Toshiba has announced its new Cell TV which promises 2D to 3D conversion, HD upscaling and internet video. It’s certainly promising, but will it deliver?
The Cell TV does have some power inside it with the ‘Broadband Engine’, a new proprietary eight-core processor. That’s ten times the average power of a PC and 143 times more powerful than a run of the mill LCD TV.
2D to 3D Upscaling
These processors are used to convert all content up to 1080p 3D, so a regular 2D video in standard definition (and even 2D games) becomes a 3D experience. Sounds on paper like you’ll be getting the Avatar experience.
But don’t get those old Baywatch tapes out just yet! SD to HD up-scaling in past HDTVs has not been the true HD experience promised, so its highly unlikely the 2D to 3D up-scaling will be either. After all even movies shot in 3D don’t always look that good.
If good 2D to 3D up-scaling technology was emerging then I’d expect movies would already be getting a 3D re-release. If the movie industry can’t find the hardcore technology to do this, I’m skeptical it could be fitted into a living room TV.
Of course for anything already shot in 3D the Toshiba Cell TV would likely be a great way to watch it.
Internet Enabled Set Top Box
The TV comes alongside the Cell TV set-top-box which will allow the TV to connect to sources like Netflix and VUDU.
The sound and image distortion that is common in online video is fixed up by the Cell TV too, which suggest access to sites like YouTube through the TV/Set Top Box.
A 1 terabyte hard drive will also be in the Set Top Box so DVR functions are likely, and a Blu-ray player is thrown in too.
It also acts as a media extender by communicating with other devices on the home wi-fi network, presumably allowing you to play video content from other sources.
Auto Color Temperature Adjustment
The Cell TV claims to be the brightest TV in the market, which is always good if you happen to be sitting in bright sunlight, but probably not essential for the average viewer.
Like other high-end LCD TVs it will automatically adjust to the contrast, brightness and other levels in the room, but more unique is its ability to adjust to the room’s ‘color temperature’ by detecting the actual color of the room.
The Cell TV Low Down
It promises a lot which does sound fantastic, but I doubt it will live up to the expectations and will be more suitable to those of you wishing to try out the latest and greatest technology, even if it is still in its infancy and doesn’t work quite as it should.
It’s likely to hit shelves in the late quarter of 2010, but no pricing details are available. Once it is being sold eBay auctions will be here:
No eBay items currently available.
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