Sanyo Fisher Co. Debuts Two SDMI-Compliant Digital Solid State Audio Players

Business Wire, Jan 6, 2000

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

CES 2000

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2000

Sleek and Small, These Portable "SSAP" Devices

Support Liquid Audio's Secure Portable Player Platform (SP3)

For Prevention of Illegal Rewriting and Copying

Multi-Decoder System Ensures Playback Compatibility

With Internet Audio in Popular Coding Formats

Sure to be "show stoppers" at CES, Sanyo Fisher's new portable SSP-PD7 Solid State Audio Player and SSP-HP7 all-in-one portable Headphone/Player feature SDMI compliance, advanced Liquid Audio SP3 security technology and a unique Multi-Decoder System.

Featuring a sleek and stylish brushed-chrome look, the SSP-PD7 Solid State Audio Player (SSAP) is even smaller than a MiniDisc player. CD-quality, skip and shock-free sound reproduction is achieved through semiconductor memory and advanced digital compression technology. Completely solid-state, no mechanical driver is required.

Incorporating the same technologically superior audio attributes, Sanyo Fisher's new SSP-HP7 lets users enjoy digital SSAP sound built into a compact headphone unit.

Digital music or other audio content is stored and played back for 60 minutes in AAC format (or 30 minutes in MP3 format) on an included, removable 32MB MultiMediaCard flash memory card.

Unlike first-generation solid-state players, the SSP-PD7 and SSP-HP7 are compliant with the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI; Part 1, Version 1.0), allowing audio to be distributed over the Internet and other delivery systems in a secure and encoded format, protecting the interests of recording artists and the worldwide recording industry.

SDMI is the emerging new standard supported by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the purpose of combining technology specifications that protect digital music against illegal copying. In the future, Sanyo Fisher Co. expects that products in accordance with SDMI specifications will become mainstream.

"Our Solid State Audio Players were created to satisfy both consumers, who desire a high-quality digital music player with Internet audio capability, and the artists and content providers who rightfully seek legitimate and secure content distribution," said Gary Hodge, vice president, sales & marketing, audio/video group of Sanyo Fisher Co.

"These are innovative convergence audio products that not only look and sound great, but are ready by design for the rapidly emerging Internet era of music delivery."

Both products support the Secure Portable Player Platform (SP3), an SDMI compliant security technology developed by Liquid Audio, Inc. (Nasdaq: LQID) that allows for the secure distribution of digital music to portable devices. SP3 is a security protocol that protects the rights of copyright holders, while also providing features that enhance the user's music experience.

Support for Liquid Audio's SP3 in these new SSAP devices will provide Sanyo Fisher customers with access to more than 50,000 CD-quality music tracks that can be downloaded from the 300 retail Web sites in the Liquid Music Network.

In addition, Sanyo Fisher is offering users a custom-branded version of the Liquid Player software, which lets music fans preview, purchase, download and playback CD-quality music with online lyrics, liner notes and album art.

A unique Multi-Decoder System ensures that the players will be able to play popular digital coding methods, including AAC, MP3 and others. This Multi-Decoder System features state-of-the-art programmable DSP chip technology. Playback of variously formatted audio is fully automatic and completely transparent to the listener.

Multi-format capability helps ensure that the devices will have a long, useful life.

Audio contents can be readily downloaded in minutes to the player from the Internet (using a PC connected via a USB cable) or, when available, downloaded at kiosk terminals that may in the future be installed at record shops, convenience stores and public institutions.

The players are AudibleReady(TM) and able to access www.audible.com's(TM) Internet audio service. Both players come with PC software for downloading spoken audio programs.

The included 32-megabyte MultiMediaCard is the world's smallest removable flash data storage card. The postage stamp-sized memory card is rapidly being adopted by applications in markets such as smart phones, digital video, industrial handheld computing and Internet music.

The MultiMediaCard can be re-written numerous times without deterioration of the medium, as is the case with audio tape-based formats.

Bundled software simplifies music playback, programming and track management. Both players feature software-based editing, and easy conversion of CD tracks to AAC format.

Unlike CD and cassette players, the SSAPs have no moving parts, so jogging and other vigorous activities won't ever cause the players to skip or the digital music to miss a beat. Simply hit the "Play" button and go.

Additional features found on both SSAP units include skip and search functions, Digital Bassxpander(TM) sound, and volume control. Bundled accessories include a PC cable, 32MB MultiMediaCard, and CD-ROM software.