Audio Video News

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.panasonic.co.jp/global/top.html">Matsushita</A>, known to most consumers by its <A HREF="http://www.panasonic.com">Panasonic</A> brand name, announced the establishment of the Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory in Universal City, CA. The company says that the new lab, a division of Panasonic Technologies, will conduct research and development on "next-generation digital video compression and technologies" for broadband distribution of video and other digital content.

R<I>entaro Mikuni, Michiyo Aratama. Directed by Masaki Kobayashi. Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital mono. 164 minutes. Criterion Collection KWA020. 1965. NR. $28.99.</I>

There may be more than 220 <A HREF="http://www.imax.com">IMAX</A> theaters operating in 28 countries around the world, but videophiles still love to get their hands on IMAX videos, long acknowledged to be some of home theater's finest demo materials. Favorites among the dozen IMAX DVDs already available include <I>Super Speedway</I>, <I>Everest</I>, and <I>The Magic of Flight</I>. Now, more are on the way.

Last week, TiVo found itself the focus flurry of unwanted media attention as a new <A HREF="http://www.privacyfoundation.org/privacywatch/report.asp?id=62&action=0"... was released by the <A HREF="http://www.privacyfoundation.org/">Privacy Foundation</A> detailing at length how the TiVo system collects personal data. The report also reveals what the Privacy Foundation found while comparing a TiVo PVR's actual behavior under test with the company's stated privacy policy. The Foundation says that it and University of Denver Privacy Center have recently completed a fourth independent investigation of the TiVo device.

The third corporate makeover in three years begins April 1 at <A HREF="http://www.sony.com/">Sony Corporation</A>. The electronics and media giant announced March 30 that it will create a new top-level management group to be called the "Global Hub," with responsibility for coordinating all of Sony's vast empire, including entertainment, electronics, games, and financial and Internet services. "We'd like to make it a highly efficient group headquarters," explained Sony chairman Nobuyuki Idei.

Michael Powell, the newly appointed chairman of the <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov/">Federal Communications Commission</A>, announced March 29 to the House Telecommunications Subcommittee that his agency will soon begin reviewing ownership caps on broadcast television and other forms of media.