Tuesday, August 30, 2005
CNET Interview with TI's CEO
Read the full interview here:
http://news.com.com/The+reinvention+of+Texas+Instruments/2008-1082_3-5844415.html?tag=html.alert
Monday, August 29, 2005
MTV and VH-1 Coming in HD
Cuban: Consumers Not Getting Full HD
The Denver Post has the full story here:
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_2981415?rss
Panasonic to Launch 65-Inch 1080p Plasma
The TH-65PX500 delivers spectacular true-to-life images with outstanding detail. The large 65-inch display highlights unique characteristics of plasma display panels such as excellent handling of fast-paced movement, dynamic contrast, bright crisp images and natural colors. The model incorporates the latest 1080p PEAKS (Picture Enhancement Accelerator with Kinetic System) panel drive circuit to optimize performance of the plasma display panel.
The high-end model of the VIERA TV line has two built-in digital and two built-in analog tuners. As it has an SD Memory Card slot, users can watch one digital channel while recording another onto the SD Memory Card (in MPEG4 format) without using a separate recording device. They can watch recorded programs on SD-compatible devices such as D-snap SD Multi Cameras and mobile phones.
While loaded with advanced features, the TH-65PX500 consumes 26 percent less power per year compared to the preceding 65-inch HD plasma display TH-65DX300.
The TH-65PX500 has an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port for an easy single-wire digital audio and video connection.
Panasonic has also added a low-cost and energy-efficient VIERA PX50 digital HDTV series. The 50-inch TH-50PX50, 42-inch TH-42PX50 and 37-inch TH-37PX50 feature the same PEAKS System (a plasma panel, processor and driver) as the higher-models in the PX500 series to ensure superb picture quality. The new models use up to 43 percent less power per year on average as compared to the PX300 series. The new PX50 models have realized the compact design, reducing the width by 70 mm with speakers being placed below the PDP screen.
The models have an SD Memory Card slot, providing connectivity with other SD-compatible devices. Photos taken with LUMIX digital still cameras can be displayed in a slide show format on the large VIERA TVs.
All four models incorporate a Deep Black Filter on the surface of the protection glass to suppress external glare and reflection. Panasonic's own Real Black Drive System provides a contrast ratio of 3000:1 in dark areas, achieving exceptionally deep and rich blacks. The panels have a long life of about 60000 hours. All the models come with easy-to-use remote controllers and can access Panasonic's T-Navi portal service.
Mr. Masaaki Fujita, Director, PDP TV Business Unit, Panasonic AVC Networks Company, said, "We are striving to provide consumers with greater value at the lowest cost. Plasma TVs are becoming the global standard for large flat panel TVs. In fact, plasma displays account for over 90 percent of the global flat-panel TV market for 37 inches and larger."
Sony Announces New Line of LCD Flat Panels
More info to come as I get it...
Rainbow Pitching VOOM Networks to Cable Ops
Friday, August 19, 2005
Sony Intros New Rear-Projection HDTVs
The 1080p (progressive) KDS-R60XBR1 and KDS-R50XBR1 Grand WEGA models compliment two existing SXRD products -- the 70-inch QUALIA(TM) 006 micro-display and the QUALIA 004 front projector.
"SXRD is the next milestone in the evolution of high-definition television and a standard for the ultimate picture performance," said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of the Home Products Division for Sony Electronics. "If you're looking for the full power of HDTV, these models deliver like no other."
At the heart of the models are three new 0.61-inch SXRD panels, making them the world's smallest -- one each for red, green and blue color reproduction -- delivering more than 2 million native pixels (1920 x 1080) for a full high-definition picture.
The panels produce a contrast ratio of 5000:1. Refinements to the panel circuit layout enabled Sony to reduce the pixel pitch on an individual panel to just seven micrometers, resulting increased pixel density, yields, quick response time and a brilliant film-like picture.
The KDS-R60XBR1 and KDS-R50XBR1 units will ship in September for about $5,000 and $4,000, respectively through SonyStyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail) and at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin on Aug. 16 at www.sony.com/WEGA-SXRD.
DIRECTV HD Update
- They've cut the price of the standard HD receiver from $299 to $199.
- They've cut the price of the HD TiVo receiver from $599 to $499 after $100 mail-in rebate.
- Most major markets (including San Diego, where we live) will be able to receive HD local channels via the satellite by the end of the year. She also said that customers with the current generation of HD receiver will be able to trade them in for an upgraded MPEG-4 capable receiver at no additional charge (other than shipping cost) after the HD locals are available.
- All NFL Sunday Ticket games that originally air in HD on CBS and FOX are available in HD on DIRECTV.
I still think that DIRECTV should offer a lease option on the equipment, which I believe puts them at a serious disadvantage compared to DISH Network and the cable companies. The $100 price cut is nice, but $199 is still a decent amount of money to fork over for something you can get elsewhere for $5 a month.
The HD local channels coming online later this year, which I've written about previously, should help offset a signficant advantage currently enjoyed by cable. While an over-the-air antenna may bring in some local HD channels for satellite customers, it's just too hit-and-miss to amount to a good long-term strategy for either DIRECTV or DISH. There will be -- and likely already is -- serious pressure on the latter to develop a way to respond in kind if it hopes to remain competitive with its rivals.
ESPN and ABC to Show '06 Soccer World Cup in HD
The 64 matches will air on ABC HD, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD.
Dell: Consumers Prefer Our Plasmas to Sony's
Guideline Research, on behalf of Dell, conducted the Dell HDTV Challenge at shopping malls in Boston, Chicago, New York City and San Francisco. It pitted the competing plasmas against each other in viewings of indoor and outdoor scenes from a high-definition movie, after which the approximate prices were revealed. The full study can be viewed at www.dell.com/HDTVchallenge.
I find it interesting that Dell compared its plasmas to Sony's, which are generally not regarded as that company's core strength. It would be nice to see Dell perform another study that pits its plasmas against industry leader Panasonic as well as others like Pioneer, LG and Samsung. That kind of Pepsi challenge would probably produce more meaningful results.
OLN to Carry NHL in High-Def
Here's the full release:
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050818/phth019.html?.v=23
Monday, August 15, 2005
Letterman to Make HD Debut Aug. 29
Friday, August 12, 2005
ESPN2 HD to Launch on DIRECTV Sept. 8
Program listings for the next few months can be seen here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tvlistings/espnhd/index#espn2
JVC Plans RPT Price Cuts
Read more here:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nb20050806a5.htm
NBA TV to Show Half Its Scheduled Games in HD
More scheduling info is available here:
http://www.nba.com/news/nbatv_050808.html
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
More on Sony's TV Troubles
Read the story here:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_33/b3947074.htm
Samsung Ships New Plasmas
Read more here: http://www.digitalproducer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=34020
CBS to air the PGA Championship in HD
Read more here:
http://www.pga.com/news/pganews/pgamedianewsletter/cbs081005.cfm
Pioneer Debuts Two New Plasmas
The Pioneer PDP-5060HD and PDP-4360HD will be available in September for an estimated market price of $6,000 and $4,500 respectively.
Read more here:
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050810005669&newsLang=en
SureWest to Launch HD in Q3: Telephony
Read the full story here:
http://telephonyonline.com/broadband/news/surewest_2Q_results_080905/
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Fox to Launch Two New HD Networks
The full story is here:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA632789.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP
Thursday, August 04, 2005
HDNet to Show Shuttle Landing in High-Def
Live shuttle landing - Monday, August 8, 4:30 - 5:00 am, re-broadcasts at 6:00 a.m., 12 noon and 6:30 p.m. ET
HDNet World Report: The Shuttle Returns to Space - Tuesday, August 9, 8:00 p.m. ET
HDNet World Report: Shuttle Discovery's Historic Mission - Tuesday, August 16, 8:00 p.m. ET
Monday, August 01, 2005
Fox to Support Blu-ray
The Hollywood Reporter has the full story:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/business/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001000449
INHD to Show John Daly vs. Niagara Falls
Plasmas at High Altitude
http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/technology/article/0,1299,DRMN_49_3968267,00.html
More Major League Baseball in HD
http://www.indemand.com/sports/mlb2005/schedule/MLBXI_HD_Schedule.pdf