Flat Screen Tvs - Plasma Tvs - LCD Displays and HDTV

New Customers Can Save up to $200 by Subscribing To DishHD

EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network(TM) satellite TV service announced the roll-out of four new high-definition channels - HGTV HD, NFL Network HD, National Geographic Channel HD and Starz HDTV - bringing its total HD channel lineup to 29 channels - the most national HD channels offered by any pay-TV provider in the United States. In addition, EchoStar announced a price reduction on its MPEG-4 receivers and a bonus offer for its DishHD(TM) programming packages.

Customers who subscribe to DishHD Bronze or higher will now have access to both HGTV HD and NFL Network HD. HGTV HD, which is exclusively broadcast by DISH Network, offers in-depth home and lifestyle programming, including shows on gardening, home remodeling and interior design. NFL Network HD brings viewers a 24-hour simulcast of NFL Network's programming, including 168 game telecasts a year, news, press conferences, event coverage, and reality and historical series from the sport of football.

"DISH Network continues to offer the largest HD lineup in the U.S. with 29 channels," said Eric Sahl, senior vice president of Programming for DISH Network. "That's nearly three times the amount of HD channels the average cable provider offers."

DISH Network also introduces the National Geographic Channel HD, available to subscribers of DishHD Gold or higher. The channel will be available to all DishHD customers in a free preview on Ch. 9429 until July 7, 2006. National Geographic Channel HD brings the network's spectacular imagery to viewers in stunning clarity with all the innovative original programming and signature specials, ranging in topics from science and nature to technology and culture, that viewers have come to expect from the National Geographic Channel.

DishHD customers who subscribe to the Starz Movie Pack or DishHD Platinum will now get Starz HDTV, featuring films from Hollywood studios such as Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Miramax Films, Sony Pictures Classics, Revolution Studios, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Dimension Films and Screen Gems among other leading distributors.

DISH Network is now offering a free equipment upgrade to customers leasing its standard HD receiver. In addition, the up-front lease fee for DISH Network's HD digital video recorder satellite TV receiver has been reduced to $199.99, down from $299.99.

New customers can also save $200 if they subscribe to DishHD Bronze or higher through DISH Network's HD Bonus promotion combined with its current $100 Back offer. To take advantage of the HD Bonus promotion, new customers must submit a redemption form with their first bill to receive the benefits, which in turn provides a $20 credit on each subsequent bill for 10 months. Both the discounted lease upgrade fees and the HD Bonus will run through Jan. 31, 2007.

For more information about DishHD programming packages, DISH Network's HD receivers or current HD promotions, click here.

About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation serves more than 12.2 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last five 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. Visit www.buymydish.com

Posted by Nana at 03:41 PM | DISH Network Expands HD Lineup to 29 Channels

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)

UpZide Labs AB and Tensilica(R), Inc., announced a development agreement in the area of VDSL2 data-path design. Under the agreement, UpZide will develop a reference design utilizing multiple Xtensa(R) LX processors from Tensilica to implement the VDSL2 (second generation Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line) standard. Because the standard is evolving, it's essential that the VDSL2 data-path component be designed with the flexibility required to adapt to all possible changes. By designing with highly configurable Xtensa processors rather than RTL (register transfer level code), and by extending the instruction set to handle the data-intensive demands of the VDSL2 standard, UpZide will be able to make available for license a fast, efficient, and programmable solution for this rapidly growing market.

The VDSL2 standard provides broadband connections at speeds of up to 100 Mbps symmetrical, which is fast enough to deliver the "triple play" applications of voice, data and video to a wide audience. This technology is seen as key to delivering VoIP (voice over Internet protocol), VoD (video on demand) and HDTV (high-definition television) simultaneously over standard telephone lines.

"The evolving VDSL2 standard puts extreme requirements on system-on-chip designs; some can even be considered contradictory," according to UpZide's CEO, Dr. Mikael Isaksson. "Compared to existing VDSL, VDSL2 must offer both longer range and support the delivery of higher bandwidth services at low production costs, high port density and low power consumption. Tensilica's Xtensa processors will allow us to deliver these challenging requirements along with the flexibility inherent in a programmable solution.

"UpZide brings to the partnership unique expertise gained from designing several VDSL platforms in various semiconductor technologies, including FPGAs, ASICs and DSPs, since 1995. Tensilica's Xtensa processors are ideal for this project because they can be optimised precisely for this application, making them much faster and energy efficient than standard control processors, enabling UpZide to design a processor-based solution with the power-area efficiency previously only attainable with hard-coded RTL design methodologies," Dr. Isaksson added.

"VDSL2 design is challenging. It needs to be processor-based so it can be future proof to quickly respond to changes in standards and to different customer requirements," stated Steve Roddy, vice president of marketing at Tensilica. "That's why we're happy to support UpZide's VDSL2 design efforts. Their extensive expertise with VDSL should give them a head start in the VDSL2 market."

About UpZide

Based in Sweden, UpZide's core business is to offer embedded software, system-on-chip designs and expert services to chipset manufacturers and system integrators, enabling them to enter the market with standard compliant communication system solutions. UpZide was founded in 2001 by the key individuals that developed the Zipper DMT technology, a concept that is currently a cornerstone of the international VDSL standard, as well as the evolving VDSL2 standard. See www.upzide.com.

About Tensilica

Tensilica was founded in July 1997 to address the growing need for optimized, application-specific microprocessor solutions in high-volume embedded applications. With a configurable and extensible microprocessor core called Xtensa, Tensilica is the only company that has automated and patented the time-consuming process of generating a customized microprocessor core along with a complete software development tool environment, producing new configurations in a matter of hours. For more information, visit www.tensilica.com.

Posted by Nana at 11:20 AM | UpZide and Tensilica to Cooperate on VDSL2 Data-Path Design; Solution to Provide HDTV Bandwidth Over Phone Lines | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Cnet has an article that highlights the fact that consumers need to aware that having HDTV doesn't really mean automatic HD quality for all the programming they view.

The sharp picture quality that wows you on that expensive HDTV in the electronics store isn't necessarily what you'll see once you get the set into your living room. Read more at cnet ...

Posted by Nana at 10:23 PM | Cnet Article - Clearing up the HDTV picture | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In a bold step forward to delivering stunning home theater to the masses, Kreisen, (www.kreisen.com), the manufacturers of quality affordable high definition television displays, today announced the availability of their premier line of high definition television ( HDTV ) 40-inch liquid crystal display ( LCD ) televisions. Packed with the latest features, this stylish new flat panel display represents the flagship model for the new entrant and is flanked by an equally impressive 37-inch model. Both LCDs are shipping immediately.

Impressively priced at a low $3,499 MSRP for the 40-inch and $2,999 MSRP for the 37-inch, both sets feature an outstanding 1000:1 contrast ratio and 1366 x 768 resolution high definition ( HDTV ) 1080i and 720p display. The sleek new 40-inch offering is one of the largest LCDs with a built in NTSC TV tuner available on the market today and a welcome addition to any home or office décor and audio/video system. To complement the wealth of features already standard, these LCDs boast 16:9 aspect ratios with a multitude of inputs to allow the set a warm welcome in any environment.

“We are excited to bring to market these extremely versatile LCD TVs at such a low price. We are proof positive that one does not need to sacrifice quality or availability of features for affordability. LCDs are becoming an accepted standard in the personal home theater and office multimedia market segments over their plasma rivals,” said Samson Lee, CEO of Kreisen. “Our high definition TVs are ideally suited to deliver the total visual experience with the latest features at an affordable price point.”

With more sizes to be announced soon, Kreisen features top grade LCD panels designed by Samsung and LG Philips, two of the industry’s leading companies. In an effort to stay ahead of the industry, Kreisen will soon announce built in sub-woofers and high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) with high-definition multi-media interface (HDMI) as well as built-in advanced television systems committee (ATSC) tuners to deliver dazzling images and dynamic sound of digital TV broadcasts.

Kreisen LCD TVs are immediately available from a quickly growing list of popular consumer electronics retailers including Amazon (www.amazon.com)

About Kreisen LCD TVs
Headquartered in San Jose, California, Kreisen is a leading manufacturer of affordable, advanced, high definition liquid crystal display ( LCD ) televisions for use in home entertainment, business, and education. Kreisen’s line of flat-panel HDTVs comes standard with premium features such as digital luminance and color transient improvement (DLTI/DCTI) technology to dramatically improve image details for sharper, more natural pictures. Additionally, the digital perfect creation (DPC) engine, co-developed with Germany’s Micronas, a world renowned maker of digital video and audio signal processors, ensures optimized screen output. All Kreisen LCD TVs feature double window (DW) scan, picture-in-picture (PIP), built in equalizer, auto volume leveler (AVL), and an array of input and output connections for the most versatile viewing options. Kreisen is marketed through a rapidly growing network of consumer-direct online partners, and regional and national retail stores in North America by EnCross Enterprise, Inc.

For more information, visit Kreisen online at (www.kreisen.com) or call 1-866-KREISEN.

Posted by Nana at 09:17 PM | Kreisen Delivers the First Affordable 40-Inch HDTV LCD | 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 | TivoToGo Hacks | 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 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 | Global IPTV Revenue Will Top $17 Billion by 2010 | 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 | Comcast Cable Survey Shows More Than Half of Fans Consider High Definition and Big Screen TV When Deciding Where to Watch the Big Game | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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:

Hitachi High-Technologies is pleased to announce the launch of the world's first professional HDTV MPEG2 Decoder PCI card capable of decoding HD MPEG-2 TS streams of up to 200Mbps. No longer will you be limited to handling video streams of only 80Mbps, the MD1S60DG-PCI card will give you the extended capability of decoding HDTV DVB-ASI transport streams of up to 200Mbps in both 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 formats. The calibre of the HD-SDI stream output picture quality is outstanding and true to the broadcast industry that this card supports. Ideal applications for the card include digital cinemas and theatres enabling the delivery of film quality pictures, HD contribution and mobile HD.

Main features of the HD MPEG-2 Decoder are demonstrated by its ability to decode both 4:2:2 and 4:2:0 formats in a TS of up to 200Mbps and its flexibility to auto-sense all major HD video formats, including 1080i at 25, 29.97 and 30fps; 1080p at 23.97, 24fps and 720p at 59.94 and 60fps. Profile and Levels: MP@HL, 422P@HL and MP@H14L. Two audio channels are supported decoding MPEG-1 Layer II audio with AES-EBU outputs. In a short-PCI card profile, the main card dimension is 175mm x 107mm excluding the BNC connectors for transport stream input and audio/video output. It is also possible to drive the card in standalone mode with a PCI-bridge adaptor card.

With High Definition TV making its mark on the industry Hitachi High-Technologies is pleased to respond to the overwhelming request for an MPEG2 HD Decoder capable of decoding the HD video streams from low bit-rates of less than 15Mbps up to very high bitrates of up to 200Mbps on a PCI card. The MD1S60DG-PCI meets all these criteria and beyond with its excellent specification and will be an invaluable tool in the production of richer and more diverse HDTV programming.

Posted by Nana at 05:22 PM | Hitachi High-Technologies Launches First HD MPEG-2 PCI Decoder Working Up To 200Mbps | 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)

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

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)

ATI's HDTV Wonder HDTV PCI tuner card gives you the ability to add HDTV viewing capabilites to your home PC. At less than $200, this is one of the cheapest ways to upgrade to HDTV without a $1000 investment.

Gary Krakow over at MSNBC has a very good review of the HDTV Wonder HDTV tuner card.

ATI’s HDTV Wonder package consists of their HDTV PCI card that goes inside your computer, a remote control for your new HDTV tuner and a directional indoor HDTV antenna which looks a lot like Terk’s HDTVi that I’m using in my living room (except the Terk also includes rabbit ears for analog TV). The PCI card is capable of receiving broadcast HDTV stations and regular standard definition analog TV stations all broadcasting over-the-air in your neighborhood. The card can also handle analog cable TV but not digital and HDTV Cable or satellite signals.more...

You'll also find more information at http://ati.com/products/hdtvwonder/index.html

Posted by Nana at 11:20 PM | Review: HDTV Wonder HDTV PCI tuner card | TrackBacks (0)

The prime TV buying season is now upon us, and if a television is on your shopping list, you should be thinking HDTV. The federally mandated transition to an all-digital broadcast system is getting closer all the time (the target is the end of 2006); and if you have to get a DTV-ready set anyway, why not go for one that's capable of displaying the beautiful, high-resolution images of high-definition?

Money No Obstacle
If you've been holding off because you preferred not to spend the thousands that the first high-definition sets cost (and that the sexiest plasma and LCD models now command), it's time to take another look at products and price tags: Today you can find HD sets for as little as $500. Here are some strategies for saving on your HDTV purchase, as well as a selection of products in the $500-to-$2000 range.

The first thing to consider is whether you need a true HD set--one with a built-in high-definition tuner--or whether an HD-ready set will suffice (see "Learn the HD Lingo"). HD-ready sets can cost a few hundred dollars less than comparable true HDTV sets, and they make sense if you'll be using an HD cable or satellite box and consequently don't need a built-in tuner to obtain over-the-air HD. more...

Posted by Nana at 11:36 PM | How to buy a cheap HDTV | TrackBacks (0)

eLCOS Microdisplay Technology will be introducing the latest release of its 1080p eHD70 display panel -- featuring an ultra-high 4000:1 panel contrast ratio -- at International CES 2005 in Las Vegas from January 6-9, 2005. The new eHD70 combines VAN (Vertically Aligned Nematic) liquid crystal technology with eLCOS Microdisplay's proprietary digital technology -- Dynamic Digital Drive -- for a vibrant, sharp picture. eLCOS panels will be demonstrated in a 60 inch TV, which can be seen by appointment. CEO Warren Shih will also be on hand to discuss the company's product roadmap, technology improvements, and 2005 initiatives.

The eHD70 produces a 1080 x 1920 progressive-scan resolution, the highest HDTV resolution available today. The eHD70 is designed for use in a three panel system architecture for either front or rear projection displays.

eLCOS Dynamic Digital Drive technology enables digital voltage from the video input signal to the eLCOS SRAM pixel circuit, which creates exceptionally high-fidelity images at a true native 1080p resolution. Dynamic Digital Drive is also immune to common display artifacts such as image burn-in and data line crosstalk.

eLCOS Vertically Aligned liquid crystal technology features an intrinsic 4000:1 panel contrast ratio and lifetime of over 90,000 hours. eLCOS Chief Technology Officer Ed Hudson explained, "The inorganic alignment layer is a key enabler of high-yielding long-lifetime VAN technology. Our milestone achievement addresses a market demand for an attractive, reliable, and affordable HDTV solution."

Space is limited, so please call ahead to reserve a time to view eLCOS display technology during International CES 2005. Contact:
• Roland Lue (roland@elcos.com) at 408-504-5314
• Tammy Hwang (thwang@elcos.com) at 650-279-2963

     eHD70 Performance Matrix
     Display Device           eHD70
     Panel Active Matrix      1952 pixels x 1112 pixels-32 alignment pix
                              (H + V)
     Active Array Dimensions  15.81mm x 9.01 mm (0.7" Diagonal)
     Pixel Pitch              8.1 um
     Pixel Cell Type          SRAM
     Contrast Ratio           4000:1 @ f/2.8 illumination (panel-only)
     Reflectivity             75%
     Response Time            < 10 milliseconds (Rise time + Fall time)
     Liquid Crystal Mode      Vertically Aligned Nematic (VAN)
     Alignment Layer          Inorganic thin film
     Si Backplane Process     CMOS 0.25 micrometer
     Controller               TPM2 Dynamic Digital Drive

About eLCOS:

eLCOS Microdisplay Technology (www.elcos.com), a fabless design house for LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) microdisplays, is a venture capital-backed company with headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA. eLCOS is a leader in next-generation display technology by providing advanced, all-digital, dynamic video display solutions. All eLCOS products utilize proprietary patent-pending digital imaging technology to ensure the purest colors and the most lifelike pictures. eLCOS' team of talent includes the pioneers of digital LCOS technology. eLCOS has offices in the United States, China, and Taiwan.

Posted by Nana at 02:34 PM | eLCOS to Launch 1080p VAN eHD70 LCOS Microdisplay With 4000:1 Contrast at CES 2005 | TrackBacks (0)

Voom could be up for sale soon. It would be interesting to see who snaps it up.

The Long Island-based cable operator said Tuesday that its board had decided to suspend pursuing a spinoff of its Rainbow Media Enterprises subsidiary. In place of the RME transaction, says Cablevision, the company will "pursue strategic alternatives" for its satellite TV service.

...it appears from the traditional "strategic alternatives" code word, Cablevision will try to find a buyer for Voom or its assets. TheStreet.com

Posted by Nana at 02:22 PM | Cablevision planning to sell Voom? | 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)

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. announced today the expansion of its family of commercial-use plasma displays, with the PDP-424MV enhanced definition plasma display. This new plasma joins the high definition PureVision PDP-614MX (61"), PDP-504CMX (50") and PDP-434CMX (43") plasmas, offering commercial users another option for their digital signage, boardroom and other business applications. With the addition of the PDP-424MV, Pioneer has a plasma display solution for any business application or budget.

"The PDP-424MV fills an important place in the public display market, adding to Pioneer's family of professional plasma displays," said Jim Krodel, director of industrial display for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "There is occasionally a need in the market to utilize a VGA panel for a specific installation. Now we have the ability to offer that product to our customers. As the industrial marketplace continues to grow, the ability to offer a VGA plasma helps Pioneer to maintain its position as one of the world's leading plasma manufacturers."

Features of the PDP-424MV include: