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e.Digital Promises Another iPod Competitor

Posted by timothy on from the think-exactly-the-same dept.

joefefifo writes: "e.Digital has a press release describing their Odyssey 1000, supposedly due out in the fall. Some stats: Looks like an iPod, uses USB 2.0., has a 20GB capacity, built-in mic for voice recording and navigation, FM Tuner with 12 presets, Mac & PC compatible, iTunes compatible, runs e.Digital's MicroOS 2.0. Except for the choice of OS, looks pretty sweet. Any chance someone will get it to run Linux instead?" Like Toshiba's little player, it uses USB 2 rather than Firewire.

5 of 256 comments (clear)

  1. Get over it by G-funk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Except for the choice of OS, looks pretty sweet

    Huh? Except for the choice of OS? This goes too far. Who gives a crap if they don't use linux? It's not like it runs windows, it runs some OS they wrote, that does what it needs to do - play mp3s. If it works, and it does what it's supposed to do, good on them.

    Now I'm all for somebody getting one and putting linux on it, but that's "hey a cool hack" value, not something that needs to be done to make the product worthwhile.

    --
    Send lawyers, guns, and money!
  2. Heard it before by AIXadmin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When the iMac came out, this same thing happened. With in six months there were rip offs from such notables as Dell, Gateway, and IBM. None of nock-offs have survived. The iMac is still around and selling well.

    Apple just seems to have some kind of magic when it comes to product design. That few others if any have.

    1. Re:Heard it before by deviator · · Score: 4, Insightful
      It's not magic - it's the right mix of very smart people combined with management who lets those designers (really artists) realize their vision with few restrictions.

      ...ever notice how Apple isn't constantly concerned with "make it as cheap as possible?" Sometimes it seems they're the ONLY company who won't compromise ideals in favor of cost; that's why their designs are so successful.

  3. Re:DRM use isn't mandatory by sweet+reason · · Score: 4, Insightful

    buying a DRM-enabled device does have an effect even if you don't use the feature: the more DRM-supporting boxes there are in people's hands, the less the RIAA will have to worry about losing customers who can't play DRM-encumbered music.

    --
    Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. -- A.E.
  4. Re:USB? Ugh. by iphayd · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "This is especially pathetic when you see that USB's max bandwidth is 480 Mbits, and FireWire is 400."

    This is the only incorrect statement in your post, and it is also why your results are crappy.

    It should read...

    "USB2's results are so pathetic because its max. bandwith is 480Mbps, while firewire has a sustained rate of 400Mbps."

    USB2's 480Mbps is FUD, aimed squarely across Firewire's bow. The pathetic thing is that it is working.