<I>James Caviezel, Dennis Quaid, Andre Braugher, Elizabeth Mitchell, Noah Emmerich. Directed by Gregory Hoblit. Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1. 119 minutes. 2000. New Line Home Video N5058. PG-13. $24.98.</I>
The Home Entertainment 2001 show, held in New York City May 11–13, 2001, received high marks and a standing ovation from show attendees, who came to experience some of the most innovative and exciting consumer electronics products in decades.
This summer, Bedford, MA-based Lexicon, Inc. will introduce two new digital controllers that will assume the lead in the company's audio product lineup. The MC-12 and MC-12 Balanced Digital Controllers feature "leading-edge audio processing technology, and a unique new industrial design," according to a May 14 announcement.
A light-sensing circuit that automatically adjusts the brightness and black level to compensate for ambient lighting is one of many refinements in the Sony VPL-VW11HT LCD projector, which debuted last week at the Home Entertainment 2001 show in New York.
Although it's taken longer than expected—copyright protection has become the bane of every new technology these days—IEEE 1394 (aka FireWire) is finally coming to life. Last week, <A HREF="http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com">Mitsubishi Digital Electronics</A> announced several new products based on 1394 at its National Product Line Show held in Long Beach.
A casual observer might think that even a slight economic downturn could have negative repercussions for a luxury industry like the home theater business, but the truth is that the only trend that anyone on the front lines can see is growth.
<I>Martin Lawrence, Paul Giamatti, Nia Long, Terence Howard. Directed by Raja Gosnell. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1. 98 minutes. 2000. Fox Home Entertainment. PG-13. $26.98.</I>
High-end audio is the primary emphasis here at HE 2001, but home theater is getting plenty of exposure at demos put on by <A HREF="http://www.polkaudio.com">Polk Audio</A>, <A HREF="http://www.martinlogan.com">MartinLogan</A>, and other audio manufacturers who are pushing their products for surround sound. Polk's large suite—immediately next door to the show's Press Room—has been packed for the first two days, with show attendees waiting in long lines to get in. The emphasis: a new multi-channel audio system known as the Digital Solution 7200, which includes five two-way speakers, a powered subwoofer with an integral multichannel amplifier, and a tuner/processor/preamp.
I remember a Toshiba press conference at which two new DVD players were introduced whose prices were only $50 apart. That's how tight things are in the mainstream marketplace, where niches are filled by price and by features far more often than they are by performance, or by what an individual might like to see brought to market "just because."
The home of the future will have a "Digital Nerve Center" at its core—a center that incorporates audio, video, information, and computer functions that control the house and link it to the world outside. That's the vision of <A HREF="http://www.ce.org/"><B>Consumer Electronics Association</B></A> president Gary Shapiro and the hundreds of manufacturers who comprise his organization.