There have recently been reports from Japan that Apple has plans to release their much awaited television sets in three sizes primarily. The smallest being a 32″ flat panel, followed by a 42″ or 43″ model and finally the largest one, which is a 55″ model. The question that popped into everyone’s mind was why Japan is involved here? The answer to this, as far as rumors go is that Apple is probably going to tie up with one of the Japanese TV giants in their debut venture into the world of television manufacturing. Whether it is going to be Sony, Panasonic or Toshiba, we are not aware of at this time. Another source reports that the famed Siri application which is now used by the iPhone 4S, is going to be used in these new TV sets, enabling them to be voice controlled as well. What is expected by everyone in the upcoming Apple TV is the use of the ARM A6 chip (successor to the A4 chips used now in iPhones and iPads). This of course will raise the bar for other companies and once again, rumor has it Korean giants like Samsung and LG are also getting ready for the competition with ARM powered OLED TVs of their own.
After Sharp and I-cubed showcased their 4K prototype LCD TV earlier at the CEATEC, Toshiba has now displayed one of their own at the CEATEC. With the resolution the same as the Sharp 4K TV (4 times the standard Full HD resolution, i.e. 3,840×2,160), the REGZA 55X3 also boasts Toshiba’s glassless 3D tech. The 4K resolution is however, only reserved for two dimensional viewing as three dimensional pictures will be displayed at only 1,280×720 resolution, which is sadly not even Full HD.
The television on display was a 55 inch LED LCD with the brand new “REGZA Engine CEVO Duo” processor and 5,000:1 contrast ratio. The face tracking technology along with the camera under the panel enables glassless 3D viewing possible and though it can still improve, it isn’t bad either. The Quad Full HD TV created quite a stir with people having to and of course, “choosing to” stand for over half an hour to get a look at the REGZA 55X3. When it hits markets in Japan later in December, it is expected to be priced at around $11,700.
After the glassless 3D surprise that the Japanese company brought to us with the ZL2 at IFA 2011, Toshiba is now back to 3D with glasses. The Toshiba TL515 is targeted towards the more budget conscious TV enthusiasts among us with its combo of affordable pricing and impressive technology, especially with the inclusion of Toshiba’s Natural 3D tech. The TL515 will have Smart TV capabilities with Yahoo widgets and Netflix present in it, right out of the box. To add value to the Passive 3D powered television set, you will also get four 3D glasses when you buy the TV in addition to the option of buying a “Party Pack” of them at $60 only. Expect standard Full HD features like 1080p playback for both 2D and 3D video where it is supported, with a refresh rate of 240Hz and local dimming capabilities to attain the deepest of black levels on the LED panel. All of this was showcased at the Pepcom’s 2011 Holiday Spectacular in New York City, by Toshiba last week. Although the sizes were announced to range from 32″ to 55″ in the TL515 series, the exact prices may differ depending on your location, however, you can catch a bargain on Amazon without having to worry about that.
Toshiba has lived up to its promise of bringing the glassless 3D TV to consumers by the year 2012. The 55ZL2 from Toshiba is a 55″ 3D LCD HDTV with Quad HD (4K) capabilities, but what is more astonishing is the flat screen’s ability to deliver images directly to the human eye without the aid of a compatible 3D glass! The US release date is not confirmed yet, but it will probably be available in the market for a hefty price tag of around $11,400 by early 2012.
Toshiba has managed to incorporate glassless 3D with a number of small, specialized lenses on the screen of the 55ZL2 that send separate visual signals of the same image to each eye at the same time. The result is that the human brain constructs a three dimensional image by relating the two separate signals and thus we perceive 3D without the help of a 3D glass. The lesser the number of viewers the more prominent the 3D effect would seem, but Toshiba claims that this model is capable of dividing the deviating signals in up to nine different directions, which makes glassless 3D viewing possible for a large number of people. In order to properly locate the exact position of the eyes of the viewers and deliver the 3D signals accurately, the 55ZL2 uses a face tracker that is activated at the touch of a button on the remote.
Other interesting features of the 55ZL2 include the 3,840×2160 resolution which is supposed to work in keeping the 3D content high quality even when viewed by multiple audiences from wider angles. The Japanese company’s Toshiba Places service would also be available to the owners of the high-end 3D model as well as the ability to record live television onto an external HDD via USB. The appeal of glassless 3D is lucrative without a doubt, but the heavy price of the 55ZL2 may deter a few of the less fortunate buyers from opting for the technology when it comes out in December, 2011 in Germany.
