Flat Screen Tvs - Plasma Tvs - LCD Displays and HDTV

Company Now Third Largest Pay-TV Provider

DISH Network's lowest all-digital price and its award-winning customer service have prompted record numbers of consumers to switch from cable over the years, allowing DISH Network to pass Time Warner Cable as the third largest pay-TV provider in the United States.

In the last five years, DISH Network has added more than 7.6 million net new customers. DISH Network passed the 10 million customer milestone in June 2004.

"We are pleased that one out of every 10 U.S. households now subscribes to DISH Network, an achievement that took just over eight years," said Charles Ergen, chairman and chief executive officer of EchoStar. "Television viewers have signaled their demand for quality programming, affordable prices, and top-notch customer service; and DISH Network excels at all three. With the lowest cost, all-digital TV service, plus the top ranking in customer satisfaction surveys, DISH Network is an easy choice for the 110 million U.S. households seeking home entertainment."

DISH Network has also established a reputation as the innovator in the pay-TV industry, becoming the first to offer digital video recorders at no cost, the first to offer a DVR that lets consumers record and watch two different shows simultaneously, and the first to offer a high definition DVR. Early this year, DISH Network will also offer a multi-room DVR that records in high definition, plus a DVR that will allow DISH Network to offer true video on demand -- a first for satellite providers.

DISH Network also offers customers 100 international channels in more than 25 languages, the most popular sports packages, the most popular high definition programming, the widest selection of interactive programming, and local channels in 152 markets and all 50 states, representing more than 93 percent of all U.S. television households.

Here are year-end subscriber numbers for DISH Network since its inception (in millions, as of Dec. 31 of that year):

2003 -- 9.425
2002 -- 8.18
2001 -- 6.83
2000 -- 5.26
1999 -- 3.41
1998 -- 1.94
1997 -- 1.04

For more information on DISH Network and any of its products or services call 800-333-DISH (3474), visit www.allsat.com
or contact your local DISH Network retailer.

About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) serves more than 11 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last four years. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. DISH Network ranks No. 1 in Customer Satisfaction among Cable/Satellite TV Subscribers by J.D. Power and Associates. Visit www.allsat.com

Posted by Nana at 06:16 PM | Permalink | 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 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Now that the Google Video Search is in beta, someone(hint for the people at TiVo, Inc and Google Inc) needs to figure out a way to integrate that with TiVo content already recorded.

It would be really cool to be able to search recorded video files on TiVo based on the spoken content. Imagine being able to find an episode of a show you like based on lines you remember hearing on that episode.

For all we know, it's already in the works.

Posted by Nana at 05:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Niro1.com delivers true Dolby Digital & DTS 5.1-channel surround sound, from a single speaker enclosure for the home theatre enthusiasts.

Niro1.com debuts exclusively via the internet their NIRO 1.1 series of Dolby Digital 5.1 home theatre surround sound systems. Comprised of a single speaker enclosure that houses 5 individual speakers and one subwoofer, they are controlled by a compacted SPA digital amplifier using the patented NIROSON® processing.

What will the NIRO systems mean to the consumer? Easy set-up (just two wires); a single speaker that does not intrude on your personal living space; installation in any room configuration; and, most importantly, the NIRO systems deliver true 5.1 digital surround sound to everyone, regardless of seating location, providing the perfect listening experience. NIRO systems totally eliminate the inherent problems that many traditional home theatre owners face, such as speaker placement issues and receiving too much right or left channel sound depending where you sit in the room.

Invented and designed by legendary audiophile inventor, Niro Nakamichi, Niro systems run NIROSON® processing with an onboard DSP (Digital Signal Processor) with both coaxial and optical digital audio inputs, and are compatible with DVD and DVR players, as well as cable, satellite and terrestrial HDTV receivers. The digital audio inputs on the SPA enable NIRO to target users who watch DVD’s on their personal computers and the vast PC, XBOX® and PS2® gaming markets.

Straight on the heels of Amazon.com’s recent announcement that internet sales of consumer electronics was their top sales category during Thanksgiving weekend, Niro1.com offers a 30-day, risk free, in-home audition of all four NIRO models, including the NIRO 400, 600, NIRO 1.1 PROII and NIRO Reference.

Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Niro1.com Canada markets high performance surround sound systems for home theatre, PC and gaming enthusiasts. The company is the marketing arm for Canada of niro1.com Inc.,Tokyo, Japan.

NIRO systems $699- $1299 at www.niro1.com.

NIROSON® is a trademark of niro1.com Inc. Dolby and Pro Logic are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. DTS is a trademark of Digital Theatre Systems, Inc.

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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 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Surprise, Surprise! Looks like people are already hacking TivoToGo (Tivo To Go). Check out pvr blog for a list of interesting stuff people are doing.

Posted by Nana at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Receive up to $550 off instantly on Dell LCD TVs purchased online through Dell Electronics and Accessories. With these deep discounts, Dell LCD TVs have never been more affordable.

Instant Savings Details:

Purchase:	Current Price:	Savings:	Your Price:
Dell 26" LCD TV - perfect for the bedroom or den!	$1899	$550 Off	$1349
Dell 30" LCD TV - great for the living room!	$2299	$500 Off	$1799
Dell 19" LCD TV - perfect for the kitchen or office!	$849	$75 Off	$774
Dell 17" LCD TV - only while supplies last!	$649	$160 Off	$489

Orders must be placed online through Dell Home Electronics & Accessories to qualify for discount. The applicable price reduction will automatically be calculated when you add the valid item to your shopping cart.

Plus, ship your new TV for FREE! Get FREE (3-5 Day) Shipping on any Electronics & Accessories order over $49 (before tax) through February 2, 2005 11PM CT.

Hurry, these low prices won't last long, buy online TODAY!

Start shopping for Dell TVs now!

Limited time offer beginning 1/21/05 12:00am CST (applies to all offers below)

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Check out the Dell LCD TV Sale

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EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) announced today that it has agreed to purchase certain satellite assets from Rainbow DBS Co., a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC), for $200 million.

Specifically, EchoStar has agreed to purchase Rainbow 1, a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) located at 61.5 degrees West Longitude, together with the rights to 11 DBS frequencies at that location. The satellite includes 13 frequencies, up to 12 of which can be operated in "spot beam" mode.

The EchoStar III satellite also located at 61.5 degrees West Longitude broadcasts DISH Network TV programming to hundreds of thousands of consumers today using DBS spectrum controlled by EchoStar at that location. EchoStar is assessing how the Rainbow satellite's flexibility can best be utilized to enhance DISH Network's existing service. Also, as part of the transaction with Cablevision, EchoStar will acquire ground facilities and related assets in Black Hawk, S.D. The transaction is subject to review by the Federal Communications Commission and other regulatory agencies.

About EchoStar Communications

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) serves more than 10.4 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), and is a leading U.S. provider of advanced digital television services. DISH Network's services include hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. EchoStar has been a leader for 25 years in satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 500 company. Visit EchoStar's Web site at www.echostar.com or call 800-333-DISH (3474).

Posted by Nana at 09:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tatung, the Taiwanese electronics giant, has introduced a new range of widescreen LCD televisions to the UK market, offering unrivalled price/performance and an inclusive 3-year warranty. RRPs on the new models are "highly competitive", says Tatung, starting at £745 inc VAT (23").

Manufactured by Tatung in Holland, the new models feature a sleek, silver design with built-in NICAM stereo speakers and are HDTV (High Definition TV) compatible. The LCD panel resolution is 1280 x 768 (WXGA) with a super-fine pixel pitch of 0.4 – 0.5 mm, dependent on model.

Tatung technology overcomes the problems of picture "ghosting" apparent on inferior manufacturers' LCD TVs. "Ghosting" or "after imaging" is the result of slow response times – the time it takes for the individual pixels to switch on/off. Most other manufacturers' LCD TVs take 25ms to respond, meaning fast-moving action and sports appear blurred on the TV. Tatung's latest technology offers super-fast response time of half that (ave 12.5ms).

"Picture quality is vital in this market," commented Mark Burnett of Tatung UK. "When you invest in an LCD TV you don't want to take a step backwards in quality. Buyers should take a good look at some of competitors' TVs – it can be impossible to follow the ball when watching sports because of ghosting, for example."

Use it with a PC!
The new LCD panels from Tatung can also be used as a super-size monitor for a desktop PC. The supplied, standard VGA cable simply plugs into a PC in place of the usual screen to provide a panoramic PC experience.

New models in the range include: 32" - £1408 inc VAT; 30" - £1291 inc VAT; 27" - £1056 inc VAT; 23" – £745 in VAT. Prices include swivel base and remote control. An optional VESA wall mount kit is available.

Specifications:
Picture in Picture (PIP) function
Display colours: 16,777,216
Contrast Ratio: 400-500:1 (typical)
Brightness: 450-500 cd / m2 (typical)
Viewing Angle: Over 170° (Hor. and ver.)
Response Time: Tr = 15 / Tf = 10ms TV
Sound system: NICAM / A2 (IGR)
Fast Teletext: 255 pages in memory
Video Input: 2 x 21-pin Scart (RGB / CVBS / SVHS); Composite (RCA jack); S-Video; (via D-Sub); PC Input (Analog) D-Sub 15 pin (detachable cable)
Video Output: SCART 1; SCART 2 TV / CVBS (scart 1)
Audio Output: Headphone Mini-jack; Line Out - Left / Right / Subwoofer Feature
Power Consumption 115-150W
Weight (net) w/o Accessories: 10.5-15.2Kg

• 23", 27", 30 and 32”" models can also be used as a PC monitor
  
• Super-fast response times banishes picture "ghosting"
  
• Supports HDTV (High Definition TV)
  
• Full 3-year warranty
  

By capitalizing on the advantages of vertical integration, Tatung makes full use of the supply of key components such as flat-panel displays and digital tuners from its many subsidiaries located across the globe. In order to sustain strong, long-term growth, Tatung is particularly focused on the development of advanced technologies and global network of operations. With its overseas branches spreading across 12 countries, Tatung is in a solid position to deliver products more efficiently and fulfill customer services more effectively.

Posted by Nana at 04:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

LCD or plasma? Trying to decide what to get? Check out the following article from popularmechanics.com

THE ETERNAL QUESTIONS: Pepsi or Coke? Ford or Chevy? Plasma or LCD? It has been only recently that most of us have been able to ponder that last dilemma. Flat-panel TVs may be the ultimate media status symbol, but can you afford one without having to sell your house? Fortunately, flat-panel prices have dropped from the staggering ($12,000 or more for a midsize model) to the merely sobering ($3000 to $4000 for the same size), and last year roughly 2 million of these sets made their way into consumers' homes. With manufacturers pouring cash into factories, prices are set to drop another 25 percent in 2005. Once you've gotten past the issue of whether to buy a flat-panel set, you confront the greater dilemma of which type to buy. Plasma partisans will tell you that their sets are bigger and more vibrant. LCD devotees will counter that their sets are brighter and last longer. To find out which approach offers the best combination of practicality and performance, we turned to Jeff Sauer, head of the DTV Group Lab, a Pepperell, Mass., video products testing facility. Sauer put each TV through 14 grueling tests to measure brightness, contrast, color, image details and sound. The last two categories were evaluated by using a variety of test footage and video test patterns. When he was done, we assigned a numerical value to each test and added them up for each TV. The result was an overall performance score between 1 and 100. So before you send out those early SuperBowl invites, we suggest a look at our reviews, and our LCD versus plasma comparison chart. more...

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Competition intense as DVR market takes off.
TiVo has been synonymous with digital video recording since it pioneered the industry five years ago, controlling an estimated one-third of the market in 2004.

That lofty perch is now beginning to crumble.

Competition in the growing and lucrative industry is intensifying as cable providers, satellite operators and consumer electronics companies push ahead with models of their own, giving consumers more choices while threatening to significantly blunt TiVo Inc.'s (TIVO) edge.

"They're facing a very, very difficult year this year. It'll be increasingly difficult for them to sign up new subscribers," said Josh Bernoff, an analyst at Forrester Research. "Why do you need a TiVo when there's a cable DVR (digital video recorder) for free?" more...

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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 Hervé 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 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

America has spoken: high-definition television has taken its place, alongside friends and food as one of the most important factors for Super Bowl viewing. In a recent survey, more than a quarter of Americans said that HDTV has become one of the most critical elements of the Super Bowl experience. The results of the poll, conducted by ICR/International Communications Research on behalf of Comcast, the country's leading cable, entertainment and communications company, also show that, for men, watching the game in high definition (34%) is as important as the food (37%).

High Def is the Name of the Game
When asked which type of play they would most like to see in high definition, respondents ranked the touchdown pass (26%) first, with an interception return (19%) coming in close behind. A high-definition quarterback sack (12%) ranked third; a popular choice likely influenced by the crystal clear "crunch" that comes with Dolby 5.1 surround sound. As for the various elements viewed during the Super Bowl, fans listed the game (33%), the halftime show (25%) and instant replays (17%) as the things they most looked forward to watching in high definition. By gender, men placed cheerleaders second (21%), only after the game itself (38%), while women look forward to watching the halftime show (37%) in high definition as much as the game (28%).

Broken Records and Replays of Replays
Who did respondents want to see in the Big Game, on the big screen, in six times greater clarity? It appears there is a direct correlation between the desire to see a touchdown pass in high definition and the quarterback who set the single season NFL record for touchdown passes. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) was the runaway winner with 20 percent of the vote. The rest of the pack was even, garnering 14-15 percent each, and included Michael Vick (Atlanta Falcons), Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers), Tom Brady (New England Patriots) and Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles). If given the chance to view the Super Bowl using a Comcast digital video recorder (DVR), "armchair officials" said the reverse and replay function would be used most often to watch replays of replays (28%) and scrutinize touchdowns (28%). After those two responses, fans said that the game's legendary commercials (16%) would get the most replay action.

Getting into the (High Def) Zone
Heading into 2005, consumers are extremely excited about HDTV; however, many consumers still are unclear about what's needed to enjoy the HD experience. The Super Bowl HDTV survey follows an HDTV awareness survey conducted by Comcast in December that asked consumers their impressions and understanding of HDTV. In that survey, 40 percent of respondents said that they didn't know if "just plugging in" an HDTV would bring high-definition programming to their living rooms.

To help address questions consumers may have as they consider adding HDTV to their Super Bowl experience, Comcast offers the following tips:

• The stands are filling up. The total number of HDTVs shipped to retailers should hit 13.8 million by the end of this year. That number is nearly double the 7.8 million HD sets shipped from 1998 until the end of 2003. (Consumer Electronics Association)
• Count the threads on the pigskin. For the ultimate viewing experience, HDTV offers six times the picture clarity of traditional analog. HDTV provides the clearest picture available today.
• Don't mistake a bench-sitter for a franchise player. To get HDTV's crystal clarity, make sure the digital television carries an HDTV resolution of either 720p (progressive) - better for smaller sets - or 1080i (interlaced) - best for big screens.
• Read the scouting report. Make sure you understand what HD programming your service provider can offer and what equipment is needed. Questions to ask include: Are premium movie channels available in high definition? Is there an extra charge for these? Is ON DEMAND included and available in high definition? Does any special equipment need to be purchased to receive or record HD programs?
• Get the homefield advantage. Only cable can provide local channels in HD. A high-definition channel requires about five times the bandwidth of a standard definition channel and, right now, that's too much for satellite to handle.
• Pick up a hot prospect. Digital Video Recorders can be included in a Comcast HD subscription. With a DVR, consumers can pause and rewind live action on the television to create personal replays and can easily record all their favorite programs in HD.
• The "Digital Team" gets more popular every year. Programming in HD has grown considerably in just the last few years. For example, Comcast's HDTV service includes high-definition broadcasts of most major networks, ESPN, Discovery HD Theater, HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, STARZ!, INHD and INHD2 as well as several regional sports networks.

The Super Bowl is not the only thing fans want to watch in high definition. HD movies are also a hot ticket, and fans overwhelmingly chose Remember the Titans as the football film they would most like to see in high definition (29%). The second choice for men was On Any Given Sunday (20%) and, for women, Jerry McGuire (18%).

"The Super Bowl has become one of the primary drivers for consumer investment in home entertainment equipment and watching the game in HD is the next best thing to sitting on the 50-yard line in Jacksonville," said Dave Watson, executive vice president of operations for Comcast. "Consumers have many choices when it comes to buying an HD television - from the type of sets available for purchase, to the growing amount of programming available, some of which are unique to cable. We want to help consumers navigate through the many buying choices available today and make it as easy as possible to enjoy the HD experience."

Comcast "Special Teams" Ready to Go
As consumers prepare for Super Bowl Sunday, Comcast has a presence in nearly 1,000 retail locations and representatives are available at many of those sites to help answer questions about HDTVs and HD service. Visitors to Comcast's website (http://www.comcast.com) also can access an HD tutorial with Frequently Asked Questions and an HD demo, as well as sign-up for service online.

The Comcast survey was conducted by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, PA, between December 27 and 31, 2004, using a random nationwide sample of 750 households. The results are based on the responses of households with televisions.

About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (http://www.comcast.com) is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks, and in the provision of programming content. The Company is the largest provider of cable and broadband services in the United States, serving more than 21 million cable television customers and more than 6 million high-speed Internet customers. The Company's content businesses include majority ownership of Comcast Spectacor, Comcast SportsNet, E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, G4techTV, The Golf Channel, International Channel and Outdoor Life Network. Comcast Class A common stock and Class A Special common stock trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbols CMCSA and CMCSK, respectively.

Posted by Nana at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Through its proprietary fusion technology, Corning continues to be first-to-market with large generation sizes

Corning Incorporated announced today the world's first commercially available thin film transistor (TFT) grade Generation (Gen) 7 glass substrates for active matrix liquid crystal displays (LCD). TFT-grade substrates are ultra-clean, flat, stable, light, and thin glass sheets that meet the exacting quality requirements for the manufacture of notebook computers, LCD TVs, and portable displays. Corning's proprietary fusion technology has enabled first-to-market performance with new generation size TFT-grade substrates, including Gen 5 in 2002 and Gen 6 in 2003.

The Gen 7 substrates are being produced in commercial quantities by Samsung Corning Precision Glass Co. Ltd., jointly owned by Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Corning, at its Cheonan, Korea facility.

Large size glass substrates, such as Gen 5.5, 6 and 7 substrates, will be increasingly used as the foundation of LCD television display-panels, as they enable panel manufacturers to produce more and larger displays from a single glass substrate. Gen 7 glass substrates measure 1870 x 2200 mm (approximately 6 feet by 7 feet) and have nearly three times the surface area of Gen 5 substrates, which typically measure 1100 x 1250-1300 mm (approximately 3.5 feet by 4 feet).

"Once again, our customers in the LCD industry presented Corning with a technological challenge and we have risen to meet that challenge," said James P. Clappin, general manager, Corning Display Technologies. "The winning combination of our advanced, proprietary fusion technology and our dedicated team of talented people has positioned us as a worldwide leader in an industry experiencing phenomenal growth."

Lee Suk Jai, president, Samsung Corning Precision added, "The technology team at our Cheonan facility has worked exceptionally hard with our Corning colleagues in making this project a success for our customers here in Korea. Together, we have made the production and supply of this new Gen 7 size possible. This is a major milestone for Corning, Samsung Corning Precision, and our customers as we advance the LCD industry into exciting new territory."

About Corning Incorporated

Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is a diversified technology company that concentrates its efforts on high-impact growth opportunities. Corning combines its expertise in specialty glass, ceramic materials, polymers and the manipulation of the properties of light, with strong process and manufacturing capabilities to develop, engineer and commercialize significant innovative products for the telecommunications, flat panel display, environmental, semiconductor, and life sciences industries.

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by Calvin Shao, Taipei; Carrie Yu, DigiTimes.com

Market-research firm DisplayBank is claiming that prices for large-size TFT-LCD panels are expected to bottom out next month as there is no room for major South Korea panel makers, such as Samsung Electronics and LG.Philips LCD, to cut their 17-inch panel prices any further. However, other market research firms, such as DisplaySearch and Taiwan's Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association (PIDA), are predicting that the market will not recover that quickly.

Large-size panel prices started slumping from mid-2004, and 17-inch monitor-panel quotes have already fallen below the cash cost of goods sold (with the cost of goods sold not including depreciation), DisplayBank explained. Before the prices began dropping, panel makers were able to take US$92 in profits for each 17-inch panel sold. However, as makers now make no profit on the panels, further price cuts are unlikely, DisplayBank added. more...

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The Wi-Fi Technology Forum/- ViXS Systems, the leading developer of video processing and networking chipsets and software, today announced that I-O Data Device, Inc., a top-tier manufacturer of high-quality computer peripherals and interface products and the sales leader in Japan's large and fast growing market for video-related PC boards, has chosen the ViXS XCode II silicon video processor as the basis for its GV-MVP/GX single channel TV tuner card.

By leveraging ViXS' XCode II processor and technology, I-O Data will offer after-market TV tuners that enable consumers to upgrade their existing PCs with full personal video recorder (PVR) functionality and unprecedented high-speed DVD recording capabilities.

XCode II is the only video processor that can encode and record captured video to removable media faster than real time. I-O Data's new GV-MVP/GX tuner card maximizes this high speed re-recording capability, giving consumers the power to take content stored on their hard drives and "burn" it to DVD at a blazing 6-times the speed of the video itself in single tuner configurations. A one-hour video can be recorded to DVD in just minutes. No other TV tuner on the market features this speed of re-recording, allowing consumers to quickly and easily archive their favorite television shows or create discs to share content with friends.

"Our technology is ideal for consumers who want to create a personal collection of their favorite TV shows," said Sally Daub, president and chief executive officer of ViXS Systems. "XCode II's efficient encoding reduces DVD-quality video down to 2 Mbps for quickly recording many hours of content to a single disc. Leveraging this technology, I-O Data's new TV tuner enables consumers to affordably turn their existing PCs into multimedia PCs and begin collecting their permanent library of broadcast movies, sports events and entertainment programs."

In addition to giving consumers a quantum leap in DVD burning speed, XCode II allows users of the I-O Data GV-MVP/GX tuner board to re-record up to 50 percent more video content to DVD - as much as eight hours of video to a single disc. Moreover, the re-recording process has no impact on a PC's overall performance. Users can quickly burn DVDs while simultaneously doing other processor-intensive activities.

"We evaluated a number of video encoders in our selection process, but no other product matched the powerful combination of speed and video quality found in ViXS' X-Code II processor," said Mitsukane Kato, Product Manager, Entertainment Unit of I-O Data Device. "By integrating the GV-MVP/GX TV tuner card into their existing PCs, consumers can enjoy all the video functionality of the industry's newest high-end multimedia PCs, but at just a fraction of the price. I-O Data brings high-quality video management within the reach of the average consumer."

The ViXS TV Tuner Board Reference Design is based on the company's XCode II video processor, which allows for MPEG2 encoding as well as incorporates advanced noise filtering and 3D comb filtering features that deliver broadcast-quality video streams and artifact-free image quality at even the lowest bit rates, virtually eliminating the expected "high vs. low bit rate" quality tradeoff. As a result, tuner card and PC OEMs benefit from improved video quality while minimizing their bill of material (BOM) and production costs. The tuner board also improves overall system performance since PCs no longer need to rely on the CPU for video processing. With the ViXS Dual TV Tuner Board, any PC can become a high-performance multimedia center.

Availability
I-O Data's GV-MVP/GX single channel TV tuner card featuring ViXS' XCode II technology will be available in Japan end of January 2005.

About I-O DATA DEVICE
I-O DATA DEVICE, INC., is a top-tier manufacturer and provider of high-quality computer peripherals and interface products to the global consumer and OEM markets. Founded in 1976, by Mr. Akio Hosono, I-O DATA has received recognition as Japan's undisputed market leader within the PC Peripheral industry. The name I-O DATA originates from the company's dealings with Input/Ouput devices. I-O DATA is not only a manufacturer of such devices, but handles the design, development, production and distribution of their products.

About ViXS Systems
ViXS Systems has developed a unique semiconductor chipset and software solution with unprecedented capabilities for distributing broadcast-quality video across local IP-based wired and wireless networks. These products provide manufacturers of consumer electronics, personal computers and set-top boxes with a proven technology that operates with standards-based local networks.~ ViXS components offer full support for HDTV, DVD, satellite or cable broadcasts and deliver uninterrupted, full Quality of Service video for consumer entertainment, personal computing applications, and multimedia gateways. Founded in January 2001, the company is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and has filed over 85 patents to date.~ For further information, please visit http://www.vixs.com.

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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.

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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 .

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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.

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ATI Combines Its Award-Winning Graphics Technologies with Microtune's Silicon Tuner Technology in PC Video Products That Deliver Sophisticated Broadcast, Home Theatre, Gaming and PC Entertainment

Microtune(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:TUNE) today announced that it is supplying its single-chip tuner technology to ATI Technologies Inc. for incorporation into ATI's newly announced TV WONDER(R) ELITE and ALL-IN-WONDER(R) family of multimedia/PC video add-in cards. Microtune's MicroTuner(TM) MT2050 provides the radio frequency (RF) tuning and receiving 'gateway' for, among its other PC/TV products, ATI's:

ATI Combines Its Award-Winning Graphics Technologies with Microtune's Silicon Tuner Technology in PC Video Products That Deliver Sophisticated Broadcast, Home Theatre, Gaming and PC Entertainment

Microtune(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:TUNE) today announced that it is supplying its single-chip tuner technology to ATI Technologies Inc. for incorporation into ATI's newly announced TV WONDER(R) ELITE and ALL-IN-WONDER(R) family of multimedia/PC video add-in cards. Microtune's MicroTuner(TM) MT2050 provides the radio frequency (RF) tuning and receiving 'gateway' for, among its other PC/TV products, ATI's:

Ramsay to Remain Chairman of the Board

TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO - News), the creator of and leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), announced today that its Chairman and CEO, Michael Ramsay, has initiated a succession process to identify a new CEO for the company. Ramsay will retain his role as Chairman of the Board going forward, and will remain in his current role as CEO until a successor is identified.

Ramsay, who has served as TiVo's CEO since its founding in 1997, has successfully led the company as it introduced the industry's first digital video recorder to the marketplace, revolutionizing the way people watch TV today. Under his leadership, TiVo has become a household brand, while also offering the media industry a platform for advertising, content delivery and audience research. As of October 31, 2004, there were over 2.3 million subscriptions to the TiVo service.

"Founding TiVo with Jim Barton and growing the company into a major consumer brand has been the thrill of a lifetime," noted Ramsay. "We have achieved a tremendous amount since we started the company. We have had a fundamental impact on television viewing and believe strongly that the company has huge upside potential, in a massive market, going forward. I believe it is a natural evolution of any company to have a transition of leadership as the company grows and matures. The time is right for me, personally and professionally, to bring in an outstanding Chief Executive Officer to lead the company so that I can focus on future strategy. I feel this is a great opportunity for the right person to run one of the industry's most exciting companies, and I look forward to recruiting a new CEO who will help the company realize its full potential."

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, Geoff Yang, Managing Director of Redpoint Ventures and a founding investor in TiVo, noted that "Mike Ramsay has led TiVo to an exceptional level of technology innovation, business performance and consumer satisfaction. As Co-founder of TiVo, he has helped create a truly big idea and executed on its delivery into the market place with great skill. We plan to hire another exceptional leader in the months ahead."

Howard Fischer Associates of Philadelphia, Silicon Valley and Boston have been selected by TiVo's Board of Directors to conduct the search process.

About TiVo Inc.

Founded in 1997, TiVo, a pioneer in home entertainment, created a brand new category of products with the development of the first digital video recorder (DVR). Today, the Company continues to revolutionize the way consumers watch and access home entertainment by making TiVo the focal point of the digital living room, a center for sharing and experiencing television, music, photos and other content. TiVo connects consumers to the digital entertainment they want, where and when they want it. The Company is based in Alviso, California.

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