Philips has quite an exciting announcement for home cinema fans at its IFA press conference today—it's upgrading its 21:9 Cinema display with Full HD 3D capabilities.
The 58" extra-wide widescreen Cinema 21:9 Platinum display has also been updated to use a direct lit LED screen with 400Hz picture processing, plus the weird Ambilight technology Philips likes that illuminates the wall behind your TV while you watch has also been carried across from the previous non-3D model.
It also comes with Philips' Net TV widgets, for browsing eBay during the adverts—plus you're now able to fiddle with Net TV while watching actual TV in a dual-viewing mode, if you're not very good at concentrating. [Philips via T3 and TechRadar]
We're live at Sony's Internet TV press conference, where we're seeing the "world's first HDTV powered by Google TV" (and its gnarly remote). Not bad at all, $1400 for the 46-inch model, available this weekend. Updated.
• There's four Sony Internet TV models: 24 inches ($600), 32 inches ($800), 40 inches ($1000) and 46 inches ($1400)
• They're all 1080p edge-lit LED sets—except the 24-inch model, which is CCFL-backlit—with built-in Wi-Fi, four HDMI inputs and four USB ports
• They're available for pre-order at SonyStyle.com now and "on shelves" this weekend
• Sony is also offering an accompanying, Internet-capable Blu-ray deck
• The Sony TV will be the only Google TV-enabled device available for this holiday season
• The TV appears to lack much of the hardware functionality of the other Google TV device we've seen so far, such as the Logitech Revue's video chatting.
Navigating the menus felt less fluid than Logitech's implementation with the Revue—lag was a bit noticeable through some parts of the interface. The menu structure itself is intuitive enough—standard Google TV fare—and a Sony rep confirmed that content-wise, the only thing they're adding to Google's platform is a couple dozen "Sony Recommends" video channels.
The Keypad
Sony is touting their button-encrusted, remote as a definitive, convenient way of managing its Internet TV and Blu-ray setup. We're still trying to guess what all those buttons do. Sony says design elements have been borrowed from the PS3, in addition to a full QWERTY keyboard and mouse functionality.
What five technologies have made our lives easier, better, and more efficient? Hard to choose, right? Well, inspired by the next tech advancement, Intel smart, we've done it for you. Last week we brought you the MRI. Today: the century-defining CPU.
The central processing unit—or CPU, for the acronym-adoring—has perhaps made more significant contributions to our daily lives than any other 20th-century invention. From personal computers to toys to medical equipment, the CPU has become an inextricable part of our existence. Any mechanized object that beeps, boops, has a screen, or accomplishes a task that you are incapable of completing without technology, probably houses a CPU somewhere in its core. Therefore, trying to explain the effects that the CPU has had upon our culture is like trying to give a brief answer about why the sun is important.
So here's a timeline of our favorite applications from the '70s, '80s, '90s and today:
The '70s
In 1971, the Intel 4004 became the first complete single-chip CPU and commercially available microprocessor. The Busicom 141-PF calculator was the first product to use the 4004, once and for all eliminating the need to remove one's shoes before figuring out complicated equations.
Although personal computers entered the market in the late '70s and became exponentially more popular in the '80s, it wasn't until the Clinton years that a computer in every home was added onto the chicken/pot, car/garage list of inalienable rights. Moore's Law,, which in the 1960s predicted a constant expansion of CPU capability, took off and soon CPUs were faster, more powerful and—key word—cheaper than ever before. Submit to your '90s computing nostalgia by playing the original Doom, or plug in that dial-up and surf this archive of Geocities (R.I.P.) pages.
The '00s
Once people got over that whole Y2K thing and realized computers weren't (at least immediately) going to cause global destruction, the aughts were a pretty good era for the CPU. McDonald's brought the world its very first microprocessor-powered Happy Meal toy, all of a sudden our pockets were able to hold a thousand songs (and so, so much more). And just 40-odd years after the first silicon chip was invented, we are now able to implant them into human cells. From calculators to cyborgs in under two generations? Not bad, CPU. Not bad.
Where would humankind be without the CPU And we'll be asking ourselves that same question about Intel smart TV sooner than later, because the combination of Internet and television is surely the next in line in the Smartest Advancements in Technology all-time rankings.
Tune in later this week to see what the next revolutionary and utter indispensable item in the Smartest Advancements in Technology Series is. Hint: We'll never look at dancing silhouettes the same say.
Until now it's only been Philips that's had truly-widescreen 21:9 TVs, but Taiwanese company AUO has got in on the action with what they're claiming is the world's largest 3DTV with that aspect ratio, at 71-inches.
Of course, when only one other company has taken a stab at 21:9 TVs (and invented the damn things), it's not much of a boast. Philips has done two now—a non-3D one last year, and a 58-inch 3D titanium one this year, which goes on sale in the UK this month for £3,999—around $6,500 in the States.)
While not many of us will have heard of the brand AUO, they're claiming that their LED-backlit LCD has a 240Hz frame rate, and a very thin bezel, which you can see in the photo. Bizarrely, they're joining LG in the passive polarizing 3D camp, and while some people prefer passive 3D, the resolution is halved so most prefer active shutter 3DTV. [AUO via Akihabara News]
AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) announced today that it will soon showcase for the first time a series of the latest 3D display technologies: the world's largest 71" 21:9 Cinema Scope HD (CSHD) 3D TV LCD panel(*); a large, interactive 3D touch panel solution with video game applications; a leading 65" QFHD 4K2K lenticular lens 3D LCD TV panel; and an array of 3D displays for various applications at FPD International 2010 in Japan from November 10 to 12. These products highlight AUO's innovative efforts and breakthroughs in the home theater, entertainment and commercial markets, and demonstrate the Company's ability to provide 3D total solutions.
AUO announced the world's largest 71" 21:9 Cinema Scope HD (CSHD) 3D TV LCD panel with high quality 3D images
After putting on the polarized 3D glasses, audiences will enjoy a lifelike stereoscopic world with high image quality and brightness
AUO is presenting the world's largest 71" CSHD 3D TV panel for maximal visual enjoyment. The 21:9 ultra-wide screen offers a stunning, cutting-edge theatrical experience of high quality 3D images. The panel is designed with a 240Hz double frame rate, LED scanning backlight and optimized parameters for better motion flow. The new ultra-narrow border design presents the images in even more delightful proportions. Wearing polarized 3D glasses, audiences will be able to enter a lifelike stereoscopic world filled with images of extraordinary clarity and brightness.
AUO will also exhibit a naked eye 3D display solution: the 65" QFHD 4K2K lenticular lens 3D panel. Its proprietary technology has resolved the problem of uneven brightness that occurs with conventional 3D displays, raising the resolution of a single viewpoint to high definition. The 3D panel has brightness as high as 500 nits, with eight viewpoints. Its fine image quality is suitable for commercial use, making the panel the most eye-catching large-sized public information display currently available.
In response to the growing demand for interactive 3D multimedia, AUO has combined its 65" full HD 3D display with an advanced and accurate 3D interactive solution to provide a superlative gaming experience. The infrared video camera detects the player's movements as he or she interacts with the 3D images. Reacting in real time to lifelike 3D images, players can enjoy the most amazing gaming experience possible with today's technology. For audio-visual entertainment, gamers have no better option.
AUO will also showcase a 4" 3D interactive touch panel suitable for use with smartphones, video game consoles and tablet PCs. The light pen and touch panel are integrated for the first time so that users can move within three dimensions-horizontally, vertically and in depth. For players of interactive 3D games, a fun and interesting 3D world becomes readily accessible. Adding spice to the mobile life, the 4" portrait / landscape barrier 3D touch panel leads the industry by allowing users to freely move their fingers about on the touch panel and switch between 2D and 3D modes in portrait or landscape positions.
AUO works continuously and creatively to achieve innovations and breakthroughs in 3D technology. AUO aims to create products that provide consumers with audio-visual experiences of sensational quality and intense satisfaction. AUO also leverages both its complete production lines and mass production capabilities for more business opportunities in the 3D market, aiming to place itself in a leadership position.
*Based on market research information available as of Nov. 4, 2010.
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