Lucasfilm: Episode I VHS Releases
CENTURY CITY, CA -- In a press release on Wednesday, Fox and Lucasfilm revealed plans for the world-wide release of Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace on video the week of April 3, 2000. While available only in VHS format, the release will vary in different markets. In North America, the traditional pan and scan version will be available at a suggested retail price of $24.98 U.S. ($27.98 Canada). The film is digitally mastered by THX for superior sound and picture quality. [MORE]

Music Newswire

Monte Lipman Promoted To President Of Universal Records
NEW YORK, NY -- Monte Lipman has been promoted to President of Universal Records, it was announced by Universal Music Group Chairman & CEO Doug Morris and Universal/Motown Records Group Chairman Mel Lewinter. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of the label, and co-founder of Republic Records. Universal Records has also announced the acquisition of Republic Records, which will now become a wholly-owned division of the company.

Sony Launches MiniDisc Line-Up For The Millennium
LAS VEGAS, NV -- CES Booth N109 -- Sony, the creator of the MiniDisc (MD), unleashed six new portable MD products to let your mind play. The new products include the world's smallest and lightest portable player/recorder, Sony's first portable player/recorder expected to sell for under $200, a portable player expected to sell for under $150 and the first MD to CD boombox with 2X dubbing.

New Sony Network Walkman Personal Stereo Puts Cutting-Edge Internet Music In The Palm Of Your Hand
LAS VEGAS, NV -- CES Booth N109 -- Sony, creator of the Walkman personal stereo, blasted into the 21st century with a tiny new Network Walkman digital music player (model NW-E3). The new player delivers fast secure music downloads of high-quality digital audio and stores them on 64MBs of embedded flash memory.

General Announcements

barnesandnoble.com and Microsoft to Create eBook Superstore
LAS VEGAS, NV -- barnesandnoble.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. announced that they will take a major step into the digital content future with the creation of a barnesandnoble.com eBook superstore using Microsoft Reader software. The eBook initiative will provide barnesandnoble.com's millions of customers with access to thousands of eBook titles through Microsoft Reader.

Connectix Announces Virtual PC™ With Windows 2000 And Virtual PC™ With Linux
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Connectix Corporation announced its expansion of the award-winning Virtual PC product line at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco, with two new versions: Virtual PC with Windows 2000 and Virtual PC with Linux. Connectix' latest release, Virtual PC 3.0, gives extensive USB support, faster network access, shared Internet connection between Mac and PC, AppleScript support and seamless PC compatibility.

Microsoft Unveils Faster, Simpler And More Reliable Internet Explorer 5 Macintosh Edition
SAN FRANCISCO, CA --Microsoft Corp. unveiled its Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Macintosh Edition browser software, which introduces a rendering engine as well as functionality that has not been previously available on any browser of any platform. Designed to be the fastest, simplest and most reliable version for the Macintosh ever created, Internet Explorer 5 also features a new, modern interface and the ability to experience rich streaming audio and video directly within the browser.

AOL To Introduce AOL 5.0 For the Macintosh Later This Year
DULLES, VA -- America Online kicked-off the MacWorld conference in San Francisco with a sneak preview of the Beta version of its next-generation software, AOL 5.0 for Macintosh. AOL 5.0 for Macintosh takes members to the next level of the interactive experience and introduces new features that make AOL even more convenient and central to everyday life.

Television Newswire

DIRECTV Announces Name Changes For Programming Packages
LAS VEGAS, NV -- DIRECTV, Inc. announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that, effective January 30, it's Total Choice Silver and Total Choice Gold programming packages will be renamed Total Choice Movies and Total Choice Sports respectively. Package names were changed to more accurately reflect each package's featured programming content and make it easier for DIRECTV customers to understand the benefits of each package when choosing the appropriate programming package that fits their needs.

Millennium-Traders.com Launches Live, Real Time Daytrading Chat Room
Millennium-Traders.com recently launched their live, real time Daytrading chat room. Millennium-Traders are dedicated to locating the best momentum stock plays and convey them to members, in real time. Daily, Real Time Alerts are provided to Room members exclusively by: Lightning, Thunder & Wild, Millennium-Traders' professional Room Moderators. For Members conveniance, upon expiration of their "Free Trial," Members can upgrade their account to a Monthly Membership directly from the Chat Room.

Sony Spotlights Digital Entertainment Solutions For The Home Network
LAS VEGAS, NV -- CES Booth N109 -- Coming into crystal-clear view for the home entertainment crowd at this year's CES is the emergence of a new class of digital television sets that feature enhanced interoperability. To channel consumers into this exciting new digital frontier, Sony Electronics is showcasing direct-view and rear-projection HDTV sets with the secure i.LINK IEEE1394 digital interface that will serve as a control center for two-way communication with other digital home entertainment gear.

ZDTV Adds New Show: "Working The Web"
SAN FRANCISCO, CA AND ATLANTA, GA -- ZDTV announced it will launch "Working the Web," a new weekly half-hour show and Web page. Using real-life case studies, the program will show business-to-business and consumer Web merchants the best way to do business online. ZDTV is a 24-hour cable television channel about computing, technology, and the Internet.

Game Newswire

Acclaim: Get Drivin' With Your Bad Self With Acclaim's "South Park Rally" Racing Game
GLEN COVE, NY -- Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. announced that its outrageous kart-style racing adventure, South Park Rally is now shipping for the PlayStation game console with Nintendo 64, PC and Sega Dreamcast to follow shortly. Developed by Tantalus Interactive, South Park Rally features mission-based game modes and all of those zany characters featured in Comedy Central's hit series.

Nintendo: Revolution In Product Returns Management
REDMOND, WA -- Retailers and manufacturers faced with the chronic and costly problems of fraudulent returns, product tracking and inventory management now have a solution. SiRAS.com Inc., a newly formed subsidiary of Nintendo of America Inc., helps reduce returns of non-defective and past-warranty product, minimizes handling costs and improves customer satisfaction via a patented electronic registration program.