Humax, has just disclosed details of its innovative digital flat LCD and plasma TVs to be sold in the US consumer electronics market. Humax has identified the growing flat panel TV segment as the ideal category for the company’s diversification into the television business. The company’s intent is to leverage their set-top box R&D expertise to create an new breed of television products that will enhance the consumer’s viewing experience. Beginning in June 2004, the company will roll out a line of digital flat LCD and plasma TVs that incorporate its new Live Pause feature. Common to DVRs, Live Pause enables viewers to pause, rewind and instant replay live television broadcasts just as they would a DVD. Live Pause will be integrated directly into all of Humax’s Digital Flat TVs without any additional hardware.

The new home PT-AE500 cinema projector has from Panasonic high-definition wide-screen LCD panels, integrated cinema quality circuitry, full 10-bit digital processing and gamma correction, and new smooth screen technology. The PT-AE500 will be available December 2003 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $2499.95. The picture of the PT-AE500 is a high-definition (1,280 x 720 pixels) wide-screen LCD panel. Its three layer RGB structure has an effective total of approximately 2.76 million pixels. A new optical system developed specifically for high-definition LCD panels delivers 850 lumens of brightness and has a contrast ratio of 1,300:1. The PT-AE500 features a new, quiet fan that uses twin blades to lower operating noise while reducing light leakage. The fan operates at only 27dB, according to Panasonic. The projector is equipped with HDCP compatible DVI inputs that directly accept digital signals from DVD and other digital sources. Component video input terminals allow the user to enjoy the full quality of images from ...

This new 42-inch model, along with another 32-inch flat-panel LCD integrated HDTV are both part of Sony's XBR® series. The expanded flat-panel lineup also includes a 50-inch HD-ready XS series Plasma WEGA™ TV. These three flat panel sets include the WEGA Engine™ system and a variety of picture enhancement technology. The 42-inch KDL-42XBR950 and 32-inch KDL-32XBR950 are now Sony's largest flat-panel HD integrated LCD TV models. They both feature an ATSC/QAM compatible tuner and have the Twin View™ Picture-And-Picture feature, which allows users to watch high-definition and analog programs simultaneously. With the two new sets, Sony now offers nine LCD WEGA models ranging from 15-inch to 42-inch screen sizes.

V Inc. has just announced the addition of the L6 LCD TV/Monitor to its Vizio line of digital flat panel displays. The Vizio L6 is a 20.1 inch ultra-thin TFT LCD TV with built-in NTSC tuner and speakers. The TV can display both video and PC content. The Vizio L6 will be available in October 2003 with a suggested retail price of $999.00 including swivel/tilt stand and standard remote control.

Proton, the Cerritos, CA manufacturer of high-end video products recently announced the release of their new 27 inch MM-2701VT DTV/PC/NTSC Multimedia Monitor/Receiver. Designed to be the centerpiece for combination home theater/information systems, the MM-2701VT is a true multimedia monitor/receiver with a digital display and is compatible with all HDTV/SDTV formats. Proton’s new monitor features component and dual RGB video inputs on the back of the unit as well as S-video and audio/video inputs on the front panel for easy access. For TV viewing, the MM-2701VT features 181-channel auto-programming, a full-featured remote control and a Parent’s Channel Block and V-Chip. The Proton MM-2701 is currently available and has a retail price of $1,700.