ultimate AV has a review of the ClearPix2 acoustically transparent screen by Screen Research. The screen lets sound pass through, so you can place speakers behind the screen. I am considering this approach once I make my first million and can build a custom home theater. But seriously, having three speakers across the front that are identical (not like most people who have with a sideways center channel speaker) is actually the way to produce the best sound. The store where I bought my receiver (Dewars) highly recommends this approach, and it’s what movie theaters use and THX recommends (if I remember correctly). Using an acoustically transparent screen is one way to accomplish this.

Their ClearPix2 has already received certification from both THX and the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF). It is not perforated; instead, it is woven using microscopic fiberglass strands coated in vinyl and then woven in a propriety and patented knit design. It’s also available in all of the most popular configurations, including fixed and retractable. A variety of masking systems are also available for both fixed and motorized applications.

The choice of any screen involves compromises, either audio or video, and sometimes both. But in my experience, the advantages offered by the Screen Research ClearPix2 are significant and well worth considering for those who want to get the undeniable advantages of locating one or more of their front speakers behind the screen. It’s not without its own tradeoffs, but with the right choice of projector and screen size, I highly recommend it.

Link: ultimate AV - Screen Research ClearPix2 Acoustically Transparent Front-Projection Screen

Three of Sony’s new Grand WEGA HD models begin shipping this week. They are the KDF-E60A20 at 60 inches, the KDF-E55A20 (55 inches), and the KDF-E50A10 (50 inches). The KDF-E42A10 (42 inches) will ship in late July. These are 3LCD models with a resolution of 1280 x 720 for the smaller models and 1366 x 768 for the 55″ and 60″ models.

Shipping now, the KDF-E60A20 is available for about $3,500 and the KDF-E55A20 for about $3,000. In July, the KDF-E50A10 and the KDF-E4210 will be available for about $2,800 and $2,300, respectfully. The models will soon be available direct from www.sonystyle.com and at SonyStyle stores found in select shopping malls nationwide.

Link: eCoustics - New Sony Grand WEGA HDTVs

I was debating with myself whether or not I should mention this. The talks have gone on and off between Sony and Toshiba so many times that I’m just starting to tune these things out. After Sony’s Kutaragi said there’s no hope I thought “good, at least I know where things stand”. But no, it was not meant to be.

The new rumours are that after Sony and Toshiba get their new leaders, that talks could resume.

Yup, that’s it. I just thought you’d like to know.

Link: ars technica - Blu-ray and HD-DVD call off talks. Or have they?
Link: DVD-Recordable - Japan firms may restart talks on DVD format after mgmt changes - report

If you’re shopping for a new HDTV display, two of the technologies you’ll be looking at are DLP and LCD. You’ll have to compare features of the sets themselves, but you’ll also have to debate the strengths of the underlying technologies. Both DLP and LCD don’t have the greatest black levels, though DLP is better. But DLP can have rainbows where LCD sets usually have 3 LCD panels so don’t have that problem. There are other things to consider too, and Sound & Vision put all this together into a nice article.

Link: Sound & Vision - DLP vs LCD

If you watch much HDTV television (what there is) you know that it’s just the actual shows that are in HD. The commercials are not. So it’s nice to see that NBC will be showing a 2.5 minute trailer for their King Kong movie in HD on their HD channels. Hopefully others will follow their lead. See link for details.

Link: JSOnline - HDTV at new height with NBC’s ‘Kong’ spot

audio|video Revolution reports: “In an AOL-AP poll three out of four people said that they prefer to watch movies at home over going to the theater.” Well, duh. This is a surprise? There are three main reasons for this as I see it.

Cost. Now that I have a family it’s hard to justify the cost of going to the movies, so I rarely go. On May 19th I went with some friends and dad to go see Episode III. I paid $10 for the ticket and $10 for a medium popcorn and small drink. Add to that the cost of gas getting to and from the theater, and you’ve come up with a rather large number for one person to see one movie. Contrast that with the zip.ca service I have. (It’s a Canadian equivalent to Netflix.) I pay $25/month for as many DVDs I can watch, four at a time. Sometimes I go through dry spells but other times my wife and I can crank out two movies a weekend. Two movies a weekend for a month, say with 4.5 weeks in a month, gives 9 movies for $25. That’s $2.78, plus tax and snacks, per movie, so lets say $4 for the first person. If you add more people, the cost per person goes down. So for my wife and I it’s about $2 per person. Hmmm. $2 or $20? Pretty easy choice.

Convenience. How easy is it to take a DVD out of the fist full of mail you get anyway, and pop it in the DVD player? Contrast this with getting in the car, going to the theater, sitting next to some noisy people, not being able to pause the movie to go pee, and then having to drive home again. Pretty easy choice.

Commercials. There are just too many of these things at the theater. At home, I put put the disc in right away and cue up the movie. If it forces me to watch commercials (which is annoying) at least I can put the disc in first and get the snacks ready while the commercials play. Not so in the theater. You’re forced to watch the stupid things. Easy choice.

So there you have it. Unless theaters do something really amazing to bring me back, I’ll be watching fewer and fewer movies there. The only real advantage they have for me is the extra big screen. For most movies, that isn’t enough.

Link: audio|video Revolution - Poll Says People Pick Watching Movies At Home Over In Theater

LG Electronics introduced some new flat panel displays. There’s a budget (read: probably not HD) plasma panel at 42 inches, and the LP1 series of LCD monitors, coming in 42″, 37″, and 32″ sizes.

Link: AV Review - LG Electronics’ new flat panel screens

Pioneer has also introduced new HD plasmas for commercial users.

The PDP-505CMX PureVision(TM) plasma offers Pioneer’s First Surface Pure Color Filter(TM), creating incredibly lifelike images for digital signage that truly stand out from ordinary displays.

Link: Yahoo! Finance - High-Definition Multi-Purpose Commercial Plasma Display from Pioneer Outperforms the Competition with Best-in-Class Image Quality
Link: CyberTheater.com - Two New Commercial Pioneer PureVision Plasmas Offer Simplicity and Style for Business

Fujitsu drops the price of their 63″ plasma by $5,000 to $12,999.

Dell drops the price of their LCD televisions.

iSuppli warns of looming price war in the LCD TV market.

I hope more manufacturers decrease the price of their LCD and plasma offerings. With HD gaming consoles and HD disc players in the pipeline, there will be more demand than ever for HDTV displays, and the more affordable they are, the more people will buy, and the more content gets created. I personally only really care about the last part because I already have an HDTV, but I certainly see a lack of HD content to use it for.

So lets bring those prices down!

Link: eCoustics - $5,000 Off Fujitsu 63-inch Plasma HDTV
Link: Digitimes - Dell announces LCD TV price reductions, price war looms

There’s lots of misinformation going on out there. Here’s an excellent article at CableWORLD about the subject.

There’s no questioning HDTV’s popularity right now. With 71% of respondents to a Consumer Electronics Association survey saying that they planned to buy a DTV set for their next TV purchase, retail stores are gearing up for a rush of consumers.

And that’s where cable could find itself in big trouble–the level of confusion from both consumers and retail salespeople matches the level of interest in HDTV. The training retail salespeople receive leaves a lot to be desired, as we discovered in visits to nine consumer electronics stores in five markets served by the top six MSOs.

Link: CableWORLD - Ever Been Shopping for an HDTV Set?

HDTV Magazine has an article that’ll also come in handy if you’re currently HDTV shopping. They talk about the best kind of display to get: CRT, DLP, Plasma, or LCD.

Link: HDTV Magazine - The Best HDTV Display

SOYO today announced the launch of its new Dymond wide-screen, HD (high definition) ready LCD TVs. Available in 32- and 37-inch screen sizes, SOYO’s Dymond LCD televisions expand the company’s line of LCD display offerings, which also includes the Dymond series of 17- and 19-inch monitors.

Link: DarkVision Hardware - SOYO presents 32 and 37-inch Dymond HD widescreen LCD TVs

JVC Canada Inc. announced today seven new high-definition, large-screen LCD TVs; two new screen sizes and three new models of HD-ILA rear-projection HDTV sets providing 1080p resolution; and a new generation of AV receivers.

The new LCD TV line will be introduced throughout June to September, and consists of widescreen models ranging from 26 to 40 inches in size, with a 40-inch 1080p model slated for Fall. The line includes 26- and 32-inch HD Ready, and 37- and 40-inch HD Integrated models. There are 770p models available in each of the four screen sizes.

“Demand has exploded for LCD televisions, and with our expanded and revised line-up, JVC offers a combination of screen size and features to meet a wide range of needs,” commented Oreste De Vincenzo, Senior Sales & Marketing Manager, Consumer Display Division, JVC Canada Inc. “But what sets us apart is our devotion to image quality, which is even better this year thanks to advancements in a number of our exclusive technologies.”

JVC’s top-end LCD series includes the LT-26X576 ($1,999.99), LT-32X576 ($2,999.99), LT-37X776 ($4,299.99) and LT-40X776 ($4,999.99), each based on a 1366 x 768 WXGA panel. The 37” and 40” models include a built-in ATSC tuner and CableCARD capability, HDMI input, dual IEEE 1394 inputs and a universal full- illuminated remote control for easy operation in a darkened room. The LT-40X776 adds a memory card slot. The HD Ready models (26-inch LT-26X576 and 32-inch LT-32X576), include D.I.S.T., which upconverts signals to 770p, GENNESA, Five Point Colour Management, HDMI input, a universal fully illuminated remote control and NTSC tuner.

“Our first HD-ILA displays were very well-received last year, and we showed that our technology can deliver the superior performance promised and the reliability the market demands,” said De Vincenzo. “This year, with full HD versions, more screen sizes and added features, we will firmly establish D-ILA as the most advanced microdisplay technology available, and offer a line-up that appeals to an even a wider cross section of consumers.”

The first new sets to be available will be 720p models: the HD-52G566 (52 inches; $3,299.99), HD-52G886 (52 inches; $3,599.99), HD-56G886 (56 inches; $4,199.99), HD-61Z886 (61 inches; $4,999.99) and the HD-70G886 (70 inches; $7,999.99), featuring two-tone silver cabinets (HD-52G566 all silver). A black cabinet version of the 52-inch model will also be available (HD-52G786; $3,599.99). The ATSC tuner/CableCARD equipped models (HD-52G566 NTSC only) feature PC inputs, and dual IEEE 1394 inputs. The HD-70G886 adds a memory card slot for direct playback of still images and video from the full array of flash memory cards.

All 720p sets use the same 1280 x 720 pixels, 0.7-inch D-ILA device in a three-chip design – a vertically oriented LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) technology that adds an inorganic alignment layer that stabilizes device performance and maximizes chip production. The three-chip structure has the ability to continuously reproduce a flicker and burn-free picture, JVC notes. In addition, an invisible pixel structure ensures that there are no colour or motion artifacts, and a true analog grey scale providing outstanding gradations of black.

Link: marketnews.ca daily - HD LCD, HD-ILA TVs Headline JVC Intros

The Olevia LT32HV ($1899) is a 32″ (diagonal) 16:9 LCD television with a 1366×768 pixel count and all the amenities of a standard television, plus much more. I say much more because this one can display HDTV and computer images too. Inputs include three S-video/composite; two component that accept 480i/p, 720p, and 1080i signals; a DVI and VGA (which share the same audio input); and one antenna/cable RF. There is one audio output for use with an external audio amplifier, and even a subwoofer output. For installers, there is an RS232 port (via a 6-pin DIN). Finally, above the rear input panel is a cool little feature for anyone connecting sources to the unit—a light! This light comes on whenever the SOURCE button is pressed on the remote and stays on for one minute—making it much easier to see what you’re doing.

Link: THE PERFECT VISION - Syntax Olevia LT32HV LCD Television

If you’re currently a Bell ExpressVu customer, you didn’t have any HD PVR options until now. I know at least two people who will be happy to hear that Bell ExpressVu recently announced the launch of an HD PVR. The 9200 Dual Tuner HDTV receiver will be available in early July, and their service will include up to 27 HD channels.

The 9200 HD PVR Plus will be available across Canada for a purchase price of $599, or on a rental basis for $25 per month. In addition to the features described above, the receiver lets customers:
- Record up to 180 hours of SD or 25 of hours HD programming;
- Record up to three HD programs at the same time using dual tuners, plus additional off-air satellite antennae;
- Manipulate the size and location of the Picture-In-Picture (PIP)feature, even with a non-PIP television;
- Navigate channels and schedule viewing or recording times for upcoming shows with an advanced on-screen guide offering up to three hours of programming per page.

ExpressVu hardware is from the Dish Network in the States. Their current high-end SD PVR is based on the Dish Network 721 platform, so I’m assuming that this new HD PVR is based on the Dish Network’s 921 HD PVR.

Link: Canada IT - Bell Canada Launches First High Definition Dual-Tuner Personal Video Recorder

If there’s a war, is it possible to be on both sides at the same time? Sanyo says yes.

Sanyo plans to make a key part of the machines that reads the discs for both formats _ apparently hedging its bet, as the two groups pour resources into a technology that is expected to revolutionize Hollywood movies and consumer electronics.

Will Blu-ray and HD-DVD coexist like DVD-R and DVD+R? It’s hard to image that coming about, especially because the DVD formats share a common ROM format, while Blu-ray and HD-DVD do not. But stranger things have happened…

Link: MSNBC - Sanyo plays both sides of high-def DVD fight

Video Business Online is reporting that holographics discs by two manufacturers are getting closer to market.

InPhase Technologies will be bringing their technology to market by early 2007, both read-only and read-write versions. Optware, on the other hand, plans to introduce their technology in 2006. Both of them plan to develop 300GB discs that are the same size as DVDs.

Link: Video Business Online (free subscription) - Holographic Discs Near Consumer Apps

JVC has just launched a sextet of new plasma and LCD TVs: The LCD 15in, 4:3 LT-15B60; the LCD 26in widescreen LT-26A60; the LCD 32in widescreen LT-32A60; the HD Ready, LCD 26in LT-26DS6 idTV; the 32in LCD, HD Ready, LT-32DS6 idTV; and the 42in PD-42DX6 plasma idTV. For more information, check out the press release below. “To ensure crisp, clear, and highly detailed picture quality, each model features either a W-XGA (1366 x 768) or XGA (1024 x 768) panel. Portable enough to allow convenient positioning anywhere in the room, the LT-15B60 is the line-up’s most compact model and it has a 4:3 aspect ratio as well as PC input for computer applications. The LT-32A60 and LT-26A60 are stylishly designed wide LCD TVs featuring component and PC input.

Link: Cybertheater.com - JVC delivers six new flat panel TVs

Home Theater Blog is reporting that Sony and some others have teamed up to create a 164 foot laser projection system to screen a short movie.

Now, nothing is said in the article about this, but it may be an application of a technology Sony has been working on called GLV, or Grating Light Valve. It uses lasers to project a really large image, and has been in the works for some time. It would be nice to see this technology actually commercialized, because it looks so cool!

Link: Home Theater Blog - Future cinema on display in Japan
Link: Sony - Sony Develops a [Grating Light Valve] display device that gives high resolution, excellent contrast ratio and wide color reproduction