Plasma Television

Q: My first question is, how do DLP [digital light processing] TVs rate against LCD and plasma? My second question regards the lock cable has on digital TV. When the change is implemented and analog is gone, will you be able to receive digital channels directly on your digital TV without any kind of a box or equipment from your cable company?

CAROL R., Hamilton, N.J.

A: I prefer DLP to either LCD or plasma, finding that DLP produces a better picture at a lower price, especially at large-screen sizes. The disadvantage: DLPs are deeper than flat-panel LCD or plasma TVs, which can be mounted on the wall. DLPs that can be wall-mounted are on the horizon, though.

Cable (and satellite) hardly have a lock on digital TV -- far from it! You can receive network programming for free on any HDTV set with a digital tuner, or with any other TV when used in conjunction with a digital tuner.

Samsung's Bordeaux HDTV

It may not be the most revolutionary development in HDTV technology, but the 10,000:1 contrast ratio on Samsung's new "Bordeaux" LCD HDTV is hardly something to sneeze at. The ultra-high-res definition is going to make you feel closer to the action than ever before. The TV will be available in both 32" and 40" sizes and also boasts a slightly more streamlined design than previous models, as well as a shinier screen surface. Wood nymph models not included.

Sharp aims to triple LCD output

Sharp Corp., Japan's largest maker of liquid-crystal displays and mobile phones, will spend 200 billion yen (US$1.66 billion) to triple output of the panels as rivals raise investment and pare unit costs.

Monthly production at the company's Kameyama factory in central Japan will surge to 90,000 glass substrates in 2008, the Osaka-based company said in a release Friday. Output will double to 60,000 by July this year, and the company expects LCD TV sales to jump 50 percent next fiscal year to 9 million units.

"In the current market environment, the investment is necessary," said Mitsuhiro Osawa, a Tokyo-based analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities Co. who rates the company "neutral plus." Declines in LCD TV prices are "a worry," he said.

President Katsuhiko Machida is speeding up production of larger, high-definition screens to outpace falling prices and keep up with rivals such as Sony Corp.

Tiny camera shoots HDTV

The research kids in Germany's Fraunhofer Institute just announced a tiny new video camera capable of shooting at a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a variable frame rate up to 60 frames per second. The MicroHDTV is said to measure a scant 4 x 4 x 8-cm. So either that picture above is not to scale (a Euro is about the size of a US quarter) or they don't include the housing, lens, transmitter, etc. in their dimensions. We'll assume the former since it's said to be small enough to fit in a racing-car cockpit, helmet, or any other tiny space you'd like to broadcast HDTV from. It operates using "standard optical systems" and can be controlled via a web interface across the Internet. It'll be on display at CeBIT in march where we'll see what this baby can do. .