Audio Video News

Home Entertainment 2001 (formerly The HI-FI Show) is heading back to the heart of New York for the first time in five years. Described as "a unique hands-on event where attendees will see and hear the newest and the best in home audio and home theater," HE 2001 will take place May 11–13 at the Hilton New York.

Thanks to an agreement announced September 8 by <A HREF="http://www.philips.com/">Philips Electronics NV</A> and software giant <A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft Corporation</A>, "Enhanced TV" is coming your way. "Philips will license Microsoft TV software and collaborate with Microsoft on the development of a range of set-top boxes based on the Microsoft TV software and Philips Nexperia&ndash;based hardware platform," said the joint press release.

B<I>rad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter. Directed by David Fincher. Aspect ratio: 2.40:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround 2.0 (English, French), THX-certified. 139 minutes (film). 1999. Fox Home Entertainment 200035. R. $34.98.</I>

The antitrust battle being waged by <A HREF="http://www.echostar.com/">EchoStar Communications Corporation</A> has escalated. The operator of direct satellite broadcast service Dish Network announced September 6 that it has hired attorney David Boies to lead the litigation against its bigger rival <A HREF="http://www.directv.com/">DirecTV</A>. Boies successfully prosecuted the US government's antitrust suit against software giant Microsoft.

Movies or music? Sony has solved this dilemma with its new Sony DVP-S9000ES, an all-purpose disc spinner that offers progressive-scan video with Super Audio CD capability. Not only will the machine output flicker-free 480p video, it will also play standard music CDs, CD-Rs and DVD-Rs. Such versatility enables home theater fans to get the most from their present music and film libraries while being prepared for the future.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.fujitsu-fme.com">Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Limited</A> (FHP) announced that it has succeeded in developing what it calls the world's first 32- and 37-inch high-definition plasma display panels (PDPs). The new displays, which join FHP's existing lineup of 42-inch PDPs, use the company's proprietary ALIS (Alternate Lighting of Surfaces) drive-circuit technology and are intended for use as household television sets.

What's in a name? If it's a "Digital Television," no one has been quite sure, and the resulting confusion over basic nomenclature has been one of many factors inhibiting market acceptance of the new format. Now, the <A HREF="http://www.ce.org/">Consumer Electronics Association</A> (CEA) has decided that clear definitions are needed to cut through the fog.