Toshiba Unveils Upscaling HDTV

Toshiba has unveiled what it claims is the world's first upscaling HDTV, with its ZF series able to convert standard content to near HD-quality.

Toshiba is indeed managing to keep its foot in the high-definition video market without actually letting Blu-ray into its shop, stepping out at this year’s IFA show in Berlin with yet another consumer-oriented product that makes standard-definition content look better. Toshiba claims its new Regza ZF series of LCD HDTVs are the first in the world to include upscaling technology, using a Cell processor—the same technology in Sony’s PlayStation 3—to take SD content to “near-HD quality.”

Toshiba plans to offer the Regza ZF series in 40- and 46-inch sizes; the units will offering full HD 1,920 by 1,080 resolution, 100Hz refresh, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1. Users will be able to connect video sources using four HDMI inputs, along with component, RGB, and PC inputs. The sets will support Dolby Digital Plys, NiCam Stereo and SRS Wow audio However, Toshiba has not yet announced any pricing or availability information.

The idea behind the Regza ZF series is to put good-quality upscaling into the television, rather than forcing consumers to buy whole new components (like DVD players) with upscaling capability—which, of course, can vary widely in its quality. Toshiba is betting the Regza SF series will appeal to consumers with an existing range of standard-definition content, whether in the form of standard DVDs or cable and satellite service that doesn’t offer many HD options—or, at least, no options consumers want to buy.