CES, LAS VEGAS - JANUARY 04, 2006
TOSHIBA STRENGTHENS ITS FLAT PANEL TV LINE-UP WITH NEW LARGER LCD TV SCREEN SIZES, NEW PLASMA TV MODELS, AND THE BROADEST SELECTION OF LCDVD™ IN THE INDUSTRY
Toshiba introduces new LCD screen sizes with 1080p resolution
Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. (“Toshiba”)
displayed its newly expanded flat panel TV line-up at CES 2006. Exhibiting one of the most extensive flat panel TV assortments in the industry, Toshiba continued to show its leadership with the widest offering of LCDVD (LCD/DVD Combination TV) models available. Further strengthening the line, Toshiba displayed two new Plasma TV models, and two new 1080p LCD TV screen sizes.
“Toshiba continues to broaden and strengthen its flat panel TV line-up with new screen sizes, and new technologies,” said Scott Ramirez, Vice President, TV Marketing. “As a leader in home theater, it has been our history to provide high quality displays, with a wide variety of consumer choice. We now continue that history in flat panel TV with 25 different flat panel TV models, including two new step-up 1080p LCD TV screen sizes in the key 40” to 50” home theater size range.”
Toshiba displayed two new High Definition Plasma TV models. The new 42HP66 (42” diagonally measured) and 50HP66 (50” diagonally measured) utilize 10,000:1 high contrast ratio panels for enhanced picture quality. These full featured models come equipped with digital tuning (ATSC/QAM), dual HDMI™ inputs, a PC input and a new modern cosmetic design.
In addition, Toshiba displayed new 42” and 47” diagonally measured XHD™ 1080p LCD TV models. XHD LCD will be available in both TheaterWide® and Cinema Series®. They create the perfect step-up from the 720p Plasma models, and will include advanced Toshiba technology such as:
- HIGH-SPEED LCD Panel Technology
(8ms or less Panel Response Speed). Provides clean natural images from fast motion video.
- New PixelPure™ 14-Bit Digital Video Processing.
This new high-speed system operates at 333 MHz, and provides true 14-Bit processing for more natural images. In addition to its high bit rate, PixelPure 14-Bit also features new real speed progressive scanning, increased dynamic range, increased sharpness, improved video noise reduction and dynamic gamma for uncompromised picture quality.
Allows reception of Analog and Digital Cable TV without the use of a separate Set-top Box (Cable Service Required).
- TV Guide On Screen® Interactive Program Guide.
Easy channel navigation for Terrestrial TV, Cable TV and now DIRECTV Set-top Box Control.
- THINC™ (Toshiba Home Interactive Network Connection).
Home entertainment networking that allows consumers to connect their TV to their computer and playback MP3 files and JPEG files, using only the TV remote.
- New SystemMaster™ ergonomic universal remote control.
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Surprisingly, the 42” 42HL196 is already
out on the market, and for a price - $2,461.95 - which would surprise anyone - considering that according to this article, "the 32 to 42-inch H series also have a 160GB drive, and Ethernet for streaming video..." Though it seems more likely the models the article refers to are for Japanese consumers only.
The 47” is still in the pipeline.
Somewhat confusingly, these panels are being introduced to European markets as the 42WLT66 and 47WLT66 (32" & 37" WLT66-series are also available but have only 1366x768 resolution). The major build difference is they include dual SCART connectors.
Considering the excellent build quality of the previous models and their superb performance, it looks likely these new models will also be pretty slick...
Think Sharp quality, Westinghouse price.
