Georgia Electronics Announces Immediate Recall of Digital Media Players

Georgia Electronics is recalling its Model X.1 MP3 players. An error occurs as the players attempt to decode AAC files. When playlists containing AAC files are opened, the bitrate on all files slows down. Players will eventually freeze in these situations.

This issue also affects the Model X.2 player, but a recall is not necessary. Georgia Electronics has created a driver to correct the problem in Model X.2 players. This driver may be downloaded free of charge from the company's website. It must then be uploaded to the MP3 player through the included dock. The driver requires less than one gigabyte of capacity on the MP3 player's hard drive.

Unfortunately, Model X.1 players will not accept new drivers and therefore cannot be fixed. Georgia Electronics will refund the full price that consumers paid for the Model X.1. Visit www.georgiaelec.com for details and downloads.

Get ready!

Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.

1) What do you use an MP3 player for?

2) Have you ever had an MP3 player freeze?

Reading

ф Read the recall notice. Then, mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F).

1 _The recall is for Model X.1.

2 _The driver will take up less than one gigabyte of capacity.

3 _The issue is related to the decoding of MP3 files.

Vocabulary

Match the words (1-9) with the definitions (A-l).

1 _ digital                          6 _MP3

2 _AAC                             7 _ playlist

3 _ capacity                       8 _dock

4 _ gigabyte                  9 _ bitrate

5 _ decode

A a file format that is higher quality than MP3s

В a list of songs chosen by a user

С a device for connecting an MP3 player to a computer

D the amount of room available on a storage device

E a unit of memory

F the standard format for encoding sound files

G a measurement of the amount of data processed per second

H to change a file back to its original form

I storing information in a series of ones and zeros

Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the word bank.

Word Bank

upload freeze driver

1 Did you _______ the file yet?     

2 Computers ______ when too many programs are open.

3 You must install a(n) ______ with all new hardware.

Listen and read the recall notice again. Why isn't the Model X.2 player being recalled?

Listening

Listen to a conversation between a consumer and a company representative. Choose the correct answers.

1) What are the speakers mostly talking about?

A why AAC files are causing problems

В where a consumer can buy a driver

С how to solve a consumer's problem

D which model a consumer owns

2) How did the customer try to fix the MP3 player?

A install a new driver

В restart the player

С upload a new playlist

D remove the AAC files

Listen again and complete the conversation.

C: Well, I've 1 _______ _______ ______ MP3 player.

R: Yes, we're 2 _______ on some models. Which model do you have?

C: I have the X2.

R: All right. Tell me about the problem you're having.

C: At first, the sound quality started getting worse. Then it 3 ______ _______on me. I thought restarting it would fix it, but nothing works.

R: Okay, thaf s a problem caused by 4 _______ files. Luckily, we have a driver to fix that.

C: Oh good. How do I get it?

R: Just download it from our website and 5 _______ it to your player.

Speaking

With a partner, act out the roles below based on Task 7. Then, switch roles.

USE LANGUAGE SUCH AS:

I've got a problem with my...

Which model do you have?

Tell me about the problem you're having.

Student A: You are a company representative. Talk to Student В about:

• a recall

• model

• problems

Student B: You are calling to get help with your MP3 player. Answer Student As questions.

Writing

You are a customer experiencing problems with your MP3 player. Use the conversation from task 8 to write a letter to the company telling them about your problems. Make up a name for the customer.

Dear Sir or Madam, ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sincerely, ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

                                            

 

Cell phones

1) Caller ID

2) Cell phone

3) Lithium-ion battery

4) Touchscreen

5) Bluetooth

Get ready!

Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.

1) How have cell phones changed business?

2) What kind of features do cell phones have?

Reading