Combining the best features of a video player, mp3 music player,
digital picture frame, and a computer hard-disc peripheral in a
compact device that fits easily in a coat pocket, Thomson (Euronext
Paris: 18453)(NYSE:TMS) today announced retail availability of the
RCA LYRA Audio/Video Jukebox. Arriving just in time for the holiday
season, the RD2780 brings a world full of entertainment to consumers’
fingertips. Named one of the top tech innovations of 2003 and a Grand
Award winner, the RCA LYRA Audio/Video Jukebox is highlighted in the
December issue of Popular Science magazine and its annual “Best of
What’s New” competition.
Aimed at frequent travellers and movie and music buffs, the 20GB
RD2780 provides an innovative solution for digital entertainment
aficionados. The RD2780 enables consumers to easily transport and
efficiently manage hours of favorite audio and video content via a
concise on-screen menu system that can be customized to reflect user
preferences. The versatile RD2780 is compatible with multiple audio
and video codecs including MPEG-4, MPEG-1, mp3, Windows Media Audio,
and is also upgradeable to mp3PRO. With the portable computer hard
drive, it’s also easy to carry other computer files in the device.
“With mp3 products driving the portable audio category,
incorporating video playback is the next step in providing consumers
with the ultimate portable entertainment experience. The innovative
user interface of the RCA LYRA Audio/Video Jukebox makes loading,
organizing and managing a vast amount of personalized content a simple
task. With its multi-codec support, the RD2780 is truly a universal
entertainment device,” said Mark Redmond, Vice President, Worldwide
Audio and Video.
Carry 80 Hours of Video, or Load 5,000 Songs
About the size of a small picture frame with a 3.5-inch Thin Film
Transistor (TFT) LCD screen, the RD2780 measures 5.31 x 3.15 x 1.06
inches, and weighs less than a canned soft drink at only 10.5 ounces.
It contains a built-in MPEG-4 encoder and decoder, enabling consumers
to watch up to 80 hours of pre-recorded television shows, feature
films, or home videos at 320 x 240 resolution (when content is loaded
directly from the PC), and more than 20 movies (or 40 hours) when
content is directly recorded into the device from a video source. The
RD2780 easily connects to a television set via an analog composite
video output and respects analog copy protection signals from
prerecorded media. With built-in separate audio and video recording
modes, recording on the device is quick and easy. Since the LYRA
Audio/Video Jukebox is essentially a computer peripheral with a hard
drive, the unit can also be used for storage of other types of stored
data, including word processing documents and presentations. The
player easily connects to a PC via the included high-speed USB 2.0
port, where it is automatically recognized as a removable drive,
enabling content to be transferred quickly. The RD2780 is also
compatible with Mac OS (drag and drop only.)
Consumers have the freedom to personally manage their vast library
of mp3 tunes with the included MusicMatch management software, using
ID3 tag song data to display artist, album, song title and genre.
Music fans can sample hundreds of hours of their mp3 audio files using
one of nine playback modes, including normal play, shuffle and repeat,
or by programming their own playlists. Navigation through the library
is simple using the interactive, on-screen display, even while
listening to another song file. Video Timestamp “remembers” the track
location when the power was shut off, and provides the option to
return to that same spot when the power is returned.
Desktop Picture Frame for your Favorite Photos
The RCA LYRA Audio/Video Jukebox doubles as a portable (or
desktop) pocket photo album, since JPEG images are displayed by
directly transferring them from the PC or by inserting a Compact Flash
memory card. The robust hard drive in the RCA LYRA Audio/Video Jukebox
accommodates up to 100,000 JPEG photo images, which can be organized
into a slideshow accompanied by music stored on the RD2780. A
convenient built-in leg swivels easily into position to allow a
desktop slide show.
Adding to the overall value of the RD2780 are the included AC/DC
adapter, “ear bud” style stereo headphones, two audio/video patch
cables (for line-in and line-out) and a carrying pouch. The RD2780’s
car kit provides hours of audio entertainment through a cassette
adapter, while the included lithium polymer rechargeable battery
provides portable video and audio playback. Suggested retail price of
the RD2780 is $449.
Latest Addition to Family of RCA LYRA Products
The RD2780 joins the wide range of current RCA LYRA digital audio
products, enabling consumers to enjoy their favorite digital music
files on the go. The current RCA LYRA line includes:
— The tiny1.5GB RCA LYRA Micro Audio Jukebox (RD2760, suggested
retail $249)
— 40GB RCA LYRA mp3 Jukebox (RD2840, suggested retail $329)
— 256MB RCA LYRA Personal mp3 Player with FM Tuner (RD1090,
suggested retail $199)
— 128MB RCA LYRA Personal mp3 Player with FM Tuner (RD1080,
suggested retail $149)
— 128MB RCA LYRA Pocket mp3 Player (RD1071, suggested retail
$119)
— 64MB RCA LYRA Pocket mp3 Player (RD1021, suggested retail,
$99)
