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Hitachi intros UltraVision LED TVs with Roku-ready HDMI, freshens Value TVs and sound bars for the fall
Although Hitachi was one of the first in line to promise support for Roku Streaming Sticks through MHL, it didn't have much more to say without the TVs to back up the claim. The second half of the puzzle is complete now that the company's fall TV revision is underway. Snag its new UltraVision UltraThin S606 TV in its one of its 42-, 46- or 55-inch sizes and you can discreetly (if optionally) hide the equivalent of a full Roku box in one of the HDMI inputs. The S606 sits strictly in the mid-range, however. Its 120Hz, edge-LED LCD design is superceded by the W806, which comes only in 48- and 55-inch sizes while carrying 3D, IPTV support and WiFi. Those who can get by on 60Hz refresh rates can opt for the Value line, where the H306 and S406 offer 720p in 29- and 32-inch dimensions; a third H316 line brings 1080p to those same sizes while adding a 39-inch panel. Hitachi hasn't said whether stores are stocking the TVs today, but it sees pricing ranging from $329 in the smaller Value sets to $1,399 for the largest W806 variant. The TV builder's audio mix isn't being ignored with the refresh. Launching in tandem with the TVs, the HSB32B26 and HSB40B16 sound bars are designed to respectively match up with 32- and 40-inch TVs while delivering 3D sound processing and Apt-X Bluetooth audio. At $149 and $199, the sound bars are close enough in cost that we may only need a measuring tape to settle any purchasing dilemmas once the hardware is in stores.
Hitachi details UltraVision and Alpha LCD HDTV lines
Unlike practically ever other brand, Hitachi didn't take the wraps off of its 2009 HDTV line at CES. Instead, it waited until summer officially began, and we can't really argue with the tactic. At any rate, the company is following JVC, LG and Sony with their respective HD news by announcing new members in the long-standing UltraVision line (shown left) as well as the Alpha series (shown right). In the former, we'll soon see the 55-inch L55S603 ($1,799), 46-inch L46S603 ($1,299) and 42-inch L42S503 ($999) hit the streets (in September, August and June, respectively), while the Alpha crew contains the 42-inch L42A403 ($849) and the 32-inch L32A403 ($499), both of which ship this month. The UltraVision sets all boast 1080p panels, 120Hz dejudder technology, up to five HDMI sockets and built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC TV tuners. As for the Alphas, you'll find a total of seven HD inputs (four HDMI), a 1080p panel on the fat kit and a 720p display on the little guy.
Logitech's "high definition" QuickCam Ultra Vision
While the iSight built into your new Macbook (or any laptop-integrated webcam for that matter) might meet your day-to-day needs, Logitech is hoping that their new QuickCam Ultra Vision can significantly raise the production value on your next YouTube masterpiece. For $129, you get a mostly glass lens -- there are still a few plastic elements in there, just less than usual -- that'll open all the way up to f/1.6, making acceptable results possible even in darkness that would turn normal cams into digital noise-filled nightmares. The press release also boasts "high definition" capability from its wide format, interpolation-free 1.3-megapixel sensor, but skimps on the hard resolution numbers, with the product page only making mention of its capability to do "live video up to 640 x 480" at 30fps. (That doesn't sound very HD to us.) Other amenities include a 4-megapixel (there's the interpolation) still camera, USB 2.0 connectivity, RightSound microphone, a heap of cheesy effects and the RightLight 2 metering system, which promises "twice the image clarity of conventional webcams." If you still feel your cinematic needs aren't being met, you can check out the rest of the updated QuickCam line, including the Orbit MP, Fusion, Pro 5000 and the Communicate STX, all which received minor spec bumps. These all should be available by the end of August, so you still have a little time to clean your room before exposing it to the world -- or at least your Skype contacts. [Via Tech Digest]
Hitachi 32HLT79 and 37HLT79 1080p LCDs...aren't
Remember those too good to be true priced to move 32- and 37-inch Hitachi 1080p LCDs we told you about? Turns out they were just that, while the image processor inside the panels is 1080p, the screens themselves are 1366x768 (720p) native. The guys at TG Daily spoke with Hitachi and confirmed this, looking at the original press release it is easy to see how the mistake was made. It doesn't mention the actual resolution of the screens anywhere, despite highlighting the aforementioned processing, refresh rate model #s and price. The Hitachi rep is quick to tell us that for typical viewing distances for that screen size 720p will be just fine which may be true for most, but we'd prefer less processing instead of more, even if it is 1080p. Worse, such terminology makes the 1080p debate just that much more confused.However if you really need a sub-$3,000 1080p TV LCD the Westinghouse 37-inch LVM-37w3 is available for much less than $2k and supports 1080p input, while the just announced LVM-47w1 47-inch model will also retail for less than $3,000. As an additional bonus, they have a very clear list of specifications on their website. We'll be watching to see if that Hitachi Ultravision 32HLT79 and 37HLT79 hit our local electronics store with big 1080p stickers on them.
Hitachi to bring out cheap 1080p LCDs before the holidays [Update]
1080p is all the rage these days. People want the high resolution in everything they can and just don't care if you really cannot tell the difference between 1080p and 720p at a small size. Well you know what. Hitachi is willing to oblige. They have plans to produce low cost 1080p "Ultravision" LCDs. Low cost and 1080p usually do not go well together but when a 1080p display is only $2200, they go together like peanut butter and jelly. Hitachi has plans to have four models available starting at $2200 and going to the low $3000. The HLT79 series will see a 32-inch for $2200 and a 37-inch for $2700 while the higher end HLX99 Director's series will offer a 32-inch for $2500 and a 37-inch for $3000. The Director's series have the ability to be calibrated to a higher quality image by way of custom color temps. and an adjustable color decoder. These sets have a release date of November.Update: Unfortunately these LCDs are not 1080p, but are in fact 720p, check here more information.
Hitachi's Ultravision HLT79: a 32-inch 1080p LCD TV for $2200
Remember that mega-spec'd and rock-bottom priced 42-inch hunk-o-plasma Hitachi announced earlier this month? Consider it a trend 'cause Hitachi is now saying that they'll be pushing out four new 1080p LCD displays with 120Hz refresh and their Black Frame Insertion picture enhancement technology for less than $3000. Yeah, that ain't no typo -- p as in progressive for less than the five-large similarly sized sets pull today. The Ultravision HLT79 family will spawn a $2200, 32-incher and $2700, 37-inch model while the HLX99 Director's series will offer some additional features and image tuning in the $2500, 32-incher and $3000, 37-inch panel. All models are expected to ship in November, just in time for the holidays. With prices in freefall, the argument over whether you can see any difference between 1080i and 1080p (or even 720p) in sets this small just doesn't seem to matter anymore, eh? And yeah, that 32-incher ensures Hitachi's rule as the world's smallest 1080p display.
