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LG's 60-inch 60PG60 THX plasma display gets reviewed
LG first showcased its THX-stamped 60PG60 at CES 2008, thought it just recently rolled off the production line and into homes everywhere. CNET was able to fit one of these suckers into its offices for review, and while it wasn't the perfect 60-inch plasma, it definitely made a positive impression. Critics found the primary colors in THX mode to be "highly accurate," the video processing to be "solid" and the feature set to be "superb." Design and port assortment were also applauded, and overall image quality was respectable. On the downside, the color decoding and grayscale in THX mode was less accurate, and sadly, it produced lighter blacks than other PDPs in its class. All in all, it wound up with an above-average 3.5 out of 5 stars, but unless you're partial to LG (or George Lucas), you may still be better off with a Philips KURO.
Rock Band and Guitar Hero now for girls, too
According to recent statistics, girls can like, totally rock now. Thankfully, PDP has teamed up with Radio Disney mainstays Aly & AJ to create some seriously rockin' game controllers for the PS2 and Wii. Due out mid-October and priced at a rockin' $69.99, tweenage Guitar Hero and Rock Band fans can choose either the rockin' pink Tele-looking guitar with red skull and crossbones motif, or the totally rockin' pink heart-shaped guitar with purple zebra print. Check out the rockin' video after the break. And rock on! [Via Video Games Blogger]
Plastic guitars, now for girls too (thanks, Aly & AJ!)
Hey ladies! Be honest, if there's one problem with today's Rock Band and Guitar Hero plastic guitar offerings, it's this: they're not pink and/or heart-shaped enough, right? Here to right this egregious wrong are pop starlets Aly & AJ, both of whom have lent their considerable skills (being women?) to the design of the above two "fun and feminine" plastic guitars.Of course, since these guitars are built exclusively for the ladies, you'll find they're only compatible with the Wii and PS2 since ... uh, we're really not sure why that is. Regardless, if that works for you, and you've got $69.99 to burn ('spensive!), hit up your local retailer in mid-October. Check out another pic of the guitars – and a video of the teenagers pitching the gear on E! – after the break.[Via VideoGamesBlogger]
Pioneer's KRP-500A and KRP-600A plasmas pose for the cameras
Pioneer got official with its 50-inch KRP-500A and 60-inch KRP-600A over in Europe earlier this summer, and just as each set got set to ship, the firm felt it necessary to bring 'em to Japan. Best of all, AkihabaraNews was able to see just how deep those blacks really were at a recent press event, and it was kind enough to host up a plethora of photographs for us common folk to gaze at. If we just rang your bell, pop down into the links below for specs and images galore.Read - Camera flash, capture Pioneer's new plasmasRead - Formal introduction in Japan
Panasonic offers up 65-inch 1080p TH-65VX100U plasma
Originally unwrapped at CEDIA (and just now made official), Panasonic's TH-65VX100U is a 1080p behemoth aimed specifically at the "high-end custom home theater enthusiast." It becomes the first in the outfit's line of Premiere Series models and features a 60,000:1 contrast ratio (with an "industry-leading gradation level of 7,160 steps"), 18-bit digital signal processing, 16 adjustment menus and a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) panel. This living room centerpiece is currently on track for a January release, though there's no telling how badly it'll hurt your wallet when the time comes.
Runco lets it all hang out, intros seven new 1080p LCDs / plasmas at CEDIA
For the most part, Runco stays pretty quiet in the consumer realm... until CEDIA rolls around. Once again, the high-end AV company is firing on all cylinders in Denver, announcing seven new 1080p LCD / plasma displays including its largest LCD to date, the 70-inch Crystal Series CX-70DHD (pictured). Along with the new panels, the outfit is unveiling its exclusive OPAL (Optical Path Alignment) technology on select models which "delivers extreme glare reduction and enhanced contrast for high ambient light environments." The aforesaid 70-incher (shipping mid-October for $34,995) actually comes bundled with an external DHD video controller / processor, which incorporates Runco's Vivix II tech to "enhance all digital and NTSC content to near high-definition quality." We'll admit, that sounds an awful lot like something Toshiba's got going on just a few booths over, but make of it what you will. For details on the other half dozen sets, hop on past the break.
Panasonic holds live tru2way demonstration on TH-50PZ80Q plasma
They said they were going to do it, and do it they did. While Samsung's tru2way "demonstration" was barely more than a hack job used to show off what the technology was about, Panasonic demoed the real deal at its CEDIA booth. The 50-inch TH-50PZ80Q plasma contained a real CableCARD (yes, we checked) and was receiving a live signal from Comcast. Denver is just one of a few markets where tru2way is theoretically ready to rock, and according to a Panny rep, the set we saw today is a production unit that will ship sometime "later this year." The idea here is to provide buyers with the ability to insert any CableCARD from any carrier (if you move, for example) into an HDTV, thus eliminating the cable company's stranglehold (best known as a "carrier-issued set-top-box") on you. The demo we saw went over very well -- everything was responsive and image quality was excellent. See for yourself in the gallery at Engadget HD.
Panasonic's PZ850 VIERA plasma hands-on
Panasonic may be pretty proud of its PZ850 VIERA plasma, and while the internet-connected functionality is pretty nifty, this thing needs a serious refacing to be taken seriously. Sorry, but when we're looking at a 1.5-inch thin plasma just a hundred yards over, seeing this plain, bulky and relatively dated looking PDP just doesn't do much for us. Or who knows, maybe our eyes are just deceiving us -- judge for yourself below. %Gallery-31220%
Hands-on with Hitachi's 1.5-inch thick plasma prototype
Hitachi's 1.5-inch thick 50-inch plasma wasn't exactly front and center like we had imagined, but it was there garnering stares nonetheless. Donning a glossy white finish and displaying nothing but floral arrangements, the set looked pretty good (though not great) in terms of visual quality. The design, however, was simply stunning. And just as promised, we did include the obligatory iPhone comparison, though you'll have to account for the Belkin skin when drawing your conclusions. Give it a peek in the gallery below. %Gallery-31193%
Panasonic takes internet enabled PZ850 VIERA plasmas to 58- / 65-inches
It has taken a bit longer than expected, but Panasonic has finally got around to unveiling the 58- and 65-inch flavors of its VIERA CAST plasma lineup. The two new members of the PZ850 family are both internet enabled and can receive web streams (video, in particular) without a separate set-top-box. More specifically, users can see YouTube blown up to ungodly proportions and check out digital photos hosted up on Google's Picasa website. The pair will also boast a 30,000:1 contrast ratio (read: not dynamic), 24p native reproduction, Game Mode, an SD card slot, RS-232C port and four HDMI sockets. The pain? $3,999.95 for the TH-58PZ850, $6,999.95 for the TH-65PZ850 (i.e. the Grand Poobah).
LG's 42- / 50-inch PG6900 plasma packs built-in 160GB hard drive
While we new LG had a pair of DVR-packin' plasmas lined up, nothing was officially official until now. The 42- and 50-inch PG6900 plasmas were designed to hold up to 86-hours of programming (SD, we assume) on its 160GB of internal hard drive space, and the 8-day EPG should give you a pretty decent view of what's coming on in the near future. Additionally, you'll find a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, Energy Star compliance, a DVB-T tuner (plus an analog tuner), three HDMI 1.3 ports, 100Hz refresh rate and integrated speakers which are said to be "invisible." Look for these to pop up soon (at least in Europe) for $1,799 and up.[Via Gizmag]
Panasonic's 150-inch Life Wall TV going production in 2009
Although it's impossible to tell without another object in the display box, that's Panasonic's 150-inch TV up there -- here at IFA, intimidating its neighbors. Now get this: this massive plasma sporting a 2,160 X 4,096-pixel (4 times 1080p) Advanced HD display will hit the assembly lines just as soon as Panny's newest factory comes on-line in the May 2009 timeframe. At the moment, the single 150-inch sheet of glass is hand-made and fitted into four of these behemoths currently touring the world. That means 150-inches of goodness could be yours before the year is up. College shmollege, this is quad HD!
Panasonic's latest 103-inch 1080p plasma: step aside oil barons, this one's headed home
Hard to believe but Panasonic just introduced its third generation 103-inch plasma just in time for IFA. Model TH-103PZ800 adds a few more HDMI (4x 1080/24p) jacks with Deep Color and x.v.Color support, a smattering of tuners, a 10,000:1 contrast, and VIERA Link compatibility to ease the connectivity of all your like-minded, Panny gear. In fact, this set looks primed for home-use, not just the businesses and trust-funders targeted by Panny's previous monster sets. Ready for order on August 26th (shipping in September for Japan) for ¥5.6 million or a bit more than $50k -- a steep, $20k price drop since February. But at 7-feet wide and nearly 6-feet tall you'll be paying a bit extra for professional installation to keep this 756-pound (343-kg) beast off your toes and out of your milkshake.[Via Impress]
Samsung reveals 50- / 58- / 63-inch 7 Series plasma HDTVs
Not a huge fan of the LCD HDTV? Is plasma more your style? Fantastic, because Samsung just took the (official) lid off of the already spotted 7 Series plasma lineup. Featuring the outfit's Touch of Color design, a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, daytime / nighttime calibration options and a DNIe Pro video processor, this trio makes no bones about which rival it's gunning for. The entire crew also features InfoLink RSS access, a USB 2.0 port (WiseLink Pro), DLNA compatibility, four HDMI-CEC jacks and 1080p panels. Read up on the full rundown of specs in the read link, and prepare to hand over $2,799.99 for the 50-inch PN50A760, $4,499.99 for the 58-inch PN58A760 or $5,499.99 for the 63-inch PN63A760 sometime next month.
Pioneer's KURO PDP-5020FD plasma reviewed, not as flawless as previously assumed
Now that you've seen what the Pro-111FD can do, how's about a closer look at the PDP-5020FD? A member of Pioneer's second-generation KURO plasma family, this display was held in high regards from day one, although a recent CNET review explains that may it have received a bit too much credit. Yeah, it did produce the deepest blacks reviewers had ever seen on a big-screen display, and color decoding was also pleasantly accurate. The port selection was praised alongside the gorgeous anti-reflective screen, but surprisingly, not all was well. For starters, Pioneer is charging a small fortune for this thing, thus every flaw is understandably magnified. Critics found that primary colors were "inaccurate," and they seemed to lament the omission of advanced picture controls. In the end, the unit still received an "Excellent" badge, but it's hard to say this one is totally worthy of the sky-high price tag.[Thanks, Matthew]
Research finds that salespeople recommend LCD TVs more than plasmas
For some strange reason, we can't say we're surprised by the latest J.D. Power and Associates report. Maybe it's how LCD HDTVs seem to be highlighted in most retail locations, or maybe it's just because the negative burn-in stigma attached to earlier PDPs has yet to wear off. Whatever the case, said research firm has just produced an article claiming that "retail electronics salespersons are recommending LCD TVs instead of plasma TVs at a rate of more than three to one." The research focused on shoppers looking for sets 40-inches and up over the past six months, though it didn't specifically mention where it went undercover to source such data. Really though, it's not shocking to hear that B&M salespeople aren't totally adept at explaining pros and cons -- after all, we'd recommend doing your own independent research and ordering online -- but hopefully this will beat the message home to those who've been blindly believing anything they hear when shopping for a new set.[Image courtesy of Exceptional Innovation]
Vizio's 32-inch VP322 plasma gets reviewed, fares better than its big brother
So Vizio's 42-inch VP422 didn't get the highest marks when reviewed earlier this week, but the 32-inch VP322 was evidently seen in a different light. For starters, it probably helps that this one rings up remarkably cheap (it's currently $528 at Wal-mart), and so long as it didn't look like absolute garbage, we feel the reviewers were all set to give it two thumbs up. Still, they did admit that it wasn't the most astounding sight they had even seen, but they couldn't help but call it the "HDTV steal of the century." Picture quality was satisfactory, the port selection was adequate and fact that no calibration was required to get pleasant results was the cherry on top. But hey, with all the big boys slicing and dicing those MSRPs, you may still want to shop around a bit before rushing into anything.
Samsung's IFA lineup of HDTVs emerges
Mmm, IFA. The Berlin-based trade show is drawing near, and Samsung isn't waiting around to tease us with what will be unveiled there. The company is already showcasing a number of swank flat-panels including the 7 Series (46-inch LE-46A780 and 40-inch LE-40A780), 9 Series (46-inch LE-46A950) and 7 Series plasma (50-inch PS-50A750). We're also noticing a number of HTIB systems along with a few other components we're sure to take interest in, but the whole German language thing is a bit of a barrier right now. Nevertheless, tap the (roughly) translated links below for specifications on the aforesaid HDTVs, and look for more details (read: information in English) to emerge as the expo approaches.Read - Samsung's IFA informationRead - 7 Series LCD HDTVsRead - 9 Series LCD HDTVsRead - 7 Series Plasma
Vizio's 42-inch VP422 plasma gets reviewed: you get what you pay for
What, you seriously expected the $999 VP422 to perform like a $5,000+ KURO? In your dreams, bub. Vizio's latest 42-inch plasma, which certainly looked a-okay on paper for the price, recently hit the test bench over at CNET, and while the overall package was deemed enough to "satisfy casual viewers," those with even a single videophile gene in 'em should be wary. The unit managed to snag an extremely rare 6.0 out of 10 rating, with "highly inaccurate green primary color and poor grayscale tracking" as the two biggest knocks. Granted, reviewers did appreciate the rock-bottom price, respectably array of inputs and the "relatively clean image," but at the end of the day, you can only expect so much from a sub-$1,000 42-inch PDP. Give the full review a look and determine if it's sufficient for your wants needs.
LG unveils four new HDTVs with built-in DVRs
'Tis a shame we don't know more about LG's latest bundle of HDTVs, but here are the facts so far. Apparently the outfit has dished out a pair of LCDs and a duo of plasmas to commemorate the upcoming Beijing Olympics, and the whole gang comes packing a 160GB internal hard drive. This "Time Machine" functionality will (predictably) enable viewers to capture content right inside of their set, though details beyond that (you know, port assortment, contrast ratio, etc.) are few and far between. That being said, we do know how much each of these buggers will set you back: anywhere between ???1,650,000 ($1,607) for the 42-inch 42PG31RD plasma and ???3,000,000 ($2,916) for the 47-inch 47LG50ED LCD HDTV.[Via AkihabaraNews]
