TV zombie

Ofcom plans for Freeview HD flawed say experts

Ofcom should hold off auctioning spectrum freed by digital TV switchover until it is sure its proposed technology upgrade will work, according to this reprot from Trade magazine ERT weekly.
If it doesn’t, industry fears Freeview will be crippled as other platforms roll-out HD channels with which the digital terrestrial TV service will not have the spectrum space to compete. For more click the link below.
Ofcom plans put Freeview HD at risk

Hitachi to release first Ultra Thin LCD TVs

Hitachi will change the shape of flat panel television when it introduces the its first Ultra Thin 35mm deep LCD TVs into the UK this spring. The Japanese giant says UT LCD is a new type of display is designed for a highly affluent and refined segment of consumers who seek luxury, style and prestige. Initially offered in three sizes (32inch , 37inch and 42inch), the displays include a variety of cutting edge technology.
The thinness of the displays was achieved through Hitachi’s proprietary implementation of a technology called EEFL, which affords greater power efficiency, delivers better and more flexible color accuracy and delivers a longer overall life span for the display.
The screen’s also have In Plane Switching (IPS), for a super-wide viewing angle. A vertical and horizontal viewing angle of 178 degrees maintains natural colors and brightness, making it ideal for watching TV with the whole family and friends. The larger models also incorporate anti-judder technology. All Hollywood movies flash 24 individual images each second. However, Hollywood’s 24 frames-per-second movie-making techniques do not match worldwide television systems, which show 50 (Europe) and 60 (US and Japan) frames each second.
When standard frame rate conversion is done, the viewer can often observe a jerky, troublesome visual effect that is called “judder.” It appears as if the image is jittery or stuttering and is especially noticeable when the picture pans or makes sweeping, side-to-side movements. In its new Ultra Thin line, Hitachi has implemented proprietary technology which accurately and automatically eliminates the jerky “judder” motion. It does so by creating interpolated frames based on the original film images. It smoothes out the movement and correctly matches the motion of the original movie.
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Sony says no to gloss black with B4000

The new BRAVIA B4000-Series LCD TV range from Sony is for anyone who has ever wished that televisions weren’t quite so big, or quite so black. The BRAVIA B4000-Series is available in two different finishes, each inspired by natural materials. Both the Pearly White and the Glossy Mocha options are perfectly judged to harmonise with almost any decor. A choice of 20-inch, 23-inch and 26-inch models means that you can match size as well as colour to any space, be it as a second TV in a bedroom, the kitchen or dining area or simply the most convenient place in a small flat.For more, click
here

Fourth gen Blu-ray player announced by Samsung

Samsung, the first company to introduce a stand-alone Blu-ray player, has shown its first fourth generation machine, the FHD BD-P1500. Positioned as an ideal player for anyone who enjoys Blu-ray, DVDs or CDs in their home, this modfel can also upconvert standard DVDs to 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolutions. The BD-P1500 sports an HDMI 1.3 port with CEC for expanded color delivery and easy home systemcontrol. With abuilt-in Ethernet connection, itn can take advantage of BD Live interactivity and download the latest firmware upgrades and more with just a click of a button.
True audiophiles will love the BD-P1500 as it goes beyond standard Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus audio playback to include 7.1 PCM, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution and Master Audio, Bitstream audio output via HDMI and more-making for a truly immersive viewing experience for movies, gaming, sports and more. The BD-P1500 will begin shipping June 2008.

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Samsung introduces Touch Of Color LCD TVs

Samsung has taken a bold new design look to its upcoming LCD TV ranges. Not only is picture quality dramatically enhanced, but a new design born from Samsung’s extensive research and development in the automotive and fashion industries brings a never-before-seen ‘Touch of Color’ to any living room or home theater.
The so-called Touch Of color series 6 models offer a hint of amber color blended into Samsung’s traditional piano black bezel frame.“With the application of TOC design to the Series 6 and 7 HDTVs, Samsung is truly changing the look of TVs and introduces a visual appeal that will make it the centerpiece of any living room,” said Jonas Tanenbaum, vice president of Flat Panel Marketing at Samsung Electronics America.
“Featuring multifunctional connectivity, the Series 6 and 7 deliver an experience that goes well beyond traditional content viewing. Users can now connect and utilize the data stored on a variety of digital devices, turning their HDTV into a media hub. It is a whole new way of seeing and using HDTVs.”
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Panasonic shows first profile 1.1 Blu-ray player

Panasonic will launch its first BD Live player, the DMP-BD50. Described as the ultimate playback source for high definition 1080p content, the machine will launch in Europe later this year. Blu-ray media offers a wide range of functions that foster the transition to HD - including 1080p image quality, lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and versatile Picture-in-Picture applications.
The BD50 BD-Live function ‘opens up a myriad of interactive possibilities for the consumer,’ says the company. In the future BD-Live will allow users to connect the DMP-BD50 to the internet to download such data as images and subtitles, and to join in multi-player interactive games that are linked to bonus movie content contained on Blu-ray discs.For optimum image quality the DMP-BD50 features the PHL Reference Chroma processor and P4HD i/p conversion processor, which combine to create Uniphier, a precise digital video processor that produces sharp, crisp, natural colors that are extremely faithful to the original movie. Uniphier reflects the advance encoding and authoring technologies developed by Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory.
It will be joined in Europe by the cheaper DMP-BD30, the UK’s first profile 1.1 Blue-ray player. The company will announce its pricing plans at a European press conference in Valencia, Spain in a matter of weeks. For more details click here.

Medion introduces super-cheap Blu-ray and HD DVD PC

Medion has unveiled a super-cheap PC equipped with both Blu-ray and HD DVD drives. What’s more the Medion Akoya MD8828 will sell forfor less than £630. Available now at Aldi, the MD8828 offers a comprehensive specification making it a tempting digital entertainment centre for the modern home. For more details click here.

Pioneer redefines TV with Extreme Black Concept Kuro

Pioneer took best display in show honours at the recent CES with its Extreme Black Concept Kuro plasma. The company says that its extreme contrast concept will challenge the contrast ratio debate by producing the industry’s first plasma that is absolute black with no measurable light emitting from the television. For more than a year, Project KURO has been a brand mantra within Pioneer that represents our commitment to deliver the most passionate and emotional entertainment experience possible,” said Russ Johnston, executive vice president of marketing and product planning for the Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group at Pioneer Electronics US.
“The KURO technology concepts demonstrate how we are continuing to challenge the industry and stay above the commoditized flat panel television market – by literally ending the conversation about contrast ratio, a debate that has been in existence since television was first introduced, and creating a flat panel display so thin it becomes a canvas for entertainment.” Pioneer’s Extreme black prototype is so black that even when it is on with no image displayed, the television is invisible when you walk into a completely dark room. “It has a contrast ratio that is literally beyond measurement, rendering the debate of contrast ratio irrelevant and providing the consumer a rich picture filled with vibrant penetrating color.
Said Yoichi Sato, senior executive officer and chief technology executive at Pioneer Cooperation: “Pioneer technology has advanced to the point where we have achieved virtually zero idling luminance in more than six million cells, previously thought to be impossible. The result is, in essence, absolute black with no measurable light coming from the television. For consumers, this creates the experience that the image is floating in space, with a picture that has exceptional detail and vivid color.Pioneer also used the CEs to preview an advanced design concept for the world’s thinnest 50-inch display just 9mm thin. For more details click here.

Video games boom to slow in 2008

Despite sluggish growth in many other retail sectors last month, sales of video game hardware and software grew 28 per cent in December, compared with a year ago, according to market research firm NPD Group, which said Thursday that shoppers grabbed hot items such as Nintendo’s Wii console. But NPD warns that the overall 43 per cent growth rate of 2007 will be hard to sustain this year when the emphasis will change from introducing new hardware to selling games.
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Blu-ray all-in-one home entertainment system launched

Panasonic has announced the first home theater in a box (HTiB) system with an integrated Blu-ray Disc player. The new model, SC-BT100, is the perfect complement to a flat panel, large screen TV. The new model epitomizes Panasonic’s emphasis on media friendly capabilities.
It is made for iPod and features an advanced integrated dock which not only recharges an iPod but plays music or video through the home theater system, displays audio tracks and menus on the TV screen and operates with the supplied remote control. Its SD Memory Card slot offers simple playback of digital images or original video footage in either standard or High Definition AVCHD format. The optical input offers simple digital audio connection for set-top box, digital video recorder and game system.
The Panasonic SC-BT100 home theater system is the best of both worlds,” says Paul Sabo, national marketing manager for Panasonic Home Audio. “It combines the installation ease and user-friendly operation of an HTiB plus the features and performance of high-end audio/video components, including full High Definition 1080p resolution Blu-ray video, wireless rear speakers and 7.1channel or multi-room/multi-source upgradeability.” For more click here