INDIANAPOLIS, IN, January 2, 2007 — Escient, the pioneer of digital media management, today announced that it is shipping the highly anticipated FireBall FP-1 Music Manager with Universal Dock for the Apple iPod (SRP: $599). The FP-1 provides a full color on-screen user interface for managing and controlling an iPod in the home. Unlike typical home iPod docks, which offer very limited benefits when the iPod is removed, the FP-1 provides access to a user’s PC- or Mac-based music collection and free Internet radio streams even when the iPod is not docked. Because the FP-1 is truly an Escient FireBall Music Manager (which uses the iPod for local music storage) it integrates seamlessly with other FireBall products in the home, enabling other connected FireBalls to access and play all of the iPod’s music, including Apple’s FairPlay DRM protected audio files. The FP-1 will be demonstrated next week in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel.
Bill Carson, General Manager of Escient noted: “The FireBall FP-1 is a ground breaking value-added home entertainment solution that unlocks the power of the Apple iPod experience in the home. We leveraged all of Escient’s expertise in media management to create a product that uses the iPod’s built-in hard drive as the storage platform and the foundation for a full-fledged networked home entertainment system.”
What sets the Escient FireBall FP-1 apart from other iPod docking solutions is its ability to integrate music from various physical locations around the home into one unified on-screen user interface. Music from a user’s iPod, PC/Mac, and even other networked Escient FireBall products can be integrated into a single music guide.
In addition to these cutting edge features, the FP-1 provides a USB pass-through mode for iPod to PC/Mac syncing and an integrated iPod charging station. It is compatible with iPod Nano, iPod Mini, iPods with color displays, iPods with video, and all current Apple iPod models.
The FireBall FP-1 maintains all of the Escient FireBall features that custom installers and consumers count on for total system control and flexibility, including: two-way RS-232 and Ethernet control, IR inputs, discrete IR remote codes, multiple IR code banks, and built-in software updating over the Internet.
About Escient
Escient is a division of D&M Holdings U.S., Inc., and is the pioneering leader in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, sales, distribution and support of a groundbreaking category of audio/video products that meld the power of the Internet seamlessly with intuitive home-entertainment devices. Escient’s products and services are designed to enhance the entertainment experience by providing previously unheard-of ways to access music, movies and related content throughout the home. The company possesses a deep portfolio of designs for new products including media servers, DVD systems, remote players and networking and streaming devices, that are brought to market under the Escient brand through a channel of over 800 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Mexico, and in partnership with other leading global consumer electronics brands.
About D&M Holdings Inc.
D&M Holdings Inc. (TSE I: 6735) is based in Kawasaki and owns the Denon, Marantz, McIntosh Laboratory, Boston Acoustics, Snell Acoustics, D&M Professional, Denon DJ, ReplayTV and Escient brands. Denon, Marantz, McIntosh and D&M Professional are global industry leaders in the specialist home theater, audio/video consumer electronics or professional audio markets, with a strong and long-standing heritage of manufacturing and marketing high-performance audio and video components. Boston Acoustics, with its signature The Boston Sound, is a leader in premium loudspeakers for home and audio markets. Snell is a super premium speaker brand. The ReplayTV and Escient brands represent award-winning technologies in digital home entertainment. Additional information is available at www.dm-holdings.com.
Denon and Marantz are registered trademarks of D&M Holdings Inc.; McIntosh is a registered trademark of McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.; Boston Acoustics is a registered trademark of Boston Acoustics, Inc.; and ReplayTV, Escient, the Esient logo, and FireBall are registered trademarks of Digital Networks North America, Inc.
Apple and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
DISCLAIMER
Statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may include forward looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the company. We wish to caution you that such statements are just predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties surrounding competitive and industry conditions, market acceptance for the company’s products, risks of litigation, technological changes, developing industry standards and other factors related to the company’s businesses. The Company reserves all of its rights.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Media Contact:
David Struzzi
dstruzzi@dba-pr.com
DBA Public Relations
1-212-388-1400
