RPTV -- Engadget

RPTV posts

TI aims to prove RPTVs still have a place in the market

by Ben Drawbaugh, posted Jan 7th 2008 at 12:00PM

At the same time as some manufacturers are getting out of the RPTV market, Texas Instruments is continuing to find ways to add legs to their RPTV light engine technology. We don't think anyone would try to argue that front projector setups are going anywhere anytime soon, but RPTVs need some extra features to give them an edge over its thinner competitors. The most intriguing new feature is "3D Ready" and with the correct equipment this feature can enable you to enjoy 3D entertainment at home. DualView also sounds pretty cool, the way it would work is that two gamers could play against each other on the same TV without seeing the same video, but unfortunately they'd have to wear some customized DualView eye-wear. Although these features sound interesting, who knows when they will be a reality, but we have already seen a few new sets featuring at least one of them.

Samsung sticks by RPTV, intros HL67A750A / HL56A650A

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 6th 2008 at 5:01PM

While the rest of the world seems to be bailing on RPTVs, Samsung is using CES to showcase a pair of all new DLP rear-projection sets. Up to bat first is the 61- / 67-inch HL67A750A, and here's a look at what it's packing:

Next-generation LED light engine: no color wheel, longer set life (30,000 hours)
Full HD 1080p resolution and 10,000:1 contrast ratio
3D Ready integration with 3D accessory kit (sold separately)
Four HDMI 1.3 ports with CEC
USB 2.0 socket for PMPs, cameras, etc.
Single-tuner picture-in-picture (PIP) can display two separate sources without an external tuner

But wait, there's more! Click on through to see it.

Continue reading Samsung sticks by RPTV, intros HL67A750A / HL56A650A

Sony officially quits rear-projection TV production

by Ryan Block, posted Dec 27th 2007 at 3:07AM

Remember how we told you that Sony, like so many others, is quitting the rear-projection TV business? Well, they finally decided to officially announce as much today, stating that come February its three RPTV plants would quit production of the sets and the company would focus its energy henceforth on LCD and OLED (huge surprise there). Don't let the door-of-obsolecense hit your ass on the way out, RPTV.

Sony dumping all rear-projection TVs to focus on LCDs?

by Nilay Patel, posted Dec 19th 2007 at 7:49PM

It's unconfirmed at the moment, but we're hearing that Sony is planning to discontinue sales of all rear-projection HDTVs, including its 3LCD and SXRD lines, after current inventories are exhausted to focus on the hot-selling Bravia LCD line. We've been tipped on it twice today and now This Week In Consumer Electronics is reporting that a Sony spokesperson has told them that "We are moving our resources more toward LCD TV, because that's what people really want." It looks like all backorders for the KDSZ70XBR5 are being canceled, as the unit will never be manufactured, and Sony's making a "no promises" effort to fill backorders for the KDF46E3000 and KDS60A3000. The move isn't exactly unprecedented or even all that surprising -- Toshiba, Philips and Hitachi have all stopped producing rear-projection sets, but Sony's SXRDs were still extremely popular and it's strange to see them get dropped just like that. Check the full leaked email we got after the break.

Continue reading Sony dumping all rear-projection TVs to focus on LCDs?

Seiko Epson ceases production, sales of RPTVs

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 6th 2007 at 10:46AM

Not even a full month after Hitachi pulled the plug on its own RPTVs and started looking to sell off its CRT operations, Seiko Epson has come forward and announced that it too will discontinue the production and sales of its rear-projection televisions. Reportedly, the outfit will be refocusing efforts on front projectors, and judging by its installation at CEDIA, we can't say we're shocked to hear it. It should be noted that the firm will "continue its research and development activities for rear-projection models," and moreover, a company spokesman proclaimed that it wasn't totally withdrawing from the rear-projection TV "business" -- whatever that means. Another one bites the dust, we suppose.

[Image courtesy of Astera]

Hitachi pulls the plug on RPTVs in North America

by Steven Kim, posted Nov 8th 2007 at 10:30AM

Hitachi has announced it's stopping production and sales of its LCD- and CRT-based RPTVs in North America. The production facility in Mexico which serves the North American market was actually shut down this summer. While this might not come as much of a surprise to us, this is a sure sign that the average consumer's idea of what a "big screen, HD" TV is has shifted from a monstrous box to a slim flat panel. The torch has been passed, and recent announcements indicate that Hitachi is smitten with the "thin is in" concept as well. We expect to see similar decisions from other manufacturers in the future as LCDs and PDPs continue their roll. There's some nostalgia for the huge behemoths that were our introduction to HDTV, but you really couldn't pay us to go back.

Luminoz screen could lead to uber-slim RPTVs

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 12th 2007 at 1:48PM

Just hours after getting wind of Sony's plans to unveil a three-millimeter OLED, Luminoz is claiming that it has "developed a screen that can reduce the depth of a rear projection TV to about 12-centimeters." Apparently, the newfangled screen "eliminates the need of a large mirror that is necessary in the existing rear projection TVs," and as if the space savings weren't spectacular enough, we can also expect increased contrast ratios. Reportedly, the firm is hoping to inject its screen into 65-inch or larger rear projection televisions, and if all goes as planned, commercialization should occur sometime next year.

JVCs "world's largest" TV: 110-inches (and 728-pounds) of HD

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 8th 2007 at 6:23AM

They've been showing it off for more than a year, now the latest HDTV to wear the "world's largest" crown is up for retail. On sale starting July with delivery in October, JVC's 110-inch HD-110MH80 will throw a 1080p, rear-projected image right in the comfort of your very own digs. Measuring 3-feet deep and 728-pounds, the new RPTC features JVC's D-ILA technology to achieve that 1920 x 1080 resolution and 5000:1 contrast. Priced at ¥6,400,000 or about $53k when she lands Stateside. Oh, anyone else lovin' the remote in that press picture above?

[Via Impress]

JVC busts out "world's largest" RPTV at 110-inches

by Paul Miller, posted Sep 29th 2006 at 5:30PM

It might not be as fancy as the ongoing plasma and LCD wars for largest display, but rear projection displays can have size wars too, and JVC looks to have the largest yet, at a spankin' 110-inches. The TV uses JVC's proprietary "D-ILA" liquid crystal panel tech, for a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, and pulls 220w of juice for powering all its glorious pixels. As usual, there's not much of a plan yet for commercializing this display -- the main purpose of the prototype is to show off a new screen tech from Toppan Printing that is manufactured as a single component -- but there's always bragging rights and booth extravaganza action to be had.

Sony brings new Bravia LCDs and LCoS displays to Japan

by Paul Miller, posted Aug 30th 2006 at 11:32AM

As if to prove a point, Sony is throwing down a whole lotta 1080p, erm, "True HD" displays in Japan. For starters, they've got two new LCoS rear projection TVs that implement the fancy Digital Reality Creation chipset for enhanced upscaling. The 60-inch KDS-60A2500 and 50-inch KDS-50A2500 are otherwise quite similar to the current SXRD displays of the same size available in the US, but the 600,000 yen ($5,135 US) and 500,000 (4,279 US) respective pricetags for the new A2500 displays are quite a bit steeper. As for LCDs, five of the displays mirror existing offerings in the US, but the high-end 52-inch KDL-52X2500 and its lesser 46, 40 and 32-inch S2500 friends are all new. The 52-incher manages a DRC chipset, 1500:1 contrast ratio, Live Color Creation and a 1080p resolution, while the cheaper displays lose DLC, and only manage a 1366 x 768 resolution. All four LCDs run at 450 nits of brightness, and are due in Japan on October 20th, following the LCoS sets which should be out September 15th.

[Via HD Beat]

HP Pavilion md5880n 1080p DLP TV reviewed

by Stan Horaczek, posted Jul 3rd 2006 at 1:40PM

Those good sports over at PC Mag subjected themselves to the tough job of spending time with that 58-inch DLP HDTV from HP we first heard about at CES, and the verdict is overwhelmingly positive. The 118-pound wobulator takes up its fair share of living room space, but with a wide array of features, like built-in 2.1 sound, 1080p resolution, a menu system that's "just about perfect," and an extensive array of picture tweaking options, the trade-off is easily justified. The inputs, which are conveniently located in the front of the TV, include two HDMIs, two component-videos, a VGA, CableCard and two RF inputs, as well as a USB port for firmware upgrades. At $3,500, it's a lot cheaper than most other, flatter alternatives, so you might even have enough money left over to keep your PS3 fund alive.