Noise

by Charles Fulton
Summer/Fall 2003

Sony Announces New A/V Client for VAIO Users
If you've got a Sony VAIO PC with VAIO Media software, Sony would like you to know about the new PCNA-MR10 RoomLink network media receiver, a $200 device about the size of a paperback book that connects a TV and/or audio system to a home network. The device allows sharing of digital audio, still images and video. It also works in concert with VAIO PCs equipped with Giga Pocket, allowing the viewing of recorded TV programs anywhere in the home where the network is available.

Standard Ethernet connectivity is included. A $200 adaptor is also available for users of 802.11a-based wireless home networks.

SONICblue Files for Chapter 11
SONICblue, maker of ReplayTV DVRs, Rio MP3 devices and GoVideo dual-deck VCRs and networked DVD players, has filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of California, San Jose Division.

SONICblue had planned to sell off its divisions, in the hopes that the transitions would be seamless for its customers. A letter of intent SONICblue signed to sell the ReplayTV and Rio divisions to Japan-based D&M Holdings, Inc. (manufacturers of Denon and Marantz audio equipment) fell through, so an auction of the divisions will be held on April 15. Opta Systems, LLC has agreed to buy the GoVideo business unit for $12.5 million, subject to approval from the Court.

Universal Electronics Launches Nevo Remote Control Software for iPAQ and Smart Display
Universal Electronics unveiled their Nevo touchscreen-based remote control software for the Viewsonic airpanel Smart Display, allowing channel surfing by network logos, macro functionality, and wheel-based navigation. Nevo includes 110,000 control codes across 1,500 consumer electronics brands.

Nevo software is currently available for HP's iPAQ Pocket PC H5400 line of Windows CE-based handheld computers. The iPAQ Pocket PC H5400 family also includes 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless capabilities.

Both Nevo solutions are upgradeable with new codes when new devices are available.

If you bought an airpanel Smart Display before March 31, you're eligible for free Nevo software when it's released in the second quarter.

Also from Universal Electronics: the One For All URC-8060 Kameleon remote, a six-function touchscreen remote with glowing keys which change according to the selected function. For example, the keys that are lit up when the remote is in TV mode are different from the keys that are lit up when the remote is in DVD mode. The remote includes macro capabilities and is also upgradeable. A similar remote is available now at RadioShack, catalog no. 15-2133 ($60).

Is Your Home Installer Certified?
If you're thinking about adding a smart audio/video system throughout your home, you might want to consider using a certified installer. The Computing Technology Industry Association, or CompTIA, offers Home Technology Integrator (HTI+) certification to installers. Another organization called the FutureHome Guild has sprung up as an alliance of manufacturers and installers, to be a resource for Digital Home Consultants.

One benefit of using a certified installer (other than not having to crawl around in dark attics and dank crawl spaces) is that an installer may be able to suggest specific features for the network to help future-proof it.

Visit www.comptia.org and www.fhome.com for more information about these respective organizations. The FutureHome Guild's Web site includes a directory of local installers who can help you on your way to connected home Nirvana.

Panasonic To Build Web Browsers Into All Japanese-Market Digital TVs
Television Digest reports that this summer, Panasonic will build Internet access into all digital TV sets sold in Japan, to coincide with the beginning of over-the-air digital TV broadcasting in Japan. The sets will include Web browsers. The addition of Internet access is expected to add approximately $85 to the price of each set. Panasonic's parent company, Matsushita, is also planning to offer Internet service to buyers of the new Internet-enabled sets. Also on the horizon: sets that include built-in satellite tuners.

Zenith Announces First HDTV DVRs
Zenith showed the first HDTV DVRs at the 2003 International Consumer Electronics Show, held January 9-12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The HDR230 and HD-PVR330 both include 80GB hard drives that can record up to 8 hours of high-definition television programming.

Both utilize the PSIP datastreams included with digital TV broadcasts for listing data and record Dolby Digital audio. Both units will also offer RGB, component, S-video and composite video outputs.

The HD-PVR330 adds a TV Guide-branded program guide, as well as a QAM tuner for use with unscrambled HDTV cable reception and an NTSC tuner for analog signal reception. The enhanced program guide includes news, sports and weather, and provides up to seven days of program listings. The program guide can automatically mark favorite shows in the guide for simplified browsing. It also adds a DVI port with HDCP copy protection for use with a broader array of display devices.

The HDR230 will be available sometime in the second quarter for $999. The HD-PVR330 will be available in the third quarter for a yet unspecified price.

CEA Predicts Strong Market for Smart Devices
The Consumer Electronics Association's January 2003 Market Research report includes some very good news for manufacturers of smart devices: out of a selection of nine major categories of electronics, six are growing.

Categories with strong growth projected include MP3 players, Separate Component DVD Players, Digital Video Recorders and Digital TV displays. LCD and Plasma televisions are smaller categories that are also growing. Direct-View Color TV Receivers are holding steady, but beginning to slip a little compared to last year. Sales of Analog Projection TVs and VCRs are beginning to taper off.

Perhaps the most dramatic forecast is for DVD players. Between standard set-top players, Laserdisc combo players, DVD players with built-in VCRs and portable DVD players, the CEA projects that roughly 20.1 million DVD players will be sold in 2003, netting $2.6 billion in sales at an average unit price of $132.

Another surprise is that even though analog TVs days are almost over (according to the FCC, all analog licenses are slated to expire at the end of 2006), the CEA projects that over 22 million analog sets will be sold this year.

ATI Announces Multimedia Center 8.5
ATI has announced that a new version of their Multimedia Center will ship soon, and will include a number of enhancements for living room PC applications, including: