CES news : LG unveils another new 50-inch plasma TV. Nickname is 50PC2DR. It boasts dual HD tuners - Why? Well, you can now watch one program, and record another one at the same time... Cute isn't it?
A memory card reader is aboard as well. It finally comes with CableCard support, in order to get you rid of a cable box. LG has put the emphasis on the lifetime of its baby's components, with a claim for 60000 hour life for the screen. For info, 60000 hours represent... 2500 days, or almost seven years. Now, assuming an average 8 hours/day, it goes up to +/- 20 years... The fourth line of buyers won't have to change anything. Good for them!
Availability (in the USA) during Q2/2006. No pricing yet...
LG 50-in plasma monster
Meanwhile, Pioneer comes with another 50-inch Plasma display, dubbed PRO-FHD1 (priced $10000) as well as a re-designed series of 50+ inches DLP TVs. This baby is supposed to accompany the birth of the company's Blu-ray player, and is 1920 X1080 progressive capable. It has a built-in up-conversion system, and HDMI. No picture yet, since we ar over there, shooting them, and you will see the clips next week, when THEY (I stayed here) are back from the Sands.
New design for the Toshiba DLP displays
Toshiba comes to the CES with a redesigned DLP projection TV series (see above), again in 50-inch and 56-inch models. They are due in retailer shops later this year. They are dubbed 50HM66 and 56HM66, are both 720p, come with a 14-bit video processing, and they show a curved design, that, at long last, reduces the size of the 50-inch version. Aaah, the size... Take an accurate measure of your wall's surface, and prepare for the fight with your better half. Home networking is present, to access files on a PC, and they come with CableCARD slots and HDMI.
We'll keep you posted.