The world's first Mini-CD/MP3 player, that allows up to four hours of music to be stored on a single 8cm Mini-disc, has been launched in SA.
Now available countrywide at such popular retailers as Hi-Fi Corporation, Incredible Connection, Game, Dion, Makro and Beyond IT, the Beatman is distributed by JSE-listed Square One Solutions Group, the sole Southern African distributor for products from international mass storage device manufacturer, Freecom Technologies.
The "super-small" (103mm long, 95mm wide and 29mm high), lightweight and highly portable Beatman is designed for listening on the move. It is equipped with in-ear Sennheiser earphones and can be run off two AA batteries or from mains via an AC adapter. It can be connected to an amplifier or radio-cassette recorder through the earphone socket when required to act as a static sound source.
Catering for the market that uses personal computers for their listening pleasure, extra thump can be achieved by connecting PC speakers to the Beatman's earphone jack (lead out) and PC power is not needed to play the disks.
"The Beatman plays MP3 encoded and audio 8cm mini-CDs. The discs will accommodate 185MB, which equates to between three and four hours of music on a single Mini-CD-R," says Lisa Jackson, Square One divisional manager responsible for the Freecom range.
"Special features include low power consumption for long battery life - the Beatman will operate for up to seven hours on the batteries - a built-in anti-shock mechanism and robust, high quality design that takes into account all industry standards. There is a built-in digital sound equaliser."
The Beatman supports 8cm CD-ROM, 8cm CD-R and 8cm CD-RW. An LCD display gives track number, playing time and battery status. Playback features give the ability to quickly locate desired tracks and include "next", "previous", "repeat" and "program" buttons.
"Users can purchase and download their favourite music from legitimate Internet sites and burn it onto a Mini-CD-R, or they can convert existing audio CDs into MP3. Sound quality is exceptional," emphasises Jackson.
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Square One provides integrated IT-based solutions to corporate, retail and government clients through a reseller channel that in turn integrates such solutions for end-users. The core business of the company encompasses document handling and information sharing solutions; knowledge management; networking; hardware, software and consumable products distribution; Internet, IT security (biometric) and e-commerce technologies; data storage; variable data product marking and coding solutions; and value-added business services.
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