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VIA Inspires “Music at Your Fingertips” with New HUSH AVX Music Server Featuring DigiFi Wireless PDA Operation

VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX powers new PDA-controlled music server from Digital Fidelity and HUSH for remote management of music collections

Taipei, Taiwan, 17 March 2004 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced that Digital Fidelity, the audio server middleware specialists, and HUSH Technologies, a leading quiet computing platform provider, will launch the new VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX mainboard based HUSH™ AVX Music Server at CeBIT 2004.

Combining the feature rich VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX mainboard and the innovative DigiFi™ software, the HUSH AVX Music Server lets users store more than 1600 CDs and play them using a unique PDA interface, connected via WiFi. Essentially a music management and enjoyment system, it also allows users to create play lists, select singles, play entire albums, queue music, select by alphabet/genre/last played/favorites, and even control the volume.

“We are very excited about the launch of the Hush AVX Music Server because it is one of the most advanced music management systems available and really makes the most of the VIA EPIA M10000’s digital media features,” said Steven S. Lee, Head of the VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc. “With the easy to use DigiFi music collection management software, it is a perfect fit for any modern connected home.”

At the heart of the system is the highly efficient, low profile VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX mainboard that, together with HUSH’s unique fanless cooling system, enables near silent operation. Onboard VIA Vinyl Audio provides the highest quality sound for a truly immersive listening experience.

“The barriers to entry in the convergent space have traditionally been noise, aesthetics, and simplicity of operation, but with the VIA EPIA Mini-ITX, we have been able to overcome all of those obstacles and created a world class music entertainment system,” commented Markus Kremer, General Manager of Hush Technologies. “Combined with Digital Fidelity’s software, we have a high-quality, great looking, near silent server operated by a truly portable GUI with the most sophisticated and intuitive interface on the market.”

Easy access to digital content is a key challenge in the fully digital universe, especially so when that content is stored and managed on a central server. Digital Fidelity’s DigiFi software makes it easy to manage digital audio files on the Hush AVX Music Server through its user friendly and convenient PDA based user interface.

“We believe that DigiFi™ puts the user back in touch with their music collection through its intelligent, intuitive interface developed for the everyday consumer,” said John Booth, Managing Director of software and manufacturing consultancy, Digital Fidelity Limited. “We are proud to be working with innovators such as VIA and HUSH in bringing this product to market.”

The Hush AVX Music Server will be on show at CeBIT 2004 in Hall 1, stand 7i2. For more information about the Hush AVX Music Server, please visit www.hushtechnologies.net.


About the VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX Mainboard
The VIA EPIA M10000 Mini-ITX Mainboard is the second generation 17cm x 17cm platform optimized for today’s killer digital video and audio applications, and is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2K/ME/XP and a variety of Linux-based operating systems. Featuring the new 1GHz VIA C3™ processor with enhanced digital media performance, and the VIA UniChrome CLE266 chipset with an embedded MPEG-2 decoder and the integrated UniChrome 2D/3D graphics core, the VIA EPIA M10000 platform provides smooth DVD playback and a rich overall entertainment experience.

With the sizable memory bandwidth of DDR266 SDRAM and the high data transfer speeds of ATA/133, the VIA EPIA M10000 ensures the high performance levels required of today’s most popular digital media and productivity applications. The user’s digital media experience is further enhanced by support for 5.1 surround sound, courtesy of the onboard VIA Vinyl Six-TRAC audio. The latest in high-bandwidth connectivity is supported with IEEE1394 and USB 2.0 connections provided, as well as S-Video and RCA TV-Out (NTSC & PAL) and 10/100 Fast Ethernet for seamless broadband connectivity. The VIA EPIA M10000 also offers support for the latest LVDS embedded LCD panels, has one PCI slot for expandability options, and is compatible with a full range of Mini-ITX chassis as well as FlexATX and MicroATX enclosures.

For more information on the full range of VIA EPIA M-Series Mini-ITX mainboards please visit: http://www.viaembedded.com/product/e...herboardId=81.

About Digital Fidelity Limited
Digital Fidelity develops middleware for operating and controlling hard disk audio servers. Our technology uses Windows XP Embedded on the server, and Windows CE for the controller, the PDA. The controller communicates with the server using WiFi, 802.11b. We work with OEMs to produce product. The first OEM to come to market using our middleware is HUSH Technologies (www.hushtechnologies.com) with the HUSH AVX Music Server. We produce software and hardware solutions in the areas of hard disk audio, silent PCs, PDA control, WiFi connectivity and intuitive user interfaces.

About HUSH Technologies
HUSH Technologies is a bespoke manufacturer of precision engineered PCs and cooling systems that work with people, not against them. Ergonomics, stability and silence are our watchwords and our focus is on case design, cooling systems and consultancy. HUSH Technologies services industries and individuals where stability and silence are a priority, including the medical, media, domestic, architectural and creative arenas. The word in today’s market place is ‘choice’ and bespoke solutions are the way forward. HUSH Technologies provides the answer by managing the customer-supplier relationship from the early days of consultation, through the design, manufacture and customization stages to the creation of the end product.

About VIA Technologies, Inc.
VIA Technologies, Inc. (TSE 2388) is the foremost fabless supplier of market-leading core logic chipsets, low power x86 processors, advanced connectivity, multimedia, networking and storage silicon, and complete platform solutions that are driving system innovation in the PC and embedded markets. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, VIA’s global network links the high tech centers of the US, Europe and Asia, and its customer base includes the world’s top OEMs, motherboard vendors and system integrators. www.via.com.tw

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