LATEST ADDITIONS

Expanding its already formidable lead in next-gen interactivity, Toshiba within the last month or so has released firmware updates for its HD DVD players that enable web-based interactivity features that are now starting to appear on HD DVDs. The first two titles on the market with web-enabled features are Warner's <I>Blood Diamond</I> and Bandai Visual's <I>Freedom</I> volume 1. Warner's intimate character drama <I>300</I>, set for release later this month, will also feature web-based interactivity.

HDMI connections, combined with a pristine source and a great display, can produce beautiful images, perhaps the best ever available to consumers. But the format has not been trouble free. Even if we ignore consideration of which version of HDMI we're dealing with, and the length limitations of the connections, more than a few videophiles have had problems getting HDMI some combinations of source, display, and switcher to work together.

Furniture Why banish your components to a dark, stuffy closet? Furniture makers have a variety of stands and cabinets that will make your gear easy to get to and great to look at.