Mark Fleischmann

Audio Video News
Samsung to Unleash HD Combi
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 16, 2007
Don't know who to support in the format war between Blu-ray and HD DVD? Those who have firmly decided not to decide got another option Friday as Samsung announced the long-rumored BD-UP5000 combi player. That makes Samsung the second manufacturer to market a high-def combi, following LG.
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Audio Video News
OLED Coming This Year
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 13, 2007
The long wait for OLED may be over before the end of the year. Sony says it will begin selling these next-generation flat panel TVs in late 2007 and other manufacturers are readying them for 2009.
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Audio Video News
TV Sales Show Mixed Picture
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 12, 2007
February brought bad news for plasma TV makers. Plasmas clocked their first year-over-year drop in sales with a 16 percent drop in dollar volume, according to the NPD Group. Pricing was down more than 35 percent with the average plasma selling for $1672. This is, of course, good news for consumers and we showed our appreciation by driving up unit sales 30 percent. Forty-two inch models are most popular though 50-inchers are gaining.
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Audio Video News
Managed Copy May Be Non-Starter
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 11, 2007
Bet you didn't even know there's a new feature in the digital rights management for Blu-ray and HD DVD that would let you make backup copies on a controlled basis. It's called managed copy. Unfortunately you may never get to use it.
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Bookshelf Speaker Reviews
Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v.4 Speaker System
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 10, 2007  |  Published: Mar 11, 2007
Paradigm's back in the ring with version four.

I review stuff. Manufacturers have a right to be wary of people like me. And, when I ask for a surround receiver, the first thing they ask me is, "What speakers will you be using with it?" I tell them, "Paradigm Reference Studio 20s." The sighs of relief at the other end of the phone line are almost audible. More often than not, I get what I ask for.

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Audio Video News
Sony, TCI Show FED Flat Tube
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 10, 2007
A next-generation flat-tube display called FED may give videophiles much of what we had hoped for from the frustratingly delayed SED.
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Audio Video News
Blu-ray Format Spec Changes
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 09, 2007
Here's bad news for Blu-ray early adopters: Your first-generation player may not handle interactive features on future discs.
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Audio Video News
AT&T Offers Free Year of HD
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 06, 2007
Sign up with AT&T as your video provider and you'll get a year of free HDTV. The offer is available to new U-verse subscribers. If that next-generation hybrid fiber-copper IPTV service is not available in your area, the offer also applies to AT&T-branded DirecTV and Dish Network service.
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Audio Video News
Panasonic Expands Plasma Line
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 05, 2007
To my eyes, no one makes better plasmas than Panasonic (though Pioneer is a peer). And certainly no company flies the plasma banner more zestily. At a press event in New York last week, Panasonic added three new sizes in 1080p to its plasma line: 42, 50, and 58 inches. The 42-inch TH-42PZ700, shipping in June for $2499, will be the first 1080p plasma of that size.
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Ears On
Format Change (Again)
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 04, 2007
This is the 300th blog to be posted in this space. It won't be the last, but thanks to our spiffy redesign, my news stories will move from here to another part of the website. You'll find them under HT News, right below the Buyer's Guides, and you needn't even scroll down, because the section lies "above the fold," to borrow some old newspaper talk. I'll continue posting to HT News from Monday through Friday barring holidays, trade shows, and other predictable interruptions. And Darryl Wilkinson will continue to write news and product items in his always readable and enjoyable style. The two-voiced diablogs and reviews of small audio products will continue in this "From the Edge" blog and eventually I may find something equally self-indulgent to add to them. So please look for me in HT News on weekdays and check this space for non-news goodies every few weeks. Thanks for all your comments and encouragement.
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