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CES 2010: Toshiba 'Cell' HDTV tech upconverts 2D content to 3D in real time; supports VoIP

Toshiba announced on Wednesday a new series of HDTVs, the ZX900 Cell TV, that promises upconversion of 2D content to three dimensions.
Written by Andrew Nusca, Contributor

Toshiba announced on Wednesday a new series of HDTVs, the ZX900 Cell TV, that promises upconversion of 2D content to three dimensions.

The Cell TV tech uses what Toshiba calls a PC-derived "Cell Broadband Engine" to process content with 143 times the processing power available in current TV models.

What's that mean? Great picture quality, among other things.

The company, in its own words:

This massive power manifests itself in incredibly enhanced picture quality that is certainly the new state-of-the-art. True Super Resolution Technology ensures precise image accuracy by sampling multiple frames and restoring the native pre-sampling signal curve. This process enhances both SD and HD signals for the clearest possible 1080p Full HD picture. Net Resolution+ adds Compression Noise Canceling to significantly enhance Internet content. This system detects noise compression inherent in low resolution internet content and separates and corrects the image data to produce sharper, cleaner internet images, even on super large screens. In addition, AutoView RGB combines an ambient light sensor, and a new RGB sensor, to automatically set the brightness, contrast, gamma, sharpness, color saturation, and now color temperature, to ensure the best possible picture in any lighting condition. CELL TV also boasts ClearScan 480Hz Frame Rate, for a clear, crisp picture for fast motion video.

The flagship ZX900 Series also has the company's new KIRA2 Super Local Dimming LED Display for 1,000 cd/m2 of brightness and 512, count 'em, 512 controllable zones.

That's a dynamic contrast ratio of 9,000,000:1, Toshiba says.

And what about that 3D capability? Native 3D content gets the 240Hz in 2D mode and 120Hz for the right eye and 120Hz for the left eye in 3D mode.

But for 2D content, Toshiba's TriVector 2D to 3D Conversion takes the content and converts it into 3D in real time. That means sports, movies, TV shows, video games and whatever else can go 3D.

There's more to the Cell TV, including 1TB HDD, BD Player, and 802.11n Wi-Fi capability for home media serving and Wireless HD. There's also an Ethernet Port for home networking, as well as content partnerships with Netflix, VUDU, CinemaNow, Pandora and others.

Oh, and one more thing: Cell TV has a "Video Phone" capability for home videoconferencing over IP. You may never show up to the office again.

The Cell XV900 Series will be available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes and comes with a set-top box. The display has a black brushed aluminum bezel with acrylic trim.

No prices or shipping dates were announced.

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