Audio Video News

Lack of HDTV programming and uncertainties about interface standards have caused Hitachi to hold off on introducing any new fully integrated HDTV sets. In late May, <A HREF="www.hitachi.com">Hitachi Home Electronics America</A> announced its new UltraVision Digital line of television products, including 9 new rear-projection HDTV monitors, but there are no fully integrated sets or set-top boxes (STBs) among them.

Loudspeaker manufacturer NHT is slimming down its offerings in more ways than one. The Benicia, CA-based company has announced that its new lineup will be reduced from the current 30 models to only 18. The new speakers themselves will be smaller than their predecessors, according to vice president and general manager Chris Byrne, thanks to advances in woofer technology that allow deeper bass to be generated from smaller cabinets with narrower front baffles.

Not everyone wants or needs a cost-no-object home theater. Many movie fans are completely content with affordable systems, and companies like Polk Audio are working hard to keep them happy.

On May 22, <A HREF="http://www.fmi.fujitsu.com/apt/aptMain01.asp.">Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc.</A> (FMI) announced the latest addition to its line of Plasma Display Panels, a 32"-diagonal unit less than three inches thick and weighing less than thirty pounds. The new PDP will make its official debut at the <A HREF="http://www.sid.org">Society for Information Display</A> (SID) Conference to be held June 3&ndash;8 in San Jose, CA.

Ever since Internet usage began to take a sizable chunk out of the TV viewer's channel surfing time, industry pundits have been predicting that it was only a matter of time before we started watching TV via the web. But as limited bandwidth issues continue to slow the web's video streaming appeal, TV manufacturers are beginning to piggy-back web features onto the traditional television.

Last week <A HREF="http://www.laserpacific.com">LaserPacific Media</A> (LP) announced what it terms a "significant" technology milestone that it says will accelerate the efficiency and cost effectiveness of high-definition post-production services. The company reports that its new High Definition SuperComputer Assembly system creates <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?374">24P High Definition</A> programs as pure digital data and not digital video as do other current systems.