News from CES 2004

CES 2004 - DAY 1

Major Trends:

Audio/video entertainment products utilizing hard drives as the storage medium for music and video.
An increase in concept products proposing wireless audio/video distribution throughout a home. (Time will tell whether and when this turns into products that will actually work simply enough to use.)
A battle ensuing between computer manufactuers/software vendors and entertainment electronics companies on whose product should serve as the center of a home entertainment system.
Music on physical media is being increasingly promoted as a high quality alternative to MP 3 music. Multi-channel (DVD audio and SACD format) provide a multi-channel music experience that is a noticeable improvement over the stereo MP3 level music. A case in point: The new Acura TL has an DVD Audio multi-channel music system that sounded great!. BMW has included options in its new 7 series and 5 series cars for its Logic7 surround system.
Flat panel TVs are everywhere, and in all sizes and prices.
Integration of Home Electronics as part of a modern home is becoming a mainstream concept.

Here are more highlights of the first day of CES 2004...

January 9, 2004

The main entry Hall to the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Consumer Electronics Show uses the entire huge Las Vegas Convention center and several other venues.

This is the Panasonic DMR85ES, a Hard Drive VCR w/ DVD recorder using the TV Guide Program Guide System to sort and find TV programs. One of an increasing number of Hard drive VCR type products. Large storage capacity. Anticipated availability in the spring/summer at about $700.

Panasonic AVC Server.

Panasonic HD Tranmission. This concept product shows an audio/video server-type product that silmultaneously distributes up to 4 different programs via wireless and power wiring using the high speed wifi standard 802.11a. This A/V distribution method is being widely researched by many companies. Ease-of-use, plus actual real-world performance quality will distinguish the products worth using. This is an area that Design Systems, Ltd. is watching closely.

LG 76" Plasma display. Bigger, Bigger, Bigger! LG Electronics, a Korean manufacturer, showed 71" and 76" plasma displays with great resolution. Delivery date and price are not available yet.

Audio Design Associates showed the ADA HTR2400, an integrated Home Theater Receiver/8-zone controller/ amplifier utilizing their assortment of audio keypads for remote rooms. This very HOT product dramatically reduces the complexity of integrating high quality music throughout the home with a high perfomance home theater. Late fall availability at $10,000.

This rear panel view of the ADA HTR2400 shows its many connections for A/V components and house-wide audio.

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						CES 2004 - DAY 1 Major Trends: Audio/video entertainment products utilizing hard drives as the storage medium for music and video. An increase in concept products proposing wireless audio/video distribution throughout a home. (Time will tell whether and when this turns into products that will actually work simply enough to use.) A battle ensuing between computer manufactuers/software vendors and entertainment electronics companies on whose product should serve as the center of a home entertainment system. Music on physical media is being increasingly promoted as a high quality alternative to MP 3 music. Multi-channel (DVD audio and SACD format) provide a multi-channel music experience that is a noticeable improvement over the stereo MP3 level music. A case in point: The new Acura TL has an DVD Audio multi-channel music system that sounded great!. BMW has included options in its new 7 series and 5 series cars for its Logic7 surround system. Flat panel TVs are everywhere, and in all sizes and prices. Integration of Home Electronics as part of a modern home is becoming a mainstream concept. Here are more highlights of the first day of CES 2004...
		January 9, 2004 The main entry Hall to the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Consumer Electronics Show uses the entire huge Las Vegas Convention center and several other venues.
		This is the Panasonic DMR85ES, a Hard Drive VCR w/ DVD recorder using the TV Guide Program Guide System to sort and find TV programs. One of an increasing number of Hard drive VCR type products. Large storage capacity. Anticipated availability in the spring/summer at about $700.
		Panasonic AVC Server.
		Panasonic HD Tranmission. This concept product shows an audio/video server-type product that silmultaneously distributes up to 4 different programs via wireless and power wiring using the high speed wifi standard 802.11a. This A/V distribution method is being widely researched by many companies. Ease-of-use, plus actual real-world performance quality will distinguish the products worth using. This is an area that Design Systems, Ltd. is watching closely.
		LG 76" Plasma display. Bigger, Bigger, Bigger! LG Electronics, a Korean manufacturer, showed 71" and 76" plasma displays with great resolution. Delivery date and price are not available yet.
		Audio Design Associates showed the ADA HTR2400, an integrated Home Theater Receiver/8-zone controller/ amplifier utilizing their assortment of audio keypads for remote rooms. This very HOT product dramatically reduces the complexity of integrating high quality music throughout the home with a high perfomance home theater. Late fall availability at $10,000.
		This rear panel view of the ADA HTR2400 shows its many connections for A/V components and house-wide audio.
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