A Technology to Watch

[WRATHWILDE]

Don't by that Plasma or LCD or DLP display just yet!

Canon and Toshiba have developed a thin panel low power display that beats everything else hands down. Known as a SED display they should start hitting the shops in the middle of next year. 100,000:1 contrast ratios, ultra fast response times, 1080p... what more could you want.

The photo above is a screen shot taken directly from the SED display in available light by an 8 megapixel digital camera. It's presented here to show the type of program material used in the demo (some of which was darker than this and thus impossible to photograph on-the-fly) and a very rough idea of the quality of the black levels and shadow detail presented by the SED display. Keep in mind the obvious fact that there are several generations of processing—hand-held photography, jpeg compression, internet transmission, display on your monitor—between what you see here and the original display.

http://softwareforhomes.com/SED-Toshiba-Canon-HDTV-display.htm

http://ultimateavmag.com/news/101804ceatec/

http://www.hardware.fr/articles/593-2/rencontre-avec-troisieme-type-sed.html

Ah, what I want next Christmas.

Wrathwilde

 

[Angus]

Nice post Wrath. We have been hearing about this technology for a while and it is nice to see they are finally presenting it. The main advantages we are aware of are as follows:

Each pixel is a seperate CRT. These are extremely reliable (how many people have 20 or 30 year old TV´s that still work). Plasma screens lose some of their definition very quickly as the pixels stop working.

True black. Big one here as both LCD´s and Plasma´s cannot provide this. There is no backlight or residual charge in a SED that is making the pixel glow.

LCD´s have a lag time as the polarization changes the pixel. SED´s are super fast.

And one not discussed much - flexible screens that can be molded to different surface shapes or that can be changed while working. Brings up the whole hologram type issue somewhat and makes it semi-acheivable.

Angus

 

[WRATHWILDE]

Another advantage of the SED's... the phosphors are placed on the screen using ink-jet technology... so massive screen sizes shouldn't be an issue.

Wrathwilde

 

[lostnbronx]

A little further on the horizon -- but not much -- is Electronic Paper, which will certainly revolutionize publishing and computer display technology. I can't see this competing for the HD market any time soon, but it seems inevitable that, once high quality photographs can be transfered to this kind of paper, it will replace most other kinds of media displays currently in use or under development.

The future isn't now, perhaps, but it's a lot closer than it used to be!

http://www2.parc.com/dhl/projects/gyricon/

http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392010&language=english

http://www.media.mit.edu/micromedia/elecpaper.html

-David

 

[WRATHWILDE]

Another new TV tech coming... laser rear projection using TI's DLP chip.

Selected Quotes...

Mitsubishi engineers said this provided a new look in large-screen units, signaling a move to lighter, slimmer profiles for rear-projection television. In terms of performance, Mr. DeMartin said, laser television promises a greater range and intensity of colors. He said the new sets would be made with compact, sculptured cabinets and remain relatively light because the screens would be advanced plastics rather than the glass common in plasma television flat-panel units.

The screens will be so lightweight that the need for frames will be significantly lessened, Mr. DeMartin added. This will give the television a cleaner, practically all-screen look.

Mr. DeMartin said laser television would use about a third the power of conventional, large-screen models that depend on high-power lamps. In such television, he said, the lamps are required to be on at full power whenever the sets that use them are on. But Mitsubishi's new lasers, which are based in semiconductors, turn on and off when needed. For example, Mr. DeMartin said, when black is required in an image — still a challenge for some plasma-based television — the laser switches off.

These solid-state lasers, he added, will greatly outlast lamps. As a light source, he said, they are practically "permanent," meaning that the lasers should last for the set's lifetime.

Full article -
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/03/b...dcf2d24530e989&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Wrathwilde

 

[WRATHWILDE]

...
On another note... Canon/Toshiba SED's have been delayed till last half of 2007. Laser just might kill it off as it's probably going to be much cheaper to produce and will offer good black levels. Don't know if I like the thought of plastic screens though, scratching and hazing might be an issue if cleaned with the wrong household cleanser.

Wrathwilde

 

[WRATHWILDE]

Ok, looks like Sony can trump Canon's SED...

Sony's 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio 27-inch OLED HDTV - That's not a typo!!! A million to 1 contrast ratio. And where as LCD TVs are lucky to have an under 10ms response time... Sony's OLED claims a .01ms video response time. OK, now I just have to wait another couple of years before upgrading, but hey, OLEDs and SED should hit market around the same time so maybe there will be a price war. I can dream can't I?

Image links to article -
<img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/01/sony-oled3.jpg">

Check out how thin the screens are...

<img src="http://i.n.com.com/i/ne/p/2007/ces2007-094_550x413.jpg">

11mm thick for the 27", but only 3mm thick for the smaller 11" model, I imagine the difference is attributed to the fact that the 27" needed greater structural integrity.

Cheers,
Wrathwilde

 

[akueck]

OLEDs are so cool. I knew people working on them during my undergrad. My favorite part was the OLED solar cells that degraded during exposure to ... sunlight. Hahaha. (But that was 4 years ago.) Stability is still a huge issue though, of course, but the flexibility of OLEDs can allow roll-to-roll processing, and everybody loves that. If I remember right, OLEDs can have a burn-in problem though, so watch out for that.

 

[WRATHWILDE]

With all this cool tech on the more than a year over the Horizon it figures that my TV chose last week to give up the ghost. So I just went on an Orgy of electronic acquisition. Pictures link to descriptions...

32 Inch HD Samsung LCD (1080i - 720p) Original List $1800, picked up as Open Box for $900
<img src="http://www.hometheatermag.com/images/archivesart/906samsung.1.jpg">

My Old receiver was a 105 watts per channel (x5) top of the line Pioneer, but was 15 years old and didn't offer component video switching so...

Sony STR-DG1000, 110 watts (x7) supports 1080p component & HDMI video switching & conversions
<img src="http://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/vanns/538999147?$large_item$">

Decided to get some surround sound speakers to compliment my Bose 6.2's (link to my review @audioreview.com) it's review 3 of 13. So...

Bose 901 Series VI $1398 new, picked up a pair w/ equalizer on Ebay for $390 these will become my front speakers, 6.2s to the rear.
<img src="http://i7.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/8c/43/14af_1.JPG">

My Entertainment System Already includes (2) Sony 400 Disc DVD Changers and (1) Sony 300 disc CD Changer, the best part is that I was able to program the Sony Remote to control them all!!!

Cheers,
Wrathwilde

 

[akueck]

So, that's an open invitation to every major sporting event in the future. I'm game. I'll bring beer. :toothy10:

 

[sandman]

Awesome bargains Wrathwilde. That's some serious saving son the new gear.

I always like to look for floor models on "Manager's special". Cheap as heck and full warranty goes along with it. My systems are only a couple of eyars old right now though so it'll be a while yet before I can upgrade again. Then again, considering the rate that technology is improving, by the time I need a new tv I should be able to really get something outrageous.