Proposed mandatory energy conservation standards for high- tech products are based on “incomplete data” and could increase nation’s energy consumption, CEA told Dept. of Energy (DoE). CEA filed comments in response to Nov. 6 public meeting at which agency proposed about 15 new products, including computers, monitors, set-top boxes and TVs, to be included in DoE’s energy conservation program guidelines for appliances. Dept. proposed “one quad cutoff” for new product consideration and released list of products for which cumulative energy savings was reported to exceed one quadrillion BTUs. Energy consumption standards “would force manufacturers to substantially alter product designs, which would adversely affect the performance and features of those products,” CEA said: “A product that can achieve the ‘best available’ energy efficiency may be a ‘de-featured’ product, meaning a product that possesses the fewest possible features. Such products are likely to have very limited market appeal and a very low sales volume.” For example, mandatory energy standard may make it impossible for manufactures to incorporate DVD player into set-top box, it said. Instead, consumers would be forced to purchase 2 devices and increase overall energy consumption, CEA said. The proposed standards “are as onerous to manufacturers as the energy bill pending in Congress,” said Douglas Johnson, CEA dir.-Technology Policy, referring to HR-4 by House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) passed by House Aug. 2 and on Senate calendar since Sept. 4 (CED Nov 6 p4). That bill would direct DoE to limit household appliances in standby mode to power consumption of 1 w. CEA said DoE data sheets released at public meeting on potential energy savings of set-top boxes were based on “best available” efficiency of 1 w in standby mode. However, “nowhere in the background material does DoE indicate that a one- watt standby set-top box is available” and document said 1 w standby feasibility was “unclear.” “It is crucial that DoE use real-world feasibility when calculating a product category’s energy savings potential,” CEA said. For TVs, monitors and desktop PCs, much of predicted energy savings assume transition to LCD technology. While LCD technology offers “significant energy saving” compared with CTRs, DoE should take other factors into consideration, CEA said. EPA study said LCD screens used much less energy in operation but required more energy to manufacture, CEA said. It said new standards for computers, monitors, set-top boxes and TVs were “unnecessary” because federal EnergyStar program, jointly administrated by DoE and EPA, currently covered those product categories. EnergyStar program has been successful in promoting energy efficiency of electronics because it “has focused exclusively on standby power or other low-power states” and has avoided most of serious complications associated with reducing “active mode” energy consumption “that can jeopardize technological innovation,” CEA said.

Kenwood and Yamaha teamed with Japanese startup Dimagic Co. to announce they had developed technology for simulating stereo sound through cellphone speakers. Professor at Tokyo Denki U. provided basic invention. Kenwood plans to use technology for line of cellphones to be introduced in early Jan. for Japan’s J- Phone service.

Following release of game on PS2, Electronic Arts (EA) and MGM Interactive will bring James Bond 007 in… Agent Under Fire to GameCube and Xbox in N. America in spring.

Chuck Turigliatto named Runco sales and mktg. vp, new position… Will Poole, vp, Microsoft’s Windows Digital Media Div., to keynote NARM Convention March 10 in San Francisco… Mali Kuo resigns as CEO of Digital Video Systems and chmn.-CEO of DVS Korea, replaced by DVS Korea Pres.-Co-CEO B.H. Lee… Charanjit Singh, Ultralife board member, named chmn., replacing Arthur Lieberman, who remains a dir… Paul Yanover appointed senior vp-gen. mgr., Buena Vista Game Entertainment Studio.

Sixth annual Video and Computer Game Report Card results released Thurs. indicated most stores still were not preventing children kids from buying violent, M (Mature) rated games.

Technology that protects copyright of digital material still has many hurdles to jump before becoming common in marketplace, digital rights management experts told Streaming Media conference in N.Y.C. this week. One major obstacle is psychology of Internet users accustomed to free online content, they said. “They think when they pay their monthly ISP bill, they get everything for free,” said Jeff Albertson of RealNetworks, typifying opinions of other conference speakers.

Game-maker Codemasters said its Web presence received major overhaul with advanced and enhanced site at www.codemasters.com. Company said new site “was devised and created by Codemasters’ internal Web team over a period of 6 months” and said it had “unique content management system designed to deliver information and images remarkably fast, even to a 56K modem user.” One key feature of new site was “Code M,” new subscription community for which membership is free. Visitors to site who sign up for Code M will be given access to exclusive site areas that provide priority access to playable demos, downloads, information ahead of general release. Codemasters also said members gained access to advance notification on beta test programs, chat rooms, competitions, forums. Dedicated versions of site were created for company’s 8 major territories: Australia, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, N. America, Spain, U.K. Codemasters Internet Mktg. Mgr. Nick Pili said when designing new version of site, company felt “it was important to create something that was attractive but also very functional and instantaneous for every user across our global territories.” He added: “We will continue to expand on the site, adding features such as video streaming, making it an essential bookmark for gamers.”

BAM! Entertainment said its holiday slate of titles included 11 releases across 5 platforms: Game Boy Advance (GBA), Nintendo 64, PC, PlayStation, PS2. San Jose, Cal., game maker said its releases were Dexter’s Laboratory: Deesaster Strikes for GBA ($39.99); Dexter’s Laboratory: Science Ain’t Fair for PC ($19.99); Driven for GBA ($39.99) and PS2 ($49.99); Ecks vs. Sever for GBA ($39.99); The Powerpuff Girls: Chemical X- Traction for Nintendo 64 ($39.95) and PlayStation ($29.95); The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo A-Go-Go for GBA ($39.99); The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo’s Pet Project for PC ($19.99); Sports Illustrated for Kids Football and Baseball for GBA ($39.99 each).

“Corona” is code name for upgraded Windows Media from Microsoft that could be used to compress high-definition video on DVDs -- replacing MPEG-2 encoding and sidestepping need for costly blue lasers.

Infogrames said it started shipping 2 new videogames featuring its pint-sized superhero Pajama Sam -- Games to Play on Any Day for Windows and Macintosh and You Are What You Eat From Your Head to Your Feet. Game maker said latter title represented character’s PlayStation debut. E- (Everyone) rated games are priced at $19.99 each.