Surface-conduction electron-emitter display

A surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED) is a flat panel display technology that uses surface conduction electron emitters for every individual display pixel. The surface conduction emitter emits electrons that excite a phosphor coating on the display panel, the same basic concept found in traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions. This means that SEDs use tiny cathode ray tubes behind every single pixel (instead of one tube for the whole display) and can combine the slim form factor of LCDs and plasma displays with the superior viewing angles, contrast, black levels, color definition and pixel response time of CRTs. Canon also claims that SEDs consume less power than LCD displays.

Technology

The surface conduction electron emitter apparatus consists of a thin slit across which electrons tunnel when excited by moderate voltages (tens of volts). When the electrons cross electric poles across the thin slit, some are scattered at the receiving pole and are accelerated toward the display surface by a large voltage gradient (tens of thousands of volts) between the display panel and the surface conduction electron emitter apparatus. Canon Inc. working with Toshiba uses inkjet printing technology to spray phosphors onto the glass. The technology has been in development since 1986.

History

Canon began SED research in 1986 and, in 2004, Toshiba and Canon announced a joint development agreement originally targeting commercial production of SEDs by the end of 2005. The 2005 target was not met, and several new targets since then have also slipped by. This failure to meet mass-production deadlines goes as far back as 1999, when Canon first told investors of its intentions to immediately begin mass-producing the technology. The lack of tangible progress has worried many investors and has prompted many critics. One critic called SED “the best display technology you’ve ever seen that may be stillborn.”^[1] During the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Toshiba showed working prototypes of SEDs to attendees and indicated expected availability in mid-to-late 2006.^[2] Toshiba and Canon again delayed their plan to sell the television sets to the fourth quarter of 2007.^[3] At the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show, no SED displays were to be found on the show floor. This led many analysts to speculate that the technology would never reach the consumer market.^[4]

In October 2006, Toshiba's president announced the company plans to begin full production of 55-inch SED TVs in July 2007 at its recently built SED volume-production facility in Himeji.^[5]

In December 2006, Toshiba President and Chief Executive Atsutoshi Nishida said Toshiba is on track to mass-produce SED TV sets in cooperation with Canon by 2008. He said the company plans to start small-output production in the fall of 2007,^[6] but they do not expect SED displays to become a commodity and will not release the technology to the consumer market because of its expected high price, reserving it solely for professional broadcasting applications.^[7]

Nano-Proprietary Lawsuit

Also in December of 2006, it was revealed that the delays in SED TV mass production were caused by litigation between Applied Nanotech, a subsidiary of Nano-Proprietary, and Canon. Nano-Proprietary claims that Canon broke an exclusivity agreement by sharing information related to electron emissions from carbon nanotubes with Toshiba. The litigation has been reportedly ongoing since April of 2006.

On January 12, 2007, Toshiba announced^[8] an agreement by which Canon will purchase all of Toshiba's outstanding share of the SED joint venture, in order to satisfy Nano-Proprietary's complaints. This is also expected to prevent the litigation from dragging on in American courts.^[9] The company must purchase 50% of Toshiba shares to produce SED TVs on its own.^[10] Canon was still planning a release of SED displays in Japan during the 4th quarter of 2007, while 'reassessing' its future mass-production plans for SED panels.

On February 22, 2007, Federal Judge Samuel Sparks, with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, ruled in a summary judgment that Canon violated its agreement with Texas-based Nano-Proprietary by forming a joint television venture with Toshiba.^[11] However, on May 3, 2007, a jury ruled that no additional damages beyond the $5.5m fee for the original licensing contract were due.^[12][13]

On May 25, 2007, Canon again announced due to prolonged litigation, it will postpone the launch of SED televisions, originally planned for October-December of 2007. The company said it will announce a new launch date in the future.^[14]

Advantages

• 50,000:1 contrast ratio. According to IGN at the 2006 CES show, Toshiba's final versions of SEDs will ship with a contrast ratio of 100,000:1.
• 0.2 milliseconds response time.
• Brightness of 450 cd/m².^[15]

Disadvantages

• As with any phosphor-based technology, SED may also be susceptible to screen burn-in. This was a constant problem for people using CRT television monitors for security camera systems. Early plasmas also had this problem, but with phosphor development, the problem has largely been reduced.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-conduction_electron-emitter_display

SED technology explained

We all know that SED sets are planned, but what the heck are they and how do they work? Better yet, how will they compete with current HDTV television technologies like DLP, LCoS, LCD and Plasma? Here's a quick overview of what you need to know.

First things first: we'll get the SED acronym out of the way to make sure we're all speaking the same language. SED isn't "Super Extraordinary Definition"; in fact, it isn't a resolution definition at all. SED is a type of display technology and it stands for "Surface-conduction Electron emitter Display". While it sounds like something out of "Star Trek", it's actually a technology that Canon helped to develop in 1986.

SED is probably the closest concept to the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) that is predominant today. However, it also provides the flat-panel benefits we gain from Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Plasma Display Panel (PDP) technology as well. Consider SED to be the best of both worlds: bright, high-quality images with less bulk. Let's see how it works to better understand this.

Similar to a CRT, the display is created with electrons that collide with a phosphor-coated screen. CRTs use a single electron gun to emit the particles that create the display. The one electron gun essentially draws the screen by passing all of the electrons to the screen. Since the electron gun has to cover the entire screen, the set tends to be deep, although some slimmer sets are coming to market. Additionally, since the electron gun is constantly sending particles to the entire screen, it tends to be a heavy consumer of power.

SED technology applies the electron-phosphorus concept, but radically changes one key element: the electron mechanism. Instead of a single electron gun, SED sets have one electron emitter for each pixel. This brings two key CRT advantages to the flat panel world. Less power is needed because the electrons don't need to travel as far. Since the electrons are close to the display surface, the set is much slimmer than a CRT set, as well. If that doesn't get you as excited as a charged electron, then just wait, there's more!

Here's the key reason that SEDs are likely to gain a stranglehold over other flat-panel technologies in the long run: brightness and contrast. Currently, there isn't a flat-panel or microdisplay technology that can compete with CRTs for either brightness or contrast. The real beauty of SED technology is that it has the same brightness and contrast qualities of a CRT because the same electron-phosphor display approach is used; it simply does so more efficiently and in less space!

There are plenty of additional technical details on SED technology, but at least this provides the basics. The real question is: now that you know what SED is, how likely are you to consider an SED purchase in your not-so-distant future?

http://www.engadgethd.com/2005/08/16/sed-technology-explained/

HDTVs For Super Bowl Sunday

Bring out the best in the big game with a high-performing HDTV.

It's almost time for Super Bowl XLII, taking place in Arizona this year, and the big game begs to be watched on an equally enormous screen. These days, no Super Bowl party is complete without an HDTV—no matter how stocked the fridge is with beer and snacks. After all, high-definition and sports go hand-in-hand, and there's nothing like taking in the game from your living room with all your best buddies crowded around. With this in mind, we've handpicked HDTVs that provide you with the best viewing angles, so no one misses a touchdown or a fumble. In addition, these sets handle action-packed scenes with flair and keep artifacts and other distracting screen noise at bay. Here are some of the best sports-friendly plasma, LCD, and rear-projection sets for your budget and space. So throw the best Super Bowl party ever—one that they'll be talking about all year—by checking out our reviews below.

JVC LT-42X898
The JVC LT-42X898 offers a detailed picture with standard- and high-definition video sources, good image clarity for video containing fast motion, and excellent video processing.

Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-150FD
With superior image contrast and color quality, effective HD video processing, superb video noise reduction and very wide viewing angles, the 60-inch Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-150FD is one of the best plasma HDTVs we've ever seen.

LG 47LBX
This 47-inch LCD HDTV delivers impressive viewing angles and effective video processing of standard-definition video. But you may need a pro to adjust the picture to get it up to snuff.

Panasonic TH-42PZ700U
Panasonic's 42-inch plasma uses full 1080p resolution and effective video processing to keep its picture clean and sharp.

Mitsubishi WD-65833
Mitsubishi's huge WD-65833 rear-projection TV draws you in with its 65-inch 1080p screen, and keeps you watching with its excellent HD video processing, detailed imagery—some of the most impressive to be had from digital HD sources.

Westinghouse Digital TX-47F430S
The affordable Westinghouse TX-47F430S offers a generous number of HDMI ports, and its superb HD video processing ensures excellent detail.

Toshiba 37HL67 REGZA
The 37-inch Toshiba 37HL67 LCD set delivers a good-looking picture with HD sources, boasts three HDMI ports, has plenty of ways to tweak its picture, and can eliminate overscan of HD video.

Samsung HP-S4273
Samsung's 42-inch HP-S4273 plasma HDTV offers a good picture, contrast, and useful multimedia functionality. Bargain hunters should put this plasma on their radar screens.

http://www.retrevo.com/search/v2/jsp/webPreview.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftech1207.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fhdtvs-for-super-bowl-sunday.html

Formatting for the Future

Massachusetts leaders had a seemingly simple idea: Government documents produced by word processing, spreadsheet, database or presentation software belong to the public record, and therefore, should be created and stored in open formats that aren't tied to a particular program.

Massachusetts reasoned that storing electronic documents in proprietary formats might create situations where documents were held hostage by those formats. Important public documents could be rendered all but inaccessible when the applications that created them went out of style.

The Massachusetts Information Technology Division (ITD) explained the desire to move to an open data format on the frequently asked questions page of its Web site:

"Ease of access to electronic records created in proprietary formats is limited in time. Once the proprietary vendor abandons a particular version of an application or format, documents created and formatted in those applications and formats may become inaccessible to all readers. The proprietary formats supported by our current office applications may place a permanent lock on future access."

This is where Massachusetts' simple idea got complicated.

To create government documents using open data formats, the agencies making those documents must use nonproprietary software tools. That means a massive shift away from the dominant desktop software suite -- Microsoft Office.

The threat of that change set off a pitched battle that led to the resignation of state CIO Peter Quinn. And with the dust still not settled in Massachusetts, another state -- Minnesota -- is exploring a move to open document standards.

Microsoft -- intent on protecting its market position -- announced in late 2005 that it would submit its Office Open extensible markup language (XML) format to a European standards body for review, a key step toward getting Open XML certified as an open standard.

To further muddy the waters, experts warn that the lack of a clear definition for open standards complicates states' move toward electronic document formats that will be widely accessible over the long term.


Preserving Documents
Government IT leaders face a document dilemma -- especially with so much government information being created, shared and stored electronically.

From a government's perspective, the format of an electronic document is a significant issue. Proprietary formats are quite needy -- they refuse to work with any other program besides the one that created them; they require a current, running copy of that program; and they need that program to be installed on a computer and operating system that can run the program.

This creates challenges for state and local governments that must respond to information requests from a wide spectrum of constituents who want to review public documents associated with a range of government projects or services programs.

Massachusetts officials contend that government documents should be created in a format readable by various applications, noting that some constituents can't afford a computer with an up-to-date version of the Windows operating system and Office suite.

Another problem with proprietary formats is that an electronic document created by agency X may not be compatible with agency Y's computer system, a situation that hinders information sharing among agencies and levels of government.

Massachusetts' 2005 proposal for dealing with these two problems whipped up quite a disturbance indeed. But creating documents based on open data formats isn't just about the documents themselves.

In early 2005, the Massachusetts ITD announced it would begin work on an Enterprise Technical Reference Model (ETRM) for the state. The rationale for creating the ETRM was straightforward: to provide an "architectural framework used to identify the standards, specifications and technologies that support the commonwealth's computing environment," according to the ITD's Web site.

http://www.govtech.com/gt/100356

Problems with IT governance

Nicholas Carr has emerged as a prominent critic of the idea that information technology confers strategic advantage.^[5] This line of criticism might imply that significant attention to IT governance is not a worthwhile pursuit for senior corporate leadership. However, Carr also indicates counterbalancing concern for effective IT risk management.

The manifestation of IT governance objectives through detailed process controls (e.g. in the context of project management) is a frequently controversial matter in large scale IT management. See Agile methods. The difficulties in achieving a balance between financial transparency and cost-effective data capture in IT financial management (i.e., to enable chargeback) is a continual topic of discussion in the professional literature^[6], ^[7] and can be seen as a practical limitation to IT governance

Relationship to other IT disciplines

IT governance is supported by disciplines such as:

• Business Service Management
• Business Technology Optimization
• Enterprise architecture
• IT asset management
• IT portfolio management
• IT security assessment
• IT service management
• Project governance
• Project management and Program management in the enterprise IT context (including software engineering where appropriate)

Frameworks

There are quite a few supporting mechanisms developed to guide the implementation of information technology governance. Some of them are:

• The IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is a detailed framework with hands-on information on how to achieve a successful governance of IT, developed and maintained by the United Kingdom's Office of Government Commerce, in partnership with the IT Service Management Forum.

• Control Objectives for Information and related Technology (COBIT) is another approach to standardize good information technology security and control practices. This is done by providing tools to assess and measure the performance of 34 IT processes of an organization. The ITGI (IT Governance Institute) is responsible for CObIT

• The ISO/IEC 27001 (ISO 27001) is a set of best practices for organizations to follow to implement and maintain a security program. It started out as British Standard 7799 ([BS7799]), which was published in the United Kingdom and became a well known standard in the industry that was used to provide guidance to organizations in the practice of information security.

• The Information Security Management Maturity Model ISM3 is a process based ISM maturity model for security.

• AS8015-2005 Australian Standard for Corporate Governance of Information and Communication Technology

Others include:

• BS7799 - focus on IT security
• CMM - The Capability Maturity Model - focus on software engineering

Non-IT specific frameworks of use include:

• The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) - method to assess an organization’s performance in many different areas.
• Six Sigma - focus on quality assurance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology_governance

Information Technology: Transforming our Society

Information technologies are an integral part of people's lives, businesses, and society. Advances in microprocessors, memories, storage, software, and communication technologies make it possible to build computers and computing devices that are increasingly affordable, as well as to enable the development of increasingly powerful systems at reasonable costs. The wide acceptance of Internet standards and technologies is helping us build global computer networks capable of connecting everything and reaching everyone.

Since ancient times, networks have offered opportunities for growth and innovation and have supplied structure to our economic and social systems. From the roads and aqueducts of the Roman Empire, to nineteenth century continental railroad systems, to the telecommunications, broadcast, and satellite networks of the twentieth century, networked capabilities have allowed us to overcome barriers of time and space, and to access and open new frontiers for human interaction and ingenuity.

The free flow of information is essential to a democratic society. Advances in information technology have the potential to significantly enhance this flow of information, and thus strengthen the institutions of our society, from financial markets to government agencies. The flow of information must, however, not only be "free", but "fair". Financial markets, for example, have learned that they must guard against abuses, such as insider trading. Businesses and healthcare institutions must guard against the misuse of personal information put in their trust by their customers. As we have the opportunity to use information technology to strengthen our societal institutions, we must understand the potential pitfalls, and the safeguards we must put in place to achieve both a free and fair flow of information.

As we approach the new millennium, it is clear that the "information infrastructure" -- the interconnected networks of computers, devices, and software -- may have a greater impact on worldwide social and economic structures than all networks that have preceded them. The advances in computing and communications technologies of the last decade have already transformed our society in many ways. These advances have transformed the ways in which we view ourselves, our relationships with each other and with other communities, and the ways in which we obtain services, ranging from entertainment and commerce to education and health care. Even so, we have only just begun to grasp the opportunities and experience the transformations that will occur as these technologies mature.

Major technical advances are needed to build a smoothly functioning information infrastructure that links together all people, institutions, and relevant devices (e.g., cars, gas meters, home thermostats, air conditioners) in our Nation and beyond. Only vigorous information technology research and development programs will enable us to achieve our objectives.

But, hard as the technical challenges might be, we must keep in mind the great socioeconomic issues ahead of us on the road to becoming a fully networked society. Thus, we complement the call for research to support the required technical advances with a call for research programs to help us understand and enhance the positive effects of information technology on our economy, society, culture and political system.

The information revolution puts a premium on basic knowledge, not just information technology literacy, but basic skills in reading, writing, communications, and teamwork. Education and training have become lifelong pursuits for our workforce, as new jobs requiring new skills are created, and older jobs and skills become obsolete. The Nation must ensure that access to the benefits of the information infrastructure are available to everyone in our Nation: to those living in small towns and rural areas as well as in big cities, to those living in poor inner city neighborhoods and tribal reservations, as well as in well-to-do suburbs and those who face daily challenges from disabilities. We should use information technology to bridge the gaps in our society, not to create new ones.

A significant portion of our national progress in computing and communications over the past decade has been leveraged from the Federal research programs established by the High Performance Computing Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-194). These programs comprised the High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) initiative, which was responsible for moving the U.S. into an era of teraflop computers and gigabit networks. A major focus of the HPCC initiative was a set of Grand Challenges, difficult scientific and engineering problems whose solution were advanced by applying high performance computing and communications technologies and resources. Our recommendations build upon the solid foundation of the HPCC program and expand the HPCC vision to meet the challenges facing us in the 21st century.

To ensure a rapid, smooth, and extendible transition into the 21st century, the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee has identified ten critical "National Challenge Transformations." These information technology transformations will affect how we communicate, how we store and access information, how we become healthier and receive proper medical care, how we learn, how we conduct business, how we work, how we design and build things, how we conduct research, how we sustain a livable environment, and how we manage our government in the next millennium. Exploring these dynamic transformations enables us to identify common information technology challenges critical to our Nation's future and provides a framework for our recommendations for Federal research investments.

http://www.nitrd.gov/pitac/report/section_1.html

Information technology governance

nformation Technology Governance, IT Governance or ICT (Information & Communications Technology) Governance, is a subset discipline of Corporate Governance focused on information technology (IT) systems and their performance and risk management. The rising interest in IT governance is partly due to compliance initiatives (e.g. Sarbanes-Oxley (USA) and Basel II (Europe)), as well as the acknowledgment that IT projects can easily get out of control and profoundly affect the performance of an organization.

A characteristic theme of IT governance discussions is that the IT capability can no longer be a black box. The traditional handling of IT management by board-level executives is that due to limited technical experience and IT complexity, key decisions are deferred to IT professionals. IT governance implies a system in which all stakeholders, including the board, internal customers and related areas such as finance, have the necessary input into the decision making process. This prevents a single stakeholder, typically IT, being blamed for poor decisions. It also prevents users from later complaining that the system does not behave or perform as expected:

A board needs to understand the overall architecture of its company's IT applications portfolio … The board must ensure that management knows what information resources are out there, what condition they are in, and what role they play in generating revenue… ^[1]

Definitions

There are narrower and broader definitions of IT governance. Weill and Ross focus on "Specifying the decision rights and accountability framework to encourage desirable behaviour in the use of IT."^[2]

In contrast, the IT Governance Institute expands the definition to include underpinning mechanisms: "… the leadership and organisational structures and processes that ensure that the organisation’s IT sustains and extends the organisation’s strategies and objectives. ^[3]

While AS8015, the Australian Standard for Corporate Governance of ICT, defines Corporate Governance of ICT as "The system by which the current and future use of ICT is directed and controlled. It involves evaluating and directing the plans for the use of ICT to support the organisation and monitoring this use to achieve plans. It includes the strategy and policies for using ICT within an organisation."

Background

The discipline of information technology governance derives from corporate governance and deals primarily with the connection between business focus and IT management of an organization. It highlights the importance of IT related matters in contemporary organizations and states that strategic IT decisions should be owned by the corporate board, rather than by the chief information officer or other IT managers.

The primary goals for information technology governance are to (1) assure that the investments in IT generate business value, and (2) mitigate the risks that are associated with IT. This can be done by implementing an organizational structure with well-defined roles for the responsibility of information, business processes, applications, infrastructure, etc.

Decision rights are a key concern of IT governance, being the primary topic of the book by that name by Weill and Ross.^[4] According to Weill and Ross, depending on the size, business scope, and IT maturity of an organization, either centralized, decentralized or federated models of responsibility for dealing with strategic IT matters are suggested. In this view, the well defined control of IT is the key to success.

After the widely reported collapse of Enron in 2000, and the alleged problems within Arthur Andersen and WorldCom, the duties and responsibilities of the boards of directors for public and privately held corporations were questioned. As a response to this, and to attempt to prevent similar problems from happening again, the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act was written to stress the importance of business control and auditing. Sarbanes-Oxley and Basel-II in Europe have been catalysts for the development of the discipline of information technology governance since the early 2000s. However, the concerns of Sarbanes Oxley (in particular Section 404) have less to do with IT decision rights as discussed by Weill and Ross, and more to do with operational control processes such as Change management.

Following Corporate Collapses in Australia around the same time, working groups were established to develop standards for Corporate Governance. A series of Australian Standards for Corporate Governance were published in 2003, these were:

• Good Governance Principles (AS8000)
• Fraud and Corruption Control (AS8001)
• Organisational Codes of Conduct (AS8002)
• Corporate Social Responsibility (AS8003)
• Whistle Blower protection programs (AS8004)

In 2005, AS8015 Corporate Governance of ICT was published.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology_governance

Information Technology, Policy, and the Future of Governance

The dot-com and telecom bubbles have burst, yet the Internet is still thriving. Web 2.0 is taking off. By the same token, regulatory policies (such as intellectual property, information security, and data privacy) may need much more than just an evolutionary adjustment. Overall, information (and control over it) has become a more visible source of power. And unlike the speed of technological change, we have made little progress in debating the larger policy implications: from security and the delivery of e-government services to online democracy and the future of governance. Building on numerous case studies, this course offers a framework to analyze the options and challenges posed by modern information and communication technologies and examines strategic options decision makers in both the public and private sectors may want to add to their policy toolkit.

http://ksgaccman.harvard.edu/courses/course.aspx?number=STP-307

Moving In on the Wii

A unique motion-based controller from Motus is designed to create a more realistic experience for video game players.

Reaching for realism: Motus Corporation hopes its Darwin game controller (above) can transplant the popularity of the Nintendo Wii’s motion control to other consoles and PCs. Slated for release this fall, the Darwin is intended to feel more realistic than the Wii Remote. Credit: Motus Corporation

Consumers seem enchanted by the Nintendo Wii's motion-controlled remote, buying more than one million units of Wii hardware last December alone, according to market research firm NPD Group. A Boston-based company, Motus Corporation, hopes to take advantage of the Wii's popularity through a new product: the Motus Darwin , which allows motion-based control on non-Nintendo game systems, including the PC.

Motus is not the first company to compete with the Wii; the Sixaxis controller for the PlayStation 3 also provides motion-based control, for example. But Motus chairman Satayan Mahajan says the Darwin, expected to retail for $79-$99, allows a more realistic game play experience than is currently available.

The Darwin, which was designed to resemble a samurai sword, has its roots in specialized golfing hardware called iClub, also made by Motus. Mahajan says the iClub was designed to help serious golfers improve their swings by sensing and analyzing minute details of the motion. Mahajan hopes to continue this verisimilitude with the Darwin. Where players often operate the Wii Remote one-handed in sports games, Mahajan wants the Darwin to feel more realistic, allowing players of a golf game, for example, to put two hands on the remote and swing it like a real golf club. "The Wii is a great device," he says. "But they're going from very simple applications, and trying to become more complex and capture more complex motion. We've gone from this very complex [process of] capturing very precise motions of the human body to something that's actually less complex."

As part of developing realistic game play, Mahajan says, Motus designed the Darwin to calculate its position differently than the Wii Remote. The Wii Remote tracks its position via accelerometers and an infrared sensor that users must attach to their televisions. The Motus Darwin measures absolute position with respect to earth itself. Using gyroscopes and accelerometers, the controller orients itself to the magnetic north, and senses the direction it is pointing.

Mahajan explains that this method has not been used before because the gyroscopes and accelerometers have a tendency towards errors. Through Motus's work on iClub, he says, the company has designed a combination of hardware, software and firmware that corrects the error. Finally, the system relays its positional information to the console in fewer than 30 milliseconds, Mahajan says, adding that this is faster than the human ability to perceive delay.

David Riley, NPD Group's senior public relations manager for entertainment, software, and toys, says that for a controller like the Motus Darwin to be successful, it must be properly marketed to a group willing to pay for a premium realistic experience, such as golf-game enthusiasts. "There's a complaint with 'Tiger Woods' on the Wii, for example, in that some bloggers feel that it has actually harmed their ability to play golf," he says. "They've adjusted over the winter period to the Wii to play this game, and then when they actually pick up a club, they're not swinging the way they did the previous season." If the Motus can be marketed as such a realistic controller so that it helps, rather than harms, real-life game play, Riley says, it could find its niche. However, he adds, the price of the controller is "borderline."

Though Riley notes that peripherals such as controllers sold very well last year, he worries that current and coming economic troubles could leave consumers unwilling to pay for a high-end controller. He says that much will depend on the library of games that are compatible with the Darwin, and how well the controller is integrated with those games.

Mahajan says that the list of games supporting the Darwin is not yet finalized. But, he says, Motus is talking to a variety of console makers and game publishers; is working on building in integration with popular games already on the market; and closely integrating with games that have not yet been released. Mahajan says the company expects to have the Darwin on store shelves in time for 2008's holiday shopping season.

http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20150/page2/

Nintendo Wii-remote Dissection

We go Dexter on the Wii's main controller. Satisfy your morbrid curiosity and see it disemboweled within.

It's an open secret that the Wii-remote was originally designed as a GameCube peripheral. Nintendo, however, pursuing the highly publicized 'Blue Ocean' corporate strategy, saw the opportunity to launch a console that would parallel the DS market plan in an entirely new market by means of a new console designed around the freedom provided by a motion-sensing remote controller. The Wii was the result, a console that will lean heavily upon the hypothetically genre-busting gaming innovations that will result due to the console's unique control scheme.

We know the Wii is powered by an IBM CPU and an ATI GPU, and we'd lobotomize one if we had the heart for it. Since we're sensitive peeps, we decided instead to cut straight to the real heart and sole of the Wii: the Wiimote.

Fully assembled, the Wiimote feels well balanced and rather comfortable in hand. It has a good weight, thanks primarily to the batteries, that feels neither too light nor too heavy. Once we broke open the case, however, we discovered quite a bit less circuitry than we had expected.

The Wiimote is held together by four screws, two of which are hidden under the battery compartment. The screws are a propriety three-bit Nintendo design. Actual maintenance kits with proper Nintendo screw-drivers are available through various sources online, however, none were available in time for this feature. Giving up on the potential for actually reassembling our sacrificial Wiimote, we applied a power drill with a 1/8-inch bit and drilled out the screws, which was actually pretty easy.

Once the securing screws were destroyed, the Wiimote came apart quite easily. The plastic buttons connected to the typical silicon membrane electrical connectors as with just about any other controller on the market.

The Wii circuit board looks sparse but actually does quite a lot. The largest chip on the board is the WiFi chip supplied by Broadcom. Motion-sensing wise; forget any imaginative images of a tiny gyroscope spinning inside a tiny box on the circuit board. The Wiimotes accelerometers are based upon miniscule, one-millionth of a gram flaps of silicon flexing against tiny springs within a charged field.

The main Wiimote's accelerometers are supplied by Analog Devices Inc., which declines to specify where on the Wiimote's board its chips reside. Many of the chips on the Wiimote are not labeled, at least not to the natural human eye, but we will speculate that the primary accelerometer chip is the small rectangular one located upon the top side (when held in hand) of the circuit board, in between the 'A' and +, -, and Home button receptors.

Had we not drilled out the screws, we believe we would have been able to reassemble the Wiimote relatively easily. The overall construction of the Wiimote is heavily built and outside of utter destruction via crushing, we expect that the Wiimotes will be able to withstand quite a lot of abuse in the wild. We've already had a wrist-strap-snapping incident that sent a Wiimote flying into a wall. The wall was the decided loser of that battle and suffered a nasty dent, whereas the Wiimote emerged entirely unscathed.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/747/747277p1.html

Zero-Emissions ZENN Car

If you are in the market for a small low speed urban vehicle for everyday use, ZENN, a zero-emission, no-noise vehicle might just be your answer. Available in most parts of the United States, it’s a compact car that’s as green as it is useful. According to the EPA, the ZENN is capable of achieving a whopping 245 miles per gallon!

The ZENN is clasified as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, meaning it’s really just for local and city driving, and shouldn’t be taken to the highway at all. The top speed of the car is 25mph, definitely not speedy, but more than enough for driving around town. The car uses a 100% electric front wheel drive; plugs into an outlet to recharge; and will take you about 35 miles before it needs to juice up again. And of course, as the name implies, the ZENN is for all intents and purposes a very low emitting vehicle (it does need to recharge from an electrical outlet after all).

Alternate modes of transportation to the standard gasoline-powered vehicles are great solutions to the problem of controlling greenhouse gases. Small compact neighborhood vehicles, such as this one and MIT’s stackable cars, are an interesting proposition that might be worth exploring further. While the Zenn won’t be for everyone, there is certainly a market out there for those who do most of their driving urban centers.

+ ZENN

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/01/29/transportation-tuesday-zenn-car/

Progressive underwrites fuel-efficiency prize

Progressive Insurance announced today that it is underwriting a $10 million prize to the team that builds the best 100 miles-per-gallon car.

Best known for awarding $10 million to the first team that launched a private spaceship into orbit in 2004, the X-Prize Foundation plans to hold a series of road tests and races in 2009 and 2010 to determine the winner.

Chuck Jarrett, Progressive's vice president and chief legal officer, said the company will spend $12.5 million to support the Progressive Automotive X-Prize, $10 million for the prize itself and another $2.5 million to help support the races and the foundation.

Jarrett said inventor Dean Kamen, a member of the X-Prize Foundation's Board of Trustees, approached Progressive about sponsoring the contest last year. Progressive was the first company to offer insurance for Kamen's Segway scooters.

"It's the most unique opportunity that I've seen that could affect peoples' lives and change the world," Jarrett said.

Also, putting Progressive's name on an effort to dramatically improve fuel economy shouldn't hurt its corporate image, he added.

With gasoline prices rising, fuel economy is on the minds of lots of consumers. Being seen as a company trying to help find solutions to those problems should benefit Progressive.

In addition, the X-Prize Foundation hopes to conduct its races in major cities during 2009, and as the title sponsor, Progressive's name will be plastered on signs, posters and T-shirts in those locations.

"There's a lot of positives for us as a corporation to be the title sponsor about this," Jarrett said.

Unlike the space-race X-Prize, the Automotive contest will be able to take place in the full view of the public, X-Prize Executive Director Don Foley said in January during an interview at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

"We want middle America to see these races and these vehicles to see that they work, that they're something to consider," Foley said.

He added that the foundation would love to have one of the race legs in Cleveland.

"It's one thing to put a car in the desert and put a 90-pound guy in it with a solar panel and no brakes," Foley said. The foundation wants to test vehicles that can stand up to snowy streets in Cleveland, potholes in Detroit and steep inclines in Denver.

While many of the cars that will compete will feature unusual engines and probably some combination of electrical and gasoline power, Foley said they all must be marketable four-seat cars.

That means they must be "reasonably" priced, a vague term that eliminates $1 million hydrogen-powered cars. They must have modern amenities such as CD players and air conditioning. And they must meet all U.S. safety and emissions standards.

"Nobody's telling us it can't be done. Nobody says the bar is too high," Foley said.

Over the next year, the foundation will choose its race cities and accept applications from teams that want to compete. About 50 teams have already signed up.

Mary Altaffer/AP

An experimental high-tech vehicle is on display at the New York International Auto Show to promote the Progressive Automotive X-Prize. Progressive announced Thursday that it will fund the $10 million prize to the team that builds the best car capable of 100 miles per gallon.

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/03/progressive_underwrites_fuelef.html

Motive Industries Prepares X-Prize Entrant

Motive Industries is an apparently very young design and prototyping firm. The company is looking at the Automotive X-Prize as its opportunity to make a name for themselves. And since their car is like nothing I've ever seen before, I think they may just do that.

Their (currently unnamed) entrant is a mix between GM's E-Flex system and Project Better Place's battery replacement system. The car contains a large battery, which will power the electric motors. But it also has an on-board generator that can recharge the batteries if needed. But to make things even more complicated, Motive is envisioning a robotic battery replacement system that can swap out depleted batteries for charged batteries.

Now, this seems a little strange to me. Gasoline range-extension exists to eliminate the fear of running out of juice and not wanting to wait three hours for your batteries to recharge. But battery replacement exists for pretty much the same reason (though it requires new infrastructure.) So why have both?

Well, I'm not quite sure, aside from the fact that it would allow people to rely less on the generator, while still having it there just in case.

Motive's car is a four-seat, four-wheeled car that is going to try for the X-Prize's hefty $7.5M prize for the "mainstream" class. But without some intense work to keep weight and costs down. I'm afraid they won't be a front runner.

http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1471/69/

Automotive X Prize Rules Announced: New York Auto Show Preview

As promised, the X Prize Foundation will be releasing the preliminary guidelines on Wednesday at the New York auto show for the Automotive X Prize, a competition challenging the world’s best and brightest minds to design, build and demonstrate vehicles that are super-efficient and production-capable.

"We are at a remarkable moment in time when promising new automotive technologies can meet growing consumer demand," says Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, founder and chairman of the X Prize Foundation. "The X Prize Foundation firmly believes we need practical, safe and fuel-efficient vehicles on the road."

Automotive X Prize members and world-class advisors came together to create the competition, and, after thousands of hours, they finally agreed upon specific details of what the competing teams must achieve when building their viable, fuel-efficient vehicles.

The competition requires significant energy and emissions goals (most importantly, fuel economy) with at least 100 mpg or its equivalent. The guidelines are replacing the outdated MPG with this new standard, MPGe, which takes into account energy equivalents, no matter what the energy source.

Production capability is another important requirement: Vehicles will be judged on specific market production criteria detailed in key areas such as safety, cost, features and business plan. So this X Prize will only open to practicable cars capable of reaching the marketplace—no concept cars or science projects.

Vehicles that meet the strict requirements will compete in two different categories: mainstream and alternative. The four-wheeled "mainstream" cars must carry four passengers; the "alternative" vehicles must carry two or more passengers with no minimum wheel requirements. While both categories will feature the same requirements for fuel economy and emissions, the vehicles will have different design constraints.

This challenging, multi-year competition will test the qualified vehicles in two rigorous, long-distance stage races in 2009. The two races—a qualifying round and the grand prize final—test the vehicle under real-world driving requirements and conditions. The courses will reflect typical consumer driving patterns during numerous stages, in varied terrain, communities and weather conditions.

In order to win, vehicles must complete both races with the lowest overall time averaged over all scoring stages while still meeting the Automotive X Prize requirements for fuel economy and emissions. While the competing teams might have their mind on how to win and their eyes on the money, the overall purpose of this competition is to capture the public's imagination to solve economic, international and environmental problems.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4214386.html

X Prize dangles $10 million for fuel-efficient car

More than 60 teams from nine countries have lined up to chase a $US10 million ($NZ12.3 million) prize for making a green supercar that smashes records for fuel efficiency, organisers of the competition said.

The initial list of teams signed on for the Automotive X Prize competition range from California-based electric car start-up Tesla Motors to Cornell University in New York.

"We're not talking about concept cars," said Peter Diamandis, chief executive of the X Prize Foundation, at the event to mark the launch of the competition at the New York auto show. "We're talking about real cars that can be brought to market."

The goal is to create a commercially viable car that gets at least 100 miles to the gallon. In late 2009, qualifiers will crisscross the United States in a stage race designed to test the vehicles on speed and the distance they can travel. The race will also test the vehicles in traffic and a range of terrain and weather conditions in determining a winner.

A few early contenders rolled quietly into the New York auto show last week, some on three wheels. Others, like the Hybrid Attack from a high school team out of Pennsylvania, sported a more traditional speedster silhouette.

Tesla, which is owned by PayPal creator Elon Musk, has built an electric sports car that can travel 245 miles on a charge and reach 60 miles per hour in 4 seconds. The sold-out $98,000 Tesla Roadster went into production this week.

"We desperately need cars that are clean and efficient and safe and attractive to everyday buyers," said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the launch.

None of the major automakers has signed up to join the X Prize competition although many, including Toyota Motor Corp and General Motors Corp, have electric or partly electric vehicles in development that are expected to come to market in the next several years.

Malcolm Bricklin, the auto entrepreneur who brought the super-cheap Yugo hatchback to the United States in the 1980s, said he would enter the competition with a luxury car priced under $40,000 and backed by a dealership network.

Bricklin said his attention is solely on building up the electric and electric hybrid auto industry after recent failed efforts to import the first Chinese-made car to the United States. "I'm not interested in a normal car anymore," he said.

Bricklin said he signed for a $US50 million private placement with Ferris Baker Watts that his company, Visionary Vehicles, will use to develop and market its X Prize contender.

Organizers of the Automotive X Prize also announced they have signed up a sponsor for the competition to build a production-ready vehicle that exceeds 100 miles per gallon or gets energy-equivalent fuel economy.

Insurer Progressive Corp (PGR.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will sponsor the competition, which begins accepting formal applications in two months.

The X Prize Foundation is the same organization that promoted space flight by awarding $10 million for the first privately funded group to fly into space.

Aerospace designer Burt Rutan won that Ansari X Prize for space flight in 2004 in a venture backed by Microsoft Corp co-founder Paul Allen.

Reuters

FUEL SAVER: The $US10 million Progressive X Prize will be awarded to the makers of a car that smashes fuel efficiency records and paves the way for a commercially viable car that gets at least 100 miles to the gallon.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/AAMB1/aamsz=300x600/4452544a30.html

X Prize for 100 mile per gallon car at NY Auto Show

The Tango

The New York International Auto Show starts later this week, but the best in show may not be something from BMW or Ford. (I hope you laughed at that.) A car contest is being held that’s sponsored by the X Prize Foundation, the same group responsible for that earth-to-the-moon contest. This particular contest aims to spur people to create an affordable, drivable car that gets 100 miles to the gallon. There’s two categories, city and non-city: the city category allows for three-wheeled cars while the non-city demands four wheels.

The X Prize folks say contests help spur innovation. “Cooperation is wonderful, but it doesn’t lend to breakthroughs or true innovations,” says its chairman. Of course, there’s always one nerd who disagrees and believes things should be invented for invention’s sake. “Creating useful innovations ought to be self-rewarding. If you need a prize, then maybe it’s not an invention worth pursuing,” says some historian out of the University of Maryland. Good vibrations don’t pay the bills, chief.

It’s like the Cold War. Either we invent this or we’re in trouble.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/03/16/x-prize-for-100-mile-per-gallon-car-at-ny-auto-show/

GNR TS501 15" Ultra Slim LCD Monitor

Details

*-*1024 x 768 XGA (0.8 Megapixels)
*-*Multimedia with Integrated side speakers
*-*Slimmest Bezel in the industry (8.8mm)
*-*Sleek profile and lightweight design
*-*Silver bezel with black cabinet

http://www.smoop.com/GNR_TS501_15_Ultra_Slim_LCD_Monitor+1108.html

The choice of a projection screen

The choice of a projection screen is quite simple in itself, as it is often dictated by the constraints of your installation.

The screen itself is generally made up of a specific supple plastic sheet or a special fabric which, in both cases have undergone a treatment guaranteeing an absolute matt white finish. This white screen may also be framed in black, this border giving a perfect finish to the image which, slightly overlapping the black part of the screen, appears to have a clean boundary.

Projection screens generally being "relatively" easy to make, all manufacturers are capable of realising screen surfaces of good quality. The main differences come from the manner in which the "ensemble" of surface + support are put together. Certain screen surfaces may have very good reflecting qualities but be made of a very supply plastic or a very fine, light tissue which will have an unfortunate tendency to crease with time. The differences in prices of screens with a similar quality of reflection are generally explained by the rigidity of the screen itself: thus, don’t hesitate to touch two screens in order to determine which one will be more resistant. As opposed to a Home Cinema installation, the screen of a cinema is stretched onto a metal frame, which allows it to remain totally flat over time.

White screens:
We’ve seen that a video projection screen is by definition mat white. Effectively, this finish is perfectly suited to most cases where projecting conditions are ideal: absolute darkness and/or a very powerful projector. In certain less optimal configurations, (i.e. projection in daylight conditions), it is possible to opt for video projection screens that posses specific characteristics. Generally, these characteristics are aimed at increasing the luminosity of the overall depiction. We call these "High Gain Screens". These screens possess a variable level of gain allowing you, for example, to give a little helping hand to a tri-tube video projector bought second hand and a little on the weak side. This quality has on the other hand another side to it which can turn out to be a nuisance: the more gain there is, the more the screen’s angle of vision is reduced. It is possible to watch a matt white screen from any angle, without losing anything at all in luminosity. Inversely, a high gain screen may constrict you, depending upon the power of the gain, to sitting at exactly 90° to the screen with a risk of otherwise having a significant loss of luminosity.

Perforated Screens:
A video projection screen may, in addition, be perforated with thousands of holes which allow it to let the sound of loudspeakers through when they’re placed behind the screen. It’s this type of screen that is used in cinemas, because their front speakers are always situated behind the screen. This ideal configuration allows the sound to correspond, in its location, with the action taking place on the screen. There are two types of perforation for screens. The classic perforation, in which the holes are relatively visible, because they are almost one millimetre in diameter. This is not annoying in a cinema, because the spectator is generally far enough away from the screen not to notice the perforations in the screen. This is quite different in the home, however, where the viewer is generally less than five metres from the screen. It is thus important, when choosing a screen, to try it out with regard to the distance that you will be from it when it is installed at home. Generally, the price of a classic perforated screen is not much higher than a non-perforated screen. The second level of perforation is that of micro-perforation. As its name suggests, this type of screen possesses holes that are extremely difficult to detect, which is ideal for configurations where the distance of the viewer from the screen is limited. The only drawback: the price, which is very high.

Here, you’ll find different types of mechanisms on which projection screens are able to be mounted. It is possible to mount any kind of screen on any kind of mechanism. "

• Electric Screens
• Manual Screens
• Fixed Screens
• Pantographs

http://uk.cinenow.com/tutorials/2022

Sharp LC19A33XBK 19" LCD TV

19" Wide LCD Television with HDMI Terminal


Features

Newly Developed 47 cm (19") 16:9 WXGA (1366 x 768) LCD Panel Digital Interface HDMI and D-Sub 15-pin, 1 Component terminal High Brightness 300cd/m2 , High Contrast 800:1 HD Video Compatible (1080i / 720p) OPC Sensor (Automatically adjust the brightness of the screen) Stereo surround and sound output: 2W x 2 Teletext Function Sleep Timer Multi language OSD (English/Arabic/Chinese)

http://www.visionone.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=LC19A33XBK

Sharp XL2E and X20E range Aquos Ultra Slim LCD HDTV

Sharp have moved up a gear when it comes to LCD TVs with the news of two new ranges of Aquos Ultra-Slim televisions, these are the XL2E and X20E range of HDTV’s. Both of them are Full HD 1080p which make them ideal for watching HD DVD or Blu-Ray.

Both ranges have integrated Freeview, what also makes the Sharp XL2E and X20E range of Aquos TV’s even better is the contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and also three HDMI inputs. The XL2E has the higher spec which comes in 42-inch, 46-inch, and 52-inch screens and all three have 100Hz technology to make the picture smoother.

The XL20E range has five models in its range that match the screen size as the XL2E with the addition of 32-inch and 37-inch models

http://www.cheaptv.org.uk/sharp-xl2e-and-x20e-range-aquos-ultra-slim-lcd-hdtv/

Sharp touts ultra-slim LCD TV

Sharp has lowered the bar for the thickness of an LCD TV. It has developed a prototype 52in telly that's as little as 2cm thick.

Sharp's super-thin prototype LCD

Admittedly, it does incorporate components to its rear that make some areas stick out a further 0.9cm, but who's counting? By comparison, today's comparably sized LCD TVs range in thickness from 8cm up to 14cm - four to seven times as thick as the Sharp prototype.

Sharp's screen impressive contrast ratio of 100,000:1, which is a significant improvement over existing LCDs of a similar size, which tend to range from 1000:1 to 3000:1. However, it's a significant drop from Sharp's own ASV Premium LCD 37in display, which boasts a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

The display weighs 25kg and it's been rumoured that the set also incorporates wireless transmitter and receiver technology for HD-capable home video streaming.

Sharp hasn't released much further technical information about the set yet and hasn't confirmed when - or even if - it might appear on the market, or how much it might retail for. So for the time being we'll just have to make do with thicker and more power-hungry LCDs with lower contrast ratios.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/27/sharp_super_slim_lcd/

UK launch for Sharp Ultra Slim LCD TV's

Sharp have announced that their ultra slim X Series LCD TV's will be available to UK consumers this September.

At just 34mm at their thickest point, the 37in, 42in and 46in screens are not quite as impressive as the early 20mm prototypes but will still be the slimmest commercially available screens in the UK.

The new X Series represent not only the ultimate in 'style' one-upmanship, but are also a vehicle for some of Sharp's most advanced technological wizardry.

The AQUOS X Series feature Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution panels, 120Hz processing, thin-profile 3-way 8-speaker system and 1-Bit digital amplifier along with 3 HDMI (v1.3) inputs.

Consuming just 0.5 watts in standby mode, these are some of the most environmentally friendly screens around.

Already available to Japanese consumers, we will have to wait a little longer to get our hands on them here in the UK. No firm indication of prices as yet.

http://hdtvorg.co.uk/news/articles/2008021201.htm

Toshiba Regza 42X3030D Review

Although the latest 1080p high-definition format is still relatively scarce and restricted to next-generation DVD players and games consoles, its arrival in entry-level LCDs is a sign of changing times.

At this price (listed at around £1,000) there are some compromises to connectivity and less advanced processing, but it's an ideal introduction if you want to explore the full potential of HD DVD and Blu-ray.

Design
It's difficult not to feel slightly overwhelmed by the screen's imposing dimensions, which are exaggerated by a broad, piano-black surround and a substantial boomerang-shaped stand. It's certainly not inconspicuous and you'll need a large room if you don't want to live under an LCD shadow.

The screen is reasonably well assembled with a slim speaker system neatly integrated beneath the clean, glossy front panel. It looks luxurious from the front but the rear panel is cased in cut-price plastic, and the unsteady stand isn't the most supportive.

Primary controls are hidden away at the right side and can be used to adjust channels and volume or access the main menu system -- you can't tune channels without the tall, slender remote, though. There are also easy-access composite video and stereo audio inputs here, but outdated S-Video connections have been entirely ignored.

At first glance, the rear panel connections appear impressive, however the digital video connections, including two HDMI inputs, are awkwardly arranged across the underside, along with a CI Card slot and a PC input that supports WXGA signals. Elsewhere, there are two Scart terminals and progressive scan supporting component connections. Only one of the Scarts is RGB-enabled though, and another HDMI input wouldn't go amiss -- especially for a screen that seems so dedicated to high-definition.

There are several accompanying analogue audio connections and a digital audio output, as well as a rarely found subwoofer output that can be connected to an optional sub to enhance bass performance.

Features
The screen's Full HD resolution (1,920x1,080 pixels) is compatible with all high-definition signals including the latest 1080p format used by next-generation DVD players and games consoles. Blu-ray and HD DVD movies can also be watched as they were intended using 24p scanning, which produces more realistic images without any audio distortion.

Otherwise, it's a relatively ordinary specification that includes integrated analogue and digital TV tuners supported by standard connectivity and entry-level picture processing. You'll have to spend more if you want the latest 100Hz technology and HDMI 1.3 connections featured in Toshiba's Z series models.

Freeview channels are automatically tuned the instant you turn the TV on for the first time. The opening digital menu system and overcrowded EPG are uninspired, with few frills, although they are accompanied by sound. By contrast, the crisp graphics used to present the compact setup menus appear far more attractive and attentive.

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/televisions/0,39030218,49291141-1,00.htm

Toshiba 42 ins 1080p HD Ready LCD TV with Built In Freeview 42X3030D

The 42X3030D from Toshiba is a beautiful looking set with integrated Freeview receiver, no need for an additional box at digital switchover. With a true 1080p HD panel you can be sure you are getting the very best in HD resolutionWith 2 HDMI connections there is the opportunity to achieve outstanding high definition viewing and gaming, hook up a PS3 for HD Gaming and the results will be truly stunning. The 42X3030D is from Toshiba's REGZA range, offering a high level of reality to the viewing experience. With unbelievably stylish and quality finish it continues Toshiba's tradition of building excellent quality TV's for the modern home. REGZA TVs have been specially created to display every tiny detail of the new High Definition standards and packed with image enhancing technology to make the pictures clearer, sharper and more realistic than ever before.Here's the technical bit:16:9 widescreen aspect1920 x 1080p true HD panel3500:1 dynamic contrast ratioExact scan mode500 cdm brightnessMPEG noise reduction3d digital comb filter4 FPS processingDigital textElectronic Programme Guide (EPG)Favourite channel memoryFastextText page memoryNICAM stereoSound output 20W RMSSRS WOWTMBass boostAnalogue tunerPanel lockIntegrated signal amplifierVESA standard wall mount screw holes2 HDMI socketsComponent videoRGB (via SCART): 1 SCART: 2Side AV inputPC Input: WXGAAnalogue audio inputFixed/ Variable audio outputSub woofer outputHeadphoneDVB Common InterfaceMeasures 66.1H x 92.0W x 28.5D cm1 years manufacturers warranty

http://www.kaleidoscope.co.uk/catalogue/toshiba_42_ins-36.asp

Toshiba 42X3030 - 42" Widescreen 1080P Full HD Ready LCD TV

Manufacturer's Description

Active Vision LCD Picture Processing

Vibrant colours, sharp detail, realistic images.

Active Vision LCD is Toshiba’s high performance picture processing system that produces high quality images by enhancing the four core elements of the television picture:

DETAIL

Three times more pixels produced than with a conventional LCD for superior fine images across all colour tones.

COLOUR

Four times more colour tones produced than with a conventional LCD TV, creating smooth colour progression for a more realistic image.

MOVEMENT

Real Speed Progressive technology increases picture sharpness during fast moving scenes by reducing jagged edges on lines and detail. Real Speed Progressive technology delivers super smooth motion of fast moving objects, a fact that will not be lost on sports fans. The range possesses a suite of technologies designed to get the very best from programmes, whether they are standard definition of high definition.

CONTRAST

Continuous monitoring and automatic adjustment of the contrast ratio, enhances detail and increases the ability of the C Series to show subtle shade changes. The appearance of skin tones are particularly improved, a great benefit when it comes to tense movie close-ups.

SRS WOW
Toshiba have ensured the audio quality matches the superior performance of its REGZA LCD TV range, with the inclusion of SRS WOW audio technology. This improves the dynamic audio performance of compressed audio content, expanding the size of the audio image and improving the perception of bass effects. The audio image is extended horizontally and vertically, usefully elevating the virtual sound field to the optimal speaker position which is ear level.

Manufacturer's Description
Toshiba's state-of-the-art REGZA 1080HD X series LCD TV is designed to be at the forefront of the High Definition revolution. With a native panel resolution of 1920x1080p the REGZA X Series models offer 1 million additional pixels over a standard WXGA resolution HD Ready LCD TV to reproduce crisp, vibrant images in stunning detail.

When these additional pixels are combined with Toshiba's acclaimed Active Vision LCD high performance picture processing technology, the results really have to be seen to be believed.

With standard features including a built-in Freeview Digital tuner, twin HDMI sockets and Dynamic Contrast it is easy to see why Toshiba's REGZA X Series LCD TVs lead the way in the High Definition entertainment revolution. When fed with a 1080p source the X Series can display 24 frames per second to match the original movie footage frame for frame. A must for film lovers.

Box Contents

Toshiba 42X3030D

pedestal stand not attached to TV

remote control

batteries

instruction manual

quick set up guide.

Product Description
The 42X3030D LCD television from Toshiba displays your films and TV programmes on its impressive 42" high-definition screen. The 42X3030D employs Active Vision LCD technology and has a brightness level of 500 cd/m² to guarantee high-quality images. It also produces excellent quality sound with its SRS Surround sound system, and it has an extensive connection system so you can connect different video devices via its double HDMI connection and two scart sockets. Finally, its digital tuner gives you free access to digital TV channels for even more entertainment options. Enter the world of high-definition images with the 42X3030D television!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-42X3030-Widescreen-1080P-Freeview/dp/product-description/B000P0IW0A

Toshiba 42X3030D HDTV

Toshiba has always been a trusted and well-respected electornics manufacturer. May it be their laptop, mobile phones or TV’s, Toshiba always brings out the best. Particularly, Toshiba has always been a popular brand among LCD TV buyers. Toshiba is now offering the Regza Toshiba 42X3030D. On this set, Toshiba’s proprietary Active Vision picture processing system adorns what finally are full HD 1080p panels. This set comes into the market with an ultra-thin frame boasting three HDMI 1.3 ports, 1080p/24 compatibility, and 100Hz motion technology.

This set from Toshiba is definitely overwhelming, its hard not to. With its imposing dimensions, exaggerated by a broad, piano-black surround and a substantial boomerang-shaped stand, it certainly catches attention. The screen is reasonably well assembled with a slim speaker system neatly integrated beneath the clean, glossy front panel. It looks luxurious from the front but the rear panel is cased in cut-price plastic, and the unsteady stand isn’t the most supportive.

Primary controls are hidden away at the right side and can be used to adjust channels and volume or access the main menu system. The rear panel connections appear impressive, however the digital video connections, including two HDMI inputs, are awkwardly arranged across the underside, along with a CI Card slot and a PC input that supports WXGA signals.

The Toshiba 42X3030D features a lot of connectivity options like the twin HDMI ports and VGA connection. Also, there is a digital optical audio output, RF aerial input and Common Interface slot.

The screen’s Full HD resolution (1,920×1,080 pixels) is compatible with all high-definition signals including the latest 1080p format used by next-generation DVD players and games consoles. Blu-ray and HD DVD movies can also be watched as they were intended using 24p scanning, which produces more realistic images without any audio distortion.

The 42X3030D seemed quite capable of delivering all subtlety in shadowy scenes. There is Colour is perhaps this TVs strongest asset, with fidelity and balance closely matching plasma TVs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come like that from the factory. You (or someone else) will need to work at it to make it perfect. That’s what the 3D colour management system will do for you, if you are willing to stick to your guns.

The Toshiba 42X3030D speaker system is rated at 20W RMS like the C series, except that it’s in a much bigger enclosure this time. While a leap in sonic performance is never expected, the Toshiba 42X3030D will do for your usual programming. With SRS WOW enhancements and 3-range basic equalizer adjustments, you’ve got some room to mould the sound into something you will like. For bass nuts, you get to play with TruBass and bass level control to pump a little more juice out of the low end. Or you could try to connect an external bass unit to the subwoofer output that comes with the TV.

Overall, Toshiba 42X3030’s strong points are in the colour department, shadow detail, rich connection and competent video processing. Greyscale inaccuracies and mild digital noise prevent me from giving the all clear, but these are not grave flaws and is something you could live with. Amateur calibrators with instruments may relish the chance at having a go at the 3D colour management system, which is probably the most advanced CMS system we have seen in a consumer digital display.

http://www.hdtv-news.co.uk/2007/08/22/toshiba-42x3030d-hdtv/