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Short film created in Unreal Engine showcases a photorealistic world
A short film that premiered at GDC highlights the photorealism potential of Unreal Engine, and it would be easy to assume Rebirth is a live-action short given how life-like it looks. The video depicts an atmospheric environment full of craggy rocks, hills and fog, along with an imposing, industrial structure. We then see a futuristic car speeding across the landscape towards the building.
Plasma steals a round from LCD in the second quarter of 2009
Strange days, indeed -- we never would have thought it, but in the second quarter of 2009 plasma was the only large screen (greater than 40-inches) TV technology to show growth in the US market. Compared to the first three months of the year, plasma was up 31-percent in volume and 35-percent in dollars according to research firm Quixel. Take the DTV transition and add in the soft economy, and you've got a recipe for moving low-priced and good-looking 42-inch, 720p plasmas -- a whopping 40-percent more units. Even plasma fanboys like us wouldn't mistake this as a comeback, but we're happy to see evidence that consumers are using their eyes for more than peeping spec sheets when figuring a set's value. The revenue figures clearly show plasma's 50-inch battle line -- a large decrease in 46 - 50-inch 1080p sets was outweighed by gains in 1080p sets larger than 50-inches, and the 237-percent increase in sets 60-inches and up shows the way forward. [Warning - PDF read link]
50-inch plasmas leading the PDP market
2007 is the year of the 50-inch plasma. For the first and second quarter of this year, 50-inches have outsold their little 42-inch brothers. In fact, 58% of the plasmas sold in Q2 were between the sizes of 50-59-inches. Quixel Research also indicates that plasma's archrival, LCD, was 65% more expensive than PDPs. We would love to see a chart indicating decline prices as it is apparent that consumers are choosing to spend nearly the same amount of money, but simply picking up the bigger screen. Alternatively, how 'bout a chart showing the rising rate of foreclosures against increasing HDTV sales? [Via CEPro] Read - PDF Warning
