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Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 2

Location:
Detroit, Michigan
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Page:
2
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DETROIT FREE PRESS WWW.FREEP.COM 2ft TUESDAY. MARCH 15, 2005 TO 5 9 EVERY DAY IS TECII DAY' IN THE FREE PRESS Hariey Schwadron Mr Lech, oci 7- i fa Contact us by e-mail at: fi, New York Times The Z800 3D Visor puts viewers in the action. i 'Y GOODS AND GEAR "7 Df i i ra 11 1 IHfc JUbbtSTION HAs REPLACED BY ft)66BTtoNr. com WW Digital tunes tor every roo ByMIKELANGBERG knight riddtr newspapers MORE TECH TODAY JUST TOO COOL VffTERTJUNMENT Visor is display system Entertainment buffs have I 'en toying for decades with devices to get even closer to their pictures. The Z800 3D Visor from eMagin aims to lake the concept even farther.

The 8-ounce visor, expected to go on sale by May at http:emagin.com for $900, is a personal display system that sits on your head like a pair of glasses. The idea is to immerse gamers and cine-pliiles by means of two micro-displays made of organic light-emitting diodes that produce H-l) stereovision and 360-degree gyroscopic tracker that places viewers in the middle of the action. The visor's image resolution is 2.8 million pixels, enough to mimic the effect of watching a lm on a 105-inch screen at 12 '-i t. It connects to a PC's USB A new procedure that uses a plastic tube the width of spaghetti threaded through the top of the left thigh is enabling doctors to replace a heart valve without major surgery. Local News, Page IB THE USE Or SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS has exploded in the last five years, in part because of post-911 jitters, but mostly because cameras have become so cheap and easy to install.

Local News, Page IB "THE INCREDIBLE! COLLECTOR'S EDITION," available today, is an endlessly imaginative 2-disc set destined to become one of the best-selling DVDs of all time. Terry Lawson, Page ID EBAY'S MEG WHITMAN tries to soothe employees after she interviewed for the top job at Walt Disney Co. Business, Page 1C redwhite RQA audio jacks for connecting to an amplifier or home theater Block three is the Sonos Controller, which sells for $399. This is a remote control, about three-fourths the size of a vid-eocassette, with a bright 3.5-inch color LCD screen and an iPod-like scroll wheel. You can control all the ZonePlayers in your house with one Controller, ordering each ZonePlayer to play different music, or have them all play the same song.

You can mix and match the Sonos building blocks as much as your budget allows. You could put a ZonePlayer in every room of the house, for example, because the system supports up to 32 units. You could give a Controller to each member of the family. At minimum, most people will need the Sonos starter bundle at $1,199, which gives you two ZonePlayers and one Controller. In a typical Sonos setup, the first ZonePlayer is connected by Ethernet cable to the home router.

Since this ZonePlayer will most likely be in the same room as the router and the computer holding your music, it provides minimal benefit by itself. The second ZonePlayer, however, can be anywhere in the house that can be reached by an Ethernet cable or the Sonos wireless system. The ZonePlayers make a wireless connection among themselves, using the same 2.4 gigahertz frequency as Wi-Fi home networking gear and many cordless phones, extending Sonos is a new digital music system that at first glance seems to have too many parts and is more than a little pricey. But it turns out to do the best job I've seen in moving MP3 music tracks around the house. More and more of us need something like Sonos because home computers are turning into the jukebox of the 21st Century, packed with hundreds or even thousands of digitized songs.

But I don't want to be stuck in front of my computer when listening to music. Sonos (www.sonos.com) has come up with an elegantly simple system starting at $1,199. That's obviously too much for the mass market, so Sonos has wisely chosen to limit its marketing pitch to well-heeled enthusiasts. What sets Sonos apart, and justifies the price for those willing to dig deep in their wallets, is its building-block approach. Block one is your existing system.

To fully benefit from Sonos, you'll need a newer Windows or Macintosh computer loaded with music files, a home network router and a broadband Internet connection, such as a DSL line or cable modem. Block two is the Sonos ZonePlayer, which sells for $499. The ZonePlayer is a small box that connects to your home network and other ZonePlayers through an Ethernet cable or a wireless link. Standard stereo speakers can be plugged directly into the ZonePlayer, which pumps out 50 watts per channel. There are also Photo by Sonos The Sonos system must be connected to a home computer to route digital music to different rooms in a house.

their range by creating a kind of bridge from one end of the house to the other. This all sounds complicated, but I found setting up the Sonos system at my house was a snap, using three ZonePlayers and one Controller on loan from the company. The color screen on the Controller made it easy to scroll through my music collection, even displaying thumbnail images of album covers. Soon I was playing Warren Zevon in the home office while my 4-year-old daughter listened to the "Mary Poppins" soundtrack in the kitchen and my wife heard Dave Brubeck in the bedroom. I've only got one significant issue with the Sonos system, beyond the nosebleed price: You have to leave your computer running all the time to have ready access to your music.

This increases security risks from viruses and spyware. While most of us can't afford the elegance of Sonos, I'm confident the company and its competitors will make this type of easy, fully featured home music network system available at much lower prices within a year or two. cameras Memory cards' new use Digital camera owners who use Hash memory cards tend to work their way up from starter cards with small data storage capacities to ones with larger amounts of memory. But the smaller cards need not be left behind. Inexpensive housings From MediaGear can turn i hose cards into USB drives.

Available from the Media-dear Web site and electronics stores and other retailers, the Keychain USB Drives cost $10 each and come in versions to fit just about all card formats. To use; Open the cover, place the card in a socket and close the cover. the New York Times TODAY'S PICKS CLICKS ECONOMIC HOPE Author and economist Jeffrey Sachs will discuss his book "The End of Poverty," which outlines a plan to end global poverty. 3 p.m., www.washlngtonpostcomwp-dynliveonline TECH SUPPORT The Microsoft U.S. System Builder Team will take questions on marketing, sales, licensing and technology.

2 p.m., www.mlcrosott.comcommunltleschatsdefauft.mspx COMING TO AMERICA Attorney Gene Meltser will answer questions about Immigration and nationality law. 5 p.m., www.ilw.comlmmlgrantschat WILLIAMS' MESSAGES Chat with author LaTonya Williams about her first novel, "Mixed Messages," and her future projects. 9 p.m., www.rawslstaz.comchathbnl TECH BLOG: Follow Mike.Wendland's posts at www.pcmike.com Calif, judge rejects marriage ban, but the fighting isn't over wwiv.frccp.com Log on to our web site for news updates throughout the day. By HOWARD MINTZ KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS till (USPS 155-500) (ISSN 1055-2758) Published daily by the Detroit Free Press at 600 W. Fort Detroit, Ml 48226 Periodicals Postage Paid at Detroit, Ml DETROIT NEWSPAPERS home delivery service 31 3-222-6500 TOLL FREE 1 -800-395-3300 Classified advertisini 586-977-7500 TOLL FREE 1-600-WANT-ADS Oisi.

lay advertising 313-222-2355 All oilier departments 313-222-6400 Telecommunication Oevice tor Deaf (TDD) 313-222-2576 iSUcilreji FREE PRESS EDITORIAL PHONE NUMBERS riage have said they'll put the issue on the ballot In California if the courts strike down the state's law limiting marriage to a man and a woman. Monday's ruling comes a little more than a year after San Fran-, cisco Mayor Gavin Newsom issued marriage licenses to thousands of gay couples. The California Supreme later declared those void, saying the mayor stepped his authority. But court didn't rule on whether the law against gay marriage violates the state Constitution. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

His decision follows similar rulings in Washington and in New York, where challenges to gay marriage bans are proceeding through the courts. The Massachusetts Supreme Court found that state's law unconstitutional last year. Kramer also cited Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down segregation in schools.

"The idea that marriage-like rights without marriage is adequate smacks of a concept long rejected by the courts separate but equal," he wrote. Both sides had vowed to appeal Kramer's decision if they lost. Groups opposed to same-sex mar OUR MISSION The Detroit Free Press will stand on guard as the most trustworthy source of news and information for the people of southeast Michigan. We will engage and surprise our readers every day. OUR DAILY COALS Accuracy and fairness, news and new ideas, Children First, diversity, growth and technology.

OUR ETHICS POLICY Read it at www.freep.comhelp ethicspolicy.htm 113-222-6600 Editorial Loc.il News SAN FRANCISCO A judge declared California's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional Monday. It's the first such ruling in the state's history and one that's now destined for appeal. Judge Richard Kramer of San Francisco County's Superior Court concluded that the ban violates equal-protection rights of gay and lesbian couples to marry. "The state's protracted denial of equal protection cannot be justified simply because such constitutional violation has become traditional," the judge observed in a lengthy opinion. 3-222-6660 113-222-6610 113-222-6610 113-222-8765 113-222-2441 The Way We Live Entertainment Business News Public Editor To order Free Press books, NEWSPAPER RATES CHILDREN FIRST We are committed to improving the lives of Michigan's children.

For stories that offer solutions and hope, look for the Children First handprint. "Metro All other am counties Halliburton fuel-bill audit suppressed GETTING IT STRAIGHT By ERIK ECKHOLM NEW YORK TIMES Daily home delivery witti7daysl $036 $0 50 Daily home delivery $0 40 $0 50 Saturday home delivery $0 25 $0.50 Sunday home delivery (mm 7 days) $1 $150 7-day home dBliveiy $4.50 Sunday hoMaytemis day Home delivery'" $2 00 $1.50 L-aturday 'Sunday holiday Doous day home delivery" $2 25 $2 00 Daily -newsstands $050 $050 Sunday newsstands $1 50 $1 .50 Saturday. Sunday and holiday editions are combined editions ol The Detroit News and Free Press." In 2005. Sunday only anr SaturdaySunday subscribers metro Detroit will receive the following hoUdayborais day editions as part ot their paid subscription billed at 401 each: January 1 1 February 21 March 14. March 25, May 30.

July 4, September 5, November 24. December 26. Additional bonus days may be added based on story developments or anticipated reader interest, not to exceed 1 5 holidaybonus days 2005. All subscriptions are continuous. Home delivered rates are suggested retail rates, el some areas, independent contractor rates may vary.

Metro area includes Wayne. Oakland. Macomb, Washtenaw. Monroe and Livingston counties. MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES Within the state ot Michigan Daily and Dan Sunday Sundayt only 52 weeks $520 00 $369 20 $1 76 80 26 weeks 260 00 184 60 88 40 I3weeks 13000 92.30 44 20 4 week 40.00 28 40 1360 Outside Michigan nine audits involving Kellogg, Brown Root, a Halliburton subsidiary.

The audits were completed in October, a month before the presidential elections. The administration has kept all of them confidential, despite repeated requests from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Excerpts were released Monday by the office of U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, minority leader of the House Committee on Gov-, ernment Reform, which said it obtained the audit through "unofficial channels." "The facts show that KBR deliv ered fuel crucial to the Iraqi people when failure was not an option," said Wendy Hall, a Halliburton spokeswoman, in an e-mail Monday.

"We will continue to work with the Army to prove, once and-. for all, that KBR delivered these vi-, tal services for the Iraqi people at a fair and reasonable cost given the circumstances." Allegations of overcharging for fuel imports have swirled from the initial days of the occupation. In December 2003, the Pentagon auditing agency said a preliminary study found $61 million in sonable fuel bills up to that point. The Free Press corrects all errors of fact. If you know of an error, please call John X.

Miller, public editor, at 313-222-2441 or 800-678-7771 anytime, write him at 600 W. Fort, Detroit 48226, or send e-mail to millerfreepress The Michigan Crime Stoppers Hotline phone number published with Monday's front-page article about increasing thefts at residential construction sites was incorrect. The phone number is 800-773-2587 (800-SPEAKUP). The correct answer to last Monday's The Motley Fool trivia question in the Business section is Target Corp. clarification: An article Saturday about Emery King, former WDrV-TV (Channel 4) anchor, characterized as a foul language flub his response to an on-air question by Connie Chung while he was a White House correspondent.

What King said, in answering Chung's question "What's the situation there?" was "How the hell should I know, Connie?" Excess billing for postwar fuel imports to Iraq by Halliburton Co. totaled more than $108 million, according to a report by Pentagon auditors that was completed in the fall but never officially released to the public or to Congress. In one case, according to the report, the company said it had paid more than $27 million to transport liquefied petroleum gas thatlt had bought in Kuwait for $82,000. The fuels report, by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, was one of 52 weeks $556 40 $397 60 SH4 90 26 weeks 28 20 198 90 92 30 1.1 weeks 139 10 99 48 4615 'weeks 42 80 3080 1420 LOTTERY Michigan Lottery's EN YOUR FHE PftSSS Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot $27 million Ohio Monday Pick 3 and 4 Midday 058 and 5938 Evening 373 and 3623 Rolling Cash 5 7,9,29,32,34 The Rolling Cash 5 jackpot $100,000. The Super Lotto Plus Michigan Monday Daily 3 and 4 Midday 888 and 7653 Evening 022 and 4541 Fantasy 5 5,11,14,23,26 WinFall 22, 23,25,38,40,41 Keno 2,5,8,10,11,12,13,20,29, 32, 35, 36,37,42,44,45,47, 51,54, 57, 75, 80 Monday's WinFall jackpot $3.7 million Foreign rote furnished upon request I rtptton puce includes $4 27 per week for the fomt Sat-aiin.

Sunday and holiday usues ot The Detroit News and Mac Press HuOKcription puce Includes $1 12 per week for tjw oint Set-utflsy and hi4ay Woes oJ The Detrort News and Free Press" The Detroit News and Free Press Is printed perHafy on recycled nryrvint ptease send address changes a) Mail Suhecnnhnn Department Lafayette Boulevstd Detroit, Ml 4B226 DETROIT NEWSPAPERS, OFFICERS til Humphrey President and CM 313-222-2060 Ibrndi Austin, VPHiiinan Resources Labor Relations 313-222-20B1 mm Brunt. Sr IffAdvertising 313-222-8731 Hay Fatal, vtvrjaseified Advertising 586-977-7671 Henry Ftxd. VP Market Development 313-222-6MW iye Jtmnui. VPfinance Conboller 313-222-8891 1mm luodo. Advertising 313-223-4771 MUMS St 313-222-23M haft Own VPiProdiJClwl 5B6-826 7087 IfchM StitjMta4 VPQtciiletwl 3I3-222KMI jow VMnformation technology 313-222-8730 Effective 2 10 05 CALL 800-395-3300 FOR DETAILS.

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