Photos: Toshiba Regza 46ZV555D hands-on

Toshiba's latest Resolution+ LCD uses the powerful Cell Broadband Engine to improve the quality of its picture -- we got our mince-pie sticky hands on it

Ian Morris

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Ian Morris

Dec. 16, 2008 12:58 a.m. PT

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We've been very excited about the new Resolution+ TV from Toshiba. The idea is that by using a very powerful piece of computing hardware, you can improve the quality of the picture processing and in so doing, increase the picture quality.

The TV uses the Cell Broadband Engine, which gamers might recognise as similar technology to the processor in the PlayStation 3. We've written about what this technology can do before, but we can't ever overstate how important good picture processing is in TVs. Our favourite televisions -- those that score 8 and above in our reviews -- all handle Freeview with incredible skill, dragging every last morsel of picture information on to the screen.

We've recently received our review sample of the 46ZV555D, but before testing it, we thought we'd snap some photos. After all, there's no point in the technology in the TV being brilliant if it looks like a 1986 Lada Riva. Or are we just being superficial?

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For some time now, Toshiba has been putting power buttons on its TVs. This helps encourage people not to waste power.

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Like many companies, Toshiba has included a glowing logo on the front of the TV. Despite desperately wanting to think this is ridiculous, we really like it. Drat.

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At the rear, you'll find the usual array of inputs. There are three HDMI sockets (with a fourth on the side).

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There are some basic controls at the side of the TV, alongside a fourth HDMI socket and a conditional access socket, which when used with the correct plug-in module, can allow you to subscribe to pay-TV services.

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The remote is unchanged from other Toshiba models -- it's comfortable to hold, lightweight and easy enough on the eyes.

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The speakers are located at the front of the TV, and fire forwards. This is preferable to the underside mounting we see on some screens, because the sound isn't interrupted on its way to your ears.

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The bezel is a glossy black design, and is reasonably thin. Sadly, this isn't one of Toshiba's delightful picture-frame designs. Surprisingly, it's quite hard to tell from the exterior that this TV is in any way different to others in the range. There's no Resolution+ branding or other unnecessary textual yelling.