Samsung Electronics First to Begin Mass Producing 3D TV Panels

The 3D experience is one step closer to "invading" your personal home space. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd announced that it has become the first company to commence mass production of panels for 3D LED TVs and 3D LCD TVs.

“Samsung Electronics aims to lead the global 3D TV panel market in pioneering panel mass production for 3D LED and LCD TVs” said Wonkie Chang, president of the LCD Business at Samsung Electronics.

The company began producing LED and LCD compatible panels for 40-inch, 46-inch and 55-inch full-HD 3D TVs using ‘3D Active Glasses’ this month, employing Samsung’s exclusive true 240Hz technology. Samsung’s true 240Hz technology delivers full-HD viewing in 2D, and also smooth, natural, full-HD 3D images that can vividly capture rapid movements. Operating at 240 frames per second, Samsung’s panels deliver a more lifelike picture with alternating left and right eye images through the use of 3D Active Glasses technology.

Samsung’s new 3D Active Glasses technology first blocks the left and then right lens, causing a momentary lag when images are shown to each eye to achieve more lifelike 3D images. The term, 3D Active Glasses, was selected as an official term by the Glasses Standardization Working Group of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) earlier this year. The polarized glass method previously used in 3D glasses produced separate images for the left and right eyes, resulting in half the resolution of two-dimensional pictures as only half of the screen can be viewed through each polarized filter. Brightness was also lowered because of the polarized filter.

According to DisplaySearch, a market research firm, the 3D display market is expected to grow from $902 million in 2008 to $22 billion in 2018. Specifically, the 3D TV market is expected to expand to a $17-billion market, with sales increasing from 200,000 units in 2009 to 64 million units 2018. But who knows, that could be a lot more a lot faster. I know I'm dying to get one of those.

Samsung 23" F2380 LCD with cPVA Technology

The Samsung F2380 23" 16:9 widescreen LCD displays feature cPVA technology, for accurate image performance and professional-caliber color. With 100% support of sRGB color mode and 178º viewing angles, the color will be smooth and accurate to everyone gathered around your screen. High 3,000:1 static contrast ratio provides subtle transitions in shadows and details in the whites and blacks. The 2.5 mm bezel-to-screen depth and the 15 mm ultra-narrow bezel combine to give you an even, virtually seamless display area when tiling multiple displays. And the Tilt / Swivel / Pivot / 130 mm height-adjustable stands add comfort, while the F2380 offers 1920 x 1080 resolution.

Innovative cPVA technology features a liquid-crystal cell structure that minimizes light leakage for brilliant, accurate color and enables wide viewing angles and high contrast ratios. The 80 series accurately reproduces 100% of sRGB, the recommended color space for the internet and the default color space for many computers, digital cameras and scanners. A high 3,000:1 static contrast ratio adds incredible depth, with subtle shadow transitions and incredible detail, even in the whites and blacks.

Wide 178º viewing angles mean accurate color from every angle and the Tilt / Swivel / Pivot stand along with 130 mm height adjustments add comfort. A 2.5 mm bezel-to-screen depth and 15 mm bezel combine to provide a flat, virtually seamless image area when tiling monitors.

Here are some of the specifications of the F2380 23" LCD:

• Screen Size: 23" (16:9)
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Brightness: 300 cd/m²
• Contrast Ratio: DC 150,000:1 (static 3,000:1)
• Response time: 8 ms (GTG)
• Viewing Angle (Horizontal / Vertical): 178º / 178º
• Sync. Signal: Separate, Composite, SOG
• Video Signal: 2 x DVI-D, D-sub
• Power Consumption: 45 W
• Stand By Power (DPMS): 1 W
• Plug & Play: Yes
• Special Features: Multi Screen S / W, MagicBright, MagicColor, Color Effect, Off Timer, MagicTune, Customized Key, 1080p Full HD, Image Size, DVI with HDCP, Windows Vista Premium Certified, Mechanical Switch
• TCO: TCO 5.0, TUV
• Product Dimension(With stand, WxHxD): 21.5" x 18.8" x 8.5"
• Shipment Dimension: 24.7" x 16.3" x 7"
• Product Weight: 13.9 lbs.
• Shipment Weight: 17.4 lbs.
• Stand Function: Tilt, Swivel, Pivot, height adjustment

For more details and pictures related to the Samsung 23" F2380 LCD, you can visit the product's page located at samsung.com.

BD-P1600 - blu-ray disc player

Back after a loooong absence, here to bring a few things found on the web. Maybe this time I'll manage to keep things going, even if I've started a few projects in the meantime, that had the same faith.

But getting back to our little things, about the BD-P1600 blu-ray disc player. This is one of Samsungs' new models, a sleek and nice one if I may say so. Here are a few of the specifications of this blu-ray player:

• Playback Media: BD / DVD / CD
• Playback Formats: VC-1, MPEG2, H.264
• Netflix-Ready: Instantly stream from a selection of over 12,000 (and growing) movies and TV shows. The number of titles you can stream per month depends on which Netflix subscription plan you choose.
• Video A/V Quality: DVD Upconversion (up to 1080p)
• A/V Quality: Dolby Dital Decoder, DTS Decoder, Dolby Digital Plus Decoder, DTS HD Decoder, Dolby True HD Decoder
• Functional Features: BD Profile 2.0, Secondary audio support
• Connectivity: HDMI CEC, Composite Video Outputs, Component Video Outputs, S-Video Outputs, HDMI Outputs Version 1.3, Optical Digital Audio Outputs,
  Analog Audio Outputs 2ch, WiFi Ethernet
• Functional Features: PiP
• Dimension : 17” x 2.13” x 7.83”
  
• Weight: 4.85 lbs.

The full specs can be found on the Samsung website of course, at the products page, here.

A few things worth mentioning about this blu-ray player are:

• the full high definition 1080p resolution,
• the built-in wireless Ethernet connection - "BD profile 2.0 interactivity lets you download the latest firmware upgrades and more with just a click of a button. Making firmware upgrades simple and easy, you can continually upgrade the BD-P1600 with the latest features"
• Netflix instant streaming ready - "Are you a Netflix member? You no longer have to wait by the mailbox to satisfy your flix fix. Instantly stream from a selection of over 12,000 (and growing) movies and TV shows. The number of titles you can stream per month depends on which Netflix subscription plan you choose."
• BD-Live 2.0 Ready - "Get ready for the ultimate interactive film experience. The SAMSUNG BD-P1600 has lets you take full advantage of interactive features like downloadable video content, ringtones, games and more. Download additional content from the internet or even chat with friends when watching the same movie. Requires additional memory and an internet connection"

Again, for more information regarding the Samsung BD-P1600 blu-ray disc player, there should also be a trademark symbol somewhere in there, visit the product's page above.

Sony and Microsoft talk about a Blu-Ray XBox

After Toshiba announced that they will drop the HD DVD format, a lot of changes took place in the industry. And all of them are in favor of Sony and the Blu-Ray format. One of the new changes that might happen soon influences the fans of Microsoft's Xbox console.

Microsoft used to sell an external HD DVD player as an add-on for theyr console, but since that is no longer a viable solution, they need to change to a different format. Hence the negotiations with Sony's representatives for the use of a Blu-Ray device. Since the demand for high definition is so ... well, high, Microsoft needs to provide a solution to this problem fast. The PlayStation 3 has a built in Blu-Ray player already, so it's possible that Sony's terms might not be to pleasant, seeing as the two companies are rivals in this industry.

As an alternative, Microsoft could focus instead on offering high-definition downloads through its Xbox Live online content service, which already has around 10 million members. But as they already said, and many of us agree, it's the games that make the consoles a success, not the movies. That would be just a small bonus. That the PlayStation already has.

I guess Microsoft and Sony have been a little busy the last month or so, seeing the amount of news that pops up about them. And now it turns out that they are on different sides of the barricade in at least one area. But we all know by now that competition brings out the best in companies (oh, and people too).

Sony launches the Bravia F series

It appears that today will be a "display day", since I already posted about LCDs replacing CRTs. And on top of that, it seems like the giant Japanese company, Sony, doesn't take not even a brake. After they have defeated the HD-DVD format and winning supremacy in the high definition world through the Blu-Ray format, Sony launches a jaw dropping series of LCD TVs. Since consumers are pretty picky these days, the new Bravia F series has no intentions of disappointing. And let's face it, they look great. But how do they perform and what do they have that others don't? Well, you can judge that for yourself.

The TV comes in 3 different sizes: 46 (Full HD), 40 (Full HD) and 32 (WXGA) inches, slim frame and glossy look. All of them have a 3000:1 contrast ratio. Apparently there is also an Ethernet port to access the "Application cast" TV specific content ranging from weather to traffic to shopping information. The speakers deliver an output of 10W x 2Ch, the 46 inch model comes with a sub woofer delivering 20 watts. The remote control is rather powerful and works on the 2.4 Ghz band so it does not require line of sight and can be operated from almost any angle even in a large room.

And now the not so good news: the Bravia F series goes on sale in Japan from March 25 with the KDL-32F1 - 32 inch selling for 200,000 Yen ($1850), KDL-40F1 - 42 inch selling for 290,000 Yen ($2680) and KDL-46F1 - 46 inch selling for 460,000 Yen ($4257). So it anyone is interested, you'll have to wait just a little longer.

Sony is sure starting to dominate the media market. Products like the Playstation and the Blu-Ray technology are starting to find their place in more and more houses. We may be witnessing the birth of the next monopolistic corporation. Like we don't have enough of those. Well, at least this one comes through media and entertainment. You can't beat that.

Blu-Ray wins over HD-DVD

Toshiba has fought hard to promote their HD-DVD products and the war with Blu-Ray has been one with a highly awaited result. As with the previous battles between media formats, like the one between the VHS and Betamax format, this too has been one that had a real impact on the consumers. Whenever two large companies clash, they tend to create better and cheaper products and we can only rejoice at that though.

What really happened?

On February 19, 2008, after major content manufacturers and key retailers began to withdraw their support of the format, Toshiba made an official announcement to no longer develop, manufacture and market HD-DVD players and recorders, effectively ending the high definition optical disc format war.

This move leaves the high-definition market to its main rival: Sony's Blu-ray format. The two formats had been fighting for dominance in the high-definition home video market. But in recent weeks, HD-DVD had been abandoned on both the retail and content sides.

Toshiba's announcement is going to be a relief to consumers who have had a tough time over the past couple of years choosing between the two formats. If someone needed to upgrade from the now old DVD format, the decition between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD would have been a tough one.

There are also good news. If you made the bad call and chose HD-DVD, don't worry. There are methods for you to keep your videos in the markets leading high-definition format. One good "How To" can be found on Wired.com but I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of them popping up all over the Internet now.