Toshiba isn't the first name you'd associate with exciting products, but recently we were invited to check out its 2013 selection of AV gear in the hope we'd be dazzled by pixel counts and the IQ of its revamped smart TV platform. We revisited a few products we had flings with at CES, were introduced to some new panels, and taken through the ins-and-outs of the company's fresh Cloud TV interface. Was there anything to get excited about? Head past the break for the full tour.
2013 LED HDTV lineup
Not everyone wants or needs monolithic displays and internet services, which is where Toshiba's 1 and 2 series come into play. As you would imagine, the 1 series is the most basic of the range, with full HD (1,920 x 1,080) panels ranging from 19 to 40 inches. There are a few configuration options which chop and change features, such as D1, which denotes a built-in DVD player, and L1, which signifies USB support and picture / music / video capabilities. Moving up to the 39- and 50-inch 2 series grants you MHL support, but no other bells and whistles. Prices for these entry level sets start at below £200 ($300) for the 1 series, which are available now, and go up to £600 ($900) for the biggest 2 series TV. There's no word on when the 2 series will hit stores, but they're expected "shortly."
Toshiba's common 2013 design features and Cloud TV functionality (more on that later) starts with the L4 and W4 series, spreading up through the 6, 7 and UHDTV 9 series displays. Surprisingly, the 32-inch W4 is only 720p-ready, but has on-board WiFi, WiDi and USB storage program recording. However, the L4 series steps back up to 1080p, and will be available in three sizes up to 50 inches. We didn't see any of the 6 series at CES, which'll come in 32- and 40-inch options with all of the aforementioned features and "super slim design." Also boasting a skinny profile are the 40-, 50- and 58-inch 7 series HDTVs, with active-shutter 3D and 2D-to-3D conversion joining the spec list for these models. All of Cloud TV-equipped flatscreens will go on sale in May starting at £330 ($500) for the W4 and up to £1200 ($1815) for the 58-inch 7 series.
A quick note on the shared aesthetics of the 4 series and above. Their rounded edges and slim bezels are intended for the "modern" living space, but what we liked most were the bases, which are clearly intended to be as discreet as possible. The bezels aren't that slim, but probably won't put you off picking up any of the TVs if the features take your fancy. They are either all black, or a mixture of black and silver plastic, and don't look or feel particularly "premium." That being said, you wouldn't consider them offensive or cheap-looking.
Cloud TV
Probably the most interesting part of our time with Toshiba was the presentation of its new Cloud TV platform, and it's also likely to be the most important consideration for anyone looking to upgrade their entertainment setup. Previously, the TV interface (e.g. programming guide) was separated from Cloud TV services, but in this iteration, everything's married into one user experience and accessed via a common button on the remote. The home screen pulls up a picture-in-picture of what's currently playing, an all-important weather widget, and recommended content based on the viewing habits of up to seven unique profiles (it's age appropriate, too). Social media addicts will appreciate the live twitter feed also on the home screen. It shows updates relevant to the top programs being discussed, and a deeper menu allows you to switch to one of those shows, or perform custom hashtag searching. Toshiba plans to integrate chatter from other social networks like Facebook in the future.
Cloud TV also has a media player for accessing music, pictures and video stored on connected USB devices or your home network. A metasearch feature known as MediaGuide will also tap into that data, as well as what's currently on normal TV and what can be found on VOD and streaming services. Speaking of streaming, various apps will come as standard, including Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube and Blinkbox. Deezer and Skype will also be available at launch, with an app store coming later, which'll hopefully be filled with more software developed under the Smart TV Alliance standard. If there isn't an app for that, there's always the on-board browser with HTML5 and Flash support. All things considered, we can't say it's lacking anything major, and should only improve with subsequent updates and the addition of an app market.
Blu-Ray / media players and SBK1 Soundbar
We caught a fleeting glimpse of Toshiba's media players with Blu-Ray at CES, but are now informed they'll be ready to sneak into your setup sometime during the second quarter. We say sneak because they're all pretty small, and if you're looking for something to marry with one of Toshiba's new sets, they conform to the whole curved-edge common design. All models will of course play Blu-Rays, as well as provide access to several online services, such as Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube and Picasa. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can also add WiFi and Miracast connectivity out of the box, as well as 3D support. The basic model (BDX2400KB) is expected to retail at £79 ($120), the second-tier unit (BDX2400KB) at £89 ($135) and the best of the bunch (BDX5400KB) at £99 ($150). We also saw another TV condiment in the form of the SBK1 Soundbar intended for panels from 39 to 42 inches. It's got a built-in sub, touts Toshiba's 3D sound technology (which promises uniform quality regardless of your position), and will be out in April for £129 ($195).
9-series UHDTVs
Toshiba's 9-series 4K LED TVs (3,840 x 2,160) were obviously the stars of the show, and in addition to the 84-inch beast we've seen before, we also got a glimpse of the 58- and 65-inch models. Debuting with the 9 series is the new CEVO 4K chip, which attempts to upscale content to make the best use of the resolution. There has to be extra data available to it, however -- from Blu-Ray discs, for example -- so the chip can perform its wizardry and check for loss of quality and artifacts before deciding to push the enhanced image through the pixels. Upscaling is supported from any HDMI input, with one port accepting native Ultra HD. CEVO 4K also promises to make colors richer and add "texture" for greater image depth. We were taken in by the glamor, as we always are with 4K displays despite the lack of content to make one a viable purchase. We aren't any closer to a strict release date or price range, though. They're expected to drop sometime in the summer for "competitive" prices, which almost certainly means "ridiculously expensive" to some people, or "are you kidding me?" to the other 99 percent.
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