Audio Video News

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Audio Video News
Sex and the Single HDTV
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Dec 21, 2004
Despite the results of recent statewide elections banning same-sex marriages, consumer electronics retailers and manufacturers may not want to dismiss the gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) community quite so readily. A recent nationwide Harris Interactive/Witeck-Combs on-line survey found that the tallied responses are indicative of "the enthusiasm and affinity that gay and lesbian consumers have for electronic technology and their propensity to seek out the latest trends in consumer electronics and television." The survey looked at preferences for service providers (both cellular and TV) as well as HDTV ownership and intent to buy and HDTV.
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Audio Video News
Big, Bigger, Biggest
Barry Willis  |  Dec 20, 2004

The flat-panel "arms race" reached a new level in mid-December, with an announcement from Samsung's display manufacturing division that it had successfully created a 102" –diagonal plasma display panel (PDP).

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Audio Video News
Industry Roundup
Barry Willis  |  Dec 20, 2004

Video-on-demand: The Holy Grail of the cable industry, VOD is getting a boost from underutilized ("dark") fiber optic networks. Early attempts at VOD were glitchy at best, but computer technology is increasingly making the service a reality via large-capacity servers that can offer thousands of hours of programming to thousands of digital cable subscribers. Many of the fiber networks are owned by telecommunications companies that lease use to cable providers. Cox Communications Inc., Time Warner Inc., and Comcast Corporation have all bet heavily on the potential of fiber optics to deliver more to their subscribers. "80% to 90% of the fiber installed during the telecom boom is still sitting unused," reports Peter Grant in a recent analysis in <I>The Wall Street Journal</I>.

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Audio Video News
The Best of Everything. . . To Go!
Chris Chiarella  |  Dec 15, 2004
DVD is not only the king of the home theater, the benefits have been trickling down to the portable realm for years now, raising both the standards and the subsequent expectations of mobile power-users. Here are three of the most innovative and enjoyable products to come our way.
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Audio Video News
Hollywood vs Kaleidescape
Barry Willis  |  Dec 13, 2004

Adhering to all the rules imposed by the DVD Copy Control Association apparently isn't enough to keep high-end startups out of court.

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Audio Video News
Meridian 800 Version 4
Ultimate AV Staff  |  Dec 13, 2004

<A HREF="http://www.meridian-audio.com">Meridian Audio</A> continues to improve its already excellent model 800 Optical Disc Player.

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Audio Video News
CEA: Almost 1 Million DTVs Sold in October
Ultimate AV Staff  |  Dec 13, 2004

Digital television sales exploded in October, according to figures released December 8 by the Consumer Electronics Association (<A HREF="http://www.ce.org">CEA</A>).

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Audio Video News
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Special Extended DVD Edition
Thomas J. Norton  |  Dec 13, 2004

<I>Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban, John Noble. Featuring Andy Serkis as Gollum. With Ian Holm and Sean Bean. Directed by Peter Jackson. Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, DTS 6.1 ES, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround. Four discs. 250 minutes (film). 2004. New Line Home Video N6932. PG-13. $39.99.</I>

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Audio Video News
UAV Online Update
Thomas J. Norton  |  Dec 13, 2004

<I>Ultimate AV</I> is moving our entire operation online. With the growing importance and influence of web-based information services, we're transitioning exclusively to electronic publishing beginning in January 2005.

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Audio Video News
Store More Digital Media Than Ever Before
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Dec 12, 2004  |  First Published: Dec 13, 2004
Want an easy way to store, manage, access, and enjoy digital entertainment content in your home? Beginning to think Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition 2005 doesn't quite live up to all the hype? Afraid you'll run out of storage room? Concerned about so many questions to answer?
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Audio Video News
O High-Def DVD Format, Where Art Thou?
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Dec 13, 2004
Punches continue to be thrown in the fight over which next-generation DVD format will be established as the industry standard. (And there will be an industry standard, right corporate bigwigs? Although full-fledged format wars are great for selling magazines - go ahead, subscribe to our humble publication now, just in case - tech-savvy consumers tend to sit on the sidelines when it comes to spending money on hardware that may never have software.) Here are some of the latest developments in the march toward a higher definition DVD.
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Audio Video News
Coming Attractions
HT Staff  |  Dec 13, 2004
Harman/Kardon
Home-theater-in-a-box systems have come a long way. Harman/Kardon's CP 15 6.1-channel system ($1,199) will get you started on your home theater journey, minus a display device. The CP 15 includes Harman/Kardon's AVR 135 A/V receiver, DVD 22 progressive-scan DVD player, and HKTS 8 home cinema speaker system. The AVR 135 can decode the popular surround sound formats, including Dolby Pro Logic IIx and Dolby Headphone. A full-function remote is also supplied. The DVD 22 can play back DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW, WMA, CD, CD-R/-RW, MP3, and JPEG discs. The speaker package features contoured satellite speakers, a center-channel speaker, and a vertically oriented subwoofer.
Harman/Kardon
(516) 496-3400
www.harmankardon.com
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Audio Video News
Latest Software Reviews
HT Staff  |  Dec 13, 2004
DVD: Funny Ladies—Koch Vision
Video: 3
Audio: 2
Extras: 1
The premise behind Funny Ladies is a good one: a four-DVD set featuring uncensored standup routines from some of the best female comediennes in the business. Most of the material dates from the early nineties, and the outfits and hairstyles are often funnier than the stand-ups themselves. Unfortunately, the real joke is on anyone who purchases this travesty of a collection.
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Audio Video News
Latest Software Reviews
HT Staff  |  Dec 08, 2004
DVD: The Alamo—Buena Vista
Audio: 3
Video: 4
Features: 4
I'm not a huge history buff myself, but this version of the story of the men who held the Alamo against Mexican General Santa Ana is compelling and beautifully told, though some may argue that the story isn't historically accurate. As usual, Billy Bob Thornton (as Davy Crockett) steals the show, but the rest of the cast (Dennis Quaid, Jason Patric, and Patrick Wilson) hold their own as well.
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Audio Video News
Coming Attractions
HT Staff  |  Dec 08, 2004
Proview
Plasma televisions are all the rage these days, and Proview has a new model that might be what you're looking for. The MH-462SU is a 46-inch widescreen EDTV that features dual NTSC tuners and is HD-compatible. It sports a 1,500:1 contrast ratio and 1,000 cd/m2 brightness. Connections are plentiful and include DVI-D with HDCP and component video inputs. The MH-462SU also features Faroudja video processing with 3:2 pulldown and a V-Chip for parental control. This model is available now for $3,199.
Proview
(877) 532-8176
www.proview.net
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