Berlin – More 3D
technology, iPad rivals from Samsung and Toshiba, and a Sony digital music service
are among the major introductions at the the Internationalen Funkausstellung
Berlin (IFA) trade show, here, this week.
LG Electronics,
Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba were among the major brands that showed
products that are either for the U.S. market or may wind up here soon. And, of
course, pricing and availability for many of the products were not yet
available.
Here is a
company-by-company rundown:
LG Electronics:
The company showed more 800 CE and major appliance products during IFA this
week.
Among the main
introductions was the Nano Full LED TV, which LG described as the world’s first
TV with Nano Lighting technology. The LEX8 has Micro Pixel Control and Infinite
Contrast Ratio to add greater range and life to colors in both 2D and 3D, while
TruMotion 400Hz minimizes blur and keeps 3D images smooth, the company said.
At 0.88 cm deep
and with a bezel 1.25 cm thick, rLG said it is the slimmest and narrowest on
any Full LED TV in the world. Connectivity options include NetCast and DLNA for
seamless access to a world of online and stored digital content.
LG said its new
31-inch OLED 3D TV can project all existing color levels, including the full
palette of dark colors, under any viewing conditions, from any angle, and
offers top 2D images. The FullHD TV has 1,920 by 1,080 resolution.
The PX950N is LG’s
first plasma 3D TV with enhanced connectivity including NetCast, DLNA
certification and a Wireless AV Link. Some other features include 3D THX/THX certification,
TruBlack filter, 600Hz max sub-field driving, and A/V wireless ready/Wi-Fi dongle.
The HR550 is a 3D
Blu-ray Disc player with built-in DVB T/C/S Hybrid tuners and hard disk drive. By
receiving terrestrial (DVB-T), cable (DVB-C) and satellite (DVB-S) content
without the need for a digital set-top box, the HR550 extends viewers’
broadcast TV options. With its built-in tuner, the HR550 also allows viewers to
record one channel while playing a Blu-ray movie at the same time. In addition,
viewers can enjoy an all-in-one entertainment hub and digital library with a
250GB built-in hard disk, a capacity that rises to 500GB in some regions.
Panasonic:
Not
surprisingly Panasonic presented its range of 3D-related products at IFA, many
of them the same or similar to its introductions in the past month in the U.S.
— from TVs to 3D camcorders — as well as announcements from its
U.S.
Open press event on Wednesday
.
Panasonic’s booth theme
here is “3D your world,” and the company showed its SDT-750 3D camcorder.
The booth features
a 3D mass display that incorporates
ranging from 42-inch to 152-inch sets. Panasonic debuted for the
European market 42-inch and 46-inch models in the VT20 series. Furthermore, the
company is showing its GT20 3D TV series with a 42-inch model.
Samsung:
While
Samsung’s
3G-equipped Android-powered tablet garnered plenty of media attention at IFA,
it also had a full run of 3D products on display.
Samsung said it
will launch seven more 3D TV models during the second half of 2010 to expand
its 3D total solution lineup in the European market. This expansion brings its
total to 25 models. Included among these is a 50-inch FullHD 3D plasma model.
Joining these TVs
will be six new 3D Blu-ray systems, including the C8900, which combines
recording and storage functionalities on a 500GB HDD with the ability to record
and play back the HD and 3D broadcasting, for the European market.
Samsung’s premium
Smart 3D TV, the C9000, was also on display and the company discussed its Samsung
Apps for TV development efforts announced here in August.
Samsung also
showed
that features a unique slanted lens that allows for less
pressure on the wrist.
Sharp:
The company
used IFA to debut two Aquos Quattron 3D TVs: the LE925 series, which will be
shipped in Europe this fall in 60-inch and 46-inch sizes. The sets are said to
be 3.9 cm thick. 3D glasses are available for use with each set in silver, red
and blue.
Sony:
Sony
displayed a 280-inch LED 3D screen showing a varied line-up of 3D
entertainment.
Among some of the
other products shown were the VPL-VW90ES home projector for the 3D cinema
experience in FullHD 1080p; STR-DA5600ES/3600ES receivers with 3D pass-through
and Automatic Phase Matching; a prototype 3D Vaio computer with Full HD, 200Hz
high-frame-rate technology and LED backlight; a prototype Internet HDTV powered
by Google TV;
MHS-TS20K “all-in-one” web-sharing device with touchscreen;
and the Reader PRS-650/350 with touchscreen, 2GB memory for storing up to 1,200
books and 12 built-in dictionaries.
Sony introduced Music
Unlimited powered by Qriocity, a new, cloud-based, digital music service.
Available by year’s end, Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity will give consumers
access to millions of songs stored and synchronized through the cloud. Music
Unlimited powered by Qriocity will initially be available across Sony’s 2010
models of network-enabled Bravia TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, Blu-ray home-theater
systems, as well as PlayStation3 computer entertainment systems and Vaios and
other personal computers, and will become increasingly available on a range of
Sony’s portable devices.
Video On Demand
powered by Qriocity will be available in Europe this fall. It has been
available in the U.S. since April.
Toshiba:
There is
reportedly a ton of 3D technology at its IFA booth, but much of the buzz came
from the introduction of its Folio 100 media tablet Android Tablet.
The 10.1-inch,
760-gram personal media table is set for a fourth quarter introduction in
Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The unit is
equipped with an SD card slot, an HDM connector, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth,
while a Mobile Broadband (3G) ready version will follow soon. Apps that are
pre-installed are Opera Mobile (web browser), FBReader (e-book reader), Document
To Go (office suite), Evernote (notes), Adobe Flash 10.1 and Fring, an app that
in combination with the embedded webcam allows video calls with friends and
family.
The media tablet
also features Toshiba Market Place, a service that offers easy access to
various download choices for multimedia content, services and apps. Music
Place, powered by 7Digital offers easy access to a wide catalog of music and
allows easy syncing to a choice of devices. Radio Place gives access to a wide
selection of IP radio services.
The instant-on
functionality lets the tablet be operational in less than 30 seconds. 16GB of on-board
storage hosts music, videos, photos, emails and other data and is expandable
via SD card, Toshiba said.
