14/12/2009 - $220 Million Fine For Participating in LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that a LCD producer and seller has agreed to plead guilty and pay $220 million in criminal fines for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the sale of LCD panels.

According to a one-count felony charge filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Chi Mei Optoelectronics participated in a conspiracy to fix the prices of LCD panels sold worldwide from Sept. 14, 2001, to Dec. 1, 2006.

10/12/2009 - Epson says EH-TW450 is 'ultimate gaming projector,' straps PS3 on nerd in jumpsuit to prove it (video)

Nothing says "extreme" quite like wrist-guards... and knee pads... and elbow pads... and a PS3 Slim backpack. Epson combined all that and more to create its vision of an "extreme gamer," a Ghostbusters cast-off with a gaming console on his back and an EH-TW450 projector on his chest used to splay Need for Speed: Shift on the walls of buildings, the ceilings of clubs, and the interiors of wind-tunnels. It's exciting stuff, shown in the video below. Why this projector out of all the company offers? We're not entirely sure. It's a 3LCD 720p model with a 3000:1 contrast ratio and a single one watt speaker that probably couldn't overcome the din of all the road traffic this extremophile was dodging. If you want in on this kind of action expect to pay about $1,000 -- for the projector. You're on your own for the rest of the kit. Loss of self-respect? That comes for free.

Continue reading Epson says EH-TW450 is 'ultimate gaming projector,' straps PS3 on nerd in jumpsuit to prove it (video)

Epson says EH-TW450 is 'ultimate gaming projector,' straps PS3 on nerd in jumpsuit to prove it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/12/2009 - LED Breathes New Life into Monitor Market

Capitalizing on the slim form factor and energy savings potential, the use of LEDs in LCD monitor panels is growing rapidly, according to DisplaySearch.

Although LED backlight penetration in monitor panels was only 1.4% in Q3’09, current panel maker plans indicate that the penetration could reach 22% in Q3’10, assuming adoption by brands.

InnoLux was the leading supplier of LED backlit monitor panels in Q3’09, with 34.4% of unit shipments.

03/12/2009 - LG Rolls Out 3D LCDs with Full HD Resolution

LG announced the world’s first commercial launch of 3D LCD panel boasting full HD resolution.

The new product is a 23-inch 3D monitor LCD panel for use with shutter glasses that delivers full HD resolution. LG syas it offers picture quality that is almost twice as crisp as HD 3D displays currently available in the market.

27/11/2009 - iSuppli: California Regulations Could Cut LCD-TV Energy Use Worldwide in Half

New television power consumption limits imposed by California's Energy Commission (CEC) could cut aggregate annual power consumption of LCD-TVs worldwide in half by the year 2013, if these standards are adopted universally, according to iSuppli.

If all of the 200 million LCD TVs set to be shipped in 2013 complied with the CEC standard, they would use a total of 64.4 billion kilowatt hours for the year, compared to 126.8 billion if they didn't, iSuppli estimates.

17/11/2009 - Samsung Retakes Leadership in U.S. LCD-TV Market

Samsung in the third quarter retook the No.-1 ranking in the U.S. LCD-TV market from chief competitor Vizio, according to iSuppli.

The iSuppli research shows the South Korean electronics giant shipped 1.3 million LCD-TVs in the United States during the period from July through September, equaling a 16.8 percent share of the market.

This gave Samsung a 1.1 percentage point lead over U.S.-based Vizio, which held a 15.7 percent share in the third quarter with shipments of 1.2 million LCD-TVs.

09/11/2009 - Epson Develops World's First 4K HTPS TFT Panel for 3LCD Projectors

Epson announced that it has developed the world's first 4K-compatible high-temperature polysilicon (HTPS) TFT liquid crystal panel for 3LCD projectors.

Measuring 1.64 inches diagonally, the new panel supports displays with resolutions up to 4096 × 2160 pixels.

09/11/2009 - Epson concocts world's first 4K HTPS panel, 4K 3LCD projectors closer to reality

Filed under: Displays, Epson

Oh, the beauty of progress. Just a few months back, Epson seemed fairly content showing off an HTPS panel with a WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) resolution, though today that very product just seems lackluster. Up until now, 4K x 2K projectors were reserved strictly for cinemas, businesses and consumers with a) more money than sense and b) room for a 200-pound beamer in their basement. The planet's first 4K-compatible high-temperature polysilicon (HTPS) TFT liquid crystal panel for 3LCD projectors measures just 1.64-inches and supports displays with resolutions as high as 4,096 x 2,160. Your guess is as good as ours as to when this stuff will actually hit the market in a functioning product, but yesterday is as good a day as any to start saving up.

[Via Akihabara News]

Epson concocts world's first 4K HTPS panel, 4K 3LCD projectors closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/11/2009 - HDI 100-inch Laser-Based 3D HDTV Reached the Manufacturing Stage

HDI announced it has entered into a manufacturing agreement to mass produce 100-inch Laser-Driven 2D/3D Switchable Dynamic Video Projection Televisions.

HDI's 2D/3D switchable system delivers 2D image with a 50% greater resolution than today's digital cinemas, and derives its “greater-than-high” definition stereoscopic 1920 x 1080p "3D" image quality from two RGB laser-illuminated Liquid Crystal on Silcon (LCOS) micro display imagers.

23/10/2009 - Research Forecasts Flat Panel Display Industry Slowdown in Q4, Recovery in 2010

According to the latest DisplaySearch Quarterly Worldwide FPD Forecast Report, global flat panel display revenues for 2009 will be $87.6B, down 15% Y/Y from 2008.

The major reason for the decline is erosion in large-area TFT LCD panel prices compared to 2008, despite the fact that the TFT LCD market started to recover in Q2’09.

Other research from iSuppli says small and medium LCD suppliers are preparing for a Q4 slowdown.

19/10/2009 - Large-Sized LCD Panel Business Becomes Profitable Again

After a year of losing money or generating zero return, the global large-sized LCD panel business returned to profitability in the third quarter, according to iSuppli’s latest research.

Analysts say the main reason LCD panels have not been profitable for so long is the market’s extreme state of oversupply, which resulted in LCD panel pricing that was below manufacturing costs.
LG Display was the world’s largest seller of large-sized LCD panels in the second quarter of 2009, accounting for 25.3 percent of shipments.

15/10/2009 - HD LCD TV with Integrated iPhone/iPod Docking Station Coming in November

While looking for some nice gadgets at this year’s IFA, Biz-New.com came across Vestel’s LCD TV with integrated iPhone/iPod docking station. Baris Altinkay, Product Manager for Vestel gave us a demonstration on the product as well as a short introduction to the company.

14/10/2009 - LCD-TV Market Growing Fast in Russia

Defying hard economic times, the Russian LCD-TV market is set for strong growth this year, with shipments rising by 13.6 percent in 2009, according to iSuppli.

“One of the main reasons for the switch to LCD-TVs in Russia is that they have become a status symbol. Consumers in Russia are very image conscious and prefer to own televisions that they can show off to neighbors and family members,” said Riddhi Patel, principal analyst for television systems for iSuppli.

16/09/2009 - IFA 2009: iSuppli Analyst About HDTV Market

VIDEO INTREVIEW. This time at IFA 2009 our reporters interviewed Riddhi Patel, the iSuppli analyst. Riddhi is responsible for the television and plasma display panel (PDP) analysis. She shared with us her latest discoveries on HDTV market as well as her opinion of the nearest future of LCD technology that has dominated our living rooms.

She was visiting this year’s Berlin expo looking for some big innovations. Watch the video to check out if she has found anything that took her breath away.

08/09/2009 - Epson's 2010 PowerLite Home and Pro Cinema projector lineup given US pricing, dates

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Epson, Projector

We already snuck a peak at the European version of Epson's Home Cinema 8500 UB (the EH-TW4400) and Pro Cinema 9500 UB (EH-TW5500) at the big IFA show in Berlin. Now they're US official, and joined by newly anointed PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 and Pro Cinema 9100 models. The new 8100 doubles the reported contrast of the old 6100 (on paper anyway) which should equate to a visible black level improvement for an asking price of just $1,500 after $100 rebate -- very reasonable for a Full HD home theater projector of Epson quality. The 9100 adds support for an anamorphic lens, ISF certification for professional setups, a bundled ceiling mount and spare E-TORL lamp, and a 3-year replacement warranty for a beefier $2,600. Expect the 8100 to hit US retail in October along side the "sub-$4,000" Pro Cinema 9500 UB while the 9100 lands in November with the "sub-$3,000" Home Cinema 8500 UB. Your holiday slide-shows will never be the same.

[Via The Art of Home Theater Projectors]

Read -- PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB
Read -- PowerLite Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB

Epson's 2010 PowerLite Home and Pro Cinema projector lineup given US pricing, dates originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/09/2009 - Epson's EH-TW5500 and EH-TW4400 flagship projectors seen hanging out with high contrast blacks, Germans

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Epson, Projector

It's that time again: the end-of-year rush to launch the best and brightest home theater projectors for the holiday cocooning season. Epson's casting its 2009 lot with the EH-TW5500 and EH-TW4400 3LCD projectors featuring Full HD (1920x1080) resolutions, a 1600 ANSI lumen brightness, and quiet 22dB operation. The TW4400 (aka, Home Cinema 8500UB as it will be known Stateside) touts a 130000:1 contrast while the TW5500 (aka, Pro Cinema 9500UB) ratchets the hyperbole up to 200000:1 -- that's about double the claim of Epson's previous high-enders that already featured excellent black performance. To be fair, Epson makes some of, if not the best, home theater projectors for the money thanks to its D7 C2Fine LCD panels manufactured in-house. Other specs include 12bit video processing, improved frame interpolation and 4-4 pull-down, x.v. color mode, 2.1x optical zoom with horizontal/vertical lens shift, and a range of inputs including 2x HDMI, YUV, and RGB.

We gave the TW5500 an eyes and ears-on here are IFA in Berlin in a finely-tuned home theater setup and came away extremely impressed with the image -- enough so that we'd be temped to layout the €3,299 European asking price (€2,799 for the TW4400) come November if only we had the space to let this baby shine. But let's wait and see what the competition has in response when CEDIA kicks off later this week -- it's best to be informed and 3 grand ain't exactly chump change.

Read -- Press Release
Read -- Art Feierman's opinion

Epson's EH-TW5500 and EH-TW4400 flagship projectors seen hanging out with high contrast blacks, Germans originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21/08/2009 - Plasma and LCD TV Sales Increase in Q2 2009

Quixel Research’s newly launched report revealed that in Q2 2009 the Plasma TV was the only large screen TV category to show significant - up 31% in volume and 35% in value - growth quarter-to-quarter.

The harsh economic climate didn’t also slow LCDTV sales: the overall LCDTV market grew nine percent quarter-to-quarter and 22 percent year-to-year.

19/08/2009 - Surround 3-D TV to Take Over the Living Rooms

For the first time, a team of researchers at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), have designed a 9-panel, 3-D visualization display from HDTV LCD flat-screens developed by JVC.

The NexCAVE's technology delivers a faithful, deep 3-D experience with great color saturation, contrast and really good stereo separation - claim the scientists.

02/08/2009 - Sony looking to purchase LED HDTVs from Samsung?

Filed under: Industry, Samsung, Sony, LCD

Just becuase it's prepared to source millions of flat panels from a joint venture with Sharp, don't think Sony is even close to satisfying its hunger for LCDs. Word from the Seoul Economic Daily is that it may also deal with Samsung on LED backlit televisions (beyond the existing S-LCD partnership,) a decision probably somewhat related to its move towards cheaper white LEDs (already used by Samsung) in upcoming BRAVIA sets as opposed to its more expensive Triluminos backlighting scheme. This shouldn't affect the marketplace immediately, but tuck that knowledge away for TV shopping 2010, the price difference between one brand and another probably doesn't buy as much difference as you think.

[Via Bloomberg]

Sony looking to purchase LED HDTVs from Samsung? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/06/2009 - LG Delivers First HDTVs To Instantly Stream Netflix

LG is introducing the first HDTVs capable of streaming Netflix movies without the need for an external device such as game console or set-top box.
The online movie rental service will be available in North America on LG's new 47-inch LCD HDTV LH50 and 50-inch plasma HDTV PS80.

11/06/2009 - Epson's WUXGA HTPS-TFT Panel hints at ultra-bright, high-contrast PowerLite projectors in September

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Epson, Projector

As a leader in home cinema systems, it's always a good idea to keep tabs on Epson's core technologies as a preview of what's coming up in next generation home theater projectors. Today Seiko-Epson announced the start of volume production for its 0.94-inch HTPS-TFT LCD capable of a WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixel) resolution for 3LCD projectors pushing 1080p. The panel supports a brightness of 5000 lumens (or more!) using Epson's D7 process technology while achieving "higher than ever contrast" through its C2 Fine inorganic alignment layer tech. What this means is simple: expect to see a new brightness and contrast champion PowerLite Home Cinema projector announced at the end of Summer, as CEDIA tradition dictates, with product shipping by end of the year.

Epson's WUXGA HTPS-TFT Panel hints at ultra-bright, high-contrast PowerLite projectors in September originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/06/2009 - Epson EH-TW5000 75,000:1 contrast ratio projector available

Filed under: Others, LCD, Projector

Slotted for those who want a top of the line 1080p projector and aren't afraid to pay extra for it, the just-launched Epson EH-TW5000 manages a dynamic contrast ratio of 75,000:1 and 1600 ANSI lumens from its 3LCD technology. Matched with an HQV chip capable of 12-bit image processing, 4-4 pulldown, support for ultra-widescreen lenses, ISF certification and a mere 22db of noise it should garner consideration in any home theater setup, About Projectors says it can be found for around $5,299.

[via About Projectors & Crave]

Epson EH-TW5000 75,000:1 contrast ratio projector available originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/06/2009 - Samsung unveils 55-inch HD LCD, low power 10.1-inch display, and more at SID 2009

Filed under: Samsung, LCD

If you're a display aficionado (which you probably are, unless that subscription of Display Aficionado we saw at your apartment was a holiday gift from a misguided aunt) the Samsung booth at SID 2009 is proving to be a non-stop thrill ride, from the company's OLED displays to this next item, the "world's first" true 240Hz full HD 55-inch LCD display. The company is also showing off a new 10.1-inch LCD for netbooks with 50% less power consumption and a none-too-shabby 1366 x 768 resolution. Also on tap is a new 4-inch qVGA TFT-LCD made using a printable semiconductor process, but no details are forthcoming there. Happy Display Week, everybody!

Samsung unveils 55-inch HD LCD, low power 10.1-inch display, and more at SID 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/05/2009 - JVC Launches Full HD LCD Monitor Targeted at Digital SLR Users

JVC is launching a super slim 42-inch LCD TV monitor that features a color space that is wider than a typical HDTV's.
The company says this effectively means the JVC Xiview LT-42WX70 has established a new category in flat panel TV design.

15/05/2009 - VIZIO HDTV Sales Boosted By Economic Downturn

US TV-maker VIZIO remains the largest shipper of LCD HDTVs in North America - with an increased market share as consumers turn to value products.
Shipments have increased 21.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2009, which is a 69 per cent increase year over year (YOY), according to iSuppli.

12/05/2009 - Sanyo's LP-WXU700 projector is first to stream HD video over 802.11n WiFi

Filed under: Industry, Other hardware, Others, Projector

True, Sanyo's LP-WXU700 is limited to a WXGA (1280 x 800) pixel image. But it's still the world's first to transmit that video over 802.11b/g/n (draft 2.0). Grabbing wireless video off your Vista PC is a snap thanks to the projector's Windows Embedded CE 6.0 software with Video Streaming Function that links back to Vista's Network Projector Function. Spec-wise we're looking at a 0.74-inch 3LCD panel capable of projecting a 100-inch image at a distance of 2.5 to 4-meters at 3,800 lumens with a 500:1 contrast ratio. Sanyo even tosses in a single HDMI jack in addition to the usual analog inputs. While, it's targeted at offices and schools, it wouldn't surprise us to see this ¥62,790 (about $642) projector show up in make-shift home theaters and gaming rooms when it launches in June.

[Via Akihabara News]

Sanyo's LP-WXU700 projector is first to stream HD video over 802.11n WiFi originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 12 May 2009 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/05/2009 - Poll: Waiting for new display tech, or more of the same?

Filed under: Polls, Displays, LCD, Plasma, OLED

With the news that OLED will finally be arriving in decent sizes as soon as next year, but is anyone still waiting? When you think about your next TV, are you planning on purchasing a bigger/faster/cheaper version of the same old LCD/Plasma, or still looking forward to the promise of tomorrow, whether it's SED, OLED or something else?

View Poll

Poll: Waiting for new display tech, or more of the same? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 09 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/04/2009 - Christie's LW650 projector tilts and shifts itself out of less-than-ideal placement

Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD, Projector

A little bit of keystone distortion during a PowerPoint has never bothered us too much, let alone an off-center placement, but if your boardroom won't tolerate such things then Christie wants to show you its new LW650 projector. The 1366x800 pixel, 3LCD beamer delivers 6500 lumens with a 2500:1 contrast ratio, but its real calling card is the lens shift technology (motorized, we assume) that will allow users to achieve undistorted images without resorting to any resolution-wasting digital corrections. Christie is promising a wide range of lenses that span several throw distances, so it's safe to assume that at least one short-throw option will be in there so you can hop on the bandwagon. Ping your Christie rep for a quotation, as retail pricing info hasn't been released.

Christie's LW650 projector tilts and shifts itself out of less-than-ideal placement originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/04/2009 - LG Launches First Eyestrain-Minimising HD Monitors

LG Electronics' HD widescreen LCD monitors - the W53 series - will be available in the UK from next month, the company announced today.
The monitors are the first with automatic brightness control technology specially designed to reduce eyestrain during extended use, according to LG.

28/03/2009 - Sony's VPL-FW41 projector don't need no darkness to shine

Filed under: Displays, Sony, Projector

Sony's certainly got lots of cheaper, higher-res options out there for folks who've already sealed out all of the light from their downstairs den (er, "home theater room"), but if you're looking for something to cut through ambient light, search no more. The VPL-FW41 WXGA 3LCD beamer sports an expected 1,280 x 800 native resolution but impresses with its 4,500 lumens of light output -- or enough to make The Sun look like a faraway glow in comparison. All kidding aside, Sony's newest PJ should do wonders for rooms with oodles of sunshine seeping in, and the 12-bit 3D gamma correction circuitry, HDMI socket and 3D digital comb-filter should keep most everyone happy. Unfortunately, you'll be paying for all that brightness, with the MSRP sitting at $6,710.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Sony's VPL-FW41 projector don't need no darkness to shine originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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27/02/2009 - LG unveils 21.5-inch W2261VG LCD TV with 50,000:1

Filed under: LG, LCD

There's something about LG's latest LCD that seems strangely familiar, but we digress. The 21.5-inch W2261VG LCD boasts 50,000:1 contrast ratio on a 4:3 screen with full HD resolution. It's also got a 2 millisecond response time, HDMI, VGA and a HDCP compliant DVI-D ports, and a 22,000 yen (about $227) price tag. Care to give the monitor a spin? It's available now... in Japan.

[Via SlashGear]

LG unveils 21.5-inch W2261VG LCD TV with 50,000:1 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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25/02/2009 - Epson dishes up the 4,000 lumen G5000 projector

Filed under: Epson, LCD, Projector

Making sure to differentiate white and color output separately, Epson's PowerLite G5000 comes in with an even 4,000 lumen figure for both metrics. The 3LCD, XGA resolution projector also boasts some nice convenience features like 30-degrees of tilt and both horizontal and vertical lens shift so you can quickly get things set up when moving from the classroom to the family room. Available now for $2,499 -- but that lack of 1080 vertical pixels and only 1,000:1 contrast leave us a little cold while we look across other Epson offerings, even if they require a little more light control in the room. Still, if blackout drapes are just out of the question for your setting, those 4,000 lumens speak volumes.

Epson dishes up the 4,000 lumen G5000 projector originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20/02/2009 - Samsung Leading Global TV Brand, Full HDTV Sets Now Fifth of Market

Samsung has maintained its place as the world's biggest TV brand for the third year running.
With a 21.9 per cent market share, the South Korean electronics manufacturer is some way ahead of second placed Sony, according to DisplaySearch.

20/02/2009 - SiS Launches HDTV chipset For Full-HD Digital LCD TV Market

Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) is to enter the HDTV market with a ATSC HDTV SoC chipset designed to be implanted in LCD TVs.
Although it names no names, the Taiwanese company says SiS328 has already been widely adopted by major TV brand vendors for their next generation high quality Full-HD digital TVs.

08/02/2009 - InFocus IN5108 daytime-ready projector gets reviewed

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, InFocus, LCD, Projector

The InFocus IN5108 might be just what you're looking for if you need a projector that can do duty as your primary HDTV display, at least according to the Good Gear Guide review. The industrial design might not win your heart over, but the real beauty to this beamer is the abundance of light that spills out of the lens and wash away the ambient light in your room -- the review says 5,000 lumens, but InFocus specs the unit at 4,000. Either way, it was plenty of candlepower to make all 1400x1050 pixels of the 3LCD projector watchable in a bright, sunlit room. Before you jump on this $5500 cannon, remember to set aside some money to replace the 2,000 hour bulb and keep in mind that it's big enough you won't want to be sneaking it in and out of the workplace conference room on a regular basis.
[Via ARN]

InFocus IN5108 daytime-ready projector gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/02/2009 - Christie LX1000 projector delivers 10,000 retina-searing lumens

Filed under: Others, LCD, Projector

Do you know when you don't need to worry about drawing the blackout shades and dimming the lights for projector use? When your projector cranks out 10,000 lumens, that's when. The Christie LX1000 is just such a beast, even though it looks to be a twin brother of the Sanyo PLC-XF71. For its part, the LX1000 is a dual-lamp, 3LCD setup with 10-bit image processing. The motorized lens shift and focus controls are to be expected at this level, but a nice 20,000 lumen surprise awaits you if you stack a couple of LX1000s. The good news is tempered somewhat by looking at the other LX-series models, which deliver 1024x768 resolution. Christie's not sharing pricing info, but this model has got to sit between the $18,000 LX900 and the $30,000 LX1500.

Christie LX1000 projector delivers 10,000 retina-searing lumens originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/02/2009 - Hitachi introduces 3LCD CP-SX635 projector for lit rooms, boring areas

Filed under: Displays, Hitachi, Projector

Sorry Hitachi, we really are, but there's no way consumers can squeeze a satisfactory amount of fun out of a SXGA+ projector. In fairness, the 3LCD CP-SX635 does boast a brightness of 4,000 ANSI lumens for showing up in even dimly lit areas, but the lack of 1080p just leaves us squarely on the fence. For those who aren't resolution junkies, this one also includes four optional lenses for various throw distances, a 2,000-hour hybrid filter, an inbuilt 16-watt speaker, network control capability and an HDMI input. Too bad we're not even given a price to ponder, huh? The full release is just past the break.

Continue reading Hitachi introduces 3LCD CP-SX635 projector for lit rooms, boring areas

Hitachi introduces 3LCD CP-SX635 projector for lit rooms, boring areas originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20/01/2009 - LG Display CEO says that LCD panel prices have "reached a bottom"

Filed under: Displays, LG, LCD

The company may not exactly have the final say on the matter, but LG Display CEO Kwon Young-soo seems confident that the market for LCD panels is finally set to turn around, with him saying today that, "the good news is that we've reached a bottom," and that, "TV panel prices will likely stop the downward trend and recover." LG doesn't see things completely turning around overnight, however, and in the meantime it says it'll be pouring more than $400 million into a new production line designed to produce high-end LTPS LCD displays for mobile devices, which it apparently expects will be a more profitable area, and help it turn that frown upside down once more.

[Via DailyTech]

LG Display CEO says that LCD panel prices have "reached a bottom" originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/01/2009 - ViewSonic turns off spell check, launches Fuhzion line of 3D display devices

Filed under: Displays, Others, DLP, LCD, Projector

3D displays are hotter than Hansel right now, and ViewSonic is getting in to the new (old) tech of goggle-driven depth with a line of displays dubbed Fuhzion. First up is the 22-inch VX2265wm LCD, announced last year and sounding quite similar to the Samsung 2233RZ from yesterday. It's a 1680 x 1050, 120Hz panel with a 2ms response rate, enabling it to tackle the quick cycling that will be required to reproduce a 3D image. The other addition to the line is the PJD6220-3D DLP projector, an updated (or at least renamed) version of the company's existing PJD6220, illuminating 1024 x 768 pixels at 120Hz and a respectable contrast ratio of 2000:1. The projector is due next month for $1,499, while the VX2265wm drops in the next few weeks for a rather more reasonable $399 -- another stat that happens to match Samsung's offering.

ViewSonic turns off spell check, launches Fuhzion line of 3D display devices originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/01/2009 - 3LCD celebrates a score, and by score we mean 20 years

Filed under: Industry, Displays, LCD, Projector

Here lately, the aura of 3LCD has been somewhat overshadowed by the glitz and glam that seems to be intrinsically connected to DLP projectors, LCoS beamers and those other "new technologies." But regardless of the star factor, 3LCD has managed to hang around in a perpetually changing industry for 20 years now. Way back in 1988, the very first 3LCD projector started to ship with Kodak and Epson behind the wheel, and it took until 1994 for a 3LCD VGA PJ to see the light of day. 'Course, we all know what happened from there, but if you're the nostalgic type, head on past the break for a tear-jerking time line.

3LCD celebrates a score, and by score we mean 20 years originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/01/2009 - LG Broadband HDTVs To Stream Netflix Movies

LG Electronics has announced the first broadband-enabled HDTVs with Netflix streaming software embedded directly in the set.
The new LCD and plasma “broadband HDTVs” will be able to show Netflix’s library of movies, TV episodes and HD content directly on the set without needing an external device.

05/01/2009 - Samsung Promises Thinnest Ever HDTV

Samsung is to unveil a flat-panel HDTV measuring a waif-like 6.5-millimeters at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The TV set is reported to be between 6.5mm and 7mm across its width and has an LED (light emitting diode) backlight.

05/12/2008 - NXP Chip Brings High-end HDTV Quality Into Mainstream

NXP has launched a new global single-chip LCD TV platform that it claims will give mid-range TVs an HD viewing experience previously only available on higher end sets.
Founded by Philips, the semiconductor company believes its new platform will allow manufacturers and content providers to bring a broad range of Internet and digital video content to a significantly wider audience.

03/11/2008 - Shoppers To Be Tempted With Reduced Price HDTVs And Bundled Blu-rays

Greatly reduced HDTV price tags and packages bundling sets and blu-rays are among the retailing treats likely to be on offer to US shoppers this holiday season, according to DisplaySearch.

10/10/2008 - LCDs switching to cheaper, lower quality white LED backlights

Filed under: Displays, LG, Samsung, Sharp, LCD

In the year 2009....LED-backlit LCDs will probably be increasingly common, and why not? Everyone wants a flat panel with questionably-measured contrast ratios full of so many zeroes they run off the spec sheet. but in order to bring the tech to the masses, Digitimes reports manufacturers may switch from current red/green/blue LEDs to white LEDs.They claim white LEDs meet the mark in terms of power savings, but won't measure up when it comes to accurate color reproduction. Specifically mentioned? Sharp, LG, AUO and "others" (Samsung has already jumped on the bandwagon) so when you meet a guy selling cheap LED HDTVs from the of a van, add one more thing to check while making sure you aren't purchasing an oven door.

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30/09/2008 - Sanyo's 4LCD PLC-XP200L projector gets reviewed

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Others, Projector

You're probably wondering if adding in a fourth panel to an LCD projector is really worthwhile. Actually, you're probably willing to bet your bottom dollar that it's a gimmick. Sound & Vision took the time to actually critique Sanyo's latest with an open mind, and believe it or not, it found the all new QuaDrive technology to be everything it was hyped up to be. To be fair, the PLC-XP200L isn't tailored for the home theater; the lowly 1,024 x 768 resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio sound downright appalling. However, reviewers focused more on the actual technology / image quality given that Sanyo already has a compact, quieter, 16:9 QuaDrive beamer slated for 2009. During a demonstration, critics found the new tech to be visibly better than 3LCD rivals, with the picture appearing "dramatically more vivid." Should you rush out and buy the XP200L? Probably not. But you may just want to delay your impending PJ purchase until that HT version hits next year.

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23/09/2008 - Canon Rises To Nikon's HD DSLR Challenge

It has been described by Vincent Laforet, one of the world’s top professional photographers, as having the “potential to change our industry”.
The soon-to-be-launched Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR can record full 1080p video clips at 30 frames-per-second.

11/09/2008 - HDTV sales surpass 10 million in UK

Cumulative sales of HDTVs to date surpassed 10 million in the UK, according to a report by GfK Retail and Technology.
In the first six months of 2008, more than 2 million were added and the market research firm expects the cumulative total to be approaching 15 million by the end of 2008.

06/09/2008 - Mitsubishi releases retina-searing HD8000 ultra-bright projector

Filed under: Mitsubishi, LCD, Projector

Mitsubishi has released a real light cannon with its HD8000, a 1080p 3LCD model that pumps out 5000 lumens so you don't have to live like a video vampire that hides your HD-feeding away from the sun. With this kind of light output, picture quality (black levels, contrast) will take hit and bulb life might not be great, but we figure the target market of sports bars and restaurants won't mind that; what will be downer will be the lack of an HDMI input. To be fair, there is a DVI input and Mitsubishi even throws a DVI-to-HDMI converter in the box, but for $15,000 you shouldn't have to use dongles from day one.

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01/09/2008 - Mitsubishi lets loose a trio of 1080P 3LCD projectors

Filed under: Mitsubishi, LCD, Projector

With all the projector introductions being made, you'd think that everybody was buying one. We suspect that's not the case, but Mitsubishi is doing its part to keep the model lists full by adding a trio of 1080P, 3LCD beamers to the mix -- the HC7000, HC6500 and HC5500. We heard about the whisper quiet HC5500 last month, and the HC6500 turns in a fine 15,000:1 contrast ratio performance, but the HC7000 is what lights our fire. We all know specs can lie, but this unit should leave your eyeballs and jaw on the floor if its 70,000:1 contrast ratio is accurate. Based on positive reviews of the predecessor HC6000, this projector could be a real winner, and the 5,000 hour lamp life might leave you enough time to pay it off before you have to change your first bulb.

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31/08/2008 - Epson calls "game on" with its EH-TW420 projector

Filed under: Displays, Epson, LCD, Projector

We figure Epson just couldn't find a way to work "BFG" into its gaming-optimized 720P projector, the EH-TW420, due out next month in the UK for £650 ($1,200). It looks like a pretty standard 3LCD projector that shines 2000 lumens bright across 1280 x 720 pixels, but you can flip those panels into a 5ms response time "game mode" similar to that seen in Panasonic's PT-AX200. We're thinking gamer-oriented gear get a better reception with at least a different color scheme, but otherwise the features look ok: one input each for HDMI, component, composite and S-Video, and the unit packs a single 7-Watt speaker so you're not left in Marcel Marceau mode when you forget to bring your own to the next LAN party.

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21/08/2008 - Mitsubishi goes ultrathin with 40-mm LCD TV prototype

Filed under: Displays, Mitsubishi, LCD

When you're an industrial giant like Mitsubishi, it pays to cover your bets. In addition to the recently-announced MZW-, MXW- and MX-series LCD TVs, it is also showing off an unnamed 40-mm thick LCD TV prototype. As we've seen in the war of supermodel svelte TVs, getting down to these levels requires that the tuner is moved to an external box (those chunky boxes in the pic). The elegance of the panel just can't be spoiled by ugly cables, so just like we've seen with the Hitachi Wooo LCD TVs, the signal will get the wireless treatment. A production model of this TV is slated for a fall release, in a size over 40-inches. That's right around the corner, so we've got a feeling more details will be flowing soon. Meanwhile, hit that link for more pics.

[Image courtesy TechOn]

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21/08/2008 - Samsung expands lead over global TV makers

Samsung is the leading global TV brand in revenue terms for the tenth straight quarter, expanding its market share to a record 22.8 per cent.
North America enjoyed strong Q2 TV shipments growth in Q2, helping global TV shipments to improve by 11 per cent Y/Y to 47.5M units.

19/08/2008 - Impressive growth for Asian LCD HDTVs sales

Demand for consumer electronics in the Asian market is growing strongly despite reports of a gloomy economic outlook, according to research company GfK.
Its Pan Asia Consumer Electronics Data Summary shows a retail spend of approximately US$ 11.5 Billion dollars in the first half of 2008, which is an increase of 13 per cent year on year.

15/08/2008 - Funai announce LCD TVs with built in Blu-ray

Funai is to launch an LCD TV with an integrated Blu-ray player in a move that is certain to widen the appeal of the format with consumers.
Sony recently said that it plans to put Blu-ray into a variety of CE products.

08/08/2008 - Race towards OLED TVs quickens

Sony set the pace with the launch of its AM-OLED TV last year, now momentum appears to be growing among TV manufacturers in the race towards mass producing larger OLED screens.
LCD TV makers are introducing thinner models to compete with the flatter-than-flat OLEDs as other OLED products are making their way to market.

23/07/2008 - Samsung now shipping Touch of Color LCD monitors

Filed under: Displays, Tuners, Samsung, LCD

Even if you're not exactly in the market for a new flat-panel, Samsung's still hoping to snag a bit (or all) or your latest paycheck with its Touch of Color LCD monitors. Hinted at during CES and officially unveiled back in April, these displays boast a 5-millisecond response time, transparent plastic bezel, 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, twin 3-watt speakers, a built-in ATSC / ClearQAM TV tuner (!) and an optical digital audio port for channeling 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. As for resolutions, the 24-inch T240HD and 26-inch T260HD both offer full 1080p, while the 22-inch T220HD gets a 1,680 x 1,050 panel . Snag whichever one suits your fancy right now for $429, $549 or $599 from smallest to largest.

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22/07/2008 - Sales advice steers consumers towards LCD HDTVs

A lack of knowledge among US retail salespersons regarding recent improvements in plasma technology is blamed for the high proportion of recommendations given for LCD sets.
More than three times out of four, sales staff steer customers to a liquid-crystal display set rather than a plasma screen, according to a study by JD Power and Associates.
Based on the results of a mystery-shopper survey it carried out, analysts suggest that shop assistants don’t really know much about the differences between LCD and plasma.

27/06/2008 - Sony outlines plans for Blu-ray, PS3 video downloads, games and BRIC nations

The world’s second-largest maker of consumer electronics aims to double its revenue in Brazil, Russia, India and China within three years by bolstering sales in seven main businesses including Bravia televisions and Blu-ray disc players.
Sony’s plans for sales of electronics to so-called BRIC nations will rise to 1.2 trillion yen (US$11.1 billion) by the 12 months ending March 31, 2011, from 600 billion yen last fiscal year.
Speaking in Tokyo, Sony chairman and CEO, Howard Stringer, was presenting the company’s mid-term corporate strategy, which included the first concrete details on the plan for on-demand video content, including a launch window of later this summer.
After touting an installed base of 50 million network-enabled PS3 and PSP units and a plan to achieve profitability this year, Stringer outlined a large-scale video service for Sony’s entire empire.
The as-yet-unnamed video store is described as a “premium film and TV service”. Aside from Sony titles, no other content deals have been announced.

23/06/2008 - Number of LCD TVs being returned rises as viewers demand better quality for HDTV

The refund rate on LCD TVs has increased to 25-30 per cent in North America despite a drop in prices by branded TV retailers.
Many vendors reduced prices for 32-inch and 40-inch LCD TVs in May in an attempt to boost sales.
However, the move has led to a rise in the number of products being returned as viewer expectations about the quality of high-definition images rises.

20/06/2008 - No mention of Olympic factor as US market for flat-panel HDTVs remains strong despite economic down-turn

Sales of LCD and plasma TVs showed a 53 per cent year-on-year increase in the US for the first quarter of 2008, with more than 7.5 million units sold.
This represents a 7 per cent increase over industry projections for the period.
While analysts in Japan have attributed a 35 per cent increase in flat-panel TV sales during the first half of June to the upcoming Beijing Olympics, industry executives in the US are being more cagey.
But what those attending the DisplaySearch TV Supply Chain Conference in San Diego did agree on was that despite the state of the US economy, the North America TV market remains robust - so far.

18/06/2008 - Sanyo's 4LCD XP200L projector is 1 LCD better

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Others

It's not pretty (what Sanyo projector is?), but it is the world's first 4LCD projector. The 25-pound "portable" PLC-XP200L pumps 7,000 lumens across 1,024 x 768 pixels at a 2,200:1 contrast ratio in exchange for your $9,995. The new 4LCD optical engine adds what Sanyo calls a "color control device" to control the amount of yellow light in the projected image. The results are supposedly images which are "clearer, richer, and more beautiful" than those of 3LCD projectors. Sanyo also dropped in some new silicon allowing for 20% more color space. Ships in September -- full press release after the break.

Continue reading Sanyo's 4LCD XP200L projector is 1 LCD better

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08/06/2008 - Japan's HD offerings boosted by launch of new VOD service

The growing market for high definition television in Japan has received a further boost with the start of a VOD service by the country’s largest retail chain, Tsutaya.
Users will be able to download titles from home using the acTVila portal that is popular on Japanese plasma and LCD HDTVs.
They will have 48 hours to watch the films or TV shows as many times as they want.
The new service from Tsutaya, which counts 27.2 million members at its 1,330 branches across Japan, is the latest sign of the growing popularity of HDTV in the country.

01/06/2008 - Australian market first to get recordable Blu-ray player outside of Japan

Panasonic is to roll-out sales of a range of Blu-ray recorders in Australia, making it only the second country after Japan to receive the devices.
A 500GB Twin High Definition Tuner and VIERA Link model is to go on sale this month as well as various lower-spec recorders, the first 46” plasma TV and new 37” Full HD LCD TV models.
Paul Reid, Panasonic Australia’s Director for Consumer Electronics Group, described the move as a “significant breakthrough” for Blu-ray.

24/05/2008 - Results shows global LCD TV sales outstripped plasma TV by 8:1 for Q1 of 2008

Over 21 million LCD TVs were sold in the first three months of 2008 compared to 2.8 million plasma sets, according to a data compiled by research firm DisplaySearch.
The total number of TVs sold during the period was 46.1 million, up only 1% compared to sales in 2007.
The slow-down in sales is largely attributed to a weaker US economy.

22/05/2008 - LG Display showcases two-sided LCD panels

Filed under: Industry, Displays, LG, LCD

It's nice enough to be able to record two programs at once, but what if you could display The Hills on one side of your LCD while catching a playoff tilt on the other? Never mind the audio issue (there's always headphones!), but LG Display has introduced a prototype at SID 2008 that could potentially make the aforesaid scenario a reality. 2.2-inch (160 x 120) and 15-inch (2,048 x 1,536) versions were reportedly announced, both of which boast reflectivity of 20-percent. Put simply, the panels can display different images on the front and back sides of the glass substrate, and ideally, they're suited for use in mobile devices where the main and secondary displays could actually be the same device. No word on when these things will actually make their way out to handset / TV manufacturers, but we're certainly digging the possibilities here.

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19/05/2008 - Samsung reveals first ultra HD 82-inch LCD panel

Samsung has unveiled the first ultra HD 82-inch LCD panel at the Society for Information Display (SID) 2008 International Symposium in the US.
The company rolled out the monster with an ultra definition (UD) resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels with a 120Hz refresh rate - double the pixel count of Full HD, which stands at 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Video is refreshed at 120Hz – currently the highest refresh rate on LCD TVs – which makes fast-moving video less blurry.
Kim Sang-soo, executive vice president of Samsung’s LCD Technology Center, said: “I personally hope the next-generation ultra-high definition level in the LCD panel market will open soon, with increasing consumer demand for clear viewing in households and public spaces, he said.
Samsung also exhibited an 82-inch LCD e-Board using Ultra-HD technology.