Hitachi Announces Several PDPs and LCD TVs with Both a 500GB HDD and DLNA Support
Here are the P-XP035 Series (PDP – Plasma with a 40000:1 contrast Ratio) from Hitachi, available in 42″, 46″ and 50” with a Full HD resolution, featuring a 500GB internal HDD, an iVDR Slot, and DLNA support, and the L-XP35 Series which has almost the same features as the PDP Series but with a 37″ and 42” LCD panel. The PDP Series will be available in Japan starting September 10th with a prices ranging from 290,000 to 390,000 Yen (€2159 to €2900). The LCD series will be available from October with prices ranging from 240,000 to 290,000 Yen (€1780 to €2159)
Four New 16:9 LCD Monitors
TriGem Computer is out with four new LCD monitors for the South Korean market namely the TGL 2000A (20-inch), TGL 2250A (21.6-inch), TGL 2300A (23-inch) and TGL 2400A (23.6-inch). These LCDs feature a built-in digital TV tuner, 16:9 aspect ratio, 2ms response time, 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, integrated speakers, plus DVI and HDMI connectors. The 2250A, 2300A and 2400A support the same native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, while the 2000A only offers a resolution of 720p.
Sharp has rolled out the world’s first 20″ LCD TV ‘AQUOS DX’
Blu-ray and DVD recorder. This new LCD TV also offers an HD Ready resolution of 1366 x 768, a 1500:1 contrast ratio, a 450cd/m2 brightness and a digital TV tuner. It will be available in Japan starting the end of June for 150,000 Yen ($1,592).
46-Inch JVC Victor 3D High Definition LCD
JVC today released the GD-463D1 which in a nutshell is a 46-inch 3D HD LCD screen. With a natural contrast ratio of 2000:1 and a maximum of 10000:1 dynamic contrast it’s sure to deliver breathtaking picture quality under any type of light setting. And the Xpol 3D technology (requires special glasses) allows you to enjoy 3D motion pictures for an even more spectacular experience. You can purchase this JVC Victor hotness with 700,000 Yen ($7,000) if you happen to be in Japan.
Hitachi lets loose UWB-packin’ Wooo LCD TVs, plus some plasmas
Hitachi has been touting its slim, UWB-packin Wooo UT series LCD TVs for some time now, but it looks like the company has now finally gotten around to dishing them out, and it’s thrown in a few other new models for good measure. On the UT series front, the sets are the same 32-, 37- and 42-inch models we’ve seen before, with each boasting a 250GB hard drive, and a so-called iVDR port to accommodate Hitachi’s iVDR hard drive cartridges for further expansion, with that aforementioned use of UWB helping to keep the thickness down about 1.4 inches. If you don’t need your TVs quite that thin, you can opt for one of Hitachi’s new Wooo XV LCD sets, also available in 32-, 36 -and 42-inch varieties (1366×768 and 1920×1080), which drop the UWB and internal hard drive but hang onto the iVDR port. Those that prefer plasmas can also take their pick of Hitachi’s new 50- or 42-inch Wooo 02 series sets, both of which also boast an iVDR port, although only the 50-incher packs a 250GB internal hard drive (no UWB on these either). As if that wasn’t enough, Hitachi also took the opportunity to announce its new Wooonet service for its UT series sets, which will not only let you transfer video from a PC to the TV, but give you access to a video on demand portal as well. No word on prices, but they’re apparently all available in Japan now.
Samsung and Armani HDTV hits the stage in Milan
That Samsung / Armani tie-up continues to grow closer, following the cellphones is a new premium HDTV unveiled on the opening day of the Milan International Furniture Fair. The 46- and 52-inch 1080p LCDs include Samsung’s 100Hz display technology, wrapped in a design inspired by Giorgio Armani’s ‘08/’09 Armani/Casa home furnishings collection — inspired by Eileen Gray and reminiscent of Hollywood’s Golden Age — built to incorporate the TV as a design element of the room rather than hide it. Expect the 42-inch model, with stylish backlit remote control (a smaller, pebble shaped remote is also included for your less stylish friends) and specially designed front-mounted power switch to launch in Europe, Korea and Russia mid-summer, followed by the 52-inch in late summer.
Zalman’s ZM-M2020W Trimon 3D monitor gets reviewed
Zalman may be far from being a household name, but a stranger to 3D displays it isn’t. The company’s latest 22-incher not only packs a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution panel and a bundled set of glasses, but it features the ability to render graphics in 3D. The eager critics over at Trusted Reviews had a nice sit with the device, and when all was said and done, the ZM-M2020W was seen more as a building block for revision two than a runaway winner as it was. On the upside, it did manage to render some pretty phenomenal scenes in 3D — and even managed to change the reviewer’s perception of the technology — but the overly glossy screen and steep price tag kept it from being recommended without hesitation.
LG said to be prepping 16:9 LCD panels for low-cost laptops
16:9 LCD panels designed for computer use aren’t exactly all that uncommon, but this latest batch announced by LG will likely generate a bit more interest than most, especially given that they’re apparently intended specifically for use in low-cost laptops. According to DigiTimes, LG will first roll out a standard 16:10 aspect ratio, 8.9-inch panel with a resolution of 1024 x 600 in August, which will then be followed by a 16:9, 10.1-inch panel with a 1024 x 576 resolution in October, and finally a 9.4-inch panel of unspecified resolution in April of 2009. Making things even more interesting is that some unspecified “industry sources” say the panels are “expected” to be adopted by Acer and HP for use with their low-cost laptops, and possibly Asustek as well, which will no doubt add plenty of fuel to the next round of Eee PC rumors.
Samsung 750-series Touch of Color LCDs
Following up on the DAPs and BD-Live announcements, Samsung’s seen fit to attach prices to its 750 series of LCD HDTVs and their “Touch of Color” frames. At the top end, the 750 ranges from 39.9- to 52-inch sizes, all with 1080p, 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, DLNA network access and 120Hz motion processing for $2,599 – $3,499 when they hit shelves in May. The 650s are already on shelves with 720p or 1080p variations from 19- 52-inch variations, sans-DLNA, but all models include Samsung’s Infolink RSS service for news direct to your flat screen. Don’t have Ethernet in your TV room? The Wireless LinkStick enables either series to pull down news without those pesky physical connections for $34.99.
Pioneer, Panasonic reach basic agreement on Kuro production
Pioneer and Matsushita (Panasonic) have finally hammered out the basics of a deal that will allow the latter to supply panels for future Kuro plasma displays, and plasma HDTV fans to breathe easy again. Pending a final agreement in May, dollars and cents remain undisclosed, but we can expect a fusion of Panasonic’s current “Neo PDP” technology from its Viera line when they begin production May 2009 in Amagasaki before hitting shelves in the fall. Kuro will still be maintained as a premium brand (with a premium price) with different image processing, while both companies plan to keep working together on reducing power consumption and the infinite black level plasma. Pioneer still plans future Kuro LCD HDTVs based on panels from Sharp,but it’ll also apparently have access to IPS technology from Panasonic’s tie-up with Canon and Hitachi. See? We told you it’d be okay.