Acer's AT3705 becomes first LCD TV to receive Viiv certification

While we're still firm believers that nobody is exactly certain what all this Viiv fuss is about, Acer has been labeled the first producer of a Viiv-certified LCD TV, which "tests for compatibility of networked media devices with Intel Viiv technology-based PCs while sharing content over a home network." The 37-inch, HD-ready AT3705 is marketed as "the first LCD TV that integrates digital TV with media gateway functionality," and reportedly plays back content such as recorded digital TV broadcasts and "protected media" purchased at content service providers thanks to its support for DTCP-IP (Digital Transmission Content Protection over IP). Essentially, the set allows seamless playback of protected content stored on Viiv-enabled HTPCs, presumably providing one more headache when trying to watch last week's OTA HD broadcast of The Office. Regardless, we're sure the content guardians are lovin' it, and Acer will gladly take any sort of praise it can get, but we're not so sure this (yet-to-be-priced) set is as spectacular (or useful) as the firm would lead you to believe.

[Via CEPro]

[Orbberius @ Dec 3rd 2006 9:49AM]

This TV is already for sale in Canada, at least.

http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=LCDTelevisions&product=1611027

[Dan @ Dec 3rd 2006 10:17AM]

Horrible TV. Don't even buy it. You can only get 1080p over component.

[spil @ Dec 3rd 2006 10:31AM]

How ironic, the very product that once never had a viiv chip in it now does.

[rockintom99 @ Dec 4th 2006 3:31PM]

Um, that's not really irony. It's change.

[Mike @ Dec 3rd 2006 10:39AM]

I am a disgusting spammer, please spam me back: [e-mail]

[nivz @ Dec 3rd 2006 12:39PM]

it;s amazing if u could inflate it after watchinf tv and play some ball... btw WTF is viiv really?

[macleg @ Dec 3rd 2006 1:25PM]

Something that makes me thing this may be the incorrect model number, because "DTCP-IP (Digital Transmission Content Protection over IP)" The following is about the AT3705 carried at The Source, but does not have networking capabilities. I had actually worked at The Source in Canada while this was being sold (I believe it is actually now a clearance item - and also didn't have "Viiv" Cert lol. Really though, Acer does have some nice tvs in terms of inputs I believe this particular tv (If I remember correctly) had something like 1 HDMI, 1 DVI(HDCP), VGA, 3 Components, 1 NTSC tuner, 1 ATSC tuner ect. I never had a 1080p source to try with the tv except a computer with VGA (No, we didn't have any dvi computers in stock haha) The TV displayed "1080 P" on it, although it listed it as 30hz? wft lol - Maybe it is just a limitation with the display with VGA, or the cheap Intel integrated graphics. Pretty decent looking set with removable speakers, the thing that would NEVER allow me to buy this though is a horrible contrast ratio, literally black looks grey on this thing. Buy a good Samsung or something, looks much better.

[Namarrgon @ Dec 3rd 2006 6:09PM]

I have an AT3705 (non-networked), and I get 1080P over component AND over HDMI, at 30Hz, 60Hz and even 72Hz. However, the VGA input tops out at 1280x1024, as far as I can tell.

On mine at least, the contrast ratio is 800:1, and looks fine.

[Perry L @ Dec 4th 2006 10:20PM]

It is a very cheap 1080p TV. It only does 1080p via component. VGA, DVI and HDMI are 1080i. It is a screaming deal and a lot of forum space has been devoted to it in the year that it has been out.

The first post referencing this set was on this site a year ago.

[Matt Harlum @ Dec 5th 2006 5:07AM]

The AT3705-MGW is actually an alright machine, i don't know of many other tv's with
Wifi 802.11G
Ethernet 10/100
Card reader: CF, MMC, MS, MS PRO, SD
and the ability to play content from a remote machine via wireless or wired lan,
it can play MPEG1/2/4, DivX, XViD, WMV9, Quicktime, MPEG2 (up to 1080i), MPEG (720p), WMV9 (720p), LPCM, MP3, WMA7/8/9, WAV

The media gateway firmware is powered by linux, and the picture quality is superb.

This unit has been out here in australia since early this year, and when i got to play with it i started wishing i could afford it.