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TI sticks to its DLP guns, fires off 4k pro gear

by Steven Kim, posted Jun 20th 2009 at 11:21AM

Christie DLP projectorYou just knew that Texas Instruments wasn't going to leave the 4k cinema projector market to SXRD, right? Sure enough, TI unveiled its DLP Cinema 4k technology and announced that Barco, Christie and NEC will be sprinkling the new tech across more than a dozen new projectors. Now, if TI would get serious about 3-chip DLP consumer solutions -- not even 4k -- we'd be out of our seats (or maybe the movie house's). Until then, we'll have to settle for the possibility that the lowered costs of the next generation of the DLP Cinema platform will allow for more screens to go digital. One thing's for sure -- those IMAX DLP setups need all the pixels they can get.

Viewsonic announces three new 3D projectors

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jun 15th 2009 at 3:31PM


Good news, 3D fanboys and girls, looks like Viewsonic's back on the scene with a clutch of 120Hz 3D-enabled projectors. The first new model, the PJD6381, looks to be aimed at schools and businesses, with an extremely short throw ratios (around .68) for reducing shadowing effects, and a number of interactive whiteboard options. Available in August, this guy has 1024 x 768 XGA resolution, 2,500 ANSI lumens, a 2,500:1 contrast ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, and is compatible with the both Texas Instruments' DLP Link and NVIDIA's 3D-Vision 3D technology -- expect it to have an MSRP of $1,249. The PJD6211 and PJD6221 ($849 and $899, respectively) also sport 1024 x 768 XGA resolution, as well as up to 2,700 lumens, a 2,800:1 contrast ratio and both DLP Link and 3D-Vision compatibility. These two should hit the stores some time in July.

NEC upgrades DLP projectors for higher res 3D in time for the premiere of Up

by Richard Lawler, posted May 30th 2009 at 10:03AM


If you roll out this weekend to check out Disney Pixar's latest addition to the 3D film movement Up, you might be seeing it broadcast by one of NEC's new NC2500S-A projectors or an older model that has been upgraded, sending out 3D in 2K res courtesy of Texas Instruments' DLP chips. The kids might not notice a 33% improvement in resolution and brightness over previous generations that let it put the show on bigger screens than ever before, but we're sure you will. Word is Clearview's Ziegfeld Theatre is one of the first with the upgrade, so if you're close by, we all know how important choosing a theater carefully can be these days.

Samsung's Joe Kane-designed SP-A900 due later this month

by Richard Lawler, posted May 11th 2009 at 10:56PM


Been waiting for something to top the well-received Samsung SP-A800B? How about the next in the line, the SP-A900, ready to ship later this month but now improved with Texas Instruments' DarkChip 4 DLP chipset for an even higher contrast ratio (now up to 12,000:1), similarly higher price, 1080p res at an MSRP of $12,999. CNET lets it be known this should bring the Joe Kane approved design home via specialty retailers as is its custom, but we're sure fans of quality projectors know where it can be found.

Poll: Is Star Trek better at an IMAX or a DLP theater?

by Ben Drawbaugh, posted May 10th 2009 at 1:05PM


With all the buzz about the new Star Trek movie -- IMDB of 8.2 and at #82 of all time already -- we might actually head to the theater to check it out instead of just waiting and enjoying it on our HDTV at home. So we're wondering: Which is the better movie going experience, IMAX or DLP, for an HD Snob? Now there is little doubt that DLP is the way to go when a movie is created with a digital camera like the RED, but Star Trek was filmed the old fashioned way with Kodak 35mm film (Kodak Vision2 100T 5212, Vision2 500T 5218 to be exact). At the same time IMAX is a no brainer when there are IMAX filmed sequences in the movie like in the case of The Dark Knight. So considering that to present Star Trek on either IMAX and DLP requires some sort of conversion, we wonder which is the best way to go?

Is Star Trek better at an IMAX or a DLP theater?

Prototype Sanyo projector throws up 1080p at near point-blank range

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 14th 2009 at 2:14PM


Sanyo's had a knack for pumping out short-throw projectors, but its latest prototype unquestionably takes the cake. Debuting without so much as a model name, this here DLP beamer -- which, at 93- x 20- x 25-inches, easily doubles as a bench -- throws up a 100-inch 1080p image with just 24-inches of space between it and the wall. Better still, that can scale up to 150-inches by adding just another foot of breathing room -- and just to remind you, we're talking full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution here. Sanyo also tossed in 7,000 lumens of brightness, though mum's the word when it comes to price or nearness to production.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Gallery: Prototype Sanyo projector throws up 1080p at near point-blank range

Next-gen DLP Cinema platform makes room for live 3D broadcasting

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 2nd 2009 at 12:23AM

Surely you knew that you'd eventually hear "DLP" and "3D" in the same sentence, right? Over at ShoWest this week, Texas Instruments is announcing plans for its next-generation DLP Cinema electronics platform. Generally speaking, this wouldn't be all that exciting, but this one's different. Aside from letting us know that DLP Cinema projectors will be deployed by Christie, Barco and NEC at commercial theaters around the world starting in 2010, we're also told that it will feature "increased bandwidth to integrate alternative content to incorporate live 3D broadcasting." Yep, that NAB demonstration and this year's NBA All-Star weekend were just the beginning.

Toshiba forced to pay up in class action DLP lawsuit

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 1st 2009 at 11:03PM


Just what Toshiba needed, right? As if the economy wasn't hammering the company's bottom line badly enough, United States Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold of the Eastern District of New York has just entered a decision that'll force it to pay up over $1 million in order to settle a class action lawsuit it just lost. Originally filed in 2007, the suit alleged "that the lamps of certain Toshiba DLP televisions were susceptible to premature failure causing purchasers to repeatedly expend hundreds of dollars for replacement bulbs, which allegedly suffered from the same defect." After a thorough investigation, it was found that Tosh would be responsible for reimbursing those who purchased a bulb replacement that failed prematurely, and the warranty on replacement bulbs has been pushed from six months to a full year. Naturally, the law firm representing the 265,000 or so affected individuals was quite stoked with the outcome, as should you be if you're in that mix.

SIM2 aims high with $58,000 Grand Cinema HT5000E DLP projector

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 9th 2009 at 3:54PM


SIM2 never fails to stun, and it's proving yet again that it couldn't care less about the global economic situation (or that it just aims at a class of people that are simply unaffected) with the Grand Cinema HT5000E. Said device was actually outed yesterday courtesy of an HDGiants pair-up, but today we're being gifted with the official details. The three-chip DLP beamer includes a trio of 0.95-inch DarkChip4 DMDs, a 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution, six lens options, Ethernet jack for remote control and world-class color uniformity / edge-to-edge focus capabilities. Yeah, it'll cost you more than most vehicles and even some diminutive homes at $57,995, but at least the white glove delivery service is included. A true bargain, let us tell you. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading SIM2 aims high with $58,000 Grand Cinema HT5000E DLP projector

NEC releases travel-savvy NP62 projector for road-warriors

by Steven Kim, posted Jan 9th 2009 at 8:46AM

NEC NP62 projector
Only a few months ago, NEC introduced the NP41, NP61 and NP64 models to its series of mobile projectors, and now it is filling one of the lineup gaps with the NP62. Powerpointing road warriors will be happy to know the unit weighs in at a mere 3.7-pounds, and even soft talkers should be able to speak above the 32dB noise put out by the projector in ECO mode. Grab that presentation, put it on a USB memory stick and you can cue it right up via the onboard USB port to the tune of 1024x768 pixels, 3000 lumens bright.

ViewSonic turns off spell check, launches Fuhzion line of 3D display devices

by Tim Stevens, posted Jan 8th 2009 at 1:16PM

ViewSonic turns off spell check, launches Fuhzion line of 3D display devices
3D displays are hotter than Hansel right now, and ViewSonic is getting in to the new (old) tech of goggle-driven depth with a line of displays dubbed Fuhzion. First up is the 22-inch VX2265wm LCD, announced last year and sounding quite similar to the Samsung 2233RZ from yesterday. It's a 1680 x 1050, 120Hz panel with a 2ms response rate, enabling it to tackle the quick cycling that will be required to reproduce a 3D image. The other addition to the line is the PJD6220-3D DLP projector, an updated (or at least renamed) version of the company's existing PJD6220, illuminating 1024 x 768 pixels at 120Hz and a respectable contrast ratio of 2000:1. The projector is due next month for $1,499, while the VX2265wm drops in the next few weeks for a rather more reasonable $399 -- another stat that happens to match Samsung's offering.

Sharp shows off the XV-Z15000 1080p projector

by Richard Lawler, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 4:13PM


Sharp's chosen to focus on creating an affordable 1080p home projector, rolling out the single chip DLP-based XV-Z15000. Ready for the discerning customer with $2,999 in their pocket, it features a 30,000:1 contrast ratio and 1600 ANSI brightness, plus Keystone Correction ready to take care of any type of distortion that may crop up. Projector heads can put this up against the PT-AE3000 and company when it ships in March.

Continue reading Sharp shows off the XV-Z15000 1080p projector

SIM2's PRO5DL HD projector to beam Italian operas to LA / NYC

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 19th 2008 at 5:55PM


It's opera season once more, and this time we've got Italy's own SIM2 getting involved. The company famous for engineering remarkably sexy (and incredibly expensive) projectors has just announced that its DLP-based PRO5DL flagship Digital Cinema projector will be used to show audiences in LA and NYC live broadcasts of the La Scala Opera season. The transmissions will be beamed from the La Scala Operahouse in Milan to the Beverly Hills Laemmle Theater and Miller Theater at Columbia University in New York, and the images will be displayed on 28-foot wide screens. We're not sure how costly a ticket is, but it's sure to be substantially lower than a round trip ticket to Italy.

Sharp introduces PG-F255W 720p DLP projector for under $1,000

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 6th 2008 at 1:40AM

Nah, it's no 1080p, but if 720p will do ya, Sharp's got a new one you should consider. The PG-F255W DLP beamer packs a WXGA resolution (1,280 x 800), BrilliantColor technology, 2,500 ANSI lumens, a 2,200:1 contrast ratio, DVI / VGA inputs, integrated speakers, RS-232C / USB sockets, Ethernet and a variable audio line-out. The PJ is geared for more commercial applications (think education, churches, board rooms, etc.), but we don't see any reason why it won't handle your home cinema needs just fine. It's available this month for "under $1,000," which probably means $999.99 plus applicable sales tax.

Optoma's TX1080 projector keeps Jack from becoming a dull boy

by Steven Kim, posted Nov 24th 2008 at 8:44AM

Optoma TX1080 projector
Optoma is pitching its TX1080 DLP projector as a "crossover" model that's happy in living rooms as well as boardrooms, and with a 1080p DarkChip DLP with BrilliantColor and a 3700 lumen lamp, it sounds like it should fit the picture quality bill pretty nicely (the 2200:1 contrast figure seems a bit low, but it's not worth debating CR numbers). Add in the $3500 price point and it's not beyond the budget of home buyers looking into front projection, and the network management features sound like a great item if your IT department needs to approve the purchase. So yeah, if you're in the market for a HD DLP beamer around $3000 this holiday, add another one to your candidate list.




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