Home Electronics Industry News - April 2003
NOTE: This page is an archive for previously posted news stories from April 2003 - Since most of the links are now inactive, they have been removed. However, the headlines and summaries are still posted to historically document the news headlines from the dates listed.
04/30/03
First Satellite Radio PC Receiver from XM
Although originally intended for the mobile consumer, XM has made strides in offering XM satellite hardware and service for the home, and now the PC user.
04/29/03
HDNet Expands Offerings
HDNet continues to expand its programming services by signing a deal with Sony Pictures for right to broadcast a portion of its film library in High Defintiion. For more specifics, check out the above report from Stereophile Guide To Home Theater.
04/28/03
Panasonic Releases Two Projectors
Video projectors are getting less expensive and more compact, as well a providing better quality. Panasonic has just announced two new compact video projectors priced at less than $3,000. For more specifics on features and availability, check out the above report from Videography Magazine
04/27/03
Camcorders Warm Up To DVD
Now that the DVD player has taken hold in U.S. households and DVD recorders are beginning to make an impact on the market, several manufacturers have introduced DVD camcorders. However, before you get too excited, check out the above report from The Christian Science Monitor.
04/26/03
The Matrix Sequels to be Released in IMAX 70mm Format
Warner Bros announces the simultaneous release of the next two Matrix sequels (which are expected to be THE big movie releases this year) in both 35mm and the IMAX 70mm big screen format. For all the exciting details, check out the above report from Audio Revolution.
04/25/03
Yamaha Introduces Affordable High-Performance 6.1 Channel AV Receivers
Featuring a host of features and upgrades, Yamaha announces their new low-to-midrange home theater receiver lineup for this year. With prices starting at $300 for the RX-V440 to $599 for the RX-V740, it just might be time to upgrade that old stereo or pro-logic receiver. For more details on models, features, and availability, check out the above report from Audio Revolution.
04/24/03
Tower Records: The Incredible Shrinking High-Resolution Presence
Manufacturers, recording studios, and audiophiles are touting the virtues of DVD-Audio and SACD. However, what is going on at the retail music level? Check out the above, disturbing report, on the status of DVD-Audio and SACD from High Fidelity Review.
04/23/03
Japan To Begin DTV broadcasts In December
Although Japan pioneered analog-HDTV years long before the U.S. and Europe, it has been slow to adopt Digital TV broadcasting. However, Japan's committment to DTV will begin this December with a goal of transitioning to total DTV broadcasting by 2011.
04/22/03
New Mitsubishi Line-Up Includes Two DVD-Audio Players
Mitsubishi is well-known for its lineup of projection TVs, but they also make great DVD players. Check out Mitsubishi's new lineup of DVD players as reported by High Fidelity Review.
04/21/03
Good Guys Posts Profit
After several years of struggling against reduced market share and internal osterity programs to stay afloat, Good Guys has finally turned a profit.
04/20/03
SRS Labs' Circle Surround...In New 2003 Receivers From Marantz
Dolby and DTS aren't the only players in the home theater surround sound market, SRS Labs' Circle Surround II is now being featured in the Marantz home theater receiver line up for this year, giving the consumer additional flexibility with regards to surround sound listening options. For additional details, check out the above press release from SRS Labs.
04/19/03
JVC Announces Nationwide Retail Promotion Of High-Definition Home Entertainment
While several manufacturers are pursuing HD-DVD as the next evolution in HDTV viewing, JVC is aggressively pursuing D-VHS as an HD format that is not only available now, is backward compatible with standard VHS, and is backed by a large software committment from several movie studios. For the latest update on this, check out the above report from Widescreen Review.
04/18/03
FCC Sanctions Listed
The heat is on for U.S. Television stations to keep on the FCC's mandated DTV broadcasting conversion schedule.
04/17/03
Sony Recalls Cyber-Shot P1
As a result of consumer complaints regarding extremely short battery life, Sony has announced a recall of its Cybershot P1 digital camera.
04/16/03
DVD Pirates Running Wild In SA
South Africa is a hotbed of DVD piracy, with thousands of counterfeit DVDs being sold through the black market weekly. For more details, check out the above report from News24.
04/15/03
DVR-An Expanding Role?
Although DVRs have been slow to catch in the marketplace, consumers that do own them, love'em. With the ability to record TV programs in a variety of ways (time, theme, progam name), pause live TV, and skip commercials on playback, the potential of the DVR has not gone unoticed by Cable and Satellite providers who are making increased committments to offer DVR features in cable boxes and satellite receivers. For more info on the impact of this trend, check out the above report from Stereophile Guide To Home Theater.
04/14/03
Madrigal Retiring Proceed Brand
After twelve years Madrigal has retired its innovative lineup of Proceed-branded audio components and will be incorporating future designs into their Mark Levinson lineup. For more details, check out the above report from Stereophile.
04/13/03
Flat Panels Take Off
If you haven't noticed, flat panel TVs (Plasma and LCD) are popping up everywhere these days. For an analysis of these phenomenon, check out the above report from Stereophile Guide To Home Theater.
04/12/03
Mitsubishi Unveils 82W-inch Rear Projection HDTV
If you have $20,000 in spare change, you can buy Mitsubishi's newly announced 82-inch rear projection fully-integrated HDTV.
04/11/03
Murdoch Pays $6.6 Billion For Control Of DirecTV
With the proposed DirecTV/Echostar merger having fizzled out, Rupert Murdoch, owner of the FOX TV network and FOX News Channel, shells out big bucks to buy DirecTV.
04/10/03
Recoton Files Chapter 11
Long a leading maker of audio/video accessories and owner of Jensen, Ambico, Discwasher and Acoustic Research, Recoton has to call it quits.
04/09/03
Discovery's Atlas HD
Discovery communications has announced an ambitious project that it hopes will reveal the full learning potential of HDTV as they plan to produce a series of HD documentaries on the countries of the World. For more details, check out above report from Stereophile Guide To Home Theater.
04/08/03
EchoStar To Add 100 Multi-National Channels
The World is going to get a lot smaller for Dish Network subscribers and EchoStar plans to make up to 100 international channels available as part of its satellite TV service.
04/07/03
'Potter' Unveils New 'Secrets' In 2-Disc DVD
The highly anticipated release of "Harry Potter: The Chamber Of Secrets" on DVD is poised to be one of most extensive DVD releases so far, packed with hours of supplemenatry, including eighteen deleted scenes.
04/06/03
Hybrid SACDs Can Be Ripped From CD Layer
Although multi-channel SACDs cannot be copied with traditional CD-burning software, the new hydrid SACDs feature a tradition CD layer that can easily be copied. For more details on this, check out the above report from Audio Revolution.
04/05/03
Major League Soccer And HDNet Enter Three-Year Exclusive HDTV Agreement
Subscribers to Satellite and Cable services have an additional choice in programming as HDnet presents Major League Soccer in HDTV.
04/04/03
Samsung Introduces 2003 DTV Lineup
Samsung continues its strong committment to Digital Television with a an extensive new line of DTVs starting at $699.
04/03/03
Circuit City Q4 Earnings Halved
Circuit City continues its struggle to redefine itself in the marketplace as earnings and revenue continue to decline.
04/02/03
Dark Side Of The Moon In 5.1 SACD Surround
It's finally here! The long awaited 5.1 channel SACD mix of the legendary Pink Floyd album "Dark Side Of The Moon". If you have an SACD player, this recording is a must. However, even if you don't there is also a new two-channel stereo CD mix on the same disc.
04/01/03
Best Buy’s Musicland For Sale
Best Buy's aggressive acquisition strategy may have finally caught up the nation's number one CE retailer as it is now in talks to divest itself with the Musicland group, which also includes Sam Goody and Suncoast Video stores.
For additional News Stories check out my Home Electronics Industry News Archives.
