Hitachi Demonstrates Its ""DVD World"" Concept And Ultravision DLPô Television For First Time In The United States At CES 2000

The Home Electronics Division of Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), has unveiled its all-digital, large screen High Definition (HD) rear projection television for the first time in the United States. Hitachi is bringing together the world of ""totally"" digital entertainment through its Digital Vision 2000, which in addition to the UltraVision/DLPô television, includes Hitachiís DVD Camcorder and DVD-Video Player/CD Recorder Dual Deck. ""Hitachi is welcoming the millennium by celebrating its 10th Anniversary of the UltraVision product line,"" said Kenji Nakamura, Director of Business Development for Hitachi America Ltd., Home Electronics Division. ""We are pleased to demonstrate several new products under this brand, including the UltraVision/DLPô television and DVD products."" Hitachi To Incorporate DLP Technology In ""UltraVision Digital"" Line-UpCES 2000 marked the first U.S. showing of Hitachiís rear projection television using Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology. UltraVision Digital/DLP is an all-digital, large screen high definition rear projection television and will be available to consumers in U.S. in the fall of 2000.""By combining Hitachiís innovative video engineering and optical technology and success in traditional projection television with Texas Instrumentís DLP technology, we are poised to produce and deliver a rear projection television set with the most superior picture quality DLP has to offer,"" stated Gary Bennett, Executive Vice President of Sales for Hitachi America Ltd., Home Electronics Division.At the heart of UltraVision Digital/DLP is the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD), an optical semiconductor chip that has an array of microscopic mirrors mounted on a standard logic device. These tiny mirrors operate as optical switches to create high resolution, full color images, with close to 1 million mirrors contained on a single .8-inch chip. To give you an idea of their relative size, 7 of these mirrors measure 100 microns, approximately the diameter of a human hair. Coupling this device with Hitachiís newly developed UltraVision 10-element lens system ensures maximum picture performance, such as 1280 X 720 display resolution, screen brightness five times that of a large tube television, and a contrast ratio of 500:1. With this level of performance and color accuracy, UltraVision /DLP represents the ultimate digital home theatre experience. Along with high definition (720p) display capability, the speed of the Digital Micromirror Device provides excellent motion video with virtually no artifacts, while the single chip design means no convergence issues and no phosphor burn, in an UltraSlim, UltraLight cabinet. To round out the home theater experience, Hitachiís UltraVision/DLP includes premium sound as well, with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound for life-like sound for the latest Hollywood blockbusters. In addition to its superior video and audio performance, UltraVision Digital/DLP is also a high quality XGA capable computer display monitor, enabling a PC interactive experience. Its ability to reproduce outstanding graphics is the key to its success as a multimedia solution. Families can surf the Web, send and receive e-mail, play video games, or perform school or work tasks on a large, high quality display right in their living room. With Hitachiís advanced Picture in PC (PiPC) function, users can take advantage of both capabilities, achieving the ultimate in ""Simulsurfing."" Now it will be possible to keep up with the game or monitor the news in a sub-picture, while the PC remains in the main screen. With its multiscan capabilities for television and PC, and inputs for a wide variety of sources including a DVD-Video player, VCR, digital set-top box and home PC, Hitachiís UltraVision with DLP television is the one set to meet any and all viewing needs. Hitachi ""DVD World"" VisionHitachiís view of the digital world is where PC and consumer electronics share the same, already well established DVD disc media so consumers can record, playback, and edit on one very high capacity DVD disc thatís compatible with multiple products. This inter-compatibility is a key element in Hitachiís vision of a ""DVD World,"" in which consumers use technology to improve and simplify their lives. Hitachi is a world leader in DVD technology as proven by is DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM drives ñ and this year will be offering products showcasing the latest Hitachi developments in DVD. At the forefront of this is Hitachiís DVD Camcorder, which records up to 2 hours of superior quality video OR 2,000 still photos onto a small DVD-RAM disc, without the complications and reliability/wearability issues of traditional tape based camcorders. In fact, DVD-RAM discs can be recorded over and over with no image degradation. DVD-RAM discs not only far outlast tape, they also feature multi-compatibility with future DVD products, such as new DVD-RAM equipped personal computers, future DVD-RAM recorders, and future DVD players. With DVD video recorded on the Hitachi DVD Camcorder, consumers can easily connect to TV and enjoy recorded video or to a PC for printing, sending a video e-mail, or even for posting your recorded memories on your personal home page. Another unique feature enabled by Hitachiís recordable DVD, is the ability of immediate and random access edit to any scene recorded on the disc, which means no rewinding or manually finding portions you want to move or edit. Editing is also simplified because this can be done right from the camcorderís LCD screen, or even from your PC.Another cutting edge technology product from Hitachi is its DVD-Video Player/CD Recorder Dual Deck, which allows the user to play DVD software, as well as record audio CD onto digital audio CD-R and CD-RW disc media. This product marries DVD with digital audio CD-R and CD-RW. One deck plays DVD and CD, the other will record music from a CD from deck 1 onto a digital audio CD-R or CD-RW in deck 2. The recording process is made very simple with One Button Dubbing and double speed recording, and can be customized with programs arranged according to the userís preference. And with Hitachiís full color On Screen Display, all this can be done right from your TV screen ñ something regular CD recorders cannot offer.The Hitachi DVD-Video Player/CD Recorder Dual Deck combines all the features and functionality of a high quality Hitachi DVD / VCD / CD / CD-R / CD-RW player, with the versatility and unique ability to record music CDs.In 2000, Hitachi will also deliver a full line of DVD-Video players, including models with the highest quality Component Video Outputs, built in Dolby Digital (AC-3) 5.1 Channel Decoders, and even a model with Progressive Scan, offering the best picture possible from a DVD player. Other exclusive features include Hitachiís unique Disc Navigation System with moving pictures, x2 and x4 PinPoint Zoom with Graphical Position Indicators and Double Speed Drive for quick access (up to 120 x) and smooth video search. Hitachi UltraVision DVD-Video players feature capability to read multiple disc formats, including DVD / CD / VCD / CD-R / CD-RW.About Hitachi The Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division, markets a variety of consumer electronics including high-definition TVs (HDTV), projection TVs (PTV), color TVs, DVD-Video players, VCRs, and camcorders, as well as security and observation system products. The companyís premium products are sold under the Hitachi UltraVision and UltraVision Digital brand names.Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, consumer electronics and semiconductors, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit www.hitachi.com.Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 1998 (ended March 31, 1999) consolidated sales of 7,977 billion yen ($65.9 billion*). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment.*At an exchange rate of 121 yen to the dollar.

For more information, visit the Hitachi Web site at www.hitachi.com/tv.For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachiís Web site at www.hitachi.co.jp.