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Citing large crowds of design engineers and consumers at its World PC Expo Pavilion in Japan last week, Texas Instruments' James Snider, chairman of the <A HREF="http://www.1394ta.org">1394 Trade Association</A>, predicted a surge in product design based on the 1394/FireWire/i.Link standard in the coming year. Snider says that the demand for 1394 PC and consumer products is accelerating worldwide "as users become aware of the quality of video and audio that can be easily and efficiently transported in home, office, and theater environments."

Troy Kosovich, Dynaudio's director of marketing, died Tuesday, September 14 in a single-car accident near Bozeman, Montana. According to a newspaper report, he apparently lost control of his Isuzu Rodeo while returning to his hotel after an evening with a client. Troy was 37 years old and is survived by his wife, Angel, and his three-year-old son, Killian.

Want to know how Michael Fremer is able to tie a story about his baffled plumber into an equipment review? Find out in his report on the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/147/">Audio Physic Virgo loudspeaker</A>. About the speakers, Mikey writes: "Clearly, the Virgos disappeared, leaving one of the most credible three-dimensional soundstages I've ever experienced in any of my listening rooms over the years."

Imagine yourself a recording artist just signed to a contract with one of Sony Music's record labels. You put out a couple of albums and start a website using your own name (say, for example, www.bobdylan.com). But the music wind starts blowing in a different direction, your contract comes up for renewal, and, either through your manager's insistence or that of one of Sony's big cheeses, you decide to leave the label and sign with someone else.

Nationwide electronics retailer <A HREF="http://www.bestbuy.com/">Best Buy</A> has reported a record $59 million in profits for the second quarter of its fiscal year. Profits were up 34% from the previous year, according to a September 15 report in the <A HREF="http://www.wsj.com/"><I>Wall Street Journal</I></A>. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based chain is one of the largest outlets for consumer electronics, and is <A HREF="http://www.circuitcity.com/">Circuit City</A>'s only serious rival.

The audiophile in the plaid shirt and gray Dockers had his hand up. Moderator Jonathan Scull handed him the roving microphone, and the <I>Stereophile</I> writers on the podium at HI-FI '99's Sunday afternoon "Ask the Editors" session shifted in their chairs. "This one's for John Atkinson," came the windup. The other writers relaxed; I started to sweat. Then the pitch: "How come <I>Stereophile</I> issues are so small these days?"

"There, <I>that</I>'s where you should put the microphone&mdash;5" from the end of my bow."