New Odyssey Digital Audio Players from e.Digital

May 2002 -- The gap between PC and Mac users will be bridged by the new Odyssey line of digital audio players coming from e.Digital Corporation. Each of the three new Odyssey pocket-sized, flash-memory-based digital audio players have unique features, giving consumers in many budget categories reason to sing. All come with embedded flash memory, a SmartMedia card expansion slot allowing consumers to add up to 128 MB of additional storage, and e.Digital Odyssey Manager software, which is compatible with both PC and Macintosh platforms. The extraordinary Odyssey 100 MP3 player features up to 30 hours of battery life from a standard AA Alkaline battery. With a standard 64 MB of embedded flash memory, stereo earphones, and an intuitive user interface, this stylish MP3 player squeezes every last minute out of a standard AA battery, making it the ideal choice for economy-minded consumers. The Odyssey 100 is priced at $129 and is both compact and durable, making it a perfect travel companion.

The Odyssey 200 features not only MP3 file playback, but also an FM tuner, twenty customizable FM station presets with digital tuning, and high-quality voice recording using the built-in omnidirectional microphone. Students, businesspeople, and writers of any kind can create and store over 8 hours of voice recordings using the Odyssey 200's standard 128 MB built-in flash memory. A SmartMedia card expansion slot lets consumers add up to 128 MB of removable flash. A handy, wired remote control is standard with the Odyssey 200 and can be clipped to a shirt collar, pocket, belt, or tie to control playback and other functions while the player sits in a backpack or pocket. A standard carrying case with belt clip is also included, expanding the user's options. The Odyssey 200 is priced at $179 MSRP.

The Odyssey 300's direct MP3 encoding allows users to rip files from their CD collection without the use of a computer, and play them back immediately. This tops the list of its features, but its digital voice recorder, FM tuner, FM recorder, and up to 12-hour battery life make it the premier design of the Odyssey line. With a standard 128 MB of flash built-in, the Odyssey 300 holds voice, music, and FM recordings totaling up to 8.5 hours, and users who choose to add a SmartMedia card via the expansion slot can double that amount. Its simple, intuitive joystick control is easy to use, and the alpha-numeric blue backlit LCD is easy to read. It also includes a carrying case with belt clip, and a practical wired remote control that can be clipped to a shirt or belt for out-of-pocket control of playback and other functions. The Odyssey 300 will sell for $229 MSRP.

Tom Boksa, Vice President of Consumer Electronics for e.Digital, stated, "The quality and features of our cutting-edge Odyssey digital audio products are unsurpassed by anything currently in the marketplace. They represent e.Digital's unique portable designs developed with Digitalway, our recently announced global MP3 partner.

"Retail interest in the Odyssey line is very strong and they will be available in a number of stores in time for the traditional back-to-school sales window. Retail buyers have been extremely impressed with the unique features, very high quality, stylish designs and competitive pricing of these new products. They are going to be a very big hit with consumers."

All e.Digital Odyssey MP3 players come with Odyssey Music Manager software and an MP3 encoding software program that are PC and Mac compatible (using Windows 98SE or later or Mac OS 8.6 or later). Each product takes only one AA Alkaline battery, and batteries are included with all Odyssey products.

These products are scheduled to begin shipping July 1, and will be available through consumer electronics retailers, online merchants, and traditional mass merchants throughout the United States and Canada.

For more information on the company, please visit www.edig.com. To shop at the e.Digital online store, please visit www.edigital-store.com.

SOURCE Newstream