LATEST ADDITIONS

The slow-as-molasses rollout of digital television has riled <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov/">Federal Communications Commission</A> chairman William Kennard. If he has his way, broadcasters will eventually pay for the surplus radio-frequency spectrum they now control, and electronics manufacturers will be required to make all new television sets capable of receiving digital signals. The two suggestions were among several that Kennard made in a forceful speech at New York's Museum of Television and Radio on Tuesday, October 10.

All DVD players will also play compact discs, but many will not play CD-Rs, as music lovers have discovered to their dismay. Rotel addresses this oversight with its new RVD-995, a multi-format compatible disc player equally at home with DVD-Video, CDs, and CD-Rs. You can now enjoy your compilation discs on the same player you use for movies.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.semiconductors.com">Philips Semiconductors</A> (a division of Philips Electronics) announced the first in a new family of silicon chips that they claim "will revolutionize the way we use television." The company says its pnx8500 Nexperia Home Entertainment Engine will enable the combination of digital video, audio, graphics, and Internet content into "highly interactive" program material and will allow cable and satellite service providers to add new digital subscriber services to their existing TV program offerings. At the same time, Philips also announced Samsung's support for the new chip in its next-generation consumer set-top box.

High-definition broadcasting is here, if the marketing problems are ever solved. Hi-def playback is here in the 480p native format of the Digital Versatile Disc. What's missing? Hi-def recording technology for consumers.