Creative Tech to ship Audigy next month
PrintIEEE1394, MP3, Dolby Digital-based kit to revive revenues, company hopes
Posted in Personal, 13th August 2001 11:59 GMT
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Creative Technology has confirmed it will release its next-generation audio card, Sound Blaster Audigy, in September, as part of a plan to refocus the company's efforts on sound products.
Audigy details emerged a couple of months ago. The Audigy line is based on a new sound chip, the EMU10K2, which provides sound in and out, and supports Dolby 5.1 and Surround Sound. The card can convert audio to the MP3 format, and contains an IEEE1394 port for fast transfers to hard drives and other devices, including an upcoming version of Creative's Nomad Jukebox MP3 player.
To keep the music industry happy, Audigy contains ContentPass technology to prevent unauthorised music duplications. We hear that Creative will offer Audigy in a variety of forms, aimed at different types of users, including gamers, MP3 and online music listeners, and home music makers. Prices will range from $99 to $199.
Creative hopes Audigy will help revive its fortunes - the company has just posted a loss of $73.4 million on sales of $234.2 million for its fourth fiscal quarter. Both figures are well down on the same period last year.
The company will also focus entirely on audio kit, presumably by dropping its other lines, such as graphics cards. However, Creative has yet to confirm this. ®
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