When historians mark time, there are always pivotal technologies that clearly define watershed changes in how society functions: the printing press, the automobile, the airplane. And quite possibly, for future historians to consider, the iPod.
Home theater or place to party? These days, folks are opting for both when renovating a basement or a media room, says Scott Jordan, systems consultant for Piscataway, New Jersey-based Electronics Design Group (edgonline.com; 732-650-9800).
Chances are you bought your HDTV with one purpose in mind: to watch movies, sports, or the many network and cable TV series like Lost and The Sopranos that look stunningly good in a widescreen, high-definition format.
While it's no secret that prices keep dropping on flat-panel TVs, the good value and excellent picture quality offered by microdisplay rear projectors continue to drive innovation in that category. Case in point: the new JVC HD-58S998 58-inch HD-ILA 1080p HDTV, one of a new generation of "slim" rear projectors.
It was an epic effort requiring superhuman vision and hearing and, above all, heroic resolve. For in order to download the high-definition version of Superman Returns onto Microsoft's Xbox 360 at the Sound & Vision video lab, I, too, would have to return - and return, and return ...
I've had a soft spot for BenQ projectors since I reviewed its <A HREF=" http://ultimateavmag.com/videoprojectors/604benq/ ">PE8700</A> back in 2004. It was the first DLP projector that I felt truly demonstrated the potential of the technology to dominate the video projector market. While DLP has since faced serious competition from LCD and LCoS in both performance and price, it still does more than hold its own.
The entertainment industry has always been dead set against home recording. However, in what potentially may be a major departure, the security specs for Blu-ray and HD DVD may soon be altered to allow legal copying under limited circumstances.
If you're thinking of getting one of Apple's popular music players for a friend or family member, our iPod Info Center is for you. Once you read our reviews, overviews, and gift ideas, you'll be able to check off the names on your list knowing that you're giving the latest and greatest tech there is.