Philips Launches 21:9 Television

[freebird73717]

http://www.cinematicviewingexperience.com/press.html

Philips premieres the ultimate home cinematic viewing experience with the Cinema 21:9 LCD TV

Philips breaks new ground in the realm of home entertainment with the world’s first cinema-proportioned LCD television. Cinema 21:9 lets you enjoy movies as you would in the cinema and just as the director intended. Cinema 21:9 boasts a 56” screen that is shaped in the 21:9 aspect ratio, so movies in the 2.39:1 format completely fill the screen – exactly as you experience at the cinema. Complimentary three-sided Ambilight Spectra combines with the on-screen action to completely immerse you in the movie and deliver the ultimate home cinematic viewing experience.

Traditional LCD televisions compromise on this experience by distorting the picture to fill the screen – losing the full scope of the original shot – or by displaying the picture in letterbox format with black bars at the top and bottom. Cinema 21:9 solves these issues to give the viewer an uncompromised and absorbing cinematic viewing experience, never before available in the home.

Using highly advanced formatting technology, regular 16:9 content from sources such as TV broadcasts and games consoles is also adapted to fill the 21:9 screen.

Des Power, Senior Vice President Marketing Television, Philips Consumer Lifestyle, commented: “With our unique Cinema 21:9 we have developed a television which takes you as close to the experience that you enjoy at the cinema as you can get without buying a ticket. We believe that to really become absorbed in watching a film at home consumers are looking for a real cinematic viewing experience, so we have launched the world’s first cinema-proportioned TV screen perfectly complemented by our immersive Ambilight technology.”

He added, “Philips new Cinema 21:9 takes enjoying movies at home to an entirely new level, the advantages over a traditional 16:9 ratio screen in side by side comparisons are truly striking.”

The Cinema 21:9 LCD TV will be available in spring 2009. More detailed product specifications will follow at the end of February 2009.



Cinematic Viewing Experience:

We don’t just watch films at the cinema we experience them. The 21:9 aspect ratio of a cinema screen was developed to mimic our own peripheral vision, providing a totally immersive viewing experience.

This immersion is what makes 21:9 cinematic viewing such an all-encompassing experience and why until now it has continued to provide the optimum medium in which to fully enjoy films. Such is its power that we routinely undergo an intensely personal, emotional journey when watching a film in a cinema. It is the experience of ‘losing ourselves’ in a film.

This Cinematic Viewing Experience is extremely difficult to replicate at home. Even the largest conventional TV screen cannot provide the total immersion that we enjoy at a cinema because when it comes to watching a film, the viewing experience isn’t determined by screen size.

Films fill a cinema screen.The images reach right out to the very limits of the screen and of our peripheral vision, enveloping us so completely in the action that we actively ‘feel’ along with the characters in front of us.This cannot be achieved on a conventional 16:9 widescreen TV at home without moving to a ‘letterbox’ view or losing the full scope of the original shot.

Until now. With an aspect ratio of 21:9, the Cinema 21:9 is the world’s first cinema-proportioned LCD TV. In combination with Philips’ Ambilight technology - accurately matching on-screen content to extend the picture beyond the confines of the screen - Cinema 21:9 delivers the most completely immersive home viewing experience possible.

Cinema 21:9. The first TV to deliver a genuine Cinematic Viewing Experience to movie lovers in their own home.

[gadgetguy]

Using highly advanced formatting technology, regular 16:9 content from sources such as TV broadcasts and games consoles is also adapted to fill the 21:9 screen.

This can only mean distorting the aspect ratio or cropping part of the picture. What's so highly advanced about that?
None the less, it's about time they make a screen that allows the "movie" aspect ratio to be seen properly at full height. Everything else can be pillarboxed, much like in the theatres they move the curtains to cover the unused portion of the screen for smaller displays.

[Mitchum22]

Gadgetguy is on-the-money.

2.39 to 1?? As Fritz Lang said about CinemaScope, "It's good only for filming snakes and funeral processions."

[filmboss80]

With this economy, the rollout of such an item couldn't come at a worse time. I'm sure they'll sell tons...NOT.

Yawn.

[MOVIEGEEK]

They should just come out with 3D anamorphic glasses so I don't have to keep upgrading my tv every three years.

[usually_quiet]

Isn't this the same company that plans to exit the consumer electronics market after this year to better focus on its health-care-related product lines?

[freebird73717]

With this economy, the rollout of such an item couldn't come at a worse time. I'm sure they'll sell tons...NOT.

Yawn.

I'm sure not going to buy one. Right now I can't even afford an HDTV.

Using highly advanced formatting technology, regular 16:9 content from sources such as TV broadcasts and games consoles is also adapted to fill the 21:9 screen.

This can only mean distorting the aspect ratio or cropping part of the picture. What's so highly advanced about that?
None the less, it's about time they make a screen that allows the "movie" aspect ratio to be seen properly at full height. Everything else can be pillarboxed, much like in the theatres they move the curtains to cover the unused portion of the screen for smaller displays.

Yeah I hate when people try to stretch 4:3 material to fit a 16:9 tv. I'd much rather watch it pillarboxed as well.

Just thought I'd share this with those here at videohelp that like to stay current on the latest tech.

[greymalkin]

I just got an HDTV but just because of the 18 month no interest financing from circuit city..which of course is now belly up.

yea economy!

[mrswla]

Next they'll be coming out with a 24:9 CinemaScope TV.

Can't wait for them to come out with 2.76:1 screens, so that I can watch Ben-Hur the way it was meant to be seen!!!

[arcthered]

Looking forward to seeing it!!

[edDV]

56" isn't that large for 21:9 aspect ratio.

I just ran the numbers. This would have a similar screen height to a 45" 16:9 screen.

[robjv1]

A little OT, but do you guys usually zoom in your DVDs in 2.35:1 on your 16:9 TVs when you watch them? I usually zoom in one level with my Oppo DVD player (maybe 50% less black bars) and am usually quite satisified. If my TV was bigger I probably wouldn't even bother, but it's a 34" Sony KD-34XBR970.

[snadge]

Using highly advanced formatting technology, regular 16:9 content from sources such as TV broadcasts and games consoles is also adapted to fill the 21:9 screen.

This can only mean distorting the aspect ratio or cropping part of the picture. What's so highly advanced about that?
None the less, it's about time they make a screen that allows the "movie" aspect ratio to be seen properly at full height. Everything else can be pillarboxed, much like in the theatres they move the curtains to cover the unused portion of the screen for smaller displays.

I agree - YES it good for movies (new movies in 2.39:1 that is) but as for your normal TV/SKY/Freeview/Freesat and older DVD'd they would have to be cropped at top and bottom to fill that extra-wide screen -

as we spend more time watching TV than watching movies I would be happier with a 16:9 TV and either watchign the movies letterboxed (like i do) or using the ZOOM feature on my DVD remote to make a 2.39:1 fill the 16:9 (but cutting a little of the sides) - cropped on sides is LESS noticeable than cropped top/bottom i think

[yoda313]

Ok I guess I'm confused if people are saying regular lcd widescreen tvs are cropped on the top and bottom.

I thought the whole point of getting a widescreen hdtv was so that the widescreen movies would be played WITHOUT cropping? I mean I like watching Star Wars and Lord of the Rings etc, with the bars. Not the pillar bars of course since I do own the 16x9 versions.

I only have a 32" set but the wideness is perfect. So on 2.35:1 (and wider I guess) movies I get about an inch and half or two inch black bar on the top and bottom. This is the way it is supposed to be without any zooming or cropping on a 16x9 widescreen tv right?

My main movie player is a ps3 via hdmi and set to 1080i output (well its max is 1080p of course but my set is 720p native 1366x768 - its a Westinghouse).

-------------

One question though - How come 1.77:1 and 1.85:1 material both fill the screen without any distortion? IS that by design? I would have figured if a set is designed to handle 1.77:1 at full screen with no bars than shouldn't a 1.85:1 source have a tiny thin black bar on the top and bottom since its wider than a 1.77:1? I'm thinking of things like tv shows in widescreen versus comedy movies. Shows like Stargate SG1 are in 1.77:1 right? And comedies/light action movies like Back To The Future and Groundhog day are 1.85:1. So why do they look the same without a wide bar? Or is my set actually slightly zooming in on 1.85:1 to make it fill the whole picture and I don't notice it?

Am I making any sense? OR are the two "smaller" widescreen modes essentially the same so there is no noticeable difference when viewed on a widescreen tv?

[samijubal]

One question though - How come 1.77:1 and 1.85:1 material both fill the screen without any distortion? IS that by design? I would have figured if a set is designed to handle 1.77:1 at full screen with no bars than shouldn't a 1.85:1 source have a tiny thin black bar on the top and bottom since its wider than a 1.77:1? I'm thinking of things like tv shows in widescreen versus comedy movies. Shows like Stargate SG1 are in 1.77:1 right? And comedies/light action movies like Back To The Future and Groundhog day are 1.85:1. So why do they look the same without a wide bar? Or is my set actually slightly zooming in on 1.85:1 to make it fill the whole picture and I don't notice it?

Am I making any sense? OR are the two "smaller" widescreen modes essentially the same so there is no noticeable difference when viewed on a widescreen tv?

It's the TV's overscan. Some TVs have a no overscan mode, most don't. If the TV had no overscan, there would be small bars on 1.85:1 material.

[snadge]

...and normal widescreen TV's 16:9 only letterbox (black bar at top and bottom) 2.39:1 movies (i like to call extra-wide or cinema-wide)

on a regular 16:9 TV -

4:3 format - either stretched to fit (distorted objects appear short and fat) OR overscanned (zoomed in until it fits screen but losing some off top and bottom) OR letterboxed (sideways - black bars to left and right)

16:9 format - fills full screen

23:9 format (cinema-wide 2.39:1) - movies have black bars at top and bottom OR are overscanned (zoomed in - filling the screen but losing some of the sides but picture in correct proportion) OR stretch up and down to fit - distorted and objects appear long or tall

a 23:9 TV reverse's it in a way - great for movies in 2.39:1 but 16:9 would have to either stretched sideways (short+fat) OR overscanned (zoomed in keeping proportions correct but losing some of image on top and bottom - 4:3 would be SERIOUSLY overscanned or distorted and wouldnt be worth watching....

because of this i think 16:9 is still best to have at moment until perhaps theres nothing left in 4:3 to watch and everything is 16:9 or more

[wulf109]

I have HD with my Dish Network and all the movies they show are 16:9,almost without exception. The same movie they run in 16:9 are released on DVD as 2:35. Personally I prefer 16:9. Dish is requiring the studios to provide 16:9 versions of the movies they release on DVD in 2:35?

[yoda313]

@wulf109 - If by 16:9 you mean 1.85:1 then yes that seems to be the case.

On most high def channels on Comcast they are cropped to fill the screen. Its a shame but that is the case on most movies on the high def channels. They still look good but you know your missing a little something.

Though I have noticed the free on demand movies are in their original aspect ratio which is nice. I presume that means the pay rentals for new releases will also be in the original aspect ratio. I suppose they figure the people that use on demand want top quality - at least on the movie side of things.

[edDV]

That's true. HBO. etc. would have side pillars with that TV.

[gll99]

That format puts it out of the mainstream and makes it almost single purpose.

What we need is Ronco's new revolutionary television. Didn't you see the commercials?

Tired of those black bars, cropped heads, squished and overstretched video? Do you need to roll out a new television every time you watch different format tv or DVDs. Then.....get the new Ronco Expando-ShrinkoScreen! Ronco a name you can trust.

[yoda313]

@gll99 - don't forget the free set of ginsu knives to go with it!

[snadge]

@wulf109 - If by 16:9 you mean 1.85:1 then yes that seems to be the case.

On most high def channels on Comcast they are cropped to fill the screen. Its a shame but that is the case on most movies on the high def channels. They still look good but you know your missing a little something.

Though I have noticed the free on demand movies are in their original aspect ratio which is nice. I presume that means the pay rentals for new releases will also be in the original aspect ratio. I suppose they figure the people that use on demand want top quality - at least on the movie side of things.

I agree - movies in 16:9 on SKY/TV that are 23:9 on DVD are merely cropped to fit the 16:9 screen - theres not TWO versions of the movie - only ever the 23:9(1:2.39) version cropped/overscanned to fill the screen - same with 4:3 screens or broadcasts - you will be missing a little off the sides - as the camera always focuses objects central this isnt noticed very much - more so if credits are originally to the far right or left of screen and you will see the 1st few letters (or last few) missing

[AlanHK]

Using highly advanced formatting technology, regular 16:9 content from sources such as TV broadcasts and games consoles is also adapted to fill the 21:9 screen.

This can only mean distorting the aspect ratio or cropping part of the picture. What's so highly advanced about that.

Seems a lot of people like to leave their TVs at widescreen all the time, regardless of original aspect ratio.

I'm told that some models distort non-linearly: with a 4:3 image the middle of the screen is not stretched, but the left and right edges are. The idea being that if you have a talking head in the middle then it'll look okay and you won't notice the background/landscape being stretched. Perhaps that's the "highly advanced formatting technology".
Personally, it sounds like the old way of converting b/w to colour, by putting green cellophane over the bottom of the screen, pink in the middle and blue at the top.

[snadge]

Using highly advanced formatting technology, regular 16:9 content from sources such as TV broadcasts and games consoles is also adapted to fill the 21:9 screen.

This can only mean distorting the aspect ratio or cropping part of the picture. What's so highly advanced about that.

Seems a lot of people like to leave their TVs at widescreen all the time, regardless of original aspect ratio.

I'm told that some models distort non-linearly: with a 4:3 image the middle of the screen is not stretched, but the left and right edges are. The idea being that if you have a talking head in the middle then it'll look okay and you won't notice the background/landscape being stretched. Perhaps that's the "highly advanced formatting technology".
Personally, it sounds like the old way of converting b/w to colour, by putting green cellophane over the bottom of the screen, pink in the middle and blue at the top.

this is true - my TV has AUTO or 16:9 and i leave mine on 16:9 cos I would rather watch 4:3 stretched to fit the 16:9 screen (distorted) than pillarboxed (black bars left and right)

the non-linearly you speak of is called PANORAMIC on my TV - its clever BUT when the camera pans left/right you can really notice it - it looks like theres a glass jar on the left and right sides of the screen which distorts (stretches) the image as it goes through it