CD Recording Capability Allows Music, Video and Digital Photos to be Easily Transported Between PCs and Consumer Electronics Devices
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Oak Technology, Inc., a leading provider of embedded solutions for the optical storage and digital imaging markets, announced today that the new SAMBA MP3 and compressed audio player/recorder, jointly developed by Infinite Data Storage Ltd. (IDS) and UnitedBox Pte. Ltd., obtains its recording capability from one of Oak's highly integrated optical storage controller chipsets.
SAMBA is a CD-compatible portable personal Internet audio and data storage recorder that can be used as a PC peripheral, a personal storage device and an MP3 player/recorder. Designed by IDS, of Scotland, and manufactured and supplied by UnitedBox, in Singapore, SAMBA gives users the power to store, archive and replay digital data, including music and other information obtained from the Internet, from CDs or other personal archives. SAMBA plays and records from and to 80-millimeter mini CD-R and CD-RW media, and is ideal for recording digital audio MP3, WMA and other compressed audio standards as well as digital photographs and data files.
Oak's CD-RW chipset, consisting of the 8X OTI-9790 CD-RW controller and OTI-9071 analog front-end signal processor, enables SAMBA to record on standard CD-recordable media (CD-R and CD-RW) that can be played in the CD-ROM drive of any of the more than 250 million personal computers in use worldwide, as well as many consumer CD players. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, Oak will use SAMBA as a platform to demonstrate its recently introduced SimpliCD® Compact Disc recording software. SimpliCD is the first CD-RW software to provide drag'n'drop access to WAV files, with no audio ripping application required, along with simple play list conversion from Compact Disc Digital Audio (CD-DA) format to WAV, MP3 or Windows Media Audio (WMA) formats to save time for users. SimpliCD also supports the new MultiPlay standard recently approved by the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) to assure that CDs written to CD-RW media by a PC can be read by consumer CD and DVD players.
"Portable iAppliances such as SAMBA are the future growth market for optical storage," said Akyra Pagoulatos, vice president, market development, for Oak Technology. "By partnering with innovative designers and manufacturers such as IDS and United Box, we are well positioned at the forefront of this emerging market to expand our customer base into a more consumer-oriented market segment."
"We selected compact discs as SAMBA's storage media because of their widespread acceptance and low cost of approximately $0.003 per megabyte, compared to $3.00 per megabyte for flash memory," said Tony Combe, chief technology officer, for Infinite Data Storage Ltd. "Oak's chipset is an ideal fit to provide CD recording capability for SAMBA."
"We're very pleased to be working with Oak and IDS on this first implementation of a portable CD player/recorder that can double as a PC peripheral," said James Lee, director, sales and business development, for United Box, a volume manufacturer and supplier of consumer electronics devices. "CD recording is an affordable storage solution in an accepted format that enables audio and visual information to be recorded and transported between various devices at home. Oak's advanced CD recording technology and its support of the new MultiPlay standard from OSTA with its SimpliCD software will help ensure that MP3 CD formats are widely adopted."
Oak's Optical Storage Controller Technology
Oak's OTI-9790 and OTI-9071, in conjunction with off-the-shelf microprocessor and memory, provide the complete electronics solution for a leading edge CD-RW drive. The Oak OTI-9790 controller's maximum 8x write/32x read capability, coupled with Oak's OTI-9071 analog front end processor, provide a cost-effective, high performance recording solution. The OTI-9071 is a high integration Analog Front End device, offering 12x write and 32x read performance. Designed in CMOS technology, the OTI-9071 features the lowest power dissipation available in the industry.
Oak's SimpliCD® Compact Disc recording software significantly improve ease of use for CD-RW users by enabling them to burn CD's from the Windows desktop, from a media player, or to drag and drop files to a CD through Windows® Explorer®. Tight integration with the Microsoft® Windows® operating system provides a convenient user interface embedded in Windows. Initially, Oak's SimpliCD software will be marketed to PC and CD-RW drive manufacturers to be bundled with systems and peripherals targeted for both business and consumer users.
Oak, founded in 1987, has established a leadership position in the optical storage segment. The company is recognized as one of the leading suppliers of optical storage controllers, having sold more than 130 million optical storage controllers to date. Oak's latest generation of advanced CD-RW optical storage controllers have been selected by most of the OEM suppliers of CD-RW drives. The Company's recent product development efforts in the area have focused on emerging segments such as CD-RW and Combo drives, which are fast becoming mainstream optical storage devices. The addition of recording software to the product line is another logical progression for the company.
About Oak Technology
Oak Technology, Inc., a leading provider of solutions for the storage, manipulation and distribution of digital content, is committed to driving the emerging world of connected Information Appliances. The company's fully integrated products and technologies target two key markets: optical storage (CD-RW and DVD for PC and consumer) and digital imaging (advanced copiers, printers, faxes, scanners and MFPs). Founded in 1987, Oak is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., and has sales offices, design centers and research facilities around the world. The company trades on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the symbol OAKT. Additional information about Oak and its digital solutions can be found at www.oaktech.com.
About IDS
Infinite Data Storage Limited (IDS) is a leading independent removable storage technology company based in Dunfermline, Scotland. Founded in 1999 the IDS design team has previously worked together for 10 years on some of the best-known removable media products in use today. Skills built over this time have resulted in the launch to OEM customers of the unique Samba 80mm CDR drive and MP3/ WMA music player. Further information on IDS, the company and its technology can be found at www.infinitedatastorage.com.
About United Box
UnitedBox Pte. Ltd. specializes in the design and development, manufacturing and marketing of Internet Entertainment Appliances. Headquartered in Singapore, UnitedBox provides innovative products and technology to enable consumer electronics, PC peripherals, MP3 content and device companies to bring devices to market quickly and cost effectively. UnitedBox has established itself as a leading OEM/ODM manufacturer for Internet appliances and Internet related products. Our success is built on long-term customer relationship, technology leadership and production capability. With vertical integration, customers can utilize the full potential of UnitedBox's extensive resources with the advantages of one-stop design and manufacturing services to bring new innovative products to market timely and cost effectively. Additional information about UnitedBox and its portable Internet audio and data storage CD recorder can be found at www.unitedbox.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: In addition to the historical information contained herein, statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. The following are among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: The foregoing statements may consist of forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Factors that could cause actual outcome to differ materially from those set forth include, without limitation, the rate of adoption of new technology, the rate of growth of the CD-RW market, changes in product mix or distribution channels; the demand for semiconductors and end- user products that incorporate semiconductors; technological difficulties and resource constraints encountered in developing and/or introducing new products, and market acceptance of new products. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding expected financial results, industry trends, sales and future product development and business strategies and activities should be considered in light of these factors, and those factors discussed from time to time the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as those discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K for fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and in quarterly reports on Form 10Q.
NOTE: Oak Technology is a registered trademark and the Oak logo is a trademark of Oak Technology, Inc. All other product names or company names are mentioned for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Oak Technology, Inc. |
