Heidi, the HD Hippo explains it all

If you're still mystified about the ins and outs of HD content and hardware, or know someone who is, we were both surprised and impressed by this semi-snarky PDF coloring book on the topic (which we first saw on The Consumerist).

Despite the ironic hipster tone (the narrator is a hippo in a dress), there's actually some good, simplified information in the project--created by the guy behind the kids' product review blog NonToxicReviews.com.

Heidi, the HD Hippo, explains the difference between SD and HD, asking readers to "take your crayon and draw 480 dots inside this TV, [then] take a different crayon and draw 1,080 dots inside this HDTV". We'd nitpick about the importance of plasma burn-in, but for a satire, the coloring book does a decent job of explaining the basic concepts behind topics like DLP projectors and upconverting DVD players.

If you haven't gotten enough, Heidi closes by saying that "in the future we'll learn about digital right management, fiber optics, HDCP, and regional encoding"!

Via CNET Crave

BenQ unveils world's first full-HD 21.5-inch 16:9 LCD panel

The Taiwanese display manufacturer last week introduced its new range of LCD monitors, among them the E2200HDA which the company claims is the world's first 21.5-inch full-HD (1080p) panel with 16:9 aspect ratio.

What makes the BenQ monitor unique is the fact that it is the smallest LCD monitor with a native full-HD resolution in the market. Current full-HD panels start at 24-inch or larger. Additionally, the E2200HDA sports a 16:9 aspect ratio (1,920 x 1,080-pixel) display which is a better fit for full-HD content than the conventional 16:10 (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) found in most LCD monitors today.

To complement the panel's full-HD capabilities, BenQ has included HDMI and DVI-D connectivity as well as HDCP support, on top the traditional VGA display option. Also onboard the BenQ LCD monitor are integrated speakers, headphone jack, 5ms response time and a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1. The E2200HDA is expected to be available in China and selected markets in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America in the third quarter of this year. Pricing details have yet to be announced.

MediaCorp HD5 on cable. Hooray!

After an excruciating delay, the MediaCorp HD5 high-definition broadcast is finally going live on StarHub's cable TV network. This is the third avenue for dialing into the free HD programs aside from the IPTV-based SingTel MioTV service and terresterial settop boxes. The last alternative can be a pain for households surrounded by high-rise buildings as a result of poor indoor TV reception.

Nevertheless, this new development should silence the Singapore telco's critics over its offering of mainly documentary and edutainment HD content. Though only up to 30 percent of the current HD5 programs are encoded in high-res video format, most of these are popular Hollywood productions. The selection includes blockbusters such as Fantastic Four, the CSI Miami series and the Singapore-made Makansutra Raw variety show.

Click here for more information.

NHK smashes the 4K barrier

In today’s world of broadcasting and commercial display technologies, video resolution seems to be the name of the game as we progress from full-HD to 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), and now 8K (7,680 x 4,320 pixels) ultra-high-definition format. Developed by NHK, this Japanese prototype system is capable of displaying 32 megapixels' worth or 16 times more details than any consumer panel.

The theater on demonstration at CommunicAsia comprises two LCoS projectors with a combined 8,000 lumens brightness and a towering 6.6m x 3.7m 300-inch projection screen. If you think that is impressive, wait till you have a go at its triple-tier 22.2-channel cinema sound system. We're talking dual subwoofers, three, 10 and nine speakers at the bottom, screen level and overhead.

To reproduce the brilliant image clarity, the Japanese broadcaster has also developed a matching 8K studio camera, hard drive recorder and a high-bandwidth optical transmission system via IP networking. If you've missed this once-in-a-lifetime experience, you could visit Japan's Kyushu National Museum and pop by its Theater 4000 equipped with the same 300-incher instead.

More CommunicAsia 2008 coverage here.

ASUS puts 22-inch monitor on a crash diet

Sharp may brag about its 108-inch display, but ASUS is seeking a different claim to fame: The company says it is releasing "the world's slimmest 22-inch widescreen LCD monitor".

Regardless of whether the claim is true--we've made our opinion known about "world's first" statements in general--there's no denying that this monitor is anorexically thin. Despite an apparent typo in the press release, as Engadget points out, this TV measures less than an inch deep--0.97 inches, to be exact. That would be more than a third slimmer than Hitachi's 1.5-inch model announced barely a month ago. (Granted, the latter includes a TV tuner, but still.)

To highlight its svelte figure even more, Asus has adorned the lower half of the LS221H with leather trim. It also has a scratch-resistant screen, which may come in handy for the fellow in the photo if his proposal is rejected.

Via CNET Crave

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