Audio Video News

Darryl Wilkinson | Aug 08, 2005 |

Digitally distributed music is hip these days. Actually, it's always been hip (even when analog was the method of distribution), but now it's hipper - and cheaper.

Audio Video News

A Handful of Licks, Picts, and Flicks

Darryl Wilkinson | Aug 08, 2005 |

Butt-Kicker and all you other rump-rumbling transducer guys take note: portable media players just might be an untapped (and unshaken) market opportunity. Especially now that they - like the new portable from Creative - are getting so video oriented.

Audio Video News

Denon Pre-CEDIA Preview

Scott Wilkinson | Aug 07, 2005 |

Last week, Denon invited their dealers and members of the press to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Laguna Nigel, California, for a sneak peek at the new products they will be launching at next month's CEDIA Expo. On hand were new AV receivers, DVD players, and two all-in-one systems designed to complement flat-panel displays.

Audio Video News

CinemaNow To Offer HDNet Content

Scott Wilkinson | Aug 03, 2005 | First Published: Aug 04, 2005 |

CinemaNow, a leading broadband video-on-demand service, announced last week an agreement with HDNet to make several titles from HDNet's original high-definition library available on a download-to-own basis via the <A href="http://www.cinemanow.com">CinemaNow Web site</A>. This marks the first time that HDNet has made its library of high-definition programming available on demand from an online broadband service.

Audio Video News

Don't Bend Light - Fold It!

Darryl Wilkinson | Aug 03, 2005 |

After unwrapping the gifts, polishing off the last drops from near-empty bottles of champagne, and sweeping up the streamers and confetti left from SIM2 Multimedia's 10-year anniversary party, those still standing announced a trio of new high-definition displays being added to the SIM2 USA product line: the HTL40 LINK LCD flat-panel monitor, the DOMINO 55M rear-projection monitor, and the C3X front-projection monitor.

Audio Video News

Two New for You

Darryl Wilkinson | Aug 01, 2005 |

Despite tumbling prices on flat-panel LCD TVs, especially in the U.S. and Europe (great for us consumers, awful for Sony stockholders), Sony is forging ahead and bringing out a pair of new additions to its "S" series line of LCD HDTVs. The new sets add larger screen sizes - 32 inches (KLV-S32A10) and 26 inches (KLV-S26A10) - to the existing lineup which already includes LCD flat-panels from 15 to 23 inches in diagonal.

Audio Video News

Fox Backs Blu-ray

Scott Wilkinson | Jul 30, 2005 | First Published: Jul 31, 2005 |

Twentieth Century Fox announced on Friday that it will release content on the high-definition Blu-ray Disc format through its subsidiary, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC. This is hardly surprising—the studio has been a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) board of directors since October 2004—but they haven't committed to releasing titles on that format until now.

Audio Video News

SIM2's New 3-Chip DLP

Thomas J. Norton | Jul 30, 2005 | First Published: Jul 31, 2005 |

The first projector in SIM2's new Multimedia Grand Cinema C3X series was demonstrated to the press last week at the Italian Trade Council's New York City headquarters. SIM2 invested $5 million developing the new C3X projector. The few 3-chip DLP designs that have been introduced to the consumer market so far are large, heavy, and expensive. SIM2 appears to have solved the large and heavy issues. At a svelte 19 pounds, the C3X is not much more massive than the company's 1-chip models, and only about twice their compact size.

Audio Video News

NASA Chooses JVC

Scott Wilkinson | Jul 28, 2005 |

NASA has geared up for the space shuttle's return to flight with an upgrade of the visual-analysis equipment at its Ice/Debris Image Analysis Facility at Kennedy Space Center. The JVC DLA-QX1 will be used to analyze flight data in conjunction with the SGI Onyx visualization system from Silicon Graphics.

Audio Video News

Tilt and Deliver

Darryl Wilkinson | Jul 25, 2005 |

Anyone who has ever tried to integrate a pair of floor-standing or even a pair of bookshelf speakers into a living room or bedroom knows that it's virtually impossible to make them invisible. Multiply that single pair by 2.5 (or more) for a home theater system, and you've got the makings of a decor disaster. Wall-mounted speakers eliminate the use of valuable floor space, but even the best visual designs suffer from being visible. In-wall speakers are about as close to seamless, seen-less speaker integration, but they're not always practical in terms of wall space thanks to little things like doors, windows, fireplaces, picture frames, indoor plants, and other decorative items. The final frontier for the heard-but-not-seen speaker is the ceiling where there's plenty of available space, and, when mixed in with the various light fixtures and vents, the speakers look absolutely natural.

Audio Video News

Brighten Your Daytime Viewing

Darryl Wilkinson | Jul 25, 2005 |

There are two (actually three depending on how you look at it, but who's counting?) major benefits to owning a front-projection HDTV. The size of the image, ranging from 60 to 120 inches in most home theater systems, makes movie watching at home almost as enjoyable as - and, in some cases, better than - what you'd see at the local multiplex. When it comes to images under 80 inches, of course, you can always rely on a rear-projection HDTV for the center of your home theater. But that's where a front-projection television has its second advantage. Even with the slimmest of the current rear-projection television designs, there's still the issue of the amount of physical space in the room that's taken up. While the amount of actual space is fairly small, the emotional space is still pretty high. ("You're not putting that in my living room!") With a paper-thin screen hanging on the wall or descending from the ceiling plus a small projection unit located across the room, the physical and emotional space used is negligible. What about plasma or LCD flat-panel HDTVs? When it comes to 60-inch or larger televisions, front-projection HDTVs can be purchased and installed for much less than an equivalently sized flat-panel - and, in many cases, you'll enjoy a better quality image.

Audio Video News

Brave New World

Scott Wilkinson | Jul 24, 2005 | First Published: Jul 25, 2005 |

TiVo Inc. last week launched a new interactive advertising technology with ad campaigns from General Motors and The WB Television Network. The new technology enables advertisers to insert a customized "tag" in their commercial, replacing the generic ad tags previously used by TiVo's advertising clients. TiVo customers can select the tag and "telescope" from the traditional 30-second ad to view long-form content, request more information, or take advantage of new recording opportunities. It also ensures advertisers' traditional TV spots will be more visible in TiVo homes, whether viewed in normal play or fast forward mode.

Audio Video News

Home Theater Reader Survey

HT Staff | Jul 24, 2005 |

One thing we've learned about Home Theater readers is that, no matter the subject, they all have opinions. We'd like to hear yours and also enter you in a chance to win a $250 American Express gift certificate.

Audio Video News

Ultimate AV Reader Survey

Ultimate AV Staff | Jul 24, 2005 |

One thing we've learned about <I>Ultimate AV</I> readers is that, no matter the subject, they all have opinions. We'd like to hear yours and also enter you in a chance to win a $250 American Express gift certificate.

Audio Video News

HDTV Conference 2005

Thomas J. Norton | Jul 21, 2005 |

DisplaySearch, a major flat-panel display (FPD) market-research and consulting firm, it holding its third annual HDTV Conference at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on August 23 and 24, 2005. A special conference room rate of $175/night is available for a limited time and may be reserved by calling the hotel directly at (310) 274-7777.

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