Audio Video News

San Francisco, CA—June 19, 2003—The Home Entertainment 2003 Show, held June 5-8, 2003, at the Westin-St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, was an event that will stand out for residents, exhibitors, and visiting press as a well-attended showcase of some of the finest products and technologies the consumer electronics industry has to offer.

Despite long-running consumer complaints and generally stagnant wages, cable television rates continue to rise. For the 12-month period ending July 1, cable rates rose 8.2%, according to figures recently released by the <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov">Federal Communication Commission</A> (FCC). The average monthly bill went from $37.06 to $40.11, with basic cable costs up 3.7% and equipment fees up 12%. The rate of increase exceeded the 7.1% annual rise over the past five years.

DVD: Solaris—20th Century Fox
Video: 4
Audio: 4
Extras: 3
"This isn't your father's science fiction," says James Cameron, who produced this dream-like adaptation of Stanislaw Lem's 1961 novel and who's suddenly showing up more frequently on commentary tracks. He's right. There are no aliens in makeup. There's not even a proffered explanation of the strange happenings on a space station orbiting the pulsing, gaseous world Solaris. It's left for viewers to decide whether the planet's ability to create, in corporeal form, loved ones from a person's past, including the suicidal wife of investigating psychiatrist Chris Kelvin (George Clooney), is a blessing or a curse.

One of the longest-running nightmares for home entertainment fans could one day come to an end, thanks to a new standard announced in late July by the Home Networking Committee of the <A HREF="http://www.ce.org">Consumer Electronics Association</A> (CEA).

CBS and ABC raise the bar for live HDTV.

High-definition television has certainly moved along in fits and starts since the first digital-TV stations came on air in 1997. There's been a steadily increasing flow of prime-time programming and movies, a tantalizing season of Monday Night Football, increasing amounts of sports coverage, and numerous PBS documentaries and nature programs. Along the way, there have also been some compelling programs, including the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Masters and U.S. Open tennis, the NCAA Final Four, and three Super Bowls. More than a few prime-time shows have grabbed us by the throat, including NYPD Blue, C.S.I., JAG, Alias, ER, and Law & Order.

PSB
You know that a product is going to be good when the designer is also the company's founder. Such is the case with PSB's new Platinum Series, designed and developed by founder Paul S. Barton. The line includes seven new models: the T8 and T6 towers, M2 minimonitor, C4 and C2 center channels, S2 bipolar surround, and SubSonic 10 subwoofer. The PSB Platinum T8, the flagship tower, uses three 8-inch woofers, two 4.5-inch midrange drivers, and two 1-inch tweeters. The front tweeter faces forward, while the other tweeter is rear-firing. The midrange drivers and front tweeter are arranged in a D'Appolito array. According to the company, this arrangement produces a large horizontal and vertical sweet spot with outstanding clarity. The enclosure measures 10.5 by 46.5 by 16 inches and is available in black ash or cherry, with a die-cast aluminum base, top, and side extrusions. The T8 is available at a suggested retail price of $6,500 per pair.
PSB Speakers
(888) 772-0000
www.psbspeakers.com