TV and HDTV

Episode 59: Send in the Clowns

Dale — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:17:04 -0400

Dale is joined this week by a substitute host: Ringmaster Greg from Dancing with Elephants.

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Music by Kevin McLeod

How Old Media Can Compete with New Media

Dale — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:56:41 -0400

I'm about done with TV. When I was a kid, we had 3 networks plus PBS for Sesame Street. Now, our satellite service offers hundreds of channels, but it's not enough. Or, to look at it another way, it's too much. When you have 100 channels but only a half-dozen shows worth watching, I feel like I'm getting ripped off, especially when I'm paying a monthly fee to watch those shows, most of which I could get over the air.

On top of that, I can watch most of what I want, thanks to sites like Hulu.com, online. All I need is a way to mirror my computer screen to a TV, and I'm almost set, minus the Discovery Channel, which charges way too much to get recent episodes of Mythbusters, and a web collection of family-friendly cartoons.

More and more mainstream media is being offered via the Internet, whether on the web or via stores like iTunes or the XBox 360, and even though the networks now offer most of their content online, it hasn't taken off very well, and on the Internet, independent media (YouTube, podcasts, etc.) has done about as well as Internet media. This leaves mainstream media a bit nervous as their number of competitors increases from 4 networks to hundreds of cable networks to millions of independent content creators.

So what does mainstream media need to do to still come out on top? As a producer of independent media, maybe I should keep this to myself, because I'm helping my biggest competitor, but if their highly-paid marketers thought about it for a minute and could convince the Board of Directors, based on plenty of statistics, that this is a good idea, they don't need me to tell them.

The answer? Go to any video sharing site: YouTube, Revver, you name it. On every video page, you'll find a method to embed that video onto another site or include a link in an email. These sites got huge because they allow others in the most effective way possible to show others what's so cool about their site. But you'll note that you can't embed the latest episode of Hannah Montana in your fan site. Why? Because mainstream media desperately wants to hold onto their media lest someone use it without their ability to count eyeballs and make money on ads. But of course, YouTube knows exactly how many people watch their videos, regardless where it plays, because it's being pulled from their server. Should they insert ads into their content, as they've begun to do in some videos, and as Revver has done from the beginning, they can tell their advertisers exactly how many people have seen their ads and can charge accordingly. People will advertise their content and draw eyes to their content for them for free.

Of course, there's a trade-off. By allowing embedding, the producers can't control where, when, or how their content is viewed, but that's already the case. I can record my TV shows on a DVR, import them into my computer, rip out the ads, copy them onto my iPod, and watch them in bed. The media companies can, at best, estimate the number of eyes watching, and as a former Nielsen "family," I can tell you that you can say, "I'm watching this show" even when I'm not, so it's painfully inaccurate. But someone else can make money from their content by putting ads on the page where the video is embedded. So? The producers still make money, more than they would otherwise.

Think how great this would be not only for the media companies, but for families. Parents could literally build a site for their kids, full of shows they allow their kids to watch. They could control not only what programs, but what individual episodes the kids could watch.

Will mainstream media figure this out? I hope so, but I'm not holding my breath. They have a lousy track record when it comes to giving people what they want, but if they want to survive in the new media world, they need to see what new media, their competition, provides for the consumer: giving the consumers what they want, when they want it, and how they want to consume it.

HDTV Adoption Jumped A Significant 25 Percent Over 2007 Holidays

Teresa — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:33:56 -0400

LOS ANGELES, April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- 5.5 million households brought home an HDTV set for the first time during the 2007/2008 holiday and Super Bowl season this year. A recent study of consumers across the U.S. indicates that 25 percent of U.S. households or 28 million now have at least one HDTV set, that up from a penetration of 20 percent in September 2007. In a study conducted shortly after Super Bowl XLII, Frank N. Magid Associates identified an impressive three million homes added a second HDTV during this same time frame, bringing multiple HDTV set homes up to nearly 10 million.

"Consumers who become accustomed to the sleek and contemporary appearance of their first HD set are now looking to bring that benefit into other rooms in their home," says Maryann Baldwin, Vice President, Magid Media Futures(TM). "However owning an HDTV set and actually viewing HD are still two very different pursuits for many."

Due to falling prices and the upcoming digital transition, a larger percentage of younger adults 21-34 purchased HDTV's this holiday season. Among those who purchased their HDTV set in the past year, 18 percent say they did so to connect it to a high definition video game console like Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

"Now that the early majority has joined the ranks of the HD adopters, the demographic makeup of the HD population is looking more like the overall U.S. TV viewing universe," says Jill Rosengard Hill, Vice President and Managing Director.

Among those who reside in a household with at least one HDTV set, the number who have taken steps to arrange for HD programming reception hold steady compared to other recent studies at 70 percent. Among the 30 percent of HDTV set owners who have not made these arrangements, many site costs and a limited number of channels available in high definition. Satellite customers make up half of this group, and most of them say they are not prepared to purchase the new equipment necessary to add this service. Just three percent of homes own an HDTV set that is receiving HD programming from their local stations via an over-the-air antenna.

HD adoption appears poised to continue its accelerating growth rate. Not only do three-in-ten households plan to purchase a new TV in the next year, nearly all of them indicate that if they make this purchase, the new television will be an HDTV set. Much of the demand seen this year is driven by both the continuing decline in HD set prices, and the belief among some consumers that the digital television transition slated for February 2009 requires that consumers actually purchase a set capable of displaying high-definition.

Findings also show that 24 percent of those who do not currently own an HDTV set feel it is important they will be able to watch the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in high-definition, another driver that could lead to higher than normal second quarter TV sales, a quarter typically known for its slow TV purchase activity.

While few said the Super Bowl drove their purchase intent, 25 percent of U.S. households watched some portion of the match up between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots in high definition, either in their own home, or in the home of a friend or a family member representing a third of all Super Bowl viewers.

Current HD owners will also drive demand for HD sets. Nearly four-in-ten current HDTV set owners plan to purchase yet another HDTV set in the next 12 months.

K2 and V7 team up to bring monitor mounts

Dale — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:30:33 -0400

K2 Mounts, an industry leader in advanced mounting solutions for flat panel displays, has entered into a strategic partnership with V7, the exclusive house brand for Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) a maker of IT and consumer electronics global solutions. The deal calls for the development and merchandising of world class universal mounting solutions under the V7 brand.

Made of solid steel, V7¹s Universal Combo Display Wall Mounts are available in two sizes, one accommodating 23- to 37-inch displays and the other 37- to 60-inch displays. Businesses can use the TV wall mounts to display flat-panel TVs in waiting rooms, showrooms, or as marketing tools. MSRP is $199 and $299 respectively; available for purchase in April.

Also available are V7's workspace mounts which free up desk space and allow for 360 degree display positioning for optimal viewing. Both mounts can accommodate displays up to 20lbs and come with quick release security locks. MSRP is $149.00 and available now for purchase.

The V7 line of TV wall mounts and monitor stands are designed to securely display most brands of flat panel TVs and LCD monitors, including V7¹s brand of LCD-TVs and LCD monitors. V7¹s new mounts and stands feature the highest quality materials and construction, modern design innovations and value pricing to provide users with the ideal solution to entrust with their valuable investments. All models are UL approved, conforming to VESA standards, and include all installation hardware.

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Introduces New Line of HDTVs Creating a New Dimension in Television

Dale — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:09:52 -0400

Highlights Include New DLP(R) and LCD HDTV Enhancements and LaserVue(TM) Laser TVÂ

IRVINE, Calif., April 7, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. today announced its new multi-dimensional HDTVs for 2008, which will take sight and sound to new heights for consumers demanding only the best in quality and performance from their HDTVs. Â New 2008 product highlights include thinner frame and brighter DLP(R) models and Ultra Thin Frame(TM) LCD HDTVs with improved sound capabilities.

(Photo: Â http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080407/AQM505)

Mitsubishi also has named its recently announced Laser TV, which will be branded as LaserVue(TM) and will be available to consumers in the 3rd Quarter of 2008.

"Because Mitsubishi has focused on large-format televisions for more than two decades, we have a unique understanding of our customers wants, needs and expectations from their HDTVs," said Frank DeMartin, vice president, marketing, at Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America. Â "Our new 2008 HDTVs are a direct result of listening to our customers, and we have delivered multi-dimensional products that will take their viewing experience to a new level."

The Big Picture -- New 1080p DLP HDTVs

Mitsubishi continues to lead the competition with the largest DLP HDTV available at 73". Â The new 2008 product line will include three new 73" 1080p DLP HDTV models along with 60" and 65" sizes -- all featuring thinner frames, increased brightness and 3D-ready capability. Â These new models also will leverage Mitsubishi's exclusive 6-Color Processor(TM) for extraordinarily vivid color reproduction.

"Mitsubishi's 1080p DLP HDTVs create a truly immersive 3D experience with picture quality that far exceeds that of previous 3D displays," said David Naranjo, director of product development at Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America. Â "3D content is already available today via PC media systems and our 3D-ready televisions will allow customers to take advantage of 3D formatted movie, sports, and video game content when available in the future."

Mitsubishi's Diamond DLP HDTV line offers the ultimate large screen performance and design. Â Exclusive Diamond features include Smooth120Hz(TM) to optimize fast action scenes and Dark Detailer(TM) for higher contrast imagery along with a high gloss design and Blue Light Accent.

The new DLP models will be available beginning in April. Â Manufacturer's Suggested Value Pricing is as follows:

Â 1080p DLP HDTVs
Â WD-60735 - $1,799 Â Â Â Â WD-65736 - $2,499 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Diamond WD-73835 - $4,699
Â WD-65735 - $2,199 Â Â Â Â WD-73736 - $3,599
Â WD-73735 - $3,199 Â Â Â Â Diamond WD-65835 - $3,399

Â More Picture and Sound in Less Space -- New LCD HDTVs

Mitsubishi is introducing seven Ultra Thin Frame 1080p LCD HDTV models ranging from 40" to 52" putting Mitsubishi on the map as the only brand to offer consumers a complete line of Ultra Thin Frame LCD HDTVs. Â Mitsubishi reduced frame widths by more than 10 percent on all LCD models to under one inch. Â In addition to thinner frames, other new features include low-profile speakers offering improved sound, Smooth 120Hz(TM) Film Motion and GalleryPlayer(R) technology.

Mitsubishi's entire line of LCD HDTVs feature Smooth 120Hz Film Motion, taking 120Hz to the next level with dejudder for film originated content. Â In the conversion of film-to-video for display, 24Hz artifacts can be seen in slow panning scenes and Smooth 120Hz Film Motion eliminates this artifact for smooth, crisp, fast and slow action content. Â The new LCD additions also will continue to leverage 10bit Panels, 6-Color Processor, x.v.Color(TM) and Deep Color.

Consumers can turn a Mitsubishi LCD HDTV into a work of art with GalleryPlayer software, which enables display of stunning high-definition art and photography. Â Users can select images from GalleryPlayer's comprehensive library of licensed digital photography and reproductions from National Geographic, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and others. Â Customers may download the GalleryPlayer software athttp://www.galleryplayer.com/Â and load on to a USB drive for installation in all Mitsubishi LCD HDTVs.

Mitsubishi's Diamond LCD HDTV line offers the ultimate flat-panel performance and design. Â Exclusive Diamond features include Variable Smooth120Hz Film Motion to optimize movie reproduction, a high performance, low profile speaker design for high-quality sound, DeepField(TM) Imager for higher contrast imagery and a high gloss design with Blue Light Accent.

Mitsubishi's LCD HDTV models will be available beginning May 2008. Manufacturer's Suggested Value Pricing is as follows:

Â 1080p Ultra Thin Frame LCD HDTVs
Â LT-40148 - $2,499 Â Â Â Â LT-52148 - $3,599 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Diamond LT-52246 - $4,499
Â LT-46148 - $2,999 Â Â Â Â LT-52149 - $4,099
Â LT-46149 - $3,499 Â Â Â Â Diamond LT-46246 - $3,799

Â True Dimension Experience(TM): LaserVue

At the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2008, Mitsubishi launched a new category of large-format televisions with ground-breaking laser technology, and today the company announced the brand name for its new Laser TV -- LaserVue. Â As the first-ever laser-powered television, LaserVue will deliver a range of color never before seen in home entertainment. Â Precise and focused, the purity of laser light surpasses current high-definition technologies. Today's HDTVs display less than 40 percent of the color spectrum that the eye can see. Now, for the first time ever, laser produces twice the color. Laser beams provide the widest range of rich, complex colors, along with the most clarity and depth of field.

Mitsubishi LaserVue TVs not only provide the ultimate picture quality, they are also capable of delivering a true 3D viewing experience. In addition, they are environmentally friendly, consuming approximately one-half the power of today's LCD TVs, and approximately one-third the power consumption of plasma TVs.

"Mitsubishi has created a new category in television with laser technology and now we are creating an exciting new brand, LaserVue, which we believe consumers will come to equate with the industry's best performing televisions," continued DeMartin.

Mitsubishi will ship LaserVue televisions to authorized retailers in the 3rd Quarter of 2008.

New USB TV Tuner Stick Equips Hybrid Reception including Available Clear QAM and H.264 Real-Time Recording Capabilities

Dale — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:43:35 -0400

MILPITAS, Calif., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- AVerMedia(R) Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of digital multimedia and presentation technology announced today the release of the AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX, the USB based TV tuner stick with the ability to receive HDTV, Analog TV and FM Radio on a Windows XP or Vista desktop or laptop. In addition, the accompanying AVer MediaCenter allows users to watch and record the unencrypted QAM digital cable TV. It was also honored as a CES 2008 Innovations Design and Engineering Award Winner in the Video Accessories category.

(Logo:Â http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050426/SFTU118LOGO)

The AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX is a USB Hybrid TV tuner stick combining NTSC, ATSC and QAM capabilities onto one tuner. With its Windows Vista Premium Certified driver and software encoder, users can enjoy Analog TV or HDTV content under "My TV" of XP MCE and Vista MCE. Its advanced solution also enhances the video quality of analog and digital TV. The upgraded AVer MeidaCenter provides users more joy from Clear QAM digital cable TV. Advanced real-time H.264 recording compression significantly reduces CPU loading and the amount of hard disk space needed for recording. The optional 320Ã—240 resolution enables users to save and playback video on an iPod. In the portable shell, AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX can still enrich users' entertainment life from live TV to various AV devices such as PlayStation, Xbox 360 or camcorder with its unique dongle.

Designed for high definition, the AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX can truly present the details of HDTV in 720p/1080i resolution. Moreover, to resolve the latency problem when playing video games on Vista MCE, AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX employs the exclusive Vista MCE Video Gaming Plug-in to synchronize the video and audio of video games. With the universal USB interface, AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX can turn any PC into the entertainment center with ease.

Pricing and Availability

The AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX is available now for $79.99 MSRP. AVer MediaCenter software including Clear QAM and H.264 real-time recording capabilities is currently bundled with AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX. For more information about any of AVerMedia's other digital multimedia products, visitÂ http://www.avermedia-usa.com/Â or call AVerMedia at (408) 263-3828.

Femma Geeks Take Charge: American Women Take to Online TV, DVRs, Games, Social Media

Dale — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:06:08 -0400

TORONTO, March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- American women are now ahead of men in activities ranging from streaming on network TV websites, frequent DVR use and casual gaming to participation in social media such as MySpace and Facebook, according to the results of the Women and Digital Lifestyles report released today by Solutions Research Group.

Among the key findings:-- More women stream TV shows from network TV sites than men -- 15%American online women did so last month compared to 11% of men. Momswith kids under the age of six and English-speaking Hispanic womenwere the most active women's segments with 19% and 21% streaming,respectively.-- Women in DVR households are more enthusiastic about them. They usetheir DVRs 9.3 times per week on average, compared to 8.3 for men.And DVR-owner women with kids watch 56% of their TV on a time-shiftedbasis, much higher than the average of 42% among male DVR owners.-- When it comes to gaming, 70% played a PC game in the last month vs.69% of men. Among teen girls and young women 12-24, 82% participatedand among those 40+, 66% played PC games.-- Men continue to lead console gaming (Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, et al)with 50% participating but the gap is narrowing. Overall, 38% ofwomen played a console game in the last month, up from 35% a yearbefore. Among teen girls and young adults 12-24, 69% play consolegames (up from 63%) and among 25-29, 55% play console games, up from47%.-- Top handhelds and consoles for girls and women were: Sony PS2, GameBoy, Xbox, Nintendo 64 and DS. Women were also more likely to have aSony PSP than men. African-American women are particularly engaged inconsole games, with two-in-three participating.-- Women also lead the social networking crowd where 42% of online women(vs. 41% of online men) visited a social media site in the last monthup from 30% the year before. In the "Young Singles" segment, 74%visit social media sites. But even in the older "Empty Nester"segment of online women 40+, participation nearly doubled from 14%to 25% driven by a desire to connect with kids and family.TOP DIGITAL LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS FOR WOMENDigital Camera 24%Wireless/Cell Phone 23%Game Console/Handheld 19%Digital Media Player 14%Laptop 14%GPS Navigation Unit 10%Note: U.S., 12+, bought for self or received as a gift betweenDecember 2007 and February 2008-- Shop till you click? Although "Empty Nester" women over 40 were lesslikely to be above-average in any aspect of technology use, the majorexception was online shopping. Sixty-four percent of empty nesteronline women bought something online compared to only 55% of women25-39 and 58% of men.-- The biggest gap between men and women related to movie and TV showdownloads (peer-to-peer sites or sites like iTunes) where men were1.5 to 2 times more likely than women to participate.-- And interestingly, while men were more likely to transfer songs fromtheir PC to a portable unit, women were more likely to transferphotos from their digital cameras to their PCs, underlining theimportance of lifesharing aspect of social media for women.

Women and Digital Lifestyles special analysis was designed to understand the emerging digital lifestyles of American women and key drivers of adoption in four lifestages: young singles, moms with young kids, moms with tweens/teens and empty nesters. The primary data source for the analysis is SRG's Digital Life America syndicated study based on tracking studies of the U.S. online population and accompanying focus groups. The special analysis is based on trending interviews with 1,508 online U.S. women between October 06 and November 07, complemented by 517 additional interviews in February 08. The sample for the study represents the regional, age and ethnic make-up of the U.S. women's online population on a proportionate to population basis.Â

DivX Goes on the Road with In-Car Entertainment Systems

Dale — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:55:55 -0400

More Than 200 Models of DivX Certified(R) In-Car Devices Available Worldwide from Major Brands

SAN DIEGO --(Business Wire)-- Mar. 20, 2008 DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ:DIVX), a digital media company, today announced that over 200 in-car and in-dash media device models from a variety of manufacturers have received DivX(R) Certification. Thanks to the superior technology of the DivX format, consumers can enjoy their full library of video content in the car, fitting up to 6 hours of high-quality video on a single DVD. DivX Certified(R) in-car media players are available from major consumer electronics brands and are licensed to ship from DivX partners to a number of automotive manufacturers including BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Honda, Saab, Toyota, Ford and more.

The DivX format lets anyone enjoy high-quality digital video from the PC or the Internet on virtually any device, including DVD players, gaming consoles, mobile phones, digital televisions and more. Major manufacturers including LG, Alpine, Pioneer, Visteon, JVC and Kenwood currently offer over 200 models of DivX Certified(R) in-car and in-dash devices, joining the rapidly growing ecosystem of over 100 million DivX Certified(R) devices that have been shipped around the world.

"DivX makes it easy for anyone to enjoy a high-quality video experience on any device, and the in-car market is a rapidly growing and increasingly important extension of the consumer media experience," said Kevin Hell, CEO of DivX, Inc. "We're pleased that DivX is on the way to becoming a checklist feature for in-car video devices in much the same way that we have already become a global standard in the living room and on the PC."

Products that bear the DivX Certified logo have undergone a rigorous testing program to ensure interoperability, security and visual quality. DivX Certified products enable consumers to create, play and share high-quality video content across a range of devices and platforms.

For more information on DivX, visitÂ http://www.divx.com.

Roxio Launches Toast 9 Titanium

Dale — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:54:43 -0400

Blu-ray Disc Authoring and Remote Video Streaming to iPhone Arrive for Mac Consumers

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Roxio(R), a division of Sonic Solutions(R) (NASDAQ:SNIC) , the leader in digital media software, redefines Mac burning yet again with the introduction of Toast(R) 9 Titanium. Toast 9 allows consumers to record high-definition content from high-definition (HD) camcorders and favorite HD programming from TiVo(R) DVRs and Elgato's EyeTV devices to Blu-ray Disc (BD). Users also have the option to burn HD video and slide shows on standard DVDs. For on-the-go entertainment, Toast 9 introduces Roxio Streamer(TM). Streamer allows users to stream video content stored on their home Mac(R) to a Wi-Fi connected iPhone(R) or iPod(R) Touch or any Internet connected Mac or PC. Already the first choice for music fans wishing to create great sounding CDs and DVDs, Toast 9 offers the ability to capture streaming audio for recording Internet radio. Another Toast innovation allows captured music tracks to be automatically tagged with song titles, artist or other related information. Toast 9 Titanium is available direct from Roxio atÂ www.roxio.comÂ for $99.99. The High Definition/Blu-ray Disc (HD/BD) plug-in, which is needed to author BD video is sold separately for $19.99 and is available free for those who purchase Toast 9 online at roxio.com through April 13, 2008.

"With the growing adoption of high-definition devices, comes the need for consumer applications that allow users to enhance and enjoy their favorite movies, photos and music on HDTVs or on-the-go," said Vito Salvaggio, vice president of consumer products, Sonic Solutions. "With high-definition video authoring, remote streaming of personal and commercial content, as well as exciting audio innovations, Toast 9 continues its long history of breakthrough features that empower Mac users to make the most of their digital media."

Toast 9 is packed with new features and enhancements that set the standard for burning, watching, listening and sharing digital content on the Mac and beyond.

Toast 9 Highlights:Burn* Blu-ray Disc Support - Store as many as 12,500 music tracks, 50,000photos, and hours of high-definition video on a single 50 GB Blu-rayDisc.* Mac & PC Data Spanning - Span large files across multiple discs,including Blu-ray Discs, for easy retrieval on any Mac or PC.Watch* Life in High-Def - Enabled by a HD/BD plug-in, consumers can burn HDvideo content to Blu-ray Disc and watch it on their HDTV using anyBD set top player. For consumers who do not own a BD burner ormedia, the plug-in allows burning high-definition content tostandard DVDs. Users can also create HD video projects using footagefrom AVCHD camcorders or recorded TV shows or movies.* Video Editing - Easy removal of unwanted video segments from TiVo,Elgato's EyeTV, and QuickTime(R) video files before burning thefinal project to disc or exporting it to a portable player.* Time Savers - Toast 9 includes a variety of innovative featuresdesigned to simplify and accelerate the otherwise time consuming andCPU intensive video conversion process. These include Batch DVD-Video conversion to enable consumers to queue multiple video filesfor use with Roxio's Fit-to-DVD(TM) compression technology. TheFit-to-DVD compression technology enables consumers to compresslarge files to fit on a single layer 4.7 GB disc. Pause and Resumebuttons enable users to suspend and later resume a video conversionproject, and a Video Quality Preview enables users to review asnippet of converted video to verify video quality prior toinitiating a complete file conversion.Listen* Library Extension - Build an extensive audio library by capturingany audio playing through the Mac, including Internet audio.* Audio Fingerprinting - Automatically identify untagged music filesand add song titles, artists and genres, eliminating the mystery of"Track_01".* Perfect Mixes - Create perfect mixes with DJ-style crossfades andtransitions, output level adjustments, and enhancement filters.Share* On-the-go Entertainment - A new application called Roxio Streamerenables on-the-go consumers to access video recordings stored on ahome Mac and stream it to a Wi-Fi connected iPhone or iPod Touch orany internet connected Mac or PC.* High Quality Photo Discs - Toast Photo Discs store thousands offull-resolution photos as well as automatically-generated slideshowsviewable on Mac and PC.* iLife and Aperture - Access iLife(R) 08 and Aperture(TM) librariesdirectly from Toast 9's Media Browser.* Personalized Disc Artwork - Personalize discs with labels, coverart, and inserts. Includes drawing and text editing tools, as wellas over 600 clip art images and built-in Google image search.Supports LightScribe and Labelflash(TM) drives and media to allowusers to burn artwork and labels directly to discs.Pricing and Availability:

Toast 9 Titanium is available now for purchase direct from Roxio atÂ www.roxio.com, and will be widely available from e-tailers and retail outlets this month for $99.99. Owners of previous versions may be eligible for upgrade offers. The HD/BD plug-in will be sold as a downloadable component from roxio.com for $19.99. Roxio will offer the HD/BD plug-in for free for customers who purchase from roxio.com through April 13, 2008.

Best Buy to Help Pay Customers' DIRECTV Bills

Teresa — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:22:28 -0500

MINNEAPOLIS --(Business Wire)-- Mar. 3, 2008 Ready for HD? Best Buy is ready to help you pay your bills.

Beginning March 2, Best Buy will launch a relationship with DIRECTV(R) where Best Buy will pay $30 monthly on new customers' DIRECTV bills.(1) Designed to encourage customers to experience the best in high definition, Best Buy will actually pay a portion of customers' bills in the form of a credit appearing on each monthly statement. Customers can receive the credit through one of three new offers:

-- Twelve months of credits when adding HD Access(2) and buying any HDTV priced at $999 or higher (a $360 value).

-- Six months of credits when adding HD Access and buying any HDTV priced under $999 (a $180 value).

-- Three months of credits when activating any new DIRECTV service (a $90 value).

The offer continues Best Buy's efforts to promote a complete HD experience for customers. Through advertising, promotions, in store and online education efforts, Best Buy has worked to educate people that high definition television is about more than just the television. Connecting to an HD source, using the right cables, adding surround sound and having the home theater professionally installed are all vital elements of HD.

"We know that customers buying HD televisions are doing so because they want a certain kind of experience," said Chris Homeister, vice president of merchandising for home entertainment services for Best Buy. "By offering to help pay a customer's DIRECTV bill we're making a dramatic statement about the importance of connecting a television to the right source for HD programming. We want customers to have the same quality picture in their home that they saw in our stores."

The promotion runs until June 24, 2008.