news archive
Amulet
Introduces LCD With Embedded GUI
Santa Clara,
California, September 16, 2003 - Amulet Technologies
introduced today the Amulet LCD, a 5.7-inch QVGA display
panel with an embedded graphical operating system that
allows designers to create a handsome, easy-to-use user
interface for any product, while reducing screen-content
development cycles by as much as 95 percent.
The
system-in-a-module solution tightly integrates the LCD panel
with the graphical operating system in silicon. Amulet's
chip features a graphic library, dedicated microprocessor,
and LCD controller. Through this tight integration, the
outward appearance of a wide range of production systems can
be improved in record time compared with the traditional
approach.
The Amulet
LCD system-in-a-module allows developers to create
intuitive, graphics-based control panels for their systems
intuitively. The GUI can first be created in HTML using a
standard text editor on a PC. It can be easily ported over
to the graphics operating system, and the display is then
ready to go. Contemporary methods require software
programming, which is a time-consuming and painstaking
process that can slow time-to-market cycles and result in
additional development costs..
The Amulet
LCD with embedded GUI comes equipped with standard
communication ports. It is available for $125 each in
quantities of 10,000 units or more.
Information: www.amulettechnologies.com.
NEC-Mitsubishi
Introduces Two Low-priced NEC LCD Monitors
Hollywood,
California, September 22 - At the System Builder Summit
being held here, NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics Display of
America today announced two new NEC AccuSync LCD monitors
for system builders, as well as for mainstream home,
education and business markets. With low price points of
$309 ESP and $439 ESP, the 15-inch NEC AccuSync LCD51V and
17-inch NEC LCD71V are viable alternatives to CRT monitors
for users looking to upgrade. The monitors feature the
latest thin-frame design and advanced screen performance
traditionally only seen in high-end models, according to a
company statement.
"The
worldwide PC monitor market continues to evolve, driven by
the low price points of LCD displays that have seen revenues
in this category swell to more than $21 billion in 2003,
surpassing traditional cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors for
the first time ever," said Jennifer Gallo, research
analyst at IDC. "Mainstream consumers are taking
advantage of aggressive prices, and they look to invest in
reliable, high-quality LCD displays that provide good
value."
These LCD
monitors have lumiance levels of 250 cd/m² for the NEC
MultiSync LCD51V and 250 cd/m² for the NEC MultiSync LCD71V
and recommended resolutions of 1024x768 and 1280x1024
respectively. Rapid Response technology in the displays
generates response times of 30 ms or less and achieves as
many as 40 frames per second for improved viewing of games,
presentations, and streaming video.
The NEC
AccuSync LCD51V and LCD71V are available in white and black
cabinet options. NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics Display's
monitors are backed by a three-year limited warranty,
including backlight. Technical support is available 24 hours
a day, seven days a week by calling 1-800-632-4662.
Information: Tel:
(888) NEC-MITS, www.necmitsubishi.com.
Sharp
Shipping New 37-inch, 16:9 Professional LCD Monitor
Mahwah, New
Jersey, September 9 (PRNewswire) - Sharp Electronics
Corporation today announced that it has begun shipping the
LC-M3700, a 37-inch professional LCD video monitor. The
LC-M3700 is Sharp's first entry in a new line of
professional LCD video/data monitors designed to capitalize
on the rapidly growing market demand for bright, clear,
long-lasting information displays. Sharp Electronics is the
U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary of Sharp Corporation.
The
LC-M3700's backlight has a 60,000-hour life, nearly double
the life expectancy of similarly sized plasma models. Unlike
plasma displays and some competitive LCD models, the
LC-M3700 features a replaceable backlight, which extends the
unit's life indefinitely. The new monitor features
widescreen, high-definition images; true 16:9 aspect ratio,
and 1366x768 native resolution. The monitor delivers an
800:1 contrast ratio and offers170-degree viewing angles.
Intended
applications for the LC-M3700 include integrated
information-system installations in airports, hotels,
transportation centers, retail outlets, trade shows,
museums, casinos/sports-books, and stadiums, as well as
videoconferencing and television broadcast/production.
A Black TFT/Bright
Pixel Elimination feature ensures that failed pixels are
virtually invisible to the viewer while eliminating the risk
of "ghost" images that can occasionally appear on
plasma monitors. The LC-M3700 offers low reflectivity, which
heightens the perceived image contrast when viewed in a
well-lit space.
The LC-M3700
measures 38.3-inches (W) by 24-inches (H) by 3.9- inches (D)
and weighs less than 44 lbs. It is available now at an MSRP
of $7,995 through Sharp's authorized distribution channels.
Information: www.SharpLCD.com,
email: ProLCD@SharpSEC.com.
Thomson
Shows New RCA Digital Home Entertainment Products at CEDIA
Indianapolis,
Indiana, September 4 - With U.S. sales of HDTV products
expected to break the four-million-unit mark this year,
Thomson is now shipping a new series of RCA and RCA Scenium
high-definition television products to retailers that will
enable easy home recording of HDTV and offer consumers
outstanding microdisplay picture performance with a new
bright, lightweight, 50-inch DLP HDTV.
Among the new
products is the RCA Scenium 50-inch Digital Light Processing
HDTV (model HDLP50W151) and a small set-top hard-disc
recording device (DVR10) that finally lets viewers
affordably record HDTV programs for later viewing. In
addition, Thomson is offering new HDTV set-top receivers, a
new RCA Scenium 50-inch plasma display, and two new RCA LCD
displays with integrated DVD players. These products, as
well as a selection of HDTV Monitors and HDTV Sets from the
full RCA product line, are on display this week at the CEDIA
Expo in Indianapolis.
"HDTV is
rapidly achieving wider consumer acceptance and Thomson is
at the forefront with the latest technologies and features
at affordable price points. Our new HDTV products are
designed to bring HDTV to the mainstream market," said
Michael O'Hara, Executive Vice President of Worldwide
Consumer Products Marketing & Sales.
Among the products Thomson is
showing at CEDIA:
-
RCA
Scenium HDLP50W151 integrated, widescreen HDTV set,
which measures just 16 inches deep and weighs less than
100 pounds. It incorporates the Texas Instruments'
Mustang/HD2 chip and microdisplay light engine. With
integrated tuning/decoding, this HDTV Set receives both
terrestrial HDTV broadcasts and in-the-clear local
broadcasts on digital cable, and has an Ethernet
connection for online Internet surfing. Suggested retail
price is $3999.
-
RCA
Scenium PHD50500 plasma HDTV monitor, which has XGA
resolution (1280x768), a high-purity screen filter to
reduce glare, and 10-bit display technology that is
capable of delivering an extensive range of shading and
coloring options. A 3D Y/C Digital Comb filter
eliminates dot and edge crawl, and provides for better
transition between scene changes. Suggested retail price
is $9999.
-
RCA
ATSC11 (ATSC digital reception) and RCA ATSC21 (ATSC
digital and NTSC analog reception) set-top HDTV
receivers, which deliver over-the-air HDTV when
connected to an HDTV monitor. Features include DVI
outputs, Y-Pr-Pb outputs, on-screen program guide, and
an on-screen menu system that enables consumers to
choose screen ratios. Suggested retail price of ATSC 11
is $449. Suggested retail price of ATSC21 is $499.
Information: http://www.thomson.net.
Panasonic
Introduces First Cable-Ready HDTV At CEDIA
Indianapolis,
Indiana, September 4 - The first of Panasonic's cable-ready
digital TV sets is being introduced here at the Custom
Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA)
Expo today. The 53-inch widescreen (16:9) projection
high-definition PT-53WXD63 is the first integrated DTV set
to earn certified status from CableLabs to connect directly
to cable television systems and receive digital services.
With the use of an authorized CableCARD™ this TV can
receive high-definition and other digital programs via
cable, including premium channels, without requiring a cable
set-top box. (CableLabs Certified means that the device has
passed a series of tests for compliance with the indicated
version of the specification and has thus demonstrated
interoperability with multiple cable distribution networks.
Founded in 1988 by members of the cable television industry,
Cable Television Laboratories is a non-profit research and
development consortium.)
Ed Wolff,
Vice President of Merchandising, Panasonic Display Group,
said, "In the next few years our industry will undergo
a remarkable change. We will be adding ATSC tuners into all
our TV products. Panasonic plans to support the Digital
Tuner Mandate by not only making models that include the
digital tuner but by adding the CableCard feature to all our
ATSC models as well. The PT-53WXD63 is the first of 6 new
Panasonic models with ATSC/CableCARD that we will roll out
to market over the next 90 days."
In addition
to being digital-cable-ready, the PT-53WXD63 has Photo
Viewer SD Memory Card and PCMCIA card slots for viewing
still picture images on the TV screen. The set also has an
HDMI (High Definition and Multimedia Interface) connector
with HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). The
PT-53WXD63 is due by the end of September at an MSRP of
$2299.95.
Information: www.panasonic.com.
Sencore
Introduces Portable "Pocket PC" Color Analyzer
Sioux Falls,
South Dakota, September 3 - Sencore Electronics today
introduced its CP5001 All-Display ColorPro, a portable color
analyzer for calibrating displays based on all video display
technologies, including DLP, LCD, plasma, and CRT. The
CP5001 calibrates front and rear projectors as well as
direct-view displays. The easy-to-use graphical interface
greatly decreases calibration time with easy-to-follow
measurement screens. The CIE and RGB screens make
calibrations simple by illustrating exactly which colors
need adjusting.
The portable,
handheld operation and high-resolution color display of the
CP5001 makes it easy to align displays on location: home
theater, mall, medical operating room, convention center,
and more. Its performance specifications permit the
calibration of video displays in the field with lab-grade
accuracy. Specifications are NIST traceable. Custom software
lets you download calibration data to a PC for
documentation, data storage, and report generation.
The CP5001
comes supplied with a durable carrying case, a 30-foot
serial extension cable, and a camera-tripod mounting bracket
for calibrating front-projector displays.
Information: Jeff
Murray. Tel: (800) 736-2673, ext. 228, email: jmurray@sencore.com.
