Sharp updates AQUOS lineup, intros SmartCentral interface
Sharp's biggest displays are also getting heavier -- with digital content.
LAS VEGAS--The mantra for Sharp's new AQUOS LED TV line unveiled at CES 2013 on Monday morning might be as simple as this: bigger and better.
The bigger quality will be obvious from the get-go with 21 new displays in the 60-, 70-, 80-, and 90-inch LED TVs in the AQUOS portfolio.
But the better comes in the form of upgraded display quality as well as more digital content and connectivity.
With the 80-inch class displays in particular, Sharp has added a new layer dubbed "Super Bright," which is the combination of an intelligent contrast engine with a 50 percent brighter panel. The goal here to produce Sharp's "most brilliant, most contrasted picture ever" without sacrificing natural color richness.
On the hardware side, one of the most noteworthy design touches would be Sharp's signature Quattron color technology, which adds a yellow pixel to the standard red-green-blue sub-pixel structure. The end result, according to Sharp, is the delivery of more than a billion colors, offering greater detail, smoother lines, and richer colors.
Sharp's taking a bigger stab at the connected TV market with the introduction of SmartCentral.
Using the power of the TVs' dual-core processor for swifter navigation as well as built-in Wi-Fi, the Web browser on these screens have been updated to fully support both HTML5 and Flash apps, which will also work with remote control mobile apps rolling out for iOS and Android.
Executives also pointed out the new "split-screen" TV and Web mode. Jim Sanduski, vice president of Strategic Product Marketing at Sharp, described this option as the "best of both worlds" for watching TV and looking at your favorite website at the same time.
Sharp looks particularly keen on tying up loose ends between TVs and mobile devices with a number of nifty features. One highlighted during the presentation centered around Netflix. Basically, users can browse and select a movie or TV show on their smartphones, and the title will play immediately on the TV.
Availability information was not revealed during the presentation.