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CEDIA 2011 odds and ends wrap up: THX, TiVo and plenty of projectors

Another CEDIA is in the books, and if you weren't there, just know the story was -- as it has been in many corners of the country -- the economy. Oh sure, projectors that cost only $10k still seemed value priced, but everywhere you looked companies were extending their products a little closer to the mass market. Whether it's a heavy duty wall mounts, wireless hi fi systems or, most surprisingly, $300 powered shades from companies like Lutron, custom theater equipment is getting cheaper and ready to work in more homes. Interested in remaking a home theater while spending less than $10k and without building an entirely new house around it? 2011 may be your year.

As far as the hardware on display, we also got a look at TiVo's new Premiere Elite DVR (hint: it looks and runs like a TiVo) and Dish Network's new Tailgater portable satellite dish. Another treat was an MHL-to-HDMI adapter from DVDO that could make hooking your celly up to pretty much any TV on the go and charging it at the same time easy. At the THX booth, it had its stamp slapped on LG's newest Nano LED lit 3D LCD, as well as a new program for soundbar / subwoofer combinations it says will result in more accurate sound for implementations where surround speakers don't make sense. We also got a demo of its new Media Director protocol that can automatically configure compatible home theater equipment based on the content being watched. The Star Wars Blu-ray discs will be the first ones to ship with the embedded metadata, while partnerships with chipmakers mean software updates could start rolling out shortly for manufacturers that choose to deliver them -- the demo ran on an HDI Dune player -- and next year's new devices should ship with the feature included.

The usual slew of projectors included new models from Mitsubishi and Digital Projection, with automatic settings for ultrawidescreen viewing as one of the hot features (other than 4K) this year. For a better look at some of the things we spotted on the show floor check the gallery below, and details in their press releases after the break.
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THX® EXPANDS MEDIA DIRECTOR™ ECOSYSTEM WITH COLLABORATION FROM LEADING SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP COMPANIES

Analog Devices, Sigma Designs, Silicon Image and Quantum Data Implement THX Media Director™, Helping CE Manufacturers Easily Deliver THX Media Director Enabled Devices to Consumers

INDIANAPOLIS (CEDIA 2011 – Booth # 1543), September 8, 2011-THX Ltd. today announced that Analog Devices, Sigma Designs, Silicon Image and Quantum Data, are providing industry-leading silicon solutions and HDMI protocol testing platform support that now make it easier for CE manufacturers to implement THX Media Director™ into Blu-ray players, AV receivers, TVs and projectors. THX's unique technology transforms movies, music and other digital media into metadata or "smart content" that enables A/V components to auto-select the most appropriate audio and video playback settings, preserving the content creator's artistic intent.

Audience Benefits:
CE manufacturers can rapidly introduce THX Media Director enabled products to consumers, with the new chip and testing platform partner support of this technology
THX Media Director enabled devices give installers flexibility in configuring systems, with higher assurance that playback settings will remain correct as viewers switch between content
Adding THX Media Director metadata to titles, studios improve the consumer entertainment experience; producers and directors can be assured their creations will be played back the way they intended
As the THX Media Director ecosystem continues to expand, consumers benefit from an overall enhanced entertainment experience – home entertainment products that simply deliver movies, games, TV programming and more, as the artist intended
"With support from worldwide leading chipmakers Analog Devices, Sigma Designs and Silicon Image, THX is further extending the foundation of its THX Media Director platform," said Rick Dean, senior vice president, THX Ltd. "CE manufacturers will now be able to source these chips for THX Media Director enabled devices, such as Blu-ray players, AV receivers, TVs and projectors."

Semiconductor Chip Partner Support And Significance
Analog Devices, Sigma Designs and Silicon Image have contributed significantly to the initial implementations of THX Media Director and have enhanced their products that support industry standards (CEA-861 and HDMI) and features (multiple Vendor Specific InfoFrame (VSI) processing), facilitating easy implementation by CE manufacturers.

Analog Devices, a global leader in high-performance signal processing and supplier of Advantiv® advanced TV solutions for the world's largest consumer OEMs, recently announced its ADV7850 HDMI Complete AV Front-end chip, which supports the implementation of THX Media Director along with all commonly used interfaces associated with HDTVs and home theater applications. At CEDIA 2011, part of THX's demo will show how ADI's ADV7850 HDMI Complete AV Front-end can support, detect and process THX Media Director's special embedded VSI codes from a variety of sources (Blu-ray player, game platform, set-top-box, HD camcorder, etc.) to the display
Sigma Designs – As the leading provider of system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for both video and media processing, Sigma Designs' SMP864x, SMP865x and SMP8910 family of chips power Connected Media players, Set-top-boxes and AVRs from leading CE brands, and now makes it easier for CE manufacturers to rapidly introduce THX Media Director enabled products directly to consumers
Silicon Image – As a leading provider of wired and wireless connectivity solutions that enable the reliable distribution and presentation of high-definition content for consumer electronics, mobile and PC markets, Silicon Image has announced THX Media Director support in seven HDMI® port processors and transmitters; these can be implemented into end-to-end solutions for a variety of digital TVs and home theater consumer devices
In addition, Quantum Data, a worldwide provider of video test equipment, has joined THX Media Director's growing list of partners to provide an additional layer of support for any chip maker or CE manufacturer looking to implement THX Media Director technology. Working with THX to develop and implement Media Director compatible tests, Quantum Data can verify, test, simulate and validate that manufacturers' products are in full compliance with THX's technology.

Star Wars: The Complete Saga On Blu-Ray – First THX Media Director Enabled Blu-Ray Disc
With the THX Media Director foundation in place, THX also announced that the soon to be released Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray will be the first Blu-ray disc with THX Media Director enabled content on discs 1-6, available across several territories, including USA/Canada. Marking an almost 30 year relationship, THX worked closely with Lucasfilm to identify and preserve the best possible picture and sound playback settings so fans can sit back and experience Star Wars as it was intended. THX will introduce additional THX Media Director enabled titles, for the highest-quality 2D and 3D home entertainment experience possible, in Q4'11 and into 2012.

With the growth of THX's Media Director ecosystem along with continual investment in its THX cineSpace™ Color Management Software and upcoming critical viewing Room Certification services, THX is providing the tools and expertise along the full production chain, resulting in an exceptional consumer entertainment experience.

THX is also exhibiting at IBC this week, with a THX booth located at Hall 7, Stand 7.K01. For the latest THX Room Certification and THX cineSpace technology announcements, please visit THX New Room Certification Release 9/9/11 and THX cineSpace Updates Release 9/9/2011.

About THX Ltd.
From the big screen to your screen, THX ignites your passion for exciting entertainment experiences. Founded by George Lucas and recognized by audiences around the globe, THX is synonymous with the design and certification of world-class cinemas, premium audio systems, HDTVs, and blockbuster movies and games. Products featuring THX defy convention and define quality in their class, whether in the cinema, home or on the road.

About Star Wars: The Complete Saga On Blu-Ray
Relive the unforgettable moments and experience the spectacular adventure of STAR WARS The Complete Saga in a way only Blu-ray can deliver. This incredible collection unites all six Episodes together for the first time in stunning high definition with the purest digital sound in the galaxy. With over 40 hours of thrilling special features, including all-new content created exclusively for this release, you can journey deeper into the Star Wars universe and discover more than ever before. Feel the Force of STAR WARS The Complete Saga on Blu-ray this September!


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DVDO UNVEILS THE DVDO MOBILE HIGH-DEFINITION TRAVEL KIT

All-in-One, Portable MHL-to-HDMI Adapter and Multi-Charger for People on the
Move


SUNNYVALE, Calif., September 6, 2011 – DVDO, an award-winning provider of high-
quality video processing solutions, today announced the expansion of its product line with
the DVDO Mobile high-definition (HD) travel kit, an all-in-one, portable MHL™-to-HDMI®
adapter and multi-charger for people on the move. Leveraging the latest advancements in
wired HD connectivity, DVDO Mobile supports the MHL standard, which allows smartphone
and tablet charging to take place while simultaneously viewing premium content from the
devices to a HD projector, monitor or HDTV. DVDO Mobile allows consumers to use their
MHL-enabled smartphones and tablets with any HDTV with an HDMI connection.

With an increasingly mobile workforce and more content being stored on devices such as
smartphones and tablets, a portable HD connectivity solution that untangles the cable
jumble and delivers multiple charging options is important. Personal media, photos, videos,
and music as well as applications and other services will now be viewable on large screen
HDTVs in homes and hotels as well as business venues with HDMI-enabled projectors.
Television and projector remotes can also control any MHL-enabled smartphone or tablet,
for easy, no-hands operation of the device, as long as HDTVs support appropriate HDMI
Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) commands and appropriate software has been
downloaded into DVDO Mobile from the DVDO website.

DVDO Mobile has an integrated 20-inch USB-A connector, an 8-inch micro-USB connector
with a 46-inch total span that recoils with wrap-and-hide cable management and a 36-inch
HDMI connector to link the solution to an HDTV or an HD projector or monitor. Multiple
charging options are also available with an integrated USB-to-PC connector and a USB-to-
AC charger. In addition, DVDO Mobile's support of USB allows high-speed data transfer
between devices such as smartphones and tablets and PCs for content management and
device software updating.

"The mobile market is continuing to grow and DVDO Mobile is the must-have mobile
accessory to harness the power of the latest MHL-enabled smartphones and tablets in a
sleek and portable package," said Joseph Lias of DVDO. "DVDO Mobile enhances DVDO's
heritage of delivering innovative and cost-effective HD processing and connectivity products,
while focusing on the changing needs of increasingly mobile end users."