On the topic of EDIG...
posted on
Nov 25, 2005 07:54AM
From the 10-K
We offer developers of electronic products a portfolio of services within the
broad categories of design services, development services, manufacturing
services, and customer service. Our revenue has been, and is expected to be,
derived from a combination of fees from licensing, engineering services,
manufacturing services, warranty services, industrial design services, technical
support services and unit royalty payments. Our revenues also result from the
sale of products when we arrange for turnkey production and delivery of products
to customers.
When developers of electronic products lack the experience or resources to work
with portable storage media or to do their own design work, our design services
help perform component and product design. We offer design services in areas
such as circuit design, the design and incorporation of custom digital signal
processing solutions, wireless communication, computer and Internet connectivity
and product design. We have expertise in embedded systems, digital and analog
integrated circuit design, wireless, multimedia, Internet and computer
connectivity, DSP customization, flash memory interface and related fields.
In addition to design, our engineers can perform product development and
engineering services aimed to convert designs into functional reference designs,
prototypes and/or end products. The engineering services we offer include custom
hardware and firmware (an instruction set programmed into a chip which
determines the product`s functionality and user interface), software
development, technology platform development and product design.
We also arrange for manufacturing services including factory hand-off and
development of test procedures. The manufacturing services we provide range from
startup through order fulfillment services and post production quality and
warranty services.
Our business customers license or purchase our product reference designs or our
technology platforms to embed in or integrate with their product design allowing
them to accelerate the product development process.
MICROOS(TM)
Our proprietary MicroOS(TM) operating system serves as the foundation for our
Personal Digital Video, Digital Audio and Wireless Technology Platforms. MicroOS
was originally developed by us for use in digital voice recorder technology, but
because of its inherent flexibility, has grown and been adapted to support audio
and video storage and playback and wireless utilities. MicroOS is compact and
dynamic, responding to a variety of user interfaces. MicroOS manages the volume
and equalizer functions, the LCD drivers and interfaces, decodes a wide variety
of audio and video files, interacts with a variety of digital rights management
schemes and supports today`s most popular media storage formats including hard
disk drives, compact and embedded flash and others.
MicroOS manages multiple functions within a single device, utilizing less power,
space and operating capacity than many alternative solutions. The life cycle of
consumer electronics products is very short and continues to accelerate. With
MicroOS we believe we are able to complete new product design and development
projects faster and more economical than many competitors. The use of MicroOS
shortens the development cycle and MicroOS` flexibility provides the same lead
time benefits to subsequent generations of each MicroOS based product.
DIGITAL VIDEO/AUDIO TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
We have designed and developed a Digital Video/Audio Technology Platform based
on our proprietary MicroOS core. Our Digital Video/Audio Platform (``DVAP``)
accommodates various third party video compression encoded material, proprietary
security measures and allows for other customizable options. The DVAP supports
screen sizes from 2.5 to 10.4`` and is capable of achieving better than DVD
quality video. The 7`` version was first released in 2003 for use on commercial
airline flights as an Inflight Entertainment (IFE) device.
Our first commercial release of our DVAP was accomplished through business
customer Airline Protective Systems (``APS``) branding and distribution of the
digEplayer 5500(TM) IFE product to Alaska Airlines. The first units were
provided to Alaska Airlines passengers in October 2003. In 2004, we received
follow-on orders for commercial quantities of IFE units. The units are loaded
with content by APS from partners such as 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks SKG,
Warner Brothers and DMX. The large 7`` screen delivers better than DVD quality
video - a key competitive factor to others evaluating opportunities in the
market.
APS (a division of Wencor West, Inc., herein referred to as APS/Wencor)
continues to market the digEplayer to airlines worldwide and other companies
within the travel and leisure industry. While we anticipate continued commercial
success of the digEplayer, we remain active in pursuit of others seeking
personal video platforms for their own branding purposes. We believe there are
opportunities for new and next generation applications of this device.
Our proprietary DVAP is flexible and we believe we can address markets beyond
IFE with products customized for niche customers for travel and leisure,
medical, education, government and military use. We are modifying our DVAP
technology to incorporate the latest LCD screen, media storage, video
processing, battery and other components to address specific needs of the
medical and travel and leisure segments of the market.
Content Protection Technology
We have designed and developed proprietary hardware encryption technology for
content protection. This technology has been incorporated into the digEplayer
and has been tested and approved by major Hollywood movie studios. We currently
have a patent application pending with the U.S. Patent Office for this
technology.
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY
We have experience in developing wireless solutions for business customers and
our DVAP has applications for wireless technology. Wireless communications
between devices and hosts will benefit consumers` abilities to manage and
procure content. We are also integrating 802.11(Wi-Fi) technology as an option
for our DVAP. We have a separate Wireless Technology Platform that can also be
applied to other electronic products. We expect to support and integrate other,
new wireless technologies into our DVAP or our Wireless Technology Platform,
including WiMax, UWB and others.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In March 2005, APS/Wencor`s digEplayer was awarded IFE product of the year at
the IPEC & LARA 2005 Regional Airline World and Inflight Online Awards ceremony
held in London. Alaska Airlines was awarded Airline IFE Service of the Year.
This was an important endorsement of our DVAP solution.
In February 2005, APS/Wencor placed an order for digEplayers 5500`s(TM) with a
newly developed credit card reader enhancement. In March 2005 they ordered
additional IFE units and in May 2005 ordered further units.
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
We design and market digital technology product platforms employing portable
storage media with the major categories being digital video recorder/players,
digital music recorder/players and related mobile devices. We also have
experience developing digital automotive technology platforms and a wireless
technology platforms.
DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER/PLAYERS
Digital video players including DVD (digital video disc) players are increasing
in popularity with consumers. According to the Consumer Electronics Association,
DVD content is a $12 billion/year market.
Video compression formats such as MPEG-4 and DivX allow the compression and
transmission of digital video files over the Internet. They also allow consumers
to download and store on their personal computer`s hard drive full-length,
two-hour, motion picture files in as little as 500 MB of storage space. These
movies can then be viewed by consumers on a computer monitor or a personal video
recorder/player.
There is also a developing market for streaming delivery of video content on the
Internet. Corporations or video production companies may use streaming video to
deliver information and entertainment to users. DivXNetworks, Inc., the creator
and provider of the DivX video compression format, reports that over 80 million
users have downloaded their video playback software. This illustrates the demand
for high-quality video in manageable file sizes. The users of DivX compression
format have been limited to viewing DivX motion picture content on their
computer monitors. We believe there will be growing demand for a system
including portable hardware that will allow consumers to select and download
movies over the Internet in digital form, then download them to a portable
player capable of feeding the video and audio signals through a home
entertainment system or built-in viewing screen and speakers.
We believe there are applications for our DVAP in broad aspects of the travel
and leisure, medical, education, government and military markets and that these
are growing markets.
IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
IFE encompasses music, news, television programming, and motion pictures
presented through audio/video systems typically embedded into an aircraft.
Certain airlines are also beginning to incorporate satellite programming and/or
wireless Internet access for their passengers through extensive built-in
hardware in certain aircraft on certain routes. According to the Wall Street
Journal, airlines worldwide spend approximately $2 billion a year on
entertainment.
Because the costs to retrofit an aircraft with IFE equipment can be prohibitive,
we have developed an alternative IFE system. Our portable IFE player, based upon
our DVAP, is smaller than a typical laptop computer and has a high-quality color
screen and stereo headphones. Although passengers may rent or purchase portable
DVD players from outside entities, we have created the first portable video
players that can be rented to passengers by the airline. We believe this type of
system is attractive to airlines and other travel-related entities because of
its revenue potential, variety of content, and inexpensive implementation. We
work closely to support our customer APS/Wencor to develop this market.
PORTABLE STORAGE MARKET
There are two major categories of portable storage media: solid state and
miniature rotating disks including hard disk drives. We have designed our
technology to work with a wide variety of portable storage media. Our product
applications support a variety of storage media with capacities ranging from 16
Megabytes (``MB``) to 80 Gigabytes (``GB``) in portable storage formats widely
available from various vendors.
We believe these portable storage formats are complicated to use and generally
require a sophisticated interface and file system. A file system is a software
driver used to make portable memory components more closely emulate a
traditional disk drive and allow an understood mechanism for rapidly storing and
retrieving data with the minimal overhead allowed in a portable device. Portable
storage formats may also require the use of sophisticated power management
systems to maximize battery life in portable devices, and additionally may
require robust software interfaces with personal computing platforms for
consumers` ease of use in exchanging data files (consisting of music, pictures,
movies, voice recordings, text documents, spreadsheets, or other data) with
their personal computers.
Our MicroOS operating system for storage management and experience in a variety
of portable products are key factors in marketing our services and solutions to
business customers.
OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY
We are currently focusing development, sales, marketing, and support efforts
chiefly on platform and product development opportunities for customers and
licensees in portable digital entertainment device markets. Our objective is to
have our operating systems and application designs play major roles in the
growing market for portable digital devices.
Products designed by us are marketed under a license and/or royalty fee
arrangement and through product sales by branding customers. Utilizing strategic
customers for product development and marketing results in reduced development
and manufacturing costs, provides high quality products and creates a broader
revenue base.
We offer a total solution from product design through development,
manufacturing, delivery, and support. Our strategy is to build upon our
proprietary technology to develop long-term strategic relationships with key
manufacturers in various industries. We believe we have the expertise and
experience to offer a turnkey solution to customers seeking to implement
portable digital audio and video processing. We actively seek licensing, private
label, and business customer opportunities in the digital video and audio
processing markets. Our efforts include:
1. Expanding our business by developing custom products for customers -
We seek to expand our business through sales and marketing targeted
at obtaining additional product development opportunities with
existing customers and new business customers.
2. Developing brand name recognition with business customers - This
strategy is being pursued through participation in industry
alliances, trade show participation, professional articles and
attaching our name along with customer products to the greatest
extent possible.
3. Expanding the technology base through continued enhancements of our
technologies and application - We develop in-house proprietary
designs, products, features or technologies that may be private
labeled or licensed to one or more business customers. Our
engineering team continues to enhance and update MicroOSTM and
related technology. We also devote resources to expanding our
technology to new applications. In addition to supporting music,
voice, and video processing, we believe our technology may have
applications in a wide range of products.
4. Leverage strategic industry relationships - We have established and
maintain important strategic industry relationships and associations
with a number of related companies. We seek to leverage these
relationships to offer better technology integration and solutions
to our business customers and to maximize subtle but valuable
marketing and co-promotion opportunities.
CUSTOMERS
Our revenues result from the sale of products, product royalties, fees from
engineering services, order fulfillment, technical support services, warranty
services and/or design services. In some cases, we rely on outside
subcontractors to perform services including manufacturing, testing and
certification, industrial design, and assembly.
We have revenue-producing contracts or revenue-producing licensing and marketing
arrangements with the following customers:
APS/WENCOR - We licensed our DVAP technology to APS and customized it for use in
their branded portable IFE device known as the digEplayers 5500(TM) for Alaska
Airlines. This portable IFE product has since and continues to be marketed and
sold to other airlines by APS/Wencor. We provide product to APS/Wencor pursuant
to license and supply agreement.
BANG & OLUFSEN - We licensed technology to Bang & Olufsen for use in their
branded digital audio player products. The first product developed under our
licensing agreement (the BeoSound 2 portable MP3 player) reached the retail
market in June 2002. Bang & Olufsen sells their branded products, including the
BeoSound 2, through exclusive retail stores worldwide.
OTHER CUSTOMERS
We offer developers of electronic products a portfolio of services within the
broad categories of design services, development services, manufacturing
services, and customer service. We seek and have discussions with a variety of
prospective customers on new electronic products. We also make improvements to
our existing DVAP and other technologies using our own resources to attract new
customers. Our revenue has been, and is expected to be, derived from a
combination of fees from licensing, engineering services, manufacturing
services, warranty services, industrial design services, technical support
services and unit royalty payments.