Sharp's new range of Aquos LED LCD TVs have launched in the UK. While most of the industry's attention is now on the big 3D push, Sharp are looking to update current HD standards by pioneering a new Quad Pixel technology, which adds a forth colour sub-pixel, yellow, to the traditional red, green, blue format.
What this means for the layman is that billions upon billions of colours can now be displayed, making in theory for a far more realistic colour palette.
Three models are available; the LC-LE811E, LC-LE821E and LC-LE921E sets ranging in size from 40 to 46 inches, while the LC-LE920 model is 60 inches in size.
While each set features robust energy saving technology and built-in Freeview HD, the flagship LC-LE921E will also have E-motion 200 Hz tech built in too, retaining clarity in fast moving images.
No prices or availability details knocking around yet, but it's good to see innovative new 2D TV tech hasn't been swept away by the 3D wave.
Looking for an all-in-one HD TV solution? Toshiba have just launched the Regza WL series of LED backlit HD TVs, boasting built-in Freeview HD.
That means that rather than having to dish out for a separate HD source to make the most of all that LED 1080p goodness, a built in DVB-T2 tuner will deliver crystal clear images straight out of the box, without the need for a satellite dish.
The 200Hz sets will be available in 40, 46, and 55 inch sizes. Toshiba's Resolution + tech will upscale standard definition sources, while DLNA wireless streaming is also supported.
Toshiba also launched the SL series, packing similar specs apart from 100Hz refresh rates and 32, 40 and 46 inch screen sizes.
The WL series will be available from May, but the impatient among you can snap up an SL model from April.
Perhaps it's a knock on effect of the global rescession, but the latest report by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising has found that TV viewing is at the highest it has been in 18 years.
Viewers watched an average of 3.75 hours of TV a day last year, the highest figure since 1992, according to IPA research.
As one would expect to find, the first and last quarters of the year, with less daylight and fewer people away on holiday, tended to show the highest television viewing figures.
Interestingly, the IPA revealed that only 8.2 % of UK households relied on an analogue signal to catch their favourite shows, showing that the digital switch-over is almost complete.
While ITV and GMTV gathered 19% of the total television audience in the last three months of 2009, likely thanks to the popularity of the X-Factor, BBC1 continued to achieve the highest share of all the terrestrial channels, at 21%. All five analogue channels continue to lose ground however, as multi-channel satellite options grow in prominence.
We spoke about this little Humax number a few weeks back. The Fox-T2 Freeview HD box has now been officially unveiled and HDTVUK have all the latest details.
The Fox-T2 will be able to pick up HD signals without need for a satellite dish, upscaling standard definition content and also being able to play media content straight from a USB drive through an integrated USB port. Scart and HDMI connectivity are both also included.
Humax's outlined web portal services will also be fully catered for by the Fox-T2. An onboard Ethernet port will mean that the FOX-T2 will be ready to take online content when Humax launch the service early in the new year.
Sadly though, the Fox-T2's recording capabilities are a little lacking. With only one built in tuner, users will be unable to watch one TV show while recording another.
Hitting stores in February, you'll be able to pick the Fox T-2 box up for around the £170 mark.
Humax are also planning on launching an upgraded Freeview+ HD model in time for next year's World Cup, which will feature a 500GB hard drive.
Humax also unveiled the Foxsat-HDR2. It boasts an integrated BBC iPlayer catch-up widget, as well as home networking and the ability to record video directly onto a USB stick.
The first technical transmissions of Freeview HD have begun today.
The Winter Hill transmitter group is currently beaming broadcasts to select areas of Manchester, with the Crystal Palace group doing the same for pockets of London. They are the first in the world to adopt the DVB-T2 standard and MPEG-4.
James Jackson, BBC head of broadcast infrastructure carried out a demonstration live at the BBC Media Centre. Promotional cuts from BBC HD and ITV HD broadcast by the Crystal Hill group were displayed using brand new IDTV's manufactured by Sony and Panasonic. Both channels were fully incorporated into the Freeview electronic programme guide.
Though the BBC broadcast was the same as is currently available on Freesat, ITV's offering was currently just an upscaled broadcast of the ITV1 channel. ITV have committed however to broadcast most of their top peak programme scheduling in full HD as the service becomes more widespread.
The BBC hope to have a national coverage of 50% for Freeview HD in time for the 2010 World Cup, reaching its maximum 98.5% national coverage by late 2012. Channel 4 also hope to launch a Freeview HD channel in the new year, with as many as five other HD channels in the wings from the network.
For news of when your area will be receiving Freeview HD broadcasts, click here.
With Freeview HD content just around the corner, we we're starting to worry whether or not we'd get our hands on a Freeview HD set-top box before the end of the year. Humax are now set to be first out of the starting blocks with their Fox-HD-T2 being unveiled on December 9th (though they won't be available to buy until early 2010).
Featuring an integrated DVB-T2 tuner (a must for picking up the HD Freeview signal), the box will not be compatible with the DVB-T system currently used by Freeview broadcasts.
Humax are also readying BBC iPlayer for the FOXSAT-HDR before Christmas.
Though details are scarce, Humax are also looking to roll-out a brand new EPG across its range of set-top boxes.
Looks like Humax are keeping themselves very busy. We'll have more details on these new developments after the December 9th launch date.
Although Freeview HD is far from being a BBC exclusive, the Corporation obviously has a lot of involvement and influence over its rollout, so it's good to see an update on proceedings on the BBC Internet Blog (well worth subscribing to) from the BBC Operations Group head of distribution technology, Graham Plumb.
He writes that the plans is still to launch Freeview HD on 2nd December at the Winter Hill transmitter which serves Manchester and Liverpool.
The London Crystal Palace transmitter is also due to be upgraded in December, despite the fact that digital switchover isn't due until 2012.
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