Hitachi next-generation flat TVs: even better image quality

[CEATEC 09] Hitachi was presenting its next generation LCD TV features in a theater located right at the entrance of their booth. There was three demos:

• Super black levels: LCD TVs have a tendency to display gray instead of black because the light is coming from behind and has to be “blocked” in order to create black. Not all the light is blocked, that’s why blacks aren’t really black. Hitachi was showing an LCD TV in which black levels was so dark that we would perceive it as black. They don’t really elaborate on what’s going on inside, but it’s good news.
• Auto-IQ adjust: as lighting conditions change, the TV adjusts itself to maintain the image quality. While this is arguably useful, I don’t think that this is really sexy.
• Upscaling video: aimed at video streaming and DVD-resolution content, Hitachi was showing how it could make things sharper by sharpening the image in real-time. As with most sharpening algorithms, the noise level went up a little, but it is true that it makes things more agreeable to look at.