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Sharp's bigger and better HDTVs for 2012 start hitting store shelves
Right on schedule, Sharp let us know it's begun shipments of Aquos 7-series LED HDTVs in 60- and 70-inch sizes. With MSRPs of $2,300 and $3,300, respectively, the 745U models have edge LED lighting, 3D, WiFi and SmartCentral UI built in featuring apps including Netflix, Hulu and Facebook. The 8-series models will bring the company's latest Quad Pixel Plus 2 Quattron tech when they start shipping towards the end of this month as well as full-array LED backlighting and an ultra-slim bezel design. Check after the break for sizes, specs and prices, and let us know if these models have shown up in your neck of the woods yet.
Sharp LE830 series HDTVs now shipping: edge-lit LED, WiFi, no 3D
Add another to your list of new HDTVs to keep an eye out for, as Sharp has announced its new LE830 series LCDs are shipping this month from its 10th generation plant. This lineup doesn't include any slick 3D features or the size of its 70-inch behemoth from CES, but they are imbued with Quattron quad pixel tech, 120Hz refresh rates, edge LED lighting and built in WiFi. The jury's still out about whether the extra yellow pixel is a positive influence, but included wireless internet access is unfortunately still not a given for all new HDTVs and it will come in handy if you plan to use the included Netflix, Vudu and CinemaNow movie streaming apps. The line ranges in size from 40- to 60-inches, and the MSRPs are between $1,299 and $2,799. Check after the break for the rest of the details and price breakdown, plus a video of their CES presentation.
Sharp's 46-inch Quattron LE821E HDTV and its integrated Freeview HD DVR make reviewers gush
Now this is more like it. Instead of chewing on another underwhelming 3D display, the Tech Radar crew have pulled in one of Sharp's hot new Quattron sets -- distinguishable, if you look really really closely, by the addition of yellow to the standard RGB colors in each pixel -- and their experience has certainly been something to write about. Describing the LE821E's color response as "utterly spectacular," they go on to praise the LCD's improved brightness thanks to the yellow sub-pixel's higher transparency, confident upscaling of standard def pictures to Full HD resolution, and "inspired onscreen menus." Counteracting the good stuff were mildly disappointing black levels and a £2,000 ($3,053) price for the 46-inch model. Sure it's steep, but with Freeview HD and an 8GB HDD built into the box, we can think of a few ways to justify the expense. As ever, the source link will give you the unabridged verdict, so read on. [Thanks, David]
George Takei can't show you Sharp's fourth pixel, can still blow your mind
We've seen our fair share of thin HDTVs -- and pressed iPhones against them for comparison -- so it's no big deal when Sharp swivels its latest edge lit LED creation and shows off its 1.6-inch depth, but George Takei's "Oh My" reaction is priceless. We were in the house for Sharp's unveiling of its quad-pixel technology (now called Quattron) and weren't sure we got the difference, so there's no doubt they needed an extra something to show viewers why they should care (embedded after the break in case you didn't spot it during the NCAA Tournament) since your display just isn't ready for constant loops of sunflowers, saxophones and repeat playback of Oh Yeah via the USB media port.
