video-on-demand (VOD) and high-speed Internet TV services. Additionally, subscribers are able to use enhanced graphical capabilities within these types of boxes to receive high definition TV signals.
The idea of putting a hard disk drive (HDD) into the advanced digital set-top box in order to provide PVR functionality is getting increasing attention from MSOs and manufacturers alike. Such receivers may come with a choice of home networking ports, which might later allow them to be used as a residential gateway.
This paper primarily focuses on the mid-range and advanced digital set-top box categories.
Advanced and Mid-Range Digital Set-top Box Technologies
Advanced and mid-range set-top boxes incorporate the necessary hardware and software subsystems to receive digital television, Internet and Interactive TV services.
Software: There are three layers of set-top box software required to operate a digital set-top box, namely, the operating system and device drivers layer, the middleware layer and the user applications layer. The operating system and device drivers layer keep all parts of the set-top box operating together. Vendors addressing this space include Microsoft, Wind River, various Linux vendors (such as Lineo and JNT), Microware Systems, and PowerTV. The middleware is a layer of software programs that operates below the interactive TV applications and above the operating system and provides set-top box programmers with a common API to which they may write applications. Key vendors and technologies that compete in this market include OpenTV, Liberate Technologies, Canal Plus Technologies, PowerTV and Microsoft. Subscribers use the application software layer to watch TV and use interactive features.
Hardware: Advanced digital set-top boxes comprise of three separate subsystems, namely TV, conditional access (CA) and PC components. The TV subsystem includes a number of tuners and video decoders that are responsible for processing streams of digital information. Another important subsystem included with a digital set-top box is the CA system. This subsystem provides MSOs with unprecedented control over what their subscribers watch and when. The PC subsystem itself is modular based, which means that set-top designers can add and subtract various components depending on the user requirements. For instance, MSOs who want to offer Internet services to their subscribers will incorporate some type of storage solution into their PC subsystem.
Storage solutions for advanced digital set-top boxes
There is a considerable amount of uncertainty as to how the overall digital set-top box market will develop in the coming years. Most analysts are predicting that set-top boxes will evolve into a residential gateway and the primary access point for subscribers connecting to the Internet. Such a move from relatively low-level set-top boxes that exist today to powerful home networking centers demands a flexible, reliable, secure and scalable, embedded storage solution. Manufacturers of set-top boxes have two main options when selecting storage solutions for their set-top box designs, namely the solid-state flash memory storage and the mechanical hard disk.
a) About Flash Memory storage
A flash memory chip is essentially a type of non-volatile memory (like EEPROM). Flash memory components offer some very attractive features for storage of data and software code. They are non-volatile, so the data is retained without any power to the flash components. Flash memory consumes very little power and may take up very little space. It uses solid-state technology and has no moving parts, so it can work in any living room conditions where mechanical hard disks might prove unsuitable in the longer run.
There are two general categories of flash solutions, namely the local (or embedded) flash storage category and the removable flash storage category. Removable flash storage, such as compact flash for example, includes a dedicated hardware controller used to manage the flash memory (which naturally differs greatly from the physical characteristics of the hard disk). This dedicated hardware controller, and the extra packaging and socket involved, make the compact flash a problematic component from a cost-structure point of view, when considering it as an alternative to embedded local storage within a set top box.
The local flash memory market can be further divided into two broad categories, based on its two dominant technologies, namely NAND and NOR. Both technologies have unique features and are aimed at fulfilling different market needs. The faster read cycle characteristic of a NOR based flash solution, such as Intel's StrataFlash, coupled with its code execute in place (XIP) capability - albeit far slower than code execution in RAM, make it a suitable technology for storing small amounts of executable code, in a very similar way to the primitive ROM. These characteristics make NOR based products an ideal fit for the entry-level set-top boxes, which only need its software code storage and execution capabilities. For mid-range and high-end set top boxes, which require all sorts of data storage on top of the software code storage, the paradigm, is completely different.
NAND based storage solutions have been optimized by manufacturers such as Toshiba and Samsung for data storage operations and thus, have write/erase cycle response time over 15 times faster than equivalent NOR solutions. To top that, NAND solutions also have an increased ability to withstand rigorous write/erase cycles over long periods of time. These unique storage characteristics of NAND flash make it an ideal solution for MSOs who want to extend the functionality of their digital set-top box platforms. Cost-effective storage capacity is yet another NAND advantage over NOR: NAND is far more cost effective when higher capacities are involved, making it the perfect technology for mid-range and high-end set-top boxes.
However, NAND flash on its own is unable to support the increasing number of services that are available from MSOs. In addition to the silicon itself, a file system is required to interact with the actual NAND flash memory array in order to provide the functionality of a mechanical hard drive on a solid-state silicon chip. Typically, a flash file management system is a piece software code, which is used to make flash memory components emulate a disk drive. The world standard in flash file management systems is the TrueFFS software originally patented by M-Systems over 8 years ago and later adopted by Microsoft, Wind River and many other vendors.
This approach allows set-top box designers to use a common, well-understood mechanism for storing data on non-volatile media.
Required functions from a set-top box flash file management system include:
Mapping the file structure of the real time operating system to the physical flash system
Increasing the endurance and lifecycle of the flash memory
Detecting and correcting data errors on the fly
b) About hard disk storage solutions
The popularity of PVR (Personal Video Recorder) technology and the promise of its related services are posing huge challenges to set-top manufacturers and MSOs alike. At the heart of a PVR centric set-top box is a hard disk drive. However, prior to enabling HDD technologies in new product designs, set-top manufacturers and MSOs should seriously and carefully consider the drawbacks of deploying a hard disk-only storage solution. One of the main risks has to do with a design decision to use the hard disk for all set-top box functionality as described below:
Storing the set-top box's software code.
Storing system and user data (such as user profiles, configuration, the system registry, updateable system files, etc).
Storing video streams (the actual PVR functionality).
Such a set-top box design, which uses the hard disk to store all code and data is very risky: If the hard disk develops physical errors after deployment, or fails altogether, the set-top box may completely cease to operate and the subscriber is left unable to access services. This will directly lead to loss of revenue and customer loyalty for the MSO. For this reason, careful thought should be devoted to storing the PVR subsystem functions on the hard disk and storing the critical code and data storage subsystems on a safer storage device, such as the far more reliable solid state flash disk . In a hybrid (flash disk + hard disk) design, when the hard disk fails, the flash disk kicks in running various utilities to mark the damaged areas on the hard disk and get it up and running again - when software correction is possible. If, however, the hard disk is beyond software repair, only PVR functionality is lost, but the other subsystems continue to function.
Other benefits of deploying a hybrid flash disk and hard disk storage solution include:
Extension of hard disk's life cycle
A flash disk allows the hard disk to "rest" (power-down) for long periods of time - eliminating the life shortening "on" and "off" toggling of the hard disk when PVR operation is not required. The main benefits of such a design approach include:
Prolonging the HDD's life span
Allowing a smoother, quieter and cooler (temperature-wise) operation of the set-top box in the living room environment.
The file system is able to cache files, store attachments, images, sound files, finally waking the hard disk up only upon real system demand for mass storage space.
Valuable marketing tool
Set-top box designs that couple a flash disk with a hard disk provide MSOs with an extremely valuable marketing tool. The same basic set top box design can be supplied with or without the hard disk, and an easy non-subsidized hard disk upgrade path could later be offered to consumers who originally opted for the HDD-less set top box. Thus, the hard disk would not impede on the MSOs' efforts to penetrate the market with a low-cost, aggressively priced solution: having a set-top box design that includes both flash disk storage and a hard disk future-proofs the rollout of digital television services in a cost-effective manner. One should also note that many MSOs might soon opt for network server side storage (virtual PVRs), taking advantage of their broadband infrastructure and VOD capabilities, rendering the HDD upgrade unnecessary. Operator-subsidized set-top box business models should carefully consider these issues.
Improved overall subscriber experience
In the context of a digital television environment the hard disk is less appropriate as a data storage device where frequent writing/updating is required. Keeping the hard disk solely for storage of video streams and utilizing the fast write characteristics of the NAND flash disk for all other storage demands results in a smoother, less susceptible to failure, overall subscriber experience.
Compelling reasons for using flash disks in advanced digital set-top boxes
The acceptance of using flash and a supporting file system in advanced digital set-top boxes is rapidly growing. The motivating factors that are encouraging manufacturers and MSOs to extend the functionality of flash storage devices within the set-top box include:
TV Internet Browsing
Including an enhanced Internet browser in a set-top box design demands between 2 and 5 MB of memory per user profile - used to store cookies, favorites, cached Web pages, chat buddy lists, updateable plug-ins - without which no Internet browsing experience is complete, and other Web originated data. Such patterns of data storage require a series of rigorous write and erase operations to the storage device. A flash disk, equipped with sophisticated wear leveling and error correcting and detecting algorithms is a must for adding this type of functionality to a set-top box.
Targeted Advertising
The ability of MSOs to determine consumer habits and trends of their subscriber base is proving to be invaluable in generating new streams of revenue through advertising and t-commerce. For MSOs to implement advanced personalization techniques, digital set-top boxes need to log, store and protect user identification data. Advanced flash disks can stimulate targeted advertising campaigns through support for sophisticated features such as non-changeable unique identification data and designated read-protected areas.
Family profiling
Unlike PC usage patterns, which show PC use to be a distinctively personal experience, TV viewing is a multi-person experience. As the use of set-top boxes increases, more subscribers are likely to demand personalization features similar to those offered on a PC. For instance, viewing habits of children will vary greatly from the viewing preferences of their parents. Therefore manufacturers must consider the implications of usage variance and personalization needs of different family members during the development of new set-top box platforms. Fortunately for manufacturers, there are new commercially available flash disks that are able to reliably handle any number of family member profiles no matter how many times these profiles are accessed, appended and written over.
TV Mail
The set-top box with its interactive capability is seen by many as a natural environment for e-mail in the home. The client e-mail application is normally integrated with the digital set-top box and uses the TCP/IP protocol to communicate with the MSOs head-end. Modern set-top e-mail applications fulfill a wide range of functions and let all family members in the subscriber's premises do more than just send or receive e-mail messages. Flash disk solutions are a perfect answer to locally storing mail messages in multiple folders, as well as full-blown address books, under separate user profiles within the set-top box as well as file attachments.
Cost Savings
To date MSOs have been reluctant to deploy interactive services because of the high costs associated with manufacturing advanced digital set-top boxes. Using a file-system-equipped flash disk for managing storage resources eliminates the need to install a hard disk where PVR functionality is not a pre-requisite, thereby reducing overall system cost and supporting new revenue-generating applications and upgrades.
T-Commerce
Set-top boxes that include a flash disk storage solution enable digital TV viewers to use their remote controls to access information about the show they're watching, check news headlines, answer polls, make purchases, request more information including discount coupons, and even check the status of previous purchases. Some flash disks allow set-top box designers to store and manage all personal and commercial data that is associated with the t-commerce subsystem into separate, protected logical partitions. The flash disk's ability to store and protect information through hardware-locked protection mechanisms is critical for the safety of any t-commerce system.
Security and Authentication
Every set-top box system deployed today has a need for security. Set-top box security levels are normally maintained by a CA subsystem that provides MSOs control over what types of digital TV services their subscribers are entitled to receive. Most conditional-access systems use a smart card to store various types of information that is used to authenticate subscribers and check access rights. This will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future. However, CA providers and MSOs alike are beginning to look at the benefits of complementing their existing dynamic public key security mechanisms with the security features of advanced flash disks offering a combination of hardware-software protection and security features. CA systems tend to focus on applying security measures on a per subscriber basis alone whereas a capable flash disk can primarily focus on protecting data stored inside a specific set-top box .
Improved response time from iTV applications
Consumers are reluctant to wait for an iTV application to download from the network into the set-top box. In fact, set-top box manufacturers have already started to utilize powerful flash disk solutions to build iTV capabilities into their new designs. For instance, MSOs are increasingly showing interest in using flash disk storage mechanisms as a medium to store sections of local electronic program guides.
Enhanced TV and timed trickle-fed advertising
Enhanced television is a new paradigm that merges appeal and mass audience of traditional television viewing with the interactivity of the Web. It is an integral part of the new television experience. An enhanced TV program can vary between a very simple production that includes links to related Web sites on the Internet and highly involved forms of interactivity which merge the TV image with menus, advertising, rich multimedia components, and supporting text all timed to appear in synchronization with a particular show. A flash disk's file system can be used to trickle feed and pre-store the incoming ads, Internet links and multimedia components.
Downloading files from the Internet
It is clear to most manufacturers and MSOs that set-top boxes have started to evolve into a form of residential gateway. One of the basic features of such appliances is the capability to download certain types of data files from the Internet. Only NAND based flash disk solutions are suitable for this type of functionality because of their ability to flawlessly and speedily emulate the functions and features of a mechanical hard disk drive (sans the mechanical failures of course).
Software updates and upgrades
In the fast changing world of digital television, MSOs are continuously adding new software components and upgrades to set-top boxes connected to their networks. Set-top box software used to be compiled into a single image file, which was a few hundred KB to 1-2MB in size. Nowadays, when a combined OS, middleware and applications image file may take up several megabytes in size and require several minutes to load into the set-top box, the single image file is no longer a safe option: when an MSO updates the software with some new modules or parameters, a completely new image file needs to be compiled and re-loaded into the set-top box. From the MSOs point of view, this operation is hazardous as it is susceptible to power or communication outages (of the kind folks in California have been experiencing lately). Such technical misfortunes may lead to total set-top box failure when the transferred image file is damaged. From a subscriber's perspective this is both time consuming and frustrating. That is why most MSOs are insisting that set-top box software is compiled in a modular format (several modules of software image files). Only advanced NAND flash disks are able to quickly and reliably store and protect modules of software in dedicated locations on the memory chip. Each module may only be a few hundred kilobytes to a single megabyte in size, and updating specific operational parameters is easily managed in the field with minimal risk to the MSO and minimal disruption for the subscriber.
Set-top box storage capacities
The amount of flash memory included with set-top boxes is growing to meet the increasingly complex and sophisticated software programs that are emerging in the industry. To meet the increasing subscriber and MSO demands, set-top boxes are now designed with 16 to 32 MB of flash code and data storage space. Most analysts are predicting the next storage capacity transition will occur in 2002/3 and will include set-top box platforms that incorporate local storage capacities of 64MB and above. Naturally, as previously explained, only NAND flash technology is a cost-effective player in these capacity ranges (in fact, NAND flash has already reached 64MB on a single chip solution, while NOR is left behind with a costly 16MB component).
Set-top box manufacturers face a changing industry
The recent slump in the global demand for digital set-top boxes is concentrating people's mind on designing products that are adjustable to this shifting demand: Future-proof set-top box designs. During the design process, and even during the marketing phase, a design may change and one OS may be replaced for another. Only a mature and reliable flash file management system, not of the kind written for a specific OS or a specific set-top box design, can truly enable that flexibility and minimize investment risks for set-top box manufacturers and network MSOs alike.
Complementing existing international standards
At the moment every MSO has unique set-top box requirements and therefore manufacturers are forced to have distinct designs for each customer. Although, set-top boxes are customized for MSOs' needs, most of the core functionality of these devices is modeled after a number of international reference designs. International standard bodies such as ECCA (European Cable Communications Association) and the U.S. based CableLabs are producing sets of specifications to help define the next generations of digital set-top boxes and other digital devices to be deployed by MSOs around the globe. Both standard bodies will obviously not include details of preferred storage solutions. However, further detailed investigation does reveal a number of compelling reasons for including a flash disk storage solution into set-top box designs that comply with these standards. As an example, when a certain standard calls for support of user preferences management through the middleware layer - a flash disk is the natural data storage solution for such a requirement.
Flash file system solutions
There are various implementation issues to be addressed before the construction of a mid-range or high-end advanced digital set-top box is initiated. A great deal of thought needs to be given to the type of storage solution to be selected out of the variety of storage solutions that is currently available. Each alternative has unique economic benefits and tradeoffs that will impact the overall cost of the set-top box. NAND flash disks seem to be better fitted for the future of advanced digital set-top boxes than their NOR counterparts. The market for NAND flash disk storage solutions is growing at a phenomenal rate and is led by a U.S company based in the Silicon Valley in California, M-Systems Inc.
During my extensive investigation into the realm of evolving flash storage solutions, it became apparent very early on that M-Systems is playing a major role in the advanced digital set-top box market. Companies such as Motorola, Microsoft's WebTV, Scientific Atlanta, Sony, NetGem and many others have all selected M-Systems' flash disk data storage products for use with their advanced set-top box designs.
To strengthen its leadership position, the company has just launched a unique 16-bit 32MB NAND flash disk solution in TSOP-1 package for mid-range and high-end set-top boxes called the DiskOnChip Millennium Plus. The main features of this innovative product are briefly covered below:
Protection, Identification and Security - Set-top box manufacturers invest a significant amount of effort into protecting their products against fraud, IP theft and other threats. The M-Systems DiskOnChip Millennium Plus product is much more than a flash disk in that respect as it incorporates some clever security features such as a non-changeable unique serial number, a One Time Programmable area, and hardware-lockable read/write protected memory areas where sensitive data such as X.509 V3 compliant static certificates as well as software code, registry data, etc., can be stored.
Boot ROM chip replacement capability - Due to M-Systems' singular design of 1KB of programmable XIP-capable SRAM into the monolithic 0.16µm silicon die which constitutes the DiskOnChip Millennium Plus, the M-Systems product can provide an alternative to the classic, separate, boot device, and get the boot loading process started. That is truly an interesting concept in itself as it can play a major role in getting rid of yet another onboard real-estate occupant - the boot ROM chip - and cut costs for set-top box designers and MSOs.
Compatibility - Set top box manufacturers must be as platform flexible as possible if they do not want to get stuck with their designs and lose on their investments. The M-Systems DiskOnChip Millennium Plus through its unique hardware implementation of M-Systems' own world standardized TrueFFS flash file system, supports the widest variety of set-top box operating systems available today. These include all MS Embedded Windows OS flavors, Wind River's VxWorks and pSOS, BeIA, QNX, Linux, ATI Nucleus, Micorware's OS9 DAVID and many others. M-Systems products also support the widest range of hardware platforms and CPUs, including National Semiconductor, Cyrix, Intel, AMD and ST's x86 CPU families as well as Motorola and IBM's PowerPC, MIPS, Hitachi SH-x, Intel StrongARM and ARM's RISC CPUs and many others.
Capacity - The 16-bit DiskOnChip Millennium Plus is available as a 32MB (256Mbits) flash disk, and much like its 8MB DiskOnChip Millennium family member, it too is an extremely scalable standard building block. For example the Millennium Plus capacity can be easily expanded to 64MB, 96MB or 128MB by cascading up to four chips in total, without any additional glue logic. This is an ideal solution for set-top box manufacturers who wish to future-proof their existing designs and place them in the pole position to evolve into a form of residential gateway, as it allows for an extremely easy capacity upgrade design path.
High Reliability - Users of Internet-centric computing devices such as digital set-top boxes are an entirely different audience from PC users. Television viewers will not put up with what the average PC user has come to accept as reality - low levels of reliability. For example, sophisticated computer users are familiar with the various ways desktop PC's can hang, whereas a typical television viewer will never get used to such problems. Therefore, the challenge manufacturers are facing is to design and build reliable set-top boxes for the consumer products world of digital television. The new DiskOnChip helps manufacturers achieve those levels of reliability through advanced error correction and detection features unavailable in most other flash memory solutions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, service providers are demanding advanced functionality from their set-top box manufacturers. Designing and building these advanced set-top box platforms is a significant challenge that requires a combination of standard hardware components with more specialized storage components. To meet this demand and future-proof their new hardware designs, manufacturers and MSOs need to seriously consider the many benefits of building set-top boxes around file-system-based flash disks. The market for flash disks is growing at a phenomenal rate and is led by M-Systems, a California based company, utilizing advanced NAND flash technology from Toshiba and Samsung. The company has recently launched an attractive solution for mid-range and high-end set-top boxes called the DiskOnChip Millennium Plus.
The DiskOnChip Millennium Plus is for all intents and purposes a standard building block for designers of digital set-top boxes. The successful deployments of advanced digital set-top boxes will not only depend on the cost, reliability, robustness and security features of a well designed box, but also on the designers' ability to future-proof their present design. In my opinion, the DiskOnChip Millennium Plus total storage solution from M-Systems meets all of these pre-requisites and manufacturers should seriously consider the inclusion of this solution in their existing and next generation set-top box products.
Gerard O'Driscoll is the author of the two best selling books on digital TV set-top boxes and home networking technologies. Additionally, O'Driscoll has published numerous papers for industry conferences and technical trade journals. O'Driscoll is currently working as a senior technology strategist at Chorus in Ireland. He can be reached at godriscoll@set-tops.com .
OT: Interesting set-top box website:
http://www.hometoys.com/htinews.htm
"On June 12, MP3.com will reveal a new application designed to improve upon current methods of music acquisition. On June 13, MP3.com will issue a press release announcing that it has reached a major milestone in digital music. The announcement, issued in audio and video formats, will be hosted by MP3.com's chairman and chief executive office, Michael Robertson. The announcement will be fun and informative, so log on to www.mp3.com on June 13 to witness history being made."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010611/lam091.html
DAILY BRIEFING -- AOL vs. Vivendi: The Battle of the Online Bands
By Ron Grover
http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/010611/axmtzopnzhpnl7tccxjfnq.html
Maybe I'm an old fogy. But I still can't figure out why anyone would get all excited about the June 6 announcement that onetime outlaw music site Napster had signed agreements with three large music companies to distribute music over the Internet. Forget for a moment that the agreement itself has more holes in it than Aerosmith star Steven Tyler's fishnet undershirt. Warner Music and EMI, both of which signed the agreement, say they don't intend to let Napster actually get its hands on their music until Napster can guarantee that the tunes won't be ripped off from the site. That's still a major concern.
No, the reason the Napster agreement is worth as little as a Sha Na Na reunion tour is far more simple: The two largest music camps are waging open warfare. One group is led by AOL, which also just happens to own the industry's third-largest music company, Warner Music. The other is led by industry leader Universal Music, a unit of Vivendi Universal. And if you guessed that the fight is all about who's going to be the gatekeeper between music and the consumer, you'd be right. Until this battle of the bands is settled, getting music over the Internet for a fee isn't going to be much of a business.
TWO CAMPS. Let's review the situation. In one camp, you've got the so-called MusicNet alliance, which includes the three labels -- Warner, EMI, and Bertelsmann. Together they control around 40% of U.S. music sales. In April, MusicNet, which is powered by technology from RealNetworks, signed a deal with Warner parent AOL Time Warner. Under that agreement, AOL will distribute the three labels' music under the brand name AOL Music. But it will be MusicNet that actually delivers the music to your computer.
Napster -- which, thanks to a $60 million loan from MusicNet partner Bertelsmann, more or less dances to the conglomerate's tune -- will also license music from these three labels, if and when Napster can solve its various security issues. That means when you log on to Napster, you're likely to be paying for MusicNet's service as well, so AOL gets a cut of the action along with the other three labels.
In the other camp is Universal, the world's largest music company, and Sony. Those two companies control 43% of the music sold in the U.S., according to recent numbers by tracking company SoundScan. Sometime this year, the two companies say they'll start offering their own service, called Duet, from which folks can stream music for a set subscription. Duet signed its own deal some weeks back with Yahoo! to distribute music for Universal and Sony.
OFF-LIMITS. Now, here's where the problem starts. As AOL's service is currently configured, you won't be able to get all of the most recent music from Universal or Sony artists through MusicNet or Napster. That's because Napster and MusicNet don't have deals yet with those two labels, which means half the stuff out there is off-limits to the two services.
On the other hand, Duet doesn't have any music from Warner, Bertelsmann, or EMI. So, let's say you're trying to get music by a Universal artist like Limp Bizkit or by Sony's new girl band 3LWl from AOL. Forget it.
I can't imagine my 17-year-old daughter logging on to AOL looking for just any old band. She's going to want Limp Bizkit, or whatever else strikes her fickle teenage fancy that day. And if AOL doesn't have it, she's going to go somewhere else. If you're AOL, you just lost a sale. And if there isn't enough of what my kid -- and the millions more like her -- are looking for, you're not going to get her to subscribe to your service.
ALL TALK. AOL knows this, of course. And it desperately wants the stuff Universal and Sony are putting out. So does Napster, which is tethered to AOL through its MusicNet deal. It should be fairly simple to work out a licensing arrangement, right? Doesn't AOL Time Warner show Universal movies on its cable systems?
Not so fast. For months now, AOL and Vivendi Universal have had ongoing negotiations over the financial terms under which AOL would distribute music over the Internet for Universal. So far, it has all been talk. No deals. Sony hasn't been heard from on the subject, other than to say it wants material avaiable from Napster to be protected before it signs on.
If you guessed the problem has something to do with AOL owning one of Universal's biggest competitors, there's probably a free pass to the next Eminem concert for you somewhere. The deal AOL is offering Universal -- the same one Bertelsmann and EMI signed on for -- makes the online giant the gatekeeper. The consumer pays AOL a subscription fee and then gets to download whatever music AOL has to offer. Sounds like a cable deal, right?
You bet. And just like your neighborhood cable company, AOL is the one that markets to you. If there's a hot promotion for a coming concert, or maybe some old music AOL wants to sell, it will do the peddling. Meanwhile, AOL is collecting all that crucial data on what consumers like and don't like.
NOT ALL RIGHT. That seems to be just fine with EMI, which has been signing up music sites all over the world. And it looks like it's also O.K. with Bertelsmann, which seems to be hoping AOL will help add some legitimacy to a new, reconstituted Napster. But this notion of letting AOL be the gatekeeper sure as heck isn't all right with Vivendi Universal.
You see, Vivendi is quietly building a distribution system to the consumer, much as AOL has so successfully done. Along with British telecom Vodaphone, Vivendi has created a wireless portal to send music and movies to folks. That's why Vivendi bought Universal Pictures and its music operation last year, and why it recently signed a $1.7 billion deal to purchase U.S. educational publisher Houghton Mifflin.
When it comes to music, Vivendi doesn't much like the notion of AOL being the gatekeeper. In Duet's deal with Yahoo!, the consumer goes straight to Duet, which charges the subscription fee. Yahoo! simply collects a small distribution payment for sending the customer on. As for the consumer information AOL is collecting from MusicNet, Universal -- not Yahoo! -- is gathering the same from Duet customers. Yahoo! is no more a gatekeeper than the phone service you have at home. Universal greets you on the other end of the service and is there to sell you all kinds of stuff you probably never knew you needed.
``ALL ABOUT THE CONSUMER.'' I talked with Vivendi Universal Co-Chairman Edgar Bronfman Jr. a few weeks ago. His company had just agreed to pay $372 million to buy MP3.com, a former Napster rival for digital music that has also gone legit. Universal needs MP3's technology to do battle with MusicNet and Napster. Bronfman wouldn't talk at all about the negotiations with AOL, other than to reiterate that he -- and just about every music executive today -- thinks that eventually any music company worth its salt will have to offer music from all five major labels, along with anyone else with a hot band to offer.
But Bronfman was just as clear that his company intends to be the one to talk directly to the consumer, gathering information on what music lovers want and figuring out ways to promote new services to them. ``It's all about the consumer and the relationship that we can build with the consumer,'' he says. ``We believe in that very strongly, as does Vivendi, which is why we were a perfect combination.''
You can see where Bronfman is coming from. Why would Universal want its top competitor to have access to its consumers? And why would AOL want to see the tons of information it has collected for years somehow find its way into the hands of the largest player in a business where it competes so strongly?
IT'S INEVITABLE. As the Goo Goo Dolls say in their latest album, it all boils down to What I Learned about Ego, Opinion, Art, and Commerce. In the music world, there's plenty of each to go around. And since online music sales are going to happen one day, with or without the major record labels, chances are these guys will work it all out.
I'm not so sure Napster will be around to see that day. Since losing its court battle against record labels, its traffic has dwindled to some 840,000 simultaneous users, according to measuring firm Webnoize, an 87% drop from just four months ago. Vivendi Universal and AOL aren't going anywhere, and eventually they'll find a way to license each other's music. They have to. Like spicy salsa music, the beat is getting just too hot not to dance.
OT: U.S. Handspring Users Now Have Access to Unlimited Removable Memory
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010611/sfm046.html
Monday June 11, 8:08 am Eastern Time - Portable Innovation Technology Launches MemPlug(TM) Springboard(TM) Module Leveraging SmartMedia(TM) Cards for Unlimited Storage
HONG KONG, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Portable Innovation Technology, Ltd. (PIT), provider of high value add-on accessories for handheld computing, today announced the availability in the United States of the MemPlug(TM) SmartMedia(TM) Adaptor. The MemPlug is a Springboard(TM) module for the HandSpring(TM) Visor(TM) that provides unlimited storage using SmartMedia cards. It will be sold throughout the United States in major retail stores at a suggested price of U.S. $49.95.
PIT's MemPlug SmartMedia Adaptor is the first and only product that allows Handspring Visor users to leverage standard SmartMedia cards for removable storage. The product comes with six software applications enabling the user to view documents, images and video, and backup and manage files while they are on the go. The MemPlug works with the Handspring Springboard expansion slot so that the module applications automatically self-install once inserted.
``Users of handheld devices often have a need for additional memory, particularly to accommodate large files such as e-books, images and video,'' said Patrick Lin, director, Portable Innovation Technology. ``PIT is the first company to address this issue by providing Handspring Visor users a solution that has flexible and scalable file storage, internal RAM backup and multimedia capabilities at an affordable price.''
``People use their handhelds for a wide variety of functions, including memory intensive ones such as maintaining a large database of customers or capturing images or videos,'' said Ed Colligan, senior vice president of sales and marketing, HandSpring. ``The MemPlug SmartMedia Adaptor provides an ideal solution for users of the Handspring Visor, who now have access to virtually unlimited storage for their device.''
MemPlug SmartMedia Adaptor
The MemPlug SmartMedia Adaptor Springboard module includes five self-installing applications and registered gMovie Maker software:
-- PiPrefs -- enables quick or full formatting for the SmartMedia card and
manages other preferences.
-- PiMover -- enables complete file management for the removable
SmartMedia card and can create up to 25 levels of sub-directories to
manage files on the SmartMedia card.
-- PiBackup -- enables the backup and restoration of applications and data
to and from the SmartMedia card.
-- PiViewer -- enables direct decoding and viewing of JPEG images from
SmartMedia cards in 16-bit color or 16 gray-scale display.
-- gMovie Player -- allows the playback of 16-bit color video, animation
or still images stored on the SmartMedia card.
-- gMovie Maker -- enables the easy creation of video, animation or still
images
In addition, CspotRun, which enables direct viewing of documents stored on the SmartMedia card, is a free software that can be downloaded to the MemPlug at www.memplug.com.
The built-in applications and software drivers are Flash updateable. ``PIT has ensured that the latest features of any bundled software are easily available to MemPlug owners,'' said Lin.
The SmartMedia card is the most popular removable memory standard with an installed base of more than 25 million worldwide. It is one of the lowest cost (dollar per MB) flash memory cards available today. SmartMedia cards are widely used in handheld devices such as digital cameras and MP3 players with capacities up to 128MB.
About Portable Innovation Technology, Ltd.
Portable Innovation Technology, Ltd. (PIT) is a leading provider of affordable, quality add-on accessories for handheld computing devices. The Company was founded in October 2000. The founders have more than 15 years of experience in handheld computing product development. The Company's first product, the MemPlug SmartMedia Adaptor Springboard module for Handspring Visor provides easy access to unlimited storage on SmartMedia cards. PIT is privately funded. For more information, please visit www.portableinnovation.com.
SOURCE: Portable Innovation Technology, Ltd.
OT: PortalPlayer Names Chief Financial Officer
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010611/sfm049.html
Dennis Mahoney, Technology Industry Veteran, Brings Strategic Finance And Planning Expertise to Fast Growth Company
SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- PortalPlayer, Inc., a leading supplier of platform solutions for consumer electronics digital audio recording and playback devices, today announced that Dennis Mahoney has joined the company as chief financial officer (CFO).
``Dennis' solid track record of leading companies from start-up through their fastest growth stages will be a great asset as PortalPlayer moves to the next level,'' said John Mallard, president and chief executive officer of PortalPlayer, Inc. ``Dennis will serve as an integral part of our team as the company grows to become the leading supplier of digital media infrastructure solutions for the consumer marketplace.''
Mahoney brings 25 years of experience in start-ups and fast growing companies to PortalPlayer. Most recently, as CFO of Arcadia Design Systems, he was instrumental in establishing strategic supplier relationships with leading consumer electronics OEMs and completed significant strategic private equity placements. As vice president and CFO at Zen Research, he helped to define the company's intellectual property licensing strategy, completed several private equity placements and prepared the company for its initial public stock offering. At Raster Graphics, he managed all aspects of the company's IPO, improved the company's return on equity by 20%, helped to define the company's mergers and acquisitions strategy and negotiated and completed two acquisitions.
In addition to experience in the electronics industry, Mahoney also served as CFO for leading medical technology companies. While at ADAC Laboratories in the 1990s (the formerly public company became a subsidiary of Philips Medical Electronics in 2000), Mahoney improved return on equity by 30% and completed two strategic acquisitions. He played a key role in defining the company's strategic direction while improving financial results and helped to position the company to win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Mahoney holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Cum Laude) from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). He also graduated from UC Berkeley with a Masters in Business Administration in the top five percent of his class. Mahoney is the president of the 575 member Silicon Valley Chapter of Financial Executives International, a worldwide member organization of 12,000 CFOs and senior financial officers. He is a certified public accountant in the state of California.
About PortalPlayer, Inc.
PortalPlayer, Inc., supplies manufacturers of digital audio systems with the essential components needed to build next generation entertainment products, such as portable and in-home stereos that record and play back digital music files without a personal computer. The company provides a complete platform solution that includes a system-on-a-chip; a complete firmware suite including the operating system and implementation licenses for key systems software; and a companion PC-based media manager application. PortalPlayer also provides its customers with access to key technologies through partnerships with such companies as Gracenote (formerly CDDB), Microsoft and Sony, among others.
PortalPlayer was the first company to provide manufacturers with a solution that allowed the digital audio (MP3) player to cut the cord from the computer. PortalPlayer introduced the Tango digital media platform last year, an award-winning chip and software solution to enable players to record digital audio files (music) without having to be plugged into a computer. Founded in May 1999, PortalPlayer is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with major offices in Seattle, Washington, Charlotte, North Carolina and Hyderabad, India. The company has rapidly grown to more than 160 employees worldwide. PortalPlayer has received three rounds of venture capital funding with investments from CIBC World Markets Corp., Earthlink, Inc., Flatiron Partners, J.P. Morgan Partners, LSI Logic Corp., Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, MP3.com, Techfund, Vulcan Ventures, Inc. and individual investor. More information on PortalPlayer, Inc., and its products is available on the company's Web site, www.portalplayer.com.
NOTE: PortalPlayer, the PortalPlayer logo and Tango are trademarks of PortalPlayer, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Embedded Processor Forum this week:
http://www.mdronline.com/epf/agenda01.html
The Power of Speech - part 2
Back-End block
The back-end block (an ARM7 general processor, for example) performs all other code functions, including topic management and search. All code, data models, and dictionaries are loaded into ROM or FLASH memory. The main processor sub-system must provide sufficient processing horsepower to allow real-time voice recognition responsiveness; you must factor in considerations such as system kernel overhead, memory access times, and processor CPU clock speed to achieve this level of responsiveness. A typical implementation includes less than 2-wait states for RAM and less than 2-wait states for ROM access.
CASSI components and resource requirements
Conversay delivers separate object modules for the DSP and the main processor due to the dual-processor implementation. With its modular nature, CASSI is available in feature scalable implementations. These different implementations give system designers the ability to match hardware capabilities (memory) against a specific, desired feature set. The following are example configurations:
•Slim: Limited word set (e.g. digits and command and control), unlimited vocabulary, pre-built output prompts (no TTS)
•Mid-Tier: Dynamic word list, unlimited vocabulary, pre-built output prompts (no TTS)
•Robust: Dynamic word list, unlimited vocabulary, full synthetic TTS, browser ready
BENEFITS
CASSI provides a number of unique features and capabilities for the system developer. This section highlights some of the key features available for the developer who uses CASSI.
Speaker independent
Speaker independent speech recognition enables developers to support a robust recognition experience. Users do not need to undergo any speaker training; their speech will be recognized immediately
Continuous speech recognition
Continuous speech recognition provides the ability for a user to speak naturally at a normal speech rate (cadence). Pauses are not required between words or digits. This feature is especially important in a situation that involves digit dialing, for example. When digit dialing, users can speak the digits as quickly as they like without pausing between digits or phrases, and the recognition engine will keep up.
Portable code
The core speech recognition engine is written in ANSI C and is highly portable. The CASSI libraries are typically provided as object files for a specific processor. Due to the portable nature of the underlying code, porting to a new processor requires minimal effort and can usually be accomplished within three or four weeks, leaving the rest of the project time spent on optimization and integration for specific hardware implementation and application development.
Small kernel
As illustrated earlier, the overall speech recognition is small and requires very few resources. This small code size makes the speech recognition engine viable for a large variety of devices, such as:
•Cellular phones
•Smart Phones/Communicators
•PDA’s
•Televisions and set top boxes
•Internet appliances
•MP3 players
•Other handheld computing devices
Shared resources
The design of the speech recognition engine allows implementation of both speech recognition and text-to-speech with little additional memory overhead. Both of these modules use the same dictionary and language models to conserve resources. Because of this capability, developers can add text-to-speech capabilities with minimal additional memory or processor requirements.
No vocabulary limits
With its unique speech-to-pronunciation (STP) capabilities, CASSI has the ability to determine pronunciation rules for words that do not exist in its dictionary set. This powerful feature is critical for applications in which name spellings vary and are not typically located in a dictionary. With STP it is possible to perform real-time recognition on unknown words and names without additional ROM or code changes. Without STP, applications such as voice-able email, voice-activated Internet surfing, or spoken name dialing are nearly impossible to implement. The STP feature is the key to Conversay’s competitive advantage of an unlimited vocabulary.
Ambient noise robustness
The CASSI engine performs audio pre-processing that guarantees robust speech recognition in noisy environments. This pre-processing removes ambient noise from the audio signal in order to improve the effective signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Speech recognition accuracy improves significantly under a variety of noisy environmental conditions when noise reduction is used.
Channel adaptation
To improve overall speech recognition accuracy, CASSI performs continuous adaptation for the selected input audio channel. This capability continually improves recognition accuracy for a given speaker within a short time period. Instead of training a system to recognize a specific user's audio characteristics, channel adaptation provides fine-tuning of recognition performance. In addition, the CASSI API allows the developer to pre-load (or retrieve) a specific adaptation setting prior to a given session.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Unlike PC based applications, embedded systems have limited resources and adverse noise environments. Therefore, certain inherent limitations can affect recognition capability.
Active grammar
The CASSI engine supports an unlimited vocabulary of words that can be complied by the engine in real time. The active grammar defines the words and phrases that the CASSI engine will recognize at any moment. The size of this grammar impacts the RAM requirements for the CASSI engine. As the grammar size increases, processing time increases. Recognition accuracy may also suffer if the active grammar becomes too large. Generally, grammars of 100 words or less are easily handled and are more than sufficient for typical embedded applications. The total system grammar only affects ROM/RAM requirements, as active grammars may be dynamically loaded and unloaded at run-time.
Available MIPS
The CASSI percentage of processor requirements varies depending on several factors. These factors include simultaneous use of recognition and TTS, and the complexity and size of the active vocabulary. It is not possible to factor in all the needs of the various system components. Conversay will assist device manufacturers to determine whether they have enough processing power to support real-time voice recognition.
RAM resources
The RAM usage of CASSI at any given moment varies depending upon the topics in use (active vocabulary), the size of the topics being compiled, and the length and complexity of the text being sent to the TTS engine. All of these processes can happen concurrently, affecting the size of the scratch RAM that each function uses.
Math capability
The CASSI front-end processor block is highly math intensive. Various filters and vector analyses are performed that use the vector math operations found in standard DSPs. Modern DSPs are optimized to perform such operations many times faster than general purpose processor architectures (such as the ARM7).
RAM/ROM access time
A fast processor may be used for implementation, but if the memory access times are slow, the effective speed is reduced. CASSI requires random access to large external tables, particularly in its search routines. Therefore, RAM/ROM access times and specific types of implementations can severely affect the performance of this component.
SUMMARY
CASSI provides a highly portable, fast, efficient, Internet optimized speech recognition engine that supports a wide range of device applications. The CASSI embedded speech engine provides a new device interface method that goes beyond techniques such as handwriting analysis, DTMF input, or chiclets keypad. Devices that need to support screenless operations or that provide voiceable content (such as Internet and e-mail access) are only a few of the environments that would benefit from a voice recognition interface. Many system designers can add speech input to existing devices while avoiding the need for major hardware changes. This ease of implementation reduces development time and lowers hardware component costs, two factors that are important for most manufacturers.
The Power of Speech - part 1 ( http://www.conversay.com/LitLibrary/Embedded/Conversay_Embedded_White_Paper.pdf )
The Conversay Advanced Symbolic Speech Interface (CASSI) is Conversay’s unique speech engine for embedded devices. Based on over 5 years of research and development, this software solution provides today’s handheld devices and other Internet appliances with unique capabilities and interface choices.
Handheld devices such as cellular phones and PDAs have similar characteristics, such as small displays and limited user input due to size constraints. Some Internet appliances, such as settop boxes (STBs), may allow input via a keyboard or mouse, but only as an absolute last resort. These limitations require manufacturers to invent new methods of providing efficient and friendly user interaction with devices. With Conversay technology in Internet appliances like wireless devices, users can access information using the most natural interface there is—the human voice. Conversay’s technology provides continuous, speaker-independent speech recognition in a small kernel. No user training is required to enjoy the benefits of speech applications. With a virtually unlimited vocabulary, the CASSI engine gives developers the ability to completely customize the user interface and experience. Everything from simple voice dialing to more sophisticated voice-interactive Web “conversations” are available to the system designer. This white paper discusses the applications, system requirements, and capabilities of the CASSI speech engine, and also describes basic implementation details for the developer of embedded client solutions.
INTRODUCTION
CASSI is Conversay’s speech recognizer and text synthesis engine. The engine can be used for a variety of embedded (or client) systems. CASSI can run on single or dual-processor hardware designs. Conversay application and solution developers write application code that uses the CASSI API to integrate speech recognition and Text-To-Speech (TTS) capability into embedded products and into applications that run on those products.
CASSI provides continuous, speaker-independent speech recognition. TTS capabilities are included in the core engine, allowing the TTS component to remain independent, yet able to share a number of common resources with speech recognition. This independence allows the system developer to implement both speech recognition and TTS with lower overall system requirements than would be otherwise possible.
The CASSI engine consists of a small, ANSI-C kernel that uniquely positions CASSI as a highly portable code library, suitable for a variety of devices, processors, and OSes. The TTS component is optional and may be included or excluded from the system design depending on the application designer's requirements.
CLIENT APPLICATIONS
Speech recognition system
CASSI provides functions that:
•Enable and disable word lists
•Initialize the engine
•Retrieve recognition results
•Set various recognition and TTS parameters
As examples, this functionality could comprise a voice operated digit dialer, a voice information kiosk, a voice activated Internet appliance, or an embedded Web browser.
A typical client application is responsible for managing the audio sub-system and submitting audio packets to the CASSI speech engine. After recognition is performed, the recognized speech is placed in a CASSI system queue that the client application can retrieve. On the other hand, text may be placed into the CASSI system queue for processing and the client application retrieves audio buffer data, and then sends it to the device's audio sub-system.
Text-To-Speech (TTS)
CASSI contains two modules for performing TTS: the text-to-phonetics unit and the TTS synthesis module.
The text-to-phonetics unit accepts arbitrary written text as input, and outputs a string of phonemes for CASSI to synthesize. The text-to-phonetics unit performs text-processing including: text normalization, homograph disambiguation, spelling-to-pronunciation (STP), parsing, phrasing, morphological analysis, and dictionary lookup.
The TTS synthesis module converts the phoneme string to an audio buffer, using frequency domain technology. This continuous stream audio, output as 8Khz-16 bit linear samples, is then directly to the device’s codec. A dictionary and STP file are required for TTS operation; the recognition engine shares these two recognition elements.
Application development
Application developers will typically perform several steps in the process of incorporating speech technology into their devices. The steps below illustrate the typical process.
1. Definition of capabilities
What features and benefits does the developer wish to provide to their customers? Will the system features include text-to-speech, speech-activated control, or some combination of these features?
2. Analysis of hardware resources
Do the existing hardware resources provide the capabilities necessary for speech applications? If not, what additional memory or processor requirements are necessary? What does the audio I/O look like on this device? Will the microphone be built in? Will there also be a wired microphone attachment? Will it be noise canceling?
3. User interface design
The application developer prototypes the designs of the speech interface using existing simulation tools. Usability testing and refinement continues until the final speech interface is defined.
4. Development
Actual code development and integration work commences. Conversay provides a number of tools and technologies to assist at each step of the application development process. Conversay provides PC simulation tools to enable rapid prototyping and user interface development in a Windows-based desktop environment. Additional development tools are also provided that allows developers to create additional dictionaries and vocabulary definitions for custom speech recognition solutions.
HARDWARE ENVIRONMENT
Due to its modular nature, CASSI is suitable for a variety of systems. CASSI may be used with single processor designs where one processor handles all component execution. Alternately, the recognition feature extraction and TTS synthesis may be separated onto a DSP (or other signal processor) with the back-end recognition search function and TTS text processing executed on a separate, general-purpose processor.
Front-End block
The front-end block is used for recognition and TTS functions. The codec supplies voice data to the DSP for processing. The front-end processor performs a first-pass analysis and supplies the back-end search module with extracted features of the audio data. In a reverse manner, the back-end search module provides the front-end processor with TTS output as a phoneme string. The front-end processor uses this phoneme string as input and performs TTS synthesis to provide the codec with the audio stream for playback. The DSP sub-system must be designed with sufficiently fast ROM and RAM access times to ensure real-time performance. In a single processor implementation, the front-end block is incorporated into the same processor as the back-end processor block.
Sensory Inc. and Texas Instruments Sign Speech Processor Agreement Sensory to Expand Its Product-Line With Industry-Leading Speech Synthesis
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010611/2339.html
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2001--Sensory, Inc., the leader in dedicated speech recognition chips and embedded speech software, announced today that it signed an agreement for the rights to continue production of Texas Instruments Inc.'s (NYSE:TXN - news) MSP50C6xx speech synthesis integrated circuit (IC) product line. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sensory will begin supporting new customers immediately and TI will continue to accept orders for the MSP50C6xx products through the end of 2001. At that point, TI will transition the product line, tools and all operational activities to Sensory.
Both Sensory and TI have seen increased demand for the combination of speech recognition and high-quality speech compression from their respective customers. According to Todd Mozer, Sensory's president, ``Sensory can now address our customers' needs for speech recognition and compression from a single source. Sensory now has on its product road map the introduction of a single chip that combines the best of both worlds.''
Sensory, Inc., released the first commercially successful speech recognition IC in 1995, and has grown its line to include the RSC series of general-purpose micro-controllers and a line of application-specific standard products (ASSPs), including the Voice Direct, Voice Extreme, and Voice Dialer chips. Since Sensory's introduction of the first fully integrated speech recognition chip, it has been the leader in dedicated speech recognition chips and embedded speech software selling into areas such as toys, education, security, automotive, media players, home automation and cell phones. Sensory's RSC-364 has been implemented in millions of consumer products, making this award-winning chip the best-selling speech recognition IC in history.
Texas Instruments created the commercial market for speech synthesis chips through its line of talking educational learning products introduced in the mid-1970s. TI expanded its speech synthesis IC line to include new technologies running on low-cost micro-controllers for use in toys, education, language translation, security and home monitoring.
The MSP50C6XX products are TI's most recent generation of speech-synthesis ICs. They include a 12.32 MIPS processor for high-quality low data-rate speech compression and MIDI music synthesis, with plenty of power left over for other processor and control functions. Members of the MSP50C6XX line can store as much as 37 minutes of speech on chip and include as much as 64 I/O pins for external interfacing. Integrating this broad range of features onto a single chip enables developers to create products with high quality, long duration speech at very competitive price points.
Craig Dalley, TI's speech product manager, says, ``Sensory is a great fit for our line of speech processors. They are a leader in speech recognition and, with the addition of the TI speech synthesis ICs, they should be able to continue to grow their speech chip market.''
About Sensory, Inc.
Founded in 1994 and based in Santa Clara, Calif., Sensory, Inc., is the leading provider of high-quality, low-cost speech-recognition and speech-synthesis technology. Sensory's speech technology is embedded in consumer products such as personal electronics, Internet appliances, interactive toys, and high-end telephone and automotive applications. Sensory offers a complete line of integrated circuit (IC) and embedded software solutions, including the Interactive Speech(TM) line of low-cost ICs, the Fluent Speech(TM) large-vocabulary software engine and the Fluent Animated Speech(TM) technology. Sensory's customers include leading companies in the consumer electronics and embedded product markets, such as JVC, Hasbro, Mitsubishi Wireless, Mattel, Sega, Sharper Image, Fisher-Price, Sony, Tektronix, Toshiba, Uniden, VOS and Westclox. More information is available from Sensory's Web site at www.sensoryinc.com.
Note to Editors: Voice Activation, Voice Extreme, Interactive Speech, Fluent Speech and Fluent Animated Speech are trademarks of Sensory, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Farewell Free Downloads
By Brad King
2:00 a.m. June 11, 2001 PDT
http://www.wired.com/news/mp3/0,1285,44412,00.html
An audible sigh of relief can be heard from the folks at Napster.
With major label deals that will keep its trademark access to popular music intact and new technologies that limit the number of songs available on the service, Napster is slowly but decidedly morphing into a commercially viable enterprise.
Of course, the consumer experience is going to be radically different than it was a year ago, as filtering technologies and tracking software prevent users from getting to all the music they want.
In the old days -- according to the company's own count -- somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 million users downloaded the Napster application because the network allowed users on-demand access to any music they wanted -- for free.
But the company's new subscription service set to launch this summer is founded on a different principle: keeping free music away from consumers. And, of course, making them pay for it. While the changing consumer experience has hurt Napster traffic and use, the shift in the business model is no longer up to the Napster team. As part of its ongoing litigation with the recording industry, the company has been legally forced to develop a filtering system that controls what music is being traded on its network.
On Thursday, Napster teamed up with Loudeye, an encoding and digital infrastructure company, to help bolster its filtering technology designed to keep copyrighted music off the company's file-trading network.
The Loudeye deal gives the Napster technology team access to over two million encoded music files from the major labels, according to a Napster spokeswoman. With the help of software-maker Relatable, Napster has now created a filtering technology that can digitally fingerprint music.
The fingerprints allow the company to keep copyrighted music off its file-trading network by comparing music on its system against a list of copyrighted music that can't be legally traded.
The company also has access to a song database from Gracenote that allows the company to filter out misspelled song titles.
The results of the filtering process have been quite dramatic.
The service had 840,000 simultaneous users in May, down from its high of 1.5 million just three months before, according to Internet research firm Webnoize. Those users were sharing 21 songs on average, off 90 percent from the 220 songs users were making available in February. In other words, getting an unauthorized song onto the Napster system is now much harder.
Despite the reduced traffic and withering consumer experience, this is all good news for Napster. See, the company can't begin to launch its subscription service until it proves to the recording industry that the file-trading network can be controlled.
"The Napster brand name is still on users’ PCs and laptops, and those users are continuing to use the service," said senior Webnoize analyst Matt Bailey. "The drop in usage will continue, though, and if they can't launch their service soon, the brand might diminish in the eyes of the consumer.
"Of course, this filtering technology is giving the company some credibility. If there were obvious leaks in the filtering, they would have a hard time selling the service to MusicNet or any other music service."
MusicNet -- a joint subscription service owned by digital media company RealNetworks along with three major labels: EMI, Warner Music and BMG –- agreed to license content to Napster on the condition its filtering and tracking technologies get upgraded.
Once consumers have downloaded music using Napster -– or any of the myriad other file-trading applications -– they have the ability to burn that music onto a CD, something the recording industry fears could eat into its CD sales market.
Recently, technology companies have also been working overtime to ensure that once music gets to consumers' PCs, there will be some control as well.
Major music label EMI recently signed a deal with software company Roxio to develop a secure, CD-burning technology that would only allow certain music files to be transferred to a CD.
Without that protection, users could download music files from their subscription services, then indiscriminately burn the music onto any blank CD for free.
"There has to be a core technology that accomplishes what the labels need and it needs to be deployed where consumers are," said Brad Duea, Roxio's vice president of business development.
"One way that we look at being deployed is putting this within a subscription service, a premium subscription service that would allow users to download specific files that come with burning capabilities."
RealNetworks Licenses Content Delivery Technology to Cisco
Monday, June 11, 2001 10:55 AM ET
RealNetworks has teamed with Cisco Systems to incorporate Real's media delivery technology into Cisco's content networking products. Cisco's networking products will include Real's audio and video delivery capabilities. Cisco will also resell the RealSystem IQ platform to its enterprise customers, and will work with Real to market and sell digital delivery solutions to ISPs and network service providers. RealSystem IQ's suite of products is providing some of the technology behind Real's MusicNet digital music subscription platform.