A new generation of TV’s is set to be rolled out with Sony claiming that they will shortly launch the world’s thinnest LCD TV as well as TV’s that incorporate 200 frames per second as opposed to the current 100 FPS TV’s. Panasonic has also announced a new TV with a 1 terabyte hard drive that will eliminate the need for a separate PVR. The new 40-inch thin Sony model, which is only 9.9 mm thick, is estimated to sell for over $4,500. Sony claim that they have managed to get thge size down due to new LED lighting technology that is not behind the actual LCD, but on the four corners. Using some optical device, the powerful light from the corners gets distributed evenly through the whole screen. The new Sony fast motion screens which will be available in Bravia models 46″ and upwards will deliver a smoother fast action or sporting image are the first LCD TVs that display 200HZ frames per second, compared with 120 frames for Sony’s existing models. In Australia the model will be 200Hz which according to Sony will have sophisticated algorithms developed for the new Motionflow 200Hz system employed by the new Bravia Z4500. This calculates three additional frames for every original, upping the frame rate from 50 to 200 per second. The result is the smoothest and clearest motion reproduction to be achieved by an LCD TV. A complementary image enhancement technology called IB Reduction (Image Blur Reduction) boosts the sharpness of the final picture by improving the original, frame by frame, before it is processed by Motionflow 200Hz. Whether allowing you to see the detail of a panning shot exactly as the Director intended or viewing the ultimate in smooth motion clarity for sports like football, the 200Hz Motionflow BRAVIA sets new standards in image quality and enjoyment. Both models will go on sale in Japan on Nov. 10 and are expected in Australia in the first quarter of 2009. Sony are also set to roll out a new Bravia 2 TV engine claiming that the underlying superiority of the Bravia Z4500’s picture is attributable to the new version of the Sony signal processor which uses proprietary technology to improve every aspect of the image, frame by frame, in real time. They claim that the Bravia Engine 2 is better at reproducing realistic black, depicting objects with impressively lifelike depth and detail, removing blemishes or ‘noise’ from the picture. Sony say that contrast is essential to a quality picture, and a very high screen dynamic contrast ratio of 80,000:1 is capable with the new engine.
Sony said a slowing economy has had little effect on its LCD TV sales, and that the maker of Bravia brand flat TVs is on track to hit its target to sell 17 million LCD TVs in the year to March 2009.
