Storage: Dictaphone Introduces Digital Audio Recorder Using SanDisk's CompactFlash Memory Cards

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, July 6, 1998

SanDisk Corp. announced Tuesday that Dictaphone Corp., one of the world's largest manufacturers of voice recorders, has introduced the Walkabout TOUR digital audio recorder designed to use CompactFlash (CF) memory cards.

Unlike cassettes, CompactFlash can be used in several mobile platforms such as handheld PCs, Palm-size PCs and digital cameras.

A removable, rugged, solid-state (no moving parts) 2 megabyte (MB) CompactFlash memory card, manufactured by SanDisk, will be bundled for sale with each Walkabout TOUR digital audio recorder. Dictaphone also will sell SanDisk manufactured 4MB and 10MB CompactFlash memory cards under the Dictaphone Voicedata Card label. The 2MB card can record and store 30 minutes of voice, the 4MB card can record and store 60 minutes of voice and the 10MB card can record and store two hours and 30 minutes of voice. The Walkabout TOUR also includes a SanDisk CompactFlash PCMCIA adapter and Dictaphone's Boomerang voice exchange software for Windows which allows easy transfer and manipulation of audio files.

The Dictaphone Walkabout TOUR digital audio recorder, available now, has a suggested retail price of $449. It can be purchased via Dictaphone's Internet commerce web site: http://www.dictaphone.com or by calling 888/483-6266.

Stephen Rothschild, Dictaphone's director of IVS marketing, said, "We selected SanDisk's CompactFlash because it meets our requirements as a rugged and reliable storage solution for the Walkabout TOUR. CompactFlash memory cards combine high storage capacity with ATA compatibility, which will enable the TOUR to use new generations of flash technology as they become available."

Nelson Chan, SanDisk vice president of marketing, said, "Dictaphone's Walkabout TOUR is proof that SanDisk's CompactFlash is gaining momentum in various applications other than digital cameras. With several handheld PCs in the market designed to rely on CF as removable data storage, designers of audio recording devices are also finding that CF can offer excellent benefits of ruggedness, reliability and reusability. Dictaphone's Walkabout TOUR underscores the industry trend to move from conventional cassette tape storage to solid-state flash technology."

The portable recording device, which fits easily in one hand, weighs only 6.2 ounces (including batteries) and is 4 1/2 inches long by 2 1/4 inch wide. It operates on three AAA batteries or a rechargeable NiMH battery that can be recharged by placing the recorder in a battery charging station also available from Dictaphone.

Voice recordings can be easily downloaded to a PC. Fully compatible with any Windows operating system, recorded information on the Walkabout TOUR can be downloaded via either a PCMCIA adapter included with the purchase of the device or with a card reader that connects to the desktop via the parallel port, such as SanDisk's ImageMate external CF drive. Once transferred, the audio file appears as an industry standard "wave-file."

SanDisk's CompactFlash memory cards are available in capacities of 2, 4, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 30, 40, and 48MB. With a 48MB CF card, SanDisk is shipping the highest capacity CF cards in the industry.

SanDisk Corp., the world's largest supplier of flash data storage products, designs, manufactures and markets industry-standard, solid-state data, digital imaging and audio storage products using its patented, high density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is based in Sunnyvale. FMI: http://www.dictaphone.com