I’ll cover television in today’s CES diary, and look at DVD, networked entertainment, portable entertainment, 12-volt and other products over the next three days.
High-Def and Flat-Panel
During his characteristically upbeat pre-CES pep talk, Scott Ramirez, Vice-President Marketing for the Television Group of Toshiba America Consumer Products, said the industry was ready to deliver the number-one Christmas wish to half of the North American population last year. In a survey on what people wanted for Christmas, female respondents named “peace and happiness” as their number-one wish. “I can’t give them that,” Ramirez quipped. But he could help males with their dearest wish: a big-screen TV.
“Two words can summarize what’s happening in our industry,” he said. “Shift happens.” Citing CEA projections, Ramirez said LCD would account for 26% of U.S. TV dollar sales in 2008, plasma for 28%, digital rear-projection TV 24% and CRT direct view 22%.
At its exhibit, Sony was showing a stunning 1080p rear projector, the Qualia 006, which will ship in Canada later this month for $17,000. The 70-inch display uses three high-definition SXRD (Silicon Xtral Reflective Display) panels. Even when viewing at extremely close distances, the picture seemed at once incredibly smooth and film-like and incredibly vibrant. Commented Mike Fiddler, Senior Vice-President Home Products for Sony Electronics Inc.: “We believe SXRD will be the Trinitron of the 21st century.”
By Gordon Brockhouse
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