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2007 HDTV Technology Review, Part 1: Introduction & TOC
This is the first in a series of articles taken from the HDTV Technology Review 2007 by Rodolfo La Maestra, published in May 2007. If you are interested in purchasing the full version of this report, it is currently available for purchase from our HDTV Technology Review page.
HDTV Technology Review 2007 By Rodolfo La Maestra May 2007 Introduction As with every year, this report reviews the state of HDTV technology for consumers, its implementation, government affairs, and the industry behind it. This year, in addition to this report, I have produced a more comprehensive Industry Edition distributed by Display Search (almost 600 pages). On this Consumer Edition, I concentrate most of the material on what the readers of the HDTV Magazine usually devote more interest to: HDTV hardware, especially TVs. Additionally, to round up the presentation, I provide a brief review of the main subjects related to DTV. However, due to space considerations, the full coverage of those subjects, such as digital connectivity, multi-channel audio for HD, content protection, satellite/cable/broadcast, IPTV, DTV implementation, etc. will be released in separate editions. The review includes future products and technologies announced as of May 2007, with information supplied directly by manufacturers, or gathered at HDTV conferences, CEDIA, NAB, CEATEC, and the International CES (Consumer Electronics Show), where the industry also introduce innovations, prototypes, and technology statements. If you are looking for a previously released product or technology that is not mentioned in this report, please consult the other annual reports available at no cost published by the HDTV Magazine: http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/reports/hdtv-technology-review.php These reports also provide a historical background of government mandates, industry agreements, satellite/cable plans, and descriptions of the technologies introduced during the covered year, including some previously reported products
that are current to facilitate reading and comparison analysis within the same document.
The group of reports can be used as a research tool for past, present, and future products and technologies, and to analyze the evolution of HDTV.
When applicable, a brief background is provided to give an historical perspective of a given subject before getting into the detail of the current year.
Products are mentioned highlighting the month of their introduction and future availability to provide a perspective of their maturity in the market. CEDIA and CES announcements are highlighted within each manufacturer.
Most publications show current DTV products with basic specifications and do not analyze the market to guide consumers to help them make the right choice for their needs. Hundreds of manufacturers and products are included in this report, with detailed specifications and features to facilitate comparisons with other models, brands, and technologies.
However, this report is not only about products and technologies, there is abundant coverage in sections dedicated to standards, connectivity, government, IPTV, etc. that provide a broad picture of the history and implementation of HDTV beyond a TV set, unlike any other publication or book.
From the consumer point of view, many attend CES to plan future purchases and maybe start saving for products that could be released months or years later. Some decide to rather buy now a current product because CES helped confirm that it might not be worth the wait. This report helps consumers making those choices because of its full coverage of the subject.
The report also highlights industry trends, the adoption (or abandoning) of H/DTV technologies, the remarkable growth of flat panel displays, the endurance of continued LCoS support, the 1080p Holy Grail, the CinemaScope implementations with new 1080p projectors and anamorphic lenses, the Hi-Def DVD format war, the oversize panel competition, 3-D, and the ED display technology in all its varieties (SED, NED, OLED, FED).
This report assumes that the reader has a basic understanding of H/DTV. Certain technical information might seem overwhelming to readers that feel the need to understand the basics first. The Glossary at the end of the report and tutorial articles at the HDTV Magazine are recommended:
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/articles-author.php?id=16
All types of H/DTVs and technologies are covered in this report: RPTV (rear projection TV), FP (front projectors), Direct-view (CRTs, CRPs, etc), Plasmas (PDP), DLP (Digital Light Processing), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon, including JVC's D-ILA and Sony's SXRD), and the EDs displays mentioned above.
This report also reviews DTV related equipment such as Hi-Def DVD for playback and recording, HD tuning set-top-boxes (STB) for small-dish satellite, digital cable, and over-the-air (OTA) w/antenna reception, HD DVRs (Digital Video Recorders), the implementation of digital video connectivity, etc.
The information about models, prices, and specifications has been researched and confirmed with product demonstrations, lab reviews, press releases, technical material, and manufacturer interviews at CES and other conferences. Prices are quoted as MSRP and rounded to facilitate reading and quick comparisons; when unknown, TBA or TBD is generally used. Product availability is stated as TTM (Time to Market).
As the industry grows in complexity, variety, and number of HD products, the effort to research, review, analyze, and compare products, added to a full H/DTV coverage at CES and other HDTV events, and issue final projections, is becoming an overwhelming task for one person year after year.
In the past, many people referred to this effort as a "CES report". The truth is: CES is important but is just one piece of the industry perspective offered in this document. Although I know in advance the technologies and products expected to appear at CES, the show permits me to eyewitness them and talk to the engineers that participated in their development. No press release or magazine's new-product page can provide such transparent review, a unique and complete picture of the H/DTV industry.
Additionally, the effort for preserving a broad scope facilitates the linking of all the HD areas and allows for a deeper analysis and a wider perspective across manufacturers, technologies, and the industry in general.
Although considerable effort was made to consolidate and verify the correctness of
the data included in the report, I cannot assume responsibility for omissions or errors.
Should you have any comments or questions, please contact me at:
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/about/contact.php?name=lamaestra
Thank you for your continued support and interest in my work.
Rodolfo La Maestra
HDTV Technology Consulting
Senior Technical Director
