Recently, The Academy Advancing High Performance Audio & Video (AAHPAV) released its 1998 Golden Note Awards Nominations. Winners will be announced at the Golden Note Awards banquet, to be held June 10 at The Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey, CA. John Hoskins, co-founder of Advantage Performance Group, will present the keynote address, "Why Bad Things Happen to Good New Products."

For the last 25 years, about 1000 engineers from all regions of the world have gathered at the annual IEEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics (ICCE) in Chicago to review and discuss the emerging technology trends in the consumer industry.

Known for ultra-high-quality analog and digital audio electronics, Sonic Frontiers will soon enter the home-theater market. The Oakville, Ontario company announced its intentions less than two months after being acquired by the Lenbrook Group, which also owns PSB. In addition, Sonic Frontiers recently joined the growing group of companies represented by public-relations firm JB Stanton Communications, Inc.

Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, Joe Pantoliano. Directed by The Wachowski Brothers. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1. Dolby Digital. Two sides. 109 minutes. 1996. Republic ID4628DSDVD. Rated R. $29.95

On May 14, Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Grundig, Sharp, Sony, Thomson Multimedia, and Toshiba announced that they have compiled a core home-networks specification for AV electronics appliances. The eight companies plan to actively promote this spec, called HAVi (Home Audio-Video interoperability), as a home-network standard for the AV electronics and multimedia industries.

Maybe somebody should invent an exer-couch: According to a recent national survey commissioned by Blockbuster, popcorn and soft drinks top the list of favorite foods and drinks that people consume when watching videos at home.

Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah, Joe Turkel. Directed by Ridley Scott. Aspect ratio: 2.35:1. Dolby Surround. Two sides. 117 minutes. Theatrical version, 1982; director's cut, 1991. Warner Bros. Home Video 12682. Rated R. $29.95.