Audrey, 3Com's Net appliance, to make its entrance:
By: Ian Fried, CNET News.com
10/12/00 12:58:00 PM
Source: News.com
URL: cnetinvestor.com
3Com's delayed Internet appliance, known as Audrey, will make its official debut Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.
Audrey, a countertop unit with an 8-inch touch screen, is designed to be the first in a family of Internet appliances dubbed Ergo. Audrey uses a combination of the QNX and Palm operating systems. It runs on National Semiconductor's Geode processor.
A 3Com representative was not immediately available for comment.
Audrey has had several cameos, including a brief, inadvertent appearance on 3Com's Web site. Audrey was originally due to take the stage last month, but its arrival was delayed shortly before a planned launch.
The $499 unit comes in colors such as slate, ocean, sunshine, meadow and linen, according to the no-longer posted Web site.
Audrey is designed to synch with Palm handheld computers and also has a dial that can shuttle between preset Web sites.
According to the briefly posted Web site, Audrey owners can "scribble, record or type" their email on the unit, which comes with a built-in 56K modem, a wireless keyboard and a built-in microphone and speakers. Unlike devices from Microsoft and America Online, Audrey is designed to work with a variety of Internet service providers. |
