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Westinghouse's budget-priced TX-52F480S LCD HDTV gets reviewed
Money's tight these days, we get that. But we also get that your aging CRT is in dire need of replacing, and Westinghouse's sub-$2,500 TX-52F480S looks mighty fine on paper for the price. Thankfully, the cats over at UltimateAVmag were able to secure the 52-inch LCD HDTV for a review, and it proved to be quite the value overall. Yeah, you'll have to deal with quirks like HDMI 1.2 ports and a complete lack of 120Hz processing, but color reproduction, black level, and shadow detail -- you know, the important stuff -- were all deemed "excellent." It is noted that this set won't blow away any higher priced units, but potentially more importantly, reviewers felt that those on a budget would be thoroughly pleased with what this unit brings to the table.
Westinghouse's 56-inch D56QX1 Quad HD display on sale for $50,000
Bargain alert! No need to liquidate every asset you own to bring home (wherever "home" would end up being) one of Sharp's 108-inch LCD HDTVs, as Westinghouse has just announced that its 56-inch D56QX1 Quad HD display will be on sale as of this month for half of that. Yeah, we've seen it (along with its 52-inch sibling) around forever, but we're thrilled to hear that a handful of affluent aficionados will finally have the pleasure of watching one in their 4,800 square foot den. [Via TG Daily]
Green Plug starts small, signs on Westinghouse
Remember Green Plug? That universal connector we detailed last month which aims to replace wall warts and help Mother Earth out in the process? Turns out, said outfit has just landed its first real believer as Westinghouse committed to using the smart power technology. Even Darwin Chang, Westy's CTO, admitted that his firm "wasn't the largest, but somebody has to be the first." Chang is hoping that utilizing said tech will help it cut costs by eliminating the need to ship power adapters with its wares, but we'd say that's being pretty optimistic. Really, the only way that will go over well is if hordes of other firms jump on the (currently desolate) bandwagon in short order -- any takers?[Via PCWorld]
Westinghouse releases slew of new 1080p and 720p HDTV LCDs
Westinghouse continues their habit of releasing well-spec'd but average-performing displays today with a slew of new LCD HDTVs. On the 1080p front, the TX Series comes in 42, 47, and 52-inch flavors along with the 40-inch VK-40F580D -- a 1080P DVD combo player that's (aside from the $1,099 price) ironically missing Blu-ray. The less-expensive 720p LCDs in the SK, PT, and W series come in anything from 16 to 32-inch screen sizes, the PT series being portable. So what's the big deal? The 1080p TX-52F480S 52-inch display retails at only $1,999 US, a tough number to beat in that spec range. Meanwhile, their respectably-sized 26-inch SK-26H730S is priced at just $599. So, hooray for affordable HDTV, and stuff.
Westinghouse's 16-inch PT-16H610S portable LCD reviewed
Surely you remember that peculiar PT-16H610S that Westinghouse slipped in during CES, right? Even if not, PCMag is out to help you refresh that memory with its latest review, which takes a good, hard look at the 16-inch "portable LCD." At first glance, reviewers praised the dual-hinged base, which enabled it to be hung under a cabinet, mounted on the wall or simply sat upright. It was also found to be exceptionally efficient when it came to sipping electricity. Outside of that, however, things got ugly -- literally. Both SD and HD sources revealed that image quality just wasn't this thing's forte. Then again, what else would you really expect from something likely designed to be glanced at while slaving away in the kitchen? Overall, it was deemed quite far "from being a stellar HDTV," but it was seen as "good enough to serve as a secondary set in situations where space and budget are limited."
Westinghouse VK-40F580D LCD embodies HD's divided state
It's some strange times in HD-land, and all that strangeness is brought together in the Westinghouse VK-40F580D LCD. Things start off pretty good with a 40-inch, 1080p LCD with NTSC, ATSC, and clear QAM tuning. Our eyebrows arched when we saw that Westinghouse also builds a DVD player into mix. We know that Westinghouse had a price point to hit with this unit, so we're not disappointed to see Blu-ray left out. But the real stick in the eye is that the DVD player does not upscale. So here we have a 1080p display that is both helped (in convenience) and hurt (in performance) by its built-in player. This is exactly the sort of thing that will keep consumers confused and/or disappointed with their $1149 purchase. The word "separates" usually has a snooty connotation, but here's a case where we think it's easy and affordable enough for everyone.
Westinghouse boasts of easy LCD upgrades via online firmware updates
Folks overly concerned about their just-purchased LCD TV turning archaic before their next cable bill arrives will certainly appreciate Westinghouse Digital's latest effort. Apparently, the firm is trumpeting its initiative to deliver free firmware upgrades for HDTVs over the internet, which will enable owners to add such features as "picture viewers, audio enrichment and color advancements" to their current sets. All that's required of the end-user is the ability to login to a website, transfer a file to a USB flash drive and plug said drive into their Westy. Also of note, the firm is hoping to bring similar updates to its full line of LCD computer monitors and digital photo frames, but we're left to wonder what kind of extras the outfit will be doling out in the future.
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
Eyeballs-on PumpTop TV
We're still not quite sure whether to file Westinghouse Digital's PumpTop TV network under "because there were a few square inches of advertising-free modern life left" or "because Western civilization demands the right to watch TV absolutely anywhere," but either way we thought it fitting to remind our US readers that these things will start becoming more ubiquitous in major cities this year. The technology isn't new but, much like bell-bottoms, seems to keep coming back unexpectedly despite antipathy from the sane.%Gallery-13246%
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%
Westinghouse intros PT series portable HDTVs
We're not exactly sure what constitutes a "portable LCD," but apparently, Westinghouse figures a 16- to 19-incher fits the bill. The new PT Series is curiously aimed as "consumers who are on the go," but realistically, we envision these bad boys sticking pretty close to the countertop. Getting us started is the 16-inch PT-16H120S, which features a 720p resolution, a "Super Thin Profile," 500:1 contrast ratio, eight-millisecond response time and a pretty standard assortment of ports. Interested in hearing more? Click on through, it's all there.
Westinghouse announces barrage of new digital photo frames
This CES, Westinghouse isn't doling anything by its lonesome, and the trend's not changing with its new family of digital photo frames. Kicking things off is the DPF-1561, which rocks a 15.6-inch panel with a 1,366 x 768 resolution, a 16:9 aspect ratio, a wooden frame, built-in stereo speakers and a remote. Coming up next, we've got the 14.1-inch DPF-1412, which features a 1,280 x 800 resolution and 256MB of built-in storage and the 10.2-inch DPF-1022 for those down with a 1,024 x 600 resolution, 128MB of memory and a LED-backlit panel. Still not satisfied? Check out the rest after the jump.
Westinghouse reveals bevy of new LCD monitors
Just in case you haven't seen enough from Westinghouse of late, it's got a whole slew of new LCD monitors comin' your way. Up first is the 19-inch L1975NW, which features a 1,440 x 900 resolution, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 170- / 160-degree viewing angles and DVI / VGA / audio-in ports. Moving on, we've got the 22-inch L2270NW, which steps up to a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution but maintains the rest of the specs on its aforementioned siblings. Ready for the rest? Check 'em out after the jump!
Westinghouse's 13 new SK, TX, and VK series HDTVs
We've seen firms let loose entire clans of HDTVs before, and apparently Westinghouse is aiming to be the next to direct you straight to overload. Without further ado, let's get to the VK Series. The 40-inch VK-40F530S sports a 1080p resolution, a pair of HDMI inputs and a 6.5-millisecond response time, while the 42-inch VK-42F130S / VK-42F240S shares the same resolution and response time while adding an NTSC / ATSC / Clear-QAM tuner. Rounding things up is the 47-inch VK-47F130S, which looks to sport the exactly same specs as the 42-inch siblings. For the rest of the gang, head on past the jump.
Westinghouse & Pulse-Link's Wireless HDMI live @ CES
Pulse-Link and Westinghouse displayed their UWB-equipped wireless HDMI LCD, streaming 1080p goodness from an attached Blu-ray player. The JPEG2000 compression showed no trace of artifacting as the video passed three, shoot, maybe four feet without the aid of such antiquated devices as cables. Due for B2B applications soon, they still hope to make this available for consumers by year-end with a minimal cost premium over wired devices (read: a few hundred dollars), until then just check out these pics and dream of the future.%Gallery-12677%
Westinghouse Digital Wireless HDMI HDTV to debut at CES
We didn't have to wait for CES to begin to find out the UWB camp's response to WirelessHD 1.0, Westinghouse and Pulse-Link plan to demo the first "fully-integrated" wireless HDTV Saturday. The Westinghouse Digital Wireless HDMI HDTV should hit the B2B digital signage marketplace in the second quarter, and could see release to consumers by the end of the year. If wired HDMI is just too complicated, Pulse-Link's CWave Wireless HDMI promises 40 foot range with no loss of quality. No word yet on exact price, or what kind of Monster accessories we can expect to enhance our wireless viewing experience, but this seems a lot more tangible than the Philips wireless HDTV technology vaporware from CES '07.
Shocker: HDTV price wars headed for Black Friday
It's not like this type of activity doesn't happen every day-after-Thanksgiving here in the US of A, but 2007 is being seen as a banner year for "aggressive pricing" come Black Friday. As expected, competition will likely be most heated in the 40- to 42-inch range, where plasma and LCD manufacturers will both be vying for business from eager consumers. Furthermore, RPTVs and 720p sets in general are expected to sport rock-bottom pricetags as they attempt to compete with the fresher, more attractive 1080p flat-panels. As for pricing, analysts expect the lowest stickers to be found on Olevia, Westinghouse and Vizio sets, while other "top-tier brands" slash hundreds off in an attempt to still look appealing. Whatever the case, we'd suggest you gear up for madness if you're scouting a new HDTV on Black Friday, but apparently, the savings will make the mayhem worth dealing with.[Image courtesy of MSNBC]
The public has spoken, voice recognition is the winner
There's definitely a science to wording polls in order to bias an outcome. But an open-ended question can generate stranger results than a carefully crafted one. Case in point: Westinghouse's HDTV Insights Poll, which asked 1,200 consumers "If you could design a TV yourself, what would you add?" And the top answer was (drum roll, please)... voice recognition. Huh? We've got to wonder where the 1,200 respondents came from. Seriously, of the top responses listed, only "120Hz refresh rate" has anything to do with picture quality. All the other features, including voice recognition, are all about convenience. It's a real slap in the face for us HD die hards -- while we obsess over image quality and tech specs, everybody else is wishing for a smarter version of "The Clapper." We'll be taking up "voice recognition" as our battle cry for spreading the word on image quality.
Seven-inch digital photo frame shootout
Hot on the heels of the SSD shootout comes a five-man competition stocked with some of the most prolific digital photo frames on the market, and now that prices on these bad boys are dipping down from the stratosphere, there's a good chance you'd like to know which would look best in your den. Thankfully, GearDigest has taken the task upon itself to pit Kodak's EasyShare SV710, Pandigital's 7-inch Photo Frame, Philips' 7FF1CM1, Smartpart's Portable Picture And Video Player, and Westinghouse's DPF-702 against each other to see who's really the champ. After hours of viewing countless relatives and vacations of yesteryear, the group found that the obvious assumptions of "you get what you pay for" proved completely true. The four frames not labeled by Philips all featured a similar 16:9 display with a paltry 480 x 234 resolution, and while a few offered niceties not found elsewhere (Kodak's PictBridge, for instance), all of the devices were decent at best in terms of image quality -- and they all ranged from $119 to $129.95 in price. Handily snagging the gold was the $199 7FF1CM1, which upped the ante with a 720 x 480 panel and proved worthwhile if you actually want your photos to shine. But hey, it's still your dough, so do your duty and dive into the full review below before swaying one way or another.[Via DigitalMediaThoughts]
Westinghouse Digital speeds up rollout of PumpTop TV network
Westinghouse Digital looks to be giving the fledgling PumpTop TV network a big shot in the arm, joining with PumpTop purveyor AdtekMedia to significantly speed up the roll-out of the network to gas stations across the United States. All told, Westinghouse plans to bring the service to some 75,000 gas station pumps, which it says would make it one of the largest out-of-home digital media networks in the U.S. The service itself delivers news, weather, and other programming in easily-digestible five minute chunks, with an ample supply of advertising thrown in for good measure, of course. Drivers in Los Angeles will apparently be the first to get the added distraction as they fill up their vehicles, with those in the the Bay Area, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston set to get their fix follow shortly thereafter[Via Gearlog]