ViewSonic Corp. has introduced two new Mac compatible video processor boxes: the NextVision 6 and the NextVision 5, both of which will be available next month.
The NextVision boxes are high definition video processors designed to let you extend the use of your display products (such as computer monitors) to multiple forms of digital entertainment, including high definition TV (HDTV).
With an estimated street price of US$199, the NextVision 6 offers an option to those who value high-quality TV and digital entertainment for their high-resolution computer display, projector or plasma screen. The NextVision 6 transforms displays that support up to 1280×1024 resolution into HDTV and digital television (DTV) monitors through component video input connections.
A 3D comb filter supports both EDTV and HDTV resolution formats including 480P, 720P and 1080i, and provides sharp, crisp images for optimum picture detail, according to Colleen Browne, general manager, ViewSonic Canada. In addition, the NextVision 6 provides both full-screen viewing and picture-in-picture capabilities for watching video or TV content while working simultaneously on personal computer applications. Multiview or POP is provided, so you can create up to nine picture windows on the screen for viewing multiple TV channels at the same time.
“The NextVision products are throughput boxes,” Duane Brozek of ViewSonic told MacCentral. “It doesn’t take your computer signal so whatever sort of CPU you’re using, the signal from your digital and analog content is passed through and onto your screen. The video processors are designed to add value to other forms of entertainment, such as HDTV.”
The $150 NextVision 5 enables consumers to watch TV from any LCD display or CRT monitor at multiple resolutions up to 1024×768. It provides enhanced picture quality, along with a stylized industrial design that allows for horizontal or vertical placement on a desk or shelf to save users considerable space.
Both the NextVision 6 and NextVision 5 processors provide 3:2 pull down correction that improves DVD movie video quality, RGB computer pass-through (which enables users to watch TV or DVD movies with or without a computer), stereo audio pass through, an on-screen control menu, and a sleep function mode. Other standard features include a 181-channel TV tuner, S-video, composite video, and the ability to easily connect to DVD players, VCRs, video camcorders and high-resolution game consoles, such as the Microsoft Xbox, Sony Play Station 2 and Nintendo Game Cube. Both also ship with a remote control and provide options for parental control and closed caption viewing.
“People today are creating their own digital content with products such as digital cameras and camcorders, and they want to display it in high resolution for optimum viewing,” Browne said. “This new line of video processor boxes offers a quality, cost effective solution that allows users to extend their displays by connecting multiple sources of digital and analog content.”