I know it's an unusual idea not to announce new features before they reach a consumer release, but that's the wierd kind of ethics we chose.
WMA and WAV are currently present only in test versions of the product. They will be available to the wider userbase in about a week.
We can support other formats if the demand arises (oh, nobody here bothered to mention the part of the announcement which said "software development will continue, with a major new release due shortly").
We've looked at Ogg, but we need to see an optimal integer implementation for our StrongARM platform before we can seriously consider it. I understand that some effort is going into this.
At the MP3 summit SSI mentioned to me that this model had been shelved due to the current climate for MP3 hardware.
The new SONICblue automotive sales model - working with major auto manufacturers and OEM's - would seem to be the best bet now. Of course, average car owners don't want cool geek toys with Ethernet and all the other fun things we threw into the empeg with little regard for cost reduction:-(
Support hasn't been discontinued, but even so the hard disks are regular 2.5" laptop drives. All the software you need to initialise a new one can be downloaded from empeg.com.
The code isn't being opened because, as the announcement at the empeg BBS stated, SONICblue are moving to an OEM model with major manufacturers (instead of attempting to build their own automotive brand). The source is also common to a number of other current and forthcoming Rio products.
Slashdot Mirror
Three levels:
1. 2.5" laptop disks with good shock tolerance
2. The disks are spun down most of the time
3. A custom shock mounted disk tray
These things are used in 4x4's, low riders, and even the occassional Cessna.
Rob
I know it's an unusual idea not to announce new features before they reach a consumer release, but that's the wierd kind of ethics we chose.
WMA and WAV are currently present only in test versions of the product. They will be available to the wider userbase in about a week.
We can support other formats if the demand arises (oh, nobody here bothered to mention the part of the announcement which said "software development will continue, with a major new release due shortly").
We've looked at Ogg, but we need to see an optimal integer implementation for our StrongARM platform before we can seriously consider it. I understand that some effort is going into this.
Rob
At the MP3 summit SSI mentioned to me that this model had been shelved due to the current climate for MP3 hardware.
:-(
The new SONICblue automotive sales model - working with major auto manufacturers and OEM's - would seem to be the best bet now. Of course, average car owners don't want cool geek toys with Ethernet and all the other fun things we threw into the empeg with little regard for cost reduction
Rob
Support hasn't been discontinued, but even so the hard disks are regular 2.5" laptop drives. All the software you need to initialise a new one can be downloaded from empeg.com.
The code isn't being opened because, as the announcement at the empeg BBS stated, SONICblue are moving to an OEM model with major manufacturers (instead of attempting to build their own automotive brand). The source is also common to a number of other current and forthcoming Rio products.
Rob