Chipmaker LSI Logic said JVC’s recently-announced DVD Multi recorder would use company’s DiMeNsion DMN-8600 DVD recorder processor. In using LSI Logic processor for DR-M1, JVC becomes first Japanese CE manufacturer to do so, LSI said. Company said DMN-8600 was world’s first single-chip DVD recorder system processor and offered benefit of reducing cost, design complexity and time-to-market for DVD recorders. DR-M1 will be available this month in Japan and Europe -- JVC has yet to announce plans for U.S. DR-M1 records on DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and DVD-R blanks in DVD-Video or DVD-VR formats, and plays DVD-Video, DVD-VR, VCD, MP3, JPEG and audio CDs. It has Time Slip function inherent to DVD-RAM format, allowing users to pause, rewind or instantly replay live TV. DVD Multi deck also enables users to connect digital camcorders through high-speed IEEE-1394 connection and digitally transfer personal video content from camcorder to blank DVD.
In issuing the text of the FCC’s order Wed. changing the rules that govern the nation’s media, Chmn. Powell said that only Congress essentially could ignore the realities of today’s diverse media marketplace and force a return to the old rules. The 257-page order and 56-page addendum and appendixes held few surprises. The FCC release was more about the commissioners themselves and their widely divergent opinions about the state of the nation’s media. Each issued a separate statement reflective of the 3-2 vote on June 2 (CD June 3 p1).
Long battle between Interactive Digital Software Assn. (IDSA) and St. Louis County may not be over after all. Earlier this month, 8th U.S. Appeals Court, St. Louis, on constitutional grounds struck down St. Louis ordinance that had sought to ban sale of violent videogames to minors (CED June 5 p3). But IDSA said Thurs. that St. Louis County officials had submitted motion for reconsideration of ruling.
Microsoft, which failed in first attempt to crack cable market with Windows CE platform for set-top boxes, introduced new Microsoft TV Foundation Edition at NCTA show in Chicago Mon. New platform, which gained initial design win with Cablevision digital cable TV system in Mexico, will target video-on-demand (VoD), among other services, by delivering “consistent VoD user experience” regardless of provider, Microsoft said. It also offers support for range of cable STBs including Motorola products, and allows cable operators to customize device.
Two weeks after receiving setback in its battle against series of laws regulating sales of violent videogames when Wash. Gov. Gary Locke (D) signed new bill into law (CED May 22 p3), Interactive Digital Software Assn. (IDSA) found much to be happy about with Tues. ruling by 8th U.S. Appeals Court, St. Louis. IDSA Pres. Douglas Lowenstein called ruling by 3-judge court striking down St. Louis County ordinance that had sought to ban sale of violent videogames to minors “a total and unambiguous affirmation of our position that videogames have the same constitutional status as a painting, a film or a book… The decision sends a powerful signal to government at all levels that efforts to regulate consumers’ access to the creative and expressive content found in videogames will not be tolerated.”
Colo. gov.’s veto of a communications piracy bill gives opponents new ammunition as they fight similar legislation in other states, D.C. lobbyists monitoring measures said Thurs.
Nearly 3 years after first effort to “bridge” DVD Forum recording formats and 2 years since spec has been available, first home DVD Multi recorder will be introduced by Toshiba. In worldwide announcement scheduled for today (Thurs.), DVD-RAM proponent will take wraps off Model D-R1 that adds DVD-RW recording and playback to same DVD-R and DVD-RAM functions.
Predicted influx this 4th quarter of fairly low-cost DVD/PVR combos appears to have hit roadblock over inclusion of electronic programming guides (EPGs). Which type of EPG and at what cost are among issues hardware manufacturers are grappling with, according to software company PlanetWeb, which supplies enabling technology for DVD/PVR combos. “Our software is ready to go,” said Jeff Blanc, PlanetWeb vp-strategic planning: “The sticking point is the OEMs. They're still struggling with the patent issues.”
The FCC should move quickly to adopt the industry agreement on cable compatibility, the NCTA said in the latest round of comments to the Commission, and objections by the MPAA and others should be dismissed because the proposed rules were modeled on those already developed for secure digital connectors and agreed to by MPAA studios and others. The CEA and the Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition agreed, but MPAA and others said hasty Commission action would be harmful and unnecessary.
Of reams of first-round comments filed with FCC in proposed rulemaking on plug-and-play agreement (CED Dec 20 p1, April 1 p1), none cast “appreciable doubt” on Commission’s jurisdiction to enact cable-CE interoperability deal, CEA and Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition (CERC) said in replies filed Mon. CEA and CERC said they were “relieved to conclude” that nothing in voluminous comments on plug-and-play “undermines or casts any doubt on the strong, imperative, fundamental case for expeditious and affirmative action by the Commission.” Groups urged FCC again to implement measures quickly “so as to serve consumers, enable competition and move the DTV and HDTV transitions forward.”