sharp

The saddest man at CES

LAS VEGAS -- The Consumer Electronics Show is like the real world in only one sense: everyone is trying to capture your attention.

So if they can't do it with dancing girls, they hire actors and professional presenters who are there to lure you to a company's wares.

This morning, for example, Panasonic and Samsung were employing more flashing lights than Amsterdam. They talk at you, they play music, they activate multifarious screens at passing eyes -- everything to halt your gait and grab your eyes and brain.

Every company at CES garnered some kind of crowd. Every … Read more

At CES, Sharp goes big. Really, really big

At CES today, Sharp went big. Really big.

The company said during its press conference this morning that it plans on putting out 17 new TVs this year that are 60-inches or bigger. Leading the pack is its new 80-inch 3D TV, which it will release in April. The TV features a new technology called "3D X-Gen."

All its other new TVs will begin shipping this month.

During the press conference, the company covered a wide variety of technologies, including its new Aquos Board screens, which provide users with collaboration tools that it says are essentially a next-generation, … Read more

Sharp's large-screen 3D Quattrons are its brightest ever

LAS VEGAS--Sharp continues its 2012 Quattron onslaught with four new models, in 60-inch and 70-inch versions, featuring its brightest Quattron panels with 3D and an ultraslim aluminum design.

The 847/745 series features edge-lit LED screens with 3D X-Gen panels housed in Sharp's "ultraslim and narrow-bezel design," with a new brushed aluminum finish.

The televisions feature Wi-Fi onboard and come with a new "smart TV" interface offering both full-screen and dock views. The TVs feature DLNA, browsing and search functionality, and more than 100 apps, including Netflix and Vudu. They come with four HDMI ports … Read more

With 80-inch Aquos, Sharp bids adieu to old whiteboards

Those who have long depended on dusty old whiteboards can get rid of them, Sharp says. At CES here today, the company unveiled its Aquos Board--80-, 70-, or 60-inch screens that offer an all-new "touch solution" and give users new ways to share content.

The Aquos Board gives workers similar high-quality display technology to what they already have at home, and allows for sharing all kinds of content between co-workers. The device can capture notes, and has a connected PC and touch technology.

Users can employ a pen or even use their fingers for marking up displays and sending information to remote workers. The device, which is essentially a huge smart board--not a television--works with Microsoft Windows 7 and Office, and Touchpad applications. … Read more

Sharp's LED TVs get ultraslim design

LAS VEGAS--Sharp has announced its ultraslim televisions for 2012 in sizes ranging from 42 inches up to 70 inches, with edge-lit panels and smart TV.

The five-model 640/540 Series, which features what the company calls an "ultraslim and narrow-bezel design," comes with an X-Gen panel. The TVs have edge-lit-LED screens and feature 120Hz motion compensation.

The TVs include the new SmartCentral user interface and come with more than 100 apps, including CinemaNow, NetFlix, and Vudu. They come with DLNA and onboard Wi-Fi, as well as the Aquos Advantage Live on-screen support service, and they have four HDMI inputs as standard.

Sharp goes big with 70-inch full-array local dimmer

Update March 2, 2012: Company reps have told me only that the status, and indeed the model name and prospective features (eg local dimming) of this model, are now uncertain. For that reason I have removed it from the company lineup chart until I hear more.

LAS VEGAS--We love the picture quality improvements wrought by full-array local-dimming backlights, so color us excited that Sharp is migrating the technology down from its awesome Elite TVs to these new models.

The 945 series will offer that sweet backlight configuration in two screen sizes that will be familiar to fans of the Elite: … Read more

Sharp unveils 80-inch touch screen (live blog)

LAS VEGAS--Sharp unveiled an 80-inch touch screen for digital meetings at its CES 2012 press conference here Monday.

The smart Aquos Board lets professionals draw on the screen, take notes, and save information to PCs. It will come in 60-, 70-, and 80-inch high-resolution screens. It uses Microsoft software.

Sharp also plans to introduce in the next 90 days, 17 new 60-inch-plus TVs and will introduce 4K technology to deliver "natural 3D-like images." A new 80-inch TV model will be available in April. The rest of line starts shipping this month. TVs will also include new 3D technology … Read more

Sharp's 80-inch smart TV goes 3D

LAS VEGAS--Last October, Sharp announced its massive 80-inch TV, which came with some image enhancements and a ton of features. But there was one thing missing: 3D.

Sharp has now rectified this with a 3D version of this TV, called the LC-80LE844U. Despite the current trend for passive televisions, the Sharp set features an active technology called 3D X-Gen. Sharp is yet to announce how many sets of 3D glasses will ship with the TV.

The TV also features "smart," built-in wireless functionality with "hundreds of apps," including Netflix and Vudu and a remote set-up service called Aquos Advantage Live. The TV also includes Web browsing and a newly designed SmartCentral user interface. … Read more

Sharp shows 8K resolution prototype TV

LAS VEGAS--LG and Toshiba have already shown HDTVs with twice the resolution of 1080p, aka "4K," but Sharp is going one better by showing its prototype 85-inch, 8K television at CES 2012.

Here's the company's press information:

Sharp is also developing its "Super High-Vision" 8K displays. These fully immersive units offer dramatically higher resolution than any current HDTV televisions with an astounding 7,680 pixels of horizontal resolution. Unique LCD panel and proprietary high-vision video content driving technologies position Sharp to realize direct-view LCD high-vision for the mass-market in the near future, further cementing … Read more

Top 5 TVs of 2011

In 2011, the biggest "breakthrough" may have been that connected TVs finally got a name--Smart TV--but the year also gave us some excellent televisions.

The Pioneer Kuro has remained the standard in picture quality since the last one rolled out of the factory three years ago, but this year it received a challenger: the Sharp Elite Pro. It wasn't even a plasma, but a highly sophisticated LCD, which eclipsed every other TV released this year.

Sharp aside, there were also standout TVs from Samsung and Panasonic, and LG started what could be a significant trend with the release of the first "passive" 3D televisions.

The TVs presented here in order of greatness are the pick of the crop from 2011, and in addition to excellent picture quality also come studded with the features--3D, Smart TV, etc.--demanded of a modern television.… Read more