Canon churns out HF11 / HG21 HD camcorders
Canon rolls out WUXGA REALiS WUX10, REALiS SX80 LCOS projectors
It looks like Canon's laid claim to not one but two "world's first" titles today, with it rolling out the world's first WUXGA LCOS in the form of the REALiS WUX10 and the world's first PictBridge compatible with its new REALiS SX80 (also LCOS-based). In addition to a 1920 x 1200 resolution, the REALiS WUX10 also boasts 3,200 lumens of brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and some of Canon's propriety features like its AISYS (Aspectual Illumination System) Optical Engine, which promises to maximize the performance of the LCOS panels. The REALiS SX80, on the other hand, takes things down to a still decent SXGA+ resolution, along with 3,000 lumens of brightness, a 900:1 contrast ratio, and that aforementioned USB / PictBridge connectivity. Both models also boast just about all the ports you could want, including DVI, HDMI and component, as well as that all-important built-in 1W speaker. As you might have guessed, neither of them come cheap, although at $3,999, the SX80 is a relative bargain compared to the WUX10's $12,999 price tag.
Canon develops pair of LCoS reflective LCD panels
Canon VIXIA HF11 model name turns up, imaginations run wild
[Thanks, Dan]
Canon's new XL H1S and XL H1A prosumer HD camcorders
Canon dumps rear projection development, focused on SED
Canon is apparently the latest in a veritable slew of companies jumping off the RPTV ship, according to Japan's Corporate News. While the end of its development of rear projection technology is no surprise at this point, this may bode well for the long, long awaited SED technology. Even with Canon's Hitachi/Panasonic flat panel tie-up, its still working on getting its surface-conduction electron-emitter display to the people, and with the promise of 100,000:1 contrast ratios, we're still hoping they do.[Via TV Snob]
Hitachi and Canon finalize paperwork on LCD partnership
Completing the final segment of the three-way Hitachi / Panasonic / Canon LCD mashup, Hitachi & Canon have finalized paperwork on the deal. Canon will take its 24.9% piece of Hitachi Displays, Ltd, pending regulatory approval, which should pave the way for plenty of sweet IPS-enabled panels and maybe even some OLED action in the future if anyone feels up to it. The specifics are in the read link as usual, we'll judge the wisdom of this partnership when there's a new HDTV on the shelf.Canon said to be developing own tech for SED TV production
[Via Bloomberg, thanks Dr. MORO]
Panasonic, Hitachi and Canon make billion-dollar LCD deal official
No longer a rumor, Hitachi, Matsushita (Panasonic) and Canon are joining forces to shake up the LCD biz. Panasonic and Canon have each agreed to take 24.9% ownership of Hitachi Displays, which will use the investment to continue its advancement in LCD technology. Canon gets access to Hitachi's small- to medium-sized LCDs and, OLEDs for its cameras and other products, while Panasonic looks to "enhance the competitive edge in-step with PDP models" of its Viera line of HDTVs with Hitachi's IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology and future OLED production. Don't think Panasonic and Hitachi are giving up on the Plasma Coalition, but they aren't afraid to hedge their bets in reaction to the market's demand for cheap LCDs and similar partnerships among competitors.Panasonic and Hitachi in rumored multi-billion dollar LCD panel deals
Here's a rumor which no doubt has Sony, Samsung, and Sharp in a tizzy: Matsushita (Panasonic) and Hitachi are said to be talking specifics about multi-billion dollar panel deals. If things work out, plasma-happy Panny would get a quick foothold in the burgeoning large-panel (greater than 40-inches) LCD market while Hitachi makes a quick get away from its loss making business. Canon is also looking to invest in Hitachi to get their hands on Hitachi's smaller LCD and OLED panels. Matsushita, Hitachi and Canon all issued statements saying that nothing has yet been decided -- a far cry from denial. What was that you were saying Plasma Coalition?
Canon introduces the REALiS X700 and SX7 projectors
[Via Akihabara News]
LCD sales holding strong, plasma sales sinking lower
SED televisions delayed, again -- possibly forever
Damn, not another SED television delay. Yup, Canon and Toshiba just announced the postponement of the "late 2007" launch of their SED televisions citing the prolonged patent lawsuit with Nano-Proprietary as the reason. Presumably, Canon is in no mood to strike a new licensing agreement with both Nano-Proprietary and Toshiba as required by a previous ruling which sided with Nano-Proprietary. Wait, it gets worse. Not only has the litigation delayed the launch of Toshiba's 55-incher with 100,000:1 contrast, Canon also announced that they've stopped work on the technologies required to bring production costs down to that of LCDs and plasmas. That calls into question the commercial viability of the technology in the long run. Whatever, we've had it, we're turning our attention to OLED -- hear that Sony and Toshiba? You'd better not let us down.Canon SED fraud case dismissed
Nano-Proprietary's fraud lawsuit against Canon in a Texas court has been dismissed, with a jury saying no damages had been sustained, since no products have actually shipped. Nano-Proprietary holds patents to some of the technology behind SED, and licensed it to Canon in 1999. Canon then brought Toshiba in as a manufacturing partner, and Nano filed suit. Now that all claims against Canon USA have been dropped, Canon doesn't have to pay any additional damages to Nano beyond the price of the original license -- but because the original SED patent licensing agreements with Canon have also been scrapped, rights to build the next-generation television have to be negotiated all over again.
[Via TG Daily]
Judge favors Nano-Proprietary in Canon licensing quandary
We all had high hopes that SED TVs wouldn't become another case of "what could have been," but unfortunately for everyone, things aren't looking too bright right about now. Last we heard, Canon was reportedly all set to buy out Toshiba's display stake, theoretically squashing Nano-Proprietary's claim that licensing agreements would be breached if Tosh remained in the mix, but it seems that things just can't be so easy. A federal judge has now ruled that Canon "violated its agreement with Texas-based Nano-Proprietary by forming a joint television venture with Toshiba," and while "damages still need to be determined," it's fairly clear who will come out the victor in this scenario. Still, this just appears to be yet another snag in the development of new nanotube sets, and while we should all just be used to it by now, that glimmer of hope that Canon and Nano-Proprietary "could now develop a new licensing agreement" is still (currently) alive.
