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UHD Hits the Airwaves
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 22, 2015  | 
No, you can’t get Ultra HD via antenna yet, but the technology has just gotten its first successful test broadcast in Baltimore. The test used Technicolor’s ATSC 3.0 test platform to send UHDTV through an experimental transmission system from Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of more than a hundred U.S. TV stations. The platform is based on open standards including SHVC video compression, MPEG-H audio, and MPEG-MMT signal transport. It is designed for phones and tablets as well as traditional antenna-TV reception.
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Audio Video News
Is Your Car System a Royalty Scofflaw?
Mark Fleischmann  |  Dec 10, 2014  | 
If you rip CDs to your hard-drive-based car media system, does that violate the rights of artists? The Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies says yes, claiming that your system qualifies as a digital audio recording device, and therefore that manufacturers should pay royalties to the music labels. The group filed suit in the D.C. federal district court, alleging violation of the Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA).
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Audio Video News
After Aereo, Is the Cloud Doomed?
Mark Fleischmann  |  Dec 10, 2014  | 
The judicial murder of Aereo—just in case you had any doubt about where our sympathies lie—leaves a cloud over cloud computing...
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Audio Video News
Poll Results: Ultra HD Tops Holiday Gift List
Bob Ankosko  |  Dec 08, 2014  | 
TV—specifically 4K/Ultra HD and OLED—top the holiday shopping lists of Sound & Vision readers who responded to last week’s poll question: “What’s Your Top AV Gift Pick for 2014?” Ultra HD netted 22 percent of the votes, followed by OLED TV (15 percent), AV receiver (14 percent), and headphones (9 percent). Regular old HDTV was a distant second to OLED, gaining only 4 percent of the votes, proving once again that the S&V crowd is all about the latest and greatest technology. Here are the full results:
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Audio Video News
AMC Upsizes Moviehouse Seating
Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 25, 2014  | 
Desperate to reverse declining movie attendance, the AMC theater chain plans to install reclining seats in 1,800 of its 5,000 theaters. The seats are so big that they had to remove up to two-thirds of seating capacity, leaving some theaters with as few as 70 seats. But attendance has shot up 80 percent in the renovated moviehouses, with box-office revenue rising 60 percent, and that may save theaters that were already losing money.
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Audio Video News
2014 Holiday Gift Guide
Bob Ankosko  |  Nov 24, 2014  | 
Forget the slippers, ties, socks, and countless other predictably boring gifts. Be a holiday hero and shower your loved ones with entertainment and technology. Here we present a dozen amazing gifts for your consideration. At prices ranging from $30 to $400, we hope you’ll be able to find a match or two for the special folks on your holiday shopping list. Worst case, you’ll come up with a few ideas for yourself.
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Audio Video News
Days of Plasma TV Coming to a Close
Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 14, 2014  |  First Published: Nov 12, 2014  | 
Editor's note: This story has been updated.

Samsung and LG will end production of plasma TVs at the end of November signaling the death knell for a TV technology that has been the darling of video enthusiasts for more than a decade. Though plasma’s black-level performance has made it a perennial critic’s favorite, sales have dwindled in recent years.

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Audio Video News
Elite Offers Two Versions of Motorized Screen
SV Staff  |  Nov 06, 2014  | 
Elite Screens has announced that that its Saker motorized projection screen is now available in two versions: with side tension cords or with a fiberglass backing, both designed to provide a flat projection surface.
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Audio Video News
RIP: Crestron Founder George Feldstein
SV Staff  |  Nov 05, 2014  | 
George Feldstein, chairman and founder of home automation powerhouse Crestron, has died. He was 73.
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Audio Video News
Sonos Announces Software Update
SV Staff  |  Nov 04, 2014  | 
Sonos today announced that its latest software update (version 5.2) is now in public beta. The update is said to improve the sound quality of the Playbar with enhanced stereo imaging, EQ, and “volume balance.” Other highlights include...
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Audio Video News
Onkyo Releases Spotify Update and Control App
SV Staff  |  Nov 04, 2014  | 
Onkyo today announced the availability of a Spotify Connect firmware update and a new iOS 8-compatible app, both free.
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Audio Video News
Elite Screens Saker Motorized Projection Screen Available in Two Versions
SV Staff  |  Nov 03, 2014  | 
Elite Screens has announced that that its Saker motorized projection screen is now available in two versions: with side tension cords or with a fiberglass backing, both designed to provide a flat projection surface
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Audio Video News
Panasonic Announces 4K/Ultra HD Streaming Update for AX800 Series TVs
SV Staff  |  Oct 30, 2014  | 
Panasonic today announced today that its current 58- and 65-inch AX800 series of 4K/Ultra HD TVs have received a firmware upgrade enabling them to stream 4K content via Netflix.
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Audio Video News
RIP: Cream Bassist, Rock Icon Jack Bruce
SV Staff  |  Oct 27, 2014  | 
Jack Bruce lead vocalist and bassist of the influential Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Cream died Saturday at his home in England. He was 71.

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Audio Video News
Marantz Announces Auro-3D Firmware Upgrade
SV Staff  |  Oct 24, 2014  | 
Marantz has announced that a fee-based firmware upgrade for the new Auro-3D surround-sound format will be available for its SR7009 receiver (shown, $1,999) and the AV7702 preamp/processor ($1,999) in early December. Both models have built-in Dolby Atmos surround sound processing.
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