Pioneer picks Panasonic to make plasmas

Panasonic has been tapped to pinch-hit for Pioneer.

The two television makers said Wednesday they had come to an agreement in which Panasonic will produce the panels for Pioneer’s plasma televisions.

 

(Credit: Pioneer)

 

The news comes a month after reports surfaced that Pioneer was pulling out of the plasma business. When Pioneer confirmed it would be finding someone who could make the panels more inexpensively than it could, there was a sense of dismay and disappointment among fans of its Kuro technology. Pioneer plasma TVs are generally regarded by experts–including CNET Reviews’ David Katzmaier–as having the blackest black levels of any TV on the market.

In a joint statement, the two companies said they will build a new type of panel that integrates Pioneer’s Kuro technology and Panasonic’s NeoPDP, which it currently uses in its Viera TVs. Panasonic will have the panels sporting the new, combined technology ready for Pioneer by the second half of 2009.

Panasonic is the largest producer of plasma TVs, so the panels should be more affordable for Pioneer, which is trying to cut costs. Neither has said how much the panels will cost.

via [crave]

Room for one more? Panasonic wiggles into OLED TV game

Alright, we get it. SED actually is not the wave of the future for televisions, but OLED most probably is. At present, we’ve got Sony, Toshiba, Samsung and LG Display (among others) all vying for your future dollars, and since competition in the HDTV space is so grand for consumers, we won’t be kvetching too much about yet another entrant. DigiTimes has it that Matsushita (parent company of Panasonic) is looking to begin production of OLED displays “in the future.” That’s it. No juicy clues as to when, no inside information about panel sizes — nothing. Just enough to tease you and leave you in a state of panic for the foreseeable future.

via [engadget]

Sony Bravia E4000 HDTV is an Art Piece, Really!

The Sony Bravia E4000 has been created to look like a picture frame, so that it looks great on your wall. When guests are around, you can create a photo slideshow, turning it into the most expensive photo frame of 2008. Of course, we love the idea and we love how thin the TV seems to be. However, when watching movies, it feels like the white frame could be distracting (the aluminum frame of my current HDTV certainly is). Fortunately, several frame colors are available.

via [ubergizmo]

Da-Lite Screen Company Announces GREENGUARD® Certification Addition to Da-Lite Screen Green™ Program

Environmental Institute certification (#90068) for low emitting projection screen fabrics. This significant achievement contributes to Da-Lite’s overall Screen Green™ program by including the Institute’s GREENGUARD Certified Products and Children & Schools Certification for low-emitting audio visual equipment used in sensitive environments such as daycare, K-12 and healthcare facilities.

The Institute awarded the certification for five of Da-Lite’s proprietary projection screen fabrics; High Contrast Matte White, Video Spectra 1.5, Silver Matte, Matte White and High Power. Da-Lite offers the widest range of GREENGUARD® certified fabrics that make specifying the correct screen fabric easier for architects and end-users, while observing the demand for low-emitting materials for children and schools.

The GREENGUARD® Environmental Institute (GEI) is an industry-independent, non-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Program, the largest independent certification program for low-emitting products. As an ANSI Authorized Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for indoor products, environments and buildings.

The GREENGUARD® certification mark helps architects, builders, designers and specifiers identify products and materials that undergo rigorous testing and meet stringent standards for chemical emissions. The GREENGUARD® Children & Schools standard was developed by evaluating the chemical sensitivities of children and the unique building characteristics of schools, and presenting the most stringent emissions criteria to date. Da-Lite certified projection fabrics meet the criteria of CA DHS, and are specified in the USGBC’s LEED for schools Rating System, the CHPS Best Practices Manual and the Green Guide for Healthcare.

According to GEI, children in the U.S. miss over six million school days per year due to asthma alone and the U.S. EPA estimates that half of U.S. schools have indoor air quality problems. The specification and use of Da-Lite’s GREENGUARD® Certified Products attacks indoor air pollution at the source and can significantly reduce the levels of pollutants in the indoor air.
All five of the Da-Lite GREENGUARD® Certified projection screen fabrics can be found on the web at da-lite.com/products or at greenguard.org, then select either GREENGUARD® Certified Product Guide or Children & Schools Certified Product Guide and follow the prompts. Copies of the Da-Lite GREENGUARD® Certificates can be downloaded from the GREENGUARD® site for inclusion in building proposals and specifications.

via [pressrelease]

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES AW-HE100, HIGH QUALITY INTEGRATED PAN/TILT/ZOOM HD/SD CAMERA

** HD/SD Camera System offers Easy Integration and Precision Control **

Panasonic announced the new AW-HE100 multi-format HD/SD camera that features an integrated pan-tilt-zoom mechanism with a unique ergonomic-design. The all-in-one HE100 combines outstanding image quality, super smooth pan/tilt/zoom operation and flexible system configuration.

Perfect for an array of applications ranging from high-resolution distance learning and videoconferencing, to broadcast and event staging, the HE100 provides incredible quality and easy integration for high definition and standard definition production environments. The camera supports 1080i, 720p and 480i formats and can simultaneously output both HD and SD signals. The camera features three progressive 1/3” IT CCDs, a 14-bit A/D converter, and a 19-bit digital signal processor to produce incredibly clean, high resolution images in a wide range of lighting conditions and environments.

The HE100 incorporates a broadcast quality HD 13x auto/manual focus zoom lens with a fast f1.6 maximum aperture, and wide angle focal length of 4.2mm (35mm equivalent: 32.5mm). The integrated PTZ unit has a highly accurate True-Servo pan-tilt head that offers precise, fast, fluid movement in all directions, with an exceptional range of 350 degrees (pan) and 250 degrees (tilt). Able to smoothly follow a wide range of both slow and fast moving objects without visually distracting vibration, the camera delivers a maximum pan/tilt speed of 60 degrees a second. The unit operates in virtual silence, with a noise rating of NC30 (at 30/s motion), NC35 (at 60/s motion).

The AW-HE100 comes standard with a variety of outputs including HD/SD analog component and composite video and is equipped with RS-422 connectivity for precise remote control. An optional HD/SD SDI card is available for critical production applications. Other valuable standard features include programmable auto-image flip, three-step gamma correction, seven-step chroma level adjustment, up to 100 pre-set memories, electronic shutter (1/120 to 1/2000 a sec) with synchro scan, tally light, a ceiling mounting bracket, and an easy -to-use wireless remote that controls up to four HE100 cameras.

The AW-HE100 can easily be integrated with Panasonic’s AK-HC1500 convertible HD camera and SD convertible cameras, and is compatible with a wide range of professional RS-422 control systems including Panasonic’s pan-tilt controllers such as the AW-RP555, AW-RP655, and AW-RP400 (with the AW-IF400), to provide control from remote distances of up to 3,280 ft. The HE100 can also easily be controlled via a desktop or laptop computer.

The HE100 weighs about 14.3 pounds and can be surface or ceiling mounted.

The HE100 will be available in April at a suggested list price of $8,790. Optional accessories include an AW-HHD100 SDI output board, which provides two HD/SD-SDI outputs (BNC) for HD/SD switching.

via [press release]

Are you green when it comes to sustainable design for corporate AV?

Here are five things to consider as you begin your journey along the “Green Brick Road.”

1. Do your homework. Just because an idea is touted as being “green” doesn’t mean it is. This is where third party certifications can be helpful. Has the product been certified by a neutral organization, such as GREENGUARD or Green Seal?

2. Don’t sacrifice. Just because a product is green doesn’t mean it can’t perform–nor should it. By choosing a green product that meets performance specs, you improve the chances that it will actually be used, and not replaced in six months with something that is not nearly so environmentally friendly, but which does the job.

3. Think big picture. Sustainability works best as part of an overall design strategy. For example, using more windows for daylighting will save on electricity used to light a room, but for maximum benefit glare and heat transference issues must also be addressed, through window treatments and specification of proper projection surfaces.

4. Decide what is most important to you and your client. Some products are highly efficient; others give off low VOC (volatile organic compound) levels; some may even operate through sustainable means. Sometimes you can find a product that combines several of these advantages, but often different products will have only one “green” advantage, and you must decide which is most important. For example, should you install a product that is made of 100% post-consumer recycled materials, or one that contains no PVCs and does not off-gas VOCs?
5. Confused? Deal with an expert. Find out if the manufacturers you work with have LEED-Accredited Professionals (accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council) on staff and talk to them. If you’re really gung-ho, seek LEED-AP status yourself

Join all of us at Techlogique in turning the AV Industry Green….

via [The Techlogique Team}

AURALEX ACOUSTICS INTRODUCES FIRST TO MARKET ECO-FRIENDLY STUDIOFOAM® AT NAB 2008

Auralex Acoustics, Inc., the industry leader in innovative sound control solutions, introduces the first “green” acoustical foam product on the market, Eco-Friendly StudioFoam®, at this year’s NAB Show. Auralex will be showcasing its products as part of B&H’s booth space (SU2905).

Companies are re-evaluating their manufacturing processes in order to make them more environmentally conscious. Auralex Acoustics has recognized and embraced this green approach and has developed the industry’s first environmentally-friendly acoustic foam that can be utilized in broadcast, post and production facilities, both commercially and in residential settings.

StudioFoam brand products now include soy components, reducing petroleum-based chemical usage by up to 60% and lessening dependence on fossil fuels, including foreign crude oil. This greener formula helps reduce global warming emissions, yet retains the longevity and acoustical properties that Auralex is known for.

Auralex StudioFoam is manufactured without harmful Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), which have been implicated in the depletion of the ozone layer. In making the conversion over to the new Soy-based hybrid formula, these products now boast an improved performance and durability over conventional petroleum-based foams.
“Green initiatives are no longer reserved for environmentalists, consumers as a whole are moving towards ecologically-friendly life-styles and products,” says Dave Paxton, director of operations at Auralex Acoustics. “Auralex is proud to be doing its part in conserving the environment and reducing global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels. Auralex will continue to create products that are beneficial to the post, broadcast and production industries as well as those that are conducive to our environment.”

The new Eco-Friendly StudioFoam is available in the same great color choices and cuts as the original. There is no increase in cost to either the dealer or consumer. The new offering meets and exceeds the quality of product and testing data (acoustical and fire) that the professional consumer demand.

via [press release]

Electrosonic’s IPTV 3G to 3G Transport Series, JPEG 2000 Server and DCI-Complient Server At NAB 2008

Attendees of NAB Show 2008, the “…ONE GLOBAL EVENT for content creators, managers and distributors”, will have the opportunity to scope two brand-new Electrosonic product intros: The ES7000 IPTV Transport Products series and the MS9600 JPEG 2000 2K server. Electrosonic will be exhibiting in booth # SL14708.

Electrosonic, a top name in the audio/video manufacturing, design, installation and servicing industries, will be one of 1,600 exhibitors from across the globe presenting at this exciting annual showplace and source for the “creativity, inspiration, solutions and next-generation technologies that help breathe life into your content.” The NAB Show conference and expo is expected to play host to more than 110,000 attendees at the Las Vegas Convention Center this coming April 11-17.

Electrosonic will be previewing its ES7000 series IPTV Transport Products, leading the industry with a 3Gb/s to 3Gb/s IP transport solution. The ES7000 range will raise performance standards in Contribution, Live Event and other IPTV Broadcast applications requiring robust delivery of high quality 3Gb/s, 1.5Gb/s or SD video over IP networks with low delay at highly efficient bit-rates.

Says Electrosonic Products General Manager, Karl Johnson, “We’re very excited about the introduction of this product range. They are among the first in the industry to provide a 3Gb/s to 3Gb/s IPTV transport solution for 1920×1080, 60Hz High Definition Video. In addition, they produce high image qualities, equivalent to the JPEG2000 compression standard, at bitrates comparable with MPEG products with very low latency. This makes them ideal for live events and contribution applications.”

The units accept SDI or HDSDI inputs with embedded audio and data and transmit them over LAN or WAN connections. Embedded error concealment ensures robust delivery of video over uncorrected networks and audio, video and data synchronization is maintained. The ES7000 series supports contribution applications, live events, real-time studio-to-studio exchange, and tele-presence, as well as post production and in-house signal distribution applications.

Also being shown at NAB Show 2008 will be Electrosonic’s MS9600 JPEG 2000 appliance that plays unencrypted JPEG2000 content at 2K, 1080p and 720p resolutions. The company will also be previewing its Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) compliant version of the player,, which promises to take the Digital Cinema industry by storm.

With the ability to offer sharp, vivid images at a reasonable price, the MS9600 incorporates 2K resolution via dual HD-DSI and dual DVI-I video outputs, an advanced user interface and confidence monitor and 16 channels of broadcast quality digital audio. It features Timecode and Genlock, gigabit network and four general-purpose I/O. The unit also supports web interface for complete remote control and configuration for playlist management, SNMP, reporting and Metadata support. It complies with 48 fps 3D playback. What’s more, multiple units can be synchronized for multi-screen presentation.

Bryan Hinckley, Business Manager of the Electrosonic Products Group notes, “Electrosonic has been producing high definition MPEG video servers for 10 years now and, with our years of development expertise, we proudly move into the JPEG2000 realm. The MS9600 is ideal for quality control applications in the JPEG 2000 post production workflow and digital 3D markets. More importantly, this product release represents the first milestone in creating a DCI compliant appliance for the Digital Cinema market.”

For more than 80 years, NAB Show has been an “essential destination that is synonymous with next-generation technology, education and insight”, so don’t miss it!

via [press release]

Mitsubishi Announces 5000-lumen 1080p Wide Format Projector (WL6700U)

5000-Lumen Wide Format Projector for Education, Commercial Applications

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics, known for award-winning, high-quality, high-definition presentation and display products, introduced its WL6700U, a 5000 ANSI lumen, WXGA resolution (1366 x 800 pixels) projector for commercial, home theater and education installations. By offering this projector at a cost remarkably lower than others of the same caliber, Mitsubishi continues to lead the projector industry with a combination of high brightness and wide-screen, high definition at an unprecedented price.

Blasting 5000 lumens with a 1000:1 contrast ratio, the WL6700U uses three robust 1.2 inch 3LCD inorganic panels. This projector is ideal for commercial venues such as sports bars, restaurants or hotel conference rooms as well as school auditoriums and corporate boardrooms that require wide-format, high-definition resolution HD video. Other applications include medical imaging, CAD/CAM designs, geo-spatial mapping and more. The WL6700U is available in a white outer cabinet and also features a DVI connector for a wider range of HD connectivity options. .

“Our new WL6700U fits a perfect niche for those who need high brightness and wide format imaging,” said Wayne Kozuki, product manager, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics Presentation Products Division.

The WL6700U can create side-by-side images for enhanced video conferencing applications that include a live video feed and simultaneous presentations on the same screen, perfect for large venues where ambient light can be a factor. It also offers RJ45 networking support for easy online management and control.

With a built-in motion-sensitive anti-theft alarm, Mitsubishi’s WL6700U is designed to deter projector theft from public venues such as classrooms, auditoriums or other open-access conference room settings. The motion detector is built into the connector panel cover and is set manually by a key. Once the cover is installed and the safety key removed, the projector’s alarm is automatically set; moving the projector will sound a 120-decibel high pitch alarm.

“Mitsubishi is committed to making wide screen projectors become more mainstream, thus we are offering a range of WXGA projectors that fit today’s display requirements,” said James Chan, director, product marketing, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics Presentation Products Division. “Some of our customers work only in wide screen formats; we listened and brought a new projector to market just for them.”
Pricing, Availability, Warranty

The suggested price of Mitsubishi’s WK6700U is $9,995 and it will be available this month through authorized Mitsubishi dealers. The projector comes with Mitsubishi’s three-year limited warranty on parts and labor plus a 90-day limited warranty on the lamp

via [press release]

Dolby Previews New Video Technologies

Sneak Peek at Dolby’s Newest Imaging Technologies for Improved Contrast and Brightness for Certain LCD TVs

Dolby Laboratories unveiled details of its new dynamic range imaging technologies, Dolby(R) Contrast and Dolby Vision.

“Dolby is committed to providing innovative entertainment technology solutions. At CEATEC, we are demonstrating new video technologies that could transform LCD picture quality,” said Francois Modarresse, Vice President, Marketing, Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby’s surround sound technologies are world renowned, and our imaging capabilities are already modernizing how we see entertainment. For example, Dolby Digital Cinema systems deliver movies with opening-night quality every night.”

Dolby will be conducting technology demonstrations of its new imaging technologies at CEATEC in room 201B.

Dolby’s dynamic range imaging technology, Dolby Contrast provides dramatically enhanced contrast, while Dolby Vision combines dramatically enhanced contrast with extended brightness and dynamic range for LCD televisions with LED backlighting technology.

– Dolby Contrast, leveraging light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with local dimming, provides outstanding contrast ratio and improvements to the overall image quality.
– Dolby Vision adds to LED backlight units with local dimming advanced high-dynamic range algorithms, which deliver stunning images, by providing simultaneously high brightness and high contrast ratio. In demonstrations, LCD displays with Dolby Vision deliver picture quality that virtually matches real-world visual perception of depth, detail, and color.

via [press release]