Toshiba Unveils Widescreen Projection TVs At CES ë99

Toshiba introduced at CES two HDTV widescreen projection TVs that utilize a host of proprietary technologies to define what the company says is the ultimate quality standard in high-definition television technology. Both sets feature built-in digital decoders for reception of all 18 ATSC formats and display the maximum picture resolution (1080i) of HDTV broadcasts. And to ensure availability of great digital programming throughout the country, both sets also offer a built-in DirecTVÆ System receiver, that receives both standard and high-definition DirecTV and USSB programming.Toshibaís HDTV sets - the 65-inch Model DW65X91 (SRP: $8,999) and the 56-inch Dw56X91 (SRP: $6,999) - will be available in the third quarter of 1999. The new HDTV sets complement Toshibaís line 71-, 61- and 65-inch HDTV-ready models, which will be joined this summer by additional 40- and 56-inch HDTV-ready sets, giving Toshiba one of the most extensive lineups of high-definition TVs in the industry.Toshiba also introduced its Model DST3000 HDTV set-top converter at CES, which will be available in the first half of 1999 at a suggested retail price of $1,499.""Toshiba is committed to leadership in HDTV and to helping retailers sell the HDTV experience,"" notes Scott Ramirez, Toshibaís Director of Product Planning. ""In fact, thatís one of the reasons we built the DirecTV System receiver into both our integrated HDTV models. With DirecTV satellite capability we have a totally digital solution. Consumers will be able to experience both standard definition and HDTV programming in every market. And retailers will be able to demonstrate HDTV in every market, every day.""Key to the picture quality of Toshibaís new HDTV sets is the companyís new exclusive PowerFocusô HD Lens System. The company says that unlike conventional TV lens systems, PowerFocus HD utilizes wider diameter lenses in a unique six-element configuration to create a projection TV image of unprecedented clarity, brightness and color accuracy. Combined with Toshibaís new Advanced Color Correction feature, the resulting image is, according to the company, 65 percent sharper than standard lens systems.Operating in conjunction with the new lens system are high-performance PowerFocus HD Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs). PowerFocus HD CRTs incorporate larger electrostatic lenses and higher beam current for reduced beam spot size and more accurate beam shape. The result , the company says, is a 10 percent increase in brightness and a 25 percent increase in sharpness over conventional tubes.Toshibaís new HDTV sets utilize the companyís new Multi-Linear Digital Focusô convergence system. With Multi-Linear Digital Focus, 56 separate convergence points are set by a computer at the factory, ensuring, says the company, crisp, clearly focused projection TV images. For fine tuning, viewers can use their remote control to adjust focus at nine areas on the screen and achieve virtually perfect corner-to-corner focus, says the company.Toshibaís new HDTV sets utilize a unique technology called Intelligent Digital Scan Conversionô(IDSC). Along with Toshibaís ColorStream HD inputs, IDSC allows the companyís HDTV sets to accept 480i, 480p and 1080i HDTV signals. IDSC automatically converts 480i signals into 480p signals by using a combination of line doubling and frame doubling to achieve the highest possible resolution without motion artifacts. It also automatically passes through 480p and 1080i signals without alteration for the best possible resolution, simply and automatically. Dual NTSC tuners in both models provide full compatibility with analog programming, and a two-tuner POP (picture-outside-picture) feature allows simultaneous viewing of two analog programs side by side.Toshibaís new HDTV sets also feature newly developed TheaterBrightô projection screens. TheaterBright screens feature a fine .7 millimeter screen pitch for high resolution and a Surface Level Diffuser that the company says enhances brightness, contrast, and provides viewers with a wide 160-degree viewing angle. Toshiba has also added a new Corner Diffuser Enhancement feature in its new TheaterBright screens for increased corner brightness and enhanced brightness uniformity.Like many Toshiba projection TVs, the companyís new HDTV sets come with a built-in TheaterShieldô that is said to improve picture quality while protecting the projection screen with a special hard coat. A unique anti-reflection coating and a special tinting is said to afford increased contrast and reduced glare. But, unfortunately, the TheaterShield is not removable.Toshiba also announced the industryís broadest lineup of HDTV-ready projection TVs. The companyís new models include two sets with ColorStream HD inputs. This provides users with the ability to attach two digital set-top boxes (such as Toshibaís DST-3000 terrestrial HDTV box and a digital cable box), or add a 480p source such as Toshibaís new SD5109 DVD-Video Player with ColorStream PRO 480p output.Says Scott Ramirez, ""As you can see, Toshiba is not just ready for the digital future, weíre ready for digital today with advanced high definition and high-definition-ready TVs that offer opportunity for out retail partners, and an amazing new experience for the consumer. Thatís why we say Watch Toshiba!""All Toshiba HDTV and HDTV-ready sets are manufactured in the U.S., and the company had made several key changes in order to facilitate this process, including the integration of Toshibaís Advanced Television Technology Center (ATVTC) into the companyís color TV manufacturing facility in Tennessee. In addition, Toshibaís Wayne, NJ headquarters now has DTV signal reception capability which enables its engineers to evaluate HDTV products using a live broadcast signal.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.DirecTV is the nationís leading direct broadcast satellite service with more than 4.3 million subscribers. DirecTV is a registered trademark of DirecTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation.