Panasonic reveals a sequel to the PT-A5000E 3D projector with the PT-AT6000E-- a design collaboration between Panasonic, Hollywood filmmakers and Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory (PHL) engineers.

Upgrades in the PT-AT6000E include a new 220W "Red Rich" lamp, boosting brightness to 2400 lumens and contrast to 500000:1 (up from 300000 in the PT-AT5000E).

Panasonic claims 3D images are also 20% brighter in comparison to the previous model, while 3D Motion Remaster reduces crosstalk.

The 3D experience should also be more comfortable with new active-shutter glasses (transmission range up to 6m), 480Hz refresh rate and adjustable 3D effect via 3D Viewing Monitor and 3D Picture Balance.

Connections include x3 HDMI ports, Component, VGA and S-Video. Setup and adjustment come through horizontal and vertical lens shift, vertical Keystone correction, waveform monitor and RS-232C interface for custom control setups.

Go Panasonic PT-AT6000E

JVC reveals a consumer projector lineup able to scale 2D content to a 4K signal-- the Procision Series DLA-X95R, DLA-X75R, DLA-X55R and DLA-X35, all using e-shift2 (formerly e-shift) technology.

Introduced in 2011, e-shift upconverts and scales 2D HD content to a 4K signal (3840x2160) and displays it at full 4K resolution. Compared to a full HD (1920x1080) image 4K images use four times the number of pixels (over 8MP) with twice the horizontal and vertical resolution.

The e-shift update replaces a 2-band filter with an 8-band version applying more correction to more areas of the image to deliver, according to JVC, a noticeable improvement with compatible 2D signals. This so called Multiple Pixel Control also offers five different present modules (as well as Off).

Contrast ratios also see improvement thanks to a new polarising grid engine-- the flagship DLA-X95R offers 130000:1, the DLA-X75R offers 90000:1 and both DLA-X55R and DLA-X35 offer 50000:2 native contrast.

Other projector features include active shutter glasses with RF (rather than IR) technology, control via smartphone app and additional lens memory settings.

Go Performance Enhancements in New, Expanded JVC Projector Line

Panasonic Corp exhibited a 103” PDP TV that allows you to view 3D video with the naked eye at IFA 2012.

Shiro Nishiguchi, chief director of AVC Marketing in Panasonic's Global Consumer Marketing Division, calls the new PDP TV is “the industry's largest naked-eye 3D PDP TV.”

In addition, Panasonic showed a 3D TV-related technology called "Interactive Multiview 3D System." It enables you to view 3D video of an object from any direction (360°) by operating a touch panel placed near a PDP TV.The technology is especially suited for use in art galleries, medical institutions, etc," the company said. To view 3D video created with the technology, special glasses are required.

As for 2D TVs, Panasonic emphasized its high-resolution panel technologies by exhibiting a 145-inch 8k4k (7680 x 4320-pixel) super-high-vision (SHV) PDP, 20-inch 4k2k (3840 x 2160-pixel) IPS LCD panel, and more.

Watch Panasonic’s IFA Highlights

For the first time in Europe, Sharp showed prototypes of its newly developed oxide semiconductor technology, known as IGZO. At IFA Berlin, Sharp showed how IGZO technology will enable even higher resolutions, lower power consumption, and higher performance touch screens, as well as narrower bezel widths for LCD display panels used in mobile devices such as smartphones.

This jointly developed new IGZO technology is an oxide semiconductor with a cocktail of indium (In), gallium (Ga) and zinc (Zn). Each pixel in an LCD screen is controlled by its own transistor and IGZO creates several favorable characteristics over the amorphous silicon used in today's LCD panels.

One prototype 6.1” screen on show at IFA squeezed in 2560 pixels by 1600 pixels, or 498 pixels per inch. Or 50% increase on the 326ppi screen used in Apple's iPhone 4S and roughly double that of the new iPad. The difference is clearly visible so it’s time to buy Sharp stock again.

Watch Sharp’s IGZO at IFA

Berlin hosts more than product launches and demos at IFA 2012-- it also sites the signing of an agreement between Italians and  Dutch, specifically SIM2 Multimedia and Bang & Olufsen.

From September 2012 the SIM2 global distribution channel grows by 40% as Bang & Olufsen will start pushing SIM2 projectors as a supplement to B&O products.

Bang & Olufsen is well known for luxury audio and video offerings, while SIM2 makes high-end projectors for home theatre and professional applications.

"SIM2 high-end solutions for projectors are appreciated worldwide, and they are well in line with the positioning and reputation of Bang & Olufsen," SIM2 CEO Maurizio Cini says. "We are confident that our agreement will contribute to launch our business in a high scale."

Go SIM2 Multimedia

Go Bang & Olufsen

Pacific Media Associates (PMA) reports the Euro 2012 championship and the lead-up to the Olympics brought a "bouyant" Q2 2012 for 1080p projector sales in Europe, as the WW projector market totals 2.3m units in the quarter.

Global projector growth for Q2 2012 reaches 7% Y-o-Y, with solid gains for high-end projector sales. The US market leads the world in high-end projectors, with the region hitting a "record-setting" Q2.

Meanwhile the sub-1000 lumen projector sector sees Y-o-Y declines due to low embeddable mobile device module shipments, and standalone projectors (including pico and personal models) only manage small Y-o-Y gains in Q2 2012-- even if PMA believes both segments should pick up strongly by H2 2012.

Go PMA Q2 2012 Projector Market Tracker