March 29, 2006 – HANDHELD IFE market leader digEcor has announced that it will unveil a new version of its digEplayer at Aircraft Interiors in Hamburg next week.

Designated digEplayer XT, the new product is expected to feature a bigger, 8in, screen, wireless content loading, a credit-card reader, and battery life extended to 10 hours.

Readers are encouraged to call at Booth A5, Hall 9, to try out the XT. While there, they might also learn more about progress with the digEsystem semi-embedded system, which is due to take to the air around now.

Last October Utah-based digEcor announced that it had appointed a new technology partner, Triad Systems Engineering (TSE) of Colorado, to provide the design and production engineering muscle behind XT and digEsystem. digEcor CEO Brent Wood also declared at the time that the company had accelerated its plans to bring digEsystem to market. Since then, however, programme updates have proved hard to come by.

It may be that digEcor is being distracted by a messy-looking end to its relationship with original digEplayer industrial designer e.Digital, which is currently fulfilling a last order for 1,250 units via Korean end-manufacturer Maycom. Last week e.Digital reported to its shareholders that Maycom was showing signs of being unwilling or unable to complete the order despite digEcor’s carrying out an onsite inspection in January and making final progress payments this month.