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Audio Video News
Senate vs FCC
Barry Willis  |  Jun 22, 2003

It's shaping up to be a long hot summer for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell and his colleagues.

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Philips 34PW9818 16:9 HD-ready direct-view monitor
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 21, 2003

Take an informal survey of HDTV owners and you'll find few complaints about HD- or DVD-sourced picture quality. Most are thrilled by what they see. But ask about the view from standard 480i NTSC cable or satellite and the grumbling begins. Part of the problem is, once you've seen HD, regular television is bound to disappoint. Another issue is screen size—the bigger the screen, the worse non-HD images look. First-time buyers of HDTV big screens learn what owners of analog big screens have known for years: Blowing up noisy, low-resolution video just highlights and magnifies flaws not readily seen on small screens.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Catch Me If You Can:Widescreen Edition
uavKrissy Rushing  |  Jun 21, 2003

<I>Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Nathalie Baye, Martin Sheen, Amy Adams. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic widescreen). Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French), Dolby Digital 2.0, DTS. Two discs. 141 minutes. 2002. DreamWorks 39570. PG-13. $29.99.</I>

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Audio Video News
Runco Ships Reflection CL-510
HT Staff  |  Jun 21, 2003
Affordable high-end imaging is going to the next level, thanks to a partnership between Runco International and Texas Instruments.
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Audio Video News
Coming Attractions
HT Staff  |  Jun 19, 2003
Vidikron
It's not wrong to want a DLP projector that has professional features for your home theater without wanting to break your bank to buy it. Fortunately, the folks at Vidikron agree and offer their new Vision Model 20 DLP projector. The Vision Model 20 is based on Texas Instruments' HD-2 DLP chip and includes internal video processing with 3:2-pulldown detection. Are you an HDTV hound? Just add an outboard tuner, and the Vision Model 20 will give you full HDTV compatibility. With a rated light output of 850 ANSI lumens and a 1,500:1 contrast ratio, you can use the Vision Model 20 with a screen up to 96 inches wide. Vidikron offers this well-rounded DLP projector for $5,495.
Vidikron
(510) 324-5900
www.vidikron.com
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Audio Video News
Software Reviews
HT Staff  |  Jun 19, 2003
DVD: Dark Blue—MGM/UA
Video: 3
Audio: 4
Extras: 3
Director Ron Shelton knows sports movies; so, when corrupt cops gather in the inner sanctum of the Los Angeles Police Department, the scene resembles a Major League clubhouse—or at least a Hollywoodized version of it. The director, known for Bull Durham, Tin Cup and other athletic fare, talks about the similarity between the two cultures in his running commentary that also deals with the Rodney King trial and resulting riots against which Dark Blue's morality tale unfolds.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Three Colors
Dan Yakir  |  Jun 19, 2003

<B>Blue (Bleu)</B> <BR> <I>Juliette Binoche, Beno&#238;t R&#233;gent, Charlotte V&#233;ry. 98 minutes. 1993.</I>

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Hitachi Ultravision 65XWX20B rear-projection CRT HDTV
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 19, 2003

Judging by mainstream press coverage, you'd think plasma display devices were taking over the market. "Plasma" is the buzzword, even among consumers whose only sighting of a plasma screen was an airport "Arrivals and Departures" display. And that's about all that the pathetic $3000 (add $160 for delivery), 42-inch, standard-definition models being sold today to unwary, buzzword-bitten consumers are good for.

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Audio Video News
HE2003 RAVE Awards
HT Staff  |  Jun 17, 2003

The HT staff prepares to hand out the first-annual RAVE Awards. From left to right, Jackie Augustine, Chris Lewis, Mike Wood, Maureen Jenson, Adrienne Maxwell, and Claire Lloyd.

On behalf of Pioneer, Andrew Jones accepts the award for Product of the Year: the Elite DV-47Ai universal disc player.

Morris Kessler accepts ATI's award for Best Midlevel Amplifier, the AT2007.

Bob Stuart of Meridian accepts the Best High-End Pre/Pro award for the 568.2. Meridian's 598 also won Best High-End DVD Player.

Samsung's Steve Panosian receives the trophy for Best Budget DVD Player for the DVD-P421.

Polk's DS7200 A/V system earned a Hot Gear award, accepted by Paul DiComo.

Jack Hidley picks up NHT's award for the Evolution speaker system, voted Best Midlevel Speaker System.

Sony earned two RAVEs this year. Michael Smith collected trophies for Best Entry-Level Receiver (the STR-DA3ES) and Best Direct-View Display (the KV-34XBR800).

Dan D'Agostino accepts the Best Midlevel Pre/Pro award for Krell's Showcase.

Athena earned our Hot Ticket Value Speaker System award for the Point 5. Tom Gandulla accepts the award on Athena's behalf.

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Audio Video News
PVR Dance
Barry Willis  |  Jun 15, 2003

Personal video recorders(PVRs)&mdash;or digital video recorders (DVRs), as they are sometimes called&mdash;may not be as inevitable in most consumers' homes as some experts are predicting. The reasons? Try invasion of privacy and deletion of desirable features.

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