"MicroOS is the only operating system for flash memory that has a data transfer rate limited only by flash memory write speed. The operating system therefore supports the recording speeds required to write directly to primary memory without intermediary memory. This eliminates the need for a high-capacity buffer, allowing rapid, efficient and economical use of flash memory.

The unit will feature a sophisticated compression algorithm to assure the most efficient use of flash memory.

Nelson Chan, SanDisk vice president of marketing, said: "The Flashback Audio is an ideal application for SanDisk CompactFlash memory cards. With its small size, durability and low power requirements, CompactFlash was crucial in enabling the development of this audio device. We believe the Flashback Audio has mass popularity appeal and will be a terrific-selling consumer electronics product when it is launched."

My thoughts on Sandisk at the time frame above.....In the early days, Compactflash utilized the NOR matrix and is capable of XIP without the help of e.Digitals concepts. When Norris Communications made their abilities known to Sandisk, Chan viewed it... IMO,,,as a novelty consideration mounted on the ability of the NOR memory and really looked no deeper- than that. "Yeah Woodie....that's pretty slick."

At that time, Sandisk NAND considerations were not prominent because of it's inabilities....and most all important considerations where driven on NOR utilizing patented FTL concepts of Ban(Msystems)....which were standardized in PCMICA.....where yet NFTL(for NAND translation) came out years later. I followed those developments that started with a Linux development....

What they over looked was Norris's ability to achieve the same results with the cheaper NAND. All Norris had to do was wait them out and when they say...i.e our most recent press..."Our patents are essential to many consumer electronic products and their use is growing in importance due to the proliferation of flash memory.” they are talking about CHEAP, easy to gain density, NAND.

As time went by their(Sandisk types) problems mounted, as the new company name e.Digital, gained control over video....utilizing the exact same principles.

IMO, they did not take Woodie serious in the early days....and they are now going to pay for that.

e.Digital is about CHEAP...

doni