Gizmodo: LCD

KDDI Delivers "World's First 3D Mobile Phone Screen"

Sean Fallon — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:40:00 EDT

The term "word's first" gets thrown around a lot with gadget releases, but with kooky creative phone maker KDDI behind the project, I'm a lot less skeptical about the claim that they have developed the first 3D cellphone screen. You can't get the full effect from the images here, but it appears that this prototype 3.1-inch 480 x 800 WVGA LCD utilizes the "parallax barrier method" that divides images or video separately for the right and left eye. Naturally, no timetable for a release has been revealed. [IT Media via Mobile Mentalism]

Elettronico Faucet: Touchscreen Controls, Connects to a Plumbing Network

Sean Fallon — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:20:00 EDT

We are only talking about a sink here, but I must admit that I am a sucker for a captivating design. That having been said, the Elettronico Faucet by Carlo Frattini definitely caught my eye. The allure of the system centers around an LCD display that can be used to turn the faucet on and off, control flow rate, temperature and even other faucets / showers in the house. Essentially, the Elettronico would be part of a plumbing network that would give you command over everything from one screen. It is the most exciting thing to happen to pipes since...uh, wait. Nevermind. Unfortunately, there is no word on pricing or availability at the moment.

[Frattini via Trendir via Newlaunches via DVICE]

Moshi's Washable Neato Screen Cleaner Uses Microfiber To Wipe Dust, Spittle and Other Fluids

Jason Chen — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EDT

One of the computer accessories we're always looking for is a good screen cleaner, which is why Moshi's Neato is pretty great. It's a two-part microfiber screen cleaner, with one part wiping dust and one part wiping grease and fingerprints. The back of the cleaner is a material they call "GeckoPad", which is based on a gecko's foot and can stick to the side of your desk, your monitor or your face for easy storage.

We tried these out on our quite dusty laptop screen and it did a better job than the 3M screen we get at trade shows. It's $16, but comes with one extra cleaner. Our quick verdict? It works, it's compact, and it isn't all that expensive, plus the material is machine washable so you won't have to get your hands all that dirty. [Aevoe via Product Page]

52-inch Sharp TV Runs on Solar Power

Mark Wilson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:25:00 EDT

There's so much wrong with the application of this technology that we won't even get started on it, but this Sharp television runs off the juice of a single attached solar panel. That's because the 52" LCD is illuminated by LEDs which coincidentally reduces its power draw to the same amount produced by that solar panel sitting on the floor.

As we hinted above, don't look for this television to run any time the sun isn't out (it appears to lack batteries), but the prototype is far more impressive than Sharp's last, which was only a puny 26-inch set. Rain or shine, you can't watch a game on that thing—not that you'd want to, with the Sox out of the hunt. [AVING]

Casio Claims Highest Density TFT With 960x540 in 2 Inches

John Herrman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:00:00 EDT

Fresh from the arms-races-that-I-didn't-even-know-were-happening department comes Casio's latest venture in ultra-high density LCD panels, which has resulted in a 546ppi, 960x540, 2.0-inch TFT. To put that into real-world terms (or "iPhone terms" as they're called around here), that means that this display is over three times as dense as the iPhone's already lush 160ppi panel. A less useful (but more entertaining) way to explain this would be to say that if the tech could be scaled to suit a 40-inch widescreen TV, it would have a stunning resolution of 10800p.

Consumers' main contact point with high density LCDs is through mobile phones and personal media players, which will be the likely application for this new tech. In hardware such as phones, though, the screen will typically be far enough from users' eyes that the increase in density will go unnoticed (at arm's length my HTC Touch Diamond's screen, at a measly 260ppi, is as sharp as I can discern). Honestly though, can anyone say they wouldn't be at least a little excited by a 720p iPod? Thought so. [Casio via Akihabara]

Vendors Make HDTV Price Cuts, Inappropriate Statements in Response to Financial Crisis

Sean Fallon — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:40:00 EDT

The current state of the economy is unfortunate, but there is a silver lining if you are in the market for an HDTV. According to HD Guru, many HDTV manufacturers have started rolling out discounts to help increase sales. Sony, LG and Samsung are among those offering up to $200 off on select models, while other companies are quietly offering "instant rebates" to dealers with the expectation that savings will be passed on to consumers in the form of sales. As one store manager HD Guru spoke with commented: “this has been the slowest week since 9/11!" Stay classy dude...stay classy. [HD Guru]

Super-Skinny AOC V17 17-Inch HD Monitor Has Equally Diminutive Price Tag

John Mahoney — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:47:32 EDT

Can't vouch for general build or image quality on this AOC 17-inch panel, but the 12mm-thin housing is a great look for $200. The V17 has a resolution of 1440 x 900 with a contrast ratio of 5,000:1 and a 10ms response time. Good deal for a cheap desktop display that can also double as a bedroom HD monitor. AOC says end of 2008 for availability. [Slash Gear]

Daewoo Takes Room Divider into 21st Century: Digital Screens in the Screen

Kit Eaton — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:13:00 EDT

Folding screens (that occasionally useful piece of furniture, and classic movie prop) get a dab of 21st Century tech with the DID-FS from Daewoo. The old-fashioned wooden frame is there, but supplemented by four LCD widescreens, mounted vertically. That leaves you free to choose what pictures you're using to break up your living space into themes. It'll probably leave you with an empty wallet too, given current LCD prices for displays that big, but there's no info on pricing or availability. That doesn't stop me from lusting after this though... maybe I can achieve the same effect with some MDF, a Dremel and a couple of cheapo LCD photo frames from the local store? [Born Rich]

Gold and Jewels Yalos LCD TV Costs Too Much, Looks Like It has The Pox

Kit Eaton — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:45:00 EDT

This Yalos LCD HDTV from Keymats is studded (I can't make myself use the word "encrusted") with 160 diamonds (plus rubys?) totaling at least 20 carats, is plated with white gold, has an ornate decorated rear face, and is clearly aimed at a niche market of punters with too much money and no sense of style. Because at first glance it looks like the set is suffering from a horrid skin disease, and you'd feel ever so dumb saying "No—look closely... They're jewels. Jewels!" over and over again. Check out the gallery to see more horrific be-jewelment, and then be prepared to fall off your chair when you find out its price.

The TV was shown at IFA recently, where it garnered a good chunk of interest.

And its price? Allegedly $130,000. One hundred and thirty thousand smackeroos. That's almost as much as the 150-inch Panasonic plasma TV, and this one is, what, 37-inches? And that's absolutely stark, raving bonkers. [Aving via Luxury Launches]

Sharp Aquos XS1 is Crazy Concept No More

Mark Wilson — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:05:00 EDT

Sharp showed off an impressively anorexic concept display at IFA last year, and this year they've turned it into production reality. In 52- and 65-inch sizes, the Sharp XS1 LCD TV is a hair less than an inch thick (23mm 0r .9 inches) and displays 1080p, 100Hz (this is Europe) and a contrast ratio of 10,000:1. Slated for release in the UK this October, we still don't know the price and/or whether or not chubby Americans will be allowed to be seen in the same room with such a svelte TV.

The company has also just announced the BD-HP21H Blu-ray player and D65 "premium" televisions—also both for Europe. For more info on those models, here's the full release:

XS1 AQUOS Series – Ultra large, ultra slim LCD TV
Exploiting the latest in LCD technology, the new flagship series of LCDs produced by Sharp, the XS1 series, have transcended the boundaries of the modern TV. With the world’s slimmest TV body at just 2.3 cms and available in 52” and 65”, these TVs make a bold statement. Despite this, because they are so skinny, they are very light and can even be mounted on the wall.

With the technology to complement their stunning appearance, the XS1 series come equipped with a 6ms response time and an advanced contrast ratio of 10,000:1, images are crystal clear and watching anything becomes a pleasure. With a slim, detachable speaker system and five 2.1 channel speakers, sound is reproduced with complete accuracy. The XS1 is also fitted with a gallery mode, which enables images from a USB stick to be displayed in Full-HD, either as a slideshow or as an interior centrepiece.

Incorporating 100-hertz picture enhancement technology and offering Full-HD resolution of 1,920 x1,080p, the XS1 series are the next stage in LCD TV evolution.

D65E AQUOS Series – Sharp’s new premium range
This premium quality series, in Sharp’s signature slim-line, piano black finish, boasts a design packed with functionality and elegance. With a dynamic contrast ratio of 20,000:1 and a brightness of 450 cd/m2, the image clarity of this series is superb. This, combined with the built-in DVB terrestrial tuner, means that when combined with high-definition signals in 1080p format, the picture quality is phenomenal.

The D65 series also comes with High-Fidelity sound and a 10w audio output to ensure the sound quality is as crystal-clear as the on-screen image. With an environmentally conscious design which includes low-power standby and an energy-save feature to reduce power consumption, the D65 series is designed to increase the enjoyment of TV watching for the style-conscious homeowner. The 65 AQUOS series will be available in 32”, 37”, 46” and 52” models.

BD-HP21H Blu-ray player – Sharp’s first cinema-quality Blu-ray player
Whereas many Blu-ray players on market cannot release the full potential of Blu-ray discs, Sharp’s new BD-HP21H is able to produce colourful, detailed and vibrant colour. Combined with the 24-hertz frame rate – the same rate used for cinema content, any on-screen motion is rendered as smoothly and naturally as would be expected on the big screen. Designed with a 1.1 profile and with Bonusview functionality, the BD-HP21H offers users the opportunity to take advantage of picture-in-picture and simultaneous play functions to offer a more interactive viewing experience. The BD-HP21H also has a Quick-start mode designed to reduce power consumption and a Jpeg playback feature so pictures can be viewed in High-Definition quality.

Compatible with the latest High-Definition formats, and developed to incorporate Sharp’s signature black finish and slim profile, The BD-HP21H is a beautiful match for any of the new range of AQUOS LCD TVs.

Sony's KDL-40ZX1, a 40-inch LCD HDTV Only 9.9mm Thin

Brian Lam — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:16:50 EDT

Sony Japan's ZX1 series 40-inch display is only 9.9mm thick at its narrowest, and 26 pounds. The display itself has only 1 HDMI port, while a wireless box can send the 120Hz, 1080p display up to 1080i images over a 5GHz channel many suspect is WHDM. That external port box will have 3 HDMI, 2 component, s-video, VGA, and even USB, mouse, and LAN port. All menus will be driven through an XMB Playstation-style crossmedia interface. Check out our hands-on of the skinny TV at IFA here. [Sony JP via Sony Insider]

Tokyoflash Rogue Proves Tokyoflash Still Has the Flash

Mark Wilson — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EDT

Just when we'd sort of gotten over Tokyoflash's watch design, they announce the Rogue, a wristpiece that refreshes their LED-driven sci-fi style while staying true to their confounding time-telling design. The death-green flavor LCD is standard on the Rogue, but the watch comes in silver and gunmetal (otherwise known as the two official best man colors evar). However, even with Tokyoflash's helpful cheat sheet, just how one actually tells time with this watch left us scratching our heads:

The outer ring of small dots represents minutes, every fifth dot being slightly smaller to distinguish five minute groups. The ring of large blocks represents rough minutes, the position of the gap indicating approximate minutes in groups of five. The inner ring of blocks represents hours, the position of the gap in the ring showing the current hour as on a clock face.

But if the display made sense without solving complex algorithms to decode, it just wouldn't boost your ego the same way after leaving friends and loved ones feeling stupid. Available for $161, the Rogue ships free worldwide. [Tokyoflash]

Panasonic Updates 103-inch Plasma, Drops Price by One Car

Mark Wilson — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:45:00 EDT

The good news: Panasonic announced their newest 103-inch plasma, which will have updated features such as 10000:1 contrast ratio, 4 HDMI ports, Deep Color and x.v.Color support, not to mention a $20,000 price drop. The bad news: it'll still cost you around $50,000. In addition to the aforementioned features, the most incredible use of the gigantor display might be viewing photos and AVCHD home videos through the built-in SD port. Available now only in Japan, we're pretty sure that if you have the money to buy the television, you have the money to get Japan's friendly locals to load the 750lb set onto a boat or something. [Panasonic via Impress]

Dealzmodo: 65-inch 1080p Olevia LCD TV For $2300

Jason Chen — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:59:00 EDT

Woot's deal of the day is a 65-inch 1080p LCD TV for only $2300. It's Olevia, which isn't the greatest brand—its parent company filed for bankruptcy recently—but it does seem like a decent set for the price. As a very interesting side note, when Charlie wrote up the announcement last year, he made the proclamation that when these are on Woot for 75% off, he'd be all over it. Well, it's on Woot, and it's slightly more than 75% off. Go get'm, Chuck. [Woot - Thanks mjrsynapse!]

Question of the Day: Is Your Flat Panel TV Wall-Mounted Or On a Stand?

Sean Fallon — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:10:00 EDT

Obviously, one of the biggest advantages to owning a flat panel TV is that it is usually light enough and thin enough to be wall-mounted. It reduces clutter and it makes the TV less of an eyesore when it is placed in a tastefully decorated room. For those reasons, I prefer a wall-mounted TV over one that is mounted on a stand, but its not something that everyone is set up for. So, I am curious to know whether your main flat panel TV is wall-mounted, on a stand or tucked away in some sort of media cabinet.

Utah Researchers Throw Cold Water On Rosy OLED Efficiency Rates

Jack Loftus — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:00:00 EDT

The promise of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) is that it will eventually become a super-efficient, low-cost light source to replace our archaic dependency on incandescent bulbs and those oh-so-yesterday LCD TVs, among other things. Ultimately, OLEDs were expected to possibly supplant the already efficient LEDs, too. That is, until a couple of Utah researchers revealed there could be some "complications." It seems we were half-right.

The issue lies with the theoretical efficiency ceiling assigned to OLEDs in a 2001 paper published in Nature. That paper suggested OLEDs would eventually be capable of converting 41 to 63% of electricity passed through them into light. The current ceiling for OLEDs is 25% efficiency, and that is where the most recent research out of Utah says it will probably stay.

In the end, all this talk of percentages and efficiency might be moot, especially considering OLEDs main purpose will be to replace LCD screens, not illuminate rooms or serve as the running lights on an Audi A5. OLEDs are also a superior light source for flexible materials, so there's that, too. They just won't be lighting up any kitchens or anything like that anytime soon.

To summarize, the future appears bright—for both LEDs and OLEDs. To each their own, we suppose. [NewsWise via CrunchGear]

Question of the Day: What Do You Use to Clean Your Screens?

Sean Fallon — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EDT

A big, bright, beautiful screen is a great thing—but keeping it smudge and dust free can be annoying to say the least. This is especially true with touchscreen phones and other portable media devices. With that in mind, I came up with a two section poll that involves larger screens like monitors and televisions on one side and smaller screens like cellphones and handheld game systems on the other. But both ask the same question: how do you clean your screens?

Woot Selling Off HDTVs All Day Long

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:19:00 EDT

Woot is having an all-day TV sellout. It's not a Woot-Off, but a Sell-Off, they say. They had a refurbished Sharp Aquos 37” 1080p LCD HDTVs for $799 a minute ago, and now they have a 720p Westinghouse 32” LCD HDTV for $399. Before buying, keep in mind that anything beyond 720p on a 37-inch TVs will be unappreciable from your sofa. [Sellout.Woot and Woot]

Funai (Sylvania, Symphonic and Emerson) Will Sell HDTVs With Blu-rays In 'Em

Jason Chen — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:20:00 EDT

Funai, whose subsidiaries are more familiar to us as Sylvania, Symphonic and Emerson, is planning on selling LCD HDTVs with Blu-rays on-board starting summer 2009. The company's previous successes in recent years with combo units (TVs with VCRs and TVs with DVDs) totaled up 40% and 20% of their sales in the US respectively. So how much will this low-end brand charge you for the all-in-one experience? CrunchGear says the target price for a 42-inch will be between $1100 and $1300. Keep in mind that's a price for something launching a year from now. [CrunchGear]

Update: Funai also took over the Phlips TV brand in the US, which means you might be seeing this under their name as well.

Seiko Epson Designs Simple 3D Display for Cellphones

Kit Eaton — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:15:00 EDT

Seiko Epson has designed a new glasses-free display that really has the potential to bring 3D-displays to cellphones and PMPs sooner rather than later. It's a bit similar to the old kid's classic lenticular images (you know: they come with a lined plastic face, and when you twist them you see a changing picture,) and in this case a complex array of convex lenses is combined with a high-res 3-inch LCD display. An object is photographed with up to eight cameras, a compound image is created, and when displayed each lens sends a slightly different view to your eyes. Because your eyes see different views of the object, just like in real life your brain reconstructs a 3D image. Sadly, the effect can't be captured in a single image of the screen, but you won't have long to wait: Seiko plans to commercialize the tech in a few years. [FarEastGizmos]

Scent-Emitting LCD Display is Just Asking for Misuse

Adam Frucci — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:40:00 EDT

One would think that if a restaurant wanted to lure people inside with the smells of delicious food, they would do so by cooking delicious food. Not necessarily! In Tokyo, a company called Recruit Co. Ltd. is using scent-emitting LCD displays to entice people into eating at restaurants in the mall under Tokyo Station.

Essentially, it's a 42-inch display that spurts out different scents as different advertisements play, luring people to come grab a flyer to lead them to the restaurant in question. This seems strange to me. And while yeah, I'm sure a screen puffing out clouds of ramen-scented gas is going to make me hungry, can't you see the slippery slope this puts us on? I don't want to have hackers take over these things and make all of Tokyo Station smell like farts or a locker room. Scent terrorism is knocking at our door, and we have to be vigilant at not answering. Stay strong, Japan. [Far East Gizmos via Oh Gizmo!]

Brando's iPhone Kit Lets You Replace Busted Screens Yourself

Kit Eaton — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EDT

Bless Brando for coming up with something that sounds amazingly useful at last: a "replacement LCD Display for your iPhone 3G." That's all the info there is, strangely, but assuming it's a good quality LCD with touchscreen, it'll no doubt be massively handy if your new toy has had an unfortunate screen-snapping incident. There's also the "iPhone Opening Tools Kit" with screwdrivers and prising gizmos which will certainly help you out. The screen costs a cheap-sounding $85, while the toolset will set you back an extra $11. [Brando via Reg Hardware]

Samsung Updates LED-Backlit LCD: Series 9 Expensive But Probably Worth It

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:48:01 EDT

Samsung's criticially acclaimed LED-backlit flagship LCD just got an overhaul: The all new Series 9 950 will come in 46-inch and 55-inch sizes, 120Hz motion-blur reduction and a whole bunch of eco-friendly attributes, like paint-free "Touch of Color" and absence of mercury and other toxic chemicals. They will range in price from $3,200 to $4,200, but if the reviews of their predecessor are any indicator, this will be one brag-worthy TV. More details and pics below.

Samsung Delivers 2nd Generation LED-Backlit LCD HDTV with New Series 9 LED LCD HDTV

Series 9 LED LCD HDTV Features Auto Motion Plus 120Hz™ and Ultra Clear Panel

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Samsung Electronics America Inc., a worldwide leader in innovation and HDTV technology, unveils the successor to the company's award-winning 81 Series LED LCD HDTV, with the launch of the new Series 9 LED LCD HDTV. The 2008 flagship Series 9, Samsung's 2nd generation LCD HDTV to use LED SmartLighting™ technology, offers consumers the powerful combination of LED and 120Hz technologies, resulting in a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for a crisp, full HD 1080p picture. The Series 9 is also distinguished by Samsung's new addition to the art-inspired ToC™ (Touch of Color™) design – an elegantly patterned bezel with charcoal gray accent. Beyond delivering a superior picture performance with craftsman-like design, the Series 9 gives consumers the freedom to easily access and manage nearly all forms of digital content via the TV through innovative features such as InfoLink™ and WiseLink™ Pro.

"Combining Samsung's LED SmartLighting and Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technologies in one high-performance LCD HDTV, the Series 9 LCD represents Samsung's continued focus on advancing the very highest picture quality available to consumers in the current HDTV market," said Jonas Tanenbaum, Vice President of LCD Television Marketing at Samsung Electronics America.

Superior Picture Quality

As Samsung's second generation LCD HDTV to use advanced LED SmartLighting with local dimming technology, the Series 9 LCD HDTV is able to achieve dramatic contrast levels and express "actual black levels" by completely shutting off a pixel's light source, eliminating the grayish black picture plaguing many LCD HDTVs. Conversely, groups of pixels can be locally controlled to produce more light increasing the brightness of the Series 9's picture when necessary.

Furthering the Series 9's ability to show deeper black levels, Samsung's improved Ultra Clear Panel technology eliminates ambient light reflection that may affect picture quality, ensuring perfect picture clarity even in bright viewing surroundings. By enhancing color reproduction level, Samsung's Ultra Clear Panel technology also lets consumers enjoy the detail and vibrancy of colors.

Adding to the superior picture quality in the Series 9 is Samsung's Auto Motion Plus 120Hz™ technology that reduces the motion blur caused by fast-paced content. It’s ideal for diehard sport fans, avid gamers, and movie mavens alike.

Connecting to Content

Always seeking ways to expand the possibilities of the HDTV, the Series 9 LED LCD also features Samsung's InfoLink™ RSS service, which gives touch-of-a-button access to news, weather, and stock quotes. The Series 9 also plays MP3 music, JPEG photos, and video files stored on memory drives, other digital devices, or PCs with Samsung's WiseLink™ Pro and DLNA technology.

In addition to WiseLink Pro where consumers can utilize the USB 2.0 access to display home movies and pictures, Samsung's Series 9 comes with internal flash memory pre-loaded with premium content giving consumers access to a vast library of digital content to enjoy, including high resolution artwork, cooking recipes, exercise routines, children's programming, and games.

Connecting to external components such as Blu-ray players and HD Camcorders is even easier as the Series 9 comes equipped with four (1 side, 3 rear) HDMI-CEC inputs to control the latest home theater products using a single remote.

ToC (Touch of Color) Design

Continuing Samsung's line of Touch of Color™ HDTV, the Series 9 strays from the traditional black, box-like bezel for an elegant charcoal gray bezel with a honey-comb pattern. To create this distinctive effect, Samsung uses dual-injection molding technology, a process commonly applied in the design of premium automobiles, to embed color within the material. This technology wraps the bezel with a translucent coating and controls the density of the transparent and opaque material used in the process, resulting in a subtle yet unique look with distinct gray and black gradation.

EnergyStar® Rated

Aligned with Samsung's efforts to combine technological advancement with environmental awareness, Samsung's Series 9 950 LCD features a unique “EnergySaving Mode” that ensures the HDTV is compliant with the EPA’s EnergyStar® rating system. By adjusting the HDTV’s backlight brightness with a low, medium, or high selection, power consumption is substantially decreased compared to similar 2007 models.

Additionally, because of the unique Touch of Color manufacturing process infuses color into the TV’s bezel without any painted on color, no VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) are emitted for lower CO2 emissions during production. By using LED backlighting rather than a traditional cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), the Series 9 950 is also mercury-free.

The Series 9 LED LCD HDTVs will be available in August in 46” class (45.9-inch measured diagonally) and the 55” class (54.9-inch measured diagonally) sizes. (Model numbers: LN46A950 and LN55A950).

Specifications
Series 9 950 LED LCD HDTV
Screen Sizes 46-inch (45.9-inch screen size) / 55-inch (54.6-inch screen size)
Resolution Full HD 1080p
Design

* Touch of Color™ bezel design with charcoal gray accent

Video

* 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
* 4ms response time
* LED SmartLighting™ technology with local dimming
* Auto Motion Plus 120Hz™ technology
* UltraClear Panel
* Wide Color Enhancer 2
* DNIe™ Pro (Digital Natural Imaging engine) technology

Audio

* Down-firing speakers with integrated rear woofer
* 46-inch: 10-watts per channel, 2 channels

55-inch: 15 watts per channel, 2 channels

* SRS TruSurround XT™

Features

* InfoLink™ RSS for one-touch, on-demand, onscreen access to news, weather, stock info
* Internal flash memory with pre-loaded Content Library
* WiseLink™ Pro (USB 2.0), with MPEG 4, XviD, MP3, JPEG decoders
* DLNA-CERTIFIED™
* Entertainment mode
* Built-in NTSC / ATSC / Clear QAM tuners
* Energy Star® compliant

A/V Connections

* 4 HDMI (HDMI-CEC) version 1.3 inputs (3 rear, 1 side)
* 1 side USB 2.0 port (WiseLink™ Pro)
* 2 component inputs
* 1 composite input
* 1 S-Video input
* 1 PC input
* 1 Headphone jack
* 1 Ethernet connection (for InfoLink™, and DLNA connectivity only)

Estimated Selling Price

* 45.9-inch: $3,199.99
* 54.6-inch: $4,199.99

Availability August 2008

*Subject to change without notice.

Vizio Black Tie XVT 120Hz LCDs Out Soon; Wal-Mart Getting 120Hz By Next Year

matt buchanan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EDT

Vizio's 120Hz LCD TVs from CES are not vapor, instead coalescing into very real products. The 47- and 42-inch sets—rebranded "Black Tie" as part of the company's new performance XVT line—will be available in just a couple weeks for $1,500 and $1,200 MSRP, at street prices of around 1,400 and $1,100 respectively. I checked them out—and they weren't bad.

Those prices Vizio quoted are reasonably solid, the company says, though not 100 super-duper percent, as the LCD market is the only thing more volatile than the stock market.

The bigger news, though, is that you'll see features like 120Hz trickle down from the high-end XVT line to the VW-class Wal-Mart sets in roughly 9-12 months. Yes, a year from now, you'll be able to buy a 120Hz Vizio LCD from Wally World, at God only knows how cheap a price. Vizio's competitors on the cheap TV scene really can't keep up.

Here are the updated specs for the XVT line:

Size
47 and 42” FHD LCD
Performance
Smooth Motion V-engine
Motion Estimation
Motion Compensation
Improved Noise Reduction
FHD – 1920x1080
PIP, POP
500 Nits, 5ms response, 6500:1 Contrast
178/178 Viewing Angle
10 Bit Color Depth – 1.07Billion Colors
24P Input Capability
Rear Video inputs
2 HDMI (5.1 Output Capable through SPDIF or Wireless)
1 VGA with RCA Stereo Audio
2 Component with RCA Stereo Audio
2 Composite with RCA Stereo Audio
Side I/O
2 HDMI (5.1 Output Capable through SPDIF or Wireless)
1 component with RCA Stereo Audio
1 Composite with RCA Stereo Audio
Read Audio
SPDIF Digital Out – Tuner input
RCA Output
ID
VIZIO Black Tie
Slim Bezel
Black
Audio Performance
3 Channel (L,C,R) 3x10 Watt
SRS TruSurround XT
5.1 Wireless (2.4GHz) upgradable with Dolby Pro Logic II

[Vizio]

Dangerous Chemical In LCD TVs Being Replaced

Matt Hickey — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:00:00 EDT

A couple of weeks ago we brought you the shocking news that your LCD HDTV probably contained a nefarious gas called Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3) that was far more harmful to the environment than many other sources, including CO2. The Linde Group, who manufactures many of the LCD panels used in several popular LCD HDTVs, says that they've tweaked their manufacturing operations to use Fluorine instead of Nitrogen Trifluoride, replacing the dangerous gas with a fairly harmless one. Kudos to The Linde Group, and let's hope the other manufacturers follow step. [CE Pro]

Armpit Televisions Promote Stinky Ads

Mark Wilson — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:40:00 EDT

As part of a unique promotional campaign, Right Guard has deployed "Pitvertisers"—a crew of people on the street armed with LCD televisions sewn into the deepest pits of their shirts. So the next you're on the train and wonder who is emanating that awful advertisement, you'll see that, oh, it's that douchebag playing commercials with his armpits. This is the world we live in. I'm sorry if it's a disappointment. [Ananova via Ubergizmo]

Wait to Buy! HDTVs About To Get Even Cheaper

Benny Goldman — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:55:00 EDT

Wait on buying your TV. Fresh off a round of price-cuts barely two months old, Mitsubishi, Sharp, Panasonic and Samsung will drop prices on their sets by as much as $400 in the coming weeks.

With too much inventory and not enough demand, the HDTV makers are cutting prices yet again to clear out stock. After these guys finish slashing, you can expect other bigwigs like Pioneer, LG and Sony to follow suit. So before you shell out for that sweet new LCD or plasma set, make sure you're not overpaying and check out the chart of everything we know so far. [HD Guru]

*Note: The following are "minimum advertised prices". Street pricing, or what they actually charge in store after sales, etc., is usually much less.

Double Case Mod: Xbox 360 and HDTV Mashed Up

Matt Hickey — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:00:56 EDT

It's not often that a case mod involves modding two cases into one, but it's not often you get to see an Xbox 360 stuffed inside an LCD HDTV. PvP LostKnight has done just that to save space, creating what's perhaps the world's first Xbox console console. Not only does it work but it looks really nice, something I'd put in my living room without having to make excuses to my parents when they come to visit. And it's fully functional. [PSPMod]

Are Gadgets Using Up Some Elements?

matt buchanan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:40:00 EDT

Gadgets are using up the earth's elements. Like, the basic elements that make up all chemical matter according Armin Reller, a materials chemist at Germany’s University of Augsburg.

Gallium is apparently critical for making LCDs. We'll be out of it in a few years. Hafnium (part of Intel's breakthrough with Penryn) will be gone by 2017 says Dr. Reller. We're also blowing through our supplies of zinc and copper, even though we have a shitload of it. Obviously, it would seriously cramp our gadget style, since copper is in like, everything. Oh yeah, and an element going extinct might not be good for the environment. [Asimovs via Valleywag]

Solar-Powered LCD Brings TV to Anywhere the Sun Shines

Elaine Chow — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EDT

As part of Sharp's recent efforts to shove itself to the forefront of solar innovation, the company is showcasing a prototype of a 26-inch LCD Aquos TV that can be powered entirely by the sun. Now even the 1.6 billion people on earth without electricity won't have an excuse to miss the next season of Lost.

The set has a contrast ratio of 10000:1 and a 20mm thick display panel. It requires about 30% less power than regular LCD TVs and gets its juice from one of Sharp's triple-junction thin-film solar cell modules. The modules are about the same size as the television's screen.

Sharp plans to market the LCD and the energy system as a pair and says that its product could be a hit with both people living off the grid and environmentally-conscious consumers. The company will be exhibiting this, and other energy-saving technologies, at the G8 summit on Monday. [Physorg]

Mitsubishi 149 iSP Series LCDs Loaded With 16 Speakers Up Front

Benny Goldman — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:01:00 EDT

Mitsubishi's 149 iSP series LCDs have a 16-speaker sound bar built-in for people who are too lazy (like me) or don't know how (like my parents) to set up a home theater. The integrated Sound Projector, as it's called, sends sound flying around the walls to act like surround sound—in my experience, it was way better than typical front speaker-only setups but didn't match the immersive feeling of true surround.

One great thing about the set is that you can change the way it does sound depending on room size and TV placement using simple menu options. Oh yeah, and the picture on the 120Hz set wasn't bad either. The 149 comes in two flavors, a 46" for $3300 and a 52" for $3700, out soon. [Mitsubishi]

MarineAV's 70-Inch, Waterproof LCD TV

Sean Fallon — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EDT

The 57-inch Aquavision is a definitely a big waterproof television, but it falls well short of the 70-inch beast that MarineAV is packin'. Outside of its size and rugged exterior, the LCD70 also features full 1080p resolution, a 1,500:1 contrast ratio, 600cd/m2 brightness, 8ms response time, 178 degree viewing angle, and AV, S-Video, Component, HDMI, PC (VGA) inputs. Not bad...until you see the £27,995.95 ($55,500) price tag that is. [MarineAV via HDTV UK via Born Rich]

JVC's New LCD HDTVs Claim Title of World's Thinnest (with Tuner)

Kit Eaton — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:28:00 EDT

Right back in January we brought you news that JVC had worked out some magic for making super-slim LCD TVs, and now they're official products. The 42-inch LT-421L89 and the 46-inch LT-46SL89 measure up at just 1.5-inches deep (2.9-inches at the center) and let JVC say they're the "world's thinnest tuner-equipped LCD TVs." The tuner-equipped part distinguishes them from skinnier Aquos TVs, which dump the electronics to a separate box. They're full HD, and will be available July for $1,899.99 for the 42-inch and $2,399.99 for the 46-inch. Press release below.

JVC TO OFFER WORLD'S THINNEST TUNER-EQUIPPED LCD TV WITH SLEEK, THIN-BEZEL DESIGN AND REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION

Technology to be offered in two screen sizes

WAYNE, NJ, June 17, 2008 -Establishing a new benchmark in flat panel TV design, JVC in July will market the world's thinnest LCD TVs with built-in tuners*. The new line of super-slim Full HD TVs also weigh less and consume less power than conventional LCD TVs.

JVC's new slim LCD TVs, part of the company's Procision series, feature a cabinet that across most of its width measures a mere 1.5 inches (39mm) deep, with a maximum depth of just 2.9-inches (74mm) at the panel's center. The design ensures that from nearly any angle, the sets present a super-slim appearance. Complementing the slim design is a thinner bezel, further minimizing the presence of the cabinet.

The new super-slim design will be available in two screen sizes in the U.S., the 42-inch LT-42SL89 and the 46-inch LT-46SL89. Both offer 1920 x 1080p resolution.

The slim design was made possible through the use of a new JVC-developed slim panel backlight unit and power supply substrate, or chassis. The new slim LCD panel backlight unit is 40 percent smaller in depth and bezel width compared to a conventional LCD backlight, measuring just 0.79 inches (20mm) deep and 0.51 inches (13mm) wide. In addition, the unit weighs only 26.4 lbs (12kg) and consumes a mere 145W (see diagram 1).

*with built-in tuners as of January 6, 2008, according to a JVC survey

Efforts to reduce the depth of an LCD panel backlight result in uneven hot spots appearing on the LCD screen surfaces because CCFL light sources are brought closer to the liquid crystal panel (see diagram 2). To overcome this problem, either light-diffusing plates are applied or more CCFL tubes are used. But the former approach can result in lower brightness, while the latter approach can be costly and increases power consumption.

JVC's display engineering team succeeded in developing a new, slimmer backlight unit by optimizing the light-diffusing plates and light-reflection sheets, as well as improving its overall composition. This provided uniform light-diffusion at all the corners and edges without the addition of more CCFL tubes, while maintaining adequate luminance to ensure that the screen always remains bright (see diagrams 3 and 4).

JVC also developed a slimmer yet efficient power-supply substrate and employed a direct-mount configuration for it on the LCD panel backlight unit with a fan-less heat dissipation system to further reduce power consumption.

Both models will be VESA compliant for easy wall mounting, but JVC will also offer its own mounting solution - a wall mount designed to position the slim TV closer to the wall than does a standard mount.

Both sets include a full complement of connections, including three HDMI inputs, two component inputs, one S-Video in and a PC input. Other features include front touch sensor controls, a headphone jack, USB picture viewer and an illuminated universal remote control.

The new JVC super-slim LT-42SL89 and LT-46SL89 will be available in July with approximate retail prices of $1,899.99 and $2,399.99, respectively.

Eleeno Cyber Digital Watch: Time-Confusion Fashion Fusion

Kit Eaton — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:48:00 EDT

I own a perfectly conventional analog watch, and though I confess to a penchant for these weird or confusing digital ones, up to now I'd probably not buy one. But this leaked set of images is of a watch I'd actually consider wearing: the Eleeno Cyber. With 12 discrete LCD dials to read the time from, it's almost more fashion bracelet than watch, and comes in silver or dark stainless steel finish with green or red LCDs. To work out how the displays work, there's a guideline in the gallery: but you'll have to decipher that first. Available in Russia for $198 in July, but apparently Tokyo Flash have carried this brand before. [Technabob]

"HD for Kids!" Coloring Book: Now You Really Have to Stay Inside the Lines

Benny Goldman — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:29:44 EDT

This great "HD for Kids!" coloring book by Non-Toxic Reviews teaches tykes all about the joys—and pitfalls—of High-Def TV through activities like tracing burn-in on a plasma screen and the borderline-autistic "draw 1,080 dots inside this HDTV". The book is too funny not to be a little tongue-in-cheek, but the lessons are real and helpful for people of all ages. I can definitely relate to the part that gets the young 'uns disappointed early in life when they realize they have four HDMI devices, but only one input to plug them into. Check out our favorite pages in the gallery, and get the full book for free by hitting the link. [Non-Toxic Reviews via BBG]

Dell's 27-inch UltraSharp 2709W LCD

Sean Fallon — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:26:00 EDT

Like the 27-inch 2707WFP before it, Dell's new UltraSharp 2709W features a mediocre 1920 by 1200 resolution with a 9-in-2 media card reader and 6ms response time, but the contrast ratio has been upgraded to to 3000:1 and the brightness level to 450 nits. Outside of that you will get just about every port you could possibly need—from USB to HDMI to DisplayPort. Plus, it can be had for $999, which is only about $200 more than the 2707WFP is selling for right now on the Dell website (still a bit pricey if you ask me).

[Dell]

Sony Brings Out Energy-Efficient 32-Inch LCD in Japan

AddyDugdale — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:00:00 EDT

The Bravia KDL-32JE1 is an energy-efficient TV from Bravia which consumes just 89W of power, compared to 160W on an equivalent Bravia. It also uses plastic parts recycled from other Sony departments, such as the plastic waste from collected TVs, polystyrene packaging and the waste from the optical film from LCD TVs. Available on July 25 in Japan, the KDL-32JE1 has 1366x768 resolution, HDMI interface, 2500:1 contrast ratio and 178-degree view angle, and comes in two colors, Champagne Gold and Silver. It will cost the equivalent of $1,390 in Yen. [Impress]

Sharp's 108-Inch LCD Behemoth Going On Sale Next Month for $100K

AddyDugdale — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:45:00 EDT

Remember the 108-incher from Sharp, that Leviathan of the LCD world? It's ready to be flogged to those of you who can afford it—in Japan. Weighing 430 pounds, and with a 176º viewing angle, the LB-1085 can be yours for just 11 million yen. That's $101,832.99 to you, guv. [Impress]

HP DreamColor LP2480zx Shows Off Its One Billion Colors

Mark Wilson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:00:00 EDT

LCD monitors are generally pretty convenient, but many graphic design and video professionals can't rely on LCDs alone because they just aren't color accurate enough for finesse jobs. So they end up double checking images in clunky CRT monitors. HP is addressing this issue with their DreamcColor display. An LED-backlit 24-inch widescreen monitor, the DreamColor features 30-bit imaging with a over billion colors. That's 64 times the standard LCD color gamut...at a price that's only about 10 times the standard LCD ($3,499). A side-by-side against a mortal monitor after the jump, but will you really be able to tell the difference with that piece of crap you're using?

HP Introduces World’s First Affordable Color-critical Display

BERLIN, June 10, 2008 – HP today introduced its new color-critical computer professional display, available for less than a quarter of the cost of competing offerings.
The HP DreamColor Display features a new liquid crystal display (LCD) that provides a range of more than 1 billion colors in a 30-bit, LED-backlit display. The display is now shipping worldwide for a U.S. list price of $3,499.(1)
The display is the result of an unprecedented technology collaboration with DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) and addresses an increasingly critical need for affordable and consistent color accuracy in the animation, game development, film/video post, broadcast, product design and graphic arts categories.
The HP DreamColor display is expected to disrupt the economics of color management, making it possible, for the first time, to have a color-critical LCD display on every desk to make color checks, redesigns and multiple proofs a thing of the past.
“With the new DreamColor display, HP has broken through barriers that have existed in display technology for the past decade,” said Ed Leonard, chief technology officer, DreamWorks Animation. “The new DreamColor display packs a list of significant advances into one amazingly powerful display, enabling an unprecedented level of color management and fidelity in our production process. It’s a digital filmmaker’s dream.”
Designed for professionals for whom accurate color management is essential and consumers who seek to use only the best in technology innovations, the HP DreamColor display achieves more than 64 times the colors available on mainstream LCDs. Reds, blues and greens are visibly deeper, blacks are four times darker and whites are adjustable.
The DreamColor display is designed to match the requirements of professional industry standards and includes one-button access to seven pre-sets covering all the important color space standards. The display also includes a night vision interface for darkroom working conditions.
“Until now, accurate and standout color has been out of reach for the majority of digital content creators,” said Jun Kim, vice president and general manager, Displays, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Our DreamColor display advances color accuracy for the world’s storytellers – our most demanding of customers of performance technologies.”
The new HP DreamColor display includes the HP DreamColor engine software, which manages the display to deliver reliable, accurate, easy color, every time, and the DreamColor calibration kit for precision calibration.
The HP DreamColor LP2480xz is the first display to be introduced under the HP DreamColor Technology initiative, a two-year technology collaboration between HP and DreamWorks Animation that aims to deliver accurate color that remains consistent from application to application, device to device, and medium to medium. HP introduced the first printers built on the DreamColor engine in March 2007.

Sony Hosts XBR8 LED LCD vs. Plasma Shootout (You'll Never Guess Who Wins)

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:53:06 EDT

Sony celebrated the launch of its XBR8 tricolor-LED-backlit LCD TV lineup with a Pioneer-style darkened-room shoot-out. The 55" XBR8 was pitted against an unnamed popular plasma set. What you see above is the LCD on the left, and the plasma on the right. But wait, we thought plasmas always had the upper hand when it comes to non-crushed black levels!

It's only been a few weeks since Pioneer hosted a similar demo, with a Sony CCFL-backlit LCD and a Samsung LED-backlit LCD playing stooge to Pioneer's first- and second-generation Kuro panels. In that demo, it was embarrassing how bad the LCD looked against the plasma.In this demo, Sony's got a better TV, a brand new LED-backlit system with a new flavor of dynamic contrast management called Advanced Contrast Enhancer PRO. Sony pits that new secret sauce against a hallowed plasma competitor—one might say a competitor known for breaking new ground—and the LCD looks, well, sh'loads better.There are two takeaways here:
1. Apparently, these things can be juked. I mean, we're not naive enough to think that they couldn't be, but at this point, our heads are spinning. The first takeaway is that unless it's a case of Pioneer vs. Pioneer, or Sony vs. Sony, there's no way to trust your own eyes.

2. TV tech is getting remarkably better all the time. If we liked the Pioneer in the other demo, and we loved the Sony in this demo, guess what... the Pioneer and the Sony are damn fine TVs. Even if we can't tell who's the best, showing them in high-performance settings against competition proves that they're at least decent. You don't see Tier 2 companies hosting these sorts of demos, cuz only the best can even compete. [New June 2008 Sony Bravia Announcement]