[Updated 3:20 pm] — Core Sound announced a new CompactFlash card that is said to enable PDAs, notebooks, and desktop PCs to perform high quality digital audio recording functions. The new Type I (extended) CompactFlash DAT card provides optical and coaxial inputs and comes with support for mobile devices running embedded… Linux, Windows CE, and Pocket PC 2002, as well as desktop/notebook PCs running Linux, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.

“Nothing like this exists anywhere else,” boasted Core Sound owner Len Moskowitz.

For Linux based use, the card is supported by an open source Linux ALSA driver (developed in partnership with SuSE), Moskowitz said. Additionally, Moskowitz said an open source Linux recording application created for the card supports GTK-based Linux implementations, including the Familiar handheld distribution, and support is also anticipated for Opie and the Sharp Zaurus. Source code for both the ALSA driver and the recording application are released under the GPL open source license.

Four companies are developing support for operation on Windows CE and Pocket PC 2002, Moskowitz said. Windows support available directly from Core Sound includes a .dll driver for Windows CE and PocketPC 2002, and a WDM driver for Windows 2000 and XP.

“PDAudio is a product whose development was made possible by the existence of the Internet, the venerable uucp newsgroups, leading edge websites, open software mailing lists, Linux user groups, and software development R&D sponsored by a major corporation, world-class universities, and independent programmers and engineers,” noted Moskowitz. “Parts of PDAudio were designed and are being produced in six countries around the world and in three US states.”

Up to 100 beta units of the PDAudio-CF will be available within about 2-3 weeks, and up to a thousand more are planned for several months from now, added Moskowitz. The cards are currently priced at $199.

 
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