JVC refines e-shift, teases professional 4K TV under $20k

JVC strengthens its hold on the affordable, high-performance projector market with seven new models and teases an 84-inch 4K TV at CEDIA 2012

JVC held its annual press breakfast this morning to make its new product announcements at CEDIA 2012. Last year, we were impressed with the performance of the company’s line of 4K projectors, which use a technology JVC calls e-shift to create a 4K image from standard 1080p content. This morning we learned that JVC has further refined e-shift — now referred to as e-shift 2– and implemented it into seven new projectors while also improving costly lamp life and revamping its 3D delivery system. 

E-shift 2, like its predecessor, is a bit of electronic wizardry that works by scanning a 1080p image, then electronically shifting the image half a pixel to the side, then half a pixel up and back again at 120Hz. This essentially quadruples the number of visible pixels and — voila — you get a 4K image. The improvements made on the original e-shift technology involves an 8-band filter which, according to JVC, significantly improves the quality of the image by helping to eliminate visible artifacts like aliasing. To borrow JVC’s audio analogy: it’s like comparing an 8-band equalizer to a tone control knob — it’s simply a more precise process. E-shift 2 only works in 2D mode and is available in projectors starting as low as $3500

In addition to the e-shift revamp, JVC also improved its lamp life — a notable benefit considering how pricey those lamps are. A representative from JVC explained that after 2,000 hours of use, the lamp will have degraded by only 15%.

Also new for this year is an RF syncing system for its active shutter 3D glasses. By using RF, signal dropout is much less likely. As anyone who has turned around in their seat while wearing active 3D glasses knows, getting the glasses to re-sync after losing the infrared signal is a frustrating wait. 

At the end of the conference, we also learned that JVC is in the early stages of developing two 84-inch 4K televisions. According to JVC Professional’s president, Bob Mueller, there is a prototype hiding in a hotel room somewhere in Indianapolis, but it is only being shown “privately” due to the fact that it is very much incomplete at this point. Still, it is interesting to hear of yet another 84-inch panel in development, and it’s encouraging to hear that one should be available for under $20k. What is it, though, about the number 84 that makes it so magical? Ponder that while checking out a rendering of the display below. 

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Trebuchet Toaster sends toasts launching onto your plate

This Ivo Vos-designed toaster starts your breakfast on a high note... literally.

There’s this Nutella commercial on TV right now that tells a story of a mom who can’t get her kids to come to breakfast until she exclaims she’s putting the hazelnut spread on their toasts. Oh, please. If you wanted your children to run straight to the breakfast table every morning, you’d own a Trebutchet Toaster, an interesting device that catapults toasts right out of the machine when they’re ready. Could you imagine the kind of launch parties you can have with your kids every day? Even adults would be entertained.

This concept toaster is unfortunately not a real live product just yet, but the design is definitely unique. The machine sits an an angled position, allowing you to set the projectile height before awaiting the golden brown toasts. It’s like learning to play with the physics behind Angry Birds combined with breakfast, and of course, real life.

Trebuchet Toaster is part of designer Ivo Vos’ concept of a full breakfast tool set called The Brunch. Included in the design is the Bread Slicer, a device to help prevent you from cutting yourself with a bread knife, the Teapot which can record the height at which you can pour tea from, and a placemat that outlines where you should put your plate and utensils.

“The Brunch is a series of consumer products that celebrates the mundane,” says Ivo Vos. We couldn’t agree more.

No word on whether The Brunch breakfast set will ever hit stores, but if it does, we could only imagine the experiments with how far one can catapult their toasts and still catch it on their plate. That, or how horrible the future of food fights will be now that you have a mechanical device to send food flying.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com