Home Theater and Consumer Electronics News - NOVEMBER 2003
NOTE: This page is an archive for previously posted news stories from November 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.
11/30/03
Pirate DVD Cash 'Going To al-Qaida'
Police in the U.K. are concerned that DVD piracy in that country may be a possible revenue stream for terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaida.
11/29/03
New DVD Format Approved
....Well, sort of. The DVD Forum has just made a decision to approve the Toshiba/NEC HD-DVD format as an official read-only system as part of the standard for the coming advance of high definition DVD. However, the Blu-ray camp has also won approval of its high definition DVD format as both an official read-and-write format. In addition, the Blu-ray camp still controls the majority of votes on the DVD Forum. Couple this with China trying to muscle their way into the process with its EVD format, and it is not at all clear, at this time, what the outcome of the next big format war will be. Can't we all just get along and give the consumers a single standard that is the most cost effective for manufacturing and flexible for both hard and software applications, or is that just too much to ask for?
11/28/03
China's EVD Spec Enters Digital Video Fray
While the DVD Forum is wrestling with two competing standards for the next generation of DVD (HD-DVD and BluRay), China claims that its new EVD format offers similar high definition capabilities.
11/27/03
Niche Flix Offers Multi-Region DVD & D-VHS Rentals
If you are tired of scouring the internet for that rare overseas DVD title and then finding out that you can't play it on your DVD player anyway because the DVD is the wrong region code or is in PAL instead of NTSC, then a new video rental service by Niche Flix may provide a soluton.
11/26/03
First Delivery Of DVDPlus
Of course! What a logical product. EnXnet has just announced its first release of a combined DVD/CD disc (DVDPlus). One side of the disc is a DVD and the other side is a CD. Needless to say, if accepted widely by both the music and movie industry, this type of disc could have far-reaching consequenses in the marketplace. For more details on this exciting product, check out the report by Stereophile Magazine
11/25/03
Retailers Vie For Electronics Holiday Rush
It is supposed to be the season of thanks, peace, and celebration, but consumer electronics retailers are bracing for an all-out war for consumer dollars this holiday season. Besides the familiar consumer electronics stores such as Best Buy and Circuit City (and their online subsidiaries), new competitors have aggressively entered the consumer electronics market, such as Dell, Gateway, and even Wal-Mart. Combine this with competition from internet-only shopping sites (such as Amazon.com), and cable TV's QVC and The Home Shopping Channel, expect some very good pricing and product offerings to lure the consumer.
11/24/03
Circuit City TV Stands Recalled
TV stands sold by Circuit City, with the "Cherry Brentwood" designation are being recalled due to possible problems with tipping that could cause serious injury.
11/23/03
Breaking News: DVD/VHS Combo Recorder Appears On Store Shelves
Consumers have been asking for it and Sears and Sansui have teamed to market the first DVD/VHS Combo recorder with the capability to copy VHS to DVD in one unit. In addition, GoVideo has plans to introduce their DVD/VHS combo recorder into the market soon. The Sansui unit utilizes the DVD-R/-RW format while the GoVideo unit is expected to record on DVD R/ RW discs. DVDs made on etiher of these units will play in most DVD players.
11/22/03
JVC Adds DTS To D-VHS Format
D-VHS gets another boost as JVC announces the incorporation of DTS audio tracks as an option on D-VHS D-Theater recordings, which currently employ Dolby Digital and MPEG audio options. This move gives D-VHS similar flexibility to that of DVD, which regards to audio options available for the consumers. For additional details, check out the above report from Audio Revolution
11/21/03
Humax To Enter U.S. Market
Humax may not be a household brand name in the U.S., but add this Korean-based consumer electronics company to the growing list of Chinese and Korean brand names showing up more and more on U.S. store shelves.
11/20/03
China Looks To Promote Its Own Alternative To Popular DVD Format
If you hadn't noticed, China has been trying to exert its muscle in the world consumer electronics market. China is now a major factor in the manufacturing of many types of consumer electronics products, including camcorders, plasma TVs, and, most signifigantly, DVD players. However, will China be able to gain even more market influence and strength with EVD, its homegrown alternative to DVD? To find out more on this, check out the report from China Post.
11/19/03
Next-Gen DVD Riven By Two Competing Standards
While most consumers think that DVD is the be-all-end-all of video formats, high definition DVD is just around the corner with the battle lines between two rival camps, blocking the way for a unified standard (sound familiar?). In one corner, there is HD-DVD (which is backed by over 60 companies in the hardware and software field, including Toshiba and NEC) and BD-ROM aka Blu-Ray (which is backed by the "big ten": including Sony, Philips, Hitachi, Sharp, and Samsung). The HD-DVD camp claims its products will be ready for market by the end of 2004, while the Blu-Ray camp won't be ready until late 2005. However, that is not the whole story; remember, BETA came out a year before VHS showed up on store shelves and we all know how that marketing battle ended up.
11/18/03
JVC Shows First Sirius Product
Actually, JVC has been making "serious" products for years, from the first VHS VCR to the first High Definition miniDV Camcorder. In an effort to stay in the forefront of consumer electronics, JVC is now jumping into the satellite radio market with a new portable satellite radio receiver that is compatible with the Sirius satellite radio service.
11/17/03
DVD RW Format Gains Momentum...
Bolstered by backers such as Philips, HP, Dell, and others, more manufacturers are introducing DVD recorders and DVD burners ultilizing the DVD R/ RW format. It is hoped by the DVD RW alliance that the increase in sales of both DVD R/ RW hardware and software this holiday sales season will enable the DVD R/ RW format to surpass its competitor DVD-R/-RW in market share. For additional details on this, check out the above report from DVD Insider
11/16/03
Gateway Chases Consumer Electronics Sales
Gateway has made a dramatic shift in product emphasis this past year, and now seems to be attracting attention from both consumers and competitors with its new emphasis on consumer electronics prouducts over its main staple, home PCs. For an update on Gateway's new business approach, check out the report from BizReport
11/15/03
JVC To Liquidate U.S. VHS Videotape Unit
DVD has been pushing pre-precorded VHS tapes off retail and rental shelves for some time, but now, the impact of DVD recording and burning is starting to affect the demand for blank VHS tapes. As a result, JVC (the developer of VHS) will be closing its U.S. blank video tape manufacturing facility. For more details, check out the report from Camcorder Info.
11/14/03
Philips Research Demonstrates Faster DVD R
Philips unveils a breakthrough in high-speed DVD data and video recording by showing a 16x speed DVD R writer. This would double the current 8x DVD R maximum writing speed, available on some PCs.
11/13/03
Toshiba, Matsushita To End Domestic Output Of TV-Use CRTs
Is the end of the tube-based TV near? With the increased demand for Plasma and LCD TVs, Toshiba and Mitsushita (parent of Panasonic) are taking steps to discontinue CRT product lines in Japan.
11/12/03
DirecTV Adding Satellites
With the increased demand for HDTV service, DirecTV is diverting some of its satellites that were originally intended for data and broadband to expand HDTV offerings to its subscribers. For additional details, check out the report from Stereophile Guide To Home Theater
11/11/03
Bose Sues CEDIA Over “Electronic Lifestyles®†Trademark
BOSE, which ironically, is a member of CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association), is suing CEDIA for its use of the term "Electronic Lifestyles" in its activities promoting home theater and home automation. Although CEDIA has registered its "Electronic Lifestyles" trademark, BOSE contends that consumers will confuse this with its own trademark term, "Lifestyle System", that it uses to promote its home theater-in-a-box systems. The question is, is this issue really worth court time and money? Does anyone really care about this, besides BOSE? For more details, check out the report from Audio Revolution
11/10/03
International CES 2004 Expected To Be Largest Ever
While most people are getting ready for the upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other Winter Holidays, its "crunch time" for those in the consumer electronics industry and press as they are getting ready for the annual "religous" pilgrimage to the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, this coming January.
11/09/03
Sony Celebrates WEGA Anniversary
Sony celebrates the sixth anniversary of its WEGA-series TVs with the introduction of three new models, including both 32-inch and 42-inch LCD projection models with built-in HDTV tuners, and the new KE-50XS910 HD-ready Plasma monitor.
11/08/03
Cambridge SoundWorks Introduce Four DVD-Audio Systems
DVD-Audio gets another boost as Cambridge SoundWorks, popular independent loudspeaker maker, adds DVD-audio capabilities to its latest "Mega-Theater" Home Theater-In-A-Box Systems. The systems begin at a very reasonable $550 to a top price of $1,150. For additional details on models, features, pricing, and availability, check out the report from High Fidelity Review.
11/07/03
Toshiba, NEC Rally Support for `HD-DVD’
Although Blu-Ray is the only "approved" high-definition recordable DVD format approved by the DVD Forum, upstarts Toshiba and NEC are still trying to lobby for the DVD Forum's blessing for its alternative HD-DVD format. Toshiba and NEC claim that their system is much more cost-effective for both manufacturers and conusmers than Blu-Ray as the same manufacturing facilities can be used that currently make standard DVD products. With Blu-Ray products expected to start appearing on store shelves sometime late in 2004 and HD-DVD expected to hit sometime in 2005, are we in for another format war?
11/06/03
DVD-Audio Council Members Announce Seventy New Titles by Year End
In a continuing effort to cement DVD-Audio as a viable option for music fans, several record labels have announced over seventy new releases for the remainder of the year, including classic surround remixes to original surround recordings. For the complete list of titles and release dates, check out the report by High Fidelity Review
11/05/03
RIAA Details Anti-Piracy War
It has been well-publicized that the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) has been on a crusade to wipe-out music and CD piracy by any legal means necessary. However, their crusade just isn't limited to 12-year old girls and college students downloading too many MP3's. In a stepped-up attack on commercial pirates, the RIAA, in conjunction with various law enforcement agencies, has also targeted suspect commercial outlets, such as convenience stores, swap meets, and street vendors selling counterfeit CDs made in "back room" duplicating mills. For more specifics, check out the above report from Stereophile
11/04/03
Thomson To Partner TV/DVD Biz With Chinese Maker
China's ultimate goal of dominating the worldwide consumer electronics market takes another step forward as French-based Thomson Multimedia (parent of RCA) enters into an agreement with TCL International Holdings to manufacture TVs and DVD players for Thomson.
11/03/03
NEC Introduces New Family Of Multimedia Plasma Displays
NEC announces a series of new Plasma displays, just in time for the holiday season. With a native pixel display meeting XGA specifications, the displays come in 42, 50, and 61-inch screen sizes.
11/02/03
Sony Stands By MicroMV, CamInfo Makes Partial Retraction
It was previously reported on this site, by way of Camcorder Info, that Sony was discontinuing the MicroMV camcorder format. Apparently, the is some confusion over the accuracy of the initial report. For more details, check out the update from Camcorder Info.
11/01/03
Westinghouse Brand To Emerge On LCD TVs
Westinghouse, by way of China, is entering the fast growing and highly competitive LCD TV market in the U.S. with screen sizes ranging from 15 to 30-inches. All models also feature HD-component and DVI-HDTV inputs.
For additional News Stories check out my Home Electronics Industry News Archives.
