Hitachi to Showcase Broad and Diversified Product Lineup at Winter
CES Show (including recordable DVD and a DVD video camera)
newsalert.com
CES99 Display Room N-242
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 1999--
UltraVision Digital TVs, UltraVision TVs, Plasma Display Panel, LCD Rear PTV, DVD/Recorder/Camera
to be Demonstrated on Showroom Floor
Strengthening its position in the consumer electronics marketplace Hitachi Home Electronics (America),
Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., today announced its expanded and comprehensive product
line-up and technology demonstrations for the 1999 Winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las
Vegas (Display Room N-242).
Included in this expansive product line-up, Hitachi is offering a full spectrum of digital sets from 27" digital
ready/PC capable MMV series product to HD-Ready SDX receivers, to the award winning anytime,
anywhere complete HDTV solution with HDX. In addition, visitors to the booth will get a glimpse at the
near term future with plasma and rear LCD displays.
Overall, this lineup represents perhaps the broadest scope of digital TV products in the industry. As a
further indication of digital leadership and vision, Hitachi will display revolutionary, next generation
products in the form of a recordable DVD deck and DVD camera. Rounding out this digital smorgasbord is
the introduction of Hitachi's feature rich DVD player.
"Our CES lineup is packed with high quality and sophisticated products that cross the spectrum of the
consumer electronic market, from digital and analog TVs to Plasma and LCD displays," said Jon Poto,
executive vice president and general manager for Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc. "All of our
products on display incorporate advanced digital technology and features that enhance a user's
entertainment experience or productivity."
The Evolution of UltraVision Digital
The stage has been set for Hitachi's introduction of digital, high definition television since 1989, when the
company first introduced UltraVision, which has become recognized as the standard for picture quality in
projection television. At that time, Hitachi had the vision that HDTV would be a reality in the U.S. by the
end of the century, and that UltraVision would be positioned to redefine the industry.
Over the past ten years, Hitachi has continued, through research and development, to make
advancements and remain the performance leader.
Pioneering Hitachi technologies like Magic Focus automatic digital convergence and exclusive UltraFocus
Super Bright (SB) lenses and projection ray tubes (PRT) have led to the tremendous success of UX and
SBX projection television over the past several years, while at the same time ensuring that Hitachi retains
their leadership position in the digital arena.
A Digital Set to Meet Any Consumers Needs
Building on the success of its UltraVision products, Hitachi enters the digital home theater market with a
multi-tier strategy designed to offer something for every consumer. This lineup includes a digital ready 27"
direct view, 36" and 60" HDTV-Ready sets, as well as a fully integrated 61" rear projection HDTV system,
and continues with next generation LCD rear projection and plasma display panel (PDP) products.
As the only manufacturer to offer such a complete line of sets in a wide variety of sizes, formats and
features, Hitachi is proud to introduce UltraVision Digital.
HDX: The Complete HDTV Solution. Anytime - Anyplace
The flagship of the UltraVision Digital line is the 61HDX98B (available Q2/99, $7,999 Suggested Retail), a
fully integrated HDTV system. As one of the first companies to offer both satellite and terrestrial reception
in one unit, Hitachi will be demonstrating this award winning set, and displaying live digital broadcasts on
the CES show room floor.
Without the need for a set-top box, this true self-contained high definition TV has a built-in DIRECTV
System receiver as well as an 8VSB digital decoder that receives all 18 Advanced Television Systems
Committee (ATSC) digital formats. Hitachi offers a complete solution to consumers by providing access to
standard and high definition satellite signals and integration of local digital terrestrial channels with the
addition of an off-air antenna.
By combining the built-in 8VSB digital decoder and the DIRECTV System, Hitachi is not limited by
individual market terrestrial broadcast ramp ups and can offer a totally digital solution -- anytime,
anywhere -- to consumers across the country, not just in limited markets.
The 61HDX98B boasts Hitachi's exclusive UltraFocus Super Bright (SB) lens technology, providing
superior brightness and sharpness. Exclusive wide-neck projection ray tubes (PRTs) allow for a larger
electrostatic focusing area, increased beam current, and high-resolution phosphor on the faceplate to
provide the sharpest, brightest possible picture.
Unmatched in the industry, the Super Bright lens system utilizes a total of six lenses, a larger lens
diameter, new improved red and green lens filters and new high contrast lens coating.
To ensure that the lens and PRT quality remains perfectly focused, UltraVision Digital projection models
also include Hitachi's exclusive Magic Focus, the first automatic digital convergence, "screen-based"
system. Unlike a board-based system, a simple push of a button allows eight optical sensors to examine
a special on-screen test pattern.
The system then automatically adjusts for 256 points per PRT, providing the best corner-to-corner
convergence available anywhere. Hitachi began displaying samples of the 61HDX98B at various retailers
across the country in November, and plans to have units available for consumers to purchase by the
second quarter of 1999.
SDX: High Definition Ready TV
For consumers seeking the best picture quality from existing sources, Hitachi offers its 60" (60SDX88B)
and 36" (36SDX88B) SDX series HDTV-ready models. Both sets are available now, with suggested retail
prices of $4499 for the 60" rear projection television, and $2999 for the 36" direct view.
The key behind SDX's ability to provide a smooth transition from analog to digital is Hitachi's exclusive
Flex Converter. This advanced circuitry allows the TV to accept all 18 ATSC digital formats from an
external set top box. Even NTSC sources are dramatically improved by SDX's all time progressive
scanning. With Flex Converter technology, these signals are upconverted to 480P, providing crisp, clear
images, while eliminating interlace and flicker.
To ensure the maximum resolution is displayed, the 60" SDX projection model incorporates Hitachi's
exclusive UltraFocus Super Bright (SB) lenses and PRT's, while the 36" direct view takes advantage of a
digital pitch INVAR tube. Additional features also include a 3DYC comb filter to reduce "dot crawl" and
interference and Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound, with 60-watt amplifier, two way ported speakers and
dual center channel speakers for true home theater sound.
Hitachi is targeting Q2/99 for introduction of a digital television decoder to complement their SDX series.
Pricing has yet to be determined for the set top box, which will incorporate both 8VSB and DIRECTV
capabilities, and connect to SDX sets via high-resolution component inputs.
MultiMedia Vision (MMV): Digital/PC Ready TV
The third member of the UltraVision Digital television family is Hitachi's MultiMedia Vision (27MMV30B,
$999 Suggested Retail). This 27" direct view model uses a unique dual scan system to provide
progressive scan via RGB input, making it DTV and PC Ready. The set, which features Hitachi's
UltraBlack tube, dynamic focus and comb filter, has a built in 181-channel tuner for full TV functions.
Its true VGA (640 x 480) input and resolution also make it perfect for using as a large screen computer
monitor. At under $1000, MMV represents the most affordable digital television solution on the market,
while at the same time meeting the needs of PC home theater users.
MultiMedia Vision, which has been part of Hitachi's line up since 1997, has been extremely successful in
the business presentation and educational markets. With the emergence of digital television in 1999, this
product is expected to gain broad consumer acceptance as well. Another display format, which Hitachi
will introduce later in the year to capture the Digital/PC ready market is an LCD based rear projection
television.
Next Generation Displays: LCD Rear PTV and Plasma Display Panel (PDP)
Foreseeing a demand for compact, lightweight digital television solutions, Hitachi will be demonstrating
two emerging display technologies: LCD rear projection and plasma display panel (PDP). Hitachi's plan for
the rear LCD category includes products for both the business and consumer segments.
For the presentation market, a 52" 4:3 unit, which will accept XGA and display SVGA resolution is
targeted for introduction in the second quarter of 1999 at a suggested retail of $5,999. Consumers will see
a 56" set with 16:9 aspect ratio in the fourth quarter of 1999, also carrying a suggested retail of $5,999.
Both sets will include high-resolution component (Y, Pb, Pr) inputs, allowing them to accept 1080i input
from a digital set-top box.
Both also provide exceptional contrast and brightness throughout the viewing area and benefit from
progressive scan, which eliminates interlace and flicker. All this technology and picture quality is
contained in a format that is considerably lighter and slimmer than conventional televisions.
Rounding out Hitachi's complete line of digital display products is a plasma display panel (PDP). Currently
in the development stages, Hitachi plans to market PDP as the ultimate, high quality, compact HDTV
solution. The set to be demonstrated during CES displays over a million pixels, with a viewing angle of
160 degrees, making it perfect for digital home theater where space is a concern.
DVD Player This Spring, Recorder and Camera to Follow
Citing strong sales and consumer acceptance of DVD players this past year, Hitachi has chosen 1999 to
enter the market. The DVP250U (target introduction 2Q/99, target price $399), will feature a double speed
drive, for smoother visual search, and Hitachi's exclusive Disc Navigation indexing system. Additional
features include component video output and built in Dolby AC3 decoder.
In addition to Hitachi's first DVD player, the company will also be demonstrating two revolutionary optical
disk recording devices. Developed through Hitachi's strengths in CD-ROM and semiconductor
manufacturing, a home recording deck and camera are being shown here for the first time in the U.S. Both
are expected to record on a medium that is compatible with DVD players and PC-DVD drives, and are
targeted for introduction in the year 2000.
Using MPEG2 compression, the recorder will be able to store approximately four hours of high quality
moving pictures on a 12cm disc. Longer recordings can be achieved by varying the bit rate. Hitachi feels
this product could capture as much as one third of the VCR market by the year 2005, and that eventually
it will be positioned as the center of a "home media station," utilizing the IEEE1394 protocol to enhance
communication and connectivity to other digital devices.
The camera uses an 8cm disc to record up to one hour of high quality moving pictures under current
MPEG2 specifications. With the addition of still image capture and PC compatibility, Hitachi will position
the camera as a complete digital photo solution. Both products enjoy the benefits of high quality digital
recording, random access storage, durability and reliability.
Both are also made possible by Hitachi's own CODEC LSI, which uses a single chip for encode and
decode functions. This extremely efficient chip may consume up to 75 percent less power than competing
solutions, making it ideal for portable devices, such as the DVD camera.
Hitachi will have engineers and product specialists on hand during CES to demonstrate and answer
questions about current and future technologies.
For more information on Hitachi's quality TV products, please visit www.hitachi.com/tv. For other Hitachi
products, please visit www.hitachi.com.
Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., develops and markets a
variety of consumer electronics and commercial multimedia products.
Hitachi America, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., Japan, markets and manufactures a
broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, and semiconductors, and provides industrial
equipment and services throughout North America.
Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies,
with fiscal 1997 (ending March 31, 1998) consolidated sales of 8,416 billion yen ($63.8 billion(a)). The
company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors,
consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit
Hitachi's Web site at hitachi.co.jp.
(a)At an exchange rate of 132 yen to the dollar.
CONTACT: Hitachi America, Ltd.
Gerard F. Corbett, 650/244-7900
gerard.corbett@hal.hitachi.com
or
Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc.
Martin Weinstein, 619/661-0227 ext. 3554
martin.weinstein@hhea.hitachi.com
or
Crescent Communications
Anne Beerman, 404/287-2000 ext. 207
abeerman@crescomm.com
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