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Hitachi unveils new 1080p plasmas

by Richard Lawler posted Aug 29th 2006 at 9:59AM

Fujitsu Hitatchi Plasma Display Corporation is going to keep rolling out their new plasmas, including two that are 1080p (1920x1080), and one not-1080p (1280x1080). The 50-inch HD panel based on their ALIS technology we've covered before with its oddly shaped pixels and resolutions, but great image processing and brightness, features a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, brightness of 1300cd/m2 and should begin production in October. The 1920x1080 50-inch plasma is their first to use single-scan technology (one chip for image processing instead of several) at that resolution, plus the same ALIS processing with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio and 1100cd/m2 brightness, but will not go into production until March 2007. The 60-inch plasma brings all 2-million pixels and a new e-ALIS processing system to help smooth fast moving images on the big screen, it has a lower contrast ratio of only 5000:1 and a brightness of 1000cd/m2. No word on price or possible US availability just yet.

[Via Impress]

Dual-layer Blu-ray, HD DVD-R drives, HDMI videocards and more @ Computex

by Richard Lawler posted Jun 13th 2006 at 4:52AM

While we're still awaiting official announcements, prices and exact release dates, PC Watch has a roundup of quite a few interesting high-def related products from the recent Computex exhibition. Asus displayed their dual-layer Blu-ray burner pictured above, but no model  number or pricing information. BenQ also displayed internal and external versions of the BW1000 dual-layer Blu-ray drive they'll be launching later this year. Toshiba is in the lineup with their SD-L902A HD DVD-R drive, also no price or release date mentioned.

Otherwise notable were a bevy  of HDMI-equipped videocards and motherboards, including the Abit IL-80MV. HD DVD-RAM, HD DVD-R and -RW as well as BD-RE and -RE media was on hand from a variety of manufacturers like Optodisc, Prodisc and Ritek. While no specific dates were mentioned all should be available in the second half of this year.

[Via CD Freaks]

HD DVD-R/RW media available July 5 in Japan

by Richard Lawler posted Jun 8th 2006 at 7:31AM

Hitachi and Mitsubishi have both announced today that (in Japan at least), they will be releasing single layer HD DVD-Rs, with RW and dual layer blanks to come later this summer. Still no recorders announced, but with their importance in the Japanese market and media now scheduled, they can't be very far off. Impress approximates the price at about 2,000 yen ($17.75 US), which is about  the same price as single layer Blu-ray media. What the press releases don't seem to say is whether this media is 1X or 2X speed rated; because of the difference in the specifications 1X (36.55mbps) media could still play HD DVD content, but would be a slower burner than the Blu-ray drives that are coming out rated at 2X (72mbps) or higher. Impress only mentions the Hitachi as being 1X.

[Via Impress Watch]

Read - Hitachi HD DVD-R/RW
Read - Mitsubishi HD DVD-R/RW

Continue reading HD DVD-R/RW media available July 5 in Japan





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