TI showcases 3D projector and DLP Pico chipset at InfoComm

InfoComm is in full swing down in Vegas, and Texas Instruments isn’t wasting any time showcasing its latest gear. First up is a prototype 1080p beamer hailed as the industry’s first with a lamp-free design. Said unit also utilizes a PhlatLight LED light source and a BrilliantColor chipset, and if TI is to be believed, certain vendors will be shipping wares based on this stuff later this year. Moving on, we’re being (re)treated to the planet’s “first” 3D front projector (also known as the F10 AS3D), designed in cooperation with projectiondesign. Hidden beneath the big boys is the DLP Pico chipset for mobile applications, which will unsurprisingly pop up in pico projectors from companies like Optoma in late 2008 (Europe and Asia) / 2009 (the rest of us). Peek the full release after the break.

Philips and DLO gear

DLO HomeDock HD will be released in August for $250, and has a bit of an updated look from when we saw it last — and some pretty snazzy menus for its type of product. That DLO iBoom JukeBox is also getting an August release for $200, along with the Rhapsody-friendly Streamium NP1100, a Network Music Player that’ll be out in July for $150. We didn’t get a chance to listen in to the Eco’s “invisible” speakers, but the principle is simple enough: there are two speakers mounted on the back of the TV that bounce sound off the wall. That sound is then dispersed by the curved acrylic frame around the edge of the device. Our advice? Buy some real speakers.

Philips Reveals Ultimate TVs, Blu-ray Player

High atop the 39th floor at Le Parker Meridian hotel in New York City, Philips Consumer Electronics held their annual “Holidays in June” press event showcasing all of their new lifestyle products. Besides new healthcare and lighting innovations, the company unveiled their new line LCD televisions and a new Blu-ray player. The new LCD TVs are divided in to three series: 5000 Series, Eco TVs, and 7000 Series.

5000 Series
Philips looks to design a line of televisions that they hope will fit consumers’ lifestyles and home décor with the introduction of their 5000 FlatTV series. Adding to improved picture quality, the 5000 Series includes Philips’ proprietary Pixel Plus 3 HD technology that offers a combination of ultimate sharpness, true natural detail, increased depth impression and vivid colors from multiple sources including DVD or Blu-ray content. According to Philips, this advanced technology provides more detail and improved picture color and sharpness. With Pixel Plus 3 HD, consumers reportedly gain a more immersive and pleasurable viewing experience. Along with Pixel Plus 3 HD, the 5000 Series also includes Digital Natural Motion (HD DNM) that helps with the elimination of juddering film effects with increased detail and sharpness. HD DNM produces a smoother impression of moving objects in television material originally recorded for film, which is shot at a slow 24 frames per second (fps). Meanwhile, regular video is shot at 60 fps and all TVs need to display at least 60 fps on screen. Ultimately, HD DNM smoothes the on-screen image by creating and displaying additional pictures between frames to make movements sharper and more lifelike.

The 5000 Series features cabinetry of glossy, black casing with rounded, acrylic edges and a compatible, dark stand providing a modern, unobtrusive design that allows consumers to focus on the screen. Other innovations for the 5000 Series allow viewers to select their ideal picture and sound using the built-in settings assistant. By using a program similar to an eye test, viewers can select what they perceive as the best video and audio setting. Choose initial preferences from the five split-screen samples and the television will make the changes and store them for future use. All models include 1.3a HDMI inputs.

The 5000 Series includes the following models:

Model	Display Type	Invisible Sound	HD DNM	Pixel Plus 3 HD	MSRP	Availability
32PFL5403	LCD	Yes			$799	Now
42PFL5603	LCD	Yes	Yes	Yes	$1,799	Now
47PFL5603	LCD	Yes	Yes	Yes	$2,099	Now
52PFL5603	LCD	Yes	Yes	Yes	$2,899	Now

Eco TVs
Philips Eco TVs are designed with several power-saving features such as a proprietary dimming technology that is designed to lower the LCD panel backlight to reduce power consumption without presumably compromising the picture quality. A built-in light sensor automatically measures the viewing room’s ambient lighting and adjusts the television’s backlight for power efficiency. With the exception of the 19-inch and 32-inch models in the current 3000 series, all televisions in Philips FlatTV line are now eco-friendly. As part of the Philips Design Collection, the energy-efficient sets deliver precision picture quality and definitive style while incorporating lead-free components and flame retardant materials, which are safe to the environment. Furthermore, the packaging box and user manuals are all made of recycled materials.

The new Eco TVs include the following models:

Model	Display Type	MSRP	Availability
42TA648BX	LCD	$1,099	Now
42PFL3603	LCD	$1,399	Now
42PFL5603	LCD	$1,399	Now
47PFL3603	LCD	$1,499	Now
47PFL5603	LCD	$1,799	Now
52PFL3603	LCD	$1,999	Now
52PFL5603	LCD	$2,299	Now

7000 Series
Philips calls its top-of-the-line 7000 Series their “Ultimate TVs,” which are also part of their Design Collection. These new models feature a rounded edge surrounded by an acrylic bezel which not only gives the set a less rigid look but apparently also enhances its technology. Viewers will notice the absence of a speaker grill which makes the glossy, black bezel continuous around the set for a cleaner look. The sound is powered from the back of the set and carried out throughout the acrylic edge around the set – enveloping consumers in what the company believes is deep, rich sound. According to Philips, the 7000 Series processing, sound, connectivity and design all work in concert to create the ‘ultimate’ viewing experience.

The 7000 Series features the addition of 120Hz ClearLCD technology, which improves the shadow detail and black levels in dark scenes while greatly diminishing motion artifacts. Philips’ 120Hz ClearLCD technology, which doubles the refresh rate from the standards 60Hz, looks to provide razor-sharp moving images with an ultra-fast motion response time of two milliseconds for swift, streak-free action images clarity.

Philips has also refined the 7000 Series LCD HDTVs with HD Digital Natural Motion™ technology (HD DNM), and Motion Estimation Motion Compensation (MEMC) technology that estimates motion in the picture and inserts compensated frames. The result is a smoother, more natural picture and sharper images.

The 7000 Series Ultimate TVs further feature a unique invisible speaker system that delivers a powerful audio experience from a slim cabinet. Philips Invisible Sound System looks to improve low frequency performance while concealing the speakers in a subtle, efficient design. Connections include 4 HDMI 1.3a inputs with Consumer Electronics Control (CEC).

Models in the 7000 Series include:

Model	Display Type	Invisible Sound	120 Hz ClearLCD	Perfect Pixel HD	MSRP	Availability
42TA648BX	LCD	Yes	Yes	Yes	$1,699	Now
42PFL3603	LCD	Yes	Yes	Yes	$1,999	Now
42PFL5603	LCD	Yes	Yes	Yes	$2,699	July

Blu-ray
Building on their first-generation model — the BDP9000, the BDP7200 is Philips’ first Profile 1.1 compliant BD player, optimizing the complete HD experience and allowing viewers to enjoy the latest movie applications and features. The new player adds a stylish design with improved sound and picture quality that takes BD interactivity to a new dimension.

New features include Deep Color that helps create vivid images with more than a claimed billion colors and also eliminates on-screen color banding. The new model supports 1080p at native 24 frames per second (fps) cinematic resolution input via HDMI, which is the same format used in movies. It is also compatible with BD-Java technology that makes access to sophisticated interactive features possible. The BDP7200 also includes Picture in Picture (PiP) graphical enhancements and multi-languages for on-screen displays. The multilayered displays enable users to interact with on-disc content (pop-up menus, graphics, and director’s commentary). Like some other BD players, this model also includes upconverting circuitry via HDMI that upscales standard DVDs to 1080p (or near HD quality). And, lastly, the player includes EasyLink that allows easy control of connected devices via HDMI with CEC functionality using one remote. Of course, to utilize CEC, all components must have CEC control built-in.

The BDP7200 is available now at $399.

Garmin’s Nuvifone is coming in white?

The folks at NaviGadget got a couple reader-submitted shots of a white Nuvifone, but there’s no telling just now how legit they are. Garmin just shows a black version of its phone — which is still slated for Q3 at a purported $500 pricepoint — on its own site, but perhaps this teensy supposed leak means there’s more news in store for the Nuvifone camp in the near future.

PSP firmware 4.00 due “soon,” adds Google search to XMB

There’s no indication of an exact release date just yet, but word just dropped on the official PlayStation blog that the PSP will be getting a boost to firmware version 4.00 “soon.” That’ll bring with it the addition of Google search directly form the XMB interface, which Sony says “replicates the Google Internet search experience.” Apart from that somewhat notable upgrade, the only other new feature they’re talking about at the moment is the ability to change the viewing speed during playback of videos stored on a Memory Stick. Not exactly the upgrade we would have guessed for a milestone like 4.00, but we can always hope Sony has a couple of surprises up its sleeve.

Green Plug starts small, signs on Westinghouse

Remember Green Plug? That universal connector we detailed last month which aims to replace wall warts and help Mother Earth out in the process? Turns out, said outfit has just landed its first real believer as Westinghouse committed to using the smart power technology. Even Darwin Chang, Westy’s CTO, admitted that his firm “wasn’t the largest, but somebody has to be the first.” Chang is hoping that utilizing said tech will help it cut costs by eliminating the need to ship power adapters with its wares, but we’d say that’s being pretty optimistic. Really, the only way that will go over well is if hordes of other firms jump on the (currently desolate) bandwagon in short order — any takers?

Is Apple’s iCar in a German auto magazine?

Sure, we’ve heard rumors about a possible iCar before, but it’s not every day that a German auto magazine (Autobild, in this case) throws some wacky VW concept with an iPod touch floating above it on its cover. We know that the two companies have collaborated in the past, with old Jobsy and Volkswagen head Martin Winterkorn supposedly sipping brandy and regaling each other with tales of their salad days, but up until now the closest we’ve seen to an actual product was that Space Up! blue concept interior from back in November of last year. Will you finally have the perfect set of wheels to dock your iPhone on the go? Doubtful… but feel free to dream.

Philips introducing 52-inch 1080p 3D display

It’s no nightmare – 3D is officially in style. Or it’s succeeding in fooling us, one or the other. Further proof that taking things to the third-dimension is all the rage has arrived courtesy of Philips, who has announced its intentions to reveal a 1080p 52-inch 3D display at InfoComm later this month. The unit will utilize the same WOWvx technology showcased a year prior in its 20-inch display, and will feature 700 cd/m2 brightness, a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and an 8-millisecond response time. The auto-stereoscopic display should be “commercially available from Q4 2008 onwards,” but we haven’t a clue how costly it’ll be when it eventually lands.

Telson handheld does 3D gaming without the goggles

We’ve seen companies toss out kit that claims to showcase the third-dimension without requiring a set of those face-consuming spectacles, but we’re having an even harder time believing it would go over well (or at all) on a ‘roided-up do-it-all handheld. Details are scarce on this one, but the Telson prototype / reference model device looks to be hung somewhere between the land of gaming handhelds and unadulterated UMPCs. Within, you’ll find a VIA C7-M processor, 512MB of RAM, a 30/60GB hard drive and a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 resolution panel that’s reportedly capable of displaying 3D imagery without special glasses. Can’t say we’re huge fans of the design / idea / etc., but we’ll be keeping an eye out just in case this somehow makes it into production.

Pre-WWDC iPhone rumor roundup: AT&T out of stock, subsidized pricing, last minute size changes

As we inch towards the towering precipice of WWDC 2008, rumors swirling around Apple’s next iteration of the iPhone are being deposited onto the interblogs at an alarming rate. The latest set comes in three distinct flavors, the first of which recalls an earlier story that telcos would be offering subsidies for long-term contract signers. According to separate sources, Spain’s Telefonica and the UK’s O2 would offer the 3G iPhone at discounted rates (as low as €100) for those willing to put pen to paper, while some are claiming that O2 might also offer a “free” upgrade to the new phone for existing users. In other pot-stirring news, iDealsChina is reporting that the phone will suddenly be 2.0mm shorter and 0.5mm thinner than previously spec’d by Griffin in its new casing molds, thus causing all kinds of trouble for the accessory-maker… and people with big hands. Finally, we can safely report that AT&T has run out of stock of the device online (finally joining Apple). The site claims it’s a “temporary” situation — one which we suspect will be rectified by the appearance of a new model. Time to get in that line?