Toshiba announces 19 new flatpanel TVs

Toshiba, in a frenzy of
announcements, just launched their 2005 line-up showing off 19 (!) new flat panel TVs that span Toshiba's CinemaSeries and TheaterWide product lines. New models range from 14 to 50-inches wrapped in plasma, LCD, or LCD with built-in DVD (LCDVD) technology. The list is waaay too exhaustive to cover here, but hey, that's what the "read" link is for, dig? So let's hit the highlights. Let's start big 'cause we know you're chompin' at the bit for specs on that 50-incher. The mac daddy in the 2005 CinemaSeries is the 50-inch 50HPX95 integrated HD Plasma TV, with 720p HD panel resolution. It features Toshiba's new SoundStrip speaker system offering improved sound quality in less space, a "PC
input" (DVI hopefully as in earlier Tosh sets), and IEEE1394 (firewire). There is also a 42-inch little brutha affectionately named 42HPX95. All the CinemaSeries plasmas will include THINC (Toshiba Home Interactive Network Connection) which allows us to connect our PCs and "playback MP3 and JPEG files" using the TV remote. No mention of how this is done (software, drivers, OSes supported, wireless or tethered) and we're a bit puzzled by the apparent lack of support for video — it's a TV for crissake! All new widescreen HD models boast HDMI digital inputs (for rawkin'
uncompressed video), and all integrated HD models also include a CableCARD slot, TV Guide On Screen, and Toshiba's new Channel Browser system which "brings the Back Button to the TV." (Uh, didn't we already have that in 1980?) Of additional note are two new 32-inch and 37-inch LCD TVs which feature integrated HD, 720p, come with and without built-in DVD, and sport HDMI and "PC inputs." The 50HPX95 will be available in September for $5,500US while the 32 and 37-inch boxes (with built-in DVD) will be available in July for $3k and $4k respectively.