LG on Wednesday shipped the LH90 series of 1080p LCD HDTVs, the first it says feature both LED backlighting and which pass the THX Display Certification process. Each TV supports contrast rations up to 2,000,000:1, while TruMotion technology converts the refresh rate to 240Hz. The integrated THX Movie Mode is designed to optimize the color, black levels and signal processing.
Belkin has delayed the launch of its FlyWire device, pushing the anticipated release date to August, according to Engadget. The wireless system, first introduced at CES 2008, can be used to stream 1080p HD content from multiple HDMI inputs to HDTV televisions using the 5GHz band. Automatic frequency hopping is designed to reduce conflicts with Wi-Fi or other signals.
Gefen has released its latest connectivity product, a fiber extender that can be used to transmit an HDMI v1.3 signal up to 330 meters (~1000 feet), for applications requiring HDTV distribution through large venues. The system integrates six lasers to serialize the signal, with support for 1080p HD and compliance with TMDS and HDCP standards. The sender unit is connected to the receiver unit using a single fiber optic cable that can send the HDTV signal with zero delay, according to the company.
Sony has expanded its line of home theater systems to include three new configurations with integrated five-disc DVD/CD changers, the DAV-HDX587WC, DAV-HDX589W and DAV-HDX285, along with two new DVD players. The HDX587 and HDX589 models support 5.1-channel audio signals and offer an iPod cradle that can be used to play music or video. The systems also feature video upscaling for DVD content, along with an HDMI port for connecting HDTV sets. Digital Cinema Auto Calibration is designed to assist with proper installation, while Portable Audio Enhancer and Dialogue Enhancer are designed to enhance sound quality.
While some details were leaked last week, Samsung offered some more insight into its CES announcements. On Sunday, Samsung said it has developed the "world's thinnest" TV and expects to unveil several ultra slim HDTVs at CES. According to a new report, the new HDTVs are expected to be only 6.5mm thick - about 2mm thinner than the firm's last product; the HDTV's will range from 40-inches to 55-inches and will support Samsung’s Motion plus technology (240Hz) and Samsung’s LED backlight technology; however, Samsung's newest model does not have a built-in tuner or receiver within its unit, but said it comes with a separate external tuner device. [via Akihabara News]
A variety of HDTV Black Friday deals are currently being featured at DealNN. Starting with the SENS 22-inch LCD HDTV/DVD combo for $379.99 and on November 28th the price will be reduced by $80 to $299.99. J&R.com has reduced the price on the Panasonic VIERA 42-inch plasma 720p HDTV by 50% from $1,199 to $599.99. The refurbished Westinghouse 47" 1080p LCD HDTV is now priced at $664.99 (was $1,449.99) after rebate at MacMall.com. The refurbished Vizio 32-inch widescreen LCD HDTV is availabe at Buy.com for $429.99 which is $570 off the list price of $999.99.
Just in time for Black Friday shoppers, Consumer Reports has released its guide to recommended electronics gifts, with Apple receiving several nods from the list. The independent non-profit organization tests and rates products, and has set up a web page grouping ratings for HDTVs, digital cameras, blu-ray disk players and more. Each section highlights best values and highest rated performers and links to full reviews of the products.
LaCie has announced the US release of its LaCinema Rugged multimedia storage device. The drive features HDMI output and HD upscaling, allowing content to be viewed on an HDTV. Users can load video, images, and music onto the drive via USB 2.0, and then play or view content from any television. The Rugged features aluminum shell protection, combined with internal anti-shock absorbers and an exterior rubber bumper. Users can view the content by navigating the graphic menus of the user interface.
Today's DealNN deals include a variety of products ranging from flash cards to LCD HDTVs. Starting at $9 is the Transcend 2GB SD memory card from Abt.com. The Kensington WiFi finder plus is priced at $14 at NothingButSoftware.com. Buy.com is offering the PolkAudio miDock Portfolio iPod speaker system for $37. The James Bond ultimate collectors set on DVD is available at Amazon.com for $89. Lastly is the Philips Magnavox 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV price at $399.99, at SecondAct.com.
VIZIO announced on Monday it has shipped its VO-series 1080p HDTVs, including the newly styled 32-inch VOJ320F and 37-inch VOJ370F as well as the 32-inch VO32LF-32 and 37-inch VO37LF-37 with more traditional styling. The VOJ models are the first in VIZIO's line-up to feature the Java-colored bezel accents and redesigned stand and cabinet. All sets share the same 6,500:1 contrast ratio, 6.5ms refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness, coupled to 178-degree vertical viewing angles. The VOJ models add picture-in-picture (PIP) and picture-outside-picture (POP) viewing options.
GE announced on Tuesday it will start selling GE-branded HDTVs as part of a joint venture with Taiwan’s Tatung Company. The newly formed venture is called General Displays & Technologies (GDT), and will produce GE-branded HDTVs with Internet connectivity via an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) connection. Eventually, say GDT executives, the idea is to allow users to download widgets and services straight to their HDTVs.
Hitachi on Thursday announced significant changes in its operations for LCD and plasma HDTV production. The announcement comes after earlier promises of upcoming changes, spurred by $1,062 million in lost profits in fiscal year 2007. The majority of the loss stemmed from HDTV business. The electronics maker said it would focus on offering higher-value HDTVs in order to better compete with other HDTV makers, including integrating Internet access into future products. Video content on the web available thus far only via computers will be made accessible to Hitachi HDTV users via the company’s website.
Pinnacle Systems on Monday introduced its PCTV HD mini Stick and Pinnacle TV for Mac HD mini Stick which act as HDTV tuners for PCs and Macs, respectively. Pinnacle claims its USB-powered products are the smallest on the market to offer high reception sensitivity thanks to their integrated signal booster technology. Each includes a remote control and telescopic TV antenna that picks up digital over-the-air TV (ATSC) and unencrypted digital cable TV (ClearQAM) for SDTV and HDTV signals with maximum resolutions of 1080i.
At the CEDIA Expo on Thursday, JVC showed off its new range-topping Procision line of LCD TVs, comprised of the 42-inch LT-42X899, the 47-inch LT-47X899 and 52-inch LT-52X89. In addition, JVC offered a couple of Super Slim Procision LCDs, the 42-inch LT-42SL89 and the 46-inch LT-46SL89, which are 2.9 inches thick in the center, tapering down to 1.5 inches at the edges. All feature 1080p resolution, though the thicker Procision LCDs are alone in offering a new 120Hz display panel that supports 24/30p HD signals and the company's sixth-generation Clear Motion Drive III engine that uses a 32-bit Genessa processor.
Hitachi is unveiling a 1.5-inch thick 50-inch plasma display, which heads up the company's new UltraThin 1.5 family of products that also includes 1.5-inch thick LCD HDTVs, at the CEDIA Expo on Thursday. The display, which Hitachi is quick to point out is among the largest and thinnest of its kind, will headline Hitachi's release of plasma HDTVs in the A-, S-, V- and X-series, made up exclusively of 42- and 50-inch displays. While not quite 1.5 inches thick, the new plasma HDTVs will be available with manual swivel stands or remote-controlled powered swivel stands.
Westinghouse on Thursday broke some new ground with its VK40F580D HDTV, the first from the company to feature a built-in DVD player. Unlike most such combos, the DVDs slide in via a front-mounted drive, and not on a side-mounted and reportedly harder-to-reach slot. The 40-inch LCD HDTV delivers 1080p resolution via its two HDMI inputs, and also sports a USB port for connecting portable or flash memory drives, digital cameras or digital audio players, among other compatible devices.
At the IFA 2008 show in Berlin, Toshiba unveiled two new REGZA-branded LCD HDTV lines, including the ZF series which is capable of up-converting standard definition video files into high-definition ones all by itself. The TV line does this by way of what Toshiba is calling Resolution+ technology that uses the same type of Cell processors as the ones used in Sony's PlayStation 3 gaming console to enhance edges and details in images. The ZF-series displays will be available in a 40-inch size with the 40ZF575D and the 46-inch 46ZF575D.
Philips introduced a suite of new electronics at the IFA 2008 consumer electronics show headlined by a new extremely thin HDTV thus far known only as the Essence. At less than 1.5 inches thick, the Essence features a 120Hz 42-inch LCD display with a response time of 2 milliseconds. Philips even includes a self-leveling mounting kit with the Essence, which moves the speakers, tuner and video and power connections to a separate hub in order to make the slim size possible.
Panasonic Japan has revealed specs on its new VIERA PZR900 HDTV line, due out for release in the near future. The plasma TVs include the 42-inch TH-42PZR900, 46-inch TH-45PZR900 and 50-inch TH-50PZR900, all featuring built-in 1TB hard disk drives and YouTube support via their network and Internet compatibility Panasonic calls TV Net. Each TV is capable of 1920x1080 resolution and features a 30,000:1 contrast ratio. The hard drives, in the meantime, allow users to record up to 86 hours of BS digital broadcasts at 24Mbps or 121 hours of terrestrial digital broadcasting at 17Mbps.
Sharp on Thursday announced the upcoming release of a pair of its newest AQUOS LCD HDTVs, the 20-inch LC-20E5 and 16-inch LC-16E5. Both are capable of displaying 720p (1366x768 resolution) images and feature two HDMI connections for HD sources such as Blu-ray players. While a digital TV tuner is built in, the TVs can double as computer monitors thanks to their necked stands that allow them to swivel from side to side.
At the CommunicAsia technology expo today, Japanese national TV broadcaster NHK showed a projection system capable of 77680x4320 resolution, otherwise known as Super Hi-Vision (SHV) and exactly four times higher than 1920x1080 (Full HD) resolution. In contrast, 16 HDTVs at Full HD resolution would have to be stacked together to create one image equivalent to the Super Hi-Vision technology developed by NHK.
Monster Cable announced today it will offer a wireless transmitter for HDTV signals that will connect a home theater's TV set with a digital signal box or DVD player. The wireless system is comprised of a receiver that plugs into the HDTV's HDMI port along with a transmitter unit that will hook up with the signal source. Called Monster Digital Express HD, the set-up will also upscale non-HD signals to HD resolution.
Westinghouse Digital on Tuesday unveiled four new 1080p-capable LCD TVs, as well as several other multi-purpose LCD TVs, including its portable and all-in-one units. New to the 1080p TX lineup are the 42-inch TX-42F430S, the 47-inch TX-47F430S, and the 52-inch TX-52F480S, which feature an integrated ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM Tuner, and 1080p resolution through all high-definition connectors, including component and VGA.
At Tuesday's corporate strategy meeting, Hitachi announced it would continue to pursue with its money-losing HDTV panel manufacturing along with recovering HDD sales as core businesses. Company president Kazuo Furukawa maintains panel production will remain the company's core business because demand is growing globally, as one of three reasons for the newfound focus.
Pioneer USA on Wednesday announced the Elite BDP-05FD and Pioneer BDP-51FD BonusView Blu-ray Disc players have been added to its line-up. Both receivers are said to offer the next generation in Blu-ray playback quality, with HDMI 1.3 technology, four Wolfson Professional Audio 12-bit digital-to-analog converters, and 1080p / True 24fps output. The players are designed to complement Pioneer's other home theater products, including the KURO line of plasma HDTVs and Elite receivers, to bring users a movie-theater like entertainment experience.
Westinghouse Digital on Wednesday released its seemingly double-jointed PT-16H610S HDTV. The company dubs the TV a Flexible Lifestyle Display, and is built around a 16-inch LCD capable of reproducing HD content in 720p (1366 by 768 pixel) resolution. The TV's mounting and adjustability options live up to its namesake, as it can be hung upside down as on a kitchen cabinet or mounted on a wall, thanks to dual hinges and an image that rotates by 180 degrees.
The Super Bowl is expected to spur sales of approximately 2.4 million HDTVs, according to the third annual Sports and Technology survey performed by the Consumer Electronics Association and the Sports Video Group. The finale for seasonal NFL activity has so far been the cause of $2.2 billion in HDTV sales this year, making it the largest driving factor in the industry for three years running. The Super Bowl is followed by college bowl games, the World Series, NBA Finals, and NCAA March Madness, in terms of events that notably spike sales of HDTVs.
Just over half of all American households have at least one digital TV in their home, says the Consumer Electronics Association. The group, which hosts the CES expo each January, notes that at least 50 percent have one or more sets that can accept a digital signal without a set-top box or other adapter. An increasing number of these are HDTV sets and should account for 79 percent of all TVs sold in the country over the course of 2008. the Association says. TV makers themselves are expected to sell as many as 18 percent more sets over the same timeframe than they have in 2007.
A select number of people now have access to HD video-on-demand through FiOS, Verizon has announced. Customers in Tampa, Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, Richmond and Virginia Beach can now download approximately 75 HD videos through FiOS TV, among these free episodes from shows such as Golfweek Magazine, and paid movies like Transformers and The Hoax. An HD set-top box is required, which costs $10 a month in addition to FiOS TV service.
Access will expand in 2008 to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Washington, DC; during the same year, the number of videos should gradually increase to over 1,000, while the total HD channels available will grow past 150.
