Logitech Brings New Power to Boardless Sound with Next-Generation AudioMan

New Software Includes Additional Sound Utilities, Text-to-Speech
Capability, MIDI Support, Playback of 8- and 16-bit Mono or Stereo Files.

Fremont, Calif. -- October 18, 1993 -- Logitech Inc pioneer in computer
mouse technology and international market leader in a variety of
peripheral categories today announced a new version of AudioMan the
complete boardless sound solution for the Windows 3.1 environment The
product will be available in retail stores in November at a list price of
$179.

AudioMan is an external audio device with an integrated speaker and
microphone. It attaches by a cable to the parallel port of any IBM PC or
compatible allowing users to record and play audio (voice sound and music)
within a sound-compatible application. The product uses Microsoft's Object
Linking and Embedding (OLE) a cross-document interface standard used by
many Windows applications With OLE users can integrate a variety of data
formats (i.e., graphics sound and text) from diverse sources within a
single document. AudioMan records voice as well as sounds from other
sources such as tapes and CDs via the audio input port In addition an
output port permits the connection of headphones or external speakers The
device is powered by standard "AA" batteries or by AC.

The new AudioMan offering is part of Logitech's ongoing commitment to its
expanding line of sound products Additional products in this category
include SoundMan Games a low-cost 8-bit soundboard; SoundMan 16 a 16-bit
CD-quality soundboard; and SoundMan SuperPack a complete 16-bit soundboard
solution featuring SoundMan 16 in-pack speakers a microphone and
added-value software

Through new software AudioMan can now play back in mono both 8- and 16-bit
mono and stereo files as well as MIDI files The upgraded package also
contains additional software enhancements including

* BeSTspeech ReadOut from Berkeley Speech Technologies (BST) -- This
text-to-speech utility now works exclusively with AudioMan The program
reads aloud from user-highlighted text within most programs running under
Windows including word processors E-mail and even numbers and text from
spreadsheets Copying text to the Windows clipboard before reading is
usually not necessary BeSTspeech ReadOut has an unlimited vocabulary -- it
can read anything even names because it is true text-to-speech not just a
playback of pre-recorded words

* AudioMan Annotator from Voyetra -- Allows users to annotate messages in
any Windows OLE application

* AudioPanel-- Lets users conveniently record play and construct play lists
of WAV files

* AudioEdit -- Provides tools such as cut and paste for editing WAV files

* MIDI Player -- Enables AudioMan to play MIDI files

* Icon Hear-It Lite from Moon Valley -- Customizes the Windows desktop by
adding sound effects and replacing regular icons with personalized ones.

"The additional software included with AudioMan means the product is now a
highly versatile tool suited for a variety of business environments " says
Peter Wharton Logitech's Global Product Manager for Business Audio "The
enhanced product marks a new level of usefulness and quality in this
product category For example Berkeley Speech Technologies is generally
regarded as the principal developer of high-performance text-to-speech
technology BST licensees are already market leaders in other areas most
noticeably the Franklin Speaking Dictionaries IBM's Direct Talk/2
telephone voice response system and Keynote talking computers for blind
users The new version of the Logitech AudioMan will introduce Berkeley's
high-quality text-to-speech to Windows users for the very first time."

AudioMan is the first peripheral audio device which integrates a speaker a
unidirectional microphone and a board into one external unit Moreover the
unit plugs directly into the parallel port of any desktop laptop or
notebook machine To accommodate a printer Logitech has designed a special
parallel port "pass-through" connection that ships with the product.

AudioMan's ergonomic shape is compact and easy to handle yet the product
also incorporates industrial-strength materials in its design to withstand
the rigors of business travel It can be used hands-free on the desk or
hand-held It is optimized to "focus" sound output for single-user
convenience and privacy.

AudioMan makes sound a practical business tool by enabling users to easily
add verbal notes to their work rather than written ones or to proofread
text and numbers by means of audio read-back The addition of sound also
helps add impact to presentations

Registered users of AudioMan 1.0 can upgrade to the new software for $
19.95 through Logitech's Customer Service Department

Logitech designs manufactures and markets "Senseware" -- products designed
to give human-like "senses" such as sight sound and touch to the computer
making human-to-computer communications more intuitive and natural Retail
and OEM products of the company and its affiliates include pointing
devices (such as mice and trackballs) hand-held scanners digital cameras
pen digitizers joysticks sound products and related software applications
for IBM Macintosh and other platforms Logitech International the financial
holding company for the Logitech Group is traded publicly in Switzerland
on the Zurich and Geneva exchanges With operational headquarters in
Fremont Calif the group maintains manufacturing facilities in Fremont
California; Hsinchu Taiwan; and Cork Ireland; Shanghai China; and offices
in major cities in the U S Europe and the Far East

Logitech Inc, 6505 Kaiser Dr, Fremont, CA 94555
510-795-8500;  fax: 510-792-8901

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