New & Noteworthy: Sony DVD sync problem; Macworld Expo items; more

As we have noted before, DVD movie audio/video sync problems are not limited to the new iMacs. While searching the web for recommendations as to what DVD player to get for my home theater setup, I came across the reader reviews at Amazon.com. Comments regarding Sony's DVD players (such as the 530D and the 550D) were filled with references to this same sync symptom. Some said that the latest shipping units had a firmware fix for it, but others claimed this was not the case. So I emailed Sony, inquiring whether there was a firmware fix and, if so, how I could identify which units had it. Their completely useless response was: "We are the Sony Response Center, Internet Group and do not have access to the information you have requested."

Update: FYI: Mitchell Yawitz replied: "The sync problem has been fixed with a firmware update. To see if a particular unit has the problem, you can access the service menu by: Turning the unit off, then (on the remote) press TITLE then CLEAR then POWER. Firmware level 2.1 (possibly 2.01) or later contains the fix. My unit arrived with version 2.3, ordered in November. Supposedly, for earlier units, Sony will upgrade it for free."

USB SmartMedia reader/writer Olympus has announced a USB SmartMedia Reader/Writer. It does not need a separate power supply.

Web Style Guide "is aimed at the practical concerns of bending and adapting a relatively primitive authoring and layout tool (HTML) to purposes it was never really intended to serve (graphic page design)."

The Hess Memorial Macworld Expo Events List is off and running, covering events for the Expo 2000 in January.

Getting together at Macworld Expo? MacFixIt Editor Ilene Hoffman has started a MacFixIt Forums "Talk" thread for those interested in getting together at Macworld Expo. We have nothing official planned as yet.