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OT: Kick and SimpleDevices Demonstrate Next Generation Interactive Music Experience
http://sf-web1.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/211620386&ticker=
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2001--
Kick and SimpleDevices Deliver A Complete, Personalized Music Experience To Home Entertainment Centers With First-of-its-Kind Solution
Kick, Inc., a leading provider of personalization and content delivery solutions, and SimpleDevices, providers of a multi-device integrated platform for delivering rich content and applications beyond the PC, today announced that the two companies will demonstrate a unique solution at the Cable2001 show in Chicago that delivers a complete, interactive music experience.
Fusing the worlds of high-fidelity home audio and the PC, Kick and SimpleDevices will showcase a solution delivering personalized artist and album updates, concert listings, commerce opportunities, and community features to users through their computer, synchronized with music streaming wirelessly to their home stereo systems.
The showcase will combine SimpleFi(TM), a high-fidelity digital audio receiver, which bridges the gap between a PC and home stereo by allowing users to stream CD-quality digital audio wirelessly from a PC or the Internet to home stereo equipment, and Kick's Technology Platform, which understands user preferences through observed behavior and delivers personalized content based on that understanding, to provide a complete, interactive music experience. Tying the two together is SimpleServe(TM), SimpleDevices' device-networking middleware that transforms the PC into a network server that can stream digital media and data such as Kick's personalized content to devices throughout the home.
"This is the logical next step in bringing the same rich experience possible on the Internet to standard home entertainment devices," said Matthew Skyrm, founder and CEO of Kick. "This rich and personalized experience powered by Kick and SimpleFi, is a first look at how people will consume media in the future."
"Our platform is a powerful new way to deliver rich, customizable content beyond the PC to a new class of wireless devices in the home, automobile and beyond," said Lou Hughes, CEO of SimpleDevices. "The addition of Kick's personalization technology helps make this the best entertainment experience possible."
KickWeb(TM), the Kick solution being used in the demo, is one of numerous Kick solutions that enable applications, Web sites, and other services to offer more dynamic and personalized features to create a truly personalized service spanning the various points of contact that users have with their music.
The Kick and SimpleDevices demo can be found in the Motorola booth (no. 1700) at the Cable2001 show, June 11 through 13.
About Kick, Inc.
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in San Francisco, Kick, Inc. (www.kick.com) is a leading developer of personalization and content delivery solutions. Funded by Sony's 550 Digital Media Ventures and Utah Ventures, Kick has developed a powerful, transparent technology platform that can personalize the user experience by building a profile based on myriad data points and then delivering personalized content and media based on that profile. The solutions Kick has built upon that platform are easily integrated into existing and emerging third-party offerings to help companies develop compelling and profitable media services.
About SimpleDevices Inc.
Founded in 1999, SimpleDevices has developed a multi-device integrated platform that delivers customizable, premium content beyond the PC to a variety of wireless devices for the home, automobile and enterprise. The platform, centered on the SimpleServe device-networking middleware, transforms any Internet-connected PC or storage gateway into a network server that can stream digital media and data to SimpleDevices-enabled legacy products such as stereos, automobiles, PDAs and more. SimpleDevices enables network service providers to deliver and monetize digital media to their subscribers through its SimpleMedia Services hosted application. SimpleMedia Services includes third-party, branded, integrated content at the network head-end to enable the service provider to create recurring revenue for interactive services delivered to devices beyond the PC. Located in Burlingame, Calif., SimpleDevices has received investments from Proxim, Motorola and Casio, and is currently in the process of closing its Series B round of funding.
OT: Scientific-Atlanta and Broadcom Collaborate in the Development of Dual-Channel MPEG-2 Encoder Chip for `Watch & Record' Set-Top Boxes
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/211620304&ticker=brcm
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2001--Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq:BRCM) the leading provider of integrated circuits enabling broadband communications, today introduced a dual-channel MPEG-2 encoder chip for next generation personal video recorder (PVR) set-top boxes. The Broadcom(R) BCM7041 dual-channel, digital video/audio encoder and multiplexer is the first single-chip, MPEG-2 encoder to enable the simultaneous compression of two independent video channels and four audio channels.
The BCM7041 supports MPEG-2 video encoding, program/transport stream multiplexing, and MPEG-1 /Dolby Digital AC-3 audio encoding standards. The BCM7041 was developed by Broadcom's Israel design team, formerly with Visiontech Ltd., which was acquired by Broadcom in January 2001.
"Scientific-Atlanta's foresight to offer integrated PVR and dual-channel capabilities in set-top boxes presented a unique convergence opportunity and primary technology development driver for the design team," said Amir Morad, General Manager of Broadcom Israel.
Dual tuner set-top boxes equipped with the BCM7041 will allow the consumer to record one program while watching and time-shifting a different program, or to record two different programs simultaneously that may be viewed later or at the same time within picture-in-picture (PIP). In addition, the viewer may record an interactive show and be able to take advantage of these interactive capabilities at a later time. The BCM7041 offers viewers greater control over the TV-viewing experience, enabling them to freeze a live TV program, instantly replay or rewind a program, or skip ahead in a recorded program to a favorite movie scene or the next big play of a sporting event. The PVR capability can also be used to store the viewer's program preferences and record similar shows for future viewing.
"The need for dual MPEG encoding is becoming a requirement from all MSOs to support `watch and record' PVR. The BCM7041 dual channel encoder is a significant milestone in the evolution of the PVR set-top box market," said Rich Nelson, Sr. Director of Broadcom's Broadband Communications Business Unit. "The BCM7041's ability to simultaneously encode two channels of video and four channels of audio in one chip makes it the most cost-effective solution for the cable industry to offer wide-scale deployment of `watch and record' digital set-top boxes to the consumer."
Scientific-Atlanta will incorporate Broadcom's BCM7041 into its new Explorer 8000 set-tops enabling real-time compression of analog channels. Together with Scientific-Atlanta's interactive television navigator, the encoder will provide the ability to compress two digitized video and four audio streams simultaneously that can be `watched and recorded,' simply recorded or simultaneously played back in a PIP. Having shipped six million Explorer set-tops, Scientific-Atlanta brings the interactive experience home to the consumer.
"PVR enabled set top boxes could become the next ubiquitous subscriber video recording device," says Michael P. Harney, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Scientific-Atlanta's Subscriber Networks Sector. "Broadcom's advanced dual channel MPEG2 encoder, when added to Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer set-tops, will enable subscribers to watch what they want, when they want, and let our customers provide an integrated revenue producing platform at the same time."
According to Forrester Research, digital video recorder sales are expected to reach 53 million units by 2005, which they claim makes it the fastest growing segment in personal technology.
The Explorer 8000 is a powerful member of Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer family and is expected to deliver a wide range of multiple interactive TV applications through a single set-top. In addition to Web browsing, email, t-commerce, and video-on-demand (VOD), the Explorer 8000 model also delivers personal TV capabilities that allow the cable subscriber to re-play live analog and digital TV programs using a built-in 40 gigabyte hard drive. This innovative set-top will also enable the simultaneous viewing and recording of two channels of programming and support HDTV via memory options.
The BCM7041 chip is packaged in a 256 BGA and costs $50 in 10,000-piece quantities. Sample quantities of the BCM7041 are available today as is the BMC97041 reference design with a sample application and software drivers. Broadcom is demonstrating these products at the National Cable Television Association's Cable 2001 tradeshow this week in Chicago.
About Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation is the leading provider of highly integrated silicon solutions that enable broadband communications and networking of voice, video and data services. Using proprietary technologies and advanced design methodologies, Broadcom designs, develops and supplies complete system-on-a-chip solutions and related applications for digital cable set-top boxes and cable modems, high-speed local, metropolitan and wide area and optical networks, home networking, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), carrier access, residential broadband gateways, direct broadcast satellite and terrestrial digital broadcast, digital subscriber lines (xDSL), wireless communications, SystemI/O(TM) server solutions and network processing. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and may be contacted at 949/450-8700 or at www.broadcom.com.
Fleishman-Hillard Hosts Mobile Wednesday Event: View From the Hill to the Prairie
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/211622410&ticker=
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich will weigh in on the critical importance and wide-reaching impact of wireless technology when he addresses several hundred participants at the upcoming Mobile Wednesday event hosted by the Chicago office of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., the world's largest public relations firm.
WHAT: The Mobile Wednesday Series
WHEN: Wednesday, June 20, 2001
Event - 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Keynote - 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Westin, River North Hotel, 320 N. Dearborn Street
Known for his candor and dynamism as a speaker, Mr. Gingrich will discuss public policy as it relates to wireless technology and share his observations of successful technology initiatives in the private and public sectors. A distinguished member of Fleishman-Hillard's international advisory board, Mr. Gingrich served as a Member of Congress for twenty years and as Speaker from 1995-1999.
The Mobile Wednesday speaker and networking series was launched in January 2001 to more than 800 area business and civic leaders. Mobile Wednesday's sponsors and founders include Motorola, Sun Microsystems, Accenture, Exp@nets, Centerpost, and Fleishman-Hillard. The purpose of the wireless focus is to develop awareness and interaction among growth companies and technology executives in the Chicago area.
Fleishman-Hillard's Chicago office offers its clients communications counsel and services in the technology, corporate, public affairs, investor relations, consumer marketing, crisis communications and healthcare fields. The Thomas L. Harris/Impulse Research Survey has ranked the office number one in overall quality among PR firms in Chicago. Its major clients include: SBC, Land's End, Kellogg, Harley Davidson, CDW Computer Centers, Cobra Electronics Corporation, Abbott Laboratories and Office Depot.
Fleishman-Hillard Inc. is the world's leading public relations firm. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia, and South Africa through its 79 owned offices. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard Web site at www.fleishman.com.
Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC), a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.
Source: Virgin Picks Sprint for U.S. Move
By Richard Baum, UK telecoms correspondent
LONDON Sunday June 10 8:29 AM ET (Reuters) - Richard Branson's Virgin Group has chosen U.S. telecoms operator Sprint Corp (NYSE:FON - news) as its partner for a $1 billion assault on the North American mobile market, an industry source said on Sunday.
Sprint beat out rivals including AT&T Corp (NYSE:T - news) to supply the network for a Virgin-branded service based on Branson's mobile companies in the UK and Australia.
The airline entrepreneur believes he can leverage his brand name to break into the relatively immature U.S. market, where only 40 percent of people have mobiles compared with up to 70 percent in Europe.
Branson has signed up more than 865,000 customers in the UK through a joint venture with Deutsche Telekom AG's (DTEGn.DE) One 2 One, targeting the youth market that shops in Virgin record stores and drinks Virgin Cola.
But Virgin has found in the past that its brand does not necessarily buy it success in the United States. It had a hard time launching Virgin Cola there, and will be competing with six major nationwide mobile telecoms brands.
The 50/50 mobile venture hopes to stand out from the crowd by teaming up with U.S. consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co (NYSE:BBY - news), the source said. Best Buy will sell the service, drawing on the experience of Virgin's V-Shops in the UK, which sell mobile phones alongside CDs and videos.
A Virgin spokesman refused to confirm the deal.
``We're progressing with talks in the U.S. and we expect to be able to announce a deal soon,'' he said.
Branson is investing an initial 10 million pounds ($13.82 million) in the U.S. venture, the source said, which could eventually cost the partners $1 billion. The money was raised from a loan secured against Branson's 51 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic Airways VA.UL.
Branson has a revolving credit facility secured against the financial assets of Virgin Atlantic that he regularly draws on, the spokesman said, playing down an Observer report that he mortgaged the stake last month. Branson sold the remainder of the airline to Singapore Airlines Ltd. (SIAL.SI) last year.
Virgin Mobile began in the UK and expanded into Australia, where its partner is C&W Optus (CWO.AX). It has also moved into Asia with Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (TELE.SI), which is in the process of buying the mobile arm of Optus.
``There's a lot of enthusiasm from the (U.S.) companies to use Virgin as a consumer brand,'' Branson said in a recent interview with Reuters Television. ``We're bringing a brand that is hopefully one of the better respected in the world.''
The UK venture will be profitable when it reaches 1.5 million customers, Branson said.
Hammacher-Treo update:
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=694247
Dear XXXXXXX:
After speaking with our buyer regarding this product we have been able to obtain a more concrete date. It is most likely that we will stock this item on 7/20/01. It is possible that the item would arrive before this date, as this date reflects an extension of what the manufacturer has quoted us in anticipation of any further delays.
Best regards,
Jason Fischer
customerservice@hammacher.com
Hammacher Schlemmer
9180 Le Saint Drive
Fairfield, Ohio 45014
Voice: 1-800-233-4800 (8am-mid EST, 7 days a week)
Fax: (513) 860-3589
Visit our Web Site at: http://www.hammacher.com
Packers1, my best guess would be no involvement. However, that's strictly opinion.
Old, but worth a repost:
Poor Interoperability Lamented In Internet Audio
Jan. 29, 2001
By Joseph Palenchar
Las Vegas -- Someday, music enthusiasts will be able to listen to all the authorized downloaded music they want, when they want it, through any Internet audio portable.
But that day isn't here yet, because competing interests with their own business plans have effectively scuttled that goal for the time being, participants in a Texas Instruments roundtable acknowledged during CES.
During the invitation-only event, some of the participants, including Thomson and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), lamented the failure of the RIAA-initiated Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) to promote interoperability among portable devices.
"We created this multi-industry forum about two years ago to try to address these issues," said Matt Oppenheim, the RIAA's senior VP for legal and business affairs, but the process has been "slow moving." He blamed "competing business interests" for SDMI's failure to standardize.
"At a minimum, we want [interoperability] at the codec, digital-rights management [DRM], memory [storage], and file format levels," said Oppenheim.
Jeff Scott, Thomson's advanced audio business manager, also acknowledged the failure of the hardware and music industries to settle on interoperability standards. SDMI is populated by "members with their own business models," he said. "We'd love to see a standard evolve ... but SDMI has not addressed interoperability."
When questioned after the event, the RIAA's Oppenheim agreed that SDMI's mission, in developing a portable-device spec, was not to choose a codec, DRM technology, or memory format but to define what portables and their DRM technologies must do to wear the SDMI badge.
Nonetheless, Oppenheim told TWICE, "It is within their purview to allow for interoperability, but it's not on the horizon." Developing an interoperability standard, he noted, probably would not include the selection of a memory card standard.
The music industry itself, however, is also to blame, one music company representative acknowledged. BMG new media VP Karl Slatoff called it "very difficult" for music companies to support a single codec or DRM standard given antitrust legalities.
Even so, he added, the music companies have held back the market in another way: "It has taken a long time for the record companies to make [their own individual] technology decisions."
Slatoff hailed the growing number of portable devices that deliver "multiplatform support," claiming such products are the "the only way to grow a market" in the absence of an industry standard.
For the RIAA's Oppenheim, however, multicodec multi-DRM portables aren't enough. Lamenting the proliferation of flash-memory formats, he asked of the hardware and technology industries, "What are you guys trying to do to solve these interoperability problems?"
Gene Frantz, Texas Instruments' DSP business development manager, said the technology industry can only go so far. "It's very simple to be compatible across codecs [through the use of a programmable DSP]," he said, but it's more difficult to create a device with "multiple hardware connections" to "multiple memory card formats."
Thomson's Scott acknowledged the drawbacks of multiple card formats but asked, "Who will solve it?" Thomson, he said, "can't drive a standard alone." He added, "Everyone wants a piece of the pie."
Given still-high memory prices and multiple memory standards, Scott said, the next best way to deliver interoperability is with MP3-encoded CDs and portables that decode those CDs. He cited the widespread availability of CD burners in the home. "This is the only option that we [the hardware industry] collectively are going to the consumer [with]."
BMG's Slatoff said he's willing to let consumers decide on their favorite card format and stressed that a "device that plays all music" is "a great first step."
Liquid Audio product marketing VP Matthew Smith also cited the importance of such a device and said, "It's important to support multiple standards ... and make [them] as transparent as possible for consumers." The industry's goal should be "a transparent consumer experience across multiple technologies, but he noted, "We're not there yet."
The RIAA representative agreed. "We need to work with technology companies to create a great user experience ... but we're not there yet."
EDIG: Info for Investors (6/9 AM rNM)
General DD Info (Corporate profile, SEC filings, Patents, lots more):
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=66673 (revised 3/8)
Recent News and Opinions:
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=124068 (Duet quietly negotiating)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=124011 (Packers1 chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=123807 (SD Flash card prices falling)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=123637 (DataPlay closes another financing round)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=690262 (Recent DataPlay article)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=121529 (SDMI unraveling?)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=121713 (A different take on SDMI)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=120920 (BestBuy cuts deal with RioPort)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=120860 (Ritek/DataPlay news)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=689568 (Sentinel chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=120678 (Fortune article re RioPort)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=120335 (Sharp intros new SOC)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=120410 (STM plans for DataPlay chips)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=119533 (CREAF exec re jukebox strategy)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=119031 Sharp picks Intel chip for new PDA)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=687441 (GreaterGood re our new CFO)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=118479 (EDIG adds new COO; CFO departs)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=118261 (Sega harmonizing with the Web?)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=117975 (Trenddetector chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=117876 (EDIG and Sensory at Portable Design Conference)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=117911 (Toshiba and Sensory into VTT chips)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=116800
and http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=118477 (New wearable from XYBR, IBM &TXN)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=116628 (Market for medical hand-helds seen growing)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=115967 (Multi-codec Xdio player)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=115871 (Qualcomm cuts VTT deal w/Conversay)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=115251 (Older article re the Korean MP3 scene)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=114234 (Samsung & Octal developing STBs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=684582 (Nekos chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=683939 (DABOSS e-mail from DataPlay)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=682599 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=109481 (Vivendi/Universal buys MP3.com)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=109041 (Toshiba introduces 5 & 10 GB 1.8" HDs)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=108959
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=680976 (Sentinel speaks w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=108627 (SDM bogs down again)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=108476 (Cksla speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=680645 (RNWK unveils download service before Congress)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=108126 (Sigmatel chip powers Eastech ET-301)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=106017 (Sony's Playstation gets Real)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=105106 (InterTrust Announces Secure Media Player Development Suite)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=105146 (Bostonredsox speaks w/mp3extreme)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=104057 (3 new openings at EDIG)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=101870 (Bostonredsox speaks w/Hammacher)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=102208 (Samsung making a run on Sony?)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=99994 (Some details of STM's DataPlay chips)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=676522 (Pam digs into Eastech)
http://www.eigernet.co.kr/products/mp3/d100.htm (Eiger DataPlayer specs)
http://www.amaxhk.com/products/napa/dp600/dp600.htm (Amax DataPlayer specs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=676116 (Giants at RB e-mails Putnam)
http://db2.jobstreet.com/jassist/preview.asp?advertiser_id=9564 (Backgrounder on DataPlay Singapore)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=672506 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=668929 (Intel orders MP3 players from Eastech)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=669383 (Eastech lands Sanyo order)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=668935 (Treo ads flying high)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=668916 (Recent Treo sightings)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=91844 (EDIG mention in Volan ad)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=90491 (Recent RP e-mails at RB)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=84624 (Cksla's XYBR chronicles)
hhttp://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=83856
and http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=84611 (Hammacher-Schlemmer catalog offers Treo)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=83521 (Brewmeister visits EDIG)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=81983 (Xybernaut to collaborate with IBM, TXN)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=82749 (More re XYBR)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=81621 (Rioport intros Music Delivery Service)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=81406 (Makomemoney chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=81294 (New look jukebox from Eastech)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=79586 (Packers1 chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=79571 (Trillium chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=79567 (New DataPay player from A-Max)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=79579 (Multi-codec player from A-Max)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76832 (Intel VTT plans for China market)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76546 (InHand partners w/Conversay)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76465 (MP2000 details at Global Resource)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76168
and http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76246 (New IBM platform for internet appliances)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76119
and http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/msg.gsp?msgid=15637828 (New XYBR/IBM wearable computer due)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=75782 (Some ITRU customer woes)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=75784 (Loudeye RIFs and plans roll-out)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=75578 (WSJ re MSFT vs MP3)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=75655 (POTCE update re Treo)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=659615 (Eastech update per unclejed47)
EDIG news and opinions (pre-4/12/01):
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=119512
Common Abbreviations:
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIGOT&read=4488
A look back at the early days on RB:
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=642371
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Treo review compilation: http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=612321
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EDIG Private board at RB:
(Basher-free, open to all who behave themselves)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=300337 (Instructions for joining)
Free EDIG news e-mails via eGroups:
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=570639
Moderated EDIG boards (no bashers/spammers):
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/board.asp?board_id=299
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/subject.gsp?subjectid=51056
athomedad's EDIG Page:
http://www.edigpage.com
OT: Study shows flash memory, flexible disk, and micro-drives steer 12% of market in 2002
Business Wire (June 8, 2001)
http://pd.pennnet.com/News/Display_News_Story.cfm?Section=WireNews&SubSection=INDUS&NewsID=1...
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jun 8, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The non-conventional storage markets are expected to account for up to 12 percent of the disk drive unit volume of 271 million units in 2002 (Table 1); and approximately 20 percent of the unit volume by 2006.
The total unit demand for storage for new applications, including flash memory, flexible disk drives, and micro-drives will exceed 200 million units by 2004.
The expected growth of potential new consumer and mobile products that will use storage devices will double between 2000 and 2004. Digital cell phones that dominate this field are also expected to double in unit growth from 2000 to 2004.
Table 2 gives projections for storage product unit growth over the next four years, including HDDs, FDDs, optical drives, tape and flash memory. While floppies and tape are expected to decline and optical memory has slight growth, flash memory and disk drives are expected to show significant growth.
A new report from Peripheral Research Corp. on Data Storage for Entertainment and Consumer Electronics focuses on storage for entertainment and consumer electronics applications. It covers digital content creation, content distribution, and content receiving data storage requirements. Markets covered will include home consumer electronics, mobile consumer electronics, as well as digital video and audio production and distribution.
Data storage products covered in this report include:
-- Flexible Disk Drives.
-- Hard Disk Drives for Consumer Applications.
-- Micro Drives and smaller.
-- Optical Recording Formats.
-- Data Play Optical Drives.
-- Some Solid State devices such as Compact Flash and other
removable Flash memory formats.
The report profiles each of the key markets, the storage products attractive to those markets, the important specifications for storage, as well as profiles of the companies and market forecasts.
Table 1
Disk Drive Forecast By Segment (Units in Millions)
Segment 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
P.C. Systems 112.4 111.6 112.0 115.0 120.0
RAID/Server Systems 75.0 96.4 125.0 152.0 178.6
New Apps/Entertain. 8.0 19.0 38.6 47.7 71.1
Totals 195.4 227.0 275.6 314.7 369.1
Table 2
Worldwide Storage Device Forecast (Units in Millions)
Drive Type 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Rigid Disk Drive 175.7 205.3 227.4 252.6 277.5
Optical Drives 122.7 133.8 144.2 154.5 158.2
Tape Drives 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.4 3.9
Flexible Drives 139.0 146.6 152.5 153.9 145.0
Totals 441.9 490.3 528.7 565.4 584.6
CONTACT: Peripheral Research Corp., Santa Barbara
Dennis Waid, 805/563-9720
waidprc@aol.com
or
Coughlin Associates
Tom Coughlin, 408/978-8184
TMCoughlin@aol.com
Cksla... re the Toshiba Pocket PC (slated for July introduction):
"Can you imagine a Toshiba Pocket PC running on a 400 mhz XScale processor, using the new Toshiba MPEG4 video decoder chip, and having a 500 meg data source for video files?"
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles/dataplay.html
Regarding chatroom problems:
If you can't get the chat applet to run, try clearing your browser cache first. In Internet Explorer, select Tools pull-down menu, then Internet Options. Under the General tab, click the Delete Files button to clear the Temporary Internet Files.
Real Progress in Secure Music
By Brad King
2:00 a.m. June 7, 2001 PDT
http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,44365,00.html
RealNetworks appears on the verge of controlling the digital music security platform after the company brokered a deal between three major labels and Napster.
The recording industry has continually demanded that Napster adopt security measures that include tracking software and digital rights management.
On Tuesday, Warner Music, BMG, and EMI agreed to license music to Napster once the company developed a secure system. According to sources familiar with the deal, Napster will roll out the first version of its new secure format in the summer with content from independent and non-major label artists.
Sounds easy enough: Create a secure system, get the content. So far, that goal has been rather elusive -– until RealNetworks stepped in.
The MusicNet deal now offers not only a potential distribution network that would rival any offline retail store, but also sets up RealNetworks to develop the standard for music delivery on the Internet.
Once Napster proves it can deliver content in a secure manner, it will then be allowed to deliver music from the major labels.
This is where it gets weird. The major labels appear to be forcing Napster to prove its competency. The thing is, for Napster to deliver music through MusicNet they will have to use the RealNetworks security system.
It all adds up to a situation where RealNetworks should be able to -- by virtue of its huge customer reach -- set the standard for delivering music over the Internet in a way that protects content providers from having their product ripped off.
This is because standards can't be developed until everyone is on board. Until Napster's deal with MusicNet, the five labels and the technology community didn't have a real reason to come together -- outside of the potential revenue boost that might come from adopting a standard.
When RealNetworks and MusicNet CEO Rob Glaser said "if you combine the reach of RealNetworks, AOL, and Napster, we have a very far reach," he might have made the understatement of the year. By a conservative estimate, the new service could reach over 100 million users.
While 100 million is a lot by any standard, when compared to television ratings, the reach gets more impressive. According to the Nielsen ratings, just under 11 million people tuned in to watch the No. 1 rated show, 60 Minutes.
That might be apples to oranges, though, comparing ratings to potential reach.
So the MusicNet reach would also be comparable to the reach of televisions across America, as Nielsen's estimates that just over 100 million households in the country have TVs.
That gives the company a huge online distribution base –- one that each of the labels will want to have for their music.
Sony and Universal -- the other two major labels -- aren't part of MusicNet; those companies started their own service called Duet.
RealNetworks knew that if Napster negotiated a deal with Duet, it could get shut out. After all, Napster has 70 million registered users, and if Napster had access to all the music content, it could set the security standard.
So there is a clause in the Napster/MusicNet licensing agreement that keeps Napster from deploying its .NAP security wrapper as the standard, secure digital media file.
And this is how RealNetworks positioned itself to become the default security setting in digital music.
"We are precluded from working with Duet, but we want to work with all the labels on this," said Napster CEO Hank Barry during Tuesday's press conference announcing the MusicNet deal. "We're hoping we can have Sony and Universal music through MusicNet, since clearly there is a desire on the part of the consumer to have an integrated music experience."
Oh, and one more thing. MusicNet –- a music subscription licensing company jointly owned by RealNetworks, Warner Music, BMG and EMI -- doesn't even have a system in place yet.
Despite the sketchy details on how the system will be deployed, RealNetworks (RNWK), America Online and Napster will be using the service to sell and distribute music later this summer.
Of course, all of this would have been impossible had the recording industry's initiative to create a secure standard not imploded.
The Secure Digital Music Initiative, an international organization put together by the major record labels in conjunction with hardware and software makers, has continually sputtered on its way to developing secure digital media standards.
The group was already limping along after its first year, but many attributed any success the group had to its executive director, Leonardo Chiariglione. When he decided to leave in January, the group's problems were magnified.
A public challenge to hackers inviting them to try to break the four watermarking technologies being considered as standards led to a fight with Princeton University professor Edward Felton. Felton and his team wanted to publish the results of their four hacks, but SDMI pressured the team into silence.
On Wednesday, Felton asked a federal court to grant his team permission to publish their results later this summer at a conference.
The consortium also decided to take a recess over the summer, allowing companies to come back and strategize on how to proceed. With its watermarking technologies hacked and without a leader, the group has decided to reconsider its mission.
Over the last two years, SDMI has seen its membership grow to over 200 companies. While SDMI doesn't keep a running tally of its turnover rate, the organization has filed over six petitions with the Federal Trade Commission informing the government agency of changes.
In its last filing on April 24, SDMI lost a net total of 17 companies, including ArtistDirect.com, Digital Media on Demand and Cognicity.
Several companies have left the organization for economic reasons. AudioTrack ceased its operations, while Supertracks has laid off a large majority of its staff while searching for a buyer.
Digital music service provider Hit Hive, however, said the changing nature of the organization caused them to reconsider their involvement with the group.
"We didn't feel that our business model made our participation important anymore because we are technology agnostic," said Cynthia Land, Hit Hive's director of public relations.
"It's much more important to spend time putting together business agreements. We can't spend the amount of time on this project, and frankly, whatever SDMI decides, it's not that important to us because we can work with any technology."
Editor's note: During my last trip to Hong Kong, Samsung also showed me the Motion Yepp ($499.99), which has MPEG video playback capability. The player can play crystal clear MTV and the sound surpasses anything I heard before. From my personal experience, the Motion Yepp will be the next highlight in the Mp3 market when it's ready. - Ian Chiu, 6/19/00
http://www.usbworkshop.com/mp3/productwatch_003.htm
Also "• Photo Yepp (Samsung; $399) This lightweight handheld MP3 player has 64 megabytes of internal memory and a 2-inch LCD screen. Photos of musical artists leap onto the screen when users crank up MP3 and other digital music. Another model called the Motion Yepp ($499) will display MPEG-4 videos, many of which will be available through a partnership with MTV. http://www.dougbedell.com/ces2001.html
The Motion Yepp has been mentioned by Samsung as far back as late 1999; it would appear that many products are being delayed pending content availability.
Pam, it's a paraphrase of Fred's PR remarks... Fred Falk, e.Digital's president and CEO, said, "Sony's ATRAC3 is one of the premier music codecs available and it is gaining support from a number of companies in the industry including online music providers. e.Digital's designs for portable Internet music players will now be able to play ATRAC3-encoded files in real time without transcoding." He continued, "We will work together with Sony and other partners to build players with the maximum sound quality and compression, and to promote secure, SDMI-capable designs that support music content from the major record labels."
http://www.edig.com/news/releases/pr032300.html
OT to Sentinel...
Some other Dowon stuff...
Oct1999 - Established US Office in San Diego
May 2000 - joint-stock corporation Xdio (ownership:15%) development of electricity, electronic and communication devices; - joint-stock corporation VisualTek (ownership:15%) development of internet video/audio
http://www.dowontelecom.com/~eng/company/history.html
Napster Deal with MusicNet Would Combine Two Universes, Requiring Two Subscriptions
June 05, 2001 by Mark Lewis
As major labels work double-time to neutralize previous leaks, song-swap service Napster is on the cusp of announcing a licensing deal with three major labels that would bring their content into a commercial Napster service, but would require users to pay two separate subscriptions and use two separate software players.
A source familiar with Napster's plans says it is close to announcing that a paid version of its song-swap service -- which may launch late this summer -- will incorporate a subscription service offering downloads from AOL Time Warner's Warner Music Group, Bertelsmann's BMG Entertainment and EMI Recorded Music. The major labels' service, called MusicNet and developed by software company RealNetworks, would be blended into Napster, but would require a separate monthly payment on top of Napster's still-to-be-determined monthly fee.
The basic Napster service would allow users to trade unlimited files from independent artists and Napster partners TVT Records and Edel Music, but it has not been settled whether the that trading area would include tracks owned by Bertelsmann -- which loaned Napster $60 million last fall to develop a service that pays royalties to rights holders. Bertelsmann is in a tight position because it has committed to MusicNet as the vehicle through which its music will be licensed for Internet distribution.
The first version of the Napster/MusicNet service would include two searching windows within the Napster client -- one for Napster's song-swap material and another for MusicNet tracks. Both types of files will be protected by rights management technology that will prevent users from copying them to CDs. Users are expected to be able to create a single playlist with both Napster and MusicNet tracks, but Napster tracks automatically play on Napster's internal software player, while the MusicNet tracks will play on a RealNetworks application. While that may generate some confusion for users, it is considered a compromise measure that had to be taken to get access to MusicNet's content.
Napster users will be able to swap MusicNet tracks with each other, as long as other users also have subscriptions to MusicNet. But because those MusicNet tracks will be available through Napster's MusicNet gateway, users will likely obtain them from MusicNet's central servers, not from another user. MusicNet will manage subscribers' access; it would only allow access to a limited number of downloads per month and ensure that tracks expire when users stop paying a monthly subscription.
Later this year, Napster is expected to introduce an integrated version of the two services, combining the search function on one screen. MusicNet tracks will be identified, and users will be prompted to pay for a subscription if they wish to download them.
Earlier today, some major label sources denied they were licensing their content to Napster, or released cautious statements that Napster would have to demonstrate an anti-piracy system protecting their content before any deal would be cut.
Napster's delivery of the MusicNet service also requires that MusicNet obtains licenses from publishers, and could require that complex litigation and Copyright Office proceedings over royalties for subscription services are resolved.
Financial terms of the Napster deal are not expected to be disclosed. The deal is a coup for the revenue-hungry service, which has seen a drastic decline in users since a federal judge in March required the service to prevent users from trading copyrighted music owned by BMG, EMI, Warner and two other major labels, Sony Corp.'s Sony Music Entertainment and Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group.
Sony and Universal are partners in a separate subscription venture called Duet, and the terms of the Napster deal are believed to implicate them. As first reported by the New York Times, Napster's deal with MusicNet will preclude Napster from obtaining a license to distribute the Duet service for a limited time. The Times reported that MusicNet was attempting to pressure Duet into joining their effort, but combination of all five majors into one service will likely draw scrutiny from antitrust regulators.
http://news.webnoize.com/item.rs?ID=13272
SDMI Continues Slide with a Net Loss of 18 Companies
June 05, 2001 by Dave Brigham
Amid speculation of its pending demise due to ongoing technical and political struggles, the Secure Digital Music Initiative has reported a net loss of 18 member companies.
In a routine filing with the Federal Trade Commission, SDMI said nine companies have joined the music security effort, and 27 have left the initiative, since its last filing on September 21, 2000. The filing is required under the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993.
An SDMI spokeswoman could not provide the initiative's total current membership, which has been as high as 200. A list at the SDMI web site includes 147 companies and organizations.
New member companies include NTRU Cryptosystems, Tokyo-based J-Phone Communications and Seoul-based MPMan.com. The FTC filing also lists IBM as a new member. However, the computer industry giant first joined SDMI as part of the 4C Entity (IBM, Intel, Matsushita, Toshiba) when the initiative was founded in December 1998 [see 12.15.98 RIAA Initiative to Establish Standard for Downloadable Music]. Those four companies have since joined as separate SDMI members.
The members departing SDMI include online music companies ARTISTdirect and Musicmaker.com; digital watermark technology developers AudioTrack Watermark Solutions and Cognicity; and digital media technology companies HitHive, Loudeye Technologies and Supertracks. At least some of these companies have struggled financially, with ARTISTdirect, Loudeye and Supertracks laying off workers over the last several months, and Musicmaker going out of business.
Supertracks left SDMI last October; company CEO Charles Jennings said at the time that SDMI is "not connected to where the market is going."
Cognicity submitted two proposals to SDMI a year ago for screening technology that would facilitate a second phase of a proposed security standard for commercial digital music [see 05.03.00 EMI, Others Submit SDMI Technology Proposals].
Last month, executives from the music, consumer electronics and information technology industries that make up SDMI effectively threw in the towel after a two-and-a-half year effort to create a sealed system of protected CDs and playback devices that would reject unauthorized music files [see 05.29.01 SDMI Pushed into Dormancy by Disagreements, not Watermark Vulnerabilities]. Members were not convinced that existing components of a technology system could do the job and operate without problems, SDMI members said.
SDMI is scheduled to meet again in September, though some members said the project is probably dead in the short- and mid-term; other members believe the initiative can make headway.
http://news.webnoize.com/item.rs?ID=13266
OT: EMI to Develop Encrypted CD-Burning System with Roxio
June 05, 2001 by Jay Kumar
EMI Recorded Music and CD-burning software developer Roxio plan to develop a commercial system that lets consumers burn digital music onto CDs. The partners have released few details of the venture, which likely won't debut this year.
The proposed system would let users of Roxio's CD burning products, which include Easy CD Creator and Toast, burn encrypted digital tracks from EMI onto CDs. Such a system would allow EMI to capitalize on consumer activities that the recording industry claims steals an ever-increasing amount of profits.
Sales of CD burners were up 65% in November compared to the previous year, according to PC Data. Global music sales dropped 1.2% in units in 2000, due in part to online piracy and CD burning, especially in France, Germany and Italy, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry [see 04.19.01 IFPI Blames Global Sales Dip on Free Online Music].
The system Roxio is developing will provide security to EMI. Roxio President and CEO Chris Gorog said he hopes that within a year, Roxio users will be able to burn EMI's Windows Media-encoded tracks to a recordable CD if they have paid for that right. "Our software will be encoded so it can understand when a consumer has agreed to pay to burn a track," he said. "We will enable the burn to happen."
As part of the deal, EMI made an undisclosed equity investment in Roxio.
A subsidiary of computer storage technology company Adaptec, Milipitas, Calif.-based Roxio is in discussions to form similar pacts with two other major label groups. Gorog would not disclose the identities of the label groups, but he said Roxio hopes to eventually have deals in place with all five major labels.
EMI and Roxio have yet to work out a pricing model for their initiative. Roxio's preference is to establish a tiered system that lets the consumer pay for a download first and then decide later if he or she wants to burn the track.
"It's a little theoretical," said Gorog. "What we're talking about is a massive sea change...We're in effect positioning this to replace bricks-and-mortar distribution. Ten years from now, I believe this will be the dominant way to distribute audio and video."
Additionally, Roxio hopes to have a role in MusicNet, the online subscription platform that EMI is backing along with AOL Time Warner, Bertelsmann and RealNetworks. "We'd hope to be the burning engine for MusicNet," said Gorog, who added that Roxio would like to serve a similar role with Duet, the subscription service being developed by Sony Music and Universal Music Group.
Gorog said Roxio's software eventually would bundle the various encryption technologies used by the labels with which it has deals. While Roxio's role in downloadable music sales may take years to sort out, it could prove profitable for the company. "Financially, it should mean a lot to us to be the company that has figured out how to do this," he said.
Roxio was recently sued by music recognition technology developer Gracenote for opting to use a similar open-source music database instead of Gracenote's commercial service
http://news.webnoize.com/item.rs?ID=13256
Cksla, re Delphi...
"Eyes on the road-hands on the wheel- mind on the driving- Delphi's Mobile Productivity Center (MPCpro) makes your Palm come to life with voice activated commands to access Palm functions such as request phone numbers and auto dial via an Ericsson phone or reads scheduled appointments, memos and other stored information while driving in your vehicle."
http://199.44.76.172/booth/standard.cfm?key=Del939
Delphi Automotive Systems 'One-Step, One-Touch' MPCpro Designed To Keep Drivers Linked And Focused
For Release: March 6, 2001
Detroit - Designed to link busy commuters to personal and business information while focusing on the road ahead, the Delphi Automotive Systems Communiport® MPCpro (Mobile Productivity Center) is being showcased at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2001 World Congress. Delphi's portable communication device was presented as part of the SAE Strategic Alliance demonstration on technologies that help driver's maintain their focus on driving.
The MPCpro docks a cell phone with a Palm V or Vx personal hand-held computer. The Palm unit and the telephone sit side-by-side in a specially designed cradle. The device helps active people save time and increase productivity by allowing them to use the cell phone and to access information from the Palm handheld computer in their vehicles, all by voice.
"Our design team successfully minimized the steps and simplified the operation of the MPC," said Bob Schumacher, Delphi business line director for Wireless Products and general director of Mobile MultiMedia. "We developed a one-touch, one-step approach that is intuitive to learn. This unique interface allows the driver to access the information by simply asking for it through a verbal request or command."
The unit uses voice activation to request information and reads information by text-to-speech through a low-power FM transmitter that plays back through an available FM channel on the vehicle's audio system.
After activating the unit by pressing one button, all other functions of the MPCpro are designed to be performed hands-free, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. The unit features one large activation button and once the "one-touch" button is activated a computer voice tells the user that the unit is "ready."
The user can then ask the MPCpro unit for the information from the Palm handheld computer's "to do" list or retrieve telephone numbers from the Palm's address book and dial them automatically by voice command. The date book, memo pad and other Palm functions are also operated by voice.
For example, the user can give the MPCpro a command for the address book and the machine responds to confirm the command. The user then says, "John Doe." The MPCpro confirms the name by asking the question, "did you say John Doe?" The user replies "yes," and the unit automatically dials John Doe's telephone number from the address book. The user then talks hands-free to the person on the receiving end of the call.
When using the MPC, the display on the Palm unit is designed to be off and inactive so that the operator cannot attempt to read any information on the display while driving. The MPC activates in the vehicle through voice only.
The Communiport MPCpro is powered by a 12-volt accessory outlet and is designed to minimize power consumption when left in the vehicle. The unit can be installed in any of three installation areas. Depending on the vehicle configuration and owner preference, the MPCpro can be installed by a dashboard mount, windshield mount or cupholder. The unit is also equipped with charging circuits to maintain the rechargeable battery in the telephone.
The MPCpro went on sale earlier this year for a retail price of $499. The Palm hand-held computer and cell phone are sold separately. It is initially being sold over the Internet at www.delphiauto.com/communiport.
For more information, please contact:
Milton Beach, [1] 765.451.0655, - or - John Shea, [1] 248.813.2528
http://www.delphiauto.com/index.cfm?location=2579
Other Delphi stuff:
http://www.delphiauto.ro/index.cfm?location=381
Sanyo's booth at PCXPO in NYC:
http://199.44.76.172/booth/standard.cfm?key=San479
E.DIGITAL AND RIOPORT, INC. COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP SEAMLESS, SECURE INTERNET MUSIC DELIVERY SYSTEM
SAN DIEGO, CA - January 6, 2000 - e.Digital Corporation (OTC: EDIG) today announced an agreement with RioPort, Inc., a pioneer in the digital audio download market, to integrate RioPort's secure digital audio platform with e.Digital's Internet music player design. As a result, e.Digital will be able to provide portable hardware manufacturers with a secure, licensable solution for seamlessly delivering digital audio content to consumers.
Atul Anandpura, vice president of research & development at e.Digital, said, "While e.Digital's player can play multiple codecs seamlessly and support major Digital Rights Management schemes, e.Digital wanted to partner with a company that can provide a complete, integrated solution for enabling the end user to easily download secure digital audio content to the player without encountering incompatibility issues. e.Digital's design will support the RioPort Audio Manager jukebox software to allow seamless delivery of secure digital audio content to the portable player."
RioPort will provide compatibility to e.Digital's designs through its RioPort Audio Manager software and other related software tools including the RioPort Media Device Manager API (R)MDM, allowing consumers to easily transport digital audio content from the Internet directly to portable devices that use the e.Digital design.
Fred Falk, president and CEO of e.Digital, added, "This is an appealing option for licensees because it makes it easier for end users to locate and download a wide variety of secure popular audio content from RioPort's network of digital audio partners, in one easy step. The e.Digital music player design features Lucent's ePAC music compression and is forward-compatible with several music formats, which will allow consumers easy access to content today and in the future as new compression schemes are adopted. This design's flexibility will be a big benefit to both hardware licensees and to end users."
Anthony Schaller, chief technology officer at RioPort, stated, "Our relationship with e.Digital extends our capabilities to provide a variety of hardware manufacturers with our integrated RioPort platform. This partnership will result in an easier, seamless digital audio experience for consumers, which will help expand the digital audio market as a whole."
About RioPort
RioPort, Inc. is redefining digital audio by delivering an integrated, secure platform for acquiring, managing and experiencing music and spoken audio programming from the Internet. A pioneer in the digital audio market, RioPort partners with companies to provide them with an easy-to-use platform that includes access to a wide range of digital audio content, customizable software solutions and device design services. For consumers, RioPort provides easy access to a variety of popular and innovative music and word programming through its RioPort.com digital audio getaway site. In addition, RioPort markets the RioPort Audio Manager, an easy-to-use jukebox application for the acquisition, management and playback of digital audio content from the desktop or RioPort compatible portable appliances, which the company licenses to third parties. RioPort also provides content companies with production services, including encoding and secure packaging, allowing them to easily get their content into the hands of digital audio enthusiasts. RioPort's investment partners include Vulcan Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, MTV Networks Online and S3, Inc. RioPort's Web site is at www.rioport.com.
About e.Digital
e.Digital Corporation offers an engineering partnership for the world's leading electronics companies to link portable digital devices to PCs and the Internet. Engineering services range from the licensing of e.Digital's patented MicroOSTM file management system to custom software and hardware development and manufacturing services. For more information on the company, visit www.edig.com.
http://www.edig.com/news/releases/pr010600a.html
Duke, when creating graphics such as those in our brochure ("artist's conceptions"), it's fairly common to cut and paste a graphic block to multiple renderings. That's probably what happened in this case.
FWIW, cksla, the Intel Pocket Concert is produced by Samsung - the agreement between Intel and TriGem is for bundling the player with PCs.
MUST READ FOR OWNERS OF EDIG IN FORTUNE...
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=689520
So what has MTV been doing while all this wrangling has been going on? Its first move was to get its hands on the music. A San Jose technology company called RioPort--in which MTV (and Microsoft) are investors--quietly signed deals with all the major labels to license and sell their music. RioPort then made the music available to MTV, a division of Viacom. Why were the record companies willing to give their music to RioPort and MTV? Stunningly, they did so in part because they felt it would help keep Congress at bay. "The MTV deal is just another way to get content out, because there's this threat of compulsory licensing hanging over the industry," says Andreas Schmidt, president of Bertelsmann's e-commerce group.
To keep the record companies happy, RioPort has developed a system that allows its music to be downloaded onto any "secure" portable player--but prevents it from being transferred to a friend's player. And it has figured out ways to accept music in a variety of technologies--the record companies all have their preferred, often incompatible formats--yet make those different formats almost indistinguishable to the consumer.
Be sure to read all three pages...
http://www.fortune.com/indexw.jhtml?channel=artcol.jhtml&doc_id=202774
E.DIGITAL AND RIOPORT, INC. COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP SEAMLESS, SECURE INTERNET MUSIC DELIVERY SYSTEM
SAN DIEGO, CA - January 6, 2000 - e.Digital Corporation (OTC: EDIG) today announced an agreement with RioPort, Inc., a pioneer in the digital audio download market, to integrate RioPort's secure digital audio platform with e.Digital's Internet music player design. As a result, e.Digital will be able to provide portable hardware manufacturers with a secure, licensable solution for seamlessly delivering digital audio content to consumers.
Atul Anandpura, vice president of research & development at e.Digital, said, "While e.Digital's player can play multiple codecs seamlessly and support major Digital Rights Management schemes, e.Digital wanted to partner with a company that can provide a complete, integrated solution for enabling the end user to easily download secure digital audio content to the player without encountering incompatibility issues. e.Digital's design will support the RioPort Audio Manager jukebox software to allow seamless delivery of secure digital audio content to the portable player."
RioPort will provide compatibility to e.Digital's designs through its RioPort Audio Manager software and other related software tools including the RioPort Media Device Manager API (R)MDM, allowing consumers to easily transport digital audio content from the Internet directly to portable devices that use the e.Digital design.
Fred Falk, president and CEO of e.Digital, added, "This is an appealing option for licensees because it makes it easier for end users to locate and download a wide variety of secure popular audio content from RioPort's network of digital audio partners, in one easy step. The e.Digital music player design features Lucent's ePAC music compression and is forward-compatible with several music formats, which will allow consumers easy access to content today and in the future as new compression schemes are adopted. This design's flexibility will be a big benefit to both hardware licensees and to end users."
Anthony Schaller, chief technology officer at RioPort, stated, "Our relationship with e.Digital extends our capabilities to provide a variety of hardware manufacturers with our integrated RioPort platform. This partnership will result in an easier, seamless digital audio experience for consumers, which will help expand the digital audio market as a whole."
About RioPort
RioPort, Inc. is redefining digital audio by delivering an integrated, secure platform for acquiring, managing and experiencing music and spoken audio programming from the Internet. A pioneer in the digital audio market, RioPort partners with companies to provide them with an easy-to-use platform that includes access to a wide range of digital audio content, customizable software solutions and device design services. For consumers, RioPort provides easy access to a variety of popular and innovative music and word programming through its RioPort.com digital audio getaway site. In addition, RioPort markets the RioPort Audio Manager, an easy-to-use jukebox application for the acquisition, management and playback of digital audio content from the desktop or RioPort compatible portable appliances, which the company licenses to third parties. RioPort also provides content companies with production services, including encoding and secure packaging, allowing them to easily get their content into the hands of digital audio enthusiasts. RioPort's investment partners include Vulcan Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, MTV Networks Online and S3, Inc. RioPort's Web site is at www.rioport.com.
About e.Digital
e.Digital Corporation offers an engineering partnership for the world's leading electronics companies to link portable digital devices to PCs and the Internet. Engineering services range from the licensing of e.Digital's patented MicroOSTM file management system to custom software and hardware development and manufacturing services. For more information on the company, visit www.edig.com.
# # #
Safe Harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance, technology and product development that may impact on future results and the future viability of the company. Actual results could be affected or differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors such as: future products and results; technological shifts; potential technical difficulties that could delay new products; competition; general economic conditions in the markets in which the company operates; the ability of the company, its customers, and suppliers to become Year 2000 compliant; pricing pressures; and the uncertainty of market acceptance of new products by OEM's and end-user customers.
Note to Editors: e.Digital and MicroOS are trademarks of e.Digital Corporation. Lucent and ePAC are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lucent Technologies. SanDisk and CompactFlash are trademarks or registered trademarks of SanDisk Corporation. All other product, company, or service names are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACTS:
e.Digital Corporation
Robert Putnam or Wendy Ravenel
(858) 679-1504
http://www.edig.com/news/releases/pr010600a.html
http://www.edig.com/news/releases/pr010600a.html
This first time poster at RB captured the current state of affairs pretty well:
EDIG's announcements and demonstrations of early
prototypes, without later product sales, especially
when the marketplace is now flooded with
similar products, only heighten the expectations of
EDIG investors. The continued delay of the TREO and
the MayCom MP2000 being "missing-in-action" also raise
anticipation.
Multi-codec capability is not even on the
list of the consumer's needs at the moment.
MicroOS may yet show promise as a wider standard
if the DataPlay devices are a hit. Even then,
though, the DataPlay is OS-agnostic.
In the real world, concrete accomplishments are
more valuable than future goals, although those too
have value. Delays, inaction, and excuses are
understandable and tolerable, but they should be
remedied quickly and counterbalanced by
performance, measured by actualization of
of stated purposes. This is the function of any
company's management, if they are serious about
achieving goals in the marketplace. Thereby,
investors achieve goals in the stock market.
I have nothing against EDIG's management on a personal
level, nor am I aware of any ethical lapses. I am
willing to accept that EDIG may not be the prime
source of news as to when/where/how their technology
is being used, due to NDA's.
I have been observing this board for almost two
years. I have invested in a few thousand shares.
I would like nothing more than to see EDIG succeed.
I have also acknowledged that buying the stock was
and remains to be SPECULATION which implies RISK.
I should be able to reach some conclusions about
future potential by Q2 2002. By then, product
deliveries or financial statements will tell the
tale. New devices will be selling, and, after
chaos and false starts, the directions of the
major content and device producers and the
marketplace will be clear.
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=689483
For in-depth DD reading, see links at http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=66673
New Sharp Linux PDA to have wireless streaming video
Mar. 21, 2001
Hannover, Germany; CeBIT -- (press release excerpt) -- Sharp Corp. and PacketVideo Corp. today announced a licensing agreement to integrate PacketVideo's industry-leading wireless multimedia delivery technology into Sharp's recently developed Linux-based wireless devices. Detailed terms were not disclosed under the royalty-bearing licensing agreement, but Sharp will embed PVPlayer, PacketVideo's multimedia decoding software product, into Sharp's new Linux-based wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), prepared as an attractive option for wireless network operators. PVPlayer enables consumers to view high quality wireless multimedia applications such as news, sports highlights, traffic reports and live video viewing on mobile devices, with full-motion video and audio.
PacketVideo's PVPlayer is a component of PVPlatform, an MPEG-4 compliant, end-to-end system that enables wireless operators, device and silicon manufacturers, and content providers to deliver multimedia over existing and next generation wireless networks.
One of the most significant recent enhancements to PVPlatform is FrameTrack, a dynamic rate control technology developed by PacketVideo. FrameTrack provides uninterrupted video and audio streaming at the best possible quality in error-prone wireless networks with varying bit rates. PVServer, PacketVideo's server software, uses FrameTrack to adjust the frame rate automatically for individual subscribers based on video quality information detected by PVPlayer in real time.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2343412027.html
Details emerge on Sharp's Linux-PDA program
Jun. 01, 2001
According to a well-placed source . . .
The widely-anticipated prototype of Sharp's PDA device will be on display at Booth #613 of JavaOne in San Francisco next week to attract application development
The new platform is based on Java Application environment language, running on top of an embedded Linux OS
The exterior of the prototype will be of the Japan-market Zaurus but it will run on the Java/Linux platform
At JavaOne, Sharp will announce the launch of a detailed program to spur application development for its upcoming PDA devices
A program website will be operational Monday (June 4, 2001) at developer.sharpsec.com, where there will be details on support, prototype availability, contests, and incentives
Sharp will announce working agreements with three software development companies for application development in addition to Amiga, already announced
Further details will be disclosed regarding the Sharp/Lineo collaboration on development of an embedded Linux OS for the next-generation Sharp PDA.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5490423136.html
Which browser is used in Sharp's new Linux-PDA?
Jun. 04, 2001
San Francisco, CA; JavaOne -- (press release excerpt) -- ACCESS Co., Ltd. announced a new version of it's flagship NetFront Internet browser for Sharp's new Java/Linux based PDA. This new international version prototype of Sharp's Zaurus PDA, running the ACCESS Internet browser, will be demonstrated in Sharp's booth (#613) and at ACCESS' booth (#1316) at the JavaOne 2001 conference in San Francisco, CA.
"We are very interested in NetFront as an essential component of our new PDA. NetFront's performance and reliability have been proven in millions of information appliances sold in the market and we expect it to become the key application for our PDA in enabling the networking functions," said Hiroshi Uno, Division General Manager of Sharp Mobile Systems Division.
Sharp's Zaurus is the most popular PDA in Japan, with total shipments of over two million units since its introduction in 1993. In March of this year, Sharp announced that it will target the worldwide market with this new PDA by supporting Linux and Java. Sharp expects to ship this product later this fall.
Specifically designed for embedded applications, [NetFront has been] incorporated into televisions, set-top boxes, PDAs, dedicated word processors, web phones, Intranet terminals, video game consoles, smart phones, e-mail terminals, car navigation systems, and kiosk terminals. NetFront has been optimized to deliver maximum performance with limited hardware resources. It offers a low-power, low-cost solution that works with any operating system or CPU. Its user interface can be easily customized.
The initial NetFront browser on [the prototype Sharp Java/Linux PDA that] will be demonstrated at JavaOne 2001, is based on NetFront version 2.6, and it supports JavaScript, cookies, and the HTML-based CSE (Client Side Extension) application extension structure. Other standard features supported in NetFront 2.6, such as SSL, web printing, multilingual capabilities, and other plug-in modules will be added in future revisions.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3244728556.html
Further details on Sharp Linux-PDA software suite
San Francisco; JavaOne --Jun. 04, 2001 (press release excerpt) -- Sharp Corporation today announced that it has entered into discussions for alliance and/or collaboration with software development companies Access, Pumatech, and Office Noa to develop applications software for its Java/Linux platform for Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).
Sharp is demonstrating prototypes of a Java/Linux-based PDA platform for application development here at the JavaOneSM Conference, Sharp Booth No.613, held June 4-8 in Moscone Center. The prototypes incorporate both the Java application environment from Sun Microsystems, Inc., open-architecture Linux operating system, and other software.
Previously, Amiga, Inc. previously announced it is developing existing and new Java applications for Sharp's new PDA environment for gaming, 2D, 3D, animation, video, and music. Sharp's newest potential partners in application development are:
Access, which provides the Netfront browser-based software for PDAs
Office Noa, with its Nancy Technology to develop software for video and multimedia in wireless environments; and
Pumatech, which provides synchronization software between PDAs and other computer environments.
Sharp Corporation, the largest maker of handheld devices in Japan, has previously stated that in the Fall 2001 it will be marketing a new series of Java-based handheld devices on a global basis, with a goal of selling one million units worldwide by March 2002. Through the rapid development of JavaTM technology developed by Sun Microsystems as a common software implementation environment, Sharp is seeking global leadership in content, software and processing power for handheld communications in entertainment, multimedia and mobile business applications for consumers. Also, the Linux operating system is gaining wider acceptance among computer makers and software developers because of its versatility, power, and distribution.
"We intend to aggressively combine Java with Sharp's user interface technology and core devices, particularly LCDs, to develop powerful handheld products in wireless communication, data integration, multimedia, and PIM-based applications," said Hiroshi Uno, general manager, Mobile Systems Division, Sharp Corporation, Japan. "Sharp is seeing tremendous early promise from Access in browser technology, Amiga in gaming, Office Noa in multimedia/video, and Pumatech in synchronization. These are positive indicators that the developer community can create remarkable applications for Java-based handheld devices."
During JavaOne, Sharp will conduct mobile solution demonstrations with Access, Amiga and Office Noa at Booth No.613, Moscone Center. Over the next 90 days, Sharp intends to make several announcements of creative applications coming from the Java developer community for its next generation of handheld products using the powerful Java/Linux platform.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4813332987.html
Amiga Inc's PDA Relationship with Sharp Announced
Amiga Inc used the St. Louis show to announce their relationship with the Sharp Corporation over the Zaurus PDA, which will be marked both in the United States and Europe.
The role of Amiga Inc in regards to the Sharp handheld appears to be significant as Amiga Inc intends to harness the talent of the Amiga developer community to produce applications and games software. The statement issued by Amiga Inc stated, “its developer community would either develop new content or adapt existing content for PDA applications”. Dr. Hiroshi Uno of the Sharp Corporation clearly believes that the Amiga developer community is valuable to Sharp as he said, “Amiga has an outstanding reputation for software development. We anticipate that the alliance with Amiga will create a lot of momentum for the Zaurus PDA”.
It seems as if the Amiga developer community, which has been suffering due to the dwindling number of users may have a new market to tap into. Amiga President, Bill McEwen seems convinced that the Amiga Community has plenty to offer, “Amiga is excited to be part of the Zaurus PDA project, and we look forward to bringing the excitement, brilliant content and magic of the Amiga community to Sharp”, adding, “We intend to develop some really great applications as consumers more fully understand the great potential and skill set of the Amiga community”.
Some Amiga users have expressed concern that Amiga Inc is concentrating its efforts too much on the PDA market and thus ignoring the traditional market targets of the Amiga platform. However, Gary Peak of Amiga Inc has reiterated that they intend, “to cover everything from PDA's and cell phones, set top boxes, and servers”. As Amiga Flame has consistently pointed out the PDA market represents one strand of Amiga Inc's overall plans.
This announcement is a highly significant development, which cannot be downplayed, as the Sharp Corporation is vast global company with their products found throughout the world. Amiga Inc starting from humble beginnings has developed a relationship with a powerful company, which will offer Amiga Inc and Amiga developers an opportunity to establish the Amiga spirit in the PDA market.
In related news from the St. Louis show, it was confirmed by Fleecy Moss of Amiga Inc, that they are working to have the Amiga Digital Environment running on Psion. It has been claimed by some sources that a Psion notebook (PDA) running the Amiga DE will be out in a few weeks. More news is expected soon on this development.
http://www.amigaflame.co.uk/amishar.htm
Will You DataPlay?
Will your store soon be carrying DataPlay? It’s the new format developed by DataPlay, Inc. that simplifies the way people connect with digital content they buy and create. The company has accomplished this by developing universal media solution for access to all digital content across all digital devices and platforms.
“The key thing is that it is not a replacement, but an addition” to existing products says PAT QUIGLEY, Sr. VP and chief marketing officer. “It is a different cultural experience,” than the CD.
Besides being portable Dataplay will allow record companies to burn additional albums, bonus tracks, videos, club mixes, etc., on to the disc. This creates the perfect opportunity for an “upsell.” All the consumer needs is the “key” to open the information...and the “key” could be on your store’s Website. It’s an innovative solution to keeping retailers in the loop and adding value for consumers. DataPlay wants to “use the retailer as a distribution point,” says QUIGLEY.
In addition, there is the opportunity for products to use music and artists as part of their branding. For instance, a customer might be able to go to the Nike Website to get the key for song from a new or established artist. But more than music will be available. The disc can accommodate video, unreleased photos, tour schedules, games and more.
The company’s mission is to meet both consumer and industry needs by creating and championing simple and standardized media solution for all things digital. It has received the financial support of leading consumer electronics and content companies such as Universal Music Group, Toshiba Corporation, Samsumg Electronics, S3 Incorporated and Imation Corporation and several others.
DataPlay digital media will be sold as single-sided 250MB discs and double-sided 500MB discs. Blanks discs will retail for between $5 and $12 and will support downloaded Internet published content as well as the transfer and storage of desired content from other sources. Pre-recorded or mastered content on DataPlay digital media will be available from multiple content publishers in all content areas and will retail for about the same cost as comparable music, video, book or software products today.
The DataPlay micro-optical engine is about the size of a matchbook and will be licensed to be incorporated in a variety of consumers electronics devices. These include digital music players, digital cameras, PDA’s, portable games, wireless devices and more. The most important trend this will create will be transforming single-fixed-function devices into multiple-use tools. This means, for example that one device can act as a wireless phone, PDA, music and game player. Using high compression technology DataPlay digital media can hold up to 11 hours of music or combinations of music, images, video, documents, software and other digital content on a single disc.
As digital age moves into Act 2, it seems that record retailers will finally be able to profit from new technology. PETE JONES, President and CEO of BMG distribution and Associated Labels, notes that, ”The feedback from both retail and labels to DataPlay has been overwhelmingly positive.” LARRY KENSWIL, President of eLabs, Universal Music Group adds that, The DataPlay disc is a win for fans, artists and music companies.” Let’s hope it is for record retailers as well.
OVERVIEW:
At the heart of the offering are three categories: DataPlay digital media, DataPlay micro-optical engines and ContentKey, a content, marketing and e-commerce tool.
Key features of DataPlay digital media include:
Universal - Supports all content types and works in all device types;
Pre-recorded content and user recorded content on the same media.
Portable - Allows content access on highly mobile devices such as cell phones PGD’s, portable music players, etc.
Affordable - Significantly lower cost than flash memory with higher capacity; Blank digital media will retail for between $5 and $12.
Simple - One media for all content types including, images, documents, software, games, video and more.
Reliable - Archival optical media without the problems of magnetic media
Secure - Support for secure content and DRM, with permanent recording.
Capacity - 250 and 500 MB with growth potential; 11.5 hours of MP3 or approximately 3 hours of higher and CD quality of music.
Efficient - Low power consumption in both read and write modes of operation
High Speed - Recording data transfer 10 times faster than CD.
Donnie Coleman
http://www.lipservicemag.com/willyou.htm
See also http://www.prostudio.com/oto/sept00/bus_dataplay.html
OT: Union Pacific Railroad Chooses SpeechWorks to Speech-Enable Train Operations
Business/Technology Editors
BOSTON, Mass.--June 4, 2001--
Leading Railroad to use Speech Recognition, Text-to-Speech,
Speaker Verification for Improved Customer Service
SpeechWorks (Nasdaq: SPWX), a leader in the speech technology industry, today announced that Union Pacific Railroad, the largest railroad in North America, will speech-enable the operational process of releasing its empty railcars for its 30,000 freight customers, such as General Motors, Dow Chemical and Dupont. Union Pacific will use SpeechWorks' complete solution, including its speech recognition and text-to-speech engines, and its speaker verification module with partner, Veritel.
Union Pacific's strategic direction is to provide its customers with multiple channels for conducting business transactions. The speech application will complement the company's current phone, fax and web-based services to arrange for the return of empty railcars when the freight has been delivered to its destination. The railroad receives about 10,000 calls per month for this service.
When the new phone service is in place, customers will be able to select the speech-enabled system from the phone menu. To maintain a high degree of security, customers' voices will be verified by the SpeechWorks' SpeechSecure verification solution. Using SpeechWorks' speech recognition technology, the system will then have a dialog with the caller who will speak railcar initials and numbers of the released cars. The phone service will understand the railcar name and route the information immediately to back-end systems to authorize the release of the car to Union Pacific's train work order system. The Union Pacific computer will then schedule the railcar to be pulled from the customer site by the next available train so it will be available for new inventory. SpeechWorks' text-to-speech engine will be used by Union Pacific to inform customers about the release of the car.
The potential for this phone service is to allow Union Pacific to broaden deployment of additional e-commerce tools to those customers who do not have access to Union Pacific's web site for releasing railcars. A typical customer of this type would be someone on an unloading dock who provides releases using a cell phone.
Union Pacific selected SpeechWorks because of its proven technology, large customer base and ability to deliver an application in a short timeframe. The fact that SpeechWorks offers a `SpeechWorks Here Market Accelerator Program' as part of its overall implementation package also played a part in the decision process. The SpeechWorks Here Market Accelerator Program is a free consulting program to help customers achieve the highest levels of success with their speech services and accelerate the return on investment.
"With SpeechWorks' complete speech solution, entire processes can be automated over the phone, expanding access channels for customers who don't have immediate access to the web, while reducing costs," said Steve Chambers, vice president of worldwide marketing at SpeechWorks. "We are excited to work with Union Pacific on this unique application which will be used by many of its global customers."
"Veritel is pleased to have been selected by Union Pacific as the biometric speaker verification provider, confirming the natural partnership Veritel shares with SpeechWorks," explains Marianne Stanke, vice president, marketing for Veritel. "By combining the biometric verification with the new speech-enabled service, Veritel and SpeechWorks are able to create a secure, convenient and cost-effective solution to meet the customer's needs. Veritel looks forward to more opportunities bringing total voice solutions to market with our partner, SpeechWorks."
Union Pacific's speech application is expected to be deployed in Q3. It will run on hardware from SpeechWorks' partner Dialogic, an Intel Company.
About Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad is the largest railroad in North America, covering 23 states across the western two-thirds of the United States. A strong focus on quality and a strategically advantageous route structure enables the company to serve customers in critical and fast growing markets. It is a leading carrier of low-sulfur coal used in electrical power generation and has broad coverage of the large chemical-producing areas along the Gulf Coast. With competitive long-haul routes between all major West Coast ports and eastern gateways, and as the only railroad to serve all six gateways to Mexico, Union Pacific has the premier rail franchise in North America. More information can be found at http://www.up.com.
About Veritel Corporation
Veritel Corporation designs, develops, and manufactures biometric voice verification software and applications that accurately verify a person's claimed identity. Veritel's language independent, core voice verification technology, VoiceCheck(TM), can completely replace vulnerable PINs and passwords by enabling identity verification via a user's voice. VoiceCheck(TM) is flexible, highly scalable, and the only voice verification technology designed for use on multiple platforms: telephony, embedded systems, enterprise, and the Internet. For any size business, Veritel provides security solutions that are cost effective, accurate, convenient, and user-friendly. Veritel also sells Speak N Set(TM), an automatic password reset solution. Veritel is a privately held company, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. For more information on Veritel's security solutions, call 1.888.VERITEL or visit http://www.veritelcorp.com.
About SpeechWorks International, Inc.
Organizations worldwide rely on SpeechWorks (NASDAQ: SPWX) to delight their callers and provide them with a new level of service over the phone. Complementing the self-service model of e-business, SpeechWorks speech solutions, including the revolutionary SpeechSite(TM) product, Speechify text-to-speech engine and the SpeechSecure(TM) module, let customers direct their calls, obtain information and complete transactions automatically, simply by speaking naturally over any phone, anytime.
SpeechWorks customers include some of the world's most sophisticated customer service innovators such as Credit Suisse First Boston, Microsoft and United Airlines. The Company offers the SpeechWorks Here Guarantee, the industry's only program that includes a money-back guarantee. SpeechWorks strategic partners include over 100 leading corporations around the world.
SpeechWorks is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and has offices around the world. To experience the power of SpeechWorks, call 1.888.SAY.DEMO. For additional information, call 617.428.4444 or visit http://www.speechworks.com.
SpeechWorks, Speechify, SpeechSecure, SpeechSite and SpeechWorks Here are trademarks or registered trademarks of SpeechWorks International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks may be the property of their respective companies.
http://sf-web1.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/211552450&ticker=spwx
EDIG: Info for Investors (6/2 PM rNL)
General DD Info (Corporate profile, SEC filings, Patents, lots more):
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=66673 (revised 3/8)
Recent News and Opinions:
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=119031 Sharp picks Intel chip for new PDA)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=687441 (GreaterGood re our new CFO)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=118479 (EDIG adds new COO; CFO departs)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=118261 (Sega harmonizing with the Web?)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=117975 (Trenddetector chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=117876 (EDIG and Sensory at Portable Design Conference)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=117911 (Toshiba and Sensory into VTT chips)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=116800
and http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=118477 (New wearable from XYBR, IBM &TXN)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=116628 (Market for medical hand-helds seen growing)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=115967 (Multi-codec Xdio player)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=115871 (Qualcomm cuts VTT deal w/Conversay)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=115251 (Older article re the Korean MP3 scene)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=114234 (Samsung & Octal developing STBs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=684582 (Nekos chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=683939 (DABOSS e-mail from DataPlay)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=682599 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=109481 (Vivendi/Universal buys MP3.com)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=109041 (Toshiba introduces 5 & 10 GB 1.8" HDs)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=108959
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=680976 (Sentinel speaks w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=108627 (SDM bogs down again)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=108476 (Cksla speaks w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=680645 (RNWK unveils download service before Congress)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=108126 (Sigmatel chip powers Eastech ET-301)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=106017 (Sony's Playstation gets Real)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=105106 (InterTrust Announces Secure Media Player Development Suite)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=105146 (Bostonredsox speaks w/mp3extreme)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=104057 (3 new openings at EDIG)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=101870 (Bostonredsox speaks w/Hammacher)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=102208 (Samsung making a run on Sony?)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=99994 (Some details of STM's DataPlay chips)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=676522 (Pam digs into Eastech)
http://www.eigernet.co.kr/products/mp3/d100.htm (Eiger DataPlayer specs)
http://www.amaxhk.com/products/napa/dp600/dp600.htm (Amax DataPlayer specs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=676116 (Giants at RB e-mails Putnam)
http://db2.jobstreet.com/jassist/preview.asp?advertiser_id=9564 (Backgrounder on DataPlay Singapore)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=672506 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=668929 (Intel orders MP3 players from Eastech)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=669383 (Eastech lands Sanyo order)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=668935 (Treo ads flying high)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=668916 (Recent Treo sightings)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=91844 (EDIG mention in Volan ad)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=90491 (Recent RP e-mails at RB)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=84624 (Cksla's XYBR chronicles)
hhttp://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=83856
and http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=84611 (Hammacher-Schlemmer catalog offers Treo)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=83521 (Brewmeister visits EDIG)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=81983 (Xybernaut to collaborate with IBM, TXN)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=82749 (More re XYBR)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=81621 (Rioport intros Music Delivery Service)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=81406 (Makomemoney chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=81294 (New look jukebox from Eastech)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=79586 (Packers1 chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=79571 (Trillium chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=79567 (New DataPay player from A-Max)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=79579 (Multi-codec player from A-Max)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76832 (Intel VTT plans for China market)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76546 (InHand partners w/Conversay)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76465 (MP2000 details at Global Resource)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76168
and http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76246 (New IBM platform for internet appliances)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=76119
and http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/msg.gsp?msgid=15637828 (New XYBR/IBM wearable computer due)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=75782 (Some ITRU customer woes)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=75784 (Loudeye RIFs and plans roll-out)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=75578 (WSJ re MSFT vs MP3)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=75655 (POTCE update re Treo)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=659615 (Eastech update per unclejed47)
EDIG news and opinions (pre-4/12/01):
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=119512
Common Abbreviations:
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIGOT&read=4488
A look back at the early days on RB:
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=642371
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Treo review compilation: http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=612321
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EDIG Private board at RB:
(Basher-free, open to all who behave themselves)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=300337 (Instructions for joining)
Free EDIG news e-mails via eGroups:
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=570639
Moderated EDIG boards (no bashers/spammers):
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/board.asp?board_id=299
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/subject.gsp?subjectid=51056
athomedad's EDIG Page:
http://www.edigpage.com
EDIG news and opinions - 3/23 to 4/11
(IHub links updated)
http://www.teleconnect.com/article/TCM20010322S0013 (Conversations With The Machine)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=659190 (Lickily chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=74648 (Cahners In-Stat re VTT market)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=74856 (DataPlay e-mail re roll-out plans)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=74447 (Intel announces support for XScale telemeatics architecture)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=74339 (Update on XM's Rock 'n Roll)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=74305 (Nomad JB gets a docking station)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=74047 (EE Times re audio chip makers)
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/apr2001/nf2001045_217.htm (How to Keep the Digital Music Playing)
http://www.billboard.com/daily/2001/0406_01.asp (Interesting read from Billboard)
http://img.cmpnet.com/edtn/customsolutions/edge/TrendsPart2.pdf (Software Tools Spark DSP Systems)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=71853 (Universal to buy EMusic.com)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=655597 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=655584 (Wm_Wallace2000 re OEM payment options)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=655575 (Another Volan Design win)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=655537 (DABOSS re content and consequences)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=71535 (Cell phones swap songs)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=71496 (Trillium chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=71463 (RNWK widens its lead over WMA)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=71429 (Yahoo/Duet PR from Fleishman-Hillard)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=655050 (The end of free music?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=654745 (MTV/5 major labels to offer paid downloads)
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/msg.gsp?msgid=15613757 (Mobile multimedia revolution coming soon)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=70938 (More opinion from GreaterGood)
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/msg.gsp?msgid=15611355 (Intel web appliance gets Real)
http://ny-web1.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/210940269&ticker=mc (Matsushita goes Hollywood)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=654448 (Tubercle's thoughts re jukebox schedules, etc)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=654504 (Vivendi Universal distribution deal near?)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=70702 (Audio chip market analysis)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=70673 (Rapid growth seen for VTT)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=70270 (ITRU's Victor Shear Senate address)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=70264 (New content from Rio/MTV/VH1, etc)
http://www.newstream.com/cgi-bin/display_story.cgi?2551 (FedEx buys wearables from XYBR)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=653732 (Another new TI DSP)
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29558-2001Apr2.html (Another take on the RNWK deals)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=70219 (Triples00 note from Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=70061 (Putnam re Toshiba status)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=69897 (QDesign opens new office)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=69790 (A recent BusyBump post)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=69657 (Creative cuts prices on players)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=69343 (Digging into DataPlay)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=69108 (RNWK hooks up w/MSFT)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=69084 (Wireless going VTT)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=68416 (QDesign a standard?)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=68324 (Article re digital dictation)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=68314 (D.inkie chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=68313 (More re CeBIT from zibel)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=68238 (TI's mobile vision)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=68224 (NEC's VTT robot)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67977 (Audiovox PDA/Phone)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67885 (Toshiba/Sony/IBM Cell CPU)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67858 (DDI Pocket to support AAC content)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67950 (RNWK cuts deals)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67934 (Billwilke re Falk's letter)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67944 (EDIG mention on CNET)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67933 (From Trillium on RB)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67595 (3/29 CEO letter to shareholders)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67872 (JimC1997 re Fred's letter)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67231 (Zibel's report from CeBIT)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67117 (MP3 Market forecast)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=650773 (DABOSS re the state of EDIG)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=650618
and http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67012 (Video player thoughts)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=66913 (Update from QDesign)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=66611 (BusyBump chats w/Putnam)
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=66313 (New anti-piracy CDs)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=649578 (Panasonic multi-codec SD car audio system)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=648672 (TI does a little gloating)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=648205 (A Compaq reminder)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=648292 (Secure Scour enters beta testing)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=647359 (Copyrights & electronic warfare)
http://samsungelectronics.com/mobile_phone/ads_awards/trade_shows/cebit_2001_pdaphone.html (Samsung PDA-phone debuts at CeBIT)
http://www.gmate.co.kr/english/news/gmate-news/21-01-10.htm
and http://www.gmate.co.kr/english/news/gmate-news/20-11-15.htm (Gmate/Samsung Yopy gets VTT/TTV from Conversay)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=647271
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=647312 (Keeping an eye on things)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=647296 (Some TA courtesy of JBH)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=646937 (Napster woes continue)
http://www.eastech1.com/english/newsletter8.htm (A reminder re IBM & Eastech)
http://www-5.ibm.com/de/pressroom/cebit2001/overview_e.html (IBM CeBIT website)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=646824 (Eastech/EDIG LOI for DataPlay products)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=646477
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=646507 (Look Sharp now)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=646423 (Some EMMS info)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=646275
and http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=646290 (Yepp; we're multi-codec)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=646161 (Putnam e-mail to elkin)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=645862 (New release of IBM's EMMS due)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=645820 (Putnam e-mail to User57)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=645542 (EDIG products at CeBIT)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=645371 (Party over for EDIG MMs?)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=645144 (Packers1 e-mail from Eastech)
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=645106 (Jpumper e-mail from Putnam)
EDIG news and opinions (pre-3/23/01):
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIGNW&read=466
Looks like MOT/GenSig might speed broadband deployment up a bit...
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010507/cgm009.html
gernb1, it's all part of the plan...
http://www.gi.com/whitepaper/datacastwhitejune.pdf
I believe "Trying to make the best of a bad situation" would aptly describe the current promotion of the obsolescent PJB-100. In 6 weeks or so I hope to hear Remote Solutions singing a different tune, quite possibly in three part harmony. JMHO, of course.
Cksla, remember the Extell/Hynix VTT chip...
Wonder how this fits in?
Korea's FTC Approves Separation of Hynix
May 31, 2001 (SEOUL) -- The Fair Trade Commission, an anti-trust government body, said on May 28 that it has approved the separation of Hynix Semiconductor Inc. from the Hyundai Group.
Although Hyundai companies, including Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd., Hyundai Elevator Co., Ltd., and Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., hold about a 19 percent share of the semiconductor company, they submitted documents to give up managerial rights of Hynix to creditor banks, the FTC said.
The approval is expected to set the stage for Hynix to bring in foreign capital.
(Maeil Business Newspaper, Korea)
From Putnam via Sentinel re STBs:
Q: What type of work does EDIG do with set top boxes?
A: EDIG is mainly involved in the interface between the box and the handheld device... EDIG is currently taking advantage of "significant opportunities" in this area.
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=108959