Tag: Toshiba

How much does it cost to lose a format war? One billion dollars (cue maniacal chuckles)

dr_evil.jpg

Now that the dramatic climax to the HD format war is past, Toshiba is starting to pick up the pieces. Naturally, it’s expected to post some big losses after HD DVD’s failed campaign against Blu-ray and the Nikkei Business Daily reckons it can put a figure on just how much it all comes too. Even more conveniently, it rounds out to make a good headline too, to the tune of $1 billion – or 500 million quid if you prefer.

(Display Name not set) HD DVD

Dreamworks kills off HD DVD titles, no Blu-ray until the summer

dreamworks_hd_dvd_ball_and_chain_cut.gif

Yesterday, over at HDTV UK, I responded to the news that Dreamworks somehow remained tied to the HD DVD format, despite Toshiba effectively killing it off.

Today, Dreamworks has announced that it’s killing off the HD DVD format, by not releasing any currently planned or future discs in the format. However, for either contractual or technical reasons — I’m not sure which — they won’t be producing Blu-ray discs until the summer.

Andy Merrett Blu-ray, HD DVD

The Toshiba ZF series – with 23mm wide bezel

I do realise this is the third glossy black TV I’ve put up in the last hour, which is why I’ve included every camera angle possible for them so far – had Toshiba launched a fourth series of TVs, I probably would’ve included a bird’s eye shot or even reverse upside-down. Got to keep it fresh, yanno?

With the largest price-tag of the three new series, the ZF is their new flagship series under the REGZA umbrella. They’re sporting those ultra-thin bezels we saw at CES, at just 0.9″ wide, and with three sizes…

Katherine Hannaford HDTV, Home cinema, TVs

More Toshiba REGZA tellies, the XV series with full 1080p

toshiba-xv.jpg
Another series for Toshiba presented this week, the XV series is housed under the REGZA brand, and carries some new technology, including audio description, game mode and Active Vision LCD Picture Processing.

With the usual 32″, 37″ and 42″ models available, they’ll each have 1920 x 1080 resolution (that’s full 1080p), three HDMI sockets, a digital tuner, and contrast ratio of up to 30,000:1.

All of Toshiba’s new series debuted this week – the CV, XV and ZF, will carry the aforementioned Game Mode, which gives 1:1 pixel mapping using Exact Scan, and increases response time dramatically. Not only…

Katherine Hannaford HD DVD, Home cinema, TVs

Upgrade your CRT telly to Toshiba's new CV series – WXGA 32, 37 and 42"


In addition to the numerous DVD players, camcorders and laptops Toshiba has launched, they also updated their C series of LCD TVs, and renamed it CV.

Comprising of 32″, 37″ and 42″ models, they don’t quite have the 1080p resolution the industry bandies around as being the be all and end all, with these TVs being aimed at upgraders who’ve discarded their CRTs.

They’ll offer 1366 x 768 resolution…

Katherine Hannaford HDTV, Home cinema

Toshiba launching wide range of new DVD players and combos

toshiba_2008_dvd_players_recorders_hdd_vcr.jpg

Toshiba has announced ten new DVD models, including five standalone DVD players, three DVD recorders (two with hard drives), and even two with VCRs built-in, for those of you still attached to tape.

Three standard DVD players — the SD-180E, SD-185E, and SD-280E — offer usual functionality you’d expect, including JPEG viewing, DivX playback, and MP3 support.

Taking a step up, the SD-480E and SD-580E offer upscaling of standard DVDs to 1080p high definition, feature HDMI outputs to connect to a suitable TV, and have Toshiba’s REGZA-Link which synchronises compatible equipment using a single remote control unit.

Andy Merrett Home cinema