LATEST ADDITIONS

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.

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&mdash;immediately next door to the show's Press Room&mdash;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.

The home of the future will have a "Digital Nerve Center" at its core&mdash;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.

In a move that will keep union members working for at least the next three years, negotiators for the <A HREF="http://www.wga.org">Writers Guild of America</A> agreed to a new contract on May 4, three days beyond the date of a threatened strike. The WGA had agreed to let its members keep working as discussions continued beyond the renewal date for the old contract, which expired May 1.