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SUNNYVALE, Calif. — AMD on Monday, Jan 28, announced the immediate availability of the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 graphics processor, expanding the visual boundaries of PC entertainment well beyond the 1080P High Definition (HD) threshold.

The industry’s first graphics processor to break the Teraflop (one trillion floating point operations per second) barrier, the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 nearly doubles the performance of the award-winning ATI Radeon HD 3870 introduced in November 2007.

Through an elegant yet aggressive design, the 55 nanometer process-based ATI Radeon 3870 X2 combines two ATI Radeon HD 3870s on a single graphics board, connected through integrated CrossFire technology.

ATI Radeon 3870 X2 is also the first performance-leadership graphics product in the world to support Microsoft’s upcoming DirectX 10.1 technology. The ATI Radeon 3870 X2 delivers a new class of price and performance leadership with unbelievable enthusiast value at a suggested retail price of US $449.

This launch follows on the success of the recently released ATI Radeon HD 3400 and ATI Radeon HD 3600 series graphics products, completing a comprehensive portfolio of next-generation 55nm GPUs that deliver unparalleled price, performance and energy efficiency from entry-level to performance-leadership class products. More at AMD.

LAKE SUCCESS, NY — Jan 07, `08 — Canon today announced the VIXIA family – a new lineup of consumer High-Definition camcorders embracing Canon optical and imaging technologies for superior image quality and flexibility – at the CES 2008 in Las Vegas.

VIXIA Core TechnologiesAll VIXIA camcorders feature Canon core technologies to create HD video that possesses the highest level of image quality – a Genuine Canon HD Video Lens; a Canon designed and manufactured HD CMOS Image Sensor for Full HD (1920 x 1080) image capture; the Canon-developed DIGIC DV II Image Processor; Instant AutoFocus, crucial for HD; and SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization.

VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory and VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory Camcorders:
The VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory camcorder offers the flexibility of recording up to 6 hours of High-Definition video to a 16GB internal Flash drive, as well as the option of recording to an SDHC memory card. The HF100 Flash Memory camcorder features an SDHC memory card slot only. The SDHC slot provides future storage expandability with both models. These camcorders also offer other sophisticated new features, including a newly designed Genuine Canon 12x HD Video Lens, a robust Canon 3.3 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, and Full HD Lens-to-Screen (1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution to capture, record and output).

In addition to 24p Cinema Mode, which allows users to mimic the look of Hollywood-style movies, the VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory and HF100 Flash Memory camcorders offer a new feature called 30p Progressive Mode. Canon’s 30p Progressive Mode, once exclusive to pro-level camcorders, delivers clarity for fast action events, such as sports or news, and is the perfect frame rate for clips intended to be posted on the Web. A 2.7″ Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD offers a wide viewing angle, making it visible from any direction.

VIXIA HV30 HD Camcorder:
As the successor to the Canon HV20 HD Camcorder, the VIXIA HV30 HD camcorder provides consumers with the ability to record HD quality video to MiniDV cassettes. Wrapped in a sophisticated black exterior, the VIXIA HV30 camcorder features a Genuine Canon 10X HD Video Lens, Canon 2.96 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, DIGIC DV II Image Processor, a 30p Progressive Mode (and 24p Cinema Mode), and a 2.7″ Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD. In addition, the VIXIA HV30 camcorder is compatible with Canon’s high capacity BP-2L24H Lithium-ion battery.

DW-100 DVD Burner:
The Canon DW-100 DVD Burner allows to burn all, part or previously recorded video from a compatible Canon camcorder to a DVD. In addition to burning Standard Definition DVDs, the DW-100 can also burn AVCHD DVDs which can be played in compatible Blu-Ray players. The DW-100 DVD Burner has only three buttons: power, record and eject, making operation fast and easy. Unlike other similar yet daunting devices, the DW-100 DVD Burner is designed for one-touch operation: connect via USB, set and burn.

Available in late April, the VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory and VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory camcorders will have an estimated retail price of $1,099 and $899, respectively. The Canon VIXIA HV30 is scheduled to be available in late February for the estimated retail price of $999. The Canon DW-100 DVD Burner is scheduled to be available in late April for the estimated retail price of $269.More at Canon.

MILPITAS, Calif –BUSINESS WIRE– Sigma Designs, a leading provider of highly integrated  solutions, today announced that its highly integrated SMP8634 media processor was selected by Sharp Corporation to power its new line of AQUOS Blu-ray disc players and recorders.

Sharp’s new products include the BD-AV1 and AV10 Series for the Japanese market and the recently introduced slim-profile AQUOS BD player, model BD-HP20U, the company’s first offering in the US market.

Sharp’s new series of AQUOS Blu-ray disc recorders BD-AV1 and AV10 enable recording and playback of digital broadcasts of HDTV programs that capture the same high-resolution image quality of broadcast TV that VCR users are accustomed to experiencing.

AQUOS also offers full compatibility with 24 movie frames per second playback, matching the native filming format for most movies as well as HDMI output support of 1080/24p video and Dolby TrueHD, and an i.LINK (IEEE1394) input for connecting to a Sharp AQUOS High-Vision recorder. More here.

Next-generation HDTVs to use 4.8Gbps XDR DRAM

LOS ALTOS, Calif — Dec 17, `07 –BUSINESS WIRE– Rambus today announced that Toshiba Corporation has licensed its XDR memory controller interface cell (XIO) and XDR memory controller (XMC) for next-generation high-definition television (HDTV) chipsets. The XIO and XMC will be implemented in Toshiba’s 65nm process. Operating at 4.8Gbps, the XDR memory architecture will allow Toshiba’s HDTV chipset to deliver state-of-the-art image processing performance in its customers’ HDTVs.

The XDR memory architecture uses patented Rambus innovations such as Octal Data Rate (ODR) technology, Differential Rambus Signaling Level (DRSL), and FlexPhase circuits to deliver the highest bandwidth available while using fewer DRAM devices than industry-standard memory solutions. Higher memory performance as delivered by the XDR architecture enables the advanced features of next-generation HDTVs such as 1080p+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rates, 12-bit color, multiple full HD Picture-in-Picture (PiP) data streams, and advanced image enhancement algorithms.More here.

CHICAGO, ILL — December 3, 2007 — NEC Display Solutions of America announced today its largest LCD yet, the 65-inch NEC MultiSync LCD6520. The commercial-grade display delivers a robust feature set and dynamic technology expansion capabilities.

The LCD6520 is embedded with NEC’s Digital Signage Technology Suite (DSTS), which includes more than 20 features and functions developed specifically for digital signage, making the display ideal for the transportation, corporate, medical, retail, and hospitality markets. When used in digital signage applications, these features create a lower cost of ownership by eliminating the need for additional and sometimes expensive third-party components.

This new display features a 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution with a 2000:1 contrast ratio, 6-millisecond response time, and Ambix+ Technology, which supports both digital and analog inputs. The LCD6520 LCD display is the largest direct-view display ever offered by NEC, and is available in both portrait and landscape models.

The new MultiSync LCD6520 offers the following key features:

* Commercial grade technology for 24/7 usage
* Exclusive Digital Signage Technology Suite with 20+ advanced features
* Built-in expansion slot, which allows for seamless integration of third-party components (CAT5 receiver, Single Board Computer, HD-SDI, DVI loop-thru for Daisy Chain set-up)
* Optional digital tuner available for landscape model, which allows for high-definition television capabilities
* Optional 15-watt speakers available in 2008
* AV inputs for HDMI, composite, S-Video, RCA, and mini-pin JACK
* Full High-Definition (HD) 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080) for optimum clarity
* 2000:1 contrast ratio
* 6-millisecond response time for full-motion video
* Display management controls, which lower energy consumption and save money

The LCD6520L-AV and LCD6520P-AV are available for shipping with an estimated street price of $18,499.99 and $19,999.99, respectively.

Secaucus, NJ — Nov 20, ‘07 – Panasonic announced that its next generation Blu-ray Disc player, the DMP-BD30, is now shipping and is available prior to Black Friday in channel partner stores in many regions of the country. 

The BD30 is the first Blu-ray player to incorporate Final Standard Profile 1.1 — a supplementary interactive function added to the Blu-ray Disc standard which opens the door to a variety of new and unique functions such as Picture-in-Picture and audio mixing.

Panasonic worked closely with Hollywood film makers to develop High Definition technologies now available in the DMP-BD30 including “PHL Chroma Processing” for optimized Blu-ray and DVD playback and an SD Memory Card slot. The SD Card slot allows BD30 owners to network between their High Definition products including playback of digital still images and High Definition video recorded in the AVCHD High Definition Camcorder format.

With an SRP of $499.95, the DMP-BD30 also features a slimmer profile while offering a myriad of technological advances, including Deep Color Compatibility, and HDMI 1.3B, that enhances step gradation from 8-bit 256 all the way up to 12-bit, 4,096 step gradation. To further enhance the viewing experience, the DMP-BD30 also provides 1080/24p playback, so the consumer can enjoy the same 24-fps (frames per second) reproduction as the original movie. This eliminates the need to utilize 3.2 pull down, a process which converts 24-fps images to 60-fps, resulting in a smoother picture.

Panasonic also inroduced Sleek New KX-TG8231 DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone:

The KX-TG8231 features DECT 6.0 technology packaged in a glossy piano black finish echoing the sophistication of a grand piano. The phone’s sleek and compact design pairs a stylishly modern handset and base with DECT 6.0 technology that allows for minimized electrical interference with other home electronics. A display on the handset shows phone information in bright and clear full color, including caller ID so a user can see who’s calling even when away from the phone’s base. The caller ID also can be customized with individual ringtones.

Other handset features that enhance portability include speakerphone capability and battery life of up to 12 hours of talk time. The KX-TG8231 is also expandable up to 6 handsets, has a built-in clock with alarm and includes a 50-station phonebook and dialer that is transferable to all KX-TG8231/32 phones in a home.

The KX-TG8231 is available at Amazon for $46.73, while the two-handset KX-TG8232 is available for $99.76.

Toshiba UK is offering one of the very thin, but still not as thin as Samsung’s 10mm, Full 1080p HD LCD TV in the UK market, Toshiba 40XF355D. Its available for approx $2460 onwards from various UK retailers.

Quick Specs

40″ 16:9
1920×1080p
10000:1 Dynamic Contrast
500 cd/m² Brightness
178º Degrees Viewing Angle
10-bit Color Processing
3 HDMI with Deep Color
REGZA link
WXGA PC Input
934×578x130; 22.5Kgs (Without Stand)

More at Toshiba UK.

Weybridge, 12 November, 2007 - Sony Europe’s IT Peripherals division today announced a new range of high performance AV cables designed to complete the high quality sound and viewing experience of Sony’s home theatre products.

Available for a number of Sony AV products, including BRAVIA flat screen TVs, VAIO PC and laptops, PLAY STATION 3 consoles or Blu-Ray Disc video players - Sony’s AV cable range has been specifically designed using the highest quality components to produce clearer, cleaner sounds and pictures. Following the same design principles as Sony’s home theatre products the range includes Digital HDMI, Component Video, SCART, Optical Digital Audio, Coaxial Digital and Stereo Audio cables.

The cables complement the midrange HDMI cables already introduced by Sony in April 2007 and provide a setup for more discerning users. Ready for HD viewing Sony’s Digital HDMI cables support full 1080P HD signals and the x.v. Colour standard for better looking HDTV. The cables also support Sony’s BRAVIA Theatre Sync one touch control, are PS3 compatible. Sony’s AV cable range is available immediately and comes in 1, 3 and 5 metre lengths.

Sony’s AV cable components have been carefully selected to mirror the audio and image quality of Sony home theatre products. The connectors are 24k gold plated, giving excellent signal transmission and protecting from corrosion within the home environment. More at Sony.

Nov 02, ‘07 — Dell has started selling the latest addition to its fleet of flat panels, 24-inch E248WFP widescreen LCD monitor, with amazing HD resolution and blazing fast response time, for just $469.

At a Glance

- 1920 x 1200 native resolution – Stunning detail and more viewable real estate without compromising desk space
- 5 millisecond response time (typical) – Helps reduce ghosting and motion blur when gaming or watching movies
- 1000:1 contrast ratio – Produces darker blacks for sharper images, crisp text, better color saturation and greater detail for HD entertainment
- High Definition (HD) – Supports higher definition than HD Television and comes with an integrated DVI-D with HDCP connection
- Dell TrueColor Technology – Richer, life-like imagery that has accurate color representation better tones and hues. Reds, greens and blues are deeper and more vibrant. The Dell E248WFP features a 92% color gamut.

More at Dell.

Nov 01, ‘07–As wal-Mart promised us yesterday, holiday deals has started arriving earlier this year. Starting Friday, Nov-02, 8 AM you can get this Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player for $99 and other ”In-Store Specials” at your local Wal-Mart.

Best Buy too has also jumped in to race of holiday deals not to left behind by Wal-Mart and is offering the same High-Def DVD player for $99. Though at the time of posting it was out of stock at Best Buy. More at Wal-Mart, Best Buy.

Los Angeles, CA–October 30, 2007–Panasonic announced today the introduction of the DMP-BD30, the next generation High Definition 1080p Blu-ray Disc player. The DMP-BD30 is the first Blu-ray player to be introduced with Final Standard Profile, which adds a variety of new and enhanced features to the Blu-ray arena and one that separates the Panasonic Blu-ray player from the rest of the field. Also unique to the DMP-BD30 is the inclusion of an SD Memory Card slot for playback of High Definition content recorded in the AVCHD format. The SD slot also allows for viewing of digital still images recorded to an SD Memory Card.

With an SRP of  $499.95, the DMP-BD30 also features a myriad of technology advances, including Deep Color Compatibility, and HDMI 1.3B, that bumps the step gradation from 8-bit 256 all the way up to 12-bit, 4,096 step gradation. To further enhance the viewing experience, the DMP-BD30 also provides 1080/24p playback, so the consumer can enjoy the same 24-fps (frames per second) reproduction as the original movie. This eliminates the need to utilize 3.2 pull down, a process to convert 24-fps images to 60-fps, resulting in a smoother picture. More at Panasonic

“It is Samsung SDI that is supplying OLED panel products now,” said Ho Kyoon Chung, executive vice president and CTO, Corporate R&D Center, Samsung SDI Co Ltd of Korea, in the FPD Summit (keynote session) at the “FPD International 2007 Forum” October 24. 

He presented the company’s OLED panel roadmap and said, “OLED panels have opened the new era of organic optoelectronics. Not only displays but also new applications such as OLED lighting systems, organic electro-luminescent power generators and organic sensors will emerge in the near future.” 

Explaining the company’s product development roadmap, Chung said, “Following small panels used in 2007, 3.5- to 7-inch panels including 4.1-inch panels will be applied to ultra mobile PCs, for example, in 2008. Then we will realize 14-, 15- and 21-inch panels in 2009 and large 40- to 42-inch full HD (high definition) OLED TVs in 2010.” “We will provide a flexible OLED display by 2012 at the latest,” he added. More at Tech-On!

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct 29, ‘07–Akamai, the leading global service provider for accelerating content and applications online, today announced The HDWeb, a ‘proof-of-concept’ portal designed to showcase the experience consumers can have with high definition content online. The Website, available at TheHDWeb, showcases content from a variety of industries including music, movies, professional sports, games and news. Akamai customers are now delivering a consistent, high-definition video experience on Akamai’s uniquely distributed edge delivery platform that is specifically tuned for optimal delivery of high-definition (HD) files online. As an industry leader and pioneer in online video, Akamai has raised the bar for what a service provider must offer companies in order to deliver this content effectively and efficiently online today.  

Companies providing HD content for the initiative include Apple, BBC Motion Gallery, CBS, Gannett, MTV Networks, NBA and more. The proof-of-concept portal will serve as a temporary Internet Programming Guide to HD video on the Web and provide access to a complete HD experience. These companies understand the value that HD content brings their brand and are ahead of the curve by offering HD programming online. 

Akamai’s goal is to provide high bandwidth consumers with a superior online HD experience and highlight the content providers that are pushing the industry forward. The HDWeb portal will:  

- Bring together the most powerful brands online to showcase premium content
- Offer a glimpse into the ‘future’ of the Internet
- Engage audiences with higher quality video experiences
- Seed the market for premium content monetization strategies
- Show industry support and leadership around the move toward high-definition video  

Akamai recently outlined technical criteria for delivering HD content on the Internet. Akamai has architected its platform to comply with the following technical criteria that content owners must leverage to successfully enable an HD Web. Akamai believes that it is the first and only platform to meet these technical requirements which include offering:  

- Technology and an operational model to operate serving devices in the largest high-throughput networks around the world (servers need to be physically in the networks, as that is where the capacity lies)
- Established relationships with the largest high throughput networks
- Support for delivery, storage, and management of files greater than 2 Gigabytes
- Support of VC-1 and MPEG-4 video standards, achieving visual parity with other broadcast video networks Support for files with resolutions of 720p, 1080i and 1080p
- Client-side technology that is deeply integrated into its delivery system to be deployed as appropriate 

More info on Akamai’s High Definition solution can be found at Akamai.

Seoul, Oct 24, ‘07 (Korea Newswire)– LG will unveil its new ‘G Platform’ plasma TV panels with upgraded picture quality at FPD International 2007, the flat panel display exhibition held in Yokohama, Japan, from October 24-26.

LG’s new HD and Full HD plasma TV panels feature a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, which is twice the highest current existing ratio of 15,000:1. G Platform panels are capable of reproducing exceptionally true colors across the entire spectrum, including even deep blacks with a 20 percent reduced reflection rate. In contrast to existing black panels, which are able to improve colors on the screen only by using clear black-colored panels, LG has improved color reproduction by optimizing the panels’ color phosphors and utilizing dielectrics.

“Our G Platform panel delivers top image quality at an economical price using LG’s advanced technology,” said Christopher Kim, vice president and head of PDP Module Marketing Team, LG Electronics, “Special image processing technology doubles the standard 50 Hz refresh rate to 100 Hz, eliminating annoying motion blur or flicker. These panels will deliver the clearest picture with the least noise to viewers in PAL markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.”

The panels come out in 32-, 42- and 50-inch HD models as well as 50- and 60-inch full HD models. All of these HD models as well as the 50-inch full HD model include industry-leading single scan technology. All of the panels also feature a 100 Hz refresh rate.

Seoul, Oct 22 (Korea Newswire)– Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s largest provider of thin-film-transistor, liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD), will unveil a diverse array of leading-edge LCD panels for monitors, TVs and digital information displays at FPD International 2007, in Yokohama, Japan, October 24-26.

At the trade show dedicated to flat panel displays, Samsung will introduce a 40-inch (101.6cm) diagonal Full HD LCD TV panel only 10.0 millimeters thick. This new display, expected to usher in the next wave of large-screen TVs, has the same profile as 10-20 inch LCDs designed for desktop monitors. Its bezel has been reduced from a conventional 30mm to 14.6mm. The panel, using an LED backlight, reproduces 92 percent of the NTSC standard for color saturation and features low power consumption of 90 watts or less.

More at NewsWire

“Seductive. Involving. Lush. Realistic. Amazing. Seamless Filmlike. These are some of the words used to describe the image projected by our newest video projector, the VP-15S1.” Says Marantz, the manufacturer of this awsome 1080p high end DLP projector.

The VP-15S1 features 13 element all-glass optics from Konica-Minolta, 1920×1080–1080p resolution,  1000 ANSI Lumen Brightness, 10000:1 contrast ratio, two HDMI 1.3 inputs with 12-bit Deep Color support for new HD media such as Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD, a 3 year warranty and can be yours for $9999.99

More details at Marantz here and here

Seoul, Korea (October 18, 2007) – LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd., one of the world’s leading innovators of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) technology, announced today that it plans to launch a 42-inch TFT-LCD TV panel that is substantially thinner than conventional panels, at only 19.8 mm, in the first quarter of 2008. This ultra-slim 42-inch LCD panel will be on display at FPD International 2007 in Yokohama, Japan, from October 24 to 26.

This panel is 40 percent thinner and 10 percent lighter than conventional 42-inch LCD TV panels. Despite its slim profile, the panel still manages to incorporate cutting edge 120Hz technology, which eliminates motion blur, and full HD resolution, which is twice as sharp as normal HD resolution. LG.Philips LCD used a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlight on this panel, which kept production costs lower than using a comparable LED backlight.

More at LG.Philips LCD

Akihabaranews is reporting on Samsung’s new 52″ full HD LCD TV with LED backlight and brings some nice pictures too. Samsung LN52F91BD will feature 3 HDMI 1.3 port, a USB 2.0 and ‘Data Link’ (Infolink) to get news, weather, stocks in real time from MSN.

More at Akihabaranews