The Future of Plasma TV–Project Kuro– Video as Poetry

Project Kuro was my pick for the most awe-inspiring video innovation at this year’s CES. Pioneer came out with their new line of plasma TVs that were completely re-engineered this past year called “Kuro.” At CES 2008, they unveiled their future concept plasma in a screening room. (Showing off what their technology can do, sort of like a concept car.) It’s so flat (thinner than an iPhone) that it practically disappears when you try to take a picture from the side. Still it’s style is commonplace among the LCDs that were shown and it’s form is the least of its impressive traits.

Pioneer demo’d the new prototype called “Project Kuro” in a small black screening room. In pitch-black darkness, they pulled back the curtains, and showed scenes on 3 screens. One on the left wall, one on the right and another in front of us, but to the left. I thought it odd that it wasn’t centered in front of us. They showed us beautiful video of cinematographers and other filmmakers talking about the importance of picture quality. Then it faded out. A white ring on a black background appeared on the screens. Then I noticed that there was another twirling ring to the right of the front TV. But it was just a twisting, twirling ring. It seemed to float in space. As the two rings danced in front of me, the one on the TV to the left and the one in space, my brain made the connection… There was another TV to the right of the one we had been watching. You could hear everyone in the room GASP!

NO WAY! Wait a minute. This floating ring was the demonstration of the new Project Kuro TV. The black in the picture that surrounded the object disappeared into the darkness. The TV emitted NO LIGHT from the black pixels so only the colors appeared before our eyes, making the object appear to float in space. Next came a floating, velvet red rose, fish swimming in the blackness in front of me, and other flowers. Try as I might, though I couldn’t have been more than 8 feet from this TV, I could not see the bezel (frame) of the TV nor any of the black screen. And the Blu Ray Disc footage was just as stunning–3 dimensional.

This black was like velvet, smooth, seamless. Watching the Project Kuro, I got tears in my eyes–as I do when looking at any thing of beauty. Other reporters described the hair standing up on their neck. This was not just a good picture…it was poetry.

In case you wonder how this is possible…it is all about self-emitting plasma cells. That is, rather than a cell creating the color “black,” when the cell gets the information to be black, it lets out no light at all. And in total darkness, those black plasma cells slip into the background. “>Here are the best pictures I could find that illustrates the difference between the current Kuro and Project Kuro.

I can’t stop reliving the awe of the Project Kuro and can’t wait until it is available. Another thought strikes me however. I think of people who discuss using inexpensive HDMI cables to save money. When I get a TV like this, I can’t imagine trying to save $50 or so and risk not getting all of that amazing picture (after all the picture has to come from a source). And it’ll be good to pair it up with the best Blu-ray Disc player I’ll be able to find at the time!

Luckily as time passes, I am able to go back to watching my Panasonic Plasma and enjoying its beauty for now.

150 Inch Plasma - Now that’s bigger! News from CES Keynote

Just got out of the the CES 2008 keynote address where Panasonic chairman Toshishiro
Sakamo talked about their newest and future technologies. I was so awestruck by the 150 inch plasma flat panel that I had to upload a picture. Pansonic sold 3,000 103 inch TVs in 2007. More than anyone expected.

While this 150 inch plasma will begin as a commercial panel. With 2k by 4k resolution (that’s 2,000 by 4,000 pixels or 4 times the resolution of current high definition– this is a common digital cinema format). So basically, it’s a huge tv that looks beyone amazing. Mind blowing.
Check out the 150 inch plasma picture
Would you ever want this in your home…well, I’m sure there are those who will. True home cinema that is 11 feet wide. (or like nine 50 inch plasmas side-by-side). The technology that makes quality big screen plasmas available are only certain to trickle down to better technology in smaller screens.

Ah, the search for bigger is better. I’m pretty sure that it’s a bit too big for my 14 x 20 living room!

Will write later with more innovations from CES 2008. And on wednesday jan 10, I’ll write about the simple technologies I’m seeing. Lots of people call things simple but are they?

CES made simple

Tomorrow I’m off to CES, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. I’m excited to see what new gadgets and features will be coming onto the shelves of stores this year. I always look with an eye to those companies who are designing products that are easier to use or for those who are beginning to explain their products in a way that anyone can understand. I will also be looking at the new DTV converter boxes so I can give you comparisons and a lowdown.

My new book “Home Theater Made Simple” (coming out later this year) is in collaboration with Monster Cable and I am working with Monster to help educate consumers about home theater. So there will be lots of news from the Monster camp.

The big event at CES this year is Monster’s retailer awards with a special concert by Mary J Blige . This Queen of R&B makes great dance music. Actually something I can enjoy listening to. If you want to see some videos of her (she’s a remarkable artist and seems very grounded) go to: Mary J Blige’s videos

Do you need a DTV converter box? Time to get a coupon.

Do you need a DTV converter box? My mother’s friend is not great with electronics, but darned if she didn’t learn to program her VCRs. In fact, she has two VCRs. She connects both VCRs and both TVs to a rooftop antenna, being the practical, frugal gal she is. Often, she uses both VCR’s at the same time to record TV shows on two different channels. She may even watch a third program on her TV too. And if she has a friend over, they may be watching a fourth program on the TV in the other room. For my mother’s friend, she will need a total of 4DTV converter boxes. One for each TV or component that uses an antenna and changes channels. (If she had cable or satellite TV, she would not however have the problem and it may be time to recommend a couple of cable boxes with built-in DVRs). She will only be able to request two $40 coupons to purchase converter boxes. The other two boxes, she’ll have to pay full retail for.

Here’s what’s going on…

You may be seeing commercials about the DTV transition in 2009. To take the sting out of your having to buy a device so your analog equipment will continue to receive TV broadcasts over antenna after the transition on Feb 17, 2009, the government is issuing $40 coupons (up to 2 per household) that you can redeem when purchasing a DTV converter box at your local electronics retailer. DTV converter box coupons are now available by request at the government’s website. You may have to wait to receive them, but you want to get your request in. Okay, what does this mean? And do YOU need a coupon, or two, or how many conveter boxes do you need.

If you get your programming by antenna for any component in your home (you don’t have cable or satellite), and it’s not an HDTV or a new DVD recorder (2007), you will probably need a converter box.

Let’s be more clear. If you use an antenna –rooftop or rabbit ears– and you change channels on a device– whether it’s changing channels on a TV or a VCR or a DVD-recorder–you will need a converter box for EACH device on which you change channels.

You see, a component or TV uses a tuner to change the channels. The analog TV broadcasts we’ve been watching all these years use the NTSC analog broadcast standard. The components use analog tuners receiving those channels to tune in to (or change) different channels.

But now everything is becoming digital. The TV broadcasts will be sent digitally, received by your antenna and it will need an ATSC digitaltuner that can convert the signals to be shown on your analog TV (or digital TV without a built in tuner–like a monitor or an older model “HDTV ready” TV).

I’ll keep writing about it. If you have questions, check out the gov website, post a question or click on “ask the guru” on my home-electronics survival website.