LATEST ADDITIONS

Panasonic ST30 & GT30 Plasmas
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 06, 2011
As you might imagine, Panasonic is bullish on 3D, claiming that 32 percent of TV sales will be 3D by 2014. And as echoed by many TV manufacturers, demand for Internet-connected TVs will increase dramatically in the coming few years. Panasonic's Viera Cast has evolved into Viera Connect, complete with a Viera Connect Market for apps.

Like Samsung, Panasonic has increased the size of its plasma screens this year—54-inchers grow to 55, and 58 becomes 60. Improved performance includes greater 3D crosstalk reduction, deeper blacks thanks to new louvre filters, 30 percent more brightness with new phosphors, and 25 percent lower power consumption. (No mention was made about incorporating more Kuro technology in the new sets.) A total of 27 new models in five lines will be introduced in 2011, including the ST30 series (pictured here on the left), an entry-level 3D model with Viera Connect and Infinite Black 2 panel. ON the right is the step-up GT30 with a thinner bezel than last year and THX certification.

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Samsung 3D Glasses
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 06, 2011
To address the complaints about heavy, uncomfortable 3D glasses, Samsung introduced a new design with wrap-around, flexible temples, and they weigh only 1 ounce.
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Samsung BD-D7500 3D Blu-ray Player
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 06, 2011
Samsung's new BD-D7500 makes a striking design statement as the world's slimmest 3D Blu-ray player at just 0.9 inches thick. Even better, it boasts a boot time of only 3 seconds.
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Samsung Plasma+1
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 06, 2011
In the realm of plasma, Samsung has reduced the size of the bezel while increasing the standard screen sizes by 1 inch, calling this development Plasma+1. Screen sizes are now 43, 51, 59, and 64 inches, while the outer dimensions remain the same as last year's models. Pictured here is the D6500, a super-slim 3D plasma with full Smart TV capabilities.
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Samsung 3D LCD Smart TVs
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 06, 2011
Samsung began its press conference with an interesting statistic—in 2010, over one million 3D TVs were sold, more than the number of HDTVs, DVD players, and Blu-ray players in their respective first years. So much for those who say that 3D TV is a flash in the pan…

Like LG, Samsung is using the moniker "Smart TV" for its networkable models, which will comprise two-thirds of the 2011 lineup. (I guess such a term cannot be copyrighted.) And 3D capabilities will be found in 60 percent of this years offerings, with lots of overlap. Pictured here (L to R) are the D8000 and D7000 LED-edgelit LCD TVs, which feature ultra-narrow bezels only 0.2-inch thick; both are Smart TVs with 3D capabilities. There are now over 300 Samsung apps, which have seen over 1.5 million downloads, thanks in part to contributions from third-party developers.

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CES 2011
DTS Makes the Case for 11.1
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 06, 2011
One of the few loudspeaker-related audio demos on the floor at South Hall was the DTS demo of 11.1 surround with extra channels for height and width enhancement. It actually started with a mere 7.1 movie demo and worked its way up to footage of two savvy musician slash sound designers using a combination of acoustic instruments and electronic processing to create a height- and width-enhanced soundscape. The instruments included one that combined the functions of bass violin, cello, viola, and fiddle. A tree was also used as a musical instrument. It was noteworthy that the demo relied on 11.1 more for aesthetic effect (hmmm, that sounds nice) than for realism -- that is, an evocation of something that happens in the real world and is reproduced convincingly. From our seat in the back and off center, the effect was pleasing but not something we'd cite as grounds for adding numerous speakers to a basic 5.1 surround system. However, our colleague Josh Zyber saw another DTS 11.1 demo at Nobu two nights prior and said it was very impressive, with strong imaging in places you wouldn't expect. The pic, incidentally, is what folks saw while waiting in line for the 11.1 demo: other showgoers in raptures over DTS headphone technology.
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CES 2011
Marchon Shows Passive 3DTV Eyewear
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 06, 2011
As I type these words, I am staring through Flexon by Marchon eyeglass frames, so I was predisposed to find the company's 3DTV eyewear aesthetically pleasing. Marchon has a patent on technology for a side-to-side curve that allows the eye to move up to 30 degrees off center without geometric distortion, so these frames may be especially good for watching 3D on a big screen up close. Pricing starts at $40 and ranges up to $179 for the Lacoste version. There will also be Nike frames for $129-139. The pricier frames double as sunglasses that lighten or darken as needed.
CES 2011
The Grey Lady Gets Hip
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 06, 2011
What to our wondering eyes should appear on the floor of South Hall but the Grey Lady herself, The New York Times, touting her apps for computers, smartphones, e-readers, and of course this year's particular CES obsession, tablets. The paper's show coverage also refers to (other) media companies chasing partners at this year's CE extravaganza.
CES 2011
Control4 Extends to 3rd-Party Devices
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 06, 2011
My Home PC is the latest from Control4, whose interface standard bulks large in custom installation and home theater. It marks the first time Control4 has extended its reach beyondproprietary onscreen and touchscreen interfaces to third-party devices such as computers and tablets. With the likes of Denon, Marantz, Harman, Onkyo, Pioneer, Sony, and many more as Control4 partners, My Home PC is likely to see far-ranging use in the a/v sphere and beyond.
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CES 2011
LG Gets Smart
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 06, 2011
LG opened the "press day" by announcing its line of "Smart" products. Smart appears to be the company's new go-to word for many of its new products, ranging from Smart washers, dryers, ranges, and refrigerators ("Honey, the fridge says we need milk and ice cream"), to HDTVs, with cell phones and other devices occupying the vast middle ground in between.

To touch briefly on that middle ground, there was prototype of an LG mobile 3DTV that can be viewed glasses-free (autostereoscopic—easier to do for a single viewer). And there's a new LG smart phone, the Optomus 2X, said to do full 1080p. Better sit close.

But it's LG's TVs that interest us most. There are 31 new LG LCD sets, 10 of which are 3D. The Cinema 3D sets employ LED edge lighting. Three "Nano" 3D sets have full LED backlighting with local dimming. Nano technology, which is new this year, employs smaller LEDs imbedded in a membrane that also incorporates the required diffusion, making the entire structure thinner and, presumably, more easily and efficiently produced.

There are also 12 new LG plasmas, 8 of them 3D.

LG's Smart TV technology, used in many of the higher end models, is a new menu layout that simplifies use of the sets' extensive Internet features. In addition, the new LG ST600 module/set top box, available separately, can bring SmartTV to any HDTV with an HDMI input. Another approach to adding this feature to your existing HDMI HDTV is the new BD690 3D Blu-ray player, which includes an on-board 250GB hard drive plus the SmartTV platform.

But the big LG story is the use of passive glasses in many of the company's new LCD 3DTVs, rather than the active shutter glasses now employed in most current 3D sets. LG calls its passive glasses technology FPR, for Film Pattern Retarder. The sets in the LG lineup that will continue to use shutter glasses include all of the Nano models (and all of the plasma sets as well). There are many upsides to passive glasses, but downsides as well (see the following blog entry).

No prices were quoted, but all of the new sets should begin shipping by early spring.

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