Richard Lawler
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Richard Lawler is used to being on the bleeding edge of technology, he can usually be found with a cellphone that does everything except make or receive phone calls, an Xbox that no longer plays games, and a car that's not running, but has slightly more speakers than the indigenous North American language "Onandoga". He can usually be found extolling the virtues of the Phantom game system for any and all who will listen on the High-tech boards of Okayplayer.com that he also moderates. He's not as much of an HD addict as Kevin, but he's probably seen Sunrise Earth on Discovery HD more times than he's seen a real sunrise in the last year.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 8:15AM
Thin is in at IFA 2008, and Sharp's LCD lineup leads off with the super-skinny XS1 Aquos series LCD. A 23mm thick 1080p 52- or 65-inch panel packing 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 100Hz motion processing and detachable speaker system, halves it's
previous 5cm best from May of this year. Old school fat LCD fans can look forward to the D65E line, pulling 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and claiming an "environmentally conscious design" for Sharp's premium range, in sizes from 32- to 52-inch models, with prices to match from €899 to €2299. Of course, none of this would be right without a matching Blu-ray player, and Sharp has announced the BD-HP21H, a Bonus View Profile 1.1 model with a quick-start mode, but like the XS1 lacks pricing info that would make it so much juicier. All are due in the UK in October, we should hope for more details before then.
UPDATE: Add a few more zeros onto that contrast ratio -- 1,000,000:1 -- Thanks, celle!
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 7:27AM
IFA's apparently given Toshiba just the opportunity necessary to refresh its line of
Regza LCDs, for those without the Resolution+ itch with a few new sizes and features. The existing
entry-level XV line of 1080p LCDs gets 46- and 52-inch models, plus a gloss black design that helps it fit in at the Regza family reunion. The brand new RV line of 1080p LCDs bring similar features to the
ZF Series, sans Resolution+ technology and one HDMI port, but with Active Vision M100 HD 100/120Hz 5:5 pulldown image processing intact. 37-, 42- and 46-inch sizes are confirmed for the October Euro launch, prices and U.S. availability for both TBD.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 5:49AM
Panasonic's welcoming you to the future of plasma HDTV, starting along with the stunning
150-inch 4K plasma, that is, surprisingly enough bigger than its old 103-inch model (shocking, we know) leading to the debut of three "super thin" plasma prototypes measuring 24.7mm deep in 50-inch and, for what it claims is the first time, 58- and 65-inch sizes that also include
Wireless HD. One-fourth the thickness of current Panasonic models and one-half the weight combined with no wires leads Panasonic to believe we'll be able to reorganize the living room shortly, without silly mounting issues and need to run cables. If that fails to inspire, how about a 42-inch prototype that claims twice the luminance efficiency and the same brightness as its current 42-inch 1080p model while only sipping half the power -- if that's a
concern. Check out more pics after the break.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 5:09AM
Say hello to the
successors of the short-lived Panasonic
DMP-BD50, the new DMP-BD35 (above) and DMP-BD55 (after the break) check off every feature we can think of for a new Blu-ray player, complete with a slim profile (49mm high on the BD35) and hopefully low, low price thanks to a
45nm 3rd-generation UniPhier processor. Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD MA audio support, with internal decoding or bitstreamed output in full 7.1 (plus 7.1 analog audio outs on the DMP-BD55) on top of fully BD-Live / Profile 2.0 compatible hardware finally promise no-compromise hardware for Blu-ray buyers. Release dates and pricing information? Your guess is as good as ours, for now.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 4:23AM 
Sony's
XBR6 / XBR7 / XBR8 models are still waiting in the wings for their U.S. debut, but along with HDTVs that push the extremes in thin and fast, the company announced these more conventional models it's deemed "the highest quality BRAVIA HDTVs in history." The XR1 (read: XBR8) series will feature a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (3,000:1 static) courtesy of those new TRILUMINOS three-color LEDs, 10-bit BRAVIA Engine 2 processing and Motionflow 120Hz technology. If you can live without 240Hz or WHDI, the 1080p 55-inch edition runs ¥750,000 ($6,489 U.S.) with a 46-inch for ¥600,000 ($5,479 U.S.). The next level down is the X1 (read: XBR6 / XBR7) series, based on old school CCFL backlights limited to a 3,000:1 contrast rating, ranging in size from 40- to 52- inches and in price from ¥530,000 ($4,866 U.S.) to ¥320,000 ($2,922 U.S.) when they go on sale October 10. Digital Media Extender support, DLNA connectivity and all the other high end feature's make their expected appearance across the lineup. With fears of
watered down technology effectively quelled, Sony wouldn't make us wait until October to find out when we can buy an HDTV in the U.S. or
Europe from this lineup -- somehow we
doubt it.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 2:33AM
Sure Samsung had
240Hz (and wavier hair) first, but with its TVs stuck in development until 2011, Sony's back with another first / best of the night in the W1 series display, packing four times the speed of previous LCD HDTVs, and double that of the new
120Hz your best friend just picked up. Allegedly smoother than Billy Dee Williams cracking open a Colt 45 in Cloud City, the KDL-46W1 and KDL-40W1 bring 1080p with a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, BRAVIA Engine 2 image processing, 24p support and an assortment of hookups from modem to HDMI. Stop by your nearest Japanese electronics shop November 10 to get a peep at these and their
slim, sexy sister, but bring ¥400,000 ($3,652 U.S.) for the 46-inch or ¥290,0000 ($2,648 U.S.) for the 40-inch -- you could try showing up without it, but why take chances?
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 2:05AM
WirelessHD has finished its own content protection system, under the guise of Hollywood's big studios, Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP). The idea behind DTCP is establishing that content protected under another system -- like DVD's CSS or Blu-ray's
AACS -- it will retain that same copy protection after it's transmitted, while still allowing streaming and copying from one device to another. Moving beyond simple wireless displays, this allows for easy wireless transmission of managed copies to DVRs, portable media players, etc. Ordinarily, we'd be rather averse to anything the
MPAA has had a hand in, but we're cautiously optimistic if managed copy can actually become more than a theory. Punch the read link for a look at the specs and see if our trust has been misplaced. Of course, they also promised we'd be
seeing hardware in 2008...we're running out of time while
WHDI and
UWB are calling.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 1:44AM
Sony's taken the crown in the race for thinnest LCD HDTV. At just 9.9mm thick the KDL-40ZX1 nearly halves the depth of Hitachi's
former champ (likely throwing up in the bathroom right now) and comes within a whisper of Pioneer's
ultra thin concept. Featuring a LED backlighting, a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 120Hz MotionFlow tech, x.v.Color and BRAVIA Engine 2 image processing this is about as close to a 40-inch window on your wall as is likely to arrive soon. Only one HDMI in is directly on the screen itself, all unnecessary HDMI / USB / component inputs are relegated to a base station, with the option for wired or -- possibly
WHDI based? --
5Ghz wireless (unfortunately limited to 1080i max resolution for now). We'd mention the XMB GUI, AcTVila video on-demand and DLNA support, but at some point it's just piling on. A mere 490,000 yen ($4,474 U.S.) puts the ZX1 on your wall, due at your local Japanese retailer November 10. See you there?
[Via
AV Watch]
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 27th 2008 at 11:29PM
Coming right back is
DirecTV,
just a few days after activating HD locals in New York and Nebraska comes word that Johnstown-Altoona, PA, Chattanooga, TN and Augusta, GA are the
latest in its 44 planned local rollouts this summer/fall. Better hurry DirecTV, the days are already getting shorter. Beyond the read links is the list of newly-added local networks, proceed with caution, or reckless abandon, it's pretty much the same to us either way.
Read - Johnstown-Altoona, Pa
Read - Chattanooga, Tenn
Read - Augusta, Ga
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 27th 2008 at 6:28PM
Even though it's in nearly every phone available, only a
few flat panels with
integrated wireless networking have surfaced so far, and now LG's packing Bluetooth into its already highly anticipated
"infinite black" PG7000 plasma and
Scarlet LG7000 LCD models. Pricetags are still in the air, but LG says these flatscreens will hit worldwide starting with Europe in September.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 27th 2008 at 5:41PM
The Incredible Hulk Blu-ray is definitely getting a more thorough treatment than its
barebones Hulk HD DVD distant cousin, packing
U-control picture-in-picture and interactive features as well as a standard definition digital copy on a second disc. The 50GB Blu-ray disc includes the 1080p MPEG-4 encoded flick, a DTS-HD Master Audio track as well as
BD Live chat, and scene sharing. Hopefully there's room for the hour+ additional footage hinted at by the director in previous interviews, but we're sure that won't stop fans from preordering to get the limited edition "Green Ray" 3D packaging.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 27th 2008 at 3:51PM
What we're watching tonight:
- USA (1080i) has U.S. Open Tennis at 7 p.m.
- Discovery (1080i) brings the series premiere of NextWorld at 8 p.m. followed by MythBusters and Man vs. Wild
- History (1080i) presents MonsterQuest at 9 p.m. and Jurassic Fight Club at 10 p.m.
- ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC & PBS have the Democratic National Convention at 10 p.m.
- A&E (720p) has Dog the Bounty Hunter at 9:30 p.m.
- Bravo (1080i) drops in the season finale of Shear Genius at 10 p.m.
- National Geographic (1080i) has Taboo at 10 p.m.
- ESPN (720p) has MLB with Red Sox/Yankees at 7 p.m.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 27th 2008 at 3:33PM
Toshiba almost had to mess up its thirty-seven hundred dollar lynx coat, at the thought of seeing its
HD DVD walking in the rain with some alley-cat-coat wearing hush-puppy-shoe-wearin' Taiwanese crumb cake. According to China's
Economic Daily News, some Taiwanese manufacturers apparently sought to buy out the company's blue laser patents and use them negotiate a reduction in the cost of Blu-ray licenses. Whatever the master plan was, it's all for naught since Toshiba's not keen on giving up its licenses, which
EDN sees as related to the upcoming
China Blue High Definition discs still set to roll out based on HD DVD. HD DVD without Toshiba is like corn flakes without the milk, so it's unlikely we'll ever see it with anyone else, Tosh's own
XDE dalliances notwithstanding.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 27th 2008 at 1:13PM
Norway has its first local HD channel is on the way, as TV Norge and Canal Digital have teamed up to deliver TV Norge HD beginning October 3. Norwegian produced content isn't due until '09, in the meantime viewers can live with simulcasts of programs like
The Closer,
CSI and
Rome. Canal Digital previously delivered the European soccer championships and Olympics in HD, and reports over 100,000 HD receivers already installed among Norwegians 1.3 million HDTV owners. NRK, TV2, the ball is in your court.
by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 27th 2008 at 11:47AM
Sherwood's been known mainly for its audio, but TWICE has the details on two new Blu-ray players on the way at
CEDIA. Consisting of the high end $499 MSRP BDP-6003 and the mass market-targeted $299 BDP-5003 are both Bonus View Profile 1.1 players that upscale all content to 1080p and decode all Blu-ray audio formats, with the 6003 including 5.1 analog out, while the 5003 makes do with just stereo. Front mounted USB ports,
DivX, JPEG and MP3 playback, HDMI 1.3 and Ethernet ports are consistent across both players, but we'll wait for a hands-on next week to see if analog surround sound is enough to bring this hardware on a level with the competition.
