Barry Willis

Some Pioneer DVD recorders and computer drives need a firmware update before they can be used with new high-speed discs, according to a September 17 announcement from Long Beach, CA&ndash;based <A HREF="http://www.pioneerelectronics.com">Pioneer Electronics USA, Inc</A>. Using high-speed discs without first completing the update could cause damage to both discs and hardware, the company explained.

Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. (<A HREF="http://www.cablelabs.com">"CableLabs"</A>) has issued a new set of specifications for high-definition-compatible set-top converter boxes. The Louisville, CO&ndash;based organization released its "Advanced Host and High Definition STB Host" specifications last week, describing requirements for retail set-top boxes that decode all formats of high definition signals used on digital cable plants. The specs are available to manufacturers, content developers, and the public through the <A HREF="http://www.opencable.com">OpenCable website</A>.

Home theater is increasingly a mainstream phenomenon, and no one recognizes this better than <A HREF="http://www.sharp-usa.com">Sharp Electronics</A>. During the last week of August, the manufacturing giant hosted its dealers and some members of the media at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines hotel/golf resort in a celebration of new products that included a DLP video projector with a suggested retail price right around $3000.

The cable industry isn't a happy one these days. Charter Communications, the fourth-largest cable provider in the US, is under investigation by federal prosecutors for possible accounting irregularities. Owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Charter was on the receiving end of a grand jury subpoena delivered Thursday, August 15 by the US Attorney's office in St. Louis, MO, Charter's home city. The cable service has more than 6.8 million customers in 40 states.