e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[Cassandra]

IMO it's highly unlikely that Dell's DJ will be based on the Odyssey 1000 platform. If for no other reason than the reviews that consistently mention the cumbersome user interface that requires a rigid file and folder system. It seems that Dell would want a product with at least a decent interface. According to Walter Mossberg, the Zen NX is getting closer to the iPod in that respect: #msg-1323688.

The new Zen has three notable features. First, like Rio, Creative has cleaned up a formerly bad interface and attempted to emulate the iPod. On the new Zen, music information is stressed, not things like files and folders and technical data. The overall navigation is much better, but still not as easy as on the iPod or the new Rio.

Second, the new Zen has a removable battery -- a terrific convenience. Extra batteries cost about $50 apiece. Creative claims a 14-hour battery life.

The Zen NX's key advantage is price. The 20-gigabyte model costs $249, less than Apple charges for an iPod with half the capacity. The 30 gigabyte model costs $299, or $200 less than Apple charges for a 30 gigabyte iPod. If you're willing to put up with a big, bulky box, the Zen NX is a bargain.

I don't know if Dell is rebranding a Creative player, but it does seem possible given this: #msg-1513690 which shows that Creative changed its policy about branding in August. The article in #msg-1512705 was written in mid-August. It's possible that an agreement happened later.

I don't see the visual similarities between the Odyssey and the Dell DJ to be at all persuasive, nor do I think that Dell would rebrand a player that has mediocre reviews.