Download PDF HDTV Technology Review 2007 - HDTV Magazine
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<strong>HDTV</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>2007</strong><br />
By Rodolfo La Maestra May <strong>2007</strong><br />
Introduction<br />
As with every year, this report reviews the state of <strong>HDTV</strong> technology for consumers,<br />
its implementation, industry matters, government affairs, and the industry behind it.<br />
This year, in addition to this report, I have produced a more comprehensive Industry<br />
Edition distributed by Display Search (almost 600 pages). On this Consumer Edition,<br />
I concentrate most of the material on what the readers of the <strong>HDTV</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
usually devote more interest to: <strong>HDTV</strong> hardware, especially TVs.<br />
Additionally, to round up the presentation, I provide a brief review of the main<br />
subjects related to DTV. However, due to space considerations, the full coverage of<br />
those subjects, such as digital connectivity, multi-channel audio for HD, content<br />
protection, satellite/cable/broadcast, IPTV, DTV implementation, etc. will be released<br />
in separate editions.<br />
The review includes future products and technologies announced as of May <strong>2007</strong>,<br />
with information supplied directly by manufacturers, or gathered at <strong>HDTV</strong><br />
conferences, CEDIA, NAB, CEATEC, and the International CES (Consumer Electronics<br />
Show), where the industry also introduce innovations, prototypes, and technology<br />
statements.<br />
If you are looking for a previously released product or technology that is not<br />
mentioned in this report, please consult the other annual reports available at no cost<br />
published by the <strong>HDTV</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>:<br />
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/reports/hdtv-technology-review.php<br />
These reports also provide a historical background of government mandates,<br />
industry agreements, satellite/cable plans, and descriptions of the technologies<br />
introduced during the covered year, including some previously reported products<br />
that are current to<br />
facilitate reading and<br />
comparison analysis<br />
within the same<br />
document.<br />
2<br />
The group of reports<br />
can be used as a<br />
research tool for past,<br />
present, and future<br />
products and<br />
technologies, and to<br />
analyze the evolution of<br />
<strong>HDTV</strong>.
When applicable, a brief background is provided to give an historical perspective of a<br />
given subject before getting into the detail of the current year.<br />
Products are mentioned highlighting the month of their introduction and future<br />
availability to provide a perspective of their maturity in the market. CEDIA and CES<br />
announcements are highlighted within each manufacturer.<br />
Most publications show current DTV products with basic specifications and do not<br />
analyze the market to guide consumers to help them make the right choice for their<br />
needs. Hundreds of manufacturers and products are included in this report, with<br />
detailed specifications and features to facilitate comparisons with other models,<br />
brands, and technologies.<br />
However, this report is not only<br />
about products and<br />
technologies, there is abundant<br />
coverage in sections dedicated<br />
to standards, connectivity,<br />
government, IPTV, etc. that<br />
provide a broad picture of the<br />
history and implementation of<br />
<strong>HDTV</strong> beyond a TV set, unlike<br />
any other publication or book.<br />
From the consumer point of<br />
view, many attend CES to plan<br />
future purchases and maybe<br />
start saving for products that<br />
could be released months or<br />
years later. Some decide to rather buy now a current product because CES helped<br />
confirm that it might not be worth the wait. This report helps consumers making<br />
those choices because of its full coverage of the subject.<br />
3<br />
The report also highlights<br />
industry trends, the adoption<br />
(or abandoning) of H/DTV<br />
technologies, the remarkable<br />
growth of flat panel displays,<br />
the endurance of continued<br />
LCoS support, the 1080p Holy<br />
Grail, the CinemaScope<br />
implementations with new<br />
1080p projectors and<br />
anamorphic lenses, the Hi-<br />
Def DVD format war, the<br />
oversize panel competition, 3-<br />
D, and the ED display<br />
technology in all its varieties<br />
(SED, NED, OLED, FED).<br />
This report assumes that the reader has a basic understanding of H/DTV. Certain<br />
technical information might seem overwhelming to readers that feel the need to
understand the basics first. The Glossary at the end of the report and tutorial<br />
articles at the <strong>HDTV</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> are recommended:<br />
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/articles-author.php?id=16<br />
All types of H/DTVs and technologies are covered in this report: RPTV (rear<br />
projection TV), FP (front projectors), Direct-view (CRTs, CRPs, etc), Plasmas (PDP),<br />
DLP (Digital Light Processing), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), LCoS (Liquid Crystal on<br />
Silicon, including JVC’s D-ILA and Sony’s SXRD), and the EDs displays mentioned<br />
above.<br />
This report also reviews DTV<br />
related equipment such as Hi-<br />
Def DVD for playback and<br />
recording, HD tuning set-topboxes<br />
(STB) for small-dish<br />
satellite, digital cable, and<br />
over-the-air (OTA) w/antenna<br />
reception, HD DVRs (Digital<br />
Video Recorders), the<br />
implementation of digital<br />
video connectivity, etc.<br />
The information about<br />
models, prices, and<br />
specifications has been<br />
researched and confirmed<br />
with product demonstrations, lab reviews, press releases, technical material, and<br />
manufacturer interviews at CES and other conferences. Prices are quoted as MSRP<br />
and rounded to facilitate reading and quick comparisons; when unknown, TBA or<br />
TBD is generally used. Product availability is stated as TTM (Time to Market).<br />
As the industry grows in complexity, variety, and number of HD products, the effort<br />
to research, review, analyze, and compare products, added to a full H/DTV coverage<br />
at CES and other <strong>HDTV</strong> events, and issue final projections, is becoming an<br />
overwhelming task for one person year after year.<br />
4<br />
In the past, many people<br />
referred to this effort as a "CES<br />
report". The truth is: CES is<br />
important but is just one piece of<br />
the industry perspective offered<br />
in this document. Although I<br />
know in advance the<br />
technologies and products<br />
expected to appear at CES, the<br />
show permits me to eyewitness<br />
them and talk to the engineers<br />
that participated in their<br />
development. No press release<br />
or magazine’s new-product page<br />
can provide such transparent<br />
review, a unique and complete
picture of the H/DTV industry.<br />
Additionally, the effort for preserving a broad scope facilitates the linking of all the<br />
HD areas and allows for a deeper analysis and a wider perspective across<br />
manufacturers, technologies, and the industry in general.<br />
Although considerable effort was made to consolidate and verify the correctness of<br />
the data included in the report, I cannot assume responsibility for<br />
omissions or errors.<br />
Rodolfo La Maestra<br />
<strong>HDTV</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> Consulting<br />
Senior Technical Director<br />
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/<br />
Should you have any comments or questions, please contact me<br />
at:<br />
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/about/contact.php?name=lamaes<br />
tra<br />
Thank you for your continued support and interest in my work.<br />
5
Table of Contents<br />
Chapter 1 - H/DTV Implementation<br />
The Updated Transition Plan (2006 and <strong>2007</strong>) ................................................16<br />
Approved New DTV Deadline .....................................................................16<br />
Approved Public Education / Emergency Program.........................................16<br />
Cable DTV Downconversion.......................................................................16<br />
Approved DTV Converter Box Budget for Subsidy.........................................17<br />
Converter Box Subsidy Program Updates ....................................................17<br />
Integrated Tuner Mandate Update .................................................................18<br />
Tuner-less DTVs ......................................................................................19<br />
Analysis and Projections For <strong>2007</strong>/8/9 ............................................................20<br />
Chapter 2 - DTV Standards<br />
A-VSB - Advanced-Vestigial Side-Band ..........................................................21<br />
x.v.YCC......................................................................................................23<br />
LG’s MPH (Mobile-Pedestrian-Handheld).........................................................23<br />
Chapter 3 - Satellite, Cable, Broadcasting<br />
Satellite...................................................................................................... 25<br />
DirecTV......................................................................................................25<br />
Dish Network (EchoStar)..............................................................................27<br />
Microsoft Partnership................................................................................28<br />
Cable .......................................................................................................... 28<br />
DOCSIS 3.0 ............................................................................................28<br />
CES <strong>2007</strong> ...............................................................................................29<br />
The CableCARD Implementation - Current Situation .....................................30<br />
CableCARD Implementation Analysis ..........................................................30<br />
Multi-Stream CableCARD ..........................................................................33<br />
Cable STB Integration Ban ........................................................................34<br />
Congress Support for DCAS.......................................................................34<br />
FCC Approved DCAS – Some Integrated Ban Waivers...................................34<br />
Switched Digital Video (SDV) ....................................................................35<br />
Broadcasting .............................................................................................. 35<br />
3-in-One TV Tuner ...................................................................................35<br />
Down-Conversion Proposal........................................................................36<br />
Do You Know Where Your Recording is Tonight? ..........................................36<br />
Broadcasting Industry Preparing for 1080p Production..................................36<br />
Chapter 4 - Internet Protocol TV (IPTV)<br />
Introduction ...............................................................................................37<br />
What Does IPTV Mean to You? ......................................................................37<br />
Different Methods of <strong>HDTV</strong> Over IP................................................................38<br />
Current/Planned IPTV Market Solutions..........................................................39<br />
Chapter 5 - CRT, SED, OLED, FED, NED, 3DTV<br />
6
The Technologies<br />
LCD vs. CRT in Europe..............................................................................40<br />
3DTV......................................................................................................41<br />
Samsung ................................................................................................42<br />
SED .......................................................................................................44<br />
Applied Nanotech.....................................................................................45<br />
Display Manufacturers<br />
Canon ....................................................................................................46<br />
SED.................................................................................................46<br />
GTT........................................................................................................46<br />
JVC ........................................................................................................47<br />
Hitachi....................................................................................................47<br />
LG .........................................................................................................47<br />
Mitsubishi ...............................................................................................47<br />
OLED...............................................................................................47<br />
Motorola .................................................................................................48<br />
NED ................................................................................................48<br />
Philips ....................................................................................................48<br />
RCA .......................................................................................................48<br />
Samsung ................................................................................................48<br />
OLED...............................................................................................48<br />
FED .................................................................................................48<br />
CRT .................................................................................................48<br />
Sony ......................................................................................................49<br />
OLED...............................................................................................50<br />
Thomson (RCA) .......................................................................................51<br />
Toshiba ..................................................................................................51<br />
SED line...........................................................................................52<br />
Chapter 6 - Digital Light Processing (DLP)<br />
Texas Instruments ......................................................................................54<br />
CES <strong>2007</strong>.........................................................................................54<br />
TVP9010 <strong>HDTV</strong> Processor ...................................................................55<br />
TVP9007 Converter Box .....................................................................55<br />
Akai ..........................................................................................................56<br />
Barco.........................................................................................................56<br />
BenQ .........................................................................................................56<br />
Christie......................................................................................................56<br />
Digital Projection International......................................................................57<br />
Dwin..........................................................................................................58<br />
Hitachi .......................................................................................................58<br />
HP.............................................................................................................58<br />
InFocus......................................................................................................58<br />
LG.............................................................................................................60<br />
Marantz .....................................................................................................60<br />
Mitsubishi...................................................................................................61<br />
NEC...........................................................................................................63<br />
Nuvision.....................................................................................................63<br />
Optoma .....................................................................................................64<br />
Panasonic...................................................................................................70<br />
Philips........................................................................................................70<br />
Projectiondesign .........................................................................................70<br />
7
Radio Shack ...............................................................................................71<br />
RCA (see Thomson).....................................................................................71<br />
Runco ........................................................................................................71<br />
SAGEM ......................................................................................................73<br />
Samsung ...................................................................................................73<br />
Sanyo........................................................................................................76<br />
Sharp ........................................................................................................77<br />
SIM2 USA ..................................................................................................78<br />
Thomson....................................................................................................83<br />
Toshiba......................................................................................................84<br />
Vidikron .....................................................................................................87<br />
Viewsonic...................................................................................................89<br />
Vivitek .......................................................................................................89<br />
Yamaha .....................................................................................................90<br />
Zenith........................................................................................................90<br />
Chapter 7 - Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS)<br />
Canon........................................................................................................91<br />
Cinetron.....................................................................................................91<br />
DreamVison................................................................................................91<br />
ELCOS .......................................................................................................92<br />
Faroudja ....................................................................................................92<br />
Hitachi .......................................................................................................92<br />
JVC (D-ILA) ................................................................................................92<br />
LG.............................................................................................................98<br />
Meridian-Faroudja .......................................................................................98<br />
MicroDisplay Corporation............................................................................100<br />
OMT ........................................................................................................100<br />
SONY (SXRD) ...........................................................................................101<br />
Syntax/Brillian ..........................................................................................103<br />
Chapter 8 - LCD Projection (FP and RPTV)<br />
Canon......................................................................................................104<br />
Epson ......................................................................................................104<br />
Hitachi .....................................................................................................107<br />
Mitsubishi.................................................................................................108<br />
Panasonic.................................................................................................109<br />
Sanyo......................................................................................................110<br />
Sony .......................................................................................................111<br />
Toshiba....................................................................................................112<br />
Viewsonic.................................................................................................113<br />
Chapter 9 - Plasma Panels<br />
Audiovox..................................................................................................114<br />
Cinemateq ...............................................................................................114<br />
Daewoo ...................................................................................................114<br />
Dell .........................................................................................................114<br />
Dwin........................................................................................................114<br />
8
Fujitsu / Hitachi ........................................................................................114<br />
HISENSE..................................................................................................115<br />
Hitachi/ Fujitsu .........................................................................................115<br />
HP...........................................................................................................117<br />
LG...........................................................................................................118<br />
Marantz ...................................................................................................121<br />
Maxent ....................................................................................................121<br />
Mitsubishi.................................................................................................121<br />
NEC.........................................................................................................122<br />
NIKADA ...................................................................................................122<br />
Norcent....................................................................................................122<br />
Panasonic.................................................................................................122<br />
Philips......................................................................................................127<br />
Pioneer ....................................................................................................128<br />
Runco ......................................................................................................132<br />
Samsung .................................................................................................133<br />
Thomson..................................................................................................137<br />
Toshiba....................................................................................................137<br />
Vidikron ...................................................................................................137<br />
VIZIO Inc.................................................................................................138<br />
Chapter 10 - LCD Panels<br />
Akira .......................................................................................................140<br />
Asus ........................................................................................................140<br />
BenQ .......................................................................................................140<br />
Hisense....................................................................................................140<br />
Hitachi .....................................................................................................140<br />
HP...........................................................................................................141<br />
H&B ........................................................................................................142<br />
Humax.....................................................................................................142<br />
JVC .........................................................................................................142<br />
LG...........................................................................................................146<br />
Maxent ....................................................................................................149<br />
Mitsubishi.................................................................................................150<br />
NIKADA ...................................................................................................151<br />
Norcent....................................................................................................151<br />
NUVISION ................................................................................................152<br />
Panasonic.................................................................................................152<br />
Philips......................................................................................................152<br />
Prima ......................................................................................................154<br />
Proton .....................................................................................................154<br />
Proview....................................................................................................156<br />
Runco ......................................................................................................156<br />
Samsung .................................................................................................157<br />
Sanyo......................................................................................................160<br />
Sharp ......................................................................................................161<br />
Sony .......................................................................................................168<br />
Syntax/Brillian ..........................................................................................173<br />
Thomson (RCA) ........................................................................................175<br />
Toshiba....................................................................................................175<br />
VIZIO Inc.................................................................................................178<br />
9
Vidikron ...................................................................................................179<br />
Viewsonic.................................................................................................179<br />
Westinghouse ...........................................................................................180<br />
Chapter 11 - <strong>HDTV</strong> Tuners / DVRs<br />
AMD ........................................................................................................184<br />
AverMedia ................................................................................................184<br />
AVerTVHD MCE A180.......................................................................184<br />
AVerTVHD Hybrid Express card .........................................................186<br />
AVerMedia AVerTVHD Combo PCI-E...................................................187<br />
AVerMedia AVerTVHD Hybrid USB .....................................................189<br />
AutummWave...........................................................................................190<br />
AV Toolbox...............................................................................................191<br />
CodexNovus .............................................................................................191<br />
Contemporary Research.............................................................................193<br />
Digeo ......................................................................................................193<br />
Digital Stream ..........................................................................................194<br />
DIRECTV ..................................................................................................195<br />
CES <strong>2007</strong>.......................................................................................196<br />
Sat-Go portable receiver ..................................................................196<br />
Dish Network............................................................................................196<br />
2006 line of MPEG-2/MPEG-4 models.................................................196<br />
CES <strong>2007</strong>.......................................................................................197<br />
Ezneo ......................................................................................................198<br />
Gefen ......................................................................................................198<br />
Hisense....................................................................................................198<br />
HP...........................................................................................................198<br />
Humax.....................................................................................................198<br />
JVC .........................................................................................................198<br />
Key Digital ...............................................................................................198<br />
LG...........................................................................................................198<br />
MatrixStream IPTV Technologies .................................................................199<br />
Deployment Diagram.......................................................................200<br />
MicroTune ................................................................................................202<br />
MIT (Micro Image <strong>Technology</strong>)....................................................................203<br />
Mitsubishi.................................................................................................204<br />
Motorola ..................................................................................................204<br />
CES <strong>2007</strong>.......................................................................................204<br />
MovieBeam ..............................................................................................205<br />
Moxi ........................................................................................................205<br />
MyDTV45.com ..........................................................................................205<br />
Netgear ...................................................................................................206<br />
Onair Solution...........................................................................................207<br />
Pace ........................................................................................................207<br />
PrimeDTV.................................................................................................207<br />
Pro-Brand ................................................................................................207<br />
PX Digital Multimedia.................................................................................207<br />
RCA.........................................................................................................207<br />
Samsung .................................................................................................208<br />
Scientific Atlanta .......................................................................................209<br />
CES <strong>2007</strong>.......................................................................................210<br />
10
Sharp ......................................................................................................211<br />
Sony .......................................................................................................211<br />
Sylvania...................................................................................................211<br />
TEAC .......................................................................................................211<br />
Thomson..................................................................................................211<br />
Cable STB DCI9000 .........................................................................212<br />
Satellite STB...................................................................................212<br />
IP DBI200 ......................................................................................212<br />
Triple Play Services over Multiple Network Types.................................213<br />
Tivo.........................................................................................................213<br />
USDTV.....................................................................................................213<br />
UTStarcom ...............................................................................................213<br />
V,Inc .......................................................................................................214<br />
Viewsonic.................................................................................................214<br />
Vizio........................................................................................................214<br />
Voom ......................................................................................................214<br />
Winegard .................................................................................................214<br />
Xceive .....................................................................................................215<br />
Zenith......................................................................................................218<br />
Zoran ......................................................................................................218<br />
Chapter 12 - High Definition DVD<br />
HD DVD and Blu-ray Formats<br />
Background ..............................................................................................219<br />
Formats Reconciliation ...............................................................................220<br />
Associations of the Formats ........................................................................220<br />
Formats - Companies Support ....................................................................221<br />
Universal Player ........................................................................................221<br />
Samsung ..............................................................................................221<br />
LG .......................................................................................................222<br />
The Universal Confusion .........................................................................223<br />
We Do it For the Consumer .....................................................................224<br />
Player Interactivity ....................................................................................224<br />
Content Protection for Hi Def DVD ...............................................................225<br />
AACS Down-Res........................................................................................226<br />
PVP-OPM..................................................................................................226<br />
Gaming....................................................................................................227<br />
How Much does the PS3 Actually Cost?.....................................................228<br />
Cables for PS3.......................................................................................229<br />
Console Comparative Speculations...........................................................229<br />
Xbox 360 ..............................................................................................230<br />
Hi-Def DVD Formats Specifications ..............................................................231<br />
Computing – Hi-Def Laptops.......................................................................231<br />
Toshiba ................................................................................................231<br />
Dell......................................................................................................232<br />
Fujitsu..................................................................................................233<br />
HP .......................................................................................................233<br />
Samsung ..............................................................................................233<br />
11
Sony ....................................................................................................233<br />
Computer Drives .......................................................................................234<br />
BenQ....................................................................................................234<br />
Dell......................................................................................................234<br />
NEC .....................................................................................................234<br />
Pioneer.................................................................................................235<br />
Sony ....................................................................................................235<br />
Toshiba ................................................................................................235<br />
CES <strong>2007</strong> and Late 2006 Computer Equipment Introductions ......................235<br />
Hitachi ...........................................................................................235<br />
HP.................................................................................................236<br />
LaCie .............................................................................................236<br />
LG.................................................................................................236<br />
Niveus Media ..................................................................................236<br />
Pioneer ..........................................................................................237<br />
Samsung .......................................................................................237<br />
Sony .............................................................................................238<br />
Toshiba..........................................................................................238<br />
Parts and Chips.........................................................................................239<br />
PC applications for BD ...............................................................................240<br />
Discs .......................................................................................................240<br />
NME .....................................................................................................241<br />
Multi-layer Dual Optical Disc....................................................................242<br />
Toshiba’s Triple-layer Hybrid TWIN Disc Format.........................................242<br />
Recording Media for HD DVD and Blu-ray .....................................................243<br />
Sony ....................................................................................................244<br />
TDK .....................................................................................................244<br />
HD DVD ROM............................................................................................244<br />
BD Discs ..................................................................................................245<br />
BD-ROM Pre-recorded Media.......................................................................245<br />
Studio Announcements...........................................................................245<br />
Format Launching ..................................................................................245<br />
HD DVD Launch .........................................................................................245<br />
Blu-ray Launch ..........................................................................................246<br />
Industry and Content Support – CES <strong>2007</strong>................................................247<br />
Blu-ray Presentation...................................................................................247<br />
HD DVD Presentation .................................................................................248<br />
Warner’s Total Hi Def Disc (Dual Blue Laser Formats) ....................................248<br />
Format Market Penetration – CES <strong>2007</strong>........................................................249<br />
Titles and Blu-ray Player Sales....................................................................250<br />
Film Grain Added to HD DVD ......................................................................251<br />
HD DVD Players/Recorders ................................................................... 253<br />
Alco .....................................................................................................253<br />
LG .......................................................................................................253<br />
Onkyo ..................................................................................................253<br />
RCA .....................................................................................................253<br />
Sanyo ..................................................................................................254<br />
Shinco Electronics..................................................................................254<br />
Toshiba ................................................................................................254<br />
12
The Actual Value of the Player ..........................................................254<br />
Current Toshiba Players: ..................................................................256<br />
1080p Video Processing in Toshiba Players .........................................256<br />
1080p 24fps Output in Toshiba Players ..............................................257<br />
Toshiba Plans for 1080p 24fps ..........................................................257<br />
New Toshiba Players........................................................................258<br />
Blu-ray Players / Recorders .................................................................. 260<br />
Hitachi..................................................................................................260<br />
JVC ......................................................................................................260<br />
LiteOn ..................................................................................................261<br />
LG .......................................................................................................261<br />
Mitsubishi .............................................................................................263<br />
Panasonic .............................................................................................263<br />
Philips ..................................................................................................264<br />
Pioneer.................................................................................................265<br />
Samsung ..............................................................................................266<br />
Sharp ...................................................................................................269<br />
Sony ....................................................................................................270<br />
Formats Implementation Issues ..................................................................271<br />
Blu-ray ..........................................................................................271<br />
HD DVD .........................................................................................272<br />
Analysis for the Hi-Def DVD Adopter............................................................273<br />
Balancing Features.................................................................................273<br />
1080p Outputs ......................................................................................273<br />
1080p24fps for Film Content Playback......................................................273<br />
The Format Choice - Survey Question.......................................................274<br />
Audio Claims .........................................................................................275<br />
Image Constraint Token (ICT) - Early Adopter Impact ................................276<br />
ICT Token - An Issue Anytime any Place...................................................276<br />
ICT Token - Industry Impact ...................................................................277<br />
Hybrid Discs..........................................................................................277<br />
Partial Implementation of Features ..........................................................278<br />
A Different View of Hi-Def DVD Booths at CES ..............................................279<br />
Asia’s Hi-Def DVD Challengers.................................................................. 280<br />
China’s EVD, HVD, and HDV .......................................................................280<br />
Taiwan’s Forward Versatile Disc (FVD) .........................................................280<br />
Versatile Multi-layer Disc - VMD Format .......................................................283<br />
Chapter 13 - HD Video Processors<br />
Engines for Video Processors<br />
ABT......................................................................................................284<br />
Gennum Corporation ..............................................................................285<br />
Silicon Optix..........................................................................................287<br />
Algolith ..........................................................................................289<br />
BenQ .............................................................................................289<br />
Calibre...........................................................................................290<br />
Cinetron.........................................................................................290<br />
13
Denon ...........................................................................................290<br />
Digital Projection.............................................................................290<br />
Epson ............................................................................................290<br />
JVC ...............................................................................................290<br />
Mitsubishi.......................................................................................290<br />
NEC...............................................................................................290<br />
Proview..........................................................................................290<br />
Syntax...........................................................................................290<br />
Toshiba..........................................................................................290<br />
Yamaha .........................................................................................291<br />
GEO chip........................................................................................291<br />
Video Processors<br />
Algolith.................................................................................................293<br />
Calibre .................................................................................................294<br />
Digital Projection ...................................................................................295<br />
DVDO...................................................................................................296<br />
Faroudja ...............................................................................................296<br />
Gefen ...................................................................................................296<br />
Lumagen ..............................................................................................297<br />
NEC .....................................................................................................298<br />
Pixel Magic (Crystalio II).........................................................................298<br />
Chapter 14 - HD Video Cameras<br />
HDV Format .............................................................................................299<br />
AVCHD Format..........................................................................................299<br />
Ambarella ................................................................................................299<br />
Canon......................................................................................................299<br />
Professional Products.......................................................................299<br />
Consumer Camcorders.....................................................................301<br />
Hitachi .....................................................................................................303<br />
JVC .........................................................................................................303<br />
Consumer Products – CES <strong>2007</strong> ........................................................304<br />
Professional Products.......................................................................306<br />
Panasonic.................................................................................................307<br />
Panasonic Broadcast........................................................................308<br />
Consumer Products .........................................................................309<br />
Sanyo......................................................................................................311<br />
Samsung .................................................................................................313<br />
Sony .......................................................................................................313<br />
Sony High Performance Broadcast.....................................................314<br />
Consumer Products .........................................................................315<br />
Chapter 15 - Screens and HT Equipment<br />
Digital Innovations ....................................................................................320<br />
Dnp.........................................................................................................320<br />
D-Box......................................................................................................320<br />
Hillcrest Labs ............................................................................................321<br />
Jasco GE ..................................................................................................321<br />
Lightscope................................................................................................321<br />
Optoma ...................................................................................................322<br />
14
Panamorph...............................................................................................322<br />
Planar Systems .........................................................................................322<br />
Sima .......................................................................................................323<br />
Stewart....................................................................................................323<br />
VUTEC .....................................................................................................323<br />
Glossary of H/DTV Terms ..................................................... 326<br />
About the Author .................................................................. 354<br />
15
About the Author<br />
Rodolfo La Maestra is the Senior Technical Director of the <strong>HDTV</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>. Rodolfo<br />
participated in the <strong>HDTV</strong> vision since the late 1980's when <strong>HDTV</strong><br />
was first proposed as an analog system. In the late 1990's, he<br />
begun tracking and reviewing <strong>HDTV</strong> related technologies and<br />
hundreds of consumer products, which prompted him in 2002 to<br />
pioneer the authoring of the annual <strong>HDTV</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
report, which encompasses all <strong>HDTV</strong>s and related equipment<br />
including Hi-Def DVD, content providers, distribution systems<br />
(broadcast, cable, satellite), government, standards,<br />
connectivity, content protection, H/DTV tuners and DVRs, etc.<br />
Rodolfo considers himself an educator, not a journalist,<br />
transferring knowledge, research, and experience. In addition to this annual<br />
publication, he has authored a variety of tutorials and educative articles for <strong>HDTV</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong>, DVDetc, and <strong>HDTV</strong>etc <strong>Magazine</strong>s, and served as technical consultant and<br />
editor for the "Reference Guide" and the "<strong>HDTV</strong> Glossary of Terms" for <strong>HDTV</strong>etc<br />
<strong>Magazine</strong>, included in this report and now available for <strong>HDTV</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> readers.<br />
In 2004, to help the public understand the H/DTV complexity, he began recording a<br />
TV technology periodical for Cable television that airs weekly. By 2006, the show<br />
reached the rating of second most viewed by the public among all the technology<br />
episodes. The opening episode at <strong>HDTV</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> Resources:<br />
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/reference/tvshow_how-it-works.php<br />
Rodolfo's background encompasses Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, and<br />
Audio and Video Electronics, over 4,000 hours of professional training, a BS in<br />
Computer and Information Systems, and over thirty professional and post-graduate<br />
diplomas, some from American, George Washington, and MIT Universities.<br />
After 38 years of computer systems career Rodolfo retired in 2003 as Chief of<br />
Systems Development from the Inter-American Development Bank. He directed 65<br />
computer professionals in the areas of information/transactional/web online systems,<br />
database administration, etc. supporting about 30 member countries 24/7.<br />
In parallel, from 1998 he concentrated his personal efforts in helping the public with<br />
his other career of audio/video electronics. Rodolfo started with hi-end audio in the<br />
early 60’s and merged with Home Theater video and multichannel audio technologies<br />
over the past 40 years, such as the niche widescreen laser disc, anamorphic DVD,<br />
16x9 NTSC displays, <strong>HDTV</strong>, Hi-def DVD, and 2.35:1 CinemaScope HD Home Theater.<br />
When <strong>HDTV</strong> started airing in November 1998, he was an early adopter of the <strong>HDTV</strong><br />
dream he followed since 80’s but realized that the technology as implemented would<br />
overwhelm regular consumers due to its complexity, and it certainly does even<br />
today. Rodolfo then launched his <strong>HDTV</strong> mission of<br />
educating and helping consumers understand the<br />
complexity, the challenge, and the beauty of the<br />
technology, so the public learns to appreciate<br />
<strong>HDTV</strong> not just as another television.<br />
Copyright <strong>2007</strong> Rodolfo La Maestra, all rights reserved.<br />
The material might not be reproduced or distributed in any form<br />
without permission from the author.<br />
354