The HDMI 1.4 per 2010

New developments in the HDMI standard, the 1.4 that should allow other between the arrival of 3D in the living room will appear in the end of 2009 for commercialization in 2010.

Steve Venuti President of HDMI Licensing LLC in charge of human rights standard (High Definition Multimedia Interface), came to Paris to promote the latest version: 1.4. A chance to remember what to bring. Evolution HDMI 1.4 brings in the same cable, the support of the Ethernet (100 Mbit / s bidirectional), a return channel audio, support for images with a definition of 4K x 2K. 3D, pervasive theme of this year, is also an argument for the use of HDMI 1.4. Only the latter would be able to provide the bandwidth necessary "to a 3D image quality.

The HDMI 1.4 is accompanied by the arrival of a new format HDMI connection. The microphone comes HDMI and join the HDMI and mini HDMI. The first aircraft equipped with the 1.4 version should be submitted at the end of the year and at CES 2010 in Las Vegas. The market turn is announced for spring 2010.

Sponsored Post: Toshiba Regza LED HDTVs

Cinema Series With a full-matrix array of LEDs in the backlight, Toshiba’s REGZA SV670 Cinema Series delivers more uniform light coverage than other LED TVs while maintaining brightness in white areas of the picture. Toshiba

Advertisement: Savvy flat-panel shoppers have added a new acronym to their lexicon: LED. It stands for “light-emitting diode,” and represents a revolutionary breakthrough in HDTV picture quality. LED TVs are alone in their ability to deliver the deep, inky blacks that give an HDTV realistic image contrast and natural, vibrant colors. But for all the buzz, not all LED TVs are the same. That’s why industry innovator Toshiba went the extra mile to create the ultimate HDTV, the new 55- and 46-inch REGZA SV670 Cinema Series.

WHY LED?
Video experts know that a secret to achieving great picture quality is reproducing deep black. Few HDTVs can do that. Plasma panels, for example, glow in the absence of a TV signal; just watch the screen in a darkened room as it transitions between commercials. This “idle brightness” is required to insure that the screen responds quickly when the picture comes back on.

Meanwhile, LCD TVs create an image with liquid crystal pixels that control the output from a backlight behind the screen. When the video signal calls for black, the liquid crystals close down like a shutter to block the light. But the fluorescent backlight used in conventional LCDs must remain at least partially on all the time, even behind the dark areas of the image. Given the nature of LCD displays, some bleed-through of light is inevitable.

Engineers have now solved this problem by replacing the fluorescent bulb with an array of tiny LEDs. By monitoring the incoming video signal, the TV can dim or even turn off the backlight on the fly in those areas that demand it. The result: deep, dark blacks that give the image added depth and help colors and bright highlights pop off the screen like never before.

LED TV: Top REGZA models, including the ZV650 (available in 55-, 47-, and 42-inch screen sizes), feature new ClearScan 240 technology that refreshes the picture 240 times a second for improved clarity on fast motion. Toshiba

LET THERE BE (BETTER) LIGHT
Seems simple enough, right? But buyer beware: there are different types of LED backlights. One common approach puts rows of LEDs only around the outer edge of the screen and bounces their light off a reflector to acheive full screen coverage. While edge-lighting can be an effective solution where cost is of concern, it can’t deliver light across the full screen surface with the near-perfect uniformity of a full matrix of LEDs behind the entire screen. And the “zone lighting” of an edge array always results in some dimming of nearby white areas whenever the backlight is shut down to improve the blacks. That affects the reproduction of highlights.

These are pitfalls that Toshiba made sure to avoid in its new high end SV670. First, the set’s FocaLight LED backlight acheives superb brightness uniformity with a full-matrix LED array. Then, “local dimming” technology allows precise control over the LEDs to deliver deep black only where it’s needed, maintaining peak white brightness in the lighter portions of the image. Consequently, FocaLight helps the SV670 acheive a previously unattainable 2 million:1 dynamic contrast ratio! If LED backlighting is the better mousetrap, then Toshiba’s FocaLight must be the better, better mousetrap.

BEYOND THE BACKLIGHT
Toshiba didn’t stop at an improved LED system. The SV670 enjoys several other advancements shared across Toshiba’s 2009 REGZA family. Top models, including the SV670 and the conventionally-backlit ZV650, use new ClearScan 240™ technology that combines traditional 120 Hz techniques with pulsing of the backlight to refresh the image 240 times a second, noticeably improving the clarity of fast action. A CrystalCoat™ Contrast Enhancer screen coating rejects ambient light that can wash out the image, producing up to a 30% improvement of contrast in bright rooms. All REGZA models now feature a 5th Generation processing engine that provides smooth transitions between light and dark areas of the image and improved upconversion to the screen’s native 1080p resolution. And three Toshiba models are the first ever with Dolby Volume, a sophisticated circuit that evens the volume of commercials and different source components while maintaining better sound quality than other solutions. Finally, top REGZA models boast Toshiba’s new Deep Lagoon design, a striking alternative to traditional gloss black that recalls an ocean meeting the seashore. The SV670 adds a seamless Infinity Flush Front for an even more stylish effect.

Scott Ramirez, Toshiba’s VP of marketing, summed it up best. “For 2009, we incorporated a wide range of advanced, robust technologies to create an all-new level of REGZA LCD TV,” he said. “We didn’t just make LED TV; we innovated by utilizing superior Local Dimming. We didn’t just use higher frame rates; we innovated with new Backlight Scanning technology. We didn’t just wrap everything in high-gloss black; we innovated by creating the stunning new Deep Lagoon Design. The new REGZA is more than our dealers and consumers expected, and the response has been nothing short of amazing.”

Best Buy bringing value priced all-in-one 32-inch LCD & Blu-ray HDTV to stores "soon"

It's not that surprising to learn Best Buy will be among those delivering a 1080p LCD with Blu-ray disc player packed in under its Insignia store brand, as we've been expecting rebadged units from overseas to hit the value market for some time. Marked "coming soon" at $599, it's easily a few hundred less than a comparable model from Sharp, but buyers will have to live without some of the newer line items like 120Hz motion processing and a contrast ratio higher than 20,000:1. Though we don't expect a lot in terms of load times, audio support or other features (no specs on the Blu-ray player noted) we're sure a bedroom or dorm room somewhere will find a spot for the NS-LBD32X. Your move, Wal-mart.

Sharp combines its latest LCD improvements in LX series HDTVs

Coming straight out of a brand new 10G production facility in Sakai, Sharp's line of LX HDTVs (in 60-, 52-, 46- and 40-inch sizes) are all sporting the latest in LCD technology with UV²A panels and LED backlighting. Unfortunately, like Sony, these new screens abandon the higher quality RGB LED technology of the pricey XS1 series for cheaper white LEDs. Still, with a price of around $5,000 for a 52-inch compared to the $12,000 sticker shock of the XS1, it's easy to see why the switch was made. Other improvements include a light sensor for auto-calibration, a six speaker (5 speakers on the 40-inch) integrated 2.1 channel sound system with "Duo Bass" subwoofer and the usual assortment of VOD and AQUOS network support in store for Japanese buyers this November. While already available on a few U.S. models expect the new tech to spread across Sharp's U.S. lineup shortly, not to mention Sony and anyone other parties interested in a piece of the company's suddenly expanded manufacturing muscle.

Sony TRIMASTER quad-HD LCD multiplies the resolution, and the price, of any home HDTV

Can't wait until December for Toshiba's CELL REGZA LCD? Sony is bringing its own 56-inch 3,840x2160 quad-HD display to market November 1 in Japan. Priced at 6,825,000 ($76,583) including taxes this is clearly for pros only, hence the TRIMASTER name referring to the three elements combined within -- exact color, accurate picture and reliability -- thanks to a RGB LED backlit panel built with incredible picture reproduction and exact calibration (with included software via a connected PC) in mind. While it's cheaper than JVC's $175k 4K projector, unless you're mastering the next Pixar flick, viewing high res satellite imagery or can't live without four HD feeds on one screen even the most well heeled amongst may be better served scouring bargain bins for a used Westinghouse D56QX1 for now.

Fox dreaming of a future where Blu-ray movies load faster, are judged by the content of their character(s)

At least someone is (seemingly) listening to our Blu-ray gripes. /Film hit a Fox hosted press summit and heard exactly the things we've been waiting to hear: a future where "advanced" Blu-ray players can do what DVD players have done for years: automatically resume play where we left off on all players, dramatically reduced load times and a live demo of the IMDB Live Lookup feature available on the Wolverine release. The company has nabbed a researcher from Panasonic, Joe McCrossan, who is heading up the efforts to improve viewer's experience and tossing around long promised buzzwords like iPhone connectivity and Digital Copy along with the previously mentioned features under development -- if he succeeds on making them reality we'll rename an Engadget editor Joe in his honor, and it might not even be the one already named Joe.