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Panasonic's new TH-85PF12U is the industry's first 85-inch, 1080p plasma. Available in October, this NeoPDP (Plasma Display Panel) has a claimed peak contrast ratio of 40,000:1 (2,000,000:1 dynamic). It's also claimed to require much less power than would be possible in the past in a plasma display this big. At 74.4" by 41.8" and 276 lbs., it's equal in size to four 42-inch displays, and is within 3.6" of being as wide as this writer's projectionscreen! The price: $30,000. I'll take one for the family room, one for the den...

Stewart Filmscreen is showing several new products. AcoustiShade is a motorized window treatment that is designed not only to provide blackout in residential and commercial applications, but is also claimed to reduce noise contamination. It consists of three layers: a sound attenuating blackout layer, a decorative and acoustically beneficial face fabric, and an air space. These elements are surrounded by a frame that uses Stewart's Magnetic Blackout and Attenuation assist (MBAA) system (patent pending), which holds the blackout layer tightly to the frame to eliminate light leakage. Prices will depend on size, as the product is completely customized to fit your windows.

LED-illuminated projectors look like they're going to be all the rage at this year's CEDIA. Digital Projection's entry into this field is the M-Vision Cine LED, a single-chip DLP model with 600 lumens of light output and 10,000:1 contrast. Pricing and availability are not available prior to the show.

It might be a long-standing DVR fixture in the United States, but down in the land of kiwis TiVo hasn't shown up at all. That's changing this November, when the service finally reaches New Zealand. Unfortunately, TiVo comes with some caveats in...