Audio Video News

Nothing quite like a good old format war. Ten years ago this month we reported on Toshiba’s decision to postpone the U.S. launch of HD DVD from December 2005 to early 2006.

Intel and Apple today announced the introduction of a new computer I/O technology called Thunderbolt, which makes its debut on the latest MacBook Pro laptops. Yet another connection might seem the antithesis of cool, but this is big news for home-theater PCs.

In a daylong event last week, THX Ltd. and LG Electronics brought a number of journalists to its San Mateo, California headquarters. The main feature was the showing of the documentary Camera Man: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff from independent filmmaker Craig McCall, but THX also took the opportunity to bring us up to date on its THX certification program, including its work with LG on the latter's LCD and plasma sets.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.lucasfilm.com/">Lucasfilm THX</A> announced the availability of the first THX certified PCs under a newly created THX program that the company says is designed to deliver "the best picture and sound to date on a personal computer." A Lucasfilm press release states that "with consumers increasingly turning to the PC for entertainment content, a THX certified PC ensures that movies, music, games and more will be enjoyed with a sound and visual impact that will satisfy the most demanding multimedia user."

THX, the company founded in 1983 by filmmaker George Lucas to deliver best-in-class entertainment experiences through technical certification, has joined the Streaming Video Alliance where it will use its experience benchmarking and setting quality standards to advance the quality of streaming.

THX is commemorating its 35th anniversary with a remake of the iconic “Deep Note” trailer that has wowed movie-watchers since it debuted with the premiere of Star Wars: Episode VI-Return of the Jedi way back in 1983.

THX is about to take its home theater involvement to a new level with a new program whose working name is Blackbird. If the THX folks pull it off, Blackbird could resolve several issues that plague home theater buffs.