FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TrekStor GmbH LAUNCHES SLIM-LINE MP3 PLAYER FEATURING BEST-IN-CLASS BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, OPTIONAL FM/VIDEO MODULES
New Feature-Packed “vibez” Hard Drive Player Boasts Sleek Design, Latest Chip Set, Rechargeable/Replaceable 20 Hour Battery
[Attention Editors: Please find eye catching, high-resolution photography URL links below.]
EAST ROCKAWAY, New York — November 6, 2006 — Offering a unique combination of features packed into a bold, new slim-line design, TrekStor GmbH, Germany’s top-selling brand of digital portable media players, has introduced the TrekStor vibez, the company’s first hard disc MP3 player for the US market. With capacities of 8GB, 12GB or 15GB, the palm-sized vibez features a 1.5-inch, full-color TFT screen, a large rubberized scroll wheel for maximum control, and a 20-hour rechargeable, replacable Lithium-ion battery.
Housed in a compact, stainless steel case with a removable rear cover, vibez allows easy, low-cost replacement of long-life rechargeable batteries, elminating the major consumer dissatifaction with portable players. An optional FM tuner card, available shortly after launch, fits snugly in a slot behind the battery, and an optional FM/video card, allowing video playback, will be available in 2007.
“TrekStor is known throughout Europe for award-winning, stylishly designed products, and vibez is another trend-setter in personal, portable media players,” said Hana Arad, president of Data Station, the U.S. marketing arm for Germany-based TrekStor GmbH. “By commissioning one of the best known Munich design studios, we’ve created an exceptional player with a look, feel and functionality that is different than anything else on the market.”
On the outside, the vibez’ unique two circle design places the square, high-contrast TFT full-color display, in the “upper circle,” and the scroll wheel in the “lower circle.” The chassis is ergonomically shaped, and made with high-grade stainless steel, with the display protected from impact by hardened plastic. The magnetically mounted scroll wheel is rubberized for maximum grip for quick and easy operation of the software’s hierarchically structured pop-up menus. To change its looks, TrekStor is offering users three different non-slip neoprene case covers or skins, and offers software that allows wallpaper designs to be added to the TFT screen’s background.
But the vibez represents more than just an avant-garde design and looks; the technology found inside is state-of-the-art. TrekStor incorporated US-based chip manufacturer SigmaTel’s latest generation of chips as well as its new state-of-the-art 1-inch hard drive. More compact than the current 1.8-inch drive use in other players, it provides a smaller footprint, allowing room for the FM tuner card to fit behind the battery. The hard drive and battery are wrapped by high-end shock absorbing materials for advance protection from bumps and drops.
As with any protable device, long battery life is always desirable, and the vibez does not fail. With a lithium ion high-performance battery, the vibez feature 20 hours of uninterrupted music playback, with a recharge time of approximately three hours. To conserve battery life and extend playing time, the vibez’s large buffer can store up to two hours of music, lessening access time. And when it’s time for a new battery, TrekStor’s engineers cleverly designed the vibez with a replaceable battery — simply remove and replace.
At 200 MHz, the computing strength of vibez is so powerful that it can cross-fade two songs or automatically sort images according to their recording data (EXIF). The high-speed USB 2.0 connection ensures that images and songs will be transferred to the vibez reliably and fast.
The new MP3 player supports all the popular music formats, including MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG and FLAC files, as well as WMA DRM (Digital Rights Management) 9 and 10. This allows songs rented over the Internet, such as with Napster TO GO!, or songs downloaded from sites featuring WMA lossless formats, such as MusicGiants, to be played without conflict. Regardless of file used, upcompromised audio quality is guaranteed all the way to the users’ ears, with the included Sennheiser earbuds, the world-renowned maker of high-quality headsets.
In accordance with the user’s personal listening habits, the TrekStor vibez’s “DJ mode” automatically compiles play lists at the touch of a button, sorting songs according to the desired mood. Also included are four dynamic visualization effects to suit the music, and a cross fading function that enables the user to blend songs in and out. The line-in recording feature allows the speech to be recorded via the integrated microphone as well as music from other audio devices.
Thanks to the Cover Art function, the display shows the CD covers of the songs being played, as well as ID3 tag and file names. Photos can be viewed as a slide show. The vibez also features “quick buttons” that can be assigned personal favorites. To take the hassle out of managing a player’s music collection, TrekStor has bundled in MAGIX’s MP3 Maker SE with every vibez.
For additional user appeal and usability, the stylishly designed player is available with a range of accessories. Users can call up the player’s most important function quickly via cable remote control; a second set of headphones with independent volume control can be connected. TrekStor is also offering a docking station with battery charger and infrared remote control, which can be used to connect the vibez to separate speakers or to a larger stereo system. A video card is also under development and is expected to be available early 2007.
The vibez can also be used as a standard USB storage device. Operating systems recognize it as a removable storage device after it is connected to the USB port of a PC or laptop. The small, multi-featured device is a light 2.5 ounces with its battery and measures approximately 4 x 2 x 0.7 inches. The vibez comes bundled with Sennheiser headphones, a neckband, both a USB and a line-in cable, and software CD (including a manual in PDF format and a Windows 98 driver).
Availability and Price
Slated to ship in December, the 8GB and 12GB will be available at Amazon.com, J&R Music and Computer World, and TheStorStore.com. The 15GB is expected to ship in late January 2007. All are backed by a one-year warranty.
Pricing (MSRP)
8GB: $219.99
12GB: $249.99
15GB: $279.99
Replacement batteries (rechargeable, lithium-ion): $29.99
Photography of the TrekStor vibez can be downloaded from the following URL:
www.roherpr.com/TrekStor/TrekStor_vibez_combi_A.jpg
www.roherpr.com/TrekStor/TrekStor_vibez_combi_B.jpg
www.roherpr.com/TrekStor/TrekStor_vibez_front.jpg
About TrekStor
Founded in 2001, TrekStor GmbH designs and manufactures award winning entertainment and storage products for personal, home, and office use. Offering a wide variety of desktop and portable external USB hard drives, high-capacity USB sticks, and high-quality portable digital media players, TrekStor has earned a reputation for quality, innovation, and performance. Headquartered in central Germany, the Lorsch, South Hessen-based company employees 135 people. Its products are distributed throughout Europe, the Middle East and, starting in 2006, North America. Additional information on TrekStor and its products can be found at www.trekstor.de/en/.
Data Station, the U.S. marketing arm for TrekStor, is located at 469 Atlantic Ave, East Rockaway, NY 11518 (sales@datastation.us or Tel: 516-593-1515).
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