Audio Video News

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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
Epson Bows sub-$3K 1080p Projector
 |  Apr 08, 2007  | 

A couple of years ago this just wouldn't have seemed possible. But here it is: Epson has introduced the PowerLite Home Cinema 1080p, which as the name suggests is a 1080p front projector. And the price is $2,999. You read that right. $2,999.

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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
HE 2007 Exhibitors
HT Staff  |  Apr 06, 2007  | 
Exhibitors at Home Entertainment 2007), the High Performance Sound & Imaging Show, are gearing up for one of the most important international events of the year! HE 2007 will take place May 11–13, 2007 at the Grand Hyatt New York, conveniently located in Grand Central Station in New York City. This historic centrally located venue will provide the perfect setting to showcase the latest in home audio/video entertainment products, and this year's event marks the show's seventh visit to the Big Apple.
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Audio Video News
HE 2007 Exhibitors
Ultimate AV Staff  |  Apr 06, 2007  | 

Exhibitors at Home Entertainment 2007), the High Performance Sound & Imaging Show, are gearing up for one of the most important international events of the year! HE 2007 will take place May 11–13, 2007 at the Grand Hyatt New York, conveniently located in Grand Central Station in New York City. This historic centrally located venue will provide the perfect setting to showcase the latest in home audio/video entertainment products, and this year's event marks the show's seventh visit to the Big Apple.

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Audio Video News
Networked Interactivity Features Coming to HD DVD?
 |  Apr 05, 2007  | 

HD DVD might be taking another leap ahead on the interactivity front. The most recent firmware update for Toshiba's first-gen HD DVD players adds "support for certain anticipated network delivered content in future HD DVD discs." Those of you who can get your HD-A1 or HD -XA1 player to an Ethernet connection can download the update from the 'Net, or you can contact Toshiba to get the update on a disc.

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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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Audio Video News
Circuit City Depletes Brain Trust
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 04, 2007  | 
Circuit City announced last week that it would fire 8.5 percent of its retail-floor staff and hire replacements at lower pay. Savor the insane panache of the press release: "The company has completed a wage management initiative that will result in the separation of approximately 3,400 store Associates. The separations...focused on Associates who were paid well above the market-based salary range for their role. New Associates will be hired for these positions and compensated at the current market range for the job." Said CEO Philip J. Schoonover: "We are taking a number of aggressive actions to improve our cost and expense structure, which will better position us for improved and sustainable returns in today's marketplace."
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Audio Video News
Instant Movie Downloads?
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Apr 02, 2007  | 
IBM is showing off a prototype optical transceiver chipset that's capable of reaching speeds at least eight times faster than other optical components available today. The new tiny gizmo moves information at 160 Gigabits - that's 160 billion bits of information for the techno-term-challenged - per second. Such speediness is accomplished not by using wires, but by using light.
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Audio Video News
Tiny Bass Monster
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Apr 02, 2007  | 
Axiom Audio says its new EP400 powered subwoofer is designed for maximum bass output in smaller rooms. The sub itself is relatively small, measuring 13.75" high and 10.5" wide, but it's supposed to be capable of generating an in-room SPL of 116 dB and a low-end response of 23 Hz. The sub was designed primarily for use in small rooms, such as bedrooms, dens, or home offices. (It's probably not appropriate for bathrooms, where you really don't want to see another bottom end.)
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Audio Video News
Sony Projects a High Def Bargain
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Apr 02, 2007  | 
Sony took the lens caps off of two new front home theater projector bargains last week.
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Audio Video News
Another HD Milestone For Blu-ray
 |  Apr 01, 2007  | 

Sony issued a press release last week announcing that the latest James Bond film, <I>Casino Royale</I>, has hit another milestone, surpassing 100,000 units shipped to retailers. This follows that same title's debut in the top ten in DVD sales at Amazon, and both feats are firsts for either HD format. In addition, according to Sony this early success also puts BD ahead of where DVD was at its inception.

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Audio Video News
An Xbox For The Elite
 |  Mar 29, 2007  |  First Published: Mar 30, 2007  | 

Microsoft is going up-market with its Xbox 360 gaming console, unveiling the Xbox 360 Elite. At $479 the Elite is clad in black, which undoubtedly looks trick, adds an HDMI interface, and sticks a thumb in Sony's eye with a 120GB removable hard drive. The $299 Xbox 360 basic (like the $499 Sony PS3) features a 20GB hard drive. There is no integrated HD DVD drive, which means that having an Xbox 360 Elite and HD DVD playback is now $679, just about 80 bucks more than the $599 Sony PS3, which is a full-on Blu-ray Disc player. And even more curiously, Microsoft isn't including integrated Wi-Fi, which is a huge plus for the $599 (60GB hard drive) version of the PS3.

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Audio Video News
DLPetite
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Mar 27, 2007  | 
Texas Instruments says its prototype DLP projector is small enough to fit in your pocket, and you'll be happy to see it, too.
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Audio Video News
Home Theater Magazine Announces RAVE Award Winners
user  |  Mar 26, 2007  | 
The editors of Home Theater magazine have announced the winners of the 2007 RAVE Awards (Recognition of Audio and Video Excellence). Open to all manufacturers, the RAVE Awards, now in its fifth year, recognize excellence in the manufacturing of superior audio and video components that have been reviewed and tested by the Home Theater staff and respected contributors over a 12-month period.
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