LATEST ADDITIONS

A good audio/video receiver is the solution for many home theater fans. Marantz has introduced a multichannel unit that seems to offer everything that most folks could want: plenty of power, a variety of surround formats, high-resolution digital-to-analog audio converters, and component video switching. The price? About $850.

With some manufacturers pushing prices down in the 60" plasma display market (see <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?1075">previous</A>), <A HREF="http://www.runco.com">Runco</A> is pushing the performance and price edge even higher with its introduction of a new 61" diagonal widescreen plasma monitor with outboard video processor.

<A HREF="http://www.blockbuster.com">Blockbuster</A>, the world's biggest video rental chain, is coming to grips with the swelling popularity of DVD by revamping its inventory.

Last week <A HREF="http://www.broadcom.com">Broadcom</A>, <A HREF="http://www.genesis-microchip.com">Genesis Microchip</A>, and <A HREF="http://www.ti.com">Texas Instruments</A> announced the introduction of what they describe as a cross-platform digital interconnect standard for the consumer electronics industry and an extension of the Digital Visual Interface (DVI) version 1.0. The companies say that this new standard encompasses the necessary requirements for a "superior digital interconnect technology" used in a variety of consumer electronics such as DVD players, high definition television, and digital set-top boxes.