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Seamless integration of Windows Media Player 11 and URGE delivers complete music experience and redefines music discovery for fans

Microsoft Corp. and MTV Networks, a division of Viacom Inc., today unveiled the new Windows Media® Player 11 and offered an early look at the URGE digital music service during the kickoff keynote address for the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates was joined onstage by MTV Networks’ Music Group President Van Toffler and music superstar Justin Timberlake to preview the seamless integration of Microsoft® Windows Media Player 11 and MTV Networks’ URGE, which is designed to bring the emotional connection of music to the forefront of the digital entertainment experience.

Gates and Toffler highlighted the fresh, streamlined design for Windows Media Player 11 with optimized device support and incredibly fast search capabilities that provide consumers with instant access to the entire URGE catalog of more than 2 million songs. Set to debut this year, URGE will offer a deep well of programming and editorial to guide the consumer’s digital music experience, including exclusive content from MTV Networks’ MTV, VH1 and CMT brands.

“Microsoft and MTV Networks have combined their strengths to dramatically redefine how Windows® users discover and enjoy music,” Gates said. “The result is a seamless melding of software and entertainment expertise that makes it easy for people to discover new music and listen to old favorites.”

“Our audience has come to expect us to deliver the world’s best music programming on MTV, VH1 and CMT,” Toffler said. “URGE will be a major new way for artists across all genres — from alt-country to zydeco — to connect with their fans and find new audiences through multiplatform exposure from MTV Networks and on one of the world’s most popular digital media players, Windows Media Player.”

The Best All-in-One Media Player From Microsoft

As their digital music collections continue to grow, consumers increasingly need software to help them find and organize their music. Windows Media Player 11 addresses this head-on with core advancements that include a simplified user experience and unprecedented performance. Windows Media Player 11 makes it easy to manage all media through innovative design improvements from Windows Vista™, including visual navigation of entire media libraries, and simplified, high-performance device synchronization. Additional performance enhancements let consumers easily scroll through and access music faster than any other media player, whether the library contains 50 or 50,000 tracks. The powerful Windows Media Player 11 wordwheel search brings an entire catalog of music to consumers’ fingertips, providing lightning-fast search results that instantly narrow with each keystroke. Windows Media Player 11 with URGE will be available in Windows Vista, and is also scheduled to be available for Windows XP in the first half of 2006.

Extensive Entertainment Programming From MTV Networks

MTV Networks’ URGE will be the first and only digital music service designed by music veterans for music fans. Whether consumers want to take a few minutes to purchase a specific song or spend hours immersed in the service’s extensive music programming, URGE will provide an experience equally enjoyable for all audiences, from intense fans to aficionados. With robust search capabilities, extensive music charts, and countless programmed playlists, URGE will offer constantly updated music feature stories, exclusive interviews, music videos, and other multimedia editorial across all music genres and styles that provide context and direction for music lovers. URGE will be a one-stop digital music experience for consumers to hear, discover, purchase and enjoy music.

With URGE, music fans will get a choice in how they want to consume digital music to best fit their lifestyle, whether through permanent a la carte download purchases, music subscriptions or fully portable subscriptions. URGE also will feature one of the most robust radio offerings available on the Internet, with more than 100 free and premium stations, all programmed by passionate music professionals. URGE will incorporate MusicNet’s library of more than 2 million tracks, the largest available music library in the industry today. The library includes licensed content from all of the major record labels and thousands of independents. MusicNet is the world’s leading business-to-business digital music service provider.

URGE will be promoted across a broad range of MTV Networks platforms, including the MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH1, VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul and CMT channels, as well as being fully integrated throughout MTV Networks Web sites MTV.com, VH1.com, CMT.com and the new URGE.com. Promotion for URGE will be woven throughout MTV Networks’ on-air and online programming, communicating the consumer benefits and explaining the how-to’s of digital music, while providing an easy and intuitive way for audiences to extend their MTV, VH1 and CMT music experiences.

Seamless Integration Between Music Service and Media Player

Microsoft and MTV Networks have collaborated to enhance the URGE experience with innovations that make using a digital music service as straightforward as accessing a user’s local library. Consumers will enjoy exceptionally fast access to URGE content with enhanced wordwheel search capabilities. With integrated hard-drive and music service browsing, consumers will see all tracks related to their searches, including those from the massive URGE catalog but not stored on their PC. In addition, with drag-and-drop playlist creation, consumers can simply move individual songs or entire stacks of albums into the URGE playlist pane for syncing to a device or burning to a CD. More than 100 portable devices and home network media devices compatible with Windows Media, including the Xbox 360™ video game system, will work with URGE.

Additional URGE features, functionality, and related partnerships will be announced in coming months as URGE is introduced with Windows Media Player 11.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services — MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 80 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Microsoft, Windows Media, Windows, Windows Vista and Xbox 360 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Posted by Nana at 12:40 AM | Microsoft and MTV Networks Unveil New Windows Media Player 11 and Preview The New URGE Digital Music Service | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Starz Entertainment Group Ignites Portable Internet Video Market With the Launch of Vongo Innovative Content Application Will Drive New Era in Portable Video

Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) today announced the premiere of VONGO -- a new video download application and service for broadband that delivers movies and other video content over the Internet for playback on Windows-based PCs, laptops, and select portable media devices, as well as on a TV.

"Vongo will provide the key content application that will drive a new era in portable video delivered over the Internet," said Robert B. Clasen, president and CEO of SEG. "By combining the wide array of programming choices on Vongo with a host of new portable media devices being announced this week at the Consumer Electronics Show, consumers will be able to seize control of their video and watch whatever, wherever and whenever they want."

Vongo subscribers will have unlimited access to more than 1,000 movies and video selections, as well as a live, streaming Starz TV channel, for a monthly cost of $9.99. Members may download movie and video selections to three eligible devices of their choice per account, allowing for multiple viewing options and family enjoyment. Additionally, select popular pay-per-view titles are available for $3.99 per movie. Vongo is currently available for broadband subscribers in the United States at http://www.vongo.com/.

Starz also announced the first in a series of planned agreements that will extend Vongo's reach as the premier broadband entertainment service for consumers. Initial partners include Sony CONNECT and Microsoft. Sony CONNECT will make Vongo a cornerstone of its new CONNECT Video service, to be launched later this year. SEG worked with Microsoft to ensure that subscription video content from Vongo provides the highest-quality viewing experience on Windows-based PCs, laptops, and select portable media devices, as well as on a TV.

"Based on the evolution of the digital entertainment space, we believe that Vongo will be the critical component in a new entertainment ecosystem; combining services, Vongo's advanced user interface (UI) and a new generation of devices to offer consumers a truly unique offering," said Bob Greene, senior vice president, advanced services for SEG.

Vongo Leverages Starz Exclusive Movie Rights

As one of the largest content aggregators in Hollywood, Starz has access to thousands of theatrical films including first-run hits ("Hitch," "The Aviator," "The Incredibles," "National Treasure," "Kill Bill Vol. 2," "Finding Neverland") and classics ("Pulp Fiction," "Boyz N' The Hood," "Night of the Living Dead," "Good Will Hunting," "Hoosiers," "Dances With Wolves," "Annie Hall") for Vongo upon launch from many of Hollywood's biggest studios.

Greg Maffei, CEO-elect of SEG parent company Liberty Media Corporation dded "Liberty is excited about this new service from Starz, not only because of its potential revenue stream, but because it positions us as the content leaders in this new era of portable video and personal consumer choice. This re-defines what it means to 'go to the movies,' because with Vongo, the movies go with you. The lessons learned in developing and launching Vongo can apply to other segments of our company and to our sister enterprises both in the US and overseas."

Clasen added, "Critical to this service are the Internet distribution rights we have acquired from our studio partners. We share with them a concern about the piracy over the Internet and so have built in a robust digital rights management system to ensure that only those who are authorized to use this service will do so. We also believe that by providing a convenient, affordable and legal way to access the best of Hollywood we will ensure that consumers will be much less likely to try to engage in video piracy."

Starz Entertainment Group is the exclusive subscription provider of first-run, classic and favorite films from leading Hollywood studios including Walt Disney Pictures, Miramax Films, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Tri-Star, Screen Gems, Revolution Studios and more. Select recent films are available exclusively from Universal Pictures and New Line Cinema and library and classic titles are provided by a wide array of Hollywood studios. Clasen concluded, "Vongo subscribers have full access to the very best content from Hollywood's biggest studios. Our breadth of subscription movie content is unmatched anywhere on the Internet."

In addition to the movies available as part of the subscription service, Vongo will offer subscribers and non-subscribers alike access to pay per view movies for $3.99 per film. Offering PPV titles in the earlier release VOD window will broaden the range of movies offered on the service and give consumers greater selection and choice.

"Exclusive -- and virtually unlimited -- access to 800-1000 movies per month is the programming foundation of the Vongo service," said Greene. "Adding a PPV option will bring consumers even more movies and will do so sooner as a result of the earlier window from Hollywood. With concerts, extreme sports, and in time, TV series, we see an opportunity to bring additional value and enjoyment to Vongo members, but subscription movies will remain the driver of the service. Vongo will expand significantly its non-movie content in time as we listen to feedback from our members and the content community."

Additional programming available to Vongo subscribers includes full-length music concerts ("INXS: Live Baby Live," "The Hives: Live in Las Vegas," "Prince - Sign 'o' the Times," "The Who: Live in Boston," "Brian Wilson: On Tour"), and Extreme Sports ("Warren Miller's Cold Fusion," "Real Action Sports," "Ride Guide"). At launch, Vongo will offer a live, East Coast feed of the Starz TV channel in its "Watch Live Now" category, with an eye towards adding other television-based content, including series in the future.

"Movies, sports and news are the main drivers for Internet content. So far, sports and news have found an opportunity to distribute content via the Internet, but due to the Hollywood rights issues, subscription movie content has been slower to come to market -- until now," said Greene. An important strategy in the development of Vongo is to engage in a number of strategic alliances with technology, media and device companies in order to extend the reach of Vongo as far as possible. "When we started working on this product 18 months ago, we reached out to industry leaders to engage them in the development of the service," said Greene. "By providing the critical content element, we are helping to create an entire ecosystem of products and services that will provide consumers with unmatched convenience and flexibility. These systems will be easy to use in multiple different settings."

Vongo Looks to Microsoft for Security and Portability -- Where Do You Vongo?

Starz is using Windows Media technologies to power the Vongo service for their ability to provide subscribers with the highest-quality playback experience, whether enjoyed at home on a Windows-based PC or on the go using eligible portable media devices or laptops.

"This is a significant development in the enjoyment of Internet-delivered video content," said Greene. "We believe the ability to easily, securely and legally move Vongo content to the TV and portable devices will be key drivers for Vongo's 'video on the go' consumers -- particularly as those important segments of the marketplace develop."

"With Vongo, Starz brings a wealth of premium and exclusive television and feature film content to hundreds of millions of Windows users," said Blair Westlake, corporate vice president of the Media, Content & Partner Strategy Group. "Powering Vongo with our Windows Media technologies not only gives consumers the best-quality video, but also gives them the flexibility to enjoy their content when and where they want, at home or on the go."

"The combination of Vongo's programming and Microsoft's digital rights management system and media player software has produced the catalyst for this new era of personal video," said John Pollard, senior director in the Mobile & Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft. "With this new service consumers have greater freedom to choose what they want to watch from anywhere at anytime."

Sony CONNECT with Vongo for Distribution

"We are very pleased to be working with Sony CONNECT," said Greene. "Our visions about video delivery over broadband are very much aligned, and we are excited about the marketing opportunities that Sony CONNECT will bring to the table."

In addition, Starz has partnered with a host of other providers in the development of Vongo. "We have built Vongo from scratch in partnership with 'best of breed' vendors and partners," Greene noted. "With Sony CONNECT, Microsoft, and other key alliances to be announced soon, we present the first examples of the broadband-delivered video ecosystem we have built around Vongo to catalyze the development of this marketplace."

Complements and Expands Core Business

Greene concluded that research conducted by SEG over the past year demonstrates that an Internet service will not cannibalize existing distribution systems including cable, satellite, and telco services. "Vongo expands the pie, as approximately 70% of Starz Ticket customers were not subscribers to Starz and approximately 50% were non-premium subscribers altogether. We developed Vongo so that we could provide our existing affiliates the ability to offer great movies directly to their broadband customers. We will work with them to find ways to offer Vongo, including packaging high-speed broadband connections with Vongo to attract even more consumers to this new way of accessing and enjoying content."

He also noted that Starz Ticket, launched in 2004 with RealNetworks Inc., will continue as a service, but that the focus for Starz will be on Vongo. "Starz Ticket on Real Movies provided us with a great chance to see how the market would react to broadband delivery of video. We learned an enormous amount in a real world environment and have incorporated all those lessons into the new Vongo service."

Vongo is available in the United States in beta form beginning today at http://www.vongo.com/. The product will be showcased for interested media at CES in partner booths as well as at the Digital Media Experience at the Bellagio hotel on Jan. 4th from 7 - 10 p.m.

Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) is the largest provider of premium movie services in the United States. SEG offers 13 digital movie channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® channels with approximately 14 million and 25 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment Group airs more than 750 movies per month across its pay TV channels and is a forerunner in offering its subscribers advanced services such as Starz HDTV, Starz On Demand® and Vongo(SM). Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, http://www.starz.com/.

Posted by Nana at 07:33 AM | Starz Entertainment Group Launches Vongo Video Download Application And Service | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Research and Markets has announced the addition of The Changing Face of Studio Video Sales: Grow New Markets, Push High Definition, Get Interactive to their offering.

The major Hollywood studios are facing a changing landscape for the consumption of their home video products.

Sony Corporation is "betting the farm" on High Definition TV and HDTV products, including the next-generation Blu-Ray disc format. Sony's strategy may be strong enough to drive them into a dominating position for the future of digital home entertainment, and the other major Hollywood studios may simply be along for the ride.

Microsoft and Intel are also lobbying strongly to play a part, with their Connected Digital Home solutions. Microsoft and Intel have voiced strong support for HD-DVD.

Nobody can be sure how it is all going to play out. By 2009, the forecast model predicts a worldwide retail value of US$ 50 Billion, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 5.4% for annual sales value of Hollywood Video Content sold at retail. The DVD value will hold its own but much of the growth will be due to:

- Portable Player products

- Next-Generation optical discs

- Movie & TV Downloads

It is expected that the three alternative delivery formats to gain momentum in 2006, and continue growing through 2009. The coming few years will be very interesting ones for the Hollywood studios.

The Changing Face of Studio Video Sales: Grow New Markets, Push High Definition, Get Interactive found the following:

By 2009, a worldwide retail value of US$50 Billion is forecasted for annual sales of Hollywood video content sold at retail.

By 2009, 41% of US TV Households will be watching movies on HDTV displays.

DVD players that support HDMI deliver High Definition quality today, so next-generation High Definition optical products will need to provide "something more".

Over 40% of Japanese households will have wide-screen HDTV sets by 2009, and Europe and other Asian markets are already seeing robust sales of HDTV displays.

Portable player products and online download services are likely to lead industry growth, especially in Europe and Asia.

The bulk of the Hollywood movie and TV show DVD market value comes from just six countries: Japan, the United States, Canada, the UK, France and Germany.

The intense media interest in next-generation optical disc formats is selling lots of magazines, but will not have much impact on the Hollywood "packaged goods" business until late in the decade.

The Changing Face of Studio Video Sales: Grow New Markets, Push High Definition, Get Interactive covers the market for movie studio video sales. It includes analysis of technology and market trends for the number of TV Households, by region, that have at least one wide-screen HDTV-capable video display. The report also forecasts annual retail sales of Hollywood video products by category and by region through 2009. Profiles of major players in the home video industry are also provided.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c29289

Posted by Nana at 06:09 PM | DVD Disc Sales Value Slows, But New Technologies Will Spur International Growth | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Envision Peripherals Inc. (EPI), home to the AOC and Envision brand of display devices, has the solution for consumers hoping a flat-screen TV will be under the tree this holiday despite what some are calling a "cost-conscious Christmas." EPI's AOC A27W221, 27-inch LCD bucks the trend of rising prices by offering a state-of-the art high-definition ready flat-screen TV with a suggested retail of just $699.00.

"Envision is committed to offering products that combine the latest features and top-of-the line performance with exceptional value," said Michael Lien, GM, USA Brand Sales, Envision Peripherals. "Flat-screen TV is the number one gift on shopping lists of consumers who want electronics products this holiday season, and now they won't have to wait or delay their purchase any longer."

The new 27-inch HDTV-ready LCD is designed to provide years of enjoyment for the entire family. This widescreen model with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels is a stunning focal point for any room in the home. Its impressive response time means viewers always get perfect clarity, even when watching fast-paced sports events or action movies. Best of all, the extremely-wide viewing angle means everyone in the room shares the best seat in the house.

Multiple inputs let consumers add a satellite/cable receiver, a DVD, game console or even a PC. Plus, the unit allows multitasking with PIP (Picture-in-Picture), POP (Picture-over-Picture) and PBP (Picture-by-Picture) functionality so users can work on a PC while watching a movie or view a game and a movie simultaneously. However it's used, the AOC A27W221, 27-inch LCD lets consumers enjoy entertainment via 10-watt speakers with lifelike surround sound.

The new AOC TV is available at leading retail outlets including CompUSA, Staples, BrandsMart USA, Costco, ABC Warehouse, Conn's Appliance, Fry's, Nebraska Furniture Mart and other national and regional retailers, as well as from Amazon.com, PCConnection.com, NewEgg.com, TigerDirect.com and other online retailers.

Here are some other ideas and selections from EPI that will wow everyone on your holiday list:

With the launch of apple's new video plaing ipod came the release of itunes 6, and the ability to download music videos, tv shows, and movie shorts.

According to apple, there are currently 2000 music videos availabe for purchase on itunes. Each video costs $1.99 to download. When compared to the price and length of tv episodes (which also sell for $1.99 an episode), this price seems bit steep. But maybe another way to look at it is that you are getting a 99 cent song and the $1 extra is for the video.

The current collection of TV shows all come from ABC and include the following shows:

Currently has 3 episodes from Desprate housewives Season 2. You can download all of Desprate housewives season 1, with 23 episodes for $34.99

Currently has 3 Lost episodes from Season 2. You can download all of Lost season 1, with 25 episodes for $34.99

2 episodes from the current season of Night Stalker are available.

Offers a partial set of season 3's episodes. There are currently 14 that's so raven shows available for download.

15 Episodes of The suite life are available for download




Apple to give TiVo some competition?
From what they've been able to do with the music aspect of iTunes, it's very easy to see how Apple could be seen as a competitor to TiVo, especially with its TiVoToGo service.

"We think this is a real breakthrough,...It's never before been done, where you can buy hit prime-time TV shows the day after they're broadcast." Steve Jobs

I couldn't agree more with Jobs. As more tv networks get on board, the selection of tv shows available for download will increase to a point where you should be able to find most of the hot shows you want on itunes. Of course this will only be work for a certain type of tv viewer. At this point in time all new shows are only downloadable the day after the show airs. The video quality and resolution also means that this content will only be viewed on the ipod. If Apple wanted to, I'm sure they could work to secure rights to make higher resolution versions available for pc viewing. Quicktime 7 already includes the ability to play HD quality video. Taking all this to the next step could be exactly what the industry needs to get people used to buying video content online, instead of downloading them for free on some P2P network.


Other Directions for video content.
Apple already has a large collection of trailiers online at http://www.apple.com/trailers/ This content is also available in itune, but right now only for viewing in itunes. The next logical step I'd see would be for apple to make these available for downloading into the new ipod. Traillers should of couse be free downloads, and will serve as a way to increase the amount of video content users can access on their new ipods. I'd assume this would help sales. Also if the movie studios have been paying apple to host their trailers, this will just serve as extra bang for the buck.

Other Sites discussing this issue:
Big news from Apple -- moving towards becoming a Media Center? (PVRblog)

The other big milestone is that iTunes now offers TV Show downloads. This is really big, almost as big as the launch of the iTunes Music Store in the first place. more...

Today, it's "Desperate Housewives" & "Lost." Tomorrow, it's ... ? (Jim Hill Media)

After yesterday's announcements by Steve Jobs and Bob Iger, Roger Colton wonders if it won�t too be long before consumers will be able to purchase their favorite videos right from the comfort of their own desktop� more..

2006: The Year of Vidcasting and Advercasting (Micro Persuasion)

Marketers will also jump feet first into advercasting. And why not? They already have vast libraries of video available at their disposal from years of TV and rich media advertising. Imagine if the now defunct BMW films republished their webisodes in vidcast form. I would love to subscribe to these via RSS in iTunes and consume it all on the go on a video-capable iPod. Of course, citizens will jump into the act with their own advercasts as well. more...

Posted by Nana at 10:21 AM | Apple's TV deals for the new ipod and what the future may hold | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to a news article at Mercury News "Well-placed industry sources confirmed Friday that the Los Gatos company is close to launching an on-demand rental service that is paired with a Netflix-provided television set-top box."

This confirms our report on the glitch in Netflix that exposed parts of the upcoming service. The Netflix Player glitch was first reported on hackingnetflix two weeks ago.

The new service doesn't seem like it will be grand in nature, and will probable not give customers access to the latest movie releases. This is hinted at by Netflix spokesman Ken Ross, "We have said we're committed to testing a product this year and we expect the test to be of a very modest nature''. At any rate, whatever service Netflix launches, will give it the launch pad it needs to experiment and fine turn their system for the day when the major movie studios provide someday access to video on demand ( VOD ) versions of their latest releases as soon as the DVD versions are available.

Posted by Nana at 09:54 AM | Industry sources confirm Netflix on demand service about to launch | TrackBacks (0)

Netflix, Inc., the world's largest online movie rental service, announced the appointment of Peggy Fry as vice president of advertising sales, a new position created to provide relevant advertisers with opportunities to gain exposure to the company's more than three million subscribers.

Netflix said it will offer advertisers a range of options, from placements in emails to its members to presence on its trademark red mailers and positioning on its Web site (www.netflix.com).

Ms. Fry brings deep sales, Internet and entertainment industry experience to the new post. From 1997 to 2003, she held a series of increasingly senior sales positions at America Online, including vice president of interactive marketing for the AOL Entertainment Group. In this role, she was responsible for all of AOL's movie studio sales, covering both filmed and home entertainment.

Since 2003, Ms. Fry has served as president of Smashing Entertainment, a film production and co-financing company she helped create to produce films for television and theatrical distribution. The company's productions have appeared at the Sundance Film Festival and on Showtime, as well as direct-to-DVD. Earlier in her career, Ms. Fry held sales positions at several large print publishing concerns, including Hearst Publishing, Family Media and Lang Communications.

At Netflix, Ms. Fry will be based at the company's Beverly Hills office.

"Netflix's large and growing subscriber base offers a strong advertising platform, particularly for entertainment and other consumer-oriented marketers," said Ms. Fry. "We'll work with advertisers to deliver messages that are both relevant and interesting and add value to the Netflix customer experience."

About Netflix

Netflix is the world's largest online movie rental service, providing more than three million subscribers access to over 45,000 DVD titles. Under the company's most popular program, for $17.99 a month, Netflix subscribers rent as many DVDs as they want and keep them as long as they want, with three movies out at a time. There are no due dates, no late fees and no shipping fees. DVDs are delivered for free by the USPS from regional shipping centers located throughout the United States. Netflix can reach nearly 90 percent of its subscribers with generally one business-day delivery. Netflix offers personalized movie recommendations to its members and has more than 500 million movie ratings. Netflix also allows members to share and recommend movies to one another through its Friends(TM) feature. For more information, visit www.netflix.com.

Posted by Nana at 12:03 AM | Netflix appoints Peggy Fry as vice president of advertising sales | TrackBacks (0)

Online retail companies team to promote each other's core businesses

Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) and Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) announced a joint promotional agreement covering their core online movie businesses --Walmart.com's movie sales and Netflix's DVD movie rentals. Now, these two online retail companies, each with strong, complementary expertise in online movie services, are engaging in a promotional arrangement to market one another's key movie business at their respective websites.

As movie sales at Walmart.com continue to accelerate, the company is strengthening its commitment to this core business, and as a result, is discontinuing the Wal-Mart DVD Rentals service. Walmart.com's existing DVD Rentals customers will be offered the option to become Netflix subscribers at their current Wal-Mart rate for one year from the date they sign-up. Via its website (www.walmart.com/movies), Walmart.com will also promote and refer customers interested in online DVD rentals to Netflix.

In return, Netflix will promote Wal-Mart's online movie sales business, including the pre-order price guarantee option at Walmart.com, both at its website (www.netflix.com) and in mailers sent to Netflix subscribers. The pre-order price guarantee ensures customers the lowest available price on pre-order movies.

"We've experienced tremendous growth in our online movie sales, and are committed to enhancing our focus in this business at Walmart.com. We're equally excited to team with Netflix, the pioneer of online movie rentals, which not only distinguishes both of our core online competencies, but offers a complementary solution of value, service, and convenience to customers," said John Fleming, Wal-Mart's executive vice president and chief marketing officer who also oversees Walmart.com at the executive level.

Added Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings, "This agreement bolsters both Netflix's leadership in DVD movie rentals and Wal-Mart's strong movie sales business, while providing customers even more choices and convenience. Both companies will continue to expand their respective leads in providing the best in movie entertainment to millions of online customers."

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. Internationally, the company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company's securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartfacts.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com.

About Netflix
Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) is the world's largest online movie rental service, providing more than three million subscribers access to over 40,000 DVD titles. Under the company's most popular program, for $17.99 a month, Netflix subscribers rent as many DVDs as they want and keep them as long as they want, with three movies out at a time. There are no due dates, no late fees and no shipping fees. DVDs are delivered for free by the USPS from regional shipping centers located throughout the United States. Netflix can reach nearly 90 percent of its subscribers with generally one business-day delivery. Netflix offers personalized movie recommendations to its members and has more than 500 million movie ratings. Netflix also allows members to share and recommend movies to one another through its Friends� feature. For more information, visit www.netflix.com.

Posted by Nana at 10:26 AM | Walmart.com and Netflix Announce New DVD Promotional Agreement | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Companies Also to Swap Certain Cable Systems and Unwind Comcast's Interests in Time Warner Cable and Time Warner Entertainment Company
Transactions to Expand Both Companies' Cable Footprints and Enhance Their Geographic Subscriber Clusters, Speeding the Delivery of New Products in Areas Currently Served by Adelphia

Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX) and Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSA, CMCSK) announced that they have reached definitive agreements to acquire substantially all the assets of Adelphia Communications Corporation (OTC: ADELQ) for a total of $12.7 billion in cash and 16% of the common stock of Time Warner's cable subsidiary, Time Warner Cable Inc. Time Warner Cable and Comcast also will swap certain cable systems. In addition, Time Warner Cable will redeem Comcast's interests of 17.9% in Time Warner Cable and 4.7% in Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. (TWE) (together an effective 21% economic ownership of Time Warner Cable) in an efficient and mutually beneficial way.

These transactions will serve to expand both companies' cable footprints and improve the geographic clusters of their subscribers. Importantly, consumers in areas now served by Adelphia will benefit significantly from the accelerated deployment of video, high-speed data, voice and other advanced services.

As a result of these transactions, Time Warner Cable will gain systems passing approximately 7.5 million homes, with approximately 3.5 million basic subscribers. Time Warner Cable will then manage a total of approximately 14.4 million well-clustered basic subscribers. Time Warner will own 84% of Time Warner Cable's common stock, and the cable company will become a publicly traded company at the time of closing.

Comcast will emerge from these transactions with approximately 1.8 million additional basic subscribers for a net cash investment of approximately $1.5 billion. Following these transactions, Comcast will serve a total of approximately 23.3 million customers. Comcast's clusters in Washington, D.C., Florida, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania will be enhanced, and Comcast will divest its interests in Time Warner Cable and TWE in transactions designed to be tax-free to all parties. Comcast's attributable subscribers, as calculated under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, will remain under 30% of the multi-channel video subscribers in the United States.

Time Warner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dick Parsons said: "I'm very pleased that we're able to take full advantage of this unique opportunity to grow our company at a fair price and move it forward - strategically, operationally and financially. Consistent with our strategy, these transactions will better position us to compete, improve returns and create shareholder value. At Time Warner Cable, we'll gain important scale, enhance our subscriber clusters and accelerate growth. As we plan the smooth integration of these new cable systems, we'll stay focused on meeting all of Time Warner's financial and operational objectives, while evaluating how to best employ our significant remaining capacity to improve shareholder returns. My thanks to Brian Roberts and his Comcast team for being such fine partners in this process that produced beneficial results for both companies."

Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast, said: "These transactions underscore our belief that there has never been a better time to be in the cable business. Adding these subscribers, many of whom are in high-growth, geographically desirable areas, will allow us to roll out our new products and services rapidly. Our vision remains to provide customers with more choice and control of their entertainment and communication services, and to generate superior shareholder returns. I would like to thank Dick Parsons and everyone at Time Warner for helping to achieve such a positive outcome for all parties."

Terms of Proposed Transactions

In the proposed transactions:

• Time Warner Cable and Comcast will each acquire a portion of Adelphia's assets, representing approximately 5.0 million basic cable subscribers in the aggregate. Time Warner Cable will pay $9.2 billion in cash and will issue common shares representing 16% of Time Warner Cable's outstanding common equity (taking into account the redemption transaction with Comcast) to Adelphia stakeholders in connection with its acquisition agreement. Comcast will pay $3.5 billion in cash.
• Time Warner Cable and Comcast have agreed to swap certain cable systems to enhance their respective geographic clusters of subscribers.
• Time Warner Cable will redeem Comcast's 17.9% interest in Time Warner Cable, now held in an FCC-mandated trust, in exchange for a subsidiary holding Time Warner Cable systems serving nearly 600,000 subscribers, as well as approximately $1.856 billion in cash.
• TWE will redeem Comcast's 4.7% interest in TWE, now held in an FCC-mandated trust, in exchange for cable systems serving more than 150,000 subscribers, as well as approximately $133 million in cash.
• Comcast's net cash investment in these transactions will be $1.5 billion.
• The purchase of the Adelphia assets is not dependent on the occurrence of the system swaps and redemption transactions between Time Warner and Comcast.

Steve Burke, Chief Operating Officer of Comcast, said, "The Adelphia transaction, the various system swaps, and the redemption of our Time Warner Cable interests will allow us to enhance our key clusters. It is truly a perfect fit. We look forward to quickly integrating the 1.8 million additional subscribers just as we did when we acquired AT&T Broadband and its 13 million subscribers in 2002. Most importantly, we look forward to providing all our subscribers, both old and new, with a complete suite of integrated communications and entertainment products."

Don Logan, Chairman of Time Warner's Media & Communications Group, said: "We like the cable business. It's the only platform today that can deliver enhanced digital video, high-speed data and voice services to consumers, and we have great confidence in its future. Our newly acquired systems will give us a bigger and better-clustered cable footprint, built around five large clusters, including New York City and Los Angeles. Together with Glenn Britt and the Time Warner Cable team, we'll bring our experience in innovation and proven operating track record to improving and growing the performance of these new systems."

Outcome for Time Warner

When these transactions close, Time Warner will own 84% of Time Warner Cable's common stock, which will continue to consist of Class A shares and Class B super-voting shares. The remaining 16% of Time Warner Cable's common equity initially will be owned by Adelphia stakeholders and is expected to be publicly traded in the form of Class A shares. In addition to its 84% stake in the publicly traded Time Warner Cable, Time Warner also will own a direct non-voting common equity interest of approximately $2.9 billion in a subsidiary of Time Warner Cable. The acquisition will be accounted for as an asset purchase. Time Warner said that it expects to retain significant financial flexibility, while maintaining its strong investment-grade debt rating.

Taking into account the proposed acquisition, swaps and redemptions, on a net basis, Time Warner Cable will gain approximately 3.5 million basic video subscribers. Specifically, Time Warner Cable will add around 3 million Adelphia subscribers and more than 1 million Comcast subscribers, and will give Comcast approximately 750,000 current Time Warner Cable subscribers. It will then manage a total of approximately 14.4 million basic subscribers - 12.9 million consolidated and 1.5 million in 50%-owned continuing joint ventures with Comcast. That will make Time Warner Cable the second-largest multi-channel video provider in the U.S. - ahead of all other cable operators, except for Comcast, and ahead of both major satellite companies.

Once these transactions are complete, 85% of Time Warner Cable's managed subscribers will be located in five large clusters, including (in round numbers): 3.1 million in New York, 2.6 million in Texas, 2.4 million in California, 2.3 million in Ohio and 1.9 million in the Carolinas. Time Warner Cable will be the largest cable provider in both New York City and Los Angeles, cities which anchor the country's two largest designated market areas (DMAs).

As part of his current duties as Chairman of Time Warner's Media & Communications Group, Mr. Logan will become non-executive Chairman of Time Warner Cable's board of directors. Glenn Britt, who now serves as Time Warner Cable's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will remain Chief Executive Officer and also will be named President.

Mr. Britt said: "We're very excited about this opportunity and look forward to taking over the day-to-day management of these new systems. Over the last few months, we've done extensive due diligence on the Adelphia properties and have a very realistic view of how we can create new value. We expect a smooth integration, and we'll quickly bring greater choice to consumers with our popular enhanced digital video and high-speed data services. We also are well positioned to compete effectively for telephone customers with our new Digital Phone service. We have the technological, managerial and operational expertise that will allow us to drive penetration rates and improve performance."

Outcome for Comcast

Taking into account the proposed acquisition, swaps and redemptions, on a net basis, Comcast will gain approximately 1.8 million basic video subscribers. Specifically, Comcast will add approximately 2.1 million Adelphia subscribers through the acquisition and the swap, and approximately 750,000 Time Warner cable subscribers through the redemptions of Comcast's interest in Time Warner Cable and TWE and the swap. Comcast will give Time Warner more than 1 million subscribers. Comcast will serve approximately 23.3 million owned and operated subscribers and be attributed with approximately 3.5 million additional subscribers held in various partnerships. Comcast will remain the largest multi-channel video provider in the U.S. and the nation's largest high-speed Internet provider. As a result of these transactions, Comcast will expand its presence in such key geographic areas as Washington D.C., West Palm Beach, Boston and Pittsburgh.

Approvals and Advisors

These transactions between Time Warner Cable, Comcast and Adelphia are subject to customary regulatory review and approvals, including Hart-Scott-Rodino, FCC and local franchise approvals, as well as the Adelphia bankruptcy process, which involves approvals by the bankruptcy court having jurisdiction of Adelphia's Chapter 11 case and Adelphia's creditors. Closing is expected in about 9 to 12 months.

Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers acted as financial advisors to Time Warner. The Blackstone Group acted as financial advisor to Comcast on the Adelphia transaction and assisted on Time Warner. Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor to Comcast on the Time Warner transaction and assisted on Adelphia. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is legal advisor to Time Warner. Davis Polk & Wardwell is legal advisor to Comcast. Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP advised Comcast on bankruptcy-related issues.

Subscriber Information

The subscriber information contained herein with regard to reporting basic video subscribers has been approximated because each company uses somewhat different methodologies with respect to reporting subscriber counts of multiple-dwelling units. Time Warner will provide additional information with respect to its subscriber count methodology and the impact of these transactions in materials furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and in a conference call for investors scheduled for today (see details below).

About Time Warner Inc.

Time Warner Inc. is a leading media and entertainment company, whose businesses include interactive services, cable systems, filmed entertainment, television networks and publishing.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 21.5 million cable customers and 7 million high-speed Internet customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, G4, AZN Television, TV One and four Comcast SportsNets. The Company also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

About Time Warner Cable Inc.

Time Warner Cable owns or manages cable systems serving 10.9 million subscribers in 27 states, which include some of the most technologically advanced, best-clustered cable systems in the country with more than 75% of the Company's customers in systems of 300,000 subscribers or more. Utilizing a fully upgraded advanced cable network and a steadfast commitment to providing consumers with choice, value and world-class customer service, Time Warner Cable is an industry leader in delivering advanced products and services such as video on demand, high-definition television, digital video recorders, high-speed data, wireless home networking and Digital Phone. Time Warner Cable is a majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.

Information on Conference Calls

Time Warner's management will discuss today's announcement on a conference call for investors at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 21, 2005. The dial-in numbers are: Domestic - (888) 566 1710 and International - (773) 799 3956. The Passcode is "Time Warner Investor."

Please dial in at least ten minutes before the call's scheduled start time to ensure you are connected by the start of the meeting. Slide presentations to accompany the conference call, as well as a live audio webcast of the conference call, will be available online at www.timewarner.com/investors. To listen to the live webcast, please go to the Web site 15 minutes prior to the start of the presentation to register, download and install any necessary software. Members of the media are invited to listen to this conference call.

A Comcast conference call for investors and analysts will be held at 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 21, 2005. Members of the media are invited to listen to this conference call.

The conference call will be broadcast live via the Company's Investor Relations Web site at www.cmcsa.com or www.cmcsk.com. A recording of the call will be available on the Investor Relations Web site starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 21, 2005.

Those parties interested in participating via telephone should dial (866) 206 2777. A telephone replay will begin immediately following the call and will be available until Friday, April 22, 2005 at midnight ET. To access the rebroadcast, please dial (630) 652 3000 and enter Passcode number 11528460#.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of the management of Time Warner and Comcast, respectively, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances.

Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to the bankruptcy court approval process, regulatory review and approval process and changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or other regulatory factors, as well as other factors affecting the operation of the businesses of Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corporation. More detailed information about these factors may be found in the respective filings by Time Warner and Comcast with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including their most recent annual reports on Form 10-K. Time Warner and Comcast are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any such obligation to, update or alter the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRINCIPAL PROPERTIES

To Time Warner
--------------

From Adelphia
New York (principally Buffalo)
California (principally Los Angeles)
Ohio (principally Cleveland)
Carolinas
Maine (Portland-Bangor)

From Comcast
Dallas
Los Angeles
Cleveland

To Comcast
----------

From Adelphia
Florida (principally Palm Beach and Miami)
Virginia (principally D.C. area)
New England (Boston area, Hartford area, Vermont)
Pennsylvania (principally Pittsburgh area,
Johnstown area and Scranton area)
Colorado Springs

From Time Warner
Minneapolis
Memphis
Jackson
Louisiana (principally Shreveport and Monroe)
Florida (principally Cape Coral and St. Augustine)

Posted by Nana at 08:55 AM | Time Warner Cable and Comcast to Acquire Assets of Adelphia Communications | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SkyStream MPEG-4 AVC Headends Integrate with Leading Set-Top Boxes to Provide Extensive Choice and Flexibility for Service Providers

NAB2005 Booth #SL2756

SkyStream(R), the leader in IP video delivery solutions, announced the integration of its MPEG-4 AVC headends, the Mediaplex(TM) and iPlex(TM) platforms, with set-top boxes from Advanced Digital Broadcast (ADB), Astri, i3, Sentivision, and Thomson.

By giving service providers flexibility and choice with a wide-range of proven MPEG-4 AVC set-top box options and potential applications, SkyStream is offering a complete, interoperable solution to enable roll-out of end-to-end MPEG-4 AVC-based services. SkyStream's AVC complete solution works with any leading middleware and leading digital rights management (DRM) or conditional access (CA) solutions that service providers select for their deployments.

SkyStream's headends will provide MPEG-4 AVC encoding and transcoding to convert MPEG-2 content to an MPEG-4 format, for transmission over any type of network to an MPEG-4 set-top box. This ability to deliver high-quality content at low bit rates generates substantial bandwidth and cost savings for service providers offering IPTV, Video-on-Demand and content delivery over any last mile network. SkyStream's MPEG-4 AVC solution uses highly efficient algorithms, including CABAC and CAVLC, to produce superior broadcast video at half the bit rate of MPEG-2.

"Our integration and interoperability testing with these pioneering set-top box manufacturers will give service providers the confidence they need to adopt new technologies that enhance their businesses with new offerings," said Francois Modarresse, director of marketing, SkyStream. "MPEG-4 AVC allows telcos and IPTV service providers to use their existing broadband networks to deliver broadcast-quality video services. SkyStream and its partners make simple, cost-effective MPEG-4 AVC deployment possible in any network."

"Interoperability with SkyStream's MPEG-4 AVC solutions increases the options available to the market and enables our service operator customers to run their networks more efficiently," said William Luehrs, President of ADB Americas. "This venture with SkyStream is an important step in making the upgrade from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 an easy and painless process for service providers."

"Products and applications using ASTRI's state-of-the-art AVC codec technology and STB reference design will benefit immediately from improved video quality and reduced cost," said Dr. Shen-Chang Chao, Vice President of Communications and Application Software, Wireless Technology of ASTRI. "Since our solution is 100% software programmable, products that utilize our solution will also benefit from continued improvement and innovation on the algorithmic front in the future."

SkyStream's MPEG-4 AVC real-time encoder submodules operate in its Mediaplex-20 and iPlex headends. The compact size of the MPEG-4 AVC submodules -- the industry's smallest broadcast-quality MPEG-4 encoders -- enable the high density of SkyStream's headends. The Mediaplex headend supports 48 encoders in a single chassis, and the iPlex ultra-compact headend supports eight encoders in a single rack-unit.

"i3 is pleased that its Mood(TM) 300 MPEG-4 AVC IP Set-top Box is part of the MPEG-4 demo at NAB and SkyStream's advanced encoding ecosystem. Commercial availability of advanced encoding and decoding technology is key for leading IPTV service providers," says Jan Werne, CEO, i3 micro technology.

A demonstration of SkyStream's complete MPEG-4 AVC solution will be shown at SkyStream's booth #SL2756 in the South Hall during NAB 2005, April 18 to 21. There will be an appointment-only demonstration of MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 AVC transcoding, an industry first, at the show. Please inquire at SkyStream's booth for more information.

MPEG-4 capabilities are available on set-top boxes from the following manufacturers:

-- ADB's iCAN 3100 series: a highly-configurable digital set-top box for telecommunications and broadcast operators that delivers MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC video decoding and can combine IP video reception with video broadcast via terrestrial or satellite and interactive services, such as online gaming, e-mail and T-commerce.

-- Astri IP Set Top Box: an affordable and cost effective IP set-top-box platform with a wide range of applications including IPTV and Video-On-Demand; with upgradeable multiple codecs to provide flexible types of media service support; along with easy integration and expansion to triple play.

-- i3's Mood 300 series: shipping in June, the Mood 300 set top and the optional PVR capability is based on i3's experience in over 40 commercial telco IP TV deployments. Using downloadable codecs for both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 gives service providers media flexibility and extended product life.

-- Sentivison's SV-510: the Sentivision SV-510 has successfully completed interoperability testing with the SkyStream MPEG-4 AVC encoder and supports Video-on-Demand, IPTV and Web browsing. Sentivision is an innovative provider of cutting-edge media technologies and products for the digital entertainment market.

-- Thomson's IP1001: a flexible and affordable IP set-top box that delivers standard and high-definition television, expands broadband services and allows operators to deploy new services and hardware variations such as tuners and hard disc drives for multi-service applications including VOD, PVR and home networking.

"Our collaboration with SkyStream allows network operators to deliver advanced television services with bandwidth efficiency," said Keith Wehmeyer, General Manager, IP Video North America, Thomson. "Implementing IPTV requires an integrated encoder and decoder package, and the SkyStream MPEG-4 AVC solution combined with the IP1100 advanced compression set-top box enables service providers to provide high-definition content over their existing networks."

To arrange for a demonstration, for pricing and additional information, please send email to SkyStream at info@skystream.com or call (408) 616-3300.

About SkyStream

SkyStream provides IP video delivery platforms that enable service providers to transform their business by offering IPTV and MPEG-4 Video Services. SkyStream's products lower opex and capex costs by 40 - 50% and optimize video delivery over any last mile network: zBand(TM) content delivery software for PUSH video on demand; Mediaplex-20(TM) and iPlex(TM) switched digital video headends and the Source Media Router series of IP Encapsulation solutions. SkyStream is the fastest-growing provider of IP video solutions with over 250 customers.

SkyStream's website can be found on the Internet at www.skystream.com.

Posted by Nana at 08:45 AM | SkyStream Offers Complete MPEG-4 AVC Solution for IPTV | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bill Expected to Quickly End Hollywood Litigation; Company Also Announces Parents Television Council Seal of Approval and New Product Introduction

ClearPlay Inc., the leader in parental control technology, applauded the passage of The Family Movie Act today as part of the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act. Passage of the bill is expected to result in dismissal of the lawsuit filed against ClearPlay by eight Hollywood movie studios and the Directors Guild of America in September 2002. The bill will not affect companies in the litigation that edit and rent or resell DVDs.

"This is tremendous news for ClearPlay and a real victory for families," said CEO Bill Aho. "This ensures that parents will have the tools to control the movie content their families and children see in their own home. And it means ClearPlay has a clear path to more significant business development opportunities."

The Family Movie Act was introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and sponsored in the Senate by Orrin Hatch (R-UT). The bill clarifies the Copyright Act to guarantee the legality of technologies that filter unwanted content in movies in the home. The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act also includes several movie anti-piracy provisions, which also were supported by ClearPlay.

The legislation has received substantial support from many family and parenting organizations, including the Parents Television Council, Focus on the Family, Kids First!, OneMillionMoms.com and Viewer Freedom. "We especially want to thank the thousands of individuals, including many ClearPlay customers, who took the time to call, write and email their elected officials to voice support for the Family Movie Act," added Aho. "This grassroots involvement really made a difference."

The support of the Parents Television Council was particularly timely. The PTC recently recognized ClearPlay as the first product ever to receive its coveted Parents Television Council Seal of Approval, previously awarded to television shows and movies. "The ClearPlay product is a clear winner for parents who want to shield their children from graphic and gratuitous sex, violence and profanity," PTC Executive Director Tim Winter said. "This product puts families in control of the content that their children are watching ... and is an excellent resource for concerned parents."

This was a big week for Salt Lake City-based ClearPlay. The company also announced the introduction of a new ClearPlay product to hit the market in June of this year. Under the ClearPlay brand name, the player includes a USB jump drive for portable flash memory. The drive can be used to easily move the latest ClearPlay Filters from your PC or laptop to the player, or to view digital photos on your television. "The ClearPlay USB DVD player is a tremendous innovation for customer convenience," said company founder Matt Jarman. "It's the next generation of ClearPlay."

About ClearPlay

ClearPlay Inc., founded in 1999, develops advanced parental control technologies for consumer electronic products, including DVD players and recorders, TVs, cable and set-top boxes, digital video recorders, etc. The company's first products allow consumers to view DVDs, purchased or rented through conventional retailers, free of unwanted content. It gives consumers the ability to skip and mute over graphic violence, sex, nudity and profanity, if they choose. ClearPlay DVD players and Filters can be purchased at www.ClearPlay.com. Using ClearPlay does not touch, alter or change the DVD in any way. The technology can also be applied to cable, satellite, PVR and video on demand.

Posted by Nana at 08:42 AM | ClearPlay Applauds Passage of Family Movie Act | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

by Alan Lofft for AxiomAudio.com

Home theater is the hottest thing on the market right now - but what is it? Why would you want it? And what do you really need to get it? Below, I'll explain the basics of Home Theater.

You can have a Home Theater with a setup as simple as a TV set, a pair of stereo speakers, and a DVD player. But usually Home Theater consists of something a little more elaborate.

In fact, setting up a home theater can be entirely affordable. You likely already have at least one of the key elements-a TV set! So what else do you need and what exactly is the goal?

The goal is to duplicate, in your own home, the surround sound envelopment and integration of picture, drama, and sound that you experience in a commercial Dolby Surround movie theater, only on a smaller scale. The entertainment is for you, and your friends and family. That may sound ambitious, but surprisingly, even a basic home theater system can deliver remarkably enhanced playback of DVD movies, concerts, rental tapes and DVDs, and even TV shows like "CSI" or "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" or "Smallville" that are recorded and broadcast in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. For example, you can enter this world with an Axiom Home Theater system for well under $1,500. (You already have the TV, and very possibly a DVD player or Hi-Fi VCR.)

A basic home theater system consists of a pair of front left and right speakers on either side of the TV, a center channel speaker on top (or beneath) the TV set to anchor the actors dialogue at the TV screen no matter where you sit, a pair of smaller Surround Sound Speakers to either side of your couch that carry all the effects and ambient sound of a movie or TV show-street noises, planes flying, jungle sounds, the noise of rain, thunder, or crickets, distant explosions or rumbles of tanks, and all the myriad of other sounds that make up a complicated movie soundtrack, including, of course, the movie score, the music and rock songs that underscore the action on screen. Lastly, most home theater systems add a Subwoofer, typically a square black box that produces ultra-deep bass sounds-rumbles, storms, deep musical bass and the like.

If you've kept count, that's a total of six speakers, including the subwoofer, and it comprises "5.1-channel" sound (the .1 is the subwoofer bass channel). But all the speakers needn't be big. Because the subwoofer carries much of the low bass energy, the other "satellite" speakers can be compact and visually unobtrusive, no larger than a hardcover book.

To this mix, you must add a Dolby Digital Surround Sound Audio/Video receiver, which contains all the circuitry to "decode" the DVD or videotape movie soundtrack and effects, plus five built-in amplifiers for each of the five loudspeaker channels (the subwoofer always has its own dedicated built-in amplifier). And finally, you need a DVD player. (You can use a Hi-Fi stereo VCR, but it will only deliver analog Dolby Surround, not 5.1-channel Dolby Digital.) A DVD player is less than $100, and a Dolby Digital/dts A/V receiver can be had for $200 or more. To that, add perhaps $1,254 for an Axiom Epic Midi Home Theater System, including the powered subwoofer. That's it - a complete surround sound home theater system. Dim the lights, micro the popcorn. Let the show begin!

For more information on Axiom Audio, visit AxiomAudio.com

Confused about which home theater is right for you? Check out the Axiom Home Theater Wizard.

Posted by Nana at 03:45 PM | Home Theater Basics - What you need to establish a home theater | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Scientific-Atlanta chosen to support Project Lightspeed based on extensive video network experience

Scientific-Atlanta announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement with SBC Communications, Inc. to design, build and activate the IP video super hub offices (SHO), IP video hub offices (VHO) and IP video operations center (VOC) for its Project Lightspeed network. This advanced network will be able to deliver video, voice and data services to 18 million households in the SBC 13-state service area.

In this first-of-its-kind network, the IP video super hub offices will use Scientific-Atlanta's state-of-the-art video encoders for efficient advanced video coding (AVC) for standard-definition and high-definition transmissions, and will be capable of serving the entire SBC footprint. Additional Scientific-Atlanta advanced video encoders in the IP video hub offices, located throughout the SBC service area, will provide the essential encoding functions for locally originated content. At the IP video operations center, Scientific-Atlanta�s ROSA� Element Manager system will be used to support a broad array of network monitoring and control functions. Scientific-Atlanta�s extensive experience with video networks enables it to provide SBC companies with comprehensive, proven system integration services for the SHOs, VHOs, and the VOC.

�The SBC IPTV architecture represents a significant milestone in the delivery of video to the home over DSL. The state-of-the-art IP video super hub offices and IP video hubs we are creating will provide SBC companies with the performance needed to support services on one of the world�s most advanced video processing networks,� said Jim McDonald, chairman, president and CEO at Scientific-Atlanta. �We also look forward to working hand in hand with Alcatel and Microsoft to assist SBC companies with creating and launching an IP video system.�

About Scientific-Atlanta
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE: SFA - http://www.scientificatlanta.com) is a leading supplier of digital content contribution and distribution systems, transmission networks for broadband access to the home, digital interactive set-tops and subscriber systems designed for video, high-speed Internet and voice over IP (VoIP) networks, and worldwide customer service and support.

Posted by Nana at 11:04 PM | SBC Selects Scientific-Atlanta to Provide Video Infrastructure for New IPTV Network | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you are using optical disc technologies such as CDs and DVDs for storage, you should take a few moments to answer a quick 2 question survey being run by the Government Information Preservation Working Group (GIPWoG) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). You have until May 31st, to respond.

The DVD Association, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is sponsoring this survey conducted by one of its� technical working groups, the Government Information Preservation Working Group (GIPWoG). GIPWoG is working with NIST to establish a long-term, or archival, standard measurement for recordable CD and DVD media. This measurement will serve as a standard industry test to determine the archival quality of recordable optical media. The test will not measure how actual media longevity, but will determine if it lasts at least a minimum number of years. The number of years used in the test standard will be determined by your responses.

Posted by Nana at 10:33 PM | Government Survey: How Long Do You Want Digital Storage Media to Last? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brings live television broadcasts to mobile devices

Digita, Elisa, MTV, Nelonen, Nokia, Sonera and YLE (The Finnish Broadcasting Company) are starting an unique mobile TV pilot in Finland. The project tests mobile TV services and consumer experiences, as well as the underlying technology, with 500 users in the Helsinki capital region.

Selected from Sonera and Elisa mobile phone customers, the test users are able to view real-time TV and radio programs on a Nokia 7710 smartphone equipped with a special accessory to receive mobile TV broadcasts. The Nokia smartphone also enables direct links to the Internet for access to background information on TV programs or sports results. Test users have access to MTV, YLE and Nelonen programs as well as international theme channels such as CNN, BBC World, Euronews, Eurosport, ViVa Plus and Fashion TV. The pilot continues until 20 June 2005.

Elisa and Sonera are responsible for customer service, invoicing and connections to the new interactive supplementary services. Digita has designed and built the digital TV network needed for the distribution of mobile TV services and will manage the network, while Nokia will develop the mobile TV service management and smartphones that can receive mobile TV broadcasts.

The mobile TV test uses IP Datacasting (IPDC), which conforms with the DVB-H standard. At the end of 2004, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) adopted DVB-H as the standard for European mobile television services, enabling the simultaneous transmission of several television, radio and video channels to mobile devices.

First user tests promising
The first mobile TV service experiences in Finland happened via a friendly user test carried out in late 2004. The test showed that people like to watch mobile TV in cars and other means of transport and in public places such as cafes. Watching mobile TV at home and in the workplace was also common. The most usual time was in the mornings and afternoons and early evening.

The test users were interested in news, weather, sports, current issues, entertainment and drama and comedy series. Mobile TV was also considered as a complement to the traditional television. What appealed most to test users was the fact that you can watch mobile TV anywhere you like. According to the results, most of the test users would be prepared to continue using mobile TV services.

Additional information:
Finland�s mobile TV project: www.finnishmobiletv.com

Posted by Nana at 10:04 PM | Mobile TV pilot begins in Finland | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With executive leaders from the cable, Internet and satellite markets, Brightcove, Inc., was today unveiled as a new online television and video distribution company where mainstream and emerging video content publishers and programmers can offer their products directly to consumers over the Internet.

Brightcove was established to take advantage of the convergence of the Internet and television, a trend that is spawning the birth of hundreds of thousands of individual programs and channels online. The company will provide an online service that offers video publishers and programmers an Internet distribution channel for their products and will offer consumers a rich set of services for accessing and using this programming. Brightcove executives bring more than 40 years of successful experience from companies such as Allaire, ATG, British Sky Broadcasting (BskyB), Comcast, Macromedia and News Corporation.

"From production and distribution to marketing and viewing, television's business model is undergoing a significant transformation," said Jeremy Allaire, founder and CEO of Brightcove. "We are working towards a world where television and video production and distribution are much more democratized and where a creative spark, a camera, and a computer are all it takes to put television programming before the eyes of the consumer. Hundreds of mainstream video providers will make this transition, and thousands more will be born."

Brightcove also announced today that it has closed $5.5 million in Series A funding from General Catalyst Partners and Accel Partners. The funding will be used for product and service development, business development, recruiting and general operations.

Television and the Internet Converge

The market for Internet television and online video is growing significantly, as demonstrated by trends such as:

• Global adoption of broadband Internet connectivity, creating an unencumbered distribution pipe for high-quality media;
• The proliferation of home networking, connecting multiple PCs, TVs, and other devices to the network;
• The development of rich media formats that provide a quality and secure viewing experience for video across any number of devices;
• The growth of portable devices capable of carrying Internet-based video programming;
• The rapid growth in streaming video and online video and rich media advertising;
• The diminishing cost of producing quality commercial video products using inexpensive PC workstations and software

The landscape emerging from these trends is one that looks very much like the Web and Internet consumers use today; a world of open file formats and platforms available to anyone, unencumbered by physical, geographic or monopolistic constraints. Many of the thousands of companies involved in the production, packaging and distribution of television will make this shift, and many more will emerge, creating an explosion in original video programming.

Brightcove is being launched to capitalize on these converging trends and provide a service that will offer television and video publishers and programmers an Internet distribution channel for their products; and will offer consumers a rich set of services for accessing and using this programming. The Brightcove service will integrate into the broad Internet content ecosystem, and enable and service publishers of all sizes - from video bloggers, to broadcast and VOD startups, to established cable programmers.

"I haven't yet seen any of these startups straddle the whole value chain, and Brightcove might be among the first," said Rafat Ali, Publisher and Editor of Paidcontent.org. "A consumer video service, a back end service, and other allied services needed for everyone from small publishers, like bloggers, to small-to-mid sized media companies and on line VOD startups, to develop and distribute video easily and cost-effectively. In essence, an open-publishing model."

The Brightcove Team

Led by Allaire, the former chief technology officer of Macromedia and co-founder of Allaire Corp, the Brightcove founding team has more than 40 years of combined experience and successful leadership in:

• E-commerce, content management and personalization
• Rich media platforms
• Broadband consumer services
• Cable and Satellite video distribution

As part of the Series A financing, Jim Breyer of Accel Partners and David Orfao of General Catalyst Partners will be joining Brightcove's board of directors. Breyer and Orfao bring more than 20 years of experience building and supporting successful, industry leading entities including Lotus, Apple, Macromedia, Real Networks, Wal-Mart and Allaire Corp.

About Brightcove

Located in Cambridge, Mass., Brightcove (www.brightcove.com) develops services that offer television and video publishers and programmers an Internet-based distribution channel for their television products, as well as a consumer facing service for accessing and using this programming.

Posted by Nana at 02:39 PM | Brightcove Unveiled: Cable, Internet and Satellite Leaders Unite to Pioneer Service for Online Television and Video Distribution | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Datacolor, a world color technology leader, today announced SpyderTV� at the International PMA trade show, which runs from February 20 - 23 in Orlando, Florida at Booth No. 1908. This dynamic new product represents a new line of display-improvement tools for TV�s, including CRT, Plasma, RPTV, LCD or DLP display screens.

Through the ColorVision� brand, Datacolor has delivered award-winning Spyder products such as the ColorVision� Spyder2PRO� and ColorVision� SpectroPRO2�, preferred by professional and amateur digital photographers around the world, to manage color on screen and in print. These tools have proven especially useful for digital camera owners using their computers as �digital darkrooms�. Now, Datacolor has leveraged the ColorVision colorimetric technology to optimize television viewing.

�The overwhelming success of bringing our professional technology to the reseller market, as we have done with ColorVision� ColorPlusTM and the newly launched ColorVision� Spyder2 PlusTM products, has led us to this new digital/video product line,� according to Datacolor vice-president, Brian Levey, �SpyderTV takes the guesswork out of improving the picture on a home theater display.�

Virtually all-home theater displays offer visual menu adjustment sliders: Brightness, Contrast, Color, Tint, and Color Temperature Presets. �TV manufacturers have been including superb menu choices for more than a decade that improve TV performance in your home, confirms Joel Silver, founder of the Imaging Science Foundation. �Usually better pictures are designed to be only a few button presses away; figuring out the combination of buttons to press is the problem. The ISF �Calibration Wizard� in Microsoft� Windows� Media Center Edition PCs also uses these functions.�

But adjusting these controls can be complicating and confusing. Additionally, the effectiveness of such controls is dependent upon an instrument that is often fallible, the human eye. Generally found as four sliders that operate in a multi-variant manner, these adjustments depend on the human eye to make distinctions. Most humans have problems with two variants, making it extremely difficult to obtain the kind of superior adjustments preferred for these displays. The SpyderTV colorimeter takes advantage of the four adjustment sliders that are available on virtually all televisions and accurately measures brightness, contrast, color, tint, and color temperature presets to guide the user to the exact scientifically-based adjustment for each control.

According to the product�s R & D gurus Mark Hunter and Heath Barber, who have joined Datacolor from the recently acquired professional home theater pioneer Milori, SpyderTV eliminates such troubling subjectivity with a hardware device that accurately measures targets on-screen and manages the process through a �wizard-driven� software package. In effect, they report, SpyderTV takes fine-tuning to another level with a process that is both accurate and easy to use.

�The Datacolor SpyderTV is designed to help the end user make selections that will accurately improve the display on virtually any monitor, from the high-end video screen found in today�s most sophisticated home entertainment center to the 36� TV in your living room,� according to technical director of home theater products, Mark Hunter.

Levey further explains, �Owners will see a dramatic difference. The right adjustment to brightness and contrast alone results in a significant improvement in the display. Plus it�s good that the process can easily be done at home, as display screens need to be periodically re-tuned.�

Consumers whose prized holiday gift was a fabulous flat screen TV may have already learned that high-def doesn�t necessarily mean that the color can keep up. �On the flatiron� the blue on the Lions� jerseys seems a lot more like the Dolphins� and the fullback himself looks green. For them, Levey adds final words of encouragement: �By the time the baseballs season begins, you�ll have a terrific new tech tool to make sure the color display on your home theater system is as dynamic as the game in play.�

For more information on the ColorVision line of products, including Spyder TV, visit www.colorvision.com. For more information on Datacolor, visit www.datacolor.com.

About Datacolor

The ColorVision digital imaging product line by Datacolor provides affordable, easy-to-use digital color control products to creative professionals, photographers, corporate customers and consumers around the world. Because color matters, leading businesses, creative professionals, and consumers worldwide choose Datacolor�s innovative technology solutions to consistently achieve the right color. A Swiss-held company, Datacolor�s strong worldwide presence encompasses global manufacturing and operational facilities with an international strategic network of sales and support offices.

System Requirements

DVD player; remote control and a portable computer such as a laptop or notebook with Windows 2000 or XP operating system; and a USB port.

COLORVISION� and other ColorVision Inc. trademarks are the property of Datacolor Inc. PANTONE� and other Pantone, Inc. trademarks are the property of Pantone, Inc. Adobe� and Photoshop� are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. � Datacolor 2005. All rights reserved.

Posted by Nana at 01:09 PM | Datacolor Launches SpyderTV, an Innovative Home Theater Technology for Display Optimization | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Some homeowners are creating their very own movie palaces
BY Candace Renalls
Knight Ridder Newspapers

What do we really want?

That's the question John Lawien and his wife, Lizette, asked themselves when they began planning a large addition to their Duluth, Minn., home a few years ago.

Their wish list included a bigger dining room, another bedroom, an exercise room and a media room with a big television. The more they thought about a room for watching big-screen TV, the more they realized their family would enjoy it.

"My wife and I don't go out much," explains Lawien, 41. "The kids are teenagers now. The one thing we enjoy as a family is pizza and a movie. And nothing's better than the comfort of your home."

So their plans changed from a media room to a bona fide home theater. The result is a 15-by-18-foot theater that sports a high-definition 42-inch plasma TV for everyday viewing. For movie viewing, a 92-inch screen for a front-projection system lowers from the ceiling in front of the skinny plasma television. There's Surround Sound with seven speakers and a large sub-woofer for low-octave sound, high-definition (HD) satellite TV, DVD players, computer hookups and gadgets like wireless headphones. The room's tiered seating has comfy theater loungers, complete with cup holders and storage compartments.

Mini theaters that focus on the viewing and listening experience are part of a movement away from family or recreation rooms with a television that can disappear into a cabinet. more...

Posted by Nana at 05:25 PM | Renovation trend gives a whole new meaning to home theater | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TMoto introduces a high quality, affordable plasma or LCD TV lift to bring that theater feeling into your home. The sleek, thin profile and elegant design, with adjustable lift, gives greater flexibility for optimum viewing comfort.

TMoto, the most innovative manufacturer of electronics furniture, has introduced an end-of-bed lift to bring that theater feeling into the bedroom. The sleek, thin profile and elegant design, with adjustable lift, gives greater flexibility for optimum viewing comfort in your home.

Flat screen television enthusiasts know that getting a cinema feeling requires positioning the plasma or LCD television at optimal viewing height and distance. This can be difficult when bedroom furniture is not designed for modern consumer electronics. Wall mounting heavy flat screens can be costly and impractical in rooms where the bed is 16 feet or more away from the opposing wall. Automated cabinet lifts can cost even more than the television itself.

�We believe that our new product meets a real need in the marketplace for affordable flat panel display furniture that adjusts to the needs of the viewer,� stated Paul Whalen, General Manager. �We offer incomparable ease-of-use, elegant designs, and reasonable prices for integrating this new technology into today�s homes.�

The TMoto Puzzle Lift is designed to manually raise or lower heavy televisions to any height within a 35 inch stroke, giving you comfortable viewing no matter where you sit, stand or lie. Its name is synonymous with the simple elegance of its design. This distinctive lift closes to a cabinet and separates like puzzle pieces when extended. Patent pending technology enables the lift and television to be raised with a single hand.

�TMoto Puzzle Lifts exemplify our design team`s commitment to creating quality products that set a new standard for home theater of the future,� continued Whalen.

The hallmark of TMoto is its precise engineering and superb workmanship. Patent pending technology affords up to 35 inches in adjustable height, delivering comfortable viewing no matter where you sit, stand or lie. Manually operated, you can raise or lower heavy plasma or LCD televisions with a single hand. TMoto makes it amazingly easy to move heavy flat screens and position them at any height within the 35 inch stroke. No tools or extra people are needed to safely position the television to perfect viewing heights.

TMoto Puzzle Lifts are outfitted with advanced mechanical components for smooth, quiet movements that outperform wall mounting systems and expensive automated lifts. The TMoto Puzzle Lift is carefully engineered to be of the highest quality in design and functionality. Go on, get comfortable. With TMoto, you will want to stay in bed a little longer.

TMoto is a privately held manufacturer of mechanical lift systems designed for flat panel displays. For more information, visit TMoto online at http://www.tmoto.com

Posted by Nana at 05:21 PM | Get that Cinema feeling at home | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I want my IPTV? Internet Protocol, the language of most online communications, was supposed to have revolutionized the way we watch television by now, enabling a wide range of multimedia bells and whistles: from multiple camera angles to on-screen Web searches while viewing Gilligan's Island to see which actors are still living.

But just as the tech bubble's promise of "IP" telephone service over an Internet connection is only now becoming a widespread reality, IPTV finally appears to be on the verge of cracking the U.S. mainstream.

Not the cable TV establishment - which questions the technology and the demand for so much interactivity - but rather three Bell telephone companies are taking IPTV off the drawing board in the United States, much as telecom players in Asia and Europe have led the way abroad.

The extent of the Bells' plans vary considerably, but perhaps a dozen markets will see some form of IPTV starting later this year, and millions of homes may have the option by the end of 2006.

SBC Communications Inc. (SBC), the dominant local phone company from the Midwest to California, is deploying a full-blown IPTV system that it plans to launch by year-end in at least a few undisclosed markets.

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) plans to offer some interactive IP-based features on top of a conventional digital cable service. The company also won't name its debut markets, due mid-year, though it has secured cable franchise licenses in certain suburbs of Dallas and Los Angeles. more...

Posted by Nana at 06:36 AM | Interactive TV Poised for a Rollout | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Washington, DC � The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today resolved two significant issues related to digital cable carriage in a Second Report and Order and First Order on Reconsideration (CS Docket No. 98-120). The Order: (1) affirms the Commission�s tentative conclusion not to impose a �dual carriage� requirement on cable operators (which would have required them to simultaneously carry broadcasters� analog and digital signals); and (2) affirms the Commission�s prior determination that cable operators are not required to carry more than a single digital programming stream from any particular broadcaster.

The Order found that mandatory dual carriage is not necessary either to advance the governmental interests as identified by Congress and the Supreme Court, or to achieve the digital television transition.

With regard to the digital multicasting issue, the Commission affirmed its earlier conclusion and declined to require cable operators to carry any more than one programming stream of a digital television station. Although the Commission found that the operative statutory language at issue is ambiguous on the subject of multicast must carry, it also found on the current record, that such a requirement is not necessary to further the purposes of the must carry statute, as defined by the Supreme Court.

In the First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (CS Docket No. 98-120) adopted January 2001, the Commission concluded that the statute neither requires nor prohibits the carriage of both a television station�s digital and analog signals, but left the issue of dual carriage to the discretion of the FCC. The FCC sought comment on its tentative conclusion that a dual carriage requirement would violate the First Amendment rights of cable operators.

In the First Report and Order the Commission also found that the statutory requirement that cable providers carry the �primary video� of broadcasters meant that broadcasters were entitled to carriage of one digital programming stream, and not multiple programming streams (i.e. �multicasting�).

Posted by Nana at 02:02 PM | FCC RESOLVES DUAL AND MULTICAST CARRIAGE ISSUES | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

by Tilde Herrera
Herald Staff Writer

MANATEE - Sports fans aren't the only ones eager for the culmination of the football season.

For some electronics retailers, Super Bowl month is like a second holiday season as diehard football enthusiasts shop for large-screen televisions on which view the game. Luckily for these fans, large-screen TVs are getting bigger and cheaper.

"It really is big screen month, right up to the day before the game," said Denny Thompson, store director of Bradenton's Circuit City. "Something drives people to buy big screens in January." more...

Posted by Nana at 10:32 AM | The Super Bowl means more big-screen TV sales | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I came across this yesterday and thought that it would be of interest to some of you. Just in case one of you reading this blog has a perfect credit score of 850, TrueCredit(True Credit) is willing to pay you $1000 for your achievement. Of course I know if you do win this, it will be going into your Home Entertainment purchase fund :)

Posted by Nana at 12:21 PM | How to get $1000 from TrueCredit for that new Home Entertainment system | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By BRUCE MEYERSON, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK - Verizon Communications Inc. plans to use Microsoft Corp. technology for its rollout of television service over a new fiber-optic network, becoming the third major telephone company to help fulfill Microsoft's long-stymied bid to barge into the TV business.

The software maker's platform initially will be used to provide an interactive program guide, high-definition television, digital video recording and video-on-demand for Verizon's FiOS TV service, which is due to launch in undisclosed markets around mid-year.

Verizon, which is spending billions to replace its copper phone lines with speedy fiberglass cables, also expects to exploit the technology's Internet-based capabilities to roll out more advanced interactive services down the road, the companies planned to announce Monday. more...

Posted by Nana at 05:37 PM | Verizon to Opt for Microsoft TV Tech | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This cable customer's story is crazy. Someone should make a movie about this, oh wait, it's been done already. If you've had a similar or worse experience post it in the comments.

Cable's bad image endures even as companies hone, expand service PHILADELPHIA - All Nita Martin wanted was to straighten out a billing problem with her cable company. What she got was a Comcast Corp. subcontractor screaming in her face and refusing to leave her house.

This was last June, when Martin and Comcast were tangling over a digital cable bill. The subcontractor showed up to disconnect her cable and "went into a rage" when she rebuffed his attempt to get her to stay with Comcast, Martin recalls.

The police eventually showed up and ordered the subcontractor to leave, but Martin, 56, who lives in the Philadelphia suburb of Wallingford, was so shaken that she took anti-anxiety pills for weeks to calm her nerves. Comcast, she says, "didn't take it seriously at all."

Martin's story might be extreme, even by the standards of an industry long pilloried for poor customer service, high prices and a lack of competition. But she is hardly alone in her antipathy toward cable. via fortwayne.com

Posted by Nana at 11:49 PM | The evil Cable Guy in not a myth | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New analysis from TDG Research suggests that IPTV will quickly evolve from a Telco-Only play to hybrid offerings with DBS, DTT and even Cable TV providers.

IPTV, or the distribution of a television service over broadband access lines, will take a turn towards full commercial deployment in 2005. The 2004 launch of services such as Maligne TV and CanalSat DSL in France, FastWeb in Italy, and the announced 2005 TV-over-DSL launch by BellSouth, SBC and Verizon in the United States have propelled this new technology onto the front page of industry attention. "The Business of IPTV: Global Analysis & Forecasts," a new study from TDG Research, suggests that the majority of global IPTV growth will be fueled by hybrid deployments that combine digital satellite or terrestrial TV services with IP-based TelcoTV offerings.

�The television markets around the world vary greatly in terms of incumbent pay television offerings and broadband penetration,� says Herv� Utheza, consulting analyst with TDG Research and a digital media industry executive. �The chances of TelcoTV�s success will vary greatly depending upon the extent to which these two services have penetrated individual geographic markets. In other words, when it comes to identifying the real opportunities for IPTV on a global basis, understanding the specificities of the regional markets is paramount. Hence, our new study covers three specific geographic regions and 28 countries.�

Other important findings of the study include:
�    Worldwide IPTV subscribers will pass the 20 million mark around 2010, a volume dominated by hybrid architectures deployments as opposed to stand-alone TelcoTV VoDSL solutions. IPTV-generated revenue will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 102% between year-end 2004 and year-end 2010.
�    The cross-over point between MPEG-2 video transmission bandwidths and sustained broadband access bandwidths in volume deployments has now been reached, making it possible to deliver a quality digital video service to consumers over a broadband connection. Moreover, more efficient video codec chipsets are now starting to be available in ASIC technology thus making it possible for consumer premise equipment (CPE) to reach low-cost, volume-deployment level prices.
�    The power of IP as a digital video transport technology will rapidly expand beyond TelcoTV operators to affect multiple network topologies. Satellite operators will augment their broadcast offerings with IPTV-based �on-demand� services in order to compete with cable TV players. Additionally, Digital Terrestrial Television or DTT adoption will also benefit greatly from IPTV-based premium offerings.
�    For satellite TV service operators, IPTV will provide a means of extending their current broadcast offering to including on-demand movies and programming, thus allowing them to compete with cable�s new video-on-demand services. IPTV and its more efficient codec technologies are also expected to facilitate the continued growth of HDTV channels, while being poised to enable an extension of their core DBS service beyond the satellite set-top box � for example, to mobile consumer devices connecting to the main satellite receiver.
�    For cable operators, IPTV technologies will play a determining role in the advent of cheaper set-top boxes (STBs), network equipment, and multiplexing devices. In the United States, the New Generation Network Architecture (or NGNA) effort led by CableLabs will be the foundation for the extension of IP-based core networks, able to indifferently deliver video, data and voice over the same network equipment, as close as possible to the consumer home, thus reducing the �last-mile� plant investment.
�    The primary competitive determinants for consumer adoption will be (1) breadth of content offerings, (2) pricing of services, and (3) creation of unique compelling bundled offerings.
�    Early IPTV differentiators will include an �a la carte� pricing model, a move that will put pressure on the traditional business practices of incumbent PayTV operators.
�    TelcoTV adoption around the world will vary greatly, as the penetration of PayTV and broadband differs. In markets such as the United States where PayTV penetration approximates 80%, careful attention must be given to program pricing and packaging, as well as identifying specific target markets.
�    Despite the increased use of IP-based video transport technologies, independent web sites and Internet-based IP TV and video services will remain a niche proposition and may be aggregated or acquired by the larger IPTV operators.

TDG�s new IPTV competitive analysis and forecast, "The Business of IPTV: Global Analysis & Forecasts," is the most comprehensive treatment of global IP-video opportunities available today. The analysis combines a critical examination of the business of IPTV, deconstructing more than fifteen existing IPTV service vendors, the economics of various network and CPE configurations, and detailed forecasts for 28 countries in North America, Europe, and AsiaPac. The report also includes provisional profit/loss analyses using three different incumbent PayTV and broadband penetration models.

About TDG Research
TDG Research is a �think tank� of consumer technology analysts charged with providing timely, actionable intelligence designed to best position new consumer technologies for rapid diffusion. Our team is committed to providing market research and strategic consulting services based on conservative, real-world analysis and market forecasts grounded in consumer research. For more information about TDG Research, visit our website at www.tdgresearch.com or email email protected from spam bots.

Posted by Nana at 11:10 PM | Global IPTV Revenue Will Top $17 Billion by 2010 | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In a perfect second trial, the DMC-200 media system acquired a broadcast quality TV signal at 30 frames per second, two miles from the tower.

eWAN1, Inc. today completed a successful second proof concept test of their proprietary DMC-200 Advance Triple Play Digital Media Center system, attaining a broadcast quality television signal at 30 frames per second at an outdoor location two miles from the tower antennae installation. The DMC-200 is the only working next generation, wireless set-top box that combines the functions of personal computer, home audio, media storage, residential gateway, personal video recorder and telephone in a single, easy to use, platform.

�With our second successful consecutive field test, we have established the validity of our breakthrough technology,� said William J. Kettle, EWAN�s CEO. �We will next test the DMC-200 and its VoIP functionality, then increase our distance testing to three miles working incrementally up to ten miles and we expect the same outstanding results. We have a building customer base for our product and we are ramping up to meet the demand. �

The DMC-200 is a wireless set-top box that offers the widest possible range of information, entertainment and educational services available. With unsurpassed customization capabilities, the DMC-200 offers unprecedented freedom to both service providers and customers. The system�s flexible fully-wireless technologies allow one set-top box to provide multi-media exposure to an entire home, with all function capabilities available in every room. Based on Windows CE.NET technology, the media system has high-speed DSL router capability; high-speed cable and satellite reception including HDTV; internet access tools including Internet Explorer, Pocket Word, Outlook Express and more; an embedded media library for all types of digital media; optional video conferencing capabilities and conventional telephonic access. For further technical specifications of the DMC-200, please visit http://www.ewan1.com/cocom/products-DMC200.htm.

About eWan 1, Inc.
eWan1 Inc. achieved a technology breakthrough in the �set top box� market by being the first to develop and bring to market a next generation wireless platform that delivers both �triple play� (the combination of voice, video and data) in a single device and supports the new video encoding standard from Microsoft � Windows Media Player 9. EWAN specializes in broadband network solutions including high-speed Internet access, data, gaming, voice and video services.

Posted by Nana at 12:03 AM | eWAN 1 Achieves Phenomenal Success in Wireless Set-Top Box Broadband Test | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

MediaMVP Priced as Low as $80/Unit; Device can be Mounted Inside Walls or Ceilings, Enabling Music/Video/Photo Playback Over Home Network

Hauppauge Digital, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of digital video, TV, and data broadcast receiver products for personal computers, today announced it is setting a new price/performance standard for electronic home componentry via its MediaMVP� network media player. The announcement, made during the 2005 International Builders Show in Orlando, is good news for home builders and electronic home systems integrators wishing to offer cost effective, PC-ready whole house digital media networks to handle the distribution of music, video and digital pictures around the home.

Hauppauge's MediaMVP allows PC-based Music, Video and Pictures ("MVP") to be played anywhere in the home over a home local area network. The 6" x 6" device, priced as low as $80 per unit in OEM quantities, connects to a home's Cat5e cabling system and can be installed within a wall or ceiling inside a junction box. Speakers, video monitors, TVs and other playback devices are then linked to MediaMVP via a suitable wall outlet for a seamless, attractive and sophisticated whole-house media solution.

"Many home builders and home electronics professionals are looking for high-margin ways to increase a home's value. There's no question that digital home networks are at the top of the list," said Ken Plotkin, Chief Executive Officer of Hauppauge Digital, Inc. "MediaMVP's simplicity of use, reliability, and cutting-edge features are second to none. Plus its price makes it cost effective for every room in the house."

MediaMVP gives homeowners the ability to enjoy virtually any kind of audio or video entertainment stored on a PC, anywhere in the house. From the comfort of a living room sofa, for example, users can play MP3 music collections, listen to Internet radio stations, enjoy JPEG slideshows -- with or without music -- and even watch PC-based movies that are located on a PC in a different part of the house.

MediaMVP can also be hidden behind access panels in walls and ceilings and attached to audio amplifiers or video monitors. Music, videos or digital pictures can be sent from a central PC individually to each MediaMVP, providing a whole house audio/video system.

MediaMVP is the ultimate media enabler for home theater systems, plasma screens, and whole-house audio systems. The device supports all common multimedia formats including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX, MP3, WMA (Windows Media Audio), JPEG and GIF, and connects to monitors and TVs through Composite or S-Video and stereo audio connections.

For easy navigation, MediaMVP includes a remote control that allows users to pause, fast forward, and rewind through videos as well as pause music and picture shows. Up to 20 rooms can be networked using MediaMVP (one MediaMVP is required per each display or audio amplifier).

For more information about the MediaMVP, or any of Hauppauge's other digital video TV and data broadcast receiver products, visit http://www.hauppauge.com .

About Hauppauge Digital:

Hauppauge Digital, Inc. is a leading developer and manufacturer of digital TV and data broadcast receiver products for personal computers. Through its Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. and Hauppauge Digital Europe subsidiaries, the Company designs and develops digital video boards for TV-in-a-window, digital video editing and video conferencing. The Company is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, with administrative offices in New York, Singapore, Taiwan, Ireland and Luxembourg and sales offices in Germany, London, Paris, The Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Singapore and California. The Company's Internet web site can be found at http://www.hauppauge.com .

Posted by Nana at 11:59 PM | Hauppauge MediaMVP Network Media Player Offers Low Cost Networked Audio and Video for Electronic Home Integrators | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Stack9�s New Digital Media Systems Seek ISF Certification and Bring the Benefits of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Technology to Using, Managing and Enjoying Home Entertainment

Stack9 Systems Corp., an innovative technology company that builds and markets powerful, high quality, affordable whole-house entertainment and control systems, has announced a continuing commitment with Microsoft Corp. to deliver high quality Media Center PCs to consumers by obtaining Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) certification of its Digital Media System Series PCs, beginning with the Series 9100. Since 1994, ISF has provided comprehensive testing and certification of performance quality, and a publicly recognized logo program for high-end consumer electronics products that consumers identify with superior quality.

Stack9�s new Digital Media Systems � the 9100 Series, 9300 Series, 9500 Series and 9500Pro Series � are based on Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. The Digital Media Systems, introduced at CES, are easy-to-use components that allow consumers to simply and effectively manage entire libraries of digital movies, music, photos, CDs, digital video games and other digital video content, downloadable audio, radio, and TV and HDTV programs received off-the-air.

�Our Digital Media Systems uniquely empower consumers by allowing them to enjoy all their digital entertainment from a single component that can also control automated lighting, indoor climate and other household systems,� said Elbert Davis, Stack9 President and CEO. �Working with Microsoft, we�re confident we�ll continue to provide our customers with the features they most want in easy-to-use systems offering tremendous value.�

�Consumers are looking for solutions to ensure that they have the highest quality in their digital entertainment experiences,� said Bill Mannion, Director of Windows Consumer Marketing at Microsoft. �By receiving ISF certification, Stack9�s Series 9100 Digital Media System Media Center PC will offer consumers a solution that delivers amazing picture quality and a complete, integrated media experience.�

Stack9 Systems are available now from authorized Stack 9 dealers at suggested prices ranging from approximately $3,000 to approximately $15,000. They were seen at Booth 6818, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 2, during CES.

About Stack 9 Systems
Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Stack9 Systems is an innovative technology company that builds and markets powerful, high quality, affordable products that uniquely allow homeowners and businesses to store, manage, control, and enjoy all their digital audio and video entertainment and content from a single remote. Stack9 is dedicated to creating computer-based systems that enhance the latest, most advanced consumer electronics products. In pursuit of this vision, Stack9�s team of experienced computer scientists and engineers � many of whom are dedicated audio- and videophiles � have designed and manufactured a series of high quality, reliable Digital Media Systems that are rich in features, esthetically pleasing, easy to use, easy to integrate with other high-end audio/video and home control components, and made in the U.S.A.

Posted by Nana at 11:57 PM | Stack9 Raises the Standard for Home Audio/Video With New Digital Media Systems | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

TI, the third-biggest chipmaker in the world, is aggressively working with TV manufacturers, bureaucrats, producers and movie theaters to promote high-definition programming and technology, with a particular emphasis on dropping the cost of HDTV sets and building digital cinemas.

"We're working with our customers to move the price (of HDTV sets) to $1,000," Texas Instruments CEO Rich Templeton said in a meeting with reporters at the tail end of the Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. "This is the year of HDTV."

TI's interest in high-definition entertainment stems from its digital light processors (DLPs), a line of chips used in rear-projection TVs and projectors. In DLPs, transistors manipulate thousands of tiny mirrors to create an image that then appears on-screen (there are HD DLP TVs and DLP TVs for regular programming).

more...

Posted by Nana at 09:51 PM | Texas Instruments revs up TV, theater | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Blaupunkt IVOD-1022 features unique motor-loading DVD player incorporated in rear of 10.2-inch widescreen LCD display for clean, simple installation

Blaupunkt has introduced the IVOD-1022, an extremely low profile all-in-one DVD player and 10.2-inch video monitor for overhead mounting to the cockpit roof. Thanks to its advanced display and innovative DVD loading mechanism, the unit features a remarkable housing depth of just 1.5-inches (38 mm) when not in use.

"The IVOD-1022 is the shallowest all-in-one overhead unit we are aware of," comments Blaupunkt Video Systems Senior Product Manager Andrew Cho. "By incorporating a motorized, slot-loading transport directly in the rear of the display housing, we were able to save over an inch of depth compared to conventional designs. This unit delivers complete entertainment for rear seat passengers with essentially no loss in usable space in the interior."

The IVOD-1022 DVD transport is capable of playing DVD, CD, and even MP3 encoded CD-R/RW discs. The integrated LCD display is driven by a short-run S-Video connection for improved reproduction quality. The unit includes a built-in 12-channel FM transmitter to allow for simple integration with existing audio equipment, and a wide-angle (+/- 80 degrees) IR transmitter for use with a personal wireless headset.

Like all monitors in the Blaupunkt video line, the IVOD-1022 uses a superior quality active matrix TFT LCD display that is guaranteed for 15,000 hours of use. The monitor has a resolution of 800 x 400 pixels, and provides a wide viewable angle of 120 degrees horizontal and 90 degrees vertical.

The IVOD-1022 features simplified connectivity and integration options for easy installation and use in nearly any vehicle. For the simplest standalone installations, the built-in FM transmitter or IR headphones can be used for audio reproduction, and the only physical connections required are 12V power, ground, and a control signal for the integrated dome light. There are also physical A/V input and outputs for cases where a physical connection is desired, and all wired connections are included in a signle 20-pin DIN cable. There is an additional set of A/V inputs on the chassis itself for temporary use with equipment such as a personal MP3 player or videogame console.

The IVOD-1022 housing includes front panel controls for the DVD player, as well as an integrated dome light. The included handheld remote can also be used to control every aspect of the unit�s function.

The Blaupunkt IVOD-1022 overhead DVD player/monitor will be available in the second quarter of 2005 at a suggested retail price of $1299.95.

Blaupunkt, the mobile electronics division of The Robert Bosch Corporation, designs and manufactures high quality and high performance car audio, video and navigation products for sale worldwide. For Blaupunkt dealer locations and product information, call 1(800) 950-BLAU [2528] or visit the company's web site at www.blaupunktusa.com.

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial automation and mobile products, power tools and accessories, security technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs more than 23,300 associates in more than 80 facilities throughout North America and reported sales of $6.6 billion in 2003. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com.

Posted by Nana at 02:30 PM | Blaupunkt All-In-One DVD Player/Monitor Just 1.5-Inches Deep | TrackBacks (0)

IVMR-1542 features WXGA widescreen resolution, single-cable installation, and highest video performance available with chassis depth of just 2-3/8 inches

Blaupunkt has introduced the IVMR-1542, a 15.4-inch WXGA resolution in-car video monitor that features an incredibly low profile chassis depth of just 2-3/8 inch (5.97 cm). The monitor�s TFT active matrix display boasts a video resolution of 1280 x 800 in a 16x9 aspect ratio, a built-in wide angle (+/- 45 degrees) IR transmitter for wireless headphones, and a powerful suite of integration and control options that will appeal to installers and consumers alike. The IVMR-1542 has been selected as one of three Blaupunkt products to receive an Innovations 2005 Design and Engineering Showcase award at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show.

The IVMR-1542 monitor delivers unparalleled integration capabilities, whether combined with other Blaupunkt multimedia system components, or equipment from other manufacturers. All input and output connections are incorporated in a single 13-pin DIN cable to simplify installation. When used in conjunction with Blaupunkt Generation 2 video signal controllers, this cable handles power, audio and video input, source selection, volume control, menu, and IR remote control signal exchange for complete system function. A "breakout cable" is also included, which provides conventional RCA and stranded wire connections for integration with conventional equipment from other manufacturers.

The IVMR-1542 also features IR pass-through capability, which relays IR signals received by the faceplate sensor to an IR output line. This allows the monitor to function as a remote sensor for devices equipped with a 3.5mm IR input, such as a Blaupunkt DVD-ME R, ME2, or ME3 DVD player in the trunk or under the seats.

Like all monitors in the Blaupunkt video line, the IVMR-1542 uses a superior quality TFT active matrix LCD display that is guaranteed for 15,000 hours of use. The monitor provides a wide viewable angle of 120 degrees horizontal and 105 degrees vertical.

The Blaupunkt IVMR-1542 includes a full-featured handheld remote control, and will be available in February at a suggested retail price of $1099.95.

Blaupunkt, the mobile electronics division of The Robert Bosch Corporation, designs and manufactures high quality and high performance car audio, video and navigation products for sale worldwide. For Blaupunkt dealer locations and product information, call 1(800)
950-BLAU [2528] or visit the company's web site at www.blaupunktusa.com.

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial automation and mobile products, power tools and accessories, security technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs more than 23,300 associates in more than 80 facilities throughout North America and reported sales of $6.6 billion in 2003. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com.

Posted by Nana at 02:25 PM | Blaupunkt's Largest Overhead Monitor Packs High Resolution 15.4-inch LCD Display in a Remarkably Low-Profile Chassis | TrackBacks (0)

Company Announces Industry's First HDTV Media Hub, Next-Generation HP Digital Entertainment Centers, and a Full Line of New TVs and Projectors

In advance of the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, HP today kicked off the next phase of its digital entertainment push by announcing a set of products and partnerships that build on the company's strategy to deliver simplicity, innovation, personalization and mass-market pricing.

"Digital entertainment is about enabling consumers to enjoy, manage and interact with all kinds of content from any source in a simple, easy way," said Carly Fiorina, HP chairman and chief executive officer. "Our expertise in imaging and printing, consumer devices and computing technologies combined with our R&D capabilities uniquely position HP to solve the complexity of integrating the physical and digital worlds and take the digital lifestyle mainstream."

The company announced an expanded family of entertainment hubs. First, HP announced it will add high-definition ATSC tuning capabilities to its current HP Digital Entertainment Center (DEC), which is designed for PC enthusiasts who want to combine e-mail and Internet access with digital entertainment capabilities. HP's new DEC products fuse the best of PC and audio-visual elements. Two models are expected to ship this spring with different storage, graphics card and tuning options.

Second, HP announced the industry's first HDTV media hub

Sirius and Microsoft to collaborate to develop Video Service. Selects Windows Media Video 9 for Mobile Video Service


SIRIUS Satellite Radio today announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it has selected Windows Media Video 9 for use in SIRIUS� mobile video platform, and has reached an agreement with Microsoft to collaborate in the further development of video applications.

SIRIUS plans to offer a video service in the second half of 2006, and expects to devote 2-3 channels of premium video content designed primarily for children. With the explosive growth of DVD sales, video capabilities in automobiles are quickly becoming a prime feature for families and travelers. The automobile industry is increasingly interested in offering entertainment features to their new car buyers. According to SIRIUS, its automotive partners are eager proponents of the service, given the strong demand for rear seat video entertainment.

"We will take the DVD experience to the next level, offering the best content easily available to families and consumers,� said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS. �Working together with Microsoft will help ensure the exciting development of a solid and user friendly video platform for SIRIUS for years to come."

"We are excited to be working with SIRIUS on its new mobile video service that will be delivered using our technology," said Amir Majidimehr, Corporate Vice President of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "We will further work together to enable consumers to experience SIRIUS video whether on the go or at home -- from the initial mobile service in vehicles to the PC and home entertainment devices."

According to Microsoft, the high-quality and compression efficiencies of this technology are well suited for reception of video in mobile environments. SIRIUS broadcasts over 120 channels of commercial free music, news, talk and entertainment programming, and the addition of its video channels are not expected to affect the current audio fidelity of the company�s existing channels.

"Working with Microsoft to utilize the compression efficiencies inherent to WMV9 will enable SIRIUS to deliver content optimized for satellite broadcasts and reception," said Jim Meyer, President of Operations and Sales for SIRIUS.

About SIRIUS
SIRIUS delivers more than 120 channels of the best commercial-free music, compelling talk shows, news and information, and the most exciting sports programming to listeners across the country in digital quality sound. SIRIUS offers 65 channels of 100% commercial-free music, and features over 55 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95. SIRIUS also broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL and NBA, and is the Official Satellite Radio partner of the NFL.

SIRIUS radios for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are manufactured by Alpine, Audiovox, Blaupunkt, Clarion, Delphi, Jensen, JVC, Kenwood, Sanyo and XACT Communications. Available in more than 25,000 retail locations, SIRIUS radios can be purchased at major retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Office Depot, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart and RadioShack. SIRIUS is also available at heavy truck dealers and truck stops nationwide.

SIRIUS radios are currently offered in vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jeep?, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Porsche and Volkswagen. Beginning in February 2005, SIRIUS will also be available in Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles. Hertz currently offers SIRIUS at 53 major locations around the country.

Posted by Nana at 10:32 AM | Sirius plans to launch new video service | TrackBacks (0)

Entropic Communications will be at CES (Booth 26815) to show of their home networking for digital entertainment technologies. Their c.LINK technology enables the networking of digital entertainment media from PCs, set-top boxes, digital video recorders such as TiVo, and other consumer electronics over the standard coaxial cable already installed in virtually all U.S. households.

See their Press Release Below:

Video-on-demand movie services are expanding from the familiar pay-per-view model, as companies such as Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) have begun offering subscription packages featuring web-based downloads of popular entertainment directly by broadband to the PC with STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies.

Initially offered for viewing only on the PC, consumers with heavy investments in plasma screens and HDTVs are looking for display options beyond the desktop, and that's where Entropic comes in. Entropic's technology permits networking of digital entertainment from PCs, set-top boxes, digital video recorders, and other consumer electronics over the standard coaxial cable already installed in virtually all U.S. households.

A demonstration of downloaded high-definition movie content from Starz Entertainment Group, stored on a PC hard drive, and transmitted over the in-home coax to a HDTV screen in another room, will take place at next month's CES in Las Vegas in Entropic's Booth 26815.

"We're interested in expanding the horizons of people who want to download high-quality content from the web onto their PCs," said Bob Greene, SEG senior vice president, advanced services. "Partnering with Entropic on this demo shows what a powerful model this can be, as STARZ! movies stored on a PC's hard drive can be accessed and shown on any set connected to the cable jack in the wall."

Entropic's c.LINK-270 chipset, when built into a variety of consumer electronics such as set-top boxes, digital video recorders, and televisions permits seamless networking over the existing coaxial cable infrastructure at speeds as high as 270Mbps. The high speed and reliability of coax make it the ideal medium for networking high-bandwidth applications such as video.

"We believe that traditional service providers such as cable MSO will continue to offer VOD for hundreds of titles, many of which will be available in HDTV format," said Patrick Henry, Entropic's president and CEO. "However, there will be tens of thousands of titles of more niche content, including old-run TV programs and movies, that will be available over the web. STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies reliably delivers this content to the home in a very secure way, and Entropic's technology moves the content around the home in a very reliable and secure way using the in-home coax."

Entropic is a founding member of the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA(TM)), formed to standardize technologies for linking consumer entertainment devices over existing coax cabling. Other members include Cisco Systems, Comcast, EchoStar, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Motorola, RadioShack Corporation, and Toshiba. For more information: www.mocalliance.com.

About Starz Entertainment Group

Starz Entertainment Group (SEG) is the largest provider of premium movie services in the United States with approximately 167 million pay units. SEG offerings include the Starz Super Pak(R), with up to 13 digital movie channels and more than 750 movies per month, Starz On Demand(R), the only on-demand pay TV subscription service available on the cable and satellite platforms, and its broadband equivalent, STARZ! Ticket(SM). SEG also offers a suite of advanced video offerings, including STARZ! HD(SM), Encore HD(SM), and Starz On Demand HD(SM). Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L, LMCb), www.starz.com.

About Entropic Communications

Entropic Communications is a privately held semiconductor company based in San Diego, Calif., enabling home networking for digital entertainment. Entropic's products allow consumers to easily share digital entertainment throughout the home by leveraging the existing coax infrastructure to fundamentally change the way content such as movies, music, and images are stored and networked by the average user. For more information: www.entropic.com.

Posted by Nana at 02:20 PM | Entropic to Demonstrate Sharing of HDTV Movie Downloads From Starz Entertainment Group Over In-Home Coax Network at CES | TrackBacks (0)

With CES coming up in just a few short days, here's a quick outline of a few Home Theater and Audio companies with must see exibits and booths.

Canton -- South Hall 1, 20944
Company debuts its beautiful new Vento (Italian for 'wind') loudspeakers, which sound even better than they look. Canton will also debut its Karat Reference 2 DC Center Channel speaker to complete the Karat Reference Theater.

Parasound -- South Hall 1, 21927
Parasound debuts a PLIIx software upgrade for its Halo C 1 and Halo C 2 A/V controllers; includes Dolby Pro Logic IIx, THX Gaming mode, adjustable tone controls, improved bass management, and much more. Get a sneak peek at Parasound's New Classic component line at the booth (a new AV processor and five amps to start). Scheduled for formal announcement and delivery First Quarter.

Parasound -- Alexis Park -- 1302
Two of Parasound's JC 1 400-Watt monoblocks will be helping to move significant quantities of air in the high-end audio suites.

Atlantic Technology -- South Hall 1, 21744
Test your virtual courage and eye-hand coordination in the Ultimate Gaming Theater. Designed and built by the Cinema Design Group, it combines Atlantic Tech's new-for-CES System 4200e THX Select speakers, Atlantic's processor and amplifier, plus a state-of-the-art video system, serious lounging, and Electronic Art's hottest street racer game.

Wireworld -- South Hall 1, 21729
Press Conference on 9 AM Friday in S-227 near the press room.
A new concept in speaker cables for custom installers; no tools, no stripping, and no mess. New HDMI/DVI cables will push the Digital TV performance envelope.

Posted by Nana at 01:23 PM | What's new in Home Theater and Audio at CES. | TrackBacks (0)

Comcast officials announced today that they are expanding the Digital Cable lineup with the addition of three new channels beginning December 28th in the Dallas area: Canal 22, FamilyNet Television and Once TV.

FamilyNet Television is a faith-based family entertainment and informational network featuring award-winning programs the whole family can enjoy on Digital Classic. Canal 22 and Once TV both feature Spanish language programming to further enhance Comcast's growing collection of Hispanic programming on our Cable Latino Digital Service.

"Comcast is very excited to add these three new channels to our Digital Cable lineup," said Mike Cleland, Comcast's Area Vice President. "We are always focused on providing a variety of programming that our customers desire."

Depending on the Digital Cable package of services Comcast customers choose, they may see these exciting new networks on the following channels: Canal 22 will be on Comcast Digital Cable channel 639, FamilyNet will be on Comcast Digital Cable channel 296, and Once TV will be on Comcast Digital Cable channel 641. The new channels will be available in the following communities: Addison, Allen, Arlington, Bedford, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Cockrell Hill, Colleyville, Coppell, Dallas, Dalworthington Gardens, DeSoto, Double Oak, Euless, Farmers Branch, Flower Mound, Frisco, Garland, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Hebron, Highland Village, Hutchins, Irving, Lancaster, Lewisville, McKinney, Mesquite, Murphy, Pantego, Parker, Plano, Princeton, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, St. Paul, Sunnyvale, The Colony, and Wylie.

For more information about Comcast's products and services, please telephone 1-800-Comcast or visit the company's website at http://www.comcast.com

Posted by Nana at 10:29 PM | Comcast Enhances Digital Programming With Three New Channels; Canal 22, FamilyNet and Once TV Added in Dallas Area | TrackBacks (0)

The book covers home theater installation from start to finish, from purchase to experience, providing the sort of information that could previously only be found through laborious web searches, stacks of magazines, and water cooler conversations.

Perhaps it's the inconvenience and discomfort of waiting in long lines at the theater, or the four-dollar price tag on a small bag of popcorn. Or perhaps it's the lure of the latest technology that promises to deliver the ultimate cinematic-quality experience directly to your living room. Whatever the reason, the home theater market is thriving. And, although the price tag on a home theater setup is still not what you'd call cheap, good quality systems have become more affordable, especially if you know where and how to buy them. In fact, one of the biggest deterrents to installing a home theater system is knowing where to turn for reliable information.

'Home Theater Hacks' (O'Reilly, US $24.95) by Brett McLaughlin distills the knowledge, techniques, and experiences of home theater gurus in one handy volume designed to boost the confidence of novices while adding to the expertise of the more advanced. The book covers home theater installation from start to finish, from purchase to experience, providing the sort of information that could previously only be found through laborious web searches, stacks of magazines, and water cooler conversations.

'This collection of advice, tips, tricks, warnings, and screaming admonitions reflects the best wisdom in the rather significant home theater community,' says McLaughlin. 'Just getting started and want to know what TV to buy? We cover it. Comfortable with computers and want to use your home PC for playing DVDs? We'll show you how to get resolutions better than $1,000 commercial DVD players. Seasoned pro looking for a new challenge? Learn to wire up your own super-high-end power and speaker cables. Whatever your experience and whatever your interest level, you'll find something to pique your interest and push the envelope of even the highest-grade home theaters.'

Imagine no frustrating trial-and-error process, or better yet, no expensive appointments with installation experts. 'Home Theater Hacks'
will help readers prevent both those scenarios with practical techniques not found anywhere else. Readers learn how to:

-Master the jargon. The home theater scene has its own lingo, which, when mastered, makes everything that follows much easier.
-Buy without fear and get the best price, whether buying online, in a chain store, or a boutique store.
-Take control of sound. From speaker cables to placement, the book covers everything that can be done to improve sound quality.
-Tune in to HDTV. Whether the signals come through a rooftop antenna, satellite dish, or cable hookup, readers learn everything they need to know about high-definition TV.
-Try out TiVo. What good is television if you can't watch it on your own terms? These great tips will help readers bend TiVo to their will.

The book presents insider tips and tools in a concise yet entertaining style. A seasoned veteran with numerous O'Reilly books under his belt, author Brett McLaughlin presents an exhaustive wealth of knowledge to help readers customize and maximize their home theater experience.

Posted by Nana at 11:08 AM | The insider's guide to a great home theater setup O'Reilly releases 'Home Theater Hacks' | TrackBacks (0)

ATI Technologies Inc. announced that in 2004 ATI’s Digital Television division shipped more than 5 million chips for HD (high-definition) TVs and HD cable and terrestrial set-top boxes. In addition, ATI announced market leadership in ATSC/OpenCable™ silicon solutions with an ATI-estimated 85% market share for THEATER™ and NXT demodulators and a 40% market share for XILLEON™ MPEG decoders and display processors.

ATI’s NXT, THEATER and XILLEON chips enable consumer electronics manufacturers to create a wide variety of products that feature exceptional reception and video display performance. Manufacturers also have access to ATI’s extensive software support and reference designs to help them bring to market unique products that conform to worldwide industry standards.

Leading manufacturers of HD TVs and HD set-top boxes using ATI chips include:

“ATI is providing consumer electronics manufacturers with the industry’s best performing DTV and set-top chipsets,” said Daniel Eiref, director of marketing for DTV Products, ATI Technologies Inc. “ATI’s corporate commitment to research and development in digital television technologies is enabling our customers to deliver brilliant products while at the same time meeting the United States Federal Communications Commission mandated conversion to integrated digital reception.”

ATI’s product family for digital TVs and set-top boxes includes:

• NXT2003™/NXT2004™/NXT2005™ - cost-effective VSB/QAM/OpenCable reception
• THEATER™ 310/THEATER 313™ - the world’s best performing VSB/QAM/OpenCable reception
• XILLEON™ 210VC – the only ATSC/OpenCable™ system-on-chip with integrated VSB and MPEG
• XILLEON™ 226 - the world’s most popular and best performing dual high-definition MPEG decoder with integrated display processor

ATI Technologies will be exhibiting its DTV solutions at International CES 2005 at booth 3/30342 at the South Hall, Upper Level, Las Vegas Convention Center, January 6 to 9, 2005.

Posted by Nana at 03:51 PM | ATI Ships More than 5 Million Chips for High Definition TVs and Set-top Boxes in 2004 | TrackBacks (0)

CopperGate and Ucentric are offering a joint IP network solution for using existing coaxial cable and phone lines that will enable service providers to cut consumer premises equipment and installation costs.

CopperGate and Ucentric Team Up for Home IP Network Entertainment Applications Solution

Two companies to showcase joint home networking solution at the industry�s largest consumer electronics show

CopperGate Communications, a leading developer of chipset solutions for home networking, and Ucentric Systems, a leading provider of home media networking software for the digital home, today announced a joint Internet Protocol (IP) network solution for delivering whole-home entertainment applications using existing coaxial cable and phone lines. CopperGate�s CopperStream� technology, in production today, has been integrated with Ucentric�s Whole-Home Media� Software Suite to enable a highly reliable IP network capable of distributing high-definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) broadcast quality video sessions. The resulting system is ideally suited to Ucentric�s highly popular Whole-Home DVR� (digital video recording) application, Whole- Home Music�, and distribution of photos to multiple display devices throughout the home. The integrated solution, which enables telco and satellite service providers to significantly cut consumer premises equipment and installation costs while increasing entertainment service offerings, will be featured at the upcoming International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2005 in Las Vegas, January 6-9.

�Ucentric has built a home entertainment platform that greatly enhances the consumer�s digital home entertainment experience, and at a cost that operators and manufacturers can easily adopt,� said Gabi Hilevitz, CopperGate CEO. �We are pleased to work with them to deliver a flexible system that uses a high speed IP backbone in the house to deliver high quality video, data and voice services on a secure and dependable network.�

CopperGate`s CopperStream products can carry 128 megabits per second of data over both coaxial cables and phone lines with up to 90% user data throughput. Guaranteed QoS provided by Automatic Bandwidth Allocation (ABATM) ensures delivery of data streams with predefined bandwidth, latency and jitter. These products are the first to comply with the HomePNA 3.0 specification, an extension of HomePNA 2, an ITU Standard.

�CopperGate�s industry-leading home networking products allow the distribution of multiple broadcast quality HD video streams � the essential and most difficult challenge for physical layer technologies to meet � over combined phoneline/coax networks. The availability of a mature, cost-efficient technology to support multi-session HD is a significant enabler for the New Digital Home,� said Michael Collette, Ucentric chief executive officer. �Our combined IP-based system for the Digital Home can now deliver a future-proof solution that meets today�s requirement and is built to expand to allow providers to support growing consumer demand for applications and services in the home that require this sort of bandwidth.�

Ucentric�s Whole-Home DVR� application creates a single recording library, shared among multiple television sets that allows users to independently record, pause, play, rewind and fast forward live or recorded programming from any TV in the network. Additional applications available from Ucentric include Whole-Home Music� and Whole-Home Photo� applications that allow users to access, share, and transfer their complete digital music and photo collections to any connected device in the home.

About Ucentric Systems
Ucentric is a leading provider of networked media server software and applications for the new digital home. Its patented technology enables the secure, high quality digital distribution of HD and SD video signals from broadcast, satellite or cable sources to all connected rooms in the home. The Ucentric solution is uniquely capable of unifying networked television, including whole-home DVR with networked personal media (music, photos, home movies) and networked communications (broadband internet access and telephony) � all on a standards-based, cost efficient, interoperable IP networking platform that can easily scale to support any array of applications.

Ucentric is committed to supporting industry standards and is a member of the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Forum and actively supports CableLab�s Open Cable initiative. Based in Maynard, Massachusetts, Ucentric is backed by Polaris Venture Partners. For more information, please visit www.ucentric.com.

About CopperGate Communications
CopperGate Communications develops chipsets which are designed to transform home networking. CopperGate�s technology uses existing coax and phoneline wiring in the home to create a multimedia network for distributing services such as HDTV, video-on-demand, home-theater, browsing, online gaming, and toll-quality IP phone service. CopperGate offers Telcos and Satellite Providers a sustainable competitive advantage allowing providers to get services to market faster, with cost savings, and with better coverage in real homes. The third generation technology is based on a worldwide standard and features dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA�) providing guaranteed quality of service. Founded in 2000, CopperGate is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, with offices in Newark California and Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.copper-gate.com.

Posted by Nana at 03:23 PM | Coppergate and Ucentric team up for home IP network entertainment applications solution | TrackBacks (0)

NVIDIA Corporation, a worldwide leader in graphics and digital media processors, today announced NVIDIA� PureVideo� technology, a combination of hardware and software technologies designed to raise the bar on the video capabilities of today�s desktop and notebook PCs.  The addition of PureVideo technology to the GeForce� 6 Series of graphics processing units (GPUs) allows for accelerated playback of MPEG-2 and high-definition (HD) video content at home-theater levels of quality, resulting in crisp, vibrant and stutter-free video on any display.

Enabled by a dedicated, programmable video processing engine found on the Company�s award-winning GeForce 6 Series GPUs, PureVideo technology eliminates the trade-off in quality traditionally associated with video on the PC by executing on an advanced set of algorithms typically found in high-end consumer electronics devices.  PureVideo technology eliminates the need for separate hardware or chipsets and takes the load off the PC�s multi-purpose central processing unit (CPU) to deliver to consumers, high-quality video playback at resolutions up to 720p and 1080i. 

�The personal computer has never been well-regarded for its abilities to deliver high-quality video playback,� said Dan Vivoli, executive vice president of marketing at NVIDIA.  �The GeForce 6 Series with PureVideo technology finally merges the flexibility of the PC platform with the capabilities of high-end consumer electronics to give consumers more choice over how they experience video.�

Recent analyst reports cite that the adoption of HD is on the rise, with an estimated 60 million households expected to embrace high-definition devices by 2008�. Similarly, 33.5 million US households are expected to adopt digital video recorder (DVR) technology in the same time period�.

Key features of PureVideo include:

• High-definition MPEG-2 Hardware Acceleration.  A dedicated 16-way vector processor enables smooth playback of HD video with minimal CPU usage.
• WMV High-definition Hardware Acceleration.  Programmable support of the newest format enabled by Microsoft Windows Media Player and Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 for fluid playback of WMV and WMV HD content.
• High-quality Real-time Video Recording.  An advanced motion-estimation engine makes it possible to record in real-time without a loss in quality.
• Spatial / Temporal Adaptive De-Interlacing.  Experience interlaced content from satellite, cable, and DVD feeds in full detail and without jagged edges or artifacts.
• 3:2 Pull-down Correction and �Bad Edit� Correction�.  Restore video to its original 24fps film format to experience a crystal clear picture, frame after frame.
• Flicker-free Multi-Stream Scaling.  High-quality 4-tap by 5-tap scaling maintains image detail, even when scaling a small video to a large area of the screen.
• Display Gamma Correction.  Automatic format detection adjusts the color quality of video playback so that it is not too dark, overly bright or washed out, regardless of the display.

To maximize the complete PureVideo experience, NVIDIA has released the NVIDIA DVD Decoder. The software decoder�the first software decoder to receive "Designed for Media Center" certification from Microsoft��unleashes the broad range of PureVideo technology features for DVD and recorded video playback and works with both Windows� Media Player and Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. The Company has also released an update for its ForceWare� software unified driver architecture to enable the functionality of the PureVideo technology algorithms. For additional information, or to download a free trial version of the NVIDIA DVD Decoder, please visit www.nvidia.com.

�The programmability of the PureVideo engine gives us more flexibility as a development platform as we are able to support key new features designed to enhance video playback, such as motion estimation, to deliver a competitive advantage to our products,� said Lewis Liaw, president of Ulead Systems, North America. �With Ulead�s products and NVIDIA GeForce 6 Series GPUs, consumers have a cost-effective solution for creating high-quality video.�

Graphics cards based on NVIDIA GeForce 6 Series GPUs with PureVideo technology are available today from leading add- in card vendors, system builders, and major OEMs worldwide. For more information about PureVideo technology or the GeForce 6 Series, please visit www.nvidia.com.

About NVIDIA
NVIDIA Corporation is a worldwide leader in graphics and digital media processors. The Company�s products enhance the end-user experience on consumer and professional computing devices. NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs), media and communications processors (MCPs), and wireless media processors (WMPs) have broad market reach and are incorporated into a variety of platforms, including consumer and enterprise PCs, notebooks, workstations, PDAs, mobile phones, and video game consoles. NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and employs more than 2,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the Company�s Web site at www.nvidia.com.

Posted by Nana at 03:19 PM | NVIDIA PureVideo Technology Brings Home-Theater Quality Video to the PC | TrackBacks (0)

Have you ever stopped to calculate how much you are spending every month on home entertainment related services and fees? When you add up your monthly cable or satellite TV fees, TiVo subscription fees, broadband access fees and more, it really adds up to quite a chunk of change.

Unfortunately, the problem is, once we get hooked on these services, they are hard to do without. Check out this article at the News Observer that highlights the growing fees associated with the latest technology services.

Posted by Nana at 05:35 PM | How much do you spend on TiVo, Cable, and Satellite TV subscriptions? | TrackBacks (0)

Starting on New Years day, late fees at Blockbuster will be a thing of the past. But don't think that means you never have to return your DVDs, movies and games. The same deadlines apply, but now you have a 1 week grace period to return stuff. After that, you'll be billed for the cost of the DVD or game. You still have 30 days to return the item if you don't want to "buy" it, but you'll be charged a "minimal" restocking fee. This may seem like a downside, but I can't count how many times I've been charged late fees for a DVD that's only a few minutes late. As you may have guessed, this decision is going to cut into blockbuster's earnings; they estimate they'll be missing out on $250 to $300 million in operating income. I knew charging a late fee was big business, but "DANG, that's a lot of money!"

Posted by Nana at 04:44 PM | No more Blockbuster Late fees | TrackBacks (0)

ON DEMAND, Digital Video Recorders, HDTV and Comcast High-Speed Internet Available to Many Chicagoland Customers - Just in Time for the Holidays

CHICAGO, Dec. 14 Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, viewers in Chicagoland will soon have access to unprecedented control of what and when they watch television. Customers will also have the ability to put the Internet to work for them in fun and exciting ways. The future of television and broadband is now, as Comcast today announced the completion of its $350 million broadband network upgrade.

As a result of the upgrade, Comcast customers will have access to ON DEMAND and Digital Video Recorders to control their television viewing like never before, and High Speed Internet with download speeds of up to 4Mbps, plus outstanding online content and features.

"The days of 'appointment television' are over. With ON DEMAND and DVRs, Comcast home entertainment is all about customization, and watching what you want, when you want," said Joseph Stackhouse, Comcast senior vice president for the Greater Chicago Region. "Our DVRs are much more affordable than competitive products, like TiVo -- we don't charge for the box itself, and the monthly service charge is lower. And ON DEMAND is a value-add service that makes Comcast Digital Cable a more attractive, robust service than any satellite company could provide."

Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) will be available to everyone in the Greater Chicago Region in early 2005, allowing customers to digitally record up to 40 hours of programming to watch and re-watch shows on their schedules. DVRs will be available for only $9.95 a month. And Comcast's dual-tuner DVRs make it possible to record one show while you watch another, or record two shows simultaneously.

Comcast Digital Cable customers automatically have access to ON DEMAND, available in many areas currently but with total distribution by early 2005. ON DEMAND offers thousands of programs from a wide variety of cable networks - as well as a growing library of new-release and favorite films - most at no additional cost. Video-on-demand technology is not available from satellite companies.

"People are busier than ever, and television and movies at home are among the best ways to relax -- especially when you can choose your own programming," said Stackhouse.

Also as a result of the upgrade, for the first time, all Greater Chicago Region consumers now have access to a broadband high-speed Internet connection. Comcast High-Speed Internet offers everyone in the region the Internet's richest selection of multimedia content like never before. The lightning-fast Internet connection is 100 percent pure broadband, featuring a host of included services such as Video Mail, that allows the sender to send a 45-second video message without clogging his or the recipient's hard drive with large files, and The Fan(TM) a free multimedia player built in to Comcast High-Speed Internet.

Comcast High-Speed Internet is delivered to customers' homes via our broadband network, and customers can talk on the phone and surf the Internet simultaneously. Customers also can watch cable television while using the service. The service is "always-on"; customers aren't required to dial-up to access the Internet.

"We are proud to be the first to offer broadband high-speed Internet throughout the Greater Chicago Region," said Stackhouse. "The fast broadband connection will allow Comcast customers to enjoy their hobbies -- from gaming and downloading music to online shopping and chatting -- more than ever before."

More than 10,000 miles of upgraded broadband networks and newly constructed routing centers will increase the reliability of all of Comcast services in the Chicagoland area. Most importantly, the upgrade will allow the company the ongoing ability to offer new products and services to almost 4.2 million homes.

"Our employees have worked very hard completing this upgrade over the past two years to ensure that Comcast offers not only fast and reliable service to Chicago, but also the latest in home entertainment technology," Stackhouse said.

ABOUT COMCAST CABLE

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation, a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. Operating in 17 of the United States' 20 largest metropolitan areas, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, digital cable, high-speed Internet and telephone services, Comcast Cable is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what's important in their lives. The company's 55,000 employees, in six divisions, serve more than 21 million customers.

Comcast Cable serves more than 1.7 million customers in the Greater Chicago region. Comcast, whose regional offices are located in Schaumburg, Ill., employs more than 4,700 people in Illinois, Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

Posted by Nana at 10:30 AM | Comcast's Completion of Chicago Region's $350-Million Broadband Network Upgrade Puts Viewers in Control | TrackBacks (0)

Thomson today announced that it will support next-generation DVD formats by manufacturing HD DVD and Blu-ray discs through its Technicolor business and providing consumer HD DVD players through its THOMSON and RCA brands. Next generation DVD formats provide higher resolution video and audio, advanced navigation, web connectivity and other advanced features. Other essential features include advanced content access and robust content security technology, which are critical for content owners. In addition, the development of the next-generation DVD formats is expected to fuel the continued consumer acceptance of high definition television around the world.

HD DVD is the new high definition DVD disc standard being developed by the DVD Forum, which represents over 230 consumer electronics, information technology and content companies. HD DVD is based on the same physical disc structure as current DVD discs, which ensures backward compatibility and enables manufacturing of the discs at reasonable cost. The new HD DVD format was recently endorsed by major Hollywood studios, including Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Studios. The commitment to support HD DVD will ensure that Thomson's studio customers that have selected this format will have HD DVD discs and players available for the planned launch in late 2005.

Thomson, which is also a founding member of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), will continue to participate and support the development and production of the Blu-ray Disc format. The BDA regroups over 70 companies, including Sony, Dell, HP, Hitachi, LG Electronics, Mitsubishi, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.), Pioneer Corporation, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, TDK, 20th Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company.

"Our tradition is based on being a trusted service provider to content owners, independent of format choices," said Quentin Lilly, President, Technicolor Home Entertainment Services. "We will support the format our studio customers select to grow their businesses and support their growth with the highest quality replication, distribution and other media services available in the industry today."

"We believe that the timing is right for the introduction in 2005 of high-definition DVD players that Thomson will market under the RCA brand in the U.S. and the THOMSON brand in Europe in support of the content roll-out. While HDTV is just beginning in Europe, our experience with other digital entertainment products tells us that the steady growth of HD content will fuel continued growth of the category," said Mike O'Hara, Executive Vice President of Thomson's consumer Connectivity business segment.

Certain statements in this press release, including any discussion of management expectations for future periods, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements due to changes in global economic and business conditions, consumer electronics markets, and regulatory factors. More detailed information on the potential factors that could affect the financial results of Thomson is contained in Thomson's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Thomson - Partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries

Thomson provides technology, systems and services to help its Media & Entertainment clients -- content creators, content distributors and users of its technology -- realize their business goals and optimise their performance in a rapidly changing technology environment. The Group intends to become the preferred partner to the Media & Entertainment industries by offering end-to-end solutions to content creators, video network operators and retailers through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, RCA and THOMSON brands.

For information about Thomson, please visit www.thomson.net.

Technicolor Home Entertainment Services (THES), part of Thomson's Services division, provides complete DVD, CD and Videocassette manufacturing and distribution services ranging from compression and authoring through to packaging, shipping and returns processing for leading Hollywood studios, independent rights holders, software developers, OEMs, game manufacturers, record labels, promotional agencies, direct marketers and more. Recognized as an optical industry pioneer and the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of Videocassettes, DVDs and CDs, THES has the high-volume replication capabilities and superior technology to produce all major CD and DVD formats quickly and efficiently. A leader in the development and implementation of CD and DVD anti-piracy technologies designed to protect content for customers, THES has the worldwide capacity to produce more than 1.5 billion DVDs annually along with the capacity to produce more than 500 million Videocassettes and more than 300 million CDs annually. Major Hollywood clients include: The Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal, Paramount, DreamWorks SKG, MGM, and New Line Cinema. Software publishing customers include Microsoft, Vivendi Universal Interactive, Electronic Arts, and Hewlett-Packard.

For more information: www.technicolor.com

Posted by Nana at 03:03 PM | Thomson to Support Next-Generation DVD Formats; Thomson to Introduce HD DVD Players and Provide Disc Replication Support for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc Formats | TrackBacks (0)

- BBK Electronics leverages DMN-8602 for DVD recorders, while reducing risks and costs
- DMN-8602 reduces cost, design complexity, and time-to-market through its high level of system integration (http://www.lsilogic.com/products/recorder_dvd_dvr_dtr/dmn_8602.html)

LSI Logic Corporation, a leader in multimedia processing for the Digital Home, today announced that BBK AV & Entertainment Corp. (affiliated to BBK Electronics Corp.) has developed its latest line of full-featured, cost-effective DVD recorders by leveraging the LSI Logic DoMiNo(TM) 8602 (DMN-8602) DVD recorder system processor. BBK is ranked in the top three AV manufacturers in China and is at the forefront of driving the latest technologies.
"By leveraging the DMN-8602, we benefited from LSI Logic's expertise in approaching products from both a chip and system level," said Tony Chen, general manager of BBK AV Division. "We were able to streamline our product development cycle, reduce risk and get to market quickly with a cutting-edge solution."

The DMN-8602 leverages the industry-leading integration of the DoMiNo 8600 (DMN-8600), the industry's first single-chip DVD recorder solution. The DMN- 8602 further integrates an NTSC/PAL TV encoder and a USB controller, and requires only a single unified memory subsystem. The integration of these functions into a single chip reduces design complexity and provides system designers with a considerable savings on the overall bill of materials.

"The DVD recorder market is continuing to see strong growth," said Umesh Padval, executive vice president of the LSI Logic Consumer Products Division. "We have had a long-term relationship with BBK on VCD and DVD products over the last 10 years, and we are pleased that they have entered the DVD recorder market using our industry-leading DMN-8602."

The DMN-8602 features LSI Logic's Direct Digital Dub(TM) technology that simplifies the transfer of personal digital content from a camcorder to DVD over FireWire, with one-touch control via a single remote. Additional advantages include LSI Logic's proprietary pre- and post-processing technologies, TrueView(TM) Pro and TrueScan(TM) Pro. These motion compensation-based technologies provide advanced progressive scan output and impressive noise handling on analog inputs.

LSI Logic's Consumer Products Division provides innovative digital media processing and silicon solutions to industry-leading, worldwide consumer electronics manufacturers. With a complete line of cutting-edge products for DVD, DVR, EVD, video game, digital and HDTV, set-top box, and professional video production/broadcasting devices, LSI Logic delivers entertainment into and throughout the Digital Home.

About LSI Logic Corporation

LSI Logic Corporation focuses on the design and production of high- performance semiconductors for Consumer, Communications and Storage applications that access, interconnect and store data, voice and video. LSI Logic engineers incorporate reusable, industry-standard intellectual property building blocks that serve as the heart of leading-edge systems. LSI Logic serves its global OEM, channel and distribution customers with Platform ASICs, standard-cell ASICs, standard products, host bus adapters, RAID controllers and software. In addition, the company supplies storage network solutions for the enterprise. LSI Logic is headquartered at 1621 Barber Lane, Milpitas, CA 95035. http://www.lsilogic.com.

Posted by Nana at 01:12 PM | LSI Logic Enables BBK Electronics' Entry Into DVD Recorder Market With DoMiNo(TM) DVD Processor | TrackBacks (0)

Reliable, high-speed IP network leverages existing coax to support state of the art Digital Home consumer experience

Ucentric Systems and Entropic Communications are teaming up to deliver whole-home digital entertainment networking using an Internet Protocol (IP) network in the home that leverages existing coaxial cable. Entropic IP networking silicon chipsets combined with Ucentric Whole-Home software platform allow multiple high-definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) sessions of DVR (digital video recording) functionality and sharing of personal media such as music and photos to multiple display devices throughout the home over a reliable, high- speed (270Mbps) IP network. The combined solution will be showcased at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2005 in Las Vegas, January 6-9.

"We're pleased to work with Ucentric to provide a reliable and engaging platform to move high-quality digital media throughout the home," said Patrick Henry, Entropic president and CEO. "Our combined solution allows CE manufacturers to take full advantage of Entropic's multimedia transport technology and Ucentric's modular and customizable software suite for delivering compelling, broadcast quality applications throughout the home on a robust and low-cost IP network."

"Entropic has been a leader in leveraging existing in-home cable to create secure and dependable multimedia networks that support broadcast quality video, including HDTV, high speed data, Internet, voice, and multi-room gaming," said Michael Collette, Ucentric chief executive officer. "IP networking for Whole-Home entertainment is critical in the mass deployment of home media servers and media sharing in that it overcomes the bandwidth issues of moving HD content around the home and affords the reliability of an IP network at the lowest possible cost to CE manufacturers."

Entropic's c.LINK-270 chipset, when built into a variety of consumer electronics such as set-top boxes, digital video recorders, and televisions permits seamless networking over the existing coaxial cable infrastructure at speeds as high as 270Mbps. The high speed and reliability of coax make it the ideal medium for networking high-bandwidth applications such as video.

Ucentric's Networked Media Center software platform includes a Whole-Home DVR(TM) application featuring a single recording library, shared among multiple television sets that allows users to independently record, pause, play, rewind and fast forward live or recorded programming from any TV in the network. Additional applications available from Ucentric include Whole-Home Music(TM) and Whole-Home Photo(TM) applications that allow users to access, share, and transfer their complete digital music and photo collections to any connected device in the home.

About Ucentric Systems

Ucentric is a leading provider of home media networking software for the new digital home. Its patented technology enables the secure, high quality digital distribution of HD and SD video signals from broadcast, satellite or cable sources to all connected rooms in the home, over low-cost, in-home wired or wireless networks. Ucentric's embedded software platform provides CE manufacturers and operators maximum integration and branding flexibility for enabling multi-TV DVR, whole-home music and other networking applications for advanced set-top boxes, home media servers and entertainment PCs.

Ucentric is a member of the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Forum and actively supports CableLab's Open Cable initiative. Based in Maynard, Massachusetts, Ucentric is backed by Polaris Venture Partners. For more information, please visit www.ucentric.com.

About Entropic Communications

Entropic Communications is a privately held semiconductor company based in San Diego, Calif., enabling home networking for digital entertainment. Entropic's products allow consumers to easily share digital entertainment throughout the home by leveraging the existing coax infrastructure to fundamentally change the way content such as movies, music, and images are stored and networked by the average user. For more information: www.entropic.com.

Posted by Nana at 01:09 PM | Ucentric and Entropic to Show IP Network for Whole-Home Entertainment at CES | TrackBacks (0)

Breakthrough DVD player offers High definition and WMV9 playback

Australian home theatre designer Zensonic Corporation has announced a groundbreaking DVD player with wireless networking and the ability to directly connect a hard-drive.

The Zensonic Z500 networked digital media player gives users four connectivity options in one unit: wireless networking, gigabit Ethernet wired networking, optical disc playback and USB 2.0 hard drive connection.

It has unprecedented file format support including high definition Windows Media� Video 9, DivX� and MPEG4 playback. In addition it also supports HighMAT� (High Performance Media Access Technology). HighMAT is a standard way of organising digital media files on burned discs for easy browsing and playback through a DVD player or other digital player. It is already implemented in Windows� XP, Ahead Nero and other popular CD/DVD writing products and solves the problem of confusing, unordered lists of files on burned discs, instead presenting easy to navigate interfaces.

The Z500 server software is not only available for Windows, but also Mac OS X and Linux.

"First generation digital media players forced users to compromise," said Zensonic CEO Raaj Menon. "It was generally a choice between a DVD-based player or a networked player."

"The Z500 offers both of these capabilities in one, and adds the option for the direct attachment of a USB 2.0 hard drive for the fastest and most convenient transfer of digital media from home PCs," he said.

The USB 2.0 port can be used for either a USB flash memory device or a USB hard drive, including Apple iPod* and other music players that can be used as a hard drive for convenience. Alternatively, the Z500 can play digital media files burned on to all popular optical formats including CD-R(W), DVD�R(W) and even dual layer DVD�R(W).

The Z500's music playback capability handles all the formats enthusiasts have been waiting for, including the high definition FLAC lossless compressed format, OGG, AAC (commonly used in Apple iTunes**), MP3, Windows Media Audio 9 (including digitally rights managed WMA9), CD Audio and others.

Video playback is also astonishingly comprehensive. The Z500 handles playback in Windows Media Video 9, DivX� XviD, MPEG-4, QuickTime MPEG-4, MPEG-2, MPEG-1, DVD, and other formats.

High resolution photos can be played back, preserving resolution if displayed through a high definition TV or monitor. The device supports popular image file formats including JPEG, TIFF, RAW and others.

The Z500 is engineered from the ground up for high performance networking, with Gigabit Ethernet networking and 54Mbit/s*** 802.11G wireless networking integrated.

Likewise, the Z500 has stunningly comprehensive sound output options. Both coaxial and optical outputs are available for flawless digital connection to home theatre amplifiers, while advanced sound decoding capabilities allow direct playback of 5.1 channel Dolby Digital soundtracks through analogue outputs.

The internet is just a button away on the Z500, with instant access to stock quotes, local weather and more. Internet radio stations can be streamed from sources offering the popular PLS and ASX formats.

An easy to install and use Zensonic server application called Z-Drive is supplied with the player to make sorting and streaming digital media files from multiple PCs simple. It is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

The player can even be controlled directly from a PC or Mac if a user prefers, or through the supplied Zensonic backlit remote control with scroll jog-shuttle for easy menu navigation.

The unit is powered by Sigma Designs' EM8620L media processor. The power of this chipset can be enhanced and extended over time by Zensonic software upgrades, which are automatically downloaded and installed by Zensonic Z-Update. Users never have to worry about whether they have the latest firmware for their player - if an internet connection is available, they always will.

"It is exciting to see a player which utilises the full capabilities of our chipset," said Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing for Sigma Designs. "Zensonic's player strikes a balance between feature richness and affordability which we believe will become a trend within high definition Windows Media DVD players."

The Zensonic Z500 will be available in March at a recommended retail price of AU$429.

First prototypes will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 6-8, 2005.

Posted by Nana at 05:55 PM | Zensonic Z500 Networked DVD Media Player | TrackBacks (0)

In about a month you�ll be able to take a peek at what kinds of DVDs your friends have been watching. Netflix has announced that they will be adding a social networking feature to their service. This will work like Friendster and other social networking sites where you invite friends into your personal network. Once you invite a friend into your network, you�ll both get to see what each other have watched, along with opinions and reviews about the DVD.

If this works it should help differentiate Netflix's service from other competitors like Amazon, Blockbuster Entertainment and Wal-Mart. The company has been under attack ever since they all introduced their own DVD Rental Services.

Posted by Nana at 12:21 PM | Social Networking on Netflix | TrackBacks (0)

Amazon.com announced to today that they have launched their DVD Rentals service for its UK customers.

The service offers two plans right now. At the low end �7.99 plan, customers will be able to rent 4 DVDs a month, and have up to 2 DVDs at home at a time. The higher priced �9.99 plan allows for 6 DVD rentals a month, and a total of 3 DVDs at home at any time. The DVDs arrive in 1-2 business days, and shipping and return postage is free for customers.

Both plans include a 10% discount on DVDs purchased from Amazon.co.uk.

This marks the beginning of tougher competition for rival service Netflix, they already cancelled plans to expand into the UK market, and have cut prices in the US in anticipation of Amazon's entry in this market. At this time, there is no mention of a launch date for a similar service of Amazon's US customers. But I expect it will happen very soon.

Posted by Nana at 03:09 PM | Amazon has launched its DVD Rental Service in the UK | TrackBacks (0)

LONGUEUIL, Dec. 7 - D-BOX Technology's new "Quest" motion simulator seating has won the Home Theater category Innovation Award offered by the highly regarded US Consumer Electronic Association as part of their "CES Innovation Awards 2005."
This distinction is conferred on products that stand apart through the originality of their design and their innovative technology. "Quest" seating provides the D-BOX motion simulation experience integrated into a range of cutting-edge designs at more affordable prices.

The Innovation Award offers manufacturers an exceptional showcase, since award winning designs are publicized through official Consumer Electronics Show documents, listings and press releases. CES Honourees will also occupy a privileged place in the Innovations Plus Central Plaza Showcase in January 2005, in full view of the over 100,000 industry participants who will be attending the CES Innovations annual exhibition.

The jury for this event was selected by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), an independent body that brings together the major world leaders in industrial design.

About CES:

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the world's largest annual tradeshow for consumer technology and America's largest annual tradeshow of any kind.

About D-BOX Technology Inc.

D-BOX Technology Inc. designs, builds and markets under the name of "Odyssee" "D-Box" and "Quest" motion simulation systems that generate movements perfectly synchronized to images and sounds. Their products are mainly intended for the home theatre and electronic game markets.

For further information concerning D-BOX Technology Inc. and its products, please visit its Internet site at www.d-box.com

Posted by Nana at 04:57 PM | The Consumer Electronic Association honours D-BOX Technology with its CES Innovation Award 2005 | TrackBacks (0)

Yahoo has just launched a new line of consumer electronics products today that include mini DVD/CD/MP3 players and Home Theater Systems today. Of most interest to our readers will be the two DVD home theater systems being offered by Yahoo. Both models, the YHT-630 and the YHT-650, feature progressive scan DVD video with 5.1 Dolby surround sound audio, digital amplification, widescreen aspect viewing and advanced on screen menu displays.

YHT-630 Home Theater System

FEATURES:
210 Total Maximum System Output Power
Play DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/MP3/JPEG/Kodak picture CD/Mpeg4
Official DivX certified� product
Plays DivX� 5, DivX� 4, DivX� 3, and DivX� VOD video content
(in compliance with DivX Certified� technical requirements)
Widescreen (16:9) and Normal (4:3) aspect ratios
Full On Screen Menus and Information Display
Progressive Scan
5.1 Channel Surround Sound
Maximum Output per Channel
Maximum Output Power: Dolby Digital mode, 0dB input (1-CH Load)
Front 35 W x 2
Center 35 W x 1
Surround 35 W x 2
Subwoofer 35 W x 1
Parental Control Function
PLL Digital AM/FM Tuner
Speakers - 2 Front Channel with 3" Driver
- 2 Rear Channel with 3" Driver
- 1 Center Channel with 3" Driver
- 1 Subwoofer with 5 1/4 " Driver

CONNECTIONS:
Audio Out - 1
TV/Aux In - 2
Video Out - 1
Component Out - 1
S-Video Out - 1
Head Phone Jack - 1
Coaxial - 1
AM/FM Antenna Terminal

POWER:
Source AC 120V / 60 HZ

ACCESSORIES:
Full Remote Control (includes 2 x AA Batteries)
Video Cable
Audio Cable
All Speaker Cables
Owners Manual
Warranty Card

DIMENSIONS:
Main: 17.19� x 13.94� x 1.84� weight 11.61 lbs
(436.5 x 354 x 46.8 mm weight 5.28 kg)
Speakers: 4.37� x 4.66� x 3.93� weight 1.27 lbs
(111 x 118.6 x 100 mm weight 0.58 kg)
Woofer: 9.21� x 9.25� x 10.47� weight 7.21 lbs
(234 x 235 x 266 mm weight 3.28 kg)

YHT-650 Home Theater System

CONNECTIONS:
Audio Out -1
TV/Aux In - 2
Video Out - 1
Component Out - 1
S-Video Out - 1
Head Phone Jack - 1
Coaxial - 1
AM/FM Antenna Terminal

POWER:
Source 120V AC / 60 HZ

ACCESSORIES:
Full Remote Control (includes 2 x AA Batteries)
Video Cable
Audio Cable
All Speaker Cables
Owners Manual
Warranty Card

DIMENSIONS:
Main: 17.12� x 14.37� x 2.04� weight 9.46 lbs
(435 x 365 x 52 mm weight 4.3 kg)
Speakers: 4.52� x 2.95� x 4.68� weight 1.18 lbs
(115 x 75 x 119 mm weight 0.54 kg
Woofer: 8.81� x 10.94� x 12.00� weight 7.17 lbs
(224 x 278 x 305 mm weight 3.26 kg

Posted by Nana at 11:23 PM | New Yahoo Brand of Home Theater Systems Launched | TrackBacks (0)

WESTMINSTER, Colo., -- Interact-TV(TM) (OTC: ITVI), a leading developer of home entertainment servers, today expands its Telly Home Entertainment Server line by introducing the new TeraTelly model GS1250 with 1.2 Terabytes of digital media storage in a compact device ideal for any stereo cabinet or entertainment center. TeraTelly models begin shipping in December 2004 with the first showing of the product at the upcoming January 2005 Consumer Electronics Show, Booth 26821. This introduction marks the availability of the largest home media storage capacity available to date in a single compact unit, at a ground breaking price of $1999.

Telly, the first home entertainment server built for the living room, makes it easy to store, manage, access and enjoy digital entertainment in the home. The TeraTelly model provides a vast shared digital video library that can include entire music CD, DVD and digital photo collections as well as recorded videos, home videos, and Internet downloaded videos. TeraTelly also includes DVD and CD archiving and instant access to weather, financial information and movie listings. This huge digital media library may be shared with networked Telly clients, media adapters, and PCs across any home network, whether wired or wireless, and can be managed from any web browser.

"We are seeing increased demand from consumers who have digital photos, music CDs and DVDs scattered across various devices in the home. They are looking for an easy and secure way to store and enjoy their digital media in one device, that can expand over time," stated Ken Fuhrman, CEO of Interact-TV. "A TeraTelly can store about 250 DVDs and still have room for thousands of music CDs and digital photos. Now consumers can search their entire media library from the comfort of their couch," he added.

Simple out-of-the-box setup and Telly's innovative trackball remote make it easy to access all of Telly's features from the TV screen. Telly has video and audio outputs to connect directly to a TV and stereo. Unencumbered by constraints of the traditional desktop and driven by cutting edge technology, Interact-TV's EOS(TM) Linux-based Media Platform is designed to provide customers with secure data storage and easy upgradeability. The TeraTelly Home Entertainment Server will be available directly from the manufacturer's online store at http://www.buyatelly.com and from a growing network of reseller partners throughout North America.

About Interact-TV Inc.

Interact-TV Inc. develops innovative software and products for the home entertainment server market that are designed to enhance the digital entertainment experience, creating an enjoyable and easy way to get the entertainment you want when you want it. The result is a family of outstanding products that easily integrate into home entertainment environments. Headquarters for Interact-TV are in Westminster, Colo. More information can be found at http://www.interact-tv.com.

Posted by Nana at 01:51 AM | Interact-TV Announces Affordable 1.2 Terabyte Home Entertainment Server | TrackBacks (0)

Dec. 1, 2004 -- InterVideo(R), Inc. announced today InterVideo Home Theater(TM) 2.1 is now shipping with HP Pavilion and Presario's desktops and notebooks. InterVideo Home Theater is a complete entertainment center that provides users various multimedia selections that include watching and recording TV programs, viewing DVDs/VCDs, creating personal music libraries and enjoying a picture slideshow with music. This complete package allows access to all digital and audio content in the comfort of your living room with the convenience of a remote control. In addition, these PCs continue to ship with InterVideo's award-winning software, WinDVD(R) to provide high-quality and rich audio playback for watching home movies and DVDs on your PC.

InterVideo Home Theater converts HP Pavilions and Presario desktops and notebooks into an all-in-one, integrated entertainment solution for consumers for their viewing and listening needs. With the assortment of entertainment features, from recording your favorite TV shows to creating your own audio play list from audio, MP3, and WMA files, users will find InterVideo Home Theater a complete source for digital entertainment.

Also included with HP Pavilion and Presario desktops and notebooks, is InterVideo's WinDVD Creator 2. This simple-to-use editing and authoring software solution allows consumers to easily convert their own home movies into professional-looking DVD and VCDs in three easy steps.

Consumers who want even more features can upgrade to WinDVD Creator 2 and InterVideo Home Theater Web release directly from InterVideo at www.intervideo.com. A customized remote control for InterVideo Home Theater is also available from the InterVideo web site.

Availability

InterVideo markets InterVideo Home Theater directly to consumers in Web and retail channels and through hardware OEMs such as PC manufacturers and add-on card vendors. Completely hardware independent with or without a TV tuner, InterVideo Home Theater can be used with Windows(R) 2000 and XP systems. InterVideo also offers consulting services to assist OEM InterVideo Home Theater customers with product planning and customization, hardware driver fine-tuning, inter-company software integration, planning test procedures and product updates.

About InterVideo, Inc.

InterVideo is a leading provider of DVD software. InterVideo has developed a technology platform from which it has created a broad suite of integrated multimedia software products that allow users to capture, edit, author, burn, distribute, and play digital video. InterVideo's software is bundled with products sold by the majority of the leading PC OEMs. The company is headquartered in Fremont, CA, with regional offices in Europe, Taiwan, China and Japan. For more information, please contact InterVideo at 510-651-0888 or visit the company's Web site at www.intervideo.com.

Posted by Nana at 05:49 PM | InterVideo Home Theater Ships with HP Pavilion and Presario Desktops and Notebooks | TrackBacks (0)

VFW140 and VFW165 Universal LCD/Plasma Mounting Solutions Offer Consumers Simplicity and Ease of Use

Vogel�s, the leading designer and manufacturer of mounting solutions for LCD and plasma TVs, audio/video components and loudspeakers, has extended its line-up of universal LCD/Plasma mounts. Based on an increased consumer demand for LCD and Plasma monitors, Vogel�s has rounded out their line with two new, very affordable, easy-to-use mounting systems � the VFW140 and VFW165.

As consumers continue to designate new locations for their LCD monitors � from living rooms to dedicated home theaters, to bedrooms and kitchens � Vogel�s continues to meet the growing need by developing space-saving, easy-to-use mounting solutions for every application. Both the Vogel�s VFW140 and VFW165 feature a four-position tilting system, allowing consumers to enjoy optimal viewing from a variety of angles. The Vogel�s tilting system keeps the screen secure and safe in every position. As universal LCD/Plasma mounting systems, the VFW140 and 165 are easy to mount and are compatible with the VESA mounting standard. Boasting sleek and reliable construction, the VFW140 is capable of supporting screens ranging in size from 25 to 39 inches and weighing up to 77 pounds. The VFW165 is capable of supporting screens ranging in size from 40 to 65 inches and weighing up to 154 pounds. Lastly, with Vogel�s aggressive pricing for these two new models, consumers and installers alike can secure an exceptional mount for their LCD or Plasma screens within a reasonable budget.

Suggested Retail Price Availability

VFW140 - $149.99 Immediately
VFW165 - $169.99 Immediately

About Vogel�s
Vogel`s Products BV designs, manufactures and markets placement and mounting solutions for plasma, LCD and TV screens, audio and video equipment, loudspeakers, and small electric household appliances. A Dutch company founded in 1973 in Eindhoven, Vogel`s has become the European leader in its field and is active in both the consumer and professional market. Founded on unwavering research and development, and combined with extensive market research, Vogel�s continues to provide innovative solutions to satisfy the ever-changing needs of its customers. Vogel�s USA management and warehousing is based in Chicago, IL

http://www.vogelsusa.com

Posted by Nana at 11:01 PM | VOGEL�S INTRODUCES AFFORDABLE, EASY-TO-USE LCD/PLASMA MOUNTS | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So you want one of those really nice Dell 42" Plasma Tv's or 17" LCD Tv. The bad news is, there's not cheap. The good news is, you can win one in the Dellf Delivers Toy Box Sweepstakes. There will be 6 weekly drawings, you can either eter by purchasing anything from Dell Home, or filling out an online entry form.

The prize package consists of the following:
Cadillac Escalade. Approximate Retail Value (�ARV�): $55,000.
Dell 42� Plasma HDTV ARV $3,499
Dell 17� LCD TV ARV $699
Dell Dimension 8400 desktop computer with 19� Flat Panel. ARV $1,750;
Dell Inspiron 700m Notebook. ARV $2,229;
Dell Pocket DJ 5GB Digital Music Player. ARV $199
Dell Axim X50v 624C Handheld. ARV $499
$500 Dell Gift Card ARV $500
Dell 540 Series Printer ARV $189
Training package consisting of three (3) training books ARV $33.

I don't know about you, but I know this would make my Christmas very Merry

Posted by Nana at 03:19 PM | Dellf Delivers Toy Box Sweepstakes | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Targeted For 2005, Service Will Change Entertainment For Millions

San Antonio, Texas, Redmond, Washington, November 17, 2004

SBC Communications Inc. today announced an agreement with Microsoft Corp. to provide next-generation television services using the new Microsoft� TV Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition software platform.

The SBC IPTV deal with Microsoft, valued in excess of $400 million over 10 years, is the first of its kind for any U.S.-based telecommunications provider.

"Our service will change the way people experience TV. Finally, customers will watch what they want, when they want � from avirtually unlimited and interactive content selection," said Edward E. Whitacre Jr., SBC Communications Inc. chairman and CEO. "We will deliver integrated communications and entertainment services to enhance the digital lifestyle of our customers."

SBC Labs has been testing an IP-based television service built on the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition platform since June 2004. SBC companies and Microsoft will begin field trials in mid 2005 and plan commercial availability of the IP-based television platform in late 2005.

In the first quarter of 2005, construction is expected to begin on the SBC Project Lightspeed, the company's initiative to deploy fiber closer to customer locations to provide new, feature-rich, IP-based services, including IP television, voice over IP (VoIP), and ultra-fast Internet access. Project Lightspeed is expected to reach 18 million households by year end 2007.

"Project Lightspeed and the Microsoft and SBC relationship underscore what the future holds for consumers: a virtually unlimited opportunity for innovative, cross-device services and entertainment experiences enabled by the marriage of powerful broadband networks with the magic of software," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. "The selection of Microsoft TV as the IPTV services platform provider for SBC recognizes Microsoft's leadership position in the rapidly emerging IPTV industry and the benefits it will bring to customers."

Microsoft TV IPTV Edition also provides strong security features and efficiency in delivering standard and high-definition TV programming to multiple TV sets in the home over the SBC fiber-enhanced network, while leaving ample bandwidth available for ultra-fast Internet access and VoIP services.

IPTV Potential Offerings

The new service will enable a next-generation digital video entertainment experience not previously realized in the mass market. The solution will take full advantage of the SBC expanding two-way broadband network to offer new, innovative services beyond today's existing broadcast-oriented digital TV networks.

Additionally, by using IP technology to deliver video, voice, data and other advanced services and applications over a single network connection, the services may be accessed and shared via any number of IP-enabled household devices, such as TVs, set-top boxes, PCs, PDAs or phones. Microsoft TV IPTV Edition also provides a comprehensive security system including subscriber and end-to-end digital rights management technology to protect the content across multiple devices.

The IP-based TV service is planned to include instant channel changing, customizable channel lineups, video on demand, digital video recording, multimedia interactive program guides, event notifications, content protection features and more.

"We will have a rich multimedia program guide that makes it easy to find the programs you want to watch, and provides full control over when and how you want to watch them," said Whitacre. "Channel surfing becomes easier because you can continue to watch your program while viewing live previews of other shows using innovative picture-in-picture (PIP) technology."

Some additional potential applications include:

Using two-way broadband networks, SBC companies could be able to send alerts and notifications to customers watching TV in new ways. Some examples include the ability to alert a customer of upcoming favorite shows, or Caller ID and instant messaging right on their TV screen.

The Microsoft TV IPTV Edition platform could enable new services and applications such as tuner-less picture-in-picture functionality. The PIP feature enables users to preview other shows and channels while the primary channel runs in the background.

Photos could be easily shared from a networked computer and played back through the TV.
To enable optimal use of bandwidth, SBC companies plan to use a switched video distribution system, which streams only the content the customer requests instead of broadcasting all channels to everybody at once. This cutting-edge technology frees up large amounts of bandwidth for other applications.

"Our video on demand will come with a substantial content library," said Whitacre. "The customer gains additional control over the content they want versus what is delivered to them. We get the flexibility of not being constrained by bandwidth."

To view a demo of potential services made possible by IPTV, please visit www.sbc.com/lightspeed.

Posted by Nana at 10:09 AM | SBC Communications Selects Microsoft TV For Advanced IP Television Service | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NEC Makes It Easy and Affordable to Enjoy Vivid, Adaptable and Reliable Large Screen Technology at Home With Friends and Family

Are you tired of going all the way to the movie theater when you want to enjoy an exciting, jaw-dropping entertainment experience? Having your own home theater is now a reality for millions of people throughout the country. Sure, it would be cool to be the envy of your friends by owning the latest flat screen entertainment technology. But it used to seem like something only the rich and famous could afford. Until now.

NEC introduces the new Showcase Series(TM) home entertainment projector and plasma display line which offers first-time buyers to discerning enthusiasts a complete range of vivid, adaptable and reliable large screen display choices. The Showcase Series includes two new wide screen HT projectors and four next-generation plasma models (two 42", a 50" and a 61"), along with the award-winning high-contrast HT1100(TM) projector. And, with the new Showcase Series home entertainment line, consumers can now outfit their entire home room-by-room with NEC large screen displays.

According to Ron Gillies, senior vice president and general manager for the Visual Systems Division of NEC Solutions, studies show that Americans are spending more time at home and using display technology to connect with friends and family. "A projector in the family room or basement is ideal for movie night or a neighborhood video game competition, while a plasma display in the living room or loft offers a sleek, decorative look and space-saving functionality for high definition television, computer use and much more."

Vivid, Adaptable and Reliable
The Showcase Series complete line of home entertainment projectors and plasma displays are engineered in NEC's world-renowned design labs and optimized for vivid image quality, high brightness and resolution and real- life color reproduction in almost any environment. The projectors and plasma displays provide an adaptable range of screen sizes (from 42" to 200") for the entire house, HD signal compatibility to future-proof the investment and a full assortment of intuitive accessories that complement the room. NEC rounds out its Showcase offering with professional grade reliability and performance backed by unsurpassed product service and support.

The estimated street price of the new HT projectors starts at $1,495. They are available now and come standard with a two-year limited parts and labor warranty. The estimated street price of the new plasmas starts at $2,995. They are available now and come standard with a three-year limited parts and labor warranty (one year for the panel).

For further information on NEC's Showcase Series line of projectors and plasma displays, please visit http://www.necvisualsystems.com or call 1-800-NEC-INFO.

Posted by Nana at 04:42 PM | Experience Your Own Hi-Tech Home Theater This Holiday Season! | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Canton has introduced the first of a new line of slender, high performance aluminum loudspeakers designed to sonically and visually compliment modern flat-screen video displays. The Canton CD 300 series combines technology derived from the company's high-end Karat line of loudspeakers with the sleek, brushed aluminum lifestyle design of its popular CD 100 series.

The current line consists of the CD 300 floor-standing tower speaker and the CD 360F, which includes the same driver configuration adapted for vertical or horizontal wall mounting. With their elegant design and silvery grills, these speakers create a dramatic presence while delivering sound quality that will please the most demanding audiophiles.

Both the CD 300 and the CD 360 F are sophisticated two-and-a-half way systems with four 4-inch aluminum cone drivers and an advanced version of the Canton's lauded ADT-25 one-inch aluminum-manganese tweeter. Two of the 4-inch drivers reproduce low-frequency bass signals exclusively, while the other two reproduce both bass and midrange sounds. For bass reproduction, this arrangement provides the equivalent surface area of an 8-inch woofer in a much narrower cabinet.

The remarkable Canton ADT-25 tweeter uses a one-piece aluminum-manganese dome and voice coil former that is vastly superior to more conventional designs where a separate dome and former are glued together. Not only is this entire structure much lighter and stiffer than two-part designs, but the dome provides a large surface area to radiate heat away from the voice coil. One of the key design elements of this tweeter is the use of a very narrow voice coil gap to increase the intensity of the magnetic field. Most other tweeters have relatively wide gaps to allow a margin of error for centering the coil in the gap, but even then a small displacement can harm the performance of the tweeter. Canton has overcome this by making it possible for quality control technicians to adjust the centering of the coils using test signals and to lock them in place only when the test is perfect. Additionally, the cross-section of the coil and former is much thinner than conventional designs. These factors provide for much higher output levels, high linearity, and excellent efficiency.

The four identical 4-inch bass/midrange drivers have aluminum cones with concave dust caps and powerful motor systems. The drivers are derivatives of the same top-quality midrange drivers used in Canton�s high-end Karat and Ergo speaker lines, and the wave system (cone, dust cap, and surround) is modeled on that used in the Karat Reference line. The motor structure has been subtly redesigned to accommodate the wider frequency demands of the bass/midrange application in the CD 300 and 360F.

Upon encountering the Canton CD 300 tower speaker, the first thing that is apparent is the speaker's unusual appearance. The 48-inch tall enclosure is less than 5 inches wide, has a depth of just over 6-inches, and is constructed of extruded aluminum with rugged pressure-cast aluminum end-caps and circular base. Bass performance is further enhanced by the use of bass-reflex topology with a single front-panel port. The careful and precise modeling of the flare on this port alone yielded a 6-dB improvement in system headroom.

The Canton CD 360F features the same basic design considerations and driver complement as the CD 300, but in a sealed cabinet that is just 23-1/2-inches long and a mere 4-inches deep. This makes it ideal for wall mounting and equally effective as a vertical speaker beside a wall-mounted video screen, or in a horizontal configuration for use as a center channel speaker. The speaker employs a sealed cabinet design to avoid having the port vent directly into the wall face. The CD 300 and CD 360F are a perfect tonal match for each other, so they can be mixed and matched within a system.

These loudspeakers are now available for suggested retail prices of $2,000 per pair for the Canton CD 300 and $800 each for the Canton CD 360F.

Canton is the largest manufacturer and best-selling brand of loudspeakers in Germany. It was founded in 1973 by a group of audio enthusiasts who defined their mission "to always develop the finest loudspeakers in their class." For more information about this and other fine Canton products, visit http://www.cantonusa.com or call 612-706-9250.

Posted by Nana at 04:17 PM | High-End Sound for a Flat-Screen Lifestyle | TrackBacks (0)

Atlantic Technology today announced the introduction of the System 920 home theater speaker system that establishes a new performance benchmark for compact subwoofer-satellite designs while demonstrating its obvious sonic lineage to the company's acclaimed high-end systems. The system employs five identical two-way mini-satellites and a compact long-throw sealed subwoofer to deliver engaging multichannel sound without monopolizing either living space or the customer�s budget. A 5.1-channel system in attractive black satin finish has a retail price of just $899.

The System 920 satellite speakers are true two-way systems, each featuring a 4-inch GLH (Graphite Loaded Homopolymer) cone woofer that delivers clean and linear bass response down to 100 Hz�the critical frequency for proper blending with the subwoofer. The high end reproduction is handled by a 1-inch soft dome tweeter with a powerful neodymium magnet. The drivers are mounted in an acoustically inert, sealed MDF enclosure, and are magnetically shielded to prevent interference with video equipment.

For deep bass reproduction, the System 920 features the new model 102 SB subwoofer. This sealed-box design employs a down-firing 8-inch bass driver powered by a conservatively-rated 100 Watt class AB amplifier. Unlike most similarly-priced and -sized subwoofers which use light-duty woofers with small motor assemblies, the 102 SB driver uses a massive vented magnet structure and an oversized high-temperature voice coil to make the most effective use of power possible. Atlantic's exclusive Clear Filter Technology � assures clean, powerful, articulate bass reproduction regardless of playback level.

Atlantic Technology's System 920 is designed for maximum placement and mounting flexibility in any environment. The attractive satellites and compact subwoofer are available in either black satin or optional silver metallic finish. The satellites are just slightly taller than 8-inches, and under 6-inches wide and deep, and can be mounted on bookshelves, stands, or directly to the wall using the rear-panel keyhole bracket or threaded insert. The satellites feature the company's signature detachable magnetic metal grill, originally developed for the company's $20,000 flagship System 8200.

The System 920 will be available in early December at a suggested retail of $899 for a complete Satin Black 5.1 subwoofer/satellite system. The 102 SB subwoofer will also be available separately at a suggested retail price of $375.

From its inception in 1989, Atlantic Technology's mission has been to produce home entertainment products that exemplify the very best in both performance and value. The company specializes in complete high-performance multi-channel speaker systems, state-of-the-art home theater electronics components, and products for custom audio/video installation. For more information on Atlantic Technology and its many fine products for home theater and custom audio/video installation, visit www.atlantictechnology.com or call 781-762-6300.

Posted by Nana at 03:59 PM | Atlantic Technology's New Low-Cost Home Theater Speakers | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Leveraging the nation's fascination with home renovation and improvement, consumers will have the chance to win a $50,000 Digital Home Makeover on SonyStyle.com this holiday season.

Running Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, the sweepstakes offers consumers the opportunity to revitalize and enhance their home with a complete line of best-selling Sony entertainment and electronics products, ranging from a 61-inch XBR Plasma WEGA HDTV valued at $20,000, a Network Walkman 20GB Hard Drive Digital Music Player and 7.0 Mega-pixel Cyber-shot Digital Camera, to an all-in-one VAIO desktop PC and the latest AIBO Entertainment Robot. The winner will also receive $1,000 worth of their choice of Sony CDs and DVDs.

"The digitally networked home, long thought of as the entertainment and information centerpiece of the next generation, is now emerging," said Patrick Vogt, senior vice president of Sony Electronics' eSolutions Company. "At Sony, we see high-definition displays as the driving force of the digital living room, and our sweepstakes winner will be at the forefront of this trend."

In addition to the $50,000 Digital Home Makeover Grand Prize, $200 Sony Style Entertainment shopping sprees are being awarded on a daily basis. Winners can redeem gift certificates online at Sony Style, putting their $200 toward the latest DVD and CD releases from any of the over 200,000 titles available.

Consumers can enter to win every day from now through Dec. 31 online and automatically receive one entry per purchase, while shopping for holiday gifts for family and friends. To enter without purchase, visit www.sony.com/makeover

Posted by Nana at 09:09 PM | Sony Offers $50,000 Digital Home Makeover Contest | TrackBacks (0)

This is late news, but interesting anyway. MS launched MSN TV 2 early last month. It's the latest version of what used to be WebTv. The new MSN Tv now has a broadband connection, and two usb ports. You can plug in flash card readers, printers, etc in the usb ports. The unit also comes with a wireless keyboard, and retails for $199.95 plus your monthly access rates. Expect to pay between $9.95 - $21.95 a month for service.

Posted by Nana at 01:53 AM | WebTV is now MSN TV 2 | TrackBacks (0)