Europe - Thousands of flat-panel TVs sold are not 'HD-Ready'

Interesting article, but it fails to pick up on the recent definition of HD
as including Panels that will accept 1080i and 720p Component inputs.......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4361543.stm

Now that a critical mass of people have embraced digital TV, DVDs, and
digital video recorders, the next revolution for TV is being prepared for
our sets.
In most corners of TV and technology industries, high-definition (HDTV) is
being heralded as the biggest thing to happen to the television since
colour. High-definition essentially makes TV at least four times better than
now. But there is real concern that people are not getting the right
information about HD on the High Street. Thousands of flat panel screens -
LCDs (liquid crystal displays), plasma screens, and DLP rear-projection TV
sets - have already been sold as "HD", but are in fact not able to display
HD.

No connectors

"The UK is the largest display market in Europe," according to John Binks,
director of GfK, which monitors global consumer markets.


But, he added: "Of all the flat panel screens sold, just 1.3% in the UK are
capable of getting high definition."

There are 74 different devices that are being sold as HD but are not
HD-ready, according to Alexander Oudendijk, senior vice president of
marketing for satellite giant Astra. They may be fantastic quality TVs, but
many do not have adaptors in them - called DVI or HDMI (High-Definition
Multimedia Interface) connectors - which let the set handle the higher
resolution digital images. Part of this is down to lack of understanding and
training on the High Street, say industry experts, who gathered at Bafta in
London for the 2nd European HDTV Summit last week. "We have to be careful
about consumer confusion. There is a massive education process to go
through," said Mr Binks. The industry already recognised that it would be a
challenge to get the right information about it across to those of us who
will be watching it. Eventually, that will be everyone. The BBC is currently
developing plans to produce all its TV output to meet HDTV standards by
2010.


Preparations for the analogue switch-off is already underway in some areas,
and programmes are being filmed with HD cameras. BSkyB plans to ship its
first generation set-top boxes, to receive HDTV broadcasts, in time for
Christmas. Like its Sky+ boxes, they will also be personal video recorders
(PVRs). The company will start broadcasts of HDTV programmes, offering them
as "premium channel packages", concentrating, to start with, on sports, big
events, and films, in early 2006. But the set-box box which receives HDTV
broadcasts has to plug into a display - TV set - that can show the images at
the much higher resolution that HD demands, if HDTV is to be "real". By
2010, 20% of homes in the UK will have some sort of TV set or display that
can show HD in its full glory.

Education, education, education

But it is all getting rather confusing for people who have only just taken
to "being digital". As a result, all the key players, those who make flat
panel displays, as well as the satellite companies and broadcasters, formed
a HD forum in 2004 to make sure they were all talking to each other. Part of
the forum has been concerned with issues like industry standards and content
protection. But it has also been preoccupied with how to help the paying
public know exactly what they are paying for.


From next month, all devices that have the right connectors and resolution
required will carry a "HD-Ready" sticker. This also means they are equipped
to cope with both analogue and HDTV signals, and so comply with the minimum
specification set out by the industry. "The logo is absolutely the way
forward," said David Mercer, analysts with Strategy Analytics. "But it is
still not appearing on many retail products." The industry is upbeat that
the sticker will help, but it is only a start. "We can only do so much with
the position we are in today with manufacturers," said Mr Oudendijk.
"There may well be a number of dissatisfied customers in the next few
months." The European Broadcast Union (EBU) is testing different flavours of
HD formats to prepare for even better HDTV further down the line. It is
similarly concerned that people get the right information on HDTV formats,
as well as which devices will support the formats. "We believe consumers
buying expensive displays need to ensure their investment is worthwhile,"
said Phil Laven, technical director for the EBU. The TV display
manufacturers want us to watch HD on screens that are at least 42 inches
(106cm), to get the "true impact" of HD, they say, although smaller displays
suffice. What may convince people to spend money on HD-ready devices is the
falling prices, which continue to tumble across Europe. The prices are
dropping an average of 20% every year, according to analysts. LCD prices
dropped by 43% in Europe as a whole last year, according to Mr Oudendijk.

"... Interesting article, but it fails to pick up on the recent
definition of HD
as including Panels that will accept 1080i and 720p Component
inputs......."

Many 480p capable flat planel displays are able to accept 720p and/or
1080i input and down convert it to the displays native 480p, that
doesn't make these displays High Definition. It may be a marketing
ploy, but High Definition is now and was always defined by the ATSC,
and the ATSC still only reconizes three formats as being High
Definition, they are 1080p/1080i/720p. The devices has to display one
of those natively (or at least come close) to qualify as HD.

http://www.atsc.org/

Many 480p capable flat planel displays are able to accept 720p and/or
1080i input and down convert it to the displays native 480p, that
doesn't make these displays High Definition. It may be a marketing
ploy, but High Definition is now and was always defined by the ATSC,
and the ATSC still only reconizes three formats as being High
Definition, they are 1080p/1080i/720p. The devices has to display one
of those natively (or at least come close) to qualify as HD.

http://www.atsc.org/

But does that include component high def inputs or just digital?

References: k
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Mat Overton wrote:

But, he added: "Of all the flat panel screens sold, just 1.3% in the UK are
capable of getting high definition."

There are 74 different devices that are being sold as HD but are not
HD-ready, according to Alexander Oudendijk, senior vice president of
marketing for satellite giant Astra. They may be fantastic quality TVs, but
many do not have adaptors in them - called DVI or HDMI (High-Definition
Multimedia Interface) connectors - which let the set handle the higher
resolution digital images.

So, they're saying that it's not HD *unless* the TV has a DVI or HDMI
connection? And I thought that component video can also handle
that...hmmmm...

I would love to hear some comments from the "HDTV gurus" about this one :-)

-Naz

Part of this is down to lack of understanding and
training on the High Street, say industry experts, who gathered at Bafta in
London for the 2nd European HDTV Summit last week. "We have to be careful
about consumer confusion. There is a massive education process to go
through," said Mr Binks. The industry already recognised that it would be a
challenge to get the right information about it across to those of us who
will be watching it. Eventually, that will be everyone. The BBC is currently
developing plans to produce all its TV output to meet HDTV standards by
2010.

"Naz Reyes" wrote in message
...


Mat Overton wrote:

But, he added: "Of all the flat panel screens sold, just 1.3% in the UK
are capable of getting high definition."

There are 74 different devices that are being sold as HD but are not
HD-ready, according to Alexander Oudendijk, senior vice president of
marketing for satellite giant Astra. They may be fantastic quality TVs,
but many do not have adaptors in them - called DVI or HDMI
(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connectors - which let the set
handle the higher resolution digital images.

So, they're saying that it's not HD *unless* the TV has a DVI or HDMI
connection? And I thought that component video can also handle
that...hmmmm...

I would love to hear some comments from the "HDTV gurus" about this one
:-)

-Naz

I connect my Comcast HD box to my HD LCD TV via component cables. No DVI or
HDMI involved. End of story.

Steve

So, they're saying that it's not HD *unless* the TV has a DVI or HDMI
connection? And I thought that component video can also handle
that...hmmmm...

I would love to hear some comments from the "HDTV gurus" about this one
:-)


Exactly, the EITCA has said Component will be considered HD:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds18570.html

References: k
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Steven de Mena wrote:
"Naz Reyes" wrote in message
...


Mat Overton wrote:

But, he added: "Of all the flat panel screens sold, just 1.3% in the UK
are capable of getting high definition."

There are 74 different devices that are being sold as HD but are not
HD-ready, according to Alexander Oudendijk, senior vice president of
marketing for satellite giant Astra. They may be fantastic quality TVs,
but many do not have adaptors in them - called DVI or HDMI
(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connectors - which let the set
handle the higher resolution digital images.

So, they're saying that it's not HD *unless* the TV has a DVI or HDMI
connection? And I thought that component video can also handle
that...hmmmm...

I would love to hear some comments from the "HDTV gurus" about this one
:-)

-Naz


I connect my Comcast HD box to my HD LCD TV via component cables. No DVI or
HDMI involved. End of story.

Steve

You have a Sharp 32" LCD TV which has a DVI and HDMI inputs, right? Why
are you NOT using them to connect your Comcast HD box to your TV?

-Naz

"Naz Reyes" wrote in message
...


I connect my Comcast HD box to my HD LCD TV via component cables. No DVI
or HDMI involved. End of story.

Steve

You have a Sharp 32" LCD TV which has a DVI and HDMI inputs, right? Why
are you NOT using them to connect your Comcast HD box to your TV?

-Naz

I use the HDMI input to connect my Denon 3910 DVD player and the DVI to
connect my Dell Inspiron 8600 notebook.

I also have the cable input split and it also goes directly to the TV (to
the Digital Cable input) and I can compare the quality on the local HD
channels. I noticed a little difference but attributed that to the
different tuners. I will try the DVI output on the Comcast sometime as a
test. (There was discussion at first if Comcast even enabled the DVI
output, I believe they do now).

Thanks,

Steve

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Steven de Mena wrote:

"Naz Reyes" wrote in message
...


I connect my Comcast HD box to my HD LCD TV via component cables. No DVI
or HDMI involved. End of story.

Steve

You have a Sharp 32" LCD TV which has a DVI and HDMI inputs, right? Why
are you NOT using them to connect your Comcast HD box to your TV?

-Naz


I use the HDMI input to connect my Denon 3910 DVD player and the DVI to
connect my Dell Inspiron 8600 notebook.

I also have the cable input split and it also goes directly to the TV (to
the Digital Cable input) and I can compare the quality on the local HD
channels. I noticed a little difference but attributed that to the
different tuners. I will try the DVI output on the Comcast sometime as a
test. (There was discussion at first if Comcast even enabled the DVI
output, I believe they do now).

I've been using my Comcast SA3250HD's DVI port (out) to HDMI in (Sharp
Aquos) for almost 2 months now, and it works just fine. It should work
on yours since we both have a Comcast box and Sharp Aquos.

Well ok, maybe you have a different cable box...what's the model?

-Naz


Thanks,

Steve

Mat Overton schrieb:
So, they're saying that it's not HD *unless* the TV has a DVI or HDMI
connection? And I thought that component video can also handle
that...hmmmm...

I would love to hear some comments from the "HDTV gurus" about this one
:-)



Exactly, the EITCA has said Component will be considered HD:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds18570.html


Hello, please read carefully all words, especially the
following:
"The DVI or HDMI input supports content protection (HDCP)"

This is only one line of words, but in contents the heart of
all newer HDTV developments: HDCP is only served by DVI and
HDMI connectors, so your component signals might go dark or
be restricted to low-res, if the content owner likes to...

Klaus