Home Director Announces Availability of AudioPoint Digital Audio Receiver

Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Home Director Inc., a provider of home networking solutions and services, today announced the immediate availability of the AudioPoint digital audio receiver. Building on Home Director's award-winning line of products, AudioPoint is a hardware device that decodes digital music files as well as digital signals from Internet radio stations, into analog signals which can be played through a conventional home stereo. AudioPoint connects easily to most home stereo receivers via a standard RCA jack.

"AudioPoint uses the latest technologies to provide consumers with a convenient way to access and organize their digital music collection," said Bob Wise, president and chief operating officer, Home Director. "Many consumers have downloaded digital music files from the Internet or converted music from analog music sources such as CDs or albums into digital audio files. Now, with AudioPoint, consumers can play their favorite digital music, create custom play lists or access streaming Internet radio stations through the convenience of their home stereo."

"IBM Canada is working with Home Director to deliver home networking solutions to the residential builder market because Home Director continues to lead in technology innovation. The first major consumer application to accelerate the growth of home networks was shared Internet access by multiple PC's. With AudioPoint, Home Director has delivered the next significant consumer application for home networks: the distribution of music files stored on home PC's and live Internet radio access to the home's stereo equipment," said Al Moldon, Segment Manager, Residential Construction Partners, IBM Canada.

"Consumers have consistently reported that home entertainment, particularly digital music and music distribution, is a priority when making home purchasing decisions. Home Director's AudioPoint product provides consumers with a cost-effective and convenient home network-based digital music solution," said Tricia Parks, President, Parks Associates, a leading consumer and technology market research firm.

AudioPoint comes with the AudioPoint Digital Audio Receiver as well as the AudioPoint Desktop Installation CD, including MusicMatch Jukebox and ID3 TagIt. Using a PC running Windows 98 or better and Home Director's AudioPoint Desktop Control Center software, users can access and organize their digital music files or tune into Internet radio broadcasts via a convenient "drag-and- drop" feature. With MusicMatch JukeBox, consumers can easily convert traditional music CDs to MP3 digital music format.

AudioPoint also allows consumers to independently play digital music to multiple music zones, or rooms with speakers, from a single PC. Each music zone can be individually controlled and different music selections can be played in different music zones simultaneously.

AudioPoint's AudioSelect feature allows the user to play digital music with standard audio players, including MusicMatch, Real Audio, Windows Media Player and Winamp, with the AudioPoint Digital Music Receiver. Consumers can use their favorite music player while in AudioSelect mode, or they can use AudioPoint's digital music player, to play digital music formats compatible with MP3, Shoutcast, Live365, and IceCast digital music formats.

AudioPoint is now available through the network of Home Director authorized distributors located throughout North America and Canada. The suggested retail price is $269.

To learn more about AudioPoint, visit us on the web at http://www.homedirector.com/AudioPoint or call 1-800-426-7144.

Product Specifications:

* Signal to Noise Ratio: 112dB
* Frequency response: 0 - 20 KHz
* Dynamic Range: 112 dB
* THD+N: -94dB
* Formats Supported: MP3 audio
* Codecs Supported: MPEG 1, MPEG 2, MPEG 2.5
* Sampling Rate: 8kHz - 48 kHz, bit rates: 8Kbits - 320Kbits
* Controls: Digital volume, play, stop, previous, and next
* Network: 10 Mbit Ethernet
* Audio Output: RCA line-level, 1/8" headphone
* Power Consumption: 9-15V DC, 300 mW
* Dimensions: 7.4" W x 1.4" H x 4.0"D
* Shipping Weight: 2 lbs.
* Compatible Formats: MP3, Shoutcast, Live365, IceCast

AudioPoint includes the AudioPoint Digital Audio Receiver, AudioPoint Desktop Installation CD with MusicMatch Jukebox, 9V Power Transformer, Quick Reference Guide, Category 5 Crossover Cable and a Category 5 cable female- female barrel connector.

System Requirements

* AudioPoint requires
* PC running Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, or XP with properly configured Ethernet hardware and software
* Pentium 300 MHz or equivalent processor (400MHz or better to use "AudioSelect" feature)
* 128 MB RAM
* CD-ROM drive
* Category 5 patch cable
* A stereo receiver or amplifier with one available RCA stereo input
* Amplified speakers or headphones; and standard RCA cables (if connecting to stereo amplifier).

To learn more about Home Director, visit http://www.homedirector.com/ or call 1-800-426-7144.

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