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Planar preps 23-inch SA2311W 1080p 3D monitor, backlit ProGlow keyboard

Darren Murph — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:53:00 EST

Oh, you know the bandwagon's in full-on rampage mode now. How so? Because Planar -- a company that generally strays far, far away from mere mortals in the consumer market -- has just announced a new 23-inch 3D monitor. It represents a stark break from the company's typical high-end-only approach, and it likely speaks volumes to just how quickly 3D is gaining steam in the PC gaming universe. The SA2311W display will boast a 120Hz refresh rate, 1920 x 1080 resolution, two millisecond response time, a height adjustable stand, VGA / dual-link DVI / HDMI inputs and support for NVIDIA's 3D Vision system. Naturally, you'll need a set of active shutter glasses to enjoy the eye-popping mayhem, and for those who've never tried 'em, they're a step below a welder's mask in terms of exterior visibility. To that end, Planar is also introducing the first keyboard designed specifically for users rocking 3D active shutter glasses -- the ProGlow (shown after the break) boasts seven adjustable light levels (plus off), enabling immersed gamers to still recognize which keys are which. Both devices are expected to ship in the US of A next month for $449 and $185, respectively, though we get the feeling those vicious 3D dinosaurs aren't included. Which is a bummer of epic proportions, if we should say so ourselves.

Continue reading Planar preps 23-inch SA2311W 1080p 3D monitor, backlit ProGlow keyboard

Planar preps 23-inch SA2311W 1080p 3D monitor, backlit ProGlow keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runco making it to CEDIA after all

Steven Kim — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:39:00 EST

The CEDIA picture for Runco is finally clear, and we're thankful it's good news for the longstanding high end marque and CEDIA founder. Runco will indeed be at the CEDIA show next month, with more than a dozen new products in the company's booth and two dealer training rooms in play as well. Even though we can only dream of affording Runco gear, it's good to see it will be at the show -- given the nature of its product line, CEDIA really is the best fit. Apparently, the company agrees, and is tailoring its booth activities to address dealer needs. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Runco making it to CEDIA after all

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Others, Plasma, Projector

Runco making it to CEDIA after all originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crestron makes room in its CEDIA booth for Runco, Planar (update: Runco not in Crestron booth, CEDIA plans forthcoming)

Steven Kim — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:12:00 EST

Those shopping for a 100-inch VideoWall or say, a $20,000 projector will be pleased to know that Runco will be at September's CEDIA tradeshow, after all. Although the Planar/Runco presence at the custom-oriented show was in doubt, Crestron made room in its huge CEDIA booth for the brands will be at CEDIA -- which sounds like a good match to us, especially if Runco delivers on its promise to show off a new "benchmark" front projection product. No doubt it'll be something beyond our tax bracket (ditto for the Crestron gear), but we'll try to get a look at what Runco's cooking up when we go through the exhibition hall.

Update: The original source article has been pulled, but a check with Crestron confirms that there is no formal CEDIA collaboration between Crestron and Runco/Planar. For its part, Runco plans to make an official announcement regarding its CEDIA plans in the next few days. Stay tuned!

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Others, Plasma, Projector, Runco

Crestron makes room in its CEDIA booth for Runco, Planar (update: Runco not in Crestron booth, CEDIA plans forthcoming) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tough economy sidelines D&M Holdings, Planar at CEDIA Expo 2009

Steven Kim — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:31:00 EST

If you thought the well-to-do crowd wasn't feeling the pinch from the rotten economy, consider this -- D&M is not going to be at CEDIA Expo 2009 in a couple of months. You know, the show that features pricey, high-end custom install toys. Not being able to get our paws on the latest toys from Denon, Marantz, McIntosh, Boston Acoustics, Snell and Escient breaks our hearts, but D&M has decided to commit its resources to dealer training (and promotions, we hope); all the better to drive new customer sales. To be clear, D&M will have a presence at CEDIA, it just won't be on the Expo floor -- meetings will be by appointment only. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that similar measures won't have to be taken at CES in January. Planar (and by association, Runco) may take a similar CEDIA approach, not entirely surprising given its recent performance.

Filed under: Industry

Tough economy sidelines D&M Holdings, Planar at CEDIA Expo 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar's fourth quarter sales slip 32-percent

Steven Kim — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:45:00 EST

Even the high end of home theater gear is feeling the pinch this year. And we don't mean the Kuro kind of high end, we mean the world of high end projector setups that really put the "theater" in "home theater." It's been a couple of years since Planar snatched up Runco in an effort to grab a piece of that rarefied air, and its Q4 2008 sales are down a whopping 32-percent compared to Q4 2007. So much for the safety at the luxe end of the market, eh? Certainly, Planar's nosedive isn't all the fault of Runco, but a look at both the exorbitant price tags on both Runco and Planar gear for specs that aren't leaps and bounds beyond the competition make it hard for anyone to justify. Unless, of course, you've got so much money that $15,000 (and up) projectors are an impulse buy that don't need any justification.

Filed under: Industry, Others, Projector, Runco

Planar's fourth quarter sales slip 32-percent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar announces Viper DLP HD projector

Darren Murph — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:28:00 EST

Planar has remained mostly quiet since CES, but given that CEDIA is within spittin' distance, it's no shock to see it making waves once more. Today, the outfit has revealed its first 3-chip HD projector, the DLP-based Viper. Other specs include a native 1,280 x 720 resolution, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 2,000 lumens and 10-bit independent dual image / motion adaptive processing. You'll also find an RS-232 port, twin HDMI 1.3 sockets and a jaw-dropping $15,495 price tag. It's shipping immediately for those with the requisite coin. Full release after the break.

Gallery: Planar announces Viper DLP HD projector

Continue reading Planar announces Viper DLP HD projector

Filed under: Displays, Others, DLP, Projector, Runco

Planar announces Viper DLP HD projector originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar announces Viper DLP HD projector

Darren Murph — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:28:00 EST

Gallery: Planar announces Viper DLP HD projector

Continue reading Planar announces Viper DLP HD projector

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Planar announces Viper DLP HD projector originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar's PD8150 and PD8130 1080p DLP projectors shipping in March

Darren Murph — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:07:00 EST

If Mitsubishi's polite pair of projectors weren't enough to satisfy those impeccably high standards of yours, we've all ideas that Planar's duo won't let you down. First spotted at Runco / Planar's zanily themed booth at CEDIA, it seems that Planar is just now getting around to giving us a ship date that we can dutifully pencil in. The flagship PD8150 -- which checks in with a glorious 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 1,000 ANSI lumens and a 15,000:1 contrast ratio -- will finally ship in early March for $7,999. As for the $5,999 PD8130, which also hits the road in March, you can expect the same resolution with a slightly lower 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Pretty tempting, no?

[Via AboutProjectors]

Filed under: Displays, Others, DLP, Projector, Runco

Planar's PD8150 and PD8130 1080p DLP projectors shipping in March originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar's PD8150 and PD8130 1080p DLP projectors shipping in March

Darren Murph — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:07:00 EST

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Planar's PD8150 and PD8130 1080p DLP projectors shipping in March originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar introduces 70-inch 1080p m70L LCD monitor

Darren Murph — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:31:00 EST

Yeah, 70-inch LCDs may still make one swoon, but they're far from revolutionary. Still, Planar's managing to teach an aging dog new ways to be important by labeling its upcoming m70L the "first full-featured commercial-grade, high-definition 70-inch LCD monitor." A proud member of the m-Series lineup (pictured), this unit is entirely more comfortable in control rooms and fashion stores than in anyone's home theater, but still, it's a pretty impressive beast on paper. Reportedly, you'll find 178-degree viewing angles, 1,500:1 contrast ratio, a full 1080p resolution, 600 nits of brightness and HD-SDI connectivity. Also of note, this thing was built to run 'round the clock, but also boasts an integrated timer for scheduling events (source switching, on / off, etc.), landscape or portrait orientation support and compatibility with VESA mounts. The only real rub, however, is the price, and considering the $30,000 sticker it'll be rockin' when it lands next month, we'd say you're better off elsewhere.

[Via DigiTimes]

Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Planar introduces 70-inch 1080p m70L LCD monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runco sets up camp with outdoor LCD

Erik Hanson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:32:00 EST

High-end manufacturer Runco is headed for the great outdoors with a 42-inch LCD panel that's ruggedized and weatherproofed for use outside the home. The 1366 x 768-native WP-42HD flat panel sports a cabinet design to minimize exposure to the elements, and has a "Winter Mode" to allow it to operate down to -4° F -- low enough to want to watch it through the window instead of beside it. As is usual for Runco, the set includes RS-232 automation, a custom high-gloss bezel, and a $8,995 price tag to match, leaving us to wonder if we can instead pick up eight Vizio sets and just replace one every winter.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Household

Runco sets up camp with outdoor LCD originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runco sets up camp with outdoor LCD

Erik Hanson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:32:00 EST

Filed under: Displays, LCD, Runco

Runco sets up camp with outdoor LCD originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar intros transparent electroluminescent displays

Darren Murph — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:58:00 EST

While Planar was all about snazzy projectors and enviable plasmas at CEDIA, the firm is branching out a bit with its latest displays. The transparent and segment electroluminescent (TASEL) displays join the firm's family of EL displays and offer up the "added benefits of transparency and the ability to be cut or shaped." The units can also be transparent or mirrored, boast a viewing angle of 179-degrees, and feature "instant on" response times of under one-millisecond. Currently, only samples of Planar's TASEL displays are available, but hopefully these things will be going commercial real soon.

[Via LetsGoDigital]

Filed under: Displays

Planar intros transparent electroluminescent displays originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar / Runco's CEDIA booth tour

Darren Murph — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 01:57:00 EST

Considering that Runco and Planar are like family these days, it wasn't exactly shocking to find the two booths located side-by-side. Interestingly, Runco and Planar chose to erect a golf-themed exhibit, complete with a putting green, Player's Club, and an HT clubhouse. Aside from the decorations, we found a variety of LCDs (like the 1080p PD470) on display, as well as a number of new home cinema projectors including the 1080p DLP trio more commonly referred to as the PD8150, PD8130, and PD8120. Go on, check out the gallery below -- greens fees are on us!

Gallery: Planar / Runco's CEDIA booth tour

Filed under: Industry, Displays, DLP, LCD, Projector, Runco

Planar / Runco's CEDIA booth tour originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Sep 2007 01:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar expands PX lineup with 22-, 24-, and 26-inch LCDs

Darren Murph — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:09:00 EST

Looking to satisfy the demands of those yearning for more pixelated real estate, Planar has added a trio of expansive options to its PX series. The 22-inch PX2210MW checks in with a WSXGA+ resolution, built-in TrueMedia speakers, a headphone jack, HDCP-compliant DVI port, and a VGA connector for good measure. The middle child (that'd be the PX2411W) steps it up with a WUXGA resolution, Planar's RapidVideo accelerator, and six-millisecond response time, while the flagship PX2611W adds four USB 2.0 ports and a five-millisecond response time. All these units come with a three-year warranty and look to be available right now, and while the low-ender will run you right around $299, the 24- and 26-inch iterations are going for $599 and $899, respectively.

Filed under: Displays

Planar expands PX lineup with 22-, 24-, and 26-inch LCDs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar dives head first into high-end home theater market by acquiring Runco

Darren Murph — Wed, 23 May 2007 17:14:00 EST

Joining the growing array of recent acquisitions is Planar and Runco International, as just today Planar has written a check for $36.7 million to take on the assets of privately-held Runco International, Inc. Planar, while not a household name in the home theater biz, managed to hold its own amongst competitors in the HT market, and while the majority of its products catered to the mid-range consumer, we suspect that picking up Runco was the easiest way to launch into the high-end realm. As expected, it looks like the Planar, Runco, and Vidikron brand names will remain as they are, and just as Planar will continue to sell through its current network of distributors, it sure sounds like Runco will remain a niche offering rather than bleeding over towards the mainstream.

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Other hardware, Others, LCD, Plasma, Projector, Runco

Planar dives head first into high-end home theater market by acquiring Runco originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2007 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar dives head first into high-end home theater market by acquiring Runco

Darren Murph — Wed, 23 May 2007 17:14:00 EST

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Planar dives head first into high-end home theater market by acquiring Runco originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2007 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar @ CEDIA - Three new 1080p LCDs

Richard Lawler — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:54:00 EST

We don't talk about Planar's HDTVs here a lot, but they are one of the many exhibitors at CEDIA 2006, and are showing off their entries into the ever-crowded arena of 1080p LCDs. Available in 37-, 42 and 47-inch sizes, the PD370, PD420 and PD470 bring the requisite 2 million-plus pixels to the table, plus 10-bit Faroudja DCDi image processing with motion-adaptive deinterlacing, 1200:1 contrast ratio, 500 nits of brightness, 6.5ms refresh rate and 24-bit color. One HDMI, two component and one RGB jack take the supported 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i, 480p and 480i inputs. These tunerless displays have integrated bottom-mounted speakers as seen on the 32-inch above, continue on for a pic of the 42-inch model. No word on pricing just yet but they'll need to provide a good value to compete in this market.

Continue reading Planar @ CEDIA - Three new 1080p LCDs

Filed under: LCD

Planar @ CEDIA - Three new 1080p LCDs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar's PD8110, armed with 1,200 lumens at 1080p

Cyrus Farivar — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:25:00 EST

Last weekend we posted about a $500 projector, but if you thought to yourself that this was too cheap for your blood -- try spending 100 little pieces of paper with Ben Franklin's mug on one. Planar has just stepped into the high-end projector market with its first native hi-def 1080p model, the Planar PD8110, priced at $10,000. This puppy sports 1,920 x 1,080 full HD resolution, using a DLP 0.95 DC3 1080p chip at 1,200 lumens and 8000:1 contrast ratio. Planar also introduced several lower-end models, which include the PD7150, PD7130, PD7060, PD7010 and the PD4010 ($1300). All the new models will be demoed at CEDIA Expo in Denver, which begins tomorrow. The market for 1080p projectors is getting a little crowded -- how about somebody making our day and coming out with one that sells for less than two grand?

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

Planar's PD8110, armed with 1,200 lumens at 1080p originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planar Xscreen enables front projection in lit rooms

Darren Murph — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:44:00 EST

While it's tough to deny the wow-factor involved in watching a flick or gaming it up on a wall-sized screen, the one dig that front projection has been forced to deal with is the necessity of darkness for optimal viewing pleasure. Planar has reportedly developed a specially designed screen that works with any front projector to provide a "colorful, sharp image" even with all the lights on. This widescreen display, dubbed the Xscreen, pulls off the seemingly impossible by sporting a 4mm layer of hardened glass beneath the actual screen, which apparently provides the "perfectly flat" surface needed to reflect those random rays of light that currently cause all that viewing frustration in lit environments. If that wasn't enough, Planar's design team stepped it up a notch by crafting a "black high-gloss finish frame sure to enhance any décor," which is presumably an attempt to overcome the Xscreen's inability to roll up and out of the way like other screens without a glass backpanel. While the Xscreen is nothing more than a display, the Xscreen Plus offers a smorgasbord of standard video and audio inputs / outputs (DVI, VGA, component, S-video, RCA, etc.) to make routing those lengthy cable runs a bit more manageable; the upgraded version also rocks "Pixelworks video processing," onboard speakers, a universal remote, and Europeans even get the luxury of dual TV tuners (got beef with America, Planar?). While both flavors are available in 60-, 70-, 80-, and 100-inch sizes, there's no telling how much this gigantic blank picture frame / front projection display will run you -- but until we get some face time with this enlightening panel to determine marvel or gimmick, you're probably better off left in the dark.

[Via Gizmag]

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

Planar Xscreen enables front projection in lit rooms originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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