Gizmodo Australia » dlp

When Rear Projection Made It BIG

Nick Broughall — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:00:24 +0000

If you owned a TV with a screen bigger than 40 inches before the year 2000, chances are it was a rear projection model. And chances are it took up most of your loungeroom.

Rear projection TV were increasingly popular back in the 90s and early this decade thanks to their large screen sizes and relatively affordable price tags – especially when compared to the early asking price of LCD and plasma displays. They use three main technologies to project the image from inside the body to the screen: CRT, LCD and DLP.

But unfortunately, the technology was held back by its shortcomings and the dropping price of LCDs and plasmas. Because they projected an image, they were deep, needing the space inside the body to be able to throw the image from the projector to the screen. That meant they couldn’t be wall mounted, and tended to take up a lot of space.

Nowadays, there’s nary a rear projection TV to be found in the shops. Most of the major TV players have stuck their flags in the plasma or LCD camps (or both) and left rear projection behind. The noted exception is Mitsubishi, who have further developed the technology with the introduction of lasers, which both improves picture quality and lessens the necessary depth of the TV – their LaserVue sets are actually wall mountable. Still, that doesn’t mean that the technology hasn’t been superceded – despite having a great few years when most big TVs sold were big and bulky, these days you’re safer to go a flat panel TV.

History of TV is Giz AU’s month-long look back at the development of the world-changing medium and its influence on our daily lives.

Mitsubishi WD-82737: 82-Inch, 3D-Ready TV for $US4200

Mark Wilson — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:33:46 +0000

Mitsubishi just announced a bunch of new DLPs and LCDs. But the most interesting is, by far, an 82-inch DLP for $US4200 that’s equipped with “3D-ready viewing technology.”

(Sadly, Mitsubishi’s 3D tech traditionally requires glasses, and all 3D displays need 3D source video to work.)

That 82-incher is part of the 737 “home theatre” TV line. Mitsubishi also has updated their soundbar-integrated LCD TVs with their latest 16-speaker-wielding Unisens. Those televisions start at $US1800 for a base 40-inch model and work their way to $US3,300 for the 52-inch.

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Announces Its Large Screen 2009 Home Theatre TVs with 3D-Ready Technology

New Line-up Offers Incredible Picture Quality and Exceptional Value and Includes World’s Largest 3D-Ready TV at Giant 82″ Screen Size

IRVINE, Calif. – April 8, 2009 – Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. (MDEA) today announced its new Home Theatre TV series for 2009, offering a larger than life, vivid viewing experience and includes 3D-Ready1 viewing technology – a feature becoming more in demand among consumers as 3D content production continues to increase. In addition to 3D-Ready, the new Home Theatre TV product line features a solid offering of large screen sizes including an impressive 82″ model. All eco-friendly MDEA Home Theatre TVs are highly energy efficient, consuming approximately one-half the operating power of similarly sized flat panel TVs.

“Based on current economic conditions, consumers are looking for products that marry high quality with significant value, and TVs are no exception. Our new Home Theatre TVs provide unparalleled picture performance and value, and are the best performing displays for large screen entertainment,” said Frank DeMartin, vice president of marketing, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America. “We view Home Theatre Television as a growth category, and our new 2009 line-up provides larger screen sizes, new technology enhancements, and notable efficiency in operating power consumption, which is becoming a prominent factor that consumers now consider when making a TV purchase.”

Best in Large Screen Entertainment

MDEA continues to lead the competition with the largest Home Theatre TVs available. The new 737 Series will include the all-new 82″ 1080p model along with 60″, 65″ and 75″ screen sizes – all featuring 3D-Ready viewing technology. The models will also include Smooth 120Hz™, New Advanced Video Calibration Mode, JADE Activity Based User Interface, Improved DeepField™ Imager, SharpEdge™, Video Noise Reduction, UltraThin™ Frame and Mitsubishi’s Exclusive 6-Color Processor™ which provides significantly more colour reproduction than typical flat panel TVs. All models are EnergyStar™ 3.0 qualified.

The MDEA 837 series boasts three premium Home Theatre TV models ranging from 65″to 82″, offering consumers outstanding picture performance with the ability to take advantage of the 3D-Ready capability. All of the Home Theatre TVs are highly energy efficient and are EnergyStar 3.0 qualified offering another layer of value with each model consuming approximately one-half the operating power of similarly sized flat panel TVs, at around half the price. Other features include PerfectTint™, 4 HDMI 1.3a, Dark Detailer™, NetCommand®, USB Media Input, ISFccc Certified, and RS-232C Interface.

“As the home theatre market continues to flourish and the cinema space continues to embrace 3D, we clearly see MDEA’s 3D-Ready Home Theatre TVs playing a key role in meeting consumers craving for the best and most advanced home theatre experience,” said David Naranjo, director of product development, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America. “MDEA’s is clearly keeping pace with this increased demand and our new line-up of Home Theatre TVs offer consumers the opportunity to bring 3D into their own home to enjoy 3D movies and games.”

3D-Ready Redefines Home Theatre Experience

MDEA’s entire Home Theatre product line re-defines the large screen entertainment category by offering 3D-Ready viewing technology. Mitsubishi is committed to making 3D a reality in consumer’s homes worldwide and over the past several years, MDEA has worked closely with leading technology and content providers to develop the most compelling 3D experience for consumers, particularly for 3D gaming and movies.

Availability and Pricing

MDEA’s Home Theatre TV models are available now. Retail pricing is as follows:

737 Series

WD-60737 – $1,499.00 WD-73737 – $2,499.00

WD-65737 – $1,799.00 WD-82737 – $4,199.00

837 Series

WD-65837 – $2,199.00 WD-737837 – $2,999.00 WD-82837 – $4,999.00

About Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc.

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc., the Official HDTV Sponsor of The PGA TOUR, manufactures and markets a comprehensive line of premium quality 1080p Home Theatre TVs and Unisen™ Flat Panel TVs along with the world’s first laser TV: LaserVue™. Recognised as the world leader and innovator of large display high-definition televisions, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America builds products that lead the industry in quality, performance and ease-of-use. For additional information about MDEA, visit www.mitsubishi-tv.com.

¹In order to display 3D images, Mitsubishi LaserVue™ & Home Theatre DLP TVs require source devices to support checkerboard display formats for display of 3D gaming or 3D cinema content. A 3D standard format does not currently exist for Blu-Ray or DVD prepackaged media. A 3D standard may emerge that is not compatible with Mitsubishi LaserVue™ or Home Theatre DLPs.

6-Color Processor, Ultra Thin Frame, Smooth 120Hz Film Motion, and DeepField Imager are trademarks of Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. DLP is a trademark of Texas Instruments. x.v. Colour is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

How to Buy an HDTV Tomorrow (or Any Day)

Matt Buchanan — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Despite this month looking like the kick-off to the next Great Depression, a bunch of you are probably still planning to (finally) hop on the HDTV bandwagon. And all things considered, that’s not a totally stupid move. A great HDTV—one that will blow away the standard definition puke you’ve been watching for years—can be had for a damn good price. But if you’re planning on checking out HDTVs tomorrow (or ever), read this first:

New Laser Cinema Projectors Offer Superior Picture Quality, Increased Pew Pew Factor

Adrian Covert — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:05:25 +0000

The Economist has a great piece about researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a digital cinema projector that uses lasers as the main display technology. In doing so, these projectors are able to display a staggering 80 percent of the colour range visible to the human eye. Previously, the 60 percent range that 35mm film offered was considered the benchmark for other projectors and displays to measure themselves up against.

In the past, laser projectors were never considered because lasers would produce speckle in the picture, thus reducing picture sharpness. But what researchers have done is combine separate red, blue and green lasers together with DLP technology to produce a clear picture. By melding the separate lasers together to produce a white laser, then having the DLP break it back part into RGB pixels, each laser cancels out the speckle created by the others.

Not only that, but in theory, by increasing the intensity of the lasers, these new projectors could theoretically display 90% of the visible colour range while still using 35 percent less power than a xenon lamp projector. The only issue now for the budding technology is the initial cost. Considering lasers last much longer than Xenon lamps and movie houses can ditch film without sacrificing picture quality, these laser projectors should be an enticing option. [The Economist]

DoCoMo DLP Phone Projects TV, Makes Butt Look Big

Wilson Rothman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:40:32 +0000

The NTT DoCoMo prototype phone shown in the video above has an embedded DLP projector, presumably using an LED light source in order to project a respectable 20- to 25-in. video image on the wall a few feet away. The downside, as you can hear from the dude asking questions (AOL Switched’s Tom Samiljan if I’m not mistaken) is that the phone is large, or at least small but strapped to a real brick of a projector. I guess we’re supposed to admire the image, and wait for the actual mini-projector technology to catch up. [TechPertPanel - YouTube]

NLighten IT7202 72-inch Touchscreen HDTVs Put Google Earth At Your Fingertips

John Mahoney — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:20:50 +0000

Rear-projection may be deader than dead as far as the biggies are concerned, but the folks at nLighten are intent to squeeze a bit more life out of these 72-inch 1080p DLP sets by sticking an infrared camera inside next to the light source that detects cursor points from an IR-tipped pen, allowing for a simple (no multitouch) touchscreen interface. It can act as a standard Windows mouse allowing for 1080p touchscreen Google Earth, or any other app.

The 72-inch IR-pen screen is priced at US$3,000, and a similar version that uses camera triangulation from cameras mounted on the top of the bezel for actual finger touch control will set you back US$4,000. As you can see in the video, the finger-touch seems to be a bit finicky, but the IR pen control is smooth as silk. [CEDIA 2008]

nLighten Technologies introduces three 60 inch & 72 inch Touch Screen DLP
Rear Projection Displays
Superior Pictures & Easy Intuitive Display through Superior Technologies

Denver/CEDIA EXPO 2008 – (September 3, 2008) – nLighten Technologies Inc. an innovative
products provider, as well as manufacturer of specialty displays and residential displays,
today introduced its 72 inch ﬁnger touch screen, DT7200. This new product adds to its
core line ups of 60 inch and 72 inch pen touch DLP Rear Projection Displays, IT6002 and
IT7202. The product is ideal for conference room, point of information display, or
classroom. nLighten is committed to fulﬁll the fast growth for high-deﬁnition super large
display with touch screen capability.

Keeping pace with market trends, the nLighten DT7200 oﬀers high deﬁnition resolution
(1920 x 1080: 1080P) which enables users to take advantage of the latest high deﬁnition
video or PC content and enjoy true HD video playback without compensating clarity of
pictures. In addition, the superior technology of Texas Instrument’s DLP-engine provides
greater contrast and deep black levels for richer detail in dark scenes on 72 inch large screen
DT7200 incorporates high sensitivity camera sensors for faster response, a much superior
product as it compare to other technologies that use ﬁlms or coatings over the screen,
eliminating ghosting, and trailing images.

nLighten’s IT6002 and IT7202 have pen touch feature which turn your conference room,
classroom or media room in your residence into an interactive room. IT6002 and IT7202’s
large touch-sensitive displays invite your audiences to focus on the presentation materials
and retain information easier.
h&72inch TouchScreenDLP
riorTechnologies
Collaborating large screen high deﬁnition displays and touch function, nLighten’s new
DT7200, 72 inch Finger Touch screen DLP Display, and IT6002 and IT7202, 60 inch and 72
inch Pen Touch screen DLP Displays, oﬀer fast and precise response to the movement and
can be enhanced by featuring nLighten’s software solution for interactive eboard
application.
“Touch screens are an eﬃcient and intuitive way to access and interact with on-display
information, and appeal to a wide variety of users and applications”, said nLighten President
Jack Kuo. “The technology of ﬁnger touch compliments nLighten’s standard display line
ups.” “We recognise the increase demand for touch screen capability with large screen size
displays from our channel partners. “
nLighten is showing all three True High Deﬁnition Touch Screen DLP Rear Projection Displays
at CEDIA EXPO 2008 booth #826, September 4 ~7, 2008, Denver, CO.

About nLighten
nLighten Technologies Inc. is a research and development of large screen size HD DLP
Display. With oﬃce located in Fremont, CA, and its manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China,
nLighten is becoming a global leader of specialty display technology providing large screen
high deﬁnition monitors and ATSC TVs for most demanding environments such as
conference room, classroom, and home theatre. Home theatre Enthusiasts depend on
nLighten to provide superior performance when image quality is the highest expectation.
For more information, visit www.nlighten.com.
Phihong USA Corporation, a subsidiary of Phihong Technology Co., Ltd. , Taiwan, is the
exclusive distributor to market the full line of nLighten products and does the technical
supports for North American market.

Rear Projection TVs Only Selling When Super Sized

Mark Wilson — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:40:00 +0000

With the ever-falling prices of flat panel LCD and plasma displays, it was only a matter of time before the rear projection television died a tragic death. Since 2007, their sales in the market under 60 inches have dropped by 32%, meaning that 84% of the rear projections sold today are now 60 inches or over. From what we understand, that includes newer DLP technology as well. Another interesting metric: Just 2 of the 40 HDTVs reviewed by CNet this year have been rear projections. But if you’ve got the space and don’t mind the style, their quality per dollar quotient is still undeniably good. [Crave][image]

The Latest Gear Behind 3D Movie Making

Adrian Covert — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:30:00 +0000

DLP recently teamed up with former LucasFilms effects studios Kerner Optical and Tippett Studios to work on a stereoscopic 3D Trailer for their cinema projectors. Pushing this style of filmmaking (kinda like the 3D attractions at theme parks) forward was something they were all excited about, and they took me around Kerner Optical’s facility and showed me the latest camera gear they used to make the 3D trailer.

Seeing the camera setup in person is pretty awesome. It consists of two cameras — one facing straight forward in a horizontal orientation, and one facing straight down, in a vertical position. Between them sits a mirror, angled at roughly 45 degrees, that acts as a beam splitter, directing the image to the vertically facing camera and helping to create the 3D effect.

While the vertical camera remains stationary, the horizontal camera slides from left to right. In doing so, the intensity of the 3D effect varies according to position as the pictures from the two cameras phase in and out. Once the camera has done its job, its up to the viewing apparatus to carry out the rest of the magic.

Kerner Optical uses special LCD monitors with the ability to display 3D images with the help of polarised glasses. Many rear-projection DLP televisions actually do the same thing, but a lack of content support has kept the technology obscured from most owners.

Many people in the industry are pushing for 3D filmmaking to take off, as they think it’s the next big technical innovation in movie production. Personally, I’m all for it, because it really is fun to watch, but until the industry finds a way to get the same effect without glasses , I’m not sure mainstream acceptance will be easy. [DLP and Kerner]

TI Intros Industry First Lamp-Free DLP Projector

Gizmodo US Edition — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:59:00 +0000

Hot on the heels of the Optoma pico-projector that uses a TI chipset, TI itself has announced the “industry’s first home-theatre lamp-free projector.” It uses a PhlatLight LED illumination source instead, and a Brilliantcolor chipset to give a 1080p display. This makes it capable of a 50% bigger colour gamut than traditional projector tech (that’s over 200 trillion colors!) and a contrast ratio that can go up to 500,000:1. The lamp-free bit is the part that will interest consumers: as well as not requiring expensive new bulbs, the LEDs consume far less power so you’ll pay for less electricity if you’re a heavy projector user. Apparently “multiple DLP customers” are expecting to launch projector products with the tech late this year. [Digitimes]

Samsung’s P400 DLP Projector is Tiny for Portability, Sleek too

Gizmodo US Edition — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:52:00 +0000

Samsung’s new P400 Pocket Imager projector is designed mainly for businesspeople on the go, so it’s pretty tiny. Inside, its DLP unit is a native 800 x 600 resolution and its LED lighting pushes out 150 lumens, resulting in a 30- to 40-inch display capability with 1000:1 contrast ratio. It takes the standard RGB, composite, S-video and audio inputs, and has two 1-watt speakers. Plus, though it’s no pico-projector, it’s just 12.7 x 9.4 x 5 cms in size and weighs 860 grams, so it’ll carry nicely in your laptop bag. And you know what? Just coz it’s businessy doesn’t mean it has to look ugly or utilitarian: so Samsung has actually made this thing look pretty good. Available now for US$749, full press release below.

Jun 18, 2008 18:00

Samsung Launches Sleek, Sophisticated Palm-Sized DLP Projector for Professional Mobility

Bright LED Lightweight Projector, the P400 Pocket Imager Defines Style, Performance and Functionality for Today’s Busy Professional

LAS VEGAS —(Business Wire)— Jun. 18, 2008 Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, a world-leading supplier of professional LCD and PDP display products, today announced the P400 pocket imager that defines style, performance and functionality for today’s busy professional. The P400 and the full line of Samsung’s projectors will be on display during InfoComm at the Samsung booth, C2417, in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Centre from June 18 – 20.
The P400 Pocket Imager allows professionals the ability to easily transport and display information without compromising picture quality. Ideal for road warriors, field sales representatives, business executives and travelling entrepreneurs, the new Pocket Imager provides a creative and dynamic solution that is now both easier and less expensive to utilise. The lightweight, palm-sized DLP projector fits conveniently into a road warrior’s computer bag or luggage and sets up in seconds. The P400 also features Samsung’s sleek, sophisticated industrial design with a glossy black finish.

The Samsung Pocket Imager is small enough to take anywhere and can project images from a variety of sources, including computers, DVD players, video game stations and digital cameras. Utilizing DLP technology, the P400 has a native resolution of 800 x 600 SVGA. In addition to the 1,000:1 contrast ratio, the pocket imager has 150 ANSI lumens for a crisp, clear 30″-40″ diagonal image even in a well-lit office setting, and RGB, Composite-In, S-Video, audio-in (RCA L/R) rear inputs for optimal functionality.

The P400 features 1-watt (x2) built-in speakers for convenience. Measuring in at 5 inches wide by 3.7 inches deep and 2 inches high, the 1.9-pound pocket imager is both light and portable. Plus, by utilizing LED with a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours, there is no projector lamp to replace. Other offerings included with the P400 Pocket Imager include a remote control, power cables and a sliding lens cap that protects the projector lens without worrying about it falling off or losing it during transit.

“We continue to push the boundaries in digital signage and projection and are thrilled to launch the P400 as it expands Samsung’s growth into projection mobility for the various environmental application demands,” said Christopher Franey, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Samsung Electronics America Information Technology Division. “The pocket imager’s versatility proves to be an ideal digital signage solution for early technology adapters, mobile professionals and style-conscious enthusiasts.”

Like all Samsung displays and projectors, the P400 pocket imager is backed by a one-year limited warranty on labour and parts, as well as toll-free technical support for the life of the projector.

The P400 Pocket Projector is currently available for $749 ESP through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, which can be located by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG or by visiting http://www.samsung.com. Samsung Power Partners receive special promotions, lead referrals, training and technical support, as well as collateral and marketing materials. To find out more about becoming a Samsung Power Partner, visit: http://www.samsungpartner.com.

[Samsung and Electronista]