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Audio Video News
Sympathy for the Devil: 10 Questions for the RIAA
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 17, 2007  | 
The Recording Industry Association of America is the music industry's most influential trade group and toughest defender. When it comes to sitting in the hot seat, no one has a hotter seat than the RIAA, especially concerning its tactics in fighting illegal downloading. But there are two sides to every story, and especially on the Internet, the organization's message is routinely drowned out by the denunciations of its critics. Why shouldn't the RIAA have its say? That gave me a bright idea: Ask 10 questions by email and publish the responses without further comment on my part. This is the RIAA's take on things, period. Without further ado, here is today's special guest, Cary Sherman, President of the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Audio Video News
DRM Kills Google Video Downloads
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 16, 2007  | 
In what surely must be the worst-case scenario for digital rights management, Google has informed purchasers of its video downloads that they will no longer play. They are not merely copy-protected, they are unplayable under any circumstances.
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Audio Video News
Thin is In At Sharp
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 15, 2007  | 

Sharp launched a handsome new line of thin, lightweight LCD flat panel AQUOS HDTVs at a press event held Tuesday August 14th, 2007 at New York's The Weather Room at Top of the Rock. Sharp's Bob Scaglione introduced the new, four model 1080p space-saving D64U line, telling members of the press that the space-saving, stylish looking new sets, which feature bezels that are 25% thinner and weigh 20% less than previous models, are also the thinnest Aquos models Sharp has ever produced, measuring just 3 3/4" deep.

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Audio Video News
Mock-DVR Shoves Ads Down Your Throat
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 14, 2007  | 
Here's the good news: Time Warner Cable subscribers will be able to view already-aired programming at the touch of a button. And now here's the bad news: The fast-forward function is disabled.
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Audio Video News
THX Introduces Loudness Plus
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 13, 2007  | 
THX has a new trick up its sleeve. In addition to Blackbird, that is.
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Audio Video News
Universal to Test No-DRM Downloads
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 10, 2007  | 
Recent moves by Universal Music Group, the world's largest music label, may result in a more freewheeling DRM-free download retail environment.
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Audio Video News
Sharp: LCD Prices to Drop 25%
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 09, 2007  | 
Just when you thought HDTV prices couldn't go any lower, Sharp is forecasting a 25 percent drop for larger LCD-based flat panels.
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Audio Video News
Toshiba Leaks, Er, Bows 3rd Gen HD DVD Players
 |  Aug 09, 2007  | 

Late last week Amazon inadvertently posted and started taking pre-orders on 3rd-gen HD DVD players from Toshiba. The posts were quickly pulled, but obviously the cat was out of the bag. This week Toshiba went ahead and offically announced the trio of third generation players, which will go on sale in September and October.

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Audio Video News
HD DVD 3G On the Way
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 07, 2007  | 
Toshiba isn't wasting any time in unveiling the latest generation of HD DVD players. The third-gen line is already listed on Amazon and a press release now lists official ship dates in the fall.
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Audio Video News
Illegal P2P Rampant in U.K.
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 06, 2007  | 
Despite the fact that U.K. residents are among the world's steadiest CD buyers, apparently they're also among the world's most avid illegal downloaders.
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Audio Video News
Spider-Man Trilogy Spinning Blu Web In October
 |  Aug 05, 2007  | 

Yet another high profile series is hitting HD on a disc this October 30th- the entire blockbuster <I>Spider-Man></I> trilogy is hitting Blu-ray, day and date with the DVD release of <I>Spider-Man 3</I>. According to the press release, while <I>Spider-Man 3</I> will be available as a separate two-disc Blu-ray Special Edition, the first two films in the trilogy will only be available in the <I>Spider-Man High Definition Trilogy</I>, which will carry an MSRP of $99.

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Audio Video News
GooTube to Go Legit
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 03, 2007  | 
When last we checked on YouTube, the Google-owned site was having trouble keeping its promises to the entertainment industry. Users were illicitly posting copyrighted material and the legal bills mounted. By September, the YouTubers hope, all that will change.
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Audio Video News
Who's Going Blu?
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 02, 2007  | 
Is the end near for HD DVD? A recent spate of bad news suggests that the format is running out of retail friends. But the situation may not be as bad for Toshiba's favorite format as it first appears.
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Audio Video News
TiVo. HD. $299. Any Questions?
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jul 31, 2007  | 
TiVo HD isn't the first high-def-capable or digital cable ready product from the world's winningest DVR brand. That would be the Series3. But the new model is the first HD-capable TiVo to sell for $299.
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Audio Video News
Will DTV Transition Go Off the Rails?
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jul 30, 2007  | 
"Train wreck" and "digital disaster" were just a few of the words being flung at the DTV transition in Congress last week. Analog television broadcasting is scheduled to end on February 18, 2009. And elected representatives are fretting that some analog-TV viewers may not have gotten the memo. Since those who watch also vote, they deem this a problem.
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