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DiiVA home networking spec exposes itself to potential partners


Sporting an extra "i" DiiVA is back, ready to show off the initial draft of its home networking spec. The same old crew of Chinese manufacturers are still pledging support, claiming it solves data channel issues for the future of interactive TV and such. We'd probably want to make sure the name is nailed down before signing up but interested parties can register as a DiiVA promoter to review and provide feedback before its finalized. Still, in the China-based format race, it probably has better odds of ever catching on than CBHD or HD NVD.

Haier rings up two new LCD TVs at CES

Haier logoBeing the official HDTV of the NBA, would you expect Haier to do any less than ring up a pair of new TVs at CES? Both the 47-inch HL47XT1 and the 42-inch HL42XT1 have good specs (especially given the company's durable goods background), each touting 1080p resolution, four HDMI inputs, LED backlighting and 120Hz refresh rates. These sets also pack hidden Sound Chamber speakers (tweeter and midrange drivers mated up to a port for enhanced bass response) and SRS TruSurround XT circuitry to float a soundfield into the room. Sounds good, and the specs are entirely competitive, but some pricing and availability info more specific than "2009" would sure help gauge where these TVs will fit in the market -- hopefully these two aren't bricks like some of the company's other efforts.

Haier's 47-inch HL47K LCD HDTV gets reviewed, doesn't fare so well


When you think of top-tier HDTV brands, there's a phenomenally good chance that "Haier" isn't in the top five ten. Thus, it ought to be no surprise to learn that the outfit's latest LCD HDTV didn't receive the highest marks in CNET's recent review. The budget-minded set had a fairly decent design and an equally delicious price (just $1,599 MSRP), and the three HDMI inputs (plus one PC input) were certainly adequate. However, the unit displayed "significant uniformity issues including uneven backlight and discoloration across the screen," and when coupled with the light blacks, less-than-accurate color temperature and the inability to change aspect ratio with HD sources, critics were left with no choice but to call the kettle black. Looks like it's back to choosing which Vizio you really like, huh?

Chinese manufacturers show off DIVA connector, request only green M&Ms


Move over HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort, here comes DIVA (Digital Interface for Audio and Video). Cooked up by the above group of Chinese manufacturers, they say this standard can improve on HDMI by enabling bi-directional data connections above and beyond HDMI-CEC protocols, creating easy DLNA connections between devices with a single cable. Forward channel video speeds of 13.6 Gbps provide plenty of room for 1080p and higher resolutions with Deep Color, plus the two-way connection at up to 2.25Gbps that can simultaneously handle multichannel audio, control or other data. With a working demo shown over a single 8 wire CAT6 cable, it's got specs that interest us, and with a growing AV market in China maybe these companies have enough pull to get wider support. Still, until someone produces a platinum cable measuring 3-feet long that costs $200 we won't be sure of its success.

Haier L47A18 1080p LCD unveiled

Haier L47A18-AK 47-inch 1080p LCD http://www.engadgethd.com/media/2007/05/haier_l47a18_crop.jpg
Chinese manufacturer Haier has released the L47A18-AK 47-inch 1080p LCD, with detachable bottom-mounted speakers and a pair of HDMI ins. The set also includes two integrated USB ports, card readers that can play back, among other formats, MP3, JPG, and DiVX, and a printer jack -- for making take-home copies of yesterday's photos with Mom, of course. No word on a release date, but the price is set at 18,999 yuan, or $2,472 US.

More not-1080p silliness at SINOCES

It's clear to us now, even the manufacturers don't know what is 1080p and what isn't. Well, maybe they just don't care. TWICE's report from SINOCES (Chinese CES) indicates many manufacturers are putting the 1080p tag on everything they can, if a TV can accept a 1080p signal but not display it, and even on displays that don't do 1080p at all. As they note, it's not such a big deal yet in China because until HD DVD and Blu-ray launch there won't be much at that resolution to watch. They also mentioned Chinese manufacturers looking at the US market as a hard one to enter because of low-priced 1080p displays like the Westinghouse LVM-47w1. Hisense, who manufactures the Best Buy house brand and HP televisions, was showing a 71-inch 1080p plasma based on the LG one we've seen before, maybe you'll be getting an in-store demo sooner than you think.

Conspicuous in their absence apparently are EVD and VMD based players, targeted as low cost alternatives to HD DVD and Blu-ray using old school red laser technology.

[via Home Theater Blog]




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