Home Electronics Industry News -- October 2000
NOTE: This page is an archive for previously posted news stories from October 2000 - 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.
10/31/00
Will TV Lovers Pay The Ultimate Price?
Microsoft unveils its pricing structure for its new Ultimate Tv service (the combination of WebTV, Satellite TV, and PVR). At $9.95, $14.95, and $29.95 per month (depending on service level), will consumers bite?
10/30/00
Aiwa Introduces Its First Portable MP3 Player
Jumping on board a little late, Aiwa brings its first portable MP3 Player to the market.
10/28/00
Consumer Electronics Products Top Most Holiday Wish Lists
According to the latest projections, 69% of U.S. households plan to buy electronic gadgets this holiday season.
10/27/00
Playstation2: Let The Games Begin
After a long wait and a few bugs, Sony's Playstation2 hits U.S. shores. All across the U.S., the units sold out within the first few hours of the product release.
Onkyo Teams With Polk Audio To Create A Shelf System That Doesn't Sound Like One
Although mini-systems are very popular with consumers, they are often lacking in quality loudspeakers. However, Onkyo has teamed up with Polk Audio with a new minisystem with big system sound.
10/26/00
JVC Expands The Entertainment Horizon With "I'art" 27-Inch Pure Flat Screen Television
With the popularity of SONY WEGA flat tube TVs taking a signifigant bite of the Direct View TV market, JVC finally jumps on board with their own version of the flat tube TV.
10/25/00
Video Sales A Mixed Bag In September
While Camcorder, DVD Player, and TV/VCR combo sales continue to set records, Direct View and Projection TVs were up only slightly in September.
10/24/00
Kennard Demmands DTV Compatibility
FCC Chairman, William Kennard, blasts broadcasters for their slow pace in switching from analog to digital TV broadcasting.
Toshiba Introduces New Ultra-Lightweight LCD Projectors
Despite the onslaught of new projection technologies, such as DLP and D-ILA, Toshiba is still focused on LCD projectors.
10/23/00
TIVO Announces Availability Of RCA Personal Video Recorders With The TIVO Service
Tapeless video recorders continue to make inroads into the consumer marketplace, with RCA announcing its new TIVO-based Personal Video Recorder. With 20 hours recording capability, the RCA/TIVO units will sell for $299 (with an additional $100 rebate!).
10/22/00
There's A New Cyberdog In Town
If owning pets ever becomes illegal (if organizations, such as PETA, get their way), we may have to settle for robot companions. Perhaps SONY's AIBO Cyberdog will become man's (or woman's) best friend.
10/21/00
DirecTV Rolls Out WINK Interactive Services
DirecTV users will soon be able to join in on the Interactive TV phenomenon as a result of a new partneship with WINK. Among the new services include the ability to purchase products and view web-like content in a similar fashion to WebTV.
10/20/00
MP3 Settles With Music Publishers
While the Napster case is still ongoing, it appears that MP3.com has begun to make "peace" with music owners and publishers.
10/19/00
SAMPO America Introduces New Line Of DVD-Video Players
SAMPO, one of Taiwan's leading consumer electronics manufacturers, introduces new DVD players for the U.S. market.
10/18/00
Dolby Digital Confirmed As Mandated Audio Standard For HDTV In Australia
DTV and HDTV is making inroads everywhere in the World, as countries adopt standards for the new TV format. Australia has adopted the Dolby Digital Audio standard for its audio portion of DTV/HDTV.
10/17/00
Tokyo Show Highlights Latest Gadgets
Innovative new tehcnologies and products were unveiled at this year's Tokyo CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advance Technologies) Show, including the latest in camcorder and DVD technology, and prototypes of things to come. This show is a preview of what we might see at the upcoming CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas.
10/16/00
Neville's "Devotion" Kicks Off DVD-Audio
DVD-Audio is here, but where are the original recordings and musical artists? Aaron Neville's "Devotion" will be the first major artist release in the new format. Will others jump on board? To find out more on this, check out the above report by Pro-Sound News.
10/14/00
Samsung Debuts Two New MP3 Players
MP3 is still here, at least if Samsung has anything to say about it. With two new models, the "Hip-Hop Yepp" and the "Techno Yepp", Samsung maintains its committment to MP3 hardware products.
10/13/00
Thomson Cuts DTV Set-Top Box Prices $100
While many consumer eletronics manufacturers are just now bringing DTV decoder boxes to market, Thomson (under its RCA brand) has had one for some time, and is reducing the price of its unit to spur sales of DTVs.
10/12/00
FCC Seeks To Pressure TV Stations To Go Digital
The FCC, taking note of the slow progress towards DTV broadcasting, is seeking solutions to speed the process. Will HDTV finally become mainstream?
10/11/00
Daewoo Begins 30" HDTV Sales
Budget TV maker Daewoo introduces its fully integrated 30" HDTV (utilizing Toshiba's Pure Flat Picture Tube) into the marketplace.
Best Buy Takes A Bite Of Big Apple
In an effort to tap into its last major untapped market in the U.S., Best Buy moves into the New York City area with 15 stores, a new regional office, a masssive AD campaign, a Sting concert, and more. In a related matter, Best Buy responds to charges relating to its sale of "extended warranties".
10/10/00
Japanese CE Giants Show Future Products
From DVD Camcorders to DLP TV, get a sneek preview of the latest home electronics technology, courtesy of the Japanese.
10/09/00
Revenge Of The LP?
The LP is back, but not quite in the form you might think.
10/07/00
High-Def DVD Recording Technology Shown In Japan
Pioneer and Sony demonstrated its new Blue-laser technology intended for high-definition recordable DVD at a recent gathering in Japan.
10/06/00
2001 International CES To Highlight The Best In Wireless Technology
Wireless technology is all the rage these days. As a result of both the immense popluarity of wireless products and leapfrogging technical developments, the 2001 Consumer Electronics Show is planning to put special emphasis on wireless technology.
10/05/00
Onkyo Home Theater Receiver Has 6.1-Channels, THX Select, And Is The First Model Under $1500 With Surround EX
Onkyo reinforces its committment to the new 6.1 channel surround format with its new, affordable, TX-DS787 Surround EX receiver.
10/04/00
Warner Unveils First DVD-A Titles
Warner Music will become the first major label to release DVD-Audio titles with its announcement to release several DVD-Audio Titles in November. Is this enough to get this format off the ground?
10/03/00
Samsung Cell Handset Handles MP3's
A leader in cell phone technology, Samsung takes the role of cell phone further by including MP3 playback capability with its new "Uproar" cell phone. You can entertain yourself between those important business calls.
10/02/00
SONY Introduces New Cybershot Digital Camera
How small can a digital camera get? Measuring a pocket-size 4-1/2" x 2-1/4" x 1-3/4", SONY introduces the 3-megapixel DSC-P1.
10/01/00
Denon Announces Introduction Of DVD-Audio Player
Despite the lack of strong software support, DVD-Audio is creeping into the marketplace. Denon joins the fray with its own player.
For more News Stories check out my Home Electronics Industry News Archives.
