JVC turns on the first 720p billboard in Times Square

Is bigger always better? JVC's new LED display in Times Square doesn't have the size of Walgreens or Toshiba (and lets be real, no one is touching Dubai) but it is the first one in proper 720p (1280x720) resolution, no scaling or head tilting necessary here. After calling the crossroads of the world home since 1979, the new improved board lit up yesterday at 19 x 34-feet, capable of displaying 60fps with a mere 8mm pixel pitch ensuring things look good even close up. You can thank the same Clear Channel Spectacolor and D3 LED folks that were behind the Walgreens installation for this 12,500 lb screen, and we suppose you can also blame them for not letting us play some Call of Duty on it as well. Check the gallery or if you're in the area just take a walk over for a new and better look.

[Darren @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:38PM]

Man, that's a lot of p.

[kellogs908 @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:09PM]

oh really cause umm I was always under the impression a 32" 720p screen tv and a billion" 720p screen had the same amount of "p"

[bill cant fart @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:19PM]

I don't see any urine

[William @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:23PM]

Do you really thing the p stands for pixels?

Ugh.

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:37PM]

I think it stands for poor reply.

[Matt @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:55PM]

While the p does not stand for pixel, the 720 does (pixels of resolution vertical, or just horizontal scan lines). So p does matter. And in NYC there's plenty.

[[e-mail] @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:41PM]

I'm surprised to see that crime rates have not affected the deployment from the ad networks for these types of high quality LCd billboards. I have seen a few knocked out in Los Angeles from rock damage.

How does this play into the CPM rates and how can the downtime be measured?

[peachcutters @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:02PM]

You in the middle of Times sq. the biggest cluster f*ck of the universe... as a NYer would call it. It would be hard to throw a rock... also, I haven't really seen a rock in NYC in the middle of Times Sq. or Manhattan for that matter. bottles on the other hand...

[The Joker @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:21PM]

Ha! You can't fool me. That's Liberty City. You can just make out the BurgerShot.

[burnout08 @ Dec 4th 2008 1:57AM]

yea times square like display madness wouldn't really fly down her in la...sucks we probably wont get super cool touch screen advertisement dealies in red line stations anytime soon....

[Trial @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:43PM]

Why not go all out with 1080p?

[DBrim @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:44PM]

Money.

[quanta @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:57PM]

Digital signage rarely is implemented in 1080p because the distances involved means most people will not be able to tell the difference between 1080p and 720p (or sometimes 480p for that matter). Therefore, it's unnecessary to spend the additional cost on the more powerful equipment, stricter content resolution requirements and network bandwidth for "Full HD".

[OCEAN 'CLAK' 20th @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:44PM]

i thought bill boards had higher resolutions, that low res compared to modern TVs and PC screens

[John @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:43PM]

Who would have thought massive outdoor displays would not be as sophisticated in some areas as your 19" desktop monitor that would die if you left it outside in a rainshower.

[aardWolf @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:44PM]

I think I'll stick with my 42"... 720p at that size would have 720 lines/(19ft*(12in/ft)) = 3.16 lines/in

[Patriks7 @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:21PM]

Dude, not like you will be watching movies on these things.. its just a short commercial, which I bet 80% of the people will ignore, as they will be amazed at the actual size of these things!

[Sam Stone @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:45PM]

Thats actually a OK comment!

Minus the few grammatical errors.

Im impressed!

[OMGizzle! @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:53PM]

we're so fortunate to have your approval.

[Patriks7 @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:32PM]

Yet, you made a grammatical error that you learn in like first grade..

[avirji @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:14PM]

You mean "That's actually an OK comment!" and "I'm impressed!"

3 grammatical errors right there -- nice grammar.

[Matt @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:56PM]

Messing up grammar in a reply about grammar. Ha!

[michas_pi @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:55PM]

Is it HDCP-compatible?

[benderillo @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:01PM]

That's what she said.

[Derbeste @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:16PM]

She needs to stfu.

[StalematE @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:05PM]

I'm going to need a giant guitar to play World Tour on this bad boy.

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:40PM]

...but the standard issue guitar would work fine with your standard sized console of choice.

[whatishalo? @ Dec 3rd 2008 9:50PM]

Maybe you can borrow his: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTX3CaTWbkM

[kellogs @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:12PM]

yes because billboards have always been known for not looking pixelated crap....

[kellogs908 @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:14PM]

that should have been a reply to Clak.....I now what what it feels like to be the engadget comment shaft

[ethana2 @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:52PM]

You know what would be /really/ hilarious? If the comment system, instead of just leaving your replies as regular comments, would randomly direct them to be replies to comments you haven't even read. That could make for some great disturbing and comical situations.. ...ok yeah, I shouldn't give their webmaster any ideas.

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:44PM]

lmao, yeah and then she fell into a vat of boiling puke and totally burned alive. It was hilarious!

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:47PM]

Sorry. Wrong comment...

[Jason @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:12PM]

America's Piccadilly Circus copy is sure coming along. Too bad no one ever said... "Wait a minute, this really really sucks!"

Hey, we Canadians are even copying the copy in Toronto's Dundas square. Worst. Public Space. Ever.

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:41PM]

Well, that was relevant.

[gabe @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:25PM]

ugh

must we always mention dubai?

nyc > *

[ethana2 @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:48PM]

The Burj Dubai is taller than anything in nyc, and it's not even done yet-- so I'm afraid I have to disagree.
Dubai is like Tokyo, except in the middle of the fricking desert.

[Dave Chappelle @ Dec 3rd 2008 9:02PM]

sorry gabe but Dubai has become better.

I mean look at this place, times rectangle?

[DirtyVegas @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:32PM]

Why compare something that already exists with something else that's essentially a photoshop job as of now?

[Imperor @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:54PM]

Oh Yeah! A couple of cordless joypads and hooking that sucker up to a decent gaming rig could be a neat thing to do. Slaughter some Zombies in down town New York! :-P

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:49PM]

Holy shit, cordless joypads? Are those the same as wireless controllers?

[Dhsu @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:11PM]

Haha, I love how the billboard is showing a meta-ad using a picture of itself.

[Harry Wagstaff @ Dec 3rd 2008 9:56PM]

I'm so glad the universe doesn't just stack overflow when that sort of thing happens.

[chansthename @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:13PM]

well, it's not often that you look at these billboards from less than a metre away. You don't need the high res on billboard and companies don't waste money on it.

[chansthename @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:15PM]

sorry that was a reply to clak "i thought bill boards had higher resolutions, that low res compared to modern TVs and PC screens"

[Fritz @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:15PM]

Who's With Me !!!! WOOT... Someone bring the 360,four controllers, and a mega sofa, and lets play COD5, or even better.. Gasp.. GEARS OF WAR.... OR GUITAR HERO!!!!... Thats a true party!!!!

[Jonah @ Jul 31st 2009 3:10PM]

I'm in.

[Rob @ Dec 3rd 2008 9:58PM]

I'm not.

[CaliforniaKid @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:17PM]

Two pictures taken from the SAME angle? Whoever snapped these shots is an idiot.

[Gfxlonghorn @ Dec 3rd 2008 9:30PM]

I still prefer the 720P godzillatron in our stadium. Hook'em baby!