Audio Video News

Custom installation is <I>the</I> growth area for the consumer electronics industry. To expand training opportunities for installers, the <A HREF="http://www.cedia.org">Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association</A> (CEDIA) has announced a new partnership with the <A HREF="http://www.ce.org">Consumer Electronics Association</A> (CEA) to bring CEDIA training to the 2002 International Consumer Electronics Show, to be held January 8&#160;11 in Las Vegas. The upcoming CES will be the first one to be held during weekdays rather than over a weekend.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.zenith.com">Zenith Electronics</A> and <A HREF="http://nxtwavecomm.com">NxtWave Communications</A> announced they have finalized their agreement to jointly develop compatible enhancements to the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) DTV standard. The companies had previously responded separately to the ATSC's "VSB Enhancements" Request for Proposals (RFP).

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.