The Sound Guy has released ReSpatializer, an advanced panning, surround sound and spatialization plug-in. ReSpatializer supports up to eight input channels, each of which can be individually positioned.
Features:

Selection of angle, spread and spin for each source
LFE (low-frequency effect) tools
16 different output formats
Host tempo sync for source rotation

ReSpatializer is available in VST and Audio Unit formats. [...]

Neyrinck has introduced the Mix 51 Surround Panning and Mixing plug-in for Digidesign Pro Tools LE/M-Powered systems.
Mix 51 is a set of 5.1 surround panning and mixing RTAS plug-ins that allow you to take advantage of any Pro Tools system with six or more outputs such as Mbox 2 Pro, Digi 002/003, or M-Audio interfaces [...]

NAB: SoundField has introduced the SoundField SPS200 A-Format microphone for stereo and 5.1 surround recording.
Designed for computer-based field and studio broadcast and recording applications, the SPS200 offers software plug-in A-Format to B-Format conversion, plus stereo and surround sound decoding and manipulation in place of an outboard control unit.
The most affordable of the SoundField Technology product [...]

Wave Arts has introduced Universal Binary versions of TrackPlug 4, MasterVerb 4 and WaveSurround 4 in the VST and Audio Unit formats, “Due to popular demand”.
We’re not sure about this, but we figure “due to popular demand” means that no one will buy your Mac software if it doesn’t run on any current Mac.

Our contact at Focusrite sends word about a massive project to remaster Genesis’ back catalog for surround sound. Nick Davis, right, spent nearly three years remastering the entire Genesis back catalogue in 5.1.
Davis started his career as a tape op back in 1983, recording early demos with Tears For Fears for Polygram. He moved to [...]

TC Electronic has announced that UnWrap, the world’s most widely used high-resolution mastering and up-conversion algorithm for music and post production, is now shipping.
Originally developed for TC Electronic’s flagship System 6000 high definition processor, UnWrap facilitates smooth and fast stereo to 5.1 up-conversions when there is no time to do a conventional 5.1 mix or [...]

NAMM: Denon Professional announced the new DN-A7100 A/V Surround Preamplifier.
Designed specifically for surround sound decoding in installed sound, house of worship, broadcast, conference and studio monitoring applications, the DN-A7100 provides a flexible array of features suited for fully balanced 5.1 and 7.1 surround playback. This dedicated professional quality surround preamp was developed based on feedback [...]

NAMM: beyerdynamic introduced the Headzone, a portable surround mixing system.
Using DSP technology, Headzone provides headphone-based 5.1 surround sound reproduction and is ideal for a variety of applications including studio, mobile recording and post-production.
For use with Headzone, beyerdynamic has added “Headtracking” technology to its popular DT 800 PRO headphones. This ultrasonic-headtracking system locates the orientation of [...]

2006 Winter NAMM Show: Cycling ‘74, a San Francisco-based music software company, demonstrated UpMix, a surround processing and upmixing software package for VST and RTAS formats on both MacOS and Windows platforms. The flagship plug-in, named UpMix, provides functionality that can speed the repurposing of stereo audio content into a surround environment. By providing a [...]

The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS and Thomson have announced the addition of two new elements to the MP3 Surround demo software: MP3 SX (MP3 Stereo eXtended) allows enhancing MP3 stereo files for multi-channel playback and Ensonido provides portable MP3 Surround sound using stereo headphones.
MP3 SX enables listening to two-channel content in surround and [...]

Digidesign has announced that the new Surround Panner option for the ICON D-Control worksurface is now available. The Surround Panner brings powerful and convenient panning functionality to the center section of the D-Control console.
Features:

Integrated 640×480 high-resolution color LCD touchscreen
Two touch-sensitive joysticks with associated Punch buttons
Two touch-sensitive rotary encoders with 15-segment LED rings
Six Mode buttons for [...]

Native Instruments has announced that a demo version of Absynth 3 is now available.
Absynth 3 is the latest reincarnation of what is one of today’s most creative and capable synthesizers. Absynth 3 is now fully surround-enabled, offering the most comprehensive and versatile multi-channel implementation of any available synthesizer. Powerful new oscillator functions and additional integrated [...]

Symbolic Sound has announced that Kyma X.1is now shipping. Kyma X.1 delivers support for using a Wacom pen and tablet as a 3 dimensional control surface, 3 new kinds of oscillators, modules for turning presets into a 3 dimensional parameter subspace, plus other enhancements and improvements to the Kyma X sound design software.
Using a Wacom [...]

Fraunhofer IIS, Thomson and Agere Systems unveil free MP3 Surround evaluation download. Full versions of MP3 Surround encoder and decoder available from www.mp3surround-format.com.
MP3, the world’s most popular audio compression format, goes multi-channel. Scientists and engineers from Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, who developed MP3 together with their colleagues from Thomson, the exclusive licensing representative [...]