Sharp announces first TVs with Moth-Eye technology: the AQUOS XL series

Sharp may look like it’s in trouble, but that’s not stopping it bringing new displays to the market, including today’s announcement of the AQUOS Quattron 3D XL TV line. Behind the mouthful of acronyms, these LED-backlit LCD panels are the first to feature Sharp’s Moth-Eye technology, designed to reduce glare and pump out bright colors, as well as a deep black. The company’s ‘four primary color’ tech is partly responsible for the rich output, which squeezes a yellow sub-pixel in with the standard R, G and B. All the panels run at 1,920 x 1,080, as you’d expect, sport a 10 million to 1 contrast ratio and use five speakers to deliver audio. Prices aren’t fixed, but the 46-, 52- and 80-inch models will be released in Japan on December 15th, while the 60- and 70-inch variants will come slightly earlier, on November 30th. You’re going to have to be quick on launch day, though — only 10,000 units are expected to be available in the first month.

AV Watch

Sharp (1), (2)

Vizio CinemaWide HDTV Arrives In Stores For $2,000

Vizio first unveiled their new Vizio Cinemawide 58 Inch 21:9 HDTV back in June of this year, and if you have been patiently waiting for its arrival in stores, you will be pleased to know your wait is now over.

The Vizio Cinemawide 21:9 HDTV was expected to arrive with a $2,500 price tag, but Vizio has made their price more competitive and priced their new 58 Inch HDTV at under $2,000.

To re-cap the new Vizio Cinemawide HDTV is equipped with Edge Lit Razor LED backlight technology, providing a resolution of 2560 x 1080 (1080p) and 1.07 billion (10-bit) colours. Together with a number of multimedia features and applications.

“Multitask like mad with this Smart TV and VIZIO Internet Apps. Check your fantasy football, tweet, update Facebook and more all while watching TV. With built-in dual-band WiFi, it’s all available at the push of the button on the enhanced Bluetooth remote with keyboard.”

Source: Engadget

Sony unveils latest HX950 flagship HDTV in Japan with ‘Intelligent Peak LED’ backlighting

While Sony’s current lineup of HDTVs has so far topped out with the HX929/920 series that’s been kicking around since 2011, in Japan it has just unveiled a new top of the line model: the HX950. Often rumored in the last few months, it’s available in 65- or 55-inch varieties and features Sony’s now-trademark monolithic style as well as “Intelligent Peak LED” backlighting. Although Sony’s brand name for the tech doesn’t exactly reveal how it works, information leaks have suggested it is full array LED backlighting and not edge based, although we don’t know how many zones (individually controlled light sources) are in play. What we do know, however is that it claims to outperform the LED backlighting in the old 929 quite handily, although we’ll let our eyes be the judge of that.

It also includes MotionFlow XR960 (800 in the US) motion processing tech that can create 240fps from 60 frames and a glass panel mounted to the LCD itself with a special type of resin designed specifically to reduce glare. Finally, there’s also the usual add-ins like 3D and Sony Entertainment Network streaming video. We haven’t seen any European or US information for this model yet, although with IFA 2012 under way and CEDIA coming up that may change quickly. Currently pricing in Japan for the 65-inch is expected to be around 650,000 yen or $8,269 when it ships November 10th, but we should mention actual US prices are typically much lower than a direct conversion. Unofficially, one retailer is already listing the 55- and 65-inch models for sale in the US for $3,499 and $5,499, respectively, although we’d take that with a grain of salt until we know for sure.

AV Watch

4K, 84-inch ‘ultra’ HDTV from LG is ready to start shipping now in Korea, worldwide next month

Just in time to completely blow away that puny flat screen you nabbed for your dorm room, LG has announced its 84-inch ultra high definition LCD TV is ready to ship in South Korea. The company put its first UHDTV up for pre-ordering last month, at a price of 25 million won, which currently converts to about $22,105 US. The 84LM9600 does 3D with LG’s Cinema 3D passive glasses technology, however its ultra high pixel count means you’re still watching in 1080p even with the resolution loss since it starts at 3,840 x 2,160, and also features “3D sound” with integrated 2.2 channel speakers.

The bad news of course is that finding actual 4K res content is practically impossible, despite recent work on standards and even some testing by broadcasters. Still, plug this into a BDP-S790 Blu-ray player, certain PS3 apps or just output the latest video you’ve shot and it should be worth the price of admission, assuming you’re one of the (presumably) well-heeled Korean VIP customers that managed to snag one so far. If you’re not then don’t worry — the press release (included after the break) reveals you’ll have your chance once they start shipping worldwide in September, we plan to get our eyes on a production model at IFA 2012 in Germany.

Samsung Visual Display: le ultime tecnologie Samsung integrate nelle nuove Smart TV

Samsung ha presentato alcune novità davvero entusiasmanti. Le nuove Smart TV, infatti, diventeranno una sorta di centro digitale nel quale far confluire smartphone e tablet di ultima generazione. Tra le tante tecnologie presenti, spicca Mobile High-Definition Link, che permette di vedere sullo schermo TV ciò che vediamo anche sui nostri device.

La nuova gamma Visual Display è davvero ricca di novità interessanti. Oltre alla già citata MHL, troviamo anche la funzionalità Mobile Control e la compatibilità WiDi. Il tutto per consentire all’utente di godere a pieno della mobilità senza rinunciare alla comodità del grande schermo.

Si va dall’HDTV monitor Serie 7 (TB750) ai monitor PC e TV Serie 5 (S/TB550), fino alla Smart Station Serie 7 (CB750). Tanti modelli pronti per comunicare con l’utente al fine di migliorare l’esperienza d’uso. Grazie alla tecnologia MHL, tutti questi prodotti permettono di guardare in maniera fluida e veloce foto e video in TV.

Il monitor HDTV Samsung Serie 7 (TB750) da 27” è probabilmente il pezzo forte. Si differenzia per il design asimmetrico e per i colori eleganti in pieno stile Samsung. Grazie alla retroilluminazione LED, alla tecnologia MHL e all’innovativa funzione Wireless Display (WiDi) sviluppata da Intel, che permette di collegare lo schermo in modalità wireless agli altri dispositivi predisposti nelle vicinanze, senza il fastidioso ingombro di fili o la necessità di spostarsi dalla propria postazione.

Sharp Launches Massive 90 Inch 1080p HDTV For $11,000

Sharp has this week added a huge HDTV measuring 90 inches to their range of high definition televisions, in the form of the new AQUOS LED TV model number LC-90LE745U. Sharp’s latest AQUOS LED TV is equipped with Sharp’s proprietary SmartCentral, which offers you direct access to popular applications.

As well as video on demand services such as VUDU, YouTube, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus and Netflix to name a few. Together with features for browsing the web and using Skype communications, via your Wi-Fi network.

The AQUOS LED TV stands an impressive 4′ tall and measures 6’8″ wide, weighing in at 141lbs, and is now available to purchase for around $11,000. Which is fairly reasonable for such a large HDTV when you consider HDTV sets that measure over 100 inches in size are available for nearer $20,000.

Source: Hot Hardware

Samsung shows off production 55-inch OLED HDTVs at the 2012 World’s Fair

We got a first hand look at Samsung’s stunning 55-inch OLED HDTV prototypes earlier this year during CES, but now it’s surprising the world by showing off the first mass produced ES9500 models at the 2012 World’s Fair (which is apparently still a thing?) in Korea. Beyond the Smart Interaction voice and gesture control, Smart Content and Smart Evolution upgradeable dual-core CPU features found in its other high-end HDTVs, Samsung has also built in Smart Dual View technology. This lets users watch two different programs (2D) on one screen at the same time using the set’s 3D glasses. Since each pixel is individually lit, Samsung says its OLED tech has 20 percent better color reproduction than existing LED-backlit LCD HDTVs. There’s still no word on exactly when these will ship and for how much, however with competition on the way from LG, these fresh-off-the-factory-line flat panels are a sign we won’t be waiting long. Other than new display tech, Samsung also took the opportunity to officially announce bigger LCD models on the way in sizes from 60- to 75-inches. Check the galleries below for a few pictures straight from the expo, as well as our shots of the CES display.

Samsung Tomorrow

Toshiba’s 55XS5 brings quad HD without the glasses-free 3D tech to Japan in June

While we’re still waiting for Toshiba to deliver its top of the line 55X3 HDTV with 4K resolution and glasses-free 3D technology here in the US, it just announced a step-down model in Japan. The Regza 55XS5 keeps the 3840 x 2160 LCD panel, but switches to edge LED lighting instead of local dimming and drops 3D altogether, autostereoscopic or otherwise. There’s a CEVO Duo image processing engine inside the slimmed-down frame upconverting your standard HDTV res inputs to QFHD, as well as support for apps and USB hard drive for recording broadcasts. This model should ship in June on the other side of the Pacific for an “open price” expected to be around 750,000 yen ($9,410 US), slightly lower than the X3′s 900,00 yen launch price last December.

Engadget Japan

Toshiba Japan

Apple TV vs. the new Apple TV (2012): what’s changed?

The Apple TV might still be a hobby, and thus not the main event at Tim Cook’s Apple presentation today, but Apple’s participation in the living room has had its fair share of rumors, speculation and dreams. The fact that the user experience has been streamlined is the big news today, but there is also a modest spec bump that includes the ability to play and output 1080p. Other than that you can easily see after the break how well the new Apple TV matches up with its predecessor.

Samsung unleashes Smart Touch Remote and Wireless Keyboard, we go eyes-on (video)

Along with announcing the official release details for its 2012 Plasma and Smart Interaction TV lineup today, Samsung also introduced its Smart Touch Remote and Wireless Keyboard. Essentially serving as the replacement for its 2011 Qwerty remote, the new Touch variant will come included with the ES7500 and ES8000 LED models and E8000 Plasma display. The retro-looking slab features tactile controls for channel switching and adjusting volume on its edges, while the middle section is dedicated to gesture controls for interacting with services like Smart Hub. Notably, the remote also features a built-in microphone which will assist with voice controls if ya happen to be far away from your TV. Moving along for those who like to type, the Wireless Keyboard will be available separately and features most of what you’ll find on the remote cleanly affixed on its right side. We’re also told that it’s compatible with both models of the Galaxy Tab 2.We haven’t heard any word on pricing or availability, but check out the gallery below and a cameo of the remote in the video past the break for further details.

Samsung Smart Interaction gesture controlled HDTV demo (video)

Samsung revealed some of its 2012 HDTVs would include a built in camera and mic to enable a feature it calls Smart Interaction, which is just a brand name for voice and gesture control. We stopped by the company’s massive CES booth today and squeezed between all of those 55-inch OLEDs to get a quick demo, and found it mirrored the suddenly common Kinect functionality we’ve become accustomed to closely. Like Microsoft’s add-on, Samsung’s setup has a keyword that activates it (Hi TV) and like the recently upgraded Xbox 360 dashboard, there has been a lot of work done to make sure it recognizes many real words. A key difference from the Kinect however, is that Samsung has also developed a Bluetooth-connected IR blaster that can sit in front of your cable box and extend the control to other devices that way. As you can see in our video of the presentation the control was generally tight and responsive, however it still lacks truly natural communication and the test volunteer had some trouble turning the TV off. Check out the video after the break and see if a future of talking to the TV is for you — we’ll be on the couch with our remotes.

Samsung Series 7 HDTV monitor hands-on

Of the two monitors Samsung announced last week, the Series 7 was decidedly the middle-of-the road number. But that’s not saying much, seeing as how its big brother, the Series 9, is Sammy’s first consumer display with a plane line switching panel, and has a 2560 x 1440 pixel count. The Series 7, available in 24- and 27-inch sizes (both 1080p), uses the same matte, 400-nit, SuperBright Plus panel you’ll find on the newly announced Series 9 laptop, and as ever it looks bright and clear, even in the face of some oblique viewing angles. For the money ($600 and up), it also has built-in WiDi and MHL, along with an integrated TV tuner. So far as we can tell, after having seen it in person, the biggest thing you’ll lose once you step down from the Series 9 (aside from the PLS bit) is design flair. Whereas the Series 9 has a slim aluminum build with glowing touch controls, the Series 7′s glossy surfaces pick up fingerprints quite quickly. (Then again, this more or less rocks the same design as last year’s Series 9 flagship, so how bad could it be?) Have a peek at our shots below, and stay tuned for a separate look at the Series 9 — for whatever reason, the one on display at tonight’s press event was powered off for the night, so we’ll be back sometime soon when we can show you that high-quality PLS display in the buff.

Samsung Series 7 HDTV (2012) hands-on

Samsung’s got a 55-inch Super OLED TV of its own, coming in the second half of 2012

We’re seated here at Samsung’s 2012 CES press event, and the company just revealed that it’ll be matching rival LG’s 55-inch OLED TV… when a 55-inch OLED TV of its own. Not surprisingly, the outfit’s trumpeting its terrific color reproduction, the virtual absence of motion blur and face recognition. Sadly, there’s not even a model number to mark down, and a price estimate should be even harder to find. It is, however, expected to ship in the latter half of 2012. There’s no color filter needed here, either, as the self-emitting RGB sub-pixels take care of themselves; since light output on the Super OLED is controlled on a pixel-to-pixel basis, you can rest assured that your blacks will be deep and your whites bright. Other specs include a dual-core processor and 3D support. We’ll be doing everything we can to get a peek at one, so keep it locked for more as we heard it.

Samsung 55-inch Super OLED TV revealed at CES 2012

Samsung has Smart TVs with dual core CPUs, cameras and more

Samsung’s CES 2012 press conference is going on right now, and it’s unveiling new products including the top of the line ES8000 LED model that packs a dual core CPU to run its apps, and an integrated camera and microphone for “Smart Interaction”. Beyond that, the “Smart Evolution” feature will let users swap out that dual core processor for something heftier later on if they want to upgrade. Finally “Smart Content” is the umbrella term for a wave content and apps including, of course, Angry Birds, and an upgraded version of AllShare that pulls from the cloud, and can even control other compatible devices. The ES8000 edge lit LED line ranges in size from 46- to 65-inches, and features Smart Interaction cameras and mics for videoconferencing as well as voice and gesture control. Check after the break for the press release with all the details, or follow along with our liveblog.

CNET

Samsung reports operating profit of $4.5 billion on cellphone, hard drive biz sales

Fourth quarter earnings for Samsung are out and wouldn’t you know it, selling a record number of mobile phones — more than three times over what it sold in the same period last year — is a pretty good way to turn a profit. Businessweek notes it closed the three months ending in December with an operating profit of 5.2 trillion won ($4.5 billion), beating analyst estimates. Other than the more than 300 million phones it sold, there was also a bump from the $1.38 billion sale of its hard drive business to Seagate that helped overcome drops in profits from its chipmaking and flat-screen units. Detailed results are expected later on this month, but The Wall Street Journal reports Samsung expects to notch an operating profit of 16.2 trillion won ($14 billion). Here’s hoping it takes a break from counting up all that cash to show off a few things better and brighter next week at CES.

Wall Street Journal, Businessweek, Reuters

Samsung annuncia la Serie 9 con un 27 pollici quad-HD e nuovi pannelli della Serie 7

A pochi giorni dall’inizio del CES 2012 anche Samsung mette in campo le prime novità con l’annuncio della nuova Serie 9 in arrivo proprio per questa occasione con un display da 27 pollici che utilizza la tecnologia Plane Line Switching (PLS), una risoluzione  quad high-definition di 2560 x 1440 pixel, glass anti-glare , speaker da 7 watt, Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) per una completa connettività tramite dispositivi mobile e prezzo di $1,199.99.

LG unveils new 3D glasses, hopes lighter and better looking spectacles drive adoption

LG’s FPR 3DTVs already featured lighter, cheaper passive 3D glasses than their active shutter competition, but next year the company will push its advantage even further with these new models. The three options available include the F310 (at right, above) which it says weighs 20 percent less than last year’s default and are curved more for a better fit, the F320 (left) clip-on design for glasses-wearers and Alain Mikli-designed (the guy who made Kanye’s shutter shades, among other high-end eyeglasses) F360 half-rim frames (middle). It also rolled out a press release trumpeting new Smart TV features for 2012, but beyond the updated remote and confirmation of Intel WiDi integration, it’s pretty short on details. We’re not seeing any Google TV tie-ins here, LG is focusing on its homegrown ecosystem which it says now offers 1,200 apps (of course, that probably includes the thousand or so recently added via its deal with Chumby). There’s no word on pricing for the glasses, but after this and announcing a 55-inch OLED prototype, we’re wondering what else the Lucky Goldstar folks will have up their sleeves at CES.

LG 2012 3D Glasses and Smart TV menu

Myriad Alien Vue brings Google TV apps to existing HDTVs, set-top boxes (video)

Couch potatoes may soon be able to get a more complete Android app experience without leaving the living room, or picking up a tablet or smartphone. Myriad’s new Alien Vue is a customizable OEM platform that enables TV and set-top box manufacturers to bring Android to their existing products, adding support for apps designed for Google TV and HTML5. Myriad is the developer behind Alien Dalvik, which allows you to run Android apps on non-Android devices, including iOS and MeeGo. Alien Vue brings that concept to the living room, and includes a branded app store, web browser and portable device control, letting you control your TV and other home theater devices using a phone or tablet. But unlike Dalvik, it’ll be up to manufacturers to add support for Vue — you won’t be hacking your TV and installing the software yourself. We’ll be bringing you a full hands-on from CES, but jump past the break for a quick video demo.

SlashGear

Myriad

xBounds adds HDMI mirroring to Android phones, lets you ‘kill the pigs’ on the big screen (video)

Forget DLNA, that pesky setup requires all of your electronic kit to match up with the same certification. If you want full HDMI-mirroring without the fuss, your go-to’s going to be an innocuous little dongle from Dream Chip Technologies. The plain, white xBounds stick links up to your smartphone over WiFi using the outfit’s xBeam encoder, transmitting mobile content via HDMI to an HDTV set or external monitor. Games and videos streamed to the big screen will also enjoy output in a higher resolution thanks to the company’s xBounds ReMatch tech. But all of this ease of use comes at a price, as the RemoteGPU device is purported to cost €99 (about $134), with the full-on dev kit (which includes a Nexus S) ringing in at €998 (about $1,350). There’s no word yet on an official release, so you’ll just have to make due with the video after the break.

The Verge, Slashgear

Droidcon

Turkish company builds 65-inch Android ‘tablet’ with Honeycomb, 1080p support (video)

Want Honeycomb on your TV? You can take your chances with a Google TV-enabled set from Sony, or you can get the full Android experience by adding a connected tablet to your HD mix — if Istanbul-based Ardic gets its solution out the door, at least. The Turkish company’s prototype uses a 10-inch Android Honeycomb-based tablet to power a 65-inch LCD with 1080p support for basic gestures, like pinch and zoom. The display currently has two touch sensors, but a version with four sensors is on the way, which will bring multi-touch support. The tablet is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 2 SoC, and includes 1GB of RAM, 16GB of flash memory, dual cameras, HDMI, USB, microSD and 3G and WiFi connectivity. A dock enables instant connectivity with the OEM TV, including HDMI for video and audio, and USB for touch input (a wireless version is in the works as well).

The devs customized Android to support 1080p output, and it appears to work quite seamlessly, as you’ll see in the embedded video. And this isn’t simply another goofy demo or proof of concept — the Turkish company is in talks with education and enterprise customers and hopes to bring this setup to production as a more power- and cost-efficient smart board alternative. The company eventually hopes to offer displays in a variety of sizes, that will all be powered by a pocketable device, such as a smartphone, but watch in wonder as the 65-inch proto we have today struts its stuff in the video after the break.

YouTube