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Toshiba Intros the Cell and Cell Slim in Japan
Fri Jul 30, 2010 at 01:30 PM ETTags: Toshiba, HDTV (all tags)
Three terabytes of hard drive space, 2D to 3D conversion, and built-in web browsing are just some of the features of the Cell TV.
Toshiba's Cell TVs are the stuff of dreams. They've got just about everything you could want in a TV. The cost reflects that, of course, but that doesn't stop these sets from being downright impressive.
If you're a fan of 3D, for instance, the Cell's got the hookup. Toshiba says that the 3D Super Resolution tech that's built into each set makes 3D images clearer than ever. Even better, your TV can convert traditional 2D movies and television into 3D. Color, contrast, and brightness will all change to accommodate for the dark glasses.
Not a 3D fan? Do you like DVRs? If so, you'll be happy to know that the Cell is capable of recording up to eight channels at once onto its massive three terabyte hard drive. That's about as good as it gets.
There's plenty more to the sets, like web browsing, streaming video and audio, improved speakers and even support for up to eight USB devices at once.
They're hitting Japan first at a price of $6,800 for the Cell Regza Slim 46XE2 – the cheapest of the bunch. At the top is the Cell Regza 55X2, which costs upwards of ten thousand dollars.
Source: Toshiba
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LG Announces Two New 3D HDTV Lines
Thu Jul 15, 2010 at 10:00 AM ETTags: 3D, HDTV, LG (all tags)
Both lines feature LED backlighting, 3D capability, and come in 47 and 55 inch sizes.
LG's new LX6500 line of televisions is fully 3D capable and is packed with plenty of other cool features too. It uses LED edge lighting and local dimming to achieve a contrast ratio of 8,000,000:1, for example. It also sports TruMotion 240Hz smoothing technology and a 2ms response time.
You can pick up the 47 inch LX6500 for an MSRP of $2,699 while the 55 goes for $3,499.
The LX9500 steps things up pretty significantly. It's got a bezel of less than an inch, which gives it a very clean look. It upgrades the edge lighting to full LED backlighting with 240 different segments. It adds TruMotion 480Hz tech and a response time of just one millisecond.
The 9500 also adds support for the Magic Motion control system. If you're so inclined, you can ditch the traditional remote and wave your hands to control your television.
The 47 inch LX9500 runs $4,300, while the 55 inch model sells for $5,400.
Source: eCoustics
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Mitsubishi Releases a New 75 Inch LaserVue TV
Fri Jun 25, 2010 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Mitsubishi, HDTV, LaserVue, High-Def Retailing, 3D, Industry Trends (all tags)
It's 3D ready and it's even capable of internet streaming, but the best feature is the size.
The new L75-A91 LaserVue from Mitsubishi is an absolute monster. At 75 inches, it's one of the largest televisions available commercially. If the picture quality is still as good as the last LaserVue set, it's likely the most vibrant to boot.
The latest in the LaserVue series boasts the LaserVue Light Engine, EdgeEnhancer, PerfectColor, Perfect Tint and a variety of other technologies aimed at getting the best picture possible. Add 12-bit video processing to that and you've got an impressive set on your hands.
The LaserVue is also 3D ready, but it won't work right out of the box. You'll have to pick up Mitsubishi's 3D starter pack to go with it. It's an extra $399 and it includes glasses, the necessary adapters for the set and the 'Disney Blu-ray 3D Showcase.'
You can pick up this 15 inch deep 150 pound beast at a price of $5,999.
Source: Mitsubishi
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Panasonic Responds to Black Level Issues with Plasmas
Thu Feb 11, 2010 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Panasonic, HDTV (all tags)
There’s been a recent stream of complaints about Panasonic TVs with suddenly increasing black levels. Panasonic has responded, but hasn’t cleared things up.
One of the main selling points of plasma TVs is the incredibly deep black levels they’re capable of. Recently though, older Panasonic sets have been seeing sharply changing black levels, and not for the better.
Panasonic responded to the complaints in an effort to explain the perceived effect, but the response left people wanting more. “Panasonic Viera plasma HDTVs incorporate an automatic control which adjusts an internal driving voltage at predetermined intervals of operational hours,” stated Panasonic. “As a result of this automatic voltage adjustment, background brightness will increase from its initial value.”
Customers are reporting dramatically different pictures, and black levels increasing two-fold or more. Pasonics response to the continued outrage was less than helpful. “Since the TVs work as designed, there's nothing to fix.” Panasonic also said that without an industry standard for judging black levels, comparing two sets was difficult.
The problem with the sets, and the response from Panasonic may lead some people to reconsider their purchases in the future.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
Panasonic Responds to Black Level Issues with Plasmas
Thu Feb 11, 2010 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Panasonic, HDTV (all tags)
There’s been a recent stream of complaints about Panasonic TVs with suddenly increasing black levels. Panasonic has responded, but hasn’t cleared things up.
One of the main selling points of plasma TVs is the incredibly deep black levels they’re capable of. Recently though, older Panasonic sets have been seeing sharply changing black levels, and not for the better.
Panasonic responded to the complaints in an effort to explain the perceived effect, but the response left people wanting more. “Panasonic Viera plasma HDTVs incorporate an automatic control which adjusts an internal driving voltage at predetermined intervals of operational hours,” stated Panasonic. “As a result of this automatic voltage adjustment, background brightness will increase from its initial value.”
Customers are reporting dramatically different pictures, and black levels increasing two-fold or more. Pasonics response to the continued outrage was less than helpful. “Since the TVs work as designed, there's nothing to fix.” Panasonic also said that without an industry standard for judging black levels, comparing two sets was difficult.
The problem with the sets, and the response from Panasonic may lead some people to reconsider their purchases in the future.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
HD Sets in Hotels Finally Getting HD Sources
Thu Feb 11, 2010 at 12:00 PM ETTags: USA Today, HDTV (all tags)
Marriott, InterContinental and Hilton Hotels are all adding HD services this year.
A few years back the Excalibur hotel in Las Vegas completely made-over their rooms. They got new paintjobs, new carpet, new beds, and nice new 40” LCD sets. I stayed in one such room during CES ’09 and I was disappointed to find out that those HD sets were still restrained to standard definition cable. Not only that, but the TVs were set to stretch the picture out, making it unbearable to watch anything.
Most hotels see these large televisions as “nice-looking pieces of furniture,” according to Marc Ginsberg of DirecTV. They purchase the TVs so they can say they have HDTVs and so that their rooms look up to date, but don’t understand a high def signal needs to accompany it.
Three of the world’s largest hotel chains - Marriott, InterContinental and Hilton – are finally fixing the problem by bringing HD service to hotels with HDTVs. In most cases, there will be fourteen HD channels available out of the forty to fifty channels at each hotel.
It’s a start. Maybe not an impressive start, but it’s a lot better than none.
Source: USA Today
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HD Sets in Hotels Finally Getting HD Sources
Thu Feb 11, 2010 at 12:00 PM ETTags: USA Today, HDTV (all tags)
Marriott, InterContinental and Hilton Hotels are all adding HD services this year.
A few years back the Excalibur hotel in Las Vegas completely made-over their rooms. They got new paintjobs, new carpet, new beds, and nice new 40” LCD sets. I stayed in one such room during CES ’09 and I was disappointed to find out that those HD sets were still restrained to standard definition cable. Not only that, but the TVs were set to stretch the picture out, making it unbearable to watch anything.
Most hotels see these large televisions as “nice-looking pieces of furniture,” according to Marc Ginsberg of DirecTV. They purchase the TVs so they can say they have HDTVs and so that their rooms look up to date, but don’t understand a high def signal needs to accompany it.
Three of the world’s largest hotel chains - Marriott, InterContinental and Hilton – are finally fixing the problem by bringing HD service to hotels with HDTVs. In most cases, there will be fourteen HD channels available out of the forty to fifty channels at each hotel.
It’s a start. Maybe not an impressive start, but it’s a lot better than none.
Source: USA Today
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A High Definition Disconnect
Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 09:00 AM ETTags: HDTV, Magid (all tags)
We all know that guy. He picks up a nice HDTV for the holidays because he's heard how great it is, but fails to pick up a Blu-ray player, high definition game console, or even an HD cable or satellite service. According to a recent survey by Frank N. Magid Associates, he's not alone.
There are some fun statistics in the survey, which can easily be mistaken as nitpicking. For example, while thirty-five percent of households that responded to the survey said they had an HDTV, it appears that an additional eight percent own and HDTV and they don't even know it. Magid says that those eight percent did not describe their sets as HD, but said that they had either LCD, plasma, or widescreen televisions.
The survey results also state that only sixty-six percent of respondees were subscribed to a high definition cable or satellite service. If this is the case, that would make the number of people without a high definition service an approximate fourteen million.
Magid's survey was a web based survey of 1,373 adults aged 21 and up. Some of the results are questionable to say the least, such as the statistic that thirteen percent of those that completed the survey had never heard of high definition.
The numbers suggest that forty-two percent of those who purchased an HDTV but do not have high definition television service don't feel that the cost of service is worth the improved picture. Interestingly, thirty two percent selected an option stating that “I like the way the set looks, I don't need HD programming.”
Source: Magid
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A High Definition Disconnect
Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 09:00 AM ETTags: HDTV, Magid (all tags)
We all know that guy. He picks up a nice HDTV for the holidays because he's heard how great it is, but fails to pick up a Blu-ray player, high definition game console, or even an HD cable or satellite service. According to a recent survey by Frank N. Magid Associates, he's not alone.
There are some fun statistics in the survey, which can easily be mistaken as nitpicking. For example, while thirty-five percent of households that responded to the survey said they had an HDTV, it appears that an additional eight percent own and HDTV and they don't even know it. Magid says that those eight percent did not describe their sets as HD, but said that they had either LCD, plasma, or widescreen televisions.
The survey results also state that only sixty-six percent of respondees were subscribed to a high definition cable or satellite service. If this is the case, that would make the number of people without a high definition service an approximate fourteen million.
Magid's survey was a web based survey of 1,373 adults aged 21 and up. Some of the results are questionable to say the least, such as the statistic that thirteen percent of those that completed the survey had never heard of high definition.
The numbers suggest that forty-two percent of those who purchased an HDTV but do not have high definition television service don't feel that the cost of service is worth the improved picture. Interestingly, thirty two percent selected an option stating that “I like the way the set looks, I don't need HD programming.”
Source: Magid
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
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