A new survey from market research firm Harris Interactive finds that nearly one in four U.S. adults (39 percent) have home networks, and 37 percent of those users would like to use their computers to control their home entertainment systems. In addition, 35 percent would like to control household functions like heating, lighting, security, and ventilation from their PCs, and 31 percent of home network owners would like to use teir PCs to send pictures, video, and music to their televisions.
Tag Archive: home entertainment systems
Toshiba Introduces Multimedia Center Hub
The Multimedia Center Audio/USB Hub enables users of any notebook computer running Microsoft Windows XP Home, Microsoft Windows XP Pro and the recently released Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to:
— Play music, movies or games in 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound from home entertainment systems or external PC speakers;
— Play games in full EAX Advanced HD Surround Sound for a realistic 3D audio experience;
— Listen to MP3 play lists on home stereo speakers by connecting the hub to a stereo receiver via a SPDIF coaxial audio cable;
Akimbo VOD Service MS Media Center 2005
icrosoft Corp.’s Windows Media Center family includes operating systems for personal computers and home entertainment systems. The Akimbo Service is designed to provide access to thousands of hours of programming, which can be selected for download via the Internet, and viewed on-demand. The Akimbo Service will bring Media Center users a wide breadth of video content, greatly expanding their television viewing choices. The Akimbo Service will be accessible from Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 in the first quarter of 2005.
Digital Audio Receivers To Lose Popularity
The U.S. market for digital audio receivers – devices which enable playback of PC-stored music content and streaming Internet audio on legacy analog home entertainment systems – is expected to growfrom less than 150,000 units in 2003 to almost to 2 million units by 2006. According to Digital Audio Receivers: Competitive Analysis & Forecasts, a new report from research consultancy TheDiffusion Group, the early market for digital audio receivers (DAR) such as NETGEAR’s MP101 and digital audio adapters (DAA) such as Apple’s Airport Express will enjoy rapid growth through 2006 andthen face a host of market challenges.
“While early optimism is warranted, it will be short-lived due to three specific factors,” says Dr. Predrag Filipovic, consulting analyst with The Diffusion Group. “First, rapid decreases in unit price – the margins on these units are very healthy but as PC and CE vendors enter the market, pricing pressure will be immense. Second, the move from stand-alone to embedded systems – support for digital audio streaming will soon no longer require a stand-alone device, instead becoming a feature embedded into other devices such as set-top boxes, PVRs, and media servers. Third, single-purpose evolves to multipurpose -audio-only digital receivers will be replaced by multipurpose digital media receivers that support both audio and video. Thus, we expect digital media receivers will take significant market share from audio-only digital receivers.”
Philips debuts integrated digital systems
These new Philips home entertainment systems offer features to create a better audio and video experience, as well as fit perfectly into consumers’ individual needs.
Merging Audio and Video Innovations: Philips LX8200SA
The compelling home entertainment product, the LX8200SA, incorporates DCDiâ„¢ Faroudja Progressive Scan technology to produce crisp and clear images and the best signal quality for the ultimate in video quality.
The system also features multichannel Super Audio CD, to provide a total immersion in music. Including a 100-Watt subwoofer and complete 5-speaker package, the LX8200SA features a full 300-Watts of total power.
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