Bang & Olufsen (B&O) has introduced its BeoVision 4 plasma high definition TV, offering some rather sci-fi built-in gadgets to keep the set running at its best.
Available in 50 and 65-inch screen sizes, these full HD 1080p sets feature B&O's Automatic Colour Management technology, which utilises — get this — a short robotic arm with a camera eye which swings down from behind the aluminium frame and measures a test picture that appears on the screen. This analyses the colour temperature and then adjusted to ensure constant colour reproduction. I'm not sure what happens if the camera malfunctions, but that's another issue.
Other features include Automatic Picture Control sensors to measure the ambient light in the room, adjusting TV brightness and contrast accordingly, anti-reflection glass, and silver/black frame.
The TV is also designed to fit perfectly with the BeoLab 10 as a dedicated centre loudspeaker. The flat triangular BeoLab 10 is wall mounted below the screen.
The 50-inch set is available now, with the price at £12,861. The 65-incher will be available from March, with more colour options coming in the summer.
I just blogged about this, including a youtube clip of the robotic camera in action.
See: http://www.decidewhattobuy.com/blog/2008/02/robots-are-taki.html