Hitachi Demonstrates Its “DVD World” Concept and Ultravision DLP Television For First Time In North America At CES 2000
Jan 7, 2000 11:51 AM
Next Generation Digital Products for Home Theater and DVD Showcased
CES – LAS VEGAS, Nev., http://www.hitachi.us/tv, January 7, 2000 — The Home Electronics Division of Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), today unveiled its all-digital, large screen High Definition (HD) rear projection television for the first time in North America. Hitachi is bringing together the world of “totally” digital entertainment through its Digital Vision 2000 and is demonstrating its home theater and DVD product lines throughout the show. In addition to the UltraVision/DLP tm television, Hitachi’s DVD Camcorder and DVD Player / CD Recorder Dual Deck will also be shown.
“Hitachi is welcoming the millennium by celebrating its 10th Anniversary of the UltraVision product line,” said Kenji Nakamura, director of business development for Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division. “We are pleased to demonstrate several new products under this brand, including the UltraVision/DLP television and DVD products.”
Hitachi to Incorporate DLP Technology in “UltraVision Digital” Line-up CES 2000 marks the first North American showing of Hitachi’s rear projection television using Digital Light Processing (DLP tm) technology. UltraVision Digital/DLP is an all-digital, large screen high definition rear projection television and will be available to consumers in U.S. in the Fall of 2000.
“By combining Hitachi’s innovative video engineering and optical technology and success in traditional projection television with Texas Instrument’s DLP technology, we are poised to produce and deliver a rear projection television set with the most superior picture quality DLP has to offer,” stated Gary Bennett, executive vice president of sales for Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division.
At the heart of UltraVision Digital/DLP is the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD), an optical semiconductor chip that has an array of microscopic mirrors mounted on a standard logic device. These tiny mirrors operate as optical switches to create high resolution, full color images, with close to 1 million mirrors contained on a single .8 inch chip. To give you an idea of their relative size, 7 of these mirrors measure 100 microns, approximately the diameter of a human hair. Coupling this device with Hitachi’s newly developed UltraVision 10-element lens system ensures maximum picture performance, such as 1280 X 720 display resolution, screen brightness five times that of a large tube television, and a contrast ratio of 500:1. With this level of performance and color accuracy, UltraVision /DLP represents the ultimate digital home theater experience.
Along with high definition (720p) display capability, the speed of the Digital Micromirror Device provides excellent motion video with virtually no artifacts, while the single chip design means no convergence issues and no phosphor burn, in an UltraSlim, UltraLight cabinet. To round out the home theater experience, Hitachi’s UltraVision/DLP tm includes premium sound as well, with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound for life-like sound for the latest Hollywood blockbusters.
In addition to its superior video and audio performance, UltraVision Digital/DLP is also a high quality XGA capable computer display monitor, enabling a PC interactive experience. Its ability to reproduce outstanding graphics is the key to its success as a multimedia solution. Families can surf the Web, send and receive e-mail, play video games, or perform school or work tasks on a large, high quality display right in their living room. With Hitachi’s advanced Picture in PC (PiPC) function, users can take advantage of both capabilities, achieving the ultimate in “Simulsurfing.” Now it will be possible to keep up with the game or monitor the news in a sub-picture, while the PC remains in the main screen. With its multiscan capabilities for television and PC, and inputs for a wide variety of sources including a DVD player, VCR, digital set top box and home PC, Hitachi’s UltraVision with DLP television is the one set to meet any and all viewing needs.
Hitachi’s view of the digital world is where PC and consumer electronics share the same, already well established DVD disc media so consumers can record, playback, and edit on one very high capacity DVD disc that’s compatible with multiple products. This inter-compatibility is a key element in Hitachi’s vision of a “DVD World,” in which consumers use technology to improve and simplify their lives. Hitachi is a world leader in DVD technology as proven by its DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM drives – and this year will be offering products showcasing the latest Hitachi developments in DVD.
At the forefront of this is Hitachi’s soon to be introduced DVD Camcorder, which records superior quality video onto a small DVD-RAM disc, without the complications and reliability / wearability issues of traditional tape based camcorders. In fact, DVD-RAM discs can be recorded over and over with no image degradation. DVD-RAM discs not only far outlast tape, they also feature multi-compatibility with future DVD products, such as new DVD-RAM equipped personal computers, future DVD-RAM recorders, and future DVD players. With DVD video recorded on the Hitachi DVD Camcorder, consumers can easily connect to TV and enjoy recorded video or to a PC for printing, sending a video e-mail, or even for posting your recorded memories on your personal home page.
Another unique feature enabled by Hitachi’s recordable DVD, is the ability of immediate and random access edit to any scene recorded on the disc, which means no rewinding or manually finding portions you want to move or edit. Editing is also simplified because this can be done right from the camcorder’s LCD screen, or even from your PC.
Another cutting edge technology product from Hitachi is its DVD Player / CD Recorder Dual Deck, which allows the user to play DVD software, as well as record audio CD onto digital audio CD-R and CD-RW disc media. This product marries DVD with digital audio CD-R and CD-RW. One deck plays DVD and CD, the other will record music from a CD from deck 1 onto a digital audio CD-R or CD-RW in deck 2. The recording process is made very simple with One Button Dubbing and double speed recording, and can be customized with programs arranged according to the user’s preference. And with Hitachi’s full color On Screen Display, all this can be done right from your TV screen – something regular CD recorders cannot offer.
The Hitachi DVD Player / CD Recorder Dual Deck combines all the features and functionality of a high quality Hitachi DVD / VCD / CD / CD-R / CD-RW player, with the versatility and unique ability to record music CDs.
In 2000, Hitachi will also deliver a full line of DVD players, including models with the highest quality Component Video Outputs, built in Dolby Digital (AC-3) 5.1 Channel Decoders, and even a model with Progressive Scan, offering the best picture possible from a DVD player. Other exclusive features include Hitachi’s unique Disc Navigation System with moving pictures, x2 and x4 PinPoint Zoom with Graphical Position Indicators and Double Speed Drive for quick access (up to 120 x) and smooth video search. Hitachi UltraVision DVD Players feature capability to read multiple disc formats, including DVD / CD / VCD / CD-R / CD-RW. For more information, please visit the Hitachi website at http://www.hitachi.us/
The Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division, markets a variety of consumer electronics including high-definition TVs (HDTV), projection TVs (PTV), color TVs, DVD players, VCRs, and camcorders, as well as security and observation system products. The company’s premium products are sold under the Hitachi UltraVision and UltraVision Digital brand names.
Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, consumer electronics and semiconductors, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit http://www.hitachi.us/ Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 1998 (ended March 31, 1999) consolidated sales of 7,977 billion yen ($65.9 billion*). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi’s Web site at www.hitachi.co.jp.
*At an exchange rate of 121 yen to the dollar.
Gerard F. Corbett
Hitachi America, Ltd.
Vice President
Corp. Communications Group
Tel:(650) 244-7900
Fax: (650) 244-7920
gerard.corbett@hal.hitachi.com
Greg Belloni
The Weber Group
Tel: (415) 616-6139
gbelloni@ca.webergroup.com
Tiffany Francis
The Weber Group
Tel: (650) 463-8642
tfrancis@ca.webergroup.com
For all other inquiries please call:
1-800-HITACHI
If you have any questions specifically about Investor Relations in the United States, please contact our Investor Relations Department at investor.info@hal.hitachi.com
Visit Us
