Home Theater and Consumer Electronics News - JUNE 2004

NOTE: This page is an archive for previously posted news stories from JUne 2004 - 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.

06/30/04
Onkyo Ships First Universal DVD-A/SACD Carousel Changer
DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio Universal players have been available for a couple of years now, and are enjoying increased popularity as prices for the flexible units continue to come down. The main factor that limits its flexibility up to this point has been that all Universal DVD players have been single disc units. That is about to change, however, as Onkyo introduces the DV-CP802, the first 6-Disc DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio changer. This means that the consumer can load any combination of DVDs, SACDs, or DVD-Audio discs into the changer for an afternoon or evening's supply of video and music entertainment, without having to change out discs as often. In addition, the DV-CP802 can also play DVD-R/-RW/DVD+R/+RW, CD-R/RWs, MP3 and WMA CDs. and JPEG PhotoCDs. For additional information on specifications, pricing, and availability, check out the report from Audio Revolution.

06/29/04
Prices Of Flat-Panel TVs, Monitors Could Drop More
42-inch Plasma Televisions for $1,000? Now that supplies are increasing and manufacturing costs are decreasing for flat panel Plasma and Flat Panel televisions, some industry observers are expecting big price drops in the near future. For the latest perspective on this issue, check out the report from USA Today.

06/28/04
The Father Of DVD
Many inventions and products in the digital age are usually not the result of a single person's effort, however, there is usually one key person that is credited for seeing an invention's potential. Bill Gates didn't invent the computer, but he saw how it could change the average person's life. Ted Turner didn't invent cable TV, but envisioned how cable TV could change the face of television viewing. By the same token, a man by the name of Warren Lieberfarb may be the key figure responsible for the success of DVD, even though he didn't invent the technical specifics of the technology. To find out more about how his vision changed the course of both the film and home video industry, check out this very interesting report from MSNBC/Newsweek

06/27/04
Poor Compatibility of Dual-Layer DVD Discs
DVD recording fans have been waiting with baited breath for the capability of writing/recording on dual-layered DVD discs. However, now that dual-layer capable PC-DVD writers have arrived (with standalone DVD recorders to follow), it seems that there are some playback compatibility issues with this new technology. For more details, check out the report from IGM.

06/26/04
JVC Intros 3-in-1 Recorder/Player
Video recording fans can now have it all as JVC announces their new 3-in-1 DVD/VHS/HDD video recorder. The DR-MX1S features a DVD-R/-RW/RAM DVD recorder, VHS HiFi VCR, and a Hard Disk video recorder with a 160GB hard drive. The unit also features both analog and Firewire AV inputs, as well as a video processor to enhance image quality in both recording and playback modes. The price: $1,299.

06/25/04
GoVideo's New DVD Recorders
DVD recorders are definitely getting more plentiful and less expensive. GoVideo, once known as the inventor of the popular dual deck VCR, has just announced three new DVD recorders for the consumer market. The R6540, R6640, and R6740 feature DVD+R/+RW recording, firewire input, and progressive scan playback output. The R6640 adds a very easy-to-use interface, while the R6740 adds Auto-Play, which skips ads and trailers at the beginning of many DVDs and goes right to the movie. All three DVD recorders are priced less than $300, making them very affordable for the entry level consumer. For additional information on features and availability, check out the report from Home Theater Magazine.

06/24/04
Quincy Jones To Develop New Line Of Home Theater Products For SLS Loudspeakers
Famed composer and record producer, Quincy Jones is teaming up with renowned loudspeaker manufacturer, SLS, to develop a new line of loudspeakers and related products to be stamped with the label "Q Line". The new label is expected to appear in select consumer electronics retail outlets Worldwide. For additional information, check out the report from Surround Professional Magazine.

06/23/04
Apex Broadens Its Portfolio With First PMP, Cameras, DVR
Apex, the well-known maker of budget DVD players and televisions, is expanding its product offerings to include a new portable media player, digital camera, and the much anticipated ApeXtreme combination DVD player, video game console, and DVR.

06/22/04
HDNet Gains First-Run Cable HD Rights to the WB's Smallville
HDNet, the pioneering all-HD programming service, which is available on select Cable TV systems, as well as DirecTV and Dish Network, has acquired the exclusive rights to rebroadcast the Warner Bros television show "Smallville" in the high definition 1080i format via cable and satellite.

06/21/04
Sony Turns On The Charm With Boutique Stores
Despite the fact that you can find Sony products just about everywhere, Sony feels that it needs to project a kinder, gentler, image to draw in consumers, especially females. Following in the tracks of Bose and Apple, Sony is starting to open 5,000 square foot "Boutique" stores that showcase how various Sony products operate easiy together, such as digital cameras with PCs, and audio systems with HDTVs, in an easy-going, stylish, non-commission sales environment.

06/20/04
New-Generation DTV Receiver To Make Possible Over-The-Air Reception With Simple Antenna
Although a large portion of consumers get their TV reception via either cable or satellite, many still receive their television entertainment over-the-air via antenna. With the advent of HDTV, there have been some issues, in certain locales, that have yielded unsatisfactory over-the-air HDTV reception. However, tests of new equipment have shown some major improvements.

06/19/04
DualDisc Hybrids Officially Approved by the DVD Forum
After recent market testing, another DVD-related format has been approved by the DVD Forum, the official overseer of DVD technology for use in consumer electronics products. The DualDisc is now, offically a part of the DVD landscape. What is Dual Disc, you ask? DualDisc is basically a disc that is a DVD on one side and standard CD on the other. Although this new disc format has several applications, the disc is basically intended to house a 5.1 DVD-Audio on one side, and standard audio CD music on the other. Playable on both DVD and standard CD players, it is hoped that more music companies will release both standard CD and 5.1 channel DVD-Audio mixes on a single disc, thus cutting production costs and reaching more consumers with both formats. For additional details, check out the report from High Fidelity Review.

06/18/04
DirecTV Can't Sue For Gear Possession
With satellite TV piracy on the rise, DirecTV has been active in going after dealers that sell products that enable consumers to access its satellite TV programing without paying for it. In addition, DirecTV is also filing suit against consumers who purchase and own such equipment. However, in an odd legal twist, an appeals court in Florida ruled recently that consumers that merely own such equipment are not breaking the law. In other words, it seems to be legal to own equipment that can pirate satellite TV signals, as long as you don't use it. Does this make any sense? For full details on this, check out the report from CNET.

06/17/04
Pop-Out Video From Flat Displays
If high-definition Plasma and LCD televisions weren't enough to get consumers excited, Philips has announced two new technologies that may enable television viewers in the not-to-distant future to watch 3D High Definition images on their televisions without the need of special glasses. One the 3-D technologies involves a new type of LCD flat panel, while another utilizes special software encoding that allows 3D images to be displayed on any television. For more technical details on these innovative developments, check out the report from Forbes.

06/16/04
AQUOS 20-Inch LCD TV Takes PC, TV Sources
New LCD television models are appearing on store shelves almost as fast as new PCs. Sharp unveils its latest AQUOS compact 20-inch LCD TV, the LC-20B6U-S. This new unit has a native pixel resolution of 1024x768 and features both HD-component and PC monitor inputs.

06/15/04
NBC To Air 1,210 Hours Of Olympics
If you are a fan of the Summer Olympic Games, but can't afford to travel to Greece this year, you might get a better seat for all the best events by just staying at home and a watching it on TV. NBC, combined with its subsidiaries and partners, inlcuding MSNBC, CNBC, BRAVO, and USA Network, plan to provide around-the-clock coverage of this year's Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. In addition, for those that have HDTVs or are considering purchasing one, NBC will also provide over 400 hours of high definition television coverage.

06/14/04
Best Buy To Sell Gateway Inventory
In a surprise move, Best Buy has made the decision to buy up all the remaining inventory from Gateway's now-closed brick-and-mortar retail operations and sell it through their own stores and website. In addition, Gateway sees this as a possible "gateway" to market its branded consumer electronics products and computers through mainstream retailers in the future.

06/13/04
Huge Pirate DVD Bust
It seems that "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" has already made its DVD appearance in South Africa, but it wasn't by way of magic. It seems that South Africa is plagued by large scale and well-organized DVD, CD, and Video Game piracy.

06/12/04
Bose Adds New Products
Bose does a major product facelift as it introduces several new Lifestyle home theater systems with innovative features such as multi-room expandability and hard drive music storage. Prices for the new systems range from $999 to $3,999.

06/11/04
CD Prices Drop
While the media has been reporting the ongoing high price of gasoline, they haven't reported on another high priced item that affects consumers' pocket books; the CD. The traditionally high price of music on compact disc is the recording industry's own worst enemy, as millions have flocked to downloading music from the internet as an alternative to buying expensive CDs. In the past year, Universal has tried to implement a strategy to lower the price of CDs, but has only been marginally successful. Will lower CD prices at this point really make a difference to the consumer, or is it too late for the now aging format? For a report and perspective on the current state of CD pricing, check out the report from Stereophile

06/10/04
V, Inc. Launches DLP Rear Projection TV
Building on its success with its BRAVO line of HD-compatible DVD players, V,inc is now introducing a 56-inch 16x9 DLP rear projection television under its Vizio brand name. The Vizio RP56 is an HD ugradable set with 1280x720 native pixel resolution, 1500:1 contrast ratio, Dual NTSC tuners, and DVI-HDCP inputs. A bonus feature is a built-in Faroudja DCDi processor that upscales standard resolution video to 720p.

06/09/04
Windows Media 9 Headed For Consumer Electronics
While Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are currently the major high definition contenders to replace current DVD technology, Microsoft, in partnership STMicroelectonics, is sneaking into the market with it own alternative, based on the Windows Media 9 platform. Adapted for use in DVD applications, this new format is being referred to as FVD (Forward Versatile Disc). For more information on this technology and how it may affect the future of DVD for the consumer, check out the report from Industry Standard. In addition, check out more on forthcoming DVD innovations, as outlined in my previous article: DVD Players and Recorders - What's Ahead For DVD In 2004.

06/08/04
Pioneer Launches Wireless Home Theater
If you are resisting getting a home theater system because you can't the stand the idea of running speaker wire all over the place, perhaps the new Pioneer DCS-525 "wireless" home theater-in-a-box will make the idea of home theater more appealing. Basically, the center, front speakers, and subwoofer are wired to the DVD Receiver combo, however, the rear channel signals are transmitted wirelessly to a rear channel unit with built in powered speakers. Currently, this system is available in the U.K. Pioneer also offers a similar wireless home theater system, the HTD-630DV in the U.S. market. For additional details on the DCS-525, check out the report from Design Technica.

06/07/04
Two New Value Projectors from Epson
Responding to the need for more affordable, compact, video projectors for both business and home theater use, Epson introduces two new models, the PowerLite 61p and 81p. The 81p has a native pixel resolution of 1,024x768 and comes with a price tag of about $1,800. The 61p is more affordable at $1,500, but has a lower native pixel resolution of 800x600. Both models also feature a "Blackboard Mode" for use in school classrooms. For additional details, check out the report from Gizmodo.

06/06/04
SoundVu: LCD Monitor Doubles as Speaker
NEC is implementing a new sound reproduction technology from NXT, labeled SoundVu, into its LCD computer monitors that may someday find its way into your home theater. In essence, SoundVu can enable an LCD screen to pull double duty as a loudspeaker. To find out more, check out the report from Gizmodo. In addition, I reported on a similar technology called "The Sound Window" in a previous article, entitled New Technology Sneak Peek.

06/05/04
In Japan, A Look Beyond HDTV
Just when you thought that it was finally safe to buy an HDTV, leave it to the Japanese to come up with something better...Ultra High Definition Video (UHDV), which has 16 times the resolution of HDTV. Such a system would be perfect for large projection screen home theaters. For additional details, check out the brief report from the International Herald Tribune.

06/04/04
Samsung Introduces...Flat Tube HDTVs With Built-In HD Tuners
Many still believe that HDTVs are still too expensive for the average consumer. However, that is about to change. Samsung has been a leader in affordable HDTV-upgradable televisions, but has now jumped ahead of the pack with a new line of affordable integrated HDTVs. Samsung's new line of flat tube HDTVs incorporate built-in HDTV tuners for the reception of over-the-air HDTV signals. Screen sizes and prices range from 26-inches/$699 to 30-inches/$1,199. Now, there is an HDTV priced for everyone's budget.

06/03/04
Sharp Cuts LCD TV Prices, Adds New Line
Flat panel television frenzy is sweeping the nation, as consumers continue to dig deep into their wallets for the latest Plasma and LCD televisions. Alas, as popular as these sets are, they are still out of reach for the budgets of a majority of consumers who desire them. However, a little price relief is on the way on the LCD front as Sharp makes two moves to attract more consumers to its LCD TV product line; lowering prices on its Aquos LCD models, and introducing a new "budget" line of smaller size LCD Televisions.

06/02/04
Runco High-Altitude Plasma
One of the problems with Plasma Screen Televisions is that they do not perform well at high altitudes. With more consumers embracing Plasma, and many living in high altitude environments, manufacturers are being challenged to produce Plasma Televisions that will perform. Runco claims to have the answer with a new line of High Altitude Plasma Televisions, the catch: prices start at $13,000. For more details, check out the report from Gizmodo.

06/01/04
Where Is HD TiVo?
DirecTV and TIVO jointly announced earlier this year that a High Definition TIVO PVR would be incorporated into an HD-DirecTV satellite receiver. This new HD-Satellite receiver basically allows DirecTV subscribers to record high definition satellite TV programming onto the unit's TIVO hard-drive based video recorder, for viewing later. With HD-DVD and Bluray high definition DVD recorders still about a year away, many DirecTV subscribers have been anxiously waitng for the HD DirecTV/TIVO units to become available. However, for most of those that have been waiting, it seems that they will have to wait a little longer, as demand these desirable units is far outstripping the available supply of only 5,000 units for all of 2004. Can we say, OOOPS! For further details on this dilemma, check out the report from Revolution Home Theater.

For additional News Stories check out my Home Electronics Industry News Archives.