Consumer Corner

Electronic News, Nov 1, 1999 by Tom Murphy

Tagram System Corp., Costa Mesa, Calif., tries to go one up on the hot MP3 CD player market with the introduction of its MAMBO-X portable MP3 CD player. The new device is touted as the only one that is able to play compact discs in multiformats. MAMBO-X is able to play music from original record labels to trendy MP3 files and requires no computer or Internet connection. MAMBO-X also comes equipped with a Durable Laser Reader decoder that enables the machine to read from a CDRW disc. Users have the option of storing, erasing and editing their favorite music on re-writable CDs. Since one compact disc can store 177 songs, Tagram, a multimedia PC manufacturer, included an infared remote control for indexing and searching discs. Each unit is also adaptable for the car. Tagram said it made MAMBO-X to spin discs faster than normal speed, so it can store audio data in its digital memory buffer. Therefore, if a tracking error occurs from a bump or a shock, the system plays back from its memory, allowing for uninterrupted signal. MAMBO-X is made with walking, jogging, cycling or driving in mind.

New MPEG-2 Encoders Lay Groundwork for Next Wave of Consumer Goods

, Santa Clara, Calif., unveiled a new family of MPEG-2 encoders that incorporate audio, video and system encode functions on a single chip. The company is betting the new chips provide the foundation for a new generation of consumer-priced electronic products and services. The company says MPEG-2 encoders were limited to low-volume commercial applications, such as satellite up-links and video mastering studios, because of their high cost. But with the iVAC family, iCompression hopes to spur the development of personal video recorders, personal computers and set-top boxes that allow consumers to simultaneously compress, store, play and transport audio and video streams. They also see iVAC encoders driving low-cost systems for video conferencing, video e-mail and other Internet applications that allow consumers to easily exchange audio and video data. iVAC encoders reduce system costs with a device that includes both audio and video encoding, as well as an MPEG-2 elementary, program, or transport layer processing. This high level of integration enables OEMs to reduce component count and simplify system design. The iTVC10 and the iTVC12 are now available in volume production quantities. The iTVC10 is $29 in 10,000 units per month quantities. The iTVC12 is priced at $49 in 4,000 unit per month quantities.

Zoran Decoder Key Component in Sharp's DVD Player

Zoran Corp., Santa Clara, Calif., scored a product design win for its Vaddis family of DVD decoders as Sharp Corp. included the company's Vaddis III-LV into its first portable DVD player. Zoran says Vaddis gives the new portable admirable picture quality.