Dolby Labs started licensing of Dolby Digital EX for consumer electronics. Dolby said technology is available under terms similar to those for Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and Dolby Headphone. Program is designed to make Dolby Digital EX available to “extremely broad and diverse range” of consumer electronics, it said.

Volunteer effort of American Radio Relay League (ARRL) will help FCC Technology Advisory Council (TAC) collect data on spectrum noise floor, spokesman said at TAC meeting Mon. “Club project” provides volunteers from Assn. who will conduct 3-year study with initial emphasis on unlicensed Part 15 spectrum often used by consumer electronics devices, especially at 2.4 GHz, used by Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b radio local area networks, cordless phones. Tests will include “drive/walkaround” monitoring of “hot spots,” typically urban areas with heavy wireless usage, plus long-term stationary test, with report to be issued in 2005. Depending on how well project is publicized within ARRL, “few dozen” volunteer testers are expected next year. “We've learned the Commission doesn’t have a good handle on the noise level for Part 15 spectrum, whether the noise floor has increased, decreased or stayed the same,” ARRL Gen. Counsel Chris Imlay said. FCC doesn’t know whether level of regulation of that spectrum is appropriate. Surveys serve ARRL interest because of extensive “spectrum interaction between amateur radio and Part 15 devices” group hopes to help solve, he said. Amateur radio enthusiasts are good group to mobilize because 685,000 licensees exist and “a lot are active. Certainly ARRL’s 175,000 members are,” TAC Chmn. Robert Lucky said. Important issue for early tests is “how geography-dependent is the problem,” he said. While driveabout tests have volunteers using own equipment, long term stationary test will require consistent noise measurement system design, said George Hagn, independent consultant assigned to TAC noise floor measurement project. Very low cost noise measurement calibration system is under development, he said, and “long-term trend tests need tight calibration.” He said he “was delighted” with 3-year duration of test. Formed by FCC’s Office of Engineering & Technology (OET) under Federal Advisory Committee Act, TAC combines diverse group of academics, scientists and chief technology officers of technology companies representing telecom, data networking, software, consumer electronics, amateur radio interests. Next meeting is Dec. 5 at FCC hq.

EMagin unveiled 3D version of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) designed for headsets used in PC gaming applications. Display is based on eMagin’s 0.59” design that has 800x600 resolution, 100 candelas and power consumption of less than 300 mw. Design features stereovision embedded directly in high- resolution display that takes advantage of frame sequential technique implemented in most of Nvidia’s graphics chips. Nvidia is major graphics chip supplier for desktop and notebook PCs as well as Microsoft’s Xbox video game console that ships later this month.

Mad Catz Interactive opened redesigned and improved corporate Web site, www.madcatz.com. Revamped site includes detailed product information, current and historical financial information, investor information and password-protected secure section for retailers, designers and developers. Consumers also can buy Mad Catz products direct from San Diego-based game accessory maker.

Creation of “simplified, content-based” universal ratings for all entertainment media is suggested by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in issue of Pediatrics magazine published Mon. System should describe content of videogames, music, other entertainment according to “key risk areas” such as sex, violence, language, AAP said.

Downloads of new DivX video compression format have exceeded one million in last 2 weeks, developer DivXNetworks said. It said new MPEG-4 based codec, DivX 4.02 and DivX Playa had 20% faster encoding speed and improved visual quality compared with original DivX 4.0. More than 5 million downloads have been recorded since release of 4.0 version in June, DivXNetworks said. Company estimated that more than 25 million downloads had occurred since DivX codec emerged in 1999. Technology’s high compression ratio enables easier sending of digital video over Internet.

Future Shop founder Hassan Khosrowshahi departs as chmn.-CEO following its acquisition by Best Buy; Kevin Layden remains Future Shop pres.-COO, reporting to Best Buy Pres.-COO Brad Anderson.

As Harman International moves to expand car OEM business to 65% of revenue by 2006, it said it would lessen reliance on CE products. Car OEM currently accounts for about 50% of overall revenue, trailed by professional and consumer products at 30% and 20%, respectively, Exec. Chmn. Sidney Harman told investors and analysts at company’s annual meeting in N.Y. Mon. As car business grows, CE share is likely to fall in 10-20% range, company said.

Midway Games began shipping NHL Hitz 20-02 for Xbox at $49.99. Title already had been released for PS2 and version for GameCube is to ship Nov. 13. Midway Mktg. Vp Helene Sheeler said it would be “the only hockey videogame available for the Xbox videogame system at launch” Nov. 15.

Technology licensing and marketing agreement was announced by ESS Technology and NEC under which former will develop enhanced versions of NEC system controller chips for digital set- top boxes and other devices. ESS and NEC also agreed to jointly promote ESS system controller devices for NEC’s VR-series of microprocessors.