Toshiba Chief Hints At Launching Blu-Ray Disc Ops

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Toshiba Corp. President Atsutoshi Nishida did not rule out the possibility of selling DVD recorders using the Blu-ray Disc format when addressing shareholders at the firm's general meeting here Wednesday.

"It makes no sense to decide not to enter the Blu-Ray market simply because we lost the DVD-format war. We cannot change the fact that we lost, but we would like to keep our options open," he said.

Toshiba pushed for global adoption of its HD-DVD format, but failed to gain sufficient support from major U.S. movie studios. This prompted the firm to pull out of its HD-DVD operations in spring 2008, declaring at that time that it would not handle Blu-ray products.

But Nishida's latest remark appears to indicate that Toshiba is considering reversing that decision in light of the significant growth in the market for these products.

Toshiba ships REGZA ZV650 and SV670 HDTVs

If you're not down with waiting for Toshiba's internet-connected range of HDTVs -- which, by the way, should be out before the dawn of 2010 -- here's a bit of excellent news: the REGZA ZV650 and SV670 series are now shipping. Both of the sets were initially announced way back at CES, and the latter of the two is Tosh's first-ever LED-backlit HDTV. Said set also packs local dimming, ClearScan 240 dejudder technology, PixelPure 5G 14-bit video processing and that questionably useful Resolution+ system. There's also a USB socket, four HDMI connectors, IR pass-through, a PC input and REGZA-LINK (HDMI-CEC). As for the other guys (yeah, there's more), head on past the break and take notes on the ones relevant to your interests.

LG considering withdrawal from plasma market

Man, plasma's headed downhill -- and fast. Hot on the heels of both Pioneer and VIZIO tendering their resignation in the plasma market, LG's vice president Lee Gyu-hong has reportedly stated that his company is currently pondering its own future in the sector. Should LG pull out, just Panasonic and Hitachi will be left holding down the PDP fort. Purportedly, LG's plasma business is deteriorating in terms of profitability, and the VP stated that future cost savings were practically impossible. At this point (and after coming clean like this), it'd be sort of crazy for LG not to drop out, but what's even crazier is going from five major plasma makers to two within the course of two months. Yikes.

Sony looks to help consumers out with new swivel HDMI cables

Sony's launching its own version of the suddenly popular swivel head HDMI cable, with both vertical and horizontal links going on sales this month in lengths of about three or six feet. At $50 and $60, respectively, they solve the need for "costly" 90 degree adapters ($3 or so at Monoprice or other online retailers) and save space on flat panel wall mounts. Of course, if you were planning on wildly overpaying for HDMI cables already, they're really not that bad. It's all about perspective.

Toshiba intros power-sipping REGZA C8000 HDTVs in Japan

While the latest Toshiba HDTVs from Japan don't seem to sport any questionably useful upscaling technologies, the REGZA C8000 line does look to save you a few bucks on your monthly energy bill. The 32-inch 32C8000, 37-inch 37C8000 and 42-inch 42C8000 reportedly suck down anywhere between 31- and 51-percent less energy than prior models, with all three also sporting 120Hz Speed Clear Motion tech to nix those judders when watching intensely fast-moving scenes. The whole lot also includes digital TV tuners, while only the larger two get outfitted with 1080p panels (the 32-incher does 1,366 x 768).

Philips gives Cinema 21:9 HDTV a price and release date

We'd already heard during a UK preview show that Philips' Euro-only Cinema 21:9 HDTV would be priced around £3,000 when it launched sometime this Spring, but now we've got some more official details to share (and only half of it is good). So, the good news -- we're told that this behemoth will start shipping "as soon as June." The bad? The 56-inch ultra-widescreen panel will run you €4,000 ($5,045). Don't bother turning your head, that's just your wallet over in the corner wailing.

source : EngadgetHD.com

Can Panasonic save plasma?

With Japan's Pioneer and US-based Vizio recently announcing their exits from the plasma market, there's been a lot of chatter about the technology's short- and long-term viability. Some of plasma's problems are PR related. Lingering questions--justified or not--about burn-in and energy efficiency have become part of the public conscious and remain a stumbling block at point of sale. Ultimately, however, there are more simple economics at play. Far more factories are available to produce LCD TVs than plasmas which haven't been able to maintain their price advantage as margins have eroded and the performance gap between the technologies has narrowed.

But let's not dwell on how we got here. The key question is how can plasma survive? And for better or worse, the answer is really in the hands of Panasonic, the brand that has most closely linked its TV fortunes to the technology. Yes, Samsung and LG make lots of plasmas--and some good ones, too--but both are also well-committed to LCD and well-hedged should plasma go away (Panasonic makes some LCD TVs as well, but nothing larger than 37 inches, while plasma starts at 42 inches). Alas, with Pioneer's departure--a sad day for those who value great TV picture quality--Panasonic is left to carry the plasma mantle largely on its own.

H.264-based DivX 7 makes landfall

We were told point blank that it'd be arriving in January, and lo and behold, arrive it has. Version 7 of DivX for Windows is now available for download, and with it comes an H.264-based player that supports 1080p and even DivX video creation if you opt for DivX Pro. Additionally, the company has just launched its DivX Plus HD Certification program in order to stamp forthcoming devices with seals of high-def approval. Anyone had a chance to grab the new player? Likes / dislikes?

Toshiba Regza 42RV500E (42-inch LCD)

Already known for its out-standing Regza LCD TVs, Toshiba has taken technology a notch higher with the introduction of the two new series featuring its patented Power Meta Brain technology. Pictures produced are exceptionally real, clean, clear, smooth and original, thanks to a combination of sophisticated technologies.

The RV500 Series is clearly different from its competitors. Full HD 1080p resolution provides excellent picture quality. However, not all 1080p TVs look the same. Toshiba delivers the full impact of full HD by using 10-bit video processing which is superior to 8-bit types.

With its new high-tech frame edged with silver accents and a smooth, sleek finish, the Regza RV500 Series complements any contemporary home beautifully. The 42RV500E model is currently available in the market, with plans to introduce more models in the near future.

Naturally, the amount of light in the room affects how one sees the picture.

Thanks to an intelligent new Regza technology called the Ambient Light Sensor, the Regza RV500 is able to respond to room lighting conditions, adjusting its contrast to ensure optimum picture quality.

For example, in rooms with large windows or bright lights, the luminance can be more than 1,500 lux. Settings are automatically adjusted to achieve the best picture.

In a dimly-lit room in the evening, the luminance will vary from about 50 to 400 lux. The RV500 adjusts its contrast to best match the illumination.

The sophisticated Power Meta Brain engine uses five advanced technologies to achieve 10-bit processing – featuring over one billion colours – for all stages from input to output.

The HDMITM (High Definition Multimedia Interface) inputs in the Regza RV500 accept digital signals directly, enabling viewers to enjoy video and audio from digital sources like a DVD player, video game or computer at the highest quality requiring only one cable. The Regza AV550 Series, as its tagline goes, is "Natural At Its Best".

The Regza AV550 Series features HD-Ready capabilities (1080p/1080i/720p) and 10-bit video processing for truly superior, natural-looking pictures.

Other Regza technologies include intelligent backlight control that results in deeper blacks, finer gradations and higher contrast as the brightness of the backlight in the Regza RV500 and AV550 is automatically adjusted according to a sophisticated histogram analysis of the brightness and location of dark sections in each scene.

The two series also allow for adjustment of hue, saturation and colour brightness for each of the six basic colours separately, giving greater colour control than ever before. In other words, viewers can perfectly adjust skin or grass colour without affecting other colours.

The Regza RV500 and AV550 series have been designed to be environmentally-friendly and feature lower power consumption of up to 25% (Type 32). They are made from much lighter materials and comply with international standards which prohibit the usage of six materials deemed harmful to the environment.

First Blu-ray Disc / DVD hybrid announced in Japan

It sure took long enough to happen, but one of HD DVD's biggest benefits has finally made it over to the Blu-ray side. Yep, we're talking about a Blu-ray / DVD hybrid disc, with a single-layer of Blu on one side and a standard DVD on the very same side (as in, not a "flipper" disc). Not surprisingly, the action's going down first in Japan, with Code Blue emergency helicopter doctor Blu-ray BOX (yes, seriously) as the first hybrid title. There's no word on when (or if) this technology will make it to US soil, but the sooner the better -- nothing like a little inbuilt backwards compatibility to ease the mind.

ps: finally....

Toshiba Regza 42ZV555D: "World's first" upscaling TV

By Ian Morris, CNET.co.uk
Nov 13, 2008

That's right, you read the headline correctly. Toshiba has just claimed to have created the industry's first upscaling TVs, the Regza 42ZV555D and 46ZV555D LCDs. With such bold boasts flying around the Internet, we feel like making a few ourselves. Did you know that we invented blogging? Or that without Crave, there would be no Moon? No, we didn't think so, either. But we've looked into it and it's true. Honest.

Let us explain why we're stroking the skeptical cat here. All HDTVs have upscalers built in, because if they didn't, when you came to watch something that was shot in a resolution different to that of the screen, you'd end up with a postage stamp-sized bit of video. If you were watching something with dimensions of 720 x 576 pixels, it would float in the middle of a 1,920 x 1,080-pixel screen. We've lovingly demonstrated this concept in our image above.

In a high-definition TV, the smaller, standard-definition image is stretched to fit the full-screen resolution. The TV's upscaling hardware will also apply some video processing to make it look as good as possible. It will do some additional processing to turn a standard-definition, interlaced picture into a progressive one because LCD and most plasma TVs can display only a progressive image.

source: cnet asia

Philips 42PFL5203S LCD TV

Pixel Plus 2 HD for great details, depth and clarity

Pixel Plus 2 HD offers the unique combination of ultimate sharpness, natural detail, increased depth, vivid colors and smooth and natural motion from standard TV, High Definition signals and multimedia sources. Each pixel of the incoming picture is enhanced to better match the surrounding pixels, resulting in a more natural picture. Artifacts in compressed multimedia content are detected and reduced, ensuring that the picture is clean and razor sharp. Digital noise reduction ensures that the picture is perfectly smooth yet razor sharp.

HD LCD display, with a 1366 x 768p resolution

This WXGA display with state-of-the-art LCD screen technology gives you widescreen HD resolution of 1366 x 768p pixels. It produces brilliant flicker-free progressive scan pictures with optimum brightness and superb colors. This vibrant and sharp image will provide you with an enhanced viewing experience.

HD Natural Motion for ultra smooth motion in Full HD movies

n performance that surpasses the cinema!

28.9 billion colors for brilliant natural images

Vibrant and natural images from most advanced color processing. The 3 color channels (RGB) are optimized using 10 bit resolution, a total processing power of 28.9 billion colors. It produces vibrant colors while retaining excellent sharpness. The advanced algorithms detect subtle color shades , skin tones and processes these to give most natural colors

source: philips malaysia

Pioneer's 32-inch KRL-32V KURO LCD HDTV gets unboxed

Peeks and glimpses are alright, but we all know those are just the crumbs leading up to the feast. CNET's UK branch was able to grab hold of what appears to be a retail Pioneer KRL-32V KURO LCD, and of course, they paused every few seconds during the presumably mayhem-filled unboxing process in order to snap a few photos and let us all in on the fun. Early impressions were overly positive, with the lucky unboxers noting that Freeview picture quality was "impressive," and that this here set proves that Pioneer definitely "has something to bring to the LCD party."

Mitsubishi's 65-inch LaserVue HDTV undergoes further testing

It's one thing to witness an HDTV under the watchful eye of the company that made it, but it's an entirely different experience to get out on your own, with your own hand-picked sources, your own food stash and the freedom to really speak your mind. From what we've seen under Mitsu's own conditions, the 65-inch LaserVue is truly a sight to behold, and even when the gurus over at TheTechLounge managed to see this thing in their own element, they were equally amazed. They wouldn't go so far as to call it the best HDTV ever, but even when compared side-by-side with Pioneer's heralded PRO-151FD KURO plasma, they found the laser-packed set to be superior in a few instances. The test subjects underwent a few grueling hours of Iron Man and Ice Age: Meltdown on Blu-ray, and at the end of the night, critics didn't hesitate to recommend the set for anyone with loads of cash.

Five reasons not to buy a Blu-ray player yet

1. Nearly all current Blu-ray players are obsolete: The Blu-ray standard is still evolving. Most models currently available use the original Profile 1.0 standard, while some newer models use Profile 1.1 (which adds the ability to show picture-in-picture commentaries). Later this year, the first Profile 2.0 players--which add the ability to deliver online special features (BD Live)--will become available. Ironically, both of these are designed to bring the Blu-ray standard in line with HD-DVD players, which have long been able to deliver these features.

2. Blu-ray is best on a big-screen TV: Can you see the difference between standard DVD and Blu-ray? Yes--but it may not be as noticeable as you would think. Like all high-definition material, Blu-ray discs look their most impressive at bigger screen sizes, where DVD can sometimes start to look a bit soft. Put another way: If your TV is 37 inches or smaller, you probably won't be getting a huge advantage from Blu-ray.

Caveat: Eagle-eyed videophiles--or those who sit especially close to their 1080p TVs--may well see a difference. Rule of thumb: If HDTV programming looks noticeably better than DVD playback on your TV, then Blu-ray will be a worthwhile investment.

There are still very few movies available on Blu-ray: As of February 5, 2008, there are less than 450 current Blu-ray titles available in the US (not counting discontinued and adult titles). That stacks up well to HD-DVD (around 400). But it's a drop in the bucket compared to standard DVD, which has at least 90,000 titles available (including TV shows).

Caveat: Sure, it's small now, but the number of Blu-ray titles is growing slowly but surely. In fact, Blu-ray and HD-DVD adoption (combined) has actually outpaced that of the original DVD format, which took three or four years before it really went mainstream.

4. Blu-ray still has growing pains: How many times have you popped a brand new DVD into your player, only to be greeted with a message that you need to update the firmware to view the movie? Probably never, but Blu-ray early adopters have faced this message more than they would like to admit. (To be fair, HD-DVD has had its share of disc compatibility issues as well.) To make matters worse, many early Blu-ray players can't update via Ethernet, so you'll need to burn a CD to update the player. If you're reading Crave, burning a disc probably isn't a problem--but there are many less-tech-savvy people that love DVDs, but have no idea what an ISO file is.

5. Prices have nowhere to go but down: Even without competition from HD-DVD, Blu-ray prices seem to be on a one-way ticket downward, so don't be surprised to see in-house specials at S$599 or lower. In fact, the Samsung BD-P1400 is now going for only S$99 with each 40-inch full-HD LCD TV purchased at Harvey Norman in Singapore.

Toshiba XD-E500 upconverting DVD player

Yes, Toshiba seems resigned to some sort of HD disc-free existence, as it continues to mope about HD DVD's loss to Blu-ray and refrains from releasing a player for the once rival format, but let's set all aside for the moment. We got a look at Toshiba's new XD-E500 in action, and we must say: it does what it sets out to do. Most consumers will see a visible quality improvement when playing their DVDs, particularly in the realm of sharpness. Toshiba's new filters are "intelligent" enough to spice up the grass while leaving the sky and clouds free of noise, and while the contrast and color filters are less necessary, many consumers will enjoy their effect -- even if video purists would scoff at such alterations. As for usability, it couldn't really be much easier to flip on and off the three different enhancements, but there's also no customization of those modes to speak of. This $150 player isn't in any way Toshiba's Blu-ray killer, but thankfully the company actually seems to recognize that, and plans to market to Joe consumer who doesn't want to fork over the dough for a Blu-ray player or doesn't want to invest in a brand new video library, and won't be insulting videophiles' intelligence with claims to the contrary. If you're looking for something to magically make DVDs look like HD, this isn't it, but it bests Toshiba's best upconverter easily, and we'd venture to guess it's probably tops yours as well.

Toshiba Regza 42RV500E (42-inch LCD)

The midrange Regza 42RV500E sits in between the X3500 and the CV500 in Toshiba's current 2008 LCD TV lineup. Despite this arrangement, the 42RV500E is actually a stepped-up model that supersedes a similar-sized 42X3500E. For starters, the 42RV500E sports a much higher dynamic contrast, an upgraded video processor and more generous connectivity options