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LED-backlit Philips 42PFL9803 LCD HDTV breaks cover
We can't say for certain that this is the Essence TV we heard rumored last week, but we wouldn't be shocked one iota if it were. The Philips 42PFL9803, which has actually be around in at least name since earlier this summer, has just been granted an EISA award. The LED-backlit 42-inch HDTV reportedly features a 2,000,000:1 (dynamic) contrast ratio, the company's own LUX LED technology and a jaw-dropping €2,999.99 ($4,407) price tag. We're hearing it's on track for a September release, but hopefully IFA will confirm / deny.
PS3 labeled "best media center" by EISA
Seems Sony can jam another feather in its cap and cluck about another award today. The winners were announced for this year's EISA awards (European Imaging and Sounds Association) and the PlayStation 3 walked off with the award for best multimedia device. From the official announcement on the EISA site, "Sony's PS3 is a wonderful example of a powerful media centre, thanks to its inclusion of an audio-video-photo player as well as a web browser to navigate, download, play and chat on the Internet. In addition there's a 60GB hard disk for content storage, plus Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and four USB interfaces allowing connection of external hard-disk storage and USB accessories such as keyboards."They continue to gush about the importance of Blu-ray and how, above all else, the system is a "worthy heir to the grand PlayStation heritage." We're glad that, for once, the PS3 isn't rated an over-priced piece of hardware or a product that has already failed. We'd like to think that the opinion of the EISA is the least biased and a lot more convincing than one Japanese author, or a single journalist. We're happy for you, Sony, just don't forget that you've got to make the PS3 a gaming console above all that other useful stuff!
European Imaging and Sound Association winners announced
Now this is the award show we are interested in. The European Imaging and Sound Association awards went down last week and there were big winners all the way around. Keep in mind that these models may not be available here in the States as this was for European products. Interestingly enough, Pioneer's 50-inch 1080p plasma didn't win best high-end plasma as it is just a display with no tuner. Samsung didn't repeat their achievement of winning three awards this year like they did in '05, thanks to their award winning LE40M61B LCD, but they did happen to go home with best innovation for their LED-backlit LCDs. Complete list of winners in the Video Panel Category Best LCD: Sony's 32-inch LCD - KDL-32V2000 Best high-end LCD: Ambilight-equipped 1080p 37-inch LCD - 37PF9731D Best plasma: LG 80GB sporting 42-inch plasma - 42PC1RR Best high-end plasma: Panasonic 50-inch plasma - TH-50PV600/PX600E Best projection TV: JVC HD-ILA powered HD-70ZR7U Best HDV camcorder: Sony HDR-HC3E Best DVD camcorder: Panasonic VDR-D300 Best media camcorder: Sanyo's high-def pocket cam - VPC-HD1 Best DVR - LG's 250GB DVR - RH200MHS Best editing software - Pinnacle Studio Plus v.10 Titanium Edition Best HD-Component: Pioneers 1080p plasma display - PDP-5000EX Best video innovation: Samsung's LED-backlit LCDs Best design: Loewe Individual LCDs Best Video projector: InFocus IN76 Best high-end projector: Sony's 1080p Ruby - VPL-VW1000 Do you agree with this list? Looks good to us.
