CEA Supports Hard Deadline for Analog TV - The Consumer Electronics Association testified to a House subcommittee that adoption of a fixed date for returning the analog spectrum to the government would provide regulatory certainty to all industries involved in the NTSC to HDTV transition. (But no specific date was given.) CEA President Gary Shapiro called on everyone involved in the transition to continue educating consumers about the analog shutoff and working together to get there as fast as possible. (Whenever the cutoff does occur, those viewers without either a DTV or a set-top translator box will suddenly find they can no longer receive any over-the-air TV at all.) The CEA also announced that more than a million Digital Cable Ready sets were sold last year and three million will be sold this year. They urged the cable industry to promote Digital Cable Ready sets and the requisite CableCARD.
Video Phone Redux - Texas Instruments has partnered with Wintech Digital Systems to release the Videophone Development Platform for designing workable and reasonably-priced point-to-point videophone systems for business and personal use. The new technology uses video codecs requiring only half the former bandwidth, and the continuing expansion of broadband connectivity augers well for picture phones in the future. The phone companies also welcome another service they can offer and make money on.
Surround Sound Cell Phones - Japan's largest mobile operator has unveiled a new line of advanced cell phones with stereo-quality surround sound. They can be used for gaming, as hi-res digital cameras, and even as a debit card with a special chip. They are part of the 3G or 3rd generation of mobile phones, and will be first introduced in the fall in Japan by Sharp.
Two Beleaguered Audio Companies in News Again - Dorian Records, who filed for bankruptcy protection in January, has received court permission to hire a businessman to secure new financing. Dorian can continue operating on a limited scale until early next month. And Tara Labs audiophile cable specialist - who a few months back had their offices raided by FTC officials and cables labeled as “Made in the U.S.” confiscated because they were actually made offshore - is back introduced a new design of their RSC Series audio cables featuring air-suspension filaments.
March 16, 2005 
