European Custom Installer

System Integration for the Connected Home

TVs, Displays and Mounts

Toshiba Ditches 3D Glasses

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Toshiba announces what it says is the first large-screen glasses-free 3DTV at IFA 2011-- the 55ZL2, a 55" set with a 3D effect viewable from a large viewing angle.

Toshiba 3DTVThe 55Zl2 divides the viewing area into x9 separate regions, using a number of lenses to redirect two different views in different directions per viewer.

However, the set requires setup before viewing-- face-tracking software detects viewer positions before adjusting the picture accordingly.

It handles resolutions of up to 3840x216, boosting 2D content resolutions using Resolution+ technology.

Toshiba also includes Smart-TV functions, such as the cloud-based Toshiba Places platform and Personal-TV applications.

Go Toshiba 55ZL-2 Glasses-Free 3DTV

Chief Arms its CEDIA Expo Offerings

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Chief launches its Thinstall ultra-thin swing arm mount and accessory family at CEDIA Expo 2011.

Chief ThinstallThinstall mounts come in a sleek design ideal for LED, LCD and plasma TVs-- collapsing to either 33mm or 38mm with smooth Centris fingertip tilting, all in forged steel and aluminium.

Centerless lateral shift provides up to 406mm of post-install lateral shift, and installers can make height and levelling adjustments of up to 25mm following installation.

Chief provides all necessary hardware for mounting on wood, concrete or brick walls (screws, spacers and hex keys) as well as multiple cable paths (enclosed with covers).

The wide-open wall plate allows quick mount placement and power connection, and Chief says a single person can mount the system's top rail before sliding on the entire assembly.

Go Chief Thinstall Mounts

Cevo Powers Toshiba at IFA 2011

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Toshiba CevoToshiba will demonstrate its latest TVs at IFA 2011-- now carrying its multi-processor platform, the Cevo Engine.

The company says each of the Cevo engine's individual components carry out specialised tasks to ensure optimised performance, improving image quality and 3D as well as networking and recording functions.

Tosiba's IFA stand will house its Personal-TV concept-- using face recognition to identify users before setting picture and sound to their individual user profile.

Also on show is a slew of 3D displays (either with or without 3D glasses) using both 3D sources and generating 3D content from 2D sources.

Go Toshiba Cevo Engine

TV, the Future Internet Device of Choice

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Global internet-enabled CE shipments (TVs, game consoles and Blu-ray players) will exceed those of the traditional means of getting on the internet-- the PC-- by 2013, according to IHS iSuppli.

iSuppli says 2010 shipments of such devices total 161M, and will grow to 503.6M by 2013 before reaching 780.8M in 2015.

In comparison, PC shipments will total 433.7M in 2013 (from 345.4M in 2010) and 479.7M in 2015.

Connected CE Shipments

The analyst predicts future consumers will access their online content through their TVs rather than using a PC-- with the home's biggest screen becoming the centre of the so-called "digital living room."

Internet-enabled STBs and Blu-ray players will also grow rapidly in the future-- with Blu-ray players having a predicted CAGR of 37.9% over the next 5 years, thanks to growing HD display uptake.

Set-top boxes will offer their own special features, including content from multiple sources (such as video on demand) together with offerings from cable and satellite providers.

Go It's 2011-- Where's My Connected Home? (iSuppli)

W. Europeans Want Their TV Everywhere

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Nearly 30% of W. European households with broadband access show interest in TV Everywhere services-- live TV on mobile phone, tablet or PC-- according to Park Associates' Connected Consumer in Europe survey.

Connected CE penetration in W. European nations currently stands at around 30 - 40%, with games consoles being the devices most commonly connected to the internet.

TV Everywhere Chart

Meanwhile 30% of blu-ray player owners use their media players to watch online video on their TVs.

Park Associates says multiscreen services are becoming increasingly popular across W. Europe, as customers demand more flexibility in viewing video content such as movies and TV.

Almost 50% of survey respondents also want DVR-recorded content access on internet-connected devices, while 37% want to receive online video on TV (particularly in France and the UK).

Go Demand for TV Everywhere Widespread in W. Europe