THIS WEEK'S NEWS
* PROJECTAVISION COMBO SET DUE
474 Words
3721 Characters
12/23/96
Consumer Electronics
Warren Publishing, Inc.
(Copyright 1996 by Warren Publishing, Inc.)
N.Y.C. sidewalks will be debut showcase for novel, all-digital
projection TV next month when retailer Wiz becomes premiere dealer
* for Projectavision front-rear PTV combo. Following demonstrations
at Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, 60 N.Y.-area Wiz stores
will introduce "Chameleon" Digital Home Theater, which combines
Texas Instruments' Digital Light Processing projection engine with
* proprietary depixelization system from Projectavision. Chameleon
name aptly describes $7,999 receiver that functions as 60"
rear-projection TV and front projector capable of 260" display with
high brightness and SVGA resolution. Modular system weighs 99 lb.,
including 24-lb. removable, self-contained projector that can be
deployed separately. Entire package, including 60" screen, cabinet,
base, speakers and projector with built-in 181-channel MTS tuner,
ships in 3 cartons and is designed for easy assembly with 4
wing-nuts. Recent demonstrations of preproduction models at
* Projectavision's N.Y.C. hq were impressive. In conditions of high
ambient light, Chameleon sustained bright, flicker-free images in
60" rear-projection mode and roughly 9x12-ft. display projected
onto white wall. Impressive, too, was claimed life of 6,000-8,000
hours for user-replaceable 100-w lamp -- big jump in longevity and
power consumption compared with most current LCD projectors. It's
achieved because Chameleon uses 2 TI-made Digital Micromirror
* Device (DMD) chips. Projectavision CEO Martin Holleran said initial
bundle will ship with 60" screen, but displays from 40-80" are
possible, giving retailer ability to differentiate offerings. He
said system's inherent brightness enables dealers to display in
store window or other highly lit venues. Wiz plans to showcase
Chameleon in 3 areas of stores -- computer section, TV sales floor,
window space. "This could be the vehicle that finally opens
front-projection to the consumer market," Holleran said. Other
benefits for dealers include easy delivery and installation, he
said. Current model comes with minimal audio gear -- built-in mono
speaker and stereo pair of satellite speakers. That gives retailer
opportunity for other-brand home theater speaker system sale,
Holleran said. Because system also functions as PC or presentation
display for corporate applications, enterprising retailer can
exploit more profitable business-to-business sales opportunities,
* he said. Holleran said Projectavision will pursue licensing deals
for Chameleon technology among CE and PC companies. He said
* Projectavision, as technology hothouse, would rather not make and
sell units but felt it had to put its money where its mouth to
stimulate demand. Actual fabrication of Chameleon is being farmed
out. Canada-based C-MAC assembles system from TI-sourced
light-valve and GE engineering-plastic cabinetry from LDM
Technologies in Kansas City. Responding to our question on
Chameleon's forward compatibility in coming age of HDTV broadcasts,
Holleran promised definitive answer by Jan. CES. But he said that
because system already is all-digital, TV should be capable of
retrofit "as simple as changing a computer's video card" for at
least some levels of HDTV resolution. Chief Engineer Monica
Dettling said issue really boils down to connector jack-pack --
still unresolved issue in HDTV controversy.
I0607 * End of document.
I don't know what kind of tv "na" has
but I have a 35 inch proscan with a built in line doubler (IDTV)
and I hate to burst "na's" bubble but their are currently three technologies that are all superior to crts and dmd is one of them..
TO "NA"--you have a dinosaur which will die out when dmd,plasma,
and other technologies all hit the market...change is a difficult
thing........ |
