e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[cksla]

Samsung will improve your life with easier, richer, and more enjoyable entertainment using the new Home Media Center
Vision for Samsung Home Media Center will transform the next generation of consumer PCs into complete digital media centers
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2002-- Today, Samsung Electronics introduced its vision for the future of home electronics and previewed a new product called the Home Media Center at the 2002 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Samsung Electronics' vision is that future technology will provide seamless connectivity, easy controllability for all home devices, and the convenience of managing family information. This technology will be able to control all consumer electronic devices in the home including DVD players, VCRs, TVs, PCs, and household appliances. In order to achieve this vision, Samsung is previewing the new Home Media Center.

The Home Media Center concept is a result of a previously announced agreement between Samsung and Microsoft where the two companies agreed to develop and market a new breed of products based on Samsung hardware and the Microsoft Windows operating system.

``We are happy to be previewing our new Home Media Center, which will be an important step towards our vision of transforming average households into next-generation digital homes,'' said Dr. Daeje Chin, President & CEO, of Samsung Electronics' Digital Media Business. ``Samsung has developed the Media Center concept to improve the family experience. It will bring families closer together by becoming the nucleus for the future of family entertainment.''

The Home Media Center is a unique concept because it adds several new capabilities to the home computer and will move the computer environment from the private office or den to more social rooms.

First, the Home Media Center remote control will allow consumers to enjoy a variety of entertainment content from anywhere in the room. Second, the Home Media Center will allow customers to enjoy their digital media content on multiple types of video displays. Third, consumers will be able to find and play their favorite music from anywhere in the room in a variety of formats such as CDs, Windows Media Audio, and MP3. Fourth, digital photos can be stored and edited on the Home Media Center. Finally, users can enjoy any content that can be in a digital format including live TV, an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), DVDP, and PVR.

Overall, the Home Media Center's various media and entertainment modes are integrated for easier recording and viewing. The Home Media Center concept is the platform for Samsung's entire home networking initiative.

Their first Home Media Center will be introduced with new Microsoft technologies code-named ``Freestyle'' for Windows XP previewed yesterday by Bill Gates, Microsoft Corp. chairman and chief software architect.

The ``Freestyle'' technologies will offer a new user interface and remote control access to enable consumers to access their music, home movies and photos from anywhere in the room. It will also extend Windows XP to deliver a new television experience on the home computer. People will be able to easily search for TV shows with a built-in electronic programming guide and watch, pause and record live TV. With ``Freestyle,'' the new Home Media Center will provide the choice, simplicity and enhanced digital media experiences that consumers desire today.

``Together, Microsoft and Samsung will extend the ways in which people can use their home computer,'' said Mike Toutonghi, vice president of the eHome division at Microsoft. ``Samsung's Home Media Center concept is a significant advancement toward our shared vision of simple yet rich digital entertainment, communications, information and home control experiences that people can enjoy anywhere in the home.''

Product timing will be announced later this year.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductors, the consumer electronics industry, and digital convergence technology. The Company employs approximately 66,000 people in 50 countries. Samsung Electronics is the world's fourth-largest manufacturer of mobile phones, the world's largest producer of DRAMs, and the first developer and mass producer of digital TVs. Samsung Electronics consists of four main business units: Digital Media, Semiconductor, Information & Communications, and Home Appliance Businesses. For more information, please visit http://www.samsungelectronics.com.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------