LCD/Plasma/CRT/DLP - questions

[sj33]

With the Samsung firmware updates, you had a choice of sending it to Samsung, or flashing it yourself with a serial cable into the port on the back.

Hope LG offer a choice too, I'd much rather just do it myself.

[Geezer]

Is the lack of HDCP on the LG the reason that I can't get my player to output anything other than 576p when in PAL mode?

[sj33]

Is the lack of HDCP on the LG the reason that I can't get my player to output anything other than 576p when in PAL mode?

Yeah, likely.
What player is it? If it's the HD950, does the remote hack work?

[Salsa Party Animal]

Do you think it is possible there will be firmware upgrade to allow TV to support 1080p I mean my Loewe TV can do 1080i already according to reviews.

Just interested to know if this is possible or impossible.

[EvilBoris]

I'd imagine it'd be impossible, and probably quite pointless as most TV resolution doesn't go anywhere near that of a 1080p display so you woulldn't gain anything.

[andrewfee]

Unless you have a display with 1920x1080 pixels, it's not going to happen; the additional processing required just isn't there on 720p displays yet. (hell, most just throw away half the lines and show 540p instead of a properly de-interlaced and scaled 1080i)

Even if your display has 1920x1080 physical pixels, which means it does everything at 1080p internally, the inputs / processing likely can't handle a 1080p signal. This has been confirmed by Philips with regards to their latest sets. (42/37 PF9830)

1080p is not yet an official video standard, and may never be one. I believe HDMI v1.3 is required for full 1080p60 signals, which is not in use on any television right now.

While 1080i is not ideal for games, as it's interlaced, the majority of PS3 stuff will be running in 720p anyway, and a 1080i signal can be fully de-interlaced into a 1080p24 signal for movies. (basically the same thing you see on DVD players with 2:2 / 3:2 pulldown)

[sj33]

Do remember the PS3 is 'only' 1080p/30 (though I agree with andrewfree that most games will be 720p).

[Ian(not Ian)]

Chums -
Just installed a TH-42PWD7 on a customer's PC at work but he's complaining the quaility (normal windows desktop, word etc) is crap.
Anyone know where I can get a monitor driver for win2k/XP for the panny.

[andrewfee]

Don't know if anyone's been paying attention to CES, but there's been a few new displays been announced.

Philips will have a 42" LCD with ClearLCD, Ambilight 3 and Pixel Plus 3 arriving in June (US)

Sony has announced a 1080p capable 46" BRAVIA LCD.

Samsung also has a 1080p LCD on the way.

Panasonic have their next-generation panels due with 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. (not sure of actual, but last year's was 3000:1)

[Rossco]

You might need to use a wee program called PowerStrip to set it to the right resolution so everything is sharp.

[mid]

Ian - the TH42PWD7 only has a native resolution of 852x480, so if they're using anything other than that (and I didn't think XP would let you go lower than 800x600 by default) then it's being blurred and scaled, and so is bound to look horrid.

[gIzzE]

You need to use an HD panel for computer displays, 864x480 just won't cut it.

Yeah the PW7 will blow away just about every other flat panel display when fed SD or HD video or gaming material, but for desktop resolution you need an HD panel.

[Ian(not Ian)]

My thoughts exactly. Also it doesn't help if your less that 2ft from the bally thing. Downloaded Powerstrip as suggested Rossco. I'll see if that makes a difference.

[amorenod]

About the LG HDMI problems, months ago I posted this in AVforums

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1929079&postcount=186

Now I realise that 720p pal works because I disabled HDCP via the remote hack. It's not a biggie for me right now, as there's nothing like Sky HD in Spain.

[Salsa Party Animal]

But you can get Sky TV in Spain if you have access to UK address and a bigger dish. I have a friend who used to live in Madrid have Sky there.