The High-Def Life: A $799 HDTV Camcorder?

A Reality Blog
The High-Def Life: A $799 HDTV Camcorder?
Today's stars: Sanyo's new camcorder; DIRECTV's HD DVR and David Hasselhoff!
By Phillip Swann

Editor's Note: Phillip Swann, a.k.a. 'Swanni' and the president of TVPredictions.com, is writing a diary in 2006 on how High-Definition TV is changing lives, including his own Called "The High-Def Life," the blog includes the latest HDTV news and gossip -- and a peek at what's going on behind the scenes in the high-def industry. It also includes Swanni's now famous observations on how celebrities (and other things) look better or worse in HDTV. And, finally, Swanni will share with his readers what's going on in his own life, particularly as it relates to high-def.

Below are episodes three and four of The High-Def Life. To read future episodes, click Here.

January 4, 2006 (Episode four)
Sanyo to Launch a $799 HDTV Camcorder
Where do I line up?

Sanyo said today it will launch a High-Definition TV camcorder in late March for just $799, about 50 percent less than current high-def video cameras. The Sanyo "Xacti HD1" camera will record in 720p HD and 5.1 megapixel digital still images.

In English, that means it will look incredible.

For the technically inclined, here's a paragraph from Sanyo's press release:

"Displayed prominently in the front of the HD1 is a bright, highly efficient 10x optical zoom lens. Built from 12 elements designed in 9 groups and with a built-in neutral density filter, the 10x zoom lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 in both wide and telephoto angles, allowing for clear images in lower light situations. Combined with a 10x digital zoom capability, the HD1 is capable of a total 100x zoom."

In English, that means it will look incredible.

And the Xacti HD1 will be able to record up to 42 minutes on one 2-Gigabyte card. (I will spend the first 20 minutes on my camera trying to explain why CE companies insist on giving science-fiction like names to new products, such as the Xacti HD1. It's a camcorder, guys. Not a rocket ship.)

The introduction of a sub-$1,000 HDTV camcorder, which will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show, should generate even more interest in high-def. I know I'm more interested. (Comment?)

Studios Release Names of First HD DVD Titles
My techno-lust is increasing. This spring, Sony and Toshiba are expected to introduce their new high-def DVD players, Blu-ray and HD-DVD respectively. And several studios today announced some of the titles that will be available at launch.

Twentieth Century Fox, which is owned by News Corp., said it will release 20 Blu-ray films, including Fantastic Four (with the HDTV-friendly Jessica Alba) and Ice Age Sony Pictures said it would release 20 titles as well, including The Fifth Element (starring Bruce Willis) and Hitch (starring Will Smith.)

The battle between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD will undoubtedly spark greater curiosity about high-def. But many consumers will hesitate to buy a new DVD player for three reasons:

1. They already own a DVD player (although the picture is not HDTV-quality.)
2. They will be afraid of picking a winner in the format war. (Blu-ray DVDs won't be able to play on the HD-DVD player and vice-versa; who wants another Beta sitting around the house?)
3. The price of the new HDTV DVD players will be significantly more than current DVD players. Toshiba said today that its first models will be priced at $799 and $499.

In time, the HDTV DVD player will be a big plus for the industry. Before that happens, though, Sony and Toshiba must first reach a truce and settle on one format. Then, consumers won't be afraid of buying an obsolete device. (Comment?)

Tonight, I'll Need Some Rose Colored Glasses
Tonight's Rose Bowl championship matchup between Texas and USC might set a record for the biggest HDTV audience ever. While the overall ratings will likely be less than last year's Super Bowl, more Americans now have a high-def set. So, if the game captures the national audience that's expected, this should go down as the best watched HDTV program ever.

Of course, I will be in an airplane for the first three quarters, enroute to Las Vegas for CES. Yes, the author of The High-Def Life will not see the highest rated HDTV show ever. Way to go, Phil.

ABC, which does a marvelous job with the high-def production of Monday Night Football, will broadcast the game. It should look sensational -- but not from 30,000 feet.
(Comment?)

January 3, 2006 (Episode three)
DIRECTV Says HD DVR Ready Mid-Year
DIRECTV now carries a TiVo HDTV recorder, but there's a catch -- It won't be able to record the satcaster's high-def lineup later this year when it changes its transmission method to MPEG-4. In plain English, that means if you buy a DIRECTV HD TiVo now, it could be obsolete in a matter of months.

However, DIRECTV today said it will launch a new (non-TiVo) high-def DVR in mid-year, which, of course, probably means the Fall of 2006. (DIRECTV has been notoriously late with the release of its new products and services.) The new HD DVR will be able to record up to 50 hours of high-def programming in MPEG4 and up to 200 hours of standard-definition programming. (Comment?)

Reader Comments:
"They will give up a lot of customers with a trick like that."-- Wilbur.

"I hope they're planning on a free upgrade for those of us who bought the original HD DVR's or I'll be looking for some ambulance chaser to bring a class action lawsuit against them with the rest of the folks who shelled out $1k+ for these units!" -- Brett.

HDTV Sales Are Anything But Flat
The Consumer Electronics Association says Digital TV sales jumped 60 percent to $17 billion in 2005, largely because of the growing popularity of flat-screen TVs such as Plasma and LCD. The flat-screen category accounted for 40 percent of all DTV sales, the trade group says. I predict that the percentage of flat-screen sales will rise even further in 2006. Consumers looking to buy Digital TVs are looking for flat-screens. The rear-projection set could soon become an historical footnote. (Comment?)

It's Universal!
Universal HD, which is available on DIRECTV and a few cable systems, this morning is showing a high-def version of Knight Rider, the 1980s action show starring David Hasselhoff. The last time I saw Hasselhoff, it was four years ago and I was at the bar at the W Hotel in Westwood, California. The poor guy could barely stand up, but he kept asking the bartender for another drink. Finally, they led him out of the bar. A month later, I read that the actor checked himself in the Betty Ford Center for treatment of alcoholism. I tell you, when you live in Los Angeles, you never know what you will see -- even if you don't want to see it. And if you're a star living in LA, you better be careful what you do in public. (Comment?)

Universal HD also just aired a commercial for the high-def production of NBC's The Office. Steve Carell, who plays the obnoxious boss, urged viewers to watch him in high-def, although he adds, "it may horrify you." Sounds like Carell's been reading my HDTV 'Best & Worst' celebrity lists. (Comment?)

King Kong!
I went to see King Kong last night at the palatial, 70-year-old Uptown Theater in Washington, D.C. It was date number two with the 26-year-old women I met from Match.com. (See episode one.) And the date went pretty, pretty good. The movie was also very entertaining, although a tad long at 187 minutes. But the special effects were amazing, but the best special effect was how they made the 38-year-old Naomi Watts look like she was 21. There wasn't a wrinkle or facial flaw to be found. I bet she wishes she could get the Digital Effect treatment in high-def. (Comment?)

Click The High-Def Life to read the latest in high-def!

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Phillip Swann is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

And click TVPredictions.com to read more news and features on TV technology.