Industry Roundup

Shaw's HD DVR: Calgary, Alberta telecommunications firm Shaw Communications has announced its new "High Definition (HD) plus Personal Video Recorder (PVR) Digital Terminal." Available to Shaw cable customers in Canada, the new HD + PVR Digital Terminal is said to offer them unprecedented control over their viewing, including the ability to control live TV with pause, rewind and fast-forward functions and record a variety of programming directly on their digital terminal.

"The traditional model of people organizing their schedules around TV viewing is rapidly disappearing," said Shaw president Peter Bissonnette. "This is one of the most powerful pieces of TV entertainment equipment ever offered." The HD + PVR's built-in hard drive can record up to 60 hours of programming. Price is $798.88CN at Shaw retail locations, through Shaw retail partner locations, online at www.shaw.com, or by calling 1-888-472-2222. New customers can receive programming credits of up to $159 when they purchase the new terminal, according to the announcement.

Disney delays MovieBeam: Walt Disney Company will delay the expansion of its MovieBeam service into new markets until 2005, according to a mid-September announcement. The video-on-demand (VOD) service, which launched a year ago, requires a rented set-top box, an activation fee, and payment of $2–4 per film ordered. MovieBeam is currently available in Spokane, WA; Jacksonville, FL; and Salt Lake City.


Samsung teams with JBL: Samsung Electronics and Harman Multimedia have announced a sweetheart pact that will put Harman's JBL audio technology into coming models of Samsung home entertainment products, including computers, portable digital music players and high-definition televisions. The products include Samsung plasma televisions in screen sizes ranging from 42" to 70", LCD televisions from 22" to 54", and 50" DLP projection televisions. The partnership was said to combine world-class video with world-class audio for the development of "unrivaled HDTV products."

Ultralink goes digital: Ontario, CA–based Ultralink/XLO Products, Inc. has announced new additions to its digital cable and adapter series with new HDMI [high-definition multimedia interface] and 1394/FireWire products. The Advanced Performance HDMI and Platinum Series HD Pro HDMI interface cables are said to "offer the latest digital solution for high-speed, full-bandwidth connections . . . . Both interconnects feature Ultralink proprietary gold-plated contacts for high-conductivity. Special quad-shield design protects against EMI and RFI interference for an ultra-clear picture and sound, free from digital artifacts and distortion." Ranging from 1 to 5 meters, and 1 to 15 meters, respectively, the HDMI and HD Pro HDMI are available from $90 to $210, and $120 to $530.

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