quadHD
Latest
Sapphire shows off 56-inch QuadHD LCD
When it comes to QuadHD, if 82-inches is too big, and 52-inches isn't quite big enough, maybe Sapphire's 56-inch, 8.3 megapixel, 3840 x 2160 res LCD is just right. TGDaily pegs the price at around $60,000, a price which might compel us to spring for Astro Systems' pro model. Unfortunately, even a willingness to drop that amount of coin for this HDTV wrangled details on exactly when it will be available or any other specs, but things have come a long way from CMO's demo unit two years ago. The only question now is what to do when 33 megapixel Super Hi-Vision hits airwaves.
Samsung's 82-inch QuadHD LCD: Now with 120Hz
Samsung's stream of 82-inch monsters packing the company's latest technology continues unabated, this time a minor update to the QuadHD behemoth we saw at CES brings so-outdated 120Hz motion processing and LED backlighting to keep blur and judder far, far away. We know what you're thinking, its 3840x2160 resolution is no good unless you can write on it, luckily Samsung also has an 82-inch ultra high definition e-Board in its SID 2008 booth. OLED fans take heart, Samsung has reached economies of scale, hopefully meaning reasonably priced (and longer lasting) thin screens are due sooner instead of later. The Korea Times notes LG's at the show as well, showcasing LCD roll-printing technology to replace the photolithography process that currently births the flat panels on our walls, but we simply can't be bothered with a company that's only the number two LCD manufacturer in the world.[Via TV Snob]
Astro Systems introduces 56-inch 4K x 2K LCD monitor
If you thought a 4K x 2K resolution was a bit much for an 82-inch display, imagine what 3,840 x 2,160 pixels looks like on a 56-incher. Astro Systems is apparently gearing up to launch the DM-3400 to appease the "needs" (read: extravagant desires) of its digital cinema and broadcast studio clients, and by the looks of it, we doubt it'll have any issues accomplishing that. This bad boy also supports four channels of DVI and HD-SDI for some of that quad-view action, and there's even contrast, gamma and brightness adjustments for each RGB channel. Unfortunately, we've no idea how much coinage this beast will demand, but there's little no doubt that this is one of those "if you have to ask..." type scenarios.[Via StudioDaily]
33 megapixel Super Hi-Vision (Ultra HDTV) could be on the air in 2015
1080p and QuadHD / 4K can take a step back, the Japanese government has announced plans to bring Super Hi-Vision (a.k.a. Ultra High Definition) to life as a broadcast standard by 2015. With its 33 megapixel (7,680 x 4,320) resolution and 22.2 channel surround sound, challenges so far have included building a camera that can record it, and equipment to transfer the 24Gbps uncompressed stream. Fortunately, some forward thinker in Japan's Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry -- that we are strongly considering as a write in candidate for the presidential elections -- is beginning a joint project with private companies to make this happen, beginning with a research investment of about $2.7 million this year alone. If you're still confused as to how much more res this is than anything you currently own, check out the handy chart after the break.
CES 2008: The best of LCD HDTVs
Whether plasma is back, or never left is up for argument, but don't think LCD took CES 2008 sitting down. Vizio upgraded the specs on its bargain LCDs, and even Panasonic showed some love. PDP prototypes might have been bigger and skinnier, but 2008 is the year we'll actually be able to buy a 108-inch LCD from Sharp, a 1.5-inch thin screen from Hitachi, or even a Quad HD panel from Westinghouse.Sharp pushes out more Aquos LCDsSony refreshes Bravia line with 17 new models, Digital Media ExtenderPhilips' new LCD lineup continues to not impressSharp promises to bring its 108-inch LCD to market in '08Samsung intros new 1080p LCD HDTVs, Ethernet / interactivity includedPanasonic reveals five new LCD HDTVs at CESSharp launches 32-inch LC-32GP3U LCD at gamersLG takes thin to the next level with the 1.7-inch LGX LCD HDTVToshiba announces slew of LCDs for 2008: hands-on and videoVizio's new Evolution Series LCD HDTVsVizio announces stylish Envy LCD HDTV lineupVizio intros Black Tie LCD lineup with 120Hz, MEMC technologyVizio intros Jive surround for LCDsJVC P-Series LCD line rocks iPod docksJVC intros 42-inch LT-42SL89 / 46-inch LT-46SL89 LCD HDTVsHitachi Ultra Thin 1.5 LCD lineup headed for CESEyes-on with Westinghouse's Quad HD displays
Eyes-on: Samsung's 82-inch QuadHD & 52-inch Ultra Slim LCDs
Samsung can join Hitachi while crying into their sake as its 52-inch "thinnest non-OLED HDTV ever" is around 4x as thick as Pioneer's 9mm heroin-chic Kuro. Take heart Sammy, because your 82-inch -- and btw, what is with the 82-inch obsession (2005 & 2006 CES), we need to talk about that -- Quad HD display is like looking out of a window, if we had bigger and cleaner windows. Check out the gallery to see what we mean.%Gallery-13265%
Eyes-on with Westinghouse's Quad HD displays
We promise this post isn't just a cheap excuse to drool over Halo 3 -- no, no -- this post is a cheap excuse to drool over Crysis running at native resolution. Westinghouse got smarter this year and made its two Quad HD LCDs on display a more prominent attraction in the booth, showing off 47-inch and 56-inch models. For those who haven't been keeping score, the 56-inch display is running at 3840 x 2160 Quad Full HD resolution (think 8.3 million pixels is enough for ya?) -- its little brother runs at 2560 x 1440 Quad HD and 3.7 million pixels. Both of these units are going to be released this year in Q2 ("March or April"), but you'll have to part with $10,000 to pick up the 47-inch and a whopping $50k to take home the 56-inch. The rep we spoke with mentioned they obviously weren't targeting consumers with these things so much as engineers, architects, visual imaging and editing professionals and production studios, and medical and geological professionals, as well as mining companies who've shown interest in the technology. We fully concede there's no rational way to justify shelling out 50 grand for one of these things but damn, it doesn't stop us from wanting one at Engadget HQ.%Gallery-13245%
Gateway intros 30-inch XHD3000 quad HD LCD display
Following in the footsteps of so many others that have come before it, Gateway is finally introducing a 30-inch display of its own, and it's tooting its own horn all the while. Notably, the firm claims that its XHD3000 is the "world's first Quad-HD display" -- which we're sure more than a few outfits would dispute -- and the 2,560 x 1,600 resolution mimics that found on monitors offered up by Apple, Dell, Samsung and HP. The screen does utilize the Silicon Optix Realta HQV video processor, and it also offers up a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 400 cd/m2 brightness, a six-millisecond refresh rate and 178-degree viewing angles. Moreover, buyers will find a plethora of ports on the rear including HDMI, VGA, DVI, two component inputs, composite, S-Video, six USB 2.0 sockets and a variety of audio connections. It's up for grabs right now for $1,699.
Accell's UltraAV HDMI 1.3 High-Speed switch support 1440p
Just when you thought you had a handle on HDMI 1.3, along comes a new sub-class of HDMI switches supporting (are you ready for it?) HDMI 1.3a Category 2, otherwise known as HDMI 1.3 High-Speed. Learn it, live it. Accell's UltraAV 2-port switch supports a 1440p (2560 x 1440) resolution and 10.2Gbps (340MHz) high-speed data transfer without the need of an external power supply. Sure, there aren't any 1440p sets out there yet, but they're coming, as are those 2160p Quad HD monsters. Sorry, no launch date specifics. We only know that it'll cost $99 and receive a proper unveiling in early September at the CEDIA Expo. Of course, you'll still have to find content and a source to pump that superior resolution, but this is all about "future proofing", which we all know has little to do with rational thinking.
Westinghouse Quad HD on display
In the all hype that built up before CES this year we were really excited to check out the Quad HD display from Westinghouse. We went by the Westinghouse booth to check it out, the odd thing was the display was in the back of the booth and not marked very well. After receiving some help we found the display with some scientific data showing. Other than industrial uses we're not sure what we would use this 52" display with a resolution of 3840 x 2160. It would take one good scaler to scale the image that big.
CMO to ship 47-inch Quad HD -- 1440p -- LCD in 2007
Despite 1440p not actually being an official spec just yet, Chi Mei Optoeletronics has officially announced it will be mass producing a 47-inch Quad HD LCD panel in the second quarter of 2007. We've been drooling over the lovely 56-inch 3,840 x 2,160 resolution -- and apparently delayed -- panel CMO has been showing off all year, it looks like your first chance to surpass 1080p will come in a 47-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 resolution package. Its 3.68 million pixels are 1.78 times as many as are in current 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) screens, along with 450 nits brightness, 1,500:1 contrast ratio, 90% NTSC color saturation and a 6.5ms response time. Dual-link DVI and HDMI 1.3 connections have WQXGA resolutions like this in mind, so keep an eye out for a PlayStation 3 software update to 1440p, the only true definition of HD. The 56-inch panel is pictured above, hopefully we'll get a look at this panel later this week during the FPD International conference in Japan.[Via Digitimes]
CMO jumping into 52-inch 1080p LCD market, QuadHD delayed
Just because they don't have a shiny new 8G plant yet isn't stopping CMO from getting in on the 52-inch 1080p LCD battle. HDTVs from Sharp, Samsung and Sony are already on sale or coming soon, and Chi Mei Optoelectronics, plans to join them in the first quarter of 2007. While you may not know the name, their panels are in many HDTVs you do know like Westinghouse and Toshiba. They'll be showing their 52-inch LCD next month at FPD International 2006 in Japan, and plan to upgrade production to 180,000 glass substrates by December. Their current 5.5G plant can only get two 52-inch LCDs from each substrate however, while the newer plants produce six at a time. Either way, next year will have a lot of players competing in the 40 to 50-inch LCD space driving prices down, we see what they've been able to do at the 47-inch tier. It's not all good news though, CMO may be having trouble mass producing the 56-inch 3,840×2,160 resolution LCD they showed off last year. With four times as many pixels as current 1080p screens, they promise all new debates over how much resolution is actually necessary...whenever the technology is actually released.
