DTVScoop - Digital Television News

iSuppli: LCD 40-42 Inch Model Prices to Fall

Philip — 2005-07-30T11:24:53-05:00

Market research firm iSuppli says that because of a glut in LCD inventory worldwide, the average price of LCD panels for manufacturers dropped $1,000 this month to $1,125. This roughly translates to consumer LCD TVs having a price as low as $2,500 during Q4--just in time for the holiday buying season.

Since Sony announced that it was leaving behind plasma TV development earlier this year and opened up a new joint venture with Samsung to produce more 40 to 42 inch LCD panels, the price has decreased with supply.

Global LCD TV sales are up 87 percent from 2004 and expected to hit 18.8 million units by the end of 2005.

Panasonic TH-42PD25 Plasma HDTV

Philip — 2005-02-21T14:34:45-05:00

The people over at HomeTheaterMag.com have put up a review of the TH-42PD25 plasma TV from Panasonic. The TH-42PD25 is an HDTV plasma TV that won out over the others in the review for its black level and gray scale accuracy.

Using a Video Essentials test patterns DVD, the testing revealed that the TH-42PD25 had an issue with bright scenes--the brightest image would be crushed white. For example, a cloud in the sky would have no detail other than a white blob. Reducing the contrast ratio didn't help either--the picture merely became darker while the detail on whites didn't improve.

Panasonic VIERA Flat Panel TVs

Philip — 2005-02-16T13:41:09-05:00

Panasonic has introduced a range of flat panel displays coined "VIERA". The plasma VIERA displays will be available in three plasma screen TV sizes--the 50-inch, high-definition TH-50PV30, the 42-inch TH-42PA30 and the 37-inch TH37PA30, both of which are standard definition models.

VIERA will also have two LCD TV sizes--the 32-inch TX-32LX1X and 26-inch TX-26LX1X, both HD models. The 65-inch T-65PHDB-K will also be available shortly.

Plasma TV Prices Falling for Super Bowl

Philip — 2005-02-02T02:22:34-05:00

Plasma and other big screen digital televisions are falling in price just in time for the Super Bowl. At Costco last month, a coupon for $400 off a 42-inch, high-definition Visio plasma TV brought the final price to under $2,000--$1,999. This was near the low-price for lesser quality EDTV models during the 2004 holiday season.

Pioneer PDP-435SX Wins Award

Philip — 2005-01-30T22:07:23-05:00

According to the January 13 announcement of the Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECCJ), the Pioneer PDP-435SX digital high-definition plasma TV has been named the recipient of the ECCJ Chairman's Award in the 2004 Energy Conservation Grand Prize. Annually the ECCJ recognizes and awards these prizes for outstanding products with exceptional energy-saving performance in the category of consumer devices or systems for the Japanese market.

The PDP-435SX realizes the power consumption of just 306 watts - the lowest in its class, according to Pioneer - by employing a number of energy-saving technologies, including Pioneer's P.U.R.E. Panel technology.

This plasma TV has been enjoying a good reputation in the Japanese TV market ever since its release in July 2004.

Fujitsu Rumoured to Consider Exiting Plasma Business

Philip — 2005-01-29T02:32:22-05:00

First, Sony and Toshiba were rumoured to be exiting the plasma display business. Now, there is an AFP report suggesting that Fujitsu is re-evaluating its plasma display business and may consider exiting it entirely.

Fujitsu and Hitachi jointly manufacture plasma displays in a 50-50 joint venture, Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display. Although demand for plasma TVs is expected to grow, the large infrastructure investments appear to be scaring off Fujitsu. The company is rumored to be in talks with Hitachi to reduce its interest in the joint venture.

Fujitsu pioneered plasma displays in 1968 and was the first company in 1995 to manufacture a production plasma television.

NEC N940 and N840 Cell Phones Come with Built-in TV

Philip — 2005-01-29T02:05:00-05:00

For the Chinese market only, NEC announced two new handsets capable of displaying television (analog, unfortunately). The NEC N940 is a dualband handset (900/1800MHz) equiped with a large, bright 2.1 inch touch screen TFT display screen (resolution of 176x220 pixels and 262,144 colors).

Samsung's New OLED Display

Philip — 2005-01-29T01:38:10-05:00

Continuing its innovation in the digital television sphere, Samsung Electronics has developed the world's largest organic light emitting diode display for HDTVs.

Brighter, slimmer and more power efficient, the 21-inch OLED panel demonstrated outperforms existing LCD panels on the market. OLED LCD screens generate its own light, thus eliminating the need to have a backlight and resulting in more efficient monitors.

China's New DTV Chip

Philip — 2005-01-26T14:06:11-05:00

Fudan University in Shanghai has developed China's first DTV chip. The "Zhongshi No.1" chip supposedly outperforms US and European sensitivity and anti-jamming standards and at a lower cost. It is hoped that the new chip will pave the way to a new generation of high-definition televisions.

The Chinese government is eager to capitalize on the growing digital television market in China, in time for the 2008 Olympics. Official Chinese statistics cite 370 million TV sets and a growth rate of 40 million sets each year. Nationwide digital TV service is expected by 2015.

Samsung LNR570D LNR460D LNR409D Review

Philip — 2005-01-22T16:56:50-05:00

Samsung introduced at the CES in Las Vegas three new LCD TVs. The 57-inch LNR570D widescreen LCD TV is the world's largest consumer LCD TV on the market featuring HDTV technology. The 46-inch LNR460D employs the LED-LCD backlight technology resulting in faster refresh rates and clearer and brighter pictures. The 40-inch LNR409D features Samsung's "Flat Flourescent Lamp" technology.

Sony and Toshiba to Exit China PDP Market

Philip — 2005-01-22T13:56:53-05:00

SinoCast reports that Sony and Toshiba will exit the Chinese plasma display panel market and focus on LCD TV-based televisions. With plasma displays contributing 60 percent or more to the cost of plasma TVs, there is little markup for the two plasma TV makers since neither manufactures their own plasma display panels.

Samsung TX-R3079WH SlimFit Review

Philip — 2005-01-21T14:12:11-05:00

While the world is taking notice of flat panel televisions, major manufacturers are also rolling out some cathode ray tube models for this year. Samsung will market 3 thin SlimFit tube models this year in the 26-, 27- and 30-inch sizes. In addition, LG Electronics will introduce a 30-inch model in August.

These new CRT-based digital televisions are two-thirds the depth of conventional TVs--for example, Samsung's new 30-inch SlimFit model will be 16 inches deep, compared with 24 inches for its standard tube set.

LCD TV and Plasma TV Survey Results

Philip — 2005-01-21T12:39:09-05:00

A joint survey conducted by Taiwan's Market Intelligence Center and Synovate revealed some interesting trends about consumers considering plasma TV and/or LCD TV purchases.

First off, the survey showed that the primary motivations for buying a new LCD or plasma TV are picture clarity and high resolution (32 percent for LCD TVs and 31 percent for plasma TVs), followed by space-saving advantages (31 percent for LCD TVs and 24 percent for plasma TVs).

Philips 30-inch MiraVision Flat Panel TV

Philip — 2005-01-19T22:30:01-05:00

Philips has announced a 30-inch version of its ultramodern LCD TV, the "Mirror TV." Available in the first quarter of 2005 for custom orders with a suggested price range from $1,999 to $3,999.

How cool is that?! Vanity and TV all in one.

Philips 32PF9630A 32-inch LCD TV

Philip — 2005-01-19T21:43:59-05:00

Philips' recently announced 32-inch LCD TV (32PF9630A) will be the first Philips' TV using its proprietary ClearLCD technology to be launched in the US market. ClearLCD uses scanning and dimming technology to create fast refreshing LCD images and high contrast.

Higher black level, greater contrast and larger viewing areas is achieved using Philips' HCFL lamp system, Aptura, when combined with ClearLCD. Aptura backlight solves many of the image quality issues commonly encountered with the LCD technology: Low-brightness, low contrast and narrow field of view. All three of these factors should improve significantly with Aptura backlight.

The 32PF9630A LCD TV will be availabe September 2005 at the MSRP of $2,199.