LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sharp comes to CES with a number of innovative new products and technologies designed to redefine the way consumers view and interact with their content. In a move to build upon their leadership in large-screen LED TVs, Sharp has focused its efforts for 2012 towards offering consumers the most immersive experiences possible, illustrated in the company’s new booth design.
“The products we are showcasing demonstrate Sharp’s passion for creating innovative technologies that exceed consumers’ expectations,” said John Herrington, president of Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America, a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation. “From large screen televisions to interactive touchscreen displays to the latest in solar technology, the products on display are designed to enhance people's lives at home, work, and everywhere in between.”
A highlight of Sharp’s CES introductions is the LC-80LE844U 80-inch (80-inch diagonal) class AQUOS® 3D LED TV. It is the world’s first 80-inch screen size class 3D LED TV, offering more than double the screen area of a 55-inch class. The full HD 1080p LC-80LE844U features Sharp’s Quattron™ technology for more colors and the brightest 3D images, with full array LED backlighting and 240Hz to virtually eliminate blur during fast-moving video. It also offers built-in WiFi, and access to the most popular apps such as Netflix®, Hulu®, Facebook®, CinemaNow® and YouTube™ through Sharp’s new SmartCentral™ smart TV user interface.
Details of the new products and technologies showcased at CES:
A BIG TV Line-Up
Sharp will be launching its full line of 2012 AQUOS LED TVs, ranging in size from 32-inch (31 ½-inch diagonal) to 80-inch (80-inch diagonal) screen size classes and includes more than 20 models with screen sizes of 60-inches or larger, with many of those models featuring 3D. Many large screen models have built-in WiFi and all 60-inch+ class models will feature Sharp’s new SmartCentral smart TV user interface. All AQUOS Quattron models feature the new Quad Pixel Plus II, which offers even greater detail and smoother lines and color transitions. The 9 Series features full array LED backlighting with local dimming to improve picture quality and deliver a superior viewing experience. Sharp AQUOS LED TVs meet ENERGY STAR™ standard version 5.3 and all Sharp 60-inch+ class LED TVs average less than $22 of electricity per year.
Smarter Television
A newly designed, customizable and intuitive user interface, Sharp’s SmartCentral™ is designed to be the hub of the Sharp TV experience. Models incorporating the full screen SmartCentral interface feature picture-in-picture, content search, web browsing capability, and access to the most popular apps including Facebook, YouTube, Flickr®, and Netflix. In addition, users will be able to set up to four members of the household with a customizable interface and favorites for each user. SmartCentral will be available on all new 60-inch class and larger Sharp AQUOS LED TVs. Another smart feature is Sharp AQUOS Beamzit™, a free media-sharing app that allows users to wirelessly send photos, music and video to a Sharp AQUOS Wi-Fi enabled television from their IOS® or Android™ smart phone or tablet.*
Ownership Experience
Most smart TVs from Sharp come equipped with Sharp’s unique, complimentary AQUOS Advantage LiveSM customer support program. AQUOS Advantage Live allows trained advisors to remotely connect via the Internet to AQUOS TVs to assist with setup, troubleshooting and picture optimization.
Seeing is Believing with ICC-4K
In its efforts to provide consumers with the best big entertainment viewing experiences, Sharp unveiled its ICC-4K LED TV*. Developed jointly with I-cubed Research Center Inc, ICC-4K provides four times 1080p resolution, resulting in a much higher picture quality. ICC, Integrated Cognitive Creation Technology, presents a clearer more lifelike image. The ICC-4K technology achieves not only intelligently up-scales from HD to 4K but also real-viewing equivalent to the natural world.
AQUOS Freestyle
For consumers looking for ultra-thin LED TVs that offers flexible placement within the home, Sharp presented its AQUOS Freestyle concepts. Shown in four screen size classes from 20-inch class (20 1/25” diagonal), 32- (31 ½” diagonal), 40- (40” diagonal) and 60-inch class (60 1/32”) -- AQUOS Freestyle models feature a significantly slimmer and lighter design than most LED TVs. These TVs receive high definition video via WiFi so they can be easily positioned just about anywhere in the home where there is a power outlet.
The Best of the Best
Sharp is also showcasing the highly acclaimed, award-winning ELITE LED TV series. Industry pundits have called Elite televisions the best picture quality available in the market and the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) named the Elite TV Video Product of the Year. Sharp’s Elite LED TVs are designed to be the best televisions ever created. The result of a unique and exciting collaboration between Sharp and Pioneer®, two of the world’s leading audio/video product manufacturers, Elite LED TVs feature some of the most innovative video and audio technologies available on the market to provide discerning audiophiles, videophiles and luxury consumers an unparalleled home theater experience.
Projecting Precision
Sharp unveiled its latest 3D ready high-definition DLP® home theater projector. Providing unparalleled 3D visuals, the XV-Z30000 features 50000:1 contrast ratio and 1600 ANSI lumens to deliver superior brightness and astounding clarity. A 6-Segment 5x Color Wheel provides for flicker-free, high-grade images and accurate color reproduction. The XV-Z30000 allows for flexible installation options and easy adjustment with center lens and lens shift. It incorporates DLP technology with mirror-based components to use light more efficiently by bringing more light from lamp to screen. The dual IC XV-Z30000 reproduces high quality 3D pictures with virtually no cross talk.
Interactive Display System
The best viewing experiences don’t need to be confined to the home. At CES 2012, Sharp showcased its state of the art interactive meeting room display, bringing big screen collaborative technology to the workplace, the PN-L802B. Sharp’s 80-Inch Class (80” diagonal) Full-Array LED Backlit Touch-Panel Display is a complete interactive and digital solution for collaborative meetings, presentations, video conferencing, live data and interactive digital signage. This digital meeting solution offers full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, providing a higher quality visual display than a traditional projector, in addition to the touch-screen capabilities, creating a truly hands-on experience.
Not Just a Blu-ray™ Player
As the large screen TV has become the centerpiece to most entertainment centers, aggregating content from various sources is a key interest of consumers. Sharp will showcase two new multi-function AQUOS Media Stations, the BD-AMS10U and BD-AMS20U. Both models feature the new SmartCentral interface; the “super picture” setting which realistically improves image resolution by integrating pixel information from lower resolution video from a DVD source and restores missing image information while enhancing image details; and AQUOS Pure mode which creates an optimized color pallet for AQUOS LED TVs; and a unique smart phone interface through Mobile High-definition Link™ (MHL). Using MHL, users can access and engage their mobile apps and content (i.e. music and videos) via their home entertainment system. While connected with the system, the mobile device also receives power and is charged.
Added Flexibility to Sound Bar Family
The new sound bar products for 2012 build on years of success and key learnings from their predecessors. These new models (HT-SL75, HT-SL72, HT-SL77) are the ideal audio companions to a home entertainment system, offering flexibility to any set-up while providing exceptional sound at varying price ranges with a sleek and unobtrusive look. The centerpiece of the collection, the HT-SL77, is a 2.1 system with a 1” height for a low profile design that is adjustable to match the AQUOS TV line. It also incorporates a wireless subwoofer that can be setup in any location, within a 25’ range. Wall mounting hardware is also supplied.
Executive / Mini / Micro Shelf Systems
Sharp rounds-out its new audio products with a number of expertly designed shelf systems highlighting the convergence of functionality, such as docking compatibility with iPhone® and iPad® devices, and form, with sleek lines and a small footprint.
Harnessing the Sun with SunSnap™
In continuing its mission to make solar power more accessible to homeowners, Sharp’s Solar Energy Solutions Group has introduced the SunSnap AC Solution, a new retail-friendly solar electric appliance designed to expand and simplify the mainstream adoption and use of residential solar energy. The scalable, affordable appliance starts at less than $1,000 and features black-on-black Sharp photovoltaic (PV) modules, making the roof installation more aesthetically pleasing. SunSnap helps homeowners more easily realize the value of home-generated solar by removing barriers to solar at home through a simplified product design and installation process. As a scalable PV appliance, SunSnap offers homeowners the ability to install a system that meets their budget, roof space and personal energy needs. A small, modestly priced “starter kit” featuring as few as one solar appliance can be initially installed and the system can then be expanded in the future as often as desired.
Solar Charging Station
Situated at the front of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sharp is providing CES attendees the opportunity to charge their portable electronic devices using the latest in solar-power technology. Equipped with six USB 2.1 amp ports, the station provides off-grid power for devices including cell phones and tablets while emitting no CO2. Sharp's solar-powered charging stations work by storing electricity generated from sunlight in storage batteries to provide power 24 hours a day to the USB ports. A technology breakthrough, Sharp's modules incorporate solar cells with an advanced surface texturing process to increase light absorption and improve efficiency. Sharp, the solar industry leader for more than a half-century, powers more homes and businesses than any other solar manufacturer in the world.
8K Technology
Sharp is presenting a next generation technological breakthrough through the demonstration of 8K resolution on an 85-inch (85 1/25” diagonal) screen size class display. The world’s first 8K ultra high definition capable display, with an astounding 7680 x 4320 resolution, the equivalent of 16x the resolution of HDTV, presents an unprecedented level of incredibly detailed, high quality images. The unique LED panel and proprietary high-vision video technologies solidifies Sharp as the LED technology leader.
All of these innovations and more are seen in Sharp’s booth at CES, which is located in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall, Booth #10916. This year’s booth features a new look focusing on the three key themes for Sharp -- Improving our Lives, Caring for our Environment and Enabling our Future.
For more information on what Sharp announced at CES, please visit www.SharpUSANews.com. For more information about the company, visit Sharp Electronics Corporation at www.sharpusa.com. Find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.
About Sharp Electronics Corporation:
Sharp Electronics Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer of one-of-a-kind home entertainment products, appliances, networked multifunctional office solutions, solar energy solutions, LED lighting and mobile communication and information tools. Leading brands include AQUOS® Quattron™ LCD televisions and 3DTVs, SharpVision® projectors, Insight® Microwave Drawer® ovens, Notevision® multimedia projectors and Plasmacluster® air purifiers.
| *1 Available on some AQUOS TV models. |
| *2 Developed in collaboration with I3 (I-cubed) Research Center Inc. (location: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President Tetsujiro Kondo). |
| Sharp, and all related trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation and/or its affiliated entities. |
| Android and YouTube are trademarks of Google Inc. |
| Elite and the Elite logo are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation and are used under license. |
| ENERGY STAR is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. |
| HDMI, the HDMI logo and High Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC in the United States and other countries. |
| Netflix is a registered trademark of Netflix, Inc. |
| CINEMANOW is a trademark of BBY Solutions, Inc. |
| Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc. |
| Hulu is a registered trademark of Hulu, LLC. |
| IOS is a registered trademark of Cisco. |
| The Twitter name is a trademark of Twitter Inc. |
| Flickr is a registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc. |
| Blu-Ray Disc™, Blu-ray™ and Blu-ray 3D™ are the logos and trademarks of the Blu-Ray Disc Association. |
| DLP, the DLP logo, DLP Link and the DLP medallion are trademarks or registered trademarks of Texas Instruments. |
| microSD Card is a trademark of SD Card Association |
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