This is for all of you who thought your TV was big enough: Panasonic has announced that it will soon ship a huge 103-inch plasma screen, claiming it to be the world's largest (which it probably is). They are currently shipping a 65-inch version of the screen, and there will eventually also be a more affordable 50-inch version.
All three displays will have a 5000:1 contrast ratio and, obviously, support 1080p resolutions. They all have component and DVI inputs (no HDMI), as well as an HD-SDI input (Serial Digital Interface, used mostly by the professional crowd). As for prices, these TVs will set you back about $6,000, $11,000, and $70,000 for the 50-inch, 65-inch, and 103-inch screens, respectively. Personally I'd rather get a car. But maybe it's just me.
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Apparently this isn't your typical 55" plasma TV screen. The LG 55PB2DR has a new feature that LG calls a "time machine": basically, it lets you play TV programs up to two hours after they're actually on. I guess they forgot we already have a name for that: PVR.
Anyway, the 55PB2DR has 768 lines, which will not give you 1080p support. It also features LG's XCanvas display controls, the usual inputs and outputs (including an HDMI input), and a 2000:1 contrast ratio. A 9-in-2 card reader also lets you use it with your favorite choice of flash memory. To be honest, it doesn't quite stand out from anything else.
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If there's a way to make something thinner, you can be sure that Samsung is working on it. At the 2006 Korea Electronics Show, Samsung a 17-inch AMOLED display that was a whopping 12mm thick, with the panel itself having a thickness of 1.8mm. The display is based on OLED technology that gives you a screen that's as bright and as clear as LCD panels today, with lower power consumption and smaller sizes.
The display sports a 1600x1200 resolution, which is pretty high for a 17-inch screen. And the response time of 0.01ms is about 100 times better than the best LCD anyone has seen, at least at those screen sizes. This could definitely be a promising development. Bravo to Samsung.
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1080p has been available for a while now, but you have to look pretty hard to find a display with a 1080p resolution below 40 inches or so. But Sanyo-Epson has set a new record: how about a screen with a 1080p resolution that's only 7.1 inches? Sanyo-Epson has announced the first screen of that size with full 1080p support. Currently, Samsung has the closest competitor, with a 7" screen capable of a measly 854x480 resolution.
Despite such a high resolution, Sanyo-Epson claims the screen has fairly low power consumption, but it remains to be seen whether it's low enough to be used in a portable device that runs on batteries. And for smaller devices, they've also announced a 2.6" screen with a 1024x768 resolution. Now that's the screen I want on my iPod. (And then I want more disk space to copy in whole DVDs.)
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Imagine three people watching three different TV shows all at once in the same room. Now combine the three TVs into one (and give each person their own headphones, hopefully). Recently Sharp demonstrated an LCD screen that can display three different images when viewed at different angles.
Using what is called a parallax barrier, light coming from the LCD separates into three directions. A person viewing the screen from the left, center, or right positions would therefore see three different images. The result: three screens in one. There are plenty of applications for this. The driver of a car can be watching the GPS, and the passengers get their choice of two movies. Hooking up three game consoles and playing a split-screen game without a split screen. And many more.
Details about when this technology will be available have not been released.
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The bigger the better, well at least that's what the UC Babes keep telling us. It seems LG might be trying to tell us the same thing with their latest 47 inch whopper. With enough size to rival any Plasma and a hefty price tag to match, the LG 47LB1DA is the latest in a long roll out of tempting screens from the electronics giant.
The new 47-inch Digital Cable Ready LCD HDTV (47LB1DA) features the
progressive-scan, full high-definition 1920 x 1080p display format,
providing consumers with the most lifelike images available. But the
picture quality is about more than just resolution. The 47LB1DA also
features a 14-bit color processor, 1,600:1 contrast ratio and the
latest generation of LG's XD EngineTM to ensure accurate color
reproduction and the best possible picture, even from analog sources.
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OCC has published a new review of the Acer AL2671W LCD TV. Looks like they fell in love with this wee beastie.
'After plugging everything in and starting up the computer, my eyes opened wider than they had ever opened before. While giddy before, this was a pure feeling of awe. My eyes opened so fast, I got a headache from my eyelids slamming into my brain. I couldn’t decide what to do first. Play a game? Throw in a DVD? Edit some photos or videos? Or email all of my friends, bragging about this new toy sitting on my desk...'
Should be alright for some late night fragging.
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Cor blimey. Imagine owning 70 inches of pure porn viewing pleasure. Will dream no more. Come 2007 you'll be able to pop down to your local Currys and pick one up - if your lucky enough to own a big van. The Samsung HDTV is so big they now come with their own support babe just to keep them upright. Looks like you might have to pay extra for the deluxe model. At any rate, cinemas will become a thing of the past and good riddance. Tickets to see the Pirates of the Caribbean now cost a whopping £5.80 and forget about any thoughts of buying drinks or popcorn unless you have a platinum card.
This latest HDTV monster from Samsung offers all the mod cons including 1080p and 180 degree viewing angles. Interestingly, the video signal is reproduced at 120Hz compared to video signal of 60Hz for a conventional HD LCD panel. This should give it a big advantage reproducing fast moving images without blurring.
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Bigger is better eh girls. Seems like Panasonic think so too. At least when it comes to Plasma screens. The $69,999.95 dollar monster will be available for delivery in the US in time for Christmas 2006.
The TH-103PZ600U provides stunning widescreen progressive display featuring full HD pixel resolution of 1,920 horizontal x 1,080 vertical, a contrast ratio of 4,000:1, and 4,096 equivalent steps of gradation. Its effective display area is more than 89.3” wide by over 50.2” high. The super-size 103” 1080p panel is equivalent in size to four 50-inch Panasonic plasma displays.
The Panasonic TH-103PZ600U will be built to order and is expected to be available from select high-end electronics retailers in December. The 103-inch will also require professional installation due to its weight and size. Rumour has it panasonic has hired Arnold Schwarzenegger to install each one.
If you're thinking of buying this (your probably listing the wife and kids on eBay right now) just make sure it will fit in your room first. You might look a bit daft having to knock holes in the walls to fit the damn thing in.
We've requested a review sample from Panasonic and they should be sending one out to our head quarters at:
PO Box You'll Never Get This Back, Run and Scarper Avenue, Asta La Vistaville.
Expect a review from the Cayman islands soon.
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With plasma TVs becoming more and more of a common sight in living
rooms, it's pretty clear that they will soon become the de-facto
standard for watching your favourite shows on.
Not too long ago, plasmas were only affordable to the uber rich of the
society, but now high end 42" plasmas can be had for well under £1500.
So what's the best option for those with more money to burn? Make way
for the creme de la creme of plasma TVs - The 65 inch Panasonic
TH-65PV500B, which will only set you back £7000 of your inestimable
bank account.
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