aquos
Latest
Sharp's AQUOS HD Netcam makes NHL debut
We were already well aware that TSN and HD were like BFFs, but now hockey fans have yet another reason to tune in to NHL games aired on the network. Starting with tonight's tilt between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils, TSN viewers will get a look at the netminder's territory like never before. Tonight marks the debut of Sharp's AQUOS HD Netcam, which is being hailed as the first ever netcam to be used with high-def capabilities. Of course, the remainder of TSN's regular season and playoff broadcasts will take advantage of said camera, and if you're one to call goals into question due to SD replays of the puck crossing / not crossing the line, we suppose your skepticism is about to take a real hit.[Image courtesy of USA Today]
Canadian survey sez half of HDTV buyers are clueless about high-def
Confusion amongst the general populace in regard to high-definition technology has been a problem for quite some time, and while we're not putting too much stock in the most recent survey about our neighbors up north, the results are fairly comical if nothing else. New poll findings from Nanos Research has discovered that 48-percent of the Canadians surveyed "confessed they were not at all knowledgeable about such features as 1080p resolution and pixel response times, compared to only 5-percent who considered themselves very knowledgeable." That being the case, HDTV sales in Canada still managed to surge some 72-percent last year, and around half of the participants did note that "concerns such as power consumption and toxins used in manufacturing" were very important when making their choice of HDTV. Granted, the survey was commissioned by Sharp in order to gloat about its "eco-friendly" AQUOS, but the bigger picture here is that the public at large is still a long ways away from really wrapping their heads around high-def.[Image courtesy of HomeTheaterMag]
Pioneer officially ends in-house plasma production, Kuro LCDs coming soon
Say goodbye to Kuro as we knew (and loved) it, as Pioneer officially announced that after panel production of the next series of models is complete, it's ending all in-house plasma panel production and will build HDTVs based on panels bought elsewhere. The source went unnamed pending a final agreement, but Panasonic will likely follow up the 42-inch it's providing with plasmas of up to 60-inches. Due this fall are Kuro-edition LCDs, combining Pioneer's ultra-thin speakers and exacting picture quality standards with screens built by Sharp (hopefully this time sans-banding issues) that should see release Europe first. Other businesses affected are car audio, DJ equipment and Blu-ray players, but by streamlining operations and working closely with Sharp, it expects a return to profitability in 2010. Fans of deep black levels and accurate color reproduction probably shouldn't be alone right now, take a look at the .pdf and let the healing process begin in the comments. You're among friends, you're strong, you will get through this.
Sharp announces 17 new AQUOS models, stockers groan
If you thought that only digital cameras were getting treated to biggie-size rollouts in the leadup to PMA next week, check out the announcement of 17(!) new AQUOS LCDs from Sharp. First up, there are 13 new models in the D series. You guessed it, folks: customers get to mix and match a rainbow of colors across the 20, 26 and 32-inch sizes. Other than the sheer number of choices available, nothing really catches our eye in these units: 1366x768-pixels and 1500:1 contrast; the 26V and 32V models get the addition of AQUOS Familink (CEC). If you need a little bigger display, move on down the cereal LCD aisle and check out the four new E series AQUOS models. No color choices here, which we guess means at these sizes you're more interested in looking at the images than the casing. There are four new models coming in at 37, 42, 46 and 52-inches. Bigger means better in these 1080p panels, with a contrast of 2000:1, 120Hz frame rates and low reflectivity glass. Initially available in Japan, with no prices announced yet.
Sharp's 46/42/37-inch AQUOS X series grabs world's thinnest title
In an odd yet titillating contest to offer the world's thinnest TV, Sharp just took gold. Their 34.4-mm (1.35-inch) thin LCDs comes in 46-, 42-, and 37-inch models. These lookers aren't just skinny though, they're dense as a product waif too. Each comes stuffed with a 120MHz panel offering a 15,000:1 dynamic contrast, 450 cd/m2 brightness, and 12-bit BDE color value rendering for smooth image quality. Add to it a 1-bit digital amplifier, 3-way 8-speaker system, and a vast suite of jacks including 3x 1080p HDMI 1.3a inputs, DVI for your PC, Ethernet, and Firewire and you'll seriously consider setting aside the dough for a new set when these hit Japan in March. How much? Nothing announced... but does it matter?%Gallery-14537%
Sharp pushes out more Aquos LCDs
Sharp couldn't stop with just its high end Special Edition 94U Aquos LCDs, those with lesser needs (and budgets) have a variety of new products to choose from in the upcoming year. First up is the LC-52D74U, a 52-inch model that mates the 94U series' Aquos Net connectivity with a slightly lesser-spec'd 18,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 4-wavelength backlight system. Check after the break for more info on what they've got in store for 2008.
Sharp rolls out SE94U Aquos series w/ Aquos Net
Sharp's taking its Aquos HDTV line to the next level with its latest LCDs featuring Aquos Net. It's menus can be popped up at any time and seamlessly display additional info, or allow Sharp tech support to directly access the panel and help Grandma program her favorite channels. That's all a part of "Aquos Advantage", its new end-to-end Panasonic Plasma Concierge-style support service. The "Special Edition" 94U line is the high end, featuring 27,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 120Hz frame rate and new backlight system in Sharp's latest ASV panel that's 28% thinner than the last. The top of the line 65-inch LC-65SE94U model will be available this month with an MSRP of $10,999, the 52-inch soon after for $4,199, and the 46-inch version in February for $3,199. Check out the gallery for a look at the Aquos line's latest and greatest
Sharp reveals gamer-centric 1080p LC-32GP3U AQUOS LCD TV
Sharp's new GP3U family may be marketed towards the sophisticated gamer, but we're pretty certain just about anyone could get down with a set like this. Announced today, the 32-inch LC-32GP3U comes in a trio of hues (black, wine red and white), boasts a "unique swivel stand for ultimate viewing and gaming flexibility," and offers up bottom-mounted speakers to boot. Furthermore, this 1080p AQUOS touts a slim-line design, a Game Mode button on the remote for activating Vyper Drive and providing quick access to side terminals, a subwoofer audio output, two component / three HDMI 1.3 inputs, a VGA port, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, six-millisecond response time, integrated ATSC / NTSC tuner with Clear QAM support, 450 cd/m2 brightness and 176-degree viewing angles. If you're champing at the bit to fix your eyes on this one, all three versions will be available just in time for you-know-what for $1,599.99.
Sharp kicks out trio of new Internet AQUOS desktops
Those completely sold out to the AQUOS brand and in the market for a desktop should certainly give Sharp's latest trio a look. The revamped Internet AQUOS machines don't come bundled with an LCD, but it's probably safe to assume that you've already got that taken care of. Nevertheless, the PC-AX30V sports a very pared down list of specifications, including a 1.6GHz Intel Celeron M 520 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a 160GB hard drive, while the PC-AX80V mimics the aforementioned machine save for the built-in digital TV tuner and HDMI input that it receives. The flagship PC-AX120V ups the ante by packin' a 1.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor and 250GB HDD, and all three boast a multicard reader, dual-layer DVD writer, HDMI / VGA outputs, audio in / out, four USB 2.0 sockets, a FireWire connector, remote and a keyboard with built-in trackpad. The lineup rolls out at various times within the next two months, but your guess is as good as ours when it comes to pricing. Check out the other two hues after the jump.[Via Impress]
Sharp's AQUOS P Series of TVs: world's first 22- and 26-inch 1080p LCDs
Like to sit real close to your TV? Good, 'cause you'll need to be PC-close to take advantage of these new 1080p LCDs from Sharp. Sharp's no dummy though, as they've fitted their new 22-, 26-, and 32-inch sets with HDCP-loving DVI-D and mini D-Sub for PC connectivity and 2x HDMI, S-Video, and 2x composite for your home entertainment and game console hookups. The new AQUOS P range feature built-in tuners, a 400cd/m2 brightness, 176-degree viewing angle, and a 2,000:1 contrast on the 32-inch before dropping off to 1,200:1 by the time you reach the 22-inch set. The LC-32P1-W, LC-26P1-W, and LC-22P1-W models are expected to range from ¥240,000 ($2,101) to ¥180,000 ($1,576) when they pop on November 22nd in Japan.[Via Impress]
Sharp's AQUOS BD-HDW20 Blu-ray recorder with 1TB disk: zero-to-numb in just 0.8 seconds
TV junkies rejoice, Sharp just announced their new 1TB, Blu-ray recording slickster. The ¥300,000 (about $2,611) AQUOS BD-HDW20 ships December 1st packing a 127-hour slab of silicon heroin to sooth your full HD television jones. Sharp's high-ender brings gold-plated HDMI output supporting 1080/24p video and DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD HRA, and high-def bitstream audio. We're also looking at IrSS infrared, 2x Firewire, recordings to 50GB dual-layer BD-RE/-R discs, and a lickity quick TV recording fix in just under a second. A 500GB model BD-HDW15 is also available for a bit less but really, why would you? [Via Impress]
Hands-on with Sharp's ultrathin AQUOS D64U LCD series
Sure, we've already seen Toshiba and Mitsubishi boast about their uber-thin bezels, but Sharp was touting its slimness in another area. Dubbed the "slimmest, lightest AQUOS LCD TVs ever," the D64U lineup had an entire wall reserved to show off, and we figured we'd take a (real) close look at exactly how thin these things really are. As the unscientific finger-gap test shows below, a 1.5-inch frame is pretty flippin' narrow, and it seemed especially so on the 65-inch behemoth. 'Course, if given the option, we'd still chose the 108-inch LCD that was just on the other side of this display, depth be darned.%Gallery-7144%
Hands-on with Sharp's AQUOS BD-HP20U Blu-ray player
Believe it or not, we actually saw, touched, and took pictures of a fully functional Blu-ray player from Sharp -- right here in the US of A. Yep, the AQUOS BD-HP20U Blu-ray player is for reals, and we've got the images to prove it. Of note, the glossy black finish was much, er, glossier in person, but as you can probably see, it doesn't take too kindly to fingerprints.%Gallery-7024%
Sharp announces AQUOS BD-HP20U Blu-ray player for US
Looks like those whispers we heard about Sharp's forthcoming announcement of (yet another) Blu-ray player were true, as the firm has chosen CEDIA as the locale to introduce the US market to its slim-profile AQUOS BD player." The BD-HP20U will be the first product "outside of the Sharp LCD suite to carry the AQUOS name," and will feature HDMI 1.3, 1080p24 support, AQUOS LINK, component outputs, compatibility with the lossless audio formats, and 1080p upscaling of vanilla DVDs. According to Sharp, the unit itself will boast a "piano black finish with one of the slimmest designs in the industry," and if all goes as planned, we should actually see this one hit shelves later this month for $549.99.
Sharp Aquos, the musical
Move over Hasselhoff, entertainment in Germany has a new face. Follow the link for video footage from Sharp's Aquos booth at IFA 2007 in Berlin last week. You have to watch it for yourself, but here's the synopsis -- four dancers (with headsets, of course) open with a kind of interactive video mime thing, then transition to an upbeat, Hi-NRG song and dance number. The best, though, comes at about three minutes in, when they "break down the fourth wall." Priceless. Bonus points to anyone who can decipher the lyrics for us. The Aquos displays are some of the best LCD's out there, and we always recommend that you put your own eyes ahead of the spec sheet, but we're unsure of how to factor this bit of edutainment in. File under "Chocolate Rain" for the HD crowd.
Sharp cranks out new XL2E and X20E AQUOS HDTVs
Not wanting to be outdone by all those other guys loosing LCDs at IFA, Sharp has stepped up and unveiled two new lineups of AQUOS sets in Berlin. The XL2E series, which includes models 42-, 46-, and 52-inches in size, will all offer up 100Hz technology, be Full HD ready, and will even support 24p. Moreover, the trio will tout a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, a built-in DVB-T tuner (and an analog one, too), VGA input, integrated speakers, and three HDMI connectors to boot. As for the X20E series, you'll find 32-, 37-, 42-, 46-, and 52-inch flavors, all of which support 1080p24, feature three HDCP-compliant HDMI ports, and "a slot for CI cards to receive pay TV." The new AQUOS members are slated to land in Europe sometime before the year's end, but pricing details look to still be up in the air.[Via Pocket-Lint]
Sharp predicts LCD prices will fall 25% this year, plans new 10G production facility
LCD prices have dropped sharply over the last few years, and Sharp sees no reason that trend won't continue. The company sees LCD as a the clear winner over plasma in Japan, with with a U.S. victory in sight as 1080p HDTVs gain market share. Along with a prediction of LCDs in the 40-inch+ range for less than $2,000 by the end of this year, inventory clearing fire sales and already value priced brands notwithstanding. Of course, as prices drop, bigger and better HDTVs are coming right behind, to that end Sharp also announced plans for the worlds first tenth-generation LCD plant. By producing glass substrates 60% bigger than its current 8G plant, expect 60-inch class LCDs to be as common as 40-inchers when the plant opens in 2010. Read - Sharp to build complex with 10G LCD and solar cell facilities Read - Sharp Sees LCD TV Industry Prices Falling About 25% This Year
Sharp's 65 and 52-inch AQUOS T-Series: world's first THX certified LCDs
Even though Runco announced their development plans first, Sharp appears to be the first to market with a THX certified television. In fact, they've got two: a 65-inch and 52-inch LCD for Sharp's new AQUOS T-series. That THX logo is meant to ensure the best match of brightness and contrast with video processing for a home theater level of video reproduction. Interestingly though, the rated 350cd/m2 brightness and 2,500:1 contrast is step down from the AQUOS R-series' 450cd/m2 and 3,000:1. Sharp's explanation? They expect these panels to be used exclusively in the darkest of home theaters. Er, ok. As to the rest, you'll get a 1,920 x 1,080 120Hz ASV panel with 3x 1080p HDMI (plus 3x Japanese D5), 1x DVI, 2x Firewire, IrSS, and Ethernet. Both will be ready in Japan come September when you'll need ¥1,417,500 (about $11,599) for the LV-65TH1 or ¥840,000 (about $6,873) for the LV-52TH1. While we have a sneaking suspicion they'll be worth it, we'll be waiting for the reviews before dropping that kind of dough. [Via Impress]
Sharp's AQUOS HD recorders: 5 more with less
In addition to all those LCDs, Sharp just loosed five new hi-def AQUOS recorders onto the Japanese market. The top-end, DV-ACW80 is a fast startin' (0.8 seconds) recorder with 1TB of storage, a trio of tuners (2x digital, 1x analog), high speed IrSS infrared photo transfer, and a bevy of features including USB hosting we've already seen in their other recorders. By all appearances, however, the DV-ACW60 introduced in February still trumps its new little brother by offering a 12-bit/297MHz DAC (compared to the ACW80's 10-bit/148.5MHz) while sporting an extra Firewire jack to boot. Still, you'll save a few Yen at ¥190,000 or about $1,547 if you decide to take this little guy home. [Via Impress]
Japan's awash in slim, 120Hz Sharp AQUOS G LCDs
Oh boy, 16 new AQUOS LCD models were just announced for Japan. The AQUOS G lineup is available in bottom and side-mounted speaker options ranging in size from 52/46/42/37/32/26-inches. All the sets above 37-inches pack a 120Hz ASV panel with a trio of 1080p capable HDMI inputs, 1x DVI, and more (no component) touting a 2,000:1 contrast and 450cd/m2 brightness. Sharp also managed to slim down all the sets considerably with the 52-incher measure just 11-cm (4.3-inches) thin. On sale in Japan starting August 21st with prices ranging from ¥180,000 ($1,466) to about ¥550,000 ($4,480).[Via Impress]
