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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

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