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Editor's HDTV Pick

HP 47 inch MediaSmart 1080p LCD HDTV "Out of the box" digital media platform. Enjoy videos, pictures and music from home network + digital media delivered over your broadband Internet connection + 3 x HDMI

Both the BenQ CP220 and CP210 have a Texas Instruments DLP microdisplay with a native XGA (1024 x 768) resolution. They will support video input resolutions from 640 x 350 to 1280 x 1024.

Portability

A portable weight is essential for a projector that needs to travel with you and BenQ delivers with the CP220 weighing in at 4 lb (1.8kg) and the CP120 at 3.8 lb (1.3kg). With dimensions of 9.76 x 3.09x 7.85 inches (248 x 785 x 199 mm) for the CP220 and 8.6 x 6.8x 2.4 inches (218 x 172 x 61 mm)for the CP210 both are a reasonable carrying size.

Brightness

With a high brightness of 2200 ANSI lumens, the BenQ CP220 makes it possible to deliver a bright projected image even in well illuminated environments and larger size venues such as conference rooms. The CP120 has a brightness of 1500 ANSI lumens which allows it to tolerate some light but some care would need to be taken when selecting projection locations. However, projected image brightness is affected by a number of factors such as the screen image size and individual situations need to be considered before making a purchase.

Quick Set-up

Any features which reduce set-up time are a bonus on a portable projector. All presenters will be impressed with the CP220 and CP210’s real-time auto-keystone feature which automatically checks the projector’s tilt angle and corrects the projected image immediately. The automatic keystone correction is vertical only and based on a tilt sensor inside the projector. Although a set-up time saver digital keystone correction is prone to introducing unwanted artifacts into the projected image. A second feature capable of reducing set-up times is the nine quick set application modes such as “brightest”, “presentation” and “photo” providing instant optimized settings for brightness, color saturation, and contrast for various common projection/presentation scenarios. (read more..)

There are a number of important things to look for in a portable digital projector for meetings on the go. Your specification shopping list should include factors such as:

1. Light Weight – anything over 6 lb is not really portable
2. Small Form Factor – smaller dimension projectors are easier to pack and carry
3. Set-up Speed – look for a projector with some quick application select modes which match the type of presentation material and projection scenarios which are likely
4. Screen Distance Flexibility – flexibility to cope with varying distances from the screen – short throw and zoom lens provide flexibility
5. Horizontal and Vertical Lens Shift or Keystone Correction – to correct keystoning of the projected image when the projection screen is either not at the same height as the projector and/or horizontally in line / skewed - lens shift is preferred as there is no possibility of introducing artifacts from digital keystone correction

(read more..)

The Panasonic PT-AX100U is a native 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) high definition digital home cinema projector with an impressive 2,000 lumens of brightness. Equally impressive is a contrast ratio of 6,000 for delivering crisply defined images. The PT-AX100 is an improved version of the AE900U and a lower specification (but still impressive) sister to the Panasonic PT-AE1000U which is native 1080p.

The Panasonic PT-AX100U incorporates LCD microdisplay technology where the complete display image is produced by a microdisplay chip which is generally only some 70mm squared. Microdisplay chip technology allows manufacturers to provide high resolution while maintaining a compact form factor. For the PT-AX100U, Panasonic have utilized the advanced 3LCD Microdisplay Technology which uses three microdisplay LCD panels (one per primary color) to produce an image. 3LCD is marketed as having three key advantages;

• A brighter picture even in high ambient light situations,
• More natural colors,
• Greater resolution - high definition performance

Video Processing

Panasonics PT-AX100U video processing engine processes video signals at a very adequate 10 bit rate. It’s big sister, the TP-AE1000U, has a Cinema Works Pro video processing engine which pumps through video at a 14 bit rate. For the home cinema user, higher bit rate processing delivers sharper images and greater image detail particularly with darker scenes and fast action.

Dynamic Iris

Panasonic has used its Dynamic Iris technology as with previous models and for the PT-AX100U they have also introduced a new algorithm to improve response time (to brightness level changes) and stability. Panasonic describe the system as working by analyzing histograms to determine the brightness level of each video image and adjusting the iris, lamp power and gamma curve - all at the rate of 60 times per second.

Pure Color Filter

As well at the “Clear Prism” the included optical filter also optimizes the light from the UHM projector lamp to improve the tri primary colors purity levels. The improved color purity actually widens the color gamut area for more life-like colors.

Smooth Screen Technology

LCDs have always been suspect to pixilation (generally at closer viewing distances) where individual pixels become visible with black lines between them in what is commonly referred to as the “chicken wire effect”. (read more..)

Highlights

The Sanyo PLV-Z5 home theatre projector has a 16:9 aspect ratio LCD microdisplay panel. Native resolution is 1280 x 720. Rated lamp brightness of 1,100 ANSI lumens is suitable for the low ambient light conditions of home theatre installations.

With the PLV-Z5, Sanyo have broken the 10,000:1 contrast ratio barrier spelling bright, rich colors. To achieve such a high dynamic contrast ratio, the PVL-Z5 has a twin-iris system combining a lens aperture and lamp aperture to deliver fine gradation. The PVL-Z5 has a powerful 12-Bit Digital Processing IC to analyze each frame and automatically adjust brightness (using its twin iris and lamp react functions) to suit. The aim of this “dynamic contrast ratio” is to reproduce more lifelike images. (read more..)

BenQ advertise the new MP510 as a general purpose projector suitable for home and business applications. It utilizes Texas Instruments’ DLP (Digital Light Processing) microdisplay technology.

With a brightness of 1,500 ANSI lumens and contrast ratio of 2,000:1 the projector should be comfortable in business settings where there is a fair amount of ambient light. Native resolution is SVGA (800 x 600) although the unit has resolution support up to 1280 x 1024. (read more..)

Having seen X-Rays and other diagnostic images most would agree that it takes special skills to decipher the secrets revealed by them. For this reason the medical community is considering seriously the 3D rendering technology, Perspecta, by Actuality Systems. As an example of its application, it is able to permit

Sony’s VPL-VW100 SXRD (Silicon Crystal Reflective Display) 1080p Home Theater Front Projector was CNet’s editor’s choice of the month earlier this year.

Some headline features:

• native 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels)
• impressive contrast ratio of 15,000: 1
• fast response time of 5ms (rise and fall)
• 800 ANSI lumens lamp rated for 2500 hours lamp life – suitable for home theatre
• 1.8X Zoom – for set-up flexibility
• low noise level of 22dB - exclusive Sony-designed cooling fan
• HDMI Connector
• quick set Picture Modes (Dynamic, Standard, Cinema, Custom)
• motorized vertical lens shift and manual horizontal shift
• vertical keystone adjustment
• adjustable gamma settings

Sony’s SXRD Microdisplay Technology

Sony’s SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) could be considered as an evolutionary development of LCoS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) technology. Among its competitors are JVC’s D-ILA (Digital Direct Drive Image Light Amplifier) and Syntax-Brillian’s Gen II LCoS.

The Sony VPL-VW100 utilizes the world’s smallest 0.61 inch SXRD microdisplay panels with 2,073,600 to deliver the full 1080p high-definition resolution. The projector incorporates three SXRD chips (one each for red, green and blue) over 6 million native pixels.

LCoS, the predecessor technology, is a combination of both the reflective approach of DLP (millions of actuated micro-mirrors on a chip reflect light required for the display) and the transmissive approach of LCD (millions of liquid crystals act as valves passing through light required for the display). In LCoS, liquid crystals are applied to a reflective mirror substrate with the polarization of liquid crystals being used for light transmission control and the mirror below reflecting the light or not as required for image display. LCOS microdisplays are mostly of a three-chip configuration for the three primary colors. As with DLP microdisplays, LCoS relies on projecting the three primary colors rapidly enough so that the eye combines them into a single color.

(read more..)

Sony’s KDS-60A2000 HD RPTV has a native resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080). It incorporates Sony’s SXRD microdisplay technology as well as its video signal processing WEGA Engine. Sound quality has not been ignored as they come with SRS TruSurround XT audio enhancement technology.

If compared to Sony’s XBR line, the KDS-60A2000 series lacks only front panel HDMI input, detachable speakers and a CableCARD HD tuner.

Sony’s VPL-VW100 SXRD (Silicon Crystal Reflective Display) 1080p Home Theater Front Projector was CNet’s editor’s choice of the month earlier this year.

Some headline features:

• native 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels)
• impressive contrast ratio of 15,000: 1
• fast response time of 5ms (rise and fall)
• 800 ANSI lumens lamp rated for 2500 hours lamp life – suitable for home theatre
• 1.8X Zoom – for set-up flexibility
• low noise level of 22dB - exclusive Sony-designed cooling fan
• HDMI Connector
• quick set Picture Modes (Dynamic, Standard, Cinema, Custom)
• motorized vertical lens shift and manual horizontal shift
• vertical keystone adjustment
• adjustable gamma settings

Technology Features

Sony’s SXRD Microdisplay Technology

Sony’s SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) could be considered as an evolutionary development of LCoS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) technology. Among its competitors are Syntax-Brillian’s Gen II LCoS, and JVC’s D-ILA (Digital Direct Drive Image Light Amplifier).

LCoS, the predecessor technology, is a combination of both the reflective approach of DLP (millions of actuated micro-mirrors on a chip reflect light required for the display) and the transmissive approach of LCD (millions of liquid crystals act as valves passing through light required for the display). In LCoS, liquid crystals are applied to a reflective mirror substrate with the polarization of liquid crystals being used for light transmission control and the mirror below reflecting the light or not as required for image display. LCOS microdisplays are mostly of a three-chip configuration for the three primary colors. As with DLP microdisplays, LCoS relies on projecting the three primary colors rapidly enough so that the eye combines them into a single color.

Sony’s SXRD technology differs from LCoS competitors in that the liquid crystal cell gap measures less than 2um which is far thinner than conventional high temperature Poly-Silicon liquid crystal or LCOS(Liquid Crystal On Silicon) microdisplay devices. Additionally, the TN (Twisted Nematic) liquid crystal, commonly used in projection devices, is replaced by Sony’s unique “Vertically Aligned Liquid Crystal” material where liquid crystals molecules are aligned vertically to the cell substrate. This is a significant technology development overcoming a long-standing challenge. It will improve alignment layer durability and ensure longevity of the high resolution.

(read more..)

On November 10, Luminus Devices announced that “NuVision, a premium HDTV manufacturer that targets the CEDIA custom installation channel and high-end A/V specialty retailers, has begun shipping its 1080p Deep Black LED DLP television (model # 52LEDLP) with PhlatLight technology.” In the NuVision 52LEDLP, Luminus’s PhlatLight LED chipset, replaces the conventional color wheel and lamp assembly used by DLP systems.

The NuVision Deep Black LED DLP television, 52LEDLP, is the second PhlatLight LED utilizing television to be released this year. Samsung Electronics launched its HL-S5679W 56-inch LED Engine Widescreen DLP RPTVs several months ago. The HL-S5679W won the CNET Best of 2006 Award in the TV category.

PhlatLight is a solid state light source - is a tri-color (red, green, blue) LED built as a single, large area monolithic chip. Luminus’s chip is (quoting Luminus) “designed expressly to meet the requirements of microdisplay illumination” such as the Texas Instruments 1080p microdisplay chip such as in the case of the NuVision 52LEDLP.

NuVision’s specifications for the 52LEDLP state that an xHD4 DMD is used – a term used by numerous manufacturers to refer to the DLP microdisplay chip referred to by Texas Instruments as the 1080p. This chip is advertised as delivering native 1080p (1920 x 1080). Each TI 1080p microdisplay chip has a surface array of some 2.2 million microscopic mirrors (one per pixel) which swivel to reflect the light source as necessary to create the desired images for video playback.

(read more..)

Biomemetics is the imitation of nature for a technological solution. Qualcomm have reverse engineered nature’s microscopic structures for producing the stunning colors of a butterfly’s wings. Nature’s technology is termed “interferometric” where colors are produced by causing light to interfere with itself.

Qualcomm recently presented on progress with their new Interferometric Modular Display (iMoD) technology to the inaugural Society for Information Display’s Mobile Display Conference. Naturally as butterfly wings do not have a backlight, Qualcomm’s iMoD display is a reflective one rather than emissive as with a CRT television. Like the micromirror DLP chips from Texas Instruments, iMoD is a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS).

Being a reflective display technology, iMoD solves one of the detractions of current mobile display technologies of being very difficult to read in high ambient light environments (eg. direct sunlight). “But what about when it’s dark?” one might ask – Qualcomm will simply use a front-lighting technology to light the display.

Qualcomm’s iMoD display technology has a range of useful characteristics but, the one Presentation Technology Review’s editor believes will set it apart from other reflective display technologies is its excellent response time which makes video playback possible. Data from Qualcomm indicates that the response time is even faster than current LCD technology. iMoD’s easy scalability combined with it’s compatibility with current flat panel manufacturing techniques makes larger flat panel displays a distinct future possibility.

(read more..)