RIDGELINE : RT, RTS, and RTL
Honda Music Link
User's Guide
ꢀTable of Contents
Honda Music Link
Designed specifically for Honda vehicles, Honda Music
Link allows you to play music from your Apple® iPod® on
your vehicle's audio system. Music Link connects your
iPod directly to your vehicle's audio system for the best
sound-quality results. (It does not convert music from
your iPod to an FM radio signal to use your vehicle's
radio to play music.) Once connected, Music Link allows
you to use the audio system's controls to play and search
for music from an iPod, and it charges your iPod battery.
To get the most out of Music Link, first install the
Honda TTS software application provided on the Honda
Music Link CD. (See Using Music Link With Honda
TTS.) Honda TTS is an optional software that installs on
the Mac or PC you use with your iPod. It provides voice
prompts to help you find music on your iPod, and it
allows you to shuffle songs, shuffle albums, seek/skip to
the next song or album, and search playlists, artists,
albums, and genres.
To get started using Music Link quickly, see the
Using Music Link Without HondaTTS* section of this
guide or the Quick Reference Guide. Both will show you
how to connect your iPod, play music (either shuffle songs
or shuffle albums), and skip to the next song or album.
NOTE: Honda TTS is not required to operate Music Link.
* Text-to-speech (TTS)
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What's Included
Your Honda Music Link kit includes a dealer-installed
Music Link cable located in your vehicle's glove box, a
Quick Reference Guide to get you started quickly, and a
Honda Music Link CD.
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What You Need
• iPod: 4th generation or later iPod, iPod mini®, iPod U2
Special Edition®, or iPod nano®. (See right.) Music Link
cannot be used with iPod shuffle®.
Make sure your iPod has been updated with the latest
firmware from Apple. Visit www.apple.com/ipod/
download for more information.
NOTE: Use the USB 2.0 or FireWire cable that came
with your iPod or iPod mini to ensure proper operation.
• Mac: OS X 10.3 or later
2nd-generation iPod
3rd-generation iPod
1st-generation iPod
- OR -
PC: Windows XP (SP2) or Windows 2000 (SP4)
with TTS engine
NOTE: Use iPods formatted for Mac only with Mac
computers, and use iPods formatted for PC only with
PCs.
download for more information.
Installation Note: Honda Music Link can be installed on applicable vehicles equipped
with factory- and dealer-installed Honda CD players and CD changers. American Honda
makes no guarantee that Music Link will operate or operate properly on vehicles equipped
with a non-Honda CD changer or a non-Honda CD player.
4th-generation iPod, iPod mini, and iPod nano
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Getting Started Quickly
ꢀTable of Contents
Using Music Link Without Honda TTS
ConnectingYour iPod
DisconnectingYour iPod
Make sure your iPod is in music mode (not photo
mode). Then, find the Music Link cable installed inside
the glove box, and plug it into the dock connector port
on the bottom of the iPod. When the Music Link cable is
properly connected:
To disconnect the iPod, squeeze both sides of the Music
Link cable connector, and unplug the cable. You can
connect and disconnect your iPod while the audio
system is on or off.
IMPORTANT:
• A large check mark appears on the iPod screen.
(See below.)
• For your safety, do not connect or disconnect the iPod
while driving.
• You cannot operate the iPod using its controls (click
wheel, etc). It can only be operated using your
vehicle's audio system controls.
• Secure the iPod in the glove box. Do not place it on or
allow it to fall onto the vehicle floor, where it can get
stuck under the brake pedal or accelerator pedal.
• Your vehicle charges the iPod battery when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II) or ACC (I) position. It
does not charge the iPod when the ignition switch is
in the LOCK (0) position.
• Do not leave the iPod in the vehicle in high
temperatures or expose it to extended periods of
direct sunlight. Doing so may damage it.
• To avoid damaging the Music Link cable, do not pull
strongly on the cable. Always keep the connector dry
and cap the connector when it is not in use.
MENU
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Getting Started Quickly
ꢀTable of Contents
Using Music Link Without Honda TTS (Continued)
Audio System Controls
Using the Audio System Controls
NOTE: It may
take up to 10
seconds to
activate a play
mode.
Music Link allows you to use the buttons on your audio
system to control iPod functions. There are two ways*
to listen to music: You can shuffle all albums or shuffle
all songs. Selecting disc number 5 on your audio system
corresponds to the shuffle all albums play mode, while
selecting disc number 6 corresponds to the shuffle all
songs play mode.
Use to select
Music Link.
Use to scroll
Use to activate
a play mode
and seek/skip
forward and
backward.
thru the disc
numbers.
NOTE: Honda factory-installed audio systems vary from
model to model and may have different button names
for the same functions.
NOTE: The buttons on the Ridgeline differ slightly from model to model.
• To select Music Link, press the XM/AUX or CD/AUX
button (depending on your Ridgeline model). If the
audio system plays the XM radio, press the XM/AUX
button again to select Music Link.
NOTES:
• The steering wheel audio controls (if equipped) may
not operate or may have limited operation when using
Music Link.
• To select a play mode, use the DISC– (Preset 5) and
DISC+ (Preset 6) buttons to scroll thru the disc
numbers. When the selected disc number is shown in
the audio system display, press and hold either
SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full second
(or, on some models, until you hear a beep).
• It is not necessary to eject any CDs in the CD
player/changer or disconnect an accessory from the
auxiliary jack to use Music Link. Press the CD/AUX
button to toggle between the CD player/changer,
auxiliary jack, and Music Link.
* See page 9 to learn how to use additional play modes/categories.
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Getting Started Quickly
ꢀTable of Contents
Using Music Link Without Honda TTS (Continued)
Playing Music
Pressing and holding the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button will
not skip to the previously played album. Music Link
continues to shuffle albums in random order whether
you press and hold the forward ( ) or backward ( )
SEEK/SKIP button.
1. Connect the iPod (see page 6), turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) or ACC (I) position, and turn on
the audio system.
2. Press the XM/AUX or CD/AUX button to select Music
Link. If the audio system plays the XM radio, press
the XM/AUX button again to select Music Link. Music
Link begins playback with the last song played on the
iPod. If no song is queued, Music Link shuffles all
songs in random order.
In shuffle albums mode (Disc 5), Music Link only
plays songs that have album information entered in
the info tags. If none of the songs on an iPod have
album information, all of the songs are treated as one
album. See Info Tags on page 9 for more information.
• To shuffle all songs in random order, select Disc 6,
Selecting a Play Mode
then press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or
for at least 1 full second. After selecting Disc 6, press
and release the SEEK/SKIP button to skip to the next
song ( ) or to the beginning of the song currently
playing ( ).
)
• To shuffle the albums on your iPod in random order,
select Disc 5, then press and hold either SEEK/SKIP
button ( or ) for at least 1 full second.
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP button to skip to
the next song ( ) or to the beginning of the song
currently playing ( ) within an album.
See theTips section of this user's guide for more
information.
– Press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for
at least 1 full second to skip to the beginning of
another album.
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Using Music Link With Honda TTS
To get the most out of Music Link, first install the Honda
TTS software application provided on the Honda Music
Link CD. This optional software installs on the Mac or PC
you use with your iPod. It creates voice prompts to help
you find music on your iPod, and it allows you to shuffle
songs, shuffle albums, seek/skip to the next song/album
or previous song/album, and search playlists, albums,
artists, and genres.
InfoTags
Each song on your iPod and in iTunes
has a set of "info tags" attached to it,
like Name, Artist, Album, Year, etc.
(below left). You can edit these info
tags by:
• Clicking on the desired song in
iTunes
• Going to File, then Get Info
• Clicking on the Info tab
HondaTTS
Honda TTS is a software application that creates text-to-
speech (TTS) files based on the information tags
attached to each song on your iPod. Once installed on
your computer, Honda TTS automatically launches every
time you connect your iPod
to your computer. It scans
the music on your iPod and
creates TTS files that contain
all of the voice prompts
Music Link will need to help
you search for music.
Honda TTS scans the information
contained in the Artist, Album, and
Genre info tag fields. It also scans the
names of the playlists on your iPod. It
then creates TTS files for the first letter
of every artist, album, genre, and
playlist, as well as TTS files for the
names of every artist, album, genre,
and playlist on your iPod. The TTS files
are saved in your iTunes library and as
playlists on your iPod and in iTunes.
Each TTS playlist begins with "ZZZTTS"
(right).
TTS Files/Playlists
in iTunes
InfoTags Screen in iTunes
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Using Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Before Installing HondaTTS
Before you install Honda TTS on your computer, make
sure you:
Uninstalling HondaTTS
To uninstall Honda TTS on a Mac:
1. Go to System Preference/Login Items.
2. Delete Honda Helper.
3. Reboot.
• Install iTunes 4.9 or later (available for download at
• Set your iPod to synchronize manually. (Go to
Edit/Preferences, click on the iPod tab, and select
"Manually manage songs and playlists".)
To uninstall Honda TTS on a PC:
1. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel.
• Disconnect (eject) your iPod from your computer.
2. Double-click on Add/Remove Programs.
3. Select the Honda TTS folder.
• Adjust the text-to-speech settings on your Mac or PC
to your preference. (See page 12.)
4. Click on the Remove button, and follow the uninstall
prompts.
• Close all other applications.
Installing HondaTTS
NOTE: Uninstalling Honda TTS does not remove any TTS
files in iTunes or on your iPod. Delete those files (TTS
playlists and TTS files in the iTunes library) manually.
Mac: Double-click on the Honda TTS.pkg icon in the
Mac Install folder, and follow the installation
prompts.
PC:
Double-click on the Setup.exe icon in the
Windows Install folder, and follow the installation
prompts.
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Using Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Running HondaTTS
If, upon connecting your iPod, you have not made any
changes to the music on the iPod, click the Cancel
button on the Honda TTS update screen.
Once installed, Honda TTS automatically launches every
time you connect your iPod to your computer. To run
Honda TTS, connect your iPod to your computer. To
update (and create TTS files) for the music on your iPod,
click the OK button on the Honda TTS update screen. To
manually run Honda TTS, launch the program from the
applications folder (Mac) or Start Menu (PC).
NOTE: If, after connecting your iPod and launching
Honda TTS, you receive a message that an iPod must be
connected to run Honda TTS, simply launch Honda TTS
from the applications folder (Mac) or Start menu (PC).
Honda TTS should now recognize your iPod.
The time needed to run Honda TTS depends on the
number of songs and playlists in your music library. Allow
about 10–15 minutes per 1,000 files. After the initial run,
the time to run Honda TTS should decrease, as long as
the TTS files from the previous update remain in iTunes.
See theTips section of this user's guide for more
information.
If you make any changes to the music on your iPod (add
songs, delete songs, create new playlists, edit album
names, etc.), make sure you run Honda TTS.
HondaTTS Update Screen
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Using Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Text-To-Speech Settings
PC
You can change and adjust the text-to-speech settings
for TTS files (voice prompts) that Honda TTS creates.
Modifying the system voice and the voice speed may
help improve intelligibility.
1. Open the Control Panel
from the Start menu.
2. Select Speech or
Sounds, Speech, and
Audio.
Mac
1. Go to Finder/System Preferences.
3. Click on the Text to
Speech tab.
2. Select the Speech icon.
4. Select the voice
selection of your
3. Click on the Text to Speech tab.
4. Select the system voice of your preference from the
pull-down menu.
preference from the
pull-down menu. (Either
Microsoft Mary or LH
Text to Speech (PC)
5. Adjust and play the
speaking rate.
Michelle* is recommended, if available.)
5. Adjust and preview the voice speed.
NOTE: After changing
and adjusting the text-
to-speech settings,
delete all TTS playlists
and files in iTunes and
on your iPod, then run
NOTE: After changing and adjusting the text-to-speech
settings, delete all TTS playlists and files in iTunes and
on your iPod, then run Honda TTS.
downloads/user.asp. Click on the "Text-to-speech engines" link, and
select "Lernout & Hauspie® TruVoice TTS engine - American English
(1 MB exe)" from the pull-down menu.
Honda TTS.
Text to Speech (Mac)
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ꢀTable of Contents
Using Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
ConnectingYour iPod
DisconnectingYour iPod
Make sure your iPod is in music mode (not photo
mode). Then, find the Music Link cable installed inside
the glove box, and plug it into the dock connector port
located on the bottom of the iPod. When the Music Link
cable is properly connected:
To disconnect the iPod, squeeze both sides of the Music
Link cable connector, and unplug the cable. You can
connect and disconnect your iPod while the audio
system is on or off.
IMPORTANT:
• A large check mark appears on the iPod screen.
(See below.)
• For your safety, do not connect or disconnect the iPod
while driving.
• You cannot operate the iPod using its controls (click
wheel, etc). It can only be operated using your
vehicle's audio system controls.
• Secure the iPod in the glove box. Do not place it on or
allow it to fall onto the vehicle floor, where it can get
stuck under the brake pedal or accelerator pedal.
• Your vehicle charges the iPod battery when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II) or ACC (I) position. It
does not charge the iPod when the ignition switch is
in the LOCK (0) position.
• Do not leave the iPod in the vehicle in high
temperatures or expose it to extended periods of
direct sunlight. Doing so may damage it.
• To avoid damaging the Music Link cable, do not pull
strongly on the cable. Always keep the connector dry
and cap the connector when it is not in use.
MENU
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ꢀTable of Contents
Using Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Audio System Controls
Using the Audio System Controls
NOTE: It may
take up to 10
seconds to
activate a play
mode/category.
Music Link allows you to use the buttons on your audio
system to control iPod functions. There are six play
modes/categories, or six ways to listen to music. Each
disc number (1–6) corresponds with a play mode/
category in Music Link. For example, selecting disc
number 1 on your audio system corresponds to the
search playlists category in Music Link.
NOTE: The buttons
Use to select
Music Link.
Use to scroll
thru disc
numbers.
Use to activate
on the Ridgeline
differ slightly from
model to model.
a play mode/
category and
seek/skip
NOTE: Honda factory-installed audio systems vary from
model to model and may have different button names
for the same functions.
forward and
backward.
NOTES:
• The steering wheel audio controls (if equipped) may
not operate or may have limited operation when using
Music Link.
• To select Music Link, press the XM/AUX or CD/AUX
button (depending on your Ridgeline model). If the
audio system plays the XM radio, press the XM/AUX
button again to select Music Link.
• It is not necessary to eject any CDs in the CD
player/changer or disconnect an accessory from the
auxiliary jack to use Music Link. Press the CD/AUX
button to toggle between the CD player/changer,
auxiliary jack, and Music Link.
• To select a play mode/category, use the DISC– (Preset
5) and DISC+ (Preset 6) buttons to scroll thru the disc
numbers. When the desired disc number is shown in
the audio system display, press and hold either
SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full second
(or, on some models, until you hear a beep).
• When Music Link is cycling through the alphabet or
announcing names, you cannot select another play
mode/category. You can only select another play
mode/category when Music Link is playing a song.
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Using Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Playing Music
– Music Link announces the names of the playlists
that begin with the selected letter. Press and release
the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button immediately after hearing
the desired playlist name. Music Link begins playing
the first song in the selected playlist.
1. Connect the iPod (see page 13), turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) or ACC (I) position, and turn on
the audio system.
2. Press the XM/AUX or CD/AUX button to select Music
Link. Music Link begins playback with the last song
played on the iPod. If no song is queued, Music Link
shuffles all songs in random order.
• To search artists, select Disc 2, then press and hold
either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full second.
Music Link announces the first letter of each artist.
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the desired letter. Music
Link begins playing the first song of the first artist
that begins with the selected letter.
Selecting a Play Mode/Category
• To search playlists, select Disc 1, then press and hold
either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full
second. Music Link announces the first letter of each
playlist.
- OR -
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the desired letter. Music
Link begins playing the first song of the first playlist
that begins with the selected letter.
– To hear the artist names that begin with a desired
letter, press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the letter, then press and
hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least
1 full second.
- OR -
– Music Link announces the artist names that begin
with the selected letter. Press and release the
SEEK/SKIP ( ) button immediately after hearing the
desired artist name. Music Link begins playing the
– To hear the names of the playlists that begin with a
desired letter, press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( )
button immediately after hearing the letter, then
press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for
at least 1 full second.
first song by the selected artist.
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Using Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Selecting a Play Mode/Category (Cont.)
• To search genres, select Disc 4, then press and hold
either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full
second. Music Link announces the first letter of each
genre.
• To search albums, select Disc 3, then press and hold
either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full
second. Music Link announces the first letter of each
album.
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the desired letter. Music
Link begins playing the first song of the first genre
that begins with the selected letter.
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the desired letter. Music
Link begins playing the first song of the first album
that begins with the selected letter.
- OR -
- OR -
– To hear the genre names that begin with a desired
letter, press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the letter, then press and
hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least
1 full second.
– To hear the album names that begin with a desired
letter, press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the letter, then press and
hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1
full second.
– Music Link announces the genre names that begin
with the selected letter. Press and release the
SEEK/SKIP ( ) button immediately after hearing the
desired genre name. Music Link begins playing the
first song by the selected artist.
– Music Link announces the names of the albums that
begin with the selected letter. Press and release the
SEEK/SKIP ( ) button immediately after hearing the
desired album name. Music Link begins playing the
first song in the selected album.
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Using Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Selecting a Play Mode/Category (Cont.)
• To shuffle all songs in random order, select Disc 6,
then press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or
)
• To shuffle the albums on your iPod in random order,
select Disc 5, then press and hold either SEEK/SKIP
button ( or ) for at least 1 full second.
for at least 1 full second. After selecting Disc 6, press
and release the SEEK/SKIP button to skip to the next
song ( ) or to the beginning of the song currently
playing ( ).
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP button to skip to
the next song ( ) or to the beginning of the song
currently playing ( ) within an album.
See theTips section of this user's guide for more
information.
– Press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for
at least 1 full second to skip to the beginning of
another album.
Pressing and holding the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button will
not skip to the previously played album. Music Link
continues to shuffle albums in random order whether
you press and hold the forward ( ) or backward ( )
SEEK/SKIP button.
In shuffle albums mode (Disc 5), Music Link only
plays songs that have album information entered in
the info tags. If none of the songs on an iPod have
album information, all of the songs are treated as one
album.
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Tips
Audio System Controls
Tag Info
• RDM and A.SEL/RDM Buttons: Push the RDM or
A.SEL/RDM button on the audio system to shuffle all
songs within the selected category/play mode. For
example, if you select and play a playlist (Disc 1) and
then press the RDM or A.SEL/RDM button, Music Link
will shuffle all songs within that playlist in random order.
• SongTitles: Music Link does not search the music on
an iPod by song name; it only searches music by
artist, album, genre, and playlist name.
• Music Link does not recognize punctuation
(commas, periods, question marks, dashes, slashes,
ampersands, etc.). It also does not recognize special
characters and accents (à, é, ï, ô, etc.). If punctuation
or special characters/accents are used in the artist,
album, genre, or playlist name, Music Link will
announce it on your audio system as "punctuation" or
"not speakable."
NOTE: The RDM and A.SEL/RDM buttons do not
work while Music Link is in the shuffle all songs
(Disc 6) play mode.
• After pushing the appropriate button to activate a play
mode or category search, it may take up to 10 seconds
for Music Link to announce the alphabet or names
associated with that play mode or category search.
• Make sure there are no spaces before the first letter
or number in the names of your playlists, artists,
albums, and genres.
• Selecting a Disc Number: Unlike using a CD
changer, when using Music Link, the preset buttons
(1–6) on your vehicle's audio system do not directly
correspond to Music Link's different play modes and
category searches (Disc 1–6). To scroll thru the disc
numbers (play modes/category searches), use only
use the DISC– (Preset 5) and DISC+ (Preset 6)
buttons, then press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button
• Keep your music organized with correctly spelled
info tags (artist, album, and genre).
• Do not keep empty playlists.
(
or ) for at least 1 full second.
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Tips (Continued)
iTunes Settings
• Do not name your playlists "Podcasts." Doing so
may cause undesirable effects during searches
because iPod uses this name for podcasting.
• For best results, set your iPod to synchronize
manually. (Go to Edit, then Preferences, click on the
iPod tab and select "Manually manage songs and
playlists".) If you select "Automatically update all songs
and playlists," you may hear voice prompts when you
shuffle songs on your iPod. If you select
• Keeping theTTS files (playlists that begin with
ZZZTTS) in iTunes makes HondaTTS updates
quicker. If you delete these files, Honda TTS will need
to regenerate them the next time it runs. However,
with the TTS files in iTunes, Honda TTS only needs to
generate TTS files for any new music on your iPod.
"Automatically update selected playlists only," make
sure you check all of the playlists that begin with
ZZZTTS; otherwise, running Honda TTS will not
update all of the music on your iPod.
• Check the "Connect to Internet when needed"
check box in the iTunes preferences. (Go to Edit,
then Preferences, and click on the General tab.) With
this feature, when you load a store-bought music CD
on your computer, iTunes automatically looks up and
fills in the info tags for every song on the disc. This
feature not only helps you organize your music
accurately, it also saves time.
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Support
For more information about Honda Music Link and Honda
For additional support, call Honda Automobile Customer
Service at 1-800-999-1009, Monday thru Friday, 6 a.m. to
5 p.m. (PST).
HondaTTS Software Updates
the most recent Honda TTS software and software
updates.
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©2005 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. – All Rights Reserved.
American Honda accepts no responsibility for any lost data on an
iPod, even if the data is lost while using this product.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPod, iPod, iTunes, FireWire, and Mac are
trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other
countries.
AAM 31314-31568 (0512)
2nd printing
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