Firstly, thank you vendors for your valuable time at the show. As we noted last week, because of space limitations we can only summarize; however, IFExpress plans to devote complete Hot Topic subjects on some of the big deals in the upcoming months. We also note that IFExpress planned to dedicated two issues for APEX summaries. Wrong! We now need three and the third is to come next week.

APEX reports 2300 delegates and 73 airlines in attendance while most visitors enjoyed good, but unusual, Seattle weather. We again note that many show images are available by clicking the show image in this newsletter (to the right) and on the IFExpress/AIRFAX.com website.

Here we go:

Once again Geoff Underwood and his IFPL team knocked our collective socks off with 3 prototypes for new products: a near field communication (NFC) initiative (and eventual product) that permits chip-powered credit card sales (PIN enabled) via a swipe and a keypad. He demonstrated an ingenious Self Testing Audio Jack with built-in audio test via small LED – simply send out the correct tone and the light gives a go/no-go visual indication (BTW, no seat power required and the jack is no bigger that a standard jack). Hey, one person can check out a plane’s worth of audio with a walk down the aisle! Lastly, we should mention their 3 part breakaway audio jack. That’s right, 3 parts!Lower cost and no broken audio plugs – patent in works.

PlaneBill‘s Massimo DeSanctis, the App man has 18 apps now, one each for Apple iOS, Android, and Windows 7. We hear he is working on apps for WebOS and Blackberry as well. Check out the link for the list or www.planebill.com. Why not have him build or customize one for you!

Goodrich‘s Al McGowan told IFExpress they are planning bigger IFE packages for their customers, mostly with a retrofit focus. Interestingly, we expect new products as they cross pollinate with their Military technologies and other business elements. And, don’t forget the GA market as Goodrich has purchased Audio International.

digEcor continues to promote their L7 portable and are looking toward more solid state memory for increased functionality. Two bits of info: 1. Alaska does NOT report lower uptakes rates with Gogo onboard, and 2. We can’t tell you about their long term initiatives but one looks very cool. Adam Williams sent us his Tweet analysis of the APEX event and we think you Social Marketing followers will appreciate the results. Adam (and others) are on the leading edge of the next marketing revolution.

And speaking of Gogo (Shouldn’t that be Go-Go?), we spoke with Fran Phillips, Mary Rogozinski, and Steve Nolan who note that they see Ka as their potential answer to future satcom-based streaming entertainment. Further, their ATG4 upgrade will provide enough interim growth bandwidth with A/C antenna changes and small ground station mods. But what really caught our fancy was a very passenger friendly new feature called “Resumption of Play”. This is great new attribute that allows Gogo users to see the portion of the paid entertainment they missed because of, for example, landing. Use a code, plug it into their website and voila, you have not missed that great part in “When Harry Met Sally”! Don’t remember? – YouTube it!

The Astronics folks now have the USB inset power product in production and deliveries and installations are happening as we write. We should probably note another Astronics accomplishment – Teatro ZinZanni. We don’t normally mention vendor events but this one was a deal breaker for us. Described as “Love, Chaos, and Dinner”, this Seattle dinner theatre was the setting for the Astronics party. The venue’s website notes a description for the show there as “Kit Kat Klub on acid”, however, that is mild for the madness that ensued – we think they served dinner too but we don’t remember? Singers, musicians, transvestites, tumblers, acrobats, and who knows what else, the place (and event) was a hoot. We have saved the best for last but you will have to check out the Industry Good Sport of the Year via this link…and we ain’t kidding! Nice job everybody.

Footnotes:
Rumor has it that the reason Inflight Canada missed the show is because they are finalizing a big deal new product – Stay Tuned.

Last week we forgot to mention that Thales nice guy Dan Reed has retired (or should we say “is” retiring), however, we understand he will work on till the end of the year – dan.reed@us.thalesgroup.com

Each year, for the last umpteen years, IFExpress has delivered readers a show preview based on a published invitation to all. This year is no different and we urge all attendees to be sure to visit their booth and tell them IFExpress sent you!

Company: Astronics AES
Booth: 701
Contact: Dennis Markert / dennis.markert@astronics.com / 425 442 8195

Astronics AES will be displaying their latest product addition to the world leading EmPower(R) In-Seat Power Systems (ISPS) product line. The new EmPower(R) In-Seat Power Supply produces an industry leading 200VA for each Personal Electronic Device (PED) and includes three Universal Serial Bus (USB) power outputs for passenger devices such as smart phones, iPods, cameras, and other standard +5 Volt DC devices. This is all accomplished in a smaller form factor than previous generations of the industry leading EmPower(R) product line.

Company: digEcor
Booth: 627
Contact: Adam Williams / awilliams@digEcor.com

DIGECOR HIGHLIGHTS: We will showcase the digEplayer L7, which airlines around the world have rapidly adopted, as a low cost yet rugged and feature rich IFE solution. Airlines can also find out more about In-flight Content Services, including the ability to support handhelds, overheads, and AVOD systems independent of a digEplayer agreement. Interested in Ancillary Revenue? We’ve been a long time supporter. Our customers have been generating revenue and operating self-sustaining IFE programs for years. So stop by our booth and chat with us about rental programs, shopping solutions, and advertising. We may not have a cool and highly publicized theme for the show, but if we did, it would probably be, “Come for the coffee, stay for the movies.”

Company: Goodrich
Booth number 1309
Contact Dan Vargas / dan.vargas@goodrich.com / (323) 837-2717

Goodrich digital video reproducers (VRUs) are a cost-effective way to update existing tape systems for an enhanced passenger entertainment experience. Be certain to stop by and visit us during APEX.

Company: IFPL
Booth#: 819
Contact: Claire Underwoord / claire.underwood@ifpl.com

Near Field Communication Demo
IFPL has developed an interface between NFC and IFE systems. This takes the mobile wallet concept onto aircraft and addresses the security issues of high value payments. The system on show can be used in a number of ways: as chip and pin; with NFC enabled ‘connect’ cards and with NFC enabled mobile ‘phones. This opens up a range of possibilities from renting movies, buying drinks and food and accessing destination information (i.e. increasing advertising revenue).

Self-testing jack
Currently airline maintenance personnel have to plug a headset into each audio jack to check it is receiving sound. This is time consuming and therefore costly and inefficient in short turnaround times. The self-testing jack has an LED that shows it is receiving a signal, meaning that all personnel have to do is play the IFE and walk through the cabin, spotting faulty jacks at a glance. The really clever thing about this jack is that is does not need any extra power to the seat to work, the light draws power from the audio signal.

Breakaway jack
IFPL’s highly reliable Long Life jack (tested to 100,000 insertions) has been developed to have a 90˚ pull out feature. This means that if a passenger stands up without removing their headset, it will pull away at any angle, without breaking the pin. IFPL has worked with headset suppliers to produce headsets with a smaller pin at the same cost as regular headsets. The breakaway jack will still accept a regular pin if necessary. IFPL see this as a low cost alternative to magnetic jacks.

Competition
As usual, IFPL will be holding a simple competition on their booth. The prize is a Nikon Coolpix digital projector camera. This neat little camera allows immediate projection of your photos onto any flat white surface.

We’re pleased to announce that IFPL will be showcasing an extra product at the APEX show next week!
The “Self Testing Audio Jack” is a neat solution to a common problem. Maintenance personnel have to walk the aircraft with a headset and plug it in to each audio jack at every seat to check that the audio is working. This is a time consuming job, and often means that seats don’t always get tested before a turnaround. Our new product is simple – it has a built-in LED that illuminates when audio is present. A quick scan of the seats tells you whether the jacks are working or not. This means you can go straight to any faulty jacks without wasting time checking every one manually. This simple device will improve IFE Availability and save airlines time and money. The really clever part is that this device doesn’t require power, or batteries – it runs off the audio supply! So, if you want to retrofit an old IFE system without power at the seat, it couldn’t be easier.

Just another reason to come and see us on booth 819 during the APEX show. Hope to see you this week!

Company: The IMS Company
Booth 1210
Contact: Harry Gray, vice president sales & marketing / hgray@imsco-us.com

Building up a head of steam at last spring’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), seat-centric IFE has become a juggernaut and none more so than The IMS Company’s RAVE™ with a backlog of more than 50 aircraft awaiting installation in 2011. If all of the options these orders are activated, the number of aircraft more than doubles. With Lufthansa, airberlin, SriLankan and Brussels Airlines onboard, additional announcements are expected at the Conference—bringing the total to seven or more.

But seat-centric IFE is not all that IMS is up to nowadays. Its new EDGE portables focus on Android OS as a platform that can support multiple versions of tablets. Look for announcements during the Conference.

Company: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
Booth: 301
Contact: Please stop by the Panasonic booth to arrange a tour or set up an appointment.

PANASONIC AVIONICS HIGHLIGHTS: At this year’s APEX Expo, Panasonic Avionics Corporation will be unveiling the three newest members of its X Series family. During the show, attendees are also invited to stop by the Panasonic booth for a chance to ask our eXPerts questions about the most exciting topics in IFEC today including seat centric vs. server-based architectures, Ka vs. Ku, and more. In addition, we are pleased to once again showcase our Cool Room where we’ll demonstrate how some of the most cutting-edge products in the consumer market can be applied to IFEC.

Company: PlaneBill
Booth: 850
Contact: Massimo De Sanctis / Mob: +39 335 222908 / Massimo.DeSanctis@planebill.com

On board portals for passengers (JetPortal) and for crew (CrewPortal).

PlaneApps for the emerging mobile platforms, Apple iOS, Google Android, Microsoft/Nokia Windows Phone 7, RIM QNX. Apps for smartphones (iPhone/iPod/iPad, Android phones and windows phone 7) and tablets (iPad, Android tablets) will be on show.

Before flight data crawler (DataCatering) for flight location based Services (origin/destination). Data mining to provide airline with useful information captured during flight on passengers devices,services, messages, behavior and feedback PlaneRoaming for reaching passengers on their mobile number without a cellular infrastructure.

Company: Rockwell Collins
Booth# 1001
Contact: Kelly Holland / 949-872-3308 (mobile) / klholla1@rockwellcollins.com

Rockwell Collins plans to unveil a new IFE solution for the single-aisle market tomorrow at APEX that will deliver unprecedented versatility for airlines and maximum reliability for passengers. The company also plans to announce stunning enhancements to its dPAVES IFE system, and a new entertainment solution for the regional jet market. Stop by Rockwell Collins’ exhibit to learn more about these new offerings and solutions to enhance the passenger experience.

Company: THALES
Booth#: 1401
Contact: Suzane Treneer / suzane.treneer@us.thalesgroup.com

THALES HIGHLIGHTS: CONNECT, NETWORK, PLAY is the Thales theme this year with focus on the Passenger Experience. Thales will be making significant announcements around in the air and on the ground wireless connectivity. Center stage will be the latest addition to the TopSeries product family, TopSeries AVANT. Installed into a new premium class Contour seat, TopSeries AVANT will include some future system navigation and audio concepts. Other demos include system integration into B/E Aerospace, Weber and Recaro economy seats. In the B/E Seat is a new innovative arm mount designed by Bucher. The up and coming new Thales Application Portal will be featured as well as future modules for Passenger Electronic Device interface capabilities.

Company: TriaGnoSys
Booth# 829
Contact: Charlie Pryor / +44 (0) 20 7031 8270 / charlie.pryor@leidar.com

TriaGnoSys and Siemens CMT have today launched IFEConneX, a complete inflight entertainment and communication (IFEC) solution. It incorporates an entertainment and media distribution system into the TriaGnoSys inflight GSM solution, GSMConneX, which was launched at Aircraft Interiors in April 2011. The lightweight modular system provides three services: GSM, WLAN and wireless streaming of IFE content, enabling business jet operators to combine the three services.

IFEConneX enables passengers to use their own mobile phone, tablet or laptop for calls, text messaging, emails, Internet connectivity, and for Audio and Video On Demand (AVOD). The solution has the capacity to stream individual content to up to 100 passengers simultaneously.

Company: VT Miltope
Booth: 1301
Contact Name: Jeff Drader / jdrader@miltope.com / 949 752 8191

Miltope’s family of network products offer the required functionality necessary to create custom airborne networks similar to how office networks are created. Designed to be readily expanded, they may be configured to define a network that optimizes the combination of interfaces and computing resources to meet the operational, spatial, and functional requirements of simple to complex airborne networks at a minimum cost. Products include servers, Ethernet switches and routers, 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless access points, TWLU wireless bridging from an aircraft LAN to a ground LAN, ARINC 744 network printers and ARINC740 cockpit printer, cabin control panels, and data storage devices.

Editors Note: We thought Seattle visitors might like a bit more info on restaurants and we suggest visiting the Yelp website. While there are too many to name here, IFExpress has heard a few “WOW” comments on the following:
Within walking distance to the Conference:
RN 74 – 1433 4th Ave. (4th & Pike), Regional French Cuisine, 206 457 7474
Driving Distance from the Conference:
Revel – 403 N 36th St., Fremont District, Korean Fusion, 206 547 2040
Walrus & Carpenter – 4743 Ballard Ave. NW, American Seafood, 206 395 9227

The objective of this article is to provide our readers a better perspective on portable IFE. To get the ball rolling, we gave a few questions to the affable Adam Williams of digEcor.

What is the current state of the portable IFE market?

The IFE industry has changed quite a bit over the last several years. Traditional systems are becoming more sophisticated and lighter. Connectivity emerged, died and is making a strong come back. And new seat centric systems are creating a lot of buzz. Portable IFE is moving right along with the market. We are experiencing evolutions in technology (in part driven by consumer electronics) and continuing to fill a large need that seat back systems do not fill due to cost, age of aircraft, and the needs of specific routes. Of the approximately 13,500 commercial aircraft in service today, only about 6,000 are being serviced by traditional systems. In the last 12 months, we have literally sold 1,000′s of digEplayer L7′s. That didn’t happen because our market is softening.

What future developments might impact the portable IFE market?

There are two trends that will have an impact on portable IFE – consumer electronic devices and connectivity. The experience that passengers have on the ground with their own devices sets the expectations for the in-flight entertainment experience, and that’s not unique to handhelds. So companies like Apple and Google are setting a standard. The standard, though, is not having a huge impact on IFE rental and use rates. Many passengers still prefer to use the in-flight system rather than a personal device (for reasons such as battery life and content availability). I heard someone say today, “My phone is capable of playing music. But I still have a stereo in my home.”

With connectivity in the picture, you have to wonder if IFE, handheld or otherwise, still makes sense. To date, the data shows that connectivity uptake rates remain low. What connectivity does offer though, is the ability to increase the functionality and profitability of a handheld offering. For example, you can now transact in real time (15% of flyers get on a plane hoping to rent a car once they land) and serve targeted advertisements. So coupling connectivity with a handheld system strengthens the offering to passengers.

Are there any new software products for the portable IFE market?

Consumer operating systems, such as Android, are seeing some penetration in concept, but no one is flying it yet. Most new software products are in the form of applications that enhance the functionality of the device and ancillary revenue opportunities (such as shopping, destination guides, etc).

How important is connectivity to the portable IFE market?

Connectivity is a big opportunity to bring new applications and revenue streams to portable devices. The connection is an enabler, not the detractor some feared.

What software products are most used on portable IFE and do you see a change in the near future (ie games, movies, email)?

I think a lot of us in the industry love thinking outside of the box and creating new applications and services. Though our experience shows that the number one thing people want to do with IFE is just watch movies. It’s like buying a smartphone these days. When my wife and I got ours last Fall, we looked at all of the cool features and applications that we can download. Though we had to stop and evaluate each device on one core question – how easy is it to make a phone call? We walked away from some phones because making a phone call wasn’t easy. IFE should first and foremost make watching a high-quality movie easy.

Does portable IFE have a bright future and if so why, if not, why?

Admittedly, there is a lot of innovation and shifting going on in the market today. However, portables are designed to address specific market needs. Those needs, like IFE in business class on just a select few routes, are not going away in the foreseeable future. So portables will continue to have a place in the market.

What do airlines think about the programming, charging, and managing portable handout? Is this about to change?

There are obviously logistical needs that are unique to portables. Changing content, charging batteries, and cleaning players has an operational impact, just as would the introduction of any other system to an aircraft. Fortunately, we have years of experience in managing this process. So we are able to limit that impact by working with the airline and airline partners. Also, we are constantly working to make these processes faster and easier.

IPADS??????

I love them.

What is the impact to portable IFE fostered by the rise in handheld tablets?

Handheld tablets have three direct impacts on portable IFE. First, they are setting a standard and passenger expectation. Second, IFE providers have to consider the popularity and developer support communities that exist around consumer operating systems and applications. And third, tablets are replacing portable IFE in some situations (e.g. American Airlines). The buzz around tablet devices is a strong enticer. Our experience with airlines is that there is interest from a an airline marketing standpoint but the operational inefficiencies from tablet PCs usually dissuade airlines. However, there will always be the American Airlines and Jetstars of the world that want to take on those issues hoping for a return in other areas. And I understand and respect that decision. So we, as IFE providers, simply need to be ready to help address the issues that tablets inherently bring with them.

About the time we asked Adam to comment on the portable market, American Airlines announced that they were planning to use a Samsung, Android-based tablet for their upper class in-flight entertainment. Therefore, we contacted Michael Childers (IFE industry consultant) about Android OS-based portables and he told IFExpress: “I believe that the significance of American Airlines’ selection of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is in the choice of platform more so than the device. The Android open source platform stands in marked contrast to the Apple iOS proprietary platform. Basing a product line on an operating system rather than on a specific device seems to have much greater potential, as does using open source rather than proprietary technology.”

He also noted, “The Android operating system is based on Linux, and is the world’s best-selling Smartphone platform.  The Android operating system has ostensibly found its way into IFE product announcements by Thales and Panasonic last year at the APEX Conference. If for no other reason than for the difference between the proprietary iOS platform and the Android open source platform, I believe that the Android-based offering will enjoy greater success in the IFE space than iPads.”

“Another restricting factor of the iPad and iOS platform is in Apple’s business model. Even though they’ve made some recent modifications, Apple architected its iTunes content ingestion path to support a model in which Apple participates in the content revenue stream. Some content providers have deals in place with Apple for the sale of content to consumers through iTunes that restricts them from providing content to an iPad by a means that bypasses iTunes ingestion. With no such restrictions limiting the Android OS, and with an open source versus proprietary infrastructure, it seems to me that Android devices will assume the position in IFE that many thought the iPad would.”

Another industry observer, who wished to remain anonymous, offered this comment: “My strong feeling is that OS-based solutions make more sense than device-based solutions, and open source platforms are much easier to deal with than proprietary platforms. I’ve always had reservations about iPads in IFE for these kinds of reasons. As you know, one airline announced 15 months ago that it would board iPads and trialed them a year ago. By the time that the device was re-purposed, however, iPad 2 had been released. The airline changed its plans to release the iPad 2, but it still isn’t deployed. In another two or three months, according to reports, the iPad 3 will be coming out. If it takes three generations to re-purpose the device for IFE, what’s the point!” (Editor’s Note: As far as we know, there is not consensus from the movie studios on the issue of hosting early window content on a closed operating system.)

Symonty Gresham of SymonTek made the following comments when queried on this subject: “The continued trials of custom loaded “off the shelf” tablet devices (iPad and Android based) marks a significant departure from the traditional IFE model. It not only reduces the reliance of specialized avionics equipment it is a fundamental shift for airlines to take on direct responsibility of the entertainment quality in the cabin. It is also a call to action to the suppliers of both equipment and content to prove their worth in a changing environment, where the passenger gets what they want and the airline relinquishes some of the “duty of care” of the total experience, in favor of the cost saving in an of the shelf offering.The greatest drawbacks are in-compatibility of the aircraft environment/process and the rapidly changing consumer electronics product range/standards and the reduced control airlines will have over the entire experience but these maybe trumped by the sheer reduction in cost.”

Lastly, on a mostly unrelated topic: Our old friend Neil Morgan is looking for a new challenge. Anyone seeking an experienced IFE Sales and Marketing man should contact him on neilmorgan1@compuserve.com.

SPRINGVILLE, Utah February 17, 2010 – Hawaiian Airlines signed a new four year contract extension with leading handheld inflight entertainment provider digEcor, Inc. Since 2004, Hawaiian passengers have enjoyed the digEplayer 5500. Starting in the next few months, passengers will be able to rent the digEplayer XLP.

digEcor’s President Brad Heckel commented, “The implementation of the digEplayer XLP is the first step in a longer term strategic partnership between Hawaiian and digEcor. We are dedicated to providing our clients with a robust IFE solution including flexible hardware, low cost content, and revenue generative programs. These customer benefits are a result of the continuous improvement programs, such as Lean Manufacturing and Software Development, that we have implemented.”

The first phase of the new agreement includes the replacement of approximately half of Hawaiian’s current digEplayer 5500 inventory, with the remaining stock being replaced in phase two. Also, the digEplayer XLPs will be initially offered on longer, premium routes.

Fully committed to revenue sponsored entertainment, the agreement also includes provisions to implement new revenue generative programs such as shopping and advertising. “Hawaiian has one of the most impressive and well oiled IFE rental programs that we have seen in the industry. Currently, the revenue just from the rental program makes the digEplayer program one of the best ancillary revenue programs that Hawaiian has inflight. The addition of our new programs will further increase the profitability of the program for Hawaiian.”

Content Administrator Jed Thompson noted, “Our close relationship with the studios allows us to pass content cost savings to Hawaiian and our other customers.” Hawaiian’s Vice President Louis Saint-Cyr added, “The wide range of inflight content choices that we are able to provide our customers through our digEplayer program is one of the great reasons our customers love our IFE program.”

“With the downturn in the marketplace, we have taken the opportunity to engineer new product offerings and build flexible content applications focused on the financial and logistical needs of our customers and the airline industry,” observed Heckel.

One of the bigger surprises at this year’s WAEA Conference in Palm Springs was the alliance between digEcor and Shanghai Lefeel Media Technology Co., Ltd. The result of this collaboration is a series of new handheld product offerings: 7” and 10” touch screen entertainment units and new services to go along with them. Boasting up to 20 hours of battery life the players should see service introduction in 2010. The contractual partnership between digEcor and Lefeel also includes a curser-driven, new-player development project. A curser-based unit has been a concept that Brent Wood of digEcor has envisioned for a number of years now. digEcor and Lefeel have also partnered with other entities in the development of these new products. “We have made the process of consulting with airlines, flight attendants, and passengers alike a high priority in our product development. We appreciate the help of our airline partners that provided valuable feedback during various steps,” said digEcor President Brad Heckel.

On the services front, digEcor plans to make inflight shopping a reality on a major carrier in December. They noted that the ancillary revenue to be gained from purchases is very important to their airline partners. Furthermore, a banner-type advertising service will be implemented, as well as, gaming and gambling applications, similar to what is available on the Internet today. Not solely focused on the aircraft, the digEcor people have hinted at developing other ground-based airline applications.

A surprise announcement also included the unveiling of a new PMA-based service from digEcor. The company has garnered FAA approval to offer PMA repair for other IFE vendor hardware. We think this might be a first in our industry!

From our perspective this is a new marketing posture from digEcor, not only are they expanding their service base but they are branching out to include higher value, new technology products and applications and in the process are developing new markets for their services. The IFExpress team came away from the WAEA feeling that we saw a new and evolving digEcor.

• Product Spec Sheet

SAN DIEGO, CA, – September 14, 2009 – e.Digital Corporation (OTC: EDIG), a leading technology innovator of dedicated portable entertainment systems and patented flash memory-related technology, announced today that the United States District Court for the District of Utah (the “Court”) ruled in favor of e.Digital on all remaining claims in the digEcor v. e.Digital litigation.

The Court issued its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law late last week in the lawsuit brought by digEcor against e.Digital. The Court’s findings and conclusions were based upon evidence presented at the May 2009 trial, as well as the post-trial briefings and arguments of the parties. In its decision, the Court dismissed all remaining digEcor claims with prejudice, ordering that digEcor recover no damages or injunctive relief. Specifically, the Court dismissed digEcor’s claims for breach of a November 2005 Purchase Order between the parties, breach of a digital rights management (“DRM”) Agreement, and breach of an October 22, 2002 Agreement. All claims were dismissed “with prejudice and on the merits.” The Court also declined to grant digEcor any injunctive relief in connection with the DRM-related claim.

To read the full findings of the Court, please click here:

http://www.edigital.com/docs/Verdict.pdf

About e.Digital Corporation: e.Digital is a leading innovator of dedicated portable in flight entertainment systems. More than 30 airlines have made dedicated portable systems powered by e.Digital technology their in flight entertainment choice. e.Digital also owns and is monetizing its Flash-R™ portfolio of flash memory-related patents. e.Digital was the first company to develop, employ and patent important technology that initiated the use of flash memory in portable devices. For more information about e.Digital , please visit: www.edigital.com.

San Francisco, CA August 26, 2009 — Rooftop Media, Inc. (www.RooftopMedia.net), the leading interactive media producer of original comedy content and comedic branded entertainment, today announces a content distribution deal for the Rooftop Comedy Channel with digEcor (www.digEcor.com), the premier provider of portable In-flight Entertainment (IFE) to the airline industry.

Featuring clips of the best, live stand-up comedy, the Rooftop Comedy Channel will be available on such airlines as Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and KLM Royal Dutch, as well as others that feature the digEplayer. As a manufacturer of handheld multi-media devices, digEcor provides passengers worldwide with a large selection of content such as movies, TV shows, music, music videos, games, book summaries, and now stand-up comedy.

Rooftop Media records live comedy performances 365 nights a year at more than 20 comedy clubs throughout North America, Europe and Australia, distributing original comedy programming to mobile, web, broadcast, and print outlets. digEcor joins existing Rooftop Media partners such as Current TV, Apple iTunes, Yahoo!, Nokia, Hulu, FastCompany Magazine, YouTube, and TiVO. Working with more than 3,500 professional comedians, Rooftop Media maintains a growing video library of tens of thousands of hours of original comedy content.

“While flying, passengers often don’t have enough time to invest in a movie or television show, so short content such as great stand-up comedy provides an enjoyable and desirable way to pass the time on flights,” said Jed Thompson, Content Administrator of digEcor. “Having searched for the right source for stand-up comedy for some time, Rooftop Media emerged as exactly the partner we needed to fill this important need in our In-flight Entertainment line-up.”

“This deal with digEcor takes Rooftop Media to new heights,” said Will C. Rogers, founder and CEO of Rooftop Media. “Deals like this one allow us to take the performance out of the comedy club and deliver it directly to the fans no matter where they are.”

About Rooftop Media, Inc.:
Rooftop Media, the parent company of Rooftop Comedy, Rooftop Comedy Production, The Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival and the Rooftop Comedy National College Comedy Competition, is the largest producer of interactive comedy programming and original comedy productions.

Rooftop Media records live comedy performances 365 nights a year from its network of comedy clubs throughout North America, Europe and Australia, distributing original comedy programming to mobile, web, broadcast, and print outlets that include Current TV, Apple iTunes, Yahoo!, Nokia, Hulu, FastCompany Magazine, YouTube, and TiVO. Working with more than 3,500 professional comedians, Rooftop Media maintains a growing video library of tens of thousands of hours of original comedy content. Rooftop Media produces a range of local and national events highlighting its talent discoveries.

About digEcor, Inc.
digEcor provides the aerospace industry a low cost, turn-key in-flight entertainment solution by specializing in content sourcing and management, pioneering proprietary personal media platforms, and implementing end-to-end programs. With years of experience, digEcor focuses on increasing traveler satisfaction, creating easily executed solutions, and generating revenue opportunities for clients. To widen the accessibility of entertainment in the travel industry, digEcor provides content and hardware solutions to the healthcare, rail, and maritime industries while maintaining a strong presence in the commercial and business jet markets. Founded in 2000, digEcor is based in Springville, Utah, with additional offices in Seattle, Miami, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Australia, and Toulouse, France. For more information, visit www.digEcor.com or call +1 801 489 2022.

Over the past year, we’ve reported several times about digEcor and product prototypes and enhancements. Well, all of their hard work and time has come to fruition again as digEcor announced last week the release of the digEplayer XLP, the third generation digEplayer (a comparison of the players can be found on their website). With an increased battery life at a record setting 16 hours, the XLP is designed to provide airlines with longer flight segments an affordable, lightweight, and flexible IFE platform.

We caught up with President Brad Heckel and asked him a couple of questions. When asked what airlines could expect with this player besides the battery life, Heckel responded, “The XT has had one of the brightest and sharpest screens in the industry. After considerable research and testing, we found that we could increase the brilliancy of the screen even further by upgrading to an LED backlit screen. As an added benefit, the screen is lighter and more power efficient. When we field tested the screens, both flight attendants and passengers gave rave reviews.” So what are your clients and airlines telling you about the player, we asked? “We’ve had very strong interest in the XLP from a number of airlines spanning about every continent and we expect to see some deals close in the near future.” “The XLP has a number of similar features to the digEplayer XT,” he added, “which include the credit card swipe, exterior battery indicator, dual audio jacks, and Power over Ethernet content loading. We did however add an external DC jack for powering without a battery.”

We also got the inside scoop on some further developments at the Utah-based, portable IFE manufacturer. Expanding its wide variety of available content, digEcor now offers current documentaries from well-known news source CNN. We were impressed with acclaimed documentary offerings such as “Revealed” depicting the personal lives of some of the world’s greatest thinkers, champions, and leaders, which have been flying on seven of digEcor’s customers since May of this year. Content already available through digEcor includes Sony, Buena Vista, Warner Brothers, Fox, Universal, and a host of Independent and Regional suppliers. “Our IFE business is divided into two segments. One is the award winning hardware and the second is desirable, high-quality content. We have teams devoted to continuously enhancing and improving both of those offerings. Our content team works hand-in-hand with studios and distributors worldwide to procure airline requested content direct and reduce the cost by encoding in-house,” remarked Heckel. With a new portable offering that reaches the long haul airline demographic and increased content options, the next few months should prove to be very exciting for the portable pioneer as the industry prepares for the WAEA show in October. For more information on the digEplayer XLP, you can visit digEcor’s website. (Ed. Note: Readers, you should note that this new portable player product seems to be designed perfectly for the so-called, “imbedded IFE” system.)

SPRINGVILLE, Utah July 1, 2009 – Addressing a growing need to support longer flight segments, handheld market leader digEcor announced the release of a new product today. After months of development, testing, and implementing feedback from airlines, the digEplayer XLP is now available to airlines worldwide. The “XLP” stands for “Extra Long Play.”

“Our development team has long sought to address the increasing desire for a player with an extended battery life. We took this opportunity to not only provide a device with 16 hours of continuous video playback, but also added several other features to enhance the overall user experience,” commented President Brad Heckel.

The screen has been upgraded to an LED backlit screen which increases the brilliancy of movies, yet is lighter and more power efficient. Lead engineer Glade Hulet added, “Every aspect of the digEplayer has been optimized for the in-flight experience. Meaning, passengers and flight attendants are using a device that has them in mind in every detail.”

Building on the architecture of the digEplayer XT, the digEplayer XLP sports a similar case design; however, it has been modified to fit the more powerful battery. The unit comes in a sleek black case and provides space for corporate branding on the shell. “One of our more popular features is the external battery status indicator which greatly simplifies a flight attendant’s job. The unit also supports in-seat powering via a DC jack and Power over Ethernet content loading,” commented Hulet.

The unit can support 100s of hours of movies, TV shows, music, music videos, and games. Further, the new LED backlit screen is twice as bright as other products in the market. After testing the screens inflight for several months, a flight attendant wrote, “They are such an improvement with regards to the clarity of the screen and menus. Please pass along my appreciation.”

Heckel concluded, “We are excited to add a new product to our family of handheld devices, especially one that addresses an important need in the industry. Keep watching in the coming months for even more exciting releases.”

For more information on the digEplayer XLP and other products, please visit www.digEcor.com/portable_models.html or visit digEcor at the WAEA conference in October (Booth 1127).

About digEcor, Inc.

digEcor provides a turn-key solution specializing in sourcing, encoding, and encrypting content; pioneering proprietary personal media platforms; and implementing end-to-end programs. With years of experience, digEcor’s team focuses on increasing traveler satisfaction, creating easily executed solutions, and generating revenue opportunities for clients. Based in Springville, Utah, digEcor has offices in Seattle, Atlanta, Miami, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Singapore, and Toulouse, France. Visit digEcor online at www.digEcor.com or call +1 801 489 2022.

SAN DIEGO, CA, – March 16, 2009 – e.Digital Corporation (OTC: EDIG), a leading technology innovator of dedicated portable entertainment systems and patented flash memory-related technology, today summarized recent court action related to business litigation between the Company and digEcor, Inc.

On March 13, 2009 the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah issued a partial ruling on the parties’ Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment. As part of the ruling, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of e.Digital on digEcor’s claim that e.Digital was in breach of non-competition obligations in an agreement between the parties. Concerning the alleged non-compete provisions, the Court held “that California law applies to the 2002 NDA. Further, the court holds that Paragraphs 1, 4, 5 and 6 of 2002 NDA are invalid under California law because they refrain e.Digital from lawfully competing with digEcor.” This holding vindicates e.Digital’s longstanding position that it is free to conduct its lawful business without non-compete restraint or obligation to digEcor.

The Court also concluded that e.Digital failed to deliver certain batteries to digEcor, a claim that the Company has never denied. e.Digital has maintained an accrual of $80,000 for such estimated obligation as more fully discussed in the notes to its annual and interim financial statements. The Court further ruled that e.Digital did not breach a certain performance provision of the 2002 contract between the parties and that digEcor was not obligated to negotiate a revenue sharing arrangement under the same agreement. The Court did not grant summary judgment to either side on the issue of the timeliness of the 2006 delivery of video players. This and other matters related to the parties’ motions, as more fully described in the Company’s regulatory filings, remain to be resolved by future court rulings or at trial.

While decisions of the Court may be subject to appeal, e.Digital is pleased with the Court’s ruling finding the non-compete provisions of the 2002 NDA unenforceable as a matter of law. e.Digital will continue to offer its proprietary portable eVU™ entertainment system to the IFE and other industries.

The bottom line is… we will keep this issue short because the story is still developing. This past week, Utah courts delivered a ruling on the Digecor vs. eDigital lawsuit which is far more complicated than it appears on the surface and deserves more space than we can devote to it here, therefore, we will provide links to dig deeper – you can Google the rest.

The eDigital V.S. Digecor court battle has an initial ruling and the summary resulting Court Ruling. While we have not had time to dig deep on this subject we wanted our readers to get the story first. Among the findings were issues that pertained to judicial jurisdiction and a NDA decision that purportedly prevented eDigital from selling in the IFE arena. The eDigital news release came in from Robert Putnam, Sr. VP who told us, “Attached, please find today’s press release regarding recent court action in the e.Digital/digEcor business litigation that vindicates e.Digital’s longstanding position that it is free to conduct its lawful business without non-compete restraint or obligation to digEcor.” 

Obviously, there were sales in the balance here and based on eDigital’s past views and the court outcome; they will take a more aggressive posture on sales and promotion in the future. Further, we believe eDigital has a few new products that are itching to see the light of day. 

We asked Digecor for a statement and they said; “Digecor will be issuing a position statement in response to the recent court decision between Digecor and eDigital in the forthcoming week. We note that this case is not decided on some claims and it would be improper to comment until the rulings are completed. ” Look forward to their side of this developing story – coming soon.

There you have it, and as an old newspaper feature writer once told us, “There must be a story in they’re somewhere… but if there isn’t, there should be one!”

• See the court ruling