Lots of news is coming from the CES in Las Vegas these days, so here is a little overview of all the new things coming from over there. The CES is a technology exhibition and many companies use it as an opportunity to announce new products and support for their standards.
Celebrities and HP team up to adress piracy problem
During the CES people could join a press conference where Sheryl Crow, U2 guitarist The Edge and actor Ben Affleck spoke out against piracy. Also Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Carly Fiorina, who pledged her company would protect artists' rights in all its devices. Singer Alicia Keys, who performed two songs on stage, told the audience she regularly spoke with children about music piracy. "I always tell them, 'You can download, but if you like what you hear, go out and buy it," she said. Also country artist Toby Keith and producer Dr. Dre where there to address their concerns.
Microsoft and Panasonic announce more support for HighMAT standard
Microsoft and Panasonic used the CES to announce that more companies are supporting their HighMAT standard. HighMAT stands for High-performance Media Access Technology, which Microsoft and Panasonic jointly developed and introduced to the market last year to improve interoperability for photos, music and video between PCs and electronic devices using storage media such as CDs and DVDs. The news is that Apex Digital Inc., Malata North America and Panasonic announced support for HighMAT on new DVD players, DVD recorders, home theater systems and portable CD players. ALi Corp., Analog Devices Inc., Equator Technologies Inc., MediaTek Inc., Sigma Designs Inc. and Zoran Corp. announced support for HighMAT on integrated circuits that will power next-generation DVD players and home theater appliances. In addition, software providers BHA Corp., CyberLink Corp. and Ulead Systems Inc. today announced support for HighMAT in their products.
Microsoft and Sonic team up for WMV HD
More news from Microsoft as it has teamed up with Sonic, the companies announced that they are developing new production tools that will allow film studios and production facilities to create high-definition DVD titles in Microsoft Windows Media 9 Series. DVD titles created using Windows Media Video 9 (WMV HD), a component of the Windows Media 9 Series platform. WMV HD titles can be played on the latest-generation Windows XP-based PCs, including the Windows(R) XP Media Center Edition. Sonic plans to ship its WMV HD authoring system in May 2004.
Hitachi introduces two new DVD camcorders
Hitachi introduced the company's fourth generation DVD camcorders . The new models, the UltraVision Digital DZ-MV550A and DZ-MV580A, add a lighter chassis with -according to the company - a more comfortable grip and a new Quick Mode menu function that allows for easier navigation through the camcorder's menu system. Additionally, the DZ-MV580A adds an optional 16x9 widescreen filming format for DVD-RAM recording.
Sonic announces AuthorScript 5.5
Sonic debuted its AuthorScript, the latest version of its engine for the creation and burning of DVD, Video CD and CD Audio discs on PCs and CE devices. The softwas was designed to enable developers of PC applications and CE devices to rapidly add optical media output, as well as video and audio playback, encoding and transcoding to their products, Sonic AuthorScript 5.5 adds new features for photo slideshow creation and advanced DVD menu design and navigation. The new version of Sonic AuthorScript will be available on January 15, 2004.
Ulead announces DVD MovieFactory 3 Disc Creator
Ulead has announced Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3 Disc Creator, a major upgrade of its PC consumer-level DVD creation software. DVD MovieFactory 3 Disc Creator offers an integrated suite of DVD creation tools for all DVD and CD burning needs. The software makes it simple for anyone, from home users to business managers, to create polished DVD movies, photo slideshows and quickly burn music and data to disc. DVD MovieFactory 3 Disc Creator offers significant enhancements such as motion menus and chapter buttons with real-time preview, new audio features including Dolby AC-3 support, and enhanced video editing tools such as the ability to add transitions and text to videos and photos. The software provides compatibility for all DVD formats including video recorded on set-top DVD recorders and DVD camcorders.
Thanks go to GristyMcFisty for submitting many of the stories.
Source: Various
