Replies to post #44137 on e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[MaryinRed]

Yes, I would love to see edigital get involved with multi-function systems....

e-books, etc.

[Cassandra]

chwdrhed: You said:

...it cannot be denied that this is the general area where e.Digital seems to fit in - secure content access and delivery.

I have to chuckle at the evolution of this concept.

Back in 1999 and early 2000, e.Digital management touted that its technology and DAP reference design was slated to be licensed by double digit numbers of multi-billion dollar OEMs and that its MicroOS had the potential to be a global standard in DAPs.

When nothing happened by late 2000, management used the excuse that OEMs were waiting for secure content to be available before they took the risk of making DAPs.

When DAPs became increasingly popular in 2000-2001 made by a variety of manufacturers (one being the phenonmenally successful Apple iPod) yet none had "EDIG inside," management used the excuse that MicroOS was not really needed until the content was "secure."

Well, secure content became available (although not as popular as free content) and still no OEMs licensed an EDIG reference design or MicroOS.

Then, in late 2001, e.Digital announced its own branded players "based on" MicroOS. However, these players had no content security whatsoever. Unfortunately, these items did not sell well and were sold at an average of 1/2 what they cost to make. Even the flagship Odyssey 1000, based on "MicroOS 2.0," still has no content security and an awkward file system to boot.

Now we see Apple's iTunes doing very well with Apple developing a similar secure content sevice for Windows users. Others companies are also launching secure music download services, yet e.Digital is not involved with any of them.

Therefore, to me it appears that e.Digital has nothing to offer regarding secure music content access and delivery.

What about video?

According to RP during the webcast, the security for the IFE device is simply a USB cable with a unique connection port into the device that will not be available to the public. It is not patented. It was stated that Atul is "looking into" 2 potential patents for this device, but none have been filed.

So, what does e.Digital have that makes you state that "it cannot be denied that this is the general area where e.Digital seems to fit in - secure content access and delivery?"

I don't see anything at all to back this concept up.

All I see is e.Digital having a boutique line of poorly selling DAPs and acting as a provider of outsourced engineering, design and manufacturing oversight for other companies.