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Sharp's near-4K TVs are now available, starting at $2,500
Even though CES 2014 is long gone, some of the stuff announced there is just now starting to become available for purchase. Case in point: Sharp's Q+ lineup (originally known as Quattron+), a series of 2014 AQUOS televisions featuring the latest and greatest, including a revamped SmartCentral platform. But that's not what's interesting here. Instead, it's the Q+ technology, one that Sharp describes as being able to "accept a 4K signal and play it back at near-4K resolution, with an effective resolution of up to 3,840 x 2,160." The company says this is possible thanks to its Revelation Upscaler, which takes HD content and "optimizes it for the higher resolution screen, so that it's sharper and more vivid." By building Q+ TVs on 1080p panels, Sharp claims it's then capable of pricing these lower than some of its would-be competitors. Now, is that enough to get you to buy into it? If so, you'll have quite a few options to choose from -- they're up for grabs now in 60-, 70- and 80-inch flavors, with prices ranging from $2,500 all the way to a cool $6,000.
Sharp's AQUOS Serie mini phone has a Full HD IGZO display, bright colors, unlikely stateside availability
With phone specifications often reaching a terminal velocity before the next new technology or trend, giving your hardware a differentiator can be hard. Sharp's new AQUOS Serie mini SHL24, however, is having a stab at a couple. Firstly, the TV maker is leveraging its IGZO screen tech, and spicing it up by cramming a full (1080p) HD display into the 4.5-inch panel -- that's almost 490 PPI. Secondly, in what it's calling an EDGEST design, the AQUOS Serie mini SHL24 seems to have some of the thinnest bezels we've seen for some time (bar the bottom one where the buttons are) making that screen really take pride of place. Thirdly? Colors of course! As for the rest of the specification, well it's not too shabby either. First up, it's running Android Jelly Bean (4.2), sports a 13-megapixel camera, 16GB of storage (with an SD card slot) and a Snapdragon (MSM8974) quad-core processor -- clocked at around 2.2GHz. Oh, and it's even waterproofed to IPX57 standards. Those are quite a few boxes ticked. But, sadly there's one biggie that currently remains empty -- as far as we can see right now, this is a Japan-only device. Sorry.
Daily Roundup: Moto G Google Play edition, Spotify's desktop app goes unlimited and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Sharp's latest high-res Windows tablet is an Ultrabook minus the keyboard
Let's see: sporty Intel Core i5 processor and Windows 8.1? Check. Retina-esque 3,200 x 1,800 15.6-inch display? Check. Plus 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD? Of course. If Sharp's RW-16G sounds like the laptop of your dreams, sorry, but it's actually a tablet in the mold of Panasonic's 20-inch, 4K Toughpad or Samsung's new Galaxy Note Pro 12.2. Sharp is keying in on business users for the new slate with a bundled stylus for graphics pros, along with screen sharing to assist during presentations. With the Japanese company's own IGZO screen tech, it'll also outlast everyone's bladders with nine hours of battery life. There's no pricing or availability yet, but so far, it looks destined for the Japanese market only -- if you're stateside, Samsung's aforementioned model or a Surface Pro 2 might have to do.
Here's Sharp's 85-inch 8K TV with glasses-free 3D
It's so big and bright that it wasn't hard to find inside Sharp's booth, even when surrounded by a sea of other televisions from the manufacturer. What you see above, folks, is an 85-inch, 8K glasses-free 3D TV from Sharp. This behemoth, ultra-high-res display is rather similar to the one from CES 2013, save for the fact you can enjoy three-dimensional content without any eye hardware. While everything about this LED TV is indeed interesting, we can't say we were too impressed by the glasses-free 3D. It is pretty easy for your eyes to get tired of the effect quickly, and at times some frames pass through so fast that it ends up making the content seem blurry -- we're not the only ones who feel this way, apparently. Aside from those things, the image is incredibly sharp; the TV was showing scenes from Life of Pi and Frozen, both of which looked stunning on the big screen. Obviously, Sharp's 85-inch, 8K 3D TV is still in the early stages, and thus it wouldn't be fair to judge it based on first impressions. Chances are it'll improve tremendously as the company continues to work on it. For now, it is a very dazzling thing to look at and we can't wait to see it down the road. Check out the pictures we took of it after the break, or, if you're here at the LVCC, stop by the Sharp booth to experience it yourself. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Sharp Aquos lineup for 2014 bears 1080p and 4K TVs, a revamped SmartCentral platform and the new Quattron+ Series
We knew an army of TVs would be making an appearance at CES 2014. Accordingly, Sharp has just announced what we can expect out of the Aquos portfolio this year, with new hardware being introduced as part of its HD, Quattron and 4K Series -- there's also the debut of Quattron+, but we'll talk more about that a little later. As expected, Sharp is placing emphasis on big LED screens: Each model begins at 60 inches, ranging all the way up to 90 inches in the case of the HD Series. Speaking of which, the entry-level Aquos HD will be priced starting at $1,300, offering 1080p at 120Hz, 2D/3D options and Smart TV features. Meanwhile, the Quattron Series, which starts at $1,700, also does 1080p, but at 240Hz, plus it's equipped with Quattron technology and Sharp's completely overhauled SmartCentral platform, much like the HD and rest of the lineup. Those looking to spend a little more will be able to choose from the newly minted Quattron+ or 4K Series, both of which are running the company's revamped Smart TV software, SmartCentral 3. TVs with Quattron+ (seen above) are sort of a step between 1080p and Ultra HD; Sharp describes them as the "highest-resolution full HD" sets available, noting that the technology "divides each pixel, creating two pixels from one, to deliver 16 million subpixels." Prices on these are expected to be from $2,300 to $6,000 -- this gets you things like Active 3D, THX-approved picture quality, Bluetooth and, on the higher-end models, an AquoMotion 960, 240Hz screen. Lastly, the 4K Series, which is likely the most interesting of the bunch and ranges from $5,000 to $6,000, gets you an Ultra HD TV with an AquoMotion 240, 120Hz display, THX 4K, 3D, a duo bass subwoofer and four HDMI 2.0 ports. All in all, Sharp is going to be kicking off the year with a total of 19 different Aquos TVs; the HD, Quattron and Quattron+ are expected to ship in the spring, though there's no word yet on when the 4K Series is due to arrive.
Sharp is teasing a 3D-ready, 85-inch 8K display at CES, no glasses required
Sharp loves to show off the 8K technology it hopes to see in your living room in the future. It's no surprise, then, that the outfit is yet again using CES as a platform to tease another super, super high-res 85-inch screen. Unlike the gorgeous panel we saw last year (pictured above), though, this time Sharp's rolled into the desert with a glasses-free 3D flavor of its 7,680 x 4,320 display. The company isn't sharing many more details at the moment, but, for what it's worth, it did mention that its latest 8K creation was done in collaboration with Philips and Dolby. While we haven't seen this thing ourselves, we know it's here, somewhere in Las Vegas, so we'll be sure to update this post as soon as our eyes meet all those pixels.
Sharp's new Blu-ray wireless player is WiSA-certified, ships this spring for $4,000
Sharp isn't only introducing an array of televisions at this year's CES. Today, the company also took the time to reveal a new Universal Player, its first to support the WiSA open standard. The SD-WH1000U, as it will be known by model name, can play CDs, SACDs, DVDs and Blu-rays wirelessly, with the accessibility side of things being complemented by two HDMI and three USB 3.0 ports -- yes, it can connect to the internet as well. Most important, however, is the fact that the Sharp Universal Player meets WiSA requirements, allowing you to seamlessly push out high-quality video and audio content (1080p resolution, 24-bit/96kHz uncompressed sound at 5.2-5.8 GHz range) without the need for any cords. Just don't expect this potential addition to your WiSA-friendly setup to be a cheap one, as it's set to be priced at a cool $4,000 once it begins shipping later this year.
Dolby Vision imaging finally comes home this fall with Netflix and Xbox Video as partners
Dolby's TV image-enhancement tech has been in development for a long time, and today the company is finally ready to show you when and where you'll find it. What we saw in December has been graced with the Vision name, and the outfit has promised we'll see TVs with it baked in this fall. What's more, Sharp and TCL have compatible hardware on display in their respective CES booths this week, and Amazon, Netflix, VUDU and Xbox Video are stepping up as content providers. Hit the Dolby link below for more information, and be sure to check back later this week for our latest impressions.
The best HDTV deals of the week: 12.22.13
With Engadget's new tools, you can track price drops on thousands of devices every day, and once a week we feature some of the best deals right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long. Have all of your shopping wrapped up already? No? Well, we're here to lend a hand. You'll decide quickly in order to make sure one of these HDTVs arrive ahead of the holiday, but a trio of worthy options with attractive price cuts await on the other side of the break. Be sure to visit our product database to monitor prices on these gadgets and more as they move around. Join us and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list; every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
Sharp's Chop-Syc prototype asks you to chop veggies on a touchscreen
Generally, your choice of cutting board comes down to two basic options: wood or plastic. While there are plenty of subcategories (Flexible? Bamboo?), you're generally not presented with a list of specs when it comes time to pick a board for chopping up meat or veggies. If a Sharp intern has her way, however, resolution and processor power will become important choices. Chop-Syc is the brainchild of Siobhán Andrews, the winner of a competition to become a paid intern with the company in the UK. Essentially, it's a tablet with a custom software and a scratch-proof surface designed to be used in the kitchen. In addition to functioning as a surface for slicing and dicing, the tablet includes a recipe manager, a scale and a visualizer to help you measure out (healthy) serving sizes of food, such as pasta. The tablet itself is embedded in a wooden block to help control spills, and the wireless charging means you shouldn't have to worry about electrocuting yourself with a (very) poorly placed swipe of the blade. For now, Chop-Syc is only a prototype, but Sharp says it may eventually bring the device to market. If we were executives at the company, though, we might just wait to see how Sony's dedicated kitchen tab fares before entering this extraordinarily niche market.
Sharp converts TV plant to make more low-power IGZO smartphone displays
Sharp's IGZO displays make regular appearances at global trade shows, but have been less easy to spot in western devices, hardly ever leaving domestic Japanese market. That could soon change, as the company is ramping up production of smartphone-sized screens, at the cost of TV output. The Wall Street Journal reports that Sharp is expanding production at its Kameyama plant, with the aim of becoming a top player in the not-so-exotic world of handheld screen production, making the sheets that will make its way into multiple phone makers' devices. It might be able to lower manufacturing costs by making hundreds of displays from a single sheet, which would certainly be good news for the company's balance sheet. This increase in output might also mean that devices with Sharp's impressively bright IGZO displays will finally appear outside of Nippon, creating the necessary extra demand and giving us something else to square off against AMOLED and Super LCD 3.
Daily Roundup: Galaxy Note 3 review, Kindle Paperwhite review, McAfee's NSA-proofing Decentral device and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Sharp's Aquos Phone Xx is almost all screen, gives 80.5 percent good face
"Too much bezel" -- how often have you seen that complaint in the comment section of new phone announces? Well, you can throw this Sharp Aquos Phone Xx (and its mini companion) in the face of that haterade brigade because 80.5 percent of its 5.2-inch front is all screen. At 70 x 132 x 9.9mm, the Xx is more compact than Sony's rival 5-inch phablet, the Xperia Z1, but its collection of top shelf specs gives it a fatter profile. The Android device, which joins Softbank's 4G LTE lineup this December, crams a 1080p display, 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 running Jelly Bean 4.2, 2,600mAh battery and a 16.3-megapixel rear camera (with an f/1.9 lens) into that squat, water-resistant frame. It also features pre-loaded translation software to make sense out of captured English text -- handy if you're, you know, Japanese. We realize this is an unfair mobile tease for those of you green-eyed monsters living in the Western world; you'll likely never see the Xx make that transcontinental trek. But it's always nice to dream.
Sharp's first Windows 8 tablet has 10.1-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 IGZO display and water resistance (hands-on)
Kicking off this week's CEATEC show in Japan, Sharp has played to its strengths with its new Windows 8 tablet, the Mebius Pad, factoring in a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution display. That puts it pretty far ahead of the current crowd of 1080p Windows 8 tablets, including Microsoft's incoming Surface 2, although we admit, we'd have loved to have seen another incredible 4K tablet. Regardless, that's the highest resolution Windows 8 tablet we've seen yet. Alongside the company's 10.1-inch IGZO panel (known for their low-power credentials), the Mebius Pad runs on a slightly less-exciting Intel's latest Atom Z3370 SoC (codename Bay Trail). The basic Windows 8.1 model will arrive with Office for free, although you'll have to pay extra if you want it for the Pro edition. Also, following Japanese trends for practically any device, the slab is both water and dust-proof (it's in the midst of being certified for IPX5, IPX7, IP5X), while you'll be able to buy it with LTE radios on board, at least for Nippon, as the device is unlikely to leave Japanese shores once it launches in early 2014. Unsurprisingly, in the flesh the screen looked good -- Sharp even provided a magnifying glass so we could get up close to those pixels. The 10.1-inch display is also satisfyingly bright -- if we're honest, it's unusual to see such a capable screen powered by an Atom processor. The tablet is headed towards business use (which explains the optional stylus) and the extra resolution found on Sharp's first Windows 8 tablet means there's more space for your spreadsheets and documents. The hardware itself is suitably thin and light, with the rear of the device bearing a passing resemblance to recent Sony hardware -- possibly due to the understated camera lens in the corner. We'll let you know if Sharp has plans to offer the tablet to global business types. Update: We've corrected our description on the Mebius Pad's processor -- it's Intel's new Atom series.
Sharp's 70-inch, THX-certified Aquos Ultra 4K TV goes on sale in the US for $7,500
We are well past mid-August, which is when Sharp initially estimated its new 70-inch Aquos 4K Ultra HD LED TV would begin hitting shelves. Despite the late arrival, however, something tells us folks will still be glad to have yet another choice when shopping for their next 4K television set. To make things better, Sharp's super high-res, THX-certified Smart TV is set to be carrying a $7,499.99 MSRP here in the States, making it about $500 cheaper than when it was originally announced. Those of you interested shouldn't have trouble finding one, as Sharp says it'll be available at many regional and major retailers across the country.
Sharp posts quarterly loss, but sees sales up 33 percent on mobile LCD demand
Despite posting a small 15.36 million yen ($182 million) loss, it would be hard to call Sharp's latest Q1 2013 financial quarter anything but a success after last year's $1.2 billion debacle. After gaining investment from companies like Samsung and, more recently, Qualcomm, Sharp saw revenue up 32.6 percent to 607 billion yen ($6.2 billion) on strong LCD demand. In fact, sales of small- and medium-sized panels for smartphones and tablets were up a hefty 54.8 percent over Q1 2012, with its electronics division up 46.6 percent overall. The company thinks it'll hit a net profit for the fiscal year thanks to "high-value" 4K LCD TVs, Aquos phones in Japan and more IGZO displays for upcoming handhelds. If devices like a rumored Retina iPad mini with a Sharp-built display bear fruit, we may just believe it.
Sugar smartphone packs 5.16 carats in Swarovski gems, worthy specs (video)
Many ostensibly female-oriented phones tend to be compromised, with flashiness on the outside sadly unmatched by power on the inside. Not so Sugar's inaugural, namesake smartphone: while the Android 4.2-based device is lined with 5.16 carats' worth of Swarovski Pure Brilliance gems, the underlying hardware is worth attention all on its own. The 5-inch, 1080p Sharp LCD is backed up by a quad-core MediaTek chip, 2GB of RAM, an 8MP a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3MP an 8-megapixel front shooter and either 16GB or 32GB of storage. Sugar plans to launch the phone in China and Europe, although you'll have to wait until August for full details. In the meantime, you can catch the full Engadget Chinese hands-on at the link below, and our colleagues' English hands-on video is available after the break. Update: The article originally misinterpreted the camera resolutions. It has now been updated with the correct figures. Stone Ip contributed to this report.
Sharp's Serie SHL22 coming to Japan with a fast f/1.9 lens and chunky battery
Cramming 13-megapixels into a phone means nothing if you don't have nice optics to boot. Fortunately, Sharp's Serie SHL22 has an unusually fast f/1.9 lens to go with its high-resolution sensor. Launching on KDDI this Friday, this Aquos Phone runs Android 4.2, has a fairly big 3,080mAh battery, a 4.9-inch 720p screen using Sharp's own IGZO technology, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 clocked at 1.7GHz, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD). The phone is a bit thicker than what we're used to these days, at 9.9mm (0.39 inches), but we're willing to ignore that if it means leaving our charger at home. Marginally informative video after the break.
Sharp intros 32-inch IGZO monitor with 4K resolution and pen support
The majority of the world is still patiently waiting for 4K technology to become more widely adopted, and companies are certainly doing all they can to assist in speeding up that process. Following in the footsteps of ASUS, Sharp's now introducing an Ultra HD, IGZO panel of its own, the PN-K322B. Aside from boasting a 3,840 x 2,160 screen resolution, this 32-inch multi-touch monitor also features the ability to support digital writing (or drawing) by way of a "dedicated touch pen with a pen-tip width of just 2mm." Ports-wise, the LED-backlit PN-K322B houses two HDMI inputs, a DisplayPort and a 3.5mm stereo jack to help get some external audio going. Mum's the word on how much it'll cost when it arrives in Japan on July 30th, but if other similar options are any indication, we'd say upwards of $3,500 is a safe bet.
