Archive for the ‘High Definition’ Category

Acer’s really, really proud of its P224W. So proud, in fact, that it’s touting the unit as the “world’s first 24-inch Full HD / 16:9 ratio LCD monitor.” Never mind the fact that Gateway slung out a 24-incher with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution way back in 2006 — we’ll let it think it’s special for awhile, anyway. Onto more specs, you’ll find a 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, touch-sensitive on-screen display and a 2-millisecond gray-to-gray response time. Regrettably, the outfit didn’t bother handing down a release date or price, but it’s not like those tidbits are really critical in the grand scheme of things, right?

[Via Computer Monger]

Oh sure, GalleryPlayer enables your HDTV to instantly turn into an art display, but it doesn’t even pretend to be anything classier than a multifaceted television. Samsung, however, is looking to change the game by partnering with Thomas Kinkade on a new 46-inch prototype Digital Masterworks Art-TV. The unit was recently showcased to news media, and it’s said to be “housed n a Thomas Kinkade frame designed to accentuate the fine art theme.” From what we can gather, it’s being aimed at folks who’d love a nice piece of art sitting above their mantel, but when the time comes, they can switch off the paintings and throw on a day’s worth of NFL in HD. The wild thing here is how important the actual art aspect is to the display, with hidden touch controls planned to enable viewers to flip through artworks and zoom in / out as they please. Heck, there’s even integrated WiFi, a 40GB hard drive, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 8ms response time and 500 nits of brightness. The set is due out exclusively through Thomas Kinkade’s Signature Gallery later this year, with iffy plans to release it to other retailers in 2H 2009.

[Via CNET]

Though not the first stretched display we’ve seen per se, LG is taking widescreen to an entirely new plateau with its latest duo of monitors. Launched today in the UK, the 38-inch M3800S-BN and 29-inch M2900S-BN feature oddball resolutions like 1,366 x 398 and 1,366 x 480 (respectively) along with a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 9-millisecond response time and a VGA input. Obviously geared for digital signage applications, both units can display imagery horizontally or vertically, and while price points weren’t disclosed, we’ll go ahead and assume that they’ll be pegged for purchase on those business-centric credit cards (if you catch our drift).

[Via Pocket-lint]

Talk about getting around. Auntie Beeb has jumped from Freeview to FreeSat to Sky HD to iPlayer to who knows where else in no particular order, and while the vast majority of Europe is still struggling to adopt vanilla HD, the network is already dipping its toes in the next best thing. Reportedly, the BBC is all set to participate in a transmission trial using the Super Hi-Vision (SHV) system developed by Japan’s NHK. The series of demonstrations will combine content from Japan and London, and the actual screenings are supposed to take place in the NHK Theater using an 8k x 4k projector. We’ll admit, this isn’t the very first time we’ve heard that The Beeb may be interested in this stuff, but with the UK-based 2012 Olympics growing ever closer, it looks like the dedication may be ratcheting up.

[Via TechRadar, thank L. Rawlins]

What we’re watching tonight:

• ABC (720p) has the season finale of ‘Lost‘ at 9 p.m.
• A&E (720p) brings ‘Crime 360‘ at 10 p.m.
• TNT (1080i) has Game 5 of Spurs/Lakers at 9 p.m.
• ESPN HD (720p) has Women’s College World series action with Arizona State/Alabama at 7 p.m.
• ESPN2 HD (720p) features an MLS matchup with D.C. United/New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m.
• History (1080i) lines up ‘Gangland‘ at 9 p.m. followed by ‘Tougher in Alaska‘

Sony has certainly captured our attention under the command of Sir Howard Stringer. Prior to his March 7th 2005 appointment to the CEO position, it was hard to imagine the beleaguered consumer electronics giant having the guts to take on such aggressive risk taking adventures as Blu-ray, OLED TVs, and in its own small way, the Rolly. Now, after completing his planned turnaround and tripling Sony’s profits, Stringer has reportedly let loose with a fire and brimstone speech meant to compel the thousand-strong Sony managers gathered in a closed-door session into action. Urging them to avoid complacency, Stringer said, “I’m asking you to get mad” and be more “energetic,” “bold,” and “imaginative” at running the business. To sum things up, British-born Stringer slapped up a slide showing a fork in the road. At which point, the Japanese management team whispered, “what’s a fork?”

What we’re watching tonight:

• CBS (1080i) has ‘The Price Is Right‘ at 8 p.m., followed by the season finales of ‘Criminal Minds‘ and ‘CSI: NY‘
• Fox (720p) closes out ‘American Idol‘ beginning at 8 p.m.
• ABC (720p) presents the season finale of ‘Boston Legal‘ at 10 p.m.
• TNT (1080i) has Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with Spurs/Lakers at 9 p.m.
• ESPN HD (720p) brings MLB action with Mets/Braves at 7 p.m.
• NBC (1080i) has the ‘Law & Order‘ season finale at 10 p.m.
• ESPN2 HD (720p) will replay the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea at 7 p.m.

Though Canon has been focusing on SED and locking down LCD partnerships throughout the earlier part of the year, the firm will be showcasing its very own LCoS reflective LCD panels at InfoComm next month. The first panel is a 0.71-inch WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) model, which is said to be the “world’s first LCoS panel of its size to achieve such a level of resolution.” The second is a 0.55-inch SXGA (1,400 x 1,050) version, which can also be used in conjunction with other Canon technologies to bring new projectors to market. Beyond that, it seems we’ll have to wait until June before finding out more, but you can certainly peek the read link and attempt to read between the lines.