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Bert22306
About 1991 or so, we were at the same place with HDTV as we are now with UHDTV. ...
Roman Dunduk
Without a new entertainment system that can sport a UHDTV resolution, TV makers ...
Sharp doubles down on large screen TV
David Benjamin
1/8/2013 4:14 PM EST
LAS VEGAS -- As traditional TV manufacturers seek ways to jettison their commodity flat-panel TV businesses, Sharp Corp. is doubling down on its bet to remain viable as a top supplier of bigger and better TVs.
Speaking here this week during the Consumer Electronics Show, an array of Sharp executives led by Toshi Osawa, chairman and CEO of its U.S. electronics marketing unit, announced that the Japanese company's future would rest squarely on TVs that are bigger and broader, with higher resolution and generally more expensive than ever before.
The foundation of Sharp's strategy, expressed by executive vice president Kozo Takahashi, lies in the transition of flat-panel TV from LCD to LED displays, with Sharp's emphasis on large screens and the expected proliferation of ultra-high definition TV (UHDTV) resolution. Intrinsic to success in this risky proposition is a new substrate for flat panels, developed jointly by Sharp and Corning Inc.
Sharp's IGZO technology (an acronym for its components: indium, gallium, zinc and oxygen) has already been deployed in Japan in smaller LCD devices, a Sharp Aquos ZETA smartphone and an Aquos tablet, Takahashi said.
According to James Clappin, president of display technologies at Corning, the combination of IGZO with Corning's patented Lotus glass, created an LED substrate with four times the resolution of full HD, "stunning color" and lower power consumption than current LED screens.
These technologies, said Jim Sanduski, Sharp's vice president of strategic marketing, empower its introduction of the industry's largest line -- 21 models -- of large-screen LED TVs ranging from 60 to 90 inches, with prices from $1,000 to $9,000.
Sharp shows off an array of new TVs at its CES press conference.
At the pinnacle of this product push -- and the biggest gamble -- stand two UHDTV models promised in 2013.
Next: UHDTV price?
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Roman Dunduk
1/8/2013 4:39 PM EST
Without a new entertainment system that can sport a UHDTV resolution, TV makers are going down. SAme as PS3 and Xbox360 drove the HD TV market, we need PS4 and Xbox720 with 4k2k resolution to do the same. Broadcasters will catch up later on.
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Bert22306
1/8/2013 9:36 PM EST
About 1991 or so, we were at the same place with HDTV as we are now with UHDTV. Same questione being asked, same predictions of way expensive sets. Back then, my take was, no. The HD sets will soon cost what the fuzzy, grainy, ugly analog CRTs of the time went for. There was only a short transitional period when HD sets were expensive and sold slowly. Starting maybe in 2003 or so, the prices fell to affordable levels, and in short order just about anyone could make the switch.
A simlar, though possibly less traumatic transition, COULD happen with UHD. The good news for consumers is, we already have the required digital distribution media in place (terrestrial, cable, and satellite)! And we also have a suitably improved compression algorithm already in the works (H.265). So really, all we need now is to see some volume production.
Of course, this doesn't help vendors so much, if they intend on creating a luxury item that will remain luxury for the long haul. There's no reason to believe that these UHD sets would retain premium pricing any longer than HD sets did. Something like 5 to 6 years, before they reach the price levels the masses will accept. And by the way, if they stay high-priced much longer than that, the pundits will call them a "market failure."
But the good news this time is, no anxiety about reception. At least, for those of us who use over the air TV. Internet delivery of UHD might be problematic, depending how fast the ISPs are upgrading their networks.
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