SANYO Shows Off 82” LCD Weatherproof Street Display at Safeco Field
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) announces that a new, innovative Full HD 82” LCD Weatherproof “Street Display” has been installed at Safeco Field, home of the major league baseball team, Seattle Mariners (Mariners).
Safeco Field, built in 1999 and located in Seattle, Washington, houses the world’s second largest open/close roof with natural grass, is the Seattle Mariners home field and hosts more than 2 million fans per year. The street display being installed in the field today is a combination of SANYO’s proprietary waterproofing, dust protection and cooling technology, which can be used outside even while weather happens. The display features high brightness and advanced cooling control mechanisms. Weatherproof monitors will allow the stadium to display contents for ads or public information with clarity and brightness even outdoors.
”This 82” LCD monitor will give us a new way to provide information to our fans at Safeco Field without having to worry about the effects of weather. We are very happy that Sanyo chose to make its entrance into the North American digital signage market here at our home ballpark,” said Bob Aylward, Executive Vice President Business Operations, Seattle Mariners.
The growing digital signage market allows additional streams of income from innovative advertising options, and the digital signs are often seen in areas where people gather, outdoors, outside a store, at street intersections, etc. The signage serves a dual purpose, providing pertinent information to customers and the general public, as well as conveying sponsor messaging. Digital signage is very big in North America and Europe. Along with the proliferation of digital signs, there is also a shift to network the devices, and it is estimated that the market for digital signage will continue to grow to a market scope of approximately $2 billion in North America, and is said that it will expand to about $10 billion by 2015 (SANYO forecasts).
“It is our privilege on this occasion to have the Mariners install our first large 82” LCD Weatherproof Street Display,” commented Mitsuru Homma, Executive Vice President of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. “With this prominent appeal to our latest innovation in digital signage, this type of large monitor has officially made our presence known in the North American digital signage market.”
SANYO, on this occasion, officially is bringing the product as a digital signage option to North America. While the product is developed and manufactured by SANYO Electric, the sales for the product and services will be handled by the regional sales headquarters, SANYO North America Corporation.
The Mariners are slated to purchase and install approximately 250 SANYO TVs in their stadium this fiscal year, and when combined with the TVs already installed, the number of SANYO TVs in Safeco Field will be 656 units.
New 3D TVs by Samsung Launched – Available In Canada This Month
Early adopters can buy a new 3D TV by the end of the month, Samsung said Wednesday, although it remains to be seen how many consumers will be willing to pay a premium for a technology in its infancy.
Samsung is the first major manufacturer to announce plans to launch the new technology in Canada and will sell five LED models of 3D TVs starting on March 26. LED TVs are thinner and more energy efficient than the LCD and plasma models most consumers are familiar with, Samsung says.
The first wave of TVs range in size from 40 to 55 inches and in price from $2,500 to $4,000.
About a week after the LED launch, Samsung will start selling 3D plasmas, including a 50″ for $2,400 and a 63″ for $4,100. By May, Samsung expects to have two 3D LCD models on the market, a 46″ for $1,900 and a 55″ for $2,800.
But the costs go up from there. Samsung’s 3D glasses retail for as much as $250 a piece, plus consumers need a 3D-compatible Blu-ray player (Samsung’s is $400) and a new cable.
Despite the costly initial outlay, Samsung’s director of marketing for consumer electronics says he’s confident about the products’ launch.
“Our original expectation was that this would be a fairly modest launch, just because the retail price points we were talking about … generally makes it a smaller market,” said Robert Gumiela.
“But the response we’ve received from our retailers, the orders we’ve received, have greatly exceeded our expectations and I think a lot of that has been based upon (retailers’) communication with their own customers and clientele saying, ‘This is what I want.”‘
While the lack of 3D content currently available is another challenge for TV manufacturers – Future Shop and Best Buy currently only offer two 3D Blu-ray titles, “My Bloody Valentine 3D” for $35 and “Under the Sea 3D” for $38 – Gumiela said the Samsung TV’s can convert any image into a 3D version.
“It won’t be the same quality as a native 3D-authored Blu-ray image but we’ve demonstrated it and it is a very exciting visual impact,” he said.
Future Shop said it’s also optimistic that consumers are eager to buy 3D products.
“I think it’s going to be a pretty broad spectrum of customers who will ultimately buy these things, they are ultimately at a higher price point but we’ve got to remember these TVs are in their own right premium televisions, they’re top of the line TVs,” said Eric Stockner, director of home theatre merchandising.
He expects prices will come down as more competition hits the market. He said a few more models, made by different manufacturers, should be in stores by June.
Sony was the first major manufacturer to announce its global plans for 3D TV but has only set June as a target date for the sale of units in Japan. A Sony spokeswoman could only say that the 3D TVs will be available in Canada sometime this summer.
Panasonic announced a partnership with Best Buy to start selling its 3D TVs in the United States starting Wednesday. No Canadian plans have been revealed.
As far as TV broadcasters jumping on the 3D bandwagon, Gumiela isn’t too optimistic due to technical limitations.
The amount of bandwidth needed to transmit a high-definition 3D signal into the home is “virtually impossible to do at this time until a new compression architecture is developed,” he said.
David Purdy, vice-president of Rogers Communications (TSX:RCI.B), is more confident that 3D programming can be beamed into home but concedes it’ll only be in “half-resolution” and not full HD to start.
Purdy said he’s been following 3D technology for about three years and is a believer.
“We don’t have specific timing yet although we absolutely want to make sure our customers get the latest and greatest television entertainment products as soon as they come on the market,” he said.
“I believe 3D is going to revolutionize the way people watch movies and sports at home, it’s going to be a really compelling experience … and I think customers are going to be blown away.”
Sony Bravia LCD TV KDL32W550 0U Model Cutting Edge Technology
Sony Bravia sets have a very good reputation as far as TV’s go and the Sony KDL32W550 0U is the latest model in this range. This is a top-of-the range TV with a standard 1920x1080p Full HD panel. The “W” series was the first of these to employ this technology.
It is a LCD TV, what else? And for this type of technology the price is excellent; the KDL32W550 0U has a USB port, and Ethernet jack for Applicast which allows the TV to be connected to the internet with full browsing features. The USB can handle all kinds of music, video and photo files and with 4 HDMI inputs you have pretty much got every base covered.
Technology used includes 100Hz Motionflow and of course the Bravia engine image processing. Retailers are stocking these KDL32W550 0U TV’s at reasonable pricing and this is one of the more attractive aspects of buying this technologically advanced TV.
The KDL32W550 0U consists of a 32″ screen although it does not look as large as this because of the attractive glossy black bezel which frames it. They come packed with a protective film over all the parts which may get scratched. So one has to assume that these parts should be kept well protected! But this is the way of the world, even out cell phones come with these protective coverings and they get scratched eventually with use.
The KDL32W550 0U is definitely a compact unit so it is ideal if you don’t want a television to dominate the room. Let’s face it, most of us girls don’t want the kind of TV that does this. We want something that looks good and serves its specific purpose. I have read reviews that say the Sony 32E5500 looks better but I really don’t believe this is true.
Most of the menus on Sony Tv sets are of the “Wega Gate” variety, the KDL32W550 0U differs in that the menu is represented by icons. These closely resemble the icons used by the Playstation 3. It is a far more inventive user interface, I like it but others may disagree and might prefer the more traditional type of menu with a faster response time.
It may take you time to get use to the menu, but at least you will have fun messing around. If you are technologically inclined, you won’t have issues but the older generation may not know what the hang is going on when they try to tv set the contrast on the KDL32W550 0U. I would not hand this remote over to my 75 year old father to use. Hide it under the cushions in the couch and pretend you have lost it.
The KDL32W550 0U has a great video processor, and to be honest that is about all I really need to know. If you want more technical product information, you should be reading the specs elsewhere. I am a television user, not a designer, all I look for is a great picture and good looks. As long as I can watch videos and DVD’s I am happy.
The Sony Bravia KDL32W550 0U is a great top of the range Sony model, it works perfectly with my decor and was exactly the right price for me. It blends well with my modern/art deco style furniture, and fits beautifully into the corner that has been awaiting its arrival.
Panasonic Develops 50 Inch HD 3D Compatible Plasma Display
Panasonic Corporation, a leader in high definition TV technology, has developed a 50-inch Full HD 3D compatible plasma display panel (PDP) and high-precision active shutter glasses that enable the viewing of theater-quality, true-to-life 3D images in the living rooms. Aiming to bring Full HD 3D TVs to the market in 2010, the company steps up its efforts in developing the related technology. Prototype Full HD 3D TV and glasses will be displayed at CEATEC JAPAN 2009 to be held from October 6 to 10 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, east of Tokyo.
The new PDP and glasses evolved from Panasonic’s world-first Full HD 3D Plasma Home Theater System1 that was developed in 2008 and comprised of a 103-inch PDP and a Blu-ray Disc player. The prototype PDP has a 50-inch screen, which is expected to become the most popular size for home theaters.
This 50-inch PDP uses Panasonic’s newly-developed high-speed 3D drive technology that enables rapid illumination of pixels while maintaining brightness. The panel also incorporates a crosstalk reduction technology allowing for minimizing double-image (ghosting) that occurs when left- and right-eye images are alternately displayed. PDPs have excellent video response with full moving picture resolution2. The new panel offers even improved performance, achieving clear, high-quality and high-resolution images in 3D. The high-precision active shutter glasses incorporate Panasonic’s technology that precisely controls the active shutters with the left- and right-eye images shown on the PDP.
these technologies work in tandem with each other to create Full HD 3D images that deliver an immersive, movie-theater-like experience in which the viewers can feel as if they were part of the scene. They represent Panasonic’s concept of 3D products: “Bringing the movie theater experience into the living rooms.”
Panasonic has been working to develop its original Full HD 3D technology3 to create synergy between PDPs, which excel in moving picture resolution and color reproduction, and Blu-ray Disc players, which are able to faithfully reproduce high quality Hollywood 3D movies. Panasonic continues to work on developing 3D products to allow its customers to enjoy the immersive 3D world in their living rooms, targeting to launch the products in Japan, Europe, and the U.S. in 2010. (Subject to approval of the 3D Expanded Standard4.)
3ality Digital to Support the Launch of Sky’s Groundbreaking 3D TV Services
Industry Leaders Team Up for Pioneering Broadcast Initiative
BSkyB (Sky), the UK’s leading entertainment and communications company, and 3ality Digital, LLC (www.3alitydigital.com), the world’s premier provider of 3D technology, have announced they are to collaborate on the launch of what will become the first 3D TV services in the UK and Ireland. Launching in 2010, Sky’s 3D TV services will use 3ality Digital’s state-of-the-art camera rigs and image processors to capture much of the programming it plans to broadcast.
Sky’s 3D TV service will be broadcast across Sky’s existing High Definition (HD) infrastructure and be available via the current generation of Sky+HD set-top boxes. 1.6 million homes are already equipped with Sky+HD. To watch 3D content, Sky+HD customers are only required to upgrade to a 3D-enabled television set, a wide range of which will begin to be retailed in 2010.
“The launch of Sky’s 3D TV services this year will mark a milestone in British broadcasting, giving customers a whole new dimension to their TV viewing experience,” said Brian Lenz, Sky’s Director of Product Design and TV Product Development. “Utilizing 3ality Digital’s technology and equipment will be a key component in providing our customers with a cutting edge entertainment experience.”
“Sky is leading the way in its commitment to offering the next generation of television,” said Steve Schklair, CEO of 3ality Digital Systems, the technology and production arm of 3ality Digital, LLC. “The success of its 3D broadcasting initiative is critical to the industry. We are proud that Sky has selected 3ality Digital as the camera and image processing systems supporting its launch.”
“We’re proud to collaborate with Sky as the company works to deliver on its commitment to pioneer 3D broadcasting,” said 3ality Digital, LLC CEO Sandy Climan. “Our state-of-the-art automation processes and the full metadata capture built into our camera platforms will ensure Sky 3D programming is compelling, immersive and dynamic.”
The agreement with Sky represents the latest in a long line of broadcast firsts for 3ality Digital. In the past 13 months alone, 3ality Digital technology powered the first-ever live 3D broadcast of an NFL game and the first live 3D sports broadcast available to consumers.
During the same period, the company also shot the live-action footage for the first 3D commercial broadcast on television, as well as the first episode of a scripted television series shot in digital live-action 3D.
Sky’s 3D TV service will provide its customers with a comprehensive mix of programming, spanning sports, movies, entertainment, documentaries and the arts, including live content.
“3ality Digital has always felt that it was essential to develop tools that integrate seamlessly into a standard 2D production environment, and enable the capture of professional quality live-action 3D with minimal impact on workflow,” said Howard Postley, COO/CTO of 3ality Digital Systems. “Sky put these tools through a rigorous testing process, and we are delighted that we met its expectations.”
3ality Digital began making its automated 3flex(TM) camera rigs available for sale in April, 2009 as part of the company’s continuing effort to expand the creation and distribution of live-action 3D entertainment. Developed using proprietary intellectual property, the rigs are manufactured to aerospace-level precision. When used with 3ality Digital’s rig software controller (SPC) and Stereo Image Processing Systems (SIPS), the 3flex rigs allow operators to capture nearly pixel-perfect live-action 3D footage.
3flex camera systems use sophisticated artificial intelligence to sense the environment and ensure the highest image quality. The systems feature semi-automatic setup and alignment, as well as full 3D metadata output.
About 3ality Digital
3ality Digital develops enabling technologies to power live-action 3D entertainment from image capture through broadcast, independent of viewing environment. 3ality Digital’s camera platforms, stereo image processing systems, and 3D image scaling technologies are quickly earning a reputation as the “gold standard” for the emerging medium, and are rapidly being adopted by broadcasters, production companies, studios and consumer electronics manufacturers.
3ality Digital technology has powered a number of live-action firsts, including U2 3D, the first movie shot completely in digital live-action 3D; the first live 3D broadcast of an NFL game (Raiders vs. Chargers, Dec. 4th, 2008); the first live 3D sports broadcast available to consumers (BCS Championship, Jan. 8th, 2009); the first 3D commercial broadcast on television (Sobe “Lizard Lake”); and the first episode of a scripted television series shot in digital live-action 3D (Chuck vs. The Third Dimension, aired on NBC on Feb. 2, 2009). For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.3alitydigital.com.
About Sky
Sky operates the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Over 9.5 million homes enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Arts continues to embrace new audiences as the UK’s only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; and Sky News remains a pioneer in multiplatform television news.
Almost 6 million Sky homes now enjoy the control and flexibility of Sky+ and 1.6 million homes have already joined Sky+HD, which provides access to 37 dedicated HD channels. Sky is also the UK’s fastest growing broadband and fixed-telephony provider.
Sensio Signs a First Contract for the Integration of Its Technology Into a 3D TV Designed By Kerner Optical R&D
Montreal, Quebec – SENSIO Technologies Inc. (“SENSIO”) (TSX Venture Exchange Inc.: SIO), the inventor of the SENSIO®3D technology, announces that its technology will be integrated for the very first time into a 3D television intended for the consumer market. “We are extremely pleased with this milestone agreement we just reached with Kerner Optical Research and Development Corporation (“KORD”). The signature of this first contract falls within the timeline we had set and is the result of our efforts aimed at integrating our technology into a mass consumption device”, explains Nicholas Routhier, President and CEO.
This recently entered into agreement will allow KORD to integrate the SENSIO®3D technology into the new LCD HD SpectronIQ television, as well as the JVC 2D to 3D real-time conversion technology, for which SENSIO obtained a license in October 2006. The new television is currently being developed as per a contract between KORD and SpectronIQ. This agreement follows the Letter of Intent announced last June, which expressed KORD’s interest for the SENSIO®3D technology.
“We are thrilled to be working with SENSIO, the only company currently offering a full 3D home theater solution. The quality of the 3D presentation, combined with their diversified content offering, prove that SENSIO is well on track to becoming a true standard on the market”, says Mark Anderson, KORD’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
For his part, Mr. Routhier is very happy to be partnering with industry leader KORD to make 3D theater more accessible at home. “KORD’s creativity and sense of innovation are undeniable assets for the development of the 3D home theater market.”
This first commercial success will generate recurring incomes for SENSIO, as the contract provides for a base amount, as well as royalties on every unit sold.
About SENSIO
Founded in 1999, SENSIO Technologies Inc. (TSX.V: SIO), headquartered in Montreal, Canada, develops and markets forward-looking stereoscopic technologies designed to offer the most advanced and immersive cinematographic experience available. Its flagship technology, SENSIO®3D, allows the high-quality distribution of 3D content through conventional 2D channels and playback on any display device, including plasma TVs, HDTV and glass-free 3D displays. Working with major Hollywood studios and large format 3D film producers, SENSIO has built up one of the world’s largest library of 3D movies for the home entertainment market.
SENSIO® is a trademark of SENSIO Technologies Inc.
About KORD
In August of 2006, a group of investors purchased Kerner Optical (KO) from Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). As part of ILM, KO helped contribute to ILM’s fifteen Academy Award winning motion pictures through its physical effects, model shop and camera group. Kerner Optical Research and Development, Inc (KORD) was the next natural evolution with its 30 years of movie making history and innovation. Leveraging the strengths of KO technical expertise and SpectronIQ consumer electronics production and distribution chain, KORD has been created to develop and license software and technology to display movies, games and internet media in extraordinary new ways.
KORD brings new concepts, techniques and systems to life. Our projects involve three-dimensional stereoscopic image acquisition and delivery as well as enabling technologies for feature film, simulation and immersive training environments. We are a high-end incubator within a world renowned studio. Our staff is surrounded by top movie industry professionals with years of expertise. KORD’s primary value is our technological innovation focused on leveraging practical creative problem solving into next generation tools for client and industry professionals.
