<A HREF="http://www.ti.com">Texas Instruments</A> continues to push the envelope of high definition video. On August 8, the Dallas-based technology company announced a new version of its HD-1 Digital Micromirror Device (DMD). The semiconductor chip is the heart of TI's Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology, considered by many to be the best choice for creating high-quality images.

The world's largest video rental chain wants to renegotiate its video supply agreements with Hollywood film studios. In late June, <A HREF="http://www.blockbuster.com">Blockbuster Inc.</A> chairman John Antioco announced to Wall Street analysts that his company is reassessing its distribution deals with the studios&mdash;including possibly letting some deals lapse when renewal time comes.

According to figures recently compiled by the <A HREF="http://www.dvdinformation.com">DVD Entertainment Group</A>, DVD hardware and software sales continued on a strong upward curve in the first six months of 2001. In the first half of the year, the DEG reports, more than 5 million DVD players were shipped to retailers (not all have sold through to consumers), bringing the total units shipped since the format's launch to 20.4 million. Just over 3 million players had been shipped by the same time last year.

<A HREF="http://www.echostar.com">EchoStar Communications</A> has posted some positive numbers in the wake of its recent announcement of a joint HDTV venture with CBS.