Multi-Room AV Users Support the Technology – A new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) finds that owners of multi-room AV systems assign high value to it. 82% would recommend their system to friends and 85% would install such a system in a new home. Multi-room AV systems (MRAV) allow users to play and control both audio and video programming distributed from their centralized system to at least three different rooms of their home. 55% of those surveyed use their system daily and 63% of the systems were installed after the home was already built. Daily users said the main reason for purchasing the system was to enhance their home entertainment experience, to enjoy listening and for entertaining. The multi-room market has expanded as consumers demand access to programming content anytime and anywhere in their homes.
“Retail Radio” in Restaurants and Shops – While there are still a number of companies furnishing so-called “elevator music” to consumer-oriented businesses via optical discs, hard drives, by satellite or sub channels of radio stations, the Internet has opened up a new approach. New Level Radio now broadcasts to over 50 stores in Hawaii and Colorado using the Barix Exstreamer IP audio decoder made by the Swiss firm Barix Audio. There is no requirement to install satellite dishes at the stores, no burden to have someone change CDs or update the programming. Everything is done remotely on the Net. The company selects the music formats and creates a playlist fitting the theme of each business, products the programs, encodes the audio (at 160kpbs MP3s) and the various audio streams then play at each site, combining the music with advertising and promotional material to point-of-purchase customers. Programs can be updated instantly to reflect changes in sales, promotions, etc. The company also has in-store audio platforms thruout Europe. So be prepared to hear what you may have absolutely no interest in hearing wherever you go…
Constant Firmware Updating Hampers Blu-ray – Blu-ray was introduced before its technology was finalized, whereas DVD-HD had the advanced features during its short life. Now new features are being constantly added in both newly-introduced Blu-ray players and in firmware updates downloadable from the manufacturers’ websites. And at the same time the Hollywood studios are issuing new Blu-ray discs with the latest added value features which often not only don’t work on non-updated players, but can make the entire disc unplayable! Meantime entry-level plain DVD players play every DVD inserted into them and do so immediately without a long wait for “loading” as with Blu-ray. Many of the new special features have little value to the average user, such as BD Live – which requires an Internet hookup which may not be part of a particular player, and/or the user’s Internet access is in another room. What’s going on with the whole Blu-ray effort anyway?
