10.4-inch Color “Digital Paper” Debuted by ITRI

Now this is a cool emerging technology. Last week Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) debuted their latest advancement that represents a big technological leap for “digital paper”. ITRI’s 10.4-inch flexible color display consists of two plastic substrates with a combined thickness of less than 10mm! Coupled with a flexible LED backing unit for illumination, this new display is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of where this technology will go. ITRI also demonstrated a flexible monochrome display that is 3.5-inches wide and can be manufactured with any length making it ideal for large public displays. Aside from its potential to slow deforestation (while unfortunately sustaining our dependency on oil), digital paper represents an exciting future that is limited only by the imagination. Low cost 3D displays, wearable displays and even flexible portable electronic devices are just the tip of the iceberg.

via [The Boy Genius Report]

GestureTek Scores Huge Client for AirPoint

Fortune 500 giant Shell Group has just taken their first installation of AirPoint, the world’s first hand-tracking unit. Freshly launched, the AirPoint Bar is a compact device that allows users to control interactive multimedia content on any computer using only hand gestures. During a preview run at the Dubai Airshow this past October, Shell witnessed the capability and “wow-factor” of the compact AirPoint Bar first hand. Imagination, Shell Group’s design agency, initiated the deal and will be using AirPoint technology at Shell tradeshow booths. This is just one application case for AirPoint as the technology becomes more widely adopted. AirPoint is the latest and most compact gesture-based control system offered by GestureTek and is designed for portability and plug-and-play usability.

via [The Boy Genius Report]

Da-Lite Introduces Automated Confidence Monitor

Da-Lite Screen Company announced the introduction of the Mobile Automated Confidence Monitor, the MPS-ACM, to its line of presentation products. The MPS-ACM includes a 6-foot power cord and a radio frequency remote with a range of 30 feet. The MPS-ACM will work universally with most flat panel monitors and the unique rail mounting system ensures an easy installation for the monitor with the added security of a key operated lock. Heavy duty five inch casters provide a safe and stable transport of flat panel monitors when navigating uneven surfaces. The nominal height of the top of the monitor is adjustable up to 42”. The MPS-ACM will hold up to 130 lbs., will tilt upward between 15 and 50 degrees from vertical and is standard with a black powder coated finish. A manual version, the MPS-MCM, is also available.

via [press release]

Panasonic showing a 150-inch plasma at CES?

The CES game of HDTV one-upsmanship is officially on, as Matsushita (Panasonic) is apparently planning to bring a 150-inch plasma to that epic Las Vegas tradeshow in January. According to The Yomiuri Shimbun’s sources, the prototype PDP is expected to launch in 2009 with a price that “greatly exceeds” the largest model currently available, measuring a mere 103-inches. Anyone want to guess when we’ll hear about a 151-inch screen from Sharp or Samsung.

via [Engadget]

Sony dumping all rear-projection TVs to focus on LCDs?

It’s unconfirmed at the moment, but we’re hearing that Sony is planning to discontinue sales of all rear-projection HDTVs, including its 3LCD and SXRD lines, after current inventories are exhausted to focus on the hot-selling Bravia LCD line. We’ve been tipped on it twice today and now This Week In Consumer Electronics is reporting that a Sony spokesperson has told them that “We are moving our resources more toward LCD TV, because that’s what people really want.” It looks like all backorders for the KDSZ70XBR5 are being canceled, as the unit will never be manufactured, and Sony’s making a “no promises” effort to fill backorders for the KDF46E3000 and KDS60A3000. The move isn’t exactly unprecedented or even all that surprising — Toshiba, Philips and Hitachi have all stopped producing rear-projection sets, but Sony’s SXRDs were still extremely popular and it’s strange to see them get dropped just like that.

From: [redacted]
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:01 PM
To: [redacted]
Subject: FW: Sony #-LCD and SXRD Announcment

To All-
I’ve spoken to some of you regarding Sony’s announcement yesterday re: the discontinuation of all MDPJ sets including E-series 3-LCD, A and XBR-series SXRD. Here’s an unofficial statement from our internal news:

Sony to Stop MDPJ Production
Dec. 17 – Due to the high consumer demand for BRAVIA flat-panel LCD televisions combined with the accelerating industry trend toward flat-panel displays, Sony Electronics will discontinue producing rear-projection televisions based on 3LCD and Silicon X-tal Reflective Display technologies.
- All backorders for KDSZ70XBR5 are now cancelled as this set will not be produced.
- We do expect to fill existing backorders for KDF46E3000 and KDS60A3000 – if you need either of these models, LAST CHANCE, ORDER NOW and we will do our best to fill your orders – no promises!!!

via [Engadget]

Christie launches 1080p DLP HD405 projector

We’ve heard of Christie’s projectors being used in grandiose scenarios, but the firm’s latest should fit quite well in your average den. The HD405 is a single-clip DLP PJ that rocks a native 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) resolution, 4,100 ANSI lumens, 7,500:1 contrast ratio, 10-bit internal image processing and an array of ports including HDMI, DVI, VGA, component, USB, S-Video, RS-232 and a RJ45 port for ChristieNET connectivity. In case you’re curious, this thing weighs in at a hefty 27.8-pounds and utilizes a pair of 300-watt hot-swappable UHP lamps, each of which should last around 1,500 to 2,000 hours. Oh, and we hope you brought the checkbook if you’re seriously thinking about picking one of these up — you know, considering that it lists at $24,495 and all.

via [Engadget]

Planar Ships Commercial-grade Direct-view LCDs for Control Room and Digital Signage Applications

Planar Systems announced availability of two commercial-grade direct-view LCDs, the Planar m40L and Planar m46L, for control room and digital signage applications. Aligning with the company’s strategy to deliver value-added display solutions that combine superior image quality with long-term reliability, these commercial-grade offerings are engineered to overcome technical challenges typically associated with operating 24×7 installations in public areas.

With features including built-in power management and automation, an intelligent light sensor that automatically adjusts the backlight and an optional protective front faceplate, the m40L and m46L are ideal for control room installations in the government/military, broadcast, utilities, and transportation markets as well as digital signage applications across the globe. Compared to commodity displays, Planar’s m-Series displays are specifically suited to withstand intense ambient conditions in these demanding environments, ultimately enabling a lower cost of ownership.

“System integrators and audiovisual dealers understand that customers in these environments must be confident their monitors will display clear, professional images and perform 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” says Kristina K. Gorriaran, vice president and general manager for Planar’s Control Room & Signage Business Unit, formerly Clarity Visual Systems. “Using commercial-grade LCDs and components, Planar’s system provides a high degree of security and performance, ensuring longer-term value over other consumer flatpanel displays often used for these demanding applications.”

The m40L’s narrow 0.6in. bezel, wall-mountable and built-in tiling capabilities, and exceptional color and brightness (700 nit) make it ideal for digital signage applications in public environments, either as a stand-alone displays or tiled videowalls.

Planar’s large 46in. format, ultra-high native HD 1080p resolution (1920×1080) and multisource compatibility of the flatpanel m46L make it particularly suitable for broadcast master control rooms, where space constraints are a typical concern.

First demonstrated at InfoComm in June, the m40L and m46L are the latest additions to the m-Series line, which currently includes the 57in. m57L. The entire m-Series line offers advantages such as resistance to image quality degradation, higher brightness and broad source compatibility not found on most consumer displays.

Additional Planar m40L/m46L features:

• m40L: WXGA native resolution (1366×768)
• m46L: HD 1080p resolution (1920×1080)
• 1200:1 contrast ratio
• 178-degree viewing angle
• Built-in tiling (Planar’s Big Picture) and mullion compensation for applications requiring multiple, tiled displays
• Configurable I/O – standard video inputs, graphics and SDI to enable integrators to optimize display features
• Backlight control for longer life (50,000 hours to 1/2 brightness)
• Built-in power on/off, source switching
• Landscape/portrait orientation for multiple uses
• VESA standard mounting points for use with any conforming stand or mount

Manufacturers’ suggested retail price (MSRP) for the m40L starts at $3,750, with MSRP for the m46L beginning at $6,050. Planar’s Monitor-Series displays are now available through its network of control room system integrators and audiovisual dealers worldwide.

via [press release]

ITRI showcases a 10.4-inch flexible color LCD

Hot on the heels of that flexible color e-ink display we saw a couple days back, here comes a flexible 10.4-inch LCD display that’s less then 10mm thick. The display is being developed by Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), and features two plastic substrate elements instead of a traditional glass one. ITRI says the display can reproduce 57 percent of the NTSC color gamut, but there’s no word on when we might ever see these in production.

[Via TG Daily]

Polymer Vision announces rollable displays are in production

 

We’ve been look at wacky prototypes of rollable displays for so long that it’s hard to believe they could ever get real. Polymer Vision, a Philips spin out, has just announced that it has its production facilities up and running and its first rollable displays have made it off the assembly line. And they’re not leaving it at that. Polymer Vision’s first product, the 3G-enabled Readius, is supposed to be available before the end of the year. That doesn’t give them much time to slap the rest of the parts together, but hopefully the Readius can be giving Kindle some competition before we get too terribly accustomed to its DRM-ed ways.

 

via [Engadget]

LG Goes Flat Panel Wireless

 

LG’s LG71 series of wireless LCD TVs comes in 47in. and 52in. screen sizes and is designed to simplify installation by eliminating wires between source devices and the display via a built-in 802.11n wireless receiver. The receiver pulls in data from an external transmitter.

Additional features include TruMotion 120Hz, 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, four HDMI 1.3 inputs with deep color, a USB 2.0 jack for enjoying JPEGs or MP3 files, and Clear Voice technology to improve intelligibility in surround-sound soundtracks. The LG71 series features LG’s teardrop form factor.

via [press release]