Photos by David Susilo (All price are on US$)
Philips Electronics:
The 4000 LED series of HDTVs are available in 40 (40PFL4706), 46 (46PFL4706) and 55 (55PFL4706) inch sizes, these mid-range sets include MediaConnect and NetTV for getting your PC to play nice on your TV (sans wires, at that), with the latter also providing easy access to Vudu, Netflix, Blockbuster and FilmFresh. These will ship by May for prices of $749, $999 and $1499 in order of mention. For those who don’t need MediaConnect of NetTV, a 19-inch, 22-inch and 32-inch version will be available this month for $199.99, $249.99 and $449.99, respectively.
The 5000 LED series will ship in 40 (40PFL5706), 46 (46PFL5706) and 55 (55PFL5706) inch sizes, with these boasting the same basic functionality as the 4000 series but gaining a Pixel Precise HD engine and 120Hz de-jitter support. Look for these in the April/May time frame for $679, $899 and $1099.
One more step towards high-end, the LED 6000 3D series is where’s it at. 40PFL6706 (40-inch), 46PFL6706 (46-inch) and 55PFL6706 (55-inch) models this September for $999, $1299 and $1699 respectively.
If you’re looking to outfit your room with a full-on home theater system, Philips is revealing five new setups today, three of which have 3D support. They all include a BD player and support for MediaConnect / NetTV, with the more expensive sets boasting wireless rear speakers and DLNA streaming. They’ll be shipping from February to May for $269.99 to $449.99.
Last but not least are the company’s five new BD players, with the $169.99 (BDP3506), $199.99 (BDP5506) and $219.99 (BDP7506) models supporting 3D Blu-ray. The 7506 also gets MediaConnect and NetTV, with the whole range shipping between next month and April.
LG Electronics:
LG is introducing SmartTV platform. This system enables HDTVs, Blu-ray players and other sources to access various streaming media, apps and even provides users with a way to surf the web. Four main sections are given — TV Live, Premium Content, TV Apps and a Launch Bar — and for TV models, owners will control things with a wave of the hand (read: Magic Remote feature). SmartTV picks up where NetCast left off, offering access to Vudu, Netflix, YouTube, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video on Demand, NHL Gamecenter, NBA Game Live and MLB.tv.
Then there’s the all-new SmartTV upgrader! The ST600 is a mini set-top box approximately the size of the new AppleTV that aims to transform any TV into a SmartTV. So long as your set has an HDMI input, you’ll be able to access the content mentioned above.
If it’s an all-new TV you’re after, the company is also revealing its 2011 LED and LCD HDTV line. The LW9500 and LW7700 NanoLED Full HD 3D models will indeed see North American release this month. The best news here is the use of polarizing glasses — none of that expensive, flickering, and headache-inducing active shutter mess. There are 13 new LED LCD models in all.
Plasma is still alive! LG’s rolling out its 1080p Infinia PZ950 and PZ750 lines here at CES, with both available in 50-inch and 60-inch class sizes. Both lines come equipped with the SmartTV platform, a gesture-based Magic Motion remote and a free Android / iPhone app if you’d rather use your phone as a remote. The 50- / 60-inch PZ550 is saddling with NetCast 1.0, but it — along with the PW350, PZ950 and PZ750 lines — can handle 3D imagery.
The company is also debuting its 2011 line of networked Blu-ray players and home theater systems. The BD690 supports 3D BD playback and ships with an internal 250GB HDD and the SmartTV platform. The majority of LG’s line also includes WiFi, DLNA streaming support and a MusicID feature by Gracenote that enables consumers to play a song from a movie of TV show by pressing a single button on the remote. The BD670, BD650, BD640, BD630 and BD650 are also seeing the light of day, with the latter being LG’s first portable BD player.
Finally, LG also introduces a 3D mobile TV prototype. There is no further details as yet but rest assured that 3D feature is to stay for at least another year or so.
Toshiba Electronics:
Today at CES, Toshiba executives have stated that the company will be showcasing 56- and 65-inch prototypes 4K (UHDTV) with Autostereoscopy (3D without glasses), and according to Atsushi Murasawa (Toshiba’s head of visual products), Toshiba will “launch two models, one over 40-inches and another over 50-inches.” He even mentioned that “These will not only be for the Japanese market, but also America, Europe and China.” No details were given surrounding eventual prices but the projected release date will be approximately in-time for Christmas 2011, or February 2012 at the latest.
Panasonic Electronics:
Panasonic is releasing seven plasma HDTVs, six LED LCDs and five standard LCD HDTVs. For the 2011 model year, Panasonic is introducing the VT30 series, GT30 and ST30 lines, and two of the LED LCDs are joining its array of Full HD 3D TVs. Naturally, the biggest addition to the new sets is the Viera Connect system and Easy IPTV functionality.
For those who already owned a Viera Cast-enabled BD player, Panasonic is adding Skype voice and video calling. The addition of Skype to Panasonic’s new DMP-BDT310, DMP-BDT210, and DMP-BDT110 VIERA CAST-enabled Blu-ray Disc Players allows consumers to make Skype voice and video calls on literally any HDTV using any Skype-compatible USB camera. Plus there is a new 2D-only model – the DMP-BD75. Here’s something interesting: the DMP-BDT310, DMP-BDT210 and DMP-BDT110 will all be equipped to convert standard 2D content from Blu-rays and DVDs into 3D with natural depth perception.
[Note that 2D to 3D conversion seems to be the new feature that many of the major BD player manufacturers are brandishing this year as a way to get around the current lack of 3DBD content.] Users can adjust this effect with the built-in 3D Effect Controller to adjust “the leaping effects of 3D images, as well as allowing one to adjust the amount of depth.” Other new features from the press release include a “new UniPhier chip, which simultaneously lowers power consumption as well as improved video processing. Vertical color reference process has also been increased by 1.5 times, to express fine details and nuances in movie scenes with the Adaptive Chroma Processing. The HDMI Pure Audio improves sound quality, delivering pure and robust bass sound reproduction with minimal noise compared to previous models.” Each model also includes the usual VIERA CAST Internet options (Netflix, Amazon VOD, You Tube, Pandora, twitter, Bloomberg News and weather info), which now feature Skype (a Skype button has now been added to the players’ remotes). All have ultra-quick playback and the two models, the DMP-BDT310 and DMP-BDT210, have built-in WiFi and a Touch-Free sensor to open and close the disc tray in a dark room. All four models will be available “Spring 2011” for prices TBA. By the way, the DMP-BDT210 has also picked-up 2 CES Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering Awards at the show. Panasonic also introduce the DMP-B200 (8.9-inch display) and DVD-LS92 (9-inch display) portable players serving the travellers. The DMP-BDT210 3D Blu-ray player is now holding down the highest level in the company’s for-home range.
The company is also debuting SC-HTB520 soundbar in April 2011, designed to match up with flat-panels that are 42-inches or larger, it includes a wireless, down-firing subwoofer.
Finally, Panasonic is introducing 3D video conferencing (HDVC).
