More LCD vs. Plasma
We previously wrote a guide comparing the two prevalent technologies in slimline displays: LCD and plasma. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. I happened to chance upon more arguments for either side on digitaladvisor. This time, it’s more of what your requirements are, and how you plan to use your flat screen TV.
Some points of note:
- LCD has a longer life span.
- Home theatre buffs would appreciate plasma’s higher contrast.
- Energy conservation buffs would prefer LCD’s more efficient use of electricity.
- D-I-Y buffs can mount LCD screens themselves, while plasma screens need to be mounted professionally (they’re heavier and more delicate).
- If you plan to watch in large groups, plasmas are better, because of the wider viewing angle.
Hyper Color TV Technology Upcoming?
If you’re happy with the color reproduction of your television set, then you’re missing a whole lot. Apparently, even the most modern of TVs today can only produce half the available colors in the light spectrum that the eye can perceive. Researchers, however, are looking into using nano tubes to enhance color reproduction to levels equalling what the eye can see.
Researchers in Switzerland are developing a new nano technology they claim will double the range of colors that future TVs can produce — displaying every hue the human eye can see. By comparison, most of today’s TVs — be they plasmas, LCDs or projectors — display only about half the visible colors.
The technology is based on the use of millions of stretchable parallel grooves called diffraction gratings that combined into a grid to reflect a full-color, high-definition images onto a screen. This technology also enhances the intensity of an image, providing crisp and bright images.
However, the technology is still in its very early stages. For now, the prototypes are power hogs, requiring 300 volts to stretch the elastometer (in comparison LCDs require up to 5 volts to adjust pixels). The refresh rate is also very slow. One cannot expect the usual 60 frames per second on this technology, yet. And then there’s the cost factor. Nanotechnology is still too expensive for the consumer market.
The researchers estimate that the technology is still eight years into the future. Much can still happen in that span of time, particularly with mature technologies that are available today, such as LCD, DLP and even Plasma. Perhaps this is just a sneak peek at what we can look forward to a decade from now.
Wider Losses for TiVo Expected
TiVo, pioneer in personal video recording (PVR) technology is expanding, but the company is expected to bleed in its finances due to legal battles and stiff competition.
The Alviso, Calif., company reported a quarterly loss of $6.45 million, or 7 cents a share, up from $892,000 or a penny per share in the same period of 2005.
Revenue rose 50 percent to $59.2 million, from $39.3 million a year ago, with the company boosting its year-over-year subscriber count by 24 percent to 4.4 million as of July 31.
The company is spending heavily on marketing, in an effort to further expand its reach. TiVo is also involved in a costly litigation to protect its technology from being copied. Along with this, other companies offering similar services or services that can potentially enroach on TiVo’s user base (such as video-on-demand) are gaining ground.
The losses are likely to expand as the company increases its marketing spending to entice new customers. In its current quarter, TiVo expects to lose $12 million to $17 million on revenue of $54 million to $56 million. Analysts are projecting on average a loss of $14.8 million, or 16 cents a share, on revenue of $54.6 million.
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Rogers would not break out how much money TiVo spent on legal battles. But the company reported Wednesday that “general and administrative” expenses — a category that includes payments to some accountants, lawyers, consultants and technologists — swelled to $11.09 million last quarter, up from $8.41 million in the same period of 2005.
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The company has seen its competitive position shrink as cable companies, satellite television operators and electronics makers scramble to offer a version of the DVR. But TiVo has claimed successor models infringe its 2001 patent on the underlying technology and that makers should license the technology.
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