The annual CEDIA show is the scene for the launch of many new home theater products. On September 10, Hitachi announced a high-definition rear projection monitor, the 55DMX01W, which uses Texas Instruments' Digital Light Processing (DLP)device as a light source. The 55"-diagonal high-definition set has a 16:9 screen and what Hitachi calls an "exclusive 10-element high contrast wide-angle lens system and high-resolution screen. Every component has been engineered to faithfully reproduce accurate images."
In the United States, the government's traditional stance on big business has been to accommodate independent distributors whenever possible. The policy has long been seen as a way of encouraging competition and preventing the growth of monopolies; automakers don't operate their own dealerships, and cable providers typically don't produce their own programming. In general, you can't own the "pipes" and the "water," too.
<I>Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Chris Noth. Various directors. Aspect ratio: 4:3 (full-screen). Dolby Digital 2.0. 364 minutes. 1998. HBO Home Video 99330. NR. $39.98.</I>
In a low-key rollout last week, <A HREF="http://www.hd.net">HDNet</A>, which bills itself as "the world's only all-high definition national television network", went live on DirecTV channel 199 with a broadcast of the Minnesota Twins at Texas Rangers. HDNet, with offices in Dallas and Denver, says that this is the first of 15 Major League Baseball games it intends to air throughout the month.
The <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov">Federal Communications Commission</A> (FCC) is considering forming a "task force" to tackle the botched rollout of digital television, according to reports from Washington in late August and early September.
Pioneering work by companies like TiVo Inc. and ReplayTV has had some measurable results, according to a recent study by the <A HREF="http://www.ce.org">Consumer Electronics Association</A>.
Last week, Faroudja's parent company, <A HREF="http://www.sageinc.com">Sage</A>, announced that it has launched a "video quality certification program" that authorizes the use of the Faroudja "Flying P" logo and trademark to certified licensees for product placement, literature, and packaging.
Almost a year after exiting the digital video recorder business, <A HREF="http://www.replaytv.com">ReplayTV</A> is returning with a line of new products.
<I>Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala, Stanley Adams, Lisa Mann, Isa Crino, Francesca Jarvis, Pamela Branch, Dan Frazer. Directed by Ralph Nelson. Aspect ratio: 1.66: 1. Dolby Digital mono. 94 minutes. 1963. MGM 4001857. NR. $19.99.</I>
It ranks as many movie buffs' best film of all time, and has landed at the top of the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest American Movies, but until now, you could not get it on DVD. The film, of course, is <I>Citizen Kane</I>, Orson Welles' Academy-Award-winning masterwork credited with expanding film-making frontiers like no other movie in history.
Not content to simply repackage some of its many models of drivers for in-wall applications, Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio went back to the drawing board to come up with some totally new designs.
Want big sound for a small space? On a tight budget? Canton Electronics Corporation's new Movie 10-MX speaker system may be just what you're looking for.
The <A HREF="http://www.ce.org">Consumer Electronics Association</A> (CEA) is once again pushing for a federal mandate that cable services and satellite broadcasters be required to carry digital television signals.