Hasta La Gadget!

Your next Energy Star-approved HDTV? Chances are it’ll be a little greener than your last one, thanks to the new 4.0 ratings going into effect. These drastically reduce allowable consumption for displays, offering on average a 40 percent improvement in efficiency compared to 3.0 models, meaning a 50-inch set can consume, at most, 153 watts (compared to 318 in the 3.0 world). Beyond that, a display that has been turned “off” can consume no more than one solitary watt whilst waiting for your next command. All sets produced as of May 1 must meet these new regulations to earn that prestigious blue badge, and then in 2012 the 5.0 rules come into effect, dropping maximum consumption by roughly another 40 percent — good news for those who love the planet as much as they love watching Nature on peripheral vision-filling display.

Energy Star 4.0 goes into effect for HDTVs, puts ’em on a diet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While we were fretting about what special tech Nintendo’s 3DS would use to generate autostereoscopic imagery on its comparatively puny screen, Toshiba Mobile Display (and others) have been working on bringing that same headgear-free 3D to TV-sized panels. Employing a “multi-parallax” technique, the latest from the Toshiba spinoff firm promises “significant reduction in eye fatigue” as well as approximately a 30 degree horizontal viewing angle. The latter might be peanuts compared to a quality 2D display, but let’s not begrudge being offered at least some positional flexibility. Other specs include a 1280 x 800 effective resolution and 480 nits of brightness, which are notable achievements when you consider that the 9-parallax implementation requires the generation of 9 separate images and therefore could be achieved with only an “ultra-high definition LCD module.” We’ve sadly no info about this panel’s potential for retail availability, but judging by the bezel-free picture we’ve been given, that might be a good way off from now.

Toshiba Mobile Display touts 21-inch glasses-free 3D HDTV, raises a few eyebrows originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Proving that there’s not a huge difference between sports geeks and comic nerds, Roundtable Concepts of Lake Mary, Florida has adapted its line of instant-image HDTVs for the Florida college football fan. The novelty about these TVs is that during the 8 seconds that the set is warming up, they display the college football logo of your choice. That logo is also printed on the set’s casing. The company previously partnered with Marvel Comics to create a similar line showing the comic publisher’s greatest heroes.

The officially licensed college LCD sets come in 32-, 42-, and 55-inch sizes, while the LED sets are available at 40- and 46-inches. Models are currently available for the Florida Gators, Miami Hurricanes, Florida State Seminoles, and University of Central Florida Knights. The company is offering the same buy-one-get-one deal that it offers with the comic-themed TVs. 

This shot courtesy of Mr. Blurrycam might not give the “Oh my.” reaction we were expecting from the ads but it appears Sharp’s latest and greatest LCDs are showing up at retail, including this 40-inch Quattron model for $1,599. Our man spotted 46- and 55-inch versions as well but if that’s not your speed, we also have word that Amazon is shipping the 240Hz Samsung LN46C750 a few weeks ahead of its anticipated May ship date. Sure, it’s not a super slim LED model like the rest of the 3D lineup, but at $1,450 (no glasses) it is the cheapest 3DTV we’re likely to see anytime soon. Choose wisely.

[Thanks, kalistyles11]

Sharp’s four-color HDTV, Samsung’s cheapest 3DTV now on sale originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now this is more like it. Instead of chewing on another underwhelming 3D display, the Tech Radar crew have pulled in one of Sharp’s hot new Quattron sets — distinguishable, if you look really really closely, by the addition of yellow to the standard RGB colors in each pixel — and their experience has certainly been something to write about. Describing the LE821E’s color response as “utterly spectacular,” they go on to praise the LCD’s improved brightness thanks to the yellow sub-pixel’s higher transparency, confident upscaling of standard def pictures to Full HD resolution, and “inspired onscreen menus.” Counteracting the good stuff were mildly disappointing black levels and a £2,000 ($3,053) price for the 46-inch model. Sure it’s steep, but with Freeview HD and an 8GB HDD built into the box, we can think of a few ways to justify the expense. As ever, the source link will give you the unabridged verdict, so read on.

[Thanks, David]

Sharp’s 46-inch Quattron LE821E HDTV and its integrated Freeview HD DVR make reviewers gush originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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