Live coverage of the Sharp press event
By James Ransom-Wiley 
posted January 5th 2006 12:20AM
posted January 5th 2006 12:20AM
We dropped in on Sharp America's keynote. Here's the lowdown:
12:15 - Mike Troettie, President of Sharp America, takes the stage. He announces the shipment of a 65-inch LC-TV model, alongside plans to open a second Kameyama factory capable of producing 8 45-inch screens out of a single piece of glass.
12:23 - Partnering with NBC, Troettie reveals plans to erect a new Times Square sign in the shape of an AQUOS, part of a 10-year agreement.
12:25 - Troettie points to Sharp's dedication to a major appliance launch in 2006, highlighted by the world's first microwave drawer. 12:26 - Bob Scaglione, Sharp America's Senior VP of Marketing, takes the stage. Scaglione reiterates his company's foucs on the future of LC-TV and referrences the new AQUOS 57-inch model with a 5 wave-length backlight, 176 degree viewing angle, 1500:1 contrast ratio, and a 4-millisecond response time. In addition, the smaller D40, D50 and D90 models will also feature a 176 degree viewing angle, to go with a 1200:1 contrast ratio and 6-millisecond response time.
12:30 - Scaglione highlights Sharp's big three for 2006: megacontrast, two-way viewing angle, and Network AQUOS. The megacontrast feature will display an impressive 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and should become popular with broadcasters, production studios, and film studios. Two-way viewing will allow two different video streams to fill the entire screen simultaneously, so that left and right viewers can be watching two separate feeds (think: driver monitoring a navigation system, while passenger watches DVD). The Network AQUOS will make use of PLC technology, and features a built-in web browser, allowing users to watch a video feed and browse the internet at the same time.
12:32 - Scaglione introduces the XV-Z20000, Sharp's first true 1080p DLP projector, featuring TI HD technology. The Z20000 will debut as Sharp's highest priced model, retailing for over $10,000.
12:33 - Scaglione makes vague mention of Sharp's dedication to the Blu-ray format, quickly segueing into a preview of the new 1-bit home theatre audio system.
12:35 - Q & A: Scaglione is pressed for more details about Sharp's plans for a Blu-ray player/recorder. Initially, Scaglione says that a player will not debut until 2007 and no pricing information is available. Later, he suggests that a Blu-ray player could be released by the summer of this year, followed by a Blu-ray recorder sometime in 2007. Scaglione had no informaiton about Blu-ray output specs.
I solute you for blogging the old fashioned way, us Americans have become so reliant on audio and video we don't really read anymore.
To stay on topic:
080p DLP projector AWESOME
'cept home theaters are out.
Windows Media Center What What...
More Broad:
I don't know about ps2 and bluray,
I'll take the underdog I'm thinking xbox 360 and hd will capture the American public.
Maybe somebody should invent a light bulb... cause everyone of these press conferences look like they are talking in an unlit room.
At least Microsoft does it right in that category... they use spotlights in their press conferences... so you can see the look on Bill's face when the latest product he's touting... crashes!
The announcements about LCD panels really interests me... I hope they have smaller panels with fast response times, though.
Anyone knows when they'll be released? :)
Um, the guy looks like he's being hung.
Bob Scaglione is a really awesome peep! And he looks great in this pic!