Toshiba Makes High-Quality Movie Viewing Possible Anywhere, Anytime With The World's First Portable DVD-Video Player With Progressive Scan

New ""Go-Anywhere"" SDP1000 Player Offers The Ultimate In Video And Audio Performance, Plus PC Connectivity For DVD-ROM Playback

18-Aug-00

Toshiba, a leading developer of innovative DVD technologies, is advancing its ""entertainment everywhere"" strategy with its new ultra-portable SDP1000 DVD-Video player. The industry's first portable DVD-Video player to incorporate Toshiba's critically acclaimed ColorStream PRO (progressive scan technology for the ultimate in video playback fidelity), the SDP1000 also features a PolySilicon thin-film matrix integrated widescreen (16:9) display. To enhance its utility and flexibility, the SDP1000 also doubles as a portable DVD-ROM drive with an optional ATAPI card attachment. In all, the unit provides compatibility with DVD-Video, CD, Video CD, DVD-ROM, CD-R and CD-ROM content. The ultra-portable SDP1000 is designed to literally fit into the palm of the hand, with a flip-up LCD panel that makes it easy and convenient to view high-quality DVD movies and Video CDs anywhere, anytime. Consistent with all Toshiba DVD players, image quality is a top priority in the new SDP1000. The unit's 5.8-inch 800 x 640 polysilicon TFT display delivers bright, clean pictures with remarkable color resolution, purity and detail. The unit's progressive display offers a flicker-free image that's more filmlike in nature than conventional DVD images, with fewer motion artifacts and the virtual elimination of visible NTSC line structure. Best of all, the high quality of the progressive video image and the lack of flicker virtually eliminates eye strain, a key consideration in a portable DVD player.Noted Craig Eggers, Toshiba's Director of Product Management for DVD, ""While portable DVD players began appearing on the market soon after the first full-sized models, Toshiba chose to wait until it was ready to introduce a portable player that would perform to the same exacting standards as our most advanced full-sized models. The SDP1000 is the culmination of years of research and development of leading-edge DVD technologies, as evidenced by the inclusion of progressive scan component video outputs and DVD-ROM capability. Clearly, the SDP1000 is a high-quality, 'no-compromise' DVD player designed to compete with today's best DVD players, full-sized or portable."" The SDP1000 is just 1 inch high, 7 7/8 inches deep and 5 5/8 inches wide and weighs just 1.5 pounds (2.5 pounds with battery). Users can enjoy DVD movies anywhere using the built-in active matrix LCD display and stereo speakers, or connect the player to any compatible display device for large-screen movie watching. When connected to a Toshiba ColorStreamô HD-equipped TV or other compatible multi-scan display device via its ColorStream PRO component video outputs, the SDP1000's advanced ColorStream PRO progressive scan technology delivers a remarkable film-like, flicker-free (480p) video image with demonstrably enhanced edge definition and color detail. A full complement of audio and video outputs makes it quick and easy to connect the SDP1000 to virtually any existing home theatre system. In addition to its ColorStream component video output, the SDP1000 features audio and video mini-plug outputs, a standard S-Video output, plus coaxial and optical digital audio output capability. For enhanced contrast and finer gray-scale gradation, the external connection allows the consumer to choose the reference black threshold cutoff: normal (7.5 IRE) or enhanced (0 IRE). Additionally, when connected to an external display, the SDP1000 also includes the capability to reproduce ""blacker-than-black"" (PLUGE) signals - critical for proper calibration of the brightness setting of the display device. For added flexibility and utility, the SDP1000 also includes a PC (ATAPI) interface (optional ATAPI card required) enabling users to make full use of the unit's DVD-ROM and CD-ROM playback capabilities. The SDP1000 features built-in stereo speakers for use as a stand-alone playback device, as well as a headphone jack with volume control. In addition, its Spatializer Headphone N-2-2ô technology offers enhanced surround sound effects when listening through the player's headphone outputs. Like Toshiba's full-sized DVD players, the SDP1000 features DolbyÆ Digital and DTSÆ Digital Surroundô compatibility. Noted Eggers, ""Go-anywhere connectivity and multi-disc compatibility make the SDP1000 the ideal companion for personal use, as well as business presentations or multimedia presentations. Plus, the 800 x 480 progressive display delivers stunning picture performance as a stand-alone personal entertainment device. You'll never have to watch airplane videos again!""For the ultimate in convenience, Toshiba's intuitive icon-based on-screen display and compass/cursor easily controls all of the SDP1000's performance features. The unit's 140-minute lithium-ion battery (supplied) provides all the power necessary for viewing major blockbuster films anywhere, anytime. Additionally, the SDP1000 features Toshiba's 4-power zoom, enabling viewers to select areas of the picture they wish to see more closely and magnify them by a power of four - another especially useful feature for small-screen viewing enjoyment. The SDP1000 will be available in September at a suggested retail price of $1,599.99.Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc. is an independent operating company, owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, a world leader in high technology products with subsidiaries worldwide.