Philips launches widescreen Cinema 21:9

Posted June 22, 2010

If you're one of those who get distracted by the black horizontal bars on the screen (called letterboxes) when watching DVD movies, Philips has launched in the Philippines an HDTV that addresses this problem. The Philips Cinema 21:9 is 56-inch wide-screen LCD full HDTV that mimics the screen proportions of a movie theater screen. As the first of its kind, Philips 21:9 certainly leaves other LCD TV makers scratching their heads, asking, “Why haven't we thought of that?”

Unlike most HDTVs in the market, which have a 4:3 frame, it follows the wide-screen movie aspect ratio of a regular cinema, which is 21:9. Now that's the real wide-screen.

The Philips Cinema 21:9 has a panel resolution of 1260 x 1080. In a press preview, this TV has lived up to its promises of an immersive cinematic viewing. In fact, it may have even displayed more vivid and sharper moving images than in poorly projected movie cinemas, thanks to its Perfect Pixel HD Engine that enhances each pixel to match the surrounding pixels better, resulting in a more natural picture. The 200Hz refresh rate of this TV also created an impressive rendering fast action scenes, beating most HDTV sets with 120Hz (except Sony Bravia's 240Hz image processing rate).

Forget about 3D TVs for now. With the Cinema 21:9, Philips may have just created a game-changer in the HDTV category. No word yet on the local price, but in Europe, where it was first launched, it is said to sell for about 4,000 euros or Php232,000.

CORRECTION:This is an updated version of the Tech stocks article that came out in Highlife magazine (June 2010). In the magazine, the new Philips HDTV was written Philips Cinema 12:9. The correct panel resolution is 21:9, hence the name should be Philips Cinema 21:9.

Eurocopter unveils Mercedes-Benz Style helicopter

Posted May 11, 2010

If you ask Eurocopter, the skies are clear for billionaires to fly in style once again. The helicopter company, which made headlines a few years ago for releasing an Hermes-outfitted EC 135 helicopter, has just announced the luxury version of its EC 145 model - only this time, it is co-designed by luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz.

The Eurocopter-Mercedez Benz collaboration was meant to revamp the interiors of Eurocopterís twin-engine turbine helicopter, EC145, and make it, well, a bit more in line with a billionaireís taste. Based on the press statement, the ìMercedes-Benz Styleî was conceived in a design project led by the guys at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy.

The proposed interiors of the helicopter will bear ìall the hallmarks and passion of Mercedes-Benz design,î which means it will have sleek, minimalist styling, and a modular cockpit layout ñ said to be inspired by Mercedes-Benzís new R-Class range.

The seat upholstery is equally luxurious. It will be available in high quality calf leather, and in different colors. Thereís also a choice of elegant woods for the underfoot. And if that’s still not first-class enough, the entire cabin is outlined by dark wood panels.

The EC145-Mercedes Benz edition was unveiled early this month at the 2010 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland. This twin-engine turbine helicopter can accommodate up to eight passengers as well as several pieces of luggage, thanks to its multi-purpose storage zone that provides luggage compartments with numerous attachment points on the floor and walls for baggage, golf clubs and other outsized articles.

It is available for order now with deliveries arriving in 2011.